Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly - April 2016 by Fishing Monthly

TUNA TIME • TOURNAMENT CIRCUIT AMPS UP

Tried and Tested Isuzu MU-X • Chiller Fish Bags • Yellowfin 6700 • Zerek Fish Trap • Bassman Shorty • Horizon 515 Sea Breeze Elite • Strike Pro Enticers soft plastics •

How To

Stickbaiting secrets for SBT • Fish handling III • Tips for the novice boater •

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Are you ready to reddy? • Looking for luderick • Snapper and whiting resurgence in PPB •

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Black Magic took from GZ Livebait theyfrom trouttook nice brown Black Magic theirbrown and Magic andnice Black Magic mate 9/0 GZ9/0 hisand Livebait 80lb Tough trout they SeriesSeries HooksHooks Lee Rayner their and Black mate with hiswith 80lb Tough standsstands Lee Rayner Trace were used Magic by Black Decker and Ford plastics and using his Trace mate were were when They used Magic fishing walls. by Black dam landbased Decker the and Ford below plastics off and his mate when fishing landbased off Spillways, below the dam walls. They were using Spillways, Lee Breakwater Tippet. in Portland. Theya had 12lb Fluorocarbon a fivehook Lee Breakwater way up hook and Black Tippet. in Portland. EliteBlack and managed They had 12lb Fluorocarbon 12lb Rainbow MagicMagic five way Elite and andupmanaged Braid Braid 12lb Rainbow land around three around themark. rock bottom. to landtothree 20lb mark. the granite was required the 20lb rock bottom. 12lb fluoro thefluoro granite the to says Leethe due todue was required 12lb Lee says

Sam and Toner hishad crew had a successful in the NZ Game Nationals last month Sam Toner hisand crew a successful time intime the NZ Game FishingFishing Nationals last month fishingfishing outWaihau from Waihau Bay.caught They caught a 70.1kg yellowfin on a Magic Black Magic Jellybean of Coffs Harbour, FishingFishing out from Bay. They a 70.1kg yellowfin tuna ontuna a Black PursuitPursuit Jellybean Lure, Lure, out ofout Coffs Harbour, NSW, NSW, GerradGerrad and tagged an estimated 110kg striped on a Magic Black Magic Freedom Slammer and released this estimated BillingsBillings and tagged an estimated 110kg striped marlin marlin caughtcaught on a Black Freedom GrandGrand Slammer caughtcaught and released this estimated Blue Marlin. Sam“the says,Jellybean “the Jellybean and Grand Slammer are permanent in our spread”. Both fish Heusing was Black using Black 160kg 160kg Blue Marlin. Lure. Lure. Sam says, and Grand Slammer are permanent fixturesfixtures in our spread”. Both fish He was MagicMagic were caught using the Magic Black Magic Equalizer and Harness. Top work! 400lb 400lb ToughTough were caught using the Black Equalizer GimbalGimbal and Harness. Top work! Trace.Trace.

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April 2016, Vol. 11 No. 6

Contents WEST COAST

A look at… 12 Back to Basics 52 Boating 92 Chappy’s Hotspot 53 Dam Levels 62 Fun Page 59 Junior City Fishing 36 Kayaking 80 Science Meets Fishing 48 Spearfishing 91 Tasmanian Wrap 54 Tasmanian Lake Levels 57 Tournament News 82 Trade and Services Guide 100 Victorian Tide Times 98 VRFish Update 50 What’s New Boating 98 What’s New Fishing 74 4WD and camping 78

SPECIAL FEATURES Stickbaiting secrets for SBT

Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Georgia Williams Field Editor: Kelly Hunt Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall Advertising: Ph: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Copy and materials should be sent direct to: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au Advertising Enquiries: Steve Morgan ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Printing: APN – Print Production: Karen Millward Jenna Milburn Keith Hawley Website: www.fishingmonthly.com.au Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham

OUR COVER Mulloway are a beautiful fish close up. Check out those colours! A Paul Lennon image.

TO SUBSCRIBE SEE PAGE 33 FIND THE ZEREK LOGO COMPETITION PAGE 65 Victorian and Tasmanian Fishing Monthly magazine goes on sale the last week of each preceding month (latest sale date 31st of the month).

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APRIL 2016

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Tips for the novice boater

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SINCE 2004

VICTORIA FISHING MONTHLY

Fishing handling III

of posting a heads-up to our readers (which was shared over 500 times), I was getting calls about where the car was. One good Samaritan even sent

AUST

Are you ready to reddy?

acceptable form of behaviour. Thieves exist, I get that, but it was the response of the fishing community that blew us away. Within three hours

me images of the wreckage. We’ve had offers of costprice vehicles to replace the car, vehicle wrapping and endless offers of help with the logistics of getting the remaining equipment and staff back to home base. We thank you all for this help. As a side note, if you’re offered any cheap fishing tackle, Canon camera gear, Engel generators or top-end Daiwa reels in the Hunter Valley area, give us a call. We’re sure that they didn’t steal the gear because they wanted to run fishing events. Not even thieves are that stupid! We’ve had some pretty bad luck over the last few years. As a company, I officially request whoever is in charge of karma needs to re-boot the system. I’m eagerly awaiting a break. Or a 130cm threadfin salmon on fly. I’m good with either.

ION

TASMANIA WRAP REGULAR FEATURES

I never cease to be amazed at how the fishing community gets together to help each other out. Actually, that’s not right. I’ve seen it enough times in my lifetime to not be amazed, but grateful that when difficult situations arise, the community pulls together to get things done. You’ll see the image here – before and after – of one of our Fishing Monthly vehicles that we made the mistake of parking in a hotel parking lot at Singleton, NSW. We’d loaned it to Fishing Monthly’s sister company, ABT, who were running a bass tournament at nearby Lake St Clair in the Hunter Valley. During the night, some low-lifes decided that breaking into the car, stealing it, stealing all of the tournament prizes and gear and finally torching it at a local river crossing was an

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Horsham 58 Robinvale 60 Mildura 60 Yarrawonga 61 Shepparton 62 Wangaratta 63 Jindabyne 64 Eildon 66 Bonnie Doon 66 Goulburn River 67 Bendigo 68 West/South Gippsland 68 Central Gippsland 69 Crater Lakes 69 Melbourne Metro 69 Ballarat 70

From the Editor’s Desk...

NSW SOUTH COAST Mallacoota 45 Bermagui 44 Eden 44 Narooma 46 Merimbula 46

EAST COAST Inverloch 38 Ninety-Mile Beach 39 Welshpool 41 Gippsland Lakes 40 Marlo 41 McLoughlins Beach 42 Lakes Entrance 42 Bemm River 43

Geelong 20 Port Phillip West 24 Port Phillip East 26 Port Phillip North East 28 Rosebud 30 Western Port North 32 Western Port South 34 Phillip Island 38

CENTRAL

PRO

West Coast 14 Warrnambool 16 Portland 17 Apollo Bay 18 Cobden 18

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Southern Bluefin Tuna

Stickbaiting secrets for SBT WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

In recent years there has been an explosion in the popularity of casting stickbaits at southern bluefin tuna. The far South West Coast of Victoria and Tasmania has seen an incredible resurgence in the population and accessibility of SBT and many anglers are choosing to hunt the species in a

variety of ways. Casting stickbaits is truly one of the most exciting ways to do so. Stickbaits have been around for a long time and were originally designed by Japanese master luremakers, however, using stickbaits to target tuna has a relatively short history. In fact the idea in its infancy was met with a certain level of scepticism. PROOF OF CONCEPT One of the true pioneers

of the technique as it applies to tuna is Brendan Wing of YouFishTV. In 2010 he, along with Rodney Gilham, managed to land three SBT around 30kg out off Eagle Hawk Neck on the southeastern coast of Tasmania fishing on Big Pig, Stuart Nichols’ charter boat. Stuart remarked that it was the first time he’d seen or heard of this being accomplished. This simple beginning planted the seed of belief that this

Stickbaits can provide some exciting visual surface strikes!

Wish big

method could work. In 2012 Brendan and Joseph Fernand filmed an episode fishing out of Port Fairy on the southwest coast of Victoria and made history with the first SBT taken using cast stickbaits in the state recorded for TV. From these small beginnings we have reached the present where stickbaiting is recognised as one of the most exciting ways to target tuna and the range of available lures, techniques and the willingness of anglers to employ it seems to be growing in popularity. LURES The simplest definition of a stickbait is a hard lure that is generally long and slender and designed to emulate a baitfish. In their purist form stickbaits began as a floating lure – like a version of a popper that runs on or just below the surface with an action emulating a distressed or fleeing baitfish. In modern versions there are three main variants – floating, level sink and sinking – all of which encourage a strike when applied in the appropriate situation. The lures themselves come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and weights. Most lure manufacturers include a range in their offerings. Stickbaits in general terms are not a simple cast and retrieve lure and anglers need to use action to make the lure work to its full potential. Although there is plenty to choose

Stickbaits come in a broad range of colours and sizes. many other brands on the market that can do equally as good a job, and choice may simply be determined by personal preference. One of the most important features to be aware of is that there must be a strong wire-through body connection to withstand the pressure exerted by a fighting tuna. TOOLING UP Once the choice has been made to cast stickbaits, there are a host of considerations to be made in terms of gear to use. Line

and will certainly make for some exciting sport. Use 20-50lb braid and mono leader in equivalent class for a good starting point on the smaller fish that allow a great fight but will still capably boat a fish within a reasonable time frame. When you target larger fish it pays to be well-prepared and not under-gunned in terms of line class. Ian Miller’s Shimano T-Curve stickbait designed by specifically for casting is my personal setup of choice for fish over 20-30kg+. I

Mustad’s new Wish Braid leaps into the top end of the braid market. Its diameter for breaking strain is excellent, giving users a number of benefits. Being a true 8-strand braid, Mustad Wish is built with 100% Honeywell Spectra Fibre. This makes Wish exceptionally durable under load and this is where thin braids can come undone. The braiding process used by Mustad produces a rounder and smoother braid that handles exceptionally well and ties knots superbly, completing the picture. Mustad never compromises on quality. Quality, reliability and consistency are paramount to the Mustad ethos and Wish holds true to these core values. Abrasion resistance, thinness and the highest quality – that’s what Wish brings to the table. Available in 110 yard (18lb-36lb) and 250 yard (18lb-70lb) spools, Mustad Wish Braid makes your dreams come true. Brendan Wing with a good size school fish on a recent trip off Portland.

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from, a short list of standout lures have emerged on the South West Coast recently including, but not limited to, Shimano Orca, which comes in floating and sinking variants, and available in a range of sizes: Shimano Ocea 115mm sinking, Shout Engra 140mm sinking, Maria Loaded in floating, sinking and level sink and finally the Maria Bullchop 120mm slow sink. Of course there are

class, rods, reels and leader are all variable depending on the general size of the fish targeted. In simple terms, casting stickbaits is about finding the fish, casting accurately at them, fighting, then landing them – when casting at fish in the 10-15kg range it’s certainly possible to push the limits on how light you can go. Rods in the 5-10kg range with reels from 300010,000 size are adequate for smaller school tuna

match this rod to a 20k Stella loaded with 100lb braid and mono leader of 80-120lb, which is a little overpowered on mid-range fish, but allows a good fight. This setup will still give some stopping power on larger fish if and when one is hooked. I choose to run mono as leader material rather than the less visible fluorocarbon for several reasons. Monofilament has a much slower sink rate than fluorocarbon which is

ideal for use with floating and level sink stickbaits and gives the lure a much more natural presentation. It allows floating lures to sit nicely tail down and nose up without the leader encouraging the nose to dip. The same theory applies to level sink lures where the whole point is to allow the lure to slowly sink parallel

leader material and in fact the harder itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pulled on, the tighter it gets. The nature of the FG knot means it is far more stable on a supple leader material like mono than it is on the highly abrasion resistant and far harder fluorocarbon leaders, leading to a much more reliable connection â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rated at 100% of line class

on the surface feeding. One of the most accommodating practices we have implemented in recent times is to only troll skirted lures while trying to locate fish to cast at or actually making the decision to not troll at all and instead cover area to find fish that are actively feeding. Leaving diving lures out of the

A smaller school fish caught by the author in 7m of water at Portland. to the surface and again not have the nose pulled down. This is especially important when casting with the heavier leader classes. This leads me to the second and most important reason. The knot of choice for connection between braid and leader is the FG knot. The FG is a knot that bites down into the

breaking strain when tied and tensioned correctly. TECHNIQUE As with all tuna fishing, but particularly when casting stickbaits, visual cues are the key to find the fish. Bird activity is the number one locating factor. Not only do diving birds indicate the presence of tuna but that the fish are

trolling spread allows you to gun the motor and move quickly to sighted bird activity without the need to bring lures in before taking off. Once the fish are spotted, the next step is to determine the general direction they are moving. Even when they are up on To page 10

Locked in tight to a much better fish! APRIL 2016

Southern Bluefin Tuna From page 9

bait at the surface there will be a noticeable leading direction to the school as they follow the bait. At this point the best scenario is to move up-wind of that direction; the fish will slowly move towards the boat, however, maintain awareness of any sudden or subtle changes in the movement of the fish. When the boat is in position casts should be slightly leading of the schools direction and kept low rather than a big lob into the middle of the school. Engage the bail arm just before the lure hits the water and immediately

commence your retrieve. This is paramount to get a strike, although often the lure is hit within seconds of landing with a perfectly placed cast. If the stickbait is not smashed straight away it’s imperative to get the lure moving to create action and draw the attention of the fish. Two variations of retrieve that work exceptionally well are short sharp staccato type movements while slow rolling the lure, or a long and slower draw/stroke of the lure parallel to the surface of the water. The latter works exceptionally well with floating lure

presentations, whereas the former seems to be the retrieve of choice with sinking and level sink lures. In essence, the angler is simply trying to impart an action on the lure that imitates a fleeing or wounded baitfish and if you present your lure to the fish accurately it is rarely ignored. Floating stickbaits offer the most exciting visual action with tuna exploding on the lure at the surface. Sinking and level sink lures are equally as gratifying but generally the visual of the strike is lost as the lure sinks, unless it’s hit as soon as it lands

Dave Standing with a tuna taken on very light gear. which is quite often the case. The benefit to sinking style lures is obviously getting the presentation down deeper into the water column. Often some of the larger fish will be at the bottom of the school and allowing a lure to drop down through the fish like a wounded or stunned baitfish before commencing an erratic staccato type retrieve produces great results. It’s not hard to see

Tuna fight hard all the way to the boat!

VIDEO

Scan the QR code to view casting at tuna or visit the Fishing Monthly Facebook page.

why casting stickbaits is growing in popularity as it’s a highly visual way of targeting SBT and seeing a fish explode on a lure at or just below the surface is an exhilarating experience. Even when planning a day of trolling for tuna it’s a great idea to have a couple of rods rigged for casting and when the opportunity presents itself you’ll be well prepared.

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A Look At...

Big flathead on lures MELBOURNE

Luke McCredden www.thelongline.net

How good is the sight of the silhouette of that monster flathead as it rises from depths with your lure firmly pinned in its mouth? The feeling of having the net at the ready only for the big flatty to give one last screaming run. The sense of pride as you release the giant flathead and see it glide away gracefully from where it came. I haven’t cracked the magic metre mark, but

What factors play a pivotal role in building your confidence for chasing big flathead? SH: Time of year makes a big difference. November and December on the NSW South Coast I have found to be optimum, but realistically, October through to March really is a good period. I also see things in the water as factors, for example tailor. Whenever I see big feeding schools of tailor, I see it as a good opportunity to catch big flathead. They are more often than not cruising around under those schools, cleaning up the scraps, or cleaning up the scrap eaters

Frank Milito is a wealth of knowledge and knows where the big girls hang out in East Gippsland. flathead in the 70-80cm bracket are flathead that I will remember for a long time, and use for inspiration to keep fishing for the metery. Big dusky flathead have for a long time been a prized capture, but only in the last decade has it reached similar accolades to that of notorious game fish like marlin and tuna. Now we realise that the time and effort put in to hook these great fish, and skill it takes to land them, are as impressive as any capture. Anglers from all around the country enjoy visiting the estuary systems of Victoria and southern NSW in hope of tangling with a big flathead and to do it on a lure can be as exciting as any fish that swims. I chatted to a couple of good mates of mine to nut out their thoughts on lure fishing for big flathead. I spoke to Stuart Hindson, NSW South Coast Estuary Guide and Frank Milito, East Gippsland Fishing Charters. 12

APRIL 2016

like pinkies and mullet. FM: Certainly targeting them in the warmer months is a factor and has proven the best time of year for me, and being the classic ambush predator that they are, they will usually always be along a weed edge or a sand or mud drop-off. First thing in the morning and late afternoon in calm conditions are always good. As the sun rises high, the shallower water can be hard work. Will my usual flathead spots produce big fish, or should I look elsewhere? SH: If I get a few 30-40cm flathead at one particular spot, I have no drama to stay in that area and fish it hard for at least an hour. I’m very confident there will be a big fish in there. Probably nine times out of ten, all those little males will be hanging around one or two monsters. If I’m fishing a bank and we are getting a few fish, I’ll work the area almost like a grid to make sure I cover as much of the area as I

can. First I’ll drift in tight 3-5m, next drift 8-10m, next 12-15m depths, just to cover the ground knowing that there should be something big around. Also, knowing they are often lazy, you often have to put it right near them to activate a bite. FM: I always assume they are in the usual haunts. The camouflaged bottom made up of weed and rubble is good for flathead of any size. Whether you are catching fish to 20cm or 50cm, you can expect there will be big fish mixed in with them. You won’t necessarily know until they come up chasing your lure, or smaller flathead or bream, all the way to the boat and you get the fright of your life. What are your favourite lures and why? SH: 100mm Squidgy Fish in black and gold. It might be a boring answer, but mate, this is the lure for me that has proven time and time again to be the best lure for large flathead. I’ve caught more big flathead on that particular lure than any other lure I own. The majority of the time I match that with 14g jighead. I really like slamming it down on the bottom to stir up the sand and then when I twitch the plastic up, the commotion of that stirs it up again. It all creates a bit of excitement, which we know flathead react to. FM: I always match the hatch, so in prawn season my favourite by far is the DOA Shrimp. But generally speaking, 6” jerkbaits and paddle-tails always seem to get the job done. Matching the hatch is definitely important in my eyes. What are your thoughts on line class and leader? SH: For me, specifically geared up for big flathead it is 8lb braid and 14lb leader. At the end of the day, flathead from 80cm to over a metre haven’t been too put off by my offerings. I sometimes catch them on 4lb or 6lb leader if I’m fishing for bream, so it obviously can be done, but I don’t think light leader is the be all and end all. FM: Well, I don’t necessarily agree with going to a super light leader, as I think you are pushing your luck when it comes to landing them. For me it’s a minimum 10lb. I don’t think 10lb leader spooks the big girls. Are big flathead a viable year round option? SH: Absolutely, you will just change where you fish and how you are fishing, but they are around 12 months a year for sure. I’ve actually had some really good success in winter by downsizing all my lures. Little blades and

Stuart Hindson has been guiding in NSW’s South Coast for a number of years and has many plus-sized flatties to his name. smaller plastics seem to be much more effective. Combining that and slower presentation is key. FM: Yes. I don’t think it’s a desirable target species over winter at the moment, but they are a very realistic by-catch when vibing for bream in the deep. They are out there in the deep generally, and not particularly feeding heavily like they do in summer, but they will take small lures presented past their noses. I have seen a lot of 10-15lb fish caught around Lake Tyers in the deeper areas in late July. A few years ago, I might have thought it impossible… but not now! Have you got a dedicated big flathead outfit? SH: I fish the Shimano 10-20lb Terez with a Rarenium 2500 Ci4. The outfit is a really great balance and nice and light. In this situation with big model flathead, the rod is a lot more important than the reel. A lot of people fish rods that are way too light and struggle to get that hook set when fishing the bigger jigheads. It has to be a fine balancing act of strength and a bit of play in the rod. FM: For targeting large flathead you need to pull the 3-5kg type of outfit out and 6-8lb braids are good for me. When I do target them with said outfits, I probably do decrease my chances of catching other things, but the fact is the rod and reel are spot on for the big girls. Where is your favourite place to target big flathead? SH: That’s a tough one, because it changes throughout the year. A lot of it has to do with how hard a place has been fished and, as you know, the South Coast gets a fair bit of attention over Easter and Christmas periods. If we were going in November or December, which I think are

probably the best months, I’d go to Tuross. FM: I’d have to say in the height of the warm water in the North Arm, Lakes Entrance, it would have to be one of the best places to see big, gnarly, angry flathead. By far the biggest fish I’ve seen have come from there, and their numbers are amazing. What three things do people need to know about fishing for big flathead? SH: Understand where you choose to fish – time of year, what depths, lures etc. Don’t fish too light when it comes to rods and leader. Check your hook gauges, sometimes you need to go to a finer gauge hook to ensure better hook up rate. FM: Time of day. Fish early and late if fishing shallow water. Geography, that is

working accordingly to the depth and bottom you are fishing on. Match the hatch. Stuart and Frank are both highly respected guides in the estuary systems of NSW South Coast and East Gippsland respectively. Both have honed their skills over the years and on a daily basis help share that information and experience with clients. If you are heading up the South Coast of NSW, and want to learn more or have an amazing day out with one of the best in the business, get in touch with Stu on Facebook. For an East Gippsland adventure, Frank caters for anglers of all experiences and will show you the finer points of estuary fishing in Victoria. You can find East Gippsland Charters on Facebook as well.

The author hasn’t quite cracked the big flathead pattern, but hopes to land that metery in the future.

Fishing Fill-its

Good vibrations from the Zerek Fish Trap! BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

The Zerek Fish Trap brought this trevally undone near South Queensland’s Amity Beach. movement, which translates to strong, fish attracting vibrations that fish just can’t seem to ignore. Those very slight rod tip movements seem to make vibes so very effective. If you haven’t used a vibe – either a hard or softbodied job – it’s very tempting to cast one out or drop it over the side into some deep water then jig it ambitiously up and down with considerable movement. Unfortunately, that sort of action is not

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Scott Kampe with a Dunk Island trevally taken on a Fish Trap. with extra strong split rings, ultra sharp Mustad 4x Saltism trebles and in 15 colours for virtually every application from fresh to saltwater and areas in between. With an impressive three size range (65, 95 and 110mm), there seems to be a Fish Trap for all sorts of applications, from straight out casting and retrieving through to trolling. The Fish Trap responds to the slightest rod tip

The author ‘Fish Trapped’ this mulloway at Jumpinpin.

QXQFMTF001

There are so many fantastic lures in the Wilson Zerek range that it’s hard to predict what’s going to be next! Some time back I became enthused about the Zerek Live Shrimp and Live Shrimp Hot Legs. I just could not believe how efficiently these snagless lures managed to trick barra and jacks up north, then proved so good on flatties at Jumpinpin, as well as snapper around the Bay reef areas. The new Zerek Fish Trap is the latest lure from the Zerek range and will hopefully echo the versatility of its brethren – it’s certainly doing the job for the Kampe fishing team. The Fish Trap is a very well made lipless crankbait (soft vibe) with a very lifelike appearance and a single curly tail that seems to have a life of its own. The slightest movement and that tail starts to wriggle! The Fish Trap comes

equation and watch the line. A sudden movement equates to a fish. Our success so far with the Zerek Fish Trap has been diverse. From threadies in the Brisbane River, to a mulloway at the Pin, a decent trevally for Denise over in the Rainbow Channel near Amity, with Scott the lad scoring some excellent fish up north as well. With the weather cooling I’m looking forward to a whole lot more fun with the Zerek Fish Trap during autumn and into winter.

the one that’s going to attract a fish. The clue with vibes is to work them subtly, so that the vibe flutters briefly into life then subsides in action. In fact, it’s often on the way back down from a small lift – when used directly under the boat, or in between small lifts of the rod tip on a slow retrieve back to the rod – that the vibe tends to get hit. The clue is to keep all slack out of the

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Get excited, bream it on! WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

April will be another great month of fishing on the Glenelg River. If the preceding few months is anything to go by, both

bream and estuary perch will be easily targeted through the whole system. March saw some perch of a better average size finally caught on a consistent basis. In the lead up there had been no shortage of smaller fish in the 30-35cm for lure fishers.

This is a great sign for the next few years to come, but the larger fish haven’t been as prevalent at this time of year as they normally are. They are around with the smaller run of fish but the bite windows to find the big ones seem to be much shorter. This means

Some bigger estuary perch are finally on the chew.

Shaun Dennehy with his first EP on a surface lure!

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a concerted effort is required to sort through the rats and find those areas and bite times when the really big girls came out to chew. Fishers who use live bait like minnow fished on a float and allowed to drop deeper into the snags were finding those better-sized fish with greater regularity. Bream on the other hand, have been exceptional in the mid to lower sections of the river and particularly in the estuary. Both lure and baitfishers have had no trouble finding plenty of quality fish, and I’d expect to see no change to this pattern through April. Baits such as podworm and crab are among the most productive but can be a little hard to come across at the moment. Lure fishers have been having great success with soft plastics and ZMan Grubs have been a standout. Shallow diving hardbodies thrown up onto the sand edges also account for some big bream. In the early mornings and late afternoon surface lures like Atomic K9 and OSP Bent Minnows have been deadly when wind and weather conditions are suitable. Mulloway seem to be everpresent in the Glenelg but there have been some better-sized fish around lately. The estuary has produced the odd legal fish

in the 60-80cm range as well as some even bigger models for those who put in the time in on the water. Live mullet are the number one bait for mulloway in the estuary, and lures such as Rebel Broke Backs slow trolled often find good results. Cast vibe style lures and larger soft plastics through and along the edges of some

of the deeper channels and holes to target mulloway when they are schooled up or even moving up to the shallower edges to hunt. April is a great time to get out on the river and autumn still provides some nice weather and plenty of opportunities to find some fish – so get out and enjoy everything the Glenelg has to offer.

Tommy Purcell has had great success lately on Berkley 3B Puppydogs.

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EVERY WEEK 14

APRIL 2016

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Kingfish banging about in the bay PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

Portland has really turned it on this summer from kingfish beyond 15kg to tuna in the 10-30kg range. Australia Day right through to March has seen some of the best kingfish in quite some time, even the land-based anglers on the breakwater have had a crack at these great fish. We’ve seen some big schools around the water tower and towards Narrawong and Fitzroy outlet. Mixed in with this was school tuna from 10-30m of water, so everyone has had a lot of fun in the last couple of months. Even divers have come to Portland to attempt to spear tuna and kingfish in the shallow water, which was successful for some. The deep-water fishing has been quite good when the weather permits; with some very good size blue-eye as well as a pink ling that went 13kg. As you come in a little from the shelf you can pick up good-sized snapper, tiger flathead, and gummy and school sharks. Bridgewater Bay is still one of the biggest hot spots for great flathead,

sharks and gurnards – when the weather permits, you will have the time of your life fishing in these areas. Anglers are also hooking up to the odd mako now around Cape Nelson, which is always a great spot to bottom bounce. Fishing this side of Lawrences Rock and back towards the corkscrew has turned up great numbers of whiting that range between 40-50cm in size. We are so lucky here in Portland

to have great whiting like we do. The flathead that have started to return to this area have mixed up the bags. Pinkies, couta, and gurnards are also in numbers around the bay. The breakwater has been a bit quiet lately, but this can change at any time. You can still get pinkies, whiting, squid, salmon and the odd shark, just not in big numbers. The trawler wharf has been good with average size pinkies and some good-

Adam with his first kingfish – check out the water on that day.

sized whiting. There is still a chance of the odd kingfish around the North Shore area depending on the weather and water temperatures. Tuna are also coming to play. Pinkies can be found around the reef lines on the North Shore, plus there is a chance of a good shark. The North Shore area is a great beach fishing spot for snapper, mulloway, gummies, schoolies and seven gillers. Downsize a bit for salmon, whiting and trevally. As long as the weed is not a problem, this area can really turn it on. The Fitzroy River has a few options for fishers; you can fish the river for bream, mullet, perch and mulloway. The mouth opening to the ocean can land you some big fish from snapper to sharks. If you venture back towards Narrawong you can also fish the Surrey River for bream and mullet or access the beach for surf fishing. At the other end of Portland you have Bridgewater Bay for salmon, mulloway and the odd shark off the beach then further around to Discovery Bay for heavy surf fishing. April should certainly see most of the

A very nice catch of King George whiting and pinkies. We should see good numbers of these species this month. above caught over the month and generally the weather is quite good to us. Good luck and happy fishing. ° For all your bait and tackle needs look no further than Portland Compleat Angler for your next fishing

adventure. We also have fishing licences available in store. You will find us at 61 Bentinck St Portland next to the Gordon Hotel. Contact us on (03) 5521 1844 for all your weather and fishing reports.

Deepwater bites bring a feed! WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

April is usually the month that the southern bluefin frenzy kicks into gear. However, this year the SBT have been a consistent (and consistently fussy), target over the past couple of months. The kingfish, that have been around with them as well, usually vacate the area by April, but there is plenty of other offshore action on offer. Anglers have been

More and more anglers successfully target deep-water bottom fish locally, like this fine trumpeter caught by Antony Lubji

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targeting deepwater species when conditions allow. Ours is a growing fishery, and many more anglers are discovering new areas to target tasty bottom fish that inhabit the depths of our coast such as Tasmanian trumpeter, blue-eye, gemfish and the like. April is often a time that can see the stable weather patterns required to target these fish. Boat Charters Warrnambool had an eventful overnight trip recently; the team landed plenty of quality deep-sea table fish including gemfish, blue-eye and blue grenadier. They managed to boat three mako sharks, with the biggest at nearly 80kg. To top it off, they landed a 60kg tuna on a deep bait set for swordfish. On the smaller scale of saltwater species, but still just as tasty, King George whiting have been biting well in all the local hotspots and the evening is a prime time to land a few. For land-based anglers, the Warrnambool breakwater has turned up a few with good salmon, pinkies and even the odd small gummy taken off the back wall. The mouth of the Hopkins River has remained closed, but fishing continues along alright. Mulloway have continued to be the highlight with some quality fish caught. There have been

Lewis Holland with a 60kg southern bluefin caught while targeting broadbill. numerous fish in the 70cm range encountered, with a few quality specimens over 80cm. Sam Powell is one angler who has made the most of the good run of fish with consistent captures on a wide variety of baits. Bream captures have been patchy, but much better than expected after the mouth being closed for a period of time. If you are in the area over the holiday break, why

not enter the Warrnambool and District Angling Club’s Easter fishing competition. This annual, estuary fishing competition is open to the public, and starts on Saturday 26 March at 12pm and concludes Sunday 27 March at 12pm. There is a male, female and junior section to enter, and plenty of fantastic prizes. Enter at the clubrooms on the day from 11am.

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Angling attention turns to monster kingfish APOLLO BAY

Daniel Kent apollobaysurfshop@bigpond.com

The fishing news around town is all about one species: yellowtail kingfish. Schools of kingies have been scattered along the coastline for a few months now, and when one school decided to hold up on the Bumbry Reef for a few weeks, the angling community went into a spin. The Bumbry Reef is located only a few hundred metres from the local boat harbour and is accessible to small tinnies or even kayaks. Kingfish from 60cm-1m have been landed using a variety of methods from casting or trolling lures to fishing live baits of mackerel or squid. If the fish are seen actively feeding on the surface, then lures are the go, but if you can’t find any noticeable signs of yellowtail kingfish, then live bait has been working best. One helpful tip is to fish your live baits at different depths. Put one under a balloon or large float, another free swimming and one down deep,

in good numbers just down the coast at Portland, so it shouldn’t be long before they are back in this area too. Last year was a bumper season and all signs are pointing towards another great season. There are plenty of bait schools along the coastline and I’m sure it is only a matter of time before everyone’s attention switches from yellowtails to blue fins! King George whiting are still around in good numbers on the inshore reefs with pipis accounting for most fish. Australian salmon schools have been thick from Wild Dog Beach to Skenes Creek. Flathead are still being taken in large numbers from 35m of water and the squid fishing in the harbour has been excellent in recent weeks. On the freshwater scene, we are still waiting for some decent rain to flush the systems out and fire up the trout. Once the water starts to rise, I will be targeting the trout on soft plastics and Schools of kingfish have been holding on the Bumbry Reef, which is only a short trip from the boat ramp. small hardbodies. The Barham, Aire, Ford and Kennett rivers as just off the bottom. If you do at the ready, as more kingies leave the hooked fish in the that process. well as Smythes Creek and are happen to hook a fish, make will surely be following the water until another is hooked Reports are coming in that all worth a flick and hold large sure your fishing partners are hooked fish. If this is the case, up and try to keep repeating the southern bluefin tuna are populations of brown trout.

Briny a good option until rain COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

February’s weather was not extreme regarding heat, but the distinct lack of rainfall continues to plague us in the South West and no doubt, elsewhere in the state. However, fish continue to be caught with some exceptional catches happening out on the briny. The southern bluefin tuna season has never really finished up along our coastline, with captures of schooling tuna occurring almost constantly in depths as little as 40m. Most fish range around the 8-12kg mark, but some slightly bigger specimens have been boated. Right now anglers are travelling from far and wide to our shores to specifically target yellowtail kingfish

and the tuna seem to be a very welcome by-catch. Launching from Boat Bay near Peterborough, Warrnambool and Port Fairy or from further afield at Portland, many sizeable kingies are being boated. Knife jigs, large soft plastics in white or skirted and minnow lures approaching game fish size have all attracted interest from kingfish with a few tuna thrown in. Geelong’s own gun angler Neil Slater has slayed the kingfish off Narrawong’s reefs in recent times and has boated some real hoodlums that have given his arms a decent stretch. In similar depths, quality gummy and school shark have been taken bottom bouncing with fresh squid strips and tentacles being the prime bait. Pinkie snapper, morwong, leatherjacket and bluethroat wrasse have been the by-catch.

Further out, some excellent Tasmanian trumpeter, ling, blue grenadier, knifejaw and even porbeagle shark have been taken bottom bouncing the depths, but not as deep as usual. Reefs lying in depths under 200m have produced the goods for some. Much closer inshore has finally seen some King George whiting, sweep, rock cod and the odd silver trevally taken with Newfield Bay and the Port Campbell jetty being popular spots for anglers to wet a line, especially from dusk onwards. The Curdies River and lake have seen some decent bream coming on board in the mid 30s. The mouth has been closed for some time now, and water levels in the lake are dropping due to evaporation and lack of rainfall, so launch from the Curdievale (Boggy Creek) boat ramp and not from Peterborough.

Lake anglers have had success using frozen prawn and whitebait and fillets of freshly caught mullet and salmon with the skin left on. Those who fish lures, such as soft plastics and metal vibes, have picked up fish within 2m of the riverbank while casting shallow and medium diving lures right at the weed beds. They have also pulled out some solid bream. The Gellibrand River at Princetown remains closed to the sea and full so as the boat ramp is on the seaward side of the campground bridge, no one except kayakers can get underneath to venture upstream where the estuary perch are very active, especially around the stands of bank side tea tree. A variety of lures and plastics are attracting hits from EPs on a given day. Cooler weather is just around the corner, but bring on the rain, please.

Neil Slater with one of his hoodlum kingfish.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Fitzroy River fishing jetty ready for anglers A new floating pontoon jetty on the Fitzroy River, east of Portland, has replaced the old wooden one at Tyrendarra and is already being used by anglers this summer. Acting Fisheries Victoria Executive Director, Mark Edwards, said the new jetty had been funded by 18

APRIL 2016

recreational fishing licence fees and would make fishing with family and friends even easier. “Improving access and facilities is at the cornerstone of the State Government’s Target One Million plan for recreational fishing, which aims to get more people fishing more often,” Mr Edwards said.

“The new floating jetty features seating, rod holders and is wider to cater for more anglers and those in wheelchairs. “The jetty restores safe fishing access for shore-based anglers trying to catch mullet, black bream, estuary perch and Australian salmon in the river’s lower reaches.

“The $60,460 project was supported by VRFish, the Port Fairy Angling Club and the Yambuk Angling Club.” Mr Edwards said the replacement of the Tyrendarra jetty had been funded through the Recreational Fishing Grants Program, which is now open for large projects worth between $5,001 and $100,000.

“Fishing clubs, community groups, incorporates bodies and government agencies are encouraged to apply for project funding in the current 2015/16 round, which closes on 29 February 2016. “Smaller project proposals, worth less than $5,000, can be submitted anytime,” Mr Edwards said.

Since its inception 15 years ago, the Recreational Fishing Grants Program has funded more than 600 projects worth over $21 million to improve fishing opportunities for Victorian anglers. For more information visit www.vic.gov. au/fishinggrants – Victoria Fisheries

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Mooch out for a mixed bag GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

As we taper into autumn, we should see the ebb of yellowtail kingfish in the region and hopefully the flood of southern blue fin tuna! Closet to shore, be on the lookout for one of the tastiest critters to

grace the plate, the King George whiting. Early reports suggest this could be a bumper autumn around Geelong, the Bellarine and Surf Coast for ‘Old George’! The Barwon River in Geelong did suffer a blue-green algae hit over the warmer months, but has cleared up a fair bit. European carp to 6kg have

been caught by anglers bank fishing during the day near Queens Park, Balliang Sanctuary and Breakwater Bridge. Sweet corn kernels and bread have been best bait for the carp, while redfin to 35cm have been caught by anglers casting soft plastic lures parallel to the weed banks up near Queens Park. The pinkie snapper have turned up inside Corio Bay

and with plenty of undersized fish about, and anglers have a responsibility to ensure undersized fish are returned quickly to the water. Ross Winstanley fished inside Stingaree Bay recently, where he found the pinkie snapper going off. Ross managed his bag limit on two occasions and spoke to another angler back at the ramp who also caught plenty. Ross has also had a session where he caught and released 43 undersized pinkies and only one legal length specimen! Ross has also had several mixed bags of whiting and flathead mixed in with the pinkies. It could be a good time to break out the soft plastic gear as there has been a few pinkie snapper caught either side of 40cm in the shallows around the Geelong waterfront, Point Henry and Point Wilson. Those fishing with soft plastics targeting snapper around Point Henry and North Shore rocks have also tangled with a few short finned pike to 70m. They are reasonably difficult to hook due to their hard mouth, so make sure your hooks are sharp. Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head excitedly reports that in 13 summers,

Jim and Cooper display what’s available inside Swan Bay. he has not seen a better run of whiting with some boats bagging out and others getting a fantastic feed. Rod notes that most of the fish were only 30-32cm, but were biting well on pipis, squid and mussels during both tides as long as the water was running. Rod says

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to try from Portarlington back to Indented Head boat ramp both in very close and out wide near the furthest grass beds. Pinkie snapper have also been caught by clients using pilchards for bait near the Prince George light. The everreliable squid have also been

active for Rod’s clients with a few good bags plus some cuttlefish in amongst them. An impressive 40 keen anglers participated in this year’s Bellarine Flathead Challenge Hosted by St Leonards Angling Club. Only 13 fish were weighed in, so most found the flatties elusive but everyone had a great time. Father and son team, Jim and Cooper Robinson fished Swan Bay where Cooper caught a beauty at 2.77kg to take out the $100 prize money and just beat dad who caught another beauty

at 2.18kg! On top of that, five mystery weight fish each received a $25 gift voucher from Mario’s Fresh Bait while Bella Scaffidi won the $100 cash lucky ticket draw. Phil Walters from St Leonards Angling Club concurs that the whiting have been going nuts out off St Leonards and down to Swan Bay with a few bigger fish to 40cm caught also. Phil says whiting bags are also available at Clifton Springs but nothing over 36cm. Anglers fishing out off Werribee have had an

epic run of small to medium whiting with plenty of bag limit captures there but nothing much over 35cm. Inside Queenscliff has seen silver trevally to 42cm caught on pilchard fillets and 2” single-tailed grub soft plastic lures. The best bet has been to target the area when the tide has stopped running. As the tide speed picks up, sometimes they can be caught inside the harbour amongst the boats seeking shelter from the current. Schools of Australian salmon to 1.2kg have been

marauding baitfish around Queenscliff providing anglers with great sport casting lures into the hungry schools.

still find the odd mako and blue shark quite coaxable with a liberal berley trail in Bass Strait, but I’d expect

• Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in a report to

A mixed bag for Ross from Corio Bay.

A salmon dances on the fly rod not far from The Rip.

Some salmon over 2kg have been caught by anglers casting lures from the rock platforms along the Great Ocean Road. These fish have been quite close to the rock platforms, so make sure you work the lure right to the edge where possible. Offshore anglers should

captures of kingfish to start to slow right down as the water temperature falls. Those with game gear should start trolling out wide in search of southern bluefin tuna as we saw some true monsters over 100kg caught not far out off the Surf Coast.

slaterbunch@optusnet.com. au with VFM in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 997 348. 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).

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Your fishing licence

More fish habitat in Gellibrand Fishing licence fees have helped the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority improve fish habitat in the lower Gellibrand River, above Old Coach Road near Princetown. Scientists sonar mapped the estuary to determine the best locations for the 35 fish havens, which are a combination of root clusters and one metre tall latticed log boxes. These provide improved habitat for black bream, estuary perch and yellow eye mullet, along with threatened fish such as Australian grayling.

15 kg 0.04

0.05

0.06

0.07

0.09

0.10

0.12

0.13

0.15

0.18 0.20 0.23 0.25 Fish age (years) Female 2 Male 3

Estuary perch - Weigh your catch

asure fish from tip of snout uth closed to tip of tail and read orresponding average weight and average age. Illustration: Alexis Beckett

Fishcare promotes responsible attitudes and practices amongst recreational anglers and the wider community.

0.28

0.32

0.35 4 5

0.39

0.43

0.47

0.52 7 10

0.56

0.61

0.67

0.73 12 up to 2

Estuary perch (Macquaria colonorum): • Typically occur in upper brackish reaches of estuaries, but have broad salinity tolerance and can occur in fully marine to fully freshwater reaches. • Prefer structured habitats such as snags, rock and reed beds. • Are apex predators, their diet consists mainly of small fish, shrimp, prawns, but also other small crustaceans, bivalve molluscs and worms.

Visit www.fishcare.org.au or follow us on Facebook - Fishcare Victoria Inc.

Estuary perch rulers Fishcare has produced a new ‘weigh your catch’ ruler for estuary perch. The ruler allows anglers to gain an estimate of a perch’s weight based purely on its length. The rulers avoid the need for anglers to hang fish vertically from scales and, when combined with other best-practice handling techniques, improve post-release survival. Retail outlets or angling clubs can request rulers, free of charge, from jennifer.allitt@ecodev.vic.gov.au

APRIL 2016

vic.gov.au/fishinggrants

• Breeding Adults mi to spawn. • Large est produce your catc

Minimum s Produced by

fees at work

Merri River fishing platforms

Spring Creek fishing platforms

The Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority has installed two new floating fishing platforms on the Merri River to improve access for recreational anglers.

Two all-ability fishing platforms on either side of Spring Creek, in Torquay, have complemented existing platforms on the waterway, including one that has been modified for canoe launching.

0.79

0.85

0.92

0.99 22

1.06

1.14

1.22

1.31 1.40 up to 36

occurs during late winter and spring in Victorian waters. igrate to higher saline waters in the lower sections of estuaries . Eggs are laid on submerged rocks and aquatic plants. tuary perch captured over 40 cm are often females that can hundreds of thousands of eggs. Think twice about keeping ch!

1.49

1.59

1.69

1.80

1.91

2.03

2.15

2.27

When releasing your catch: • Do not play out a fish until exhaustion • Use a knotless landing net to avoid damage to fins and scales • Use a wet towel/hands to handle the fish, avoid touching its gills • Use circle hooks to minimise the chance of deep hooking • Carefully remove the hook from lip hooked fish using pliers • If deep hooked cut the line as close to the mouth as possible.

size limits and bag limits apply. Refer to your current Victorian Recreational Fishing Guide. This ruler is a guide only. Fishcare Victoria Inc. February 2015. Weight data from fish collected in the Hopkins River in 1999 by Tim Howe courtesy of Deakin University.

Fitzroy River fishing platform A new floating pontoon jetty on the Fitzroy River has replaced the old wooden one at Tyrendarra, east of Portland. The jetty features seating, rod holders and is wider to cater for more anglers and those in wheelchairs.

Target One Million All five of these projects support the State Government’s Target One Million plan for recreational fishing, which aims to grow participation to one million anglers by 2020. Learn how we are getting more people fishing, more often, at www.vic.gov.au/targetonemillion

APRIL 2016

Let’s talk about bream! PORT PHILLIP WEST

Brenton Hodges blhodgey@hotmail.com

Aside from the height of snapper season, the weeks either side of Easter are arguably the most anticipated period on the

local fishing calendar. WERRIBEE SOUTH TO POINT COOK As daylight hours dwindle and the seasons

At this time of year, pinkies gather in numbers on the shallow inshore reefs, particularly around the top end of the bay.

Make the most of the edge bite in the metro rivers before the cooler weather sets in, water temperatures plummet and the resident bream seek out deeper haunts.

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change from warm to cold, the inner reefs are where all the action takes place. During this transitional phase, King George whiting, squid, pinkie snapper and some ripping blue spot flathead are available in the shallows. One of the largest flatties I’ve seen for a while, estimated at 55-60cm, was taken by Allan Allwood while fishing off Kirks Point. Al also picked up several pinkies, whiting, leather jacket and a bag of calamari. Good eating size flatties are still available on the flats just out from Werribee South and flesh baits and paddle-tail soft plastics presented on the drift account for most. According to Jason Farrugia from Magnet Fishing Charters, the whiting have been a lot bigger lately with some pushing the 45cm mark! These fish, as well as what Jase desribed as ‘heaps’ of pinkies averaging 30-40cm, have been taking squid and pipi among a steady stream of berley. ALTONA TO WILLIAMSTOWN Though the period traditionally referred to as the ‘snapper season’ has well and truly passed, the coming months offer some hot action in the shallows. At this time of year, pinkies gather in

numbers on the shallow inshore reefs, particularly around the top end of the bay. The majority range in

size from barely legal up to about 55cm or 2kg in weight – but expect the odd 4-5kg+ red to be lurking

The Maribyrong River has produced some fine bream fishing of late, particularly for lure casters working the banks with diving minnows, crab imitations and grub pattern soft plastics.

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APRIL 2016

Whether flicking soft plastics on the drift or sitting at anchor with baits among a berley trail, there’s plenty on offer across the inner western reefs during autumn.

new moon phase. WERRIBEE RIVER Down the highway at Werribee South, expect an influx of large yellow-eye mullet any day now. If previous years are anything to go by, there should be plenty of mullet, as well as some good bream available from the jetty and floating

Keep an eye out for Australian salmon patrolling the reefs and herding baitfish to the surface this month. magnet for these fish during autumn. Small diving lures intended for bream account for some unexpected reds under the boat hulls. Initially, this is a bit of a novelty, but since snapper pull at least twice as hard as bream of equal weight, it can become an expensive exercise among the moorings! MARIBYRNONG RIVER The Maribyrong River has produced some fine urban fishing of late with anglers reporting catch and release sessions of up to twenty bream either side of the legal size limit. There’s

also a few pinkie snapper to 35cm or thereabouts mixed in with the bream. Baitfishing is highly productive with tubeworm, small crabs, fresh mussel and maggots most likely to produce. Bream seem to be well spread throughout the system with reports coming from Flemington Racecourse, Victoria University, Edgewater Estate and all the way through to Essendon Rowing Club. Lure casters are favouring diving minnows, crab imitations and both grub and worm pattern soft plastics

rigged on light jigheads. The key to fishing the edges with lures and soft plastics is to work in tight to structure – be it dislodged sections of bluestone, bridge pylons, floating pontoons, reeds or overhanging trees and shrubs. As long as there’s some flow, both the incoming and outgoing tides can be equally successful. During slack water bream generally become more selective in their feeding habits, however this is prime time to cross paths with a metropolitan mulloway, especially a few days either side of the full or

Even though the snapper season has passed, the coming months still offer hot action in the shallows.

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pontoons at the mouth of the system. Raw chicken and dough works a treat on the mullet, while the bream respond best to live tubeworm and Bass yabby. BEEN FISHING? Reports and images are most welcome and may be submitted via email to blhodgey@hotmail.com.

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nearby. In fact, the largest snapper I’ve encountered over the past few years have come between Easter and ANZAC Day while casting soft plastics on the drift just out from Williamstown Football Ground. Nearby patches of rock and rubble, from the launching ramp at Altona right through to the Yarra River entrance, hold schools of pinkie snapper at times, particularly during or immediately following an onshore southerly blow. Yes, there’s likely to be plenty of pickers to sort through, but it’s well worth the effort when a real one latches on. As is so often the case, concentrating your efforts either side of a change in tide at first and last light maximises the chance of striking the fish in feeding mode. There’s likely to be some Australian salmon patrolling the edge of the reefs this month. These speedsters can easily be spotted when herding baitfish to the surface, so keep and eye out for birds hovering above or diving at bait schools. YARRA RIVER The lower reaches of the Yarra River should see some pinkie snapper and the odd larger red holding on the edge of the shipping channel this month. The yacht club at Williamstown acts like a

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APRIL 2016

Head out after dark for the chance of a big bite! PORT PHILLIP EAST

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

The warm and dry conditions we experienced right through the summer months have continued into the start of autumn as well on the Bay. While the fishing has been productive, superclear inshore waters have made low light and overcast conditions the best times to target various species in the shallows. Persistent afternoon easterly winds have also congregated much of the bait and food onto the wider marks as well making these areas a better option during the brighter hours of the day. Hopefully some substantial rain is just

around the corner. Snapper reports have been few and far between over the past month, but expect this to change as the water temperature cools this month and further into autumn. Traditionally, late run snapper tend to congregate on the mud flats and vast grazing areas south of Mount Martha and across the shipping channel as they put on condition after spawning. While the numbers are generally less than during the summer months, the quality of the fish is normally better. Those keen for a late snapper fix will do well to check out these areas, keep your eyes on social media for any recent reports. Recent snapper reports I have received have been concerned with smaller

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Surface lure fishing for bream and estuary perch has been productive, especially at Patterson Lakes. This bream fell to the new Megabass Dying Fish. pinkie snapper especially from the landbased bait fishers, and from kayak and small boat anglers fishing lures and plastics on the inshore reefs. While many fish are still undersized, a bit of persistence will normally pay off, and there are plenty of 40cm sized models to keep anglers interested. Don’t be shy to try and do things a little differently, I’ve found that a bit of good old trolling with small hardbodies has done the trick. The tactic is especially effective on reef around 4-6m deep and regularly produces chunky pinkies as well as plenty of other by-catch as well. Once again good numbers of King George whiting have been a big feature right along the eastern shoreline, especially for landbased anglers and those fishing from boats in the more protected bays. Evenings and into the night hours have been the most productive, as well as the use of fresh bait like squid, mussels, pipis and peeled prawn. Productive areas have been Daveys Bay, Sunnyside, Mills Beach, Bird Rock Beach, Main Beach, Mount Martha right down to Anthony’s nose in McCrae. Numbers of fish have decreased, but the size has

generally been bigger. Expect this trend to continue as we move towards the cooler months and the areas further south in the bay become more productive. Big numbers of salmon have once again been a feature for lure and sport fishers in the bay, and those looking for some fresh bait as well. Most fish seem to be around the 750g size at the moment, especially in the bigger schools. The larger salmon tend to be solitary, and will be in smaller numbers. Don’t forget the kingfish will not be far away either, especially among the smaller salmon. I received a report the other day of a kayak angler totally surrounded by a massive school of smaller salmon an acre in size, just off Mornington Pier. He said he could clearly see half a dozen large kingfish patrolling the base of the school! Time to break out the livies! Hopefully this trend continues for a few months yet. Although the squid have copped a hiding from various predators and anglers, solid numbers of squid on the reefs and at various

landbased spots continue to thrive. Clear water has made them sketchy during the brighter hours, but low light

conditions lead to some great fishing. Complement your timing with the use of natural coloured jigs like brown, green and red. Bream fishing in the local creeks and rivers has been great and will continue to improve into the cooler months. Recently the surface fishing has been superb, especially in the Patterson Lakes system. Baitfishing for bream will improve as we move into winter, especially after any substantial rain. I have also heard a few reports of the odd mulloway, and plenty of estuary perch as well in the Patto, and in Devilbend Reservoir, so there’s been plenty to keep the local lure casters busy at the moment. With the expected stocking that will be taking place over the coming months the fishing will only get better.

Fishing from the beaches and rocks has been very productive, especially in the evenings and after dark.

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Daniel Dalle-Nogare has cracked a huge yellowbelly again. At 59cm and weighing in at 14lb, this was one decent Lake Hume football yella!

APRIL 2016

Bream fire up as water temperatures cool off PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

Shorter days and cooler air temperatures signal that we are heading into that great autumn period. As I said last month, this part of the year can produce some fantastic fishing as a lot of the bigger fish start to get active before settling down for the cold winter. The other great thing about April is that it ‘usually’ gets us into some of the perfect calm weather and clear water. This also heralds the start of loads of excellent squid fishing options for the next few months. In April, a lot of the really good fishing tends to take place very close to the shore, making it ideal for land-based and kayak anglers. MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK Locally, as the water cools off a bit this month Mordialloc Creek will start to fire up on the bream front for those anglers that are fishing

with bait. Out the front on the pier itself, the past weeks have seen a real mixed bag of results with garfish, pinkies and salmon all being taken. Garfish have been a bit hit and miss on the pier but this month will hopefully see them make a return in good numbers, and right there with them should be some hungry salmon. If pinkies are the target then fishing around dusk will see some better fish being taken, especially by those anglers who fish with larger baits of squid strips or whole pilchards. Out in the boats, the shallow reefs have been fishing well for a variety of species with the Horse Paddock area through to Parkdale Pinnacles fishing well for pinkies in the 30-45cm range. Interestingly however, some of the better reports of bigger fish we have been hearing are from anglers fishing on the inside edge between the reef and the shoreline. These areas have also been fishing very well for squid over the past weeks and, some days, anglers have also found big schools of garfish.

Garfish should make a return in good numbers along the Mordialloc Pier this month. It’s well worth putting out a fine berley trail. Off Beaumaris Pier it’s time to get down there of an evening is search of the good numbers of calamari that will be moving into the shallows to hunt, while up off the Scout Hall and around to Ricketts Point there has been really good numbers of pinkie snapper and this will only get better as we roll through April. If you’re after some better

sized pinkies it’s also the perfect time to be doing some trolling of small deep diving minnows along the reef edges, with perfect choices being the Rapala X-Rap 10 in silver blue or hot orange patterns, or the Lucky Craft Pointers in gold or clown colours. By trolling these lures you can cover the water, sounding as you go until you get a few bites on bigger fish, which could be anywhere along the reef. Once you find them then you can anchor up and bait fish or drift and cast plastics. Either way, it’s a really effective method on the bigger sized fish. SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA The breakwall and all along the Rock Groynes at Hampton have been fishing well for pinkies over the past weeks and should only

get better as April rolls by. I also heard of some anglers getting some solid whiting while fishing from the sand and casting baits towards the patches of reef that lie just offshore, especially at the northern end of the beach there at Hampton. Off Green Point, the edge of the reef has been holding squid in good numbers for boat and kayak anglers. Further north off Brighton and its surrounds, the reefy bottom there has been holding some very nice pinkies up to and over 40cm. Along with them has been some excellent whiting and, while the numbers haven’t been great, the overall size of the fish is up with the majority of them in the 35-38cm size. Trolling small lures through all these areas has also

seen anglers catching stacks of snook in the 50-60cm size, they make good eating when fresh and excellent bait, so are sure to get a lot of anglers excited. Further north towards St Kilda, anglers are finding plenty of pinkies at dawn and dusk although over the past weeks they seem to be on the smaller size with most in the 25-30cm size. Hopefully this will change over the coming weeks. Adding to the pinkies there have also been good numbers of squid, with some kayak anglers reporting that they are doing very well with brown and gold coloured jigs. ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE. With the water beginning to cool off the bream are sure to be quite active this month around the breakwalls and moored boats in this part of the world. While out in the boats, anglers fishing the reefy areas in the 5-9m areas are sure to find some quality late season snapper, and while the best results are going to be for those anglers fishing at night, it will be worth the effort. In these areas it will also be worth fishing some smaller baits as there should also be some solid whiting in the area too. Up at the cove between Station and Princess piers this month is a great time to be fishing this area. It usually sees big schools of pinkies and even bigger snapper move into the bay to feed at night.

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APRIL 2016

A 57 year old Point Cook man was allegedly found with nearly three times the bag limit for squid at the Altona boat ramp in late November. Two plain clothes Fisheries Officers, working the night shift as part of Operation Billit, inspected the man’s vessel at the Altona boat ramp.

In one bucket the Officers allegedly found 10 squid, three snapper and three whiting. Upon searching the vessel, they allegedly located a further 18 squid in a separate bucket concealed at the stern. The daily bag limit for squid is 10 per person. The man will be charged

with exceeding the calamari bag limit, which can attract a maximum fine of more than $3033. For concealing part of his catch, the man will also be charged with taking fish in contravention of the Fisheries Act and faces penalties of up to $15,167 or six months imprisonment, or both. – Victoria Fisheries

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APRIL 2016

Woes be gone with a wobbygong! MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Dan Lee info@peninsulatotaltackle.com.au

Summer felt like it rolled through pretty quickly this year but that’s OK because autumn is a unique and favourite period of the year for many local anglers.

Crisp, calm mornings often see the best winds of the year (which for us anglers usually means no wind!). Even boat traffic is generally quiet – rarely do you see a jet ski! This is the ultimate season for some quiet time on the water. WHITING The KG have been

really good this year. After a couple of shaky seasons many fishers believed they might go quiet or disappear at some stage, but looking back on the last few months we can now comment with authority that this season has been surprisingly consistent. This is good news in light of a recent

of the peninsula. YELLOWTAIL KINGFISH Kingies are always going to command attention, so it was interesting that so many people stopped fishing for them early this year. In my mind it was a definite case of burning out too early as the best fishing, proven over the last few years, has been at the end of February and in early March. Those who persisted saw some really great fish in The Rip – generally up to about 10kg but we also saw some quality fish off the wrecks offshore. Those who managed to find some live slimies or yakkas did even better! The best captures however, were probably those that were taken around The Nobbies at Phillip Island and around Pyramid Rock. These kingies included fish between 10–15kg. At this

Ben Broomfield with a monster wobbygong shark taken while fishing for gummies on the South Channel.

Luke Marchetti with a big leatherjacket he caught land-based from Blairgowrie Marina.

Young Xavier with two 45cm whiting taken from Tootgarook.

announcement that all but two of the commercial netters operating in Port Phillip Bay will give up their licenses by the start of this month. That means many tons of whiting will no longer be taken commercially, heralding an absolute bumper whiting season in our beautiful bay. There isn’t any other species that will benefit more from the removal of commercial netting than King George. Areas that have produced consistently in the last few weeks include 5-8m shallows off Rosebud and Tootgarook. The area deep of the Sorrento Sisters has been good, while plenty of other random (secret) weed beds off Blairgowrie and Rye have also held fish, sometimes for weeks on end. There were reports of whiting quieting down at the Safety Beach end

Cap’n Baz landed this nice squid off Sorrento. size they will definitely test out the quality of your gear and knots! SQUID As we head into autumn, many anglers will turn their attention to squid fishing. Calm conditions can make squidding ideal. Your boat

won’t drift too fast, which will generally give you plenty of ‘hang time’ over your favourite weed patch. This will ensure your jigs create the right action and will encourage strikes. Most of the peninsula weed beds hold squid at the

moment. Jig selection has been varied – black has been good, the ever-popular red foil with dark back is still a killer, as is the chartreuse coloured jig, which seems to only have found resonance with Victorian anglers recently although it has been very popular in South Australia and Tasmania for a long while. LOOKING AHEAD Next month we roll into surf season. The surf scene down on the peninsula often dominates fishing reports for a couple of months. Many anglers have a layover in their boat insurance or simply pack the boat up during this cool stage of the year. Consequently, plenty of anglers hit the back beaches chasing Aussie salmon and mullet. Surf spinning has started to dominate the landscape over the last few years with many anglers ditching their cumbersome baitfishing rods for lighter outfits, and using metal lures to catch salmon. For me this is the future – if you haven’t tried it you should! You can catch more salmon more swiftly and it’s a heap of fun!

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APRIL 2016

A great time to grapple with a gummy shark WESTERN PORT NTH

Adam Ring

It has been another great month of fishing right through out the top end of the port and this would have to be one of the most consistent stretches of fishing I have seen in a long time. THE TOP END I will begin with a cracker of a catch landbased at Stockyard Point. Ash McMillan put in a few hours in pretty miserable

conditions, but when a beautiful 1.4m gummy shark took a liking to his king prawn bait, it made the effort more than worth it. Ash was fishing over the course of the low tide change and it just goes to show the quality of the fish that you can access land-based. The water out from Tooradin has continued to produce not only great numbers of King George whiting, but also a lot of above average calamari. Young Amelia spent a day on the port out from Tooradin

with her dad. The fishing was quite tough to start with, but as the high tide approached the fish switched on nicely. At the end of the day they ended up with a dozen great whiting and a side of four calamari, which I’m sure the family enjoyed for dinner that night! The whiting overall have still been pretty good with plenty of fish coming out of most of the channels and arms, which weave and wind their way through the bank of the port. Warneet Channel has been great and Gentle

Some lovely snapper are still schooled up around Yaringa.

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Annie is fishing better and better as the weeks go on. If you have never fished these channels before, a great way to start is to get up really high on the banks in as little as 1m of water at the top of the tide and get amongst those fish grazing on the flats. Once the tide starts to run out, retreat back into deeper water and present baits to those same fish as they retreat from the banks as the water begins to empty out. Yaringa has once again proved that snapper season is far from over as Ant and Ray ended a recent trip with nine snapper between them with the biggest weighing 4kg. They did end up receiving a little competition from a local seal who ended up enjoying half a dozen of the smaller pinkies! The gummy sharks are another species that have continued to bite well through out the top end. Chris Preston, John Macleod and Tiff Anderson spent an early morning on the port and were rewarded with a nice gummy that fell to a fresh chunk of pike. THE NORTH ARM It’s still all about the Middle Spit. There are just so many whiting spread out of the spit that it’s pretty hard to fish anywhere else! The other common theme this month is that there are so many young gun anglers out on the water with their families and catching their very first fish. Young Olivia and Alexander are a couple of those kids who caught their first fish as they get some really nice whiting on a recent trip. It’s so good to see the mums and dads out there getting the nippers involved and I’m sure it’s a memory that they will hold onto for life! One of the more unusual fishing reports has

The spoils of a Middle Spit session! come via Rowan and Gizz who decided that calamari were on the menu and headed over to The Spit armed with a handful of squid jigs. Though they did accomplish the mission of a few calamari they were also confronted with a very hungry flathead that completely swallowed one of the squid jigs! And to add a bit of icing to the cake, this flathead measured a whopping 50cm! Hastings has been throwing a little bit of everything at local fishos lately and would be the number one choice if it was variety that you are after. Sitting in around 14m of water has produced a variety of different species, all of which are great for the table.

A nice school of pinkies is still residing there and really start to fire up on the change of tide, a few nice table-sized gummies have also been mixed in with them. The odd whiting has also made its presence felt in the same water, so it’s always worth hanging a whiting snatcher over the side laced with a little strip of squid. Thank you to everyone who submitted a report this month and as the water temperatures start to cool a little, I am really excited to see what next month has prepared for us. My tip is that we see one last really nice run of big snapper as we approach the cooler months. Good luck and keep the reports coming!

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APRIL 2016

Ash McMillan and his 1.4m land-based gummy.

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Mako your mark today WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Bass Strait certainly turned it on in a big way this year. The last weekend in February saw the BRP/ Evinrude Victorian Game Fishing Classic held in Bass Strait and the results

were amazing! THE CLASSIC While the overall results are still being compiled, six club boats from the Bass Strait Game Fishing Club had outstanding results. Two mako sharks were tagged by members of the Bass Strait Game Fishing Club on Day 1, and one mako shark capture by another

club member in the last hour of the tournament on Day 2. Cliff Fent captured a 91.4kg mako shark on 15kg line class with crew Dave Fent Nick Oscuro on Bluefin2. This capture, in the last minutes of the day secured the heaviest capture and Most Meritorious Capture for the tournament. The other trophy winners from the club

Team Bluefin II, Cliff Fent, Dave Fent and Nick Oscuro with the captured 91.4kg mako shark. Photo courtesy of Dave Fent.

Though the whiting are thick now, the best thing is they’ll continue on all year. Photo courtesy of Think Big Charters.

were Zach Mcmahon who won Champion Angler Tag and Release, and together with his crew, Pornus Thomson and Toby Linklater on Hoffinator took out the Champion Boat Tag and Release category. KINGS What is best about Bass Strait at this time of year is that anything can take your bait or lure. Craig Pringle managed to catch himself a cracking 13.1kg kingfish on 8kg line class taken on Day One of the event – a nice surprise. There has been a huge influx of kingfish along the coastline from Kilcunda to Sea Rocks, Flinders to Cape Schank. Though they

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anglers who encounter kingfish have trolled live yellowtail scad and or strips of fresh calamari along the

Salmon have now begun their winter migration and are schooling up in the Western Entrance. Yakamito Angry Bait lures retro rigged with Mustad Kaiju single hooks are very effective.

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shallow reefs. This aids the search to find where the fish are holding as they do move around quite a lot. WHITING By the end of this month, kingfish will be a distant memory as they head back up the coast to warmer waters

are a very common catch. Shaun’s clients Adam Mitchell along with his neighbour Mal had a great session. Mal got straight into a nice gummy and the rest of the session saw them land some very respectable whiting ranging between

you will find them equally effective. The whiting fishing has been going extremely well throughout the Port, but in the south, the best action has been at Tankerton, the southern end of the middle spit, Tortoise Head Bank, Coronet Bay, Dickies Bay, Ventnor, Balnarring, Flinders and Cat Bay. Though the whiting might be abundant, you’ll still find them hard to catch at times, especially when the tides are running. In recent weeks, the best bite times have been the last hour of the ebb and first hour of the flood tides. TREVALLY Now is the time for silver trevally. Not highly rated on the sportsfish list, or as a table fish for that matter, but

silvers can be a lot of fun to catch on the right tackle. Often a by-catch while fishing for whiting, trevally are great fun. If you want o catch one, head out to the edge of the middle spit or in 5-7m of water along the southern side of the Tortoise Head Bank. Berley is a must – and keep it fine. Chook pellets mixed with tuna oil in a berley bucket will do the job. A paternoster rig, with pipi baits is all that’s needed and it won’t take long for them to come on the chew. Remember to tie your paternoster rig with at least 15lb Mustad fluorocarbon leader though. There are some big salmon about that can destroy light rig in seconds.

Cliff Fent with his winning 91.4kg mako shark on 15kg line class. Photo courtesy of Dave Fent. for yet another season. Inside Western Port however, the King George whiting have taken the focus off the kingfish. Shaun Furtiere from Think Big Charters has dominated the whiting this season and put his clients onto some great bags of fish. Even though some of the conditions have been a little breezy, whiting up to 45cm

40-45cm. On another trip, the whiting were more then happy to take any bait offered. Fish of this exceptional size have been well worth heading out for. Pipi, mussel and fresh tenderised calamari strips have been the most effective baits. If you can spare the time and pump some Bass yabbies before a session,

Jason Finney with a nice gummy taken during the evening on board Think Big Charters. Photo courtesy of Think Big Charters.

The author with a nice salmon caught casting a Yakamaito Angry Bait slimline metal. SHARKS Gummy sharks are about in good numbers, especially at night. Smaller models have been caught during the day on any given tide, especially in the Western Entrance, but the night hours will see the larger models come out to play. Many anglers fish for the fun with gummies and often these sharks are released. In saying that, the big models have been on in the lead up to the full moon and with that event only a few weeks away, now is the time to head down to the entrance and try your luck. If you are going to do so, don’t go under-gunned. The entrance can run hard and there are some whopping big stingrays also. Arm yourself

with a solid 10-15kg outfit, 50lb braid, 80lb leader and some solid Mustad Octopus circle hooks to get you on your way. The last thing you need it to be tight to a stingray for the best part of 40 minutes during the peak bite time. The winter months are approaching fast and as quick as the water temperatures are dropping, the winter species are making their way into the port. Over the coming weeks you’ll notice a big change in Western Port, salmon, elephant fish, draught board (swell sharks) and sevengill sharks all quick to devour your baits and bite you off. Fortunately, this is just another Western Port cycle taking place.

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APRIL 2016

Junior City Fishing

Variety the key to the city MELBOURNE

Jason Tanti

Around six months ago, I was lucky enough to land a part time job that working on a charter as a deck hand – and I absolutely love it! This job is right up my alley because I just love fishing. We berth and launch from the end of St Kilda

pier, right in the heart of the CBD. Every morning we depart to catch fish with our customers, and we get to watch the sensational sunrise and buildings of Melbourne. Lately we have caught good numbers of King George whiting, pike, Australian salmon, flathead and pinkies. There has been a great variety of species to keep us busy. There’s

A classic St Kilda flathead. Take advantage of the consistent weather while it lasts.

no better feeling for me than seeing customers with happy smiles when they leave after a good day of fishing. I always make sure to bring a rod with me so I can have a little bit of a fish. As I work down the pier, I cast 2.5” soft plastics. I’m anticipating some interest from flathead or pinkies. I use a very simple retrieve. I let my lure of choice hit the bottom (you’ll know when the line stops coming off you spool), then it’s as easy as two twitches to bounce it off the bottom. I then wind in the slack and let it hit the bottom again. I always make sure to continue this procedure the whole way. Another very simple but effective retrieve style that would have to be the most popular is the slow wind. Often your lure will have its own action that doesn’t need tweaking. Last session I was walking down from the pier to go home, and I caught two flatties (the biggest was a great 44cm) and three pinkies – all in 20 minutes. Boy, that was great fun! Land-based metro fishing has gone well. My mates and I continue

The author is enjoying his new job as a deckhand. to fish Albert Park Lake for golden perch, and the Yarra River for bream with good success. However, we have definitely noticed the consistency of the fishing is declining at a slow pace as we approach the cooler months. However, while it’s fishing hot, we are taking advantage as much as we can by catching public transport every week to get into the action. Every possible Saturday and Sunday we get among the bream in the Yarra River.

I have found the the light version of the Cranka Crab (3.9g) is an absolute winner on bream. It keeps your Crab in the strike zone for a lot longer, and as it falls and moves in the current realistically. No matter where I’m fishing, if I’m not catching I like to mix things up. For example try to make something out of nothing. It might only take downclassing your line a strength, changing colour or weight of lure to get that reaction bite. Sometimes

that’s all it takes. Now that we are getting more frequent days of rain, places such as St Kilda and the Docklands, have been quite dirty, especially with strong southerly winds. Although, there is one good thing about this – mulloway! In the next month or two, I will start to suss out my options to target mulloway, as there is only a short window when they will be on the bite in particular spots. So I like to take advantage when they are feeding.

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APRIL 2016

No shortage of awesome shallow water action INVERLOCH

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

The good fishing continues in this part of the world and experienced anglers feel that the good results will continue. There were some good reports of salmon to the 2.5kg mark taken by landbased anglers. Williamsons Beach has been very popular, as has the Kilcunda beaches with the best results on the run-in tide and first of the run-off flow. There was a report from an angler who decided to try his luck and bagged a couple of reasonable size salmon that were estimated to be around the 1kg mark. He was happy with his efforts, but was also careful and noticed a very strong rip nearby, and although it

didn’t cause him any grief, it certainly could have done just that. Inside the entrance at Inverloch there have been very good numbers of whiting caught, mainly on the run-in tide. The fish have not been huge, but hitting the 38cm mark, they are well worth going after. Bass yabbies have been the best presentations, along with sand worms, pipis and mussels. I received a call from Colin Jansen who is a regular from Dandenong, and he said that he has had a couple of spots around Mahers Landing where he has done very well on whiting and reasonable size flathead. He says that he has also caught mullet, silvers and couta in good numbers. He has even bagged the occasional flathead – high water on the run-in tide has been the

most productive time. Further up the inlet, there have been a few large gummy sharks caught above the Double Islands in the shallow water. There have also been good size pinkies jumping out of the water taking a variety of presentations. This is something different and the first time that even old timers can recall such an event. There are many theories, of course, but not much in the way of fact and no doubt the reasons for such behaviour will continue in the minds of many boaters. Outside the entrance there has been plenty of activity with whiting caught in good numbers to the 45cm mark. Mixed in with them have been garfish and good size flathead. In the deeper water there have been

very good numbers of gummies with many in the thumper bracket. It is not uncommon for boaters to release the big fish in the belief that they may be females. Recently, I received a call from a local boater who travelled to a spot near Pyramid Rock looking for a mako, which are around in fairly good numbers. It wasn’t long before there was an enquiry on the heavy gear and the battle was on in earnest. This was a big fish and it seemed to be getting the better of the three-man crew who decided to radio for help after fighting the huge fish for around six long hours. As the rescue boat arrived, the battle was suddenly over when the line went slack and all that was brought aboard was

a severed wire trace. The skipper reasoned that the big fish was gut hooked and over six hours wore through the trace. All he and his crew had to show for his efforts was exhaustion and the thought that they were beaten by a big mako, which had the last laugh! Information from the caravan park at Shallow Inlet is that the fish have been going very well. Whiting seem to be everywhere and whoppers to the 45cm mark have been taken in very good numbers. The fish have been caught at low water on both sides of the tides and mixed in with them have been good numbers of gummies. It is not uncommon for boaters to bag out, and many are throwing the bigger fish back into the water, as they

may be females in pup. This is common sense, as there seem to be plenty to go round. Quality snapper are also being bagged as well as flathead and silvers. The fish don’t seem to be fussy, which is great news and this should continue as long as the conditions allow. Outside in Waratah Bay, there are reports of kingfish bagged on a variety of presentations. I have received information from quite a few boaters who have caught unusual numbers of small whiting out wide. They have been surprised and there is a feeling that kingfish have taken a toll on the larger royals. Of course, this is a theory, but it might just have merit as kingfish have also been caught in numbers in the same area.

Do your homework and get the best results PHILLIP ISLAND

John Dalla-Rosa

I have spoken to a lot of disgruntled anglers at some of Western Port’s boat ramps complaining of the lack of fish in the bay and the amount of time spent on the water for only one or two fish. In my view, I divide anglers up into three different groups, group one – those who go fishing to relax and de-stress, have a beer with their mates and if they catch fish it’s a bonus. Group two go out, zoom around all over the place, try hard to get into fish but more often than not come home with little to show for their time on the water. Group three do their homework, work out the tides and fish them accordingly, take the right bait (that’s fresh), and tackle and fish the right times of the day at certain spots that they know will produce fish on different tides. This latter 10% of

Frankie Natoli with a big snook taken off Flinders. anglers will produce 90% of the total catch from all of the groups. If you want to be a successful angler, it’s just like any other sport, you need to put some time and effort into your approach. You also need knowledge, so you should join a local fishing club, as that’s where there’s a wealth of knowledge. Some of the old codgers there are walking

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encyclopaedias, pick their brains and put new ideas into practice. Be prepared to fish early mornings or late evenings if you want to be in that 10% and don’t be afraid to try new techniques. I have been fishing for 60 years and am always looking for something new or different, so I keep an open mind to anything and that’s what I love about fishing; it’s always a challenge. SURF BEACHES Good reports of salmon are coming off most of the surf beaches. Salmon to 2kg were about in good numbers off Williamsons Beach. The fish were caught on whitebait on the run-in tide. SAN REMO AREA Below the Bridge Outside the Entrance, there have been some big schools of salmon in the 2-3kg range and below

the salmon schools, if you could get a deep diving lure down were small pockets of kingfish. Further out to sea, around the Cody Bank, anglers have been doing okay on some big gummies. There have also been reports of a couple of mako captures in the same area. There’s also some reasonable flathead to be had on the 30-40m line. Above the Bridge Whiting seem to be about in better numbers and some good pinkies are mixed in if you are lucky enough to find a patch. The better areas have been

Dickie’s Bay, Newhaven Channel, Rhyll, Cowes and Ventnor, just to name a few. The odd decent snapper has been taken from the Elisabeth Island area and The Corals is producing a lot of pinkies but mostly undersize. FLINDERS AREA A few big whiting and calamari are still being caught out from the jetty and some big schools of salmon have been hanging around the gunnery entrance off Flinders. There’s also been a few big snook popping up here and there.

Jayden Fraser caught this monster redfin at Sugarloaf Reservoir while learning to cast soft plastics. It measured 46cm and had a belly full of other plastics. Not bad for his first redfin!

Sharks hit the beaches NINETY MILE BEACH

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

We’ve had another great month of surf fishing and with the weather staying hot and dry and high water temperatures, the Ninety-

Mile should continue to fish well for a while to come. As is usual at this time of year, we have had pretty much every species available to catch from the surf. Gummy sharks have continued to go well with the night and early mornings providing the best results.

Golden Beach through to Jack Smiths has been pretty reliable. There have been some good salmon caught, which most anglers then use to target gummies. The elephant fish made their first appearance a few weeks ago and anglers can expect to catch these fish

FISHING FILL-ITS

A busy month of stocking February has been a busy month for our fish stocking team. 23 waters have been stocked with 280,980 fish. This includes 160,500 golden perch fingerlings, 120,050 Murray cod fingerlings, 400 catchable rainbow trout and 30 ex brood brown trout. The receiving waters were: Cullulleraine Lake, Broken River, Numurkah Lake, Victoria Lake, Nagambie Lake (including the Goulburn River to Seymour), Sumsion Gardens Lake, Allans Flat Dredge Hole, Tronoh Dredge Hole, Buffalo Lake, Eildon Pondage Weir, Mitta Mitta River, Goulburn River (Goulburn Weir to McCoy’s Bridge),

Greg Miller landed this quality bronze whaler casting off the surf. He and some mates had a great session landing over six big sharks including bronze whalers and big gummies overnight.

Broken Creek (Dip Bridge), Nillahcootie Lake, Benalla Lake, Goulburn River (Murchison), King Lake, Anderson Lake, Sambell Lake, Stanley Ditch Dam, Eldorado Dredge

Hole, Seven Creeks and Arboretum Dam. Fish stocking is funded by recreational fishing licences fees and Target One Million. – Fisheries Victoria

all the way to the end of May. Squid has been the best bait for elephant fish and all have been caught after dark. We have done well on the flathead and there were a few weeks a while back when anglers caught solid numbers of 45cm flathead during the day using blue bait, surf poppers and white grubs. There are a lot of little cat sharks and baby school sharks around annoying everyone but they are all part of surf fishing during summer. There have been some ripper bronzies caught

casting, especially around McGaurans, Seaspray and Jack Smiths beaches, and some of the big toothies are getting caught close to or after midnight. The landbased game anglers have still caught some quality bronze whaler sharks by paddling baits out – whole bonito, salmon, trevally and eel have been good baits to use. Over the next month, expect the elephant fish to arrive in bigger numbers and flathead to lower in numbers, we will also get the first of

the next run of big salmon arriving as well. The gummy sharks should stick around for at least another month in pretty good numbers, especially if the weather continues the way it has. • 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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Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

The fishiest time of year is autumn and right now the season looks spot on for anglers. Day after day of calm, cool weather and hungry fish. The algae blooms have stayed away again this year and clean salt water is pushing into the estuary and is already well into Lake Wellington. This all adds up to really exciting times ahead for lure fishing and bait anglers. BIG BREAM ON CRAB Bait anglers are having a ball right now at hotspots such as Paynesville, the lower Tambo and Mitchell rivers, Hollands Landing and the mouth of the Latrobe River. Frozen prawn and sandworm are the most commonly used baits, but live crab is something else! I was taught a lesson recently while lure fishing next to Rod Shutsbree on Lake Victoria. I landed a great run of bream to 41cm on black blades and was quite proud of my effort until I bumped into Rod. He was anchored up at The Point and had two rods out the back of the boat with large spider crabs tethered out in about 4ft of water. As we chatted, one rod buckled towards the drink and a fat 42cm truck bream found its way into the net. Seconds later his other rod loaded up and after a very serious work out, a bigger 45cm bream joined the smaller fish. During the tussle I got the camera ready – I wasn’t leaving Rod until I got some pictures. I fished around him and over the next hour or so he managed nine huge bream to my single one. His message to me was quite clear – you never get little bream on live crab.

Bryan Lazzaro with two bream caught during a mindblowing lure session on the Mitchell River. HOT LURE FISHING I’ve been known to get a little over excited when I’m hooking a lot of bream, but I have to say the lure fishing right now has been extraordinary. Bryan Lazzaro and I decided to try the Mitchell River recently and after a slow start with ten small fish each we stumbled upon a real jackpot. Between 10am-4pm we hooked bream with just about every second cast. At times we got a hit with every lift of the rod. It was an insane session! A ZMan grub in amber colour on a fairly heavy 2-3g jighead was the best lure set-up. We counted every single fish landed and decided to try and lift in 100 bream before we left. We got to that amazing target at about 3pm and after an excited high five I suggested we change lures and play around a bit. We tried blades for about 15 minutes and found nothing! Not even a bump. We tried hardbody

Kaplunks for a while and got a few, but before long we got back to the proven soft plastic method. We caught exactly 114 bream and only went home because a windy cold front moved in. The other amazing thing was that nearly every bream for the day was 35-39cm in size. Two days later Jason Deenan, who traveled all the way from Leongatha went for a look and landed an amazing 78 bream for his efforts. Local angler Paul Janowick had his turn and apparently lost count of his catch! Peter Nord and I had another look a few days later, sadly the fish had moved on and we scratched up just a handful of small fish each. Typical bream! ABT BREAM COMP The recent Gippy Lakes ABT event was another great success, and once again I pay homage to Brad Hodges who is developing into some sort of ‘rockstar idol’ in the bream-angling world.

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Rod Shutsbree with a stud 45cm Lake Victoria bream caught on a live crab down at The Point.

Sorry mate, being such a humble bloke I suppose that label may not sit easy with you! To keep winning these comps is just such an incredible achievement – it’s tough to even make the top ten these days. The pressure can mess with your confidence and I take my hat off to how successful competition anglers always find fish. During Day 2 of the competition, I was at Hollands Landing and fished alongside three competitors. Mario Vukic moved around constantly and used all his tricks to pull in five bream to finish 10th. I talked to Steve Gill for an hour or so as he tried to fill his second day quota. I watched him pull in an amazing 5kg bag during that time and travelling up from NSW, he hardly knows the place! Steve ended up running an impressive 3rd place. His non-boater Mick Thompson lifted in two nice bream at the same time. I then caught up with Shaun Clancy who was top of the leader board after Day 1. His second day was heading in the opposite direction as he struggled to find any fish using a hardbody along the edge. This struggle epitomises the extreme pressure of competition fishing. He ended up 17th with just one squeaker bream on Day 2. His non-boater Jesse Rotin was having much better luck using a Sting 37 black blade out in the deep and I saw him horse in a cracker 1kg bream. He weighed in four fish that day and finished a brilliant 3rd in the non-boater section. Watching all of these competition anglers was a great insight into tournament fishing and for the record, my bag of five bream for that session would have disappointed the weigh master!

Get out for a bit of gummy goodness WELSHPOOL

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

The positive reports are still coming in from Port Welshpool and with any sort of luck will continue in the coming months.

Amanda Kellar and Rob Hendriks are out on the water whenever the opportunity arises. Amanda said that on a recent trip, they found the conditions to be perfect, too perfect even, as there was no activity at all apart from a never-ending procession of useless fish such as skunk

There’s enough to feed plenty with these two gummy shark fillets.

sharks and associated species that were no value at all. Amanda said that they had many moves and finally managed a few quality fish, but said that maybe the water was too still. She said that they have previously been doing very well with quality fish such as gummy sharks, which are welcome anytime along with snapper and flathead making up very reasonable bags. Information from the boat storage at Welshpool is that there has been a good amount of gummies being caught up to and better than the 20kg mark. There were clubs from Berwick and Drouin trying their luck just before this report and were not disappointed when they returned with plenty of gummies and snapper that were to the 7kg mark. There was a crew looking for a mako and decided to throw out some berley. As it turned out, he didn’t immediately attract a mako but did manage to lure in plenty of squid. They decided to settle for the cephalopods and threw out some lures among the berley. Of course, out of nowhere, came a great big mako. The big fellow

grabbed hold of the squid lure and took off at great speed. This was not what the hapless anglers really wanted! In a desperate attempt to save line he locked up the reel and hoped for the best. Luck was on his side and it seems that the line snapped off at the lure and this was all that he lost, as well as the big fish, of course. Just another story to tell his grandkids! There have been positive reports as far as the whiting have been concerned. The Lewis Channel has been very productive, where they have been to the 37cm mark and taking a variety of baits such as Bass yabbies, pipis, sand worms as small strips of squid. Flathead, silvers and mullet have also been bagged and no doubt the fish will stick around for some time yet. The jetties have been fairly productive as far as land-based anglers are concerned, with fairly good numbers of mullet, silvers, flathead and squid making a visit worthwhile. As usual, the best time to try your luck has been on the run-in tide at the eastern end of the structure. Rob Cartledge is a local who is out on the water

Amanda Kellar and Terry Hendriks look happy with these gummy sharks. whenever the opportunity arises and says that the snapper are making a last late run. He says that there are plenty of gummy sharks being caught and they should stick around for some time yet. Not long ago, he said that he entered a competition that he won with a very good size flathead that weighed in at 1kg. The fish was caught

at a spot known as ‘The Oval’, which is one of Rob’s favourite marks. Robbie Assaparti from Stony Creek was out with Rob on a recent trip and managed to hook into and land a very good size pike, which put up quite a fight before being brought aboard. After a picture, the pike was put on ice and taken home.

Premium estuarine options now available MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

For the past month local game fishing enthusiasts have lost patience waiting for the warm currents to come down the coast and move into our area of Bass Strait. Instead, they have been going over the border for their action, and with very

good results. One local angler, Digger Howard, bagged a 165kg blue marlin and another two anglers, Peter Farley and Kyle DeCecco, bagged a good size striped marlin each. While in the area, anglers have been getting several good size kingfish. But at last I am pleased to report boaties have reported a big rise in water temperature offshore, and a sudden appearance of big schools of

While the water temperature stays up the flathead fishing will continue to fire.

baitfish that have moved in with the warm water. Now the baitfish have arrived, it would only be a matter of time before the game fish arrive following their food source. There are already reports of big schools of kingfish sighted on the surface from Cape Conran to Marlo Reef. One local angler reported seeing a big school of kings with most over a 1m in length on the surface but after losing his only popper could not get the kings to hook up. As many anglers know, fishing for kings is a frustrating pastime. Now the kings have arrived, let’s hope the marlin arrive soon. In the meantime the fishing off Conran has been great, reports of anglers getting their bag limit of two gummy sharks and 20 flathead is not unusual. The surf beaches have also been fishing well. Anglers have reported getting plenty of salmon with many over 3kg and tailor nearly as big. The best results have been on surf gear and using blue bait, white bait, pilchards, pipis and squid, always accompanied with a popper. Another local angler James Herbert fishing the surf and paddling baits out with a kayak caught a good size bronze whaler. The estuary is still fishing at a premium, with prawns still in big numbers – the

The beach beyond Frenches Narrows produces great catches of salmon, bream and whiting at this time of the year. fish are throughout the whole system. Estuary flathead are in big numbers along the sand flats that run from the Marlo Jetty all the way down to Frenchs Narrows. You’ll get the best results wading along the sand flats and spinning with lures. Bream are being caught

from the entrance up into Lake Corringle and Lake Curlip and all the way up the Snowy to the highway bridge at Orbost, making the platform along the Snowy prime fishing spots. Luderick can be found around the rock groynes that surround the islands and riverbanks.

Best results have been on sandworm. Mullet can also be caught throughout the whole system, also on sandworm. Estuary perch can be found on snags and structures up both the Snowy and Brodribb rivers, best results using live prawn or lures.

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Very unpredictable weather and fishing LAKES ENTRANCE

Leigh McVeigh

It hasn’t been easy to pick a pattern or even a committable day to fish in East Gippsland, but it hasn’t stopped some great captures locally and here is how it has played out. LAKES ENTRANCE The local jetties, rock

walls and sand flats have seen some great fish taken early mornings and late afternoons and it’s not just bream and flathead on the menu. Silver trevally, whiting, gurnard and even pinkie snapper have been giving anglers plenty to think about and providing locals with some great entertainment and some great feeds around the BBQ. The prawns are still

The sand flats and man-made structures along the esplanade all hold fish at times

running consistently, and those sourcing their own fresh or live baits and moving around until they locate feeding fish are seeing the best results. Fishing light line, no more than 3kg, and using a light or even no sinker, then drifting the bait down the water column is proving deadly on all species and providing some great sportfishing on these bread and butter fish. OFFSHORE The offshore scene hasn’t been as consistent as we would like to see at this time of year, but there are some very impressive bags coming out of the deep blue. Gummy and school shark have moved out to the deeper water and have proved to be very frustrating for anglers, with no real pattern to their captures. Plenty of pinkie snapper are being taken on the wellknown reefs and drop offs, but everyone is working hard for those larger reds we have become accustom to here off Lakes. When it comes to choosing your bait for the day, opinions vary greatly, but I find the people using fresh fillets or even whole fish and doing away with the

Cunninghame Quay is a popular land-based option to wet a line in Lakes Entrance. frozen baits do seem to come home with the better bags. BEACHES It has been tough off the sand with lots of anglers spending many hours for little to no result, only to return the next day and find the salmon and gummy shark feeding in a frenzy. I would like to be able to give you a pattern to follow, but the truth is tossing a coin and letting fate decide when and when not to fish will see you have as much luck. The key is time on the water, fishing two hours either side of the turn of

the tide and having no expectations will see some of you getting lucky for lack of a better word. While fishing Bunga Beach with three friends last week on the full moon, we all achieved our full bags of gummy shark using fresh squid a mate sourced from Western Port, only to return the following two nights without losing a bait and this seems to be the story of everyone I speak too. LAKE TYERS The fishing out at Tyers has been as inconsistent as

the weather. One day you can achieve your bag limit of bream and flathead as quick as you can cast, only to spend the next few days scratching around to get even a single bite. Tyers is famous for shattering anglers’ dreams and egos, but over the past few weeks the pattern of no pattern at all is really shining through. It’s not all hard work out in the great local lake, with the stocking of prawns baring fruit for those who enjoy wading the shallow sand flats for these tasty crustaceans. Very easy access and a vast amount of shallow water makes Tyers the ideal spot for chasing prawns and more anglers are taking advantage of this lake so close to town. A dip net, prawn light, bucket and a few spare hours after dark is all you will need to obtain a feed and makes for a top night out with family and friends. Well that’s a wrap from Lakes entrance for the month, I hope to see a lot of anglers on the water in coming weeks as the weather steadies and fingers crossed the fishing becomes a lot more consistent.

Gummies along the beaches MCLOUGHLINS

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

March brought on some great fishing, and April is set to do the same with excellent water temperatures and good conditions, especially if offshore fishing is your thing. Anglers who fish

APRIL 2016

outside of McLoughlins Beach have caught plenty of large gummy sharks, a 6ft gummy has not been uncommon and 15kg+ has been the norm. There have been some truly massive gummy sharks weighing up to 30kg caught mostly by anglers who anchor with berley or drift with berley out. The main depths that have produced gummies are around 21-30m.

Pilchards and squid have been great bait but with the amount of large slimy mackerel around as well as salmon and tailor, you would be silly not to try and catch a couple of those for bait. Gummies have been spread all around offshore – some anglers are going east towards the old Omega Tower area, others are just fishing straight out in front or west towards Manns Beach.

Snapper have been caught in numerous places from out front of Manns Beach and east of McLoughlins. There have been some real beauties caught, up to 18lb on the old scale as well as plenty of eater-sized pinkies up to 50cm. Pilchards and squid have been the best baits. Inside McLoughlins has produced good amounts of blue-spot flathead on soft plastics and vibes and 65cm sized specimens have been present in decent numbers. These big girls should hang around for another month yet, especially with the high water temperatures we are experiencing. PORT ALBERT Whiting, whiting and more whiting... again! The whiting are still in ridiculously huge amounts as they have been for the past year now. Some real monsters as well up to around 50cm, however, most measure in between 35-40cm. Pipis and squid have been the best baits and there hasn’t been any real pattern as to which tide is the best – they are getting caught on all tides and any time of day, you just need to find them. Inside around the Blue Hole has produced plenty of gummy sharks to around 1m in length on either side of the tide change. Offshore, Port Albert has been amazing, there are

Shane Wedrowicz caught this massive kingfish that measured 117cm offshore fishing around Wilsons Prom. The fish took a 110mm stickbait. massive gummy sharks to 30kg similar to McLoughlins, again that 20-30m mark is magic. On the drift has achieved results unless you have a mark, anchor and berley. The kingies are going pretty good around the Promontory now and around the islands. There are lots of rat kings that are undersized

or just over, as well as the odd 75cm model. Knife jigs have worked well, especially 150g and 200g zest jigs, but micro-jigs have produced a few as well. Shane Wedrowicz had a good day off Wilsons Promontory landing a massive 117cm kingfish To page 43

Bemm boost bream event BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

High water level is great for accessing those areas where the fish may be tucked away. The fish activity in the lake and channel has been amazing; along with the warm calm autumn weather. Sundown in the channel has been fruitful for catching any amount of flathead and bream. The fishing in the past few months has certainly not disappointed anglers. We saw the Hobie competition in February, over a two-day period, catch and release an incredible amount of quality bream – the entrants couldn’t have been more satisfied. They also reported catching numerous flathead. Michael Burkett from Camperdown loves to surf fish in the evenings. During a recent trip to Bemm River, Michael went over to the entrance (currently closed) and threw a line in the surf. At 9 o’clock in the morning he landed a beautiful gummy. Two days later, same location, 11am, he landed another

gummy. Listening to anglers chatting at the fish cleaning table reveal many stories and tips. The ‘older’ angler still using bait, doesn’t have the success of

the modern day angler and their soft plastics and lures. For anglers that have been targeting perch in the river, they have been rewarded with some very

Tan Huynh with a typical Bemm bream.

nice catches. New chums to the sport of EP fishing, be prepared to lose plenty of gear around the snags! These fish are very smart and there is a definite art to hooking them. Now the water level is high, the entrance to Swan Lake and Mud Lake are a couple of prime target areas for quality bream up to 45cm. Please note, anyone venturing into Swan Lake needs to be aware that this is a prohibited area for motor boats due to it being part of the Croajingolong National Park. As we head toward winter, we can only expect quality fishing. Watch this space for an exciting announcement for Bemm River and our pending winter fishing competition (tag fish – big prizes!) For further information, please give us a call. • For on the spot and up to date fishing reports check out our website: www. bemmaccommodation.com. au or ‘like’ us on Facebook – Bemm River Holiday Accommodation & Boat Hire. Phone: (03) 5158 4233 /Mob. 0427 584233, email: bemmaccomm@ bigpond.com.

TOP ENDER RANGE

From page 42

while casting a stickbait at some surface feeding fish. Kingfish should stick around for a little while longer before we start

great fishing on offer at the monent. • For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 5174 8544. You will get

Stu caught these massive gummies off McLoughlins Beach in 30m of water. seeing better numbers of tuna arriving in our part of the world. Until then, stay safe if you’re heading offshore and make time to go out and experience some of the

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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Productive luring in the estuaries EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Eden is still a hive of activity with plenty of visitors about enjoying the good weather. For the game fishers that big pool of warm water is here, and with it are the fish. Plenty of striped marlin are about, along with striped tuna, sharks and mahimahi. The water temperature will stay warm for a few months so the fishing should only get better. With good launching

facilities, Eden is an excellent destination for those towing their own boat, and with the yellowfin tuna season around the corner Eden will be sure of visitors over the coming months. Plenty of fish have been caught from the local beaches, with yellowfin bream and sand whiting along with a few nice size sand flathead. The best catches have come from using fresh bait (beachworms) when the tide is high around dawn or dusk. Those tossing metal lures have caught a few good size tailor and salmon.

Good fish are still caught from the local headlands, with plenty of big yellowfin bream around and drummer as well. Using berley in a washy gutter will draw the fish in. And with the warm current here, land-based anglers will be trying their luck down at Green Cape where there is always the chance of hooking a marlin. Those chasing a feed on the inshore reefs have caught a few nice snapper and morwong. There have also been good catches of flathead, both tigers and sandies, with Disaster Bay fishing particularly well for

these fish. The fishing in the estuaries has been good, with anglers have been getting plenty of sand whiting. Fishing the front section around the entrance area on a run-out tide is the go, and fresh bait (nippers, prawns and so on) is the best choice of bait. Good fish have also been caught on lures, with a variety of poppers doing the damage. Dusky flathead are still being caught and, now that the twater has cleared up after the recent rains, anglers are also catching trevally, yellowfin bream

Silver trevally have been hitting a variety of lures in the estuaries. and black bream. The rivers are all flowing well, with good bass fishing in the upper

reaches. Tossing surface lures around dusk and into the dark has accounted for some good fish.

Follow the rising tide BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

As winter approaches, estuarine fish will look to condition and fatten for the cooler months ahead. This is a time for anglers

to cash in on these feeding events here. Often it’s easy to catch lots of fish in a short period of time. Wallaga Lake and the Bermagui River have many tidal flats, and are home to molluscs, crustaceans and other invertebrates. This

A flat fish for the flats! REVA G.T

L LY . S N A P P E R

. EST

PE R RY

. WH AD

is where fish like bream, whiting, luderick, flathead, mullet and even garfish like to feed. Fishing the rising tide with baits like nippers, squirt worms or fresh prawns can be very productive. For the lure fishers, soft plastics and surface lures may be a rewarding way to target these species. A good hint in these areas is to walk the flats at low tide and look for evidence that fish have been feeding there. It may be as simple as the indent of a flathead or small craters left in the sand and even broken shells crushed by bream. Another way is just to polaroid over these flats, either from a boat or wading, and then cast to the fish you have sighted. MARLIN April has always been notorious for big blue marlin. They are usually here to feed on the migrating schools of tuna that are starting to move into the waters surrounding Bermagui, and this heralds the last chance of the season for anglers to capture a big billfish. Generally most of the big blues have been found out over the Canyons, however when baitfish congregate in certain areas like the 12 Mile Reef, the predators will also converge on these spots, where feeding is easier. Anglers in pursuit of these large blues may spend many hours before encountering one, or maybe

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Blackfish and bream can be caught side-by-side over the flats on nippers and worms. never will! However, in this period many striped marlin or sizeable tuna may keep anglers occupied with some interesting fishing. TUNA It is also that time of year when the tuna arrive, and the action is increasing. This season is already shaping up to be good for tuna and may well be one of the best for many years. Striped and albacore tuna are in good numbers out over the shelf, with the occasional large yellowfin starting to show. Most fish at present are being taken on the troll with a variety of lures. Some may be enticed using berley, which will also attract sharks. Those seasoned anglers who fish Bermagui regularly know when tuna, are around makos are not far behind. INSHORE Not only is the gamefishing good, there are plenty of light sportfish around on the inshore grounds. Kingfish have been consistent around Montague Island this season, and catches are the best they have been for years along the coastline and inshore reefs. Sizes are on the smallish side To page 45

Not only marlin follow the bait schools – all sorts of sharks are looking for an easy meal too.

NSW South Coast

Beautifully warm water at our doorstep MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The past month has seen more visitors arriving, and the fishing has been excellent in the lake, offshore and on the beaches. The town will be busy right through until after Easter, and the fishing just keeps getting better with some of the best fishing in the lakes and rivers over the

winter months. The past month has seen some excellent fishing from the local beaches. Good salmon to about 3kg have been caught from the main beach around the entrance area, and a few fish from the bottom lake. Anglers have been getting into silver bream and sand whiting from the good gutters on the local beaches. The harbour area at Bastion Point has fished well, and you can expect

From page 44

although they still provide plenty of entertainment on light tackle. Smaller tuna like stripes, bonito and frigate mackerel make up the bulk of the rest of the small sportfish. These fish are terrific fun on light spin gear, and can spend many an hour keeping anglers entertained. Generally when one form of fishing is good so is another, and this is the case with bottom fishing. Flathead have never been in better numbers than now, with both tiger and sandies in plentiful supply. Closer to shore will provide

mostly sandies, while further to sea in the deeper water will account for large tigers. Very wide around the 12 Mile Reef some of the tigers caught have been over 80cm, and there is always the added advantage of Tassie trumpeter, large nannygai, ocean perch or morwong. You should also keep your eye open for a gamefish or two. Meanwhile back at the inshore reefs, snapper are increasing in numbers, and many anglers are taking advantage of them on bait or light tackle jigging with lures. The best areas are south out from Bunga or closer to home east of the Brothers.

sand whiting, yellowfin bream and some good sand flathead. There’s also the added attraction of goodsized King George whiting, with the odd fish coming from the bottom lake. Those heading offshore have had a hard time launching and retrieving their boats at the Bastion Point ramp. The sand that had been building up in the harbour has now been dredged out, making things a bit easier. It won’t be long and it will be back. The fishing has been great, with beautiful warm water at our doorstep. Striped marlin have been caught but it’s a small window of opportunity, so if you are after a marlin get out there while the water is here. Good catches of tiger flathead and sand flathead have been had, along with some good gummy sharks. The best areas have been out around Gabo Island and around the Ariels. Those fishing in the lakes have had a ball, with the bottom lake really firing. There has been no need to head through the Narrows into the top lake unless you are trying to get

The bottom lake has been firing with big yellowfin bream. away from the wind in the bottom lake. The variety of fish that is constantly available in the bottom lake has been amazing – trevally, whiting, flounder, black bream and yellowfin bream, salmon, tailor and the old dusky flathead. If you’re chasing a feed of flathead in the lake you

will notice a lot of small fish around the 32cm size. These are the ones to keep, not the 40cm+ fish. We want to help at least a few fish reach the slot size of 55cm. With the amount of flathead coming out of the lake it doesn’t hurt to give them a helping hand, as those big

breeders of yesteryear are becoming a memory. The rivers are still running well after recent good rains and the fishing over the next few months should keep firing. If you want to get out there, give Wilderness Fishing Tours a buzz and we will get you amongst the action.

APRIL 2016

Get ready to rumble with a big mulloway NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

The offshore scene continues to fire for game fishers, with marlin, marlin, and more marlin on everyone’s agendas. It’s been a cracking month, with almost all crews getting fish. If the bait and water conditions remain the same, I can’t see this changing any time soon. You know it’s red-hot when switched on game crews, recreational and charter boat operators are getting five or six shots a day. It’s great to hear radio skegs of 7-6-6 (raised, hooked and landed) and sometimes more a day. This happens on a daily basis, not on every boat but the beaks are there and in numbers. The key to good results is to find the bait, mainly slimy mackerel and concentrate your efforts around it. If

you’re lucky enough to find a surface baitball, then it’s possible to catch multiple fish from the one school. Some crews are seeing 4 and 5 marlin captures on these bait-balls at any one time, which keeps the adrenalin pimping! The beaks can be found almost anywhere, from the 70-fathom line to the shelf, but quite a few crews are working the traps in 60-70 fathoms off Tuross. These lobster traps are a holding station for bait, and are a great place to start your day. Most of the beaks are stripes in the 70-100kg bracket, though there has been a few solid black marlin encountered as well. My good friend Paul O’Brien has been trying to get a marlin for years, his wish came true last week when he broke his duck with 3 marlin in one day, his best a black of 110kg. It’s awesome to see hard working anglers persist with their dreams and get a great

result. Well done to Benny Bolton from Charterfish Narooma for getting him among them. If marlin isn’t for you, then there are good numbers of mahimahi to be caught, and a few bulls upwards of 22kg have been captured. I know Dasher from Compleat Angler in town got a thumping bull this week. It was a beast of a fish that had him still smiling a week later. I expect to see a few more tuna turn up in April, especially yellowfin. There have been sporadic captures of fish to 20-25kg, though not in any numbers, but this may change over the coming weeks. We usually see the odd barrel between 60-80kg in mid-autumn, mainly caught by the trolling brigade so keep an ear out on the radio for any reports. At Montague Island the kings have disappointed anglers to say the least. They’re certainly not thick at present, but if you persist

The sort of bream that can be targeted around the Narooma region.

Andy Kolber releasing another 1m+ fish, this lad is on fire this season, and so are the mulloway! you will get fish – you just have to work for them. The kings that have been caught average 70-75cm with the odd better fish to 90cm. Anglers who fish live baits have fared best, with crews slow trolling live slimy mackerel achieving the bigger fish. This is a dynamite way to get fish, especially early in the morning – but expect the seals to cause you grief at sometime or another. Concentrate your efforts around the western side of the Island, the Fowl-house Reef is a good place to start. In the estuaries it is all systems go after the floods with just about everything chewing at some time. Wagonga Inlet’s flathead population has come out of hibernation with some cracking fish caught lately. I know of several 90cm+ fish caught recently, mainly by anglers using larger soft plastics fished slow in the deeper sections of the main basin. These are serious crocs!

Up at Tuross, the recent flush has spurred on some fantastic fish, and mulloway, flathead, bream and whiting are all playing the game. The entrance is deep with tidal movement of 60cm and more throughout the system, which is great to see. The fish love it too, and salmon and tailor have entered the system in numbers to harass whitebait schools. These pelagic species have been caught as far up as the road bridge, which is about 5km, so the water must be good. Most anglers are concentrating their efforts in the lower sections from 4-ways to the entrance. This area has fired for mulloway and flathead. I know of several crocs to 97cm and mulloway to 75cm caught on a regular basis, so the fishing is pretty good. Both bait and lure anglers have achieved great results. Fresh squid has done the damage on mulloway. On the beaches, it’s business as usual with bread and butter species

like bream and whiting to keep anglers happy. These fine eating fish have been thick at times, with anglers bagging out in a few short hours, especially on whiting. Most beaches hold fish with Brou Beach a standout. This beach is around 7km long and runs from Dalmeny up to Potato Point, and the fish can be anywhere. Look for slightly deeper channels just past the shore dump, which this beach has plenty of. For bait, use either live beach worms or pipi but remember to fish as light as possible to get the best results. Don’t use any berley either as the stingrays and banjo sharks will drive you nuts. On the stones, the pelagic species are in full swing, and bonito, kingfish, salmon and tailor are all possible targets. Use a variety of shiners to 50g plus whole pilchards on ganged hooks. The golf course rocks, Dalmeny headland or Mystery Bays High Rock to the south of Narooma are the pick of the places to fish.

Rock and troll success out on the big blue MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

What a cracking game fish season we are having around the Merimbula region! It’s all systems go as game crews get among the marlin action, which has been nothing short of sensational. In fact, I’d say the last two seasons are the best I’ve seen for over a decade. This red-hot action should continue for another month at least, as long as the bait stays there and the water conditions 46

APRIL 2016

remains the same. Most of the marlin are striped and in the 80-100kg bracket with the odd better black upwards of 120kg caught. The beaks have responded to a number of methods, with some crews trolling skirted pushers, and others slow trolling bridled slimy mackerel – a dynamite way to turn bites into landed fish. The only downfall with this method is that you don’t cover as much ground as you would trolling skirts. The upside is you can get multiple fish, especially if you find a surface bait-ball with several marlin around it. In any case, whatever

method you use should get you results, it’s just a matter of what you want to do. With the shelf off Merimbula a fair hike away; a lot of anglers start fishing the 60-fathom area. It’s a great place to start, with slimy mackerel schools usually abundant around this depth. Work these schools to see a marlin or two, mahimahi and possible smaller yellowfin tuna encounters. This month we should see a few bigger yellowfin turn up, especially later in the month. Every April we see the odd 60kg+ barrel caught, mainly by crews

trolling skirts for marlin, let’s hope this season is the same. Closer to shore the bait brigade have the knife at the ready with bottom dwelling flathead in great numbers. These fine eating fish are thick at present with the 30-35m line the place to catch the big models. The southern areas off Pambula seem to be the best with both sand and tigers playing the game. Those anglers after snapper have done alright, however the snapper have slowed a bit and you will have to move around a bit to get results. Try to concentrate your efforts

around the edges of the hard rock where the gravel meets, as this seems to be the key to getting some solid reds for the pan. You can expect the odd gummy shark, kingfish and morwong to show up when chasing the reds – fresh squid are a standout bait. In the estuaries the fishing did slow down after last month’s wet stuff – but things have really picked up now. The top lake in Merimbula is firing on all cylinders with flathead, legal snapper, bream, tailor and whiting all charging at times. The weed-fringed edges in 4-6m of water are

the places to fish with smaller soft plastics up to 80mm. Those using blades around 3.5g have fared well too, especially on whiting. I know that sounds weird, whiting on bits of metal, but trust me, it works a treat. Try and fish in areas that have sand between weed patches. The top lake is full of areas like this, but you do need a good quality sounder and know how to read it to get the desired results. The lower sections of the channels have been excellent. Whiting, bream and trevally are To page 47

NSW South Coast From page 46

chewing well, with bait anglers anchoring up on the draining tide proving success. Fresh prawns are the preferred bait. Some decent kingfish has been smoking the rock hoppers who fish Tura Head. A few of the kings

are 10kg models, which is nothing to sneeze at. You will require the right tackle to land one, and live bait, poppers and chromed lures have all worked on these beauties. A visiting angler got a cracking 16kg king off Merimbula wharf recently; local bream expert Slick

A 16kg kingfish captured from Merimbula wharf on a wet summer day.

The typical size of the striped marlin caught at the moment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; around 80kg.

Wright helped him to land the fish. According to Chris, it was an epic battle! The next six weeks should see the rocks really turn it on and I for one canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait. On the beaches, both bream and whiting continue

to do the right thing. Smaller presentations like beach worms and pipi fished on light outfits is the key to success. Better beaches to try include North Tura, Tura Main and Haycock to the south of Pambula.

At the trailer boat show in Sydney, Pete Graham subscribed to Fishing Monthly and received a 13 Fishing Envy Black 7ft baitcaster rod as a bonus! Pete matched it with a Shimano Curado reel spooled with some 15lb Power Pro braid and christened it with a couple of nice little cod! Nice one Pete!

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APRIL 2016

Science meets fishing

Resurgence of snapper and whiting in Port Phillip Bay GEELONG

Ross Winstanley

There’s a much-anticipated revival happening within our snapper and whiting

snowball began rolling in Geelong and gathered momentum, becoming a Bay-wide movement with the support of the tackle trade and the Futurefish Foundation. It eventually culminated in the Victorian

season, but catches are likely to moderate over the next three years.’ This was based on annual surveys that showed the numbers of large snapper that resulted from exceptional recruitment events in 2000/01, 2003/04

Baby snapper at about three months old.

Fisheries bulletins and media releases keep anglers informed on what’s ahead for the Bay snapper and whiting fisheries fisheries. Fisheries Victoria’s researchers based in Queenscliff have been monitoring annual recruitment or spawning success of snapper and whiting for around twenty years. There are now clear signs of resurgence in both stocks in Port Phillip Bay, as predicted by our scientists in 2014/15. As is to be expected, these signs are appearing at the ‘bottom end’ of our catches - with the numbers of just-legal sized fish increasing. These increased numbers will persist for the

Government’s current commercial netting buy-out program. While there were a number of issues underlying Geelong anglers’ concerns, it was the decline in their catches that spurred them into action and prompted the political lobbying that finally paid off. Fisheries Victoria’s response included stepping up its output of information directly relevant to the issues raised by the antinetting movement. Part of this response emphasised the strong monitoring and assessment program

and 2004/05 that continued to support high catch rates but that the numbers of fish from these strong year groups

were on their way down. This is after a number of years of being fished, and with lower replenishment as a result of mediocre recruitment in the following six years. As was the case with whiting, this forecast proved correct with the 2015 season in particular being the poorest experienced by anglers for quite a few years in terms of catches of large snapper.

Whiting Also in 2011, Fisheries Victoria’s ‘King George Whiting Fishery Forecast’ bulletin had predicted, ‘good catches in 2012 moderating over the next two to three years.’ This advice was based on annual surveys that found strong post-larval recruitment in 2007 and 2008 followed by two poor years, with

the 2010 year being the lowest for juvenile whiting recruitment in the bay since 1999. Those ‘next two to three years’ coincided with the period of growing angler dissatisfaction around Geelong which came to a head in early 2013, when King George whiting numbers in the bay would have been at its lowest in many years.

FACTBOX Fisheries Victoria’s October/November surveys of juvenile King George whiting target the early stages (20-30mm) that have just settled into the bay’s seagrass beds after a long journey (80-100 days) on the ocean currents from coastal spawning grounds in far western Victoria and South Australia. These tiny fish take about two years to grow to legal size and then leave the bay by four years of age, never to return. They live out their lives in coastal waters and can reach up to twenty years. next two years or so for whiting and the next eight to nine years for snapper as fishing pressure, natural mortality and emigration whittle them away until the next significant boost to the stocks. Anglers have been waiting impatiently for the turn-around in these two Bay fisheries, in particular for King George whiting. In early 2013, years of poor whiting catches by anglers prompted the start of the anti-netting campaign. The 48

APRIL 2016

demonstrating the continued long-term sustainability of the Port Phillip Bay fisheries. Another part of the response countered the disinformation that had been circulating about the commercial fishery. 2011 FISHERY FORECASTS Snapper In 2011, Fisheries Victoria issued a ‘Snapper Fishery Forecast,’ which predicted ‘the recent exceptional catches to continue in the 2011/12

Angler catch data show the progress of pinkies spawned in 2013 and 2014 towards the summer inshore fishery in Corio Bay.

Angler catch data show the entry of two year-old whiting (25-31cm) to the fishery in Corio Bay, followed by one year olds (19-22cm).

Science meets fishing 2014/2015 FISHERY FORECASTS Snapper Queenscliff researchers found that the 2013 and 2014 snapper recruitment levels were the third best

2015, the pinkie fishery is picking up, with large numbers of fish in the 26-30cm range appearing on the inshore grounds. As these fish grow around 1cm/ month during the warmer months, catches should

SPECIFICATIONS The annual March surveys of juvenile snapper target small 3-5 month old fish, less than 12cm long. The babies are spawned in Port Phillip Bay during spring/summer. They disperse with age to populate the snapper stock from Wilson’s Promontory to southeast South Australia and many will eventually undertake migrations in and out of the Bay each year to spawn. They take about 3-4 years to reach the legal minimum length and about seven years to reach the over-40cm adult fishery. and fifth best recorded since monitoring began in 1993. This prompted Fisheries Victoria in 2014, to encourage anglers to expect ‘a significant pulse of small snapper into the fishery in coming years.’ This pulse was likely to appear first as legal sized pinkies 2-3 years later (starting in 2016) with increased numbers of adults at 40cm appearing around four years later again, from 2020. Sure enough, following the predicted poor big-snapper fishing in late

improve through autumn. Whiting After two years of ‘average’ whiting recruitment, the 2013 survey found the third highest recruitment of post-larval whiting since the survey program began in 1998. On this basis, in February 2015, Fisheries Victoria predicted an upturn in the Bay whiting fishery beginning in the 2015/2016 summer, with continued good fishing through 2016-17. As I write this article the signs from Corio Bay suggest that this

3-year recovery is well under way. 2015 FISHERY FORECASTS Snapper In August 2015, after reporting poor snapper spawning success over the previous summer, Fisheries Victoria referred to the two earlier years of exceptional recruitment in reassuring anglers that this was part of the normal year-to-year variation to be expected in such a long-lived fish. Whiting It’s just as well we have two average and one excellent (2013) whiting year classes ‘in the bank’ because recruitment levels in 2014 and 2015 have been the lowest since 1999. As things currently stand, the exceptional 2013 class will begin leaving our bays as four year-olds next year, with very few younger whiting coming along behind them. So, what can we hope for? Based on previous research on climate influence as to how many whiting larvae make it into the bay, if we have a lot of winter/ early spring westerlies this year we should see improved recruitment of post-larval

Early stage King George whiting at 25mm long and four months old. whiting entering the bays. If so, expect the 2016 class to enter the fishery as just-size fish in the summer of 2018/19. That’s two big ‘ifs.’ Fingers crossed! One thing we can be confident about is that we will continue to be well

informed by Fisheries Victoria on what’s happening with whiting and snapper recruitment and what that means for our fisheries. Yearly monitoring of snapper and whiting recruitment, stocks and fisheries is funded by

commercial fishing levies and recreational fishing licence fees. With the Port Phillip Bay commercial fishery to be phased out by 2022, anglers can expect these costs to be met, increasingly, from the RFL Trust Account.

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VR Fish Update

DROP INTO YOUR LOCAL DEALER TODAY

Assessing Murray cod populations VR FISH

Dallas D’Silva

VRFish, recreational fishers, Fisheries Victoria and the Arthur Rylah Institute teamed up to shed new insights into Murray cod populations on the Loddon River near Marong on 6 February. Electro fishing, which is a scientific tool to independently measure fish numbers, will be compared against catch and effort information from recreational fishers to better understand Murray cod stocks on the Loddon River. VRFish General Manager Dallas D’Silva said that anglers are an important source of data and by working with fisheries scientists we can provide vital information to ensure sustainable management. The work is part of the Murray Cod Fishery Management Groups and is funded by the Fisheries Research and Development

anglers care about fish for the future and that is why they are so keen to volunteer their time towards this research. STAY AWAY FROM EAST COAST MARLIN GROUNDS VRFish is calling on the operators of the Geelong Star to stay away from our growing recreational game fishery for striped and blue marlin off East Gippsland. In 2015, VRFish worked closely with the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) and the Game Fishing Association of Victoria to submit a proposal that addressed many of the concerns that Australia’s recreational fishers have about industrial scale commercial operations in the SPF. Under the plan outlined by ARFF, the proposal would have affected less than 10% of the 3 million square kilometres that the Geelong Star can fish as part of the Commonwealth SPF. The rejection of the ARFF proposal

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MELBOURNE fisheries. VRFish Board member and President of the Game Fishing Association of Victoria, Geoff Fisher said that they remain resolute that the Australian Government must take action to minimise the impacts of the SPF on these iconic recreational fisheries. Dallas D’Silva, VRFish General Manager, added that with warm waters off the east coast of Victoria over the next 2 months, Victorian fishers are gearing up to chase blue and striped marlin out of Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota. “It is vital that the SPFIA agree to stay away from these high value recreational areas so that schools of baitfish can remain well-formed, undisturbed and near the surface,” he said. Recreational fishing in Gippsland is worth $381 million to the Victorian economy annually, and the lack of management by the Commonwealth to keep this vessel away from our key

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A healthy 44cm cod tagged and released on the Loddon River as part of the research project. Corporation study that is also supported by Victoria’s recreational fishing licence fees. The cod were hard to catch and it will be interesting to see how the electrofishing results compare with the 200 hours of effort from the research anglers. VRFish Chairman, Rob Loats said Murray cod numbers have grown significantly over the last 20 years as a result of fish stocking, natural spawning, improved habitat and fisheries management strategies. “It is a great success story with anglers currently reporting catching excellent numbers of fish within and outside the current legal lower and upper size limit of 55-75 centimetres,” he said. VRFish member and avid cod fisher, Sam Cunsolo said 50

APRIL 2016

last year by SPFIA means that the Geelong Star is largely unrestricted in where and when it can fish. Discussions between representatives of the recreational and commercial sector recommenced recently following renewed attempts by Minister responsible for fisheries, Anne Ruston to better address our longstanding concern. As of last week and to the great disappointment of recreational fishers, the commercial fishing vessel was seen operating alongside recreational game fishing boats on the south coast of New South Wales. This is simply unacceptable to the recreational fishing community and highlights the need to better incorporate recreational fishing values into the future management of Commonwealth commercial

fishing grounds has potential to undermine the great work by the State Government to grow recreational fishing participation in Victoria. Unless and until we are listened to, VRFish, other recreational fishing peak bodies and fishing media personalities have no choice but to pursue other avenues to ensure our concerns are addressed and will be ramping up opposition to the trawler’s plans to operate in Australian waters. V RFish Chairman, Robert Loats said fishing tourism in regional towns would suffer if the SPF industry did not listen to the legitimate concerns of recreational fishers. VRFish has provided a response to the Senate Inquiry and will continue to work closely with ARFF on this important issue in future.

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APRIL 2016

Looking for luderick NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Luderick or blackfish are widespread and prolific. They occur in good numbers close to many major population centres. Yet, relatively few anglers specifically target these wily, hard-fighting and tasty saltwater fish, which seems a little odd. Luderick or blackfish range right around our

up beautifully if properly processed (bled, filleted and skinned within a few hours of capture). However, surprisingly few fishers regularly chase luderick or blackfish, especially in waters outside of NSW. Even in the Premier State, blackfishing is nowadays seen as rather ‘old school’ and seems to have lost favour among the younger generation of sport fishers. To my mind, this is a shame, as they’re truly great fish! Luderick are classed as

small crustaceans and even tiny fish at times. Perhaps that’s why we occasionally catch them on both hard and soft lures intended for bream, flathead or estuary perch. There are also areas and times of the year that produce excellent bags of blackfish on baits such as squirt worms, bass yabbies (nippers), cunjevoi, bread and even peeled prawn tails. However, to consistently score luderick across the calendar and throughout their range, it’s necessary to Luderick or blackfish tick all the boxes necessary to qualify as a top notch angling target: they’re attractive, hard-fighting, readily available, good to eat and require just enough specialisation and skill to make the entire process of catching them extremely satisfying – and highly addictive! pulls them underwater. Baits are usually set to hang in mid-water or deeper, often several metres beneath the surface, and floats may be rigged either fixed to the main line or running freely below a stopper of some sort.

others on offer. However, be warned: blackfishing has a way of getting into your blood and dominating your daydreams. These fish offer just the right mix of challenge, willingness and availability,

and will quickly become a favourite target with many anglers if given half a chance. They’re certainly well up on my personal list. If you haven’t given the humble luderick a try, you really should!

Once hooked, blackfish or luderick fight hard, all the way to the landing net. Fine leaders and small hooks are the go. southeastern seaboard, from about the bottom end of Fraser Island in Queensland to the eastern and northern coasts of Tasmania. Most commonly encountered in tidal estuaries, bays and harbours, they’ll also push upstream into near-fresh water at times, as well as frequenting the wash zones adjacent to ocean headlands, or even further out, around inshore islands. Luderick commonly run from 400g-1kg+, and very occasionally reach twice that weight. They are handsome, hard-fighting fish that cook

Did

‘omnivores’, and will eat a wide variety of both animal and vegetable matter. A large part of their diet typically consists of various marine algae or weeds, especially the long, filamentous varieties known to anglers simply as “green weed”, as well as the shorter, crinkled stuff that grows in little bunches or rosettes in the inter-tidal zone along ocean rock ledges – commonly referred to as ‘cabbage weed’ or ‘sea lettuce’. In addition to marine algae, blackfish will happily consume worms,

t a h t w o you kn

offer them their favourite food – weed! Weed baits are best presented on small (No. 10- No. 6) hooks tied to fine (2–4kg) mono leaders and suspended beneath light floats. Traditional blackfish specialists often use long (3–4m), soft or slow-tapered rods and simple centrepin reels for this task, although spinning reels and light sidecasts will certainly do the job. Floats (whether of the stemmed variety or bobby corks) should be weighted or ballasted so that the softest bite easily

APRIL 2016

There are almost as many ways to rig up for blackfish as there are luderick specialists! There are plenty of great video clips on YouTube and elsewhere that detail highly effective rigging, baiting VIDEO

has a l? channe

be on Subscri e to be YouTub otified yn instantl latest ur about o videos!

A hooked blackfish doggedly resists capture.

My advice on catching a few luderick from the ocean rocks. and berleying techniques to catch luderick. If you’re interested in exploring this topic further, seek out a few of these clips. The QR code will take you directly to one that I presented a few years ago about catching blackfish from the ocean rocks, but there are also plenty of

Fish for the future and carefully put the little ones back to do some more growing.

Hot Spot

Chappy’s hotspot – Portland CRANBOURNE

Mitch Chapman

Tuna time – that precious season all Victorian anglers look forward to. Located about four hours

from Melbourne along the west coast lies the pretty, yet very busy town of Portland. In the cold months of winter there is only one thing on anglers’ minds as they head down this way and that is

Dan Mackerel and Adrian with a great mix of tuna and kingfish caught casting stickbaits into schools of fish!

southern bluefin tuna. PRIME TIME The colder months from April to July are prime time to target tuna. When the water cools down, the fish seem to move in and create havoc. I wouldn’t want to be a baitfish at this time of year, that’s for sure! THE GEAR Stand up 15-24kg overhead set ups are great to target tuna with. Over the past couple of years, quite a few anglers have made the change from overhead to spin gear, as it is a lot more fun and easy to use. Anything from the 800020,0000 range is ideal, just make sure whatever reel you are using has a good smooth drag. THE RIG Whether its 15kg or 24kg line, the most common way to rig your rod is to run a double from your main line and cat’s-paw a 150-200lb wind on leader through the Dacron loop on the leader to the platted double. At the end of the leader, crimp a loop and heavy-duty snap swivel and then you’re all set. All you have to do is clip your lure or skirt with

about 2m of leader to the snap and put it in the water. BAIT AND LURES Hardbodied lures and skirts are the preferred way to target tuna. Rapala Xraps in 20’s and 30’s and 5-7” skirts seem to do the damage. Apex Predator skirts are worth a try as well. If you don’t have a few of each in your lure selection then get onto it! BEST METHOD Trolling lures is by far the best method. A decent spread of lures is best with both hardbodies and skirts in the mix. Run a skirt in the shot gun way out the back and hardbodies or River2Sea killer vibes in close in the motor wash is always a good way. Once you get a hook-up, keep the boat in gear and troll a little further as a lot of the time this will result in multiple hook-ups – this is when all hell breaks loose! MOTHER NATURE Make sure all your safety equipment is up to date and easy to access in case of emergency. The seas and weather along the west coast can be bad, and the last thing you want is to get caught out with a broken EPIRB or that you

Small Maria stickbaits like the Blues Code are deadly on finicky tuna. can’t get to the life jackets. Take extra fuel and always tell someone where you are going and when you are roughly expected back. All these little things will help if something goes wrong. HOT TIP Fishing on weekdays is definitely the way to go as using boat launching

facilities in Portland during tuna time can be worse than a Melbourne boat ramp in the middle of snapper season, with up to two hour plus waits. On weekdays the boat traffic isn’t as intense and stressful. Keep an eye on the weather and try to avoid the weekend if possible.

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APRIL 2016

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Tuna, with kings to follow TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

That bell you can hear tolling mournfully in the background is signalling the end of daylight saving in Tasmania. April is that time of the year when it’s dark straight after work. Later on towards the end of the month it doesn’t even have the decency to wait until you have left work before it’s dark. But hey, but let’s be glass half full types and not drop the bottom lip just yet. There are several fishing activities that actually benefit from it being dark sooner, and which allow you to get into bed at a reasonable hour after cleaning your catch. One positive for April is that it typically has settled weather. It is autumn and the evenings can still be warm and have very little wind. I for one love a bit of floundering, and have re-acquainted myself with the fly rod and reel. This season has been fantastic and it looks like we’ll get more of the same in April. Tuna have been sensational this year, but April is when we all start to think bigger tuna and JUMBOs. The super keen anglers will also be looking

to find a broadbill off the waters in and around the shelf in April. There have been some good fish caught recently and that looks set to continue. Inshore the water temps won’t have cooled as quickly as the ambient air temps. April on land starts to see the breeze find some bite and it can be quite fresh. Water temps will be slower to drop back, and the inshore fishing will still be well worth a look. This month we’ll hear from a number of local tackle stores about what they predict will happen in April, and where to focus your efforts. It is good to have their input as they have customers coming in giving real time reports on what is happening in the local waters. TUNA, TUNA EVERYWHERE We’ve been having a super year on the tuna. Bluefin and albacore have been in large numbers and have been accessible to a great many anglers. This does not look to change in April, the only difference is we expect the jumbos to turn up. I have seen anglers who normally don’t fish for tuna have a great day out catching them, and this comes from confidence in finding them

NORTH-NORTH EAST TASMANIA The Tamar River gave up some very nice snapper in March, and April is still a great time to target these fish. There are a number of ways and areas to target big reds in the Tamar. Deeper water with a bit of water flow calls for some reasonable lead and large baits. Sneaking in and around the shallow mudflats on the incoming tide and fishing the flood and start of the ebb tides calls for some stealth and berley. The Tamar River mouth has been really fishing well, and those persisting into April may find the yellowtail kingfish are still there. The super squid run we had late in 2015 in the area was awesome and they will be starting to thicken up all through April.

Low Head and Bridport are the stars in April. Both areas have good fish species that frequent them, and really good access by land and by boat. The headlands and beaches provide great spots for the land-based angler to have a go in and around both towns. Break wall fishing is a feature of both areas, along with some pretty strong tides at times. The water movement will mean you will need some good, strong fishing outfits and some solid sinkers to hold bottom. The tried and proven combination of a Penn Spinfisher and Ugly Stik rod is my value-for-money combo to do battle in these grounds. Croppies Beach at Waterhouse is a good spot for beach fishers to try their arm. Species to come off

NORTH WEST TASMANIA The days in April will be drawing in and the cold water approaching, but fishing on the coast is still very good. Flathead are drawn back into a bit deeper water as the coastal water cools and there is still some good flathead fishing to be had. Those anglers 54

APRIL 2016

who love to flick plastics will be rewarded with some explosive takes in shallower water as water recedes back into the channels on an outgoing tide. Whiting may slow a touch, but good catches in the far North West are still keeping anglers wanting

King Island Flinders Island

closer to shelter. The smaller boats have been able to get to school bluefin from the comfort of a lee shore, or poke the nose out from a protective headland close to the comfort of a known boat ramp. The high success rate and close proximity of the tuna schools has really made this possible. Bicheno and Schouten Island have had big numbers of tuna in close. Maria Island and the surrounding areas have provided sheltered water and good fishing. Eagle Hawk Neck has really stared this season with marlin, massive albacore and bluefin. The yellowtail kings also featured for most of February and right into March. Don’t think April will have an iron curtain fall on this action. Troll small skirts looking for them and cover some ground. Keep your eyes peeled for a bustup, and change to flashy slice lures or smaller stickbaits. Poppers can be effective as well when you have found fish and can get some action over the top of the school. The predators will have a crack at anything that looks like a wounded baitfish. Tide and water movement is your friend in all instances. The fish love water movement and it really rings the dinner bell for them. Don’t despair and don’t give up. It is a

game of a thousand casts and a lot of ground covered. Points and headlands are your best bet to start if you’re in an estuary, and if you see a big heap of weed floating offshore by all means have a cast in and around it. The yellowtail king fishing has

there lately include flathead, salmon, gummies and occasionally smaller snapper. Two good ramps at Bridport make ocean access a breeze. From here you can easily fish Waterhouse and Ninth islands. The locals have reported plenty of kings in and around these lumps of rock. The deeper water around Ninth Island has plenty of sandy bottom areas, which hold sensational numbers of flathead. Look on your sounder for some bottom that drops away, and start a drift to come up or down that. If your sounder is showing a gutter or a ridge make sure you get a solid drift in and around these. Low Head is a wonderful area to spend some time. Not just for the fishing, but as a standout spot to take the family for the day or spend the weekend. April will see the summer crowds dwindle and you will have the area

pretty much to yourself. If you have a boat, the Low Head ramp gives you easy access to all the great fishing at the mouth of the Tamar. The Kelso area and surrounding grounds will still give up some very nice whiting during April. Look for the broken weedy and sandy bottom and find bigger patches of sand. Set up a drift over these patches if the weather allows or set the anchor. Getting a light but constant berley trail going will give you greater success. The added bonus of this is that anything could turn up for a feed. Remember to always look after your fish flesh as soon as you catch it. Sand and King George whiting are superb eating, and looking after them will reward you with some great tucker. Dispatch the fish quickly and get on some ice for best results.

more. Western Inlet near Stanley is a stand-out at this time of year. The central north will see numbers slow with the cooling water later in April. Don’t give up too early as a well-presented bait will still bring a feed undone. Light line, sinkers and hooks will be the best bet, and bait with some tail and action. Cut baits into thin strips and wind it on the

hook, leaving a dangly bit. Berley will help the cause, whether you’re shore-based or fishing from a boat. Gummy shark will still be plentiful off the coast. A good berley trail on the bottom will see good results of tasty flake coming aboard. The settled autumn conditions will aid in a slow drift. Fishing at anchor is becoming more

Stanley Smithton

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been absolutely outstanding this year so get out and get involved. Jumbo bluefin are a trophy fish here in Tasmania, and to many anglers they’re the fish of a lifetime. It is pleasing to see these fish being tagged as well as

taken for a trophy and eaten. There is great expectation this month that the big fish will start to turn up, and fingers crossed they’ll be here in good numbers. Offshore fishing in April again promises to be a very good month.

Stuart with a very nice North East trumpeter. and more popular so attach the berley pot just above your anchor and lower the whole lot down. Often a good by-catch when targeting gummy is much bigger flathead, the odd snapper and possibly a bigger school shark. For this reason a solid trace should be used along with stout and quality hooks. Speaking of snapper,

April is a good month to fish some shale bottom or off the side of some reefy structure. Once again, a good berley trail will see results. The mako shark fishing along the coast this year looked good with the early warm water arriving. While not being a fabulous year, the shark fishers were hoping catches would be up from the last three years. It’s

Go Behind the Scenery been a solid year without being special, and April is the last month to expect some reasonable results. The season is tapering off with

the cold water approaching. Australian salmon are still around in good numbers. The Port Sorell estuary is producing good size fish up to

NORTH EAST TASMANIA The northeast of the state is still producing good numbers of fish, with flathead and gummy shark

being the staple catch. A good run of kingfish around Flinders Island earlier in the year is

Michael Males from Pauletta found some tuna on a big Penn eggbeater.

Tasmania

5lb, and there are also some snapper up near Squeaking Point. Once again, a good berley trail will produce fish. The beach anglers

should continue to do well in April, and as it gets darker earlier, you can find the right tide without being up until 3am. The

targets here are salmon and gummy shark along the coast’s sandy beaches. The Blythe River mouth has been producing good

size fish, and the beaches down the northern end of Moreland’s beach past the airport at Devonport are also worth a look.

starting to taper off now the East Australian Current is heading back up the coast. You can still find good fish but you have to be persistent, and do the miles to get the smiles. April is a good time to chase flounder of a night. The wind backs off a bit before winter sets in, and the numbers seem to increase. Around Waterhouse and Tomahawk there are good beaches and flats to chase these tasty morsels. I managed to have a good chat with Stuart Blackwell from Musselroe Charters about what April means for him and his operation. Stuart runs a purpose-built 7.5m custom Cape Cat with twin 225 Yamaha 4-strokes. The operation caters for scenic tours and all types of fishing charters. Stuart has lived in the area all his life and has considerable knowledge of the area along with the Clarke, Cape Barren and Passage islands. This area offers spectacular diving in and around Cape Naturalist and Deep Creek, and the fishing in the far northeast

is legendary. Big kingfish and stripy trumpeter are Stuart’s speciality, along with blue-eye trevalla and all the other deep

sea delicacies. The breadand-butter fishing is also of interest, with massive flathead and gummy sharks two of the many species

clients can take home. If you would like more information check out the website at www.scenic fishingcharters.com.au.

warm currents that went past earlier in the year are pushed back up past and stall off the coast. You can get some good temp breaks off these areas in April. These currents can be filled with pelagic species looking to head back north. The 100m line all up the coast is a good spot to start as the temp change is often the greatest around this area. Large albacore are being

caught in good numbers and the action looks to continue through April. Albacore respond well to all types of fishing whether it be trolling lures or casting stickbaits. Cubes and jigs are another good option while chasing mako sharks on the east and south coasts. These fish are often attracted to the berley and are just under the boat out of sight. It often pays to have a bit of a jig in your trail from time to time. It relieves the boredom and might fill the freezer as well.

EAST COAST April is yellowfin time for St Helens to shine. It has failed to fire in the past few seasons, but the start to 2016 has looked good. Yellowfin tuna and marlin have been caught and it is looking good for a great April. The trick is to not get sucked out to the shelf and work the current lines in and around the 100m mark and shallower. Merricks and Middle Ground hold bait, as does St Helens Island and Pulfers Bank further to the south. Hit Merricks and head 45° to the 100m line and back into Middle Ground. Turn and head 45° back to the hundred and back into St Helens Island. Do the same off St Helens Island and back into Pulfers and you have covered some very good fishholding grounds. Other good spots down the coast are Schouten Passage and Bicheno. The

Shaun House shows that Tassie has some decent yellowtail kingfish on offer.

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Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania SOUTH TASMANIA The good news for squid lovers is that they are starting to really thicken up. On some of the lighter designated squid outfits, they are great fun to target and catch. I have seen some anglers’ extensive squid jig collections and the way they pore over them… I sometimes wonder are they anglers or collectors? Why not, I say! There are some very nice looking squid jigs out in the marketplace at the moment. So squid are back in

water column over from top to bottom. As your skills in working the bottom third without getting snagged improves, so will your catch rate. Garfish are sneaking about, and berley and unweighted baits will bring them undone. Mix in some tuna oil and bread to really fire them up. You can also use a quill or pencil float and suspend some small squid strips or prawns. Flounder are great to eat, and a night out spearing

snapper. Blackmans Bay and Norfolk Bay are good spots to start, but don’t get too hung up on a special spot. If you can find a drop-off or a spot in some depth where reef meets sand, start a trail. You never know what might be attracted to it. Big baits are the order of the day, and whole squid heads are the bomb! Derwent has been spectacular for kingfish for most of the summer. Spot On the Fishing Connection in Harrington St, Hobart is the place to go for info. Owner Steve Bax runs a top show and the staff have

Johnny Valentine with a porky little Derwent kingfish. popular in jigs, with the life like blues and greys being the stand-out colours among local anglers. Popular spots such as Blackmans Bay, Kingston Beach, Margate, Dennes Point, Bull Bay and

River are stand-out spots. Anyone looking to chase these fish with bait can also expect good success on the Derwent River around Old Beach, Otago Bay, Bowen Bridge and Cadburys.

Force Ten Skipper Brett Sharp was happy to find fish. force. Look for them in all their usual haunts. Sheltered bays with light reefy bottom will have you find the best of them. Whether you’re land-based or out in a boat, you can do very well in the right spots. Work the

flounder is a great adventure. You will need a good light, and there are plenty of LED ones getting about. Ralphs Bay and south arm areas are always worth a look. April is also a good time to find some southern

Flathead are about in the deeper water. 56

APRIL 2016

their fingers well on the pulse and are very happy to help in any way. Rob and Isaac have been targeting the kings and know where they are at and what they are taking. Drop in or give them a call. Bream fishing will be crazy in the Derwent throughout April. Bigger fish can usually be found in and around the rock bars. Use a good suspending hardbody with a slow roll and twitch. The best method is to pull and twitch it down to depth, pause for a long time and repeat. The Fisherman’s Shed is a fantastic new tackle store in Kingston. You can find it on the way out of Hobart via the southern outlet. Ownermanagers Thomas Crawford and Jarod Vander Laan have set up a very nice store in Merton vale Circuit. They have a great range and are fully stocked with great gear and a heap of local knowledge. Here is what they think will be happening down south this month. Squid Smaller calamari and slightly bigger arrow squid are still being found in good numbers by both shorebased anglers and those fishing from a boat. More natural colours have been

Leo hooked up to a sword on his birthday last month. the Iron Pot still continue to be the stand-out spots. Flathead Good numbers of flathead are still being caught in 20-30ft of water. Bull Bay, Iron Pot, Betsey Island and Kingston Beach have been popular. Anglers after a feed of tiger flathead should concentrate their efforts in the deeper water (60-200ft) off Marion Bay and Eaglehawk Neck. Squid has been the most popular bait, with lumo soft plastics also a very popular method. Bream Bream will continue to fish well across the state through April. Look for fish being caught in the various east coast lagoons and rivers. Locally, the Derwent River and of course Browns

Garfish and whiting Sand whiting are being caught near beaches on the Derwent River with Sandy Bay, Blackmans Bay and Kingston Beach being the stand-out spots. Sabiki rigs with a bit of squid have been deadly. There have been rumours of some King George whiting being caught off Bruny lately as well. Australian salmon Salmon up to 60cm have been caught in North West Bay, and anglers casting lures from the rocks at Kingston Beach and Blackmans Bay have had some good results too. A silver slice around 30-40g or a minnow-style soft plastic is ideal for casting from the rocks. Long casts and quick retrieves are the best way to cover water when fishing for salmon. Gummy shark Gummies are on the move, and people can expect a feed of flake if they concentrate their efforts around Betsey Island and Bull Bay. The 30-40ft mark continues to be a popular depth, with small squid and whole sauries being stand-out baits. A berley trail and running sinker rig

April bream are always good-sized models.

Go Behind the Scenery made up of 20-40lb leader attached to a 5/0 circle hook has proven to be a deadly combination. Couta Small couta continue to be caught all around Bruny Island, North West Bay and the Derwent River. Anglers targeting them will find silver sliced lures and soft plastics are always effective. There have been reports of a few larger fish being caught out deeper. For those of you who don’t like the taste of couta cooked traditionally, try hot smoking them. Striped trumpeter Tasman Island and the Friars have been the best areas for striped trumpeter. Some anglers have been reporting frequent catches of fish over 10kg. April will be a good month for targeting these fish in the settled conditions of autumn. Tuna Good numbers of albacore and bluefin are being caught by anglers trolling skirts and divers around Eaglehawk Neck, Dart Bank and Maria Island. The big yellowfin off St Helens are proving elusive, but persistence and covering the ocean with your lures will get results. Striped marlin off Schouten Island are still being reported and both of these prized species can be teased up with big skirted lures. Look for lures that put up a lot of push and smoke trail. Don’t be scared to run much bigger lures than you normally would. These lures create quite the surface disturbance and that is what you want to do to attract them. Zacatak lures are proven fish takers in our waters. Kingfish Kingfish are being caught in good numbers right across the state. For anyone hoping to hunt these fish in their local waters, a good

last day of each season. The late March rain and still, quite warm conditions will mean the grass growth will be solid, and so too will be the grasshopper numbers. If you are thinking of trying flyfishing, April is the time. There’s generally little or no wind, and trout keen on a feed of hoppers are as easy a target as any. Clumsy casts make a nice plop down on the water, and hungry trout hear that as the dinner bell. They often self-hook as well as they roar out of cover,

Tasmania inhale the fly and take off back for cover. They fly doesn’t have to be anything too special; as long as it looks grasshopper-ish you are in the game. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED So there you have it – a round-up of what you can expect from April. What this season has taught me so far is to expect the unexpected! The traditions and species timings of old are all pretty much out the window. The fish species that are frequenting our shores and

waters are on the increase. Short-billed spearfish, marlin and yellowtail kings are all in greater numbers and are hanging around longer. It is a great time to be an angler in Tasmania and an even a better time to start fishing. You can be super serious and get totally involved in all the knots, rigs and lures under the sun, or just sit back, relax and take it easy. Get into your local tackle stores, support local business and generate some smiles and memories you will keep forever.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Syndicate jailed for illegal abalone

How’s that for a big old birthday swordfish? starting point is to search for baitfish, structure and current. Down south, recent hotspots include Kingston Beach, Iron Pot, Betsey Island, Bull Bay, Dennes Point, Lewisham and North West Bay. Trolling small skirted lures around rocky points and other structure at 5 knots has been a popular method for finding these fish. For those casting lures, quickly retrieving larger soft plastics around 5-7” rigged on 1/2oz jigheads has been the go-to method. Looking for schools of baitfish on the sounder and fishing under schools of salmon can also be a great way to search for kingfish. If the fishing is slow, a berley trail can sometimes bring these fish up to the boat. If they aren’t interested in your lures (which can happen!) try rigging up a live squid.

Trout It is heading towards the end of trout fishing season, but don’t panic – there is some very good fishing to be had. The end of March does see the mayfly hatches taper off along with the midges, but gum beetles and jassids may still provide some fun in early April. Look for the Great Lake, Arthurs Lake and Lake Echo for most of the action. Stalking the edges looking for good-size trout in the shallow water is a fun pastime at this time of year. This is especially the case in waters holding good amount of galaxid. The river fishing will still hold some joy for the flyfishers as well. April fishing is generally great on the rivers, with classic mayfly fishing. Good sight fishing is often experienced until the

Ten divers from an illegal abalone harvesting syndicate were convicted and sentenced yesterday in the Melbourne Magistrates Court and received various penalties including indefinite bans on fishing, orders to pay up to $16,500 and two months jail. Acting Director of Fisheries Enforcement and Education, Bob Hutton, said all ten of the divers had pleaded guilty to taking abalone for sale without authorisation, which is illegal, with several also pleading guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime. “Four of the ten men were jailed immediately for periods of up to two months, however these sentences are being appealed. The other six men received community correctional orders requiring them to complete between 60 and 280 hours of unpaid community work, bans that prohibit all fishing activity in Victoria indefinitely and orders to pay between $220 and $16,500 each,” Mr Hutton said. “The significant fisheries investigation, code

named Operation Quantum, involved investigators and Fisheries Officers from across the state over a 10 month period, culminating in the execution of 12 search warrants in October 2014. “During the investigation, 12 vehicles and associated dive equipment were seized by Fisheries Victoria and most have since been forfeited to the state. A number of residential premises are still restrained under proceeds of crime legislation and further hearings will determine what happens to these assets. “The syndicate of divers were driving from the western suburbs of Melbourne several times each week to steal abalone, rock lobster and other shellfish from the southwest Victorian coastline. “The divers would drive for three hours in pairs, meet at various dive sites around Warrnambool and Port Fairy, then take quantities of abalone and other shellfish. They would drive three hours back to Melbourne, then sell the harvest to two ring-leaders who would allegedly on-sell the seafood at a discounted rate around St Albans and Sunshine.”

Mr Hutton said this was a well organised syndicate that took significant fisheries resources on a regular basis and unfairly competed with the legitimate abalone industry, which is Victoria’s most valuable commercial fishery. They also put consumers at risk of serious health problems stemming from unsafely handled and poorly stored seafood. “One of the syndicate’s ring-leaders, who pleaded guilty in December 2015, was remanded in custody for further sentencing in February. The other alleged ring-leader is bailed to appear before the Magistrates Court today for a further hearing.” Mr Hutton said the organised illegal harvest of Victoria’s fisheries resources was unacceptable and offenders would be caught and penalised. “We will continue to dismantle syndicates like this one, which represent a significant threat to the sustainability of our commercial, recreational and indigenous interests in fisheries resources.” – Victoria Fisheries

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 8th March 2016 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Lake Augusta ...................................2.58 .......................................................Steady Arthurs Lake ....................................3.41 ....................................................... Falling Great Lake .......................................18.04 .....................................................Steady Trevallyn Pond .................................1.64 ....................................................... Falling Shannon Lagoon ..............................0.12 .......................................................Steady Penstock Lagoon .............................0.23 .......................................................Steady Lake Echo ........................................10.96 .....................................................Steady Dee Lagoon .....................................0.29 .......................................................Steady Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah .............2.24 .......................................................Steady Bronte Lagoon .................................0.94 .......................................................Steady Pine Tier Lagoon ..............................2.62 .......................................................Steady Little Pine Lagoon ............................0.63 .......................................................Steady Laughing Jack Lagoon ....................4.84 .......................................................Steady Lake St Clair ....................................1.92 .......................................................Steady Lake King William ............................12.39 .....................................................Steady Lake Liapootah ................................0.31 ........................................................Rising Wayatinah Lagoon ...........................0.40 ....................................................... Falling Lake Catagunya ...............................0.87 .......................................................Steady

Lake Repulse ...................................0.37 ....................................................... Falling Cluny Lagoon ...................................0.22 ....................................................... Falling Meadowbank Lake ..........................0.08 .......................................................Steady Lake Pedder ....................................1.38 .......................................................Steady Lake Gordon ....................................44.35 .....................................................Steady Lake Burbury ...................................8.91 .......................................................Steady Lake Plimsoll ...................................4.77 .......................................................Steady Lake Murchison ...............................15.44 .....................................................Steady Lake Mackintosh .............................3.81 .......................................................Steady Lake Rosebery .................................0.75 .......................................................Steady Lake Pieman ....................................0.42 .......................................................Steady Lake Mackenzie ...............................2.69 .......................................................Steady Lake Rowallan .................................6.20 .......................................................Steady Lake Parangana ...............................0.60 ....................................................... Falling Lake Cethana ...................................1.73 ........................................................Rising Lake Barrington ...............................0.92 ........................................................Rising Lake Gairdner ..................................6.11 .......................................................Steady Lake Paloona ...................................1.73 ....................................................... Falling Woods Lake .....................................2.07 .......................................................Steady Whitespur Pond ...............................7.94 .......................................................Steady Lake Newton ...................................4.69 .......................................................Steady Lake Margaret .................................8.40 .......................................................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 2016

Wimmera trout battle through the drought HORSHAM

Trevor Holmes

While my time in the Wimmera has been minimal lately, due to a well-earned break chasing barra up north, the reports and stories have rolled in with anglers who are prepared to do their homework for a trip have fared well.

stirred some interest among the doubters. Many fish within the slot limit have been landed with the odd one kept, but it’s great to see most anglers return them. The goldens have been active at first and last light and trolling seems to be the best option – use smaller spinnerbaits and deep diving lures to entice them to hit. With a maximum depth of

Shaun Campbell with a lovely example of a Fyans’ rainbow taken on a mudeye. Once again we missed out on much needed rains, but the coming months show plenty of promise with tips far and wide of the drought breaking and predicted rains set to replenish the system. Across the Wimmera, the whole system is now floundering at around 23% and to many the rains can’t arrive quickly enough. Premier trout lake Toolondo now sits at 9%, and there has been some mortality there on the warmer days. With a maximum depth of 1.8m and crystal clear water, the pelicans and cormorants have had a feast. Sad, but this is Mother Nature doing her thing and we can only hope for a reprieve in the coming months. TAYLORS LAKE Fast becoming the Eildon of the Wimmera with great catches of both cod and golden perch, Taylors has seen its fair share of boat and bank angling over the warmer months. Lately the cod have played very well and I recently had the pleasure of seeing a 1.2m specimen landed by a very happy local angler. This beast was returned to fight another day and certainly 58

APRIL 2016

6m, lure selection is critical and bouncing the bottom with them is paramount. Carp, redfin and silver perch are also an option, proving Taylors to be a great fishery, hopefully for many years to come with careful management and stocking. LAKE FYANS Without doubt Lake Fyans is the prime trout lake throughout the region, with some sensational fish on offer over the last few months. As

the water temperatures cool with the onset of autumn, we should see some great browns landed using most methods. The cooler water will also see the big redfin swing into action, as the large girls become hungry and chase that pre-winter feed they require while brooding eggs. Rainbows still dominate the catch rate here, and with many of the October ex-brood stock still around, fishers have been delighted with numbers. Mudeye under a bubble float has been the most reliable method for all fish here for many years now, but soft plastics worked around trees and weed beds have also produced. Trolling accounts for many fish here, and it’s important to mix your lure selection up with shallow and mid water runners for best results. Doing this will also increase your chances of snagging a big reddy on the deeper diver. LAKE BELLFIELD Not normally a target lake for trout stalkers, Bellfield is fast becoming a great option as catches are revealed and numbers of fish increase. Holding both browns and rainbows as well as many redfin and some great chinook salmon, Bellfield has become a go-to lake for anglers in the know. Being an electric-powered vessel only lake means it doesn’t get pressured as much as nearby Fyans or Wartook, and has become a favourite for kayakers. The mainstay here has been some very nice rainbow trout averaging 1.7kg. These have been caught mainly by cast or troll. Recently, one unlucky local lost a monster brown at his feet after a 15 minute battle because he forgot to pack his landing net! ROCKLANDS RESERVOIR With the water still dropping to a four year low of around 16%, the fishing has

been a little slow and anglers have struggled to trouble the scorers. I’ve said for a long time that there are two requirements for Rocklands to fish consistently – a higher barometer of around 1020 and above, and stable water levels. Sure there’s plenty of smaller redfin on offer, but the larger fish seem to take a dive when these two key elements aren’t aligned. Trout have started to become more aggressive of late and contrary to popular belief there are some absolute stonkers to be targeted here if you use the right methods. As with all trout fisheries, the ever-reliable mudeye under a float is best but if you target them with shallow and mid-running hardbodies you will find them as well. Cast into structure for the best results, as these big models hang off trees stalking and waiting for an opportune feed. Bass have also been active and a good by-catch taken mainly by trolling Stumpjumpers intended for redfin. These hard fighting little natives are never too far

A good mixed bagged of Fyans’ browns, rainbows and redfin – all taken on mudeyes. thriving. Goldens, cod and catfish are the most regular catches, apart from the everpresent carp. Most of the goldens are around the 900g mark and the cod have varied

Hoping autumn/winter rains arrive at Toolondo and we get to see more great fish like this one – landed by Eildon guru Andy McCarthy. from structure or rock ledges and give a great account of themselves on light tackle. WIMMERA RIVER Once again, the river has produced very well over the summer with native fish

Structure and weed are the prime areas to fish at Fyans.

in size from new releases to fish in excess of 80cm. Redfin should become more active as the water starts to cool and become a welcome by-catch. Catfish are more common now, with better flows and management of the waterway to the extent that the Horsham Angling Club hold twilight competitions for them on a regular basis. Best baits here have been yabbies and worms, but a few nice fish have also been landed on spinnerbaits and hardbody lures. Jackalls and rattling lures work well around the snags and deeper edges. TOOLONDO RESERVOIR The lake is at a four-year low of 9% and looking very sad, with the only anglers able to access it being those in small tinnies and kayaks. Reports of a few fish dying came in recently, so we are hoping for a change and autumn kicking in early to produce rains to rejuvenate

the lake. Another dry winter will see the demise of Toolondo and another great fishery lost. LAKE CHARLEGRAK After getting off to a flying start at the opening of cod season, the reports have all but dried up here with anglers struggling to land a fish. Whole yabbies, scrub worms and cheese have been the prime baits and a night fish has produced the best catches. With a maximum depth of around 2m this is another lake desperate for rainfall and inflows. LAKE WARTOOK Although not delivering the expected big numbers of fish this year, which I suspect is due to varying levels, Wartook has been consistent for most of the year with fish being landed by most anglers. Trout of both species dominate catches and have been taken using most methods. Mudeye once again has performed as the prime bait, but a few were landed on peeled yabby tail fished on a running sinker rig on the bottom. The reddies school deep here and can be frustrating to land otherwise. Sounding them up in schools is the easy part, tempting the normally aggressive reddies is another story. A live bait of minnow or gudgeon dropped among a school is the best method. Ice jigs or heavily rigged soft plastics can also stimulate the bite and spur the school into action. Trolling diving lures is a good way to locate the schools but many have said this year has produced individual fish on the troll rather than the normal double hook ups. • Enquiries to Trevor on 0438 132 130 or 03 5388 1338. Catch us on Facebook ‘Victorian Inland Charters’ or check our web site www.victorian inlandcharters.com.au

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FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

VFM APRIL 2016

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BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE BITE ME by Trisha Mason

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February locations: 8, 14, 16, 24, 28, 32, 35, 39, 44, 47, 81, 88, 92, 110, 120. – VTFM The Find the Zerek logo prize winners for February were: A Rudkovsky of Sunshine West, P Amos of St Arnaud, T Mathieson of Patterson Lakes, W Henley of Heathmont, A Gamble of Narre Warren, F Wilson of Hoppers Crossing, K Hartley of Coburg North, J Carter of Shepparton, B Walpole of Warrnambool, J Hines of Leopold, B Stokes of Morwell, D Chase of Merbein South, D Baulch of Colac, G Bannister of Lorne, L Gruar of Portland, R McMillan of Grovedale, M Collier of Smythes Creek, P Reed of Wangaratta, I Wild of St Arnaud, R Sanders of Lang Lang, L Davis of Moama, D Dunn of Warrnambool, P Clarke of Wonthaggi North, K Robinson of Ocean Grove, T Hodgkinson of Kyabram, J Kellett of Parkdale, T Darker of Daylesford, R Waugh of South Dreeile, S MacFarlane of Margate, E Dix of Hamilton, R Dean of Moyston, L Carr of Berriedale, B Shelton of Romsey, K Morrison of Moama, B Meaney of Tungamah, F Hutchins of Sunbury, F Weber of Corack • New products G Donaldson of St East, P Musgrove of Casterton, • Videos Arnaud, P Gigliotti of Coburn • North. Indepth Prize delivery takes up toReviews 8 weeks. – VTFM

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APRIL 2016

Surroundings produce big results on the scales MILDURA

Darcy Scherger

Since the season opened for Murray cod the angling has been quite productive, with many happy anglers. The fishing should stay steady and consistent during April. The Mildura region has remained reasonably productive for bait and lure fishers. There have been numerous reports of substantial golden perch

caught (mostly on live shrimp or yabbies) and there have also been many encounters with the elusive Murray cod. Mildura itself has been reasonably quiet for fishing; the regions neighbouring Mildura are the places to chase fish this month. Upstream of Mildura around Red Cliffs and Nangiloc we’ve seen solid numbers of cod, however the majority of fish have been in the 30-55cm size range with only the odd larger specimen in the mix.

The region has remained reasonably productive for both bait and lure fishers.

Small fish aren’t always a negative though – it’s an excellent sign for future fishing on that section of the Murray, and proves the larger Murray cod breeding season has worked a treat over the past two to three years. The Murray cod closed season, from 1 September to 1 December, gives the larger specimens time to breed and produce more cod for anglers to enjoy. Local anglers have reported trips upstream within this area where they have caught up to ten cod in the one session on lures. Anglers have put the time in, filtered through the smaller fish and slowly upgraded to the larger green fish that we all love to catch. Below Wentworth, we’re getting numerous reports of good sized golden perch on yabbies, as well as sinking rattling lures such as Jackall TN60s, Sébile Flat Shads and River2Sea Tungsten Vibes. Spinnerbaits have worked well too. Bassman Carls Compacts, Shorty’s as well as small Mudguts Spinnerbaits and Micro Mumblers have really produced the goods. Cranked slowly back into the bank, or cast into the bank and cranked back to the boat

Anglers have been putting the time in, filtering through the smaller cod to score a few larger ones. works well. The Darling River above Wentworth (Lock 10), has still been putting smiles on many anglers’ faces, with large numbers of golden perch caught on lures as well as Murray cod. Good numbers of yellas have been caught up there with the odd Murray cod thrown in within the day’s fishing. Casting lures into

the snags, rocky ledges and deep bends has produced the goods within the Darling River. The lures of choice up there have consisted of the faithful No.1 StumpJumper, shallow diving Koolabung Codzilla and 4x4 Fluoro Bassman spinnerbaits. All have been dangerous in the Darling water. Mainly anglers try their luck at surface luring, chasing

that breathtaking hit! Jackall Pompadors, Koolabung Cod Walkers, 170mm Koolabung Cod Crackers, Thirsty surface lures and Halco Night Walkers are all lures of choice when chasing cod off the top. The truly adventurous anglers have even been having a crack at fly – the pinnacle of cod fishing – with results showing it is possible.

Autumn cod begin to fire ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

The season has been very good so far in our local waters, with numerous big cod landed on bait and lures. Word spreads fast where fishing is concerned, and a hot bite will often draw anglers from far and wide. A few years back I had the pleasure of fishing the Murray River near Wentworth with one of the Top End’s most celebrated anglers, Alex Julius. Alex has spent a lifetime fishing for all manner of catch, but he is best known for his barramundi exploits. He is a regular on the NT News and owns the widely read NAFA magazine. Now you might wonder why someone with so much red hot fishing in his home waters would travel south to catch fish. The answer to this is the iconic Murray cod. Julius admits since landing a 1m+ model on his last visit he has been keen to return and see if he might better his catch. He had been watching with interest numerous big fish reports through social media, and decided to head on down and try his luck. The method used was 60

APRIL 2016

Tim Polis landed this solid cod on the troll using a giant Cod Dog lure. trolling lures deep amongst the twisted snags where these giant fish so often hold. Julius reckons he has always been lucky when it comes to big fish, and a string of oversized river barramundi to his name is proof enough of his boast. It seemed his record of big fish was destined to continue as not 20 minutes into the trip his StumpJumper lure was hit hard by what had to be a

sizable fish. The unseen cod refused to surface, instead holding deep and searching out the snags. Julius applied a little thumb pressure to the drag and stopped a run that might otherwise have ended in the timber. Then, slowly, the unseen fish was worked towards the boat before it popped to the surface in a swirl of water, kicked by a To page 61

You autumn be out cod fishing this month! YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

Without wanting to give the impression there’s only one lake in the land to chase cod, you’d have to have a screw loose to pencil in any other destination when it comes to targeting cod than Lake Mulwala. The reason we’ve heard so many reports recently is a result of numerous factors including great weather, super water quality, new refined techniques and switched-on anglers but the most overwhelming factor I believe these days is social media. In days gone by it was only hearsay that ‘an old mate’s cousin’s friend’ got a good fish, and the only place you would be lucky enough to see a photo would either be in the pub or local tackle shop. Nowadays Facebook, Instagram and Twitter go into meltdown when anything decent gets caught, but that’s a good thing. Those anglers who have limited time and resources only need to do a bit of searching and they are onto the fish in an instant... and isn’t Lake Mulwala benefiting from it! Since December 1 we’ve From page 60

tail of oar-like proportions. We had trouble fitting the huge cod into the landing net and almost as much trouble lifting it aboard. A couple of quick photos and the cod was quickly returned to the river. Julius admits there is something very special about these fish and to land a monster of such proportions is something he has always dreamed of. Guestimated at about 40kg, he says it is

Matthew Turner with his 98.5cm cod from off the top. seen a record number of 1m fish reported, with in excess of 50+ brought to our attention. In line with the great reports received, the most common theme has been the amount of fish taken on either surface or sub-surface lures. On any given evening or early morning in Lake Mulwala, there will be some pockets that will be sheltered from the wind and offer prime fishing opportunities. If you are not that familiar with Mulwala, your best bet is get out and do a bit of reconnaissance work during the day in relation to

where the wind (if any) will come from in relation to where the shallower timber is located. If we are getting a southerly wind it’s better to fish the south side of the lake, and vice versa. It’s also important to have all your night gear up to speed and also know where you are heading if you need to get off the lake in a hurry. Numerous times I have seen the lake dead flat one minute and 1m high waves the next. The prime times of late have been 7.30-9.30pm and 5-7.30am. Other fishing methods

the biggest freshwater fish he has ever seen. We were lucky enough to catch two more sizable cod on our trip and a few smaller ones as well. Julius reckons the diverse size range from small to ginormous is a good sign of a healthy fishery. We also landed several solid golden perch, and all fish were caught on lures. And so it has been along the Murray River this past month. Some days have been great, others have been quiet

but those anglers trolling large lures have caught some very nice cod – it just comes down to time on the water and persistence. Make no mistake, barometric pressure has a huge influence on the bite. When the pressure has been high, the bite has been at its best. When the pressure has been low, the fish have been all but shut down. Timing is the key, and planning your trips to coincide with incoming high pressure systems will

are still accounting for plenty of cod. The lure fishers have been getting better results in the 1-3m depth range while the baitfishers have been faring better in the 4m+ water. Looking back, this report would go on forever if I gave everybody a mention who has supplied us with valuable info. A few special mentions go out to the following anglers: George Jovanovic for his 125cm on a trolled Stumpjumper, ‘Mitzi’ from Corowa with a 120cm+ beast, the Cobram boys who have been smashing them off the

top with a 117cm and 100cm along with other quality cod, Ant Grant who had a night out hooking into a 111, 93, 72 and 61cm (wowee!), Wally Cjepa with a 120cm bruiser off the top and the list goes on. I got to witness a memorable evening when I took out young French angler, Matthew Turner (that’s his Aussie name!) with a fishing passion second to none and dreams that were BIG. We set off in search of something special. He was happy with a 55cm fish that took his spinnerbait virtually off the tip of his rod, but happiness turned to excitement when his Koolabung Cod Cracker surface lure was belted by a 75cm specimen. Unbelievably, two casts later to the same snag, he was hooked up to a 98.5cm prize. High fives and happy snaps spoke all languages. To see his face was something I’ll never forget. The recent Lowrance Da$h 4 Ca$h Super Series again proved a hit with 78 teams competing. Record numbers of legals were landed with 90 cod captured, photographed and released for the weekend. To round out the comp season is the Cod Nationals, April 17-22, five days of serious tournament fishing for the dedicated green fish angler.

It’s guaranteed that once you have fished a Cod Nationals you will never miss it again. Places are still available but close soon. If you’re visiting town 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) in Mulwala or check out our new store located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street, Yarrawonga and say G’day. We’re Yarrawonga/ Mulwala’s fishing specialists and specialize in all things green! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports give us a hoy on (03) 5744 3133. For the most up to date report on Lake Mulwala check out the Lake Mulwala Fish Camp Ski Facebook page every Thursday or find it on You Tube. • If you are visiting town, I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish, Camp & Ski (opposite the post office) in Mulwala and say G’day. 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 (03) 5744 3133.

When the day finishes like this you can be pretty sure the barometric pressure will be up come morning.

Alex Julius travelled all the way from Darwin to smash out this mega cod and he still reckons the long drive was well worth it.

definitely increase your chances of coming up solid on a good fish. With the irrigation season all but done, river stability will return to its normal pool level and the clarity will no doubt improve, as it has done in past seasons. As the water begins to cool the Murray cod bite will increase dramatically, with some of the season’s best fishing expected during the autumn months. It’s the same every year – as the willow leaves turn to gold and fall, the big cod seem to kick up a gear and feed up in preparation for the cool winter months. The hot run of golden perch is continuing in most areas of the Murray River,

from Swan Hill through Robinvale all the way to Mildura and beyond. Bait anglers have revelled in the excellent fishing opportunities, with many saying it’s as good a season

as they can remember. All up, the fishing has been great in our local waters this past month and it should only get better as we cruise through the expected autumn bite.

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Kialla the comeback kid SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

In the past month there have been plenty of fish caught in both the Goulburn and Broken rivers. Troll bright green and red diving lures like Old Mates and StumpJumpers in the Goulburn River. The biggest cod reported was an 89cm specimen caught on the edge of a drop-off out towards Bunbartha. A new trend of trolling spinnerbaits has emerged and consistently does the damage, with plenty of fish caught recently trolling in about 6-9ft of water. I troll the Pirate Crossbones or the big Bassman 4x4, both have

a big presence in the water and the fish love these lures at the moment. There is no surprise when it comes to bait options with shrimp and scrubbies dominating catches. Trelly’s Tackleworld staff said 80% of angler bait reports have reported shrimp and scrub worms as the winning baits. We experienced a hotter than normal late February and March and there was no rain in sight recently. If the conditions stay warm we will hopefully see plenty of shrimp and yabbies become available for bait. The Broken River surface action has been prime lately, with photos and reports on Facebook daily. Locals have had to head higher upstream around Benalla or more

Jake Pfeiffer with his 70cm, 18lb Waranga Basin yellowbelly.

towards the Broken River drive area for their catches. Normally the Caniambo area is best, but I think it’s been overfished lately. There have been reports of a 97cm cod caught on a Koolabung Cod Walker and plenty of reports of legal size cod smashing the locally made 4D buzz baits. If the warmer weather sticks around we should still see good surface action in the Broken into April. If we do get some autumn rain I would suggest you head out to the Broken and either cast spinnerbaits or baitfish in the backwater pools. KIALLA LAKES The fishing interest has taken off in the lakes over the past couple of months. The water clarity is almost back to when it fished well years ago and the council has done plenty of work to upgrade the lake. They are now in the process of fixing the bank erosion problem, which will see more rocks dumped around the edges. Hopefully this gives the fish a bit of structure to hold, as well as give your lures a chance to bump around and make a nice noise for the following fish. There has been an unconfirmed report of a big cod caught in the lake, but I will have to keep researching to confirm or deny the report. There has been a lot of yellowbelly around the 30-35cm mark caught at the lake mostly caught on worms or Jackals. With better water clarity, you can shift to a few more colours like gold and silver – even the Jackal peacock colour is great for throwing off flashes in the water. Change your lures with the conditions – I tend to use the darker ones in the dirty water, mornings and evenings, and the flashy shiny lures with gold and silver when the sun is out for reflection.

DAM LEVELS

Lake/Dam........................ % Full

LAKE/DAM Jan Feb Mar Cairn Curran 21 19 18 Dartmouth 50 45 43 Eildon 45 42 38 Eppalock 31 29 26 Fyans 69 61 57 Greens 51 48 44 Hepburn 32 25 17 Hume 38 38 32 Lauriston 66 70 66 Malmsbury 34 28 21

Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 93 97 94 Newlyn 28 23 18 Nillahcootie 43 38 32 Rocklands 14 12 12 Taylors 34 40 39 Tullaroop 22 20 18 Upper Coliban 50 46 44 Waranga 18 24 17 Wartook 64 52 49 William Hovell 92 82 65

(All levels correct at time of going to press. Dam levels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.) 62

APRIL 2016

Jacob Crow with a nice cod caught in the Goulburn River. This has been the most I have written on the Kialla Lakes system in a long time, and it’s exciting to see the lakes back to where they were. WARANGA BASIN Once again, the basin has been trolling really well, with plenty of redfin and a few thumper yellowbelly picked up. These catches have come mostly on the RMG poltergeists and the small codgers. Gold and greens seem to be the best colours to work at the moment. Use either live or frozen shrimp or small yabbies for bait. A couple of blokes have reported landing over 100 redfin. Local fisho Jake Pfeiffer caught a stonker of a yellowbelly recently that measured in at a ridiculously

big 70cm and 18lb. LOCAL CHANNELS The channels have not been heavily fished lately, with a lot of locals fishing elsewhere. I am still getting the odd report of small yellowbelly and redfin caught on small hardbodies around bridge pylons. I tend to have had good success around this time of the year fishing the bridges with bait or lures. When the water drops down these areas normally still hold deeper water for fish to move into. SHEPPARTON LAKE There have been hardly any reports of trout caught in the lake in recent times, which could be due to the late summer heat or simply because they are stocked and some are taken or

just don’t survive being caught. However, there have been reports of bigger yellowbelly caught around the 45cm mark. These fish have been extremely healthy and are a real dark golden and green colour. Slow roll plastics around the weed edges for your best chance at one of these. Baitfishing has been tricky but the odd redfin has been caught in the lake from the fishing pontoons. MOOROOPNA LAKE There has been plenty of action in the lake lately, with catches of monster carp up to 80cm. The carp have smashed all types of bait from yabby tails to corn kernels. Use light gear with the carp as it’s a fun fight and the lake has limited structure to bust you off.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Fish oil burns fat Scientists have discovered that fish oil turns fat-storage cells into fat-burning cells. This discovery may pave the way to reducing the dreaded ‘middle age spread’. In Scientific Reports, the research team explained that the fish oil turns on receptors in the digestive system, stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, and causes storage cells to metabolise stored fat. Not all fat tissue is the same; they actually don’t all store fat. The ‘white’ cells are the undesirable ones that store fat to give the body a back-up source of energy. The ‘brown’ cells are better – they break down fat to maintain a stable body temperature. Infants have a lot of brown cells, but they decrease as we age. There’s also a third

type of fat cell, called ‘beige’ cells, which are a more recent discovery. Beige cells have been demonstrated to function in a similar manner to brown cells. Beige cells, like brown cells, are less common in middle-aged people. Without these fat-burning cells, the stored fat builds up over the years without being used. What the scientists wanted to know was this: how can we increase the number of these beige cells? Can we do it by eating certain types of foods? Senior researcher Teruo Kawada said they knew from previous research that fish oil had tremendous health benefits, including the prevention of fat accumulation. “We tested whether fish oil and an increase in beige cells could be related,” he said.

The team gave two groups of mice different diets. The first group was fed fatty food, while the second group was fed both fatty food and fish oil. The group that ate fatty food with fish oil gained 5-10% less weight and 15-25% less fat compared to the other group. The researchers also discovered that beige cells formed from white fat cells when the sympathetic nervous system was stimulated. This meant that cells that were previously hanging onto fat had acquired the ability to burn it instead. “People have long said that food from Japan and the Mediterranean contribute to longevity, but why these cuisines are beneficial was up for debate,” Kawada said. “Now we have better insight into why that may be.” - FM

Red-hot or stone cold! WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

Summer ended on a very hot note with daytime temperatures threatening to break records. As a result, we saw some very good cod fishing in the Ovens and King rivers in the final days of summer. Hopefully, this late season burst of heat leads to a delay in the autumn cod fishing downturn that we experience each season. April sees a typical hot and cold fishing pattern with the Murray cod in our local rivers. One day the fishing can be red hot, the next day it can be stone cold and completely dead. The cooling of the water tends to slow down the Murray cods’ metabolism, meaning it takes much longer for them to digest food. As a result, they feed less frequently and become more of an opportunistic feeder rather than the usual summer feeding pattern where they just eat wherever and whenever they can – a bit like me at McDonalds! What this means is that if conditions are not perfect, and the fish are not hungry, they’re less likely to hit a lure or take a bait. If a Murray cod does not want to eat… it won’t! You can run your lure right in front of its face, and even brush the lure over the cods head, but if it doesn’t want to take it, it won’t. So the tip for April cod fishing in the Wangaratta area is to watch the weather patterns, look for a high

comes through and drops the barometer. Or, if you’re like me and work weird hours, just go out whenever time permits as often as possible and hope for the best. Eventually, you’ve got to be at the right place at the right time for a red-hot autumn cod fishing session! April can be a great time of the year to fish for our much-prized introduced species, both trout and redfin. Let’s talk trout first. Trout swim upstream in autumn to spawn. They are often swimming upstream for much of April as they make their way to cooler, shallower gravellined sections of the small streams known as a redds. A redd is the name given to the area that a trout chooses to spawn over.

upstream for most of the month. This can be a very exciting time of the year to fish for trout in the Ovens River catchment. Like Murray cod, the trout fishing can also be quite hot and cold throughout April, but for different reasons. With Murray cod, and most native species it is mainly to do with water temperatures and weather patterns, whereas with trout it is more of a hormonal thing as they prepare to spawn. On the whole, trout fishing is much more predictable during April than Murray cod fishing in this area. Try fishing in some smaller tributaries of the larger waterways where larger fish are likely to

April is a great time of the year to catch redfin in North East Victoria.

Trout cod are a common by-catch when fishing for Murray cod in the Ovens River. As the water cools down, we tend to see more trout cod than Murray cod being caught as the trout cod tend to remain a bit more active for a bit longer as the water cools during autumn. Trout cod are totally protected and must be released. upper Ovens River fit this criteria quite well. Of course, this depends largely

on how much rain we get in March as there needs to be a reasonable flow of water to fish in, and for the trout to swim up. Don’t be surprised if larger trout turn up in very popular and heavily fished sections of the waterways as they pass through on their way upstream. During April, you don’t need to venture into the remote areas as the fish from the remote areas will come to you. I’ve always liked bright fluorescent coloured lures during April when trout fishing. Fluorescent orange and fluorescent yellow super Vibrax bladed spinners have served me very well during the autumn months over the years. At the complete opposite of the spectrum, black lures also tend to work well, particularly early in the month when

there are still plenty of crickets around. The redfin fishing can often be red-hot during April, particularly in Lake William Hovell, which is the best redfin fishery in the catchment. The redfin in there are usually quite small, however a few larger ones do turn up from time to time, and the cooling waters of mid autumn tend to produce the best results when targeting larger redfin. Try baitfishing with tiny live yabbies, or fishing with small soft plastics. These can either be bobbed up and down under the boat or kayak, or can be cast and retrieved close to the bottom. This is a great technique to employ when targeting redfin from the bank in any lake that has redfin. White is my favourite colour soft plastic for redfin.

Look at the pretty colours on this brown trout, caught on a Strike Tiger Froglet soft plastic. As the water cools down in April, I will be doing a lot more trout fishing in the Ovens River catchment. and stable barometer, and try and head out before an approaching cold front

During April, as the water cools right down, the trout will be swimming

be swimming upstream to spawn. Some of the small creeks that flow into the

While the cod fishing tends to slow down a bit during autumn, it can also be red-hot if you get there on the right day. Some of my most memorable fishing sessions in the Wangaratta area have been in April. APRIL 2016

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Welcome to April, cooler weather and maybe the start of the brown trout spawning season. The trout are just waiting for a little rain to start to run up the bigger rivers and streams. This also means a start to lure and flyfishing for some of the much larger aggressive spawning trout. Remember that from 1 May, the rules change in the Thredbo to only one fish over 50cm per angler per day. While we wait for the spawn run to start, there is a little dry flyfishing on offer on the Thredbo some days but we will be swinging into the nymphing season very soon. If we get heavy rain and a rise in the river we might see a start to glowbugs and nymphs. On the smaller alpine streams, the flyfishing has been very good and the streams still produce lots of small trout on dry fly. This is heaps of fun, especially if you are just getting into the art of flyfishing. Try a small hopper pattern, Royal Wulff or Royal Humpy or a caddis moth fly, but if you like, a small dropper nymph under the dry fly may increase you

Vicki with her little trout capture. these little fish can be a lot of fun! I always crimp the barbs for easy release. LAKE FISHING Lure spinning on the lake will also improve this month as the water edges cool down but you may find the best spinning to be early and late in the day. Fish steep dropoffs with plenty of rocks to get the best results. In shallow bays I like to use the glow in the dark spinners and some of the small soft plastics like the Strike Tiger spotted brew colour or pink.

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Vicki Schwab caught a typical alpine stream trout - there are plenty of them about.

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catch significantly. For the lure anglers, the Thredbo River will only improve as the month goes by. The best lures to have in your tackle box will be jointed minnows as the brown trout start to become really aggressive and territorial. Other lures like the Gillies Spinas, Vibrax spinners or Celtas are certainly a must. You should try to use these lures in the smaller alpine as once again

Bays like Rushes, Hatchery and Creel Bay all fish well. The best areas have been down at the South Arm or near Banjo Patterson Park, but as the month progresses, Waste Point and the Snowy Arm will start to fire. Flyfishing on the lake has gotten better as the water cools around the edges. Try any of the streamer patterns such as Craig’s Night Time or a black Woolly Bugger. Olive green nymphs and

shrimp patterns are also worth a try. The South Arm, Creel Bay and Hayshed Bay area are all productive. Boat trolling on the lake over recent months has continued to be excellent and now that the lake water temperature is cooling into the trout comfort zone they are happier to move close to the surface, which makes the fishing a little better for those anglers that do not have deep trolling gear like downriggers. We will start to use pink and orange Tassies this month as the fish also move into spawning and aggression mode, but for now, green and gold Tassies like the Willys Special and maybe the Canberra Killer Tassie will be good. Most of the minnow lures I use at this time of year all have a little orange on them as well. The best way to attack the fish is to start off the morning by surface trolling lures and maybe a lead line with two colours out so the lure is about 3m deep. Later in the morning you can still target 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 are the best overall lures to use on the lakes, however this is the time of the year that we sometimes start to move into pink or orange colours. It is also well worth running the Brown Trout or Spotted Dog type minnows as the trout become more aggressive. Of course

if you are targeting the really big brown trout then you are best off using really big lures like 9-13cm minnows. I find jointed minnows 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, but this is a tricky area to fish with the lower lake levels and you need to be diligent as there are trees and shallow spots that can pop up out of nowhere. 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 2ft or so. If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions just give me a call on (02) 6456 1551 or check out my website at www.swtroutfishing.com. au. I have started to build my new website – www. fishingcourses.com.au, so have a look at it and I would be grateful for your feedback. Until next month, hope you catch the big one. • If you would like some personal guiding, I will be available over the coming months for fly-fishing tuition and lake trolling trips. Lessons can be booked from 2 hours’ duration, and trolling trips from 3 hours to a full day. If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions, just give me a call on (0264) 561 551 or check out my website at www.swtroutfishing.com. au. You can also see our daily Facebook updates at https://www.facebook. com/LJTFA.

APRIL ROUNDUP: THE BEST OF THE BEST!

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Best method: Best depth: Best lake lure: Best lake area: Best fly method: Best river:

Surface trolling early and then using lead core lines at 30m out Trolling 5m of water early then 35ft middle of the day when sunny Tasmanian Devil number 111 or Y82 Hayshed Bay and Waste Point. Dry fly – Parachute Adams or black cricket. Wet fly - black weighted nymph. Thredbo River above The Diggings

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APRIL 2016

Green machine is firing on all cylinders EILDON

Andy McCarthy

The main arm of the lake has been producing the goods of late, with anglers picking up a good number of cod in the shallows early in the morning right on sunrise. These angler have been using dark coloured

spinnerbaits and casting at lay-downs and rocky structure, but once that sun pops over the hill, you will have a better chance by going deeper around the 30ft mark. I’ve had great success with large spinnerbaits with a large plastic yabby pattern, and often I’m almost jigging vertically while using my drift to

The author with a healthy little Eildon cod.

cover as much water as I can. You only need to lift the spinnerbait about a meter off the bottom with each lift. When using this method, you will get smashed on the drop and if you are not paying attention the fish can get an advantage on you and before you, and before you know it, it’s got you in the snags. I highly recommend using a stinger hook on all spinnerbaits. It is a personal taste thing, but 95% of my cod are hooked on the stinger and my hook up rate has improved immensely since using it full time. It’s also very important To page 67

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Fish like this 140cm behemoth are lurking in Eildon’s waters.

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etROUT ILDON FARM • ANGLING • FLY FISHING • DAM STOCK • FRESH FISH • LOCAL WINES

Andy McCarthy

It seems the weather gods are playing games with us! It wasn’t that long ago they were saying we were going to have a very wet autumn, and now they are not sure. If we don’t get substantial rain soon, it may force the power stations to significantly extend the irrigation season by up to a month, which could take the lake right down to 30%. This would be a real downer for local businesses leading into next summer. Who knows how low it could get if this dry run continues? A couple of years ago, I got news of an awesome cod taken by an angler called Neil Main. The beast was 1.3m long, and it seemed it was only a matter of time before this talented angler popped up with another cracker of a fish, and it was great to see a belter measuring in at 1.12m. To top this off, he scored another one in the same weekend, coming in at 81cm. Both fish were very

Neil’s gargantuan cod from a few years back. fat and healthy cod and were released. There’s still no official word on wether or not we will see the closed season on the cod lifted in Eildon this year. If this happens, and its more likely than not, with water levels looking increasingly like they are going to get lower, this could see some amazing fishing coming throughout spring. Lots and lots of anglers will take advantage and really target Eildon’s growing

population of large green fish, and it will be a massive win for local businesses to get a big influx of anglers throughout the normally closed season. Bring it on I say. So it looks more likely that our water levels won’t be starting to rise quite as soon as we had hoped, but that’s what Eildon was built for, so we can’t complain. There have been a couple of yellas caught recently with local angler Merv picking up a nice 58cm model on

a purple stumpy in 8m of water. A couple of nice browns have been dredged up in the Delatite River mouth with deep diving crankbaits doing the damage. The best one reported went 3.5lb. The action is still very quiet on the redfin side of things, which is so frustrating when you just want to get a feed! Stay safe on the water as things become very cold on and in the water.

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Neil Mains nailed this whopping big 112cm cod recently near Bonnie Doon.

Big lures for big pre-spawn trout GOULBURN RIVERS

Steve Vidler

This month will be a slightly quieter report for the area with the final stages of summer heat

our local trout population. It’s amazing how trout will ‘appear’ in areas that seemed vacant after a bit of rain and the subsequent increase in flow and discolouration of water. This will continue into autumn as the rains

still influenced by rainfall events, particularly at this time of year. As the water flows reduce and daylight hours decrease, the mature trout throughout the system will instinctively start to go into spawning mode and

for example use smaller sharp-angled bib for shallower sections, and big shallow-angled bib for deeper sections. The Eildon Pondage is still fishing very well with recent stocking of brown and rainbow trout of 350-400g and a few more of the ex-hatchery 3-5kg fish to keep anglers on their toes and in with a real chance of landing an absolute trophy fish. When the fish first go into the pondage they will actively feed on very bright lures such as lime green, flouro orange or bright pink lures. Once the fish become acclimatized to their surroundings, they will then be more readily likely to chase lures that imitate the local smelt and gudgeons that are available in the system. Bait anglers will encounter the same scenario – bright baits like the PowerBait pellets and local dough will entice the newer

Neil Hyatt with a quality Goulburn River brown. fish and the natural baits of worms and mudeyes (particularly spider mudeyes) will work better on the fish that have been in

the systems longer. Come and enjoy the now quieter area and make the most of the best weather of the year.

Higher flows have encouraged the trout to move around and forage. starting to blend into a bit of autumnal coolness. The smaller creeks and streams have struggled a bit over the latter summer period with minimal rain and continued higher temperatures and the extended mass of grasshoppers that were keeping the trout active during the day have finally dropped off. This whole year so far has been incredible for fishing for trout with grasshopper or grasshopper imitations for the angler that are keen enough to spend the time. The few falls of rain we had recently have triggered a couple of good sessions of bait fishing for

become more reliable and more significant. The trusty old earth and scrub worms are unbeatable during this period when the surrounding earth, grass and leaves become more suitable to the worms that are readily flushed into the systems during rain periods. Maggots, mudeyes and artificial baits such as dough and PowerBait will still catch plenty of fish, but the good old worms will be the better bait. Strangely enough, the Goulburn River will start to back off a bit with regard to flows as the irrigation requirements stop and the season comes to an end. This major system of our area is

feed much more actively to build condition and egg or gonad production. Don’t be scared to fish the suitable sections of waters with bigger than normal lures in the next couple of months. Instead of 5-7cm lures go to 10 or even 15cm lures to catch the attention of the mature fish that are working towards spawning condition. My personal first choice are the ‘minnow’ style slender lures that can be worked at quite a fast action while retrieving downstream to catch the eye of the fish facing in to the current. Choose lures that are suitable for the water you have decided to fish,

The smaller streams will come to life with expected rainfalls. From page 66

A great selection of high country trout lures for this time of year. Long slender lures produce good fish during autumn.

to make sure your hook is sitting right with your plastic of choice. Sometimes I make an incision down its back and slot the stinger inside it and secure it with tiny little cable ties in the same colour as the bait. Super glue is the best option when using more solid types of plastics, but I believe presentation is so important. The same goes when using large softies on weedless rigs. It’s been slow as on the redfin and the yellas of late, but the humble old trout has been a bit more consistent lately. I picked up a nice 2lb brown on a TN-60 Jackall flicking for

cod and yellas the other day land-based near the dam wall, and a nice cod of about 80cm came out of nowhere and tried to eat it! I spent the next 2 hours trying to entice the green fish to eat my lures, but it

was not to be. Isaac Beevers picked up a very impressive 140cm and around 30+ kilos with a fight that lasted for an hour. The big beast swam away nicely after a few quick photos.

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Autumn conditions bring out the best in native fishing BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

With the heat of summer behind us we are now moving into my favourite time of the year to go fishing. During autumn, a few key factors change that can bring about an improvement in fishing conditions and an associated improvement in catch rates. The first and most important change is in the weather. During the autumn months we often see large slow moving high-pressure systems. These bring with it days of reduced wind conditions and improved barometer conditions. Water temperatures start to cool and fish will start to feed more aggressively. We also typically see very good water clarity in most of our local waterways. All these factors should encourage anglers to get out and enjoy the sport of fishing. LAKE EPPALOCK The fishing in Lake Eppalock remains good but challenging. Results have been poor for those anglers who target redfin. However, if you are prepared to put the time in and hunt around to locate some quality redfin the rewards can be excellent.

This large redfin was caught hopping Jackall Clone Fry soft plastics at Lake Eppalock. Redfin measuring up to 45cm have been caught. Typically, these quality fish are not caught in large numbers but if you persist 10-20 quality redfin can be caught in a day. The larger redfin continue to be caught in deep water. Depth ranges greater than 8m have been the most productive. My preferred method to try to locate a concentration of redfin is to troll deep diving hardbody lures. My favourite lure for this is the Custom Crafted Basshunter. They are a small profile and troll deep – an excellent lure to catch redfin while trolling. If a good concentration

of redfin is located, I will often change tactics and start casting soft plastics. I currently fish my plastics on heavy jigheads of 14g because of the depths the redfin hold. Natural coloured plastics have been the best option on most days. The productivity in the golden perch fishing continues to be good. The most productive areas have been along rocky shorelines and around standing timber. Casting lipless crankbaits and trolling medium-sized hardbody lures has also worked. The average-sized golden perch caught has measured between 45-55cm.

The numbers of Murray cod caught has been low. The occasional quality cod measuring up to 80cm has been landed. Trolling medium to large profile hardbody lures has been the most productive technique. Anglers who troll spinnerbaits have also caught small numbers of Murray cod. CAMPASPE RIVER The fishing in the Campaspe River has been good. While the current conditions remain, the productivity should continue for the next 6-8 weeks. After that, the water temperature will start to become a bit too cold and we will see a reduction in fish activity.

At the present golden perch continue to make up the majority of captures. Anglers who cast lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits have found good results. The most productive spinnerbaits have been natural colours with dark blades. In the lipless crankbaits, dark and transparent colours have worked well. Catch rates of Murray cod have been low in the boatable sections of the river. Anglers walking the banks or fishing out of kayaks in the shallower sections of the river have experienced the highest catch rates of Murray cod. CAIRN CURRAN The fishing in Cairn Curran has been disappointing lately. The number of native fish being caught has reduced over recent weeks. If you are chasing Murray cod or golden perch, the most productive areas continue to be rocky shorelines and around timbered sections. Casting spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits have been the best options on the natives lately. The numbers of redfin caught at this location has been low. The best concentrations of redfin have been found in deep water. Baitfishing around the edges of standing timbers has worked, but vertically jigging ice jigs and soft plastics has also been a good option.

LODDON RIVER The fishing in the Loddon River has been going okay but is definitely feeling the effect of a lot of fishing pressure. Water clarity remains good along the majority of the Loddon River. In the boatable sections of the Loddon River at Bridgewater and Serpentine, golden perch are making up the majority of captures. The golden perch have been caught on spinnerbaits, hardbody lures and lipless crankbaits. For those anglers fishing spinnerbaits, dark coloured blades have worked best. Trolling and casting medium -sized hardbody lures in both dark and bright colours has worked. The number of Murray cod, caught in these sections continues to be low. There was a recent report of a couple of large Murray cod which were caught in the Ski Zone at Bridgewater, but as a general rule the Murray cod fishing continues to be disappointing in these sections. I believe these sections of river need an increase in Murray cod stocking to cater for the amount of fishing pressure the area receives. The ultimate Murray cod fishing continues to be in the shallower section of the river where there is less fishing pressure.

Pre-spawn trout heating up WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

Despite saying goodbye to daylight savings and the doom and gloom of another winter being just around the corner, April can throw out some

magical days – and what better way to spend those precious days than having a stream fish or getting out to Blue Rock Lake? Rugging up and strolling along a trout stream set against a beautiful backdrop is a great way to spend a weekend. Brown and rainbow trout are lively at this time of year, and

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the quest for food helps them stack on the body condition they need to make the journey upstream for spawning. Catch and release of these exciting sportfish caught on light gear is rewarding. There are numerous techniques for catching stream trout, and most can be used with the same rod and reel set-up. Fishing with a 6-7ft rod with a line class of 1-4kg fitted with a 1500-2500 class reel is a great versatile combo that you can use to cast lures, spinners and soft plastics, drift livebaits downstream, fish baits under a float or fish baits off the bottom – all which are productive techniques for catching and releasing pre-spawn trout. This same outfit is also ideal for fishing Blue Rock. When it comes to lures, however, the possibilities are endless. Trout are aggressive feeders so anything presented well in their feeding zone is fair game. HARDBODIES A good start for small streams and rivers in the West and South Gippsland region is a 3-5cm hard-bodied floating minnow style lure. The advantage of these lures is that they have a terrific action in the water and are able to float to the surface, which is

great for retrieving amongst snags and other obstacles. These lures can allow you to master the art of surface sight fishing. Casting can be difficult amongst snags and dense bank vegetation so the advantage of the floating lure is that you can flick it out into the stream, let the stream flow take the lure to your strike zone, then retrieve. SPINNERS These lures have a spinner blade that rotates around a shaft, looking like an insect or frog moving in the water. Spinners come in a range of sizes and blade colours and you’d be hard pressed not to catch a stream trout on these productive and dependable lures. SOFT PLASTICS Small soft plastics have great action in a flowing stream, and the texture of the lure often encourages trout to come back for a second strike if you missed the first time around. A personal favourite is the grub with its wriggling tail. Grubs provide the best action in a flowing stream, resembling a tadpole or small fish. BAITS Fishing with live baits or artificial baits is another popular technique for stream trout. Artificial baits tend to be a hit for anglers after the trout season has re-opened, as the baits have a hormone

Nigel Voce with a trophy 41cm bass caught and released at Blue Rock on a black Kokoda lure. attractant which still excites a trout post-spawn. Live baits such as garden or scrub worms are the most common form of catching stream trout, and are still an exciting technique for trout anglers of any age and skill. Drifting baits is similar to casting a lure, as you cast into trout zones, letting the bait drift downstream before retrieving it. Use a small baitholder hook with split shot attached right above the eye of the hook. Fishing baits off the bottom or under a float is the most relaxed method and often the most popular for a family day out. Flyfishing is the pinnacle of skill and patience for stream trout fishing. As the stream flows begin to increase with more rain, many fly anglers

will be nymphing using the ever-popular black beadheaded nymph. Attaching a dry fly indicator with a bit of flair and colour has also helped anglers have a productive day out on the streams. Blue Rock in April should be a bit of fun as trout become more active on the surface. Bass are still being caught but they’ll start to become a bit harder on the surface, so fishing deeper for them will be the way to go as the water temperature drops. Feel free to send me a report or photo, particularly if you have any success stories fishing over the Easter break, and email me any questions you may have. Happy fishing!

Waiting patiently for the temperature to drop CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

While it rained a little bit last month, I must point out that the rain was light and steady; not bucketing down, but we will take anything at this stage. The weather has certainly changed from summer to autumn and this can only benefit many of our crater lakes. Speaking of which, Lake Bullen Merri’s annual blue-green algae problem is fast dissipating. The waters are clearing up, which is slowly improving the catch rate, and the lake itself. The fishing has been

quiet, probably due to a distinct lack of anglers going out to try their luck, but the ones who are currently doing so have produced the goods on the given day, with rainbow trout in excess of 1kg taking local bait such as minnow and gudgeon fished unweighted or under a float. First and last light as well as after dark have been the prime times. Fishing lures at depths approaching 10m, again at first and last light, has attracted more than a few hits. When the sun hits the water, the fish go deep, but as we approach the cooler months this will change. Chinook salmon have

A fat hen rainbow over 1kg taken on a Black Magic B-Max minnow lure from Lake Bullen Merri. been quiet, probably due to the majority of fish hanging deep just above the thermocline layer that

forms here every summer. This winter should see more browns taken, but presently they are

almost non-existent again due to them holding deep along with the salmon. Boaters who specialise in downrigging lures should start to see some significant results any day now. By mid to late June, all three species should be widely available in the shallows for much of the day. We’re just waiting for the surface temperature to consistently sit below 12°C. Lake Purrumbete remains relatively quiet, with not many reports coming from the lake. That’s not to say that decent fish haven’t been caught; it’s simply a case of not much in the way of fish being caught

out there presently. In saying that, some rainbows to over 1kg have been taken around the lake’s weed beds that largely surround the edges, with mudeye fished shallow under a bubble float being the best method. Lure anglers are having a tougher time, with mainly small redfin taking their offerings. Others have started downrigging to depths of 10-20m in search of the elusive brown trout and Chinook salmon. Currently there’s not much else to report, and won’t be until the temperature drops further and the rains come in full force.

Plenty of bass while the trout fishing improves CTL GIPPSLAND

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

Low water levels and high temperatures the trout have been scarce… lucky we have bass. Lake Glenmaggie has been the standout, with plenty of bass caught landbased, which is great for the average fisher with no boat. The prime time to use lures has been late afternoons, and cicada lures have been one of the best kinds of lures, but purple coloured hardbodies and vibes have been really good as well, especially earlier in the day. For middle of the day fishing, a lot of anglers use

Lochie O’Mara with a quality brown trout caught in the high country on fly. garden or scrub worms, and they have been working a treat and have accounted for

plenty of bass up to 35cm. The rivers have been good as well, with Rainbow

Creek and the Macalister River being standouts and producing plenty

of 15-27cm fish with the Macalister producing a few bigger fish as well. Again, small hardbodied lures have been the best choice, but poppers, stickbaits and cicada imitations have been good on the hot evenings. Blue Rock has again been consistent on the bass with good numbers taken up the river and around the points in the late afternoon. Using small poppers and cicadas on the hot nights and small soft plastics, spinnerbaits and hardbodies has worked during the day. On the trout front, the small mountain streams have produced small brown trout, especially in the upper reaches of most tributaries.

The fly anglers have been doing the best in these situations, and are doing particularly well on dry fly. The trout have only been small and mostly under 30cm, however there has been the odd bigger fish caught. Hopefully we get a bit of rain over the next month or two and we will start to see the trout back in better numbers. • 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!

Suburban carp a worthy adversary MELBOURNE METRO

Ian Debar iand@gottabite.com.au

If you’re after a freshwater fish that can be caught on most methods and also an excellent sport fish - look no further than the humble European carp. They can be found in almost every freshwater location across the metropolitan area of the state and in some of these waterways they can reach scary sizes. Some of the more known carp locations are Rowville lakes and Berwick Springs however almost every body of freshwater will hold some. To catch these fish you can set up a typical trout bait fishing outfit with a light sinker and small but strong hook and simply use bread as berley and bait. Don’t be put off if you start berleying with pieces of bread and most of it gets eaten by local ducks, swans or moorhens as the

sound these waterbirds make as they scurry around picking up the bread actually tends to get the fishes’ attention. These fish can also be caught on lures and fly. Suburban carp take a liking to small soft plastics in the 2” size, with single tail grubs and ‘creature’ baits the standouts. Both of these profiles can be used to imitate small yabbies, worms or aquatic insects ,which carp eat readily in these environments. By fishing these plastics on light jigheads you can actually cast to sighted fish and watch them eat your offering. Heavy jigheads tend to sink too fast and can even spook the fish. Having a variety of jigheads with you will give you the versatility to change to suit your location and the mood of the fish. Fairly light fluorocarbon leaders in the 4-8lb breaking strain are preferred, as carp can be very flighty towards heavier lines and shy away from anything

that seems unnatural to them. For those willing to challenge themselves, carp can also be caught on fly. In fact, carp are an excellent ‘practice’ species for fly anglers; they are powerful and can grow quite large, and can also be very fussy and spooky towards clumsy approaches and poorly presented offerings. Best of all, carp are readily available. For anglers looking to connect with some suburban carp on fly, 5-7 weight rods are ideal when fished with a standard weight forward floating line. Standard 9ft leaders are fine, with a tippet section of around 4X (approximately 6lb). Lighter tippets can be used but are easily broken when striking on fish or during the carp’s powerful runs. Fly selection comes down to how exactly you are going to target the carp, with small weighted patterns like Woolly Buggers and damsel nymphs perfect for

searching for fish, while deer hair or CDC floating ‘bread’ flies are excellent for surface cruising fish, especially in areas where ducks are being fed bread. TO KILL OR NOT TO KILL? Herein lies the dilemma; while carp are an introduced species and can be very destructive towards their adopted environment. In many suburban wetland and lake systems they can be a good source of entertainment for younger generation anglers where there would normally be only small forage fish. Either way, the humble carp can certainly be more than pesky by-catch. • 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 store voucher valued at $100. Email to admin@fishingcamping. com.au. Include, angler’s name, species, and the area you were fishing. For

Morgan Taggert with a solid suburban carp caught on fly. our other latest fishing reports and to download information sheets, go to www.fishingcamping.com. au. 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. APRIL 2016

The big dry continues BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

The Ballarat and District has really started to show the effects of well below average rainfall over the last few years. We are in the middle of another drought, our waterways are certainly stressed, and the fish are showing signs of the dry times.

contractor mentioned a lot of the fish were around the 2.5kg size and in total they removed approximately 7 tonnes of carp from just one small area. This is a sad state of affairs, but just another case of reality. At Lake Wendouree, the fishing has quietened off recently, and I think this is mainly due to the water temperatures and all the recent boating activities that have taken place in the last month.

increase with the cooler temperatures. Anglers casting lures will find itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game on as the fish target the smelt or small baitfish that reside in the lake. Smelt will be the main diet as the insect life slows down. Lake Wendouree is accessible to all angling forms with four boat ramps available and numerous jetties to fish from. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also around 6km of fishable shoreline. Jo Howes is still getting among the fish in Wendouree. Jo loves fishing from either a boat or from the shore using mudeyes for bait suspended under bubble floats. Jo finds a shoreline that the wind is blowing off from and drifts her mudeyes around, and she has caught some good-sized redfin and recently, a personal best of 42.5cm! I have spent a few sessions trolling lures in the rowing channel with some good results, recently landing some feisty rainbow trout up to 2.5lb, and overcast days have

John Greengrass landed this magnificent Newlyn Reservoir redfin casting a rainbow pattern Bullet Lure. Photo courtesy of John Greengrass.

European carp being removed from Lake Burrumbeet. Photo courtesy of Lee Hadfield. Fishing has slowed as we move into the autumn months, which is one of my favourites times of the year. Cool nights and warm days; the water temperatures really start to drop and our trout and redfin start to feed up in readiness for the winter breeding months. Lake Burrumbeet is another victim of the big dry at the moment, and only a few years ago the lake recovered from the last big dry. Like all lakes in Victoria, it was bone dry, but the drought broke, the lake filled with water, and fisheries released trout back into the lake. Unfortunately European carp survived in the Burrumbeet Creek and came back into the lake with a vengeance along with the redfin. Lake Burrumbeet was one of Victorias best, if not the best, redfin fisheries in the state, and now once again is reduced to only inches deep. Even the carp are dying due to the low water levels and temperatures. The Ballarat City Council employed a local contractor to come in and clean up some of the rotting corpses of carp that lined the shoreline around the Burrumbeet Caravan Park, as the stench was unbearable with residents of the park complaining and threatening to leave. Over a number of days, the contractor, armed with pitch forks loaded dead rotting fish into a skip to be buried at another location. The 70

APRIL 2016

There have been rowing regattas on every weekend and during the week the weed cutters have been running nearly 24/7 to keep up with the weed growth. I think all these things have taken a toll on the fishing. As we move into autumn, all these activities should stop and I think the fishing will improve. During the autumn months, the fly anglers will look forward to the mayfly hatches, and every year there seems to be more mayfly hatching. It has taken longer in Wendouree for them to recover from the drought than in other waters, and I have been looking under the rocks that are around the shoreline for mudeyes recently, and under every rock there is plenty of mayfly nymphs, which is a great sign. For anglers fishing bait, their catch rates will certainly

Jo Howesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PB redfin caught from Lake Wendouree using mudeyes for bait. Photo courtesy of Jo Howes.

Tom Nyugen with his PB brown trout from Newlyn Reservoir casting a rainbow pattern Bullet Lure. Photo courtesy of Tom Nyugen.

A feisty rainbow trout caught from Lake Wendouree trolling the rowing channel by the author.

proven to be the best. Newlyn Reservoir is the hotspot for anglers wanting to catch some cracking brown trout and redfin. Newlyn, like other waters, is very low, but if you are prepared to put in the hard yards like I have mentioned for the past few months, you will be rewarded. Fishing buddies John Greengrass and Tom Nyugen are two guys who love the challenge of wading through weed and mud to catch a fish. Tom has snagged his first brown trout recently and then followed it up a couple of days later with a bigger 60cm brown, casting rainbow trout coloured Bullet Lures. John, not to be outdone, has snagged some big redfin well over the 40cm mark on the same lures. Newlyn in the coming months is another water that gets a mayfly hatch, so once again the fly anglers

are waiting for the hatches to begin. Other anglers who fish bait and lures, should be prepared to wade out and cast your baits, lures or plastics into the open weed free water to catch a fish, as there are some cracking fish lurking in Newlyn. Tullaroop Reservoir is one waterway to really keep an eye on in the coming months as we move into the autumn months. The trout and redfin will move out of the deeper water and into the shallows in search of smelt, which is their main diet. The smelt normally venture into the shallow water in the coming months to spawn and the trout and redfin will follow. Tullaroop provided some excellent fishing last year during the autumn, winter and spring months with some real trophy-sized trout being caught. I wait with anticipation of what might happen, as these fish will be bigger this year!

Are you ready to reddy? WARRNAMBOOL

Colby Lesko

Last year produced some great freshwater fishing for a variety of species across Victoria. The humble English perch was no exception, with a number of large redfin caught from a variety of lakes, showing promising signs for a great 2016 season. With much of Victoria covered in freshwater lakes and rivers holding populations of redfin, at some point in our angling career, chances are we’ve had a run in with a redfin or English perch. Commonly caught under 20cm and considered a bait thief or hindrance when targeting other species, redfin can grow in excess of 50cm in length and anything

fish and can be considered a pest species, as they prey upon native fish populations and small hatchery bred stocked fish such as trout and natives. On the other hand, they provide great recreational fishing for many as they are relatively easy to catch as a result of how widespread they are. As a bonus, they bite throughout the day, are great eating and are completely self-sustaining without the need for fisheries bag limits or stocking. Targeting redfin takes up the time of many anglers in Victoria and the last year has been a great time to do so. With the flooding rains of 2011 filling many freshwater lakes and flushing the rivers, the redfin have had a great few years of spawning and growth. While the Ballarat

Bostock have been exceptional for larger redfin, the state’s South West is more commonly known for big redfin, with lakes such as Wurdi Boluc, Aringa, Elingamite and Gillear producing great quality redfin. With a large number of fish exceeding the 40cm mark and a few caught over the magical 50cm mark, not only has it attracted those after some quality table fish, but also a number of keen freshwater fishers searching for that 50cm trophy fish. Once the redfin are located, the fishing can become very hot with fish caught in quick succession. These attributes of the English perch make it a great species to target for those learning to fish or those trying to keep kids interested while fishing.

Big redfin have no problem taking big lures, so don’t be afraid to upsize!

A great feed of Victorian redfin. Reddies go very well on the plate.

Moorabool Reservoir provides some great redfin fishing. above 40cm provides great eating qualities and angling opportunity. Redfin are an interesting

district lakes such as Wendouree, Cairn Curran, Tullaroop, Newlyn, Moorabool, Fyans and

Let’s face it, when we were kids it didn’t matter if the reddy was 10cm or 45cm, we just wanted to catch

Mark Lesko with a big Victorian redfin taken walking the bank.

something. With the large number of 40cm sized fish and bigger, there is plenty to keep those hunting the bigger fish entertained. The bigger fish are more commonly found as single fish or in small schools. Covering as much bank as possible seems to bring the best results for those fishing the bank, while trolling works great for the lakes that boating is

permitted. Targeting redfin can be approached in a variety of methods, whether it is drowning the humble garden worm or casting lures. With a number of lures deadly on redfin it can be a hard choice of what to fish with. I generally run with a rule of spinners, wobblers and shallow diving hardbodies in the shallow weedy areas, while

soft plastics or vibes are deadly in the deeper water. I tend to stick with lures that have a flash or shine such as gold and silver hardbodies or soft plastics with foil/glitter inserts in dirty water, as I believe the flash attracts redfin from a greater distance than a dull finished lure. If the water is clear, natural colours appear to work best. Worms or yabbies suspended under a float seem to bring the best results when baitfishing, however worms or minnows on a running sinker also account for a number of fish. Redfin aren’t renowned to be the hardest fighting fish and a light spin outfit with, 6-10lb line will do the job perfectly. A 1-3 kg rod matched on a 1000-2500 spin reel, and you’re ready to battle with perch! Last year was a great year for big reddies and with many lakes still holding water, there’s no reason the great fishing won’t continue into 2016, with hopefully a few fish growing to the 50cm mark. So whether it’s a trip with the kids or you’re off on a solo search for the big reddies, you’ll be in with a great chance.

A great pair of 47cm redfin taken in a Victorian lake. APRIL 2016

Brain spiking – ike jime PART 3 FORSTER

Blake Hudson

So far in this series, we have looked at a couple of easy ways to look after fish for the table or for release. One way is to use a simple piece of saturated sponge as a landing surface, to support and calm the fish. To further eliminate the uncontrolled flipping of fish, equipment such as a cotton glove worn on your bait hand will give you more effective control of your catch. Welcome to the third installment of this series, where we’ll discuss a brilliant fish-killing technique that has been used for centuries. There’s no doubt that most anglers have heard of it, although comparatively few have ever tried it – and even fewer can do it correctly and easily. Ike jime, often called I.J., is quite simply the technique of lethal brain spiking. Brain spiking has many benefits, and these include but are not limited to: • It is an extremely fast way to deal with kept catch; • It is humane – death being immediate without prolonged cruelty to the animal; • It results in a far superior eating product at the table; and • It provides for a superior shelf life and freshness of the product. Performed correctly, the results from this method are immediate. Just seconds after you perform the final blow, you will see a change in the appearance of the fish. For example, a snapper’s skin will turn bright crimson while their blue spots almost illuminate (see photo). Bream and whiting turn a brilliant pewter colour with pronounced yellow, while reef fish like coral trout or red emperor turn magically scarlet. The transformation is immediate and amazing. Pelagic species also produce the same outstanding results, although the

technique is slightly different and requires a little more attention and care. I won’t discuss the pelagic killing technique, other than to mention an interesting factor. If you brain spike a pelagic and then ice brine it, but don’t handle it with cotton gloves, the fish will emerge from the brine with obvious hand prints on its skin where the heat from your hands has burnt the animal. This illustrates the high sensitivity of a fish’s scales and skin, which is why you should wear a damp cotton glove. The art of ike jime can be performed on any fish, be it freshwater, an estuarine species or a pelagic or bottom fish. There are many ways to kill a fish for the table, some better than others. These include but are not limited to: • Slitting the throat; • Repeated blow to the head with a blunt instrument; • Putting fish into an ice slurry while live; and • Leaving the fish die in an

One alternative that avoids this problem is to completely remove the head while live. However, this practice creates a different problem: it exposes the flesh to gut and gill contaminants during rigor mortis, once again resulting in an inferior tablefish. Finally, contrary to popular belief, allowing a fish to survive temporarily in a live well greatly increases stress and thus increased cortisol levels (Pankhurst and Sharples 1992), and ultimately produces an inferior eating product. Most anglers would have seen pale bands appear along the sides of a fish as it awaits its fate. These stripes mean the fish is distressed, which means poorer eating qualities, and a reduced chance of survival if it’s returned to the water. This stress and suffering is unnecessary. That’s why responsible anglers use the brain spike method. While becoming proficient

APRIL 2016

start with the basics. When it comes to the spike itself, the authentic Japanese version is called a hukka, but comparatively few tackle stores stock them. That’s OK though because a small Phillips head screwdriver

its belly (palm facing up) very firmly with your glove hand, hold your spike with your opposing hand with the tip of the spike resting on the fish’s temple. Follow the line from the false gill plate and the true gill plate

IKE-JIME Insert tool here Brain

Insert tool here

Enter

Brain

exposed dry bucket, which is particularly barbaric. As well as being inhumane, all of the above methods have a common flaw: the fish keeps firing electrical impulses from the brain, which pumps lactate and cortisol (stress chemicals) into the flesh. These chemicals are actually poisonous and result in contamination of the flesh, which results in an inferior eating product.

at brain spiking requires commitment, concentration and practice, it’s certainly not rocket science. Practice makes perfect, and I’ve been able to teach many anglers the technique – including my 10-year-old daughter, who is now proficient. Once you have the fundamentals sorted, and have some practice under your belt, you’ll find you can hit the mark quickly and easily. For now though, let’s

After some practice, it should take a little over 10 seconds to efficiently kill and bleed your catch. 72

You will know you have located the brain because the fish will make a shuddering movement.

is all that’s required for recreational fishing. Once you have your spike or screwdriver, it’s time to look at the technique. If you follow the wet sponge landing technique from Part II of this series, the fish will be lying quite still, making it easy to handle. This simplifies the process significantly. Now you need to locate the brain cavity. On a just legal size reef fish, the size of the brain cavity may be as small as a frozen pea. This might sound bad, but it’s still relatively easy to locate. That’s because nearly all fish have a similar anatomy, making locating the direction of the brain cavity relatively easy. Let’s look at the steps to find it. 1. For right-handed anglers, brain spiking is always performed on the right side – that is, the fish is left side down on the foam. With your gloved hand, lay the fish on the foam (preferably as soon as the fish is landed) so its right side is facing up. Also, have the fish in front of you lengthways so that the tail is furthest away from your body. 2. Holding the fish around

so the two lines meet in a point. There will be a soft muscular indentation on the fish’s head. This is the entry point for the spike. 3. Imagine the point of your spike is the center of a clock face. The spike is the small hand and the tail of the fish is the big hand. You want the big hand, the tail, to be at 12 o’clock. The small hand, the spike, should be held at 4 o’clock. Angle the spike at downward at 45°. 4. Now confidently and with good pressure, thrust the spike, continuing on this same angle and direction. You will feel it penetrate the skull and you have to push firmly until you ‘crunch’ through the top of the brain bone. Be careful not to push straight through the other side. You also want to avoid spiking directly from the side because the bone is thicker there and you’re less likely to kill the fish in one go. 5. You will know you have located the brain because the fish will make a shuddering movement. With the spike now in the brain cavity, wiggle the spike gently from side to side

in a scraping motion (the animal may contort a couple more times as you do this). This will ensure the fish is dead and that no further electrical stress impulses can be fired from the brain, contaminating the flesh. 6. Without further delay, lash under the gills near the spine and bleed the fish out. You can use the spike for this. After some practice, it should take a little over 10 seconds to efficiently kill and bleed your catch. While you’re learning, however, it will obviously take a bit longer. If the procedure has been performed incorrectly (which is likely while you’re learning the technique), the obvious change in colour will not have occurred and the fish may still flip about in the ice box. If this happens, go through the process again until you’re sure the fish is dead. Now remember, the whole time you’ve been doing this you have actually gained time from not fumbling, struggling and attempting to cleanly wrangle your catch from your hook to then deal with it. As soon as you’ve landed the fish you’ve calmed it by laying it on a supportive, wet sponge, carefully avoiding contact with anything hard, dry or hot, which would stress the fish. Then you have handled it with a gloved hand for sizing and positioning right side up, and dispatched the fish swiftly and humanely using the brain spike technique. That’s the long and the short of it. Swift, smart and safe. Once you begin doing it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start years ago. Be sure to tune in next month for the fourth and final part of this series, where you’ll find out the chilling details of how to guarantee you’ll be taking the absolute best possible eating product home to your dinner table – every time.

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What’s New FISHING

PFLUEGER ILLUSION TACKLE BAG

The Pflueger Illusion Camo Tackle Bag features a heavy-duty nylon material with urban camo styling. This bag is packed with cool features including corrosion-resistant zippers, so they won’t jam up at the first hint of salt. It also has zipper-free front access, so you can quickly and easily change your lures or grab another jighead. For easy transport the Illusion Camo Bag has ergonomic carry handles and an adjustable, padded shoulder strap. Need more storage? The Camo Tackle Bag also has two external pockets with side pockets, and includes five tackle boxes to store all the tackle you could possibly want for a day out. The bag measures 34 x 20 x 20cm, and weighs 1.85kg. It contains four large tackle trays (27 x 17.8 x 4cm) and one small tackle tray (19 x 13.5 x 4cm). It matches the Pflueger Illusion rod series, so it’s a great gift idea for someone who owns an Illusion rod. Price: SRP $79.95 www.pflueger.com.au

SILVER WOLF SLIPPERY DOG 65F

KIDS HASSLE FREE COMBOS

At only 65mm long, the Slippery Dog is the perfect choice for topwater bream, flats whiting, smelting trout or ultra spooky bass. Representing an irresistible, darting baitfish or prawn, it can be fished with a walk-the-dog action or ripped across the surface, and features a small face that spits water on the retrieve. At rest the Slippery Dog sits at a 70° angle, and with the slightest twitch it walks-the-dog like a well trained pooch. This finesse topwater lure has a slimline, slanted body and features Daiwa’s ultra sharp DTreble Saq Sas trebles that allow for easy hook-ups from even the wariest of fish. Bringing together the best of both worlds, the new Silver Wolf blends a popper with a walking stickbait to deliver anglers a truly hybrid multi-purpose surface lure. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Wilson Fishing has released six new Hassle Free combos for the kids. There’s one pink Hassle Free and one blue Hassle Free combo to get you and the kids on the water and catching fish. These combos were designed simply to be the easiest of outfits to use. The reels feature less moving parts to ensure there are fewer hassles with the reel. In fact, these reels can take a fair amount of abuse and still keep fishing. The rods, which come in 5’6” length, are constructed from lightweight E-glass composite materials that are tough and durable – just what you need for the punishment our kids dish out to fishing tackle. With a retail price under $30, the Hassle Free combos in pink and red are great value for money and allow you to have fun on the water without breaking the bank. Check them out at your nearest tackle store today. www.wilsonfishing.com Price: under $30

STRIKE PRO HOT DOG 65

APRIL 2016

The Strike Pro Hot Dog 65 has been designed by the Strike Pro Australia Pro Tournament team in conjunction with Strike Pro. The Hot Dog 65 is a walk-the-dog style topwater lure that has a superb action and sits perfectly at rest. This lure is smaller in size and is thinner in diameter than its contemporaries so it imitates a prawn perfectly. Also, because it’s a smaller bite-size lure it improves the strike and hook-up rate on popular species like bream and Australian bass. The Hot Dog 65 is 6.5cm long, weighs 4g and is currently available in six natural colours. As well as being deadly on bream and bass, it has also proven its effectiveness on species such as estuary perch, saratoga and trout. These lures are a must have when the prawns are running. Price: SRP $16.99 www.jurofishing.com

MEGABASS DYING FISH

LIVE SEARCH 490 GLOW

Dying Fish is a topwater lure designed to imitate a dying baitfish on the surface. Unlike traditional lures, the Dying Fish is able to swim sideways, allowing for the angler to target new, nearly impossible structure where those trophy fish may be hiding. Equipped with three tow points, Dying Fish has a few tricks up its sleeve. You can tie to the centre eye for shaking roll-action, or the left/right location for side-sliding action towards the left or right side. Can’t reach the back of an overhanging branch? Tie to the right, cast, and slowly work your Dying Fish underneath the structure. The fact that Dying Fish can travel sideways also makes it easier to target productive rock walls without your boat getting in the way. Advanced castability allows long approaches from tight shoreline quarters, or long casts from the boat without spooking fish. This floating lure measures 76mm and weighs 5.3g. Distributor Frogleys Offshore has released six specifically chosen colours to suit Australian waterways. www.megabass.com.au

The popular Live Search 490 Glow series is now available in deep and shallow models in size 3.5. The deep jigs sink at 1.8-2.2 seconds per metre which allows you to target squid in deeper water much more efficiently. They are also ideal when you have a fast drift or strong current. The Shallow jigs sink at 5.5-6 seconds per metre yet maintain an excellent casting distance. The shallow jigs are ideal for use in shallow water or when the squid are very sensitive, as the slower sink rate is often more appealing in these circumstances. Yamashita’s R&D team have discovered that the best sound for squid to detect is 600Hz and the best light for the squid’s eye to detect is 490nm. The LIVE Search 490 Glow series are equipped with both, making them the most attractive jig for the squid to detect. Price: approx. $20-24 www.ejtodd.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 74

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

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

What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

SAMAKI CHROMED BARRA SHIRT

BOMBER FLOATING EYEWEAR BI-FOCALS

RIVER2SEA BABY BELL POPPER

The Samaki Chromed Barra shirt reflects what we each see and dream of in a barramundi. Beautiful lines, enhanced features and stunning chrome colour, a signature of these iconic fish. Set amongst the dense dark mangroves, the chromed barra lurches out from the structure to engulf the Samaki Vibelicious Thumper Tail. Here is the start of the fight to win the ultimate trophy fish, entice the barra from the structure of the mangroves and watch it lurch from the depths. Samaki long sleeve fishing shirts offer superior UV50+ protection, keeping you protected from harsh ultra violet rays and cool whilst out on the water. Samaki shirts are available from a size 2 toddlers to a 3XL adults. For more information and stockists visit the Samaki website or like them on Instagram and Facebook. Price: SRP $59.95 (adults), $49.95 (kids) www.samaki.com.au

Founded in 1997, by World Champion Jet Ski Racer Tommy ‘The Bomber’ Bonacci, Bomber Eyewear has created a new segment/category in the eyewear industry through its patented foam lining technology. For years Tommy was frustrated with his old, traditional sunglasses bouncing around, slipping off, or disappearing into the watery depths. This led Tommy to develop an eyewear line with a solution to these problems: a patented foam lining that provides both floatation and a snug, ‘Soft Fit’. All glasses in the range are polarized, perfect for cutting out the glare during on-water activities. New to the range are the new Bi-Focal sunglasses which come in two models and three types of magnification (1.5x, 2.0x and 2.5x magnification). These sunnies are a great asset to have in the boat, especially when you’re tying knots! You can check out these and other models at the Bomber Eyewear website. Price: SRP $99.95 bombereyewear.com.au

SCAN THE QR CODE!

BOOMERANG MID SIZE ZINGER

Zingers are a great way to keep tools handy, but sometimes the small Zingers aren’t enough and this is where the Mid Size Zinger with carabiner from the Boomerang Tool stable will excel. This new tool is ideal for keeping fishing tools handy, securing keys and other important items, and attaching gear to your boat or kayak. The Mid Size Zinger’s lightweight zinc carabiner means it can quickly, easily and securely be attached to almost anything. This Zinger is built to survive the elements, featuring a polycarbonate case and a 24” heavy-duty Kevlar cord. It has been manufactured in the USA to a high standard, and it has been proven to last over 1 million pulls! If you are looking to secure items to yourself, your vessel or your vehicle, check out the range of Boomerang Tool and T-Reign products at the Tackle Tactics website. Price: SRP: $24.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

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

THE COMPLETE CAST DVD

The Complete Cast (Applying Principles to Fresh & Saltwater Fly Casting), is a new DVD presented by legendary fishermen Lefty Kreh and Ed Jaworowski. The tackle used and the manner of delivering an artificial lure to gamefish separates flyfishing from every other fishing method. In this DVD, Lefty and Ed will demonstrate, explain, and teach the elements common to all casts with a singlehanded rod. Features of this comprehensive DVD include: more than 25 casts and techniques; more than three hours of in-depth instruction of principles-based casting fundamentals; helpful tips and techniques that are simple and easy to apply; practice tutorials and exercises that improve your casting; and analysis of the tailing loop and how to remedy. Anglers of all skill levels will derive useful tips from The Complete Cast. Price: SRP approx. $70 www.ejtodd.com.au

The dumbell shape is famous in Australian popping. Previously available only in big sizes for big fish, River2Sea has released two Baby Bell models in 75mm and 50mm sizes – perfect for targeting fish living in estuaries, dams and canals. The greatest benefit is the ability to cast these little lures a mile, and they always cast tail-first to eliminate the hooks fouling on the line while in the air. Also, the distinctive cup face gives off a great noise and water push without skipping out of the water. The 75mm Baby Bell is perfect for chasing the likes of trevally, Australian bass, tailor, tarpon, mangrove jacks and small GTs in the estuaries. The 50mm model is great for bass, bream, whiting, flathead or any of your smaller species. A great colour range is provided to fulfil the needs of both fresh and saltwater fishing. These new Baby Bells are definitely the lures you need in your tackle box for your next trip. Price: SRP $17.99 (50mm), $19.99 (75mm) www.river2sea.com.au

DAIWA TATULA BAITCASTER

Daiwa’s Tatula rods incorporate the latest, cutting edge rod technology to take full advantage of the advanced performance standards set by Tatula reels. With state-of-the art materials and pimped out with Daiwa’s latest technology, these rods deliver ultimate casting performance with ultimate value. For the Tatula a new blank was designed, featuring Daiwa’s highest quality carbon, SVF, the most sensitive carbon ever manufactured. SVF (Super Volume Fibre) results in a blank that is hyper sensitive, delivering incredible connectivity between angler and fish, with feather light precision. Sensitivity is transferred into the reel via Daiwa’s ergonomically-designed skeleton reel seat, and the entire range features ultra-light Fuji Alconite guides that are highly sensitive, super strong and designed to maximise rod performance and sensitivity. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au APRIL 2016

What’s New FISHING TESTED: Bassman Spinnerbaits are now an integral part of an Australian native fish angler’s arsenal, and it’s not hard to see why. For starters, there’s the sheer versatility of how they can be fished – shallow, deep, fast and slow. The other main advantage spinnerbaits have is their tendency not to snag up. In fact, you can cast them into some gnarly places and have them bump, vibrate and flash their way out, the whole time letting the fish know they’re there. Compact versions of spinnerbaits are not new, but what the Bassman Shorty range has

TW4 was the first colour I chose, and this beautiful bass was the first fish of the trip.

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

Shorty – taking compact to a new level

My favourite spinnerbait colour is purple, and colour #55 has quickly become my go-to colour. in its favour is Glen and Sue Casey’s insistence on quality – as well as a pretty good angler in Carl Jocumsen to help develop them. My first look at Shorty Spinnerbaits was at the 2015 AFTA Tackle Trade Show, and they were quite a change from any Bassmans I had seen before. They had a smaller and finer wire configuration, smaller blades with a head shape change, a larger quantity of skirt material and a finish that was second to none. Glen explained that the objective was to create maximum flash and vibration in a compact format, to not only catch fish in Australia, but to also give Carl an edge in the US Bassmaster Elite series. I would have loved to have bought some right then and there, but I had to wait like everybody else! It was early November when I ventured to one of our western district rivers to give the Shortys a try. The waterway I found was not the usual pristine piece of water I had come to expect, because storms the previous

weekend had not only knocked down plenty of trees and turned the river into a less than ideal shade of brown. I knew it would be a true test of my newly acquired Shortys. I had purchased eight of the available 16 colours, and chose colour TW4 as the first to try out. My theory was that this darker colour would provide a strong silhouette in the discoloured water and, coupled with the flash and vibration Glen had spoken about, would get me a few fish. The first thing I noticed was that although the blades were quite small, I could really feel them rotate and thump through the water. I had removed the supplied stinger hooks, as I find this further reduces the chances of the lure hooking up on something under the water I can’t see, and after a little bit of exploring a bass took a liking to my spinnerbait. This is always a great feeling on a trip away, and the feeling was even better on this occasion because it was my first fish on a new lure. Colour TW4 didn’t last much longer than that, as my knot tying skills had slipped that morning and the next fish hit me like a freight train and parted my leader from my braid. Colour #55 had to be next (purple is my favourite spinnerbait colour) and it proved to be an inspired, if not lucky change. The next two hours provided plenty of entertainment as I managed to extract bass out of the rapids and deep pools of the river. My success wasn’t mirrored by all of my fellow anglers; my mate Brett did the hard yards but managed only one fish. I exchanged the spinnerbait he was using for a Shorty (colour #51) and it took very little time for his luck to change. He now is a firm believer

that it’s worth spending a little more and purchasing a quality spinnerbait. By the end of the weekend the Bassman Shortys had proven themselves. The lighter wires had gotten knocked around and the skirts were thinner than they were at the start, but not to the point that that you couldn’t use them. I have enjoyed plenty of success since then in our local Queensland impoundments, with plenty of golden perch also taking a liking to them. I have topped up my stocks since my initial purchase and have added a number of the other colours to my collection. With a RRP of $14.50 the Bassman Shorty is a quality, Australian-made and affordable spinnerbait that showcases the skills and knowledge that Glen, Sue and Carl bring to the table. The range is well worth a look. To find out more about the Bassman Shorty or the other spinnerbaits in the Bassman range, go to www.bassmanspinnerbaits. com.au. – Peter Jung

Look for these in your local tackle store.

TESTED: Chiller Fish Bags When you’re out fishing or boating, space can sometimes become an issue when you’re carrying all your gear from one place to another. For me one of my biggest gripes is packing a esky on my already space-limited boat. I have a larger esky, which is great for fish such as mackerel, but it’s large and takes up a huge amount of room – especially on my little 4.3 Bluefin. It limits the amount of space for rods and seems to get in the road when travelling. I have a smaller esky as well, but it’s too small for taking home a feed of fish and is only really good for taking a feed for the trip. I could spend the money and build in an esky under the casting deck, but this would cost me a fair bit of coin. It’s for this reason I was attracted to the Chiller Fish Bags, which are designed, manufactured and imported by Spiro from Bluebottle Fishing (Demop Holdings). These bags are very durable,

practical and convenient, and I found them to be perfect for my needs. Chiller Fish Bags come in five different sizes, from the Micro through to the Maxi. They are insulated with 0.5” dense foam, are mould- and mildew-resistant, have a UV protective outer, are easy to clean and wash down, and have drainage and filler spouts on four of the five sizes. The carry handles

Great storage for your feed of flatties.

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 76

APRIL 2016

The soft flared bottom means the bags can sit on many surfaces. These bags store on the boat easily and out of the way. The drainage port, perfect for cleaning out the Chiller Bags. on the bags make it easy to move them around with a full load, and they can be easily stored in different parts of your boat without getting in the way. The bottom of each bag is also flared to make sure it’s always stored in an upright position. And finally, at the end of the day once you have cleaned out your Fish Bag you can easily fold it up and store it away. As with any esky, you can create a nice ice slurry and bleed your fish in the bags with no concern about it leaking through your boat – and you can transfer your catch/feed. It’s obvious these bags are designed to store your catch in a hygienic environment while keeping the fish in good condition ready for the table, fridge or freezer. Now that I have a young family, I like products that crossover and can be used in other aspects of my life besides fishing. I’ve

DIMENSIONS • Micro - 75(L) x 40(H) x 25 (base) (no bung) • Mini - 100(L) x 40(H) x 25 (base) • Midi - 150(L) x 40(H) x 25 (base) • Midi+ - 150(L) x 55(H) x 30 (base) • Maxi - 200(L) x 60(H) x 40 (base) found that the Chiller Fish Bags are great for camping as they can store ice for two to three days. They’re also great for family days out at the beach or heading to the park for a picnic. I’m also a keen hunter, and these bags are perfect for storing fresh game. Spiro has even introduced a new range for the hunting fraternity, with the Chiller Bag also available in camouflage. Prices for the bags start at $129 plus postage. For more information and to view the full range of Chiller Bags head to www. bluebottlefishing.com or call Spiro on 02 9651 3380. – Ryan Limpus

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

What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

TESTED: Strike Pro Enticers soft plastics Strike Pro is a brand highly regarded for producing quality and innovative products for many years. Juro Fishing Australia is the company behind bringing the brand into the country. They work very closely with the Strike Pro team to produce lures that are suited to our Australian species, both big and small. This year has seen the addition of the Enticers soft plastic range. Stuart McLaughlin and Rick Massie from Juro have spent many hours perfecting actions, plastic densities

small tick on the line or the line taking off. My first experience using the Crab was fishing the bridge pylons of the Pine River, and when a fish wanted one, they didn’t mess about. The Enticer Crab is available in six colours. Enticer 2” and 3” Finesse Grub Curly-tail grubs are nothing new. Many have been produced over the years, with manufacturers making something that should be very simple, overly complicated. The Enticer Grubs do not fall into this category. They are a classic design, with a set of ribs

I have always had one pet hate when fishing this style of plastic for them: when using a fast hopping retrieve the tail of the plastic tends to pick up the hook of the jighead. Considering the tail of the Enticer Grubs, I expected this to happen more often, but that wasn’t the case and the flathead loved them too. The 2” and 3” Enticer Grubs are available in eight colours. Enticer Finesse Bug Creature baits or plastics that represent a crustacean or insect are an important component of any soft plastic fishing arsenal. They can represent a yabby or crab in saltwater situations, and cicadas or insect larvae in the fresh. The Enticer Finesse Bug has all the subtleties you would want from this style of plastic – a tail that pulsates with any movement of the lure and legs that wave around and have small nodules on the end to further enhance their movement as the plastic drops through the water column. Because it is quite a bulky plastic I fished it using a 1/8oz jighead with a 1/0 hook. It had the hook point coming out just before the tail of the plastic, which gave a good hook-up rate. I alternated my retrieve when using the Finesse Bug from nothing at all to small hops and bloops. The bream I targeted seemed to like the larger offering and hit it with no subtly at all. The Enticer Finesse Bug is 55mm in length and is available in eight colours.

I first tried the Enticer Crab fishing the bridge pylons of the Pine River, and when a fish wanted one, they didn’t mess about.

around with jighead weights and hook sizes depending on the Enticer plastic you use and the fish you target. When fishing the Crab, a dab of super glue on the grub keeper to keep the hook in an upright position is a must, as it very quickly twists if you don’t.

The Enticer Grub has a fine tail that looks fantastic, and it takes nothing to get it moving. and colours, leaving no stone unturned. Unashamedly targeted towards our estuary, smaller freshwater species and the Australian tournament scene, the Enticers range consists of four styles: a Finesse Bug, a Finesse 2” Grub, a Finesse 3” Grub and a Crab. After meeting with the Juro team and being taken through the range, I was very keen to try out these lures myself. Enticer Crab There aren’t too many fish in our estuarine systems that won’t eat a crab given the opportunity. This has lead to many manufacturers trying to produce crab imitations over the years, with varying degrees of success. The shape of a crab in itself is tricky to replicate, let alone the action of one (how it sinks and sits on the bottom). My first test of the Enticer Crab was to throw it into some shallow water to see how it sank. I used a 1/8oz jighead with a size 1 hook (with the hook coming out between the nippers). I wouldn’t say that it looked 100% natural, but it did sink without spinning and sat on the bottom the correct way up with the nippers upright. This was already an improvement on some of the soft plastic crabs I had used in the past. I chose that hook size because I wanted the hook to sit between the nippers, and I chose that particular weight because I wanted to get the Crab to the bottom in a reasonably natural fashion (the Crab has neutral buoyancy). However, Rick says that size 2 and size 4 hooks may be the best options. Fishing the Enticer Crab is pretty simple. Just cast it near the structure you want to fish, let it get to the bottom, let it sit there and if a fish doesn’t pick it up, slowly drag it or move it a foot or so and then let it sit again. The sign that a fish has picked it up is SCAN THE QR CODE!

and an ultra-fine curly tail. For me the most important thing about a curly-tail grub is that it needs to work for you as soon as it hits the water. The tail needs to move and vibrate, to let predators know it’s there. This also allows your retrieve to be as simple or as complicated as you like, from sitting on the bottom with the tail waving or being hopped violently around. This isn’t an issue with the Enticer Grubs; the fine tail looks fantastic, and it takes nothing to get it moving. I am a keen flathead angler and

Conclusion There are a number of things I liked about the Enticer range of soft plastics. They are an uncomplicated design; Stuart and Rick have ensured the actions are what you want from these types of lures. They are simple to rig; each plastic has a small indentation where the hook has to enter plastic and there is a distinct centre line or channel to bring it back out to ensure it is rigged straight. They also have a shellfish-infused scent. For an angler like myself who firmly believes scent can make a difference, this inbuilt scent is a real bonus – and the ribbing on the plastics provides an area to hold additional scent if you want to use it. This lure range features proven fishcatching colours, and the use of contrasting top/bottoms and fleck to guarantee extra attraction from the fish. On the other side of the ledger, there was nothing major. You will need to play

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

With a RRP of $11.99, the Enticer range of plastics is well worth checking out, and I look forward to continuing to use them. For more information on the Enticer range log onto www.jurofishing.com/index.php/products/ strike-pro-enticers. To see videos of these lures in action, go to youtube.com and search for ‘Strike Pro Enticer’. – Peter Jung

VIDEO

Scan this QR code to see the Enticers in action.

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au APRIL 2016

Isuzu MU-X 7-seater workhorse BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

The Isuzu MU-X is a robust 7-seater whose forte is serious off-roading. Bush tracks, travelling up beaches – perhaps with a camper or boat in tow – these are the sorts of things that can prove very difficult for many softroading SUVs, as many of their owners have found to their dismay. Not so with the MU-X! While it’s not as super refined as some of the 4WDs spearheading today’s sales, the MU-X is a great

plastic, yet these 5-speed, auto-only units feature keyless entry, electric seats, electric windows, sat nav, a DVD player for rear seat passengers, climate control air for those in the rear as well, cruise control, reversing camera and rear park assist, touch screen nav and audio system, iPod, Bluetooth, Aux and USB connectivity plus folding electric side mirrors. The proven 3.0L Isuzu diesel engine is a somewhat gruff unit that kicks into life with a flourish, rattles mightily at idle yet pulls like a train when necessary thanks to its 380Nm of torque and

gearbox and power to spare from that very strong 3.0L 4-cylinder intercooled turbo diesel engine. It seems almost lazy in the way it easily pulls the wagon up hills, charges through soft sand or mixes it with the best of them with a bit of a sprint at the local traffic lights. Admittedly the 3.0L diesel is somewhat industrial with its small vibrations and chatter (which thankfully diminishes with speed), but the gearbox is refined and makes the most of the great power from the engine. Able to sense downhill travel and drop back

comes via the steel bash plates underneath vital components, very useful degrees of wheel articulation linked to ample ground clearance (230mm under the differential) plus side steps to protect the side panels. One thing I particularly liked about the MU-X was the ease in which the console-mounted selector dial flicked the gear box in or out of the chosen ratio system – engaging 4WD from 2WD on the fly is particularly quick – and I feel this will inspire a lot of confidence in the MU-X’s ability. These dialoperated selectors in other

The MU-X offers a mix of old and new technology. In this shot there’s a bit of the new stuff on display.

The 3.0L diesel in the MU-X made easy work of towing the author’s 5.5m fibreglass boat. choice for family motorists seeking a strongly built unit to take them to places that only a serious off-road vehicle could handle. AN INTERESTING MIX OF TECHNOLOGY In some aspects the top specced LS-T (as reviewed) is a curious mix of old and new technology. Interior trim level is a bit Spartan, with a fair bit of hard

130kw of power. Based on the acclaimed D-Max ute, but with significantly modified suspension to please the youngsters when packed and heading for that special place, the MU-X wagon comes with accomplished off-roading ability thanks to its 4WD on demand capability linked to a lockable high/low range

cogs accordingly without engaging the descent control system, the gear box features an ultra-low first gear which, with low range selected, makes the MU-X near unstoppable. The option for driver input via the shifter’s manual sequential mode is also useful when linked to the torque of the diesel engine. O ff - r o a d cred

vehicles don’t always work so efficiently! Some have a disturbing amount of hang time, enough to see the car well and truly bogged when push has turned to shove. Family owners will also be happy to understand the MU-X has a 5-star ANCAP

safety rating thanks to an extensive list of safety features. THE DRIVE Despite the mix of old and new technology, I believe the ‘new’ tricks win the day. The MU-X is a very easy car to drive, reverse, and to park. It has a solid, no-nonsense, feel about it at all times, whether moving in traffic or picking through timber, yet the ride remains very comfortable, not easily put off by bad surfaces. The driving position is high, the steering wheel lower, but these are small considerations when taking in the all-round panoramic view from the leather-

backed seats. Hard turns and winding roads need a bit of driver input to keep things going smoothly, but when the bitumen stops and the gravel starts the wagon’s true purpose shines. This is one tough nut to crack! Fuel consumption is another strong point. On a mix of highway and city driving I achieved fuel figures of 8.8L per 100km, which is very respectable for a 7-seater unit that’s no lightweight. TOW TESTING With a 3-tonne braked trailer tow rating I expected no issues with the MU-X towing my 5.5m Galeforce with its 90 E-Tec on the transom, and I was

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Although based on the Isuzu D-Max, the MU-X is a stylish looking unit.

right. That diesel engine greatly impressed me with its almost too easy attitude, and a couple of hills encountered en-route to and from home were

powerful and very flexible engine, adaptable seating set-up which sees the last row of seats easily flattened to the floor, the second row with their 60/40 split being

well as a robust tow unit. This vehicle would be a great asset for weekend adventure or long range holiday travel. A starting price for the MU-X is $36,990 from

Although equipped with quite high seating, even the tallest drivers won’t find themselves short of headroom in the MU-X. just non-events for the intercooled turbo diesel. In conclusion, I feel that with its off-road cred,

almost as adaptable as well, the LS-T MU-X is the ideal unit for someone wanting a safe family transporter as

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Top: One of the strengths of this 7-seater is the flexibility in seating layout. Above: Seven seaters usually see their third row of seats occupied by youngsters who are nimble enough to scramble in and out with ease.

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The inflatable option BRISBANE

Justin Wilmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

About fifteen years ago a few mates and I bought cheap inflatable boats so that we could dodge the crowds around the local jetty and surrounding riverbank, launch our simple craft and paddle to the opposite bank. Although it was only twice the distance of a good cast away, we had the bank to

was something about the simplicity, portability and adventure element of our blow up craft, along with the ability to store it in a car boot in case the tides were right when we knocked off work – and so began my fascination with inflatable watercraft. Since these early sessions I have followed the development of inflatable watercraft, from drift boats and float tubes, to an impressive new wave of inflatable kayaks that are making the most of

old inflatable boat from back in the day, except that there is no way I would take that $49.95 boat down the rapids that these guys ride! A little while ago the subject of inflatable kayaks came up at the dinner table and a couple of weeks later our two-person Sportek KK2 kayak was being unpacked on the lounge room floor. We have other kayaks, so why did we buy an inflatable kayak? Our original plans were to use this vessel when we travel as it can be stored

The inflatable is ideal for accessing fishy water. flatties of New South Wales and the coastline of WA. I just need to read up on the local regulations about cleaning fishing gear and watercraft, so as not to transfer any weed or pests from one waterway to another.

PROS AND CONS There are positives and negatives associated with anything, and inflatable watercraft are no exception. In terms of negatives the inflatable option does come with the responsibility of

care in terms of handling, usage and storage that avoids puncture or damage to the material. They are not as durable as their solid cousins however developments in materials have made them more durable than the

A few minutes with the pump and we’re ready for action. in a large plastic crate in the back of our vehicle when we travel locally and is quickly and easily unpacked and inflated should we be greeted by good weather or fishable water. It also weighs under 20kg and fits in a standard large suitcase, allowing it to accompany us on interstate adventures via plane. This has me dreaming about big Tassie bream, trout in the southern waters, the monster

This tandem also paddles well as a solo option.

Under 20kg and fits neatly in a large suitcase for your fishing missions. ourselves and were fishing water that wasn’t anywhere near as pressured as the easily accessed side of the river. The result was a few fun and memorable trips, with plenty of nice flathead landed on soft plastics. At the time I had a boat and a kayak, but there 80

APRIL 2016

developments in lightweight, durable and technical fibres and materials. There is a growing scene called pack rafting, combining hiking and exploration with inflatable craft that pack small enough to be added to your hiking pack and weigh as little as half a kilo! Kind of like my

Quality inflatable crafts are stable and comfortable.

simple pool toys of old. Performance wise, inflatable craft are generally not as fast through the water and don’t track as well either, although quality inflatable models have greatly bridged this gap in terms of both speed and tracking. Inflatable craft often have a reduced payload for their size, but this will encourage you to keep it simple and leave some of that excess baggage at home. Attaching accessories such as sounders and rod holders can also be a little trickier, with Railblaza offering a solution via their RIBPort mount, designed for mounting accessories on inflatable craft. It’s not all negative though. If you have limited space for storage then an inflatable kayak could be ideal. All you need is an area to wash it down and

let it dry, and then it can be folded back into its bag and stored in a cupboard. Some models can even pack small enough to fit in a backpack. Your inflatable kayak also fits in a car boot, allowing it to tag along on your adventures… just in case an opportunity arises to wet a line. You don’t need to worry about roof racks, tying the kayak down or leaving it unattended on your vehicle. There’s also the opportunity to book an extra bag, load it in a suitcase and take it further afield. Inflatable kayaks are generally lighter, with one-person models often weighing around 11kg,

making them easy to throw on the shoulder and carry from pool to pool when exploring rivers and gorge country that can be difficult or even impossible to explore on foot or in larger craft, which makes them ideal if there is rugged terrain between you and your proposed launch site. I was also impressed with how quickly and easily inflatable craft set up and pack up. Our KK2 set up in ten minutes, with forty or so pumps of the dual action hand pump per side chamber, a few more for the floor chamber and we were away. When it came to packing up, we simply opened the three

valves and within seconds the kayak was deflated and ready to be folded up, loaded in the plastic crate and loaded back into the car. We were packed up and on our way home in minutes. GEARING UP It’s a good idea to inflate your kayak at home first, giving you the opportunity to decide where you will be storing and attaching the gear you want to carry with you. Take the time to think about landing and handling fish also. Will you release them beside the kayak, bring them in with a net or lip grips, does the kayak have a skirt or front work area to rest them on or do you need

The inflatable option is an awesome one!

Not the ideal way to christen the KK2, a yellowtail pike, but better than no bites!

a towel or container to put them in, and finally where will you store them if taking home a feed. Along with your usual kit and safety gear, it is worth taking your repair kit with you just in case, along with a few zip ties, cloth tape and a couple of occy straps, items that I carry with me in any yak that I am travelling in. WHICH KAYAK? Kayak selection is a personal choice and only you can decide which kayak best suits your needs. Many kayak anglers have found that they need a few kayaks in their fleet to cover different applications and environments, such as small creek work, estuary

fishing and long distance offshore missions, or perhaps even camping and touring adventures. If you decide that an inflatable kayak might suit your needs, make sure you do your research as there are a wide range of models available to suit many different applications, from white water to touring, designed for solo and tandem paddlers. Paddle a friends if you have the opportunity or keep an eye out for demo days, and stick with a quality, reputable brand such as Hobie, Sportek, Bic, Sevylor, Sea Eagle and AdvancedFrame, to name a few. Our Sportek KK2 is perfect for flat-water

paddling and was quick and easy to set up and pack up, stable, tracked and paddled well, and comfortable. Over time I will customise our storage and fit out to further suit our requirements. With a little co-ordination we had our tandem paddling down pat, but the KK2 also handled well when paddled solo from the rear seat with additional gear and an Evakool 20L icebox stored in the front seating area. I look forward to future inflatable adventures and am now thinking that I need to keep an eye out for the next Hobie demo day to give their new pedal inflatable options a test drive… See you on the water!

FISHING FILL-ITS

Latest gear from Rhino-Rack To give you the best chance of protecting your valuable equipment from thieves, Rhino-Rack have redefined the traditional tie-down strap, and have designed a new, safer solution, that’s just as simple to use. It’s called the Locking Tie Down Strap (LTDS). Unlike its competitors, there is a security stop which snaps into place when the cap is tampered with. This makes it extremely difficult for thieves to utilise anything to ‘jimmy’ it open, like a screwdriver. The LTDS

locking cap can also be completely removed. This is uniquely beneficial when compared to other cap locks, which only slide out partially, restricting access to the cam buckle. The steel wire begins 250mm from the end; this allows for easy installation of the webbing via the cam lock, a stronger grip, and the ease to pull it through the housing. The LTDS can handle loads up to 225kg, and it is also corrosion and cut resistant. Rhino-Rack have also made sure that the tongue

and housing won’t make contact with the car. Strong, safe and highly functional, the Locking Tie Down Strap is the tethering tech you’ve been waiting for. It is available in four lengths, and the pricing is as follows: 2.5m - $89; 3.5m - $99; 4.5m - $109; and 5.5m - $119. VORTEX STEALTHBAR Rhino-Rack’s Vortex StealthBar (SRP $379 per pair) is a unique roof rack system that is designed for use in conjunction with factory raised rails. This low profile (35mm) roof rack system

Rhino-Rack’s Dome 1300 awning easily mounts to the front, side or rear of your vehicle.

comes preassembled for easy, stress-free installation. It can accommodate up to 80kg of luggage, fishing rods, camping gear and whatever else you need carried safely and efficiently. A unique set of adjustable legs give you the option to fine-tune the racks by up to 100mm, making for the perfect fit. The co-moulded stainless steel/rubber locking straps are designed to suit all size rails, and the low noise, VGS rubber reduces wind vibrations. Available in black and silver, the StealthBar comes in seven lengths (725, 785, 845, 905, 965, 1025 and 1075mm) so it fits almost every vehicle imaginable, and it’s covered by Rhino-Rack’s lifetime warranty. DOME 1300 AWNING Rhino-Rack’s Dome 1300 awning (SRP $379) easily mounts to the front, side or rear of your vehicle to provide protection from the rain or sun. The amount of shade it provides isn’t affected by a vehicle’s (lack of) height, because it can stand well over 2m depending on the vehicle you mount it to. The roof domes up to offer the extra

Top: The Locking Tie Down Strap has a security stop which snaps into place when the cap is tampered with. Above: The low profile Vortex roof rack system comes preassembled for easy, stress-free installation. headroom underneath. Made from a heavy-duty rip-stop polycotton, it is tough, weather/water proof, mould resistant and UV50+ protected. The Dome 1300 also serves for superior runoff in wet and windy conditions. The coverage area is a generous 2.5m x 2.4m. It’s quick to set up and easy to use – all you’ll need is a tape

measure and 13mm spanner. The Rhino-Rack Dome 1300 awning is compatible with most vehicle roof rack channels, links up with a number of Rhino-Rack extension products and is backed by a 1-year warranty. For more information on these and other RhinoRack products visit www. rhinorack.com.au. - FM APRIL 2016

CVLCSS Lake Eppalock

Stop two on the CVLCSS circuit brings us to Lake Eppalock. Located 130km northwest of Melbourne,

this lake accounts for plenty of redfin and golden perch. Lake Eppalock covers

approximately 7500 acres of land and has a vast range of structure to target fish. With the lake at only 29%,

Justin Adair with a 71cm Murray cod.

Brad Penna with the winning target species, a 54cm golden perch.

ROUND 3:

APRIL MITCHELLSTOWN

LOCATION: MAJORS CREEK

2016 Super Series

• Each round will have a target species, either Murray Cod or Golden Perch • Catch and release lure tournaments • Entrance fee $30 per Senior • New for 2016 we will also be running team’s events (maximum 3 anglers) • Conditions Apply Largest target species caught in each event wins a rod from

Fishing

For more information contact

David Nelson 0418 378 944

roundy@cvlcss.com – www.cvlcss.com 82

APRIL 2016

the fishing was going to be a struggle and finding new areas to fish was going to be a difficult task. SESSION ONE A very early 6am start saw many keen anglers eager to pick up their catch tokens and get out on the water. It was a fairly fresh morning with moderate wind forecasted and a low barometer below 1000, but although the conditions weren’t the best, many anglers hit the water in search for some gold. Most fish were caught within the first few hours of the morning and came on the bite as the sun started to rise. There was plenty of techniques tried between all anglers, including grubbing with soft plastics, jigging, casting and trolling both lipless crankbaits and hardbodies. However, soft plastics seem to work the best especially with all the small redfin in the shallower 5-10m water. Session one commenced at 11am and a total of 52 redfin, nine golden perch, two Murray cod and two carp were caught. SESSION TWO After a three hour lunch break anglers were ready to head back out again. As the clock struck 2pm, anglers received their new catch tokens for session two and away they went. The temperature was around 28ºC and the water temperatures had started to rise over 23ºC pushing all the fish out into the deeper water making them much harder to catch. For a few hours the fishing was fairly quiet and most boats were only sporadically pulling in the odd redfin. From 5pm onwards, the fishing started to improve and

the fish moved in shallow water once again to feed. It wasn’t until the last 30 minutes that really had the fish fired up. A few anglers took advantage of this, including myself, landing a massive 67cm carp that gave an awesome fight on 20lb line as well as a small redfin caught on a Jackall TN60. Session two closed at 7pm and it was time to head back to the caravan park for the day one results and a BBQ, as well as the Saturday night raffle. Day one was all but over and most people went to bed before 10pm ready for one more session in the morning. Session two saw 57 redfin, 12 golden perch and one carp. SESSION THREE Another 6am start had

anglers preparing for the 5 hour session ahead. It was no doubt going to be a grind out on the water to catch fish, the morning was very crisp and we even had a bit of morning RESULT TABLE Anglers Redfin Golden perch Murray cod Carp

92 160 28 2 3

dew. Despite the 6am start to pick up their new catch tokens, many had a bit of a sleep in. With a high barometer and calm conditions, the morning fishing looked to be very promising, anglers headed to their chosen spots and immediately started fishing.

Many anglers’ hopes were starting to fade after the first two hours and that clock seemed to tick faster and faster. A few anglers had caught some cracking redfin in session three on a variety of lures, including lipless crankbaits and soft plastics but the golden perch were hard to come by. A total of 51 redfin and 7 golden perch were caught in session three. Overall, it was a well-run competition and again it was great to see the younger generation getting among some fish and giving the seniors a run for their money. We look forward to round three and hope to see you there. Round three will be held at Majors Creek at Goulburn River 9 April. – Kaleb Oxley

Kaleb Oxley with a 39cm golden perch.

Team Starlo and Jo win Freshwater Masters The third and final round of the hard-fought Australian Freshwater Masters tournament series was staged in mid-February this year on the waters of Lake Mulwala, a picturesque impoundment straddling the NSW/Victorian border, an hour or so west of Albury.

on Lake Windamere, near the NSW regional town of Mudgee, and was devoted to the pursuit of golden perch or yellowbelly. A few days later, round two was staged on Glenbawn Dam, in the Hunter Valley, with Australian bass as the nominated target species. Finally, almost three months

its field of two-person teams to measure, photograph and release up to 10 legal specimens of each target species at each arena over the course of two days’ of intensive fishing. Cumulative point scores (one point per millimeter) carry forward from round to round, ultimately deciding the outcome of the event. This year, the eventual winners were Team Starlo’s Squidgies, consisting of high profile fishing communicator, Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling, and his wife Jo. Consistent performances in rounds two and three allowed Starlo and Jo to hold onto the significant lead they’d amassed on

Windamere’s goldens in round one (where Jo was also the individual champion angler), finally giving them an 800 point break over the second-placed Jigheads Team of Mitchell Skeers and Brad Gardiner. A further 1,300 points behind in third place was Team Windybanks, made up of Simon McAlpine and David Dobson. Overall Champion Angler for the Masters was Mitchell Skeers, nearly 1,000 points ahead of Starlo in second, with Simon McAlpine finishing third and Jo Starling fourth. This series also saw the biggest fish ever recorded in the event, with Scott Hartley releasing a

In the opening round of The Australian Freshwater Masters, competitors targeted the aptly-named golden perch or yellowbelly of Lake Windamere.

One-way traffic: the cavernous maw of Scott Hartley’s monster Mulwala cod. This unique, three-stage challenge targets a trio of iconic Australian native species at three very different venues. The first round of the latest Freshwater Masters took place last November

later, competitors gathered at Lake Mulwala to hunt the elusive Murray cod. A catch-and-release series devoted entirely to lure and fly fishing, The Australian Freshwater Masters challenges

Jo Starling with one of the hefty Windamere golden perch that clinched her the champion angler title in round one and helped elevate Starlo’s Squidgies to a lead that ultimately proved to be unassailable.

Starlo with a Glenbawn bass from the second round of The Australian Freshwater Masters.

Scott Hartley broke all previous Freshwater Masters records by catching and releasing this massive 110cm Murray cod on a Gangster Lures Mother Frogger spinnerbait during the Mulwala round of the event.

stunning 110cm cod during the Mulwala round. First conceived almost two decades ago by lure-making legend, Wayne Lennon and later run by Dave Silva and then Dave Shelton, The Australian Freshwater Masters is today a well sponsored and superbly organised invitational series with a field strictly capped at 40 teams. Anglers wishing to lodge an expression of interest to be considered for an invitation to the next Masters should send an email to the current chief organiser, Matt Cunneen of Gangster Lures, at mcunneen@dodo.com.au, or give him a call on 0418 653 822. – The Australian Freshwater Masters

Winners are grinners! The three top scoring teams in this year’s Australian Freshwater Masters collect their awards.

Aussie cricketing legend and keen Freshwater Masters’ competitor, Merv Hughes, leads some of the field in his trademark warm-up exercises before the Lake Glenbawn bass round. APRIL 2016

Whittam takes top honours CE 1ST PLA Cameron Whittam has taken out the Costa Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier with a 10/10 fish limit weighing 8.56kg. The Victorian stalwart of the BREAM series took home $3,400, plus a new pair of Costa sunglasses and the $250 Yamaha owner’s bonus. Whittam started day two in 7th place and made a strong move throughout the session, weighing in the biggest limit of the second session by a considerable margin. Whittam targeted the shallow flats of Mallacoota where he looked for rock or weed. “Mallacoota has changed a lot over the past few years, a lot of the weed has died off and subsequently the areas the fish hang out have changed. You need to find a rocky or weedy substrate where the bait has somewhere to live, and once there’s bait in an area the bream won’t be far behind.” Whittam was on the fish all weekend, and caught 30 legal-sized fish on day one where he predominantly spothopped and ‘junk fished’ his way to 3.85kg. “If I was in America I would have said I was junk fishing,” said Whittam. “Essentially, I had a large milk run of spots on day one and I fished what was in front of me. If I came to a spot that I thought looked promising I would give it six casts and then continue to move.” Whittam narrowed down

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

his productive areas on the second day, and locked in to produce a hefty 5/5 limit at 4.71kg, enough to take the win by 190g. “The first day I predominantly caught yellowfin bream,” said Whittam. Whitam’s day two bag almost entirely consisted of black bream, which contributed to the heavier

Whittam relied on his old trout fishing days to identify his key location, noting the wind was hitting the bank on an angle and swirling down and along. Whittam and his non-boater combined to catch ten legal fish off that one stretch of bank. Every fish of Whittam’s 10/10 limit was caught from the bottom lake of Mallacoota Inlet, on a variety of baits.

thinner line,” said Whittam. Whittam fished with 20ft of 4lb leader when throwing the Mira Shad or Jackall Chubby (Brown Suji). He would shorten that leader length to 10ft when throwing blades or plastics. This marks Whittam’s fourth win in the ABT BREAM Qualifiers, a feat that only a select few can match. “I think some people

Cam Whittam was all smiles after claiming victory at the Costa Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier. weight of his bag. Whittam noted that a tip off from his non-boater catching two fish behind him keyed him into an early lure change to guarantee success. “My non-boater actually caught two fish in my dirty water on a Luckycraft Tango, so I threw on the Cultiva Mira Shad and caught a bag quickly, one of those remained in my final 5/5 limit.”

“I fished everything from blades, plastics and all sorts of hardbodied lures. The ever-popular OSP Dunk 48 produced fish early for Whittam, who used a long 20ft, 3lb leader purely to get his lure as deep as possible. “I don’t think I really needed the 3lb to get bites in a sense of the fish being line shy, it was purely to get the lure running deeper with

think that when you win a tournament it was with some secret tactic or lure, realistically though you don’t need to re-write the book on how to catch bream. Winning one of these events is about doing what you know works and what you’re comfortable with, and making the right decisions. For me this weekend, I made the right decisions and it paid off.”

Jackall Chubby Smith Panish R

Wind

Cultiva Mira Shad

Current

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 84

APRIL 2016

McKeown stays consistent for runner-up the way to the surface, then recommence the retrieve just before the lure broke the surface. The fish reacted and

CE 2ND PLA Runner-up Jamie McKeown travelled all the way from Queensland to experience the fishing that only Mallacoota can offer. He managed a 10/10 tournament limit that weighed in at 8.37kg. McKeown quickly found the pattern during pre-fish day catching key fish on a topwater pattern and throwing a small diving crankbait. McKeown started day one fishing a flat around Cape Horn. The day started about as good as he could have hoped upgrading above 30cm forkers by cast number 12. The pattern McKeown filled his bag with was a slight tweak on a regular BREAM tour favourite, fishing topwater with the OSP Bent Minnow. McKeown quickly found the fish responded to a subsurface lure technique, and twitched the lure between the surface and 12” underwater. After working the lure, McKeown allowed the lure to float almost all

used here was typical flats fishing – he threw the new Mimix Jelly Prawn crankbait on 2lb Famell spinning fluoro. His first

around Cape Horn, however a recreational fisher was parked right on the top of the flat he’d been fishing. With only two fish in the

was not there so he returned to the Goodwin Sands area but couldn’t put that last upgrade in the live well. He returned to the stage with 3.69kg. McKeown’s preferred rod for both topwater and crankbaits was the new JML Perfection rod paired with a Shimano reel. He spooled his topwater setup with 11lb Yamatoyo Resin Sheller PE and topped it with a short 2ft section of

Blake O’Grady took home top honours in the non-boater division of the Costa Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier. Fishing with Steve Morgan on day one, Blake used Bassday Sugar Deeps and OSP Dunk 48s to catch 15 legal-sized fish on the first day. The pair fished shallow early, and Blake capitalised with a couple of nice fish in the well early in the session. When the sun rose the pair moved deeper

Costa

Yamatoyo Monofilament leader. McKeown prefers a st r ai ght - t hr ough fluorocarbon to fish crankbaits, and his choice for the Mimix Jelly Prawn was 2lb Yamatoyo Famell spinning fluorocarbon. McKeown took home $1,600 for his efforts and will be one to look out for when the BREAM tour heads north later in the year.

Jamie McKeown travelled all the way from the Gold Coast to claim second in the boater division. McKeown quickly had a competitive limit in the well. Not wanting to pressure the fish for day two, McKeown chose to leave the area and look for upgrades at a location in the bottom lake known as Goodwin Sands. The technique he

drift over the area produced five fish but no upgrades, however the first cast of the second drift produced a nice upgrade and a 4.69kg bag saw McKeown sit in second position overnight. Day two saw McKeown return to his productive flat

well by 10am, McKeown moved around slowly and filled his limit fishing rocky banks. The wind picked up and McKeown retuned to his productive flat and the fish responded with a number of small upgrades. McKeown knew the size

Craig Coughlan cashed in at Coota picking up $500 for the Austackle Big Bream for the event.

O’Grady kneels’n’reels to victory -BOATER 1ST NON

BREAM Presente SERIES d by

and Blake used a technique popular in Mallcoota. “I’d stick my rod tip into the water, sometimes almost up to the reel to gain maximum depth, I also slowed my retrieve down so it was dredging the bottom on the slowest of slow rolls,” said Blake. His efforts achieved 3.89kg on the scale and saw Blake sitting in third position overnight. Blake was paired with Darren Evans on day two, and he again turned to a deep cranking pattern to weigh 3.36kg and take out the title. O’Grady relied on Samurai Reaction 201 and 101 rods, paired with Shimano 1000s, spooled with 10lb Unitika braid.

Austackle Big Bream

Craig Coughlan captured the $500 Austackle Big Bream Prize, securing the award on day two with a 1.54kg fish caught in the lower lake on the edge on a BR74 coloured Nories Laydown Minnow.

Winning Tackle

Rod: G Loomis TSR 862 Line: 10 and 12lb Sunline Castaway Braid Leader: 3 and 4lb Sunline FC Rock Bream Special fluorocarbon leader Lure: ZMan Grubz in bloodworm colour, OSP Dunk 48 in Z-37 brown craw, Jackall Chubby in brown suji and the Cultiva Mira Shad 50SP in ghost pearl ayu.

Winning Ways

Whittam identified the best bream holding locations as the areas with wind, weed, and structure, and he focused on these locations throughout the tournament. Blake O’Grady shone in the nonboater division to secure victory.

TOP 10 BOATERS

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

Place Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10

8.56 8.37 7.91 7.81 7.73 7.70 7.59 7.56 7.29 7.13

Cameron WHITTAM Jamie McKeown Declan BETTS Brad HODGES Charlie SAYKAO Chris SEETO Warren CARTER Paul CONN Jason HARLOCK Brad ROBERTS

WINNING NOTES

Payout

$3400 + Costa Sunglasses $1,600 $1,200 $1,100 $950 $800 + $200 1st Pro $650 $650 $475 $450

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

Place Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10

7.25 7.15 6.99 6.93 6.82 6.77 6.72 6.70 6.65 6.63

Blake O’GRADY Grayson FONG Ben SHUEY Clint NORTHCOTT Trent WEST Matt CUMMINS Kevin TORMEY Justin CONN Michael HODGES Alex FRANCHUK

Payout

Costa Sunglasses Samurai Reaction Rod Berkley Pack Austackle Featherlight Rod Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au APRIL 2016

Hodges hammers home victory CE 1ST PLA Gippsland Lakes North Arm specialist Brad Hodges has taken out the Mercury Marine

the shallow banks inside the North Arm on both day one and two. His technique was highsticking a Berkley Puppy Dog minnow. “I’d throw it into really skinny water and high-stick my rod to keep it up, then as the lure went over that first little drop-off, I’d lower the rod tip and allow it to dive a little,” Hodges commented.

This technique produced plenty of bites both days with Hodges landing a couple of key bites on day one that saw him weigh 4.06kg to sit in

eighth position overnight. Day two was when everything came together for Hodges to weigh his largest ever limit in an ABT tournament.

WINNING NOTES

Austackle Big Bream

Shaun Clancy claimed the Austackle Big Bream at Gippsland Lakes, catching the prize-winning fish on a Jackall Chubby in amongst the snags at Hollands Landing on day one.

Winning Tackle

Rod: ABU Garcia Salty Stage KR-X Light Casting SSKRSXLC 6101XL Reel: ABU Revo MGX 20 Line: 6lb Berkley Nanofil Leader: 4lb Berkley Sensei flurocarbon Lure: Berkley Puppy Dog, Cultiva Selection 55 Minnow

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

Winning Ways

Hodges went against the pack and fish the less pressured, less known North Arm at Lakes Entrance to catch his fish. Event winner Brad Hodges cashed in at Gippsland courtesy of Mercury. presented BREAM Qualifier, relegating WA native Charlie Saykao to runner-up. With overnight leader Shaun Clancy failing to catch a full limit on day two, the door was open and Hodges made sure he was the first in line to take advantage. Storming home with the biggest bag of the tournament to pile on an impressive 10/10 limit weighing 9.46kg. This isn’t Hodges’ first taste of success at Gippsland Lakes, he also won the event back in 2010. Just like he does almost every time the tour visits Gippsland, Hodge ventures to the North Arm of Lakes Entrance, the opposite way to the majority of the field. Hodges chose to fish

Brad Hodges found the biggest at Lake Entrance to claim another Gippsland Lakes win.

Berkley Puppy Dog

Wind

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 86

APRIL 2016

Cultiva Minnow

“It all just came together for me on that second day,” said Hodges, who by 9am had a limit to rival his overnight weight. A couple of late upgrades pushed Hodges over the magic 5kg mark and onto the top position on the podium. Hodges chose to target shallow sandy banks, but

keyed in on those featuring scattered weed and timber. “There wasn’t a lot of timber, no full trees or large laydowns. It was more the scattered logs lying on the bottom that would provide a bit of cover for the fish in shallow water,” said Hodges. His lures of choice were predominantly the

Berkley Puppy Dog, which accounted for most of his tournament limit. Hodges also caught fish on a Cultiva Selection 55 minnow. The retrieve was textbook black bream fishing, twitching and pausing the lure with the fish predominantly eating it on the pause. Hodges turned to the

new ABU Garcia Salty Stage KR-X Light Casting SSKRSXLC 6101XL. “They are the perfect rod for bream twitching, they have a fast recovery but still have a forgiving mid-section, which stops me from pulling hooks.” He paired the rod to another new product from ABU Garcia, the MGX 20

spinning reel. “The MGX is just the perfect reel for what I do, it’s light enough to use and cast all day. It balances perfectly with the rods and the drags are just insanely smooth.” Hodges thanked his long-time sponsors Pure Fishing Australia, which under them have the household brands like

BREAM

Presente SERIES d by Me rcury

Berkley and ABU Garcia. He credited Lowrance for their continued support and Savage Trailers for the newly built cradle for his beloved Savage.

Saykao snag bashes for second CE 2ND PLA The WA native that now calls Victoria home, Charlie Saykao showed he is definitely one to watch for the future. After a brilliant fifth place finish at Mallacoota, Saykao backed it up finishing second to the fast finishing Hodge. Saykao found his fish on the pre-fish day not by actually fishing for them, but by simply driving through the area and visually looking for the fish. “I drove through

the area known as ‘The Cut,’ which is the second entrance to the Mitchell River,” said Saykao. The first day started and Saykao actually missed his preferred two areas, as other boats had beaten him to them. So he returned to the cut and started fishing through the snags that litter the entrance to the river. Saykao targeted the snags with a popular lure on the ABT BREAM Tour, a 2.5” ZMan GrubZ rigged on a Decoy Nailbomb 1/32oz jighead. The light, weedless jighead allowed Saykao to fish the lure slowly through the snags, keeping the lure in the strike zone for the longest time possible.

His catches came steadily and it was a case of slowly upgrading as the day wore on. Finishing the day with 5/5 for 4.35kg would put him in fourth position overnight. Returning to the same area on day two, Saykao again fished the snags around The Cut with the same successful technique from day one. Fortunately for Saykao, it all went to plan on day two. His third and fourth fish in his 5/5 limit both came off the same snag and both pushed over the 1kg mark. Saykao had the area to himself, which he said was key to his success. “I think the reason I did so well was because I was the only boat in the area, occasionally a boat

would come into the inside of the cut and fish some snags but they luckily wouldn’t stray too far into where I was seeing the fish.” The hard and fast ‘white knuckle’ fishing style Saykao employed required some hefty tackle, and his equipment choice reflected that. Saykao relied on a Millerods Bream Buster Brawler rods to get the fish out of the snag, and to also present the plastic accurately and quietly. He paired the short powerful stick with a Daiwa Luvias 2004 reel, spooled with 6lb braid and 6lb Yamatoyo leader. “There is no better leader out there than Yamatoyo as far as I’m concerned,” said Saykao.

Charlie Saykao fished the snags light to secure a podium finish. With the second place finish Saykao secures himself a start in the Costa BREAM Grand Final to be held on St Georges Basin in early

December of this year. Here the winner will take home a brand new BassCat/Mercury package valued at well over $50,000.

Walker backs up AOY with qualifier win -BOATER 1ST NON 2015 non-boater AOY champion Stuart Walker won the Mercury presented round of the Costa BREAM series with a 9/10 limit weighing 5.45kg. Starting day one fishing with Chris Gates, Walker found himself at the mouth of the Tambo River to start the morning. With only one fish in the well after two hours the pair decided to move around and try some flats, but that move proved fruitless and the pair eventually returned to the wharfs and jetties around Metung. Walker turned to the ever-reliable Cranka Crab to catch three extra keepers to compile his 4/5 day-one limit.

Day two Walker fished with Grant Kime, and found him-self fishing the mouth of the Mitchell River for the entirety of the tournament session. “We motored in probably 200m from the mouth and deployed the electric, Grant spot-locked

us there and we didn’t really move all day,” said Walker. The fish turned on from 10am until 11am where it was almost a fish every cast for the pair. It was a process of slowly upgrading in small increments until eventually he had amassed a 5/5 2.81kg limit.

Champion non-boater Stuart Walker received the Costa treatment for his win.

Walker relied on fishing a 2.5” ZMan GrubZ in motor oil colour rigged on a 1/12oz jighead that he slowly hopped off the bottom to produce his bites. After sitting in 7th position overnight, a kilo behind leader Nathan Leicht, Walker assumed he was out of the running to take the win, but was surprised at the challenging day a lot of the overnight leaders seemed to have. Walker relied on the new Daiwa Silver Wolf rods and reels to bring his fish into the net over the weekend. Noting the sensitivity of the rods allowed him to feel every little bump and bite. He spooled the reels with 6lb braid and 4lb or 5lb leader. After the heartbreak of losing good fish on day one around the wharfs and jetties of Metung, Walker upped his leader to 5lb for day two and landed every fish he hooked.

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

Fish

Brad HODGES 10/10 Charlie SAYKAO 10/10 Steve GILL 10/10 Braddley YOUNG 10/10 Daniel MACKRELL 10/10 Chris GATES 10/10 Warren CARTER 10/10 Daryl BAIRD 10/10 Kristoffer HICKSON 10/10 Mario VUKIC 10/10

Walker now is in the hot seat to defend his PowerPole Angler of the Year title

and go back-to-back in 2016 as he sits in 11th place after the first two rounds.

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

Weight (kg) 9.46 8.73 8.57 7.96 7.55 7.35 7.11 6.96 6.90 6.85

2015 Power-Pole BREAM AOY Stuart Walker picked up where he left off last year by claiming victory at Gippsland Lakes.

Payout

$2270 + $250 Mercury Bonus $1520 + $ 150 Mercury Bonus $970 $870 + OSP Toray rookie $750 + Yamaha bonus $650 $550 +$100 Mercury Bonus

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

Place Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9/10 9/10 9/10 7/10 7/10 8/10 6/10 8/10 4/10 5/10

5.45 5.24 4.72 4.66 4.17 4.15 3.86 3.84 3.54 3.39

Stuart WALKER Clint VOSS Jesse ROTIN Nathan LEICHT Jim BARRIE Ben DODMAN Michael HODGES Clint NORTHCOTT Mick THOMPSON Tomas MCINTOSH

Payout

Prize Pack + $35 Hobie bonus Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack + $25 Hobie bonus Prize Pack + $15 Hobie bonus Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au APRIL 2016

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Bemm River Varty stays in second

yak Hobie Ka ries Se BREAteMd by Daiwa Presen

In an epic start to the 2016 Hobie Fishing calendar, and the first of 5 qualifying tournaments for the 6th Hobie Fishing World Championships, 105 anglers descended on the tiny bream fishing Mecca of Bemm River in East Gippsland, Victoria. A favourite on the Hobie Fishing circuit, Bemm River always delivers the goods and once again did not disappoint. The tournament fell on the right moon with the mouth of the inlet, which had been

open for the past 7 months, finally closed just days prior to the competition. With the inlet mouth closed and water levels up, scattered cloud cover and reasonable wind conditions through most of the round, Bemm showed little sign of pressuring up under the weight of 105 anglers. Full bags were commonplace with 85% of the field returning to the weigh-in with three bream on both days of the tournament. Weights were impressive with the top 20 all weighing in 5kg and

above over the two days. A consistent performance from Chris Lyons from Rosanna in Victoria took him to the top of the leader board on the final day, moving up from third place and adding 2.6kg to his day one result for a total of 6 bream weighing in at 5.8kg. Chris was followed Kevin Varty from Nowra in New South Wales, who held on to his day one 2nd position with 6 for 5.25kg. Paul Malov from Bentleigh Victoria rounded out the podium placings with 6 for 5.16kg.

2014 Hobie Fishing World’s 3rd place getter, Kevin Varty from Nowra in New South Wales came into the round with low expectations not having fished Bemm River before. “I normally like to fish deep and it was just really shallow. I headed up to the entrance and started throwing plastics in about 10-12 foot of water. When

they started biting and I started landing them my first impressions changed”. When asked if he was going to make run at qualifying for the Worlds Varty replied, “I’m just going to try and fish as many Worlds qualifying rounds as possible this year and see what happens.” Varty took home a $1,560 cheque and over $300 in sponsor prizes.

Varty’s Tackle Rod: Daiwa Drunknmonkey and Daiwa Itchy Twitchy Reel: Shimano Stradic 1000 Lure: ZMan GrubZ in various Colours

Lyons third time lucky

Chris Lyons from Rosanna in Victoria soared to the top of the leader board on day two to take out the first round of the series and grab the lion’s share of points in the chase for a place on the team to represent Australia in the 2016 Hobie Fishing World Championship. Strategies Day One “I pre-fished Bemm on Friday to find spots that were holding fish and ended up at Mahoganies. “I headed straight back up to the entrance where I had located all of the fish the day before. I found the fish still there, and I worked a 100m stretch of bank and by 8am I had a 42cm and

a 40cm. I kept working the edge and the flats in the same 100m area where there were plenty of fish in the low 30cm range. Everyone else who had been in the same location seemed to have left the area and moved down to the inlet opens in the estuary and were working the centre of the channel with vibes. There were plenty of boats in the area watching what we were doing. I kept working the edges and pulled in a 37cm on a Deep Diver Spike prawn pattern. I had my bag for the first session. Strategies Day Two “I went straight back to the front from the starting line to find 3 tinnies, who had been watching me catch the fish the day before, already

Chris Lyons from Rosanna soared to the top of the leader board.

sitting there lined up in the spot I had worked the day before. I went around them and on my second cast I hooked a 41cm Black Bream. Then the boats

Lyons’ Tackle Lure: Lucky Craft Flash Minnow Chartreuse Shad Leader: 3lb Sunline Sniper FC Rod: Daiwa Infeet Reel: Daiwa Steez 2004 moved off the bank to follow another competitor when they saw him catching fish on vibes in the centre. I then moved back into my favoured spot but found nothing, so I moved right up to the front where the water washes over the bank (it wasn’t at the time) there were ‘yellows’ and ‘blacks’ up there and I got a 35 and a 38 and that was my bag for the day”. Winning Ways “Probably working that 100m stretch of bank and throwing into the edges and flats and not into the middle of the channel”. Lyons took home a huge prize payout of $2,990 and over $400 in sponsor prizes.

RESULTS Place

Angler

Fish

Weight(kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chris Lyons Kevin Varty Paul Malov Mark Cribbes Nick Mace James Rogan Stewart Dunn Jason Meech Dylan Henness Joel Crosbie

6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6

5.48 5.25 5.16 5.15 5.12 5.10 4.98 4.95 4.86 4.86

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

3.75kg 4.35kg 4.30kg 4.52kg

Grand Masters: Alan Osborne Masters: Tony Curwen Women: Michelle Carmody Youth: Nathan Prezioso 88

APRIL 2016

Payout $2990 $1560 $1010 $470 $390 $350 $310 $270 $230 $190

Kevin Varty took out a surprizing second place as a new-comer to the Bemm.

New divisions open up Hobie has introduced divisions as an exciting way to encourage new anglers to try their hand at tournament kayak fishing. All anglers compete in the general category but there are also Youth (16-21), Women’s, Masters (60-64) and Grand Masters (65+) divisions thst provide another layer of incentive to anglers. Nathan Prezioso from Victoria took out the Youth Division with 6 for 4.52kg fighting off a strong performance from fellow Victorian Steven Pryke on 4.35kg. Prezioso went into day two trailing Pryke by 180g but his solid bag on day two allowed him to come from behind to give him a 170g lead and take home the inaugural Youth Division competition. Michelle Carmody from New South Wales picked up the Women’s category with 6 for 4.3kg in an encouraging field of seven female competitors. Tracey Wright from NSW was leading the Womens Division on day one with a 2.44kg bag, that had her in 17 position overall in the 105 angler field. Carmody sitting in 59th overall and 3rd in the Womens Division started strongly on the second day with early catches and bagged out on the way home to snatch the top female prize

from Wright in the last half hour of competition. In the tightest finish of the weekend Masters Division winner Tony Curwen from Victoria scooped the top spot with 6 for 4.35 nudging out Gary Hanson by just 10g. Curwen was leading on day one with 2.81kg to Hanson’s 2.21kg but just managed to hold out the strong 2.13kg day two bag of Hanson with his 1.54kg prize winning bag. The Grand Masters Division was tight across the

board with Allan Osborne from Victoria taking the top place in the category with 5 for 3.75 as well as picking up the Mortgage Corp Monster Mover for the most improved over the two days. 540g separated top to bottom over two days of tight competition. Osborne brought home a small bag of .83kg on day one and sat at the bottom of the division but he smashed it on the second day with 2.92kg and took home over $500 in prizes.

HOG’S BREATH BOSS HOG BIG BREAM AWARD There was an amazing finish to the Hog’s Breath Café Boss Hog Big Bream competition with Aaron Williams (Vic), Michelle Gamble (Vic) and Paul Malov (Vic) all bagging TOP 10 NON-BOATERS bream weighing in at 1.24kg. Williams hooked his on a Flash J Grub 3.1” on a Decoy Violence 31F Jighead, Gamble caught hers BASS ELECTRIC SERIES on a ZMan GrubZ in motor oil on a Jig Pro jighead and Malov also enticed his big bream on a ZMan GrubZ in motor oil. Full results can be seen online at: http:// www.hobiefishing.com.au/round-1-bemm-rivervictoria-2016/ HOGS BREATH BOSS HOG PAY TO:

Hogs Breath Boss Hog

FOR THE SUM OF:

One Hundred Dollars Fishing Tournaments bass • bream • barra

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Engel Round 2 of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series Engel Round 2 of the 2016 Hobie Kayak Bream Series was located on the mighty Blackwood River and kicked off in near perfect conditions for the 44 competing anglers. Come

Finding himself at the top of the leader board on day one was Massimo Salomone with a great bag of 3 bream for 2.090kg; Massimo targeted the deep snags that line the river around the ski area to compile

crowd in attendance and all his fellow anglers still on the water, Greg brought up to the weigh master the biggest bag of the weekend with 3 bream for 2.720kg, his bag also included a contender for Big

the 10am start and anglers were greeted with plenty of sunshine and a rising tide, the only obstacle was going to be the possibility of an increasing wind throughout each day’s session. Most of the anglers had made the trek down to the Blackwood River the day before to take advantage of the navigation only day. This allowed anglers to get out on the water and have a look at the conditions in the areas they were hoping to fish and make a plan if they had not already done so. Come 5pm and, whilst a fantastic crowd watched the completion of day one, most of the stories had a common theme amongst the returning anglers, and this was of big bust offs and ‘what ifs’, which is certainly not uncommon for the Blackwood River.

his bag of keepers, although not getting big numbers of fish, he had one 39cm bream that held the overnight lead for big bream coming in at 905g. Sitting in second place overnight was Barry Brownrigg who compiled a nice bag of 3 bream for 1.925kg; Barry went with a different plan and chased a surface bite on some of the numerous flats that surround Molloy Island. Holding down third spot and putting himself in pretty good position for day two was Brett Ozanne with 3 bream for 1.730kg; Brett also targeted the flats and snags around Molloy Island and the lower reaches of the river. Presenting himself to the weigh station at least three hours early at 11am was Greg Cooper, who was experiencing a few issues with his live well and also his kayak filling with water. So with a small

Bream with his biggest bream weighing in at 960g. Sitting in 10th spot overnight with 3 bream for 1.225kg, Greg’s day two bag of 2.720kg gave him a combined total of 6 bream for 3.945kg, and put him right in the thick of things for top honours. He just had to wait three hours before watching every angler fall short of the mark he had set (at 11am). And fall short they did, Greg stormed from 10th spot on day one, to win by over a kilo. When asked how his weekend had gone and whether he had followed a plan, Greg replied, “I did a pre fish a while ago out of my tinny, so I got to have a good look at a lot of the ground, which certainly helped me plan my weekend. On the first day I headed upriver and fished around the ski area, I pulled

my first keeper at 11am on an OSP Dunk in gold, I was just working the deep snags with a constant slow roll trying to stay near the bottom. But to have a 32cm in the well after an hour I was pretty happy

“Day two I had a bit of a different plan, because I was fishing out of a Malibu Kayak. It meant I was restricted to paddle power but also meant I could get up on the flats and fish a fair bit shallower than the Hobie kayaks. I wanted to target the flats around the back of Molloy Island as it would also have been out of the wind (which gave me plenty of grief on day one). It was pretty early, roughly about 7.30am when I pinned my first keeper on and OSP Bent Minnow in the G76 colour. “I was retrieving it with some slow twitches and plenty of pauses but I was happy to have one the boat early and just moved around targeting the sand patches amongst the shallow weed. I filled my bag with two more quite early and added four or five upgrades

try to make a mad dash back to the weigh in, which I only just managed without sinking. “So to come in at 11am while leaving them biting I didn’t think I had much of a chance, especially sitting in 10th, but after weighing in 2.720kg I would have been very happy just to make it into the top 3 or 5, but to take the win and qualify for the Hobie Kayak Bream Series Australian Championships I’m very happy.” Greg used a Protactic Copper Head 5kg Rod and an Edge ISR 703 Rod, each of these were matched to a Daiwa Certate 2500 that was loaded with Varivas 14lb Egging braid. At the business end was 8lb Bream special leader. Greg also used an FG and loop knot as his go to knots for the weekend.

RESULTS Place

Angler

Fish

Weight(kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Greg Cooper Robert Sgambelluri Barry Brownrigg Alex Greisdorf Brett Ozanne Steve Owens Andy Mitchell Massimo Salomone Jake Gill Mitch Vane

6/6 6/6 5/6 6/6 5/6 6/6 6/6 4/6 6/6 6/6

3.945 2.925 2.915 2.915 2.795 2.775 2.650 2.465 2.240 2.155

1/6 4/6 6/6

0.240kg 1.895kg 2.775kg

Womens Division winner: Michelle Pardini Junior Division winner:Mirek Soucek Grand Master winner:Steve Owens

with my start to the day. After that it was slim pickings for me, but I managed to boat two small keepers to give me a bag. To be sitting in 10th place after day onw, I was pretty happy with that.”

before 10.30 when I noticed I was having dramas with my live well. When I was monitoring that I noticed my yak had also filled with plenty of water. So the decision was made to leave them biting and

When asked if he had anyone to thank, besides the organisers he made special mention of his superannuation which has given him the most freedom to chase bream.

Newcomer takes out second In second place and becoming a regular at the Hobie Kayak Bream Series Australian Championships was Rob Sgambelluri weighing in 6 bream for 2.925kg. One of the very few anglers who had never fished the river before he really didn’t come down with much of a plan, he was quite wary of the angry bream after stories he had heard, but didn’t suffer the same problems as many of the other anglers. Rob found himself sitting just outside the top 10 after day one and when asked how his day had gone he replied “I pulled my first keeper about 30 minutes into the session, I’d only ventured up river to just before the ski area and was throwing an OSP Dunk. I was just working it deep with a real slow twitch before hooking what

ended up being a 28cm, I was expecting a better fight after some of the stories but I didn’t have any issues boating my keepers”. “Within 30 minutes I picked up another two keepers in the same area all around the same size, it was pretty slow for the rest of the day before I got my only upgrade in the late afternoon, this came on a darker colour OSP Dunk. I was happy to have 3 in the well when I headed back, and quite content to be around the top 10 for a river I had never seen before.” When asked how day two went, Rob replied “I thought I would just head back to the same area I had fished the day before, hitting a few likely spot on the way. Probably about 7.30am and about 300m from the start I hooked my first keeper on the first cast of the day, I was

surprised to get one so early and it certainly helped with the confidence. “It was probably another hour before I pinned my next keeper, this was on an Ecogear SX 48 whilst I was casting parallel to a reed bank, I was working the lure back a lot faster than I had been and a nice bream couldn’t resist it. It was probably another 30 minutes before I secured my third keeper, which was back on the OSP Dunk, it was a good fight and I really thought he would be bigger than what he actually was”. Robert used a 4kg Catana rod, matched to a Shimano Stradic 2500, this was loaded 10lb Daiwa braid and finished off with 7lb Fluorocarbon leader attached with a FG knot. Rob thanked Getaway Camping for sponsoring the event as well as the organisers for

their efforts. The Getaway $250 Big Bream was taken out by the eventual winner Greg Cooper with a very nice bream of 960g, this was part of his day two bag and fell victim to the OSP Bent Minnow. Taking out the Womens division and making it two on the trot was Michelle Pardini, whilst the Junior division was taken out by Mirek Soucek and last but not least was the Senior division that was taken out by Steve Owens, who actually missed the top 5 by 20g. A big thanks goes to all the anglers for making the effort to head to the Blackwood River for this round, as well as the Sponsors for this round, Getaway Outdoors. Their support of the kayak events is very appreciated.

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. APRIL 2016

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2016

DATE DETAILS

CONTACT

APRIL

Apr 9

Rnd 3 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series Mitchellstown

David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com

Apr 9-10

ABT BREAM Qualifier #3 Mandurah

ABT 07 3387 0888 abt.org.au

Apr 22-23

Rnd 5 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Scamander River

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Apr 25-26

ABT BREAM Qualifier #4 St Helens

ABT 07 3387 0888 abt.org.au

Apr 27-28

Rnd 6 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Swan River

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Apr 30-1 May

ABT BREAM Qualifier #5 Derwent River

ABT 07 3387 0888 abt.org.au

Apr 30-1 May

Rnd 3 Mallacoota Bream Classic Mallacoota

Bill Hartshorne 0409 823 070 www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

MAY May 15

Rnd 4 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series Mulwala

David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com

May 15

Rnd 7 Hobie Kayak BREAM series St Georges Basin

www.hobiefishing.com.au

JUNE

Jun 4

Rnd 5 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series Torrumbarry Horse Shoe Bend

David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com

Jun 5

Rnd 8 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Gold Coast

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Jun 11-12

BREAM Qualifier #6 Forster

ABT 07 3387 0888 abt.org.au

Jun 18-19

Rnd 4 Metung Bream Classic Metung

Bill Hartshorne 0409 823 070 www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

JUNE Jun 26

Rnd 9 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Port Macquarie

www.hobiefishing.com.au

JULY

Jul 2-3

Rnd 10 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Mandurah

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Jul 23-24

Rnd 11 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Lake Macquarie

www.hobiefishing.com.au

AUGUST

Aug 20-21

ABT BREAM Qualifier #7 Clarence River

www.abt.org.au

Aug 24-25

ABT BREAM Qualifier #8 Gold Coast

www.abt.org.au

Aug 27-28

Rnd 12 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Wallis Lake

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Sept 10-11

Rnd 13 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Nelson

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Sept 17

Rnd 6 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series Cairn Curran

David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com

Oct 8-9

Rnd 5 Glenelg River Bream Classic Nelson

Bill Hartshorne 0409 823 070 www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

Oct 8-9

Rnd 14 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Bribie Island

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Oct 15

Rnd 7 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series Eppalock Holiday Park

David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com

Oct 28-30

Hobie Kayak BREAM Aus Championship Queensland

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Rnd 8 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series Eildon

David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com

Vic Bream Classic Series Grand Final Nelson

Bill Hartshorne 0409 823 070 www.vicbreamclassics.com.au

BREAM Grand Final St Georges basin

www.abt.org.au

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

Nov 19-20

Nov 26-27

DECEMBER

Dec 2-4

For listings please email jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au 90

APRIL 2016

Last chance to spear a kingy WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

April is the unofficial end to the run of yellowtail kingfish right along the Victorian coastline, although some of the best areas for hunting kingfish may still hold a few fish even at this late point in the season. This year has been one of the best seasons in recent memory for these highly prized fish with divers upgrading their previous PBs. Wilsons Prom, Pyramid Rock and Cape Liptrap in the central zone all produced some great fish as did Portland’s north shore and Lady Julia Percy Island off Port Fairy. Kingies were plentiful and seemed to be of a bigger average size across the entire state this season, and can only be a great sign of the health and stability of the species moving forward. Finding some clear water with a warmer temperature break in any of these aforementioned key areas of congregation may still yield a few fish even at this late point in the season. On the upside, we begin to enter the peak period for southern bluefin tuna in the far South West of the state. Having said that, we have seen a very early start to the season already, in fact, right through the preceding few months we have had an abundance of school sized tuna seemingly in residence off the north shore at Portland. I have encountered

large schools of tuna mixed in with or adjacent to kingfish in as little as 7m of water and less than 200m from shore. Having these fish accessible in

club will be running out of Port Fairy. We will host the inaugural Bluefin Battle, scheduled for the weekend of 28-29 May, weather permitting, which promises

best bluewater tournaments in the country. More information can be found on the club’s Facebook page ‘Shipwreck Coast Skindivers inc.’

Aaron Crocombe with a great Victorian kingfish.

Aaron Mitchell never fails to find crays and April is a great month for them. such shallow water with the real prospect of being able to access them from a shore-based dive is a fantastic development and I hope this will be an ongoing occurrence in future seasons to come. As President of the Shipwreck Coast Skindiving Club, I’d also like to make mention of an upcoming event our

to be well attended. It will involve individual awards for the largest tuna taken by an individual diver as well as a two-man pairs event with the combined weight of each diver’s fish determining the winning team. With the extraordinary start to this seasons run of tuna, this competition holds the potential to be one of the

Inshore diving is not to be overlooked at this time of year. Right along the Victorian coastline, divers can expect to 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. Southern rock lobster 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 Leonards are all prime locations this month. Remember to make yourself aware of all size and bag limits of any specie you target and to always dive safely and sustainably.

Want one of these? Price

99 . 9 $7

Mick Mahney has been finding bread and butter reef species like this trumpeter.

Order today at www.tideapparel.com.au APRIL 2016

Tips for the novice boater BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

So, you have finally landed the big one: a boat of your own! The first move is to get to know the new boat, whether it’s a small tinny towed behind a four-cylinder family sedan or a larger vessel that sits sedately behind a big 4x4. Either way, that boat is going to be a part of your life, and take up a surprising amount of time

it’s vital to keep all rollers in correct touch with the hull to avoid damaging it. Remember, a roller that’s too high will actually dent the keel or hull over time. Next, take a look at the winch cable. If it’s metal and obviously brand new there’s a fair amount of useful life in it so long as it’s washed around the tow hook after each trip to the ramp. If it’s somewhat aged or rusted and there are tiny breaks in it, causing small bits to dig into your hands or fingers, it would

boat trailer are out of sight but should never be out of mind as they work hard, cop abuse from saltwater and need to be adjusted correctly and protected from that briny stuff. A lot of boat owners rely on the protection of Bearing Buddys which are good so long as you don’t go overboard with the grease gun and pump the grease in until it pours out the back seal (thus rendering the seal useless). A useful alternative to Bearing Buddys are Dura

An experienced skipper driving his boat onto the trailer. He is standing to help himself visually line up the boat’s trajectory. saltwater. Dura Hubs are most easily fitted to a new hub, but with professional expertise during installation they can also be fitted to older hubs once any corrosion is removed to ensure correct alignment of the rear seal. Assessing correct

bearing adjustment is easy with an unbraked trailer; it only involves jacking a wheel up and giving it a spin to see if it makes any sound other than a very faint whirring noise as the wheel revolves. Grumbles, rumbles or squeals mean you have a failed bearing, which requires a close

at things. AT HOME WITH THE ENGINE Outboard engines are in the vast majority these days and don’t need much more than a good flush after use and a wash-down to keep them in good nick. A bit of water repellent spray under the cowl is wise, and most

A craft has just left the trailer at a busy ramp. Getting right out of the way ensures others aren’t inconvenienced by the boat that’s just launched. out of the water. It will reward TLC handsomely, and pay back any neglect just as thoroughly! AT HOME: THE TRAILER First things first: most boats are on a trailer and it’s a pretty smart idea to make sure all nuts and bolts are properly tightened from the outset. This is especially important if the unit has seen some prior use. Remember, that galvanised bolts can strip their thread if over-tightened, so nipped up is tight enough. A 30cm ring spanner swinging hard on a galvanised nut is going to see the thread stripped in short order. While you are checking things, duck in behind the trailer wheels and ensure the nuts on the U-bolts holding the spring sets in place aren’t loose. Why not treat the springs with a corrosion inhibitor spray while you’re at it? While you’re there, it’s also a good idea to wriggle right under the trailer and ensure all rollers are actually in contact with the hull. Try to turn them by hand. Any loose ones certainly need re-alignment but do ensure they’re not loose as the result of another roller nearby being too high. With alloy boats 92

APRIL 2016

pay to replace it with a Dyneema cable. Dyneema winch cables are brilliant. They cannot rust, pack down onto themselves or develop those nasty ‘bities’ from the tiny breaks as do metal ones. Straps on winches work OK but can bind down on themselves or possibly work loose when travelling (I have seen this) even after being tightened up quite firmly at the ramp. Wheel bearings on a

Hubs. I’ve used them under three of my boats, and they’re very effective and easy to use. The Dura Hub system sees the bearings revolving in an oil bath while the hub is effectively sealed both front and rear against grime or water intrusion. There’s also a polycarbonate window on each Dura Hub that lets you check the oil level and see that the oil is not contaminated with

A pontoon is handy after launching but always makes sure the boat is held right at the end of it while waiting for the rest of the team.

For an expert it’s almost easy but for the beginner this cuddy cab will take a bit of practice to drive onto its trailer. It might be best to use the winch a few times until all proportions and alignments become familiar.

look inside that hub. This should never be an issue in a new trailer but sometimes even new trailers can have bearings adjusted too tightly, and while the wheel spins it does not do so as freely as it should. The idea is to check on the hubs after about 20 minutes travel time and see if they are any more than slightly warm. If they are actually hot, those bearings need some slackening in adjustment or they will be damaged. Note that if the trailer is a braked model it’s best to have bearings professionally checked, adjusted and the brake system serviced at the same time. The more frequently the whole lot goes into saltwater, the more frequent the need for a serious look

manufacturers have their own brands of spray for this purpose. Flushing boat engines is vital because even freshwater can have stuff in it that’s not good to leave in the engine for an extended period. Most boat owners use earmuffs to flush their smaller outboards, but unless the muffs are properly fitting onto the lower unit a lot of water can bypass the inlet grille, leading to possible engine overheating. It’s a good idea to assess how strongly the water flow is from the engine when being flushed in comparison to the normal on-water flow. If the flushing outflow looks weak it would be best to replace the muffs, or try using a bungy cord to hold

the muffs in closer contact while flushing the engine. Never, ever, set up muffs to flush a running engine and move out of sight of proceedings. If a hose connection pops or the water flow is somehow disrupted, that engine will cook very rapidly. If you have to leave the area, stop the engine and turn off the hose. These days many electric start outboards have a rope-start system as a fallback against loss of power – perish the thought – to crank the engine into life, but to use the rope to turn the engine’s fly wheel there’s usually a couple of bits of pieces to be removed. Have a look

Out she comes: the Galey’s loaded and about to move off to make room for another boat to use the ramp. it’s likely to be. You can help ease the tension by taking a pre-launch look at the ramp, its parking, and general access prior to the big event. You’ll want to have a game plan, taking into account things that might go bit pear-shaped and how to best avoid them. Prior to launch you’ll need to stop at the area next

trailer at full speed at a ramp as this is a sure way of dropping the transducer onto something hard and damaging it. Backing a trailer requires practice and there’s nothing wrong with having someone walk along beside the driver to provide a situation report on how things are going. Once the boat’s off the trailer it should be moved to the side of the ramp or onto the outer section of any adjacent pontoon while waiting for the car crew to return. At this time always be conscious of other boat owners wanting to launch or retrieve. Make sure they get a fair go at things. It might mean you have to move the boat a bit, but that’s no big deal. ON THE WATER When it comes to water travel, remember the old rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. You’ll need to get the feel of the new boat, but confidence builds rapidly in boating. Remember, if you must pass close by another craft, slow down and pass

pontoon or jetty beside the ramp there’s plenty of wriggle room to move or relocate, but a boat sitting just beside a ramp poses a question: is it going out or being retrieved? A gap between the craft and the ramp can indicate the team is departing, but the only way to be sure is to either hover nearby or gently approach shore on the side away from the previous craft and the ramp, and with the bow pulled up on the sand wait and see what develops. Moving in turn makes sense, and while common sense is not common it does go a long way around boat ramps. Once your trailer is in position, one option is to get the boat aligned and drive it onto the trailer. This takes practice. Approach things carefully and stand up to assess the correct alignment on the trailer. The alternative option is to hold the craft onto the lead roller and in place while it’s winched up onto the trailer. Again, get that boat well away from the main launch/retrieve area prior to

Launching is always a lot easier as a team effort. The crew here have things well under control. at the engine manual and assess what’s required to remove these items and then store the appropriate tools somewhere in the boat. Those are the easy, ‘at home’ hints covered, so now let’s take a look at actual use. AT THE RAMP With the boat properly

secured it’s off to the ramp – and this is where a lot of first time boaters come to grief. Boat ramps can be a source of stress, and things that compound that stress are the owner’s inexperience, adverse tide or weather conditions plus other boat owners making things difficult by jumping

a queue, blocking access to the ramp or being rude. While we have no control over others, we do make our own choices. For the new boater, things to consider are the state of the tide at the chosen ramp, how likely it is that the prevailing wind will affect it, and how busy

There’s no stress about this launch: the SeaJay team in action at Bundaberg.

Courtesy in action! The Galey was being backed down the ramp just as a tinny came in. With nowhere to leave the small tinny out of the way at ramp’s end, we moved the Galey forward to allow the crabbing team to retrieve their boat. to the ramp to get things ready. If you attempt to perform this task on the ramp itself, rather than next to it, you will be very unpopular! Other ramp users may dish up some colourful language telling you what they think of you. Other users want to launch, too, and holding them up is a no-no. With the engine lifted up, all gear loaded, bungs in, rear tie-downs removed and with both the shackle up front and the trailer hook free to be removed, the boat is ready to come off the trailer. A hint: when you have a rope attached to a heavier boat to release it into the water, never allow the boat to whizz off the

off the plane so your wash doesn’t knock them about. Also, if someone seems to be catching more fish than you are, don’t immediately assume that you should move right to that spot, or head over to seek advice. You’ll get advice all right but it won’t be what you wanted to hear! THE RETRIEVAL So your adventure is over and it’s time to retrieve the boat. At this point it’s wise to assess what others are doing as your craft approaches the ramp at a reduced speed. You don’t want to cause wash issues for people attempting to get a boat onto a trailer against current or wind. Where there’s a

stowing gear and preparing for the drive home. If another party is in difficulties ahead of you, consider offering to help them. As well as being the decent thing to do, it’s also practical – because the sooner they are on their way, the sooner you can get your craft out! I hope these hints help to make your boating more enjoyable. They have definitely made my boating life easier. And for those anonymous folk who have helped me retrieve the 5.5m Galey in somewhat dodgy conditions over the years at that mongrel ramp at Cabbage Tree Point, many thanks mates! I hope to return the favour. APRIL 2016

Yellowfin 6700 kicks goals in rough conditions

FMG

Will Lee wlee@fishingmonthly.com.au

What do you do on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast when the forecast is 20 knots of southeasterlies and seas of 2.5m+? Most of the time you’d swap the fishing rods out for the golf clubs or rack up some brownie points with your better half, however if the opportunity presents itself to step on board one of the newly released Yellowfin Plate boats and put it through its paces you grab the bull by the horns and hang on! With the choice of five Yellowfin boats to test I went for the middle of the size range in the form of the 6700. Powered by an Evinrude Etec Gen 2 engine, at first glance this was a serious offshore fishing vessel but moments QR CODE

Scan the QR code to see the Yellowfin in action and hear from Nathan Shaw about the new range and how they perform with the new G2 Evinrude 94

APRIL 2016

before we hit the entrance of the Mooloolah River I felt a few butterflies given the sloppy conditions I knew we were about to encounter. I had the pleasure of being joined by Telwater’s Damien Duncan (Director of Sales and Marketing) and his first mate, Jenna Cue (Marketing and Social Media Co-ordinator) and their reassurance that the boat was designed to tackle rough water helped to ease my nerves. At first glance the layout looked somewhat industrial with the fully welded checker plate floor but as I made my way toward the cabin to stow my equipment, the strength of the construction of this fishing rig became apparent. The new 6700 hull design is truly different to any of the previous Yellowfin models. The variable deadrise to 19° at the transom gave a great cushioning effect as we launched the boat between waves. The bottom sheets are constructed using 6mm sheet while the sides are 4mm. I was particularly impressed with the higher free board which measures 730mm. Underneath the welded checker plate floor you will find a sub-frame rib structure of longitude and latitude ribs made of 6mm vertical stringers and 5mm horizontal ribs that really beef this boat up. With lumpy seas and 20 knots of breeze, it was inevitable that at some point during the test we would cop a little bit of spray. While we didn’t get much, the water that

did enter the cockpit drained toward the back of the boat across the welded checker plate floor and into the cleverly designed rear catchment area which steps down from the floor level and through the non-return scuppers. This design would also come into its own when using the deck wash to clean up. While access to the bow is made easy by the wide gunwales, non-slip pads and a solid handrail incorporated into the hardtop, this 6700 was fitted with a drum winch that makes anchoring nice and easy for the crew. The anchor well is a solid welded plate construction and the rear plate does not require any additional strength to install a drum winch at a later date. Access to the anchor well is also available through the large cabin hatch that is constructed using hardened glass. Powered by an Evinrude Etec Gen 2 225HO, the boat had more than adequate horsepower. While idling out from the harbour at Mooloolaba, the V6 direct injection engine was whisper quiet but there was no doubting the serious torque of this machine as we were met by some serious swell at the entrance of the river. Complete with Evinrude’s Remote Dynamic Power Steering system, turning the wheel was feather light and made negotiating the rough stuff a breeze. Damian explained, “The difference between the Gen 1 and Gen

2 engine is 17% better fuel efficiency with up to 40% more torque.” During our test we travelled some distance north of our starting point in search of schools of tuna to no avail, but the boat comfortably cruised nicely at around 25 knots through the middle rev ranges in a side on sea. With no luck in close we

or simply set on auto, which takes all of the work out of having to level the boat. It is refreshing to see that they are a standard feature and I’m sure future Yellowfin owners will reap the benefits. Launching and retrieving the Yellowfin 6700 was made easy with the ‘Catch N Release’ system that comes standard on all Yellowfin

SPECIFICATIONS Length overall................................................7.05m Length bow-transom.................................... 6.75m Beam................................................................ 2.4m Depth............................................................. 1.25m Length on trailer........................................... 8.23m Height on trailer............................................ 2.47m Bottomsides.................................................... 6mm Topsides.......................................................... 4mm Transom material............................................ 5mm Weight (boat only)....................................... 1050kg Recommended HP...................................... 150HP Maximum HP................................................ 225HP Number of people................................................. 7 pointed the bow to the east to focus our attention a little wider, being mindful of the conditions, we easily went up and over the head on seas (2.5m +) at around 8-10 knots. After searching for birds and surface activity for a while it was time to head back to the Marina. This time we took a south westerly direction and the Yellowfin ate up the sea and felt very solid coming down the waves. Adding to the ride and performance of the hull is the Volvo BTS trim tab system that can be used manually

boats and Yellowfin aluminum trailers. Fishing from this boat is great with plenty of room to move around and after testing it out I could personally see myself heading offshore for the day with three mates and nobody missing out on the action. There are 16 rod holders including the rocket launcher, a serious bait and rigging station, a large live bait tank with a viewing window to keep an eye on those precious livies and a transom door for bringing on board those larger fish.

The 6700 that we tested was navy blue and looked super sharp on the water, but is also available in four other colour options – metallic grey, burgundy, and black and white. Although we were not lucky enough to sink the hooks into any fish while out testing this boat my mind is made up that this is a serious offshore fishing rig that is designed to take anglers a considerable distance. The layout is smart with both comfort and practicality in mind. There is adequate space in the cabin and shade provided under the hardtop, while the transom door and boarding ladder would make it easy for activities like swimming and snorkelling. This sees this rig double up as a family boat. Given the opportunity to fish offshore aboard a Yellowfin 6700 in sub-average weather, would I go? Absolutely – the folks at Quintrex have definitely got this one right! The standard price for the boat, motor and trailer (with no accessories) is $91,599 including on road costs and safety gear. For more information call JV Marine on 03 9798 8883 or visit www. jvmarine.com.au. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied 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.

The Evinrude Icon Touch digital gauge gave super clear readings and with different page options gives the skipper the ability to quickly and easily view detailed readings of fuel/fluid levels, trip logs, engine data and more.

The Evinrude GEN 2 performed flawlessly with plenty of torque at the ready for the big sets of waves that we encountered.

Every Yellowfin 6700 comes with a standard nononsense bait and rigging station. The station has a handy shelf below for tackle storage, five rod holders, two drink holders, a solid cutting board and a nice large drain for cleaning up.

While a clumsy deckhand may stub his or her toe on the spray deflectors on the side decks, they certainly do a great job of redirecting water over the side instead of into the cockpit.

The hardtop gives great protection from the elements when things turn nasty but on a hot sunny day the forward sliding side windows let a beautiful cool breeze in.

The rod holders on the gunwales are welded in including a solid gimbal at the base to give you plenty of confidence that your expensive rod and reel is going nowhere!

The last thing a lot of large fish are likely to see is a 110L kill tank on a Yellowfin 6700! APRIL 2016

Horizon’s 515 Sea Breeze with 80HP Yamaha 4-stroke

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Chelsea Yamaha brought the big guns into town for out latest Horizon/Yamaha boat test – Horizon General Manager, Scott James was waiting for us at the ramp on a miserable Melbourne morning, bursting to tell us all about their latest version of the Sea Breeze bow rider – the 515 Sea Breeze Elite. “This boat is the best of both worlds,” Scott said (you can watch the full interview by scanning the QR code below on your smartphone), “and we often call this ‘the boat that the missus will let you own,’” he quipped. By that, we’re sure that he meant that ‘it was the boat that would most impress your lovely wife

with its appointments and versatility.’ Of course, the bow rider genre features a couch up front, a helm area amidships and a cockpit aft to give shelter, relaxing areas and fishing areas in the same hull. With a 2.4m beam, this is a 5m hull with plenty of room. Underneath, it features a variable deadrise – Scott says 15° at the transom and sharpening to 21° at the bow to help cut through chop. It also features reverse chines, which help to keep spray down and increases stability PERFORMANCE RPM 700 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 5900

SPEED L/h 3 0.9 6 2.7 11 4.4 16 10 35 16.5 43 21 56 32

simultaneously. Naturally, these combine to make this a very stable boat, and there’s nothing that the family could really do to upset the balance of the craft while at rest. This is one of the smaller boats we’ve seen on the market with a walkthrough transom with door. Originally featured in game fishing or dive boats, this feature makes it easy for the family to both board from a beach and re-enter the craft on the water after swimming. Combine this with the duckboards either side of the outboard, and there’s no way you’ll keep the kids out of this boat. Another versatile addition is the rear lounge seat. Usually, you’ll find a rear lounge as a simple folddown bench – the Horizon however, has a full storage box with a padded lid that’ll

chew up a mountain of gear. Tilt this box forward and it gives access to the transom behind and extra storage. It’s a great idea. When the weather finally

start a motor that’s already running! That’s a given and a hazard of modern motors! Chelsea Yamaha set this boat up on a single axled Dunbier trailer. Apart from

Yamaha package weighed in at $37,990, however you can drive away in a boat/ motor/trailer package for as low as $32,500 – visit www. chelseayamaha.com.au for

There’s heaps of room up the front to work on your tan!

The best part of working in the rain is being out of it. 96

APRIL 2016

cleared and calmed, we fired up the Yammy – an 80HP 4-stroke version – and headed out into Port Phillip Bay to see how this rig performed. From a standing start, the combo got up on the plane in just over 4.5 seconds with two on-board. Through the economical part of the rev range, the Yamaha delivered just over 2km/L of fuel burned, which is good, but not spectacular. Like all Yamaha 4-strokes, it was quiet and clean. You’ll definitely try to

a cheaper purchase cost, the single axle allows for easy manoeuvring in tight garage spaces. With the canopy folded down, it’ll fit in plenty of suburban garages. At the helm, the position was comfortable and there was somewhere to rest your forearm when adjusting the throttle. Passengers are treated to the biggest waterproof glovebox I’ve seen yet – room for everyone’s mobile phones, wallets and car keys. As tested, this Horizon/

QR CODE

Scan this QR code to watch the full interview with Steve Morgan and Scott James.

The transom door is located on the starboard side and is both good looking and functional. With the ladder and transom step, it’s easy for the kids to get back in the boat after they’ve bomb-dived from the bow.

The Horizon 515 Seabreeze is a bow rider configuration, giving the family angler the best of both worlds. The moulded dash insert has room for engine gauges and although this boat had a narrow, stand-alone sounder mounted to the side, there’s room for a flush mounted unit above the wheel.

The storage box/lounge hinges up to give access to everything under and behind it.

There’s a massive amount of room (as far as glove boxes go) in here, and the insert is removable. If your phone is getting wet in here, I’ve got bad news for you – it means the boat has sunk!

The rear lounge incorporates a huge amount of storage.

This angle shows you the real layout of the Seabreeze. Remove the cushions from the bow section and there’s a pretty good fishing area up there.

Fitted on a Dunbier trailer by Chelsea Yamaha, the single axle configuration makes it manoeuvrable in the garage.

There’s three parts to the partitioning of the bow from the helm. Swing shut the carpeted door, shut the middle part of the windscreen and zip up the clears.

Yamaha’s 80HP 4-stroke is a real workhorse and powers this boat silently and frugally. APRIL 2016

What’s New BOATING

GME GX750 BLACK BOX VHF

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

GARMIN ECHOMAP CHIRP COMBOS

The GX750 Black Box VHF Marine Radio is an entirely new design concept from GME. This unit provides all the functionality of a conventional fixed-mount VHF marine radio in the palm of your hand with the supplied full-function LCD Controller Microphone. This allows the compact Black Box radio unit to be mounted almost anywhere in the vessel, making it the perfect choice for installations where dash space is at a premium. The GX750 has been designed with the same stylish white/grey colour scheme as the recently launched GR300 Marine Entertainment product. The unified design and colour scheme ensures these products blend seamlessly into the dash. The GX750 will also be available with a Black LCD Controller Microphone to suit contemporary vessel interiors. Built to withstand the harsh marine environment, the GX750 chassis is waterproof to the IPX7 standard and the unit is UV stabilised. Price: SRP $329 www.gme.net.au

Garmin’s echoMAP CHIRP series features built-in CHIRP traditional sonar, CHIRP DownVü and CHIRP SideVü scanning sonar, is preloaded with BlueChart g2 Australia coastal charts, and has Quickdraw Contours as standard. Selected models also support Panoptix LiveVü all-seeing sonar and are NMEA compatible. The echoMAP CHIRP series comes in sunlight readable 4”, 5”, 7” and 9” colour displays with an intuitive, keyed interface. A high-sensitivity 5Hz GPS antenna is built in. High-wide CHIRP sonar creates crisp fish arches with incredible target separation. If you want to see objects and structure below the boat, CHIRP DownVü provides a near photographic view, while the 75sv and 95sv also incorporate CHIRP SideVü scanning sonar. With an optional Panoptix transducer (75sv and 95sv models), you can see real-time sonar imagery at video-like speed of fish swimming toward or away from the boat, as well as lures and baits. This lets you adjust your technique according to fish behaviour. Price: SRP $599-$1999 www.garmin.com

WATER COLLECTION SMART BOWL

MERCURY 115 PRO XS FOURSTROKE

The Smart Bowl utilises a sophisticated, built-in electronic circuit and sensors for diagnosis of water contamination in fuel in petrol-operated engines. As soon as the water trap reaches approximately 70%, the sensors will cause the beeper to activate. As soon as the sensor buzzes, simply turn off both the engine and fuel sensor, and extract the trapped water via the bung. Then firmly tighten it again and you are ready to go. The Smart Bowl is designed to work in synergy with fuel filters. It is the perfect choice for users who wish to take their existing fuel filtration to a whole new level of protection. The Kit comes with everything needed for a hassle-free simple installation. Included in the kit is: Aluminium Water Collecting Smart Bowl with a built-in electronic sensor device; connecting cable 4.30m (14ft) with beeper; and a manual. www.samallen.com.au

HUMMINBIRD HELIX 9, 10 AND 12

Humminbird AutoChart Live is now built in to the new Helix 9, 10 and 12 Series units. AutoChart Live enables you to create richly detailed maps of your favourite fishing spots in real time live on the unit. Map the water as you drive the boat, with eight hours of built-in recording time. Once your map is live, layer it with Side Imaging detail—or use it with i-Pilot Link’s Follow the Contour and other Humminbird Autochart Live features. There are no added fees. There’s no need to upload your data for the world to see. The units have eight hours of recording memory built in. For years of recording memory, switch to an AutoChart ZeroLine SD Card (BLA Code 103645), which also lets you export and share your secret fishing spots with a buddy. Prices start from SRP $1559 (Helix 9 Series), and you can receive up to $200 cash back until 30 April, 2016. Terms and conditions apply and more information available at blapromotions.com.au Price: from SRP $1599 www.bla.com.au

APRIL 2016

With the design based on the Mercury 115 FourStroke, the 115 Pro XS is 4% lighter than its nearest competitor, and has been tested mercilessly to ensure reliability. The engine’s 2.1L displacement is also one of the highest in its class. Exclusive options include: Charging System; 25” shaft available in addition to the standard 20” shaft; and Command Thrust gearcase (makes the 115 Pro XS compatible with Mercury’s larger-diameter props). The 115 Pro XS is up to 4.8km/h faster than its nearest competitor. Its higher rpm range delivers improved performance out of an already powerful engine, and it also has the quickest acceleration. Idle Charge provides up to 48% more battery charging at idle speed, and the engine rpm has been increased from 6000 to 6300. The 115 Pro XS delivers easy maintenance, has superior corrosion protection and is backed by Mercury’s 3+2=5 warranty. www.mercurymarine.com.au

DRAGONFLY 7 PRO

Dragonfly’s superior wide spectrum CHIRP DownVision and wireless mobile device integration is now available with a super bright 7” display. The new Dragonfly 7 PRO is Raymarine’s most feature-rich sonar/GPS combo yet. Offering the same features as the awardwinning Dragonfly 5 PRO, it’s equipped with a 7” display for maximum visibility. The display is optically-bonded for all-weather performance, and is guaranteed to never fog up. Unlike conventional imaging sonars, Dragonfly 7 PRO’s DownVision sonar uses wide spectrum CHIRP technology to transmit across multiple sonar frequencies simultaneously. The result is higher resolution, photo-like images. This unit has great deepwater performance to 180m and reliable high-speed bottom tracking. It also has conventional highfrequency CHIRP sonar channel for targeting fish and bottom tracking down to 277m. There’s fast acquisition 10Hz GPS sensor and mapping, while the Wi-Fish mobile app lets you stream CHIRP DownVision to your smartphone or tablet. The built-in Wi-Fi also syncs with the Navionics Boating app. Price: RRP from $1065 www.raymarine.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 98

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

Quintrex relaunches fabulous Yellowfin range FMG

underneath with roto tub storage. A hardened glass cabin hatch finishes the cabin off nicely and ensures a dry and secure cabin. At the helm you will find Simrad electronics as standard and hydraulic steering to make the

Will Lee wlee@fishingmonthly.com.au

Telwater are recognised as the leading boat manufacturer in Australia and have just relaunched their Yellowfin brand through the Quintrex dealer network. The Yellowfin offshore plate boats have had a revamp, and at a recent media day held on the Sunshine Coast I had the opportunity to step aboard and run my eyes over the entire range to see what Yellowfin has to offer. There are four sizes across the Yellowfin range that include the 5800, 6200, 6700 and 7400 sizes; both models come in either hard or soft top versions. The boats are built stronger than ever with the 6200, 6700 and 7400

The new hull design makes these Yellowfin boats super stable at rest. bottom sheet and the selfdraining deck you will find Yellowfin’s ‘Marine Core’ construction – a sub frame

a smoother and softer ride. The freeboard has been lifted to 730mm making you feel more secure while out on the

The self draining deck features a unique no return scupper drainage system in partnership with a rear catchment area that guides the water out to a lower chamber and out through the scuppers. Yellowfin plate boats have undergone a face-lift with a new modern look featuring a cool new logo, decals and stripe design. All of the range is available in metallic grey, navy blue, burgundy, and black and white. With anglers in the research and development team’s mind, you will find

The solid grab rail on the new hard top design will be a deckie’s best friend.

The 6200 hard top was put through the paces at the media day. featuring 6mm plate bottom sheets (5mm for the 5800), 5mm transom material and 4mm sides. Adding to the strength is a fully welded checker plate self-draining deck with a box section floor frame. Between the

skipper’s job easier. The new concealed control box design gives more room and presents neatly. Launch and retrieval of the new Yellowfin boats is a breeze with the Catch N Release mechanism. The new hardtop cabin

rib structure of longitudinal and latitudinal ribs made of 6mm vertical stringers and 5mm horizontal ribs. With a complete overhaul to the hull design you will now find a variable deadrise to 19° at the transom for

big blue. Another noticeable change is the full transom that extends to the waterline giving the boat more lift, stability and buoyancy. The transom has also been beefed up to allow for more horsepower and weight on the back.

The 7400 is an absolute offshore fishing machine.

The new Yellowfin range will protect you from the elements – rain, hail or shine!

sixteen rod holders, a berley bucket, 110L kill tank and a live bait tank design that incorporates a viewing window and external pick up. All of these features make the offshore fishing experience even better. Other smart features in the new Yellowfin range include water deflectors on the side deck, a fully welded anchor well and a discreet deck wash system. The new comfortable cabin layout features bunks from 1.7-2m in length and makes smart use of the space

design features a hardened 6mm glass windscreen, a sliding side window to keep you cool and pantograph windscreen wipers as standard. Specifically built for offshore boating, the new hard top has a solid grab rail on the roof for safety and a smart dash layout with drink holders and a fiddle rail to stop things sliding away. All the models can be personalised and optioned up with extras like a drum winch, LED lights, an icebox, storage seat options and bunk infill. This impressive line up of Yellowfin plate boats will be found at all the major boat shows this year and will no doubt make waves as they start rolling into Quintrex boat yards across the country.

The new transom design is a lot stronger and caters for heavier and more powerful engines. APRIL 2016

BAIT & TACKLE WEST COAST

Melbourne Marine Centre (03) 9703 2003

U-Make-Em Soft Plastics www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au

Regal Marine (03) 9874 4624

Korr Lighting www.korrlighting.com.au

Streaker Marine (03) 9729 8288

She Left www.hdvcs.com.au

Triple M Marine (03) 9465 8787

Portland Bait & Tackle (03) 5523 5213

Warragul Marine (03) 5623 6250

Compleat Angler Portland (03) 5521 1844

Wes Frost Marine (03) 5976 4622

TRADES AND SERVICES ADVERTISING

EAST COAST

CENTRAL

Inverloch Marine (03) 5674 1502

Hooked On Bait and Tackle Hoppers Crossing (03) 9748 3811

FRESHWATER

Fishing Fever Mordialloc (03) 9590 9899 Compleat Angler Rosebud (03) 5981 1994

Boats and More Shepparton (03) 5822 2108

JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883

Boats and More Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Compleat Angler Ringwood (03) 9870 7792

Eades Xtreme Marine Echuca (03) 5482 2333

The Flyfisher Melbourne (03) 9621 1246

BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

EAST COAST

FLUSH YOUR ENGINE WITH

Always Angling Traralgon (03) 5174 8544

FRESHWATER Compleat Angler Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Line listing from $90 + gst 6 months* 2cm x 2 from $195 + gst 6 months* 4cm x 2 from $320 + gst 6 months* 8cm x 2 from $590 + gst 6 months* Rates exclusive to Trades and Services Directory *Conditions apply Call (07) 3387 0835 or email pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

If you have any other trades or services that you would like to see in this section please don’t hesitate to give us a call Email: pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Compleat Angler Shepparton (03) 5822 2180 Compleat Angler Wangaratta (03) 5722 4622

CORROSION CONTROL SALT REMOVING TREATMENT

MARINE MECHANICS

WARNING!

Naaj Marine 0421 955 371

9 out 10 engines fail from salt corrosion

Unique Marine Accessories (03) 5427 1802 CMC Marine Sales www.cmcsales.com.au Hunter Marine Boat Builders (03) 5032 2320

CENTRAL

ACT NOW AND PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE BOAT, ENGINE, TRAILER, FISHING AND DIVE GEAR.

Chelsea Yamaha (03) 9772 1212

SALT-AWAY IS A MUST FOR:

Kris Oakley Marine Services (03) 9794 5524

ENGINE FLUSHING JETSKIS TRAILERS

JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883 JV Marine World Laverton (03) 9368 7100

FREECALL For more info

The Outboard Workshop (03) 9783 0840

S TO M E R

NTEE GUARA

1800 091 172

VISIT www.salt-away.com.au

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.

WASHING BOATS FISHING & DIVE GEAR

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

RE-POWER & SERVICE EXPERTS

Boat, motor & trailer packages!

SCREEN PRINTING Logan Specialised Screen Printing (07) 5546 4107

BOAT IMPORTS Boat Import USA 0435 476 177

CHANDLERY & ACCESSORIES Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014 Techni Ice (03) 9783 1922

BOAT TRAILER

PH: 03 5984 1666 W: nauticalmarine.com.au E: nautical@surf.net.au Nautical Marine: 139 - 141 Hotham Rd Sorrento Vic

BMS Marine (03) 9731 7269

BOAT HIRE Boab Boat Hire Shepparton (03) 5822 2108

“Over 250 patterns to choose from”

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Lake Eildon Houseboats (03) 9397 6977

Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au

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Neptune’s Treasures 0419 643 654

Specialty Fishing Products www.specialtyfishing.com.au

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Nautical Marine (03) 5984 1666

Fish Taxidermist 0428 544 841

Salt-away 1800 091 172

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Boab Boat Hire Echuca (03) 5482 1992

HOLIDAY RENTAL WEST COAST Warrnambool Holiday Park (03) 5562 5031

EAST COAST

SHALLOW INLET CARAVAN PARK On the Waters Edge

FRESH BAIT | HIRE BOATS | ICE

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

03 5687 1385

Shallow Inlet Caravan Park (03) 5687 1385

This section in V&TFM Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching.

APRIL 2016

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION EAST GIPPSLAND

Kestrel Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 1783

Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080

Queenscliff Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 0458 504 058

Narooma Charters, Narooma 0407 909 111

Pro Red Fishing Charters 0421 442 775

O’Brien Charter Service, Bermagui 0407 214 124

Rip Charters Fishing Trips, Sorrento (03) 5984 3664

MARLO

21 Marine Parade MARLO VIC

Saltwater Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 4888

OCEAN VIEWS CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

NSW SOUTH COAST

03 5154 8268

Wilderness Fishing Tours, Mallacoota 0424 625 160

• 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 Short wa • Coffee shops

Ask us about our LONG RANGE

Aussie Fish Estuary Adventures (02) 6495 9902 or 0400 062 504

FISHING ADVENTURES!

www.marlocamping.com.au Marlo Ocean Views Caravan and Camping Park, Marlo (03) 5154 8268

FISHING GUIDES

For Bookings call

0418 107 071

www.sharkmen.com.au

IDEAL GIFT!

Sharkmen Charters, Carrum 0418 107 071 St Kilda Fishing Charters, St Kilda (03) 9770 2200 Western Port Fishing Charters, Hastings (03) 9769 5544

EAST COAST

Clean, Quality Self Contained Accommodation Overlooking Sydenham Inlet s • Kiosk om Unit 2 Bedro Bedroom • Ice Plus a 4 Available • Bait House • Boat Hire Owner Operated

Capella III Fishing Adventures, Port Welshpool (03) 5688 1585 37-41 Sydenham Parade, Bemm River 3889 Ph: (03) 5158 4233 – 0427 584233 E: bemmaccomm@bigpond.com www.bemmaccommodation.com.au

Bemm River Holiday Accommodation & Boat Hire, Bemm River (03) 5158 4233 or 0427 584 233

Lazy Acre Log Cabins 1, 2 & 3 BEDROOM SPACIOUS COTTAGES ♦ Solar Pool ♦ Free Wi-Fi ♦ Air-Con/Heating ♦ Fishing Advice ♦ Boat Parking

Quiet central location Ideal for all the family Close to 90 mile beach 5min drive to boat ramps

Far Out Charters, McLoughlins Beach 0428 401 819 Prom Coastal Charters, Yanakie (03) 5687 1248 or 0429 935 583 Razorback Bluewater Charters, Port Albert (03) 5183 2691

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Lazy Acre Log Cabins, Lakes Entrance (03) 5155 1323

QUEENSLAND Cairns Bed and Boat 0418 772 751

CHARTER BOATS EAST GIPPSLAND East Gippsland Charters 0400 564 032

WEST COAST Portland Fishing Charters, Portland (03) 5523 3020 Shipwreck Coast Diving & Charters, Warrnambool (03) 5561 6108

CENTRAL South-West Fishing Charters, Portland 0418 306 714 Gone Fishing Charters 0409 007 068 Off The Hook Fishing Charters 0419 554 916 Able Fishing & Charters, Williamstown (03) 9502 3777 ACE Fishing Charters, Bonbeach (03) 9773 4183 Adamas Fishing Charters, Barwon Heads (03) 5254 3320 Big Red Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 1800 805 587 Blue Magic Fishing Charters, Rowville (03) 9759 5301

pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au FRESHWATER Angling Expeditions Victoria, Tawonga (03) 5754 1466 Highland Trout Lakes, Ballarat (03) 5368 9574 Millbrook Lakes Lodge, Ballarat (03) 5334 0404

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

Calypso Fishing Charters, Tootgarook (03) 5985 8463

Headland Fishing Adventures, Merimbula (02) 6495 1134

Geelong Charters & Fishing Trips, Geelong (03) 5275 7107

Island Charters, Narooma (02) 4476 1047 or 0408 428 857

Katrina Louise Charters, Cheltenham 0402 828 140

K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681

Eildon Trout Farm is a great place to spend a few hours and catch yourself a feed of fresh trout and there are some quality redfin in the lakes too.

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or email pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

APRIL 2016

101

Victorian Tide Times

2016

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

JANUARY Time 0531 1120 FR 1737 2320

Time

m 1.59 0.44 1.37 0.40

0514 1103 SA 1730 2310

m 1.65 0.32 1.48 0.33

Time

0600 1.50 1205 0.35 MO 1830 1.36

0614 1.57 1217 0.16 TU 1908 1.50

2 0008 0632

17 0029 0657

3 0045 0708

18 0115 0745

4 0125 0748

19 0206 0843

5 0210 0835

20 0308 0950

6 0304 0931

21 0426 1104

7 0413 1039

22 0023 0548

8 0015 0529

23 0121 0659

9 0113 0640

24 0212 0754

0528 1133 TU 1801 2344

Time

m 1.49 0.31 1.46 0.53

0554 1.56 1158 0.15 WE 1854 1.58

Time

0610 1.40 1203 0.35 FR 1855 1.48

2 0030 0648

17 0032 0716

3 0107 0634

18 0130 0827

4 0053 0731

19 0240 0938

5 0151 0843

20 0354 1045

6 0302 1006

21 0459 1147

7 0418 1124

22 0550 1239

8 0529 1230

23 0032 0633

9 0045 0629

24 0110 0712

3 0018 0636

18 0059 0729

4 0055 0715

19 0148 0828

5 0134 0800

20 0247 0938

6 0223 0856

21 0403 1052

7 0325 1004

22 0525 1202

8 0439 1126

23 0047 0633

9 0034 0556

24 0136 0727

25 0253 0840

10 0130 0703

25 0216 0810

10 0134 0722

25 0145 0748

11 0250 0829

26 0328 0919

11 0219 0800

26 0251 0847

11 0221 0813

26 0220 0823

27 0320 0900

12 0333 0915

27 0359 0955

12 0305 0850

27 0322 0922

12 0305 0902

27 0256 0857

13 0315 0853

28 0358 0944

13 0415 1001

28 0428 1029

13 0348 0939

28 0353 0956

13 0349 0950

28 0332 0930

14 0356 0936

29 0430 1022

14 0454 1047

29 0457 1101

14 0430 1026

29 0425 1029

14 0434 1036

29 0409 1000

15 0435 1019

30 0500 1058

15 0533 1132

15 0512 1113

30 0459 1101

15 0522 1121

30 0447 1032

17 0552 1147

3 0635 1235

18 0632 1232

4 0035 0709

19 0042 0715

5 0115 0746

20 0131 0805

6 0201 0830

21 0227 0902

7 0255 0922

22 0332 1010

8 0400 1020

23 0451 1121

9 0000 0516

24 0048 0610

10 0056 0627

25 0145 0716

10 0203 0738

11 0145 0722

26 0236 0812

12 0231 0809

1.48 0.43 SU 1905 1.29 0.56 1.43 MO 1314 0.43 1957 1.26 0.65 1.37 TU 1354 0.44 2055 1.25 0.73 1.31 WE 1440 0.45 2157 1.26 0.81 1.27 TH 1533 0.45 2300 1.29 0.86 1.24 FR 1636 0.42 1.35 0.86 SA 1125 1.23 1742 0.38 1.43 0.81 SU 1230 1.26 1838 0.33

1.51 0.74 MO 1328 1.31 1927 0.27 1.58 0.65 TU 1420 1.37 2012 0.24

1.64 0.55 WE 1509 1.43 2056 0.22 1.67 0.47 TH 1556 1.46 2140 0.23 1.67 0.39 FR 1642 1.48 2225 0.27

1.62 0.27 SU 1820 1.46 2356 0.41

1.57 0.25 MO 1917 1.43 0.50 1.51 TU 1320 0.25 2023 1.40

0.60 1.44 WE 1412 0.26 2131 1.39 0.69 1.38 TH 1511 0.29 2240 1.39 0.76 1.33 FR 1621 0.30 2345 1.42

0.77 1.31 SA 1733 0.30

1.47 0.74 SU 1229 1.32 1838 0.28

1.53 0.66 MO 1330 1.35 1933 0.27 1.57 0.58 TU 1424 1.39 2023 0.26

1.60 0.51 WE 1513 1.41 2107 0.28 1.60 0.45 TH 1557 1.42 2146 0.31 1.59 0.41 FR 1637 1.42 2223 0.36

1.57 0.38 SA 1715 1.41 2258 0.41

31 0530 1131

1.54 0.36 SU 1752 1.39 2332 0.47

0.53 1.45 TU 1239 0.36 1914 1.33 0.60 1.40 WE 1315 0.37 2002 1.30 0.68 1.34 TH 1353 0.38 2059 1.28 0.76 1.28 FR 1437 0.40 2201 1.28 0.82 1.24 SA 1532 0.41 2309 1.30 0.84 1.21 SU 1640 0.40 1.35 0.81 MO 1154 1.23 1751 0.37 1.43 0.72 TU 1302 1.30 1855 0.32 1.51 0.61 WE 1402 1.39 1950 0.28 1.58 0.48 TH 1456 1.47 2041 0.26 1.63 0.37 FR 1546 1.54 2128 0.26

1.65 0.27 SA 1635 1.58 2215 0.29

1.65 0.20 SU 1724 1.58 2300 0.34

1.62 0.16 MO 1814 1.56 2345 0.41

0.58 1.43 TH 1351 0.25 2110 1.39 0.66 1.35 FR 1446 0.32 2215 1.36

0.73 1.29 SA 1554 0.38 2320 1.35

0.75 1.26 SU 1710 0.41

1.38 0.72 MO 1215 1.27 1819 0.40 1.42 0.65 TU 1317 1.31 1918 0.39

1.47 0.56 WE 1413 1.37 2007 0.37 1.51 0.48 TH 1500 1.42 2050 0.37 1.53 0.41 FR 1542 1.45 2128 0.39

1.53 0.36 SA 1618 1.48 2202 0.41

1.53 0.33 SU 1652 1.48 2236 0.44

1.51 0.31 MO 1726 1.48 2310 0.48

1.45 0.32 WE 1841 1.43 0.58 1.40 TH 1238 0.33 1924 1.39 0.64 1.35 FR 1312 0.36 2015 1.34 0.71 1.29 SA 1352 0.38 2113 1.31 0.76 1.25 SU 1444 0.42 2220 1.30 0.78 1.22 MO 1549 0.44 2330 1.33 0.75 1.25 TU 1705 0.45 1.39 0.66 WE 1242 1.33 1823 0.42 1.47 0.53 TH 1346 1.45 1929 0.38 1.54 0.39 FR 1443 1.56 2024 0.36

1.60 0.27 SA 1535 1.65 2114 0.35

1.63 0.17 SU 1626 1.69 2200 0.37

1.63 0.12 MO 1715 1.69 2245 0.40 1.61 0.12 TU 1803 1.65 2330 0.45

0.58 1.41 FR 1330 0.31 2046 1.42

0.64 1.33 SA 1421 0.40 2147 1.36

0.70 1.27 SU 1524 0.49 2249 1.33

0.72 1.24 MO 1639 0.54 2350 1.33 0.69 1.26 TU 1753 0.56

1.36 0.62 WE 1306 1.32 1857 0.55 1.40 0.54 TH 1400 1.40 1947 0.53 1.43 0.46 FR 1445 1.47 2029 0.51

1.46 0.40 SA 1523 1.52 2105 0.51

1.48 0.35 SU 1557 1.56 2140 0.51

1.49 0.32 MO 1629 1.58 2213 0.52 1.49 0.31 TU 1701 1.58 2247 0.54

1.48 0.31 WE 1736 1.56 2321 0.57

0.65 1.36 SA 1236 0.38 1941 1.43 0.68 1.31 SU 1216 0.42 1934 1.39 0.71 1.28 MO 1308 0.47 2036 1.36 0.71 1.27 TU 1413 0.53 2145 1.36 0.67 1.31 WE 1530 0.57 2251 1.39 0.57 1.42 TH 1651 0.57 2351 1.45 0.45 1.55 FR 1804 0.54 1.52 0.31 SA 1329 1.67 1903 0.51 1.58 0.21 SU 1422 1.76 1954 0.49

1.61 0.14 MO 1512 1.79 2042 0.48 1.62 0.13 TU 1600 1.78 2128 0.49

1.60 0.15 WE 1648 1.73 2213 0.51 1.55 0.21 TH 1737 1.65 2258 0.55 1.48 0.30 FR 1828 1.56 2344 0.59

0615 1.40 1206 0.41 SA 1920 1.48

17 0014 0639

1.54 0.43 SA 1819 1.33 2357 0.48

0.51 1.49 TH 1243 0.22 1948 1.50

Time

2 0601 1206

2 0603 1159

0.49 1.51 WE 1303 0.19 2007 1.45

Time

Local Time APRIL

0.64 1.33 SU 1254 0.51 2015 1.41

0.68 1.28 MO 1350 0.61 2111 1.36 0.70 1.27 TU 1459 0.69 2207 1.34

0.67 1.30 WE 1615 0.73 2301 1.34 0.61 1.37 TH 1725 0.72 2350 1.36

0.54 1.45 FR 1819 0.70

1.39 0.47 SA 1322 1.53 1902 0.67

1.43 0.41 SU 1359 1.59 1939 0.65

1.46 0.37 MO 1432 1.64 2015 0.63 1.48 0.35 TU 1505 1.66 2049 0.62

1.48 0.34 WE 1539 1.67 2124 0.62 1.47 0.35 TH 1615 1.65 2159 0.63 1.45 0.37 FR 1652 1.62 2233 0.65

1.42 0.40 SA 1731 1.58 2308 0.66

31 0533 1132

1.45 0.33 TH 1814 1.53 2355 0.61

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

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. 102

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