Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly - December 2015 by Fishing Monthly

COLOSSAL COD OPENING FEATURE

T ried and Tested

Features

Robalo’s R207 • Stessco’s Catcher SFX450 • Bar Crusher’s 490WR and 490C • Samaki Boom Baits • Safeguard Cargo Net •

Cod opening special • Christmas gift ideas • 13 Fishing Muse Gold •

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Spotlight: Mornington Peninsula • Western Port Bay fishing insight • Eildon trout farm •

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DECEMBER 2015

Black Magic 4kg+ Inferno® Braid and Black Magic 8lb Fluorocarbon tippet were used by Lee Rayner to catch this brown trout while fishing near The Snowy Mountains.

A Black Magic Squid Snatcher® 2.5 ‘orange glow’ was used by Brett Johnstone to take this impressive squid.

Black Magic 30lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader was used buy Adam Epifanis to catch this great snapper at Port Stephens.

Ben Petrone landed this chinook salmon using a Black Magic BMax ‘smelt’ lure while trolling in Lake Bullen Merri.

This 24kg mulloway was landed by Alex Deacon at a secret location. Alex used Black Magic 80lb Supple Trace.

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December 2015, Vol. 11 No. 2

Contents WEST COAST

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 96 Boating 100 Chappy’s Hotspot 32 Dam Levels 75 Fun Page 98 Junior City Fishing 26 Kayaking 88 Spearfishing 83 Tasmanian Lake Levels 68 Tournament News 92 Trade and Services Guide 108 Victorian Tide Times 110 VRFish Update 45 What’s New Boating 104 What’s New Fishing 87

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Dean Norbiato with a cracking Murray cod on the new Bassman 4x4 spinnerbaits.

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them already. Our suggested tactic? Copious use of a highlighter and then leaving the open magazine in a well trafficked position – say under the TV remote control… It’s worked in the past and it’ll work again, trust me! CHRISTMAS GIFT SUBS - READ THIS We really do appreciate that thousands of readers subscribe to the Fishing Monthly magazines and hundreds and hundreds buy gift subscriptions every Christmas. Just some housekeeping here – if you like renewing or buying your gift subscription over the phone or via mail to the FM office, please make sure you get it to us by the 14th of December. The very last day we process subs is the 17th, but if you get it to us by the 14th we can get the gift certificate to you on time.

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Cod opening special Spotlight: Mornington Peninsula Western Port Bay fishing insight Christmas Gift ideas Eildon trout farm

COD SEASON OPENS We know that a lot of you would have been waiting with bated breath for the opening of the Murray cod season in Victoria and NSW, and the waters that bridge these two states. To help you make the most of this situation, we’ve compiled a string of articles that will help you make the most of this cod season. If you haven’t experienced this iconic Aussie fish, then now is the best time to plan. Get into ‘em! CHRISTMAS GIFTS We’re not ashamed of the fact that we like to do some of the thinking for you when it comes to Christmas gifts for anglers. Curator of our www.tacklejunkie.fish website, Nicole Penfold, has examined all options for you this year and compiled it into a comprehensive list of things that you’re sure to want if you don’t have

ION

TASMANIA WRAP

At Fishing Monthly, we wish it was summer all year long. The fishing is top notch, the writers are bursting out of their skin with excitement and, because our summer issues are so big, the staff in the office are on a high as we put the magazines together. We love it! And the only thing that makes summer even better is giving the Kiwis a flogging in the cricket (yes, the Rugby World Cup is ancient history now) and having that play on the radio in the background as you’re winding one in. Alternatively, smashing out a dawn session and having the boat washed and the fish cleaned by the time the Channel 9 Wide World of Sports logo scrolls across the screen can result in similar enlightenment. Bring it on.

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Horsham 70 Euchuca 72 Robinvale 71 Mildura 71 Shepparton 73 Yarrawonga 72 Victorian Alpine 75 Wangaratta 74 Jindabyne 76 Eildon 78 Bonnie Doon 78 Goulburn River 79 West/South Gippsland 80 Bendigo 80 Crater Lakes 81 Ballarat 82

From the Editor’s Desk...

NSW SOUTH COAST Eden 62 Mallacoota 63 Bermagui 62 Narooma 64 Merimbula 65

EAST COAST Welshpool 43 Inverloch 42 Ninety-Mile Beach 43 Gippsland Lakes 46 Marlo 47 McLoughlins Beach 48 Bemm River 46 Lakes Entrance 48

Geelong 22 Port Phillip West 24 Port Phillip East 28 Port Phillip North East 30 Mornington Peninsula 32 Western Port North 36 Western Port South 38 Phillip Island 40

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Cod Feature

It’s all about the ‘boof’! angling became popular they were targeted with bait. For many years there was a combination of commercial fishers and keen anglers using rods loaded with all different types of baits ranging from garden worms to small birds and everything in between. Back in the 1960s and 1970s lure fishing started

WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

Murray cod have always been one of the most sought after species of fish in the fresh. Back in the early days they were netted and harvested by old style commercial fishers. Once

to heat up in the cod fishing scene with large bladed spinners known as Aeroplane Spinners accounting for many of the cod caught, followed by the popular Floppy and Mudbug lures. Over the years, Murray cod became less and less popular as a commercial fish species and more popular as

Brett Corker landed this 66cm Murray cod on a surface lure just as we were about to leave. We were making our last two or three casts for the evening when ‘BOOF’!

Lauretta Alexander enjoys surface fishing for Murray cod. At the end of the really stinking hot days, nothing beats surface fishing for Murray cod, mixed up with a bit of wet wading.

a sport fish until eventually the commercial fishers all had their commercial fishing licenses revoked. By the late 1990s fish stockings, improved fishing ethics and a tightening of the regulations in Victoria and NSW led to improved Murray cod sport fishing, which then led to a boom in lure manufacturing, improved fishing tackle technologies and an overall greater respect for this iconic Australian native fish. In recent years, sport fishing for Murray cod has been taken to a whole new level with the growth in popularity of surface fishing. Over the years, anglers have caught cod off the surface with some of the older design smaller surface lures that were usually made for the American bass fishing scene, but it is only in the last few years that surface fishing for Murray cod has really taken off. Not only has it taken off, but I believe it is the fastest growing craze in

Brett Corker with a trout cod caught on a surface lure, once again right on sunset. the freshwater fishing scene here in Victoria. THE SURFACE LURE CRAZE Why has surface fishing for Murray cod become so popular in recent years? There are a few answers to this question, but by far the number one attraction

to the sport of surface lure fishing for Murray cod is the BOOF that is made when a cod hits a surface lure. Even a modest sized cod of around 40-50cm in length will make a loud, sharp splashing sound as they boof your surface lure, usually causing the angler

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Terry Alexander caught this little Murray cod on a small surface popper at 3:00pm on Christmas day a couple of years ago. Cod will hit surface lures during the daylight periods, but not as readily. Look for really shaded areas.

to jump! The closer to your feet the fish hits the lure, the more of a fright you will get. The sharp splashing type sound is usually made by the cod’s tail when it slaps the water at break neck speed as the it turns quickly to head back down into the depths.

several times in the one cast! If the line pulls tight and you know the cod has the lure in its mouth, that’s when you lift your rod tip to put tension on the line. One of the other reasons surface fishing for Murray cod has really taken off is because it is a bit more cost effective with regards to

have to be an expert to read the water. You don’t have to visualize where your lure will sink with the current. You don’t have to search for drop-offs and ledges with a depth sounder, you just cast your lure out and retrieve it. The cod will sense the lure swimming across the surface, and seek it out. A

This nice Murray cod fell victim to a Z-Man Pop FrogZ. Surface soft plastics come into their own in clear water where natural presentations work the best. Hook-up rates can be quite poor when using surface lures, however more and more anglers still enjoy the sport of surface fishing. As many of us say “It’s all about the boof”. One of the reasons hook-up rates are poor is because anglers automatically tend to lift the rod tip and strike to set the hooks. Quite often, this pulls the lure out of the cod’s mouth and sends it flying through the air. The

losing lures to snags. When walking the banks casting diving lures or spinnerbaits, losing expensive lures is a part of the experience. With surface lures, anglers can see where the snags are and cast beside them. Avoiding snags is so much easier when surface lure fishing, allowing anglers to access snag-infested sections of creeks and rivers that would otherwise be overlooked. In saying this, we still

slow to moderate retrieve speed is best. TIPS Surface fishing for Murray cod is best at night time, or during the low light periods of the day. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise. Many anglers, myself included, have caught cod on surface lures during the day, even in full sunshine, however it really is during the low light periods and under the cover of darkness

A twilight Murray cod taken on a Koolabung Codwalker surface lure in the middle of Wangaratta. best thing to do when you get a boof is to just leave your rod tip down low and wait to see whether your line pulls tight or the lure keeps floating. If the fish doesn’t hook up, quite often it will return to the lure for another boof. Sometimes, the cod will hit the lure

lose a few lures. Overhanging vegetation and casting too far, resulting in hooking up on the opposite bank are two great ways to ensure your surface lures don’t join you for the trip home! Another attraction to surface fishing is that it really is simple! You don’t

when the action really starts to heat up. Choosing a surface lure really is a personal thing. It comes down to personal choice. They all do the same job. Some have different sounds, some are jointed, leaving the tail end sitting To page 10

DECEMBER 2015

Cod Feature surface fishing. Another trick that many anglers find useful is to take the rear hook off the surface lure, and put a split ring or two between the hook and the lure. This will make the rear hook sit lower in the water and may help with improving hook-up rates. I do not do this personally, because I am too lazy and simple, but my fishing mates do this and swear by it. If you want to see first hand what all the fuss is about

From page 9

lower in the water, which helps with your hook-up rate, some have flashing lights in them, some have glow in the dark bibs, there really is a surface lure out there to suit any situation. My personal favourite is the medium sized Koolabung Codwalker, as I find it has the best hook-up rate for my style of fishing. It also has a plopping sound that I really like. My mate Brett Corker has a preference for the Sweetwater surface lure, as he likes the action of it. My best mate Sandy Hector (A.K.A. The Camo Man) has a preference for the Kingfisher Mantis. It really

with surface lure fishing, have a look at my YouTube channel ‘robbiefishing’ and you will see a few short clips that I have shared over the last couple of seasons of Murray cod being caught on surface lures. For the ultimate Murray cod surface fishing footage, have a look at Rod Mackenzie’s latest DVD titled ‘Almighty Cod’. This honestly has some mindblowing Murray cod surface fishing footage.

A nice surface feeding Murray cod caught on a Koolabung Codwalker.

Trout cod will happily hit a surface lure as well. I find they don’t hit them as frequently as Murray cod, however they will have a go from time to time. This little one took a Bassman buzzbait.

is a personal choice thing. There are plenty of surface lures on the market for you to choose from. Some of them are incredibly lifelike to look at. I like the really lifelike surface lures in the really clear water of the upland reaches of our river systems, where the cod can get a good look at the lure. In the lower reaches, where the water is usually murky, I just look for the lure that will displace the most water. Murray cod do not study encyclopaedias, look up at something on the surface and think to themselves

“Mmmm, that’s a maniacal cackle tree frog… I’d better eat it!”. They just see something swimming across the water that will fit in their mouth and smash it. It could be a small young bird, a wounded bird, a possum, a rabbit swimming or even a small duck. Murray cod do not discriminate and have even been known to swallow baby snakes as they swim across the river. One thing I have found when surface fishing for Murray cod is that when the cicadas are active in the trees above the river, this tends to lend itself to better

Joey Barca landed this magnificently coloured Murray cod on New Year’s Eve last summer.

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Cod Feature

Cranking for cod: clever casting tactics BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

Ten or so years ago if someone talked about a lure angler, you’d instantly think of trollers. Fast forward and sure, trolling is still as popular as ever, but casting lures is now growing in leaps and bounds. Gone are the days of casting lures only being for the tournament anglers. Just look around on any given weekend in any given impoundment around the country and you will almost definitely see boats actually casting lures rather than just towing them around hoping for a fish. Magazines, the tournament scene and social media certainly have helped push the types of info anglers needed to become successful lure casters. Once anglers realised that not only is it just as easy as

continue to target the one snag or fish repeatedly and much quicker than you could by trolling, thereby annoying the fish to strike at your lure whether the fish is hungry or not. The strike from a Murray cod whilst casting and retrieving lures can be bone jarring and often scare the hell out of you. Anyone who has experienced this before will tell you that once you feel that first strike from a big Murray cod, just like the rest of us, you will be converted to this casting game and will be addicted for life. If you’re new to the world of Murray cod I will now run you through what types of areas to look for when casting lures, what lures to use in what areas and the best retrieve styles to help you all have more success when casting lures for these great fish. TARGET AREAS Murray cod live on and ambush their prey from

great to target Murray cod, don’t disregard other forms of structure like rock walls or points and shallow weedy bays when fishing the lakes or back eddies in faster flowing creeks and rivers. In low light conditions cod will often leave the safety of their home and venture along these rock walls and shallow weedy bays in search of a feed. LURES When casting lures to drowned trees it is hard to beat spinnerbaits, angel baits, and large plastics rigged weedless on jigheads matched to the depth. If the water you are fishing is not too deep, a floating hardbody could be useful as it will enable you to get down into the zone and keep it there for the maximum amount of time. If you feel your lure bump against a snag, simply stop winding and allow the lure to float up and over the snag before recommencing your retrieve.

It’s easy to see why these fish are so highly prized. On top of being absolutely gorgeous looking fish, they grow to massive sizes and when casting lures strike your lure with a force like no other southern freshwater fish. trolling, it is more fun and most importantly, casting lures is often much more successful. The reason for this is the ability to

structure and the obvious places are any form of drowned tree both standing, but particularly lay downs. Although these areas are

Low profile baitcast set ups are ideal for casting lures for Murray cod. This cod fell for an Insanity Tackle Slap Walker rigged on the rear tow point. tend to work quite well, but they are prone to snagging. When fishing the trees and weed I recommend rigging your lipless crankbaits with a set of swinging, backward facing assist hooks to limit your snags. or try the Insanity Tackle Slap Walkers rigged on the rear tow point. These lipless crankbaits when rigged this way are one of the most snag resistant lipless crankbaits on the market. If you are searching large areas for active fish a good loud rattling lipless crankbait is my favourite, but all of the above mentioned lures will work for this type of fishing. Spinnerbaits are by far the most dominant cod lure on the market, and in dirty water, I only use

double Colorado set ups. They’re also effective when targeting really big fish. RETRIEVE STYLES Slow retrieve This is probably the most consistent cod catching retrieve. Simply cast your lure out and once your lure is in the zone simply start slow rolling the lure back. Often the slower the retrieve the better . Slow retrieve with pauses This retrieve is commonly used when fishing from a boat and is exactly the same as the slow retrieve. You just implement pauses during the retrieve to allow the lure to sink down to the desired depth again as most lures will ride up in the water column when retrieved.

Pausing and allowing the lure to sink back to the bottom will keep your lure in the zone for the maximum amount of time. This retrieve is especially handy when fishing deep areas like steep rock walls. Depending on how deep the water is, one or two pauses during the retrieve may be enough but in super deep water that drops off quickly you may need to just do two or three winds then allow the lure to sink again, sometimes up to ten times in one retrieve. Burn and kill Burning and killing is pretty much as it sounds. When commencing the retrieve, the lure is wound really fast for a few cranks and then suddenly stopped, and this is usually repeated

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One of the most common structure types to target Murray cod with lures. The cod live deep on these snags so don’t be scared to fire those lures in there as tight as you can.

Cod Feature back to your feet. When all else fails this retrieve can fire many fish species up, especially

for active fish. ROD SET UP It is hard to beat a baitcast set-up when casting

is fine, especially with the lighter lures but some anglers opt for 6-10kg rated rods. I use a short handled

those lures out there. As for line, I have used 30lb braid and 30lb fluorocarbon leader for years and it has served me well, but if you are fishing snag infested water and the average fish is up over a metre, then 50lb braided main line down to a 50-60lb mono leader will do the job on most fish you

will encounter. GET CASTING Low light periods such as early morning, late afternoon, night time and overcast days are all great times to be targeting Murray cod on the cast, but the beauty of casting lures is even at non ideal times you can annoy a fish into striking. By constantly

casting at the fish, it will eventually get annoyed enough and strike at your lure. Sure, it might be a little bit more work then trolling but the reward for effort will surprise anyone who has never tried it before. Until next article, good luck, good fishing and tight lines.

Spinnerbaits are one of the most popular lure styles for casting around structure for Murray cod as they are one of the most snag resistant lure styles out there. It is very hard to beat the single willow blade set up as this tends to attract the fish but not scare them. opportunistic feeders like Murray cod. Fast retrieve A straight fast retrieve also has its place in Murray cod fishing. This retrieve is great in shallow water and when searching large areas

lures. This rod set-up is much more accurate once mastered, which in turn will result in more fish as your lure will reach the zone where the cod are. A rod of around 5-6’ in length and a 4-6 kg rating

rod when fishing from the bank or from canoes and small boats, but if I’m searching a large area (especially in lakes) and long casts are needed, then I like to use a 6-7’ double handled rod to really get

It’s not all about timber; rock walls like this are great areas to target Murray cod. On top of already living in the crevices of the rocks, in low light conditions cod will patrol along these sorts of areas in search of a feed.

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Cod Feature

Try trolling spinnerbaits ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

When Fishing Monthly asked me to be part of the Murray cod feature for the December edition, I must say, I got a little excited. So much of last season’s learning had not had time to exit the pen onto paper and this would be the perfect opportunity to share some of the on water action that made last season so memorable. Where to begin is I guess the biggest question, as we tried so many new techniques. We ventured down the soft plastic road and smashed home some

excellent results landing several very nice cod on a range of different plastics. This was a method I had wanted to try for a while and was very pleased with the new ground and opportunity we had opened. A short time after, we dragged out the fly and took a sport of gentry and took it into the world of swags, campfires and Murray cod. Catching several solid Murray cod on fly has fuelled something that I had always perceived to be well beyond my reach, when in truth, it was always there and ready for the taking. Add to this a range of giant wake baits and surface lures that attract the larger end of the green machine

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and there’s much to come once the season starts. I reread my email to see how many words were allocated for my piece and found that my section of the cod yarn was to be done on trolling. So often I brush across things in my haste to get to where I am going that I miss the things I should have seen. So no soft plastics or fly this time, and the wake baits will have to wait. While we were very busy honing new skills last season we did continue to build our knowledge on trolling with some very surprising results that might see you change a few things you try on the water this coming season. While most of us have the basics of trolling worked out we need to continually push to improve. Last season we revisited the art of trolling spinnerbaits with some excellent results. While most native anglers are proficient at casting spinnerbaits, not many take the time to see the effective nature of these lures on the troll. While single armed models can be trolled, you’d do far better to use either the DT model or the new

Kris Stiglic trolled this solid cod out of less than 2m of water on a spinnerbait!

Dean killing it again with this lovely example of a river dwelling Murray cod.

4x4 range from Bassman. The arms and blades on these styled spinnerbaits work somewhat like a canopy, creating plenty of lift and flash. The canopy effect on these models also helps minimise snagging, which is a real positive when trolling structure. We found the best results on the troll came from water depths of 3m or less, depending on water clarity. If the water was really clear we would regularly pull fish from a depth of 5m. As with all forms of trolling, the real benefit comes from presenting your lure to hidden snags that are otherwise not fished. This past season we trolled up some honking cod on spinnerbaits from seemingly barren stretches of river that most other anglers roared across in search of greener pastures. Many of these fish were caught in less than 2m of water in areas that we too had passed over at one time or another. The best fishing practises, regardless of

Spinnerbaits are excellent trolling lures, and using a stinger soft plastic adds profile and bulk, which this aggressive species just loves. 14

DECEMBER 2015

your level, are to slow down and take it all in. While you can troll with a petrol motor, the results fall well short of the stealth-like presentations associated with the use of a good electric motor. While an electric motor is so much quieter than a petrol, they also provide you the luxury of being able to drop the speed down so the lure holds depth. Remember, with several rotating blades caching water the spinnerbait will want to climb if you are traveling too quickly. Trolling spinnerbaits is the opposite of hardbodied lures in that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pause when you bump up against a snag, instead you grind your way through the timber, keeping the spinnerbait upright and moving forward. If you pause and allow the spinnerbait to fall over you will spend all day going backwards to retrieve your lure off the snags and believe me, this is no fun and incredibly frustrating to say the least. We still run a stinger soft plastic trailer when trolling as it vastly improves the hook-up rate. If you have never thought

Dean Norbiato with a nice Murray cod trolled on the new Bassman 4x4 spinnerbaits. about trolling spinnerbaits, why not give it a run this coming cod season? You

may be pleasantly surprised by the opportunities this style of fishing provides.

Another plus sized cod taken on the troll using a Bassman 4x4 spinnerbaits. MURRAY COD REGULATIONS REMINDER Last year, Victorian and NSW Governments agreed to common Murray cod size limits in the interests of recreational fishers. This came after the confusion caused by the previously proposed laws to differ slots sizes for both states. This confusion was centred on the Murray River, which is one of the premier Murray cod fisheries and forms the NSW/Victorian border for most of its length. Murray cod now have a slot limit of 55-75cm in NSW and Victoria. The bag limit does differ in

The new rules are designed to protect and preserve our Murray cod fishery. both states, and the daily bag limit is two per person, and a maximum of four can be possessed at any given

time in NSW. Murray cod must not be taken or even targeted from 1 September to 30 November in both states, and must be released immediately if taken as by-catch during this period. On-the-spot fines apply for anglers caught breaking the rules. An exception has been made for the waters upstream of Copeton Dam. The similar trout cod must not be taken or targeted from any waters in NSW, and must be released immediately if taken as by-catch. On-thespot fines apply for anglers caught breaking the rules. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FMG DECEMBER 2015

Snag bashing season kicks off this month WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

December is an exciting time for fishing in the far South West of the state as we roll into summer. The Glenelg River is in pristine condition and promises to be highly productive for both lure and bait fishers alike. The preceding months saw some excellent fishing with both quantity and quality of fish being fantastic. After the spawning run of both bream and estuary perch

the usual pattern of the fish breaking up from their larger congregations held true and they began to spread out through the river system. The deeper water bite that had been the order of the day turns to an edge bite as the fish move to the heavy snags and rock edges to hunt and feed. Small mulloway are still extremely prevalent in the river and seem to be spread through the entire system. The larger fish have still not turned up in any numbers yet, and this has been the case for the last couple of seasons,

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although there has been the odd good fish taken. The mulloway have ranged mostly from about 45-70cm and both bait and lure fishing for them has worked well. The best baits have been podworm and live baits such as mullet. Vibe lures and larger soft plastics have been the standout lures and I’d expect that trend to remain constant through the summer. Schools of fish can often be found sitting on the drop offs adjacent to rock walls, particularly when there is a shallow mud flat close by. The mulloway school up in the deeper water before heading up onto the flats to hunt baitfish. Although mulloway will quite often take a lure or wellpresented fresh bait at any time, the real peak periods seem to be the slack water at the tide changes. Bait fishing overnight is also very productive but those tide changes still seem to be the real ‘go time’. For those putting in the time, some better fish can be found. December is the month to start looking higher in the river system for both bream and estuary perch. Bream will be spread through the entire river but estuary perch will be concentrated in the higher reaches. Sapling Creek through to and above Pritchards is the prime area to target at this time of year. Perch will be holding tight to heavy snags, so casting shallow diving minnows, surface lures and very lightly weighted soft plastics into the back of the snags is certain to find some good fish. However, getting the hook up is one thing, getting the fish out and clear of the

Dan Hoey of Salty Dog Charters with one of many of the school mulloway inhabiting the Glenelg River. snags is another, and heavier than normal leaders, around 10-12lb, are a necessity.

With such a great season so far and the expectation that it will only

get better, now is the time to get out on the river and enjoy summer.

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Top: Lawry Bradley-Brown with a nice Glenelg River estuary perch. Above: Big Glenelg bream can be found feeding along the edges during summer.

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Barrel bedlam still rages on WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

All the attention recently has been on the amazing run of big barrel-sized

southern bluefin taken recently right along the western coast of Victoria. Warrnambool didn’t miss out, with some big fish boated and tales of ones that won their freedom. One that didn’t get away was

Anthony Ljubic and the 127.7kg tuna he caught with Lucas Wilson off Warrnambool recently.

a 127.7kg fish, caught off Warrnambool by Anthony Ljubic aboard Lucas Wilson’s boat, Cassius Cray. The fish was taken on 24kg line on a Tiagra 30W in 62m of water. But it hasn’t just been tuna anglers that have been taking advantage of some unseasonably good sea conditions recently. Quality school and gummy shark are being targeted with great success offshore in around 40m of water from Peterborough right through to Port Fairy. Sharks can be a despised pest in many areas of the country, but the school and gummy sharks of the South West are a different story and are the complete package. Not only are they a fantastic table fish but with fish of the quality being landed recently (around 12-20kg), they are an exceptional sportsfish. December is perhaps one of the best months to be fishing the Hopkins River. The fish have well and truly returned to the edges,

and the holiday crowds usually haven’t arrived and the mouth is still open or not long closed. Bream and perch respond to a wide variety of luring techniques, over the entire course of the river, and there is often a mulloway or two sneaking around to keep things interesting. Another exciting December occurrence is usually the first kings of the season showing themselves. Usually this occurs later in the month but with some of the warm days recently, it feels like they can’t be too far away. King George whiting have already shown up in some of their regular haunts and should continue to be a viable target in December. Shallow waters around Lady Bay, Port Fairy and Killarney can produce some good fish just on dusk and into the night. Trout season has been a bit of a non-event with the lack of rain this season but luckily there are plenty of other species firing up.

Xavier Ellul with a 20kg school shark. These critters are exceptionally tasty!

Sharks set to replace the tuna PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

Things are certainly heating up in Portland and there’s no better season to come and spend some time in our hometown. As most people are aware, we’ve just had one of the biggest tuna seasons with tuna exceeding the 100kg mark. These fabulous fish have really put Portland and other areas around the southwest on the international map as the word spread like wild fire. Now the run has somewhat settled, we can turn our focus to summer fishing, which can be just as much fun. The big boys

will still run to the shelf on the good days and put their electric reels down to catch blue eye trevalla, blue grenadier, knife jaw and pink ling. You can also come back in around the 140m mark and take your chances on trumpeter, snapper, morwong, sharks etc. Around these parts, the fishing is always exciting – you never know what you may pull up from the depths. Summer also sees Bridgewater Bay fish very well, good size flathead, gummies, and school shark are the main targets. Squid, pilchards, salmon, and couta are all good baits for this area. Good sized makos will start making an appearance around the Rock and Cape Nelson now as well as big

thresher sharks throughout the bay. Our mighty kingfish will also emerge around the bay and North Shore, especially if the water temperature rises quickly. The Lee breakwater will see plenty of action through December and school holidays as people from everywhere bring their families to fish. There’s still a good chances of big snapper and pinkies, and species such as whiting, squid, salmon, trevally, gummies, schoolies, kingfish, and many seven gillers to name a few. The bay around to the north shore fishes very well for flathead, whiting, squid, sharks and bait fish such as mackerel, salmon, and silver whiting. I love drifting around our bay, as you never know what you might

catch. Quite a few people start ballooning their baits around the north shore in case of kingfish or a good shark. Also fish the sandy patches in the shallow waters around the north for good size whiting. The beach fishing should also be in good order at this time of year as we generally see some good sharks around plus the odd mulloway. Other good fish include snapper, kingfish, and whiting. If you wish to try somewhere else, the river systems are another good option. We have at close hand the Surrey River and the Fitzroy River and, not far down the road is the mighty Glenelg. Remember, when you are in Portland call in and

The Lee breakwater will get busier as anglers try to catch the big snapper! see the team at Compleat Angler to help you with your fishing needs. You can also call us on 03 5211844 for all weather and fishing

updates. Fishing licences, regulation books and stickers are also available instore. Have a great month of fishing!

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Calamari Christmas joy! APOLLO BAY

Daniel Kent apollobaysurfshop@bigpond.com

As the year’s end approaches and summer officially kicks into action it’s time to charge up the boat batteries and get back out on the water. December usually sees the flathead stocks increase out of sight and these can be

inshore reefs around Kennett River, the waterfall and Marengo and should only keep getting thicker in numbers as the water heats up. Pipis fished on a light running sinker rig will get the whiting biting along with a host of other inshore species. Calamari squid are another big attraction at this time of year and are a real winner for anyone fishing

from which to target King George whiting, salmon and small snapper. Early morning or late arvo is the most productive times from the stones and an incoming tide is also preferred. The Barham and Aire rivers estuaries hold excellent numbers of black bream and mullet and are great options if you are fishing with the kids. Simply cast out a peeled prawn or scrub worm and wait for a fish to bite. If you like to keep busy then soft plastic grub lures in 2” size also work very well in the rivers on a wide variety of species. Make long casts and slowly hop the lure along the bottom pausing for a few seconds between each hop. The bite will come when the lure

The coastline from Lorne to Marengo offers plenty of good rock and beach fishing opportunities. Neil Slater caught this salmon from the rocks at Wye River. is paused! Snapper and gummy shark are the other prized captures at this time of year with the Cape Otway area being the most productive

grounds for these species. The reef edges in 30-50m of water seem to hold the largest concentrations of fish and a berley bag tied to the anchor chain will help your

chances dramatically. So too will fishing around the changes of the tide. Have a happy Christmas, stay safe and I’ll catch you all in the New Year.

Curdies mouth closes over COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

Squid fishing in the harbour at Apollo Bay hits its peak during the summer months. easily caught from 30-45m of water over any sand bottom. Try drifting out from Skenes Creek or wide of Marengo on a day of light wind. Tough baits, such as squid or fish fillets with the skin left on, are my favourites as this means multiple captures can be made without having to re-bait all the time. King George whiting are already being taken from the

off the local pier or breakwall at Apollo Bay. They can also be targeted from boats drifting over the sea grass beds inside the harbour and this has been working for me in recent weeks. I find small size 2 jigs are best for tempting the flighty squid at this time of year. The rocks at Wye River, Marengo and Skenes Creek also offer good platforms

The beginning of October saw much of Victoria’s weather change dramatically for the better. The warmth arrived with a bang and the rain virtually disappeared. As most of the state has received below average rainfall so far this year this doesn’t fare well for the summer months. To make matters worse, the Curdies River mouth at Peterborough closed over after only being open for a couple of months. The system did receive a decent flushout and plenty of saltwater did enter and mix with the brackish, but closing this early has negatives. One negative is that October usually sees schools of whitebait enter the system to complete their lifecycle as well as provide excellent bait for bream and other species. Locally known as greyback, the question on smart anglers’ minds is ‘have enough come

in?’ The last two years has seen a poor recruitment of the greyback population in the system, but hopefully this doesn’t continue. At the end of October the river still had a slight flow in it and was fairly full upstream at the Boggy Creek (Curdievale) boat ramp but nowhere near enough to warrant another opening of the mouth. Plenty of bream are actively involved in spawning and they can be difficult to locate as they move around

the estuary but fish are being taken. There’s plenty of weed growth in the river that should hold shrimp and that is the number one bait to use. Most boaters are concentrating their efforts downstream towards the lake with spots like Baileys Straits and ‘The Island’. Offshore has seen King George whiting move in closer to shore in reach of surf anglers while schools of Australian salmon are still around providing great sport from the beach.

The author’s boat at the Peterborough boat ramp after a session on the water.

Barrel tuna have finally moved on, however plenty of school and gummy shark are about and when filleted and fried are simply delicious on the tooth. The Port Campbell jetty has been a very popular place to wet a line with calamari, salmon, barracouta and a snapper or two have been hooked and landed. Warm evenings have seen nary a vacant spot in which to cast a line available to the angler so turn up early to bag a spot or miss out. Other popular spots to fish include Worm Bay near Peterborough and Newfield Bay just a bit further out towards Warrnambool. Spending a bit of time driving along our shipwreck coast can reveal many small bays and beaches that are well worth wetting a line. If you’re planning a trip down this way for the holidays, there’s plenty of options from the surf at Princetown to Port Campbell as well as further west to Peterborough.

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Barrels keep rolling in for spring GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

Looks like we could be in for a warm summer of fishing, so don’t forget the sunscreen and hat! The biggest news on the

planet was the game fishing scene out in Bass Strait with plenty of anglers hooking, losing and landing XXOS southern bluefin tuna. From memory, the biggest I heard of was around 160kg and caught out off Lorne, so some big distances have been covered. Other anglers

Michael, Greg and the author managed 15 squid between them fishing the Bellarine.

caught tuna from 70-120kg in water as shallow as 35m or only 5km from land! Rapala X-Raps have been a proven winner while skirted lures have also produced plenty of fish. One effective technique has been to send one lure a long way behind the boat to tempt boat shy fish. Launching out of Queenscliff, Brent Telenius and Cam Lugg aimed for Torquay. While trolling in about 60m of water, they hooked and landed a southern bluefin tuna that weighed in at 122kg after a stubborn four-hour battle. Launching out of Barwon Heads recently, Anthony Zammit fished with Phillip Exe and Gary Austin in hope of tangling with one of these big tuna. The three headed about 30km southwest out from Barwon Heads and started trolling skirted lures in 65m of water near Anglesea. An hour and a half into the trolling and they spotted a ball of bait with dolphins, birds and a whale working the area so they decided to circle about and continue to drag some lures. It was an hour and a half later before they finally got their hook

up trolling a Pakula Evil Angel. Around 50 minutes later, they had the big fish to the boat. However, it wasn’t finished yet and it took off for the horizon! Not long after the fish bolted, a seal started mooching about sensing a free feed and they were worried they were going to lose the tuna. Lucky enough, the seal moved on, the fish was bought boat side again and they managed to haul it on board. A quick stop off at Mario’s Fresh Bait in Moolap saw the fish weigh-in at a very impressive 112kg. The boat ramps at Queenscliff and Ocean Grove were flat stick as word got out of a big tuna landed lately. I went to chase a few squid recently with plans to launch at Queenscliff. The cars waiting to launch were gridlocked back to the second roundabout in the main street at 5:30am! We ended up launching at St Leonards and managed 15 calamari to 40cm in the hood between myself, Greg Ainsworth and Michael Crawford. The best performing colour on the day was white early on and then darker colours as the sun poked through.

This 122kg beast was landed by Brent off Torquay. Snapper season has paled into insignificance a tad due to the epic tuna being caught but rest assured there are some quality fish being caught in the region at the moment. The turning buoy out off Clifton Springs

and north of the shipping channel at Portarlington have been popular with a few snapper being caught here either side of 6kg. Fresh squid and pilchards seem to be the bait of choice with squid

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being reasonably easy to capture on your way out if you have a bit of light. Some anglers have reported seeing fish caught by nearby boats while others fail to lose a bait so persistence is the key. Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head says he has been flat out during periods of calm weather. Rod says there has been some cracking squid around the 1kg mark caught from St Leonards around to Grassy Point, with some larger ones on the deeper reef areas. Best bite has been first thing in the morning but clients still caught plenty during the day. Flathead have been biting well out in the deeper water off St Leonards. Gummy sharks have also shown up in the deeper waters, which Rod estimates have been around 4-5kg with pilchard being the bait of choice. I took my sevenyear-old son Max down to the Barwon estuary where we met Andrew Sertic and his lads Lincoln and Fraser recently. We had a great time baiting rods, de-snagging and untangling lines as the kids hauled in a few small Australian salmon while inhaling Cheezles on the incoming tide. The section of the

Barwon River that runs through Geelong has been fishing very well for redfin. Anglers have caught quality fish to 40cm casting soft plastics and diving lures parallel to the bankside weed beds. A bait trap with crumbled white bread can attract local gudgeon and galaxid, which are also dynamite redfin bait. Those after some light tackle and big fish shenanigans can look no further than the Barwon for some XL European carp to 6kg and better. Best bet

here has been lightly waited running sinker rigs baited with white bread, worms or sweetcorn kernels on those warm days. Big carp have also been biting at McLeods Waterhole at Clifton Springs. Danny Stephenson has been taking his kids Midian and Salem down to McLeods Waterhole in Drysdale over the school holidays to fish for carp. Danny says they are so plentiful you can see them moving about the shallows. They have caught a few

using corn as bait and there has been some rippers amongst them too. • Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in a report to slaterbunch@ optusnet.com.au with ‘VFM’ in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 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).

A detour to Mario’s Fresh Bait for a weighin saw this ripper come in at 112kg.

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It’s not just a red silly season PORT PHILLIP WEST

Brenton Hodges blhodgey@hotmail.com

As we enter the final month of the calendar year, the fishing is really heating up across the western shores of Port Phillip. After a

somewhat slow start, snapper are firing, but that’s not all! Expect to see some solid blue spot flathead this month, along with plenty of King George whiting, snook and even more squid. So, if you haven’t already, now is definitely the time to make the most of the fishing

Blake Gallagher managed this metro bream flicking a crab imitation at structure on the Maribyrnong River.

opportunities before the end of year festivities. AVALON TO POINT COOK Squid are still in abundance on the Bellarine Peninsula, particularly along the stretch from Queenscliff through to St Leonards, with quite a few also on the go amongst the patches of weed just out from the boat ramp at Clifton Springs. Increasing numbers of snapper have been turning up inside Corio Bay over the past few weeks with both bait and soft plastics producing fish. Most of the larger reds have fallen to baits of pilchard and silver whiting of an evening and well into the night under the cover of darkness. Those casting soft plastics over the various spoil grounds between Point Henry and Clifton Springs will also be in with a shot at a decent snapper this month; along with some good flathead, snook and smaller pinkies. There is already plenty of

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Pete Mesto kicked off the season in style with a hot bite at sunset. in close at Millers Road and the cardinal marker, as well as the outer anchorage and P2 area. Snapper between 1-5kg have been a common catch on pilchards, silver whiting and squid heads drifted down through a berley trail of cubed pilchard. Among those to do well, Phil Jordan and Michael Kilpatrick have taken reds to 4kg on the drift in 10m of water casting a range of Berkley soft plastics, including Gulp Crazy Legs Jerk Shads and 3” minnows. Phil says the period just prior to sun down has been the most productive, particularly when this coincides with a change in tide. Darren Ryan and Dan

emailed through a few photographs of his recent efforts on the Maribyrnong River where the bream are starting to move with vigour. Whether fishing from his trusty pedal powered kayak or teaming up with Blake Gallagher on board his small sports fishing rig, the technique has remained the same for Joel with small crab imitations cast tight up against structure bringing many of the bream undone. Spawning activity has made the Werribee River bream somewhat difficult to predict over the past few weeks, though there have been quite a few caught well upstream of the K-Road cliff area. Live sand or tubeworm

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bait stationed just out from the caravan parks at Leopold in 5-6m of water. Hopefully the commercial crew can give the area a break over the summer period and with any luck it will fire as it did this time a few years back. Flathead, pinkies and bream continue to remain active within the channel and amongst the moorings at Limeburners Lagoon. Fishing either side of the high tide change is essential in this area, with the first hour of the run off generally producing the hottest bite. Scented wriggly tail soft plastics, such as Gulp Turtle Back Worms and the new Nemesis range presented on a light 1/16 to 1/8oz jighead will be a good option over the summer months. Pipi and mussel baits should continue to account for King George whiting from Werribee South through to Point Cook. Try setting the anchor out a little wider in 5-7m of water for the best results at this stage. As the water temperature continues to rise, expect these fish to become more active in the shallow areas of sand and seagrass, pushing into just 2-4m at times, particularly at dawn and dusk. Squid have also been a regular target at Point Cook with both red and gold foil jigs producing relatively consistent catches of squid for those drifting along the 3-6m line. ALTONA TO WILLIAMSTOWN A seemingly endless stream of social media reports and images suggests many anglers have been snaring at least a few reds over the past few weeks. The local charter

DECEMBER 2015

Local lure casting enthusiast, Joel Bramble, with one of many Maribyrnong River bream he’s encountered while casting Cranka Crabs hard up against floating pontoons. operators in particular have been setting the bar high and putting clients on to some great fish across northern parts of the bay. Indeed, most of the inner reef systems from Altona around to Port Melbourne and beyond have been highly productive. For those launching from Altona, reds have been firing

Mizzi have been picking off a few reds at Altona and Williamstown respectively. Further east, Pete Mesto kicked off his season in style with a hot bite at Black Rock, in 10m of water at sunset. METROPOLITAN RIVERS Local lure casting enthusiast, Joel Bramble,

has been a standout of late for the bait anglers, while lightly weighted worm pattern soft plastics are also well worth a shot amongst the patches of cabbage weed. BEEN FISHING? Reports and images are most welcome and may be submitted via email to blhodgey@hotmail.com.

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DECEMBER 2015

Junior City Fishing

Fighting freight trains MELBOURNE

Jason Tanti

Without a doubt, landbased fishing for pinkies on soft plastics can make for some of the most thrilling fishing because they pull like an absolute freight

train! What better way to target pinkies than 5 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD, and St Kilda Beach and Pier? St Kilda Pier has a reputation of catching a broad range of fish such as big snapper but little is spoken about catching them on lures. Snapper

Pinkie caught on a Z-Man Grub caught by James Papas.

tend to fight a lot harder on a lure such as a soft plastic – which makes for such an enjoyable outing. To target pinkies from the beach you need to fish low tide so you may fish the drop-off that generally holds good numbers of fish. This is because predators such as pinkies and flathead are waiting for small sized baitfish (for example, mullet) to swim past as the tide goes out. Bringing a pair of waders is a great advantage, as you will get that extra few metres to cast well beyond that drop-off. Fishing both sunrise and sundown is recommended as the pinkies come close to feed at these times. When pinkies are feeding you’ll find they won’t be partially fussy, although at times a finesse approach may be needed. Using plastics just as the Ecogear Grass minnow, Z-Man Grub and small profile lures between 2.5-4” is the perfect size. As you target pinkies you will find you’ll catch a lot of flathead as by-catch as they are both predators waiting for food. A simple technique that works to minimise the by-catch of flathead is to

The author holding a pinkie caught on an Ecogear Grass Minnow in eel colour. try and keep your lure of choice halfway in the water column as flathead feed on the bottom. No matter where you are or what your targeting, light as possible is best. A light 1-3kg to 2-4kg weighted rod with a 1000–2500 sized reel is a must and a perfect outfit. This will allow you to keep in contact with your lure more precisely. Whether you’re using braid with a leader line or straight monofilament, a line class of 6–10lb is ideal. Although, I would highly recommend using braided line because you’re casting

will be a lot more precise. One of fluorocarbon’s biggest benefits is that it’s nearly invisible underwater. This is because it doesn’t appreciably distort light passing through the line. I would highly recommend trying to cast as close to the structure, for example, look to pylons and boats as species such as pinkies use this cover as a form of protection. Whether you’re casting from the pier into the marina or off the sand, long casts are a must because you’ll keep your lure in the strike zone for a lot longer and

will cover more ground. Pinkies are a schooling fish, so often when you catch one, the same area will continue to produce fish from the school. Overall, catching fish such as pinkies that fight well above its weight is something everyone must try on light gear. In saying that, for the anglers who love to drop a line using a bit of bait, rest assured – bait fishing is a popular and successful method in which you can target pinkies and even large snapper on.

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DECEMBER 2015

Snapper reach a crescendo PORT PHILLIP EAST

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

Although we have experienced the normal fluctuations in weather during the spring months on the bay, conditions have been very mild for the most part. Long periods without rain have coincided with calm and clear fishing and boating conditions on the bay, especially during the weekends when the bay’s anglers and their families have taken full advantage. While the majority of the bay’s anglers are and will be focused on snapper over the coming months, the recent favourable conditions are a great way to introduce new comers to the sport of fishing and to our great bay, especially the kids. I’ve had my little screamers out on the water over the past few weeks on the weekends and they have been having a ball catching squid, pinkies and flathead on lures and soft plastics. The bay’s more serious anglers are well and truly focused on snapper right now, and a great example of the anglers devotion to this iconic sport fish is the annual Snapper Point Angling Club Tea Tree festival, which is held over Cup weekend each year. For many of the bays anglers this weekend marks the beginning of their serious snapper assault for the year, and it is a real credit to the organisers and sponsors

each year. With competitor numbers being down a little on last year, the event was still a huge success with 1,523 competitors in total, including 717 teams. Of these, 159 were junior anglers. The new Victorian Snapper Champion for the heaviest snapper in the Open division was won by John Close from Boronia with a 12.7kg fish from Western Port. The heaviest junior fish

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was won by Natalie Bills from Willow Grove with a 9.51kg fish. There were three random boat prizes given out to lucky winners of secret weights. The three heaviest snapper for the comp all came from Western Port, which all weighed over 10kg, one snapper taken from PPB was just below the third heaviest fish, but still over the magic 10kg mark. In total, 1360 snapper were weighed in for

the weekend, of which 947 came from Western Port. Still on snapper, and I received more and more consistent and encouraging

reports from all over the bay, but especially along our eastern shoreline, things have been staring to heat up. While many anglers are still reporting that the snapper are very finicky and touchy, the reward for effort is certainly there for many anglers. Early morning and late afternoons and evenings have been best, especially when these coincide with a tide change. Employing a wide selection of baits is also important, and you should also be prepared to change your bait, even from trip to trip. The importance of using and trusting your sounder is also more valuable than ever, it is really worth the time to have a good look around before you stop and drop the pick. Be prepared to have a good look around before you set up camp. Trolling lures can be a great way to cover water during this time, and accounts for plenty of snapper at the same time. Most of the wider marks up to 19-20m have been producing fish, but better and more consistent reports have been coming from 12-15m, especially in the more reefy areas. Pilchards and silver whiting have been the most productive baits, and fresh gars, squid and salmon are all worth a try as well. I would expect the Frankston to Mornington area to really fire over the next month, and the snapper to move further south towards Mount Martha closer to and after Christmas. For those looking for something a little different, I have received some reports of whiting being taken around Mornington and Frankston already, which is a great sign of things to come.

Arthur Pagoulatos with a ripper 5.2kg snapper weighed in at Launching Way. Resident schools of salmon have been patrolling the shores right along out coast, and won’t go anywhere in a hurry, especially while there’s still plenty of bait in the bay. Strangely, the squid fishing has been a little slow of late, but I have started to see a few better sized models showing up on the local reefs over the last couple of weeks. Much like a few years ago, green and brown and more natural jigs seem to be favoured by most

anglers at the moment. Lastly, and most excitingly, is reports of local kingfish that I have received of late. Anglers in the know, and those who know the history of PPB will not be surprised, but encounters and sightings of larger kingies in our local waters are becoming more common. I know a few very dedicated anglers (including me) who are very keen to crack the local kingy code, hopefully I’ll have more to report next month!

FISHING FILL-ITS

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DECEMBER 2015

No time for napping when you get snapper-ing PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

If the previous weeks of fishing are anything to go by, then it looks like the snapper run may end up continuing up to when the big man in the red suit slides down the chimney with lots of new fishing gear for everyone! Great news as I am sure we can

all agree there is nothing better than getting stuck into some crazy snapper action on those hot December days. While the fishing hasn’t been out of control, its been more consistent than last season and best of all there have been overall, great size in reds, with about one in four fish caught weighing around the 5-6kg mark. If the warm weather continues we should hopefully start

to see patches of whiting, salmon and fingers crossed the odd kingfish. MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK The fishing started slowly in November, but the past few weeks have really heated up on all the known areas such at the ‘Hump’ off Mordialloc and all through the surrounding 14m line. Out off Ricketts Point, the 16m line, and out wider at the Gasso have seen very

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good fishing with a mix taken in the 2-5kg size. However, there’s no doubt that this season is seeing a lot bigger snapper in the 6-9kg range, and more often. A lot of these bigger fish have been taken on bigger baits such as squid heads and big silver whiting or garfish. Once again, one of the techniques I employed last season has been working well for me so far this season, especially on some of the bigger fish. Best part of this method is that it’s simple! While most of the baits are cast away from the boat I now drop one straight down and unweighted on a single Black Magic 6/0KL hook. I bait the hook with a squid ring or half silver whiting. Most of the bites on this start with just a few taps and then load up on a solid fish. Closer along the reef edge between Ricketts Point and Black Rock is a great fallback location with lots of 1-3kg snapper on offer, and more than the occasional 4-6kg fish among them to keep the lure and bait fishermen on their toes. Best of all, this area often fishes well when it’s rough which means that you don’t have to travel too far if you are launching at Mordialloc or Half Moon Bay. We’ve also had some great success over the past weeks with a new style of

fishing that is proving to be deadly on snapper. We’ve been using 40-60g metal jigs on light rods to vertically jig over the schools of snapper and one thing is for sure – they love it! This allows you to drive around sounding up fish then dropping on top of them, if they don’t bite after a few drops you can move to the next patch. SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA For the land based brigade, the sandy break-wall and the rock groynes, then up at Brighton break-wall have all produced snapper during the very occasional strong onshore blows, but I have also heard of the odd good fish taken late in the night even in calmer weather. However, it’s the boat fishing that has shone over the past few weeks with lots of good snapper fishing on offer in this part of the bay. The shallow reef areas in 6-10m of water off Brighton produced some great fishing at night while out wider the Fawkner Beacon should just be called the snapper beacon as it has produced some excellent fishing over the past weeks. Some days the snapper have been doing a disappearing act, but when they are along the edge of the channel around here and back south towards T1 and T2, the fishing has been at times a little crazy – and so

has the boat traffic. Warmer conditions over the past weeks and clear water has also made for some ideal squid conditions with some anglers finding patches of calamari between green point and North Road. I’ve also had some good reports of decent sized schools of salmon beginning to pop up over the past few weeks which, with fingers crossed, will hopefully continue into a warm summer, and then roll into some kingfish. ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE Some decent snapper fishing came out of this part of the bay during November with very solid fish taken late at night. With all factors looking good on the weather front this should continue during December. The thing that I am sure the anglers are looking forward to however is clean, warm water and hopefully lots of whiting and salmon in this part of the bay over the coming months. With the warm weather we are also hearing some good reports from anglers casting plastics and small hardbodies around the boats on swing moorings in behind St Kilda break-wall. Wading the shallows has already been producing the odd nice flathead to 55cm. Have a great and fish filled Christmas break.

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DECEMBER 2015

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DECEMBER 2015

Hoping for a royal visit MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Dan Lee info@peninsulatotaltackle.com.au

December was traditionally the start of the local kingfish season, and with the numbers of kings almost undeniably increasing in our local waterways over the last few years, I am hopeful that this old rule again becomes reality! Regardless, there is so much going on at this time of year that it would be a very spoilt angler who is not happy with the current options! SNAPPER I firmly believe that the big run of southern bluefin tuna meant for a slow start to the snapper fishing this year. With big tuna being caught only 10km from the heads down in the south of the bay, it was understandable that plenty of our keenest anglers were pretty distracted! Yet once we got into it, it was good to see some fish coming in early from the Mt Eliza area, mainly out in the deeper water around 20-21m. Despite reports being a bit sporadic, it is good to see it has been more consistent in the south of the bay over the last couple of weeks. Some of the anglers in the know also found some good snapper in the deep water off St Leonards, which, if launching from the southern peninsula, is not much different to driving to Mornington, except you’re heading in a northwest direction. Once again this year, Western Port has provided some outstanding fishing on the other side of the peninsula. And when you add a run of

big mulloway to the picture, it has been a pretty tempting destination to try your luck. We saw some absolutely huge fish come from the port in the last four weeks, with 8, 9 and even some 10kg fish recorded.

up the Symmonds Channel. For that matter those fishing the offshore reefs out the back of Sorrento and Portsea have also been finding some good quality gummies to 25kg. Gummies are suckers for fresh, fleshy baits, so don’t

Top: Reece Kennedy and mate AJ with one of the thumping mulloway taken in Western Port. This fish weighed 59lb! Left: James the Chef with a lovely PB squid taken at Rye.

Paul Burgess with a double header of salmon at Gunnamatta back beach. GUMMY SHARK December is one of my favourite months for gummy shark in southern Port Phillip Bay. The Christmas crowd has not yet arrived and you are able to fish in quiet with little disruption or competition from other boats. This makes for ideal gummy shark fishing conditions. This year we have seen quite a lot of action coming from the tidal area of the bay, so right down at the western end of the south channel and

forget the salmon and trevally. These baits are already proving successful this year. MULLOWAY I won’t spend a lot of time talking about this elusive species as most of the anglers who have caught them in the last month have kept their cards pretty close to their chests. However, it was terrific to see a great run of mulloway over in Western Port for a few weeks there with fish ranging from 12-30kg. Most of the action was in

the southeast of Western Port but we heard some interesting tales of fish encountered around Somers and Balnarring too. A rare, prized fish – a fantastic catch for any of the lucky anglers who nailed one! WHITING I am optimistic this year that we are in for a bumper whiting season. Reports have already been good with patches appearing near the

south channel, off Rye, at Portsea in the moorings and at Rosebud near the motor boat squadron, to name but a few. We have had a couple of lean years on the King George through the summer period, so it would be a welcome relief for many of the visiting anglers if this year we see much better whiting fishing. If it’s been a while since you put a whiting line in the water, remember the

age-old rule – keep moving, if you don’t get a fish within 15 minutes, change spots! Generally with whiting you will drop the pick, get the lines in the water and very quickly have a fish in the boat if there is a school in the area. LOOKING AHEAD Tracking the progress of the yellowtail kingfish over the last few years, there is no doubt that recreational anglers have been finding them earlier and earlier. Three years ago it was mid-late February when they started to be seen in numbers, last year it was late January. With more anglers targeting them, I am hoping we push into late December… No doubt this would please the holidaying crowds about to descend on the peninsula! • For more information feel free to drop in and see the boys at Peninsula Compleat Angler, 11 Boneo Road in Rosebud or phone: 03 5981 1994.

HOT SPOT

Going native at Eildon CRANBOURNE

Mitch Chapman

Lake Eildon has already established itself as one of the premier native fishing destinations not only around Victoria, but also within Australia. With millions of Murray cod and golden perch stocked in the lake, alongside great reserves of trout, anglers are drawn from all around the state to this pristine waterway. The beauty about Lake Eildon is the diversity of species and the fact that the lake is only a short hour and a half drive from the heart of Melbourne. PRIME TIME For natives, the warmer months are definitely the go if you are after consistency. October to December is prime fishing season. 32

DECEMBER 2015

Trout prefer the cooler water and just before the spawn and close of season, we’ll see some very large fish upwards of 12lb+. THE GEAR Light to medium spin gear is the best option for these fish as you can still cast light plastics and lures. When casting spinnerbaits and heavier lures, a 4-8kg rod is best for this. 2000-4000 sized reels with 10-20lb braid will be more than enough for most fish encountered in the lake. THE RIG Bobbing for redfin, natives and trout, then a simple bait holder hook and a ball sinker running straight down to your hook is best when vertical jigging the timber with baits and lures. Lure fishers use a fluorocarbon leader of generally a rod length and depending on the species you are targeting will determine the breaking strain

you will use. BAIT AND LURES Bait fishers employ scrub worms and yabbies to great effect, catching just about anything that swims past. For the native lure casters, lipless crankbaits such as Jackall TN50s and 60s, spinnerbaits and 3-4” plastics are a good place to start, and all take their fair share of quality fish. If you’re trolling for trout, Tassie Devils and Rapala F7’s are like jellybeans to both browns and rainbows and are must-have lures in the box. BEST METHOD For anglers who are looking to catch their first native and have never visited Eildon, it can be a very daunting place to start as it is such a large waterway. Point fishing is a good method. This involves fishing any rocky point along the shoreline that goes out

Eildon is a hotspot for natives, in particular the hard-striking golden perch, into the water. Fish like to hang around points and, as mentioned before, a very good place to start and catch fish if you are just learning the layout of the lake. MOTHER NATURE Just be careful when navigating as there are a lot of submerged trees that can be more than 300m out from the banks. Some can

be seen, but it’s the ones that can’t be seen that do damage to your boat and motor when travelling at speed. Remember to just take your time and get to really know the lake first before getting in the boat and going flat out around the margins of the banks. HOT TIP Try to find warmer

pockets of water. The natives seem to be more active and feed where warmer pockets of water can be found. Generally carp milling around on top are a good indication that the water is at the right temperature to find cod and yellas. So keep an eye out for carp – they can be useful for one thing!

CATCH A GRANT TO IMPROVE YOUR FISHING If you have a great idea for a project that improves fishing opportunities then apply for funding through the Recreational Fishing Grants Program. The Grants Program helps put your fishing licence fees to work. We are now seeking applications for large projects. Applications are welcomed until 29 February 2016 for large projects between $5,000 and $100,000 in these categories: • Fisheries sustainability and habitat improvement • Fishing access and facilities • Fisheries related education, information and training • Recreational fisheries research.

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Spotlight: the gorgeous Mornington Peninsula WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

To follow on from November’s feature on the coastline of Phillip Island, this month we take a visit to the Mornington Peninsula. Located some 60km from Melbourne’s CBD, the Mornington Peninsula is one of the most pristine and magnificent fishing locations in the state. Like Phillip Island, the Mornington Peninsula encompasses a huge area that provides anglers with the facility to explore many different fishing techniques for a range of species including Australian salmon, silver trevally, flathead, garfish, calamari, snapper, gummy sharks, kingfish, mako sharks and much more. From Mt Martha to Sorrento, some concrete boat ramps are situated in prime locations for anglers to access productive fishing grounds. There are also seven piers to fish from and that’s not including all the smaller jetties and land based spots from where you can catch a good feed of fish. Of course, then you have the back beaches where salmon, gummy shark, mullet, silver trevally, sweep and a host of other species can be caught. Although it sounds like a mouth full, the Mornington Peninsula is a Mecca for anglers of all levels of experience. Limited to the pages of this magazine, I will stick to covering the most popular and prized species targeted and caught in this area. LAND-BASED OPTIONS The Mornington Peninsula is a fingershaped section of land that separates the Bass Strait from Port Phillip Bay and provides anglers with landbased fishing locations on both sides. Along the back beaches, salmon, gummy sharks, silver trevally, yellow eye

mullet and sweep are the most common species caught. This is commonly achieved by setting a berley trail either by tossing in handfuls of fish pellets or

mullet and sweep are also happy to take the same baits. Because of the wave action and the fact that you do need to achieve a fair distance to casting into the deeper

calamari, salmon, trevally or tuna fillet. Use a running sinker rig tied from 60lb with an 80lb bite leader. Always continue to cast your baits into the berley trail as this is

Gunnamatta surf beach is particularly productive in the winter months for salmon, and also fished well in the summer months, especially for gummy sharks.

Left: When fishing Gunnamatta use berley, it attracts fish from far and wide. Above: Fishing around the ‘White Lady’ is productive for calamari and whiting. Below: Garfish are great for the table too, so taking a bag home for a feed is a good idea! suspending an onion bag full of pellets into the wash. Salmon are far from picky when it comes to something to eat but white bait, pipi and blue bait are hot favourites. Silver trevally,

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garfish and whiting fish the best during winter months. Freezing cold mornings during the top of high tide is when most of the calamari action occurs and if it is the big models you’re after, concentrate on late July and August. Jigs in a 3.0 size tend to work best, especially those with a red foil belly. Throughout summer, calamari are still a common catch from the pier but fish on first light before the boat brigade head out. As the sun rises, garfish are also a popular catch with anglers. A simple float setup with size 12 long shank hook and a small piece of silver fish threaded onto that hook will work wonders. Further around the coast at Sorrento, the same fishing techniques can be used for garfish and calamari although calamari seems to be more popular right through the night. Whiting are also a

gutters, a paternoster rig tied from 15lb fluorocarbon leader will suffice. Gummy sharks on the other hand require a more specialised approach. Gummy sharks are more active at night, especially on the lead up to a full moon when the tides are larger. Fresh baits are always going to yield a better result than frozen and I’d opt for using

where the fish will gather as the trail is established. Of the most popular beaches, Gunnamatta, St Andrews and Portsea round out the top three that support all of the aforementioned species. Inside the Bay, the Portsea Pier is a hive of activity through the summer months and is famous for producing calamari, whereas

fun catch by those heavily focused on that specific species. A paternoster rig with pipi for bait will do the job. Just continue to cast to the same location after catching the first one. The Blairgowrie Marina jetty is an interesting one. During strong westerly winds in the winter and spring, salmon take refuge around the jetty. Anglers spinning with metal slugs from the beach to the left of the jetty tend to do quite well on sizeable salmon. Throughout the rest of the year, garfish and calamari are the two main species caught. Throughout the summer months, Rosebud and Rye piers also produce similar species to Blairgowrie, Sorrento and Portsea although fishing for large bronze whaler sharks is also quite common for those set up for the task. A big bait such as a half tuna ballooned

out into the deep usually finds its mark. If you have a kayak, it could pay to paddle a big bait out as well. This technique is usually undertaken at night when there is less boat traffic. Although these are the main locations to fish from, there are still plenty of beaches and smaller jetties which all produce fish. The best approach is to choose a species and set your rig to suit it. BOATING OPTIONS In the boat, there are more fishing options than a fisher could dream about! Snapper, gummy shark, whiting, calamari, salmon and flathead are the most common species caught and can be accessed quite easily from any of the ramps along the coast. The Sorrento boat ramp in particular provides anglers with plenty of access to the bottom end of the bay. Those anglers drifting among the boat moorings heading down toward Portsea catch calamari by casting artificial jigs over the kelp beds. There are also some good whiting grounds in 10m of water out from Point Franklin. When targeting whiting in this region, it pays to fish with pipi baits and use a paternoster rig to keep the baits out of the thick seaweed. The Sorrento boat moorings are a great location to drift for calamari through winter but in spring are an excellent location to catch garfish, especially if you’re fishing from a small dingy or kayak. From the Sorrento ramp, anglers can also access Bass Strait through the heads in search of mako shark, thresher shark, kingfish and a huge host of other species. Anglers launching from Rye have access to some of the best calamari grounds the bay has to offer. The most productive grounds are the shallow flats around the Rye Channel, The Sisters, The White Lady and the Pinnacle Channel. Once again, drifting is the preferred method over the weed beds and broken ground. Garfish are abundant through spring among the boat moorings at Blairgowrie while snapper are caught during late spring and through the summer months along the edge of the south channel, back of Mud Island, and in the deep around Mt Martha. To find snapper, you’ll have to sound them up first but be sure to set a good berley trail of cubed pilchards after anchoring. Cast your baits out unweighted into the trail and wait for the fish to come on the bite. Gummy sharks on the other hand may require a

different approach. Try to fish the edges of the South Channel during the last few hours of the flood tides during the lead up to the full moons. A running sinker rig is the most effective approach to keep the bait near the bottom where they feed. Fresh calamari strips and tuna fillet are the top baits. The Mornington Peninsula has so much to offer anglers from all levels of experience and although I have spent most of my life fishing it from the tender age of 7, I am still finding areas that produce fish I would have never thought to find there. Whether you’re fishing from the land, boat, kayak, jetski, or paddleboard there is always something

Kingfish are once again abundant around the rip and offshore from December through to April.

Top: The Portsea Pier can deliver some exceptional calamari throughout the year – local angler Dan Borin shows us a cracking specimen. Above: Strong winds along the Mornington Peninsula coast cause salmon to push in close to shore. Blairgowrie is a well known location to spin from the shore for them.

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somewhere to cast a line at. While I could waffle on all day, and night about this place, I want to leave you with just three simple pieces of advice no matter where you’re fishing from. Use good quality bait whether it’s fresh or frozen. Use good quality terminal tackle such as leader and chemically sharpened hooks. Use berley in an onion bag for land-based fishing and in a berley bucket if fishing from a boat. • Need some bait or tackle? Call into Compleat Angler Rosebud –11 Boneo Rd, Rosebud, (03) 5981 1994.

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The silver unicorn WESTERN PORT NTH

Adam Ring

December already and the snapper are going completely berserk, but the snapper aren’t the cause of the greatest excitement. The whiting are starting to show up in relatively good numbers, the gummies have been a pleasant by-catch, and the mighty mulloway have decided to chew hard with some massive results! MULLOWAY Mulloway are one special fish, and the excitement levels go through the roof whenever one is caught. As always, the details are a bit scarce when it comes to the unicorns of the port, but I will do my best to point you in the right direction. It was only going to be a matter of time before a local kayak angler would get one of these magical creatures from Lang Lang and that’s exactly what Richard Linowsi has managed to do. Richard fished some epic hours in only 2m of water with fresh calamari and was rewarded with a sensational 10kg mulloway which made the massive effort all worth it. Congratulations Rich! Local legends Shaun Furtiere and Warren Carter also went on the hunt for a big mulloway somewhere in the top of the port during the last full moon period and they wrestled with one of the biggest mulloway I have ever seen! Some quick thinking by the boys resulted in them having to up anchor and chase down the fish in order to get a little bit of line back on the reel before netting a massive 31kg mulloway! SNAPPER Where do I start with the snapper? The snapper season in Western Port has been unreal so far, with the size of some of these fish the best we have seen in for sale on

years! Joes Island has plenty of fish stacked up at the moment as Ash McMillan recently found out. After sounding a couple of solid fish on the bottom, Ash sent down a couple of fresh salmon fillets and ended up with two solid snapper

and right along Long Reef are all firing at the moment. Billy Papageorgiou was sitting in only 6m of water when a monster 7kg snapper took the squid tube he caught earlier in the session. Gaven Methers had the family out on the port and got his

Top: Richard Linowsi and a kayak-caught 10kg Lang Lang mulloway. Left: Brett Jackson and his 9.8kg snapper!

Warren Carter and a mammoth 31kg mulloway. to 4.8kg. Ryan Wassink also found a couple of nice fish on fresh squid and also crossed paths with a 2kg local Western Port ling – an ugly, but awesome eating fish. Various locations throughout the top end like Crawfish Rock, Lysaughts

young bloke Brodie, sorted out with a couple of nice big reds. Brodie pencilled in another personal best with a whopping 7.1kg snapper. Hastings is the place to be if you want to secure a nice big red for the middle of the table at Christmas lunch. I could write this

report purely on Hastings snapper if I wanted to – there are that many reports! Keith Diprose from Big Time Charters has been dominating snapper out from Hastings, fishing around Buoy 29. Keith reports a lot of table-sized fish in the area with fresh squid easily performing as the best bait. Brett Jackson put in a few hours out from Hastings and returned home with a true trophy snapper in a recent trip. The details were a little bit hard to get but we do know that this beast tipped the scales at 9.8kg. Local legend Magoo, is another keen local that has been getting it done around Hastings and in a

recent trip boated 7 snapper with the biggest going 8kg. Magoo reported that the run-in tide was easily the best and matched with fresh squid, the fish simply couldn’t resist! GUMMIES AND WHITING The gummies have been a welcome by-catch for a lot of snapper anglers and you would never argue with one of these beauties for the table. Shaun Furtiere of Think Big Charters has come across a few nice gummies in recent trips with most of them averaging between 5-10kg. You will generally come across the bigger models in the deeper parts of the channel and they are

a sucker for fresh bait. The whiting reports are slowly starting to filter through with some reasonable bags making a welcome capture for those that have retired the snapper rods. A few fish have been showing up around Tooradin, and the Middle Spit is starting to fill up with a few nice sized schools of fish. Pipi, laced with a little bit of fresh calamari is the way to go here, and don’t forget to berley! Thank you to everyone who continues to support this fine publication every month, and a massive shout out to the editor of this magazine, Jacqui Thomas. Jacqui not only does a great job every month, but also continually puts up with me submitting this report extremely late every time! Merry Christmas everybody and may your holidays be filled with epic fishing adventures! See you all out on the water in 2016!

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Reds will reach their peak before spawning WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

As an angler, nothing is more pleasurable than chilling out in the boat as the sun rises above French Island during a blissful summer morning. With rods in the holders waiting for a bite from a big red, nothing can get you’re blood boiling more than the anticipation of waiting for the rod to load. It’s the moment the rod buckles and the reel screams that sends anglers’ knees into an out of control tremble as they rush to grab the rod and attempt to set the hook. When the battle begins, aches and pains rush through biceps and the lower lumbar region. It’s a tug of war, but who will win? The angler that has everything in check, sharp hooks, perfect knots and well maintained gear or the one that hasn’t a real care in the world and just stuffs all the gear in the garage and grabs it to go fishing at any chance he gets. You know what, it’s both, and that the best ting about fishing, especially at this time of year. It doesn’t matter how prepared you are

or what level of experience you have as an angler, at the end of the day it’s the person that has their bait in the water the longest that will ultimately catch themselves a fish. Sure, snapper are tricky in terms of fishing tides and time of day, barometric shifts and moon phases – but a lot of the time, it does come down to luck and being in the

right spot at the right time. That’s especially true when a 10kg fish is caught. You can never predict the size of the fish that sighted on your sounder. Luck sure does have a lot to do with it. That aside, for a lot of anglers, just getting out on the water can be tricky enough with juggling work and family commitments and when you

do get the opportunity, often you have to just do your best on that particular day. We’ve just come off an extremely successful November peak season, and the next four weeks will continue on just as strong. The reds might begin to slow around Christmas Day, but this is a textbook pattern that follows suit year after year.

Fishing in the shallows at night is where you’ll encounter some cracking reds. Photo courtesy of Shaun Furtiere from Think Big Charters.

On Christmas Day, the reds flick off the feding switch and begin their mating. This usually takes a few weeks and by mid January they come back on the bite spasmodically. Over the past few weeks, local charter operators such as Shaun Furtiere from Think Big Charters have been right in among the fish without a hiccup. Shaun has been spending almost every day on the water with his clients, putting them onto some memorable captures. In recent weeks, captures include 4kg, 4.6kg, 5.2kg, 5.5kg, 6.7kg, 6.8kg, 7.2kg, and a 7.95kg. Mind you, that’s amongst a host of other fish in between and below the 4kg model. A lot of these fish have been scattered around from Corinella to the North Arm, Rhyll, Cowes and the Western Entrance. Of all the fish caught, there is one single standout: fresh calamari baits. What I have found throughout December is that there is a huge congregation of snapper in the Corals area. Though the snapper in this area rarely exceed 5kg, the abundance of fish ranging from 1-5kg is astronomical, but you still need to be fishing

the tide changes as this is when the best bites occur. Nearby at Coronet Bay, Observation Point, Elizabeth Island and in the Mosquito Channel larger fish are caught. Though this is fact, there is a ‘ninja’ type approach that needs to be adhered to in order to be successful. The larger fish caught in these areas over past seasons have two similar influences, fishing a high tide change at night, and in shallow water ranging from 3-5m. The reason being is that larger snapper are quite cautious and are easily spooked by boat noise. During the night, there is less boat activity, so they are more likely to get up into the shallow on a high tide and search for food. Keep in mind the setup required too, as with big fish, you only get one chance at getting a solid hook set and if missed, it’s gone. Eliminating the possibility of losing a fish relies heavily on using circle hooks. If you’re fishing a paternoster rig, Mustad’s Demon circle 5/0-6/0 is ideal, while if you’re using a running sinker rig, stick to a Mustad Octopus Circle 6/0. Regardless of which rig you use, you’re sure to get the desired result, a solid snapper

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on the end of your line. If it’s just a feed of snapper you’re after, you’ll notice that those in tune with snapper at this time of year begin to focus their attention on the Western Entrance. Though fish can be caught right throughout the area, some of the best fishing is around McHaffies Reef. This section of the Entrance is like a washing machine, even on a calm day so you must pick the right conditions to venture here. In calm conditions, the water surface will ripple and drifting with paternoster rigs and squid baits

Unfortunately for them, things are about to change. If you are set on targeting whiting the Tortoise Head Bank, Balnarring, Somers and Middle Spit have been producing some sensational models of late. Most of the fish are in the high 30’s, with at least half of anglers’ catches made up of fish over 40cm. This has been a great start to the season with a lot more focus put

Top: Gummy sharks are also a top species to target in summer, most are around the 4-8kg size. Above: Up close and personal with a crab-crunching, squid-terrorising, pilchard-guzzling Western Port red.

STA15827HP-FM_Layout 10/09/14 4:16 PMBig Page 1 Photos courtesy of Shaun1Furtiere from Think Charters.

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is the best technique. Always keep an eye on the depth being fished, but if you concentrate on drifting between the red and green channel markers, you’ll stumble across some decent fish, especially an hour before and after the slack water. Snapper aside, many anglers are choosing to switch over to whiting. This time of year divides anglers into two groups, those who went hard early and now are interested in other species such as whiting and those who started late and are still content to catch quality reds. At the end of the day, December is a great time of year for whiting as the focus is still mostly on snapper and the whiting have been left to roam free among the shallow flats.

on whiting next month. In saying that, if I was a betting man, I’d hedge my bets that the first few whiting this season measuring 50cm or greater will be caught from either Balnarring, Somers Cleeland Bight or Cat Bay. Just like snapper, big whiting only allow you one chance as well. Removing all the possibility of missing the fish from the equation relies on using Mustad

Demon #4 circle hooks on your running sinker or paternoster rig. Using circle hooks eliminates any hook setting issues allowing the fish to hook themselves 100% of the time. I can’t believe we are at the end of 2015 already! Next month its going to be all about whiting, gummy sharks, school sharks and, of course, the highly prized mako shark.

Dan Borin with a magnificent snapper caught while fishing the Corinella area with Shaun Furtiere from Think Big Charters. Photo courtesy of Shaun Furtiere from Think Big Charters.

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DECEMBER 2015

Victorian World Record tuna? PHILLIP ISLAND

John Dalla-Rosa

There have been some absolutely monstrous bluefin tuna caught and lost 20km outside ‘The Rip’ towards Barwon Heads. This includes a catch that is now a pending Victorian Record (and possible

Australian Record) of 163.65kg taken on a 37kg line. A pending World Record of 116.55kg was also caught on 15kg line by Clinton Addlington. Clinton fought for 5 3/4 hours to land the fish, using stand up tackle. The fish had been tagged in the Port Lincoln area in 1994. Back then it was 95cm

long, approximately 12kgs and was about 3 years old. Needless to say, Clinton was one very sore angler for a few days but also a very happy one. World Records caught in Victorian waters are pretty well unheard of, so well done Clinton! Snapper and whiting have also started showing up around the bay in reasonable numbers,

Natalie Bills and her dad Chris Bills from Willow Grove, recently competed in the Annual Tea Tree Snapper Fishing Competition. Natalie was lucky enough to reel in a 9.51kg snapper, which won her first place in the junior section. Father and daughter were amazed with the huge catch.

let’s hope they hang around longer than last year. SURF BEACHES Not many reports have come in from the beaches as most fishos are out chasing reds. Reports from Williamsons and Venus Bays have stated that reasonable catches of salmon around the 600g mark are coming in. Whitebait and surf poppers have been accounting for most of these fish. A few gummies have been caught at Venus Bay after dark. SAN REMO AREA BELOW THE BRIDGE Whiting and pinky snapper have started in the Cleelands Bight area along with some good sized calamari. Outside the Entrance, flathead and arrow squid are around in good numbers and it shouldn’t be too long before the makos start showing up. ABOVE THE BRIDGE There have been lots of reports of snapper coming in from all parts of the bay, from The Corals, Elizabeth Island, Corinella, Hastings, Lysharts and Joe’s Island just to name a few. Whiting have also shown up, but not in big numbers as yet. However, the quality is pretty good with most fish around the 38-40cm mark. You just have to move

Clinton Addlington with his pending World Record Bluefin tuna. around a bit to find the fish. FLINDERS AREA There are still reports of big squid in the Flinders area but they seem to be most

active in the early morning. Whiting are still hard to find and the odd gummy is coming in, in the Point Leo area.

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Snapper swoop in over salmon out early in the season. He usually takes his son Tom out looking for whatever might come along. As it turned out, this was not a bad idea, as not only did Tom catch a few fish, he bagged the biggest and caught more than anyone else, which of course gave him bragging rights for the day. This extended for quite a few days, as it seems that the kids at school also quickly heard of the success of the little master angler. Wonthaggi angler Robert Thompson won the Angling Club’s monthly competition. He can often be seen out with son Sean, also a dedicated angler who has been taught very well by dad – too good it would seem, as he often outfishes dad.

INVERLOCH

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

My last report about this part of the world was all about the numbers of salmon making up most of the bags. While there are still good numbers of salmon being caught, the emphasis has shifted and to amazing numbers of big snapper that have been up to the 10kg mark. This usually seems to come on fairly quickly, but no one is complaining and as the news quickly spread, boaters were everywhere chasing the big reds. One well-known local angler, Luke Humphris, was one of the first to get

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On their last trip, Robert greeted the weighmaster with a very nice snapper that dragged the scales way past the 5kg mark. There have been very good reports of bream and although he doesn’t really eat them, Wonthaggi angler Alan Bentick can catch bream while most other anglers can only look on in awe. On a recent trip he decided to try his luck and returned back home with three ripper fish with the best just short of the 1kg mark, which would give him bragging rights for quite some time. This time of year is when there is heavy activity on the water as far as boats are concerned. There are many land-based anglers trying their luck with most having some degree of success. The area known as Pensioners Corner always seems to produce fish and the best results have been at low water on both sides of the tide. This is where salmon, silvers, flathead, mullet and the occasional gummy shark will make an appearance. Another good thing is that they will take just about any natural or artificial presentation if it’s

dangled in front of them. The jetty at San Remo is always busy, but at times there can be a fair wait between enquiries. On a recent visit to the structure there was a fair crowd of hopeful anglers trying their luck for very little return. As I was watching nothing happen, I could see a ripple in the water and spoke to a few of the inexperienced crowd on the jetty hoping to catch a fish. I decided to tell one of the hopefuls that I thought that the fish would start biting shortly and a couple asked me how I knew that. I just told them to get ready as I thought that it wouldn’t be too long now. Sure enough, the fish suddenly started to go crazy and the fun began. Everyone was catching quite good size salmon and I told them to enjoy it as it wouldn’t last all that long. After about 20 minutes things went quiet but by then every one had plenty and were happy. They couldn’t work out how I knew when the fish were going to bite and when they were going to stop. I left them very happy with their fish.

This decent snapper was caught by young Wonthaggi angler Tom Humphris. Experienced anglers are very observant in the ways of the fish and even a slight

ripple or other movement in the water can tell so many stories.

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Rampaging reds are an early christmas present WELSHPOOL

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

As is usually the case at this time of the year, snapper and squid make an appearance and the news spreads quickly. Rob Cartledge can often be found on the water and says that he operates out of Port Welshpool and has been into gummies up to the 4kg mark as well as very good size snapper. He says that the fish have been taking a variety of baits including pilchards, squid and fresh fish fillets. Among his favourite spots are places such as the number two buoy in the Franklin Channel. Already

this year he has been doing very well on the snapper. He says that he intends to take out charters when he gets his boat organized and no doubt he will have plenty of customers on board. Boaters are doing very well outside the entrance where there have been reports of salmon schools taking just about any surface lure thrown in the water. A fair way out in places such as Seal Island, there have been reports of kingfish, salmon, and good size tuna bagged, but be sure to take plenty of fuel. Also, make sure that you double check the weather forecast. If there is any doubt, don’t go out! The jetties have been going quite well as far

as land-based anglers are concerned. Tony Davidson is a regular visitor from Morwell and says that he doesn’t have a boat, but that doesn’t stop him trying his luck off the structure. He always heads for the eastern end and has best results on the run-in tide. He has bagged mullet, silvers, flathead and a few whiting that have been making up quite reasonable bags. He likes to use berley that consists of bread crumbs soaked in tuna oil, as well as chook pellets, and scraps

of fish that have been put through the grinder. This combination is better and cheaper than what is sold over the counter. I usually mention Shallow Inlet, which is a short distance from Port Welshpool as the crow flies. This area has really started to fire up early according to Andrew and Karen Starrett, who run the local caravan park. They say that this area is a haven for winter fish and salmon and silvers usually turn up in great numbers. When the water temperature

rises, the ‘summer’ fish will make an appearance. Whiting to the 40cm mark, along with quality gummies and flathead are taking a variety of baits. Karen says that the word has spread quickly, and with the water temperature on the increase, so too are boaters who have high expectations. Just a short drive to the east is Port Albert, where I always drop in and speak to Rob Killury who runs the local general store with his wife Ulla. They’ve had

the business for quite a few years and are always up to date as far as the local fishing is concerned. As well as fishing tips and info, they will point anyone, especially visitors, in the right direction as far as the fishing is concerned. They say that this has been a different type of winter and one unusual aspect is the large numbers of quality whiting that aren’t usually in these numbers at this time of year. Having said that, no one is complaining!

Weedy woes NINETY MILE BEACH

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

The surf has been a little disappointing lately because of weed, this month, however, there have been a few small periods of fishable conditions that have allowed anglers to get some good fish. Firstly, the weed has made the Ninety-Mile Beach all but unfishable. The only saving grace has been to head towards Woodside or wait to fish the beach until after a strong westerly blow. These winds seem to get rid of the weed from that end of the beach

and make for suitable conditions. Some anglers have had luck fishing the top of the high tide. It seems at this time, the weed can sometimes settle making the beach fishable for a short time until the current startto pick up and brings the weed back in. Some anglers used this method have caught some great fish including gummy sharks, flathead and some good salmon. Loch Sport has had some good fishable conditions. Other beaches are completely full of weed. However, anglers have caught some big salmon, decent sized gummies, and the odd school shark during these times.

Damien Welbourne had this yummy catch at McGaurans Beach. He fished the top of the high tide when the weed settled a bit. DECEMBER 2015

DECEMBER 2015

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VR Fish Update

Rec fishers worth $7.1b VRFish, the recreational fishing peak body in Victoria representing 838,000 fishers, is delighted to announce the results of the latest study into participation and economic contribution by Victoria’s recreational fishing community. The Economic Study of Recreational Fishing in Victoria (the Report), undertaken by Ernst & Young and funded by the Recreational Fishing Licence trust fund, was commissioned and overseen by VRFish and provides updated figures on the number of people that participate in recreational fishing and the economic contribution made by recreational fishers to the State’s economy, along with a range of other statistics. The level of participation in recreational fishing has been estimated at 838,000 people, up from 721,000 in the previous 2009 study. This represents a slightly positive trend against population growth in Victoria for the

same period. This trend is set to become increasingly more positive under the Andrews Government Target One Million policy. Recreational fishing is also estimated to generate $7.1 billion in economic activity (including $2.6 billion in direct output) and supports 33,967 full-time jobs in Victoria. The Report also highlights the significant regional component to the economic contribution of recreational fishing to the Victorian economy, with Port Phillip region contributing $1.3 billion, North West $307 million, North East $224 million, South West $325 million and the Gippsland region contributing $381 million in direct output to the State economy. VRFish Chair, Russell Conway, stated that “We can be proud that recreational fishing in Victoria continues to grow as a popular, familyfriendly activity with a positive trend in participation rates, whilst nationally this

rate is declining. The number of people and families engaging in fishing and both the economic and social benefits that flow from this can only grow given the Government’s commitment to recreational fishing under Target One Million”. VRFish General Manager, Dallas D’Silva, has expressed his excitement over the results, “The Report is the only one of its kind in Victoria able to provide a benchmark on the level of participation and economic activity generated by recreational fishing.” The Report will provide Government with a baseline to plan and measure growth in the sector. It highlights the importance of strategic planning and investment in improved access, infrastructure and stocking to support a growing and valuable activity and an important contributor to Victoria’s economy, health and social fabric. A full copy of the Report is available on the VRFish website: www.vrfish.com.au

FISHING FILL-ITS

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“After years of researching new concepts and they way people fish we have created a product range that includes quality fresh live and frozen bait and tackle, available 24-hours a day,” said Sam. Fisherman have often struggled to find accessible live bait outside normal retail trading hours, early in the morning or late afternoon, and Bait ‘N’ Go machines will give greater access and convenience to both seasoned, last minute, and recreational fisherman. Our bait range, which is available 24-hours from our machines include, live Glo

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DECEMBER 2015

River runs clean and full of bream this month GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

The El Nino weather pattern is starting to really bite into summer. The last few months have historically been some of our wettest, but this year the rain has not arrived. This is bad for farmers, but good news for bream anglers. The rivers are clear and salty and that means outstanding lure sport. Things will only improve into the holiday season. Bream are already turning up out in the lake margins, and the dusky flathead will be on their spawning run

thoughtfully return a number of bigger breeding bream around 40cm. I was quick to congratulate them – what a joy to see people happy to catch and release big fish. Local sandworm has been the most popular bait by far and an $8 box of worm will get you an impressive score of bream. Such is the number of bream in the river at the moment – I don’t think it really matters where you try. If you’re land-based keep an eye out for where the locals are setting up, but I’m sure you will enjoy exploring new areas. Be sure to have a few baits out wide in the river and try a

for those searching the deeper edges. I’ve explored the upper reaches of the river in the township, right where all the fruit bats live. It’s amazing to see so many flying foxes while hooking bream in the snags. I used the brand new Hurricane Kaplunk lures with the hope of catching estuary perch when the bream turned up instead. Over a couple of hours I scored a modest eight bream to 35cm but it was a joy to see this new lure work a treat. I’ve had a lot to do with developing this hardbody and at last, all lure anglers can now get their hands on this deadly tool I’ve been using for over a dozen years. It’s a fairly fast sinking bibbed hardbody and a perfect edge lure that is fitted with ‘w’ hooks to beat the snags. Each day can be different so I work the Kaplunk lure at deeper and deeper drop-offs until I find the fish. During one session

I easily got bream with this hardbody but a few days later I went back to the same area and could only hook the bream on a Z-Man 2” GrubZ in amber colour. Funny critters those fussy bream, especially around spawning time. Other lure anglers out boating have also reported impressive stories of big bream taking slow twitched hardbodies out on the Mitchell Flats and around the mouth of the Nicholson and Tambo rivers. This shallow water lake fishing is happening much earlier than any other year in recent times. This is no doubt due to the lack of rain and much warmer late spring weather. PAYNESVILLE My boy Jack recently came out with me for a session on the bream. In 18 years I’d only ever taught him to lure fish, so it was about time for me o show him the joy of catching bream on sandworm. We used a small jighead

Jack Geddes returning another bream caught on cured sandworm bait using a jighead for a hook. for our sandworm bait, and it proved a much better hook up rate than a running sinker rig, or any other bait rig for that matter. We had a lot of fun in the kayaks dropping bait down between the boats and pylons around the Paynesville jetties and with 26 bream returned, we

called it a day. Getting back to the basics was a heap of fun and with the school holidays nearly here, I reckon it’s time to get the kids out jetty fishing. There are still plenty of bream at Metung and Paynesville, or try the lower reaches of the Tambo or Mitchell Rivers.

River rises as mouth closes over BEMM RIVER

The upper Mitchell River has produced a lot of bream between 30-36cm during the spawning run. The new Hurricane lure called a Kaplunk doing the damage again. down to Metung and the Kalimna areas. THE MIGHTY MITCHELL One river that has dominated reports over the last six weeks now is the Mitchell. The amount of bream along almost the entire length from the Silt Jetties to the Wyung Bridge has been astonishing. Bait anglers have really cleaned up using fresh sandworm with most anglers easily scoring bag limit numbers of bream from 28-34cm. The two standout areas have been right in town between the two Bairnsdale bridges and down at The Cut. It was exciting to see a few of those same anglers

few in closer to the edge. We are blessed to have such a healthy river full of legal sized bream and I’ve hardly seen a scrap of rubbish or abandoned fishing line anywhere – a real credit to our fishing community. LURE FISHING The lure sport in the Mitchell has been outstanding. This can be a very tough time of year for those chucking soft plastics and hardbodies but the spring of 2015 has been one of the best we have encountered for years. I’m predicting this summer will be even better. Cranka Crabs have been doing their tricks on big bream down at Eagle Point

Robyn Sturgess

It appears the entrance will close within the next week, which will increase the water levels just in time for the holiday period. Bream, flathead, whiting, trevally, luderick, salmon and the odd perch are all having a crack at a variety of baits thrown towards them. Southern Boat Angling Club reported that this year’s visit resulted in some of the best quality bream fishing (the comp target species) that they have witnessed for many years. Nearly all competitors caught bream over the 1kg mark. During their visit, they also caught a few yellowfin bream, flathead and trevally as bonus by-catch, with the

MARLO

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DECEMBER 2015

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Sue Chapman holding a quality bream. preferred bait being bass yabbies and peeled prawn. These catches were reported in the location between the river mouth entrance, the channel, The Mahoganies and Siberia. Salmon have been plentiful on the surf beaches along with lots of annoying sand crabs. These crabs are a size worth keeping though and can be a lot of fun to catch if you wrap your pilchard in knitting wool. If you are going to do some surf fishing, knock off a ball of wool before you leave home for a great table tempter. Fishing the river can be rather frustrating as there

are lots of snags to annoy you. The patient angler will definitely benefit with quality estuary perch and bream. Be prepared to lose plenty of hooks and lures! A tip to anglers: it’s advised not to have a mesh bag tied to the side of your boat, as our resident seal, Sam, will steal your catch! A perfect way to keep your catch fresh and moist is to place them in a slurry of ice and salt water in an old esky. This will keep anglers tempers at a low. As we head towards the festive season, David and myself wish all our readers, anglers, friends and customers a healthy

and happy Christmas and prosperous and safe New Year. Watch this space – for an exciting new Winter Promotion for Bemm River. • Book your fishing trips now to avoid disappointment. For on the spot and up to date fishing reports check out Robyn’s website at www. bemmaccommodation. com.au or ‘like’ us on Facebook – Bemm River Holiday Accommodation & Boat Hire. You can also phone (03) 5158 4233 or 0427 584233, or shoot us an email at bemmaccomm@ bigpond.com.

Prawns bring on great fishing MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

Fish seem to be throughout the whole Snowy and Brodribb river estuary system and in big numbers, allowing most anglers to get a good feed of their favourite fish. Mentioning food for the table, the local wild prawns are beginning to show up on the sand flats that run from the Marlo Jetty all the way down to Frenchs Narrows. With the warm weather and the water temperature on the rise, the prawns are beginning to mature, and as they grow to maturity, they come out

of the reeds and mangroves that surround the shallow lakes and backwaters and move down closer to the river entrance. Here they congregate in huge numbers on the sand flats, awaiting the right moon and tide for their run to sea. A local angler informed me the prawns were on the move and also informed me of the big flathead, some over a metre long, seemingly everywhere on the sand flats. With that much action on the sand flats it’s an ideal time to do some lure fishing for flathead using soft plastic and hardbody lures. Anglers have suggested one of the best ways to catch flathead is by wading

The dusky flathead fishing has improved as the water temperature has increased.

and spinning lures on the sand flats, which allows the angler to cover a vast area in a short time. Schools of bream can be found from the Marlo entrance all the way up the Snowy River to the highway bridge at Orbost, as well as all the way up the Brodribb River to lake Curlip. This gives land-based anglers plenty of access to some great fishing spots. Estuary perch have also moved up the rivers and can be found schooling on most snags and structures. Anglers have reported getting good size luderick with some over 45cm fishing the rock groynes that

surround the islands and along the river banks. The best results have come using sandworm under a float. Plenty of mullet can be found almost everywhere in the system, and the best bait has been sandworm. Salmon and tailor are giving anglers plenty of action.Either troll or spin metal lures down towards the entrance on a run-in tide. The surf beaches are still producing plenty of salmon, tailor, flathead, mullet and an occasional shark. Offshore is fishing well with plenty of flathead, gurnard, barracouta, squid, pinkie snapper and gummy shark.

The estuary systems in and around Marlo provide many different fishing options.

Bream brigade bag out again Everyone in the Marlo area is excited, as the inshore fishing in the last couple of weeks has been sensational. Bream in particular are caught almost anywhere in the river, but particularly around the islands in Corringle Lake. Good bags are taken daily with some thumpers

among them, and quite a few anglers have caught 40-47cm fish. There was a report of one angler catching a 49cm model and returned it back to the water, as these fish are due to spawn. Good estuary perch are also on the go up the Snowy and Brodribb rivers in the snags. Anglers are having

a ball throwing lures and baits into thick bankside structure chasing these special little fish. Both the bream and perch are in spawning mode due to the large amount of flood flushes we have had over the winter months. Flathead offshore have been hit and miss; regulars have told me they are getting

big catches on some days and the next day get none. Water temperatures offshore are still a chilly 14-15°C and vary. The water temperature in the Snowy River has been increasing lately, and with it the fish activity. - Les Heyne, Marlo Ocean View Caravan and Camping Park

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DECEMBER 2015

Flathead fans rejoice LAKES ENTRANCE

Leigh McVeigh

A slow start to spring had local anglers biting their nails in anticipation, some even wondering if the bite was actually going to show up at all. Well I am very pleased to say the wait is over! The water has warmed up and the local fishing has improved drastically over the past few weeks with some fantastic reports filtering through. LAKES ENTRANCE Fishing has been great around the local jetties with bream and trevally readily taking fresh local un-weighted prawn. Larger bream have

also been taken in the quieter pockets of Cunningham arm by both lure and bait fisherman. Small style grub plastics to 80mm have proven deadly in the late afternoons hunting the sand flats and drop offs, although these fish have also been taken on cubed pilchard fished in a berley trail intended for flathead. The flathead have finally shown up on the local sand flats and have been giving anglers plenty of entertainment wading the shallows in the spring afternoons. Large, bright, prawn style plastics worked slowly over the sand will see you tangle with a few frogs, as they are a sucker for a moving target. This style of fishing is my favourite way

Wading the shallows with a spinning rod and a pocket full of plastics is a deadly method for catching flathead and will soon see you in a fight with a Lake Tyers dusky.

to teach my kids how to fish plastics. OFFSHORE The big boats have started coming home with smiles on their faces after enduring a couple of tough months out in the deep blue. Good size snapper to 6kg are almost a sure bet when anglers take the time to locate less fished broken bottom. The fishing has been a lot better away from the more known reefs, so some extra time may be needed before anchoring up. Large fresh fish baits fished in a steady berley trail is proving deadly on the reds in the early morning. The gummy shark fishing has been very consistent, with fish starting to come a lot closer to shore in recent weeks. A good number of fish caught just beyond the breakers along the 90mile has seen local gummy on the menu for many anglers. The fishers fishing the first two hours of the run out tide with fresh fish baits or squid legs have had the greatest success. However, the winds have been a little unpredictable of late so please double check the weather conditions before heading out over the bar. BEACHES The beaches have been a bit of a letdown lately, with no real consistency coming from the sand at all. Anglers fishing for salmon with blue bait and surf poppers have

Large female flathead up to 5kg have been taken regularly in the main body of water by anglers over the past few weeks and released to fight another day. been waiting for the high tide to align with dawn or dusk, as this has proven to be the only reliable method as of late. The local shark anglers are playing the same tune and it’s only the fishers putting in many hours to catch a gummy shark that come home with success stories. For now, anglers await the next full moon with anticipation to see what the sand will bring them. LAKE TYERS After a very long wait and a slow start to spring, the flathead fishing at Lake Tyers has been nothing short of incredible. The flathead have had the local’s undivided attention this month, so much so that 5000 mulloway fingerlings were released into

the system almost unnoticed. This initiative will hopefully provide East Gippsland anglers a viable option for chasing the silver ghosts in a local system. With the recent introduction of the 55cm slot limit on Dusky flathead the fish out at Lake Tyers seem to have really taken full advantage of it, with a very good number of fish being caught well over the legal 55cm mark. Large female dusky flathead up to 5kg have been taken regularly in the main body of water by anglers over the past few weeks and it seems many locals and visitors are taking the opportunity to get a photo with these large breeding female fish before they release them to

fight another day. A leader of up to 6kg may be required to land some of the larger fish that the Lake has been producing lately. Anglers have headed to the sand flats and targeting with large bright coloured flick baits to 14cm fished on the lightest jig head the conditions allow. Even though Lake Tyers is predominantly a boater’s lake, many fishos have successfully targeted these fish from the shore or wading the warming shallow water. Wading the shallows with a spinning rod and a pocket full of plastics is a deadly method for catching flathead and will soon see you in a fight with a Lake Tyers dusky.

You can count on calamari MCLOUGHLINS

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

The fishing around Port Albert is nothing short of sensational. More and more snapper are caught everyday, and for the light line fisherman, the pinkies have arrived and are giving the whiting guys a run for their money. Snapper this month have been around between Port Albert and Port

Welshpool, but a few rippers have been caught inside Port Albert. Multiple catches of reds in a variety of sizes anywhere from smaller table pinkies of 40cm+ all the way to 80cm models. Snake channel and Port Albert channel near the basket beacon are the two main locations. The water temperature is amazingly warm for this time of year with an average of 17°C now inside and offshore around the prom is up to 15-16°C. Gummy sharks are going really well now inside with

The bigger pinkies have moved inside now and are mixed in with the whiting, making for sensational fishing on light gear at Port Albert at the moment. 48

DECEMBER 2015

plenty of 3-4ft gummies caught an hour either side of the tide. The squid have been the standout performing species though, and chasing calamari has been a sure way to get a feed, with some anglers bagging out. The end of the run in tide seems to be the go for anglers now, provided conditions aren’t too windy. Those strong southwesterly winds do make it tough to catch the squid. Again, the whiting went well this month and plenty of anglers caught up to 20 per session. The undersized ones seem to have disappeared for the most part now, but most anglers managed to catch up to 5 or 6 really big whiting of up to 43cm mixed in with the smaller ones. The good news is that the pinkies have moved into the whiting grounds now and there are weed beds, so you have a chance of catching pan sized pinkie snapper between 35-50cm and these fish will certainly let you know they are on when you’re using a 2-4kg whiting outfit and light line. The big blue spot flathead came on the bite with that hot weather we’ve had this month and Mcloughlins would have to

be the best place to try for the flatties. Anglers using vibe lures and soft plastics are doing the best during the run out tide. Plenty of flatties to 65cm are getting caught now and heaps of 40-45cm ones. Offshore Port Albert, the flathead are going really well in 30m of water on the drift. Use paternoster rigs or snapper snatchers and you can’t go wrong. Closer in, 20-25m the pinkie snapper are going well and there seem to be perfect sized models of 45cm mixed in with wrasse and rock cod. There are a few morwong and leather jackets as well. Offshore, Mcloughlin is still a little slow for snapper at the time of writing because of the colder currents but I guarantee they will be firing by the time this article comes out. There have been a couple caught towards the hedges already. The gummy sharks at Mcloughlins have been the main targets and anglers are bagging out often on 4ft models either on anchor or on the drift. Anchoring and berleying does seem to be working well though. • For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on

Some big squid are in at the moment – this one weighed 1.8kg caught by Shane Wedrowicz on a Yamashita squid jig. 5174 8544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Tune into Rex Hunt

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Western Port Bay – a glorious fishing haven GEELONG

Ross Winstanley

In November 2006, thenPremier Steve Bracks promised to ban commercial netting in Western Port Bay, which would create a recreational fishing haven. This promise recognised the bay’s popularity among Melbourne anglers and followed the popular closures of commercial fishing in several eastern Victorian inlets. At the time, reported landings from commercial fishing in the bay had fallen from 200 tonnes in the late 1970s to 60 tonnes, worth an estimated $0.3 million. In December 2007, commercial netting in the bay ceased. Apart from a low level of longlining and other hook or jig fishing, the bay effectively became a recreational fishing haven. In June 2009, Fisheries Victoria held a Western Port Bay fishery assessment workshop in Queenscliff. Fisheries managers, researchers and Fisheries Officers met with experienced anglers, charter operators and commercial fishers to review fisheries trends and assess the current state of key fish stocks and the overall state of the fishery. The workshop conclusions on the status of major fish stocks were that whiting and calamari have increased in abundance since the mid-1990s and snapper and gummy sharks numbers were also increasing. Combined with fishing elsewhere, recreational fishing for elephant fish in Western Port Bay at recent levels was considered unsustainable and the effectiveness of the lower bag limit was yet to be demonstrated. Anglers at the workshop were generally happy with the state of the fishery and observed that seagrass beds appear to be recovering after substantial losses during the 1970s. They concluded that, after just 18 net-free months it was too soon to judge the effect of the 2007 closure of commercial netting on recreational fishing participation and catch

rates. The plan was that, over the next few years, continued close monitoring of recreational fishing should enable measurement of the expected benefits in terms of fishing participation, catch rates and ‘quality experiences’. In August 2015, Fisheries Victoria researchers, managers and Fisheries Officers met again with recreational fishers and charter operators to discuss the state of the Western Port Bay fishery and key fish stocks. One of the main aims was to review progress towards total reliance of the bay fisheries assessments on recreational fishing data for the first time. This was reflected in the strong turnout by Angler Diary volunteers, who contribute much of this vital information. Along with charter operators and Fisheries Officers, their input

pressure declined. From the initial buy-out in 2000 until netting ceased in 2007, total annual catches averaged 52 tonnes. Since then, the annual commercial line-only catches have not exceeded one tonne. Gummy shark has been the main species taken, along with smaller quantities of snapper, whiting, pipis and calamari. By the December 2007 netting closure, the number of commercial fishing access licences for line fishing in the bay had been whittled down to 42. In practice, most of these commercial fishers continued to operate solely in Port Phillip Bay as they had in the past; most recently, only two fished in Western Port Bay. At this low level of fishing activity their catch records are of no use for fishery assessments. For the first time, these assessments

FACT BOX King George whiting in Tasmania, were formerly only found around the Furneaux Islands. During the past 10 years, whiting have become so abundant off parts of Tasmania’s north and east coasts that catch limits are being planned. As well as being caught in increasing numbers, they are commonly taken at much larger sizes and at ages up to 12 years older than in Victorian waters. Off the north west coast and in Georges Bay (St Helens), whiting up to 70cm have been caught, and fish larger than 60cm are not uncommon. A legal minimum size of 35cm is being considered. Sub-adults are found in Georges Bay raising the possibility that whiting may be spawning in Tasmanian waters. If so, this could cast new light on the origins of the King George whiting in Victoria’s bays and inlets. at the meeting helped to clarify recent trends in the fishery and issues requiring management attention. THE COMMERCIAL FISHERY The steady decline in commercial catches from the bay since the late 1970s accelerated following the commercial licence buy-outs of the early 2000s. This occurred despite the fact that 42 commercial access licence holders were still entitled to fish there using hooks. In addition there were clear indications that the main target species were abundant. In fact, during the 2000s the overall commercial catch rates increased while the commercial fishing

are now totally dependent on recreational fishing data. Fortunately, Fisheries Victoria has been collecting detailed boat ramp surveys and Angler Diary monitoring data since 1998. THE RECREATIONAL FISHERY After Port Phillip Bay, Western Port Bay is Victoria’s largest recreational fishery. The almost-total removal of commercial fishing has made it a recreational fishing haven. The question is: has it become the bonanza that anglers expected? Professor Greg Jenkins presented the results of research showing the associations of different fish species with the various

Assessing the fishery now relies largely on Angler Diary volunteers. 50

DECEMBER 2015

Western Port’s key attraction - whiting - are expected to rebound in numbers in 2016. habitat types in the bay: two distinct seagrass habitats (Zostera and Halophila), macro-algae-rocky reef habitats, and two other distinct algal habitats. His study of 15 years of creel survey data, linked with habitat mapping, provided new insights to fishery assessment and the importance of protecting bay habitats. Catch estimates from boat ramp surveys and off-site (phone-diary) surveys were presented to describe recreational catches of major species in the bay over time. Unsurprisingly, given the lack of angler-friendly shore access points, the recreational fishery is 99% boat-based. Most anglers (95%) live in the Metropolitan area and most (96%) fish in this bay at least five times per year, mainly (70%) during summer and autumn. In keeping with modern approaches to managing fisheries and keeping track of targeted fish stocks, Fisheries Victoria uses a number of performance indicators. These include trends in stock recruitment (ie spawning success), catch rates, length and age composition of catches, targeted fishing effort, angler satisfaction and perceptions regarding the fishery. By examining the latest information across all these measures, anglers at the workshop were able to discuss whether Western Port Bay had become a recreational fishing ‘honey pot’ since 2007. KING GEORGE WHITING Whiting spawn in late autumn and winter and larvae enter the bays at around 20-25mm long and 100-130 days old. Greater numbers appear during years of stronger westerly wind patterns and modelling suggests that they originate from near the Victoria/South

Australia border. Whiting may live more than 20 years but the oldest recorded from Victorian waters are aged 11 years. In contrast, whiting of up to 70cm have been aged at 18 years – and in spawning condition – in northern Tasmanian waters. This suggests an alternative theory of the origin of larval whiting that enter eastern inlets such as Corner Inlet. It could even explain inconsistencies between larval recruitment to Western Port Bay compared to Port Phillip Bay. Right now, the uncertain stock structure of whiting is being investigated. At 4 years most sub-adults leave Port Phillip Bay, but in Western Port Bay some fish stay a year longer on the Balnarring-Flinders Amphibolis seagrass beds – this accounts for the larger sizes caught there. Because whiting are takeable at ages 2-4 years and larval recruitment is so variable, catches ‘bounce around’ showing year-to-year patterns that broadly follow the trend in larval recruitment 2-3 years earlier. The latest recruitment trend suggests that the next peak in catches can be expected in 2016. Numbers of whiting are caught most consistently during autumn and winter. In most of the 17 years of recreational fishery records, 20% of trips that targeted whiting resulted in catches of 10 or more. A phone survey of 18 Diary Anglers indicated majority views that numbers of both legal and sub-legal sized whiting were down while most of the legal sized fish were larger than usual. The consensus among anglers at the workshop was that whiting catches in 2015 were the lowest in many years. While undersized whiting are more prevalent on the fine-leaf Zostera seagrass beds in the southeast part of

the bay, legal sized fish are found over shallow seagrass beds where ever they occur around the bay. SNAPPER Western Port Bay snapper are part of the western Victorian stock. While Port Phillip Bay is the major spawning and recruitment source for this stock, juveniles and adults move freely into other inlets and coastal waters. Pinkies begin to mature at around 30cm and most are mature at 40cm and age 6-7 years. Adults of 11kg have been aged at up to 37 years so they have the potential to contribute to the fishery over long periods. Monitoring of spawning success since 1992 has shown above average pulses of recruitment in 2000/01, 2003/04, 2004/05, 2008/09, 2012/13 and 2013/14. As snapper spawned in these pulses take just four years to grow to 28cm, pinkie catch rates can vary significantly at 2-5 year time-scales. In contrast, it takes snapper around seven years to become adults, so yearto-year variations in catches of larger fish tend to be smoothed out. The impact of occasional exceptional recruitment pulses, combined with snappers’ longevity contributes to this evening-out process. Nevertheless, the poor-toaverage years of recruitment since the exceptional pulse of 2003/04 have exposed the snapper stock to a ‘mining out’ process by the high recreational fishing intensity in both bays, along with commercial fishing pressure. So, it’s not a surprise to see that the fisheries for large snapper in the two major bays have shown signs of decline over the past season. Researchers attending last year’s Tea Tree Snapper competition measured and

aged snapper weighed-in from Western Port Bay. They found the two dominant year classes were from 2000/01 and 2003/04 – the two largest recruitment events in the past 18 years. Again, this illustrates two points: fish from such big events may carry much of the fishery for years to come but eventually fishing pressure will wear them down. Angler Diary volunteers catch and record details of snapper of all sizes above approximately 12cm. Their catch rates of large snapper showed relative stability until a recent decline. This provides evidence that the fishery has been eating into that extremely large 2003/04 year class. Anglers and charter operators at the workshop indicated a particularly alarming drop in snapper catches this year – a drop mirrored to a lesser degree in Port Phillip Bay. On the plus side, Angler Diary records indicate large numbers of small snapper spawned in 2011/12, which was a poor spawning year in Port Phillip Bay. This

suggests that there may be some localised recruitment in Western Port Bay. As a result of this recruitment pulse, large numbers of pinkies are expected to enter the fishery over the next 12 months. This will be accompanied by influxes of smaller snapper from above average recruitment in 2012/13 and 2013/14. These undersized fish will pester anglers before making their way into the pinkie fishery from 2017. Length records indicate that the recreational snapper catch in Western Port Bay is being dominated by 40-60cm and 1-3kg fish. The study of fishhabitat associations showed consistent patterns with larger snapper more prevalent in deeper water, particularly in the southwestern part of the bay. Anglers commented that the deeper water of the North Arm and, until the past four years, between Cowes and Rhyll had also been productive. Like whiting, small snapper were mostly associated with shallower

habitats in the southeast. FLATHEAD The two main species caught by anglers are sand flathead and Yank flathead, with small numbers of rock flathead. It is highly probable that the populations of all three species are independent of those occurring in Port Phillip Bay. Sand flathead are mature by age five years and 25cm and can live to at least 23 years and reach 50cm. Angler Diary records show that 25-30cm fish dominate anglers’ catches. Yank flathead are mature by the age of 2 years and 25cm and can live to at least 12 years and reach 70cm. Angler catch rates for both of these species vary year by year and show a slowly declining trend over the past 18 years. Numbers are so low that only 5% of trips targeting ‘flathead’ result in catches of five or more and only 2% of trips produce 10 or more. The highest catch rates occur down the western side of the bay and to the north of Phillip Island.

ESTIMATES OF RECREATIONAL CATCHES OF MAJOR SPECIES Species King George whiting Flathead Snapper Gummy shark Elephant fish

2000/01 (t) 64 66 indeterminate 60 69

2006/07 (t) 65 32 121 15 27

2008 (t) n/a n/a n/a n/a 45

Only 5% of trips targeting flathead now result in catches of five or more. GUMMY SHARKS Gummy sharks form a single southern Australian stock in which individuals may move over wide distances. They mature at age 6-8 years and may live for at least 16 years with males reaching 150cm and females 180cm. Females mature at 120cm and a large female may produce 40 pups in one season. Pupping occurs during summer in sheltered shallow waters including Western Port Bay where the main pupping area is in the south east, from Rhyll to Corinella. Seven-gill sharks prey on gummy shark, school shark and elephant

fish pups in the bay and are believed to be increasing in numbers. Unlike whiting, snapper, and flathead – where recruitment depends critically on variable environmental conditions during and immediately following annual spawning seasons – the recruitment of gummy sharks depends principally on the numbers of mature females in the stock. Like other shark species, this feature makes gummy sharks particularly vulnerable to overfishing. The estimated recreational catch of gummy sharks in 2006 was 15 tonnes – comparable to the highest

annual commercial catches from the bay in the previous 30 years. Although success rates vary, on average around 30% of trips targeting gummy sharks result in catches of one or more, mainly from January to May. In recent years, catches have been most consistent off Tooradin and in the southwestern part of the bay. Although few school sharks are caught there, Western Port Bay is an important nursery area for this species with 1-2 year old juveniles being common. The main discussion point was whether the legal minimum length for gummy sharks should continue to be expressed as the partial length, 45cm, or changed to the equivalent total length of 70cm. While this was not resolved at the workshop it is an ongoing point of discussion between Fisheries and the angler groups. In next issue of VFM, the second part of the Western Port Bay report looks at the decline in elephant fish numbers, angler satisfaction levels and some pressing management issues. It considers whether this nettingfree fishery is living up to anglers’ expectations and what lessons the Government’s ‘Target One Million’ program can apply in Western Port and Port Phillip bays.

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DECEMBER 2015

Fishing Fill-its

MV Norval goes all out The MV Norval is going where no charter has gone before! Well, certainly where no charter has travelled for a long time. Permission from Fisheries and Maritime Safety Queensland has granted the MV Norval permission to fish the outer reefs in the greater Coral Sea. MV Norval is the only charter to travel directly to the area. Where other charters are restricted by fly-in, fly-out, the team has access to unprecedented waters and reefs. Rare untouched

waters, such as Kenn Wreck, Fredric, Summarize, Cato, and the Marion Group (a Marine Park). The charter has permission to fish all the reefs in the 200 mile perimeter and beyond. The MV Norval was designed for this type of long distance charters. She has long-range fuel tanks, has her own water, has an 8 tonne freezer for food and produces two generator sets for power. She is also fitted with the latest navigation. Long distance charters are the MV Norval’s speciality.

A nice coral trout (left) and a cracker red emperor (right) caught offshore.

HEADING OUT The 9-day charter departs at 4pm on a Friday night from Shute Harbour, Airlie Beach and returns Sunday evening. On departure, passengers are served a light meal and an enjoyable cold beer (all canned beer is supplied free of charge) and will arrive at the first reef by 10pm. Anchoring in a lagoon, passengers can fish through the night chasing bottom fish like red emperor, spangled emperor, sweetlip or put out a livie for giant trevally. On day two, the boat heads to The Swains to Hardline Reef taking in T-Line and Ribbons Reef. The evening meal is served in a lagoon so passengers are able to fish as they did the night before. The crew will retire to rest but get up at midnight to travel to Marion. The MV Norval will arrive approximately midday at Marion Reef. And now begins the trip of a lifetime! The reef is 24 miles long and 16 miles wide, comprising of two cays and a long breaker reef called Long Reef. Inside this breaker reef are some incredible gutters and run-offs – a dory fishing snorkelling dream. All the reef fish you catch on the Swains are there,

The MV Norval waiting to be boarded! only bigger! You can catch ocean bream, clown fish, and more coronation trout than The Swains. On the outside of the reef, the large top feeders are found like mackerel, wahoo, dogtooth tuna, sailfish, and a variety of deep feeders in the 100m drop-offs like big reds, rosy jobfish, and snapper. There are three dories on the MV Norval and, on the 9-day charter, they are run out in the morning with

six passengers on board while six stay on the main boat. Heading to the outside, everyone will troll for the top feeders and, if the weather is good, drift fish for the big bottom feeders along the 100m water drop-off zones. Over the next few days, the team will target bigger and better catches at Marion Reef – all with the added bonus of taking home your catch! The team from Norval Reef Charters will even fillet, bag

and snap freeze for transport. On day seven, the charter heads for the T-Line, and the next two days are spent at The Swains and arriving back at Shute Harbour at 4pm on the last day. This is a fishing adventure you will talk about for the rest of your life. For more information contact Norval Reef charters on 0413 148 554 or you can book online at www.norvalcharters. com.au – FMG

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DECEMBER 2015

Gifts they’ll actually use! FMG

Nicole Penfold nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

No matter what our Christmas budgets are, we all want to give our loved ones presents they’ll actually use. Just don’t forget that the present should also be fun! Your loved one may well use a loo brush, but it’s not a Christmas experience they’ll look back on fondly. And neither will you, seeing as you’ll probably end up being beaten over the head with it. A much better gift option is some new fishing or camping gear. If you’re not sure what to buy for the angler in your life, you’re in luck – here are some great gift ideas! And if you’re an angler wanting ideas on what other people can buy for you, just circle one or two products in this

article and discreetly place the magazine where your loved one will see it. For maximum effectiveness, try draping the magazine over your loved one’s head when they’re trying to brush their hair, or boldly thrust it in front of their face while they’re driving. They’ll get the message.

LATEST LURES AND EGI ••••••••••••••

Lures make a great present, and they suit all budgets. If you don’t want to spend a fortune, you can just give one or two – or you could buy a bunch and present them in a lure wallet (more on that later). For the angler who loves squidding, one of the most impressive squid jigs on the market is the hi-tech Yamashita Live Search 490. It was developed in conjunction with university researchers in Tokyo. These days, too many scientific studies focus on boring stuff like curing diseases and saving the planet. These Tokyo researchers, on the other hand, have their priorities right, working out the best light 54

DECEMBER 2015

for squid to detect so we anglers can catch more. The Yamashita 490 has special paint to achieve this. And like other Live Search jigs, it has a 600hz rattle, which is the sound that squid are proven to be most attracted to. Go science! Other features include Warm Jacket (the thermo storage cloth transfers any

locked split ring at the rear, and if you remove that you can dismantle the lure and switch its parts around to match the colouring and/ or claw size of your local crabs. And of course you

Cranka Crab

Yamashita Live Search 490

surface, making a commotion with its paddling wings. As you’d expect, a big Megabass lure like this one doesn’t come cheap (SRP is over $80), but the quality is absolutely top notch. Collectors of fine tackle will love it. But yeah… you really don’t want to lose it. Unless you have stacks of money, in which case you should send a big donation to me so I can buy more Derbys for my own personal use. Don’t

with the Tide and Fishing Monthly logos on the front and back. All Tide shirts are made from top quality

Tide Apparel

light into heat), double crown stainless steel hooks, and a slim nose design that gives the jig a sharp, darting action with minimal angler input. The 490 comes in 2.5, 3 and 3.5 sizes, and retails for roughly $20. And I also have to

can change the weight to suit the conditions. The SRP is around $20. Finally, if you want a truly superb lure for fish like cod and big bass, the Megabass Derby X mouse imitation is awesome. This 3/4oz surface lure has metal

which could be handy if you’re on a crowded jetty. And designer Josh Ker says it’s already ‘inked’ so if you get squirted it won’t matter. These Aussiemade shirts are incredibly soft, cool and lightweight, and you can see the full range of species at www. bigfishgraphics.com.au. With most good quality sun-protection shirts like these you’re looking at about $80-$90, but this price is worth it because they’re super comfortable and last forever. If you’re prepared to pay a bit more, you can get the cool Nosilife shirts that have insect repellent built in – and it won’t wash off. Having built-in insect repellent is a great idea, seeing as mozzies have no problem biting through traditional fishing shirts and pants (there are Nosilife pants as well). These shirts have

worry, I won’t keep all of them for myself – I’ll donate a couple to other anglers eventually… if they’re prepared to dive down to a snag to retrieve them. Megabass Derby X

wings that fold away when you cast it, and they then unfurl during the retrieve. It mention the new bigger wobbles enticingly along the Cranka Crab. The original Cranka Crab is hugely popular, having blitzed the bream tournament scene. If you haven’t used it yourself, you have to check it out on YouTube to see how lifelike its movements are. Just search for ‘Cranka Crab Morgan’ to see Steve Morgan’s interview with designer Steve Steer, who swims the Crab in a tank to show viewers how it moves. Now, in response to public demand, Steve Steer has released a larger Crab for species like jew and snapper. The bigger Crab still has those lifelike floating claws, which mimic the defensive behaviour of a threatened crab, but instead of trebles on the claws it has a bigger single through the body. There’s a

APPAREL ••••••••••••••

A quick drying, sun protection shirt makes a great gift, especially if it’s a cool sublimated one from an Australian company like Big Fish Graphics or Tide Apparel. Tide has some cool looking jew and mangrove jack shirts, plus a new shirt

Nosilife shirts

Big Fish Graphics

materials so they’re super comfortable, and they have a flattering cut so you don’t look like you’re wearing a colourful sack. Tide makes other clothing like pants and gloves as well (see tideapparel.com.au). Big Fish Graphics is best known for its huge range of fish species shirts; no matter what fish you chase there’s a Big Fish shirt with that species on it. One of the latest models is a squid shirt, which features the most badass looking tentacled beast you’ve ever seen. It would easily scare young children,

a vented back and gusset, plus some handy pockets including a hidden zippered one. Nosilife shirts might not be dazzling to look at like the Big Fish and Tide shirts, but they’re good if you fish in sandfly/mozzie infested locations and don’t like drowning yourself in bug spray.

CAR, CAMP AND BOAT ••••••••••••••

If you’re buying a present for your partner, I reckon the best kind of present is one you can share. Plus it means you can

spend more money and get something more flash! Just be sure to both agree on the purchase before you spend the money, unless you like living dangerously. If you and your partner are on the road a lot, you’ll love having a fridgefreezer in your vehicle (and campsite). It won’t be long before you’ll wonder how you ever did without

with built-in magnet to stop rattling; USB port and bright LED internal light. They have a fiveyear warranty and are priced from roughly $1080, depending on size. And while we’re on the subject of trips away, let’s talk about showers. Nobody likes those awful

I respond that if you don’t like my rules, you can jump overboard and swim home. No, no, don’t go moaning that we’re 60km offshore, you should have thought of that before you gutted a snapper on the damn carpet. Anyway, if you want to keep your boat squeaky clean, I have three pieces of advice. The first is to not install marine carpet (I don’t know what I was thinking). The second is to avoid fishing with people who, for some reason, can’t seem to lift a kill tank lid. The third is to use a purposebuilt cleaning solution like Salt-Away. It washes away salt and other contaminants, and protects surfaces from corrosion. It’s designed

Glind Cape Yorker Maxi

Evakool TravelMate

it. On long trips you just reach back to grab a cold drink, and you can stop for lunch and make sandwiches or chow down on a cold chook. No more stopping at servos for expensive food and drinks! Plus you can feel superior to all the other people who don’t have fridge-freezers in their cars. There’s a host of options to choose from, and one of the latest is the Evakool TravelMate series. These fridge freezers come in both side-opening and top-opening versions in sizes from 38L to 80L. Features include: a rugged casing; a lid that opens from either side or can be removed completely, all in one action; no protruding

camp ‘showers’ consisting of a black bladder that’s heated by the sun. When you hang it up so it can trickle lukewarm water on you, it feels depressingly like getting dribbled on by a bulldog. Those cheap 12V camp showers aren’t much better, and in my experience they break easily. Usually when you’re particularly filthy. If you want a real shower, the Glind Cape Yorker Maxi (approx. $400) is for you. Its water pressure can be adjusted so you can wash dirty dishes, clean fish, wash the boat or fill water containers. It’s a compact unit that’s built with quality components including an efficient and

heat water in a drum over a fire. A Sand Spear Filter comes as standard. The team at Glind have a very slick, classy slogan to sum up their product range, and it’s this: “We don’t build crap at Glind.” It’s blunt but true. I wish more companies had slogans like that. Think how much more interesting toilet paper commercials would be. Another present that’s guaranteed to be well received is a quality camp chair, and you’re looking at about $60 for a good one that’s comfy and durable. A good choice is the new

Wilson Deluxe Camp Chair

to not remove lubricating products, and it has the bonus of being non-toxic. For 2015 the manufacturers released the A-Salt Mixing Unit, which has a throttletype control valve to switch between ‘rinse’ and ‘SaltAway’ settings. You can put it with their Deluxe Muffs to flush out the engine, or add the Spray Gun to wash down the boat and gear. Salt-Away is highly concentrated, so a 946mL bottle (RRP $42.50) will last for ages. It also comes in a ready-to-use spray bottle (RRP $13.25) for rods, reels and other tackle. Another way to clean

A-Salt Mixing Unit

hinges or latches; Secop (formerly Danfoss) compressor; low power draw; silent operation; multi-voltage operation DC 12V and 24V, and AC 240V; heavy-duty handle

reliable Flojet pressure pump, and it’s all housed in a heavy-duty case. It has a flow of 13.2L/min and the pressure is 40psi. You can match it with a Glind heat exchanger for hot water, or

attractive Wilson print in either blue or pink. They’re at tackle stores now, so drop in and rest your rear in one. Finally, I know I said presents should be fun but sometimes a super-practical gift can be awesome. For example, do you know someone who likes to keep their boat clean? I am one of those people. Friends I’ve fished with have accused me of being a boating neat freak, to which

run, which means you’ll have more spare cash to buy more gear! It’s like the circle of life, only better.

BUYING ON A BUDGET ••••••••••••••

Everything in its place If you’re on a tight budget there are still plenty of excellent gift options available. A lure wallet is always handy, and a good quality one makes an affordable gift at around $18-30. I particularly like the latest Daiwa Lure Wallet, which can be worn as a mini shoulder bag when you’re land-based. To page 56

RinseKit

Wilson Deluxe Camp Chair, which is built to withstand 150kg. The build is also extra wide, so they’re comfortable for anyone to sit in. All materials are double stitched with reinforcement around the rubber eyelets, and features include a silver lined cooler bag on the left arm, an insulated cup holder in the right arm, a powdercoated steel frame (reduces rust and damage) and the

your salt-encrusted gear when you’re away from home is with a portable, pressurised shower. As well as the first-class Glind Maxi that I mentioned earlier, there’s a new unit called RinseKit which is much more basic but also more affordable (RRP $149). Somehow it manages to deliver pressurised spray for up to four minutes with no pumping and no batteries. It has an 8L pressure chamber and fills with hot or cold water from the tap in as little as 20 seconds. So definitely consider giving – or receiving – the gift of cleanliness this Christmas. Looking after your gear properly will save money in the long

Daiwa Lure Wallet

DECEMBER 2015

From page 55

It’s built tough, and has a fold-out section for jigs, jigheads, and lures. The back of the bag is perfect for storing packets of soft plastics. There’s also a zippered accessory pocket in the lid that’s ideal for terminal tackle. And if you like chasing squid, you can’t go past the Shimano Egi Case. It accommodates a range of jig sizes, and it’s designed to withstand a hose-down

hats are great – they’re so much better than slathering sunscreen everywhere – but in photos they do make you look like Lawrence of Arabia. Sure – you could take your desert headwear off for a photo, but that would reveal your wild, sweaty, hat hair. The horror! Enter the CapHat accessory! It’s a one-sizefits-all attachment that goes on top of your favourite cap or hat to protect your ears and neck. You just slip

Shimano Egi Case

eyes. Prices range from around $15-$20. Save the reef You’ve probably seen news stories about how sunscreens are harming the marine environment.

Ugly Stik Cooler Bag

savingsunscreen.com. On the nose Catch scent is a budget gift that keeps on giving, and Squidgies’ much-loved S-Factor scent is now available in a larger and more user-friendly 35mL tube (approx. $15). The tube has been designed to prevent leaks, so nothing will get smelly except the lure. This scent has the added bonus of being UV enhanced, to add a visual attraction aspect as well as an enticing smell. Anybody who’s enjoyed success

Liquid Mayhem

at the end of the day. It has nylon zippers and 10 piece dividers, and has a SRP of $17.55. If you’re buying it as a present, you can make it look extra good by stealing some of your gift recipient’s squid jigs from his tackle box and put them in the Egi Case before you wrap it. Then he’ll be doubly pleased on Christmas day to find the missing jigs he’s been stressing about for weeks! On second thought, maybe don’t do that. For the land-based angler, a great gift is the Ugly Stik Cooler Bag (RRP $29.95). It holds six cans and keeps a full day’s worth of food. The zippered closure ensures you’re always ready to enjoy a cold drink. Plus, the back of the cooler bag folds down to reveal two drink holders, so you’re not constantly bending down to put your drink on the ground. An Ugly Stik stubby cooler is included for free. A hat for your hat Another affordable present is a hat accessory called the CapHat (www. caphat.com.au). It’s an alternative to those serious sun-protection hats whose fabric drapes over your ears and neck. Those serious sun 56

DECEMBER 2015

it over the crown of your cap, tighten the CapHat’s toggle and you’re away. If there’s a lot of wind or glare, you can close the Velcro tabs at the front to cover everything but your

Surf Livesaving Australia Marine Friendly

A 2015 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study found that around 14,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in coral reefs worldwide every year, a c c e le ra ting c ora l bleaching. In light of this discovery, it’s clear that we outdoor lovers have to immediately throw away our sunscreen and start roasting ourselves as red as beetroots to save the coral. Or do we? It turns out that there’s a less painful way to protect the marine environment – it’s Surf Livesaving Australia Marine Friendly spray (RRP $17.49). This clear mist spray comes in a 175g can and is certified SPF50+. It’s been tested and proven to be non-toxic to marine life, so now you can have the benefit of maximum sun protection with minimum eco-impact. This product is oxybenzone and preservative free, provides up to four hours of waterresistant sun protection, and comes in a recyclable aluminium can. And by purchasing Surf Lifesaving sunscreen, you are helping support surf lifesaving training and development programs around Australia – so you’re saving human lives as well as coral! You can find out more at www.surflife

with S-Factor-impregnated Squidgies will love having the option of adding this potent scent to their other lures. The range of Liquid

Mayhem scents are also worth a look. These scents are made from real baitfish, which have been distilled into a super concentrated liquid. To this the

manufacturers have added special enzymes and other proven bite stimulants. Liquid Mayhem scent is easy to apply, and it’s thick and sticky so it holds onto the lure for up to half an hour before needing to be reapplied. Liquid Mayhem costs a bit more than other scents (RRP $26.95 for 2oz tube) but it’s very concentrated so you only need to apply a smidge of it to your lure. It’s available in four flavours, all with extra UV enhancements. You might be suspicious about whether catch scent actually works, but I reckon it’s one of those inexpensive things that you might as well use as not. Besides, the best tournament pros all use it, and you have to respect anyone who’s figured out how to get paid to fish! Lucky buggers, getting paid for doing what they love. I have asked them how it’s done, but they start talking about horrible things like ‘commitment’, ‘dedication’ and ‘putting in the hours’. Oh well. A gift from the kids If you want gift ideas for under $10 – the typical kid’s Christmas budget – a simple packet of plastics is a great choice. And it’s always good to get plastics that are new on the market, because new stuff is always more exciting than old stuff! Something that’s a bit different is the Boom Bait range from Samaki. These

S-Factor scent

Boom Bait range

plastics have special marker dots along their backs to represent different sizes of worm hooks or jigheads. This makes it super easy to rig them nice and straight. You just match, say, a 2/0 with the appropriate marker dots and you can rig it easily and perfectly right away. There are 10 models, starting with little smelt for trout and bream, right up to larger paddle tails and shads for barra and reefies. All have impregnated scent. Or, for the angler who chases big fish, you could go for the huge Z-Man 10” HeroZ jerk bait. It’s made from buoyant ElaZtech plastic so it’s perfect for everything from walking across the surface to being fished on a jighead or paternoster rig. When retrieved at speed, it has a life-like, snaking action that has been the undoing of tuna, cobia and trevally. It should also do well on kingfish and mackerel, as well as bottom fish like snapper, coral trout and other reefies. Like all Z-mans (Z-men?) the HeroZ are made from ElaZtech plastic – a super-tough, super-stretchy plastic that’s practically bomb-proof. The only time I’ve seen one of these plastics damaged was when it got attacked by a mackerel, whose teeth left little slits like razor cuts, but didn’t demolish it as I had expected. The most affordable gift though that I’ve found is the Rod Ruler sticker (www. therodruler.com.au). You just peel off the backing, stick it on your rod and then you can Rod Ruler sticker

quickly and easily measure your catch. It measures 8mm wide and 1m long (you cut the sticker to suit your rod), and it’s UV and water resistant. As well as rods, it can also be fitted to your boat or kayak. No more stuffing around looking for a brag mat or ruler! The RRP is just $6.95.

out ways to lower their camera into the depths (and keep it stable) to see what the fish are up to. There’s some amazing underwater footage on YouTube and on fishing DVDs that’s been shot on action cams, showing fish just quietly doing their thing, as opposed to going berserk on the end of a line. Garmin’s latest action cams are the VIRB X and VIRB XE (RRP $429-$529). They shoot HD footage and are waterproof to 50m. The flat lens makes underwater shots crystal clear, and it also repels droplets. The XE shoots at 1440p/30fps and 1080p/60fps with super slowmo, image stabilisation and zoom levels. The X shoots at 1080p/30fps and 720p/60fps with slow-mo and zoom. Both versions can capture sharp still photos (even while recording) and photo bursts up to 12MP. They have secure mounts, and the microphone delivers clear audio, even

and talented at cool outdoor sports, which I am not. If you are one of those energetic people though, you’ll get a kick out of getting data from the GPS and accelerometer,

stack of other features as well, plus plenty of amazing videos on YouTube. You might have noticed I haven’t mentioned any rods or reels. That’s because they’re risky things to buy

on a room full of cats. To avoid situations like these, we developed the Tackle Junkie website. If you direct your loved one to www.tacklejunkie.com they’ll find pics and info on ZMan 10” HeroZ

as presents; you really need to know exactly what rod or reel the recipient wants. If you just try and guess, you’ll be greeted with a frozen, pained smile when your loved one removes the wrapping paper. It’s the same smile that I made last year when I was hoping for a box of Ferrero Rochers and instead got a new age music CD that sounded like someone turning a fire hose

on the latest rods and reels, which should give them some ideas on what they might like. You’ll find info, pics and videos of a host of other tackle there as well. Then, once you have your inspiration, it’s off to your local tackle store to get the perfect present. Happy gift hunting and Merry Christmas! Hero4 Session

VIRB

RECORDING THE MOMENT ••••••••••••••

It seems everyone is getting into the fun of using waterproof action cams on fishing trips. They’re easy to use (the good ones are, anyway), and you can mount them almost anywhere – on a headband, up high on a rocket launcher or on the end of a pole to hold down at the waterline when fish come boat-side. Enterprising anglers have even worked

underwater. Through the mobile app, users can get a live stream of video. One-touch controls make it easy to wake the device and start/stop recording. If I had to list a downside, it’s that there are fancy sensors built in that cater to those annoying people who are gloriously fit

plus compatibility with other sensors that detect everything from heart-rate to G-force. Of course, I can’t talk about action cams without mentioning the latest GoPro, which is the Hero4 Session (approx. $450). It’s 50% smaller and 40% lighter than other Hero4 cameras, it’s compatible with current GoPro mounts, and has a new low-profile frame and ball joint buckle for extra mounting flexibility. It captures 1080p30 ultrawide video and 8MP timelapse photos at 0.5 second intervals. You can also operate HERO4 cameras using the GoPro App or Smart Remote. This camera is waterproof to 10m, and a single press of the shutter button powers the camera on and begins capturing video or time-lapse photos automatically. A second press of the shutter button stops recording and powers off the camera. There’s a DECEMBER 2015

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The Rod-Runner

The Rod-Runner is carefully engineered to protect expensive rods and reels and get you fishing faster with less effort. It lets you carry five rods safely in one hand, and once you arrive at your location will stand your rods up with its two removable legs, keeping your reels up off the sand and dirt. Having all of your rods rigged, ready and securely stored in the Rod-Runner system will mean that you’ll spend less time rigging and undoing tangles while out fishing. The Rod-Runner is perfect if you enjoy jetty fishing, surf fishing, land-based fishing or even getting to and from the boat on your next offshore fishing trip. With its long, curved, comfortable handle design and the deep cut rod holders, your expensive rods and reels will naturally hang in a diagonal direction, meaning that you can easily manoeuvre around avoiding door frames, low ceilings and fans. This clever product is sure to make your holiday fishing experience easier. Price: RRP $100 www.brismarine.com.au

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Lone Star Marine has once again found a way to cram more value and performance into their mainstay without the high price tag. The new GX series is set to become the new workhorse and standard in perfectly engineered anchoring systems at the right price. Features include all Australian made 6mm 316 stainless and machined 6061 T-6 aluminium construction, real Italian transmissions, triple sealed bearings, twin shaft bearing systems, machined slimline ‘fast change’ collars, and an all new emergency release as standard on all models. Motors are once again custom manufactured and are pre-rigged with twin leads. LSM manufactured the world’s first drum anchor winch with a 200mm drum that’s suitable for 6m+ boats with a holding at anchor capacity of 2800kg. This tiny yet very powerful model will be well suited to larger boats with very small anchor wells. The GX series caters to boats up to 9m+ and is backed by LSM’s famous 5 + Life Warranty. Price: from RRP $1099 www.lonestarmarine.com.au

PERFECTING FISHING ROD TRANSPORTATION

3 Yes

The Emergency LED lantern from Korr Lighting is the perfect product for both camping adventures and for use around the home. In the case of a thunderstorm where the power is knocked out, this family-friendly LED lantern is great at providing quick and easy lighting, and is much safer than using candles or gas lights, which are a fire hazard in your home. The LED lantern is very easy to operate and has an extended run time of up to 12 hours. Made from a durable ABS construction, this compact LED is tough and is backed by a one-year warranty. It’s a great addition for any camping set up or emergency LED lighting. Visit the Korr Lighting website for more information. Price: RRP $20 www.korrlighting.com.au

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Every angler loves to capture photos and sometimes even videos of their catch. The quickest and easiest way to do this is to use your phone, but a wet, rocking boat isn’t a safe environment. However, when you use the new Wetsuit Impact for the iPhone 6S/6S Plus you can relax knowing that your phone is protected. This slim waterproof case features a flexible glass impact screen rated 9H – the world’s highest impact standard. It’s tough enough to bear the knocks and bumps of everyday life, can withstand drops of and immersion to 6.6ft (2m), and exceeds tough military standards (MIL STD 810G). A high performance coating on the screen means dirt and grime can easily be wiped clean, so you don’t get the discolouring of standard PET film coverings which can impact the user experience. The manufacturers, Brisbane-based company Dog & Bone, also make cases for the Galaxy S6, Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5/5s. Price: SRP $99.95 (SS/6), $119.95 (SS Plus/6 Plus) www.dogandbonecases.com

SRPF

Australia’s Dog & Bone has the latest mobile tech in water and drop protection. Wetsuit’s topless direct touch or Wetsuit Impact’s flexible glass impact screen waterproof smartphone case. iPhone & Galaxy.

3 Yes

Wetsuit Impact phone cases

Rod Runner $ 100.00

I would love this for Xmas!

GX Series $ 1099.00

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Tonic super light Slice lens

3 Yes

response to light levels

Enjoy your beach fishing with the only reel that will withstand sand and saltwater while giving outstanding casting distance: the iconic Alvey. You will also feel every fish bite because you are in touch with your rig through the line and handles on your reel. No other reel fishes this system or offers this sensitivity. Many top anglers use Alvey reels because of this feature. After you have hooked a fish, even a large one, the Alvey 1:1 direct winding power will control your fish with ease. The smooth multi-plate clutch will also protect your line during the battle. Match your Alvey reel with one of the quality range of Alvey rods, and make sure you get your distance when casting. Alvey’s rod range includes models to suit children right through to serious surf rods and deep sea rods for boat anglers. Buy a Christmas gift that will give years of pleasure to the angler in your life. Price: $244.95 www.alvey.com.au

Backbone Tide watch

The Backbone Tide Watch is perfect for anglers, boaties or anyone who enjoys aquatic pursuits. The watch is equipped with a stack of features, including the ability to calculate past, present or future tidal movements of your chosen location once set. Built tough, the watch comes as standard with a rubber case and strap - in 6 colour combinations - with stainless steel fittings. Features include a 12-digit display, dual time, a stopwatch with 1/100 sec. resolution, a countdown timer and a tide calculator with easy to follow set instructions, and an EL backlight for easy viewing at night. The Backbone has 10ATM/100m water resistancy and is backed by a 12-month warranty on movement. Price: RRP $49.90 www.backbonetime.com.au

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Less time mucking around on the ramp means more time fishing. Thanks to Boatcatch, slipping and sliding on the boat ramp will be a thing of the past. It’s a unique coupling device that allows you to quickly launch or retrieve your boat onto its trailer without setting foot on the boat ramp - especially convenient if you’re on your own. You can quickly motor off and on thereby eliminating the stress of holding up other boats. Boatcatch also reduces the dangers inherent in traditional launch and retrieval methods. It’s made of high strength, 100% marine grade stainless steel and comes with a lifetime warranty. Available in two sizes (Small for boats up to 6 metres long and large for boats over 6 metres) which include a universal mounting bracket to suit most boats (including Cats). Watch our video showing how easy Boatcatch is to use at www.boatcatch.com. Price: from $599 www.boatcatch.com

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Tonic Slice .00 $ 279

RANTY

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Tonic Polarised Eyewear, the new leader in high quality fishing sunglasses, has launched the centrepiece of its Gen2 range. The new Slice lens is the thinnest and lightest polarised glass lens in the world. Founder and designer Doug Phillips said the line separating heavy glass from lighter plastic lenses was gone forever. “We haven’t compromised on clarity and performance,” he said. “The Slice lens is so light you won’t believe you have sunglasses on.” The new lenses are available in photochromic* copper, photochromic grey, light copper neon, green mirror, red mirror and silver mirror. Made in Japan, Tonic sunglasses use the latest optical technology including de-centred lenses for distortionfree viewing at any angle. The scratch-resistant glass lenses are just 1.3mm thick, making them 50% lighter than regular glass. All feature anti-reflective coatings and Tonic’s own polarising filter systems. There are more than 12 wraparound styles. *Lens automatically darkens or lightens in

Tide Watch $ 49.90

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TIDE WATCH DECEMBER 2015

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At Fishing Monthly, we know that you love a free gift when you sign-up. So we’ve snuck this special offer into the Christmas feature. You won’t even see it on the regular subscription page or on-line. If you spend $130 on a two-year subscription – for yourself or as a gift – we’ll send you a free Silstar Presia 20 reel, worth $120. This reel comes with 7 ball- and one roller-bearing, 5.2:1 gear ratio, holds 180 yards of 4kg line, has instant anti-reverse, a braid-ready ported spool and machined handle. It’s even got an oiled felt drag system. And, of course, you’ll get two years of your state’s best fishing magazine mailed to you each month. Call the office: 1800 228 244

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The Native Watercraft Slayer Propel (patent pending) is the first pedal kayak with forward and reverse capability. The ability to pedal backwards is an amazing advantage when you need to back away from structure or hold onto your catch. The better than 10:1 gear ratio allows you to pedal farther without tiring, and the Slayer Propel’s raised ergonomic seat means you can fish all day in comfort. The Slayer Propel is very stable so you can stand up easily to cast or sight fish, yet its sleek, efficient design enables you to also enjoy paddling it as a true kayak. You can also enjoy great flexibility in outfitting using the Groove Track accessory system for mounting your favourite rod holders, sounder mounts, lights, cameras and so on without the need to drill. The Native watercraft Slayer Propel is available in two sizes: the compact Slayer 10 (only 3m and 26kg) and the Slayer 13 (4m for extra storage and greater speed). Package deals are available to suit your needs. Price: SRPF $3,900 www.capacitysports.com.au

3 Yes

Back-pedalling like a boss

FMG 2 Reel Dea l $ 130

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Blue Rock bass

The Australian bass fishery at Blue Rock Lake is now more accessible to powered trailerboats given new rules that permit boats of any length and any engine size. A revised 15 knot speed limit applies. Since 2002, more than 160,000 bass fingerlings have been stocked into Blue Rock Lake. To promote the fishery, 12 mature bass have been tagged as part of a competition. If you catch one, cut off the plastic tag and call the phone number. The $2,000 prize pool includes tackle vouchers, fishing watches and magazine subscriptions. Improving boating access to Blue Rock Lake is a commitment in the State Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Target One Million plan, which aims to get more people fishing, more often. Learn more at www.vic.gov.au/bluerockbass

#target1million

Summer bites will be an afternoon delight! EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The past month has seen very little rain on the far south coast with excellent spring weather allowing everyone to get out there and enjoy the area. The warmer weather has seen visitors taking

advantage of the quiet times prior to the busy Christmas period. The fishing on the beaches has been good with plenty of salmon caught on bait and lures with good tailor in among the salmon. Fishing the corners of the beach around the rocky margins has produced yellowfin bream with fresh bait worms and prawns

catching the fish. As we head towards summer, more sand whiting will be roaming the beaches. The rocky headlands have been fishing well with good catches of hard fighting drummer. Those heading out to fish the inshore reefs and beyond need to get an early start as most days have seen the wind pick

up quickly. Out on the shelf there have been a few reports of yellowfin tuna caught and the fishing out there will only get better in the months ahead. The inshore reefs have been fishing well for snapper caught on both bait and lures. Morwong and gummy sharks have also been caught as well as both tiger and sand flathead.

Kingfish are also about and it shouldn’t be long before they become a regular catch. The fishing in the rivers has fired up with good catches of dusky flathead on any number of soft plastic lures. This time of year sees some big fish caught as they start to liven up with the warmer water. The entrance to the estuaries has seen

yellowfin bream and sand whiting caught, alongside plenty of silver trevally on the bite. Black bream are further up the system along with the estuary perch. The bass fishing has started to fire up with the fish heading upstream for the summer months, surface lures have been working well around the dusk and dawn period.

Anglers ecstatic for trophy estuary captures mimics the food source fish are dependent on or where they are feeding in the water column. Deep diving lures often produce a strike from fish hesitant to come to the surface and once hooked can excite other fish in the school to the lure pattern. For marlin, skirted lures are important. Marlin will also take diving lures although the hook up rate will not be as good as the skirts. With marlin already around, things are looking good for

BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Last season saw unseasonably hot water temperatures from the ocean to the estuaries, and hopefully we see this warm water backing up for some of the same exciting angling we had last year. Yellowfin tuna are being captured out towards

know sharks are in the area and you wish to target them, berley will give you the best results. If game fishing is not your scene, try for kingfish at Montague Island or reef fishing south of Bermagui. The kingies have been good already this season with fish responding to both jigs and bait. Sizes are mixed so you may need to do some weeding to get fish of size. Remember there are size limits as well as marine park restrictions

A tasty summer by-catch, you can find these little rippers in the local lakes and rivers. the Continental Shelf and further afield. Lure fishing covers more ground, so a well-presented spread of lures will produce on a regular basis. A mix of skirted, bibless, and deep diving lures will cover most aspects when trolling for tuna and best of all, will provide a pattern as to what lure preference the fish may have. Often this pattern REVA G.T

L LY . S N A P P E R

. EST U

PE R RY

. WH AD

later in the season but for now concentrate around the edge of the Shelf and further out. A well-structured lure pattern will also attract a variety of different species including recent schools of albacore, striped tuna and the occasional mako shark all captured while trolling. Makos often follow tuna schools and are a real bonus when taken on a lure. If you

so check it out first to avoid embarrassment. Perhaps as a result of less commercial pressure, the reef fishing has been excellent. Flathead are the main stay with one of the best seasons in many years. Large tiger and big sand flathead are being caught just about anywhere with the 50m mark due east of Bermagui providing close easy access to these fish.

FISH WITH A LOCAL AT

Around the other reefs there have been plenty of morwong entertaining anglers. Mixed in are some late season snapper, pretty pigfish, an odd gummy shark, plus those ever present jackets. There has been lots of small baitfish around lately providing food for schools of salmon and tailor either around the rocks or beaches. White bait and small slimey mackerel are the food source and any lure resembling them will work, as well as bait. Using bait can also get you onto some lovely bream or trevally patrolling around the bait schools. One of the best activities anyone can do at this time of year is to go prawning, and there are abundant prawns to be found. A fun family adventure, the reward is a tasty bucket of fresh prawns that everyone loves and so do the estuary fish. When you have good prawn stock in the lakes and rivers, estuarine fish species are gorging themselves on them while the food is available, which provides good angling. Most of the common species like dusky flathead, bream, whiting, mulloway and many more will be encountered on both lures (soft plastics in the early mornings have been very exciting) and bait. The estuaries this season are as good as it gets. Not to be left out, the sweet water fishing in Brogo Dam for Australian

Solid bream are a favourite summer species. bass is firing. Hot days are leading to balmy evenings at the dam producing large insect hatches and excellent fly and surface lure activity for anglers. Fish are of a mixed size range to 45cm, but as most seasoned bass anglers know it doesn’t take a very large fish to get the heart racing. Try trolling through the daylight hours,

jigging small lures or bobbing shrimp (don’t be frightened to try some of those fresh prawns as bait when bobbing, they work just fine). For the more adventurous angler, walk into the holes on the river below the dam wall, there are plenty of bass there which will need more effort to extract than in the dam.

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A sight any angler likes to see – a big tuna beside the boat.

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The name of the game is bream! MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed

period were very impressive. There is plenty of water out there and finding the bigger

fish can take time. Last year the arrival of big schools of baitfish saw

captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

As we race toward summer, we are seeing very little rain and with the days getting longer and warmer, the visitors are starting to turn up. The months prior saw plenty of rain, and as a result, the water was a lovely shade of mud. The entrance is good and with good flow the system has now cleared right up. Good gutters on all the local beaches have provided anglers with the opportunity to get among plenty of salmon with fish to 2kg and good numbers of fish moving in and out of the estuary system. The growth on the rocks at the new harbour at Bastion Point will create some great fishing here in the coming months. This is a safe spot to wet a line and with the water warming, there will be a greater variety of fish caught. Offshore the water is starting to warm up and gummy sharks have been caught alongside a few goodsized sand flathead with fish to over 2kg a common find. Bags caught over the summer

Crystal enjoyed catching a fish but wasn’t as keen on picking it up!

the kingfish turn up over the Christmas period with plenty of fish caught on trolled lures. The fishing in the Bottom Lake has been good with steady tidal flow around the entrance area. Silver trevally love this area and can be caught on fresh bait and a variety of soft plastic lures. Yellowfin bream and dusky flathead have also been caught in the same area along with a few good size sand whiting. The Goodwin Sands are also producing with numbers of both black and yellowfin bream caught alongside plenty of good eating size flatties. The Top Lake has also been fishing well with numbers of good size bream caught. The blacks are the more common of the two species along with big flathead. From the Top Lake to above Gypsy Point sees plenty of black bream and flathead. Recent rains have made travelling in this area a challenge, and it’s easy to run aground as the sand banks shift. Maintain caution when boating so as to avoid any damage to your boat. The rains have kept the rivers moving which is great for the early season

Filming in the winter months for Fishing Australia was great fun. bass fishing. We’ve already seen some great fish come through and with anglers

releasing these specimens; the bass season promises to be a good one.

DECEMBER 2015

There’s Narooma these holidays! NAROOMA

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$79,800

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Narooma and the surrounding waterways are firing up nicely on the fishing front just in time for the Christmas rush. Narooma’s population will triple in size, but that won’t bother the fishing fanatics with a smorgasbord of species on offer. Anglers fishing the estuaries will be happy to know that it’s all systems go, with Wagonga Inlet, Tuross, Mummaga Lake and Corunna all fishing extremely well. The latter two have been excellent for flathead so if you’re after a feed then these are the places you’ll find good fish. Both systems don’t have a huge tidal movement, making offshore currents less important when it comes to water temperature. Due to this and the maximum depth of 5m in both, these systems warm up a lot quicker than their bigger counter parts. With the water at a balmy 22-24°C, the flathead have woken up big time and it’s certainly not hard to get a cracking feed. Soft plastics, vibes, and blades are working well with anglers using live poddy mullet getting their fair share too. Most of the fish are averaging 40cm, but there are a few bigger fish around 80cm being caught. Thankfully they are also being released which is in the spirit of fishing. I expect both these Lakes to continue to produce over coming months with bream and legal sized snapper also on the cards. Up at Tuross, flathead are going off in both the river section and main basins. I had a recent guide there and managed over 50 flats for the day – nice fishing in anyone’s books. Fish to 85cm makes

Darren ‘Cookie’ Cook with a nice mulloway that was tagged for future fisheries research. Hopefully it will be caught again and the information can be put to good use. for a great day. The lower sections and basins have been good for bream, whiting, and luderick with bait anglers doing particularly well. Fishos using live nippers, worms and live prawns are getting the best results especially for bream and whiting. This action will continue and it’s great to see that the entrance to this system is quite deep and wide allowing for plenty of tidal flow. In Wagonga Inlet the classic saying works – find the bait, find the fish. The upper reaches have been excellent, with acres of bait there you can expect anything from mulloway to salmon and everything in between. Anglers using a variety of softies and blades will fare best, with smaller presentations around 3” producing better results. Outside sport fishers are getting excited as marlin season is upon on. There have already been sightings and the odd fish lost so all looks good for a cracking

beakie season. The shelf is the place to fish, with the Kink and Tuross canyons worth a look. Success will depend on water temperature, current, temperature breaks and bait activity. There have been sporadic catches of albacore and smaller yellowfin tuna to 30kg. These supercharged speedsters have responded well to trolled skirted pushers and bibbed minnows, with their whereabouts changing daily depending on conditions. At Montague Island, the kings have been good but the seals are present and have been a real pest. I know some crews are getting 1/5 kings in the boat which isn’t a great average. Not a whole lot can be done about this frustrating problem. Almost all methods are working on the kings, but jigs seem to be the best working method at present. The fish are averaging to 5kg, not huge but still great sport and great on the plate – if you can get them in the boat! If you’re after a feed of

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The ladies and the author with a cracking 85cm flathead from the upper reaches of Wagonga Inlet. This beautiful croc was released in great condition.

bottom species then you’re in for a treat. Sand flathead, snapper, morwong and pigfish can be found on most reefs with the SW corner of Montague a good starting point. The flatties have been going great guns with water depths of 30-35m ideal for these tasty morsels. The beaches continue to fish well for bream and whiting, look for a beach that has rockier corners with a gutter present. There’s a few that have these characteristics at the minute, Narooma main at the northern end, and Blackfellows towards Tuross to the southern end are the. Both are fishing extremely well, with pipi and live beach worms the gun bait to use. I wouldn’t be surprised to see mulloway caught from both these destinations too as there’s cover, reasonably deep water and a heap of bait. If I was targeting mulloway I’d use 3-4 beach worms on a single hook paternoster rig, and cast the offering at various distances within the session. Sometimes they will be just past the shore dump and other times in the deeper water. If you combine this technique with the advantage of an afternoon/ evening flooding tide your chances will increase ten-fold. Anglers fishing the stones are in for some fun with salmon, tailor, bonito and kingfish all chewing. Mystery Bay to the south of Narooma is fishing extremely well. There’s a heap of bait out the front of the ledge that these species are gorging themselves on. Successful bait has been a mixture of pilchards, slimy mackerel and yellowtail, and a live bait under a balloon is worth a go. Slow rolling ganged pilchards will also work, especially on the southern part of the ledge. Casting a few slugs and poppers might be worth a go to. Good luck and Merry Christmas to all.

NSW South Coast

Fishing forecast is hot, hot, hot! MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Summer is finally here! Warmer weather plus longer days is an equation that can only equal more time on the water – and I for one can’t wait.

The increased water temperature is really going to set the fishing on fire in the local estuaries. Both the Merimbula and Pambula systems have been excellent with an array of species on offer. Good numbers of flathead have woken up from their winter slumber with some solid

Some solid estuary perch have been found around the deeper rock walls in the southern estuaries.

crocs around 90cm coming from both systems. These larger girls have responded well to bigger soft plastics and rubber vibes which are great fun to fish with and highly effective. There’s a stack of different types of vibes on the market. I prefer to use natural coloured imitations anywhere from 10-20g. Choice of size depends on the depth I’m fishing as well as current and tidal movement. It’s a good idea to have a selection of vibes because some days the smaller versions work better and vice versa. Artificials are easy to work and big flathead find it hard to throw the hooks due to the two trebles. They are also excellent for catching mulloway. Other species that can be expected include bream, trevally, whiting, flounder and blackfish. All of these species are playing the game and anglers are getting great results whether fishing baits or lures. The bream and whiting are really starting to zone into surface presentations – again this is a great way to fish, it’s a visual and highly exciting form of angling. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but if you haven’t tried surface lure fishing you should give it a go.

I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised with the results! On the beaches, fishing hasn’t been red-hot, mainly due to the recent low swell. Those fishing the low light periods have come away with salmon, bream, and whiting. When it’s tough on the beaches try and downsize your tackle and use fresh bait if you can. The fish are there but become wary when there’s not much cover from white-water so a different approach is needed. You will be surprised what little changes like this will do to your catch rates. Beaches that have fished well include Haycock, Tura, and North Tura. There’s a solid gutter at the northern end of North Tura beach near Bournda Island that is definitely worth a look. Mulloway and gummy shark are also possible, fish those moonlit nights on a flooding tide for you best chance of catching one. The rock-hopping brigade have done it tough, especially those targeting drummer and blackfish. Little or no wash makes it difficult but expect that to change when the conditions become more suitable. If you’re after the pelagic species you will be a happy little angler as bonito

Stu Walker with a few quality bream from the shallows taken on plastics. have already turned up a long with some monster salmon to 5kg. Casting chrome lures is the best method as the fish are travelling through quickly from headland to headland. There are still kings to be caught, but they have slowed up a bit over recent weeks. However, this should change in the near future. Offshore it’s business as usual, with the bottom bouncing brigade finding plenty of flathead from the 35m line. Bags have been caught quite easily of late and I can’t see that changing

anytime soon. If you’re after snapper you will be happy as these fine table and sport fish have continued to chew on most reefs. The reds these days are a year round proposition but the summer months tend to see a lot of school fish around the 1-2kg mark caught and not many bigger models conquered. That’s ok though, as what they lack in size they make up for in numbers. The better reefs are Whitecliffs, Long, and Horseshoe with squid, pilchards, and soft plastics all working a treat.

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DECEMBER 2015

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Boom time in Tassie TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

December is here and I am excited! The fishing in Tasmania has been kicking off over the last couple of months, but December is when it really starts to ramp up across the board. In a year when seasons have been completely topsy-turvy, I am hesitant to make any bold statements. However, December is when I start to get excited about mako sharks and striped tuna. Who gets excited about striped tuna? I do! They are fantastic for a number of

reasons and this month, I will outline why. We will also go into some mako techniques and where to target them. With this style, fishing berley is essential, so I’ll also touch on that. Mako sharks are our adrenalin fish here in Tasmania and there is plenty of that on tap when you see and hook one. Hooking the tasty grey torpedos is just the start of the adventure and we will go through some tips to keep everything under control and safe. Yes it’s getting warmer in December, but that heat can bring sea breezes that can be a pain to fish in for

NORTH WEST TASMANIA Montague and the Stanley area are jewels in the crown of the North West coast and a closely guarded secret. I like my house not burnt to the ground so I won’t go into any great detail. The fishing on its day is spectacular and the fish across all species are Jurassic. Gummy sharks provide good fun and are great table fare right across the region. A keen angler with good knowledge of his or her sounder will pick up some very interesting ground. The interest here will be in trying for some snapper or yellowtail kingies around the tide changes. These fish love a bit of water movement. The tidal flows are significant in this area so make sure you respect that and be very mindful should you venture that way. King George whiting and blue-spot flathead can be targeted in the sandy shallows in and around the Montague and Stanley areas. Where they turn up will surprise you, and using soft plastics with an

active tail will bring them undone. Don’t be scared to use an action on your plastic that kicks up a bit of sand and pause. The inlets as you go into Stanley are great places to target salmon and flathead, but again be wary of the tide. Targeting whiting has improved lately in Tasmania. The age old method of fishing at anchor with a fine berley trail still holds true. Be sure to use a rig specifically for whiting, as they have small mouths and at times are known to be finicky feeders. Catching whiting on soft plastics is becoming more and more popular and the plastics with a worm like nature and a finesse tail seems to do well. Topwater fishing for whiting in the shallows is also a new passion for some, and while I have never had a go myself, I can see the allure. We can’t all afford a fancy trip abroad chasing bonefish in Aitutaki. Whiting in the shallows on lures or fly could be the poor mans’ bonefish! Sisters Beach and the Wynyard area can expect

the month. The schools of Australian salmon have been fantastic in the past few months with November seeing some bigger units find their way off the North West coast. December has us hoping there may be some yellowtail kingfish under and with them. Snapper are on anglers’ minds, and with the holiday season approaching we will have a look at spots to target them around the state. Speaking of around the state, let’s have a quick look at what’s biting and where we might expect to find some fish. the flathead to move in to shallower depths and on most days of good weather a couple of drifts will find them. If the weather is fantastic and sea conditions favourable, heading out to some deeper water can find you some tiger flathead to play with. In closer and the southern calamari can still be found back up to Rocky Cape and right through to Doctors Rocks and Emu Bay. Gummy sharks will be lurking in good numbers so if you find one while fishing for flathead, put a mark on your sounder for next time to come out and target specifically. The shallower areas around the base of Table Cape and the grounds seaward to 20m will also be areas where a concerted effort will find snapper. Use your sounder to find hard wrasse style bottom that transitions to a patch of rubble or sand for a spot to start. These fish need some preparation and a good amount of patience. It’s going to take a few trips, so tough it out and you will eventually crack the code. To get started, you should anchor and start a

Three heads are better than one when it comes to family fun. 66

DECEMBER 2015

King Island Flinders Island

Sisters Beach Wynyard

BURNIE

3 6

DAVONPORT St Helens LAUNCESTON 8

SOUTHERN SAND FLATHEAD Marion Bay......................... 1 Mercury Passage................ 2 Wynyard............................. 3 Sisters Beach...................... 4 Bridport.............................. 5 Port Sorrel.......................... 6 King or Tiger Flathead Off Pirates Bay................... 7 Bicheno............................... 8 Off Schouten....................... 9 Tomahawk.........................10

berley trail. Attach a medium sized berley bucket to a light rope and once the boat has settled back on the anchor drop it down vertically. Cast your lines out in a fan shape at the stern and place them in a rod holder. At this point start to send out your pre cut cubes of fish flesh. Just a little bit at a time. You can use pilchards from a tackle store or some fish pieces you have in the freezer from past catches. Thumbnail-size pieces with the odd bigger one every now and then is the way to go. While you are waiting for a snapper to buckle your rod, you can cast a soft plastic out and work it back to the boat. The 4 and 3” Berkley Gulp Nemesis is prime for this. You can also use a rod with a snapper catcher rig in the rod holders at 90° to the boat, to allow the movement of the boat to work the attractors. Your boat may well look like a porcupine from afar but you will be maximising your attack and prospecting effort. The coastal towns of Ulverstone and Devonport come alive in December and offer similar fishing to that further along the coast. They are both situated on rivers that hold trout in the upper reaches and multiple species in their estuaries. Ulverstone can be a good spot to spin for salmon on both the west and east breakwaters. I find half tide on the incoming is best, and also the start of the run-out. The blue seawater filling the river will slow

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No need to eat the rod anymore, a trophy striped trumpeter will fill the fridge. the rivers natural outgoing current and the salmon will be looking to feed. A longer rod of 2m or more is best with lighter braid or mono to 10kg. This will allow you to cast a long way, but also be in the game should something better grab your slice lure or soft plastic. Covering some ground with your lure is the key. Start up against the bank and work around at 20° increments until you’re up against the other shore. Vary your rod tip height to allow you to work the deeper water when down low and avoid snags when working shallower water. Change your retrieve speed from time to time and vary between a slow roll wobble and a quicker fleeing bait speed. Devonport has similar areas at its river mouth to cast for Australian salmon and often has some big schools in the area in December. They can also be accessed by boat and

provide great sport. The area around the Bluff is a hot spot for fishing. Always be careful when fishing from the bank, and even more careful when fishing from the rocks. The squid are in abundance in these spots as well; so always have a few jigs on hand. The Bluff area and the rocks to the west are a great place to rock hop and calm sea conditions can be rewarding. It is a platform to hone your rock fishing skills and use some more advanced techniques to find fish. Up the Mersey River, the family friendly area around Horsehead creek can provide hours of fun for kids and on occasion supply some fish of decent size for the table. The deeper water can have a strong current flow, so heavy sinkers should be on hand. Target species include salmon, flathead,

Go Behind the Scenery silver trevally and cod. The Tamar area has been fishing well and all areas will fire in December. This is the traditional home of snapper in Tasmania, and the bigger reds feature early in the season in the shallower water. The school-sized fish tend to swarm up later in the month. King George whiting are found in good numbers in and around the estuary

at Low Head. Low Head is a squid hot spot and I spoke to local Brett Johnstone, who shared some of his experiences. The summer days are slowly appearing. The days are getting warmer, and if you’re hoping to target squid this summer here are a few small tips to improve your squid fishing. Firstly, spend the money on a quality squid jig. The

cheap jigs ($2-5) may look good, however, paying that extra $15-20 will ensure they have a good swim in the water and that they sink perfectly. Paired up with a low diameter 8-10lb fluorocarbon, your chances of catching a squid will increase dramatically. Squid have incredibly good eyesight and I have consistently out fished anglers using 20lb mono.

When targeting squid, search for good weed beds. Low Head break wall is a common place to catch squid for the shore-based anglers. Other places include Kelso Beach and Clarence Point (Garden Island). Sunset and sunrise are the best time to fish for squid, as this is their most common feeding time. For maximum catch rates, try to match the sunrise or sunset with the top of a tide.

When fishing for squid cast your lure and allow the jig to sink deep. Many anglers don’t often allow enough time for the lure to sink into the strike zone. Once the jig is sitting on the bottom, slowly raise the rod tip and bounce the jig 50-60cm off the bottom once or twice. Raising the jig off the bottom and giving it action will allow squid in the area

to see your lure and come chasing. As the lure glides back to the bottom, squid will usually attack the jig and hook up. Keep constant pressure on the jig as squid have very soft flesh and when given slack line, they unhook easily. So there you go, follow a few of these little tricks and hopefully you will have a feed of calamari in no time.

Low Head land-based squid bring the smiles for miles.

“so show me how this electric reel works?” should there be one on board. Mako sharks and albacore will be on everyone’s mind and news they have arrived will motivate the masses. It’s a little early in December for them. Bicheno is a coastal destination that offers so many jewels that often go unnoticed to most. There are a number of things in this little towns favour. The shopping centre is close to the accommodation and the accommodation is close to the boat ramp, in turn the boat ramp is close to the shelf. Everything is close. The shelf is not the only reason to hit Bicheno for a weekend of fishing, but it does hold some attraction. Albacore at this time of year will be on the shelf but putting lures in just after the 100m mark may have you find some fish. Troll towards the shelf and look for any surface action as you go. Hitting the shelf at 90° as it runs north to south will have you in the deep

water and hopefully finding a temperature break or current holding albacore. They’re great sport and eating, just remember to bleed them as soon as you can and place in an ice slurry if possible. Like most fish, if looked after right from the time they hit the deck, the eating quality is tenfold from something that has laid out in the sun with its guts in all day. If you are working a patch over in a smaller area, cleaning them on the go and placing the fillets in the esky can have a mako turn up out of the blue. This has happened to us a number of times and always makes for a good day out. Albacore and mako in the fridge is a great result. Tiger flathead are in good numbers off Bicheno and seem to hoard up at this time of year. Last year we pulled up on some really goodlooking sounder readings that I had picked for some possible stripey trumpeter. It turned out to be a cluster of big sized tigers.

berley making machines. The other option is to have some whole fish like salmon and striped tuna kept from previous trips and frozen in the freezer. Take them out the night before and have them soft enough to break down by hand on the bait board and cut up into the finest cubes. You will find that the resultant ‘goop’ and cubes you have made will be a great start. This is hard work and is probably the reason why the processed stuff you can buy is a popular choice. Any combination of these can be used as you will need a lot of berley to put together a decent trail. Don’t forget the tried and true method of the manual berley pot on the back of the transom. The amount of berley you need will depend on where you decide to try your luck. I say luck, as with any fishing, there is a fair degree involved! Sure, you could be lucky enough hook up and see one at the back of the boat, but this is uncommon, and quite exciting. You normally have the head down readying berley pots and getting some oil and cubes

in the water. Tying off ropes and sorting rods, and then you look up and hey presto! This is when you need to have a neat and tidy boat, as I will explain later. Where to start In Bass Strait it can be a longer wait time than the East Coast or down the South East. Around 6 hours worth of berley is a rough guide for the Strait and 4 hours on the shelf. If it’s a good drift and conditions are favourable my bottom lip will start to drag after 3 hours in the Strait and if we haven’t seen something in the trail on the shelf in 2 hours I am having a sook. Get your berley over the side and start the process. Your chosen berley option should be going out nice and steady and on occasion, drop a few cubes over. Fish oil is often used, it’s a good option and has the added bonus of showing how your trail is going. Soaking fish pieces and a bucket off chook pellets makes a great medium for pulling the oil down through the water column

EAST TASMANIA Georges Bay will fire and any visit to St Helens should include a rod and reel in the car. A weekend away in the coastal village will not disappoint and there are plenty of options available. Land-based fishos have a great deal of choice fishing spots from the many beaches or rocky shores. Boat anglers love the bay for its variety of species; it really is amazing. The bream and silver trevally fishing is a genuine highlight. High up on the flats, in and around the oyster racks and in the deeper water will give soft plastic addicts a buzz. On the Northern side on high tide, there are some bays where the salmon fishing is tremendous. They can come up and feed with gusto in the late arvo and into the daylight savings evening. Little kids and big kids (like me) get excited as they smash the surface in numbers. Heading over and gaining position on them, as well as trying not to spook them, is crucial. No need to get fancy here. Light gear and a good old-fashioned metal slice lure. Cast your offering over the back of them, whip it through, and it’s go time! It’s super fun on the lighter gear as they get some good sized models in the bay. If for some reason you don’t have any luck on the slice, step it up a gear and slow roll a 3 or 4” Berkely Gulp Nemesis in the colour bleak. The salmon

will be slashing across the water to get at the lure. Get in store and check them out for yourselves. Whiting and garfish will keep anglers on their toes and those who use berley and dedicated hooks for the task will do quite well. Both species have small mouths and the use of small long shank hooks will increase your catch rates. The beach fishing from The Gardens area can be sensational with a mixed bag of species. There are also plenty of spots to try a bit of beach fishing to the north all the way down to Scamander. Heading up the river at Scamander and you’ll find the bream. It’s finding where they are that will keep you on your toes. They could be high up the river in the deeper sections or sprawled out down towards the shallows. Keep looking and don’t get despondent, they are there. Offshore at St Helens and anglers will be looking for striped trumpeter and further out on the shelf for blue eye trevalla. Deep sea rigs with 3 circle hooks and big eggbeater spinning reels get the job done. Alvey reels and deck winches are a great way to go if you don’t have access to electric reels. It’s a big day fishing for blue head in deep water with 8000 or bigger sized reels and it’s easy to see why electrics have found favour. Even the most arduous traditionalist will be saying

SOUTH TASMANIA The massive amount of waterways available to the south continues to amaze me as we fish and find more and more fantastic areas. Steaming out of Triabunna and heading south through Mercury passage, you will be driving past many areas that are worth a fish. Moving between the mainland of Tasmania on your right and Maria Island on your left has you traversing over and past bays and sandy areas that hold a great number of fish. Drifting for flathead will turn over the odd gummy shark and keep you on you toes, as kingfish have a fascination

for just rocking up and saying “hello boat”. I always have a rod with an unweighted bait ready to go or a soft plastic with plenty of tail action. The bait for this is a squid tentacle or long silver slither of fish fillet. Smaller boats looking to find a feed of flatties can find them in Fredrick Henry Bay. We usually launch from the beach at Lauderdale to the Eastern end of Ralphs Bay canal, or another beach launch at Cremorne. Across the other side of the bay there are also a number of launch options at Dodges Ferry and Primrose Sands.

Tasmania

OFFSHORE The weather will encourage more boats on the water and more people looking to find something of interest. More eyes scouring the water surface for a bird feed or dolphins with some bait bailed up. These things will give December a real good chance of being the month the albacore turn up. Albacore time is generally a little bit later in the year, but we’ve already seen a few amberjack. Yes, that’s right, amberjack are turning up and being caught on the East Coast at Ansons Bay in November, who knows what may happen! I am going to stick my neck out and make a big call. The added interest in game fishing currently and with all the exciting captures of last year I am going to call game fishing season 2016 as an absolute belter. The broadbill swords will be right on peoples’ minds and with some holiday leave and a bit of time on the water, expect to see some captures late December. Mako sharks will be what it’s all about offshore right now as we scream

towards the end of another year and look forward to a visit from Santa. Mako fishing made simple You have seen a lot written about mako shark fishing and I have shared some details before on these pages. The new season is coming and I thought I might scale it down and make it simple for all to understand. Tasmania is very lucky to have a great mako shark fishery and to keep it we must only take what we can eat and look at tagging, or simply release after a few photos. This will be a simple overview, but by following it will hold you in good stead to come across something to dance with within a few trips. Berley It’s a must. It’s the cornerstone of attracting a shark to your boat. You will have a heap of people that say they have some good marks for mako, but these are not crucial. What is crucial is the amount of berley and the quality of it. You can purchase berley from tackle stores or you can make your own. Some people get right into it and build all sorts of crazy

To page 68

DECEMBER 2015

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania From page 67

as they sink. Now you can ready the gear and be set should a mako turn up. How many baits should you put out you ask? Well, this can be nearly as big a discussion as what dual cab to buy! Some will say 3 baits out, some will say one on a balloon and others will want to wait to see the shark at the back of the boat and then decide what to throw at it. These are all valid options at certain times. Let’s just say I am talking about three people who have not

the balloon out the back as the shark may circle back and pick that one up as you are clearing the other. Now we are at the stage where I can stress having a tidy and well laid out boat. Shark fishing is exciting and when it all starts to happen it happens in a hurry. By having all the gear you are going to need close at hand yet stored neatly, you are going to avoid bust offs and also possible injury. You are going to have berley bucket and nets coming back over the side, rods stowed and

FACT BOX November saw new catch and size limits introduced in Tasmania and I expect there will be some leniency shown for a short time frame. It would be best advised to get on top of the amendments. Information booklets are available form tackle stores. For all the information visit http://dpipwe.tas. gov.au/sea-fishing-aquaculture/sustainablefisheries-management/fishery-reviews/ scalefish-management-plan-amendments-2015

caught a mako before and are very keen to harvest one for food. In this case, you should put out two baits. Put a whole squid or a big fillet out the back on a trace and where you have attached the trace to your main line, tie a balloon. Feed this out the back of your boat about 40m and set up another. This bait can be the same, only I usually attach a 4oz snapper sinker via a rubber band and drop down 30m. To get that sorted, sit the rod in a rod holder with the tension off the reel and pull line from the rod tip and out across your body at arm’s length 30 times. That will be close enough. Should a mako be super aggressive and swim straight up to the stern of the boat, clear the deep-set line first. Leave

gaffs readied. If you have a rod that has been in a holder with the drag set light to allow line to be taken, let that happen. If a shark takes either set bait, let it. We will assume you are using an offset J hook and that will need a little time to get down and find a spot to lodge. As a very broad idea of time, a minute is long enough. The shark will have had plenty of time to get the bait down deep enough to hopefully find a spot to hook up as you strike. The deckie will have cleared the deck, the angler will be getting set in the corner of the boat and the skipper will have helped do a few quick jobs to clear the deck and make his way to the helm. This is why I say 3 is a good number

to go shark fishing when not experienced. This will become more evident when it’s time to boogie. Never fight a mako from a dead boat! Once makos get wind that something is not 100% normal, they will get crabby - real crabby. Picture the level of crabby you are dealing with as a powerful torpedo of muscle with pin sharp teeth. Next minute, it’s as green as grass, angry as all hell and lands at your feet in the boat. Not cool! To save all disaster and embarrassment once the angler has rod in hand, the skipper has a short time to get to the helm and start the outboard. Once that has been started and idling, he or she can clear some more gear and wait for the command from the angler to ‘trundle off’. This means just to idle off and get some distance between boat and mako. The line will still be paying out and the mako will think all is cool. What you will be doing is taking out the slack line between fish and rod tip so when he decides to strike he has good purchase on hook set. Once you decide to set the hook. Wind up tight getting rid of any slack there may be and lift the rod tip smoothly and firmly a couple of times. All things going well, this is when it gets interesting. The fish will pull off line and as it speeds up will probably jump. They love to jump and some will go clean bananas. Fight the fish how you would any fish; smoothly and with constant load on the fish through a nice bend in the rod. Short lifts of the rod with quick winds of the handle when things get bogged down. The length of the fight will depend

on the fish itself, but first timers are advised that the first time the fish is at the side of the boat is not always the best time to gaff the fish. Playing the fish out and wearing him down before a gaff shot is a great idea! Dancing shoes Once you decide to harvest the fish and do the mako samba, get everything in place. In all but the smallest of makos, flying gaffs are required. They allow you to get the fish away from your boat while they do their little dance and negate anyone getting smashed in the head with the pole when they roll. Tie the end of the flyer off to a very strong part of the rear of the boat. The skipper can have the boat traveling just off the plane down sea as this makes things a lot easier. I prefer to gaff a mako in the head and take out some gill and hopefully a main artery. Keep pressure on the gaff rope at all times and if the situation gets heavy, you can let the shark to the rear of the boat to thrash some energy out, getting a tail rope on the fish or another gaff is the priority at this stage. Once you have the fish subdued you should push a stout bladed knife vertically into the top of the head just behind the eyes. This can be done a few times and at the side of the boat. Once you are satisfied the fish is ready to come aboard, have some eskis or tackle bags ready to form a wall. You should never assume a mako shark is dead until he is bagged up in your freezer. This is why I stress to keep some barrier between where you lay the fish for transport home and yourself as they

Snapper can be a tricky nut to crack in Tassie, but if you stick at it, you’ll have handfuls of red in your boat! can flail and twist in the boat as if they are still alive for a long time. The tail can break your leg and the teeth only have to brush past in an instant to cause some considerable damage. Once in the boat and on solid footing you can again use that stout knife on top of the fish’s head. Celebrating Now you can smash

out some high fives and lay down a few hugs. It’s a job well done and the freezer will be brimming with some very nice flesh. There are so many other bits and pieces that can be discussed and teased out with mako fishing… but getting out and finding your own groove is definitely the best way to becoming a better mako angler.

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

Metres from full

Comment

Lake Augusta ...................................2.66 .......................................................Steady Arthurs Lake ....................................2.71 .......................................................Steady Great Lake .......................................15.69 .....................................................Steady Trevallyn Pond .................................0.5 ......................................................... Falling Shannon Lagoon ..............................0.14 .......................................................Steady Penstock Lagoon .............................0.2 .........................................................Steady Lake Echo ........................................6.59 .......................................................Steady Dee Lagoon .....................................0.07 .......................................................Steady Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah .............1.19 ........................................................Rising Bronte Lagoon .................................0.96 .......................................................Steady Pine Tier Lagoon ..............................2.57 .......................................................Steady Little Pine Lagoon ............................0.52 .......................................................Steady Laughing Jack Lagoon ....................1.02 .......................................................Steady Lake St Clair ....................................1.94 .......................................................Steady Lake King William ............................4.18 .......................................................Steady Lake Liapootah ................................0.51 ........................................................Rising Wayatinah Lagoon ...........................0.5 ..........................................................Rising Lake Catagunya ...............................0.33 ....................................................... Falling

Lake Repulse ...................................0.81 ........................................................Rising Cluny Lagoon ...................................0.91 ....................................................... Falling Meadowbank Lake ..........................0.26 ....................................................... Falling Lake Pedder ....................................1.45 .......................................................Steady Lake Gordon ....................................37.63 .....................................................Steady Lake Burbury ...................................8.37 .......................................................Steady Lake Plimsoll ...................................3.29 .......................................................Steady Lake Murchison ...............................17.17 .....................................................Steady Lake Mackintosh .............................5.52 .......................................................Steady Lake Rosebery .................................0.39 .......................................................Steady Lake Pieman ....................................2.8 ......................................................... Falling Lake Mackenzie ...............................3.96 .......................................................Steady Lake Rowallan .................................1.6 .........................................................Steady Lake Parangana ...............................1.5 .........................................................Steady Lake Cethana ...................................1.43 .......................................................Steady Lake Barrington ...............................2.05 .......................................................Steady Lake Gairdner ..................................1.67 .......................................................Steady Lake Paloona ...................................1.16 .......................................................Steady Woods Lake .....................................1.51 .......................................................Steady Whitespur Pond ...............................8.02 .......................................................Steady Lake Newton ...................................4.24 .......................................................Steady Lake Margaret .................................7.48 .......................................................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

DECEMBER 2015

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

TROUT Daniel Hacket and his wife Simone have an awesome little flyfishing store in Launceston at 29 The Kings Way. If you are in the area make it a definite point to visit. Even if you only have the slightest interest in fly fishing, the experience is rewarding. They both are available to guide around the state’s amazing trout waters and often have tutorials in store. Daniel offered some tips and tried to bust a few trout myths. Mythbusters – excuses or fishy trends Too windy, not windy enough, wrong wind direction, too bright, too dull, too wet, too dry: excuses—or are they? Farmers and fishing guides have two things in common: firstly, they’re both in the weather every day, working with Mother Nature. Secondly, both groups will tell you that the animals in their lives all react differently according to subtleties and variences of wind direction, atmospheric pressure and lunar cycles. In the case of fishing guides and experienced anglers, you can add a list of hatch and water level factors to the nuances of Mother Nature, vagaries that become plausible excuses at the end of a tough day. After the question of weather patterns and their effects on fishing came up on the FlyLife Internet forum, I thought it might be a good time to do a bit of myth-busting with the aid of my fishing diary. Myth 1: Frontal weather systems shut the fish down! The facts: There’s no doubt about it, my fishing diary shows a strong positive correlation between

that the easterly is a terrestrial fishing wind. I would hate to be on the Lower Macquarie or on the western side of Arthurs Lake looking for dun feeders, and the fish will act differently in many waters – but put me on the eastern shore of Great Lake or on a river in Tassie’s North Eastern Highlands, and I’d be having a ball on terrestrial falls. Easterly is a terrestrial wind at the lakes, probably because it is usually warm (follows a high pressure system), bringing winged beetles, cicadas and ants out of the scrub and onto the water. On the rivers, easterlies can bring humid conditions over the North East in particular, as afternoon northerly sea-breezes collide with warm easterlies forming thunderheads over the North Eastern Highlands—perfect ant-fall conditions. Easterlies are a poor mayfly wind however. Myth 3: Waters fish better when they are on the rise! The facts: The subjects of this myth needs to be separated into four sections to match the results: lakes, lowland rivers, tailrace rivers and freestone/fastwater streams. The simple answer is that for the first three waters (lakes, lowland rivers and tailraces) there is clear and well defined positive correlation between the fishing and rising water levels: Myth-proven! The anomaly within this trend is found on the faster freestone and headwater river sections, where fishing often shuts down on a quickly rising water. The explanation for this is pretty easy really: in these rivers, a rising water level often leaves the fish fighting massive rough-and-tumble currents, without the advantage of

case when hoppers, cicadas and beetles are about—I would definitely say Myth-busted as a rule. The exception is when the wind is gusting and the direction is ever changing. During these conditions on the lakes, wind-lanes carrying and concentrating the food are broken-up and dispersed, while foamlines and seams on the rivers doing a similar job are blown apart and food dispersed. In relation to making casting too difficult, time and time again I find that wind is more psychological in effect—the angler pushes the rod harder, which leaves them casting bigger, less effective loops. My tip is to relax, rely on timing and technique to cast tight-loops, master the wind, and harness the opportunities it can create. Myth 5: Full moon at night is bad for the next day! The facts: Fish love to feed at night, it’s safer, and a full moon offers ideal conditions. Trout cruise the moonlit waters, picking up buggy flotsam and jetsam like gum beetles at the lakes and corbi moths on the rivers during summer. This can result in a shadow of dull fishing into the next morning when the fish take a break, more likely than not just to digest the previous evening’s all-you-caneat servings. Based on these conditions, I would say with confidence Myth-proven. I don’t let it deter me though, as there is always a sneaky, fat trout or two willing to hang around into morning for ‘just one more wafer’ of food, and by midday the fish are out and about, again reassuming their normal activities.

Left: December means sunny days and lots of insects. Right: Big lake trout feeding around the edges are a summer specialty. frontal systems heading onto the island (Tasmania), and decreased catch rates. Experiences also show that trout aren’t the only animals affected by incoming frontal systems – cattle and sheep surrounding the rivers lay in a daze among their pastures, terrestrial displays of the same lethargy apparent in the aquatic world. From this evidence it is easy to pronounce mythproven—but wait for the fine print. If you move to the next column over, detailing the number of takes (fish that eat the fly) for the day, the numbers are often close (within 20%) to that of an average day. The problem is that trout ‘nip’ the flies more often in these conditions, so more are missed or lost. On top of this, less trout are seen actively feeding, rather they are found hidden among undercut banks, reluctant to travel more than a foot for a well presented fly. The upside is that by using a few tactics for the conditions, the fishing can be almost as good. By focusing on polaroid-fishing, the fish that are still feeding can be found easier, and subtle takes can be better capitalised on by using quick, almost instantaneous strikes. Strip-strikes work best (lift the rod with one hand and strip line with the other for a super quick strike). I like canopied rivers on these days as the polaroiding is always reliable in the glare-free shelter of the trees, and fish populations are usually comparatively higher leading to more chances. Myth 2: The fish bite least when the winds blow from the east! The facts: As with myth 1, myth 2 affects the fishing strategies, but not the fishing possibilities. This one is definitely Myth-busted! Flicking through my diary pages, it becomes obvious

being able to move out onto fertile floodplains filled with drowned insects to grow fat on. Therefore, floods are a serious event for a lot of fastwater inhabitants rather than a trigger for feeding activity. Myth 4: Lots of wind is bad! The facts: If you fish in Tasmania, you’re fishing on a small island in the middle of a massive ocean, so strong wind is a probability rather than an exception to the rule. From my diary entries, the resultant fishing is related to the consistency of the wind strength and direction rather than strength. Given that the wind speed is under 20-25 knots (less than 50km/h), with a constant direction and steady speed, great fishing can still be had. This is particularly the

Tasmania is a perfect place to throw some perfect loops.

Myth 6: Overcast conditions are best for mayfly feeder fishing opportunities! The facts: Some of the most memorable lake-based dun hatches in my diary have all occurred during drizzly conditions. The best have been during January in the Western Lakes, with a soft rain falling. With that noted, there has been dozens and dozens of awesome mayfly hatches and spinner falls during bright days, particularly on the rivers, complete with excellent rises. Based on this I would definitely proclaim Mythbusted! When a mayfly nymph swims to the surface and hatches into a winged dun, it is on a race against to the clock. With inoperable mouth parts, the dun is racing to shed yet another layer of skin, turn into a spinner and reproduce, all before dying of dehydration. Dull days keep duns on the water for longer as their wings dry slower, giving the possible appearance of more mayfly than a dry day would when duns leave the water after a couple of seconds. The mayfly survive longer in overcast conditions, but bright days have their own set of advantages: during bright conditions, polaroiding is at its best. I would confidently say that your chances of catching a fish increase by 90% if you can spot and target a specific fish, so these polaroiding opportunities are not to be ignored, and offer a major tactical advantage. The mayfly still hatch just as much on bright days on the lowland rivers as they would in dull conditions, so relish both conditions if you’re looking for mayfly feeders. Well, there you go, a bit of myth-busting. Remember, most of the detrimental conditions can be overcome by adjusting your tactics and destinations for the day – Daniel Hackett, RiverFly Tasmania. DECEMBER 2015

El Nino taking effect HORSHAM

Trevor Holmes

With water levels currently lower than average compared to this time last year and no rain in sight, some waterways are really struggling and we may see some major losses of

lake itself is fishing very well with most anglers continuing to snare plenty of nice browns of the larger variety on mudeyes fished under bubble floats. The smaller fish released a couple of months ago continue to pack on the weight and are becoming harder to catch now as they

lot of boat action and some stocking by fisheries of larger rainbow ex-brood stock in preparation for the comps. Rainbows have been willing to take anything a bit flashy trolled or cast in the lower light times of the day but the browns once again are best targeted

Peter Lucas from Returned Servicemans Group, and part of the Heroes On The Water group landed this ripper Toolondo brown recently on a mudeye under a bubble float.

Jarrod Biles and the author fished the Australian Yellowbelly Championships at Lake Eildon last weekend and landed some great fish. They placed 7th from 33 teams. stocked and naturally bred fish this summer. Lake Lonsdale is at 0%, Toolondo is now back to 18%, Rocklands is still dropping rapidly for both environmental flows down the Glenelg and transfer of stock and domestic water to Taylors Lake. Other parts of the region are sitting pretty good including Wartook, Fyans and Bellfield. It’s just a shame that this massive investment in a desalination plant can’t be activated and piped to the Wimmera/ Mallee area to make the dryer parts of the state drought proof. There is work underway studying the logistics of it providing water north of the Great Dividing Range, but major infrastructure would have to be installed first. It’s very easy for some to take pot shots at the injection of water into Toolondo last year by the newly elected government and write it off as a waste, but the local economy and tourism was the real winner in that exercise. Without that, Toolondo would be well and truly finished as a fishery once again. Generating in excess of 15 million dollars per annum the small investment has well and truly been justified without jeopardising water security. LAKE TOOLONDO While water levels continue to drop and launching becomes a little harder for most, the 70

DECEMBER 2015

get wiser and familiar with their surroundings. There’s been some great afternoon surface action, and most anglers are reporting sensational aerial action as the bigger fish leap for dragonflies and damsels. A few smaller redfin are around, but as yet, the bigger fish haven’t shown up. The biomass of redfin hasn’t returned post drought and the glory days of bags of reddies may be gone. ROCKLANDS RESESRVOIR There’s still a few nice redfin taken, mainly on the troll using diving lures such as StumpJumpers and RMG Scorpions and Poltergeists. Working the trees and snags has been the best option for those looking for a feed. There’s not been a lot of action on the bait side of things and as the water drops rapidly, there won’t be any on its way. Once outflows stop the fish will bunch up a bit more and become active. Trout have been relatively easy to catch and I’ve taken several lately stalking the banks casting Tassie Devils, Pegron Tiger Minnows and soft plastics as these fish become hungry post spawn. The occasional bass has been landed both trolling and casting as the water temperature increases. LAKE FYANS With several major competitions coming up at Fyans, there has been a

also being landed but these seem to be just random fish here and there, rather than being schooled up. This may change as summer progresses and they should bunch up making it easier to get some numbers. TAYLORS LAKE With an inflow still happening it will be several weeks before Taylors settles down and produces the native fishing it is

Graeme Tomkins, who is 74 years old, took this lovely mudeye-crunching brown trout from Toolondo.

Tim visited from South Australia and this was the better of several redfin he landed at Rocklands. using gudgeon, minnows or mudeye fished under a float. A few reports of redfin taken, and some rippers too with fish of 5-6lb not uncommon. Soft plastics cast and retrieved in the shallows are doing the job on these big girls looking to spawn. LAKE WARTOOK Just starting to wake up and fire of late, Wartook has produced some patchy fishing for most. One day a delight and the next completely shut down, but those who persist are get good results. Rainbows and browns have been taken on the troll with a mix of surface and diving lures. Some great reddies

renowned for. Water clarity is the major drawback here for the trolling anglers with visibility virtually nil, the fish just aren’t seeing lures but rattling lures may provoke a strike. Bait fishing would be the preferred option but yellowbelly intended bait usually get scoffed by carp, silvers and small redfin.

A nice little Rocklands bass recently landed on dusk trolling a StumpJumper by Joe Straulig.

The cod opening should produce some very nice fish both trolling lures and using bait. WIMERA RIVER As water tempatures take a leap upwards, there’s been some great fishing for yellas in the river and most anglers have been doing very well. Town sections of the river have produced as well as the outer reaches, particularly out northwest towards Polkemmet. StumpJumpers and spinnerbaits slowly retrieved have done the damage with a few nice redfin also part of the catch. Cod have been landed and returned to the water, and it’s great to see anglers doing the right thing. I’ve heard of one cod around the 85cm mark, but many around the 40-60cm, so there’s some great potential heading into summer. • 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

Clearing up for the cod open ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

The Murray River has experienced a high flush of water in the run-up to the cod opening. This is most certainly an environmental push, and the dirty water has meant that most fish have been caught on bait. In truth, the poor water clarity has provided the perfect conditions for bait fishos, and those chasing the calm backwaters have had some very good catches of perch. All fish are opportunistic feeders and golden perch are no different as they scavenge the fringes of the backwater flows searching out an easy meal. Worms have been a favourite bait under such conditions and will generally tempt a bite over other baits. Under high water conditions

most fish will hold and feed out of the main flow where they can either sit and wait or move freely, unrestricted by heavy current. Here much of what they eat is delivered on the edge of the current line, falling to the bottom in the calmer backwaters. Golden perch freely patrol the calm and are quick to hone in on any fresh morsel delivered. Silver perch, too, will patrol these areas and can become quite annoying as they eat every bait that hits the water. Backwater can be found in many locations but those areas that roll close to snags are prime locations to start. Cast your baits to the small calm patches of water that generally sit close to the timber. If there are perch there, it won’t take long to get a bite and it’s nothing to pull several fish from the same spot. After the bite tapers off, seek out a new spot with similar features

and start again. A typical rig for perch will consist of a small ball sinker that runs directly to a number 2/0 hook. When you do get a bite from a fish, make sure to be patient, as perch will often mouth a bait before deciding to eat it. River shrimp and small yabbies are also excellent perch bait, as are the oversized scrub worms that are almost as thick as your finger. Smaller, undersized perch will sometimes swallow the hook right down. When this is the case just cut the line close to the fish’s mouth and release it. Most fish will pass the hooks with few problems. Of course, carp are ever present as the waters continue to warm and they too have enjoyed the high dirty flows. Remember not to leave these unwanted fish in piles on the bank as the smell is not that great

for other anglers fishing these locations. Carp make great yabby bait and garden fertilizer, other than that it’s not hard to dig a hole and bury them. It’s been a seemingly long wait but the cod season is once more upon us with plenty of angling options available for those eager to land a cod. The Murray River at Swan Hill is well worth a look and the cod fishing has continued to improve to no end over these past few seasons. Other bonuses include the close proximity of several other cod waters that include the Wakool and Edward rivers. Add to this the Kerang Lake system and you are smack bang in the middle of a cod fishing Mecca, and a lot if it has hardly been scratched. Boundary Bend is another spot that has continued to improve on the cod fishing scene these past few years. Regular

Gareth Lynch with a typical Murray cod most anglers will be trying to land this season. catches of smaller fish up to 90cm are a great sign for the future of this area. Robinvale, Euston, Wemen and beyond are all Murray River locations that continue to produce good captures most seasons. With the river on the fall it shouldn’t take long for the water clarity to improve and

the cod should once again start to smash lures. My advice is to get in early as it won’t take too many weeks to re-educate cod that have not seen lures for a while. Good luck for the cod open and I look forward to our next report and the multiple big fish captures I am sure it will contain.

Cod chasers now assemble MILDURA

John Menhennett goobyfish@hotmail.com

River levels have been relatively high and dirty during the spring months but have since steadied creating satisfactory conditions for luring. This summer is gearing up for fantastic fishing around Mildura, particularly for those targeting Murray cod in the mighty Murray River. Some very nice yellowbelly have been caught all around Mildura during the warm conditions, especially around Merbein and Apex Park and below Lock 9. The warmer the better it seems for catching yellowbelly, especially when humidity is high. These fish have mostly been caught on

bait, especially in the dirtier water, however lure fishos are experiencing some success now that the water has cleared up. Downsized lures intended for yellas have been working well around snags and clay banks. The biggest yella of late has been 54cm – a great river fish. Others have come in at the usual 33-48cm range, which is typical of summer yellowbelly. Smaller lures in the 50-70mm range work a treat on yellowbelly and vibration lures work very well around lock and weir structures. Spinnerbaits will become increasingly popular as the water clarity improves. Bassman ‘Yella-man’ series of spinnerbaits are the best lure for this situation as they are specifically designed to target this species. THE BIG MURRAY COD Murray cod season is upon us again and Mildura

anglers are looking forward to the action this season should bring. Anglers are reminded to be mindful when handling bigger fish in the summer heat before releasing. Have all of your releasing gear ready to go in the boat before a fish is even landed. Running a combination of 50lb braid and 50-60lb leader seems to be optimal for targeting big fish in the Murray. Lure size should range between 90-200mm in most colours and should be an essential part of the cod angler’s tackle box. Lighter tackle will also see you land the big one, but can tire big fish too much causing stress and higher rates of mortality. The best smaller lure, that specifically targets yellas, but doubles as an awesome cod lure too has been Koolabung 90mm Codbait. Koolabung lures have dominated previous cod seasons – the

120mm Codzilla is still the go to lure for big cod. Other lure makes such as Bassman Spinnerbaits, Muldoon and Balista should also be successful this season. Whatever your choice of lure or tackle, this is set to be a cracker of a cod season. Officially opening on Tuesday 1st December, a lot of local anglers will take their annual migration to Mulwala for the 2015 Classic, among other venues and camps along the river banks. Summer is a great time to fish for our special native species, but it is vitally important if you are heading out to carry the appropriate safety and medical gear appropriate to your crew and size boat being fished from. Maritime are also going to be out in force over the summer, so do everyone a favour and do the right thing when on the water.

Jack Menhennett, 7yo from Mildura, with a decent little summer yellowbelly. This fish was caught on a cocktail of shrimp and worm around the snags.

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(03) 5032 2320 DECEMBER 2015

Another day, another big cod! ECHUCA

Daniel Bongiovanni

Murray cod season is here and now’s the time to go out and chase those elusive monster fish. With summer cranking up, the water temp will be high and the cod should be active. There are many great spots around the Echuca area to catch Murray cod, with Barmah Lakes performing as a hot spot for the locals. The best method in these waters

is to troll shallow diving hardbody lures in and around the timber. Surface lures are always worth a try in the last couple of hours of light, just look for the shaded areas and the snags in shallow, slow running water. Bait fish in around the snags with grubs, yabbies, and cheese – just use a fairly heavy sinker in the fast running water. The fishing around Echuca town itself can be quite good too with plenty of river access for the bank fisherman or out of the

boat. Through the summer months, with irrigation in full swing and plenty of speedboats around, the water clarity can be down a bit, in which case it would be wise to use bright coloured lures – StumpJumpers, Oar-gees, AC Invaders and Koolabungs are all good lures to try. Down around the Torrumbarry area is a great place to pick up larger cod in the slow moving pool water with plenty of water around 6m or more. Deep diving hardbodies are the

best option, but casting spinnerbaits is always worth a try and the 1/2oz 5/8oz seems to be the best sizes to use. Remember to let them sink down into the snags and use a very slow retrieve back. The best times to be fishing in this area is late in the afternoon or early in the morning when the speed boats have eased up. Bait fishing is fine in this area, just remember to fish close to the snags and keep changing spots if you’re not getting a bite.

A decent Murray cod specimen caught on a spinnerbait. They are just waiting for you!

Cod fever approaches fast YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

It’s cod season! And that means cod fever down this way. Hand in hand with cod opening goes the iconic Cod Classic fishing tournament, and it’s shaping up to be the biggest ever, with the lure of a potential one million dollars on offer for whoever catches ‘Phil’, the specially tagged Murray cod – you would be crazy to miss it. Pack the boat, grab your gear and get yourself to the home of the Murray cod, Lake Mulwala as soon as possible so you don’t miss out. Early season fishing

should see all anglers in with a great chance of tangling with a legendary cod or two. Either by boat or from the bank, using bait or lures, the common denominator is patience equals return. You put in the time and the fish will come. Traditionally the river sees a lot of smaller cod caught while the lake will produce lesser numbers but of a better quality, especially for the lure fishers. Trying to excite you with what’s gone on with the yellowbelly fishing over the past month is nigh on impossible but it’s worth a mention. October remained steady with the expected run of yellas turning up earlier than in the past few years due to some unseasonal hot weather. Fishing the traditional local ‘hot spots’ became

more a game of lucky dip than skill, as anglers stood shoulder to shoulder taking turns at casting into the small honey hole. Even the ‘average Joes’ landed close to 30 yellas in a session with just as many missed. Deano Langford landed a stonker reportedly measuring close to the 60cm mark. Out and about further in the lake, Adam Thommo, Johnny Fry and George J were others who had productive outings. I dont’ condone targeting Murray cod out of season, but if they are a genuine by-catch, I’ll give them a mention. The amount of smaller cod reported has been encouraging and points to a great season ahead. The biggest and most unusual capture came from big Alan Jovanovic. Fishing around Bundalong, Alan was

slapping his lure on the water to remove some weed and in the process; a mighty cod of 90cm came from nowhere and took it directly beside the boat! I was witness to another unwanted but welcomed cod by-catch when Simon Weir got a fair surprise from a 78cm model that grabbed hold of his TN60 Jackall. A fun weekend’s fishing came in the form of the Golden Do$$ars fishing competition. Specifically, targeting golden perch with a strict set of rules to minimise Murray cod encounters. A whopping 62 anglers took to the waters in search of perch. After two 5-hour fishing sessions, a total of 33 yellas had been returned to scale for measuring and release. Team Whopper Stopper’s George and Alan Jovanovic got off to a great

FISHING FILL-ITS

Eade’s Xtreme Marine have you covered The towns of Echuca and Moama straddle the border of NSW and Victoria, and are separated by the Murray River. The river is the playground for many people who water ski, fish, or use the fleet of houseboats available to cruise around. Paul Eade, the owner of Xtreme Marine has been working in the marine

industry for over 25 years with much of that time spent establishing Xtreme Marine as a leader in the area for boat sales, outboard servicing and sales, boat repairs and much more. If you are unlucky enough to have a breakdown on the water, they also offer a mobile service on the river to get you up and going again. Xtreme Marine has made a move to larger premises not so long ago and are now

Paul has the full range of Mercury outboards available at Xtreme Marine.

The new premises has a large workshop area and plenty of room to service everything from the smallest to the largest boat. 72

DECEMBER 2015

at 24 Sturt Street in Echuca. They sell Savage Aluminium boats, Camero Ski boats and Harris Pontoon boats and are the Mercury dealer in the local area. I spent a number of hours on the water with Paul and his passion for all things boating was obvious. Going by the number of Mercury motors we saw while on the water, Paul’s passion and skills have been recognised

by the locals. He has an intimate knowledge of the local area and can provide the right advice to get you on the water enjoying everything the area has to offer. You can contact Paul and his team on (03) 5482 2333 or check out their website for their latest deals and offers www. xtrememarine.net.au Eade’s Xtreme Marine

Mark ‘Macca’ McDonald with the biggest yella from the recent Golden Do$$ars comp, stretching the tape out to 539mm. start landing four yellas in the first session to take the early prizes on offer. Team STORM’s Mark McDonald and myself had a good morning boating 3 quality fish for second place, while David and Zeke Adams of Team Grizzly finished close behind in third for their 3 fish. The arvo session was tough, as the fish had shut down. One fish could make or break you. Criss Crabb and Kyle Dalrymple of Team Dizzy Scent - Outcast had a super afternoon boating three to take out the afternoon session. Vanessa Bennett and Painter Rogers of Team Venom 2 boated two to secure second while Thomas Pinter and Dale O’Mara of Team Black Widow snuck into third. Ultimately Chris and Kyle boated four yellas for the day finishing a grand total of 16mm in front of George and Alan Jovanovic. On the back of Mark McDonalds biggest fish for the event measuring 53.9cm, Team STORM snuck into third place.

NEWS The rumour has been around for a while now that Lake Mulwala Fish Camp and Ski is opening a new store in Yarrawonga and it’s true! Our store is now open at Shop 1A 59-63 Belmore St located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street. Come in, say g’day and have a look at all the goodies we have to tempt you. • If visiting the Ya r r a w o n g a / M u l w a l a area, I urge you to call into one of Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski’s two locations, the shop with the big green cod out the front (Opposite the Post Office) in Mulwala and located between Rivers and One Zac in Yarrawonga. We are the region’s Murray cod specialists and specialize in all things green! Along with that, we are the official Cod Classic store. For any info on anything fishing that relates to the Yarrawonga Mulwala region give us a call on 0357 443133 or 0439 441 667

Cod fishing looks hot for summer SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

The Shepparton region was absolutely smashed by some wild weather in early November when a huge storm cell created heavy rain and winds that caused a lot of damage to campsites and local houses. The rain came at a bad time for a lot of local farmers who were desperate to get their harvest done before the rain. The only positive in this situation is that all rivers, dams and lakes got some fresh natural water flow which set the fish on fire. Days after the rain event, plenty of anglers headed out to the Broken River and had a field day targeting yellowbelly, who were extremely active. This is a good sign for the upcoming cod season with plenty of big healthy cod caught as by-catch in the Broken, it seems that no matter how hard you try to avoid them, cod inevitably strike as you target yellowbelly in the Broken and Goulburn Rivers. Last year was not the best season for cod fishing in the Broken River but let’s hope we receive some regular natural flow that keeps the water condition top notch. A lot of locals have targeted the weirs between Benalla and Shepparton, but the best reports are coming closer to both major towns with good fish caught mostly on spinnerbaits and worms within 10 minutes of both town centres. The Goulburn River has been fishing steady for this time of year and hopefully it maintains its standard greatness after the weeks of

flows made fishing almost impossible. There have been some good signs of fish caught towards Toolamba and downstream of the Shepparton boat ramp. Just take care when crossing under the bridge, as after the river rises there are plenty of banked up snags that can make it tricky to cross. Make sure you have a good look at the conditions under the bridge as the fast flowing water can get even the experienced boater in trouble. I tend to lift my motor up a tad and commit to a centre line but remember with the motor up you will have less steering control. Once through, fish the inlet to the back-waters which is about 500m from the bridge or continue downstream until you see the big sweeping bends. These bends hold a lot of good fish and there have been reports in late October and early November of yellowbelly up to 50cm caught and released in those exact locations. In December we will see an influx of land based and boaters on our waterways chasing the first big cod of the season. Some rain just prior to cod opening would make conditions almost perfect. Raftery Road area is top notch come cod opening and there are so many areas to fish and camp with dozens of big sandbars and sweeping bends if you’re in the boat. Moira Park is also a very good area. The banks can be steeper out there but both areas will be enjoyable for anglers of all skills. Trolling or casting the Old Mate and Codger lures have worked well in the Goulburn and that shouldn’t change. If you rather bait fish make sure

it’s fresh! WARANGA BASIN I ran out of time to contact my usual Basin locals to get a good report so I spoke to the boys at Trelly’s Tackleworld and they passed on this report. The Basin is still producing reddies up to 44cm and plenty around that 2-3lb mark have been caught. Both baits and lures are working well, probably more reports coming from scrubworms and yabbies dangled around the boats while casting a couple of plastics around to stir them up a little. Trolling RMG Poltergeists is effective once again, greens and trout patterns work well. Small blades are also working well either casting or jigging. KIALLA LAKES There were not too many reports this month from the Lakes but I snuck out there for a flick just after the storm on Melbourne Cup weekend. I managed three dropped fish but a young kid said he landed two yellowbelly casting Black and Purple Single Willow spinnerbaits around the willows. When Kialla Lakes was our local hot spot fishing before or after a storm was always the best time to target yellowbelly. If you find yourself fishing the Lakes this summer and you have any reports please pass them on as I always like to hear how it is going out there. SHEPPARTON LAKE Not too many cod or yellowbelly caught recently in the lake, but on a positive note the council has removed some of the weed that has been making fishing near impossible. There have been reports of trout caught on spinners around the big grass hill as well as on worms. The trout

are still around the 20-30cm mark and will easily stress out in the warmer months, so if you’re practising catch and release make sure you move quickly to get them back in the water. CRAIGMUIR LAKE Reports from Mooroopna’s little gem have been quiet lately, which may be due to more people fishing the rivers. The lake will start to slow down in coming months. October, November, March and April are the peak months for Craigmuir but it’s still worth a go if you are looking for a close redfin and yellowbelly fishery. FISHING COMPETITION SEASON The fishing competition season is now upon us with almost a new event held each week for the next four months. Competition season started earlier this year with the big Australian Yellowbelly Championships rolling into Eildon in mid-November. Local ‘Boats and More’ team – Simon Tate and Jacob Crow – finished 4th overall which is a great result among a very strong group of teams.

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Counting down for cod WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

What a wonderful spring we have had here in North East Victoria with possibly the best trout fishing we’ve had since the spring of 2010 when drought-breaking rains sent the trout on a feeding frenzy! The yellowbelly have been going nuts in the stocked waterways, and in the Ovens River catchment the main waterway for yellowbelly is Lake Sambell in Beechworth. Further afield

water is murkier and there seems to be more big cod thrown into the mix. In saying that, there are not a lot of large Murray cod in the Ovens River system. There are a few, and each year a couple of 100cm+ Murray cod get caught, but this is not a common occurrence. For the best chance of catching a trophy sized Murray cod in the Ovens River, head far downstream to the Bundalong area. Down there the river is backed up by Lake Mulwala so it is deeper and wider, is accessible by boat and larger

Sandy Hector with the largest cod that I have seen caught in the Wangaratta area last season. At 81cm it was 11cm bigger than my biggest for the season, which I caught on opening day last year. Cod this size are not common in the Ovens River catchment, however there are a few kicking around. at Lake Hume the fishing has been insane all spring. It’s certainly been a spring to remember, but now all eyes will be focussed on other, greener fish as we head into December! Tuesday 1 December heralds the start of the new cod season and keen anglers will be up early, ready to head out. Many anglers will be using annual leave like myself, some will be using sick leave, and some will have to go to work and just wait until the weekend! The Ovens and King rivers will fish well for cod all season. Unlike trout fishing, which seems to fluctuate with the seasons, Murray cod fishing tends to remain quite constant with every season being a good season. Obviously there are variables that can affect the fishing throughout the season, such as cool changes, sudden dips in the barometer, heavy rain and thunderstorms and so on, but on the whole the cod fishing will be good. The Ovens River is a fantastic river to fish for Murray cod. Downstream of Wangaratta is deeper, the 74

DECEMBER 2015

the Ovens River flows over a gravel bed and is much faster flowing and clearer. This is what many anglers call an upland waterway. There is a very healthy population of trout cod, which are now spawning naturally in the system, as well as a whole heap of Murray cod. Finding a large specimen of either species is a real challenge. Between Wangaratta and Myrtleford there are several access points and cod at each one of them. The river is teeming with smaller, undersized Murray cod. There are a lot of mouths to feed in that river. Due to its popularity the Ovens River is patrolled regularly by fisheries compliance officers, usually based in Wodonga, so don’t be tempted to keep a protected trout cod, or an undersized Murray cod, or you may land yourself in hot water. The King River is different river than the Ovens River, it is smaller and has limited access. It’s not good kayak water as there are many trees fallen across the entire narrow river bed, and as for boating… don’t even consider it! There are not many trout cod in the King River, but there are plenty of Murray cod. The best access is upstream of Moyhu at a very large and very popular camping ground known as the Edi cutting. The water there is very clear, wading is easy and there are stacks of cod in that area. Downstream in the lower reaches around Wangaratta

The lower King River experience. Private property, phalaris grass and tiger snakes. The cod are there, but not in the same numbers as the Ovens River. I prefer the King River due to the peace and quiet it offers, but if I head out specifically to get a few cod photos, I head to the Ovens where it is easier to get a few runs on the board.

Small cod like this seem to be in plague proportions in the Ovens River at the moment. It’s not until I replace my large cod lures with small hooks baited with worms to catch carp in the closed cod season that I realise just how many of these actually are in the river. There are no cod stocked into the Ovens River catchment and hasn’t been for many years, they’re all natural recruiting. in November (and there is some forecast) we may get an awesome December for trout fishing. If we get poor rainfall, December trout fishing will be very tough. Lets run with the worst case scenario: we get little rain. Make sure you head up into the headwaters of whatever trout stream you

are fishing in search of the best flow of cooler, welloxygenated water. This is where the trout will be the most active, particularly during the heat. Mornings and evening will be the best. Avoid the hottest times of the day as the trout will often sit down deep and sulk. Lakes Buffalo and

William Hovell will both be worth hitting up for a feed of redfin during December, with yellowbelly a possibility as by-catch in Lake Buffalo. There may be a trout or two lingering in Lake William Hovell, but with the warmth in the air, I would imagine they will be down deeper than most of your lures will dive!

Lakes Buffalo and William Hovell will both be worth fishing for redfin during December, so too will Lake Sambell in Beechworth. cod get caught far more frequently. Between Wangaratta and Bundalong there are several public access points where anglers can access the Ovens River and launch a kayak, or even a small boat in some places. Large sections of these lower reaches are now bound by the Warby Ovens National Park, so no guns or pets are allowed, but you can still camp. Upstream of Wangaratta

the King River is not a popular fishing area due to its limited access, overgrown banks and very healthy tiger snake population. The cod are there, but you need a high level of dedication to get to them! Hopefully the trout will be on the chew again this month. It’s very hard to say what will happen in the trout streams at this time of the year as we wait for rain. If we get decent rainfall

Spring 2015 has seen the best trout fishing across the region for several years. Hopefully there’s still enough water around in December to keep them on the bite.

Crunch time for cod VICTORIAN ALPINE

Brenton Richardson

What a good couple of months we have had in the area. Hopefully this will continue throughout December and the rest of summer. December for any freshwater fisher means

lower Murray. This means when the river is high the water is moving a lot faster, therefore harder to fish and harder to keep the lure in the fish’s face for longer. You will still catch fish when the rivers are high, I just find it a lot easier when the rivers are lower than normal. That shouldn’t be a problem this year with

have quality components to make sure you don’t lose that fish of a lifetime. As far as colours go, I tend to stick to the more natural colours like dark red and blacks, but I have friends that swear by fluoro colours. It really is a guessing game and more about putting your lure right in front of the

The author with a fine example of a Murray cod caught on a Codseeker surface lure after dark.

Mark Cole with a better than average size yellowbelly, caught trolling a Jackall lure in Lake Hume. Murray cod! I, along with many others, have been patiently waiting for long three months, but come 1 December the wait will finally be over. I’m anticipating that this summer could be a cracker on the Murray cod scene. Low river levels usually mean better cod fishing in my opinion. Mainly because the upland rivers we fish in the area (Kiewa, Mitta and upper Murray) are shallower than the

the lack of rain we have received all spring. The best lures to use by a country mile would be a spinnerbait of some description. There are literally hundreds of brands of spinnerbaits on the market these days, and it can be a bit daunting to know which one to use. I like to stick to the well-known brands like Bassman or Gangsta, these guys have been making spinnerbaits for years and

Lake Hume has been ticking over nicely all November, and the yellowbelly and redfin are starting to feed more aggressively. There were some truly monster yellowbelly caught last month, and a couple I know of measured out past 65cm, with numerous others past the magic 60cm mark. Most of these fish were

caught trolling or casting but a few fell to bait. The trout seem to have slowed down, which was expected once the warmer days arrived. There was still a few big trout caught though, with less people targeting trout through December it might be worth giving them a go. It might pay to troll a little deeper, either by using a lead core

line outfit or a downrigger. The ever-popular Tassie devil would have to be the best trout lure ever made and also a good lure to use on a downrigger. Minnow style lures don’t tend to swim very well when submerged to deep depths. In short, December is Murray cod month, so be sure to get out there and hopefully hook into a few.

fish’s face. If you haven’t tried surface fishing for Murray cod yet, then I suggest you give it a go, it is the most intense form of fishing. Fishing the low light periods of the day and into the night is by far the most productive. Walkers or paddler type lures seem to be the most popular. The wakebait type surface lures were a standout for me last year, but any big surface lure is worth a shot.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Fisheries officers seize trophy fish at Eildon Pondage A 25 year old Geelong man will be summoned to appear in Court after a routine inspection of his vehicle allegedly revealed more than five times the legal daily bag limit of trout at the Eildon Pondage this week. Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) Fisheries Officers discovered thirteen large trout all exceeding 35cm in length, contained within the man’s esky. The Eildon Pondage is a designated Family Fishing Lake where the daily bag limit is five trout, of which no more than two can exceed 35cm. Fisheries Northern Region Supervising Fisheries Officer Murray Burns said the fish are stocked into the Eildon Pondage to be shared by all Victorians not just a

small number of people who are willing to take a risk. “The trophy sized fish seized in this matter would have made a number of anglers; including young children extremely happy – a fish of a life time for some,” Mr Burns said. “It’s disappointing when Officers discover such a large quantity of illegally taken fish and that some anglers still need to be reminded of bag limits and the implications of exceeding them.” Mr Burns said Fisheries Victoria stocked the Eildon Pondage on Wednesday of this week with 460 large ex-brood fish in addition to 1000 advanced yearling rainbows in support of the many expected visitors attending this weekend’s Big Fish event held at the Eildon Pondage. These stockings are funded in part by all Victorian anglers recreational fishing licence

fees in conjunction with the State Government’s Target One Million plan which aims to get more people fishing more often – www.vic.gov.au/ targetonemillion <www.vic. gov.au/targetonemillion>. Anglers are reminded that Fisheries Officers will continue to inspect licences, fish, bags and eskies to ensure the sustainable and equitable harvest of fish resources for all Victorians. Information pertaining to bag limits is readily available via the Recreational Fishing Guide available at most tackle outlets, the mobile Victorian Fishing App and social media. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected illegal fishing activities to the 24-hour Fisheries offence reporting line, 13 FISH (13 3474). – FISHERIES VICTORIA

Young 7-year-old Matthew Barnett with a monster 9lb brown trout caught trolling in Lake Hume. What a champion!

DAM LEVELS Lake/Dam % Full

Dam % Full

Cairn Curran 31 28 26 Dartmouth 68 64 59 Eildon 61 56 52 Eppalock 41 39 36 Fyans 69 81 78 Greens 64 62 60 Hepburn 53 51 47 Hume 49 47 46 Lauriston 85 82 76 Malmsbury 29 31 29 Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 92 94 93 Newlyn 43 44 40

Nillahcootie 56 54 52 Rocklands 18 17 15 Taylors

15 19 33

Tullaroop 28 27 26 Upper Coliban 58 61 61 Waranga 20 12 23 Wartook 74 79 74 William Hovell 98 99 99 All levels correct at time of going to press. Damlevels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing. DECEMBER 2015

Water levels perfect at Jindy JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson swtrout@airlan.com.au

Welcome to December and the start of summer. The big news is that the water temperatures on the lake are a few degrees colder than last year, which is good for trout and it looks like we have a great month of fishing ahead. NEWS Last winter, DPI Fisheries released 148 large (the biggest 4.7kg but most were 2-3kg) 3 year-old rainbow trout into the Thredbo River at Gaden Trout Hatchery. These fish were all tagged with a yellow tag containing details of who to contact when recaptured. It was not compulsory to release the fish, as long as the tag number was recorded. eleased fish could still have their movements tracked no matter how many times they are caught and released. On the October opening weekend, quite a few of these fish were caught in the Thredbo just down from Gaden. If you catch one, please notify fisheries on the phone number on the tag. There are still plenty swimming around waiting for you to catch. FISHING Lake Jindabyne’s water level is still quite high once again, with Snowy Hydro

conserving water in case the predicted El Nino reduces rainfall. Snowy Hydro have been conserving the water and not generating electricity as they would normally do this year and so all of our lakes water levels are higher than normal. It’s normal over summer to get out of bed before sunrise and make certain you have lines in the water at first light. However, with cooler water temperatures you may be able to stretch your surface fishing into mid morning this year before you have to go deeper using downriggers to get your lures down to about 35ft where the trout are lying. For boat trollers, the usual techniques of fishing on the surface in shallow water at first light and then moving out into deeper water using lead core with 20-30m of line out will extend the better fishing well into the late morning. You will do best using minnow lures early, before sunrise, and then switching to Tasmanian Devil lures later in the morning. The best coloured Tassies to use will be darker lures early with the number Y48 yellow wing red nosed brown bomber or even Y94. Try the yellowing Tasmanian Devils a little later as the sun is about to rise over the horizon. The number 111 Tasmanian Devil Lure ‘Willies Special’ has been a very good lure over

recent months! Minnow lures like StumpJumpers in brown trout and rainbow trout patterns are also good, but there are many good brands of lures on the market that will do the job if you know what speed to troll to get the best action out of the lures. It is not a good idea to try and mix and match different brands, as no two brands of lures will work best the same at the same speed. The best lures to try and catch those trophy brown trout will be small minnows and you need to troll these over the weed beds using longer dropbacks (to 80m) and lighter line or braid to keep the lures at the deepest depth possible. You need to do this well before the sun comes up to get the bigger fish. Lake bait fishing has been nothing but excellent for months now and over recent weeks the mudeye fishing has been spectacular. Local scrub worms fished off the bottom, however, are best for brown trout while artificial baits of various colours are proving themselves for rainbow trout and salmon. If you want to catch yourself a big brown trout then the best baits are still going to be a well-presented scrubworm. These are best fished with a greased line to stop from sinking into the weed and getting caught up.

DECEMBER ROUNDUP – THE BEST OF THE BEST! Best method.........................Lake Trolling: surface until an hour after first light and then downrigging at 35ft Best lake lure.......................Tasmanian Devils with yellow wings or Y48 (Yellowwing brown bomber) Best lake area......................East Jindabyne Islands and Hayshed Bay Best fly method lake...........Hamills Killers, Williamson’s Gold Fish and in dry flies brown Mayfly Best river for fly...................Beetle, grasshopper and Mayfly patterns Best River for spinners.......Bullet minnows, Vibrax Spinners and Gillies Hoppers

There are no fishing spots much better than others at the moment, so with the trout cruising the margins of the lake they can be in one place one day and another the next. It will be an interesting fly fishing season. The lake water levels are great at the moment and the lake will fish well, especially in the shallows early morning and into the late evening. If we get some evening hatches of insects to excite the trout into feeding. The best flies on the lake have been green or olive flies like Hamills Killers, small shrimp patterns and olive nymphs, but there might be a little dry fly fishing at night after the hatches. So keep that in mind and a mayfly or caddis pattern is well worth having in your collection. The river and stream fly fishing was a little slow to start this year, due to a few very cold changes in October. Now that there are more insects, beetles, caddis fly and grasshoppers about, we have had some very good fishing, especially in the evening dry fly fishing after a warm and sunny day. Those who like throwing lures into rivers and streams, will need to make certain the lure is getting close to the bottom in the running water on the days that are bright and sunny. Your best time to fish will again be early and late in the day. In the middle of the day fish the deeper pools and make certain that you are getting down to the bottom. The longer you can keep the lure down there the better chance you will have of catching a trout. Don’t forget soft plastics in the deep pools can be very effective on trout. Lures like Celtas, Vibrax spinners, Wordons Rooster

Loren Radovancevic with one of the tagged rainbow trout caught in the Thredbo River. Tails or Gillies spinners and, of course, minnow lures like floating Rapalas are all good for river fishing. A new lure that has been great on the rivers is the new Bullet range of 5cm minnow lures, which now come in two sizes. The larger one is better for the lake or larger stretches of the river like the Thredbo River. For soft plastic freaks, you can’t go past the huge range of Strike Tiger plastics. The colour range is perfect for trout and there is always a colour to suit the conditions of the day. The new Strike Tiger Frog copies are amazing,

you just have to try using one for trout because they really do work. Finally, I would just like to wish you all the very best for Christmas and the New Year, and I also want to thank you all for your support over the last 12 months. Hope to see you down in Jindabyne soon. • If you want the very latest fishing reports, check us out on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/LJTFA and if you would like to recieve a weekly report directly e-mailed to you, you can send us an e-mail and subscribe at sales@swtroutfishing.com.au

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Eildon Trout Farm – Fun for the whole family FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Lake Eildon and surrounding areas provide many options for those of us who are piscatorially minded. Fisheries have stocked the lake, pondage and rivers generously,

Situated on Back Eildon Road, heading towards Eildon from Thornton, Eildon Trout Farm is a working hatchery that offers the opportunity to catch rainbow trout, brown trout, and Atlantic salmon, as well as redfin in various ponds on the property. The fishery operates on a catch and pay policy for those using bait, however recently the option to catch and

release has been added (with the approval of management) for those anglers who would like to fly or lure fish. Please see the fact box in this feature for the costs involved. Lee Carpenter is the host and manager at the farm and I caught up with him recently to not only sample the fishing on offer, but also to get a tour of the operation and an insight into their future plans. FISH PRODUCTION Eildon Trout Farm produces all of its own fish to sell either through the retail outlet, commercially or as fingerlings for farmers and stocking groups. Fish produced are brown, rainbow, brook and golden trout. Atlantic salmon and Chinook salmon and Lee is also dabbling in redfin and Murray cod. Tours are available if booked in advance. I highly recommend taking a tour as it provides a real insight into the effort that goes into producing the fish, the workings of the COSTS PER KILO

The brood stock used by the farm are beautifully marked and healthy fish. making this area an ideal destination for keen fishos to take their families with the objective of introducing them to the world of fishing. These great waterways are accessible and provide a better than average chance of catching a fish for little nippers just starting out! The one thing I do know about taking the family fishing is that success is important. If that success isn’t achieved quickly, the objective of the day becomes keeping the kids entertained. Enter Eildon Trout Farm.

All Trout: $20.00/kg Salmon: $30.00/kg Redfin perch: $15.00/kg

Take the family, hire some rods and catch yourself a feed of fresh fish.

You can buy local produce and wine to take home with your catch.

ponds, and how the entire facility works environmentally. The biggest thrill for me however was when Lee naturally stunned some of the brood stock so we could get a better look at them. The colouring and size of the fish are amazing and to get up close and personal to a golden trout is something I will remember for a long time. FISH FOR DINNER – GUARANTEED Eildon Trout Farm has five stocked dams that you can fish in. Entry is $2.50 per person and rod hire (includes bait and bucket) is a further $2.50 per rod. You then pay a per kilo rate (rates vary depending on the species caught) on any fish you catch. The team at the farm clean and prepare your fish to take home. The bait provided is similar to the pellet mix used to feed the fish and guarantees success. The size and species of fish varies depending on the dam you fish and the farm will

The main lake at the farm holds larger fish and offers the chance to catch all of the species available. There are some serious fish in this lake. provide an approximate cost per fish as a guideline. It would be very easy to get caught up in the moment and have plenty of fresh fish to take home! As far as the family situation is concerned, the kids are going to be entertained from the first cast and will get a first hand understanding of what it’s like to hook and fight a fish. You also have the opportunity to show them the different species and in general the fish are beautifully coloured. Another option recently introduced is to bring your own gear (lure or fly) and test some new lures and your skills with the option to catch and release. Some rules do apply though and the management must approve catch and release. This is a great option if the fishing has been tough elsewhere and of course you can still keep your catch if you want to. I spent a couple of hours with Lee fishing the main dam and caught some beautiful fish. It was not a fish a cast, you still needed to think about the lure you were using, your retrieve and even the areas to cast to. The fish still needed to be deceived. I loved it, and probably would have stayed all day if time permitted. The scenery is beautiful and the challenge was enough for you to want to have one more cast. GROUPS AND CLUBS Lee explained to me that the farm is popular with groups and fishing clubs. There are BBQ facilities available and the teams from High Country Fly Fishing School and Walkabout Fishing tours can organise to provide lessons on fly-casting and hardbody/ soft plastic lure rigging and PRICING Entry: $2.50 per person (children under 5 free) Rod Hire: $2.50 per rod (includes bait and bucket)

presentation. Tours can also be organised to go through the working element of the farm. You don’t have to fish, you can organise to visit and be served some of the local produce. While you are enjoying that, you can select any fish you want from the ponds and the team will clean and prepare them for you to take away. FRESH LOCAL PRODUCTS Another great aspect of

CATCH AND RELEASE COST Per Hour: $15.00 Half Day: $25.00 Full Day: $50.00 Per person in the dam with a sprinkling of redfin as well. Lee is determined to further develop the options for this lake. It has the potential to showcase our native species, including bass.

The team at the Eildon Trout Farm clean and prepare your fish for you to take home. the farm is the local produce they sell. They smoke their own trout (highly recommend this dish) and produce a superb smoked trout pate. They also sell locally produced cheeses, gourmet food, and wines. They can also provide some hints on how to cook your catch and have some rubs and marinades that will take your catch from excellent to exquisite. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE The farm has plans to use the largest dam on the property as a native fish fishery. There are currently a few large Murray cod and golden perch

If the couple of golden perch I saw patrolling the margins while we had a quick cast are anything to go by, you could potentially catch the fish of a lifetime. DROP IN AND SAY HELLO I am happy to recommend a visit to Eildon Trout Farm. The venue provides a relaxed atmosphere, is family friendly and best of all you can leave with a feed of fresh fish and some quality local produce. You can contact Lee and the team on (03) 5773 2377 or get more information through their website www. eildontroutfarm.com.au DECEMBER 2015

Fisheries success with a hot cod season ahead! EILDON

Andy McCarthy

Now that the water temp is up around 18-20°C, the southern part of Lake Eildon will really start to come into its own this month in the lead up to Christmas. Before the crowds arrive, the fishing promises to be amazing and I for one am very excited. The water level isn’t dropping as fast as it was through October and November which should allow the fish to settle a little more and hopefully set some more consistency to their feeding patterns. Generally, the dam wall gets an absolute flogging, but the yellowbelly numbers have dwindled significantly since the release of the million Murray cod fingerlings. Although the

goldens have not returned in large numbers as in the past, it’s great news for the cod fishery and marks great success for the dedicated Fisheries team. Particular congratulations goes to Steve Vidler for the enormous amount of time and personal sacrifice he makes throughout the year keeping his stock healthy and ticking along. Well done Steve and all the lads at Snobs Creek Hatchery. With the lake level at around 50%, and with an assurance that the water level will not go below 30%, there is hope for a wet winter next year. On the other hand, the lake may drop right down which will make for good fishing but will impact on local businesses if tourism suffers as a result. The yellowbelly will now be schooling up nice and hard in big numbers, so when you come across one

Marc Ainsworth and John Douglas with a couple of decent Eildon golden perch. there are likely to be more. Keep chipping away in the same area and generally you will pick up another. Small spinnerbaits are always productive at this time of year, and I personally don’t think colour makes a massive difference – if you

get it in front of them they will eat it! Let’s not forget, cod season is open my friends, so we can start to target these iconic fish once again. Bring it on I say! Another record season is on the way and we could

see many fine fish over a meter long – hopefully one will be mine! I still haven’t joined the meter club yet, but it can’t be far away – surely. I would concentrate on fishing the points of the lake in December as they are generally winners at this

time of the year. Trolling the tree edges will also get you results – the old trusty StumpJumper is a go to and consistently catches all species in Eildon. Have a safe and Merry Christmas all catch you next year.

Spinning for those giant Bonnie Doon goldens! BONNIE DOON

Andy McCarthy

November certainly delivered big time with loads of quality

yellowbelly caught all over the top end of the lake. Reports have been coming in thick and fast with the biggest yella a staggering 72cm long – what a beast of a fish!

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The average fish has been around 52-55cm in size, which is fantastic to see. The fish have been caught all over the place on the northern shores near Bonnie Doon by targeting timber in about 10-14m of water and slow rolling soft plastic grubs in darker colours (black and dark green). Drop the lure straight to the bottom and use a very slow retrieve and you will find the fish simply can’t help themselves. Scrub worms have worked a treat in the same areas. Spinnerbaits have also accounted for plenty of fish, and once again, a super slow retrieve is the absolute key. The Delatite Arm has really fired up well with truck loads of fish caught and released, just like last year. Paul Thomas has continued his great form on Bonnie Doon this season with numerous trips producing good numbers of fish – he certainly has got some impressive mojo. The Jackall TN50,

The author with a 54cm model. 60, 70 have had great results in the rocky bays and points where the fish are holding in around 10-12m deep. These fish will move up through December into the shallower water around 6m but with with such a late-season start to the bite, hopefully these

fish will hang around and be active for a little while yet! A Great mate of mine, Trevor Holmes came over and fished with Jarrod Biles in the AYC and came away with 7th place. Check Trev out on Facebook at ‘Victorian Inland Charters’ – he is doing

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Simon Tate with a cracking golden perch.

some guiding over at Eildon in the summer and trust me, you won’t be disappointed with a guarantee of a good laugh out on the water. Give him a call on 0438 132 130. The Ford inlet has been quite good lately with some quality goldens around the trees and steep drop offs. There have also been a lot of nice cod caught as by-catch but cod season is now open! Anglers everywhere will be out chasing our greenfish once again. There have been decent brown trout in numbers getting caught on the troll as well. A few nice reddies are poking about at around the 38-42cm range and make for some delicious table fare. The holidays are now upon us, so please be careful and mindful of others and make sure you have all your safety gear as there is guaranteed to be a strong police presence this summer.

Rainfalls trigger trout bites GOULBURN RIVER

Steve Vidler

At some stage this month the upper Goulburn River would have suited most anglers. High, clear, cold water, low slow clear water to moderate, turbid slightly warmer water – at some time or another it all happened. We had flows from over 9,000ML a day for irrigation purposes and to top up storages downstream, then dropping down to 3,000ML

a day only, to then have some significant rainfalls of around 60mm over a couple of days. Yes, it has it all. After the initial burst of activity for trout opening, things have settled into a bit more of a relaxed fishing period, (other than the Melbourne Cup weekend, of course). Most anglers are tangling with some feisty little trout in the rivers around my area, and those willing to put in the time and a bit of knowledge are encountering some very

decent sized fish. As mentioned, November had it all for the Goulburn River, with the Acheron, Rubicon, Steavenson and smaller rivers and creeks much more settled other than after the great rainfalls we experienced. Bait anglers have done well with scrub and garden worms, mudeyes and maggots, particularly after the rain in the slightly discoloured water when the feeding action was triggered. This type of weather event

The old faithful spinner is a good option this month.

will always provide much better fishing opportunities than the artificial flows that don’t often coincide with barometric changes and colouring of the water. Always take the opportunity to get out and chase a few fish after a natural weather event, particularly during the spring and summer period. Anglers choosing to toss a few lures around are having great success with plenty of smaller fish, but some really high quality fish in the 40-50cm range have been found. Just remember to be patient. When walking the rivers and streams, take your time, slow it all down a bit. When you find a spot that looks worthy of a cast or two, stop, wait, have a quiet look around before you have the first cast. It is hard to slow down sometimes, as we get a bit keen to get to the next spot or see what’s around the next bend. Many of the longer-lived trout have made it to their age for a reason. They become wily and easily spooked. If you approach, (always from downstream to upstream, as the fish will be facing upstream while hunting and waiting for food) in a slow steady manner as if

Bigger trout are harder to catch, but by slowing your approach down a few notches you can fool these wily animals! ‘hunting’ the fish and give it a bit of time, the better quality of fish will be found. Among some of the lures that are doing the job are the Berkley T-tails in black and gold, ZMan Grubz in bloodworm, gudgeon and motor oil colours and the old – faithfuls of bladed Celta lures (or similar) and the Rapala original floating or Count Downs in 5 or 7cm. I am a long, long way from being even close to a fly fisher, but the reports I have been hearing and the amount of anglers in waders with

very long rods is testament to the amount of fish being caught. Of an evening, the feeding activity around some major hatches is almost hard to believe. The amount of fish rising all over the rivers on last light is amazing. All in all, the rivers are fishing extremely well with the Goulburn and the Rubicon being the standouts. Just be patient if you want to run into the bigger models. Bring on the warmer weather in December, more bugs, more tucker, more chances of catching a quality fish!

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Dry weather continues BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

The amount of rainfall that the Bendigo region has received over spring has been well below the average rainfall, and this is going to be a major contributing factor on the productivity in the fishing within the region over the next few months. During this period we will start to see a steady decrease in water levels in our impoundments, this will see the fish becoming more structure orientated and fish will start to move into deeper water as water

levels decrease. In the local river systems, water clarity is usually very good, but the productivity can be down during the middle of the day. The most productive times to fish are during periods of reduced light conditions with early in the morning or late afternoon being the best options. LAKE EPPALOCK We are seeing a good increase in the numbers of golden perch being caught, and the average size of the golden perch being caught has been between 40-45cm with the occasional larger fish also being landed. Casting or trolling the rocky shorelines has been producing good results, and casting lipless crankbaits and suspending hardbody lures around standing timber has also been working well. One of the positive things about the lower water levels in Lake Eppalock is it means that there becomes a lot more laydown timber, which is in good, productive depths. The numbers of redfin being caught has also increased lately, but unfortunately the majority of the redfin being caught are small. A few good redfin

have been caught in deep water, and depths greater than 10m have been the most productive for the redfin. Trolling deep diving hardbodied lures or casting soft plastics has been the best options for the redfin. With the opening of the Murray cod season, we will see a few more anglers targeting the resident Murray cod. Some of the earlier stocking of Murray cod in 2010 will now be fish measuring above 70cm, a great fish if you manage to land one. CAMPASPE RIVER The fishing in the Campaspe has improved lately, but the numbers of redfin being caught has been low. Golden perch are making up the majority of anglers captures, and the majority of these have been caught by anglers casting a combination of hardbodied lures, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Dark and natural colour choices have been working the best. The fishing has been the best when reduced flows are being released out of Lake Eppalock. During those periods of higher flows the cold water is reducing the

Quality golden perch are being caught in the Bendigo region. productivity in the fishing. CAIRN CURRAN The redfin fishing has continued to be average for the majority of anglers. Locating a good school of redfin has been difficult, but the best concentrations of redfin are being caught in the middle reaches of the lake. Fishing in the deep water around the standing timber has been the best option for the redfin. The numbers of golden perch being caught at this location has increased lately. Typically this location does not produce large numbers of golden perch, but the

quality of the golden perch being caught is usually very good. Casting or trolling the rocky shorelines has been producing small numbers of golden perch. Casting lipless crankbaits around timbers areas has also been producing some good results. LODDON RIVER Water clarity is currently very good at most areas along the Loddon River. Golden perch are making up the majority of anglers captures, and the most productive fishing has been early in the morning or late afternoon.

Casting spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits have been the preferred options for most anglers. If the trend of the last couple of seasons continues, the most popular areas of boatable water at Bridgewater and Serpentine will mainly produce golden perch and the occasional Murray cod. The greatest concentrations of Murray cod again this season will be caught by land-based anglers who are walking the banks and fishing the areas of the river that receive the least amount of fishing pressure.

Festive fishing ahead WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

With Christmas and the New Year just around the corner, it’s time to squeeze in an after work or sneaky weekend stream trout fishing or Blue Rock bass session before the festive season begins and another year slips away.

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December will be an exciting time for stream trout anglers as there have been plenty of insect hatchings over the last 4-6 weeks. Hatchings make up the main food source for hungry trout, and the streams are flowing nice and clean. Anglers can spot and approach surface feeding fish carefully, which results in more strikes and ultimately more fish. If you haven’t sight fished for stream trout before, pick up a pair of brown Polaroids; these sunnies add a whole new dimension to stream trout fishing. Most of the insect hatchings have been flying ants, various fly or midge species and small black beetles. When fishing the evening, ensure you have a collection of natural flies and beaded nymphs that will give you better luck in matching the hatch. Hatchings are best in the evenings where there is a thundery cool change expected after a hot day. Remember, matching the hatch increases those chances but don’t shy away from having some bright coloured larger flies in your fly box when the trout are less finicky. The key rivers for fly anglers that wade are the Toorongo, Loch and Latrobe rivers in the Noojee district. The whole stretch

of the Toorongo River meanders through farmland and generally has bank vegetation on the far bank, which reduces the risks of annoying snags and tangles. There is great access to the river for the most part, and if you combine wading and walking the bank then you can cover some fair territory in a couple of hours. The Tarago River in the Neerim district has many sections that wind through farmland below Neerim South right through to Labertouche which, like the Toorongo, opens up a lot of potential fishing ground. You’ll need to pick the areas you can wade but you can also walk along the bank. Lures such as spinner blades, hardbodies, and soft plastics are also productive methods for getting into the trout action this summer. Lure fishing for trout is a great way to kill a few hours on the weekend or for a sneaky fish after work. Spinner bladed lures, floating hardbodied lures, and soft plastics all offer unique movement in the water when retrieved ,which will inspire some excitement among the trout. The lures mimic the small fish and aquatic invertebrate species that dominate the trout diet. Using lighter lines (8lb

The author with a decent pan-sized trout caught in the Thomson River behind Walhalla recently. Most of the larger tributaries throughout West Gippsland hold similar sized fish that are great fun on light gear. or less), light rods (1-4kg) and smaller reels (1000– 2500 class) intensifies the feeling when you hook into a stream trout. Blue Rock bass action is firing up with plenty of bass caught on surface lures and flies. Bass are being picked up from the bank, which is great news for land-based anglers. Those with a kayak or boat are having a lot of fun flicking lures about in the coves and among the snags. Redfin are also a lot of fun for lure anglers, who can

use plastics, crankbaits, or spinnerblades lures to catch them. Summer is a good time for targeting carp using corn or worms and is a terrific way to get kids into fishing. The river blackfish season re-opens at the end of the month and offers another target species for the streams and rivers of West and South Gippsland. Feel free to send me a report or photo. Please email me any questions too. Happy fishing!

Cross your fingers for wet weather conditions Rod Shepherd

As I put pen to paper, the water level at Lake Elingamite boat ramp (previously precarious for boats) has dropped due to the sudden influx of above average temperatures that hit in the South West like a sledgehammer from the

start of October. By the time this magazine hits the newsstands, not even kayaks will be able to launch unless we get some serious rainfall. Unfortunately, according to scientists we are entering an El Nino and a big one at that. Prior to the lake’s closing, the fishing was exceptional with browns

and rainbows weighing in well over 2kg and the additional huge redfin. Next year, when and if we get enough rains to reopen the lake, the trout fishing will be a tad on the quiet side. Fisheries Victoria, in conjunction with the Cobden Angling Club didn’t manage to release the full quota of trout into the lake. Due to low water levels at the ramp,

targeting the rainbows. Going on last year’s events the ‘chook’ fishing really took off from late spring and into summer as they came in close to shore en mass – for a while everybody was catching them using just about any method available to the angler. Hopefully this happens once again. The restocking of brown trout has already commenced but not in the numbers they once were. Bullen Merri has been the

number one lake to stock chinooks in regards to growth rates and this will continue, while the numbers stocked in Purrumbete have been reduced the stocking of browns here has increased. Hopefully the fish will remain available to all anglers for at least the next two or three months before they once again go deep and sit just above a forming thermocline layer to escape the warming water brought on by summer temperatures.

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A solid Elingamite rainbow taken on a Black Magic B-Max minnow just prior to the drop in water levels.

only one boat managed to struggle out with only 300 fingerling browns when 3000 (plus 1000 rainbows) were brought down for release. This is a sad state of affairs. Lake Purrumbete has been quiet with only the odd brown trout weighing in over a kilogram. Fish are being taken bait anglers suspending mudeye under a bubble float or by casting shallow diving minnow lures towards the weed beds that fringe the lake’s edge. Plenty of small redfin have been taken mainly as by-catch while targeting bigger fish. However, fishing Manifolds Bay using soft plastics hopped along the bottom usually attracts many hook ups. This can be a saviour on an otherwise quiet session. Lake Bullen Merri has rainbow trout approaching and exceeding 2kg available in the shallows around the lake perimeter. Trolling or casting a wide variety of lures in 3-5m depth, or bait fishing using locally caught gudgeon minnow has been the way to go. The chinook salmon fishing is still quiet but the odd one over a kilo has been taken by those

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Tough fishing to come BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

We have just gone through one of the driest winters on record, with spring rains and run off non-existent. Normally our waters around the Ballarat and district have risen over new ground throughout the spring months and our fishing is red-hot. The only thing that is red-hot at the moment is our weather

Newlyn Reservoir, Cosgroves Reservoir, Dean Reservoir, Moorabool Reservoir, Tullaroop Reservoir and also Cairn Curran Reservoir. Most of these waters this year are all very low due to the lack of winter and spring rains. The Wastell Trophy this year was fished in bright sunny conditions not conducive to fly fishing at all, but that didn’t stop some 60 fly fishers representing nine fly fishing clubs from as far away as

Darryll Luttrell took this magnificent bag of redfin on soft plastics at Moorabool Reservoir. Photo Courtesy of Darryll Luttrell.

and things look grim for the future. Having said that, it’s not all doom and gloom. Some of our fisheries in the district have really fired up and some anglers have been reaping the rewards. The Ballarat Fly Fishers Club recently hosted the Wastell Trophy. The trophy was named after one of the founding members of the Ballarat Fly Fishers Club Victor Wastell. The aim of the fly fishing competition was to foster new members and bring fly fishers from all over the state together and enjoy each other’s company and catch a few fish. Originally the competition was a one day competition but since the 50th Wastell trophy, the club has made it into a 2 day event with a social evening planned for the Saturday night to keep up the tradition. Various waters have been fished over the years, depending on the previous year’s results. The past couple of years has seen the Wastell Trophy based at Creswick and variety of waters that were available for fly fisher to fish this year’s waters included Lake Wendouree, Hepburn Lagoon, 82

DECEMBER 2015

Tasmania. There were lots of fishy tales spoken over the weekend about the ones that got away except for Ballarat fly fishing club member Russell Wilson. Russell was the successful fly fisher with a magnificent brown trout 2.9kg, which was caught first cast on a Hammills Killer fly pattern from the smallest water in the competition, Dean Reservoir. Due to the weather conditions the fishing was tough, but most fly fishers had an opportunity over the weekend the catch a fish. Moorabool Reservoir is the standout water in the district with some cracking brown trout and redfin being caught. I have mentioned over the past few months that Moorabool should fish well and it has come up to my expectations. The fishing is by no means easy, and even more now with the water levels dropping rapidly with the water required for domestic use. Further downstream of the Reservoir the banks are very muddy and uninviting, but don’t be scared off by this, you could look at it from another angle – there’s less water between you and the fish. The redfin have certainly come on the chew with the warmer weather, and Darryll Luttrell and Tom Kulczynski have been two anglers getting stuck into the reddies. They’ve been out there catching them on yabbies, but also casting soft plastics. The redfin are up to nearly 2kg in size, and great eating as well. The boys have been doing the miles around the banks to locate these

Tom Kulczynski got into the yabby-feeding redfin at Moorabool Reservoir. Photo Courtesy of Tom Kulczynski.

Wastell Trophy Winner and Ballarat Fly Fishers Club member Russel Wilson with a 2.9kg brown trout caught from Dean Reservoir. Photo’s courtesy of Chris Doody.

schools of fish and when they find them, it’s game on. Colby Lesko, another keen all round angler, has been catching some magnificent trout and redfin at Moorabool as well with his best catch to date a magnificent brown trout of 67cm and estimated at 8lb on a large bunch of worms fished on a running sinker rig. On the same day, Colby bagged some big redfin casting hardbodied lures. Lake Wendouree is just starting to fire up with angler numbers starting to increase and a few fish being caught. The weather has been playing a big part in the fishing results on Wendouree, and normally we see a few overcast coolish days where the fly fishers are out on the lake in numbers, catching some trout that might be feeding on the Mayflies that hatch at this time of the year. This hasn’t happened so much this year, we seem to be just getting bright blue sky days and with the shallow nature of the lake the fish have been heads down, bum up in the weed and not feeding much during the day. With the unusually warmer weather at this time of the year, we as anglers need to change our tactics and fishing times. Evening and after dark will be the best time to get the best results while the weather is warm. I recently had an early start just fishing mud eye from the shore with excellent results. I landed a magnificent brown trout of approximately 1.5kg. The lake is virtually fishable all the way around the shoreline, so if you want to fish a mud eye just drive up and pick a spot along the shoreline or one of the many jetties and pontoons that are located around the lake. For the fly fishers, I would suggest fishing in the evening

This Lake Wendouree Brown trout was caught by the author on a mud eye fished under a bubble float. and into the dark with mud eye patterns, as the bug mud eyes that live in Lake Wendouree are now hatching into dragon flies under the cover of darkness. Fly patterns I would suggest are Mrs Simpson, Craig’s Night Time, Fur Fly and a Muddler Minnow all fished with a very slow retrieve. One other tip, make sure you cast right in along the shorelines over the bluestone rocks, as the fish will come in very close when feeding on the mud eyes. For the anglers who like to fish lures, cast plastics or hardbodies, once again morning and evening are the go but if you get an overcast day the fish will bite all day. Newlyn Reservoir has seen a few fish being caught on fly, bait and lures, and early morning and evening are the most productive times. If we do get some cloud cover during the day the mayfly will certainly pop up and the trout will start to feed on them. Kiel Jones fly fished Newlyn recently on a bright sunny day and the mayfly started to hatch, which is not the norm and the fish were looking up and started

to feed straight away. Kiel bagged a magnificent brown trout of approximately 1.5kg and released him to fight another day. My suggestions of fly patterns are a brown nymph, Shaving Brush, Possum Emerger or a Highland Dunn if the mayfly start to hatch. In Tullaroop Reservoir, the fishing has really slowed down with the odd fish being caught. It’s more a case of the weather being too good, and angler numbers have dropped off significantly from a few months ago. The water level is still dropping and the trout have stayed out in the deeper water, as there is not much food for them to come in after, except a few caddis just on evening. Tom Kulcyznski, who just doesn’t give up easy and is desperately wanting to land one of the true trophy fish that are lurking around in Tullaroop, has been casting hardbodied lures along the deeper banks trying to lure one out. He has been catching some superb sized redfin, but the trout have played hard to get with lots of follows but no takes. Tom said it is very frustrating but worth trying.

Victorian reefs fit for a king WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

Summer is finally here and December is the beginning of the most productive time for spearfishers with great diving to be had for both pelagic and reef species. The previous month saw some great captures of snapper and squid, not to mention the opening of the southern rock lobster season. The far South West of Victoria saw some great weather and in turn some excellent diving, with members of the Shipwreck Coast Skindivers, based in Port Fairy, getting amongst

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Brett Illingworth from Esclapez Australia with a nice Wilsons Prom kingy.

Mick Maheny from Shipwreck Coast Skindivers Inc checking out his two whiting he took with in one shot! the fish and crays. December not only sees the continuation of this trend but an increase in water temperatures and therefore an increase in the prevalence of pelagic species. In particular, we start to see the proper build up of yellowtail kingfish along the entire Victorian coastline with the old favourite haunts still being the best places to encounter this sought after species. In the South West, locations such as Lawrence Rock and the North Shore around Portland are the key locations and early signs through October and November point to a great season this year. In the past few years the kings have been a bit hit and miss, but through the preceding month or so we saw the arrival of blue

whales and other marine creatures feeding on large patches of krill. The Krill has been pushed up by the ‘Bonnie Upwellings’ off Portland and in years gone by, this has coincided and indeed indicated much better seasons on the yellowtail kingfish. So fingers crossed they turn up in large numbers this year. Port Fairy is also another prime location in the South West with Killarney, The Crags and Lady Julia Percy Island being well known haunts to target. In the Melbourne area the islands off Wilsons Promontory are a favoured area and often hold kingfish in large numbers as well as a plethora of other great eating reef species. Cape Liptrap is also another great place to find them as well as being a great area for southern rock lobster. When hunting Kingfish, I prefer to use a gun around 1.2-1.3m

with double rubbers to ensure the stopping power required for these tough fish. Kingies are often encountered while diving for other reef species and the commotion and activity of spearing other fish such as sweep often serves to attract the inquisitive kings. Other times when targeting them hanging at the head of a current and working flashers in the water can be a deadly technique to bring them in to the waiting diver. As always, safety comes first. Always dive with a float displaying a ‘diver below’ flag and remain aware of your surroundings and any boats in the area. Diving in pairs is also a must – not only for safety but a second diver is also handy to help subdue a hard-fighting kingfish. Merry Christmas and have a fantastic holiday season with lots of great diving and fishing. Catch you all in the New Year!

• 17’7” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

Pantera II 2016

$74,990

• 19’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 200 hp Mercury Optimax • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

Yar-Craft 1785BT 2016

$59,990

• 17’5” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 75 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

Sabre FTD 2016

$59,990

• 18’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

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Lobster and greenlip abalone, the southern summer bounty!

A U S T R A L I A

Phone: 0410 173 060 basscataustralia@gmail.com DECEMBER 2015

What’s New FISHING

ADVENTURES AND MISADVENTURES

Over five million Australians fish for fun,* which makes it one of our most popular pastimes. Indeed, the tradition of fishing dates back tens of thousands of years in Indigenous communities, so really it’s fishing not BBQing, surfing or footy that’s the quintessential Australian pastime. It Happened on a Fishing Trip is a collection of the stories that we can all relate to – the fishing adventures and misadventures of onetime anglers, amateurs and pros, families and friends, all in the stunning landscape of Australia. This book features stories, pictures and hilarious anecdotes from folk across the country, including authors and fishing royalty: Angela Pippos; Vicki Lear; Philip Weigall; Steve Starling; Greg French; Hilary McPhee; Krissy Kneen; and Vicki Hastrich. To be in the draw to win a free copy, cut out the entry form on page 81 of this magazine.

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

DAIWA MORETHAN SWITCH HITTER

Price: RRP $29.99 www.affirmpress.com.au

The new Daiwa Morethan Switch Hitter is a high-density, compact, sinking pencil developed to cast for topwater feeding pelagics. Precision tuned and balanced for long cast performance, and unrivalled in its ability to slip and slide with unmatched ease, this is the lure that sets a new standard in the ‘sliding technique’. Built for ultimate strength and big fish capability, the Switch Hitter has been finely balanced, with emphasis placed on an optimum swimming posture that darts under the surface, reminiscent of a fleeing baitfish. The flattened forehead allows the lure to dig in when twitched and ripped at high speed but also allows it to zigzag slide at low speeds. Though twitching and ripping is highly effective, this lure is also equally deadly when cast into a surface feeding school and allowed to sink. On the sink, the lure shimmies and slides, enticing feeding fish into striking. The Morethan Switch Hitter measures 85mm, weighs 20g and dives to 1m. www.daiwafishing.com.au

*From the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

ZEREK STEP SLIDER

The centrally weighted Zerek Step Slider is constructed from high-density lead to give the heaviest weight for the smallest profile – a combination that has been proving deadly on all manner of fish species. The central weight design allows the Step Slider to flutter on the drop, giving the appearance of a wounded baitfish fluttering to the bottom after a vicious attack from a predator above. This fluttering action is appealing to slower striking fish like snapper and nannygai, and it’s also extremely tempting for faster predators like mackerel and tuna that are picking up the scraps below. With four sizes currently available (20g, 30g, 40g and 50g) and seven fish-catching colours, the Zerek Step Slider is set to take your micro jigging to the next level. Whether you’re fishing slow or fishing fast, the Step Slider has you covered. Check it out now at your favourite tackle store. www.wilsonfishing.com

OKUMA AVENGER X

For 2016 the third generation of Okuma’s Avenger series has received a makeover and some important upgrades introducing the Avenger X. The drive system begins with a powerful forged aluminium handle arm with premium EVA knobs. On the interior, the precision elliptical gearing system includes machine cut brass pinion gear. Four ball bearings plus a Quick-Set anti-reverse bearing deliver fluid performance and commanding hook-sets. A solid aluminium bail wire circles the rigid, machined aluminium spool. The Blade Body Design is ultra compact and, along with the computer balanced rotor, is made from lightweight and corrosionresistant graphite. The spool is aggressively ported to reduce weight, and the spool arbor features braid lock knurling, eliminating the need for mono backing and increasing precious line capacity. The multi-disc oiled felt drag system churns out 3-11kg of drag. Available sizes are 25 (shallow spool), 30, 40, 55, 65 and 80, all backed by Okuma’s 10-year limited warranty. Price: from RRP $79.95 www.okuma.com.au

DECEMBER 2015

TT LURES DEMONZ JIGHEADS

Featuring the award-winning HeadlockZ grub keeper, TT Lures DemonZ jigheads are premium quality hand-painted jigheads, with realistic 3D eyes, built on Gamakatsu, black nickel, chemically sharpened, heavy wire hooks. The colour range has been customized by the Tackle Tactics Pro Team to match popular soft plastic colours and common baitfish species that inhabit our freshwater and saltwater systems. The HeadlockZ grub keeper is designed to suit the 10X tough Z-Man ElaZtech soft plastics, while also being suitable for other brands. It locks the plastic in place on the jighead so that you can cast hard and work the plastic aggressively. Even after a missed bite there’s a good chance the plastic will still be locked in place and swimming effectively, encouraging the fish to return for another strike. DemonZ are available in 1/6oz 1H and 1/0H; 1/4oz 1H, 1/0H, 2/0H and 3/0H; and 3/8oz 2/0H and 3/0H in seven colours, with three per pack. Price: SRP $10.95 www.ttlures.com.au

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SHIMANO LUGGAGE SYSTEMS

Shimano has released a new tackle luggage range in consultation with Aussie anglers. The range includes reinvented rod tubes, soft tackle bags, a water-resistant Banar Bag and the foldable jig case gear bag. Also to join the family are five luggage tackle bag concepts, including lifestyle and full tackle system backpacks, lure binder cases and wallets, and a double-sided egi case. All are made with heavy-duty adjustable strapping, reinforced handles, water-resistant and durable single-finger PVC zips. Some bags also include smart phone pouches and laptop sleeves. Prices are as follows: Gear Bag - $42; Egi Case - $17.55; Jig Case - $33.80; Lure Wallet - $32.50; Tackle Wallet - $32.50; Tackle Bag M - $78; Tackle Bag L - $89.70; Back Pack 25L - $58.50; Back Pack and Tackle Box - $91; Banar Bag M - $48.10; Banar Bag L - $54.60; 1.22m Rod Tube - $39; 1.90m Rod Tube - $58.50; 2.20m Rod Tube - $65. Price: from $17.55 www.shimanofish.com.au

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

What’s New FISHING

SCAN THE QR CODE!

TICA GALANT GAAT SERIES

The new Galant series reels from TiCA are silky smooth reels full of exceptional features, and they’re also very reasonably priced. The TiCA Galant series reels feature a high tensile strength body, aluminium alloy spool, worm shaft system, thick bail arm system, instant anti reverse and feature TiCA’s RRB (rust resistant bearings) with each model featuring six RRBs. These reels also feature the new Easy Maintenance Oil Inlet System, which allows the anglers easy access to oil the reel without having to strip the reel down. On top of that, the Galants also have a carbon drag washer system that allows the reels to have superb drags, with the 6000 size featuring a max 10kg drag setting. The TiCA Galant comes in four sizes to cover most fishing applications, from a little 1500 size for finesse work right through to a 6000 size to cover boat and offshore fishing. Price: from RRP $129 www.jurofishing.com

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

ECOODA HORNET STICKBAIT

TIDE GUIDE AND ALMANAC

The Ecooda Hornet 180S Stickbait has two unique swimming actions. It has a sensational walk-the-dog action, which is constant in both smooth and rough conditions. The second action is what Ecooda calls ‘snake ‘n’ roll’, and this is achieved by pulling your rod tip slow and long across the water’s surface, giving it a very unique action that fish can’t resist. Whether you’re chasing GTs and coral trout, or spinning off the rocks for macks or tuna, the Hornet is ideal. The Hornet is 180mm long, weighs 80g and has a one-piece stainless welded wire for strength. It comes in four lifelike colour concepts, and its reflective prism tape insert creates added attraction in the water. Every angler has a hook preference so Ecooda has left the option up to you. Price: RRP $29.95 www.ecooda.com.au

The little orange Tide Guide is back! The publishers had thought digital predictions would replace print, but when a 2015 Tide Guide failed to appear in the shops, a huge outcry resulted. “We got it wrong,” a spokesman said. “About a hundred phone calls told us so. A few thousand others were more polite!” The 2016 Tide Guide’s predictions are now in the large typeface of the official BOM format, but users will not lose their familiar feet and inches. The back cover has a flap which folds out to become a placeholder. There’s a conversion table, a daily diary section, and a colour fish ID section with bag and size limits. The 2016 Angler’s Almanac has also been released, with all the usual features including colour fish ID photos and knot tying diagrams. The predicted best fishing times of each day and best days of the month can be used anywhere, and it also contains the 2017 moon phases. Price: $6.60 admin1@tideguide.com.au

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MURRAY MOTH BY LEAVEY LURES

The opening of the cod season is almost upon us (December 1), and there’s no doubt all those die-hard cod enthusiasts will be stocking up their big cod lures in anticipation for the event. One lure that is now on the topwater radar is the Murray Moth, new to Leavey Lures. This lure, designed by Yamba lure maker and tackle shop owner Mick Leavey, incorporates an awesome paddle/crawling action working alongside the movement of its jointed body. Cod find it irresistible! It took Mick 12 months of testing and tinkering with the design before he finally came up with the 120mm Murray Moth, which is available in six colour options and comes fitted with Owner ST56 size 2 trebles to handle these strong natives. For more information check out the Yamba Bait and Tackle Facebook page. Leavey Lures are available from Yamba Bait and Tackle or via phone/mail order. Price: RRP $26.95 Ph: 02 6646 1514

WILSON FOLDING NETS

With features like extendable handles and collapsible frames, the Wilson Folding Landing Net range is perfect for storage in tight spaces. These nets have environmentally friendly netting with large diameter mesh to avoid excessive hook tangling and keep fish in the best possible condition for release. With a flat base and steep sides, the net’s design means that once a fish is in the net, it stays in. The two models, Large (333FND1) and Snapper (333FNDSO), have some unique characteristics. The Large net has an extendable handle that can reach out to 1.8m! This net was designed with the aid of barra tournament experts who literally catch a barra as it jumps. This handle length makes this net ideal for larger boats and for shore- and pierbased anglers. The Snapper net has a fixed handle length of 90cm and is squarely aimed at the boat angler looking for an easy to store net that will handle large fish easily. www.wilsonfishing.com

ATOMIC 60MM VIBE

Atomic has released a 60mm Vibe in both rattle and silent versions. It’s available in all existing colours in Atomic range, plus some new colours as well – and these new colours will be spreading to all other Atomic lures soon. The goal for the designers was to develop a vibe that would work at a slower speed. They have achieved this with a unique design that allows the Atomic Vibe 60 to be worked at high speeds offshore and at very slow speeds in the fresh. This allows you to keep the lure in the strike zone for longer than you could with other vibration lures. It’s available now, so check it out at your favourite tackle store. You can also watch a video review by scanning the QR code on this page, or you can hop on YouTube and search for ‘AFTA 2015 Atomic Vibe’. Price: SRP $17.95 www.atomiclures.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au DECEMBER 2015

What’s New FISHING

VIKING LIVEY TACKLE POD

Viking Kayak’s new Twin Livey Tackle Pod prototype has been put to the test by Stephen Tapp. Stephen has reported that the Pod allows him to easily transport live baits in one half, and tackle in the other half. The concept uses a high flow design so water exchanges rapidly, so you can run the pump on a timer if you want to conserve battery power. The output has an anti-siphon on it to stop the tank draining when the pump is off. This also directs the pump output to swirl and stir the water in the tank to help ensure there are no oxygen-poor spots in the tank. “The pump intake in the transducer scupper is completely self priming, making the system really easy to use,” Stephen said. “The four outlets overflow at a rate matching the pump to keep the tank full. The overflow outlets on either side are directly over the foot-well scupper for rapid draining, and have bungs.” www.vikingkayak.com.au

MARINEFRIENDLY SLSA SUNSCREEN

You’ve probably seen news stories about how some traditional sunscreens are harming the marine environment. A 2015 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) study said it’s estimated that every year, approximately 14,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in coral reefs worldwide. An easy way to do your part to protect the marine environment is to use Surf Livesaving Australia Marine Friendly spray. This clear mist spray comes in a 175g can and is certified SPF50+. It’s been tested and proven to be non-toxic to marine life, so now you can have the benefit of maximum sun protection with minimum eco-impact. And by purchasing Surf Lifesaving sunscreen, you are helping support surf lifesaving training and development programs Australia-wide. This product is oxybenzone and preservative free, and provides up to four hours of water-resistant sun protection. To be in the draw to win a Surf Lifesaving sunscreen prize pack, simply complete the Find-A-Word puzzle on the Fun Page in this magazine. Price: RRP $17.49 www.surflifesavingsunscreen.com

BLACK MAGIC FIBRE GLIDE

Black Magic SSP Fibre Glide is a PE line which is not braided. It is up to four times stronger than mono with a similar diameter, and has zero stretch and super sensitivity. This line features 1m indicator marks to give you better bite detection when your lure or jig is sinking. It’s supple and smooth, has outstanding castability and a fine diameter. Black Magic recommends that you use their high quality leader to minimise line abrasion. Fibre Glide is ideal for spinning reels, and for fishing soft plastics, squid, jigging, lure and bait fishing. It is available in 4kg (0.13mm diameter) and 6kg (0.18mm diameter) breaking strains in 150m spools. Price: SRP $24.95 www.blackmagictackle.com

PENN FIERCE II

The Fierce II comes in standard and LiveLiner models, ideal for all manner of bait fishing. Now, with improvements to the bail and spool, the Fierce II also enhances line management. The aluminium body and side-plate maintain precise gear alignment under heavy loads. The Fierce II stays smooth with four corrosion-resistant shielded SSBB, and it also has a heavy-duty aluminium bail wire. The spool is braid ready, eliminating line slip on the reel, and line capacity rings let the angler know how much line is on the reel at any time. The Techno-Balanced graphite rotor and bail configuration also improves line lay on the spool. The ultra-reliable drag system remains smooth and cool throughout battle. A machined and anodized aluminium handle is finished with a comfortable, soft-touch knob. There are 10 models, including four LiveLiners. Gear ratios range from 5.2:1 to 6.2:1 with weights ranging from 275-908g. Maximum drag on the 2500 is 6kg; 14kg on the 8000. Price: from RRP $119.95 pennfishing.com.au

DECEMBER 2015

TIEMCO W BUZZ

The W Buzz, one of the latest creations from Japanese company Tiemco, is a noisy topwater lure that’s fitted with twin fizzer props on the sides, a silver Colorado blade on the belly and a small cupped face. When fished with a simple straight wind the W Buzz creates an impressive commotion on the surface. It’s proven to be a very effective lure for catfish overseas, and in Australia it’s perfect for calling in those active Aussie bass. The Tiemco W Buzz measures 56mm long and weighs 13g. It’s currently available in five colours: 02 (green with a black stripe and pale belly), 04 (greenish gold with pale belly and black spots), 05 (black with white face and stripes), 07 (black with a red head) and 10 (gold with a black back). Price: approx. $30 www.ejtodd.com.au

PENN FISHING TOOLS

There is a spring-loaded Penn Plier designed for a wide range of applications, with 304 and 420 stainless steel wrapped in a titanium black nickel coating giving these tools maximum hardness, durability and corrosion resistance. Each tool has passed Penn’s extreme 168-hour saltwater and acid tests. Handles are non-slip and ergonomically shaped for comfort. The 7” wire cutters have sturdy, sharp jaws to cut through stainless steel single-strand wire cable up to 0.84” thick. This is a great companion to the 10” leader crimpers that can handle sleeves up to 0.08” in diameter. The all-around use Bull-Nose pliers from Penn come in a 6.5” size with plenty of torque strength. They’re equipped with side-mounted cutting jaws that feature replaceable blades. The 6.5” Parallel Plier is the ideal offshore plier for cutting wire, monofilament and hooks. The design produces extreme pressure on the jaws for heavy work, while the bypass cutters actually cut instead of pinch. Price: from RRP $44.95 pennfishing.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 86

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

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What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

TESTED: Samaki Boom Baits are the bomb!

A close up view of the Lime Chatreuse 5” Bomb Shad in action. I like seeing new products that take a little bit of this, add a little bit of that, and when put together result in a great product with cool features. This is what we found at the AFTA Trade Show 2015 when the team at Samaki showed me their new range of soft plastics – Boom Baits. The Boom Baits are made of the 10X super stretchy plastic material that has

TESTED:

become popular with soft plastics in Australia - great for longevity and durability. The plastics have also been infused with a fish attracting scent to help entice bites. The range of Boom Baits also have UV enhanced options – a proven fish attracting addition to any lure. An interesting aspect about these new plastics is the rigging points along the top of the plastic. They provide a guide to where the hook point should come out of the plastic according to size of the hook in the jighead you are using. I’m the first to admit to being a klutz when rigging plastics so this is a great idea, and also a great help for those who are starting out and learning how to rig up and use plastics themselves. As the material is made of the super stretchy 10X material, I would suggest adding a dab of super glue to where the jighead meets the head of the plastic to keep it in place. Baits made from this material have the tendency to slip up the hook if retrieved sharply through the water. There are also jigheads available that are designed for this plastic type. We were lucky enough to be given some models of the Boom Baits to review before they hit the shops. The range comes in a variety of styles from your curly tailed grub baits for bream and bass, right through to your larger paddle tailed models which are perfect for your larger species. The Spider Prawn is unique bait and is a creature type lure that has bream and bass fishing written all over it. It comes in 2 sizes (40mm and 60mm). We had the chance to see this bait rigged at AFTA and swum in the casting pool. Its light tentacles and

legs flutter on the drop providing a fantastic natural presentation like a live prawn. We tried out a few models in both the salt and fresh water and picked out a couple of shapes we thought would suit our target species. Flathead were the target species in the salt and I found they loved the bright lime chartreuse colour of the 5” Bomb Shad. The paddle tail gave an irresistible rolling action when retrieved, and on a day that was fishing hard with some dirty water around,

Bob with a little jungle perch captured on a Boom Bait. this bait got the bites. A simple slow to medium lift and wind technique was perfect to get this plastic working all the way back to the boat. In the fresh water some of the smaller sized Boom Baits looked perfect for chasing jungle perch, so when sub-editor Bob headed up north on a trip he was pretty

keen to give them a run. The 3” Forking Jerk model in avocado pearl looked like a perfect natural bait presentation. Fished in shallow water with small twitches, these small finesse baits worked great and accounted for plenty of JPs. Overall I’m pretty impressed with the range and look forward to using them more in the future. Prices for a pack of Boom Baits start from $9.95, and they’ll be available in all good tackle stores from early December. For more information visit www.samaki. com.au, or scan the QR Code to link you to Steve Morgan’s interview with Samaki’s Josh Lowry regarding Boom Baits release at the AFTA Trade Show. - Ryan Limpus

Safeguard Cargo Net

It comes in a quality storage bag to keep everything together when not being used.

The Safeguard Cargo Net covers the Stratos 201 bass boat perfectly. There are a few things that can really spoil your trip to or from the boat ramp. Firstly, a police officer telling you that although you have packed all your gear safely in the boat, it’s not safely packed and you will need to pay a fine. Alternatively, you arrive at the boat ramp or home and find that bump you hit on the way was enough to dislodge a favourite outfit and send it on its way. Both situations can be avoided because I have found the solution. Safeguard Cargo Nets, formerly Gorilla Cargo Nets, manufacture certified cargo nets of various sizes and shapes that can be adapted to fit any open trailer boat of any length. Safeguard Cargo Nets have sold over 45,000 units over the last five years in Australia alone. These units have been purchased by SCAN THE QR CODE!

Fishing with these lures guarantees you a great day on the water.

government departments, local councils, tradies, 4WD enthusiasts and anglers who want the peace of mind that whatever they are covering will be protected and still there at the end of the trip. I tested the XXL size cargo net on a Stratos 201 XL bass boat and it fit perfectly and covered the decks from front to back. The cargo net is made of heavy-duty UV stabilised webbing material and incorporates eyelet anchor points for the carabiner style connection straps, which are attached quickly and easily. The buckle that comes with the fastening strap is easy to tighten or loosen as required. Everything about this cargo net screams heavy duty and quality. The webbing has been tested and has a certified load rating

of 544kg/2.6cm, and it’s backed up with a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty. The net comes packaged in a zippered storage bag with side pockets to store the straps. Being the largest in the range, the XXL size net is quite heavy and I found it much easier to pull over the boat with two people (it would still be possible to do with one person, you would just need a bit more time). I’m sure the smaller nets are lighter and a one-man job. The dimensions of the XXL are 5.60m x 3.16m, suppling more than enough coverage for the internals of any larger open style boat. The next size down is the XL, which is 3.00m x 3.60m and would be more appropriate to put on an open tinny. Both these sizes come standard with eight tie-down straps. With more emphasis being placed on

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The adjustable straps are easy to tighten up the net. fining people for unsecured loads, and more and more stories about theft at petrol stations or even at traffic lights, the Safeguard Cargo Net provides peace of mind when travelling to and from your next destination. The cargo net could also be used to cover the boat during storage, to stop leaves and debris falling in, or transferred to other trailers or items during transport. It is a great deterrent to people who like removing things from your boat, trailer or roof rack while you’re not around. Although at the higher end of the price scale, these cargo nets are worth every cent in the way of quality, durability and peace of mind. For pricing and more details contact your local dealer. To find your nearest dealer go to www.safeguardnet.com.au - Michael Fox

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au DECEMBER 2015

Kayak setup and storage BRISBANE

Justin Wilmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

With some wild weather, I reluctantly shelved my planned camping adventure and decided it was time to take the opportunity to tick a job off the list and reclaim the floor of my shed. There were three kayaks dominating a fair amount of floor space and the plan was to wall mount them.

some floor space. PADDLE I often fish from paddle kayaks but even when I’m fishing from a pedal kayak I still ensure that I have a quality paddle at my disposal. Many new kayak packages include a paddle, unfortunately these paddles are often very basic and heavy, made with an aluminium shaft, and often without drip rings with a chunky rectangular shaped paddle blade. The lack of drip rings on the shaft, just

can do more harm than good physically and definitely don’t give you the return for effort of shaped kayak paddle blades. Many kayak retailers will allow you to pay a little more and step up to a better paddle from the start. This doesn’t mean that you need to spend hundreds of dollars on a paddle, but if you spend around $150 on the workhorse paddle of our kit, the Carlisle Simply Magic or something similar, you will gain a paddle with

we have been giving ours a hiding for nearly a decade. In our kit we have paddles worth a few hundred dollars that feature carbon shafts and multi-laminate fibreglass or carbon blades. These paddles are an absolute pleasure to paddle with, they’re super lightweight and you appreciate this when using them for long range missions offshore. I avoid using these paddles though when bashing through the skinny water or using the paddle to push off or anchor the kayak in the myriad of rocks, oysters, rubble beds, mangroves and snags of the rivers and estuaries, due to the relative fragility of high performance blades. SEAT Some kayaks come fitted with deluxe seating systems that provide plenty of adjustment, support and comfort to make your day on the water more comfortable, enjoyable and productive. Often kayak packages come with a basic paddle and also a basic seat with minimal adjustment and padding, so it’s worth upgrading the seat

A comfortable seat is essential for multi-day missions. if the one that comes with the kayak doesn’t look up to the task.

For a small addition to the price you may be able to step up to a seat with more

A durable paddle is a must have when battling fish in snaggy country. With Christmas and the holiday period just around the corner, I’m sure there will be plenty of new kayaks finding their way into homes around the country and these too will need storing, so this article is dedicated to exploring some storage options for the three key accessories that are generally purchased along with a new kayak to get you started on your aquatic adventures. Let’s look at the PFD, paddle, and kayak seat and get started on clearing

above the paddle blades, will see water running down with each stroke into your lap, or down your arms. The aluminium shaft may not seem heavy at first, however after a few hours out exploring and fishing you will soon notice the difference a fibreglass shaft makes in comparison. The alloy shaft also becomes an issue in southern climates, transferring the cold into your hands and causing ache and discomfort. Finally, the chunky rectangular blades

a fibreglass shaft, glass fibre reinforced injection moulded polypropylene blades with an asymmetric cut and have a cupped shape for plenty of power and an efficient stroke. This translates to a reasonably light paddle that is virtually bulletproof, a pleasure to paddle with and you don’t have to be afraid of pushing off from boat ramps and oyster rocks, or pushing it into the sand or weed flats to hold position. This paddle is ideal for beginner to intermediate paddlers and

Inflatable PFDs are popular due to their lightweight and unobtrusive design.

Left: A quality paddle makes your time on the water more enjoyable. A selection of the author’s paddles. Right: A quality sooty on a quality paddle! 88

DECEMBER 2015

adjustment points, better quality construction and thicker, higher density foam for cushioning. This can save you money in the long run, if after a couple of trips you purchase a better quality seat and the original one finds itself gathering dust and cobwebs in the depths of the shed. PFD Buy a quality PFD and wear it. Should something go wrong, it’s not going to do you any good packed in your hatch. I have been a long time wearer of the inflatable style PFD, due to the lightweight and unobtrusive design, but after replacing a couple of rusty canisters I am beginning to lean toward the foam style PFD as a

they’ve been haunting the floor space in your shed for years, it’s time to work out where to store them. Manufacturers recommend that you do not store them flat on their hull on hard surfaces as this can cause flat spots, do not suspend them by their ends or carry handles as this can create a banana shaped kayak. Do not store them on a trolley as this can concentrate stressing and cause hull damage. Experts recommend storing them on the strongest point of the kayak by storing them on their side, either on the ground, or by suspending on their side using a padded cradle or webbing strap that distributes the load. These cradles or straps should be

Compare the base of the seat from the package (top), and the author’s upgrade (bottom). are only four screws to remove the Aquaracks and rehouse them. RAILBLAZA – STARPORT WALL SLING For my crusty, sit-inside kayak, that sees plenty of action, I opted for the RailBlaza StarPort Wall Sling as it’s simple for me to operate by myself. Simply lift one end of the kayak, slide the strap around and clip it in, then move to the other end and lift it, slide the strap around and clip it in. This system also lays flat against the wall when not in use –in case we need to store a vehicle in the shed. The StarPort Mounts can be unlocked so that the WebEyes and straps can be removed completely. I currently have another StarPort Wall Sling mounted high on the opposite shed wall to store my large Bazooka rod tube. This system is again quick and easy to mount, with two screws per StarMount and then simply insert the Webeyes into the mount and slide the lock closed. It took me about twenty minutes to measure, drill, install and hang the

kayak. The weight rating is 30kg per sling (total 60kg), so it will handle most kayaks, canoes and SUPs with ease.

With the wall full and only my pedal kayak left to trip over I am currently investigating the range of hoist systems that are on the market. Not only could I free the last area of floor space, but by lifting the kayak up toward the insulated ceiling of the shed I could also back the vehicle in and lower the kayak straight onto the roof racks, saving a lift at one end. I hope Santa brings you something fishing or kayak related for Christmas and that you find some time to get out on the water during the holiday period. If your time off happens to coincide with average weather though, maybe it’s time to visit your local tackle store for a new lure or two, or head out to your shed to sort your gear for future adventures, hang those kayaks and find some floor space. See you on the water!

Top: Aquaracks are rated to 80kg and suitable for craft of all sizes. Below: With all the kayaks out of the way, we’ve finally got enough floor space to find a new project – maybe some new yaks! preferred option. The foam PFD doesn’t require you to pull a cord once in the water, nor does it rely on a canister for inflation. There are now more kayak angler friendly versions with a design that allows more movement, no bulky foam on the lower back to interfere with seating and plenty of storage pockets and attachment points for gear. Oh, and did I mention – wear it! STORAGE Now, you’ve unwrapped your new kayak, or like me

toward stronger sections of the kayak and not toward the ends, again to avoid the ‘banana’ kayak. SEA TO SUMMIT – AQUARACKS For my wife’s small, lightweight kayak I opted a pair of Aquaracks. These racks are simple to install. I inserted a length of timber into the framework of the shed to reinforce it, measured, drilled and used the supplied hardware to attach each rack. Being an open rack I am able to lift my

wife’s kayak above my head, climb the ladder a few steps and insert the kayak into the Aquaracks. One kayak out of the way. I also selected Aquaracks for my big offshore paddle yak. They are rated to 80kg so are well and truly up to the task and a two person lift made it easy for me to lift one end onto one of the racks and then assist Sheri to lift the other end onto the second rack. Simple, secure, supportive and if we were ever to move house there

Top: As you can see, there is very little hardware protruding from the wall once the kayak is removed. Below: The creek basher secured on the RailBlaza StarPort Wall Sling. DECEMBER 2015

Product Profile

13 Fishing Muse Gold When I heard about a new range of rods coming out from 13 Fishing I was eager to see what they were going to be like. Being a huge fan of the Envy Black series, I was interested to see what sort of developments they’ve made since the introduction of the Omen and Envy bloodlines a few years ago. The new Muse Gold rods feature a softer taper than what

swallows the lure. Although these new models feature slightly softer actions, I still find them to be very responsive and with that ever so satisfying ‘crisp’ feel. This is probably due to a slightly downsized Kigan guide train, and partly due to the high quality graphite used in the blank’s construction. The first glimpse I got of the Muse Gold series was

in my lure without the rod tip striking the water surface with every movement. As the rocky, timber lined bank slowly dwindled and made way for a shallow weed bed, I picked up the 72ML Muse Gold. Equipped with a 1/4oz Bassman jighead and plastic, the slightly longer length gave me ultimate control on the end of a long cast to keep the plastic just

The Muse Gold has also proven successful on bream for both Charles and Peter.

Peter Phelps has been impressed with the performance of the new 13 Fishing Muse Gold, testing it at Glenbawn,one of his favourite dams. I was used to with my beloved Envy Blacks. The softer action lends itself well to light line applications like bream and bass fishing. This is very true when you need a soft sensitive tip to either feel bites or help with timid hook sets. In situations like crankbaiting for bream, they’re just perfect, where a long soft rod helps absorb the runs and head shakes of the fighting fish. Or the situation I’m more familiar with, fishing soft plastics at Glenbawn Dam for bass. Here the bass bite so timidly I find you need a rod with a very sensitive tip to detect that split second where the bass commits to swallowing the lure, which allows you to set the hook with perfect timing. It’s not uncommon to feel a bass biting at the tail of your soft plastic for 2-3 seconds before you feel the tell-tale ‘bump’, as the fish

when Tom Slater showed me a few photos of the then secretive models. I instantly fell in love and could not wait to have a play with them. In the hand they are everything I had imagined. The beautiful combination of cork and Eva foam grip makes the rod very comfortable in the hand. Gold trimmed accents make a very visually pleasing rod, but being attractive doesn’t always make for a workhorse performer out on the water. My first cast with the 69ML model amazed me with the distance I achieved. Usually I’m a fan of 7ft+ rods, but this little 6’9” was taking my fancy pretty quickly. The slightly shorter length made easy work of the close quarter targets around the timber-lined banks of Lake Glenbawn. Working a 70mm jerk bait, the shorter length allowed me to rip the rod tip downwards, to mimic that killer darting action

over the top of weed, then drop my rod tip as it nears the edge following the contour of the structure. Being a tournament bass angler, my equipment is pivotal to my performance on the water under pressure. I

cool dark gold blank these rods certainly look the part. Complimented with high quality cork and Eva handles, the Muse Golds have to be one of the best looking rod series I’ve seen for quite some time. There’s no point looking the part if you can’t stand up when it counts, and the Muse Gold certainly stands its ground when it comes to fishing. It’s good to see a range of spin rods that have a slower

why you would choose one rod over another, it’s a good starting point. I have managed to use 2 models over the past month, the MGS72ML and the MGSA69L. Let’s start with the 69. You might notice the addition of the ‘A’ inside this rods model number. As with all 13 Fishing rods, there is a lot of input from Australia. This particular model was developed by the guys in

Charles West loves flicking soft plastics for dam bass, and the Muse Gold was perfect for this application.

The aesthetics of these rods are second to none. 90

DECEMBER 2015

want to be able to cast further and with more accuracy than the next guy. That gives me more chances at catching those trophy fish that you need to win tournaments. I feel the new Muse Gold certainly gives me these advantages. With a model to suit every light spinning situation check them out online or at your local tackle shop. – Peter Phelps • • • • • • • • • • • When I first saw the Muse Gold rods I thought about how good they looked. With the gold trim and the

action. I’ve become used to the fast and extra fast actions that are so prevalent these days. Instead, the MUSE Gold rods have a nice soft and springy mid-section but remain crisp and responsive, something that I’ve found many rods with this taper lack. My general rule of thought has always been a faster taper rod for anything with a single hook, and a softer rod for lures equipped with treble hooks. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule but if you’re ever wondering

Australia to expand the range into the realm of ultralight bream, bass and trout fishing. This light powered rod has a casting weight of 1/401/6oz, so it can cope with a wide variety of lures. I love using this rod to cast small crankbaits and for twitching small jerkbaits. The soft action is great for lures with treble hooks, as so commonly fish are hooked outside the mouth and pulling hooks can be problematic. I like to call this my small lake assassin rod. Anyone that knows me knows

I love Maroon Dam and its great bites on small jerkbaits, light plastics, and surface lures. I know I can pick up this rod with any of those lures and it will have the versatility to do the job. The other rod I have been fortunate enough to use is the MGS72ML. It has a cast weight of 1/8-3/8oz with a moderate fast taper, which makes it very versatile, from casting soft plastics to small vibration baits and mid-size crankbaits. I have been using a lot of 1/4oz-rigged plastics of late and have been amazed at the casting distance I can achieve. I did mention that I like a faster taper rod for fishing soft plastics, and that is mostly true for when I am twitching or hopping a plastic. When it comes to slow rolling small paddle-tail plastics in lakes for Australian bass, I actually find a slightly softer taper works better as the fish tend not to smash the plastic on the first bite, but rather nibble much like bait fishing before hooking up. The slightly softer tip of this model compared to the rod I normally use actually makes it easier to detect the bites without spooking the fish from feeling the pressure of the rod. For all you saltwater guys, I think this model would be the perfect all-rounder for versatile estuary fishing. It’s light enough to cast a small bream lure a long way, yet has enough grunt to fish 12-15lb braid and chase flathead, school mulloway, trevally or any other typical estuarine species. The MUSE Gold rods are on the shelves of good tackle stores now and I can quite confidently say they are one of my favourite rods from the ever growing stable of 13 Fishing. – Charles West

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DECEMBER 2015

2015 Tea Tree wrap up The annual Snapper Point Angling Club (SPAC) Tea Tree Snapper Festival was run and won for another year on 30 and 31 October. For many anglers on both bays, the Tea Tree marks the start of their annual snapper pilgrimage and brings many fishers of all ages together in their quest to catch the biggest, and the even more elusive secret weight fish. The competition is a real credit to the members of SPAC in terms of the sheer size and scale of the event, and also the following that it receives from the anglers. The support of the event

sponsors and supporters must also be recognized, because without both, such an event would not be possible each year. A whopping 1523 competitors were registered this year, which included 159 juniors. An impressive 717 teams competed for the prize pool, and the right to be crowned 2015 Victorian Snapper champion. Friday’s start saw light winds on both bays in the morning, with a strong southeasterly wind gathering momentum at the end of the day. Still, 401 fish were weighed in on Friday night, of these 260 were caught in

The podium finishers for the competition. Theo Hatzis, John Close and Norman Kemp.

Western Port. Saturday saw more still conditions at the beginning of the day, but a massive thunderstorm swept across both bays, bringing heavy rain just after sunrise. The rain quickly cleared however, and a further 959 fish were presented to the weighmaster, with 687 of them coming from Western Port. The presentation was held under clear skies at Mornington Racecourse, with a massive crowd of anglers and spectators in attendance. Fishing personalities like Paul Worstelling, and others were also on hand to sign a few autographs, and share their knowledge with the competitors. An impressive total of 1360 snapper were presented to the weighmaster during the event, of which 947 came from Western Port. The three biggest fish all came from Western Port, with one fish in excess of 10kg also coming from Port Phillip Bay. The average number of fish per competitor was 0.893. The winner of the Open section was John Close from Boronia, with a 12.7kg monster. John is the new Victorian snapper champion.

The competition turned out a huge crowd of anglers. Second heaviest was Theo Hatzis from Pakenham with a 10.23kg fish, and third Norman Kemp from Cranbourne North 10.11kg. The junior section was won by Natalie Bills from Willow Grove with a 9.51kg fish, second heaviest was Jai Evans from Carrum Downs with a 7.34kg fish, and third was Skye Lutwyche from Springvale South with a ripper 6.68kg snapper. The first random capture boat prize was won by Alex Broulidakis with a 3.46kg snapper. Theo took home a 4.3m Quintrex Fish About, Suzuki 40hp fourstroke boat package, with Lowrance sounder, Dunbier trailer, safety gear, rego, insurance and many extras from JV Marine World. The second random

capture prize was taken home by Phillip Andis with a 1.85kg fish. Phillip drove away with a 4m Quintrex Dart, 30hp Suzuki two stroke package, complete with Dunbier trailer, safety gear, rego and insurance from JV Marine World. The third random capture boat prize was won by Jeff Raymond, with a lovely 1.5kg snapper. Jeff took home a neat little 3.7 Quintrex Dart, 15hp Suzuki two-stroke, Quintrex Trailer, safety gear, rego and insurance, all compliments of JV Marine World. All the winning competitors took home ripper prize packages, and lots of great fishing gear from the many different sponsors of the event. While the numbers of competitors

was down on last year, the competition was a resounding success once again, and is a true testament to the mountains of work put in by the members of the SPAC and all the events supporters and sponsors. The continuing support and participation of the anglers of this event is also a real indication of the popularity and value of the snapper to our recreational fishery. The size and quality of the fish from both bays is also a real indication of the health and vitality of our snapper fishery. It’s great to see the local fishing community getting behind this massive event and making it a real success for all involved at the Snapper Point Angling Club. – Wayne Friebe

2015 Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Classic The 372 competitors for this year’s Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Classic Lake Hume were greeted with beautiful weather. With yellowbelly as the primary focus of the event, the numbers of other fish caught was down on

previous years. The competitors managed to produce 386 fish between them, of this, there were 264 yellow belly, 21 trout, 37 redfin, and 63 carp. Several yellow belly of 60cm+ were presented during the event. The winners for the weekend

CHAMPION RESULTS Division Angler Women: B. Street Men: S. McPherson Junior Boys: R. O’Keefe Junior Girls: K. Brandi are as follows: Mulwala Spinner Baits took out the team event with 18 fish and the best-represented club was Kinross. Congratulations to all who were successful in placing in

Number of Fish 4 14 5 1

a category and being lucky enough to get a fish or two. Next year’s event will be held over the weekend of 22-23 October, 2016. Don’t forget to mark it into your calendars!

As the sun got warm the yellas got fired up!

Top: Beautiful weather led to great yellowbelly catching conditions! Above: Look at the belly on this chunker! 92

DECEMBER 2015

JUNIOR RESULTS Yellow Belly Place Angler 1 J. Divine 2 A. Cohalan 3 C. Craig Redfin Place Angler 1 J. Divine 2 C. Craig 3 M. Rayner Trout Place Angler 1 C. McKinnon 2 D. Schmidt Carp Place Angler 1 R. Pitt 2 J. Melbourne 3 L. O’Callaghan SENIOR RESULTS Yellowbelly Place Angler 1: C. Mitchell 2: M. Watson 3: D. Bauerle Redfin Place Angler 1: R. Ivone 2: P. Pund 3: D. Haynes Trout Place Angler 1: S. Bradbury 2: K. Smith 3: S. Longmore Carp Place Angler 1: D. Stormer 2: S. O’Keefe 3: S. Hudson

Fish Length (cm) 62 58 55 Fish Length (cm) 42 36 36 Fish Length (cm) 55 43 Fish Length (cm) 69 67 60

Fish Length (cm) 63 62 62 Fish Length (cm) 44 42 40 Fish Length (cm) 67 64 64 Fish Length (cm) 72 69 68

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DECEMBER 2015

Phelps gets jiggy at BASS GF CE 1ST PLA

Peter Phelps (6/6, 7.61kg) has added his name to the select group of anglers who have won an ABT Bass Pro Grand Final. Lake Glenbawn NSW, was the happy hunting ground where Phelps overcame Australia’s best bass anglers to secure the victory. Using all his experience Phelps keyed into a pattern during the pre-fish, and presented a lure that has, until now, been largely synonymous with largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing in the USA. In the first session Phelps, a 30-year-old Operator at Liddell power station, quickly compiled a small limit of around 1.2kg in 20 minutes using a Bassman Shorty Spinnerbait and Mumbler over shallow weed and timber. After losing another 4-5 fish on reaction lures he then picked up the jig at 8am looking for upgrades. After almost 3 hours of fishing with no result Phelps started to think he had made a bad decision. The sun came out and the water glassed out. “I did one last run over a rock wall that delivered me two fish for 2.5kg in the last 20 minutes, which had me sitting in 4th after the first session,” explained Phelps. At the start of session two Phelps was confident that his jig presentation was going to pay dividends, “I knew the jig was going to work better in the afternoon. The water was glassy, which allowed me to fish methodically and I felt the heat of the afternoon would drive the fish tighter to cover. I did a pass over the stretch where I caught my session one limit for no bites. I then jumped between

rock walls. Three casts later I boated my biggest fish for the tournament. The bites then started to flow; I caught one every 30 minutes. Ultimately my first two fish were my biggest, weighing 2.7kg and elevated me to second place. In the third and final session Phelps dispensed with the reaction lures and focussed on using his jig presentation

I felt a bite, and let it fall again and he came back and loaded up giving me my first keeper.” “At around 11am, relying on past experience I went to one spot that could hold a fish thinking no one would have fished it much. I came down the dam to a slow tapering bank with a good weed bed and 5-6 isolated trees right on the edge of the weed.”

Peter Phelps with two of his consistently solid winning bass. to get fish. The wind, which had strengthened made things difficult. “Around 9am I had only managed 2-3 little taps again on the jig. All of my spots had been hammered and finding fresh fish was hard. I came out to the very start of the 8 knot zone and fished a stretch thinking the location might be protected from the wind. However the wind started curling around the rock wall and pushing straight in my face. I was unable to really hop the jig and ended up dragging it rod tip down parallel to the bank in deeper water than I had been fishing (around 25ft).

“I targeted the tree bases throwing multiple casts at each. With minutes to go I warned my non-boater Dayne Taylor to get ready to go. I fished the front side of a tree and as the boat went past I started casting to the next one. When I looked behind I saw the shade cast by the tree and threw in. The cast was almost straight down beside the boat. I hopped the jig once and felt weight. The next part was a blur. All I remember at the death was high-fiving Dayne as he yelled, “Drive!” and sorted my rods and fish out for me!”

The rock walls of Lake Glenbawn provided the bulk of Phelps’ fish with five of six coming off rock walls in the 8 knot zone. The sixth came off a weed edge at the base of a tree in around 12ft of water. The rock walls provide the fish with an uneven bottom and ample structure to hold off. The steepness of the walls provide depth for the bass to move up and down with changing moods and weather conditions. Most fish ate the jig in the 10-15 ft range. The lure that Phelps used to great advantage was a skirted jig and craw trailer that mimicked native crustaceans. Practising with this lure presentation and understanding how to naturally present the lure was key to getting the bass to react. Phelps shares his experience, “All of my limits were weighed on the skirted jig and craw trailer. I cast tight to the edge and because of the steepness of the banks fished I gave the jig the smallest hops possible trying not to let the jig fall more than one foot at a time. I would pause it for a second, then hop it again. I would fish the lure down the slope to around 15- 20 feet deep before quickly winding in and firing out the next cast. Most fish ate it on the drop.” The lure was a Peppers Custom Finesse football jig in blue/black and a Bassman Jig (custom and yet to be released) in Colour 051, both weighing 3/8oz. “On the Peppers jig I would rig a Berkley 3” Chigger craw in black/blue and on the Bassman jig a 3” Gulp Crabbie in camo colour. I trimmed the skirts slightly to give a jagged edge and smaller profile and trimmed the plastics to suit and match the jig size.” “Having good mates Mitchell Cone right beside me and Tom Slater right behind him kept my head in the game during the whole tournament, because I felt if I fell short one of them would win – which to me is just as good as winning.”

Hickson almost steals top spot CE 2ND PLA

STORM VENTAFISH®

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 94

DECEMBER 2015

Kristoffer Hickson, a 29 y/o tackle manager at Manning River Marine pushed Phelps all the way, falling only 30g short of securing a Grand Final victory. Hickson, long recognised as one of the most consistent bream anglers on the ABT circuit, showcased his versatility, and went within a whisker of simultaneously holding both bream and bass Grand Final titles!

Kris Hickson came away with second place and the biggest bag of the weekend.

Hickson targeted banks from the top of the main basin all the way to the 8 knot zone, and caught fish on most of them with the two best banks located on the outside of pump house bay and a bay just short of the 8 knot zone. The first session started slow for Hickson as he threw topwater and jerkbaits for the first hour with no result. A change to a Jackall TN60 saw the first solid legal fish hit the deck. Hitting a number of locations with the same presentation saw Hickson fill his bag with smaller fish. In the last hour a move to a productive pre-fish bank saw a solid upgrade fall to an Imakatsu Alive chatter. In the second session conditions became more challenging. Wanting to keep his key locations rested in case the fishing became tough he considered other options. Hickson shares his second session thoughts and approach, “ I saw a few ski boats on the outside of a bay at the top of the basin and thought that was the best chance I had of finding some stirred up water where the bass should have been confident to feed in. It was a bank I had done well on

in the past with weed, deep water and trees, plus the dirty water. Throwing the Alive Chatter, it was only a couple of minutes before I got my first fish for the session and in the next 45 minutes I had landed 8 fish with a few upgrades.” The final session wasn’t a problem for Hickson. He returned to a bay where he had located bigger fish during the pre-fish, “I had a plan to fish tight to the edge for big fish for the first hour then move out to the weed edges and pockets after that. I went back over the same bank as I planned and then to the edge of the weed for one good upgrade. With an hour to go I decided to go back to where I got fish at the start of the second session and after 6 or so more fish I got a 41cm on my last cast.” The technique that produced the best results for Hickson was slow rolling the Imakatsu Alive chatter over from the bank over the weeds, dropping it into the gaps and rolling it back out. Once that area was covered he would cast parallel to the outside edge of the weed, sink it to the bottom then slow roll it back with pauses keeping it close to

the bottom and in and out of the weed. Lures used included a Jackall TN60 in brown dog colour, TT’s Jig Spinner sporting a 1/4oz #1/0 HeadlockZ Jighead and a 2.5” Z-man Slim SwimZ in smoke hologram colour and a Imakatsu Alive Chatter. Hickson alternated between baitcast and spin outfits depending on lure presentation. For the Jackall TN60 Hickson used a Daiwa Black Label 6101MXB paired with a Daiwa T3 1016 reel with SV spool and spooled with 12lb flurocarbon fished straight through. For the Jig Spinner and Alive chatter Hickson used a Daiwa Gen black Trauma centre paired with a Daiwa 2500 Caldia reel spooled with 8lb Daiwa J Braid and 10lb Gamma leader. Hicksons final thoughts on the 2015 Toray Bass Pro Grand Final, “I think the key to this tournament for me was being able to find fish that were catchable in any situation. This gave me confidence in what I was doing, especially when it came to honing in on where the bigger fish were, determining what they were eating and choosing the right lure for the situation.”

Falkenhagen up! -BOATER 1ST NON

Shaun Falkenhagen, a 31-year-old Technical Manager at Holcim went back to back, adding the 2015 Non-Boater Champion title to his illustrious tournament resume that included the 2014 Non-Boater Champion title and 2010 Electric Convention title. With a skill set the envy of many boaters across the ABT tournament circuit, Falkenhagen again showed that when the chips are down he can never be discounted. In session one Falkenhagen headed to the middle stretches of the dam. Using a Z-man soft plastic, the first two casts yielded his tournament limit. It was an auspicious start and a sign of things to come. Session two saw Falkenhagen start in the 8 knot area where both anglers caught their limit within the first hour

Peppers Custom Finesse football jig in blue/black with a Berkley 3” Chigger craw in black/blue

on soft plastics. A move to steeper timer banks yielded seven upgrades using lipless crankbaits. Session three saw Falkenhagen paired with Paul Gillespie. The anglers headed to the main basin rock walls. Using a 5/8oz spinnerbait in 20-25ft, Falkenhagen would make long casts then sink the spinnerbait to the bottom while employing a slow retrieve. In all twelve fish were boated for the session including 3-4 upgrades. Falkenhagen discusses the locations and presentation of the lures used, “Weed edges were targeted with soft plastics, with most fish coming out of water less than 6ft in depth. Lipless crankbaits were fished in the tops of the trees. After casting, I would count the lure down to 10 and then slow roll the lure back. Finally spinnerbaits were used along the deeper rock walls in the main basin; the technique involved sinking the lure to the bottom in 15-20ft with a slow retrieve. Long casts were important in the clear water.” Falkenhagen’s lures included a Z-man slim swim soft plastic in watermelon red, slightly cut down on

BASS PR O Presente SERIES d by To ray

a 1/4oz painted impact tackle jighead, Silent Jackal TN60 in shad colour and a modified Impact Tackle 5/8 spinnerbait in smoke yellow core colour. “I altered this spinnerbait to have a single willow to help keep the lure stay deep in the clear water,” explained Falkenhagen. Falkenhagen’s tackle outfits were rotated depending on the lure used. For soft plastics the outfit included a BarraBass IP901 rod paired with a Daiwa Certate 1000 reel spooled with 6.5lb Toray Light Fish PE and 6lb Toray LEX leader. For lipless crankbaits; BarraBass REV702 rod teamed with a Daiwa Alphas reel spooled with Toray 13lb Jigging PE and 10lb Toray Superhard Leader. Finally for spinnerbaits, a BarraBass XSB610 rod matched with a Daiwa Sol 1500 reel spooled with 12lb Toray SeaBass Power Game and 8lb Toray Superhard leader. “Thanks to ABT and my boaters for the weekend. Also thanks to my sponsors Fishtec Solutions, Stomr Rain Gear and BarraBass Rods for their continued help and support”.

WINNING NOTES

Winning Ways

I would say it was a combination of everything. My years of experience fishing Glenbawn give me a great understanding of the fish and how they behave. The lure was something completely different to what the pack were using, and I knew I could get big bites in the right locations.

1 foot hops, followed by a pause

Winning Tackle

Rod: 13 fishing 7’3” Medium Envy Black Reel: 13 Concept C 8.1:1 bait cast reel Line: 16lb Delux Amigo Braid Leader: 10lb Gamma fluorocarbon “The fast reel was used for winding quickly on a bass after it bit and getting the jig in quickly once I had finished a retrieve.”

15-20 feet

Quick retrieve

TOP 10 BOATERS

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

Place Angler

Fish

Total Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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

7.61 7.58 7.47 7.17 7.17 6.96 6.96 6.47 6.45 6.40

Peter PHELPS Kristoffer HICKSON Tom SLATER Mitchell CONE Greg BEATTIE Tony THORLEY Anthony THORPE Mark LENNOX David YOUNG Grant CLEMENTS

Prize

Trip to the USA 13 Fishing Prize Pack 13 Fishing Prize Pack NS Black Hole rod NS Black Hole rod

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

Place Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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

6.16 5.73 5.66 5.55 5.44 5.40 5.36 5.05 4.55 4.45

Shaun FALKENHAGEN James HICKSON Cameron LEY Ryan JONES Tony NEAL James REID Luke DRAPER Warren HOWE Ben RANDELL Owen MCPAUL

Prize

MotorGuide Xi5 13 Fishing Prize Pack 13 Fishing Prize Pack NS Black Hole rod NS Black Hole rod

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

Working with wire NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

The use of wire trace is one of those necessary evils that anglers must occasionally embrace to target those ‘toothy critters’ that could otherwise easily chop through their lines. Here’s the best way to tackle the need for a little bit of bite insurance. There are quite a few species of fish equipped with teeth sharp enough to slice, chew, or chop through an angler’s line or leader. Obvious contenders in this category are genuine ‘razor gang’ members such as Spanish and spotted

like also have hard enough jaws or sufficiently rough scouring pad teeth to damage finer leaders, and billfish like marlin and sailfish have sandpaper bills that do the same thing. In many instances we can hedge our bets against these fish by upping the diameter and breaking strain of our mono leaders. Moving from 6 to a 10kg nylon or fluorocarbon may be all that’s required to prevent regular chew-offs from big flatties, while a 30-40kg leader or bite tippet will usually cope with all but the very biggest barra. However, tropical mackerel, wahoo, big tailor and many sharks will continue to easily cut such leaders. If this starts

coated, multi-strand wire with a barrel swivel at one end and a snap clip at the other. Shop-bought traces do a good job of preventing bite-offs, although it can pay to choose more expensive brands fitted with quality hardware over the cheapies. As useful as pre-made traces are, they rarely display much in the way of finesse. Most are thick and obtrusive, often carrying bright, shiny fittings. There’s absolutely no doubt that the use of any form of wire leader will reduce the number of bites you get, especially when targeting fussy, sharp-eyed species in heavily fished waters. This phenomenon is especially evident when running thick,

Wahoo are one species that virtually demands the use of wire!

Teeth marks on these jigs paint a graphic picture! Most are rigged on short, singlestrand wire traces. For good reason!

mackerel, wahoo and tropical barracuda. Down south, tailor, barracouta, even pike and snook all have sharp teeth and, of course, most sharks are well-equipped in this department. Big flathead, barramundi, Murray cod, queenfish, mahi-mahi and the 96

DECEMBER 2015

to happen on a regular basis, fishers are likely to reach for the wire. Faced with these chop-off challenges, many anglers choose to buy a couple of factory-made traces. These are usually constructed from 30-40cm lengths of plastic-

factory-made traces. Many tropical and sub-tropical fishers who regularly pursue mackerel and the like make their own wire traces, and this is my preferred approach. Rolling your own allows the use of thin, dull-coloured, singlestrand wire and also means you can customise the length and fittings to suit your needs and optimize the end product. Strong connections are created in this material using a combination of haywire twists and barrel rolls. Take a look at my accompanying instructional video, which can be accessed via the QR code on this page, or by going to: https://youtu.be/ PIoXIKXUS3I.

Single strand wire is most often sold in 10m coils in a zip lock plastic bag with a cardboard backer enclosed. Opt for well-known brands such as Mason, Malin or American Fishing Wire and always choose dull, non-reflective finishes in brown tones rather than flashy silver. Single strand wire is very thin for its strength and although it often kinks and coils badly after catching a few fish, it’s cheap enough to be regarded as a disposable item. I’ll usually pre-make a couple of traces, but once you become adept at the technique, it’s easy enough to do it in the field. If you’re new to working with

The author with a small wahoo that fell to a metal jig rigged with a very short (15 cm) trace of single-strand wire. wire, carefully study the illustrations hereabout and closely watch my how-to video on YouTube channel at ‘Starlo Gets Reel’. As a final couple of tips, keep your home-made traces as short and fine as possible, minimise the number and size of terminal items attached to them, and always choose dark, dull-coloured swivels, clips and the like. You’ll hook a lot more fish as a result!

VIDEO

Scan the QR code to learn how to make your own wire trace.

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VFM DECEMBER 2015

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A tale of two Bar Crushers: 490WR and 490C

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

We love the opportunity to do a bit of head-to-head testing at Fishing Monthly. It puts us in the same position as a customer – what’s the best product for me and my application? We recently had the opportunity to take a couple of the smallest Bar Crusher boats for a drive on a wild and woolly day on Western Port; the cabin (C) and open version (WR) of the 490 hull. Apart from being able to

check out the features and performance of these hulls, it was great to be able to spend some time with Mr Bar Crusher – Peter Cleland – to hear first-hand some of the history and theory behind the brand. You can hear a full interview by scanning the QR code in this article with your smartphone. All of the Gen 2 Bar Crushers work on a standard theory. A Delta Flare planing plank holds a water ballast feature. This sub-floor tank fills up at rest, dropping the chines lower into the water and making the boat more stable. It also allows the hulls to be built with a

deeper vee in them, dealing with the perennial plate boat problem of ‘banging’ in the rough water. And test that feature we did on test day. Confronted by a nasty 20-25 knot sou’westerly we took the pair on a decent run through sheltered and open parts of the estuary. My opinion? For the first part of the trip, I braced each time a pothole opened up before the WR. By the end of the run, it was business as usual – shooting the breeze with Pete Cleland as we traversed the bays and channels. The console did lack a place to hold

Bar Crusher’s Delta Flare planing plank and water ballast feature allow their hulls to carry a deeper vee than a standard plate boat. Here you can see how it cuts the water. 100

DECEMBER 2015

on with your right hand, although Peter commented that he was on to that. I’m sure there will be a handle in future models. The ride wasn’t 100% dry, though. Quartering the seas, the inevitable spray blew back across the craft. Dressed in a GoreTex rain suit, this wasn’t a problem. I’ve been to enough rodeos to know what open boats are like in nasty weather. VFM’s Peter Jung made the trip in the Cuddy model, and arrived at the destination warm and dry. And that’s the difference between the two boats. The Cuddy is more resistant to the weather and better set up for dropping a spread of baits, while the WR model is exposed getting there, but super efficient when the lure casting begins. Both of the test boats were fitted with 60hp Suzuki outboards. They’re quiet, reliable and ridiculously fuel efficient, getting 4km per litre burned at 4,200rpm. That’s value for money at the petrol pump right there. Prop setups were spot on, maxing out a 5,800rpm. You can see the full performance range in the table on this page. Both models arrived on an Australian-made Easytow trailer, single axled and fitted with Bar Crusher’s Bar Catch launch and retrieval system. This

PERFORMANCE RPM.... 490C.....490WR Idle......... 2.5.................3 1000...... 4.1.................4 2000...... 8.3.................8 3000..... 12.8..............11 4000.......24...............27 5000.......40...............42 WOT.......50...............52 • 0.25L/km at 4,200rpm. • Both boats propped with 10 1/4” x 15” three blade. is a real time saver when it comes to getting the boat on and off the trailer. For two-person launching, it’s ridiculously quick and for solo launch and retrieve, it’s like having a second set of hands. Scan the QR code nearby to see it in action in the test video. “Once I told a guy at a boat show that we could launch or retrieve a boat in 30 seconds. He didn’t believe us, so we made a video and could actually do it in 20,” Peter explained, proud of their invention. “Bar Crusher is all about being the quality option in the market,” Pete explained as we ran across the bay, “We make them from 5083 aluminium plate and take great care with our welding and fittings. The Rigideck floor is fully sealed, so that nothing can find its way under it and we take pride in our aim to build a better engineered boat.”

Built on the same hull, the Bar Crusher 490 C and 490 WR offers two totally different configurations that will fit on the same trailer and used with the same Suzuki 60hp outboard. Our conclusions: the WR is a boat for the north and lure casters, while the C is a boat for the bait angler and southerners – but you can make your own mind up! Indeed, depending on options, these rigs weigh in at around $35,000 to $40,000. There’s a mountain of information – including local dealers – on www. barcrusher.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. VIDEO

Scan this QR code to watch the full interview with Peter Cleland from Bar Crusher.

The 60hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboard is ridiculously efficient, getting up to 4km per litre of fuel burned. Both boats were fitted with identical outboards and propellers – being a 10 1/4” x 15” pitch. Revving out to 5,800rpm, the setup seems about right, maxing out at around 50-52km/h.

The differences in layout are pretty obvious. The Cabin model had protection from the wind, spray and rain, while in the open boat, you’d better have a good set of wet weather gear if things turn nasty. The advantages of the open boat, though, are 360o fishing access and the ability to fit an electric motor for ultimate manoeuvrability.

The super-structure of the Cabin model folds down from 2.1m to 1.8m in height, allowing you to fit this boat into a smaller garage. A single axle trailer helps manoeuvrability.

If you haven’t seen the Bar Catch system in action, you’re missing out. For two-person launching, it’s ridiculously quick and for solo launch and retrieve, it’s like having a second set of hands. Scan the QR code nearby to see it in action in the test video.

Here’s how the water ballast system works – at rest, this cavity fills with water and lowers the chines further into the drink – making the boat more stable. Underway, gravity drains the water out. The system allows the Bar Crusher hull to carry a deeper vee then most other plate boats, resulting in a smoother ride and less banging.

Here’s a new accessory from Bar Crusher – a bait board/live bait tank combo. It’s pump filled and overflow vented and fits on either hull configuration.

There’s nothing wrong with keeping it simple. In the WR, the icebox doubles as a seat. Added to the in-floor kill tank, it gives these smaller Bar Crushers some serious range and capacity for extended camping and fishing trips.

The wide dash allows the Cabin model to hold any electronics you can throw at it, while both the helm and passenger seats are designed for maximum storage and functionality.

This is where all the serious work gets done on the WR model. Comfortable for one person throwing a lure with the offset electric motor mount. Non-skid on the gunwales means that if you’re nimble, then it’s pretty easy to jump up and get a better angle on the fish. DECEMBER 2015

101

Robalo’s R207: ultimate family/fishing crossover

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

The challenge that a lot of anglers face in their boating life is when they make a family. When you’re young and carefree, you get to buy a boat that gets you to where the fish are. That’s your focus. Fast forward to later in life, you have a partner and kids and all of a sudden their safety and comfort trumps your needs for the ultimate fishing craft. Historically, crossover boats compromise in all areas, but on a Robalo

R207 we tested recently, imported by Aussie Boat Sales, there’s a mix of creature comforts and fishability that we’ve rarely seen. Now, upfront, let us tell you that this isn’t a boat that’s in the same price range as other, locally made offerings, but if you bear with us you’ll see that the serious features well and truly justify the serious price tag. We caught up with Scott O’Hare at his marina at Williamstown in Melbourne, at the mouth of the Yarra River – a superbly located family business nesting a fleet of Chaparral fun machines. Aussie Boat Sales is also the

SPECIFICATIONS LOA............ ..20’7” (6.27m) Beam......... ....8’4” (2.54m) Weight on water... .1588kg Max hp....................200hp Deadrise......................18°

casting is your deal, and the front gunwales are wide enough to get up and cast off if you feel that you’re standing too low on the front deck. Wet storage for skis or kneeboards is between the consoles.

Naturally, all deck fittings on the 207 are stainless steel and suitable for saltwater use, while through-hull fittings are bronze. This boat is built to last. Eminently trailerable, the test boat was supplied

Draft..........................37cm Fuel............................227L Capacity...........8 persons Livewell.......................49L The boat is broadly a bowrider configuration, although when you ditch the creature comforts you’ll find that there’s a very functional casting deck up there. Additionally, although the test boat wasn’t fitted with one, you can definitely add a long shaft trolling motor to satisfy your need for boat control while casting. Other features are nearly too numerous to name, but again, for the angler, an under-seat livewell on the transom ticks a lot of boxes, as do the Targa rod holders. You are able to fit an electric motor at the bow if lure

See yourself and the family in the 207? As tested, this rig, on a trailer, will set you back just over $90K. Prices start from the high 80s. meticulous build process that’s born from decades of manufacturing experience from the brand. Give him a call on (03) 9397 6977 for more information on this boat, or their Robalo or Chaparral brands.

The windscreens are high enough to see through while seated and over while standing. Sometimes manufacturers get this wrong. PERFORMANCE RPM. Speed Fuel (km/h) (L/h) Idle...............2...........1.9 1000.......... 6.5..........3.2 2000...........13..........9.5 3000...........29...........19 4000...........48...........28 5000...........64...........58 5200...........69...........65 • 5.6 seconds to plane 102

DECEMBER 2015

dealer for that other iconic American brand – Robalo. “The 207 is my favourite boat in the Robalo range,” Scott said, as we hid from the wind at the restaurant in his Anchorage Marina complex. “It’s unashamedly a fishing boat, although if you’re getting some pressure to have a craft that can tow a ski or tube, then it does that with style.”

on an Australian-spec twin axle trailer. This size boat is towable by most twin-cab 4WD utes and larger. Scott has fantastic knowledge of all things Robalo, including the Kevlar-reinforced hulls and

VIDEO

There isn’t one piece of wasted space under the deck. Rainproof storage lets you keep either tackle or day tripping gear safe and dry.

Scan this QR code to watch the full interview with Scott O’Hare from Robalo.

Beside the helm is massive underfloor storage. The helm itself has a broad array of switches and controls, but you may have to sacrifice a cup holder if you want to add a larger sonar screen.

You see this more and more nowadays – helm seats with a hinged cushion that acts as a lifter or as a backrest. It’s all about the functionality in this Robalo 207.

Hidden under the comfortable rear lounge is a 50L livewell with LED lighting and a blue gelcoat finish. In practice, this could be easily used as a kill tank as well. Remove the cushions and there’s ample room for lure casting on the front deck. Additionally, the gunwales are wide enough for anyone who’s half nimble to get up there and increase their angle on the fish. These are the features that get the kids across the line – a fully enclosed and lockable mini-cabin with a portable toilet.

Americans definitely win the ‘who can make the best anchor storage’ competition. Nearly all American saltwater boats I’ve seen have excellent hanging-anchor wells that are built for the purpose and do their jobs well.

Robalo’s Hydro Lift hull is efficient, self draining and backed by a 10-year warranty. Practically, hose down is easy. There’s an on-board deck wash for keeping things tidy during a trip, and clever design to make hosing down a cinch when you get back to port.

The 200 Honda now comes with a 7-year warranty and pushed the 207 up onto the plane in 5.6 seconds – both with and against the wind. The concealed ladder is a nice touch.

R260

www.robalo.com 03) 9397-6977

Time to get serious.... DECEMBER 2015

103

What’s New BOATING

SIERRA FUEL INJECTOR KIT

Fuel additives and fuel alone cannot clean away layers of deposits when the engine is running. The only proven method is by removing the ‘stale’ fuel (the cause of the deposits) and using a fuel system cleaner periodically. By using Sierra’s Fuel Injection Cleaning Kit regularly, you will help maintain the fuel injection system’s cleanliness and performance throughout the life of your engine. For best results, use E-GO! Blast Fuel Cleaner (S18-8606). To also enhance the motor’s life and performance use Sierra’s E-Go Boost (S188607), suitable for both petrol and diesel motors. Simply add to your boat’s fuel tank. The Sierra Fuel Injection Cleaning Kit includes a Cleaning System Container, a hose, a small fitting, a large fitting and also a carry case. Cleaning your fuel with the Fuel Injector Cleaning Kit will only do good for your engine and save you lots of money in the long term. www.bla.com.au

FLAT STICK

Tackle Addict Australia is proud to introduce this revolutionary new product to the Australian boating and kayaking fishing community. Tackle Addict Australia has flown under the radar for a number of years distributing quality apparel and producing an outstanding range of custom built surface lures to a select number of national clients. Tackle Addicts enters the boating/kayaking market with the Flat Stick! Flat Sticks are designed to make your flats fishing productive and hassle free. Flats Sticks are a rod and bracket system designed to slow or stop a boat’s drift across the flats. Flat sticks consist of an aluminium bracket and highquality composite rod to create the ultimate flats fishing tool. With a range of fixing options available to suit all types of craft including a no drill bracket, which slips under your bow mount electric, installation is a breeze. All components are build tough for the harsh Australian saltwater environment and designed to last. – Tackle Addicts Australia

MORNINGSTAR HYDRO HULL

Morningstar boats* are revolutionary when it comes to construction, appearance and performance in the worldwide aluminium market. The Hydro Hull sets these boats apart from mainstream alloy craft. Traditional alloy boats use a basic frame structure of horizontal and vertical ‘C’ and box section frames for their support structure. Morningstar’s advanced technology allows them to press a sophisticated and stylish design into a previously rigid alloy medium. The three pieces of structure consisting of the sides and bottom pressing are robot-welded to create a very strong outer shell and ‘exoskeleton’. This ‘unibody’ concept is also used in high-end sports cars, aeroplanes and bicycles. The ‘Origid’ deck structure provides the internal structural integrity. Incorporating the 6mm internal keel, the backbone of the deck structure, the Hydro Hull skeleton is cemented in place with the welding of the Origid deck frame. Morningstar’s rigid exoskeleton shell and Origid deck structure combine together to form the Hydro Hull. *A Taiwanese company, not a Korean company as stated in Wayne Kampe’s article in the November issue.

www.morningstarboats.com.au

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

NORTHBANK 650HT

South Australia’s premier boat builder, Northbank Fibreglass Boats, has just released a new model of its ever popular 650 Hardtop. The new 650HT still uses the same 1400kg dry hull with a 2.44mm beam and 930mm of freeboard. The difference is the new toughened glass top which increases visibility from the helm, and lets much more natural light into the cabin. The new lid has also freshened the look of the 650HT into more of a contemporary design, while being functional and robust at the same time. Another positive is that the new lid can be retro-fitted to all existing 600 and 650 cuddy models opening up a whole new market for current owners of these models. The new 650HT will also save time in the build process, so from a manufacturing point of view this also made a lot of sense. The new 650HT looks great and will certainly stack up against the competition. www.northbank.com.au

TWO-PRO BRAKE CONTROLLER

Adelaide-based Redarc Electronics is releasing the next generation of its award-winning electronic brake controller Tow-Pro, with sights firmly set on the export market. The Tow-Pro Elite, launched in October, incorporates a number of new features that will result in smoother braking for motorists towing heavy trailers and caravans. It also features ‘Active Calibration’, which means that once fitted to the customer’s vehicle, the Tow-Pro Elite will automatically calibrate itself, even without a trailer attached. Redarc’s Managing Director, Mr Anthony Kittel, said Tow-Pro Elite had undergone extensive quality control and product development at Redarc’s Lonsdale headquarters. “We continue to set the industry benchmark for innovation in electronic technology,” he said. “Since its launch in June, 2014, Tow-Pro has become one of our most popular products, being used by people who tow caravans and camper trailers, horse floats, boats and the like.” www.redarc.com.au

QUINTREX NEW HORNET RANGE

Quintrex has updated its Hornet series for 2015 with the entire range now featuring the successful Fighter Series bow. The Fighter Series features a wide ‘forked’ shaped bow, designed to improve stability at rest and also increases internal storage room and the casting area. The Fighter Series bow was first released in 2013 exclusively to the 450, 481 and 500 Hornet Trophy models and after rave reviews was developed for the entire Hornet and Hornet Trophy range as well Quintrex’s renowned Explorer range in models 390 and above. The new 2015 Hornet Trophy range is packed with features, some of which are premium carpet as standard on all models and a new look side console on models 450 and above. The 440 Hornet Trophy features a rear casting platform with a live bait tank, a front casting platform, rod holders, transducer bracket and smooth look 2mm marine grade aluminium top sides making it one serious fishing rig, suitable for a range of different applications. www.telwater.com

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

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105

Stessco Catcher SFX450 with 60 Suzuki 4-stroke BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

The Stessco Catcher SFX450 Side Console is an angler’s boat through and through. Being a side console alloy craft, it offers a large amount of useful fishing room within its modest 4.5m length. It’s powered by a 3-cylinder, 60hp Suzuki 4-stroke so it was no slouch on the water either.

easy assessment of the boat’s ride and handling attributes. This is a solid rig. With 3mm construction all round there were no vibes, hums or metallic thrums at any stage of the test runs. I quickly decided that the Catcher SFX450 side console would be an ideal boat for a complete beginner yet just as useful to an old hand looking for a handysized boat for a couple of anglers to spend time in.

carpet-covered cast deck up front featured two underfloor compartments. The compartment nearest the bow was suited to general storage, while the second (109L capacity) was a dedicated well set up for the catch. An extra seat spigot to provide both easy weight distribution plus a comfortable fishing station up front was located between these hatches. A neat bow rail was there to assist around the ramp.

The Suzuki 60 was a perfect power choice for the 4.5m Catcher.

The Catcher SFX450 is a no-frills but very capable craft with a lot of appeal to the angler. SPECIFICATIONS Length..............................................................4.50m Beam................................................................2.08m Hull construction..................................... 3mm alloy Hull weight......................................................365kg Engine ratings............................................. 40-60hp Persons...................................................................5 Engine fitted................................60 Suzuki 4-stroke Fuel......................................................................60L Towing...........Family six or big four sedan or wagon The Catcher is rated for up to five people, and the test boat was supplied by Motorsport Marine of Burpengary on Brisbane’s northside. I conducted the test within the Bribie Passage on a fine day with a bit of breeze kicking up some chop, which allowed

There was no vice about this rig whatsoever – everything worked readily and with plenty of comfort given its modest dimensions. LAYOUT Within the bow an open anchor well provided plenty of room for anchor and warp. A 300mm high

Up to 12 hours run time

The craft’s alloy side console was set up with a neat grab rail plus a windscreen to offer some protection against slipstream for the driver. The console’s upright section proved a convenient mounting point for a GMI 20 gauge to monitor the Suzuki 60, while a bank of switches plus the craft’s steering wheel was also close by. There was plenty of room up on the horizontal section behind the screen for a sounder to be mounted as well. Being an open, floormounted unit the side console had ample leg room for the driver and as a bonus also came equipped

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106

DECEMBER 2015

with a central storage shelf. Engine controls were side mounted within easy reach of the skipper. Seating options are part of the Catcher’s attractions, with one base right beside the skipper, and another installed to port of the console. Again, very useful for weight distribution when you have more than two people aboard. Seating consisted of wellcushioned and supportive pedestal-style units, which were able to swivel aft to facilitate fishing. Aft of the skipper and mate’s seats, the main features were 1m long, off-floor side pockets which obviously provided a brace point under them, a sizeable cast deck at the transom in which several compartments were set up, along with 250mm wide side decks and grab rails. Rod holders within the 750mm high side decks are options for this rig. Areas adjacent the transom were carpeted and set up as an alternative casting platform, which would be ideal in calm conditions. Under the rear deck area there was a 30L live bait tank to starboard, general purpose storage compartment to port, and battery and other items centrally. In all, excellent use put to this area. Aft of the transom with its wide splash well was a checkerplate boarding platform, with accompanying rail, on each side of the 60 Suzuki. TOP POWER SUZUKI 60 With its moderate vee hull featuring several strong pressings plus an outer reversed chine, the smooth running Catcher was very well powered by the (maximum hp) 60 Suzuki on the transom – to the extent that with two aboard the craft jumped onto the plane in a little over its own length. The Catcher drove and handled very freely with its

mechanical steering set up, and it turned out some quite impressive performance figures all round. With three aboard the Stessco planed at 3000rpm and 12.2km/h, which is a very modest speed. At 4000rpm we saw a speed of 32.4km/h on the GMI 20 gauge, with 5000rpm

4000 rpm/32.4km/h fuel use figures as well – just 7L per hour. Owners would no doubt find that cruising at around 30km/h at mid range revs would make a lot of sense. And with a 60L under floor tank, fuel consumption of 7L per hour would give a range of 240km+. Awesome!

Flexible seating arrangements allow for ease of passenger positioning.

A plumbed live bait well is one of the Catcher’s handy features. recording 46.2km/h and 6000rpm a feisty 58.3km/h. They’re impressive speeds for modest power, and I was also impressed with the

RIDE AND HANDLING Another of the Catcher’s attractions was a very good ride. A hull weight of 365kg saw the boat settled

and nicely balanced on the water, and with three aboard it was a lot of fun to turn the craft rapidly, push over wash from other boats travelling in Pumicestone Passage, then see how quickly the craft returned to a level attitude to assess

both handling and overall ride quality. While I could hear a bump as we crossed some of those waves – some were fairly large – there was certainly no upsetting impact to contend with. Metre high sides kept all spray away from us as

Under the forward casting deck there’s a 109L catch well and general storage compartment, plus a seat position.

we crossed wash and chop, and with any displaced water being turned away from the hull around halfway along its length, I was more than pleased with this aspect of the craft’s sea-keeping ability. In all, I saw the Catcher as a well handling and well riding craft. Stability was very good as well, and it was no issue whatsoever to walk around the rig, tucking into various corners or positions while we were in mid channel, to take my photos. I believe that the average angler fishing from the Catcher would find nothing to complain about as far as stability is concerned. FISHABILITY Stessco have packed quite a few features into the no-frills but very

The Catcher’s excellent hull at work: note the way spray is pushed back around half of the craft’s length. capable Catcher SFX450, with about the only thing missing being rod holders. Given that there’s a large catch well, a plumbed live well aft plus four seating

Left: Additional storage within the port quarter is a useful feature. Right: The catcher’s off floor side pockets also provide a brace point for an angler working on a serious fish.

positions and both fore and aft storage compartments under decks, the angler has been quite well catered for. Backing these useful features were a very good ride, easy performance and handling plus excellent stability. The finish was quite good with welds quite well smoothed, although visible. The Catcher SFX450 is an unpainted craft, with a neat decal catching the eye and highlighting the craft’s straight sides. Chelsea Yamaha is offering $20,800 for orders before 11 December, which include Yamaha’s offer of free rigging of gauges, controls and the

prop. The boat comes with a F60 4-stroke, a Stessco trailer, safety gear, and boat and trailer registration. Full finance is available with weekly payments from just $90. You can catch up with the team at Chelsea Yamaha at 13 Ashley Park Drive in Chelsea Heights, or contact them on 03 9772 8317 • 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.

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All Stessco boats and trailers are fabricated in Australia, not overseas! For all your NEW boat requirements visit your nearest STESSCO dealer or check out www.stessco.com.au Australian owned and manufactured for over 30 years

DECEMBER 2015

107

BAIT & TACKLE

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108

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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.

DECEMBER 2015

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Kestrel Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 1783 Pro Red Fishing Charters 0421 442 775

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Email : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au EAST GIPPSLAND

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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 Headland Fishing Adventures, Merimbula (02) 6495 1134Island Charters, Narooma (02) 4476 1047 or 0408 428 857K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681 Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080

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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

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Readers Picture Noah and Logan Walsh are keen young anglers from the Echuca area and they spend as much time on the water as dad will let them.

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

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or email pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

DECEMBER 2015

109

Victorian Tide Times

POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA SEPTEMBER Time 0107 0649 TU 1343 1920

Time

m 1.55 0.34 1.63 0.39

0148 0736 WE 1400 1957

Time

1.47 0.47 1.49 0.41

0150 0726 TH 1359 1946

1.51 0.47 TH 1431 1.51 2030 0.37

2 0243 0815

17 0337 0923

3 0331 0900

18 0412 0957

4 0520 1045

19 0447 1032

5 0608 1130

20 0524 1107

6 0658 1214

21 0604 1143

7 0041 0750

22 0647 1220

8 0127 0845

23 0027 0736

9 0219 0943

24 0116 0832

2015

LAT 38° 18’ LONG 144° 37’ Times and Heights of High and Low Waters OCTOBER NOVEMBER

1.70 0.40 1.61 0.15

1.75 0.40 FR 1444 1.62 2036 0.11

0303 0848 FR 1458 2059

Time

1.57 0.53 1.45 0.30

0415 0943 SU 1603 2200

1.60 0.52 SA 1533 1.46 2131 0.28

2 0500 1028

17 0430 1012

3 0545 1112

18 0507 1049

4 0629 1155

19 0545 1127

5 0012 0714

20 0627 1206

6 0055 0801

21 0010 0711

7 0141 0851

22 0101 0801

8 0235 0944

23 0200 0900

9 0344 1037

24 0310 1005

1.77 0.46 1.54 0.12

Time

1.66 0.55 1.42 0.24

0441 1013 TU 1628 2223

1.66 0.54 TU 1624 1.41 2210 0.25

2 0521 1056

17 0452 1034

3 0600 1139

18 0530 1115

4 0637 1220

19 0610 1158

5 0024 0715

20 0002 0651

6 0106 0755

21 0052 0737

7 0152 0839

22 0146 0830

8 0246 0929

23 0248 0930

9 0354 1023

24 0401 1037

1.71 0.48 1.46 0.23

1.66 0.47 WE 1713 1.41 2304 0.31

0414 0954 WE 1608 2152

17 0225 0811

3 0255 0830

18 0259 0845

4 0346 0918

19 0333 0918

5 0437 1003

20 0408 0953

6 0530 1048

21 0445 1028

7 0625 1134

22 0528 1103

8 0009 0723

23 0614 1141

9 0100 0822

24 0706 1224

10 0158 0922

25 0042 0808

10 0324 1040

25 0218 0937

10 0503 1130

25 0430 1112

10 0513 1119

25 0007 0520

11 0306 1022

26 0144 0916

11 0440 1135

26 0332 1045

11 0034 0613

26 0026 0548

11 0045 0621

26 0108 0632

12 0417 1119

27 0258 1025

12 0006 0551

27 0455 1149

12 0121 0704

27 0126 0656

12 0131 0713

27 0203 0733

13 0521 1211

28 0418 1126

13 0101 0649

28 0041 0613

13 0201 0746

28 0220 0751

13 0214 0756

28 0254 0826

14 0019 0614

29 0532 1222

14 0148 0735

29 0142 0716

14 0239 0824

29 0311 0841

14 0254 0836

29 0340 0915

15 0107 0658

30 0055 0633

15 0228 0814

30 0236 0809

15 0315 0900

30 0358 0927

15 0334 0915

30 0421 1000

1.68 0.36 TH 1510 1.68 2100 0.21 1.69 0.40 FR 1552 1.66 2148 0.18 1.65 0.45 SA 1634 1.62 2236 0.19 1.59 0.51 SU 1717 1.55 2322 0.24 1.51 0.58 MO 1804 1.47 0.31 1.44 TU 1221 0.66 1858 1.39 0.39 1.38 WE 1314 0.72 2000 1.32 0.47 1.34 TH 1420 0.77 2110 1.27 0.52 1.34 FR 1540 0.76 2218 1.26

0.53 1.36 SA 1655 0.71 2323 1.29

0.52 1.39 SU 1754 0.63

1.35 0.50 MO 1253 1.43 1842 0.55 1.41 0.48 TU 1329 1.47 1921 0.47

1.54 0.49 FR 1503 1.52 2104 0.34

1.55 0.50 SA 1536 1.51 2137 0.33

1.54 0.53 SU 1610 1.48 2209 0.33

1.51 0.57 MO 1645 1.44 2241 0.34 1.47 0.62 TU 1723 1.39 2315 0.36

1.42 0.66 WE 1806 1.34 2354 0.38 1.37 0.70 TH 1858 1.30 0.41 1.34 FR 1317 0.72 2002 1.27

0.45 1.33 SA 1426 0.70 2122 1.29

0.48 1.37 SU 1544 0.63 2244 1.37

0.48 1.43 MO 1658 0.50 2354 1.48 0.45 1.50 TU 1801 0.36

1.61 0.42 WE 1312 1.56 1856 0.24

1.74 0.42 SA 1527 1.60 2124 0.12 1.70 0.45 SU 1710 1.56 2310 0.16 1.62 0.49 MO 1755 1.49 2356 0.24 1.53 0.54 TU 1842 1.41 0.33 1.44 WE 1300 0.60 1936 1.32 0.43 1.36 TH 1350 0.65 2040 1.25 0.52 1.31 FR 1453 0.69 2152 1.22 0.60 1.28 SA 1609 0.68 2302 1.22

0.63 1.28 SU 1723 0.64

1.27 0.63 MO 1226 1.30 1822 0.56 1.35 0.61 TU 1310 1.34 1909 0.47

1.43 0.58 WE 1348 1.38 1948 0.40 1.51 0.55 TH 1423 1.42 2024 0.34

1.62 0.52 SU 1609 1.46 2204 0.27

1.61 0.53 MO 1645 1.43 2237 0.28 1.57 0.55 TU 1722 1.40 2309 0.30

1.53 0.57 WE 1801 1.36 2345 0.33 1.47 0.59 TH 1846 1.32 0.38 1.41 FR 1303 0.60 1941 1.29

0.44 1.37 SA 1357 0.60 2049 1.27

0.51 1.34 SU 1502 0.57 2213 1.31

0.57 1.35 MO 1619 0.49 2332 1.40 0.59 1.39 TU 1733 0.38

1.53 0.57 WE 1248 1.45 1837 0.25 1.65 0.53 TH 1342 1.50 1932 0.16 1.74 0.50 FR 1431 1.54 2024 0.10

1.65 0.48 TU 1732 1.44 2329 0.27 1.56 0.51 WE 1820 1.36 0.37 1.47 TH 1240 0.55 1913 1.29 0.47 1.39 FR 1328 0.58 2015 1.23 0.57 1.32 SA 1422 0.61 2127 1.20 0.66 1.27 SU 1527 0.61 2235 1.22 0.73 1.25 MO 1638 0.57 2339 1.27 0.75 1.25 TU 1740 0.51

1.35 0.73 WE 1218 1.27 1830 0.43 1.44 0.69 TH 1303 1.31 1913 0.36

1.52 0.65 FR 1345 1.35 1951 0.30

1.59 0.61 SA 1426 1.39 2027 0.26

1.64 0.58 SU 1506 1.41 2101 0.24

1.63 0.53 WE 1704 1.39 2246 0.28 1.58 0.52 TH 1746 1.36 2326 0.33

1.53 0.51 FR 1833 1.33

0.40 1.47 SA 1251 0.50 1930 1.31

0.48 1.42 SU 1344 0.47 2042 1.31

0.57 1.38 MO 1445 0.44 2204 1.35 0.65 1.36 TU 1557 0.38 2319 1.44

0.70 1.37 WE 1709 0.29 1.54 0.68 TH 1215 1.40 1815 0.21

1.65 0.64 FR 1314 1.44 1912 0.14

1.72 0.59 SA 1407 1.48 2004 0.11

1.76 0.54 SU 1456 1.50 2052 0.12

1.75 0.50 MO 1543 1.49 2139 0.16

1.58 0.48 TH 1758 1.35 2345 0.40 1.51 0.49 FR 1846 1.29 0.49 1.44 SA 1303 0.51 1943 1.24 0.58 1.37 SU 1348 0.52 2046 1.21 0.67 1.31 MO 1439 0.52 2152 1.22 0.76 1.27 TU 1538 0.51 2255 1.26 0.82 1.24 WE 1643 0.48 2354 1.32 0.83 1.24 TH 1743 0.42 1.41 0.80 FR 1215 1.26 1833 0.36

1.49 0.75 SA 1307 1.30 1916 0.30

1.57 0.69 SU 1356 1.34 1957 0.26

1.63 0.63 MO 1442 1.38 2035 0.23 1.66 0.57 TU 1525 1.41 2113 0.22

31 0327 0857

1.78 0.47 SA 1518 1.56 2113 0.09

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

m 1.67 0.52 1.42 0.23

1.66 0.48 TH 1651 1.42 2232 0.27

2 0202 0742

1.63 0.34 WE 1427 1.67 2011 0.28

1.72 0.46 MO 1647 1.50 2245 0.19

0352 0936 MO 1545 2136

Local Time DECEMBER

1.63 0.44 FR 1736 1.40 2316 0.33

1.58 0.40 SA 1826 1.38

0.41 1.53 SU 1244 0.37 1924 1.36

0.50 1.47 MO 1333 0.35 2034 1.35 0.60 1.42 TU 1430 0.33 2150 1.37

0.69 1.37 WE 1534 0.30 2301 1.43 0.75 1.35 TH 1645 0.27 1.50 0.75 FR 1145 1.36 1754 0.23

1.57 0.71 SA 1248 1.38 1855 0.19

1.64 0.64 SU 1345 1.41 1947 0.17

1.68 0.57 MO 1438 1.43 2037 0.18 1.69 0.52 TU 1526 1.44 2122 0.21

1.67 0.48 WE 1611 1.42 2204 0.26

31 0458 1041

1.63 0.45 TH 1655 1.40 2244 0.33

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. 110

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