Vic/Tas Fishing Monthly February 20217 by Fishing Monthly

32-PAGE 2017 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE INSIDE

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Boating

Boat fit out ideas • Fun in the sun • Yakking Shortlands Bluff • Health check for a pre-loved rig

Tried and tested

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Getting to know Geecrack • Black Magic Whiting Snatcher and Whiting Whacker • Waverider 450 tiller • Stessco Renegade 440 •

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Top ten tricks to tempt kingies • Popper potentials • Fabulous February flathead • Target One Million – can we get there? •

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February 2017, Vol. 12 No. 4

Contents WEST COAST West Coast

Warrnambool 16 Apollo Bay

Cobden 18

CENTRAL Geelong 20 Port Phillip West

Port Phillip North East

Port Phillip North

Mornington Peninsula

Western Port North

Western Port South

Phillip Island

EAST COAST Gippsland Lakes

Lakes Entrance

Ninety-Mile Beach

McLoughlins Beach

Marlo 41 Bemm River

NSW SOUTH COAST Bermagui 43 Narooma 44 Merimbula 45 Eden 46 Mallacoota 46

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Horsham 86 Robinvale 88

From the Editor’s Desk... February each year used to be one of our smaller issues of Fishing Monthly – we put it together while still recovering from the Christmas break. There’s usually cricket on the radio in the background as we’re proofing the pages. It was about getting up to speed as we entered another busy year. That changed a couple of years ago when we started publishing ABT’s Tournament Angler Guide in the centre pages. All of a sudden, February turned into a monster issue – one of the biggest of the year. It’s no secret that ABT and Fishing Monthly are siblings. Born in the FM offices in 1998, ABT (Australian Bass Tournament) has always been a company with the aim of creating a pathway in competitive fishing. Hey – where else can you spend

a day or two fishing with some of the keenest anglers in the country. The backbone of the BREAM and BASS events is a concept of boaters/ non-boaters. At each of the events, ABT gets boat owners to take out anglers that are at the tournament without a boat. And believe me, there’s no better way to learn more about how to catch a bream or bass than to spend a day with someone who is most likely from a different part of the country, but shares your passion for tricking your quarry with an artificial lure. In the early days, it also served the purpose of eliminating cheating – and even rumours of cheating. There’s no such thing as collusion, fish in traps or any rule breaches when competitors are randomly paired each day. But the best part of the

system is that there are no secrets. No secret spots, no secret techniques. If a new lure is catching fish, then that information spreads like wildfire. It makes all of the competitors better anglers, quicker. So what the Tournament Angler Guide does is to take a lot of that information and techniques that have been distilled over the previous 12 months and present it in a way that might help YOUR fishing – no matter whether you are a tournament angler or not. So don’t skip those pages just because you are not – or don’t want to be – a tournament angler. There are just as many gems in those pages as there are in the rest of the magazine. GIFT RECIPIENTS WELCOME Welcome to all of the new subscribers that received a Fishing Monthly

subscription for Christmas. Subscription sales through our iSubscribe portal were up 6% this year on last year. We hope you enjoy getting the magazine in the post each month. There’s nothing like kicking back with the latest Fishing Monthly and spending some quality time dreaming about how, where and when you’ll next go fishing.

Mildura 88 Yarrawonga 89 Wangaratta 90 Shepparton 91 Jindabyne 92 Eildon 93

TASMANIA WRAP BOATING AND KAYAK

82 109

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics

Chappy’s Hotspot

Dam Levels

Fun Page

108

VICTORIA FISHING MONTHLY Business Office: Unit 1, 11 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, Qld, 4128 Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Managing Editor: Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Hotspot 29

Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas

Inland Fisheries Service

Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Cordelia Adams

Spearfishing 79 Tasmanian Lake Levels

Tournament News

103

Field Editor: Kelly Hunt

Trade and Services Guide

106

Victorian Tide Times

102

What’s New Fishing

Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

What’s New Boating

110

SPECIAL FEATURES Top ten tricks to tempt kingies

Website: www.fishingmonthly.com.au Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham

Jarrod Day with a cracking flathead caught flicking soft plastics across the flats. A Jarrod Day image. TO SUBSCRIBE SEE PAGE 97 FIND THE BLACK MAGIC DX POINT LOGO COMPETITION PAGE 39 Victorian and Tasmanian Fishing Monthly magazine goes on sale the last week of each preceding month (latest sale date 31st of the month).

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Yellowtail Kingfish

Top 10 tricks to help tempt tenacious kingies WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich

mgercovich@hotmail.com

There are many reasons why some fish are popular angling species: some taste good, some look good, some fight hard, some are hard to find, or some require specific angling dedication. However, the yellowtail kingfish is one of my favourite targets because they fit all those criteria…and some more! Kingfish are renowned for being temperamental, at times fickle, whereas other times they eat ravenously. They respond to a variety of techniques. Depending on their mood, you’ll need to have multiple options ready for the day, which adds to the challenge and intrigue of kingy fishing. Here are 10 ways to tempt a kingfish. POPPERS Surface fishing for any species is addictive, doubly so when it comes to kingfish. Having a metreplus king engulf a popper off the surface is always worth the many casts it can take to happen. The combination of bubble and splash usually gathers the attention of the cruising kings and triggers an aggressive response. Poppers work when cast to sighted schools but have the added ability to draw unseen fish from a distance or the depths, as opposed to other surface lure techniques. Poppers can also work when trolled behind the boat, as long as the lure is worked by the angler and not just left in the holder. STICKBAITS Rather than being a big searching/attracting style lure like a popper, stickbaits are perfect lures for offering to a school that is shy of an aggressive retrieve/approach. Quality stickbaits that cast and swim well are essential to attract a kingy.

Soft plastic stickbait style lures work well when cast or trolled. Also, a stickbait that sinks horizontally on the pause in a burn and kill retrieve

can sometimes work well to fire up inquisitive, but non-committal kings.

FEBRUARY 2017

Kingies will make you work hard from start to finish, but the rewards are definitely worthwhile. looking for them. Small skirted lures, in combination with strip baits, are a successful way of enticing a king to bite when trolling. The skirt helps keep the strip bait from spinning, as well as providing a bit of extra flash and bubble. Teasers can be employed to assist with this flash and bubble, however, you’ll need to have plenty of help on board to clear the teasers and other trolling lines, particularly if big fish are involved.

The smell of the fresh strip bait behind the bubble and flash of the skirt is the clincher of the deal. A fresh strip is a crucial part of the equation; there is no use having the best spread in the world at the back of the boat if the fish are fussy and demanding fresh bait. Fresh squid strips are a well-known, and frequently used strip trolling bait. Strips of snook and salmon are also good as they are often a freshly caught by-catch of a trolling operation. Make sure they

The natural finish on stickbaits such as these helps fool fussy kings in clear water.

A massive school of kings can be seen on the sounder – it’s times like these that you should drop a jig. 8

The natural finish is also important when a king has the opportunity to eyeball the lure that is paused in front of them. The longer the cast, the longer the retrieve, the more time a fish has to intercept it. There’s nothing worse than running out of room as a speeding pelagic veers away at the last minute as your lure reaches the boat before they catch up to it. Likewise, the closer you get the boat to the fish when casting, the more likely you are to spook the school. A stickbait that casts a long way is a huge help to your success. TROLLED STRIP BAITS As with most species of pelagic fish, trolling is a popular way of targeting kingfish. The major advantage of trolling is that you cover lots of ground. Kingies can move around a lot and trolling keeps you on the move and actively

Whatever technique you use, make sure your gear is up to the battle that lies ahead.

Yellowtail Kingfish are long and thin and don’t spin when trolled through the water. SOFT PLASTIC SLUGS Another productive trolling technique is to troll sluggo style soft plastics. Trolled at a speed where the lures are skipping on the surface, can be a deadly technique that doesn’t involve the need for fresh bait. Pre-rigged sluggos are a great advantage as they track well in the water reducing the need for fastidiously straight hook placement. Not only do these lures work well on the troll but are also an effective lure when cast. They are best worked quickly across the surface to mimic a fleeing garfish. The cast slug sits between the popper and stickbait, offering a combination of drawing power with its splash but a bit more subtlety than a popper. JIGS Jigging is a well-known technique for catching kings in deeper water, around 20-40m deep. While we occasionally get kings we have spotted schooled up deep, most of our jig-caught kings come from schools that were originally spotted on the surface and then for whatever reason sounded to the depths. Keeping an eye

on the sounder and having a jig rod ready though can make a seemingly missed opportunity a hook up. TROLL LIVE BAITS A live bait trolled silently

out the back behind an electric motor is a great way of covering the ground in search of a king. Popular livebaits can include squid, salmon, tommy ruff and

Live baits can be either fished at anchor or slow trolled behind and electric motor.

trevally. For deep water, just add a downrigger to the equation. At the front of the boat, anglers can cast large surface lures in the hope of enticing a king. One of the other benefits of this technique is the ability to give chase quickly whenever a large fish is hooked. Not being at anchor, you have the freedom to be able to move off after the fish. Try and always keep the least amount of line between you and the fish and the front of the boat pointing towards the direction the fish is heading. STATIC LIVE BAITS If you’re not equipped with the ability to be able to tow baits using an electric motor, you can still fish the live bait at anchor. This involves anchoring in a likely area, usually just over the drop off of a reef or pinnacle. A large, live or fresh bait is usually drifted out under a balloon or float, usually in conjunction with a light berley trail. Many kings are taken this way, and it also provides the opportunity to fill your bag with other desirable species such as snapper, King George whiting or trevally while you wait for

When the kingies are chomping gar, it makes sense to match the hatch, and soft plastic stickbait style lures are great for this job. the kingfish to come along. THE BLOCKS A similar technique that works well on smaller kings is to use a cubing style bait/berley combination. A block of pilchards

is a perfect and easily accessible bait that can be cubed up and fished as both bait and berley. Make sure you fish light enough to allow the baited hook to To page 10

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sink naturally through the trail but use heavy enough leader/line to manage any king you encounter. A plentiful supply of fresh squid also works well like this, with a couple of decent sized strips fed out among a steady stream of small pieces. PITCH BAITS There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a metre-plus king (or a school) swim all the way to the boat with its nose behind the lure, then turn away. Sometimes this happens after one or two fish have already been caught from the school, however sometimes this happens as soon as you come across a school. If you are prepared to do so, a live bait pitched into the school can turn a looker into a taker. Also, a live bait that has been in the water for some time, whether suspended under a float or trolled behind the boat, reacts differently to a live bait that has just been pitched into the water. A livey that has just left his secure, dark live well and now finds itself in the water, tends to emit a far more enthusiastic vibration than a livey that has been in the water for some time. Whether these baits that

Nothing can beat chasing kings with surface offerings, and stickbaits are a go-to for many kingfish tragics.

have been in the water are more relaxed, or tired, or a combination of both, I’m not sure. I’ve also often seen a king that has been swimming lazily around these baits rush over to smash one that has just hit the water. For these reasons, keeping your hard-earned livies in prime condition is an important factor. A good quality recirculation system like a Flow-Rite live well system helps keep your livies happy... until their turn comes! CAST SOFT PLASTICS Usually I like to use big lures like the aforementioned popper, slugs and stickbaits for kings, but sometimes a smaller jighead style soft plastic has its time in the sun. Usually, I like to use this technique on smaller kings that may have been already located and refused bigger offerings. The soft plastic/jighead offering allows for you to fish the same lure in a variety of ways. They can either be sunk down like a dying baitfish or burnt quickly back across the top all in the same retrieve, depending on what the fish seem to want at the time. I spend a good portion of my summer fishing looking for kingies, waiting for the

right weather to fish for them, rigging up, or hunting live baits in preparation. If that all sounds hard enough, then you have to choose which of the above techniques is best going to

suit the conditions on the day or the mood of the fish. However hard it may seem, the rewards are definitely worthwhile when it all comes together. Are you up for the challenge?

Big kings can really put your gear and angling ability to the test.

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Prepare for a wild bass chase NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Summer time is bass time, and chasing wild bass in our coastal rivers and creeks is an extremely addictive pastime. The natural range of Australian bass includes coastal rivers and creeks stretching all the way from Bundaberg in Queensland to Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. Recently, that range has been significantly extended, thanks to breeding and stocking of hatchery-spawned bass into man-made dams and impoundments. While there’s a lot of emphasis on fishing for stocked impoundment bass these days, there’s nothing quite like chasing these wonderful natives in the flowing waters where they evolved. Wild bass need access to brackish, tidal waters in order to spawn. Their downstream, pre-spawn migration typically begins in late March or April and by May and June, a large percentage of the adult bass in any system will be concentrated in tidal waters. Under the right conditions, they’ll spawn here from

most river bass extend from October until March, when most are upstream in the fresh and feeding actively. Bass are rather cryptic predators. While aggressive and able to consume large

produce exceptional fishing after sunset. The fact is, bass are very good at hiding and spend a heck of a lot of time lurking deep in the shadowy cover of snags, submerged boulders and

to cover during the day and keep them in the strike zone as long as practical. During low light periods, explore the more open areas of pools and holes with shallow runners or surface lures.

Kayaks and canoes are ideal vessels when it comes to chasing river-dwelling Australian bass. Light to medium spinning tackle works well. You don’t need fancy gear, either. Simply beef up your bream or trout tackle with slightly heavier line and leaders and go for it! If

you’ve never chased wild river bass before, do yourself a huge favour and have a crack before this summer ends. It’s a total blast!

The author with a typical river-dwelling wild bass, taken on one of the most reliable lures available for catching this species – a spinnerbait. prey (up to and including baby birds, lizards and small snakes), they’re also inherently cautious and even shy, especially in shallow, clear water during daylight

undercut banks. They will race out and grab a hapless morsel that comes close enough. They don’t generally cruise around actively looking for meals until light levels fall.

Four popular lure families will cover most river bass fishing scenarios. They are 5-8cm floating/diving plugs, compact spinnerbaits, soft plastic grubs or shads on 2-7g heads (with or without Beetle Spin arms attached) and surface lures. Of course, that last category is extensive – basically, fizzers, paddlers and poppers cover the bass bases.

River bass rarely stray far from cover, at least during daylight hours. Accurate casting is a definite bonus.

You’ll know if you hook a thumper like this one. Don’t go too light with your line and leaders, as bass fight like demons! June until September, before spreading back upriver into the fresh again. The peak fishing times for

FEBRUARY 2017

hours. I know some small creeks which you’d swear were devoid of bass during the day, but which fire up and

Bear these habits in mind when targeting river bass. Cast your sinking or diving lures as close as you possibly can

Surface lures are extremely effective on bass and great fun to use! They usually perform best at dawn, dusk and through the night. Don’t rule them out at other times of day, as you can place them very close to cover.

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Tech Tricks

Getting the best hook-up potential with a popper BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

No matter whether you’re chasing bass, queenfish, saratoga, trevally, murray cod, tailor, bream or barramundi, fishing with topwater offerings is addictive. The visual aspect of the surface strike will have you trembling at

the knees and the power some species emit as they head for cover will have you buckling at the knees. While there’s now a myriad of surface lures, all imitating a wounded or struggling food source, poppers would have to be one of the more commonly used topwater presentations. During the last decade or so, hardcore anglers have

The single head hook and single rear hook combo (top) is my preferred rigging option and is rapidly gaining popularity among the ranks of seasoned popper fishers. The lure will rarely foul with the leader and the hook-up potential is great on GTs, as they commonly attack the head of the bait to crush and immobilise it. The single hook with flexible rigging is also much less likely to be dislodged during the fight.

renewed interest in targeting giant trevally, kingfish, yellowfin tuna, Spanish mackerel and numerous other bluewater beasts on large poppers and heavy duty tackle. Obviously, tough adversaries require even tougher tackle to withstand the pressures of subduing these critters. Targeting XOS GTs requires the strongest outfits and tough lures rigged with

hardcore terminals. Eliminating weak links will give you a great chance of success when that lure finally gets crunched. As poppers promote a savage smash and grab strike, increased chances of a hook-up are highly desirable and a hotly debated topic. Different lures requiring altered hook setups to maximise swimming action and promote better

Hold the two tag ends against the hook shank and wrap the main portion around the hook shank and down so that it overlaps the start of the tag ends.

Continue to wrap down around the shank and then pass the folded over portion back through the centre, against the hook shank, to complete a clove hitch around the shank.

hook-up potential. Poppers are one of the more commonly used lures for targeting large GTs and other bluewater predators. There are three popular ways of rigging these large cup-faced lures, which can exceed 30cm in length and weigh more than 200gm. Some anglers favour all trebles and while these offer great initial hook-up potential, they’re more

likely to be worked free during the fight, have increased potential to be dangerous to the angler or deckie and can inflict more damage to the fish as well. The single tail hook and back-to-back belly hooks are a better solution, offering great hook-up and holding potential, yet these are likely to foul on the leader if the lure cartwheels during the retrieve.

A small portion of heat shrink can be passed over the knot and then reduced with the cigarette lighter or a paint stripper gun to secure and hold the knot in place and neaten up the rig.

To attach this to your popper, pass the end of the loop through the towing eyelet of the popper and then pass the hook through the loop. I like the loop to be a snug, taut fit over the hook.

To make your own popper head hook, you’re going to need a few things. One of the best, most easily sourced hooks is the Owner Jobu. The Shout Kudako, Owner SJ-41 and numerous other strong hooks can be used. Some 2mm Spectra cord (Spectraspeed 250kg is good) can be sourced for around $2 per metre. A good pair of cutters, a cigarette lighter and some heat shrink, around 15mm.

Pull the knot tight, with the tag ends just protruding out of the knot, and then push the creased centre portion through the hook eye from the rear of the shank and out the gape side.

For this particular popper I’m going to use an 8/0 Owner Jobu, which is the most common size. You’ll need minimum 28cm of Spectra Cord for this size hook, 26cm for 7/0 and 30cm for 9/0. You can always make the rig longer if you wish. Once you’ve cut your Spectra to length, use your cigarette lighter to seal the ends to limit fraying. Fold your Spectra in half with a hard crease in the centre – this section is required to pass through the hook eye in the latter stages. This also gets your tag ends even. 14

FEBRUARY 2017

Pull this very tight so the knot snugs up hard to the hook eye. Put the hook bend over a solid structure, such as a boat rail, and then use your finger or a bar hooked through the Spectra loop to apply some serious pressure and lock the knot tightly.

Continue pulling the hook until the loop snugs up tight around the towing eyelet. Your leader will still be attached to the wire towing eyelet, usually utilising a swivel and a split ring, when using a popper head hook. When laid back along the body of the popper, the head hook will be roughly level with the front belly eyelet which does not have a hook of any kind on it. If the head hook wraps the leader during casting or when a popper cartwheels during the retrieve or a missed strike, the hook will easily fall away and back into the desired position. This is usually not possible when a belly rigged single or treble is in play.

Great fishing opening up in the higher reaches WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

February is one of my favourite months to fish the Glenelg River. At this time of year the fish spread out through the entire system, opening up some great fishing in the higher reaches of the system. Through late December and early January the river finally got back to some good clarity after the welcome flush-out from one of the wettest seasons in a very long time. The fishing had still been quite good but was a little hit-andmiss at times, making it important to locate areas of

the river with the clearest water and least boat traffic through the holiday period.

Bait and lure fishers alike had some great results however, with plenty of

Keep moving until you find areas holding fish.

The South West Trifecta. Often you can find all three key species in the same places.

bream and estuary perch on offer for those willing to put in the time and move regularly until they located an area that was holding fish. With the mouth still wide open and the river remaining extremely tidal, it’s been important to take note of the best tides and plan your fishing around those peak bite times of both high and low tides. February always sees a real improvement in the

fishing at the Glenelg, partly due to reduced holiday boat traffic. Additionally, the key species of bream and perch spread back out through the system after their spawning congregations break up, and they refocus on chasing baitfish and feeding. Early mornings and late afternoon into the evenings are the prime times to chase bream and perch, with both species moving up onto the shallow edges. Bream can be spotted rolling and flanking on the rock walls as they pick at coral and rocks, foraging for food. Perch are often seen busting up on baitfish tight to snags and edges at these times as well. Throwing baits and lures right up into the shallow water produces some exciting strikes and great fishing. Baits like cut crab, shelled prawn and pilchard fillet cast unweighted are dynamite on the bream, who find them hard to resist. Perch are far more effectively targeted with lures and live baits like minnow suspended under a float. Shallow diving hardbodies, surface lures and lightly-

weighted plastics are by far the standouts though, and it’s pretty hard to beat the adrenalin rush of a big perch smashing a lure within seconds of it touching down. Mulloway have also been a bit hit-and-miss so far this year, although there is still no shortage of smaller fish to be found at times. There has been the odd bigger fish caught but not on any sort of consistent basis. Still, this can change at any time, and with the mouth still open I’d expect

to see an influx of quality fish enter the river at some point. The estuary is always a consistent area to target those bigger fish when they are about, but they’ll often head right upriver too. Taylors Strait, Dry Creek and the caves being great stretches of the river to target them. Upriver, large mud flats with deep water adjacent, are prime spots to target as the mulloway move up onto the flats to hunt baitfish. That’s it for this month; good luck on the water.

The author with a nice lure-caught bream from higher up in the system.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Record for circumnavigating Australia with Mercury FourStrokes Mark Ratchford is calling it his ‘huge adventure’ which might be an understatement considering he’s just spent four months on a solo 16,500km circumnavigation of Australia in a 6.5m fishing boat. The well-known Melbourne fishing and charter specialist had to deal with huge seas, high winds, freezing weather, sleep deprivation, and loneliness going around our enormous island continent. But he overcame it all to be the first to ever complete the challenge,

having included Tasmania. “It was tough,” Mark laughed. “But I expected that because I’m a seasoned boatie. It’s not a trip the inexperienced should tackle.” In the Southern Ocean Mark was often battling 8m seas – a 6m swell with 2m of chop on top. “There were days when I really copped a flogging,” he said. “Up the east coast the trade winds were constantly hitting the boat at 30-40 knots. “Around Tasmania I got absolutely belted by a big front, and it actually snowed at sea level. The wind and the cold combined made

things very hard.” And when it wasn’t the weather, it was distance. “Crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria I had to go 23 hours without sleep, and

crossing the Bight I think I had two hours sleep in two-and-a-half days. Even when I wasn’t driving, it was extremely hard to go to sleep with the boat moving so much on the open ocean.” “At one stage in the Bight I calculated I was 300km from shore and more than 500km from help.” However, across the entire journey there were two things that never caused Mark any problems – the two Mercury 150hp FourStrokes behind his 6.5m Evolution hardtop. “Total running time was about 680 hours and there was not one problem,” Mark said. “It was a long trip and I worked the engines hard – I had to – and I was extremely impressed with their overall performance.” In big seas power can be a life-saver and Mark’s 150 FourStrokes had it in spades.

“Power to weight these engines are excellent. Going over the Port Macquarie bar and the Wide Bay bar, when I needed power, it was there immediately. “Fully loaded I was carrying about a tonne more than normal, including five 44 gallon drums of extra fuel, but when I accelerated I was astounded at how fast the boat still was. Very impressed.” The Mercury technology associated with the FourStrokes also proved invaluable. “The SmartCraft gauges were brilliant, especially when it came to fuel consumption. I really relied on it when planning each day’s travel to ensure I have a good safety margin. It was so accurate, I trusted it totally.” While Mark certainly has an adventurous streak,

that’s wasn’t the reason behind his mammoth effort. Rather it was to raise vital funds for the Cancer Council. “We haven’t worked out the total yet because we’ve got to sell some equipment, but it’s certainly in the tens of thousands of dollars which I hope will make a difference. “Nothing would have happened though without the team who helped me put all this together and the wonderful people who helped me along the way. During this whole journey, it’s really hit home how ordinary people are willing to put up their hand to help a good cause. “I’d like to thanks every single one of them.” To learn more or make a donation, please visit fishforlife. org.au. – Mercury

FEBRUARY 2017

Unexpected visitors show up past couple of months. Given their size and condition it’s likely that during the recent

WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich

floods in 2016, someone’s bass dam has overflowed, resulting in these fish

mgercovich@hotmail.com

One of the great things about fishing the South West is the variety of species to target, and the array of techniques to try. It’s a real mixed bag at the best of times, and occasionally you get something really different. There have been a couple of very unusual and interesting occurrences that have happened recently, which go to show you never know what to expect in the world of fishing. NEW ARRIVALS February can be a great time to chase estuary perch in both the freshwater and saltwater sections of the Hopkins River. A warm, calm evening can produce some exciting surface action whether you’re using lures, fly or floated cricket baits. This fun style of fishing now has an added attraction: the possibility of tangling with a bass. Bass have never been officially stocked in the Hopkins and don’t occur naturally, but a number of fish in the 40cm size range have been turning up in the

It feels a bit special to get these fish in warm, summer conditions.

escaping into the Hopkins River. Whatever the case, no one is complaining when they’re hooked up to 40cm plus of hard-fighting bass! KINGS IN THE HARBOUR If bass in the Hopkins wasn’t strange enough, a school of medium-sized kingfish making their appearance in Warrnambool Harbour was also something out of the ordinary. February is prime time to fish for kings at all the local South West hotspots, but Warrnambool harbour definitely has never been one of them. Unfortunately, the anglers present on the piers at the time were horribly under gunned. Here’s hoping the kingies return sometime. FEBRUARY FISHING Catching tuna amongst the kingfish during summer also used to be a bit of a novelty, however last season it became quite predictable to see mixed schools of both kings and tuna, or just tuna schools. With some fish already seen this season, hopefully in February we will enjoy some summer pelagic action on both tuna and kings. Sure, they are the same species everyone catches all winter, but there

February is prime kingfish time in the South West. is something special about getting one out of a warm, blue ocean with the sun on your back in summer. Having said all that, it’s not all just about the weird and wonderful on the local angling scene. King

George whiting and squid have been biting well on all the local inshore locations recently. They will still be a great option on those warm, summer evenings. Hopefully we will get lots of those during February.

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A good season to come APOLLO BAY

Wayne Diffey

While the weather hasn’t been the best, there have been reasonable reports

coming in of salmon off the beaches, bait fishing or spinning. Wild Dog Creek Beach is still a favourite spot, but there have been some good reports from Johanna Beach as well.

One local told me that he had caught salmon up to 3kg regularly. Out wide, gummies, snapper and big flatties have still been about in good numbers. Snapper to

Zachary Paton with his surprise sawshark.

A nice selection of Cape Otway snapper and gummy.

4kg+ have been regular. I’ve also seen good catches of nannygai. Bald Hill and Blanket Bay reefs have been very productive for the gummies in 40-50m of water. There have been good reports coming from Cape Paton in the same sort of depths. Zachary Paton sent in a photo of a surprise catch he got off Cape Otway – a sawshark. We have also seen a lot of kingfish turning up off Cape Otway, with many

good catches. Sizes reported are from 60cm (just legal) to 80cm+. So far they have been caught on knife jigs, stickbaits, live baits and your big soft plastics like the ZMan HeroZ. They’re not too fussy as yet. As well as the kingfish, schools of small tuna to around 10kg have been sighted busting up off Cape Otway. This is very early, so hopefully it’s a sign of a good season to come. King George whiting are still being caught in good

numbers off the Bumbry Reef and off the Waterfall in that 8-10m mark. There have also been good catches of whiting in Apollo Bay Harbour. Pipis remain the best bait on a running sinker rig. • If you’re coming to Apollo Bay for a fish, be sure to pop in to get all your bait and tackle needs, as well as an up to date report. Call us on (03) 5237 6426, or check out our website, www.surf-n-fish.com.au.

All bream and by-catch COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

The estuary fishing has really kicked into gear down here. Bream have well and truly finished their spawning run and have split up into smaller schools or gone solo. The Curdies River is fishing extremely well with bream averaging 36cm. The top bait is live greyback minnows netted down near the mouth and presented by lightly pinning the bait through the upper jaw. The bream takes are nothing short of explosive when fishing with greybacks. Lure anglers are using soft plastics in minnow or grub patterns in natural colours and are receiving similar attention. The bream are moving in and out of the lake into the river and are being caught up as far as Baileys Straits. There are more

reports of mulloway in the system with several bream specialists being busted off by something big. The Hopkins River is also fishing well with some solid bream and estuary perch taken by boaters and shore anglers alike. Thumpers exceeding 40cm have been caught, but this is the exception rather than the rule. A variety of live baits are working well here. Live crab, brown shell and shrimp are accounting for many captures, as well as soft plastics in grub, minnow and shrimp patterns. Fishing the flats before 10am has been the go. Going deep into depths below 3m has seen the fishing window extended. The Gellibrand River at Princetown has been reasonable for estuary perch to 34cm. Fish have been taken downstream right up against the reeds or upstream near the Kangaroobie Camp

canoe launching site. Just opposite here is a stand of tea tree growing right along the bank and the perch are holding station there. Soft plastic fishing is the go, as there are some snags on the bottom and it’s cheaper to lose a plastic than a minnow lure. There’s every chance an angler will pick up a pan-size brown trout up here as well. The bream can be found from the road bridge downstream almost to the mouth. Cray fishing has really been the go down here since just before Christmas. Most crays are coming in well over a kilo with a 2.6kg beast recently boated. Boaters are launching off Boat Bay near Peterborough, as there are almost limitless reefs nearby crawling with crays. On a calm day, divers are also getting their fair share of the red beasts and in some cases, only a few metres from shore. Out around the 50m

The author with a brace of Curdies bream taken just outside the river mouth in the lake on greyback minnow. mark, excellent school and gummy sharks have been caught bottom bouncing. Pinkie snapper to 1.5kg, sand flathead and leatherjackets have been regular by-catches, as well as the usual run of

ooglies. Squid have been the best bait favoured by most. These can easily be caught – send out a baited pilchard and allow it to slowly waft down. As each day passes, we inevitably approach

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We’re going full coastal GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

As we roll into February, we should be targeting sharks and kingfish offshore. Inshore areas will see big schools of Australian salmon congregate out off Queenscliff. Whiting and calamari are continuing their excellent run out off the Bellarine Peninsula and surrounds. Quality snapper

are being caught from Corio Bay Inner Harbour and down the Surf Coast. Clifton Springs and Portarlington are winning for snapper sizes, while numbers are strong off Barwon Heads and the Surf Coast for fish to 55cm. Thresher sharks seem to be about in better numbers than previous years and they can often be seen slapping bait schools with their elongated tails. It’s common to hook threshers in the tail as they attempt to stun the

bait before eating it. They can also be caught trolling diving bibbed lures along the Surf Coast, so give that a go. Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head says they are having some of the best fishing that he has seen in the last 14 years. Many species of fish are being taken in good numbers and size. The King George whiting have been fantastic. Some boats bag out with fish averaging 37-40cm and weighing about 500g.

Keep an eye out off Queenscliff for big salmon schools. They are fantastic fun when they’re switched on. The whiting are spread from Grassy Point around to St Leonards with the Prince George bank a hotspot. Rod suggests to try any of the grass areas in close and out to the edge of the deep water. The best baits have been squid, pipis and mussels. Fish when the tide is moving and try to get the wind direction with the tide. Make sure you hold onto your rod – some rods are getting pulled over the side as the whiting are hitting hard.

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The squid are still running hot with plenty of Rod’s hire boats bagging out again this month. Try any of the weed beds from Grassy Point around to Governors Reef. Gummy sharks have been plentiful in the deep water around the Prince George Light. Nice snapper have come in over the past couple of weeks in a similar area, while flathead have also been plentiful drifting from Indented Head down to St Leonards.

Clifton Springs has also been a good bet for calamari and King George whiting lately. The weed banks either side of the boat ramp have produced calamari, while a little further out can get you stuck into the whiting. I fished out off Clifton Springs with my mate Dave in glass calm conditions last month. The boat ramp car park was unusually empty considering the calm conditions and all the talk about whiting of late. We drifted for squid just out off

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the Dell over a few weed beds, but didn’t see any. We fished a few shallow weed beds for whiting without luck and moved out to about 6m where we caught three to 33cm in quick succession on squid. We also caught some nice rock flathead to 43cm and took home a decent feed. The Queenscliff boat harbour has had a run of silver trevally to 40cm and small salmon from legal length to 35cm. They can be caught on small soft plastic lures or pieces of pilchard. The best times are when the tide slows

or stops running in the main channel, or inside the boat harbour. Anglers fishing out off Queenscliff have caught quality whiting and calamari in the Lonsdale Bight, near the pilot jetty and near the entrance to Swan Bay. Barwon Heads has been fishing well offshore for pinkie snapper, flathead and barracouta. Yellowtail kingfish should be well and truly on the radar for anglers seeking these powerful sportfish. They can be caught jigging deep water out off the Rip and trolling bibbed lures

near Charlemont Reef or Collendina. Dean McDonald fished out off there recently where he caught small barracouta, flathead and pinkie snapper to 50cm fishing in 48-55m of water. Bradley Cox took his son Jayden down to the Anglesea River where they had a ball catching and releasing plenty of undersized bream. They also managed three quality bream of 36-37cm, which they also released. The river seems to be in good health. Wurdee Buloc Reservoir near Moriac has produced a

few rainbow trout for anglers using mudeye under a bubble float and casting lures from the rock walls. The better fish have been around the 1.8kg mark, but most are around 1.2kg and have been putting on a spectacular aerial display once hooked. Stony Creek Reservoir has opened up for anglers for the first time in more than ten years. Located on the Geelong-Ballan

Road about 40km north of Geelong, the three upper Stony Creek Reservoirs are part of Barwon Water’s Moorabool water system. The reservoir was recently stocked with 5800 brown and rainbow trout. From all reports, they’ve been biting well on lures and baits. For more info, head over to the Barwon Water website. • Fish hard – die happy! 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 and who caught the fish on what. Pictures are always great, but please make sure they are at least 1mb (file size).

Rock flathead have been caught in better numbers than previous years in Corio Bay.

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Learn to search the shallows this summer PORT PHILLIP WEST

Andy Smith andy@ebbtidetackle.com

After our blitzing start to 2017 with humid and muggy conditions and great fishing through January, we are set for an awesome few months before we have to think about the dreaded Melbourne winter. Our summer provides fantastic opportunities in the shallow areas for classic table fare. It doesn’t get much better than patrolling the shallows for a tasty feed of King George whiting and with the added pleasurable (and tasty!) by-catch opportunities of species such as sand flathead, calamari, pinkie snapper and salmon, the shallow margins of Port Phillip Bay are a great place to spend some time. When you fish the shallow areas of the bay,

take some time and care with your approach. Some consistent tricks and those little one percenters can make a lot of difference. Just like the local snapper

guns, the shallow water specialists can be in a league of their own. Don’t expect the hardcore whiting angler to give up his secrets at the ramp to

you, but asking a friendly question or two can often provide a great head start. Take the time to listen and dedicate some quality time on the water.

areas not only as a feeding area, but as an area to quickly seek shelter before retreating to the relative safety of deeper water. Sounders Like the best pair of polaroid sunglasses, a

Hard fighting and tasty King George whiting are in good numbers in the shallows. Photo courtesy of John Cahill.

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TIPS FOR THE SHALLOWS Search Don’t blast out from the ramp at full throttle and make a beeline for the latest hotspot you heard whispered at the tackle shop. Take the time to use this information as a general guide. Search the area using your eyes, checking the bottom structure type, and pay attention to weed beds, sand patches and reef areas. A pair of quality polarised sunglasses makes the job much easier and can allow you to find things you never would normally see with surface glare. Fish in shallow water are easily spooked, and they use these

Young gun Mark Spiteri with a lovely summer snapper. quality sounder in shallow water may not be used to spot the fish, but current technology allows lateral exploration of the seafloor. Sounding to find the weed bed edges, holes, depressions and likely habitat has never been easier with technology like Lowrance’s Structure Scan, Humminbird Side Scan and Garmin Side Vu. Advanced

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transducers and sounders even have the ability to display full 3-dimensional images of the bottom. Berley Shallow water offers minimal protection for fish. Weary fish will be

AFL legend Patrick Dangerfield and Mark Spiteri displaying the fruits of hard work on a windy Melbourne summer day.

constantly on the move, searching for food. The application of a quality berley will not only help attract fish, but it assists greatly in keeping them around your fishing area. And as the old adage goes, a little bit often is better than a big dumping of berley. Too much berley will see you attract every juvenile fish and unwanted species into the area, so little bits are all you need. Tackle Gear up appropriately for the target fish and the water you are fishing. You’ll benefit from using specialist leader materials like fluorocarbon for low visibility in the water. Embrace these advantages and reap the rewards! Sensitive graphite rods perform exceptionally, with loads of power for fighting fish and sensitive tips for feeling bites. You don’t need 15 rods in the boat, but being prepared makes life easy. I usually like to have an outfit at the ready with a squid jig, as calamari love shallow areas. Faster moving large species regularly appear in these areas too, so a slightly heavier rod with a soft plastic at the ready for a quickfire cast can bring a big salmon, pike or rat kingfish undone if you are prepared.

Noise This is fairly selfexplanatory, but the amount of boats that charge into shallow areas at 15 knots and throw the anchor overboard like the hammer throw tryouts for the Olympics is astounding. It is also no surprise that they generally don’t catch a lot and get cursed by other boats in the area. Next time you are at the boat ramp, take a look at a whiting specialist boat. The chances are high that anchor chain is covered in poly tube or similar.

POINT WILSON TO POINT COOK This area holds much of the ideal ground mentioned previously – wide expanses of shallow areas under 5m to hunt fish. Pipis and mussel have taken numbers of King George whiting, along with a decent amount of flathead to make it a handy addition to the catch. Tony Spiteri from Two Up Fishing Charters passed on a handy report that he has been getting onto King George Whiting in the area of Wilson Spit. At this time of year, the fish will spread and

you are likely to find them in plenty of locations. Give plenty of other boats space and everyone maximises their chances. If the water is clear, definitely have a squid jig in the water or at the ready, as there are great numbers of calamari being taken from Point Wilson all the way to Point Cook. Tony also mentioned doing exceptionally well on the calamari recently when water clarity has been good. The heavy reef areas around the Point Cook area are always worth a shot for

a calamari drift. The warmer months can see numbers of smaller pinkies moving in. These guys provide

resist. Moving wider and deeper, the spoil grounds and deeper mud areas have produced a steady catch

Mark’s fishing exploits on an upcoming episode of the TV series. The Two Up Charters team have been hard at it,

Happy customers in Wyndham Harbour after a trip aboard Two Up Fishing Charters with Tony Spiteri. sensational fishing on light tackle soft plastic outfits, with some good fish to 3kg mixed in with the average-sized fish around the 1kg mark. ALTONA TO PORT MELBOURNE Altona reefs are loaded with pinkies, and transient schools of salmon are popping up randomly. Being at the ready with a small metal slug is a great approach. Even better is a 3-4” soft plastic that these guys can hardly

Be prepared, as calamari can turn up at any time.

of snapper throughout the past month. Young gun angler Mark Spiteri had a great day out with super keen fisho and AFL Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield and Andrew ‘ET’ Ettingshausen from Escape With ET. Boarding Two Up III from Wyndham Harbour, the guys had a great day out landing a mixed variety of fish, including some lovely snapper to kick off 2017 in style. Keep an eye out for

recently filming with AFN Fishing & Outdoors for the upcoming Charter Boat Wars television episodes. No doubt some interesting viewing coming up! BEEN FISHING? I’d love to see and hear fishing experiences in the local area! Send through fishing reports and high resolution photos of your great catches to andy@ ebbtidetackle.com with as much detail as you are happy to share.

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FEBRUARY 2017

Finally some settled weather for PPB anglers PORT PHILLIP NE

Wayne Friebe

locations and finding new fish, if you are sitting on inactive snapper, has also

helped anglers. The use of berley is always a big help too. Always use the

solid fish in the area before dropping anchor and laying out the rods. The big

wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

After an inconsistent and windy lead up to summer this year, it was pleasing to finally get some warm and settled weather on the bay early last month. While the usual holiday crowds and traffic prevailed, making boat ramps and many popular locations busier than usual, it seems that a good number of anglers have come back to fishing on the bay. With the reports and conditions over the last month, who can blame them? Let’s hope this trend continues in the coming months as well. Excellent snapper reports have been coming in for the past month. Many anglers are still finding truckloads of fish on their sounders, but they are proving difficult to tempt at times. Tide changes and changes of light have been peak bite times. Changing

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freshest bait you can get your hands on. Live bait, locally caught squid and other fish baits like garfish and salmon are always your best options. Recently, most reports have come from the wider marks out from Carrum, Seaford and Frankston, particularly in depths of 18-22m. The fish are in the 3-4.5kg range and take a wide variety of baits. Some larger fish have also been taken in closer. These fish have been coming in before first light for the dedicated anglers. Expect these larger groups of fish to move further south as the summer months pass and the water temperature begins to cool again. Local snapper diehard Colin Shelley had a great session recently after a couple of years away from the action. Col landed a ripper 11kg fish, which measured 104cm and was taken in the middle of a stinking hot 37°C day in 20m of water out from Mornington. The successful bait was a whole silver whiting. Colin said they marked up several

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FEBRUARY 2017

are prime times for landbased anglers. Try fresh baits like mussels, squid, pipis and better still, Bass yabbies if you can get hold of them. Boating anglers can fish deeper areas during the day, but will always do best with the use of berley and the same quality baits. The Patto has been fishing really well over the past month, especially for the bait fishers fishing the main river. Some really nice perch have been landed as well, and I’ve also had reports of solid mulloway. The canals have been a bit choked with weed of late and got a good flush of heavy rain just after Christmas, so expect these areas to fire over the next month or so for the boat and kayak anglers fishing amongst the moored boats and rock walls.

The Friebe kids had lots of fun catching calamari out from Mornington over the Christmas holidays.

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the inshore areas. Some gars are also out wide as well. After a slow start to the season, it’s good to see these quality table (and bait) species back on the agenda for local anglers. Mornington, Mount Martha and Frankston provide options for land-based anglers, and the same territory right through from Frankston to Safety Beach for boating anglers as well. While we’re talking table fish, what about the whiting? There have been big numbers around the inshore areas right along the eastern shoreline since the warmer weather began. The great thing is that plenty of land-based anglers are getting amongst the action as well, especially from Mornington Pier, and Mount Martha Rocks. Close to dawn and dusk

fish came aboard shortly after this with a couple of screaming runs. Kingfish reports have been very encouraging over the last month. Several anglers landed and lost kingies around the local areas, especially close to Mornington. I was down the beach with the kids after dinner recently and witnessed a spearfisher nab a ripper 80cm kingfish from the reef at Bird Rock – not a bad effort. Mornington Pier has a strong population of smaller kingies hanging around at the moment, and is a great option for those anglers without a boat to try and catch one. Fresh squid and live baits are the best, as well as lures and plastics imitating similar foods. For the boating anglers, trolling squid strips near reef edges and fishing live baits around the same areas will bring the most success. Without a doubt, the presence of kingfish in our local areas is largely due to the food sources on offer for them, namely good numbers of squid and garfish loading up along

Colin Shelley with an absolute honker of a snapper taken out from Mornington in the middle of a 37°C January day. Col’s snapper was taken on a silver whiting, measured 104cm and weighed 11kg.

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Warmer tidings of kingfish PORT PHILLIP NORTH

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

After a horrible winter and a miserable spring, the past weeks have blessed us with a decent summer, lots of warm weather and fishable conditions. A lot of anglers are getting on the water and, best of all, getting themselves some great results. MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK Over the past weeks, the pier has been fishing well with calm weather producing squid and garfish. During some of the bigger winds we saw in January, the pier had a few anglers report that they got into some good pinkie fishing of an evening. The big news over the past weeks has been anglers getting into good numbers of whiting by fishing the rough ground on the north side of the pier late in the evening and into the night. While most of the whiting are solid school fish in the 32-36cm size, there are enough bigger ones

With some great weekend weather, anglers are getting onto great fish. The water is warming up and so is the action! around the 40cm mark to keep it interesting. The best baits have been pipis and mussels fished on a paternoster rig and a light rod. In the boats, whiting have been a little hit and miss. Hopefully, the coming weeks will see that change as more fish move around the bay to our local waters. If it’s the whiting you’re after, I recommend

putting your efforts into the favourite whiting areas such as the Parkdale Pinnacles and the small reef system known as Brickies. Try not to berley too hard or you will attract a pile of small pinkies, which will make it very difficult to get to any whiting in the area. As another option, it’s well worth putting out a very fine

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NOW FISHING SNAPPER, WHITING AND GUMMIES

surface berley, as there have still been reports of some decent garfish around. This will in turn attract any kingfish in the area you’re fishing. If you’re keen to get a hold of a one, have a lure ready, such as a big plastic, or put a livebait out under a float and while chasing whiting and pinkies. Now is also the time to be keeping your eyes peeled for schools of salmon that have been turning up over the past weeks. Just watch the birds and they will let you know where the feeding salmon are. From there it’s a matter of sitting off the school and casting plastics and small lures into them. For the land-based anglers, pinkies and whiting have been taken off the front of the Half Moon Bay car park at night, while the pier itself has seen some good catches of whiting for anglers who fish late at night and cast baits out towards the Cerberus. SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA It’s a great time of the year to be fishing this area. If the past weeks are anything to go, this month should be great. Now is the time to head to one of my favourite spots, which is the Anonyma Shoal. For whatever reason, February seems to produce some stonker whiting in this part of the world and in this spot I always find that fresh mussels are the best bait. It’s also a hotspot to find a kingfish, so

Kingfish are hanging around in good numbers. This cracker fish was taken on a livey around the tide change. while chasing the whiting, berley up the garfish and put one of them out alive under a small torpedo float. Back in closer to shore, Yorkies Reef system has been holding whiting and squid in good numbers. While they haven’t been there every day, I’ve also heard of some good catches of garfish taken in the same area. Further along towards Sandringham, there are good land-based fishing opportunities this month. Anglers are in for a really good chance of catching plenty of whiting and pinkies while fishing the end of

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FEBRUARY 2017

Chris and Abby caught a lovely striped marlin on new platinum hooks rigged at Fishing Fever and the ever-reliable JB Dingo in evil colour.

the breakwall and the rock groynes late in the afternoon and into the night. Out a little wider, anglers fishing in their boats in the 6-8m areas up towards Green Point and Brighton will be finding a mixed bag with the past weeks producing whiting and pinkies. Fishing out a little wider in the 10-12m areas this month, there will be some solid pinkies on offer, with the best results coming to those anglers who fish at dawn and dusk with larger sized baits of pilchards and squid strips. Up off North Road, it’s also a top time to chase big garfish around the shallow reefs, as they tend to hold between here and St Kilda Marina during the hot weather. Fishing the reef edges and into the sand holes either on foot or in a boat, it’s the prime time to find some big flathead by casting around soft plastics. ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE It’s a busy time of the year here while everyone makes the most of summer with water activities like jet skiing, kite surfing and general boating that keep the noise levels up. For that reason, a lot of anglers who are doing well on the fish in this area tend to fish in the dark or during the first and last light periods. There’s less activity on the water and this allows the fish to feed in the shallower water. For something different, get in behind the breakwall in a kayak or small boat to cast plastics at the moored boat hulls for some big bream and trevally, or head out the front in search of pinkies and whiting on the abundant cunjevoi beds that run all the way along towards Station Pier in the 5-8m areas. Use a bit of berley and baits of mussel and pipi for the whiting, or squid strips and pilchard tails for the pinkies. A bit of berley will always help to get the bite going.

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Getting the jump on jetskiers MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Zac McMahon

As expected, snapper catches tapered off over the last month. We’re getting a few reports every now and again but the catches haven’t been as good as

they were at the end of last year. A lot of the guys are shifting their focus to squid and whiting. The action has been pretty good, although the jetskis are making things a bit difficult. If you can get away from them, you’ll catch fish. Try to

fish early in the morning or late in the evening when the jetskiers, water-skiers and swimmers have gone home. Another option is to head up towards the mussel farm to chase whiting. Alternatively, if you’re up Portsy way then Mud Island just outside the marine park

is a good spot for squid and whiting. The best baits for whiting have been fresh squid and pipis and mussels. When it comes to the squid, I recommend using a 2.5-3 size in a red/green colour. Overall, anything bright on these sunny summer days will work better than a darker jig. Hiyabusa jigs have been the most popular of late. Up around the south channel we’re getting quite a few gummy sharks showing up around the moon. Most of them have been averaging 20-30kg. Good schools of salmon come into the bay at this time of year. To get into them you just have to troll around little metal slugs and pink or white octo skirts. You can pick up some salmon all along the cliff faces and around Blairgowrie, and you’ll get them just inside the heads too. OFFSHORE Offshore is fishing really well, with the hot weather helping a lot. A few makos and kingfish are starting to show up around the Rip and out off Barwon Heads. The makos have been averaging 20-30kg and have mainly been taking whole fish

Local legend Big Tez caught these beautiful kingfish on slow trolled strips of fresh arrow squid. baits such as barracuda, or whatever’s out there at the time. The kingies have sometimes been a bit sporadic. They like to come in runs and then shut down. Overall though, anglers have reported catches on most days over the last month. Nothing extremely big – the

Staff member Harry Bould with some quality whiting to 45cm.

There are some good size gummies around, with lots of fish in the 4-6kg range. This one was caught by Harry Bould.

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average size at the moment is around 65-80cm – but later on in the season we’ll get bigger models. Most of the kingies have been falling to live baits and knife jigs. One of the most popular knife jigs has been the Entice Ringer in 250 size, and I recommend silver and purple colours – anything that will stand out and catch the kings’ attention. Most anglers have been fishing from Mornington up to Portsy and Sorrento. FEBRUARY FORECAST If the weather stays the way it has been, the kingfish action should get better, with more frequent catches and bigger sizes. Mako catches should improve as well. It’s possible we may get a run of snapper in February around the Mount Martha area. With the tourists disappearing, the fishing for whiting and squid will pick up a lot too. Although it’s great to see holiday visitors enjoying our part of the world, it’s nice when the holidays end and the bay is a lot quieter. • For all your bait and tackle needs drop into Tackle World Mornington on 2/177 Mornington-Tyabb Road, or give us a call on (03) 5975 7500. You can also find the latest catch info and photos at www.facebook.com/ TackleworldMornington.

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Mitchell River Bairnsdale is a bream home base CRANBOURNE

Mitch Chapman

Just three hours from Melbourne and only a short drive from the centre of Lakes Entrance is one of the most iconic bream fisheries in the state – the Mitchell River. It’s home to some of the best bream fishing in the country and countless people, fishing clubs and competitions are held here all year round. PRIME TIME The Mitchell can be fished

with great success any time. Bream fishing is exceptional in the winter months when the fish start to school up for pre-spawn. Cricket scores of fish can be caught during this time of the year and can make for some top-notch fishing. THE GEAR Like most estuary fishing, a light 2-4kg graphite spin rod with a 2000 size reel is best when chasing bream and flathead. A reel spooled up with 6lb braid and a long 4-6lb fluorocarbon leader is ideal for casting lures at bream. You might want to bump it up a

little if you fish the snags. Light leader doesn’t last long around barnacle-encrusted snags. BAIT AND LURES A couple of go-to softies for bream are the bloodworm Wrigglers in 80 and 100mm. These are the first plastic to tie on and cast out. Lucky Craft Chinu 55s are excellent for deeper water and Flash Minnows work for the flats. These are two deadly lures on both bream and perch in the river. BEST METHOD Targeting bream in the winter months, a quality

A pigeon pair of bream caught on Lucky Craft Bevy Shad 50FCs fishing the snags.

Dallas Holland caught this tasty little bluefin tuna at Georges Bay, St Helens.

sounder is essential. Locating schooled up bream in open water or along rockwalls and casting small blades to the fish is by far one of the best methods and most enjoyable ways to spend time on the water. MOTHER NATURE Dusky flathead rules and regulations have recently changed, so remember that the size limit for dusky flathead

is now 30-55cm and the total possession limit is five fish per angler. Letting the bigger fish go will ensure stock levels of fish are maintained and the breeders are left to do their thing. Fish for the future. HOT TIP It’s important to adjust the drag on your reel to suit the environment that you are fishing. When fishing for

bream in snags you want to have it locked up making it easier to pull fish from the timber and not get busted off. Fishing in open water for bream and flathead having the drag backed off is best. You won’t pull as many hooks from fish, as you won’t be required to pull them from timber in a white knuckled affair.

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FEBRUARY 2017

Abundance of species – time for a see-food diet WESTERN PORT NTH

Adam Ring

This is one of the best times of year for us Victorians as we get this outstanding crossover between all of our key species. The snapper are still around, the whiting start going nuts, big calamari are still in the shallows and the gummies start to frequent a lot of our snapper areas. THE TOP END The top end of the port is where most of the snapper and gummy reports are coming from. It’s great to see that heading into February, there is still some nice fishing around, after

healthy calamari for the dinner table. I’m sure the family were pretty happy with that effort! Young gun angler Amy landed her very first gummy shark on a recent outing and she just couldn’t keep the smile of her face. The tape showed this nice beast measuring in at 115cm. I’m sure with a side of chips and salad, it made for an even more memorable catch. John Italiano has been another keen angler who has made the most of a few gummy sharks cruising around the top end with a tasty 97cm model that fell victim to a freshly caught piece of barracouta. You just can beat fresh bait!

a nice 65cm snapper. As we move further into this month, I’d expect to see reports of elephant fish start to show up from here as well. Alan Hodges had a sniff around Crawfish Rock and found a nice 4.5kg snapper. Andrew Ketelaar, who I must say has been flat out dominating in recent months, anchored up around Eagle Rock where he found a world class 8kg snapper that was tempted by a fresh squid bait on the change of tide. It really is such an awesome thing to see when massive snapper are still coming in, well into the new year. T h e whiting population of

on his charter boat. After initially working quite hard to find them, he was able to

and berley is the key. Get the berley pot on the bottom and keep those fish

Middle Spit whiting at their best.

John Italiano with a beautiful top end gummy. another testing season on the reds. Local legends Dave and Anton had a great session in the top end – they managed to take home three nice snapper and six

For the land-based anglers, Zac Allman put in a few hours on the Grantville Jetty under the cover of darkness on a recent trip and was rewarded with

the top end seem to be schooling up nicely just outside of the Yaringa Channel. Our old mate Greg Duncan has been taking out a few regulars

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sit the boat on top of a nice patch of healthy Western Port whiting. They weren’t massive fish, with the bigger ones nudging 38cm. They were still a great size to take home for a feed. Mussels and pipis were the best baits. Some really nice calamari have been cruising around either side of Yaringa, so it always pays to have a couple of squid jigs handy while you are on the look out for some whiting. Dark colours like black and red have been the standouts. THE NORTH ARM The north arm of Western Port is where the variety has been and many mixed bags have been had throughout the area. Local legends Kozzi and Huff have been milling around Lysaughts and have left with some of the tastiest mixed bags I have seen in a long while. On most trips they are leaving with a mixture of pinkie snapper, whiting and flathead. In all seriousness, can it get much better than that? The Middle Spit is where the whiting have been and boy, have they shown up in some great numbers. The local charter boats are all over it and their customers are leaving with smiles almost as big as the whiting! Shaun Furtiere always has his finger on the pulse and the whiting catches I have seen from him are just spectacular. Pipi, squid and mussels are all whiting favourites

under your boat! Another really handy tip for whiting is the old saying, ‘no run,

no fun.’ If there is no tidal flow, the whiting will be hard work! Hastings has been the other hotspot for a variety of different species. Mitch Bertacchini from Online Fishing Charters has been doing really well on the whiting in the area. Local anglers Paul and Pat found some really nice whiting held up in 16m of water. Their fish ranged from 35-43cm with a cocktail of prawn and pipi being the best baits. Chris Preston and John Macleod sat out from Hastings looking for a snapper, but ended up with 15 nice whiting and a beautiful 8kg gummy shark. I would certainly take that over a snapper any day of the week! Saiychol Peake threw a squid jig around Hanns Inlet and was rewarded with a thumping big calamari in absolutely superb conditions on one of his recent outings. There’s a quick recap on another massive month in the top end of Western Port. Hopefully, the next month will be even bigger! Until next month, keep those reports coming and good luck!

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Whacking the whiting WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Despite the dismal start to snapper fishing in the Port, things are really improving now. By mid

A paternoster rig with two droppers each containing a size 4/0 Mustad Octopus Circle hook is ideal in this situation. Small strips of squid tend to be the best baits to be offered. If you’re still hunting for a big red, the

Shaun Furtiere and his mate Robert Coillet had a blinder of a session fishing for whiting in the North Arm recently. Photo courtesy of Shaun Furtiere. November, the water temperature lifted enough to bring the fish more on the bite than previous weeks and as quick as they did, backflipped and headed back out offshore to end their spawning cycle for yet another year. There are still some good reds about, the Western Entrance is the place to be and although there is a significant amount of fish in the area, most are in the 2-3kg bracket. The preferred fishing method is to set a drift line and let the tide take you down the entrance.

Corinella and Elizabeth islands are where you should be concentrating. However, try to escape the crowds where possible and fish around the tides. The run-off tide is especially productive in these areas, as the fish tend to swim off the flats and into the channels. Anchoring on the edge of the channels with a good selection of baits is how you’ll encounter most fish. Although snapper are and will be a viable option right up until at least March, if this winter is anything like previous winters, we’ll

have a snapper fishery right through. Snapper aside, the focus has changed and it is all things whiting now. Many anglers have been concentrating along the Middle Spit, but many of the larger bags of fish being caught have come from Flinders, Balnarring, Sommers and the Eastern Channel. Many anglers fishing these locations have been dropping the anchor, staying for 10 minutes or so, and if they aren’t having any success, moving some 10-20m and repeating the process. This has been very successful with fish to 45cm commonly mixed in with a bag of fish in the high 30s. When fishing locations such as the Middle Spit, different tactics are more successful, especially if you’re fishing the edge of the channel in anything from 6-10m of water. In this depth you are contending with current, so sinkers in the 5-6oz weight range will be required when fishing either side of the tide changes. A paternoster rig works best in these situations. As there are small snapper also in the port, along with silver trevally and salmon, tie the paternoster rig from at least 15lb fluorocarbon for its abrasion resistance. This will prevent many bust-offs with larger fish. Baits can also differ greatly depending on the location you’re fishing. For instance, high on the shallow banks such as the Middle Spit, Tortoise Head Bank and in Coronet Bay, live Bass yabbies are deadly, while at Balnarring, Sommers, Flinders and the North Arm, pipi and mussel are the top choices. I guess regardless of where you’re fishing, having a small selection of options will see you

When targeting whiting in the Port, always ensure you have the right tackle for the job. through a good session. Solid whiting are often hard to come by at times, but from previous experience, fishing the deeper, more reefy areas seems to be where fish over 45cm are regularly caught. Finding these areas takes time and patience, but when you do strike it rich, you’ll be pleased that you put in the time and effort. Shaun Furtiere has been working around the Port with very good success of late on the whiting. Using the above techniques in the deep areas off the North Arm, Shaun has been putting his clients on some very nice whiting indeed. Shaun reports that the best tide recently has been the first two hours of the run-out. Aside from Western Port itself, the offshore fishing has been remarkable. A few mako sharks have been caught around the Kilcunda and Cape Schank

about in good numbers, especially for those drifting behind Seal Rocks in 20m of water. These sharks are always a challenge, but a lot of fun on light tackle. There has been no

with some sandies up to 60cm. Over the next few weeks, the offshore fishery will really heat up, especially when the kings start harassing the bait

There is still no shortage of snapper if you know where to look in the Port. The Western Entrance is still producing some nice fish. Photo courtesy of Shaun Furtiere.

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Scott Harper has been repeatedly catching quality snapper from the Corinella area. areas, but so far, nothing of extraordinary size. Most have ranged 20-50kg. School sharks have been

shortage of gummy sharks and flathead. The Flinders Bank has been producing some magnificent flathead

schools both offshore and in the Western Entrance. Until next time, get amongst it!

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Flathead

Fabulous February flathead WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Victoria may be blessed with the likes of southern bluefin tuna, mako and thresher sharks, snapper, King George whiting, silver trevally, kingfish,

Strait, while the southern bluespot flathead (yank) is most likely the one you’ll catch in WP and PPB and localised estuaries. In saying that, there are also a few others which tend to be caught from time to time and these are the rock and sand flathead as well as duskies, which tend to be confined to

such as Port Welshpool, McLoughlins Beach and Port Albert, it’s common to catch some big yanks from time to time. Better yet, they are a lure angler’s dream fish in these parts. Lastly, is the humble sand flathead and although they can also be caught in Bass Strait, they are the more

There is not doubt that a twin dropper paternoster rig is the best setup for flathead. Australian salmon and a host of others, but the humble flathead takes first place on the plate. Now when I talk about flathead, I’m talking about your typical run of the mill models. You know those pesky critters that terrorise your baits in Port Phillip Bay, Western Port, Bass Strait and throughout the estuaries along the coastline. Of all the flathead species in Victoria, tiger and southern blue spot are the two most common. Tiger flathead aren’t commonly caught in Western Port or Port Phillip Bay but are commonly caught in Bass

the east Gippsland estuaries. Rock flathead are more of a rare catch these days and are typically recognised by the very dark colouration on their backs or topside. Rock flathead tend to be caught in Western Port in areas where reef is prevalent and in thick weed areas – where you’d target whiting. Yanks are a little lighter in colour and tend to be found in sandier locations such as the channel banks in Tortious Head, the edge of the Middle Spit. If you’re fishing in PPB, the channel edges on the outskirts of Mud Island. In estuaries

common flathead species to be caught. They’re not typically large in size and the majority are caught right throughout Port Phillip at an average size of 35cm. You’ll catch the odd larger one, but you’ll be doing a lot of measuring with this species. PROVEN TECHNIQUES There is no doubting that flathead are the garbage guts

of the ocean. If it doesn’t fit in their mouth, they’ll still try to eat it. Having a variety of species of flathead on offer, techniques can differ depending on the species and where you’re fishing for it. For instance, when fishing for sand, rock, yank and tiger flathead, the preferred method is bait fishing. For duskies, flicking lures about the estuaries is a better option. When is comes to bait fishing for flathead, there are three main techniques which are deadly effective – the first is drift fishing. Drift fishing for flathead is one of the more common methods and is the most productive. It allows anglers to cover ground to find where the fish are holding in good numbers. Drift fishing methods tend to be used in more open water areas, such as Bass Strait and in Port Phillip Bay where anglers can set a path to drift and leave it to the current and wind to push them along. Once an area has been found, deploy your baits and let the boat do the work for you. One thing to note with drift fishing is that you might find the boat is being pushed along too fast. In this case, you’ll want to use a heavier sinker and let line out to ensure the bait is on the bottom. If the drift is too fast, invest in a sea anchor or drogue, as this will slow down the drift speed and make fishing the bottom easier. In Western Port, drift fishing can prove difficult. You could easily hit ground on the shallow banks or

Some anglers don’t mind grabbing flathead and putting their thumb in their mouth, but not with tiger flathead.

Offshore you can catch both tiger and sand flathead in various depths. 34

FEBRUARY 2017

Gippsland may be known for its lure-eating duskies, but there are some mighty big yanks about too. worse, hit one of the channel markers. The preferred method in this waterway is to anchor and set a berley trail using a berley bucket. Once the berley bucket is deployed,

cast baits into the trail. You’ll find the fish hanging around after a short time. RIG AND SETUP When it comes to setting up to target flathead, nothing

The Middle Spit in Western Port is a big producer of nice flathead. Simon Rinaldi from Red Hot Fishing Charters displays a cracker model taken while berleying the edge of the drop-off.

One of the key benefits of flathead is that they not only take baits, but lures as well.

could be simpler. Other species might be leader shy or put off by wire – flathead are the total opposite. I guess that comes with being a greedy guts. Any rig, leader and hook size will do, but it still pays to specialise in the right tackle. Regardless of whether you drift fish or you’re under anchor while fishing for flathead, a paternoster rig is the best option. Paternoster rigs can be purchased pre-made and it’s simple to do for those anglers that enjoy making their own. To make a paternoster rig, use a length of

Flathead

Walking the flats flicking soft plastics can lead to some impressive flathead being caught in the summer months.

20-30lb leader. In it, tie two droppers at equal intervals followed by a large loop at the bottom for the sinker. A good sturdy rolling swivel, like a size 1, will prevent any line twist while drifting and when winding fish up. Hooks can differ greatly. A circle hook will be a huge benefit in all situations. Remember, flathead have very big mouths, so small hooks can prevent a good hook set. A Mustad Demon Light Circle 3/0 will get the perfect hook set every time, regardless of the size of fish. Even while under anchor and casting baits back into a berley trail, this rig is ideal. When the fish takes the bait, the hook will slide to the corner of the mouth and penetrate every time. PRODUCTIVE LOCATIONS There are two common traits for all flathead and those are the areas where they’ll be found. Flathead are a predator and a master of disguise. Being light in colour, they will submerge themselves in soft sand waiting for the perfect opportunity to devour an unsuspecting prey.

These happy tigers even smile when they are caught.

Left: Circle hooks laced with a little strip of calamari can’t be passed up. Middle: If you are going to use a pilchard, cut it in half and rig it on a serious circle hook. Right: A twin drop pre-tied Mustad paternoster rig ready for deployment. When searching for likely flathead grounds, work areas that are large sand bars or banks. Out in Bass Strait, try to find a sandy location with a fairly steep decline, such as the Flinders Bank. Further out in Bass Strait, they seem to congregate in depths of 40-50m. It’s not always that easy to find them. Some days you’ll just drop right onto a good patch and other days,you’ll have to drift, re-drift and then drift again before you get a good patch. In Western Port, the Middle Spit is one of the most reliable locations to catch a good feed of frogs. You must anchor and berley. In saying that, if you’re after some rockies, the reefy bottom around Reef Island near Rhyll is a haven for them. Once again, anchor and berley around there to attract them. Port Phillip Bay is vastly different. Ask any angler that fishes the bay regularly and they’ll tell you that the only flathead in the bay are all undersize. In fact, some parts of the year have very big models about. You just need to know where to look. March is a great time to be on the lookout for big flathead, especially in the shallows and on foot around the bay. Locations such as Altona and south of the pier are top locations to be walking

BEER BATTERED FLATHEAD Ingredients 1 cup of all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 1/4 cups light beer Oil Extra flour for dredging * This will make enough batter for about 4-6 pieces of fish.

The author with a pair of nice flathead destined for the table.

Method • Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. • Pour in the cold beer. • Whisk until smooth. Your beer batter is ready! • Dredge the fish in the flour and shake off the excess. • Dip the fish into the beer batter to thoroughly coat and let some of the excess drip off. • Make sure the oil is heated to 190ºC. Fish cooks quickly and you want the batter to be beautifully golden. • Carefully drop the fish into the oil. • Fry the fish for 5-8 minutes or until nicely golden. Then remove the fish with a slotted spoon and let some of the excess oil drip off.

the beach casting soft plastics into the drains. Beaumaris and the rocky point to the south of the ramp are where large flathead tend to school up after December. This area

anything will do. When you find them in higher numbers, putting a bait on at every drop becomes a mundane task. Soft fleshier baits such as pilchard, blue bait and white

Anglers fishing in deep water for flathead tend to prefer bait over lures. is shallow and good for drift fishing, especially around the mussel farm. Most of the larger flathead come from the southern end of the bay. Throughout the warmer months, they tend to come out of the deep and sunbake in the shallows and on the edges of shallow banks. Areas such as Capel Sound, around the banks of the Great Sands and amongst the boat moorings from Rye to Portsea are all productive grounds. The only thing to remember is berley. Berley is the key. BEST BAITS When it comes to bait choice for flathead, just about

bait come off the hook easily and you’ll be replacing baits with every drop. Firmer baits such as cuttlefish or calamari are by far the best choice. Thread a piece of calamari onto a circle hook. If you double it over and pass over the bard a second time, the challenge will be to count just how many fish you can catch using the one piece of bait. When you’re choosing to head out for a good old flatty bash, keep everything simple. Set a drift line, rig up a paternoster rig, bait with some fresh calamari and you’ll be right on your way.

Flicking lures is also effective for all species of flathead. FEBRUARY 2017

FISHING FILL-ITS

Better numbers in Western Port PHILLIP ISLAND

John Dalla-Rosa

Good reports of snapper have come in from the northern areas of Western Port. With the warmer weather, whiting numbers have increased and are showing up in all parts of the bay. There seem to be two distinct sizes. Most abundant are the 27-31cm fish and the much better 38-40cm fish. Calamari are still about in fewer numbers. SURF BEACHES Less reports have come in as everyone is busy chasing snapper and whiting. Salmon are still about in reasonable numbers and now’s a good time to target gummies and pinky snapper too. There’s a few good bluespot flathead in the deeper gutters. SAN REMO AREA Below the Bridge, the Cleelands Bight area is producing good whiting and pinkies. Just on daylight has been the most productive time. Outside the entrance is also firing up with flathead, arrow squid and couta in good numbers. There are lots of schools

of baitfish out there, so it’s also a good time to target makos and kingfish. If you drag some big lures around, who knows what you might catch. Above the bridge, snapper are on the move in better numbers. The most

consistent areas have been Elisabeth Island, Corinella, Joes Island, the Corals and Lyshardts just to name a few. Whiting are showing up in all parts of the bay, but not in big numbers. You just have to move around a bit and you will pick up a feed.

FLINDERS AREA There’s the odd whiting and calamari being caught and some good-sized snook at West Head. It’s also a good time to venture offshore and try for a mako or drift for flatties and arrow squid.

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in the range, 5L, 10L, 15L and 20L, all made with UV stabilised materials and a sturdy carry handle. The three smaller models are designed to take an aerator, while the 20L model has a sealable lid so you can put the bucket in your car and travel without spillage. These buckets are available now from Tackle World stores, with SRPs starting from $24.99. – FM

Heath Anderson has his hands full with some sweet Western Port whiting.

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Bream are firing for summer GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

This is the month when the Gippy Lakes bream are feeding around the shallow flats and will sit high in the water column around snags and jetty pylons. In other words, its

sight and surface fishing time for both lure and bait anglers. The flathead have now finished with breeding and are starting to head back up into the lakes. Down towards Lakes Entrance the prawns are running and the whiting are on the go. Between Nungurner and the mouth of the Mitchell

River, you can find pinkie snapper, luderick, tailor, trevally, flounder and I’m hearing early whispers about kingfish. DUSKY TIME The shallows are now alive with hungry flathead and most fish this year are 38-55cm. Some huge trophy girls up to 85 or even 90cm

During the afternoon heat of a summer’s day, try fishing deeper with blades. FISHING FILL-ITS

Gippsland man charged over illegal mesh net usage An East Gippsland man will be charged on summons after allegedly being caught using an illegal mesh net in a channel off the Snowy River this week. Fisheries Officers will allege the man was using a small boat to lay the net across the channel, near Marlo, on Wednesday. The net was about 15m long. A number of fish had been caught, including a large dusky flathead, estuary perch and a luderick, which were all still alive. The fish were subsequently released by the Fisheries Officers Acting State Manager of Fisheries Operations Chris Angwin said the officers seized the net and the small boat. “The unauthorised use of mesh nets in Victorian waters can bring severe penalties up to $15, 546 or six months imprisonment,” Mr Angwin said “Nets of this nature are commercial equipment and, when used in waters closed to netting by non-licensed persons,

they can cause extensive damage to fish populations and other marine animals in waterways like this.” Anyone aware or observing suspicious or

illegal fishing activity should contact Fisheries Victoria on the 13FISH (133474) o ff e n c e report line. – Fisheries Victoria

The illegal mesh net with fish in it.

have also been landed for people who gear up for them. If you are serious about targeting flathead in the Gippy Lakes, the first thing to do is to use leader materials of at least 10lb breaking strain. Start with about 15lb to give yourself a better chance of landing those real huge duskies for a once in a lifetime photo before release. Be on the water early and use big plastic lures upwards of 80-90mm. The hotspot areas are still Metung, Nungurner, Nyerimlang, Kalimna or up towards the mouth of the Tambo. Paynesville and Duck Arm are now fishing well and with less boat traffic there, the flatties will sometimes bite all day in the shallows. MITCHELL RIVER Some of the best action over recent weeks has been in the lower Mitchell River from Two Bells right down to the entrance. Peter Nord and Robert Lee sounded up some big schools of fish and pulled in a swag of bream to 43cm, mostly on blades. Hardbodies also tricked a few. There were massive schools of yellow-eye mullet swimming around on the surface near the entrance. I threw some small 45mm unweighted plastics at them and failed to get them to bite. The numbers of mullet this year are quite amazing and I wish I could catch them more often with lures. You can imagine my shock when three bream attacked my surface plastic and they must have been sitting there at the surface in amongst all the thousands of mullet. It’s not the first time I’ve seen this, so always be on the lookout for big mullet congregations. Be aware that bream may be lurking around with them. While trying to get more bream on surface, I also ran into some big tailor to 50cm. I tried working blades in the deeper sections and was surprised to pull in a few flathead to 52cm and a couple of luderick to 28cm. That’s a really nice mixed bag of species during the one trip. HOLLANDS LANDING Don’t be put off by the slightly cloudy water at Hollands Landing because the bream are in the area and taking lures or bait. In fact, the water has cleared up nicely and I managed 14 beautiful bream on a blade recently at the mouth of the Straits with my best two fish going 40 and 43cm. The fishing was all over by 9:00am, but my tip is that we are in for a very big

Steve Hume has a knack of finding the largest bream around the Paynesville area and the shallows are where the big fish are feeding right now. bream season ahead. The early signs are looking good with salty, clean water conditions developing like most years at the end of summer. Even the dolphins are back and have been spotted at Seacombe. That means a lot of fish must be there for them to feed on. I also reckon flathead will return to the area over the next few months. PRAWNS Holidaymakers have been out in force chasing prawns and successful reports have been coming in all the time now. This prawning season has already been a great success. Remember, March and April usually see the peak run of really big prawns and numbers as well. I’ve always chosen the darkest of nights around the new moon to chase prawns, but recently a few anglers have told me different. They never worry about a bright full moon night and some people

have told me they prefer this time of month. I’d be really interested in some feedback from anybody who has had success during the full moon period. LOOKING AHEAD The section of the Mitchell River around the township of Bairnsdale is really firing for bream and a few big perch at the moment. This should continue right into autumn. The best places to find bream feeding in the shallows at the moment will be the Mitchell Flats, out around both sides at the mouth of the Tambo River, Duck Arm, Raymond Island and the edges of the Silt Jetties. You should also consider exploring the lower Nicholson River downstream from the ramp and the vast sand flats around Metung and Bancroft Bay. Stay tuned for some news on kingfish, because a lot of us will be out there looking for them like last year around this time.

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Soft plastics are bringing in the beast bream LAKES ENTRANCE

Steven Pryke

Our local town wharf has been fishing reasonably well. Anglers catch a range of species. Quality bream have been caught on lightly weighted fresh prawns or sandworms. Cranka

Crabs and lightly weighted Berkley Sandworms and Creature patterns have been the weapons of choice around the jetties. Light lines have been the key due to the increase in boat traffic and people around town at this time of year. The fish get rather spooky, so fishing a 3-6lb

Soft plastics are doing the damage with hungry bream.

Bream are the hot catch around Lakes Entrance this month, with plenty around to catch.

leader or main line is a must. It’s a risky game, fishing in close to pylons and boat hulls. It doesn’t take too long for a fish to scream off and take your bait or lures for good. The many sand edges around Cunninghame Arm and North Arm have produced quality flathead over the last month. Fish in excess of 60cm have been caught regularly. Most of the flathead come in on 4” soft plastics in a chartreuse

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minnow or fish pattern. Over the last month, consistent schools of King George whiting have been found. Work the weed off Kalimna, Nungurner and the barrier landing. Good numbers have been caught. The best way to target the fish locally is to use an extended paternoster rig baited with either fresh mussel or a sandworm imitation in a natural colour. Then it’s a matter of casting close to the edges of weed beds. LAKE TYERS The main lake produced many quality flathead over the past month. Anglers have had consistent sessions with 5-10 fish landed per session. Most of these fish have been targeted with soft plastics and natural minnow

style plastics. These have quickly taken flathead and a few bream. The majority of bream and flathead have been caught throughout the Nowa Nowa with better results coming from higher up in the system, where the timber and rocky edges make up a lot of the habitat. Quality bream have been caught around the sticks on bait and lures predominately. Fish have been caught on shallow minnow style hardbodies or light weighted lures. Rig them on 1/50 jigheads for slow sinking presentations that allow the angler to walk the lure over the top of branches and sink it in through densely cover snags.

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NINETY MILE BEACH

Tom Lucas

Lots of sharks have been caught over the past 12 months, and the action is continuing. There are plenty of 10ft bronze whalers being caught by anglers paddling their baits out with kayaks, using whole fish baits such as bonito or salmon. Most anglers use 7-9” game rods, pretty heavy wire with 10/0 stainless hooks, 50lb main line and heavy star or breakaway sinkers around 8oz. For those anglers casting off the beach for gummy sharks, crabs have been a nuisance, stealing baits meant for gummies. If crabs are taking your baits, switch to a strip of eel as it’s harder for the crabs to pull off the hook. For those anglers who’ve managed to fish through the crabs, there are a lot of gummy sharks being caught on

bluebait, pilchards and squid from the evening to the early morning. Always remember to make sure your bait is rigged nice and straight so it doesn’t spin in the current. Anglers have also been catching gummies on River2Sea Smash Crabs. You can use a running sinker rig with a 3-6oz sinker, depending on the conditions, then a swivel and some trace to the Smash Crab. Flathead up to 60cm are being caught on bluebait and squid, and have been coming anywhere from Seaspray through to Lock Sport. Persistence pays with these fish. There aren’t many salmon around, but the odd one has been caught accidentally while fishing for sharks. Naturally, with all species you’ll want to fish two hours either side of high tide so you have the most water in the gutters to bring the fish in.

Those anglers launching boats off the beach have been getting into a few snapper. The reds are being caught about 1km offshore on squid, and the biggest I’ve seen recently was 9kg. FEBRUARY FORECAST The Fishing should be good in February provided we don’t get overwhelmed by weed. If we get a lot of easterlies we should get a lot of weed on the beach, but if they hold off we should see some brilliant fishing. There should be a lot of sharks around and some good flatties being caught. For all the latest info on what’s biting, drop into Tackle World Sale and chat to the friendly team. You’ll find them at 82 Macarthur Street, Sale, or you can give them a call on (03) 5144 7505 or email info@ twsale.com. For the latest fishing photos and special deals, look them up on Facebook.

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Favourites arrive en masse Soft plastics have been doing most of the damage and the sand banks and weed beds around St Margarets Island have been the best spots to try for a big flatty. The larger soft plastics in the 4” range have been catching the bigger flatties, yet I have also spoken to a few anglers that have been catching some huge fathead while chasing whiting with Bass yabbies, pipis and squid. Speaking of whiting, McLoughlins and Manns beaches have been fishing better for whiting than Corner Inlet, and all the

MCLOUGHLINS

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

We are in the thick of summer now and all our favourite species are here in good numbers, so there’s no time like the present to get out for a fish. INSIDE Those big flatties are well and truly on the chew, and anglers have been catching huge flathead up to and just over 75cm. Theyare massive fish, and can weigh close to the 5kg mark.

whiting are big, with 40cm being the average. Either side of the tide is fishing well, but you need good current to catch them. OFFSHORE The entrance at McLoughlins is going hard to the left and is running along the beach, so it’s very dangerous in rough conditions. Be very careful when attempting to go out this entrance. Anglers that are getting out offshore have caught big snapper on the reefs, and some anglers have been lucky enough to catch them

John Maxwell with a nice gummy caught offshore from McLoughlins Beach.

on micro-jigs, which is pretty awesome news. The gummy sharks are huge at the moment and anglers have been catching big gummies in water depths between 18-30m of water. We have seen gummy sharks up to 25kg caught recently. PORT ALBERT Inside has been hit and miss with whiting, with some anglers catching them and some not. I definitely reckon Manns Beach and McLoughlins is fishing better for whiting at the moment, however Port Albert is fishing extremely well for pinkies and anglers are getting their bag of pinkies to 40cm in the usual whiting locations using pipis and squid. There are some good snapper inside as well with the Snake Channel and the entrance producing snapper to 6kg regularly, as well as a few gummies too. Offshore is fishing very well, with kingfish just starting to turn up, and few mako sharks showing their faces in the same areas. Most of these pelagics are in around 30m deep or deeper. The footy oval reefs are producing plenty of pinkies to 45cm as well, so don’t forget

Linton Grant with a nice snapper caught on a micro-jig offshore from McLoughlins Beach. The boys bagged out on snapper for the day in a red-hot session, all using micro-jigs. to take your micro-jigs out if you’re heading offshore. • For more information, contact Will at Allways

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Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

The fishing in the Snowy River System is fantastic and is fishing like a pristine estuary should with all the freshwater that has moved through and given it a complete cleansing. Prawns are moving out of their nurseries in the reeds and mangroves and moving down towards the entrance and gathering along the sand flats that run from the Marlo jetty, all the way down to Frenches Narrows. At Frenches Narrows, they gather and await maturity before running to sea when the moon and tides are right. The sand flats are an

Teegan Moston caught her first bronze whaler with her boyfriend James Herbert. The shark went 9ft, and was recorded and released.

Bemm produces goods BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

The entrance remains closed and the water is at a good level. Summer has been kind to us with incredible weather, which has enhanced the fishing. Some astounding catches have been reported. Bream around the 43cm mark are around in the lake. Flathead make regular by-catch, and trevally and whiting are also exciting anglers. The most popular locations have been the mouth of the river, Swan Lake and Mud Lake. A lake drift in the afternoons from the Mahogonies across the lake towards the river mouth has been popular to pick up a flatty for dinner. Surf beaches are firing on

all sorts of baits and lures with any amount of salmon and tailor being taken. The channel is producing bream, luderick, silver trevally and tailor but be prepared to lose a bit of gear if the local friendly stingray takes your line. Congratulations to Ports and Harbours for

finally installing solar powered navigation aids on our waterways. They have been put there for a purpose, so please take note that they are there for your safety. As the warmer nights continue, it’s good family fun to wander around with a dip net and pick up a feed of prawn.

excellent place to target estuary flathead with soft plastic lures. The best results are coming from wading the flats, casting and retrieving soft plastics. This has been enticing flathead that are nestled in their lies awaiting their pray. At this time of year, not only do flathead gather to eat the prawns, many anglers put down their rods in preference of a prawning to harvest the succulent crustaceans for the dinner table. With so many prawns in the system, it’s no wonder the fishing is so good. Anglers have reported many good captures of estuary perch. The EP can be found schooling on most snags and structures and are nailing live prawns under a float. Luderick are also in big numbers and can be found along the rock groins that surround the islands and along the river banks, with best results coming from using sandworm. Bream are throughout the whole estuary system from the entrance up to Lake Corringle and all the way up the Snowy River to the town bridge at Orbost. They’re also up the Brodribb River to Lake Curlip, and the best results have come from using local shell, black crab, sandworm live and frozen prawn. Big

Jess Webb with a good size gummy shark he caught off Cape Conran. schools of salmon and tailor are coming in with the tide down towards the entrance, and those spinning or trolling metal lures are doing best. As you would imagine the surf beaches are also firing, with plenty of salmon and tailor being caught during the day and gummy shark and bronze whalers in the evening. Anglers are getting good

results fishing with surf gear or fishing with light tackle and casting metal lures. The bronze whaler sharks are being captured by anglers who paddle their baits well out from the breakers and fish from the beach with game tackle. Offshore fishing is at a premium, with plenty of flathead, squid, barracouta, pinkie snapper, gurnard, gummy shark and kingfish.

MARLO

OCEAN VIEWS CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

Silver trevally have anglers in the area excited.

Bream have been around in the lake up to 43cm.

Land-based fishing as been enhanced by a new fishing platform and an upgrade to the platform at Dolly’s Garden. Watch out for snakes in these areas. After a season of exceptional rainfall, we look forward to seeing another cracker fishing season right through until winter. Please remember over our summer period to be vigilant about fire safety procedures. Our local CFA station has a 24-hour screen advising of updates. • For on the spot and up to date fishing reports check out Robyn’s website: www. bemmaccommodation.com. au or ‘like’ us on Facebook – Bemm River Holiday Accommodation Phone: (03) 5158 4233/Mob. 0427 584 233 Email: bemmaccomm@ bigpond.com.

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Bermi is at its best BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

It’s that time of year where the billfish action is at its hottest, with Bermagui Harbour abuzz with anglers in boats of all shapes and sizes only too eager to go chase these majestic fish. Whether you fish from a tinny or a luxurious game boat, when someone yells “marlin”, all sorts of human emotions take over. Some people will freeze, unsure of what to do, while others will run around the boat in a mad panic. Or for those who have seen it all before, they will take in the sight and enjoy the beauty of the fish they pursue. February is one of the best months for marlin in the waters that surround Bermagui, with warm currents and plenty of bait all relatively close to port. The Twelve Mile Reef is producing the best, with striped and black marlin predating on schools of slimy mackerel and striped tuna, while close by over the Continental Shelf, you will also find these same species with the added chance of a monster blue marlin. Lures are the best way to pursue marlin; you can cover more water to find where the fish are concentrated. Once you have done so, live baiting or switch baiting may be a preferred method, especially switch baiting. This is where the thrill of the chase comes in by reading signs like birds whirling overhead, nervous bait scattering on the surface or seals, and even marlin, busting up on a helpless bait school. It’s all adrenalin rushing stuff. There are a few tuna, mostly stripies, that also provide a good trolled live bait for a marlin. Unfortunately, it’s not only the marlin that like these, there’s also a good chance a hammerhead shark may want it too. Kingfish have been

plentiful up at Montague Island, taking jigs and live baits regularly. Most fish have been just on size with an occasional larger fish showing amongst them. There’s been plenty of action for those who like to reef or bottom fish, with this being one of the best seasons for flathead in a long time. Most of these fish have been tigers in deep water around 40m and deeper, while closer to

keep the interest up. Throw in some ocean perch, the odd pigfish plus others, and it is well worth a visit. It’s action aplenty for both the rocks and beaches, with schools of passing pelagics, mostly in the form of salmon, small tuna or kingfish. Lure fishing from the stones is producing well, especially around sunrise. At this time of day you don’t have to catch fish to appreciate the beauty

Baitfish like this bonito make excellent billfish bait, dead or alive. shore sufficient numbers of sandies will grace anglers’ bags. Gummy sharks have also been a welcome by-catch amongst the flathead, providing a different flavour for

surrounding Bermagui, but it does help. Along the beaches it will mainly be salmon or tailor snapping at lures, and while bait fishers will also come across these

Luderick are a stunning fish in the water. the table. There are plenty of morwong, both blue and jackass, up over the reefs with just enough snapper to

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fish, they can also expect plenty of bream, whiting or mullet. At night around a full moon, mulloway have been showing more regularly, along with sharks in the form of whalers and gummies. It has definitely been a great season for bream in the estuaries, particularly those that remained open to the ocean. Fresh stocks have moved into the systems, providing great fishing throughout the estuaries. Not to be outdone, most of the other species are there too, providing plenty of great action. Whether you are a bait or a lure angler, I feel the best action is yet to come next month! FEBRUARY 2017

Estuaries brimming with bait for hot sessions NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

The holiday crowds are slowing up with school holidays over, but for those who are still in the Narooma region, some exceptional fishing is still on offer. The local estuaries are red-hot at present and this will continue for a few months yet. All species are playing the game, with anglers fishing bait and lures getting amongst them. The beauty of Narooma is that there’s five different estuary systems within 20 minutes both north and south of town. This helps anglers, with a variety of options to fish, and if one system is a little tough, there’s another around the corner. It’s the same when crowds become too much, you can always find your own bit of water and get results. The smaller systems like Corunna Lake to the south and Mummaga Lake to the north of Narooma are both excellent with ample fish available. Both these lakes are firing for

flathead and bream at the moment, with lure anglers getting better results. These estuaries are quite shallow in nature with maximum water depths of 6m at the most. This is perfect for flathead, as the shallows warm up quickly, especially after a few hot days with the afternoons being peak times. I’d be concentrating in 2-3m of water around the rocky points with smaller soft plastics or soft vibes for best results. You can expect some solid bream, especially in Corunna, with both black and yellowfin bream on the cards. Both these systems are full of prawns too, so casting a few smaller surface presentations will also see some nice fish caught. Up at Wagonga Inlet, it is firing nicely with flathead, mulloway, bream and tailor all chewing. This place is loaded with frogmouth pilchards, with Forsters Bay absolutely chocker with them. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this much bait there, but with the bait comes fish and this area is a good starting point to fish the system.

Some monster flathead are getting around our local estuaries, like this cracker fish that Pete Steward caught, which was released. The interesting thing is that we have outside visitors in the lake in the form of kingfish. Kings! And plenty of them. We’ve caught a handful of kings to 69cm and seen plenty more following lures up. I

know quite a few have been caught, with the best at 74cm, which can be pretty good fun on the light gear. Don’t get me wrong, they are hard to catch and you need to be lucky and in the right spot at the right time,

but if they start smashing bait on top and you’re in casting range, then you’re in for a shot. Kings aren’t the only fish eating the pilchards, as there’s XOS tailor, mulloway and some pretty

good flathead and snapper down deep under the bait, just waiting for the scraps from the pelagic species. I’m not sure how long they will stay there, but if the water remains warm and the bait stays there, it could be months, so it’s worth a look. Further upstream in the shallower areas around Punkella Creek has seen some very big flathead caught. I know of several fish over 90cm over recent weeks. You can expect a few trevally and bream as well, with the edges along the oyster racks holding plenty of fish. Cast surface lures or smaller sub surface hardbodies to the edges over the rocks and weed, but screw that drag up a little to get them out before they brick you. Offshore, the kings have been good at Montague Island with jigs, live bait and squid on flasher rigs working well. The fish are quite widespread, but the northern end has been okay. Despite this, a lot depends on current as to their whereabouts. Having a good look around with To page 45

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Expect good water and great offshore fishing MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Merimbula has come back to some sort of normality. Most visitors have left. For those venturing up now, you’re in for some seriously good fun on the fishing front. Anglers offshore are having a field day, especially those after a feed. Flathead are around in awesome numbers. It’s the best I’ve seen it for a long time. Boats venturing out are getting their bags in pretty short time. The flatties seem to be everywhere and water depths of 35-45m are

good going for offshore so let’s hope it continues. Those fishing the reefs are finding it a little tougher, as snapper have been somewhat quiet over recent weeks. I’m not sure why, but it will pick up again. In saying that, we’re still getting a few. The anglers I’ve talked to who are getting results are moving around a lot to locate the fish and mainly fishing the edges of the reef, not on the hard stuff. A key has been to use fresh bait with squid and tuna fillets. Fishing a little lighter with tackle has also worked. Only use enough weight to get to the bottom and change your sinker weight with the conditions. This has been

Further offshore, the water is around 22°C and that means one thing – marlin. These turbo-charged bruisers have been a little slow to start this season. With the good water finally here, it’s all systems go for the gamefishing fraternity. The beaks are wide with a 25-30km drive needed to get to the grounds. That’s pretty normal for down here. Most fish seen and captured have been smaller stripes around 70-90kg. They’re still good fish and we should be seeing a few better blacks by now. I’m sure they will turn up, as there are good reports further north. It’s just a matter of time before they

way around. A bonus when trolling is the possibility of yellowfin tuna and mahimahi. There’s been a few caught with the best dollie I’ve heard of going

cracking 88cm model with 35 odd flats caught for the day. The smallest fish went 42cm, so some solid action is to be had there. The channels towards

and certainly catch more. The rocks and beaches are both fishing well, but you have to work for them. Anglers fishing the stones at Short Point have been

Jason Neuman with a cracking black bream caught from the shallows on a very windy day.

Monster flathead and Merimbula Lake go hand-in-hand. This beast was released after the photo. getting the bigger fish. There’s a good mixture of sand and tigers amongst them with the average fish around 45cm. That’s pretty From page 44

the sounder and looking for feeding kings on top is the key to getting fish. The kings aren’t huge, averaging 3-4kg, but still a lot of fun and great on the plate too. There has been the odd better fish mixed in with the school fish, especially when they’re on top chasing bait. Casting big poppers at them is a stack of visual fun, and the best way to tempt one of these bigger models. Further offshore the marlin action is in full swing, and black and striped beaks have been plentiful, with trolling and switch baiting both working well. Most crews are getting a shot or two a day, so not red-hot action, but enough to keep you interested. The traps in 70-fathoms off Tuross has seen a lot of the action, though a few smaller

important for consistent results as well. Sometimes a few minor tackle adjustments is all that’s required to get the fish to play the game.

get here, we hope. Trolling skirted pushers is still the best method right now. Cover the ground and find the fish, not the other

blacks have been hooked at Montague, so it’s worth a look there as well. For those targeting the eating species, both sand and tiger flathead are in awesome numbers. It’s not hard to get your bags with some quality fish amongst them. The flathead are quite widespread, but water depths of 40-50m have been good. The slightly deeper water has accounted for the majority of tiger flathead. The reefs and gravel edges are holding some goodsized snapper to 2kg, lots of morwong, and there’s also kingfish on the cards, especially up north off Potato Point. Striped tuna strips, squid and larger soft plastics have accounted for the majority of fish. Anglers fishing the beaches and rocks are in for some fun with all the usual suspects playing the game. Most beaches with a half decent gutter have plenty

of bream and whiting with Brou Beach just north of Dalmeny being a standout. This beach is around 7km long, so finding good water to fish isn’t hard, though you may need to walk for awhile. Using live beach worms or pipi will see plenty of action, with a lighter running sinker rig the go. Closer to Narooma, the better beaches to fish include Bar Beach and Narooma Main. Both these beaches have deep gutters close to shore and are certainly worth a look. For the rock hopper, Mystery Bay and the golf course rocks in town have been good for the pelagic species. Bonito, salmon, tailor and smaller kings are all possible, with smaller chromed slices or whole ganged pilchards the go. Early morning draining tides the better time to fish at present.

18kg – a solid model. I think these next six weeks are really going to fire up. Everything looks good. The bait’s there, the water’s there. All we need now is more fish. In the estuaries it’s business as usual. Merimbula and Pambula continue to do the right thing with the majority of estuary dwellers playing the game. Flathead are about in good numbers with a few jumbos coming from the top lake in Merimbula. While guiding there the other day, we managed a

the front of the system are firing nicely to for bream, trevally, whiting, flathead and luderick. The draining tide is best with striped tuna cubes, nippers and worms all getting results. Lure anglers fishing lightly weighted stickbaits are also seeing the action. Casting light softies in the current can be a little tricky. Try to fish on a 45° angle to the current. Cast upstream and come across the channel, rather than straight down. You will present your offering to a lot more fish this way

getting quality drummer amongst the washes. Use fresh prawns or cunjevoi with a little berley. This should see some nice fish caught. If you’re after the pelagics, Tura Head is the go. The northern end of the ledge in the deeper water has seen kings, bonito and big salmon captured. They have been a little hard to entice. If you can get live bait, you’re in with a shot. Casting whole ganged pilchards will work too, especially for the salmon and bonito.

Pete and Rob with a few fish caught on surface lures. These were part of 40 odd fish caught for the day. FEBRUARY 2017

Fish crawling out of summer holiday season fish are well conditioned and as well as being fun to catch are also top tucker. Closer to shore the sand flathead have been on the bite, with good numbers caught out around Gabo Island along with a fair few legal size gummy sharks. The odd kingfish has been caught, with the star banks fishing well. The fish have often been seen in big schools around the boat, but catching them can sometimes be near impossible. A number of great white sharks have been sighted, with the beach at Bastion Point closed to swimmers on a number of occasions as a result. Those fishing the beaches have been catching salmon, with schools moving along Big Beach and around the general area. Tip Beach has also been firing, and a few gummy

MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The holiday period saw the town swell and get very busy, with visitors coming from all around and it seemed like all of them had brought their own boat. Great weather along with light winds saw plenty of fish being caught, both offshore and in the lake. You definitely needed to cover up or use sunscreen to stop sunburn, as without it you’d come home looking like a lobster after a day on the water. Offshore the fishing has been really good, and with the water temperature sitting around 20°C, everything has come to life. Big tiger flathead have been caught out wide in around 60m of water; these

sharks being caught down at Quarry Beach by anglers soaking baits into the night. This time of year sees plenty of Fisheries officers out and about, so make sure you have a license and you are adhering to size and bag limits, or you might be in for a nasty surprise. The flathead fishing in the lake has been excellent, with plenty of eating size flatties getting caught. As far as the big flathead are concerned, they’re very scarce. Mallacoota was famous 10lb fish getting caught regularly, but it seems these days are long gone. The yellowfin bream in the Bottom lake are not as plentiful as in years past, with a few fish being caught out around Goodwin Sands. Good numbers of sand whiting are in the bottom lake, with some good-sized

fish falling to on both bait and lures. Black bream and flathead have been caught in the Top Lake and upstream towards Gypsy Point, but once again you need to keep moving until fish are found. Some great estuary perch have been caught over the years, and these have been one of my favourite fish to catch. I have seen big numbers of quality fish in the system, but unfortunately they don’t successfully breed every year. This is the reason those in the know should do there best not to advertise their location, as a good number of fish are gracing the cleaning table with visitors seeing them as top tucker. This is probably isn’t in the best interest of the fishery, and anglers need to fish for the future, and not for the day!

The author with a shovelnose shark caught on a Hurricane blade.

Calm weather and trophy catches in the estuary are available and beach worms or prawns are a good choice of bait. The best fishing has been had on the morning high tides. Local rivers have seen a good number of small prawns and the months ahead will see them getting bigger. The prawning will only improve. The rocky headlands are all fishing well. Bream, drummer and luderick have been caught recently. The warm water around 21°C has really brought everything to life. Fishing offshore has been good. The flathead fishing down in Disaster Bay has rewarded anglers with good bags of sand flathead and tiger

EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The busy period is here. All the caravan parks are full and the town is packed with visitors. The fishing has been the major attraction and with the great weather, there has been no shortage of fish caught. The fishing from the beaches has been good, as salmon and tailor can still been caught. Good gutters are along nearly all of the local beaches and offer a variety of species. Yellowfin bream and sand whiting REVA G.T

L LY . S N A P P E R

. EST U

PE R RY

. WH AD

flathead out wide. The inshore reefs have been fishing well. Pinkie snapper, morwong and nannygai have all been caught. Getting an early start is important, so you can be back with a feed before the wind is up. A few kingfish have been caught, but they are yet to really fire up. The months ahead should see some great fishing with no shortage of bait in the area. Out wider, there have been few reports coming in. The water temperature is good, so there is every chance the fish will soon put in an appearance. Local estuaries have been fishing well with flathead on the bite and

FISH WITH A LOCAL AT

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This angler is pleased with his first fish caught on a lure. Who wouldn’t be? on fresh prawn and squirt worms. Yellowfin bream are also around. The summer months

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18-19 Feb

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Mallacoota

Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier #1

22-23 Feb

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Gippsland Lakes

Gippsland Lakes BREAM Qualifier #2

1-2 Apr

Albany

Albany BREAM Qualifier #3

5-6 Apr

Blackwood

Blackwood BREAM Qualifier #4

20-21 May

NSW

Manning River

Manning River BREAM Qualifier #5

16-17 Jul

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19-20 Aug

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30-1 Oct

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1-3 Dec

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25-27 Apr

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Sydney Harbour/Hawkesbury River

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NSW

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18-19 Mar

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8-9 Apr

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20 May

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17-18 Jun

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13 Aug

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28-29 Oct

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LOCATION

EVENT

Bigger, better and more rewarding than it’s ever been the Basscat Australia BASS Pro Series is set to challenge and reward anglers in 2017. Six Qualifying Rounds throughout the year held on Queensland’s and New South Wales’ finest bass rivers and lakes, plus a Grand Final on Northern NSW’s Richmond River in October presents anglers with a Basscat BASS Pro calendar like they have never seen or experienced before. New challenges, new waterways and new opportunities are all on the tournament menu for the new tournament season. 2017 is definately the year of the river rat on the Basscat BASS Pro tour. Basscat Australia BASS Pro Qualifiers • Boater $250 • Non Boater $125

Storm BASS Australian Open (Boater only) $500

ePropulsion headlines the 2017 BASS Electric Series, with the new season featuring seven Qualifying Rounds and an end of year BASS Electric Convention set to take place in Queensland in October. The series kicks off in February at Clarrie Hall Dam in NSW before it travels its way through Queensland and New South Wales with a combination of single and two-day events. Anglers will fish for a combination of cash and prizes at each round plus the all important qualification berths into October’s BASS Electric Convention. To qualify for The Convention all you need to do is place in the top five (top ten at 2-day events) at one of the seven Qualifying Rounds, or finish in the top 15 of the BASS Electric Angler of the Year points race. It’s that easy. Check out the calendar to find out where and when you can get your ePropulsion BASS Electric fix. BASS Electric Entries • $50 (single day events) • $100 (two-day events)

BARRA TOUR DATE

STATE

LOCATION

EVENT

31 Oct

QLD

Kinchant Dam

BARRA Tour Round #1 (Evening Event) BARRA Tour Round #2 (Evening Event)

1 Nov

QLD

Teemburra

3-4 Nov

QLD

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #3 (Evening Event)

5-6 Nov

QLD

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #4 (Night Championship)

21-22 Jan

VIC

Marlo

Round 1

25-26 Feb

VIC

Bemm River

Round 2

25-26 Mar

VIC

Mallacoota

Round 3

8-9 Apr

Adelaide

Round 4

29-30 Apr

To be announced

Round 5

Get your barra fix in 2017 with the Zerek BARRA Tour. Returning to the barra filled lakes of Kinchant, Teemburra and Peter Faust Dams, the Zerek BARRA Tour will hit the north on the peak barra bite, the full moon in November. Having emerged from their from their winter slumber and in full spring bite mode the barra should be primed to wreak havoc and deliver anglers the ultimate BARRA Tour experience.

30 Apr

NSW

Clyde River

Round 6

BARRA Tour Entries $250 (per event)

20-21 May

NSW

St Georges Basin

Round 7

10-11 Jun

NSW

Port Macquarie

Round 8

22-23 Jul

QLD

Gold Coast

Round 9

13 Aug

QLD

Mooloolaba

Round 10

26-27 Aug

To be announced

Round 11

16-17 Sep

NSW

Forster

Round 12

16-19 Nov

TBA

Australian Championship

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The Hobie Kayak BREAM Series hits the water nation wide to offer anglers the ultimate kayak bream experience. Featuring events in WA, SA, VIC, NSW and QLD anglers are spoilt for choice in 2017 with 12 rounds in the series. All events of course lead to the biggest event of the year, the Australian Championship. The Big Show will see anglers fish from identical factory supplied Hobie kayaks in a bid to be crowned the Australian Champion. Hobie Kayak BREAM Series (Hobie rounds) • $50 (pre-event entry) or $70 (late entry) for single-day events • $100 (pre-event entry) or $140 (late entry) for two-day events N.B, For non-Hobie run rounds see individual organisers for entry details

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Fine-tuning your tournament fishing approach SOUTHERN BAY

Nabeel Issa

When it comes to tournament fishing, successful anglers are always looking for that edge to get one up on their competitors. Quite often, it can be the subtle differences that can make or break a tournament result. If you have been in the scenario before, you would know full well how much of a change one bite can make to your day’s fishing. Catching that kicker fish is not just a gain on the scoreboard, it’s also a mental gain. Once that fish is in the well, your tone changes, your thought process changes, and you suddenly feel more energized. You are far more attentive and you know you are back in the game; it’s amazing what adrenaline can do! So how can you increase the chances of this happening? When competing against a high quality field of anglers, there aren’t too many 4

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secrets, everyone is using the same lures, techniques and more often than not, fishing the same areas. Being able to find a niche and zone into a pattern is what will make you stand out. So here are a few ideas that can help get you a step ahead I won’t go into too much detail (I could fill up a book), but my hope is that this will start a change of thought process to get you thinking of ways you can give yourself an edge. DO YOUR HOMEWORK While it will ultimately come down to tournament day, putting in the early preparation work will reap dividends when it counts. Often anglers will associate the early prep work with fishing new systems, or systems that you may not regularly fish. Early preparation, even for local events, is a great starting point, as it helps get you thinking and in the right frame of mind. Resources such as Google Earth, Nearmap and Marine Maps are all great places to start. If you have access to Nearmap, it provides amazingly detailed

satellite imagery and is great for finding new fishy areas. I like to look at the moon phase, tides and also look at weather patterns. These are all variables that will affect your event, and understanding them and learning how to adapt if this changes is very important. Looking through previous tournament results is also a good idea, as this will help when it comes to lure selection, and give you an idea of what to expect for the time of year. Stock up on the gear you love. I’m sure there are a number of anglers who have been left short of their favourite lures due to them being sold out. A good example is the Cranka Crab – a must-have on the bream tournament circuit. It is also a lure that at times has been hard to come by. Whatever it is, be sure to get it well in advance to save you scrambling around the week before the tournament! Keep your fishing gear organised. Store your lures neatly, ensuring they are rust-free and ready to use. Having all your gear neatly

Storing everything so you can find it easily will ultimately mean more time spent fishing and not rummaging around in the boat.

packed in the boat means that when you need to find a particular lure or tool, you can easily get to it. There is nothing worse than having to go through the whole boat to find that pair of split ring pliers or that pack of trebles that you were sure you packed! Being organised will save you time on the water. UNDERWATER EYES It’s hard to ignore the technological advances in fish finders these days – it’s an important aspect to anyone’s fishing. A quick look through the boats at a tournament and you will quickly see that the majority of anglers are kitted out with some of the latest and greatest gear. Some anglers will never use their sounder to its full potential and some will rarely take it off the GPS screen. Sounders are our eyes under the water, and in my opinion, heavily under-used when it comes to tournament fishing, especially in the bream circuit. Here’s a few ways you can make the most of the technology. Side Scan Technology

is available with most sounder brands and prices have dropped dramatically over the years, making it affordable to all anglers. It basically allows you to scan the seabed over 50m

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au each side of the boat. So imagine being able to cover the whole width of a river, with just one pass! Now think about how helpful that could be for finding structure that nobody else

Keeping notes from your trips is fantastic way to get a particular location sussed.

has seen. It’s not all about finding big schools of fish on the sounder. Most of the time just locating bait, finding new structure, or keeping an eye on depth changes and water temperature can be enough to crack a pattern. Understanding how to use all the features on your sounder will help you in a big way, and there are so many tools available to us. We need to make the effort to learn how to use them in order to make the gains. CARRYING SPARES Ever been in that position where you wished you were throwing a different strength line? Maybe you’re downsizing from 4lb fluorocarbon to 2lb, or even going up a notch and looking for something heavier. If you can afford to have 20 rods on your boat, then this may be easy done. But for the rest of us, deciding what rod and reel combinations we take and what line we spool the reels with can be a daunting task. With a diverse range of fisheries on the tournament trail, you could be fishing 2lb in crystal clear water one day or up to 16lb in the oyster leases the next. One way to solve this problem is keeping a

The author believes that it’s important to look for any edge that you can get over other anglers. In a tournament scenario, it can make a world of difference. few spare spools. Some reels come with these as standard, but generally the higher end gear doesn’t, and it may mean buying a few aftermarket spools, which is well worth it in my opinion, as it gives you that extra option when it comes to deciding on lines. I keep an array

of different strength fluorocarbon lines, as well as braid from 6-12lb. This way I know I can cover any situation I come across, and there’s no need to compromise. A good idea is to label your spools, just so you can keep track of what is what (comparing 2lb with 3lb can be quite tricky!)

DEAR DIARY Your friends might ridicule you for it, so this might be one you keep hidden away, but keeping a diary of your fishing trips is a great way to keep track of patterns. I got this idea from Steve Morgan a couple of To page 6

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years ago after he showed me his notes from a few trips chasing threadfin salmon in the Brisbane River. He had detailed the times he fished and even had a few diagrams showing how he fished certain areas. It may seem a little overboard, but when I thought about it, a lot of really valuable information that we learn from fishing is just forgotten. We tell ourselves “I better remember that for next time”, but chances are, we will forget! Jotting down some information from a trip, whether it be good or bad will help you in the future. As time goes on and you increase your ‘database’ of information, you will be able to pick up consistent patterns that occur. For example, you might notice that in certain times of the year, the run-in tide fishes better. Maybe the barometric pressure reaching a certain point triggers a bite period. This is especially important for tournaments. After spending two or more days on the water you are bound to have learnt something new or picked up on a detail that helped you catch fish, or maybe even caused you to lose fish. This information is

Tournament Angler Guide gold; a successful angler is one that is always willing to learn. Whenever I can remember, I try to record as much information as I can from a fishing trip, noting down the moon phase, tides, lures used and any specific events

that occurred that day. It only takes a couple of minutes, but is well worth the time spent! Eventually, you will have a great bit of info up your sleeve that is going to help you on the water. If you are tech savvy, you could always collate this

When everything comes together, you should find yourself catching more fish.

information on a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet too, which would make it easy to search for key words! START FINE-TUNING I have found that

abt.org.au by breaking down the processes involved and dialling in on each trip, you can find ways to really home in. Anything you can change to better your

Using online mapping resources can give you an idea of what you’re in for, particularly if you’ve never fished a certain body of water before.

stormfishing.com.au 6

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angling is going to benefit your results in the long run. It only takes one cast, one bite, to turn it all around. We have all been there, and it’s a great feeling.

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Hobie winner’s winning notes – confidence is key Richard Somerton

Last year was very rewarding, and I enjoyed fishing the 2016 Hobie series. I went into this season with a bit more competitive drive, which I had been struggling with in the previous year. Again, it was a full calendar, with tournaments in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and finally a return to Tassie! The Hobie Australasia team had again put another interesting and varied season together. BEGINNINGS It all started for me at Bemm River, an arena I have previously done extremely well in. Going into the competition I was confident of at least a top 10 finish. I didn’t adapt well to the sudden rise in water level, wind strength and the hammering my spots got on pre-fish, but I stuck to my plan, with the result of 32nd… ouch! With the biggest turnout ever in the kayak series of over 100 competitors, I knew it was 8

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going to be a big year. Mallacoota again put on the numbers and was the second of the World Qualifiers after Bemm, and one I wanted to get up on the podium and to gain back some vital Worlds team points. I had a good plan, that unfortunately relied on at least one good Mallacoota beast, and I didn’t quite get there, finishing 4th. It was great to see Carl Dubois take the win and it was the start of his dominance that would eventually see him take out a well-deserved Angler of the Year title. OVER THE DITCH! It was then time for Hobie to take the show overseas! That’s right, the black bream Mecca of Tasmania. I had fished the Scamander for trout once, and that was about it, and being yet another Worlds Qualifier, I had put hours of research in with Mr Cranka Crab himself, Steve Steer. Myself and a few others found it to be a tough bite, and not the system I had heard it was, and this combined with my reluctance to use soft plastics saw me finish a disappointing 12th, and

definitely not where I had told myself I would finish. A few days later and a short drive down the road was the Swan River, and the next round of the Hobie roadshow. I love this place, and have fished it both in tournaments and socially. It has flats, racks, rocks and is very tidal. It has everything an angler could want for black bream, including some true beasts. After the prefish, I was confident and even said to my wife Tanya, “I’ve got this.” Well, it might have been a bit cocky, but I have been told you must win it in your head before going on the field. Well, finally it all came together for me with a good kicker fish on each day backed by solid bags, and this saw me take out my first win of the series and a major boost to my confidence. BACK ON THE MAINLAND The season rolled on, and I managed a 6th at St Georges Basin, and being my first yellowfin event of the year, it gave me a bit of hope that my yellowfin mojo hadn’t left me leading up to the big event, the Forster round!

In the lead up to the Forster tournament, I studied maps, tides, previous locations and distances. The major unknown for me was the new launch site, as I had always fished events from down the front. Not being sure whether to hit the lake or not, I put all my efforts into throwing Cranka Crabs around racks. Again, I went into this event knowing I would win. I had convinced myself that was what was going to happen anyway… I admit, things got a bit shaky on the prefish when it was very slow, but when an area and a pattern came together again, my confidence skyrocketed. Over the next two days, I managed two good bags that included a cracking fish that took out my first ever Boss Hog big bream! In the end, taking out the win at Forster was pretty big for me for many reasons. This was the final Worlds scoring round, which saw me go from 5th and just in the team to the top qualifier. This was also my biggest win by numbers with the largest field ever at a kayak round in NSW of 96, and this just

shows how big the kayak tournament scene is getting. I managed to squeeze one more event in down at Nelson on a very swollen, dirty and flooding Glenelg River, and again I was thinking a good game until I pulled up on Thursday night and saw the state of the water. The doubts crept in and continued throughout the tournament. There were fish there, but for the first time this year, I didn’t fill my bag and came away with 6th place. WARMING UP FOR THE BIG DANCE Going through and wrapping up the year I had, it was evident to me that my mental state had a lot to do with my performance. The events I had convinced myself I was going to win, I performed well in or won! So, when the Australian Championship came around, I had it won. In my head, anyway… Preparation for the Gold Coast started with me pouring over maps and the internet trying to formulate a plan, as I had never fished there before. I wanted an area a long-distance peddle from the start so the fishing

pressure wouldn’t be too bad. The area had plenty of structure and hopefully a larger than average fish. I had ruled out the flats heading into the event due to what I had heard regarding the crazy boat traffic! I had a chat with fellow Cranka Pro Staffer Stephen Maas pointing out my plan and listened to his thoughts. He gave the thumbs up and a couple possible lure colours and I was confident with my starting plan. When the Championships rolled around, I was ready to go, with the only question mark hanging over my plan being the new Hobie drive, the reversible MD180. Would it be slower, harder or just so different that I wouldn’t be able to put my long-distance plan into action? Those doubts were soon gone ten minutes into the pre-fish. The drives were fast, and I could maintain a higher than average speed. I didn’t make the long run up to the comp day planned areas, instead finding similar locations closer to the start line. I worked through different canals trying several pontoons, jetties and boat hulls catching fish regularly.

I found pontoons on points, junctions and multiple ones together, which ended up being the standout spots. They just needed a little bit of water movement to check the final fishabilty box! COMP DAY Day one Day one of the tournament started with the usual pandemonium of the start followed by the settling into the long peddle to my first spot at the northern end of Sovereign Islands around 11km away. By the time I reached Ephraim Island, I was on my own and as I went past, I noticed some mangroves with cormorants in them. I put on a plastic and cast it to the nearest mangrove tree. Bang! I was on. Over the next 15 or so casts, it was almost a fish every cast, but with only one legal amongst them, I thought I may have been wasting my time. It was back to plan A. The next hour or so went slowly, with a couple of fish in the well from plastics thrown under pontoons until the tide started to run out, and that’s when the Cranka Crab in cockle and brown came into play along with the MD180 drive. I thought I wouldn’t use the reverse function much, but it turned out to be a game changer. I could position myself even in the strongest

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au areas of tide up current, and then fish the crabs back under the pontoons and boats. I quickly got my last fish, and then a couple of small upgrades over the next few hours before it was time to start heading back, hitting some spots on the way. I ran into my peddling buddy Mitch King in a canal system just after I had scored a nice 700g fish on the crab. He was struggling, but told me they were just coming on. I moved up a small canal and got another upgrade followed by a legal, and then it was time to head back to the starting line. It was both an interesting and nervous wait to find out how my bag stood up against everyone else’s, and by the finish of the weigh-in I had a day one lead over the ever-dangerous Kris Hickson by only 20g! Day two The day two plan was very much the same as day one, with the only change being spending a bit more time in the mangroves of Ephraim Island. The legs were feeling the burn at the start, and there was definitely fewer kayaks going north by the time I hit the mangroves. As I approached the spot, I saw one tinny and another yak (non-competitor) on the best section of the mangroves. Bugger!

I found some birds in a large tree and fired in a cast. Bang! A small fish, but at least they were there. The next fish was deep hooked. Legal, but bleeding a bit, and I decided to let him swim. I hoped that didn’t turn out to be a wrong decision. The next fish was a nice one over 700g that hit hard, jumped twice and ended up hanging out of a tree! There was a moment of panic as I raced in and shoved the net under it. That was number one! A few casts later and another 500g fish in the well, I decided to head north and continue with the plan. It turned out to be very slow, with only a bit of by-catch. I also had the curse of the dreaded camera boat stalking me for a while. I added one to the live well that I plucked off a pontoon, but the owner seemed to take offense by charging down, starting his boat and revving his engine! I decided to move on, giving him a smile and a parting comment on his passive aggressive behaviour. By 11 o’clock, I was starting to doubt my plan and heading back down the system. I managed another reasonable legal, but I decided to hit another canal on the way home. By the time I got there, the tide was almost dead low and I

had an hour left before the peddle back. Luckily, the place was on fire! I filled my limit, upgraded three times and smacked a handful of legal fish on top of that. I felt confident, but I knew if the marinas had fired, it was going to be very close. CRUNCHING NUMBERS Again at the weigh-in,

It was an amazing feeling to see that bag of fish hit the scales and see my weight come out on top! After five Championships with a couple of close call podium finishes, it was fantastic to be able to get the win! I couldn’t have done it without the support of some great people and companies.

and keeping it fresh and exciting. I would also like to thank Duffrods, Cranka, Humminbird, SLH/Lovig Kayak Fishing and RhinoRack for their continued support and gear. All the other competitors that head all over Australia to compete definitely make the series what it is, and a huge hats off goes to each

The Gold Coast was an excellent venue for a Hobie Grand Final. it proved to be tough for some and better for others, and after a few words with the guys, I was feeling very confident.

I would like to thank Hobie Australasia for putting all the time, money and effort into running these tournaments year after year

and every one of them. Finally, I must thank my wife Tanya for all the belief, love, support, and understanding. Bring on next year!

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To be or not to be sponsored, that is the question

Elliot Fooks

Fishing is an industry the takes on many forms. For some, it’s a weekend passion, for others it’s their work, and for a lucky few, it’s both.

As anglers we are all heavily invested stakeholders in this industry, and we all have pride in fishing and what it has given us, but what can we give back? If you turn up to any ABT tournament, you will see a wide range of boats wrapped

with a plethora of sponsor logos, as well as anglers wearing jerseys from every brand under the sun. What do anglers and brands actually get out of these deals? And, more importantly, what do anglers and sponsors want from these deals? During my years

Sponsoring anglers is just one component of a company’s marketing strategy. The decision to sponsor an angler uses up money that could be spent elsewhere. Carl Jocumsen knows this well, and looks after his sponsors. 10

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working for ABT, I heard many anglers talk about sponsorship as both a privilege and a right. However, there’s a debate as to whether it should be viewed as a transaction or a job. WHO AM I? Sponsored anglers are just one part of a company’s complicated marketing mix, and the decision to sponsor an angler takes away from other areas the business can spend its marketing dollars on. While some sponsors will expect very little and give very little, if you want to be worth the investment the business needs to see a return. While it may not be popular to say being a sponsored angler is a job, that’s what it is. However, it should still be a positive experience for you, adding to your enjoyment and, in turn, helping the industry grow. While it may all sound like more work than it’s worth, the key is to think about what you can bring to our industry and sport. Let’s take a step back and think about assessing the skills you have and what you can bring to the table. Before you think about targeting sponsors you need to identify a few things. Identifying what drives

Tournaments often see many sponsored anglers getting together, all vying for that top spot. you to get out on the water should be easy. Your fishing passion may be solely competitive tournament fishing, or it may be broader. Look at identifying your

‘fishing brand’, which is the kind of fishing that people can associate with you. This brand will change and grow thoughout the cycle of the seasons.

Remember, much like the company that you want to represent, you have many dimensions. These are the areas that make you different from all the other anglers knocking on a company’s door. Your seasonal angling will start to help form the story of you as an angler, and help people connect with your story. The second thing to identify is what content of

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abt.org.au value you can produce. As we all can see, there are hundreds of anglers out there pushing their passion on all forms of social media, but what are your strengths and key differences? Much like your fishing, this is a skill set you need to evaluate and grow as time passes. Break this down like any business problem and look at creating a personal strength, weakness, opportunity and

threat analysis to see where you stand. At this point, it is critical to see where your skills are in relation to what you want to achieve, so I recommend doing this SWOT analysis by scanning the QR code hereby with an end goal in mind. Your content creation should go beyond photos of you holding a fish. It doesn’t hurt to tell the story of what you got the fish

It is critical to see where your skills are in relation to what you want to achieve before you think of approaching any potential sponsors.

on, where you caught it and what it means to you. For you, it may be about reviewing tackle through text and video, or it could even be a weekly podcast you create about your fishing adventures and what you caught your fish on. It’s also key to benchmark your output against others in the industry, as this is a great way for you to see who is represented in

the industry and what they are producing. Look at both the quality of the content and how regularly they are producing content, and this will give you an idea on what you will be expected to produce for a sponsor. While benchmarking gives you a start on what to do, you need to form your own style. This may not be a big change from what others are doing, but try to give

WEB LINK

Scan the QR code to do a SWOT analysis. To page 12

Once you know what content you want to create, you’ll be able to understand what you can do to add value to a brand.

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yourself a consistent point of difference from other anglers. It’s critical for all of us to not turn into copycats, as this devalues good content and sucks out the incentive to create different and interesting content. If there is content that excites you, don’t copy it. Instead, use it as inspiration to help push your own content. In turn, you will help push others to create and grow as anglers and producers. From here, you can begin to think about what value proposition you will be able to pitch to potential sponsors and who these sponsors could be. PITCHER UP? So you know what content you want to create, and you are starting to understand what you can do to add value to a brand. Now it’s time to assess which brands in the market you would be an asset to. Similar to assessing your own skills, you need to look at the products you use and understand what message and brand identity the marketing team of your chosen brand is putting out into the public domain. While it is easy to just look at your tackle and pick the brands you see the most of and say, “I will talk to them” – try to think past

Tournament Angler Guide the obvious. Look at brands that create products that fit into your style. This could be a wader and clothing company that fits more with your passion for shore game bass fishing, rather than traditional tournament gear. Try to identify a few brands that you have a connection to and start looking at the content they are creating. It should be very clear what each brand is good at doing, and where they concentrate their marketing. Look at every avenue of marketing that the brand uses. This could be across both social and traditional media. This will identify gaps in what they do, areas they could improve upon, and avenues they have never or aren’t currently exploring. This will give you areas where you can target your pitch to. Just remember that someone who is in the marketing department will have (or should have) based all their decisions on research and experience, and you are not the oracle. It’s about showing what you think is great about their company and what you can do to help in a positive and polite manor, because more often than not, marketing teams get emails demanding sponsorship for nothing. While assessing the target, it’s then time to

start building your skills in content creation and creating a folio of work. In a way, you are going to pitch for a job position they didn’t know they needed to fill, so you need to have some ‘wow’ factor. Show them the story of why you love their product and what

it means to you. In any part of life, it’s easier to have a connection to someone if you know their story, and for all of us, most of the lures in our tackle box can evoke a story. This story telling is a way you can thread yourself and the brand together and show

abt.org.au how you are not just asking for product, but rather, you want to be part of their team. When pitching, get creative in how you show this. Think about how your pitch links with your content. It could be as simple as emailing them a link to a video you have

Sponsored anglers will often wear their colours when out on the water.

created using their product, or possibly writing a review about the new product they have coming out and ask if they would like to publish it on their website. If you want something of value, put work into it and offer them something of value first. WHERE TO NOW? If you can’t say that you have a passion for the brand or believe in the product, don’t ask to be sponsored by them. It should be a product you’d be happy to promote even if you weren’t getting paid. Our fishing time is limited, and the companies’ financial commitment to the sport is also limited, so be honest with yourself and think about what you want to do in the fishing industry, because at the end of the day we are all stakeholders in the sport. While it may sound difficult to be sponsored or get sponsored, it’s always exciting to be part of the fishing industry. It may take time to get involved, but if it’s your passion, then create the content you want to see. Create goals for your fishing as a sponsored angler, and this way over the long term, you can show the brands you love what you are doing to help the industry. That’s the way to earn stronger support from fishing companies.

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MAP IT. OWN IT. SHARE IT. I can’t believe how good this map is I just downloaded free off the Quickdraw™ Community. Look at this structure, those drop offs. Never would have known about this lake without the community. It’s fun fishing new water. I’ve already caught two nice keepers. Of course, I’ve uploaded some pretty nice maps, too. Glad someone decided to share this one.

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A fresh approach to fishing structure for bream BRISBANE

Tom Slater

At the recent Gold Coast BREAM Qualifier one of the best-kept secrets of the Coast shone through, shedding the light on a new weapon in the increasing arsenal of the modern day bream angler… New techniques often arise out of the equally inspiring factors of location and equipment. Great anglers faced with new locations or armed with new equipment create or adapt new techniques. As word gets out, these techniques spread to the heads and hands of more and more anglers who each apply their individual experience and their own spin. Soon the new technique or lure’s popularity runs out of control and is used to catch fish all over the country. The clear waters of the Gold Coast’s canal system are ironically complex and present anglers with many challenges. Seeing fish is not the issue, but turning sightings of fish into fish in the livewell can be tricky. 14

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For a long time anglers relied on what can only be described as an ultra finesse approach to get finicky bream to bite. That approach can certainly work, but often anglers are left on the brink of insanity as they repeatedly watch fish after fish look but not bite their perfectly presented offerings. The weapon that was revealed at the most recent ABT event presented a complete turnaround from the days of unweighted plastics and 2lb fluoro. Grab yourself a chrome reflective pattern jerkbait and a pair of pliers and get ready for some of the hottest structureorientated bream fishing you’ve ever experienced. THE THEORY A wildly twitching super reflective, gaudy coloured jerkbait underneath a floating pontoon might ring alarm bells for some anglers, but rings the dinner bell for otherwise hard to tempt bream. Local bream fishing guru and Sporty’s Fishing staff member Alex Roy has honed this technique for many years and now relies

upon it more than any other when attempting to bag the biggest limit he can on the maze of canals that litter his home waters. “It all began with the desire to actively target a whole school of fish that were underneath a pontoon. We’d always thrown surface lures because of their draw

power but because the bait was always invisible to the vast majority of the fish sitting underneath the pontoon you would only ever draw out one or two fish. Tuning a jerkbait to run underneath the pontoon put it in front of the whole school. An erratic fast retrieve drew the first few

and once you had two or three the school would follow. It’s so effective because once you have the school interested pack mentality takes over and that’s often when the larger fish in the school assert their dominance.” THE TECHNIQUE This technique is

The Imakatsu IS Wasp 50 is the must-have lure for jerkbaiting pontoon bream.

perfectly suited to any floating source of shade. Most commonly this refers to pontoons, but boat hulls work equally as well. The basics involve getting a small 40-50mm shad profile mid-depth diving hardbait, bending the tow eyelet to deliberately force the lure to swim on its side and using that sideways swimming action to track your lure underneath the structure, drawing the attention of any fish suspended beneath. This isn’t a finesse approach either, retrieves are fast paced and full of twitches. Often the more erratic you can make your lure, the better, with the idea being that the less time the fish have to look closely at your lure, the less you have to serve them up the platter of ultra-realistic, super finesse hodgepodge that we’ve been feeding them up to this point. This is a place for heavy leaders and bright colours, the ones that normally lie dormant in the rusty corners of your tacklebox. The key in this technique lies in the tuning of the tow-point on the lure.

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abt.org.au Without this step, the lure fails to swim underneath the pontoon and you risk missing fish that might be holding on the far edge of the pontoon, unable to draw them from that distance. If you want to go the whole nine yards, equip yourself with two outfits, one with a lure that is tuned to swim right, and one

that is tuned to swim left. Switching out as you fish the face of the pontoon from the sides or back corners. To tune your lure, you need to bend the tow point eyelet on the bib of your lure in the direction you’d like the lure to swim (from the lure’s point of view). So if you’re looking down the back of the lure from

the tail towards the bib and you want the bait to swim right, you would bend the eyelet to the right, which if flipped looking head (bib) onto the lure, would be the left. Certain lures may require less or more tuning, and some can even be tuned by hand with no need for pliers. A side effect of tuning

In most cases the hits, hook-ups and fights will happen tight to structure.

Getting the attention of the whole school means the bigger fish will try to assert their dominance by striking first.

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lures is a loss of absolute swimming depth, so a lure that would normally travel 5-6ft deep might only travel 1-2ft deep. This side effect is positive, as you want the lure as close to the underside of the pontoon as possible. If you were to attempt to tune an already shallow diving hardbody, you’d fail to achieve enough depth at the optimal retrieve speed to get the lure underneath the pontoon. Likewise attempting this method with an ultra deep diving lure will not have the lure high enough in the water column. When the fish are often focused on the underside of the structure

feeding, getting your lure up there is imperative. The retrieve is where this technique really stands out. There’s no room for slow rolls and dead sticking here. To ignite a school of bream underneath a pontoon you need to create competition. By getting multiple fish interested in your lure, you create a sense of panic among the fish. They’re worried another fish is going to steal their meal, so they bite hard and aggressively, and often the largest fish in the pack will assert their dominance. Begin by casting well past the pontoon or boat, as close to the edge as you can.

Then wind your lure down and allow the lure’s tune to take the lure on its side into the line of the pontoon. When your lure draws near to the structure, speed up, engaging twitches as you increase your lure speed. Don’t be afraid to work the lure the entire length of the pontoon before pausing. If you don’t get hit mid-retrieve the pause on the closest edge of the pontoon is likely where all hell will break loose. By then, you’ve hopefully received the attention of the whole school of bream that reside under the pontoon, and when your To page 16

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bait suddenly lies dormant their opportunity to strike will arise. It is best to keep your rod tip pointed towards the sky. An elevated rod tip will help limit the depth

Tournament Angler Guide of your lure, so you can keep it perfectly situated just below the bottom of the structure you’re fishing. Roy also believes this is the optimal position to strike from when the inevitable hit eventuates.

THE EQUIPMENT It’s important to equip yourself with the right gear for the job, and it all begins with the right bait. In this instance, a mid-diving shad profile jerkbait between 40-50mm is ideal. Gold

The Gold Coast’s canals are a great place to try out new techniques.

Coast gun Alex Roy, is a firm believer in the Imakatsu IS Wasp 50. “I will only ever use the Wasp, I’ve got so much confidence in that bait and it swims at the perfect depth. I just couldn’t bring myself to use anything else. The bait casts well, which helps when casting in windy conditions. It’s also handy to stay as far back from the pontoon as possible, especially since I’m in an aluminium boat that does suffer from hull slap noise more so than a fibreglass boat. The bait has a really thin tail, which aids the hook-up rate, plus it suspends perfectly. Probably my favourite trait is the fact that I can tune the lure with a forceful push of my thumbnail, not having to constantly reach for a pair of pliers.” The key is to look for baits that exhibit a great erratic action when twitched. You’ll also want to find one that suspends perfectly in saltwater. That pause once you’ve worked your bait the length of the pontoon or boat hull is the make or break moment, and a floating or sinking bait will look unnatural, which will cost you bites. Colour is where all modern trends go out the window. Manufacturers in

abt.org.au Australia have been so hellbent on making the most natural looking translucent colours in years past and for the most part, these are

the least effective colour patterns for this technique. Patterns with overriding chrome or reflective sides prevail on days when the

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abt.org.au sunrays make the reflective surfaces of the bait come to life. When the sun stays hidden behind the clouds, solid colours with a more matte finish tend to out-perform their blingy brethren. Roy’s favourite? Plain old white, “The thing with this

vibrant pearlescent finish.” You’ll want to get hold of a rod with a good tip, twitching lures at this pace requires good feel and a very soft slow tapered rod quite often lacks the feel required for imparting the perfect twitch. Ideally the perfect rod would exhibit a

being said, if I do hook a brute and need to put the hurt on, the bottom end has more than enough power to muscle them out on even 8 or 10lb line.” This is no place for spider web thin 2lb line. Fishing a braided line will help you create the small,

he needs to stay further away than anglers fishing in fibreglass boats. This technique also doesn’t require the lengthy leaders employed by a lot of southern bream fisherman. Roy explains there’s rarely a time where your leader knot even enters the water. “I always make my leaders the optimal length for maximum casting distance, which is having the knot just outside the reel when setting up to cast. Because I like to hold my rod tip up while I retrieve, the leader knot is almost always actually out of the water. You also

want really direct contact with the lure, and having a long leader will hinder that sensitivity.” PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE Putting this technique into play requires knowing locations in your local waterway that are likely to hold good numbers of fish. The reason this works so well is that the speed and energy of the retrieve makes the fish react, and once you have multiple fish interested a frenzy takes over and they can’t help themselves. You’ll want to find pontoons that are holding a school of fish.

If there are only one or two fish on each pontoon or boat you aren’t going to spark that pack drive. While this technique first made headlines on the Gold Coast, there’s no doubt its potential carries far and wide from its origins. If you think about some of Australia’s best breaming waterways, there’s plenty to encourage anglers to adopt this new technique. Waterways like Sydney Harbour are poised to show their full potential as the ABT tour heads back for the muchanticipated Australian Open format in 2017.

Tuning the lure to track left or right is as simple as squeezing the eyelet left or right with your fingers. technique is the fish don’t ever get that long to look at it, and the whole premise relies on grabbing the attention of one, two then all of a sudden the whole school. So it’s no place for translucent patterns. Solid colours with bright contrast or flashy foil definitely work best. My favourite is a solid white pattern with a

cushioning bottom end as quite often hook-ups will be from a swiping strike with the hooks outside the mouth. Roy prefers the EDGE Black Widow 701ISR, “It’s a fast-actioned rod with the perfect tip for twitching lures, it’s not overly stiff through the middle section, which helps avoid pulling hooks. That

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erratic twitches, and also help to increase your casting distance. While this is close quarters fishing, having the ability to punch a fast, accurate and long cast will help to line up retrieves to maximise the time your lure spends underneath the structure. Roy believes the added noise from his aluminium hull boat means

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BassCat BASS Pro Series: the year of the river rat Elliott Fooks

ABT’s BASS anglers have honed their bass-catching craft on some of the best impoundments across Queensland and New South Wales for the last 15+ years. This still water focus has pushed anglers’ abilities, techniques and tackle to a point where fishing for impoundment bass is a refined art. In the late 1990s when it all began, a white 1/2oz Kokoda spinnerbait cast to the edge was king. As simple and effective as the Kokoda spinnerbait purchased from Big W was, there was a desire and need for anglers to evolve. Over time, developments in tackle design resulted in a tournament landscape filled with an expansive and eclectic assortment of tackle and techniques to help anglers catch fish regardless of where they were and what they wanted to eat. As the Bass Cat BASS Pro Series moves into its 19th tournament season in 18

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2017, the new series heralds a new frontier for anglers: the rivers. It’s a new chapter in the evolution of ABT tournaments. The inclusion of two river rounds and a river Grand Final offers new opportunities and challenges, and will create the most diverse BASS series Australian tournament anglers have ever had on offer. In 2016 we got a small taste of the river life, and if we are to take anything away from Kris Hickson’s victory in ABT’s inaugural river round on the Richmond River last year, it’s that the river rounds will bring out skill sets in our anglers that many of us have not witnessed before. 2017 will be the year of the bass fishing river rat. To give all anglers new to river fishing an insight into the tricks of the trade, we interviewed three of the best river rats on the tournament trail. We asked them to give us their insights on what’s in store on the 2017 tour, and share their ideas, tips, tricks, and must-haves for success on a very different tournament

landscape. THE ROAD AHEAD With every new season there is always an air of excitement for all anglers who are keen to hit the tournament trail, and 2017 is shaping up to be an even more exciting year for our trio of river rats. Last year’s Richmond River champion and 2016 Angler of the Year Kris Hickson is making the rivers a key focus for 2017. “With my busy tournament calendar for 2017, the BASS river rounds are going to receive a lot of my attention,” he said. “It’s really going to make for an exciting Angler of the Year race.” For Tom Slater there will be an even greater industry benefit to the change of focus. “I think we will see the evolution of equipment for river bass fishing explode with more coverage, and that can only help get the best tackle into the hands of bass anglers,” he said. Joe Urquhart agrees with Slater. “I really think it will help push every angler to

become better at their sport, as well as give them a better understanding of what works for them,” he said. The unknown quantity of the rivers provides opportunities to those

anglers with an intimate knowledge of river fishing, and it also freshens up the trail for experienced ABT anglers. The 2017 season looks like one of the best seasons to be an ABT

BASS angler. WHERE OH WHERE IS THAT BASS The Hawkesbury and Clarence rivers are much bigger than any impoundment we have

Beautiful environments and beautiful fish are all part of river fishing for bass.

abt.org.au here in Australia. It can be a daunting task to try to break down a river system to find where the bass will be located. As anglers it is going to take a shift in thought pattern to locate these fish. “Bass in the river behave

down on one spot if there’s enough water, but you need that movement to keep them feeding,” Slater said. Hickson sums it up very simply with an old saying: ‘If there’s no run, there’s no fun’. Staying with your tidal

coming from and where the fish will line up on the structure. It’s all about knowing where the bait will get pushed into first. For Urquhart, the age of a spot can be a telling factor as well. “Bass move up and

Having a range of baits is the key to finding success in river environments. completely differently from lake fish,” Urquhart explained. “During the times ABT are running the tournaments, most fish won’t be schooled up. They will be tight to structure.” Slater stressed the importance of knowing the annual migration patterns of the bass, and where their upper and lower travel limits are. “I really try to work out how far I think the bass will move down in a system to breed, and I try to work out how far back up they will be at any given stage,” he said. “From there I start looking at aerial maps to give me some starting points.” Once you have got an area to start fishing, it’s all about understanding the tides and where the fish will be throughout the session. It starts with a rise, ends will a fall and you need it to move. When asked about how to manage the tide, our anglers’ voices raised with excitement, with all three of them agreeing that an intimate knowledge of the tide is the first key to success. “You need to know what the tide is doing at each section of the river you want to fish,” explained Urquhart. “In big river systems you can have really big time differences in when it will be moving. This can even differ for opposite sides of a bank.” Having tidal movement is one of the triggers for bass to feed, and anglers need to manage this throughout the session. “Bass can move up and

movement will make for a big difference in the amount of river you can cover, so look at planning your session and fish with the tide. “You don’t want to be leap frogging yourself up the river,” Hickson said. “If the tide is pushing out then start fishing down with it and you will find more switched on fish.” GET TO KNOW YOUR A B C Once you have found the stretch of river to start fishing in, and you know your tide in the area, it’s now time to categorise your spots to focus your time even better. Slater begins a session looking for what he calls A, B and C spots. “You want to look for spots with good current pushing on to it, a good amount of shade plus places to ambush prey from,” he said. “These are your golden A spots – the ones you want to stop and focus your fishing on.” Remove the shade and the spot becomes a category B for Slater. They are still worth attention, but he will spend less time setting up for these spots. “I try to focus on a high percentage of A spots and cover water between these key spots. It is all about only spending time on the best spots in a river full of great snags,” he said. While our two other anglers look for the same elements in a spot, for Urquhart and Hickson there are a couple of extra key details they look for. Hickson needs to know where the bait will be

down a river throughout their whole life and they get to know where to stop off for a rest,” he explained. “Old fallen trees will have been used by these fish in the past. Bass can be creatures of habit.” For anglers making a change to the river for the first time, Urquhart has some more wisdom. “Bass are great food for sharks and big cod which means they won’t move far to eat your lure,” he explained. “You need to find the structure they are hiding in.” SKIP IT, FLIP IT, PITCH IT AND MAKE SURE IT’S IN DEEP With the bass sitting tight to the structure, hiding from sharks and other predators, your casting accuracy is going to be tested. “A missed cast will mean a missed fish,” Hickson warned. “You will only get one shot at each fish.” Each of our anglers stressed the importance of taking time to position yourself so you can make the best possible cast. “When I come to an A grade spot I take an extra few moments before I make a cast,” Slater said. “You really need to get it perfect first go.” Urquhart agreed. “You need to get your lure as deep into the structure as possible, and I will use any method of casting to do so,” he said. Both Hickson and Slater believe it’s time for anglers to learn new types of casting techniques.

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“For me, skip casting and landing the lure softly have really helped all my structure fishing,” Hickson said. “Bass will reward a good cast.” Slater thinks that flipping and pitching will come to the forefront in the coming season. “I like to cover water quickly all day, and pitching really helps cover water with short, rapid casts when fish are tight to

structure,” he said. IT’S TOOL TIME To create these perfect casts our anglers use different tools to get the job done. Slater, who focuses on flipping and pitch, looks for a baitcasting rod longer than 7’ to get the job done. “I position the boat 6-10ft out from the bank so I want a rod that allows me to easily pitch my bait in and give me good control,” he explained. “It means I

can cast with less effort and control the fall of the bait.” Urquhart opts for a baitcasting outfit as well, but he favours a shorter rod and looks for one in the 6’5” range. “I find the shorter rods give me better control and allow for more casting angles,” he said. Hickson also sticks with the shorter rods, but a spinning reel is his first choice. This option allows Hickson to skip

tournament g r u ea yo

r ..

right here.

River currents and tides are a whole new consideration for the river rat.

cast his baits deep into the structure without the fear of backlashes. The days of the standard 7’ rod are

abt.org.au like jack fishing, you can have less than a second to turn the boat and get that fish out of cover,” Urquhart

Urquhart thinks the smaller boats in the field can use their size to their advantage. “In the rivers there are

KEY LESSONS FROM THE MASTER RATS Here are five things to do in 2017. 1. Get back out in the yard and practice your casting, and then spend 30 minutes at the end of each fishing trip practicing different casting techniques. It’s time to skip and pitch like a BASS Elite angler. 2. It’s time to get intimate with bass. You need learn their breeding and movement patterns. Where will they be in the river system come tournament time? Do you know where the bass will be next Tuesday at 1pm? It’s time to research. 3. Learn to read the water, know where your current breaks are and where fish will be sitting in the structure. 4. Know your tidal differences. You need to pinpoint where the tide will be running at every stage of the tide. When there’s no run there’s no fun. 5. Don’t throw your confidence out the window. It may all sound like you’re going to Africa to fish for a new species, but start with key baits and techniques you have confidence in, and grow from there. numbered on the rivers, and anglers will need to pitch the best rod for each specific job. While all three anglers have different ideas when it comes to rod selection, they all agree that your electric and boat set-up are key to landing those fish, and cable-steer electric motors are a must-have for the rivers. “Cable steer electric motors will help you get fish out of the structure and allow you to position yourself for your cast far better than an electric drive,” explained Hickson. “Bass fishing can be

explained. “Direct steering gives you another 10% in your favour.” You won’t see shallow water anchors being used in lakes often, but Slater believes his Talon is almost as important as his electric motor. “Having a Talon allows me to stop dead in position and get that perfect cast in,” he explained. “Once I get the bass in the boat it also allows me to stop and put fish in the live well without drifting over my other key spots.” While most anglers dream of running a fast fibreglass bass boat,

so many great spots that the bigger boats just can’t fit into,” he said. “Although you may not have the speed that the big boats have, you can find some great water all to yourself in a small boat.” If you’re a non-boater with a smaller boat wanting to try a round as a boater, the river may be the place to start. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EAT? When it comes to baits, all three of our anglers spoke of having one key bait they’re confident throwing, and then expand To page 22

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their offering from there. “Bass will eat almost anything during the day and night, but only in very

Tournament Angler Guide specific windows,” said Urquhart. Slater explained further that it isn’t about one key lure for all the structure on offer.

LURES OF CHOICE • Bassman Spinnerbait in chartreuse • TT Snake Head in range of weights with your favourite small plastic • Deep Crank Bait – Look to the OSP Blitz range • Pro’s Factory Motion Jig in colour MO107

It’s about identifying the key bait for the moment you’re fishing in. When pressed for what baits are a must, Slater said he starts with a dark coloured jig with a blade attached and a weedless soft plastic. Hickson and Urquhart also favour weedless plastics, but both think you can’t go past having a deep crankbait and spinnerbait set up on

your rods. “I really don’t like saying that one lure is going to work,” Hickson said. “It’s

abt.org.au that perform well in tight structure. COME ON DOWN! While most anglers have

tides. It’s a fun new challenge and a new skill to put in your quiver. It’s going to be an

Spinnerbaits are a staple for many river rats.

Kris Hickson knows his way around rivers, and his results definitely reflect this.

about confidence in your lure and presenting it deep in the structure, and changing until you find the key on the day.” While all three anglers were hesitant to make a definitive list of lures, their choices all point to lures

years of experience on the waters above the dam wall, it’s time to get down in the flowing water. It’s time to do some homework and look at how bream anglers target fish in the flowing water, practice your casting and learn your

exciting year on the 2017 Bass Cat BASS Pro series, showcasing new skills and helping anglers grow. Whoever wins the 2017 Angler of the Year will have to master both the still and the moving bass waters.

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Big bait swimbait madness for XOS barra Simon Goldsmith simon@fishingmonthly.com.au

You would have to be blind or hiding under a rock not to be aware of the swimbait trend that’s making its way through the Australian sportfishing scene at the moment. Highly addictive to use, swimbaits are by no means a new phenomena, though the current wave of interest in them is exposing anglers, and fish, to baits and presentations that both haven’t seen before. When thinking about big baits, and especially big swimbaits, it’s hard to not think of barra, with the thought of a 120cm Faust giant inhaling your $100 swimbait enough to get any angler licking their lips. Are swimbaits for barra addictive? Yes. Effective? Yes. Are they the great all-rounder that will put fish in the boat like a Slick Rig? Definitely not. They are, however, an effective tool, that in the right place, and at the right time will tempt fish, when others fail. 24

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LOOKING BACK As I mentioned, swimbaits are nothing new on the barra front and in the early 2000s when impoundment barra fishing was on a rapid rise there was a small group of progressive anglers throwing them. Most of the baits they threw they sourced from the US, or had been brought to our shores by visiting anglers from overseas. Steve Morgan had some pretty heavy exposure to what swimbaits could do in the mid 2000s when fishing various West Coast events in iconic California lakes like Clear Lake. “The learning curve is pretty steep when you’re in the boat on one of the hottest swimbaiting lakes on the planet with the guys that were instrumental in creating the technique,” Steve said. “There are a lot of Californian lakes that get an annual top-up of yearling trout. Trophy largemouth bass gorge themselves on these – sometimes straight out of the hatchery truck. That was the genesis of a lot of the 8-12 inch long hard, jointed baits and XOS plastic swimbaits like the Huddleston.

“The most effective one I found for use in Australia was a Mission Fish, which was a snagproof, cast-anywhere soft plastic paddle tail with a concealed hook. Trouble was that it was basically barraproof as well. They’d eat the hell out of it and all you’d end up with was a foot of scuffed leader,” Steve continued. Still, experiences like these planted the seed for future development. An angler that has squeezed a lifetime of barra fishing into the last 15 years is Jason Wilhelm, a barra guide at Lake Awoonga in its glory years, and the winner of the inaugural BARRA Tour event (Lake Awoonga, 2005), Jason has spent many years trialling and refining catching barra on swimbaits. “One of the first barra I landed on Lake Awoonga back in 2003 spewed up a giant bony bream around 300mm long. It immediately got me thinking, why am I using such small lures for fish that obviously eat such large prey? From there my interest in big baits started and in 2005 after taking Bushy fishing on Awoonga and sharing my perspective and experience,

he went away designed a series of boney bream imitation prototypes, and after extensive R and D and trial and error the legendary Squidgy Bony Bream was born. It became pretty clear during some of those onwater R and D sessions that big lures stood out over every

other presentation, but it was also apparent that there were other times when they yielded no interest at all,” explained Wilhelm. IN ITS PLACE While it can be easy to get wrapped up in the hype of the swimbait craze, it’s important to keep our feet

firmly planted on the ground. Jason Wilhelm thinks this is very important. “Plenty of time onwater chasing barra has shown me that big swimbaits are an important string to your barra fishing bow. Don’t make the mistake, however, of thinking that they’re the magic bullet

The rewards for fishing big baits for barra can be awesome.

for catching giant fish, or will deliver you fish every time you use them. It’s important to keep their ability and use in perspective”. Carl Jocumsen is an angler who’s perhaps thrown more swimbaits than any other Aussie angler, and just like when targeting largemouth bass, he sees swimbaits as the lure to pick up and throw when big fish is on the menu. “We’ll fill our limit with jigs, cranks, or whatever they’re keyed in on, and once

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au we have our bag we’ll pick up and throw the swimbait to try and catch a mega upgrade. A big swimbait can trigger the apex predator to bite like nothing else will, and I use and have had success using this approach when chasing barra,” explains Carl. And that’s exactly what our 2016 Zerek BARRA Tour Team of the Year Craig Griffiths and Karim De Ridder did on the 2016 BARRA Tour. “We’d fill our limit with

traditional lures like Slick Rigs, and once we had our limit one of us will put it down then pick up the swimbait rod and throw big swimbaits for the rest of session,” explained De Ridder. It’s an approach that regularly pays dividends for the pair and generates that big bite when the big fish come out to play late in the session. “Late at night is often when the smaller fish will retreat and the bigger fish will begin to move and feed,

Purpose-built rods and reels are important when fishing such a large bait.

so the timing with pulling out the big baits is often perfectly coincided.” “In some ways I think the fish may be looking for that last big meal before they retire for the night and retreat back to the weed or deep to rest and digest what they’ve eating during their period of feeding.” WHEN DO WE DO THIS? While De Ridder has given us an insight into when and what time of the day they’ll pick up their elephant hunting swimbait rods and start throwing XOS baits for XOS barra, there are prime times of the year for swimbaits, particularly at Peter Faust Dam, the lake they find tends to be the pick for catching barra on swimbaits. “The end of September through to late January seems to be the peak for swimbaiting,” Griffiths says. “We theorize that outside of this the fish are feeding on different sized bonies, feeding on something other than bonies, or feeding in a manner that makes them less willing to eat a swimbait. It also seems to be more an after dark thing rather than during the day.” Jason Wilhelm sees a similar warm water pattern; one he thinks is driven by digestion and metabolism. “When the weather and water is warm and the fish

are in full active feeding mode they seem to be more willing to eat big baits. Their feeding and digestion is in overdrive and it’s when that it’s like that that I will pull out the big swimbaits,” explains Wilhelm. BAIT UP There are many different swimbait types available and while there are at times overlaps or hybrid combination of different types they can essentially be categorized into three distinct groups, hardbody, soft body and paddle-tail. Within each of these groups there are subcategories, let’s take a look at them. HARDBODY Single jointed baits Made of two solid body parts joined by a hinged connection. This joint allows the lure to swim when it’s retrieve through the water. Glide baits A single piece swimbait that in most cases has a sleek hydrodynamic profile that gives the lure a wide more elegant s-shaped swimming action. A lure that can be worked slower than a single joint swimbait and can have a stop start retrieve imparted to it like a jerkbait. Multi-jointed baits A bait made of more than two sections hinged together. They have a wider smoother action than single jointed

baits and deliver plenty of noise due to all their joints and body parts. SOFT BODY Full Body A one-piece soft body swimbait that generally has trebles attached to the belly. Line through As the name implies the line runs through the nose of the bait and exits on the top of the bottom of the bait. You then connect the line to the hook. The bait runs up the line during the fight minimizing damage to the bait and eliminating the fish using the lure as leverage during the fight to dislodge it. Top Hook Features a hook that runs from the nose, where the eye of the hook is, and exits through the back on the top of the bait. Can come in a variety of different weights including weightless. Has great hook exposure, hook up rate, and are great for fishing along the bottom. Some come with an eyelet at the bottom for fitting a treble. PADDLE-TAIL Hollow body A hollow tube-body style paddle-tail bait. Their hollow body makes them soft and provides good hookset due to the fact that they compress easily when bitten. They come either unweighted or with a belly weight style To page 26

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hook set-up. Can be fitted with a variety of hook and weight set ups. Solid Body This is the most well known and popular type of swimbait for barra (a Squidgy Slick Rig is one of these). Their solid body

design makes them highly durable, allows them to stay rigged correctly for longer, and allows for good hook exposure and penetration. Has hook position and location the same as top hook soft body swimbaits, with the eyelet at the nose or on top of the head with the hook point

Swimbaits come in all shapes and sizes, it’s just a matter of picking the right one for the situation.

located on the back. Come pre-rigged or can be rigged in multiple ways with aftermarket hooks and weights. TIE ONE ON When it’s go time to tie on and start throwing a swimbait, Griffiths go-to is of the soft bait variety. Having tinkered and trialed his own hand poured paddle tail swimbaits for the last three years, Craig has created a selection of large hand pours he believes are on the money.

“We’ve imported a lot of soft swimbaits over the years and while many of them worked well after a lot or trial and research we created a bait that is tailor made for barra,” explained Griffiths. Being rather tight lipped about the exact nature of his hand poured swimbaits, Griffiths did give us some insight into their size, where and when they fished them and how they fished them. “Our baits are anywhere

abt.org.au between 170 and 250mm long. Up to 200mm in size we’ll rig them on our custom made jigheads, once we get larger than that we’ll mould it all in one. Once you get over that size you’re less inclined to get body roll in the lure and it’s more just a tail beat from the paddle tail,” explained Griffiths. Once he has his limit Griffiths will fish deeper and wider with his swimbait than he does when chasing limit sized fish.

Among all the soft swimbaits available, the Zerek Flat Shad has developed a following.

“The bigger fish are out wider and we’ll weight the swimbait so we can fish our swimbait slow, retrieving it slow and methodical across the bottom,” explained Craig. “It can be slow and hard going throwing swimbaits, and you can do it for very little return. The key to catching fish on them is to use them, and use them often and not put them down. The more you use them the more confidence you will get in them and confidence is the key to success,” concluded Craig. Another guy who’s a sucker for a big paddle-tail swimbait is Troy Dickson from Wilson Fishing and on the 2016 Zerek BARRA Tour he got to experience the power of throwing XOS bait. “We’d throw the 7” Zerek Flat Shad to fill our limit then one of us would cut that off and we’d tie on the 9” version to catch a big girl. We’d fish the same area, throw the big bait long and hard and retrieve it back with a slow roll. As long as you could feel the thump of the tail beat through the rod you were all good,” explained Troy. While the 9” Flat Shad comes pre-rigged on a on a weighted, chemically sharpened Mustad worm hook Troy retrofitted it, rigging it on a 12/0 Mustad Big Game jighead.

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abt.org.au GET HARD Carl’s a sucker for a big swimbait, years in the US has seen to that, and it’s the hard variety that he ties on more than any. “There’s something captivating about how a big swimbait works its way through the water and when it comes to a commanding presence and ability to push the buttons of fish a hard

swimbait is hard to go past,” explains Carl. For his barra fishing Carl favours some of his go-to largemouth bass glide baits and jointed swimbaits. Wind blown ambush points such as weed edges and channels featuring broken weed and weed towers are prime places for Carl to throw a swimbait. “The shallow running

SUCCESSFUL SWIMBAITS AND RECOMMENDED TACKLE Lures • 9” Zerek Flat Shad • Bull Shad • Megabass Mag Draft • Deps Slide Swimmer 250 • Gan Craft Jointed Claw • Roman Made • Strike King Shadalicious • Jackall Gantia • Storm Suspending Shad Rod • 7’6” Venom Swimbait • 7’9” Dobyns DC 795 SB • 8’ Dobyns DC 806 HSB • 7’10” Millerods BeastFreak Reel • Shimano Calcutta 300B • Shimano Conquest 400 • Daiwa Zillion Crazy Crank (sub 100gram lures) • Daiwa Luna 256 and 300 (100gram plus lures) • Daiwa Shrapnel C3000H Line • 50lb Power Pro Super 8 Slick • 50 Sunline Castaway • 60 or 80lb fluorocarbon leader

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swimbaits are most effective when the barra are looking up or the bait is getting silhouetted against a big sunning sky or moonlit night,” explains Carl. In locations such as these Carl will fish his bait slow and methodical, and he’ll try and cover as much water as he can, ensuring his lure stays in the strike zone as long as it can, and that the lure works as it’s designed to do, sliding, rolling and gliding throughout the retrieve. “Swimbaits aren’t like a jerkbait that you rip and work to get it to swim. In contrast you don’t want to over work them. Largemouth at times will shadow a swimbait for quite some distance before they eat it. I find barra won’t tend to do this, they instead will ambush the lure comes it comes into its feeding zone. So you want to make sure you give them every chance to eat it,” explains Carl. Karim is another angler who loves his hard swimbaits. “My number one swimbait is definitely the big paddle-tail soft plastics but I also love throwing hard swimbaits. I especially like the big glide baits such as the Lucky Crafts, Live Targets and Rapalas, and find fishing them over the top of weed or sinking them

A great time to use swimbaits is at night. down deep to flooded weed an effective way to catch fish,” explains Karim. Karim matches the retrieve to the lure, and of course, the lure to the location that he’s fishing. When fishing big soft paddle-tails he’ll work them with a slow rolling, with occasional burn, retrieve grubbed across the bottom, while for the glide baits he fishes with a slow roll across the top, or with a series of sweeps with an occasional pause.

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THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Jon Millard is an NQ lure junkie that’s been throwing swimbaits for barra for many years and he’s equally at home throwing hard and soft swimbaits, both in the shallows and in the deep. “I’ve been throwing swimbaits for quite a while. I first started throwing them on the Ross River in Townsville before I even started fishing the dams,” explains Jon. An angler that sees swimbaits as another lure

option to fish in most locations and opportunities rather than just a big bait to throw after dark for kicker fish, Jon’s go-to hard swimbait is of the single jointed variety. “The multi jointed swimbaits may look more natural to the eye with their snaking swimming action but I actually find the barra prefer a more side-to-side gliding action that you get from single joint baits,” explains Jon. A very open-minded angler, Jon will fish swimbaits To page 28

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super shallow for fish held up in weed, and also down deep to fish stacked up in the main basin. “Swimbaits are very diverse, you get them in different sizes, actions, and sink rates so there’s a bait that you can fish in just about any situation. My favourite hard ones are the Gan Craft Jointed Craw and Megabass Limberlamber, while when it comes to soft swimbaits I like the 6 ½” Strike King Shadalicious, Storm Suspending Shad, and Imakatsu Bacurato,” explains Jon. “I think some people sell swimbaits a little short and don’t take full advantage of what they have to offer. They’re more than a one trick lure variety, and if you only see them as an upgrade option you’re missing out.” POLES APART When it comes to throwing big swimbaits, the gear used to do it is poles apart from standard barra tackle. “The demands and pressures on tackle when throwing swimbaits are immense. You’re talking about lures that are up to 30cm long and 8oz (226g) in weight. The load that a lure of this size puts on a rod is enormous, and the stress and shock it imparts on the reel and line is like nothing

Carl Jocumsen applied a bit of large mouth bass methodology to tempt this Faust kicker on a big hard swimbait. else in cast and retrieve barra fishing,” explains Carl. Successful swimbait fishing requires a dedicated tackle system and in many ways the system starts with the rod. A rod that needs enough flex to be a casting rod, yet the strength to launch a heavy lure a long way. A man that knows rods and rod building intimately is Ian Miller of Millerods fame. The man that makes the swimbait rods that Carl exclusively uses, Ian says there are many key

elements that a swimbait rod needs to have. “When it comes to swimbait rods, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s all about the lure. The main job of the rod is to cast a potentially big, heavy lure so it can be presented in the strike zone, and because swimbaits come in many sizes and weights, the rod must match the lure weights you intend to use. “While barra will take huge swimbaits, the majority of suitable lures currently in vogue are in the range of

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around 50-100g or so. Don’t get too confused by line breaking strains for the rod, just check rod specifications for recommended lure weights to make sure your swimbait rod is suitable for these lure weights (what you’ll likely be using). If you want to throw really ‘big baits’ then you’ll need a more powerful rod, and that will be a completely different animal... because one rod won’t do it all,” Ian says. “When it comes to rod action, the rod should load easily without a severe ‘lockup’ point on the blank. This is kinder to hook-holds of trebles and this smoother action will also assist you to cast more easily as the rod will do the work for you”. “Most swimbait rods are longer than we traditionally use for barra fishing. Quite simply, a long rod will cast further and more easily than a short rod and getting good distance is important when fishing swimbaits. A longer rod can incorporate a nice high reel position for comfortable casting, has plenty of tip length to swing hard with, and has room to incorporate that smooth action. The rod really needs to be getting toward 8ft in length to do this. Obviously, a long, powerful rod can easily become heavy and unpleasant to use, so it’s important to me that the rod should be relatively light in the hand, and well balanced. I also want sensitivity to get feedback so I know the lure is swimming properly, and where it is in relation to structure”. “A swimbait rod that’s designed for casting heavy lures of 100g or more should, by necessity, have enough inherent power to catch barra. But be aware that a swimbait rod that’s designed for smaller baits up to about 60g may not be quite up to the job, especially around bigger fish”. “Swimbaits were developed in the USA and many American rods can be used here, because

abt.org.au it really is more about the lure than the species. There are a couple of potential drawbacks though, such as one-piece construction that for rods of this length can be a hassle for many of us, and small guide trains. For these reasons it’s well worth considering the handful of ‘Aussie designed’ swimbait rods, which are already available. And the fact is this is one area of fishing where a good technique-specific rod design not only makes fishing big swimbaits possible, it actually makes it amazingly easy,” concludes Ian. Another man that knows much about swimbait rod design is Troy Dixon from Wilson Fishing. The distributor of Zerek lures and the manufacturer of Venom Rods, Troy has been instrumental in the design of the Venom Swimbait rod, a rod designed by Australians for Australia species and applications. “The rod was designed to cast lures, and not just to lob lures, but to actually load hard and power cast lures a long way. It does that and it will throw swimbaits up to 180g with ease. It also has the strength to allow you to muscle big barra, something

GETTING TACKLED The second import element in the swimbait tackle system is the reel, and traditional low profile barra baitcaster don’t quite cut the mustard, especially when throwing big swimbaits. “Big baits are hard on a reel, with their heavy weight prone to chewing out reel gears due to the relentless grinding of retrieving big swimbaits. Large barrel size reels in the 300-400 size are way to go to handle the rigors of this style of fishing,” explains Ian Miller. Carl has experienced it first hand what heavy swimbaits can do to a reel that’s not up to task, and for him it’s the Shimano Calcutta 300B and Shimano Calcutta Conquest 400 when it comes to hurling swimbaits. “You need the bigger spool reel to handle the power and rotational speed that’s generated during the cast, and you also need the extra line capacity that a big barrel reel delivers,” explains Carl. GET SWIMMING Swimbaits have definitely raised the roof when it comes to the size of baits that anglers will throw, the question is how big is too big and what’s the biggest swimbait that barra are likely to eat?

Fishing Monthly’s Steve Morgan started experimenting with swimbaits over 10 years ago, but found a lot of the earlier models weren’t well suited to barra. not every rod designed for barra can do. What a rod of this caliber does though is that it can then expose weaknesses in your terminal tackle due to the power that you can exert with the rod,” explains Troy. As I mentioned, when it comes to the tackle for swimbaits, it’s a complete system and for the system to work all parts needs to be up to scratch.

“We’ve seen barra with 300mm plus bonies stuck in mouth and we’ve seen the size of some of the bait swimming around in places like Peter Faust Dam. I don’t think barra eating swimbaits that are 300-320mm long is out of the question. Sure, it won’t be very common, but when it does happen it’s going to be like nothing else we’ve experienced in impoundment fishing barra fishing so far.

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2016 ABT Rankings and Angler of the Year The cream rose to the top in 2016 with a host champions finishing the tournament season on a high. Victoria’s Warren Carter showed that he’d lost none of his bream fishing prowess while fishing on the BASS Pro tour to finish the year with the Power-Pole BREAM AOY trophy on his mantelpiece. Last year’s nonboater AOY champion Stuart Walker made it back-to-back titles, with his three round wins for the year anchoring his AOY win. Man-on-fire

Mark Crompton finished the season as the number ranking breaming boater while Stuart Walker added the number one nonboater ranking to his AOY title. On the bass front Kris Hickson claimed the Bassman Angler of the Year crown, while bass debutant Paul Aldous picked up the nonboater title. Steve Kanowski finished another BASS Pro season as the number one ranked BASS Pro boater while Brett Hyde ascended to the top of the non-boater rankings tree.

Adrian Wilson once again had a stellar year on the BASS Electric tournament trail wrapping up his season with a solid result in the Bluefin/ ePropulsion BASS Electric Convention to retain his number one BASS Electric Ranking. Wilson however relinquished his AOY crown from 2015 with tournament stalwart Les Smith winning the Angler of the Year title courtesy of a career best year on tour. BREAM kayakers had a big year on tour in 2016 with Carl Dubois breaking

Terry Allwood stands proudly with his family and his 2016 Basscat BASS Pro Grand Final shield.

Warren Carter motored to success in 2016 winning both the Mercury Cup and Power-Pole BREAM AOY titles

BREAM PRO RANKINGS

through for his maiden Angler of the Year win. With Richard Somerton (2nd) and Chris Burbidge (3rd) just behind him in the points race, it’s year that Dubious is sure to savor, and I’m sure driven to try and repeat. Chris Burbidge continued his year as the king of the rankings, finishing the year at the number one ranked bream kayaker in the country.

BOATER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mark Crompton Kris Hickson Steve Gill Warren Carter Cameron Whittam Brad Hodges Ross Cannizzaro Steve Morgan Tom Slater Russell Babekuhl

Barra was once again on the menu in 2016 with the formidable pairing of Craig Griffiths and Karim De Ridder retaining their Team of the Year title. It was a hotly contested race though and while Griffiths and De Ridder were quick out of the gate claiming victory in the first two events of the 2016 Zerek BARRA Tour, they only won the TOY title by one

point of a strong finishing Matthew and Dylan Mott who claimed victory in the final two rounds at Peter Faust Dam. Griffiths and De Ridder finished the tour on a double high with both anglers finishing the year as the number one ranked BARRA angler. For full rankings, records, and earnings of each species and series visit www.abt.org.au.

NON-BOATER 257 250 242 220 210 191 183 180 156 155

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stuart Walker Clint Voss Grayson Fong Simon Johnson Alex Franchuk Jonathon Thompson Shaun Egan Mike Hodges Rodney O’Sullivan Jesse Rotin

267 217 211 206 203 194 193 186 181 160

BREAM PRO ANGLER OF THE YEAR (AOY) BOATER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 30

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Warren Carter Cameron Whittam Mark Crompton Steve Morgan Steve Gill Kristoffer Hickson Russell Babekuhl Graham Franklin Jason Harlock Chris Seeto

NON-BOATER 386 382 381 380 380 375 368 360 356 346

t 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stuart Walker Grayson Fong Clint Northcott Rodney O’Sullivan Jonathan Thompson Bernard Kong Blake O’Grady James Morgan Mick Thompson Tanya Konsul

390 384 379 377 372 366 364 352 350 329

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BREAM KAYAK RANKINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chris Burbidge Richard Somerton Michael Maas Glenn Allen Simon Morley Carl Dubois Stewart Dunn Ben Phayer Tony Pettie Jason Meech

BREAM KAYAK AOY 333 292 279 279 272 249 245 234 228 221

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Carl Dubois Richard Somerton Chris Burbidge Tony Pettie Michael Halliday Simon Morley Mitch King Aaron Williams Jason Meech Glenn Allen

493 488 456 455 454 454 448 443 438 437

BASS PRO RANKINGS BOATER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stephen Kanowski Warren Carter Kristoffer Hickson David Young Paul Gillespie Mark Lennox Peter Phelps Craig Simmons Tom Slater Mitchell Cone

NON-BOATER 238 217 213 205 204 202 193 190 182 177

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Brett Hyde James Reid Peter Morgan Luke Draper Shaun Falkenhagen Jason Martin Ben Randell Tony Neal Cameron Ley Owen McPaul

208 199 194 184 180 170 168 157 150 149

BASS PRO ANGLER OF THE YEAR (AOY) BOATER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Kris Hickson Brian Everingham Mitchell Cone Simon Marchant Tom Slater Craig Simmons Owen McPaul Mark Lennox Peter Phelps Daniel Brown

NON-BOATER 291 288 288 285 285 282 279 279 276 274

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Paul Aldous Brett Hyde Aimee Thompson Tony Neal Jason Martin Mark King Simon Johnson James Reid Ben Randell Orton Marchant

281 281 280 277 275 273 271 270 266 266

BASS ELECTRIC RANKINGS BASS ELECTRIC AOY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Adrian Wilson Charles West Jonathon Bale Tom Reynolds Les Smith Tim Steenhuis Rebecca Smith Robert Butler Joseph Urquhart Brett Kleinschmidt

386 365 354 310 300 296 268 248 209 202

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9

BARRA RANKINGS 1 1 3 3 5 5 7 7 9 9

Craig Griffiths Karim De Ridder Ashley Sims Dan Curry Dustin Sippel Rick Napier Jake Mitchell Wally Wilton Geoff Newby Phil Lyons

234 234 181 181 166 166 164 164 160 160

Les Smith Charles West Johathon Bale Adrian Wilson Dean Thompson Chris Osley Brett Kleinschmidt Tom Reynolds Jeremy Mcconnell Tim Stenhuis

472 464 442 382 371 368 350 347 280 280

BARRA TOY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Humminbird/Ej Todd South Burnett Directions Cairns Custom Sunline Likely Lads Jackall Triton/Edge Rods Rent Star Get Flicked Tree Huggers

Craig Griffiths/Karim Deridder Matthew Mott/Dylan Mott Wally Wilton/Jake Mitchell Trent Short/Matt Gibson Geoff Newby/Phil Lyons Ash Sims/Dan Curry Rick Napier/Dustin Sippel Omar Hamid/Chase Bursnall Shane Snell/Ryan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue Mick Weick/Brendan Barnett

299 298 295 293 290 289 271 270 270 270

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Need to think before you sink

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WEST COAST

Brett Illingworth

The holiday season has been in full swing. Roads, shops, ramps and waterways of the Mornington Peninsula (and elsewhere) have been a nightmare. As mentioned last month, divers take their lives in their own hands at this time of year, particularly in Port Phillip Bay. Yet, even with this heightened activity, even with signs posted on ramps, we are still seeing an increased number of near misses… and hits. Be careful when driving a boat, please. And some of you divers are doing yourselves, and all of us, no favours by diving without an adequate flag. Worst of all, I’m still seeing divers in high

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Odie Charles with some cracker crayfish.

Jai Kaartinen Price with a monster West Coast kingfish. traffic areas with no flag at all. Use your head! The weather has finally given us some good runs of flat ocean conditions allowing the divers to get among the crays and to search further afield for larger pelagic

are similar-sized school SBT among the kings at Portland as well. It’s amazing how often these oddball species turn up while one is looking for crays with no gun in hand. Always be prepared. The calamari run is,

Abalone are now available to take in the central zone on every weekend of cray season. Remember, a maximum of five per day can be taken. Only two of these may be the greenlipped variety. Do yourself a massive favour and brush up on the regulations for size limits, bag limits, possession limits, closed zones and days available for the capture of abalone. Violation can carry massive fines, jail time and more, including vehicle, boat and equipment confiscation. Authorities would have us believe that violation of abalone regulations is one of the most heinous crimes to be committed in Australia. The potential punishments go a long way to proving this correct. Good runs of kilo snapper are now plentiful on the near shore ocean reefs. The fish will respond well to a little berley and can be difficult to capture. A long breath hold is advantageous, as well as hiding behind a rock and total silence. Sometimes, however, the greedy little things just can’t help themselves. They may offer a simple shot. Cherish

these moments – they are the exception. On a sombre note, crayfish are unquestionably our most sought out target. While the west and east of the state are seeminglycoping well with the diver traffic, the same cannot be said for the state of what I call the ‘central zone.’ The stretch of coast between Cape Woolamai to Barwon Heads cops an absolute hammering from both recreational divers and the pro fishers. Less than 90 minutes drive from a city of four million people, this region can’t help but suffer. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to catch the current bag limit of two crays. When I began diving, we saved getting the crays until we were heading to shore at the end of the day. It was a given, almost an afterthought – not anymore. I’m not sure of a solution, but, I’d like to see a three-year closed season in this zone for all parties. After this period we could then introduce some sort of reporting program to ascertain numbers. It’s just a thought. I wish everyone well for what is left of summer. The best months are still to come.

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The author with a speared snook. species. The weather has also thrown in some massive rainstorms. There’s never a dull moment here! Good runs of kingfish are now evident. The Prom, Marlo, Pyramid Rock, Point Lonsdale and the north shore of Portland are the most productive. A few of us have even seen southern bluefin tuna to 13kg in very shallow water off Point Lonsdale. There

unbelievably, still going. Queenscliff has produced good numbers of quality fish well into January. It has been a very late and long running season. I’m not complaining. The humble squid is also my favourite seafood delicacy, followed by crays, abs, kingfish and scallops. What we lack in large pelagic species in Victoria, we certainly make up for in other areas.

$28,500 Tuna this size have been appearing in the shallows off Point Lonsdale and the north shore of Portland.

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Science meets fishing

Target One Million – can we get there? PART 2 GEELONG

Ross Winstanley

Part one of this story examined the starting point that launched the Victorian Government’s Target One Million program in 2014: the economic study that put the number of adults who fished in 2007/08 at 721,000. It raised questions about the 2007/08 study and a second study in 2013/14 that estimated that the number of adult

participation estimates that in my opinion appear to be quite implausible. In this second part of the story we look at what ‘Target One Million’ actually means, who wants it, is it feasible, how could we get there and is it what really matters? WHO WANTS ONE MILLION FISHERS? Let’s be clear on what we’re talking about here – it’s a target of one million Victorians fishing in Victoria each year. The first question is whose target is it: is this what fishers want? In all of Fisheries

to see a whole lot more of us - preferably one million of us”. There’s no evidence that fishers want this. It is clearly a political goal, supported by the recreational fishing industry and VRFish. Should their interests come first or should the fishery be managed for recreational fishers? The former may be okay as long as the program is based on sound information, communicated honestly and - importantly - paid for by government and industry, not from RFL funds. Setting that issue aside, there’s the all-important

Among all age-groups the highest participation rate is among 5-14 year-olds. fishers had reached 838,000. Part one outlined several aspects of those economic studies’

Victoria’s regional forums and online surveys not one of thousands of fishers has been reported as saying “I want

question: in aiming for one million adult recreational fishers, is the starting point around 500,000 or is it

838,000? If you believe we had 838,000 adult fishers in 2013/14 there’s no need to do anything special to reach

HOW CAN YOU SPEND $47 MILLION WITHOUT ANY WAY OF MEASURING PROGRESS TOWARDS YOUR TARGET OF ONE MILLION FISHERS? the target. Since 2000, the government believes that the number had risen by 115% in 14 years; that’s an average rate of increase of 6% per year. At that rate we should hit the target during 2016/17. In fact, the 2000/01 National Recreational Fishing Survey showed that, among all age groups of Victorian fishers, the highest participation rate and numbers were those under 18 years. So, if Ernst & Young had included under-18s in their 2013/14 study they’d quite likely have come up with a total of one million fishers. Job done - tick! And, all resulting from programs of previous Victorian governments. No need to spend a further $38 million of public funds to get there. WHAT’S THE MOST CREDIBLE STARTING POINT? The participation results in Ernst & Young’s two reports were really intended to inform the main objective of their studies: “to assess the economic contribution of recreational fishing in Victoria to the state’s economy”. Adults are responsible for most of the expenditure, so those economic studies

FIG.1 LIST OF ANOMALOUS OBSERVATIONS AND RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARISING FROM ERNST & YOUNG 2007/08 AND 2013/14 PARTICIPATION ESTIMATES. Study

2007/08

2013/14

FEBRUARY 2017

excluded fishers under 18 years of age. If the aim had been to estimate total fisher numbers they would have

Estimate

Comment

Conclusion

721,000 fishers

85% increase in 8 yrs when RFL numbers only rose by 3%

not believable

19% participation

Defies long term trends in Victoria and all other states and territories

not believable without explanation

64% of adults fished unlicensed

Conflicts with compliance reports and observed numbers of ‘senior’ fishers

highly unlikely

48% fished at least monthly

All other state surveys show 60-80% fish 5 times or fewer per year

not believable

838,000 fishers

115% increase in 15 years when RFL numbers only rose by 24%

not believable

18% participation

Defies long term trends in Victoria and all other states and territories

not believable without explanation

51% of adults fished unlicensed

Conflicts with compliance reports and observed numbers of ‘senior’ fishers

highly unlikely

47% of fishers are women

Up from 27% in 1999/00; at least 10% higher than in any other state

clearly an anomaly

80% fished at least monthly

All other state surveys show 60-80% fish 5 times or fewer per year

not believable

Boat ownership rose from 21% to 48% in 7 years

Registered recreational boat numbers rose by 4% in those 7 years. National survey showed ownership at 16%.

not believable

included kids, as the 2000/01 national survey and recent inter-state surveys have done. These Victorian economic studies were not put forward as the last word on fisher numbers. In fact, Ernst & Young cautioned against the use of their reports beyond their intended purpose. So, it’s not surprising that part one of this story found a number of anomalies showing that the 721,000 and 838,000 estimates of fisher numbers are quite implausible (see Fig.1). The obvious conclusion that can be drawn is that, while these studies delivered results that VRFish and the Government have been able to use to the real advantage of Victoria’s recreational fishers - as intended - the participation estimates should never have been taken literally. So, as outlined in part one, the most realistic estimate of adult recreational fisher numbers in 2013/14 is around 435,000 at a participation rate of 10%. Allowing for any ‘rubberiness’ around that estimate, it’s safe to work on 500,000 as the number of resident adults fishing in Victoria today. WHAT’S A REALISTIC TARGET? From the long-term declines in both numbers and percentages of fishers, dating back to the 1970s, these estimates of 500,000 fishers and 10% participation are credible starting points for launching a turnaround in 2016. Despite the continuous 40-year downward trend towards single-digit levels, we know that participation is never going to hit zero; it will bottom out and rebound at some point. After long-term declines, WA’s participation rates seem to have stabilised and SA fisher numbers have recently increased slightly. Right now, one million Victorians fishing each year might be a purely aspirational goal but it’s not totally fanciful; Fisheries Victoria’s 1977 study estimated that there were 994,000 Victorians over 15 years of age fishing. WHERE’S ‘THE PLAN’? During its current four-year term, on top of Fisheries Victoria’s annual recreational fisheries program, the government is spending $38 million of public funds

and $9 million of recreational licence funds towards achieving its political goal of one million adult fishers by 2020. By any measure of responsible and accountable administration, this demands a detailed six-year plan that sets out performance measures, key milestones and targets and specifies the desired outcomes - including tracking the growth of fisher numbers. How will the drop-out rates by older fishers and by young adults be assessed and counter-acted? How will what’s being offered differ from long-standing programs and initiatives in a way that attracts, not tens of thousands, but hundreds of thousands of new rusted-on fishers? What steps are in place to measure this progress? Is there such a plan? To date, we’re seeing a lot of action and regular reports of highly popular and successful developments in the 14 or so elements that make up the Target One Million program. However, there’s no sign of substantial progress measured in terms of fisher numbers as part of a clearly defined plan. In fact, annual RFL sales in the two full years of the government’s program averaged 13% fewer than in the last two years of the previous Coalition Government. No fisheries research project today would be considered for public funding at a level of $100,000 without clearly defined targets, timelines, outcomes, milestones and details on accountability to fishers and the public. What makes this $47 million program so different? WHO’S NEEDED TO MAKE UP THE NUMBERS? Let’s look at what we’ve got to work with to build towards a target. For starters, Victoria may already have two million or so recreational fishers. It’s just that they don’t all fish all the time. A 2015 study in the USA has put some statistics around the numbers of regular fishers and occasional fishers there. Each year the US Fish and Wildlife Service compiles annual recreational fishing licensing data from all the states. Southwick Associates are a market research firm specialising in fishing, hunting and outdoor activities research. They take the licensing data and analyse it along with information on demographics, incomes, values and lifestyle choices across a range of urban and rural settings. Among their study of individuals’ licence-buying (a proxy for fishing) over a 10-year period they found that: • only 4% fished in 10 out of 10 years; • 49% fished in just one of 10 years;

Science meets fishing Licences and catch, Queensland charter boats Source: Productivity Commission “Draft report on marine fisheries and aquaculture”, based on information provided by the Queensland Government. 400

800 Weight of catch (tonnes)

Number of licences

fishing gear and knowledge. The question is, are these the game-changers - the initiatives that will persuade hundreds of thousands of once or twicea-decade fishers to become every-year fishers? What about the battlers, the single parents with kids, people with disabilities, elderly, non-English speaking and other people who’d like to fish but can’t take that first step? What’s been stopping them is not the fact that, until now, we haven’t had: • a minimum size for trout; • trout cod fisheries at Beechworth; • barra fishing in Hazelwood Pondage; • unrestricted boating on Blue Rock Lake; • net-free fishing in the bay; • mulloway and estuary perch stocked in Lake Tyers.

300

600 Number of licences

200

400

100

200 2001-02

2003-04

environmental impacts, boat ramp congestion, etc? Let’s forget arbitrary targets and, instead, focus on helping all Victorians to realise

Retaining kids’ active interest in fishing as they move into busy adult lives: this is the biggest challenge to building participation. To be really effective, a program aimed at increasing the number of Victorians fishing each year must identify and tailor a range of attractions to match the range of occasional fishers and non-fishers who aspire to fish but face barriers preventing them from making a start. A number of the current Target One Million and Fisheries Victoria programs have the potential to attract occasional fishers to become more active. After asking fishers what they want and how they’d prefer to see their RFL funds invested, Fisheries Victoria has responded with a variety of attractive programs. These include an increased range of stocked species and improved access and facilities, information products, recreational fishing reefs and restrictions on commercial fishing. Coupled with the recent recovery of many inland waters, these initiatives are increasing the opportunities for those fishers who already have

Programs like the Come ‘N’ Try Days, Gone Fishing Days, Family Fishing Lakes and Premier Lakes, fishing clinics and angling club outreach days - these are some of the sorts of events that offer would-be fishers the chance to take the first step. But again, will these attractions release hundreds of thousands of new fishers from what’s been holding them back and turn them into every-year fishers? Most of these opportunities have been on offer for years and yet overall participation has been falling. WE NEED MUCH BETTER INFORMATION Most recreational fishers will agree that we’d like it to be as easy as possible for kids to get into fishing; we should be removing barriers that are holding back people of all ages and personal situations. But, from the most likely starting point of around 500,000 adult fishers, do we really want to see a 100% increase in fisher numbers, pressure on fish stocks,

Weight of catch (tonnes)

• fishers typically fished in 2.4 out of five years; • ‘new’ fishers planned to stay fishing for five years but only 32% did so; • fishing competes with hunting, hiking, boating, cycling, golf, etc • women and children ‘lapse’ from fishing most often. While the fishing pattern of Victorian fishers will be different, this US ‘profiling’ illustrates the point that we have many more fishers than are ever active in a given year. It also points to the competing outdoor recreational and domestic activities that draw some fishers away. As an aside, the US study also illustrates what a powerful research tool a fishing licence scheme can be when every fisher is licensed and identified individually.

their recreational fishing ambitions. To do that we need much different information than any previous recreational fishing study has ever

2005-06

2007-08

provided. We need a survey sampling across the whole Victorian population, asking: • whether they ever fish, fish as often as they’d like or haven’t fished but would like to; • what’s stopping them from fishing as often as they’d like or from starting to fish; • what are the other activities they turn to and what’s more attractive about those things. With this information we’ll have a basis for developing programs targeted at helping everyone to maximise their enjoyment of fishing, based on an understanding of what’s been holding the various groups back. Then the key question will be: is this a job for the government or for recreational fishing interests? And, of course, as the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office and the Productivity Commission have reminded us, if we’re going to ‘grow’ fisher numbers and fishing pressure, we need far better programs to measure the impacts on fish stocks and the environment. HOW ABOUT WORKING WITH OTHER STATES While the Victorian Government is unique in working so actively to increase fisher numbers, it shares the challenge of declining participation with other states and territories. The authors of a 2013/14 survey of

2009-10

2011-12

recreational fishing in NSW compared the rate of decrease in NSW’s participation rates with those seen in other state-wide surveys around Australia. They concluded that all the evidence points to a clear national trend - ‘the pattern of overall declining participation that is emerging appears to be linked to both the ageing of the population and a decline in retention of younger fishers, noting that the highest participation rates have consistently been amongst children’. How can the trend in Victoria possibly be different? The nationwide decline in recreational fishing participation is reflected in declining fishing charter and boating industry statistics. Take one example from the 2016 Productivity Commission draft report on marine fisheries and aquaculture. Graph 1 shows the clear downward trends in charter boat numbers and catches in Queensland. The numbers of registered recreational vessels and recreational fishers have also been declining there. The Commission’s report also shows gradual declines in the numbers of active South Australian charter vessels, clients and trips and a pronounced decline in retained fish. While Victoria lacks charter industry statistics,

Do fishers really want to see twice as many people fishing, increasing pressure on fish stocks, boat ramps and other facilities?

2013-14 Transport Safety Victoria data show that the annual increase in recreational vessel numbers in Victoria has fallen to almost zero; in other words, the number of registered boats has reached a plateau. What all this tells us is that, around Australia, we’re all in the same boat. The overwhelming message from recreational fishing, charter and boating information points to declining participation. While the Victorian Government may be working the hardest to boost recreational fishing participation, you can bet that some other states share this objective to some degree. The third objective of Victoria’s Fisheries Act is “to promote ... quality recreational fishing opportunities for the benefit of present and future generations”. Other states will have similar objectives. Perhaps more importantly, the fishing tackle, boating, tourism and other allied industries have a large vested interest in the growth of recreational fishing. The next step towards a better understanding of what’s behind the trends in recreational fishing participation around Australia may be a national survey currently under development. In April, following a national meeting of Fisheries Ministers from around Australia, Senator Anne Ruston’s media release stated, “The Australian Government will progress implementation of a national recreational fishing survey focussing on socio-economic data”. In an ideal world, this study should be more than a descriptive snapshot of our fisheries at a particular point in time; it should be designed, conducted and analysed in a way that enables a much better interpretation and understanding of what’s behind the trends we’re seeing. At the same time it should provide the first credible estimate of fishing participation in Victoria since 2000/01. Fingers-crossed! In the end, it shouldn’t matter how many of us fish in a given year; just as long as there’s nothing stopping us from doing so if we wish to. FEBRUARY 2017

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Keeping track of the crazy changing fishies TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

Just when you think the fishing in Tasmania is as crazy good as it can get, boom – it grabs another

gear and says, “Watch this!” January was on fire and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down in February either. The fishing around Tasmania is often spasmodic with one species firing up as another slows down, but someone has

forgotten to tell the fish. It seemed like the entire state was fishing exceptionally well in January and across a great number of different species. This is great news for anglers of all skill levels. The super practiced can catch the fish

they have spent years targeting and the mug punter can waltz along and catch that fish of a lifetime while everything is on the chew hard. There isn’t an area or discipline that isn’t fishing very well. Land-based, rivers, estuaries and offshore are all just going bonkers. Yellowtail kingfish, snapper, gummy sharks, whiting and silver trevally are all showing up regularly across the state. Offshore, the bluefin, albacore, mako and deep water ooglies are finding their way onto bbqs

and into freezers everywhere. The good news is that the tried and true methods are working, but so too are a few fun techniques like stickbaiting for tuna. Tea bagging big soft plastics in the berley trail while waiting for a mako is also finding favour and putting smiles on dials. The common theme of the Tasmanian reports is timing and seasonal shifts, and species runs going completely out the window. The idea is to just gear up, get out and have a go. Get into your local tackle

OFFSHORE

Mako sharks are a favourite down in the great triangle state and they’re biting hard! Have a couple good mates to hep you land a beast like this safely.

OFFSHORE Right here, right now, offshore fishing has gone nuts. The eager souls that were very keen to take on an early season mako shark found albacore and bluefin in early January and it hasn’t stopped. If ever there was a time to gear up and catch some tuna on the shelf, it’s now. I have mentioned before

not needing to rush out and buy eleventy squillion dollars worth of offshore overhead reels. There are a number of affordable options and the big 60008000 size modern spinning reels can cope beautifully. Let’s talk more about these later. The fish seem to be on the continental shelf and in very good numbers. The

store and load up on some gear and goss on what is being caught where. The weather in February is still in great form with plenty of sun and loads of warmth. Daylight hours are still plentiful, so make the most of it while you can. The summer solstice or longest day was 22 December or thereabouts and the days start to shorten from there. With good weather and a good bit of daylight after work, it’s best to get out in February and make the most of it. shelf is relatively close from shore in Tasmania and we are spoilt compared to mainlanders. Just 12nm is a sweet run in good weather and far less than the 30nm needed to steam from Sydney or Port Stephens. Even the gamefishing port of Eden is 20nm from the continental shelf. Modern weather apps allow us to spot a weather window To page 83

INLAND FISHERIES SERVICE

A fishy festive season IFS

Tim Farrell

Over Christmas and New Years, our officers visited waters all over the State. We did boat and land patrols and saw some fantastic catches including brown and rainbow trout up to 2.3kg! These have been some of the standout waters for fishing. Woods Lake was where bait, lure and fly anglers did well. Penstock Lagoon and Little Pine Lagoon had good mayfly hatches on overcast days, which pleased flyfishers. Lots of fish were moving to the Western Lakes. Many were inshore tailing or rising to mayflies, caddis and beetles. Lake Augusta (including both the dam and natural lake) had nice trout caught with lures on the windy and overcast days. Small wonder wobblers were the best lure according to one angler. Mersey, Meander and Macquarie Rivers were also good spots for bait fishing following the rain on Friday, 30 December. Worms in flooded backwaters seemed to work best. Talbots Lagoon was also popular, with some great fish caught on a variety of methods. In all, we checked 82

FEBRUARY 2017

207 angling licences and inspected 45 boats. We issued eight infringement notices – four for fishing without a licence and four for being on the water, in a boat underway, without a lifejacket. We were really pleased to see more people wearing their lifejackets. Trout fishing has rarely been so appealing. So many waters are fishing well and the summertime weather is kicking in. It is a good time for camping with family and friends. There are plenty of fat hungry trout to be caught, and plenty of good campsites around inland waters. Why not take your next trip and make the most of the summer months! ILLEGAL TRAP LEADS TO PLATYPUS DEATHS Unfortunately, we have not-so-good-news to start the year. An illegal fish trap has been responsible for the deaths of several platypuses. The trap was in the Emu River in the state’s northwest. It was found by a member of the public and is believed to have washed downstream during high springtime river levels. The trap had three adult platypus carcases in different stages of decomposition. This suggests they had entered the trap at different times and drowned when unable to escape. This shows the risks of illegal nets and traps. They hurt not only their intended target, but

other species as well. Please report any information about this trap, or similar incidents, to our Manager of Compliance and Operations, Stephen Hepworth on 0438 338 530. We need your help to stop this happening. ENJOY YOUR BOATING SAFELY This is the time many Tasmanians are enjoying boating on our inland waters. We would like to remind anglers about the importance of boating safety. Our inland waterways are fantastic places to relax and unwind while boating and fishing. They can also be dangerous if the correct preparations aren’t made. It is incredibly unfortunate that the 2014-2015 angling season saw two people lose their lives on inland waters in Tasmania. We are committed to doing everything we can to prevent this from happening again. Check your boating safety equipment and ensure your motor is in good working order before going on your trip. The minimum safety equipment requirements for your boat can be found at http:// w w w. m a s t . t a s . g o v. a u / recreational/boating/. Check the condition of your fire extinguishers. Our officers often discover these in poor condition. Ensure that self-inflating PFDs are serviced regularly in line

Wear your PFDs! They’re no good to you when you’re in the drink and don’t have one on. with the manufacturer’s specifications. The wearing of PFDs is extremely important. They are no good to you if you end up in the water when they are stowed. Our officers take this issue seriously and there is zero tolerance for failing to wear your PFD. Always check the weather forecast and take note of any warnings, particularly small craft wind alerts. The weather in Tasmania’s central highlands changes very quickly and can go from calm conditions to extremely rough rapidly, even in summer. Go easy on the drink and stay under .05, and at all times respect the water. This angling season our officers have already issued 17 infringements

under Marine and Safety Tasmania legislation. This is way too many. The vast majority of these have been for failing to wear PFDs. We have also found many people failing to maintain their safety equipment in good order. We want all anglers to be safe, enjoy their fishing trip and get back home to their family to share a feed of fresh trout. BROOK TROUT: THE FORGOTTEN FISH AT CLARENCE LAGOON During December we had contractors clear vegetation along the sides of the track into Clarence Lagoon. The high clearance 4WD track had become overgrown, making it difficult to access the boundary of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage

Area. At the boundary, you’ll find a small parking area and it is a short walk to Clarence Lagoon where you can fish for brook trout. Entrance to the Clarence Lagoon track is 3.2km west of the Clarence River Bridge on the Lyell Highway. The last stocking of brook trout into this water was in 2012 when 5000 fry were released. We are looking for feedback on how the lagoon is fishing, so if you get a chance to have a go, please drop us an email at infish@ifs.tas.gov.au. The length, weight or a size estimate, time spent fishing and a photo would be appreciated. This will assist with the future management of brook trout at Clarence Lagoon.

Go Behind the Scenery From page 82

and keep an eye on it over a couple of days. When it’s behaving, the weather can be perfect for a spirited run out to the shelf to tackle some powerful and tasty fish. Mako sharks have been coming into berley trails regularly and it has been great to see crews taking one for the table and tagging the rest. These fish are magnificent animals and hold a great deal of valuable flesh. If you catch one it can yield enough flesh to feed a number of people and even a few families. It is also a fish flesh that takes to freezing very well when dressed and stored properly. You will need enough berley for at least four hours of fishing – a good, solid berley trail. The fishing is that good at the minute you could expect a shark in the trail in an hour, but don’t expect that all the time. The speed in which your berley will break down and need replacing will depend on the water temperature and the speed of the drift or the wave action generated by any breeze. The breeze will create chop and that will pump the stern of the boat up and down in the wind slop. This action can accelerate the flow of berley from your drum or catch net. If you have a heap of berley, this can be a good thing. You do not have to keep tea bagging the berley bag. If you don’t have a heap of berley, negate the wave action by letting the berley bag out on a longer section of rope and eliminate the bouncing movement. Keep an eye out, as the last thing you want is a mako steaming up your trail unnoticed, only to munch your frozen berley off and leave. To help the fine minced berley work its magic on the shelf you can also use some cubes. Cubes is the term given to chunks of fish cut up into small pieces and kept on the back of the bait board. Once you have a nice pile, flick a few over every now and then and allow them to sink down into the trail. At the start you can cut the first lot of cubes into a bigger sections and lob them in straight away. These will sink faster and get that trail started. After that, adding a few every so often is the trick. Not only do these cubes give your berley trail some added depth and shape, they also do a great job in attracting other species.

It’s not uncommon after a while to have tuna or kingfish flashing about in your trail sniping the morsels you have been putting in the water column. The keen-eyed will see these on the sounder and get a spinning rod rigged with a metal jig or large soft plastic. These can be worked in behind the boat or you can cast them out along behind the boat and let them sink down into the column. These fish are fantastic fun on medium sized gear. An inexpensive way to get the job done is a 6’6 Ugly Stik Gold rod and a PENN Slammer 760. Match this bombproof combo up to some 50lb braid and leader and you have some serious sportfishing on your hands. It’s by no means the most glamorous outfit, but it will be a solid performer that will last you for years. If you happen to catch some tuna out of your trail, this is a huge bonus. You can bleed them straight into your trail. If there is anything that will get a mako shark storming up a trail, it’s fresh tuna blood. There are times that a mako will come to the back of the boat and won’t nail a bait no matter how hard you try. This can be super frustrating, so if you have harvested the blood of previous tuna caught and frozen it in 600mL bottles, you’ll have a trick up your sleeve. Tipping some blood in the water and drizzling some over your bait will fire up even the most wary blue missile and raise your chances of a hook-up. Once a mako has taken a bait, let it have it for a while and get the hook down. The further down the fish’s gullet, the more chance the hook has to catch some flesh and set. Once you decide to strike the hook, don’t go mad. Just make a solid and deliberate strike upwards and have the skipper drive off at the same time. This helps by taking all the slack and stretch out of the line to get a solid hook-up. I’ve said it before that it’s a better than good idea to trundle off away from a mako while you’re setting the hook. This will stop you having to explain that the reason the inside of your boat is smashed up is because a shark came for a ride. No one wants a green and angry shark break dancing and doing the electric boogaloo in their pride and joy. This is where you have to pick your shark fishing crew very carefully, as you need a few people with certain attributes. One needs to be cool and calm in an exciting situation.

Tasmania

Offshore, the southern bluefin tuna have been readily taking lures, along with albacore and other popular pelagics. One needs to be strong, good at lifting and good at handling heavy stuff. One needs to be keen to gaff a fish that may want to waltz. Then should the worst happen and a live mako somersaults into the boat alive and angry, you need the sort of robust cobber who will throw down on top of the shark and dispatch it. Mako sharks are very exciting to catch and yield a good amount of fish flesh for the table. The worst thing you can do is go to the trouble and expense of catching one and not field dress properly. Look online for YouTube videos or ask a mate who has a good technique to part these fish out and get maximum meat returns. Offshore, mako sharks aren’t the only news. Albacore tuna and bluefin tuna are taking lures readily in and around the shelf. The area is most popular for accessing the continental shelf are St Helens, Bicheno and of course Eaglehawk Neck. This year has seen a resurgence of activity off St Helens after a few years of slow fishing. The water is looking very good, the temperatures are up and the currents from the north are bringing a lot of nutrients and bait. The area is again stamping its claim as the gamefishing capital of Tasmania after the water off the Neck looked to be taking that mantle. The underwater structure off St Helens and slightly to the north generates significant upwellings and water divergence attracting a wide range of pelagic species. The albacore and bluefin are there and hungry. Also look for kingfish and the possibility

of a mahimahi in February. The striped marlin fishing last year was the best it has been for a very long time. There are a number of keen anglers that hope it continues this year and February is the time to get excited. Dragging skirted lures will bring them undone but the nature of their strikes and hard mouths means you have to rig your lures differently. The thick and wide section tuna hooks we use in our tuna skirts are not well-suited to pinning striped marlin and staying tight. Marlin hooks need to be strong, built of finer profile stock material and have a needle point. This will increase your hook-ups by a heap but it won’t get the job done all the time. If you want to really lift your hook-up rates, then it’s switch baiting for you. Switch baiting is an exciting way to fish for marlin, but the idea of trolling around with lures and no hooks in them does a lot of people’s heads in. Yes, that’s right – lures out the back of the boat with no hooks in them. The idea is to have three bigger lures out the back causing a lot of spray and commotion on the surface. Striped marlin will come up and aggressively strike at these lures as your crew winds them in. The last one you bring in down the centre and replace with a live bait snooted onto a circle hook. The angry marlin sees this and inhales it as you slowly push the drag tension up and hook him right in the corner of the mouth. It’s very exciting and very visual, but also very good for getting solid hook-ups. The live bait of choice

in Tasmania is a slimy mackerel and at this time of year they can be found in 10-30m of water around rocky bottom and drop offs. The paper or tinsel Sabiki rigs are what’s needed here to catch them. Lower them down to the bottom and then quickly get them up about 3m, or you’ll catch a lot of rubbish fish. Work the rod tip up slowly and drop it at the top of the stroke quickly, and repeat. You can jig them up and down madly and get the biggest tangle ever, but I rather you didn’t. Once you feel a few on, bring them up and use a wet, clean cloth to handle them. De-hook and place them in you livewell. If you don’t have one, an esky with a batterypowered bubbler will do. Get online to see how to make up some live bait rigs using 100lb leader and circle hooks. Check out how to make a bridle and rig the mackerel onto a hook. Some Black Pete Marine bait needles will be a huge help here. It doesn’t hurt to rig one ready to go and have him swimming around in the livewell. You can rig two if you want and have them swimming around madly awaiting their fate, but when a marlin comes to the back of the spread and the skipper is screaming to get the livies out, what you will have is the second biggest tangle ever, and I would rather you didn’t. The lures to use for this type of fishing are bigger than normal skirted lures. This is one of those occasions where you need to get out of your comfort zone and do something different to get results. Quality 8 and 10” lures with a good bit of weight and sizable cup

face will do great. The range at Zacatak Lures fits the bill nicely, as they are well made and have a few models that cause a fantastic amount of surface disturbance. This is exactly what you’re after. You want the fish to spot a bit of carry on from below and head up. The wash of the boat and its silhouette trick the fish into thinking it’s a bait ball. When they see the lures frothing and smoking behind the boat looking like wounded stragglers, a marlin will then roar into the spread and start to hit them with its bill. A Zacatak 8” Roach and 10” Smoka will create a good trail and add into the mix a Thunderstruck. This bad boy is mad! If the idea of trolling around for hours with lures out and no hooks just blows your mind then take the time to re-rig your tuna gear with super fine hooks with super sharp points. The other key to keeping a marlin on when hooked is to keep tight and avoid slack line. A marlin is a quick, powerful fish. Early on in the fight, it will jump and shake its head furiously. If you have any slack line at all, this is when your lure will be flung out of wherever it was hooked with the striped marlin having the last laugh. The key here is for the skipper of the boat to be on the ball. At the sign of a marlin in the spread, be ready to accelerate on hook-up. This doesn’t mean you have to take off under full throttle. On hook-up, just throttle away firmly. If you can work out which way it’s headed, go in the opposite direction. Don’t panic, as you won’t break your line or pull the hook out of the marlin’s mouth. It’s actually quite the opposite. This is precisely why you have invested in a reel with a smooth drag and it’s time to put it to work. Driving off the fish will pull all the slack line tight and the drag will start to pay out and set the hook firmly. The tension on the line will also negate the fish’s ability to throw its head violently and drop the hook. Once the fish has settled down and worked out it’s not a bird, you can settle into a standard battle. The crew and skipper should always be ready for when the marlin decides to jump again or run towards the boat. The skipper can help the angler by throttling away hard until the drag pays out keeping the line tight. The crew has to be ready for this and hang on. FEBRUARY 2017

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania NORTH WEST TASMANIA February will have the top of Tasmania continue to fish very well. The kingfish at Montague will creep along the coast in the warmer currents chasing the bait about. Look to find these on rocky points along the coast. They like a bit of lure speed at times to get a bite, so don’t be scared to turn and burn

your lures. Wind them twice and three times as fast as you would normally. Mix your return speeds up a bit and get a setup that casts well. Fire your lure out long and hard and as soon as it hits the water, burn it back in. With kings, it doesn’t matter if you break the surface occasionally either. This is

where stickbaits have it over bib lures sometimes. You can manipulate your return speed and with a quick pop of the rod tip as you wind, you’ll break the surface. The land-based areas to try your luck are the rocky outcrops in and around Rocky Cape, Sisters Beach and Boat Harbour. Further down the coast towards Burnie, you can try anywhere across the front on the last

of an incoming tide and fish the high. Ulverstone has continued to fish well for gummy sharks. The areas to start a drift are directly out the front or slightly west of the river mouth in 25-30m of water. If you find you are drifting too fast for gummies, a sea anchor or drogue is a good idea and handy bit of equipment to have on board. Gummy sharks rely heavily

on their ability to find food by smell. They don’t smell like us, of course. Their ability to sense odour is better described as olfaction. The little holes in some fish that look like nostrils are called nares. These nares don’t lead to the throat the way nostrils do in mammals. They lead to a chamber lined with sensory pads that can pick up chemical signals. These signals reach the fish’s little brain they

respond appropriately. Should that signal tell the gummy sharks brain he is onto something yummy, will he come looking for it? A gummy shark won’t do that at a million miles an hour and as you can imagine, finding a small lump of bait on a massive sea floor takes time. The longer you can leave your bait in the one spot, the better, allowing Mr Gummy to find it and eat it.

WEST TASMANIA The Wild West has not been so wild of late and the weather and sea conditions have allowed many anglers to load up. The cray fishing has been very good and those that like to eat abalone have been well looked after. Getting out to the stripy trumpeter grounds has been very rewarding, as the fish off this coast are dead-set beauties. When fishing this stretch of water, you must treat it with the utmost respect. Mild conditions mean you can come out of the sheltered harbours of the West Coast and set gear and dive in areas not accessed at most times due to swell and sea. When the weather aligns with swell under a metre and no wind, you can come out of Hell’s gates and swing south to find some massive cray and abalone. Stripy like good fresh baits and also a bit of movement on the hook. Cut baits into strips and allow a bit to flap about.

Don’t jam up the gape of the hook. This is the area between the back of the hook and the point. If this is not clear and jammed up with bait, you’re fighting against the design and way a hook works. I often see people get carried away with stripy rods and have them a bit long and stiffer than what’s needed. A good stripy rod is around 5ft with a bit of power in the butt section to lift the fish off the bottom, but subtle enough to stay well bent on the lift and wind. A good bend in a rod while fighting a fish is not a bad thing. The bend in the rod is like suspension. You should keep the rod bent with pressure enough to leave a little give left in the blank, in case the fish makes a run. This reduces the load on everything allowing a slow take up of pressure until the drag pays out. When lifting and winding a stubborn stripy from the depths, it’s nice to lift a decent bend into the rod as the power in the

Even elephant fish are a possibility this month. rod blank loads up and then winds down with a bend still in the rod. This bend leaves a bit of room for the

fish to bounce and fight and not have the hooks fall out of its mouth. If you have a stiff rod, you can introduce

some slack line or even let the fish ‘have its head’ on the down stroke. This is a recipe to drop fish. It won’t

happen all the time, but who wants to drop any fish after winding 80m of a 120m wind up?

EAST TASMANIA I mentioned earlier how St Helens is fishing very well and this is not isolated to the grounds offshore or indeed just St Helens. Georges Bay has had an influx of species and numbers and always fishes well in February. The area has the widest species spread I can think of in Tasmania and if you can think of one with better, please write to me and let me know. Micha e l Ha l e y reported that kingfish are in the bay and outside. Jobs on. Michael is a very experienced and wellrespected charter operator in the area. If you are looking to get your head around the area, you would be well-advised to get yourself a spot on one of his trips. February will see the bream and silver trevally provide lots of fun on soft plastics. There are gummy sharks and elephant sharks to be had as well. The albacore tuna are out in force all along the 84

FEBRUARY 2017

East Coast, as too are the bluefin tuna. Bicheno and the areas off Schouten Passage are areas to have a go. Get the weather right and head to the shelf. Set your spread about 3nm from the shelf itself and keep your eyes peeled. You are looking for birds feeding or fish breaking the water in good sea conditions. If the fish are being a bit flighty and not taking skirted lures, manoeuvre so you drift down onto them and toss big soft plastics. Mix up your retrieve with a cast and let it drop technique and a high speed return. This is great fishing and good fun. Albacore are one of the best eating tuna and totally different to bluefin to prepare. While you have to muck about with bluefin to have it be a great meal, albacore is dead simple. Again, look online for some great recipes for both. A big tip is to not overcook either, as it can dry out and need a lot of beer to wash it down.

The cray fishing has been really good and there are some whoppers out there.

You never know what will come up for a bite next.

Go Behind the Scenery SOUTHERN TASMANIA The tuna are also firing down this end of the state and aren’t being left behind. Expect the normal haunts in and around Eaglehawk Neck to produce. Young charter operator Locki Nichols has reported good catches of albacore and blueys. The mako shark fishing is also going very well. Locki mentioned the kingfish will fire in February and is hoping for some bigger fish this year. The flathead fishing

has been quite good over the festive season and into January. February is a month where the crowds slow down a bit and you can find a good spot to drift in relative peace. Whenever we fish the areas of sand in the south, we mix it up with bait and soft plastics. The depth of water we find fish in will depend on what jigheads and plastics we use. Moving about early and trying a few different depths to find the fish is crucial. The grounds off Boomer Bay

and even Fredrick Henry Bay vary a lot. Look for bottom that falls away sharply or shows up as a gutter or gully on the sounder and try and work a drift that takes in the flat ground and the transition. This will have you cover all bases in trying to find fish. I love Berkely lures when we have kids on board fishing, as the funky colours and names entertain the kids and more importantly, catch fish. If you have kids on board and they are not catching, you have trouble! Don’t discount the

All the southern species are firing randomly, so you could hook up to all kinds of things.

TROUT Hopper fishos, it’s go-time in February. Flyfishers and those that like to throw unweighted hoppers on light spin gear are in their element this month. The grasshopper fishing in low land rivers and creeks is sensational fun. I remember as a kid finding streams in and around Melrose behind Devonport and having a ball. The fish aren’t monsters, but on light gear, the fishing can

be explosive and an absolute hoot. Mind you, every now and then you will trip up a fish you would never have expected to come out of the skinny water. I also remember shooting on properties in the midlands as the sun would get up and be far too hot for hunting. We would collect grasshoppers in a jar, punch holes in the lid and drag out the rods.

We would sneak around the river banks quietly and catch a lot of fish. We would also see a few snakes, so be mindful of that! We would use small longshank hooks and thread a good-sized grasshopper on through its body. Fishing unweighted, you’d pull off a bit of line from the reel, being careful not to tangle it up, and flick the bait upstream to have it float unhindered past an overhang or big rock. If there was a trout in the

Tasmania

Derwent River system for a feed of flathead. The system is teeming with flathead and catching them on soft plastics in the shallows is a good bit of fun on a summer’s day. There are many bays and sandy stretches to explore and find fish. While you are doing this, keep your eyes peeled for a school of Australian aalmon to play with or a gang of kingfish cruising the boat moorings of wharf fronts. I asked Adrian ‘Mozza’ Morrisby what he might get up to down south in February and he gave away a few secrets. Southern Tassie is having a cracking start to the gamefishing season with some of the warmer current fish like snapper, kingfish, albacore and mako shark arriving in good numbers. Snapper have been caught from Marion Bay right down to the bottom of Bruny Island and are even showing up in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel as well. Johnny Valentine has been regularly pulling some goodsized models from Storm Bay and some great gummy sharks as by-catch too. This can only improve during February, so I am going to give it a crack soon. Kingfish have

been a little elusive compared to their plague proportions last year. January saw some good catches and sightings around Mercury passage and Fortescue Bay. There were also many schools sighted around the mouth of the Derwent River, so we will look for these to increase this month. Albacore up to 30kg have been caught out on the shelf and mixed up with them are some ripper

bluefin tuna. February is a great time to try some lighter gear without the fear of a seal interaction and many anglers are getting their bag of fish in under an hour. This leaves some time on the water to set into a mako while long dropping for some quality table fare of blueye, grenadier, gemfish, pink ling and harpuka. All and all, February is looking pretty fishy.

area, you’d soon find him. Writing about it reminds me of the fun we had, so I’ll take my eight year old son out this week to show him the ropes. It’s one of those contentious subjects like which is the best calibre for fallow deer. For me, February may be the best month of the season for trout. Flyfishers are going bonkers with hoppers and mayflies on the rivers and the weather is so stable now that the lakes areas are a great option. I was speaking to a

seasoned flyfisher who agreed and said it’s a fabulous time to head up into the mountains and western lakes if sight fishing is your bag! The best flies are black spinners, hoppers and the black and peacock spider. The great Lake is an option for spin fishers and trollers, but your best work is done early morning or in the evening. Bright sunny conditions are great for giant trout at the great Lake Hotel. This changes if the

middle of the day has some cloud cover and a bit of wind ruffling the surface. The rivers that still have a bit of flow over shingle bottom like the Forth and some parts of the Mersey are great places to try a Celta style lure. Hardbody fishing will slow a little, but if you can find some deeper pools to work your t-tails in you may do alright. Throw them up into the water coming into the pool and work them back through the pool and its edges.

Flathead fishing on the Southern Coast has been picking up. This month is good for finding a quiet place to drift along in search of a happy flatty.

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 11 January 2017 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Lake Augusta....................................2.75................................................................... Arthurs Lake.....................................0.75................................................................... Great Lake........................................11.94................................................................. Trevallyn Pond..................................1.42................................................................... Shannon Lagoon...............................0.14................................................................... Penstock Lagoon..............................0.24................................................................... Lake Echo.........................................5.43................................................................... Dee Lagoon.......................................0.34................................................................... Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah..............3.22................................................................... Bronte Lagoon..................................0.89................................................................... Pine Tier Lagoon...............................2.42................................................................... Little Pine Lagoon.............................0.7..................................................................... Laughing Jack Lagoon.....................3.64................................................................... Lake St Clair.....................................1.8..................................................................... Lake King William.............................1.08................................................................... Lake Liapootah.................................0.46................................................................... Wayatinah Lagoon..........................................................................................Spilling Lake Catagunya................................1.09...................................................................

Lake Repulse....................................0.43................................................................... Cluny Lagoon....................................0.91................................................................... Meadowbank Lake...........................0.5..................................................................... Lake Pedder......................................1.26................................................................... Lake Gordon.....................................27.97................................................................. Lake Burbury....................................3.12................................................................... Lake Plimsoll....................................2.98................................................................... Lake Murchison................................17.98................................................................. Lake Mackintosh..............................6.37................................................................... Lake Rosebery..................................0.23................................................................... Lake Pieman.....................................1.51................................................................... Lake Mackenzie................................9.69................................................................... Lake Rowallan..................................9.51................................................................... Lake Parangana................................0.39................................................................... Lake Cethana....................................1.13................................................................... Lake Barrington................................0.64................................................................... Lake Gairdner...................................1.62................................................................... Lake Paloona..................................................................................................Spilling Woods Lake......................................0.26................................................................... Whitespur Pond................................8........................................................................ Lake Newton.....................................4.57................................................................... Lake Margaret..................................2.31...................................................................

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 FEBRUARY 2017

Lakes and rivers clear HORSHAM

James Perry

The last month has been a period of transformation for the waterways of the region. Water clarity has vastly improved and water temperatures have risen to a point that the redfin are schooling up and are on the chew. Floodwaters have receded. Riverbanks are drying out and stabilising. The Wimmera is open for fishing! While trout fishing has taken a back seat to targeting natives and the ever-popular

redfin, some fine specimens have still been caught in deeper waters. The wall at Lake Wartook offers a great land-based option with deep water access. Floating a mudeye at sun-up or sunset is always a good way to find a trout. During the heat of the day, fishing the bottom is a better option. Scrub worms on a running sinker have worked well. Lake Bellfield is another place for the land-based angler to access deep water. Without a doubt, Rocklands Reservoir is the choice for redfin at the moment. With its clear water and rocky bottom,

The author with a nice chubby redfin.

targeting redfin is a simple affair. Trolling your favourite hardbody lure until you locate a school is the best method. Target water depths around 4-6m and choose a lure that runs in the bottom third of the water column. Once a school has been found, swap to flicking plastics to keep up the strikes. ZMan motor oil curltail grubs have been my go-to plastic in full sun, where white has been my cloudy option. For the land-based anglers, working rocky points and sunken saplings during the heat of the day with small plastics or vibes is a great way to chase redfin. Keeping the plastic in contact with the bottom is the key in the shallower waters. Long pauses and moments of frantic hops and twitches will be sure to tempt a strike. More often, the strike comes during the pause. A dedicated few, both bait and lure anglers, have been putting in the hours at Taylors Lake chasing the mighty Murray cod. The results have been very promising. Both undersize and oversize fish have been landed and all the fish have been in very healthy condition. Through the heat of the day, the green fish have been holding tight to structure and

Cod are holding tight to structure during the heat of day. are almost requiring a bump on the head with a spinnerbait to get a strike. Persistent casting at each sunken tree is needed. Put in at least a dozen casts at each tree before moving on. Spinnerbait choices should be simple â&#x20AC;&#x201C; black, red or purple. Try 1oz down to 1/2oz in size and be sure to run a stinger hook, as the bite is often only a tail nip. For the bait fishos, there have been great results with whole yabby fished on a running sinker rig. There have also been some great by-catches of yellowbelly on both bait and lures. Once the sun gets low in the sky, start to target the rock shelf between the sunken timber and the shore, as both cod and yellowbelly will be found cruising this area in the search

Redfin are having a riot in the clear water. Luke Preston caught this little chomper.

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1800 336 603 LUCKNOW SHEPPARTON TRARALGON WILLIAMSTOWN WODONGA 86

FEBRUARY 2017

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Jamie Cooper with a good redfin.

for an easy meal. The future of Taylors Lake as a cod fishery is looking bright. Late evening sessions on the Wimmera River have produced good catches of yellowbelly. By far the best method has been scrub worms fished on the bottom in close to undercut banks. Those that have been willing to put in the leg work and get to the lesser fished stretches of the river have done well. Be cautious, as snakes are a common sighting and some trees have had a lot of root wash from recent flooding. The next month should see Lake Fyans fire up with some hot redfin bites. Trolling small minnow style lures along the wall or flicking chatterbaits or plastics along the weed beds will be a good tactic to find some redfin. Late evening sessions with walk-the-dog style surface lures in the shallows should be a fun option worth trying too. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing like a surface strike!

Drought recovery trout stockings Excellent rain last spring improved water levels in several Victorian lakes that were stocked with trout before Christmas. These yearling fish are expected to grow well and provide good fishing this winter and beyond. Waterway Rainbow trout Brown trout Greenhill Lake 4,000 2,000 Lake Bolac 8,000 – Lake Burrumbeet 15,500 – Lake Beaufort 3,000 500 Lake Elingamite 4,000 3,000 Lake Wallace 4,000 1,000 Bostock Reservoir 9,000 1,000 Deep Lake 1,000 1,000 Tullaroop Reservoir 20,000 10,000 Lake Tooliorook 7,000 5,000 Teddington Res (bottom) 4,000 – Teddington Res (upper) – 1,500 Lake Toolondo 5,000 3,200 Lake Eppalock – 70,000 fingerlings Moorabool Reservoir 6,000 6,000 plus 30,000 fingerlings

Fish production at our Snobs Creek hatchery and the statewide stocking program is funded by fishing licence fees and Target One Million, which aims to get more people fishing more often and increase participation to one million anglers by 2020. Increasing fish stocking to five million in 2018 is a key commitment of Target One Million, which has also saved Lake Toolondo, created a barra fishery at Hazelwood and is removing netting from Port Phillip Bay. For a full list of waters stocked with trout visit www.vic.gov.au/troutstocking2016

What’s left in the wake? ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

The last two floods along the Murray River have fallen just six years apart and have changed the face of a once vibrant fishery, leaving in its wake an uneasy silence that hides the unknown. From the junction of the Murrumbidgee down the Murray spewed the hypoxic blackwater that has left most anglers wondering what might be. Countless Murray cod rode the black wave belly up as it pushed down through Robinvale, Wemen, Mildura and beyond. Any creek or anabranch in its path was hit hard as it rolled its way across the border into South Australia, where it continued killing large Murray cod at will. Exactly what percentage of fish have been affected is largely unknown, but it doesn’t look good. As I write this, we are now about a month into the cod season with not a single Murray cod capture

along the main body of the Murray River between the Murrumbidgee junction and Renmark in South Australia. This is a distance by river of approximately 700km, not counting smaller creeks and backwaters. Recently, I got the news of numerous giant cod starting to pop up around Waikerie in South Australia. The black water looks set to roll on the full distance with only a couple of lochs to go. In the wake of the blackened flow, carp numbers have exploded and the river is now alive with their number. So thick are these fish they reside in the shallows in huge schools hugging the bank in the warm pockets of water. Sitting just inches from the bank, you might expect them to be an easy target for hungry water birds, but just like the cod their numbers too are not to be seen. I’m sure the birds will return in time to glutton this waterborne bounty of vermin fish, but until then the river will continue to resonate an unusual deathly quiet. There are many questions surrounding this and the previous blackwater flows

from 2010-11, and while many have answers, others don’t. At the forefront of the problem are the words ‘natural event.’ This is a real hurdle for riverside communities to straddle, especially for those entrenched in a life that’s been spent working on or beside the river itself. Professional fishers and riverside farmers, many second generation, can never recall such events until the past two floods and to tell them any different is to treat them the fool. Clarity is the way forward, not smoke screens and mirrors, and while blackwater does occur it is on a much smaller scale than we are now witnessing. The sheer size and destructive power, as in distance and decimation of fish life, has never been witnessed in the past. Since making the short clip that many of our readers may have seen on social media, I am still unable to find a clear cut answer to the simple questions I asked — what has changed in the last six years? Global warming has been mentioned on a few occasions, but has the world

Is this all that’s left of our once great cod fishery? Anglers deserve answers! really changed that much that fast? A build-up of leaf matter bigger than anything we have ever seen has been touted a major contributor, with suggestions that all future floods are likely to produce the same massive hypoxic events. Are our forests not being managed and are management not responsible for the future wellbeing of the rivers and fishes? There have to be answers to these problems! If we have excessive leaf matter, should we then not have controlled burns or grazing? Are environmental flows into the forests the answer or part of the problem?

I would like to ask these questions again. Why have the last two floods, only six years apart, decimated more than a thousand kilometres of the main Murray River’s cod population? Why has this never happened in the past, where the floods were every bit as big and bigger? If a regulated system that is run by a bunch of supposedly clever people can’t pause for a moment and join the dots, then I fear our fishery is all but doomed. Make no mistake, the ramifications of these massive fish kills will resonate through all riverside communities as it affects local business and

tourism. We are now enjoying the Christmas break and those in charge have vacated their offices, and with them have gone the answers to all the questions on how this was allowed to happen. And just like the giant dead fish, it will be all swept away by time and forgotten until the next flood comes. I watched this exact same thing happen six years ago, and I will guarantee if things don’t change, it will happen again. To leave these questions unanswered is to turn your back on these iconic fish and any real future they might have in the Murray Darling Basin.

Bye-bye, blackwater and hello Mighty Murray love MILDURA

Darcy Scherger

Finally the mighty Murray River here at Mildura has slowly settled down with the black water receding and being flushed out of the system for good. The clarity at Mildura is on the improve as

well as the fishing. The fishing is heating up for both things with shells and scales. That’s right, the yabbies of recent have fired immensely and many families have had a decent feed of these delicious crustaceans. The movement of yabbies has attracted a lot of attention from near and far recently. The yabby-

eaters amongst us are licking our lips and drooling over photos of full eskies. A lot of areas around Mildura have reported good hauls of yabbies. Be careful and make sure you abide by the rules and regulations that fisheries enforce to achieve a sustainable fishing future. Make sure you know if you are in NSW or Victorian waters before you head off

DAM LEVELS brought to you by

and make sure you have the correct licenses and nets or you could be walking away from your yabbying trip with a fine. Golden perch have also showed their faces both on bait and lures around the region. Backwaters around regulators have produced solid numbers of golden perch and plenty of small Murray cod have been caught within these areas. Small sinking Jackall TN 60s and 70s have been the go-to lures on the cast for golden perch. Though the main Murray River itself has produced plenty of golden perch on lures as well. Both the cast

Golden perch are popping up for those lures and baits. Show ‘em some love and toss a couple out for them.

w w w. b a r g a i n b o a t b i t s. c o m . a u

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

LAKE/DAM Nov Dec Jan

Mulwala

Cairn Curran

(Yarrawonga) 100 97 92

99 96

Dartmouth 75 77 78

Newlyn

Eildon

79 79 77

Nillahcootie 100 100 97

Eppalock

101 100 97

Rocklands 40 52 42

Fyans

87 86 81

Taylors

80 77 75

Greens

73 71 67

Tullaroop

101 100 97

Hepburn

100 99 89

Upper Coliban 100 100 99

Hume

98 96 90

Waranga

88 82 74

Lauriston

99 96 94

Wartook

104 102 93

Malmsbury 68 65 55

94 92 89

William Hovell 100

99 96

(All levels correct at time of going to press. Dam levels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.) 88

FEBRUARY 2017

Casting and trolling have both produced solid golden perch recently.

and the troll have produced cracker golden perch. Upstream of Wentworth and further on to Mildura has produced very nice fish of late. Many individual anglers believe the black water would have killed all the cod. This is false. I know large cod have been caught within this pool as well as many small ones in these areas, which would have been here during the black water event and survived. Here at Mildura, we have such a large volume of water and river to deal with the black water. However, a dead cod is devastating to see and many areas have suffered a lot worse than Mildura. Regardless, the fish are still there to chase.

Getting into topwater action YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

The smoke’s cleared from the New Year’s fireworks and now it’s time to get back into rewarding fishing. Hopefully the early summer wind has died off, making for enjoyable fishing conditions. As always, cod will be on offer throughout the lake with all techniques producing. I must stress this about Mulwala: if you persist, you will be rewarded. Sure, your average Joe can land an unlucky fish that makes him look like a legend while a gun angler can go without. Over time, numbers will even themselves out. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but surface fishing stands head and shoulders above all methods for return capture rates, general fish encounters, average fish size and excitement. For those new to the area or looking at getting into some top water action, identify the location you plan to fish during daylight hours, so you have a rough lay of the land. Look for shallower water around the 0.5-2m mark fairly adjacent to the original Murray course through the lake. Have everything prepared and working for when you catch the elusive Murray cod. Head lamps, torches, net, lip grip, measuring mats and cameras are all implements that should be at hand, not frantically searched for upon capture. An assortment of poppers, paddlers and wakebaits will have you suitably kitted out and ready to go. For any kids looking to snag themselves a cod over the holidays, a rod and reel (be it a hand line or fancy outfit) around 10-20lb line, a size 2 bean sinker and hook around the 2/0 size will be what you need. Worms and cheese are your prime baits. Bardies, shrimp and yabbies will also work wonders. Keep it simple with a running sinker right down to the hook, as the fish don’t tend to be that picky. Head down below the weir in Yarrawonga and have yourself some fun fishing the Murray River. I often get criticised about promoting below the weir as a great fishery, especially for kids. They can catch small cod all day long. Excuse me if this isn’t helping youngsters get into fishing and learn to be fish aware in the process. A great saying I heard

recently was, ‘Kids that fish and hunt don’t deal and steal.’ It makes sense! The holiday period was hectic with many reports. One stands out

this is the His & Hers Partners Classic, 4 March. To round out the season is the newly formatted Cod Nationals – four days of serious tournament fishing

cod out the front opposite the post office in Mulwala. Check out our new store located between Rivers and One Zac in the main street, Yarrawonga and say G’day.

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Duc Tran with his first ever cod – a 105cm monster! above the rest. A couple of Melbourne school teachers decided they would head to Mulwala in search of a cod – something they had never done before. A good yarn in-store inspired the boys and had them ready to attack. Armed with a handful of lures and a strategically marked X on a map, the boys took off in hope! Low and behold, in under an hour’s fishing, Duc Tran landed himself a cod off the surface. This was no run of the mill Mulwala cod. It was a 105cm beast and Duc’s first cod ever! To achieve it off the surface makes this tale even more remarkable. Personally I would be retiring the Pompadour lure he used as a lifelong memory. Well done, Duc. Others to rate a special mention are Joshua Brown for his two in one! He caught a freakish 110cm+ beast that swallowed a cod of around 60cm he was in the process of fighting. Young Mayson Alphabetski and Luke Benfield caught their 90cm+ models off the bank, while Wayne Hall, Kyle Dalrymple, Jack Pyle, Donny Blackey, Adam Thommo and Cooper Lonergan are a few others who deserve special mentions for their various and meritorious captures. The competition season is upon us. There are a few events coming up over the next couple of months. The first is the ever popular Lowrance Da$h 4 Cash, 18-19 February. Following

for the dedicated green fish angler, held from 16-19 March. • If you are visiting town, I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish Camp and Ski – the shop with the big green

We’re Yarrawonga and Mulwala’s fishing experts and specialize in all things green! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on (03) 574 43133.

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On a holiday with her grandparents, Sophia Bennett (9yo) caught her very first fish – a 50cm flathead, which was quickly followed by her second! Needless to say, Sophia has now caught the ‘fishing bug’ and wants a rod for her next birthday!

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Crazy action on the codlets WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

This summer has been all about Murray cod fishing for me. I have been giving the local Murray cod population hell since the season opened in December. I spend a lot of money on petrol heading up into the hills chasing trout all spring time, and then once December arrives I can go fishing in my local waterways, which are less than five minutes from my front door with very little fuel costs or time wasting. Without stretching the truth, I have probably been cod fishing on average five nights a week so far this season. I have been sneaking down to the Ovens and King rivers about half an hour before sunset, flicking a few lures around until about half an hour after sunset and then coming home. I love it! And to top it off, I have caught an absolute truckload of both Murray cod and

trout cod this season. Most have been small, however I have caught one that was within the 55-75cm slot limit, and one that was over size at 85cm.

of the King River above Lake William Hovell, but on the whole it seems like just about everybody that I know has been cashing in on the Murray cod fishing

A most unusual catch in Wangaratta, a lovely golden perch that fell to a smaller No. 2 StumpJumper back in December. I have had a few reports of trout being caught in the upper reaches of the Ovens River around Bright, and the far upper reaches

bonanza that we have been experiencing here in Wangaratta this summer. In February, I am expecting the cod fishing to

still be really good, however towards the end of the month as the nights start to get longer and the water temperature just starts to lower a little bit, the Murray cod’s metabolism may begin to slow down, which may lead to a slight slowdown in fish activity. In saying this, I want to put emphasis on the word ‘slight’ as I am not expecting the Murray cod to shut right down unless we get a deluge of rain and unseasonably cold water. This slight slowdown should begin in the second half of February when the nights start to get longer and possibly a little bit cooler. Throughout February, all of the usual Murray cod fishing techniques should work anywhere in the Ovens River system. Casting hardbody lures such as Wilson Slickbacks and StumpJumpers should work, so too should casting spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Everybody’s favourite Murray cod fishing technique in the Wangaratta area, surface luring, should still be quite effective through but all of February, with the evening twilight period being the best time of the day. Bait anglers should do really well in February too, with worms, bardi grubs, small yabbies and cheese all being good bait to catch Murray cod. Worms and cheese seem to catch a lot more smaller cod than they do bigger cod, whereas a large bardi grub or very large yabby may help you find a larger cod.

Liam Wolstenholme had a wonderful time fishing in the Ovens River with his father and the author recently. Liam landed his first Murray cod all by himself using a bunch of worms for bait. There are squillions of small redfin in Lake William Hovell, however for the patient angler there are also a few quite large redfin in the lake, which are usually down a little bit deeper. Lake Buffalo has declined somewhat as a redfin fishery in recent years, most likely due to the stocking of golden perch and Murray cod, however there are still some really nice redfin in there for anglers willing to search for them. With golden perch and redfin both having very similar diets, it is common to catch one species while targeting the other, and February is a good time to catch both. Lake Sambell in Beechworth still has some

the regions trout streams, particularly the higher altitude streams. Up until Christmas the streams all had a terrific summer flow of water, much more than we have seen for several years. The water was warmer than preferred for trout; however the flow was well maintained by regular showers of rain, ensuring a decent survival rate of trout throughout the summer months. Then, a deluge of biblical proportions between Christmas and New Year sent a huge flush of freshwater down the system, which would have no doubt triggered a shortlived feeding frenzy. So, by late February the streams should still have quite a good flow of water that

A typical sized Murray cod caught on a Bassman 4x4 Spinnerbait while fishing at Ovens River, which is full of these smaller cod at the moment.

Terry Alexander with a lovely dark clear water Murray cod caught on a Koolabung Codwalker after sunset in Wangaratta just before Christmas.

Surface poppers such as this Koolabung Codwalker should work well throughout February with the evening twilight period of the day being the most productive. 90

FEBRUARY 2017

February can be a great time of the year to torment the region’s redfin population as well, with Lake William Hovell being the most respected redfin fishery in the catchment.

good redfin in it, as well as quite a decent number of golden perch. Towards the end of February, as the nights start to get longer, we should see a slight cooling of some of

should be beginning to cool down, which could lead to some great autumn trout fishing in the Ovens River catchment. Hopefully, this may well start towards the end of February.

It’s starting to sink in SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

All reports and forecasts pointed to one of the best summers in recent times for our region, however that all came crashing down. The region had a freak rain event – 20 minutes of mayhem with 40-100mm of rain falling in some areas. This saw streets flood and rivers rise. Unfortunately the rising rivers and creeks resulted in a damaging black water event. Some locals say they haven’t seen an event this bad in 40 years.

population could be dead in the affected area of the Goulburn River. There were hundreds of dead Murray cod and yellowbelly in the Shepparton stretch. Unfortunately, there were dozens of Murray cod well over the magic metre mark floating lifeless down the river. So many locals rushed down to the river to see how bad it was. It was such a sad sight to see so many epic fish dead on the surface. Catch and release and stocking programs have done so much to help increase fish numbers and protect these mighty fish. It was very hard to see so many dead.

A huge 1.3m Murray cod dead after the black water event in Shepparton. The waters from the Pranjip, Sevens and Castle creeks caused all the damage. From recent government records, as much as 15% of the fish

The event only lasted a short time. Water authorities released water from the Goulburn Weir to raise the water levels and re-oxygenate the water. By

all reports this has been successful. The long-term effects are still unknown. Shrimp, yabbies and crayfish were reported leaving the water due to the event, which will affect the food sources for local fish. There were next to no reports of dead carp, which is frustrating. With so many natives dead, these pests won’t have as much feeding competition. With many cod over a metre dead, there will be fewer predators eating the noxious pest. The Goulburn had fished very well leading into the black water event. Bait fishers landed 10-20 fish per session and lure fishers landed larger fish at night. Surface lures have been working well in the Goulburn. The 4D Buzz Bait was one of the standout lures in early January. It will be very interesting to see how the river bounces back. A lot of locals will avoid the Goulburn for the next month to reduce stress on the fish. The rain event was appalling for the Goulburn River but the Broken River always fishes well after rain. The Broken has fished consistently with plenty of small fish caught in recent times. The Local Team at Trelly’s Tackle World have been catching a lot of fish and not just on expensive gear. If you look at their Facebook or go in store, you’ll find that they have also been using very affordable outfits to catch plenty of fish off the top or sub-surface. Don’t ever let the price tag turn you off fishing. There is equipment for all budgets. Some top end lures cost $30-50 per lure but you can buy from an old mate or codger for a fraction of the price and it will fish just as well as the expensive lures. With ever-evolving fishing technology, manufactures have affordable outfits

Greg Ford from 4D Spinnerbaits with a 90cm Murray cod caught on one of his buzzbaits. that will catch decent fish, as long as line, knots and drags are all set right. The next month or two should still have a very good surface bite in the Broken. Out towards Dookie always fishes well and there is less fishing traffic towards Shepparton or even upstream towards Benalla. If you’re looking to bait fish in the Broken, make sure your bait is fresh and you don’t let it sit in one place for too long. In January, a lot of yellowbelly were hooked when anglers were reeling their baits in to see what was left. This is why I always keep the bait moving. The odd lift of the rod or crank of the reel can get stalking fish to ambush your baits. KIALLA LAKES The main lake has fished well in the past month with a lot of small yellowbelly caught around the willow trees. With plenty of summer storms hitting the region, locals have had success prior to or after the storm hits. This has been consistent with the past 10 years at the lakes.

Small lipless crankbaits have worked well in summer months in gold, green and orange colours. Spinnerbaits are always a great option on the lake. Purple and black or red and black are very successful. Bait fishers have caught more fish towards the Lake One and Two crossover area. Worms are the best form of bait. SHEPPARTON LAKE The lake has been very quiet recently with hardly any fishing taking place. You can normally spot a boat or kayak on the water or a bait fisher fishing the hillside banks. Recently there has been no real fishing action on the lake and that may be due to low fish numbers or it’s just too hot to fish in the open. All the redfin have been reportedly shocked and taken from the Shepparton Lake. This may see yellowbelly size increase with more food available. To target the yellowbelly, it’s best to fish the weed edges with smaller lures or floating bait on the edges. LOCAL CHANNELS There were reports of nice-sized cod being caught

and released in the Main Eastern Channel in early January. Anglers now target cod with live or frozen bardi grubs. Fishing towards the Kialla Golf Club or out as far as the Murch Violet Town turn offs has produced good numbers of fish, including cod over the legal size. There isn’t a lot of structure in the Main Eastern, so targeting fish around the ridges, drop bars and syphons is best. You can catch all types of species like Murray cod, yellowbelly, trout, redfin and carp. WARANGA BASIN Steve Threlfell from Trelly’s Tackle World and good mate Owen Gregory have done some damage at Waranga Basin recently. They have caught plenty of big redfin on RMG Crazy Deep Poltergeist lures. They have also had success on white and red 4-5” soft plastics and ice jigs. Finding the fish recently has not been easy. There have been good numbers holding around the 20ft mark around the Harrimans Point Boat Ramp end.

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Insect season has the trout going bug-eyed JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson swtrout@airlan.com.au

Like last month, the river fishing season was very late this year and is only now about to peak. Due to the late season and cooler conditions, flyfishers are only now experiencing the best fishing for years. With lots of bugs about, the trout are leaping for joy! With the heat, the flowers blossomed and the insects came out, heralding the start to the dry fly season and we

finally started to get a little bit of river fishing action. It now looks like it’s going to be a late but great season with plenty of water in the streams once again, and still snow to melt in the higher peaks of the mountains. The Alpine streams are still at their best and plenty of small fish are being caught on dry flies. Fly selection is not too critical in these streams, but placement is – or you just scare all the fish. Flies you must have are brown beetle patterns, Snowy Hopper, Stimulator, Royal Wulff and

Parachute Hoppers. Maybe a brown and a black nymph if the fish are not rising and a white moth or white Wulff. And maybe you had better throw a midge pattern, brown mayfly and an Adam’s in as well to make certain you have all the bases covered. With the Thredbo River starting to fish much

higher water levels. Mudeyes have been good used under a float or even worms under a float. Either let the waves move it about, or there’s if no wind, try and wind it in very slowly with a pause every turn of the handle. Another bait worth suspending under a float is the meal worm, which

number 111 Willy’s Special is still about the best Tasmanian Devil colour at the moment, followed by the yellow wing brown bomber. My black/ gold Tasmanian Devil and the holographic have been the best for darker conditions and also downrigging. I have been doing well with Bullet Minnows in gold

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Leo Falt from Sweden with his first Australian trout. better now, there is still a reasonable flow of water and the dry flyfishing is good. White moth and beetle patterns are best when flyfishing. Grasshopper season is also just about to start. The Mowamba River is fishing OK towards the weir and is also worth a try with some great dry flyfishing, especially on late evenings. Some of the best lake flyfishing is during the coming months and this year, with the steady lake level, we should see some big fish caught. Try any of the streamer patterns such as Mrs Simpson and Williamson’s Snowy Mountains Gold Fish. Olive green nymphs and shrimp patterns are also worth a try. The South Arm, Creel Bay and Kangaroo Bay are all great. Bait fishing on lake Jindabyne has been good over recent months with the

is one you don’t often see much these days. They work a treat. Maybe to a trout they look like maggots – whatever! They are a very popular bait in most other trout fishing countries, but not a bait Australians use that often. The best bait fishing areas are Creel Bay, Hatchery Bay and Curiosity Rocks. Another great area is the bottom of Discovery Holiday Park near Widows Creek Inlet. The boat trolling this year has been very good and we are still catching trout

colours off the downrigger and lead lines. Gaden Trout Hatchery released the baby rainbow trout fingerlings into Jindabyne last month, so all natural rainbow trout colours are working well. With water levels still high, some of the better trolling areas this month will be Hatchery Bay, Hayshed Bay and Sids Bay through to Rushes Bay. Watch the rocks, as the East Jindabyne Islands start to reappear as the water levels drop. The best lure spinning has been on the lake in the

fish well. On brighter days, change to a Tassie and cast further out over drop offs, letting the lure sink before you slowly retrieve. Try Tasmanian Devils in gold and green for the best results. The best areas have been down at the South Arm or near Banjo Patterson Park. Fish are still being caught in the Thredbo River on small 3cm Bullet lures. The best colours are rainbow trout and perch. You can also try some Strike Tiger soft plastics very early and late in the day or with olive pepper over the weed beds – this is great for rainbow trout. Strike Tiger nymphs also work well on the bigger brown trout using the lightest jighead possible and worked very slow. On the smaller streams like the Moonbah or upper Snowy, a variety of lures will work, but the best will be small bladed spinners, like the Gillies Spina or Celtas in number one or two. All in all, we are looking good for at least some great lake fishing over the coming months, so get your gear together and come and try some our fantastic trout fishing. If you would like some personal guiding, I will be available over the coming months for flyfishing tuition and lake trolling trips. Lessons can be booked from two hours and trolling trips from three hours to a full day. Don’t forget our Gillies beginner flyfishing weekend is being held from 18-19 February and you can book day one for beginners’ casting and lake fishing. If

If you want big browns, try using big lures like this 13cm Rapala. on the surface, as the water temperature is not as warm as in previous years. We have been using downriggers on the really hot and bright days. The downrigger depth hasn’t been as deep as in previous years, so 25-35ft is about perfect. We should see this formula continue over the next month or so. The Tasmanian Devil 92

FEBRUARY 2017

shallow bays, early and late in the day. You can start by spinning the edges with bladed spinners like the Gillies Feathertail or flicking 3cm and 5cm Bullet lures and small StumpJumpers. Try areas where there are steep drop offs with plenty of rocks will be the best areas. Bays like Creel, Hatchery and the Snowy Arm all

you like, join us on day two for river fishing techniques. • If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions, give me a call on (02) 6456 1551, or check out my website at www.swtroutfishing.com. au. Check out our daily Facebook updates. Until next month, I hope you catch the big one.

Murray cod playing the game EILDON

Andy McCarthy

What an amazing start to the year we have had up here at Eildon, with the bumper crowds of all sorts using this massive waterway.

It didn’t slow down the cod, with the green machines absolutely going off! There have been reports of a handful of big bangers over the metre mark and fish up around the 80-85cm mark being the norm. It’s fair to say it’s on fire! On a recent holiday trip

down south, Joyce and Jade McEwen were treated to a day on the lake with local angler Steve Vidler, and young Jade got her first ever fish! It’s great watching a youngster hook up for the first time; I just love it. I was able to catch-up with Daniel Piazza from Primal Spin Baits for a quick morning session. There’s a few new colours and designs, and they didn’t disappoint, with us picking

up three nice cod for the morning with the best a thick set 65cm model, which put up a great fight. It’s really cool to fish with a young man who has so much passion for his products, which are all hand-made himself, and his attention to detail is first class. Let’s be honest, you can’t reinvent the spinnerbait, but to the keen eyed angler, it’s those little details and subtle changes

The author with a chunky 65cm cod taken early in the morning.

Daniel Piazza with a healthy little cod taken on one of his spinnerbaits.

Jade McEwen and her first ever fish!

Cod on now, serenity can wait BONNIE DOON

some, and you won’t be disappointed. On the yella side of things, it seems they took a Christmas break, with very few reports coming in lately. They should start chewing again coming into March. There’s only a few reports of redfin and nothing of any size to report, but it won’t stop the efforts from diehards. Tight lines and stay safe out there.

LEAVEY LURES

Andy McCarthy

It seems like all of the TV coverage surrounding the house from the movie The Castle prior to Christmas has brought the serenity of Bonnie Doon back into the forefront of peoples’ minds. There’s been bumper crowds this holiday season and it doesn’t look like slowing down. Trying to find places to fish quietly can be a bit of a chore at this time of year. The best bite time seems to be between 2-5pm. It’s a lot easier to find a peaceful spot in the morning, as the sun is coming up and the water is calm, and it’s well worth a shot. There have been

that give the user confidence in their baits, and where there’s confidence, there is success. I was super impressed with his flouro bladed Twin Spin, it had such a subtle and smooth vibe through the rod tip at very low speed, which is important to me with any spinnerbait. I highly recommend you give ‘em a crack. Jump on his Facebook page at Primal Spin Baits and find out where you can get hold of

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Jan Bast with a pig of a cod taken from the top of the lake.

Bailey Thomas with a nice cod, typical of the class of fish anglers have been catching.

steady reports of quality cod right across the top of the lake throughout January, and all over the entire lake for that matter. It seems that everything has aligned nicely as far as the cod go. I can’t remember the last time that everyone was getting onto them like they are now, but we all know too well that Eildon is feast or famine, and the fishing world’s equivalent to a hard golf course. We just keep going back though. Most of the popular methods are working on the green fish, but with so

much boat traffic around, it’s going to be productive down deep. I would be trolling super deep diving lures like Predateks, Storm Arashis and similar types of lures, especially when the hot sun is beating down in the afternoon. Ford Inlet has been going quite well, with numerous reports of healthy cod up to 85cm and the occasional yella, which seem to have deserted us in the last couple of weeks. Please stay safe out there and wear your life jackets, we don’t want another tragedy.

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Barramundi are now available at Hazelwood CTL GIPPSLAND

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

December was a big time for us here in Gippsland, as it was the opening of the long awaited Hazelwood Pondage barramundi fishery. This was a huge event, due to the fact that this is the only fishery of its kind in the world. For those that don’t know, barramundi are a tropical species endemic to Northern Australia.

water temperature 25-40°C. After many years of discussion, barramundi were stocked into the pondage last year and the opening date for fishing was in the first week of December. There has been over a month of fishing done in the lake, mainly via landbased options. A ballot was made to regulate the amount of boat fishers on the lake, due to its small size. Upon opening, the reports started flooding in and so did the photos. The barramundi take a wide range of lures from

Another method that isn’t used as much and seems to be working is surface lures. The barra seem to feed at night a lot and anglers putting in the time with poppers and other surface lures are catching a few. The main size is around the 45cm mark. There have been some barra caught as large as 75cm, which is impressive considering how long they’ve been there. Barra have pretty much taken the spotlight for the past few months. In other news, the local family fish lakes such as Morwell Kurnai Lake and Lake Hyland have been producing good amounts of rainbow trout during the school holidays. In our larger lakes such as Blue Rock and Glenmaggie, bass have been going crazy and many anglers are catching them on surface lures now, mainly

Hazelwood Pondage officially opened for barramundi fishing in December and it didn’t take long for Mitch Chapman to get amongst them. This barra measured 70cm and was caught on a Maria hardbodied lure. cicada lures. They have been working really well on early mornings and evenings.

• For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 5174

8544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle.

Slowing down and going steady BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

Coby Hornsey had a great day at Kurnai Lake when he caught this cracking rainbow trout. Well done, buddy – top catch! They require hot water to survive, so it has long been thought that barramundi would survive in Hazelwood Pondage, as the Power Station pumps hot water into the pondage and keeps the

hardbodies to soft plastics, but the Bomber lures seem to work well in 80-120mm sizes. Soft plastics in shad patterns in 4” sizes also have been doing the trick, as have lipless crankbaits and vibes.

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The fishing opportunities continue to be good in the Bendigo region. As water temperatures continue to increase and water clarity steadily improves, we have seen an improvement in anglers’ catch rates. At this time of the year, we often see more activity on our waterways. Those anglers who are prepared to do the early starts and the late finishes, when boating activity is often reduced, will be rewarded with the best results. Thinking about the location you choose to fish can be very important. Try and fish those areas that are less popular or harder to get to, because these areas will have less fishing pressure. LAKE EPPALOCK The redfin fishing continues to be productive at this location. Very good numbers of redfin have been caught by experienced anglers who are prepared to hunt around to find a good concentration of them. Most fish have been excellent and measuring up to 46cm. Redfin are mostly being caught in shallow water. The most productive depth range has been 2.5-4.5m of water. A number of techniques have been working. Trolling hardbody lures and lipless crankbaits has been a good option. Casting soft plastics and blades has also been good. At this stage, the golden perch fishing has been slower than anticipated. Small numbers of golden perch are being caught. Bait fishing from the banks at low light

or during the night continues to be the most productive option for those anglers chasing the golden perch. Yellowbelly have also been caught by anglers trolling hardbody lures and casting lipless crankbaits. We should see a steady improvement in the numbers of golden perch caught over the next couple of months as the water temperatures continue to increase and water clarity improves. CAMPASPE RIVER Catch rates have been low. They’ve been steadily improving over recent weeks. Water clarity is still average at many locations and recently started to clear slowly. The fishing has slowed dramatically in the Campaspe River below

captures. The most productive lures for golden perch have been brightly coloured lipless crankbaits and hardbody lures. The number of golden perch catches has been low. The sizes of the fish have been good. Some measure up to 60cm. A few Murray cod have been caught in this system and we should see an improvement over the next couple of months. CAIRN CURRAN Water clarity is slowly improving at Cairn Curran. The redfin fishing has been okay and most are small in size. The most productive areas for the redfin have been in shallow water around the edges of any points. The number of golden perch catches has been steady.

location lately. Casting or trolling around the edges of the rocky shorelines has been the most productive method for cod. LODDON RIVER Water clarity is still poor at most locations along the Loddon River. The productivity in the fishing has been improving and has been better than you would expect, given the poor water clarity. The golden perch have been patchy. In some areas, golden perch captures have been very low. In other sections, good concentrations of yellowbelly have been located by anglers and catch rates have been good. The pleasing thing so far this season has been the numbers of small Murray

This 46cm redfin was caught at Lake Eppalock with a very aggressive retrieve on a Jackall Mask Vib. Lake Eppalock. The spillway stopped running a few weeks ago and the productivity in the fishing reduced. If you fish this area, there are still small numbers of redfin and golden perch, which are being caught. Further down the river system, golden perch are making up the majority of

Bait fishing from the banks is still the most productive method. Increasing numbers of golden perch are being caught by those anglers targeting the species with lipless crankbaits and trolling with hardbody lures. Small numbers of Murray cod have been caught at this

cod measuring 45-55cm, which are being caught in the Loddon River lately. Most of these have been caught by anglers casting and retrieving lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Bright colours such as pink, orange and chartreuse have been the most productive choices.

Chuffed with Chinook salmon CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

Right now is the best time to tackle our sweetwater lakes and rivers thanks to the below average weather we have experienced for much of the year. Anglers can still launch a boat at Lake Elingamite near Cobden and Lake Tooliorook near Lismore. Of course, if we fail to receive a reasonable amount of rainfall in autumn this could mean a wait of a few months until the winter rains have set in. Meanwhile, our summer hasn’t contained many hot days to date, which not only increases evaporation, but warms the water and can easily send our trout and salmon down deep. This is

downrigging territory only. This hasn’t fully happened yet, but when it does, it may not last as long as it has in previous years. Lake Purrumbete continues to offer up trophy trout; not in huge numbers, but for those who show patience and perseverance, and fish in low light or night time hours. There’s been browns topping 5kg available. Presenting bait such as local minnow or gudgeon, as well as mudeye under a bubble float close to the weed beds, has been successful. Casting or trolling a wide variety of minnow lures from the edge of the weed beds out into around 6m has also accounted for some nice trout. Lake Bullen Merri has experienced a real fishing bonanza when it comes

to Chinook salmon. From late November onwards these fish have invaded the shallows big time in search of schools of minnow and gudgeon. Ranging from newly released fish barely measuring 30cm, all the way up to specimens pushing the 60cm, these fish caught either on bait, soft plastics or lures. Many anglers either working from the bank or out of a boat have caught well over a dozen fish in a single session, including myself. Trolling minnow lures has to be the most popular method recently. Depending on the time of day and cloud cover, the Chinooks have been caught in depths as shallow as 3m, and that’s very close to the bank. From there out to 6m depth is where most anglers are concentrating their efforts.

Lake Tooliorook has seen plenty of rainbow trout to over 40cm caught, as well as the odd pan-sized redfin. Trolling minnow lures or presenting bait under a float have been the most popular methods. However, this lake is also popular with fly anglers either walking the bank or working from a drifting boat. Lake Elingamite has browns and rainbows currently well over 30cm eating almost anything that comes their way. The warm weather here has certainly fired up the reddies, with many specimens coming on board well in excess of 1kg. As previously stated, if autumn rainfall is adequate, I cannot see why this sweetwater fishing bonanza won’t continue right through into next winter.

The author with two respectable Chinook salmon caught recently at Lake Bullen Merri working Black Magic BMax minnows in white.

Anglers should stay in shade MELBOURNE METRO

Dylan Brennan

We’re in the middle of the summer heatwave here in Melbourne and the trouble may be that it’s simply too warm to be out in the sun fishing. Luckily there are plenty of local options for some angling action without the relentless sun. Devilbend Reservoir has been producing trout and redfin for shore-based anglers, with the bulk of the fish being caught during the couple of hours around first and last light. The trout have occasionally been taking Powerbait fished off the jetty or deeper water near the quarry. For more consistent results, mudeyes are the go. Redfin have been eating the same baits and will attack

small lures and soft plastics fished around the weed edges. Lures in the 30-50mm size have been more effective than bigger offerings. Melbourne’s Yarra River is also full of options for suburban anglers. Depending on which section of the river you fish, you could potentially catch brown trout, Murray cod, Macquarie perch, redfin, river blackfish and the other usual suspects like carp and eels. The river around the Templestowe/Eltham area has been producing nice cod for bait fishing anglers who perch themselves in the shade of an overhanging gum tree. Scrubworms have been a reliable bait. Yabbies, shrimp and even cheese can also produce fish. Most of the cod in this section of river range from 25-55cm in size, but there are some much bigger

specimens to be caught. At this time of year, I and a few mates normally spend a few lazy afternoons at some of the local ornamental estate lakes and chase a few carp on fly. After a day’s work, it can be a good way to relax by the water with a drink of your choice and cast at some chunky carp. We berley up with some fine grit berley mixed in with a loaf of bread to get some interest. Most of these types of lakes or ponds will have a duck population that people come down to feed. These carp are very aware that when the ducks are being fed, there can be a free meal for them as well. It will normally only take 10 minutes for the carp to start showing up. Once you spot a few, you can start to target them. At this point you can either fly fish for them

as we do, or lure and bait fish for them. If you’re bait fishing, a very simple rig with a small finely balanced float and small but strong hook is about all you will need. Casting a small piece of bread dough around where you have seen a carp should result in a bite fairly quickly. The only real trick is to make your bait match the bread berley as close as possible, as these fish can be very cunning at times. If you want to use lures, small almost unweighted soft plastics normally get a good reaction, along with micro suspending hardbodies in the 30-50mm size range. Small movements to catch the fish’s attention are you need. Have plenty of pause time to make sure they can find it. On the fly front, mix it up between small wet fly patterns

Jordan Cervenjak with a typical urban lake carp on the fly. Photo courtesy of Morgan Taggert. and floating/subsurface bread patterns. Some carp will smash a stripped wet pattern back quick fast, while others will prefer to slurp a surface bread imitation down in slow motion. Either way, once they’re hooked, you will certainly know about it! • For up to date fishing

information, contact the guys at Compleat Angler in Dandenong on 9794 9397 or drop in and see us at 241-243 Princes Hwy, Dandenong, we are open 7 days a week. For our other latest fishing reports and to download information sheets, go to www fishingcamping.com.au

School holiday West Gippsland fishing fun WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

The school holidays provide the perfect opportunity to take the kids out for a day trip to have some fishing fun in the West Gippsland region. Surrounding forests provide shade and cool air makes Noojee the ideal place to escape the summer heat. The trout streams are refreshing and very inviting after a flick of the lure or fly. Blue Rock Lake is also a welcoming place on a warm summer’s day. Bass, redfin and carp provide anglers with a lot of fun over the warmer months and can all be targeted from the shoreline, kayak or boat. Set amongst farmland, native bushland and small

country towns are the peaceful flowing streams of the Latrobe, Toorongo and Loch rivers in the Noojee Valley. Closer to Melbourne, the Tarago River flows from Neerim South down to Labertouche entering the Bunyip River and offers some terrific recreational areas for fishing and cooling down. In Noojee you have

a choice of three rivers to fish from. The most family friendly spots are dotted along the Latrobe River in town. There is a large playground (a good backup if the fish aren’t biting), toilets, undercover rotunda with free BBQs and picnic tables. Upstream from the main picnic area are plenty of smaller picnic tables and

This is the time of year to hit Blue Rock Lake with lures.

car parks close to the water. Access to the Latrobe River is ideal for children wanting to wet a line. For the big kid at heart, the river presents ideal wading conditions to maximise fishing ground. There are three main picnic grounds along the Tarago River downstream of the Tarago Reservoir, which offer terrific stream access and car parks. Starting upstream, Rokeby Reserve is a little unknown picnic ground requiring a small walk from the main road and has picnic tables alongside the river in an ideal setting. Fisher Road Reserve at Robin Hood offers a rotunda, picnic tables and a nice open slow moving area to have a dip in the river. Picnic Point off Princes Way at Drouin West offers a large playground, BBQs, picnic

tables, toilets and area to swim in the river. Garden worms are simple yet effective bait for stream trout. Hardbody minnow lures with small bibs, soft plastic Wrigglers or small spinner blade lures work best in stream conditions. Dry flies to match the hatch are best fished in the evening when the trout are rising to feed. During the day, beaded nymphs are the most productive. Blue Rock Lake fishes well and is a very popular spot now that boat and engine size restrictions have lifted. The water temperature is warming up and has the bass feeding up at the surface. Many anglers have had a lot of success on surface lures and have been catching and releasing 20+ bass a day with fish averaging 30cm. Worms and other live

baits such as yabbies have been received well by bass too. Redfin are very active at the moment and some decentsized fish are being landed. Trout will go quiet as the water warms up and will likely be caught in the evenings as they feed off the surface. While carp might have a bad name, they are very active at this time of the year and can be a lot of fun for the family. There have also been some monster eels caught recently. The native river blackfish season has re-opened for the year and offers an alternative target species to trout in the rivers of West and South Gippsland. Feel free to send me a report or photo, particularly if you have any success stories over the school holidays. Please email me any questions too. Happy fishing! FEBRUARY 2017

Feeling hot to trot for trout on fly BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Fishing in and around the Ballarat District over the past month has really fired up, just like the weather. Lake Wendouree is the number one fishery in the district once again. I think I’m starting to sound like a broken record. Reports other than Wendouree are hard to come by. The fishing over the coming months will all be about timing, as summer is finally in full force. We will have bright blue-sky sunny days somewhere around the 25-30°C mark. The water temperatures in our storages and fisheries will warm up, which is not favoured by the trout. Some waters are very shallow, so fishing on a bright sunny day is not ideal. We need to start thinking about fishing in the prime times to gain the best results. During the next few months, early mornings, evenings and after dark are the prime times to target the trout that are in

but only living five minutes away and being able to drive around the lake, I see fishers on just about every shoreline. On average over a weekend, there are a dozen boats on the water at any given time. Lake Wendouree is only small in size, so I believe the odds stack up in favour of my rankings. A lot of people have put time, effort and work to enable us to have this magnificent fishery at our backdoor. It just doesn’t happen often. Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates how good we have it here in Ballarat. Fishing in Wendouree is hot to trot. Flyfishing after dark has rewarded Cam Griffins with unbelievable results – brown trout up around the 7-8lb mark. He’s also had some thumping big redfin on fly as well. Cam has been using mudeye imitations for the best results. He uses flies such as the Muddler Minnow, which is a striped floating fly pattern worked very slowly after dark, and Craig’s Night-time pattern – another mudeye imitation.

Will Stevens caught this lovely little rainbow trout in a quick fire session that yielded seven trout in an hour and a half on mudeyes.

Nathan Angee landed this magnificently coloured brown trout casting a Nories B74 lure from the shore. Photo courtesy of Nathan Angee. our local waters. It doesn’t matter whether you fish fly, bait, plastics or lures, put the ball back into your court and give yourself the best chance of catching a fish. Waters that should fish well over the coming months around the district for both trout and redfin include the Newlyn Reservoir, Hepburn Lagoon, Moorabool Reservoir, Dean Reservoir, Cosgroves Reservoir and Tullaroop Reservoir. Again, timing is of the utmost importance to gain the best results for effort. Whether you fish bait, lure or fly, these waters have all been well stocked with trout by Fisheries Victoria over the winter and spring months and have resident populations of redfin as well. Lake Wendouree would have to be Victoria’s number one trout water in the state. I know I’m a little bit bias, 96

FEBRUARY 2017

The difference is that the Craig’s is a sinking fly. Both flies represent a small bug or spider migrating through the water on its way to shore. Trout can’t resist these little fellows. Another angler I spoke to, Shane Jeffrey, caught a magnificent rainbow trout of 2.3kg on a Muddler fly pattern as well. When he checked the contents of the trout stomach, it had about 100 mudeyes in it. Ben Cochrane, a super keen young angler, has been bagging some excellent brown trout including a personal best of 60cm trolling lures in the main rowing channel. The most successful lure has

Ben Cochrane landed his PB brown trout of 60cm on a Christmas Beetle Bullet lure. Photo courtesy of Ben Cochrane.

Cam Griffin with a Lake Wendouree redfin caught flyfishing after dark. Photo courtesy of Cam Griffin. been the Christmas Beetle Bullet lure. Nathan Angee has been getting amongst the Lake Wendouree trout catching both rainbows and browns shore-based casting lures ranging from the Norries B74 to the Norries Wasabi Spoons. Shane Jeffrey has also been out catching lovely brown and rainbow trout using mudeyes for bait suspended under bubble floats. Wendouree is full of feisty little rainbows around

the 750g mark and they are growing very quickly, due to the abundance of food in the lake. I’ve been taking my kids out and having a ball catching and releasing plenty of fish. The best session saw seven trout in an hour and a half – not bad for going only five minutes from home. I can see Wendouree will continue to fish well over the coming months. It’s just all about fishing in the prime time to gain the best results.

Shane Jeffrey with a lovely brown trout caught from Lake Wendouree using a mudeye for bait.

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING AUSTACKLE CRASH CRANK

The Austackle Crash Crank is the new floating crankbait designed for tough targets. It’s perfect for Murray cod, barramundi, mulloway, estuary cod, golden perch, mangrove jack and many more. The Crash Crank’s painted bib increases the profile of your lure while keeping it at a manageable size without the need for heavier rods. You can cast with ease, or troll. The large bib and buoyant body make the Crash Crank easy to work through snags and right into the face of fish, to maximise your catch rates. Boasting top quality design and construction, the Crash Crank has a straight through one-piece internal wire and upgraded VMC hooks and rings. This effective new lure comes in 74mm and 44mm lengths, weighs 35g and dives to 7m. www.austackle.com

GEECRACK MESH ROD COVER

SKELEFISH MUDDIE

A big buck mud crab created in Bigfish’s 3D ‘Skele style’ is latest addition to the Big Fish range. The Skelefish Muddie is illustrated in amazing detail with hints of the green and yellow carapace over the ‘skeleton’ body. The mud crab is posed in different aggressive stances on the front and back of the shirt, and sizes range from X-Small to 5X-Large. Bigfish creates some of the most practical, comfortable and sun protective apparel on the market. BFMaxFlow is a high performance, moisture-wicking fabric that is not only soft to feel, but durable and incredibly cool to wear. The breathability is second to none, and the fabric is rated as UPF50 (excellent sun protection). This apparel is aimed squarely at anglers, and is designed to stand up to the harshest of elements. For full sizing information, or to see the full range of apparel and designs, visit the Big Fish Gear website. Price: RRP $89.95 www.bigfishgear.com

LIVELY LURES MOHAWK

The latest addition to Lively Lures stable is the Mohawk, which is a deep diver for fresh and saltwater fishing. The Mohawk is suitable for both inshore and freshwater species. It dives to 3m plus and can be cast or trolled, and it comes battle ready with #4 VMC hooks. Like all Lively lures it’s built tough to withstand the harsh treatment Australian fish can dish out. Rather than being a two-part plastic lure, it’s made from polyurethane, which provides a stronger end product that is solid bodied with all components built in. This means the lure will stay together and swim even if it has been punctured by sharp teeth. The Lively Lures Mohawk is currently available in 10 fish-catching colours, and you can buy them online direct from the Lively Lures website. For more information and photos look up Lively Lures on Facebook. Price: SRP $15 www.livelyluresonline.com.au

STORM SX BLOOP FROG

DAIWA SALTIST COASTAL RODS

Plenty of freshwater predators live and hunt under thick cover such as lilles, weed mats and tangled branches, but there’s limited ways to fish these areas. That’s where the Storm SX Bloop Frog can change the game! With a well-tested weedless design, the Bloop Frog can be twitched or walked over the thickest cover. The soft body collapses upon strike, allowing for better hook up rate. The chin of the frog stays up at rest, but once twitched, gives off a very seductive ‘bloop’ sound. The frog can be either walked like a stickbait, or twitched like a popper and the long trailer skirt makes for an extra level of attraction. A rear weight is a plus for castability, and at 20g, this little beast can be thrown on the heavy tackle often used to fish frogs. The SX Bloop Frog floats, comes in six froggy colours and the body is 7cm, a perfect snack size for bass, barra, Murray cod or saratoga. www.rapala.com.au 98

FEBRUARY 2017

Most of the damage to a rod’s guide or finish comes when you’re travelling from place to place. Banging around in a rod locker or vehicle can result in tangled rods, lures and line, as well as the possibility of broken tips and scratched guides or blanks. An easy way to avoid all this hassle is to use a mesh rod cover from Japanese company Geecrack. Geecrack Mesh Rod Covers slip on and off with ease. They slide easily over guides, line and even small lures, so you can prerig ready to go. The durable PVS mesh won’t go mouldy when wet, and hooks are easily removed if they get caught in the mesh. Different colours help you easily identify different rods, which is one reason why covers like these are so popular with tournament anglers around the world. There are two models to choose from: a baitcast version (170cm long, 3cm opening), and a spin version (170cm long, 6cm opening). Price: SRP $24.95 www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

PRODUCT GUIDE

Saltist has been synonymous with the Daiwa saltwater range for over a decade, designed and built to handle the punishment from the coastal environment. Inshore lure fishing with soft plastics and hard bodies, using smaller reels and braids has evolved such that a specialist range of light tackle rods is required. With that in mind we introduce the Saltist Coastal rod series. By combining the latest in Daiwa blank technology with a well-designed range of models, the Saltist Coastal opens up a whole new world for the inshore saltwater lure angler. Features include HVF, Fuji Alconite Guides, Fuji reel seats and V Joint. There are five spin models, ranging from the SAC70M (213cm long, 1-piece, medium action, fast taper, 7-21g cast weight, 4-7kg line rating) through to the SAC70XH (213cm, 1-piece, extra heavy action, fast taper, 21-60g, 12-17kg). There is also an overhead model, the SAC70HB (213cm, 1-piece, heavy action, fast taper, 14-50g, 7-12kg). www.daiwafishing.com.au

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING HALCO CHROME TIGER COLOUR

After extensive product development and field testing, Halco has expanded its colour range. The new pattern is called R49, also known as chrome tiger. It is now available in the Laser Pro 190, Laser Pro 160, Max 190 and the Max 130 models due to popular demand. Based on a highly reflective body, the R49 chrome tiger features striking body stripes, a jet black back and is paired with a strike-attracting bright red head. The R49 also includes Halco’s unique ‘designed to bleed’ painting technique. When savage strikes take off some of the outer paint, they reveal a blood red colour underneath. This makes the lure look like a wounded baitfish that would make an easy meal. To check out the complete Halco colour range, head to the Halco website. It has recently been redesigned with extra features and videos, so it’s well worth checking out. www.halcofishing.com

GIANT KILLING JIGGING SP RODS

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Majorcraft has unveiled a new giant killer with the release of the Giant Killing Jigging SP range. Four models feature in the range, offering jigging fans an array of choices, weights, and options for their next jigging session. True to their Japanese pedigree, the new Giant Killing rod range is superb in design and refinement, with Cross X Force technology, and ergonomic reel seats and grips combining to make this series stunning in power and performance. Like all Major Craft rods, Giant Killing rods have been selected for Australian fishing conditions. The Major Craft range also includes two-piece spin estuary rods ranging from 7’0” to 7’6”, with a crisp action and light feel. There’s also an offshore spin range, which suits both bait fishing and lure casting. Ranging from 7’0” to 8’3”, these rods are built tough and feature the same high quality Fuji K guides. The Major Craft range also features travel rods and egi rods. For more info check out the Majorcraft website. www.majorcraft.com.au

ZMAN 5” STREAKZ CURLY TAILZ

The popularity of the ZMan 4” StreakZ Curly TailZ in both the fresh and salt has led to the development of the larger 5” StreakZ Curly TailZ profile. This profile features a minnow-shaped body with belly slot for easy weedless rigging or adding a squirt of scent, and its long, lively curl tail is sure to make it a goto for snapper, mulloway, flathead, barra and a variety of other species. The 10X Tough, super-soft and flexible ElaZtech plastic allows you to catch more fish per lure, while having a realistic feel that keeps fish biting. The buoyancy of ElaZtech also ensures the plastic has a tail up ‘feeding’ pose when at rest on the bottom, which attracts fish and triggers strikes. As well as being a deadly profile on its own, the ZMan 5” StreakZ Curly TailZ is also sure to prove popular as a spinnerbait or ChatterBait trailer. It’s available in eight colours with four per pack. Price: SRP $11.50 www.tackletactics.com.au

SHIMANO OCEA SPOUTER

The Ocea Spouter is a surface lure like no other. It looks pretty much like your standard cup-faced surface popper, but an internal chamber behind the face squirts a rooster tail of spray out behind the lure’s head as it is swept through the water. The principle is not unlike the front of a jet engine on a plane, being narrow in the front and then widening internally. The internal chamber also aerates the water, creating even more whitewater and commotion than a standard cup-faced popper. With a low down tow point, it is also a lot easier to work than a conventional cup-faced popper and therefore gives lots more ‘pop’ for far less effort. Heavy-duty in-line single hooks rigged on 150lb breaking strain split rings demonstrate that this lure is all about big fish business. It’s available in two sizes — 120 and 150mm, with casting weights of 52 and 94g respectively — and five colours ranging from clear through to multi-shaded. www.shimanofish.com.au

DAIWA J-BRAID X4

Supreme line management is critical for longer casts with fewer knots. Daiwa J-Braid X4 PE boasts all of that, with a smooth, round profile design that wraps neatly and evenly onto the reel spool. Being a four-strand braid, it’s also one of the more affordable options on the market. Perfectly suited for spin and overhead reels, and available in bulk spools, J-Braid X4 is colourfast, and the multicoloured version is metered in 10m, 5m and 1m increments, making it ideal for offshore applications. The casting distance of J-Braid X4 is complemented by its thin diameter – but don’t be fooled. Despite being thin, J-Braid is strong. The multi-coloured version is available in 20-80lb breaking strains, so strength is never an issue. J-Braid X4 also displays excellent abrasion resistance to give you confidence to fish it in even the heaviest structure. In field testing, this is where this braid really excelled. Daiwa J-Braid X4 is available now in 135m, 270m, 300m, 500m and 3000m spools. www.daiwafishing.com.au

AUSTACKLE MURRAY 12 COD SHIRT Step out in style with a new design Murray Cod sublimated fishing shirt from Austackle. This lightweight, superfast drying shirt will ensure you stay comfortable all day long. These shirts are long sleeved and without a cuff so you can stay cooler, while still having the flexibility to raise a sleeve if you so desire. The fabrics have been thoroughly tested both on and in the water to meet demanding Aussie conditions. These shirts will not shrink or fade, and they are rated to UPF50+ to give you maximum sun protection. The Austackle Murray Cod Shirt is available in kids sizes 4, 8, 12 and 14, and adult sizes XS through to 6XL. See the Austackle website for sizing information, or ask your local tackle store to try one on. Price: SRP $65 www.austackle.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au FEBRUARY 2017

WHAT’S NEW FISHING NEW PACEMAKER COLOURS

Renowned for its high speed trolling ability, the Pacemaker is now available in two new colours: UV squid and mahimahi. Pacemaker’s sleek design has been tweaked and fine-tuned to allow you to troll faster with a wider trolling spectrum to attract a variety of aggressive fish species. The ideal troll speed is 6 knots for most pelagic species, which the Pacemaker handles with ease, but it can increase its speed up to 15 knots in most models. Structurally sound, the Pacemaker incorporates a one-piece stainless steel welded wire, heavy-duty split rings, VMC 3X Perma steel hooks, realistic eye, prism tape insert and the original Samaki-designed colour concepts including slimy mackerel, yellowfin tuna, stripy and pilchard. These lures are available in 140mm and 180mm lengths in two diving depths each, ranging from 2m to 8-10m. They’re dynamite on tuna, mackerel, wahoo, barramundi, kingfish and more. For information and stockists visit the Samaki website, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. www.samaki.com.au

WILSON’S VENOM STICKBAIT RODS

The 7’11” two-piece Venom Stickbait rods are built on the Venom patented himodulus blank, coupled with Fuji Silicone K-Frame guides to give exceptional casting performance. The softer tip of the Venom Stickbait rods give better action to stickbaits and allows the angler to work the lures through calm and rough conditions perfectly. Tested in the brutal fishery of Wreck Reef, the Venom Stickbait rods accounted for all the target species including Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, red bass and coral trout. Two rods are in the range; the Stickbait 1 is a 30-50lb braid rated rod that can cast stickbaits between 25-100g, and the Stickbait 2 is a heavy rod that is rated for braided lines from 4060lb and can cast larger stickbaits between 40g and 150g. Custom shaped slender grips finish off these exceptional rods, giving the angler more feel and control when the pressure is on. When casting distance is a premium, you can be sure the Venom Stickbaits will deliver it and have the strength to manage any encounter. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

LUNKERHUNT ZMAN PINK FISHING 14 POPPING FROG SHIRT The Lunkerhunt Popping ZMan’s popular fishing shirt is now available in pink. This quality, lightweight shirt has a UPF45 sun protection rating. It has a collar, long sleeves, zip front and is manufactured from dye sublimated, quick dry material, ready for your next big fishing adventure. Additionally, the quality of the manufacture means it won’t fall apart. This shirt is absolutely perfect for keeping the sun off this summer, and at an affordable price too! The initial run of sizes available includes kids sizes 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, along with adult sizes XS, S, M, L and XL. These shirts are available to order now from your local tackle store or online from the Tackle Tactics website. Get in now while stocks are available. Price: SRP $49.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

NEW KNELLER TIMBER LURES

Paul Kneller began making lures 24 years ago under the banner of Deception Lures, which he sold in 2004. Now, after opening a tackle shop with his wife Cheryl, and taking a break from lure designing, Paul is back with a renewed passion for lure making. He’s hard at work creating timber lures with incredible detail. One new models is the Chernobyl Shad 55FD, a 55mm fat-bodied all rounder for bass, bream, flathead, EPs, trout, sooties and more. It dives to around 3m, with a great crash dive on retrieve. It weighs 6g but casts surprisingly well, even off a baitcaster outfit. Another model is the Toxic Shock 70F, a 70mm long wakebait. With a subtle stabbing of the rod tip you can make it walk the dog just below the surface, and when paused it quickly floats back to the surface. This retrieve lets you keep it in the strike zone for a long time. Alternatively, you can slow roll it back, bringing the big tail wag into play. The Toxic Shock 70F is a great lure where a more subtle presentation is required, especially in hard fished areas. Weighing 8g, they cast really well off baitcast or spin tackle. w w w. a u s t r a l i a n l u r e s h o p . c o m . a u / knellerlures 100

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Frog calls fish in from afar by creating a surface disturbance. The Frog’s concave face catches water, creating a commotion with popping and spitting noises. Once the fish come over for a look, the lure’s lifelike swimming legs convert looks into explosive strikes. Fitted with a strong double hook, the Popping Frog is as weedless as they come, with a super soft body that allows for excellent hook ups and lifelike feel. The Popping Frog’s super-soft hollow body compresses quickly under the slightest amount of pressure. When it does, the sharp, high quality upturned hooks are ready for the hook-set. These lures generate tons of action with minimal movement. They can be worked along edges, through grass, in pockets and on open water. The swimming legs extend on each action and retract on the pause, just like a live frog. These floating lures are available in 40mm (1/4oz) and 55mm (1/2oz) sizes, and come in a wide range of colours. www.ejtodd.com.au

WILSON LURE WRAP

Seeing a need to protect the blanks and guides of rods from lure damage in transit, Wilson Fishing has developed the 26cm x 15cm Wilson Lure Wrap. The Lure Wrap encloses the lure and the rod, stopping the lure from banging around while you are underway. The damage that can be caused to a rod blank, the bindings and the guides can be quite significant if you travel distance in a boat with lures rigged, as almost all of us do. The Wilson Lure Wrap stops this damage by protecting the rod blank from a wildly swinging and swaying lure. Additionally the Lure Wrap reduces the risk of anglers catching themselves on the hooks of rigged lines and allows for better storage of rigged rods, whether in rod lockers or in rod stands. Coming in packs of two, the Wilson Lure Wraps are simple, effective and one of those products that you can’t believe you didn’t think of yourself. www.wilsonfishing.com

17 18 visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Geecrack – If you don’t already know the brand, you will

The Geecrack Gilling 75SS is a small swimbait that has a enticing action that mimics a baitfish.

came from nowhere to eat the lure. On top of this, the Mustang 50’s castability was excellent for a small lure. Those extra couple of metres can sometimes make all the difference. The BB Mustang weighs 10g and comes in 16 colours. GEECRACK SWING CHATTER I first became aware of the Geecrack brand through the Swing Chatter. I had been searching for a chatterbait that had something other than a 4/0 or 5/0 hook that I could use to target bass. My search had proved to be harder than I expected until I came across Swing Chatter. The 2/0 hook size and smaller profile were what I was looking for. I was surprised at the amount of action/ vibration that these lures have, even on the drop. The first fish I caught on the Swing Chatter hit it on the drop, and the many fish that followed came during the pause in a retrieve. The Swing Chatter leaves you in no doubt that the lure is swimming as it should be. The vibration of the blade as it swims is very apparent not only through the line, but through the rod tip as well. The second great feature was the

These days Aussie anglers are familiar with the quality of Japanese fishing lures. However, what many anglers may not know is that the Japanese products in Aussie stores are only a small sample of what is available in Japan. A brand that comparatively few Aussie anglers know of is Geecrack. Australian wholesaler Dogtooth Distribution is set to launch Geecrack in a big way, showing off the brand’s attention to detail and product diversity, which will undoubtedly make it a favourite in 2017. How do I know? Because I put them to the test. The Swing Chatter has a grub keeper so you can add a soft plastic to increase its profile. In this case it is a Geecrack Bunny Hog.

Although small and stout in size, the BB Mustang packs a punch and proved to be the stand-out lure during the author’s trip. GEECRACK TINY GILLING 75SS The Geecrack Gilling is a slow sinking swimbait with a replaceable plastic tail, and it’s available in 165mm, 125mm and 75mm sizes. I hadn’t had a great deal experience with swimbaits, and was keen to try it out. I could see myself seductively twitching the Gilling in pocket water surrounded by weed beds and structure, and rolling it over weed beds or sinking it next to a laydown, before retrieving it along the length of it – all of which it is ideal for bass. I found that the Tiny Gilling casts like a demon on spin tackle, and using a slow roll the segments of the lure produce a lovely tail beat action. It sits about a foot below the surface and is a true baitfish imitation. The area I fished is full of bony bream,

spangled perch and barred grunter, which are the staple diet for the local bass, golden and silver perch. The Gilling 75SS was a very similar profile to these fish, and bass and silvers climbed all over it. There is no doubt that allowing the lure to slowly sink and giving it a twitch occasionally was a great looking retrieve. Unfortunately, on this trip that’s not what the fish wanted. A slow rolling retrieve achieved the best results, with the fish consistently hooked on the forward treble. The Gilling was also at home cast across flowing water, and it had fish ducking out of their hidey-holes to eat it. The 75SS weighs 10g and is available in 31 colour combinations. GEECRACK BB MUSTANG 50 This squat, 50mm hardbody was the surprise packet of the trip. The BB Mustang is a highly buoyant lure, which on a medium fast retrieve, dives to about 1m. It has two segments, with the second segment aiding the lure’s rolling action. For such a small profile lure it has a wide action, and because it’s so buoyant it’s great to work in and over structure. When I say surprise packet of the trip I don’t mean that I didn’t believe it would catch fish, I just didn’t expect it to be the lure to catch fish when no others did! On more than one occasion, sections of the river seemed devoid of fish. However, when I cast out the BB Mustang the fish

TESTED

you can add a soft plastic of your choice. I caught fish with and without the addition of a plastic, with my plastic of choice being another Geecrack lure – the Beat Craw. Swing Chatters are available in 1/2oz, 3/8oz and 1/4oz sizes and come in 22 colours. Geecrack Beat Craw and Bunny Hog It would be remiss of me not to mention the Geecrack Beat Craw and Bunny Hog soft plastics. They are yabby imitation soft plastics that are very lifelike. The Beat Craw

The Geecrack Swing Chatter is a great option if you are looking for a smaller profile chatterbait. is 3” long and the Bunny Hog is available in two sizes, 5” and 6”. I have used them predominately to increase the profile of my spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. The claws create extra vibration and appeal to draw fish to them. The claws of the Bunny Hog in particular have a lot of movement for their size. This movement would also ensure they would also be very effective used on their own on a jighead. The Beat Craw is available in 17 colours and the Bunny Hog comes in 12 colours. CONCLUSION This is only a small cross-section of the Geecrack lures that will be available in Australia in 2017; there are plenty of other options that Dogtooth Distribution will be

Another chunky bass that had to have a crack at the BB Mustang. profile. Most of the chatterbaits I had come across were bulky to say the least. Not only did they have large hooks, they also had big skirts and big blades – great for targeting our bigger natives but less suited for bass. The Swing Chatter’s skirt, by contrast, is sparse, making it more of a finesse bait. And if you do want to increase the profile of the Swing Chatter, you can. Integrated in the head is a grub keeper, so

bringing in. Lures like the Orenta 70 lipless crankbait, the Daisy Spin deep jig or the Sugari 60 suspending minnow all have a place in any native angler’s tackle box. So remember the name Geecrack the next time you are in your local tackle store, and check out the quality of these lures for yourself. If the store doesn’t have them, tell them they should check them out too! - Peter Jung

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING TESTED

Black Magic Whiting Snatcher and Whiting Whacker

The author with a double hook-up on the Whiting Snatcher paternoster rig. Any Fishing Monthly readers who read my weekly Moreton Bay reports (reports.fishingmonthly.com.au), would know I’m definitely an old school fisherman. A lot of us old schoolers find it hard to change the ways we have always caught fish; it’s a lot easier to stick with the kind of fishing that we know, and to keep using the tackle we have confidence in. Recently I was asked to try out some Black Magic whiting rigs. Now, I have fished for whiting the same way for decades. I have been catching these tasty fish consistently in my local waters for many years, and haven’t changed my approach much at all in that time. I was quite sceptical about trying something new, but I thought it might be interesting just the same. So I said yes, I’d be happy to try them out. Before long a parcel from Black Magic found its way to my doorstep. I opened it up and found some of the recurve circle KL hooks they make for whiting, and also some of their premade whiting rigs. Black Magic makes two different versions of whiting rigs – a paternoster rig and a running rig. Both rigs use fluorocarbon trace and Black Magic’s Japanese KL recurve hooks (a variation on the traditional circle hook). The paternoster rig is called the Whiting Snatcher, and it comes with either pink or green lumo beads for that bit of extra attraction. The running rig is called the Whiting Whacker, and it comes with red

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beads. Both rigs have bright tinsel to add some flash to your bait, with the choice of several different colours. With my new rigs and hooks in hand, I set off to my whiting grounds. PUT TO THE TEST I didn’t take any live bait on my trip. All I brought was the Black Magic rigs, a couple of packets of Berkley Gulp Sandworms, a

hook, and both worked. And yes, as circle/recurve hook fans would expect, all the fish were getting hooked in the side of the mouth. I have to say with this tiny hook I really expected the whiting to swallow it. However, that blurb on the packet about the hook hooking the fish on the side of the mouth was totally correct. It was a surprise to me but I was very happy to be wrong. By the end of the session we had managed over 40 fish, using only eight Berkley Sandworms, the Black Magic whiting rigs, and seven prawns. After this experience I think it’s going to be hard to go back to long-shank red hooks and live worms and many packets of prawns! I figure why would you bother when you can catch that many fish without outlaying all that money on live bait! Even after all those fish we caught, the rigs were in excellent condition. There were a couple of things I would change though. For my specific kind of fishing, which is chasing diver whiting in Moreton Bay, the 15lb trace is too heavy. The packet says the rig is suited for both whiting and small reef fish, which explains the heavier line, but it doesn’t suit the specific fishing I do. I re-rigged the rigs on 10lb line, and the results were significantly better fishing with that light leader and small sinkers. It wasn’t a hassle re-rigging with a different leader; I just used a blood knot and it was fine. I recommend using 8lb or 10lb for this application. Another thing I found was that the paternoster rig was a lot more successful than a running rig. I expected this, having tried running sinker rigs in this area years ago. The problem is weed. When we used running rigs in the old days we were running our hooks through the weed. When we switched to paternoster rigs some years ago, we found the hooks sat nicely above the weed and our catch rates improved significantly. If you’re drifting and you’ve got your line 30ft to the side or back, the first hook is close to the bottom but not right on it, and the second hook is up a bit further again, so you get no weed on your hooks.

All baited up and ready to go. small packet of prawns and a bit of squid. I have to say I was not feeling too confident, but knowing the whiting were there I felt it was time to try these new ways. To my utter surprise, the whiting loved the Black Magic rigs. I tried using a small piece of Gulp Sandworm at the tip of the recurve, and then a small piece of prawn on the

The whiting are happy to come up off the bottom to eat these higher baits, so you don’t have to worry about that. If you’re fishing the surf, however, I’m sure the running sinker rig would be the go. The only other problem I had was that, with my fat fingers, it took me a little longer than usual to get a little bit of bait on the

recurve hooks. I had trouble getting the worms to sit the way I am used to seeing on a hook. Still, it didn’t seem to matter one bit as the fish kept getting hooked. I suspect I just have to accept the idea of the baits sitting in a different way, instead of me wasting time getting them to look the way I’m used to seeing them on a traditional long-shank J hook. RECURVE HOOKS After my first trip I went back out again to try the Black Magic KL hooks with bait. What can I say… they worked, really well!

All the whiting hooked themselves in the corner of the mouth. I tried using both worms and prawns, and found worms to be the best. It’s a bit hard to feed a prawn nicely onto the KL hooks, but the worms go on well. People used to bait fishing for whiting would know that worms can be very expensive, but I found that with these recurve hooks I was able to get away with using a shorter length of worm. On a long-shank J hook I used to use a 1” or 1.5” length of worm, but with the KL recurve hooks I had excellent results using only 0.5” of worm. That was a benefit I didn’t expect. On a subsequent trip I used even smaller pieces – only 1cm long. We ended up catching 50 whiting using only three bloodworms. The KL hooks caught every single fish in the side of the mouth. People who chase other species with recurve/circle hooks would know that you often need to avoid striking, as it can pull the hook straight out of the fish’s mouth. You either wait for the fish to hook itself, or give a slow lift. With these whiting, however, it didn’t matter whether you struck or not. They sucked the worms right in and hooked themselves instantly. In fact, I believe you’re more likely to pull a long-shank J hook out of a whiting’s mouth when you strike, as those hooks lie straight when they get sucked in. All in all, I would definitely recommend giving these hooks and rigs a go – and this is coming from a fisherman who finds change a bit difficult to adapt to. The fact is that they worked. – Spero Kartanos

The 2016 Shimano Reel It In Flathead Challenge The Shimano Reel It In Flathead Challenge has quickly become one of the most anticipated events on the fishing calendar in Victoria and Southern NSW. The 210 anglers that formed the 71 teams this year converged on the coastal town of Mallacoota on 19-20 November for what would be the biggest Flathead Challenge yet. Anglers representing five different states and territories began their road trips early in the week, eager to not only take out the coveted first place but also to enjoy all that Mallacoota has to offer. Many came to have a fun relaxing weekend fishing with mates and like-minded flathead fishos. Despite the scheduled power outage that had homes and businesses without power for large parts of the weekend, Mallacoota was spectacular. It was an unbelievable weekend of glorious sunshine, light winds for most parts of the day

brag mats, as well as jigheads, lures, stickers, buffs and plenty more. The briefing for the main event explained that fishing times would be from 7:30am-4:00pm on both Saturday and Sunday and that a team’s best 10 flathead over the weekend would count to overall points, with two points per 1cm awarded. All fish needed to be photographed alive on the 2016 official brag mat with the team’s keytag clearly visible. SATURDAY Perfect conditions greeted the anglers at Karbethong Boat Ramp early on Saturday morning. Still chewing down bacon and egg rolls and sipping coffee from Cafe 54, the guys and girls were busy launching their boats in anticipation of the day ahead. At 7:30am the teams were off. Many of them spread out through the bottom lake, heading over to the usual haunts like Cemetery Bight and Alan Head, while

first trophy-sized flathead and the boys were beaming. That night at the pub saw hundreds of photos being judged and at the end of day one. Semi-local team from Orbost Voss Motors found themselves with the number one spot. The top five teams heading into Sunday were Voss Motors, Flat Out Fish’n, Burrinjuck Bandits, Dusky Demons and Team G. SUNDAY Again, teams were greeted by perfect conditions with even lighter winds promised for the day early on Sunday morning. Once away, teams headed off into every nook and cranny searching for that fish of a lifetime. Voss Motors, who held the lead heading into day two, were a team of mechanics from Orbost. Although their captain was the only member of the team fishing with lures, all members were pulling their weight and they were the team to beat. ABT and Vic Bream Classic regulars The Smashed

Phillip Dickson with the biggest flatty of the weekend coming in at 86cm. and plenty of fish caught. FRIDAY The pre-fish day saw most teams out on the water trying to locate a few fish. It was also the day of the Kaydo Fishing World Da$h for Ca$h. This event sees the top 10 from the previous years’ Flathead Challenges plus a few invited teams battle it out for almost $4000 in cash. Fishing times were from 7:30am-1:30pm and a team’s best five flathead photographed would decide the winners. Local family team Flat Out Fishin’, consisting of Darren, Tracy, Bowen and Laurel Joiner, took out the Da$h for Ca$h and pocketed $2200 for their troubles. What a great way to start the weekend. Friday Afternoon saw the excitement building as teams started rolling into the Mallacoota Pub for a beer or two and a meal. They picked up their bags of goodies, consisting of their 2016 Flathead Challenge shirts and

some tried their luck around the channel markers closer to town. These areas all produced fish, but the teams that managed the better fish for the day, fish in the 50-65cm range, were the teams that headed upstream. Areas like Cape Horn through to Gypsy Point accounted for a lot of nice fish. Some teams even went further and headed up the Genoa and Wallagaraugh rivers. These areas saw some solid flathead. Flathead Challenge organizers were out and about to check in on teams and have a casual fish while they waited for the call that someone had landed a decent whopper. Not long after midday, it happened. Phillip Dickson from the Dusky Demons had just caught and photographed a beautiful, well-conditioned fish of 86cm. The officials boat-raced over to film the fish and see the guys from Geelong. To say they were happy was an understatement. This was their

Crabs had a solid day one that saw them in 6th place heading into Sunday. Although they caught plenty of fish in the bottom lake on Saturday, they decided not to play it safe and land more of the same size fish. Instead, they journeyed right up the back past Gypsy Point in search of upgrades. The gamble paid off with three nice upgrades coming in the first hour that would put them right up there. “The old match the hatch method for soft plastics worked. We just threw colours similar to the baitfish we had seen over the past few days,” Mitch King from the team said,. Team G was doing something different to most teams. With 5th place coming into Sunday, the boys were feeling confident with their decision to fish hardbodies over plastics. They continued this game plan heading into day two. With all four team members on the hardbodies in

Winners are grinners. Team G used hardbodies to take home the gold. a variety of deep and shallow divers, the boys fished the upper reaches. While they never landed a big girl, they ended up with a solid bag with 8 of their 10 going over 50cm. That afternoon saw the pub packed again while the photos were judged. With over $20,000 worth of prizes up for grabs, from some of the biggest brands in the industry, anticipation was high. It was the boys that went outside the square who took the biggest prize of all. Team G, with a total of 1052 points from their best 10 fish of the weekend, scooped up the prize pool and took home almost $10,000 worth of gear, including a Shimano Stella and TCurve each, a $2000 boat wrap from Form a Sign Wraps and some great gear from Tonic eyewear, Compleat Angler and Lowrance. They were more than stoked. Team G fished hard and had a lot of fun over the weekend, showing great humility in their win – a great bunch of guys. Other sponsors of the event included BCF, Pro Lure, Pirtek, Nitro Tournament

TOP 10 RESULTS Place................Team...................................... Points 1 .....................Team G...................................... 1052 2 .....................Voss Motors ............................. 1028 3 .....................Smashed Crabs ....................... 1014 4 .....................Burrinjuck Bandits . .................... 994 5 .....................Dusky Demons ........................... 987 6 .....................Flat Out Fish’n ............................ 982 7 .....................The Crusty Crab ......................... 972 8 .....................CKR . .......................................... 961 9 .....................Bobzac ....................................... 957 10 ....................My Cods...................................... 953 BIGGEST FLATHEAD Day...................Angler...........................Length (cm) One...................Phillip Dickson............................... 86 Two...................Kevin Clarke............................... 74.5 Rods, Kaydo Fishing World, Jigman, PFD Australia, Nautica Bar and Restaurant, Beachcomber Caravan Parks, Pelican Pete’s, and of course, The Mallacoota Hotel. Voss Motors and The Smashed Crabs rounded out the top three teams. Interestingly, the top three teams for the weekend all had four team members, so perhaps that sacrificed room in the boat for an extra angler was worth it to have the extra lure out there. The weekend was a

great success and also raised considerable money for Beyond Blue. Teams are already looking forward to the next event in Mallacoota and the inaugural Reel It In Lake Tyers Flathead Challenge on March 25-26. For all details of upcoming Flathead Challenges, including the Australia wide RFC Series where you can fish anywhere you want for your five best flathead, visit www. reelitinflatheadchallenge. com. – Scott Wakefield

Releasing these big girls carefully is not only law, but it’s just as satisfying as catching them. FEBRUARY 2017

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High Country Carp Competition It’s not often you hear about a fishing competition in the high country that’s not trout focussed – but it’s even more unusual that the competition in question be organised, directed and run by 3 school kids! As part of a community

streams was getting out of hand, the boys decided that something needed to be done. Being avid trout anglers, it’s in their interest, and the interest of the local community no doubt, that carp numbers be reduced to allow for greater trout

will be prizes for Biggest Carp, Smallest Carp and Biggest Bag. There will be both Junior and Senior categories. The carp caught will be collected from the anglers at the Albion Hotel and put in a trailer, where they will be taken to a local

happening 12-2pm on Sunday 26 February at The Albion Hotel, and presentations will be at 4pm, where competitors can swap stories, perhaps over an ale or two. Entry fees are $2 for under 16s, $5 for adults, and $10 for families, and fees can be paid at the weigh-in. If you’re in North East Victoria, or just passing through, in late February, why not get involved in this competition an support a local community, and help eradicate the carp to make this area famous for its trout fishing once more! – FMG

The competition playing field will be the Livingstone, Tambo and Mitta Mitta river systems, with the tributaries of those rivers also allowed.

How often do you see a great fishing competition organised, directed and run by three school kids? learning project, Dean, Cameron and Chad from The Apline School in North East Victoria are organising a carp competition for the local fishers. After deciding that the numbers of carp in the local

numbers. So they devised way to bring the community together and eradicate some of the local carp – a win-win for everyone! The competition will take place on the weekend of 25-26 February, and there

property for disposal. Anglers will have the choice to fish in the Livingstone, Tambo and Mitta Mitta river systems, with the tributaries of those rivers also allowed. The weigh-on will be

The boys have a vision to rid the once trout rich waters of North East Victoria of the resident carp.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2017 FEBRUARY

MARCH APRIL

MAY

18-19 Feb

Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier #1

www.abt.org.au

Mallacoota

22-23 Feb

Gippsland Lakes BREAM Qualifier #2

Gippsland Lakes

25-26 Feb

Round 1 Central Vic Pro Series

Lake Eppalock

25-26 Feb

High Country Carp Competition

North East Victoria

25 Mar

Rnd 2 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series

David Nelson 0418 378 944

Mitchellstown

roundy@cvlcss.com

29-30 Apr

Hawkesbury River BASS Pro Qualifier #1

www.abt.org.au

Hawkesbury River

1-2 Apr

Albany BREAM Qualifier #3

Albany

5-6 Apr

Blackwood BREAM Qualifier #4

Blackwood

20-21 May

Rnd 3 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series

Mulwala roundy@cvlcss.com

6-7 May

Round 2 Central Vic Pro Series

Mulwala

www.abt.org.au David Nelson 0418 378 944 cameronr@alpineschool.vic.edu.au

www.abt.org.au www.abt.org.au David Nelson 0418 378 944 David Nelson 0418 378 944

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours. Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name. 104

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Cod come out to play for a cracker Cod Classic! If you were going to order some weather conditions, be it for a wedding, funeral or fishing competition, you would order the absolute perfect conditions served up to the masses for the recent 2016 Yamaha Cod Classic. Near on 2500 fishers descended on Lake Mulwala and the Murray River to enjoy what was labelled as ‘the perfect event.’ Everything went to plan without a hitch, and the fish came to play as well.

boating package took place. Brent Sheather of Young was the lucky winner and celebrated accordingly with his travelling fishing party! At the close of registrations Saturday morning, 2492 eager anglers (2204 adults and 288 juniors) had nominated. With new rules in place in regards to fish measuring and verification, it was going to be a case of wait and see what was caught for the day. Rules stipulated that anglers had to photograph and release their fish upon capture

They couldn’t all be monsters, but many competitors had fun catching good numbers of fish on the lake. Photo courtesy of Stephen Booth.

master who had read the tape measure wrong. Thanks to Lance’s honesty, this small mistake was pointed out and the event continued as usual. Saturday night’s crowd was a blockbuster, with conditions being perfect once again. Boats, beer and banter made for a super evening at Lonsdale Reserve, the event’s HQ. Sunday morning saw anglers greeted with perfect conditions once again. Headaches and hangovers put pay to a lot of well-laid plans, but the door was still open for someone to pip the leaders. Unfortunately this was not to be, and Saturday’s leaders remained at the top of each section. Lance Veivers took the chocolates for his 103.5cm beast, while Josh Hughes came out on top in the juniors with a healthy 88cm Murray cod. The winners in the senior and junior ‘Yella’ sections were 58 and 54cm respectively, and a monster carp of 85cm took out the longest carp prize. Interestingly, cod numbers were the second highest in the history of the event, only finishing behind last year’s total. There were 522 legal size cod verified, while 426 yellas were

RESULTS Longest cod (adult)................................. Lance Veivers............................. 103.5cm Longest cod (junior)................................ Josh Hughes................................... 88cm Longest yella (adult)............................... Mark Ikstrums.................................. 58cm Longest yella (junior)............................... Jonathon Svilar................................ 54cm Longest carp (open section)................... Peter Ohlsen.................................... 85cm With the main marquee being set up two days earlier than usual, the pressure was off to have everything ready by 2pm on Friday when the gates opened. The usual steady crowd flocked in to enjoy the fishing and outdoors expo for the afternoon. Numbers swelled into the evening with huge crowds present for the evening’s activities. There had been bigger event numbers in the past, but never before had so many chose to attend the night’s festivities due to the great weather. After an informative event briefing, the drawing of the first

and then return their photos for verification at day’s end. Saturday evening saw masses converge on the verification tables, cameras and phones in hand, all wanting to show and recount their day’s captures. There was no better set of photos than those produced by Lance Veivers from Queensland. Lance had landed himself a beautiful 103.5cm cod that saw him the one to catch going into Sunday. The word had spread that a 135cm monster had been caught, but unfortunately that was a small mistake from the measuring

captured and 275 returned to collect points. Again, it goes to prove that Lake Mulwala is the home of the Murray cod. AUSTRALIAN CANOE AND KAYAK COD FISHING CHAMPIONSHIPS Thanks to Capacity Sports, the Native Watercraft Australian Canoe and Kayak Cod Fishing Championships entered its sixth year with 70 yakkers taking to the water via paddle or pedal. Tony Moriatis had a good day on the water landing a 75cm cod, long enough to help him claim the title of 2016

Australian Canoe and Kayak Cod Fishing Champion. The lucky winner of the major boat raffle was Rod Hume of Griffith. One of the most pleasing aspects of the event was a phone call from NSW Fisheries, who complimented all anglers on their compliance with all fishing rules. They also noted they did not see one dead fish and decided to leave and head to the Murrumbidgee River in search of those trying to flout the law. COD CLASSIC GOLF CHAPIONSHIPS To round out the weekend, the 12th Cod Classic Golf Championships took place at the magnificent Black Bull course. Some of the rules were if you do not hit it you don’t count it, if you can retrieve it within 10 seconds from the tee you can have it again, you could choose to have one kick and one throw somewhere within your round and all sledging is fair while having your shot, and this all made for an interesting day. Under the Handicap Equalisation System, Dave Silva was the eventual winner with a 91-43-48! This left Dean Turner wondering how he could manage to have a super 73 off the stick (handicap 4) and still manage to be 21 shots off the pace! On a sad note, great friend of many Cod Classic competitors and long time participant, George Jovanovic passed away on the Saturday evening of the event after his battle with a nasty illness. George’s family have mentioned he may have passed earlier but were sure he was holding on to see another Cod Classic. George Jovanovic, competitor 1352, rest in peace. Thanks to the support from the many sponsors, donors and volunteers. Your assistance is appreciated and the event could not do without it. Everyone looks forward to another successful event in 2017. – Tony Bennett, 2016 Cod Classic Event Director

Central Vic Lure Casters Native fish tournament anglers will be spoilt for choice in 2017 with the Central VIC Lure Casters adding a Pro series to their calendar. There will be four rounds with the first event being held at Lake Eppalock Holiday Park on 25-26 February. The tournaments are two angler teams events, where anglers will compete for a cash prize pool comprised of 80% of the entry fees. The cost is $250.00 per

team and the prize money goes to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place getters. Fish must be caught either using lure or fly with no trolling. The best five golden perch and best five Murray cod count towards your bag. Additional bonus points are added for any extra fish caught of the target species. For more information on the Pro Series and Super Series events, contact David ‘Roundy’ Nelson on 0418 378 944 or via email on roundy@

cvlcss.com. There is also plenty of information on their Facebook pages, Central Vic

Pro Series and Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series. – Central Vic Lure Casters

Mulwala really is the home of the Murray cod. Photo courtesy of Stephen Booth.

Round 2 March 25 Mitchellstown

(Major Creek Camping Area) • Each round will have a target species, either Murray Cod or Golden Perch • Catch and release lure tournaments • Conditions Apply

NEW – Pro Series Round 1 Feb 25 & 26 – Lake Eppalock (Lake Eppalock Holiday Park)

Check out our Facebook pages:

• Central VIC Pro Series • Central VIC Lure Casters Super Series There’s a new Pro Series in town!

For more information contact David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com • www.cvlcss.com FEBRUARY 2017

105

Melbourne Marine Centre (03) 9703 2003

BAIT & TACKLE

BOAT HIRE

Regal Marine (03) 9874 4624 Streaker Marine (03) 9729 8288

Lake Eildon Houseboats (03) 9397 6977

Triple M Marine (03) 9465 8787

Portland Bait & Tackle (03) 5523 5213

Boab Boat Hire Shepparton (03) 5822 2108

Warragul Marine (03) 5623 6250

Boab Boat Hire Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Compleat Angler Portland (03) 5521 1844

Wes Frost Marine (03) 5976 4622

WEST COAST

CENTRAL

Inverloch Marine (03) 5674 1502

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

Boats and More Shepparton (03) 5822 2108

JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883

Boats and More Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Compleat Angler Ringwood (03) 9870 7792

Eades Xtreme Marine Echuca (03) 5482 2333

The Flyfisher Melbourne (03) 9621 1246

BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

EAST COAST

Salt-away 1800 091 172 or www.salt-away.com.au

Always Angling Traralgon (03) 5174 8544

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

FRESHWATER Compleat Angler Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Specialty Fishing Products www.specialtyfishing.com.au

Compleat Angler Shepparton (03) 5822 2180

EAST COAST

SHALLOW INLET CARAVAN PARK On the Waters Edge

FRESH BAIT | HIRE BOATS | ICE

• Easy access for boats • 10 cabins (3 with ensuites) • LPG gas refills • Kiosk from dawn to dusk

• Plenty of powered and unpowered camping sites • BBQs • Playground

FREE ADVICE ON WHERE THEY’RE BITING

OPEN

7 DAYS

Compleat Angler Wangaratta (03) 5722 4622

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

03 5687 1385

Shallow Inlet Caravan Park (03) 5687 1385

MARINE MECHANICS

“Over 250 patterns to choose from”

Naaj Marine 0421 955 371 Unique Marine Accessories (03) 5427 1802 CMC Marine Sales www.cmcsales.com.au

ORDER ONLINE

Hunter Marine Boat Builders (03) 5032 2320

www.adrenalinflies.com.au

CENTRAL Chelsea Yamaha (03) 9772 1212

Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au

Kris Oakley Marine Services (03) 9794 5524

Korr Lighting www.korrlighting.com.au

JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883

She Left www.hdvcs.com.au

JV Marine World Laverton (03) 9368 7100

TRADES AND SERVICES ADVERTISING S TO M E R

N GUARA

TEED

SERVIC

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

WEST COAST Warrnambool Holiday Park (03) 5562 5031

FRESHWATER

Melbourne Marine Centre (03) 9703 2003

RE-POWER & SERVICE EXPERTS

NEW

HOLIDAY RENTAL

EAST COAST

Boat, motor & trailer packages!

Line listing from $90 + gst 6 months* 2cm x 2 from $195 + gst 6 months* 4cm x 2 from $320 + gst 6 months* 8cm x 2 from $590 + gst 6 months* Rates exclusive to Trades and Services Directory *Conditions apply Call (07) 3387 0835 or email pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

If you have any other trades or services that you would like to see in this section please don’t hesitate to give us a call Email: pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION EAST GIPPSLAND

MARLO

21 Marine Parade MARLO VIC

OCEAN VIEWS CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

03 5154 8268

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

www.marlocamping.com.au Marlo Ocean Views Caravan and Camping Park, Marlo (03) 5154 8268

Clean, Quality Self Contained Accommodation Overlooking Sydenham Inlet s • Kiosk om Unit 2 Bedro Bedroom • Ice Plus a 4 Available • Bait House • Boat Hire Owner Operated

37-41 Sydenham Parade, Bemm River 3889 Ph: (03) 5158 4233 – 0427 584233 E: bemmaccomm@bigpond.com www.bemmaccommodation.com.au

Bemm River Holiday Accommodation & Boat Hire, Bemm River (03) 5158 4233 or 0427 584 233

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

FINANCE AVAILABLE

Lazy Acre Log Cabins 1, 2 & 3 BEDROOM SPACIOUS COTTAGES ♦ Solar Pool ♦ Free Wi-Fi ♦ Air-Con/Heating ♦ Fishing Advice ♦ Boat Parking

Quiet central location Ideal for all the family Close to 90 mile beach 5min drive to boat ramps

SCREEN PRINTING Logan Specialised Screen Printing (07) 5546 4107

PH: 03 5984 1666 W: nauticalmarine.com.au E: info@nauticalmarine.com.au Nautical Marine: 139 - 141 Hotham Rd Sorrento Vic Nautical Marine (03) 5984 1666

BOAT TRAILER

(03) 5155 1323 ♦ 0418 516 555 ♦ 35 Roadknight Street, LAKES ENTRANCE

CENTRAL Vic Marine & Trailer Warehouse 0412 264 450

Lazy Acre Log Cabins, Lakes Entrance (03) 5155 1323

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.

NSW SOUTH COAST

CHARTER BOATS

Reel Affair, Merimbula freecall 1800 233 247

EAST GIPPSLAND

Espirit Charters, Bermagui (02) 6493 4104 or 0407 260 110

East Gippsland Charters 0400 564 032

Freedom Charters, Eden (02) 6496 1209 or 0415 602 446 Headland Fishing Adventures, Merimbula (02) 6495 1134

WEST COAST

Island Charters, Narooma (02) 4476 1047 or 0408 428 857

Portland Fishing Charters, Portland (03) 5523 3020

K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681

CENTRAL

Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080

South-West Fishing Charters, Portland 0418 306 714

Narooma Charters, Narooma 0407 909 111

Gone Fishing Charters 0409 007 068

O’Brien Charter Service, Bermagui 0407 214 124

Able Fishing & Charters, Williamstown (03) 9502 3777

FISHING GUIDES

ACE Fishing Charters, Bonbeach (03) 9773 4183 Adamas Fishing Charters, Barwon Heads (03) 5254 3320

Fishing Monthly SPECIAL Offers!

NSW SOUTH COAST

Big Red Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 1800 805 587 Wilderness Fishing Tours, Mallacoota 0424 625 160

Blue Magic Fishing Charters, Rowville (03) 9759 5301

Aussie Fish Estuary Adventures (02) 6495 9902 or 0400 062 504

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

SHOP ONLINE 24/7

www.bargainboatbits.com.au or IN-STORE WITH YOUR LOCAL BBB MEMBER! Double Wire Stainless 25mm Rail Mount Rod Holder

Kestrel Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 1783 Queenscliff Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 0458 504 058 Pro Red Fishing Charters 0421 442 775 Rip Charters Fishing Trips, Sorrento (03) 5984 3664

IDEAL GIFT!

Saltwater Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 4888

Rail Not Included

•32mm $34.99

FISHING

Striker 7sv SideVüTM Fishfinder With GPS

FROM CURRUM AN

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NOW FISHING SNAPPER, WHITING AND GUMMIES

• ALL BAIT & TACKLE SUPPLIED • CORPORATE BOOKINGS • DISCOUNTS FOR GROUP BOOKINGS

DVD’S -

Series 3 through 9

CUSTOM CHARTER BOAT - 8.8M HYDROFIELD BOOKINGS CONTACT JOE

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Off The Hook Fishing Charters 0419 554 916

$9.95 each GST INC. - with FREE P&H

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BONUS EXCLUSIVE NEO COVER!

RED HOT PRICE!

St Kilda Fishing Charters, St Kilda (03) 9770 2200 Western Port Fishing Charters, Hastings (03) 9769 5544

EAST COAST Capella III Fishing Adventures, Port Welshpool (03) 5688 1585 Far Out Charters, McLoughlins Beach 0428 401 819

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 40 words within a 8x2 ad size.

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

Non Slip Neoprene Helm Mats

Razorback Bluewater Charters, Port Albert (03) 5183 2691

FRESHWATER

•3 Great Designs

Angling Expeditions Victoria, Tawonga (03) 5754 1466 Highland Trout Lakes, Ballarat (03) 5368 9574

STORES

AUSTRALIA

Millbrook Lakes Lodge, Ballarat (03) 5334 0404

TASMANIA & FLINDERS ISLAND

pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

WIDE

18W LED High Power Floodlight

3299 WE YOU BUY MORE PAY LESS

Ausprey Tours, Launceston (03) 6630 2612 Gone Fishing Charters, St Helens (03) 6376 1553 Fish Wild Tasmania, Hobart 0418 348 223

CHANDLERY & ACCESSORIES

Flinders Island Adventures, Flinders Island (03) 6359 4507

Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014

Trout Territory, Northern Midlands (03) 6397 5001

Techni Ice (03) 9783 1922

www.bargainboatbits.com.au

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

FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION EMOTIONS OF AN ANGLER

ANGER ANXIETY BOREDOM CONFUSION DESPAIR DOUBT ECSTASY ELATION ENVY FRUSTRATION

FURY GUILT HOPE HORROR HUNGER HYSTERIA JEALOUSY JOY PANIC PITY

PRIDE RAGE REGRET REMORSE SADNESS SHAME SUFFERING SURPRISE

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack. SEND ENTRIES TO: VICFM Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

VICFM FEBRUARY 2017

Phone (day):

Dynabait worms are an all-natural, freeze-dried bait. Just soak them in water, and within minutes they’re ready to go! As soon as they hit the water, they release a potent mix of hormones and enzymes that fish can’t resist. These worms are dynamite on bream, whiting, bass, flathead, blackfish, cod, yellowbelly, trevally and many more! Dynabait Bloodworms, Tubeworms and Sandworms are available at all good tackle stores.

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to A Pollard of Darley, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – V&TFM

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The subscriber prize winner for December was B Bajada of Kangaroo Flat, who won an Aquayak Kayaks Snapper Pro valued at $599. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

FIND THE DX POINT LOGO

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

108

FEBRUARY 2017

The answers to Find the DX Point Logo for December were: 8, 18, 21, 22, 34, 40, 44, 46, 51, 58, 60, 73, 77, 82, 84. – V&TFM The Find the DX Point logo prize winners for December were: R Sanders of Lang Lang, J Darch of Altona, J Ellis of Reservoir, R Newton of Wangaratta, G Bouchel of Seymour, M O’Borne of Colac, C Gios of Myrtleford, P Dickinson of Langwarrin, M De Voigt of Cranbourne, J Morrison of Clunes, B Walpole of Warrnambool, D Dunn of Warrnambool, T Hodgkinson of Kyabram, T Logiadice of Morwell, M Moulding of Red Hill, B Meaney of Tungamah, D Hedley of Hamilton, V Illman of Mt Gambier, G Pezos of Notting Hill, M Shaw of Ringwood, J Darch of Altona, M Fryer of Balwyn North, K Carter of Shepparton, R Anset of Kyabram, K Morrison of Moama, F Coman of Kangaroo Flat, P Cobb of Berrigan, B Stokes of Morwell, M Adams of Grahamvale, B Bell of Wodonga, F Oleszko of Braybrook, L Bennett of Traralgon, W Henley of Park Orchards, N Byrne of Wangaratta, K Bradley of Sale, E Hopkinson of Drouin, R Waters of Temora, M Ludekens of Carrum, T Sowter of Rosebud, R Bragg of Birchip. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

boats & kayaks

In the skipperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat 111 Shortlands Bluff Inside story...

Stessco is an Australian owned and operated family business. With a love of fishing and boating, Stessco has built a wide-ranging network of dealerships, with the goal of providing customers with dependable, value-for-money aluminium boats. Stessco prides itself on the wide variety of options available which can be added to the already wide range of different vessels.

Made for...

Anglers who are after a reliable tinny that can be customised to suit their individual requirements and fishing style.

This month...

As a professional guide, Mark Saxon knows what makes a great fishing boat. He was the perfect candidate to test the new Stessco 440 Renegade Softride.

Corey Gallaghar checks out the beautiful Shortlands Bluff in his yak, a squid Mecca.

112 Kayak fun in the sun Justin Willmer explains the value of mixing kayaking and relaxation with friends.

114 Secondhand care

Steve Farmer provides a checklist you should go through when you purchase a secondhand rig.

116 Final boat fit out Wayne Kampe goes through some fit out options for your newly purchased boat.

118 Waverider 450 tiller Editor Steve and Michael Fox take the new rig from Waverider for a spin in Mooloolaba with its creator, Pat Jones.

FEBRUARY 2017

109

WHAT’S NEW BOATING SUZUKI JOYSTICK CONTROL SYSTEM

The Suzuki Precision Manoeuvring (SPM) joystick control system provides fully integrated electronic throttle, shift, steering and joystick control for twin and triple-powered boats equipped with Suzuki’s high-performance 4-stroke outboard motors. SPM utilises the Suzuki Precision Control (SPC) drive-by-wire throttle and shift controls, combined with electronic power steering and joystick control systems and is available with DF150TG, DF175TG, DF200AP, DF250AP and DF300AP outboard models. While underway at higher speeds, an advanced electronic helm provides steering via a control module, with steering effort and number of turns lock-to-lock completely customisable based on user preference and driving style. At low speeds, the joystick can be engaged, providing integrated throttle, shift and steering control to manoeuver the boat in practically any direction when pulling up to the dock, trailering or navigating through close quarters. www.suzukimarine.com.au

TORQEEDO CRUISE POD DRIVES

The Torqeedo Cruise 2.0/4.0 FP and 10.0 FP (Fixed Pod) deliver the top performance that German company Torqeedo is renowned for. Despite being virtually silent, the pod’s performance is equivalent of 5, 8 or 20hp. These motors are lightweight with an optional folding propeller. The Cruise 2.0/4.0 FP propels boats up to 4 tonnes at over 11 km/h and runs for around nine hours at slow speed; and the Cruise 10.0 FP propels vessels up to 10 tonnes up to 32km/h at WOT, and runs for over six hours at slow speed (boat dependent). There is minimal noise, direct cooling in the water and an intelligent computer. The lithium batteries are far lighter than lead batteries, delivering increased range and power. The pod versions are corrosion-protected, very robust and safe, thanks to an emergency magnetic kill switch and no need to carry fuel. Tests have found that a hull-mounted pod drive decreases performance by less than 0.1 knot, so drag isn’t an issue. Price: from RRP $5610 www.torqeedo.com

NEW HONDA PORTABLE 3 OUTBOARDS

Honda has launched three new portable outboards: the BF4, BF5 and BF6. With weights starting from just 27kg, combined with a new carrying handle design, they’re very easy to transport and store. The tiller handle can be fully folded to make the unit even more compact. These engines are equipped with a Honda’s decompression mechanism, which makes starting the engines a breeze whatever the temperature of the engine. For boaters who are sick of getting a tingly arm from harsh engine vibrations, there are new rubber engine mounts integrated into the outboard to absorb practically all vibrations across the rpm range. Hidden under the cowl is an additional 1.5L of fuel, providing up to 43 minutes of travel at WOT. The BF5 and BF6 can also be connected to an additional external fuel tank. These engines share the same 1-cylinder, 127cm³ engine block and benefit from Honda’s industry leading 4-stroke technologies. The new models are available in short (15”/38cm) and long (20”/51cm) shaft. marine.honda.com.au 110

FEBRUARY 2017

FUSION RV-FS402 SOUND-PANEL

PRODUCT GUIDE

The Fusion RV-FS402 Sound-Panel is a complete, shallow-mount 200W dual speaker system, designed for easy and versatile installation. Encapsulated in a single enclosure, Sound-Panel has dual 4” speakers, tweeters and a passive radiator, all tuned for premium sound delivery. Available in black or white grilles, as well as four mounting optional accessory brackets, Sound-Panel is suited to any size vessel and is engineered with IP65 environmental protection against the harsh marine environment. “In boat design, proper location of stereo components is often an afterthought,” said Chris Baird, Managing Director of Fusion Entertainment. “Until now, installers would put speakers wherever they had room, usually overhead, resulting in poor sound quality. Our new Sound-Panel’s powerful components allow for a single, easy-to-install unit to provide superior sound quality with minimal space. If you install a TV, you can mount Sound-Panel just underneath it for a true theatre experience. Whether sitting at anchor or [underway], SoundPanel will let you feel every note in your playlist.” www.fusionentertainment.com

LOWRANCE PRICE DROP

Lowrance has announced a price drop across its HDS Gen 3 range of multifunction displays. Buyers can save $300, $400 and $500 on the 7”, 9” and 12” models respectively, regardless of whether purchasing a head unit only or a transducer package. HDS Gen3 combines a fast processor with enhanced built-in fishfinder and chartplotter technologies. CHIRP, StructureScan HD and StructureScan 3D sonar imaging produce a distinct view of fish holding near the bottom and structure. A multi-touch display and full keypad operation offer fingertip access to all features. It’s all designed to be easy to learn, with operations similar to a smartphone or tablet. HDS Gen3 displays network together, so multiple units may be employed at the helm to allow full screen sonar and chart, or additional units on a casting deck. This system also offers full boat integration. The new RRPs for HDS Gen3 when optioned with a TotalScan Transducer are $1699 (HDS-7), $2899 (HDS-9) and $4199 (HDS-12). Other transducer options are also available. www.lowrance.com

YAMAHA F90

Yamaha’s new lightweight F90 4-stroke is equipped with a 4-cylinder, 16-valve in-line SOHC 1.8L engine, with bigger displacement than the previous generation 1.5L engine it replaces. The bigger F90 is nearly 10kg lighter than the old engine, resulting in improved performance and better balance when fitted on hulls in this category. The F90 is based on the F115B’s 4-cylinder power unit. The design allows the F90 to achieve the weight savings of a single camshaft while still achieving the smooth and efficient performance only seen in 16 valve, 4-cylinder engines of this size. The F90 delivers a 10% improvement in fuel economy, and it’s also very smooth and quiet. It shares the same installation mounting holes as other outboards of similar sizes, making for an easy switch from a twostroke or other brands. It’s compatible with Yamaha’s command link digital gauges, and is also NMEA2000 compatible. www.yamaha-motor.com.au

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

Shortlands Bluff has got the stuff MELBOURNE

Corey Gallagher

Nothing beats cooking up a feed of tasty salt and pepper squid, particularly when you’ve caught the main ingredient yourself. Squid fishing is often overlooked

concrete ramps with floating pontoons, a large car park and wash down facilities. Currently the Borough of Queenscliffe charges a $10 parking fee, which applies to all cars parking within the facility. From the ramp, paddle down the cut into Port Phillip

whiting are also a common catch, moving in and out of the area throughout the year. During the summer months, large schools of Australian salmon move into the area to feed on schools of bait. Snapper, flathead, silver trevally and leatherjackets are also viable options when

Shortlands Bluff is home to the historic Fort Queenscliff and twin lighthouses. by kayak anglers, but there are many spots around the Victorian coastline that provide kayak anglers with easy access to relatively well-protected waters that are abundant with southern calamari. One such location is Shortlands Bluff, located at the southern end of Port Phillip Bay. Home to Queenscliff’s historic fort and twin black and white lighthouses, the bluff creates an amazing backdrop as anglers search for the tasty cephalopods. ACCESS There are a few different ways to gain access to the squid grounds off Shortland’s Bluff. The most obvious is Queenscliff Boat

Bay then make a right turn and paddle past Queenscliff Pier and onto the bluff. It’s a reasonable paddle and the tide can rip through the cut. If you’re working against the current, it can be quite a strenuous paddle. For that reason and to save on parking fees, I prefer to launch from the small beach near the Queenscliff Pilot Station, located at the end of Tobin Drive. This gives you quick access to the prime squid grounds with only a very short paddle required. The only issue with this launch site is the sand can be quite soft and larger kayaks can sink into it as you pull them across the dunes to the water.

TARGET SPECIES Southern calamari are plentiful in the area all year round and are by far the most common catch. King George

A cracking squid taken by the author during a warm summer morning yak session at Shortlands Bluff. colours that resemble the whiting, red mullet and small salmon that the squid feed on. It also pays to have a few more brightly coloured jigs on board to use on overcast days or in dirty water. One final tip is to apply a scent to your jig. Squid have an outstanding sense of smell so it makes sense to make your lure smell more

This small beach near Queenscliff Pilot Station provides an excellent launch site with immediate access to the prime squid grounds.

Southern calamari are most active at dawn and dusk. Get on the water at first light to take advantage of the best bite times. Ramp at the northern end of Hesse Street. The facilities at the ramp are excellent and include an amenities block with showers, duel

anglers can apply to greatly increase their chances of catching their bag. Targeting the squid where they live and when they feed sounds obvious. It’s the simple things we often overlook that can make all the difference. The water at Shortlands is abundant with rocky reefs and weed beds, perfect ground for finding squid. Usually the water is clear enough to see the reef and weed using your naked eye. In deeper water or when the water is dirty, a sounder is the best way to locate likely squid grounds. I fish for squid at first light as they are very active at this time of day and will quickly go off the bite as the light increases. Being on the water early is essential. Another productive time to target squid is at dusk. Squid will vary the depths at which they feed. I like to start off in shallow water around 2m and slowly make my way out into 8m+. By

fishing Shortland’s Bluff. METHODS / TECHNIQUES When targeting squid, there are several techniques

individually marking each squid I catch on my sounder, I can quickly establish the depth where they are most abundant. Kayaks have a distinct advantage here, as boats will quickly drift out of the ideal depth zone and force anglers to regularly reposition. Kayak anglers can use their pedal drives to keep them positioned in the perfect depth and the ideal zone. Jig size is an important consideration. Due to the currents that flow past Shortland’s Bluff, I use jigs in the 3-4 size range. When fishing in the shallow water, I’ll use the size 3 jigs and then change to sizes 3.5-4 jigs as I move out deeper. The key is to keep the jig as close to the bottom as possible without snagging on the weed and reef. Colour choice is also important. When it comes to squid, I like to match the hatch and choose natural

like their prey. I prefer to use Sax Scent in the gold prawn flavour on my jigs, regularly reapplying to ensure they can easily be located.

SAFETY Boat traffic in the area can be significant, particularly during weekends and holiday periods, so taking measures to ensure that you are easily visible to boat traffic is well advised. I use a brightly coloured PFD and even use flashing lights during periods of low light to show my position. Strong currents also exist in the area. Be aware of your surroundings at all times or risk a long paddle back to your launch site. Port Phillip Bay is a large body of water and it can become very choppy at times. Check the forecast thoroughly before venturing out into the bay and only head out when conditions are suitable. As always wear a PFD and keep a bailer on board as required by Victorian law. CONCLUSION Squid fishing in a kayak can be a very rewarding way to spend a morning or evening on the water. You’ll have the satisfaction of providing a feed to friends and family. Shortlands Bluff and its surrounding reefs provide some of the best squid grounds to kayak anglers in the state with genuine giants on offer. If you’ve got a taste for squid action, head down to Queenscliff to take advantage of what’s on offer.

Match the hatch! Jigs that resemble the fish squid regularly feed on, such as whiting and red mullet, often get the most interest. FEBRUARY 2017

111

Kayak fun in the sun BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Hopefully you managed to get the kayak on the water over the holiday break and find a fish or two. There were no extreme fishing trips for me over the break. I got the yak in the water to introduce some newbies to the sport, and to spend some time paddling with friends that wouldn’t consider themselves hardcore anglers. These trips reinforced to me that our sport is so much more than just fishing. It’s the adventure, the mateship, interaction with nature, scenery, the serenity. Then on top of all of this, there’s still the fishing.

RUBY’S MORNING ADVENTURE My first adventure was with Miss Ruby, a nineyear-old who has been doing a bit of land-based bait fishing with dad, but never paddled a kayak. Our plan was to paddle about a kilometre, mostly in the shallows, then pull our kayaks up onto a sandbank where we would fish for Ruby’s first flathead. Ruby is a pretty adventurous young lady and took most things in her stride. Anything she was unsure of we worked at slowly and systematically. After wheeling her kayak to the water, it was PFDs on and then we played around in the shallows for fifteen minutes or so, as Ruby learned how to propel the kayak. We turned left,

kayak up onto the beach, so that it was easier to jump out. Then it was into the fishing. We had a few casts with my go-to plastic and then I suggested changing to my wife’s favourite, which worked, of course. I was casting, Ruby was retrieving and hopping the plastic, and then screaming as a flathead grabbed her lure and sped off across the shallows. I reassured her that all was good, to take her time. After a couple of minutes, we had a flathead in the net. It was her first flathead and she chose to keep it for her and her dad to have for dinner. A dozen casts later and it was fish on again. This fish ate the soft plastic as Ruby was lifting it. The strike was brutal, followed by a first run that took some drag and saw a big smile on Ruby’s face as she fought it more confidently. Around 42cm, this one was destined to become fillets for Ruby’s grandparents, who had looked after her over the holidays. The tide turned to run-out and we made the call to paddle the short distance back

Ruby looking cool while she learns the basics. Note that she has her water bottle and PFD. to our prearranged pick up point. The wind picked up as predicted and was blowing against us. Ruby had plenty of stories to tell, we had both had a great time, created some great memories and as Trace Adkins sings, ‘she thinks we’re just fishing.’ ISLAND LUNCH My wife Sheri planned the second adventure. It was to be a few kilometres of paddling

across the Pumicestone Passage for lunch and a swim on the inside of Bribie Island, north of Brisbane. Joining us were our friends Aimee and Toby, who wouldn’t consider themselves hardcore, but they definitely enjoy wetting a line. We had a great day on the water and you can probably think of a spot in your home waters where you can paddle a few kilometres, escape the

Ruby was interested in what her flathead had been eating, so she investigated while filleting. I’d like to share a couple of these adventures and then break down a few aspects that made these missions successful. There’s also a few things you can keep in mind when paddling and fishing with kids, newbies or softcore anglers. With more people getting into the sport and plenty more kayaks sold this Christmas, we have the opportunity to assist these new paddlers and ensure they have a comfortable, safe and productive introduction to the sport we love.

right, paddled backward and managed to avoid crashing into the mangroves before we pushed out a little deeper and allowed the current to guide us in our direction of travel. Along the way we spotted jellyfish, stingrays, birds and I ensured that Ruby was comfortable and tracking okay. As her confidence in her paddling and stability grew, we took more time to enjoy the sights and chat. We then talked about leaning back in the kayak, paddling a little faster and sliding the

Sheri and Toby headed for their island destination. 112

FEBRUARY 2017

Ruby’s first flathead caught on ZMan 3” MinnowZ.

crowds and enjoy lunch, a swim and a fish. We set off and caught the tide, travelling as a group to ensure that we were more visible to boat traffic and stopping at one flat for a quick flick on the way. I managed one flathead that was kept to fillet up for the guys to take home. Then we decided to head for our destination, as the forecast was for strong afternoon winds that would be pushing us home. We pulled the kayaks up on the sand, under the shade of a tree, enjoyed our bread rolls and fruit salad, and then had a swim and a flick while standing waist deep in water. It was relaxing, fishing and chatting with a magnificent backdrop of the Glasshouse Mountains. It’s definitely not all about the fishing. We had a few bites on the soft plastics, almost landed a longtom, fed some of our bread roll to whiting, gar and herring that were swimming around our feet, and spotted a small squid that was netted for closer inspection before being released again. It was a great catch-up and as a bonus, we planned a future lightweight kayak camping adventure further up the Pumicestone Passage. With the wind forecast to blow up with the turn of

A relaxing way to wet a line on a hot day.

the tide, we opted to head for home. As the tide began to run out, the wind kicked up and pushed us in the right direction. It was a good call to leave before the winds became strong, as it became quite rough while we were packing gear and loading kayaks. It had been a great day kayaking, swimming, adventuring and fishing, even without catching loads of fish.

Here’s a few reasons why these missions were successful and a few things to keep in mind when paddling and fishing with kids, newbies and beginner anglers. TIDES WIND AND WEATHER The tide can be your friend. Use the tides to move you to and from your fishing, swimming or camping destination. If anything goes

Just one of the many creatures you can see on a kayak fun fishing trip.

wrong with you or your gear, it’s much easier to journey home with the tide. Keep an eye on websites like Seabreeze and Willy Weather. The last thing you need is to be paddling or fishing with a beginner in poor weather, or battling strong winds, especially on a long paddle home. On both of these adventures, we planned to make the most of the morning weather, used the forecast winds to carry us home and were off the water before the wind reached 20 knots. FISHING We all say ‘a fish is a bonus’ or ‘it’s not all about the fishing.’If you carry this attitude into these adventures, you’re likely to enjoy them more. In fact, if the session does produce a fish, it can actually be more enjoyable than a hardcore fishing session where catching is the primary objective. I prefer not to fish most of the time when guiding kids and newbies. Instead I ensure they’re geared up correctly, casting in the right spots and working the lure effectively. I talk them through all of the little things that we take for granted when fishing. At the end of the day, this will help make them a better angler that we can share future adventures with. KAYAK OR LAND-BASED Just because you’re adventuring in the kayak doesn’t mean you have to fish

we can bring them together for the ultimate kayak fishing experience.

my kayak, allowing them to paddle more freely and be less concerned about losing gear

Ruby had a great morning out and caught a couple of flatties for a feed. PFD AND GEAR Make sure they’re wearing a foam-filled PFD and explain that if they tip the kayak, just float around. You can even have a swim with the kayak and PFD in the shallows and climb in and out of the kayaks a few times before your adventure. I carry the icebox, net, lip grips, fishing rods and other gear on

while their confidence grows. It’s a good idea to talk about clothing when planning your adventure. Your paddle buddy should be dressed for the adventure, location, weather and sun. Make sure you carry plenty of cool drinks and food to avoid hunger, thirst and that angry little monster that can come out of any of

A nice flatty for the table – just add chips!

This is a nice shady point to stop and have lunch.

Ruby’s second flathead. She was confident enough to hold this one.

from the kayak. If you have someone that is new to fishing or new to kayaking, make the most of the paddle and then select a suitable land-based location for fishing. This makes it much easier for you to assist them with it, without having to battle the wind and tide. You can easily focus on one thing at a time and keep things simple. Ruby loved the kayak adventure and now has some fishy tales to tell. Both the paddling experience and fishing experience were positive, without the complication of combining the two. As she becomes more experienced at both,

us when confronted with a lack of either. A handful of lollies stashed in a ziplock

bag (remember any special dietary requirements) has been the key to reigniting the enthusiasm, renewing the focus and subduing the monster on many adventures. KNOW YOUR LIMITS It’s a good idea to spend some time in the shallows like Ruby and I did, learning to control and manoeuvre the kayak and gain some confidence. This also allows you to quickly assess their abilities so that you can alter your adventure as required. Well, that’s a quick look at a few things that have helped make my experiences with kids and beginners more successful. It can be extremely rewarding to see a beginner flourish into a capable paddler, a new angler catch the first of a species and also to share these adventures and experiences with others. Be a good guide, be prepared, be patient and who knows – you could be embarking on a journey with your future paddling and fishing buddy, sharing adventures and making memories. See you on the water.

This looks like a good spot for a fish and swim. FEBRUARY 2017

113

Health check for a pre-loved rig AYR

Steve Farmer

Most of us have bought a pre-loved or secondhand trailer boat outfit at some stage – or are planning to. Dollar-wise, they can be great value and are often the only option, especially if you’re buying your first boat. Another bonus is that if you manage to find a rig that suits your fishing style, then a lot of the time-consuming customisation will already have been done – you can hit the water straight away and fish the way you like. Seems so simple, right? Not always. While you can expect everything to be perfect and ready to go if you buy new, there are no guarantees with a secondhand outfit and it’s worth spending a bit of time checking

probably don’t know a lot about that boat you just bought. Sure, you checked it out as best you could in the time available and if it hadn’t looked good you wouldn’t have handed over the cash, but you probably don’t know much about the history of the rig or how it was maintained by the previous owner. Like me, you probably don’t know if there’s grease in the bearings until you actually check. So, I suggest you forget any plans about an immediate maiden voyage and give your rig a health check before it hits the water. The checks I suggest below are what I have done to my boating outfits in the past. I am not a qualified marine mechanic, so please use this list as a guide only. If you aren’t comfortable doing some of

The maiden voyage should be fun and hassle-free.

It pays to check your running gear. This hub is missing a wheel stud and the bearing grease is contaminated by water.

Wheel nuts There’s not much point in having a spare wheel if you can’t change it on the side of the road. Make sure you have a wheel spanner to fit the nuts and a jack suitable for jacking up the rig. Remove the nuts one at a time and wire brush the threads if they are rusty. Spray the threads with WD40 or a similar product to minimise corrosion and then replace them firmly. Bearings Check the seals and grease and look for water contamination. Jack up each wheel and check for excessive play in the

place or bare wires that need a couple of wraps of electrical tape. Check wires and bulb holders for corrosion or tarnishing. If they are in doubtful condition, consider changing them to new LED tail lights. Winch A bit of lubrication can make a big difference when retrieving your rig. Grease or oil the gearing, shafts and handle sparingly. Check the wire winch rope for broken, protruding strands. They can cause hand injuries. If your winch has a webbing strap, check it for fraying or damage.

This is what can happen to near perfect-looking tyres that are more than six years old. over your new purchase before hitting the water, or the road. I learnt the importance of this many years ago when I bought a pre-loved 4.8m tinny. When I got it home I knocked the grease caps off the hubs and couldn’t believe my eyes. One bearing was almost devoid of grease – plenty of rust but not much lube. How it didn’t fail on the 80km delivery trip I don’t know. The reality is you

them yourself, then find an expert to do the job for you. Some points might seem pedantic, but there are also sure to be other important checks that I have missed. By the way, this isn’t just going to cost you time. Dollars are bound to be involved, so I hope you’ve got a few left over from the purchase. So, let’s get started – the sooner it’s all ticked off, the sooner you can confidently hit the water.

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THE TRAILER Tyres Good rubber is essential, especially if your rig is large and heavy or you plan to do a lot of highway kilometres. Look for excessive tread wear and cracks in the walls, and check their age. Tyres have a life of five or six years – any older than that and they risk shedding their tread on a long, hot drive, as I found out the hard way. Tyres are expensive, but definitely worth replacing if at all doubtful. And don’t forget the spare. If you don’t have a spare, get one as soon as possible.

bearing. Spin the wheel and listen for any rumbles from a dry or rough bearing. If doubtful, remove, clean and re-grease the bearings. Replace any marked, pitted or rusty bearings. Rollers You’ll probably have to launch the boat before you can properly check the rollers. Replace any worn, broken or split rollers and bent shafts, and ensure they’re all spinning freely. Ensure all rollers and balance boards or side rollers are adjusted properly. This can make launching and retrieval much easier. Tail lights Working tail lights are essential. Plug them into the tow vehicle and make sure they are all working. Look for dull lamps, cracked lenses, loose wires that need cable-tying into

Ensure the hook is in good order and that a safety chain is connecting your boat to the trailer. Jockey wheel A jockey wheel is a big benefit, even on smaller boats and regular lubrication will ensure they are in good working order. Replace broken parts such as wheels or handles. Tie-down Strap Check the strap for damage and the tensioning handles for easy operation. Lightly lubricate the handles if necessary. Wear pads where the strap passes over the gunwales will save the strap from fraying, but may need regular replacement. Number Plate/rego sticker Ensure the number plate is in good condition and lit by the tail light and the trailer rego sticker is current.

THE BOAT AND GEAR The Hull Replace any tattered rego number stickers and make sure the boat registration sticker is on and is current. Check the drain plugs are in good condition and buy a spare

good idea. Batteries Ask your battery retailer to test and check the age of your batteries. Replace them if your battery expert recommends doing so. If they are okay, check electrolyte level and

Check the gauge on your fire extinguisher. This one needs replacing.

Check the dates on EPIRBs and flares. EPIRBs must be registered in your name.

Inspect the switchboard for corrosion or loose wires and label each circuit so you can find it in an emergency. or two. If you have a tinny with a removable floor, lift it out and clean out the inside of the hull to reduce the chances of unseen corrosion. Navigation Lights Navigation, anchor and other lights should be tested. Check for cracks in lenses and corrosion of metal parts. Carrying spare fuses and globes is a

then clean up the terminals. Fully charge batteries prior to use. Switchboard If you have a switchboard, ensure it is in good overall condition and that all switches and fuses work. Check for corrosion or loose connections. Ensure you know what each switch does and label them if necessary. Carry

Ensure the bilge pump is not restricted by rubbish in the bilge.

Test the bilge pump at home rather than when you need it most.

Inflatable lifejackets must be serviced annually, so check the date. spare fuses for each circuit. Electrical Equipment Power up electrical equipment such as sounders and radios at home as a preliminary check, but give them a proper check as soon as possible after getting on the water. Bilge Pump Fill the boat with enough water to cover the bilge pump and switch it on to test. Ensure the pump is not blocked by any rubbish in the bilges and that it is pumping a good flow and runs freely and smoothly. Do not run the pump dry. THE SAFETY GEAR Make sure you have all the safety gear required for the waters in which you are travelling. EPIRBs and flares have expiry dates, which must be checked. Carry out the test operation on the EPIRB. Ensure they are in good general condition. Familiarise yourself with the operation of the EPIRB and flares. The EPIRB must be registered in your name. Lifejackets should be in good condition with no tears, frays or excessive fading. Inflatable lifejackets need to be serviced every year, so check the service date. Ensure the floatation rating of the lifejackets matches the size of your crew. Check the pressure dial on the top of your fire extinguisher to ensure it is still serviceable. Ensure the pin is still in place. Invert the extinguisher and shake it for a few minutes to free up the powder that may have become packed in the

bottom of the cylinder. THE OUTBOARD The outboard is probably the most important part of your rig once you’re on the water and unfortunately, it’s unlikely you will know the service history of your secondhand outboard. I’m definitely not an outboard mechanic and would probably book it into the local marine dealer for a service. That way you’ll know what state your outboard is in. If you’re a confident DIYer, I would suggest changing the oil in the gearbox (checking for signs of water contamination), changing the water pump impellor, also remove, grease

and replace the propeller and replace the spark plugs. You should also drain or replace any filters, check fuel hoses and connections for hardening or cracking and discard any fuel if you aren’t sure of how old it is. Ensure the outboard is clamped firmly to the transom and is secured with a safety chain. Finally, give the motor a run on the ear muffs or in a drum. IT’S ALL WORTH IT It seems like a lot to do before even hitting the

water, but many of the points above should only take a few minutes each. The reward is that you are more likely to enjoy a hassle-free maiden voyage, which is a good look in the eyes of your fishing mates, and especially important if your children or a hesitant first mate are along for the shakedown cruise. Most of all, you’ll know you’ve done all you can to ensure your new rig is safe and well-maintained and ready for a bit of boating and fishing fun.

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115

Consider your options for a final boat fit out BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

So you’ve got your own boat. As it’s coming from the factory, there are options aplenty. Customisation of features is something that

holders, berley buckets, custom wraps, a bimini, storage bins, rod lockers, rod holders, rod racks, cleats and rails, cockpit lighting, deck wash and side pockets. Even extra compartments within cast decks are negotiable these days. Mandatory of course, are transducer brackets

That’s a decent live well. Optioning for one that large would be great. a lot of makers are putting across the table these days. The options can be highly attractive too, with factory spec sheets showing such goodies as live wells for bait and catch (plumbed or otherwise), extra seats with accompanying spigots, drink

sounder/plotters, somewhere to mount a unit is essential. There’s lot of money tied up in that list of options, so where does it start and end? Starting is easy: ending is the problem in my view. SORTING IT OUT: GLASS FIRST The size of the boat and its construction will have a major bearing on features. While it might seem easier to add extras to an alloy craft than a glass one, a lot of quality glass-makers are incorporating useful options as well, to maintain sales in today’s very competitive market. Starting with a glass boat, it makes sense to have side pockets within the cockpit work area, rod racks or rod holders horizontally mounted along at least one cockpit side wall. If there’s an option to

involved. Forward seating is offered in walkaround or centre console glass rigs. If a storage compartment is offered under that seat, so much the better. A deck wash is handy in any larger boat and well worth the money, even it it’s just to clean up at the end of fishing. Rod holders are a huge asset in any larger boat, but beware of rocket launcher style rod holders that might put rods right up on top of a hard top or other framework and make them hard to access. A well constructed bait station that isn’t cockpit intrusive and equipped with inbuilt rod holders is very good value, as a rod can be placed in the holder while terminal tackle is worked on. Electronic aids and a radio are standard in any

A catch well of those proportions isn’t going to be cheap. If you’re confident about your offshore fishing, the outlay makes a lot of sense. larger rig. My only suggestion regarding the sounder/plotter is to purchase the very best you can afford, as it’s a mighty investment in fishing pleasure. With a larger craft, which glass

and a pod up front on which to mount an electric motor. In boats likely to be ranging far and wide, a radio is a smart investment in safety. Fish finders and other nav aids are pretty much standard these days and as even small tinnies are seen sporting high end

There’s a pack of good options here. Deck wash, rod holders in side pockets and a decent bait station are all handy in a fishing rig.

Setting up the sounder in just the right spot is always important in a smaller alloy rig. Quintrex got it right with this one.

Optional rocket launcher style rod holders are great, but it’s better to ensure rods are still within easy reach. 116

FEBRUARY 2017

have rod tips tucked up within the side deck up front and out of harm’s way, it’s worth looking at. Rod lockers aren’t always offered, as many prefer to have easily accessible rods. Live bait wells are a great selling point in any boat and can usually be set into a transom corner. Ask the question, ‘Are we really going to fish with live bait?’ If it’s not a priority, then save your money. A catch well large enough to keep the day’s prize in is a must, but it pays to find out if it can be drained and cleaned after use, to ensure fishy smells are finalized. A berley bucket is always handy in any boat – all it takes is a mounting point set up at the factory and it’s up to the crew to see if they want the berley bucket along on a trip. Cockpit lighting is useful. While not everyone fishes at night, some boaters have it installed to sort things out in the boat at night, if lighting is poor where the craft is stored. Cleats are handy in any craft, and if the pocket is deep enough, pop up style cleats are a great asset. Totally unobtrusive until required, they’re worth the extra money

rigs tend to be, the depth of the pocket is always the decider for the extent of the options list. The overriding factor is necessity. EXTRAS FOR AN ALLOY RIG Alloy craft start at smaller sizes than glass ones. Moving away from small tinnies, where options can be limited to things such as a factory installed flat floor, bow mount thruster plate, paint or rails, extras are certainly available for rigs over 4m. From the outset it makes sense to consider some of the pros and cons of the options I’ve already mentioned. They can also apply to alloy rigs, especially larger ones. A popular one for alloy craft is variable seating, which means that extra seat spigots are installed in places where they might be useful to distribute weight, for extra crew, or perhaps assist in the style of fishing. If the boat has a cast deck up front and a seat spigot is optional up there, it might be

A set of rod holders like these will be an asset in a fishing craft.

Even a smaller live well such as this one can be useful in a rig where live baiting is part of the fishing fun.

better to have a spigot installed for a smaller bicycle style seat, rather than a full sized one that takes up more room. Carpet flooring is a big seller in alloy craft, especially hookless carpet. Ticking the box for this stuff is very wise. Many times I’ve let an Owner treble touch my standard carpet flooring and had to use pliers to extract it – a waste of time while my wife is catching fish. Rod lockers seem to be offered a fair bit in larger alloy craft. In my view, it’s a toss up between these somewhat bulky items and standard

to see if it’s large enough to do the job. Are you targeting mackerel? Then a bream and bass sized catch well is useless. Plumbing to live catch wells is vital, especially for competition anglers. It’s worth the extra dollars to have it set up from the outset. Anchor wells are a source of complexity. If the well is not drained, then a wet anchor warp might cause issues in time. If there’s no lid on the well, consider if the anchor rope will bounce out under way in rough, going by the shape of the anchor well.

Additional compartments for fuel (tote) tanks are a possible source of annoyance. Some manufacturers insist on making them so confined that a cast deck hatch over the top of a full tote tank just won’t close properly. Measure the area to ensure the tote tank will fit, especially if the compartment has been set up for either equipment or tote tank storage. Somewhere to mount the sounder in a smaller alloy rig is a priority. If a side mini console type mounting point is available, go for it.

SUMMING UP The main issue with any optioning up of a rig is not to overdo things. Cluttering a rig with more seats, things that overly intrude or take up space, or items that will seldom ever be put to use is simply wasting money. Manufactures hugely boost their profits from the extras, as a look at an options price listing will rapidly confirm, so it makes sense to consider most of the likely fishing scenarios and then assess how a range of selected options might best assist that fishing.

This side pocket is compromised by the plumbing. horizontal side mounted racks. It comes down to available cockpit space – if it’s not sufficient then horizontal racks are fine. Vertical ones also useful when set up on consoles. Side pockets are handy so long as they don’t intrude too far into the cockpit and gobble up work area. Live wells and live catch wells are useful assets if suited to the fishing style, and if they’re large enough to be worthwhile. Unfortunately, some catch wells are too small to be useful. Have a look at one already installed in the sort of boat under consideration,

Upright rod racks are a useful option in a console craft and ensure optimisation of space.

A drop down rear seat is a great option to provide extra room in a fishing cockpit. Note the deck wash there as well.

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117

Waverider 450 tiller – more than meets the eye

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

The Sunshine Coast’s Pat Jones has been fascinated by boats his whole life. You may know him from his successful product, the Kapten Boat Collar, which turns your rock-n-rolling tinnie into a safe and stable fishing platform. He’s also YouTube famous for his surfing a tinnie with a Boat Collar on the bar at the Mooloolah River (search ‘Kapten surfing’ on YouTube) and getting some serious ‘tinnie-air’. His Waverider hull concept, however, came from his desire to build in the features of a Boat Collar into a tinnie itself. Therefore, the Waverider hull – with large, full length, reverse chines – was born. The 4.5m version is the smallest in the Waverider range and it suited to tiller applications up to 50hp. And if you were to read no further in this test, let me outline the three standout features of this rig, which is Pat’s own fishing machine. 118

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Firstly, of course, is the stability. The reverse chines that generate the stable attitude in the water are 15cm wide at the transom and maintain that width the whole way as they wrap around to the bow – just like the Boat Collar – creating a step-out at the bow. FEATURES • Level flotation • Storage under seats, under front deck and side pockets. • 6 rod holders • Large anchor well • Transom splash boards PERFORMANCE RPM.....................km/h 800.............................4 1000...........................5 2000...........................9 3000......................... 12 4000.........................29 5000.........................39 5150..........................42 5500.........................50 The wide gunwales allow nimble anglers – like Fishing monthly’s own Michael Fox – to easily walk

around the boat at that level, illustrating the ability of this hull. Remember, too, that the beam of this boat is less than 2m. Other manufacturers generate stability by disproportionately increasing beam, which can create ride and trailering problems. Secondly is the build quality. The entire hull is cut from 4mm aluminium sheet and foam filled for level, upright flotation. Apart from the peace-of-mind that the flotation generates, you can hear the solidity of this hull as you drive through a moderate chop. It lands softly and feels solid. No rattles or flexing. Thirdly, there’s the ease of use. Rarely do you see a 4.5m tinnie with a fully customised aluminium trailer. And by that, I mean no adjustable bits. The trailer for this Waverider has all of the skids welded into the correct place and apart from the running gear, there are no moving parts. Gone are the days when it sounds like there’s a flock of budgies following you down the road on the way to the ramp. With the hull recessed

between the wheel arches, the hull sits low enough to drive on and off on even the

layout won’t suit all anglers. It suits Pat and his fishing style, but alternative rod storage

SPECIFICATIONS Length................................................................4.5m Beam................................................................1.97m Chine beam.....................................................1.70m Chine width......................................................15cm Height..............................................................0.70m Hull weight......................................................380kg Height on trailer..............................................1.45m Width on trailer...............................................2.26m Capacity....................................................4 persons Max hp...................................................................50 Material.................................. 4mm plate alloy 5083 Fuel......................................................................45L shallow, cruddy ramps that we are used to in Queensland. Believe it or not, that can be a game changer for some purchasers – the ability to keep the partner, fishing buddy or kids dry in areas with minimal facilities is a real plus. There’s a dozen captioned images here showing you through the rig, but if you scan the QR codes hereby with your smartphone you can see the video of the full boat test and Pat’s tour of the boat. We know that from a fishing point of view, this

and holder configurations are available – you just need to start the conversation with the builder.

As tested, the rig, powered by the frugal Suzuki 40, weighs in a $32,900, but consider in your purchase the fact that there’s a custombuilt ally trailer and the build quality in the hull and you can see where the money goes. For more information, visit waveriderboats.com.au or call Pat on 0467 506 131. • 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 the QR code to see the full boat test with Steve Morgan and Pat Jones.

Scan to watch an in-depth walk through of the 4.5 Waverider with Pat Jones.

The 40hp Suzuki 4-stroke in this setup won’t break any speed records, but it’s super quiet, super efficient and easy to drive with electric start and power trim and tilt.

You can see the chines working here – pushing water down and away from the hull.

This is about as simple and comfortable as it gets in a tiller boat. Padded seats with plenty of storage room and the ability to drive left or right-handed. Yep – some people do it the ‘other’ way.

Pat values his cockpit space and has set his rod holders up at the bow and out of his way. Other anglers will prefer alternative storage options. Most are possible in a plate alloy boat.

At the heart of the Waverider 450 is the wide reverse chines that mimic the effectiveness of the Kapten Boat Collar – Pat Jones’ other enterprise.

The Waverider sits low in between the guards to make the drive on/ off process as smooth as possible. Teflon skids are maintenance free and have the added bonus of not sounding like there’s a flock of budgies following you down the road while driving to the ramp.

The under seat storage is half foamfilled. The whole boat floats upright, with four on board, if full of water. If you ever need it, you’ll be happy that it does.

It’s neat when the trailer is custom made for the boat. An aluminium frame and Teflon skids make launch and retrieval ridiculously easy. Big thumbs-up from the tester. FEBRUARY 2017

119

Stessco Renegade 440 with Mercury 60hp THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

When the staff at Fishing Monthly asked me to do boat reviews with the crew from Hastings Marine at Port Macquarie, I jumped at the opportunity to look at what they had to offer. When I contacted Hastings Marine and found out that one of these boats was the new Stessco 440 Renegade Softride, I was a little excited to say the least. Often on the water in a guiding capacity with my boat Castaway, most weeks I don’t get the opportunity to play with new boats. My immediate thoughts were to hop in the car, head to Hastings River Drive and talk to John Morton at the shop to check this baby out. At the boat yard, I got my first look at the Stessco. First impressions are always important and this boat with its metallic grey colour matched with the black 60hp Command Thrust Mercury was definitely was an eye-catcher. The test boat was fitted with a Garmin EchoMAP 75sv sounder on the console. On the bow was the new forward facing Panoptix 120

FEBRUARY 2017

live sonar from Garmin, which has and adjustable transducer and is fitted to the very neat MotorGuide X5 trolling motor. The Panoptix live is a very interesting piece of equipment, and when John asked me to bring some rods along for the test run, I was ready to hit the Hastings River! ON THE WATER Putting the Renegade 440 side console through its paces was a breeze. Fitted with hydraulic steering and Active Trim and Tilt on the Mercury, it was very neat and easy to manage. Getting used to the Active Tilt, which is the motor trimming itself, felt strange at first, but didn’t take long to get used to. This can still be done manually via the control switch. The conditions on the day of the test were calm and glassy. The ride was spot on and the Mercury 60hp got the boat up on the plane easily with two people on board. Mercury’s Command

Thrust in their 40-60hp 4-stroke means it has a taller heavy-duty gear case. Larger gear shafts make it approximately 33% larger than your standard outboard gear case, so the prop sits deeper in the water. With the Mercury Vengeance stainless prop, this gives you a lot more thrust. The Renegade sits high in the water and would handle the summer northeasterly wind chop very easily. Turning in tight situations was easy and we put it through a few tight manoeuvres, such as figure of eights at speed, without problems. The Renegade 440 fitted with the 60hp Mercury was impressive for speed and handling and we had it to a top speed of 30 knots with the two of us on the boat. LAYOUT AND FISHABILITY The layout is quite effective and simple. The front casting platform is a sweet size with a roomy and

SPECIFICATIONS Overall length....................................................4.4m Length on trailer...............................................5.1m Beam.....................................................................2m Depth.............................................................0.975m Max hp...................................................................60 Bottom thickness.............................................3mm Side thickness...................................................3mm Max people..............................................................5

effective plumbed live well underneath. Forward of this is the battery storage hatch which had one battery for running the electric motor, but two would fit if you were thinking 24 volt. At the stern of the boat, there is a smaller casting deck section, which can be easily fished from, if you were taking a third person. There is also a bait well for those livie sessions and four welded upright rod holders just for the occasion. The console is neat and houses the Garmin sounder. Another feature on the dash is the Mercury Vessel View 4, which gives system scan, fuel, speed and economy read outs, plus the Smart Tow feature – a very user friendly piece of equipment. The dash also houses a selector switch panel for navigation lights, bilge pump and live well. Everything on this console is where it should be and the storage under the console is ample. Having the deluxe seats and chrome steering wheel gave the deck and console a classy appearance. On the passenger side is a fully welded pocket, which housed the fire extinguisher and would be great for all those pieces of equipment we use regularly.

CONCLUSION The Renegade was a dream to launch and retrieve and easily handled by one person, barring health restrictions. The Stessco EZY deluxe trailer handles the boat with ease and was very smooth on and off. After spending a morning on the Stessco Renegade 440, I

shows fish moving through the beam and I was amazed watching the fish darting around when hooked. I’ll be spending more time with one of these units. Packages would start around the high $30Ks, depending on the fitout you choose. For more information, contact Robert Neely at Chelsea Yamaha on

TEST BOAT FEATURES • MotorGuide X5 trolling motor • 2 Garmin EchoMAP 75sv sounders • Garmin Panoptix forward facing live sonar • Mercury Active Trim • Hydraulic steering • Chrome steering wheel • Metallic paint • Welded rod holders • Mercury 60hp Command Thrust • Mercury Vengeance stainless steel prop • Deluxe seats • Deluxe Stessco EZY load trailer • Mercury Vessel View 4 Gauge found it very impressive, well thought out boat for serious estuary, river and impoundment anglers. It has a maximum person rating of five, but for serious fishing activities two to three would be max. We fished and John pulled a couple of bream from the local canals, which we saw on the Garmin Panoptix live sonar. This sonar system

(03) 9772 1212 for a Stessco and Yamaha motor package. • 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.

From the rear, the Mercury 60hp 4-stroke with Command Thrust pushes the boat to a handy maximum speed of 30 knots or 56km/h. This rig has a generous deck space and big front casting platform. Check out the comfort of those Relaxn Deluxe seats.

The large anchor well comes standard with the Renegade. There’s room for more than just an anchor and rope!

Situated up the front of the casting deck is the Garmin Panoptix forward facing live sonar.

The console has been well thought out and looks very classy fitted with Garmin sounder and the Vessel View 4, with a throttle control and Mercury’s Active Tilt and Trim. This console was a pleasure to sit behind.

Stessco’s Ezy Load deluxe trailer was a breeze to launch and retrieve from, and looked very neat.

The fully plumbed livewell is a must on any sportfishing vessel. This one would keep any bream fisho happy!

The back casting area with a live bait well and battery storage unit underneath for main powerplant. Those are some great seats.

The storage compartment on the starboard side – great for a fire extinguisher and other necessary items. FEBRUARY 2017

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2017 2017 2017 Local Time

SYDNEY SOUTH WALES WALES SYDNEY (FORT (FORT DENISON) DENISON) – – NEW NEW SOUTH SYDNEY (FORT WALES JANUARY JANUARY JANUARY

Time Time Time 0432 0432 0432 1101 1101 1101 1738 SU 1738 SU 1738 SU 2339 2339 2339 0516 0516 0516 1142 1142 1142 1819 MO 1819 MO 1819 MO

111 222

0025 0025 3330025 0603 0603 0603 TU 1225 TU1225

TU 1225 1902 1902 1902 0114 0114 0114 0656 0656 0656 1312 WE 1312 WE WE 1312 1950 1950 1950 0207 0207 0207 0755 0755 0755 TH 1406 TH1406 TH 1406 2042 2042 2042 0306 0306 0306 0902 0902 0902 1509 FR FR1509 1509 FR 2138 2138 2138 0407 0407 0407 1017 1017 1017 1620 SA SA1620 SA 1620 2237 2237 2237 0509 0509 0509 1134 1134 1134 1732 SU1732 SU SU 1732 2336 2336 2336 0609 0609 0609 1244 1244 1841 1841 MO1244 MO MO 1841

444 555 666 777

888 999

0033 0033 0033 10 10 0705 0705 10 1345 1345 TU0705 TU

TU 1345 1942 1942 1942 0129 0129 0129 0800 0800 1441 WE0800 1441 WE 2038 WE 1441 2038 2038 0221 0221 0221 0852 0852 1531 TH0852 1531 TH 2130 TH 1531 2130 2130 0313 0313 0313 0942 0942 0942 FR 1620 FR 1620 2220 FR 1620 2220 2220 0402 0402 1030 0402 1030 1706 1030 SA SA 1706 2309 SA 1706 2309 2309 0452 0452 1115 0452 1115 1749 SU1115 1749 SU 2355 SU 1749 2355 2355

11 11 11 12 12 12 13 13 13

14 14 14

15 15 15

LAT LONG 151° 13’ 13’ LAT 33° 33° 52’ 52’ LAT 33° 52’ LONG 151° Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Times and and Heights Heights of High and Low Waters Times FEBRUARY MARCH FEBRUARY MARCH MARCH FEBRUARY

Time m Time m m m Time m m 0540 0.47 0.50 0540 0.47 0.47 0.50 0540 0.50 1159 1.78 1.78 1159 1.76 1.76 1159 1.76 1.78 1831 0.33 0.34 0.34 MO 1831 0.33 MO 1831 0.33 0.34 MO 1.37 1.37 1.37 0041 0.52 0041 1.42 1.42 0.52 0041 1.42 0.52 0628 1.74 0628 0.55 0.55 1.74 0628 0.55 1.74 1241 0.35 1241 1.63 1.63 0.35 TU TU 1241 1.63 0.35 TU 1912 0.42 1912 0.42 0.42 1912 0127 1.39 1.37 0127 1.39 1.39 1.37 0127 1.37 0717 0.55 0717 0.62 0.62 0.55 0717 0.62 0.55 1323 1.49 1.69 WE 1323 1.49 1.69 WE 1323 1.49 1.69 0.37 1952 0.50 0.50 0.37 WE 1952 1952 0.50 0.37 0215 1.38 0215 1.37 1.37 1.38 0215 1.37 1.38 0811 0.69 0.58 0811 0.69 0.58 0811 1.37 0.69 0.58 1409 1.62 TH 1409 1.37 1.62 TH 1409 1.37 1.62 0.39 2035 0.56 0.56 0.39 TH 2035 2035 0.56 0.39 1.41 0307 1.41 0307 1.37 1.37 1.41 0307 1.37 0.61 0913 0913 0.73 0.73 0.61 0.61 0913 1.53 1.27 1503 0.73 1.27 1.53 FR FR 1503 1.53 1503 1.27 FR 0.42 2123 2123 0.60 0.60 0.42 0.42 2123 0.60 1.45 0402 1.45 0402 1.39 1.39 1.45 0402 0.62 1022 0.73 0.62 1022 1.39 0.73 0.62 1022 1.46 1.21 1.46 SA 1608 0.73 1.21 SA 1608 1.46 1608 1.21 0.43 0.43 SA 2217 2217 0.62 0.62 0.43 2217 0.62 1.52 0500 1.52 0500 1.43 1.43 1.52 0500 0.59 1133 0.70 0.59 1133 1.43 0.70 0.59 1133 1.40 1.19 1.40 SU 1716 0.70 1.19 SU 1716 1.40 0.43 2313 0.62 0.43 SU 1716 2313 1.19 0.62 0.43 2313 0.62 1.62 0555 1.62 0555 1.49 1.49 1.62 0555 0.52 1235 1.49 0.63 0.52 1235 0.63 0.52 1235 0.63 1.39 MO 1820 1.21 1.21 1.39 MO 1820 1.39 0.41 MO 1820 1.21 0.41 0.41 1.73 0005 0.60 0.60 1.73 0005 1.73 0005 0.41 0644 0.60 1.56 0.41 0644 1.56 0.41 1.40 TU 1326 1.56 0.55 1.40 1326 0.55 TU 0644 1.40 TU 1326 1913 0.55 1.25 1913 1.25 1913 1.25 0.39 0052 0.57 0.57 0.39 0052 0.39 0052 1.84 0728 0.57 1.63 1.84 0728 1.63 1.84 0.30 WE 1409 1.63 0.47 0.30 1409 0.47 WE 0728 0.30 1.43 WE 1409 1958 0.47 1.29 1.43 1958 1.29 1.43 1958 1.29 0.36 0135 0.53 0.53 0.36 0135 0.36 0135 1.93 0808 0.53 1.69 1.93 0808 1.69 1.93 0.22 TH 1446 1.69 0.40 TH 0808 0.22 1446 0.40 0.22 1.46 TH 1446 2038 0.40 1.34 1.46 2038 1.34 1.46 2038 1.34 0215 0.49 0.49 0.35 0215 0.35 0215 0.35 0846 0.49 1.75 1.98 0846 1.75 1.98 1.98 1523 1.75 0.35 0.16 FR FR 0846 1523 0.35 0.16 0.16 2116 0.35 1.38 1.47 FR 1523 2116 1.38 1.47 2116 1.38 1.47 0.34 0255 0.45 0.45 0.34 0255 0.34 0255 1.99 0925 0.45 1.80 1.99 0925 1.80 1.99 0.16 SA 1559 1.80 0.30 SA 0925 0.16 1559 0.30 0.16 1.48 SA 1559 2155 0.30 1.42 1.48 2155 1.42 1.48 2155 1.42 0.36 0335 0.43 0.43 0.36 0335 1.96 1003 0.43 1.82 0.36 0335 1.96 1003 1.82 0.19 1635 0.28 1.96 1003 1.82 SU 0.19 SU 1635 0.28 1.47 SU 1635 2234 0.28 1.45 0.19 1.47 2234 1.45 1.47 2234 1.45 0.41 0417 0.42 0.42 0.41 0417 1.87 1043 1.82 0.41 0417 0.42 1.87 1043 1.82 0.25 MO 1043 1714 1.82 0.27 1.87 0.25 1714 0.27 MO 1.44 MO 1714 2316 0.27 1.48 0.25 1.44 2316 1.48 1.44 2316 1.48 0502 0.42 0.42 0502 1125 1.78 0502 0.42 1125 1.78 1753 1.78 0.28 TU 1125 1753 0.28 TU TU 1753 0.28

16 16 16 17 17 17

18 18 18 19 19 19

20 20 20

21 21 21 22 22 22 23 23 23

24 24 24 25 25 25

Time Time Time 0000 0000 0000 0551 0551 0551 1208 WE 1208 WE 1208 WE 1834 1834 1834 0047 0047 0047 0643 0643 0643 1256 TH 1256 TH 1256 TH 1919 1919 1919 0140 0140 0140 0741 0741 0741 1349 FR 1349 FR FR 1349 2009 2009 2009 0237 0237 0237 0848 0848 0848 1451 SA 1451 SA SA 1451 2107 2107 2107 0340 0340 0340 1006 1006 1006 SU 1606 SU 1606 SU 1606 2212 2212 2212 0447 0447 0447 1126 1126 1126 1725 MO MO 1725 1725 MO 2318 2318 2318 0553 0553 0553 1237 1237 1237 1836 TU TU 1836 TU 1836

m m m 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.45 0.45 0.45 1.71 1.71 1.71 0.32 0.32 0.32 1.51 1.51 1.51 0.49 0.49 0.49 1.61 1.61 1.61 0.37 0.37 0.37 1.52 1.52 1.52 0.53 0.53 0.53 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.43 0.43 0.43 1.53 1.53 1.53 0.56 0.56 0.56 1.39 1.39 1.39 0.48 0.48 0.48 1.56 1.56 1.56 0.56 0.56 0.56 1.32 1.32 1.32 0.51 0.51 0.51 1.62 1.62 1.62 0.51 0.51 0.51 1.30 1.30 1.30 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.70 1.70 1.70 0.42 0.42 0.42 1.33 1.33 1.33

0021 0021 88 0021 0654 0654 0654 1338 WE 1338 WE

0.47 0.47 0.47 1.78 1.78 1.78 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.38 1.38 1.38 0.42 0.42 0.42 1.86 1.86 1.86 0.26 0.26 0.26 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.38 0.38 0.38 1.90 1.90 1.90 0.22 0.22 0.22 1.49 1.49 1.49 0.36 0.36 0.36 1.90 1.90 1.90 0.22 0.22 0.22 1.51 1.51 1.51 0.36 0.36 0.36 1.86 1.86 1.86 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.52 1.52 1.52 0.39 0.39 0.39 1.78 1.78 1.78 0.30 0.30 0.30 1.51 1.51 1.51 0.44 0.44 1.68 0.44 1.68 0.37 1.68 0.37 0.37

55 66 77

WE 1338 1936 1936 1936 0119 0119 0119 0748 0748 1430 1430 TH 0748 TH TH 1430 2029 2029 2029 0212 0212 0212 0839 0839 1516 1516 FR 0839 FR FR 1516 2115 2115 2115 0301 0301 0301 0926 0926 1559 SA 0926 1559 SA 2200 SA 1559 2200 2200 0348 0348 0348 1010 1010 1639 SU 1010 1639 SU 2243 SU 1639 2243 2243 0432 0432 0432 1052 1052 1052 MO 1715 MO 1715 2323 MO 1715 2323 2323 0516 0516 1131 0516 1131 1751 1131 TU TU 1751 TU 1751

10 10

26 26 26

11 11

27 27 27

12 12

28 28 28

13 13

29 29 29

14 14

30 30 30

0002 0002 15 0600 0002 0600 15 1209 WE 0600 1209 WE 1825

31 31 31

1.49 1.49 0.51 1.49 0.51 1.57 0.51 1.57 0.45 WE 1209 1825 1.57 0.45 1825 0.45

Time Time Time 0042 0042 0042 0644 0644 0644 1246 1246 1246 1859 1859 1859 0123 0123 0123 0731 0731 0731 1328 1328 1328 1937 1937 1937 0209 0209 0209 0828 0828 0828 1417 1417 1417 2023 2023 2023 0303 0303 0303 0933 0933 0933 1520 1520 1520 2120 2120 2120 0405 0405 1048 1048 1636 1636 2227 2227 0509 0509 1157 1157 1749 1749 2330 2330 0607 0607 1252 1252 1846 1846

m m m 1.47 1.47 1.47 0.57 0.57 0.57 1.45 1.45 1.45 0.52 0.52 0.52 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.64 0.64 0.64 1.34 1.34 1.34 0.58 0.58 0.58 1.42 1.42 1.42 0.69 0.69 0.69 1.25 1.25 1.25 0.64 0.64 0.64 1.40 1.40 1.40 0.71 0.71 0.71 1.18 1.18 1.18 0.68 0.68 0.68 1.41 1.41 0.70 0.70 1.16 1.16 0.70 0.70 1.44 1.44 0.65 0.65 1.18 1.18 0.67 0.67 1.51 1.51 0.57 0.57 1.24 1.24

0025 0025 23 0656 23 1337 TH 0656

0.62 0.62 1.58 1.58 0.49 0.49 1.31 1.31 0.56 0.56 1.66 1.66 0.41 0.41 1.38 1.38 0.49 0.49 1.74 1.74 0.33 0.33 1.46 1.46 0.42 0.42 1.80 1.80 0.28 0.28 0.28 1.53 1.53 1.53 0.37 0.37 0.37 1.83 1.83 1.83 0.24 0.24 0.24 1.59 1.59 1.59 0.34 0.34 0.34 1.82 1.82 1.82 0.24 0.24 0.24 1.64 1.64 1.64

16 16 TH TH TH

17 17 FR FR FR

18 18 SA SA SA

19 19 SU SU SU

20 20 MO MO

21 21 TU TU

22 22 WE WE

TH 1337 1932 1932 0112 0112 0740 1416 FR 0740 FR 1416 2013 2013 0155 0155 0820 1453 SA 0820 SA 1453 2051 2051 0236 0236 0900 1530 SU 0900 1530 SU 2130 SU 1530 2130 2130 0319 0319 0319 0941 0941 1606 MO 0941 1606 MO 2210 MO 1606 2210 2210 0403 0403 0403 1024 1024 1024 TU 1645 TU 1645 2252 TU 1645 2252 2252

24 24

25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28

Time Time Time 0451 0451 0451 1108 1108 1108 1725 1725 1725 2337 2337 2337 0541 0541 0541 1154 1154 1154 1807 1807 1807

m m m 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.77 1.77 1.77 0.26 0.26 0.26 1.66 1.66 1.66 0.35 0.35 0.35 1.68 1.68 1.68 0.32 0.32 0.32

0024 0024 33 0024 0635 0635 0635 1245 FR FR 1245

1.67 1.67 1.67 0.40 0.40 0.40 1.57 1.57 1.57 0.40 0.40 0.40 1.65 1.65 1.65 0.46 0.46 0.46 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.49 0.49 0.49 1.62 1.62 0.51 0.51 1.33 1.33 0.56 0.56 1.61 1.61 0.52 0.52 1.27 1.27 0.60 0.60 1.62 1.62 0.50 0.50 1.28 1.28 0.60 0.60 1.66 1.66 0.44 0.44 1.34 1.34

WE WE WE

TH TH TH

1245 FR 1853 1853 1853 0115 0115 0115 0735 0735 0735 1340 SA 1340 SA 1340 SA 1944 1944 1944 0213 0213 0845 0845 SU 1445 1445 SU 2044 2044 0319 0319 1002 1002 MO 1604 1604 MO 2155 2155 0430 0430 1119 1119 TU 1725 1725 TU 2309 2309 0541 0541 1227 1832 WE 1227 WE 1832

55 66

77 88

0015 99 0015 0642 1324 TH 0642

1324 TH 1928 1928 0113 0113 0735 0735 FR 1411 1411 FR 2015 2015 0203 0203 0823 0823 SA 1453 SA 1453 1453 SA 2057 2057 2057 0250 0250 0250 0907 0907 0907 SU 1530 SU 1530 1530 SU 2136 2136 2136 0333 0333 0333 0947 0947 1605 MO 1605 MO 0947 1605 MO 2214 2214 2214 0414 0414 1026 0414 1026 1638 TU 1638 TU 1026 1638 TU 2249 2249 2249 0454 0454 1102 0454 1102 1709 1102 WE 1709 WE 2324 WE 1709 2324 2324

10 10 11 11

12 12 13 13 14 14

15 15

0.55 0.55 1.72 1.72 0.37 0.37 1.41 1.41 0.48 0.48 1.77 1.77 0.32 0.32 1.49 1.49 0.43 0.43 1.79 1.79 0.30 0.30 0.30 1.54 1.54 1.54 0.40 0.40 0.40 1.78 1.78 1.78 0.31 0.31 0.31 1.58 1.58 1.58 0.39 0.39 0.39 1.73 1.73 1.73 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.60 1.60 1.60 0.41 0.41 1.67 0.41 1.67 0.38 1.67 0.38 1.60 0.38 1.60 1.60 0.44 0.44 1.59 0.44 1.59 0.44 1.59 0.44 1.59 0.44 1.59 1.59

Time Time Time 0533 0533 0533 1139 1139 1139 1739 TH 1739 TH TH 1739 2359 2359 2359 0615 0615 0615 1216 1216 1216 1812 FR 1812 FR FR 1812

m m m 0.49 0.49 0.49 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.57 1.57 1.57 0.54 0.54 0.54 1.41 1.41 1.41 0.56 0.56 0.56

0036 0036 0036 18 0700 0700 18 0700 1257 SA SA 1257

1.54 1.54 1.54 0.59 0.59 0.59 1.33 1.33 1.33 0.63 0.63 0.63 1.50 1.50 1.50 0.64 0.64 0.64 1.25 1.25 1.25 0.69 0.69 0.69 1.46 1.46 1.46 0.68 0.68 0.68 1.19 1.19 1.19 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.43 1.43 1.43 0.68 0.68 0.68 1.17 1.17 1.17 0.77 0.77 0.77 1.44 1.44 1.44 0.65 0.65 0.65 1.20 1.20 1.20 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.49 1.49 1.49 0.58 0.58 0.58 1.27 1.27 1.27 0.69 0.69 0.69 1.56 1.56 1.56 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.36 1.36 1.36

16 16

17 17

1257 SA 1847 1847 1847 0118 0118 0118 0751 0751 0751 1345 SU 1345 SU 1345 SU 1931 1931 1931 0208 0208 0208 0852 0852 0852 1445 MO 1445 MO 1445 MO 2029 2029 2029 0309 0309 0309 1001 1001 1001 1558 TU 1558 TU 1558 TU 2139 2139 2139 0417 0417 0417 1111 1111 1111 1713 WE 1713 WE 1713 WE 2251 2251 2251 0522 0522 0522 1208 1208 1813 1813 TH TH 1208 1813 TH 2353 2353 2353 0617 0617 0617 1256 1256 1900 1900 FR FR 1256 FR 1900

19 19

20 20 21 21 22 22

23 23

24 24

0045 0045 0045 25 0704 0704 25 0704 1337 SA SA 1337

1337 SA 1942 1942 1942 0131 0131 0131 0748 0748 0748 SU 1415 SU 1415 1415 SU 2021 2021 2021 0216 0216 0216 0832 0832 0832 MO 1454 MO 1454 1454 MO 2102 2102 2102 0302 0302 0302 0916 0916 1533 TU 1533 TU 0916 1533 TU 2144 2144 2144 0350 0350 1003 0350 1003 1615 WE 1615 WE 1003 1615 WE 2228 2228 2228 0440 0440 1052 0440 1052 1657 1052 TH 1657 TH 2315 TH 1657 2315 2315 0533 0533 1143 0533 1143 1742 FR 1742 FR 1143 FR 1742

26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29

30 30

31 31 31

0.60 0.60 0.60 1.65 1.65 1.65 0.41 0.41 0.41 1.47 1.47 1.47 0.50 0.50 0.50 1.72 1.72 1.72 0.34 0.34 0.34 1.57 1.57 1.57 0.41 0.41 0.41 1.78 1.78 1.78 0.28 0.28 0.28 1.67 1.67 1.67 0.33 0.33 0.33 1.80 1.80 1.80 0.25 0.25 0.25 1.76 1.76 1.76 0.28 0.28 1.78 0.28 1.78 0.26 1.78 0.26 1.82 0.26 1.82 1.82 0.27 0.27 1.73 0.27 1.73 0.30 1.73 0.30 1.84 0.30 1.84 1.84 0.29 0.29 1.63 0.29 1.63 0.37 1.63 0.37 0.37

Time Time Time 0003 0003 0003 0630 0630 0630 1237 SA 1237 SA SA 1237 1830 1830 1830 0056 0056 0056 0632 0632 0632 1237 SU 1237 SU SU 1237 1825 1825 1825 0055 0055 0055 0742 0742 0742 1345 MO 1345 MO 1345 MO 1930 1930 1930 0201 0201 0201 0855 0855 0855 1503 TU 1503 TU 1503 TU 2045 2045 2045 0315 0315 0315 1005 1005 1005 1618 WE 1618 WE 1618 WE 2200 2200 2200 0424 0424 0424 1107 1107 1107 1719 TH 1719 TH 1719 TH 2306 2306 2306 0524 0524 0524 1159 1159 1159 1810 FR 1810 FR FR 1810

111 222 333

444 555 666 777

0003 0003 888 0003 0615 0615 1242 1242 SA SA 0615

1242 SA 1853 1853 1853 0052 0052 0052 0700 0700 1321 1321 SU SU 0700 1321 SU 1932 1932 1932 0136 0136 0136 0742 0742 0742 1355 MO MO 1355 1355 MO 2009 2009 2009 0216 0216 0216 0821 0821 0821 TU 1427 TU 1427 1427 TU 2043 2043 2043 0255 0255 0255 0858 0858 0858 WE 1458 WE 1458 1458 WE 2116 2116 2116 0332 0332 0332 0934 0934 1528 TH 1528 TH 0934 1528 TH 2148 2148 2148 0411 0411 1012 0411 1012 1559 FR 1559 FR 1012 1559 FR 2222 2222 2222 0451 0451 1050 0451 1050 1631 1050 SA 1631 SA 2259 SA 1631 2259 2259

999

10 10 10 11 11 11

12 12 12 13 13 13 14 14 14

15 15 15

Local LocalTime Time APRIL APRIL APRIL

Time mm m Time m Time m m 0533 0.57 0.57 1.83 0533 1.83 0533 0.57 1.83 1132 1.33 1.33 0.34 1132 0.34 1132 1.33 0.34 1709 0.68 0.68 1.52 SU 1709 1.52 SU 0.68 1.52 SU 1709 2338 1.60 0.47 2338 1.60 0.47 2338 1.60 0.47 0622 0.61 0.61 1.79 0622 1.79 0622 0.61 1.79 1219 1.27 1.27 0.40 1219 0.40 1219 1.27 0.40 1752 0.74 1.41 MO 1752 0.74 1.41 MO 1752 0.74 1.41 MO 0.57 0.57 0.57 0025 1.55 1.55 1.72 0025 1.72 0025 1.55 1.72 0717 0.65 0.65 0.46 0717 0.46 0717 0.65 0.46 1315 1.23 1.32 TU 1315 1.23 1.32 TU 1315 1.23 1.32 TU 1846 0.79 0.65 1846 0.79 0.65 1846 0.79 0.65 1.66 0120 1.50 1.50 1.66 0120 1.66 0120 1.50 0.49 0819 0.66 0.66 0.49 0819 0.49 0819 0.66 1.29 1421 1.22 WE 1421 1.22 1.29 WE 1.29 1421 1.22 0.69 WE 1953 1953 0.82 0.82 0.69 0.69 1953 0.82 1.63 0225 1.49 1.49 1.63 0225 1.63 0225 1.49 0.49 0922 0.63 0.63 0.49 0922 0.49 0922 0.63 1.33 TH 1531 1.26 1.26 TH 1531 1.33 1.33 1531 1.26 TH 2107 0.67 2107 0.80 0.80 0.67 0.67 2107 0.80 1.64 0332 1.51 1.51 1.64 0332 1.64 0332 1.51 0.46 1018 0.58 0.58 0.46 1018 0.46 1018 0.58 1.40 FR 1631 1.34 1.34 1.40 FR 1631 1.40 1631 1.34 FR 2215 0.62 2215 0.74 0.74 0.62 0.62 2215 0.74 1.66 0432 1.56 1.56 1.66 0432 1.66 0432 1.56 0.43 1107 0.50 0.50 0.43 1107 0.43 1107 0.50 1.48 SA 1722 1.45 1.45 1.48 SA 1722 1.48 1722 1.45 SA 2313 2313 0.64 0.64 2313 0.64 0.55 0526 1.63 1.63 0.55 0526 0526 1.63 0.55 1152 1.67 1.67 1152 0.42 0.42 1.67 1152 0.42 1806 1.57 0.41 0.41 SU 1806 1.57 SU 0.41 1806 1.57 SU 1.56 1.56 1.56 0.50 0005 0.50 0005 0.53 0.53 0.50 0005 0.53 1.67 0615 1.67 0615 1.70 1.70 1.67 0615 1.70 0.40 1234 0.36 0.40 MO 1234 0.36 MO 0.40 1234 0.36 1.62 1.62 MO 1850 1850 1.70 1.70 1.62 1850 1.70 0.46 0055 0.46 0055 0.42 0.42 0.46 0055 0.42 1.65 0703 1.65 0703 1.74 1.74 1.65 0703 1.74 0.41 0.41 TU 1316 0.31 0.31 TU 1316 0.41 1316 0.31 TU 1933 1.66 1.66 1933 1.82 1.82 1.66 1933 1.82 0.45 0145 0.45 0145 0.32 0.32 0.45 0145 0.32 1.61 0753 1.61 0753 1.75 1.75 1.61 0753 1.75 0.44 0.44 WE 1400 0.29 0.29 WE 1400 0.44 1400 0.29 1.68 1.68 WE 2018 2018 1.92 1.92 1.68 2018 1.92 0.45 0237 0.45 0237 0.26 0.26 0.45 0237 0.26 1.56 0844 1.56 0844 1.72 1.72 1.56 0844 1.72 0.47 0.47 TH 1445 0.31 0.31 TH 1445 0.47 1445 0.31 1.70 TH 2105 1.70 2105 1.98 1.98 1.70 2105 1.98 0.46 0330 0.46 0330 0.24 0.24 0.46 0330 0.24 1.51 0937 1.51 0937 1.66 1.66 1.51 0937 1.66 0.51 1531 0.36 0.51 FR 1531 0.36 FR 0.51 1531 0.36 1.69 FR 2154 1.69 2154 2.00 2.00 1.69 2154 2.00 0.49 0426 0.25 0.49 0426 0.25 1.45 1032 0.49 0426 0.25 1.45 1032 1.58 1.58 0.56 1621 0.44 1.45 1032 SA 0.56 0.44 SA 1621 1.58 1.68 0.56 1621 0.44 SA 2245 1.68 2245 1.96 1.96 1.68 2245 1.96 0.52 0524 0.30 0.52 0524 0.30 1.39 1130 0.52 0524 0.30 1.39 1130 1.49 1.49 0.62 1714 1.39 1130 1.49 0.62 SU 1714 0.53 0.53 SU 1.64 2340 1.89 0.62 1714 1.64 SU 2340 0.53 1.89 1.64 2340 1.89

Copyright Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2015, 2015, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology   Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2015, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of is Lowest Tide Timesare arePredictions in local local standard standard timeAstronomical (UTC +10:00) +10:00) or daylight daylight savings savings time Times in time (UTC or time (UTC (UTC +11:00) +11:00) when when in in effect effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect MoonPhase Phase Symbols Symbols Full New Moon Moon First Quarter New First Quarter Moon Full Moon Moon New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon

16 16 16 17 17 17

18 18 18

19 19 19 20 20 20

21 21 21

22 22 22 23 23 23

24 24 24

25 25 25

26 26 26 27 27 27

28 28 28

29 29 29 30 30 30

Last LastQuarter Quarter Last Quarter

Tide predictions for Sydney (Fort Denison) 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. 122

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