Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly - July 2016

WINTER FISHING TIPS • SPOTLIGHT BEMM RIVER

T ried and Tested Samaki Silver Bullet • Schneider 8 Carrier Braid • Stessco Sunseeker 540 • G2 Tournament 2000 Bluewater • Torqeedo shocks market • Savage step it up •

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Making a slide bait rig • Dropper knot tutorial • Buying an all-rounder •

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Calamari capers • Spotlight: Bemm River • The Lure, Fly & Outdoors Expo • Snagging an EP •

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July 2016, Vol. 11 No. 9

Contents WEST COAST

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A look at…

12 Back to Basics 64 Boating 96 Chappy’s Hotspot 43 Dam Levels 74 Fun Page 87 Inland Fisheries Service 63 Kayaking 88 Spearfishing 86 Tasmanian Lake Levels 63 Tournament News 76 Trade and Services Guide 104 Victorian Tide Times 106 VRFish Update 86 What’s New Boating 103 What’s New Fishing 82

SPECIAL FEATURES

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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 Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Georgia Williams Field Editor: Kelly Hunt Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

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OUR COVER A champion calamari caught at Western Port.

A Jarrod Day image.

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enjoy seeing a gorgeous array of lures all under the one roof!

BEMM FEATURE We talk a lot about the Bemm in VFM, and that’s because it’s a kick-ass place to go fishing, especially if catching big black bream is your idea of a good time.

Be sure to check it out Peter Jung’s feature and get the good oil on this beautiful part of the world, which has been looking decidedly less beautiful since the recent flood

AUST

Calamari capers Spotlight: Bemm River The Lure, Fly & Outdoors Expo How-to: slide bait rig Dropper knot tutorial

Jamie Judd will be at the show to personally sign your lure for you. And if you sign up for two years, you can get your choice of a 13 Fishing Black baitcaster rod, or a Daiwa Phantom X baitcast baitcast or spin travel rod. You have to be dedicated to travel to the Expo, as it’s located in Ipswich, west of Brisbane. But really, can you call yourself a lure aficionado if you skip this one? Well yes, probably. But we’re sure you’d still really

event. Watching the backed up floodwaters draining out of the entrance is an amazing sight, and you can see a video of it on Bemm River Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page.

Anglers can look forward to some good fishing there in the coming months.

FLOODING The past month or so hasn’t been all good news.

At the time of going to print, Tasmania is experiencing some very harsh weather and in some areas, severe flooding. We hope all our southern friends in Tassie stay safe, and can pull through this very tough time.

The plus side of all this weather is that the extra flow it has bought to the streams will further encourage the natural recruitment of trout. Everything is looking fantastic for the season ahead!

We hope you enjoy this jam-packed issue!

ION

TASMANIA WRAP REGULAR FEATURES

July in our southern states is typically a cold, wet time of year, where many anglers pack the gear away until spring. This edition is full of proof that you can still nail good numbers of fish if you just brave the cold!

If you really can’t force yourself onto the water though, that’s okay! There’s plenty of other things you can do that don’t involve venturing into the cold wilderness. Here’s what July has in store.

LURE, FLY & OUTDOOR EXPO For the lure and fly fans, we’ve got a great feature on the upcoming Lure, Fly &Outdoor Expo on 16-17 July. As you’ve all come to expect from Fishing Monthly, we have another cool subscription offer: the first 40 people to sign up for a 1-year subscription will receive a free, limited edition Gobsmacked lure. Designer

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VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Horsham 65 Robinvale 66 Mildura 66 Yarrawonga 67 Shepparton 68 Wangaratta 69 Jindabyne 70 Eildon 71 Bonnie Doon 71 Central Gippsland 72 Melbourne Metro 72 Bendigo 72 West/South Gippsland 73 Crater Lakes 73 Ballarat 74

From the Editor’s Desk...

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NSW SOUTH COAST Mallacoota 39 Bermagui 39 Eden 38 Narooma 41 Merimbula 40

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EAST COAST Inverloch 32 Welshpool 34 Marlo 35 Gippsland Lakes 35 McLoughlins Beach 36 Lakes Entrance 36 Bemm River 37

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Geelong 20 Port Phillip West 22 Port Phillip East 24 Port Phillip North East 25 Mornington Peninsula 26 Western Port North 28 Western Port South 30 Phillip Island 33

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

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Koondrook: Molin Motorcycle and Marine | 03 5451 1500 | molin.com.au Tasmania: Coastal Marine | 03 6435 2200 | coastal-marine.com.au

JULY 2016

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Squid

Calamari capers: going in search of the kraken WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Just the other day I was reading through an old publication written by Lance Wedlick on fishing Western Port and Port Phillip bays back in the 1980s. Old titles always excite me, not just for the valuable information they divulge for catching fish,

the Port but says, “Very few anglers take advantage of this fishery.” Thirty years later and that statement still stands true. Is it that anglers are apprehensive to fish the Port due to its shallow banks and mud flats? Even experienced anglers can have trouble here. Or is it just the lack of access – not just for boat anglers but even those in kayaks, jet skis and for land-based anglers? At a fair guess, I’d certainly say all of

too difficult to navigate, it is without question the most consistent producer of XOS calamari in southern Victoria.

THE FIRST APPROACH Calamari is a viable fishing option for most of the year and they are widespread right throughout the Port.

Although everyone gets excited to go fishing, being set up correctly is the first port of call. The first thing to note is that calamari aren’t going to spool you, nor are

Large calamari enter the Port to breed and lay eggs from September through to early March. Look for extensive seagrass beds around the entrances into the Port.

There are numerous jigs on the market. Size 3.0 in white, red, red foil, black/red and orange/green colours work exceptionally well. but more on the movements of fish at certain times of the year, which mostly still adhere to traditional patterns.

One thing Lance mentions is the quality of calamari fishing throughout

you going to catch will be under the 1kg mark with the odd few at certain times of the year exceeding 2kg.

In Western Port, calamari can be targeted using two main techniques, the first with an artificial lure known as a squid jig and the other using a bait such as a whole pilchard or silver whiting threaded onto a squid jig.

Cast it out if you’re landbased or float it out the back of the boat while suspended under a float. Either way

Baited jigs from the boat tend to be fished with a handline, while from the shore a weighted bobby

technique is required in order to make the jig work similar to that of a fleeing baitfish, something a squid

the above. Port Phillip Bay is much more ‘user friendly’ for launching, accessibility and deep-water factors, especially for those new to boating and fishing alike.

Despite Western Port sounding like a waterway

Although the bottom end of the Port is where you’ll find the majority of larger-sized calamari, don’t be afraid to drift the Quail Bank, Tyabb Bank and top of the Middle Spit in September. Cat Bay is also known to produce big calamari.

Big calamari are quite aggressive and territorial when spawning. Be aware that the cloth on your jigs can be torn apart.

Large calamari are often found in depths of 3-5m. Be sure that you work the chosen area well before moving off.

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JULY 2016

they going to really test your tackle to its limits so you can afford to lighten up a bit. In fact, the majority of calamari

is as effective as the other except you will have to work for your catch with artificial jigs.

cork float is placed on 1m of leader between a swivel and the squid jig so it can be cast distance and left to float over the weed beds.

This technique involves a surf rod with suitable reel to gain the distance required.

The outfit used for casting artificial jigs tends to be a 7-8ft specialised egi rod specifically designed to cast such a jig and get maximum performance and manipulation of it when worked. When you work a squid jig, a fast vigorous

might be familiar with hunting daily.

In the majority of cases, a small reel such as Shimano 1000 or 2500 series loaded with 6-10lb braid is more than enough to cope with them. In saying that, you will want to run a good 3m length of 5-6lb leader with excellent abrasion resistance to withstand being rubbed over reef and weed, the common habitat of southern calamari. Jig selection is also critical due to the current flow of the

Squid Port. When on the hunt for calamari it is a good choice to upsize artificial jigs to a 3.0 but as the tide increases in strength, go to a 3.5, especially when fishing in depths greater than 5m.

WORKING THE TIDES Western Port is a waterway that inexperienced anglers can be put off from fishing due to tidal fluctuation and exposed mud banks that seem to appear out of nowhere in the blink of the eye. When it comes to targeting any species in Western Port, understanding the tides is the first and most important piece of the puzzle and if you get this wrong you could find yourself high and dry on a mud bank or, if land-based, wading across knee deep mud in an attempt to reach the water in which you may just not be able to.

Understanding the tides is vital for all anglers to be successful not just to catch fish but to fish the right locations at the

When targeting big calamari, always ensure you have your reel’s drag set accordingly. Calamari this big are tough contenders, if you go too hard you could break your leader or pull off one of their tentacles.

When you do drift over a patch, always go back and re-drift the same area. right times. Calamari are particularly responsive to tides, and in Western Port due to the fluctuation, they will become trapped and die if they stay on the shallow banks.

Calamari are typically found over weed beds where they spend their life hunting for small crustaceans and baitfish.

Throughout Western Port, these weed beds are

located on the banks and thus during a low tide are exposed, while on the high tides are fully covered with water where the calamari can get right up into the weed To page 10

When you do find them, they are about in big numbers!

JULY 2016

9

Squid From page 9

and go on the hunt.

During these times it is easy to catch calamari, but you have to work the tides. On the high tide when the banks are covered, get

up into 2-3m of water and work them as thoroughly as possible, while during the run-out tides, retreat back to the edge of the bank and work that. You’ll find that as the tide abates, the calamari

When you do locate calamari in shallow water, the bite is often triggered by aggression. Big jigs in a 3.0 and 3.5 are ideal.

When you do locate calamari, don’t drive off to find another patch. Calamari hold up in numbers so if you drift from the area, go back and drift the same line.

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JULY 2016

move into deeper water, as will the crustaceans and baitfish they hunt.

On the low tide, the crustaceans and baitfish will disperse in the channels and the calamari can be caught in deeper water – say anything ranging between 5-10m, even during the slack water.

WHERE TO FIND THEM Catching calamari is simple in itself, it just takes a lot of casting and working weed beds before actually locating where they are holding up.

Often, when you catch one calamari there are quite a number of them all in the same area. This is because they tend to congregate in schools and more so

during spawning.

The general spawning season runs from mid-August until late October. Of course large calamari can be caught anytime, but the spawners, which can weight up to 3kg are generally about at the start of spring.

When targeting such models, you really do need to concentrate on certain locations. Your best shot will be heading to Somers, Ventnor, Flinders, Cat Bay, Cleeland Bight and Dickies Bay. All these locations feature the same characteristics – high current flow, clean water and good weed beds where the calamari lay their eggs.

When you do locate a potential location, the procedure is quite simple,

pick your drift line, cast out your jig selection and begin working the jigs over the weed bed. Once you have completed your first drift, motor back to the beginning, stopping a few meters to the left or right and re-drift next to your previous drift line and continue the process until you hook-up. Once you do, motor back up and repeat the same line – continue to do so even if your next cast results in nothing. Where you catch one calamari, you will catch more so keep working the area.

Always watch the ink, the bigger they are the more ink they shoot!

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A Look At...

Snag an estuary perch MELBOURNE

Luke McCredden www.thelongline.net

Estuary perch weren’t something I took a lot of notice of, or even tried targeting until I was in my twenties. I guess I didn’t have a good understanding for the species and in the early part of my life, wasn’t doing a lot of estuary fishing.

After my first experience with EPs, I understood why anglers got hooked on these fish, pun intended. They are a head down dogged fighter, and if you hook them in the snags, they can make short work of your tackle. They are a challenging fish and this is

the most prolific perch spot in the world!

SG: On the West Coast we’re pretty lucky in that most estuary systems hold good numbers of perch, some more than others, but I guess the Hopkins River is probably as good as any and my local and favourite.

What are the reasons these areas are so effective?

BG: There’s always a population of fish that inhabit those waters, there’s always those 28-34cm fish that seem to be there year round. I really don’t know why, but they are and that in itself is a major factor of confidence going into that spot. You still have to find them, and that’s the enigmatic part of estuary

Scott Gray loves getting stuck into a few EPs on the west coast of Victoria, and who can blame him with fish like this available? one of the main reasons they have anglers coming back for more.

In recent times they have been seen to be a bit of a mysterious fish too, and not a species widely spread throughout social media or fishing reports. However, they are in big numbers throughout the southern part of Australia and I chatted to some friends of mine, Brett Geddes and Scott Gray, to get a bit of an insight on the ins and outs of this fish in the EP experience.

For such a secretive fishery, estuary perch are fairly widespread, where is your go-to EP spot?

BG: If someone said to me, “You have got one day in the year, we won’t tell you which day, but you have to catch a perch,” I’m going to go to Anderson Inlet. I’ll say that’s 12

JULY 2016

perch, they can really annoy you, but once located in this system, you are a sure thing of catching a good bag.

SG: There is quite a variety of habitat throughout the system and particularly pushing up into the freshwater. The name of this fish can be a bit misleading really as they spend as much time, if not more, in the freshwater as they do in the estuarine salt.

So the structure on offer in the freshwater is something that I see as a major factor of why this area is so good.

What are the best conditions to target EPs? BG: I like clean water scenarios, and the cleaner the better in my opinion, but outside of that, the condition that’s governed by time of year, and for me that is the November/December

spawning time. You can be confident across the whole eastern part of the state at these times because we know they’re spawning, and we know they’ve got it on their brain. The tagging data has actually shown they have two spawning runs, the first is September, October and the second, as stated, is closer up to Christmas.

SG: I always like a rising barometer for most types of fishing, and with that rising barometer, the weather usually becomes finer and stable as well. Low light conditions are also great times of the day to target these fish. They are on offer during the day and night, but I love fishing for them in early morning and late afternoons, as it is such a productive time.

How much of an impact do tides and moons have?

BG: Absolutely huge with tide! Some systems you will not get them on an incoming tide, only on the outgoing.

That’s pretty much rule of thumb for any tidal estuary system, they always bite better on an outgoing tide. Of course, there is the odd exception to the rule, but in my book you can chuck it out the window.

Always the outgoing tide for me. Moon does nothing for me personally; I haven’t found anything to do with the moon as far as perch are concerned.

SG: Moon is a tough one, and I’ve had some weird things happen with changing moons and perch. There are a lot of variables including moon, tides, flow etc. but I think it just takes a lot of effort in each area to work out which outweighs the other and is more of a factor. To answer that question, I think they do have impacts, but only time on the water will give you the right answer as it does change from area to area.

What are your lure choices?

BG: Always an interesting and tough conversation, but if I think about the lure that I have had the most success with, I can easily say soft

The EP bug bit Brett Geddes many years ago, and he still loves tangling with these mysterious estuarine predators. plastics that have chartreuse colour in them are it. The 2-3” grubs, fish, wriggler styles… it doesn’t matter, it is simply that colour for me. We hate to come up with theories don’t we, but honestly, I’ve fished side-by-side with others using different colours and chartreuse continues to be it for me. In terms of hard bodies, for me, it is a sinking hardbody, as you tend to get EPs a lot on the drop or in snags where you have to get it in and down a bit.

SG: The go-to plastic would have to be the ZMan GrubZ as a lot of my friends use them and have great success.

They’re also a good plastic for other species in the same estuary areas like bream. In terms of hardbodies, I’m a big fan of my suspending minnows, lipless lures as well, vibes too are pretty popular for fishing in the deeper holes. When I get up in the freshwater I do a fair bit of trolling to locate the fish using deep diving minnows.

It’s really hard to pick one lure.

What is your ideal outfit… rod, reel, line and leader?

BG: I tend to stick with Nitro rods. They’re 7ft, 2-5kg, fast taper, the reason for this is that you can use them for surface fishing using walkers and small poppers, but also it’s helpful to get in and around snags and has the ability to pull. I usually use about 6kg line with perch. Contrary to beliefs, there’s no finesse

with EPs so it doesn’t seem to matter if you run a touch heavier than normal. There’s really no need for 2-4kg line fishing for perch, it’s a bit like Australian salmon, no need to under gun, it won’t make a difference.

SG: I opt for a 7ft rod with a 2500 size reel and 6lb braid is probably a good all round one that I am happy to use on most occasions. If I’m fishing in the freshwater on structure, I’ll upsize things a little. I’d probably go up to 10lb braid and the leader would go up from 6-8lb and occasionally up to 12-15lb leader for structure. The big ones in there will blow you away with anything lighter than 10lb on most occasions.

Best technique for fishing in structure?

BG: In structure, it’s a fairly simple tip, with fishing hard structure like fallen trees or logs or pylons, you really need to make sure you are swimming your lures out very slow. You’ll get a few fish fairly easily off one snag, but after that they might tighten up and become a bit fickle. To get those fish, you must work those lures extra slow and you will get them!

SG: Firstly, you need to find what I call their headquarters.

They’ll tend to sit in these areas a lot of the time as they love hanging off the same snag or structure. Generally, I find the largest logs are the

The estuary perch really is a striking fish to look at.

best and the ones that have been there the longest time.

Then, just remember to get your lures right in there, and don’t be afraid to get in amongst the snag.

Can you give two key points when perch fishing?

BG: Homework! Go with someone who knows perch like the back of their hand.

Learn from them, watch them, and emulate them when it’s time to go on your own. The second point is perseverance – undoubtedly the most important point. They have beaten me so many times, yet I didn’t give up and continue to learn from them. So the chances of me catching them these days is now very high.

SG: Persistence is the first and most important thing.

Second to that is making sure you are fishing a range of lures and really mixing it up to see what is best on that particular day and spot. Also, a really key and important point would be focusing on those low light conditions, whether early morning or late afternoon.

Have you got an EP highlight?

BG: I went to a small estuary in south Gippsland, I’d never been there and didn’t even know if people had caught perch there. I ended up thinking, this better be worth it because it took me so long to get in there. I finished with 108 fish landed and most of them 45-55cm. I went back a few weeks later, and cracked the hundred mark once again. To this day, this is my highlight. Huge numbers and huge fish. A truly amazing memory.

SG: My biggest estuary perch I have caught is a bit over 2.2kg, but I’ve actually got lots of images in my head of defeat! These are images that are highlights in a way because they make me that much more eager to get back out there. I’ve got memories of getting absolutely smashed up with 15lb leader where I’d like to think that’s strong enough gear, but, as we know, these fish are hard fighters and a fish can be hooked and lost in seconds, which is exactly what drives me to get back out there and try again.

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Don’t let the cold weather put you off fishing WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

July heralds some very cold early morning starts on the Glenelg, but for those prepared to brave the elements the rewards are there to be claimed.

The preceding months saw the expected behavioural patterns of bream, estuary perch and mulloway all hold true with bream schooling up wide of the banks in the deeper water. This is a recruitment phase in preparation for spawning. The perch have

begun to school up in large numbers but are holding tight to snags. As we see more inflow into the river the perch will begin their migration to the lower sections of the river, again seeking the right levels of salinity to begin their spawning. Mulloway are

Perch are moving down river in July.

Bream can be finicky, but persistence will pay off.

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LUKE McCREDDEN

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Take you through what’s biting in your area.

Pl us in fo rm a tion on t he lat e st t ackle an d te c h n i q ue s .

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JULY 2016

spread right through the entire system with the biggest congregations through the mid section of the river and around the Caves landing up to above Sapling Creek.

If conditions are right through July expect to see an open river mouth. This will very much depend on rain creating enough inflow to keep the mouth open.

Periods of high ocean swell can push large amounts of sand up onto the beach at the mouth, which can keep the mouth closed at times even with very high water levels in the river – this was indeed the case through late May and into June. With an open mouth the river becomes much more tidally influenced even up in the higher reaches, which can make for some terrific fishing in the estuary itself.

Focus your fishing around the biggest tides when the salt-water wedge pushes in under the dirtier fresh water for exceptional bream fishing.

I rely on my sounder to find those schools of fish sitting in around 2-4m and concentrate on the mid to lower sections of the river. At times bream, perch and mulloway can be found schooled up in large

numbers on the sounder but can be a little finicky. Other times when the schools are hard to find it can be a matter of trying different areas to find where the fish may be feeding. A simple search pattern is a great way to dial in on the best structure to target. Fishing rock walls with a deeper drop-off, weed banks and then mud flats both deep and shallow can give a clear indication on where best to target your efforts. Deep

diving hardbody lures and soft plastics allowed to get right down on the bottom and fished very slowly will draw the interest of most fish, with darker colours and larger profiles performing the best. Baits like pilchard fillet, cut crab and podworm are also dynamite in turbid water that has a bit of flow.

Winter often provides some of the best fishing on the Glenelg, so don’t let the cold weather put you off.

Use your sounder to find schools in the deeper water.

JULY 2016

15

Table of plenty in Portland PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

The fishing in Portland over the last six weeks has been up and down; this has mainly been due to the weather, which has made it extremely difficult to get offshore. Winds reaching 40 knots and swells up to 7m have scared off even the most adventurous anglers.

When the weather has been kind to us, the fishing has been amazing with plenty of baitfish washed up close

to the coastline, pushing the tuna closer. Most fish are only in 70-75m of water and range from 8-25kg with the odd barrel over 100kg showing up in the shallows as well. Most fish have been around Cape Nelson Lighthouse and towards Bridgewater Bay. Some of the local anglers have ventured to the shelf and are deep bottom dropping for blue eye, pink ling, knife jaw, and blue grenadier. Use electric reels and big baits for these contenders.

The Lee breakwater has

also seen some action over the last few weeks as the big swells stir things up. We have seen healthy snapper up to 7kg and others around 3-4kg but not in big numbers. Some big winter whiting have also been caught of the Lee and some great salmon.

Not as many people are fishing the bay as tuna fishing fever has taken over.

The die-hard bay fishers have found some good flathead in the 20-25m of water drifting around plus big winter whiting up to 50cm that have been a bit

Plenty of delicious tuna to go around – if the weather gods allow us out!

harder to find. It’s a great time of year to wander the beaches for salmon and flick lures off the rocks.

Soft plastics or lightweight baits work wonders. These fish hit like steam trains and even though they are not the best for eating, they are not bad fresh, smoked or made into patties. They also make great baits for bigger fish.

Otherwise, catch and release is a great option when hunting salmon.

The main target in July will be tuna – let’s hope the weather is on our side. Now is a good time of year to fish for sharks whether you chase makos, gummies or schoolies. We generally see some very good sharks on the tables.

Flathead, salmon, couta and maybe the odd whiting will make an appearance around the bay, plus snook around the reefs. The Lee breakwater can still produce some good fish, especially after a good swell, but into the night the shark fishing off the wall can be very good. The natural berley trail that comes from the cleaning tables after a great day of fishing could produce any species around the harbour and breakwater.

The river systems, such as the Surrey and Fitzroy

Everyone’s feeling happy about the barrels showing up close. can produce nice bream and good-sized mullet, perch and mulloway mainly in the Fitzroy. The river mouths on both these rivers are good places to surf fish off the beach.

If you are heading to Bridgewater Bay, the beach there is very good for salmon and at night on the right times you’ll find mulloway and gummies. For heavy

surf try out at Discovery Bay heading towards Nelson.

For all your bait and tackle needs look no further than Portland Compleat Angler. You can contact us on (03) 5521 1844, or we are located at 61 Bentinck Street next to the Gordon Hotel.

Come in for information on weather reports, fishing reports and fishing licences.

Happy fishing.

Take advantage of the window and head offshore WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

June is generally a great month to get out on the water with plenty of calm flat days. A chance to take advantage of not only the magnificent run of bluefin tuna, but with some quality bottom fishing for gummy sharks

and the like. Unfortunately, this definitely didn’t happen this year, with strong winds and big seas a constant for most of the month.

Fortunately here in the South West of the state we are blessed with a wide variety of angling options if the weather is not suitable for ocean-going ventures.

Come July, even if you can’t get out to sea there will be

some worthwhile form of piscatorial pursuit available.

One benefit of all the wind and rain has been the freshening of the local rivers.

These waterways have remained fairly clear and the fish are still cautious, which requires a bit of finesse. Some good brown trout and estuary perch have been encountered in the revitalised fresh water systems. Wandering the banks, now thankfully

Marc Ainsworth with a fine example of some of the quality school bluefin that can be taken when the weather allows.

Luke Gercovich with a quality local brown. Some more rain will help the local trout fishery improve even more come July.

16

JULY 2016

devoid of snakes due to the cooler weather, and flicking small minnow style lures is a great way to spend a day.

Daiwa Presso 6cm and TD Minnows have accounted for some great browns to around 2kg as well as EP to over 40cm for us recently in a variety of different local freshwater areas. Hopefully with a little more rain, the dirty water trout fishing the region is famous for will happen.

On the estuary scene, the Hopkins opened but

closed again quickly and remains closed as I write this. I’m sure by the time you read this it will have opened again. There are still some mulloway reports coming to light with the biggest I’ve heard going an impressive 7kg.

As stated previously, there has been precious little windows of opportunity to target the bluefin offshore but, for those that get out, there are quality school fish in the 16-20kg bracket to be had. Based on the past

few seasons, any chance you get in July to get out there do so, even if there haven’t been recent reports due to bad weather. Take the chance and you might be the one who stumbles across them first.

July is often salmon time and whether you like soaking bait on a traditional 12ft surf rod or wandering along flicking a metal slice, there are usually plenty of schools around at this time of year to keep you happy.

Barrel rolling off the Cape APOLLO BAY

Daniel Kent apollobaysurfshop@bigpond.com

Bluefin tuna continue to be the main focus of trailer boat fishers off Apollo Bay. There have been some bigger models around, with an 82kg and a couple over 100kg landed recently. This is in addition to plenty of stories of drawn out battles and lost fish.

The school fish of 8-20kg are abundant and spread right from Cape Otway out to the Big Reef.

The Nine Mile Reef seems to be the most productive with bait, birds, dolphins, seals and tuna all holding

in this area. Hopefully the tuna will move in around Point Franklin and Blanket Bay areas as they have in the past few seasons.

This will make them more accessible to smaller craft.

Con from Hit N Run Fishing Charters has reported good numbers of snapper on the deeper reefs off Cape Otway along with other by-catch such as morwong and nannygai.

Gummy sharks are also being taken from 35m of water off Cape Otway. Using fresh fish bait has been the key to hooking up these bottom dwelling sharks. The flathead have been patchy but what has been caught has been of good size. Fish to 60cm are caught wide of

Point Franklin but you will need to drift around until you can locate where the fish are holding.

Beach fishers should see an increase in the number of Australian salmon this month. I have heard of salmon to 6lb off Marengo already so let’s hope it’s a bumper season casting lures from the beach.

The Aire River has been firing for black bream with both bait and lure fishers catching good numbers of fish in the lower reaches around the camp ground.

Try fishing at low tide when the river is at its lowest level as this has been when the bream feed most vigorously.

This river is also still available to fish for brown

trout below the Great Ocean Road Bridge as the closed season does not affect this part of the river.

Try trolling or casting small hardbodied lures from the junction with the Ford River up to the Ocean Road Bridge. Another good option for trout is the West Barwon Dam at Forrest.

Here both brown and rainbow trout can be caught from the banks. Casting winged lures or small hardbodied lures works, as does bait fishing from the dam wall. Most of the trout caught have been brown trout, but there should be some big rainbows is this system too as Fisheries continue to stock this water every year.

Schools of bluefin tuna are abundant off Cape Otway at this time of year.

Hopkins entrance opens up for great fishing COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

Thanks to all this wonderful rainfall that has finally fallen, estuaries such as the Hopkins River have finally reopened to the sea.

Just prior to this the river was a tad quiet for bream and estuary perch but fish were still being caught but not in huge numbers. I fished here recently with good friend Craig Matthews, who travelled down from Melton to have a weekend away with family and hopefully get in a fish or two. No need to ask me twice!

We fished mainly soft plastics such as Damiki 4” Rippers and 2” M Grubs as well as 3” Fish Arrow J Huddle and Flash J Shads and we managed to entice the bream to bite, well, Craig did. The bream were

not huge in size but it was fun all the same. Later that night long after I headed home Craig had a flick from the bank and managed a very sizeable Estuary perch on a silver Flash J Shad and it turned out to be Craig’s first ever Hopkins perch.

Small ‘soapy’ mulloway have been caught up until the time that the mouth opened.

No doubt these fish have swum back out to sea but the question is; have they been replaced by others? Only time will tell.

Bait anglers have had a hard time of it lately, especially when it comes to sourcing fresh local bait such as shrimp, brown shell and crab and have had to make do with frozen packet bait. All that has now changed and once the water has settled down the fishing should pick up once again.

The Curdies River has been very consistent for bream with some specimens

exceeding 40cm. I, as well as many others, have experienced great success on the bream and fingers-crossed this will continue right throughout the rest of winter.

There is a flow occurring now in the river and the lake is slowly rising, which is good news for boaters as more and more of the lake now becomes accessible for fishing.

Hopefully the rain keeps falling to the point where the mouth can be opened.

In the meantime the fresh water pushing downstream is also concentrating the bream in the lower reaches of the river.

Many of us have had success of late concentrating our efforts around where the river runs into the lake.

Old timers used to call this area ‘the aquarium’, though I’m not exactly sure why.

Maybe it had something to do with the amount of fish species on offer?

Schooling bream have been found in this area and although many are from just size up to the mid 30s, some thumpers have been found and caught in amongst them.

Soft plastics including Damiki 2” M Grubs and 3” Armor Shads have worked well. So too have Fish Arrow 3” Flash J and J Huddle

minnow style lures.

As we approach winter the bream will sit deeper in the river’s water column and worm, crab and yabby patterns fished on a heavier jighead will naturally come into their own. So too will metal vibrating lures such as the Damiki Vault 35s and 42s.

But as the lake is really a

shallow lagoon, even when full, bream can be found out here over winter feeding on local minnow and shrimp, especially when the winter sun warms the shallow water but rest assured that come evening or on overcast, cold days they tend to stay congregated at depth in the river.

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JULY 2016

17

Target One Million The State Government’s Target One Million plan for recreational fishing aims to increase participation to one million anglers by 2020.

33 of 43 commercial netting licence holders exited the Port Phillip Bay fishery in April, having accepted a compensation package. This will leave more fish for recreational anglers.

Here’s what else is happening:

Extra Gippsland bass The Tambo River and Guthridge Lake have been stocked with 9,000 and 4,000 Australian bass respectively, including the biggest bass fingerlings ever released in Victoria.

The 13,000 bass were extra, late-season fish that became available and were funded by the East Gippsland CMA and Target One Million. They ranged from 2.5 to 8 cm and some spanned the palm of the Fisheries Officers releasing them.

Guthridge Lake in Sale already receives rainbow trout for the school holidays however a bass fishery in town will provide additional fishing opportunities, especially in summer..

Tambo River access Anglers now have better access to the Tambo River at Johnsonville thanks to an upgrade of McFarlane Road, which provides shore-based fishers with vehicle access right next to the river.

The 4km upgrade involved 660 tonnes of gravel to fill pot holes, improve drainage and restore the road surface so that all vehicles can use it year-round.

The works were funded with $26,500 from Target One Million and $3,000 from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, which undertook the upgrade.

vic.gov.au/feesatwork 18

JULY 2016

More Victorians fishing, more often Marine stocking Mulloway have been stocked for the first time into Tamboon Inlet (5,000) and Lake Tyers (11,000) as part of Victoria’s two year marine stocking trial.

Estuary perch were stocked into Lake Tyers (25,000) and the Bemm River (5,000) with Lake Tyers expected to receive a further 25,000 estuary perch in December.

These stockings complement the release of estuary perch into several inland waterways.

Barra into Hazelwood Hazelwood Pondage has been stocked with 1700 barramundi as part of a stocking trial to develop a new fishery.

This is the first time the species has been stocked anywhere in Victoria.

To help these fish settle in and provide scientists with the chance to monitor their growth, diet and movement patterns, the pondage has been closed to recreational fishing for six months.

Stronger fishing clubs Victorian recreational fishing clubs can apply for $2,000 grants to promote membership and update facilities.

The ‘Stronger Fishing Clubs’ grants program is open until March 2017.

All Victorian fishing clubs that were operational as at 1 January 2015 can apply.

To apply or learn more visit www.vic.gov.au/strongerfishingclubs

vic.gov.au/targetonemillion

#target1million JULY 2016

19

Get yourself a sliver of silver!

GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

Plenty of anglers have tried their luck at Wurdee Buloc Reservoir near Moriac for big redfin,

but they can be difficult to tempt. Quality trout should present themselves as the water cools in July.

Jan Juc is a favourite with surf fishers.

Trout love a mudeye suspended about 1m under a bubble float allowed to drift about.

This method is most effective when you get a light easterly, as this will take your float offshore.

Lures you can get good distance with will catch good fish, as you can cover a lot of water.

Winged lures like Tassie Devils and metal spoons can be worked high for trout or low and slow for redfin.

Australian salmon have been spotted working baitfish on the surface around Corio Bay’s inner harbour. They have been caught on soft plastic and metal lures cast into the hungry school. Best bet is to cut the motor and cast rather than troll lures straight through the middle of the school, as this only frightens them off. Most fish have been around the 35-40cm with a few up around 45cm – fantastic fun on light tackle. For boaties chasing salmon, try St Helens, Grammar School Lagoon and Point Henry. If you’re land based, try St Helens rocks, Rippleside and Geelong

Check the Portarlington Pier for silvers in close.

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waterfront.

Ross Winstanley fished the south end of Stingaree Bay earlier this month and managed 20 King George whiting between 33-38cm before 8am! Ross says he has fished the same area over the last six months or so with, “Positive but variable results,” often returning home with a feed.

Ross noted that there have been a few guys trying their luck for garfish off the Limeburners boat ramp rock wall using floats. This could be worth a try if the winds come through.

Portarlington Pier can see good numbers of small Australian salmon kicking about here too. They’re often in close and it is a good place to give the kids a bit of a thrill if they are about. Silver trevally also turn up here in June so keep an eye out for these hard fighters.

Whiting are still having a go from Clifton Springs and right around the Bellarine Peninsula with some quality fish either side of 40cm kicking about too. If we get some big winds and the water dirties up, the whiting bite can improve so keep an eye out for this. It’s a little harder to spot the sand and weed patches, but the fish love it.

Squid are the preferred bait

over pipis at the moment and thankfully they have also been biting in the same areas. I would expect the region’s hot whiting bite to taper off somewhat over July but I thought that a month ago as well and they’re still about.

Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head says the squid were a little harder to find and their size has dropped somewhat as we ease into winter. Grassy Point near Portarlington and the reef areas off Indented Head still saw a few of his clients nab a good feed. Rod says they had some quality King George whiting come in with plenty of fish between the 34-44cm mark. The fish were a little better towards Portarlington from the pier around to the boat ramp at Indented Head while the grass beds on the edge of the deeper water were productive on the incoming tide near the Prince George Light.

Land-based anglers should try the Portarlington Pier during the day for Australian salmon and the odd whiting and sit it out until dusk. When it gets dark, lob out a whole pilchard as there has been the odd big snapper caught here at night. Those keen

for a feed of flathead should try drifting out in the deeper water off Indented Head, as they have made more of an appearance here lately, according to Rod. Australian salmon move in a little closer to the beaches around this time of year. Wayne Elmer got stuck into some ripper salmon to 56cm fishing from Bancoora Beach at Breamlea recently and there have been a few caught out of Barwon Heads when the weather has permitted. Those keen on beach fishing for salmon should give the stretch from Fairhaven to Eastern View a crack this July. Last July saw good numbers of fish either side of 1.5kg grabbing pilchards and metal slices cast into the gutters along this beach. Similarly, Jan Juc Beach holds good numbers of salmon with the chance of a gummy shark after dark as well.

Small salmon in good numbers will be inside the Barwon River estuary during July. Your best bet is to wait for the clean water of the incoming tide to inundate the lower reaches, as they are not too fond of the fresh. If the Barwon is brown from heavy rains, forget it.

Winter can see some fair slabs of King George whiting mooching around the shallow reef areas near the Barwon River mouth and Fishermans Beach at Torquay. They’ll take pipis and squid (as always), but have been known to scoff a pilchard fillet too.

If you’re looking for somewhere to get the kids onto a few fish this July, give the Anglesea River a go for some bream. There is easy bank access all along the Geelong side and the

Lorne side has a great playground and sheltered barbeques as well. Just use a running sinker rig with a small sharp hook baited with peeled prawn and that should see you among a few.

Southern bluefin tuna were biting well down the west coast of Victoria so those with the gear and boats should start looking for them now out off Barwon Heads, the Surf Coast and the Rip as they could show up any

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21

Options abound as winter sets in PORT PHILLIP WEST

Andy Smith andy@ebbtidetackle.com

Firstly let me congratulate Brenton Hodges on his sensational six years delivering this column to

Victorian and Tasmanian fishing fans. Brenton’s regular contribution and depth of information

Loads of salmon are to be found across the upper reaches of Port Phillip Bay, as Paul Malov recently found.

117 Northgate Drive THOMASTOWN VIC triplemmarine@dodo.com.au

03 9465 8787

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www.triplemmarine.com.au

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will be sorely missed but I am sure we will see him gracing the Fishing Monthly pages again soon.

Enjoy your trip exploring Australia, buddy!

Many anglers slow down during Melbourne’s winter, packing their gear away and giving the boat a rest for a couple of months. However, just rewards exist for keen anglers that are happy to rug up, throw on the waterproofs and get out in the chilly mornings and cool days.

Don’t pack it away – get out there!

AVALON TO WERRIBEE Autumn delivered sensational fishing for King George whiting in the shallow areas from Avalon to ‘The Farm’ (Werribee Wastewater Treatment Plant area), and while the whiting are certainly not as easy to catch through the winter months, the quality of fish makes a trip worthwhile. You may have to employ a few more moves than usual, but adding quality berley into the area and using ultrasensitive graphite nibble tip rods like the Shimano Southern Whiting Deluxe can make the difference between an average day and a decent catch.

Berleying is about quality over quantity. Spend the time to use a reasonably quality product, not just the leftover three month old pipis and mussels from the bottom of the freezer. Concentrated fish specific berley products deliver sensational value, with concentrated quality

AFL footballer Ben Cunnington displays a quality bag of whiting. ingredients proven to attract fish when it matters. Good areas to target are the shallow broken weed/sand bed areas in 3-6m. If a trip coincides with a tide change around late afternoon or evening then even better, just rug up for the run back to the ramp!

WERRIBEE TO POINT COOK The water may be cold, but the calamari love it.

Anglers have experienced some of the best calamari fishing across the area this

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JULY 2016

An illustration of the Altona Pier Artificial Reef. Reef ball modules placed strategically have introduced habitat that encourages fish life and reliable catches.

Image source – Agriculture Victoria

year. Regular catches of calamari up to and over 1.5kg have been common, and this should continue as winter progresses.

Mick Felsovary from Hooked On Bait and Tackle reports that anglers have had success across a range of depths and areas stretching from the Werribee South Marina all the way to Point Cook and even along the Western Shore.

Mick mentioned that the key is to experiment with depths through your drifts and pay attention to the water clarity.

If you are fishing after recent rain and the water is dirty, move out deeper than usual (as deep as 9m) and concentrate on red, purple, black or gold foil jigs for maximum effect.

Jigs like the newly released Yamashita Egi Oh Live Search are producing the goods regularly with the advantage of a rattle that is tuned and designed to be in the optimum hearing level of squid.

Dark foil jigs are renowned for reliability and success during cooler months with generally overcast days and low light conditions.

Many anglers, such as Rob Kriz and Peter Pantadis have had great success around Point Cook, nailing fantastic-sized calamari.

Peter landed a beast that measured 43cm hood length on a classic gold foil jig, the Gancraft Kuma King George Whiting in size 3.0, while Rob set his personal best with a calamari measuring in at 45cm hood length!

ALTONA TO WILLIAMSTOWN The shallow reef areas stretching throughout this entire area are reliable to target. Mixed species are always on offer this time

of year, with the realistic proposition of a qualitysized snapper.

After several years, landbased anglers are beginning to benefit from Fisheries

Victoria’s artificial reef deployments. One of these reef systems has been placed a good casting distance in front of Altona Pier. Reef ball modules placed strategically

Peter Pantadis with a ripping calamari form Point Cook.

have introduced habitat that encourages fish life and reliable catches.

Australian salmon, pinkie snapper, flathead, pike and even calamari are targets from the pier. Blue bait are a great bait to use on a paternoster rig from the pier, while soft plastic paddle-tails around 75-100mm in length have produced the goods over the last several months.

Jighead weights up around 5-8g and a 2/0 hook are ideal to deliver good cast distance into the areas of reef modules on a 2.1m graphite spin rod.

Salmon schools roam the entire top end of Port Phillip Bay during the winter months, so keep an eye out for them to pop up at any time. If they do, a wellaimed cast into the edges of the school with a small 7g metal or a soft plastic rarely goes without a hookup. Fishing 2-4kg gear on these guys is sensational fun, with good runs, aerial antics and worthwhile battles.

Pike and pinkies can also be found under the salmon schools to keep the action varied as well.

Using the same style of outfit, head into the reef edges in 3-8m of water using blue bait and squid strips as bait. Large numbers of juvenile snapper move onto the reefs and provide great angling experience. Areas

around the Cardinal at Altona, Millers Road and in front of the Williamstown Angling Club are great areas to search. For a surprise or two, cast a pipi or mussel on a size 6 longshank hook along the sandy or rubble bottom edges and you’ll be in with a very good chance of a feed of solid winter whiting, or some serious flathead.

METROPOLITAN RIVERS Mulloway are hot on the list of anglers in the Maribyrnong, Yarra and Werribee rivers after the first rains of winter and cold weather. These estuary predators are becoming a regular catch, and ideal times to target them are around bridges at slack water in tide changes and areas where they can ambush unwary baitfish. Use 125-180mm soft plastic paddle-tails such as OSP 4.5” Dolive Shad, Lunkerhunt Saltwater Swim Bento and 5” Nories Spoontail Shads (getting hard to find now in stores!).

These lures have proven very successful to target mulloway due to a heavy tail vibration and ideal forage size. Metal or hybrid/plastic vibes from 40-80mm are also well worth using with a hopping retrieve through ambush areas out of the main current area.

Bream will be making

Rob Kriz with his personal best calamari. their usual movements into the middle areas of the rivers and schooling up.

Vibes and curl-tail grub and worm style soft plastics are great target lures, while scrub worms fished near freshwater run-off areas are irresistible, especially in the Maribyrnong. Pinkies will also be pushing into the lower reaches of the Yarra River – keep a wary eye out for the Newport Power Station. If the power

station is pumping hot water, head on down to target a bream, mulloway or (fingers crossed) winter tailor in the area.

BEEN FISHING? I’d love to see and hear your fishing experiences in the local area! Send through fishing reports and high-resolution photos of your best catches to andy@ ebbtidetackle.com with as much detail as you are happy to share.

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Challenge of the month: land-based snapper PORT PHILLIP NE

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

There’s nothing like a change in the weather to stir up the fishing, and this has certainly happened on the bay over the last month or so. Persistent onshore westerly and northwesterly winds have limited angling opportunities for many of the Bay anglers.

anglers that target snapper from the piers and rocks during these conditions. The environmental factors can be a little challenging to say the least for these fishers, but the rewards are worth it.

Mornington Pier is probably the most productive location for snapper anglers during these times, as it has easy and relatively safe access to deeper water, and a substantial reef at its feet. The snapper come in

used strip baits of salmon, fresh squid and tuna fillet to great success.

Other productive areas have been from the various rock platforms along the Mount Martha rocks, especially Bradford Road and Hearn Road. Frankston and Seaford Piers have also produced a few nice snapper as well, as have the piers further north in the bay, especially Mordialloc and Brighton.

Large calamari have become common over the past month or so. This 1.4kg model was taken on dark right in the middle of downtown Mornington.

Substantial rainfall has also given the inshore areas a real shake up, with substantial flow entering the Bay from the drains and rivers along the coast.

Many anglers have welcomed the recent rain and weather, especially the dedicated crew of land-based

close to feed on these areas during bad weather. I have had reports of some nice fish landed from the pier up to 6kg in weight over the past couple of weeks, and more commonly in the 3-5kg range. Successful baits have been varied, but most of the reports I have received indicate that anglers have

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It’s worth noting that safety is paramount while fishing at all times. My advice is to always fish with a mate or two if you are going to brave the bad weather and try for a landbased winter snapper. You

will notice if you cast your eye over the gear these crew are carrying, that long gaffs and nets are very important, as well as surf rods, all to help land your prize when it comes in close. No fish is worth risking your life for, but the right gear will make things a lot easier when it comes to the money shot.

The average weather has also been ideal for anglers who chase salmon and other predators. Most of the popular land-based haunts have produced salmon, as well as many of the open beaches along the eastern shoreline. They are normally very easy to spot by the presence of birds, and when they break the surface, and will take a wide variety of lures, flies and baits when they are feeding. A real hot spot at the moment is nearby to the mouths of rivers, creeks and drains, especially the mouth of the Patterson River, Kananook Creek and Martha Cove.

The Patto has also produced some thumping bream; especially for bait fishers fishing close to drains and run-off. I have had reports of some ripper fish up to 1.4kg weighed in at Launching Way, and have had a few sneaky reports of mulloway landed as well.

The mulloway action seems to be a bit later this year, but stay tuned for next month’s report. I would expect the resident perch population to

Mornington Pier regular Darren Matthews with a 3.5kg red weighed in at Mornington recently. The wet and rough weather has provided some excellent but uncomfortable land-based snapper fishing from Mornington Pier and the surrounding rock platforms. fire up in this system as well over the next month.

The late season whiting fishing happening locally seems to have moved further south for the time being, but I have still seen a few anglers landing some nice fish from Mornington Pier.

Fresh mussels and pipis are the gun bait.

The squid fishing has been a bit challenging lately, with dirty water and plenty of wind, but small windows of calmer evenings and nights have produced some bigger than average squid, especially for the land-based and kayak guys. Personally, I have been doing best on brighter coloured jigs lately.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Korr orange/white easy fit light Korr lighting have provided the camper with some great products over the years, but this one is especially handy when heading to areas where insects are a real pest. As an example, I recently had the privilege of spending time up on Cape York.

You could be forgiven for assuming that in winter the mosquitoes would call it quits, but this is not the case, because as stream and lagoon flows slow down, the little darlings have a chance to hatch in their millions.

Smoke can keep them at bay to an extent, but one thing I’ve discovered for certain is that Korr’s 1.2 m Orange and White light is a certain winner at keeping them away from camp.

Tests were carried out with a standard white strip light set at one corner of the Cape York camp, the Korr 1.2 Orange/White strip light set at the other extremity of camp with the selector button pressed to the Orange setting. To my amazement, the orange strip light did not attract one

A night time shot of the Korr orange and white easy fit light in action. Not an insect in sight!

insect whereas the standard white light was supporting a veritable swarm. The orange LEDs in the Korr certainly did the job of repelling the little critters, no question about it!

The Korr 1.2m orange and white Easy Fit light is a very comprehensive unit. The standard kit in its small zip up carry bag contains the 1.2m long light strip in a plastic and canvas fabric sheath with Velcro operated strips, plus a karabiner clip at each end for an easy attachment to a pole or strut.

Accompanying the light with its dimmer cum selector switch is a 5m lead, a connection onto a battery via alligator clips or a simple push on connection to a car or boat outlet similar to the old cigarette lighter outlets.

Note that there’s easy connection between the cigarette lighter connection and the alligator clip, so both options are on hand to suit available power outlets.

The Korr Orange and White Easy Fit Light To page 25

Squeeze in some squiddin’ PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

The past few weeks have seen some perfect clear sky days interrupted by wintery blasts and those keen enough to get out in the cold rough conditions have been rewarded with excellent scores of pinkies, while the calmer days have seen some really good fishing for squid and garfish.

The thing that is really amazing however is the quality of the water in the bay. A good dump of rain and some windy conditions creates some colour in the water, which clears up within a few days and the clarity allows anglers to see the bottom often in water up to 8m deep.

This is a far cry from years back when the suspended sediment would keep the water dirty for days on end after a blow.

Depending on how you look at it, the clear or dirty water is a blessing in disguise with the cloudy coloured water generally producing From page 24

Flexible Light Kit is very easy to use and can be attached to tent awnings, or virtually any place there’s a requirement for light.

The light is set up, power provided and then there’s

first class pinkie fishing as they move onto the shallow reefs for mass feeding in the stirred up conditions. The clear water conditions seems to make the fish a bit timid to enter the shallows until the last light periods and then generally are gone after first light.

On the upside, the clear water makes perfect conditions for the calamari, which thrive on the shallow reefs in clear conditions.

Either way, it’s not a bad problem to have as at least anglers have a few choices with either the pinkies or squid and often time both at this time of the year.

MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK The creek itself has been fishing quite well over the past weeks for the local winter mullet run. It will prove especially productive if the water has a bit of colour. The other good option has been to target patches of smaller-sized salmon that hang around the river mouth on the run-out tides and out on the pier itself. The garfish have made a bit of a return and some anglers have found good numbers of them on

various days.

This month should see all these species continue to improve along with good numbers of squid that really move into the reef that lies on the right hand side of the pier.

Out in the boats the pinkie and squid fishing has been consistent from Mordialloc up to Rickets Point with the late afternoons producing some of the better fish for a few anglers who fish on the south or deeper side of the Parkdale Pinnacles in 8m of water. As an added bonus, several anglers have reported some good numbers of garfish.

Moving up into Beaumaris Bay this month should really see the big blue spot flathead start to fire up as they move into this corner of the bay in fairly solid numbers. If you’re keen to get out on them then try drift fishing with either a small paternoster style rig baited with whitebait, or if you’re more into casting lures, use a small plastic jigged across the bottom. You’ll find the more solid flathead generally range up to 60cm in length.

Good plastics to try are

the ZMan 3” MinnowZ and the 3.75” Jerk ShadZ in colours such as motor oil and red bone glow. If you’re after a brighter colour it’s hard to go past the nuked chicken. As a bonus, all of these options are dynamite on pinkie snapper as well.

The pinkies have been quite good up off Ricketts Point and along to Black Rock, although a lot of anglers have reported capturing lots of smaller fish in the 27-32cm size but fingers crossed for some better-sized models in the 40cm+ range will turn up.

For the land-based anglers, there are some good pinkies to be caught with the area in front of the Half Moon Bay car park and the rocky shoreline up to Fourth Street producing some cracker fish to 3kg over the past weeks.

SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA This month is a great time to get into land-based action with good numbers of pinkies on offer from the end of the Sandringham break wall and off the Hampton rock groynes. For the squid anglers – if the water is

the choice of either white light, which is very bright at 1100 lumens. The orange (Which can be chosen by pressing the dimmer/ selector switch), which is not as bright, is certainly ideal for camp site use to

The orange light during daylight. Note the canvas sheath the light is installed in for best protection.

The kit is compact and easy to set up and comes in a carry case with all power leads and connections.

prepare meals and other after dark chores without being pestered by things that have a liking to human flesh.

Having tested this compact but very effective lighting unit under extreme conditions, I must say

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Cool, clear water means the squid will be very active over July. clear it’s also a prime area to cast jigs at the nearby weed patches, where you’re sure to find a few calamari.

Some serious-sized snook turn up out on the Anonyma Shoal around this reef patch. A great way to get stuck into them is to cast or troll a 70-90mm slim style hardbody lure, especially in silvery baitfish pattern. Work it through the water with a jerky retrieve and you will find good results.

Anglers have reported good numbers of better-sized pinkies in 3-5m of water with both bait and soft plastic anglers reporting success further to the north from Green Point up to Brighton.

The best results have definitely come during the rougher conditions. During this time, bigger baits such as whole pilchards or squid strips and soft plastics in the 5-6” size have also caught better fish.

The only reports I have heard of recently up on the very shallow reefs from North Road to St Kilda are some good garfish in the

calm conditions and some good red mullet caught by anglers fishing with bait.

ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE As the water cools right down this month, the fishing will often slow down in this part of the bay. However, over the past weeks a few reports have come through of small salmon taken occasionally off the local piers, and if you’re keen to fish out in 5-9m of water between Kerford Road Pier and Station Pier, there can be some solid pinkies and even a resident big snapper to be found.

It’s also the time to get a big fresh bait out there as the big mulloway are going to be on the move up to the Yarra River and places like Lagood Pier are known to produce some thumping big fish over the coming weeks and months. If you’re in a boat, then a great area to try is also around the old Princess Pier as it tends to attract pinkies, snapper, trevally and big mulloway over the coming months.

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Tame the mighty Aussie salmon MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Dan Lee info@peninsulatotaltackle.com.au

July is often one of the toughest fishing months of the year on the Mornington Peninsula.

There have been some good days offshore in the northerly winds with plenty of pinkies caught.

Often it is not even the state of the fishery as much as the short days, cool weather and wet conditions that put off anglers. Surf fishing is at its peak for the year, but chasing winter whiting and squid also has devotees.

In recent years, Devilbend Reservoir has provided a local freshwater option and is a good choice at this time of year. In my opinion, the fishing can be pretty rewarding, which keeps the fires burning.

Finding the enthusiasm to get out there becomes challenging!

DEVILBEND RESERVOIR Devilbend is an old Melbourne water storage dam that was decommissioned a couple of decades ago. It has since been stocked with big numbers of brown and rainbow trout and more recently natives such as estuary perch. Located in Tuerong, about 10-minutes from Mornington, the reservoir has produced some wonderful trout to 10lb.

Many local anglers spent time over autumn catching small estuary perch that were released in

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the waterway, but as the weather has cooled down we have seen more anglers targeting trout. The lure of choice seems to be the Rapala Count Downs, as some of the water is very deep. You can let the lure hit the bottom and then work it from the depths – this method has worked wonders for some anglers.

The hardest part about fishing Devilbend Reservoir is finding an area where the weed is not a problem. You can do it, you just need to do a bit of exploring.

WHITING Over the last month we had an extended period of wind and I was really interested to see the state of the whiting fishery after this. Had they moved on? Would they still be in good numbers? Well, the short answer after we had a respite in the wind was a resounding yes!

Good fish have still been found while fishing the sisters off Sorrento, but a number of haunts that were firing a few weeks ago have still been producing. Tootgarook and Rye Shallow have been good, while the word is that there are plenty to be found if you fancy a quick drive over to the Bellarine Peninsula to fish St Leonards and Queenscliff.

AUSTRALIAN SALMON The beaches have seen some good action over the last couple of weeks.

We have finally had some days where the swell has

Luke Marchetti with a lovely 1kg squid taken at Portsea Pier. been down and there has either been a northerly or no wind at all.

Salmon are varied in size at the moment, with fish between 800g and 1kg common. Green metals as well as gold and chrome colours seem to have worked most effectively for

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A great bag of quality salmon caught by Danny Goudge at Rosebud Pier.

the lure casters, while the humble old bluebait is still getting a run from the bait fishers and producing fish.

Rosebud Pier has been a standout on the bay side of the peninsula with some fish as big as 2kg taken on lure early in the morning.

The school seems to have been around for a couple of weeks now, which is good news for the locals.

LOOKING AHEAD While August is not quite the official start of spring, often toward the end of the month it does see a stirring of the collective fishing population as minds start to wander toward the upcoming snapper season.

We often see the keenest of anglers out on Port Phillip doing some bait collection or sounding runs off their favourite marks.

August can be a great time to target an early season fish in Western Port – many of which are often bigger than those that come with the main spawning run. If snapper don’t tickle your fancy, August can be a terrific month for silver trevally or the first of the spawning squid. Whatever the case, hopefully the weather gods are on our side and we can get out among the action!

• For more information feel free to drop in and see the boys at Peninsula Compleat Angler, 11 Boneo Road in Rosebud or phone: 03 5981 1994.

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Calamari make it all worthwhile in the cold of the Bouchier Channel and during the run-out tide tempted a 6kg snapper into taking a squid/pilchard cocktail bait.

The whiting have backed off a little, and those that are putting in the work are definitely the ones coming home with results. The entrance to the Tooradin Channel has been pretty good. The fish aren’t huge, but with an average of 32-34cm a good feed is still out there. Anglers who work a berley pot hard and moving every 10-15 minutes if need be are significantly out-fishing anglers doing the opposite. It’s a normal thing

WESTERN PORT NTH

Adam Ring

Winter is here and it’s cold, wet and windy. But we’ve still been getting little breaks in the weather and on a massively positive note; the fishing has been quite good. Gummies have been the highlight off the beach, the odd snapper is still hanging around and the calamari have been so consistent that they have reminded us that fishing in winter is still very much worth the effort.

I have to start with the land-based fishing around Jam Jerrup this month as it has been just too good to ignore. Ash McMillan is a regular to Jam Jerrup and has sussed out a little hole down there that produces great fish! In one trip Ash braved the howling winds and put some quality fresh bait to good use. Armed with fresh yakka chunks and a surf rod Ash returned from the trip with a beautiful table-sized gummy shark and a surprising winter snapper that made the frustrating conditions all worth it in the end. Ash then backed up this session with another three gummies, putting in a few hours on the low tide in the same area.

One of Ash’s beautiful land-based gummies.

Ash isn’t the only person to take advantage of the great beach fishing either.

Shannon Knight and Jarryd Rossiter braved the cold and planned a night session off the beach at Lang Lang for a great result. They left with a cracker 10kg gummy and a couple of elephant fish to round out a great night.

The elephants were taken on pilchards while the gummy fell to a fresh mullet.

Moving off the beach now, but still staying in the Lang Lang area, Darren Bull took the tinnie into the shallow water around Lang Lang and boated a crazy good snapper that tipped the scales at a healthy 6.5kg.

David Goldsworthy and his great snapper caught in the Bouchier Channel.

That’s a huge effort for this time of the year! Speaking of snapper, they just keep popping up; even now that we are into winter. David Goldsworthy fished at the top

for this time of the year, but at least there is still reward for hard work. Another rather interesting report on whiting came in from the Warneet Pier. Chris Whitehead landed

a great whiting off the pier recently. There has also been a few nice calamari around too, so make sure you take a couple of squid jigs with you!

Calamari fishers have experienced some red-hot action. The Quail Bank is absolutely on fire! The amount of reports we have seen from here are unreal.

There is a very broad size range of squid here too, a lot of smaller ‘bait-sized’ squid have been captured, but we have still seen squid as big as 2kg coming in quite regularly. There haven’t been any great secrets in regard to jig colour, but jigs are definitely out-fishing bait at the moment. Calamari are very in tune with a moving bait at the moment, which indicates they in a very aggressive state of mind at the moment. The standard red foil or white jigs have been successful, but it’s the blacks and gold foils that have really come into their own as the recent rains discolour the water a little bit.

Apart from the snapper, there haven’t been great surprises in the above reports.

I really love this time because there is always that group of anglers that prove to the fishing world that there is still some exceptional fish to be caught if we are willing to target them! Thank you to everyone who submitted reports and good luck to those who brave the elements and get among the quality fish out there.

Keep those reports coming!

Quail Bank calamari are going off!

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Go whack a winter whiting in Western Port WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

It’s July already, which means everything is only going to get better soon as spring is only around the corner. Still, for the time being, it is all about riding out the next eight weeks before we can expect some warmth in the air and some snapper to swarm

into Western Port.

While I have snapper on the brain, the winter fishery hasn’t really kicked into gear as well as I thought it may have, given the previous winters. A few reds have been caught in the Corinella region, with the back of Pelican Island producing some nice pinkie snapper to 2kg.

Larger fish have been caught, but of what I have had reported to me, the largest so far has been a 4kg model

When searching for whiting, a combination of weed and sand is the ideal location.

caught at the Corals by local angler Jeff McMillan from Phillip Island. Jeff reported that he managed three fish during the session with the other two around the 50cm mark. All fish took Californian squid baits.

CALAMARI The highlight lately has been the calamari fishery for land-based and boat anglers.

For those fishing from the shore, the more productive locations have been the San Remo Jetty, with anglers doing well into the night half an hour either side of the high tide change, Stony Point Pier during the flood tide at night as well as Flinders Pier, which is the most productive pier throughout winter. There have been some exceptional models caught from the Flinders Pier recentlywith size 3.0 jigs doing the damage. Mind you, those fishing with baited jigs have also been catching some nice models, but the jigs are proving to be the most effective technique.

From the sand, baited jigs suspended under floats have been effective from Balnarring Rocks, Ventnor Beach and Cleeland Bight. Fishing these locations for calamari is best on a calm night and during a flood tide.

Anglers fishing from boats have had success when drifting along the edge of the bank between the Stony Point ramp and Hanns Inlet Entrance. There have also been some nice models caught in Tankerton Bay and on the Tortoise Head Bank however, and for the larger winter models, Cat Bay and Flinders have been producing some cracking models but they are few and far between at the moment. By the end of this month, they should be in full swing in these areas.

WINTER WHITING Despite whiting are known as a summer species throughout the state, but it is fact that Victoria now has a very reliable winter fishery too. While the focus is often on Port Phillip Bay, many forget about the productiveness of Western Port and it gets overlooked.

Although they may not be in huge numbers, those who do target them catch a reasonable number to keep it a viable option in the colder months.

Most of the whiting action is confined to a few areas such as Cat Bay, Flinders, Balnarring, Tortoise Head and the Middle Spit.

These locations are hot property when it comes to

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whiting and the techniques don’t differ much between the summer and winter run.

However, you will find the fish in winter are easily spooked and quite hesitant to take a bait, especially in shallow water, so it will pay to fish with either a running sinker rig or extended paternoster rig with no. 6 hooks. When the fish are finicky, fishing with long shank hooks will allow you to feel the bite and set the hook accordingly, unlike circle hooks where you want them to engulf the entire bait and hook.

In winter, this aggressive feeding pattern rarely occurs.

Shaun Furtiere has been having a good run on the winter ‘tings and has had no problems finding solid fish.

GUMMY SHARKS Another top winter option if you’re brave enough to head out in the almost arctic conditions is gummy sharks, as they are quite a prolific winter species. The Western Entrance is one of the more reliable locations to catch them, especially around buoy 14, 11 and 15.

The Western Entrance isn’t the easiest to fish, especially if you’re a new comer to the area, so ensure you have the

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right anchor, anchor chain and rope, otherwise you’ll be drifting down the entrance rather than staying put.

Gummy sharks respond to

a variety of baits; however the oilier baits have the best chance at catching quality fish. Fresh salmon chunks and fillets, silver trevally, yellowtail

month, I can’t end without mentioning how good the surf fishing is at present, especially at Cape Woolamai, Anzacs and Colonnades surf beaches. The salmon have been quite plentiful, but are only firing on the top of the high tide. Fishing first light is the most productive time to fish with anglers who use

berley having more success than those who don’t.

Although bait fishing with blue bait and white bait has been the most productive technique, spinning with metal lures is also highly effective and requires a lot less effort than lugging tonnes of gear to the beach.

The author with a typical calamari taken along the edge of the southern Middle Spit.

Shaun Furtiere has been finding plenty of whiting all winter. Deckie Zoran Cikov displays a nice handful of solid fish.

Photo courtesy of Shaun Furtiere.

scad and calamari rings are the most effective.

Winter gummy sharks don’t tend to raise eyebrows, because the majority caught tend to be males up to about 8kg with the odd 10kg model caught from time to time. In saying that, reports of fish to 28kg have been reported in the

last few weeks, which is a good sign, so hopefully this leads to many more catches throughout the next few months.

Big gummy sharks are known as a February and March affair, but if you put in enough time and effort, you’ll be rewarded.

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Will displays a good catch of winter whiting taken while fishing one glorious day.

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Game on for the gutter fish INVERLOCH

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

Outside the entrance, when conditions have allowed there have been some great bags of fish caught.

Naturally this puts a smile on the face of boaters everywhere. Although there have not been any reports of the larger toothies, goodsized gummies have been caught, along with quality flathead and salmon that have taken a variety of lures and natural baits.

Wonthaggi anglers, Amanda Kelliar and Terry Hendrix have been happy with their results. Recently they caught some very nice gummy sharks around the 16kg mark, as well as a very good-sized goatfish or red

mullet. Traditionally, these fish are not caught in big numbers but are so good on the table they are known as the ‘chicken of the sea.’

Fishing has been reasonable at times through the week in Anderson Inlet where whiting have been caught from the entrance up as far as Mahers Landing. As is usually the case, the bigger fish have been taken around the entrance and the snags with better results when the tide slows down. The fish have been to the 40cm mark and have been taking baits such as pipis, Bass yabbies, squid and cockles. Around the snags, good silvers have been caught, as well as quality pinkies.

Stevies Gutter has been performing reasonably well. Land-based anglers who don’t mind a bit of a

Some winter whiting are around the area, if you can embrace the cold and head out to look for them!

walk from Lees Road to the southern side to fish the run-off tide will be rewarded.

This is where there have been good numbers of perch, whiting and flathead to make the effort worthwhile. In the gutter, boaters have tried their luck to catch some great

those who know where to go. Good-sized bream have been caught to the 38cm mark, which makes them worthwhile to target. They have been bagged mainly on the run-out tide. Mixed in with them are quality perch that have taken presentations

AWARDS Heaviest bag and King of the Tambo went to Alan Bentick with a total of 7.236kg.

Junior Male Champion went to Hunter Tiziani with a bag weight of 1.825kg.

Junior Female Champion went to Lilly Spradbury with a bag weight of 1.095kg.

Teams Event was won by Alan Bentick, Isa Spradbury and Ollie Drisch with a bag weight of 9.2kg.

The Betty Ryan Memorial trophy was won by Ashia Dennis. flathead, that lay in wait for the smaller fish that come off the shallow mud banks into the deeper water on the run-off tide.

At Mahers Landing, land-based anglers are prepared to try their luck even if it might mean a fair wait between enquiries.

The run-in tide seems to be the best time to wet a line for fish such as silvers, mullet and gummy sharks.

The results are even better if the tide coincides with darkness, as the fish will move in closer under the cover of night.

The Tarwin River has been going along well for

such as soft plastic lures and natural bait that include Bass yabbies, sand worms and small strips of squid.

I had a call from a visiting boater who had a tale of woe to tell. Angus Hayes says that he is a regular visitor to the Tarwin River and recently decided to launch and try his luck off the boat ramp. He arrived at high tide around about midday

Amanda with a red mullet or the ‘chicken of the sea,’ as they are known. and headed out upstream to look for whatever might make an appearance. He just cleared the highway bridge and headed up further. As it turned out they did very well, and picked up a mixed bag of bream, silvers, mullet and a couple of flathead. They stopped on the way back and picked up some good size mullet and were happy. Upon their arrival back at the boat

RESULTS (BREAM) Division Angler Senior Male Alan Bentick Senior Female Anne Poulton Junior Male Jack Howell Junior Female Lilly Spradbury

Weight (Kg) 0.845 0.450 0.475 0.640

ramp they were presented with plenty of soft black mud, which presented a problem, although not the end of the world there was a fair while before the boat was back on the trailer and the crew learnt a valuable lesson!

The Wonthaggi Angling Club recently returned from the first of its bi-annual trips to the Tambo River.

President Steve Howell thanked the Wonthaggi club for its ongoing support, which was very much appreciated.

He hoped that this great sponsorship would continue for many years into the future.

There were 30 entrants and 17 weighed in fish.

FISHING FILL-ITS

An Aquaventure for everybody!

I often get asked what an Aquaventure is. The Aquaventure is exactly what it sounds like, an aquatic adventure chasing Australian native fish. The adventure part comes with the terrain these fish live, getting there, and catching them on either lure or fly. The best part of the Aquaventure experience is the increased accessibility to great Australian fish for the general public.

The main target of Aquaventures is the wily sooty grunter, which in my opinion is a very underrated sportfish.

They are formidable fighters with an aggressive appetite.

Other species on offer are jungle perch, mangrove jack, barramundi and tarpon. These fish live in a diverse range of waters, but we concentrate on targeting them in rivers.

I use my Argo, which is an 8-wheel ATV vehicle that floats (it’s even rated to a

9.9hp max outboard) to cover a lot of distance. This makes larger rivers and bigger holes more comfortable to fish in, such as the Burdekin River in the Charters Towers region where 10km+ can be covered in a day with ease.

I also have kayak trips

more personal experience between guide and angler and avoids separation, which can happen in a group of yaks. This way the angler is placed in prime position for the first cast at the new spots, which increases your catch rate and experience.

The best part of the Aquaventure experience is the increased accessibility to great Australian fish for the general public.

Big sooty grunter are the prime target of Aquaventures, however, many other species can and will be caught during the outings.

The Argo, decked out and ready to go!

32

JULY 2016

available that cater for one angler. One angler per trip on the yak trips creates a

I also offer walking/ hiking trips. These days are geared to chase jungle perch

in the remote mountain streams between Townsville and Ingham. The client’s fitness level will be the deciding factor of where and how far we walk.

I am extremely flexible with my trips and like to plan to the individual’s specific needs and quote

accordingly.

I love teaching and sharing my fishing knowledge, so not only will we be fishing but I will also offer tips and advice as we go along.

For more information give Aquaventure a call on 0416 838 202 – Vinnie Versfeld

Windy woes set in around Western Port fishing PHILLIP ISLAND

John Dalla-Rosa

This past month has been wind, wind and more wind.

I don’t mind fishing in the rain but windy conditions certainly makes it difficult, whether it’s in a boat or on the beach. Being chucked around in a boat or being sandblasted at the beach is not much fun. So my fishing trips have been curtailed until we get some

better weather.

SURF BEACHES With the windy conditions surf fishing has been difficult, but on the calmer days or days where the strong northerlies persisted, beach fishing has been good. Williamsons Beach has been producing salmon up to 1.5kg with whitebait working the best.

Venus Bay has also been fishing well with the last half of the top of the tide producing the most fish.

SAN REMO AREA Below the Bridge Outside the Entrance off the Glasshouse when the weather allows there are still some good catches of sand and tiger flathead to be had along with reasonable sized silver whiting.

Inside the Entrance in the Cleelands Bight area, calamari are about in good numbers and the odd whiting is being caught in the same area.

Above the Bridge Some good reports of

While whiting have almost disappeared, the numbers of gummies has been impressive at Cowes. calamari have been coming in off Reef Island and off the Tyabb Bank. Now that the cold weather has set in, whiting have become very scarce so it’s just a case of moving around and trying different areas. If you are lucky, you might just catch a feed.

The northern end of the bay has been producing the odd winter snapper.

Hopefully things will pick up as we get into the winter months.

FLINDERS AREA Conditions haven’t been favourable to fish this area, however there are good

Waiting for the early morning bite.

numbers of snook about, and trolling lures over the weed beds will catch them.

The whiting have all

but disappeared but a few reasonable sized gummies have been coming in from the Point Leo area.

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33

Feel like a king for a day WELSHPOOL

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

Information from the Boat Storage is that the weather and fishing conditions have been described as fairly good, and that the fish have responded in kind. There have been good numbers

of gummies caught inside and outside the entrance that have been to the 19kg mark. The fish have taken a variety of baits such as pilchards, fish fillets and squid. Snapper have been about in pleasing numbers and caught on both sides of the tides.

I have recently received news that very good-sized

This quality bream was caught by Wonthaggi angler, Sean Thompson.

kingfish have been caught to the 90cm mark, which would please just about anyone. It is fair to say that there have been quite a few small kingies caught that are of course being thrown back, as it shouldn’t be long before they reach size. Some believe that whiting have been scarce due to being hounded by these predators.

Ian Harvey is a dedicated boater from Melbourne and knows this part of the world like the back of his hand. He said that on a recent trip he arrived to find that the water was fairly muddy, which didn’t look too good but put in anyway in around 3m of depth. There he stayed for a short time until suddenly there was an enquiry, and the battle was on. Ian said it took a while, but eventually he got the better of a 90cm runaway king. To say Ian was stoked would be an understatement and just to prove a point he took a photo for bragging purposes, naturally.

Recently, the fish were going very well at the jetty, which was much appreciated by the land-based anglers.

Fish such as silvers, mullet, flathead, whiting and garfish have been making the visit worth the effort. I received

a call from a visitor from Traralgon – Ron Jackson and a crew decided to try their luck on a fine sunny day and headed for a mark outside the entrance. According to Ron, there was hardly any wind, and in a short time they were into the fish. Quality flathead to 700g were soon in the boat, alongside good salmon, silvers and gummies.

The most successful bait has been strips of pilchards, pipis, Bass yabbies and cockles. The top of the run-in tide seems to be the most productive time to wet a line and if the warm conditions continue, so too will the good fishing.

As had been the case for some time in this part of the world, the good fishing continues. Quality whiting seem to be everywhere and boaters are doing well with good bags of flathead, silvers, and mullet caught inside the entrance. The Port Albert Channel has also been very productive with quality whiting and flathead caught on both high and low tides.

The jetties are going along very well with quality whiting, silvers, mullet, and eels in very good numbers.

Boaters have been very happy with their results

Ian Harvey and his magnificent 90cm yellowtail kingfish caught in 3m of deep dirty water while chasing whiting, using small calamari bait. around Midge Channel where there have been whiting and flathead caught on a variety of bait.

Of course, as we approach winter, most

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Estuarine predators on the prowl GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

Some rain has arrived and farmers will rejoice, but as anglers we wait nervously to see if this will put a stop to the fantastic fishing of late.

I don’t think it will, because it seems the parched land has soaked up nearly all of it. When the clean salt water that as usual penetrates into places like Lake Wellington during autumn, it’s the season we probably enjoy the best fishing of the entire calendar year. The rivers run clean and the fish bite well. The last month has gone exactly to script and we have all been busy. I’m tipping the next two months will be even better.

BIG DUSKY FLATHEAD As I predicted May, June and July are the peak months

to land cricket scores of flathead and once again, they have not disappointed. The numbers are probably a little down on previous years but the sizes have been way up.

The hotspots as usual have been Duck and Newlands arms, the lower Tambo and Mitchell rivers, Point Turner, Wattle Point, McLennans Strait, Raymond Island and Metung.

A lot of duskies have turned up between 40-60cm, so make sure you know the bag regulations and the slot limit sizes for legal keepers.

You have to return flathead that are bigger than 55cm.

On a recent outing in search of mulloway, I tied on much bigger lures than what I usually employ for bream and flatties. I expected my catch rate to drop dramatically because I was targeting a much bigger species. The exact opposite happened and my flathead

catch went through the roof!

In just 4 hours I landed 19 big flathead and even pulled in 5 bream to 38cm. This shocked me, and proved just how stuck in my ways I have become and ignorant to trying different lures.

So my message to you is try going bigger! Alas, there were no mulloway there between Point Turner and Wattle Point, but for the record, those bream and flatties took a 3” ZMan soft plastic MinnowZ (colour didn’t seem to matter) and a Hurricane Sting 37 blade in colours red devil and cracked black. Other anglers have landed up to 30 flathead a session using 100mm Squidgy Fish plastics on a 1/2oz jighead and the flathead have been up to 65cm. It seems the bigger the plastic, the larger the flathead.

BREAM NEWS There’s been some great

Long game season?

MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

The cold water has moved back into Bass Strait and the game fish have just about disappeared for the rest of the season.

Our fishery has again strengthened its claim to be one of the best game fishing areas in Victoria.

Angler Luke Morris fishing out of Cape Conran caught a huge tuna, and the monster weighing 113kg and was caught on 37kg line, creating great excitement in the game fishing fraternity. We are all hoping the season will run a little longer, allowing anglers to capture many species of game fish that will enhance our area, and with more anglers wanting to fish out of Cape Conran, the appropriate government bodies might see fit to improve the launching facilities at the cape to allow better access.

On the game fishing front, it’s time for me to have my annual holiday fishing a 6kg Yellowtail Kingfish Tournament in Russell, New Zealand, so I’ll report on that in the next issue.

For the anglers fishing for the table, the fishing from Cape Conran is excellent, anglers have reported getting plenty of flathead, squid, gurnard, barracouta, pinkie snapper and gummy shark. The surf beaches are also fishing well with anglers reporting good captures of salmon, tailor, flathead and

sport with bream recently and as usual the Straits at either Hollands or Seacombe have been a constant hotspot with Metung, lower Tambo or the Mitchell rivers not far behind. Even the canals at Paynesville have been firing for bream to 35cm and the shallows of Newlands Arm are holding some very large but cranky suckers.

Joel Petzke and Cam Cleal have pulled in nice hauls of large bream to 44cm and they both tell me the Hurricane Sting 37 lure is once again doing all the damage.

Mick Caulfield from Melbourne spent three days at the Straits and said the bream fishing was as good as ever and he can’t wait to return. He used blades and plastics for most of his catch but said Toms Creek was dead and he landed just one big carp out in Lake Wellington on a soft plastic.

Comp anglers Mario Vukic and Peter Nord spent some time there as well, but on that occasion the bream were totally shut down for most of the day.

Both anglers reported huge schools of bream in deep water, but they were refusing to eat lures. Even bait anglers went home hungry that day.

As we all know that is typical of the hit and miss nature of almost any fish we target. If only we knew what turns that switch from off to on. Sometimes the water rips through that area

Joel Petzke with a stunning silver 42cm bream caught on a Sting 37mm Hurricane Blade. Fish this size and quality are a guarantee at this time of year. and the flow makes it almost impossible to hook fish.

I was lucky just three days prior to Peter and Mario and had probably my best session in months, netting just over 40 bream.

Interestingly, the flow was almost at a standstill during my six-hour session. For the first time in almost a year, I pulled big bream to 43cm from the snaggy edges on heavy pink 60mm hardbodies that have a fairly quick sink rate.

Owen Pierce sent me photos of him holding cracker bream to 42cm that he pulled from the snags around the edges of Lake Wellington and said he found clean water while enjoying champagne hardbody lure fishing.

MORE MULLOWAY MAGIC The Gippy Lakes mulloway puzzle has been further unravelled thanks to

the efforts of Mark Ramsay.

He has continued his tireless search at Metung, the Tambo River and in the Straits.

Rambo did a quick threehour afternoon session and hooked two big mulloway on large soft plastics but sadly both fish escaped after a short fight.

The next trip saw Rambo pull in a 71cm mulloway on a soft plastic lure and I can assure you, I was nearly as excited as he was. Remarkably, he sounded up about 20 mulloway that day and this is what really excites all lure anglers. It appears we have had big numbers of these prize predators living right under our noses, amongst the bream, perch, mullet, tailor and flathead we catch all year round. This much I can guarantee; my future reports will have a lot more about mulloway caught in these parts.

Luke Morris with his 113kg tuna that he caught fishing out off Cape Conran. gummy shark.

The Snowy River estuary is still fishing at a premium, and has done so since early November when the prawns began to mature and move out. These prawns take off from the mangroves and reeds and gather down on the sand flats that run from the Marlo jetty all the way down to French Narrows awaiting the right tide to run for the open ocean. As long as the prawns remain, the fishing will be great.

Anglers are reporting getting good size bream using sandworm, prawn, shell and black crab, fishing from the entrance up to

Lake Corringle and up the Brodribb River to Lake Curlip as well as all the way up the Snowy River to the highway bridge at Orbost.

Schools of yellow-eye mullet have accompanied the bream up the rivers, making river banks ideal for catching a good feed of fish.

Luderick can be found schooling along the rock groins that surround the islands and river banks, best results using sandworm.

Huge schools of salmon and tailor are coming into the estuary with the tide creating plenty of action for anglers either spinning or trolling lures.

Three of 19 flathead the author caught near Wattle Point using big soft plastics and blades while searching for an elusive mulloway.

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35

Trophy bream waiting to be won LAKES ENTRANCE

Leigh McVeigh

Winter has hit us hard, with cold days and colder nights dropping the water temperatures. Good news is that the fishing has not gone cold. There are still plenty of opportunities to be had, if a little bit of thought goes into the time you spend on the water.

LAKES ENTRANCE The local jetties have been the focus this past month and there has been some cracking fish caught from them. Early mornings have seen some trophy bream taken from the structure by both bait and lure fishers, especially if you can match dawn with a rising tide.

Fresh local prawn and spider crab fished un-weighted and floated down the structure has

been the go-to method for success – but be prepared to be smoked, as often as you land these big fish, they are very cunning and know how to avoid the net.

Upgrading your line is not the answer as these fish have ignored most bait in the very clear winter water unless fished as light or lighter than 3kg. It’s a case of hook-up, hook-in and pray they don’t wrap you around the jetty, it’s real heart in the mouth fishing. Micro vibes or lightly weighted plastics have seen some great fish landed, but can be quite expensive. Once you have lost a handful of lures to these turbo charged fish it is really a case of fortune favours the brave! I wish you luck.

OFFSHORE Last month I reported Lakes Entrances first recorded

swordfish, and I thought this would be the story of the year for the deep blue crews – but I was wrong. Last week a crew fishing beyond the oil rigs landed a bluefin tuna on a bait intended for a sword and it was a real barrel. This capture has sparked interest from not just local anglers but the entire game fishing community of Victoria.

It’s amazing, I never thought our humble town would ever be a viable game fishing port but the way things

fishing with the cold weather we have received. The salmon have turned up on all the local beaches and those who brave the cold have landed some nice fish to 2kg on both bait and metal lures. Two hours either side of the high tide fishing with blue bait and surf poppers on a paternoster rig has seen the best of the fishing, although the better fish have come from metal lures fished a lot closer to the shoreline.

Bream are the flavour of the month, but can take some convincing to net!

The ever-fascinating leatherjacket – catch a bag of these beauties in Lake Tyers.

Check out the excellent winter conditioning of these bream. Perfect for a good fight.

are shaping up I am sure these fish will become more common than not. Being a lot closer to Melbourne than other options we are sure to see more boats leaving Lakes for their chance to tangle with marlin, swords and now tuna.

This is great news for Lakes, as it will bring in some much needed tourism dollar.

BEACHES The sand has finally started to turn on some hot

LAKE TYERS This great local lake never ceases to amaze me.

The fishing out there has been steady, but it’s the variety of big healthy fish that has caught most people’s attention. Some great bags of leatherjacket have taken in the main lake on peeled prawn and metal vibes. The bream have started to school up in the deeper water of the arms and fishers using metal vibes

have started to report cricket scores of fish to 40cm fished in 12-16ft of water.

A good sounder is almost essential to locate these fish as they move daily, but once located, a full bag is all but assured. The tailor in the lake are out in force and some of these fish are true green backs. Local anglers have reported fish to 72cm, that have made a mess of the unsuspecting angler more

often than not. Tailor are underrated as a table fish, but they are a great chew and a much more sustainable option than bream or perch when prepared properly, bled and cooked fresh on a BBQ. There have been some great perch to 40cm caught in the snags and off the weed edges of the Nowa Nowa arm lately on plastics and hardbodies intended for bream. Although perch have become a common capture in the lake, it is still advised to take a quick photo of these fish and release them back to the lake so their future is assured.

That’s it for Lakes Entrance and surrounds this month, and if you are planning a trip to the area I suggest you rug up and stock up on tackle as there has been some great fish caught. Things are shaping up for a great winter; so don’t let the cold weather put you off. Rather, get excited and be prepared to tangle with some real trophy fish.

Winter whiting working wonders MCLOUGHLINS

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

It might be cold, but the fish don’t seem to mind and with plenty of fish still around, there’s no

excuse to park the boat up over winter.

INSHORE The water temperature

Michael Armstrong caught these winter kingfish offshore from Port Welshpool, showing how good our winter fishery is.

36

JULY 2016

inside the inlet has dropped to around 11°C, making almost every summer species absent, except for whiting, calamari and heaps of garfish.

The whiting are being caught anywhere from 5-10m in the Port Albert, Drum and Snake channels. The run-in tide has been the best time to concentrate your efforts with pipis, squid and prawns proving the best baits.

The calamari are chewing on the last bit of the run-in tide and the slack high. Size 2.5 and size 3.0 jigs have by far been the best!

The squid have been small to medium sized, which is about 15-25cm hood lengths, however I have seen some better models caught off the Port Albert jetty at night.

As for the garfish, they are going really well. The shallows around Sunday Island and the channel towards Kearneys entrance have been very successful.

The gars are big and there’s plenty up to the 40cm mark being caught. The run-in To page 37

Shane Wedrowicz with a double header of winter whiting from Port Albert.

Tailor a trip to Bemm for a chance to win!

BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

Winter is certainly upon us now, and recently the entrance was closed and the water level was extremely high. Lots of freshwater in the system causes the fish to source salty areas, so finding the fish is a little tricky!

As this issue reaches readers, the entrance should be open and the fishing will be amazing as per usual.

From page 36

tide has been the best time, but I have heard a few good reports from anglers fishing the run-out! Berley is very important for the gars, and anchoring in the right position to keep the garfish behind the boat is even more important. This goes for the whiting at Port Albert as well. Quite simply, you must have berley in the winter.

OFFSHORE Offshore is where most of the action has taken place, and the biggest news is our winter kingfish fishery. Yes, believe it!

Kingfish were caught recently, making them

Even while the water level was high persistent anglers reported good catches of bream. The flathead do not like the cold water so they have gone into hiding for the season.

TAG A BREAM Fisheries Victoria organised five tagged bream released into the system, and by catching one you could have your win one of the amazing prizes on offer for our winter promotion ‘Tag A Fish.’ This is a first for Bemm River, and we

are excited to announce that it is well underway and to date we haven’t yet had a tagged fish presented.

The promotion runs until 31 August 2016. These tagged fish have prizes attached to them ranging from $1,000 cash to a boat, trailer and motor combo to the approximate value of $8,000.

Book your accommodation through the participating business houses to become a winner.

This promotion only

official winter kingies. They are in big schools and are smashing baitfish on the surface around the islands.

The most popular method has been trolling skirted lures in the 4-6” range and the odd one has also taken a knife jig. Anglers who have found them in the past few weeks say they are mainly just following up the jigs and not eating them, but are happy to take a trolled skirt!

There are also plenty of flathead being caught east of the islands off Manns beach in 30m of water and more, and there are some big gummies out there as well.

The gummies should hang around all winter,

however, you will have to target your tide changes religiously and fish them properly. Obviously, you will want to berley if you are anchored. You will get the draughtboard and seven-gill sharks as well, but you’ll find gummies if you sift through the lesser sharks.

• For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 5174 8544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Tune into Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner’s Off the Hook on 1242 to hear Will’s report on what’s going on in Gippsland!

A beautiful tailor brought a smile to this angler’s face. requires registration and there are no fees to enter.

Be in it to win it! There is still plenty of time to come to Bemm River and try your luck. For further details about participating business houses, terms and

conditions, please visit the Facebook page – ‘Bemm River Tag a Fish Promotion’ and send a request. Feel free to give us a call.

• 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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37

Let the hot fishing action roll on in for July EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Winter is here and the far south coast is at its quietest over the next few months.

There are plenty of fishing opportunities though, and those who manage a getaway at this time of year will enjoy the area, with very few visitors around.

There has been very little rain, and typically windless days, clear skies and ideal winter weather has dominated.

Plenty of boats have headed offshore and with great conditions some good fishing has been reported. Good catches of sand flathead have been had with tiger flathead caught out in the deeper water.

REVA G.T

L LY . S N A P P E R

. EST U

A

PE R RY

. WH AD

IN

CH

IT

Once again, you need to keep moving until fish are found.

The inshore reefs have fished well for snapper and over the coming months this will only get better. When the cuttlefish wash up on the beaches the snapper are at their best.

Anglers who chase gummy sharks have had some success with good fish caught.

Fresh fillet baits fished in a berley trail is the way to go.

Some good kingfish action was had over the past few months, but as we head into winter the water cools and the action slows down.

Out wide only the odd yellowfin tuna has been caught, with sharks about in numbers.

Southern bluefin are due to turn up any day, and there is a small window of opportunity to catch one. Hopefully the

weather allows the boats out when the fish are there.

With the water cooling down, the variety of fish on the beach isn’t like summer.

Whiting and bream become scarce, while salmon are about in big numbers, along with good-sized tailor. The local rivers have fished well with flathead firing up on those glorious winter days. You just need to find the area with the warmest water, as this is often where the fish are. The bream have started to get ecited as we head into winter with black bream moving upstream.

Good fish have been caught on fresh bait of prawn and nippers. Those who use lures have had success on both soft plastic lures and hardbody lures, with the rocky edges fishing well on the high tides.

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Plenty of silver trevally are around, and they love lures.

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JULY 2016

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NSW South Coast

Cool, calm conditions and stellar days BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Sometimes we can have some exceptional weather at this time of year, when those big highs move across, the days may start crisp but warm to extremely calm conditions, allowing great opportunities for those who wish to do some offshore bottom fishing.

The options can be in the form of simply drifting on the currents over the

large Tassie trumpeter, blue eye cod, mulloway and the odd big hapuka. With some of the modern tackle now available, these areas and species are now more accessible.

Offshore the game fishing can be pretty hit and miss, but those who rug up to brave the cool conditions can be rewarded in the form of tuna, albacore, big eye and the odd yellowfin, but the main target species will be those hard pulling southern bluefin.

Bluefin will frequent our

casting at them. These were mostly small fish with the larger fish generally out wider towards and beyond the Continental Shelf. These fish will often respond to berley trails on both cubes and live baits, and if this occurs, can result in spectacular visual fishing as they barge their way through the trails.

Expect sharks wherever you find tuna. Both makos and blues are common at this time of year, so make sure you have a rig handy to toss at them.

Trevally are just one species to be found around the cleaning tables.

Luderick around in good numbers at the moment. reefs, through to anchoring, berleying or jigging with plastics for a host of different species.

At this time of year, species you would expect to encounter include snapper, morwong, ocean perch, flathead, salmon and gummy sharks. Reefs like the Twelve Mile or beyond out over the shelf are producing

part of the world at this time of year and the best way to target them is on lures. A wide variety of lures will work, from skirted marlin styles through to both deep diving and bibless lures and where you find them will also vary. Over the years I have seen bluefin that close to shore you were almost landing the lures on the rocks

Back on shore, westerly winds are allowing rock anglers easy access to the stones. There they are encountering good numbers of drummer, some very large groper, bream and trevally deeper down while on the surface, tailor, bonito and salmon are there for those casting lures or pillies.

Visiting anglers can

stay at the caravan park in town situated on the main headland, where they have easy access to the rocks only a short distance away where the best fishing takes place.

These conditions also allow for schools of salmon will pass on a basis. Standing on the dunes will allow you to polaroid these fish as they come close to shore, within easy reach of light spin gear, providing heaps of fun. If lure fishing is not your cup of tea, traditional bait fishing will produce results too and at night, if you are willing to brave the cold, gummy sharks will feature.

In the estuaries, things are pretty quiet, especially in the upper reaches. Down towards the entrances there is some action in the form of trevally, tailor, bream and plenty of luderick.

Luderick are being targeted in the traditional

method with both green and cabbage weed for some excellent results with the bridge pylons, rock walls, entrance to the harbour and main jetties all producing.

The other species can be sought after with baits like striped tuna, mackerel or nippers, and keep in mind

to fish near the fish cleaning tables where offal thrown in the water provides a berley source. The tuna that are being caught offshore are being cleaned, so source some of the tuna for bait and fish around the tuna frames in the water. You won’t have long to wait!

Tailor can be found just about anywhere in winter.

Quiet days, busy fishing MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

After six months of constant visitors, the town has finally quietened right down as we head into winter. Weatherwise you wouldn’t know that it’s winter with mild nights and warm days.

The fishing over the past few months has been excellent with plenty of variety both in the lake and offshore.

The water temperature has cooled right down along the beach. Sitting around 17°C, the cooler water has encouraged salmon to turn up in numbers. You will catch salmon as they move from gutter to gutter fishing the local beaches on

a rising tide.

Quarry Beach is the spot to try for a gummy shark, with deep gutters present and big tides at night. The lake has fished well over the past month with all the usual species on the go. There have been plenty of silver trevally caught in both the top and bottom lake with some of the bigger models up around 2kg, they have been caught on bait and a variety of lures. Bream, both black and yellowfin are around, but you have to keep moving to find the fish.

Bream have been caught as far upstream as Gypsy Point.

After a quiet season for mulloway, the past month saw a flurry of catches and encounters. Most of these were around the recent full moon with fish caught to

16kg. Plenty of small flathead are still being caught along with the odd bigger fish. If chasing flathead at this time of year keep an eye out for the patches of warmer water as this is often where the fish are. The sand whiting have really slowed down as the water temperature has cooled and the odd fish has been caught, however, don’t expect to catch numbers.

We have had some excellent days of still and cloudless weather, but remember, these conditions are the hardest to catch fish during. Offshore there have been some good flathead both tigers and sandies caught, with boats catching fish around the Ariels along with some good gummy shark out around Gabo Island. Some great kingfish action has been had over the

Wintry days see the bream come to life in Mallacoota. past month with plenty of rats caught alongside quality fish to 1m+. The game boats have headed out wide to

target broadbill. The biggest one landed was around 200kg! Around a dozen fish have already been caught.

Unusually, these fish have been caught during the day when normally they are a night capture.

JULY 2016

39

Red hot beach action MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

The beaches surrounding Merimbula are some of the most productive along the coast, especially in the midst of winter.

Pelagic species like salmon and tailor are prolific at present with bream, whiting, mulloway

and gummy sharks also making anglers’ happy. Most beaches are holding fish with North Tura, Tura Main and Pambula the better ones to try as all these beaches have decent deep gutters along their length.

Pambula has been a standout with the mouth to the river section excellent. I know of several mulloway up to 11kg plus a handful of gummy sharks coming from

A couple of deep-sea ooglies destined for the pan.

this area over recent weeks, so it’s certainly worth a look. The anglers I talked to have been using fresh tailor fillets for bait and fishing the evening run-in tide into the night. Big bunches of live beach worms have also worked with some solid yellowfin bream finding the wrigglers hard to resist.

Offshore it’s exciting times too, with tuna on everyone’s lips.

The yellowfin have been sporadic, they are there but there’s plenty of miles between them. This month should see more numbers and bigger fish if the reports north of us are anything to go by.

What we will definitely see is SBT. This month is the start of it all for these brutes, and fish to well over 100kg are possible with trolling the better technique early in the season. As for their whereabouts, only time will tell, but I suspect the usual 60km+ drive east will be on the cards. There’s been the odd fish caught further south of us, so it won’t be long before they’re on our doorstep.

Another exciting fishery that’s opening up, but I suspect has been here all

Black bream are a popular target species during winter. the time, is the broadbill swordfish. These creatures of the deep have been actively targeted and captured during daylight hours, which has never really been done before. It was always thought of as a nighttime gig, but that’s been proven wrong with 7-8 fish caught along this part of the coast over recent weeks. These things are big too, with 100kg fish the norm, and many bigger fish captured and lost also.

It’s only a matter of time before a 300kg broady is caught, then the heavens will open up.

Closer to shore the snapper are in full swing.

They’re not big fish, but there’s plenty of them. Most reefs are holding fish with

Bigger soft plastic vibes work well on kingfish when they are schooled up.

Horseshoe a standout. It seems that a lot of the good fishing of late has been south around Pambula, so I know here I’d be going.

In the estuaries, both Pambula and Merimbula are firing nicely without being red hot. The channels in To page 41

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JULY 2016

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MELBOURNE

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GEELONG

612-614 Plenty Rd, PRESTON

71-77 Chickerell St, MORWELL

92 Hallam South Road, HALLAM

250 Portarlington St, GEELONG

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BL MARINE

Ph 03 9478 1420 info@blmarine.com.au www.blmarine.com.au

CRAWFORD MARINE Ph 03 5134 6522

MELBOURNE MARINE CENTRE Ph 03 9703 2003

MOOLAP MARINE Ph 03 5248 3772

NSW South Coast

Kingfish conquer coast NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Even though it’s the middle of winter, some exceptional fishing is still on offer for those willing to brave the elements. Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet should be in shut down mode with the water at a cool 15°C. But this isn’t the case, with

for great success. Anglers who cast a mixture of soft plastics, vibes and metal shiners will have success, with 70-80mm fish style plastics a stand out choice at present. Bigger than average mulloway is also on the cards and fish to 20kg are a possibility. I know of one visiting angler who rang me and told me of the one that got away. His voice told it all, with his estimation of a

Offshore the kings at Montague are still going strong, which has a lot to do with the current. When the current is there, the western and southern end of the Island is where most of the action happens. Troll smaller deep divers for numbers, but the bigger fish respond better to live bait. The bigger fish have been on the surface at times, so pitch livies to them if you get close enough.

A nice Montague kingfish that fell to a larger stickbait presentation.

Mulloway like this 8kg fish love soft plastics when fished at the right time. a host of species playing the game.

Bream, trevally, flathead, salmon, tailor and blackfish continue to do the right thing by anglers, with some sessions topping 40 fish which is pretty good in the cold conditions. The key to these solid bags and consistent results is to find the bait. Once you have done this, fish will follow.

The main basin is loaded with whitebait, and a dead giveaway as to their whereabouts is the presence of diving terns and feeding pelagics like salmon and tailor. It’s not uncommon to see three or four different patches on top at any given time, so concentrate your efforts around these schools From page 40

both systems have been productive for trevally, salmon, tailor and the odd flathead. Anglers fishing soft plastics in the fast water are faring best with sessions of 20+ fish the norm, which isn’t bad for the middle of winter.

In Pambula, these same channels are loaded with big tailor all around 40-50cm. Yes, they are great fun, but you’re going to go through some tackle chasing them, so using a heavier leader than normal is certainly the go.

The main basins in both systems are very clear at present, and we desperately need some rain to give them a flush as it’s the clearest I can remember for a long time. This has made it a little more difficult to catch fish,

you’re catching snapper, put live bait out too, as these areas hold some thumping kings.

Further offshore SBT are starting to show alongside a few yellowfin tuna. The next few weeks should really see the place fire up for these giants. Switched on crews doing the miles and hard yards have caught a good amount of broadbill swordfish. It’s a

very exciting fishery opening up, who knows where it will end, it just may be a year round fishery, which would be awesome for all anglers – only time will tell.

On the beaches and rocks it’s the usual story with some solid fishing to be had.

Salmon are abundant on any beach with a half decent gutter and most headlands

22-25kg silver slab gaining freedom after a 45-minute tussle when the hook pulled.

If the bigger prey isn’t for you, then the lower sections of the system in the channels on the eastern side of the Highway Bridge also fish well. Some cracking bags of blackfish have come from the walls, especially on the inside edge of the southern breakwall. Anglers who fish the flooding tide with fresh weed and nippers have had the best luck. The channels in winter are excellent for bream, trevally and tailor and anglers using bait and soft plastics have really got stuck into them them. The draining tide is the time to fish, with the last two hours the optimum. and the only way we have been able to get quality bags is to fish very light leaders.

I’ve been going down to 4lb for the flatties to get the bites, and it’s working, but you do rub a few off, especially the bigger fish.

It’s a little frustrating at times, but at least you get the bites.

The stones are okay at the moment, but you do have to work for the eating fish. The westerly winds we have had of late have made it difficult, with little or no wash. Again, anglers who have done well have fished light and used a lot of berley. This will change once we get some swell and white water happening, which will help things enormously.

Both Short and Long Point are the places to fish, but if the swell comes then Tura Head would be the pick.

A solid feed of kingfish caught aboard Playstation out of Narooma.

Surface fishing is rewarding and exciting. The kings are good fish too, averaging 6kg with the odd hoodlum nudging 15kg.

Closer to shore the snapper have been excellent. Every season the red fishing seems to get better and the fish seem to be getting bigger. This is awesome for the locals and visitors as it gives you another option if the kings don’t come to play. Local skipper Ben from Playstation said every year improves, which is great to see and I can’t see any reason why it would change.

Potato Point and Tuross are snapper hotspots, and fishing in 50-60m will see fish caught with fresh squid, pilchards and tuna strip baits all working wonders. While

are producing results. The main beach in town has been excellent, there’s a cracking gutter right in front of the surf club that has been serving up the goods for weeks now.

It should continue to fire as long as the gutter stays there.

The golf course rocks has been firing on all cylinders for pelagics with salmon to 3kg a common capture.

Anglers using a variety of different techniques have caught plenty with metal shiners on lighter gelspun tackle a fun way to target them. There have been a few reports of kingfish from these rocks, I haven’t seen these fish but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me. Bigger kingfish have made a welcome return in close every winter for the last few seasons, so drift a larger live bait for a good chance. These fish should be at Mystery Bay and to the south of Narooma as the water here is a little deeper and a known kingfish hot spot.

In the washes blackfish and drummer will keep the bread and butter brigade happy with bream on the cards as well. Cabbage, peeled prawns and cunjevoi should do the trick. Berley will also help.

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JULY 2016

DROP INTO YOUR LOCAL DEALER TODAY VICTORIAN DEALERS

MELBOURNE B L MARINE

612-614 Plenty Road, PRESTON Ph: 03 9478 1420 info@blmarine.com.au • www.blmarine.com.au

MELBOURNE CHELSEA YAMAHA

13 Ashley Park Drive, CHELSEA HEIGHTS Ph: 03 9772 1212 robert@chelseayamaha.com.au • www.chelseayamaha.com.au

GEELONG GEELONG BOATING CENTRE

88 Barwon Heads Road, BELMONT Ph: 03 5241 6966 sales@geelongboats.com.au • www.geelongboats.com.au

SWAN HILL

Hot Spot

Hollands Landing CRANBOURNE

Mitch Chapman

Often overshadowed by the bigger surrounding waterways, Hollands Landing or ‘The Straits’ as it is known, is a Mecca for big bream and has been for many years. A short drive from Sale, and not far from the heart of east Gippsland, it truly is a magical place for all anglers to enjoy.

PRIME TIME Hollands Landing can be fished with great success all year round. Bream, estuary perch and flathead are the three major target species. Bream fishing is

exceptional in the winter months when the fish start to school up pre-spawn.

It’s not easy fishing here, but the rewards are phenomenal.

THE GEAR Like most estuary fishing, a light 2-4kg graphite spin rod with a 2000 and 2500-sized reels is the best option to chase bream and perch.

A reel spooled up with 6lb braid and fluorocarbon leader anywhere from 8-20lb is a must. The snags are very gnarly and typical light leaders won’t last long at all.

BAIT AND LURES Softies for bream work well and Squidgy

HUNTER MARINE AND ENGINEERING

21-25 Nyah Road, SWAN HILL Ph: 03 5032 2320 boats@huntermarinee.com.au

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MELBOURNE STREAKER MARINE

461 Mountain Highway, BAYSWATER Ph: 03 9729 8288 sales@streakermarine.com.au • www.streakermarine.com.au

NORTHERN VICTORIA MOLIN MOTORCYCLE & MARINE

3-5 Grigg Road, KOONDROOK Ph: 03 5451 1500 mmmkdk@bigpond.com.au • www.molinretail.com.au

MORNINGTON PENINSULA M. Y. MARINE

Cnr Nepean Highway & Ponderosa Place, DROMANA Ph: 03 5987 0900 sales@mymarine.com.au • www.mymarine.com.au

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PORT PHILLIP BOATING CENTRE

Factory 2, 10 Wallace Avenue, POINT COOK Ph: 03 9369 0099 sales@portphillipboatingcentre.com.au • www.portphillipboatingcentre.com.au

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HUONVILLE

A solid EP caught fishing plastics deep in the timber by Gez.

bloodworm Wrigglers in 80mm and 100mm should be the first plastic you tie on and cast out. Fishing blades in the open water and out from the banks in deeper water is very effective and one of the easiest ways to catch bream along with any other species that lurk underneath.

BEST METHOD To target bream in the winter months you will need a quality sounder. Locate schooled up bream in open water and cast small blades to the fish – this is by far one of the best methods and most enjoyable ways to spend time on the water.

MOTHER NATURE After lots of rain, The Straits really does dirty up and needs time to settle with all the fresh that flows out of the lakes. So if you are planning a trip, remember to check the weather and recent rainfall before heading off.

HOT TIP Drag and leader – these are the only two words you need to know. Lock that drag and beef up your leaders. It’s not uncommon to use 20lb leaders when pitching plastics deep into the timber.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Reel Action new season Michael ‘Guesty’ Guest and his mates are back for another season of Reel Action.

The fishing show that focuses on technique and tackle to target Australia’s favourite fish commenced Series 4 on Saturday, 11 June on ONE and Southern Cross nationally. Episodes air 4.30pm Saturdays with encore viewings at Sunday 10.30am and Wednesday 8.30am.

The series is made up of twenty 30-minute episodes covering a vast range of species and locations; with everything from Murray cod to marlin.

“We’ve put together

Guesty and his mates are back with series 4 of Reel Action. an amazing series this time VIDEO around with some incredible action, seriously good fish and most importantly lots of

BAILY MARINE

60 Main Road, HUONVILLE Ph: 03 6264 1999 trudy@bailymarine.com • www.bailymarine.com Scan the QR code to see the series 4 trailer.

INVERMAY CAPTAIN MARINE

24 Gleadow Street, INVERMAY Ph: 03 6334 3118 captmar@bigpond.net.au • www.captainmarine.com.au

Series 4 of Reel Action will cover a vast rage of species, from Murray cod to marlin.

information for the average angler,” Guesty said.

“Our show involves myself and other keen anglers trailering our boats, exploring with ATVs and even blasting around on SeaDoos. All in search of some great fishing.”

Make sure you tune in and catch all the action. – Reel Action JULY 2016

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Bemm River feature p. 44-50

Fly Tying s C o e l r l e n u c t o i L

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16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

l l e S p a w S y l T F y y i n g u B s n o i t c e l l o C e r u L Lure Ma king y a l p s i D h s i F e iL v Brought to you by

2016 – THE AUSTRALIAN LURE FLY & OUTDOORS EXPO

SPECIAL FEATURE

OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE JULY 2016

51

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

Australian Lure & Fly Expo 2016 Make sure you get all your household jobs done before July 16-17, as you will be extremely busy that weekend at the Australian Lure & Fly Expo, the biggest collection of Australian-made lures and flies in the world.

The Expo is the epicentre of the Australian lure industry,

throughout the expo to wow crowds with his expert casting abilities and will be sharing tips on fishing, knot tying, rigs and cooking. With a huge smile and even bigger handshake, The Barefoot Fisherman is always a favourite for anglers of all levels.

Some of Australia’s

and most valuable lures in Australia’s history, including famous lure makers like Newell, McFeeters, RGM, StumpJumper, Deception and Moller.

Anglers are encouraged to bring their old favourites for the experts to identify and evaluate, as there may be an original timber lure

EXPO INFORMATION The 2016 Lure and Fly Expo will be held on June 16-17 weekend at the Ipswich Show Ground Exhibition Centre, 81 Warwick Rd, Ipswich.

There is plenty of free parking and the venue is undercover so come rain, hail or shine the show will go on.

Entry fee is still $10 for adults and children under 16 enter free, and if one day’s not enough to see it all you can also buy a two-day pass for $15.

The National Lure Fly & Outdoors Expo has grown from strength to strength, each year bigger and better than the last – the 2016 event will be the premier angling event of the year – don’t miss it.

For more info, visit www.lureshow.com.au where manufacturers exhibit their latest innovations and masterpieces, collectors buy, swap, sell and anglers shop, drool and talk tackle.

You can expect two days of non-stop action including demonstrations in lure making and tips on timber lure carving, shaping, moulding and painting.

The Barefoot Fisherman, Dave Hodge will be on hand 52

JULY 2016

best fly tiers will also be spinning fur and feathers into realistic fish catching imitations and giving tips and demonstrations for both the experienced and the novice.

Lure collecting has taken the world by storm and Australia’s rich heritage in hand-carved timber lures rivals the best in the world.

The Lure Expo will have on display some of the rarest

worth a fortune in your tackle box!

With so many lure makers in one location, it’s also the ideal time to top up the tacklebox! Visitors can buy the latest, the hard to get, or the cottage industry lures not seen in the tackle shops.

The Lure Expo is also the place where manufactures release their

latest models and colours and sell some lures at below retail prices, so bring your piggy bank, because there will be bargains galore.

This is the Expo’s fifth year running, growing from strength to strength from 2012 to one of the most anticipated and best run events on anglers’ calendars.

The concept of an Expo to celebrate Australian lures was the brainchild of Garry ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald.

After a successful pedigree of running events to raise money for fish stocking, Fitzy decided there was a need to showcase Australian lures and help promote Australian lure and fly makers.

Fitzy wanted to develop an event where people could learn how to make their own lures and flies as well as help promote lure collecting and preserve the history and products of the Australian lure making industry.

The challenge was to put a world-class event together on a shoestring budget that didn’t fleece the pockets of the angler, but instead gave them valuable information, tips and realistic priced products.

The Barefoot Fisherman Dave Hodge will be onsite to share his immense knowledge of lure fishing.

Now five years on, the Australian Lure and Fly Expo has exceeded all expectations, embraced by both industry and anglers as one of the not to be missed event of the year.

FISHING STAGE Throughout the expo there will be a range of guest speakers sharing their knowledge on everything from fishing locations, species and how to use your fish finder.

BOATING HUB Most boats shows tend to be mostly boats with a little bit of imported rods and tackle thrown in. This show spins it the other way, with wall-to-wall lures,

flies and tackle, with some space allocated to showcase Aussie made boats. With the demise of Brisbane’s Tinnie and Tackle Show, the Lure Fly and Outdoors Expo is also a great place to check out some of the various brands of tinnies that will be on display.

WHAT’S NEW It seems that the expo is attracting a new wave of lure makers eager to show their wares off to the evergrowing crowds who flock to see the best lure on offer in Australia. Check out some of the newbies in 2016.

We hope to see you there! - Australian Lure & Fly Expo

The Australian

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

MUGGO’S LURES

EDEN LURES

KUTTAFURRA LURES

• • • • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

A first timer at the Expo, Muggo’s Lures are made on the Darling Downs and have a capture sheet of native fish that would be the envy of any lure maker.

SANDFLY LURES •• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aaron Young’s work is always in high demand. He never brings enough lures up from Victoria, so be sure to get in early.

Coming down from Central Queensland, Eden Lures offer a mix of good design with a good finish. Be sure to stock up on these for your next trip into barra country.

GOBSMACKED LURES • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

THUG LURES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Made in Dalby, these lures cover functionality for fishos and artistic flair for the collector. These lures are not to be missed!

WATER STALKER LURES •• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

With the keen eye and trained hand of a tattoo artist, the attention to detail on Thug Lures needs to be seen to be believed.

LURE OF THE YEAR AWARDS What started out as a bit of fun at the first Lure Expo back in 2012 has blossomed into the equivalent of the Golden Guitar of the Australian lure-making industry. With an expanded group of categories catering to commercial and cottage makes of all types of lures, from timber minnows to bladed lures; winning a LOTY is guaranteed to increased demand and sales from both tackle stores, collectors and the general public alike.

In 2016, the LOTY Awards and Hall Of Fame dinner will be held in a separate function room only 100m from the expo site itself and will be open to the public. Tickets for the awards dinner will be on sale at the expo food court on the Saturday morning of the expo.

It’s hard to find an angler from Inverell who doesn’t make lures. Water Stalker has a proven track record of catching big New England cod and other natives.

JUNGLE LURES

FERAL CATT LURES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Previous Lure of The Year winner big Jamie Judd will have a huge range of his popular lures available here from his base in Goulburn. He will also be giving demos on wood turning throughout the Expo.

LIVELY LURES • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Lively Lures have a long history, and cover everything from bream to sailfish. Lively Lures have been attended the Expo since the kick off and will be back again.

FUGLY LURES • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

•• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Functional and tough, Jungle Lures are produced in North Queensland with local species in mind. They certainly catch fish, and have proved their worth on tropical species.

Greg Catt has been making lures forever. These lures have a huge following down in the southern states, and Queenslanders who are yet to see them are in for a surprise.

Fugly Lures are back again in 2016. Chris Sinclair’s creations have previously taken out ‘Most Artistic Award’ at the Expo, and when you see his work in the flesh you will understand why.

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AC LURES • • • • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

With a huge following across the eastern states, AC is a household name to many anglers. Anthony always brings something a bit different each year up from Wagga Wagga on the NSW Riverina.

BILL’S BOXES •• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

If you’re a lure collector, or just appreciate fine craftsmanship, be sure to find Bill and his boxes.

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS If you’re interested in anything from trout to barra and flatties to mackerel, then you’ll need to check out the range of Zerek Lures. Visitors can check out the range of Tango Shads, one of the dominant flathead lures available, Fish Traps, the soft vibe with a difference, and the Flat Shad, the most unique soft plastic swimbait on the market. You can also check out the range of Live Shrimp and Live Shrimp Hot Legs, Live Flash Minnow Wrigglies and bluewater lures including the Pelagic Z and Zappelin.

If you’re into retrofitting your lures with the right hooks, then you need to drop in and discuss the range of hook options Mustad provides. From the lightweight bream treble through to the ultra-tough Kaiju 7x singles and trebles, Mustad has a hook that will enhance your fishing success. Highlights include the incredible 4x Saltism and the unbelievable KVD Elite Extra Strong trebles, both of which are finding favour amongst many lure anglers who are looking for better hook ups and results.

And it’s pointless having the best lures if you don’t have the best rods, and the Aussie Built Live Fibre Venom rods are at the elite level of rods. Making use of a patented blank building process, each Venom rod is hand built at head office to ensure a quality control that is unmatched in the market today. With rods from light spin through to heavy duty popping rods and the award winning Venom Game series, there is a rod to suit your lure fishing needs.

LIVELY LURES TO LIVEN UP THE SHOW • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

KUTTAFURRA KILL IT ON NATIVES

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

WILSON STAND TO DISH OUT VARIETY

•• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The famous Micro Mullets have caught just about everything with fins, however it’s on big flathead that they really shine.

Zerek lures have become a staple in many Aussie tackle boxes. This flatty was taken on a Tango Shad in gold spotted dog.

The Lively Lures stand at the Australian Lure Expo is always a popular one. There isn’t a fish that swims that the range of Lively Lures doesn’t cater for.

From the ever popular Micro Mullet for flathead, bream, bass and trout, to the Mad Mullet and Arafura Barra to chase mangrove jack, trevally and barramundi, these lures have proven for years that they can catch anything. Since their release, Mack Bait lures have also proven deadly on mackerel and many other bluewater species.

It is always worth stopping in at the stand, even if it is just to catch up with Alan and check out his lures, so when you get home you can jump on his website at www. livelyluresonline.com.au and purchase the lures you want, having checked them out at the show.

At this year’s Lure Expo, Wilson Fishing will be showcasing a range of Zerek Lures, Mustad trebles and Live Fibre Venom rods.

• • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

STONES CORNER MARINE

Kuttafurra lures and natives go hand-in-hand, and both anglers and big natives appreciate the incredible finish of these great lures.

18 Kerwick St, REDBANK QLD 4301 info@charltonsfishing.com.au

Ph: 07 3818 1677 Mail Order Welcome

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JULY 2016

For reviews, competitions, what’s on, the latest releases & updates and chats.

Kuttafurra Lures will again be attending the Australian Lure Expo this year. Aaron’s reputation for producing quality lures has continued to grow, and the demand for his lures has ensured that every hour available has him making lures.

This demand has come about due to the quality finish of the lures (his paint work is second to none) and because they catch fish.

His range of lures is slowly expanding, however the most excitement has been around his Surface Rat and a prototype of a Super Rat. Some huge fish have already been caught on the prototype, and the final version hasn’t even been finished yet.

The Australian Lure Expo is a great chance to have a chat with Aaron and understand the genius behind the lures. It’s also a great opportunity to buy some lures like the Mudhoney in various sizes, the Redfin, and hopefully some of his surface offerings, but get in early because they won’t last long. At worst, say g’day and buy a bottle opener as a reminder that you should get some more Kuttafurra Lures.

Stones Corner Marine will have four boats on display at this year’s Lure and Fly Expo. Each boat has fantastic features that make them perfect for the weekend angler or a hardcore lure fisho.

Starting with the little 370 Creek Masta, this boat has a front casting deck, electric motor plate, transducer bracket and sounder mount plate. This boat also has one of Sea Jay’s wraps on it, which makes it really stand out.

Also on display will be the new bigger brother of the 370 Creek Masta the 398 Creek Masta. This boat will be great for estuaries, rivers, creeks and the dams. It’s definitely worth checking this new Sea Jay model out.

Moving to the bigger side, the 425 Avenger Sports has a side console, front and rear cast platforms, free flow live bait tank and anchor well. There is plenty of room under the front cast platform for all your safety gear and another hatch to store a deep cycle battery for the electric motor.

The flagship on display at this year’s show is the Bar Crusher 575XS. At 5.75m the fishing options in this boat are endless, with everything from flathead, barra to small marlin off the coast on the cards. The boat is fitted with a Minn Kota 80lb I-Pilot electric motor and a Humminbird 899CXI HD SI Sounder/GPS combo. The 575XS has a massive front casting deck with a huge amount of storage.

Three quality pedestal seats make the long days out on the water comfortable for the skipper and two mates.

All boats on display at the Stones Corner Marine stand will be powered by motors from the fantastic range of Yamaha outboards.

We look forward to catching you at the show!

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

EXPO

The story behind Gobsmacked FMG

Nicole Penfold nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

Gobsmacked Lures is an Australian owned, family run business based in Cowra, NSW. Founder Jamie Judd originally started tinkering with lure making just for himself, but – you guessed it – his friends wanted some, then friends of friends started buying some, and all of a sudden he had a business!

We had a chat to Jamie to see what it’s like to be an up-and-coming lure maker in Australia, and what the creation process is like.

STARTING OUT Jamie said the best thing about lure making is the creativity.

“It’s all about the challenge of coming up with something that nobody

Americans catching bass, and people in other places using my lures as collector’s pieces.

It never occurred to me that people would collect my lures. It was quite a surprise!”

So what makes a lure a collector’s item?

Gobsmacked creator Jamie Judd (left) is no stranger to the Lure Expo.

The 175mm Leviathan claims another big cod. Photo courtesy of Rhys Creed. else has done, and it’s really rewarding,” he said.

“The business side of it is just a bonus!”

Making lures full time is not a career option to take lightly, however.

“Five years ago I was a concreter, making lures on the side,” he said. “When I wanted to quit my job to make lures, everyone told me it takes years for new lure makers to get their foot in the door. I braced myself for tough times ahead.

“I was lucky though – the second time I went to the Lure Expo I entered one of my lures and won. That fasttracked everything! Funny thing is, I hadn’t planned to enter the lure in the comp. I was just selling them at the Expo and had one left in my cabinet. I thought I might as well throw it into the running, and it won!”

“When I first started, all my sales were through Facebook, but I now have a website and I also stock quite a few tackle stores around Australia. I even have customers overseas – there are guys in Germany and Switzerland chasing pike,

THE CREATION PROCESS So how does a hand carved lure go from being a block of wood to hanging on a tackle store wall?

“After I have carved the lures on my lathe and by

“It’s hard to say,” Jamie said. “I used to think it had to be something unique, but that’s not always necessary – if a lure is really well made then that can be enough.

Doing something unique definitely helps though, especially when people know your brand catches fish.”

hand, I put them in a sealer for 24 hours, to seal the wood and make it waterproof,” Jamie explained. “After that I sand the lures, then apply a filler prime coat to provide a smooth surface for the paint.

I sand them again, and then they go into the spray booth for painting.

“After the paint is dry, I clear coat them, then hang them up to dry again. Once they are dry, I fit the bibs and the eyelets. All the terminals I use, including split rings and hooks, are of the highest quality, so there’s no need for customers to upgrade them.”

The whole process, from go to whoa, takes around four days. It’s definitely a labour of love, and you can see the process for yourself on Gobsmacked’s Instagram page. Some of Jamie’s most popular photos are the ones of him making his lures.

“People think it’s really interesting to see the building

process, although it’s just a regular working day for me!” he laughed.

Jamie said learning to make lures isn’t easy, but it’s a lot of fun.

“I definitely recommend having a crack at it,” he said. “and don’t get discouraged when you don’t succeed right away. I had boxes and boxes of lures that just didn’t swim! I kept at it though, and eventually came up with lures that swam the way I wanted them to.”

Jamie added that lure making also requires learning about which timbers are best.

“Different timbers suit different lure types,” he explained. “Heavier timber like white beech is good for suspending or sinking lures, and lighter timber like huon pine is good for surface lures and divers.

“Jelutong timber is good for collectables because it’s easy to carve, and camphor laurel is also great because it simply looks gorgeous!”

WHAT’S NEW Visitors to the 2016 Lure Expo who purchase a 1-year Fishing Monthly subscription have the opportunity to get a free limited edition Gobsmacked lure. This 100mm surface walker is a custom version of the popular Rattlesnake, painted in the Fishing Monthly colours.

Jamie Judd still hand carves all his lures.

“Each one is signed and numbered, so they’re a great collector’s lure, and they’re only for the first 40 people,” Jamie said.

Show-goers will also be treated to some brand new Gobsmacked creations.

“I’ve been making a lot of unusual stuff for the Expo, and posting progress photos on Instagram,” Jamie said. “For example, I’ve been carving the Anglerfish from the Gobsmacked logo. The first one took me 20 hours!

Fishing Monthly Group’s show subscription lure.

The spines up his back did my head in. I tried everything under the sun to make them, especially that front one that acts as the lure. Eventually I found shaping them out of metal was the best option, and it looks brilliant. I am hoping to have at least five smaller versions for sale. Plus I am working on a huge one that’s 30cm high!”

Jamie will also be unveiling some new lure models at the event. Two of the standouts are a deep diving, deep bodied redfin imitation, which he predicts will be very popular, and a Barra Jew lure.

“The Barra Jew is the first of my new saltwater range,” Jamie explained.

“I hadn’t planned to make saltwater lures but I had too many people demanding it! I don’t want to give away too much at the moment though.

Everyone will have to wait until the Expo!”

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This anglerfish from the Gobsmacked logo is one of Jamie’s special creations. You’ll have to wait until the Expo to see how the finished product looks.

www.livelyluresonline.com.au JULY 2016

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Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

The allure of modification CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

It’s hard to find an angler that doesn’t love lures.

The prospect of flicking out an artificial offering

your way.

The biggest modifications undertaken by lure anglers are the replacement or modification of terminal gear such as split rings and treble hooks.

The main reason for this is that many lures come

consider when terminal changes are to be made.

MODIFICATION PROS The obvious pros are heavy rings and trebles will provide a better success rate when targeting big fish.

For example, when chasing power houses like big barra

Using heavy duty trebles are a must when fishing around timber.

However, they can also do plenty of damage, as can be seen from this barra, which had lost half its jaw in another encounter. and fooling a fish into feeding is hard to beat.

While lure fishing may seem pretty straight forward, in reality it can throw up challenges, especially when you begin to make adjustments and modifications.

BASIC MODIFICATIONS The smallest extra bit of weight here or the lack of weight there can have a dramatic effect on the performance, action and most importantly, fish catching ability of your lure.

Understanding the pros and cons of lure modification is an essential step to lure fishing success. Here are a few tips to help you on

with lighter gauge hooks and rings, which can be a weakness when targeting large fish. The reason for this is pretty simple, and it’s because the rings and trebles are often the most expensive items in terms of production costs per lure for the manufacturer.

Admittedly, many lure manufacturers are now selling lures with quality terminals, however, there will always come a time when hooks and rings need to be replaced. The issue with upgrading, changing or modifying rings and trebles is you begin to play with the balance, weight and design dynamics of the lure. There are both pros and cons to

and giant trevally without the use of heavy set hooks and rings, your chances of landing a fish dramatically decrease as they will straighten out the steel in no time. There is an incredible amount of pressure on terminal gear in a fight with a big fish, especially when heavy drags are applied or the fish gets hooked in an awkward position.

The other less obvious advantage to switching up your terminal gear is the change in weight can create a suspending, sinking or floating effect on your lure.

Heavier trebles or rings can make your lure sink faster, suspend and swim deeper.

Lighter terminals can have the opposite effect. These changes can be significant and useful when trying to get in the strike zone.

Sometimes a change in terminals, even as small as the use of heavier split rings, can turn a floating lure into one that suspends or rises incredibly slowly.

These newfound abilities can separate those who catch fish and those who don’t. In fact, many lure

Big single hooks cable tied together are a popular modification for big surface lures, as they don’t weigh down lures and provide plenty of hook points for big predators.

HAND CRAFTED Timber Fishing Lures

Having the same lure with different variations of hooks and ring sizes is always a good idea. anglers will spend plenty of time on the water testing the effects of such changes before throwing them into the fray.

Pool testing is also a good idea, however, remember the level of salinity will always effect the action, suspension and sink rates of lures. As always, time on the water is hard to beat.

MODIFICATION CONS Obviously there are also cons to lure modification.

The most obvious is the effect on swimming action, which is often what is sacrificed when going to heavier terminals. While most still swim the same, it is often the side-to-side roll that is lost when moving to heavier terminals.

Some lures can become

like dead weights and become like stickbaits, which require plenty of rod manipulation to get them to perform. Some of my favourite hardbodies and vibes in particular become really ineffective when fitted with upgraded hooks and rings, so it can often be a case of finding a compromise between drag pressure and terminal strength (praying sometimes helps as well when you hook a big one!)

The other con of modifying trebles and rings is the lack of movement your trebles can have due to the thickness of the tow points. Many lures have small tow points, which makes using heavy duty rings difficult as they just don’t fit. This can restrict

GOBSMACKED

Lures

REDFIN

Must have lures for native fish anglers

0418 349 782 kuttafurralures@outlook.com www.australianlureshop.com.au/kuttafurra/index.php

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WALKERS - WAKE BAITS - DIVERS

Order Online or call Jamie on 0448 526 437 www.gobsmackedlures.com.au

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS movement of your trebles, which can affect the way your lure swims.

There are ways around the extra weight issues and lures running three trebles are very useful. They allow the angler the opportunity to compensate for the extra weight of the heavier terminals by removing

action of lures. They are also much less damaging on fish and when you do hook up they tend to stay on a bit better then trebles.

At the same time your lure has less hook points, which means hook-ups are harder to achieve.

Another viable option is to use a different design

EXPO

for a lighter gauge and lighter weight hook to be used without compromising too much strength. That’s not to say they still don’t get bent straight, of course, but can be very handy on lures that don’t respond well to change.

Another really cool option is to use doubles or

Lighter gauge trebles are excellent for pinning fish like jacks, but you always run the risk of them bending them straight.

When chasing smaller natives like jungle perch, it really is a case of using as sharp and light as you can go to get as much penetration as possible. However, go too light and they will bend them with ease. the middle hook entirely without losing too much hook-up effectiveness.

Using single hooks is also an option, as heavy set singles can weigh far less and tend to have less impact on the swimming

of treble, such as a wide gape treble. These trebles have a much wider mouth then your standard ‘J’ hook treble construction, which means there is less pressure placed on the hook point during the fight. This allows

Wide gape hooks are an excellent compromise between weight and strength.

devil hooks. Doubles are really strong as well, and are perfect for light lures that just can’t take any form of heavier gauge treble. They are a top alternative and are becoming more common in tackle shops as well.

The final con of modifying your trebles is your penetration rate. Small lighter gauge trebles have awesome penetration as they can slice through skin and find their way between cartilage and bone quite easily. Thicker gauge hooks have much more resistance and thicker points making them harder to sink below the barbs. To get around this it is a good idea to buy and use a hook sharpener.

Sharpening your hook points when using these heavy gauge trebles and hooks is really important and can be the difference between landing a trophy or watching one throw the lure back at you.

OTHER MODIFICATIONS While terminal modifications can have a dramatic effect on lure performance, there are other ways also to modify your lures. One of my favourite modifications is to make slight adjustments to hardbody lure bibs. The slightest bend downwards or sideways can sometimes bring some pretty cool actions to lures.

Often a tweak to the side will make the lure side flash or roll to one side, which can create a more wounded baitfish effect. Alternatively, a tweak upward can see the

lure swim shallower. Older metal-bibbed lures were a little easier to play with, but plastic bibbed lures can still be adjusted quite easily. The key is to make very small adjustments and to take a softy softly approach.

If you are really keen to modify your lures then, why not try playing with different toe points or even drilling a hole here or there, as this

can create bubble trails.

Taking it to the extreme, you can also achieve some really cool bent minnow style effects by simply applying some heat in the right places, especially with many plastic moulded hardbodies.

Alternatively, if you live in North Queensland you can just leave them on your car dash!

Entry

July

16-17, 2016 9am – 4pm

GET MODDING! Modifying your lures is a great way to bring something individual and different to the fish that they otherwise wouldn’t see.

Often it is this subtle change that can brings results.

The best thing about it is that it costs very little and it can be a whole lot of fun. Have fun with your modifications!

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EXPO

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

EXHIBITOR MAP UPPER FLOOR

EXHIBITORS

• AC Lures ...........................................................42 & 43 • All Fly Outfitters ........................................................ 78 • Aklure ........................................................................ 26 • Balista Lures ............................................................. 38 • Barambah Lures ....................................................... 25 • Barz Optics ............................................................... 62 • Bills Boxes ................................................................ 53 • Boating & RV .......................................................29-33 • B.R.A. Lures ................................................................ 1 • Beardy Lures ............................................................ 21

• Eden Lures .................................................................. 3 • Feral Cat Lures ......................................................... 49 • Fish & Boat Magazine ............................................... 76 • Fish Head Tackle ...............................................56 & 57 • Fishing Monthly Magazine ................................64 & 65 • Fishing Unlimited ...................................................... 36 • FFSAQ ...................................................................... 83 • Fugly Lures ............................................................... 18 • Gobsmacked Lures .................................................. 91 • Hillies Spinners & Lures ............................................ 40 • Honey Hole Lures ..................................................... 50 • Humminbird .............................................................. 59 • Ipswich Marine ................................... Outdoor Pavilion • Jackpot Lures ........................................................... 44 • JH Lures ................................................................... 23 • Jungle Lures ............................................................... 2 • Karee Marine ...................................... Outdoor Pavilion • Kneebone Lures ....................................................... 24 • Kuttafurra Swagman Lures ....................................... 51 • Jungle Lures ............................................................... 2 • Lively Lures ............................................................... 63 • Loola Lures ............................................................... 16 • Lobby Lures .............................................................. 34 • Mastering The Murray PTSD .............................92 & 93 • Mick Molnar Marine Art ............................................ 19 • Mencho’s Lures ........................................................ 28 • Minn Kota ................................................................. 59 • Muggo’s Lures .......................................................... 46 • MB Custom Lures .................................................. TBA • MJT Lures ................................................................... 5 • Nicho’s Maulers ........................................................ 18 • Ninja Lures ................................................................ 22 • Obsession Spinnerbaits............................................ 81 • Powell Lures.............................................................. 26 • Revenge Lures ........................................................... 39 • RV Lures ................................................................... 50 • Sandfly Lures ............................................................ 75 • Secret Creek Lures .................................................... 79 • Shad’s Lures ............................................................. 20 • Somerset Fishing Tackle ...........................84, 85 & 100 • Southern Cross Lures ............................................... 41 • Southeast Qld Flyfishers............................................ 86 • Sportsfishing PNG ..................................................... 45 • Stingray Lures ........................................................... 27 • Stones Corner Marine .........................................66-71 • Sun 2 Sea Clothing ................................................... 87 • Thug Lures .................................................................. 8 • U-Make-Em Soft Plastics .................................88 & 89 • Viper Lures ................................................................ 27 • Water Stalker Lures ................................................... 35 • Wilsons Fishing ................................................. 72 & 74

• Brisbane Fly Fishing Club .......................................... 52 • Brisbane Yamaha .................................................94-99 • Bush N Beach Fishing .............................................. 90 • C & S Horsey Lures .................................................. 48 • Caino Lures ............................................................... 37 • Cod X Lures t ............................................................... 5 • Compact Fishing Australia ...............................80 & 82 • Cooby Cobba Lures ................................................... 4 • Cod Hound Lures ................................................... 101 • Daryl Reeks Archery .........................................Outdoor • D & S Lures ................................................................. 7

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59

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Blow the trumpets! Winter heralds big stripies! for not having some long nose pliers aboard.

Do a stock-take and get some tackle organised in the winter months. Most tackle stores will do layby and it’s a good excuse to shop local.

You can avoid having to load up on tackle right as Christmas and the holidays by spending a little over the winter months.

MAINTENANCE It’s go-time now for all those jobs that you have put off, as you were too busy actually using the gear or boat. There are a heap of

TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

Winter is the time to do something different. There are so many preconceived ideas about what where and when to fish or find fish here in Tasmania.

While the seasons play a big part in the success of finding certain species there are no set hard and fast rules anymore.

Species are here for longer periods and turn up in unexpected places. So don’t drop the bottom lip now the thermometer has the mercury falling under double digits. Gear up, and make a plan to discover something new. The weight of peer pressure and the dark attitude of winter can lead to gear being packed away and forgotten. The hectic summer schedule of BBQs and weddings slows up angling schedules dramatically. It can be murder trying to get a fishing window in summer as Falls Festival, Beer Fest and every other event known to man conspires against us. Winter leaves weekends open up to us, and if it isn’t windy or raining outings can be as enjoyable as any summer trip.

I can see you slowly getting around the idea that July fishing is fun.

GEAR UP We all like to plan our trips around the weather

Brody Corbet and his Dad nailed a fine pair of striped trumpeter. with the help of clever apps available. Sometimes it’s nice to just pack and go. Accommodation can be very reasonable in Tasmania during winter and the owners can often be open to some barter. The key here is to make sure you have the right gear and outdoor wear for all occasions.

The wet weather gear available today is exceptional and very affordable. We are spoilt for choice and a trip to your local All Goods in Launceston or Devonport will have you tricked right out.

The best part of the gear available today is the ability to pack it down small. Back in the day when we went out on Swan Bay as kids in bad

NORTH WEST Fishing is hard work on the North West Coast at this time of year. The prevailing weather from the west has the Strait stirred

up and angry a fair amount of the time. When it settles and we have good conditions for a week or two the fishing comes back to us. Look for the

Clea with a run-of-the-mill Tasmanian squid.

60

JULY 2016

little things that will need attention over winter that if not addressed can bite you hard when the fishing fires up. Wheel bearings on trailers are legendary for bringing down some serious pain on the first trip of the season.

It does not matter if it is a small trout reel, big overhead or engine component. If you don’t look after it there will come a time when it lets you down badly. This can lead to losing a trophy fish, or much worse – have you and your family in danger.

weather we nearly needed another dingy to carry the gear. Now it quite simply packs up in a backpack and you are ready for anything.

You can even fit a good-sized lunch in there as well.

RE-STOCK Over a busy summer season you can lose some gear. Terminal tackle and rods and reels fall foul of misdemeanours and need to be replaced. While servicing gear you can see what is missing and what needs replacing. This goes for any gear from trout tackle right up to offshore and bluewater outfits. The last thing you need early next season when it is firing back up again is to go to the tackle box and find the cupboard is bare. calamari to fire and have some breadcrumbs and panko mix ready to go. The squid come in when the water clears and the waves and rolling swell abate.

This time of year has them in numbers, so you can still catch them when the water is a bit stirred up. Your catch rate will increase when the water clears. Squid have big eyes and rely on sight to find prey, so the better the water quality the more easily they can see your presentation.

The rocky points and bays in and around Sisters Beach offer good fishing for squid.

The jetty at the boat ramp and rocks to the west on high tide offer great shore fishing.

Take a pair of strong boots, as the rocks can be hard to walk on. Further along the coast back towards Burnie, Boat Harbour has a fabulous rock ledge and point that has a very good chance for some squid and salmon.

The islands just west of the river mouth in front of Ulverstone on a high tide are a squid hot spot. The area is known as The Sisters and fishes well for other species as well. Land-based anglers can find some good deep holes to work and rocky ledges squid like to hold in. A tip here is to go down and have a look at the

I had a trip once and forgot I had lost my long nose pliers overboard. No big deal, you would think.

Months later on a trip we came across some good flathead, and we got by using a de-hooker I had in my box. The real drama came when we hit a patch of trophy gurnard. I don’t rate swinging those around using the de-hooker and quickly placed a ban on that practice.

The go was to calmly grab their bottom lip tight and de-hook like so. …. Well that went swimmingly until the inevitable happened and one of the group nailed a big spine right into his thumb.

Needless to say my young son learnt some new ‘doing’ words and I felt like a goose

Vanessa Turley found a very nice winter salmon.

Winter bream is a staple July catch. area you would like to fish at low tide. This will give you a good idea of where to cast your jigs and where to avoid because of bad snags. If you can find some rocks that drop away into deep water you have found a great spot to start.

As always, when fishing from the shore be careful around rocks and drop-offs.

Never spend any time with your back to the water and

be alert. If you have a boat or kayak, the area in and around the Three Islands is prime for squid. You can locate them by idling slowly around with heavy jigs and knocking the boat out of gear from time to time, then engaging the forward gear and idling away. I do this to great effect off Lillico Strait. This technique lets you cover ground quickly to find squid. The area from

The Sisters all the way along the front of Lillico and Don Heads will be red-hot for squid in July.

If you are in no hurry, going from spot to spot trolling lures will pick up some salmon and couta as well. Don’t forget to up your leader when the couta get bigger, or you may donate your favourite lures to the silvery snakes.

Go Behind the Scenery NORTH EAST Mussel Roe Bay area is the gateway to great winter fishing. On the bottom off the coast holds some good striped trumpeter and blue eyes – and plenty of them.

Sounders are very good at allowing everyone to find their own spots and are so easy to use. Like all electronics, you get the best out of them with patience and from reading the instructions. Knowing and being able to use your sounder to full effect can turn a good angler into a great one very quickly.

Finding a flat calm day

off Mussel Roe will allow you to prospect in 50–70m of water for those tasty striped trumpeter. The by-catch of looking and dropping baits on this ground can often be large tiger flathead, or on a really slow drift day, school shark.

If you don’t find success at one depth, head out to the 100m mark and repeat the process.

One piece of gear I will harp on about is circle hooks.

Yes, you can buy a 100 pack of circle hooks online, but once they arrive they are more than likely going to be rubbish, often smaller than

A gorgeous solid blue eye trevalla found at Eagle Hawk Neck.

EAST I have mentioned before that the east coast slows right down at this time of year. Not quite ghost town status, but compared to the hustle and bustle of the height of summer it’s very slow.

This of course is excellent for us anglers that like an accommodation bargain or are looking to stay at a mate’s shack. The crowds are down everywhere so you can take your time.

This is the perfect place and time for a winter getaway with the kids. Gear them up, keep them warm and get them out and about.

The fishing in and around Swansea is awesome, and so too are the accommodation options.

The choice of fishing style is many and varied. If you are land-based you can try beach fishing along any of the many sandy stretches.

If you have a smaller boat you can try the sheltered bays that are prolific in and around the area. Salmon

and tailor can be found off Swansea at this time of year, which seems strange as the tailor are normally associated with warmer climes. These can be caught from the beach on bait rigs and silver slice lures, or from boats trolling small bibbed silver and black lures or the Halco slice in varied sizes.

Traveling down to the Little Swanport in winter is very worthwhile and rewarding. It fishes well all year round and is a good access point for the bay and Schouten Island.

The river and estuary fishes well for bream and trevally on vibes in the winter months. The bream will school heavily mid estuary and should be quite easy to find just off the racks in the channels or in the deeper channels towards the river mouth. A good tip before going to an area like Little Swanport is to go to Google Earth or the Tasmanian website for maps called ‘The List’ (www. thelist.tas.gov.au).

advertised and blunt as a spoon. Local tackle stores have seen them all and pride themselves on having good equipment proven over time to be good gear. If you are going to spend good dollars on tow and boat fuel you want the pesky blighters to hook-up when they nibble.

So shop local, and buy good hooks. Don’t clog your hooks up with bait, as doing so will negate the design principle of a circle hook. The gape needs to be clear and allow that hook point to pivot and pin a fish nicely in the lip or hinge of the jaw. This is why I prefer squid strips as they stay on very well and look awesome when just pinned once or twice on the hook with the tail allowed to flutter.

STRIPED TRUMPETER Striped trumpeter are a hard fighting fish and they take no prisoners. If you try to use substandard gear when hauling them out of 70m or even 100m you will be in some strife. They are hard on reel gears, line rollers, bail arms and your arms! You do not want to get a good string of three half way up and have gear failure. One of the simplest outfits capable of taking the punishment is an Alvey 825BCV, a deep-sea reel with a strong star drag.

Pair one up with a stout Ugly Stik 5’6” heavy boat rod and you can’t go too wrong.

Big eggbeater or spinning reels are another great option and are easy to use, again make sure you buy a good one. Fin Nor Offshore and PENN Spinfisher SSV reels in the 7500 and up sizes are perfect and have ample spool sizes to handle the braid line necessary. These reels are strong, dependable and These sites allow you to use aerial views to have a really good look at the depth and shape of the rivers and estuaries. They can show you where the channels and flats are before you go. Print off a copy to take with you so you can quickly use the map to find the spot. Combining this, your sounder and a few landmarks will have you very quickly locating fish like a local.

Getting a good weather window can have you buzzing out of the river at Salt Works boat ramp across the bay and over to Schouten Island and its many treasures.

In July, Schouten Island can cough up some good striped trumpeter and school-sized southern bluefin. The bluefin are attracted to the area’s bait holding abilities, and this very same ground can be prime stripy grounds. Cape Baudin and Cape Sonnerat hold bait and is a favoured haunt for the hard charging bluefin tuna. You can often find them in a lot closer than you first think as well, so keep an eye out for birds

Tasmania

won’t break the piggy bank When deciding on what line to use, braid is the only choice for this type of fishing. Braid gives you the ability to fit more line on a spool and has less stretch than monofilament.

Less stretch lends more sensitivity and the ability to feel the bites at depth. If you are still fishing J-Hooks for this type of fishing and look to set the hooks then sensitivity is crucial. This is where circle hooks dominate – setting the hook via the rod is a thing of the past. You do however need to keep in good connection with the bottom and when a fish bites the braid allows the hook to set nicely without the give and stretch of mono. You can also wind up a few feet and feel that second and third fish get on and start the wind to the top. No one has time for winding one fish up from 100m. Braid also cuts the water much better due to a reduced drag in the water. The finer diameter for breaking strain offers less resistance when dropping to the bottom and while holding bottom in a current. Use 30-60lb braid depending on what rod and reel combination you have chosen.

ANSONS BAY Ansons Bay is well worth a look for lovers of bream. The area has long been heralded as the Mecca of monster bream – and for good reason. The area is not a one trick pony though and in July you can expect to find other species keen to play.

It’s a short drive north from St Helens and if coming back out of Mussel Roe look for the turn left of North Ansons Road.

The area has plenty to

Squid really start to fire up in most spots. offer boat or shore-based anglers, with shores readily accessing bottom made up of sand and weed to rocky outcrops. Bream to 2kg are achievable here. Yes that’s right, big blue-lipped monster bream that fight hard and dirty to secure their freedom.

Getting up early is the key here, as the smaller fish seem less active and the chances of finding a big bruiser are much higher.

The failing light as the sun goes down is also a prime time to try and find that trophy bream. The beauty about Ansons Bay is that it is very sheltered and is good to go in pretty much any weather. The river feeding

into Ansons demands to be explored via dingy or kayak and is a sensational way to spend a winter day.

The flats and channels will keep you on your toes and provide awesome habitat for fish and the seagrass is in abundance. Trevally and some good King George can also be found. Berley in the channels will be the technique for the whiting, but some serious toadfish will plague you!

Australian salmon are plentiful, and if you have some neoprene waders and are staying overnight then pack the floundering gear.

The floundering can be very good and delicious.

Scott Pettigrove with a golden nugget of bream. just having a pick up close to the rocky shores. These often give the game away to tuna feeding in close on the many bait species on offer.

The deeper water off Sonnerat is the place to start for a stripy session.

The area has some good water movement either side of the tide and the fish can

fire up for a good window of activity. Fresh bait will really increase your chances. The rocky outcrops and islands at Taillefer Rocks to the south are also worth a look. Use your sounder to find some bigger fish arches or streaked streams across your sounder screen and drop bait into them. When prospecting

have a mid-sized eggbeater rigged with some 50lb braid and 30lb leader, attach a 4” Berkley Nemesis and send to the bottom. Work it slowly up and down and let the mesmerising tail work its magic. If there are trumpeter down there and they are hungry you will find them.

JULY 2016

61

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Go Behind the Scenery SOUTH The south is a massive area with great fishing options and many sheltered areas. Eaglehawk Neck continues to fire, with good catches of school and jumbo-sized bluefin. The seals have been troubling, but the fish have been found far and wide and a pocket of fish can be found well away from the seals’ hangouts. Early June there were still some large albacore to be found – don’t give up on these in July if you wander out to the shelf and back across the northern side of the Hippolyte Rocks.

Five years ago, catching albacore in July would have simply been the talk of a madman, but over the past few seasons it has been quite frequent and even mind-boggling.

In early June an angler found a good-sized mahimahi south of Tasman Island. This was amazing for many reasons, not the least being that the fish

we like to think we know where they are and have some idea about what we

Bruny Island and the Huon River offers some excitement. Margate is a great spot to launch from to access the many points and bays out towards

Storm Bay in the south was alive with school-sized tuna.

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JULY 2016

Jonah with one of the free jumpers he found in Storm Bay. actually stopped shivering long enough to eat a lure.

Mahimahi are a surprise and novelty right in the thick of our season off St Helens.

To have one captured as far south as Tasman Island in June is madness.

The stripy grounds in and around the Tasman peninsular have been fairly well picked over in recent years, but they are still there. If the weather turns so flat and bright the tuna are proving hard to fool, you can break the day up a little with a bottom bounce. This can alleviate the boredom that can inevitably build when trolling for tuna. A good short and sharp bottom fish can recharge the crew and have them ready to go for the afternoon session.

Hot spots for tuna include Waterfall Bay, O’Hara Bluff and the area known as the Thumbs.

Make sure you put your best foot forward at this time of year, as there are some big tuna roaming around. While

Tinderbox on the mainland and Dennes Point on Bruny Island. The squid fishing is fantastic, and there seems to be a couple of spawning groups that overlap.

are doing, we are still just fishing and the best laid plans will come undone when boredom sets in, and out goes a 10kg outfit.

July is about 24kg line class at a minimum. It is about checking leaders on lures and wind-ons and re-tying doubles that have seen a bit of action. Knots and wind-ons have a shelf life, you don’t tie doubles and cats paw wind-ons and forget about them for years.

Drags need to checked and the top 80m of line on the reel. The line that is off the reel often, is susceptible to scuffs that you can feel.

Check this by running the line out at the end of each day as you come in. You don’t have to do all your outfits at once, if you do two at a time and check another two the next day.

Before you run a lure out the back of a boat check the hooks, if dull have a small file in the bait board with your filleting knife.

Further south towards

Shallow areas over weed beds in the bays require jigs that are a little lighter and allow the bottom to be worked without snagging.

The heavier jigs can then be brought out to cover the reefy deeper water off the points. Once you catch your bag of squid, this area is worth a try for some flathead in the shallows looking for some warmer coastal water. North West Bay has some prime sandy flats to try your luck.

Squid fishers and the sea run trout tragics will be starting to salivate. The dedicated sea runner fishers are starting to get out and about and they won’t hear

Brody Corbet seems to have the trumpeter fishing down pat.

To page 63

Inland Fisheries Service

Lakes levels rise to the challenge of a new season IFS

Tim Farrell

After the reprieve of late autumn and winter rains, the lake levels are better for the opening of the 2016/17 trout season than was previously anticipated.

There have been thousands of adult brown trout transferred from highland spawning runs to replenish stocks of many fisheries that require stocking to sustain them.

The receiving fisheries such as Penstock Lagoon, Four Springs Lake, Tooms Lake and smaller waters of the Nineteen Lagoons are stocked and ready for action. Make sure you take advantage of the early season rewards at these and many other waters; August is just around the corner.

PEDDER REMAINS REDFIN FREE After a recent reported sighting during autumn, From page 62

of the fact it’s a bit early.

I love their attitude. The water below the Huon River Bridge is already giving up a few trout, and these fish will only thicken up as time goes by. I like a good sea run trout session – they grow to be massive, and you never know when a monster will smash your lure.

The rocks off the southeast corner of Bruny Island, known as The Friars, also receive some attention at this time of year. The area fishes well for bluefin

Inland Fisheries staff investigated the presence of redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) in Lake Pedder.

Two main sites were surveyed; the western shore from the Lake Pedder Wilderness Lodge boat ramp and the Hermit Basin from McPartlans Pass boat ramp.

Using the electroboat, a range of habitats were shocked, including shallow and steep rocky banks, large patches of baumea grass, strap weed, submerged weed beds, as well as heavily snagged areas with sunken and fallen timber.

The depths surveyed ranged from 0.3-5m, with an average water temperature of around 13.6°C. After focused electrofishing of these areas for over 4.5 hours, no signs of any redfin perch were found. Instead, numerous quality brown trout were captured ranging in size from 130-400mm, as well as climbing galaxias (Galaxias brevipinnis).

Remember, Lake Pedder seen in the recent survey, is open all year and with the they will provide some quality of the trout that were good angling opportunities.

and striped trumpeter. It is another area where a good weather window is necessary, as it’s open to some pretty serious and heavy ocean. Bigger trailer boats or berthed vessels are necessary here as it’s a little hike out around the corner to get there. Some take the ferry across and make a weekend or midweek event of it and turn right out of Adventure Bay. The caravan park has some cheap rates, and it’s a very picturesque run south to the rocks. Others will leave from their favourite destinations like Middleton or Gordon and steam down

the sheltered waters of the D’entrecasteaux Channel around Cape Bruny and along the bottom of Cloudy Bay. Southport is another favoured access point, and if the weather cracks up you can fish the Actaens or sneak down to Whale Head for a look. If the weather really cracks up you can fish in Southport Bay and up into the Lune River system for bream and flathead. If the weather really, really cracks up, the Southport Tavern is a great Plan C. JONAH VERSUS SBT In the first week of June, Jonah Yick was out

Chris Bowen with a fat female brown trout from Great Lake, one of thousands transferred to other waters for the 2016/17 season.

in Storm Bay and found acres of southern bluefin busting up all through the northern sections all the way up as far as the Iron Pot. He watched the fish feeding heavily on 3-4” pilchards and found they were incredibly focused in on these and terribly hard to hook. He and his crew managed to hook one fish on a Laser Pro, but also tried to cast big plastics and slugs at them. Some fish were coming out of the water over a metre and the average size seemed to be around 20kg. It isn’t often you can hook a bluefin an hour from your front door!

If you do think you see a redfin perch or any other introduced fish species in the lake, or in any waterway where they should not be, in please contact the IFS as soon as possible on 1300 INFISH or email Infish@ ifs.tas.gov.au.

CARP WORKSHOP 2016 FINDINGS The Carp Management Program (CMP), on 9-10 May, held its annual two-day workshop to review the past year’s work and to plan for the coming season. Attending were representatives from the Inland Fisheries Advisory Council, the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Tasmanian Eel Exporters, The Australian Government Department of Environment, State Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks,

Water, and Environment Key findings from the workshop were: Surveys did not detect any carp in Lake Crescent or downstream in the Clyde River. Carp remain contained to Lake Sorell.

No spawning or recruitment was detected in Lake Sorell.

Intensive fishing pressure during 2015/16 saw a dramatic decrease in catch per unit of effort.

Over 40,900 carp have been removed from Lake Sorell. Less than 3% of the original population remain.

THE PLAN FOR THE COMING YEAR Despite diminishing returns, the current carp population is still vulnerable to intensive netting. This strategy will continue to be used until catch rates have decreased to the point where this is no longer efficient.

Radio tracking will also continue to be used over the 2016/17 season to assist in spawning prevention.

If ideal spawning conditions arise in spring 2016 (i.e. rising water levels combined with warm settled weather in spring), this may trigger a large proportion of fish to push inshore, thus becoming vulnerable to our fishing strategies. It is possible that an event like this could result in the majority of the remaining carp being removed, thus enabling a ‘mop up’ of remnant fish over the following year.

It is expected that the strategy will shift in the 2017/18 season to a monitoring-based approach, using sterilised male transmitter fish to detect and remove the remaining carp in Lake Sorell.

HYDROTASMANIAWATERSTORAGEINFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 8th June 2016 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Lake Augusta .................................................................................................Spilling Arthurs Lake ....................................2.67 ..................................................................

Great Lake .......................................16.15 ................................................................

Trevallyn Pond ...............................................................................................Spilling Shannon Lagoon ............................................................................................Spilling Penstock Lagoon ...........................................................................................Spilling Lake Echo ........................................10.92 ................................................................

Dee Lagoon .....................................0.21 ..................................................................

Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah .............0.32 ..................................................................

Bronte Lagoon .................................0.72 ..................................................................

Pine Tier Lagoon ............................................................................................Spilling Little Pine Lagoon ..........................................................................................Spilling Laughing Jack Lagoon ....................4.68 ..................................................................

Lake St Clair ....................................1.1 ....................................................................

Lake King William ............................5.13 ..................................................................

Lake Liapootah ................................0.71 ..................................................................

Wayatinah Lagoon .........................................................................................Spilling Lake Catagunya .............................................................................................Spilling

Lake Repulse .................................................................................................Spilling Cluny Lagoon .................................................................................................Spilling Meadowbank Lake ........................................................................................Spilling Lake Pedder ....................................0.61 ..................................................................

Lake Gordon ....................................41.25 ................................................................

Lake Burbury ...................................1.53 ..................................................................

Lake Plimsoll ...................................4.58 ..................................................................

Lake Murchison .............................................................................................Spilling Lake Mackintosh ...........................................................................................Spilling Lake Rosebery ...............................................................................................Spilling Lake Pieman ..................................................................................................Spilling Lake Mackenzie .............................................................................................Spilling Lake Rowallan ...............................................................................................Spilling Lake Parangana .............................................................................................Spilling Lake Cethana .................................................................................................Spilling Lake Barrington .............................................................................................Spilling Lake Gairdner ................................................................................................Spilling Lake Paloona .................................................................................................Spilling Woods Lake .....................................1.24 ..................................................................

Whitespur Pond ...............................1.13 ..................................................................

Lake Newton ...................................2.47 ..................................................................

Lake Margaret .................................0.2.....................................................................

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 JULY 2016

63

Working with water temperature NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Water temperature can be a key factor that dictates where fish will be found and what ‘mood’ or activity level they’re likely to display. In other words, how ‘catchable’ they will be. At no time of year is this more critical

given volume of water tends to take a relatively long time to heat up or cool down, and this property is magnified by the size and depth of that body of water. So, for example, oceans tend to be much more stable in temperature than very small ponds.

Most of the temperature sensors built into modern depth sounders measure water temperature at the

few metres deeper in the water column, but it’s still a good way for anglers to monitor what’s going on around them. Learning to watch the temperature readout on your sounder, or to carry a handheld thermometer if you’re land-based, can make a big difference to your overall fishing results.

Different fish species have varying ‘preferred

that drags these temperatures down to the 13-14°C that trout love can result in fish kills in our stocked barra dams. While preferred temperatures for barra vary between southern and northern strains, the range from about 25-30°C is considered ideal, with a real sweet spot existing around the 28°C mark.

All that said, fish can adapt. At one end of the scale, I’ve chased barramundi and other Top End species (with at least some success) in late dry season billabongs with a tepid, bath-like surface temperature of 37°C! At the opposite extreme, I’ve pursued spawn-run trout in the Eucumbene River near the end of the season when the water was just a couple of degrees above freezing, the air was a numbing -9°C, and my line was constantly freezing onto the rod’s runners!

Having an idea of the preferred temperature range of the target species you’re chasing can be a big help when it comes to finding concentrations of those targets

While the ‘optimum’ water temperature for rainbow trout might be 13-16°C, you can certainly catch them in both warmer and cooler waters.

However, when lakes and rivers heat up in summer, it can really pay to look for cooler areas.

In most areas, barramundi become much more active when the water warms above 25°C. However, in mid-winter estuaries chill to just 20°C or less, finding areas even half a degree warmer can produce the goods. than in the depths of winter.

Water temperature obviously varies considerably from place to place, throughout the year and even across a day.

However, compared to air, a

sounder’s transducer, which is often submerged just a few centimetres beneath the surface. This surface temperature fluctuates more rapidly than the temperature a

temperature ranges,’ as well as extreme highs and lows that can potentially prove fatal if exceeded for a certain period of time. For example, rainbow trout become lethargic and stressed if the water exceeds 22-23°C. Their VIDEO

Scan this QR code to see Starlo finding freshwater natives in winter dams ideal zone is between about 12-15°C. Exposure to water over 24°C for even a day or two will almost always kill adult rainbow trout. By contrast, barramundi tend to shut down completely when water temperatures drop below 18°C, and a cold snap

At the southern end of their range, snapper tend to be more ‘catch-able’ in summer, while up north, they’re traditionally a winter target. This is all about water temperature preferences.

SEASON

4

IS HERE!

Yellowfin bream generally prefer slightly warmer water than their southern or black bream cousins and can go a bit quiet when it’s really chilly. in a feeding mood. Even if conditions (where and when you’re fishing) are less than ideal, you can at least chase down spots that lean in the right direction. So, for example, if you’re hunting warm water natives such as bass, barra, cod or yellowbelly in winter, you need to look for any area where the water is

slightly warmer, such as along north-facing banks with lots of rock (that trap daytime heat from the sun and radiates it back into the water), or bays into which the prevailing breeze might push surface water that’s been warmed by the sun through the day. Even a lift of half a degree can sometimes spell the difference

between success and failure.

Keep water temperatures in mind every time you fish, and watch my short video on finding freshwater natives in winter dams for some more clues. You can access it by scanning the QR code, or go to my ‘Starlo Gets Reel’ channel on YouTube and look for ‘Where’s The Dam Fish?’

OUTDOOR & FISHING SHOW

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Every Saturday 4.30pm on 64

JULY 2016

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Reconsider your tactics HORSHAM

Trevor Holmes

My time was limited on the water over the last month, so I will talk more tactics in this report. I’m looking forward to a busy few months on the water chasing big trout but will miss the redfin as they close down for the big chill.

With better than average rainfall during May and the experts tipping the El Niño cycle to be complete, we have much to look forward to and exciting times ahead. While the rains have soaked in, we haven’t received enough to make the small streams and rivers flow, but it won’t be long before this happens, given the current rate of rainfall. As we are now in the grips of winter, changing tactics (especially for trout) is a must. In spring and summer we hunt the upwind end of the lake for the big models that lurk in wait for hatches of all types of insects to blow in. As the cold, shorter days kick in and the stronger wind pound all living matter to the downwind side. Smelt, minnow, shrimp, water beetles and snails all become a major part of the diet and can be found hiding under any structure or culmination of weed forced in against edges.

Over the last week or two I’ve been lucky enough to look for and find fish work these edges as they become desperate to supplement their normal diet.

Matching the feed is important here and after seeing slashes and swirls in next to no water, the OSP bent minnow has become my favourite lure.

Natural colours worked on the

down a food source, sit off it and then feed at random as it suits them. If you work the banks, scan well ahead for the tell tale signs of swirls and rises to alert you to a working fish or a school herding bait together. With spawn time upon us, there are usually many fish that congregate in one area and it’s not unusual,

is a definite set pattern there and triggers that can lead to less fishing and more catching time! Don’t be afraid to use the bright standout lures in the box that you wouldn’t normally.

The bright pinks, oranges, and reds are ideal to encourage big trout to chase. If you are sight fishing and you spot a pair of browns, there could be a

Melbourne fly angler David Woods with a prime Lake Fyans brown.

Toolondo ramp extension provided by the Target 1 Million funding. These constructions show our licence fees are being put to good use. especially at Toolondo, to see bunched up fish anywhere from pairs and threes to large groups of 60-70. Keep in mind that when the fish are in large numbers they can be hard to tempt.

Bait can be presented perfectly for the working fish, but they are often completely ignored as well. Frustration can set in as you watch a large trout swim up to a normally desirable mudeye, sniff it and swim away. Aggressive and threatening lures are the best option, but this fishing can be very frustrating too. Working past sighted fish and retrieving back towards them can entice a chase or follow but not

Carol El Hayek with her first ever rainbow trout landed at Lake Fyans trolling a tassie devil.

Peter Kallinakos landed this lovely Toolondo hen brown. surface provide some exciting sight fishing.

Success has been had from both bank and boat – but it’s imperative to work that windy corner or end for best results.

Quite often once an area is worked and the fish seem to disappear or become wise to what’s going on, a break of a couple of hours will see them congregate in the same area. Trout especially can hunt

always a strike. Territorial rights come into play here and the fish will ram or bump the lure to scare or chase it away from either a nest of eggs or a prospective partner.

Habits will change over several weeks, and while the fish seem to have on and off switches it’s a good policy to note conditions, barometer, winds, and water temperatures for future reference as there

especially where there is a natural runoff of water such as a small creek or depression.

LAKE TOOLONDO With some colder weather and above average rainfall, the lake has stared to fire up again, with good numbers of redfin and some lovely browns and

nest-raiding rainbow hovering nearby. Usually a larger buck that is waiting for a chance of a feed of eggs. Having said that, be prepared and have a PowerBait supply to replicate the eggs and present either under a float, unweighted on top or on a running sinker rig on the bottom. Worms can also be a good option for large trout feeding the fringes,

rainbows landed. Trolling is again an option as the weed growth that inhibits anglers has died off. Access and navigation of the lake should be done with caution as there are plenty of exposed and submerged logs and stumps for the unwary to come unstuck on. More great work has been carried out here by Fisheries under the Target 1 Million initiative by extending the western ramp by 30m to ease the launching pain suffered over summer where we saw cars and trailers stuck and damaged by logs, stumps and low water.

ROCKLANDS RESERVOIR Trout are starting to fire up, while the redfin back down for their winter quiet patch. Locals have reported some better numbers here of rainbows taken trolling and casting around edges and structure. There are some extra large browns in there too, so be prepared for some good action on them as the genuine cold hits. The low wall area and tree lines are a great option to target as the bait hold up in these areas. Bass will eventually go quiet as the temperatures drop

more but the good numbers landed and mostly released over the last few months is very encouraging.

LAKE FYANS AND LAKE WARTOOK These two lakes have started to produce what they are renowned for – large fish! Some nice trout have come in and those in the know are hunting down some great redfin, probably the largest you will find in Victoria. Fyans has been the better of the two lakes and gets huge fishing pressure from all forms of angling.

Bank and boat anglers do very well here and hopefully some good rains continue to raise water levels and produce fish. The redfin will go a little quiet during the colder months but don’t rule out a trophy female fish here in excess of 3kg as they nest in the weed beds. These girls are hard work but a rewarding prize.

WIMMERA RIVER AND TAYLORS LAKE Temperature drops lately and the first frosts have made the native waters a little quiet, but as with the trout, a few anglers who fish fringes and edges where the water runs in have done well dangling worms in the muddy inflow areas. These dirtied up areas are known as typical feeding areas as they provide both cover and feed for the most cunning golden perch

and cod. Yabbies will work here, as will spinnerbaits and hardbody lures. A bit of rattle doesn’t go astray to aggravate and entice fish into action. With their metabolism slowing down in colder water, the fishing could be tough until spring or summer. Still, the odd cod has been landed on the troll at Taylors on big lures and yellas on bait fished on the bottom. Yabbies and scrub worms are your best bait choice.

LAKE BELLFIELD Bellfield has seen some great redfin captures over the last few weeks around the edges and up near the wall especially in the darker times of the day. Trout will come to the fore now, so the wall, rocky and treed areas will be the best option as the browns and rainbows seek out a cheap feed of minnows, gudgeon and small redfin to substitute for the lack of insects over winter. Soft plastics and small hardbody lures that match the minnows and gudgeon will be the prime option. PowerBait should work well on the rainbows leading to spawn time and, as mentioned, a worm fished in the dirtier water should trick a cunning trout.

• Enquiries to Trevor on 0438 132 130 or (03) 5388 1338. Catch us on Facebook ‘Victorian Inland Charters’ or check our website www.victorian inlandcharters.com.au

Geelong gun angler Mick Evans with one of many redfin he landed on Toolondo recently.

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What’s up with the pressure?

ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

As we learn from the best of bites, we equally learn from those trips that fail to tempt a single bump. Each

past month is the correlation between high barometric pressure and the window of opportunity it provides.

It’s scripted in cod fishing folklore and rolls off the tongue to the tune of ‘1020 fish are aplenty’. This is normally so, but obviously

‘scripted mark’. Perhaps it is the condition of the fish that sees them reluctant to commit under such conditions.

Almost as round as they are long, these fish can afford to be fussy and bide their time.

What we have found this season is that the best bites

Sandy Tarrant with a new PB Murray cod taken on the troll using a StumpJumper lure. as important as the other, they are mulled over in anglers’ minds until a link or pattern begins to form.

What I have noticed this

someone forgot to tell the cod this season. I have now had several fishless days where the barometric pressure hovered around this so-called

have come when the pressure pushed above 1025. One such weekend high rolled in and pushed the pressure past 1030.

The bite was nothing short of

hot with several cod pushing the tape past the 125cm mark.

It seems the keg-sized cod were all but in sync to the pressure as far as size was concerned.

Each time we hit the water we began to connect the bite to the highest point of the daily pressure. A good mate smashed out two keg-sized cod inside of an hour as the pressure peaked at 1027. It was only there for a short period of time and slipped back down cutting the bite as the next front rolled in. Unfortunately, we were sizzling up a feed at the time and missed the short window of action and the big fish it provided.

For most fishers, it’s hard to correlate trips with high pressure systems, especially if you don’t live close to your intended destination or you need to take time off work to get there. I for one will bide my time for the rest of the season and chase the highpressure systems that are forcing the bite. In between, I shall acquire as many brownie points as possible for several long distance barra trips after the cod season is over.

Most of the big cod action has come on trolled lures, but as the water temperature continues to fall we can

One of two giant cod landed as the pressure pushed through 1027. expect to see many big cod move shallow, providing some excellent casting opportunities.

The perch bite has slowed, but the size seems to have increased, especially for those using lures. Bait anglers are still cleaning up on the perch drift fishing with

shrimp or small yabbies.

Cod captures on bait have been slow with just a few tempted by grubs and chicken fillets. Several good cod have been landed at Tol Tol upstream of Robinvale on the Murray. Wemen is also producing some good-sized cod.

Brave the frost for some big cod MILDURA

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Another huge cod taken trolling a large hardbodied lure.

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With the frosty mornings and cold days well and truly here, getting out of the warmth and comfort of the house is becoming hard.

We all know what it’s like though, you have to listen to your heart because your body is probably quite happy tucked up in bed. You will be desperate to get that hit of a green steam train – the mighty Murray cod this winter. That rush you get when the rod is nearly pulled out of your hands, but you just manage to hold onto it. Not to mention the rush of the fight that gets you up and onto the water at this time of year.

That rush at the moment can be found downstream of Wentworth, Curlwaa and the Mildura area, mainly for goldens. These areas have been producing solid numbers of goldens both on bait and lures. Rigging up a juicy scrubworm and fresh shrimp will put you in for a good chance at tricking a solid golden perch.

For those chasing that heart racing rush from the green specimens, you’ll need to put in endless days out on the water trolling and casting.

The important thing at this time of year is to try different things to finally hit the right spot at the right time.

The cod have been much quieter around this time, which has made it hard for

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Releasing a chunky cod back into the cold waters of the lower Murray.

Cod will be best chased with trolled hardbodies at this time of year. anglers, but persistence is key. VFM writer Neil Slater recently visited the Merbein to Wentworth region for a fishing and camping trip over several days. He and another boat fished the area, which saw good numbers of golden perch, though no cod on this trip.

Neil mentioned to me that he mainly worked the deeper water around 8m holding deep structure.

Over the winter months, standard diving lures will

be the go-to choice lures.

Work the more open water column instead of right on the structure.

Nonetheless Neil and his crew had a ball chasing golden perch around on scrubbies with decent results each day, making the trip up to Mildura worthwhile and enjoyable.

Solid golden perch were caught and released with the biggest coming in at 52cm, and that is very decent for the river.

Winter bite is quality over quantity YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

As the temperature takes a sharp nose-dive, so too does the constant stream of productive fishing reports.

On a positive note though, the cod we are hearing about are generally of

above average size.

At this time of year big lures equal big fish. If you’re looking at having a shot at a ‘fish of a lifetime’ before season’s end, gearing up to 120mm+ hardbodied lures, spinnerbaits with a bulked up profile or large noisy surface lures with a big action will be your best bet. It has been proved that there is no hard

and fast rule as to preferred depth, as you will find them hanging anywhere, but slightly warmer pockets seem to hold the key to big cod.

Throughout late autumn there were plenty of good cod reported with 1m+ models popping up regularly. Scott McRae gave us the best report of a 110cm model while Corowa boys Ant Grant

There was more to be found than just Easter eggs at Lake Mulwala over Easter! Jake Easton was devastated to wake up to find his best rod missing; presumably it had been dragged into the water overnight never to be seen again. Luckily, good old Mum found it with her feet after a morning waterski. A massive Murray Cod was still attached to the line, caught on shrimp.

It was released and the first of a few good catches over the weekend.

nailed a 106cm and Painter Rogers managed to subdue a 105cm beast. Les Miller had a good day out landing a 94cm and 72cm cod, while Helen Wilson found her new PB of 93cm. Mulwala boy Joel Thomas hit a purple patch during the recent lure casters event to take the chocolates with his five fish for the day, with Kyle Dalrymple finishing a creditable second with three cod.

Others to have productive outings over recent weeks include Andrew Jacotine and local couple Steve and Tanya Cannon, who have been blitzing them in their secret spot landing numerous species on each outing.

Cray season is here, and once again these spiny critters will become a favourite target species for a while. Anglers must keep in mind that it is only legal to target Murray crayfish locally between the Hume Weir downstream to the Tocumwal road bridge.

Minimum carapace length is 10cm with maximum being 12cm. The daily bag limit is two per person with a possession limit of four. Anglers are allowed a maximum of five hoop nets with the letters ‘HN’, the

TOP ENDER RANGE

Tanya Cannon with her 46cm silver perch that she caught recently. anglers initial, surname, year of birth and postcode on the float.

In closing, one of Yarrawonga’s favourite anglers, George ‘Whoppa Stoppa’ Jovanovic has spent a bit of time in the sick bay recently. We wish George a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the water soon.

• If you are visiting town, I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish, Camp & Ski (opposite the post office) in Mulwala and say G’day. We are your largest Murray cod-specific shop in Yarrawonga/Mulwala and specialise in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on (03) 5744 3133.

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Rampaging river cod on the bite SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

Consistent something normally see in the colder

fishing is we don’t in our area months, but

in recent months it seems every week or two there are big fish reported.

Every month this year a 1m+ fish has been caught in the Shepparton area, something that we will see more of over winter.

There are more locals

using big lures and concentrating their time to target big fish, and to everyone’s delight, the fish are rewarding these efforts.

RIVER FISHING Both the Broken and Goulburn rivers have produced big fish up to

Large cod are still very active in the rivers, and this one was caught on a spinnerbait in the Broken River.

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1m and I have also heard reports of fish straightening high quality trebles and getting an early freedom.

It’s not just lure anglers landing big fish, there have been reports of fish up to 90cm taken on worms from down Murchison way.

There have been numerous reports of yellowbelly caught between Nagambie and Murchison.

This month, with more rain and colder temperatures, bank launching boats can be a lot harder, but there is still a handful of good quality concrete or gravel ramps in the area.

Travelling 5-minutes either direction of Shepparton’s main ramp still produces good fish each month, so don’t be disappointed if you have to launch there.

Over the cooler times, I still focus on using the big lures to turn the heads of the bigger fish. If you’re looking for surface action, big fish should still be looking up.

Yet again, there have been reports of crayfish caught off the bank by bait anglers, and it can be very frustrating while baitfishing, but if you retrieve slowly you can land keeper-sized crays just by them holding onto your hook.

Those using drop pots have found that the crayfish are in good numbers.

Cray fishing around the Murchison area has yielded pleasing results with fresh liver soaked in tuna oil being the best bait.

It will be an interesting winter with high rainfall predictions ahead of us, so if we do see high levels of rain it will really make fishing tough. Make sure you make the most of the good conditions while they last.

KIALLA LAKES The lakes are looking great, but unfortunately the fishing has dropped off. This has been the case most winters with only the odd yellowbelly and redfin caught on worms.

Areas near the car cross over of lake 1 and 2 seem to fish best most times of the year, so I would target there baitfishing.

For the lure anglers, I would go back to basics using small to medium sized spinnerbaits in purple and black or red and black, as these are always good colours in the lakes.

SHEPPARTON LAKE The rainbows are starting to move in the lake with a few caught on PowerBait. They are still fairly quiet, but within the next few weeks there

Check out this monster cod caught on a Codger lure in the Goulburn. should be a greater chance for those targeting them with lake trout becoming more active.

The redfin should be coming on the bite too. Anglers have been reporting both trout and redfin caught up to 30cm on worms and PowerBait.

Those fishing from boats or kayaks have trolled small blades or Tassie Devils. If you can rig your lipless crankbaits with doubles instead of trebles, you can normally limit your weed. The doubles tuck up under the lure, but sometimes affect your hook-up rate.

Avoiding the weed is the biggest test at the lake, but if you can, the winter months can be plenty of fun.

LOCAL CHANNELS This time last year the channels were out of bounds with the local water board issuing warnings to keep away.

This year there haven’t been any warnings due to spraying of weeds, but if you see signage about weeds being poisoned, I would stay away.

Not having the feedback from last year’s winter, it’s hard to predict too far ahead but from the reports coming in and personal experiences, it’s going to be a hard winter.

My usual spots towards Pine Lodge and Kialla West haven’t produced fish and the only reports that have come in are usually of carp caught on worms or PowerBait.

CRAIGMUIR LAKE There are plenty of redfin in the lake, but they are hit and miss at the moment.

Similar techniques to the

Shepparton Lake will work in Craigmuir with floating worms or PowerBait a great way to catch a redfin.

Small spinnerbaits or blades will work well in the winter, and during the middle of the day the light will reflect off the blades and make them visable.

There has been the odd cod caught at Craigmuir, but only around the 30-40cm mark, but a bite like this would still be a surprise on light redfin gear.

WARANGA BASIN This is normally my go to month for the basin, as boat traffic is minimal and the wind is almost non-existent. But the past month has been poor with only a handful of reports coming in.

In past years I have seen reports of 40-50 fish per session, but recently it’s been more like 6-7 fish.

It’s hard work but if you get a sunny day with no wind, it can make for a pleasant time on the water.

Troll smaller hardbodies around the points and dropoffs until you find the fish.

From there, cast plastics or lipless crankbaits around at the schools.

If there is no wind you can slowly drift baits in these areas, as you should hold pretty much on that area. Dropping down baits and casting at the same time can sometimes bring the fish to you. The redfin will follow your lures towards the boat and this draws the fish closer to your baits.

The rainbows are starting to move in the lake with a few caught on PowerBait. Within the next few weeks there should be a greater chance for those targeting them.

Brave the cold for some family friendly fishing WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

What an insane autumn we have had here in North East Victoria. The Murray cod stayed active for longer than usual due to warmer than

stocked at the end of June in time for the school holidays each year. These terrific waterways usually offer easy access and often have toilet and BBQ facilities close by, promoting great family fun.

They are stocked annually with yearling rainbow trout,

soft plastics such as the Strike Tiger nymph quite successful, especially after I pull the claws off the soft plastic, making it a bit smaller.

Most lures will work, bladed spinners, hardbodied minnows and so on. But if you just want to catch fish, the

The author with another nice brown trout that he caught towards the end of the season.

Sandy Hector with a short and fat autumn redfin caught in a tributary of the Ovens River on a Strike Tiger 3” curl-tail grub in ‘whitebait pearl’ colour. average temperatures, and when things did cool down, the trout went absolutely nuts in the hills, and a few redfin even came out to play.

It was a truly delightful autumn to go fishing in North East Victoria this year. At the end of this report, I will share a short story of a ‘myth busting’ fishing experience that I had the day before writing this report.

July is the coldest month of the year here in Victoria, but strangely enough, it is not usually the wettest. That title usually goes to May or September.

The fishing is limited in the Wangaratta area during July, however there are still a few fishing options available to anglers wanting to head out and brave the cold.

Firstly, we have the family friendly waterways that are

which are usually pan-sized, as a way to promote fishing to younger people as well as people with mobility issues.

Not only do these waterways promote fishing to newcomers to the sport and give families an alternative to other more expensive holiday activities, they also give the younger people who already love fishing something to do to fill in time during the holidays.

I am a huge fan of these great little fisheries. In this area, there is Foster’s Lake at Glenrowan, Lake Sambell in Beechworth, and Stanley Dam in Stanley, the latter of which is the most popular.

In any of these waterways, the trout will be on the bite right throughout July. PowerBait often works well on these stocked trout and can be purchased at most good tackle stores. I find tiny

ever-reliable bunch of garden worms will always work.

Lake William Hovell will be well worth fishing for trout during July. If it isn’t full by July, it will be close to it.

There may be a few redfin kicking around in July, but it is the trout fishing that will

equally productive. Late in the afternoon, as the shadows from the towering hills to the west of the lake creep over the water, it is worth trolling along that western edge of the lake. Quite often the trout can be seen rising in the shadows, picking food of some

Myth busted! This brown trout was caught on a Redheaded Cockchafer Grub, often incorrectly referred to as a witchetty grub. A grub that is meant to be a poor trout bait.

A nice autumn redfin caught in a tributary of the Ovens River on a bunch of worms suspended underneath a bubble float. Float fishing for redfin is great fun.

attract most anglers to Lake William Hovell in the depths of winter. Most of the trout are small, around 30cm or under, however don’t be surprised if a monster grabs your lure or bait. Each year there are a few brown trout to 5lb that get caught. These large brown trout are not a common catch in Lake William Hovell, however there are a few around.

Trolling with winged lures is a tried and proven method in William Hovell. Small to medium sized Tassie Devils account for a lot of trout each year. My favourite colour is pink. There is actually a colour pattern named ‘pink panther’, which is my favourite.

Low light periods of the day have always been the best at Lake William Hovell, with both sunrise and sunset

description off the surface.

Don’t overlook small minnow type lures such as Rapalas, Pontoon21 or Wildbait either. These will also work well at low light hours.

One of my favourite trout lures in Lake William Hovell, and one that is often overlooked as a trout lure, is a small blade.

Any blade will do, but I just have a personal preference for the TT switchblade in 7g, as I find they don’t tangle as often as some others. I like to cast the blade, which will cast a mile (blades are one of the best casting lures on the market), allow it to sink a little bit before beginning the retrieve.

I retrieve a couple of meters, and then pause, allowing the blade to sink a bit. About nine times out of ten it is on that pause that the trout will grab

the blade!

Downstream in the far lower reaches of the Ovens River, where the waters of Lake Mulwala back up there is a chance of catching a Murray cod. The cod are usually pretty slow at this time of the year, however the dedicated and serious cod anglers are usually down that way putting in the long hours, trolling large hardbodied lures around the lake and reaping the rewards for their dedication.

Sometimes these anglers might troll all day every day for 3-4 days straight, only to have one Murray cod hook-up, but they love it! The cod are down there, but be prepared to work for them.

MYTH BUSTING Earlier I mentioned that I busted a myth while trout fishing recently. Here is what happened.

Growing up, I was always taught that bardi grubs were dynamite bait for Murray cod, and wood grubs were dynamite bait for trout, but white curl grubs, otherwise known as redheaded cockchafer grubs (often referred to incorrectly as witchetty grubs) were a poor bait and not worth using.

The other day, I was fishing a stream with worms, and ran out of worms, so switched to a bladed spinner.

In the very last pool that I fished, I had a trout hit my lure on three consecutive casts before losing interest and ignoring it.

I turned a rock over hoping to find a worm, and found a white curl grub.

So, I swapped my spinner for a hook, passed the hook through the curl grub once and cast it out, and the moment the grub passed the fish… BANG! The trout engulfed it in one swoop.

Don’t overlook the redheaded cockchafer, and if you reckon I’m leading you on, Google redheaded cockchafer and you will see what my bait looked like!

JULY 2016

69

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Winter has finally arrived after a very slow start.

Again June’s temperatures continued to be a little above average, which did make it quite pleasant to sit by the lake and trout fish.

Winter fishing is always good as there is less terrestrial food about for the trout, so they are more likely to be cruising all day looking for something to eat around the edges of the lake and amongst the weed beds where insect larvae and nymphs are

best. Worms and artificial baits have always been a favourite way of winter fishing and it always brings results. When worm fishing, use plenty of tiger worms or a single scrub worm, and fish them off the bottom using a running sinker.

There is a lot of weed and slime on the bottom of the lake at the moment, especially in sheltered bays like Curiosity and Hatchery bays, so it is best to put mucilin on your line to keep it floating above the bottom.

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Jye Murphy with a great brown trout of about 2kg taken land-based, which is a good option at the moment.

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to slow down your retrieve and leave the fly or lure in the fishes’ faces longer.

Trolling is one of my favourite ways to catch trout in winter, because I can sit back, relax and wait for the fish to bite. If you’re out in a boat on the lake over winter, trolling lures a lot slower than summer is also the way

Ellis Murphy with a 3kg brown trout he caught spinning from the shore. found overwintering.

Shore-based angling is the way to go, and the worse the weather in the mountains the better the trout will bite.

With the lake level still quite high this winter and very little change in the level over recent months, the edge fishing has been very good with areas like The Claypits and Curiosity Rocks area fishing very well.

These areas are also where some of those very big ex-brood Gaden Trout Hatchery Atlantic salmon and brook trout that were released late last May are hanging out at present.

Most of the early spawning brown trout are also now back from the rivers and into the lake, so you can expect them to be cruising the edges looking for some food and lures, flies and bait will all catch these fish.

So with lots of winter fishing still ahead, grab a good pair of boots and a warm jacket and come down and try for a winter trout fishing experience!

At this time of the year it doesn’t matter what method of fishing you are doing, all you need to know is the fish are close to the edges and you need not cast out too far.

This year with the lake so high, there is a lot more cover for fish to hide amongst.

Bait fishing is a very productive method of fishing in winter and simple rigs work

as big as 13cm in various colours, however a touch or orange on the lure is a great attractant for trout in winter.

If you like using Tasmanian Devil lures, the best colours have been pink 55, orange 57 and brown number Y48. Y82 and holographic are another couple of colours worth a try, but again, slow your trolling

JULY ROUNDUP - THE BEST OF THE BEST! Best method: Best lake lure:

Best lake area: Best fly method:

Best river:

Bait fishing Tasmanian Devil in pink 55 or holographic.

Rapala Brown Trout 13cm Claypits and Banjo Patterson Park Williamson’s Gold Fish or a similar fly to represent the food the fish are feeding on Rivers are closed and reopen on October long weekend

shot on the hook to keep the bait down.

As the fish move about the lake so much over in winter, there is no particular spot better than another, but a hint is shallow water early and late and slightly deeper water in the bright sunny parts of the days, but not too deep, a few metres of water is as much as you want!

Spinning from the shore of the lake is another method that works well during winter and Tasmanian Devils are probably the best lures to use in the middle of the day.

Colours like pink number 55, yellow wing number 36 and brown number 48 work best at a slow retrieve.

A variety of soft plastics also work well and the Strike Tiger plastics have proved to be fantastic on the Snowy Mountain trout. It’s best to use natural or gold colours when fishing plastics around the inlets and weedy bays and orange or pink colours are better for open water.

If you are fly fishing or spinning with lures you have to also be aware that you need

to increase the number of trout you catch.

The best lures to use when trolling the lake for big trout in winter are the big jointed minnow lures, even

speed down for winter.

July is also the time when we get most of our snow on the mountains and the weather can change very

Ellis Murphy took this great female Atlantic salmon from the bank.

To page 71

Look to the edges for big predators EILDON

Andy McCarthy

Thank goodness we have had some good rain of late, because we really, really

needed it. With the lake level slowly rising, it’s going to be telling for the long term health of this massive waterway.

Now that the rivers have closed for trout fishing,

Jan Bast nailed this healthy cod fishing the edges.

all the focus will be on the lake in this neck of the woods. As the water is now slowly rising, it will be a very productive time on the edges, with the smaller bait fish coming to chew on the freshly covered margins and in turn, drawing the predators up in the water column for longer periods of time. This is great news for us anglers.

I really enjoy fishing spinnerbaits on the edges on really overcast mornings and knowing that at any second, a big cod could inhale my lure.

The anticipation is immense during this time of year.

Jan Bast caught a very healthy cod recently on an Austackle Crash Crank in the purple colour. It was a great looking specimen, and was very typical of the

cod in Eildon. Eildon is such a healthy system and continues to produce some of the finest cod in the country, so once again, a big thanks to our good friends at Fisheries Victoria for all the work they do.

I also had a picture of a nice fat yellowbelly from Mat Fyf, who was dropshotting a worm at the base of a tree.

Not very many yellas are caught at this time of year, so to get one is a great effort, especially when they are as fat as the one Mat caught.

A couple of reddies up to 40cm have been caught lately near the Pines, but the action is still fairly slow.

Steady reports of trout up to 4lb have been coming in, with the Big River doing well, although being so low

Big yellas are hard to come by at this time of year, so Mat Fyf did well to catch this very chunky specimen. there is quite a bit of traffic to deal with, so be patient.

We are all out to have a

good time and catch a few, so don’t let impatience ruin your day.

Cranky cod chase spawning trout BONNIE DOON

Andy McCarthy

There is not a lot of water up here at the moment, so that means the fish will be more concentrated in certain areas, so using your electronics is very important.

Now the water is starting to wash onto the grassy flats, the trout will start to move into the shallows and forage for worms and grubs. When the trout are feeding like this, bait fishing from the shore is a very deadly technique, and it’s what most anglers will do at this time of year.

It also would make perfect sense to head to the river mouths as the trout head upstream for the spawn. The most exciting thing about this time of the year is you can throw big bad lures in these same From page 70

quickly, so always check for any major changes before heading out in a boat. It only takes minutes for the lake to go from mirror flat to over 1m high waves and 100km/h winds.

Just remember that when on a boat all rugged up, sometimes with waders on, you are a death wish waiting to happen if you aren’t wearing a life vest. If you were to fall into the water, which is getting colder by the day, once you get wet – there is a very good chance that you will die. If not by drowning, when all your wet clothes drag you to the bottom or your waders fill with water, you will not last long before hyperthermia will get you.

Relax and enjoy delicious food and warm hospitality.

Open for breakfast from 6.30am everyday Coffee Light meals Pastries Cakes Bread

10 Main St, Eildon Victoria 3713 03 5774 2362 0438 881 629 Don’t think that just because it’s cold the cod stop feeding. Adam Leask knows all too well that the cod are after big prey during winter. areas for the simple reason that the big cod will be there eating trout like me eating hamburgers.

There have been a few reports from the top end, but not as many as usual, and this would be largely from

the terrible weather that we have had. Despite this, half a dozen or so cod between 55-75cm have been reported to me. These aren’t huge fish, but enough to get you coming back for more.

A couple of nice trout

have also been caught on the troll, mostly flat lining Tassie Devils in the rainbow trout and the pinky patterns.

Yet again, I haven’t had too much action on the reddies, but I’ll still keep on searching!

Trolling flies off fly lines (harling) is also very productive in winter and trolling flies on lead core lines during the middle of the day produces some big browns if you stay just over the weed beds. We have some flies in the shop that are designed for trolling and can be dynamite over the weed beds on the lake.

Good areas for trolling this month are the South Arm, the Snowy Arm, East Jindabyne Islands and Hayshed Bay. If you’re up for polaroiding trout, it is best done on the sunnier days and that is the time I like to fly fish the lake anyway. I don’t usually go fly fishing when it is snowing or during the cold winter nights.

A well-presented fly, something like a brown nymph, a Mrs Simpson or a shrimp pattern will get good results during the winter months. Don’t forget my Williamson’s Gold Fish when fishing the weedy bays.

The best areas for winter polaroiding in Jindabyne are Creel Bay, Hatchery Bay, Sids Bay, the Kalkite end of the lake, the Snowy Arm and Wollondibby Inlet.

July and August are the months when the township of Jindabyne is flat out with snow skiers and most accommodation is either booked out or very expensive however since you don’t need to get out of bed early to catch a trout in winter, you can always stay in towns close by where

there is accommodation at a reasonable rate.

Cooma, Berridale and Dalgety are towns that come to mind that have great accommodation at reasonable rates.

• If you would like some personal guiding, I will be available over the coming months for fly-fishing tuition and lake trolling trips. Lessons can be booked from 2 hours’ duration, and trolling trips from 3 hours to a full day. If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions, just give me a call on (0264) 561 551 or check out my website at www.swtroutfishing.com. au. You can also see our daily Facebook updates at https://www.facebook. com/LJTFA.

UPCOMING ROUNDS ROUND 6:

Location: Cairn Curran

SEPTEMBER 17

ROUND 7:

Location: Lake Eppalock

OCTOBER 15

ROUND 8:

Location: Lake Eildon

NOVEMBER 19 & 20

2016 Super Series

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

Largest target species caught in each event wins a rod from

Fishing

For more information contact

David Nelson 0418 378 944

roundy@cvlcss.com – www.cvlcss.com JULY 2016

71

Good rains bring good fishing BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

The Bendigo region is now experiencing a change in conditions. We have gone through a very dry summer, and autumn has seen mild temperatures, but the region has been experiencing some good rainfall over the last few weeks.

At this stage, the rainfall has been perfect. There’s been good soaking rains putting a good amount of moisture into the soil. The amount of runoff from the rainfall has only been minimal. The positive from this is that water clarity remains good at most locations. The good water clarity may not remain for too long in our river systems, and if the region receives another couple of major rainfall events then water clarity in our local rivers will deteriorate.

LAKE EPPALOCK The water clarity

remains good at Eppalock.

Unfortunately, water levels are still slowly declining, but hopefully in the near future we will see this trend reversed.

There is still a presence of blue green algae in the system, but it has improved with the recent rainfall and decline in water temperatures.

The numbers of redfin being caught has decreased over recent weeks. The best tactics for targeting the redfin has been trolling deep diving hardbody lures and casting soft plastics. Anglers must be prepared to hunt around the lake in order to find a good concentration of redfin.

There are still reasonable numbers of golden perch being caught at this location. Casting lipless crankbaits in redfin patterns and dark silhouettes have been working best. The most productive structure has been around the timbered sections of the lake.

There continues to be small numbers of Murray cod being caught. The majority of these

have been caught by anglers trolling medium sized hardbody lures in around 10m of water.

The occasional Murray cod has also been caught by anglers casting spinnerbaits around submerged lay down timber.

CAMPASPE RIVER In recent weeks there has been a flush of dirty water, which has slowly worked its way through the system. The water clarity has improved again and is currently very good. With the rain that we have received over the last few weeks, it will only take another couple of major rainfall events and water clarity will deteriorate.

At the present time there are still small numbers of Murray cod being caught in the system. Casting spinnerbaits has been the most productive method for the Murray cod.

The occasional Murray cod is also still being caught by those anglers fishing surface lures during periods of low light.

Reasonable numbers of golden perch are still being

caught and casting hardbody lures and lipless crankbaits has been working.

Small numbers of redfin are also being caught, and the most productive areas for the redfin has been along cumbungi, or bulrush-lined banks and along ribbon weed beds. The average size of the redfin being caught with the majority of fish is measuring between 25-30cm.

CAIRN CURRAN The water clarity in Cairn Curran is average, but the blue green algae has improved in recent weeks. Water levels are still slowly declining, and this trend should be reversed in the near future. The productivity in the fishing has been slow.

Small redfin are making up the majority of captures.

There have been small numbers of golden perch being caught around the timber sections of the lake and the occasional golden perch has been caught along the rocky shorelines.

At this stage, I have not had any reports of trout being caught at Cairn Curran. If you

This golden perch was caught casting a lipless crankbait at Lake Eppalock. do manage to catch a few trout, please forward your report to me at codhuntertours@ bigpond.com and I will share your report with our readers.

Hopefully when water levels start to rise we will see an increase in the productivity of the fishing.

LODDON RIVER Water clarity is average in the Loddon River right now. Small inflows after recent rainfall have led to the reduction in water clarity.

The water clarity is still good enough to fish with lures, but how long this lasts will depend on rainfall.

Another couple of major rainfall events and the productivity in the lure fishing in the Loddon will be poor. At the present time the fishing has been below average.

Small numbers of Murray cod are being caught on spinnerbaits and the occasional cod is still being caught on surface lures. Small numbers of golden perch are being caught by anglers casting suspending hardbodied lures and lipless crankbaits.

The numbers of redfin being caught in the Loddon River continues to be low.

Winter wet to keep local fishing alive MELBOURNE METRO

Dylan Brennan

Winter here in Melbourne hasn’t really been very ferocious as of yet, and compared to a ‘normal’ year our seasons have been about a month behind so far. Some heavy rain has fallen around the city, but overall it’s been fairly dry.

However, we should start to see more constant rain coming through over the next couple of months, which will rejuvenate and refresh our aquatic ecosystems, and perk up the fishing come late winter and early spring.

Although we’re in for some wet weather, the freshwater fishing around Melbourne is still worth getting amongst. July sees the local trout streams out of bounds for trout spawning, but the lower reaches of Melbourne’s famous Yarra River can still yield some quality fish.

The brackish boundary at Dights Falls in Abbotsford up to the Yarra Glen region is all good water to target Murray cod, redfin, roach, carp, eels and Macquarie perch. For any angler looking to try their luck in the Yarra this month, the humble old scrubworm is a pretty good starting point.

Fishing a couple of decent sized scrubworms with a small sinker will attract virtually any fish in the river, but adding a scent to these worms is an even better strategy.

Simply leaving your scrubbies in their punnet and adding some pheromone scent like Egimax or Stimulate will help fish find them in discoloured water like the Yarra, even more so during the increased flows of winter!

On the subject of water levels, Devilbend Reservoir on the Mornington Peninsula has been seeing lower levels during late summer and autumn from lack of rain, but now the dam is starting to creep back up, which creates new territory for feeding fish.

Grass, timber and rock that holds small invertebrates all becomes submerged again and presents roaming fish with a smorgasbord.

The best areas to concentrate around during rising levels are prominent points and large grassy flats, as these normally hold a lot of food, and in turn a good number of fish. The most common fish to catch in the dam at the moment have been the redfin, as they move in and out of the shallows in large schools.

Excellent options to target these fish during the depths of winter are soft plastics. Soft plastics have the advantage of being super versatile, where they can be ’trimmed’ down to present a smaller profile in the water, or rigged in multiple different ways. A very common question coming from novice soft plastic anglers is which jighead suits the plastic? In short, there is no correct answer; the answer will depend on lots of small variables like water depth, structure, soft plastic size, target fish and castability

Devilbend redfin are suckers for galaxia patterned soft plastics. The presence of these minnows in the dam creates some chunky fish! Photo courtesy of Jinsu Park. or wind factor. It always helps to have multiple different options when rigging your plastics, so keep this in mind when purchasing soft plastics and matching hooks.

If you’re looking for a good starting point in a freshwater

environment like Devilbend a 1-3” minnow or ‘bug’ pattern matched to a size 2 hook with a weight of between 1/20oz and up to 1/12oz will generally be suitable.

• For any of the latest metro reports and information

pop into Compleat Angler Dandenong at 241-243 Princes Highway, Dandenong, give us a call on 03 9794 9397 or jump on to the ‘Melbourne Metro Freshwater Fishing’ page on Facebook.”

A quiet month in the fresh CTL GIPPSLAND

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

July is always sombre one for the freshwater anglers, as we can’t chase our trout in rivers anymore, but it was good see some last minute rain perfectly timed for the end of season.

In Blue Rock Lake itself, 72

JULY 2016

anglers fishing up the river have scored some nice sized trout to 43cm in length trolling Tassie Devils and hardbodied lures.

They have also caught some ripper-sized redfin as by-catch and some of the reddies have been up to the 1kg mark.

Traralgon Creek and Morwell River were up and down in flow due to the intermittent rain and it didn’t take long for the creeks to drop

back to a low flow after a good downpour. Luckily, the rains were enough to see some trout head upstream to spawn.

The creek has come back this season and it could be especially seen when the creek got low again and there were still trout holding up in pools in the daytime.

Anglers using Celtas and Mapso lures did the best, but small minnow soft

plastics worked well due to high amounts of smelt that were present in the creek just before closure.

On the other side of the ranges, the Tanjil River was the main stream fished by anglers due to its constant good flow.

Some good trout up to 2.5lb have came out of the stream last month using hardbodied minnow style lures such To page 73

Michael Kettaler caught this nice brown trout in the Tanjil River prior to the closing weekend.

Winter wet to keep local Gippy fishing alive WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

Hasn’t Blue Rock Lake come a long way in recent years? Last month I was reflecting on when I used to intensely fish Blue Rock, where many weekends in the cooler months were spent trolling for trout.

I’d put a lot of time and effort in and had some good outings catching plenty of small trout and managed a couple of trophy 3kg plus specimens too.

During the warmer months I’d target carp for a bit of fun. After work I’d slip down to my favourite spots on the shoreline and cast out corn on a very light rod and reel outfit and eagerly anticipate the scream of line when a carp strikes.

I’d always have an extra rod with me flicking out a soft plastic or lure targeting small redfin to pass the time.

Then I discovered carp don’t mind soft plastics either. There was many times where I’d launch the boat or kayak at the boat ramp on a beautiful day and have the lake all to myself for the day.

Now it’s a complete

contrast! It’s great to see Blue Rock abuzz with activity thanks to the successful stocking programs of bass and the lift of boat and engine restrictions on the lake.

With the hype and increased activity now on the lake, it’s an important reminder to ensure boats and kayaks have the right safety equipment when heading out and that users are doing the right thing. It’s a bit disappointing to find out that recent safety checks by authorities have seen many boat users are failing to comply. The most common things people are getting done for are occupants not wearing life jackets and not carrying a boat licence or recreational fishing licence while on the water.

Southern Rural Water has now stepped up its presence with a recent purchase of a compliance vessel. Having increased presence on and around the lake will hopefully encourage more people to comply and to operate their boat or kayak in a safer manner.

The streams of the West and South Gippsland regions are flowing dirty with some much-needed rainfall finally hitting the catchments.

Jack Leeson with this thumping 50cm redfin he caught in Blue Rock Lake recently. Jack was jigging a soft plastic amongst structure when the brute hit.

Conditions probably haven’t been ideal for the trout spawning season, as many streams are flowing much lower than usual.

While the trout season is closed, blackfish and eel are the alternative stream fish target and can be a lot of fun on light gear. The key spots to look out for

along any stream are dark pools and deep holes, which provide blackfish and eel the perfect habitat to snare their prey. They are ambush predators and can take their time before seizing a well presented garden or scrub worm.

Fishing for these species is best in the late afternoon

when the sun sets below the hills and those brave enough to spend a few chilly hours out in the dark are often rewarded for their patience. Key rivers holding blackfish and eel include the Lang Lang River from Hallora right down to Lang Lang, Bunyip River up at Labertouche flowing down

to Koo Wee Rup, the Tarago River, Latrobe River and its tributaries. The season for blackfish closes on the 1 September for 4 months, and eels can be targeted all year round.

For those anglers still itching to catch a local trout over July, head to Blue Rock. Blue Rock presents a large area that can be covered on foot along the southwest bank, offering ideal conditions for bank fly casting, lure casting and bait fishing. Entry points for land-based anglers are at the two boat ramps at either end of the lake. There is now a fantastic walking track along the shoreline from the Tanjil Arm boat ramp to Blue Rock Road in town.

This opens up plenty of land-based fishing ground.

The lake has dropped over summer, so there is no vegetation along the shoreline now, but trout are still in close chasing shrimp, small fish and insects.

Feel free to send me a report or photo, particularly if you have any success stories out on Blue Rock Lake or if you have been targeting eel and blackfish.

Please email me any questions too. Happy fishing!

Drought now thankfully over at Crater Lakes CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

Since late April up until the time of putting pen to paper I have emptied approximately 170mm of rainfall out of my gauge. This has finally put an end to the drought that we have been experiencing for many, many long months. Our rivers have begun to experience a flow coming from upstream and our lakes have certainly stopped receding and are slowly beginning to rise.

In late May, I happened to be out Lismore way, so I called in to look at Lake Tooliorook’s water levels. What I saw was not what I was expecting.

By my reckoning the lake is approximately half full.

I know from previous trips when the lake was much healthier that the deepest section was 5m deep. Now I could drive right down to the end of the concrete ramp and the northern jetty has a depth gauge on it. It was out of the water by 50cm and the gauge reads in increments to a total of 2m, so that means that another 2.5m of water will fill the lake.

The water level is at a point where canoes and kayaks can just comfortably get in, but as this lake has not been stocked for some years with trout, only redfin are available. You can only imagine the few redfin that are in there are on the huge side.

Very recently I ventured

A fat and feisty Bullen Merri rainbow taken on a Pontoon 21 Greedy Guts 55 lure.

From page 72

as Rapalas.

Trout season is of course closed in the rivers, and it’s important we let them do their things before the season reopens in September.

• For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 5174 8544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle.

Tune into Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner’s Off the Hook on 1242 to hear Will’s report on what’s going on in Gippsland!

A nice sized brown trout heading upstream of the creek to spawn.

out for the first time this year onto Lake Bullen Merri. In the last month, trout – mainly rainbows – had been caught around the lake’s edge and sure enough, schools of fish were clearly seen on one or both of my sounders.

Add to that several largish rainbows leaping from the water as I commenced my first trolling run. Fish echoes were clearly seen in depths from 3.5-5.5m and after landing my first ‘bow early on, I thought I was in for one

heck of a day, but it was not to be. One fish and one fish only for me and after talking to others out on the lake things were very quiet indeed. However on a given day, two-year-old fish approaching 2kg and one-year-old fish sitting around the 1kg mark can be a common catch.

Chinook salmon are also moving into the shallows and at the boat ramp at South Beach I spied a very large brown trout cruising around the

pontoons, so browns are also available.

Flat line trolling a wide variety of medium diving minnow lures certainly does the trick.

I caught my fish on a Pontoon 21 Greedy Guts 55 minnow, which I find works for me, even on a quiet day, it may just take patience and perseverance.

Local gudgeon minnow caught overnight in a trap tends to be the number one bait to use but the current health of the fish is excellent, so the fish are certainly gorging themselves, making it harder to tempt them to strike.

Lure fishing with offerings that give off good action could tip the balance in the anglers’ favour by simply annoying fully fed fish into striking.

Lake Purrumbete remains relatively quiet, however plenty of pan-sized redfin remain schooled up in depths around 10m and catching a cricket score of them in a single session is not unheard of.

Water temperatures are sitting around 14-15°C and dropping fairly quickly.

When this drops under 12°C, the trout will really fire up and that day is not that far away.

JULY 2016

73

Wendouree tops the list for Ballarat anglers BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

I think it’s fair to say the Ballarat and district anglers are very lucky to have one of the state’s best fisheries right at their doorstep. I could theoretically jump in the car and have a line in the water in about 5 minutes.

How good is that?

WENDOUREE The Lake Wendouree fishery should not be taken for granted though, as a lot of work by stake-holders goes in to ensure that we as anglers and other lake users have an excellent facility that can be accessed all year round. Most lake users will know there is a lot of weed in lake Wendouree that is harvested. Without the weed harvesting, which is carried out and paid for by the ratepayers of Ballarat, we would not be able to fish at all! In fact, you could probably walk across the lake on top of the weed – the weed would be that thick!

and for whatever reason, the weed growth has not slowed and the harvesters have struggled at times to keep up with the harvesting program.

We are still very lucky that we have plenty of weed free areas accessible to the landbased and the boat anglers and we’ve been reaping the rewards over the last month.

Anglers casting lures or soft plastics from either boats or the shore have scooped the pool over the last months with excellent catches of brown, rainbow trout and also redfin, although the reddies numbers have been down a bit from the previous months.

Ben Young, who is a gun angler, has been nailing plenty of quality brown trout from the boat and bank. Ben puts in lots of hours either on the way to work or the way home and also between school drop-offs and pick-ups. The key to his success is that he likes to fish overcast weather and covers plenty of water.

Ben prefers speed when using both lures and plastics, and his favourite plastic is the Eccogear 3” Power Shad and

look unreal, and yes, the fish love them too.

This time of the year, as we move right into the depths of winter, the fish are very aggressive and love to smack something with a bit of colour, as food is scarce during the winter months as most insects are dormant.

Because of this, the trout mainly feed on or smelt and other small baitfish.

Nathan Angee is a young gun would have to be the

and releasing some lovely rainbow and brown trout, as well as some lovely redfin.

The key to success is to cover plenty of water, and fish overcast weather with plenty of wind. Sometimes the rougher the conditions, the better the fishing will be!

Despite this, I always make sure that I don’t put myself or others in danger being out in rough weather.

The bait anglers have been catching there fair share Nick Kalkbrenner shows off a magnificently coloured buck brown trout, which stretched the tape to 68cm and dragged the scale down to 3.5kg. Nick loves fishing PowerBait at Lake Wendouree at this time of year, and his methods clearly work!

Nathan Angee with his PB trout at 60cm from Lake Wendouree caught casting sot plastics.

Photo courtesy of Nathan Angee.

Ben and Jakey Young landed this magnificent brown trout land-based.

Photo courtesy of Ben Young.

This year the weed harvesting has removed record tonnage in the thousands of tonnes of weed,

for hardbodies, the Nories Laydown Minnow BR 107 pattern customised with some permanent markers. They

keenest of young anglers that you would ever come across. I think school gets in his way sometimes and he’s usually out fishing at every opportunity he has. Nathan has been snagging some excellent browns and redfin, once again casting lures and plastics, but all from the shore. Nathan was lucky enough to snag is personal best for Wendouree recently at 60cm. This brown trout ate an Eccogear 3” Power Shad.

I have been out on the lake casting hardbodied lures and plastics in the main rowing channel with excellent results, catching

DAM LEVELS

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

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

LAKE/DAM Apr May Jun Cairn Curran 14 11 11 Dartmouth 43 42 43 Eildon 32 29 30 Eppalock 23 22 21 Fyans 49 47 48 Greens 42 41 46 Hepburn 13 12 13 Hume 24 19 25 Lauriston 66 67 66 Malmsbury 18 14 14

Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 95 94 93 Newlyn 14 12 12 Nillahcootie 25 20 20 Rocklands 11 11 11 Taylors 31 30 31 Tullaroop 14 13 13 Upper Coliban 44 36 37 Waranga 14 12 19 Wartook 39 36 42 William Hovell 43 28 98

(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.)

74

JULY 2016

of the trout and redfin in Lake Wendouree. Recently, Nick Kalkbrenner caught what I believe to be the best looking and coloured brown trout I have ever seen come out of the lake. He caught the monster 68cm and 3.5kg brown trout on PowerBait fishing from the shore.

Nick fishes Wendouree a lot during the winter months, and usually uses either PowerBait or worms on a running sinker rig.

NEWLYN Newlyn Reservoir, like a lot of other waters at the moment, has been over shadowed by the likes of Lake Wendouree, but anglers who are willing to brave the cold wet and windy days have been rewarded for their efforts.

One such angler, Gordon Thompson, has ventured out to Newlyn, mostly midweek, to have a fish and he has been landing some lovely brown trout using mudeyes suspended under bubble floats. Gordon recorded his best trip recently where he nailed two browns at around 3lb. Gordon mentioned he was the only angler there that day and the water was low with lots of weed, but when once he cast his floats over the initial weed beds close to the shore, there was lots of clear water and the trout were cruising along the other side of the weed beds feeding. Gordon said it was like throwing candy to a

child, they just grabbed the mudeye and off they went.

Newlyn normally fishes well during the winter months, with the fish mainly targeting smelt as their main food supply.

MOORABOOL Moorabool Reservoir has been off the radar for quite a few months now with low water levels and muddy banks, and it’s not been very appealing to anglers. The winter months at Moorabool Reservoir normally fish extremely well and anglers who brave the elements are generally rewarded for their efforts.

Smelt and midge feeders are what you would be targeting, and the midge feeders are generally early morning and the smelters can feed all day, given the right weather conditions. I prefer to fly fish Moorabool during the winter months with smelt imitations or woolly buggers.

The secret to fishing out at Moorabool is to cover plenty of the shoreline, always keeping an eye out for any movement or disturbance on the water. The other trick is to be patient, you might not see a fish one day and the next day the fish might all be on

the chew, but that’s fishing!

For the anglers casting lures, it’s pretty much the same scenario as when I’m fly fishing. I cover plenty of water and use smelt patterns, minnow patterns or wobblers, as they seem to attract the fish. Some of the fish that reside in Moorabool are real trophy sized, so you never know what you could catch out there.

TULLAROOP

I haven’t been mentioning this dam over the last few months as a good water to fish over the winter months, as I have not heard a report about it at all. I myself have not been able to head out and wet a line so far, but over the next couple of months, I will certainly make a point to fish it.

Last year there was some awesome brown and rainbow trout caught and some true trophy fish amongst them. I believe these fish are going to be even bigger this year, and the most productive method will be casting hardbodied lures along the deeper banks and shorelines.

Bright colours would be my go to, as the fish are very aggressive at this time of year.

Ben Young with an awesome Lake Wendouree brown trout caught casting an Ecogear 3” Powershad Power Worm soft plastic.

Photo courtesy of Ben Young.

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JULY 2016

75

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2016 JULY

Jul 2-3

Rnd 10 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Mandurah

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Jul 16-17

BASS Pro Qualifier #4 Boondooma

www.abt.org.au

Jul 23-24

Rnd 11 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Lake Macquarie

www.hobiefishing.com.au

AUGUST

Aug 20-21

ABT BREAM Qualifier #7 Clarence River

www.abt.org.au

Aug 24-25

ABT BREAM Qualifier #8 Gold Coast

www.abt.org.au

Aug 27-28

Rnd 12 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Wallis Lake

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Sept 10-11

Rnd 13 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Nelson

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Sept 17

Rnd 6 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series Cairn Curran

David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com

Oct 8-9

Rnd 5 Glenelg River Bream Classic Nelson

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

Oct 8-9

Rnd 14 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Bribie Island

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Oct 15

Rnd 7 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series Eppalock Holiday Park

David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

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JULY 2016

Team Colac Tackle takes out a classic win VIC BREAM CLASSIC

Bill Hartshorne

The weekend of 30 April 2016 saw 54 teams head to Mallacoota for the Bayford Volkswagen East Gippsland Bream Classic. Round 3 of the 2016 Atomic Bream Classic Series meant that teams really needed to secure a good result if they were to stand a chance to challenge the Club Marine Team of the Year title.

For Team Colac Tackle’s Dan Mackrell and Steve Parker it would be yet another successful weekend to add to their many victories, as they produced two solid days of fishing to claim the Bayford Volkswagen East Gippsland Bream Classic title for 2016.

On Day 1, Mackrell and Parker took off in 15th place and went straight to the edge of Goodwin Sands hoping to fill a quick limit and get out of there. Upon arrival at their chosen spot, they were surprised by a pod of dolphins harassing the area!

“We fished for 5-10 minutes without so much as a bite, so we lifted the electric motor and got out of there.

We went to our big fish area

Bayford Volkswagen East Gippsland Bream Classic Champions, Team Colac Tackle’s Dan Mackrell and Steve Parker posed with their trophies in front of the awesome VW Amarok. from the day before and really didn’t move too far from here for the rest of the day.”

The first fish they splashed into the well was a chunky 35cm fork length model. Two casts later a 37cm found its way to the net. Things went quiet for a little while and they worked their way back to a deeper hole that dropped off from the main flat. This was obviously where the fish had retreated to, and once they hit the mark, they quickly filled a limit.

“With another 36cm

Team Keepin’ It Reel display some of the quality fish from their Day 1, 4.55kg bag that awarded them the Maria Lures Best Bag of the weekend.

chunker, we really only needed to upgrade two 30cm fish to have a solid bag. It was only 8:30am so we had plenty of time. We just kept cruising around in that area trialling different runs and looking for more holes and drop-offs to try and key in to exactly what the fish were doing.”

The pair caught plenty of 28-30cm fish through the session, but after a couple of hours they revisited the deeper hole and managed to upgrade the two smaller fish with a 36cm and 33cm fish.

Steve, who owns and runs Colac Tackle normally has a great laugh when the tailor population are in force and can always be heard saying how good they are for the tackle industry. There was no laughing on this day though, as by the end of the session as a result of some serious tackle loss, the pair were both running very low on the Atomic Seekerz 1/11oz jigheads and grub style plastics that had been doing the damage on the bream.

Thankfully they were able to restock for Day 2 thanks to good friends Declan, Corey, Damian and Adam.

As the boys placed their bag on the scales after a very productive day, they had 5/5 bream for 4.47kg and were sitting in 2nd place behind young guns Isaac Primmer and Morgan Flook from Team ‘Keepin’ It Reel’, who weighed in 5/5 bream for 4.55kg – a bag that would secure them the Maria Lures Best Bag Prize for the weekend.

“We were keen to get at it and put in another big day as we took off on Day 2 in 2nd, some 80g behind the leaders.”

The fishing started off well for the pair, who secured a limit before 8am, but not one of the original fish made the cut to the scales at the end of the day. They decided to persist in the area, and some time later after a couple of small upgrades they managed

Peter Marshall from Team MPW displays the thumping 1.48kg Bream that handed him the JML Anglers Alliance Big Bream. came aboard shortly after and the next few bites resulted in big headshakes. They knew they were onto some winners.

Midday arrived, and so did the

The top three teams – 3rd place was awarded to Team Berkley, which consisted of Brad and Mike Hodges. Team Keepin’ It Reel, Isaac Primmer and Morgan Flukes in 2nd Place, and 1st Place Team Colac Tackle Samurai Rods, Dan Mackrell and Steve Parker posed for the crowd. a couple of 34cm fish. Things were on the up, and they could tell the fish were about to fire up.

The bait and tailor pushed back into the deeper area and the larger bream cruised back in underneath for an easy meal. Another 35cm fish

wind, causing them to have to work the electric motor hard and fishing the key area into the breeze proved difficult.

“I made a change and put on the 1/8oz Atomic Seekerz head to ensure I spent maximum time in the strike zone and this paid off in the form of a

bream just under 38cm,” said Mackrell.

With the smallest fish in the well around 33cm, the team fished hard until the last minute to try for another kicker. Time was up, and it was time to head back to the weigh-in.

Back at the scales their five fish weighed 4.24kg, and gave them a total of 10/10 bream for 8.71kg. The final weigh-in was incredibly close with Team Keepin’ It Reel also weighing in a solid bag of 5/5 Bream for 4.13kg, however when the calculations were done the boys from Colac Tackle Samurai Rods had done just enough to sneak past Keepin’ It Reel to claim victory.

One of the other highlights of Day 2 was the cracking JML Anglers Alliance Big Bream of 1.48kg, weighed in by Team MPW’s Peter Marshall and Will Reinelt.

Next stop sees the 2016 Atomic Bream Classic Series head to Metung on the Gippsland Lakes for the Club Marine East Gippsland Bream Classic. For more information, or if you’d like to get involved in the series please visit www. vicbreamclassics.com.au. – Bill Hartshorne

JULY 2016

77

Morgan the master of St Helens if they didn’t I wouldn’t really work the bait at all, rather just wind it in and

buoyant and combined with a meagre 1/32oz weight, the bait sank incredibly

and commit to eating the presentation.

Morgan sifted through

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JULY 2016

Steve Morgan has tasted victory at St Helens for the second time in as many visits, as the QLD BREAMer claimed his first victory since 2012. Eclipsing the rest of the field by almost 2kg, Morgan took notice of anglers fishing the Scamander Hobie Kayak event for lure inspiration after finding the fish were not committing to other offerings.

“The kayak guys really smashed them on ZMan GrubZ at the event at Scamander, so I made sure I got a few packets before hitting the water at St Helens,” explained Morgan. Morgan isolated a good population of fish holding in the oyster racks Steve Morgan won the St Helens round with some monsters off the oyster leases. on the western side of Georges Bay. “I really only fished an re-position the bait further slowly, which allowed the over a dozen fish each area about the size of a along the rack.” ZMan maximum amount of time session to bring his limit football field,” he said. “I GrubZ are inherently for the bream to locate to the scales, and he was chuffed with the fact that would fish a small flats area both his non-boaters were adjacent to the racks as the also able to bring a full tide was low, and catch a 5/5 limit to the scales for couple of fish with shallow the days they fished on jerkbaits.” board his boat.

As the tide rose, Morgan He explained that turned his attention to the the oyster racks found in oyster racks where he piled Tasmania differ from those on the majority of his 10/10 found on the mainland 9.33kg tournament limit. in that there is very little He rigged his 2.5” ZMan growth on the outside of GrubZ on a light 1/32oz the baskets or poles that jighead, and targeted the support the leases. shady side of the oyster “In Tassie you can get racks. This positioned the away with fishing lighter bait to free fall while he .................................................................................................................................... in the racks because the paid close attention to .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... poles are so smooth,” his line. .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

The 2.5” ZMan Curly Tailz GrubZ on a 1/32oz jighead said Morgan.

“Almost all the fish hit .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... in motor oil, was the lure of choice for Steve Morgan.

His rack fishing outfit the bait on the initial fall; .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... consisted of a Daiwa AGS .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Ajing rod, paired with a .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

KEY 2506 Daiwa Steez reel. He ....................................................................................................................................

St Helens .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... spooled the outfit with 10lb L Low tide fish .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Unitika braided line and ....................................................................................................................................

M Mid tide fish .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... topped it off with 5 and 6lb .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

H High tide fish ....................................................................................................................................

Yamatoyo Harris Fighter .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Oyster Rack fluorocarbon leaders. .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Weed Flat “You normally would .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... never get away with 5lb Exposed at .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... leaders around oyster racks low tide .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... on the mainland, but here ....................................................................................................................................

L ....................................................................................................................................

Land .................................................................................................................................... you can just stick your .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... rod tip down in the water ....................................................................................................................................

Deep ....................................................................................................................................

Weed Flat M .................................................................................................................................... and slowly wind the fish .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... back around any poles that .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... it happened to wrap you .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... around,” he said.

H .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

This approach worked .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... wonders for Morgan, as .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... the experienced BREAMer .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... only lost a couple of fish .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... each day on his way to s .................................................................................................................................... k c .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Ra claiming victory. Morgan r .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ste pocketed the $1750 ....................................................................................................................................

Oy .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... winner’s cheque, plus the .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... first placed $250 Mercury .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Bonus cheque, which he .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... donated back to ABT to Weed Flat .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... Deep continue the development .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... of tournament fishing in .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Australia. .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Captain Risky takes out second place extract some of the larger fish that committed to his offering. On the second day however, Hickson was met with either small fish that were easily extracted, or Tasmanian giants that proved too powerful to subdue in the small window of opportunity he had.

Hickson relied on a black bream favourite in the form of an Ecogear Aqua Bream Prawn, which he re-rigged weightless on a Vanfook worm hook. No particular colour was more effective than another, but Hickson favoured lighter coloured baits so he

CE 2ND PLA Taree’s Kris Hickson continued his fine form in the BREAM competition with a runner up finish.

Hickson also relied on the oyster racks in Georges Bay to wind up with a 10/10 7.52kg tournament limit.

Hickson fished the same oyster racks as event winner Steve Morgan, however Hickson was on the other side of the lease and was plagued by lost fish.

“That’s the difference between winning events and coming second – generally when you win you’ve had a tournament where nothing goes wrong, this tournament definitely wasn’t like that for me,” he said. Targeting

With no non-boater successfully filling their 10/10 tournament limit, it

Hobie

could easily see the bite from a hungry black bream.

His outfit consisted of the Daiwa Silver Wolf 2506 reel paired with the matching Silver Wolf Zentetsu 6’8” 2-5kg rod. He spooled the outfit with 15lb Daiwa Evo 8 braid to add pulling power when he needed it.

Hickson said even without the podium finish in the first event, making the trip over from the mainland to Tasmania was definitely worth the great fishing experience the state has to offer.

WINNING NOTES Kris Hickson came flying into 2nd place with a handful of Tassie’s finest! the almost impossible gap between the baskets, Hickson only had a conversion rate of 1 in 7 fish landed to fish hooked. Despite the absence of oysters on the outside of

the baskets and poles, hooking them between the baskets in a very small corridor meant Hickson’s approach was fraught with danger from the get go.

“I’ve always believed that you have to get the bites first before you can even think of landing them,” explained Hickson. The first day Hickson was able to

Alexander wins -BOATER 1ST NON

BREAM Presente SERIES d by

Rod: Daiwa AGS Ajing Reel: 2506 Daiwa Steez Line: 10lb Unitika braided line Leader: 5/6lb Yamatoyo Harris Fighter fluoro

Winning Edge

Morgan found an area of oyster racks and adjacent flats that good populations of bream were using to transition with the rising and falling tides. Concentrating on this one area and moving and adjusting with the changing water levels was the key to Morgan claiming his second win in a row on the Tasmanian fishery.

was always going to come down to the wire when it was time to crown a champion. Local angler Michael Alexander ended the tournament as the most consistent angler and weighed a 9/10 limit worth 6.37kg to take the title over Number 1 ranked non-boater and

Austackle Big Bream

A regular trout fisher – Michael Alexander turned his hand to bream, and nailed the brief, taking out 1st place in the non-boater division.

Mark Crompton stormed home on Day 2 of the event to win the Austackle Big Bream Prize with his 1.28kg fish.

Winning Tackle

current AOY leader Grayson Fong.

Despite being a complete newcomer to the sport of bream fishing, Alexander fished like a seasoned pro, pulling out a shallow jerkbait and working edges with a stopstart twitching retrieve.

“This is only my 6th day of bream fishing in my entire life, so to come away with the win is something I’m really proud of,” said Alexander.

A diehard trout fisherman,

Alexander took the skills and techniques from his trout fishing background, and executed them perfectly to take victory over a much more experienced field.

His lure of choice was a Zipbait Rigge 70f which he threw on a Fenwick 2-4kg rod paired with a Shimano Stradic 2500. Alexander thanked ABT for returning to Tasmania and opening his eyes on a totally new species for him to sink his teeth into.

Mark Crompton stormed home on Day 2 of the event after the mainland BREAMer failed to weigh a fish on the first day of competition. Returning on day 2 with a 5/5 limit for 4.51kg, Crompton salvaged an 11th place finish and secured the Austackle Big Bream with a 1.28kg St Helens monster that anchored his Day 2 comeback. Crompton caught the big bream on a Daiwa TD Minnow which he fished over shallow flats with a twitch and pause retrieve. He took home $500 for his efforts.

OSP Rookie Award

With non-boater champion Michael Alexander kindly forfeiting his inclusion for the OSP Rookie Award, third placed Gard Saxon won the prize pack, courtesy of FishTec Solutions. The OSP Rookie Award is awarded to the highest placed angler either boater or non-boater that has previously not fished an ABT event in that respective species. Anglers who have transitioned from non-boater to boater are also eligible for their first year of competition. For his efforts, Saxon will be awarded a $150 prize pack full of OSP lures, which are some of the most sought after baits on the ABT circuit.

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

TOP 10 BOATERS Place

Name

Fish

Weight (Kg)

Prize

Place Name

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Steve Morgan Kristoffer Hickson Andrew Krushka Mario Vukic Warren Carter Cameron Whittam Shane Ling Gary Alexander Steve Gill Tom McLean

10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 7/10 9/10 8/10 8/10

9.33 7.52 7.16 6.46 6.2 5.82 5.56 5.43 5.28 4.62

$1750 $1200 $850 $625 $500

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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

Fish Weight (Kg)

Michael Alexander 9/10 Grayson Fong 7/10 Gard Saxon 7/10 Michael Hodges 7/10 Bernard Kong 8/10 Neil Chegwidden 7/10 John Galea 6/10 Jonathon Thompson 6/10 Mark Hayes 6/10 Nick Mace 6/10

6.37 5.43 5.43 5.23 4.59 4.32 4.24 4.20 4.16 3.79

Prize Costa Sunglasses Pack Samurai Reaction Rod Berkley Prize Pack Tonic Sunglasses Pack Spotters Sunglasses Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

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

79

Tassie Hobie Worlds Qualifer SOMERTON’S SWAN SUCCESS Richard Somerton from Victoria kept the interstate success theme rolling on the second stop of the Hobie Tasmanian Bream tour.

The seasoned kayak angler has now qualified for the national Hobie Grand Final

he was unsuccessful in extracting them from the oyster racks. “I donated a few Crabs to the fish on the first afternoon, I tried free spooling a couple and even they buried me too far to ever get out.”

The second morning started off much the same,

ended up in second position. His 6/6 limit for 6.79kg was a great example of the exceptional fishing Tasmania has to offer, but fell just short of Somerton’s 6.94kg.

Burbidge turned to his prior experience on the venue, having fished the

Anglers paddling out for the start of the Swan River tournament. Nothing beats a beautiful Tassie sunrise. to be held in Queensland later in 2016.

Beating the kilo average over the two days of competition was always going to be necessary to take victory on the Swan River, and Somerton’s limit of 6.94kg was good enough by a 150g margin to second placed Chris Burbidge.

Somerton looked to target a shallow flats area in Pelican Bay, adjacent to one of the many oyster leases that are scattered throughout the Swan.

“First up in the morning I turned to a shallow Cranka Minnow, which I twitched and paused around the flat to quickly fill a bag,” explained Somerton. He left the fruitful area part way through the first session, so as to rest the area for the second and final day of competition.

Somerton went looking for upgrades, and though he was successful in hooking the class of fish he wanted,

80

JULY 2016

as Somerton quickly filled a bag throwing the shallow Cranka Minnow.

“I had a bag of around 2.8kg, and I knew I needed a bit more weight to get up over that kilo average,” explained Somerton. Knowing that he needed an upgrade, Somerton turned back towards the starting area, and focused on a small depression behind a rock structure.

“I got there and caught a couple of small fish around 800g, then I hooked the fish I really needed, a 1.2kg kicker that pushed my bag over 3kg and gave me the win.”

Somerton’s tournament outfits were both Duffrods Highstix series rods, paired with Daiwa Certate reels.

His lures of choice were the shallow Cranka Minnow in smoked prawn colour, and the ever-popular Cranka Crab.

BURBIDGE BATTLES FOR SECOND Another Hobie kayak veteran, Chris Burbidge

“I threw the vib up onto the shallows, and retrieved it gently back down the drop into the deeper water. Some fish hit it on the drop, and some ate it off the bottom,” concluded Burbidge.

Having now qualified for the Hobie Grand Final, Burbidge turns his focus to the Queensland fish.

VARTY CLAIMS SCAMANDER WORLDS QUALIFIER Kevin Varty of Nowra, NSW took victory in the Hobie Worlds Qualifier, held on the picturesque Scamander River on the east coast of Tasmania. Held as part of the combined ABT/Hobie Tasmanian Bream Tour, the Scamander Hobie event attracted over 50 anglers from all over Australia, to sample the fantastic bream fishing that Tasmania has to offer.

It was an interstate affair in the end, with the top three anglers all travelling across the Bass Strait with great success. Nowra’s Kevin Varty took top honours, weighing a very respectable

Richard Somerton was happy to take the scoop at the Swan River event with some great bream. quantity that propelled him up the leader board on Day 2, but when his second cast of the day netted a 37cm fork Tassie thumper, he knew he was on the fish to win.

“That big fish straight away just settled the nerves, and made me totally committed to that area.”

Varty’s approach was a popular one among bream fishing enthusiasts over the last twelve months. The everpopular ZMan 2.5” GrubZ was Varty’s go-to bait, which he rigged on a 1/8th jighead.

“The technique was fairly straightforward, I’d llet the lure sit on the bottom for 10-seconds, then retrieve

Winners are grinners at the Scamander Hobie Worlds Qualifier event.

From left to right: David Ayton, Kevin Varty and Aaron Williams.

Swan River some 4-5 years previously.

“I found fish back then fishing drop-offs, so that’s really all I planned to do. I spent pre-fish day searching for drop-offs and found the fish willing.”

His go-to technique was a combination one-two punch. He started every morning throwing a Daiwa Double Clutch 60, a slim profile jerkbait that he threw around the shallower drops, and retrieved with a twitchpause retrieve.

“I retrofitted the lure with Decoy YS-25 trebles, they’re sharp and strong enough for these big Tasmanian bream,” explained Burbidge.

As the day wore on, Burbidge moved to the slightly deeper drops, were he used a Tournament Baby Vib 47S to capture a few key upgrades late in the session.

6/6 5.03kg limit over two days of competition to take home $1,490 in prize money, and lock himself into the Australian team, which will travel to Louisiana, USA to compete at the Hobie Fishing Worlds later this year.

“I found these fish on the pre-fish day and didn’t even throw a lure at them,” said Varty. “I just had a good feeling that they wouldn’t move much.” Varty’s good feeling proved correct, as he proceeded to catch over 40 fish on the first tournament day.

“I probably caught close to 40 small undersize fish, and upgraded maybe four times throughout the session.”

His day one limit of 2.37kg had him in good shape, sitting second overnight. Varty didn’t experience the same sort of

it for a few metres fairly quickly with small sharp hops, trying not to lift the bait too far off the bottom.”

Varty rigged the GrubZ onto a 4lb fluorocarbon leader attached to 3lb Stren Microfuse braid.

Coming to the scales with the largest second day bag, Varty leapfrogged overnight leader Murray White to claim victory by over 600g and secure his spot in the Australian team to take on the world in Louisiana come December.

WILLIAMS GOES OLDSCHOOL FOR SECOND Aaron Williams from Victoria was the second angler lucky enough to qualify for the Hobie Worlds team, after finishing with a 6/6 4.40kg limit.

Williams fished a similar approach close to the mouth of the river to catch his fish.

Using the old school Snapback grub, rigged on 1/12th or 1/16thoz jigheads.

“I like to fish really light, so I used a long length, maybe 4-5 rod lengths of 2lb spinning fluoro attached to my braid as a leader, it allows for a little stretch, which is important when fishing leaders that are so light,” explained Williams.

The pair have now qualified for the Hobie World Championship, which is to be held in Louisiana, USA later in 2016.

Kevin Varty shows off the fine Tassie black bream he caught over the event weekend to secure him a spot to compete in the Hobie Worlds in Louisiana later this year.

Tech Tricks

Get maximum distance with a slide bait rig BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Over the last few years, slide baiting has become a popular technique for anglers targeting large gamefish from the beaches and rocks. This effective technique basically allows you to deploy a large bait further from the shore than previously possible. You don’t cast the bait, only the sinker. After you have cast the sinker, you attach the slide bait rig with the bait attached and float it out

using the current, or coax it out with gentle lifting of the rod tip. After many 40kg+ Spaniards were caught with this technique at Fraser Island, more anglers have been keen to try this exciting form of fishing.

The sinker commonly used is a grapnel (anchor sinker) which has forward facing wire arms which help it bed down and grip the sand or debris on the bottom.

Many of these sinkers have fixed arms but some have a release system where the arms fold back when extra pressure is applied. This is usually when the angler lifts

the rod abruptly to wind in, or a fish grabs the bait and goes for a run. Once the sinker has hit the bottom you need to do small lifts with the rod tip (without retrieving line), tightening and relaxing the line to get the sinker to bed down.

Once your slide bait rig is set up with the bait, attach it to this taut main line and put it into the water. The wave action and line angle will gradually coax it out to the sinker. This approach allows you to cover a broad area of water and lets you deploy a large (often live) bait out as far as you can cast the To sinker

grapnel sinker.

For large baits and live bait, sliders are ideal.

Casting only the sinker and not the weight of the bait will greatly increase the distance out that the bait can be fished.

Additionally, live offerings will be a lot healthier as they aren’t subjected to the forces involved during the cast, or from plummeting into the water. Slide bait rigs have accounted for some pretty spectacular fish in the few years that they have been fished in Australian waters.

There are numerous types of slide bait rigs on the market these days, some

locally-made and others imported. Some rigs can be made with hi-tensile wire ranging from 1.2mm to 2.2mm in diameter.

Locally, anglers fishing the surf and rocks commonly use the 1.6mm and 1.8mm slide bait rigs. If larger sharks are your target, 2.0mm and 2.2mm would be your best choice. The smaller rigs are used for lighter lines or where the target species is not likely to be large.

Most slide bait rigs are of the non-return variety, which means they are shaped so that a bait can only go

down the line. If a live bait turns and swims towards the shore, the rig slightly kinks the line and limits the bait’s transit shorewards.

Slide baiting is very popular in NZ and South Africa, and there are specific rods made for this form of fishing, with tapers designed to increase casting distances with large sinkers. Their length increases the angle in relation to the water, which helps to get baits out more efficiently. Many hard-core anglers use overhead reels for this type of fishing, but large spin reels and Alveys will do.

To rod

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Mono is reputed to give the slide bait rig a smoother transition down the line, so many anglers solely run mono. However, for increased capacity, some anglers load their reels with braid and just use mono for the final 100-150m that the rig slides on. If they hook a predator which takes heaps of line, they always have a good capacity of braid backing line, which will increase their reel’s line-holding abilities.

If you want to add a mono leader or a top shot of mono to your braid, you’ll need to use a low profile knot. This will let the slide bait rig pass from the braid to the mono leader easily, or for the top shot to exit and enter the guides without fouling. An FG knot is shown here, however PR knots and similar could be used.

4

Attach the main line or leader to the solid ring with a sliding uni or blood knot.

This part of rig needs to be the correct way around, as the slider needs to rest against this solid ring once the bait is fully deployed.

The sinker is now ready to be cast out.

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Once your sinker has bedded in the sand, attach the slide bait rig to the main line.

The arm of the rig needs to face towards the sinker and the spiral portion towards the rod.

Hold the front of the slider rig and the main line (going to the rod) between your left thumb and forefinger. Pass the line around the side of the rig furthest from you, then between the main arm and opened clip before winding it around the spiral closest to your left hand.

Repeat five or six times or until the main line runs straight through the wire spiral. Close the clip, making sure that the lumo bead is still directly under the spiral. This will stop the clip from opening under extreme pressure once the spiral is resting against the solid ring.

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For setting up your basic SEQ surf rig you’ll need a 1.6mm or 1.8mm slide bait rig, some 20-40lb and 60-80lb mono or fluoro, live bait hooks and a grapnel sinker. Quality scissors or mono shears will also be useful.

If you’re going to target toothy creatures you may want to use wire instead of heavy mono.

If you’re targeting mulloway, snapper and the like, a mono leader will suffice. I usually attach two or three hooks to the leader using a simple snell. How large the hooks are and how far they are spaced apart depends on the bait.

For large tailor, Spanish mackerel and sharks you’ll need a wire leader. You may decide to run only a short length of wire between the hooks and then use mono as your main portion of hook rig leader. The leader configuration is generally determined by the target species.

3

For the attaching the sinker, use slightly lighter line than your main line. This will break first if the sinker becomes snagged, so you won’t lose the rig. The length between the sinker and the swivel will be around 0.51.5m, depending on the ability of your outfit to cast this length and how far off the bottom you want the bait to rest. The swivel and solid ring combo should be supplied in the packet with your slide bait rig. Attach one end of the leader to the sinker and the other to the swivel.

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Attach the hook rig leader to the swivel on the slide bait rig. I keep this leader less than 1m long in turbulent waters as it decreases tangling with the main line. However, in stronger currents and when using larger live baits, a longer leader is desirable.

Rig in use

Light lifting of the rod tip, and turbulence on the bottom, will help the sinker to grip the sand. This will allow you to keep the main line tight, aiding the bait’s journey down the line. With the sinker set in the bottom and the rig on the main line, add the bait to your hook rig and put it in the water. Tensioning and slacking of the line will help to coax the bait out until it reaches the solid ring. Sometimes you can use the current to your advantage for this.

Inset: When you want to wind in, a solid strike of the rod will lift the sinker from the sand.

Once retrieved, your rig will look somewhat like this, the same as it does in the water. You then unclip and remove the slide bait rig from the line so you can cast the sinker out again.

JULY 2016

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What’s New FISHING

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DAIWA BLACK LABEL V2 AIRPORTABLE

Daiwa’s Black Label V2 Airport range of multi-piece rods has been designed for ultimate transportability, and features many of Daiwa’s latest design and blank technologies.

Crisp and lightweight in the hand, yet powerful and responsive in the heat of battle, Black Label delivers cutting edge blank performance. HVF graphite is the foundation of the blank, and the rod’s performance is further enhanced courtesy of X45, 3DX and Bias Wrap Construction blank technologies.

These combine to increase power and eliminate blank twist and collapse, and allow the rod’s power to be located at the lower section of the blank for maximum power and reduced angler fatigue.

These rods are finished off with the best components, including Daiwa High Grip/Air Beam reel seats, triple A-grade cork and Fuji SIC guides that are highly sensitive, ultra strong and maximise rod performance and sensitivity. All this comes packed in a heavyduty case that is ready to head off to distant piscatorial locations. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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TOURNAMENT 8 BRAID EVO

Over the years Daiwa Technology has set the standards for reel and rod development, and now in 2016, Daiwa has raised the bar and introduced a new premium 8 ply braid: Tournament 8 Braid Evo. Tournament 8 Braid Evo is available in high visibility chartreuse and multi-coloured, metered offerings, in 150m, 300m and bulk 1000m spools.

Tournament 8 Braid Evo features a round profile, extra high abrasion resistance and a super smooth surface coating that delivers maximum casting distance. It’s super soft and flexible, Evo is available in the following breaking strains: PE 0.6 (2.7kg/6lb, 0.08mm, 150m); PE 0.8 (3.6kg/8lb, 0.10mm, 150/300m); PE 1 (4.6kg/10lb (0.12 mm, 150/300/1000m); PE 1.2 (6.8kg/15lb, 0.14mm, 150/300/1000m); PE 1.5 (9.1kg/20lb, 0.16 mm, 150/300/1000m); PE 2 (13.6kg/30lb, 0.18 mm, 150/300/1000m); PE 3 (18.2kg/40lb, 0.26 mm, 300/1000m); PE 4 (22.7kg/50lb, 0.30 mm, 300/1000m); PE 6 (36.4kg/80lb, 0.45mm, 300/1000m). www.daiwafishing.com.au

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FISH INC. FULLBACK STICKBAIT

The team at Tackle Tactics have added the Fish Inc. Lures brand to their stable of quality, innovative products. Australian anglers will now have access to Fish Inc. Lures range of stickbaits, poppers and hybrid baits that feature awesome finishes, come fitted with Owner trebles and have actions that have already proven to be dynamite on a range of reef and pelagic species during the testing process.

Starting off with the largest stickbait in the range, the Fullback is a 190mm, 79g floating stickbait with a reinforced ABS body that comes fitted with heavy-duty Owner trebles.

Action wise it responds well to a sweep of the rod tip or a quicker retrieve and the profile, size and floating design make it ideal for targeting larger species feeding on or near the surface.

The Fullback is available in three colours: maasbunker, pink foil and bonito. To view the full range visit the Tackle Tactics website.

Price: SRP $39.95. www.tackletactics.com.au

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NITRO BREAM PRO

Berkley Nitro Bream Pro jigheads feature a newly designed head and keeper for even greater performance. The new style head brings a smoother glide and flutter as the plastic falls through the strike zone, and the segmented quad keeper ensures that the plastic stays firmly in position.

Built on ultra-sharp Owner fine wire needle point hooks, Berkley Nitro Bream Pro jigheads provide ultimate performance for the best soft plastic fishing experience.

These jigheads are available in weights from 1/50oz to 1/4oz, and hook sizes from #4 to #2/0.

RRP $8.95 berkley-fishing.com.au

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JULY 2016

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YAMASHITA NAORY RH 490 GLOW

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The Yamashita Naory RH 490 Glow is a new addition to the Naory RH series of squid jigs.

Yamashita have incorporated their latest technology into the Naory RH 490 series, drawing on research showing that the best wavelength of visible light for squid to detect is 490nm. The full body 490 glow grabs the squid’s attention and draws them in. Add to this Yamashita’s Warm Jacket technology (the cloth converts light into heat for added attraction), and these small profile squid jigs pack a serious punch.

The Naory RH 490’s entire body glows in a striking turquoise colour. Seven colours are available in a moderate sinking rate in three sizes: 1.5B (3.5g 5.0-5.5 sec./m), 1.8B (5.5g 3.0-3.5 sec./m) and 2.2B (8.0g 2.22.7 sec./m). These jigs are ideal for targeting smaller squid in shallow water or arrow squid at night.

Price: from $19.95 www.ejtodd.com.au/Lures/Squid_Jigs/

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SQUID MEISTER SQUID JIGS

Squid Meister is launching a new range of squid jigs in August 2016. These squid jigs are designed for Australian anglers, and are currently being tested with outstanding results by anglers all around the country.

Ashley Hallam in Tasmania is one of many anglers strategically selected by Squid Meister to already have put the jigs into the water with excellent results. As we all know, Tasmania is home to some of the biggest and meanest calamari, so it’s an excellent testing ground.

Ashley’s results, and those from field testers around the country, prove just how effective these jigs are.

Squid Meister specialises in cloth-less jigs, and the new range will feature five cloth-less jigs as part of the RAW collection. For the cloth fans, Squid Meister has created the RAPz series – Japanese cloth with simple designs, including some unique patterns.

Keep an eye on the Squid Meister website for photos and more info on the launch.

Price: SRP $20-$26 www.squidmeister.com

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 82

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

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What’s New FISHING

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REUSABLE HAND WARMERS

Designed in Australia, Pocket Balls are reusable pocket-sized heat packs that are safe, waterproof and available in a variety of novel sport themes, including footy, soccer, golf, cricket, tennis, basketball and the magic eight ball.

These environmentally friendly heat packs provide instant heat anytime and anywhere, all with the simple click of the inner metal disk.

As well as warming your hands while fishing, they’re good for warming children up during a game of weekend sport, or providing relief from sore muscles.

Pocket Balls are made from reusable, nontoxic elements, and provide up to an hour of deep, soothing heat. They can be used again and again once the heat pack has cooled, by simply placing it in boiling water until all crystals are liquefied, allowing it to cool and then reusing once more.

Pocket Balls are available at Newspower stores and other selected retailers nationally.

You can also purchase them online from the Pocket Balls website.

Price: SRP $12.95 for a 2-pack www.take5energize.com.au/Pocket Balls

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FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

EXTENDED DEEPER RANGE

The compact Deeper Fishfinder can be cast on most standard lines, and it floats and transmits detailed info to the screen of your smartphone or tablet.

The new extended product line delivers extended casting distance and depth range, GPS and more. The Smart Fishfinder 3.0 has a Bluetooth range of up to 40m, and the Smart Sonar PRO and PRO+ use Wi-Fi (no internet or cellular connectivity required). The Wi-Fi range is up to 100m, perfect for long range fishing, and the maximum depth is 80m.

The Smart Sonar PRO+ also has a high accuracy GPS receiver, and all area maps are free to download with the free app.

The app is regularly updated, and includes Solunar Calendar, Fishing Notes, Offline Maps, and more.

On your smartphone screen you can adjust details of the sonar info including sensitivity and beam width, and you can set an alarm to alert you to when a fish passes underneath or when you hit a certain depth. www.buydeeper.com

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BERKLEY DAY BACKPACK

Berkley Fishin’ Gear Tackle Management Systems offers a range of storage solutions to suit every angler. Whether it’s a few packs of Gulps, or everything to hand for a day on the water, there’s a product in the range to suit your needs. The backpack features heavyduty fabrics for style and durability, comfortable handles and corrosionresistant zips and fittings.

A 30L fishing and lifestyle backpack rounds out the new Berkley Fishin’ Gear range. Packed full of features, the FG 30L Day Backpack includes an internal organiser and mesh pockets for tackle boxes and tools, plus a padded pouch designed as a reel compartment. Extra innovations include an integrated Nano Shade cover for protection from heavy rain, and the provision to carry a 15” laptop.

Price: RRP $74.95 www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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

10

VALLEY HILL ROCKETEER SLICER SQUID JIG

Japanese squid tackle giant Valley Hill has updated their range of technologically advanced squid jigs.

The Rocketeer Slicer stands out as a jig that combines traditional design with modern ingenuity. From the unique metal plate head situated at the nose of the jig (which allows the angler to secure line in two places depending on casting requirements, and ensures a superior swimming action even through debris), to the Rocketeer tail system, which essentially enables anglers to cast more effectively into the wind, the Rocketeer Slicer is a real feat of Japanese design and engineering.

The Rocketeer Slicer is available in two sizes (3.0 and 3.5) and in a range of 13 different colour combinations. It has proven to be highly effective in Australia’s calamari-abundant southern waters and is now gaining momentum across the eastern states.

For stockist or trade enquiries, or for more info on the Valley Hill range, visit the Dogtooth website.

Price: SRP $19.95 www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

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DARK HORSE POPPING RODS

Casting stickbaits, poppers and metals at tuna and pelagics has never been so much fun. The Dark Horse Popping rods from N.S Black Hole feature balanced blanks for optimal casting and fighting performance. The long fighting foregrip, striking blue blanks and latest carbon cloth technology make the Dark Horse Popping rods excellent value for money with impressive performance.

The long foregrip provides excellent comfort when fighting the fish, and the blank uses a new CF-1115 fabric which minimises twisting and improves strength.

There are two models: the S-833 (8’3”/2.5m, 2-piece, 161cm closed, 322g, 2.4mm top dia, 17.7mm bottom dia, 40-100g, 3.0-6.0PE), and the S-794 (7’9”/2.35m, 2-piece, 147cm closed, 327g, 2.4mm top dia, 17.7mm bottom dia, 40110g, 3.0-6.0PE).

Price: RRP $340 www.ejtodd.com.au

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ZEREK DRY FIT JERSEYS

Designed to keep you cool and comfortable while you’re fishing, the Zerek Dry Fit Jerseys have been released in black and white colours with the distinctive Bluewater Craft logo.

The Dry Fit material actively moves sweat away from the body to a separate fabric layer where it can evaporate away. This leaves you feeling dry at all times while fishing, and the UPF rating of 25 gives you confidence when out in the harsh Australian sun.

Available in sizes from medium (M) through to 3XL, and with sizing that suits Australian bodies, the Zerek Dry Fit Longsleeve Jerseys will keep you fishing longer and catching more fish in comfort and style. www.wilsonfishing.com

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

83

What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

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TESTED: Samaki Silver Bullet Technology tested – successfully When a Samaki Silver Bullet rod that arrived in the Fishing Monthly office, we sent it straight to rock spinning expert Tony Smith, from Northern NSW. Apart from being able to smell mulloway as they swim past in the waves, there aren’t many predators that live around the ocean rocks that Tony can’t catch.

How do I know this? One day Tony said to me, “Do you want to film some jew on lures?”

“Yep.” “Let’s go,” he said. Middle of the day.

Sunny. Summertime.

“Now?” I asked.

“Yep.” He then proceeded to pull six soapies to 80cm in 30 minutes, fishing water no more than 4ft deep. At the time, he was throwing minnows with filed-down bibs on a glass surf rod, Alvey reel and 30lb mono line. Job done!

After seeing what Tony was capable of, I wondered what he’d think of the spinconfigured Samaki. Not long after I gave him the rod, an MMS from Tony appeared on my phone. It was written in his usual style.

“Nice rod, thanks Steve. Looks like it works. Caught this nice one on my second throw.”

Attached was the amazing pic which went on to feature on the cover of the July issue of NSW Fishing Monthly. The fish was a tailor just under 10lb. It ate a popper in shallow water in the middle of the day!

The Samaki website says: “The base section of the rod uses an oval blank construction, enabling a greater, more powerful cast, and the tip is designed for greater sensitivity. Built to withstand the elements, the Silver Bullet consists of Japanese Toray Carbon Fibre 36 and 40 tonne combined, Fuji K Guides and Fuji reel seat, and super hard EVA grips.”

That’s great, but we wanted to know what the rod was like in the real world! I had a hunch that Tony would be a fan. Plenty of Northern NSW guys used to use old FSU4120 blanks extended with a couple of feet of carbon fibre canoe paddle shaft to Not a bad way to test Samaki’s Oval Blank achieve the same result – a light-yet-strong Technology – 10lb of Northern NSW tailor. butt that can launch a lure out of sight.

Not a bad way to test Samaki’s Oval Blank Technology – 10lb of Northern NSW tailor.

“I could cast it a million miles,” Tony said.

Standard hyperbole for an angler, but a seal of approval from a hardened lure caster.

Tony coupled the rod with a Shimano Baitrunner 6500 with 20lb braid and a 30lb mono leader about 3m long. The longer leader suits his big-fish-in-shallow-water fishing, but he said if you want to cast further you could use just 60cm of leader and eliminate any line slap.

“Ideally, I’d like it to have a shorter butt,” he added. “Because I spin from the waterline, the tip up and the longer butt is

uncomfortable. However, if you were using this from above the waterline with the tip down, the butt would fit under the arm nicely.”

I told Tony he was free to hacksaw away to his heart’s content. After all, a 10lb tailor on the cover means you don’t have to give the rod back! - Steve Morgan Scan this code to see a video of the Silver Bullet at the AFTA Trade Show.

TESTED: Schneider Super Smooth 8 carrier braid holds on

Frogging thick weed mats is a real test for braid, especially when you risk running 10lb braid with bass this big!

Schneider’s Super Smooth 8 Carrier Pink Braid has a lot to offer for anyone who’s new to braid, or who is frustrated with the well-known shortcomings of most braids.

These ‘shortcomings’ are usually wind knots, weak abrasion resistance and

coiling, the latter of which is caused by the braid being too stiff and having too much ‘memory’.

I put 200m of the 300yard spool of 10lb onto my old Daiwa Luvias, and gave it my usual test drive in the backyard, casting plugs instead of lures, and attracting cats

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 84

JULY 2016

instead of fish.

Being strung from eight parts makes Super Smooth rounder than 4-ply and 6-ply braids. This roundness prevents knotting, and increases the abrasion resistance. The braid’s smoothness makes it sit nicely on the reel without springing off or coiling when it comes off. Despite this, it also retains a level of stiffness, which helps with casting distance and accuracy.

To conduct a proper test, I needed an activity that would test out every quality of the braid and push it to its limits. I found the answer in my favourite way to target bass: frogging.

Frogging involves throwing weedless frog imitations over thick weed/lilies, and walking the frog over the weed and into little pockets. When a bass hits you have to furiously set the hook and crank hard.

Most seasoned froggers use slightly heavier gear than usual, and I believed 10lb would be very testing in my chosen location: a pond off a tributary of the Clarence. I had caught 50cm+ bass there before, and the weed there has become very thick.

I cast out, and before long a bass smashed my frog. I struck like I was swinging a baseball bat and the fight was on! Unsure of the true capabilities of the braid, I stupidly allowed the fish to dive down into the weed, but when I applied ample pressure the braid held. Before I knew it, I had a bass just shy of 50cm.

Soon after the frog got smashed in a small pocket between the lilies. I decided

The author was very pleased with the performance of the braid. the only way I could land it was to skip it across the lilies. Skipping a 50cm bass across lily pads isn’t something you see every day, and my mate Lachlan laughed to see a 2kg fish zoom across the surface.

All boxes ticked.

Schneider’s Super Smooth 8 Carrier braid ticked all the boxes for me. It allowed me to cast light frogs a long way, it didn’t tangle once, I didn’t get any wind knots even with the jerky retrieve I was using, and it stood up to harsh punishment in the pads against some chunky bass. As a bonus, the high-visibility pink made it easy to see. I’ve had no problems with it, and plan to keep it on my Luvias.

Super Smooth comes in 10-50lb in 150 or 300yard spools, and prices start from a reasonable SRP $49.95. For more info visit www.schneiderfishinglines. com.au. - Bob Thornton

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

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Alberton Alberton Marine

Echuca Eades Xtreme Marine

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

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

Bendigo Bendigo Marine World

Melbourne Melbourne Marine

Melbourne The Marine Shop

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Geelong Moolap Marine

Melbourne Triple M Marine

Shepparton Boats and More

Sorrento Nautical Marine

Mornington Wes Frost Marine

Morwell Crawford Marine

Melbourne Regal Marine

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

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

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

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

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

92 Hallam South Road, Hallam Phone: (03) 9703 2003 Email: info@melbournemarine.com.au

250 Portarlington Road, Moolap Phone: (03) 5248 3772 | Fax: (03) 5248 5913 Email: info@moolapmarine.com.au

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

Tooradin P&J Marine Service Centre P/L

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

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

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

JULY 2016

85

Get some ling-bling!

WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

July may be a cold month and the weather can dampen the motivation of many spearfishers to get out and have a dive, but there is

certainly plenty of reason to make the effort and brave the cold water.

It’s certainly true that the basic comfort of diving in the warmer months means there are a lot more divers in the water, but for very experienced divers and the keenest

The author with some prime reef species on offer this winter.

enthusiasts among us there is no real off-season. Winter seems to provide some of the most stable weather patterns in terms of conditions that make for calm and clear seas, although the preceding couple of months seem to be trying to disprove that statement. On the far southwest coast of the state, Portland and Port Fairy have had plenty of favourable offshore winds, but this seems to have been accompanied by a long run of very large swell, which has made inshore diving pretty hard. Fingers crossed that July sees the normal weather and swell patterns fall back into line.

Southern bluefin tuna are still very much on the minds of avid bluewater hunters this month and are certainly

Female crays are now off limits, but males can still be taken. one of the prime targets.

The rough seas haven’t been conducive to offshore diving

Drew Fenney with a great winter feed of ling and flathead.

on the southwest coast but the odd weather window has allowed for an excursion here and there. School tuna have remained quite close to shore after arriving in decent numbers in late January and early February. Winter months see an increasing build up in numbers of fish both inshore and offshore. There has also been a great run of albacore tuna this season compared to the last few years. Albacore are generally located wide in the deeper waters of the shelf and rarely venture in as shallow as bluefin do. The same basic principles and techniques used to hunt bluefin still apply to albacore. Locate them, then berley to keep the school occupied and distracted, focus your attention on targeting one piece of berley. Anticipate the approach of a fish and lead your shot. All tuna move and feed extremely quickly, which makes it very hard to target the

shot accurately.

Inshore diving can be exceptional at this time of year with plenty of bread and butter species on offer.

Species such as snook (short fin pike), sea sweep, King George whiting, silver trevally, Australian salmon and abalone are pretty much a constant but can be even more prevalent through July.

In the Melbourne/Port Phillip Bay area we will also see an influx of southern calamari laying their eggs in the shallow weed beds. July is the best month to collect scallops in the bay. Southern rock lobster is also an extremely popular target, but please keep in mind that female lobsters are in their closed season and only males can be taken.

Don’t let the winter temperatures put you off, as there is plenty on offer for those willing to get out and have a dive.

VR Fish Update

SBT expectations high for coming season VRFish, the peak body representing the interests of Victoria’s 838,000 recreational fishers said expectations were high on the eve of the southern bluefin tuna (SBT) season.

VRFish Chairman, Rob Loats said, “Southern bluefin tuna are a highly prized game fish, renowned for their fighting and eating qualities.

The fish in south west Victoria are on their annual migration towards Tasmania.There are many factors that determine a successful year, including the availability of bait stocks, weather and ocean currents.”

Anglers off Port Fairy are already catching some fish, however Portland is the jewel in the crown, especially now that the new boat ramp has been finished. Much of this investment into the economy bypasses Warrnambool because of the lack of a safe harbour and boat launching facilities that are found at 86

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Portland.

A 2012 study found the recreational tuna fishery brings in more than $9 million to the local economy. This survey was done prior to the improvements to boating infrastructure and in a quieter year, so the fishery could easily be worth three times that amount if we have another bumper season this year like we did in 2015.

VRFish General Manager, Dallas D’Silva said, “It is not just the thousands of fishers that flock to Portland in their trailer boats to wet a line.

It’s the thousands that come to fish on the professional charter boats that set up their businesses in the region.”

He added, “We encourage sustainable and responsible fishing for SBT in accordance with the Victorian regulations.

A bag and possession limit of two fish per person applies, retained whole or in carcass form and an absolute state

wide possession limit of two fish or less than 160kg.”

Southern bluefin tuna stocks are fished for by others countries, including Japan and New Zealand and are managed by an international agreement.

The stocks are rebuilding, and the Australian allocation of quota has been increased, reflecting the positive outlook for the fishery.

A new code of practice has been developed by Dr Sean Tracey, which can be accessed at the following website http:// www.imas.utas.edu.au/__data/ assets/pdf_file/0007/799648/ Appendix-10a-COP_DL.pdf For more information, please visit our website www.vrfish.com.au, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

ACTIVIST GROUP MISS THE BOAT ON GAME FISHING VRFish has slammed actions from an activist group seeking the listing

of recreational fishing as a key threatening process under federal environment legislation.

Dallas D’Silva said, “We were verbally notified of these developments in Canberra last week. We had to check the calendar to see if it was the 1st of April. Regrettably, it was not. A similar nomination was made in 2012, and it was rejected by the Federal Environment Minister. We understand that a new public consultation process will now be triggered.”

VRFish Chairman Rob Loats added, “We are very fortunate in Victoria to have Jaala Pulford MP, Minister responsible for fisheries and the Andrews Government who want to grow recreational fishing in recognition of the massive social wellbeing and economic benefits it brings.

Geoff Fisher from the Game Fishing Association of Victoria said, “The scientific

tagging and data collection programs run by game fishers have helped fill vital information gaps and fishers continue to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into research on game fish species.”

VRFish strongly supports cooperative action by countries to ensure they address the real risk to game fish species such as thresher sharks, which includes targeted commercial fishing, by-catch, illegal and unregulated shark finning operations and the trade in shark fins. Targeted commercial fishing and trade in shark fins needs to be better managed and brought in line with Australian standards.

Dallas D’Silva said, “The recreational fishery in Victoria is valued at $7.1 billion to the state economy and provides thousands of jobs. The game fishery for

southern bluefin tuna alone in Portland is estimated to be worth at least $40 million to the regional economy.”

Dallas D’Silva added, “We remain concerned with the inappropriate way in which the EPBC Act responds to migratory species listings.

As has been highlighted by past listings (mako and porbeagle sharks) and the Hawke review, the EPBC Act needs to be adjusted immediately to remove its current inflexible, draconian responsiveness to CMS listings. We are calling on both sides of federal parliament to fix the legislation as a matter of priority.”

VRFish appreciates the support of our state and national peak fishing organisations, including the Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation (ARFF) to promote fishing in Australia. –VRFish

FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION THE EMOTIONS OF A CRAB

ANGRY ANNOYED BOTHERED CANTANKEROUS CRABBY CROSS ENRAGED FUMING FURIOUS GROUCHY GRUMPY HEATED

INCENSED INFURIATED IRATE IRRITATED LIVID MAD OFFENDED PETULANT SEETHING TESTY TOUCHY

Win a pack of Pocket Balls – instant reusable pocketsized heat packs that are safe, waterproof and available in a variety of sport themes, including footy, cricket, golf, tennis, soccer and more! Activated by simple click of the disk inside the ball. To find out more visit www.take5energize.com.au/Pocket-Balls.

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO: VFM Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

VFM JULY 2016

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to S Andrighetto from Inverloch, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive a Surf Lifesaving prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – VTFM

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The subscriber prize winner for May was D Veneruzzo of Hughesdale, who won a Silstar/Okuma/Sufix prize pack.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – VTFM

FIND THE ZEREK LOGO

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The answers to Find the Zerek Logo for May were: 12, 13, 16, 20, 25, 28, 41, 44, 52, 55, 58, 62, 70, 75, 80. – VTFM The Find the Zerek logo prize winners for May were: P Castle of West Rosebud, J Pugh of St Helens, J Pyta of Keilor Downs, T Mathieson of Patterson Lakes, J Brumby of Nirranda South, K Tripp of Glenroy, R Moore of Greenacre, P Amos of St Arnaud , K Egery of Watsonia, D Robinson of Carisbrook, F Weber of Corack East, L Wolfel of Wargaratta, T Siposs of Skipton, D Baulch of Colac, M Doherty of Smithfieldsaye, T Gillman of Rutherglen, G Bonner of Coragulac, K Scott of Gawler , C Appledore of Brim, J Neilson of Rochester, D Hamilton of Berwick, P Harwood of Wonthaggi, A Trenfield of Wesburn, S Tantaro of Balwyn North, J Jenner of Malmsbury, K Voros of Korumburra, M Fallon of Hamilton, R White of Bannockburn, W Henley of Heathmont, R Barns of Euroa, F Hutchins of Sunbury, R Sanders of Lang Lang, B Beach of Sunbury, J Randall of Torquay, E Dix of Hamilton, R McMillan of Grovedale, B Rafferty of Maryborough, B James of Metung, T Metherell of Narre Warren South, C Kelly of Cranbourne.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – VTFM

MAJOR FIND THE PRIZE

The Major prize winners for the Find the Zerek logo: 1st prize of $600 prize pack goes to P Cobb of Berrigan; 2nd prize of $400 prize pack goes to R Barns of Euroa; 3rd prize of $200 prize pack goes to R Rarns of Euroa.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – VTFM JULY 2016

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Looking into kayak clothing BRISBANE

Justin Wilmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Appropriate clothing is an important part of any angler’s kit, whether they’re fishing the surf or rocks, hiking trout streams, venturing into the northern mangroves or paddling local waters. For kayak anglers, clothing choice can

In calmer conditions, I opt for a wide brim hat, but in windy conditions it can be painful to keep it on my head, so I switch to a cap, with the addition of a Buff, Headsox, Solar Sleeve, or one of its many other forms, and use this to secure the cap in place, while also protecting my face, neck and ears from the sun. A Buff covers all of the bits that you normally miss with the

eyes, so invest in a quality pair of sunnies. It’s a good idea to have a strap on your sunnies so that they don’t end up in the water if dislodged and so you can hang them around your neck when holding a fish for a photo.

GLOVES When my wife first came kayak fishing with me she sledged me for wearing gloves fishing… and she now owns a nice blue pair herself. Gloves can serve many different purposes, including sun protection, warmth, protection from fish and grip for a comfortable and confident paddle stroke.

I now own a variety of gloves for different applications, including gloves without palms and lightweight gloves that are designed for sun protection and stretch gloves with Velcro cuffs and reinforced palms for longer paddles and missions that involve a fair amount of portaging. Look in my kit and you’ll even find a pair of SealSkinz Waterproof, windproof and breathable gloves that are awesome for early winter starts and cold, wet, windy days.

or one of the many colourful tournament style shirts, some of which will carry a UPF rating tag such as UPF 45. If you are looking for a quick dry, UPF 50, wet and dry lifestyle shirt, then check out the range from Sun2Sea UV Protection.

These shirts have become extremely popular with those spending time outdoors and especially within the kayak fishing community, and they feature longer sleeves for additional protection, stand up collars to protect the neck and there is even a hooded model. Even better, they’re made in Australia.

When it comes to wet weather gear, you may be able to get away with a light raincoat in warmer weather, with some options available that pack into a small bag or even into their own pocket.

When the weather gets more serious or during the cooler months, I will often step up to a purpose designed waterproof/breathable option from brands such as Sea to Summit Solution.

These jackets are extremely weather resistant and keep you dry where many other jackets fail, including cuffs,

Wide brim hats offer better sun protection than caps. importantly excellent sun protection. Your legs got wet getting into the yak and are dry ten minutes later… or at the end of a session you have avoided the dreaded red legs, that these pants are all about function, while still looking good.

When it comes to wet and windy, or cooler weather, I slide on some Sea to Summit Solution Access Splash Pants.

A light raincoat is an option for cooler weather and summer showers. be even more important as you have a limited payload, can be more exposed to the elements and travel times can be longer than in motorised craft.

Paddlers need to take into account elements such as sun, wind, rain, cold, heat and insects when considering clothing features such as weight, durability, waterproof ratings, breathability, pack size, flexibility, zip and Velcro closures, UV rating and so on. Although often not considered as attractive as the lures, rods, reels and other components of kayak fishing, once you start delving into clothing you will find that there is some cool gear available that will make your kayak fishing experience more comfortable, safer and more enjoyable, while also allowing you to spend more time on the water, especially when the weather cools.

HEADWEAR I wish I had worn a hat more when I was younger and made a point of being more sun smart in my adventures. If you Googled images of hats you would find a million different types and it’s important to select one that suits your adventure.

Offshore anglers often wear bucket style hats that are made from soft, quick-dry, hi-vis material to make them more visible featuring a strap to secure them in place in wind and swell.

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sunscreen and it can also be a good addition to your kit on chilly mornings and windy days.

I have recently added a mosquito head net to my kit in preparation for some kayak crabbing deep in the mangroves and skinny creeks of my home waters.

SUNGLASSES Sunglasses not only protect your eyes from objects such as lures, rod tips and branches, quality polarised sunglasses also protect your eyes from the sun’s rays, while cutting the glare off the water so that you can better locate structure, bait and even spot cruising fish.

You only get one set of

Robbie and Sue from Sun2Sea UV Protection live and breathe the outdoors.

TOPS In tropical conditions you may opt for a long sleeve cotton fishing shirt

A lightweight raincoat can be handy in cold or wet environments.

zips, necklines and hoods.

BOTTOMS After too many doses of red legs… including filming a kayak fishing DVD many moons ago where I applied sunscreen to the same leg twice and not to the other, I prefer to wear long pants when kayak fishing. The various lightweight and zip off models are a good starting point. Recently the team at Sun2Sea UV Protection husband and wife team, Robbie and Sue Wells, developed long pants in their Stealth Series that have been designed from the ground up for kayak and adventure anglers. Tech Pants are durable, hardwearing and comfortable, with loads of features including button and zip, belt loops, elastic waist, quick dry, loads of pockets, D-Clip and most

These pants are lightweight, waterproof and breathable, featuring Glideskin neoprene adjustable waist and ankles, waterproof/breathable 2-layer barrel GP fabric and a mesh pocket for storing scent and other bits and pieces within easy reach. You can wear them standalone in warmer weather or over other long pants in cooler weather.

Kayakers faced with extreme cold often make the leap to wetsuits and dry suits.

FOOTWEAR Over years of kayak fishing, I have moved away from the sneaker style water shoes due to their weight, bulk, slow drying time, lack of dexterity, difficulty to keep mud free and general level of comfort, preferring neoprene style dive boots or water shoes.

There are some flash models available, including versions with a separate big toe, or all toes separate for more feel, but hands down my favourite have been the Sea to Summit Solution Bomber Booties. These water shoes are comfortable, flexible and constructed

A neck sock offers anglers additional protection from sun, glare and wind.

from 3mm neoprene, with an extremely secure Velcro strap, heavy rubber toe, heel and sides, and a 0.5mm polymer midsole for rock protection.

A cool discovery I have made in recent years has been SealSkinz waterproof, windproof and breathable socks. These make winter fishing more comfortable and are excellent for kayak campers who are able to set up camp, take off their wet shoes, dry off their feet, slide on the warm, dry, waterproof SealSkinz socks and then put their wet shoes back on while their feet remain warm and dry.

LAYERING For those who are spending long hours on the water and especially those

coloured dry bags makes it quick and easy to set up camp, locate items and sort gear as you travel.

SUIT UP! This article simply covers some of the clothing that has proven effective

A sun smart kayak angler anticipates a bass surface strike. touring and camping from the kayak, layering is important. Rather than put all of your eggs in one basket

Gloves can make paddling more comfortable and help with fish handling.

by wearing one heavy pair of pants or jacket, wearing multiple thinner layers allows you to remove or add layers to better regulate your body temperature as the day warms up or weather changes. It also means that if you do end up wet, it is much easier and quicker to dry multiple thinner layers of clothing. I will often start my day wearing a tee shirt or dry tee, fishing shirt, light fleece jacket and finally a light raincoat, shedding layers as required.

OTHER TIPS Carrying a change of clothes in a dry bag is a good idea, and I also include a lightweight Tech Towel, for use in the kayak or when I get back to the car. When

camping from the kayak it’s a good idea to carry a couple of dry bags for clothes, one for clean clothes and a second dry bag to house those clothes that need to be quarantined.

Having a selection of different

Sheri is comfortable and protected from the harsh sun.

Steven kitted out to handle the elements both in and out of the yak.

for me, while also noting that clothing selection is an important aspect of kayak fishing, camping and touring. Check out the variety of hiking, sports, camping and water sports clothing that is out there and remember to consider your level of comfort, the elements that you will be dealing with while out on the water and your visibility to other vessels when selecting clothing for your adventure.

See you on the water.

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A breath of fresh Aire MELBOURNE

Corey Gallagher

There are few destinations I fish regularly that excite me as much as the thought of spending a day or two on the Aire River. Nestled in the shadows of the Otway Ranges, the river is surrounded by unspoilt, natural beauty that few

Facilities include non-flush toilets, picnic shelters, shared picnic tables and fireplaces.

Aire River West Campground, the larger of the two, offers anglers a small gravel ramp and jetty, the ideal spot to launch a kayak. There are also two small gravel ramps on the eastern bank either side of the road bridge that connects the two camping grounds.

welcome by-catch.

THE ENVIRONMENT The main features in the lower reaches of the Aire are reed edges, common among many systems in the south west of Victoria. Working these edges can be highly productive, particularly when targeting bream during the warmer months. Grub pattern soft plastics are my go-to for fishing this type of terrain The Aire fishes well for bream all year round.

The Aire River is unbeaten for surrounding natural beauty – grab your yak and hit the stretches of gorgeous waterway! other angling locations in the region can rival.

The Aire River begins life as a series of small trickles high in the Otways that are inaccessible to kayak anglers due to being laden with logjams, rapids and shallow pools. However, as the river nears the coast it grows dramatically in size to be perfectly suited to kayaks and other small craft.

It pays to be fully attentive from the moment your grub breaks the surface tension, bream regularly take grubs as they fall vertically down through the water column. As the water cools, the edges become less productive, so move your casts out away from the edges and work the deeper water and drop-offs. A good quality sounder can be invaluable for locating bream.

WHAT TO USE The ever faithful ZMan Grubz in motor oil rigged on a 1/16-1/20oz jighead is hard to go past, although more recently I have experimented with smaller grubs, particularly the Strike

Pro Enticer 2” grubs rigged on 1/20-1/32oz jighead. The smaller grubs tend to work on the days when fish seem shutdown or finicky.

As I mentioned earlier, during winter searun brown trout return to the river to spawn. Unlike the tiny wild browns that inhabit the high reaches of the Aire, these fish are considerably larger with units in the 2-3kg range not uncommon. By far the most productive method to target trout in the Aire is to troll lures along the weed edges around the Great Ocean Road Bridge or in the three small lakes, Lake Craven, Lake Costin and

The camping grounds can be accessed via a dirt track that connects with Hordern Vale Road in Hordern Vale on the Great Ocean Road, approximately 30-minutes drive west of Apollo Bay. One of the major draw cards to fishing the Aire River is that it is one of only a handful of systems where kayak anglers can target both estuary and freshwater

One of the major draw cards to fishing the Aire River is that it is one of only a handful of systems where kayak anglers can target both estuary and freshwater species without having to paddle huge distances.

The Aire can be accessed through two fantastic campgrounds that offer a wide range of facilities to visitors.

Located to the west of Cape Otway, the Aire River is best accessed via the two camping grounds located towards the mouth of the system. The camping grounds (creatively known as Aire River East and Aire River West) are excellent and provide anglers with the perfect place to roll out a swag or pitch a tent.

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species without having to paddle huge distances. Bream are a mainstay for those who regularly fish the Aire River, however at certain times of year wild sea run trout make their way into the brackish waters and become a viable option. Although not a common catch, estuary perch are not unheard of and make for a more than

– they’re less likely to snag up on the reeds and can be cast right to the edges and allowed to drop vertically.

Position your kayak close to the reed edges and cast your grub upstream, landing it tight up against the reeds.

Work your grub back with the flow to increase your strike rate by presenting a more natural offering that moves with the flow. Work your grub back to the kayak using a hop and pause retrieve, and try to keep your plastic as close to the edge as possible. Always be on the lookout for reeds growing out over the water, and skip cast your grub in under the overhang, as often bigger bream will use these shaded areas as cover.

Lake Hordern. The Ford River, which flows into the Aire is also worth a look when chasing trout. Slim profile shallow to mid-diving hardbodied lures such as Daiwa Double Clutches 60 & 75s and Nories Laydown Minnows have worked well for me in the past. Better colours include, but aren’t limited to, black, golds and brown trout patterns.

Although the Aire fishes well for bream all year round, I find myself spending more time there during the cooler months, for the simple fact that it is during winter that the big sea run brown trout make their presence felt. The river always fishes well during periods of high flow, if you can time your visit to coincide with the period immediately after the river mouth opening you should be in for plenty of action.

SAFETY FIRST As always, when fishing from your yak ensure you have all the necessary safety gear as required by Victorian law, including a serviced PFD and bailer.

It is important to note that the Aire River is reasonably remote and as a result phone service is unreliable. If you’re flying solo make sure you let someone know your plans. Finally, strong currents can occur in the Aire River immediately after the mouth opens, so avoid this area during these conditions or you’ll risk an unplanned trip to Tassie.

The main features in the lower reaches of the Aire are reed edges, common among many systems in the south west of Victoria. Working these edges can be highly productive, particularly when targeting bream during the warmer months.

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91

The dropper knot 4 BRISBANE

Kim Bain

Last edition we completed the sinker loop options for a paternoster rig; this month we tie the hook loop using a knot simply called the dropper knot (or dropper loop).

Knowing this knot will be

1

very helpful, especially if you plan on doing some offshore work in deeper water. For further discussion and information on this knot and the paternoster rig, please see the previous issue of QFM, and if you don’t have it, my articles on these subjects will be on the Fishing Monthly website website at www. fishingmonthly.com.au soon.

Then take the ‘outer’ loop and push it through the centre opening; once it is a little of the way through, grip the loop lightly with your mouth and gently pull it through as far as it will easily go.

First form a loop in the line (do not tie a loop, just form a loop) and insert a finger on one side of the crossover.

5

Now pull the two standing ends of the line away from each other while holding the loop with your teeth... but don’t pull the knot snug just yet!

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Now, with your mouth, moisten the wraps either side of the centre opening and then pull the knot slowly tight.

2

Pull one side of the loop down and start twisting/wrapping it around the standing line. Keep the centre open (with your fingers). An alternative is to twist from/around the centre, wrapping an even number of turns of each side of the centre opening. Have a go and see what works best for you and your dexterity.

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After between four to ten turns, the number of turns will be governed by the diameter and stiffness of the line in which you are tying the dropper loop, widen the centre open (using your fingers; and use at least one finger to keep it open).

JULY 2016

FIND THE

LOGO COMPETITION There are 15

MAJOR PRIZES

MONTHLY PRIZES

Logos hidden throughout the pages of Fishing Monthly.

1

PLACE

Logo and page number, fill in the entry form and go in the draw to win!

The first 40 correct entries drawn at the end of the month will win a packet of 2.5” Grubz in Motor Oil Colour.

All entries will go into the major prize draw. (Drawn November 30, 2016)

2

3

4

5

VALUE OF TACKLE TACTICS PRODUCTS

500

$ ND

2

• PACKET OF ZMAN 2.5” GRUBZ IN MOTOR OIL COLOUR • Value RRP: $9.95 each www.tackletactics.com.au PAGE NO: 1

1000

$ ST

Find the

6

7

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9

10

PLACE

VALUE OF TACKLE TACTICS PRODUCTS

200

$ RD

3

PLACE

11

12

VALUE OF TACKLE TACTICS PRODUCTS

13

14

15

NAME ............................................................................................................

MAIL ENTRIES TO:

V&TFM Find the Zman Logo Competition, PO BOX 3172, Loganholme QLD 4129 Entries must be received by 31ST JULY 2016 Original entries only. No photocopies.

Images for illustration purposes only.

SUBURB .................................................................P/CODE ...........................

PHONE ..................................................................MOB ...............................

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V&TFM JULY 2016

ADDRESS .......................................................................................................

JULY 2016

93

Boating Profile

Savage step it up again BRISBANE

Elliot Fooks

Savage Boats have provided versatile, practical and durable boats for anglers and families to enjoy since 1898, and the latest range of offerings is no exception. The team at Savage have taken on lessons and feedback from

heritage in mind, the team at Savage have gone back to the drawing board to create a boat that takes the Jabaru to the next level.

The Raptor range comes in two configurations, the Raptor and Raptor Pro. The 355, 395 and 425 Raptor offers an affordable option that any angler would be keen to start their next adventure in. With plenty

The Raptor Pro 405 has all the storage to keep your tackle out of the way. their customers to expand on their range and improve the boating experience for all. The new range includes a new Jabaru, a larger Scorpion, updated Bay Cruisers and improved alloy trailers.

‘RAPTOR’ THE JABARU REBORN The Jabaru range of boats personifies the Savage mentality of practical boats for generations. With this

of internal space and bench seating, each model can take up to four people, while still remaining light enough to be towed behind the family car or used as a car topper. With the option to add in features such as a bimini top, rod holders and carpeted floors, the Raptor can be much more than a bare bones tinny.

Coming in three size options, the 405, 425 and 445 Raptor Pro provides an

A Scorpion on the run.

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option to suit any avid angler.

Each model comes standard with front and rear casting platforms and ample storage, to allow the angler to focus on catching that next fish.

With a revamped hull design, the V-nose allows anglers to venture into shallower water and is teamed with wider chines to provide more stability at rest and a softer ride than previous models.

For those wanting more storage, the deck layout can be customised with extras such as live bait tanks and rod pockets.

525 SCORPION FOR THE ANGLER WANTS IT ALL Many of Savage’s valued customers have called for a larger Scorpion – and Savage have delivered. The new 525 Scorpion and Scorpion Pro provides the serious angler with a boat that can cover all their needs and wants.

The larger size provides ample storage and deck space to allow you to bring your entire fishing crew along for the adventure. The front deck can be optioned up with roto molded storage options, which can be plumbed into a live well. While the spacious rear casting platform comes standard with a live bait tank.

The hull is designed to allow anglers access to small waterways while remaining

Top: The Raptor range has a boat for every sort of angler.

Above: The 485 Bay Cruiser can carry the whole family. up to the task of tackling rough offshore conditions.

With a 77L fuel tank and maximum horsepower rating of 115, the 525 Scorpion is a boat that can do it all.

UPDATED BAY CRUISERS TO ACCOMMODATE THE WHOLE FAMILY Savage have updated 485, 515 and 545 Bay Cruiser models to provide a more practical and enjoyable boating experience for the whole family. The Bay Cruisers have had a redesign from the front to back, with the new larger dash area that provides space for larger electronics and improves the driving position.

The new lean through dash allows for greater access to the anchor well and all boats can now be optioned up to

include an electric drum winch to make it an easier day on the water. At the rear of the boat, the Bay Cruiser has been designed with larger gunnels to provide a more comfortable space to sit on or lean to while reeling in a fish of a lifetime.

The Bay Cruiser is a family all rounder with all the trimmings to provide a great day on the water. The 485 is a great example of this, with two seats in the front and a folding bench seat in the rear the boat can be set up for a day drifting live baits in the bay or a family trip to that picnic spot upriver.

ALLOY TRAILERS FOR ALL With fuel economy and durability becoming more of a concern for all consumers, Savage have developed

a complete range of alloy trailers to satisfy these concerns. The C-section alloy trailers have passed accelerated lifecycle testing to ensure that each trailer will withstand a lifetime of use. This change in material also gives a dramatic weight saving of 40kg for a small trailer, making it easier tow with smaller vehicles and providing less strain on the vehicle. All of Savage’s new alloy trailers are made from the ground up and in house, which ensures that it is the perfect match for your boat.

With all the new improvements, there is sure to be a boat in the Savage range to suit your needs. For more information or to find your local dealer head to www. savageboats.com.au.

The Bay Cruiser has space for all of your electronics.

Product Profile

Torqeedo shock the Australian electrics market BRISBANE

Tom Slater

German engineered Torqeedo electric outboard motors are set to explode into the Australian market thanks to their newly formed

different models from Torqeedo’s extensive electric outboard range.

Australian consumers will have no worries finding a dealer for the Torqeedo range anywhere in the country, now that the brand is supported and backed by Australian

Equipment’s infrastructure and dealer network.

“It means Australian consumers will now know where to get information on the best electric outboards on the market. We’ve already seen the response in only a short time. It’s a fantastic product and people are excited they can now access it easier through our network.”

ULTRALIGHT The Torqeedo range extends from 1hp equivalent motors, right through to 80hp weapon. The 1hp equivalent Torqeedo Ultralight 403 is perfectly matched to any kayak or canoe, and pushed the Aquayak Scout (3m) at an impressive 8.6km/h. What is probably more useful, is when backed off to a cruising speed of 4km/h, the included Torqeedo Lithium-ion battery gives the user an amazing 4-5hrs of running time. Integrating with the kayak’s steering

The Torqeedo Travel 1003 features a modular design with integrated lithium battery and detachable tiller arm. and tilting system, the Ultralight 403 is easy to operate and features a small, easily mountable hand control for throttle. It retails for $2,750, including

range if necessary.

CRUISE For serious electric enthusiasts, the Torqeedo Cruise offers 5hp, 8hp and soon to be released 20hp

Fishing Monthly recently attended the media day celebrating the new distribution of Germanengineered electric outboards, Torqeedo. FM was very impressed with the efficiency of these great motors. distribution agreement with Melbourne-based Power Equipment. Fishing Monthly recently attended a Torqeedo launch event at Sandringham Yacht Club and trialled three

industry powerhouse, Power Equipment.

Torqeedo Product Manager Jason Hodder is excited to have a brand such as Torqeedo, operating with the backing of Power

Torqeedo also offer their Power 26-104 lithium powerpack for use with their Cruise outboards. The lithium battery is under half the weight of equivalent lead acid systems.

Australian consumers will have no worries finding a dealer for the Torqeedo range anywhere in the country, now that the brand is supported and backed by Australian industry powerhouse, Power Equipment.

GST, and is also available as a package deal with Aquayak Kayaks.

TRAVEL The Torqeedo Travel 503 (1.5hp) and 1003 (3hp), as their name implies, are the perfect electric outboard for the nomadic traveller.

Featuring a modular design incorporating the main motor leg, tiller arm and integrated lithium-ion battery, the Travel series can easily be moved to and from the boat, or switched between vessels.

The integrated lithium-ion battery means you don’t need a bulky heavy leadacid battery to be mounted anywhere, simply plug and play and enjoy up to 3hp of electric propulsion.

The two models start from $2,530 including GST and spare integrated batteries are available for increased

equivalent models. Standing proud as a standalone electric outboard, the Cruise models are powered with a separate Torqeedo Lithium-Ion Power 26-104 battery, but can also be run off any suitably powered deep cycle battery on the market.

On a Quintrex 3.2m punt, even the smallest Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 (5hp) model, produces incredible torque and thrust with instant throttle response and up to planing speeds.

Starting from $5,610 including GST, these aren’t for the faint-hearted, but if you want to plane on an electric boat, these are one of the only options.

LITHIUM POWER BATTERY The Torqeedo Lithium Power 26-104 battery caught our eye. The 24v lithium power pack is

designed to power the Torqeedo Cruise range of motors, but is more than capable of powering any high output electric motor.

Weighing only 25kg, the Power 26-104 is under half the weight of equivalently powered lead acid systems.

Lithium batteries also benefit from their inherent ability to retain full output until reaching a state of no charge. Unlike lead acid batteries where power output tapers off as the battery decreases in charge.

The Torqeedo Lithium 26-104 retails for $4,290 including GST and is rated for 800 full discharge cycles before the battery will lose 25% of its capacity.

CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGY All Torqeedo electric outboards are equipped with an on-board ‘brain’ that will tell you specifics, such as ground speed, range to empty, wattage draw and current battery power remaining. The Torqeedo Torq Trac app, which is available in both the Apple and Google Play Store, links your smartphone to your Torqeedo outboard for even more information.

The To r q e e d o range of outboards are manufactured in Germany and are absolutely top quality. The motors are quiet and deliver punchy throttle response. Torqeedo specifically design every aspect of their motors for ultimate efficiency. We were impressed by the motors and look forward to seeing the Torqeedo range supported by a company with the distribution and support network of Power Equipment.

For more information on the Torqeedo range of electric outboard motors, visit Power Equipment’s website at www. powerequipment.com.au/ products/torqeedo/.

JULY 2016

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Boating made easy: the all-rounder solution BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Very few manufacturers classify their craft as all-rounders. However, quite a lot of boat owners

means there must be ample room, protection from weather, bunks to snooze on and lots of storage space under them. Certainly, provision for a toilet might well be part of the criteria, as well as enough dedicated batteries to accommodate

a portable refrigerator and the like.

This selected criteria will rule out specialised sportfishing craft such as bass boats, high-end punts, and all other open craft that have plenty of fishing room but limited or no protection

The Evolution 552 powered by a 150 Mercury 4-stroke is a compact glass craft that has sufficient desirable attributes to qualify it as an all-rounder.

As an all-rounder the Sea Fox 226 Traveller sports a lot of seating, with storage modules under each area. refer to their craft as all-rounders because the like to do a range of on-water activities, not just fishing. Such rigs see a lot of family use, which can often involve nights spent aboard in a selected anchorage, and often combine tow sports and fishing with whatever else is going on. The same craft might be used within an estuary, out on the bay or even involved in an upriver or offshore run.

Impoundment fishing? Certainly! The next 6m rig to launch at Lake Awoonga won’t be the last.

So what do we look for in a boat for general all-round use, one that can fulfil all of these functions?

Family touring and overnighting aboard the rig

JULY 2016

and offer a huge amount of fishing room.

Now that we have covered the best boat types, let’s turn our attention to power issues.

POWER IS THE KEY Larger craft require larger motors, and if tow sports are involved there’s certainly a need for power to spare. On top of this, extended cruising is easiest

would see the craft equipped with an engine near to top power specifications. A large fuel tank, say around the 200L mark, would always be an asset.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS The next factors to consider are seating, general equipment levels and work room for fishing.

Cuddy rigs usually have

The Grady White 226/300 4-stroke Yamaha combination easily fulfils multiple roles. This boat has plenty of everything, with both a galley and marine toilet inside the cuddy cab, and fishing features galore in the main cockpit area.

The Sea Fox 226 Traveller bow rider qualifies as an all-rounder due to its size, which incorporates ample storage, lots of work room, plush seating, a toilet within the console and no shortage of power from the 250 Yamaha 4-stroke.

96

from the elements.

Considering that the weather protection, storage and creature comfort side of things are paramount, it makes the most sense to opt for a cuddy cabin or centre cab rig. There are plenty of boats that

are suitable for family boating, water fun and fishing, all neatly combined in the one package. The selection of a cuddy cab rig is perfect. Coming in second is the centre cab, provided the craft is large enough to feature a cabin of some size, and maybe with optional storm covers to provide weather protection if you’re planning to do some overnighters.

Surprisingly, a larger bow rider can constitute a handy all-rounder, especially if you don’t want to spend time on the water overnight. Even these are open boats. Larger bow riders do offer plenty of storage area and lots of seating. They are usually powered to the limit as well,

Seats that stretch into decent beds help qualify the Sea Fox 226 Traveller as an allrounder, particularly for families. with a powerful engine working with plenty of revs in reserve to save fuel.

Fuel savings are always important, whether you’re off on a long coastal jaunt chasing fish or doing some serious point to point inshore cruising. My concept of an all-rounder

additional seating aft, which is often able to be lowered when fishing to increase fishing room. This is a very handy feature. Some craft even have modular lounge seating which can be moved or removed at will – brilliant!

Next comes equipment

levels. A good all rounder should have weather protected storage space, and somewhere to store the catch which can be drained at the end of the day. You’ll also want to have decent off-floor side pockets within the cockpit area to accommodate a wide

range of gear, from skis to gaffs, and to tuck your feet under when bracing against the sides if conditions are unsettled or a big fish is causing mayhem.

A bait station aft is important, as is a bait tank which can also be filled with ice and cold drinks on

long runs or when skiing or towing. Rod holders are virtually essential, both in the gunwales and on the bait station. When preparing tackle it’s very handy to have somewhere to set the rod into and then work on the business end to replace gear or set up bait correctly.

One handy thing about the Evolution 552 is the ease in which the rear seat can be dropped to enlarge the fishing area. This boat also gives users the protection of a cuddy cab with bunks, it has excellent fuel capacity and a range of other desirable attributes.

The all plate Iconic 5.5 is a compact cuddy craft that certainly can double as an all-rounder thanks to plenty of features, ample weather protection plus good power from the 140 Suzuki.

Combining all of these attributes is not difficult, and the larger the boat is, the easier it is to get all of these features in the one unit. If you’re looking at something a bit smaller you’ll find it harder to fit everything, but it’s still not out of the question; there are several manufacturers, both plate alloy and glass, that do offer useful rigs that make excellent all-rounders. Two examples that come to mind

are the Iconic 5.5 plate boat that I reviewed recently, as well as the Evolution 552 fibreglass cuddy cab.

Having said all that, the main consideration when choosing an all-rounder boat comes down to what each particular owner wants the boat to do. If you mainly want to do family trips, you can’t go past a cuddy cab. As well as creature comforts, there’s always sufficient room aft for fishing when

it’s planned.

Alternatively, a team of angling aficionados might well see the centre cab as their all-rounder. And last but not least, if there’s no intention to overnight on the water, the bow rider can be in the equation – especially if it’s equipped with a decent bimini to provide some weather protection.

Choosing an all rounder? It’s not hard at all.

The perfect boats for barra, bass or bream

You’ll find them where the fish are... since 1967 Mako 214 CC

For more than 20 years, Nitro have continually refined and delivered serious fishing boats for serious anglers.

Nitro boats are foam-filled to exceed US Coast Guard survey requirements.

This gives you the safety of level floatation, security and comfort – and additional fishing stealth – all backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Mako 234 CC Mako 284 CC

Fishing with Nitro is a blast!

Whether you’re a tournament pro or a weekend warrior, Nitro boats will ignite your passion and pack more fun into your day. Just getting there is half the fun!

The latest offerings from Mako feature the deepest internal freeboard of any boats in their class, while still providing large underfloor fish boxes, and the huge safety benefits of a true self-draining cockpit and foamfilled hull.

You’ll enjoy your offshore fishing more knowing that Mako’s 100% composite construction is totally rot-free, enabling Mako to give you the best warranty in the business – the Mako Assurance Life Time Warranty

The world’s #1 aluminium fishing boats!

Tracker’s outstanding quality and unique manufacturing process have made them the world’s largest boat builder – producing more than 40,000 aluminium fishing boats per year. Their foam-filled, unsinkable, 3mm plate alloy hulls are robotically welded to deliver superior quality at a lower cost – and are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Tracker’s Pro Guide series is designed with a deep-vee hull for exceptional performance, even in rough waters.

Their Diamond Coat finish is a Tracker exclusive that resists oxidation, providing protection and a shine lasting 70% longer. Standard features include a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance colour sounder, plus tournament-ready live well systems and rod lockers.

Call Tim Stessl now on 0429 680 504 to arrange a test drive or em:tim@flboats.com.au Hopefully it will be rough, as you’ll be stunned by the performance of these boats when the weather gets challenging!

Fishing and Leisure Boats, 165 Currumburra Road, Ashmore, QLD 4214

www.fishingandleisureboats.com.au JULY 2016

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G2 Tournament 2000 Bluewater with Suzuki 200 BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

The second generation 2000 Bluewater sits mid range in the Tournament range of pleasure craft manufactured by the busy Haines Group. At 6.29m in length and with a 2.34m in beam it’s a lot of boat, sure to be appreciated by many people – especially those who need to have a great all rounder suited just as well for family pursuits as for dedicated fishing.

The addition of an optional hard top, built on a very strong framework, is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the new G2 Tournament 2000 Bluewater range. Next comes extra cockpit fishing room – some 22cm – plus substantial redesign of the transom area to incorporate a locking door, live bait tank, fold down rear lounge plus hatches that provide access to both batteries and bilge for utmost end user convenience.

Up front, there’s 98

JULY 2016

provision for a drum winch to handle ground tackle although the option of walking around the hard top via the cuddy’s wide side decks is certainly viable in calm conditions.

I used the walkaround to exit the craft onto a beach and it was quite satisfactory.

Tucked below the massive hard top, the skipper and mate’s seats, on their massive hinged storage boxes, are far enough apart to allow easy cabin access via a sliding door.

Bunks within the cabin are large enough to sleep on, an infill is available, and useful storage under bunks is sure to be appreciated, as is be the cabin’s full-length side shelving. A Porta Potti is also available.

At the helm the skipper and mate will appreciate the comfort and support of the Bluewater’s slideadjustable bucket seats.

The sliding windows on each side of the craft’s four-piece, wiperequipped windscreen will be great in hot weather or

in times of bad visibility.

Whether seated or standing, the visibility from the helm area is perfect. The Tournament’s 3m long, full-length cockpit side pockets, of very generous capacity, extend right up to the cuddy cab so both skipper and mate can easily access the storage area by their sides. Very handy indeed!

The Tournament’s raised dash layout is as

on the dash went to the craft’s big Garmin GPS map 7407XSV unit. It was located above the wheel with banks of switches somewhat lower.

Up to four anglers could work in the large, 800mm high cockpit of the G2 Tournament Blue Water (the boat’s rating is for six people).

Highlights of the cockpit include generous amounts of side padding,

SPECIFICATIONS Length: ......................................................................6.29m Length overall (including bowsprit):........................6.5m Height on trailer:........................................... approx. 2.4m Height on trailer with hardtop:...............................2.85m Beam:.........................................................................2.34m Hull weight: .............................................................. 960kg Power rating: . .................................................. 130-200hp Max persons: ................................................................... 6 modern as tomorrow, with state-of-the-art dedicated Suzuki gauges that provide every possible piece of information, from engine revs to helm positioning, even exact global position!

Suzuki certainly packed a lot of usefulness in those gauges!

The pride of place

stainless foot rests atop the long side pockets, two rod holders per side in gunwale tops, along with large hand rails, a non-skid cockpit floor plus a boarding gate to port.

The Tournament’s livewell was to starboard within the redesigned transom, while a drop

down three-person aft seat provided comfort underway, yet could be lowered when fishing to form a brace point. Incidentally, the Tournament 2000 Bluewater’s 960kg hull proved very stable at rest, well suited to all manner of fishing or family pursuits.

A large bait board aft was also equipped with rod holders. Adding those to the six mounted on the rear of the fibreglass hard top and those in the gunwales brought the total of rod holders aboard to 12.

Plenty of rod storage there!

Engines range from 130-200hp and power was courtesy of a Suzuki’s new four cylinder DF200A. Interestingly, the new 2.9L four weighs 30kg less than its six cylinder 200 counterpart, and on the transom of the Tournament it certainly proved its worth.

Planing occurred at 2800 rpm, travelling at 17.8km/h. I saw a sensible cruising speed of 38.5km/h (3500rpm) with the Suzuki 200 sipping 16.75L per hour. Full throttle application saw 76.4km/h recorded, 6300rpm on the Suzuki gauge.

The Tournament was a pleasure to drive thanks to electric/hydraulic steering, which was extremely direct yet fingertip light. Ride and handling were spot on, as expected of a 21° vee hull with plenty of grip on the water. This boat is well suited to bay, estuary and offshore fishing as well as all manner of family boating.

The finish, as per usual with Haines Group products, was up with the very best on offer anywhere, and the hull’s 10-year structural warranty should please owners as well.

The displayed price for the 2000 Bluewater is $104,500.

More info is also available at www.tournament pleasureboats.com.au.

• Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

Angler-friendly features abound in the Tournament 2000 Bluewater Gen 2, including massive side pockets with footrest, cockpit side coaming and handy grab rail.

Strong under-hull strakes, visible here where they start at the bow section, serve to keep the Tournament level and stable at rest, and right on track underway.

Here you can see the Tournament’s clean lines, large work area for anglers plus the very tidy arrangements around the transom.

A drop down seat in the cockpit serves to provide a more spacious area. This will greatly aid fishing, and provides seats for up to three people underway. In this photo you can also see the boarding gate, bait board and bait tank to starboard within the full height transom.

There’s room to spare on the dash area for even larger sounders or nav aids. The test boat’s layout featured state-of-the-art Suzuki gauges and the Garmin 7407XSV unit, on upper levels, wheel and switches are located lower down.

Standing to drive is easy when you have a sliding helm seat with a drop down bolster section. Note the size of the seat storage boxes, strength of the hard top supports and the neat fitment of the sliding cabin door.

A cavernous under seat storage box is a handy feature of the G2 Tournament 2000.

The cabin offers somewhere to have a spell out of the weather, or can be used for gear storage underway. There’s ample lighting, big side pockets and enough floor depth for a Porta Potti to be installed.

JULY 2016

99

Stessco SunSeeker 540 with Yamaha 100hp

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Boat testing in Melbourne on a dark, drizzly ‘Melbourne’ day – well, it had to happen eventually.

Luckily, there were a couple of boats with canvas canopies to test. One of them was the ironically named SunSeeker 540.

Chelsea Yamaha’s Rob Neely and I sat, with the rain spattering on the canvas, talking about this new model. You can watch the full interview by scanning the QR code on this page on your smartphone or by visiting the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel.

Rob’s a passionate Yamaha dealer and he loves setting up his Stessco boats PERFORMANCE RPM................... Km/L Idle (700)................. 4.5 1000....................... 5.3 2000....................... 2.6 3000....................... 1.7 4000....................... 2.6 5000....................... 2.1 5800....................... 1.5 *Propped with aluminium 13¼” x 17” propeller

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JULY 2016

so that they run well and pump out plenty of tunes.

The Sun Seeker 540 did both, in style. Melbourne’s weather was nice enough to fine up for the water-test part of the day.

Powered by a 100hp Yamaha 4-stroke, the Stessco SunSeeker 540 reached 56km/h, with an economical cruising range of 35004500rpm. With economies reaching nearly 3km/L, the Yammy sure showed its frugality at cruising speeds. If you’re after more speed, the hull is rated to a maximum of 115hp.

If you take away the optional bait station mounted on the transom, you’d be fooled into thinking that this is a family boat. Boarding from the stern is easy, with the foldout ladder, wide duckboards and transom door. The ‘V-birth’ cabin seems larger than it actually is without a passenger side bulkhead.

Continuing the family friendly theme, this boat comes on a single axle Stessco trailer and most family-sized cars readily tow it. Priced in the low $40Ks, it also fits into many family budgets for a boat over 5m in length.

Looking forward though,

you may find it difficult to find the Stessco Sun Seeker 540 in the Stessco range.

That’s because it’ll be called the 550 in future catalogues and Stessco ranges.

According to Stessco’s Adrian Beil, there are also some transom improvements that you’ll see in the current models.

Regardless, the Stessco switches out of ‘family’

mode and into ‘fishing’ mode pretty easily. Deep gunwales allow you to nestle up to the side of the boat when dropping a line offshore, and the addition of the bait station gives you somewhere to consolidate the mess that chopping bait can make.

There’s plenty of cockpit space for at least three to fish quite comfortably and an inbuilt, plumbed live

There’s nothing worse than a tiny hatch to access the anchor. If you get stuck in this one, seriously consider fewer pies.

SPECIFICATIONS Deadrise at transom......................................... 17.5° Hull.....................................................................4mm Sides..................................................................3mm LOA..................................................................5.55m Beam................................................................2.26m Depth...............................................................1.15m Max hp................................................................. 115 Max Transom weight....................................... 180kg Capacity....................................................6 persons Hull weight......................................................580kg bait tank takes the hassle out of keeping your live bait kicking.

Out on the water, the hull didn’t seem overly trim sensitive. Some boats – especially aluminium – like a lot of trim. This isn’t one of them. It cruised along nicely through most of the speed ranges with little difference to ride or economy.

On the trailer, the single axle helps to keep the price down and adds an element of manoeuvrability if you need to manhandle your boat into a tight parking space.

Stessco make their own trailers and they’re designed to complement their hulls.

More information on the Stessco range can be found at www.stessco.com.au. To check out the Stesscos that Chelsea Yamaha set up, call

(03) 9772 1212, or visit www. chelseayamaha.com.au.

• Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

VIDEO

Scan this QR code to see the full interview with Rob Neely from Chelsea Yamaha.

From above, you could nearly mistake this Stessco for a fibreglass boat. There’s plenty of space to get out of the weather too, which was handy on the test day.

Continuing the theme of simplicity, the helm has all of the basics. Some dry, under-seat storage is handy.

The 100HP Yamaha 4-stroke was as quiet and frugal as always. Spinning a 17” aluminium prop, the Stessco hit a top speed of 56km/h at 5800 RPM, although the best economy was between 3500-4500 RPM.

There’s nothing complicated about the cabin, and with the infill, it’s pretty beamy up there. The lack of a bulkhead in front of the passenger makes it feel very spacious, if not private.

Carrying 16.5° of deadrise through the transom softens the ride in the Stessco. Check out those duckboards. Ladder + duckboard + transom door = easy loading.

A single axle, braked, galvanised trailer keeps the costs down. Nearly all family cars will tow the SunSeeker.

The small kill tank/storage box between the driver and passenger seats can be drained into the bilge.

The test boat was fitted with a simple bait board option and a couple of rod holders. The transom door makes rear loading easy.

Rob from Chelsea Yamaha loves his sound systems, so here’s a solution – speakers in the rear seat box! I wonder if they act like a Hydrowave?

A plumbed livewell on the starboard side will keep livies kicking all day if that’s what you fish with.

JULY 2016

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What’s New BOATING

1

SIMRAD EVO2/ RADAR BUNDLE

Simrad has announced its latest deal: a discounted introductory price of SRP $3129 on the NSS7 evo2/3G Radar bundle, saving customers over $800. The promotion will last until 31 July, 2016.

Order books for the bundles will open on 9 May, 2016, with shipments scheduled to start immediately.

The Simrad NSS evo2 features TouchSensible multi-touch control with logical keypad input and push-to-select rotary knob for precision control in any sea conditions.

The system offers quick and seamless multitouch access to performance features with an intuitive icon-driven menu interface. Charts can be moved, zoomed and personalised with familiar tablet-like gestures, while new pre-set split-screens and data panel configurations are optimised for widescreen viewing.

Simrad 3G radar boasts a 24NM range, unmatched resolution and clutter reduction, extremely low emissions, InstantOn technology, low power consumption, and simple installation and ease of use. www.simrad-yachting.com

2

GARMIN GMR FANTOM

Garmin’s GMR Fantom is the first 40W solid-state, pulse compression, Doppler marine radar series.

Available in a 4’ (1.8° beam width) or 6’ (1.25° beam width) open array, the Fantom incorporates Garmin’s MotionScope technology, which uses the Doppler effect to detect and highlight moving targets and track weather in a single ping. Realtime moving targets are highlighted with an easyto-see colour, and the Auto Bird Gain lets boaters easily locate feeding birds.

Fantom delivers high resolution while maximising energy on targets, and pulse expansion maximises target size. The Echo Trails setting can help identify the direction of the moving targets.

These radars deliver high sensitivity for both close- and long-range (from 6m to 72nm) without compromise in reliability. Dynamic Auto Gain and Dynamic Sea Filter continually adjust to surroundings, water and weather conditions, while MARPA settings enable the tracking of 10 targets simultaneously.

Fantom is compatible with the GPSMAP 7400 series, 8000 series and 8400 series.

Price: SRP from AU$10,999 www.garmin.com/en-AU

3

RAYMARINE PAIRS WITH NAVIONICS

Raymarine and Navionics have collaborated to make new features available on Raymarine’s LightHouse II based multifunction displays, including Navionics’ Dock-to-dock Autorouting, SonarChart Live and Advanced Map Options.

Dock-to-dock Autorouting creates detailed routes through narrow channels. When you choose your start and end points, Autorouting calculates a route that takes into consideration chart data, navigation aids, and depth.

SonarChart Live works with Raymarine multifunction displays, letting you create 0.5m HD bathymetry maps in real time. You can engage your sonar to survey new areas or places where bottom conditions have changed, and create new bathymetric charts that appear instantly. You can also upload sonar data and download updated charts easily. New Advanced Map Options let you highlight shallow areas, select a fishing range, and adjust SonarChart contour density.

The updates are available for Raymarine a, c, e, eS and gS Series MFD models produced after 2011, updated with LightHouse II Release 17 software. www.raymarine.com/lighthouse

4

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

POWERED BY

TIMBER-FREE CRUISE CRAFT

1

Every Cruise Craft boat is now 100% timber free, completely eliminating the opportunity for timber rot.

In a conventional fibreglass hull, timber was principally used in the transom and sub-floor system. However, after extensive R&D, Cruise Craft now has construction process which provides a 100% composite Cruise Craft boat.

The composite build process focuses upon two key areas of the hull – the transom and the sub floor system. All Cruise Craft models now have a full composite, rot-free transom. This is manufactured by laying up panels to create a thick sheet of composite material to suit each specific Cruise Craft model.

In the sub floor, Cruise Craft’s Matrix Grid Construction process is employed.

Formed from composite material to profile the cavity between the inside of the hull and underside of the fully moulded fibreglass floor liner, the sub-floor composite matrix provides rigidity and support for both the cockpit floor and the hull itself. www.cruisecraft.com.au

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3

LOWRANCE WINTER SALE

Available from 1 June to 20 September, Lowrance is dropping the RRP by $200 on each sku across the HDS Gen3 range.

The HDS Gen3 is available in 7”, 9” and 12” models, and has enhanced, built-in fishfinder technologies. With an improved user interface plus multi-touch and full keypad operation, the HDS Gen3 series provides quicker, fingertip access to all features – along with an enhanced processor for more responsive performance. The commands are easy to learn, and features such as scrolling menus, cursor assist, snap-to setting markers and preview panes are similar to operating a smartphone or tablet.

The promotional pricing is: HDS-7 Gen3 - $1799, HDS-9 Gen3 - $3099, and HDS-12 Gen3 - $4499, all with 83/200 and LSS transducers. Options are also available for head only and alternative transducer skus. www.lowrance.com

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2

4

5

YELLOWFIN RANGE REVAMPED

Quintrex has revamped its range of Yellowfin plate boats.

The new range is made up of eight new models: 5800, 6200, 6700 and 7400 all available with a hard or soft top. The 6200, 6700 and 7400 have 6mm plate bottom sheets (5mm for the 5800), 5mm transom material and 4mm side sheets.

There’s a completely new hull design including a variable deadrise to 19° at the transom, and 1.2m freeboard. The checker plate floor is fully welded, with box section floor frame offering extra strength.

The self-draining floor features a no return scupper drainage system, and the newly designed full transom extends the waterline length, giving more lift and offering superior stability and buoyancy.

The design allows for larger outboards, and the Evinrude G2 sits further back on the transom, freeing up space on the duckboard.

There’s a massive list of other features and upgrades, and you can read all about them on the Quintrex website. www.quintrex.com.au

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

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103

BAIT & TACKLE WEST COAST

Melbourne Marine Centre (03) 9703 2003

U-Make-Em Soft Plastics www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au

Regal Marine (03) 9874 4624

Korr Lighting www.korrlighting.com.au

Streaker Marine (03) 9729 8288

She Left www.hdvcs.com.au

Triple M Marine (03) 9465 8787

Portland Bait & Tackle (03) 5523 5213

Warragul Marine (03) 5623 6250

Compleat Angler Portland (03) 5521 1844

Wes Frost Marine (03) 5976 4622

TRADES AND SERVICES ADVERTISING

EAST COAST

CENTRAL

Inverloch Marine (03) 5674 1502

Hooked On Bait and Tackle Hoppers Crossing (03) 9748 3811

FRESHWATER

Fishing Fever Mordialloc (03) 9590 9899 Compleat Angler Rosebud (03) 5981 1994

Boats and More Shepparton (03) 5822 2108

JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883

Boats and More Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Compleat Angler Ringwood (03) 9870 7792

Eades Xtreme Marine Echuca (03) 5482 2333

The Flyfisher Melbourne (03) 9621 1246

BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

EAST COAST Always Angling Traralgon (03) 5174 8544

SAMPLE AD

FRESHWATER

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Compleat Angler Echuca (03) 5482 1992

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

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

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Compleat Angler Shepparton (03) 5822 2180 Compleat Angler Wangaratta (03) 5722 4622

MARINE MECHANICS

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

Naaj Marine 0421 955 371

SCREEN PRINTING

Unique Marine Accessories (03) 5427 1802 CMC Marine Sales www.cmcsales.com.au

Logan Specialised Screen Printing (07) 5546 4107

Hunter Marine Boat Builders (03) 5032 2320

BOAT IMPORTS

CENTRAL Chelsea Yamaha (03) 9772 1212

Boat Import USA 0435 476 177

Kris Oakley Marine Services (03) 9794 5524

CHANDLERY & ACCESSORIES

JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883 JV Marine World Laverton (03) 9368 7100

Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014

The Outboard Workshop (03) 9783 0840

pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Nautical Marine S TO M E R

NTEE GUARA CU

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.

BOAT TRAILER

Salt-away 1800 091 172

D

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

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SERVIC

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104

BOAT HIRE Boab Boat Hire Shepparton (03) 5822 2108

“Over 250 patterns to choose from”

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME

PH: 03 5984 1666 W: nauticalmarine.com.au E: nautical@surf.net.au Nautical Marine: 139 - 141 Hotham Rd Sorrento Vic

BMS Marine (03) 9731 7269

Lake Eildon Houseboats (03) 9397 6977

Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au

FINANCE AVAILABLE

CENTRAL

Specialty Fishing Products www.specialtyfishing.com.au

ORDER ONLINE www.adrenalinflies.com.au

Nautical Marine (03) 5984 1666

Techni Ice (03) 9783 1922

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Email : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Boab Boat Hire Echuca (03) 5482 1992

HOLIDAY RENTAL WEST COAST Warrnambool Holiday Park (03) 5562 5031

EAST COAST

SHALLOW INLET CARAVAN PARK On the Waters Edge

FRESH BAIT | HIRE BOATS | ICE

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

FREE ADVICE ON WHERE THEY’RE BITING

OPEN

from dawn to dusk

7 DAYS

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

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

03 5687 1385

Shallow Inlet Caravan Park (03) 5687 1385

This section in V&TFM Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching.

JULY 2016

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 Short walk to • Coffee shops

Calypso Fishing Charters, Tootgarook (03) 5985 8463

Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080

Geelong Charters & Fishing Trips, Geelong (03) 5275 7107

Narooma Charters, Narooma 0407 909 111

Katrina Louise Charters, Cheltenham 0402 828 140

O’Brien Charter Service, Bermagui 0407 214 124

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

FISHING GUIDES NSW SOUTH COAST

Pro Red Fishing Charters 0421 442 775 Rip Charters Fishing Trips, Sorrento (03) 5984 3664

Wilderness Fishing Tours, Mallacoota 0424 625 160

Saltwater Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 4888

Aussie Fish Estuary Adventures (02) 6495 9902 or 0400 062 504

Ask us about our LONG RANGE

www.marlocamping.com.au

FISHING

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

ADVENTURES!

For Bookings call

IDEAL GIFT!

0418 107 071

www.sharkmen.com.au Sharkmen Charters, Carrum 0418 107 071

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

St Kilda Fishing Charters, St Kilda (03) 9770 2200 Western Port Fishing Charters, Hastings (03) 9769 5544 37-41 Sydenham Parade, Bemm River 3889 Ph: (03) 5158 4233 – 0427 584233 E: bemmaccomm@bigpond.com www.bemmaccommodation.com.au

EAST COAST

DVD’S -

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

Bemm River Holiday Accommodation & Boat Hire, Bemm River

Far Out Charters, McLoughlins Beach 0428 401 819

(03) 5158 4233 or 0427 584 233

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

Lazy Acre Log Cabins 1, 2 & 3 BEDROOM SPACIOUS COTTAGES ♦ Solar Pool ♦ Free Wi-Fi ♦ Air-Con/Heating ♦ Fishing Advice ♦ Boat Parking

Razorback Bluewater Charters, Port Albert (03) 5183 2691 Quiet central location Ideal for all the family Close to 90 mile beach 5min drive to boat ramps

FRESHWATER

Series 3 through 9

$9.95 each GST INC. - with FREE P&H

1800 228 244

Angling Expeditions Victoria, Tawonga (03) 5754 1466 Highland Trout Lakes, Ballarat (03) 5368 9574 Millbrook Lakes Lodge, Ballarat (03) 5334 0404

TASMANIA & FLINDERS ISLAND Ausprey Tours, Launceston (03) 6630 2612 (03) 5155 1323 ♦ 0418 516 555 ♦ 35 Roadknight Street, LAKES ENTRANCE

Gone Fishing Charters, St Helens (03) 6376 1553 Fish Wild Tasmania, Hobart 0418 348 223

Lazy Acre Log Cabins, Lakes Entrance (03) 5155 1323

QUEENSLAND Cairns Bed and Boat 0418 772 751

CHARTER BOATS EAST GIPPSLAND

Flinders Island Adventures, Flinders Island (03) 6359 4507 Trout Territory, Northern Midlands (03) 6397 5001

NSW SOUTH COAST

EXTENDED QLD REEF TRIPS

East Gippsland Charters 0400 564 032

WEST COAST Portland Fishing Charters, Portland (03) 5523 3020 Shipwreck Coast Diving & Charters, Warrnambool (03) 5561 6108

CENTRAL South-West Fishing Charters, Portland 0418 306 714

FOR UP TO 10 PEOPLE •Swains Reef •Port Clinton •Stanage Bay •Island Head Creek •Shoalwater Bay •Pearl Bay P: 0419 789 921 www.inyadreamscharters.com

Gone Fishing Charters 0409 007 068

Inya Dreams Fishing Charters, 0419 789 921

Off The Hook Fishing Charters 0419 554 916

Reel Affair, Merimbula freecall 1800 233 247

Able Fishing & Charters, Williamstown (03) 9502 3777

Espirit Charters, Bermagui (02) 6493 4104 or 0407 260 110

ACE Fishing Charters, Bonbeach (03) 9773 4183

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

Adamas Fishing Charters, Barwon Heads (03) 5254 3320

Headland Fishing Adventures, Merimbula (02) 6495 1134

Big Red Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 1800 805 587

Island Charters, Narooma (02) 4476 1047 or 0408 428 857

Blue Magic Fishing Charters, Rowville (03) 9759 5301

K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681

Fishing isn’t only about the fish you catch; it’s also about the places you get to visit.

Here Karl Jung is fishing Frenches Narrow at Marlo, East Gippsland.

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

JULY 2016

105

Victorian Tide Times

2016

POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA LAT 38° 18’ LONG 144° 37’ Times and Heights of High and Low Waters JUNE JULY

MAY Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

Local Time AUGUST Time

2 0357 1115

17 0324 1052

3 0505 1215

18 0432 1149

4 0000 0605

19 0533 1240

5 0059 0658

20 0036 0626

6 0152 0745

21 0130 0714

7 0240 0829

22 0220 0800

8 0324 0907

23 0308 0846

9 0404 0945

24 0356 0932

25 0319 0900

10 0444 1020

25 0444 1017

11 0428 1010

26 0405 0945

11 0523 1057

26 0536 1103

27 0415 0956

12 0514 1048

27 0453 1030

12 0605 1134

27 0633 1149

13 0540 1116

28 0502 1040

13 0602 1126

28 0546 1116

13 0005 0652

28 0024 0738

29 0429 1010

14 0638 1157

29 0555 1127

14 0006 0654

29 0647 1204

14 0044 0746

29 0117 0844

30 0514 1050

15 0041 0739

30 0006 0658

15 0046 0748

30 0042 0755

15 0128 0845

30 0223 0949

1 0017 0706

16 0129 0839

1 0058 0809

16 0130 0844

2 0616 1151

17 0109 0810

2 0112 0819

17 0221 0937

2 0155 0921

17 0221 0942

3 0032 0716

18 0208 0915

3 0214 0937

18 0321 1034

3 0301 1030

18 0321 1040

4 0128 0830

19 0313 1018

4 0323 1048

19 0420 1128

4 0413 1134

19 0423 1135

5 0235 0951

20 0415 1117

5 0432 1153

20 0513 1215

5 0519 1234

20 0519 1226

6 0347 1107

21 0509 1208

6 0536 1253

21 0600 1259

6 0015 0618

21 0003 0608

7 0458 1213

22 0555 1252

7 0036 0634

22 0034 0641

7 0112 0712

22 0057 0652

8 0010 0600

23 0027 0635

8 0130 0728

23 0121 0720

8 0204 0801

23 0146 0733

9 0103 0656

24 0109 0714

9 0221 0818

24 0205 0758

9 0254 0847

24 0233 0816

10 0154 0748

25 0149 0750

10 0310 0907

25 0249 0835

10 0342 0930

11 0242 0839

26 0229 0826

11 0359 0952

26 0331 0914

12 0329 0928

27 0309 0900

12 0447 1035

13 0416 1014

28 0348 0933

14 0505 1059

15 0600 1142

0.66 1.33 TU 1244 0.56 1959 1.44 0.64 1.35 WE 1347 0.64 2101 1.42 0.58 1.41 TH 1501 0.70 2207 1.43 0.49 1.52 FR 1623 0.72 2311 1.47 0.38 1.64 SA 1738 0.70 1.52 0.28 SU 1312 1.75 1840 0.66 1.57 0.21 MO 1405 1.82 1933 0.63 1.60 0.18 TU 1456 1.85 2023 0.60

1.61 0.19 WE 1545 1.83 2111 0.58 1.59 0.24 TH 1631 1.78 2157 0.58 1.54 0.31 FR 1717 1.71 2243 0.59

1.48 0.41 SA 1803 1.63 2330 0.61

1.41 0.51 SU 1849 1.55

Time

m

16 0220 0949

16 0017 0701

1.35 0.49 MO 1903 1.48

Time

1 0243 1011

1 0529 1108

1.38 0.43 SU 1815 1.53 2346 0.67

m

0.64 1.35 MO 1226 0.61 1936 1.47 0.66 1.31 TU 1315 0.71 2025 1.41

0.67 1.31 WE 1413 0.80 2115 1.37 0.65 1.35 TH 1523 0.86 2206 1.35 0.61 1.41 FR 1637 0.87 2256 1.35

0.55 1.48 SA 1740 0.85 2344 1.38

0.49 1.56 SU 1828 0.82

1.41 0.44 MO 1330 1.63 1909 0.78 1.44 0.40 TU 1406 1.68 1947 0.75

1.47 0.38 WE 1442 1.71 2024 0.72 1.48 0.38 TH 1518 1.72 2100 0.70 1.48 0.39 FR 1555 1.71 2137 0.68

1.47 0.41 SA 1633 1.69 2214 0.67

1.45 0.44 SU 1712 1.65 2251 0.65

1.43 0.49 MO 1752 1.61 2331 0.63

31 0604 1136

1.41 0.56 TU 1837 1.56

0.60 1.41 WE 1229 0.64 1928 1.52 0.56 1.43 TH 1329 0.73 2025 1.49 0.50 1.49 FR 1439 0.80 2128 1.48 0.44 1.57 SA 1556 0.84 2233 1.49 0.36 1.67 SU 1711 0.82 2337 1.52 0.29 1.76 MO 1816 0.77 1.55 0.25 TU 1347 1.81 1913 0.72 1.58 0.24 WE 1438 1.84 2004 0.67 1.59 0.27 TH 1526 1.82 2054 0.64 1.57 0.32 FR 1611 1.78 2142 0.61

1.53 0.40 SA 1653 1.72 2228 0.60

1.48 0.48 SU 1733 1.66 2313 0.60

1.42 0.57 MO 1813 1.59 2357 0.61 1.38 0.67 TU 1851 1.52

0.62 1.35 WE 1240 0.76 1931 1.46

0.62 1.34 TH 1329 0.84 2015 1.41 0.62 1.36 FR 1427 0.91 2103 1.38

0.60 1.41 SA 1536 0.95 2156 1.36

0.56 1.47 SU 1648 0.95 2251 1.36

0.51 1.54 MO 1747 0.91 2345 1.39 0.46 1.61 TU 1835 0.86

1.42 0.42 WE 1340 1.67 1918 0.81 1.45 0.40 TH 1419 1.71 1959 0.76 1.48 0.39 FR 1459 1.73 2038 0.71

1.49 0.39 SA 1537 1.73 2117 0.66

1.50 0.42 SU 1615 1.72 2157 0.62

1.49 0.46 MO 1652 1.69 2237 0.57 1.48 0.52 TU 1731 1.65 2320 0.53

1.47 0.60 WE 1814 1.60 0.49 1.46 TH 1217 0.68 1900 1.56

0.46 1.47 FR 1313 0.77 1955 1.52 0.43 1.51 SA 1417 0.85 2056 1.49 0.40 1.56 SU 1530 0.88 2204 1.47 0.36 1.63 MO 1646 0.87 2312 1.49 0.32 1.69 TU 1755 0.81 1.51 0.30 WE 1329 1.74 1855 0.74 1.54 0.30 TH 1419 1.77 1948 0.68 1.55 0.33 FR 1505 1.77 2039 0.62 1.54 0.37 SA 1546 1.74 2126 0.58 1.52 0.44 SU 1624 1.70 2209 0.56

1.48 0.51 MO 1658 1.65 2249 0.55 1.44 0.58 TU 1730 1.59 2328 0.54

1.40 0.66 WE 1803 1.54 0.54 1.37 TH 1206 0.74 1839 1.48 0.55 1.36 FR 1249 0.82 1919 1.43

0.56 1.36 SA 1339 0.89 2007 1.38

0.56 1.37 SU 1438 0.95 2100 1.35

0.54 1.41 MO 1548 0.97 2201 1.33 0.51 1.47 TU 1659 0.94 2304 1.35

0.47 1.54 WE 1758 0.88 1.38 0.42 TH 1312 1.61 1847 0.80 1.43 0.39 FR 1355 1.66 1931 0.72

1.48 0.37 SA 1436 1.70 2014 0.63

1.52 0.38 SU 1515 1.71 2057 0.56

1.54 0.40 MO 1554 1.71 2139 0.49 1.55 0.45 TU 1631 1.68 2223 0.43

1.54 0.51 WE 1710 1.65 2307 0.39 1.52 0.59 TH 1751 1.60 2353 0.37 1.49 0.67 FR 1837 1.55

0.37 1.47 SA 1256 0.76 1930 1.49

0.39 1.49 MO 1508 0.86 2145 1.42 0.39 1.53 TU 1628 0.84 2256 1.42 0.37 1.58 WE 1739 0.78 1.45 0.36 TH 1309 1.63 1841 0.69 1.48 0.35 FR 1358 1.67 1933 0.62 1.51 0.37 SA 1440 1.68 2021 0.55 1.52 0.40 SU 1516 1.67 2103 0.51 1.52 0.45 MO 1549 1.64 2142 0.48 1.50 0.50 TU 1619 1.60 2218 0.46 1.47 0.56 WE 1650 1.56 2253 0.45 1.44 0.62 TH 1722 1.52 2329 0.46 1.40 0.68 FR 1757 1.47

0.47 1.37 SA 1214 0.75 1836 1.41

0.49 1.35 SU 1257 0.82 1921 1.36

0.50 1.34 MO 1348 0.88 2015 1.31

31 0137 0903

0.38 1.47 SU 1356 0.83 2033 1.44

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

m

0.52 1.35 TU 1452 0.91 2119 1.29

0.51 1.39 WE 1605 0.89 2229 1.30 0.48 1.46 TH 1715 0.82 2336 1.35 0.43 1.53 FR 1813 0.72

1.42 0.39 SA 1327 1.60 1902 0.60

1.50 0.37 SU 1409 1.65 1947 0.49

1.57 0.37 MO 1450 1.67 2032 0.39 1.61 0.39 TU 1530 1.67 2118 0.32

1.62 0.43 WE 1608 1.65 2203 0.27 1.61 0.49 TH 1647 1.62 2249 0.26 1.56 0.55 FR 1730 1.56 2335 0.27

1.51 0.63 SA 1817 1.50

0.31 1.45 SU 1239 0.71 1913 1.43

0.37 1.42 MO 1337 0.77 2019 1.37 0.42 1.41 TU 1450 0.80 2133 1.34

31 0339 1053

0.45 1.43 WE 1613 0.77 2245 1.35

Last Quarter

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

106

JULY 2016

the

WHITTLEY party

#

VOTE

1

whittley.com.au JULY 2016

107

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www.mercurymarine.com.au 108

JULY 2016