Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly - December 2013 by Fishing Monthly

COD SEASON OPENS • SUMMER SEASON BEGINS WITH A BANG

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Snapper poachers caught • Latest tournament results • Introduction to Goulburn Lures •

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December 2013, Vol. 11, No. 1

Contents WEST COAST

From the Editor’s Desk... The flip side of a long hot summer is that our saltwater fishing steps up a gear or three. In the past few years we have seen coastal water temperatures rise to a point that species considered as rare visitors being a common sight, if not catch. You only have to cast your mind to the excellent run of striped marlin on the Victorian coast, the excellent numbers of yellowtail kingfish from Marlo to Hobart and the huge rise in King George whiting numbers in Tasmania, from Stanley on the north west coast to the Derwent down south. This is great, as not only are there more species to chase, it also broadens the skills that anglers should be learning to make the most of this bonanza. I know spring was wet and cold, and very windy, (we even had frosts in early November where I live on the Tamar in Tasmania), but all

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Port Phillip West 15 Geelong 16 Port Phillip East 18 Port Phillip North East 20 Rosebud 22 Port Phillip Offshore 24 Phillip Island 24 Western Port South 26 Western Port North 27

EAST COAST Welshpool 30 Inverloch 30 McLoughlins Beach 32 Ninety-Mile Beach 32 Gippsland Lakes 34 Lakes Entrance 34 Bemm River 36 Marlo 36

NSW SOUTH COAST Eden 38 Bermagui 38 Narooma 40 Merimbula 40

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Horsham 46 Mildura 48 Robinvale 49 Bendigo 49 Ballarat 50 Crater Lakes 52 Echuca 53 Shepparton 56 Yarra Valley 58 Eildon 59 Yarrawonga 59 Kiewa Valley 60 Melbourne Metro 60 Wangaratta 61 Jindabyne 62 Central Gippsland 63 West/South Gippsland 63

TASMANIA Launceston 72 Southern Highlands 72 Central Highlands 73 North West Coast 73 George Town 74 Tasmania Offshore 74 Hobart 75 St Helens 75

REGULAR FEATURES

Roger Miles with a cracking cod, the target of many anglers come December 1. A Cod Hunter Fishing Tours photo

ION

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Production: Matthew Roberts, Melissa Carroll, Karen Millward, Jenna Moir

Sub-Editors: Jacqui Thomas, Nicole Penfold

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Editor: Neil Grose vfmeditor@fishingmonthly.com.au

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Managing Editor: Stephen Booth sbooth@fishingmonthly.com.au

Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801

and a half years, our writer numbers and the areas we cover have increased significantly, as has our readership and our general standing in the fishing community. I’ll still be doing some bits and pieces behind the scenes and writing some features and reports, but my day-to-day involvement has come to an end. Magazines like this don’t prosper without writers, and good features and excellent area reports are at the heart of this magazine and the reason why our readership is at the high level it is, and I thank every writer, past and present, for their help and support. I am very hopeful that this will continue, and that the magazine will continue to grow. I’ll see you on the water somewhere, sometime.

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the pointers are for a brutal summer. Keep and eye out, play it safe with fire and make the most of what I reckon will be awesome coastal sport. I’ll finish off this editorial with some sad news, for me at least. After four and a half years as editor of Victorian and Tasmanian Fishing Monthly, my position has been made redundant, as has the position of NSW Fishing Monthly editor. I’m certainly not going to go into the details of why, but suffice to say it was due to circumstances well beyond the control of the editorial team. From the January issue, Steven Booth will take over responsibility of V&TFM as well as his duties with QFM, so he is going to be a busy man! I’m extremely happy with the way this magazine has grown in the past four

CENTRAL

PRO

I suspect that this summer season will be remembered for a great many things, some good, some not so much. Already we have seen some horrendous bush fires in NSW, and with a reasonably wet winter and spring in much of Victoria and Tasmania, I and many others will not be surprised to see a very bad fire season. While conditions in the bush are pretty good at the moment, it will only take a week or so of hot weather and strong winds to dry everything out and create a massive fuel load. This is dangerous on so many levels, and as many of our readers frequent the bush a lot chasing fish, we must be vigilant of fire, and also do our bit to be observant of those who might seek to light fires, either intentionally or unwittingly.

Robe 8 Warrnambool 12 Cobden 14 Apollo Bay 14

ING TRADE

Back to Basics 37 Boating 98 Chappy’s Hotspot 55 Cooking with Jamo 76 Fun Page 70 Flyfishing Scene 68 Spearfishing 64 Tasmanian Lake Levels 74 Tournament News 77 Trade and Services Guide 96 Victorian Dam Levels 55 Victorian Tide Times 100 What’s New Boating 99 What’s New Fishing 92

SPECIAL FEATURES GPS guide to Port Phillip Cod opening special Goulburn Lures Sun protection V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

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A GPS guide to Port Phillip WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Not every angler has the ability to hit the water on their only day off work to instantly get into the action. Finding fish is often the hardest part of the day and while many anglers have a knack of ‘hitting the mother load’ as soon as they drop the pick, others can often go home empty-handed day after day. Finding fish can be a

daunting task, especially if you don’t understand your sounder. Not everyone is technologically intelligent, some in fact can’t even turn on the television or DVD player and getting to know your sounder is even harder when you have to try and decipher the hieroglyphics in the unit’s manual. If there is one thing that people can do, that’s plug in some coordinates and head to a GPS mark. A GPS mark is not necessarily going to lead you to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but it will

Early morning is a great time to fish for snapper, especially in the Frankston area.

provide you with a starting point in which fish wont be too far away, especially if it is a reef. Many anglers think that a GPS mark is where all the fish in the bay will be but in fact, a GPS marks should be used as a guide and then sound from there until you find fish. The snapper season generally begins in the area of Mornington through to Chelsea during September and October. As the season progresses, more and more anglers begin to fish further north from Chelsea around to Altona throughout November and December. Late in the season, another run of fish tend to fire up spasmodically and while you would automatically think they would be in the north, the best run of fish in fact is in the Portsea, Sorrento and Mt Martha areas. Below are a few GPS positions in Port Phillip that you should use as a guide. Once you get to the location, sound around until you find some fish or just anchor and set out a berley trail, the fish will hone in on it quite quickly. PORTSEA Portsea isn’t really known as a snapper holding location and most of the time the

It’s snapper time!

fish travel through the main channel before branching out around the Mt Martha area. If you’re keen on fishing for snapper around Portsea, you best bet is to work around the Portsea Hole. This location tends to fire very late in the season around the February/ March period. Portsea Hole - S 38 18.375 E144 42.414

When snapper season begins, the Outer Artificial Reef can be standing room only.

The quality of the Lowrance Structure scan can show you a lot about the bottom. This is the REAL Outer Artificial Reef. SORRENTO Similar to that of Portsea, the Sorrento area is a very late season mark. Passed down from my uncle, Sorrento fires up best in late March. This mark is quite a popular location to catch snapper but don’t expect large models. The fish it produces mostly range from 1-2kg. The late roughie - S 38 15.408 E 144 45.079 MT MARTHA Late in the season Mt Martha tends to really fire up. Late February through until the end of March is when this area fishes its best. One thing to note here, it is the ships that will make all the difference. For some reason unbeknown to me, each time a container ship passes by, your rods buckle. If you see a ship approaching, change your baits, re-cast and wait for them to buckle.

This location fires best 4 days after a solid west south west wind blow. Some big fish are caught in here so be ready. S 38 12.600 E 145 01.188

The author displays 2 solid reds caught from Seaford.

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– courtesy of Simon Rinaldi, Red Hot Fishing Charters MORNINGTON Ansetts is a well known location that never lets anglers

Aleks and Matt from Reel Time charters display some solid reds from Chelsea.

down. The bottom is thick cunje and reef bottom that snapper feed around. Ansetts is a good all season mark up until December with its peak firing in November. Some big snapper can be caught here so ensure your tackle is up to the task. Ansetts - S 38 11.323 E 145 00.502 Fisheries Beach - S 38 15.911 E 144 58.221– courtesy of Simon Rinaldi, Red Hot Fishing Charters FRANKSTON Wide of Frankston the bottom is littered with all sorts of structure. There are many well-known locations to catch snapper in this area with the

17m line being a very popular location for anglers. Berley is essential to bring the fish within casting range. Fish of all sizes can be caught here and it fishes very well throughout the majority of the season with October through to December being the prime time. The fish tend to bite better on sunrise. Frankston - S 38 08.085 E 14502.212 SEAFORD Just out from the Seaford Jetty, Mile Bridge is known for delivering big snapper in rough weather. The bottom is thick cunje which holds food; hence the large amount of snapper that move into this area. Mile Bridge fishes best in a westerly or south westerly wind on first light. In saying that, during late November and early January, evenings are preferred.

Mile Bridge - S 38 06.821 E 145 06.658. CARRUM Carrum is without doubt one of the most popular locations to fish on the eastern seaboard. Many hundreds of anglers flock to both the Inner and Outer Artificial reefs which do fish well all season. Some of the better results come throughout late spring. This location supposedly contains the remains of an old scallop barge. Considering the area looks rather flat when sounding, the actual reef is quite a bit further south than the buoy that marks its location. Still, those fishing where the reef ‘apparently’ is, still catch quite a lot of fish. This location has and does produce snapper over the magical 10kg mark, along with mulloway.

David Higginbotham holds up a nice snapper from Mt Martha. (2009 season)

Gawaine Blake with a magnificent calamari devouring Mt Martha special. (2009 season) Outer Artificial - S 38 04.800 E 145 02.098. CHELSEA The Chelsea area is a top

location to fish early in the morning but fishes its best later on in the season. One of the better months to work

Fishing off Mornington can be a lot of fun in season, deep water in close and lots of snapper. this location is in December. It does hold a lot of smaller fish, but providing you fish first light with a run-in tide,

When the ships pass, wait for the rods to buckle.

larger fish are possible. Chelsea 13 - S 38 3.216 E 145 5.036 GASSO The Gasso is one of the better late season marks and most of my fishing is done here in late December before moving to the Mt Martha area. The Gasso holds good fish throughout the season but continues to produce fish into late December. Rougher days seem to stir it up which brings the fish on in a big way. Gasso - S 38 2.493 E 144 58.942 While these are just a few popular marks to get you on your way, you will notice a trend when they best fire up. If you can figure out the direction in which to fish them, you’ll have a long and plentiful season.

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Alastair Vanstan bigalvanstan@yahoo.com.au

Now is definitely the prime time to be fishing the South East of SA with cray season now in full swing, the mulloway on the beaches are firing and the offshore fishing is at its best as well. SALT CREEK The wonderful surf

beaches along the Coorong are still the number one place to be this month with no shortage of terrific reports coming in. Most of the action has been taking place between the 42 mile crossing and Ti tree but some nice mulloway have also been getting caught at the 28 and 32 mile crossings. I have been fishing the 42 mile crossing regularly and it has been fishing the best I

There have been a lot of seven-gill sharks getting caught at Salt Creek lately.

have ever seen it over the last month or so. All anglers I have spoken to have been getting amongst some good fish and there have been plenty of variety with mulloway, snapper, salmon, gummy shark, school shark, seven-gill shark and even a few big flathead getting caught. On my most recent trip we caught a number of school mulloway to 80cm, some nice gummy shark and many seven-gill sharks as well as some very big salmon. The best fishing for us was on the high tide at night and it was on the full moon. We had a few big hook ups with large sharks only to be bitten off after a few big runs, there seems to be a very large number of seven gill sharks about this year. The best baits for us have been fresh squid and fresh salmon fillets. ROBE The offshore fishing off of Robe has been very good with snapper, gummy shark and some nice flathead and whiting being caught out in the bay. Anchoring up and berleying two hours either side of a tide change has been the way to go. The odd large thresher shark has also been about but most have been lost as they

have been hooked by anglers fishing for snapper. The cray season has started off slowly but should get better as we head further into summer. Surf fishing at Long beach has been good for school mulloway and a few gummy shark after dark as has Bishops Pate and Domashenz Beach. There have also been some big salmon about along Back Beach all the way to Little Dip Beach. CAPE JAFFA There have been good numbers of gummy and school shark being caught at Wrights Bay in about 10m and nearby at King Rock. Anchoring and berleying has been working

Matt Spasic with a Salt Creek gummy shark well. Some big whiting and some nice snapper are also being caught in the same area as well as a few thresher sharks being hooked as well. The jetty has been fishing well for squid, garfish and a few whiting and flathead. The best fishing here has been

School mulloway have been about in large numbers this season at Salt Creek.

in the evenings. The marina has also been fishing well to those casting soft plastics with salmon, flathead, trevally and a few bream being caught. NELSON The big mulloway have been a bit hard to find on the Glenelg River at Nelson lately but there has been a lot of small ones about around the mouth area. These are mostly being caught by anglers chasing bream with soft plastics and vibes. The better bream fishing seems to be up river for the bigger fish with Sandy Water Holes, Wilsons Hall and Pritchards fishing well to bait anglers using cut crab, whitebait and spew worm. Soft plastic flickers have been doing very well with 2.5” curl tail grubs. A few big estuary perch are also getting taken at Pritchards on small hardbodied lures cast around any submerged timber.

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Rod Shepherd landed this redfin while fishing on Lake Elingamite, VIC. Rod used a Black Magic 2/0 C Point hook to land his fish.

Billy Gillon used a Black Magic 5/0 Snapper Snatcher ‘original’ to bring in these leather jackets. Billy was fishing from Swansea, NSW. Billy says “they were hammering them even with no bait on them. It was a guaranteed fish every drop and great fun”.

Black Magic 60lb tough fluorocarbon leader was used to catch this 15kg tuna. Ryan Potter was fishing at the Swansea Heads, NSW.

Neville Dean landed this 57cm flathead while fishing in Botany Bay, NSW. Neville used Black Magic 8lb fluorocarbon tippet.

Black Magic 20lb tough trace was used by Paul Harrison to catch this 4kg pearl perch. Paul was fishing off Forster, NSW.

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I’m not concerned about global warming; it’s global blowing that seems to be the problem here in the south west of Victoria recently. Although the fact that boats can’t continually access the offshore fishing in the area that keeps the fishery productive, it does get frustrating at times. Recently this has been the case with precious little opportunity for anglers to access the good shark and snapper fishing that has been available to those who have managed to sneak out in a gap in the weather. Come December these species should still be available to offshore anglers, although pinkie-sized snapper will start to become more abundant than the better specimens. The first yellowtail kingfish of the season should also be around towards the end of the month and mako sharks will also be a distinct possibility for those willing to put in the time and berley. The inshore areas should also begin to fire as water temperatures rise. The Killarney area and the inshore

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areas just out from the Moyne at Port Fairy and in Lady Bay at Warrnambool can produce some good whiting in the 40-45cm range at this time of year as well. Drifting or using an electric engine around the shallow bay areas in calm, clear conditions sight casting to squid is a great way to get a quality feed and great fun too. Cray season will also be in full swing with both divers and hoop netters hoping for good conditions to target their quarry. December is perhaps my favourite time for fishing the Hopkins River, before the holiday crowds really come out in force. Warmer conditions often see shallow water and surface techniques providing some spectacular luring action. Big bream hooked in shallow water at this time of year really know how to make a drag wail. Small mulloway are also still turning up as by-catch both in the Hopkins and around the district. Just having the chance of coming across a mulloway, something that hasn’t occurred with regularity for a few years, makes estuarine excursions all the more interesting. Estuary perch have been in good numbers downstream with the dirty water recently but should be pushing back upstream come December. Yambuk Lake has produced some good bags of bream in the past month.

The first kings of the season should hopefully turn up in late December. Most fish have been taken in the lower reaches, no doubt pushed down by the recent rains. Trout should be the last thing on people’s angling agenda at this time of year.

However as I write another big rain event has pushed the rivers up to high winter levels which often brings the trout on the bite. It’s always a good option if the weather curtails your desire to fish offshore.

FISHING FILL-ITS

61 days for rec abalone take The Department of Environment and Primary Industries has announced the 61 days on which recreational fishers can take abalone from central Victorian waters during the 2013-14 season. Fisheries Victoria Executive Director Ross McGowan said the number of open days had been increased from 60 to 61 to ensure a continuous recreational open season which included all public holidays. “Most of the open days are on weekends and public holidays. Recreational fishers have twelve consecutive days over Christmas and four days over Easter on which they can harvest abalone from central Victorian waters,” Mr McGowan said. “The first open day is 16 November which is also the start of the recreational rock lobster season.” Central Victorian waters lie between the mouth of the Aire River and the most north-western part of Arch Rock (near Cape Liptrap)

and include Port Phillip Bay and Western Port. The daily recreational bag limit in Victoria is five abalone of which no more than two abalone can be greenlip. Greenlip abalone cannot be taken at any time in Port Phillip Bay. Divers are reminded they can only take abalone between sunrise and sunset and must use a blunt instrument with rounded edges to harvest abalone. They must also carry a measuring device when in the water to ensure abalone meet minimum size regulations and measure abalone before removing them from their original location. Taking abalone from the intertidal zone (waters less than two metres deep) is prohibited along the entire Victorian coast. The nominated open days are printed on a waterresistant pocket card that will help divers better plan their trips. Yellow plastic abalone measuring devices are also available. Both products were produced using funds collected from the sale

of recreational fishing licences and are available free of charge by calling the DEPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186. The 61 nominated days for central Victorian waters for 2013-14 are: • 16-17 November 2013 • 23-24 November 2013 • 30 November – 1 December 2013 • 7-8 December 2013 • 14-15 December 2013 • 21-22 December 2013 • 25 December 2013 – 5 January 2014 • 11-12 January 2014 • 18-19 January 2014 • 25-27 January 2014 • 1-2 February 2014 • 8-9 February 2014 • 15-16 February 2014 • 22-23 February 2014 • 1-2 March 2014 • 8-10 March 2014 • 15-16 March 2014 • 22-23 March 2014 • 29-30 March 2014 • 5-6 April 2014 • 12-13 April 2014 • 18-21 April 2014 • 25-27 April 2014 Recreational abalone fishing regulations can be viewed at www.depi.vic.

gov.au/recabalone - DEPI Fisheries

V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Scorching weather on the horizon for summer COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

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Finally the cool and inclement weather has left the south west and summer is on the cusp. Although we haven’t cracked many ‘scorchers’ and the rain is still somewhat prevalent I don’t hear many anglers complaining. So far it’s been a very pleasant environment in which to venture out and wet a line. Big snapper are here and the bigger specimens are averaging around 4kg. As a rule these leviathan reds stick around until Christmas then the numbers begin to peter out being steadily replaced by smaller pinkies. However with ocean temperatures

One of four Curdies bream taken on 3’’ Fish Arrow Flash Shads in ayu. being a degree or two lower than par the bigger fish may stick around until

January at least as the ocean temperatures play catch up. As long as their favourite feast that comes in the form of squid do likewise. Even anglers applying patience and perseverance have landed the odd snapper to 4kg off the Port Campbell jetty. I must point out that these fish have been caught mainly after dark two hours either side of high tide. Now that the nights are warmer this shouldn’t be too much of a bother for some. Some of the sheltered bays that exist around Peterborough have held some

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excellent schools of King George whiting to 42cm. I have been sworn to secrecy regarding one particular spot as it nearly always proves successful however there are other bays and inlets that should perform almost as well including Worm Bay. Most anglers prefer to use pipi when targeting whiting however pilchard fillets also work extremely well. The Curdies River has finally settled down after months of running dirty due to all the floodwaters but the bream fishing is still a tad up and down. This is understandable as fish are still in spawning mode and

therefore have something else on their minds other than feeding. Just prior to penning this column I ventured down after a hiatus of at least three months and was rewarded with five bream; four of which averaged around 35cm. All were taken on Fish Arrow Flash Shad plastics cast right up close to the bank; quickly twitched about 50-70cm into deeper water and allowed to sink adjacent to the bank side weed beds. All fish struck on the drop. By the time I finished my session another eight or so boats were out on the water and all were bait fishing.

Several boats were displaying creels hung over the side so I wasn’t the only one to snare a few fish. I will point out that all my fish were released and encourage other anglers to consider this possibility especially while the bream are in breeding mode. Unfortunately not much information is regarding bream and perch captures coming from the Gellibrand River but those persevering are landing some nice sea run brown trout to 1.6kg in the lower reaches. Soft plastics retrieved under a steady roll have been producing the best results.

Season fun at Apollo Bay APOLLO BAY

Daniel Kent apollobaysurfshop@bigpond.com

Who can believe that another year is almost done and dusted? For me it feels like I was just writing about what to expect in February and now it’s December! I suppose the upside to all of this is that summer is just beginning which means plenty of daylight for fishing and in hot weather to boot. What to expect around Apollo Bay? December will see the flathead move back along the coast and these can be easily caught from 30-45m over any sandy bottom structure. Tough baits such as squid or fish fillets with the skin left on are my favourites as this means multiple captures can be made on a single bait. Flathead are brilliant eating as are King George whiting, which are already being taken from the inshore reefs around Blanket Bay, Kennett River and Marengo. Bags of six or so fish have been regular but the school sizes should get thicker in numbers as the new year approaches. Fishing around the edges of the shallow reefs with any soft baits such as pipi, mussel or fresh squid tentacle is the best for this large species of whiting. Calamari squid are the other big attraction at this time of year and are a real winner for anyone fishing from the local pier. Small 2.5-sized prawn style squid jigs are best when fished early morning or late afternoon over the sea grass beds. Snapper are being taken from Cape Patton in 40m of water on pilchard or fresh barracouta baits. Drifting around the reef edges in this depth has been very effective. Anglers fishing off Cape Otway can expect to encounter good numbers of

Dean Candy with an average size gummy shark caught off Cape Otway. gummy sharks, especially when fishing around the turn of the tide. These bottom dwelling sharks can reach sizes in excess of 20kg but 6kg tends to be the average weight in this area. The estuary systems of the Barham and Aire rivers are producing good numbers of bream on prawn and worm baits, as are small metal vibe lures. Fishing the incoming tide when the river mouth is open to the sea has been the most productive time to land a few fish. Small boats or kayaks can be launched at the Aire River and this will help you navigate the river to find where the bream are hiding. As you travel along the river watch the sounder for fish holding close to the bottom, if you locate a school of bream then tie off to the bank and cast in a bait or toss around a vibe style lure. Using a vibe is simple

and very effective, first let it sink to the bottom then give it a couple of quick hops before letting it rest on the bottom again for a few seconds, then keep repeating this process over and over. Brown trout are another option further upstream in the Aire River. Baits such as scrub worms or mudeye are popular as is casting small floating hardbodied lures around the fallen timber. If you are camping down Aire River/Cape Otway area this summer then don’t forget the surf rods as the beaches always produce good numbers of salmon, snapper and gummy sharks at this time of year. The salmon will bite all day but snapper and gummies are best targeted after dark. Johanna, Castle Cove and Glen Aire beaches are all excellent options.

Snapper bite continues to get larger by the day PORT PHILLIP WEST

Brenton Hodges blhodgey@hotmail.com

The snapper bite across the top section of Port Phillip set a cracking pace early in the season and all signs suggest we’re in for plenty more action over the summer months. The stretch from St Kilda through to Port Melbourne has produced phenomenal results to date with some cracking reds taken in relatively shallow water. Renowned local snapper guru, Pete Mesto, says he can’t believe how big the snapper are this season with most encountered recently averaging 4-7kg. In conjunction with a steady stream of berley comprising cubed pilchards to entice the fish to feed for longer, silver whiting has been the stand out bait. Both day and night seem equally successful. Even the local land-based brigade has been amongst the action at times, but more so during periods of strong onshore winds, and we certainly had our share of wild weather through early to mid-spring! Aside from snapper, snapper and more snapper, Australian salmon are expected to be more active this month, particularly across the western shores of Port Phillip through to Corio Bay. Key target areas for salmon include the mouth of the Yarra River, Altona Bay, Point Cook, Point Wilson and Point Henry, but they’re likely to show up anywhere there’s a congregation of baitfish. Similarly, both blue spot and rock flathead should start to fire in the shallows this month. Bouncing flesh baits across the bottom whilst on the drift or casting soft plastics is a sure bet for a feed of flatties at this time of year. Some lengthy snook have been on the chew throughout Corio Bay for several weeks now and these toothy customers usually provide good sport

during summer. Finally, King George whiting are expected to start figuring more prominently at the cleaning benches this month, provided you can drag yourself away from the snapper grounds of course. WILLIAMSTOWN TO ALTONA West of the Yarra River at Williamstown, Joe Mallia found a good school of reds willing to play the game as he and his fishing companions each bagged out whilst anchored in 7.5m of water. Joe says it was his first bag out session for the season with a total of nine snapper to 4kg shared amongst the trio. Most fish were taken either side of the high tide change at first light. The remaining few were encountered later in the day at the bottom of the tide cycle. According to Joe, the best bait on the day was pilchard and squid, despite offering sauries and sand whiting as well. In similar fashion, Simon Insolia and Clint Sellars also put together a nice bag of reds whilst fishing along the 9m line off Williamstown Football Ground. On the charter scene, Fab Peda ventured out from Williamstown where the snapper were about in good numbers. Clients Peter and John Martin along with Gene Gillam accounted for eight reds to 6kg plus, as well as three nice blue spot flathead.

Further west, Corey Gallagher has been amongst the action throughout Corio Bay’s outer harbour region with snapper averaging 3-6.5kg responding to soft plastics on most outings. The key to Corey’s success of late has been locating concentrations of baitfish and feeding salmon, under which some serious reds have been lurking and no doubt mopping up the scraps. Corey says afternoon sessions have been productive with the last hour of light often generating the hottest bite. METROPOLITAN RIVERS Whilst most anglers seem firmly fixated on snapper, Frank Benvenuto continues his quest for bream in the Maribyrnong River. Once

again, the inlet at Edgewater produced several bream for Frank, the largest of which was up around the 30cm mark. These fish have been responding well to live tube worm, Bass yabbies and soft plastics. According to Brad Hodges, the Werribee River bream population have largely been in spawning mode over the past few weeks. For the most part, this has made them difficult to tempt with many anglers struggling to raise a scale. Come December, the action should improve as these post-spawn bream look to put on some condition. BEEN FISHING? Reports and images are most welcome and may be submitted via email to blhodgey@ hotmail.com.

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Joe Mallia displays a pair of twin snapper taken just outside the reef at Williamstown. According to Fab, he and the boys fished on their own with very few other boats in the nearby vicinity. The best baits were pilchard, silver whiting and Australian salmon. POINT COOK TO POINT WILSON As the warmer weather gradually heats up the shallows, larger breeding flathead are expected to arrive at Werribee South in

better numbers. The new Wyndham Harbour rock wall down towards Duncans Road really seems to be attracting all manner of species, with gummy sharks and even snapper taken along the nearby beach recently.

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The key to Corey Gallagher’s success has been locating concentrations of baitfish and feeding salmon, under which some serious reds have been keen to intercept a soft plastic.

Contact MY Marine 03·5987 0900 Cnr Nepean Hwy & Ponderosa Pl, Dromana The snapper bite across the top section of Port Phillip set a cracking pace early in the season and all signs suggest we’re in for plenty more action over the summer months.

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DECEMBER 2013

Big reds, in size and numbers GEELONG

Neil Slater njbamslater@bigpond.com

The lead up to November was quite cool leading to lower than normal sea temperatures and a later bite for snapper in particular.

However once that water hit 15째C, all hell broke loose and there were some terrific captures of big red over early November. GEELONG FRESHWATER The Barwon River remained discoloured for a lot longer than other years due

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to the early season rainfall. There were good captures of European carp, redfin and eels along the Barwon over the past month. The best redfin were caught closest to dusk and even after dark using live minnow and minnow profiled lures. CORIO BAY There has been plenty of snapper taken by anglers fishing land-based spots such as North Shore rocks, St Helens rock wall and Geelong waterfront with the largest fish around 6kg coming from North Shore. There has been the odd salmon to 40cm being caught by anglers trolling white Occy lures around Point Henry and Grammar School Lagoon. Ross Winstanley has had a few trips for snapper out off St Helens but could only manage a handful of undersized and some legal length flathead. CLIFTON SPRINGS AND PORTARLINGTON The turning point in the channel just off Clifton Springs has produced some quality snapper captures either side of 7kg. Small flathead and undersized snapper have been a problem when laying out big baits for larger fish but they seem to disappear around dusk and are not as bad

before dawn. I fished off Clifton Springs with work colleague Peter Mohr. We worked the shallow weed beds for squid early on where we managed to tempt four very tentative calamari to the boat. We then flicked soft plastic lures in around 4-6m of water off Hermsley where we were bitten off by what was probably a large pike judging by the frayed leaders. Ross Winstanley also had a go at the snapper fishing over near Point Wilson where he managed to boat two excellent fish of 7kg and 8.2kg! Ross says that the action was all over within 15 minutes after he had anchored up and set his baits and he spent the next couple of hours catching a feed of flathead. Aiden Jarosinski also fished the outer harbour just north of Point Wilson with his mate John Magri and his son Ben. Aaron says the fish came on the bite about 6.15am and they had bagged out by 6.45am with all fish from 2.5-5kg. Ben and Daniel Attard were out fishing with their dad Steve off the Mountain View Quarries recently. Using pilchards for bait, they managed to catch a ripping

Thomas towelled up his dad with this ripping bream from the Barwon estuary. snapper that eventually weighed in at a very impressive 7.7kg. PORTARLINGTON TO QUEENSCLIFF Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head reports there has been plenty of squid taken from Portarlington around

to Swan Bay by anglers drifting over the weed beds. The better spots were Grassy Point, Governors Reef and St Leonards. Rod suggests trying smaller jigs, as they seemed more productive. Rod notes that there are lots of flathead being caught by anglers drifting

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off Indented Head and St Leonards with pilchard and squid the best baits. Rod says he has had a few reports of snapper taken after dark on the St Leonards Pier with some around 8kg, which are well worth the effort. I had a chat to Ben McLean recently who said that Swan Bay was really firing with calamari climbing all over his jigs. Phil Walters of St Leonards Angling Club fished out off St Leonards in 5m of water recently. Phil was targeting whiting so set out a good berley trail and put out two rods with light line, small 1/0 circle hooks, one with a

pipi and one with mussel. He then proceeded to bait up two snapper rods with pilchards as he had heard that the snapper were moving into shallower water. The rod with the pipi screamed off and Phil grabbed it and proceeded to tussle with what was clearly much larger than a whiting. After a careful fight, Phil eventually boated a 4.65kg snapper! Not a bad effort using whiting tackle! Phil also caught a barracouta at 510g and some whiting around 28-30cm. BARWON HEADS AND SURF COAST There has been some great fish caught from

Aiden holds one of many snapper he and his friend Ben managed to land in Corio Bay recently.

Barwon Heads to Anglesea of late. School and gummy sharks have dominated but there have also been some ripping snapper captures with most fish around 3-5kg plus a couple of quality thresher sharks around 50kg. Brent Hodges from Lara says that over recent weeks, a few keen youngsters from Lara Secondary College have been refining their skills on the banks of the Barwon River estuary. Several juvenile salmon and some better-sized yellow-eye mullet were taken from the floating pontoons at the Ocean Grove boat ramp. Students were using small pieces of peeled prawn on running sinker and single dropper paternoster style rigs either side of high water. In addition to this, a short stop at Queenscliff produced a few salmon on Gulp Turtle Back Worms. Brent also had a crack inside Corio Bay with his brother Brad. They struggled to locate the snapper they were hoping for but ended up with half a dozen legal pinkies to 35cm, a dozen salmon to 40cm, couple of lengthy snook and a few flatties for dinner; mostly taken on Gulp Turtle Back Worms. Thomas Devlin showed his old man Sean how to fish with a pair of cracking bream he caught in the Barwon River estuary last weekend.

Thomas’s fished measured in at 38-42cm. Mick Allardyce from Allyweld Group in Anglesea says the local beaches have been a bit patchy but a couple of his mates, Bryce and Belly fished Jump Rock at Lorne where they hooked into some solid Australian salmon up to 2kg. Mick has also heard of a few snapper around the 5kg being caught out off Lorne. Pete Mohr has his kids down that way last week and saw an angler catch a snapper around

1.5kg fishing from the pier while he and the boys caught a few wrasse. I had a fish down at Cumberland River where I saw an ant hatch that nearly blocked out the sun and filled most of our drinks, dips and barbequed food. Thankfully the trout responded to these insects as they clouded the river and I managed to catch and release a small brown trout using the fly gear. He took a black bead head nymph in the large pool at the caravan park and spent a

lot of time dancing out of the water to the delight of the kids watching on. Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in a report to slaterbunch@ optusnet.com.au with “VFM” in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 997348. Please include where (without giving away your secret spot!), when, what on and who caught the fish. Pictures are always great, but please make sure they are at least 1mb (file size).

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DECEMBER 2013

Snapper to run until Christmas PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

If the recent fishing is anything to go by, it looks like the snapper run may go right up to Christmas. This is great news as I am sure we can all agree that there is nothing better than getting stuck into some crazy snapper action on those hot December days.

MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK You have to wonder when the land-based snapper fishing will slow up. Snapper were still being caught in good numbers from Beaumaris and Mordialloc piers throughout November with the simple formula being some wind from the south west and the fish turn up. In the boats the fishing started a bit slow in November but the past

few weeks have really heated up on all the known areas such at the Hump off Mordialloc and all through the surrounding 14m line. While out off Ricketts Point the 16m line and out wider at the Gasso have been very good with a mix of fish being taken in the 2-5kg size. However there is no doubting that this season is seeing a lot more bigger snapper in the 6-9kg getting in on the action, with a lot

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of these bigger fish being taken on bigger baits such as squid heads and big silver whiting or garfish. Back in closer along the reef edge between Ricketts Point and Black Rock it has been a great fall back location with lots of 1-3kg snapper on offer, with more than the occasional 4-6kg fish among them to keep the lure and bait anglers on their toes. Best of all this often fishes best when its rough so it means that you don’t have to travel too far if you are launching at Mordialloc or Half Moon Bay. We have also been having some great success over the past weeks with a newer style of fishing that is proving to be deadly on

Jigging with knife-style jigs is rapidly taking off as a productive method on Port Phillip.

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The author puts the heat on a decent Port Philip snapper hooked while jigging.

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snapper. It involves using 40-60g metal jigs on light rods to vertically jig over the schools of snapper. One thing is for sure they love it and it allows you to drive around sounding up fish then dropping on top of them. If they don’t bite after a few drops you can move to the next patch. To prove its also dynamite on big snapper one of my customers Mick landed and released a snapper of 94cm and 9.5kg on a 30g Blue Blue brand jig. As we roll through this month it’s also getting into whiting season, so it is well worth having a poke around along the reef areas with baits of pipi to see if you can find any schools of these very, very tasty critters. SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA For the land-based brigade the Sandringham Breakwall and the rock groynes then up at Brighton Breakwall have all produced snapper during the good onshore blows. However it’s the boat fishing that is really shining over the past few weeks with lots of good snapper fishing on offer in this part of the bay. The shallow reef areas in 6-10m of water off Brighton is producing some

great fishing at night. Out wider the Fawkner Beacon should just be called the snapper beacon as all around it has produced some excellent fishing over the past weeks, and while it seems that some days the snapper have been doing a disappearing act, when they are along the edge of the channel around here and back south towards T1 and T2 the fishing has been at times a little crazy, and so has the boat traffic. With warmer conditions over the past weeks and clear water it has also made for some ideal squid conditions with some anglers finding some patches of calamari between green point and North Road. I have also had some good reports of decent-sized schools

of salmon beginning to pop up over the past few weeks; fingers-crossed will hopefully continue with a warm summer, and then hopefully roll into some kingfish starting to mix with the salmon. ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE With this area seeing one of the best early season snapper bites in many years it will be interesting to see what this month brings, which by rights should be great. This area is known for its big snapper that feed in the shallows during the night and many anglers are saying the season is a bit later than usual, so perhaps the water will stay a little cooler in the shallows during this month. This will help to carry what is normally a November bite through till Christmas. I am sure we would all agree it would be the perfect place to be fishing late on a warm summer night. Out a bit wider it’s just a matter of sounding along the edge of the channel till you mark a few fish then berley hard to get the whole school feeding. Finally it’s hard to believe another year has rolled by so quickly. I hope that you all have a safe, merry and most of all fishfilled Christmas and New Year.

The proof of the pudding. Author Lee Rayner’s smile says it all as he holds a great Port Phillip snapper.

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DECEMBER 2013

Warm weather should stay as fishing heats up The recent harsh spring weather is not all doom and gloom by any means, as the regular run-off

PORT PHILLIP NE

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

Alex Greer has been right amongst the action this snapper season.

and injection of food and freshwater does wonders for the health of the bay, and the ecosystem in general. The downside from the recent weather has been that angling opportunities have been sometimes limited, and that water temperatures have been generally lower than they were at the same time last year, especially along the entire eastern shoreline of the bay. The summer months are all about snapper, and if the recent captures in the northern reaches are anything to go by, we have plenty to get excited about this year. Many anglers have predicted a bumper summer snapper season after all the winter and spring rains, and with the condition the snapper are currently in, I would have to say they are right on the money. Most of the reports I have received recently feature stunning snapper mostly in the 4-6kg range, with a few bigger boys and girls thrown in to keep the trophy hunters keen. Many of the usual and more popular marks have been turning up their fair

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Australian salmon have been fantastic in the bay this season, and should continue to improve in size and numbers. share of nice reds in the deeper and shallower depths. The key seems to certainly be the use of a good steady stream of berley, and also the willingness to try a good range and spread of baits. More than a few anglers have been telling me lately that the bait of choice can change from session to session, and that the snapper have been more than a little selective at times. Perhaps they have enlisted the services of some old trout professor who has taught them a few tricks. Of special note was a report that I received right at the time of writing was a local angler Tony, who beat his previous PB twice, with his first two snapper of the season. Both taken in less than 8m of water, Tony’s fish weighed 6.5kg and 7.2kg, and were taken on fresh yakkas. Once again it has been very encouraging indeed to see the quality, numbers and regularity of the snapper being taken by land-based anglers. Recently, the

weather has been more suited to fishing from the shore and the local pier and rock brigade have been cashing in. Mornington Pier has been very popular, as well as Frankston and even Seaford piers as well. The rock platforms right along from Mornington to Dromana have also been very productive, but care needs to be taken from these areas, especially during adverse conditions. Just like the boys out in the boats, changes of light and tide are the prime times for hooking a red or two off the bank, and the use of a variety of fresh and locally caught baits, even onsite, is nearly always a winner. The inshore fishing along the reefs and shorelines will also improve over the coming months as the water warms up, and this will widen the options for many of the bay’s anglers. It will also make the collection of fresh baits, and a feed for the table more productive.

Expect the squid fishing to really fire up this month, as the calamari will become more active and follow the schools of bait closer to shore. The inshore reefs will also provide some early morning and evening options for anglers chasing snapper and other species on lures as well. These areas that are in close proximity to the deeper water seem to be the most productive, as the fish seem to use them as a quick source of food during times of low light. They also provide other by-catch as well, especially flathead, which seem to have really improved in size and condition over the past couple of seasons in the bay. And with plenty of salmon and other species still hunting around, there are endless opportunities for the bay’s anglers; all we need is for the weather to co-operate for more than a few days at a time. No doubt we’ll be writing about how hot it has been in a month or so!

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Painful weather eased by fantastic fishing GUMMY SHARK While we have not seen huge numbers of gummies so far this year, December is without doubt one of my favourite months to target this species. The summer crowds have not yet arrived so you can find a nice quiet stretch of water to target these fantastic fish. I have certainly had some of my best captures fishing the south channel through December. If you want to look a little further afield, the Symmonds Channel is also a great spot to target gummy shark. At this time

ROSEBUD

Dan Lee info@peninsulatotaltackle.com.au

Spring has been challenging this year with plenty of wind and a lot of rain. Down at the southern end of the bay this has been particularly noticeable where strong northerly winds have meant that bay fishing has, at times, been difficult. However, December is a different month and traditionally one where we see some of the best snapper fishing deep of Mt Martha and Rye. SNAPPER After good bites off Port Melbourne, the fish, as expected swung down around Carrum and Frankston. We have since seen good bites off Ansetts as well as the deep grounds of Hearn Rd, 21-23m. Sticking a little closer to home there have also been some good numbers of pinkies on the east side of the Rosebud Reef, while fishing between the Dromana mussel farm and the turning bell at the South channel has produced some better size snapper in the early mornings. Given the strong winds

of year you will also get occasional snapper by-catch too. CALAMARI While the focus has certainly shifted away from squid fishing over the last month or so we have still been lucky to have very consistent fishing for the species. The drop-off at Tootgarook has been producing well, as have many of the inshore beds off Rye and Blairgowrie on the calm days. Lonsdale Bight has been the most consistent for big specimens with most taken on baited jigs down in this area.

Matt Luscombe demonstrates that there are still some monster calamari getting around! we have had, we have also seen over the last month an exceptional number of snapper caught land-based from the rock platforms off Mt Martha and Mornington. This trend started early in spring and was pleasing to see continue right throughout the

period – as long as the winds were strong and on shore, you were in with a chance! Most customers fishing from the rocks have used a surf setup with a Western Port style rig. Pilchards and Californian squid have proved to be the best baits.

Mark Colling with a quality snapper taken while fishing off the peninsula.

BAIT Many customers are already commenting on the vast schools of bait on the snapper grounds and even inshore areas of the peninsula. If you have never used a sabiki rig, get into your nearest tackle store and buy one. They make bait catching a breeze! A fresh supply of yellowtail scad or slimey mackerel can be deadly on all manner of fish and when there are so many in the bay, why not give it a go! LOOKING AHEAD Christmas on the peninsula means one thing and that is mayhem! As we head deep into the month the Christmas crowds descend and we are in the busiest period of the year. For my money it’s a great time of year to do a bit of offshore fishing where you can find a plethora of species and also get a bit of space. Not to mention that the crowning jewel of Melbourne fishing, yellowtail kingfish, could start to turn up at any second! For more information feel free to drop in and see the boys at Peninsula Total Tackle, 11 Boneo Road in Rosebud or phone: 03 5981 1994.

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DECEMBER 2013

Fishing frenzy on the front PORT PHILLIP OFFSHORE

Chris Vasilevski

Let the fishing frenzy begin! Great weather, great fishing equals an angler’s paradise! SNAPPER November has seen a good start to the snapper season, with plenty of activity around the upper end of the bay. With the snapper going nuts and coming in at a decent size at around the 3-5kg. Seals and dolphins are also getting in on the action. By December the snapper have made their way into the bay and that’s where you will see us chasing the reds in about 20m of water. But don’t discount snapper fishing in Bass Strait, they may be smaller in size but at greater

By December the snapper have made their way into the bay and should be really on the chew. depths you are challenged with a bigger fight on your hands, so it’s definitely worth the experience. To experience the thrill of catching this season’s snapper offshore, berley up and anchor

in about 40m. Even though you may need some patience waiting for the snapper, it’s worth the wait when you see the shimmer of red as you are reeling in. SHARK December and January are the months to be on the hunt for shark in Bass Strait. There are so many different species out there from sevengilled shark, school shark and gummy shark, but the prized catch is that the mako, which are known to provide an awesome fight. Checking through last year’s diary we had caught our first mako in early December. They do prefer the warmer waters, so a few 30ºC days

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should see some mako activity in Bass Strait. Seven-gill shark, the odd school shark and gummies have been coming in at about 16-22kg at the moment. So set your berley trail and wait for one of these feisty fighters to make its way down your trail. Hopefully this year the weather will provide us with plenty of opportunities to head offshore to target these spectacular species. SALMON Salmon have made a few appearances in front of Torquay and in Swan Bay. They have been busting up, but not for long, taking some bait and then they are off again. So make the most of it when you find them as you don’t know how long they will stick around for. December should see them turning up in the rip so keep a look out, and keep your white ockies on hand when trolling for this species. FLATTIES Flatties are a great

December and January are the months to be on the hunt for shark in Bass Strait. entertainer on the water and a winner on the dining table. We should start to see them firing up in December. They can be found on the drift in the east in approximately 30-50m of water, with squid their preferred bait. SQUID The Bite has been the place to find the squid this season. Out in the Bite they have been bigger in size, and Swan Bay has been producing the smaller sized squid. In December we can expect to see them dropping off in numbers but with so

many other species heating up in the Strait you will have bigger fish to fry. This is it, this is what fishing is about! Getting up on the balmy summer mornings heading out to sea, berley up and waiting while enjoying the scenery, then bang it’s on, rods are peeling and it’s all action from here in! With great weather, great fishing and Christmas festivities in the air, from all of us at Gone Fishing Charters have a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

Snapper bad manners PHILLIP ISLAND

John Dalla-Rosa

We have been plagued by windy weather so it’s been difficult to get a line in on the surf beaches. But in between bouts of gale force winds the Australian salmon are still about in good numbers on all the beaches and interestingly larger surf poppers have been accounting for bigger fish. SAN REMO AREA Below the bridge, calamari are about in good numbers in Cleelands Bight but there have been a lot of ‘couta about. Western Port is full of couta at the moment so those expensive jigs won’t last too long because they love anything flashy. Above the bridge the snapper have moved in big time! They are all over the bay at the moment and there are some big schools with big fish mixed with pinkies. To name a few areas: The Corals, Elizabeth Island, Corinella, Silverleaves, Stoney point, Hastings, Yaringa, Eagle’s Rock and Joes Island. The whiting are also showing up in reasonable numbers with big fish mixed with smaller ones. Dickies Bay, Newhaven, Tortoise Head, Middle Spit and Tankerton are all good areas to fish. FLINDERS AREA There are still some good calamari being caught when the weather permits. Whiting are starting to show up in reasonable numbers off Flinders and Cat Bay.

Ben Cornford, Tom Wright and Chloe Cornford with a whiting caught on a recent trip in Western Port. BOAT RAGE Some of my mates were out chasing snapper on a Friday afternoon in late October at Hobsons Bay, off St Kilda. The bad spell of windy weather had limited the areas where you could fish safely in the bay. They were amazed to find what seemed like 1000 boats all crammed into one small area, fishing anchor to anchor. The boats were so packed in they had trouble manoeuvring to get between them without hitting any. Needless to say there was a lot of boat rage going on with fouled anchors and tangled lines. The days of boating etiquette seem to have gone. Snapper fever certainly brings out the crazies. Anyway they managed four fish and then got the hell out of there. While I’m on snapper, recently Paul Hardy gave an interesting talk on the storing and releasing of snapper. He has been studying various methods over the years and is a guru on the subject.

Basically if you want to keep your fish, once landed give it a sharp blow to the head with a priest or heavy wooden object. Then bleed the fish and put into an esky in brine (a mixture of saltwater and ice) and you will notice a big difference when it’s on the dinner table. When it comes to releasing of fish, circle hooks are the best. Using light line to fight the fish is a no-no as the quicker the fish is brought to the boat and released the more chance it has at surviving. The average survival rate for released snapper is 50% for fish caught in 15m of water. For fish caught in 20m of water the rate drops to 20%. For gut hooked fish it’s even less. These statistics are far more telling than I ever realised so my advice to fellow anglers is catch what you want to take home and leave so that there will be a lot more snapper to go around in the future.

V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Wind a constant feature of the season so far Western Port should be named Windy Port! Like all anglers this year, the weather has certainly put a big dampener on the fishing

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of late but that still hasn’t deterred the diehards from venturing out. Though it can be extremely windy, there is always somewhere to hide to escape the wind on Western Port. In saying that, you are at your own risk and you must always check the latest weather forecast before you venture out. I am often asked what’s the wind like over the phone at work in which I answer the wind strength and direction. As a good rule for those going to ask a question as such, it pays to picture Western Port in your mind so that by having a sense of direction you can pick a ramp to launch from to escape the wind. This will enable you to get out where the wind will be at its least, providing your boat is still capable of handling in rough conditions. Once you have that all sorted, it’s time to go fishing. I said at the beginning of the season that it was set to be a cracker and it seems my prediction was pretty right.

Terry Phillips displays a cracking snapper taken on a squid bait. This season has been outstanding with plenty of snapper caught from right around the Port. Corinella, while it has already delivered snapper over 10kg, has been one of the most consistent locations for fish over 6kg. A few anglers have been putting

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in a lot of effort night after night and they are getting the results. There have also been quite a number of good gummy sharks taken, which is usual for this location. Local anglers Chanal Schepen and Penny Phipps fished the area and had a ball catching three ripper gummies. These fish were caught in 8m of water on the slack tide. Kayak anglers have also been catching their share of fish with a lot of focus on the Spit Point and Lang Lang areas. You have to get the tide timing right or it could be a strong paddle back to your car. Coronet Bay hasn’t really fired up as I thought it would but is still fairly consistent for reds in around 5-6m. In saying that, the prime time has been first light when there has been little boat traffic in this area. Whiting on the other hand

have been absolutely red hot, especially late in the evening. Once again, it is kayak anglers that are really getting into the action on the top of the high tides. Some good rock flathead and calamari are a popular catch around Reef Island but if you are venturing here by boat be very careful as it is quite shallow. The most consistent location throughout this vast mud flat has been around the Corals and Observation Point. These two areas will really fire up now until the end of the season. Michael Johns found out just how good the fishing is at the Corals. While dealing with being bitten off constantly, Michael tied on a wire leader and a short time later he managed to hook and land a 7kg snapper on a squid bait. Anglers will do best around Observation Point when fishing in 10-13m. There is a lot of shallow water ranging 4-6m around this location but if you can locate the deeper water, you’ll find the reds. Calamari baits work exceptionally well along with pilchards. Another top location is the Western Entrance, which does see a lot of boat traffic during the summer months. The Western Entrance is very tidal so ensure you have the right gear when embarking on a mission. By that I mean the right anchor, enough rope and

an anchor buoy to lift it up. The best fishing will be around 2 hours either side of a tide change when the current isn’t as strong. This will allow you to use lighter weights but you still might require up to 14oz weights. Each season a stack of snapper school up around Buoys 11 and 8 as there is large patches of reef on the bottom. It is important you use good baits here as the current can rip them from the hooks; squid is best. The outskirts of Cat Bay are also productive, especially around Buoy 5. This area fishes best on the beginning of the run-in tide for gummy sharks. A few have already been taken and some up to 15kg. Across Western Port at Flinders, the calamari fishing from the pier has been particularly productive at night during a run-in tide. The best action will be on the next full moon when the calamari come into the shallows to feed. Baited jigs do work well but artificial jigs in white or other colour with a red foil belly are best. For those already tired of catching snapper, the whiting season is well upon us now. I have spoken to a few anglers that have been fishing for whiting in the Balnarring area. Of the reports I have heard, the best fishing has been during the run-in tide late in the evening. Pipis and squid have been the top baits with some fish up to 48cm. It won’t be long before a 50cm model is taken as each season a few fish of this size are caught from this location. From now on there will be a big shift from anglers targeting snapper switching over to whiting. Those looking for a feed of whiting should concentrate in the Balnarring, Tankerton, Southern Middle Spit and Tortoise Head areas. These four locations see some of the best whiting fishing in the Port and as each season passes they continue to produce quality fish. In saying that, you will have to work out as to which tide will fish best but if I was a betting man, I’d be fishing during the last two hours of the run-in.

A yak is a great way to access the water when the boat ramps are chock-a-bloc.

Snapper keep rods buckling WST PORT NTH

Adam Ring

I cannot remember a year where the average size of a snapper has been so big! Reports of 5kg snapper and bigger are the norm, and they seem to be spread right across the whole top end of the port. Calamari have slowed up a little bit but some big pillow case sized models continue to be caught. The King George whiting are also really starting to hit their straps! THE TOP END Some monster snapper have been a frequent capture along the northern end of the port, and some very nice eating

sized gummies have also been a welcome by-catch. The shallow flats of Lang Lang have fished quite well, with some very nice table-sized snapper and gummies being caught. The general consensus seems to be that anchoring on the edge of the channel and fishing back into the deeper water is the best approach. Dion Foreman had a cracker little session where he got 6 snapper to 72cm. Californian squid got the job done on that particular day. The Bouchier Channel has fished very well, with both snapper and gummies working the bottom. I really like this area as you have just as much chance of getting a nice gummy as you have of

Even with the wild weather, some quality fish are just begging to be caught.

getting a good snapper. Fishing around the yellow stick at the mouth of the channel on the run-out tide has been the most productive time to fish, and the size of the fish hasn’t been too shabby either. John Anderson landed 3 snapper to 5kg and 3 gummies to 8kg in the one session, which is pretty awesome if you ask me! Joe’s Island has easily been the snapper mark of the month, with more reports coming from here than anywhere. Snapper have varied from pinkies up to 8.5kg monsters, with the bigger fish coming from shallower water. With the amount of coota that have been recently in the area, coota fillet has been an exceptional bait along with calamari rings, fresh garfish and the humble old pilchard. Local boys Ben and Andrew were the lucky anglers that netted the 8.5kg fish, but Mickey D and his son are in at a close second with a lovely 7.5kg fish. Tooradin is where the whiting action is starting to heat up. The long banks of the Tooradin channel are starting to produce some really nice fish and it won’t be long until the whiting reports start to outweigh the snapper reports in this area. A run-out tide to catch the fish coming off the banks is

a great place to start. A little sprinkling of berley and bit of whiting worm or fresh mussel is a deadly combination. The Quail Bank has some beautiful whiting spread over it now as well, and Paul De Lisle has taken full advantage. Paul had a bag of nice, fat whiting to 42cm and a welcome by-catch of a very tasty 58cm rock flathead. Pipis and mussels did all the damage. THE NORTH ARM Snapper are absolutely everywhere in the north arm, and though the average size does not match what is happening in the top end, it certainly makes up for it in numbers alone. Some thumping calamari still continue to glide over the Tyabb Ban as Dave Loric found out. Throwing around a small 2.5 size squid jig in pink got it done with a massive 1.75kg calamari. Snapper have been swarming all over Lysaghts in anywhere from 10-14m of water. Local angler Troy fished in 13m and landed a cracker 6.6kg snapper. Tide changes are the key, and fresh baits are easily the stand-out. Fresh calamari rings and fresh couta fillet have been the favourites. If you are over the snapper

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already I think it’s best to head right on over to the home of the King George whiting. The Middle Spit is the most well known whiting hot spot on the port, and it’s only just starting to hit its straps. Just like I mentioned earlier, a little berley plus a little bit of fresh mussel equals to a lovely bag of whiting. Moving water is an absolute must for whiting, so remember the old saying: “No flow, no go”. Before I sign off for another month, I would like to wish all of the VFM readers a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Thank you to everyone who has sent in a report, and thank you to everyone who has sent in a photo over the last 12 months. And last but not certainly not least, thank you to all of the people behind the scenes who put this massive publication together every month. It’s a big operation and they do a bang-up job at turning the jumbled mess I send them each month into something that actually makes sense! Well done team VFM! [Aw, shucks! – Ed] Like always, keep those reports coming – and here’s to a fish-filled 2014!

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DECEMBER 2013

Silver-lining to bad weather WELSHPOOL

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

Even old timers say they can’t remember such a sustained run of bad weather, which has had a negative effect on boaters and, to a lesser extent, landbased anglers. Nevertheless, it must end sometime, and sooner the better! The good news is that the long jetty has been opened after a long period of closure that will please anglers no end. So far I’ve not received any reports, no doubt due to the weather, but that will all change as the better weather and conditions arrive. The local jetties have been all right when conditions have allowed. I came across a local fisherman trying his luck on a rather windy day. He had a couple of reasonable size flathead for his efforts but was expecting more as the tide was on the way in and that is when the results seem to improve. I spoke to another visitor who travelled down from Melbourne but he had failed to trouble the scorer and was busy trying to get out of the very chilly southwest wind. The entrance has not been too bad for boaters with flathead being the main catch. Eddie Garrison and a mate decided to try their luck on the last half of the run-out tide and ended up with four very good size flathead that were to the 1.5kg mark and all taken on strips of pilchards.

Eddie said that he hooked into a big gummy shark and after a long battle got the fish to the surface only to see it spit the hook and slowly swim off into the depths not to be seen again. Information from the boat storage is that there has not been much activity due to the awful conditions, but when there has been a break in the weather there have been enough fish to make the effort worthwhile. One crew who has a boat in storage went out one fine day and headed to the Franklin Channel. In fairly short time they had enough good size flathead to the 1kg mark to put a smile on his face. Yanakie is one of those places that is always worth a visit when conditions allow. Lachlan Roberts now runs the caravan park and is a keen fisherman. He says that even though the weather has been awful there have been visitors trying their luck from shore where flathead are being bagged in reasonable numbers. Lachlan also says that there have been early reports of whiting, which is good news if not unusual. Usually at this time of year the whiting seem to be somewhere else and their place is taken by silvers, flathead, salmon and of course those useless skunk sharks. The area is also renowned for the quality gummy sharks that will make a trip to the area well worthwhile. Lachlan says that he is only too happy to answer any enquiries and is looking forward to a bumper fishing season. Port Albert is slowly coming out of the horror

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winter, which will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Josh Dessent who is the new publican in the town says that the fishing has been quite reasonable and will improve. Local legend ‘Boot Boot’ can always be seen trying his luck off the jetty. When I visited the area prior to this report he was very happy with himself when he bagged a red gurnard, which is unusual for this area to say the least. Josh says that he can’t remember one being caught off the jetty in recent times. The good news is that

flathead seem to be just about everywhere; boaters and land-based anglers are doing very well. Boaters have been very happy with their efforts in the area known as Snake Channel where flathead have been to the 2kg mark. Very good size gummies have also been bagged along with early snapper and a visit to this part of the world would be well worth the effort. Josh Dessent can be contacted at the hotel and he will have all the latest information. There is also a further

Local fisherman David trying his luck off the Port Welshpool jetty. attraction to the area at the hotel where Josh says there is accommodation and breakfast at the rear of the hotel for

boaters and land-based anglers at very reasonable cost. There is also ample parking for vehicles and boats.

Unpredictable summer glory INVERLOCH

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

To say the weather has been on the unpredictable side would be an understatement. This is to be expected around spring, but it seems destined to carry on for some time yet but hopefully things will change. Nevertheless, there have been positive reports for Inverloch and surrounding districts. Lex Milkins is a local fishing legend around the area and loves to totter around the estuaries looking for whatever might come along. He told me that he has been fishing for about 60 years and thought that he had seen a fair bit. There was something else to add to his scrapbook. Lex said that on his last trip he decided to have a look at a local river looking for a bream or whatever might come along. He baited up with a crab on each of his two lines and the wait was on. As it turned out he didn’t have to wait long before one rod took off and the battle was on in earnest. The next thing to happen was the second nearby rod also took off and

Lex literally had his hands full. He decided to take one fish at a time, which turned out to be a wise decision. When he finally landed his fish which was a 36cm bream, to his surprise found that the fish had also taken his other bait and was also very well hooked. Lex said that this was a first and wouldn’t mind if it happened more often as there would be less chance of losing a fish. Land-based anglers and boaters have been doing very well outside and inside the entrance. Amanda Kellar is a very charming keen young lady angler and just before this report decided to try her luck off the beach inside the inlet. She managed a very impressive mixed bag of fish which included salmon, trevally, mullet and to top it all off a ripper flathead that dragged the scales way down to 3kg which is around 7lb on the old scale. Amanda now has bragging rights in the family for some time and good luck to her. There have been other positive reports coming from this area, which has been encouraging. The best time seems to be at the last half of the run-out tide when the

flow slows considerably. John Hawkins who is a visiting angler decided to try his luck one evening and in short time had a very nice bag of fish including silvers, flathead and a couple of very nice whiting that were caught on local Bass yabbies. The entrance sand has shifted as a result of all the recent rain and the buoys are now not giving a correct channel indication. It is recommended that you do not go out until the situation is resolved. You can get some indication as to where the channels are by having a look from a high vantage point at low tide. If you have any queries it is a good idea to seek reliable local advice and even then if you have any doubts don’t go out, as the best bag of fish is not worth risking your or other people’s safety. Mahers Landing has been producing a good variety of fish. I always like to pay the area a visit just to see what is going on. Even though there have been some very rugged a patch of weather, all is not doom and gloom. The area out in front of the ‘A’ frame house to the right

of the jetty has been very productive. Australian salmon have been taken in good numbers along with silvers and flathead. Land-based anglers are also doing all right on both sides of the ramp with better results being to the left on the run-in tide. This is where there have been quite good numbers of mullet, flathead, silvers and on the last half of the run-in water the occasional good-sized gummy shark. For those who know further up the inlet as far as the double island the fishing has been very productive. Barracouta, salmon, silvers and flathead are among some very good bags. Among an assortment of other fish Tony Hawkins caught two very nice tiger flathead on a recent trip shortly before this report. He was using soft plastic lures on the run-off tide, as he often does. Once again he was successful as the fish were caught right on the edge of the channel which suggested they were laying in wait until the smaller prey fish came off the mud flats as the water ran off.

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DECEMBER 2013

Gummies galore and snapper still surging snapper are still biting. This could mean that we may be up for the best snapper season in south Gippsland in a long time. Over the next month, we

MCLOUGHLINS

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

While the surf beaches have been firing, the little inlet of McLoughlins has been hit and miss. This is partially because Port Albert and Port Welshpool have been getting most of the attention. INSIDE McLoughlins has been mainly producing Australian salmon over the past month. They have been ranging in all sizes from small fish to monster 3kg specimens. Most have been in the entrance, but there have been a few salmon down the shortcut mixed in with tailor as well. Of course the Manns Entrance has produced some good salmon as well. As for the whiting, they have been a little scarce. I have only heard the odd report of anglers catching a small amount during the run-off tide. The water is still cold and the good whiting fishing will happen this month and over the next four months as well.

will get the warm currents and the water temperature should reach the magical 18°C mark, and when it does, the snapper are going to go berserk!

Wayne Brown caught this perfect sized gummy during a night session. It was one of three caught on board. The snapper should turn up inside McLoughlins; fish the tide changes early morning and evenings. INSIDE PORT ALBERT The fishing has been far superior here, especially for the gummy sharks and snapper. Gummies have been going crazy in the Snake Channel all the way down to the Blue Hole. Again like everywhere they have been averaging 1m long, however there has been the odd

really good fish pushing the 15kg mark. Trusty old squid and pilchards have been as good a bait as anything and as usual all the fish are getting caught on the tide changes. Gummy sharks are spread as far as the old port channel however most are in the Snake Channel. The snapper have been ok but not as good as at Welshpool. I am impressed this year as we haven’t had any warm water yet but the

Little Maddy and Jack Hodson out-fished their old man out at Port Albert in the Snake Channel when they caught these two ripper gummy sharks, one of which weighed in at over 10kg.

OFFSHORE Offshore McLoughlins has been good for the gummies as there is more bait out here than you can poke a stick at, so much that half the gummy sharks that you catch offshore are spewing up whitebait when you bring them on board. The snapper haven’t really come on yet out on the reefs and that is because the water hasn’t reached the right temperature yet. The flathead have been plentiful offshore Port Albert and most anglers are getting a bag whilst fishing anywhere between the 21m and 40m. Get ready for the snapper bite as its right on our doorstep and by the looks of it, we are in for a cracker of a summer fishing season. For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 51748544. 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!

The best fishing in years NINETY MILE BEACH

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

What can I say except for that the surf fishing down at the Ninety Mile Beach is the best I have ever seen it. GUMMY SHARKS There have been more gummy sharks caught over the past month than what I heard was caught for the entire last season. It all started in that first week of October and has continued since. The gummy sharks have been so prevalent, that some groups of anglers have been catching up to 15 gummy sharks in one session and are being caught, during the day as well. Unbelievable!

At this point, it’s probably a good reminder that you can only keep two gummy sharks per person per day. Now thankfully most anglers I have spoken to that have caught this many gummies

in a session have done the right thing and only kept their bag limit. The gummy sharks have been roughly all the same size around 1m with a few fish hitting the 1.2m mark.

The author with a 1.2m gummy amongst seven that were caught that night. It took a little piece of squid leg.

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As for bait, I have been catching nearly all my gummies on squid and I have now caught five this season on blue/white surf poppers as well. The best rig is the paternoster rig between 30-60lb strength and I prefer to put a popper on the top dropper and a 6/0 semi-circle hook on the bottom dropper with small squid strips or legs. There’s no need to cast a mile or paddle out baits for the gummies, there are plenty in close. As for the guys that want to do a bit of landbased game fishing, there are gummies out past the back breakers and I have seen a good number of 1.2m plus gummies caught using this method with bigger cut flesh baits. As for locations, I have heard of gummies across the whole Ninety Mile Beach and I have caught them over the past month everywhere from Golden Beach to Woodside, so they are everywhere. SNAPPER Yes, land-based snapper! There have been a great number of snapper caught off the Ninety Mile Beach over the past month, but all the reports are similar and that is – 95% of the snapper have been caught during the day, especially in the afternoons. Most have been caught on pilchards or bluebait. You will need to use bait mate or fuse wire to hold the pilchards onto your hook, or just use bluebait instead. Lastly, they have all been

Alex Zwierlein holds up this bronze whaler caught casting baits during the day at Golden Beach. caught in the same section of beach that runs between McGaurans Beach and Woodside. I haven’t seen any giant snapper caught off the surf yet, but there are plenty ranging between 40-60cm. LAND-BASED GAME At this time, there has been a handful of bronze whalers caught of all sizes. I have seen them averaging 1.2m and I have seen one big one too. There was also a great looking thresher shark caught as well and I have heard two other reports of anglers hooking sharks with big tails and jumping so we assume these are thresher sharks or perhaps extremely energetic seven-gillers. This will be the month to try your luck with landbased game as the water temperature should rise over 18°C, which will bring a big influx of bronze whalers and hammerheads along Ninety Mile Beach.

FLATHEAD This coming month will be the time to head down to Woodside, Reeves Beach and McLoughlins Beach for those massive blue spot flathead. At present there are small numbers of 45cm flathead but the big blue spots are right on our doorstep. Remember the western end of Ninety Mile Beach is the best place for big flatties and bluebait, surf poppers and white grubs are the best things to use. The anglers who do the best are usually the ones who slowly move their bait, just as an added extra tip. For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 51748544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Tune into Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner’s “Off the Hook” on 1242 to hear Will’s report on what’s going on in Gippsland!

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DECEMBER 2013

Holiday season tide of anglers starting to flow GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

Here comes the crazy season as the Princes Highway fills with 4WDs, caravans, boats in tow, and the everincreasing number of kayaks strapped to car roofs. The local economy surely needs the dollar-spending tourist but we have to find a few hidey holes to avoid the water traffic. I’ll share a few tips and ideas for all parties in this report and with the huge expanse of the Gippsland Lakes, there’s room for all of us to have happy hooking. DUSKY FLATHEAD Flathead have been very slow to awaken this year and I put it down to a couple of reasons. The huge influx of freshwater over the last six months not only keeps the salinity levels down but also delays the all important water temperatures from rising. This year has probably been a normal one with healthy winter and spring rains with plenty of wind. When we

have droughts and low river flows the water stays salty and probably warms up quicker. Big flatties then fire up very early in November but this year I reckon they will be about a month late and so early to late December will be prime time: just when the caravan parks fill. So to target the big duskies you need to keep in mind two things: Get on the water well before sunrise and start your search very close to the entrance, like the North Arm and Kalimna. To avoid boat traffic head up towards Metung and stop a few times here and there to flick lures or work your baits. The fish will let you know where to settle down and what sort of depths to work. If you are after a really big dusky and some photos for bragging, then when you find a good run of average-sized flathead while lure fishing, throw out a big live mullet on 20lb line. The big girls can at times ignore small or even big lures but hardly ever knock back sumptuous live bait. BREAM NEWS This is where my report

Flounder rarely disappoint those keen to put in a few hours on a summer night. Always go out on a new moon, the darker the night the better. turns a little sour! I’m going to tell you how it really is and hopefully you go out and prove me wrong. I love my bream sport but only when they decide to actually open their mouth to eat! The last few months on the bream, bait or lures, have been absolutely frustrating to the point of disgust! Back in mid October about 100 bream anglers searched every corner

of the Gippsland Lakes for a Vic Bream Classic event. Can you believe about half of those gun fishos failed to put a single bream into their bag for the weigh master! All the guys I talked to said it was the most difficult and demanding tournament ever! Especially because day one was stunning weather and the boys were sounding up

squillions of shut down bream! This is not so unusual really because historically bream have always been very tough during late spring and early summer and it’s the main reason I refuse to chase them and spend those months hooking hungry perch instead. But there is good news. Firstly, during that bream comp although numbers were well down, at least some very large bream were pulled out and quite a few between 1.4-1.8kg. So at least that raised a smile for some battle weary anglers and proves yet again that the lakes hold trophy bream. The other good news is get ready, because I guarantee you the bream will start to bite very shortly and they will be super hungry. Speaking of thumper bream in the Gippsland Lakes, Ayla Deenen was fishing with her dad Jason near the mouth of the Tambo using frozen prawn. She landed the bream of a lifetime at 50cm and 1.95kg. OTHER SPECIES Whiting, mullet, flounder, luderick and even snapper are right now coming on line so

get to your favourite haunts and try your luck. As usual the bottom end of the lakes will fire the best for these species and look for where the most boats are anchored up because that will be where the fish are. Australian salmon and tailor are also still hanging around here or there and they were even caught at the mouth of the Tambo recently swimming around with carp! A lot of people get all fired up about the prawns before Christmas and invariably get let down. The best months are February through to late April and into May and this trend may have changed over the years I’m not sure but keep it in mind. A forgotten fish however is the mighty flounder. If you must get out looking for prawns this early then walk around in the shallows and take a spear out with you. I couldn’t survive summer if I didn’t put a few flounder under the griller. You can find flounder anywhere between Kalimna in the eastern part of the lakes right up to Loch Sport in the west.

Gummies are stealing the show LAKES ENTRANCE

Lucas Smith squidgy_man1@hotmail.com

It’s that time of year when every man and his dog heads offshore in search of some of the finest eating fish the area has to offer. Those anglers heading out wide to the reef systems are doing very well on school sized pinkie snapper to about 2kg. The odd bigger fish is being taken on larger baits like coota heads and live slimy mackerel fished just off the bottom. Along with the snapper are good numbers of nannygai, morwong, leatherjackets and coral perch, as well as the less

desirable species like coota, gurnard and wrasse. The benefit of coota though is they make brilliant bait, especially for the larger snapper. Use your sounder to identify patches of reef and schools of snapper, and look for bait schools. The predators won’t be far behind. In close to the beaches, the gummies have been absolutely firing with most boats bagging out each trip. While most gummies are around 3-4ft long, there’s potential for a few monsters to be taken. Good numbers of seven-gillers are being taken too, mostly on whole fish baits on wire fished on the bottom. Anchoring and berleying is the best way to target the gummies. Any depth from 9-25m can be productive, and

again watch the sounder for any small patches of reef or drop-offs that would hold fish. It’s a good idea to have a big bait under a balloon too, as the big bronze whalers and hammerheads should be starting to appear and will have no trouble picking up the scent of a good berley trail. Good baits for the gummies are pilchards, squid legs, coota, slimy mackerel and cured eel. The hot spots lately have been directly in front of the Lake Tyers entrance, Pettemans Beach, and down to the west in front of the tower and the Pipeline. It’s a fair run down to the tower, but your chance of nailing a thumper snapper while in close chasing gummies is high; like last season.

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Surf fishing has started to pick up down to the west, and it won’t be long until our local beaches start to fire. On those warm, still evenings the beaches become fairly busy as anglers chase gummies and big salmon. Those keen enough to paddle baits mainly spend the daylight hours chasing bronzies, so be aware of these people having multiple lines out a long way. There’s nothing worse than snagging up other people’s lines. Spinning the beaches is always fun and will see you land lots of salmon and tailor. Hopefully a good run of big salmon will pass through in December and January. The estuary has been a little slow but the water has cleared up. Some nice flatties have been taken on soft plastics and live prawns around the post office jetty and under the highway bridge. Early morning and late afternoon are always best for the bigger flatties, as heavy boat traffic can shut them down at times. Around Kalimna and Barrier Landing some nice whiting have made an appearance and are taking mussels and shrimp. Collecting your own bait is easy and is always better. It only takes a few minutes to collect what you need. Plenty of small salmon and trevally have been caught over the weed beds opposite Kalimna on soft plastics on the run-in tide. Small baitfish and shrimp patterns are best here, fished on a 1/8oz jighead and

Now is a fantastic time to target gummy sharks. light leader. Towards Metung there have been some nice flathead and pinkie snapper caught drifting with bluebait and prawns, and a few nice bream have been caught along the rock walls on crab baits. The Kalimna rock wall has started fishing well for luderick on green weed. If you’re after a thumper luderick, now is the time do to it. They average about 3lb, with many each year taken well over 5lb, and they’re absolute freight trains when the tide is running hard. While luderick will take baits of shrimp and sandworm, most are caught by float fishing with green weed. It really is an art form and the guys who specialise in this style of fishing make it look easy. Lake Tyers has been firing, with flathead and bream making up the majority of anglers’ bags. Most are targeting the shallow banks and sand flats as the fish are up and actively feeding in less than 2m of water. It’s a great time to start throwing

hardbodies and even surface lures, especially if baitfish and small prawns can be seen flicking on the surface. Live prawns, shrimp and sandworms are gun baits for the bream, while flatties have been taken on prawns and bluebait. Areas around the Glasshouse, Blackfellows Arm, the Trident and Mill Point are all fishing well, and again early morning and late afternoon are prime times. So far the run of prawns has been mostly school sized up to about 3”, but they have been thick! It won’t be long until the big king prawns start showing up, and they are great fun to catch! Simply by walking around at night with a torch and dip net can provide hours of entertainment. It’s also great for kids to see some of the creatures that come out at night, with small leatherjackets, seahorses, eels and small squid hanging around the lights. Stay safe on the water and have a great summer!

Your fishing licence fees at work Better access to Merrimans Creek

Barwon River fishway

The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority has used recreational fishing licence fees to improve angler access to Merrimans Creek, which is popular with anglers chasing bream and estuary perch.

Fish numbers in Geelong’s Barwon River are set to grow thanks to a new fishway in the river’s lower reaches.

A new fishing platform has been built and a 250 metre track now connects it to the foreshore trail.

The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority built the fishway at the lower tidal barrage to enable fish to bypass the weir and migrate upstream to breed. The barrage was built more than 100 years ago to prevent saltwater entering the river, but had the side-effect of preventing migratory fish from accessing the river’s upper reaches. The new fishway is constructed of concrete culverts that create a ‘ladder’ in the riverbank. Running water at the opening entices fish to enter and start their upstream journey. Surveys have shown that fish such as mullet, tupong and galaxiids are already using the fishway. Other large native fish such as estuary perch and black bream are expected to do the same.

Fishing safely in waders The Ballarat Fly Fishers Club has used a Small Grant, of less than $5000, to produce a short video about wader safety. The video demonstrates basic water safety techniques and how to swim safely to shore in waders should you fall in. View the video at www.depi.vic.gov.au/ wadersafety

www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishinggrants V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Bemm River gets world focus BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

The fishing at Bemm River continues to get better as the summer heat pushes spring into history. Recently Bemm River hosted the International Hobie Fishing Comp with competitors coming from all over the world.

This was an extremely successful event and very well organised, with Melbourne angler Richard Sommerton coming out on top. Melbourne Cup weekend was also another huge success even though intermittent days consisted of strong winds, but it still unleased great catches of fish when it was possible to get out on the water.

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This makes for a fantastic lead up to our Christmas ‘fun in the sun’ periods. There are excellent reports of fishing coming from the surf beaches with quality salmon, tailor, good catches of gummy, sevengill shark in addition to the odd ray. For up to date reports, please view the ‘fishing report’ on our website: www.bemmaccommodation. com.au. Bemm River Holiday Accommodation & Boat Hire, Clean Quality Accommodation overlooking Sydenham Inlet, phone: (03) 5158 4233 - 0427 584233 bemmaccomm@bigpond. com.

Windy wind up not finished MARLO

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When anglers were unable to get on the water, they sat on the riverbank and there were some very successful anglers catching plenty of bream, luderick and perch. Tailor up to 3kg were plentiful in the channel using lures of many types, such as silver metal slices and soft plastics. The Knox Fishing Club reported catches of quality luderick up to 3kg in Bobs Bay on sandworm, and bream up to 42cm also on sandworm and prawn. As we get into December hopefully the winds have gone, the weather is warming up and the entrance should be closed.

mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

My predictions last issue are a little off; I forgot we still have two more windy months to endure before the conditions improve enough to give us more ocean time. This time of year most of the ocean-going anglers get grumpy as all their well-planed offshore trips are foiled by windy conditions. But as we all know, the times we do get to fish more than compensates the times we can’t get offshore. From now on the weather will warm up and the warm ocean will move down the east coast and into our area of Bass Strait, and with it will bring plenty of baitfish and the pelagic fish that prey on them. All the local anglers are waiting with baited breath for the warm currents to bring in the warm waters to kick-start our game fishing season. In the meantime, the ocean

has started to warm and the fish seem to be more plentiful. Anglers have reported getting plenty of gummy sharks either on the drift or by setting an anchor and using berley to attract them to their baits. Along with the gummy shark, there are plenty of flathead, gurnard, squid, barracouta, pinkie snapper, morwong in good numbers. Reports have suggested it doesn’t matter if you go offshore from Marlo or Cape Conran the fishing is good. The surf beaches are also fishing well; anglers have reported getting plenty of salmon and tailor off most of the surf beaches. Best results have come from using blue bait, white bait, pilchards and squid, always accompanied with a popper. Others have had good results by using light tackle and spinning metal lures. The Snowy River and Brodribb River system is fishing at its best. Bream have come in from the ocean and

moved up the rivers into Lake Corringle and Lake Curlip, and even further up the Snowy to the highway bridge at Orbost, making the fishing platforms along the Snowy prime fishing locations. Big schools of luderick have also moved into the system and are schooling along the rock groins that surround the islands and along the rock groins that protect the

riverbanks. Get best results by using sandworm or shrimp. Schools of mullet are spread throughout the whole system; use sandworm for best results. For those anglers who like their fishing fast and furious, schools of salmon and tailor are in big numbers down towards the entrance. Use metal lures on the incoming tide.

The surf beaches surounding Marlo and the mouth of the Snowy River are always good.

Freshwater

The question of colour NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.me

Many lure and fly fishers spend a lot of time agonising over the colour of their offerings. But how much difference does colour actually make? In the last two instalments of this column I’ve looked in some detail at how fish might see their world. We learnt that most fish, and especially the shallow water and inshore predators we typically chase, have very good eyesight. Also, we know that the majority of these fish can also perceive colour, although the part of the colour spectrum visible to them may be a little different to the one we see (for example, some fish can detect reflected ultraviolet light, which is invisible to us). However, there’s something else we need to factor into this equation, and that’s the way in which water (even very clear water) progressively absorbs light of different wavelengths. This means that colours effectively ‘vanish’ one after another

as ‘white’ sunlight travels through the water column. With increasing depth (and also with increasing horizontal distance through the water), the colour in sunlight is absorbed, and the amount of visible light also diminishes. Because absorption is greater for longer wavelengths (the red end of the spectrum) than it is for shorter wavelengths (the blue end of the spectrum), perceived colours are rapidly altered with increasing depth (or distance). The exact rate at which this loss of colour occurs varies considerably depending on the intensity of the sunlight (directly overhead or low on the horizon, cloudy or sunny conditions and so on), the clarity and colour of the water itself, and the presence of any suspended matter, such as weed or plankton in that water. Even in very clear ocean currents far from shore, less than 25% of available sunlight hitting the water’s surface will penetrate much beyond 10m. By the time we reach a depth of 100m or so, the remaining light may be as little as 0.5% of that available on the surface. In other words, it’s

pretty gloomy down there! As mentioned, red is the first colour visible to our eyes to disappear, and this colour is typically gone within 5-6m (much less in dirty water). Orange disappears next, then yellow, followed by green and purple. Blues (both the tones of blue visible to our human eyes and also the shorter, ultraviolet wavelength many fish can see) penetrate deepest of all. This scientific phenomenon has a profound impact on the way things look to us (and presumably also to fish) underwater. White objects will appear bluish underwater, with the darkness of that blue increasing with depth. Red objects will begin to look dark or even black within a few metres of the surface. Down at 15-20m, even in clear water, the world appears to be composed entirely of shades of grey, blue and black. It’s worth stressing that this loss or alteration of visible colours occurs in both the vertical and the horizontal plane. So, 15m of vertical depth has roughly the same impact on light waves and colour reflection as 15m

This small mulloway hit a silvery/white Squidgies Whip Bait soft plastic. Would the choice of a darker lure or one with brighter colours have altered the outcome? of horizontal separation between object and observer. In other words, a red lure may look black when viewed at a depth of 15m, but it’s also likely to look black, or at the least very dark grey, when viewed from the side at a distance of 15m, even if it’s up in the surface layer. At face value, this phenomena of colour loss at depth would appear to make a mockery of the

importance of colour in lures anywhere beyond shallow, ultra-clear flats fishing. However, most experienced anglers know that lure colour can sometimes make a difference, even in deepwater jigging. Maybe we’ll never understand exactly why, although it’s certainly an interesting subject to ponder! While I accept that colour can be a critical component in lure and fly

choice on its day, I generally rate colour well down the list of key selection criteria, below things like size, shape, action and running depth. In my opinion, far too many fishers get completely hung up on the colour question, often at the expense of other factors that are at least as important to their chances of success. By all means consider colour, but don’t let it dominate your thinking!

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DECEMBER 2013

December delivers good news EDEN / MALLACOOTA

Chris Wright

MALLACOOTA Great news for Mallacoota anglers is that work has begun on two projects that will benefit them. The first is that the

ocean access boat ramp at Bastion Point – this is great news for people like me who rely on reliable ocean access. The second is the construction of two artificial reef structures that will be deployed in the lower lake near Goodwin Sands. These artificial reefs will

be a great starting point for local and visiting anglers alike. In other lakes where they have been deployed, the reefs have been a hub of activity for snapper, mulloway, flathead and bream. Mallacoota should be no different. In fact, the mulloway fishing in the lake has been

Vibes and blades are a great way to catch good numbers of bream, this one came from 12ft of water.

great recently, even without the artificial reef. Fish up to 25kg have been taken in all parts of the system – the river, Top Lake and Bottom Lake. With the entrance open at the moment, summer whiting have already moved into the system and will be a great target in December. Lure anglers can target them with blades or topwater poppers and bait anglers will get best results from nippers or sandworms. With the whiting will come plenty of yellowfin bream into the system and these will make up a fair percentage of bream caught in the lower lake over the next few months. At the recent ABT final held in the lake there were already plenty of nice yellowfin showing them-selves from the Bottom Lake. The town itself is gearing up for a huge summer and the visitors will have plenty of fish to catch over the warmer months. EDEN There’s plenty happening offshore from Eden over the next few months and December is when the kingfish schools start to get bigger.

Murray battled this great bream from the snags, after a well-presented hardbody lure. You can tell when the kingies are on the chew, as there’s usually a fleet of boats in the area, all sharing the fish. Noone seems to mind bumping gelcoat to get a crack at these fish, which seem to be getting more abundant each year. Check out between Mowarry and Green Cape and you’ll soon find the depth the fish are holding, and the boats that are chasing them. They’re not that fussy when it comes to techniques – jigs, plastics or livebaits will all get eaten. Local reefs will also be prime for chasing snapper and morwong at this time of the year, as well as flathead down south between Gabo Island and Mallacoota.

If you’re chasing a big dusky flathead, Wonboyn would be my recommendation. There’s always some big girls kicking around there, as well as the usual mix of bream, tailor and estuary perch. The Whale Festival at Eden was a huge success – with awesome weather one day and atrocious conditions the next. If nothing else, the blow reinforced the need for a longer breakwall in Eden, with several trawlers suffering from the conditions. Land-based anglers will enjoy some pretty good Australian salmon fishing on the local beaches, with Haycock and Quandolla being the pick of the bunch.

Are you ready for the festivities? BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsestuaryfishing@bigpond.com

Finally we have pushed into summer with some very hot weather around. This is good news for anglers with the warm weather and water having already fired up the fish stocks, so are you ready for it? So where should you be concentrating your efforts and what should you be looking for? If you like fishing estuaries we have many on offer within our area, all of which are hosting an array of different species. Flathead are at the top of the list at this time of year with most systems being home to prawn stock creating a readily available food source for the flatties. R E V A L LY . S N A P P E R . E S G.T TU A PE R RY

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There are a variety of prawn imitation lures available that will all work well. Fishing on the last of a run-out tide, first of the incoming early morning around the edges of weed beds, sandy drop-offs or rocky points should be all that is required to secure these great fish with Wallaga

Lake being one of the prime areas. Those who prefer baits will do well on live prawns (gathered the night before), fresh nippers or live mullet. The mullet bait will also do well on other species moving throughout these systems, like bream, trevally, whiting, luderick.

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For those who like to dong a pair of waders, grab a net and light to venture out into the dark. They will undoubtedly secure themselves a good feed of juicy fresh prawns; cook the prawns in the water you catch them out of to improve the flavour. The fishing activity is not confined to shore, out on the briny there are plenty more fishing opportunities. For those who like to reef fish, the close reefs just slightly south east of Bermagui are within easy access for an early morning fish before the winds come up. Here anglers are likely to encounter some of the many reasonable snapper hanging around, and also encounter both species of morwong, pigfish, nannygai and a few mid-size kingfish. Around the fringes or further out over the gravely sandy areas, tiger flathead are very prevalent with most anglers taking very little time to achieve a good bag of these tasty fish. There are also sharks in these areas in the form of gummies or small whalers, so once you have your bag of flatties go to some larger baits to try and find them. Up at Montague Island kingfish are on the improve, although mainly small just-

There are plenty of flats and shallow areas in Wallaga to sight cast at quality bream. under size there is the odd better fish mixing in to keep anglers interests high. A few bonito are also starting to show along with the smaller frigate mackerel. Out wider towards and beyond the Continental Shelf various tuna species are arriving for the game fishers. Yellowfin, albacore, strippies or the occasional big eye or southern blue fin tuna are always a possibility. Lures are the way to go at present as you can cover more water to find where the fish are located. Try running

a mix of swimming and surface lures; this way you will work out what they prefer, along with giving yourself the best option of an early season billfish. This season is shaping up to what will hopefully be a good game fishing year so the only way you will find out if these marlin have turned up is to be out there ready to tangle with one. I would just like to wish all out there a safe and Happy Christmas and New Year. See you in 2014.

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DECEMBER 2013

Fish smarter not harder NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Over the next few weeks Narooma’s population will swell to 25,000+ people making it extremely busy in town and out on the water. With the increased boat traffic that Christmas brings, anglers fishing the estuaries will have to fish a little smarter not harder. Getting on the water early will certainly help when fishing Wagonga Inlet and the surrounding Lakes. The waterways will be busy with jet skis, ski boats and the like so an early start will reap you rewards. Wagonga Inlet has fished well of late, which should continue. There have been some huge flathead caught; the best l’ve heard of lately went a massive 96cm, now that’s a beast! Unfortunately the fish was killed, but hopefully one day it will get through to ALL that killing these breeders will only do harm for future stocks in the long run. There’s also been an increase in mulloway captures, mainly by bait fishos, with several fish being caught around the 6-7kg bracket. While guiding at Wagonga recently I’ve marked a lot of mulloway up around the tailor school edges but they haven’t really responded that well to artificials, especially soft plastics. That should

change over coming weeks as the water warms further and the bait thins out. That’s why mulloway are a challenge; they’re not easy to catch but once you do come up trumps the long hours targeting them are all forgotten. Anglers after bream will do well in the lower sections of the channels from the main bridge to the bar entrance. Anchoring up and using berley on a draining tide should see some solid fish caught. You can expect whiting, trevally and the odd flounder as well. In the upper reaches, bream and whiting will respond well to surface presentations, like

good in the river section with bream and estuary perch chewing amongst the snags. Casting lightly weighted softies and shallow-running hardbodies has worked a treat. The lower sections have been solid for mulloway, with bream and whiting starting to spread out on the flats. This action will continue and I expect this summer to be a cracker for this under-rated system. On the rocks, drummer, blackfish and bream will still call the suds home, but a lot will depend on conditions. Fishing a ledge with white water is perfect; the rocks at Dalmeny is spot on for this,

A couple of nice estuary perch from the Tuross River prior to release; expect a good season from this under-rated sport fish. poppers and walk baits. This visual type of fishing is great fun and will only get better as the water warms further. Upper Tuross is firing up nicely, the flatties have been

especially if the seas are calm. Using fresh cabbage, cunjevoi, cut crabs and prawns are the better baits to use. For the guys who target pelagics species off the

A typical sized school mulloway of 78cm. There should be plenty of these fellas around over coming weeks but you’ll need to put in the hard yards. stones, this month is ideal. Bonito, striped tuna, kingfish, salmon and big tailor are all possibilities with lures and live bait the best methods. Casting lightly weighted ganged pilchards and slowly retrieving them will also pay dividends. Mystery Bay to the south of Narooma would be the pick, but the rock ledge at the golf course is worth a look too. The northern end of the breakwall also holds good quantities of salmon, especially on the run-out tide. Offshore sport fishers will be in heaven with a plethora of species to target. Kingfish are very popular with anglers, and they won’t be disappointed. These hard fighting brutes are around in decent numbers. Montague Island has been excellent with kings to 8kg common. Live bait and jigs have worked, although on different days different techniques will work.

It pays to stop at the bait grounds below the golf course rocks, the day you don’t is the day that livies work and not jigs, I’ve made the mistake before and it’s not worth it! There have been reports of kings off Potato Point and Moruya, so if the island is a little slower there are other options. A little further out, albacore and school yellowfin tuna to 30kg have been captured, mainly trolling skirted pushers and larger bibbed minnows. The fish have been along the shelf line, but your success will depend on water conditions and temperature as to their particular location. It won’t be long before the marlin turn up too. There’s already been a handful of fish hooked off Bermagui, with a report of a 90kg fish landed, which is great to see so early in the season. If the game species aren’t

for you then the bottom eating fish will keep you happy. Like down south, the snapper have been good, fish to 2kg common on most inshore reefs. The southwest corner of Montague has fired as well, so expect some sizable morwong and tiger flathead. Off Kianga and Dalmeny in 35-40m of water have seen excellent captures of sand flathead. They have been patchy but once you find a patch, bags can be reached pretty easily. The added bonus here is that the stinking leatherjackets are gone for the time being, meaning less gear lost and more fish in the boat. I expect this action to continue right through December and onwards, hopefully the weather will be on our side to let the local and visiting anglers get amongst them.

Estuaries firing up for summer MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

It’s a busy time of year around the Merimbula region with the holiday crowd, but some exceptional fishing will still be on offer, especially offshore. The last few weeks has been excellent for those anglers targeting reef fish. Most species have played the game, with snapper, morwong, sand and tiger flathead and kingfish all having a chew at times. The snapper fishing is awesome, with most switched-on crews getting a dozen-plus fish every trip. The reds are averaging 1.5-2kg, with the odd better model pushing 5kg. They are widespread, with most reefs holding fish, though Lennards Island and Long Reef have been the pick of late. The snapper are responding well to a number of techniques. Bait fishos are doing well on fresh squid, pilchards and mackerel fillets, but the eye-opener is how many snapper are falling to 40

DECEMBER 2013

V&TFM

soft plastics fished hard on the bottom. A few locals have got this wired and their results are truly amazing. It seems that these rubbery lures can catch just about everything. Using plastics is definitely a cleaner proposition, and the results speak for themselves. With the water temperature rising with each passing day, kingfish numbers have increased. Fish to 6kg are common. Both jigs and livebait have been working, and fresh squid fished with a flasher rig are also getting results. There have also been reports of kings on the surface

smacking bait, so a unweighed livie or popper should produce a fish or two. A little further offshore, good albacore are readily available from the 70-fathom line and further east. I expect some decent yellowfin tuna to turn up too, and it won’t be long before the first marlin is captured. There have been a few already captured north of us so it won’t be long before the game season really kicks in. Trolling skirted pushers is the go-to method early in the season, especially with the majority of marlin being stripes. You get to cover a lot

Mulloway are fun to catch no matter the size.

of ground, which you need to do early in the season. Look for temperature breaks, tide lines and bait activity, especially bait down deep. A decent sounder is paramount for this. ESTUARIES In the estuaries the fishing is firing up nicely. Both Merimbula and Pambula have been good, but Pambula has been the real stand-out. You can expect flathead, bream, blackfish, whiting, trevally and monster salmon. I had a guide there the other day who produced 8 different legal species with around 40 fish caught for the morning session. That’s solid fishing for one guy. This type of fishing will continue right through summer, with bait and lure throwers getting amongst them. At the moment the fish are pretty concentrated, with the water a coolish 16ºC, but they will spread out as the water warms further. I’d be looking around the main basin, concentrating in water 3-5m along the ribbon weed edges. There will be a few monster flatties getting active too, so please do the right thing

Jessie and Jack with a quality salmon. and let these breeders go. They are too valuable to catch only once. BEACHES The beaches have been consistent but not red hot. The best way to boost your catch rates is to fish the tides around the peak low-light periods. Some solid bream and whiting are succumbing to pipis, live beach worms and tuna cubes. You do have to fish light for them, and using a little berley helps as well. The better beaches have been North Tura and the entrance to Pambula Lake. If you’re after salmon and tailor, the usual paternoster rig is the go. Most local beaches are holding both species, with Tura maintaining a deep gutter to the northern end. Those casting chrome slices off the stones are in

for some fun; this month is a gun time. There have been kingfish, big salmon, striped tuna and a few frigate mackerel getting around. Early morning is definitely the peak time, and if you can coincide that with a falling or low tide, so much the better. A few local lads are kicking butt on the smaller tuna, catching them on tackle you’d associate with bream rather than tuna. These guys have been blown away a few times but they’re having a stack of fun in the process. If a decent-sized king is for you, a livebait fished under a balloon may do the trick. I’d be looking at Tura Head or Long Point for best results. I hope you all have a safe and Merry Christmas, and tight lines for 2014.

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DECEMBER 2013

Chasing cod in rivers with lures BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

With the 2013/2014 Murray cod season now open I decided it was timely to discuss the subject of lure fishing for Murray cod in rivers.

Back in the day to talk about luring cod I would have to start by going on about the best trolling tactics. Trolling was the ‘gun’ technique that pretty much everyone used. How times have changed! These days more and more anglers are converting to casting lures as often as is possible. It’s no wonder,

Another cod taken on a single willow blade Outlaw Spinnerbait. Single blades, especially willow blades, cut through the water better than conventional tandem blades making them far more effective spinnerbaits in fast flowing rivers. Also note the contrasting jighead colour, which gives the lure more appeal and another thing for the fish to hone in on.

because Murray cod are ambush predators that sit on their chosen snag and wait until something strays too close – then the cod will launch itself out, hit the prey and get back to the safety of its snag. This can all happen in a matter of seconds. It makes sense, therefore, that casting lures into all the little nooks and crannies of a snag is far more likely to elicit a strike than a lure that is trolled along the outer edge of a snag. The other beauty of casting lures to snag-dwelling Murray cod is being able to aggravate the fish into striking by annoying the fish with lots of casts. Even if the fish is not hungry, you can make it so annoyed that it will come out and attack your lure out of territorial aggression. A strike from an angry Murray cod is bone jarring to say the least. It is for these very reasons that on most occasions casting lures will reap more of a reward then trolling lures. SPINNERBAITS The undisputed king of river lures for Murray cod is the strange looking but very effective spinnerbait. These wonderful lures work equally well on the troll as they do on the cast, and their ability to ride over snags is second to

none. Add to this the fact that they sink and can be fished all the way through the strike zone, and you have a lure that’s very hard to beat and an absolute must-have. When lure fishing in any river the first thing you have to consider is how fast it’s flowing and how deep it is. To fish your spinnerbait effectively, you have to match its head weight to the river’s flow. You want the lure to be light enough to be in the fish’s face for as long as possible, but not so light that it’s swept downstream by the current. Generally speaking, in low flows you might get away with a 3/8oz spinnerbait, and in normal flows a 1/2oz would do the job. In high flows you might need to step up to a 5/8oz or even 3/4oz if it’s flowing really hard. Most anglers, particularly those new to casting lures, use tandem spinnerbaits, usually double Colorado blades (wide, teardrop-shaped blades). These lures displace a lot of water with their large thumping blades, and this makes them good in lakes and dirty water because it helps fish detect and home in on the lure. However, in a river situation – particularly a

Hardbodied lures like those produced by Ballista are very successful in the rivers when cod are on the menu. They handle the currents and the harsh terrain and then ask the cod ‘Is that all you’ve got?’. fast-flowing river – these spinnerbaits grab too much water or take too long to sink. That means you have to cast a long way upstream and allow your lure to sink down into the strike zone while allowing for current. This can cause all sorts of dramas, but mainly a big belly in your line as it sinks. It makes it difficult to detect bites, and the line can also drag over and get snagged on submerged timber without you realising it. The other reason I don’t like the double Colorados, even in lakes, is that they can scare more fish then they catch – especially on highly pressured waters. Natives are fascinated by spinnerbaits and will follow the big double

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Colorado spinnerbaits, but often they won’t hit them. Chances are they’ve been caught on them several times before. I almost always use single-bladed spinnerbaits these days. They get the fishes’ attention and, because of their size and more natural flash and vibration, they seem to get hit more then they get followed. Many other notable guides and tournament anglers catch far more Murray cod more regularly on this style of spinnerbait. When fishing rivers my first choice is a single copper willow blade (a narrow blade that’s pointed at both ends). This colour blade is a good

all-rounder and works equally well in both clear and dirty water. If the water is really dirty I may opt for a gold willow blade, and at times I use a silver or black willow when the water is crystal clear and the fish have been copping a hammering from anglers. A good thing about using a single willow is that this narrow blade style slices through the water better on the drop, allowing your lure to get into the strike zone fairly quickly. That means you can cast right into the area you think the fish is holding, and allow the spinnerbait to sink right in its face without the fear of the lure being swept downstream. When retrieved, these lures have a very nice action

that Murray cod and most other natives just can’t resist. And once you get used to this style of spinnerbait you can ride them through even the gnarliest of structure without getting snagged too often. When choosing a skirt colour I recommend using natural colours in clear water. While darker colours can work well in clear water as well, they really come into their own in dirty water. A dark spinnerbait will stand out better then any other colour in cloudy water, making it easier for fish to spot from further away. Another tip that I swear by is to use a jighead colour that contrasts with the skirt colour. If you’re using, say, a black and red skirt, use a yellow or white jighead to

standout against the dark coloured skirt. This will give your lure even more appeal, because it makes it easier for the fish to spot and home in on it.

TROLLING If you’re not into casting for whatever reason, you’ll find that trolling the aforementioned spinnerbaits in the right areas will also

Wales lakes systems. Whether you are fishing Lake Eildon, Lake Hume, Lake Eppalock, Kangaroo Lake or Lake Mulwala all of this locations have their own sets of challenges and with the terrain being very different from one location to another it often takes a considerable amount of skill and knowledge to be able to produce consistent results when targeting Murray cod in different locations.

UNDERSTANDING MURRAY COD Like any other form of fishing it is critical to have a good understanding about the characteristics of the species of fish you are targeting as an angler. Murray cod are a species that are very lazy in their nature. Their level of aggression is hugely affected by the barometer. They can be very territorial one day, but

not the next. They are ambush feeders and will often ambush prey from a wide variety of structure. Murray cod will take a lure out of three main responses. The first is a feeding response. This is when a lure is presented to the Murray cod in such a way that it represent a food source. The Murray cod then comes out and strikes the lures in order to eat it.

A beautifully marked Upper Murray River cod. Note the cluster of snags the fish was caught from, it just screamed cod and could only be fished by casting and retrieving lures.

Luring in lakes for Murray cod BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

Catching Murray cod on lures within our lakes can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. There are a huge number of anglers each season who spend large amounts of time targeting Murray cod in many Victorian and New South

Continued page 44

account for plenty of Murray cod in a river. Most cod-holding snags, drop-offs, root balls, undercut banks or big trees are along the edges of the river, so when trolling be sure to stick as close to the bank as possible. That’s unless you happen to find a submerged mid-river snag, in which case try to make your lures go right in, over and around it. Also, just like with casting, you can annoy Murray cod to hit out of aggression. If you find a good snag or stretch, be sure to keep turning around and going over the area, back and forth until you annoy the fish into striking. Arguably the best and most consistent areas for trolling for Murray cod are on the outside bends of rivers.

The exception is when the river is in very fast flow, in which case the inside of the bank may be the best place to look for fish trying to get out of the fast current. It is also worth noting that if the river is running high and fast, the Murray cod will most likely be found holding on the back side or downstream side of snags where there is a little calm eddy. However, in the lower flows the fish feel more at ease and can often be found sitting on the front or top of snags, waiting to ambush anything that drifts or swims by. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to lure fishing for Murray cod in rivers, but it should still help you hook a few more Murray cod this season.

The Jackall Doozer is a must-have lure. Worked slow this lure is a prolific fish catcher in lakes.

V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

From page 43

IS IT ABOUT SPOTS? Unfortunately this is a mistake that is commonly made by many anglers. Some very good Murray cod anglers fall into the trap of fishing their favourite locations too often on a regular basis. This is human nature if you have had good success at a particular location, then you go back there thinking you will catch more fish at this same location. Murray cod are susceptible to fishing pressure. I believe Murray cod do get educated. I believe that every time a Murray cod is caught and released they learn from that experience and they become

The second is a territorial response. This is when repetitive casting or trolling of lures past resident Murray cod provokes a strike, often the strike from the Murray cod is intended to chase the intruder away. The third is an instinctive strike. This is when a perfect cast is placed very close to a resident Murray cod and without hesitation instinct kicks in and the Murray cod inhales your lure. The size of this strike zone can vary greatly from day to day. On some of the toughest days fishing that strike zone can be a small as a few centimetres.

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a very critical ingredient for anglers if they want to catch Murray cod. Timber is a favourite form of structure. This timber can be of several different forms. Fallen timber or lay me downs as I like to call them provide great habitat for Murray cod and often have several key holding points where Murray cod will take up residence. The most productive holding areas are on the root systems of the fallen timber. Any areas where two branches separate and create a V are excellent holding areas. Also if there are any cross up timber (this is where you have a combination of vertical and horizontal timber meeting) is always worth a look. Small trees or shrubs can be productive structure for targeting Murray cod. This can often be found in lakes that experience large fluctuations in water levels like Lake Eildon. After periods of decreasing water levels followed by good rises in water levels, usually during late spring and early summer, these new forms of structure can provide great habitat and are excellent holding areas for Murray cod. Large standing timber is also very good habitat for Murray cod. However this form of structure is often ignored by many lure fishers to the detriment of their catch rates. Rock structure can be prevalent in some locations, yet non existent in other lakes. The most common form of rock structures are rocky shorelines. These areas can be productive locations to cast or troll when targeting Murray cod with lures. Ledges and drop offs are areas that are not often targeted by many anglers when chasing Murray cod. They can

be prevalent in some lakes where there are many points or changes in direction around the shoreline. River and creeks are prevalent within the majority of our lakes systems. These areas can be difficult to locate when they are inside the lake. These river and creeks systems do provide current flows throughout many of our lakes and therefore carry good volumes of food and are favourite holding areas where good concentrations of Murray cod can be located. Weed beds and shoreline vegetation are terrific areas to target Murray cod. Many anglers choose not to fish these areas as they can be difficult to fish with weed often fouling lures. Skilled anglers know the inconvenience of regularly clearing lures is worth the effort as some terrific Murray cod are caught off this soft vegetation. Shoreline vegetation can be very productive; this vegetation can be of a wide variety. The root systems of willow trees and cumbungi lined banks are a couple of my favourite types of shoreline vegetation. WHERE TO FISH This is often determined by water temperatures and whether water levels are rising or falling within the lake. Often early in summer water levels are still rising and water temperatures are increasing. During this period the best concentrations of bait is in these shallower margins. This is where the greatest concentration of Murray cod will be located. In locations like Lake Mulwala this can be in depths as shallow as 3-6’. During the middle of summer water temperatures can get very warm and combined with a reduction in water levels the concentration of Murray cod reduces in these shallower margins. In autumn we will often see a short period where good concentration of Murray cod move back into these shallow margins again. Then in late autumn and winter the cooling water temperatures produce a migration of bait from these shallow margins into deep water and the Murray cod follow. There is a common saying amongst anglers: Find the bait, find the fish! This is true for many species.

FAVOURITE LURES FOR MURRAY COD There are a wide variety of lures that are currently on the market for anglers who are targeting Murray cod. My recommendation for anglers is to buy a good selection of different types and styles of lures so their options are covered. When fishing spinnerbaits for Murray cod I prefer to use small low profile spinnerbaits. Over two decades of fishing this style of lure I continue to produce my best results when fishing single bladed spinnerbaits. Copper blades have been a terrific option for me over the years. Bassman is my preferred brand and Glen Casey is a master of making these lures. His range of colours is very impressive and has an option available for any conditions. I also use the Jackall range of lures when targeting Murray cod and a couple of my current favourite options are the Doozer and TN65 models. The Jackall range of lures continues to grow and many of their models such as the Jackall Squirrel and Mascle Deep are very productive, but under used by anglers targeting Murray cod. A favourite hard body brand continues to be Custom Crafted lures made by Steve Kovacks. Steve is a master of his trade and he is one of only a few who are still making timber hardbody lures. Models such as the small Hammerhead and Lumo Diver have been consistent over the years. I am looking forward to using some of Steve’s new models which I have had some input into the design and development of these lures for the 2014 season. There are also a growing range of surface lures available for targeting Murray cod. Anglers should try and have a range of these from paddlers to poppers to stick baits and buzz baits as they can all be good on the right day or night! Anglers want to build a range of lures so they can fish in depth ranges 2-40’. Colour selections can be important and the challenge of working out what they want to eat is not an easy one. But a rewarding one when you manage to land that quality Murray cod followed by a couple of quick photos, then releasing that fish to fight another day.

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Big green fish are the pinnacle of a lake angler’s dreams when it comes to cod. This Lake Mulwala fish is a prime example of getting it all right.

Native bait spinning FMG

Stephen Booth sbooth@fishingmonthly.com.au

Bait spinning for native fish is a tactic that was taught to me at a very young age by some old land cockies around Nyah West in northwestern Victoria. It’s a simple technique that increases your catch rate incredibly and the best part is, you can do this with any bait you want.

rig. My favourite bait to use is a 1” (2.5cm) yabby and I rig this so the hook point comes out the back of the tail where the main bend is. This rigging allows the yabby to kick and flick at will and their tough exoskeleton keeps them firmly on the hook. Cast the bait out to a likely area and let the rig settle to the bottom. I leave the bait here for a minute or so to let the fish settle down and let the yabby send out a scent trail and a few enticing flicks. My first move

Slowly moving bait in dirty water is a good way to explore lakes with bait. THE BASICS Bait spinning simply means tossing the bait out and slowly working it back to the boat. You can do this in still water or in running water and you can use a single or double paternoster-style rig or use a running sinker rig either with a leader or no leader. It’s versatile, simple and effective. In rivers I prefer to use a paternoster-style rig. In areas I know well I will use a two hook rig and when I am exploring new snags I will use a one hook rig. In lakes I prefer a running sinker rig and I almost always run the sinker right down to the hook. Taking on rivers first I will tie the boat up or position myself upstream of the snag I want to fish and prepare the

after the pause is to flick the rod tip and make the rig jump off the bottom with the aim to make it look like the yabby is panicking. I then allow the rig to settle again before starting a really slow wind in. This drags the sinker along the bottom and the movement annoys the yabby causing it to flick even more. You can work this rig through pretty tough country and the hits are not muck around hits generally. The fish pretty much smack the yabby in a crunching tackle to stop it getting away. Make sure your line is good, your rod work is excellent and you work the fish hard at the start because your rig is literally in tiger country at is always a chance to get snagged. In the lakes I prefer to use a running sinker rig with a tiny ball sinker running to the bait. Again yabbies in the 1” range are my preferred bait, but shrimp and shrimp/worm cocktails run a very, very close second. I start by exploring the base of trees first – the places where the root balls and roots create a tangled mess that makes ideal habitat for a cod,

Hook-up on a steep bank that hides a big snag below!

Shrimps, yabbies, worms and bardi grubs are all great baits.

a few rod tip bobs thrown in for good measure. On the way up, if I know there are overhanging branches, I will stop the wind and yo-yo the bait along, around and over the overhang to capture the attention of any mid-water goldens. This gives me a great chance to nail a cod down low or a golden up higher. BAIT IT UP Fishing baits for native fish has been lost in all the commotion of lure fishing and even I am to blame for that. I simply love the crunching strike. However

This golden smashed a yabbie fished along this tree in teh background.

Schooling fish respond well to a moving bait.

Right: Dirk Wendt leans out to land a cod snared on bait. Middle: This little cod nailed a bunch of scrubbies moved slowly across the bottom. Left: Big, fat impoundment golden perch are not immune to a cleverly presented moving bait.

or a golden or even a redfin. I let the bait fall to the bottom and I really don’t allow it time to rest. The reason is simple, the little yabbies will actually crawl under the snag and hang on for dear life, more often than not snagging your rig. As soon as the rig hits the bottom I engage the reel and begin a slow yo-yo of the bait, moving the rod tip about the boat to present the bait to as many hidey holes as possible. After this initial yo-yo I will start a super slow wind with

lures are not always the best option and having the ability to adapt and fish baits in an effective manner is a sensible idea for anyone fishing the rivers and lakes for native fish. We all know how fickle they can be at times and bait spinning takes the best of bait fishing and throws a little bit of lure fishing into the mix giving the fish a moving target that is actually real. What more could you want from a bait? V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Yabbies or fish – too many choices for anglers HORSHAM

Alastair Vanstan bigalvanstan@yahoo.com.au

It’s hard to decide whether to chase the yabbies or the fish at the moment. Now that warmer weather is here the fishing sure has fired up a few notches with some excellent yellowbelly, redfin and trout being taken right across the Wimmera. The yabbying has also been great with waters such as Clear Lake, Jalumba Swamp, Rocklands, Green Lake and

Lonsdale producing some fine catches of great eating yabbies. In fact the yabbying has been so good it is often a hard decision to choose between spending a weekend yabbying or chasing the fish. I like to do both, which makes Lake Lonsdale ideal for me, let’s hope they keep some water in there for us this summer. TOOLONDO RESERVOIR This is still our most popular water with some hefty brown trout to 2.8kg being taken along with rainbows Rusty Vanstan with his best trout to date, a 2.5kg brown he caught at Toolondo recently while fishing with Judy Gardner.

Judy Gardner with a nice sample of an early morning trout catch at Toolondo.

to 2kg. Most of these trout are being taken on mudeye fished under bubble floats or Powerbait on running sinker rigs. Trolling lures is still taking a few trout but mudeye fishing has been far more productive. There are a few nice trout being taken by fly anglers with wets such as Mrs Simpsons and Woolly Buggers working well. WIMMERA RIVER This is a great time of year to be chasing the yellowbelly in the river and areas such as Horsham Weir; lower Norton,

Dimboola and Jeparit have been producing good catches of yellowbelly on lures such as StumpJumpers and Ballista Dynos and triggers as well as spinnerbaits. Bait fishing with worms and yabbies has also been working well but there are huge numbers of carp about this year and eager to take any baits thrown at them. There have been a few catfish and silver perch about along with a few nice redfin, particularly between Jeparit and Dimboola.

LAKE LONSDALE After many months of not much action here, the reddies have now started to fire up and they have been a bit on the large side too. Anglers trolling diving minnows or drifting with gudgeon and small yabbies have been delighted to bag some hefty redfin to 2kg with most averaging around 1kg. These are excellent reddies to catch and even better eating. The yabbying has also been good here after dark. Water levels are a bit of an issue, as this

is often the first lake to be drawn down come summer, so it pays to check the levels before making the trip. LAKE FYANS There has been plenty of trout getting caught on mudeye fished under bubble floats with most trout caught around 1-1.5kg. I haven’t heard of any big trout being taken here for a while but they are definitely in here, perhaps fishing after dark is the way to get on to the bigger ones at the moment. The redfin fishing has been excellent with many being caught up to 1.8kg on small yabbies and gudgeon. Trolling small minnow lures has also been working well on the reddies. TAYLORS LAKE There has been a few nice redfin getting caught here along with a few yellowbelly around 1kg. Bait fishing with worms and small yabbies has been working well but you do have to go through a lot of carp before you have a chance on the reddies and yellas. The general ratio from most anglers I have been speaking to is 15 carp to one reddie or yella. There have also been a few small Murray cod and silver perch being taken here lately as well.

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Graham Saunders’ Goulburn Lures FMG

Stephen Booth sbooth@fishingmonthly.com.au

Goulburn Lures are synonymous with native fishing in Victoria, especially around their home town of Shepparton and north towards the Murray and cod fishing’s Mecca, Lake Mulwala. But how did these Aussie designed and built dynamos become so entrenched in the native lure fishing market? What’s their history and what’s their future? Those questions are easy to answer when you cross swords with designer, maker and all-round top bloke Graham Saunders. On a road trip through central Victoria we dropped in to see Graham and have a chat about his lures. You need to keep in mind that Graham is your typical bushy. Quiet, unassuming and downright decent. There are no airs or graces and you know that what he says is truth as lying and manipulating people simply don’t enter into his mind. I love that type of honesty. My introduction to Goulburn Lures was while I was working as a part timer at the Compleat Angler chain of stores, the original ones owned by Jim Allen. The team at Box Hill wanted to get a range of native fishing lures and Goulburn Lures were on the list. At that stage I was a super keen, justlicensed fishing nut and new lures I had never seen were eagerly awaited. Unpacking these lures would be as exciting to me as unpacking a Chrissie present. On first glance I was hooked, these lures looked the goods and the very next weekend I took some of the small 55m 10+ and 15+ lures for a swim with immediate success on some Loddon River goldens. Mad keen lure fisher and freelancer Roger Dark has helped me out with some of the following and between us, I reckon there’s a really good picture of Goulburn Lures. Read on and learn all about these wonderful lures and the man himself. HISTORY Graham started making lures for himself and a few

mates many years before he even bothered to contemplate commercialising them. These lures were beautifully rustic and were designed to do a job. In his shed there is one of his first lures – a big brick of a lure that was lost to a good fish, only to be found about 15 years later by a mate who returned it to Graham. Now that’s history!

“At the time Graham was toying with two very different styles, the first a high shouldered, longtail style. The second and eventual production model, had a slim front, tapered waist progressing to a large, wide tail with two large eyes prominent, reminiscent by no accident of a large yabby making a hasty exit in the

The original Goulburn that was lost, then found and returned to Graham after 15 years. That’s history! After these early forays and with a lot of trial and error, the lures became more refined and they started to look a lot more like the Goulburn Lures of today. This all happened in the late 1980s and into the early 1990s and it was at this point that Roger Dark first came across Goulburn Lures at Trelly’s Tackle in Shepparton, home of Goulburn Lures. Roger had become a regular visitor to Lake Mulwala and always stopped for a chat about fishing at Trelly’s and Roger said “It was on one of these stopovers where Steve pulled out a couple of largish (for the day) Murray cod lures, which had been whittled up by a local builder (of houses) who I found out to be Graham Saunders. “I was immediately taken by the attention to detail and overall quality of the lures. “Made from wood at the time, the surface was faultless, the bibs substantial and a lot of thought had been put into generating a lure that would sustain the ravages of a rampant Murray cod strike. “The colours and patterns were striking, and the final clear coat of an ilk that would do a Harley Davidson proud.

One of the later models in the Goulburn Lures stable is the Currawon. This lure took cod for me on its first trip in Lake Mulwala and has quickly established itself as a lure to have in your native lure fishing box.

reverse direction”. The early 1990s was a peak in Aussie lure building with famous lures like RMG’s, Newell’s, Seekers, StumpJumpers, Predators

My first trip was successful and so was Roger’s first crack. He noted the brilliant action of the larger Codger stating that “The action was enthralling although not unexpected, with the wide tail rocking, rolling and snaking all at the same time. The eventual plastic production models would carry a light rattle, adding further spice to an already enticing lure. They are an incredibly snagproof lure on the troll, facilitated by a combination of that large scooped bib, a nose down swimming action and a buoyant tail”. And fish catches came thick and fast once serious production and availability came. Roger recounts one memorable Mulwala morning where “fishing with Adam Pascoe around the now removed willows on the Victorian side of Lake Mulwala we boated no less than 20 cod and had interest from 20 more. All were taken on the Kingfisher coloured Old Codger, affectionately known by myself and my fishing friends as the Blueback”.

Graham Saunders placing the hooks on his lures before they head off to the shops. I am always amazed at how quickly lure makers get at hooking up their lures. INTO THE FUTURE Like all lure makers Graham is not content to rest on his laurels and the recent release of the Currawon and the latest 70mm Codgers is evidence that his lure designing days are not numbered just yet. In fact there are whispers of surface lures in the

Some of Graham’s original prototypes and play lures. You could pick them anywhere and Graham’s distinctive style shines through. and many, many more all being whittled up by expert hands and the Goulburn Codger was an absolute departure from most of these sensational offerings. As Roger said, “Suddenly there was a true point of difference in green fish offerings”. I immediately liked the difference and had the same question as Roger – how would they swim? The upturned bib, different body shape and stark contrasting colours all looked amazing and with diving depths over 5m for the large 85mm Codger and 10+ feet or 15+ feet for the 55mm offering stated, it would be great to find out in the field.

coming years, but don’t tell anyone OK? The new 70mm version really interests me and I am looking forward to checking them out in cod water very soon. A very easy casting size and a diving depth that places them in my preferred 4-8 feet on the cast gives me confidence they will be winners this season. Check them out at tackle stores now, or ask your tackle store to get them in. Graham is truly one of those nice blokes in an industry that keeps throwing up really decent people. His legacy will not only be that he made some fantastic lures that caught fish, as Roger said “Graham was additionally a genuinely good bloke, a gentleman around the campfire at the end of the day and someone from the fishing industry I’ll always consider a friend”. And it is exactly people like this that I am more than happy to prattle on about. Add a Goulburn Codger or three to your arsenal, whether you’re casting or trolling and give them a fair run. They’re pretty awesome little lures from a pretty awesome fella.

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DECEMBER 2013

Water finally clearing to a satisfactory level MILDURA

John Menhennett goobyfish@hotmail.com

This year is gearing up to be a fantastic summer of fishing around Mildura, particularly for those targeting Murray cod in the mighty Murray River. River levels are still high but have steadied. Flows are slowly subsiding and water clarity is satisfactory for luring. Some very nice yellowbelly have been caught all around Mildura during warm conditions, especially around Merbein and Apex Park. It seems the warmer the better for catching yellowbelly, especially when humidity is high. The fish have been caught on lures mostly, but bait fishos are having a great time as well bobbing a shrimp or two. Downsized lures intended for yellas have been working well around snags and clay banks, but recently the fish have been caught on larger lures, as

by-catch to their much larger and more aggressive cousins, the Murray cod. Biggest of the yellas of late has been 54cm, which is a great river fish. Others have been coming in at the usual 40-48cm range, typical of summer yellowbelly. Large-sized catfish are being caught on bait around Fort Courage. Reports from local anglers indicate that this iconic species are still around in decent numbers. Murray cod season is upon us again and Mildura anglers are looking forward to the action this season should bring. Most anglers will be relishing the opportunity to catch a cod over the magical metre mark, but anglers are reminded to be mindful when handling bigger fish in the summer heat before releasing. It is important to have all of your releasing gear ready to go in the boat before a fish is even landed. A decent pair of lip grips, large pliers and landing net are just some of the equipment needed to ensure the safe release of this

TARGET

Australia’s largest freshwater fish “The Mighty Murray Cod”

Brett Evans with a very nice Murray River yellowbelly caught on a Koolabung Codzilla. Quite a few yellas get caught on the larger lures every summer. majestical species. Running a combination of 50lb braid and 50-60lb leader seems to be optimum for targeting big fish in the

Murray. Lure size from 90-200mm in most colours should be an essential part of the cod angler’s tackle box. Lighter tackle will also

see you land the big one, but can tire-out big fish too much making them stress and less able to survive. The best smaller lure,

which has been working the best lately to specifically target yellas, has been Koolabung 90mm codbait and Bassman Yellaman series of spinnerbaits. Koolabung lures have dominated previous cod seasons, particularly the 120mm Codzilla and is still the go-to lure for big cod. But other lure makes such as Bassman Spinnerbaits, Muldoon and Balista should be the go to this season. Whatever your choice of lure or tackle, this is set to be a cracker of a cod season. Officially opening on Sunday December 1, it won’t be until the next weekend that most anglers will take their annual migration to Mulwala for the 2013 Classic, amongst other venues and camps along the river banks. Summer is a great time to fish for our special native species, but it is vitally important if you are heading out to carry the appropriate safety and medical gear appropriate to your crew and size boat being fished from. Maritime are also going to be out in force over the summer, so do everyone a favour and do the right thing when on the water.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Boat seizure a reminder to obey snapper rules Recreational anglers are being reminded to obey bag and size limits for snapper following the seizure of another boat on Port Phillip Bay by Fisheries Officers recently. Fisheries Victoria Acting Education and Enforcement Director Ian Parks said Fisheries Officers had already seized two boats on Port Phillip Bay as a result of anglers exceeding the bag limit just three weeks into the snapper season. “In the latest case, Fisheries Officers allegedly

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found 17 snapper aboard a boat this morning at St Kilda,” Mr Parks said. “When the Officers inspected the boat, the two men on board presented six snapper over 40cm in length, which represented the maximum legal catch. “But a subsequent search allegedly revealed a further 11 snapper over 40cm in length concealed in a compartment of the boat.” The two men had their boat and fishing equipment seized and will be charged on summons with exceeding the bag limit for snapper. The daily bag limit for

snapper over 40cm in length is three fish per person. Mr Parks said bag and size limits were in place to ensure the sustainability of Victoria’s fisheries. He said anglers could expect to receive harsh penalties for ignoring the rules, including large fines and the potential seizure of their boat and other equipment. “The message to anglers is that snapper season is well underway and there is some great fishing to be had in Port Phillip Bay and Westernport Bay,” Mr Parks said. “The majority of

recreational anglers do the right thing and observe the rules. “However, a small minority can threaten the sustainability of the fishery by flouting the law. Those caught can expect fines, seizure of their equipment and potentially fishing bans.” Mr Parks said Fisheries Officers would be maintaining a strong presence in areas popular with snapper anglers over the Cup Day weekend and the remainder of the season. - DEPI Fisheries

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Bait angling proves best method ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

From Swan Hill to Mildura and beyond it’s a similar report along the Murray River. Most locations are producing good numbers of golden perch in the backwaters on bait. Anglers are finding it easy to catch a feed in the warm spring flows, and few if any bait has been better than scrub worms. Shrimp are now starting to show as the water temperature continues to climb. They have also proven to be good bait, especially

when fished vertically amongst the snags. The technique is simple enough, just thread a single shrimp on the hook and lower it down amongst the snags where it is slowly bobbed up and down. You continue to move the bait along the snag, covering ground until a fish shows interest. It’s a very productive method and not bad fun either. In our local waters, the only lure fishing success I have heard of this past month has been in the Kerang Lakes. Lake Charm has been the pick of these, with good sized golden perch caught both casting and trolling. Some solid redfin around

the 1kg mark have also been landed on lures at both first and last light. A little heads up for the coming cod season is the incidental capture of several good-sized cod in Lake Charm this past month, with all returned in good condition. A little further afield, the Darling River has yabbies on the move, with most anglers who have been trying their luck able to manage a feed. Some good golden perch are also on the chew in the Darling, and once again they’re being taken on bait as the water clarity is quite poor. As we run up to the start of the cod season, many

anglers are wondering what the early season conditions might be like. With most catchments full to bursting and a big river running at present, anything could happen. However, it’s a fair chance that water clarity will remain a little dirty. You shouldn’t be deterred by this though, as we have caught plenty of good cod on lures in conditions that were far less than perfect. For those anglers who like to drown a grub or two, it will be business as usual because water clarity has little effect on this method. It will be interesting to see how the Robinvale weir pool fishes this year as the

Depending on water clarity, many anglers might be looking to fish bait in local waters come the cod opening. fish ladder is operational, providing rite of passage for large cod that have been denied for a few seasons. With good flows in the river it’s my guess that we will be hearing some overdue but very welcome reports of big

cod this season at Robinvale and above. All up, things are looking good for the coming season, and with the spring flows prompting a breed perhaps all will be fishy for several seasons to come.

Fishing set to fire as everything warms up BENDIGO

downstream of Bridgewater. It is in this section where the water clarity is currently the clearest. With the opening of the Murray cod season in December we will start to see

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

The fishing in the Bendigo region has improved as water temperatures have continued albeit slower than hoped. With warmer days predicted we should see fish catch rates increase significantly. At this stage the weather bureau has been predicting below average rainfall for the region. If these predictions are correct the trend of improving water clarity should continue which is all good news for us lure tossers. LAKE EPPALOCK Lake Eppalock continues to improve at a steady rate and should increase significantly during December. In November we start to see increased numbers of fish move into the shallower water and take advantage of the new food sources that the rising water levels have created around the edges of the lake. In the early stages of this, small redfin were making up the majority of catches. We should start to see increased numbers of larger redfin caught during December. We have also started to see an increase in the numbers of golden perch being caught. The majority of these have been caught off the bank by those anglers bait fishing with worms and small yabbies being the preferred baits. I believe we should see significantly higher levels of aggression in the resident golden perch population during this month. The productivity by those anglers fishing with lures should improve. Casting lipless crankbaits and suspending hardbodied lures are great options. Trolling small and medium sized hardbodied lures around the

a significant increase in the amount of anglers fishing the Loddon River. The Loddon river system can receive a large amount of fishing pressure. The best catch rates in recent season

have been experienced by those anglers who are prepared to put the time in and fish those areas that are harder to access. This trend is likely to continue this season.

Some quality Murray cod will be caught in the Bendigo region this season. edges of the lake in 2-4m will also be a good option. CAMPASPE RIVER We are only one significant rainfall event away from seeing the lake reach capacity and seeing the spillway running again. If the spillway is running we should see some very good fishing in this section of the Campaspe River directly below Lake Eppalock. How productive it will be will depend on how long the water spills and the volume of water that flows over the spillway. If this does occur we should see some very good numbers of redfin and some quality golden perch being caught in this area. How productive the fishing will be in the lower sections of the Campaspe River will also be determined by the volumes of water that are running down the system. The quality of fishing in the lower sections is often opposite to the upper sections. If the volumes of water running down the system are lower the water clarity will improve earlier and the productivity in the fishing will increase. If the spillway does go over there will be increased volumes of water running down the system and water clarity will stay dirtier longer in these lower sections and the productivity won’t increase significantly until later in the season when water clarity improves. CAIRN CURRAN Water levels have continued to increase lately

and these inflows have been at a nice steady rate. Water clarity has been average at the top sections of the lake while clarity is currently good in the lower sections of the reservoir. Redfin are still making up the majority of anglers catch rates, but most are small. We should see increased numbers of larger redfin being caught by anglers in the near future. There have been small numbers of golden perch being caught casting lipless crankbaits around the edges of the lake together with trolling hardbodied lures in 2-4m. Another encouraging sign is that I have received a couple of isolated reports of Murray cod being caught. These have also been caught by anglers trolling hardbodied lures. LODDON RIVER The productivity in the fishing in the Loddon River has been lower than expected. The main reason for this has been the slow increase in water temperatures associated with the slow improvement in water clarity. Hopefully during this month we should see water clarity improve and water temperatures increase. This should produce a significant increase in the feeding activity of the native fish population. At the present time small numbers of golden perch have been caught in the Loddon River. The most productive fishing has been in the section below Cairn Curran and the shallower sections of the river

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DECEMBER 2013

Wendouree is the number one destination BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Lake Wendouree is the number one destination around the Ballarat district. The lake is probably fishing the best it has for decades and the angler numbers are certainly proof of that, they seem to be coming from near and far to catch a trout or redfin in the middle of Ballarat. Anglers have been catching trout on all methods but are by no means easy to catch. Most anglers are fishing early in the morning or on evening and into the dark. On overcast days the fish seem to bite all day due to the shallowness of the lake and are not scared off by the bright sun. Flyfishers have been having excellent sessions when the mayfly hatch. Although not in the numbers of pre-drought years, the trout still love them. As we start to move into our warmer weather the mudeyes in the lake will start to move. The best fly patterns are Mrs Simpson, Craigs Night Time, Hammill Killers, Fur Flies and Muddler Minnows. These patterns

are successful from boat and shore. HEPBURN LAGOON AND NEWLYN RESERVOIRS These waterways have provided some excellent fishing over the past months with both waters reaching full capacity due to late spring rains providing anglers with fresh ground to fish over and hungry trout willing to move into very shallow water. Some excellent mayfly hatches have occurred when conditions are

overcast and early morning midge hatches and evenings large caddis hatches have also been a feature. At Hepburn I expect we will certainly see plenty of anglers throughout December and January trying to catch some of the very larger brown trout that chase mudeyes as they move into the shore to hatch into dragonflies. LAKE BURRUMBEET Apart from plenty of European carp being caught

Daniel Hon with his Lake Burrumbete redfin caught on worms. Photo courtesy Craig Hon

Craig Hon and his family caught some very good sized redfin with Daniel Hon catching a lovely 1kg redfin on garden worms. The guys decided on another trip three more redfin around 500g on local whitebait from the lake. Craig spoke to other anglers who also reported on catches of redfin as well. Lake Burrumbeet pre-drought was one of the best redfin waters in Victoria with anglers coming from far and wide. COSGROVES, DEAN AND THE MOORABOOL RESERVIORS Waters that will certainly fish well over the coming months very close to Ballarat, given the right conditions, are Cosgroves, Dean and the Moorabool reservoirs. Flyfishing and bait fishing will result in good catches of trout and redfin with mornings and nights providing the best opportunity. TULLAROOP RESERVIOR This lake near Maryborough fishes well in the early mornings and late evenings, providing anglers with the best window of opportunity to catch fish. Midge patterns are the flies of choice and after dark mudeye patterns are the go. For the

bait anglers, the best bait is mudeyes suspended under bubble floats for trout, and worms and yabbies fished on a running sinker rig over the deeper shorelines for redfin. Once again early morning and

excellent trout up to 3kg with fly fishing, trolling lures and mudeyes fished under bubble floats giving the best catches. Anglers will need to be up very early and fish into the evening

Daryl Ramsay from the Williamstown Anglers Club with a lovely brown and rainbow trout. evening will be rewarded. LAKE TOOLIOROOK Approximately 70km from Ballarat, this lake is still producing some

and after dark for the best results. Due to the clarity of the water, the trout are very quiet during the middle of the day.

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DECEMBER 2013

Get into action before the heat CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

I remember not that long ago checking the BOM website (as I regularly do) and noticing the long term forecast for south eastern Australia. From memory it read something like this; “below average temperatures accompanied by above average rainfall.’ How true that simple but poignant statement has become. Believe me I am quite happy to swap some possible 38°C+ days for a few that provide welcome moisture from the atmosphere and cooler temperatures but it often never works out that way. Does it? However what it does guarantee at present is an extended salmonoid season. With all of our lakes full or not far off it, water temperatures have yet to warm to alarmingly high temperatures which (in the past) have had a tendency to put our trout stocks under severe stress; or worse still, fish kills. But presently it is all looking good. Lake Elingamite near Cobden has been slowly filling due to the saturated

surrounding water table so slightly larger watercraft can now launch without too much bother. Prior to that, tinnies to 4m have not had many problems and now slightly larger craft owners may as well try their luck. The returns are fantastic with two year old browns and rainbows approaching 3kg while last year’s releases are coming in well over 1kg. Redfin that reside here are huge, and many fish will pull the scales down to well over 1kg. Recently Ballarat angler Shane Stevens did rather well here with the prize fish of the day coming in the form of a beautifully coloured brown trout that was released two years ago; almost to the month. Trolling and casting a wide variety of lures and plastics has been the best approach, however bait fishing by presenting live mudeye under a float adjacent to the weed beds has, as expected accounted for quite a few fish. Lake Bullen Merri has been consistent for rainbow trout around 1kg with best results occurring from the bank with Powerbait and locally-netted gudgeon either suspended under a float or fished weightless on the bottom.

READER’S PICTURE

DECEMBER 2013

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Shane Stevens came, saw, and conquered at Ellingamite. Lake Purrumbete has been hot for trophy browns taking lures down deep with the biggest pulling the scales down to 6kg! In saying that most big’uns range between 3.6-4.7kg and they are not common but they are out there and anglers that show patience and perseverance are the ones coming up trumps. Trolling minnow lures from 10-20m has been the way to go. For brown trout absolutely full of fight one may as well

head to Lake Tooliorook near Lismore. These recent releases (less than two years ago) are approaching 3kg and are being taken in shallow water due to the abundant weed growth. Forget the rainbows of a similar size or the 1kg+ redfin, anglers in the know are coming here for the feisty browns, and I don’t blame them! Just make sure that your gear is up to scratch otherwise these trout will eat you up and laugh in your face.

Alex Shelton caught two large brown trout in the Eildon Pondage on a lure.

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FMG SB

Christmas cod capers will continue in January ECHUCA

Ian Page

At last, the start of summer and, more importantly, the beginning of the new cod season. The warm weather, steady water levels and rising water temps all equates to excellent angling conditions. There are three target fish this summer: cod, yellowbelly and redfin. Firstly, Murray cod

are a great sporting fish and a top target species for many anglers. When bait fishing, either from a bank or boat, pick a spot with tree cover. These fish are very territorial and will stay around the snags to ambush their prey. I use a running sinker rig with just enough weight to hold bottom, a 3/0 or 4/0 circle hook and approximately 300 leader. Although baits will vary during the season, the long time proven baits

are scrub worms, yabbies, shrimp, which are in good numbers this time of year, and of course bardi grubs, either fresh or frozen. When trolling, it is important to have a lure capable of getting down to the bottom, so you need to match your lure to the depth of water. Keep an eye on your sounder and change lures when necessary. Some popular lures are Oargees, Custom Crafted, Predators and StumpJumpers, along with

Cod are a great sporting fish and a top target species for summer.

Good Murray cod will soon be coming to hand.

many others on the market. Use the same lures when casting around snags, as well as spinnerbaits. Be prepared to cast repetitively in the same area as sometimes these fish are not in the mood to eat but continual casting they will attack just to get it out of their domain. The methods are similar when you’re chasing

yellowbelly but everything is downsized; spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits coming into their own in smaller streams and channels. There have been some great reports coming into the shop of yellowbelly in big numbers around Kow Swamp, the Gunbower Creek and the I’m still hearing of

good catches of redfin in the Campaspe and the channels, as well as the Goulburn River near the Murray mouth. Small yabbies are great bait and if trying lures give the plastics a go, they give great results on light gear. So take advantage of our great summers along the Murray and get out amongst them.

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DECEMBER 2013

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Hot Spot

Karkarook Park peaks CRANBOURNE

Mitch Chapman

Located on the corner of Warragul Road and Fairchild Street right in the middle of Moorabbin lies Karkarook Park. This is a wetlands area stocked with excellent numbers of trout and holds healthy populations of redfin. This lake is the perfect place to get the kids started, and hooked on fishing. PRIME TIME The best time to target trout and redfin at Karkarook is just before the school holiday period as it is stocked with trout for the kids. As for time of day, the fishing can be red hot at any time but generally better around dawn and dusk, as trout tend to feed on the surface.

easier than this. A running sinker rig with a size 1 ball sinker to a small size 10 hook is all that is needed. Light fluorocarbon leader of about 6lb is more than enough, even for the larger fish of 1-1.5kg that roam the weed beds.

Good looking rainbow trout are a great test for fly and lure anglers alike, and are a great way to get kids into fishing.

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Good-sized redfin perch are the mainstay of the bait fishing brigade. THE GEAR A nice light graphite 7’ rod matched with a 2500 sized reel with light braid or mono of about 6lb is ideal for spinning or bait fishing for trout and redfin. THE RIG Bait fishing in stocked lakes doesn’t get much

just too much for trout to resist. BEST METHOD If you can’t decide whether to bait or lure fish why not try both. A good way to find fish is to have one bait rod with Powerbait sitting in a rod holder, and

BAIT AND LURES Powerbait is the number 1 bait at Karkarook and is the most common trout bait used by most anglers who fish in stocked impoundments. The bright colours like pink and orange tend to be a standout and the smell it puts out, is

while you are waiting cast a few soft plastics or hardbodied lures around. Some days the fish are tuned in on bait and won’t hit a lure, then other days it’s the other way around. MOTHER NATURE A fresh feed of trout is always good and the kids love nothing more than catching a fish and taking it home for dinner. Don’t feel guilty about taking these fish for a feed. They are tasty and it is a put and take fishery and stocked a couple of times a year for this reason. HOT TIP When the fishing is tough, or the sun is out in force, try fishing the area to the right of the bridge. It is one of the deepest areas close to the bank and the fish tend to hang around in the cooler water and holds good numbers of trout and redfin.

DAM LEVELS Lake/Dam % Full

Dam % Full

LAKE/DAM Sept Oct Nov Cairn Curran 79 85 79 Dartmouth 98 98 98 Eildon 89 93 89 Eppalock 85 92 85 Fyans 82 80 82 Greens 42 67 42 Hepburn 73 99 73 Hume 97 98 97 Lauriston 98 97 97 Malmsbury 96 106 96 Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 96 100 96

Newlyn 74 93 74 Nillahcootie 100 100 101 Rocklands 43 45 43 Taylors 40 57 40 Tullaroop 63 65 63 Upper Coliban 100 100 101 Waranga 88 91 88 Wartook 79 86 79 William Hovell 103 102 102 All levels correct at time of going to press. Damlevels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing. V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

The cod season is here and it started strong SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

It was a long spring and now the wait is finally over: cod season is upon us and it’s set to be a great start to the season. Over spring there were plenty of reports of small yellowbelly being caught in large numbers, which is a great sign for our rivers. While all anglers were targeting yellowbelly there was some nice-sized cod

caught as by-catch. The water is still very dirty in our area so bait has been the best methods for catching fish, but I think once the water cleans up the fish will again take lures. Over the cod opening weekend the best bet would be fishing the river from the boat ramp upstream towards the junction or take a short drive out to Moira Park. These areas have been known to fish really well early in the cod season with great access points for

land-based or boat fishing. SHEPPARTON LAKE The lakes stocked yellowbelly were on the bite throughout October and November but the surprising feature this spring was the amount of by-catch cod caught while locals were targeting yellowbelly or redfin. Hopefully with the amount of feed in the lake we see these fish grow into monsters as it will be great fun to land a big fish in front of the local walkers, rowers and fitness freaks.

KIALLA LAKES The lakes finally produced some great fishing in early November with reports of good yellowbelly being landed in night fishing sessions.

Bait seems to be the only method to use if you want to land a fish at the lakes. It’s a great spot to bait fish with no snags and plenty of nice grassy banks

READER’S PICTURE

to sit on. As this is the December issue, I’d like to wish all the loyal readers a Merry Christmas and hopefully I will see you all on the water over the break. 7A

FMG SB

Caleb Carter caught this decent sized bream in the Pambula River using a crab for bait.

Sunny Feldtmann with a Murray cod caught on a Predatek lure.

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DECEMBER 2013

Yarra River is fishing well from top to bottom YARRA VALLEY

and Warrandyte with some corn, maggots and worms and have some fun smashing some carp. Don’t forget your shovel as you’ll need to dig a hole to put them in once dispatched with a knife or spike to the brain.

Ian Loft ringwood@compleatangler.com.au

Small dry flies are the best approach as trout start looking to the surface for a feed. next few months and into grasshoppers and crickets. But until the water settles for a long period, worms will still take the most fish. Native fish anglers might want to look for some action in the lower to mid sections from Heidelberg to Yarra Glenn. Casting spinnerbaits is

always a productive method of searching the water for likely fish spices such as Murray cod and golden perch. If you have a kayak you might want to toss it in and start working hard structure such as fallen trees and rock bars with hardbodied lures. Don’t forget, as the hot days

increase and we head towards mid summer the surface action will hot up, so pack some surface lures! Right now in the middle section for the kids and good Samaritan type anglers the carp fishing is massive. Get on down to places like Yarra Glenn, Wonga Park, Lilydale SA005

The Yarra River is in peachy condition and is fishing well from the top to the bottom. Good hatches of ants and caddis and the start of a few duns are on the go in the upper reaches. Flyfishing with small dry flies like Elk Hair Caddis, Para Duns and any small (#16) emerger will get you results with an accurate cast. Day time flyfishing with bead head nymphs and an indicator will also get results. Lure casters; it’s all fair game at the moment. From trout in the upper to mid reaches to native fish species from the mid to lower section, you can expect a good start to your season. Trout anglers are reporting good catches of fish on minnow style lures in size ranges from 35-65mm. Working these lures by casting up or up and across stream will increase results. Bait drifters have been on the water for quite some time now taking advantage of the rising and falling water levels and will continue to catch trout in the system. They’ll be moving away from scrub worm in the

It’s illegal in all Victorian waters to release carp back into the water. So chop, chop! For more info on how best to fish this wonderful river, drop into the Compleat Angler Ringwood for all the local info.

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DECEMBER 2013

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Cooler water temperatures are rising fast EILDON

Andy McCarthy

This is the first time I can remember the water temperature was still below 15°C as we approach summer. Generally by now it is above 17°C and rising pretty fast. On the upside even though the temperature was considerably lower than normal the fishing during the early parts of November was outstanding with good reports of fish from all over the lake, and plenty of them. Yellowbelly have been very active recently with fish

lure casters in particular. There have been reports that the bigger reddies are starting to come back on the chew, which is great news for the dinner plate. A couple of 2kg models were picked up in November, and the run to Christmas should get even better. Let’s not forget it’s cod time, so don’t forget to change all of your old worn out trebles and split rings off your favourite hardbodied lures; you would hate to lose the fish of a lifetime simply from being lazy. So what does December bring? I’m tipping that once the water temperature gets up

presented superb fishing with big numbers of fish being caught and released from 500g-2kg. These have been beautiful wild fish and

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of all sizes caught, mainly in the shallows where the water temperature is at its warmest. All sorts of lures spinnerbaits lipless cranks, soft plastics and hardbodied lures have been working a treat. At this time of year I always recommend fishing to your strengths because confidence is a big factor for

around the 18°C consistently the fishing should really fire up. Consistency is the key factor here, but once it gets there I think it is going to go absolutely off its head. The water level should hold reasonably steady, which will be great for once, and the fish should hold quite high in the water column. When the

mostly browns. The best lures have been the Cranka 59mm minnows in golden trout and a Jackall Squirrel in brown suji shrimp: trout love them.

Relax and enjoy delicious food and warm hospitality. The author cracks into an awesome brace of golden perch. water temperature is at this level I tend to fish between 1.5-7m on overcast days and down to 10m on bright days. We will find that more and more Murray cod will start to chew as the temperature goes up as well. I’m reasonably confident that we may see a yellowbelly caught that might just hit the magical 10kg mark: let’s hope so! Some good trout have also been caught up around Peppin Point with a few caught up around 55cm in the shallows again. Big River is running crystal clear and producing good trout 1.5-2kg as well.

THE PONDAGE This popular water has been fishing very well lately, particularly on the rise of the water. It has been consistently dropping 3500ML per day into the Goulburn. By far the best results have come on Powerbait and home-made dough with loads of fish around 1.5-2kg and 45-60cm with a good mix of browns and rainbows. RIVERS At the moment the rivers are all fishing very well and are all super clean with the Goulburn the pick of the bunch. Consistent flows for the last 6 weeks or so has

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Chasing great big green fish YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

Passing time chasing golden perch is almost over as we can get back to targeting the elusive green monsters that lurk in magical Lake Mulwala come December 1. Excitement and anticipation that leads into a new cod season for all true blue anglers is on par with being a kid at Christmas time! Whether it be a pilgrimage to the iconic fishing festival, the Lake Mulwala Cod Classic with thousands of others or sneaking off to a secret backwater, it’s time to pack the gear and get ready for take off. Traditionally early season fishing throughout Lake Mulwala sees plenty of 60-70cm cod about for those who put in the effort

pre-Christmas. The warm early summer evenings with little wind present the perfect opportunity to try your hand at surface fishing. Come Boxing Day and the arrival of speed boats and water lice, (jet skis), things slow a whisker but the adventurous angler who gets away from the increased boat traffic will still find pleasant returns. It’s exciting looking at a few new gizmos and gadgets that will make an impact on Murray cod and Lake Mulwala this season. Nothing has stirred my loins as much as the new Lake Mulwala mapping system available from Chartered Waters. Having every creek, lagoon, depression, channel and snag available in unbelievable definition will be an invaluable tool for all lake fishos. Available for either your fish finder, iPhone or iPad, this innovation will see you exploring new grounds with

a extra confidence. After doing a trip to the Australian Lure Expo earlier in this year in Qld, I can see the wheel slowly turning for those looking to get back into using genuine handcrafted timber lures. Names that will be hot on the lips will be Gidgee, Secret Creek, Garra, Gobsmacked and Chamos to name a few. Along with the timber lures, some incredibly lifelike creations from Zurek Lures in the form of their soft plastic prawns and cherabin will create plenty of interest. This season set yourself a few new goals and try to tick off as many as possible, Be it something as simple as stepping up from bait fishing to catching a cod on the troll, on a cast spinnerbait through to the use of soft plastics or surface fishing, challenge yourself to become a more rounded angler. Fishing below the weir is always fun, especially if you

are dangling a bardi grub or juicy scrub worm. Numbers of fish below the weir always outweigh the lake but general size is much smaller. All is in readiness for the Cod Classic. It is still not too late to enter and all indications point to what should be another amazingly successful event. For all enquiries call Tony on 03 5744 1667 or drop into Lake Mulwala Fish Camp and Ski, the official Cod Classic store.

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DECEMBER 2013

Summer looks to be a cracker KEIWA VALLEY

Robbie Alexander

The Kiewa and surrounds has seen slightly better trout fishing during the spring months than the Ovens Valley, so the summer trout forecast is a little better up in this cooler far North East corner of the state.

Kiewa has been ticking over steadily. During December the Kiewa River should continue to fish quite well, with the anglers that are willing to put in the hard yards being the most likely to get the best results. The best fishing will be close to Mt Beauty where the water is coolest. The further downstream you go the less

blades. Small minnows can also work well in the Kiewa. I like the suspending minnows as you can pause them and they will not float or sink. This can often turn a follow into a strike from a wary trout. As everything warms up in December, one area that I just love to head is Falls Creek where I fish Rocky Valley Dam and Pretty Valley Dam. Pretty Valley is the smaller and shallower of the two lakes, but also seems to have the bigger trout. Rocky Valley is reasonably large and deep, but has a lot more smaller trout. I have only ever caught brown trout in either of the dams up there, however as

I type this article there is a rumour floating around that Chinook salmon might be stocked in Rocky Valley dam in November, which will give anglers something to look forward to. Both of these lakes are above the tree line at an altitude of around 1500-1600m above sea level, so a hot summer day of 35°C in the valleys may only peak at 23°C up there, so make sure you pack plenty of warm clothes as the weather in the mountains is subject to change without notice. Try using small minnow type lures in either of the lakes, or if you can get your hands on them, try bait fishing with mudeyes

A brown trout of around 30cm caught in the Snowy Creek on a Super Vibrax bladed spinner recently. The Snowy Creek has been fishing quite slow, however there are a few trout in there for the persistent angler. TROUT The Kiewa River has produced a few lovely trout during spring. Brenton Richardson and a few of his mates have reported that the numbers are down on recent years, but the average size of fish is up, and unlike a lot of streams in the region the

trout there are in the river, and downstream of Dederang the Kiewa is not really worth fishing for trout. They are there, but not in big numbers. As the Kiewa River still has a decent flow each year in December, try using bladed spinners such as Celtas and Super Vibrax with metallic

Louie Iaria with a magnificent brown trout caught recently in the Kiewa River on a 3” Strike Tiger curl tail grub soft plastic in black’n’gold colour. Trout numbers have been down a little bit in the Kiewa River recently, but the average size has been a bit better than usual.

Brenton Richardson with a ripper of a Kiewa River brown trout caught recently on a Strike Tiger 3” curl tail grub. suspended underneath a float. This is a dynamite technique in the high country, especially Pretty Valley as it has a lot more aquatic weed and grassy vegetation around the edges. NATIVE FISH The yellowbelly should still be on the chew in Lake Hume in December, especially early December. December is the time of year when the schools of yellowbelly begin to break up and the yellowbelly swim off to start feeding in solidarity again. So in December if targeting yellowbelly you can expect more regular catches, but not huge numbers like you get in October/November when you can find big schools of fish. Murray cod season opens on December 1, and the best place to head in this

area is the lower reaches of the Kiewa River from Kergunyah downstream to its junction with the Murray River at Doctors Point. The Kiewa is a fast flowing river, even in its lower reaches, so if wading or kayaking, just be very careful. The Mitta Mitta River also gets stocked annually with Murray cod at Pigs Point. I am not exactly sure how successful this has been as I do not know a lot of people that fish this river for cod, but I have heard the odd report, and a few reports of some very big cod in the deeper holes in the lower reaches of the Mitta Mitta River, so it may be somewhere to explore if you’re thinking about trying somewhere new!

The heat is on and fish love it MELBOURNE METRO

Ian Debar iand@gottabite.com.au

With summer well and truly upon us, the freshwater fishing options around Melbourne are as

varied as they can be. While midday temperatures can be sweltering, there is still plenty of sweet water fishing to be done. Early morning and late afternoon can be more enjoyable in terms of weather, and these times are generally

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the productive hours to fish anyway. Most freshwater species will be less cautious and actively feeding during hours of low light and anglers can use this to their advantage. Karkarook Park Lake is able to be fished all year round due to its depth. While the trout can be less active in the warmer weather, fishing the lake early during the morning can be very rewarding. The local redfin can provide some amusement during the heat of summer, as they are not affected by the warmth as the trout are. Small freshwater yabbies around 50mm in length are good bait for the redfin, and when fished on a fine wire C10U hook, they become deadly. Devilbend Reservoir has been producing some solid trout during the night, with fish over 3kg not uncommon. Most of the larger fish are more active in the reservoir during the night or early during the morning. Baits of big scrubworms fished under a float are an excellent option if fishing the low light period. If you’re into throwing a lure for trout then night is when you should bring out the bigger hardbodied lures. Lures up to 120mm can be used when targeting large

trout and are effective at night as the larger profile gives the fish something bigger to hone in on. An ideal type of lure for this style of fishing is Rapala MaxRap in 110mm. Casting good distances into the lake and working the lure back under the surface; it is only a matter of time before a big trout smashes the lure! The Yarra River around Eltham is a good spot to fish from December onwards as Murray cod are back on the agenda. If targeting cod in this area look for areas that hold deep, slow pools – especially if they have a rock bar close by. The rock in the water holds heat and warms the surrounding water slightly, which can attract smaller fish and shrimp, and then predators like cod. Larger freshwater yabbies fished without their claws are a good bait in the river here, the reason most anglers take the claws off is because the yabbies can crawl and dig into crevices and snag up the line. Just remember to keep checking them to make sure they aren’t hiding under a rock where the fish can’t find them. Sugarloaf Reservoir has been fishing well for golden perch and redfin during the

Sugarloaf redfin just love natural coloured vibes. Photo courtesy Ryan Pitman. morning and afternoons, especially during the warmer days. Squidgy Fish rigged up on small TT jig spins have been an excellent way to find the goldens while smaller vibes like Stiffy Devilfish vibes and Strike Pro Hummers have been working well on the redfin. Just remember to work the lures slow, and right to the edge of the bank, as the fish will follow them right back in,

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

Did someone say ‘Murray cod’? WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

“Murray cod” are the words on everybody’s lips as December approaches. Every day I drive across the Ovens River here in Wangaratta and it has been looking magnificent lately. I hope it stays that way heading December. So what can we expect the fishing to be like in the Ovens and King river catchments for the rest of the year? TROUT Sadly the trout fishing is going to be tough this summer. The trout season has been tough so far during spring, and it will only get tougher as the water warms up. I blame the terrible heat we experienced last summer which, to me, is part of a natural cycle. Two years ago we saw amazing trout fishing, and it just happened to be the wettest summer for many years. Coincidence? Unlikely. My friend Stephan Frazer once remarked that dry summers lend themselves to good native fishing, whereas wet summers contribute to improved trout fishing. I think he’s right on the money.

So this summer, if you’re targeting trout I suggest you head high into the hills in search of the coolest flowing streams you can find with good, reliable flows. Usually the far upper Ovens River would be the place I recommend, but

as the small tributaries that run into it. So too will the far upper reaches of the Buckland and Buffalo rivers. YELLOWBELLY As usual there is not a lot to report here in the Wangaratta area, as the authorities seem to

trout cod are a welcome sight and have re-established themselves quite well, the lack of yellowbelly in the lower Ovens River is very sad and disappointing. It’s a blow to the hundreds, if not thousands of anglers in the Wangaratta A lovely 68cm Murray cod caught in Wangaratta on a Koolabung Codwalker surface lure last summer.

Peter Pimorski with a nicely coloured King River Murray cod caught on a prototype Wildbait cod lure that he was putting through its paces last season. after last year’s bushfire I’m not confident in that waterway. The far upper reaches of the King River above Pineapple Flat will be worth a try, as well

A typically small Ovens River Murray cod caught on a Z-Man 4” Pop Frog just before sunset last season.

think we don’t need yellowbelly in our neck of the woods. There are a few yellowbelly in localised waterholes, but I will get knived in the back if I reveal exactly which ones. The main Ovens and King rivers have only a very small population of yellowbelly, of which most are found in the far lower reaches of the Ovens River closer to Bundalong. Lake Buffalo also has a small population that are rarely caught in great numbers. The Ovens River has a very healthy population of trout cod, which we are not allowed to catch, so on that basis the authorities think it doesn’t need yellowbelly. While the

area that pay full price for their fishing licences only to watch distant waterways reap the benefits. REDFIN December should see an overall increase in redfin activity as the water warms right up. Lake Buffalo and Lake William Hovell are the two main places to visit, with Lake William Hovell having the bigger redfin population. Lake William Hovell has redfin, trout and, unfortunately, very large carp. I would try bobbing small soft plastics off the bottom in around 20ft of water to target the redfin. Most of the fish are small but there are some larger redfin

in there, and a trout is a real possibility as a by-catch during December. Lake Buffalo does not have as many redfin, however there are still quite a few there. A bigger fish over 30cm is a real possibility, too. I have not seen any monster redfin in Lake Buffalo for many years now. MURRAY COD December is all about Murray cod in this region. The Ovens and King rivers both have very healthy populations of Murray cod, however they are usually not big; the average size is well undersize. There are some bigger fish amongst them, but not in big numbers. I did a hell of a lot of cod fishing in both rivers last season, and had an absolute ball. The number of 60cm+ cod I caught I could count on one hand though, with the biggest being 68cm. It is no secret that the bigger cod in the Ovens and King rivers are way downstream in the lower reaches closer to Bundalong. There are not as many cod in this area, but there are a small number of very large 100cm + Murray cod there for anglers willing to put in the hours. Still, the Ovens and King rivers are really more about sportfishing and enjoying the environment rather than catching trophy-sized fish.

This area is also quite heavily patrolled by Fisheries. Last year I stumbled across them in two different parts of the Ovens River on opening weekend, so don’t be tempted to hit an undersized Murray cod on the head, because chances are you will get caught. The best bait to catch cod in the Ovens River is the humble bardi grub. Bardi grubs seem to catch the bigger fish as well. Scrub worms or garden worms catch the most fish, however most of the cod caught on worms are quite small. If you’re lure fishing, try using 1/2oz spinnerbaits, or medium to large hardbody lures like StumpJumpers. Surface lures are great fun in this area too, with the Koolabung Codwalker being my favourite. Soft plastic surface fishing is rewarding as well. The Z-Man 4” Pop Frog is my favourite soft plastic surface lure. Casting it is a bit more difficult than casting a popper, because soft plastics are lighter than hardbodies. You also need to impart more action into the plastic than you would a popper. Still, I said earlier, the Ovens and King rivers are all about sportfishing when targeting Murray cod, so throw yourself a new challenge!

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DECEMBER 2013

Trout still trumps in summer JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson swtrout@airlan.com.au

It’s December already and the first official month of summer. For some, summer came early this year but for us in the mountains we actually had a cool spring and it’s only in recent weeks that we have had warm weather. With that in mind, and the fact that Lake Jindabyne’s water level is still fairly high, the water temperatures have remained quite cool so the surface trout fishing is actually very good. Boat trollers are experiencing good fishing with some excellent conditioned rainbow trout. It’s normal over summer to get out of bed before sunrise and make certain you have lines in the water at first light. However with cooler water temperatures you may be able to stretch

your surface fishing into mid-morning before you have to go deeper using downriggers to get your lures to about 35ft where the trout are lying. For boat trollers, the usual techniques of fishing on the surface in shallow water at first light and then moving out into deeper water using lead core with 20-30m of line out will extend the better fishing well into the late morning.

Use minnow lures early, before sunrise, and then switch to Tasmanian Devil lures later in the morning. The best colour Tassies to use will be darker lures early with the number Y48 yellow wing red nosed brown Bomber, or even Y94 are great. Try the yellowing Tasmanian Devils a little later as the sun is about to rise over the horizon. Number 111 Tasmanian Devil Lure ‘Willies Special’ (named

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after some trout fishing guide in the area) has been a very good lure over recent weeks and always a summer winner with poor trout! Minnow lures like Rapalas or StumpJumpers in brown trout and rainbow trout patterns are also good. There are many good brands of lures on the market that will do the job if you know what speed to troll to get the best action out of the lures. Try not to mix and match different brands as no two brands of lures will work best at the same speed. Trying to run a Tasmanian Devil and a minnow lure for example will not get perfect results from either lures at the same time. After the sun hits that water, it’s time to change to a number 36, Y82 yellow wing Tassie or my Steve Williamson red nosed yellow wing. As the sun gets higher then it’s time to get the lure lower into the water and lead core lines or downriggers are the way to go. The best lures to try and catch those trophy brown trout will be small minnows and you need to troll these over the weed beds using longer drop-backs (to 80m) and lighter line or braid to keep the lures at the deepest depth possible. Do this well before the sun comes up to get the bigger fish. Lake bait fishing has been nothing but excellent for months now, but as the summer heat hits us and the water temperature around the edges of the lake warm up, the best fishing may again be early in the day at sunrise. You may also find that it will be worthwhile fishing later in the morning and at some time of the day the fish are coming back on the bite and you just need a line in the water to catch them. Local scrub worms are best for brown trout while artificial baits of various colours are proving itself for rainbow trout and salmon. If you want to catch yourself a big brown trout then the best baits are still going to be a well presented, scrub worms and these are fished with a greased line to stop it from sinking into the weed and getting caught up. Mudeyes, the dragon fly nymph, are a popular summer bait but this year with the cooler conditions and dams full of water they are harder to collect. You might find that purchasing ‘local’ mudeyes

Artificial baits of various colours are giving good results on the rainbow trout. may be difficult and when you do find them they are going to be at a premium price. There are artificial alternatives these days that will still catch you a trout all you have to do is fish them a little more actively so you make them look as if they are alive. There are no fishing spots better than others at the moment. The trout are cruising the margins of the lake so they can be in one place one day and another the next. We are going to be in for an interesting flyfishing season this year. The lake water levels are great at the moment and the lake will fish well, especially in the shallows early morning and into the late evening if we get some evening hatches of insects to excite the trout into feeding. The best flies have been green or olive flies like Hamills Killers, small shrimp patterns and olive nymphs but there might be a little dry flyfishing at night after the hatches, so keep that in mind. A mayfly or caddis pattern is well worth having in your collection. The river and stream flyfishing was a little slow getting started this year but now that there are more insects, beetles, caddis fly and grasshoppers about, we have had some very good fishing. With all river flyfishing, it all depends on the temperatures of the day as

to how the water’s fish. And a little bit of experience is often needed to get the best out of your fishing, so if you’re a little unsure then it might be time for a lesson on stream craft. Those that like throwing lures into rivers and streams, you will need to make certain the lure is getting close to the bottom in the running water on the days that are bright and sunny. Your best fishing again will be early and late in the day. In the middle of the day, fish the deeper pools and make certain that you are getting down to the bottom. The longer you can keep the lure down there the better chance you will have of catching a trout. Don’t forget soft plastics in the deep pools can be very effective on trout. Lures like Celtas, Vibrax Spinners, Wordons Rooster Tails or Gillies Spinners and of course minnow lures like floating Rapalas are all good for river fishing. The Strike Tiger plastics have a great selection for all your fishing needs. A new little lure that has been great on the rivers is the new Bullet range of lures and these now come in two sizes with the larger one better for the lake or larger stretches of the river like on the Thredbo River. Let’s hope the summer season is a good one with regular rain to freshen up the streams and cooling the water.

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Best method: Lake trolling Best depth: Surface lures early and late in the day. Best lake lure: Tasmanian Devils with yellow wings or holographic. Best lake area: East Jindabyne Islands and Creel Bay. Best fly method lake: Hamills Killers, Williamson’s Gold Fish and in dry flies brown mayfly. Best river fly: Beetle, grasshopper and mayfly patterns. Best river spinners: Rapala Scatter Raps, Celtas, Vibrax Spinners and Gillies Hoppers.

Local streams disappoint so look further afield CTL GIPPSLAND

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

The small waters around our area in Central Gippsland have been a little disappointing, however many of our local anglers are finding better fish further afield in places like the Macalister River and Blue Rock Lake. For starters, my little favourite stream Traralgon Creek isn’t doing too well. Hopefully there is a ‘yet’ after that statement, as I know we are only at the beginning of the season and things could change but it doesn’t look good so far. Basically, there is nearly no fish left in the upper reaches of Traralgon Creek in the area from Koornalla up. It doesn’t matter who you speak to or who goes up, there is pretty much only schools

of minnows or minute trout 50-100mm long, and there isn’t even much of them up there. On a better note, there are a few trout down low closer to Traralgon South. When I say a few, I mean a few. Maybe half a dozen trout reports from this area all season. That’s half a dozen trout as well! So not many and not a real good sign as I thought the winter rain would have bought a new recruitment of trout into the upper reaches, but it looks like it hasn’t. On a positive note, Fisheries know about the issue, and hopefully very soon there will be a proper survey carried out of the creek that will give us all some scientific data about the current stock levels and about any other possible issues and factors that the creek is facing. So stay tuned, I will keep you all posted. Further across into the

Thommo and his cousin Cody made the most of their trout trip with their Grandmother Teena where they caught seven trout for the day including these two lovely browns. Morwell River catchment, there have been a lot more trout caught than in Traralgon Creek, but still nothing like what we are used too. The best reports I have heard from the Morwell River have been five trout in a session and that is from anglers flyfishing. Some anglers say that the

Sneak away to fish WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve.haughton@hotmail.com

It’s that crazy time of year again when all you wish for before the school holidays, Christmas and the New Year is some alone time strolling a stream or lake flicking a lure. A solo fish in one of the many beautiful peaceful streams of the Noojee Valley and Neerim District, walking the bank, kayaking or taking the tinnie out to Blue Rock Lake in Willow Grove could do the trick. Workplace functions, family and friend BBQs can fill up the December calendar pretty quickly and with the approaching New Year you owe it to yourself to sneak away one evening for a quiet fish. Daylight savings allows for extended fishing time, which just so happens to coincide with when stream trout are actively feeding at this time of the year. Strong spring stream flows are slowing down now and the water is clearing up. Warm evenings bring out the insects that provide stream trout their staple diet. Flyfishing is certainly the best method when targeting these surface feeding fish in summer. Being able to cast a light weighted dry fly or beaded nymph on to a slow flowing stream run is an art and a rewarding sport. A popular method is to combine your rig with both a beaded nymph with a dry fly indicator. Small natural looking soft plastics like Wriggler

really nice trout. The good thing is, a lot of brown trout have been caught and on mixed methods anywhere from fishing with worms, which has been very successful in the dirty fast flowing water, to lure fishing with Tassie Devils and big Celta style spinners. Blue Rock Lake has been consistent, especially with the trollers. The trout guys are mainly using Tassie Devils and decent sized hardbodied lures and are doing very well flat lining around the trees up

whole Gippsland catchment has been wiped out and that the numbers in our little Strzelecki streams have been severely culled to a near zero state. This is why we need to get these creek surveys done to get accurate numbers of how many trout are actually left in our little southern creeks. Moving North to the Macalister River, the feedback has been far better and there have been quite a lot of trout caught considering how much rain we have had. It has been very hard to fish the Mac as the levels have been so high, so often due to all this rain, yet anglers are still catching some

the Willow Grove end of the lake. I haven’t heard of any bass reports this month, but I’m sure they will go very good once the water warms up. Hopefully we see some more bass next month. For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 51748544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Tune into Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner’s “Off the Hook” on 1242 to hear Will’s report on what’s going on in Gippsland!

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An excited Josh Schuurman with an early morning trolled up trout on Blue Rock before releasing back to fight another day. grubs, small spinner bladed luresGand drifting live scrub worms do well this time of the year for those anglers targeting stream trout. Hardbodied lures attract plenty of attention this time of the year yet the fish tend to be a little more cautious. Wearing waders are a must for any angler venturing out over summer due to the snake risk as the grass along many streams will be long. If it really heats up, wearing an old pair of runners or sandals is a great way to cool down instead of wearing full waders. Rivers to fish over the summer months are your usual suspects, being the Latrobe, Toorongo, Loch and Tarago rivers. These rivers have been flowing strongly over the last year but have still been fishable. The Bunyip and Tanjil rivers have been flowing very strong over the last few months and have probably had less angling pressure but may be still difficult to fish just yet. Bass fishing on Blue

Rock Lake will be heating up coinciding with the water temperature. Getting in to some surface trout action will be difficult during the heat of the day but early mornings and late evenings will be most productive. Big trout will be down deep. Redfin and carp fishing will also be popular over the summer months and are a great sport for the whole family. The river blackfish season re-opens on 1 January 2014 so make sure you release these back immediately unharmed to ensure its survival in our streams as they are an important species in our ecosystem. Stream trout fishing is certainly feeling the pressure of the lack of (non-existent) stocking programs in our streams so please practise catch and release. Feel free to send me a report or photo particularly if you have any success stories fishing the streams or Blue Rock.

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DECEMBER 2013

The December warmth is being welcomed by all Victoria is the arrival of the mighty yellowtail kingfish. Again, each season is different but in recent years we have landed kingfish in December with early hotspots being the north shore in Portland and the islands off Wilsons Promontory. Water temperature will be a big factor but early signs look good. Be prepared to hunt these tough fish with a suitable spear gun. I like to use a 1.2m or 1.3m spear gun with a single point spear and a set of flashers to hunt this

SPEARFISHING

Rob Torelli

The last few weeks have seen the water warm up and as we move into mid-December we can expect warmer water and much more productive spearfishing. December is an exciting time of the year for Victorian underwater fisher with productive spearfishing for reef species and pelagic fish, along with productive crayfish diving conditions. The warmer water has seen the snapper move inshore in Port Phillip and along the ocean beaches of Bass Strait. Many of the inshore reefs with nearby sand patches and weed will produce snapper and the tasty King George whiting. The most productive method for these species is to do some berleying. This can be done by bringing pre-bought pilchards or even fish scraps from your last outing. Snapper love squid heads and scallop guts and this combination never seems toÂ fail. Choose a sand and reef patch or sand line to place the berley. Be patient though and place some of your berley

elusive species. Be sure to stay tethered to your float line and again patience will be the key. Try a few different locations and be sure to work the current and tide to your advantage, especially around the islands off Wilsons Promontory. Kingfish like to hang at the head of the current and the schools will move around a lot. At times you will find them on the sand line at 15-20m and at other times you will get schooled in 5m of water. Commotion is

good also and the spearing of smaller reef fish like sweep will often attract a school of kingfish. Be sure to hang near schools of baitfish if they are about like yellowtail scad and at times slimy mackerel. As summer continues we can expect an improvement in spearfishing conditions and fish life. January and February are always peak months for reef and blue water spearfishing and the crayfish diving typically improves as the season progresses.

Crayfish season is upon us and warmer water does make it more pleasant. in net bags so fish cannot swim off with it. Attach these to your float line and drop weight. If possible, place the bag in an area that will allow you an undetected ambush approach. Expect trevally and the usual suspects such as wrasse, leatherjackets and the occasional ray or smaller sharks such as swell sharks and Port Jacksons. The crayfish season has started okay with fairly good catches and should only get better as the season

progresses. Some of the wider and deeper reefs typically produce early while other shallower reefs take time. Each season seems to be different so do not give up hope if your first few drops do not produce. Keep at it, the crayfish will be somewhere! Use your torch for improved results and try working as a pair, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safer and produces better results. The most exciting thing about December spearfishing for the keen spearfisher in

A typical Victorian sized yellowtail kingfish.

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Catch a grant to improve your fishing

If you have a great idea for a project that improves fishing opportunities then you can apply for funding through the Recreational Fishing Grants Program. The Grants Program helps put your fishing licence fees to work. We are now seeking applications for large projects. Applications are welcomed until 28 February 2014 for large projects between $5,000 and $100,000 in these categories: • Fisheries sustainability and habitat improvement • Fishing access and facilities • Fisheries related education, information and training • Recreational fisheries research. The Grants Program is open to fishing clubs, community groups, incorporated bodies, registered companies and government/statutory bodies. Small grants are available year round for projects up to $5,000. Learn more, or apply, at www.depi.vic.gov.au/fishinggrants. For help email rec.fishinggrants@depi.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9658 4779.

V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Shaggy shad shines BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

The warmer months bring forth increased numbers of baitfish species as the water temperatures rise. This increased food supply doesn’t go unnoticed and is closely followed by various pelagic species including school mackerel, spotted mackerel, longtail tuna, trevally, queenfish, mack tuna, bonitos and numerous others, depending on which area of the east coast you are fishing. As such, having a good array of baitfish profiled flies at your disposal is a wise decision. This month’s pattern, the Shaggy Shad is a good one for when predators are feeding on larger profiled baitfish offshore, or even for estuarine species which commonly dine on herring, glassies and mullet.

feature is the focal point for many attacking or predating species. They use the eye to line up the baitfish during attack mode. As such, having prominent eyes on your fly patterns, such as the Shaggy Shad, will make them more likely to get eaten. Many baitfish species will light up when attacked or excited and the translucent tones of the materials in the Shaggy Shad really do a great job of making the fly light up and stand out in the crowd. The Shaggy Shad is a fairly simple pattern to tie and is fairly durable as well. Being tied from all synthetic materials, it is an ideal pattern for the travelling angler, especially those who regularly transit through airport customs. It can even be trimmed to match a particular baitfish more closely, match-thehatch or imitate-the-bait, as they say. The main material is DNA Holo Fusion, a blend

MATERIALS

HOOK:............Varivas 2600 ST-V 1/0 THREAD:.......Mono- fine BODY:............DNA Holo Fusion- Grey GILLS:............Kinky Fibre- Red EYE:...............Witchcraft Hologram Eye- 5mm silver FINISH:...........UV Epoxy Baitfish make up the major portion of most pelagic specie’s diet and are also a prominent food source for many demersal and inshore species. There’s a myriad of baitfish profiled fly patterns around and one prominent attribute of most of them is the eye. This key

of Holo Chromosome Flash and other DNA fibres which possess a realistic, lifelike appearance to any fly, especially when wet and in sunny conditions. It is available in a huge array of colours with my favourites for baitfish patterns being pearl, seafoam and grey. I

have tied with a single colour today however you can add contrast and increased lifelike tones by using multiple colours in your flies. The addition of some red kinky fibre behind the eye gives the look of flared gills or bleeding which can make the fly appear weak and easy prey, a possible catalyst for a strike. The hook I have chosen is my personal favourite for flies of this type however it is a little hard to get these days. However, there are many others which can be used including the new Gamakatsu Inline Octopus hook. The Mustad Hoodlum will also suffice, despite the fact that is possesses a very small offset. There are also many other short shanked hooks that can be used. For eyes, I have used the Witchcraft 5mm Holo eyes but the Mango 3D eyes and many others in varying colours and sizes could be considered, depending on the size of the pattern being tied, the profile you trim the pattern to and the baitfish being imitated. The DNA Holo Fusion is a fairly durable material and adding a little epoxy to the head adds even more toughness to it, as well as just enough weight to make it sink head first. This pattern can be stripped fast in a hand-over-hand, rod under the arm fashion which is especially good when targeting pelagics around bait balls or with a series of shorter, strips when fishing it in the estuary where herring are a major bait species.

Attach the thread with a jamb knot and lay down a bed of thread for about 10mm behind the hook eye. Cut a portion of Holo Fusion that is at least two times as long as the hook shank and attach at this point. Whip finish but do not cut away the thread. Cut another portion 2 of Holo Fusion that is approximately three times as long as the hook shank and tie it in just in front of the first. Again, whip finish but do not remove the remaining thread.

Cut another portion of Holo Fusion approximately two and a half times as long as the hook shank and tie this in just in front of the last then whip finish.

Cut a fourth portion of Holo Fusion, the same 4 length as the first and tie in just in front of the last. This method of tying is referred to as ‘high tying’ and limits tangling of the materials with the hook shank during fishing. Whip finish but do not trim the thread away. 5

Cut a small portion of red Kinky Fibre and tie in along the side of each side, or on the cheeks, of your pattern as shown. Whip finish and trim away the remaining thread.

Place an eye on each side and then apply some UV epoxy to over these and also around the nose cone of the pattern to increase durability. Once you have laid a smooth and even coat, instantly set it by shining your UV (black) light on it. as the hook shank and tie this in just in front of the last then whip finish. 66

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Using a good set of 7 serrated blade scissors, trim your pattern to a basic leaf shape as show. This is only a guide however and you can experiment with different shapes. You will find it is easier to make numerous small snips around the outside edge using your scissor tips than trying to cut it in the conventional manner with the entire blade. Once shaped to your personal satisfaction, the Shaggy Shad is ready to shimmy its way into the gob of a hungry predator.

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V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Deep water dry fly FMG

Neil Grose vfmeditor@fishingmonthly.com.au

While the traditional view of fishing in deep water is to use wet flies and sinking lines, the warmer conditions of summer means that plenty of trout are patrolling the surface layers in deep water looking for a feed. Back in the ‘old days’ when I was full time trout guiding, I’d spend a lot of time looking for surface feeding trout in deep water. The reasons were many, but mostly it came down to trout behaviour rather than any ‘food’ reason. The principle reason is this. Trout feeding shallow water will quite often display that very annoying behaviour known as ‘oncing’.

This is where they make a splashy rise on the surface but then race straight to the sanctuary of the bottom weed. As shallow water is only a quick 1m dash, trout don’t expend much energy doing this. In deeper water however, and I mean over 3m, trout are less inclined to go back to the bottom once they are feeding on top, principally due to how much energy they will use. You can pretty much guarantee that a fish that rises in deep water will stay on the surface looking for something else to eat. They might slip down 1m or so, but they can still see the surface. A dry fly cast in their direction as soon as you can will get more positive responses than the same situation in shallow water.

Keep an eye on the mayfly – deep water risers are some of the easiest to catch.

Best of all, deep water is usually a long way offshore, and this gives the wind a chance to funnel all the surface trout food into lines – either as wind lanes in light winds, or foam lines in stronger winds. Foam lines in deeper water are pure gold when it comes to finding trout on the surface. They are usually heavily loaded with food, such as spent mayflies, beetles, ants an pretty much anything else that trout will eat. Trout aren’t silly, they know that food in a straight line is easy food, and they will swim upwind and get stuck into it – a trouty yum cha! The trick here for the angler is get your boat into the right spot, and that means off to one side of the foam line. Don’t put your boat on the foam line, as you will interrupt the wind that creates it in the first place. Once you have the boat in the right spot, keep your dry flies on the edge of the foam – not in it. The main reason is two fold, you can see them easier, and they are easier for the trout to see, with the added advantage of the fly not being gummed up with foam. Use flies that are easy for you and the trout to see.

Fabulous Phill Jones with a dry fly caught brown trout from the deep water in Great Lake. I often use the Orange Carrot as a dropper with a Foam Beetle on the beetle lakes and a Possum Emerger on the mayfly hatch waters. Use the wind to your advantage and keep your eyes peeled, as a trout rising will inevitably keep coming into the wind – nominally straight at you. Cast short and give the fish time to get its head down, no quick strikes here. Follow the wind, follow the food and find the trout. Easy, isn’t it.

Nicole Grose shows how it is done with this superb brown trout from a deep water wind lane.

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South Gippsland

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

Melbourne

Echuca

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

Melbourne

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

Melbourne

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

East Gippsland

Mallacoota Outboards 3 Commercial Road, Mallacoota Phone: (03) 5158 0459 | Fax: (03) 5158 0719 Email: smo02688@bigpond.net.au

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

Cheltenham

Corowa

West Gippsland

Geelong

Mornington

Bell Marine Services 120 Talinga Road, Cheltenham Phone: (03) 9583 3881 | Fax: (03) 9583 0117 Email: admin.sales@bellmarineservices.com

Bendigo

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

Melbourne

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

Shepparton

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

Gippsland

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

Maverick Boats Hammersley & Theiss Roads, Corowa Phone: (02) 6033 3222 | Fax: (02) 6033 4488 Email: sales@maverickboats.com.au Website: www.maverickboats.com.au Moolap Marine 250 Portarlington Road, Moolap Phone: (03) 5248 3772 | Fax: (03) 5248 4633 Email: info@moolapmarine.com.au Website: www.moolapmarine.com.au

Warragul Marine South Road, Warragul Phone: (03) 5623 6250 | Fax: (03) 5622 0623 Email: info@warragulmarine.com.au Website: www.warragulmarine.com.au Wes Frost Marine 3 Satu Way, Mornington Phone: (03) 5976 4622 | Fax: (03) 5976 4633 Email: sales@wesfrostmarine.com Webste: www.wesfrostmarine.com

Sorrento

Nautical Marine 139 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 141 Hotham Road, Sorrento Phone: (03) 5984 1666 | Fax: (03) 5984 1680 Email: nautical@surf.net.au Website: www.nauticalmarine.com.au

Melbourne

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

West Gippsland

Tooradin P & J Marine Service Centre P/L 101 Tooradin Station Road, Tooradin Phone: (03) 5998 3107 | Fax: (03) 5998 3108 Email: pjmarine_services@bigpond.com

V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

COUNTRIES WITHOUT GOOD SALTWATER FISHING

ARMENIA AUSTRIA BELARUS BOLIVIA CAR CHAD ETHIOPIA HUNGARY KAZAKHSTAN KOSOVO LAOS LUXEMBOURG

MALAWI MALI NEPAL NIGER PARAGUAY RWANDA SERBIA SLOVAKIA SWITZERLAND UGANDA VATICAN

LAST MONTH’S SOLUTION

FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION WINNER Congratulations to Fred Hutchins of Sunbury, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive Hawk Tournament Tested Bayer Perlon IGFA line, assorted Panther Martin lures, Youvella hooks and a keyring. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – V&TFM

FINS SCALES & TALES

HAWK FISHING

FIND-A-WORD COMP

by A. Both

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

SEND ENTRIES TO: Hawk Tournament Competition PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129 Name

BARRA COUNTRY

Address

by Brett Currie P/Code Phone (day):

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by Trisha Mason

G&N

by Michael Hardy

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE The subscriber prize winners for December were M Eriksen of Inverloch, C Baldock of Ringwood, J Law of Vermont South, J Kastenberger of Chirnside Park, D Schultz of Bendigo, A Blainey of 70

DECEMBER 2013

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Craigieburn who each won $50 Gamakatsu gift pack. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

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DECEMBER 2013

Round and round, back to front LAUNCESTON

Brendan Turriff

The more you examine it, the more you realise how complex the fishing environment actually is. Wind, air temperatures, water temperatures, water levels, past flooding events, fertility, predators, prey and barometric pressure can all have a significant impact on fish numbers or feeding habits. BACK TO FRONT? No matter how much you read or how educated you are, there is a lot of uncertainty in fishing, especially in relation to the days ahead and what to expect. One thing you can count on is the fact that trout tend to shut down during an approaching cold front or dropping barometer. You can hear folk yarning in the corner of the tackle shop, “Nah, no good mate – front’s on the way” or a brief chat to a stalwart of the river as they mutter “Yeah, nah, droppin’ barometer cobber, you shoulda been here yesty”. It’s common belief that this historical fishing lore comes down to low pressure systems lowering the ability of freshwater to take on oxygen, coupled with the fact that

overcast days (often associated with cold fronts) deny aquatic plants of their ability to photosynthesise, therefore, instead of producing oxygen, they absorb it. See where this is going? Fish need oxygen and quickly lowering their supply can give them a heavy dose of ‘lock-jaw’. The reason I’ve mentioned this, is that Launceston (and much of Tassie) has experienced continuous cycles of cold fronts since the start of the season, making consistent action problematic. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some good little sessions since mayfly hatches commenced but just as action starts to get underway, a front quickly moves in. Add to this that rivers have just started to come back from regular flooding and it’s a bit of a challenge. Good news is, when a front has passed and the barometer is on the rise, fish generally respond well. THE BLACK PLAGUE The full effect of cormorants around our northern rivers is becoming apparent. Large sections of reliable stretches are void of fish or revealing low numbers. Some rivers have been hit harder than others too, and although electro-fishing surveys back up the suspicion,

they are subjective. The best measure of population is probably regular fishing and observation by knowledgeable, local anglers. For the most part, I think most cormorants have moved on but I have spotted the odd ‘black plague’ in the North Esk and I’ve had reports of them still loitering on the Meander River.

toward Christmas, mudeyes should start to appear in the still waters and terrestrials like grasshoppers soon after. As I mentioned last time too, the early bird gets the worm. Meaning, be on the water before the sun gets up to experience some of that juicy caenid action. Once that light gets on the water they can shut down pretty quickly.

River conditions have been testing to say the least lately, but persistent angling should crack the code.

Nice darts – a sparkling brown trout with a dry fly gob stopper. CHRISTMAS PRESENCE Moving forward, you could expect that mayfly and damselfly action will continue to dominate river activity and as we move

This sometimes coincides with more settled conditions too, which is a pleasure to fish compared to some of those gales we have had to endure! Whatever

way you choose to fish and whatever time of day, be sure to take advantage of those days off and make your presence known on the water around that holiday period.

AUSTRALIAN FLY FISHING MUSEUM If you get the chance, be sure to slip out to the Australian Fly Fishing Museum at Clarendon Estate (just south of Evandale) – A wonderful tribute to the history of fly fishing in Australia, how trout became to be here 150 years ago, an amazing collection of books and equipment, plus details of those influential individuals that turned their obsessions into careers many decades ago. The estate will be having an open day on 1 December and there will be some fly tying demonstrations and free entry into the museum as part of this. The AFFM will be running an amazing photography competition soon too – keep an eye out!

Windy and wet conditions fade into summer STH HIGHLANDS

Shane Broadby

Two words can sum up the Southern Highlands since last report, windy and wet! Fish have been caught in the very testing conditions by those brave souls, others have just thought, nah I’ll stay inside and tie flies or read about fishing! Most of the lakes and lagoons have been spilling or just about to, but as they say, trout anglers never complain about rain! With all of this water around and going by the great condition of the fish that have been caught, the planets are aligning for a great 2013/2014 season.

THE LOWER DERWENT STORAGES There should be a few Atlantic salmon left in Lake Meadowbank for the last month of the year, and the Inland Fisheries Service have just stocked a heap of rainbow fingerlings in the water. They’re not much use for this season but by next season they should provide some fishing. December is the prime month for caenid feeders in Lake Meadowbank, I’m not sure if much will eventuate after the big drawdown. There surely has to be pockets of hatching caenid and trout smutting on them, especially in and around where the deep Derwent enters the broader waters north of Dunrobin Bridge. Cluny Lagoon, Lake Repulse and Catagunya are great boat-based destinations

From chasing flathead and salmon in the calm bays and beaches within minutes of Hobart’s CBD, to trout in the pristine Upper Derwent and Huon rivers or targeting bream in the tournament waters of the Lower Derwent. Whatever type of experience you’re after, Paddlefish Tasmania can cater for it.

www.paddlefishtasmania.com.au

DECEMBER 2013

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0455 150 120

The author releasing a good December caenid feeder. and ideal trolling water. Wayatinah Lagoon should have some good fishing to mayfly spinner feeders on those warm and calm December days. THE BRADY’S CHAIN Tungatinah Lagoon, Lake Binney and Bradys Lake are all good destinations for December, not just for the fishing but also the camping. The prime areas for lure fishing are the inlets and outlets from the canals and the Whitewater and Dee Tunnel inlet at Bradys. All three waters will have fish rising to chironomids in the early morning and evenings along with caddis flies. The Island

shore of Lake Binney and the around the Island at Bradys are great spots to find some early morning caenid feeders,

especially following a warm night with a calm morning. I had some great fishing right in front of the shack last December; I always use a size 16 or size 14 Iron Blue Dun for Caenid feeders, Laurie Matcham’s Caenid pattern is another great fly. BRONTE LAGOON Hopefully the very high water levels should’ve dropped to more normal levels by December, allowing easier access to the better shallows. Tailing fish are still very much a feature at this time of the year and they love a dry. The usual favourites like the Possum Emerger, Zulu, Glister and Red Tags are all you need. The areas around the Red Rocks shore and Bull Rush Point is prime water. Dun and spinner feeders will feature

St.Clair Lagoon on a perfect day.

in the day time hours along with the always frustrating damselfly leapers. I always like to see plenty of spinners around with the damsels, those leapers just seem a bit easier if there is a variety of fly life around. LAKE KING WILLIAM The levels should be receding in Lake King William too by December. Like last season, the huge lake filled up very fast not giving us a chance at the best early spring Tailing action, when the levels start to drop though it should trigger some furious feeding with the aquatic life following the water out. ST CLAIR LAGOON Beautiful St Clair Lagoon has been giving up a few frog feeders in mid spring, so by December the tadpoles should be on the menu. I’ve been tying a few of Muz Wilson Fuzzle Tadpoles of late so I’ll give them a run here. Blue sky days and St Clair Lagoon go together like strawberries and cream and add to the mix a few mayfly spinners that will be around towards the later part of the month, well just get up there and see for yourself! Have a safe and fantastic Christmas and a great new year of trout fishing.

Get on top for dry fly sport CENTRAL HIGHLANDS

Neil Grose vfmeditor@fishingmonthly.com.au

This is it; the summer surface action is here. If ever there is a month that trout fishers look forward to, it is December. The mayfly are hatching regularly, the water is warm enough to get trout consistently cruising in shallow water and just about every insect except for jassids are on the water. ARTHURS LAKE It is hard to talk about Arthurs without lamenting the huge numbers of small trout in this lake at the moment. This is not new, Arthurs has always been through small fish cycles. I remember when I first started fishing this lake seriously as a teenager in the 80s that a fish over a pound was bragging material. Then in the late 90s and early 2000s the size improved radically and a fish under 1kg was

small. But it is what it is, and there is some great fishing for smaller fish nonetheless. I love to eat these smaller trout, and I whole-heartedly recommend the same to anyone who will listen. I’d expect that the mayfly hatch this year will be a good one, especially in the deeper water over 3m. The main reason for this is that I suspect the smaller fish eat most of the nymphs in shallow water, while the deeper water is perhaps a bit different. While shallow water is always the first port of call in the early part of a hatch, my preference is to follow the drifting duns into deep water, especially off Tumble Down Bay, the Lily Pads and Creely Bay. Look for wind blowing duns from shallow water to deep – a northwesterly is prime for areas like the Lily Pads, but a southerly can be good too in areas like the Morass and Creely Bay.

GREAT LAKE While Great Lake has no real mayfly hatch, (not enough to get excited about anyway), it does have a massive population of brown trout that love some gum beetle action. While our spring was cold and windy and we didn’t see much if any beetle action till early November, December warm days will definitely bring them onto the water. In the past I’ve found that cold springs mean a greater density of terrestrial action once summer actually arrives, so get ready for the beetles. Sunny days are great, as you can polaroid them in the waves, but don’t discard a cloudy day, especially if the wind dies in the evening. It is this time of day that trout will get seriously active in the wind lanes, and as the light fades, they get very easy to catch.

A blue sky day and a deserted shore – a December match made in heaven. NINETEEN LAGOONS The Nineteen Lagoon area gets very busy at this time of year, and I basically don’t go out there anymore. The exception is to walk from Ada into the more remote areas, which I believe are less

fished now than years ago. If you are determined to fish the Nineteen Lagoons, look for waters that don’t get hammered – the two Lake Augusta water bodies are a case in point. Add to that Double Lagoon and maybe

Rocky and East Rocky and you might find some space. I fish the western shores of Great Lake on bright sunny days – the polaroiding experience is the same and there is no one there to drop in front of you.

Season species back in force NTH WST COAST

Bryan Van Wyk bryanvwy@hotmail.com

December is an exciting time for many anglers on the North West coast. It’s nearly the end of another good fishing year, the summer species are back in numbers, and chances are you have some time off to fish for them this month! It is expected that a lot of offshore anglers will be out wide berleying up for an opportunity to tangle with a mako shark, or chasing a feed of flathead and gummy shark. The usual depths of 50m for makos and 25-35m for flathead and gummies should do the trick. Other shore-based anglers will be throwing metal slices off the rocks and beaches for Australian

salmon, or slowly working bright squid jigs for some cracker southern calamari off hotspots such as Red Rock, Doctors Rocks and Rocky Cape. One thing that does increase in popularity over the summer months is surf fishing. During the day the popular target is Australian salmon off the beaches, with known surf gutters such as Wivenhoe Beach, the Blythe

Heads and Sisters Beach. Anglers have had great success with paternoster rigs with blue and pink surf poppers. Bait is recommended to maximise your chances, although fish can and do eat surf poppers without bait. An incoming tide and oily berley can improve your results dramatically. Surf fishing during the evening can also be a rewarding experience

With the warmer waters you can expect large masses of arrow squid just like this one. They make excellent mako bait.

for other species such as gummy shark and elephant fish. Similar beaches with gutters (mentioned above) should be targeted with an incoming tide. I recommend using heavier braided line with heavy-duty paternoster rigs to deal with some of the by-catch and stingrays you may encounter. The best baits for evening surf fishing are squid heads and fish fillets. A good tip is to use frozen berley logs and bury them 1ft under the sand in a line. That way, as the tide comes in you’ll have a natural, unbroken berley trail. For the more adventurous boater, a trip to the far northwest coast around Hunter Island and Three Hummocks Island can give you a good chance of tangling with a quality Tasmanian snapper. A good approach here is to use your sounder to find deep

Releasing a small Tasmanian pinkie snapper from the kayak. drops-offs and schooling fish. Once you find a good spot, drop the anchor and rig up some fresh baits such as squid or fish fillets on a 6/0 suicide hook and wait. There is some good by-catch to be had such

as school sharks, gummy sharks, flathead and elephant fish. Wherever you end up this December, there is no doubt you’ll be in with a good chance of having a bend in your rod!

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DECEMBER 2013

Salmon fire up in the Tamar GEORGE TOWN

Damon Sherriff

As the water temperature rises the fishing in the Tamar Valley is really starting to heat up. Massive schools of Australian salmon are currently swimming around the Tamar feeding on schools of whitebait. This is providing some excellent sport for many local anglers. The schools have been mainly hanging around the Low Head and George Town area. Some anglers have been doing very well from the stones. The most productive spot has been the monument at the end of the main street of George Town. Spinning from here using small metal

lures and soft plastics that mimic whitebait have been very successful. Low head breakwater has also been a good spot to target them from the shore.

The best spot has been right at the end of the breakwater casting into the channel. The salmon have been of good size with most of the fish around 1kg wit

Local angler Ron Stewart with his massive 9kg Atlantic salmon taken from Brushy Lagoon.

some pushing the 2.5kg. Boat fishers have had the most success on the western side of the river around Kelso. Most of the fish have been coming from very shallow water just north of the Kelso pontoon. Once again small silver slice lures have been out fishing other lures. To make things even better there has been an escape at the local Atlantic salmon farm. Anglers have been enjoying the fruits of the escape. They have been up to 6kg in weight and have spread out quite a bit. I have heard reports from Greens Beach to Gravely Beach, which is probably around 50km apart. They have been caught nearly on all methods from spinning trolling and bait. Even anglers

Michael Dodge of George Town with a sample of the Australian salmon being taken from the area of late. fishing from the pontoons have been getting into the Atlantic salmon action, with good reports from Gravelly Beach and Deviot pontoons. A few years ago there was another escape and a lot of the salmon ended up in Launceston at the Trevallyn Tailrace. This just shows how far they will travel.

BRUSHY LAGOON Local angler Ron Stewart caught a beautiful 9kg Atlantic salmon recently. He has spent many freezing hours spinning on the lagoon dam wall when finally this monster came along. He caught it on a pink and yellow soft plastic lure.

Get on the mako train as the waters warm up TASMANIA OFFSHORE

Kelly Hunt

December is here and the Tasmanian game fishing season 2014 is about to get going. We have all seen and heard about the excellent fishing off the eastern seaboard of Australia in the last few months. You could not go near the Internet without someone posting some great news and photos about their yellowfin tuna run. Let’s hope they continue their march down the shelf and holiday for a while off the sunny East Coast of Tasmania. December is a bit early for yellowfin and the like, but it’s around the time mako sharks start to fill the

day dreams of Tasmanian game fishers. MAKO SHARKS Here are a few broad brush strokes to get you started. BERLEY Berley needs to be plentiful and frozen down in a manner that makes it easy to get into the water column. If you purchase your berley in log form, get a few inexpensive green cord net refills. These are awesome to slide the logs in and have two out at all times. If you make your own berley then make sure the containers you freeze it down in are marginally smaller than your berley pot used at the rear of the boat. You can’t go past a good mix of Australian salmon and striped tuna. It can be a good idea to keep this in

A mako shark goes ballistic at the side of the boat after a tense struggle. mind and store a few away throughout the year before early season berley. If you have the ability to hit the shelf while chasing makos then I would be doing that in a heartbeat. The shelf will be home to all manner of

pelagic and other food a big strong mako will be looking to eat. If you are going to try Bass Strait, find the deepest water you can get to. The deeper the water, the bigger the water column you will put berley into.

CUBES Using cubes can be hotly debated but it is simple. If you are in shallow water then you can ease up on the cubes and a couple of ‘plops’ every other minute will suffice. If you are on the shelf with a massive amount of water column to penetrate then you can increase the amount and speed you dribble them away. Don’t go crazy, as you don’t want them laying back like some Christmas Day smorgasbord and ignoring your baits. BAITS Have a few Australian salmon, squid and mullet on hand ready to go you won’t go far wrong. When rigging up your baits, no matter what you choose don’t be scared to have the hook point showing

to allow good hook up rates. Little cable ties are gold to help secure baits to big hooks and allowing plenty of hook gape and point to be free. TACKLE Go to a tackle store and talk to the guys in the know. You just cannot get this advice and experience from the web and it is worth its weight in gold. A 24kg line is a good starting point for mako fishing and it will only be a monster that will take you to task on a rod and reel suited to that breaking strain. This early summer weather will have you keen to get out and try your luck, so as December progresses and the water temperature rises , so does your chances of finding some good mako sharks.

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 6th November 2013 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Lake Augusta ...................................2.05 ..................................................Steady Arthurs Lake ....................................0.27 ..................................................Steady Great Lake .......................................13.15 ................................................Steady Trevallyn Pond .................................1.16 ..................................................Steady Shannon Lagoon ..............................0.04 ..................................................Steady Penstock Lagoon .......................................................................................Spilling Lake Echo ........................................5.26 ..................................................Steady Dee Lagoon .....................................0.23 ..................................................Steady Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah .............0.25 ..................................................Falling Bronte Lagoon .................................0.74 ..................................................Falling Pine Tier Lagoon ..............................1.57 ..................................................Falling Little Pine Lagoon ............................0.62 ..................................................Steady Laughing Jack Lagoon ....................0.18 ..................................................Steady Lake St Clair ....................................1.33 ..................................................Steady Lake King William ............................0.05 ..................................................Steady Lake Liapootah ................................0.28 ..................................................Rising Wayatinah Lagoon ...........................0.96 ..................................................Rising Lake Catagunya ...............................0.58 ..................................................Rising

Lake Repulse ...................................0.26 ..................................................Falling Cluny Lagoon ...................................0.51 ..................................................Rising Meadowbank Lake ..........................0.23 ..................................................Falling Lake Pedder ....................................0.26 ..................................................Falling Lake Gordon ....................................17.61 ................................................Steady Lake Burbury ...................................0.68 ..................................................Steady Lake Plimsoll ...................................2.56 ..................................................Steady Lake Murchison ...............................10.12 ................................................Falling Lake Mackintosh .............................1.27 ..................................................Steady Lake Rosebery .................................0.95 ..................................................Rising Lake Pieman ....................................2.01 ..................................................Falling Lake Mackenzie ...............................1.79 ..................................................Rising Lake Rowallan .................................1.26 ..................................................Steady Lake Parangana ...............................1.41 ..................................................Rising Lake Cethana ...................................0.54 ..................................................Falling Lake Barrington ...............................1.36 ..................................................Falling Lake Gairdner ..................................1.79 ..................................................Falling Lake Paloona .............................................................................................Spilling Woods Lake .....................................0.36 ..................................................Steady Whitespur Pond ...............................7.16 ..................................................Falling Lake Newton ...................................3.73 ..................................................Falling Lake Margaret .................................0.21 ..................................................Steady

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

DECEMBER 2013

V&TFM

Clear settled times ahead HOBART

Justin Causby

In and around Hobart, December should hopefully deliver some settled weather. The entire spring saw strong flows of discoloured water both high and cold, which did little to entice the sea-run trout from early October onwards. The entire Derwent system was at capacity from mid-September, and the large downpours received on top of this saw the water flow freely. Combined with plenty of snow melt, it has resulted in our highland storages bulging to full supply on many lakes and dams. This put a bit of a dampener on the fishing in the tidal reaches. Although some very good fish were caught,

it was generally a couple of fish in the bag rather than the higher numbers often found. Good news though – with weather and water improving, the bream are finding their way back through the system. All the likely haunts are worth a look at this time of the year as the fish move to spawning areas. With bream on the do-not-consume list, spawning time is just another incentive to return fish to the water at this time of the year. The humble Australian salmon have been about in good numbers and sizes through spring. These fish have averaged around 40cm, which is a bit better than we often see down here, especially in the Derwent. Further south to Cremone and beyond, better fish have been caught, with the odd

genuine ‘black back’ among them. Early morning on the top of the tide has been producing well. Some water movement is a real plus to landing good numbers. Craigbourne Dam, despite receiving continued stockings, really gets tough for its devotees in December with the water warming up with the summer sun. Given all the cold freshwater inflowing in recent months though, it could prolong the fishing a little longer than usual. Good numbers of Atlantic salmon and stocked trout, including brown, rainbow and brook, offering the four-fish grand slam for a day’s work. Heading out west from Hobart, December brings promise of the first good mudeye hatches at Lake Pedder. Hot sunny days, a few

on end preferably, will see the insects stir to life and make their way to the surface. From there they will crawl up the nearest stick or dead tea tree and hatch into the dragonflies we see roaming the air. Probably in far bigger numbers are the bright blue damselflies. Their larvae are also high on the fish’s menu. Conveniently, Hermit Basin (more commonly known as McPartlans) is the first bit of water you see on the road to Strathgordon, and the region offers some of the best fishing for this time of the year. You will find great bays and shores right around the entire lake, but for easy access the road shore north of the ramp offers much of the best fishing. Evenings are fantastic when the mudeyes are on the move, as are early mornings. The many islands

Bream and hardbodies are on the radar this Christmas as the water warms and the fish get aggressive. in the area offer some great midge fishing also, with wind lanes funnelling the surface in and around the water. The annual Back to Pedder event, run by the Lake Pedder Anglers Club, is on again this coming January around the

Australia Day weekend. It runs from Thursday January 23 to Sunday January 26, so visitors can use the Monday holiday to drive home if desired. The Lake Pedder Anglers Club will again be supporting Able Australia and Camp Quality.

Weather starting to look a lot like summer ST HELENS

Jamie Henderson

With the weather starting to stabilise a little better there has been much more action offshore lately with boat anglers reporting good hauls of king flathead in 70-80m of water and appear to be quite large in size.

The striped trumpeter fishing is looking very good, with the fish having a couple of months rest from angling pressure. Fishing has started off strongly with many anglers reporting good catches. Areas such as the Binalong Patch, the 14 Mile Patch off Eddystone Point and areas down off Bicheno and Seymour have all produced

Grant Stingel with a Scamander bream, typical of the fish being caught at the moment.

fish. There has even been a handful of fish caught closer to home on Merricks Reef and the Gravel Patch. Further inshore Georges Bay has been firing hard, some good seasonal rainfall has flushed the bay well and there have been large amounts of small baitfish moving throughout the bay. Earlier in the month anglers were witness to some amazing fishing where large Australian salmon around 2.5kg were hoarding schools into the shallow water all along the beach near the Sea Scout Hall and feeding on them in little more than half a metre of water. Anglers were able to catch good fish right at their feet. Up in the Moulting Bay area, boat anglers have been consistently catching good Australian salmon up to 2.5kg and some good tailor to around 1kg. Most of these fish have been caught using soft plastic lures with the Squidgy Flick Bait in

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St Helens charter operator Rocky Carosi with a large striped trumpeter. Evil Minnow colour being very popular. Silver trevally are also hot on the bite and are being caught all over the bay. Anglers fishing Kirwins and Parkside jetties have been rewarded by good sized fish, as have boat anglers fishing the channel and Moulting Bay areas. Two species showing up

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hooks laced with a pipi bait and cast to the edge of the weed beds should produce the whiting if they are around. The Scamander River has the bream in full swing spawning and has been producing some fantastic fishing. One local angler from Scamander has reported some excellent fish being caught using the Squidgy Wriggler in wasabi and fished lightly into the tree snags where the fish are schooling up. Plenty of fish are also coming deep from the rock walls on Cranka Vibe lures. As the month progresses we will see the fish move up to the surface and in amongst the snags where sight fishing with lightly weighted plastics, hardbodied lures and flies are the key. For any more advice on where to go and what to catch just drop in and see me, Jamie, at St Helens Bait & Tackle.

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DECEMBER 2013

Cooking with Jamo

Salmon pastrami with olive bread COOKING

Jamison Godfrey

I know that chasing stocked Atlantic salmon isn’t everyone’s idea of fun but most people definitely enjoy eating them. With many Tasmanian impoundments stocked recently in the state a lot of anglers would have caught plenty, so here’s an easy way to prepare some of the excess fillets that you may have. Although this recipe says to eat it cured you can cut this into small slices and

have it seared on the BBQ or grill plate. It’s really up to you and either way it’s really tasty. METHOD Place the Atlantic salmon skin side down in a baking tray and sprinkle the salt evenly over the fish. In a mixing bowl add the sugar, parsley, coriander seed, chilli flakes, pepper, lemon juice, golden syrup and smoked paprika and combine well. Pour the mixture evenly over the fish and rub in well with your hands. Cover well with plastic

wrap and place another tray on top of the fish and put a heavy item such as a brick on top and refrigerate overnight.

Remove brick from the fish and scrape excess marinade off the salmon and slice thinly, serve with some crusty olive bread.

INGREDIENTS

500g boned skin on Atlantic salmon ¼ cup coarse cooking salt 2 tablespoons muscovado sugar ½ cup chopped flat leaf parsley 2 tablespoons coriander seeds roughly crushed 1 tablespoon chilli flakes 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper Juice 1 lemon ¼ cup golden syrup ½ tablespoon smoked paprika Olive bread to serve

Salt down the salmon – make sure it is evenly spread.

Crush up all the seeds – a mortar and pestle makes the job easy.

Once it is mixed, pour on the marinade.

Ready to be sliced after the night in the fridge. 76

DECEMBER 2013

V&TFM

Get some quality olive bread and away you go – very tasty indeed.

Lake Pedder Anglers Club – Australia Day Comp Lake Pedder Anglers Club was formed by Hydro Electric families in 1976. Hydro Tasmania has been a major sponsor since 1976 supporting the angling club. The club’s key focus is to promote angling at Lake Pedder and the beauty of the Southwest National Park. The club has a strong emphasis on nurturing children into the sport of fishing and assisting

charities within Tasmania. Lake Pedder is an excellent fishery. The trout in Lake Pedder were famous for their size in the 70s and 80s. Later the size dropped as the trout population increased. Over the past five years club records have noted the size of trout in Pedder are on the increase. The lake is fishing well and is open year round to fishing when other lakes are closed. The trout are in

good condition weighing 1.3-1.5kg on average. The club conducts competitions throughout the year for its members and about 10 years ago opened their Australia Day competition held since 1976 to the public. This competition is held on the Strathgordon end of Lake Pedder. This year the club’s major sponsors have come together

The driving force behind any club is their membership. These are the people who raise funds at the Australia Day comp to help fund their charity work.

The end recipients of the hard work enjoying a day on the club’s lake. Competition entry fees assist this cause.

to offer competitors a boat package as the major prize draw. Each competitor will go in the draw to win a 4m dingy donated by the club and Hydro Tasmania, 15hp outboard engine donated by Channel Marine, plus a Dunbier trailer donated by Kings Towbars and Trailers. The club’s other major sponsors are Wigstons Lures and Rapala Australia who

have heavily sponsored the competition with their products. On Saturday night a charity auction is held. Funds raised are used to assist the club with its charity work providing fishing days each year for Able Australia and Camp Quality at the club pond near Ouse in Tasmania. The Australia Day Competition is held at

the club’s home, the Lake Pedder Chalet, which is open year round for anglers. Here you can view the clubs history, memorabilia and photos of the famous Pedder trout. Membership and competition details can be found at fishing stores sponsoring the club and on the club website www. lakepedderanglersclub. com. - LPAC

BACK TO PEDDER 2014 Australia Day Long Weekend THURSDAY 23 - SUNDAY 26 JANUARY 2014 Bring the family along to Lake Pedder, home of Tasmania’s largest Trout Fishing Competition. A legendary competition in it’s 34th year. MAJOR PRIZES 4m aluminium dinghy and 15HP Mercury outboard both donated by Channel Marine. Dunbier Trailer donated by King Towbars and Trailers.

ENTER NOW! Entry forms are available at www.lakepedderanglersclub.com and your local fishing store. Make sure you check out the website for updates and more information.

ACCOMMODATION Lake Pedder Chalet (Booking essential) Phone 03 6280 1166 Camping is available in the Southwest National Park at Teds Beach and Scott’s Peak. Camping showers available at Lake Pedder Chalet. V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

2013 Eildon big Fish Challenge FMG

Neil Grose vfmeditor@fishingmonthly.com.au

October 19-20 2013 saw the first annual Eildon Big Fish Challenge and what a great event it was. The weather gods were on certainly our side and plenty of fish were caught. A massive amount of fun was had by all. People of all ages participated in this challenge in the hunt for some incredible prizes and trophies. It seemed that bait fishing was the most successful method with the king of trout bait Berkley Powerbait in the rainbow colour doing the most damage. This was certainly so for the overall winner Ognjen Mijatovic. Some good fish were also caught on Berkley 2.5cm T Tails. It was an amazing event considering the committee only had 12 weeks to get the whole thing off the ground. All who participated would certainly agree that it was a job well done to all involved.

There were some quality rainbow trout caught during the competition. After getting 250+ competitors for the first one, it will surely be onwards and upwards from here. The overwhelming consensus from competitors is that they would be back next year and bringing all their friends, so let’s see if we can get it bigger and better next year. The organisers would like to extend a special thanks to our great friends at the Snobs Creek Fish Hatchery for stocking Eildon Pondage with great quality trout.

The kids certainly got into the action.

EILDON BIG FISH CHALLENGE RESULTS 2013

Biggest Fish David Edmonds, Laverton 560mm Big Fish - adult male angler David Edmonds, Laverton 560mm Big Fish - adult female angler Nicole Sander, Kerang 510mm Big Fish - child angler (11 years and under) Daniel Hooper, Maroopna 536mm Champion Angler - Cumulative Length Ognjen Mijatovic, Bacchus Marsh 3020mm Champion Angler – adult male Ognjen Mijatovic, Bacchus Marsh 3020mm Champion Angler – adult female Nicole Sander, Kerang 1495mm Champion Angler – child (11 years and under) Luke Downes, Alexandra 1510mm SECRET LENGTH Secret Length $1,000 Paul Dickson, Langwarren Secret Length $250 Beau Martin, Collingwood Secret Length $250 Robert Waugh, Melton Secret Length $250 Michael Barallon, Taylors Lakes Secret Length $250 Petar Plavsic, Bacchus Marsh PASSPORT – Lake Eildon Marina and House Boat Hire – 1 Weekend Hire Passport Winner Debrah Mathieson, Alexandra MAJOR PRIZE – Savage boat; Mercury motor, trailer; safety pack Major Prize Winner Michael Neil, Eildon

How is that for a brown trout?

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Camperdown Classic The Camperdown Angling Club Fishing Classic was held on the weekend 5-6 October. Despite strong winds

greeting the anglers on Saturday morning, conditions improved by evening and on Sunday. Some great fish were caught

Thomas Swayn who was the sub-junior champion with his 1.6kg brown trout caught at Lake Purrumbete. (Photo courtesy of Helen Arundell)

at both lakes: 20 brown trout, 15 rainbow trout, and 26 chinook. The biggest brown trout was 75cm and weighed 4kg, with 10 of the browns over 65cm and over 3.5kg. The biggest rainbow was 47cm and weighed 1.2kg Anglers were very impressed with the size and condition of the chinook salmon, which were released last November. Most were above 37cm and weighed up to 975g, which means they have really grown in the last 10 months. The competition was judged on the KAT system, where each species is allocated points according to the length of the fish. Each entrant is allowed to weigh in two fish per species per day but not allowed to exceed a bag limit of 5 salmonoid per day. The Classic fish is judged by the committee

RESULTS

Senior Major Prize ......................... Chris Finlayson...........................3114.7 Senior Runner Up........................... Gary Holt....................................2559.65 Classic Fish..................................... Paul Rebecchi............................Junior............................................... Ryan Bongart.............................623.6 Sub Junior....................................... Thomas Swayn...........................543.7 Second Sub Junior......................... Henry Zapelli..............................467.2 Third Sub Junior............................. Dalton Fabri................................360.64

2013

Stephen Atkinson (left) and Chris Finlayson, of Portland, showing off their best catches for the weekend. With his best fish weighing in at 3.7kg, Chris took out the senior champion award for the competition. (Photo courtesy of Helen Arundell) as the best fish taking into consideration markings, colour, size etc; it is not necessarily the biggest fish. Over 120 entries with a terrific number of Juniors and Sub Juniors. All juniors and sub juniors received a prize even if they did not catch a fish. We had a great weekend with many happy fishers leaving Camperdown and district and vowing to return again next year. Special thanks to all our sponsors. – Camperdown Angling Club

Torquay angler Paul Rebbechi with the Classic Catch fish – a 4.2kg brown trout caught at Lake Purrumbete. (Photo courtesy of Helen Arundell)

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DECEMBER 2013

Aussies dominate big money in Chinese Tournament FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

In September 2013, a team of 10 Australian kayak tournament anglers travelled to China to compete in

the inaugural C.A.N. (China, Australia, New Zealand) kayak tournament. Not really knowing what to expect, the team excelled on a totally foreign waterway for species they hadn’t seen before. In short, Aussie

AUSSIE ANGLER PLACINGS

1st....................................... Richard Somerton 2nd...................................... Neil Carstairs 4th....................................... Andrew Death 6th....................................... Scott Lovig 7th....................................... Jim Barrie 10th..................................... Craig Coughlan 11th..................................... Greg Lewis 12th..................................... Stewart Dunn 13th..................................... Matt Petrie

anglers dominated the top placings, winning $41,200 of the $55,000 USD prize money on offer. Working as a team, the anglers figured out a pattern and shared it across their team mates. Interestingly, Aussie bream training and techniques shone, with the Aussie anglers’ stamina (especially in windy conditions) and blading prowess giving them the advantage. As well as big prize money, the experience was big for the team. With an outdoor stadium full of near 20,000 people for the opening ceremonies

Richard Somerton (centre) and Neil Carstens (left) took out podium finishes. and presentations, it’s an experience that they’re unlikely to forget. Neil Carstairs put together an awesome report – big enough to fill up half of this magazine. You can read it here: http://www.kfdu. com.au/forum/viewtopic. php?f=1&t=34354 Rest assure, there’ll be plenty more Aussies chomping to get their hands on some of that cash if the opportunity presents itself again.

How’s this for a presentation ceremony?

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hook competition

HOOKS

hidden throughout the pages of Fishing Monthly. and page Find the C-POINT HOOKS m and go in number, fill in the entry for correct the draw to win! The first 50 the month entries drawn at the end of INT HOOKS. will win a Packet of C-PO MAJOR All entries will go into the PRIZE DRAW (Drawn MAY 2014)

Monthly Prize Black Magic C-Point Hooks Sample Selection Made in Japan Value at $5.95

MAJOR PRIZES

PAGE NO: 1 2

$ 600 ST PLACE

1 3

VALUE OF BLACK MAGIC PRODUCTS

MAIL ENTRIES TO: VFM Find the C-POINT HOOKS Comp, PO BOX 3172, Loganholme QLD 4129 Entries must be received by DEC 31ST 2013 Original entries only. No photocopies. Images for illustration purposes only.

$ 400 ND PLACE

2 8

VALUE OF BLACK MAGIC PRODUCTS

$ 200 RD PLACE

3 12

VALUE OF BLACK MAGIC PRODUCTS

NAME........................................................................................... ADDRESS...................................................................................... SUBURB......................................................P/CODE...................... PHONE.......................................................MOB.......................... EMAIL........................................................................................... V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

VFM DECEMBER 2013

• • • •

Carl Jocumsen bookends slow USA season of the best bass anglers in the world on the highly competitive Bassmaster tournament trail (www. bassmaster.com). It’s been three years of ups and downs for the young Aussie. He’s tasted success in the form of plenty of top 20 finishes across the country. And he’s had his downs. Racking up a better collection of century-plus finishes than most Aussie batsman in the modern era. In 2012 he fell agonisingly short of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite series – watching the angler that finished one place ahead of him in the Central Opens points race get offered a spot in the most prestigious

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Pretty much everyone in the Australian Bass Tournament scene knows that Toowoomba angler, Carl Jocumsen, set sail three years ago for the USA with the aim of competing against some CARL’S SPONSORS

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circuit on the planet. So, it was back to the drawing board in 2013 to try and make the cut. As well as the Bassmaster Opens series, Carl opted to spend some of his precious funds on the PAA (Professional Anglers’ Association: www.fishpaa. com) circuit. A solid string of results there would see

him with a free entry into an event called the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. With a $250,000 winner’s purse, there was merit in the idea. Carl’s season started with a PAA event on Lake Norman, Tennessee. With virtually the entire field throwing those crazy, 5-lure Alabama rigs, Carl opted to pursue a skirted jig pattern

his name, Carl racked up his first Bassmaster top 12 cut – finishing 4th and cashing a prize cheque for over $10,000USD. “All year I’d been sticking to what I’d found in practise and I was unwilling to change things up when conditions changed,” Carl explained in a 30-minute interview that we conducted posttournament (see factbox for the QR code link). “And when I got to my starting spot on the first day of this event, it happened again – 2ft rollers were hammering the section of lily pads were I’d found a concentration of better than average bass. “So, I bit the bullet and used every bit of knowledge I’d gained over the last three years to run around the lake to every good looking spot I

CARL’S LINKS

www.fuglies.com.au

• Carl’s Bassmaster angler profile link: http://www.bassmaster.com/anglers/carl-jocumsen • Link to Bassmaster event results page: http://www.bassmaster.com/tournaments/2013-bass-pro-shops-central-open-3/ results/1 • Carl’s interview QR code: http://youtu.be/_VrXL90Lv0Y • Link to Carl’s Fan Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carl-Jocumsen-TeamJocumsen/509735719057074

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on the steep rocky bluffs and cracked the code. Making his first ever top 12 PAA cut in that event was a huge achievement – especially as he was the only angler NOT throwing an A-rig. Interestingly, the A-rig has now been banned from most major national circuits as it’s considered unsporting. With no reason to doubt that this was the start to another stellar year, Carl then struggled. And he struggled for months – right up until the final event of the season – the Bassmaster Central Open on Ross Barnett Reservior in Mississippi. With around $300 to

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could find and put together a 10lb limit that kept me in with a shot in 25th place,” Carl continued. The next morning, the conditions suited a technique that Carl calls ‘swimming a worm’, so that’s what he did. He rolled with the conditions and put together a limit of fish that’d at least ensure he took home a pay cheque. Typically the top 50 or so anglers make a payday from a 150 boat field. “But then the sun came out, the wind died and I knew that my frog-fish in the lily pads would bite,” Carl said, “so I ran to the spot, the bass hadn’t moved and I upgraded every single

fish in the live well.” Weighing in reasonably early, Carl was sitting in 4th. He needed to endure another 100 pro anglers weighing in before he knew that he’d make the top 12 cut. And that he did – in 9th place. “That was the best feeling and the best achievement in my life,” Carl exclaimed, “I got to fish on the final day against guys that I’d watched on TV and who have earned millions of dollars catching bass.” And Carl didn’t disappoint. Weighing in the third biggest bag on the final day, Carl finished the event in 4th place. 2014 “The biggest challenge now is getting my sponsors and funding sorted for another shot at qualification on 2014,” Carl said. “I’ve made it this far with awesome support from companies like Hobie, Millerods, Bassman Spinnerbaits, Skeeter, Yamaha and Shimano, but I think that bass fishing must be one of the most expensive sports on the planet.” If you’d like to kick in, go to Carl’s Facebook page and check out the crowd-finding links. After all, who doesn’t like watching an Aussie young gun head stateside and beat the Americans at their own game? CARL’S 2013 FINISHES

PAA Events Lake Douglas 12th Lake Tellico 62nd Table Rock lake 33rd Bassmaster Central Opens Red River 113th Arkansas River 132nd Ross Barnett 4th Bassmaster Northern Opens James River 63rd Oneida Lake 137th Lake Erie 100th

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At Participating Stores. For your nearest stockist check www.shimanofish.com.au www.shimanoshack.com.au V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Sun Protection

Hats Hats provide shade directly to the face, neck or ears, or all of the above. They are designed to protect skin and eyes from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Sunglasses Sunglasses are an essential tool in safeguarding the health of your eyes and the surrounding tissue. Depending on the model they can protect against all UV radiation and reduce glare from all surfaces.

Gloves Sun protection gloves proved valuable protection the back of the anglers hands and to their wrists, two areas that are most often exposed UV radiation.

for the

2014

Season Head Socks UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rated head socks provide a bridging protection for the neck, ears and face if a cap-style hat is being used. They are designed to be comfortable and provide effective UV radiation protection.

Tops Tops of various forms provide fantastic protection to the torso and arms of the wearer from the sun. UPF rated clothing provides the best protection and is designed in tropical climate friendly designs to allow the wearer to be more comfortable in the sun.

Sunscreen The wide array of sunscreens available provide a wide array of protection against UV radiation. Choose a sunscreen with the highest possible UPF available â&#x20AC;&#x201C; currently 50+.

Pants Long pants provide great protection to the legs from UV radiation. Choose UPF rated pants or closely woven pants that allow some air transfer for cooling. 84

DECEMBER 2013

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Sun Protection  Island

Tribe SPF 50+ 30g Clear Gel Stick 1 2

The easy to use and easy to carry Island Tribe SPF 50+ Clear Gel Stick is perfect for the outdoor and water sports enthusiast. Carrying on from the already successful Island Tribe GEL Formula, this new convenient release is now proudly displaying the SPF 50+ logo which will be a hit on the Australian market. Tested internationally and for the Australian sun the New Clear Gel Stick has unsurpassed results for water resistance after 4 hours water submersion. The product has a high broad spectrum rating and will offer the ultimate protection for all outdoors enthusiasts. Just pop the top and spread it on. No greasy hands leaving your hands clean and ready to fish the day away. Price: $9.95 www.islandtribe.com.au

 Tonic’s

Torquay

Tonic manages to find the balance between a stylish frame and one that is functional and the release of the Cove frame for ladies enhances this reputation. A frame that offers the angler adequate protection from the sun when being exposed to high levels of light and glare for long periods of time requires certain key elements. These elements and functional design don’t always make for a frame that stylistically fits in with today’s fashion trends, but Cove solves these issues.

The new Cove Ladies sleek design makes it suitable for fishing, driving and everyday use. Making use of a soft, flexible temple for superior comfort and fit, testers claimed that after only a few minutes you will not know you are wearing them. Available in shiny black frame with glass grey lens (pictured) and shiny tortoiseshell frame with glass photochromic copper lens, the Cove will provide great protection and comfort. The new photochromic glass lens is significantly lighter. Instead of being 2.3mm thick it is only 1.8mm thick, so you can imagine what it is like to wear them all day, it is almost like wearing a plastic lens. Price: $259 www.tonic.com.au

3

new colours for Sun2Sea Australia’s favourite certified 50+ UPF WetnDry shirts have just got cooler. Three new colours have been released to keep you and your family safe from the sun all day while you’re on the water. The new colours became available from November 1 and are mocha, olive and ocean blue camo. The three new colours are all available in polo shirts, gloves and necksox. Add these brilliant additions to the other 11 colours and Sun2Sea UV Protection have you covered. The most styles, the most colours and most important the highest UPF rating available. Aussie made and they can be worn wet or dry as they are quick drying and loose fitting to keep you cool. Price: Long Sleeve Men’s Polo $69.95 www.sun2seauvprotection.com.au

V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Sun Protection  Switchbait’s

custom shirts and sun masks Switchbait is a new company that has a range of fishing wear designed to get you on the water in style while being protected. The Switchbaiot Performance Polo is a high UPF rated shirt that the team can design to meet your requirements. This means you can have just about anything on your shirt and have it look the way you want. Of course you can also buy from the existing range, but the prospect of designing your own, with Switchbait’s help is a great idea. Add in the Swithcbait Sun Mask, which comes in three great designs or you can again design your own, and the top half of your body not only looks good but is protected from the sun. Price: Shirts $40, Sun Masks $15 www.switchbait.com.au

 Bigfish

FISH HEADZ FISH HEADZ are multifunctional headwear for your head ears and neck that can be used for protection from the sun/wind/rain and keeping you cool. Bigfish specifically wanted a garment that was light, cool and comfortable to wear with good UPF protection, hence their versions is made from lightweight, stretchy polyester. Heavyweight fabric will give higher sun protection, but they are

restrictive to breathe through and much hotter to wear. UPF protection does vary according to the colour; the lighter colours are around UPF 20 and the darker colours are UPF 30. Wearing FISH HEADZ is like applying the same rated sunscreen that will not wear off. On hot days, dunk them in your esky water and pull them on, they’ll cool you instantly. FISH HEADZ should not be used as a complete substitute for sun protection cream, they should rather be used in conjunction with it to get the best benefits. Price: $21.95 www.bigfishgraphics.com.au

Adapt-A-Cap Ultimate 

The UPF50+ Adapt-A-Cap Ultimate is only for those who are serious about spending time in the great outdoors. The latest version of an old favourite is not for the faint hearted! Built with more face and neck coverage, this design continues to offer maximum UPF50+ sun protection with ultimate comfort. With the addition of a drawstring and toggle, the fabric can be drawn up to sit over the nose in comfort while protecting the face, lips, nose and neck against the UV, wind and glare but staying loose enough for plenty of airflow. Combined with a wide anti-glare visor, in-built sweatband, easy flip-over design for varying weather conditions and a quick size adjuster, why wear anything else? Price: $32.95 www.sunprotection.com.au

CABO

Acetate Polarised with Non polarised reader insert • Ideal for reading digital equipment/ charts/ tying tackle +1.50, +2.00, +2.50

www.barzoptics.com 07·5576 4365

DECEMBER 2013

V&TFM

Floating Sunglasses • Polycarbonate Polarised • Polycarbonate Polarised Photochromic • Polycarbonate Non-polarised

TOFINO

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Sun Protection

Mako’s women’s frames 

Mako Polarised Eyewear has been at the forefront of lens technology for years and they have introduced that technology into their women’s frames. Light plastics frames are combined with exceptional polycarbonate and glass lenses to produce a wearable, fashionable pair of polarised glasses. The Wave is a fashionable frame available in glass and polycarbonate lenses and black and trotoise frame colours. The Seabreeze comes only with ploycarbonate lenses while the oversized SeeLife frame also combines polycarbonate lenses in a light-weight plastic frame. Both grey and brown lenses are available in these frames which will cover the majority of fishing options. Price: $179.95 www.makoeyewear.com.au

Barz kids polarised glasses 

Barz Optics has released a range of kids polarised sunglasses ideal for active sporting kids in the great outdoors. Barz kids sunglass models are fitted with 1.1mm durable acetate lenses, the same high quality as the Barz adult styles (most kids sunglasses have less quality lenses). All kids models are available with grey or amber lenses and suit children aged between 6 and 13 years old. Choose from the Grom, the Nauru

Junior (wrap style frame suitable for a variety of activities), the Neemo (wrap style frame) or the retro style Cal model. Available in a variety of modern frame colours. Barz sunglasses are for people involved in marine/fishing activities, all sunglasses have quality polarised lenses in a wide range of lens options including polarised bi focal, polarised photochromic, polarised pc photochromic (infused with melanin). Price: from $35 www.barzoptics.com.

Bigfish hats and caps 

The combination of super breathable mesh and a sturdy peak make these caps very cool, functional and durable. Each cap features a full colour ‘swish’ panel depicting various iconic fish. Every Cap is a one size fits all, with an adjustable velcro strap. Available in navyoffshore (sailfish, snapper, tuna and kingies), white-estuary (flathead, barramundi, bream, cod and bass) and the new blackyellowbelly (yellowbelly, lure and snags). Stunning Wide Brim hats that offer the best sun protection, these hats are incredibly breathable, durable, importantly UPF50+ and won’t heat up. A chin rope and toggle will secure the hat on windy days. navy-offshore (sailfish, snapper, tuna and kingies), white-estuary (flathead, barramundi, bream, cod and bass). Bigfish hats are available in S-M and L-XL with L-XL being the most generic size. Price: Caps $24.95, wide brim hats $29.95 www.bigfishgraphics.com.au

Takes fishing to the Next Dimension!

After two months of testing by myself and the team our belief was that Tonic were optically clearer than anything we were currently using and worked over a wider spectrum of light conditions.

As an additional bonus, they were the best driving glasses we ever used. We are of the opinion that Tonic Eyewear have taken polaroid glasses a major step forward, and we have committed to using them for the foreseable future

-Ken Orr- Professional Fly Fishing Guide

Available at selected tackle stores

CONTACT: (03) 9761 7002

doug@toniceyewear.com.au V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Sun Protection

Tide Apparel’s Anchor Boardshort 

These boardshorts are a bit shorter then your average boardshort, they sit just above the knee, which makes them perfect for roundhouse kicks and lunging when you’re fighting a fish. These boardshorts have 3 pockets, one either side and one at the back which is covered by a Velcro flap to help keep things secure. The elastic waist makes them a perfect fit every time, which means these will be the comfiest shorts you will ever wear in your life. The material is quick dry, which is a necessity because no one wants to be stuck in wet shorts when they don’t want to. Available in S, M, L and XL. Price: $25 www.tideapparel.com.au



Fuglies Slabs

Fuglies’ Slabs range has a host of features that make these glasses confortable and functional. Fuglies Slabs feature glare-reducing polarised lenses for excellent in-water visibility, a neutral smoke grey tint for distortion-free colour perception, and a UV400 rating for 100% protection from harmful UVA and UVB ultra-violet radiation. By using tri-acetate (TAC) lenses in this model we’ve made them stronger, lighter and clearer than regular acrylic lenses, and with a scratch-resistant lens coating we’ve made them tougher as well. The wrap-around frame and lens shape has been designed to give a wide field of vision while providing excellent side, top and

bottom glare protection. The added benefit of this design approach is a significant reduction in wind and dust getting in under the glasses. Wear them all day with no headache, rubbing or pinching thanks to the lightweight frame and the soft rubber non-slip nosepieces and arm grip tabs. And they float! Available in gloss white (PL10), gloss black (PL05) or matte black and yellow (PL06), Price: from $39.95, prescription $249 www.fuglies.com.au.

Byfield ‘s new models 

Byfield Optics has an extensive military background and 25 years of experience in customised ballistic eye protection. Carl Zeiss Vision manufactures proprietary multi layered lenses that offer advanced optical, 100% UVA, B & C and ballistic protection. All Byfield frames are made from Swiss heat bonded TR90 which is designed not to fracture upon impact, with an embedded titanium pin hinge. The range has been certified to ANSI Z87 1-2003 and AS/NZS 1337.1.2010 for impact. This means they are rated as safety glasses and are therefore tax deductable.That is why Byfield can claim their range of eye protection is the toughest. Four new models are available March 2014 equipped with unique liquid rubber coating for increased frame strength, durability, superior fit and feel. Price: from $242 www.byfieldoptics.com

h c t a C ORE M

BUY ONLINE...

THIS

! r e m m u S

or see website for entire range and nearest retailer

bigfishgraphics.com.au 88

DECEMBER 2013

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WESITNONF SEHROW B /13 2010/11

Sun Protection

Mako’s best ever lenses 

Mako Eyewear is about to release its most technologically advanced lens collection yet – the new HDIR series. A lot of heat radiated from the sun isn’t blocked by the UV filters in standard sunglasses. However, Mako’s HDIR lenses (High Definition Infra Red protection) have changed all that. As well as filtering 100% of UVA and UVB rays, and providing 99% glare reduction, these lenses filter infrared rays to deliver ultimate protection, heat reduction and comfort for your eyes. It’s particularly good for anglers in hot climates. As a bonus, the HDIR lenses also filter certain wavelengths of the visible spectrum that reduce your eyes’ ability to function at their best. By filtering these wavelengths, the lenses give you greater clarity and contrast. Made in Italy using high quality, lightweight, scratch-resistant glass, HDIR lenses come in three different colours. They are fully sealed to withstand harsh Australian conditions, and they’re backed by Mako’s 24-month warranty. Price: from RRP $289 www.makoeyewear.com.au

UPF50+ sports gloves 

3 Byfield_optics_half page_noBleed.pdf 1 11/5/2013 9:47:23 PM

The backs of our hands are the most exposed parts of our body to UV damage, and the most forgotten! Sun Protection Australia’s UPF50+

Sports Gloves provide UPF50+ protection to the backs of the hand and padded comfort for the palm. Made from UPF50+ Italian lycra and with a rubber sure-grip palm, these gloves provide practical and convenient sun protection. The Sun Protection Australia Sports Glove is ideal for anyone who spends time in the great outdoors - great for fishing, cycling, kayaking, golfing, and sailing. Three practical colours, black, royal and skin and sizes XS to XL are available to ensure there is a style and size to fit everyone. Price: $25.95 www.sunprotection.com.au



Bigfish Jewie

The very latest release in the Bigfish range of sun protective fishing shirts is a print of schooling jewfish (mulloway) about to inhale a soft plastic. It’s nothing short of awesome. Jewfish on plastics has really come of age and this shirt is a must for the avid jewie angler. The Jewie will be available in the coming months and be on the lookout for the Jewie Cap and FISH HEADZ package combination. All Bigfish shirts are made from the highest quality, Australian knitted polyester. This sports dry material is designed for the tropics and is incredibly soft to feel, unbelievably cool, durable, UPF 50, and lightweight. The material is much cooler than cotton, will not fade or shrink, does not require ironing and is very durable. Bigfish shirts not only look great, but anglers want to wear them for their comfort, style and of course their sun protection. Price: $89.95 www.bigfishgraphics.com.au

V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Sun Protection

New season cargo polos 

Not only do these new season cargo polos from Sun Protection Australian combine maximum all day sun protection and style, they also feature a cargo pocket with sunglass holder and mesh underarm gussets for additional air flow and added comfort. Soft, silky and cool against the skin, these polos are engineered from the same breathable, lightweight and durable fabric that Sun Protection Australian is renowned for. They are also sand, chlorine and fade resistant as well as being quick drying and easy care for. These polo make the perfect travelling companion, with style and guaranteed peace of mind in a practical, convenient and stylish sun protection package! With three great colours to choose from an d sizes from S through to 3XL, why wear anything else? Price: $69.95 www.sunprotection.com.au



Tofino

Barz Optics, the Gold Coast based sunglass company, has just released their new Tofino polarised sunglass. The lightweight frame is a wrap style with side windows offering maximum protection from the sides thus eliminating glare, wind and ocean spray while offering great peripheral vision. This sunglass offers a comfortable and secure fit on the face. The Tofino is available in a matt black or a gloss tortoise frame and is suitable for men and women and is fitted with a 1.1mm

DECEMBER 2013

V&TFM

triacetate lenses in grey/amber or blue mirror. The Tofino is offered with a range of lenses and price points: • Triacetate polarised lenses; • Triacetate polarised photochromic (lens lightens to Cat 2 in low light and darkens to Cat 3 in full sun); • Triacetate polarised with non polarised bi-focal readers (+1.50, +2.00 and +2.50 powers) - These readers are great for reading digital equipment/tying tackle. Price: from $242 www.barzoptics.com



Euro Mako

Euro Optics is a sunglass collection revered amongst fishing and sporting enthusiasts looking for innovative sunglass designs and superior lens performance. Euro frames are manufactured using TR90 frame material and the latest in high performance polarising lens technology. Seven layer Triacetate (TAC) lenses are thermal formed to guarantee optical correctness, UV protection and glare elimination. Its seven layers include a polarising filter (middle), two layers of each TAC (support material) UV filters (UV Protection) and hard coating (scratch resistance). The TAC lens is also lightweight and shatterproof making it the ideal lens for the modern fisher. The new Euro Mako (model S9290EUU) sunglasses is a slick wraparound frame design with the benefit of being able to float in the water. This frame has been fitted with two foam inserts moulded into each inside temple ensuring that your favourite glasses will not sink. Price: $59.99 www.gibsoneyewear.com.au

2 1 3

Sun Protection 

Troppo Jersey



The amazing scenery of the Keppel Island group inspired this jersey; it showcases the beauty above and below the water. This jersey was designed to help combat the extreme heat summer throws our way, incorporating light colours, white sleeves and white collar. The jersey will prevent sunburn and the 100% Polyester breathable material will keep you cool. At the end of the sleeves Tide Apparel has included an elastic style cuff to prevent your sleeve blowing around and getting caught up in your reel or worse. This is the third Jersey in their original Fishing Jersey Range, and is available in sizes S, M, L, XL andXXL. Price: $70 www.tideapparel.com.au

UPF rating in clothing

Obtaining certified UPF ratings is in the interest of businesses and their customers as it allows for informed choices to be made on products purchased to protect them from the sun. Currently UPF50+ is the highest rating and garments that have a certified rating this high offer the best protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Robbie Wells for Sun2Sea talked to us regarding ratings and gave us some indication of the process that businesses must go through to be officially certified. Robbie said, “I believe the main reason some companies don’t get certified is that after the initial testing of their products the UPF rating doesn’t come back with the desired result.” He also said that the testing was carried

Euro Diesel

Euro Optics is an Australian owned and designed sunglass collection revered amongst fishing and sporting enthusiasts looking for innovative sunglass designs and superior lens performance. The Euro Diesel (model S9319EUC) has been designed for a bigger fit with its deeper shaped lenses and wider temples offering a complete wraparound design for the larger heads. This extra frame size will also give the wearer additional coverage from the sun’s harmful UV rays and is available in two frame and lens colour variations, traditional black rubber (soft touch) with smoke lens and the new tan fibre with Brown lens, Price: $59.99 www.gibsoneyewear.com.au out on the lightest colour on the shirts so a shirt coloured white generally has a lower UPF rating than a shirt coloured black. Robbie is a proponent of full testing of all clothing said to be for sun protection as he says, “In reality you are dealing with people’s lives, not just producing another item to flog off.” And that’s exactly it. With Australia having the highest rate of skin cancers, we need to be aware and we need to be protected. The details required for UPF certification include: • All businesses seeking Government ARPANSA certification must enclose an A4 sample of each fabric, in each colour and from each separate roll or batch before manufacture. • The application must include all products (polo shirts, gloves etc) and all brands

2 associated (Sun2Sea UV protection/Wetndry/ Fishculture) that are on the article. • Once the fabric is tested the results are sent to the business with a mean UPF given from UVA and UVB tests of each colour so if the mean average is above 65 it would be a 50+ certification if the result is 41 it would be a 40+ certification. • A UPF trademark licence is then given out with the colour and batch number listed with approved UPF rating allowed to be displayed on the garment colour. • Products can then be labelled with the official ARPANSA appropriate UPF rating tag • Every time a new roll of fabric is used the same process is to be followed to keep the UPF license. Basically it’s up to the end user to be educated on what to look for, if they don’t know, it is difficult to make a responsible decision.

The

only true 50+

24/7 loose fitting boating, fishing and leisure shirt!

Wet or Dry Sun2Sea has you covered

100%

shop online @ www.sun2seauvprotection.com.au V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

What’s new fishing Powered by

OUTLAW’S BLACK WIDOWS

ACCUDEPTH ICV 1\5

The Black Widow from Outlaw Spinnerbaits is a new addition their range that will appeal to those looking to get the best silhouette from their spinnerbaits. Available in 9 colours, the Black Widow sports black blades, black head and a black skirt with dashes of colour. Available in three sizes (3/8oz, 1/2oz and 5/8oz) the Black Widows make use of Gmakatsu hooks to ensure solid hook sets when Mr Big jumps on. Quality swivels make slow retrieves easy, while the option of a stinger hook is also available. Great in rivers and lakes, the Black Widow range of spinnerbaits shows Outlaw’s attention to detail and quality. Price: $15.95 www.outlawspinnerbaits.com.au

Daiwa’s new ultra compact ICV line counter reel is designed for accurate trolling, downrigging and light jigging applications for bass, golden perch, trout and other salmonoids. The Accudepth ICV15 and 15L feature a digital readout line counter that measures the line let out of the reel in feet increments. A long-life lithium cell battery (3-5 years with normal use) powers this compact digital line counter model, and the counter lets you accurately target suspended fish or structure located on your sounder. By programming the reel with the correct line specifications (manual included with the reel) the reel will display various readouts. The screen displays the line out in feet, indicates the distance between the water surface/lure and has a bait timer alarm that automatically sets off an alarm every minute and/or starts when 23ft of line has been let out or the lure/bait has been in the water. The IVC15/15L has 3 stainless steel ball bearings plus one roller bearing, swept handle design for better balance and cranking power, and a one-handed clutch operation system. The smooth multi-disc UTD drag is ideal for light lines and helps keep fish on once they strike and are being fought back to the boat. The machined aluminium spool has a large light line capacity, making it perfect for a wide variety of trolling and light jigging applications where knowing exactly how much line is out can keep you in the strike zone. The Accudepth ICV 15 will be available from December. To view the full list of specs, visit the Daiwa website. Price: Too new! www.daiwafishing.com.au

DIZZY SCENT RANGE EXPANDS

Dizzy Scent is a fantastic product and one that works well. The new owners of Dizzy Scent have expanded from the 4 original flavours, which are still available today, to now include spray scents and a full UV range of scents. These cover every fishing situation, from bass and bream to snapper and kingfish offshore. The new Double Shot UV range (pictured) incorporates a full UV range including garlic, aniseed and ghost flavours. The team at Dizzy Scent have done a lot of testing on this product and are extremely happy with the results. Check out the full range at the Dizzy Scent website. Price: UV range from RRP $7.95 www.dizzyscent.com.au

DECEMBER 2013

FISHING DOWN UNDER DVD #33

BERKLEY SLOMO JIG

MAJORCRAFT RODS

The December edition of the Fishing Down Under DVD has an excellent segment on open water breaming with Steve and Jo Starling. Consistently catching big bream in open, featureless water may sound unlikely, but it can actually be one of the most effective techniques yet evolved for targeting these fish. Join Jo and Starlo as they show you exactly how it’s done, and teach you some sounder and GPS plotter tricks that will boost your results no matter where you fish or what species you target. Other entertaining segments on this DVD include fishing Ayr in Central Queensland, fishing in the weed in impoundments, using hardbodies in Merimbula, and chasing saratoga. As always, each segment is designed to give you all the information you need to improve your catch rates. Fishing Down Under DVDs are available in tackle stores and online. Price: $14.95 fishingdownunder.tv

Berkley SloMo jigs are specifically designed to be jigged with a slow rod tip action, or from a rod left in a rod holder allowing the boat’s rocking to work the jig. These jigs have a streamlined shape and are heavily weighted for deepwater work. The fish-attracting features include a squid skirt, holographic flash finish and moveable ball bearing spinning blade, all designed to work at the slowest of speeds. The design of the body increases fluttering action on the drop, and the replaceable double assist hook rig provides positive hooking and holding power. The colours in the range have been specially selected for all water depths, and combine UV and flash to attract all target species. Available sizes are 40g, 60g, 80g and 100g to suit a wide range of species and conditions. Price: from RRP $12.95 Berkley-fishing.com.au.

MajorCraft is the largest lure rod manufacturer in Japan, and these popular rods are finally available to Australian anglers. After reviewing hundreds of MajorCraft models, Australian distributor Frogleys Offshore has hand-picked a select range to suit Australian species, from smaller estuary style rods to larger offshore offerings and everything in between. For estuary and impoundment anglers, the Basspara range is beautifully crafted and features high quality Fuji components. Available in spin and baitcaster models, these rods start at $199 making them an affordable quality option. Lure casters off the stones or the beach will love the KG Evolution, which are specialist 9’6” casting rods suitable for all lure styles. In fact, all MajorCraft rods are built using high quality Fuji components, and the series covers a wide range of applications from estuary, to dam and offshore, and includes bait and squidding outfits. You don’t have to pay a fortune either, with price points suitable for all budgets making this series apllicable over a wide range of uses. With so many specialised models available at a reasonable price, you can get a MajorCraft rod for all of your specific fishing needs. Price: from SRP $199 www.majorcraft.com.au

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 V&TFM

What’s new fishing Powered by

FEATURE PRODUCT Movtan Fishing App

FEATURE PRODUCT Live Target Baitball Series

There is a new fishing app that is going to make fishing at your favourite spots, whether it is local or worldwide, better: Movtan. The Movtan fishing app is designed to let you connect with friends and share your fishing experience and expertise on a global scale with the world around you. Movtan will tell you where other anglers around you are catching fish. With the Movtan fishing app you will have the chance to send messages to friends and see where people are fishing. This can help to give you an idea of where the best places to fish are and, when you reel in that perfect catch, you can take pictures and share them with the world. Another great feature is the chance to create events with specific locations. That way, all your friends can meet up for a day of fishing and relaxing on the water. You can see where others consider hotspots in the area with the search feature, and plan your event around the hottest spots in town. As you are looking at the map there are some important things to remember. To begin with, you are going to be the orange dot on the map, while your friends will be coloured in blue. If you notice a red dot, these are popular anglers in the area. It’s recommend you subscribe to them, as this will get you fishing updates. Without subscribing to other anglers you only see pictures and reports within your 200km radius, while those anglers you have subscribed to then get coloured green. A white dot is an angler who is publically viewable. When you are out on the water, updating your status and posting pictures to the public to see will allow them to vote for you. With

Live Target lures are well known as ultra-realistic bait representation, and their latest releases in the Baitball series are nothing short of spectacular. The schooling formation of baitfish amid the constant assault by predator fish is one of nature’s most complex fight-for-survival events. It’s the eternal ‘fight or flight’ law of nature. Safety is in the sanctuary of the bait ball, and these lures take full advantage of the baitfishes’ instinct to group together. This new series of lifelike lures feature multiple baitfish profiles inside the one lure. This concept has been applied to the 60mm Squarebill crank, 65mm Crankbait, 110mm SW Jerkbait, 120mm SW Jerkbait, 65mm SW Popper and the 75mm SW Popper. All of these lures give the appearance of a small group of fish (or bait ball), which has been separated from the main school. These little isolated groups of baitfish are exactly what predatory fish target and chase once the school has been disrupted, and they are exactly what the Live Target Baitball range imitates. Think about this for a while and you’ll start to appreciate

just how innovative this idea is, and how well it will work in many situations. Not only are you presenting a number of profiles to your quarry in one go, you are also presenting some of the most realistic finishes around – they literally look just like the baitfish. What predator could say no to these lures? Across the different lures there are a number of exciting colours to choose from, all being amazing in their detail and awesome in their appearance. I can’t wait to get my hands on some and throw them at barra, jacks, tailor, salmon, bass, cod, redfin – in fact the list just keeps going! The Live Target Baitball series is due in stores in early December, so make sure you check them out as early as you can. I don’t reckon stocks are going to last once people see them in the flesh. Price: from SRP $28 www.ejtodd.com.au

around the front of the car. Stephen Booth plugged the short jumper clamps into the box and hooked it to the terminals. Amidst horns and alarms blaring, I hit the start button and the engine roared to life. Matt Roberts from Mini Jump Starter assured me that I could start the car 6 or 8 times from that little pack, but he could have saved his breath – I was already a convert. I bought the unit from him the next day. The unit contains a lithium-ion battery that they say keeps a start charge in it for a full year, but I reckon that these units will get used more than that, because you can use them to charge your electronic gadgets, too. Boothy and I proved this the next day when we simultaneously charged two iPhones from the ‘squid’ style adaptor that comes with the smaller of the two units. But seriously, these are handy pieces of equipment. Apart from the ability to extend the life of your mobile phone battery, they’re compact enough to keep in a safety kit to turn over the donk when your cranking battery gives up the ghost when you’re 20

miles offshore. Both units also have a built-in torch, which is useful for hooking up to a battery in the dark. We tested this. You can keep them topped up with a 240V or a 12V charge cord (supplied with the unit) and you’ll never be able to blame a flat battery the next time you’re running late. You’ll have to be honest and say that you couldn’t leave them biting. The bigger unit had a carry case that contains a pile of adaptors and accessories for all your gadgets. The smaller one just ships with the jumper leads and the ‘squid’ of adapters. The only flaw I could find is that the ‘squid’ cable doesn’t work with iOS 7 on an iPhone (but it does with iOS 6). – Steve Morgan Price: $164.95 (Pocket II) to $184.95 (Pocket I) with free shipping Video: http://youtu.be/3LPCHJPi_Nc www.minijumpstarter.com Trade enquiries to Billy Brett on 0410 448 892

enough ‘Nice Catch’ votes you can be ‘Movtan’s Catch Of The Day’ winner. To vote, all you need to do is tap the Nice Catch displayed under the pictures second screen. Other features on the Movtan fishing app is the Distance Tool, which can help you determine distance between two points, the Tide Checker to let you know if conditions are ideal and a quick Weather Checker. Keep in mind that if you don’t want to share all this information with the world, there are location security features you can use. These features restrict access to your information updates, pictures and location finders to those people you have chosen to view them. You can even make your favourite hotspot personal and avoid the crowds. If you are looking for the best new fishing app on the market, head on over to the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to download Movtan Fishing. This is a powerful app that is going to be incredibly useful and will be something that you and your friends continue to use each time you head out fishing. Price: Free Apple App Store/Google Play Store

TESTED:

MINI JUMP STARTER PACKS AN UNBELIEVABLE PUNCH

They say all things happen for a reason. Well, the reason the Toyota Prado parked in front of my house wouldn’t start was because I’d left the park lights on. Genius. I knew it wasn’t a problem I’d be able to solve immediately. Nor would I have to – I was getting picked up for another day at the 2013 Brisbane Boat Show – so I could spend the day working out how I was going to unlock the car door without a key. It took me a few hours to find out that there’s a secret key embedded in the door unlocking fob (Toyota owners will know what I mean).

Anyway, there was a greater purpose for the flat battery. It allowed me to visit our next-door neighbours at the show who sold the Mini Jump Starter, and they let me borrow one that night. What better way to test a product that, at first glance, you’d think would struggle to turn over a 4L 4WD engine? You can literally fit this jump starter in your pocket. It’s a far cry from those cumbersome jumper-packs that you can buy from your local auto store; only Kerry Packer had deep enough pockets to fit one of those in. A sceptical crew of FM staff clustered

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

What’s new fishing Powered by

SHIMANO’S SARAGOSA SW SPIN

These gutsy saltwater-rated spin reels are now even more durable, thanks to some substantial component upgrades. The Saragosas are all about the X’s. Encased in a hybrid aluminium and XT7 graphite body with an XGT7 rotor, Shimano’s legendary X-Ship bearing supported pinion gear and larger drive gear delivers remarkable cranking power with less effort and a smoother feel. X-Shield and X-Protect keep saltwater out of key areas, while the Cross Carbon drag is also waterproof. In fact, it is capable of dialling up anywhere from 10-20kg of hurt on your quarry, depending on the reel model. A one-piece bail arm assembly smoothly guides the line to the roller, Shimano’s Cam Oscillation system combines with the AR-C spool to ensure that braided line like Power Pro lays neatly on the retrieve without any dips or troughs, and leaves the spool with less resistance while casting or in the wake of a big fish. Price: from approx. $180 www.shimanofish.com.au

ZMAN 3” MINNOWZ

PHIL’S BARRA TOURS

The ZMan 3” MinnowZ is a versatile baitfish profile with a lively paddle tail that has made it one of ZMan’s most popular plastics. Part of its success is that it appeals to so many species, from flathead to bass and trevally to barramundi. There have been two new additions to the 3” MinnowZ range, Mood Ring and Pinfish. Mood Ring has a dark violet back and translucent, pearlescent purple belly with micro glitter. Freshwater species will be all over this colour, but early predictions are that it will fish well in the salt also. Pinfish is a super-realistic baitfish imitation that features a pumpkin back and translucent, pearlescent belly, both of which contain black fleck and blue, green and gold glitter. This could very well be your new favourite MinnowZ colour! Price: $8.95 www.z-man.com.au

Phil’s Affordable Barra Tours has added another barramundi adventure to their extensive range of barra fishing options. After only just last month adding three more Western Australian packages, they have now announced a very affordable seven-day extended mothership, Northern Territory coastal tour to their range. The new package includes your return capital city air fares to Darwin, plus 5 nights’ accommodation on a 65ft mother ship with all meals provided. All fishing tackle is provided, plus a professional fishing guide and a 5m barra boat for fishing, crabbing and exploring the many pristine creeks and rivers along the coast line south west of Darwin. Your fish is bagged, frozen and boxed ready for your return flight. After five full days of barra and bluewater fishing you will be dropped back to the Cullen Bay wharf, where one of Phil’s limo or mini bus drivers will be waiting to transport you to the Travelodge Mirambeena Resort for your last night in Darwin. Prices range from $4,500 each for large groups of 12 to just $4,650 each in groups of four. Price: from $4500 www.barratours.com.au

DECEMBER 2013

DAMIKI ANCHOVY SHAD

GARY HOWARD ADRENALIN RODS

New for the 2013-2014 season is the Damiki Anchovy Shad, a thin profile paddle-tail swimbait that is effective on bass, flathead and snapper. The Anchovy can be used as a trailer or rigged with a jighead, and its large paddle tail and high quality plastic construction allow the tail to come alive even at slow speeds. Available in four tried and tested colours, the Damiki Anchovy Shad is great for targeting pressured fish. This new lure is 4” long, comes in packs of eight and is suited to jigheads from 3/4oz to 1/8oz in weight with 3/0 to 5/0 hooks. Price: RRP $13 per pack www.searingtackle.com.au

You get a lot of rod for your money with the custom-designed Gary Howard Adrenalin range, with rods starting at just $99. The sharp prices, robust components and expert design has earned this series an immediate following, so much so that the range has been expanded to now include 15 saltwater rods. The four latest spin rod additions include some excellent options for kayak fishing, such as the Adrenalin 5’6” 3-6kg, 6’0” 4-8kg and 5’9” 15-24kg. A more traditional 6’6” 6-10kg spin has also been added to this comprehensive range. The wider Adrenalin rod range includes four 7’0” spin models—5-8kg, 8-10kg, 10-15kg and 12-20kg—and seven overhead models: a 10-12kg and 12-15kg in 6’0”; three 5’9” rods including a 10-15kg plus two 15-24kg rods, one with HG guides; and the two 5’6” models have roller tips, alloy reel seats and gimbal, with a choice of 10-15kg or 15-24kg. Each model in the range has been designed by Gary Howard to ensure the specific blank actions and matching componentry combine to offer you the performance you need, while still offering excellent affordability. Each blank is packed with fish-fighting muscle and is matched with 316 stainless-steel-frame guides, all under- and over-bound, with end and centre trims. All up, the new and existing Gary Howard Adrenalin series gives you more rod for your dollar, whether you’re into lure casting, live baiting, bottom fishing or trolling. Price: from $99 www.garyhowardfishing.com.au

WARLOCK PRO-SERIES

The new Warlock Pro-Series range was developed to satisfy the strict requirements of dedicated finesse anglers. The standard Warlock body design, created by Rob Gaden, has been refinished with a range of specialist Japanese-style colour patterns that will appeal to the most discerning bream, bass and trout anglers around Australia. The addition of a bright red/white eye creates a distinctive strike trigger, and they’re fitted with tournament-grade VMC Spark-Point treble hooks in a black nickel finish to maximise hook-up rates. The series consists of a 39mm model (3g weight, 1m diving depth) and two 52mm models (5g/2m and 5g/3m). To view the full range of colours, visit the JM Gillies website. Price: from RRP $15 for 39mm model www.jmgillies.com.au

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 V&TFM

The TESTING BOOTH

Raymarine Dragonfly FMG

Kris Hickson

When I was told there were some guys coming around to fit some new Raymarine units, I was in two minds about whether it would be a good thing. On one hand, I love trying new gear. On the other I have had my existing sounders on my boats for as long as I can remember, so using them is second nature. I had heard a whisper about the new Raymarine Dragonfly units and the Chirp DownVision technology that they were sporting. Word had it they were good, but I’m always sceptical of hype until I can make a judgement for myself. FUNCTIONALITY The first thing I noticed with this unit when on the water was the clarity of the screen. It was so crisp and easy to see, even in angled sunlight and while wearing

than the depths the Dragonfly is capable of is how shallow the Chirp technology works. I have had this unit over weed beds in as little as 3ft of water and have still been able to differentiate between weed and the bottom, as well as being able to see fish in the weed and small schools of

mounting kit and an extra pre-cut shrouding to cover the existing hole, it was all done with minimal effort. The standard quick-release mounting bracket, although not used, looked neat and functional while being nice and easy to swivel, tilt and clip in and out.

A little modification was needed to adapt the standard transducer mount to fit the trolling motor. Conveniently it still fits with the Hydrowave speaker attached.

The standard sonar and DownVision, side by side. Although a great picture in itself, often the clutter from the standard image makes it look like there is more than there really is. Not so with the defined image on the DownVision.

Simplicity is the key element to the Dragonfly. The basic styling of these units makes them look great on any rig. polarised sunglasses. The next thing that impressed me was how easy the unit was to use. It has minimal buttons and a joystick cursor, the rotary dial which made changing between screens quick and easy. Pausing the screen, changing settings and marking waypoints were all done with minimal buttons pressed. Now, while these units are only relatively small, they pack some serious punch! These bad boys will punch down to 600ft in depth with the aid of the Chirp dual channel sonar, which for photo-like DownVision imagery is incredible – especially on a unit of this size! I have used it to around 120ft/30m and it is still a stunningly clear and crisp image. THE PICTURE Even more impressive

baitfish in the gaps! Straight out of the box these units are ready to roll. There is no need to play with sensitivities or set depths. In most circumstances the best picture I’ve had has been with all settings on auto. Increasing the sensitivity seemed to mainly increase screen clutter, and not add any useful readings. The target separation using the DownVision function on these units makes it really easy to differentiate between fish and structure. This is even more noticeable with the screen split between standard sonar and DownVision. INSTALL The fit-out of the unit was fairly basic as it was flush mounted into the same hole as the previous unit was. With the aid of the optional flush

The only negative I did find was that the transducer was not suited to mounting on the electric motor. Although fitted to quite a solid bracket and being a nice hydrodynamic shape, it sat a little proud. With a bit of thought and modification though, it came up quite neat and still above the skeg of the MotorGuide to avoid too much damage from contact with structure. I have since found out that Raymarine do an optional trolling motor mount for this transducer, which should make fitting much easier. There was plenty of cable supplied for both the transducer and power, so mounting locations are not too limited. TECH INFO This unit sports a 5.7” 480 x 640 pixel screen, micro SD card slot for maps or data, 50 channel internal GPS capable of 3000 or 15 tracks with 10000 track points and CPT-60 Dual beam CHIRP transducer. It’s hard to believe Raymarine have packed so much technology from their much larger units

into such a compact package, while keeping the price so affordable. With such a bright screen and so much going on with dual sonar and GPS, the power draw was a concern. However, these units use power really efficiently. Power draw at full

Being compact, easy to use and functional, it ticks all the boxes for boaters or kayakers looking for an affordable main fishfinder/GPS combo or just an extra fish finding tool. There are all the features you could want in a unit like this, and not only does it have

Top: This image of a bait ball sitting at the head of a laydown snag shows just how crisp the image on these units can be. This is straight out of the box! Above: This bream was one of a handful plucked from the school shown on the screen. Notice the active fish on the top of the hump and more inactive fish sitting on the bottom just off the edge.

You can read the super-bright screen in all conditions – even through polarised glasses – and avoid the sore neck from trying to get that clear angle.

brightness is a mere 8W – around 0.7 of an amp. This makes it an excellent choice for kayak anglers wanting a super functional unit they can run on a small deep-cycle battery. SUMMING UP The Raymarine Dragonfly is as good a sonar/ DownVision/GPS combo as I have ever used, big or small.

them, it does them well. There is a plethora of information on the Dragonfly both in text and video at the Raymarine website (www. raymarine.com.au) for anyone wanting a more detailed idea on the finer point of these units. There are also some amazing screenshots to show what these gems are capable of. V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

this new section in vic/tAs fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around victoria and tasmania, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0835 or email pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Central

Online Tackle Products Continued

Cover Craft Boat Covers (03) 9729 3030

Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au

BOAT COVERS FULL COVERS TONNEAUS

Bait and Tackle

CANOPIES

“All trout flies $1.20” For all your fly fishing needs ORDER ONLINE

CLEARS

West Coast

BIMINIS Portland Bait & Tackle (03) 5523 5213

RODRACKS

Central

www.adrenalinflies.com.au

CUSTOM MADE FOR ANY SIzE BOAT

Hooked On Bait and Tackle Hoppers Crossing (03) 9748 3811

20 Years experience, highest quality material. 23 Edelmaier St, Bayswater, 3153

Fishing Fever Mordialloc (03) 9590 9899 Peninsula Total Tackle (03) 5981 1994

Korr Lighting www.korrlighting.com.au She Left www.hdvcs.com.au

(03) 9729 3030

JV Marine World Braeside 03) 9798 8883

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Complete Angler Ringwood (03) 9870 7792 New World Marine (03) 9709 8444

Flatwater Covers 0438 367 689

The Flyfisher Melbourne (03) 9621 1246

Naaj Marine 0421 955 371

East Coast

Unique Marine Accessories (03) 5427 1802

Always Angling Traralgon (03) 5174 8544

CMC Marine Sales www.cmcsales.com.au Hunter Marine Boat Builders (03) 5032 2320

Freshwater

Marine Mechanics

Complete Angler Echuca (03) 5482 1992 Complete Angler Shepperton (03) 5822 2180

Central

J T’s Fishing and Camping Moama (03) 5480 3868

Kris Oakley Marine Services (03) 9794 5524

Boat Modifications & Repairs

pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Flatwater Marine (03) 9401 2298 JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883

Salt-Away 1800 091 172

FLUSH YOUR ENGINE WITH

JV Marine World Laverton (03) 9368 7100 The Outboard Workshop (03) 9783 0840

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

Nautical Marine (03) 5984 1666

Screen Printing

New World Marine (03) 9709 8444 CORROSION CONTROL SALT REMOVING TREATMENT

Regal Marine (03) 9874 4624

WARNING!

9 out 10 engines fail from salt corrosion Act now And protect your vAluAble boAt, engine, trAiler, fishing And dive geAr.

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WASHING BOATS FISHING & DIVE GEAR

1800 091 172

VISIT www.salt-away.com.au SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 30 words within a 2x2 ad size. Contact Peter Jung: pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

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

Boat Imports Boat Import USA 0435 476 177

Warragul Marine (03) 5623 6250

Boat Hire

Wes Frost Marine (03) 5976 4622

East Coast

SALT-AWAY IS A MUST FOR:

ENGINE FLUSHING JETSKIS TRAILERS

Logan Specialised Screen Printing (07) 5546 4107

Inverloch Marine (03) 5674 1502

Freshwater

Lake Eildon Cruises 0422 166 986

BOAT HIRE Lake Eildon

We hire: • Fishing boats • Kayaks • Pedal boats

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

Online Tackle Products

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

LAKe eiLDON CrUiSeS Kennedys Point Boat Ramp, Maintongoon Rd, Bonnie Doon 3720 0422 166 986 • eildoncruises@optusnet.com.au • lakeeildoncruises.com.au

Boab Boat Hire Shepparton (03) 5822 2108 Boab Boat Hire Echuca (03) 5482 1992

WANT IN? EMAIL : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au 96

DECEMBER 2013

V&TFM

Central

Holiday Rental

Freshwater

Gone Fishing Charters 0409 007 068

Angling Expeditions Victoria, Tawonga (03) 5754 1466

West Coast

Highland Trout Lakes, Ballarat (03) 5368 9574 Warrnambool Holiday Park (03) 5562 5031

Millbrook Lakes Lodge, Ballarat (03) 5334 0404

East Coast

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 30 words within a 2x2 ad size. Contact Peter Jung: pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Shallow Inlet Caravan Park (03) 5687 1385

Shallow Inlet Caravan Park On the Waters Edge

Tasmania & Flinders Island

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

Accommodation

Ausprey Tours, Launceston (03) 6630 2612 Reel Time Fishing Charters 0438 302 093

Gone Fishing Charters, St Helens (03) 6376 1553

BOOK NOW FOR

SnappER SEaSon PORT PHILLIP | WESTERN PORT | PORTLAND Individuals, Small or Large Groups Welcome Private Plumbed Toilet | Rods, Bait & Tackle Supplied

Fish Wild Tasmania, Hobart 0418 348 223 Flinders Island Adventures, Flinders Island (03) 6359 4507 Professional Charters, St Helens (03) 6376 3083 Trout Adventure Tasmania, Bronte Park 0418 139 048 Trout Territory, Northern Midlands (03) 6397 5001

NSW South Coast Reel Affair, Merimbula freecall 1800 233 247

Victorian Alps

Espirit Charters, Bermagui (02) 6493 4104 or 0407 260 110 Dartmouth Motor Inn (02) 6072 4233

dartmouth motor inn

“Pristine Lakes & Wilderness” • Motel style units • Self contained apartments & lodges - ideal for groups, fishing clubs etc • Nightly, weekly & corporate rates

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

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

Scan the QR code with your smartphone for more info!

SkIPPerS:

Matt Cini Matt Boulton

Headland Fishing Adventures, Merimbula (02) 6495 1134 Island Charters, Narooma (02) 4476 1047 or 0408 428 857 Snapper Tuition Available

0438 302 093 www.reeltimefishing.com.au

K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681 Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080 Narooma Charters, Narooma 0407 909 111

Off The Hook Fishing Charters 0419 554 916

O’Brien Charter Service, Bermagui 0407 214 124

Able Fishing & Charters, Williamstown (03) 9502 3777

Fishing Guides

ACE Fishing Charters, Bonbeach (03) 9773 4183 www.dartmouthmotorinn.com.au

Queensland Cairns Bed and Boat 0418 772 751

Adamas Fishing Charters, Barwon Heads (03) 5254 3320 Big Red Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 1800 805 587

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Blue Magic Fishing Charters, Rowville (03) 9759 5301

Wilderness Fishing Tours, Mallacoota VIC 0424 625 160

Calypso Fishing Charters, Tootgarook (03) 5985 8463

Aussie Fish Estuary Adventures, (02) 6495 9902 or 0400 062 504

Geelong Charters & Fishing Trips, Geelong (03) 5275 7107 Impulse Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 3739

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Far Out Charters, McLoughlins Beach 0428 401 819

South-West Fishing Charters, Portland 0418 306 714

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Razorback Bluewater Charters, Port Albert (03) 5183 2691

WANT IN? EMAIL : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

The Mercury Diesel TDI is a miser on fuel FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Mercury Marine’s latest project/demo boat is a pretty neat bit of kit. It’s a New Zealandbuilt RayGlass Legend 2350 fitted with their Volkswagen-engineered, 260hp turbo diesel inboard (TDI) and Fishing Monthly took the opportunity to take a drive while the rig was in town at their Coomera office. We also took advantage of the knowledge of longtime Mercury employee and advocate, Tony Smith, to explain the benefits of this style of motor in a trailer boat (see the link http:// youtu.be/u2RAorC4tEg and QR code to see the whole interview). The take home message from our time with Tony and on the water was pretty

But there are other benefits of the inboard configuration. “The TDI – or any inboard – brings the centre of gravity forward … and in rough water, that’s an asset. A Verado on the back would weigh 400kg and cause the hull to lift when coming down a wave. The inboard configuration stays deeper in the water so it’s a lot more stable,” Tony continued. Tony also dispelled the myth that TDI needs to be serviced more regularly. “The TDI is the same cost as using a gas engine where we service every 100 hours. In most cases, SPECIFICATIONS

• Common rail diesel • 12v/180A alternator • 6 cylinder • 325kg • Compatible with Bravo 1 and Bravo 3 sterndrives

Achieving nearly 2km per litre of fuel is the real talking point of the test craft.

MercTDI web address for youtube video http://goo.gl/ruVobn

You’d expect an inboard to take up a lot of space, but there’s barely any cockpit room taken up, as this photo shows.

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.

Pushing counter-rotating props through the Bravo Three, there’s no lack of grunt to get the big boat up and running. straightforward. You’ll use half the fuel in a TDI than in a V8 of similar horsepower. HALF For anglers running long distances to deepwater grounds and/or spending all day trolling for pelagics, you can do the sums to see what the savings are in your situation. But we all know that everything in boating is a compromise, and Tony explained that the savings in running costs are offset by a greater purchase price. “It’ll cost around $20,000 more to setup your boat with the Mercury Diesel TDI as opposed to a V8 of similar horsepower,” Tony said. 98

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that’s once a year,” Tony said. Of course, the TDI runs with the latest Mercury fly-by-wire technology – digital throttle and gearshift – and hooks seamlessly to Mercury Vessel View and all NMEA compatible electronics. The ultimate test, though, is when you’re sitting at the bar and you see the break in the sets. You punch the throttle. What happens? “The maximum torque is at 2000rpm and the performance is slightly better than a gas engine,” Tony explained. The only way to really confirm this, though, was to go for a spin. Now, the RayGlass isn’t

a light boat – there’d be over 2.5 tonnes in the water on a regular trip and the TDI pushed the test boat up and onto the plane in around 7 seconds. Of course, you can hear the turbochargers whistling away and there’s no noticeable performance difference that we could feel from an outboard powered craft of the same size. That was until we looked at the fuel usage – 30lph at 30 knots. The sums are pretty easy, 1L of diesel for 1nm (1.85km). See how that compares to your outboard powered 2.5 tonner! Price as tested was $145,000. See your Mercury dealer or visit www.mercurymarine. com.au for more information.

The duckboard and sterndrive are compact and the lack of an outboard cowling actually frees up room to fish.

NEWS

FROM THE BOATING WORLD

NEW ALLOY SARCA EXCEL

Anchor Right Australia continues to evolve with new anchor technology. Around 20 years ago Anchor Right Australia released the Sarca anchor (Sand and Reef Combination Anchor), which became the most popular anchor design in the trailerboat industry. Not content to rest on their laurels, Anchor Right continuously refined their product, and 5 years ago they released the Super Sarca. This anchor has been classified as having Super High Holding Power (SHHP) by the marine authorities. More recently Anchor Right released the Sarca Excel, which is hugely versatile in wind and tide changes, can hook into many types of sea beds, and has held in storms when other yachts dragged their ‘new generation’ anchors. Unlike concave designs that compress and then clog, the Excel’s convex shape displaces the substrate, allowing deeper setting in many substrate types. Then, when retrieved, it leaves the mud behind. No mud and no roll bar has made the Excel very popular. Now Anchor Right has released a new alloy Excel version. It’s light with a removable shank for easy stowage and handling. The shank doesn’t rely on bolts to take the load, rather it’s fitted through from underneath the fluke, allowing all loads transferred through fluke plate and shank. Another stand-out feature is the tip weight. Most alloy anchor designs suffer from having less tip weight, but not the alloy Excel. Anchor Right anchors are made in Australia using Australian materials. For more information visit www.anchorright. com.au. – AR

LOWRANCE SPOTLIGHTSCAN

Lowrance has announced a new trollingmotor transducer called SpotlightScan. Delivering a new level of angler-controlled, surround-scanning underwater views, the new sonar solution provides picture-like images of key fishing areas on compatible HDS Gen2 or HDS Gen2 Touch fishfinder/ chartplotter displays. Similar to the way a scanning spotlight reveals objects in the dark, SpotlightScan Sonar clearly pinpoints structure and fish targets ahead and around your boat without disturbing key areas before you fish them. The transducer operates at 455/800 kHz

with a maximum surround-scanning range of 150ft. It features DownScan Imaging and Broadband Sounder technology. DownScan Imaging (455/800 kHz) offers easy-tounderstand images of fish and structure, and award-winning Broadband Sounder (83/200 kHz) technology is ideal for marking fish arches and tracking lure action. The SpotlightScan transducer is quickly installed by attaching it to any bow-mounted, cable-steer, foot-control trolling motor (not for use with hand-steer or electric-steer electric trolling motors). Twin scanning beams provide lightningfast refresh rates, and beam indicators or ‘spokes’ are visible on the HDS Gen2 display to guide adjustments on rotation or scanning speeds for the best possible underwater image. Protected by a one-year limited warranty and the Lowrance Advantage Service program, SpotlightScan Sonar can be purchased for AUD$699 from authorized Lowrance dealers and distributors from January 2014. For more information on this and other Lowrance products, or to locate an authorized Lowrance dealer, visit www. lowrance.com. – Lowrance

RAYMARINE’S EVOLUTION WINS AGAIN

Raymarine’s award-winning Evolution autopilot has won the coveted 2013 NMEA-BWI Technology Award at the National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) annual convention held in San Diego, CA. Bill Bishop, this year’s head judge, said, “The new Raymarine autopilot, after a simple dockside set-up, automatically teaches itself how to steer the boat and linearizes the compass. This artificial intelligence-feeling system eliminates the traditional seatrial autopilot calibration and, when coupled with the mount-almost-anywhere heading sensor, made it a technology stand-out.” Raymarine’s Evolution autopilot also won the Innovation Award at IBEX earlier this year. At the heart of the Evolution autopilot system is the ultra-compact, EV sensor core; a 9-axis heading sensor and full function course computer in one. Around the same size as a typical marine GPS sensor, the EV sensor core can be either bracket-mounted or flush-mounted horizontally, and as it is built to IPX6 and IPX7 waterproofing and submersion standards, it can be installed above or below decks. The EV sensor core comes in two versions; EV-1 for Raymarine drive systems and EV-2 for drive-by-wire systems. Setting-up an Evolution autopilot takes just 30 seconds; select the boat type – large power, small power, or sail; select the drive type – hydraulic, mechanical, or outboard; and choose the performance level

– performance, cruise, or leisure. For more detailed information on the specs of each version check out www. raymarine.com.au. – Raymarine

MICRO CAT LAUNCHING PAD

The Micro Cat Launching Pad, developed by Australian company Blue Water Fabrication, lets you launch their popular 2.85m Micro Cat by 4WD or the back of a ute. The launcher is remote controlled from the ground with electric winches, which means you only need one person to operate it. The alloy frame weighs 44kg and can be adapted to most 4WDs using heavy-duty roof racks. This type of loader lets you access areas previously inaccessible by boat, where the waterways see little to no fishing pressure. The Micro Cat that goes on this launcher is fully customisable to suit your specific needs. It lets you access very shallow water and is super stable, so you can stand up and cast lures around with ease. For more information on the Micro Cat visit www.bluewaterfabrication.com. au/microcat.html. – BWF

QUINTREX’S NEW BLADE HULL

The Blade Hull is Quintrex’s latest innovative hull design to hit the market and it’s already making a name for itself as the smoothest, driest ride yet. The Blade Hull, which features across most of the new 2013 Quintrex range, has done away with ‘clicker’ style pressings in favour of smooth-look side sheets. The hull was created using advanced design software, virtual modelling and stretch forming technology resulting in a concave flare in the side and bottom sheets for a smooth and stable ride at rest and underway. The increased hull efficiency means that boats perform better on lower horsepower with lower planing speeds and improved top-end speed. Fine tuning the balance of convex

and concave shapes, the Blade Hull cuts through choppy water and deflects spray with ease. It also features a sharper deadrise and narrow shoulder to handle all water conditions. Quintrex National Account Manger Cameron Wood said the Blade Hull was the most advanced Quintrex hull design ever. “It performs with a near zero nosehigh attitude which is great for visibility at slower speeds and getting onto and coming off the plane is a breeze,” he said. For more information the Quintrex range head to www.quintrex.com.au. – Telwater

HONDA’S NEW BF80 AND BF100

Honda has released details of its new BF80 and BF100 outboard engines, which will hit the market next year to coincide with Honda Marine’s 50-year anniversary. The BF80/BF100’s 1.5L, SOHC, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder engine is inspired by the same engine that powers Honda’s number one selling motor vehicle, the ‘Jazz’. Incorporated within the BF80/BF100’s lightweight and compact design is BLAST – advanced ignition timing control system, which significantly improves hole-shot performance; ECOmo – sophisticated lean burn fuel control system, which contributes to excellent fuel economy; and VTEC (BF100) – variable valve timing technology, originally developed for Formula One race cars, to deliver incredible power. A refined high-performance gear case enhances hydrodynamic efficiency, while engine exhaust is even further reduced. An optional Trolling Control function allows precise control of engine speed, with adjustments in 50rpm increments from 650rpm to 1000rpm. These engines are NMEA2000 compliant, allowing engine-to-electronics data communication to deliver engine management and performance data to compatible marine electronics displays. The engines can also be networked with Honda’s VeeThree multi-function digital gauges. Designed to provide a comprehensive range of information to users, the gauges also feature Honda’s Eco light, which indicates when ECOmo mode is in operation (for best fuel efficiency during cruising). The BF80 and BF100 will be available from early 2014. For more info log onto marine.honda.com.au. – Honda Marine

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

Anglapro 424 Chaser CLX with Suzuki 40hp FMG

Stephen Booth sbooth@fishingmonthly.com.au

A basic tinnie that’s great value for money – that’s where nearly all of us with a boating passion started. They’re fun, they’re cheap to run and most importantly they get you on the water – and, in my case, into some fish. And so it was with a great deal of reminiscing and joy that I took to the waters of Lake Eildon in the Anglapro 424 Chaser CLX with Boats and More’s Simon Ryan. Created with the vision of going anywhere and chasing

down every possible thing you aim for, Anglapro says the Chaser is your solution to easy boating without limitations. The Chaser line-up gives you a big platform as a foundation to setting up your own rig the way you want it, but when you get home it’s compact enough to easily store away. At first glance I would agree with their summation of the 424. We had the lake virtually to ourselves and with V&TFM’s Eildon reporter Andy McArthy and V&TFM ad rep Peter Jung in another boat, we headed to a few steep rock walls to try our luck for a cod or golden. The trip over from the Eildon Boat Harbour gave us a chance to assess the

ride and performance of the Anglapro 424 Chaser CLX. Rigged up with a 40hp 2-stroke Suzuki tiller I have to say off the bat that this little tinny really got up and moved. I hadn’t tested a boat with a 2-stroke on it for a while and I forgot just how much power a 2-stroke has. Sure, it was a bit noisier and it is not as environmentally friendly, but wow, it had power to burn! Getting on the plane was no drama; 2 up and we literally flew across the top of the water at wide open throttle. It was simply a lot of fun! SOME DETAILS The Chaser models are built with a tough construction. The design gives you room to

One up in the 424 Chaser CLX and it was very quick for a small tinny. I would have loved something of this calibre growing up when we first started chasing estuary perch, flatties, cod and goldens.

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move and heaps of storage if you want to store the gear you don’t need but like to have just in case. Standard 3mm bottom and side sheets are used in the 424 spec model, and the 424 Chaser CLX gives you the benefit of comfortable pedestal seats, structured internal layout or the option of a do-it-yourself interior design. The deep V pressed hull delivered a comfortable dry ride in the calm conditions, as you would expect from an aluminium boat of this size in the calm of Lake Eildon. We did do some cross-overs of wakes and full-lock turns and the 424 Chaser really preformed well. I can see this boat knocking around a lot of estuaries, freshwater lakes, rivers and in the bays, given appropriate weather considerations. It would be a very versatile rig. The gunwale-mounted grab rails are positioned perfectly for the skipper to hang onto, and the stability at rest allows for two anglers to get into the action. On our test day I drove the boat in and around the many snags Eildon has to offer to get Simon into the best casting positions. I found the ability to alter the boat’s position fantastic at low speeds. A tiller

Peter Jung taking the 424 Chaser CLX for a spin. This boat planes really easily and the Suzuki 40hp 2-stroke was simple to operate with power to burn. steer is so direct as you can go from full port lock to full starboard lock almost instantly. Add in some shuffling from forward to reverse and you can walk this little rig sideways in very limited space, and I found this a great fishing feature. I would love to have installed an electric motor onto the bow. If I was buying this boat for fishing lures, this accessory would be mandatory and enhance the fishability of the Chaser no end. A reasonably large sized open anchor well will hold enough rope plus anchor and

Simple tiller controls and a key start with the option to pull start if your battery fails. Simple and effective.

chain to suit most locations you would take this rig for a fish. Let’s face it, it is only a 4.2m boat so you’re not heading out deep sea fishing, so 50m of anchor rope, a good length of chain and a standard anchor would be swallowed up in the anchor well. We even stored some inflatable fenders up front and the well still looked like it had room. One of the most appealing points though is that each Anglapro boat comes awaiting

wish-list. Now that’s called forward thinking and is one of the reasons this brand is enjoying such great success. However, if simplicity is your game, you can get the team at Boats and More to organise a layout that will suit your fishing preferences. The Chaser is efficient by design and with every internal square centimetre available for use, the term ‘wasted space’ just doesn’t apply. And given the Boats and More team has years

Space is abundant in the 424 Chaser and 2 up, this little rig is a real joy to play around in and fish from, especially if you’re chasing cod and goldens! your customisation. This way, depending on the style of fishing you’re into, you can have your boat fitted out just the way you like. Starting with simple choices like the location, orientation and number of rod holders, every aspect of the internal layout can be modified to suit your

of experience on the water and in boats, their ideas and suggestions on internal layout are well worth listening to if you’re struggling for ideas. “But how did the fishing go?” I hear you ask. It was simply a tale of the one that got away. The only action we got was from a 6kg carp nailing a spinnerbait and a cranky golden around the 2kg mark following up Simon’s lure a couple of casts in a row (plus Pete got dusted up by a big cod). But it was a great day to be boating on Lake Eildon. At least, that’s what I am telling everyone! OVERALL The 3-year hull warranty aside, the great thing about the Chaser is its ability to be used for a huge variety of fishing options. Whether you want to troll for trout in the lakes, explore the bass and cod holding dams of the inland, soak baits for mulloway or even fish on the drift or at anchor for snapper, the Chaser 424 will open the realms of possibility without

ANGLAPRO CHASER 424

Length................................. 4.2m Weight................................. 250kg Max hp................................ 50 People................................. 4 Floatation........................... Basic Towing................................ Any vehicle Price from........................... $12,490 As tested............................ $13,990

While not massive, the side pockets on the 424 will accommodate bits and pieces like gaffs, foldable nets, safety gear, keys and wallets. There is a side pocket on the starboard and port sides.

The anchor bollard and bow sprit provided an easy option for anchoring. Although we didn’t anchor, I can see whiting, snapper and flatty anglers setting the pick and whiling away a few hours in this rig.

blowing the wallet out of the water. If you want a compact package to tow and store but don’t want to be cramped on the water, you’ve just found your new boat. As always with your new Anglapro, there is the option to build it your way. Just give them your wish list! Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

The 25L tote tank sits easily under the aft platform and there is a neat fuel hose hole to ensure this vital line is not damaged.

SHEPPARTON

VICTORIA’S no. CHASER 424

ECHUCA

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PACKAGES

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76 Northern Hwy ECHUCA VIC 3564

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V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

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Savage Jabiru Pro 415 WARRAGAL

Martin Auldist martinauldist@gmail.com

Victoria’s coastline boasts countless estuaries and inlets that provide top-shelf light tackle sportfishing. From Nelson in the west to Mallacoota in the east, anglers have ample opportunity to tackle shallow water species such as bream, flathead, Aussie salmon, mulloway, tailor and trevally – you’ve only got to flick through the pages of this magazine to see proof of that. Being a keen estuary angler myself, I jumped at the chance to take a new Jabiru Pro for a spin with Simon Wakefield and David Garcia from Warragul Marine. The popular Jabiru Pro series of small punt-style aluminium boats is from Savage, of course, which gives them a big tick right from the start. The well-known company has been designing and manufacturing quality boats in Australia since 1898, and their products have forged a solid reputation as being both durable and practical. The test boat was a Jabiru Pro 415, but this proven favourite comes in a number

of other lengths; the 385, 435, 455 and 485. They are all just perfect for shelteredwater estuary fishing, as many readers have no doubt already discovered. Sitting on the trailer in the yard, the boat we had our hands on was a striking sight, painted black with white trim and gold and grey stripes – but other colours are available, as well as unpainted versions. As David and I drove towards our nearest estuary system – Anderson Inlet at Inverloch – to give the Jabiru Pro a run, the weather showed few signs of improving beyond the overcast and drizzling day on hand. We decided to press on though, because a bit of chop would provide ideal

conditions for boat testing, even if it was less than ideal for photography. When we arrived at the somewhat rudimentary ramp at Mahers Landing, our suspicions were confirmed: the inlet had been churned into a frothy, brown mess. Undaunted, we launched the boat with little fuss and climbed aboard. LAYOUT The first thing I noticed was that, yes, the Jabiru Pro 415 is a small boat… but it doesn’t feel like one. Every inch of the fully-carpeted deck space is available for fishing. There is an extensive casting deck built above the forward section of the boat, below which is a huge storage area that is accessible via several large hatches. An

The forward section of the Jabiru Pro 415 comprised of a carpeted casting platform with underfloor storage and anchor well, and a steel plate for mounting an electric motor.

The test boat nestled easily back on to the Savage trailer – not surprising as unlike aftermarket trailers it was built specifically to fit the boat.

90w DRIVING LIGHT • LED power: 90 watt - EURO beam • 9 pcs 10w high intensity CREE-XML-1C/1D U3 • Current draw: 12v/7.5AMP; 24V/3.75AMP • Luminous flux: 8000lm • Operating voltage: 10-30V DC ONLY • Waterproof rate: IP68 • Colour temperature: 6000K RRP • Material: Aluminium

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The Jabiru Pro 415 has plenty of fishing space for a small boat and would be ideal for keen estuary anglers. underfloor anchor well and tray for an auxiliary battery can also be found ‘below decks’ up front, while a bow-eye for the anchor rope and a steel plate for mounting an electric motor on the bow completes the forward set-up. Simon had fitted the steel plate, by the way, with the impressive Minn Kota Riptide i-Pilot electric motor system. In the mid-section of the boat the floor is lower and accommodates the two fold-up, swivelling pedestal seats that can be deployed in different positions. On the test boat, the driving area was covered by a bimini, which comes as an option and sure was handy for keeping the drizzle off on the day we were out on the water. There are short handrails on the gunwale adjacent to the seating positions that provide something to grab onto if things get rough. Simon had also fitted the boat with a Humminbird 798 HD Side Imaging sonar and GPS combo, which provided some reassurance when negotiating the shallow water of Anderson Inlet. At the back of the vessel there is another raised platform that houses an under-floor battery compartment and can be fitted with a live bait tank as an option. It could also be used as an extra fishing platform if you get back-boated by your crew and need some extra space. Right at the back there are rod holders as well as handles on the back of the transom to help with manoeuvring the boat when launching and retrieving. There is also a plate for mounting a depth sounder transducer on the lower outer transom. MERCURY 40HP 4-STROKE EFI Simon and Dave had fitted the test boat with a Mercury 40hp 4-stroke EFI Big Tiller outboard. As its name suggests, this outboard is a tiller steer engine, but the 415 comes with the option of a side console with steering wheel (as do all three larger models). For the record, 40 ponies is the maximum recommended for the 415, but this increases to 75 for the largest model in the range, the 485.

The Big Tiller outboard has the gear shift and tilt and trim controls in the tiller handle, so all the controls are right there at your fingertips. The engine has electronic fuel injection for quick starting and, like most 4-strokes, it is clean, quiet and fuel efficient.

To cap off a great donk, the Big Tiller was fitted with a Spitfire 4 blade propeller. This prop has greater surface area than a standard 3-blader, with a better grip on the water and a corresponding increase in thrust. Like all new Mercury outboards, this motor is covered by their fully

Top: The Jabiru Pro 415 was pushed along nicely by a Mercury 40hp 4-stroke EFI Big Tiller outboard. Above: The Mercury 40hp 4-stroke EFI Big Tiller outboard has the gear shift and tilt and trim controls in the tiller handle, so all the controls are right there at your fingertips.

transferrable, non-declining 3+2 year warranty. RIDE AND HANDLING Out on the water Simon and I put the Jabiru Pro 415 through its paces. The Mercury popped it up and onto the plane with ease and, once there, it certainly handled well. Its shallow V-bottom cut through the short chop easily for a comfortable ride, while the wide 1.98m beam helps provide the Jabiru Pro with its renowned stability. Cornering was a breeze, with the running strakes getting a good grip on the water, while the reverse chines were effective at kicking water away from the boat and keeping us dry in the cockpit. Incidentally, the hull is constructed from 3.0mm aluminium plate all over, so it’s definitely made to last. Back at the ramp, the Jabiru was easily nestled back on to the trailer, even in the 20

For details on the Jabiru Pro range go to www.savageboats.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.

Pushed along by a Mercury 40hp 4-stroke EFI Big Tiller outboard the Jabiru Pro 415 zipped over the chop with ease. knot side wind. Being a trailer made by Savage themselves, it had the advantage of fitting the boat perfectly, as opposed to many aftermarket trailers. This makes good

JABIRU PRO 415

Length:..................................4.15m Beam:...................................1.98 m Depth:...................................0.83 m Length on trailer:...................5.50m Height on trailer:...................1.35m Bottom sides:........................3mm Top sides:..............................3mm Transom material:.................3mm Weight (boat only):................311kg Power:...................................30hp-40hp Max. people:.........................5 Max load:..............................480kg

sense, not only for launching and retrieving but also for transport; ill-fitting trailers will ultimately wear holes in your boat. One other thing I really liked was the walkway from the front to the back of the trailer – a clever feature that would surely save you from wet feet on many occasions. The trailer also featured alloy wheels that incorporated bearing buddies. PACKAGE OPTIONS The price of the Jabiru Pro 415 as tested, complete with the Minn Kota Riptide i-Pilot electric motor system and Humminbird 798 HD side imaging sonar

and GPS combo, including registration and safety pack, is $24,999. However, packages for more basic Jabiru Pro set ups start at as little as $12,999 (with a 30hp 2-stroke Mercury). If you’re into your estuary fishing, with perhaps a little calm-day bay fishing thrown in, the Jabiru Pro will provide you with a stylish, functional, durable and affordable option. For further information or to arrange an inspection, contact Warragul Marine Centre on 03 5623 6250 or go to www.warragulmarine. com.au.

455 Pirahna SC Includes Mercury 60HP four stroke Big Foot Packages start from $21,000 (including Mercury 50HP two stroke)

$ 445 Big Kahuna

Top: Under the raised platform at the back there is an underfloor battery compartment. Above Left: The anchor well is housed beneath the front deck. Above Right: The Jabiru Pro comes with two fold up pedestal seats positioned on lower central deck area.

24,999

415 Jabiru Pro

26,500

Includes Mercury 30HP two stroke

PACKAGES STARTING FROM

Includes Mercury 40HP four stroke Big Tiller Packages start from $13,800 (unpainted with Mercury 30HP two stroke)

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South Rd, WARRAGUL VIC 3820 P 03 5623 6250 E info@warragulmarine.com.au

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Search for Warragul Marine Centre V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

103

 

Victorian Tide Times 





 

   

                                                                                                                                                                                         

               



       































































  

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. 104

DECEMBER 2013

V&TFM

NO DEALER SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE FOR

3YRS OR 300HRS

ONLY WITH EVINRUDE • No scheduled dealer servicing for

• Fewer parts. Fewer problems.

the first 3 years or 300 hours.**

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South West Melbourne

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JV Marine World

WebbCon Marine

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72 Hamilton Road Horsham

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250 Portarlington Road Moolap

03 5183 2344

03 5248 3772

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info@jvmarine.com.au Lismore Outboard www.jvmarine.com.au Sales & Service

59 Union St, Lismore, 2480

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76 Northern Highway Echuca

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03 5381 0600

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info@webbconmarine.com.au albertonmarine@wideband.net.au Huett Marine Centre Coffs Harbour Marine Dave Hill Marine www.webbconmarine.com.au www.albertonmarine.com.au

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1131 Pacific Hwy, Cowan, 2082

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Triple M Marine

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b.altham@boatsandmore.com.au info@jvmarine.com.au Sydney West Sydney South Port Stephens www.boatsandmore.com.au www.jvmarine.com.au

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© 2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Terms and conditions apply, excludes commercial purchases. * 'Spring Cashback Promotion' offer valid on MY11, MY12, MY13 & MY14 evinrude E-TEC engines 40 HP and above newly purchased and registered from participating authorized dealers between December 1st 2013 and January 31st 2014. Cashback will be in the form of a Prepaid Visa Card. ** For normal recreational use. # Extended warranty covers MY11, MY12, MY13 & MY14 Evinrude E-TEC engines 40HP and above, newly purchased and registered from participating authorized dealers between October 1st and December 31st 2013. ^ 25hp-250hp consumer models. For full terms and conditions please contact your local participating Evinrude dealership. BRP reserves the right at any time to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Products are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by BRP Australia PTy Ltd. Card Issued by Heritage Bank Limited ABN 32 087 652 024 AFSL 240984. Visa Card Terms and Conditions apply. V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

105

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DECEMBER 2013

GUARANTEE

V&TFM

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VALUE $130

VALUE $142.80

TOTAL VALUE OF PACKAGE $272.80 YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WILL START WITH THE NEXT PUBLISHED ISSUE QLD FISHING MONTHLY NSW FISHING MONTHLY VIC/TAS FISHING MONTHLY To receive your rod by Xmas orders must be at the Fishing Monthly office by December 10th 2013 for 12 issues $65*inc gst or ROD DEAL 24 issues $130 inc gst and P&H in AUST Offer ends 31st December 2013 *Does not Include ROD

SUBSCRIPTION FOR Name: Address: Suburb: Daytime Contact No:

BUYERS DETAILS Name: Address: Suburb: Daytime Contact No:

P/Code:

As the buyer, do you wish to receive annual subscription renewal notifications?

Yes

PAYMENT DETAILS Cheque Money order Mastercard/Visa Signature: Credit Card No: Credit Card Expiry Date: Card Holder’s Name: Daytime Contact No: IF THIS IS A GIFT PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING AND A GIFT CARD WILL BE MAILED TO THE LUCKY ANGLER OR THE GIFT BUYER!

MAIL TO

Subscriber

Buyer

To: Happy Birthday! Happy ____ Birthday! Other (20 characters max)

From or Love From: Happy Fishing! Merry Christmas!

Happy Fathers Day!

SUBSCRIBER

ADVANTAGES Free Delivery Entry into the monthly draws Save $$$

1800 228 244 or

07·3387 0800

Fax coupon to:

07·3387 0801

Email details to: subscribe@fishingmonthly.com.au

Mail Coupon to: FM Subscriptions PO Box 3172 Loganholme Q 4129 OUR GUARANTEE

Every now and again, a copy may not arrive through the Australia Post System. If this happens to you, a quick call to us and we will post out another FREE OF CHARGE. V&TFM

DECEMBER 2013

107

WHY

WAIT? MERCURY FINANCE

GET ON THE WATER SOONER

• Specialist Marine Finance backed by Mercury Marine • Fixed Rates - Borrow with certainty knowing your repayment and interest rate is set, for the life of the loan • Choice of loan terms - Up to 84 months • Fortnightly or Monthly repayment options

For more information, or to find your local Mercury Finance representative visit www.mercuryfinance.com.au Finance is provided by Mercury Finance Pty Ltd ABN 28 156 248 092, Australian Credit Licence No. 421347.

108

DECEMBER 2013

V&TFM