Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly June 2019

IN TUNE WITH JUNE • BOAT SHOW GUIDE INSIDE

Features

Finding winter whiting • Score more mulloway • South West trout tricks • More knot knowledge •

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June 2019, Vol. 14 No. 8

Contents WEST COAST West Coast

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20

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Warrnambool 14 Cobden 15 Apollo Bay

14

CENTRAL Geelong 16 Port Phillip West

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Port Phillip North East

20

Mornington Peninsula

22

Victorian gamefishing

23

Port Phillip Bay Offshore

24

Western Port North

26

Western Port South

27

Phillip Island

28

EAST COAST Lakes Entrance

33

Marlo 34 Gippsland Lakes

32

Corner Inlet

34

Bemm River

33

NSW SOUTH COAST Bermagui 38 Mallacoota/Eden 38 Narooma 37 Merimbula 36

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Robinvale 51 Snowy Mountains

54

Wagga Wagga

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From the Editor’s Desk...

We love the June edition of VFM. It means that it’s boat show time and we publish our Melbourne Boat Show feature in this issue. The show feature is the culmination of months of work and instead of lots of fluff about how nice boating is, we make sure that it’s crammed full of the latest boat tests for boats that’ll be at the show.

Boat Tests don’t just happen. The dealers need to be ready, willing and able to provide the boats and spend the time doing the filming, testing and photography necessary to give you an extra resource when it comes to finding your next rig.

Sure, you can Google the information about your next boat, but how do you know what boat you want to Google? We’re sure you’ll find something in these pages that’ll start the fires burning.

All of the tests in this

issue have accompanying videos on the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube Channel – subscribe to it if you want updates when new content is released (usually weekly).

We won’t be exhibiting at the show this year, but we will be there covering all of the latest releases. There’ll be plenty of content going live on the YouTube and Facebook channels during the show.

GO FISH NAGAMBIE In what was probably the highest profile promoted event this decade, Go Fish Nagambie has been run and won. Ever caught (and released) a fish

worth $80,000? One lucky angler did – you can read about it inside this issue!

TUNA HOT TO TROT Word on the street is that the tuna are well and truly moving through and there’s been some great captures. It’s a good time to brush up on tuna etiquette. Make sure you visit www.tunachampions. com.au and read the Code of Practice. If we all do the right thing by the fish, the fishery will continue to grow and thrive.

We’re all for anglers getting on the front foot when it comes to being best-practice

custodians of the fishery and well done to ARFF, FRDC and associated bodies for making this happen.

SUPER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER ON THE WAY And a heads-up for next month, we’ll have a great subscription offer that can be accessed from all readers in Australia – keep an eye on the July magazine for more details.

SEND US YOUR READER PICS! Want to be famous for more than 30 minutes?

We know that social media fame is fleeting, but Fishing Monthly fame lasts all month! We regularly publish reader pics in these pages – send your images to jthomas@fishingmonthly. com.au along with the catch details and we’ll do our best to get you in!

As the cover says, we’re the Recreational Fisherman’s Voice, make sure you use it!

Albury/Wodonga 52 Yarrawonga 52 Wangaratta 53 Shepparton 54 Nagambie 59 Eildon 55 Bendigo 57 Ballarat 56

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics

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Chappy’s Hotspot

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Cooking 44

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

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Dam Levels

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Flyfishing Scene

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Fun Page

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Inland Fisheries Service

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Kayak fishing

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Tasmanian Lake Levels

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Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold, Annie March Josh Dunn

Tournament News

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Field Editor: Kelly Hunt

Track My Fish

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Trade and Services Guide

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Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

Victorian Tide Times

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What’s new boating

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What’s new fishing

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Winter open season for river trout begins

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Black Magic Masterclass - Mulloway

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OUR COVER Tim Haw took this solid school SBT. Anglers have been smashing these guys left, right and centre lately!

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In search of that winter whiting

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WHITING

In search of winter whiting WESTERN PORT

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

For some the whiting season is all over, while for others it has just begun.

Although the majority of fish have moved offshore to their winter habitats, there is still an abundance of whiting that make Port Phillip Bay home throughout the winter.

These resident fish stay within the confines of the Bay all year and though they are readily available to catch on any given day, they can still pose a challenge from time to time. With a little research and time on the water, you’ll be quite surprised at how easy they are to find.

FINDING WINTER WHITING The secret to finding haunts for winter whiting is fishing in locations with substantial tidal movement.

This also corresponds

with water depth, so that the movement of the tide disperses your bait’s smell and, if you’re using it, berley.

This will attract fish from vast distances.

In saying that, you only need to fish in depths around 5-10m, but it is the strength of the tide that is the major factor.

The feeding habits of

whiting don’t differ from summer to winter, and they still inhabit sandy and weedy areas. In Port Phillip Bay, these areas are mainly situated in the bottom end around St

A solid catch of whiting from St Leonards during winter last year.

The bottom end of Port Phillip Bay supports a huge population of winter whiting.

Leonards to Queenscliff and Rosebud to Portsea. There is a lot of area to cover on the Mornington and Bellarine Peninsulas, but whiting are a

good winter option if you’re keen to target them.

WINTER TECHNIQUES Winter whiting don’t tend to be as aggressive in winter as they are during the summer, so you do have to make yourself versatile.

This means having the right

selection of terminal tackle, allowing you to change tactics depending on how they are feeding at the time.

Whiting are well known for nibbling baits on bright sunny days, but even during winter on overcast days they can display the same feeding

Whiting can be finicky in winter, which is why it is a good option to use long shank hooks to feel for the bite.

Typical whiting ground should comprise of a mixture of weed and sand.

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JUNE 2019

OPTIMAL USE: • Boating and fishing in deep water • Open reflective water • Harsh sun

Whiting only have small mouths, which is why #6 long shank hooks are a good option when targeting them. They can easily be sucked in, pinning the fish.

WHITING characteristics.

I find that after the berley has been deployed, whiting will quickly move into the area. That is providing you’re fishing the last two hours of the run-in or run-out tides.

In my experience, if whiting are to go off the bite it is for three main reasons. Either stingrays or other large fish species have moved into the berley trail, the tide is approaching slack or it is during the strongest two hours of the tides. During the two hours either side of a tide change, whiting tend to be more active in their

feeding patterns and this is when you’ll find the bulk of the action.

While whiting rigs don’t differ too much, due to the slow bites that tend to feel like they are just taste testing, it’s a good option to fish an extended running sinker rig. This consists of a standard running sinker that you would use for targeting gummy sharks or snapper in Western Port, although the leader strength for whiting ranges from 10-16lb.

The other difference to the rig is instead of clipping your sinker onto an Ezy Rig

If you’re adventurous, collecting live Bass yabbies is fun and they make great baits.

Fishing around the markers near St Leonards is popular for whiting.

sinker clip, use a 50cm length of 15lb line with two loops tied in each end. Then the sinker can be threaded on one end of the leader and the other can connect to the Ezy Rig. This allows the bait to sit a little higher in the water and in the berley trail.

Hooks play a major role too, and while I’m a huge advocate for circle hooks, when using a running sinker rig long shank hooks are the way to go. Slow biting characteristics require you to feel for the bite and with this it is imperative that you strike to set the hook. Circles won’t allow this to happen and you’ll pull the hook right out of the fish’s mouth.

BAIT SELECTION Whiting can be fussy

Berley is key when targeting those winter whiting. from time to time and while the humble pipi is a top bait to use, it is smart to take along a bag of mussels and squid.

When choosing squid to use for bait, you can always just go with what’s available in a

tackle store freezer, but rather than grabbing a box of USA Californian squid, opt for the whole squid bait an angler would normally purchase when targeting sharks. This To page 10

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WHITING From page 9

can be cut into small slithers and when cut it is still thicker than the USA squid, as their hood only measures about 3mm thick and they don’t stay on the hook.

Another top whiting bait, and I personally think it is the number one to use, is a live Bass yabby. That is providing you have the time to gather them first. Bass yabbies can be pumped in some parts of Port Phillip Bay but they are more prolific around the mud flats of Western Port. I know it sounds like a lot of effort, but so are winter whiting. If you can get your timing right for the tides in the Bay, then a few hours beforehand spent pumping yabbies from the

I personally use a 2-4kg and 7ft rod.

Reels too play a major part, as well as the line they are spooled with. Although I use a 1000 size reel, I do have it spooled with 6lb braid. The reason being is that the braid is so thin, it can decrease the pressure on the line from the

A clear sign that whiting are on the chew is when you can see many boats anchored in the shallows.

Instead of having to lift and lower the berley pot by hand, use a downrigger.

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JUNE 2019

leader. This is vital in feeling the soft bites of the whiting and allowing you feel when one has a nibble of the bait.

Then in the instant you feel it, you can strike resulting in a hooked the fish.

We all know just how much fun whiting is in the summer months and it

mud flats around the Warneet Jetty can be worthwhile.

RIGGIN UP Rigging up for whiting is really no different to when targeting them in the summer months, however, due to their finicky approach to the baits, it is a good idea to be setup so you don’t miss timid bites. With the rig, tying 16lb fluorocarbon leader won’t deter the fish but will prevent you from busting rigs off should you hook a sizeable salmon, silver trevally or pinkie snapper that move in on your berley trail. Rather than having to

re-tie complete rigs if the whiting are about, the 16lb fluorocarbon should be able to stand up to these menaces.

Aside from the rig, the complete outfit is also just as important. While you can use just about any outfit for whiting, given the locations being fished and the fact you might require up to 6oz of weight to hold bottom in the current, a 7ft medium tapered rod is recommended.

Traditional 702 nibble tip rods might not be able to support such sinker weight, so I’d personally choose a 702NT fiberglass model.

Some days are downright cold, but the fish keep biting. force of the current. This then reduces the bow or amount of line in the water from the currents pressure, allowing you more direct contact to the

is just as fun in the winter months. All it takes is a little groundwork, some good baits and berley to get them on the chew.

Knot knowledge 102 NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

The two most important keys to successful fishing are a strong knot and a sharp hook. Here’s how to make sure every knot you tie is as secure as you can possibly make it.

Last month in this column, I stressed the importance of tying strong, reliable knots, and explained that most knot failures occur for two reasons.

Firstly, knots will let go if they slip under load. Secondly, those critical connections can fail if one strand of line cuts across another within the knot.

In this concluding instalment of my two part examination of good knot tying practices, I want to focus on what makes a strong knot, and set out some simple knot tying habits that should dramatically reduce your incidence of mystery bust-offs and lost fish.

Any good knot — whether it’s tied in a multifilament line like braid, or a single strand such as nylon or fluorocarbon — must have sufficient turns or wraps to prevent slippage, and also to help spread the strain. The very best connections work like mini shock absorbers

When you’re hooked up tight to a strong fish, the last thing you need to be worrying about is the integrity of your knots!

Crimps may be a better option than knots in really heavy leaders.

There are plenty of good knots for attaching hooks, lures and other items of tackle to both braided and single filament lines. Most tend to fall into one of two distinct knot ‘families’ or systems, being based on either the Blood Knot or the Uni Knot (also called a Clinch Knot in some literature). These two core systems are well covered on the internet and in most

into the realm of specialised connections. This is where knots like the Albright, Slim Beauty, Duck Nose and FG really come into their own.

Again, you’ll find all of these demonstrated on-line if you simply type their names into a search engine.

Regardless of the knots you choose to use, it’s important to practice them and to have absolute

Even relatively small fish will quickly show up poor knots — especially hard fighters like this skipjack or striped tuna. or springs. Reliable knots also steer well clear of incorporating single strands crossing each other at acute angles, especially at that part of the knot where load levels will peak under strain (this is why an overhand or Granny Knot is so weak).

It’s fascinating to watch any knot under extreme load through a magnifying lens.

Even well tied-knots tend to slip or creep marginally as they tighten and elongate under intense strain. The best connections tend to be those that change appearance the least under stress. Those are usually knots with multiple turns or wraps that have been correctly tightened and firmly snugged down before use.

how-to books. Both basic knots also form the basis of strong connections for joining two strands of line together, especially when those strands are fairly similar in thickness (the Full Blood and the Double Uni).

Things become a little more complex when joining lines with radically different diameters and characteristics, as is often the case when connecting nylon or fluorocarbon monofilament leaders to braided main lines.

Throw in the need for such critical connections to belt smoothly in a out through a set of rod runners hundreds of times a day (often at high speed or under load) and it’s obvious that we’re moving

confidence in all your connections. It’s also vital to follow a handful of simple rules whenever tying knots.

RULE 1 Thoroughly lubricate every knot before pulling it tight. You can use water, various oils or other lubricants, but good old-fashioned saliva is just as effective, and always handy! Simply lick or spit on the turns of line as you draw the knot tight. This greatly reduces friction as the knot tightens, saving the line from potential damage.

RULE 2 Give yourself plenty of line to work with. Trying to tie a knot with a limited length of line or leader cramps your style and can lead to skipping wraps or turns, as well as ending up with a tag that’s too short and may slip during the tightening/testing phase… or on a fish!

RULE 3 Tighten the knot with slow, steady pressure (after lubricating it with saliva, of course). Make sure all of the turns and wraps snug down firmly and neatly. With some knots, it can pay to pull on the tag end as well as the main line, but the greatest pressure should always be applied to the main line.

RULE 4 Once the knot is snugged down, give it a serious test by

Every knot needs to be well tied and properly tightened when you hook a decent fish.

The author pulled this snapper from reefy offshore waters on a Lucanus octa-jig. really pulling on it. If a knot’s going to fail, now’s the time to find out! Only after this testing process should you

When you’re deep-dropping heavy, complicated and expensive rigs beyond the edge of the continental shelf, you need to know that all your knots are trustworthy!

trim the tag end of the knot.

Even then, leave at least a couple of millimetres of tag for safety on most knots (this may not be practical on linejoining connections).

RULE 5 Every now and then, test one of your knots to destruction. In other words, keep pulling until it breaks!

Doing this teaches us a lot about the real strength (or weakness) of our knots.

Destruction testing of different knots is an interesting and highly illuminating activity for a rainy or blown-out day, and it’s something not enough anglers do.

If you use proven knots, are able to tie them well under all conditions and follow the five simple rules above, I guarantee you’ll have less ‘one that got away’ stories to tell in future years.

Tight lines (and knots)!

JUNE 2019

11

Heading out for some mulloway mayhem WEST COAST

Brett Carson

It’s cold and there’s some rain starting to come with the winter season, but there’s plenty still on offer on the fishing front. We certainly need some rain to keep the mouth open after the dry summer that went on and on.

Tides have been the key to better bream fishing in the estuary and the more flow from upstream the deeper the mouth is cut. When you wonder whether the fishing is worth getting rugged up, or just remember that this time last year we were heading into some of the best few months of mulloway fishing we’ve seen in years.

The whitebait have remained thick in the system, with big schools of mulloway feasting on them amongst the plentiful mullet. The fish have remained upstream with the summer saltwater, due to the lack of rain driving it lower.

What you find is patches of fish moving constantly chasing bait schools. It becomes as simple as, find the bait and

you find the fish. The battle is getting them on the chew.

Gary Macdonald has been doing well above The Caves on live mullet, consistently catching quality fish. Gary is one of many in the area who

love a night camped out in their boat on our awesome river. Nothing better than being tucked up in the national park for the night – the beauty, the sounds and the peace are hard to beat. Abba

Casterton legend Abba Richardson lifts his 25-pounder up. He caught this beauty from his shack and live mullet has been his bait of choice.

OCTOPUS CIRCLE

and Josephine Richardson landed a 25lb beauty from their shack recently. They also love presenting a live mullet overnight waiting for a hungry mulloway to take the bait.

I suppose it’s time for the bream to start schooling up in preparation for the breeding cycle. Vibes run through these large schools will produce results, usually by matching the colour of the water with the lure. Just remember that the water in the lower reaches on a big tide can be clearer than you think down deep.

I’ve found most of the perch in the bottom end of the river aren’t massive, but that will change as the big breeders start to move down to spawn.

Last year’s spawn of little bream are thick, making the soft baits hard to persist with.

While glassies, podworms and pipi are working it can be hard to keep them on the hook.

Crabs are the answer, as the smaller fish tend to leave them alone due to their hard body.

The surf beaches have a winter shape to them now and the dark of the moon is sorting a few school and gummy shark out. There is plenty of country to fish, but if you go onto the ocean beach don’t fish right where you hit the beach. That

Joel Riddle sporting a healthy 94cm monster. This time last year had some of the best mulloway fishing of the year.

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When using this hook, anglers do not strike on the bite, rather the fish is allowed to run with the bait and as the line comes tight, the hook will roll into the corner of the fish’s mouth. This is a great hook to use for ‘lazy’ rigs fished from a rod holder as fish simply hook themselves.

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Macca holding his 85cm mulloway.

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area is super reefy, just walk one way or another at least 200m and you should be in a decent area. Fish the gutters with the wire surf sinkers so that you can hold in the swell and current. There have been reports of elephant fish in the river, which is pretty rare, so don’t discount them amongst your other regular surf catch.

• Good luck and feel free to come and see us at Nelson Boat Hire for the latest info.

We have the local ‘live bait licence’ meaning we stock live mullet, crabs and podworms along with all the frozen bait, tackle and lures you need for the area. We’ll do our best to give you some local knowledge and get you on the fish quicker. Remember you can hire any of our boats without a boat licence, including our very popular houseboat.

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JUNE 2019

13

Wonderful weather means time on the water APOLLO BAY

Craig Rippon

The weather has been good and so has the fishing. I can’t remember a year when the fishing has been so good in the area. The mild weather we are having has been giving anglers more time on the water, leading to more catches.

On our local beaches the salmon are starting to get around in good numbers, with good catches coming in from Johanna Beach.

There have been catches up to 4kg, and some nice gummies coming off the beach as well.

The best bait for the gummies has been fresh salmon. For those lure casting, anything that flashes in the water has been good.

Out wide there are still great reports off Cape Otway, with some great size gummy and school shark catches. Local Dan Macral got a 25kg schoolie and a 16kg gummy, both on fresh baits.

There are plenty of snapper on the local reefs the change of tide has been a good time just before

dark, with bag limit catches coming in regularly.

Closer to home, the flathead have been good

Paul Murdoch copped the brunt of a big calamari.

with some nice size fish up to 50cm coming off Blanket Bay in 40m of water. There have been some nice catches of calamari around of late. The best jigs have been Yo-Zuri and Clicks in dark colours.

The whiting have still been patchy, but those who are putting the time in are getting fish. The rivers have still been producing some bream and trout, but remember the closed season is coming for trout this month.

The water temperature is dropping quickly and the tuna are about, you can tell by the big boats in town. Reports say there is plenty of bait around and already school fish are getting caught. It won’t be long before we see a barrel brought in, as there have been great catches around other areas.

Just remember all the safety aspects of fishing for these bluefin, you can quite easy get caught up in the action and forget about the safety side of things. We live in an area where the water can get

Dan Macral caught a nice gummy and a schoolie on fresh baits out wide off Cape Otway. quite dangerous. For a first time fisher to the area, it is always good to ask and get a bit of local knowledge.

See you out there on the water don’t forget to send any photos to snagga02@ gmail.com.

Winter is here, but the fishing is red hot WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

The weather may be cooling off, but there is still plenty of hot angling action to be had at the moment on the South West Coast.

Most tuna anglers have been concentrating their efforts on the excellent run of barrel-sized fish to the west from Portland to Port MacDonnell. Locally there have still been school fish encountered,

but they have been further out than they were late summer and early autumn.

Most fish have come from 70m of water and further out towards the shelf.

On the gamefishing front, some good makos have been taken recently, including a 58.5kg fish taken by young Chloe Dance. This fish is a pending Australian small fry record on 8kg line and was one of two taken by the crew for the day, as well as a tuna on the way in.

The Hopkins River

mouth only opened briefly, ensuring that water levels have remained high, which is not the most productive for fishing at this time of year. Never the less, some quality fish have been taken.

Shane Murphy recently landed an impressive 102cm mulloway. Taken during the WDAC Easter Fishing Competition, the fish was a great reward for the hours Shane puts into the species. The heaviest bream taken during the comp was a 1.4kg fish taken by Ray Dorman.

Luke Gercovich with 47cm of Hopkins River bass.

Chloe Dance with her pending Australian small fry record mako shark.

14

JUNE 2019

The freshwater sections of the Hopkins have been producing some good fishing for those willing to do the hard yards on foot or in a canoe or kayak. It’s amazing how far past what is regarded as the end of the estuarine section (Torram Stones) you can still find bream. Add to this plenty of estuary perch and the odd brown trout and bass, and there is plenty fish of interest when exploring the freshwater sections of the river.

The best way to target

all of these species is with light spin gear and minnow style plastics or hardbodies.

Surface lures can turn on some memorable sessions if conditions are calm enough. The bass in particular are an interesting capture, as they are not naturally occurring or officially stocked but there has been a number of them caught over the past couple of seasons.

There seems to be a wide variety of sizes now, with fish from 20-50cm being encountered.

This June we’ll hopefully see some rain, this will see the bream and perch heading downstream into the lower sections of the estuary.

With the cooler, and hopefully wetter, weather in June, anglers’ focus will turn to the local trout populations. Remember the Hopkins and Merri rivers are open in their entirety for the whole of winter, enabling anglers to access this put and take fishery at the most productive time of year.

Catch a burst of perch COBDEN

580

Rod Shepherd

As we head towards the cooler months of the year, the estuary scene down here in the South West remains productive. Most systems, although closed to the sea, are providing some serious action, especially for those who practice perseverance and patience.

All we need now is for some steady, early winter rain to freshen things up and keep the fish on the chew.

There’s been a lot of estuary action going on at the Hopkins River of late. There has been plenty of estuary perch exceeding 40cm in length taken on topwater lures lure after dark. Most of these fish have been caught from the bank and without a huge effort when it comes to the angler having to move about in darkness. In fact, some have come from Jubilee Park as long as one works the water away from any lit up areas.

All have fallen to topwater lures including soft plastics slow crawled across the water. The bigger the surface wake left by the retrieved lure, the better the chances of a good strike.

The first two hours after sunset have been hot for many. Most fish have been taken in the upper reaches and the by-catch has been the odd solid brown trout or Australian bass.

Bass are in this system and are apparently breeding, so it pays to know how to tell the difference between bass and perch. The nose or upper jaw is always a good giveaway as to which specimen has been landed.

Maybe one day in the not to near future we might start landing hybrids. This happens in certain estuaries

FUNSEEKER

Estuary perch like this one are firing in the Hopkins and the Curdies. Surface or shallow diving lures are the go. in East Gippsland and New South Wales where both species naturally occur.

Unfortunately, the bass here in the Hopkins were inadvertently introduced into the system along with golden perch that are also breeding.

They’re probably farm dam escapees during times of flood, but both species were stocked in Lake Bolac years ago, which is connected to the Hopkins via Salt Creek.

When the lake has been 100% full in the past due to excessive rainfall, there’s no reason why some fish wouldn’t make their way out of the lake and into the river.

That’s the reason why the Hopkins’ strain of estuary perch were reared and introduced into Lake Bolac in recent years, in case of any escaping the lake.

Unfortunately, the perch stocking of Bolac has proven to be a failure.

Mulloway continue to be chased and caught by anglers either specifically targeting them or being simply picked up as by-catch by bream specialists. Mulloway are mostly measuring between 70-90cm and are worth keeping for the table once

they are approaching a metre in length. Smaller ones are best released, as they are often described as soapies for a reason.

The Curdies has bream in the lower reaches and while many aren’t big, they do somewhat make that up in large numbers. Remember to carefully release any undersize or unwanted fish for future captures.

Now, I recently reported on many undersize perch inhabiting the system, but one travelling bream enthusiast on a recent trip finally scored a thumper on plastics while chasing his beloved bream. Many of us have heard or seen these fish in the Curdies, as they hunt their prey on or near the surface close to the weedy banks, and have cast a lure their way in the hope of a hook-up.

Well, Corey did just that and this time the fish hit his offering with gusto and the fish was successfully boated and photographed prior to release. I am lead to believe this was Corey’s first solid Curdies perch and he was stoked to say the least.

Hopefully it was not his last.

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Isaac wrangled this impressive southern bluefin tuna on his first offshore fishing trip out of Portland with his father.

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15

Another door opens this June GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

The chill has well and truly hit, which means readjusting your sights when targeting fish around Geelong, the Bellarine and Surf Coast. Species such

as kingfish vanish but as one door closes another opens, with the chance at tuna offshore and salmon on the beaches.

FRESHWATER The Barwon River in Geelong can be a tough gig in winter, with carp and redfin pretty much shut down. Wurdee Buloc

Reservoir near Moriac is well worth a look with trout the prime target. Redfin are a little harder to catch in winter, but the ones you do encounter are often a lot bigger.

Trout tend to hang about the surface here, so try heavy shallow running lures such as Tassie Devils and Lofty’s

Finn was puffing the chest out with this fine Torquay whiting. The smile says it all.

Cobras. Mudeye under a bubble float dominates the trout, so give that a go if it is calm or you have an easterly over the shoulder.

Redfin hang deep, so use a live minnow on a running sinker rig, or deep diving lures such as heavy spoons, or soft plastics retrieved slow along the bottom.

Don’t forget that Painkalac Reservoir at Aireys Inlet was stocked with trout a year or so ago, so these should be a decent size now.

SURF COAST There were some fair schools of slimy mackerel kicking about off Barwon Heads during May. This could mean southern bluefin tuna could show up inshore at any time. Tuna to 25kg have been caught in fairly close out off Apollo Bay, so it should be our turn next!

Keeping your lures in the water is the only way you can make the news rather than read about it.

Winter is prime time for salmon on the Surf Coast beaches. Salmon can show up anywhere the sea meets the sand, but do prefer a few waves to stir it up as they love a good ambush.

Walking the beach casting lures is a great way to

Dave boated this 12kg gummy drifting out off Barwon Head. locate fish as you cover a lot of water, but there’s a lot to be said for lobbing out a bait and kicking back for a while.

Winter does see a fair run of King George whiting along the Surf Coast and Fishermans Beach in

Torquay is a well known hotspot for whiting. Dave Hase’s son Finn proudly caught a cracking 40cm King George whiting after dusk out off Fishermans Beach.

Mick Allardyce took a few local kids down to Urquhart Bluff for a fish

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JUNE 2019

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recently. Mick set a bag of berley in the wash and before too long, the kids were getting stuck into yellow eye mullet up to 40cm!

Mick also went down to Fishermans Beach on dark in search of flounder. He didn’t find any flounder but Mick says the beach was alive with mullet. Wading out a little deeper, Mick found a monster flathead around 70cm that he invited home for dinner.

The Barwon River estuary has been fishing well in the lower reaches for whiting to 40cm on the incoming tide, and they are taking pipis and squid.

BASS STRAIT Barwon Heads to Torquay had a late run of snapper from legal length to 5kg for those fishing in 40m of water. Gummy sharks have also been on the bite, with a few around the 10kg mark welcomed over the side of a few boats fishing the same 40-50m range out off Barwon Heads and the Surf Coast.

Dave Reynolds fished out off Barwon Heads with Grant Greenwood last month. The lads got a feed of flathead, the odd pinkie and Dave also boated a 12kg gummy shark drifting about in 40-50m of water using squid as bait.

BELLARINE PENINSULA The whiting appear to be hanging around this winter, which has been a welcome development.

Good numbers and sizes either side of 40cm shows they are going well! As always, keep moving if you draw a blank. Sometimes the school is only a matter of metres away, so cast about the boat as well if the current allows it.

Dean McDonald gave

Stewie inspecting the catch he and Dean worked hard for in 5m of water. them a good working over during the past few months and has caught plenty in around 2-2.5m on dusk. As the water has cooled, he has had to move about into the 5m range and the fish have been more scattered, but he has still found a few nice fish around 40cm.

Stewie Turner got a new whiting outfit for his 50th birthday, so Dean decided to take him out to give it a workout. They tried in 2.5m between Clifton Springs and Point Richards, where Dean had done well before.

Nothing happening in the shallows saw them head out wider into deeper water. In 5m of water, they found a nice patchy bottom where they caught 10 fat whiting up to 40cm before it was time to head home.

Amelia Dangaard, 12yo, headed out from Portarlington with her father Gary recently in the hope of getting a feed of whiting and squid for dinner. She succeeded in bagging out on both species in 4m of water, proudly providing a seafood feast for the whole family.

Calamari also provided

anglers with a late season bite from St Leonards to Clifton Springs. A few anglers have enjoyed the odd bag limit of calamari drifting the shallows with natural coloured jigs.

Jemma Reynolds fished with her dad Dave out off Clifton Springs recently, where she caught her first legal length whiting, which she was super pumped about.

Land-based fishos should try St Leonards, Portarlington and Queenscliff piers, as the squid have been biting well here. First and last light seems best, but I’d still give it a crack during the day.

Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in a report to slaterbunch@ optusnet.com.au with ‘VFM’ in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 997 348. Please include where (without giving away your secret spot!), when, what on and who caught the fish.

Pictures are always great, but please make sure they are at least 1MB (file size).

Amelia has the family’s seafood sorted. She and her dad managed to bag out on whiting and calamari during this session.

JUNE 2019

17

Plenty of fishing to warm up your winter blues the water clarity, strength of the tidal flow and taking note of the water depth and temperature.

I also watch for any signs of wildlife, which is nature’s way of providing some vital clues, in particular, keep an eye out for any congregations of birds in one area and any surrounding breaking water. Those who have found themselves swarmed by birds will know this is

PORT PHILLIP BAY WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.au

Winter has arrived in Melbourne, bringing with it bitterly cold winds and some much needed rain.

But fear not, as the fishing is still great during these cold conditions. Bread and butter species around Port Phillip Bay and many of our lakes and estuaries are still active. So, don’t put the fishing gear away for the cold season, instead be brave, get some warm clothes and get fishing.

I have been fishing Port Phillip Bay a lot in my boat and kayak recently. For the most part, these outings were very successful catching many fish. When I’m out in the Bay, I’m always taking time to assess my surroundings, taking note of those little things that make all the difference. This might include observing

a couple of good mates with the intentions of heading towards Campbells Cove to target some squid.

After being in the boat for only minutes and passing the first set of buoys we found ourselves surrounded by hundreds of birds. With another glance, we saw breaking water and salmon everywhere as they chased down schools of baitfish in the thousands. Without a second thought, we stopped

runabout boat, but that’s all part of the fun.

There are many challenging days on the water, and we love the ones when the fishing action is this easy. This is the peak time for salmon fishing, so keep on the lookout for any signs of salmon in your area.

The Werribee Harbour rock wall has been producing some great fishing. I have spent time taking the family for walks

A pinkie from Wyndham Harbour. Pilchards have been a top producing bait for this species.

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The author stumbled across his biggest school of salmon to date, with nearly every cast hooking a fish. a sure sign of big schools of baitfish and generally, where there are big schools of baitfish there are lots of hungry aggressive salmon.

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JUNE 2019

Pinkies are still a potential catch during these colder months.

along the marina and talking with local anglers fishing who have been more than happy to share their recent fishing stories.

Paul Alabakis explained that he has been fishing the Wyndham Harbour breakwater heavily over the past month. Bait fishing with unweighted pilchards cut in half with size 2/0 hooks. This has accounted for many pinkies between 30-50cm and the odd flathead up to 60cm.

I also chatted with Jason McClure who has been targeting mulloway.

He has been catching a few mulloway between 40-70cm casting 5” minnow imitation soft plastics and simply slow rolling them. He has also been bait fishing with paternoster rig with and chunks of pilchard and been catching plenty of mid-size pinkies. It’s great to see this area flourishing after recent investments, and this has local anglers excited.

Squid fishing around Campbells Cove has consistently been producing squid in good numbers.

Most of the catches have been on the smaller side with the odd donkey amongst them. I have been hitting this area hard in recent weeks and bagged out on most occasions. I’m finding

darker coloured squid jigs in UV blacks and reds to be the superior performers.

The size 2.5 jigs just left in the rod holders to do all

easy to understand. The app is also a good way to check your fishing licence and legal size and catch limits.

This time of year is great

Minnow, paddle-tail and worm imitation soft plastics have been working to great effect when worked slowly on the bottom. So has fresh

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Squid are very active at the moment, and darker coloured jigs have been producing quality catches. the work and the size 3.5 jigs worked slowly with some erratic lifts and pauses. The Fisheries have been actively patrolling these areas, so please make sure you stay out of the marine parks, as it is illegal to fish in these areas. This will help you avoid a hefty fine, which is the penalty for being caught

for targeting big flathead.

Local anglers have been catching flathead in good numbers from Altona Pier, and the jetties along Port Melbourne. I too have been catching flathead between 45-70cm in Williamstown and Altona, and you don’t have to fish deep water to catch a good size flathead.

baits including squid and pilchard on a running sinker rig or paternoster rig.

That’s all from me this month. Don’t forget to contact me directly if you would like to share your recent fishing experiences around Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay from Werribee through to Port Melbourne,

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Flathead catches have been around 40-70cm of late. fishing in these areas.

The Fisheries officers showed me that the Vic Fishing app has a section called ‘Can I fish here?’

When pressing on this it checks your current GPS position and informs you if you are within a restricted fishing zone. It highlights this with red, orange and green colours, making it nice

This past month my biggest flatty came while fishing from the boat in only 2m of water. We watched as this big flatty headed towards the bait, which was quite an amazing sight.

Targeting flatties with light gear is an underrated style of fishing, giving them opportunities to run and drag some line from the reel.

so they can be added to next month’s article. You can contact me via email at alan@fishingmad.com. au, check out my website at www.fishingmad.com.au, or look me up on Facebook (facebook.com/fishingmad. com.au), YouTube (youtube. com/c/fishingmad) and Instagram (instagram.com/ fishingmad.com.au).

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JUNE 2019

19

Cold snaps indicate red snaps are ahead PORT PHILLIP NE

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

Predominantly dry and calm fishing and boating conditions have continued on the Bay for the past month. The lack of any substantial rainfall and strong onshore winds has caused the inshore areas of the Bay to remain extremely clear.

As we move into winter we are beginning to receive more consistent amounts of rain, so expect this water clarity to change throughout June. The great fishing we have experienced recently could be affected, however, a good old flush of freshwater will give a big boost to the Bay’s food chain.

With so much happening and a great variety of

Young guns Harry and Ben with a solid line of calamari from Sunnyside. offshore species on offer, many of PPB’s most dedicated anglers have been looking further afield – and

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who can blame them. For those of us that have stuck around, there has been plenty on offer in the Bay to keep the dedicated local anglers busy.

Good numbers of quality snapper are still being taken out wide, right through from Mount Eliza to Mount Martha, especially in areas near the shipping channel, and on the western side of the channel itself.

The expectation at this time of year is for the snapper to make their way to the vast mud bank areas further south of the Bay. But, for many anglers the snapper fishing at the moment is actually better than it was during peak time last year. Here is hoping this continues.

Peak times have been around the high tide change and during the run-out tide, especially around first and last light, but after dark has also been a prime time.

Everyone seems to have their favourite and most successful bait, but what

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I will say is that fresh and good quality bait is worth the effort and expense. With so much on offer in the local areas, bait gathering is sometimes the easy part.

Land-based anglers have been getting amongst a few quality reds as well, especially during the few rougher days at the beginning of the month.

Boat and land-based anglers have had to endure the Bay’s very robust population of ‘keyring’ sized pinkies.

While they are annoying and great at stealing baits, they show the health of the Bay and the future of our snapper fishery.

Another really encouraging sign is the size and regularity of quality gummy sharks that are being caught by anglers chasing snapper out wide.

So much so, that plenty of anglers are targeting them specifically in our local waters and not travelling to Westernport or further east. Big baits of trevally, salmon fillets and other oily baits like eel are the most productive, and it’s a great idea to have one of these in your spread while

out on the wider marks chasing snapper.

The numbers and regularity of calamari being taken from all the popular spots continues to amaze me, after a fairly slow start to the season this year the squid fishing has been incredible. The clear water has helped keep things consistent as well and therefore smaller, more natural coloured jigs have been the most productive offering, especially for the land-based anglers.

Boating anglers can afford to upsize their jig, especially when the squid are predominantly smaller in size. Periods of low light are best, especially approaching dusk. The inshore reefs and landbased areas right along the eastern shoreline from Frankston to Safety Beach are producing good

Eoin Keaveny is pretty happy with his 50cm flathead, taken out from Mornington recently.

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JUNE 2019

numbers of calamari, with further south also producing some decent numbers.

The reefs and inshore areas have been very productive of late for smaller pinky and schoolsized snapper, especially in depths of 6-10m. While it must be said that the smaller undersized pinkies are more than a little frustrating, there’s still plenty of goodsized fish amongst them.

I’ve found fishing 4-5” plastics the most effective method of late, even while bait fishing at anchor.

This is an especially good method to get the larger fish to commit. A nice by-catch of flathead in the same areas has been a very welcome feature over the last month and should continue to get better as the water cools through winter.

Local whiting reports have once again turned on,

Kade proudly holding a couple of nice handfuls of snapper from Mt Eliza on fresh squid.

but with more consistent bags happening further south, hopefully this trend moves north to us over the next couple of months. I would also expect to see some more gars and salmon in our local waters.

The Patterson River and lake systems have been a real feature for many throughout May, with some ripper bream being taken on baits and lures.

There has been some great bread and butter fishing for mullet along the river banks and small salmon are being caught near the mouth. There has also been plenty of reports of estuary perch being taken on lures in the canals, which I would expect to continue over the winter months as well.

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Have patience through June MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Julian Frank

Winter has officially started and the typical June weather patterns will bring plenty of cold fronts through, but we

jetty. Plenty of berley and your favourite bait will do the job.

North of the Fort we experienced some great snapper fishing in late May, and I’m sure we can expect to see plenty of good fish caught right through June.

mornings off the piers. There have been good numbers of fish but only small bite windows, which has been a common occurrence the last few years.

This generally picks up, so don’t worry too much if you don’t get onto fish the

PORTSEA It’s that time of year, when the big breeder calamari are about. Often fishing the early mornings from the pier tends to be best. Throughout the moorings, if you’re in a boat it also helps to fish around the slack water. I have often found smaller jigs to work quite well during this stage of the tide. Standout colours are red foils and natural baitfish patterns.

BACK BEACHES The mornings and days are flat out with surf fishers and it can be hard to get a good spot if you’re a bait fisho. For the anglers who prefer a good walk, take a light pack and spin lures with you.

Although both methods of fishing work very well, spinning will often increase your catch rate as you are so unrestricted and can move constantly, fishing each and every hole or gutter you come across.

The best baits are salted

Xavier Broomfield hauled this winter beast gummy out wider off Rye.

Anglers have had some really good flathead catches lately. will have some extremely good days to get out and enjoy some excellent fishing on the Peninsula.

ROSEBUD For the avid land-based fisho Rosebud Jetty in June is generally a good place for salmon and garfish.

Use small metal slugs or soft plastics to target the salmon. They often reside in the shallows, while on calmer days gar are often found at the end of the

RYE Rye is probably one of the better places to look for a feed of flathead at the moment.

Fishing the mornings will produce some nice gummy shark. There are plenty of 6-10kg specimens about, with a few bigger sharks north of the Fort.

BLAIRGOWRIE AND SORRENTO We have had reports of salmon in the early

first time as they can show back up during the day.

The squid fishing may not be as good from the pier, but get the boat out and fish amongst the moorings and you will hit your bag limit within a reasonable time frame.

You will start to see patches of squid eggs if the water is clear enough (a great indication of some big squid swimming close by).

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Those fishing in kayaks have been taking some cracker redfin. Perch are holding up in deeper pockets of water in good schools, a little patience goes a long way with this species.

If you’re targeting trout, trolling blue and pink wounded baitfish imitation lures has provided good results.

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Ready for a jumbo swordfight GAMEFISHING

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

It’s hard to believe that as we roll into June the fishing for seriously big fish is getting better, not to mention the added factor of the cooler weather. As for bluewater anglers it’s now time to get more warm clothing on and watch for the breaks in the weather to get out and chase two species that have put Victoria on the map - tuna and swordfish! If the past months are anything to go by, then this month should be something special.

TUNA TIME The tuna bite has continued quite nicely with a steady stream of jumbo tuna getting caught each week. It has been over a fairly spread out area with fish being found anywhere from just over the South Australian border at Port MacDonnell through to east of Julia Percy Island and Port Fairy.

Saying that, I’m fairly confident that this month will also see locations such as Apollo Bay start to fire up with big tuna.

This will hopefully lead into some great fishing for the upcoming Apollo Bay Tuna Tournament in July, hosted by the Victorian Gamefishing Club. For more info head to VGFC.com.au.

What has also been interesting over the past weeks has been the food source the big fish have been chowing down on.

The majority of it has been small redbait in the 3-5” size and has caused plenty of frustration for anglers as they see big tuna busting up all around, even in the lure spread, but not get a bite. It is just like yellowfin tuna on

the East Coast, when they are busting up on baitfish it can be one of the hardest times to get a bite as they are so focused on the real food that our offerings are ignored.

Nevertheless, it does

have been falling to pink based lures, as it imitates the redbait. Popular colours are Paris, Mia, JB redbait, Otto and super redbait are proving deadly. Saurie and pilchard patterns, such as

Luke Lamers with a mahimahi from the Horseshoe off Portland. still pay to take note of the baitfish. On a recent trip, some fish were clearly feeding on redbait, whereas another patch was tearing up sauries. Some of the deep bait we marked and caught was arrow squid, so with this info you can base your lure choices around this. It is also worth looking at what colour lures are showing up in photos of fish being caught.

Recently, a lot of the tuna

Big Dog and Evil, have also been deadly. Add to this the squid colours, such as Petro and Angry Arrow in bigger lures, have accounted for quite a few fish.

Some weeks have seen a real swing to other patterns with one period in late April and early May seeing the tuna grab onto green patterned lures for a week or so.

I always say to customers

that you should run lures that you are confident in and green is always a favourite that catches loads of fish.

So no matter what lures are being recommended and are catching fish, if you have a lure colour or pattern you like or have had success on previously, then make sure you run it.

While the jumbo tuna take a lot of the focus on the front, the school tuna have been great out wide along the shelf and around the Horseshoe. There have been plenty of fish in the 10-20kg bracket holding along these areas, while out wider the 1000m area has had plenty of albacore. These days the wide grounds aren’t fished nearly as often as expected, probably because a lot of the focus is on the big tuna, which tend to hold in along the coast in 30-70m of water.

In saying that though getting stuck into a hot school tuna bite out on the shelf is loads of fun and something I love doing. As an added bonus every year mahimahi turn up after they have travelled from Western Australia on the Leeuwin current. These are always a very welcoming addition to your catch, just like one of my mates Luke Lamers (pictured) caught a few weeks back.

SWORDFIGHT Heading east this month sees us well and truly roll into swordfish season.

A number of big swords move into the canyons that lie along the continental shelf between Wilsons Promontory in the west and Mallacoota in the east to feed and fatten up on the abundant food source in this area. The Bass Canyon off Lakes Entrance and the Everard canyon off Mallacoota/Cape Conran is the most accessible for trailer boat anglers.

Over the past weeks there has been some solid swords caught by anglers with Steve Taranto and his

Dougie Bauer’s first sword from Lakes Entrance with the Home Strait crew. crew putting in the hard yards and getting the results with swords ranging from 117-190kg. The boys and other boats are also tagging their fair share, which is great to see.

If you’re after a sword then this month will be a prime time to get serious about watching for calm weather patterns to head out the big distances required to fish the grounds.

I always follow the fundamental things I’ve learnt or been shown by anglers such as Richie Abela. Firstly, have a good sounder with a great transducer so you can find the feed or scatter layer – without it you won’t see the prime areas.

Secondly, have your baits (either squid or a small fish bait) rigged perfectly, do it at home so they are done properly and not rushed.

Third, always treat every bite as a swordfish – a 200kg sword bite can hardly move a rod tip so always have someone watching the rod.

Lastly, and possibly the best tip Richie ever rammed into my head, if you’re fishing for possibly a giant fish (upwards of 400kg in weight), always be prepared! Tackle has to be 100%, so make sure you have adequate gear for landing fish with appropriate gaffs and ropes.

Once landed we take the time to get good photos.

I always have a bunch of big towels to cover the fish and keep it wet while heading back in. Once on land the work really begins, make sure you have ice or ice boxes, a proper set of filleting and cleaning knives and bags to put the meat in. You will have fish to eat for months.

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23

Gummies are the gift that keeps on giving PPB OFFSHORE

Gerry Morsman

While the weather and the water temperatures are getting much colder, the fishing is still heating up. It’s no secret that the flavour of the month is the powerful running gummy shark! Gummy sharks hang around all year and some even say that they are

more prolific throughout the winter months.

There were a few elephant fish being caught as by-catch over the last month and at a guess I would say that they are fish leaving Western Port Bay. Elephant fish will head up the top end of Western Port around Corinella and even higher around Bouchier and Boulton channels.

These fish head up there in the thousands to spawn

in the shallow muddy water and then head back out offshore and sit in around 800m of water waiting to do it all again. They are purely a catch and release fish for myself, but I have tried them in the past and they are definitely edible, with the flavour not being far from gummy shark flake.

Some would say different, but there are people that love eating them. We all have

Gummy shark have been around in numbers, and the cold weather does not deter them.

different tastes.

MAKO SHARKS Even though the water temps don’t seem to be ideal for makos, there have still been some great reports coming through, which is great to see. Jack Closter was out fishing with mates and was drifting out the front of Kilkunda. The team was set on a big capture and that’s exactly what they got, landing a ripper of a shark weighing in at around 100kg.

There have been plenty of other reports of smaller ones around that 30-40kg mark, with locations stretching all the way from Barwon Heads to the eastern entrance leading out of Western Port Bay. I would say that Cape Schanck has still been the hotspot in around 40m of water.

SQUID Squid fishing is not seasonal. They will hang around all year long, giving us the opportunity to have a never-ending supply of fun and calamari rings. I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds pretty good!

One of the great things about targeting them offshore is that they are generally big and in great numbers, and for most

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This rig allows your bait to sit off the bottom while letting your sinker break away when a gummy shark runs through the reef. The 3-way swivel also allows for the gummy shark to turn and spin without pulling hooks. anglers that’s music to the ears. There are multiple ways of targeting them while out there, but the most popular and successful methods has been hitting the inshore reefs around Flinders area and casting large squid jigs.

You don’t need the heavy jigs, as there isn’t as much tidal flow offshore as in areas such as Tyabb and Quail banks in Western Port, and Sorrento and Queenscliff in Port Phillip

Bay. Instead you need the larger jigs, as the bigger squid love a bigger target.

There is no harm in anchoring up close to shore over reef and using bait jigs, but the reports say that using standard jigs is definitely the way to go. Another great method is to find reef in areas such as Cape Schanck and Pyramid in around 30m of water and use a dropper styled rig with a sinker to get your jigs down to the bottom. There is a good

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chance you will also get big cuttlefish using this method.

FLATHEAD Chasing flathead offshore is one of my favourite forms of fishing.

The reason for this is that it isn’t a complicated form of fishing by any means and you can target them just about anywhere. One of the most successful places has been out the front of Woolamai in around 30m of water. You don’t need to anchor, instead getting on the drift is the way to go.

Using small squid strips on a running sinker rig is

get enough of them fishing offshore around Melbourne, as there is an abundance of big gummy sharks hanging around. Many anglers are led to believe that gummy sharks are a summer fish along with snapper, but what they don’t realise is that they are known to be much more prolific through the winter months.

Yes, you have to deal with other sharks, such as the seven-gilled shark, because they love the colder water, but you can narrow down the amount of sevengilled you catch by fishing

areas for gummy sharks is that they, like other sharks, have an incredible nose.

That nose can detect any fresh bait that is down from a long way away and water movement helps that dramatically.

Over the years the most popular way to target them has been drifting and while that is still an effective way of catching them, anchoring up has seemed to be the way to go. I think the reason for this is that you can catch your fresh baits over the reef you are fishing on and you can create a berley trail

Jack Closter shows us just how good our fishery is with this cracking mako shark caught while fishing Melbourne offshore. ideal, as this allows the bait to cruise along the bottom and the drift and movement of the boat allows the squid to move around, tempting any hungry flathead along the sand flats to attack your bait. Using paddle-tail soft plastics will also work very well, imitating a lost baitfish perfectly. You can also use this same method when fishing depths over 100m and doing this give you a very good chance at catching a tiger flathead, which are an incredible eating fish.

GUMMY SHARKS What an incredible season we are having on these big, grey steam trains! Many anglers and myself just can’t

during the day. This is a much safer option when fishing offshore, especially because you have to make your way back through the entrances into the bay, which can be a bit hairy at the best of times.

There have been reports all over, but the best areas have been around Pyramid Rock and Cape Schanck.

The reasons these areas fish so well is because they are much more tidal. Just like all fishing, the saying goes ‘no flow, no go’ and even though you will still catch gummies in other areas, these seem to be the most productive.

Another reason why it is better to fish in more tidal

in the current, which allows the gummy sharks to come to you because of their great sense of smell.

The baits most people are using are parrotfish and barbers perch, which are in huge numbers off the reefs you will be fishing on. If you find you can’t catch them, keep checking your sounder for bait under the boat.

There is plenty of baitfish like yakkas and slimy mackerel that get attracted to your boat. The key is to berley hard with small pilchard fillets to keep them there. To catch them, you simply use a small pilchard fillet and let it dangle around 10m under the boat.

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25

Calamari are in abundance in the top end WESTERN PORT NTH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

The cold weather is finally here, but that hasn’t stopped anglers from heading out over recent weeks. The top end of the Port has been a bit hit and miss, and the recent rains has made the shallow banks a lot more silted

impressive run of calamari.

Calamari have been in abundance in recent week and their size is extremely impressive. Although the big spawners don’t tend to show up until October, the calamari that are in the Port at the moment are huge.

Anglers fishing the Quail and Tyabb banks have been doing very well on the high tide with size 3.0 jigs the go to.

In saying that, the Middle Spit is also producing large numbers of calamari for those drifting alongside the banks with the tide. Due to the strength of the tides, it does pay to fish two hours either side of the slack, which will allow your jigs to get down due to the lesser current.

If you’re up for exploring new locations away from the crowds, the channel that runs inside Sandstone Island and

Calamari can be found along the weedy banks within the Port.

There are plenty of big calamari about, check out the size of the head compared to the 3.0 jig. up than normal. This has made fishing for whiting a bit more challenging, but if the time is put in, the rewards are there.

Whiting are thinning out at the moment due to the cooler water temperatures but can still be found up in the shallows. While they do favour the warmer water, fishing the top of the high tides along the banks has been a good location to try.

Remember, at this time of year berley is a must due to their lower numbers.

Browns Reserve, Gentle Annie and Charring Cross are still producing good fish along with Joes Island and the shallow bank at the top of the Eastern Channel near French Island.

Whiting aside, most of the action in the top end has been centred around the

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chunks and calamari rings.

LAND-BASED Land-based fishing in the top end of the Port is always challenging due to the lack of access. However, Stony Point Pier and Hastings Jetty are quite profitable fishing locations. Throughout this time of year, you can expect to catch silver trevally, whiting, garfish, calamari and the odd pinkie snapper, while at Hastings yellow eye mullet are the most common species caught.

If you’re looking to tangle with something a little more sizeable, the jetty at Warneet can surprise many anglers. Known for its run of calamari throughout this time of year, fishing the high tides with either a live

mullet, live calamari or even just a fresh calamari ring can be tempting enough for one of the mysterious mulloway to engulf.

Most of the mulloway hooked are rarely landed due to anglers having inadequate tackle for the battle. In saying that, there are many channels markers and boat moorings that the fish bust anglers off on. With this known, if you are planning on heading down to the Warneet Jetty to try your luck, ensure you have the tackle to stop these brutal fish before it’s too late.

There is no denying that autumn and winter is tough in the top end, but there are still plenty of fishing options and some lovely fish to be caught if you put in the time.

There is no shortage of calamari from the Port as Justin Blythe, Heng Hryken and Houth In found out. Photo courtesy of Justin Blythe.

All you need to worry about are the fish

26

its surrounding weedy banks is a hotspot for calamari.

In saying that, from the entrance into the Hastings Channel right along and down to Stony Point features some of the best ground to target and catch calamari, and whiting for that matter, at this time of year.

Although the bank is

shallow, and size 3.0 jigs are effective, you might need to drop down to a 2.5, so have them at the ready.

Gummy sharks are also a common catch throughout the winter-autumn and winter period in the top end, but tend to be on the smaller size compared to those down the Western Entrance.

Personally speaking, when fishing the top end, I really do prefer to fish the run-out tides. This way, the fish that are feeding up in the shallows will make their way into the channels with the falling tide. Anchoring along the edge of the channel is where you’ll encounter them, and I’d advise you to use fresh baits such as yakka

Justin Blythe has been dominating the whiting in the top end of the Port lately. Photo courtesy of Justin Blythe.

Land-based fishing will be on fire this month WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Western Port’s bottom end always fires at this time of year, mainly due to it being open to Bass Strait.

The temperatures have dropped somewhat, but the fishing is still firing for a range of species.

The Corinella area has slowed a little but gummy sharks can still be caught for

area. Throughout this stretch, whiting, calamari, flathead and garfish are all reliable catches. Of course, the closer you fish to Reef Island the greater chance you have at calamari, flathead and garfish.

Below the San Remo Bridge, calamari have been in abundance with landbased anglers tangling with some real beasts. Cleeland Bight has been the prime spot, with baited jigs fished under floats the most

have averaged a kilo but there have been some larger fish mixed in.

Similar fishing has been down the Western Entrance. There have still been respectable catches of whiting along the Phillip Island coastline from Cowes to McHaffies Reef, and it is worth paying particular attention to Ventnor. Fish in shallow, around 3-5m, and try to find some sand holes, as this is where they’ll be.

Further down at Cat

Justin Blythe and his customer displaying a solid thresher shark from Bass Strait. Photo courtesy of Justin Blythe.

If the conditions are nice, you can always make a run offshore. Justin Blythe did just this a few weeks ago, and this trip saw a cracking thresher shark coming onboard. With the cooler weather you’d think the pelagic sharks have all

autumn and winter, gummy sharks tend to be the main target but finding suitable locations can sometimes be challenging. But I have heard good reports from Stockyard Point, Lang Lang, Settlement Point, Balnarring and Point Leo. Out of all of

shallow, but the gummies do push up onto the flats to feed and while you won’t catch a monster from here, you can bet you’ll catch a few fish ranging 3-8kg.

Other highly productive land-based gummy shark locations are Point Leo

Gummy sharks will be the best species to target from land throughout June. those fishing in the channels.

Mosquito Channel is a very productive channel and although most anglers target mulloway here, gummy sharks are also abundant.

At this time of year I prefer to fish the Coronet Bay to San Remo Bridge

effective method.

There have also been schools of salmon frequenting the mouth of the Eastern Entrance and for anglers trolling hardbody lures and casting soft plastics, they have been a lot of fun. Most of the salmon

Bay, there are some monster calamari hanging around.

These guys are the real string pullers and respond well to 3.0 and 3.5 sized jigs. If you get a nice day, it is worth venturing down here working depths ranging 5-8m over the weed beds.

Benny White and Daniel Gatt had a slow start to this session, but managed to wrangle in this gummy, followed by two others.

Before and after the full moon are the best times to target gummy this month.

gone, but it seems not.

Offshore fishing is also very good at the beginning of winter, and this month should see nice conditions for gummy sharks. It still astounds me how few anglers fish out here at this time of year when the rewards are great. Drift fishing is very productive for gummies, some of which are in excess of 20kg. In saying that, you can always pick up a nice bag of big flathead and a few pinkie snapper as well.

LAND-BASED Land-based fishing in the Port has been about the best I can remember in recent times. Throughout

them only Stockyard Point is a low tide fishery while the others are all high tide fisheries.

Regardless, when targeting gummies at this time of year you do need to be fishing the moons for best results. The lead up to the full moon and after the full are the prime times, but don’t disregard the new moon.

A few anglers have been braving the cold and doing well from Stockyard Point, although the best reports have been from Lang Lang.

Of course, you do need to fish the high tide here and during the night is preferred.

This location is quite

and Balnarring and these locations fire all autumn/winter.

Justin Blythe has been dominating the gummies from the beach in recent weeks, he has been rewarded well in the cold conditions with some very respectable gummies.

Fresh baits are always the key with calamari, yakka and silver trevally the best baits offered.

It is really is a great time of year to be land-based fishing in Western Port and though it can be extremely cold, if you can brave the conditions the rewards will be there.

JUNE 2019

27

Winter wonders to wind in PHILLIP ISLAND

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This would have to be the best time of year to catch fish to eat. Cooler water temperatures and cooler days, so the fish don’t cook in the icebox on the way home is a plus and the fish themselves have a winter coat with a healthy fat layer under the skin.

All of the above goes a long way towards a quality feed of fish that tastes much better than the same species caught in the warmer summer waters. Those who catch gummies offshore will tell you that a gummy caught offshore in the deep water during the summer will taste much different than those caught in the bay. It goes for most table fish that are caught in the bay

when they come up onto the flats to feed. If you are fishing for the whiting through winter, don’t forget to have your squid jig hanging over the side and always put out a bigger bait in case a gummy is swimming past.

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August to December we see the bigger snapper, through January to March we see plenty of pinkies and the odd snapper, then through the winter months we are seeing more and more caught in the bay, but the area that has improved the most is on the offshore reefs.

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Zahli says she loves fishing in the boat with dad but says it’s even better when she catches a decent fish. and offshore.

Whiting have started to get that winter coat and the fish we have seen lately are very thick for their length. Numbers are about what you would expect and not too many are bagging out, but when the whiting you are catching are each big enough for a meal, you don’t need to bag out.

It’s coming down to fishing tides. The days are a bit cooler so you’ll need some extra layers and showing some patience will find you a good feed. The whiting reports we get through the winter tend to come from many different spots and generally rely on what the wind is doing, so get to a spot where the boat will sit the best.

When whiting fishing through winter the boat traffic is significantly less and that leads to more catches on the edge of the main channels on the turn of the ebb tide

Steve and his mates have been chasing winter snapper and finding some quality specimens.

The other thing we saw far more than normal was very small pinkies, and when I say small I mean 10-15cm and by the hundreds. The schools would show up on the whiting grounds and you would need to move to get away from them.

If you are heading out in the bay for a winter snapper, quality berley and bait are key, also try some oily or bloody baits like tuna, ‘couta or mackerel. The best results have Come when you fish the areas you would normally fish for them in the later part of the snapper season, even onto the shallow mud areas. You will naturally catch more rays or rubbish, but that is just winter unfortunately.

If you’re heading offshore, pick your days and head to the area from the Powlett to the second or third windmill in about 25m of water, but don’t put the lighter gear out because the chances of a good

There is no age limit for fishing, here Jaylon is concentrating on landing his flathead.

gummy or even a big sevengiller are very good in that area. If you are heading to that area to fish, keep an eye on the weather because if the wind blows up, especially from the southeast, it will start to stand up very quickly and if you are anchored you can get caught out. It’s also an ordinary trip home on a southeasterly wind.

This winter could bring anything if the season so far is anything to go by, with plenty of species we don’t often see. Some species you can expect are nannygai, sergeant baker, bluefin tuna, school shark, snapper, plenty of rock flathead in the bay, garfish to 42cm and many others.

The usual quality table fish, whiting in the bay and flathead offshore, were inconsistent but improved as the season went on and are still fishing well.

Salmon have started to show up closer to the beaches, as they have been in very big schools offshore chasing all the baitfish that have been around. The problem is the weed is becoming a big problem and fishing the surf at times is all but impossible.

Generally, you can pick the days the weed will be bad but lately it just seems to be there all the time.

There are periods through the tide that it eases off and you get a good run without losing too much gear, but it is making it difficult to fish at night when you can’t see what’s in the water. When it is weedy and you want to have a fish on the surf, leave the bait behind and grab the shoulder bag and a handful of lures and walk the beach. This way you can pick and choose the clean water in between the weed. I also find this forces you to fish a section of water you might not normally fish, which can get you out of a sometimes stubborn routine to explore new ground.

BLACK MAGIC

/ W I T H PA U L L E N N O N

MASTER CLASS

Score some magic mulloway There’s no doubt when it comes to fishing the estuary the mulloway is the ultimate prize, especially those trophysized fish over 20kg.

While there are many different habitats inside an estuary that can produce mulloway, the best areas for these big fish are the deep holes and channels that are scattered throughout most systems.

These deep-water estuary environments can be 15-40m depending on what

places creates eddies where baitfish will congregate.

The tides affect these areas, with some areas becoming virtually unfishable outside of tide changes. This is why all planned fishing sessions in these parts needs to revolve around tide changes with around an hour before to an hour after being the prime time.

Fishing times can be longer or shorter depending on tide variances, as neap tides give you more fishing time and spring tides much less.

for this, which is still only relatively new but already has a cult following for mulloway due to its lethal conversion rate, is the 8/0 Black Magic KLT pattern.

The good thing about these hooks is the hook-up rate doesn’t change whether you’re getting harassed by small school class mulloway or hooked-up to a 30kg monster.

For squid I use another the Black Magic C-Point suicide pattern in 6/0-8/0, depending on bait size.

While the paternoster rig is popular for this type of

of the rod.

Reels can be either spin or over head suited to hold around 300m of 30lb braid. Mulloway are not typically dirty fighters, especially when fishing straight up and down in deep water, so there is no need to go any heavier then 30lb braid. I’ve been using the Black Magic rainbow braid for both my personal and charter boat work and I find it to be the best stuff I’ve come across. It’s colour coded, which lets you know exactly where your bait is situated in the water column.

While most of the time the rule of thumb is to drop your bait down to hit the bottom and then wind up a metre or two, sometimes you will spot markings on your sounder higher up in the water column.

These can often be feeding mulloway attacking bait balls and this is where the colour coded line can come in handy, as you know exactly how much you’ve dropped down or wound up.

A deep water estuary mulloway about to be brought onboard.

Three large mulloway show up well on the sounder. It pays to have a look around in various spots before you commit to fishing there. estuary system you’re fishing. They are the darkest, quietest places in the system, which has a lot to do with why mulloway often lurk in them, especially during daylight hours. They offer not only refuge from the disco going on above but also a place holding plenty of food.

This is particularly the case on those holes with steep sudden drops, as the tidal flow going over the top of these

Because of depth and tidal flow, lure fishing in theses parts can be difficult, so the best way is to drift right on the slack water period tea-bagging large plastics on 1oz jigheads.

However, the best way to fish here is to live bait using slimy mackerel, yellowtail, pike tailor or freshly caught whole squid.

For live baiting, a single large circle hook pinned just behind the fish’s shoulder will give the best hook-up rate. By far the best circle

fishing, I prefer a heavy duty swivel with a large no. 8 barrel sinker above it. Between the swivel and the hook I run a short length of 40lb Black Magic fluorocarbon leader. I find with the abrasion resistance this leader has I don’t need to go heavier, even on jumbo class mulloway.

For mulloway outfits, I would go with something around 7ft rated to around 15kg with a forgiving tip that quickly locks up in the bottom two thirds

The KLT hook has a good hook-up rate for deep water mulloway.

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The grind, the elation, the first glimpse of that greenback coming up through the water from the granite banks – Copeton Dam is the pinnacle when it comes to Murray cod fishing in Australia.

But don’t let this fool you into thinking it’s easy.

A lot of the best anglers can still come away fishless after spending a week on the water braving the conditions.

THE GEAR Swimbaits are the biggest craze in this area, and a dedicated rod to throw these lures, big paddlers and snakes is a must.

making it easy for fish to zone in on.

Big plastics custom rigged are another good option and are quite easy to use. They are also a little more cost effective.

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A standard healthy Murray cod from the Copeton area.

With fish over 100lb a realistic possibility, it is no wonder that anglers from all over the country and the world travel to the mecca that is Copeton. It has a reputation in bringing grown men to their knees, because of the fish, but also the freezing cold winter conditions that a lot of the cod gurus endure in their search for green.

PRIME TIME With the cod closed season now lifted for Copeton, as well as a couple of other lakes around the country, you are now able to fish this magical place all year round.

However, winter time if by far the prime time for trophy fish. It’s freezing cold and tough fishing, but the rewards are there for those that put in the effort and can grind it out. Fish over 1m are common and a true fish of a lifetime is on offer every time you have a lure in the water.

The Dobyns Fury range has been a good option for rods. The 795 and 806 models are my favourites and they throw big lures with ease, and can handle really big fish.

THE RIG With the quality of braid these days and the PE rating, it doesn’t hurt to bump up the breaking strain on your braid as it’s the same thickness as some of the lighter stuff.

Siglon PEx8 in 40-60 is ideal, and is what I like to use.

BAIT AND LURES There is a wide variety of ways to catch these fish and it’s always good to mix it up and have a variety of lures and baits to try out until you find what works.

Swimbaits in that 180-220mm size are perfect for here, and larger baits tend to standout better in big open water.

Big paddlers (surface lures) are also a must as they create lots of noise and disturbance on the surface,

BEST METHOD Just cast and cast and cast, then when you’ve had enough, cast some more.

Working rocky points, timber, and banks is a good way to start.

There isn’t any shortage of structure in the lake, so the fish can literally be anywhere. It just comes down to time on the water.

The more you’re out there, the better chance you’ll have at hooking a fish.

MOTHER NATURE This area is freezing.

Rug up, stay dry, and keep those hands as warm as you possibly can. In the mornings it can be so cold that you can’t tie a lure or even use a pair of scissors because your fingers won’t move.

HOT TIP As I mentioned before, you can never put in enough casts. That is one of the keys, and if you can get in that frame of mind, that’s half the battle.

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A true giant in the net caught on a Lucky Craft swimbait.

JUNE 2019

31

Going to be a jaw-dropping month of surprises been crowing about the area for the last four months and it’s nice to see a couple of other anglers finally agreeing with me. The lake is full of shrimp and I also see massive schools of mullet and garfish at the moment and I’m sure the sandworm are back in the area. And the local eel netter says he is still releasing loads of big prawns as by-catch, so there’s a real smorgasbord there for the predators.

WELLINGTON LURE FISHING While on the subject of my favourite lake, I took

GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

The great bream fishing continues and for the last five months it’s been hard to write about anything else. This month I stumbled across a few anglers catching very big bream while bait fishing with something that truly surprised me. There’s plenty of great fishing in the Tambo and especially the lower Nicho River, but for this month I’m going to concentrate on the western extremes of the lake.

CARP FILLETS I’ve seen some amazing things in bream fishing over the last 25 years. I mean, who would ever think that black bream in the Gippy Lakes would eat surface lures or tiny metal blades and even to this day I shake my head in shock at the creative ways to target this fish.

What I saw the other day was right up there as one of those bream stories that

is hard to believe. While I was getting my kayak out of the Latrobe River a couple of keen young anglers were busy hooking big bream while fishing from the bank.

SEASON

6

Andy and Roderick were quick to approach me and hold up a few bream, with one of them 41cm. I assumed they had caught them on frozen prawn, but Andy corrected me and said, “Nah mate, we caught them on carp meat.” WHAT?!

I could not believe it, but they showed me the fresh carp fillets they were slicing up. In fact, only the carp were eating the prawn bait and not the bream.

Another angler there was Andrew from Sale and he was the instigator to the whole carp bait scenario and said he’s been using it for a long time. He told me the bream refused to touch the prawn or even the cured worm he had been trying and the only success was on the cubes of fresh carp. It proves once more that when it comes to bream fishing the surprises just keep popping up every year.

LIVE SHRIMP Moments later after talking to the ‘carp bait gurus’ a couple of duck shooters came in from Lake Wellington. They said that by using bait traps and collecting live shrimp they had fished the edges of the lake. They nearly had my jaw dropping yet again when they said that some sessions had resulted in 30 or even 40 big bream caught and released.

I believe this because I’ve

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on JUNE 2019

away watched an angler on the bank pull in his 13th bream for the morning! All caught on frozen prawn and three of those bream were over legal size.

I dropped my blade down and started working the lure out from the edges. Before long I pulled up my first bream at 28cm and I only fished for another hour and landed two more bream right at the bridge. One day soon I’ll go searching a few km up and downstream of the Swing Bridge to see what I can find, because there will be more

A 44cm bass was a real surprise catch while fishing Lake Wellington recently. This cracker was caught while blading up some big bream.

A 45cm bream takes a dive for freedom and it’s always a pleasure to release big fish.

32

and both were not ‘record breakers’! This may be the only chance I ever get to give Prykey some of his own medicine. I had a huge home ground advantage, but it was a joy to show him just how good my backyard has been fishing and he was more than impressed.

He also found it hard to believe how I got a lot of big bream jigging blades in just 2-3ft of water. Prykey certainly impressed me with his angling skills when he sight fished and landed two monster carp about 5kg

Andy Brown and his mate Roderick live and fish in Sale. They have caught heaps of thumping bream on cubes of fresh carp meat. fellow Fishing Monthly scribe Steven Pryke with me for a day out and we used the kayaks to explore the area using bream lures.

I’m sure most of you know that Prykey is also a gun bream comp angler and I was looking forward to him showing me a few angling tricks. Let me now bask in a moment of shameless glory and (with tongue in cheek) remind my good friend of what happened that day.

Not only did I pull in 21 ripper bream to 1.36kg that morning, but I also landed a surprise 44cm bass. Prykey only scraped in two bream, landing his first fish about three hours in and another one about four hours later

each on lures using just a 4lb leader!

BREAM CAUGHT IN SALE For my last surprise in this report I have to tell you about all the bream pushing way upstream into the Thomsom River. The Swing Bridge is an iconic local landmark situated almost right in the township of Sale and I’d heard whispers of bream to 43cm caught there recently. It’s usually only ever full of dirty water and carp, so it was time to check it all out. I’d heard many stories from 20-40 years ago about how bream, bass, redfin and perch had been caught there, especially before carp arrived.

I put the kayak in under the Swing Bridge and straight

bream there for sure. I also know of huge yellowbelly that live in the area and some have measured well over 3kg.

These whopper golden perch have escaped from dams many years ago.

According to the Victorian Fisheries Authority carp are classified as a noxious aquatic species. This means it is an offence to possess, transport or release live carp, or use live carp (including all forms of carp and goldfish) as fishing bait. However, it is perfectly legal to use the fillets as fishing bait as long as you dispose of the carcass away from the waterway and do not move from the location you caught it when using the bait.

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Lack of water does not limit your catches LAKES ENTRANCE

Steven Pryke

With winter here Lakes Entrance, along with other coastal towns, have gone back to being quiet seaside villages. Throughout May consistent fishing was found throughout the lower Gippsland Lakes and Lake Tyers. The unseasonable lack of rain has seen Lake Tyers at an all time low, and this has made some areas unreachable and mud flats stand where water used to.

LAKES ENTRANCE The town wharfs are back in form, with silver trevally making a strong appearance around these areas, the

Ferrymans Café Wharf and Post Office Wharf have had good numbers of anglers fishing. Silver trevally are great light tackle sportfish with anglers are having a ball catching them.

These fish are mostly being targeted with either pilchards or peeled prawn fished on a paternoster tight to cover. Lightly-weighted grubs or creature style soft plastics are always deadly for trevally, especially when fished on slack line allowing the plastic to slowly drop and move naturally through the water column.

Yellowfin bream seem to be rising consistently in the lower lakes. The traditional black bream has been hard

Sizeable King George whiting have been in reasonable numbers around Metung.

to find in the lower lakes in areas such as Metung Nungurner and Lakes Entrance. Personally, I believe the yellowfin bream will become the dominant species in the lower lakes.

Anglers have begun to embrace these fish, and with such quality fish up for grabs, why wouldn’t you!

These yellowfin bream are more migratory but they have similar habits of holding tight to cover and the same diet. Many lure anglers have gone and targeted these great fish, with some monster yellowfin bream being caught. Typically, hardbody crab imitations and grubs have been the pick for lures.

The best method has been fishing tight to cover. These bream have been hard to tempt once located, as they are being found in some of the clearest water in the Gippsland Lakes, so they can be very line shy.

LAKE TYERS Lakes Tyers is the lowest I’ve ever seen it, with arms and mud flats cut off from the system or high and dry. This lack of water has changed the fishery, forcing fish out of the small back creeks and shallow bays into the main lake basin and deeper

Tailor are a common by-catch throughout the cold months. channels. Decreasing water levels has meant access to the higher reaches has been limited, with Nowa Nowa Arm only suitable for kayaks at the moment with the propeller-destroying reef sticking out of the water opposite the ramp.

This low water level has kept the water temperature up, so many anglers are still having consistent

success fishing jerkbait style hardbodies or soft plastic flickbaits worked high in the water column.

The Nowa Nowa Arm is still producing, but the timber covered edges it’s known for are mostly dry. The limited timber in the water has meant fish such as bream have moved and focused on the deeper timber, with good

numbers of bream holding on one snag due to the lack of cover.

HAVE YOU BEEN FISHING? If you have been out for a fish lately and have a great pic, please send to stevenprykefishing@ gmail.com with a short description and you could be featured in the next edition of Fishing Monthly.

Wondrous winter fish BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

Winter is finally here, but more excitingly, it is the official opening of the bream season, and what a season we have ahead.

This winter we are expecting to see an amazing fishing season.

The entrance was opened in early April and has remained open throughout May. This has seen a huge influx of fish, including fresh bream, luderick, trevally and tailor.

The water level is low but the fishing has been excellent, especially for those visiting the area.

We had one of the best

seasons in a long time over autumn.

Bream have been dominant throughout the entire system, including the river and the mouth of Mud and Swan lakes, the Mahogoneys and for the brave who sneak past Pelican Point.

The keener anglers who have ventured into the river have been rewarded with some excellent catches of perch jigging with lures.

The channel has always been a popular location with anglers chasing tailor and luderick.

One tailor recently weighed in at 4.2kg and most luderick coming in between 32-42cm.

These are now becoming sought after table

fish, giving the bream a run in the popularity stakes.

The surf has seen strong numbers of tailor and salmon consistently for the past two months, with by-catches of large trevally and sea bream.

• So, now is the time to plan your winter fishing trip to Bemm River. Give me a call on 0427 584 233 – the phone is always in my pocket! For on the spot and up-to-date fishing reports check out Robyn’s website: www. bemmaccommodation. com.au or ‘like’ us on Facebook – Bemm River Holiday Accommodation Phone: (03) 5158 4233/ Mob. 0427 584 233 Email: bemmaccomm@ bigpond.com.

Graham Borland with a 47cm perch that he released.

Hardbody lures have been killer on this species.

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Winter whiting and all the other wonders CORNER INLET

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

With the arrival of winter on our doorsteps, old school anglers might think it’s time to put the rods back in the rod racks, but after reading this report you will see that’s not how it works these days, as we have some phenomenal fishing to look forward to.

About five years ago if you were told that Victoria is a great place to catch kingfish in winter your

and Franklin channels still loaded with goodsized kingfish ranging from 65-75cm.

The offshore fishery is full of just legal 60-80cm fish, with anglers seeing massive kingies of up to a metre regularly but claiming they are extremely shy and difficult to catch.

The top methods have been using large soft plastics fished on 3/4-1oz jigheads inside or using topwater lures in the 100-140mm size range if it’s a nice clear day.

Offshore, the techniques are more varied with

King George whiting. They have just started to come on the chew in a big way throughout all of south Gippsland and are spread right through Corner Inlet into Port Albert and Mcloughlins.

Top baits have been pipis and Bass yabbies if you care to put in the extra effort. Sizes have ranged a lot as I have heard of a stack of reports of fish around the Mcloughlins end being around the 30cm mark, with the odd bigger 35-40cm mixed in, while the whiting at Corner Inlet seem to be all

Ryder with a 75cm kingy caught inside on a Silstar Slapstix soft plastic.

These fish should hang around throughout June if the weather holds out.

Prawns are plentiful MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

Jess Love and crew caught a cracking bag of King George whiting at Port Welspool. reaction would be to laugh.

But over recent years we have seen that it’s not until the water temperature drops to its absolute coldest that these premier sportfish become catchable.

The water temperature offshore has remained around 16.5°C and there are just as many kingfish around now as there were in summer. The inside fishery for kingfish is no different with the Lewis, Toora

methods such as trolling skirted lures between 4-7” being an excellent searching method, then jigging or casting topwater stickbaits and poppers once you find the fish.

I imagine, as usual, that these fish will remain abundant throughout all of June; the real question will be if they will hang around in July.

The other species doing well is the humble

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around 35cm+.

Either way, it looks like they are in for the winter so I expect we will have a good winter whiting season this year like we did about four years ago.

Like last month, there are still a few snapper and pinkies kicking around up to the Franklin Channel so they are definitely worth a shot. If you want gummies, there are plenty offshore, with some in closer near Rabbit Island and some further east out the front of Mcloughlins Beach or around the islands. Most anglers are anchoring and using berley unless there’s not much current, then they are drifting.

• For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 5174 8544. You will get expert advice and great deals on all fishing bait and tackle.

MARLO

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saltwater will damage the rich farm flats that support a milk industry, so the government responsible will open the entrance and let all the water flow back into the ocean, and with it all the remaining prawns.

Hopefully, with all the water running to sea the entrance will be deep and wide, allowing the tides to pump fresh seawater back into the estuary and with it many new schools of fish.

The fishing offshore is great with plenty of big flathead, gurnard, squid, barracouta, pinkie snapper and gummy shark.

The surf beaches are still fishing well with plenty of salmon, tailor, flathead and gummy shark.

We have just been notified that the entrance has been opened since this report was penned. - FMG

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34

Winter is here and the cold is coming on. The seasons are passing by without much rain to flush out the system.

Anglers in this area have been able to take advantage of the huge schools of prawns trapped in the estuary system and these schools are growing bigger every moon. Plenty of fishers have been out after dusk gathering prawn with prawn dip nets used in conjunction with a bright light or an underwater light made for the task.

The huge numbers are making it easy to capture them. There have been reports of many people standing on jetties and foot bridges and dipping the prawns as they swim under them. Some lucky people are managing to get

up to 20L an outing, while other just gather enough big prawn for a good feed.

As you would imagine with all the prawns about, the fish are well fed but anglers are still managing to get some good captures.

With the entrance blocked the water coming down the rivers is backing up throughout the whole estuary. This means the shallow lakes, Corringle and Curlip, are now allowing bigger boats to enter and fish without having to worry about getting marooned when the tide goes out.

There have been several reports of good captures of bream, luderick, mullet and estuary perch being taken using fresh and frozen prawn. The next couple of weeks will be your final chance to go pawning as the estuary water in encroaching onto the farmland. If the excess water is not let go the

Ziad Mesto caught this solid southern bluefin tuna offshore out of Portland.

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Enjoy the quieter waterways NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson

With winter here the Narooma area slows up somewhat, with far less visiting anglers hitting our shorelines. What they don’t realise is that the fishing is still pretty good, although you may have to vary your techniques depending on what you’re targeting.

The local estuaries have been pretty good of late and I expect that to continue this month. Wagonga Inlet has been the pick, with flathead to 80cm and bigger being caught mainly by anglers fishing bigger soft plastics and soft vibes in the deeper water, which seems to be the key when the water temperature cools off.

Try fishing around the ribbon weed margins in 6-8m of water and fish you’re offerings slow, and this will certainly increase catch rates. These bigger flatties are lazy, so if you’re confident a big girl is laying along a bank, give it some time and pepper the bank at different angles with your lure. A lot of anglers will fish a bank too fast and move on to another area quickly.

Eden Boland is only 9yo, but had no trouble catching this great tailor while spinning the shoreline with metal shiners all by herself. It was around the 50cm mark.

Many times I’ve put a lure in the same area with no success, but after the fourth or fifth time come up trumps with a solid fish, so patience is key, and fish every bit of water where you are.

If the above isn’t for you, there’s plenty of tailor and salmon in the main basin. The place is loaded with whitebait, so look out for diving birds and at your sounder constantly, and you should be rewarded no end with metal shiners working a treat.

Don’t be surprised to get mulloway and some decent snapper under the whitebait schools, especially if the pelagics have been feeding.

It’s like a mobile berley trail. Further downstream the main channel is loaded with trevally and a few yellowfin bream are entering the system again after doing their thing on the beaches.

Fishers using a mixture of softies and fresh bait like nippers will catch a good feed. There should be plenty of blackfish available as well, with the southern breakwall inside near the entrance the place to fish on the flooding tide. Using a sand/weed berley mix with fresh weed To page 37

Jarvis Boland, 11yo, with a solid land-based flatty he caught and then released in a local estuary.

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JUNE 2019

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NSW South Coast

Action despite frigid conditions MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson

The local reefs have really picked up over the last few weeks, which is great to see.

Snapper is the word, with heaps of reds succumbing to a wide range of techniques, and most fish are averaging around the 1.5kg mark. There’s been the odd bigger fish to 3kg, but that could change with June, which is usually a better month for bigger snapper.

Almost all reefs are producing the goods, although

moving around until you locate feeding fish has been the key to more consistent results.

Concentrating you’re efforts on the gravel (not the hard stuff) and this will certainly increase catch rates.

The snapper are responding well to whole pilchards rigged on either paternoster or running sinker rigs, with squid, cuttlefish and striped tuna strips also working. Anchoring up and berleying has been both popular and effective when there’s current. It’s paramount that there’s some sort of

movement to get the reds to bite. A few anglers using micro jigs are also getting fish, but the green toads and leatherjackets are abundant at the minute and it’s proving expensive, losing $15 jigs one after the other. Hopefully they will move on shortly.

Out wider game fishers’ only real chance of success is yellowfin tuna and southern bluefin tuna (SBT). Every June we get our fare share of both and going by early indications, we might just get a solid season on these speedsters. Reports from

Salmon are abundant in the Pambula River as Jessica found out.

From page 36

is the go. I know several locals have been having a ball here of late.

The beaches continue to fire for salmon on most beaches, with any half decent gutter producing.

The sambos are averaging 2kg, with the odd thumper to 5kg, and at that size they are great opponents on any tackle. A range of techniques are working, and anglers casting metal slugs on light tackle are having truck loads of fun, with more traditional methods like a paternoster rig with a bait/popper combination also working well. In fact there’s that many salmon there, whatever you do should get you results.

Mixed in with the salmon are some solid tailor, with a few bream close in just past the shore dump. If you’re after the bream, pipi and beachworms will be great baits, with pilchards and blue bait for the pelagic species. Better beaches to try include Jamos, Blackfellows or Coila just north of Tuross or closer to town Narooma main down the south end has been excellent.

Outside sportfishers targeting the pelagic species like albacore and yellowfin tuna are feeling a tad excited, as some solid

models have already turned up. The best yellowfin I’ve heard of lately went 61kg, with quite a lot more seen jumping around chasing bait.

As we head further into winter I’m expecting more yellowfin to turn up. The long liners have caught quite a few, so hopefully the trailer boat crews can get out there and amongst them. This month should also see more SBT caught, with reports further south very promising, with fish wide of Eden being caught. These were schoolies in the 40-45kg range, but there will be some brutes mixed in with them.

The fish are wide, so having the right weather will be a key to success.

Better methods to use for both tuna species would be a cube/berley trail, although trolling bibbed minnows and skirted pushers will produce the goods as well. We quite often troll first, locate the fish, then revert to a berley/ cube trail. You do need to be organised, but if you get them up behind the boat you can hold them there for hours.

At Montague Island there’s still a few kings to be had, and live bait seems to be the best way to tempt one, although a lot will depend over coming weeks with tide, current and water temperature if they hang around or not. Last season some better kings upwards

of 10kg were caught in winter, so let’s hope this season is the same.

Those after the bread and butter species like snapper, morwong and flathead are doing well on most trips, but they have been a little sporadic and hard to find at times. When you locate them you will get an excellent feed, and they seem to be very concentrated at present, so finding them is the key for great results. Better areas to try include SW corner at Montague, and the reefs north of Narooma around Potato Point. Some of the local crews have done extremely well fishing deeper, with water depths of 55-60m being ideal. The leatherjackets and green toads have been a nuisance, and if you come across them move on, or it will become quite expensive replacing gear.

Off the rocks it’s been steady without being red-hot.

There’s plenty of salmon to be caught, with a few tailor as well, but the bonito were almost a no show this season. There were a few caught, but overall it was pretty tough. If you’re after a feed, then the drummer fishing will really pick up with the colder water. Try the golf course rocks in town or Dalmeny Headland to the north. Cabbage and cooked prawns are the better baits to use.

down south are encouraging on the bluefin front, with long liners to the north getting good numbers of yellowfin. When they turn up, trolling will be effective, as will a berley/cube trail, and it won’t hurt to have a few live slimy mackerel in the live bait tank.

Closer to shore the beaches continue to fire and I can’t see any reason why this will change. The ever-reliable salmon are in huge numbers at present, with any beach with a decent gutter formation producing fish. They are responding to a wide range of techniques with both bait and lure anglers doing well. I know of several visiting crews that have got upwards of 20 salmon per session, mainly on bigger chromes up to 75g. A few of these fish were around the 70cm mark, so that’s 3kg or better and great fun on any tackle. With the salmon schools, expect bigger tailor with fish upwards of 3kg possible. Better beaches to try are Haycock, Tura, North Tura and Merimbula Main, although Haycock has definitely been the stand-out of late.

In the estuaries the action has slowed down, but that’s to be expected with the colder water. There are still plenty of fish to catch, but what you target at this time of year and how you go about it will certainly determine how much success you will have.

It’s a great time for chasing trevally and bream in the channels, with anglers using small soft plastics faring best. Having some sort of tidal movement is paramount here, and casting at 45° upstream and letting your offering come down with the tide will see good results.

In between the weed patches there’s still a few solid dusky flathead to be caught using the same above method with a 4” plastic the way to get

There’s still a few nice kingfish getting caught off the Merimbula wharf, and this one caught by Jarvis went 65cm and ate a live yellowtail. the better quality fish.

The top Lake in Merimbula is loaded with tailor. The feisty little fighters are good on the smoker if looked after correctly and easy to catch.

Look for the working birds and you will soon be in business.

Casting smaller shiners around 20-30g is ideal with whitebait schools everywhere at the minute, and there’s still the odd smaller kingfish mixed in with the tailor schools. I know it sounds silly, but they are still there!

Over at Pambula, the lower sections in the river towards the entrance have plenty of salmon feeding on very small bait. You have to fish the smallest of metal shiners to catch them, but when you get the right lure size you’re in for some serious fun. You can expect a few trevally and tailor at the same time.

Off the stones the bread and butter species have put a smile on most rockhoppers’ faces. Blackfish, drummer, groper, bream and a few good

snapper have all had a chew, and I can’t see that changing at all this month. Drummer numbers and size will continue to increase as we head further into winter. Lightly-weighted baits fished in the washes will account for the bigger fish.

Better baits to try for them are whole crabs, cunjevoi, bread and prawns if you can get fresh ones. Use a little berley sparsely, just enough to get them interested, and hang on. Better ledges are Tura Head, Short Point and inside Merimbula Bay on the northern side near the wharf. The latter spot fishes particularly well with a southerly swell, but care does need to be taken.

The main wharf is also seeing plenty of pelagic action.

There’s been plenty of kings, and they’re not big fish, but a lot of them are being caught by anglers fishing smaller yellowtail as bait. These guys are nearly an all year proposition these days, and I expect to see bigger fish these coming weeks.

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37

Towns go back to sleep after a busy autumn MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

A busy Easter period is behind us, and with winter here the town has gone back to its sleepy self.

Visiting anglers have

still had a ball, with both the lake and offshore providing plenty of action for those prepared to move around and find the fish.

Good weather conditions with little or no swell have allowed boats to head offshore on most days over the past month.

A metre-plus mulloway that took a liking to a soft plastic meant for a flathead.

Those chasing a feed of flathead, both sandies and tigers, have been getting a bag of fish in short time, with the tigers coming from out around the 65m mark and the sandies anywhere in closer. The key has been to keep moving until a patch of fish is found, and then stay on the fish to score a good feed.

A few good size snapper have also been caught, with the best fishing up towards the border.

Some good catches of gummy shark have been reported, and once again some anglers are finding the fish while others are missing out. Plenty of schools of baitfish such as slimy mackerel are about, and this has seen a few kingfish caught, along with a variety of sharks.

The coming months should see the southern bluefin tuna moving by this part of the coast, and if the weather allows boats will head out and there should be tuna reports very soon.

The fishing on the local beaches for salmon has been pretty ordinary and won’t really fire up until the water temperature cools down. Having said that, some good catches of salmon have been reported from the beaches in the Eden area.

Some good fish have been caught fishing the beach around the lake entrance at Mallacoota, with beachworm the pick of the bait, and big yellowfin bream the main target.

With the water cooling, black bream have been on the bite in both the Top and Bottom lake.

Over the past month the fishing in the lake has been quite good for a variety of species. Since the lake has been opened, there has been some yellowfin bream and sand whiting moving into the lake.

The snapper have remained in the lake, as they are not aware the system is open to the ocean, so don’t be surprised if it closes over the coming months.

This is a poor entrance and it is looking like it will close over again soon.

A number of mulloway

have been caught over the past month, and these fish have been in the system for some time and are of a good size, with fish over a meter in length.

Dusky flathead are still being taken in all the local estuaries, with soft plastics and fresh bait catching fish.

Silver trevally and tailor are in all the local estuaries, with some of the tailor up over the 70cm mark.

The snapper in the bottom lake are of a good size, with some over 36cm.

They are been caught on a variety of lures and fresh prawn a good choice of bait.

Black and yellowfin bream are being caught, and the bigger bream seem to be the yellowfin bream, with numbers of the smaller black bream rounding out the catches.

You need to keep on the move to catch fish.

When navigating, keep an eye out, as the lake level is low and you don’t want to run into any obstacles that are now only just under the surface.

Searching for warm water is now easier BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Searching for the warm water is not as difficult as it used to be with web sites like BOM’s Blue Link, showing temperatures, current and direction, and it is quite possible to go straight to the better temperatures where it may be still possible to find some summer or autumn species still lingering around.

June is a month where water temperatures dictate the fishing. It is still quite possible to target marlin if the water is warm, and with them lots of yellowfin and albacore tuna. If the water could be cold there’s likely going to be nothing at all. I have caught marlin in late June by specifically targeting them on the Twelve Mile Reef. There was lots of bait there and water temperatures 38

JUNE 2019

Nothing beats the majestic colours of a lit up striped marlin highlighted by the clear cool winter water. were holding around 20°C, although I reckon that year was an exception. You are more likely to encounter marlin (if any) with a live bait under a balloon while

fishing for tuna.

Yellowfin, albacore and the occasional southern bluefin tuna can be prolific at this time of year, and the best way to encounter them

is by berleying. It would be interesting from the air to see all the oil slicks trailing from the back of boats as anglers look to entice the tuna with cubes of mackerel, striped

tuna, pilchards and live baits.

When fish get thick at the back of the boat, anglers can choose their line class to suit, and sometimes the albacore are in such numbers it is quite impossible to get through them to hook the larger yellowfin.

Sharks are an added bonus while tuna fishing, as they just love fresh stripies and albacore, and makos especially are partial to the scent of tuna oil and blood, which will attract these blue missiles right up to the back of the boat. So have a trace handy and get ready to hang on, they’re great fun! If nothing is happening, you can also try trolling up your berley trail, with both diving and surface lures, for there may be fish in the area that are not responding to the cubes, but the action of the lures may entice them to strike. It may also be the case that there is no fish within your location, so a spread of lures run out the back may be the way to go.

Other forms of offshore fishing are likely to be good, with the winter kings that often visit Montague Island being of a large size.

Fish up to 20Kg will smash sauries off the surface, showing no fear of the boats that surround them.

Surface poppers trolled or cast will work, as will rubber saury imitations or slow trolled live mackerel.

Mixed in with the kings are bonito that will supply plenty of entertainment for anglers as they await the kings to come on the chew.

For the reef fishers, this is probably the best time to target snapper, whether you drift or anchor and berley.

Many of our close to shore reefs will hold snapper, with the best areas down south to Goalen Head. Try anywhere from about 10m through to as deep as the currents will allow. Vary the types of baits you use and the depths you use them at. Baits used can vary To page 39

From page 38

from pilchards, yellowtail, strips of tuna and mackerel through to whole small mackerel. Make sure to fish them at various levels in the water column to see what is more productive.

Morwong, trevally, flathead and a host of other species will also appear in the trails, so have some light gear on board to raise the excitement level. Just by drifting, bottom fishing anglers should expect an array of different species, with those who fish the deeper Twelve Mile Reef hoping to encounter those lovely Tassie trumpeters.

With the water cooling,

estuary fishing is now at its best on the incoming tides, and the higher the better.

Yellowfin bream are the main prize currently, and are targeted in many ways.

Lure fishing is effective with small scented soft plastics, although I feel for best results, berley the channels with striped tuna as the tide rises over the flats.

It’s now a great time to chase blackfish (luderick) in the traditional way, with either green or cabbage weed.

The main areas to target are near the boat ramp at the bridge, around the bridge itself, all the rock walls surrounding the harbour and through to the rocks at

the entrance to the harbour, with the outgoing tides best.

These blackfish along with some very nice drummer are in good numbers around the Blue Pool area and are being caught regularly on cabbage weed or cunjevoi and are of a very good size.

There are some nice salmon along the coast, which are being caught in a variety of ways. Trolling Horseshoe Bay and adjacent rocks is one method, while casting lures from both the beach and rocks are another.

Bait fishing will always come into its own with these fish, and a variety other species can be taken along side them.

With Bermagui a stones throw in the background, big winter kings often visit Horseshoe Bay.

Andrew Stephen loves getting out on the water near his holiday shack in Venus Bay. It is no wonder, with quality estuary perch like this on offer.

JUNE 2019

39

Better Inland The State Government is investing $34 million into phase two of its Target One Million plan to get more people fishing, more often.

Green light for paddlers Kayaks and canoes are now permitted on Barkers Creek Reservoir. Electric motors may be used on the proviso paddle-craft travel below 5 knots.

The reservoir is stocked with trout annually and for the first time ever, received thousands of golden perch fingerlings and 200 catchable-size Murray cod, averaging 2 kg each! Silver perch are on the cards too, which will create year-round fishing for trout in the cooler months and native fish in summer.

Barkers Creek is the first of six reservoirs to permit canoe and kayak access, with work on Tullaroop, Lauriston, Malmsbury, Upper Coliban and Hepburn Lagoon well underway.

Nariel Creek fish habitat The North East CMA have completed fish habitat enhancement works on the Nariel Creek, which is a terrific wild trout fishery in north-east Victoria.

Fencing and revegetation works along the creek will follow, providing more stable banks, shade, flow variation and refuge spots near the Nariel Creek Recreation Reserve on the BenambraCorryong Road.

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

Fisheries

Open Day at Snobs Creek

New Willow Lake

Your Snobs Creek hatchery near Eildon will open its doors to everyone for two free Open Days on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 July, from 10 am until 2 pm.

Newly created Willow Lake at Hopetoun has been stocked the first time with 20,000 golden perch.

Whether you’re a keen freshwater angler or just interested in how we grow your trout, salmon, Murray cod, Macquarie perch and trout cod, come along and join a tour.

There’ll be lots to do for the whole family so put it on the list for the 2nd week of the school holidays.

Learn more at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/snobsopenday

The big 5 gram fingerlings will reach catchable size in three years and there are plans to stock Murray cod in there too.

Willow Lake was created using the shell of the decommissioned town water reservoir and is being maintained with piped water from nearby Lake Lascelles, which provides great fishing opportunities right now for stocked golden perch.

Urban native fish stocking Lake Karkarook and Casey Fields Lake are the first suburban lakes in Melbourne to be stocked with catchable size native fish, delivering on another Target One Million commitment.

Other lakes to be stocked down the track include Roxburgh Park Lakes, Navan Park Lake, Lilydale Lake, Rowville Lakes and Melton Reservoir.

Number Karkarook Casey Fields

Murray cod

Golden perch

Silver perch

Weight (g) Length (cm) Number

Weight (g) Length (cm)

Number

Weight (g)

Length (cm)

50

600

40

200

400

30

-

-

-

-

-

-

7

2000

45-50

12

400

30-40

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Good catches of snapper around Hobart HOBART

Andrew Large

Anglers are catching goodsized school bluefin to 30kg in the Tasman Peninsula at Eagle Hawk Neck, Tasman Island and Fortescue Bay. There’s also the odd jumbo up to 120kg.

A 6” pusher is a good way to catch them, and any colour combination that includes bright pink will work, or a colour scheme that imitates redbait. Some good options are the Zac Attack Extra Small Sprocket and Roach in redbait and super redbait. If the bluefin are fussy I drop back to a little 3.25” Pakula Original Hothead Bug, which mimics the winter redbait.

Around Hobart there are plenty of snapper, which is new for this area. Storm Bay in particular has been yielding a lot of snapper, which have been ranging in size from 0.5-3.5kg. Most successful anglers are just anchoring up in around 8-12m of water over a bit of reefy bottom, dropping a bit of berley down, and fishing the incoming tide. It’s a good idea to run a fairly light drag with a Baitrunner-style reel or just leaving the bail arm open, and let the fish run before you strike. Some

Plenty of snapper have been caught in recent weeks. anglers who have mastered catching them on bait are now turning to soft plastics and knife jigs for a more of a challenge.

In the Derwent River the bream are biting really well.

We’ve had an exceptional run of bream over the last few months, with the biggest measuring 44cm to the fork.

They’re hanging on the major rocky outcrops, points and tidal bays. Two of the most successful lures for us have been 2.6” Berley T Tails in black/gold and 50mm DUO Spearhead Ryuki 50S in gold yamame and pearl ayu.

When you’re using a hardbody, target the rocky

tidal points with a stoppause action. Wind, twitch and then pause. The bream will nearly always hit the lure while it’s stationary, so lengthy pauses are better than short pauses. Suspending hardbodies are best.

When using a soft plastic, just drop it to the bottom, pause for five or six seconds, give it a couple of winds and then drop it to the bottom again. The bream will often smack it on the bottom while it’s resting there. Avoid any slack line, as you want to keep in contact with your jighead.

There are also plenty of sea run trout in the river. If

you want to catch a monster, now is the time of year to do it as they head up to spawn or back down afterwards.

You can get fish up to 15lb trolling Rapala 11cm Floaters at this time of year, and the DUO Spearhead Ryuki also works well in the 50mm and 70mm sizes.

Flounder are also going well, and all you need to catch them are a flounder light, a spear and a really still night so you can spot them under the water. I like to do it from a tinny, but most people just wade in knee-deep water, holding their light below the water’s surface.

Sometimes you might only be able to see the flounder’s eyes above the sand, while at other times you’ll see the whole fish. Approach it quietly so the fish won’t feel the vibrations on the bottom.

Try to size the fish up before you spear it, to avoid spearing undersize fish.

It’s best to aim your spear directly downward, because the water’s refraction makes it hard to aim at an angle.

Aim for the head to avoid damaging the flesh.

There are plenty of calamari being taken around Bruny Island in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel.

Although trout season is closed you can still legally catch them in selected lakes

if you have a current licence.

These include Great Lake, Lake King William and Lake Burbury, where you can chase browns and rainbows.

FISHING IN JUNE There will be good fishing in Great Lake, as the trout will be feeding heavily on galaxia. Just remember that it’s 1100m so you have to rug up. There are fish up to 1.5kg being taken trolling, spinning and on fly.

I like to use the Tillins King Cobra no 62 and the Tassie Devil 13.5g S12. It’s best to concentrate on the edges as the galaxia will spawn in the shallows, attracting the predators. A black/gold lure is the best option to mimic these baitfish, such as the Daiwa black and gold Presso Minnow 60mm, or the Lucky Craft Flash Minnow in black and gold.

Down on the coast you can catch school-size bluefin, with the chance of a jumbo.

We tend to get a good run of Aussie salmon from June to August, with bigger fish than you get at other times of the year. Places to try include Pipe Clay Lagoon in the south, Tamar Heads in the north and Stanley Rocks in the northwest.

June is a good time for calamari as they prepare to come in to spawn. Focus

your efforts on the deeper spots around 14-20m.

Marian Bay may be worth a try for a mid-winter flathead. Most people are dropping down paternosters with squid or octopus, or you can use soft plastics in the shallower areas. Productive soft baits include the Berkley Gulp Nemesis and Squid Vicious in nuclear chicken and firetiger.

Sea run trout will be caught in a lot of the larger estuaries around the state this month, and they’ll be quite hungry after spawning. A lot of the early baitfish will start to show up, so the trout will be feeding on those. Places to try include the Tamar River, Derwent River, Leven River, Inglis and probably the Arthur River – just check regulations to see which stretches of the rivers can be legally fished.

• For expert fishing advice, have a chat to the friendly team at Spot On Fishing Tackle – The Fishing Connection at 87-91 Harrington Street, Hobart.

You can also give them a call on (03) 6234 4880, or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ Spotonfishingtackle. The store carries an extensive range of tackle to cater for every fisher’s needs and for all types of fishing.

Plenty of options in June BURNIE

Damien Turner

A lot of people are catching snapper at the moment on a range of methods, from bait to soft plastics and jigs. Bait is probably the most consistent way to catch them at present, and a few different rigs have been working well.

We’ve been getting good results on the Black Magic Snapper Snatchers and Snapper Snacks, or you can use a running sinker rig with a big ball sinker down to a swivel with an 8/0 circle. The standard baits are half a squid, pilchard or silver whiting. The best time is a tide change at sunrise or sunset.

For your best chance of success you need to use lots of berley. I recommend a stainless steel berley cage (the plastic ones get eaten by sevengill sharks), and deploy it around 2-3m off the bottom. Some people put their berley cage on their anchor rope, but I don’t recommend that; if you’re there a long time and have to change your berley, you don’t want to have to 42

JUNE 2019

pull up your anchor to do so.

At the moment we’re catching a range of sizes, from little 500g pinky-size fish through to solid 7kg specimens. Some anglers fishing out towards Montague and Hunters Island have been picking up 8-9kg fish, but along the coast here the average size is 2kg.

Another good target at the moment is King George whiting. Some of the biggest King George whiting I have ever seen have been caught this year, with fish to 72cm.

When you’re using a 2-4kg whiting rod, 2500 size reel and 6lb braid the big whiting give a good account of themselves.

A lot of areas along the northwest coast have been popular, including Montague, around the Wynyard area off the shore, the Rubicon estuary at Port Sorrell. You can also catch them in the Tamar River and Georges Bay at St Helens.

Most fish are being caught in the shallows, in around 2m of water. You just look for sand patches in amongst the weed, anchor up and drop down a paternoster rig. We like to use either Instinct flasher rigs with a circle hook, or Hayabusa Whiting

Rigs. Two of the best baits are strips of squid or abalone (if you can get it). Pipis are also good; put a bit of pipi on the hook first and then a strip of squid to keep the pipi on.

A little bit of berley can help bring the whiting to you, although it can bring undesirables like leatherjacket and parrot fish. If you anchor up somewhere and you are getting some undesirables, it’s not the end of the world – you still could get lucky with some good whiting if you stick it out.

Tuna have been providing a lot of fun for anglers. Coming into the winter months is when the bluefin tuna start to congregate, and most popular areas down the southeast coast are Eagle Hawk Neck and Pedra Branca.

Fishos are also starting to catch on that there are quite a few bluefin down the west coast as well. You can catch them just out off Strahan and all the way down the west coast. Interestingly, the bluefin seem to like all the murky, dirty water pouring out of Macquarie Harbour, possibly because the bait can’t see them coming. There are plenty of reports of school bluefin to 40kg being caught in this dirty water.

A few guys have been picking up the odd XOS bluefin to 130kg along the west coast as bycatch while deep dropping for swordfish.

This sort of thing is almost unheard of.

At Eagle Hawk Neck you can get good results on 6-8” skirted pushers in redbait colours. We prefer the Meridian and Pakula ranges. When it comes to hardbodies, the standouts are the Halco 190DD Laser Pros in king brown colour, and 180 Samaki Pacemaker deep divers in saury colour.

Another tip with deep divers, I like to run a single strand wire rig on all my deep divers. Instead of 200lb mono to the bib of the deep diver, running 170lb single strand wire makes it pretty much invisible to the fish. Don’t get all the bubbles because the wire cuts through the water.

And if you do a haywire twist at each end it allows the lure to work freely, instead of the big bulky crimp. Also at eagle hawk neck you don’t lose as many lures to seals.

We’ve had Days trolling hook 30 bluefin and you haven’t landed one.

While you’re at Eagle Hawk Neck you are likely To page 43

The author with a 136.2kg bluefin. It was the biggest SBT caught last season.

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

From page 42

to see tuna busting up on the surface, and a lot of guys troll around these bait balls without any luck. You can get better results casting stickbaits, poppers or metals directly at the schools. You have to approach as quietly as you can or you’ll spook the fish. Work out which way the wind is going so you can hopefully drift close to them or over them, or use your electric if you have one. As you’d expect, the best results come when there aren’t too many boats around.

THE MONTH AHEAD In June we can expect the bluefin action to continue, and possibly get even better. At this time of year you’re more likely to get bigger fish, with some

It has been a great season for big King George whiting. This fish measured 55cm.

100kg+ jumbos turning up.

The Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June is my favourite time to go there, and I’ve caught a few 100kg+ fish on that weekend over the years.

In winter we also get blackback-size Australian salmon running down the west coast and into the far northwest. Areas to try include Marrawah, Temma and Sandy Cape. A lot of that is rock fishing, so poppers, stickbaits and metals are the go, between 80-120mm. The fish range from around 1.5lb to 10lb depending on the school, and no particular time of day is best. The schools just pass through periodically throughout the day, so you might have a quiet patch for a while and then a flurry of action.

The swordfish catches will continue and probably get a little better. While targeting them, some anglers have been getting a bycatch of 80-100kg bluefin.

Throughout winter you can also enjoy good deep sea fishing for species like striped trumpeter and blue-eye trevalla. Those calm winter days make these trips a lot easier.

• For all the latest info on what’s biting and where, drop into Tackle World and Outdoors at 37 Wilson St, Burnie, or call them on (03) 6431 6500. You can also check out their Facebook page at www.facebook. com/tassietackle, which is regularly updated with product news, catch photos, videos and fishing tips.

INLAND FISHERIES SERVICE

Lake Crescent carp free, no spawning in Sorrel IFS

Tim Farrell

The annual Lake Crescent juvenile carp survey took place on 6 March 2019.

This survey aims to make sure carp have not made their way back into Lake Crescent, and to look for any sign of spawning.

IFS have not seen carp in Lake Crescent since 2007, but they do surveys every year to check.

IFS focused on areas that carp like. These include rocky or sandy shores and spaces with lots of weed.

They fished fourteen areas around the lake using backpack electro-shockers.

They caught short-finned eels and golden galaxias, but no carp.

A couple of weeks later,

from 18-22 March, they did the Lake Sorell juvenile carp survey. This survey was to check for any carp spawning over the past few months.

Sixty-six fyke nets were set around the lake near weed beds and parts of the shore where we have caught small carp before. They fished 20 sites using backpack electro-shockers. Again, they caught many eels and golden galaxias, but no juvenile carp.

This is a great outcome and means IFS can focus on catching the last few adult carp in Lake Sorell.

TROUT POACHER CONVICTED On Tuesday 16 April, in the Launceston Magistrates Court, a defendant appeared on Inland Fisheries charges.

These related to the illegal taking of fish from Sandbanks Creek, yingina/Great

Lake, during last year’s spawning run.

The defendant pled guilty and was convicted of disturbing spawning fish and assisting his friend to illegally take fish from the trap by holding a light. He was fined $500 plus court costs.

With the spawning run starting, IFS reminds anglers of the strict laws around the protection of spawning fish.

You are most welcome to have a look at the fish in our traps, but you must not disturb or interfere with them in any way.

If you notice or hear of any illegal activity please call the Compliance Team on 0438 338 530. We need your help to protect our fishery.

RIVER CLYDE CARP SURVEY IFS recently surveyed the River Clyde for carp. The

Fyke nets are used to survey for the presence of carp. survey looks at sites with ideal carp habitat around Bothwell and Hamilton. The aim is to make sure there are no carp in the River Clyde. IFS have done the survey every

year since they first found carp in lakes Crescent and Sorell in 1995.

They surveyed three sites on the River Clyde using backpack electro fishers:

The Nant Bridge, Bothwell sewage works and the Hamilton Weir. They caught 27 redfin perch, 36 tench, 35 brown trout, 60 eels and importantly, no carp!

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 8th May 2019 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Trevallyn Pond..................................0.25........................................................Steady Lake Mackenzie................................7.36........................................................Steady Lake Rowallan..................................10.87......................................................Steady Lake Parangana................................1.40........................................................Steady Lake Cethana....................................4.05........................................................Steady Lake Barrington................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Gairdner...................................4.70........................................................Steady Lake Paloona....................................1.58........................................................Steady Lake Augusta....................................2.63........................................................Steady Arthurs Lake.....................................2.31........................................................Steady Great Lake........................................15.05......................................................Steady Little Pine Lagoon.............................0.95........................................................Steady Shannon Lagoon...............................0.11........................................................Steady Penstock Lagoon..............................0.29........................................................Steady Woods Lake......................................1.46........................................................Steady Lake St Clair.....................................1.55........................................................Steady Lake King William.............................8.89........................................................Steady Lake Echo.........................................9.11........................................................Steady

Dee Lagoon.......................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Pine Tier Lagoon...............................1.69........................................................Steady Bronte Lagoon..................................1.21........................................................Steady Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah..............0.90........................................................Steady Laughing Jack Lagoon.....................7.99........................................................Steady Lake Liapootah.................................2.12........................................................Steady Wayatinah Lagoon............................0.31........................................................Steady Lake Catagunya................................1.06........................................................Steady Lake Repulse....................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Cluny Lagoon....................................0.87........................................................Steady Meadowbank Lake...........................0.27........................................................Steady Lake Burbury....................................5.26........................................................Steady Lake Margaret..................................5.51........................................................Steady Whitespur Pond................................7.75........................................................Steady Lake Newton.....................................3.87........................................................Steady Lake Plimsoll....................................0.90........................................................Steady Lake Murchison................................16.53......................................................Steady Lake Mackintosh..............................6.74........................................................Steady Lake Rosebery..................................0.89........................................................Steady Lake Pieman.....................................1.72........................................................Steady Lake Pedder......................................1.29........................................................Steady Lake Gordon.....................................27.64......................................................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 JUNE 2019

43

Cooking

Tempura whiting with chips and tartare sauce SYDNEY

Andrew Humphries

Very finely chop the pickle, capers and dill and mix through the mayonnaise.

Wrap and set aside in the fridge for later. Preheat deep fryer to 150ºC. For the hand cut chips, you

can either wash the potatoes really well to remove the dirt or peel them. Once peeled or washed cut the potatoes into 1.5cm pieces. Blanch the chips in the oil for approximately 5-7minutes. It is important not to over load the fryer basket.

You may have to blanch the chips in two batches.

Combine 1/2 cup self-

INGREDIENTS 4 whiting fillets skinned and deboned 1/2 cup self-raising flour + 1/4 cup to coat fish 1/2 cup corn flour + 2tbsp to coat fish 200mL chilled soda water 1 medium size pickle

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JUNE 2019

Finely chopped capers, pickled gherkin and dill.

Hand cut chips ready to be blanched.

Skinned and boned whiting fillets.

raising flour and 1/2 cup cornflour in a bowl and mix in some salt. Whisk in soda water to form the tempura batter. The batter can be made up to 1 hour in advance and kept in the fridge until needed.

Turn deep fryer up to 180ºC for later use.

Prepare the whiting fillets by skinning and trimming

out the centre bones.

Mix the remaining corn flour and self-raising flour and season with salt and pepper.

Finish cooking the chips for 2-3 mins or until crisp.

Drain and place into a bowl and season.

Meanwhile, coat whiting fillets in the flour then into the tempura batter.

Salt and pepper to season with 2tsp capers 1 sprig of dill 1/3 cup mayonnaise 800g golden delight or Sebago potatoes 2-3L vegetable oil for the deep fryer 1 lemon cut in wedges to serve

2

5

8

towel. Season and serve!

Depending on the size of your fryer, you may need to cook the fish in two batches.

If this is the case, cook for 1-2 minutes to set the batter. Take out and set aside then repeat again until all fish has been blanched. Cook again for two minutes until fish is golden and crisp.

• You will also need a 2-3L deep fryer – I wouldn’t recommend attempting this recipe using a pot of oil as it is too hard to control the oil temperature on the stove top and there is a far greater chance of injury.

It is also important to set up your fryer in a well-ventilated area or under an exhaust fan on a stable surface.

Tartare sauce ready to be set aside.

Blanching or par cooking the chips.

Whiting fillets after being floured sitting in the tempura batter.

Generously coat whiting in the tempura batter and allow excess to drip off before placing into deep fryer, ensuring that when you gently release the fish that you let it go away from you so you avoid the hot oil splashing towards you.

Cook for 3-4 minutes, drain oil then place onto paper

3

Peeled Sebago potatoes for the hand cut chips.

6

Two nice whiting before being filleted, skinned and boned.

9

Tempura whiting and hand cut chips with tartare sauce.

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45

Bladerunner – adding some flash to flies CANBERRA

Richard Barnsley

It had been a long day flipping hardbodies for trout in the black, featureless lake. Nothing was moving and the water surface had seldom been broken by the rings of a rising trout. Later in desperation, I tied on a small spinnerbait that I found in the back vest pocket, as the impoundment apparently had a small population of yellow belly.

Fifteen minutes later a violent hit shook the rod tip and I set the hook. Following

a short but protracted battle I eased a hefty rainbow jack into the net. To this day I don’t think I’ve ever caught another trout on a conventional spinnerbait – makes you think though!

Back in the early 1980s, when I first started saltwater fly fishing, the Clouser Minnow was pretty much the go-to pattern. The design served me well on everything from bream, flathead and tailor to tuna and barra. It was several years later that I stumbled across a fly named Cowen’s Coyote. Henry Cowen essentially added a spinner blade to the front of a Clouser and upped the

Buying pre-made armatures and removing the metal blades is a good idea. Then you can customise with the wing material of your choice.

strike rate.

The Coyote was a pattern that excelled in deep or dirty water where the combination of the thumping blade and the flash increased its detection and subsequent strike rates. Unfortunately with the bead eyes and the spinner blade they were and still are a bugger to cast.

In recent times I’ve started playing with the addition of ‘blades’ to other fly patterns and the results are encouraging. One of my favourite cod flies is the ‘Bounty Hunter’, which is basically an oversize Woolly Bugger coupled with a Coyote-style spinner blade.

In the cod gorges of the upper Namoi River I’ve had consistent success with this pattern. Cast against the rock walls or snag piles and allowed to slowly sink it is often hit on the drop. The blades add to the sonic signature as well as providing the added luminescence of the flash.

On deep retrieves the sparkle effect is diminished and short, abrupt strips punch out a fish attracting vibration.

The addition of blades to fly patterns is relatively simple. Choose appropriate hook sizes and also blades.

The Bounty Hunter is a proven cod killer.

Blades may be metal or plastic and are fitted via a split ring to a small barrel swivel, which is slid up the hook shank, star tying the pattern to the rear of the hanging blade.

It is important that the swivel is allowed a little room on the shank so that it can spin freely. If the swivel is tied in place the entire fly will rotate during the retrieve.

It is also wise to tie these larger and decorated patterns to the leader with a loop knot, which allows freedom for the imitation to move.

Another alternative to simply tying on a blade is to build a fly rod spinnerbait.

synthetic material. Choices may consist of chenille, sparkle flash or even rubber leg material. I draw a bunch halfway through the blade swivel and then double it over. A few tight wraps of tying thread hold the ‘blade’ in place.

Now I clip a pattern of choice onto the lower section of the armature. I prefer not to weight the actual fly too heavily, as this can restrict movement. Rather, I’ll pinch a couple of split shot onto the lower wire arm and allow the fly pattern to hang freely.

Some tiers have created their own armatures by tying a stiff piece of heavy mono

rocks, submerged structure and steep banks are preferred locations. I like to cast tight against such fish attracting areas and only strip through the immediate strike zone then cast again. Generally these are not patterns for drifting or lengthy retrieves.

Spinner blade fly patterns really are targeted for ambush predators. Bass, bream on rock walls and flathead are prime candidates for these imitations and tactics. Up north you wouldn’t go wrong designing and flipping styles at barra and mangrove jacks.

The limitations is achieving a balance between rod and line weights and fly pattern

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Soft materials make excellent wings for added flash. Clip on the appropriate fly pattern and your spinnerbait is ready for the water.

• New products • Reviews • Videos www.tacklejunkie.fish Fishing Monthly Magazines

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JUNE 2019

Now before the purists go mental let me say that anything I tie that will outwit a fish is a legitimate pattern.

There are definitely days when my buttons are pushed by targeting tough trout with tiny dries. But there are also moments at the bench when creativity takes over.

I tie medium bass and trout spinnerbaits on small armatures and remove the metal blade. To reduce weight and improve cast ability I add a ‘blade’ of

or wire onto a hook. This has the ‘blade’ running off the extension off the hook itself.

My attempts have left the pattern ungainly in the water with a tendency to rotate. I believe the traditional style where the tie in point is mid-way between the ’blade’ and the hook, and it results in flies that track better on the retrieve.

The best way to fish these fly rod spinnerbaits is to target areas where the target zone is tight. Mid-stream

castability.

Agitate and vary the pace and length of strips. Try to visualise what the fly is doing underwater. This can be hard to keep up the enthusiasm on a long, fishless day, but work such presentations hard for maximum effect.

Adding metal, plastic or ‘material’ blades to a fly pattern is an innovative way to spice up your traditional offerings. Experiment to achieve balance and the right combination of flash!

News

Free open days at your Snobs Creek hatchery The Victorian Fisheries Authority’s Snobs Creek hatchery will open its doors during the school holidays and welcome visitors to free open days on July 11 and 12.

Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO, Travis Dowling, said the two open

grew a record number of Murray cod for stocking last summer and Snobs is the home of trout production for Victoria’s state-wide stocking program.

“The hatchery played a huge part in stocking over 6 million fish in 2018 and will be pivotal in achieving

the ambitious Target One Million commitment to stock 10 million by 2022.

“The open days provide a rare, behind-the-scenes view into the hatchery, where visitors can talk directly with expert Fisheries staff about the process of growing your trout, salmon and native fish.

“Come along to see first-hand how fish are bred, fed, sorted and loaded into customised stocking trucks for release into waterways across the state to make your fishing even better.

“The open days will include family-oriented activities with prizes to be won and plenty on offer for kids of all ages, including fishing activities run by our education officers, casting clinics, and even a movie theatre to see how fish were once produced back

days provide keen freshwater anglers, locals and tourists with the perfect opportunity to learn about how their fish are produced.

“The hatchery’s operation is funded by your recreational fishing licence fees and the State Government’s Target One Million plan, which is investing $34 million to get more people fishing, more often,” Mr Dowling said.

“The team at Snobs

in the day.”

Mr Dowling encouraged families to consider making a long weekend of it, combining a visit to the hatchery with wetting a line in the picturesque pondage or trying your luck in the deeper waters of Lake Eildon.

Food will be available for purchase from the local Lions Club onsite.

When: 10am-2pm, Thursday 11 July and Friday 12 July 2019.

Where: 455 Goulburn Valley Highway, Eildon.

Learn more at w w w. v f a . v i c . g o v. a u / snobsopenday. – VFA

National Survey of Recreational Fishing alert!

GEELONG

Ross Winstanley

A lot of people in Victoria will be keen to hear news of a national survey of recreational fishing – the first since 2000-01.

Coordinated by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) and the University of Canberra, this survey trials new methods that, if successful, will lead to national surveys being repeated at, perhaps, two-year intervals.

Funded by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC), the National Social and Economic Survey of Recreational Fishing is designed to collect information on fishers’ participation, d e m o g r a p h i c s , expenditure, awareness and attitudes.

Recreational fishers of all ages, genders, social backgrounds and fishing activity levels are urged to participate. Those who regard themselves as ‘occasional’ fishers

are especially urged to participate.

The program’s key element is the online survey where all Australian recreational fishers will be encouraged to record their fishing activities, experiences, spending and other related details.

The biggest challenge will be to encourage infrequent fishers to get online and complete the survey. To that end, the program is being promoted through all forms of media, with some of Australia’s leading fishing personalities being enlisted to help spread the message.

In Victoria, the recreational fishing peak body, VRFish, will work directly and through its affiliated clubs and associations to encourage fishers of all abilities and activity levels to complete the survey.

BACKGROUND The only previous comprehensive national study of recreational fishing was the 2000-01 National Recreational and Indigenous Fishing Survey. That study involved collaboration by all states, territories and the Commonwealth Government and took years

to plan, costing several million dollars.

As well as describing social and economic aspects of recreational fishing, that study quantified recreational fish catches and related fishing activities in great detail. The survey method used involved each participating fisher to complete a detailed diary of all their fishingrelated activities over 12 months, backed up by monthly phone contact by survey coordinators to ensure completeness and data quality. This ‘phone-diary’ method has since been adopted and developed further, as most state fisheries agencies have conducted one or more of their own surveys.

However, several factors have since prevented a repeat of the 2000-01 national survey, including: • the high cost – it now costs about $1.5 million for just one of the larger states to conduct a comprehensive survey of that type; • the impracticality of getting all states and territories to agree to participate and to share the costs of a repeat national survey;

• without all states agreeing to collect vital recreational catch data, this national survey is limited to social and economic aspects of fishing; • the inherent biases in online surveys stemming from the fact that most people who complete them are the more avid fishers; • critically, reliance on white pages as a comprehensive ‘sampling frame’ on which to randomly sample the population is no longer feasible.

These concerns have driven Australia’s recreational fishing survey experts to work together over the past decade to investigate alternative survey approaches. In mid-2018, recreational fishing survey experts from around the country met in Adelaide to work on the outline of an approach finally, put together

by ABARES and the University of Canberra.

The key criteria for success are statistical robustness of results, cost-efficiency and repeatability.

With these criteria in mind, the survey announced

by Senator Colbeck on 9 April is somewhat

experimental in that its success depends heavily on how fishers respond and participate. If successful, national surveys are likely to be repeated at regular intervals, perhaps two-yearly, each costing less than $1M. This ‘longitudinal survey’ approach will enable trends in participation, expenditures, etc., and the success of fishery management and development programs to be tracked over time.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW? From June, details of the national online survey of recreational fishing will be promoted through various media, fishing organisations and fisheries agencies. Every Australian recreational fisher will be encouraged to complete the online survey.

From past experience, those who fish frequently are the most likely to

respond quickly. They will be encouraged to urge their less avid fisher mates to get online to make their own contributions. For the survey to truly represent a complete picture of recreational fishing at national, state and regional levels, it is vital that men, women and children of all backgrounds and fishing experiences engage in this stage of the survey.

A number of participants will then be invited to participate in a 12 month phone diary phase of the study, providing information on their fishing activities and related details. It is expected that the data collection of the program will be completed by mid-2020.

For more information on the national recreational fishing survey, visit: nationalrecsurvey.com.au.

NATIONAL REC FISHING SURVEY The National Social and Economic Survey of Recreational Fishing sets out to understand who is participating in recreational fishing and where. For more information and for updates on progress of the survey, register at http://www.nationalrecsurvey.com.au/.

JUNE 2019

47

Trout

Winter open season for river trout begins closed. That feeling is tempered now by being able to fish a wider expanse of water any time during the winter season, when many other fishing options are a wipeout due to the weather conditions.

But, why is winter/ closed season good?

Let’s have a look at what goes on locally here and the geographical and meteorological features that affect the local trout population.

During the warmer months of the year trout

WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

Into the depths of another South West winter – the seas rage with a heavy ground swell and driving southerly winds. Offshore boating and even a surf sessions are definitely off the agenda, and this could last all month. These winds, combined with cold water temperatures and lethargic fish, can make a session in the estuary an uncomfortable pursuit.

Those keen anglers desperate for a fix don’t need to despair as these cold, wet and windy conditions are the perfect time to target the local river trout population,

Trout have often spent the summer putting on condition, making catches bigger and better throughout winter.

Lean early season fish will soon start stacking on weight as the water flow increases. and a change in fisheries legislation has helped make it a realistic proposition.

For a number of years

certain sections of the Merri and Hopkins (along with a few other South West rivers) have remained open for trout

fishing due to their searun trout classification. This gave anglers the opportunity to target searun trout in the most productive period to do so (winter).

True searunners are quite

bit of angling pressure and by the end of the season it was great to have the anticipation of fishing new water.

On 2 September 2017 Victorian Fisheries released a number of changes to their trout fishing regulations.

These changes saw the removal of the trout closed season for the Hopkins and Merri rivers. Some reasons for this were: • It allows for anglers to target trout in what is the most productive time to fish these waters.

• These South West coastal rivers are reliant on annual fish stocking, with research showing very little, if any, natural recruitment.

This reduces the need to ‘lock up’ the rivers to protect spawning fish at the best time to be fishing them.

• These productive waters have a reputation for growing large trout and opening up these waters during winter will increase

The new regulations state the upper reaches of the rivers can now be fished all winter.

Larger minnow style hardbodies work well in the dirty winter water.

Even though it is a put and take fishery, releasing fish has its benefits as they are often recaptured.

48

JUNE 2019

minimal flow, but plenty of food. This allows the trout to grow quite large as they can feed up heavily without having to travel too far, as the extensive weed beds provide plenty of easily accessible tucker without them having to battle the current.

Despite being so close to a major town, there are kilometres of both rivers that are fairly inaccessible.

Private housing and farms line most of the bank. There is no boat ramp access to the upper Hopkins and only one ramp at the lower Merri.

rare and the majority of the fish taken are resident river fish that make their way down to the lower reaches during times of high flow.

The smaller sections that remained open did cop a fair

participation and make a strong contribution to the local economy.

I did enjoy that opening morning feeling of hitting the sections of the Hopkins and Merri that had been

fishing usually takes a back seat to the many other fishing options in the South West region. The rivers at this time of year take on the form of an elongated lake: plenty of clear deep water with

There is also a shortage of accessible spots to put a canoe or kayak in. The shallow runs make constant access to significant stretches of water difficult, even to these small crafts.

The good trout can still be taken in the clear water, mainly by bait fishing along the edge of the weed banks.

Suspended below a slim-line float, mudeyes, gudgeon, galaxids and shrimp are the most popular baits.

It is a very static form of fishing and doesn’t cover much ground.

The major change that trout fishers look for is the serious autumn rains. The larger trout, which were a bait only prospect during the warmer months, become more aggressive as the spawning drive stirs within them. They also move, bringing fish closer to angler access points as they navigate their way upstream from the comfortable inaccessible

Trout spot they have been living in over our summer season.

The water is usually still very clear. Early morning dusk has been the most productive time, particularly for lure anglers. Natural coloured hardbody and plastic lures work best at this time. It is a good time of year to launch at the Merri Ramp at Dennington and explore upriver, casting along the likely spots under electric power.

The next significant change comes when heavy consistent rains discolour the rivers. The dirty water is a different scenario, one that is foreign to many trout anglers who would usually turn their back and go home if they encountered discoloured water at their favourite trout stream.

Despite being extremely brown with little visibility, local trout thrive under these conditions, feeding ravenously on disoriented baitfish, dislodged worms and drowned insects. Not only does this dirty water help the fish but it actually helps the angler.

Unfortunately, there are many kilometres of fairly inaccessible river where the trout can go about their existence with little angling pressure. For most of the year these rivers have fairly insignificant flow, yet a good supply of food. The trout can spend most of the year

about fishing the winter months is no snakes.

Bashing through long grass and nice sun-warmed rocks isn’t something that’s a lot of fun to me, particularly if I could be catching plenty of different species elsewhere.

This region also receives its fair share of rain, even in this past decade of poor falls. It seems the more high water and flood events that occur the better-conditioned the fish become.

Stocking rates have been quite low in the Hopkins, particularly given its size and length. This allows large trout to have plenty of river to call their own and continue to grow,

put in those few extra casts to that area where the fish were holding, and in the dirty water it often takes several casts to the one area to achieve a result.

Fly anglers are primarily using wet flies, with larger, dark coloured, heavily hackled patterns being the most productive. Due to the dirtier water, larger lures, bigger fish and the fact you are fishing around water diverting obstructions like shallow rocks and snags, you should use heavier leaders than you would usually associate with trout fishing.

I find 8-10lb leaders are my starting point, and slightly heavier rather than lighter

The author with a quality trout. This month is his favourite time to target this species in the rivers. skills and techniques but with the chance of catching big-sized trout more common for lake anglers.

This tends to concentrate the fish in certain areas. The Hopkins River in particular is criss-crossed by a number of ancient lava flows. These are barriers for canoeing and yakking during times of low flow, but now they act as trout and angler attracting beacons. The Merri’s obstructions come in

Foamy dirty water isn’t a hindrance when targeting trout in winter. cruising around the deep pools and growing as lake trout would.

However, once the rain comes the river environment changes and the trout begin to behave more like river trout, holding in shallow runs and riffles where they can hide behind rocks out of the current waiting for food to come past. It allows for an angler to use stream fishing

most productive choice.

In the dirty water, paddle-tail style soft plastics are a very effective way of targeting trout as well. These lures send out a subtle, but effective, vibration that helps the ambushing trout locate the lure going past in the dirty water.

One of the advantages of using a soft plastic lure is that fish hold on for longer than with a less natural feeling hardbody. This becomes important when fishing fast running water. It isn’t always easy to keep constant feel on a lure when casting into fast flowing water and letting the lure rise and fall over and around structure. A trout can

artificial forms in the lower reaches, such as bridges and weirs. It does also have a number of shallow rock run areas that attract fish during the times of high water flow.

Of course, with minimal visibility and plenty of (dirty) water between fish you need to identify likely holding areas and fish them thoroughly. It can often take several casts to a productive

looking holding location before the lure passes the position that draws a strike from a fish. Look for shallow runs and riffles where fish can hold behind rocks, foamy backwaters, anywhere where the fish can lie in ambush out of the main river flow.

Most of the time you will find the fish right at your feet, hiding next to a rock or an undercut bank.

Many fish get caught when you simply run the lure close to these structures without even opening the bail arm.

For anglers used to lake fishing scenarios and casting long into the distance, this can be hard to get your head around. Casting out constantly into the fast flowing middle of the river is often a waste of effort. It is also important that even though the water is dirty a little bit of stealth is needed with your approach, given your fish may be positioned right next to where your last footstep was taken.

Apart from the odd escapee rainbow, the local trout are browns, and brown trout are renowned as being the more fussy and elusive of the pair. Big browns don’t get big by being dumb, but dirty water can shift things back in the anglers’ favour.

Big browns love to feed under the cover of first and last light and at night. However, the dirty water provides them with cover that gives them the confidence to feed and stay in those shallow feeding areas throughout the day.

During these cooler, wetter months an angler can spend the day exploring and fishing away and always be in with a chance, no matter what hour it is. At other times of the year, low light periods are the prime time and that does restrict when anglers can catch a fish.

The other great thing

With quality trout this size, getting out in the winter cold can be worthwhile. particularly as access to many sections of the local river banks is difficult.

The past two seasons have seen an increase in the number of fish stocked in the Hopkins and the Mt Emu rivers. I’m sure it won’t have any affect on the quality of the fish, as there is plenty of habitat and food to support a few more fish. A bag limit of five fish per day applies to these rivers, of which no more than two can exceed 35cm. Given the usual quality of the fish, reaching your five bag limit without breaking the two over 35cm limit is rather difficult!

TECHNIQUES There is an abundance of forage fish species in the local waterways that assist the trout to grow quickly.

Various species of galaxias minnows and gudgeon, along with small mullet closer to the estuary, combine to provide plenty of accessible food for large trout.

Most techniques for catching these trout locally are based on this piscatorial diet. Large minnow style lures from 6-11cm are the weapon of choice for most anglers, with paddle-tail soft plastics and large dark wet flies also popular. I have found that when the water is dirty it is better to use the larger sizes, downgrading as the water clears. Shallow running hardbodies have been the

hold onto a soft plastic for the split second it takes you to regain touch as you take up the belly in the line. An angler might not even feel a trout hitting a hardbody lure at that time and not hook-up.

As well as missing the chance to set the hooks, the angler also doesn’t know the fish was even there.

This means they may not

would be the next move if you needed to change.

CONCLUSION So, don’t despair with the prospect of another upcoming winter hindering your angling options. There’s nothing better than rugging up for a winter wander along the Merri or Hopkins rivers with the prospect of tangling with a big brown right at your feet.

When other fishing prospects fizzle this month, targeting trout in the Hopkins and Merri remains a promising option.

JUNE 2019

49

Wealth of fishing options this winter in Wagga WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

It’s the time of year where only the truly dedicated (or those who cannot feel the cold) venture out onto the water. Those who are keen to push through the cold reap the rewards of the giant Murray cod that switch on during these cooler months – with June being the beginning of winter.

BLOWERING DAM With big winter cod being the target at the top of the list for most anglers, it seems fitting to start with the mighty Blowering Dam. The first thing you need to

Mornings have been the prime time to fish along the Murrumbidgee River.

Best Areas There are three key structure types to look for in Blowering: flat grassy banks, rocky banks, and big logs and timber. In winter my favourite places to fish are the flat grassy banks as this is where the giant cod live.

They will move into these areas to feed on carp and trout. By far the best places to fish in Blowering on those cold winter mornings.

Rocky banks and areas with big logs will also hold good quality fish.

Best Lures When chasing Blowering cod you always need a mix of lures depending on where you are fishing. I have been using large paddle-tail soft plastics to great success. They work well on the flat grassy

banks and on rocky banks.

For colours, anything that resembles a carp, rainbow trout or redfin is going to produce.

When fishing heavy timber, I always have some large spinnerbaits ready, as they are the most snag resistant lure by a long shot.

They ride the timber so well that they are a must to be able to fish this kind of water efficiently. My go-to is anything in the 1.5-2oz range with a willow blade in natural colours.

MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER The Murrumbidgee River is a place you want to visit this winter as it’s looking to be the best winter

water if you wish to use a boat. Downstream of the weir all the way to Hay and above Wagga will be very low and only accessible by small watercrafts.

The best technique is to cast spinnerbaits and hardbodies tight to all the structure. If you’re using a spinnerbait, make sure you allow it to sink to the bottom and ensure you retrieve it all the way back to the boat.

The water will be clear, so make sure you keep your distance from the structure.

If you find large fallen trees with the branches extended out into the middle of the river make sure you work these over with hardbodies and fish them right along the length

The bigger fish will start to show themselves along the Murrumbidgee River, as Bailey Steed shows. season in the last five years.

The dam levels are lower than they have been for quite a few years and with very little rain predicted the river should run low, which means

of the log.

Lure fishing will by far out-fish bait fishing at this time of year, as majority of the fish will be dormant with only the bigger fish

The Ignite Cod Fury in redfin colour was the undoing of this solid Blowering cod. know if you’ve never tried targeting giant fish in winter is, persistence!

Time on the water is key!

We are targeting the biggest fish in the waterway, and they are extremely intelligent and very hard to fool. Plus, the water is cold, which means they are lethargic, and so it may take thousands of casts to find that one hungry fish.

Once you understand this and are ready to put in the hard yards you’ve passed the biggest obstacle that stops most anglers.

Best Time First light is by far the key time with that very first hour of light being the best. This window is very short, and you want to be in the best location and working hard during this time. Surface fishing at first light and fishing shallow are my preferred methods, as the fish will be moving out of the shallows and back into 50

JUNE 2019

deeper water.

Overcast days and fishing throughout the night will also produce results. Clear, sunny and calm days are usually extremely tough.

Shay Thomas with a golden perch caught on a hardbody in tight against the willow roots.

This giant cod inhaled the redfin coloured Ignite Cod Fury right on first light.

With the water so low in the Murrumbidgee River, a lot of areas are only accessible by smaller watercraft.

clear and stable levels and therefore good fishing!

The low water levels mean the river will run slower, allowing you to fish some of the biggest logs in the system with a range of lures.

Anywhere west of Wagga all the way to Berembed Weir will be the most accessible

seeking food.

For those who are looking for a bit of inspiration and are keen to brave the cold in search of that ‘fix’ then Blowering Dam and the Murrumbidgee River are your best chance of fishing success.

Good luck!

Big cod back on menu ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

The Murray River at Swan Hill has continued to produce some very big Murray cod over the past month on both bait and lures.

Numerous cod over the metre mark have been landed mostly on lures between the old abattoirs and the Pental Island caravan park. Trolling

regulator where anglers have been catching golden perch on bait and lures. Shrimp has been the best bait and small tubby lures have worked well in a range of different colours.

The Wakool River at Stoney Crossing has seen some good-sized perch to 49cm landed on baits of shrimp and worms. Other notable catches in this area included several Murray cod up to 93cm on trolled lures.

At Boundary Bend

silver perch caught in this section of river as well. It seems silver perch numbers are on the comeback trail, with most bait anglers noticing an increase in their numbers. Remember that they are a protected species, and all silver perch must be returned to the river.

In the Murray River at Mildura the buzz of big cod continues to grow, with several recent metre plus captures. Local tackle shop proprietor Kym Sykes said

Having beached itself on the previous cast to get at the lure, this large cod managed to finally find the hooks of the Bassman topwater bait it obviously had to have.

Hamilton angler Andrew Stubbs with a ripper golden perch taken on a StumpJumper lure. has been the most productive method and a mix of different coloured lures have all accounted for fish. A run of superb fishing weather over the Easter holiday period had plenty of anglers wetting a line and enjoying the great fishing on offer.

Other spots close to Swan Hill that have been productive this past month include the Kangaroo Lake

anglers have reported good numbers of golden perch mostly on bait. Several Murray cod have also been landed on cheese, worms and yabbies. Downstream to Robinvale and Wemen good numbers of golden perch have been taken on bait to 50cm and a few small Murray cod to 60cm have also kept anglers busy. There have been some good-sized

A good-sized silver perch caught on a diving minnow lure. These fish seem to be on the increase in many areas, which is great news.

there have been at least five Murray cod over the metre mark caught this past month. The biggest fish was a massive 126cm monster fish caught on the cast using a diving lure. The next biggest was a 111cm model, and proof enough that there are still some goodsized Murray cod hiding in the river at Mildura. Sykes also said good numbers of golden perch have been landed in the Murray River on vibe style lures and baits of scrubworms. Silver perch are biting well locally, too, and as usual some very large carp have been taken.

Besides the great catches of good-sized Murray cod along the river there have been a few other unusual stories, including one angler at Swan Hill caught by fisheries for keeping fish over the slot limit. When fisheries approached the angler in question he quickly snuck to the water’s edge and threw the 93cm cod back in the river hoping it might sink from view. He was caught red handed, as the cod floated and he was rightfully fined the sum of $484.

Other stories from the river have been as strange as they come. Over the past month good fishing mate Clinton Hann has been

catching good numbers of golden perch and the occasional cod from one of his favourite spots. He says on most outings he is catching at least six goodsized perch on lures from the one stretch of water. On his last trip out try as he might the perch that were usually lined up to smash his lure were all but absent. Cast after cast went untouched and just as he was about to pack it in he noticed some ripples towards the narrow end of the river next to a snag.

On closer inspection he was surprised to see a Murray cod around a metre long finning next to the log.

He changed the small lure for a large surface walker and put a cast several metres past the fish so as not to spook it. He kicked the lure into gear and it began paddling on a direct course

with the giant cod. Honing in it was only about 5ft away and the cod took off cruising just under the surface away from the lure. Now focused on the retreating cod an almighty explosion of water almost frightened Hann from his boots as another monster cod obviously hidden deeper detonated on the lure, only to miss the trebles.

He recast the lure in the hopes it might return and slowly winding it full distance was disappointed in no response. Just as the lure was lifted clear from the surface the water erupted to a scene similar of that fitting a David Attenborough documentary. The giant cod had rushed the lure at the last moment skidding more than half its body length clear of the water up the mud covered bank almost becoming stuck.

It flailed about sending mud

and water in Hanns direction who was now standing jaw dropped in disbelief of what was happening. The bulky fish turned and wiggled its way back into the depths before disappearing. Hann thought that surely it would not return, but a cast was sent mid-stream, as anything could happen after seeing that. Not halfway to the bank the lure was engulfed in an explosion of white water, and this time the hooks hit home! Hann said the large cod did not put up much of a fight and when you consider the energy it had already expended in the first two assaults, you can understand why! Hann went on to say he had seen many great things while out on the water fishing, but nothing as good as watching that giant cod all but beach itself trying to catch the lure.

DAM LEVELS Dam............................... % Full

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

Mar Apr May Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 91 93 98 Newlyn 40 33 28 Nillahcootie 35 29 25 Rocklands 27 25 23 Tantangara 39 32 23 Taylors 42 36 32 Tullaroop 36 34 33 Waranga 21 11 12 Wartook 39 32 27 William Hovell 63 48 36

Cairn Curran

Mar Apr May 36

34 32

Dartmouth 63 63 63 Eildon

41 37 34

Eppalock

52 39 37

Eucumbene 25 26 25 Fyans

60 71 65

Hepburn

35 25 25

Hume

25 18 14

Jindabyne 81 80 78 Lauriston

74 71 80

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

JUNE 2019

51

Time to tune in for June cod ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

June has hit hard, just like a big Murray cod. The consistently cool days and cold nights are well and truly here, but don’t worry, just because the weather is cooler, it doesn’t mean the fish are completely shut down.

There’s no lie or sugar coating that these last few months of the Murray cod season do require a considerable amount of time, energy, effort and most importantly, patience. You’re not always going to go out and smash a big cod every trip, even in the prime months when cod fishing is running hot.

This time of year can be hard on you, not only with the fishing but physically as well, and it’s for this reason that I offer you a very important tip. It’s such a simple tip, but so important. Keeping yourself warm and protected from the elements ensures you stay well and keeps you comfortable while fishing for

that elusive big Murray cod.

If you’re shivering and feeling miserable while fishing, you’re not fully engaged in what you’re doing, and you’re

certainly not having as much fun! Many people may read this and think nothing of it, but it can be very handy to just remember to pack that extra

jumper or long pants, as you never know when you might want them!

Another thing to add, if you’re boating at anytime of

Yellas are always a chance when river fishing, however they will slow right down this month.

Using bigger lures this month will pay dividends if anglers persist. the year, but especially during the cooler months, please ensure that you are wearing a life jacket if the area you are in instructs you to do so, or if you are by yourself. These save lives, and it’s so important to ensure you’re safety before you even start fishing. Water at this time of year can be freezing, and even the best of swimmers will struggle in these freezing temperatures, especially with lots of clothing. With all that said, it’s time to put the spotlight onto these cod!

Don’t be afraid to go really big at this time of year. Big lures such as JD Eddy Pythons,

Mega StumpJumpers, Kuttafurra Long Johns, Jackall Gigantarels and 4-bladed spinnerbaits are suitable for big cod. There are so many lure brands and styles on the market that it can be difficult to know where to start.

One thing to double check on all lures you purchase is the quality of hooks and split rings. If you feel as though they are not heavy duty enough to withstand to a big winter Murray cod, change them. There’s no worse feeling than having a big fish come off due to an issue with hardware that could have been simply avoided!

Taking pointers from fellow anglers is a great way to learn about new techniques and styles, but everyone is different and if the style and

technique you are using is letting you have fun on the water, by all means continue doing so, as that’s what it’s all about!

With these big lures being the ideal big cod presentations, it’s important to fish them correctly to get the best results. For example, pick lures for the depth and structure type you’re fishing. Winter fishing is slow fishing, and the fishes’ metabolism has slowed right down, so work your lures slowly and take your time. Most importantly, enjoy yourself on the water!

I’m a strong believer that if you work hard enough for something you really want, you’ll get it.

Good luck to all this month.

Smaller cod will still get in on the action when targeting larger models.

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JUNE 2019

Staying warm and safe during winter is a must if you want to cross paths with a big Murray cod.

Well, the cold never bothered me anyway This technique works best after decent rainfall when the creeks and rivers are flowing hard.

While still on trout, just a quick note that all of the family friendly waterways that get stocked for the school holidays will be getting stocked again late

WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

June is the first of the three hardest months of the calendar for any fishers in North East Victoria. With the trout season closing at midnight on 11 June, and icy cold water leading to very slow fishing for most other species, winter can be tough.

Do not despair. Although options may be limited in winter, we still have options.

TROUT With trout season closed as of 11 June, us anglers have about a week and a half to target them before the season closes. In this time the trout can be very

crayfishing drop off a little bit in popularity. While the tighter laws are unfortunate, they are necessary if we are to ensure that our kids and grandkids can enjoy crayfishing like we do.

I will be out on cray opening morning, as I am every year, provided the

The smiles say it all. Kids love cray fishing. Neither Skye nor Holly were keen to hold this big one. has caught a cracking fish here, but on the whole Lake Dartmouth is not known as a lake that produces trophy sized trout.

If you want to target a trophy-sized trout during winter, pop over to Khancoban Pondage just around the corner. Its extensive shallow grassy flats and aquatic weed make it an ideal lake for trout to grow big, and quickly.

Trout to 40cm are quite common in Lake Dartmouth

A pair of legal sized Murray crayfish cooked and ready to eat. in June. The only hold up may be water levels. If there is not enough water in any of the ponds they cannot be stocked. For example,

rivers in my area are suitable.

If we get too much rain and the rivers are flowing too hard I won’t be going. Here is hoping the rivers are

A quality brown trout caught this autumn in a tributary of the King River on a Strike Tiger nymph soft plastic. Trout fishing throughout autumn gets the author excited for the new season next September. unpredictable, many will already be spawning and catching them is often quite hard.

If you are heading out in early June, try using fluorescent coloured bladed spinners or soft plastics.

If that does not work, try using long skinny minnows, much longer than you

would normally use. This is because the larger trout will often strike at smaller fish out of aggression when they are preparing to spawn.

Remember that it is only the streams that close during the closed trout season. The lakes remain open, as the trout do not spawn in lakes.

During June, Lake

Dartmouth is the leading trout fishery in the region.

It is easily the most consistent producer of trout for many anglers.

Dartmouth does not hold a lot of monster sized trout, with bigger trout usually maxing out at around 4lb. Many people have or know someone who

An oversized male Murray crayfish that was caught and released last season. These big crays are the breeders and are tasked with ensuring future generations get to enjoy crayfishing as much as we do.

A rainbow trout caught this autumn on a Wildbait Minnow in a tributary of the Ovens River.

and the most popular way to target them is by trolling winged lures. We all have our own favourite colours, and I like pink. The official name of my favourite coloured lure is pink panther.

Bait fishing can be successful in Lake Dartmouth as well. My mate Sandy and I have had success bait fishing with unweighted scrubworms near river and creek mouths.

Fosters Lake in Glenrowan is currently very low, without rainfall before the end of June is it not likely to be stocked with trout.

Hopefully we get some decent rain soon.

CRAYFISH June 1 is the opening day of the Victorian Murray crayfishing season. The reduction in bag limits and introduction of slot limits in recent years has seen the

flowing nicely like last June.

I love craying for a number of reasons. I love the anticipation of lifting my nets and seeing a big white set of claws emerge from the depths. Crayfishing is super relaxing and great fun, and if you like a feed of crays they taste magnificent.

Remember to brush up on the rules and regulations before heading out crayfishing this season.

JUNE 2019

53

Great ready to settle into some swell fishing SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

The Goulburn River has now finally settled and this has made fishing conditions a lot easier and given locals more confidence. It has unfortunately come a bit late for us to reap all the rewards, but those putting in the hours have managed to land some decent fish.

The bites are further apart but the size of the fish has increased. The smaller fish seem to go missing in the cooler months but some big fish are still willing to play.

In the warmer months you can target larger areas of river, but once it cools off I suggest you target a dozen snags and work them real hard for the day.

Rigging up a few different rods can make targeting timber in different ways a lot easier.

This winter I will be setting up three different rods, with one having a Bassman DT, the second will have a swimbait like the Jackall Gantarel and on the third rod I would go with one of the Miller Go’2 160mm grasshopper coloured hardbody lures.

I know some don’t have the luxury of having three rods to set up, so if you don’t make sure you have a clip on the end of your leader so you can quickly change lures up. This will allow you to target the same snags in different ways and this can be what forces a large cod

Blair Munro with a quality cod caught in the Broken River. into a strike.

If you prefer bait fishing, I would head to any tackle shop that stocks larger yabbies, smother them in scent and cast next to the larger snags. Moving the bait around every five minutes can work well with the cooler temps, as the fish are a lot less energised and want the food to come to them.

The Broken River has seen a slower surface bite, which is to be expected, but there is still the odd report of fish being caught off the top. Smaller swimbaits have been working well around the sand bar edges.

Out around the weirs there has been some yellowbelly caught on worms or smaller lures, such as TN60 Jackalls or the

smaller 10ft Diving Codgers.

With winter now upon us expect bait fishing to be harder due to the movement of crayfish in both the Goulburn and Broken rivers.

Crays can be super annoying when using worms or grubs, as they sometimes hold onto the hook all the way to the bank.

Those looking to chase crays, upstream of Toolamba has always been a good area or just downstream of the Goulburn Weir.

KIALLA LAKES Now we are into winter and the water temps are cooling right down, I would expect fishing to slow right down at Kialla. If you’re looking to fish Kialla, I would fish it when the sun is out in the afternoon and use

a lure with some flash, like a spinner or spinnerbait.

I recommend you slow your retrieval down, use plenty of scent on your lures and target the rocky edges that have been baked in sun.

For those bait fishing, I would look to fish the edges in about 4ft of water with worms either on the bottom or just above the bottom with a float.

SHEPPARTON LAKE The winter months will see those fishing the lake catching a lot more trout and redfin compared to the warmer months.

Trout are not huge at the moment, but on light gear they can be plenty of fun. They are being targeted with smaller spinners and vibes, floating worms or

PowerBaits.

The grass hill seems to always produce good amounts of fish and I would expect this to be the case if you are bank fishing.

If you prefer fishing from a boat or kayak, I would suggest trolling Tassie Devils or TN50 Jackalls just below the surface.

MOOROOPNA REC RESERVE LAKE This lake is a very family friendly place to fish. Over the winter months when other areas get bogged up you can expect the lake’s banks to be managed and looked after by local council.

There were efforts last year to remove a lot of carp from the lake but there is still plenty in there to remove, so bait fishing around the

weeds with corn or worms will work a treat.

There has always been the odd report of redfin and yellowbelly being caught in the lake, so casting small vibes or spinnerbaits may also be worth a try.

LOCAL CHANNELS The water levels will be low in the channel system, but that doesn’t mean the fishing will be all that bad.

If you can find some deeper areas around structure you will still be able to manage some decentsized fish on lures and baits.

Casting the bridges is my go-to almost any time of the year. I keep it pretty simple by using TN60 or TN50 Jackalls with a Bassman beetle spin rigged to the top.

WARANGA BASIN It has been a very frustrating period for us Waranga Basin lovers, with blue green algae still present at the Basin, which means it has been affected for up to eight weeks and counting.

The algae was first detected on 1 March and is now the worst outbreak the Basin has seen since GM Water started keeping records in 2004.

The Basin usually produces some good winter fishing for redfin and cray, but with the severe nature of the algae blooms many have stayed well away from the Basin.

Because the end of autumn was so dry, we are in desperate need of some decent rain to give the Basin a decent flush of freshwater.

Snowy region is waiting for that winter rain SNOWY MOUNTAINS

Anthony Bentley

Winter has finally arrived in the high country and the snow is just around the corner.

With a few sporadic rainfalls over the past few weeks the annual brown trout run has seen some very good fish move into the river, though for a short period each time.

With the lack of any real consistent rainfall in the foreseeable future, it will pay to keep an eye on the weather and plan your fishing to coincide with what rain we do get. Due to the lack of rain this season the fish still seem to be a little uncomfortable in lower water conditions and appear to drop back into the lake as the water subsides.

The higher rivers and streams are still 54

JUNE 2019

fishing all right and with our weather outlook these streams should provide us with some dry fly fishing right up to the close of river season.

Although if we do get some snow, looking below the surface will be the most productive method

Small mayfly and caddis patterns around #14-#16, hare and copper, Glo-Bugs, PTNs, and smaller black nymphs are the go-to flies.

When Glo-Bugging it is important to make sure that your flies are rolling along the riverbed to maximise results.

The Mowamba River has finally started to fish better than it did throughout autumn and will be worth a look until the end of June, with some dry fly and nymphing opportunities.

The low flows and hot heat of summer really affected this piece of water and it’s good to see some fish eating freely. Fishing a dry fly with a nymph dropper

will be the better tactic for fishing there.

Lake Jindabyne and Eucumbene have still been very hit or miss lately with most fish still being caught down deep around the 30-40ft mark. With the colder weather we will start seeing some larger fish starting to move into the edges looking for a feed.

Most of the larger fish being caught in both lakes have been eating yabbies, so a good yabby pattern fly or lure slowly fished along the bottom should get some good results. Hopefully in the next few weeks we will see some good fishing and the lakes start to fire.

Good winter flies and lures for lake fishing are Hamills Killer, Mrs Simpson, Wooly Buggers in black and green, and some standard nymph patterns.

Lures to use are smaller hardbody vibes between 5-13g in brown and silver.

Remember that only To page 55

Smaller hardbody vibes and dry flies have been the best methods for targeting trout. Photo courtesy of Steve Williamson’s Trout Fishing Adventures.

Fishing the surface brings surplus bags Peter Burtchell

Moth mania unfolded in the last week of April and continued through May with an influx of bogong

moths that are moving over the lake to their breeding grounds. Moths falling onto the surface of the lake create quite an interest for Murray cod and other fish species.

Casting surface lures around the edges of the lake

A standard bag of Delatite Arm redfin.

where the moths are most prevalent has proven very successful. The migration of the moths coincided with the full moon on 17 May, so this surface fishing action should hopefully continue into June.

The big cray crunch has also begun, with Murray cod actively feeding on the resident troupes of Murray crayfish. Murray crayfish are the world’s second largest crayfish and provide a much needed food source for native fish populations during mid to late autumn, when most other food sources have been exhausted or are in hibernation.

If you’re a lure fisher, large spinnerbaits have been the most effective when targeting this species.

June 1 will see the opening of the Murray crayfish season at Lake Eildon. Drop into Café 501 and grab a one of the free plastic measures that are funded by fishing license fees to assist you in accurately measuring your catch.

Fishing around the marinas has been just as prolific as the rest of the lake. Heath Clarke managed to land a quality Murray cod bait fishing with worms from the rear deck of his houseboat The Boardroom at Jerusalem Creek Marina. Simon North landed a decent 70cm+ Murray cod from the small marina while he was casting and tuning a range of lures.

Tayah Badrock managed to land her first Murray cod off the back of her houseboat

From page 54

one fish over 50cm is permitted from trout spawning streams and rivers, and a bag limit of two fish only. Hopefully next month the reports will be much better and will give us a better idea on how the winter fishing will continue.

• High Country Outfitters has the largest range of fly fishing gear in the Snowy Mountains, with something for every skill level and budget.

Brands include Sage, Rio, Redington, Scott, Simms, Patagonia, Loop, TFO, Vision, Hardy, Riverworks, Scientific Anglers, Airflo and McLean nets. There’s also a big range of flies from Manic, Stu Tripney, Mick Hall and Pisces, as well as waders, boots, vests and outdoor apparel. For all the latest information on what’s biting and where, drop into the store at Nuggets Crossing Shopping Centre, Jindabyne. You can also call them on (02) 6456 2989, like them on Facebook or check out their website at highfly.com.au.

Australia’s best native fish minds gathered together for a conference.

Insanity on her first ever fishing rod.

Stephen James had a great weekend in The Delatite Arm, which was working its redfin magic. Most fish were caught bait fishing with worms.

During April, Café 501 Jerusalem Creek hosted the Victorian Fisheries Authority, who gathered together Australia’s best native fish minds to help design their exciting new hatchery.

As part of their Target One Million commitment, they are keen to build a great hatchery using innovative design, best practice and the latest technology.

They have also started a review of available sites that boast access to water so they can produce stacks of fish when the hatchery is up and running.

Stay tuned for more updates on this landmark project that will future-proof Victoria’s native fish supply for decades to come!

Last month we had the Lake Eildon Fishing Challenge, which was a great success with plenty of quality fish caught.

We still need more rain before the big fish action begins along the Big River and Goulburn Arms and hopefully

this will occur soon, so we can see some cracking metre+ fish this month.

• Jerusalem Creek Marina & Holiday Park is a friendly, family-orientated caravan park, and makes the perfect home away from home. While there you can opt to hire one of their Boatel floating

apartments, hire a boat or book a fishing guide at competitive prices. For more information on all of these services and other attractions in the area, visit jerusalemcreek.com. au, or give them a call on (03) 5774 2585 or email i n f o @ j e r u s a l e m c re e k . com.au.

Relax and enjoy delicious food and warm hospitality.

Open for breakfast from 6am 7 days a week (Closed Mother’s Day)

n Trout Hatchery e d a G 10 Main St, Eildon Victoria 3713 Coffee Light meals Pastries Cakes Bread

Gaden Trout Hatchery 03 5774 2362 0438 881 629

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Open 10 am–4 pm daily.

Closed Anzac, Christmas, Boxing day.

Guided tours 10 am and 2 pm.

Self-guided tours on selected days.

Small admission fee.

Hopefully some winter rain turns the fishing on and makes catches like this common throughout June.

Photo courtesy of Steve Williamson’s Trout Fishing Adventures.

leaping fish * 4 species * aquaria, ponds, AV show * beautifulbreeding picnic–BBQ area * smoked trout sale * find out about for kids fishing workshops. *

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Wonderful winter fishing at Lake Wendouree BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Anglers from all over the state have been treated to some totally awesome fishing at Lake Wendouree. Over the past month, fishing is the best it has been for many years, whether you cast lures, plastics, flies or fish bait, Wendouree has really turned on the action for anglers.

Lake Wendouree is the top performing trout water in the state at the moment and this will continue into the winter months. I have taken my three boy’s Will, Zach and Max out fishing on numerous occasions over the past month. We’ve been catching plenty of fish, mainly brown trout on mudeyes suspended under bubble floats at depths of

Max Stevens and Roxy the dog landed this lovely brown trout while fishing with mudeye on Lake Wendouree.

on Wendouree for many years, according to a few of the older fly fishers.

Tullaroop Reservoir normally fishes extremely well during the winter months. I certainly haunted it last winter, catching plenty of rainbow and brown trout on lures and flies. I haven’t been up for a visit yet but it’s on my radar over the coming month. I, like others, enjoy walking Tullaroop’s expansive shores while casting flies or lures in anticipation of snagging onto a trout or two.

Newlyn Reservoir’s water level is very low at the moment, which is normal for this time of year, with a couple of islands starting to appear on the eastern side along the wall. The fishing reports have been patchy with some anglers saying the water is low, weedy and

Reservoir. The smelt are their main food source during the winter months.

The same methods from Newlyn will catch you fish here. Reports over the past month from Moorabool say trout have been biting on gardenworms fished on the bottom with a running sinker rig. Patience is required, but rewarded, with trout between 50-60cm being caught. I’m sure if you walk along the shorelines casting flies or lures you will be pleasantly surprised at what you will catch.

Lake Wendouree over the past month has had a number of fishing competitions held on it. The lake has really produced the goods for these competitions and angling in general.

The Ballart Fly Fishers Club recently held its

Trevor Holmes being awarded the Against the Odds winning trophy by the minister of Fisheries, Jaala Pulford.

Photo courtesy of Alan Greig.

3-4ft. It doesn’t seem to matter what time of day or whether the sun is out, the trout have been on the bite.

Toby McClure, an excellent tournament angler who likes to visit Wendouree, has been getting amongst the trout casting surface lures, which the trout and redfin in Wendouree love. On Toby’s most recent trip be nailed five brown trout varying in size from high 40s to an absolute ripper at 62cm. After a couple of happy snaps the big girl was released to fight another day.

Bent minnow style lures are perfect for Wendouree given that they only sink to about 6” under the surface. Wendouree, as many anglers would know, is very weedy and these lures work perfect in these shallow conditions.

Vern and Luke Barby have been fly fishing Wendouree over the past month. The boys have been using small brown nymph patterns with excellent results. The trout have 56

JUNE 2019

been feeding on nymphs mid-water before the hatch, then they get into Mayfly on the surface.

The fish, for some reason, have not been very

keen to eat flies off the surface, but mid-water they have been feeding on them with gusto. We are currently experiencing some of the best fly fishing to be seen

Vern Barby nailed this quality brown trout while fly fishing a brown nymph pattern on Lake Wendouree.

Photo courtesy of Luke Barby.

Toby McClure caught and released a lovely 62cm female brown trout on an OSP Bent Minnow lure.

Photo courtesy of Toby McClure.

dirty and others reporting good catches of redfin and trout on bullet lures cast out over the weed.

Newlyn generally fishes well during the winter months, with the fish chasing smelt as most of the surface insect activity has gone due to the cold. Whether you fish bait, lures or flies, you need to cast out over the weed beds to clear water for best results. On the overcast winter days you can see the trout smashing trout smelt in and around the shallower edges. This is exciting but frustrating at the same time – speed and accuracy to get your lures, plastics or flies in front of these feeding fish is important.

Moorabool Reservoir is another excellent winter fishery, with brown and rainbow trout targeting the smelt like at Newlyn

annual Lake Wendouree Two Fly competition, with 43 fly fishers registering for the competition. A total of 36 brown and rainbow trout were caught and released for the event, with an average size of 43.5cm.

Ballarat fly fisher Jacob Omrod is only new to the sport won the competition with a lovely 55cm brown trout, which happened to be Jacob’s first trout ever on fly. The talk around the Ballarat Fly Fishers Clubroom over the weekend was about the amount of fish caught or lost and the quality of the fish. This is testament to the stocking program that Victorian Fisheries Authority has in place, the water quality and amount of food that Lake Wendouree holds to sustain such stocking levels. Us anglers really To page 57

Cod lollies are bringing fish to the surface BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

The Bendigo region continues to receive below average rainfall, so water levels in our impoundments continue to drop. Hopefully we will see a break in this weather in the near future. It will be nice to see some green grass again and to see our water levels rising.

Due to the lack of rainfall, water clarity remains good at most locations. The irrigation season finished in the middle of May. Now that the irrigation season has finished we should see reduced flows running down the river system and water clarity will continue to improve until the region receives some significant rainfall.

A natural event that always occurs at this time of year is a bardi moth hatch. These moths are a favourite food source for the Murray cod. At this time of year there is often a reduction in the numbers of Murray cod being caught on the surface because of cooling water temperatures.

However, this trend is reversed on those nights when there is a good hatch in the bardi moths. This will see Murray cod out making the most of the feeding opportunity.

LAKE EPPALOCK The productivity in the fishing at Lake Eppalock has improved slightly over From page 56

reap these rewards.

The Against The Odds Amyloidosis Awareness fishing competition has been running for three years now and raises awareness and funds of

Surface lures are a great option at this time of year. Murray cod are currently feeding on one of their favourite food source, the bardi grub moths. the last month. Anglers are now starting to land some larger redfin more consistently, with redfin measuring up to 40cm being landed. Some of the redfin are starting to develop roe, which is encouraging the fish to feed more aggressively.

The majority of the larger redfin are still being caught in the deep water. A combination of bait fishing and lure fishing has been successful when targeting the redfin. The most productive baits for the redfin have been worms and small yabbies. The most

productive lure techniques have been trolling deep diving hardbody lures and casting soft plastics.

The golden perch fishing has remained slow, with only small numbers being landed. It is now a good time of year to target some trout in Lake Eppalock.

Victorian Fisheries have been stocking some good trout into Lake Eppalock over the last few seasons.

CAMPASPE RIVER Water temperatures are continuing to drop at this time of year. The overall productivity in the fishing has started to decrease.

this illness. Ballarat Fly Fishers Club member Alan Greig unfortunately suffers from Amyloidosis, which is a form of cancer. The Victorian Trout and Redfin Facebook page started the competition three years

ago and has now gone from strength to strength with many sponsors jumping onboard to assist in raising funds for this disease.

This year’s competition saw 50 anglers register, with a total of 47 trout and redfin

Luckily the quality of fish being caught has been quite good. The most productive lures for golden perch have been lipless crankbaits and suspending hardbodies.

The number of Murray cod being caught has been fairly average, but the overall sizes have been good. Casting large lipless crankbaits like the Jackall Doozer and the Mazzy Fortei vibe is my method of choice mine at this time of year.

With the hatchings of bardi moths throughout June, fishing with surface lures during periods of low

light is an excellent option.

Captures have been quite average, but the size of the fish taking advantage of these cod lollies is very good. It is not easy being out in the cold conditions at night, but if you put the time in you just might land that fish of a lifetime.

CAIRN CURRAN Water levels continue to recede. Cairn Curran is currently at 32% capacity.

With the irrigation season finishing, we will hopefully start to see water levels increasing in the next couple of months. We will need to have a few significant rainfall events before this occurs. The ground is so dry that the first few decent rain events will just soak in and the run-off will be minimal.

Redfin continue to make up the majority of anglers’ captures. Bait fishing with worms and yabbies has been the most productive.

Casting soft plastics and vertically jigging soft plastics and ice jigs have also been good options for the redfin.

Small numbers of golden perch continue to be caught. The majority of these have been found around the edges of standing timber. Some golden perch and the occasional Murray cod have also been caught trolling the edges of the rocky shorelines.

I have not had any reports of trout being caught. Hopefully, when water levels start to increase we see a few more anglers out targeting our trout population.

LODDON RIVER Water temperatures are beginning to get quite cool in the Loddon River.

With these cooling water temperatures we are starting to see a reduction in the numbers of golden perch being caught. Even though the numbers of golden perch being caught has reduced, the average size has increased with anglers landing fish up to 50cm.

The number of Murray cod being caught has also only been average, but several lucky anglers have landed some large Murray cod measuring over the magical metre mark. Casting large lipless crankbaits is a great option when targeting Murray cod at this time of year.

As the water starts to cool we will see an increase in the amount of bait and larger fish starting to concentrate in the deeper sections of the river.

Another good technique can be to troll these deeper sections with deep diving hardbody lures or heavy spinnerbaits. The Loddon River can be a great location to target Murray cod with surface lures or swimbaits.

At this time of year we will often see a bardi moth hatch. When this does occur, the Loddon River Murray cod will be out to make the most of this feeding opportunity. If you are out there giving it a crack, the rewards can be great and the fish of your dreams might just smash your lure!

Zach Stevens landed a Lake Wendouree brown trout on a mudeye suspended under a bubble float.

Jacob Omrod won the Lake Wendouree Two Fly Competition with a 55cm brown trout and his first ever trout on fly.

Photo courtesy of Steve Lock.

being caught and released.

The winner of the Against the Odds Trophy was Trevor Holmes, for landing a magnificent brown trout

of 54cm. The Against the Odds Trophy was presented to Trevor by the minister for Fisheries Jaala Pulford, who commented that it

was great to see anglers getting behind a fellow angler and raising funds and also awareness for the illness.

JUNE 2019

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Anglers are going insane without the rain CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

We are still waiting for some solid rain to fall and freshen up as well as raise the water levels in our local lakes and waterways.

You could say that we are currently experiencing a green drought down here.

Just enough rainfall to green up the place, but nowhere near enough to assist our lakes. Hopefully this month we see the weather pattern switch to winter mode. Plenty of our lakes have suffered from algal outbreaks in recent months, which is not conducive to healthy fish and fishing in general.

Cold weather and plenty of rain generally fixes this. We really need that to happen now.

There’s plenty of Chinook salmon along with the odd brown available in Lake Bullen Merri.

Lately Micheal Evans has been finding plenty of fish and although not huge specimens, they are

certainly coming into the boat in reasonable numbers and are the perfect size to take home for the table.

Trolling the lake’s fringes in depths around 6-10m has been ideal for many. As winter approaches and the water temperature drops, the fish will move in closer into the shallows, so soon anglers will be able to work the drop-offs in depths approaching 4m.

There’s no need to down rig lures in the lake now.

It’s all about flat lining a variety of lures, including cobra style winged lures as well as medium to deep diving minnows.

Having a flick from the bank using soft plastics is really working. There is no need to cast out a mile anymore. However, allowing the plastic to reach bottom can be hazardous, especially along the northern shoreline where the other boat ramp used to be located. The bottom along this stretch of bank is extremely snaggy, so keep that in mind. Further around there are plenty of shallow

bays that would present a better option when fishing close to the bottom.

Lake Purrumbete has been the lake of choice for many, but the fish here are a challenge to catch, especially the trophy-sized browns, rainbows and Chinooks. Plenty of smaller fish averaging around a kilogram are about, but the big brutes remain hard to entice.

Many boaters prefer to troll here, although some still cast and retrieve towards the bank.

Both methods certainly work – it’s just a matter of possessing plenty of patience and perseverance, as the fish do not jump into the boat here like they might in other waterways.

Many anglers are taking advantage of the redfin present in the lake. The fish have schooled up at depth and when located they can come into the boat one after another. I haven’t heard of many cricket score catches occurring compared to last season, however, catching a feed or three in a session

Taken trolling, not jigging, this feisty little Purrumbete reddy shot out of the weed beds and attempted to engulf a Pontoon 21 Greedy Guts in natural yamame. is entirely possible. Many are using live bait bottom bounced in and around 15m depth while others, including myself, prefer to jig either soft plastics or lures, which work a treat on a given day.

As the temperature

drops it seems the fish are increasing in size. Currently it’s not uncommon for the average reddy to measure in the high 20s to low 30s.

Catches of the smaller ones has decreased significantly.

To sum up the current situation, we need plenty

of rain and we need it now.

Besides freshening up our two existing deep Crater Lakes, some rain will see the shallow lakes in the district, such as Tooliorook, Deep and Elingamite, become fishable and stockable again.

Beat the winter blues at Blue Rock Lake WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

The 2019 stream trout season is closed for rivers and streams from 12:01am on Tuesday 11 June until 11:59pm on Friday 6 September. To beat the winter blues, Blue Rock Lake provides anglers a retreat for those missing the streams but eager to still wet a winter line.

Blue Rock Lake is tucked in behind the township of Willow Grove. The farmland and bush backdrop creates a picturesque setting, gaining a lot of attention from anglers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It’s all happening over winter out on the lake; you just need to know where to target your efforts.

Right now, Blue Rock Lake’s water level is low and continues to drop due to a significant lack of rainfall in the catchment. But don’t despair, there’s still plenty of

water for fishing. Over winter Blue Rock can be mighty cold, with the chilly air blowing off Mt Baw Baw making for some uncomfortable fishing.

So, rugging up and being prepared can be the difference between a good day out or not.

Winter trout on Blue Rock can be targeted a number of ways. Land-based anglers can target trout by bait fishing, casting lures and casting out dry or wet flies or lures from the shoreline. Trout will feed along the shoreline as the water levels rise, which we’d expect over the coming months, and this is certainly advantageous for land-based anglers.

Often on a mirror calm winter’s day you can spot the trout feeding as they gently pick insects trapped on the water’s surface. If bait fishing, keep floats, sinkers and hooks as small as possible to better present the bait and avoid spooking an inquisitive fish.

I’d recommend live baits such as gardenworms, scrubworms, maggots and mudeyes.

Trolling for winter trout on Blue Rock is good fun and possibly the most popular method for chasing lake trout.

In June there can be some magical still days ideal for trolling a lure behind a boat or kayak. To increase your chances, troll your lures beside windrows or scumlines on the lake’s surface. This is where all the food congregates after a wild and windy few days.

If you look at the windrows closely you’ll notice an abundance of insects and beetles caught in the surface tension. If you are skilled with a fly rod, hold the boat or kayak back a distance and cast a dry fly or beaded nymph just shy of the windrows.

Bass and redfin are winter active species too and best targeted fishing baits or lures down deep against structure.

The most common technique for boat and kayak anglers is to ‘tree-hop’ by tying up to trees and dropping baits and jigs; if you don’t get any strikes then move on to the

next tree.

A good sounder may take some of that guesswork out too. Sounding around shoreline points may show up good schools of bass and redfin. This is where anglers have had some luck using ice jigs on bass.

Lures to keep in the tackle box for winter include weighted soft plastics, redfin jigs, twitching lures and ice jigs. Worms, yabbies and crickets are all fair game for bass and redfin, if presented in the feeding zone. If using worms, be prepared for eel as a by-catch. There are some monster eel out there, which can provide anglers with a challenge on a light rod and line setup.

Feel free to send me a report or photo, particularly if you have any success stories before the closure of the stream trout season or if you’ve had luck on a winter trout, redfin or bass on Blue Rock.

Happy fishing!

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Stanley Haughton proudly shows off a late autumn bass he caught on worms off the bottom.

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JUNE 2019

Water clarity is making for good fishing NAGAMBIE

Paul Thomas

Well, the rains have finally arrived and temperatures have begun to drop and with that there has been a change in conditions in the Nagambie Lakes region.

Water clarity up until the arrival of the rain had been excellent, making fishing conditions quite good. Water clarity has now suffered a little and productivity has also fallen.

It is still a very good time of year to be fishing the area, although you may need

spot to spend a weekend close to Melbourne fishing.

In the creek there has been reasonable catches of yellowbelly (golden perch) being caught on a variety of baits including worms, shrimp, small yabbies and wood grubs, as well as a few being taken on small lures like Jackall TN 50s and 60s, small and medium sized Stumpjumpers and light weight spinnerbaits in the 3/8-1/2oz range.

Anglers casting surface lures during low light periods of an early morning and late afternoon are catching the odd Murray cod.

this Mitchellstown area, mainly upstream of the Mitchellstown Bridge, where good catches of larger size Murray cod have been a regular occurrence. Other than the fish that were caught during the big comp, I was shown a photo of a healthy 99cm Murray cod caught on an unknown bait as well as a 94cm Murray cod caught on a lure.

Water flows have eased in this area now and if clarity remains good or improves, casting lures like large spinnerbaits to bankside structure or trolling the river drop-offs should still produce

Catches of Murray cod have been on the small side around the Nagambie Lake area, with baits like cheese, bardi grubs and yabbies have been getting the best results. dominating the reports from this area over the last month.

Young anglers visiting the area caught plenty of small redfin from the bank around the main lake area on worms during this time. There was also the odd yellowbelly caught, which I suspect were following the schools of redfin around looking for an easy feed of this tasty little fish.

Yellowbelly were also being caught amongst the many willow trees in the area

KIRWANS BRIDGE Other than the one report I received from the Tatong Anglers Club, majority of reports state fishing in the Kiwans Bridge area has been challenging. Several members from the club spent two days fishing this area and managed to catch 10 Murray cod between 35-58cm on a variety of baits and lures as well as two very healthy Murray cod at 84 and 85cm. The two larger fish were landed

yellowbelly of 43cm, all of which were caught on Old Mate hardbody lures in a variety of colours.

Local Angling Club member Sunny Martins was also able to land a nice 62cm Murray cod on a Jackall lure.

WRAP UP The productivity in this area over the next few months will be heavily influenced by the weather.

One or two decent rains can see the water clarity in the area go from crystal clear

Yellowbelly have been around in good numbers and have been getting caught amongst structure on a variety of lures and baits. to put a little extra time in to find feeding fish. Prior to the recent wet all methods along the system had continued to produce good results.

MAJORS CREEK Majors Creek has been a popular destination over the last month. With a good camping area and new boat ramp, it’s been the perfect

As I have said before, Majors Creek is a great place to launch a canoe or kayak to spend an afternoon exploring and flicking lures around the large volumes of structure that can be found in the creek.

MITCHELLSTOWN The best reports for the month have come from

Murray cod. Alternatively, tying up to one of the large logs or fallen trees along the river and bait fishing with large baits like cheese or large yabbies if you can get them should also produce the goods.

NAGAMBIE LAKE Small redfin and yellowbelly have been

Mitchellstown has been the place to go if you’re after a bigger Murray cod.

The author caught this nifty Murray cod on a hardbody lure.

on cast lures such as lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits and small hardbodies. As usual, the trusty worm or a shrimp cocktail bobbed at the base of these trees and among the heads of fallen snags have also produced yellowbelly up to 44cm.

Reports of Murray cod have been few and those that I have heard of have only been small specimens caught on bait such as cheese, bardi grubs and yabbies.

using spinnerbaits.

Included in their weekend haul was 1 yellowbelly at 36cm, 1 redfin at 38cm and two large European carp. Not a bad weekend fishing at all, and it just highlights what the Nagambie Lakes area is capable of when conditions are just right.

On the three trips to this area that I had myself, I managed six Murray cod between 50-66cm and one

to chocolate soup in a very short time, so hitting the water before this occurs will increase your chances of landing a resident native fish.

Trolling the deeper sections of the river with large hardbodies or using large baits close to heavy timber would be my suggestion if you are going to venture to the Nagambie Lakes area, and please remember ‘to limit your catch, not catch your limit’.

JUNE 2019

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING LUMICA UFO DEEPWATER LIGHTS 1 Lumica Japan are the developers and inventors of the chemical light stick, and have now developed an excellent range of LED Deepwater Lights for anglers targeting fish at great depths.

The UFO version is the top-of-the-range model in Lumica’s leading contingent of Deepwater Lights. The UFO is depth tested to an impressive 1200m and is pressure rated to 85kg.

The UFO comes in three different versions.

The first version is the Multi, which offers five different light functions. Simply turning it at the base can change it from green to blue to red to multi-strobe, in two different flash functions.

The UV and Blue models offer three different light functions so you can change your colour schemes or strobe functions to your own desired effect on each of the models. The UFO requires 1 x AA alkaline battery.

The Deepwater Lights will be highly effective for anglers targeting swordfish, hapuka, trevalla, Tasmanian trumpeter and all deepwater species, helping to attract their attention and bring them to your baits. www.jurofishing.com

DAIWA BAITCASTER 2 BLITZ Baitcaster fans are in for treat, with three new pint-sized, hyper performance baitcasters from Daiwa: the new Steez CT SV TW, Morethan PE TW, and Alphas CT SV. The Steez and Alphas CT SV models introduce a new 70 size model to the line-ups, with the Steez featuring an Air Metal frame and gear side plate, Digigear, Zero Adjuster, Magforce Z, UTD, Swept Handle, ratcheted star drag, T-Wing, and SV G1 Duraluminium speed shaft spool. It weighs only 150g.

The Alphas has finesse fishing written all over it, and weighs just 170g. It has an alloy frame, Magforce Air brake system, clicking star drag, 80mm Swept Handle, and a machined G1 aircraft grade Duraluminium spool, making it suitable for fresh and saltwater angling.

The new Morethan 1000-size model provides a more compact offering with no reduction in strength, due its new low-profile alloy body and the addition of Hyper Digigear.

It features Daiwa’s latest technology, including Hyper Digigear, T-Wing, Magforce Z, ATD, Air Rotation, and CRBB and MagSealed bearings, this reel punches well above its weight. It is the perfect choice for cod and barra anglers seeking a compact reel that won’t let them down. www.daiwafishing.com.au

WILDFISH WAIST BELT

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The new Wildfish Waist Belt, distributed by JM Gillies, keeps all your frequently used gear in easy reach.

This cleverly designed waist belt features zippered main and front compartments, which hold your boxes and small accessories. There is also an open front pocket for easy access.

Leader loops are fitted so you can quickly and easily access your leader, and there are side pockets for added storage. For maximum comfort during a day’s fishing walking the banks, rocks, surf or flats, there’s an adjustable padded waist strap and handle.

Other products in the Wildfish range include fly packs (each pack suited to different species or locations), waders (available in thigh and chest styles in seven sizes), stainless steel smokers, and smoker dust (available in apple,

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JUNE 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE hickory, peach, sheoak and wine flavours). You can find more information on the range at the JM Gillies website, or for the latest news, catch photos and competitions, check them out on Facebook. www.jmgillies.com.au

HALCO WIRE TRACES

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The Fin-Nor Offshore Spinning Reel is built for frontline battles with the toughest fish in the sea. Equipped with hardware and features that enable anglers to perform at the highest level in the most challenging environments, the Fin-Nor Offshore is the workhorse reel that fishing guides and dedicated anglers depend on.

The Fin-Nor Offshore is packed with fishstopping features. From the tough aluminium body, side plate, rotor, and spool, to the stainless steel drive and pinion gear, these hardwearing reels redefine durability. Armed with an extra-strong bail wire, metal handle, four double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings, and an incredible 11-disc stainless and carbon fibre drag system, the Fin-Nor Offshore is built to stop serious fish.

Whether you’re chasing mulloway and snapper from the rocks, dropping baits on reefs, or trolling for tuna and mackerel, the FinNor Offshore is built to help anglers across the globe land the trophy fish of a lifetime. www.finnorfishing.com.au

BAD OLD BLOKE SHIRTS

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Halco’s new Single Strand Wire Traces are based around American Fishing Wires premium American-made stainless steel, pre-straightened wire.

These new traces come in two lengths and three different breaking strains, giving you plenty of options for a quick, easy trace that you can count on at short notice.

There are short 25cm traces for all your shore and boat-based casting needs and longer 50cm traces that should get the trolling crew in the water quickly and with a minimum of fuss, should the toothy brigade turn up.

Available in breaking strains of 58lb, 86lb and 105lb, these packs of five individual traces also feature a premium rolling swivel at one end, and Halco’s popular cross lock snaps at the other. They are all beautifully finished with tight and precise haywire twist connections.

For more information check out the new Single Strand Wire video on Halco’s YouTube channel. www.halcotackle.com

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

TD SOL/TD BLACK COMPACT

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SHIMANO STELLA SWC 2019

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BIWAA SUBMISSION

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The new TD Sol and TD Black Compact (2500S-C) spin reels are the two newest members to join the Daiwa TD reel line-up. These reels feature the LT (Light Tough) Concept, and a rap sheet of technologies that include Long Cast ABS spool, Zaion body, ATD drag, Air Bail, MagSeal, Perfect Line Stopper, aluminium Air Handle, and Air Rotor.

What sets the two new TD Compact models apart from the other reels in their range is their new compact size. Light and strong, and designed with the finesse angler in mind, they feature a solid 1000 size body matched with a shallow capacity, 2500 size spool. A 5kg finesse drag further enhances their light tackle capability, while their LT Concept design ensures power, strength and precision for years to come.

A welcome addition to the TD Sol and TD Black families, the shallow spool, finesse LT Compact models are destined to become a hit with Aussie light tackle anglers. For more information visit the Daiwa Australia website. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Black Magic’s continual growth and development in freshwater lures sees yet another original addition to their already strong line-up of freshwater lure options.

As the name suggests, the ‘Rattle Snack’ rattles with its built in, harmonically tuned tungsten rattle. With six proven colours to suit australian fishing conditions it is sure to become a favourite for those who appreciate consistent results.

There are two weights available, 7g and 14g. These lures have quality hardware ensure your target species is landed, not lost, and an aggressive shape which ensures a very enticing swimming action.

Whether you are trolling from a boat or casting to your favourite lie in a river, estuary canal or lake, Black Magic’s new Rattle Snack’s superior action and harmonics will deliver results.

These new lures are available now from leading tackle stores throughout Australia. www.blackmagictackle.com

LUMICA PUNI IKA SQUID X-WING

For 2019, the Stella SWC has been released with upgrades across four models – 8000HG, 8000PG, 10000PG and 14000XG. Infinity drive has been introduced to complement the existing X-Ship system to deliver light and powerful winding. Handle rotation torque is reduced by 30% when compared to the conventional system, so winding, even under extreme load, is now even easier.

The Heat Sink Drag in the 10000 and 14000 sizes enhances the existing X-Tough Drag and Rigid Support Drag system, for consistent and smooth drag pressure. The X-Protect seal and labyrinth structure repels water intrusion throughout the reel. This now features in the line roller, making this mechanism ten times more durable than the previous model.

The 8000 size weighs 50g less than the previous model, and its new rotor has reduced rotational inertia by 23%, making winding effortless.

Features still built-in from the previous Stella SWB include Hagane Body, Hagane Gear, X-Rigid Rotor, AR-C spool, EI Surface Treatment, and 13+1 SA-RB bearings and 25kg of drag power. The HG models are designed for both casting and jigging, whereas PG is geared for jigging applications and XG for saltwater casting.

Price: SRP $1559.95 www.shimanofish.com.au

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The Lumica Puni Ika X-Wing Squid is an ultra-realistic soft plastic squid, designed, developed and made in Japan.

The X-Wing 90 features an ultra-tough 10X material that is strong and stretchy. One of the X-Wing’s key features is that it has a secondary slot that allows the angler to insert a Kemihotaru 25mm light inside the body to allow the squid to glow for added attraction.

The X-Wing has a rigging slot to make rigging a breeze, and it can be rigged with a lead weighted system with a treble, Carolina or Texas rigged with a worm hook or on a weighted jighead.

The X-Wing is 90mm in length, is scent impregnated and comes with three pieces per packet. The X-Wing has a tantalising action that any predatory fish that feed on squid, cuttlefish or octopus find irresistible and appealing.

To find out more visit the Juro website. www.jurofishing.com

BLACK MAGIC JIGGING ROD

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BLACK MAGIC RATTLE SNACK

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The popular Black Magic Light Jigging 173 rod has been upgraded this season, and it is now called the Light Jigging Rod 173-2.

The new version features an extended butt section for more comfort and support. High performance was a paramount objective in the design of this one-piece rod. It has been manufactured with the best Fuji componentry and is rated to 8-18kg with a maximum drag of 6kg and a maximum jig weight of 160g, the Light Jigging 173-2 rod is ready for action. Plus, for every rod sold, Black Magic will make a donation to ‘Legasea – Fish For The People’ to help rebuild our fisheries for the benefit of all.

Ask to see them at your local Black Magic stockist today, or head to the Black Magic website to find out more. You can also find more information, news and catch photos on their Facebook page (www. facebook.com/blackmagictackle), check them out on Instagram (@blackmagictackle) or subscribe to the Black Magic YouTube channel. www.blackmagictackle.com

The Submission from Biwaa is a lure for anglers who want the highest quality soft baits.

The unique design of the Biwaa SubMission, with its thick boot tail, gives it a lazy, tail kicking action, regardless of how it is rigged.

The addition of 3D eyes, along with hand painted and lifelike colour schemes, give Biwaa products the most natural looking finish available. These natural colorings, when paired with the SubMissions enticing tail action, make for an extremely effective combination, catching fish in even the clearest of water.

The Biwaa SubMission is available unrigged in the following sizes: 4” (four per pack), 5” (three per pack) and 8” (two per pack). There is also a rigged 8” SubMission with a super strong wire through harness (one per pack).

The Submission is available in six proven colours – pearl white, aurora gold, gold perch, roach, hitch and sexy shad. www.ejtodd.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au JUNE 2019

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI WINGMAN

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Samaki brings you your newest wingman – the guy you want by your side for all your fishing adventures… the jig that has got your back!

Wingman’s unique rear grooves create an erratic action when dropped. This, combined with its enlarged attractive eye, entices the most elusive bites from a huge variety of reef and pelagic species such as kingfish, amberjack, samsonfish, tuna and coral trout.

It comes in six fish-catching colours (including rainbow stylin, glow ‘n silver, lemon splice and the all-natural pilly), and is available in seven different weights, ranging from 20g to 200g. The Wingman also offers the highest UV properties, enticing the most elusive of fish to attack.

This centre balanced jig comes pre-rigged with a premium assist hook and Japanese Kevlar. For more information and stockists visit the Samaki website, or like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Price: from SRP $7.95 www.samaki.com.au

WESTIN SALTY THE 14 SHRIMP

The Westin Salty the Shrimp R ‘N R (Rigged ‘N Ready) looks incredibly lifelike, and the reason is because it’s made from a 3D scan of a live shrimp. The Salty’s fluttering legs, natural whiskers and multi-jointed tail section all seem to move independently as this slow-sinking lure makes it way down in the water.

This is a versatile lure, working on a range of saltwater and freshwater predators. You can cast and retrieve it close to the bottom with the occasional rod twitch to get it dancing, and pretty soon some hungry predators will come to investigate.

This lure has a soft body with an internal weight, with an ultra-sharp and strong Japanese style sea fishing hook. To maximise attraction there’s a glass/steel rattle stick inside for great acoustics. Other features include natural feelers, optimized flexibility, multi-jointed for an enticing, lively action, internal mesh for maximum durability, and hand-painted detailing.

The Salty the Shrimp R ‘N R comes in two sizes, 7.5cm (9g) and 10cm (18g), in a selection of proven colours, and comes in a pack of three. www.jmlaa.com

SEA TO SUMMIT SIGMA POT

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Engineered with premium marine grade stainless steel, the SigmaPot range from Sea To Summit is strong, lightweight and offers a durable, abrasion-resistant and easy-to-clean cooking surface for your outdoor camp kitchen needs.

Designed for compact packing and convenient handling, the SigmaPot’s unique patent-pending Pivot-Lock handle rotates horizontally, locking in place for a secure and ergonomic grip when in use, and folds away keeping the lid locked to the pot for low-profile storage.

The compact nesting SigmaPots are compatible with Sea To Summit’s SigmaPans, DeltaLight range of camp dinnerware, and AlphaPots and AlphaPans.

Features include: premium grade stainless steel cooking surface; patent-pending PivotLock handle with ergonomic silicone grip for secure easy operation; large internal radius to allow easy cleaning (and matches the Delta cutlery profile); graded volumetric scale for accurate measurement; and a textured base for stability on camp stoves.

Price: SRP $59.99-$79.99 www.seatosummitdistribution.com.au 62

JUNE 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE

YAMASHITA EGI OH K

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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The new Yamashita Egi Oh K glow and keimura (UV glow) colours have arrived in Australia.

The Egi Oh K jigs include the patented warm jacket technology, which turns light into heat, plus the following industryleading features: Hydro Fin (unique to the market and acts as a stabiliser to reduce movement when sinking); pentagon hydro body (also unique to the market, its 5-sided body with flat bottom aids stability); tin sinker (made from environmentally-friendly tin, its tuning holes give the angler the ability to tune weight and sink rate); and G-Flash (a reflective lateral line which is also included in the larger Egi Oh GX jigs, and which creates increased flash and squid appeal).

These new jigs also feature Hydro Eyes, which lie flat against the body and help to give the jig a smooth darting action. Their UV glow pupil and glow edge are unique to the market, and create an additional appeal to attract squid.

To maximise hook-up rates, the double crown hooks have been tuned with the rear crown opened slightly wider.

For more information on the Egi Oh K, or to find your nearest stockist, visit the EJ Todd website or look up ‘Yamashita Australia’ on Facebook. www.ejtodd.com.au

SOLAR MOTION SENSOR LIGHT

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The Solar Motion Sensor light from Perfect Image is a very useful item to pack when you next go camping. We all know what it’s like to trip over guy ropes in the dark, and with the Motion Sensor light you don’t have to keep a light going all the time.

This unit turns on automatically at dusk with 5% lighting, and the unit remains on at 5% until its radar sensor detects movement. When that happens, the Sensor light will switch to 100% light, making it easy for you to find your tent, or to find your way out at night.

The Solar Motion Sensor light measures 100mm x 138mm x 69mm, and the operating distance is 5-7m at an angle of 180°. It is powered by a lithium battery (DC 3.2VDC 1500 mAh). www.pii.net.au

SAMAKI DIGITAL GT SHIRT

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Sporting an aggressive GT attacking a stickbait, the Digital GT Shirt is different from a lot of other shirts in the Samaki range. It features bold geometric shapes in blues and greys, setting it apart from all the other fishing shirts on the market.

The lightweight fabric is perfect for all outdoor elements, protecting you from the harsh sun with Samaki’s UV50+ resistant technology. The soft touch 100% polyester material is comfortable on the body, plus it has the added feature of being breathable, keeping you cool and dry.

Samaki designs are brought to you

by Australian anglers who love to design Australian species. Digital GT shirts are available in adult, youth and kids sizes from a size 2 through to a 5XL, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out onto the water.

Price: SRP $59.95 (adults), $49.95 (kids) www.samaki.com.au

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Team Samurai Rods take charge at Metung The weekend of 4-5 May saw 48 teams head to million dollar Metung for the 2019 Club Marine East Gippsland Bream Classic.

All the talk leading into the briefing was the new tournament structure that allowed teams to choose from four locations to launch and start from each day.

The ability to choose your starting point from four locations right across the

the rest of the system, they gambled and decided to risk remaining in the same area and banking on things swinging in their favour.

On day one the boys worked edges and drop-offs steadily picking up fish and occasionally upgrading. A late flurry, including a 1.3kg model in the last 10 minutes) really helped them finish the day with a solid bag of fish.

The trip back to the weigh in was a bit different,

it for team Samurai Rods.

After day one the leaderboard contained four 5kg bags, so it was anyone’s game.

If the boys thought things couldn’t get any better for them they were mistaken, as Sunday morning started off in an unbelievable fashion as a 1.49kg bream came aboard on the third cast of the day. As is always the way in fishing, things can change very quickly and unfortunately the next half an hour was trying and disappointing, with bustoffs, pulled hooks and missed opportunities making the boys think that maybe their

Winning team Samurai Rods took out the biggest bag of the whole tournament, with a day one bag that weighed in at 5.75kg.

RESULTS

The top three teams, third place team Barely Legal with Michael Crane and Shane Handley, winning team Samurai Rods with Dan Mackrell and Declan Betts, and coming in second was team Minn Kota with Cam Whittam and Warren Carter.

Gippsland Lakes was sure to open up the venue and the strong winds predicted allowed teams to avoid crossing the nasty Lake King.

For team Samurai Rods Dan Mackrell and Declan Betts, the new format was used to great effect to help them secure a commanding victory leading from start to finish. Below is how they went about securing yet another victory.

Team Samurai Rods chose to launch from Hollands Landing in the new multi-launch version of the Gippsland Lakes round. The pre-fish was a slow affair, with only four legal fish gracing the boat for the day.

However, being unfamiliar with what was going on in

with an hour long journey by road. When the scales came down, 5.75kg was the result and all the extra driving and early wake up calls, seemed utterly worth

Place Team Name Angler One

1 Samurai Rods Dan Mackrell 2 Minn Kota Cam Whittam 3 Barely Legal Michael Crane 4 Don the Sash Mario Vukic 5 MPW Peter Marshall 6 Fishin.com.au Mike Reber 7 Grumpy & the Bear Mike Newman 8 Berkley Brad Hodges 9 Tight Lines Leon Hughes 10 EGM Revisited Paul Conn luck had run out.

Small upgrades came along at irregular intervals, but it was starting to feel like the tuckshop had closed, and the opportunity to back

Team Savage Trailer’s Doug Phayer took out the Big Bream prize with this monster 1.57kg bream.

Angler Two

Declan Betts Warren Carter Shane Handley Michael Vukic Harry Marshall Stuart Carruthers Neil Fleming Tom McIntosh Doug Badrock Justin Conn

up their day one efforts had slipped away.

The boys persevered, putting faith in the plan. A puff of wind came up and the bream canteen was once again open for business. An hour was all it took for a 4.45kg bag to turn into a 6.12kg bag and with team MinnKota’s Cameron Whittam and Warren Carter weighing in a potential tournament winning 10/10 for 10.59kg, the boys from Samurai Rods were going to need that huge bag to secure the win.

As the official scales pulled down to a Sunline Best Bag of 6.12kg the result was without doubt 10/10 bream with a total weight of 11.87kg. This saw team Samurai Rods Dan Mackrell

Total Fish 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 10/10

Total Weight (kg) 11.87 10.59 8.69 8.68 7.84 7.68 7.61 7.58 7.53 7.28

and Declan Betts take out the 2019 Club Marine East Gippsland Bream Classic.

The gear of choice for

team Samurai Rods was Samurai 302 and 252 rods, and Atomic Arrowz rods; Daiwa Certates and Ignis reels; and these were coupled with Unitika braids and Unitika Aiger leader material.

ZMan plastics, in particular Slim SwimZ and grubs, were the most effective lures for the weekend.

The JML Anglers Alliance Big Bream went to team Savage Trailers Doug Phayer and James Blazewski, who weighed in a monster bream on day two weighing 1.57kg. The Hurricane Monster Movers prize went to team Purple Patch Nikki and Blair Bryant who weighed in their heaviest bag of 4.40kg, moving them 15 places up the leaderboard on day two.

The next stop sees the 2019 NS Rods Sunline Bream Classic Series head to Warrnambool on the Hopkins River on the 22-23 June for the 2019 Glenelg Hopkins CMA BCF Bream Classic. If you want to enter, head to www. vicbreamclassics.com.au for all the details or call tournament director Bill Hartshorne on 0409 823 070. – Vic Bream Classics

The Hurricane Monster Movers prize went to team Purple Patch Nikki and Blair Bryant, who managed to move 15 places up the leaderboard on day two.

JUNE 2019

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More members for the magic metre club Round two of the Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series took place at Lake Mulwala and saw a total of 115 anglers competing, 100 in the Senior category and 15 in the Junior.

from one solid Murray cod.

Meanwhile, Phillip Goepel snagged third place with his first ever Murray cod, and a final score of 58.

For the Senior category, Kyle Dalrymple continued

Paul Thomas missed out on the Big Fish Award on day one by just half a centimetre, with a Murray cod that measured at 101.5cm.

Shane’s Splash for Cash had a total of 65 entrants

This cracking Murray cod saw Lissa Waight taking home the $1,300 prize pool. for a prize pool of $1,300.

Lissa Waight had a morning most anglers can only dream of, landing two fish over the

Paul Thomas missed out on the Big Fish Award by half a centimetre, with this 101.5cm Murray cod.

The day was a success with over 130 Murray cod and 2 golden perch caught over the competition. Each fish caught scored the competitor points based on species and size.

These points tallied up and the one with the most points at the end of the competition won.

Hannah Landmeter took out first place in the Junior category with 228.5 points.

She caught four quality Murray cod that contributed to this point score. Hannah also won a bonus prize for catching the smallest fish with a Murray cod that measured in at 32.5cm.

Archer Landmeter won second place with 62 point

his fine form and took out first place. He presented five Murray cod, earning him a total score of 315.8.

Second place went to Robert Hill, who also caught five Murray cod and had a final score of 294. Rita Caufield claimed third place with four Murray cod and a final score of 263.

The Big Fish Award for day one was swept up by Greg Saville with his first Murray cod over the magic metre mark, a whopping 102cm specimen. Greg couldn’t wipe the smile off his face and is taking home a Venom rod and Wilson prize pack for his efforts.

Lissa Waight scored two Murray cod over a metre within an hour of each other fishing swimbaits.

Greg Saville took out the Big Fish Award and joined the magic metre club with this impressive 102cm beast!

magic metre within an hour of each other. Her biggest was a monster 113cm Murray cod, followed by one that measured in at exactly 1m.

This was Lissa’s first cod

over that magic metre mark.

So, congratulation to Lissa for not only taking home the $1,300 prize pool and but for joining the metre club in style.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2019

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

22-23 June

ABT BASS Round 3 Lake St Clair

abt.org.au

22-23 June

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 7 Gold Coast

hobiefishing.com.au

22-23 June

Victoria Bream Classic Round 4 Hopkins River

billhartshorne@hotmail.com

30 June

ABT BASS Electric Round 3 Maroon Dam

abt.org.au

6-7 July

ABT BREAM Round 6 Bribie Island

abt.org.au

13-14 July

ABT BASS Round 4 Cania Dam

abt.org.au

28 July

ABT BASS Electric Round 4 Lake Gregory

abt.org.au

10-11 Aug

ABT BASS Round 5 Somerset Dam

abt.org.au

7-8 Sep

ABT BREAM Round 7 Gladstone

abt.org.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours.

Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name.

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Let’s build it and see if they will come “Let’s build it and see if they will come,” was the vision behind the GoFish Nagambie dream when Gerry Ryan first mentioned the idea to Daryl Herbert.

The rest is history. Fishos arrived by the thousands, boats filled the waterways and the fish were caught.

“The best thing has been the excitement amongst the anglers, it’s incredible to see an event of this scale in regional Victoria, it’s the best!” said GoFish ambassador Rhys Creed. The event had a distinct festival vibe that all who attended enjoyed. Organisers were stoked at the success of the event and are already looking forward to next year’s event.

An impressive 1,150 fish were caught including a monster cod. “I’ve spoken to

Round 4

Lake Mulwala Bundalong Tavern GoFish Nagambie winner Clint Alvey with his monster 109.96cm cod.

“The Victorian Government is proud to have worked with the organisers and the community to bring

CEO of Jayco, Gerry Ryan presented the prizes on the day. the guy who caught the fish, it’s so exciting,” remarked GoFish ambassador Paul Worsteling.

Jaclyn Symes, Minister for Regional Development Victoria came along to the festival hub to join in on the festivities.

GoFish to Nagambie, and along with the visitors and economic boost and fun that it has generated, this is an event we are very proud of!”

The GoFish Nagambie tournament has come to a close, and there are stories of huge fish, stories of the one

that got away, stories of no fish but the most impressive story was about the monster fish that measured in at 109.96cm.

You could taste the anticipation before they announced the winner of the open cod category, the winner of the life changing prize pool of $80,000 cash. Clint Alvey took home this impressive prize and it was well-deserved after the monster fish he managed to land.

CEO of Jayco, Gerry Ryan at one point took to the stage and said, “Nagambie is one of the best kept secrets, the waterways are second to none, I hope you all come back again next year, we might have it a little earlier when it’s a bit warmer.”

More than 2,000 fishers, 1,000 boats and an eager fishing community came together for the better good of the community, the better good of the environment and for a whole lot of fun. There

were fish caught, there were friendships made and plenty of stories to be told. An amazing $15,000 was raised for MS Victoria through the raffle of a Stacer 420 boat.

Brian Forbes is now the proud owner of that boat.

“The GoFish Nagambie tournament 2019 has been an absolute success, even better than what we could ever have imagined. We built it, and they came, my advice is get your tickets early, next year this comp is going to go off!” said Paul Worsteling. – GoFish Nagambie

• July 6, 2019 • Registrations Fri 5th 4pm–9.30pm, Sat 6th 6am–8am • $30 entry per person • Singles Event • Cash Prizes • Sausage Sizzle

Bridgewater Lures Juniors Super Series *Children up to 14 Free

New

“SHANE’S SPLASH THE CASH” Sunday 7th July 2019, 7am–12 noon

$20 per person (no junior concessions) • Winner takes all • Lure fishing only • Largest native fish, Murray Cod or Yellow Belly

Register at Bundalong Tavern from 6.45am

Check out our Facebook page:

• Central VIC Lure Casters Super Series For more information contact

Shane Melrose 0406 141 967

OPEN CATEGORY WINNERS Species Murray cod Golden perch Redfin

Winner Clint Alvey Nathan Birch Dean Cummings

Fish Size (cm) 109.96 60.73 39.65

Prize $80,000 $20,000 $5,000

Clint Alvey took home a life-changing $80,000 for landing the biggest cod of the competition.

JUNE 2019

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Saved by the stinkers BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

I’ve always been a big believer in the saying ‘no run, no fun’ when it comes to fishing, so when I was recently confronted with

just seem disinterested, with no drive to actively hunt or feed. These tides with little flow are sometimes welcomed in different areas, such as when chasing barra in some areas up north or targeting structure in deep water, however in my local estuary and river systems it

With the wind forecast to blow up, the plan was to get on the water early. those tides that seem to just sit there all day, with a low high tide, high low tide and very little tidal movement, I had to come up with a plan.

To make matters worse, my wife’s grandmother was visiting from interstate and the pressure was on to put together a couple of packs of fish for her to take home for a feed.

I had tried all sorts of rigs and techniques to get the fish to feed on these tides in the past, and they

can definitely make for a lot of casts and a slow bite.

After lots of trial and error on these types of tides, I have now learnt to grab my confidence lures, fish the techniques that I know produce, hit a few favourite spots and just work hard, stay alert to bait and activity in the area and persist. So, on this particular morning I ignored my own advice, rigged up a whole bunch of weedless, experimental presentations and headed

off across a section of flats that I rarely even fish on the good tides… and you can probably guess the result.

After an hour of nothing I was still working an area that wasn’t feeling fishy, on a tide that was realistically too low, with lures that I wasn’t confident in.

It’s important to make the call and change things up if it’s not working, so I changed to a few of my go-to lures, turned the kayak around and spent about thirty minutes pedalling against the tide to the area of flats that I had originally intended to fish… before coming up with my great alternative plan. Luckily the tide wasn’t running hard and that was about the only positive for a kayak angler, as I could physically make the move to this area.

When I arrived on the flat I had already lost some of the small high tide, so I looked for deeper areas on the flat, where the water depth dropped from about 2ft to around 3ft. This additional foot of water is all that it takes to give fish the confidence to hold on the flat and feed. I also focussed on areas where there was weed and rubble that would hold food, rather than the flat open areas of sand.

First cast and I was on to what I hoped was a nice bream, however after a few fast changes of direction and some crazy head shakes I realised it was a small trevally. We had recently had a couple of sessions on this flat, landing plenty of these trevally and I was still yet to identify them officially.

They were great fun on light gear, as most trevally are, and a cool looking fish, however they had a slime coat on them that was quite smelly, so my wife and I had nicknamed them stinkers.

“Oh no, not another stinker” was the call as we chased bream on the flats during

Not the most highly regarded table fish, but a feed for the author’s visitor.

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After a false start to the morning these trevally were a welcome rod bender. a previous session and she landed seven in a row.

Today though, I was grateful for the stinkers and after an hour and a half without a bump I now had

lost, it was time to get back to the job at hand and fish for a feed for nan. I’m not sure if these trevally were edible or legal to keep, however it didn’t really matter, as my

catching a bream or flathead on the channel drop off. Here I set up a slow drift along the edge, allowing me to cast a few metres onto the flat and then retrieve fairly

The trevally put up a good fight on light gear. Note how shallow the water is. a bent rod and a smile on my face. I was casting and slow rolling a 2.5” paddletail plastic on a 1/8oz 1/0 jighead. The hits were fierce and the runs had the drag singing. After an hour or so and eight landed and a few

wife and I never keep any trevally for the table as they are too cool a fish and too much fun to take out of the system, when they could be left for a kid to catch one day.

I moved to the edge of the flat in the hope of

quickly for the first couple of metres to avoid fouling in the weed. I then allowed the plastic to fall down the drop off. After a couple more stinkers, I hooked a different breed of stinker, a yellowtail pike. The difference with

Another flathead to finish the session.

these slimy, smelly and oily fish is that I knew they are okay eating, especially in the smoker. They are quite messy to handle and fillet,

on the tough conditions.

It was this little flatty’s unlucky day and he joined nan’s yellowtail pike in the icebox.

A decent size yellowtail pike went into the icebox for nan. with their slime and scales left everywhere, however this one went into the icebox for nan.

I was beginning to curse the tides when I had a solid hit and then that familiar run of a bream surging across the flats. Eventually

Seeing that yellowtail pike in the icebox made me decide to head to an area where I knew there would be more pike holding on a weed flat. They would be feeding regardless of the tide and I was confident that I could attract a few bites

be all that’s needed when the bite is tough.

After paddling to the area that I was going to fish, I stopped to see whether I was going to drift with the slow tide or the breeze and then set up a drift across the weed flat. When targeting yellowtail pike it’s just a matter of getting the retrieve right and it can vary depending on water depth and how aggressively they are feeding. After a few straight winds and follows without strikes, I included a few pauses and shakes of the rod tip. Fish on! Then the fish were shaking the plastic and I was losing more than I was catching. I changed strategy and as soon as the fish was hooked, I didn’t give them an inch, keeping the pressure on to the point of skipping the smaller ones across the surface. This kept the hook in and ensured the fish made it to the kayak.

I released a few smaller fish and kept the ones that were worth filleting, adding a dozen to the icebox. The stinkers had saved the day, with the trevally providing plenty of action on the flat and the pike making up a nice feed for nan. This would give her one pack of flathead and a couple of packs of yellowtail pike, to go with a few packs of crab that were already in the freezer. Not a bad seafood feast for someone that lives in regional NSW! The wind was forecast to blow up and it didn’t disappoint, as it now had

Fish on! Although maybe not the desired species, a bent rod means a smile on the face. tail and 3/8oz 3/0 jighead and cast toward the edge of the weed, working the plastic down the channel edge and into water that was a few metres deep. With the slow current I would have normally used a 1/4oz jighead, however the heavier jighead made it easier to get the casting distance and stay in contact with the plastic in the wind.

The first cast settled on the bottom and was eaten immediately by a bar-tailed flathead, that was probably just legal but quickly returned to the water, as they are less common in the area that I fish. Two casts later and the plastic was eaten in more aggressive fashion by what felt like a reasonable flathead. A few solid runs on the light gear and plenty of headshakes and I had a mid-40s flathead in the net. Not a monster, but a good meal size fish for nan’s icebox. With the wind now gusting hard, my session was over.

Despite the poor tides and false start, I had managed to hunt and gather a feed for our interstate visitor. I

had a couple flathead meals and couple of yellowtail pike meals to go with her crab and squid caught earlier. It had been the stinkers that had made the session enjoyable

forget those species that we loved to catch as kids, whether it be for fun, for bait or as a feed. They still put a bend in the rod, can be great fun to target and they

The ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ are a good all rounder in the estuaries. by providing the most action though, with a couple of dozen trevally and yellowtail pike landed over a few hours.

When the tides aren’t great or the bite isn’t going to plan in your area, don’t

are often readily available.

You never know, you too could find yourself having a much more enjoyable and action-packed session thanks to the stinkers.

See you on the water.

One of the stinkers landed fishing the shallow flats.

I had the fish close enough to the kayak to watch it shake the jighead and swim away… yep, they weren’t going to make it easy for me. Soon after, a cast into a sandy patch was soon rewarded with a solid take and the headshakes of a flathead. When I slid the net under this fish there was a sense of relief, along with a sense of achievement based

on the little 2.5” paddle tail. Many anglers consider species like yellowtail pike, mullet, gar and salmon to be nothing more than bait or a less desirable species to target. It’s important to remember though that these species are also often more prolific, can be good eating if looked after and prepared correctly and they also put a bend in your rod, which can

become stronger than the weak tide, pushing me away from my final destination. It was time to head for home, with just one last spot to have a few casts before putting the kayak back on its trolley and calling it a day.

Upon reaching the last spot I positioned the kayak a cast distance from the bank, grabbed the rod that was rigged with a 3” paddle-

It doesn’t take much water depth to hold a flathead.

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Part I: Predicting the best time to fish SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

This month I decided to take a break from looking at fishing tournaments to take a look at a fishing problem that is old as time – when is the best time to go fishing? Just to make things more interesting I am approaching this problem with a code lab, something I am pretty sure hasn’t been attempted in a fishing magazine – and may never be again, but here goes.

Code labs are a popular format of communicating techniques amongst computer programmers and data scientists, breaking down the process into steps and including code samples for others to try for themselves. If you aren’t a coder, that’s okay – you can always take advantage of the results.

All the code samples in this case are in ‘R’, which is a mathematical programming language popular with data scientists. All of the tasks in this part of the exercise can be done in a spreadsheet, like Excel or Numbers. Next month in part II, I will be looking at forecasting and R is definitely required.

All the code is available online via github, which you can find https://github.com/InfofishAustralia/when-is-the-best-timeto-fish-part-1. I am including the dataset in the github but there are no locations or identifying information, so this is just to give you a head start in analysing data. To run the code you will need both the R runtime (https://cran.r-project.org) and RStudio (https://www.rstudio.com). Both are free and there are plenty of Youtube tutorials on getting started.

To download the code, go to the link above and select the clone or download button and then select download zip. That will download a compressed zip file with the code. Extract the code from the zip and if you have installed the R runtime and RStudio, double click on the FishingMonthly.Rproj.

GETTING STARTED If you have downloaded the code and want to work through it, this part is in the r script 1.exploringthedata.R. To access the script select it from files list which will be in the lower right section of RStudio.

Fig. 1 – the location of the code.

Programming is a little different to normal use of software as all instructions have to be provided. This is done via a ‘language’, which like French or Japanese is just a way of communicating with the computer. Think of a program like a to do list for the computer that it actions when run. The first thing we need to do is load up the packages that will be needed for the analysis.

In the first instance I am using two – dplyr, which is used for manipulating data and ggplot2 which is used for plotting graphs.

To run the code just select the lines then click the run button on the toolbar. If the packages aren’t installed, there will be a prompt to install them: require(dplyr), require(ggplot2).

Next the data needs to be loaded. I have already generated two datafiles, both with barramundi catch data. There is no location data or identifying information, but I think having a real dataset will be more helpful to others that might want to develop their own data. Datasets can be generated in excel and R can read excel directly but the easiest way to load data is to edit the data in excel as a table, then save that as a csv file. For the record – this data is not from Rockhampton.

In this case, reading in the data is very simple, select the following two lines and run: monitoringdata<-read.

csv(‘data/monitoring.csv’), competitiondata<read.csv(‘data/competition.csv’).

Fig. 2 – Open the file from the files list.

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How do you look at data in R? There are a couple of ways.

Longer-term R users mostly prefer the head command which displays the first five rows. For newer users that want to navigate the data in a more familiar spreadsheet function, the View command brings up the data in a read only spreadsheet. Note – R is not the place to be editing data, if some cleaning is required do that in excel then resave the data: head(monitoringdata), View(monitoringdata).

Another useful command to view the data is the summary command. This will show all columns in the dataset, with useful statistics such as the largest, smallest and average value. Summary will also provide a list of the most common values and how often they occur. Summary is more useful than head as it provides the ‘shape’ of the data. For example in the monitoringdata dataset, summary provides a list of the wind directions that occur most often. More on that later: summary(monitoringdata).

FRAMING THE OBJECTIVE First thing first – If I was going to ask the question before I collected data, then I would approach the problem in a different manner. Sampling methodology is just as important as data and if you were really going to go all in, I would recommend that sampling every hour for a long period of time (preferably a year), with a specific group of fishers always using the same technique.

Even that has its troubles – what happens if the fish stop responding to a technique for example.

However, that is not the end of the story. In this case while we can’t give a ‘definitive’ answer – we can try to improve our understanding and nudge the odds in our favour a bit. Going from random to something that has a pattern of success is a step up. That in my experience is how fishers operate – try out a new area based on any past experience (prior knowledge), repeat at slightly different times until success is found, repeat and adjust until success is more consistent and finally – bag out.

Of course, that process can take a long time. Let’s see if we can’t shorten that time with some data.

MEASUREMENTS OF BEHAVIOUR In this exercise there are two critters that we are examining – the fish and fisher. The main challenge in reading the data is which parts predict the fish and which parts measure the fisher.

Rainfall is a good example. When it rains, we would expect less fishers to be on the water, but equally, rainfall may make fish more likely to be active. Again, unless you have a more systematic study, you probably won’t know and even then, other factors such as human performance will come into play. Do you fish with the same efficiency when fishing in the rain?

This is one of the reasons sports scientists capture specific data that breaks down performance. Much of that data goes into understanding ‘normal’ and measuring if a change in routine results in a change on the field.

In this case, the data on the performance of fishers is very limited – speaking as one of the only people who has captured such data. What we can say is that fisher performance can fluctuate on mood, use of alcohol, temperature and off the water factors such as stress at work. While there aren’t long-term studies on fishing specifically to quantify the effects, there have been plenty of studies in parallel domains of activity and there is no reason to believe that fishing would respond differently.

In other words – we would need a robot to get a truly unbiased sample, one that was good at fishing. Where is the fun in that?

None the less, I will have a look at some of the data available and see if we can get any clues on fish and fisher.

EXPLORING AND PARTITIONING THE DATASET I have written articles in the past on how fishers are not all equal in their performance. This can bias datasets by having one to two fishers overrepresented in the dataset. That isn’t always a problem but when looking at the future overrepresentation basically means that the answers derived will be more reflective of the most productive fishers, not the full set of fishers. In this case if there are fishers overrepresented in the dataset, I want to use that opportunity to hive them off and create a third dataset and that way we end up with three different types of fishers to compare.

That is quite useful when considering the problem of measuring the behaviour of the fisher or the fish. If we get similar answers for all three datasets, then there is a greater likelihood we are observing fish patterns. If we get different answers, then there is a greater chance that we are seeing the behaviour of the fisher.

Looking at a problem from multiple angles has its advantages. As with The Hunger Games, we want to tip the odds in our favour so understanding which of the two we are looking at is important.

How do we find out? Longer term readers of my articles will know that I have long discussed that the results of fishing wind up in what is known as a Pareto distribution, commonly known as the 80/20 rule. That is 80% of the fish are caught by 20% of the fishers. This is of course a metaphor, but the idea coined by Alfredo Pareto, an Italian engineer is sound in maths and in reality. Here is where R comes into its own as generating a

Pareto distribution in Excel can take a while, but I can do this in a single step. It’s a bit complicated for a first command, granted, but essentially this gathers the data by the id used to identify the fisher, then calculates the number of fish they caught and the cumulative total/percentage for the results: monitoringfisherspareto

<- monitoringdata %>% dplyr::mutate(idfisher=as. factor(paste0(‘F’,idfisher))) %>% dplyr::group_ by(idfisher) %>% dplyr::summarise(No.Fish.Caught = n()) %>%dplyr::arrange(desc(No.Fish.Caught)) %>% dplyr::mutate(cumtotal=cumsum(No.Fish.Caught), cumperc = cumtotal/nrow(monitoringdata) * 100).

The advantage of this dataset is now we can plot out the distribution and see if any of the fishers have been over represented. To do this we use a package called ggplot to combine a bar chart to show the number of fish per fisher verses a line chart of their cumulative proportion of the total: ggplot(monitoringfisherspareto, aes(x=rownum, y=No.Fish.Caught)) + geom_bar(stat=”identity”, aes(fill = No.Fish.Caught)) + geom_ line(aes(x=rownum, y = cumtotal, color = No.Fish.

Caught)) + geom_point(aes(x=rownum, y = cumtotal, color = No.Fish.Caught), pch = 19).

The resulting figure 3 shows that indeed, two fishers have

Fig. 3 – Pareto Distribution of catches in the monitoring sample. caught more than half the fish reported between them. That to all I need to know we can split this data. Note that the code to split out the data is in the code on github.

What about the competition data? Figure 4 has the distribution and at first glance there is an obvious difference, where there is a parabolic curve on the monitoring sample here our curve is nearly a straight line. What gives?

There are two forces at play here. First, there are 75 people who didn’t catch fish and are part of the long tail of the distribution. I haven’t included them as I just wanted to walk through the successful catches but they will stretch the curve out.

Second productivity is constrained by two key things – time and

Fig. 4 – Pareto Distribution of catches in the competition sample. availability of resources. In a competition fishers are limited in both, but especially in time. With a limited time period, there is an immediate cap on the number of fish that can be caught. There are rare instances where time doesn’t matter but that requires the resources to be near endless and the only place I have ever encountered that is in Lake Samsonvale North of Brisbane where 40 fishers shared 1300 fish in a two-day period. The presence of a lot more fishers on the water is another element that constrains the resource as more fishing effort generally makes the fish go to ground.

NEGATIVE DATA Ah, zero – has there ever been a more debated number. Well oddly enough, probably 3. I am sure there is a mathematician out there that would educate me but in fishing terms zero is a very important number.

Zero fish caught – is rarely measured but can be informative of conditions, fisher or population. Zero is the number we are all striving to avoid.

In this dataset I am not including negative data (no fish caught) at this stage, as I suspect most people are interested in

success not failure, but in the next part when I look at forecasting and prediction, I will include negative data as in the real world there are dog days.

Negative data is key to making predictions more accurate – when predicting the future failure is as important as success as a datapoint.

LENGTH OF FISH First question on my mind is are the fishers targeting similar fish. One thing that can help is look at the average size of fish caught by each of the three groups – our high productivity fishers, general fishers and competition fishers. In the code in the github I combined all three into a single set of data and added a field ‘dataset’ to identify which group the record belongs to. Running the mean for the three returns 691mm for high productivity fishers, 686 for general fisher and 730 for competition fishers:

General fishers are more likely to be out on a Sunday, so my new theory is that general fishers have swapped fishing for the church as their favourite place of worship. Tell me I am wrong. All jokes aside, this again is an important piece of information.

POSITION IN THE TIDE The remaining analysis in the github are in 2.exploringtheenvironmentaldata.R. This dataset is not from a tidal area but tide is a good proxy for the phase/location of the moon. I will include that variable in part II but I thought it would be interesting to see if there was any

mean(combineddataset[combineddataset$dataset = = ’ h p f m o n i t o r i n g ’ , ] $ l e n g t h ) , mean(combineddataset[combineddataset$dataset ==’generalmonitoring’,]$length), mean(combineddataset[combined dataset$dataset==’competition’,]$length).

Another way of looking at the data is to look at the spread of the size classes and thanks to ggplot we can save some time and plot all three sets of data at once: ggplot(combineddataset,

aes(x=length)) + geom_histogram(breaks=seq(300, 1000, by=25),aes(y=..density..), colour=”black”, fill=”white”) + geom_density(alpha=.2, fill=”#6666FF”) + facet_grid(dataset ~ .).

The results in Figure 5 show that the high productivity and general groups look similar while the competition fisher are shifted to the right, indicating they are catching larger fish. The competition fisher band is also narrower, so they are seeing a lot of the same size class. Were there only fish of that size around that weekend? I think it’s more likely that competition fishers all used similar tactics but we would need more data on how the fishers operate to answer that question. Barra fishers are secretive at the best of times so I am not going there, because unless there is video to review, I wouldn’t guarantee the accuracy of any answers. Suffice to say that there is a definite difference in the sizes of fish caught.

TIMES OF CAPTURE Now let’s have a look at the times where fish are caught to see if there are major difference in when they were successful in catching fish. In the monitoring fishers can fish when they want to, in the competition fishers had a continuous 48-hour period to catch fish in. In the case of the competition data, catches at midnight are excluded because there are manual entered items where the time was not correctly recorded:

gplot(combineddataset, aes(x=hour.catch)) + geom_histogram(breaks=seq(1, 23, by=1),aes(y=.. density..), colour=”black”, fill=”white”) + geom_density(alpha=.2, fill=”#6666FF”) + facet_ grid(dataset ~ .).

evidence of a link between fish captures and the tidal movement.

Do barramundi follow the tides even when they aren’t in a tidal area?

In order to simplify looking at that question we classified the tide in four stages: 1 – bottom), 2 – falling, 3 – rising, and 4 – top.

When this is plotted, the breakdown comes out on the numeric not the text value: ggplot(combineddataset,

aes(x=as.numeric(tide.classification))) + geom_histogram(breaks=seq(0, 4, by=1),aes(y=.. density..), colour=”black”, fill=”white”)+ geom_density(alpha=.2, fill=”#6666FF”) + facet_ grid(dataset ~ .).

The result is a very interesting picture – one that will need to be expanded in a later article. For competition fishers there is a definite spike in the falling tide and a second at the top of the tide. For the general and high productivity fisher there is a spike around the rising and top of the tides. Noting that back in the length discussion competition fishers averaged larger fish, this might be a point to file away.

The differences in results highlights why I was so keen to get separate datasets.

TEMPERATURE Temperature is a great negative predictor – when the weather gets cold, barramundi tend to go quiet, but is temperature a predictor of success? In this case we have some zero values to remove as those are days where temperature wasn’t recorded: tempdata<-

Fig. 5 – comparison of size classes of fish by each of the fishing groups.

There does seem to be a difference in success rates, but that may be indicative of the fishers. General fishers had more success at temperatures under 30°C, but high productivity fishers had success above and again this may be selection of times when less fishers are on the water. That may be a clue – stick it out in the heat.

WIND When it comes to wind, I have often heard competition fishers discussing how wind direction affects where the fish are

Note that in the competition, fishers were more successful at night while monitoring fishers were more successful in the morning.

DAY OF CAPTURE Another measure of human behaviour would be when they go fishing. We all live busy lives and generally and regrettably more often than not fishing fits into our other scheduled activities rather than the other way around. If only that wasn’t the case. Interestingly, data collected has shown that changes for the better as you age – ie there will be more time for fishing. In fact, statistically, fishing is one of the activities that is maintained more often across a whole life.

Take that CrossFit. When we look at weekdays fishing, the competition fishing is less relevant due to the fixed nature of the event: gplot(combineddataset, aes(x=hour.catch)) +

Fig. 7 – comparison of days of fish caught by each of the fishing groups.

This highlights an interesting difference in the behaviour of the high productivity vs general fishers. While both groups caught fish on all days, the high productivity fishers are more likely to avoid weekends – which is the peak traffic period.

“0” “E” “ENE” “ESE” “N” “NE” “NNE” “NNW” “NW” “S” “SE”, [12] “SSE” “SSW” “SW” “W” “WSW”.

The results are interesting particularly in the afternoon. A look longer term data weather data will show the prevailing wind patterns. If that trend looks something like the success rates then what we might be seeing is simply the more likely wind patterns represented in the data. In the code lab in github I dive into this further. Does that mean that wind influences success? Not necessarily. At this point I am dubious that wind is influential in success though it will influence where to fish. That is something that needs to be teased out in part II. WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? The object of this exercise is to tip the odds in our favour when choosing when to go fishing. Having a look at the raw data and some simple analysis we can see that there are clues.

We can say that there is a difference in success based on

Fig. 6 – comparison of times of fish caught by each of the fishing groups.

combineddataset %>% dplyr::filter(max.temp!=0), ggplot(tempdata, aes(x=round(max.temp,0))) + geom_histogram(breaks=seq(25, 35, by=1),aes(y=.. density..), colour=”black”, fill=”white”) + geom_density(alpha=.2, fill=”#6666FF”) + facet_ grid(dataset ~ .).

geom_histogram(breaks=seq(1, 23, by=1),aes(y=.. density..), colour=”black”, fill=”white”) + geom_density(alpha=.2, fill=”#6666FF”) + facet_ grid(dataset ~ .).

chart we use the levels command to know what that progression is: levels(winddata$nine.am.wind.direction) [1]

Fig. 8 – Comparison of success at different points in the tide. things like tide, time, temperature, even day of the week can influence success. Even on the data provided, you can see that middle of the day is probably not the go – so before or after work on a weekday and at the top of the tide more so than the bottom.

Don’t worry about temperature unless it’s 33°C+ or winter. You don’t need to panic on the direction of the wind, unless your favourite fishing spot is affected or it’s going to be dangerous on the water.

Fig. 9 – Comparison of success at different maximum temperatures.

None of these variables are causational (directly affect the behaviour of fish) – a lot more work would need to be done to establish that. However, each in their own way do provide evidence, ie that they are indicators that may help improve our prediction of fishing success. It’s how they all come together.

How do the interaction of wind, tide and temperature influence success? Can we pick the perfect combination to have a good day.

Before I can get to that question, I need some bigger mathematical modelling guns and a bit more data to get the most from this dataset. That is where R really comes into its own, because unlike excel, R has access to the most powerful modelling tools on the planet – and they aren’t as hard to use as you might think.

So in part II of this code lab, I will pick up a selection of tools that can be used to improve decision making even further and time permitting, provide a tool where you can put in a date and time and the tool will predict if that is a good or bad time to go fishing.

likely to be. A useful explanation for a donut no doubt. In this case we have the wind direction for the morning and afternoon catches.

First, we need to filter the data, so that only morning catches are being compared to the 9am wind direction and afternoon/evening catches for the 3pm: winddata<-combineddataset %>%

dplyr::filter(hour.catch<12).

Next as the final chart will list a numeric representation of a

Fig. 11 – Comparison of success with afternoon winds.

JUNE 2019

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FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS COD SPECIES

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GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

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Congratulations to, Jennifer Meares who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition!

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The subscriber prize winner for April is M Gray of Rye, who won an E.J. Todd Prize Pack to the value of $300.

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Portland, W Johnson of Morwell, K Tripp of Glenroy, J Aquilina of Keilor Downs, M Shaw of Ringwood, G Bannister of Lorne, G Sculley of Maffra, A Pollard of Darley, A Melis of Reservoir, N Sanders of Irymple , R Camba of South Morang, R Morgan of Dingley, R Coombes of Vermont, P Musgrove of Casterton, P Dickinson of Langwarrin, J Killian of Paynesville,

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JUNE 2019

GUESS THE FISH?

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Bonito

The answers to Find the Gamakatsu Logo for April were: 9, 18, 20, 23, 27, 32, 39, 42, 59, 61, 67, 68, 76, 88, 93.– V&TFM The Find the Gamakatsu Logo prize winners for April were: F Oleszko of Braybrook, K Scott of Gawler, L Vitelli of Epping, D Robinson of Carisbrook, T Sweeney of Emerald, J Thomas of Broadford, J Collier of Smythes Creek, P Wickham of Corinella, T Tippet of Nurrabiel, D Hedley of Hamilton, S Rhind of Rochester, B Shelton of Romsey, M Stacey of

© A Cordelia Adams original artwork. Instagram: clausdoesart

Answer:

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BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Using your boat as an effective fish fighting tool WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

like to have a big green fish too close to the boat, I don’t really want them on the horizon either. In this situation more often than not it can be prudent to get the boat into gear and get after the fish in order to remain in contact with it.

There are a few reasons why we need to use ours boats, now let’s get on with how to use them. The following are some common

instantly once an angler has hooked-up to a substantial fish. If I was on anchor, even with a quick release system, the time it takes to get the boat mobile would be too slow and the fish would win its freedom.

For the same reason I don’t use drogues (sea anchors) to help control the drifts, as the time it takes to get them out of the water is also too slow and will result

It’s a full time job and you need to remain attentive here. Don’t try this style of fishing by keeping your bow into the sea – it simply won’t work. It’s too hard to remain vertically above the anglers lines, you’ll wind up with lines going underneath the boat at all sorts of crazy angles and you have the added risk of one of them becoming wrapped around your

Drifting deep structure

Obstruction free water

sh

ll fi is

th y wa

Current

Fish holding area

Bottom structure

An g

le

of

dr

ift

simply to create and maintain effective line angles in order to keep the hooks set into a fish and to keep fight times to a minimum. The longer the fight the greater the chance there is for something to go wrong. Also, if targeting fish intended for release, the longer the fight the less chance that the fish will swim away again in a healthy manner.

A primary reason to use our boat (and this is something that I do a lot of) is to keep a fish away from structure. Structure doesn’t just mean a bit of reef or rocks, it may be other boats fishing nearby, flotsam, moorings, jetties or pretty much anything either in or on the water that may bring a premature and unhappy ending to a fight.

Using your boat can also help you stay in contact with a rampaging fish. When targeting big pelagics on light line, and this is something that I am passionate about, it’s common for a good fish to rip a couple of hundred metres of line off a spool in a single run. While I don’t

Pu

There are quite a few aspects of our sport where we can do things in a certain way to give ourselves the biggest chance possible to get that fish of a lifetime.

The correct use of our mode of transport on the water is one such way that we can all give ourselves a better chance to catch more and bigger fish. It doesn’t matter whether you fish from a kayak, a 60ft luxury game boat or something in between, whatever your chosen fishing platform is, your vessel an important fish fighting tool.

Just like any tool that’s used in any trade it has to be used correctly to be effective. Too many people out there use their boat just as a means of transport to get to the fish when it can be used for so much more.

In this article I am going to talk to you about some different scenarios that I encounter on a regular basis and how I use my boat Reel Addiction to give everyone

onboard their best chance to get that special fish. I can tell you that if I didn’t use my boat to fight fish with, my catch rates would be significantly less than what they are, especially in regards to trophy-sized fish of just about any species.

Before I rattle on too much about what and what not to do in particular situations, I’ll explain some of the fundamental reasons why we need to use our boat to help us out.

One of the first things that comes to mind is to assist the hooked-up angler to maintain that ever important constant hook pressure. Quite often mid-fight I’ll have a big fish turn and start swimming at angle towards the boat, making it necessary to get the boat into gear pronto and do whatever that is required to keep the line tight.

Just about any of the pelagic species will try and pull this trick on you at some point in time and if you’re not ready for it, that big fish that you so wanted may go begging.

Another reason is

Se c

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eA

ste

rn

Wind

1 Bowen Street, Cranbourne, Vic 3977

Ph: (03) 5996 2206

www.cranbourneboatingcentre.com.au

74

JUNE 2019

situations that I find myself in and how I deal with them. These scenarios may not relate directly to how you fish in your backyard but I hope that you can take something from this that will help you out.

DRIFT FISHING FOR DEEP REEF DWELLERS What I call deep fishing on my local grounds is water around 35-45m in depth. I appreciate that some of you will consider these depths to be at the shallow end of the scale, but for me that’s as deep as I go.

When I am fishing this country I pretty much never anchor up. For one, it’s too hard to get the boat to hang up properly above a small piece of structure, but the main reason is that I need the boat ready to manoeuvre

in lost fish. Typical targets in this water are black jewfish, golden snapper, nannygai and coral trout.

These are all dirty fighters that once hooked will do everything in their power to make it back into their snaggy homes and we all know that once they get there it’s game over.

When I am engaging in this style of fishing I start my drifts up wind or up current from the fish holding area and allow enough room and time for the anglers onboard to get their lines down to the bottom before reaching the designated hotspot.

I always drift with the stern facing into the sea and bump the engine astern and alter the helm as required to stay vertically above the angler’s offering.

prop, so keep your stern to the sea.

Once above the fish holding area and a lucky angler sinks their hooks into a good one, that’s when the fun starts and it’s time to use your ace card (your boat). When an angler hooks a fish that they can’t turn upwards straight away you need to use the boat to turn the fish’s head for them and manoeuvre the fish away from its home.

Your actions on the helm need to be instant and quite often aggressive.

Always be aware as you go through a drift what direction you need to pull a fish in order to make it to obstruction free water. As soon as you put the boat into gear to start pulling a fish give the order for all other anglers

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BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER. onboard to get their lines out of the water as soon as possible. Lines that are left in the water will only cause problems.

If you’re using forward gear and pushing ahead to pull a fish, then be aware of where the other angler’s lines are in relation to your prop until they are clear of the water. For this reason, where it’s possible I like to pull a fish by going astern so that I can keep everyone’s lines away from the machinery. When pulling a fish away from structure don’t stop too soon. The distances that you have to pull will vary from fish to fish, just make sure that you get them away from any structure before backing the power down.

You will almost certainly lose line during this process, this is largely unimportant as long as you’re getting the fish away from the prickles.

Line can always be wound back onto a reel, a big fish can’t normally be pulled out of a wreck.

CASTING/TROLLING FRINGING REEFS AND OTHER SHALLOW STRUCTURE This is another form of sportfishing that I derive a lot of enjoyment from

and when a combination of good rod handling and boat handling techniques are applied together the results can be stunning.

There is no real rocket science to this one, it doesn’t matter whether you’re casting or trolling, keep your boat on the open water side of any structure that you are targeting. As with the deeper fishing, be ready to manoeuvre your vessel to open water in an instant as the majority of the time the fights with these shallow water reef dwellers are either won or lost in the first few seconds. If you hesitate or are indecisive in what your actions should be, then wave the fish and an expensive lure goodbye.

One of the most notorious fighters that I deal with working around the edges of shallow reefs is the giant trevally. I have lost count of how many of these guys that I have lost over recent years due to them swimming behind the nearest bommie and cutting us off. This is one fish where your boat handling has to be instant and decisive. With giant trevally in particular, even when you do everything right you still won’t win them all, they are the

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Be aware of vertical line angles in a sea

As boat rises hook pressure increases

Vertical movement of boat

epitome of a gutter brawler and will not come boat side without using every dirty trick that they can.

Sometimes we don’t have the luxury of being able to keep the boat in open water in order to be able to pull a fish in that direction. There are a lot

As boat falls hook pressure decreases

of scenarios that require us to have the boat right up in the shallows and in these situations we need to use a different style of boat handling technique.

For myself, common shallow water drifting scenarios include sight casting on the flats or

drifting shallow weedy country in search of coral trout hiding in the weed.

For anglers drifting shallow weedy country for bream and flathead, you could use the same method.

When targeting trout and other structure dwellers up in the shallows in can

be important to not let the boat get too far away from the fish. The further the fish is from the boat, the better chance it has to find something to hide under.

For this reason I normally always cast downwind/ down current during a drift, so that when a fish

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BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER. of a racket.

CHASING DOWN THAT MONSTER FISH IN OPEN WATER This is a really tough one to cover as there is an endless list of variables involved. Including but not limited to: the size and style of boat being used, the weather and the sea state, the tackle being used, the ability of the angler and of course, whatever is connected to the end of the line.

Please remember that out on the wild blue, no two fights will be the same and as a boat handler we have to learn to quickly read the variables, make decisions on how we’re going to deal with them, and then act accordingly on those decisions in order to catch the fish.

When chasing down big fish in open water I personally believe there is no substitute for experience and as you gain experience mistakes will be made. As long as we learn from our mistakes it doesn’t really matter too much, it’s just part of the learning process.

Kind of like learning to

ride a bike, you’ll end up with grazed knees and a bruised ego a few times along the way.

To try and minimise this, I’ll point out a few errors that are commonly made and how best to avoid them.

GETTING LINE BACK ON A FISH You’ve spent an hour or two steaming out to your wide grounds, got your gear in the water, hooked-up on a beauty and now it’s out on the horizon somewhere and you’ve got to get it back. Don’t try and get the line back too fast. Keep your heart rate down and take your time. There is no point in manoeuvring your boat towards a fish faster than the angler can wind the line back onto the reel. As with any angling situation, remain focussed on keeping good constant hook pressure to your fish.

Unless you happen to be on the helm of a twinscrew purpose designed and built gamefisher that has been built to back down on fish by manoeuvring astern, don’t do it. Even if the fish has been hooked-up over the stern by trolling, wait until

Drifting the flats and other shallow areas Weed & bommies

Reef and weed

Pu thi ll fis sw h ay

is hooked-up the boat is already moving in the direction of the fish, which gives me a chance to get on top of the thing fairly quickly. It can still be necessary to manoeuvre your boat up in these shallow areas in order to dictate good angles to the fish and keep it out of the prickles.

When going through these shallow drifts keep visually scanning the entire local area so that you are aware of where any clear obstruction free water is.

So that when you need to use your boat you already have it in your head where you need to get that fish to.

Don’t be too aggressive when pulling a fish up on the flats, use a little finesse. Start carrying on with your boat up on the flats and you run the risk of doing some expensive prop and/or gearbox damage and by causing too much calamity you’ll just shut the place down. To sum the shallow stuff up, be aware of what’s where in your local environment, try not to let structure dwellers get too far away from you and don’t make too much

Casting direction

Obstruction free water

Direction of drift

Working reef edges

Wind current

Pull the fish out here

Bommies Open water

Hook up Fish holding area

Troll line

Fringing reef

76

JUNE 2019

the other lines and teasers have been removed from the water before starting to work on the fish. Most of us fish from vessels that are designed to manoeuvre ahead, so once the dust has settled a bit, position the hooked-up angler on your boat suitably so that you can use forward gear and move ahead to start taking line back on a fish.

FINISHING THE DEAL When fishing offshore one of the biggest mistakes is to wind up in a position where you’re fighting a big fish vertically under the boat. When coming up to the closing stages of a fight on a good fish don’t let the thing get underneath you, do whatever is necessary with your boat to keep the fish out beside the boat, behind it, out in front, wherever, just not underneath you.

For one, once you get to this stage of the fight on a good fish the angler will be suffering from some degree of fatigue and their ability to maintain good angling technique will possibly be starting to wane. Forcing a tired angler to try and start vertically lifting what could be several hundred pounds of fish with

maxed out drag pressures is opening the doors for something to go wrong.

Another reason to avoid this situation is hook pressure. When fishing out wide in offshore waters, unless you’ve lucked it out and are fishing on the best day of the year, there will be some amount of wave and swell action causing the boat to rise and fall.

With a fish vertically under the boat, every time the boat rises to the crest of a wave this increases the pressure to a hook, and when the boat falls off the top of a wave and drops down into a trough this decreases the pressure to a hook, working it loose and this also opens up the doors for an unhappy ending.

A few years back when on the closing stages of a fight with an estimated 950lb+ Atlantic blue marlin, we had a capable young angler in the chair and he had done a great job of getting the fight to this point. This was the biggest fish that we had seen that season and the excitement levels onboard were at fever point. The boat was rising and falling sharply as we were in a patch of nasty wind against tide swell. The drag on the

Tiagra 130 was at sunset while we were trying to get the last few metres of line off this fish, which was pulling vertically down straight under the rod tip.

I was standing at the transom, leader gloves on and just itching to get a double wrap on the 700lb leader. I could see the top of leader, it was just beneath the surface of the water.

We were so close I could almost taste the success and then it happened, the hooks pulled and everything went limp. If I had got my hands on that leader it would have beaten my best blue on leader by at least 150lb and been one of the pinnacles of my angling career. Instead, due to using the wrong angles through poor boat handling, that fish is now permanently etched in my mind for all the wrong reasons. Don’t let this happen to you.

This article by no means covers every aspect of how we can utilise our fishing wagons to help tilt the odds in our favour (I could write a set of encyclopaedias on this).

But I hope that what I have mentioned here helps all of you budding skippers out and that the next monster that you get on a line makes it to the side of the boat. Good luck.

JUNE 2019

77

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BUSINESS PROFILE

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Cranbourne Boating Centre

Melbourne has a number of long established marine dealerships – dealerships recognised to be leaders in their field and Cranbourne Boating Centre in Cranbourne is one of them.

Trading for almost 40 years and established by Rodney Avard, it is now a second-generation dealership with Avard’s son David at the helm. He is proud of the achievements the business has had in the

past and is keen to continue to improve the customer experience for anyone coming to see them.

THEY STOCK SOME OF THE BEST BRANDS IN THE GAME • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Businesses don’t last unless they have quality products to offer and when I spoke to David he confirmed exactly that. Melbourne people want tough, well-made boats with reliable, quality outboard motors on the back of them.

Cranbourne Boating Centre stock three major boating brands: the Formosa Tomahawk Plate series of boats, Makocraft aluminium boats and Tournament Pleasure fibreglass boats. These established brands offer a range of hulls to suit the hardcore angler looking to chase tuna out of Portland, the avid angler who wants to catch a snapper or two in Port Phillip Bay, and those anglers looking to get started and fish our local estuaries, lakes and rivers. They also have cruising options available as well.

The outboard brands are just as impressive. You can match your chosen boat with either a direct injected 2-stroke

Evinrude E-Tec outboard or one of the leading 4-stroke engine technology, Suzuki outboards.

No package is complete without a quality trailer underneath it. Cranbourne Boating Centre matches either Easytow or Mackay trailers with its packages. David explained that they ensure getting any of their BMT packages from A to B and in and out of the water is safe, simple and hassle free.

QUALIFIED STAFF YOU CAN TRUST • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • A business is only as good as the team behind it and David employs five factorytrained staff that are experts in their field. The services offered are everything from motor servicing (all brands) to repowers, custom electrical fit outs, customised stainless work, covers and much more.

David explained that they are a one stop shop and that he is confident they will be able to help with even the most discerning customers needs.

AWARDED FOR EXCELLENCE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Cranbourne Boating Centre has won a number of dealer of the year awards including the Tournament Pleasure Boats dealer of the year and Makocraft Dealer of the year. However, winning the Evinrude Dealer of the year on a number of occasions is what David is proud of the most. He explained that this award not only focuses on units sold, but the excellence of the spare parts department and service qualifications.

True reward and recognition for the efforts of his team and his hard work.

GET IN TOUCH WITH THEM • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • David and his team love catching up with people and the best place to do that is at the dealership itself. Their address is 1 Bowen Street, Cranbourne.

They stock a great range of accessories, from marine electronics, trailers parts, safety gear or something as simple as a few nuts and bolts, there is every chance you will find it there. Of course you can check out the boats while you’re there too.

Cranbourne Boating Centre is also very proactive with their social media. Follow them on Facebook, Cranbourne Boating Centre, to keep up-to-date on all the current specials and new boating package arrivals.

range of the Formosa Tomahawk plate boats, including the new big and bold Formosa 740 Enclosed Half Cabin. This super capable offshore offering is sure to be popular amongst visitors to his stand.

If you are looking at fibreglass hull

You get notifications about upcoming promotions, like the ‘20% off your servicing needs’ running until the end of July. You can also check out their website www.

options there will also be a number of Tournament Pleasure Boat packages on display, with packages available at special boat show prices.

On the outboard front you can check out the latest Evinrude G2 outboards or the quite rare Suzuki SS series performance outboards at the stand. There is plenty of interesting stuff for you to check out.

If you are going to the show, go and see David and his team at stand D10. – Peter Jung

cranbourneboatingcentre.com.au or ring them on 03 5996 2206.

GOING BIG AT THE 2019 MELBOURNE BOAT SHOW • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Cranbourne Boating Centre will once again be at the Melbourne Boat Show in 2019. Dave was very excited when I spoke to him about the show and what people attending the show would see at his stand.

He explained that the Australian boat market is big on plate boats at the moment, so he is excited to be displaying a comprehensive 78

JUNE 2019

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Success with small craft storage brisbane

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Safe storage of priority items and tackle is one of the major challenges that owners of small boats face.

While it’s generally accepted that storage space within small vessels – say under 5m – is always going to be a test of ingenuity, most anglers seem to enjoy the challenge of getting their boat set up to their satisfaction.

What do you need?

Let’s consider what needs to be stored in that small trailer boat. My view is that it comes down to safety equipment first, then those items we need for our own comfort, which

so you need some means of securing tackle in transit.

The larger the boat the better the storage Obviously, if the boat has come off a tandem trailer there will be a lot of really useful storage space on hand. Larger boats have plenty of room to store everything you need, but inevitably even the largest storage areas will eventually be taken up with gear.

Storage under seats, within a cabin, or in cockpit-length side pockets are a blessing, and some larger craft even have storage racks for rods or gaffs built into T tops over the helm area. There’s no question that bigger is better when it comes to storage, but most of us don’t have that option. Still,

you can store what you need in a small boat – you just need to get more creative. Trying to store everything in a small boat is going to involve some compromises, and it comes down to making the most of what you have to make things work.

Setting up the tinny We are all familiar with

were doing a lot of fly fishing with 3m fly rods. The little tinny had no rod holders or rod racks of any kind, so I installed a basic set of horizontal rod holders with the aft one set up on the rear thwart to port and another set up on the front seat also to port.

It looked a bit rough, but the system worked and was

Very long rod lockers come in handy on small craft.

When rod tips are going to contact hard and unyielding surfaces, a section of soft material prevents damage.

Top: This roomy looking alloy craft features lots of work room and flexible seating. There is even room for a set of rod holders to be horizontally mounted to port just under the gunwale deck. Above: There’s some useful storage here, but some rubber padding glued on the bottom and sides would make it that bit better. includes apparel and tucker, and then the all-important fishing gear. What about the catch? We can’t just throw our fish into the engine well, so keeping fish fresh is a necessity.

With safety first, you need to keep life jackets as accessible as possible, so they are within easy reach at all times. Personal comfort items are of a lesser priority and can be tucked away where they won’t affect the fishing work area. Soft bags will take care of clothes, a waterproof box for the tucker, and an insulated fish bag will certainly take care of fish coming home.

Then we come to fishing gear. The last thing any sensible angler wants is for valuable rods and reels to be bouncing about on the floor as the boat navigates choppy conditions, 80

June 2019

the common little 3.65m tinny, the 12ft. I used to use a boat this size to fish freshwater impoundments and estuaries.

The only storage within this handy little outboard craft was the under-deck area up front. I set it up with an off-floor shelf with a marine ply floor bulwark next to it.

The allowed the necessary safety gear to be stored under the foredeck while the anchor and rope were down lower at floor level. This worked well, and nothing ever moved from its designated place, no matter how rough the conditions were.

We’d travel fair distances on Monduran Dam looking for big barra, so cushions were always on hand to ease the discomfort of sitting on hard metal during long trips.

Next came the issue of rod storage, which was challenging given that we

bass dams were easily stored, but larger barramundi posed real problems, so we usually let them go after a few photos.

If it rained, some things did get wet, and when the

One of the things that make bow rider crafts so attractive is the great storage under the front seating. able to safely hold spin and fly rods while we powered along to a chosen fishing spot.

Everything else was packed in tackle boxes or other containers with lids, and if we wanted to keep a fish or two for dinner we put them into an insulated and iced down fish bag. Fish from the estuaries or

Even though things were pretty rough, the author and his wife managed to keep valuable fly rods safe. Note the sheep skin cushioning for those long runs, and the green tub to contain fly line while casting.

boat was unattended on its trailer we removed everything of value for safe keeping, but our systems worked and we really enjoyed fishing out of that little boat.

your challenges For most small boat owners there are similar solutions that can assist with storage. Side and centre console rigs can usually be set up with a series of upright rod holders up front or along the sides of the console to carry rods while on the water. Never carry rods there when the boat is being towed behind the car.

If there is sufficient uncluttered room along interior sides of the craft, budget style rod holders can be installed.

Take care not to go screwing things through the side of the boat unnecessarily; you can do this by using appropriately sized self-tappers. If you do need to bolt right through the side, simply put plenty of silicon on the job.

Many boats can also be set up with the flexible rod holders spaced out on corresponding flat surfaces, so that rods are safely stored while on the water.

A rod holder set

The aft section of the rod holders in the author’s craft handle two fly rods rigged and ready for action.

SPECIAL EDITION horizontally on the lid of an aft compartment, another set up on the front deck or on a seat will see a couple of rods stored easily and within reach.

If the craft is tiller steered, set them up away from the skipper’s helm area.

These days a lot of smaller boats are set up with side pockets, and while these are often too small to be useful for rod storage, they can assist by holding a gaff, folded landing nets, wallets of plastics or other tackle that might need to be kept close by.

Downsize those tackle boxes Tackle boxes need to be of just the right size to readily accommodate the essential

compartments are not very tackle friendly, so it’s a good idea to visit a cheap shop and secure a few metres of soft rubber matting to line these compartments.

that it’s quite satisfying finding innovative ways to create storage space. Just remember that some parts of the boat must stay as they are. I recently saw a small

Innovation wins again. The owner of this craft has worked out a perfect way to store that rod.

A typical smaller side pocket, best suited for smaller items that might need to be kept handy.

tackle for the trip. When you are fishing from a small boat you simply don’t have the luxury of taking everything that might possibly be of use.

Anglers do tend to specialise these days, so it’s not unusual to see a couple of smaller boxes, maybe a roll or two of plastics plus matching jigheads stored in a small boat as it leaves the ramp. Compact tackle is good tackle that does not obstruct fishing room.

If you get a new tackle box, it might be wise to gently turn the hose on it at home to simulate light rain and see

how the box shapes up. Some will leak and it can be very annoying to open a tackle box and see valuable chemically sharpened hooks sitting in water that’s discoloured by their corrosion.

Soften up those metal compartments Lastly, quite a few of today’s alloy boats are set up with some storage, with punt-style rigs with their handy up front hatch covered compartments coming immediately to mind.

Unfortunately, bare metal

There’s the potential to set up a set of side mounted rod holders here, as those well-spaced ribs would be an ideal spot to mount them.

Contact cement will keep the soft liners in place, and it’s surprising just how efficient this system is in both keeping the noise down and keeping valuable items undamaged.

Last thoughts Storage in small boat can definitely present a few challenges but I have found

tinny with a battery sitting mid thwart where a big hole had been cut in the top of the middle seat to accommodate the battery. Exchanging in-built flotation for a sure method of sinking the craft in the event of a mishap is definitely taking storage just a bit too far!

“Boating since 1964”

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The latest addition to our stable is the superb Campion Boats from Canada. With a 45 year heritage of fibreglass boat building, Campion prides itself on a great range of top performing, quality boats to suit all boating needs. We are proud to represent Campion in Australia.

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71-77 Chickerell Street, Morwell, Victoria 3840 P: (03) 5134 6522 E: sales@crawfordmarine.com.au June 2019

81

WHAT’S NEW BOATING RAYMARINE LIGHTHOUSE UPDATE 1

RAILBLAZA TRACWEDGE

New LightHouse Annapolis 3.9 operating system unlocks new features and functionality for Raymarine MFDs. As with every Raymarine LightHouse operating system update, downloads are free and easy at http://www.raymarine. com/multifunction-displays/lighthouse3/.

ClearCruise Augmented Reality (AR) is now supported on FLIR M132 and M232 thermal camera systems. Day or night, AR shows you valuable identification data for navigation aids, AIS contacts and waypoints. The AR display even updates automatically to work with the pan and digital zoom capabilities of the M232 for true 360° viewing. ClearCruise AR is only available on Axiom MFDs. The RealBathy feature lets you build detailed bathymetric charts in real-time, and Annapolis 3.9 now supports intuitive pinch-to-zoom touchscreen control as well as touch-and-drag range shift. There’s also Yamaha Command Link Plus Integration. www.raymarine.com

The Railblaza TracWedge enables the easy installation of StarPorts and SidePorts into the gunwale tracks on most aluminium boat brands in Australia under 4m.

There is no drilling of holes required, and ports can be moved easily.

The TracWedge fits gunwale channels on Quintrex, Stacer, Savage, Stessl, Stessco and Sea Jay open boats. There are two models available, the StarPort (#03-4127-11) and SidePort (#03-4126-11). They receive all Railblaza accessories, including rod holders, drink holders, navigation lights, fish finders and baitboards.

It keeps your boat tidy and free of clutter, and are easily moved to a new position along the gunwale.

For more information on these and other boat/kayak mounting products, visit the Railblaza website. www.railblaza.com

ROKK WIRELESS CHARGER

2

Scanstrut has released the world’s first 12/24V waterproof wireless charger range – the ROKK Wireless.

The IPX6 waterproof 12/24V Qi certified waterproof wireless charging range enables charging for the outdoor environment, without the need for phone charging cables. Designed from the ground up, this is the world’s first waterproof wireless charge system created specifically for use on board, with the unique technology housed in an IPX6, fully encapsulated and sealed unit.

Working directly with 12/24V systems, ROKK Wireless is ideal for life on the move and is perfect for boats and caravans. It’s easy to install anywhere you need your phone, either indoors or outdoors. No more wires.

Exceeding the latest and highest standards of the Qi wireless protocol, ROKK Wireless is independently certified to deliver ultra-safe charging anywhere on board. www.scanstrut.com

NEW FUSION AMPLIFIERS

3

Fusion has released two new additions to its industry-leading range of marine audio entertainment products, the Signature Series 6-channel and 8-channel class-D marine amplifiers.

These new 6-channel 1500W and 8-channel 2000 W amplifiers deliver an impressive power rating and are designed to suit all audio installation requirements.

These powerful amplifiers are built with Class-D amplification for higher efficiency and output, a rigid aluminium heat sink, a subsonic filter, variable low and high pass crossover filters, and are 2 Ohm stereo stable and include variable bass boost, behind a stainless-steel front panel with a mirror finish. Ensuring low current draw from the battery while delivering increased power, the efficient design makes it suit any boating environment.

Carrying Fusion’s True-Marine accreditation, these amplifiers are protected by a 3-year warranty. Fusion has also laughed a high quality, corrosion-resistant range of RCA cables and connectors. www.fusionentertainment.com 82

June 2019

MASTERVOLT MAC PLUS SERIES

PRODUCT GUIDE

4

1

2

5

Charging the service batteries on your boat can be challenging. Recharging tends to take a long time and batteries may not receive a full charge. Smart alternators and start/stop systems make the problem even worse.

Traditionally, a service battery is linked to the starter battery by means of a charge relay. The starter battery is located close to the alternator and receives most of the charge current. However, the service battery is usually further away. Long cables cause voltage drop, leading to slow charging, failing appliances and reduced battery life.

Modern engines have smart alternators which provide a variable voltage; after a brief charging period, voltage is reduced and the charging stops. Furthermore, the energy produced by regenerative braking leads to voltage peaks. Service batteries coupled in the traditional way will receive hardly any charge and may be damaged by the peak voltages.

Mastervolt Mac Plus DC-DC chargers, available in 12V or 24V, monitor the service battery and compensate the voltage loss.

The 3-step charge method ensures a quick and safe charge. Moreover, by stabilising the charge voltage, the service battery and sensitive equipment are protected.

Price: SRP $1079 www.bla.com.au

HUTCHWILCO 170N PFD

3

4

6

The new Hutchwilco 170N inflatable lifejacket (#BASC0170) features ARS technology (Advanced Roll Over System) with a 170N asymmetric bladder for superior self-righting and head-up support.

The new higher spec version of the inflatable which has a 170N interlock bladder partnered with a UML Pro-Sensor indicator inflator mechanism. It has a indicator window to show you that your jacket is good to go.

The 170N lifejacket somes with stainless steel adjustment system and D ring. The outer cover has a soft neoprene neck for more comfort, plus a mesh back for improved fit and comfort, and an integral crotch strap with stowage pouch. It also features a spray hood in both models, a burst zip closure and quality 50mm webbing.

One size fits most adults, and it comes in navy/black.

Price: SRP $149 www.hutchwilco.co.nz

5

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

June 2019

83

SPECIAL EDITION

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Get ready for exciting new releases at the Show!

This year the RACV Marine Melbourne Boat Show is celebrating 59 years of operation, and the 2019 Show is looking to be the biggest and best yet.

You’ll be blown away by how much is on offer, featuring over 100 vendors, debuting countless innovative products, and promising the hottest deals – this year’s event is not to be missed. Don’t take our word for it, read ahead to see what some of the biggest brands in boating are bringing to the Show. It truly shows that ‘Life is Better with a Boat’.

C4A BAR CRUSHER

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

new models from Bar Crusher!

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

As usual, iconic Aussie fishing boat brand Bar Crusher is remaining tight-lipped about its display at the Melbourne Boat Show, but has confirmed the introduction of even more new models!

Among an always-impressive fleet of fishing weapons on display at the Melbourne manufacturer’s home-state event will be a selection of models from the popular foldingroof cuddy cabin (C) series, centre console/ walk-around (XS and WR) series, awardwinning hardtop (HT) offshore series, and hardtop pilothouse (HTP) series.

All we managed to get out of Bar Crusher about the new models making their debut at the 2019 Melbourne Boat Show was, “We know people are going to love them, as we’ve always taken customer feedback on board and

continued to innovate and keep pushing the boundaries of plate aluminium boat design and construction.”

Designed and built for Australian conditions, all Bar Crusher boats incorporate exclusive innovations such as the Waveslicer deep-V, non-pounding hull for an ultra-smooth ride, Rigideck engineered sub-floor system for maximum hull strength, and Quickflow water ballast technology for excellent stability at rest.

All models from the 490 through to the 615 are built on Bar Crusher’s industry-leading Gen2 hull. This design combines key features, including a wider negative chine running forward, optimised wider chine aft and the distinctive Delta Flare – a complex V-shaped planing plank that starts wider at the transom and narrows as it runs forward. The result is

greater hydrodynamic lift for more efficient planing and improved fuel economy, a higher bow attitude and better spray deflection for a drier ride.

Extensive testing by Bar Crusher’s R&D team has proved that the 490, 535, 575, 585 and 615 have received significant performance benefits from the next-generation hull design, with the larger 670, 730 and 780 models continuing to be built on Bar Crusher’s highperformance deep-V hull.

Renowned for quality construction, superior performance and maximum fishability (with a range of standard features that other manufacturers charge as extras), every Bar Crusher boat is factory-packaged on a customdesigned trailer, which ensures towing, launching and retrieving is a breeze. Selfcentering and aligning perfectly every time,

visiting the stand.

There will also be an impressive range of Haines Hunter fibreglass boats on display, including the 625 Enclosed, 565 Offshore, 595 Offshore, 535 Profish and the 2100R. If you prefer aluminium boats, there will be a huge range of Clark boats on display including the Cod Catcher SC, Navigator, Estuary Fishmaster, Dominator, Sunseeker and Legend models. There is sure to be a boat in the Clark range to suit any fisher’s needs.

There will also be a range of Anglapro boats on display, including the Sniper Pro, Sniper Elite, Getaway and Outlaw models. The Anglapro boats are built tough with their XCore construction.

Boats & More will be displaying the full range of the Australian built and highly regarded Camero Ski Boats. On display will be the Legend, Vision 21i, Vision 21v and CRX22 models. Camero boats have been building Australia’s most innovative and functional ski boats for over 40 years.

There will be a range of Suzuki and Mercury portable engines on display. These will be available to purchase with a portable engine trolley, making them easy to transport home from the show.

A full range of Mercury, Suzuki, Evinrude and Seadoo products are available from Boats & More. They are also available from Compleat Angler, which has stores in Shepparton and Echuca.

Be sure to see the friendly team at Boats & More on stand E7. They are sure to be able to tailor a package just for you. More information on their products is available at their website, www.boatsandmore.com.au. – Boats & More

E7 BOATS & MORE

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www.mymarine.com.au 84

June 2019

Bar Crusher’s innovative Bar Catch system also allows for single-handed launch and retrieve.

Whether you’re a first-time boat buyer or have owned 10 boats and are looking for your next one, drop by and say g’day to the team and pick up a copy of Bar Crusher’s boat buyer’s guide to assist with your research at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show. Be sure to stop by their stand at C4a to see all the special deals on offer.

For more information, check out their website at www.barcrusher.com.au. – Bar Crusher • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••

Boats & more bring more to the boat show • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••

Don’t miss Boats & More’s stand at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show! Not only will there be a great range of fishing boats and ski boats, but you will also have the chance to win your choice of either a Garmin Striker 5cv Plus fishfinder valued at $449 or a Raptor Temper Fibreglass kneeboard valued at $399 simply by

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Chelsea yamaha bringing the goods •••••••••••••••••••••••••••

At this year’s Melbourne Boat Show, Chelsea Yamaha has a selection of boats from its range of Haines Hunter, Stessl, Stessco and Horizon boats, all fitted with premier-brand Yamaha outboards.

With over 200 different models of boats to choose from, whether you want a 4m tinnie or a leading offshore-dedicated fishing boat in either fibreglass or alloy, Chelsea Yamaha has the boat that suits your needs and budget. Being a Yamaha dealer, they can also offer hot deals on finance with YMF and insurance with YMI. Located in Chelsea Heights, just minutes away from the Patterson River boat ramp, it’s conveniently positioned to provide customers with on water tests.

With a complex of 4000m2, it has a showroom, workshop, chandlery and an

SPECIAL EDITION BAY 5

ROLLER DOOR 2

BAY 9

BAY 8

ROLLER DOOR 4

ROLLER DOOR 3

BAY BAY 10 11 KIOSK 3

ROLLER DOOR 5

BAY 12

BAY 13

ROLLER DOOR 6

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BAY 16

BAY 17

Sirocco

194.2m2

351.0m2

169.0m2

299.0m2

130.0m2

4

BBA

Hot Tackle 78.0m2

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3000

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R'Marine 12

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Boating RV

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B&T Direct

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Fusion 3000

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S/F Marine 54.0m2

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Melbourne Boat Show Bar

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3M FIRE EGRESS ZONE

ORGANISER OFFICE 3 3

18

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3

6

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3 BIN

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS DOOR

SIGNAGE BLADE HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT (MARCH 2016) BIN

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

MCCD LINK

B5 CHELSEA YAMAHA

ORGANISER OFFICE 5

16

BIN

ENTRANCE DOOR 10

5.102

3

SINK

3

15 BIN

5.101

3

SINK

5

SINK

SINK

BIN

in-house marine trimming shop. All facets of high level complex marine fit-outs can be completed here. The qualified marine technicians cover fit-up of new engines, servicing, and installation of all marine electrics and electronics, so the installation of other accessories (such as winches, pumps and toilets) is also available. The trim shop handles custom stainless fabrication for biminis and rocket launchers, and custom fabricated clears, storm and travel covers.

On its website, www.chelseamarine. com.au, current boats stocked are clearly packaged and priced, as well as a parts BOASM19 catalogue for all Yamaha motors that includes MCEC diagrams and pricing. - Chelsea Yamaha

3

8

SINK

1500

4.102

ORGANISER OFFICE 4

SINK

25

RACV MARINE VIP

BENCH

3000

4.101

ENTRANCE DOOR 9

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BENCH

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2000

3.102

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ORG OFFICE

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BENCH

2.102

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2000

+

3.101

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SINK

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DUMP BIN BENCH

SINK

2.101

ENTRANCE DOOR 5

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TICKETING OFFICE

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DUMP BIN

CE AN RE

TR EN ATU FE

BENCH

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1.102

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Southern Formula

19

ENTRANCE DOOR 2

ORGANISER OFFICE 1 1000

1000

1000

36.0m2

13

9

3

Regal 10

3000

11

3000

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9

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90.0m2

3000

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Furuno

75.0m2

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30.0m2

36.0m2

225.0m2

360.0m2

10

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3000

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3000

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6

3000

9

315.0m2

5

Crawford Marine ABSVic

Hobie

Inverloch Marine

120.0m2

17

3000

15

Marie Shop

150.0m2

24

4500

15

15

180.0m2

BRP

120.0m2

21

3000

9

96.0m2

8

WIN

ABS ACT/NSW

10

6

56.0m2

3000

8

8

Opp Lock 4x4

Sealegs Int.

6

112.0m2

Chelsea Yamaha

3000

3000

7

3000 3000

6

72.0m2

HSV

5000

12

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84.0m2

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Regal Marine

84.0m2

3000

884.0m2

21

Regal Marine

9

54.0m2

21

4

3000

NM

WIN

Streaker Marine

WIN

3

30

112.0m2

Mic's Marine

3000

304.0m2

16

Mercury

16

592.0m2

3000

Melb Marine Centre

16

240.0m2

16

Jeanneau/Glastron

16

464.0m2

6

128.0m2

16

16

432.0m2

3000

12

65

22 20

3000

63.0m2

Ride Aust

6

Bar Crusher

Isuzu

Yamaha 16

672.0m2

16

Geelong Marine World

16

3

9

6

3000

240.0m2

7

3000

Axopar 54.0m2

AMI

3

3000

390.0m2

12 11 5000

27

3000

3M FIRE EGRESS ZONE

1.101

Zip Line

Isuzu Iron Summit

26

26

3000

3000

IHS

8

MY Marine

1000

15 14

WH

112.0m2

24.0m2

44.0m2

10 374.0m2

22

BL Marine

1012.0m2

22

JV Marine

308.0m2

22

Cobalt

418.0m2

22

Sundance Marine 22

374.0m2

22

22

Cranny B/C

660.0m2

5000

42

4000

3000 3000

16

Harris Pontoons

12

McQuarrie Fibreglass

22

6 3

3

7

4

Regal Marine

154.0m2

3

BRV MC

638.0m2

WIN 6

WT BC

3000

Bsky

6

11 11

41

3000

6

3000

3

3

3000

International Paints & Awlgrip

17

3000

6000

54.0m2

EGRESS ZONE

330.0m2

36.0m2

36m2

46

4000

Club Marine

72.0m2

3000

9m2

14

3000

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Mastercraft 22

6

3000

308.0m2

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19

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9m2

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30

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6

9

27m2

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4000

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9.0m2

27.0m2

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18.0m2

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52.0m2

6000

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3000

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377.0m2

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3000

3 9.0m2

Trailer Area

Safey Hub

104.0m2

4

20.0m2

WIN

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29

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65.0m2

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R'Bay Pontoon

Aussie Boat Sales VIC

Dunbier Gp

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Stage

286.0m2

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27

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91.0m2

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3000

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APM

507.0m2

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65.0m2

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TRE 13

273.0m2

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5

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Melbourne Malibu

13

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91.0m2

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ROLLER DOOR 9

ROLLER DOOR 8

3M FIRE EGRESS ZONE

5

3000

Rigmaster Tackle

3

BAY BAY 18 19 KIOSK 5

15

M FIRE EGRESS ZONE 7

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3924

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BAY BAY 2 3 KIOSK 1

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HORIZON UNVEILS NEW MODEL •••••••••••••••••••••••••••

PLAN TYPE:

CLIENT MASTER

BAYS 3-20

moreton.net.au

1300 360 424

@moretonhire

JOB CODE:

JOB CODE

Chelsea Yamaha is once again flying the flag for Horizon Boats and Stessl Boats at the show this year. They will have a number of boats from both brands on display and are excited to have the brand new Stessl 530 Bluewater Runabout, which will be making its debut at the show.

ACCOUNT model MANAGER: This Platetrix has REVISION NO: 19 popular undergone a redesign andELnow has a fully REVISION DATE: 5/2/2019 9:29 AM welded raised aluminiumDESIGNER: deck area and SHOW DATE:

20TH JUNE 2019

To page 86

AC/MC

FILE PATH: O:\EXHIBITIONS\VIC\EXHIBITIONS\2019Q2\BOASM19\FLOORPLAN\V19\BOASM19_MCEC_PL19.DWG

424 PRO

514 PRO

The highly refined skills of a Sniper means they can not only hit their target with precise accuracy but apply their skills in any environment.

That’s how we designed our deep V side console. It’s the ultimate cross over. Stable and capable in enclosed waters and tough and comfortable in the rough stuff.

The Sniper is fully equipped to target fish, anywhere. 3mm and 4mm construction with aggressive ribbing support means you can have total confidence in your hull strength.

A Deep V dead rise means you don’t have to slow down in the chop. The interior features the decking, storage, tanks and electronics you need to enjoy fuss free fishing.

The sniper package will give you the confidence to step your fishing up to the next level.

524 ELITE

For more information or to find your nearest Anglapro dealer visit www.anglapro.com.au

484 PRO June 2019

85

SPECIAL EDITION

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

From page 85

a modern, swept back look. The 530 Bluewater is a perfect boat for the bay – the raised deck and tinted windscreen provide good shelter from the elements, and the new opening walkthrough hatch gives you much improved access to the bow. The Platetrix hull is foam filled, and the ride is quiet and efficient.

In other news, Horizon and Stessl boats are moving into a new custom-built manufacturing facility in the Gold Coast Marine Precinct. This facility is three times the size of their current factory and it will enable them to streamline production and improve their manufacturing processes. The move in date is the end of May, which means all orders taken at the show will be produced from this new facility.

To see some of the boats that will be on display at the show, visit www.horizonboats. com.au and www.stessl.com.au, and be sure to check out stand B5 to see the special deals available. – Horizon Boats

crawford marine features Campion Boats at boat show

B16 CRAWFORD MARINE

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

At this year’s Melbourne Boat Show, Crawford Marine will be displaying their latest acquisition: five quality Campion Boats designed to suit all angler’s needs.

You can check out everything they have on offer at stand B16.

Crawford Marine has been producing boats for more than 45 years, and their range reflects their decades of experience.

The dealership is also an agent for Stacer aluminium boats, Dunbier trailers, and now Campion, which recently relaunched in Australia.

As a regular and long-time Melbourne Boat Show exhibitor, you can expect to come across five Campion boats including the

B5 HORIZON BOATS

Explorer 492 CC, Explorer 632 SC, Explorer 542 SC, Explorer 622 HT-WA, and for the non-fishers the Allante 505 Bowrider.

The Explorers have all been designed with anglers in mind, meaning they are created to be the ultimate tool when fishing.

Featured at the show will be the new Campion boat, a 23’2” Explorer 622 HT-WA. You can also take a look at some of their other popular models, like the Explorer 632 SC. For more information on some of the impressive Campion boats that will be on display at the show, contact Crawford Marine on (03) 5134 6522 or check out their website on crawfordmarine.com.au. – Crawford Marine

range will be there, including the Wild Rider, Crossfire, Outlaw, Sea Master, Sea Runner, Assault Pro and Proline Angler. All will be packaged at very competitive prices and, as always, customers will get great value when purchasing a new Stacer from Melbourne Marine Centre.

The popular Northbank fibreglass boats will also have great representation at the show.

Melbourne Marine Centre will have seven models on display available for customers to climb through, including a new release 750HT, with an enclosed wheel house.

Other models on display will include the 500C, 550C, 600C, 650C, 650HT-F and standard 750HT. Northbank provides a quality Australian-built fibreglass boat that performs

C7 MELBOURNE MARINE

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

Melbourne Marine Centre go big at boat show • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••

Melbourne Marine Centre, located at stand C7, are going in bigger and ‘boatier’, in line with the boat show itself. Awarded the Stacer National Dealer of the Year for 2018/19, they will have a great variety of Stacer aluminium boats on display. Almost all the models from the

D7 JV MARINE

1 Bowen Street, Cranbourne, Vic 3977

Ph: (03) 5996 2206

www.cranbourneboatingcentre.com.au

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June 2019

exceptionally well in the water, while still keeping value for money in mind.

All Northbank and Stacer boats are powered by the reliable and efficient Mercury 4-stroke outboards. Melbourne Marine Centre will have some great re-power deals on all Mercury outboards available for the show, so if you’re looking for a new engine make sure you go and see Melbourne’s only Premier Mercury Service Centre for Outboard and Mercruiser.

Show visitors can also take advantage of very competitive insurance packages with Club Marine, and also special boat show pricing on the complete range of Garmin electronics.

SPECIAL EDITION There will be a boat show bonus drawn for one lucky customer who purchases a boat from Melbourne Marine Centre during the show.

Keep an eye out on their Facebook page for more details.

Speak to the staff at Melbourne Marine Centre about a Northbank or Stacer, and you’ll soon see that they share the same passion for boating as their customers do. They will have brand representatives on hand to assist with any questions you may have about Stacer, Northbank, Mercury, and Garmin.

Melbourne Marine Centre are also supplying one of the two major prizes for the Melbourne Boat Show: a Northbank 500C, powered with Mercury 75Hp 4-stroke, and fitted to an Easytow trailer.

The package will also include a Garmin sounder, Fusion stereo, and loads more for the lucky winner. Make sure you enter the draw for a chance to win!

For more information visit the Melbourne

brand new models in their bowrider range.

The new 530 and 560 X-Riders will be on display for the very first time in Australia to complement the 590 X-Rider released last year, as well as the whole Revival range, from the 520 Runabout through to the monster 640 Offshore hard top.

Built right here in Melbourne, the Revival range was a huge seller at last year’s Boat Show and for good reason – they are so versatile, soft riding and offer excellent value for money. If you are into family boating, cruising or serious bay and offshore fishing, the Revival fibreglass range will have a boat to suit your needs.

JV Marine World will have specials on all boat packages on display as well as Mercury 4-Stroke outboards and Evinrude E-Tec outboards. When it comes to great value fishing packages, you’ll find them all at the JV Marine World stand.

Newly crowned National Quintrex Dealer of the Year, you can bet the JV Marine stand

D7 JV MARINE AMBERJACK 520

Marine Centre website at melbournemarine. com.au, or come visit them during the show. – Melbourne Marine Centre • • • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •

visit JV marine’s monster stand • • • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •

Australia’s largest boating retailer, JV Marine World, are once again attending the Melbourne Boat Show with a monster stand (D7) that’s chock full of boat packages to suit all occasions.

Adding to the excitement this year will be the release of the new Yellowfin range from the

will have more ‘Quinnies’ than you could poke a stick at. There is something for everyone, with small open boats for freshwater use, side consoles, centre consoles, runabouts, cabin boats and a whole lot more.

It is no wonder JV Marine was named National Quintrex Dealer of the Year; they pride themselves on being a family business and boast that they are a ‘one stop marine shop’.

JV Marine World has two locations that total 13 acres, one in the western suburbs of Melbourne and a flagship 10 acre store in Braeside that is quite the spectacle.

With such a diverse business, the company sees customers of all shapes and sizes but primarily focuses on families who have a passion for the water.

BREEZAWAY 460

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D7 JV MARINE

SKIPPER 449

Telwater factory. These are a complete redesign of the Yellowfin range, with new standard features, options and paint schemes, and it will have brand new models including a folding hard top and centre cabin.

JV Marine will have a huge range of these new boats on display for the very first time in Australia, so if you are into serious offshore fishing make sure you check them out!

Revival fibreglass boats will have its largest ever display at this year’s show, including two

This company is an example of succession planning at work. Mark Stav, son of founder John Stav, is at the helm, and with his father’s trust is leading the marine conglomerate into success.

JV Marine World is a master marketer, from its two In House Boat Shows to the company’s massive presence at the Melbourne International Boat Show. A social media guru and online ace, the dealership’s

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO FIND A STESSCO DEALER NEAR YOU

VISIT WWW.STESSCO.COM.AU

To page 88

June 2019

87

SPECIAL EDITION

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

From page 87

marketing team sets the bar in the marine industry.

If you want to get a peek at some of the awesome packages available, check out their website at www.jvmarine.com.au or pop into their Braeside or Laverton store, where you can see the family-oriented business at work.

Don’t forget to stop by their stand at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show (stand D7).

– JV Marine •• • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •

side consoleS from STREAKER MARINE •• • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •

The Streaker Marine stand at the 2019 Melbourne Boat Show is sure to beat expectations! Their revolutionary display will feature Australia’s premium brands including Cruise Craft, Quintrex and Yellowfin Plate boats. All are powered by Yamaha outboards.

Streaker Marine will be a side console sanctuary this year, showcasing over 12 Quintrex side console models. Keep your eyes open for two new runabout models,

which are also set to make their debut. The full range of Cruise Craft boats will also be on parade, including the new 720 Explorer.

This impressive fleet is designed and built in Australia, for Australian conditions and they truly are the triple threat – family friendly, fishing fit and watersports suited.

Adding to this line-up will be the unveiling of the 2019 Yellowfin Plate boat range. The largest ever Yellowfin display will allow you to get up close and personal with these offshore masterpieces.

A must see!

Competitive finance rates from YMF and insurance policies from Club Marine and YMI are also available.

Streaker, unlike any other dealer, also offer private, half day on-water boat handling courses in your new rig, so you can walk away confident with your purchase.

The friendly Streaker team love boats, and they have a wide range of knowledge and experience to pass on to customers.

Red carpet service and some never before seen deals will be available this year, so make sure you head over to the Streaker Marine stand (C3), or visit www. streakermarine.com.au. – Streaker Marine

B11a RAYMARINE

C3 STREAKER MARINE

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

Raymarine making a splash • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••

The Raymarine stand is a must-see, with hard-to-beat deals and amazing products on display. One of the many products you can see at this year’s event is the Raymarine Element, a new generation of advanced, combination sonar and GPS displays.

Building on the success of Axiom navigation displays, the Raymarine Element incorporates RealVision 3D sonar technology, improving your underwater view with 3D bottom imagery and more precise location of fish targets. Element also introduces new HyperVision 1.2MHz sonar technology, featuring ultra-high CHIRP sonar frequencies. HyperVision

shipping in the first quarter of 2019.

You have all this and more to look forward to when you stop by the Raymarine stand (B11a) at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show. For more information, visit Raymarine’s website at www.raymarine. com.au. – Raymarine •••••••••••••••••••••••••••

HUGE RANGE AT The Haines Group STAND •••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Don’t miss your chance to check out an exciting array of show-stopping products from Australian marine industry icon, The Haines Group.

From their flagship brand, Haines Signature Boats, you’ll see a huge range of boats on display at the Geelong Marine

HAINES GROUP

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or contact us on 1800 336 603

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June 2019

enhances the DownVision, SideVision, and RealVision 3D sonar, displaying structure, vegetation, and fish with lifelike detail.

The new LightHouse Sport operating system and intuitive keypad controls let anglers quickly mark spots and create high-definition bathymetric maps using the RealBathy real-time sonar map generator capability. The quad-core processor delivers instantaneous chart redraw, smooth RealVision 3D imaging, and fast response.

The Element series consists of 7”, 9”, and 12” display models, and it will begin

HAINES GROUP

World stand, including the most-recent release, the 580BRX. Built for sports boat enthusiasts but with crossover functionality, the 580BRX features a newly designed seating configuration and updated internal styling. Along with its famed signature variable deadrise hull for superb on-water performance, it’s a great choice for the Victorian boating scene.

The Haines Signature Boats range offers everything from affordable entry-level options for families looking for their first To page 90

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SPECIAL EDITION From page 88

boat, to fishing machines with all the bells and whistles for serious anglers, so check out the range at Geelong Marine World or swing by stand B3 at the Melbourne Boat Show.

At Cranbourne Boating Centre (stand D4) and Geelong Marine World, you’ll find a range of Tournament Pleasure Boats on hand. Perfect for crossing the bay or heading out wide, the Tournament range is designed and built to withstand the harshest of Australian conditions, so visit one of their two dealer stands to check out the quality and craftsmanship of the Tournament models on display.

If it’s an outboard you’re after, visit one of the many Suzuki Marine dealer stands, or track them down at their main stand (D2).

Suzuki’s range of 4-stroke outboards are known for their fuel efficiency, value and performance thanks to such innovations as Lean Burn Control System, maintenancefree timing chains and offset driveshaft.

Starting with the lightweight and portable 2.5hp model, all the way up to their flagship 325 and 350hp models – which feature innovative technology such as their dual prop, dual louver system and dual water inlet – there’s a Suzuki Marine outboard to suit any type

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER. riding hull and stability to burn. This is truly the all-rounder that delivers.

The Stessco Breezaway comes standard packed full of features. The range of Breezaways comes to you from the Merlin Marine & Leisure Pty Ltd stable, known for their tough built Aussie boats that represent great value for money.

There isn’t a shortcut taken with this range of boats.

From the 440 up to the 480, the Stessco range of Breezaway boats just might be the best valued bang for buck boats at the show.

Be sure to check the range of Stessco boats at stand B5. You won’t be disappointed. For more information, check out their website at www.stessco.com. au. – Stessco

ANGLAPRO

chine design that gives you the best of both worlds. You’ll love the superb ride and handling, and also the comfort of having the industry’s best platform at rest, with stability that will surely impress.

The Sniper range starts with the everpopular 424, and ranges right up to the massive 624.

If you’re coming to the Melbourne

B5 STESSCO

ANGLAPRO

boaters. That’s what people are saying, and Stessco are happy to accept that accolade.

They have the open runabout boat with a paddock of room to either fish, ski, snorkel, or simply lounge around and cruise in. You can also choose the classic all-rounder that’s as much at home on the rivers as it is on the high seas. It’s built on the outstanding Stessco Softride Hull, delivering a reverse chine that again gives you the best of both worlds with a great of boating application, whether that be for recreational or commercial use and everything in between.

There will be a total of eight dealer stands at the show: Boats & More (E7), TRE Motorsport (E6D), Bar Crusher Boats (C4a), Geelong Marine World, Mic’s Marine Services (C7b), Cranbourne Boating Centre (D10), Warragul Marine (D1) and Sundance Marine (D9).

With two boat brands, Haines Signature and Tournament, as well as Suzuki Marine outboards, you’re sure to find something to get you out on the water.

For more info visit the Suzuki Marine website at www.suzukimarine.com.au.

– Suzuki Marine

D15 MY MARINE

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

Anglapro SNIPER Series •• • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •

From the stable that delivers Aussie built, Aussie owned, value-for-money tough built boats (Merlin Marine & Leisure Pty Ltd) comes the Sniper range.

Anglapro is featuring these amazing boats at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show, so now is your chance to see what all the fuss is about.

The Sniper range has not forgotten what keen fishos have asked for in a boat; this fishing weapon comes packed full of accessories as standard, and is ready to be put to the test.

This side console package is built on the famous Sabre hull, with a reverse 90

June 2019

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

my marine debuts new productS •••••••••••••••••••••••••••

MY Marine will be debuting a number of amazing new products at this year’s show, and will give visitors an exclusive look at some incredible offers.

After discussions between the dealer network and offshore fishing enthusiasts, MY Marine are excited to release the all-new Stabicraft 2250 centre cab, in its two popular cabin options. This vessel has a true offshore hull, with a list of standard options to keep even the most keen fishos happy. Best of all, it can be towed by most crew cab utes.

The 2750CC will make an appearance, with the all-new Yamaha 425 XTO V8 outboard. A spread of all current Stabicraft models, from the 1410 to the 2400 super cab, will be on display for you to get an up-close look at.

Surtees will have the 750 Gamefisher on display, with twin F150 Yamahas.

To page 92

Boat Show to purchase a new boat, be sure to come by the stand and give this fantastic, honest, reliable, bulletproof range of boats a look – you won’t be disappointed.

If you want more information on the Sniper range, check out the Anglapro website at www.anglapro.com.au.

– Anglapro • • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Stessco, The boats built for Victorians • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Stessco’s boats just keep getting better, and are perfectly designed to suit Victorian

D15 MY MARINE

CHELSEA YAMAHA Awesome Boat Show Specials DEAL ENDS 30TH JUNE, 2019

495 Sportfish

535 Sportfish

(A) Indicative

102 p/w*

$

SPECIAL • Yamaha 60hp 4 stroke • Navigation lights • Bait tank • Bow sprit • Catch tank • Cabin cushions • Vic registration

$31,900

(D) Indicative $ p/w*

78

• Yamaha 90hp 4 stroke • Navigation lights • Bait tank • Bow sprit • Catch tank • 2 rod holders • Cabin cushions • Vic registration

$23,999

(E) Indicative $ p/w*

85

(G) Indicative

COMPARISON RATE P.A.

$26,390

SPECIAL • Yamaha F90hp 4 stroke • Bimini with fixed bar • Transom door • 2 tone paint • Garmin Striker 7sv • Vic registration

525 Scorpion

$41,390

$46,550

580 Coastrunner

(H) Indicative

133 p/w*

• Yamaha F70hp 4 stroke • Factory rocket launcher • Bait board • Garmin Striker Plus 5cv • Bimini & targa • Vic registration

10.15% 10.72%

(F) Indicative

147 p/w*

• Yamaha 50hp 4 stroke • Navigation lights • Bait tank • Bilge pump • Front/rear casting decks • Full motor well • Vic registration

$

$54,900

520 Bluewater $

(I) Indicative

188 p/w*

$

SPECIAL

INDICATIVE INTEREST RATE P.A.

• Yamaha 115hp 4 stroke • Navigation lights • Bait tank • Bow sprit • Catch tank • 2 rod holders • Cabin cushions • Vic registration

SPECIAL

485 Sunrunner 131 p/w*

$43,900

SPECIAL

460 Renegade

SPECIAL • Yamaha 40hp 4 stroke • Navigation lights • Bilge pump • Boarding ladder • Transom door • Vic registration

(C) Indicative

173 p/w*

$

SPECIAL

440 Breezaway

$

(B) Indicative

139 p/w*

$

580 Sportfish

SPECIAL • Yamaha F70hp 4 stroke • Folding boarding ladder • Bait board • Garmin Striker Plus 5cv • Bimini • Vic registration

$42,000

SPECIAL • Yamaha F130hp 4 stroke • Transom door (walk thru) • 2 tone paint • Bait board • Garmin Echomap 95sv • Vic rego

$59,850

“Repayment amount shown is the weekly equivalent of the monthly instalment of (a) $442.09 (b) $601.85 (c) $748.29 (d) $336.9 (e) $368.73 (f) $637.13 (g) $568.43 (h) $576.55 (i) $814.20. It is indicative only and is calculated based on an interest rate of 10.15% p.a. (Comparison Rate 10.72% p.a.), Package price of (a) $31900 (b) $43900 (c) $54900 (d) $23999 (e) $26390 (f) $46550 (g) $41390 (h) $42000 (i) $59850 , less a deposit of (a) $6380 (b) $8780 (c) $10980 (d) $4799.80 (e) $5278 (f) $9310 (g) $8278 (h) $8400 (i) $11970 and 84 instalments in arrears with a final balloon payment of $0 and an application fee of $395. Interest rate used is based on an average individual credit rating and meeting mandatory credit criteria. Repayments and interest rate may vary depending on your individual circumstances, financial position, credit rating, information provided, loan amount and loan term. Offer valid until 30/06/2019.

Comparison rate is based on a 5-year secured fixed rate consumer loan of $30,000. WARNING: The Comparison Rate is true only for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Credit criteria, fees, charges, terms and conditions apply. Yamaha Motor Finance Aust. Pty Ltd. ABN 29 101 928 670. Australian Credit Licence 394553”

* Boat images for illustrative purpose - models may vary slightly

CHELSEA YAMAHA – 9772 1212

13 ASHLEY PARK DVE CHELSEA HEIGHTS – chelseayamaha.com.au

June 2019

91

SPECIAL EDITION From page 90

There will be a good spread of ‘built to fish’ models for you to peruse. The popular 495, both 575 models (hard tops and folding roof), the 610 and the 700 Gamefisher will all be on hand.

Three new boats from the Parker range will also be on display, including the huge 850 Voyager runabout, the all-new 790 Explorer and the modern looking 660 Centre Console.

All their boats are powered by Honda and Yamaha outboards, ensuring a fast and smooth trip on the water.

Be sure to stop by stand D15 to get a closer look at all the impressive boats, and get an exclusive look at some new packages. For more information, drop by their website at mymarine.com.au.

– MY Marine

D1 WARRAGUL MARINE

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June 2019

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Something for everyone AT WARRAGUL MARINE STAND

D1 WARRAGUL MARINE

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

Warragul Marine Centre is returning to the Melbourne Boat Show and showcasing McLay Boats. With over 30 years of innovation and design, McLay Boats are one of the most respected aluminium boat builders in New Zealand, with a reputation for being tough, safe and durable. Their range of boats suit families looking for adventure, or the hardcore fisher.

The Sportsman 591 Hardtop is a rugged, no-frills fishing boat that manages to provide one of the largest cockpits in its class. Divers and fishers find this is a great platform for inshore or offshore work. This true hardtop comes in at just 2850mm in height, and the flotation is all located inside the gunwales, achieving a low centre of gravity and brilliant stability at rest. Packages start at just $52,000, which is exceptional value for a plate alloy hardtop package!

The CrossXover range are designed with families in mind, a boat that can also be used for fishing and diving but is equally at home towing water toys or cruising your favourite waterways. The options are endless for this boat, with a stove, oven, extended bunks and flushing toilet as just some of the extras that can be added.

With models ranging from 4.4-11.4m

in every configuration imaginable, there’s sure to be a boat in the McLay range to suit you and your budget.

Powering these boats are the very efficient, smooth and compact Suzuki Marine 4-strokes. With Lean Burn technology, the fuel consumption figures are out of sight. Warragul Marine Centre is one of only a handful of Elite Suzuki Marine dealers, and the team take great pride in their repower fit-outs. Be sure to come and talk to them about the special Boat Show deals they can do for you.

The team from Warragul Marine Centre – comprising of Simon and Kirsten Wakefield, David Garcia, as well as representatives from McLay Boats and Suzuki Marine – are looking forward to a busy and successful Melbourne Boat Show. See you there at site D1. – Warragul Marine Centre

120 years is a long time to be around.

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We build the qualities people want in a boat. Strength. Safety. Great design.

Practical Innovation. Unbeatable value for money. Simple, huh?

It’s a formula that’s kept us building amazing boats, and our owners getting the most out of life, for 120 years.

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June 2019

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BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

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

Mercury Marine celebrates 80 Years with massive Display

The new 400hp engine – built on Mercury’s proven L6SC Verado platform – is suitable for a wide range of applications including bluewater fishing boats, larger sport boats, centre consoles and pontoons.

Importantly, the added power has not taken away the smooth and quiet operation for which Verado outboards are widely known.

Weighing just 303kg, the same as the 350hp Verado, the newest Verado is the lightest outboard in the 400hp+ category by more than 130kg.

The 400hp Verado will exclusively use the 5.44” 1.75 HD (heavy duty) gearcase and is compatible with Mercury Joystick Piloting for outboards. It will be available in the same model variations as the 350hp Verado with colour options of phantom black and cold fusion.

Given Mercury has the widest range of engines on the market, their stand at the Melbourne Boat Show isn’t all about ‘big muscle’. Visitors will also be able to check out Mercury’s range of ultra-lightweight portable outboards.

C6 MERCURY MARINE

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

Mercury Marine is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year – an unmatched heritage of experience, innovation and technical leadership that sets it apart in the marine industry.

Over the last decade, Mercury has invested more than $1.4 billion into the expansion of its research, development and manufacturing capabilities, and the fruits of all that money and hard work are on display at the 2019 Melbourne Boat Show.

Starring at the show will be Mercury’s new range of V-8 and V-6 outboards, from 175hp all the way to 300hp.

Highly configurable, these nextgeneration engines can meet the needs of a wide variety of boat lovers – from the

C6 MERCURY MARINE

C6 MERCURY MARINE

Verado’s refined performance, and the FourStroke’s fuel efficiency and rigging versatility, to the competitive edge that the Pro XS models provide.

These engines are naturally aspirated, durable, powerful and provide options that boat owners have never had before. And Mercury’s technological leadership is clear.

The new 250 and 300hp V-8 Verado outboards provide exhilarating performance across the rpm range. Sea trials show the 300hp Verado is up to 20% quicker than its closest competitor, while still providing up to 8% better fuel economy.

The Verado driving experience has been further enhanced by class-leading reduction in noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) to provide an ultra-quiet ride.

Mercury’s new 250 and 300hp V-8 FourStroke engines are high-tech without being high-stress. The high-displacement, quad-cam design of the new V-8 powerhead generates plenty of torque, especially at mid-range.

Indeed, the 300hp FourStroke delivers up to 9% more torque than the nearest competitor at 3500-4500rpm. It boasts class-leading 4.6L displacement, yet is the lightest in the 300hp class by more than 4.5kg.

The new 175hp V-6 along with the 200, 225, 250 and (for the first time ever) 300hp V-8 Pro XS outboard engines are quite simply the next generation of

C6 MERCURY MARINE

performance.

Featuring Mercury’s new compact cowl, these engines deliver everything serious boaters and fishers need on the water, including ample torque from their high-displacement powerheads and superior acceleration due to their quad-cam design and Transient Spark technology.

Across Australia, more and more boaters are turning to diesel, and here again Mercury is leading the way, with Boat Show visitors able to inspect the new line of 3.0L diesels for sterndrive, inboard and water-jet applications.

Available in 150hp, 230hp and 270hp variants, these engines have been engineered, developed and tested over three years to lead their class in: acceleration; reliability; ease of installation and maintenance; and reduction in noise, vibration and harshness.

The engines use a new water-cooled, variable-geometry turbocharger and common-rail fuel delivery to provide exceptional performance and substantial improvements in acceleration and top speeds.

With impressive low-end torque and exceptional durability, this new line of engines are the result of Mercury’s focused efforts to get the best of both worlds – high performance with lower emissions to reduce impact on the environment.

Mercury subjected these engines to intensive testing including ‘accelerated life’ tests that exposed the motors to greater rigors than any customer would impose in normal operations.

Significantly, these new engines are fully compatible with Mercury SmartCraft technologies, so users have instant access to a broad array of engine-related information, as well as maintenance alerts and troubleshooting guidance. The engines also integrate with Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Inboards (JPI) and Joystick Piloting for Sterndrives (JPS) to give the driver outstanding control and manoeuvrability.

As boats get bigger, there’s a need for more power, and Mercury has risen to the challenge with the introduction of the all-new 400hp Verado outboard – the most powerful Verado on the water.

It means boat lovers can now have the power they want, with the durability and reliability that the Verado brand is known for around the world.

From 2.5-25hp, these compact outboard motors will take you wherever you need to go quickly and reliably. Featuring batteryfree EFI for fast, dependable starting, instant throttle response and better overall performance, these engines are small but they are still packing plenty of power.

With engine protection warning systems for low oil pressure and over revving, Mercury ultralight outboards are ideal for tinnies, RIBs, tenders and sail boats. They are easy to install and operate, with reliable starting, low vibration, and instant throttle response.

With all that and more, the Mercury stand (C6) is a must see for everyone visiting this year’s Melbourne Boat Show.

For more information, visit the Mercury Marine website at www.mercurymarine. com.au. – Mercury Marine

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER. •• • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •

Passport to fun with new Hobie kayak •• • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •

Introducing the all new Mirage Passport, the newest member of the Hobie pedal kayak family. It’s equipped with Hobie’s tried and true MirageDrive Classic, the pedal drive that started it all, and will have you cruising through the water in no time.

Built for adventure, a simplified rudder that kicks up on impact, and a replaceable rudder skeg, prepares the Passport for even the most rugged adventures. Bow bungees stand ready for securing gear or a dry bag.

Even the Hobie Soft Cooler (small) will fit. Also included is the Forward Accessory Mount, perfect for rigging the Hobie Bimini or a Sail Kit. Outfitted for kayak fishing, the Hobie Mirage Passport features two moulded-in rod holders, two H-Track accessory mounts and plenty of cargo space to stash all your gear.

Compact yet stable, this kayak can easily be car-topped while still being steady enough

to stand on. Plenty of accessories help you to build your dream boat: Sail Kits, Bimini sunshades, dry bags and coolers.

Create your ultimate setup with the Mirage Passport The new Passport has just the right number of features to be versatile, yet with a pure simplicity: • Colours: two great options, Seagrass or Slate Decks, on a Light Grey Hull for stunning contrast.

• Hull Design provides a stable platform that tracks well and stacks like a dream for storage and car-topping.

• Injection-moulded MirageDrive. The MirageDrive Classic is standard equipment.

SPECIAL EDITION

SPECIFICATIONS Hull Length.........................3.2m (10’6”) Width................................... 0.86m (34”) Capacity........................... 147kg (325lb) Fitted Weight....................... 29kg (65lb) Full Rigged Weight............. 34kg (75lb) The Classic Drive is Hobie’s non-GT drive with ST fins. Both of the newer MirageDrive versions, the GT and the MD180, fit in the well if you want to upgrade, and of course the Classic Drive can also be upgraded with Turbo Fins.

• Seat: aluminium frame with suspendedmesh seating area. The Passport seat is easy to install, breathable and comfortable, and doubles as a fully-functional beach chair on land!

• Rudder: the rudder system features a simplified adaptation of Hobie’s Twist ‘n’ Stow rudder. The Passport rudder is manually raised and lowered, and held in those

positions automatically by an in-line shockcord. If the rudder encounters an underwater object, it will kick up. After it has cleared the obstacle, the bungee will automatically lower the rudder back into position.

• Steering: all-new push-pull rod for a simple and easy-to-use steering system.

Built-In Storage • Bow storage well with crisscross bungees.

• Rear cargo well with cart scuppers and crisscross bungees. Can be easily customised with the all-new pad eye/hook combo fittings.

• 8” centre hatch.

• Accessory mount for great accessorizing opportunities, from the Bimini to the Sail Kit and more.

• Side-mounted rail tracks provide plenty of additional accessorizing and personalisation opportunities for anglers and recreational kayakers alike.

• Two rod holders! – Hobie

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SPECIAL EDITION

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••••

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Sale of Australia’s biggest BOAT BUILDER

Yamaha returns with exclusive deals

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

BRP, the manufacturer of such iconic brands as Evinrude outboards, Sea-Doo jetskis and Can-Am quad bikes, has announced that it is acquiring 80% of Australian company Telwater. Telwater

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Yamaha Motor Australia, in conjunction with their Victorian dealership network, continue to exhibit the latest in outboard technology alongside some exclusive offers at the 2019 Melbourne Boat Show. With the largest display of outboards covering all horsepower ranges, there will be something for everybody at this

TELWATER

manufactures the hugely popular Quintrex, Stacer, Savage and Yellowfin Plate boats, and also distributes Evinrude in Australia.

Paul Phelan, Telwater’s current owner and Managing Director, will continue to play an important role in the operations of the business, and will hold 20% of the company’s shares. Telwater’s Coomera factory and its 270 employees will continue to operate business as usual.

With a more solidified partnership, the desire to own a Telwater/Evinrude boatmotor-trailer package has never been so strong. Telwater’s 230 dealerships across Australia, Asia Pacific and Europe will continue to benefit from the organization’s state-of-the-art manufacturing know-how, and will add to BRP’s design and innovation track record.

“Over 30 years ago, I started as a welder,” said Telwater MD Paul Phelan.

“Today I am handing over part of the Telwater organization to BRP, an expert in every industry it is in. Growing Telwater to what it is today has been an extraordinary journey, and I’m excited to see it join the BRP family.”

Mr Phelan said that Telwater’s boat brands will learn from BRP’s innovation, and BRP will be able to leverage Telwater’s competitive advantages, including its stretch forming capabilities and manufacturing expertise.

Telwater manufactures over 8000 boats and 5500 trailers annually, with over 60% market share in the Australian boat building industry, and exports to over 20 countries. – Telwater

C4 YAMAHA

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year’s Boat Show. As with all Yamaha engines, legendary reliability and unmatched quality comes standard.

Yamaha aims to inspire visitors this year by dedicating their display to the various marine lifestyles that can be enjoyed in Australia. From camping to offshore fishing and much more, Yamaha’s display at the Melbourne Boat Show will be sure to capture the best of living an on-water lifestyle, which stays on brand with the Boat Show message that, ‘Life is Better with a Boat’.

Complementing the complete Yamaha Outboard range is Yamaha’s leading range of outboard technology. There is a selection of products packed with all the features to provide a seamless boating experience.

Exhibiting Yamaha Dealerships are also offering exclusive deals at the show on a range of their premium products. So, you can get the quality that Yamaha is known for, at competitively low Boat Show prices.

Yamaha Motor Finance are making ownership easy with super low comparison rates on eligible repower options over 24-60 months and on WaveRunners over 24-36 months.

Completing the suite of offers is Yamaha Marine Insurance. Their policies come with a range of benefits that help make owning a boat stress-free. They also offer three years of new for old replacement on your new Yamaha. A hassle free process and guaranteed use of Yamaha parts on all repairs are just some of the reasons YMI is the ultimate in marine and PWC protection.

For more information on the products that will be on offer at the Show, visit www.yamahamotor.com.au/outboard and be sure to stop by stand C3 during the Melbourne Boat Show for exclusive deals. – Yamaha

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MARINE INSURANCE

YMI Marine making their mark at Melbourne Boat Show Everyone gets caught up at the Melbourne Boat Show looking at all the incredible watercraft available for purchase. But, as soon as you purchase your amazing new boat at Boat Show prices, you’ll need some quality boating insurance. Yamaha Motor Insurance has you covered, as the ultimate option for marine and PWC protection.

Located at stand C4 during the Show, their knowledgeable staff will be on hand to answer all your insurance questions.

Their comprehensive boat and personal watercraft insurance packages are designed so that you can personally choose the insurance cover that best suits your boating needs.

YMI offers a range of insurance coverage for all boats (new and used) and personal watercraft.

YMI Marine policy includes a range of impressive coverage benefits. They cover accidental loss or damage (including malicious damage) to your boat or personal watercraft. If something happens in the first three years of registration to your Yamaha powered boat or WaveRunner, YMI Marine offer a complete replacement following a declaration of it being a total loss (Conditions apply).

They understand the importance of your craft and that accidents happen, so they have a New for Old policy on mechanical and electrical components of your Yamaha Outboard motor. This provides boat owners with peace of mind when heading out on the water, the second you have any issues just contact the YMI claims team.

You can go out without a worry, as they also cover personal effects owned by you and your passengers on board, covering clothing, shoes, waterproof gear and manchester, with $1,500 per item and $10,000 in aggregate.

YMI Marine understands the stress that comes with boating and that you cannot control where you are when accidents happen, so they offer emergency assistance for towing costs $5,000 in total. No matter what happens, help will be on the way and will get you to safety.

They also offer up to $50,000 cover to the named insurer from an accident occurring when using your boat

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or personal watercraft, for death and permanent and total loss of sight, use of a limb, thumb or any finger. You can go out knowing that YMI puts your safety first.

No matter what the situation, Yamaha Motor Insurance promise a hassle free claims process. They understand that accidents are stressful enough, and want to work with you to ensure a quick and satisfactory resolution. Not only that, but they also offer 24/7 emergency claim service. You don’t get to pick when accidents happen, so their friendly staff is always available to help you.

YMI Marine offer a stress-free pay by the month option, but most incredibly, they offer an optional, innovative Lay-up cover, which is a premium discount for the months your boat or personal watercraft (WaveRunner) is not used.

The best thing about insuring with YMI Marine is that you know you are getting genuine Yamaha replacements on parts.

Your boat will be running better than ever, as quality is of the utmost importance. Yamaha prides themselves on having innovative and reliable products, and that won’t change when you need to replace part of the craft.

They offer competitive rates on all policies, and have something to suit owners of all ranges of watercraft.

In addition to all this, YMI offers premium discounts for age and boating experience. You cannot put a price on knowing you and your boat are covered, and when you insure with YMI Marine you know that you and your craft will be well looked after.

Yamaha understands that a boat is often an owner’s most treasured possession, and so they aim to provide you with the peace of mind that comes with quick and easy insurance solutions.

If you would like to know more, jump onto the YMI Marine website at www.ymia.com.au, call 1300 794 454 or email marinecustomerservice@ymia.com.au.

Make sure you stop by their stand at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show stand C4. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff will be on hand to answer all your questions and make sure you choose the best policy for you.

Yamaha Marine Insurance is the ultimate in marine and personal watercraft protection.

They promise to provide the highest quality service at competitive rates. – YMI Marine

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SPECIAL EDITION

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Northbank 650C with Mercury 250hp V8 Verado - SC

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Main: Some would call it the Butter Bean-mobile. We call it the Northbank 650C. Built in South Australia and retailed in Melbourne by Melbourne Marine Centre, this is an impressive craft. Above: Radio dialogue. FM: “Righto, give it some this time.” BB: “No worries. Thought you’d never ask!” for his first boat test. There were no problems ‘sending it’ for the camera. None at all!

As expected, if you drive this big rig hard, it’s fast and

Length.......................................................... 6.5m Beam.......................................................... 2.44m Height on trailer.......................................... 2.4m Capacity...............................................8 persons Max HP.......................................................... 250 Transom Deadrise......................................... 21°

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to $150,000.

For more information or to organise a test ride in a Northbank, visit the team at Melbourne Marine Centre at www.melbournemarine.com. au. You can also Like their Facebook Page for updates

PERFORMANCE

specifications

to see if one would fit in his garage. It took a couple of modifications, but they made it fit and the rest is history.

He now has around 40 hours on a Northbank 650C (cuddy cabin) that’s powered by a V8 Mercury Verado (250hp) and sitting on a custom Mackay trailer.

And yes, it even has a pie warmer on board.

Dean’s not afraid to drive this rig, either. He did well

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I’m unsure if I’m allowed to actually call him by his nickname, Butter Bean, but Craigeburn’s Dean Pallone rocked up to the Patto River launching ramp in his pride and joy for this test. Dean’s a customer of Andrew Stephens’ Melbourne Marine Centre and the story of the sale reminded me of a joke that’s probably a little too saucy to delve into here.

Regardless, he went shopping for a repower of his old fibreglass boat and came back with this weapon of a boat on order.

Well, it wasn’t really that simple. Dean’s meticulous about his toys and Andrew was up to the task, even driving out to Dean’s place

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feedback from our customers and it’s great to have Dean so happy with his rig,” said Andrew. “We like going the extra mile to make sure that our customers are 100% happy with their rig.”

Packages that are by no

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less than totally economical.

We got it to 86km/h, which is hauling ass for a cabin boat.

At that speed, it delivered even money, a kilometre for each litre burned. Back off the stick, though, and you get 50% more distance for your dollars. We achieved 1.5km/L at 57km/h and 4,500rpm.

Like all Northbanks I’ve tested, the hull sounds and feels solid underfoot.

We’ve driven these boats in all conditions – from a Port Phillip Bay you could waterski on behind an outboard to a choppy Sydney Harbour with a diesel inboard – and these Rob Cuming designed hulls all ride the same.

In the spectrum of fishing to family boats, this one swings well towards fishing.

There’s drop in snapper racks, multiple places to store your rods (in the rocket launchers or upright along the gunwales) and a suite of electronics that lets you find where the fish are.

That’s not to say that there’s a Spartan level of comfort. Shade, a lockable cabin and a neat gunwale door to allow easy ingress, while the boarding ladders and transom door make it easy to load and unload while the rig is on the trailer.

Small luxuries, like the custom SeaDek on the cockpit floor and the suite of

LED lights (from underwater on the transom through to the cockpit all add up to make this a really neat looking rig).

“It’s good to get positive

RPM....... Speed (km/h)......... Economy (km/L) Idle............................ 4............................... 1.6 1000........................... 8............................... 1.5 2000..........................13............................... 1.1 3000......................... 26............................... 1.0 4000......................... 47............................... 1.3 4500......................... 57............................... 1.5 5000......................... 68............................... 1.3 5900......................... 86............................... 1.0 means basic for a Northbank 650C and Mercury start from $126,000, ready to go and catch a snapper in the Bay. Dean’s rig with all of the extra fruit came in a lot closer

and boat show appearances, like at the 2019 Melbourne Boat Show. Just search Melbourne Marine Centre on Facebook.

All the owners are impressed by their V8 Mercury 4-stroke. This is the first owner of the Verado iteration, with AMS (advanced mid section) which deletes nearly all vibration. They’re ridiculously smooth and quiet.

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

SPECIAL EDITION

These pocket-mounted vertical rod holders take those extra four rods that make all the difference. Anyone who says you have too many fishing rods is dead-set wrong.

The only thing better than a rocket launcher is a second, offset one that lets you get more rods up there. Butter Bean’s definitely one to feed the addiction.

The folding ladder, duckboard and transom door are essential for boarding the boat while it’s on the trailer. They’re pretty handy as well when you’re going for a swim.

That’s a Mercury Vessel View up top, a big ol’ Simrad below and a digital throttle and shift to the right.

The fire extinguisher is within easy reach of the helm and helps you sort out any pie warmer incidents.

21° of transom deadrise means that you need a special talent to land this rig hard. Specifically, if you can get it launching at a 21° lift to port or starboard you can bang it good. That’s harder than it sounds.

Underwater LEDs on the hull and LEDs on the trailer, where were boaties without them?

There’s a mountain of space in the cockpit and the SeaDek custom flooring matches perfectly.

Dean says that it’s easy to keep clean.

The optional side door lets you bring in fish that surpass your expectations (but not your ability to plan). Or it lets the kids in, your choice.

We think that the ruler on the deck is a special touch.

It’s like a snapper deck of cards: Spigot, bait board and six rods.

If you’re serious about live bait nowadays, you need the clear panel to let you connect with your tasty treats at an emotional level before you send them to their death.

You can tell a Verado version of a Mercury from the standard V8 by that silver midsection. It called an AMS and contains all of the engineering that insulates the boat from engine vibration. Standard V8s are all black.

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Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

SPECIAL EDITION

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Revival 590 X-Rider with Mercury 150hp 4-stroke

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This was only the second Revival boat that we’ve tested at Fishing Monthly.

The first was a cruiser-style (trailerable and suitable for comfortable weekends away) and is about as far away as you can get from this – the Revival X-Rider.

Built in Melbourne by Sam Cantonese, the brand is sold and championed by Melbourne mega-dealer, JV Marine World.

“The Revivals are a great step up into fibreglass boating, as you get great value for money with a Revival package,” said JV chief Mark Stav after the team pulled up at Launching Way for the test.

In fact, it wasn’t a great day for a boat test – glassy,

PERFORMANCE

Main: There’s no denying that the Revival X-Rider is a good-looking rig.

The Mercury and hull colours work well together. Above: When you drop the throttle, there’s plenty to smile about. The 3.0L Mercury 4-stroke spun a 17” 3-blade Enertia propeller and stayed on 75km/h at WOT. allowed the owners to comfortably take four people out on the water skiing and relaxing or you could add the rod holders, take out the

specifications Length.......................................................... 5.9m Beam............................................................ 2.4m HP Max.......................................................... 175 Tow Weight............................................. 1,800kg Capacity.............................................. 7 persons Fuel.............................................................. 130L Transom deadrise..........................................21° sunny conditions where every boat seems to run great – even though the weather was perfect. It did reflect, however, conditions that you may be out in enjoying what the X-Rider has to offer.

The package tested was actually a customer’s boat that had been designed for both fishing and tow sports.

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speeds was the quietness of the hull. I’ve definitely been in noisier craft over the years, and the build of this rig felt solid at all speeds.

As tested, this rig rolls out the door at $77,000 from JV Marine, though packages

tables and there’s a perfectly good craft for squidding and snapper fishing.

Right away, we were all impressed with the looks of the boat. The red and black colour scheme complemented the 150hp Mercury 3.0L 4-stroke perfectly, and it would definitely turn heads at the ramp. The question was, however, would it get

up and go out on the water?

After an easy launch we transitioned from the calm waters of the Patterson River to the calm waters of Port Phillip Bay and dropped the throttle. The X-Rider jumped onto the plane and was very responsive to both throttle and trim. You could say that it was pretty fun to drive. We know that Mark drove it like he stole it, even though he only borrowed it.

We have noticed, subsequently, that Mark is a big fan of the wide-open throttle setting in any boat that he captains.

In a nutshell, this rig will comfortably entertain with four and seriously fish with two people on board.

The bowrider layout is fairly standard. The test rig had a spigot-mounted table that could bounce between the cockpit and the bow.

Alternatively, you can

drop the anchor and add the rod holders, spin the helm seats around and you’re ready for a PPB snapper to jump on.

Powered by a Mercury

RPM......Speed (km/h)........... Economy (km/L) 650............................5................................. 2.6 1000..........................8................................. 2.4 2000........................ 13................................. 1.6 3000........................ 33................................. 2.3 4000........................ 50................................. 2.0 5000........................ 65................................. 1.5 5600........................ 75................................. 1.3 Best Economy.3,500rpm, 43km/h at 2.5km/L of 43km/h at 3,500rpm that delivered 2.5km/L. That gets you nearly twice the range than driving around at full speed.

Noticable at higher

with fewer inclusions at $69,999.

You can get information at revivalboats.com.au or jvmarine.com.au.

A unique combination of fishing and watersports, the X-Rider does both pretty well.

begin more www. www.

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Supplied on a twin axle Dunbier trailer, this rig weighs in at about 1,800kg and is most suitable to tow with a larger SUV or twin cab ute.

SPECIAL EDITION

The helm is comfortable with a built in footrest and plenty of visibility in all directions.

Top: The foldable bimini and rocket launcher only provides shade for the helm seating.

Above: The anchor and winch is all out of the way and doesn’t intrude into the bow entertainment area.

Mercury’s 3.0L 150hp 4-stroke platform has years under the belt now. It delivered 2.5km/L at 3,500rpm on this rig and had plenty of midrange torque to get the X-Rider up and running.

With the bunk infill added, there’s plenty of lounging area up front. Take it out and add a table and there’s room for four.

The walk through is plenty wide enough and lined with the custom SeaDek, which looks a million bucks.

Three people will comfortably fill the bench seat. Add two at the helm and there’s room for a fun day on the water for five.

With a transom deadrise of 21°, the X-Rider is capable of a soft ride when conditions get a little nasty.

The wet storage boxes at the transom are a great idea. This one is where the squid go, helping to keep the cockpit clean (we saw the leftover ink).

At Fishing Monthly, we love flush-mount sounder space. This owner fitted Mercury Vessel View with the Simrad transducer.

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SPECIAL EDITION

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Quintrex 440 SC Renegade with Yamaha F60hp

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As no fuel metering gauges were available on this craft, the article quotes Streaker Marine supplied economy figures.

Main: Streaker Marine’s Quintrex Renegade 440 SC (side console) package is a blank canvas. You can fit it out as a freshwater or inshore boat depending on your fishing needs, and it can do both jobs on a budget.

Above: Powered by Yamaha’s F60 4-stroke outboard, this boat gets up and goes, although the conditions on the test day meant that the most comfortable and economical speed was under 4,000rpm. it sits at a price point where it’s within reach of a lot of people. And you don’t need

Length (max)............................................... 4.6m Beam.......................................................... 2.11m Depth......................................................... 0.96m Max motor Weight.................................... 120kg Capacity.............................................. 5 persons Materials.................................... 3mm aluminium Height on trailer........................................ 1.70m Max hp......................................................... 60hp Hull Weight................................................ 370kg

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onto the front deck.

The front deck also provides a heap of storage under it, albeit not dry.

Plenty of anglers find room for an ice box under here and some gear in waterproof bags. There’s additional

PERFORMANCE

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which you can build your ideal rig.

Featuring that clean, plate-aluminium look and plenty of open deck space, the Renegade is one of Quintrex’s best sellers and

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Streaker Marine sells plenty of Quintrex boats every year, and Sean Savage and his team at the dealership always put in a massive effort at the Melbourne Boat Show to display a big range of boats and provide attractive deals to get them sold.

When offered the choice of which boat they wanted included in the Boat Show feature this year, they brought the 440 Renegade Side Console (SC) with a 60hp Yamaha.

It was a smart choice. The boat show is full of anglers wanting to upgrade their small boats or just aching to get off the bank.

The Renegade is a great option for both of these desires, offering a solid platform from

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(figures supplied by Streaker Marine). It’s more of a challenge remembering to fill the tank than finding the cash to pay for it.

We had this hull out in some sloppy conditions and there was always a

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to upgrade the family car to tow it.

The 440 was supplied on a single axle Quintrex trailer that’s factory matched to the boat.

“Quintrex’s aluminium

I-beam trailer is to trailers what four-strokes are to outboards,” said Sean Savage. “It’s hard not to buy one. They’re light, they’re easy to clean, they tow great and they’re easy to load.”

Also, they’re easy to manoeuvre around a small garage, that’s the combination of the light hull weight and the single axle iteration.

Speaking of 4-strokes, the Renegade was powered with a F60 Yamaha 4-stroke, which is the maximum allowable on this rig.

At the most economical cruising speeds around 3,500rpm, this rig delivers economy of over 4km/L

combination of speed and trim that waked it through chop that would be uncomfortable at wide open throttle.

What do we like best about open boats? It’s the 360° fishability. There’s nothing to get in the way and you can achieve an elevated lure casting position by jumping up

storage in the port and starboard side pockets and then a tiny bit more under the rear casting deck.

As tested, this rig weighed in at $31,990, however packages from Streaker Marine start from $28,000. Visit www. streakermarine.com.au for more information or to organise a test drive.

Although the Renegade looks like a plate boat, the pressed strakes under the hull give away its true heritage.

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

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Open boats are all about the space, and the Renegade has plenty of it.

The half-length side pocket will keep your gear from rolling around the floor, but it won’t keep it dry.

There’s a matching side pocket on the starboard side, adjacent to the helm seat.

The front casting deck will fit one angler and is around half the gunwale height.

Check out the inbuilt step and handrail, which makes it easy to get back into the boat after a swim. Without it, it usually looks like you’re trying to mount the Yamaha.

Like all Yamaha 4-strokes, you barely know it’s running when it is. The next person that tries to start it when it’s already running won’t be the first.

Nearly all of the storage in the Renegade is up and under the front casting deck. It’s reasonably dry under there until it rains.

After that, keep your gear in dry bags.

Supplied on a Quintrex I-beam trailer, the on-road package is light and towable by virtually any vehicle with a tow bar.

That’s a moulded plastic anchor well at the bow, which is usually much quieter than a welded aluminium one.

The side console is simple and effective, and you can bracket mount virtually any electronics you like on top of it. We liked the niche for keys, wallets and phones.

Left: There’s a small baitwell and storage areas under the rear casting deck, port side.

Right: Quintrex’s fold down seats are basic, yet comfortable. There are several mounting options.

There’s no doubt that Quintrex has lifted its trailer game in recent years. I haven’t even got wheels that flash on my car!

June 2019

105

SPECIAL EDITION

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Bar Crusher 615BR with Suzuki 150HP 4-stroke - SC

TENT -

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Main: Is there anything better than a brilliant day on Port Phillip Bay, a Bar Crusher and 150 Suzuki horses pushing you along? Above: The 615BR is Bar Crusher’s first foray into a multi-purpose craft, although Matt Urzia will always find a way to fish in it. At rest the Gen 2 hull’s ballast tank takes on hundreds of litres of water and sinks the chines deeper to offer improved stability at rest. extra weight around.

“A lot of our customers want to go out or come home in rough conditions, and the Gen 2 hull lets them do that with maximum levels of comfort,” Pete explained.

If you’re thinking that the 615BR lacks some of its siblings’ fishing chops, you’d be mistaken. The bow riding section has removable cushions and a drop-in deck infill that makes the whole

RPM........ Speed (km/h)....... Economy (km/L) 1000............................ 3............................. 4.0 2000............................ 7............................. 2.8 3000.......................... 11............................. 1.9 3700.......................... 34............................. 2.3 4000.......................... 38............................. 2.1 5000.......................... 53............................. 1.6 6000.......................... 66............................. 1.2 June 2019

are matched with Victorian built EasyTow trailers and, coupled with their BarCatch system, it’s a foolproof as possible to launch and retrieve these rigs, even if you’re boating alone.

Packages with the 615BR start from high $60K, and as tested, this rig weighed in around the mid $80K mark.

specifications

PERFORMANCE

106

CO

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

It’s not often you get the head of a company to come out on a boat test, but Bar Crusher’s Peter Cleland showed up at the Launching Way ramp with their first foray into a multi-purpose boat in tow, the 615 BR (bow rider).

When questioned about the genesis of the craft, Peter said they wanted to design a fishing weapon that the family could also go out on, to enjoy a bit of fun with some towsports.

“We stand at a lot of boat shows talking to people, and this design came from that,” he said.

Built on Bar Crusher’s well proven Gen 2 hull, it features a ‘delta flare’, which is like an old style planing plank on a glass boat that gets the boat onto the plane quickly. The chines are wider than their original hulls to deflect more water downwards and the passive water ballast system reduces buoyancy at rest, dropping the chines further into the water and improving stability.

When the boat takes off, this water dumps out quickly and you’re not carrying the

R

pseudo-cabin style feel and ride for when conditions get a little nasty.

Performance-wise, the 150hp Suzuki displayed the economy that they’re known for, delivering 2.3km/L at 3,700rpm and 34km/h. Drop the hammers and she got up to 66km/h at 6,000rpm at nearly half the

Steve Morgan

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fmg

for’ard section a flat casting deck. You can easily add a bow-mounted trolling motor to make this a boat that can easily sneak around any part of the country to cast lures in.

The rear cockpit is similarly transformable. Pull out the ski pole and add a bait board to turn this into a classic snapper rig – complete with the windlass up front to pull the anchor for you.

Importantly, there’s family-friendly shade, places to sit, and the ability to get in and out of this boat while on the water, which is all that most of us need to have a good time.

Well, maybe that, and a donut to tow the kids around on.

We particularly like the generous dash space in Bar Crushers that allow flush

mounting of electronics, and that these are viewable from the cockpit easily. With the addition of the soft top, bow cover and clears you get a

Length....................................................... 6.15m Beam.........................................................2.25m Bottom sheet.............................................4mm Side sheets.................................................4mm Fuel............................................................. 140L Min HP.......................................................... 115 Max HP......................................................... 150 Height on trailer....................................... 2.15m Fuel............................................................. 140L economy, 1.2km/L. This rig demonstrably likes cruising economically at the lower end of the planing speeds.

Finally, Bar Crushers supplied from the factory

For more information, get in touch with your nearest Bar Crusher dealer. You can find where your local dealer is by visiting www. barcrusher.com.au.

Suzukis are notoriously economical. This 150hp and 6m+ boat delivered 2.3km/L at 34km/h and 3,700rpm, and a 66km/h top end speed.

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Inset and above: The Bar Crusher team is always looking at clever ways of using space. The under seat tackle storage here is just one of their additions.

Top: The bait board is simple with a removable Teflon insert. You can swap it out for a ski pole for the watersports days.

Above: There’s always plenty of space on a Bar Crusher helm for all of your electronics, so size isn’t an issue.

Bar Crusher’s solution to a rear bench is solid and reliable. It’s simple to deploy and has a smooth finish while stowed.

There is a distinct separation between the front deck and the anchor well, and hopefully no salt water makes its way into your cocktails.

The 140L fuel tank gives a theoretical range at best economy of over 250km.

With a bow area covered and locked down, the cockpit is quite sheltered. There are plenty of places to hang onto, which your passengers will appreciate.

If you’re headed off for a weekend of camping there’s plenty of space under the bow cover to stow camping gear.

All of these deck cushions remove to turn the 615 into a fishing platform. Leave the cushions in and remove the centre infill and it’s a lounge.

SPECIAL EDITION

Add a bow-mounted electric motor here to really take advantage of the for’ard casting deck.

The slide-in transom door is as simple is it gets.

Designed by anglers, the additions such as the duckboard-mounted berley pot keeps the mess out back where it should be.

All this bait tank needs to work is a functioning water pump. It self levels and drains straight onto the duckboard.

June 2019

107

SPECIAL EDITION

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

JANUARY MAY Time Time m

1 0113 0801 1

TU 1359 2109 WE

2 0205 0853 2

WE 1455 TH 2215

3 0304 0948 3

TH 1557 FR 2318

4 0414 1046 4

FR 1700 SA

5 0018 0529 5

Time 0.54 0139 1.48 0822 0.35 1350 1.37 2107 0.65 0248 1.41 0939 0.36 1459 1.38 2203 0.75 0410 1.35 1050 0.36 1626 1.41 2258 0.81 0512 1.30 1150 0.35 1737 2346 1.45 0556 0.82 1241 1.28 1827 0.33

m

18’ S of High LONG 144° 37’ E TimesLAT and38° Heights and Low Waters Times and Heights of High and Low Waters MARCH FEBRUARY m Time m Time JULY m Time m JUNE Time

Time m Time m 0032 0.58 0230 0.73 03001.32 0.68 07120154 1.430.65 0907 10100.36 1.36 13050859 0.411.39 FR 1515 15151.35 0.93 1956 1.310.70 2245 TH 1412 SA 2153 1.37 2121 1.46 0116 0.67 0330 0.80 04021.26 0.61 07520310 1.380.58 1004 11130.39 1.45 13461017 0.391.46 SA 1617 16341.35 0.94 FR 1530 SU 2058 1.310.76 2345 2222 1.47 2249 1.39 0207 0.75 0444 0.84 04581.22 0.52 08400422 1.330.49 1106 12070.40 1.56 14351126 0.361.57 SU 1724 SA 1651 MO 1740 0.92 2205 1.340.78 2344 1.42 2320 1.49 0307 0.83 0045 1.38 05460.82 0.44 09360523 1.290.40 0559 12571.21 1.67 15331228 0.331.68 MO 1208 18300.38 0.88 TU SU 1758 2317 1.390.77 1825

Time 0140 0357 0802 1110 SA 1400 1621 SU2128 2245 0233 0457 0859 1209 SU 1457 1729 MO2241 2341 0341 0550 1008 1302 MO 1608 1826 TU2356

17 17

22

17 17

18 18

33

18 18

19 19

44

0501 0.81 0032 1.29 1.48 19 1132 19 0638 0.35 1730 0.30 TU

0.78 1.23 TH 0.78 1.32

0.72 1.29 FR 0.81 1.34 0.64 1.39 SA 0.80 1.38

0420 0.86 0138 1.43 00350.76 1.46 0.54 10420015 1.281.51 0704 06301.24 0.37 1.51 16440616 0.33 0.29 1305 SU TU 13440.36 1.75 0.77 WE MO 1322 1.76 1918 1915 0.83 1852 0.75 0026 1.47 0222 1.47 0124 1.49 1.43 0103 1.53 0538 0.84 0757 0.69 0715 0.32 0.45 0703 0.29 1156 1.30 1356 MO TU 1411 1.81 WE TH 14291.28 1.79 1.62 0.240.72 2005 19590.34 0.79 0.75 17571939 0128 1.55 0300 1.51 0210 1.52 1.47 0147 1.54 0.760.28 0841 08000.62 0.30 0.38 06480748 1307 1.36 1441 TU WE 1455 1.81 TH FR 15131.32 1.81 1.70 0.180.71 2046 0.72 19032021 20430.33 0.75

WE 1350 1914 0101 0119 0621 0723 1251 WE 1433 TH1848 1958 0159 0202 0730 0805 1358 TH 1511 FR1953 2040 0250 0243 0828 0845 1458 FR 1545 SA2048 2119

1.50 0031 21 6 0115 0635 0.79 21 6 0635 SU 1240 1.29

66

21 21

77

22 22

8 8

0359 4 0000 1030 4 1639 MO 0556

16 16

20 20

7 7

Time 0113 0259 0741 1345 FR 1030 2105 MO 1534 2155 0158 0400 0829 1431 SA 1130 TU 1647 2201 2257 0250 0500 0924 1528 SU 1228 WE 1750 2301

11

55

MO 1325 1852 0.30 1908 0203 0114 1.55 0730 0712 0.73 1.30 MO 1330 1407 TU 0.28 1939 1947 0246 0155 1.58 0816 0749 0.68 1.33 TU 1415 WE 1447 2022 2026 0.27

m 0.72 0.45 1.34 1.59 0.30 0.90 1.36 1.47 0.79 0.40 1.30 1.66 0.30 0.88 1.36 1.47 0.83 0.37 1.27 1.72 0.31 0.85 1.41

16 16

0.78 1.21 WE 0.72 1.33

20 20

SA 1145 SU 1800

2019 2019 Local Time

POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA POINT – 144° VICTORIA LAT 38°LONSDALE 18’ S LONG 37’ E

Victorian Tide Times

22 22

02230229 1.631.53 0331 0337 0323 02551.54 1.53 23 23 07480830 0.660.30 8 8 0920 0921 23 0924 08450.55 0.3023 1409 1.43 1522 1.37 1553 FR SA

1.50 0.33 WE 1.75 0.70

TH 1535 1.78 20032101 0.150.70

SA 1556 1.79 2123 21270.34 0.71

SU 1618 2139 2159

1.75 0.81 1.48 1.49 0.72 0.35 1.36 1.76 0.26 0.78 1.56 1.49 0.59 0.37 1.45 1.74 0.24 0.75

1.62 1.48 0.45 0.40 1.55 1.71 0.24 0.73 1.66 1.46 0.33 0.45 1.61 1.68 0.26 0.71

1.60 1.51 03140309 1.691.51 0401 0420 0402 1.67 1.43 03411.56 1.53 9 0323 24 24 0859 0.63 0.30 08440911 0.540.35 9 9 0956 241010 9 0235 1000 0.23 0.51 09320.49 0.3424 0827

1.35 1.77 1.501.73 SASU 1601 WE 1458 TH 1505 1650 1.64 1.64 16391.40 1.75 SU MO1646 FR 1612 TH 1528 2102 2105 0.28 0.69 20582141 0.150.70 2157 2225 2236 0.31 0.70 22120.37 0.67

11

22

33

TH 1320 1844 0003 0057 0520 0648 1138 TU 1409 FR 1753 1933 0100 0150 0636 0740 1243 WE SA 1456 1855 2022 0146 0241 0733 0830 1339 TH 1541 SU 1945 2112

55 66 77

Local Time APRIL AUGUST Time Time m

m Time m m Time m 0036 0.65 0215 0.77 0.63 0430 04230846 0.38 1.22 0.54 06520.43 1.39 1.38 1.47 1146 11591439 1.57 0.54 12481.58 0.28 0.32 SA MO 0.99 0.91 1.29 19580.92 1.44 TH 17132210 1.37 TU 1658 FR 1.39 2311 1.40 2332 1.41 0118 0.71 0316 0.81 0.71 05300955 0.33 1.18 0.48 0526 07380.41 1.35 1.29 1256 1.64 0.61 1.56 1241 13331.61 0.30 0.39 SU TU 1543 0.81 1.28 0.98 SA 20590.88 1.39 FR 18152310 1.32 WE 1800 1.40 0209 0.76 0438 0.80 0.78 00381110 1.47 1.18 0.41 0005 08371.40 1.30 1.22 06301705 0.29 0.64 1.64 0616 14300.40 0.35 0.46 MO WE 0.93 22101.65 1.37 SA 1346 1.70 SU 1.29 TH 1330 1852 0.83 1912 0.70 0315 0.78 0008 1.30 0.82 0056 01360601 1.54 0.74 1.44 09531.42 1.28 1.18 0702 0.39 0726 0.28 1.23 0.34 1543 0.40 1220 0.50 TU TH 1.74 0.64 1.72 FR 1411 MO 23251.66 1.38 SU 14341822 1939 0.77 2004 0.59 0.87 0437 0.74 1.30 0058 1.34 0141 02310659 1.60 0.65 1.48 11231.43 1.31 0.82 0745 08191318 0.30 1.32 0.30 17100.40 0.42 1.17 WE FR 1.75 0.62 1.77 TU MO 15191919 0.50 SA 1446 1.67 2057 0.48 2021 0.73 0.79 1.33 0031 1.44 0140 1.39 0223 1.44 0325 1.62 1.53 0.76 0600 0.64 0742 0.56 0825 0.42 0910 0.35 0.28 1.21 1243 1.40 1407 1.42 TH SA 1.74 WE 1.79 SU 1519 1.66 TU 16002002 0.48 1833 0.41 2100 0.68 2147 0.40 0.60 0.71 1.38 01301.44 1.51 04190217 1.62 1.44 1.56 0302 0.67 07110.46 0.50 09590718 0.42 0.47 0.30 0901 1.27 13501.65 1.52 1349 FR SU 1642 1.70 1.52 1.79 1549 TH MO 1940 0.40 WE 0.45 1940 2236 0.35 0.58 0.64 2138 0.65

Time

m 0055 0.44 0730 1.52 1313 0.78 2043

16 16

11

0557 16 16 1303

17 17

22

0200 17 0037 0852 17 0645 1.36 0.42

18 18

33

18 18

19 19

44

19 19

20 20

55

20 20

21 21

66

21 21

22 22

77

22 22

TU 1832

m 0.73 1.33 0.46 1.41

0.72 1.32 WE 1425 0.55 1344 2153 1.55 1.41 1920 0.70 0322 0.67 0125 1021 1.39 1.38 0729 0.42 0.60 TH 1552 1417 2258 1.58 1.44 2000 0.64 0443 0.56 0207 1136 1.43 1.49 0807 1715 FR 0.44 0.60 1447 2356 1.59 1.49 2038 0.58 0548 0.43 0246 1241 1.46 1.61 0842 1822 0.46 SA 1.59 0.59 1516 2112 0.53 0048 1.54 0324 1.48 0643 0.32 0915 0.50 1339 1.72 SU 1545 1.58 2145 1915 0.49 0.58 0400 0136 1.48 1.57 0949 0731 0.54 0.24 MO 1430 1616 1.56 1.79 2002 2216 0.46 0.58 0440 0219 1.48 1.58 1024 0816 0.59 0.21 TU 1516 1648 1.53 1.80 2248 2045 0.43 0.58

02211.44 1.57 0225 1.57 1.43 05160153 1.59 1.48 230342 8 0752 8 0331 08080.51 0.36 8 1045 0817 0.35 0.5823 23 23 8 0936 0921 0.51 0.39 SA 1450 1.63 MO 1429 1.60 FR 1426 1.35

MO 1624 1.76 TU 1618 1.62 TH 1723 1.65 FR 20340.61 0.39 2028 0.57 0.44 2213 2201 23232015 0.33 0.58

03081.43 1.61 0259 1.56 1.48 06170229 1.55 1.51 0521 0300 1.47 240421 9 0826 24 9 0424 08590.56 0.25 9 1130 0855 0.42 0.5024 9 24 1010 0.61 0.34 1011 1100 0900 0.65 TU 1507 1.65 WE 1559 SA 1508 1.42 SU 1545 1.71

1.57 0.22 FR 1805 1.58 SA 1722 1.49 1.77 TU 1706 1.72 WE 1649 1.60 21230.58 0.41 2051 0.58 2320 2125 2104 0.51 0.44 2247 2252 0.42 0.60

1.61 1.51 04000347 1.711.47 0431 0501 03511.41 1.63 0330 1.53 1.51 0315 00100304 0.34 1.51 0608 0338 04291.56 1.51 0443 1.65 1.40 1.44 10 0356 25 25 250502 25 10 0521 0937 0.58 0.29 09360949 0.430.4010 1029 1057 09450.63 0.181010 0929 0.51 0.4325 10 25 10 25 0907 07180900 1.51 0.30 10190.44 0.4025 1034 0.18 0.57 10 1100 1045 1138 0941 0.72 1537 1.36 1600 1.54 1639 1.42 1738 1.63 1634 1.73 1545 1.67 1639 1546 1.48 TH

FR SA 1647 1.68 SUMO 1723 1.70 MO FR 1609 1.75 TU 1723 1.59 2139 2145 0.30 0.69 21492219 0.180.71 2230 2309 23000.40 0.64 2313 0.38 0.69

1.54 0.26 1217 0.71 SU 1759 1722 1.56 TH 1.44 1.71 MO SU 1749 1.67 TH SA WE WE 22070.56 0.44 2139 0.47 0.45 18512127 1.51 0.59 2356 2204 2342 2320 0.41 0.62

1.60 1.50 04450427 1.711.43 04311.40 1.61 0401 1.51 1.53 00590339 0.37 1.50 0701 0416 05211.55 1.48 0526 1.61 1.37 1.42 11 0427 26 26 260547 11 0627 11 0355 26 26 110502 260540 1015 0.54 0.31 10271027 0.340.4711 1100 10300.70 0.161111 1000 0.62 0.3726 1140 0947 08180934 1.47 0.28 11080.39 0.4826 1111 0.17 0.64 11 1148 1123 1220 1019 0.79 1717 1616 1.37 1652 1.55 1717 1.43 1721 1.71 1623 1.67 1624 1.53 1829 1.58 FR

SA SU 1722 1.61 MO TU 1808 1.64 TU SA 1650 1.71 WE 1758 1.55 2214 2225 0.33 0.69 22382258 0.240.72 2303 2350 23500.45 0.61 2351 0.46 0.67

1.49 0.32 0.79 MO 1841 1757 1.52 TH FR 1.39 1.64 MO SU 1306 TH 1833 1.61 FRTU 2243 0.65 22480.54 0.48 2212 0.47 19432203 1.43 0.61 2356

01520415 0.42 1.48 0039 0455 06241.53 1.45 0615 1.54 1.34 0032 0639 0.40 1.59 1.47 05270507 1.681.38 05101.39 1.57 0433 0.45 1.53 120533 270619 27 27 12 0437 27 12 0458 27 12 27 09181010 1.44 0.28 11590.36 0.5927 1149 0.19 0.72 12 0737 1203 0802 1058 1.40 1030 1050 0.51 0.35 11151103 0.280.5412 1131 11120.77 0.181212 1032 1.49 0.3327 1222 1403 0.87 1858 1.59 1835 1.50 1238 0.73 1835 1.47 1309 0.86 1735 1.65 1758 1.55

1.54 1757 1.43 SU 1.36 MO SA 1654 SU 1747 TUWE 2246 2307 0.38 0.69 23252337 0.330.73 2338 0.50

TH1920 1.51 WE

1.43 0.39 FR TU SA 1756 1.56 WE 1806 1.66 MO FR 1704 1.63 TU 1701 1.55 SA 20402241 1.37 0.64 1933 2321 1922 1.35 0.69 2328 0.53 2246 1.55 0.50

02530452 0.46 1.45 0131 0535 00451.49 0.58 0030 0.54 0.65 0126 0033 0.40 1.56 1.44 06070552 0506 0.45 1.51 1.631.33 05470.51 1.51 13 0525 28 130606 280031 28 28 13 0529 13 28 28 10191047 1.44 0.29 07410.33 1.4428 0714 1.47 1.34 13 0843 0737 0911 1134 1.39 1115 1124 0.48 0.41 1103 1.49 0.3028 0659 12021140 0.240.6113 1203 11511.39 0.231313 1512 0.90 1254 0.70 1233 0.81 1332 0.82 1249 0.85 1410 0.90 1823 1.58 1836 1.50

1.50 MO 1.35 MO 1845 TU SU 1733 2319 2354 0.44 0.69

1840 1.42 FR1303 0.25 TH WE TH 1951 1.54 1916 1.44 1.46 2012

1.37 0.46 SA 1739 1.55 SUTH 1850 1.58 TU SA 1748 1.58 WE SU 1837 1.48 WE 21432320 1.33 0.68 2038 1.32 2015 1918 1.42 2322 1.49 0.54

01450.57 0.55 0114 1.53 1.40 00100018 0.430.74 140015 14 0621 29 08571.44 1.46 29 0817 1205 14 0600 29 1157 0.46 0.50 06480645 1.561.2914 0641 FR 1355 0.80 SA 1324 TU 1917 1.52 WE 1220 0.70

04000534 0.47 1.41 0237 0001 0225 0116 0.40 0539 0.45 1.48 00070.49 0.58 14 29 29 11191129 1.45 0.33 0945 0840 1023 0620 1.42 14 29 1136 1.51 0.2829 06271.41 1.441414 WE 1628 0.90 TH 1525 0.89 SU 1435 0.90 MO 1343 0.92

02510.64 0.50 0202 1.48 0.68 00540104 0.530.74 150055 15 0048 30 10061.39 1.52 30 0924 0732 15 0635 30 1230 0.43 1.37 07300748 1.481.2715 0718 SA 1505 0.87 SU 1424 WE 1303 0.60 TH 1308 0.79

0328 0210 05010003 0.46 0.71 0354 0045 0.39 0614 0.44 1.44 00460.46 0.64 15 30 30 1047 0947 12150625 1.48 1.36 1130 0715 1.48 15 30 1210 1.54 0.2730 07071.44 1.361515 MO 1547 0.93 TU 1447 0.97 TH 1736 0.85 FR 1644 0.81

MO 1815 1.33 2354 0.50

TU 1248 0.24 TH 1236 0.31 20481.40 1.50 19451919 1.451.44 1929

TU 1902 1.32 WE 1333 0.27 FR 1315 0.30 21461.37 1.47 2017 1.48 20452007 1.401.41 2024 01400158 0.640.72 08160900 1.401.29 1405 FR 1421 0.310.87 TH 21442059 1.371.38

31 31

0.63 1.35 0.89 2004 1.42 0.59 1.40 0.96 2057 1.39

TH 1820 1.53 2113 2359 1.44 0.59

FR 1905 1.49 2212 1.41

FR 1230 0.30 2010 19341.38 1.49

SA 1309 0.38 2109 20211.36 1.41 0313 0.43 0128 0.71 1056 07521.50 1.29 1601 WE 13500.97 0.46 SU 2219 21131.37 1.34

31 31

0.73 1.30 SU 1837 1.51 MO 1214 0.55 2245 1.31 2156 1922 1.33 1.41

0.76 1.24 TU 1257 0.63 MO 1215 0.39 23451935 1.32 1.45 2316 2012 1.39 1.36 0511 0.35 1229 1.56 SA 1752 0.68

31

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia2018, 2018,Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00)orordaylight daylight savings savings time when in effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) time(UTC (UTC+11:00) +11:00) when in effect Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter LastLast Quarter New Moon First Quarter Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon 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.

108

June 2019

Yellowfin.

Crushes Everything We hand build every Yellowfin with a perfected and balanced layout so you get the ultimate ‘soft and dry’ ride. So we fly over waves, we don’t plough straight into them like a submarine!

We can only do that because our superstructure is superbly balanced and designed. And with 6mm bottomsheets we can take any landing.

With the sharp entry point of our Offshore HD hull and reverse chine design our captains always experience a predictable and stable journey.

‘Soft and Dry’. ‘Safe and Strong’. ‘Australian Made.’ Take your pick.

To find out more visit yellowfinplateboats.com.au To have your mind blown, visit your local Quintrex Yellowfin dealer.

YFFiSHingMTHlY 001

SPECIAL EDITION

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Stessco Skipper 449 with Yamaha F50hp 4-stroke - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

T

by Dunbier, the warranty is extended to two years.

Obviously, the Stessco guys recommend sitting these boats on these purpose-built trailers, and anyone who’s owned a boat for a long time will preach the benefits of having a trailer that’s actually built for the vessel it supports.

Walkthrough Before we dropped this rig in the water and pounded it through some Pumicestone Passage chop, I did the usual preliminary walkthrough to see what we were looking at. Even

specifications Length...................................................... 4620mm Beam ...................................................... 2100mm Depth......................................................... 925mm Bottom Sides................................................ 3mm Top Sides....................................................... 3mm Max hp............................................................... 50 Max transom weight....................................165kg Transom Height............................................... 20” Max people.......................................................... 4 Base boat hull weight..................................308kg 110

June 2019

though I am someone who fishes very specifically, this general boating and fishing rig really impressed me with little pieces of convenience that would add up to a more comfortable day on the water.

The transom was an open design, meaning access to tanks, fuel filters and batteries would be very easy, but despite being open it stayed very dry, even in the lumpy conditions we experienced later on.

The enormous splash well also helped to keep everything dry and comfortable for those sitting at the back of the boat.

There was a mountain of workspace behind the cockpit, which would be perfect for restless kids (or adults) waiting for their next bite, and a drop-in style bench seat in the rear of the work space is a great piece of ingenuity. A user can go from seating two people to four people comfortabley by just dropping this apparatus in; of course without it there is even more storage space behind the cockpit!

The high windscreen ensured the ride was incredibly dry, and neatly mounted electronics kept everything simple and clean.

The soft top bimini is just another way to make it more comfortable for those on-board, without complicating the design in any way, and definitely a

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Main: The smooth, dry ride was a huge plus in the Skipper, especially with a little chop around. Above: The F50hp delivered excellent economy and Yamaha’s trademark quietness.

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Stessco have always been a dominant name in the boating scene in Australia, and it’s easy to see why. Their range of hulls alone makes them stand out from the pack, and their applicationspecific designs really endear them to anglers.

What tends to be forgotten about is the fantastic range of runabouts for general boating and fishing that Stessco also produces, and when powered by a reliable engine and sat on a trailer from a trusted brand, they’re perfect for entrylevel boaters.

On this blustery autumn day in South East Queensland, we met up with the team from Stessco and Will Lee from Yamaha to test out a few boats, and here we will examine the 449 Skipper, powered by a Yamaha F50hp.

Some info The 449 is the second largest of the four boats in the Skipper series, and being a ‘standard’ or ‘entry-level’ boat within the Stessco range, it comes with a 12 month structural warranty. If the buyer chooses to sit it on one of the Stessco trailers built

plus when relaxing on a boat in the skin cancer capital of the world!

ON the water Climbing into the boat was easy, and users of all ages and abilities will appreciate having the luxury to enter this boat from both the rear by the platform via a ladder on the transom or by the split windscreen over the front.

On the water this boat performed exactly as promised: a dry and comfortable ride, with the smooth purr of a 4-stroke at the rear. Even in 10-15 knot southeasterly winds the ride never got uncomfortable, even with four adults aboard, three of whom were holding expensive camera gear!

As the performance statistics show, the economy you can get from the Yamaha’s F50hp is nothing short of exceptional, but as with most boats, WOT isn’t the best way to save on fuel. The sweet spot of 4,500rpm delivered great economy at 3.9km/L, and a comfortable speed of 37km/h,

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which would get you across any dam or bay in no time.

Needless to say, this rig could get offshore on the right day if fitted out correctly, however this boat is much more at home in sheltered waters like dams, bays, rivers and creeks. There are better boats for offshore fishing in the Stessco range.

FInal thoughts As I mentioned before, I look for boats designed for a specific purpose, but despite this bias, I really appreciated how simple and easy to use everything in this boat was.

Any entry-level boater would be looking for a boat/motor/ trailer package that is simple, comfortable and user-friendly, and the Skipper 449 ticks all these boxes.

With a price around the mid-$20K mark, this is another reason why the Skipper is the perfect way to get into boating.

For more info about any boats in the Stessco range, visit www.stessco.com.au, or go to Facebook or Instagram at ‘Stessco’.

Simple, but not unattractive. The 449 is a great-looking boat that isn’t going to strain your bank account too much.

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

SPECIAL EDITION

The 449 manages to provide an incredible amount of storage space without heaps of hatches, while still managing to keep everything dry for the most part.

The Yamaha F50hp is as economic as it is attractive.

A basic sounder mounted in a simple fashion was very much in tune with the rest of the boat.

A simple anchor well up the front is accessible, and uncomplicated, just like everything else in the boat.

The drop-in style bench seat was a great feature for this simple rig, and means it can go from seating two to four people very easily.

The 449 had no worries getting onto the plane, and even with four aboard and equipment, you could still cruise economically to your fishing/relaxation spot.

The battery box in the rear corner stayed dry, but was also within easy reach should anything need attention while out on the water.

Having the right trailer for the job can only be a good thing, and in this case, it doubles the structural warranty!

Once again, a simple transom makes for easy maintenance and entry to the boat without compromising the finish of the boat.

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Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

SPECIAL EDITION

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Haines Hunter 625 Offshore HT with 250HP Suzuki

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Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

We have done a number of Haines Hunter boat tests over the years at Fishing Monthly. I believe I have been present for all of them, but as a helper rather than the person putting the boat through its paces. So when Simon Ryan from Boats and More in Shepparton and Echuca said to me that he wanted to test a Haines Hunter 625 Offshore Hard Top they are going to have at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show, I knew it was going to be a good day.

Towing Most boat tests generally start at the boat ramp, but with Simon based in Shepparton and us wanting to do the test in Port Phillip Bay, this trip actually started with the drive from Shepparton to Altona to do the test. Boats and More matched the 625 Offshore to a Dunbier Alloy dual axle trailer. Simon explained that there were a number of reasons for this. The alloy style trailer to reduce the tow weight a little and the dual axle set-up to ensure effortless and safe towing of the package.

Being a country dealer, Simon explained that they are very mindful that many of the customers purchasing boats from them will travel many kilometres to their

Main: The light chop on Port Phillip Bay was never really going to test the capabilities of the 625 Offshore. It is capable of dealing with just about anything you can throw at it. Above: The 250hp APX Suzuki outboard was quiet, economical and had power to burn. fishing destination (saltwater or freshwater) so it is important that the trailer is a perfect match for the boat.

The trip to and from Shepparton certainly was hassle free and the addition of a stone guard at the front of the trailer to protect the hull during any travelling is a great touch.

Having the correct vehicle to tow the package is as important as the correct trailer. You will require a 4WD or larger vehicle to tow this package safely.

Launch and retrieve As impressive as the

specifications Overall Length..........................................6.40m Beam.........................................................2.40m Height.......................................................2.30m Weight (boat only)...................................1150kg Fuel Capacity.............................................270L Max hp......................................................230hp Max hp (tested)........................................250hp 112

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towing was, launching and retrieving the Haines Hunter was also done with relative ease. The ability to drive the boat on and off the trailer is a big plus and the ease in which a dual axle trailer can be manoeuvred makes it less likely you will have dramas at the boat ramp.

Launching and retrieving is all about having a system that works for you and Simon and Mark had it down pat.

They had the Offshore on the water in only a couple of minutes.

First and foremost a fishing boat I always like to talk about first impressions and the first thing you realise with the 625 Offshore is that it is a serious fishing boat, with the features to match. From the skipper’s seat back you have plenty of space for multiple anglers to fish from. There is a removable side door to get in and out

of the boat as well as bring your larger captures through.

The bait board is sturdy, the transom contains two live bait tanks and everything has a place and is accessible.

Lockable doors provide access to batteries, pumps, and so on, and ensures an uncluttered working area. A deck wash ensures if things do get a little bloody you can just hose it off and let the self-draining deck do the rest.

Looking forward from the skipper’s seat, there is ample space to flush mount your electronics and have radios and more up and out of the way.

The seating is comfortable and can be turned around so you can have a full view of the rear of the vessel. Speaking of views, there is a good 360° view from the skipper’s seat.

The cabin forward isn’t overly large, but provides good storage for your gear and somewhere to retreat to

while the fishing is slow or you are at rest.

Above the decks is a sturdy hard top with rocket launchers for your excess fishing rods.

The safety rail forward ensures anytime you need to venture to the forward deck you can do it in relative safety.

As Simon said to me, if you want to go well offshore this boat is capable of it.

Ride and handling The small chop on the testing day was never going to truly test the Haines Hunter 625 Offshore. It did however give you an idea of how well the Haines hull will deal with anything thrown at it. The advantage of a fibreglass hull is how softly it handles chop and swell. It was obvious on the day that driven correctly the 625 would deal with most conditions and get you home safely.

Suzuki 250hp 4-stroke The Haines Hunter 625 Offshore has a standard maximum horsepower rating of 230hp. Boats and More had the transom upgraded on the test boat to 250hp.

The added power making it even more suitable for those offshore exploits.

The Suzuki 250hp APX on it was certainly impressive. It

was very quiet and pushed the boat to a maximum speed of 70km/h. As you can imagine, the economy wasn’t fantastic at that speed, but drop it back to 48km/h (3750rpm) and your economy was a very respectable 1.4km/L of fuel burned providing a great range of travel for a days fishing.

Final observations It’s hard not to be impressed by what the 625 Offshore has to offer and the way that the team at Boats and More had set it up. It towed well, it is serious offshore boat, with a motor that is reliable and offers great economy for its size. It screams fishing but has enough creature comforts for the family to enjoy as well.

The extras that Boats and More included like the stone guard on the trailer and the Turbo Swing around the motor (gives you the option to ski behind the boat) further enhances the versatility of the package.

To find out more about this and all the other Haines Hunter packages available you can contact either the Shepparton or Echuca Boats and More stores, go to their website www.boatsandmore.com.au or come and go and see them at the Melbourne Boat Show.

The 625 Offshore HT package is beautifully stable at rest.

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

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Launching and retrieving is made easier by being able to drive the boat on and off the trailer.

The hard top on the package is solidly built and has plenty of areas to hang on to as well as to put radios and other gadgets.

Above Left & Right: The dash has plenty of space to flush mount all of your electronics and can be easily looked at while you are driving.

SPECIAL EDITION

There are no dramas seeing where you’re going from the skipper’s seat.

Left: Both seats can be turned to face the rear so you can see all your rods while fishing. Right: Boats and More added a Turbo Swing to the package. This allows you to tie a towrope on it and do a bit of skiing behind the Haines.

The removable side door allows easy access on and off the boat as well as the ability to bring those larger fish on-board while on the water.

There is no questioning the fishing space of the 625 Offshore package.

Above top:Everything has a place in the Haines.

A side pocket holds the deck wash and is somewhere to put some of those essentials out of the way but within arms reach.

Above lower: Access to batteries and pumps is simple. There are no tripping hazards to worry about.

There are two live bait tanks and a large kill tank in the 625 Offshore.

A custom stone guard was added to the trailer to avoid damage during travel.

The forward cabin isn’t overly large but provides plenty of storage and a comfortable place to relax and chill out.

The dual axle Dunbier Alloy Series trailer is perfectly matched to the Haines package and is ideally suited to get your pride and joy safely from A to B and back.

There is plenty of rocket launcher rod storage on the hard top of the 625 Offshore.

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SPECIAL EDITION

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Campion Explorer 632 with 200HP Mercury V6 - SC

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Steve Morgan

RPM......Speed (km/h)............Economy (km/L) Idle...........................5.................................. 2.6 1000..........................8.................................. 1.9 2000........................ 14.................................. 1.2 3000........................ 32.................................. 2.0 3500........................ 46.................................. 2.1 4000........................ 53.................................. 1.7 5000........................ 68.................................. 1.3 5600........................ 80.................................. 1.2

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

I’ll admit it, I had to Google Campion boats when this test was scheduled. I thought it was a Champion with a spelling error. But once I got sucked down the rabbit hole of research, I found out that these boats were a lot more than a spelling mistake.

Let me introduce Campion boats to you.

They’re Canadian built and brought into Victoria by Crawford Marine’s Terry Raymond. Terry’s been in the business a long time and isn’t quick to jump into a brand before doing his research, and he’s liking the results.

A quality build, Campion is Canada’s largest independent boat builder and makes a range of boats from wake boats through to family and fishing boats. To Fishing Monthly readers, the Explorer range will be of most interest. Trailerable SPECIFICATIONS Length (max)......7.31m Beam.................. 2.34m Hull weight..... 1,120kg Max HP.................. 300 Fuel...................... 220L Transom Deadrise.19° Capacity...... 7 persons 114

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Main: The brand is Campion (not Champion) and it’s a beautifully built Canadian boat that will be right at home in Australian waters. Above: The Campions I have been in have all featured high gunwales and quality fittings. fishing boats between justunder 5m to over 8m that are a nice balance between comfort and practicality.

This test, we got to take a 632 Campion Explorer Sport Utility for a spin.

The Canadian boat was powered by a Wisconsin, USA built Mercury 200hp, 3.4L naturally aspirated V6 4-stroke and was cradled on a locally-built Dunbier dual axle trailer.

Terry’s literally brought this craft together from all parts of the world.

It wasn’t hard to detect the excitement in this veteran boat dealer’s voice, these boats were straight out of the

container and it was just days since the rig was assembled.

Admittedly, my first impressions were pretty good as well.

Usually, when I test a rig that sports 100hp less than the maximum allowed, hole shot can’t be described as spectacular. Testament to the mid range torque of the new Mercury V6, this rig jumped onto the plane and still pushed you back in the seat when you’re tired of the most economical speed.

The seemingly smaller horsepower didn’t really dent top end performance, with 5,600 RPM yielding 80km/h at a thirsty-ish 1.2km/L. Back

the stick back to 3,500rpm, however, and you’ll get 2.1km/L at 48km/h. Couple this with a 220L tank and there’s a theoretical range of well over 400km for your weekend adventures.

For me, this boat is about halfway between serious fishing and family comfort, and right in the range of what many of us need to get the deal across the line with the rest of the family.

Small comforts like tables, lockable cabins and wet-wells for your gear are easily transformed into a snapper-ready craft and well suited to venturing offshore Lakes Entrance, where we

rode in this boat.

Serious anglers will probably want more flush mounted sounder mounting space, but then again, a 16” Simrad doesn’t get the kids across the line, the cushions and transom door does.

Also, most people buying this boat would install an

anchor winch up front.

Packages with the 632 Campion Explorer Sport Utility start from around $90,000.

Visit www. crawfordmarine.com.au for more details or drop into their yard at Morwell to say g’day to Terry and the team and see one in the flesh.

The test rig was fitted with a 200hp 3.4L V6 Mercury 4-stroke. These engines have become easier to get in recent months and the demand for them has been massive.

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

There’s no doubt that this rig will turn heads at the local ramp. Mercury’s angular and minimalist design complements the Campion’s lines well.

SPECIAL EDITION

Campion’s Apex hull flattens out to 19° at the transom.

A boat this size needs electric braking systems and a decent tow vehicle with a 3.0t or greater towing capacity.

A steep angle at the bow tapers off to a 19° transom deadrise, a feature of Campion’s Apex hull.

Small luxuries like a transom door make it easier to load the family on board after a tube or swim.

Set-up for a relaxing day on the water with the spigot-mounted table fitted. Transformed for fishing, this gear can be locked in the cabin for’ard.

The cabin door is lockable for road trips, too.

Above Left: There’s plenty of space in the cabin for stretching out, especially with the infill fitted.

Above Middle: The helm looks great, but only flush mounts moderate-sized electronics.

The small compartment to the lower left of the wheel is great for wallet, keys and other items that are better undercover than out of it. Above Right: Some boat companies fit a portable cooler under the seats, but the Campion features a built in multi purpose compartment.

Initial impressions were a little critical of the new Mercury’s looks, but a year down the track and nobody admits to that any more. In fact, the older models now seem dated in comparison.

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SPECIAL EDITION

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

Yellowfin re-launched as Yellowfin Plate Boats

Big news in the plate aluminium boat market is that Yellowfin Boats, launched 35 years ago as part of the Quintrex family, has just re-launched as Yellowfin Plate boats.

Constructed by a team of 17 handpicked welders on the Gold Coast in Queensland, the re-launch coincides with the increase in range, from the 10 models available previously to 24 boats available now.

Early in May, Australia’s marine journalists got to experience first-hand these new Yellowfin Plate boats, but before that,

With their dedicated “ Yellowfin Plate team,

over 100 hours of welding goes into each craft and the YF team take real pride in their work.

“

Fishing Monthly grabbed Victoria’s two biggest Yellowfin dealers for a test and preview day.

Influenced by commercial captains, Yellowfin Plate boats are equipped with necessities for fishing. But for those who prefer the comforts of boating can option up to a Platinum pack with the options that are favoured by most customers.

The team at YF believe the finer details are what matter most. Through detailed market research, Yellowfin Plate has identified an extensive list of ‘one percenters’ that elevate the finish and seriously enhance fishability.

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Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE

BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

SPECIAL EDITION

Hand built by the best, for the best anglers, Yellowfin Plate boats are manufactured in a purpose-built plate boat factory with over 100 hours of welding in each boat by 17 skilled specialists. Far from mass-produced.

Tested tough by eight full time naval research and development professionals, these boats are designed for serious anglers.

But what did our Victorian dealers, Mark Stav from JV Marine and Sean Savage from Streaker Marine think (you can also watch a video of the day by scanning the QR code on the page hereby).

“Once you’ve had a few boats you can really appreciate top end quality,” Savage said after his first ride in the Yellowfin Plate, “and with an eye for detail, you can really see what they have put into these boats.”

On the water, the quietness on the ride was apparent.

“I’ve been a Yellowfin dealer for over 10 years now. Originally I had 10 models to choose from but now I have 24 models to choose from, starting with the rear console, the centre console, the new centre cab, folding hard top, Southerner and soft top

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Scan the QR code to watch

National Sales Manager Drew Jackson takes Steve Morgan through the new Yellowfin Plate range.

Scan the QR code to watch

Victorian Yellowfin Plate dealers JV Marine and Streaker Marine provide their feedback on the new range. range,” added Mark Stav, “and there’s definitely going to be a model to suit you.”

With so many versions of the boats available, the chances that there’s a model to suit your needs is vastly improved.

“One thing that stands out is their Marine Core construction. When you look at how these hulls are built and over engineered, you can understand why they ride so soft, with full foam filled flotation, nice and safe, you really can’t beat it,” said Savage.

With their dedicated Yellowfin Plate team, over 100 hours of welding goes into each craft and the YF team take real pride in their work.

“Yellowfin Plate have an Offshore HD hull. The smaller model has a 4mm (aluminium plate) bottom and a 4mm side, while the four larger models have a 6mm bottom and a 4mm side, giving you a soft, stable and dry ride in all offshore conditions,” said Mark.

Of course, that’s what most purchasers ask about their plate aluminium boat, ‘what’s the thickness of the materials?’

“The thing that sets Yellowfin Plate boats apart from its competitors are the one percenters. They do things that are a little bit special and unique to their boats. They way their paint is done, the way that everywhere you look in the boat, you can see that there’s been a lot of thought put in. You can really appreciate the craftsmanship that’s gone into it,” Savage concluded.

Yellowfin Plate National Sales Manager Drew Jackson agreed.

“We’ve done a lot of research over the last 12-18 months and we have really concentrated on this segment of the market, we’ve spoken to our dealer customers and also end users at boat shows to pinpoint key areas, like quality of finish, the one percenters that we call them that make a difference,” he said.

The hulls range in length from 5.8-7.6m.

You can see the full range at www. yellowfinplateboats.com.au. - Steve Morgan June 2019

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SPECIAL EDITION

Melbourne BOAT SHOW FEATURE BIGGER.BETTER.BOATIER.

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

New Whittley boat to launch at Melbourne Boat Show • • • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • •

New look $69,990 outboard powered Whittley SL 20, set for 2019 Melbourne Boat Show launch, with hard top option!

Whittley Marine, Victoria’s premier production boat builder since 1953, is set to release the new SL 20 OB model available from $69,990 at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show, with an innovative new Coast Tourer Edition hard top option also available.

The new release also features a larger rear fish and work deck area, to maximize usable cockpit space for anglers. The new release will be on display at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 13-16 June on the Whittley Marine stand, number D4.

The new concept and price point were born from social media and customer feedback, customers wanted a Yamaha outboard powered version of the Whittley brands, SL series of offshore performance hulls. Combined with a full-length screen and fiberglass moulded hard top and sliding lockable cabin door options.

With hard top models previously starting at the series SL 25 model. The new rear wet deck area, lockable cabin door, outboard powered package option is a first in the market from a local Australian boat builder.

Genevie Whittley, sales assistant at Whittley Marine, had this to say about the exciting new model announcement. “Whittley have received feedback from our past, future and existing customers asking for a smaller hard top outboard powered SL model. We are thrilled to be able to move with market trends and offer potential customers what

they were looking for and requesting, and at an exceptional price point. For the first time, consumers have this new style and concept of boat available in a locally built version, designed around our unique needs in a boat, which differ from the larger mass produced boats built for global markets.”

The new model is the first to be developed at Whittley’s new 5,500sqm purpose-built boat building and sales facility located in Melbourne, with the R&D department in full swing with five new Whittley models planned for release over the next two years. Developed and built in Australia, the SL 20, was based purely on customer input and feedback.

“The new SL 20 OB package, can be optioned up to suit customers budgets and applications, with attractive pricing of the soft top model available starting from $69,990 and the hard top Coast Tourer Edition available starting from $79,490, with a further lockable sliding cabin door option available for customers to select as well.

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Factory rigged to be powered by a Yamaha F130 four-stroke and packaged on a dual axle Mackay trailer. Whittley has a strong history of working with its key partners to offer affordable and attractively priced unique boat packages to the market, offering turn key packages from the factory and this is shown again with the new SL 20 OB release.” Ms Whittley said.

The new SL 20 OB, offers consumers the option to easily set their package up as an offshore weapon, or a family overnighter or both, this is a unique benefit of the SL series. This boat shouts adventure and endless

memories, without conventional fishing boat confines. Coupled with the convenience and maintenance free nature of a Yamaha Outboard, consumers can expect a lower cost of ownership, ensuring more time can be spent on the water for less in a boat that doesn’t have limits or compromises in its many applications.

Ms Whittley continued to say that, “As with all the SL series by Whittley, end users get more than just a blood and guts fishing boat, with the ability to overnight on the vessel comfortably due to many of Whittley’s traditional cruiser appointments as standard.

Without compromising on the boat’s sea going capabilities, all SL models feature one of the industries deepest vee, standard at a 23° deadrise, ideally matched to the power offered from a premium Yamaha four-stroke outboard.”

Not only has the new SL 20 OB model been released with the hard top and sliding lockable cabin door options. The rear fishing area has also evolved with a new flat back rear transom offered, to maximize the usable rear fishing area of the boat, which has previously been taken up by the engine bonnet on stern drive models. Combined with standard premium rear rubber flooring and standard twin fish boxes (doubling as a seat) the rear work area is designed to cater for the most serious of fisher’s needs.

Ms Whittley finished by saying, “We encourage all new boat buyers to consider this new SL 20 OB model offering from Whittley.

It’s the boats crossover ability, designed for

many different applications, that makes it so unique. With the hull having won a Boat of the Year title, we believe the new release SL 20 OB builds on its award-winning legacy, but with these new features only elevating it to new sportfishing boat heights. Offering a unique fisher/cruiser hybrid packages to the market.”

Whittley Marine, will have on display over 25 new Whittley fiberglass boats and clearwater alloy boats, powered by Yamaha Outboards and Volvo Penta Stern Drives at stand D4 at the 2019 Melbourne Boat Show from 13-16 June at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, with fantastic four day boat show deals available across the entire Whittley range. Reviews by the boating media and critics of the new SL 20 OB Coast Tourer Edition model will be available at the Boat Show.

SPECIFICATIONS SL 20 (OB) Technical Specifications Max people.......................................... 6 Overall length.............................. 6.37m Length on trailer.........................7.50m* Height on trailer...2.20m* (windscreen) Width on trailer........................... 2.40m Beam............................................ 2.40m Deadrise (at transom).....................23° Fuel capacity................................. 210L Water capacity................................ N/A Weight.............1,700kg (approximately) Standard engine............. Yamaha F130 Maximum horsepower.............. 150hp About Whittley Marine Whittley Marine is a third-generation Australian boat-builder based in Melbourne.

This family-owned and operated company has focused its resources on providing highquality boats to boating families since 1953.

A marine industry innovator, Whittley’s award-winning range of family cruisers and fishing boats truly offer “a boat for all seasons” – versatile boating solutions that can be enjoyed all year round.

For further information or to arrange a personal factory tour, contact: Alan Whittley, Director of Sales and Marketing, Whittley Marine Group, +61 421 170 192 or via alan@ whittley.com.au. For additional information about Whittley Marine’s class leading range of fiberglass boats visit www.whittleymarinegroup. com.au. – Whittley Marine

MELBOURNE BOAT SHOW

NEW MODEL RELEASES FROM

SEE US ON STAND NUMBER D4 KEY NEW MODEL FEATURES:

• Rear wet deck area • Lockable cabin door • Yamaha outboard powered • Full length winscreen • Fiberglass hard top • Overnight appointments

THREE NEW MODEL YAMAHA OUTBOARD POWERED HARDTOP SL MODEL DEBUTES

SL 20 OB

• Hard top • Yamaha F 130 • Mackay trailer Starting from $79,490

Call Alan Whittley direct on 0421 170 192 to discuss your fishing boat needs or to arrange a private factory tour.

Proudly designed and built in Victoria, for unique Victorian boating conditions.

MAKING MEMORIES SINCE 1953 June 2019

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UNBEATABLE 150hp FourStroke

The Mercury 150hp FourStroke is the largest displacement and lowest weight outboard in its class. The perfect partner for powering trailer boats.

UNEXPECTEDLY COMPACT MERCURY

HONDA

YAMAHA

DISPLACEMENT COMPARISON SUZUKI

3000

2500

3000cc

206kg 217kg

2867cc

2000

223kg

2670cc 2354cc

232kg MERCURY

THE MERCURY 150HP FOURSTROKE COMES IN AT AN INCREDIBLY LIGHT 206KG* MAKING IT THE LIGHTEST IN ITS HORSEPOWER CLASS.

YAMAHA

HONDA

THE MERCURY 150HP FOURSTROKE IS THE LARGEST DISPLACEMENT, HELPING OUT GUN OTHER 4-STROKES IN THE CATEGORY.

*Based on Mercury’s 150hp (L) model. Information based on all manufacturers’ claimed horsepower and weight figures.

mercurymarine.com.au

SUZUKI