Vic/Tas Fishing Monthly September 2017

TROUT SEASON OPENING • 2017 BEST PRODUCT AWARDS

Boating & kayaking Kayaking Elingamite • Deeper Wifi Sonar Pro+ • Part II: Trailer bearing maintenance • Heading offshore with Jason Milne • Aquayak Scout • Northbank 750HT • Haines Hunter 565R •

Features Victoria’s trout hotspots • Toolondo Reservoir trout fishery • 2017 Best New Product awards • Early season snapper techniques • Wild River Bass 3 review •

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Techniques Lure Making: Doc’s Shallow Minnow • How to tie a marabou Deceiver jig •

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September 2017, Vol. 12 No. 11

Contents WEST COAST West Coast

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Portland 18 Warrnambool 19 Cobden 19 Apollo Bay

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CENTRAL Geelong 22 Port Phillip West

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Port Phillip North East

26

Port Phillip North

28

Mornington Peninsula

29

Western Port North

30

Western Port South

31

Phillip Island

32

EAST COAST Gippsland Lakes

40

Marlo 40 Lakes Entrance

41

McLoughlins Beach

42

Bemm River

43

NSW SOUTH COAST Eden 44 Mallacoota 44 Bermagui 45 Narooma 46 Merimbula 47

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER

From the Editor’s Desk...

AFTA GETS THE THUMBS UP! We always love the September issues of Fishing Monthly. It’s like Christmas a few months early.

Why? Because we’ve all been to the latest AFTA (Australian Fishing Trades Association) Trade Show on the Gold Coast and been exposed to the latest and greatest fishing tackle that’s either been launched at the show or has made the journey from overseas and earlier launches at the American ICAST show or the European EFTTEX Show.

What sucks for the general fishing population is that these shows aren’t open to the public. Luckily, the media gets to come along and document the latest gear to present to you. With launch dates varying from ‘immediately’ through to ‘close to Christmas’, not

everything your read about in the ATFA Special inside this magazine will be available straight away.

Within the slew of new products launched, nearly 300 get entered into the 19 divisions of ‘Best-of-Show’ at the AFTA Show. Best of Show trophies are awarded to the products that get the most votes from retailers who attend the show.

There are strict rules and every store only gets to vote once.

Distributors of the products aren’t even allowed into the Best of Show precinct until after the trophies have been awarded at the Gala Dinner.

It’s serious business.

We’ve collated all of the Best of Show winners on the pages inside.

What we’ve also done are some awards of our own.

While presenting products on our multiple TackleJunkie LIVE shows that we broadcast during the event, there were some products that made us

(that being Simon Goldsmith and I) feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Those products got a ‘Thumbs-up’ trophy for their efforts.

Totally subjective, we know, but sometimes the media’s perspective is different from the retailers who vote on the AFTA awards. It’s all a bit of fun, but we have collated the Thumbs-up products inside the AFTA feature as well.

All up, there’s 12-pages of cool new stuff that we’ve distilled down from the entire show. It’s a tough gig - we know that - but somebody has to put in the hard yards for the readers.

We hope you enjoy the feature and get inspired for some new additions to the tackle collection for this season.

MORE WATER FOR TOOLONDO Great news for Toolondo – as reported by Victorian Fisheries.

“Last week, the lake began receiving 5,000ML of water from Rocklands Reservoir. The water will secure the trophy trout and redfin fishery, which is one of the state’s most iconic.

It will add about 50cm to the lake’s water level and flood new ground in time for a productivity boom in springtime,” the release said.

“Toolondo’s 2017 stocking plan includes 7,000 brown trout yearlings and 3,000 rainbow trout, and more trout stocking is likely given this fantastic news.

The top up is also in line with the State Government’s Water for Victoria plan which recognises the importance of water for recreational purposes, including fishing.”

Given the angst this lake has caused in the past, it’s a great outcome for recreational anglers. Kudos to Victorian Fisheries for their foresight.

Horsham 66 Ballarat 67 Robinvale 68 Mildura 68 Yarrawonga 69 Wangaratta 70 Shepparton 71 Jindabyne 72

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Track My Fish

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SPECIAL FEATURES Victoria’s trout hotspots

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Trout

Victoria’s trout hotspots to try this September GEELONG

Colby Lesko

The cold weather has started dissipate, and the trout are starting to fire as they feed up after

some great populations of self-sustaining brown and rainbow trout. Starting from the upper Yarra, to the upper reaches of the Goulburn basin, all the way to the upper Ovens and King rivers, then all the way over

Walking the upper Ovens, Nariel and Goulburn rivers flicking small spinners is my favourite way to tangle with these river fish.

CRATER LAKES Bullen Merri and Purrumbete are undoubtedly

A brown trout taken on a Rapala Floating lure in the rapids.

Many of Victoria’s stocked lakes are now fishing great for 1kg rainbow trout. breeding. This makes for some exciting fishing.

This season is shaping up to be a cracker on the trout front, and with many locations set to fire I can’t help wanting to share a few of my favorite

to the Nariel and upper Murray basin, there are wild populations of trout.

It’s just a matter of finding a clear flowing stretch of water in these systems and trying your luck. What the fish lack

some of the biggest names in Victorian trout fishing and for good reason. Large trout are caught in these lakes regularly. Purrumbete was a consistent producer of 4kg+ brown trout last year and if the same class

A Lake Bullen Merri rainbow trout.

A Hopkins River brown trout taken on a hardbody lure. locations across Victoria that I’ll be spending some time this trout season.

NORTHEAST RIVERS There is a plethora of high country rivers in the states northeast that hold 8

SEPTEMBER 2017

in size they make up for in their willingness to eat a small lure or fly; this makes for some exciting angling.

Just before and after the closed season are ideal times to target these rivers.

of browns poke their heads up in spring again this year, it will make for some of the largest brown trout angling seen here in Victoria. This is exciting for anglers looking to crack

There are plenty of trout this size on offer over the cooler months.

Trout the magical 10lb mark, as many did last season at Purrumbete.

These browns are

smart, so don’t expect to catch them regularly. If you do manage to snag one, it will make all the

donut sessions worthwhile.

Casting minnow pattern hardbodies or plastics at feeding fish on early

mornings or late afternoons is most effective, however trolling is also worth a shot.

Lake Bullen Merri is set to produce some fat rainbow trout and Chinook salmon with the best results coming from trolling the lakes

West rivers will have some of the closed season laws lifted, allowing year-round trout fishing to occur on these great rivers. The rivers show very minimal if any natural breeding of trout and rely on the yearly

breeding phase.

I am personally stoked about this decision as it means I can now target my local rivers during the peak trout season. This will make for some great fishing and mean that the fish that

A Central Highlands brown trout caught at Tullaroop Reservoir.

The South West Victorian rivers are home to some cracking brown trout.

edges or on a downrigger.

SOUTH WEST RIVERS At the moment it looks like we are set for the first season in history where Victoria’s South

stockings by fisheries to sustain their populations.

It makes perfect sense that if the trout aren’t breeding, they don’t need to be protected over a

are stocked in the rivers to be caught can be caught!

This hasn’t been formally announced by Fisheries Victoria, so I eagerly To page 10

SEPTEMBER 2017

9

Trout From page 9

await the media release explaining these new rules that should be just around the corner! When referring to the South West Rivers I’m talking about that of the Hopkins, Merri and Moyne rivers.

These rivers are widely known for holding great numbers of brown trout, and with average size up around 1.5-2kg with a big one being over 3kg, they are some of the best quality river fish Victoria has to offer. Walking the banks of these rivers casting soft plastics of minnow style divers in the deep pools produces most fish during periods of clear water.

While during periods of increased flow and dirty water, targeting the runs with floating minnows is effective, as the fish move into the runs looking for food. Flyfishing these rivers is also effective with stick caddis and shrimp pattern flies during periods of clear water.

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS LAKES Moorabool reservoir, Lake Wendouree and Tullaroop Reservoir are my picks when it comes to the Ballarat district lakes, but it really is just personal preference, as Newlyns, Hepburn Lagoon, Bostock

An average-size brown trout from a South West river. and many others are also great fisheries. These lakes come alive over winter as the fish patrol the edges smelting on minnows and eating mudeyes. These lakes are known to hold

some thumping big trout and fish over the 3kg mark are common.

Fooling these big fish can be tricky at the best of times. The best results come from casting lures

such as hardbody minnows, soft plastics or Tassie Devils, while mudeyes under bubble floats will bring the best results for bait fishers. Try fishing a section of water that has

some depth and is in close proximity of shallow flats or weed beds, as the fish often patrol these edges.

WESTERN LAKES Following the wet winter of 2016, many of our state’s rivers and lakes are looking as healthy as ever for spring. The rain filled many of the lakes to near capacity and the freshly-flooded ground provided plenty of food and habitat for the recently stocked trout of 2016 and 2017. This is perfect news for the Victorian trout angler and means there will be plenty of lakes and rivers with high levels of water just bursting with fat, angry stocked browns and rainbows.

Combine these fish with the bigger resident trout that were stocked in previous years before the rain and we are set for a bumper season that should resemble the great fishing we had in 2012, following the 2010-11 droughtbreaking rains. Those trips to Tooliorook, Toolondo, Deep Lake and Lake Bolac produced some of the best trout fishing I can recall. The great news is that these lakes and many others in the state’s west are now back on the map after rain and stockings from Fisheries Victoria.

The hard part will be picking which one will fire for the coming season, but the only way to find out will be to get out there and give them a try!

As with the majority of trout fishing, a light 1-4kg spin rod matched with a 2500 spin reel will be perfect for all these locations. A tackle box with an array of lures is also ideal. A mixture of spoons, divers, soft plastics, spinners and winged lures is great. Having an array of lures will help you find what the fish are feeding on, as some days they follow one lure to the bank, but eat another.

If you do find yourself getting follows from trout, try a couple different lures, find what’s working and stick with that. Spool your spin combo with 6-10lb braid as a main line and an 8-12lb leader, and this will put you in with the best chance of landing those big brown trout.

That’s my wrap-up for this trout season and some of the hotspots I will be having a fish at over the next few months.

Each location has its own strong points and all are worth a shot this year!

Hopefully they produce great fishing and I’ll see you on the water.

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Science meets fishing

Toolondo Reservoir -- one tough trout fishery GEELONG

Ross Winstanley

In the post-Millennium Drought period since 2010, no Victorian impoundment has attracted more scrutiny by anglers and been the subject of more fishingrelated political attention than Toolondo Reservoir.

While the struggle to maintain enough water to sustain the fishery is sure to continue, Fisheries Victoria and anglers have moved on from the days of tense annual stocking discussions to a truly collaborative management approach.

Two weeks before the 2014 Victorian election, Opposition Leader Daniel

destination for Wimmera anglers. In 1929 it was stocked with redfin and, ever since, has been regarded as one of Victoria’s prime redfin fisheries. From the 1980s, during 18 years of netting surveys across the state, Toolondo consistently produced the biggest redfin, some reaching 2.5kg.

In 1953 Barton Swamp was established as an off-river storage basin as part of the Wimmera-Mallee water supply system, becoming known as Toolondo Reservoir.

It continued as a redfin, tench and yabby water until 1965 when 26,880 rainbow trout were stocked; this was the first recognition of its potential as a sport fishery.

After the reservoir

Horsham Angling Club members like Gary Knight helped Fisheries Victoria get the Toolondo trout fishery established.

Andrews announced that Labor would take action to maintain Lake Toolondo as Victoria’s best trout fishing location. That was a big call.

Never before was there such a promise to maintain a trout fishery in a water-challenged region of Victoria where domestic and farming needs have long taken precedence over fishing.

THE EMERGENCE OF TOOLONDO RESERVOIR As early as 1889, Barton Swamp was earmarked for development as a key part of the Glenelg water storage and distribution network for the Wimmera region. Since then, while its importance to Wimmera water supplies increased, then declined, tensions between water management and recreational fisheries interests have intensified.

At times early in the 20th century, Barton Swamp was full enough to warrant consideration as a fishing 12

SEPTEMBER 2017

construction was completed it took 27 years – until 1980 – before Fisheries Victoria began to look at Toolondo’s serious potential as a stocked fishery. At the time, Fisheries Victoria were looking to expand Chinook salmon fisheries beyond lakes Purrumbete and Bullen Merri. On a departmental netting survey mission, Alan Baxter noticed this promising water on his way to Lake Wallace, Edenhope.

His preliminary survey of Toolondo found small numbers of brown trout of up to 4kg, which had evidently travelled through the channel system from Rocklands Reservoir and flourished in their new environment.

This prompted the release of 15,000 Chinook salmon into Toolondo in 1980. While this proved to be a one-off, it fixed Toolondo on the salmonid stocking radar. With the water level consistently close to Toolondo’s maximum capacity (106.5 gigalitres)

Toolondo Reservoir is Victoria’s premier trout fishery with quality trout like this. since 1975, the department began annual stocking with brown trout in 1982, adding rainbow trout in 1987.

That’s when the fun really began, in terms of both fishing results and vigorous annual debating between Fisheries Victoria and Wimmera anglers on which species and what numbers should be released annually.

THE STOCKING FORMULA Initially, Fisheries Victoria stuck to a proven formula of standard annual releases averaging, in this case, 40,000 brown trout for four years and regular monitoring before reviewing the fishery performance with local anglers. While brown trout proved successful and popular, some anglers were keen for the addition of rainbow trout.

Despite rainbow trout’s greater tendency to escape into the channel system, the department agreed to a threeyear trial stocking of a 50:50 mix of browns and rainbows.

In 1989 the regime returned to focus mainly on the browns for which Toolondo was becoming famous as a trophy fishery.

LOW-LEVEL POLITICKING By this stage, Toolondo had moved well past being a parochial fishing favourite among Wimmera anglers and began to be considered as a world-class brown trout lake fishery. Despite this, of all the annual fish stocking meetings Fisheries Victoria held with regional angling groups across Victoria, consultations with Wimmera anglers focusing on Toolondo were the most intense.

Anglers’ diverse views on the species mix and overall numbers to be stocked often led to animated discussions and occasional appeals to fisheries ministers and directors. As a result, this fishery was subject to a succession of structured trials, backed by creel and netting surveys to ground-truth the state of the

trout fishery and populations.

In fact, netting surveys of the Toolondo fish populations began in 1980 – two years before annual trout stocking began – and continued almost every year until 2001 making Toolondo the most regularly and intensively monitored fishery in Victoria.

Wimmera anglers’ commitment to the improvement of the fishery was typified by their willingness to record standard catch and fishing effort details of each fishing trip. This information was integral to the monitoring and assessment of stocking trials and the overall performance of the fishery.

Supported by many local and statewide anglers, the department’s view was that, at an annual rate of up to 40,000

yearlings, Toolondo should be managed as a trophy trout fishery. However, despite the fact that few other waters could consistently produce trout of such quality, another local view was that the water should be stocked at a higher rate in the hope that this would result in regular catches of large numbers of trout, irrespective of size. In the end, quality won over quantity.

At the time, listeners to Rex Hunt’s weekly radio fishing shows were treated to regular reports on the Toolondo fishery by local correspondents.

Fisheries Victoria’s angler liaison identity, Charles Barnham, was a fixture alongside Rex in the studio and regularly gave up-to-date reports of trout releases and survey results. If a

The 1996 winner of the Barton Shield heaviest trout award, Chris Spence of the Horsham Fly Fishers and Trout Anglers, with his 4.2 and 2.7kg brown trout from Toolondo.

local angler called to complain of poor fishing at Toolondo, Charles was ready to reply immediately, quoting the Wimmera Mail-Times or other local media reports of angler catches which were invariably better than those from anywhere else in the state.

THE GOOD TIMES The first-class standing of the Toolondo trout fishery was built during the 1980s and early 1990s when – at 80-100GL – the water level was sufficient to sustain annual stocking with 40,000 yearling trout on a continual basis.

Much of the passion that was frequently displayed during annual stocking decisions in the region reflected the different objectives among anglers and between them and Fisheries Victoria.

During the 1988-1990 period when the water levels dipped below 75GL, surveys indicated a decline in the average size and condition of brown trout. In 1991, based on a decade of solid survey work, Fisheries Victoria decided to reduce the number of browns to 20,000 to avoid a further decline in fish quality and, possibly, a disaster if the conditions deteriorated further. Politics intervened: anglers flexed their muscles and stocking was maintained at a total of 40,000 trout.

Agreements reached at annual stocking meetings were sometimes challenged by correspondence from Wimmera anglers, channelled through VRFish to the Director of Fisheries.

Despite the outstanding fishery, spirited annual discussions between Fisheries Victoria and Wimmera continued until the Millennium Drought reduced Toolondo to its former condition as a swamp, bringing stocking to a halt in 2001.

Until then, while highly regarded for its trophy trout and outstanding redfin, the Toolondo fishery had not figured highly in the priorities of the water management authority, Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water, whose major concern was maintaining domestic and farm water supplies. The fishery simply piggy-backed on the regional water management strategy, stocking levels being adjusted according to anglers’ observations, survey results and – in the late 90s – to the falling water level.

GWMWater made the position clear in their September 2011 discussion paper on Toolondo Reservoir Operating Rules, stating “Obligations to supply entitlement holders from Rocklands have priority over the transfer of water to Toolondo Reservoir.”

POSTDROUGHT RECOVERY Anglers’ and fishery managers’ positions on the

Science meets fishing management of the fishery were grounded in their expectation that water levels would continue to hover around the Maximum Operating Level of 92GL. However, by the time of the postMillennium Drought recovery, the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline had been completed, replacing open channels with pressurised pipelines to improve water delivery and avoid losses by evaporation and seepage.

GWMWater’s management plans had changed, including greatly reduced dependence on Toolondo for stock and domestic water storage purposes. The new “Full Supply Level” was defined as 46GL – half the former Maximum Operating Level.

Fisheries Victoria’s 2014 Vic Fish Stock report on fish stocking consultation meetings

has supported productive trout fishing throughout this post-drought period. In the July/August 2014 issue of Freshwater Fishing, Scott Gray wrote about the boomand-bust nature of the region’s shallow semi-permanent lakes and their trout fisheries.

He referred to these waters’ high productivity in the postdrought period, supporting “excellent fishing and worldclass growth rates.”

With limited rainfall through the 2012-2014 period, Toolondo’s water level steadily declined, reaching 8GL by December 2014, by which time trout stocking had been suspended. The sense of alarm among anglers grew and, in the lead up to the November 2014 Victorian election, the urgent need for an allocation of water became a hot political

Toolondo’s level peaked at 12GL and Fisheries Victoria released 3041 brown trout and, later in the year, 1966 rainbow trout.

The politicisation of the Toolondo fishery has been fraught with challenges for the current government. Premier Daniel Andrews and Ministers Jaala Pulford and Lisa Neville attended the January 2015 water release along with a throng of anglers, with statewide media coverage.

This gave them a taste of the political goodwill achievable among anglers and allied industries from what was a relatively small regional investment.

GOOD WORK AND GOOD LUCK However, while excellent trout fishing continued, the water returned to the

A new day’s dawn at Toolondo. reported that the: “Water management regime [has been] altered from historical practices and there is no guarantee of water security.

Toolondo is treated as an opportunistic fishery.”

When the drought breaking rains began in September 2010, anglers anticipated a rapid recovery of the water and the trout fishery to their former levels. Later that year, as part of the drought-recovery effort, Fisheries Victoria released brown trout (20,000 yearlings and 20,000 fry) and rainbow trout (5000 yearlings). By the end of December the water level had risen from zero to 30GL. While it has continued at lower levels ever since, anglers generally feel that the fishery can perform well at the levels seen from 2012 to 2014, above 10GL. Like other western Victorian lakes and impoundments Toolondo

issue. A public campaign to save Toolondo was launched on change.org garnering 1876 supporters. The petition was sent to GWMWater and the then-premier Denis Napthine and then-minister Peter Walsh.

The combined efforts of anglers, VRFish, Futurefish Foundation and fishing media convinced the Labor Opposition to commit to maintaining Toolondo as Victoria’s best trout fishing as part of the Target One Million policy. The department’s decision to halve the annual stocking rate of brown trout in Lake Bullen Merri from 2014 was justified partly in recognition of Toolondo’s elevation as the state’s premier brown trout fishery.

Working with water managers and anglers, the incoming Andrews Government acted quickly to secure 5000ML of water in January 2015. A month later,

FISHERIES UPDATE Last month, the lake began receiving 5,000ML of water from Rocklands Reservoir.

The water will secure the trophy trout and redfin fishery, which is one of the state’s most iconic.

It will add about 50cm to the lake’s water level and flood new ground in time for a productivity boom in springtime!

Toolondo’s 2017 stocking plan includes 7,000 brown trout yearlings and 3,000 rainbow trout, and more trout stocking is likely given this fantastic news.

The top up is also in line with the State Government’s Water for Victoria plan, which recognises the importance of water for recreational purposes, including fishing.

pre-release level by December 2015. What had been clear to anglers quickly became apparent to the Government: a modest one-off water release was never going to be enough “to maintain Lake Toolondo as Victoria’s best trout fishing location.”

Recognising this, in March 2015 the Government established the Toolondo Reservoir Recreational Fishery Advisory Group comprising water, catchment and environment managers along with local council and angler representatives. Their role was to advise on the water level needed to ensure productive fishing, options and strategies for maintaining adequate levels and improvements to access and amenities at Toolondo.

The group completed four technical studies and made recommendations on the future management of Toolondo Reservoir and its fishery; the Government has accepted all recommendations.

One important finding was that the minimum reservoir depth essential to maintaining the trout fishery and its supporting habitat is 2.5m. Complete details can be found on the Fisheries Victoria website http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/ fisheries.

As the water level remained below 10GL through most of 2016, political pressure built, with the main hope being either a

repeat of the 2015 deal or a heavy rainfall event leading to natural inflows and a release of water from Rocklands Reservoir.

Passionate Toolondo supporters launched a second change.org petition and a fund-raising effort aimed at achieving another water allocation for the lake.

The Government negotiated with GWMWater and water entitlement holders, arriving at staggered trigger points for Rocklands Reservoir – water levels which, if exceeded, result in 5GL releases of water to Toolondo.

After that, the fate of Toolondo and the Government’s commitment relied on aboveaverage rainfall.

Fortunately for all concerned, exceptional rainfall in September 2016 boosted natural runoff and filled Rocklands to the point where two trigger points were passed, resulting in the release of 10GL of water to Toolondo. By mid-December the level had reached 15GL or 33% of the Full Supply Level. Fisheries Victoria responded quickly releasing 3214 brown trout (including 1214 weighing 440-750g) and 5000 rainbow trout.

Anglers and their representatives have worked constructively with fisheries and water ministers, their departments and other agencies.

Their combined efforts have

Just three years after annual stocking began, Gary Knight’s first edition Fishing Wimmera Waters was promoting the region’s ‘most popular trout water.’ now been rewarded, thanks largely to exceptional spring rain. The participation of Ministers Pulford and Neville has encouraged water and catchment authorities to work constructively to find ways

of meeting the Government’s commitment to the Toolondo fishery without losing sight of the needs of other water users and the environment.

Needless to say, there will be interesting times ahead.

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13

Find the bait, find the fish!

NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

It makes sense: find the food that predatory fish like to eat and those hunters shouldn’t be too far away!

If you hang around other anglers long enough, you’re sure to hear the expression, ‘find the bait and you’ll find the fish,’ or some version of it. This concept is especially well established in the ranks of offshore fishers chasing tuna, billfish and so on, although it’s also a popular concept with many inshore and estuary anglers, and even amongst some savvy freshwater fishers.

It makes absolute sense when you think about it.

Just as lions will shadow herds of wildebeests and other potential prey across the vast African veldt, so predatory fish tend to follow concentrations of pilchards, krill, squid or other so-called ‘bait’ in the aquatic world.

Naturally enough, the actual definition of ‘bait’ varies, depending on where you fish and what you hunt.

While anchovies, sprats, pilchards, garfish and

whitebait are all obvious contenders for the title of ‘bait’, it’s worth remembering that larger predators can consume surprisingly hefty prey. Billfish, for example, can swallow items weighing at least 10% of their own body mass. So, for a big, bruising blue marlin, the sort

of yellowfin tuna most of us would be happy to target on light or medium tackle is little more than a snack!

Some predators also favour certain prey types over others. We’ll probably never know for sure whether this preference has to do with the actual taste and texture of

the food, or its availability and familiarity. Whatever the reason, some predator/ prey relationships are wellknown. These include GTs (giant trevally) and fusiliers, mahimahi (dolphin fish) and flying fish, blue marlin and skipjack (striped tuna), yellowtail kingfish and

Squid are the favoured food of many marine predators.

One angler’s proud catch is another angler’s bait. This handsome skipjack or striped tuna would be little more than a snack for a big marlin. squid, mulloway (jewfish) and small tailor, barramundi and popeye mullet, or even trout and mudeyes (dragonfly

The presence of worm burrows and yabby or nipper holes on an estuarine tidal flat is a strong indicator that feeding fish won’t be too far away.

larvae) in freshwater environments.

Smart anglers recognize these hardwired, predator/ prey relationships and respond by seeking out concentrations of those preferred food items when hunting their chosen target fish. They also use those favoured prey items as bait (alive or dead), or attempt to closely imitate them with their lures and flies. This is one of the core tricks that separates the ‘10 percenters’ (that small portion of the fishing community who

catch most of the fish) from the rest of the pack – the anglers from the danglers, if you like!

Intelligent observation and an understanding of core predator/prey relationships is a skill worth honing. It will definitely make you a better and more consistently successful angler, wherever you choose to cast a line and whatever species you chase.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Here’s a closer look at a baitfish school.

Mulloway are munching hard in the Glenelg!

WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

September sees us moving from the cold of winter to the much milder temperatures of spring

and with such great fishing around the South West over the preceding few months, it’s shaping up to be first class.

Here in the South West we have had a pretty dry winter period, at least in the

Bream have been widely spread through lower winter flows.

Glenelg River catchment area, after the huge flows that put the river into minor flood back in March.

Fishing at the Glenelg has been outstanding through winter due to this, with great water clarity and good tidal influence being able to push right up river.

Estuary perch have been the standout, with good numbers and quality of fish happily taking minnow profile soft plastic lures, lightly-weighted and dropped adjacent to heavy timber snags.

Bream have also been good, although the usual estuary-focused bite through winter was spread a little wider with the lower flows, and fish were caught all through the system on a consistent basis. Bream actually prefer to spawn on lower flow events unlike estuary perch, that like heavy dirty flow to do their business. Hopefully, this means we’ve had both a great spawn for the perch on the big flows of March and now an ideal winter period for the bream.

Mulloway as always in the Glenelg, are super

Small mulloway are thick around the Caves and Dry Creek area. consistent, although the smaller ones can plague anglers at times. They are spread right through the system and we’ve caught fish from the estuary to up around Saunders Landing over 40km from the mouth.

September has been the month for the run of bigger fish in previous years, and if the mouth remains open, hopefully we may see another season of catching some much larger fish.

Having said that, there has been some great fish to 10kg caught, with the Caves and Dry Creek area holding the majority of the better fish.

The freshwater fishing

has again been pretty exceptional this season, with all the South West’s lakes producing great numbers of big redfin and trout, and this should continue into September and beyond.

Toolondo has been one of the standouts, and bags of quality redfin have been super consistent. Some great trout have also been caught with Trevor Holmes from Victorian Inland Charters putting his clients onto plenty of fish. Purrumbete has also been turning up some good bags of reddies as well as some very good trout and some trophy-sized Chinnook salmon.

Beach fishing has also been very productive through winter.

Warrnambool through to the South Australian border and beyond have had a great salmon run this season, with fish of 3-4kg taken, but the average size has been more around 1-2kg. Bait fishers have been having success on pilchard and squid, while casting small metal slugs into the gutters has also been very successful for the lure brigade.

September is a transition period from winter to spring, but the fishing will remain hot, so get out on the water and enjoy the great fishing on offer.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Estuary perch have been exceptional. Clint Northcott caught this 50cm and 53.5cm pair. Both fish were released.

Signs are good for the coming warm weather PORTLAND

John Johnstone

Fishing in the Portland region has been good.

With the changing of the seasons, early signs are showing that a good snapper season is ahead, with catches coming from the ever-reliable Lee Breakwater.

Traditionally the large SBTs have been around on the inshore grounds. Fish over 100kg were caught on both skirted and hardbody lures. Anglers should contemplate releasing the large breeding fish.

With the change of the season, it’s time to focus on what this wonderful fishing destination offers. The Lee Breakwater snapper run should be in full swing with the opportunity to tangle with a trophy snapper from arguably the best landbased platform in Southern Australia.

Offshore gummies and school sharks, flathead, latchet, snapper, knifejaw, morwong and Tassie trumpeter continue to feature in anglers’ bags.

Drifting in 60-120m has been getting the best results. Further out along the continental shelf, blue-eye, ling, gemfish and blue grenadier are all targets

when the weather permits.

Inshore, whiting and smaller school snapper should be making an appearance.

September

traditionally sees a build-up of squid numbers.

Targeting these tasty cephalopods over the inshore grounds is a good

Jack Olver caught this whopping 20kg samsonfish in 120m.

Ben Johnstone with a cracker gummy estimated to be 15-20kg. It was caught in 70m.

Ben with another great catch – a school shark caught in 60m off Bridgewater while drifting.

James and Mitchell Gauci and their uncle caught these lovely tuna in 60-70m behind the rock while trolling skirted lures.

option while prospecting for a few whiting.

The Lee Breakwater should also have barracouta, salmon and whiting along with school and gummy sharks, pike and trevally. The best baits

include squid, pilchards, blue bait and pipis. Beaches can also produce a great variety including salmon, silver trevally, sharks and mulloway. Good spots to try include Bridgewater Bay, Swan Lake, Crumpets

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Beach, Pivot Beach and Narrawong Beach. The best baits include squid, pilchards, blue bait and pipis.

The freshwater fishing has been good with catches of bream, mullet, salmon and silver trevally in the canal. The Fitzroy and Surry rivers have seen some good catches of bream come out of them. The best bait is prawns. Soft plastics and metal blade lures have also had some success. The Crawford River has good catches of redfin up to 1kg, again on metal blades.

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It’s happening on the Hopkins WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

The Hopkins River has been fishing very inconsistently recently.

Fish are easily located on

Other times, however, they switch on and some excellent bream, perch and even mulloway have been taken.

The continuing presence of mulloway in the system has been a great addition to the past few seasons in

have any joy converting one into a bite!

As September rolls around, the fish should be progressing upstream, depending on how much rain we’ve had. This time last year was when the area received some significant

Mick Mahoney with a quality Hopkins River mulloway taken recently. the sounder in the lower reaches, but at times seem to have complete lock jaw.

the Hopkins. Seeing those big arches on the sounder is exciting, even if you don’t

rainfalls and the river was still high, dirty and flowing fast in September.

The winter tuna run has been a bit of a disappointment locally this season. Most fish have been on the small end of the scale around 6-12kg and have been taken past 70m in depth, which is quite a run from Port Fairy and Warrnambool. The inshore schools of fish in the 40m range have been virtually non-existent, so hopefully they turn up in summer again like they did last season.

Many keen offshore anglers have been targeting bottom species when breaks in the weather have occurred.

Deep dropping for fish like blue-eye is gaining popularity for suitably equipped anglers, while closer in the gummy shark are the main focus.

Micro jigging the deep water is also something that anglers are trying with success on a wide variety of bottom ooglies.

The lower Merri has continued to fish well for trout, with good fish being taken by both bank anglers and those trolling in boats.

Some quality redfin over 1kg are also being taken. Redfin are a species that seem to have become much more prevalent in the system over the past few years. Fortunately at this stage, numbers are still low

September is usually a great time to target the local trout population. and the sizes are good.

With all local trout streams now open in September, anglers will be keen to spread their wings and do some serious walking sessions in pursuit of their speckled quarry.

Spring can also be a great time to try some of the local smaller lakes like Gillear, Ellingamite and Aringa as the water levels are often at their best for the season.

The continuation of prevailing northerlies has helped to contribute to a fairly decent beach salmon season.

Wandering along the beach and casting metal slice lures has been perhaps the most popular technique in these conditions. These salmon should still be a good option in September, particularly for those looking to stock up on gummy or snapper baits for the coming season.

Open mouth opens options COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

June turned out to be very dry, but in July the rains returned, so much so, that all our local creeks and rivers were flowing high with some in minor flood.

The Gellibrand River

salmon, silver trevally and some bream and estuary perch have been caught around this wedge.

I’ve had two reports of anglers using bream gear getting a solid run for their money before being busted off. This spells mulloway in the system. The mouth has some depth about it, so

successful manual opening of the Curdies River mouth at Peterborough. A previous attempt several days prior saw high seas and a high tide hamper the opening.

The lower reaches of the Curdies from Boggy Creek down to the mouth saw the inundation of the river flats.

When the water receded it

The open mouth of the Curdies estuary at Peterborough.

This will improve the fishing from now on. mouth was the first to burst open and remained so last month. Fishing here is restricted to the mouth and on an incoming tide. Fishing the along the edge of where the clear saltwater nudges against the brackish water has been the go. Mullet,

it’s no surprise that these estuarine leviathans are back in the river. Currently it’s bait fishing only at the ‘Gelli’, and as locally sourced bait is extremely scarce, anglers are using scrubworm and fillets of pilchard to attract bites.

Mid July finally saw a

left behind thousands of fish, mainly bream, stranded in ever shrinking pools of ever increasing stagnant water.

A few concerned locals put out a call for these fish to be rescued before it was too late and many responded. Dressed in waders and armed with

landing nets and large nally bins, these volunteers scooped up an estimated four thousand bream, of which the majority were successfully returned to the water. Some fatalities did occur, but the scenario could have been a lot worse if it hadn’t been for a concerned few. Thanks must go to members of the Warrnambool and District Angling Club; members of Fisheries Victoria and concerned local anglers all striving to protect this important fishery.

Despite all of that, currently the fishing in the river is sporadic, but bait anglers soaking scrubworm and small, bait-sized yabbies in the lower reaches of the river are catching a few.

Out in the lake, frozen packet prawn and fillets of freshly caught juvenile salmon have been tempting a few fish to strike.

Due to inclement weather, the offshore scene has been rather quiet. On a given day, local charter boats have been putting clients onto school southern bluefin tuna in depths around 70m.

Australian salmon to 1.5kg have been taken off many local beaches, with casting metal lures just out behind the wash being a favourite way to score a fish or two.

Bait soakers have fished on a rising tide and have been using tough baits such as squid strips

Some of the many bream rescued off the Curdies River flats prior to being released back into the river proper. on a double paternoster rig.

A few intrepid surf anglers have been fishing at night for winter gummy shark, and fish to 15kg have been landed.

One hot spot is Gibsons Steps not far from Princetown. The favoured bait has been 4-6” lengths of eel, skin left on, using a gang rig and wrapped in hosiery elastic for added insurance.

The steps here have recently been completely renovated making it safer to navigate from the carpark, down the cliff face and onto the beach. Loaded up with fishing gear, large rods and dependant on a torch to navigate at night, this is a godsend for anglers. The same beach can also fire for salmon during the day.

SEPTEMBER 2017

19

Reasonable weather means reasonable fishing APOLLO BAY

Wayne Diffey

We’ve had some crazy weather lately, so getting out fishing has been a little hit and miss. On the days that have been ‘fishable’, some reasonably sized salmon have shown up off Wild Dog Creek Beach.

Likewise, out wide, there have been some good catches of gummies and flathead.

Andy Orchard and his neighbour Bruce Munro went out recently and caught four nicesized gummies off Bald Hill Reef. They were in approximately 40m and were drifting using some flathead for bait.

The southern bluefin tuna have been a little quiet with only a few small fish being caught.

However, there has been a rather large exception to this with a 120.4kg tuna caught by Olya Borch.

He was out fishing with Mark Edwardson from the Victorian Game Fishing Club. They were out at the Nine-Mile Reef off Cape Otway.

This month heralds the

Olya Borch with a whopper 120.4kg tuna caught on a 7” Remora skirt in pear green Evil.

opening of the trout season from midnight Friday 1 September, and the closure of the rock lobster season, males and females, from Friday 15 September to midnight 15 November.

The winter rains will have freshened up the local streams and the baitfish will start to appear and get the trout stirred up. Which is all good news for the trout fishers.

I prefer using small hardbody lures in the streams, like 4cm Rapala X-Raps, Ecogear SX40s and MW62s, and even the old Celta will catch a few on the day.

The bream should also be starting to fire up a little better at this time as well.

Again, the small hardbodied lures will work, but so will the soft plastics, like Gulp Camo Sandworms or the Squidgy Bug are usually very productive.

• If you’re coming to Apollo Bay for a fish, be sure to pop in to Surf N Fish Tackle store to get all you bait and tackle needs, as well as an up to date report. Call us on (03) 5237 6426, or check out our website www. surf-n-fish.com.au.

Andy Orchard and a handful of gummies.

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Action warming up in time for school holidays GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

Is winter done with us yet?

It’s time to dust off the gear, toss out the yellow pilchards from the bottom of the freezer and book the boat in for a three month wait for a service, because the fishing is about to hot up!

St Augustines Waterhole

in Highton is set to get 500 ‘ready to catch’ rainbow trout in time for the September school holidays. Get the kids down there with a running sinker rig baited with garden worms or artificial bait and have some fun!

September is the time where we see a few snapper reports trickling in. Early season snapper typically show up out off Barwon Heads to Anglesea first, then we should see a few reports

come from Portarlington and Clifton Springs later in the month. Try to pick a change of tide on or after dawn or dusk and maybe into the night.

Top baits include pilchards, squid, red rockets, sauris and silver whiting. The months leading up to September have seen a lot of pilchards in the bay, so once the snapper find them, the fishing should be red hot. Land-based anglers should try Point Roadknight

Cody had a hectic session on the salmon in Corio Bay and backed it up with a respectable pinkie snapper.

at Anglesea, Bancoora Beach and Jan Juc Surf Beach near Torquay early in the month.

Then try St Helens in Corio Bay and Portarlington Pier if the weather is rough later in the month.

Inside Corio Bay there have been schools of Australian salmon, garfish and yellow-eye mullet mooching about the Geelong waterfront and St Helens.

The salmon have been a little difficult to locate, but once they’re found you can be in for a heck of a session with big numbers in the schools.

Most fish are around the 35cm mark and a few have been up to 50cm.

Paul Mayer fished with Cody Carruthers inside Corio Bay last month. Using 5cm grubs from Munroe’s Soft Plastics, the lads got stuck into a big school of these angry salmon from 40-50cm.

They had a ball and left them biting. They also caught a nice snapper flicking about the deeper water. Earlier that week, Paul caught a ripping bream over 45cm again on the same lure.

Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head says the water has been very clear over the last month. This

Angus was super pumped with his Barwon estuary salmon. normally sees the squid a bit shy, but Rod’s clients have still caught good numbers.

Fishing between St Leonards and Grassy Point has seen

anglers tussle with some of the biggest squid Rod has seen in this area with sizes either side of a kilogram.

Rod notes that white jigs

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gummy sharks of 16, 22 and a whopper 30kg using salmon for bait. Aaron has partnered with Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield to start up a new fishing radio show called Reel Adventures.

The Barwon River estuary is fishing well for Australian salmon to 40cm on bait and lures when the water is clean on the incoming tide. Eight-year-old Angus Wilson from Altona fished there with his dad Alex last month where they caught a couple of ripper salmon to around 40cm.

Alex says that Angus caught them on pilchards and

D

the 1.5kg mark being caught here on pilchards and lures as well as Hutt Gully and the main beach.

• Fish HARD – Die Happy! Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in a report to slaterbunch@ optusnet.com.au with “VFM” in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 997 348. Please include where (without giving away your secret spot!), when, what on and who caught the fish. Pictures are always great, but please make sure they are at least 1mb (file size).

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Hugh Hanson fished Jump Rock near Lorne last month and caught a 40cm salmon first cast! Hugh said he sent plenty more casts into the sea, but only landed one other at 35cm. Other anglers have enjoyed quality salmon from 1-2kg fishing from Lorne Pier and the rock platforms along the Great Ocean Road.

Mick Allardyce from Anglesea reports that Australian salmon have turned up on the beaches with fish either side of a kilogram in weight being caught from Bancoora, Jan Juc and Fairhaven. Point Roadknight at Anglesea has seen a few bigger fish around

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squid at the top of the run-in tide while fishing from the bridge and they put up a fantastic fight. The fight was so hectic that at one stage they thought they’d lose the acrobatic fish around the bridge pylons. Alex says this is the biggest fish Angus has caught and he is totally hooked. Great stuff, Angus, especially for showing dad how it’s done!

Australian salmon have been biting well along the beaches and rock platforms of the Surf Coast. Dawn and dusk have been best for numbers and size, but they have been available all day on some beaches.

•A

Paul knows his stuff and managed this ripper bream on a Munroe’s Soft Plastics lure.

Aaron from Red’s Fishing Adventures has been into the gummy sharks out off Port Phillip Heads over the last month.

ED

Gummy sharks have been the main target of offshore fishers with fish up to and over 10kg available off Barwon Heads and Torquay. Salmon fillets have been the gun bait next to pilchards and squid and they have been around the 40m mark. Draftboard sharks are normally in plague proportions at this time of year, so be prepared to re-bait a few times as moving doesn’t seem to solve the problem.

Aaron Habgood of Red’s Fishing Adventures has been getting a few gummy sharks out off Port Phillip Heads in 24m of water. Recently, he caught and released three

E

N

around 2.5-3.5 in size performed well, as did bright ones in pink and green and anywhere in between.

Rod notes that flathead have also been caught in good numbers and most were fairly deep, possibly due to the clear water. Drifting in 14-16m from St Leonards back to the Prince George Bank has seen the most consistent captures.

Land-based anglers have been having a ball on the Portarlington Pier with all sorts of fish being taken including quality garfish, salmon, barracouta, snapper, squid and flathead.

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Short session action this month PORT PHILLIP BAY WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.au

Goodbye winter and hello spring. Sure, the weather is still quite cold but the fishing is just starting

to warm up. historically with increased remember to

Spring is welcomed rainfall, so keep your

One of the author’s many salmon caught on light spinning gear.

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eye on the wind and tide conditions. This will allow you to maximize your fishing with shorter, more productive sessions.

During these times land-based anglers should fish close to river mouths, where there is still a good mix of salt and freshwater; this is often where the baitfish will be and the target predatory species will hang around for an easy feed. Those with boats are itching for the annual snapper season, which is only a whisker away.

I had a memorable salmon session with good mates Michael and Peter Smith. We launched from Port Melbourne and shortly after descending the boat ramp we stopped and drifted in the shallows along the surrounding rock walls.

Armed with light spinning rods and a range of soft plastics we cast towards the rocks with anticipation.

Within seconds all of us were on, dancing around each other to avoid line tangles. After a few intense minutes, we all landed our first salmon ranging from 45-50cm.

The next three hours were packed with relentless PPB salmon action. Almost every cast rewarded with an aggressive salmon that would eagerly consume a shad or curl-tail soft plastic.

Aussie salmon are so much fun on light gear, they take

Lucian with a 48cm redfin. reports from all over Port Phillip Bay. Hot areas include Port Arlington, Mornington, St Leonards, Queenscliff, Frankston and Point Cook. Land-based anglers have been finding the squid from Sorrento Pier, Brighton breakwall and Werribee rock wall.

Remember to swap jigs regularly if the bite goes quiet, as squid respond to different colours on different days and weather conditions. White and gold have been successful for me recently. I have also found using jigs with a quality UV reflective cloth to work well on sunny days. Anglers are catching squid throughout all hours of the day, but

tremendous fighting and eating qualities. Targeting them at night with baits such as fresh salmon, squid and pilchards on a basic paternoster rig is often a pathway for success. Local young gun angler James Papas has been following the gummies as they move up into the deeper waters of the south channel. His go to bait has been fresh salmon, which has produced many good-sized catches up to 2m. I’ve recently had the odd all-night session in Port Philip Bay from Werribee catching a few gummies.

Unfortunately, I have been catching a lot more Port Jackson sharks, sevengill sharks and rays, rather than

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There are still plenty of salmon around Port Melbourne. off with tremendous speeds and put on an aerial display as they attempt to shake the hook. My Diawa Itchy Twitchy and Silver Wolf combo was getting a fair workout. Our short session landed more than 40 salmon up to 50cm leaving a smile that couldn’t be wiped away.

Squid can be targeted all year round, however, September has been a brilliant month with many

certainly the first and last hour of sunlight have been the most productive. You can’t go past a feed of fresh calamari, so go pick up some squid jigs from your local tackle shop and give some of the suggested areas a try.

September is still producing a respectable number of gummy sharks in Port Phillip Bay. They’re a beautiful species with

the target species.

September is when schools of 30-40cm pinkies are being found in big numbers. Black Rock, Ricketts Point, Geelong, and Point Cook have been notable areas. Sounders become a very important tool and local anglers have been spending the extra time searching for the schools. When targeting pinkies, 4” shads, curl-tails

and worm imitation plastics are an excellent choice.

Bait anglers can do just as well with pilchard, prawns,

and raw chicken. However, once you find the school of pinkies they’re generally not too fussy.

James Papas with a quality PPB gummy.

Port Phillip

This is welcome news for land-based anglers.

As schools of juvenile snapper move up the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers, they are generally in an aggressive mood and will eagerly take an unweighted pilchard or neatly presented soft plastic. Incoming high tides on sunset and sundown are always a productive time to target.

While the conditions are still cold, many anglers are enjoying staying close to shore and drifting for the old humble flathead.

This will always remain an old favourite for Victorians because they’re fun to target on lures and are great to eat. Recent sessions in shallow sandy flats within Port Phillip Bay have been producing flathead in great numbers. I have had success using soft plastics such as curl-tails, paddletails and worm imitations.

Use between 1/12oz and 1/6oz jigheads depending on current strength.

For metropolitan anglers, the bream fishing is on the improve. The warmer water conditions are seeing the timid winter bream get a little more aggressive.

This is great news for local anglers who enjoy flicking soft plastics or fishing many of the available local jetties. I managed to catch

Michael Smith with a stunning goatfish caught from the shallow reefs. a few bream up to 40cm this month on soft plastics, which was very pleasing.

Many of the quality river systems an hour out from Melbourne have been producing quality fish recently. It’s a terrific way to avoid the bay breeze and a chance to target trophysize trout and redfin. Areas surrounding Geelong, Ballarat and Daylesford have been fishing exceptionally well. I have received reports from keen anglers with amazing catches and stories.

One such example was from

Lucian Dupta, the winner of the FishingMad redfin competition for catching a beautiful 48cm reddie on a Paco Spoon at Wurdi Boluc Reservoir.

Following the trend, I recently hosted another family fishing clinic along riverside park in Essendon with TTTAF (That’s the Thing About Fishing).

Families were kept busy braving the chilly winds and catching many mullet, bream and bay trout. Baits such as small pilchard strips, prawns and live

scrub worms were very productive. Fishing with kids is a wonderful way to spend a day together, look for places that offer toilets, playgrounds and BBQ facilities. Parks along the Maribyrnong and Yarra rivers are great places to start.

I’d love to hear about your recent fishing experiences and catches around inner Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay, so please send your reports, pictures and enquiries to alan@fishingmad.com.au.

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Recent news and weather reports from last month are all saying that we have had the warmest and driest July/ August period on record, and although I’m inclined to agree with the dry part, I’m not sure the warm part is on the money!

Maybe my bones are getting older, but it certainly feels proper cold this winter, and the weather on the horizon is calling for more of the same. While some of the bay’s anglers loathe this time of year, many are taking advantage of some great fishing in the inshore areas, and some of the more creative are looking further afield as well.

I have still received a few encouraging reports of some lovely snapper taken out wide over the last month, as well as plenty of pinkie snapper on the inshore reefs as well.

Areas further north in the bay, especially around Black Rock, are definitely holding better numbers of fish at present, but there are a few sneaky patches in our local areas as well, especially out from Mount Eliza, Mornington and Mount Martha. Early season snapper are more likely to be found closer to reef and other structure, and it’s here that the resident and juvenile fish will be found as well while the water is cool.

Fish lightly-weighted baits from anchor, or cast soft plastics from a drifting boat for best results. Land-based anglers will do best during more inclement weather, and this will become even more attractive when larger spawning fish enter the bay during the coming months.

A dedicated band of switched on anglers have once again been cashing in out on the wider marks as well, with some great gummy sharks, and other quality table

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A change of pace by Daniel Griffon with a ripper brown trout taken recently at Devilbend. Plenty of local anglers have been enjoying the quality fishing on offer over the winter months during inclement weather.

Photo courtesy of Mark Keaveny.

for lure anglers targeting the shoreline areas amongst the weed. The ‘Bend has become increasingly popular in recent months, after the recent successful stocking of estuary perch into the waterway, which in turn has provided more opportunities for local lure anglers. This introduction has created more competition for the strong trout and redfin population, and the result is a great local fishery.

Some ripper trout up to 6lb have been taken, mostly by skilled anglers casting hardbodied lures on light line. Slim profile minnows are the best choice, and can be effectively fished amongst the weed patches, but don’t be shy to try a surface lure as well, and slow rolling soft plastics is also very effective.

Plenty of bread and butter species have been on the go over the past month, which is also a great sign with the snapper season not far away.

Whether you’re in it for a feed or some fresh bait, now’s the time to cash in. Good numbers of gars have been around many of the usual areas, as well as big schools of smaller salmon, especially around Mornington and the mouth of Patterson River.

Plenty of mullet have also been on the chew in the Patto, and the bream fishing right through the river and the canals has been top notch as well, for both for the bait and the lure anglers. I’ve not heard a lot of reports of any big mulloway, but have seen some nice perch taken at night by anglers fishing lures.

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fish as well. I’ve also seen some ripper flatties coming in from similar areas up to 50cm. The great fishing for gummies this year is a real positive sign for the health of the bay, and how the fishing is coming back strong.

One downside to fishing the wider marks and targeting gummy sharks is the variety and unwanted by-catch that is sometimes encountered, but this too is a great sign of the health of the bay. Be sure to return any unwanted or protected species to the water unharmed.

I’m also very happy to report that the last month or so has turned on first class fishing for calamari too, with plenty of bigger models being taken, especially from the bays southern piers and jetties. Clean and clear water, as well as plenty of bait in the inshore areas, has kept the squid biting and feeding hard over the last month or so, and I would only expect this activity to increase as the larger specimens become more territorial in the months ahead.

Land-based anglers have doing the lion’s share of the damage, with big numbers of squid hanging around the piers, and also some of the more substantial reef areas.

Mornington pier has also been turning on a few big models as well, on top of big numbers of smaller calamari as well.

Red, green and pearl white jigs seem to doing best, and times of low light seem to be the most productive.

For a change of pace, Devilbend Reservoir has been producing some lovely brown trout of late, especially

Now that’s a bucket sized squid caught by Reece Millward at Mornington Pier recently! The pier is known for producing big numbers of smaller squid, but is home to some much bigger models as well at times.

Photo courtesy of Mark Keaveny.

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Squid are dominating catches PORT PHILLIP NORTH

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

It has been so cold over the past weeks that there is no doubt that way less anglers than usual have been on the water. For those that have been out there when the weather has been good, it has generally been great and the fishing hasn’t been far behind for this time of the year. The past weeks have produced good numbers of squid and pinkies, not to mention a great run of solid garfish.

Fingers crossed that

this month we will see a continuation of this fishing and perhaps even the start of the odd bigger snapper.

MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK Some great reports of big mullet have been coming out of the Mordialloc Creek, with most anglers saying that with such clear water the best fishing has been early in the morning while the light levels are low.

On the pier the pinkies have been going okay when it has been rough with most of the fish being landed in the 25-35cm size. When it has been calm the squid have been going well with

some of the best fishing happening during the middle of the day.

If it’s squid you’re after now is the time to be out in the boat anywhere between Mordialloc and Beaumaris Pier with all the shallow reef areas holding lots of calamari.

Fish some of the deeper areas in 6-8m of water with 3.5 sized jigs. If you’re land-based, the Beaumaris Pier and its surrounding rocky shoreline is a prime area to be throwing jigs with the dawn and dusk periods generally seeing an influx of squid moving into the shallows.

Lately garfish have

When it has been calm, the squid have been going well with some of the best fishing happening during the middle of the day.

been another good option with great reports coming from land-based anglers in the area, especially with a northerly wind helping to carry the berley.

Out in the boat, it’s also the time to be looking for a good early season snapper.

While the pinkies are going great over the past few weeks, now is the time to get serious by fishing larger baits or plastics. It’s only a matter of time until the big fish move in onto the shallow reefs.

Good areas to focus on over the coming weeks are the Parkdale Pinnacles and the very point of Ricketts Point, with the area out the front of Table Rock often seeing some of the first big runs of snapper for the season.

Further along towards Black Rock the pinkies have been in good numbers.

The big news has been good numbers of garfish on offer for anglers to target for both food and bait. Fingers-crossed this will continue this month to provide us with a great source of snapper bait.

SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA Land-based fishing has been very popular with a bunch of anglers fishing the rock groynes daily, especially when it’s rough.

While the pinkies have been going well the coming weeks should see the first of the bigger snapper turning up at any time.

For boaters, the garfish have been awesome out off the Anonyma Shoal with good numbers and some solidly sized fish among them. Adding to the gars I have heard some great reports of big snook lurking around the shoal, so a small

Now’s a great time to pick up some squid ready to use as bait for the upcoming snapper season. minnow or a slow trolled garfish on ganged hooks is a sure-fire way to get yourself into some of these pick handles.

Up off Brighton the pinkies and red mullet have been keeping anglers busy with some good hauls of fish being taken by anglers casting soft plastics in 4-6m of water. Back in close to shore, the shallow reefs have been holding squid which should continue over the coming weeks. Some good reports are coming from the Green Point area and any of the shallow reefs that lie either side of the point.

Up at North Road I haven’t heard too much on the fish front over the past weeks. When the water has been clear, the squid reports have been good with anglers reporting plenty of smallersized calamari on offer.

ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE As is often the case at this time of the year, the top of the bay has been a bit slower. However, there have been reports of pinkies for the landbased crews off the piers and some good reports of garfish for anglers willing to put the time in with a steady berley trail.

On the other hand, if you’re into bream fishing then the moored boats in behind St Kilda breakwall are holding clunker bream and solid trevally, both of which love to smash a Cranka Crab or a small soft plastic. Best of all, some of the best fishing is often on the calm days, as the fish sit higher in the water feeding on the boat hulls and probably just enjoying a bit of sun on their backs.

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Lee McDuffie and Mitch Bolger fished down the bottom end of Western Port with the new Evergreen Squid Jig colour range. They had some great success on squid up to 45cm (hood). The watermelon colour worked well in the 3.5 size.

Snapper starting up MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Luke McCredden www.thelongline.net

Filling in for Luke McCredden this month is Julian Frank from Peninsula Compleat Angler, who has kindly submitted a report for our September issue.

In recent weeks the salmon run down at Gunnamatta has been exceptionally good, with locals getting 6-12 fish a session. Most of the fish have been around 800-1.5kg, but there have been some bigger specimens amongst them. The guys spinning lures off the surf have been getting better results than bait fishos, due to the fact that the lure fishers can track the schools as they go up the beach, and keep working with them. Good times have been morning and late afternoons, and also on the rougher days; in rough conditions the fish

huge quantities, but the quality of the fish makes up for what they lack in numbers. Boatbased anglers have been doing quite well off Franklin Point, fishing in 2.5-6m of water, mostly on the outgoing tide.

The moorings between Portsea and Sorrento have also been fishing well for both whiting and squid.

FRESHWATER Devil Bend has been fishing well for trout early in the morning, with anglers getting some really good size browns off some of the banks.

Most of the fish have come from the north-eastern banks.

You’ll want to wade out to just past where the weed comes up, and work little shallow diving lures on the back edge of the weed. The most productive lures have been Rapala X-Rap 6s, CD 5s and CD 7s, all in spotted dog and rainbow trout.

In the X-Rap 6, the brook trout colour has also been catching its share.

good supply of free food as the mussels start to come loose and shed so always a good idea to berley in that area and use fresh mussel as bait. You can either cocktail that with a squid strip or just on its own.

Garfish have been around Mount Martha rocks and down at Portsea and Blairgowrie around the piers. One customer has been catching plenty using little strips of prawn off Blairgowrie.

SEPTEMBER FORECAST All the signs are there for a good snapper season. We’ve started to see reasonable catches of decent size pinkies around the area, and we know there have been quite a few snapper caught up the top of Melbourne and Williamstown.

Fishing along the wall of the Yarra all the way up to the West Gate Bridge has been producing good snapper catches, which augurs well for the snapper season here.

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390 STALKER Anglers have been catching good pinkie snapper in recent weeks, which bodes well for the upcoming snapper season. have been coming in closer, and the average size is larger.

Both the low and high tides are fishing well, but the low tide provides the extra option of wading out a bit. This enables you to cast lures into some of those smaller, enclosed pockets of water. These pockets confine the fish in one area.

When it hasn’t been blowing, anglers have been getting some good whiting and squid off around Blairgowrie and Sorrento. The average size of the squid is increasing, with a lot more breeders moving in . We should continue to see these breeding squid right through September, with some specimens reaching mantle sizes up to 60cm+. Good areas to look for them are around Portsea front beach. When it comes to jigs, we’ve had the great results on Yakamitos in both red foil and white.

At the moment you can pick up whiting just off the pier from 9pm onwards, if you’re happy to brave the cold. Most are being caught on pipis and slivers of squid. They aren’t in

OFFSHORE There’s not a lot happening offshore, with most tuna-chasers heading down to Portland for their fix. There are still flathead and pinkie snapper on the bottom though.

You’ll get some pretty good quality flathead, averaging around 45cm, up around the back of Mud Island where the mussel farms are.

Snapper season is just around the corner, and there have been catches of good pinkie snapper around Mount Martha and to the back side of Mud Island. Most have been taken on pilchards in 20-24m of water at first light. It can be a very tight bite window – as short as half an hour. Haven’t been on the chew for very long. Pinkies ranging from around 38cm and up. One of our customers has been getting them around the 45cm mark, 1-2kg fish.

Weather after we get those big blows those fish come in a bit closer they will tend to take refuge around areas like the mussel farms with a

I haven’t heard of any good schools of bait yet, but we should start to see a lot of bait start coming back into the bay in September. Finding those schools of bait is good for targeting snapper. The fact that a lot of the fish caught lately have had sharper teeth is a good sign that they’re feeding on baitfish, so they’ll be easier to catch.

Last year we had some good salmon sessions off the beach in September, so that’s something else to look forward to as the weather starts to warm.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

29

Catching a bit of everything WESTERN PORT NTH

Adam Ring

It has been a slow and steady month for us keen fishos and I would be lying if I said the fishing has been outstanding, but I’m also not saying that it has been bad. We have seen a little bit of everything over the last month and that’s a great sign as we edge closer to warm weather and the snapper season begins all over again.

THE TOP END The entire top end of Western Port has been pretty solid over the last month and the good news is that the majority of the good fishing spots have been in fairly close proximity to each other.

Even though we still have a little bit of time up our sleeves before the snapper season, there has been enough going on to perhaps tempt you to have a look earlier. Those temptations continue to eat away at our brains when we see reports

Rosemary Powell with a cracker Quail Bank calamari.

like this one from Chris Cassar: he and a couple of his mates, Josh and Daniel, put in the hours through a freezing cold night and were rewarded nicely with a pearler of a winter snapper.

Fresh calamari was the secret in the bait department and their fish weighed in at 7.2kg! It’s seems a common theme has developed over the last few off-seasons: fresh calamari is an absolute must-have and most of these off-season fish are big!

Stay patient with the reds in the cool water, plan your tide changes and rotate your baits regularly. You may only get a shot at one or two hits as the bite times can be extremely short.

With fish regularly hitting 7kg or bigger, it’s definitely worth a shot.

The other species that has popped up nicely again are the gummy sharks. They have been fairly quiet in recent months, but we have seen the reports slowly start to get better and better.

Mark Keaveny and Gerry Morsman put in a cold night session and originally it was the snapper they were after. The snapper certainly didn’t want to play the game on this particular night. They ended up with three really nice eatingsized gummies that were all between 4-5kg. The boys were snooping around the top end channels on the run out tide and fresh calamari featured as the best bait again. Well done, lads.

Shaun Furtiere spends a lot of his winter trips specifically chasing the

gummies and this has been no different over the last month. Shaun has spent most of his time in the North Arm of the port and slowly working the channel edges in search of Western Port’s great grey subs.

Although there hasn’t been any monstrous fish yet, he has definitely found his fair share of fish to 10kg. One of the more surprising catches from Shaun came from the bait grounds. While setting a fine berley trail for yakkas and calamari, a school of whiting came through and they ended up with a nice little feed of whiting to 40cm! How’s that for a red-hot tip? If you want to catch whiting, just don’t target them.

Kozzi and Huff are two local legends that just have a knack for finding fish.

In a recent run of horribly strong winds they decided that not fishing wasn’t an option. They ended up at Warneet as a last resort to try and hide from the wind.

In a short and sharp session they ended up with pile of mullet and that provided endless amounts of fun for a couple of hours. I love this report, as it proves that by understanding the weather conditions and making the most of your opportunities you can still get the job done, regardless of what the weather has to throw at

Gerry Morsman and a pair of nice gummies from the top end. you. Well done, fellas.

Finally, it wouldn’t be a Western Port report without a sprinkling of calamari.

We heard from Pat Ellaby during the month and he has been getting amongst the squid on the Quail Bank.

On one of his more recent trips he had Rosemary Powell and her daughter Natalie on board and they dominated a couple of big calamari up on the Quail.

They measured the hoods at 46cm and I’m sure they were turned into some of the tastiest calamari rings going around.

Thank you to everyone who sent in reports this month. I’m excited to see which direction the fishery heads in over the coming weeks. Keep those reports coming and good luck.

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Anglers excited for the start of spring snapper WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Hold on to your hats, you’re in for a wild ride now that the dreaded winter has passed and spring is here.

Already anglers have been out and about on the port searching for their first red of the season. While I too am anxious to get out, I will be one of many that just holds off for a few weeks or at least until the bite is a little more predictable.

In saying that, keep an eye on the weather and

brittle and rod guides should be inspected for damage they may have sustained in storage.

When you are all suited up, it’s worth poking your head around the Corinella area. This area always seems to fire early in the season and while the area is challenging to navigate with all the shallow muddy banks, this is one area where you’ll want to rely on your GPS/Mapping chart and sounder.

While the fish can be found scattered throughout the area, fishing up near Spit Point and along the edge of the bank from Lang Lang to

Looking for snapper? Don’t forget to head to the Corinella area and fish fresh baits on circle hooks.

Mark, Doug and Phil had a stellar evening catching some nice gummy sharks and a monster sevengill shark. Photo courtesy of Shaun Furtiere. fishing. When the barometer is on the rise, the bite will occur, but this can also be quite sporadic in September.

Despite the desperate need to get out on the water, don’t forget about your rod/ reel and boat maintenance.

Old fishing reels carried over from last season could be

Tenby Channel during the run-out tide seems to get the results. Mind you, the fish will bite on the lead up to any tide change, so always ensure you have good quality baits at the ready at all times.

Another good location to snag a few reds is on the inside of the SP buoy just near the

entrance into the North Arm from the Western Channel on the run-out tide.

It drops off here into 20-22m of water and plenty of fish pass by here on their way to the upper reaches of the port. By the end of the month the reds will be more active in their feeding

When you’re out and about on the hunt for an early red, fish the edges of the channels during the run-out tides.

patterns, especially as the water temperature jumps up a notch. This is the time you will have more success in the shallower channels.

There has been no shortage of gummy sharks either. The past few weeks have continued to be exceptional throughout the port with the Western Entrance continuing to produce some nice table fair. Shaun Furtiere has been putting his clients onto gummy sharks with some monster-sized whiting thrown in the mix. Fresh baits have been the key to the gummies with calamari still the top bait.

Gummy sharks are a yearround affair and will continue on even though the snapper arrive and most anglers turn their focus on them. As long as you’re under anchor and have baits on the bottom you’re in with a chance at hooking one or two. If you’re keen to continue targeting gummy sharks this month, the shallow banks throughout the Corinella area are prime gummy shark habitat.

Land-based anglers tend to do particularly well from the shore at Stockyard Point, Lang Lang, Grantville and

Tenby Point. Of the four locations, Stockyard is the only low tide location to be fished purely because you can walk out to within casting distance of the channel. Fishing the last two hours of the run-out at Stockyard is when most of the action will occur and by at least an hour into the run-in, you must pack up and head back so you don’t get stuck in the mud.

From a boat, fishing the edges of the main channels, especially in the mouth of the Tenby Channel is highly productive. The last two hours of the run-out tide will see many fish from the area escape the dropping tide on the shallow flats and drop back into the deeper water.

Providing you can establish a good berley trail, you’ll be sure to have some nice fish swim into your trail.

Despite the cold conditions over the past month there has been no slowing the whiting bite down. Sure they have been a little harder to find at times but with the onset of the rising water temperature, the bite will be more frequent. The only thing with more and more

whiting re-entering the Port since last season is that the focus will be on snapper and the humble whiting might just be left along until much later in the season.

If whiting are on your hit list for the time being, or at least until the reds fire up, the shallow banks around Tankerton, Tortoise Head, Ventnor, Balnarring, Cat Bay and inside Coronet Bay are all very productive whiting grounds. The fish are a little harder to get going, so berley is certainly the key. Where possible use fresh baits and if you really want some good fishing action, go pump some live Bass yabbies on the flats at Coronet Bay or along the Middle Spit on the bottom of the low tide.

With all this going on, this month really is a waiting game. Most anglers are focused on catching snapper. September is a very frustrating month mainly because you’re so desperate to get out that waiting for the bite can be intense, but it will be what it is and when you get that first run cross all your fingers and toes that your gear is up for the challenge.

If you’re still keen to target whiting, there are plenty around on the shallow banks.

Bruce and Giro were treated to some magnificent fishing with whiting and some solid gummies caught from around the Port. Photo courtesy of Shaun Furtiere.

SEPTEMBER 2017

31

It’s time to get the snapper season started PHILLIP ISLAND

Craig Edmonds

By now most will have taken advantage of the good days through the winter period and have a supply of fresh baits in the freezer to get their snapper season started.

It’s not always possible to collect fresh baits on your way out for a session fishing, because of tides or the time you can go fishing, or maybe they just aren’t there. Although you might be taking out with you some freshly caught and frozen baits, spending an hour or so trying to catch some calamari, salmon or even couta can be the difference between success and disappointment.

While bought frozen baits might not be everyone’s favourite, sometimes you just can’t get the bait you want to use in your area and storebought is the only way – it’s a lot better than no bait at all. If you have a good esky with ice – you should to look after your catch – you can keep frozen store-bought bait until you need it. If you’re lucky enough to catch fresh bait, take it home still frozen and put it into the freezer for

To be successful early in the season you are going to need a few extra layers of clothing, as the spring nights are still very cold. next time.

At this time of the year many boats are coming out of the shed for the first time, often with new electronics that were fitted up over the

winter. If this is your boat, do yourself a favour and leave the rods in the shed. Put the family in the boat and spend a day on the water, enjoying the family-time and getting to

know your new electronics.

I have been in boats with people that have $5000 of sounder/GPS tech and the only thing they can accurately tell you is the brand name of

the unit. Others can at least read the depth and take you to a place if there’s a waypoint, but that’s it.

To me it makes no sense at all to spend that type of money if you’re not going to take advantage of its features. Spend less on a more suitable unit and have some extra money for fuel to go fishing more often.

The statement ‘my mate got one of these and his showed things much better than my old unit’ generally only means he knows how to use his. There is information everywhere on the internet on all types of brands and, while the GPS side is reasonably straightforward, it’s the sounder you need to spend time learning.

It seems plenty of time is spent on tuning into what a fish looks like on the screen.

There are more important features you need to know then the fish pictures will follow. Make sure you know, how to read and adjust your sounder to show the type of bottom you are fishing clearly in any depth. When you learn to fine-tune the bottom, you’ll be surprised just how many fish are sitting on those bumps along the bottom of the screen.

Every year the fishing is different. When you think you have it worked out it changes and the seasonal fish are late or you’re late and you miss the main run.

The snapper have been this way over the last few years and probably a month earlier than expected. This year is different again and we have seen only a handful in the bay so far with a mixture of new and resident fish being reported.

The strange thing about this year – probably due to the direction of the wind over the last month or so – is several have headed offshore looking for flathead and found plenty of snapper. This is something I would expect to see on the other end of the snapper season as the schools of larger fish are leaving the bay and the smaller pinkies are coming in.

The sizes have been mixed, but they’re all new fish and several areas are producing good numbers like Kilcunda on the reef approximately 5km offshore, the rough bottom off Cape Woolamai and the rough ground off the racetrack.

Despite the schools offshore, they haven’t ventured into the bay in any numbers

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SEPTEMBER 2017

yet. It will be a weather or temperature change that will eventually bring them in.

If you’re heading offshore, a feed of flathead won’t take a lot of effort.

Try the usual short drifts and

while they didn’t fill the boat, they did manage a couple of salmon and even couta.

Several couta have turned up in the bay as well, which is good if you want them for bait. The problem is,

based anglers, but there isn’t a lot of consistency in numbers. We would expect the big spring whiting to continue through until the water warms up and the smaller ones start to show up.

were from a tide change just before dusk and from the usual Cleeland Bight and Dickies Bay. The average size has been reasonable at around 32cm, which isn’t that long, but with the quality of the fish two fillets can make a meal. With the windy conditions, several reports have come from Boys Home Channel along the bank on the turn of the low.

From the Newhaven ramp, you can be fishing in less

than 5m and even on a day of very strong wind you are protected.

As the water and weather start to warm up, on my way home I’m seeing more and more people either heading out in boats or standing on the jetties. While this year seems a little different, over the last couple of years the early season catches have come from those who put on the extra layer of clothing and brave the colder nights.

We haven’t had any reports yet, but it was the early part of September when several large bluefin tuna were caught in the Western Entrance. If the weather gods give us one of those perfect spring days, it might be worth throwing in a handful of your favourite tuna lures and heading down that way to have a look. If nothing else your chances are very good on your way home for a feed of flathead or a gummy.

Several anglers have headed offshore looking for flathead and found plenty of snapper instead. work an area. Don’t expect much in the way of bigger ones. The reports have come from Cape Woolamai to the windmills in 20-45m of water. When there has been any swell, fishing has been slow and the flathead just don’t want to bite. A couple of people reported that they trolled out to their spot and

when they turn up early in the spring, whiting and calamari become very difficult to catch, especially the calamari as they are part of the couta diet. It doesn’t seem to take much to scare the whiting.

It has been an unusual winter for whiting with some good fish reported. Often the best come from the land-

In fairness during this winter I have seen less people fishing on the whiting grounds than in previous years. I have spoken to several regulars and it has been nothing more than the tide, weather and free time just not matching up. It has little to do with a lack of fish. The reports I have had

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Snapper

Snapper techniques for the early season run WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

For a Victorian angler, there is nothing that gets the blood boiling more than the sweet smell of spring in the air and the thought that, in just a few weeks, the snapper are going to be on the chew.

Spring is a great time to begin the hunt for your first red for the season, but it comes with its challenges. Of

techniques can be left for another feature article.

When it comes to spring time snapper there are a few factors that come into play when trying to consistently catch solid fish. Anglers that begin their early season hunt tend to have researched and fished hard to find techniques that work for them over previous seasons.

Of course, each and everyone of us has their own method when it comes to fishing, but reading that little something

about their spawning habits will give you the knowledge of when the best time to hunt for them will be. Typically, snapper begin to move in and out of the bay around late August and early September.

Over past years, September 15 has always been my kick off time, but there are plenty of other anglers that are already into them in a big way.

Traditionally, those keen to get into the reds start after the AFL Grand Final. The majority of those wanting to catch snapper also start around this time, making the boat launching cues very long. I guess at the end of the day if you’re keen to persist and have a shot, you’ll quickly get a few tricks up your sleeve to use when the barometer crashes during the peak season.

WORKING THE BAROMETER If there is one key element to follow when on the hunt for snapper, it’s to keep a close eye on the barometric pressure. We don’t all have the luxury of being able to follow a school or schools of snapper from one day to the

Snapper can be fussy at the best of times, which is why it’s always a great idea to have a variety of baits out with you. When it comes to early season reds, the author focuses on quality and edible sizes. next like the local snapper fishing charters. By following the barometer you can pick up on when the best bite will occur. Then pick your fishing window in conjunction with a tide change and the weather

Hook choice is vital when hunting for early season snapper. Octopus circle hooks ensure a solid hook set on the initial bite and prevent the loss of the fish during the fight. course there are always those groups of anglers that wait until the fish are chewing their heads off before heading out to catch their quarry, and when the barometer’s high it can be on for young and old. Of course there are still days in summer when the barometer crashes and the fish are hard to get on the bite, but those

that another angler might do differently to you could be all that’s needed to bring on success.

WHEN TO START I guess when it comes to early season snapper there is no real set time on when to begin targeting them. Having a good understanding of the species and knowing a little

When a high pressure system approaches, the barometer rises and the result is quality snapper.

While the water temperature is cold in September the fish really get stacked up, hence the name ‘Christmas Tree.’

You can take all the baits in the world out with you, but pilchards are still by far the best to use.

36

SEPTEMBER 2017

conditions and you should find a bunch of hungry fish to take your offerings.

Barometric pressure affects snapper feeding simply by affecting the fish’s air bladder. When weather patterns approach with high pressure, the swim bladder is squeezed in; this makes snapper more relaxed and willing to feed. A low pressure system has the opposite effect, expanding the swim bladder.

This puts pressure on the fish’s stomach and makes it feel full and uncomfortable. When this occurs, snapper will either move to a lower water level or higher to try and equalize their swim bladder, which is why on some days you find them feeding deep and other days feeding higher up towards the surface.

In situations where the barometer is high, say 1020,

Early season snapper have quite sharp teeth and it pays to use a minimum of 40lb leader to prevent being bitten or busted off.

Snapper the ideal solution is to head shallow in, let’s say, 6-8m of water along Mile Bridge off Frankston on first light.

It’s even better if you have a tide change around 6-7am.

Simply working with the barometer and understanding how it affects fish can have you fishing those peak times

the bottom will allow you to easily locate such features.

Spawning tends to be focused heavily on the eastern side of the bay with a small spawning ground in Corio Bay and out from Williamstown.

Snapper can still be caught anywhere in the bay. In these three species areas there is

The bite from early season snapper can be almost unnoticeable. Always watch your rod tips and if they slowly pull towards the surface, strike to set the hook.

Matt Boultin knows all too well the importance of fishing a rising barometer and fishing tide changes to be successful. just when the fish come on the bite, even if it’s a 15 minute window.

LOCATIONS Snapper are suckers

Due to the short bite window, it pays to have rigs pre-tied and at the ready just in case you get tangled up or busted off when the bite occurs.

quite a bit of structure where you’ll find the majority of fish in the early season.

Locations such as Mornington and Mt Eliza in

Using pilchards, always remove the head for the juices to expel when in the water.

A pair of solid reds. September might be a challenge, but the fish are far more rewarding to catch. for lurking around structure and, quite frankly, in Port Phillip Bay there really isn’t that much of the stuff. That is unless it’s an old sunken barge, airplane or discarded shopping trolley, birdcage or bunch of car tyres.

If you can find any solid structure, you’ll be sure to find a bunch of stacked up snapper.

As they hug the structure, they look like Christmas trees and it is these shapes that you really need to find. Sit on them and wait for the bite, hopefully with a rising barometer and approaching tide change.

These small pockets of fish tend to be scattered throughout the bay where they can find something to hold on. With a good GPS/mapping and sounder system, scanning

at the same speed as the berley and stay in the trail. Of course, the system can change if you have wind against tide and the lines are going under the boat; in this case, cast out 3-4m and stick the rods out to the side of the boat if you have snapper racks. When berleying, toss out the pilchards cubes to the same place you dropped your baits out to the sides and let the berley create the trail while your bait sinks with it.

Anther thing to note is your hook position. Snapper have a knack for biting between your hooks if you’re fishing a whole fish bait. This is the main reason why I cut the heads of pilchards – it reduces the size of the bait and makes it more of a mouthful so when they hit it they engulf

8m of water the day after a strong westerly tend to fire. Then out wide in 17m fishing off the Hospital at Frankston is good.

Of course, Mile Bridge, the aircraft, the yacht and of course the inner and outer artificial reefs and the prime areas to try for your first hunt.

BAITS Snapper can be fussy at

A solid early season snapper caught at first light.

the best of times, which is why it’s always a great idea to have a variety of baits out with you. When it comes to early season reds, I tend not to focus on variety but quality and edible sizes. Although the bite can be very short lived, a soft, fleshier bait will aid in hooking the fish on the initial bite. You may only get one shot, so make it stick. Leave as much of the hook point exposed as you can.

In this instance, pilchards are a top favourite. They’re even better with the head removed to allow the smell and oils to excrete from the body. Although you might be fishing four rods and have been berleying for some time, ensure that during the lead up to the tide change you check your baits often to keep the freshest you have slowly sinking in your berley trail.

When the bite occurs, it will be fast, so always keep an eye on what your rod tips are doing.

Sometimes, a fish may take the bait and rod tip might just move a few inches. In this case, you’ll have to quickly strike to set the hook. Early season snapper are very fussy and can gobble a bait before

you notice any tip action.

RIG IT RIGHT Although the standard rigging technique for Port Phillip Bay reds is to run a ball sinker either above or below a swivel followed by a snelled hook setup, I prefer to get rid of the sinker and fish the bait straight down the berley trail. This means I don’t cast the bait metres behind the boat, but rather just 2m behind the boat. Then I let the bait sink towards the bottom in the berley trail unassisted.

This has the bait looking much more natural. It will sink

the entire bait. You’ll also want to make sure you’re fishing with new sharp hooks.

As much fun as it is to catch snapper in the peak of their spawning cycle, catching them before the hoards get out on the water is a lot more rewarding. Every year a run of big fish tends to run in early September and the majority of fish caught are genuine 5-6kg models, unlike the more common 3-4kg models in November and December.

September might be a challenge, but the fish are far more rewarding to catch.

Each angler has their own choice of hooks and setups. When fishing whole baits, a snelled set of octopus or octopus circle hooks works best.

SEPTEMBER 2017

37

Hot Spot

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Mitch Chapman

Only a short 10-minute drive off the highway from Orbost lies one of my favourite places to visit, and throughout the year is like a second home for me.

Marlo is located at the mouth of the Snowy River and is not only an anglers’s paradise, but a paradise for anyone who is looking to get away and kick the feet up for a day or two. Make sure you drop in to the pub and say g’day to Russ, Jones and Jacko. The hospitality is top notch and will make you feel so welcomed that you won’t want to come home!

PRIME TIME Marlo is a good all year round option, however, if there has been a lot of rain, especially during winter, it can flood and this can shut down the system for some time. Once the water settles and the system gets a flush out, this is when the fishing can be at its best. The beauty about Marlo is that you can catch just as many fish land-based walking the flats with lures or bait fishing as you can out of a boat or kayak.

THE GEAR The use of long light nibble tip rods are most popular for those anglers who like to baitfish. Light line and leaders are a must when fishing the shallow flats, but when up river in the snags, a slightly heavier outfit is best suited for putting the brakes on some brutes. I you don’t, they will take you deep into the timber and leave you scratching your head.

If lure fishing, then a standard 7ft graphite rod, matched with a 2000 sized reel and 4-10lb braid is more than enough for most species you will encounter at Marlo.

THE RIG A light running sinker rig

with a long light leader is the go when fishing the estuary area from the entrance right up past the third island.

Like mentioned above, when fishing the timber, especially with lures, bump up the leader to 8lb and tighten the drag a little bit.

A rod length of leader tied to the braid via a double uni knot is all that is needed.

BAIT AND LURES Local sandworm is a

drop retrieve is all that is needed, and it won’t be long until you come up tight to something on the other end.

MOTHER NATURE There is nothing wrong with taking home a feed of fish for the table. Just remember to always be one step ahead and understand the rules and regulations on bag limits and size limits of each species. Also, try to gain understanding of

A solid black bream caught on a Bent Minnow as the day was coming to an end and the water glassed out. favourite in most of the estuaries in East Gippsland.

You can either pump your own or buy it. Along with sandworm, prawns are a hot bait, more so when the prawns are running in the river, and these can also easily be caught at night with the use of a scoop net and prawn light.

For the lures people, the go to plastic for Marlo is 80-100mm curl-tail plastics in a bloodworm or wasabi colour.

BEST METHOD When the fish are schooling up in the open it isn’t hard to rack up cricket score numbers of fish. Using the wind or tide to your advantage and drifting over fish using your sounder is the key. Cast up current and work the lure back towards the boat. A small lift and

the fish themselves, for example certain species like bream and estuary perch, when exceeding sizes of 40cm plus can be upwards of 30 years old!

Fish like this are better off returned to water after a quick couple of photos to breed and sustain future fish populations for generations to come.

HOT TIP When the wind blows, it really blows at Marlo. This can make things difficult when out in the lake section and drifting around casting lures. The use of a sea anchor will help a lot as it will slow down your drift, allowing you to work lures slower and more effectively, instead of drifting along a bank too quickly and not fishing it to its full potential.

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Gez with a solid yellowfin bream caught in perfect conditions.

SEPTEMBER 2017

39

Bream and perch fishing can be hit and miss GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

Hot fishing one day and donuts the next, spring can be notorious for fishless days.

It’s certainly the one time of year that the Gippy Lakes can really disappoint anglers or provide big treasures.

This season has proved that yet again, so I’ll keep my report to the days when the fish are on the chew.

many lure anglers are still hooking big loads of bream.

Farmers have been praying for some wet stuff. For most parts of Gippsland, it has been months of record low rainfall, otherwise known as a drought. The upshot for anglers comes in the way of sight fishing in salty river waters. Anglers have experiences some of the best sport using soft plastics in the tree snags as big bream head up the Mitchell and Nicholson rivers getting ready to spawn

Big estuary perch to 45cm have been elusive. Finding them is a grand reward.

BREAM ON PLASTICS AND BLADES With gin-clear water filling all the rivers and lakes for over four months now, it’s no surprise that

over the next few months.

The Mitchell has been the real highlight, especially from the highway bridge all the way down to ‘The Cut.’ Be sure to cast your soft plastics hard

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up against the edge. The real trick is to let them sink close to or even onto the bottom before you retrieve the lure nice and slow. You’ll have to run the snag gauntlet with this method, but you need to try this technique to get the big bream.

Bait anglers are telling me sandworms are the standout bait in that area and the big tasty yellow-eye mullet are also thick along the same stretch of river. Once again, try live shrimp as a backup bait. Blade lures are also hooking plenty of big bream out wide in the middle of all of the rivers feeding the Gippy Lakes including the lower Tambo and Nicho rivers as well. It’s a real hit and miss scenario though.

On some days you can sound up massive schools of bream that will totally ignore any lure thrown at them, while on other days the same bream will bite for at least some part of the day. Some days will see us getting 15-20 bream each for a solid six-hour session.

Other days we can hardly raise a scale. It’s very frustrating to drop lures down to hundreds of bream for hours on end and not even get a bump. I wish it were a case of just finding the right lure, but sometimes they seem to ignore everything.

On a brighter note, I had a rare win with the bream one day at Hollands Landing and caught some of the biggest fish the Gippy Lakes can offer. I fished soft plastic grubs in pink flash and sump oil colours and scored a modest eleven bream. It’s not a big tally, but check this out for huge fish – my best five bream landed on the day were 43, 45.5, 47, 46 and 45cm. A lot of my competition-fishing mates would love those trucks for a weigh-in bag. I’m guessing that’s near 7kg of horse bream there! I weighed a 41cm bream and it went 1.2kg, so I’m thinking the bigger fish should have gone 1.6kg or better.

My buddy Mick Dee scored as well and hauled in five of the best going 39-45cm. He also snared a cracking 43cm perch. We got 20 bream between us, and only three of them were under

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21 Marine Parade MARLO VIC

The new soft plastic Hurricane Sub Grubs are now available and scoring plenty of really big bream.

40cm. It was an extraordinary day of doing battle with huge bream and we don’t take these days for granted.

We are blessed to have such a healthy stock of trophy fish still here and willing to eat lures. Mick shredded a beast to the timber and I somehow dropped or pulled out of at least eight other big bream. The strange thing was that we couldn’t catch a single bream with the usual deadly blades and all were caught on soft plastics using 10lb leaders.

ESTUARY PERCH The only guarantee with chasing estuary perch is that

there are no guarantees!

As we all know, they are an elusive target. When they decide to play you can score impressive numbers. I love the fact that they live in every river that feeds the entire Gippy Lakes area and they can show up when you least expect it. The upper Mitchell River is home to a surprising number of EPs. There’s a lot of river between the highway bridge and the first rapids. It takes a lot of searching and hours of dedication and over time you’ll find a few snags that regularly hold perch. Recently I was having trouble catching

bream and getting a few nice fish, but had to use a blade lure along the river just out from the bank. I did my usual teabag method below my kayak while slowly drifting downstream and was shocked to find two nice 38cm perch turn up out of the blue. I’m sure I stumbled on a school of EPs and I could only trick a couple of them.

During a few other days I have caught bigger perch to 45cm in the snags. They were a totally surprising find, because I have only caught bream in that area for years.

See what I mean? Perch are such a mysterious fish.

Hurrah it’s spring MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

The winter arrived in a big way with gale force winds and stinging sleet one day, and temperatures below freezing. Frosts covered everything and with conditions like that it was little wonder not many anglers were going fishing.

The anglers that braved the conditions had mixed results. Schools of goodsized began to enter the estuary with several anglers reporting getting their bag in a very short time.

Bream have been ranging in size from 30-40cm+. The best results have come for

anglers using sandworms.

Salmon and tailor are throughout the system.

The best results have come from spinning or trolling metal lures. Luderick are schooling along the rock groins that surround the islands and river banks, and again the best results have been on sandworms.

The surf beaches fish well all year. We are lucky huge schools can still be found in our area of Bass Straight. Although there was a lot of overfishing of salmon in the 1960s by trawlers, and for little money value, the overfishing has waned and the salmon are here again in big numbers.

They’re attracting big schools of kingfish, makos,

thresher sharks and many other species that are still turning our part of Bass Straight into the best game fishing spot in Victoria, and maybe most of Australia.

With the swordfish bite still on, the weather and distance offshore, combined with the condition of the boat ramp at Cape Conran is stopping more anglers from getting a chance to land one of these prize captures.

Last month kingfish were still on the bite as well as our local fish including flathead, gurnard, barracouta, pinkie snapper, morwong, salmon, squid and gummy sharks.

Fish further upstream Steven Pryke

Recently the weather has improved, warming the lakes. With an unseasonably dry winter for Gippsland Lakes, fish species have pushed further upstream than usual due to the lack of freshwater coming down the system.

Against expectations, anglers have caught increasing numbers of saltwater species such as snapper in the lakes throughout the system.

Our local town wharves have become happy hunting grounds for tailor chasing schools of whitebait and glassies. Anglers have experienced great success

sandworms or peeled prawn. Some anglers have taken this one step further using soft plastics matched to a lightly-weighted jighead, which has been

580

SEAHAWK

WITH

A quality estuary perch caught while targeting bream in the Nowa Nowa Arm of Lake Tyers.

In recent times a lot anglers have started to make the switch back to straight fluorocarbon lines. This is an invaluable piece of kit and can turn the odds in your favour, especially on those glassy days with no wind. with metal lures. Smaller metals have been ideal, due to their size matching the baitfish perfectly. Other options have been soft plastics fished on lightly weighted jigheads, allowing the soft plastic to hang in the water column like an injured baitfish. This tactic can prove absolutely deadly, especially when the fish are slightly shut down or fussy about what they eat.

North Arm recently has been overrun with large schools of yellow mullet and tailor. Anglers have taken full advantage of the ease of access to these fish with wharves in the centre of town. The most productive pattern has been to either use a float rig baited with

summer patterns with bream and flathead working the edges in areas such as Nowa Nowa Arm in the higher reaches. There have been plenty of fish holding along

the timbered and rocky edges. These areas have been the centre of the action.

The steep timbered edges hold a variety of life forms with barnacle-covered sticks and shrimp. These are happy hunting grounds for the local bream population, which can often be seen rolling and flashing as they crush barnacles and small mussels around the snags.

This makes for addictive sight fishing.

Lately the best tactic for targeting these fish has to been to fish non-weighted soft plastics with a 1/0 Owner Worm Hook cast up tight to the snags. Allow the soft plastic to slowly glide through the water column.

The worm hook helps the plastic sink extremely slow and become snag resistant, allowing the angler to fish in areas normally out of reach.

Just make sure you’ve got a locked up drag so you can force the fish out of the tight cover.

HAVE YOU BEEN FISHING? If you have been out for a fish lately and have a great pic, please send it to stevenprykefishing@gmail.

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Another average school bream from Lake Tyers taken on a brown/copper coloured lure from the tannin water of the system. extremely productive.

LAKE TYERS The lake has started to fall into its spring to early

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BOATS FOR SALE on

Plenty of squid reports inside MCLOUGHLINS

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

PHOENIX 920 Location: NSW

$85,000

What’s been happening down at South Gippy?

Lots! I was glad too see a few anglers getting out recently for more winter kingfish.

Thanks to everyone who shared their reports with me and I’m glad you all found some patches of winter kingies out there. How good do we have it here, catching kings in 13-14°C water?

Myself and few mates went out one Friday for

however there is a stack of couta out there as well. It seems after you find the snapper the couta move in pretty quickly and steal your rigs. You have to move a few hundred metres away to lose them.

All the couta seem to be in over 30m of water. There don’t seem to be many in 20m, so I would suggest fishing a bit shallower for the next few weeks if you are chasing gummies and flatties, as you won’t get hit by the couta as much.

The gummies are going strong out there as well.

There have been a few good

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Plenty of calamari are around at the moment inside Port Albert. The Yamashita squid jigs are doing the trick.

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another look and had no luck this time. I’m sure they’re still there. It’s just a matter of putting the hours in and finding them.

In other news, the offshore reefs are still loaded with pinky snapper to 35cm,

catches to 9kg on the drift with the best bites around the slack tide.

Inside, the squid have been going very well in the usual spots at Port Albert.

Again, the squid seem to be going best around the

tide changes. Most of the calamari are around 20cm hood length with a few big models mixed in as well.

The whiting have been very hit and miss with only small numbers being caught some days and none the next.

Further inside around Port Albert and McLoughlins the salmon and tailor are going strong with plenty of anglers getting their bag limit using soft plastics and metal lures. The plastics have definitely been doing the best, especially in sizes 3-5”, with heavier jigheads between 1/4oz and 3/8oz to combat the current. Most of the salmon are around 40cm in length and are going very well on the run-out tide.

Plenty of small salmon and tailor have been caught

off the 90 Mile on metal slugs. The bigger salmon are all being caught on blue bait and surf poppers.

Over the next month, we should see a few gummy sharks turn up inside and the calamari fishing will really go bezerk. We will start seeing a lot more big models instead of those 20cm ones that around in large numbers now. The whiting should come on a bit stronger as well as we hit September and of course we will see the first of the snapper reports turn up as well.

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

FISHING NEWS

Axiom Pro launched in Aus

$30,000 SKEETER SX180 Location: QLD

$32,500 Like us on facebook for automatic updates 42

SEPTEMBER 2017

FLIR Maritime Asia (Raymarine) were pleased to be hosting the Australian launch of the new Axiom Pro – a high-performance multifunction display – recently at Sydney International Boat Show.

Axiom Pro is engineered for captains that want it all.

Available with RealVision 3D, 1kW CHIRP sonar, and Raymarine HybridTouch control, Axiom Pro is the new standard for ‘all-in-one’ displays. With a blazing fast quad-core processor, a super bright IPS display, and the smart LightHouse OS, Axiom Pro delivers a fluid and intuitive navigation experience. Axiom Pro is easy to expand into an

advanced navigation network that includes multiple Axiom displays, CHIRP radar, Evolution autopilot, FLIR thermal night vision technology, and more.

With the RealVision 3D, anglers can easily identify structure and locate fish with lifelike clarity. RealVision

3D also combines with precision GPS to construct the most accurate 3D model of the underwater world, in real-time.

Adjustments to sonar gain, sensitivity and filtering can also be applied to recorded sonar history, enabling you to reveal previously concealed

fish and structure. Rewind, pause and play back recorded sonar history to take a closer look fish and structure, and easily plot waypoints.

For more information visit www.raymarine.com/ multifunction-displays/ axiom-pro. – Raymarine

Big bream are biting around Bemm River BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

Spring has arrived after a relatively calm, cold winter.

There were numerous frosts with sunny days following, which made it pleasant to sit on the water and dangle a line.

and should be completed by mid September at the latest.

The Fingerling Jetty can be used during this period. If you are concerned, please feel free to call for updated information.

The new jetty will comprise of two floating pontoons with a dual ramp in between. One of the

a wave break between the existing pontoon and the fishing platform.

The fishing has been exceptional, especially in the mouth of the river. A good indication is if a spot has birds working there.

Anglers reported recently that the bream were biting on frozen prawns in the morning and sandworms late in the afternoon.

A couple of locals, David and Ellis, fished in the lower reaches of the river off the bank and were nicely rewarded with eight quality

bream ranging from 32-39cm in a matter of two hours. The gun bait was sandworm.

Spring should promise us exciting times in Bemm River. The new stateof-the-art safe and easy launching/retrieving facility, navigational aids now on the water and the pending opening of the entrance will give us a cracker prawn season and a great run of flathead and bream. And don’t forget the surf.

We have witnessed one of the best winter salmon and tailor runs for a long

Now is a great time to get out and catch a couple of bream like these beauts.

Spring is shaping up to have a great run of bream and flathead, especially if the entrance opens.

Recently the entrance was closed and the water level high. Our new jetty is well under construction

pontoons will be the existing one, but upgraded. The additional pontoon will be more heavy-duty to act as

Bream have been biting on frozen prawns in the morning and sandworms late in the afternoon.

time. Recently, the surf was still firing.

• For on the spot and up to date fishing reports check out Robyn’s website: www. bemmaccommodation.com.

au or ‘like’ us on Facebook – Bemm River Holiday Accommodation Phone: (03) 5158 4233/Mob. 0427 584 233 Email: bemmaccomm@ bigpond.com.

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Lakely the best option MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The past month has seen plenty of windy, cold days with just enough rain to discolour the lake. At this time of year the town is

typically quiet with only a few keen fishers heading here to sample the fishing in the lake and rivers. Offshore water temperatures have been cold and anywhere between 13-15°C; this pretty well shuts down the offshore fishing options.

If you are really keen,

you can get out there around the full moon and new moon period and chase a few gummy sharks. If they’re going to bite, it’ll be around this month. Southern bluefin tuna have been passing by out wide with a few fish caught further up the coast. You have to pick the right weather and

The author with a nice black bream caught in the top lake. be super keen, as these fish have been caught over 65km from land.

Salmon are still along

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disappear. They are constantly moving up and down the beach visiting all the gutters.

It’s just a matter of keeping on the move until fish are found.

The lake is the drawcard for visiting anglers over the cooler months with the black bream fishing better than usual at this time of year.

Having said that, you have to know what you’re doing, as they can be hard to catch. The best fishing is on the cloudy, windy days and it’s near impossible to fish when there is no wind and the sun is out.

Fish can be found anywhere in the bottom lake right through the top lake and up towards Gypsy Point.

The challenge is catching them, as they have seen more than their fair share of lures.

Silver trevally and tailor are also being caught along with a few dusky flathead. All in all, the fishing has been pretty tough and you really have to work at it to come up with a few fish.

FMG

As with the rest of the South Coast, the Eden area has been feeling the cold with few visitors to the area at this time of year.

Nearly everyone would be looking forward to summer and the busier times that come with it.

The offshore water temperature is around 16°C and out wide it’s not much warmer. All the local beaches in the area have schools of salmon moving along them frequenting the gutters at different stages of the tide.

The best way to stay with the fish is to toss metal lures and move from gutter to gutter

until fish are found.

Decently sized tailor are also being caught in the same areas as salmon. A few yellowfin bream are about with fresh baits of beach worms or prawns the best option fished around dawn or dusk. This has been rewarding anglers with a feed of fish.

The odd southern bluefin tuna has been caught, but they are a long way out. Few anglers are getting out there to chase them and it’s much the same with the broadbill swordfish.

Around the inshore reefs anglers have been getting a feed of fish with snapper, morwong and flathead – tigers and sandies – being caught along with snotty-nose trevally. There have been a few anglers chasing the snapper with soft plastic lures. When

the fish have been found, they have been caught on a variety of soft plastic lures.

Around this time of year the water is at its coldest.

The coming months will see the water temperature slowly rising and with it the fishing will only improve. Fishing in the estuaries has seen silver trevally around the entrance area along with yellowfin bream and the odd sand whiting. Nippers and small soft plastic lures are catching their share of fish.

The odd dusky flathead has been caught, but the cold water really slows the fish down. Further upstream anglers have been catching black bream. These fish can be hard to catch one day then the next day they come on the bite.

NSW South Coast

The warm water will whet the fish’s appetites BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Offshore flathead are starting to appear in good numbers and are starting to come on the chew with some excellent bags being achieved.

North out from Tilba, the area we call the ‘Step’ is producing plenty of tigers.

Mixed in with them are some good sandies, red gurnard and the odd large gummy shark.

Other successful areas are the edges of the Four and Six-Mile reefs. If you’re up to fishing the deeper water of the Twelve-Mile Reef, the tigers you get out there are monsters.

Not to be outdone, snapper and morwong are also plentiful on most of the reefs, which is a definite bonus. Start up on the reefs for these fish and as you drift off them, the tigers will start to appear.

For those wishing to chase gamefish things are pretty slow. There are a few striped tuna, an odd albacore and the even odder kingfish at the island. Those wishing to lay a decent berley trail may be in with a better chance of attracting a mako or blue shark, which is best done out

over the shelf.

Back on shore the beach fishing is probably one of the best options with the huge salmon schools passing on a regular basis. These fish can be targeted with the usual bait fishing methods or by tossing the odd lure. Lure fishing is simple in that all you need is a light spin rod, a handful of metal slugs and a little bit of fitness. Just start walking and casting to the gutters that have formed along the beach you have chosen to fish.

Gummy sharks have been a regular catch off the beach this year and are mainly being targeted on the full moon. While chasing these gummies, an increasing number of mulloway are being captured as by-catch.

The beaches around Bermagui are not noted for these fish, but recently more are showing in anglers’ bags.

Spring means bass fishing.

These fish are in the fresh to brackish water of the river systems along the South Coast

Lure casting the beaches is a lot of fun.

as well as in the great fishery in Brogo Dam. The rivers are probably the best option with the Brogo River below the dam wall being a prime area.

Fish will be moving back up the river after spawning and most holes will hold their share of fish. In the dam itself, the water is still pretty cool.

Find a warm, balmy evening (hopefully during an ant hatch) and you may well be pleasantly surprised. However, things are still pretty slow.

The upper reaches of estuary systems that are open to the ocean are definitely worth a look, even those that are closed to the sea. What happens here is that the land mass is slowly warming and so too is the water around it. Fish find these locations where they can be more active feeding on the available food sources created by the warmer conditions. Baitfish, prawns and terrestrial life are the main food sources available, so when these are around it’s great news for anglers.

Whether you lure, fly or baitfish, these areas have lots to offer. Small soft plastics will take the usual species like bream, flathead, estuary perch and, more recently, some big bully mullet. Most of the time these mullet will shy away

Flathead colours are spectacular, whether they’re caught inshore or out at sea. from most hardware tossed at them, however a few anglers have stumbled onto a method – surprisingly, when you rip a small wriggling plastic across their noses, they respond.

Hang on, they are explosive.

Tidal systems that have plenty of flats are prime areas to target. If these flats have been exposed to the sun at low tide for some time, the warmth

created brings the fish to these areas on a rising tide where they know plenty of food will be available. When enough water covers these flats to allow both anglers and fish to move over them, simply pick an area, anchor and scatter baits such as nippers or worms randomly over the area. Then sit back and wait for the action.

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Fishers have heaps to choose from this spring NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

The local estuaries around the Narooma region have continued to produce. The smaller closed systems like Mummaga Lake near

Dalmeny and Corunna Lake to the south are the better ones to try. A lot of anglers have been targeting flathead as they come out of their winter slumber with both bait and lure anglers having success.

These smaller systems have fished quite well over

winter for eating-sized models, but this month the big girls will get active and I expect some crocs upwards of 90cm to be caught. Early in the season these breeders will be hungry. I like targeting them with big lures – 100mm and bigger with 1/2oz heads fished slowly

Solid black bream on cranks are stacks of fun.

near the bottom.

These fish will still be a little lethargic, hence the slower retrieval. Instinct and hunger will take over, so expect the bite to be quite aggressive.

Concentrate your efforts around the lake margins; water depths between 3-5m are ideal.

If you’re fishing further north up at Tuross then the river is a great place to start.

Every season some donkeys come from here and in shallow water, so it’s certainly worth a look. If flathead isn’t your go, there’s a heap of other species willing to fill the gap.

The numbers of bream will increase, especially yellowfin bream, as they head back into the estuaries after spending the winter spawning along the beaches and rocks. In September the lower sections of the estuaries are usually best for bream, so concentrate your efforts in the channels that feed water into the basins themselves. You should be able to get trevally, luderick, a few flatties and whiting in the same areas with plastics and fresh bait like prawns, worms and tuna cubes.

Offshore anglers after kingfish will be getting a little

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NSW South Coast

It’s a warm-up for the summertime species MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

It’s a cracking time of year to fish the local estuaries with the transition period in full swing. With the water temperature around 18°C and getting warmer by the day, those summertime species are getting active once again.

Big flathead will be on most estuary sport fishers’ lists as September sees the big girls wake up and

come out of their winter hibernation. Both Merimbula and Pambula lakes can expect crocs to 90cm+ and bigger this month. The main basins are the places to fish.

I’d be concentrating around the ribbon weed edges in 4-9m, depending on which system you’re fishing.

Casting your offering to the shallower edge and working it back to the deeper sections is the go. Soft plastics and larger vibes work a treat.

If you can locate whitebait schools, this will only enhance your chances as

well. There will be plenty of eating-sized fish to 55cm, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a feed for the family.

Anglers who like to target mulloway will be getting excited with the top lake in Merimbula the place to fish. Every year we see fish to 20kg caught, mainly by bait fishers. This is a great time to put the effort in. The flooding tide is best. Anchor up on the eastern weed bank and fish back into 7-10m of water. The better baits to use are tailor fillets, fresh squid and live mullet if you

A great pair of salmon from Pambula Lake.

Stuie Cattanach with a beaut bream from a southern estuary.

From page 46

excited, as these superb fighting species should be in good numbers on the reefs and at Montague Island. Over recent weeks there have been a few kings about, but this will definitely get better as we head further into the month.

At this time of year jigs are popular and highly effective with most kings averaging 3-5kg. You’ll get the odd bigger fish to 8kg, but school-size fish are usually the norm.

If you’re after the bigger models, using live bait will be more effective.

You can get all the livies you want out the front of the golf course rocks or the reef off Narooma main beach. Where the kings will be will depend on a number of factors, but if you look around the western side of Montague (Fowl House Reef) or down south around the pinnacles, you should be in business.

Mixed in with the kings will be big bonito.

These speedsters have been catchable all year with some nudging 7kg. At that size they certainly have a go and aren’t too bad on the plate if they’re looked after correctly. On the reefs the

snapper have been ok without being red hot. Crews putting in the hard yards fishing around Potato Point have done well with fish to 4kg.

The reds being caught are an early morning proposition, so latecomers need not try or you’ll be disappointed.

Water depths of 55-60m have seen most of the action and I’ve heard of the odd kingfish being caught by the snapper fishos, too. It may be worthwhile taking a jig outfit and a few livies if you’re planning a snapper trip; you never know when the kingies will turn up.

Anglers after flathead are doing very well on sandies in 30-35m of water straight of Kianga. Once you locate a patch it won’t take long before your bag is reached.

Tiger flathead can be found a little further out in 60m+ and these excellent-eating fish are in awesome numbers lately.

Some days you may have to move around a little to get away from the leatherjackets, but your effort will turn to reward with some tasty fillets for the pan.

The ocean rocks are in the transition period like most forms of fishing at this time of year. It’s possible to get a feed of luderick, drummer and bream, then follow up

and get into the pelagic action using whole pilchards or chromed sliced lures catching salmon, tailor, bonito and smaller kingfish. To me that’s a cracking mix. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but at least what you want to go and target is there for the taking.

The better ledges to try include Dalmeny headland, the ‘Golfie Rocks’ in town and Mystery Bay’s high rock to the south of Narooma.

It’s exciting times for beach goers as well. Bream and mulloway are definite target species this month and both will be entering the various estuaries along the coast – the mouth of Tuross is a hotspot to target. Every year solid mulloway get caught on the southern end of Blackfellows Beach, and if the early reports are anything to go by then that’s the area I’d be concentrating on.

Better baits to use include squid, pilchards, salmon and tailor strips. The best of them all is big bunches of live beach worms. When using worms, don’t be afraid to cast your offering just past the shore dump – mulloway don’t need a lot of water to feed and you would be pleasantly surprised at how many fish come from this skinny water.

can get them.

If the bigger fish aren’t for you then the lower sections of the channel below the main bridge in town will see bream, trevally, luderick and flathead all there for the taking. As the month progresses, whiting will start to enter the system and be a viable proposition on the flats with live squirt worms or bass yabbies the preferred baits.

Outside anglers have had sporadic fishing at best with the wind that’s been blowing. When it has abated some exceptional fishing has been had and will continue to be on offer. The local reefs are still producing good bags of snapper for those who put the hard yards in. Switched-on anglers get their bags on most outings.

The reds are widespread so you have to put the time in to locate them. Once you do, you’re in business. Most fish are averaging 1.5-2kg with

the odd better red nudging 5kg – solid models. The better baits are squid strips, pilchards and tuna cubes.

Mixed in with the snapper are morwong, trevally and the odd kingfish. In fact, the kings should really turn up this month and in October.

Most years we start to see good schools of kings around the 3-5kg mark.

Long Point and Haycock reefs are good places to start looking. They should respond well to live bait, jigs and squid. They can be fussy early in the season, so it’s best to have all bases covered. Those heading out wider looking for tuna may be rewarded, but a lot will depend on conditions like water temperature, current and bait activity.

The last few weeks have seen albacore and a few stray SBTs (southern bluefin tuna) caught, but there’s certainly no guts to them. It would be a little hit

and miss at the moment, but you never know. Trolling smaller skirted pushers and bibbed minnows would be the go if you decided to take the long drive out.

Personally I’d be waiting another month or so and save the fuel for when the fishing really hots up.

On the beaches and rocks the usual culprits will be there ready and waiting with beach goers getting some great results of late. Bream numbers are increasing recently with the estuary mouths the place to fish. The bream are heading back into the systems after spawning on the beaches and I expect this great action to continue right through the month.

Mixed in with the bream are some solid whiting and Merimbula main produces exceptional fishing. The flooding tide has been best with live beachworms and pipi the gun baits.

SEPTEMBER 2017

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DIY Lure Making

Doc’s Shallow Minnow 70mm BRISBANE

LURE EYE

Greg Vinall support@makewoodenlures.com

My lure-making obsession has little to do with money and everything to do with adrenaline. If you reckon nailing a trophy fish on a ready-made store-bought lure is a rush, try it just once on a lure you designed and made with your own two hands!

Over the next six months, I will be getting back to basics and sharing how to make six simple wooden lures. Lures that anyone can make and designed to catch bread-and-butter species like bream, lizards, small trevally, trout, bass and so

Twist eyes are ideal for beginners as they are simple to do. They are designed for small, light duty lures like the ones we’ll make in this series, but if you’re making lures that will be fished on lines greater than 6kg breaking strain you’d be better to use a through-wire and/or harder timber. on. There will be a total of two crankbaits, a stickbait, a lipless crankbait, a popper and a glider, which is enough to cover a wide range of fishing scenarios.

The tools and materials list is super simple. In fact, it’s pretty much identical for all six lure designs.

You probably already own the tools or you’ll get most of them pretty cheaply at Bunnings or online.

Template: 1 Square = 1cm

As for timber, I’m going to use balsa. Yes, it’s soft but it’s easy to work, readily available and gives lures an incredibly crisp action. Plus, balsa is pretty forgiving if your skills aren’t quite 100%.

DOC’S SHALLOW MINNOW 70MM The 70mm shallow running minnow is a great pattern for slinging around rivers and estuaries. It’s great for casting up-current on the

flats during a run-out tide, then cranking it back just a little faster than the current – flathead city! Alternatively you can paint it brown trout colours and take it into the sweet water.

PAINTING AND CLEAR COATING I use water-based airbrush acrylics to paint my lures, then I clear coat them with a super clear, tough PAINTING For a free beginners course on airbrushing lures, go to lure painting website: www.crazylureart.com/ free-lure-paintinglessons-register/

100% Scale

Tools Utility knife, battery drill and bits, hacksaw, pliers.

Materials • 12.5mm x 75mm balsa plank • 120 and 240 grit sandpaper • 240 grit wet sanding paper • 1-1.2mm stainless steel wire • Epoxy adhesive (with syringes and mixing sticks) • Ball sinkers (size 00) • Methylated spirits • 1.5-2mm thick clear polycarbonate offcuts epoxy. If you have an airbrush or can borrow one, great! But if you’re just getting started then the odds are that you won’t have an airbrush – and that’s fine! Just get to work with artists brushes, aerosol packs or whatever you have.

I know some awesome lure artists who use nothing but brushes and toothpicks to paint their wares.

One thing to watch out for though is that not all paints play nicely together. If you are going to use model makers enamels, for example, you’re best to use only these paints, not mix them with acrylics or urethanes. It can take some experimentation to figure out what works, so test paints on some scrap wood first and have fun figuring it out.

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Cut out the template, place it on the balsa and trace the side profile onto the wood. Use an utility knife to slice between the outlines and separate the blanks.

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Glue 120 grit sandpaper onto a square block of scrap wood. Then place the block on its edge on a flat surface like a table top. Keeping your lure blank flat on the table, rub it back and forth against the sandpaper to square up the sides. Use a curved sanding block to reach the concave part of the lure body.

Mark a centre line on the underside. Then lay your side profile template on the lure blank and mark the location of the tow point, hook hangers, weight and diving lip. Use the tip of a nail, small drill bit or pen to make a tiny dent for your drill bit to centre on.

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Now make all the holes and slots for your hardware.

These need to be properly aligned, or your lure will be off balance, which is why it’s best to do it while the wood is still square. I’m using a 1.5mm drill bit for the tow point and hook hangers and a 4mm one for the weight. These can be opened up with bigger drill bits later if necessary.

Use a thin bladed saw to cut the slot for the diving lip. A tenon saw is fine, but a band saw is better as it provides a more precise cut to ensure that this slot is as accurate as you can get it. A crooked diving lip can make it difficult or impossible to tune your lure when it’s finished. So if you’re not 100% happy, throw your lure out and start again – don’t waste time finishing it.

Pare away the bulk of the waste using the utility knife. It’s important to keep the wood square at this stage as later on it will make it easier to get the components all properly aligned.

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It’s time to rough out the top profile, so centre the top template on the lure blank and trace around it. Then slice away the bulk of the waste, and use your sanding block to refine the final shape, just as in Step 2. The two sides of the lure need to be mirror images, so the lure body is well balanced and the action is crisp. By the time you’re done, the lure body should still look square when you view it from the front and back.

DIY Lure Making 8

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This is now the fun part, final shaping of the lure body! Working by eye, mark centre lines on all of the long sides of your blank, then mark carving guidelines.

The carving lines should be halfway between the edge of the wood and the centre line you just drew.

Go to work with your utility knife, trimming the waste between the guidelines. It’s much easier to control the cuts if you slice off lots of small slivers, rather than large chunks.

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Use a small piece of 120 grit sandpaper to smooth out the lumps and bumps – be careful not to sand too much and spoil the shape. The trick is to not press too hard on the sandpaper and to do a few strokes on one side, then switch and do a few strokes on the opposite side. Keep checking the lure from in front, behind and above to make sure it’s symmetrical.

Left: Using the template as a guide, cut your diving lips from polycarbonate sheet - don’t use Perspex, it will break. Strong scissors make this job very easy, but make sure to smooth the edges of the lips with wet sanding paper to avoid burrs or barbs that can snag or cut fine leaders. Glue the diving lips in with slow curing epoxy and your lures are ready for painting.

Glaziers are a good source of polycarbonate offcuts.

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Now it’s assembly time. Start by twisting up some small pieces of stainless steel wire to make eyelets. The idea is to make these as long as will fit into the lure body. Then use a good quality, 24hr cure time epoxy adhesive to glue these into the lure. Don’t be tempted by the convenience of 5 minute epoxies, they’re not strong enough and will weaken more over time.

Using a flat stick, work as much epoxy into the hole as possible, then smear some epoxy onto the shaft of your twist eye. Rather than push it into the lure, twist it like it’s a screw. By twisting the opposite direction to the thread, you’ll push the glue into the hole, rather than squeeze it out.

For the weight, use half of a size 00 ball sinker. I simply split these in two using my utility knife. Fill the hole with epoxy, push in the weight and fill over the top with a little more epoxy.

Now put the lure aside for at least 24 hours to cure.

• For extra information and video tutorials please go to Greg’s website MakeWoodenLures. com/Fishing-Monthly/ and complete the free registration. To check out Greg’s other work visit crazylureart.com and his Facebook page Wooden Lure Making.

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AFTA Show gets the thumbs-up If you follow fishing and didn’t know the AFTA Trade Show was held on the Gold Coast in July, you must have had a dodgy internet connection for the last month! Plenty of new products were released, some making their Australian debut after being launched at the ICAST show in the USA mere weeks before, and others being displayed for the first time.

Like always, AFTA ran Best of Show awards that were contested by over 280 entries in 19 categories. The winners are published here.

Fishing Monthly’s own www.tacklejunkie. fish, which powers the What’s New sections of the magazines, also handed out its own ‘Thumbs Up’ awards that were presented on the five live shows that Steve Morgan and

Simon Goldsmith broadcast from the show floor. You can watch recordings of the live shows on the www.tacklejunkie.fish Facebook page or just the Thumbs Up products on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel.

The award winners as well as Hall of Fame inductees and Industry Awards were presented at the AFTA Gala Dinner. Hosted by Nova Brisbane radio star Ash Bradnam, and attended by a who’s who of the industry and government, it was great to see people like Bruce Alvey acknowledged for their decades of tireless service to the industry.

Was the AFTA Show a hub of activity for the Australian tackle industry? You bet! We gave it the thumbs-up. - FM

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - John Millyard John Millyard joined Basser Millyard in the early 1970s to assist his father with the heavy workload. Upon joining the business John went on to acquire some great agencies including Pradco, Scotty, AFTCO, Everol and Mr Twister.

In 1993, John decided to expand the business and acquired Killalure. He used his training and expertise in plastic moulding to take this brand to a new level by re-tooling existing models into plastic. New models were designed in the coming years, and the Killalure range firmly established its place as a major player in the Australian market.

In 2000, John bought Classic Lures from

Rob Gaden and again used his skills and knowledge to upgrade the brand’s foam lures to injection plastic. Many new models were developed, and the brand has gone on to enjoy great success in both Australian and international markets.

John was a founding director of the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) in 1981, and took on the role of running the industry trade show with the goal of promoting fishing to the public. The first show was a public show held at Birkenhead Point in Sydney in 1981.

John ran the AFTA show for many years in venues including Homebush, Rosehill Racecourse, Penrith Panthers, Flemington Racecourse, the Brisbane Showgrounds and finally the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre where it continues to be held to this day.

Together with John Dunphy, John Millyard spent countless volunteer hours lobbying state and federal governments for the benefit of recreational fishing.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - Trevor Maundrell Trevor Maundrell started with Jarvis Walker in 1984 as a sales representative, alongside his brother Max. He quickly progressed through the ranks, becoming the NSW State Manager, then the National Sales Manager and finally was appointed at CEO in 1988.

Trevor took Jarvis Walker from an Australian rod building business to the international fishing tackle company we know today.

Over the years Jarvis Walker has had overseas ownership by companies including the Penn Fishing Tackle Company and Ryobi.

One of Trevor’s proudest achievements has been bringing Jarvis Walker home to 100% Australian ownership.

Trevor has dedicated many volunteer hours to working with recreational fishing industry bodies. He served two terms on the board of the Australian Fishing Trade Association and continues to serve of the board of the Future Fish Foundation. During his time on the AFTA Board, Trevor oversaw many initiatives that raised the profile of recreational fishing in Australia, and made the nation’s leaders sit up and take note.

Trevor’s leadership is described as ‘nothing short of inspirational’, and the loyalty and years of service of the staff at Jarvis Walker is testament to the team environment that he has created.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - Dick Lewers Richard ‘Dick’ Lewers was best known for his long running Modern Fishing column ‘Ask Dick Lewers’. Dick was also involved in various recreational fishing bodies, and was a fixture at both the Sydney and Melbourne boat show fishing clinics for many years.

Dignified, quietly spoken, but with a devilish sense of humour, Dick personified the term ‘nature’s gentleman’ and was revered by all who had contact with him.

The ‘Ask Dick Lewers’ column was the

longest running question and answer column in the world.

Aside from his column writing, Dick was an accomplished book author, with his first work being published way back in the 1950s.

Understanding Fishing Tackle was the ‘bible’ in the 1970s, and Fabulous Bass and How to Catch Them, published in 1995, was a true labour of love for this warm, genuine and humble man.

A superb communicator, it wasn’t just about tackle and technique with Dick though. A number of past and present day fishing writers sought his advice about becoming magazine contributors, and his well considered, thoughtful replies were of sufficient encouragement for them to put down the rod, pick up the camera, and get their thoughts down on paper.

With Dick’s passing in December last year, at the age of 92, Australian recreational fishing lost one of its true champions.

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NS Black Hole make rods for jigging, popping, and slow jigging in their brand new Boca range, but it was the popping model that got runner up for Best Rod at AFTA. The Boca Popping rod beat a large number of excellent rods to snag this title, as the Best Rod division is always hotly contested at AFTA, with a large number of entries.

Popping has become very popular in the last few years, and this addictive fishing demands the best quality in hardwearing equipment. This is why the Boca Popping rods are such a good option.

The Boca Popping rods come in four sizes, with a 7’9” PE 2-4 stick that will throw baits up to 125g, an 8’3”, PE 6-10 stick capable of casting baits to 180g, an 8’6” version of the PE 6-10 that will cast up to 150g, and a 10’ PE 3-6 stick that can throw baits weighing up to 140g.

All rods are 2-piece, come with Fuji LRV Titanium guides and have nano carbon blanks and a double locking reel seat. Keep an eye out for them at your favourite tackle store in the coming months, or for more information on the NS Black Hole range head to the EJ Todd website. www.ejtodd.com.au

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The Best Rod division of the AFTA Best of Show Awards always attracts a large number of entries, and this year was no different.

After a flurry of voting, the rod that came out on top in 2017 was the 6’6”, 4-piece Combat Beast Travel Baitcast (PE 1-4, 70g) from Wilson Fishing.

The Combat Beast series of rods, as the name suggests, is built specifically to take on the biggest predators that fishing can throw at you.

Crafted using high performance Toray carbon material, the blanks have a fast taper that allows for a solid hook set and a high back bone that allows the angler to turn the heads of powerful fish.

An ingenious 4 axis carbon slit cross wrapping eliminates blank twist and reinforces the overall structural stability giving these rods an incredible strength and ultimate performance in the field.

The rods are fitted with high quality Fuji components including Fuji K-SIC guides that have been optimally placed to maximise blank integrity, making the Combat Beasts the ultimate performance rods developed to take on the ultimate beast. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

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Shimano Sustain 2500 HGFI

13 Fishing Concept Z

The brand new Shimano Sustain FI comes in 4 sizes, but it was the smallest version, the 2500 HGFI, that won out over others at the AFTA trade show.

By leveraging the benefits of the Aluminum Hagane Body, the Sustain FI possesses the rigidity of a metal outer shell that maximizes impact resistance whilst eliminating body flex under load. To provide enhanced sensitivity, a Magnumlite Rotor has been fitted and offers an effortless low inertia rotation – a significant improvement on the previous Sustain FG model.

X Protect technology provides the Sustain FI with Shimano’s highest degree of waterproofing protection. Such technology leverages both a water repellent treatment and labyrinth structure that blocks any saltwater entry into the reel’s internals.

The cold forged Hagane Gear and X-Ship provide a gearing system that is smoother and stronger than any other on the market.

This gives the reel a much smoother gear transition but also unrivalled pulling power.

The 2500 HGFI has a gear ratio of 6.0:1, can put out a maximum of 9kg of drag, and weighs just 235g! Make sure you add this one to the wish list! www.shimanofish.com.au

It’s time to rethink everything you know about bearings! Introducing the newest member of the Concept range of baitcasting reels from from 13 Fishing, the Concept Zero.

The Concept Zero features bearings that use 13 Fishing’s proprietary new space-age polymer material to replace all ball bearings.

This is where the Concept Zero gets its name – it has zero ball bearings!

That means there will be no more performance loss due to debris, no more corrosion and environmental wear, and no more noise.

Some of the other cool features include 6-way centrifugal braking, 22LB Bulldog drag and Japanese Hamai cut gearing.

The Concept Zero is currently available in 6.6:1, 7.3:1 and 8.1:1 in the right hand wind configuration, and 7.3:1 in the left hand configuration.

The Zero is a fantastically durable reel that won’t break the bank, and it looks pretty damn good too!

Welcome to the future of baitcasting.

For more information on the 13 Fishing rod range, visit the Nomad Tackle website or like them on Facebook.

Price: SRP $200 www.nomadtackle.com

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The runner-up for Best Combo at the 2017 AFTA Show was the Penn Conflict II and Regiment II. Incorporating a lightweight yet strong RR30 (Rigid Resin) body and rotor, the Conflict II can withstand the high pressures that braided lines and powerful fish generate,while being light enough to comfortably cast all day.

Housed with the RR30 body are seven stainless steel bearings and a computercontrolled CNC gear technology system.

HT100 carbon fibre drag washers ensure smooth and consistent drag pressure.

There are four models, covering everything from snapper on plastics through to pelagics on metals. Gear ratios range from 6.2:1/83cm on the 2500 to 5.6:1/90cm on the 5000, and maximum drags range from 5.5kg to 11kg.

Penn Regiment II rods are new gen super light but powerful graphite rods featuring SLS3 construction with dual layer graphite wrap for added twist resistance. Other features include strong and furable Fuji Alconite K-Guides and a lightweight Fuji graphite reel seat.

SLS3 construction uses inner and outer spiral wrap layers of carbon fibre to sandwich middle layers of alternating longitudinal carbon and glass. The spiral wraps maintain a round cross-section in the blank when under load, which helps the blank handle higher loads.

The middle layers of unidirectional carbon and glass create the backbone, delivering a strong, balanced, and thin rod blank. www.pennfishing.com.au

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For a winning combo designed for throwing big lures at big fish, look no further than the Jewel Swimbait 7120 rod paired up with a Tranx 300A reel, both from Shimano!

The Shimano Tranx 300A is designed to go toe-to-toe with the toughest predators.

The Tranx series comes in a range of sizes, but the 300A comes in 5.8:1 and 7.6:1 ratios, and has an ergonomic double handle.

The Hagane Body provides a rigid yet highly durable outer shell that’s free from body flexing. Additionally, High Efficiency Gearing (HEG) leverages an enlarged drive and pinion gear that is further supported by X-Ship for the ultimate in smooth operation.

The Jewel Swimbait rod is 7’10” and comes as a 2-piece. This beast is rated at 8-15kg, and can cast baits weighing up to 5oz!

Like all the rods in the upgraded Jewel series, the Jewel Swimbait rod is built on a T45 blank and fitted with Fuji K Alconite guides, combining high end contruction and superior value. The construction of the T45 blank sets the Jewel apart from traditional graphite construction, where a graphite tape is linear rolled at 45° and is then reinforced by two opposing angled premium graphite sheets, creating a light yet extremely strong blank.

The Tranx 300A and Jewel Swimbait rod are definitely a match made in heaven for the big bait lovers! www.shimanofish.com.au

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The Zerek Stalker was created to make a unique sound while being retrieved, appealing to large surface-feeding predators.

The Stalker has a snake-like swimming action that rocks the internal rattles and knocks the lure’s section together creating the unique sound this lure emits.

A jointed, three-piece wakebait with through wire construction and large boot tail, the Stalker is built to handle the extreme tackle anglers are using with these lures.

Fitted out with 5x strong Mustad trebles to ensure a solid and secure connection, the Stalker exudes strength in all areas. Make no mistake, this lure is designed to be fished hard for big predators that includes Murray cod, barramundi, trevally and a range of other reef thugs.

Initially released in the 250mm Mega version, the Zerek Stalker will be also be available in an 18cm version by the end of the year. The Stalker will add a tough lure to your kit that will take on the biggest predators in your area. Available in eight colours. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

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The Best Hard Lure category was hotly contested at the 2017 AFTA Show. There were many quality contenders, but the Gillies Bluewater Saury lure topped the pack.

It's designed to mimic the popular pelagic baitfish and will be in its element chasing tuna, mackerel and all other predatory species.

The Saury comes with 10/0 VMC single hooks and heavy-duty rings and hardware.

The heavy duty, stainless steel, wired through construction ensures the lure will stand up to the toughest sports fish. A new reinforced bib design compliments the nose wired tow point to ensure the lures swim perfectly out of the box and require minimal tuning after use.

The Saury is available in 10 colours and some of those feature the patented ‘LiveGlo’ fluorescent technology.

The technology incorporates luminous and ultra violet additives that are somewhat invisible to the human eye but not to predatory fish. The innovation and design in Lance Butler’s lures is something that sets his lures apart from most mainstream lures. www.jmgillies.com.au

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Halco's Madeye range has been winning fans ever since its release. A big part of this is their new soft plastic Rubber Stretch Technology .

RST is a unique rubber copolymer that's up to 5x more durable than standard plastic, and is also boyant, enabling the lure to float and wriggle when sitting on the bottom.

One of the most popular models in the range is the Paddle Prawn. It was initially released in 3”, 5” and 7” sizes, and is now also available in a 4" version. With its RST technology, the 4" Paddle Prawn is very durable, and can withstand repeated savage strikes. It's enhanced with a natural squid scent, and many colours are highly UV reactive. These babies are unbeatable in the water!

All Paddle Prawns have a thin, lightweight yet durable tail that is buoyant and sends irresistible vibrations through the water when jigged or in a current. In addition, the legs and feelers add to the natural appeal, making the Paddle Prawn look incredibly lifelike in the water.

The Madeyes 4” Paddle Prawn is available in all your favourite colours, including 200 amber oil, 204 ivy flash, 206 jelly prawn, 207 fluoro orange, 211 raw prawn (new colour), 212 fluoro pink, 215 pearl. It’s available in packs of six. www.halcotackle.com

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The new ChaseBaits Smash Squid from River2Sea looks exactly like a real squid, right down to the wings that ripple through the water. It’s so lifelike that a video of it swimming received over 214,000 views in a matter of days!

Creator Grainger Mayfield from River2Sea says it’s the most realistic squid ever made, but added that creating it wasn’t an easy journey.

“It took 18 months to get the design right,” he explained. “The rolling wings were particularly challenging. Early versions simply vibrated or flapped in the water. We had to get the thickness and shape absolutely spoton to achieve that perfect roll.”

Other features include lifelike 3D custom squid eyes, supple tentacles and a potent squid scent for maximum attraction. You can work the Smash Squid in a variety of ways – twitching, jigging or just adding it to a dropper rig to waft naturally in the current.

In field testing the Smash Squid has been smashing the snapper, catching them even after its tentacles are gone. As well as catching every predator in the salt, lateralthinking anglers should also be able to catch freshwater species too. Keep an eye out for it in stores later this year!

Price: from SRP $19.99 www.river2sea.com.au

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Chasebaits 75mm Smash Crab

Live Target has combined nature’s best with modern technology to create an exciting new collection of swimbaits, and it caught the eye of many industry members at t There are 11 different types in the series, all representing different forages such as mullet, sardines and perch, but the one that received the most appraisal at the AFTA show was the Trout Swimbait!

The Trout, as with every other swimbait in the range has been fitted with a strategically engineered oscillator that generates a sideto-side tail swing action.

Each swimbait has been anatomically scaled, so they look ridiculously realistic. As a bonus, they also feature a hook guard built into the dorsal fin of each swimbait, so you can throw them into some gnarly cover!

The Trout will be most at home in Murray cod fisheries, where trout often dine on these foreign delights. It’s 190mm long, weighs 3.25oz, and comes in two colours, representing brown and rainbow trout! www.ejtodd.com.au

After the release of the hugely popular 100 Smash Crab, the team at River2Sea were flooded with requests to make a smaller version to appeal to more species.

River2Sea responded by creating the 75mm Smash Crab, which promptly achieved runner-up position at the ICAST 2017 tackle trade show in the USA. In Australian field testing the 75mm Smash Crab has been picking up flathead, trevally, snapper and more. You can work the Crab by dropping it down ledges or pylons and let the legs create all the action on their own.

Alternatively, you can jig it back to you, or even add it to a dropper rig. The leg vibration is very tight and erratic, with little to no angler input needed.

The 75mm Smash Crab is made from 10x material with a custom Shogun 4/0 hook rated to 20kg+, and it comes in five lifelike colours. It’s perfect for all estuary and shallow offshore species.

Price: from SRP $16.95 www.river2sea.com.au

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Fins ‘Evolve’ is constructed from a next generation Hybrid Fibre Concept (HFC), meaning it’s hardwearing and perfect for going up against some of the toughest animals with fins in the world.

It has been formulated and designed for the tough Australian conditions and Australian fish. State of the art fibres combine to provide maximum casting distance, ultra smooth presentation and yet still meets all the toughness and reliability that you come to expect from Fins lines.

Ultra-thin diameters combine with silky smooth outer coatings to provide the softest and most efficient casting line on the market, and also ensures that you get some serious mileage out of one spool. The round profile suits both spin and bait casting reels and is available in hi-vis chartreuse for all water visibility.

Make sure you give this stuff a look when it’s time to re-spool your favourite reel! www.jmgillies.com.au

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Sunline’s newest braid, Siglon PE, comes in both 4-carrier and 8-carrier, but it was the x8 that won praise at the AFTA show!

Made from EX-PE fibres, Siglon PE is a tightly woven braid that provides superior abrasion resistance, a very thin diameter for its breaking strain, and minimal stretch. It is very easy to manage, with a stiff yet ultrasmooth and round profile, and is available in striking colour options.

Both the PEx8 and PEx4 are Japanesemade, featuring great lineal and knot strength.

The PE fibre provides high sensitivity and low colour bleed.

Siglon PEx8 is available in light green, orange and multicolour. It comes in breaking strains of PE0.3 (5lb) to PE3 (50lb) in 150m spools, and PE0.6 (10lb) to PE10 (130lb) in 300m spools Siglon represents absolute quality at an affordable price, and is a definite winner, whatever you plan to fish for with it. www.ejtodd.com.au

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The new Bluewater Trolling lures from Gillies feature unique hand-poured heads, attractive graphics and finish detailing their trademark Bluewater logo in the eye. Other features include a supple silicone skirt, a quality finish to the resin head and skirt attachment, two different swimming actions, and tried-andtested, fish-catching colour combinations.

The 6”, 8” and 10” Bluewater Lures are considered small to medium in size and ideally would perform better if rigged with a single hook. The 8” and 10” versions could accommodate a two-hook shackle rig, however if the gauge of the hook is heavy this could dampen the action of the lure. It is recommended that chafe tube be used over the leader through the lure head to avoid abrasion, and a stopper used above the rigging inside the lure skirt to stop the rigging inside the lure skirt to stop the rigging pressing against the head at the point of connection.

There are two head types – plunger and pop – and the target species are billfish, tuna, wahoo, mackerel and mahimahi. www.jmgillies.com.au

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The FatBoy Devil is a slant-face, short plunger-style design with a gentle angle and moderate taper, which gives a consistent and reliable action that works well across all sea conditions. This very stable and easy to use slant design pumps out a strong bubble trail.

The Devil comes in two sizes, 8” (pictured) and 6”, and both models are keel weighted for prefect balance and true running performance. It’s versatile enough to be used from any position in the spread, although the short and long rigger are recommended as the best positions to try it.

The FatBoy Devil has proven to be deadly for all marlin species, as well as yellowfin and southern bluefin tuna. Like all FatBoy lures it features a hand-poured head that uses high-impact, UV-pigmented resin which makes it extremely durable (it will not chip or crack). Chrome mirror inserts reflect sunlight and throw off a great flash underwater which, when combined with the blood red eyes, acts as a powerful strike trigger for sharp-eyed predators. www.unitedtackle.com.au

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Sage Salt HD

Hardy Zephrus Ultralite

Building on the success of the X using KonneticHD technology, Sage introduces the Salt HD. This rod offers more pulling authority and increased line lifting power than standard fast action rods, and will ensure anglers can tame any saltwater species.

The Salt HD features KonneticHD Technology for ultralight, strong, and slim blanks to help reduce fatigue and slice through the wind.

The oversized hard chromed snake guides and tip-top ensure large saltwater knots slide smoothly, and the heavy-duty anodized aluminum reel seat is uplocking to ensure stability.

Combined with a full-wells cork handle and a laser etched line weight on the slide band, these rods are ready to go when the fish of a lifetime swims by.

Available in 6-16wt, each model is purpose-built for a specific saltwater application. The Squid Ink blank colour pairs perfectly with black thread wraps and blue trim wraps.

The Salt HD comes with a custom rod bag, powder coated aluminum rod tube, and of course is backed by Sage's lifetime warranty. For more information visit the Sage website. www.sageflyfish.com

New for 2017 is the Hardy Zephrus Ultralite range, which came runner-up in the Best Fly Rod division of the 2017 AFTA Tackle Trade Show.

Hardy Zephrus Ultralite Fly Rods are premium rods made for the most technical and delicate presentations to wary fish – the ultimate light line, technical fly rod for the advanced angler.

Designed and manufactured with Sintrix in the 440 configuration, the Zephrus Ultralite sets a new standard for durability in an ultralightweight rod.

Custom design reel seats reduce the weight further, and the slim, cigar-style grip adds feel and refinement to what is sure to become the ultimate technical fly rod on the market today.

The medium-fast blanks feature Fuji titanium-framed stripping guides, REC blackpearl snake guides, and are equipped with beautiful custom reel seats.

All rods in this series are 4-piece, measuring from 8’8” to 9’9” long in 2–5wt sizes. A custom aluminium rod tube is included.

For all the latest information on Hardy releases in Australia, plus recent captures, go to their Facebook page at www.facebook. com/hardyflyfishingaust. fly.hardyfishing.com

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Hardy Ultralite MTX 5000

Sage Spectrum

It was no surprise to show-goers when the Hardy Ultralite MTX took out top spot in the Best Fly Reel division of the AFTA Best of Show Awards.

A new benchmark in reel design, the Hardy Ultralite MTX is Hardy’s first fly reel to feature a hybrid carbon fibre/alloy main frame construction.

Strong, lightweight and with a stunning industrial design, the Hardy Ultralite MTX features a carbon fibre drag system with 340° colour-coded regulator, captive spool release and high line capacity.

There are currently three sizes in the range, going from a smallwater 3/4/5 through to a 7/8/9.

For more information on the Hardy Ultralite MTX, as well as other new Hardy releases, log onto the Hardy website. It features videos, catch photos and more. You can also find them on Facebook (www.facebook. com/hardyflyfishingaust) and Instagram (#hardyfishing). fly.hardyfishing.com

Modeled after the popular 4200 series, the Sage Spectrum is a true large arbor performance fly reel.

With concave spool surface, for optimal line capacity and drag-assisting smoothness, the Spectrum is lightweight, extremely durable, and packed with features you’d expect on higher priced reels.

The features of the new Sage Spectrum include an SCS Drag, one revolution drag knob with numbered and detented settings, a large arbor for fast line pick-up, concave arbor for greater strength and capacity, fully-machined 6061-T6 aerospace grade aluminium construction, cold forged and tempered for superior strength and rigidity, hard anodized for surface protection and corrosion resistance, and a machined and anodized aluminium ergonomic handle.

Additionally, there’s easy conversion from left to right-hand retrieve, and vice versa,, as well as a neoprene and embroidered ballistic nylon reel case. www.jmgillies.com.au

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Airflo Forge is a new, all-around line designed for all levels of fishing and casting experience.

It takes advantage of the latest material technology to improve distance and accuracy without breaking the bank.

With a total head length of 40’ and a working head length of between 33’ to 42’, it is a very versatile performer that will work for all levels of casting ability. A relatively long front taper of 8’ (incl. tip) allows for smooth turnover and precise deliveries, superb for nymphs, dries and any top of the water presentation.

The warm olive head colour will help reduce any line flash in the air, and a sunrise yellow running line allows you to easily see the transition at the rear taper and help you gauge the optimal amount of line to aerialise when going for distance.

The surface is ultra-smooth to the touch and holds a dry lubrication system that not only improves casting performance, but also helps significantly with water repulsion. The core is a braided multifilament, similar to those found in top end PVC fly lines. www.manictackleproject.com

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Some lines cast far with ease, but leave you flailing when fish show up at your feet.

Others do just the opposite, like the new DC (DirectCore) Flats Pro line from Rio. It was no surprise when it won the Best Fly Line category at the 2017 AFTA Best of Show Awards.

DC Flats Pro has easy annealing, a lowmemory core that lays perfectly straight on the water. It also has a low stretch Direct Core for hard solid strip sets, and a midlength head and long rear taper for complete line control. It has a high floating running line that will not sink and impede the cast.

After refining the weight distribution grain by grain, Rio created a line to make delicate presentations to twitchy bones yet drive bulky crab patterns into serious wind with equal efficiency.

Available in floating options in two colors in WF6F through WF12F and StealthTip with a full floating head with six feet of clear intermediate at the tip. The StealthTip is available in WF8F/I through WF12F/I and is ideal for permit or wary tarpon. www.rioproducts.com

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The Elite series Anywhere Cordless light switch received a lot of attention from visitors to the 2017 AFTA Tackle Trade Show, so it was no surprise when it achieved Runner Up position in the Best Outdoor/Camping Product category at the Best of Show awards.

The Elite Anywhere Cordless light offers a huge range of applications, from general household use to remote outdoor locations.

You’ll never have to deal with messy cords and power outages again.

Its new 200 lumen LED technology delivers outstanding brightness for minimal battery power required.

This portable light will never catch you fumbling in the dark again, as its low cost will ensure you have one in the car, boat, camper trailer, cupboards, emergency kit, and so on. Like the name says, it can be installed virtually ‘anywhere’ using its screw hole hooks or the included hook and loop.

The switch's flat, space saving design acts just like a fix-mounted light switch with the added convenience of relocating where you need it most.

Price: SRP $19.99 afn.com.au

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The award-winning Smokin’ Hot Rocket Stove has three times more thermal efficiency than a camp fire, with almost no smoke.

It’s compact, light and easy to use, keeps you warm, and provides a raised cooking platform, so no more sore back leaning over the camp fire, or singed arms picking up your pot.

The Rocket Stove runs most efficiently on timber less than 25mm in diameter, which is easy to find. The stove can take larger pieces, however it does not burn as efficiently so there’s no need to carry around massive, expensive bags of timber as you would with a conventional fire. The Rocket Stove provides instant cooking heat once alight.

With the advantage of low to high cooking temperatures, you can cook everything from stews to stir fries or steaks to bacon while camping or just in your backyard. Because it’s an enclosed fire it’s a good choice when you’re in a forested area (check local regulations).

So while you won’t be missing out on the great feeling of sitting around a warm camp fire, your eyes won’t burn, you won’t wake up smelling like a bushfire! www.rpminnovations.com.au

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Spotters Grayson

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The newest offering from the Australianmade Spotters’ stable is the fashionable Grayson. Designed as a perfect all-rounder, the Grayson is suited for protection in low light and full sun situations.

Sporting the classic matt black frames, the Grayson design is everything you would expect and more. Light weight and durable, the Grayson comes in a wide choice of lens material and colour tints to suit your fishing style.

The copper-based lenses give incredible colour definition and depth perception delivering 100% UV protection and perfect visual clarity. Using only the best quality materials, Spotters specialise in the industry’s thinnest distortion-free polarised crown glass and CR-39 lenses.

Price: SRP $290 (available October 2017) www.spotters.com.au

Mako Sunglasses have once again produced a sleek new fashion eyewear ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Their new Apex sunglasses are the perfect example of Mako’s top notch technology at its finest.

What separates these sunnies from the pack is their innovative new gradient colour lenses. Providing darker shading on top where you need it most, the lighter shades gives clarity for close up work. Available in a grey light polycarbonate or tough crown glass distortion-free lenses in brown or rose tint with their classic green or blue mirroring.

Made from tough warp-resistant nylon composite, these sleek matte black frames look fashionable and are designed for all outdoor situations.

Price: SRP $299 glass www.makoeyewear.com.au

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The River2Sea Shogun Swordfish Rig took out top spot in the hotly-contested Terminal Tackle category in the AFTA Best of Show Awards.

Its design was based around the most popular swordfish rigs that anglers use, and it has been thoroughly tested in waters off Victoria and Tasmania with great success.

Unlike some of its competitors, the Shogun Swordfish Rig has been built with reliability and strength in mind, so the angler can have confidence that their rig won’t let them down.

The Shogun Swordfish Rig comes with two multi-coloured LED lights, 16/0 Shogun tuna circle hooks, 400lb mono, lumo tubing and a high-glow squid. Specifically built for catching swordfish, these rigs have caught numerous specimens of 150kg and up.

Keep an eye out for them at your favourite tackle store, or for more information visit the River2Sea website.

Price: from approx. $35 www.river2sea.com.au

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Mustad Fastach Rig Link System The Mustad Fastach Rig Link system is unlike anything else on the market.

Designed to give the options back to the angler, the system brings together the most popular flasher hooks with a variety of mainlines that can be interchanged to suit your conditions.

Mustad has deliberately moved away from dictating to the angler just what they will be using and given the power back to those in the field.

With multiple mainline options and dozens of flasher hook options, this rigging system has been developed around the exceptional Mustad Fastach, a clip that, with the flick of

your wrist, allows ultra-quick changes of the flasher hook.

All the popular flasher hooks have been included in the range, with all knots hand tied on quality Mustad monofilament.

Don’t miss the revolution and never miss out on any opportunity whether that’s collecting bait or chasing snapper, whiting, reefies and more - the Mustad Rig Link system has arrived. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

RUNNER UP TTs RevlockZ TT Lures new RevlockZ jighead takes the popular ‘head lock’ grub keeper and brutally strong Mustad black nickel, chemically sharpened hook that have made their HeadlockZ HD jigheads so popular, and adds the flash and vibration of an underspin blade.

Available in sizes from 1/8oz #2 for creek bass and trout, right through to a 1oz 7/0 for barra, mulloway, reef and pelagic species, the RevlockZ have proven a game changer on tough bites, and when a presentation change is required to switch on the bite.

The ‘head lock’ grub keeper secures your soft plastic in place and the new head design concentrates the weight toward the lower section of the head to handle the torque of the blade and ensure the presentation tracks true. It’s available in both willow and Colorado blades, in both nickel and gold (brass) finishes to suit different water types, species and techniques. Available sizes are 1/8oz (2, 1, 1/0); 1/4oz (1/0, 2/0, 3/0); 3/8oz (2/0, 3/0, 5/0); 1/2oz (3/0, 5/0, 7/0); 3/4oz (7/0) and 1oz (7/0). The 1/8oz and 1/4oz weights come in packs of three, and the 3/8oz, 1/2oz, 3/4oz and 1oz weights come in packs of two.

Price: SRP: $9.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

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The all-new Evolution 360, rotating rod holder is more of a revolution than an evolution. It completely revolutionises the conventional flush mount rod holder that bind you to a fixed rod position with no ability to adapt to environmental factors that can affect your rod and reel at any time while fishing.

Factors like wind, tide, current and wave action can all now be accounted for with these new rod holders, which allow you to rotate the rod up to 360° with the push of a button. As an added benefit, there are also three sleeve angles (0°, 15° and 30°) for even more flexibility.

The upshot of all this is that you can adjust your spread and angles at will when you are trolling, drifting, at anchor or bottom fishing, and bring your rod tip inboard to adjust your rig. You can now even turn your rods in to protect them while you are underway or docking.

This brand new invention will be available in stores later this year, so watch this space! www.explodingfish.com

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The SwellPro Splash drone 3 auto has been designed to fly and land on or off the water, and has a payload release mechanism that lets you carry a line far out to sea and drop the bait at the desired location.

The brand new propulsion system with new custom motors gives the perfect balance between power and efficiency. You can operate it in all weather conditions, whether over land or sea. With its advanced modular design, Splash drone 3 can quickly adapt to all types of missions, from aerial filming to fishing.

The new waterproof 4k camera with integrated 2-axis gimbal lets you take smooth and stable videos and stills while flying, or under the water’s surface. The drone’s waterproof fuselage can be submerged for sustained periods, and its components are designed to withstand saltwater corrosion.

The new S3 flight controller has been optimized to provide safe and reliable flight.

Even if you are beginner, flying the Splash drone auto will be stress-free. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

RUNNER UP Evolution 360 Rotating Rod Holder

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ZMan Bait BinderZ are the ultimate storage solution for your ZMan soft plastics, allowing you to find the model and colour you’re after in seconds.

Bait BinderZ feature nickel-plated, corrosion-resistant rings that have been spaced to fit the reinforced, pre-punched holes in the bottom of standard size ZMan packets. This means you can store your ZMan plastics in their original packs, away from other plastics.

In addition, there’s no space taken up by plastic sleeves and no double handling opening sleeves to get packets out, or leaving loose packets where they can blow out of the boat. Quick, simple and more time for fishing.

Constructed from 500-denier nylon for durability, embroidered with the ZMan logo and featuring a carry handle for easy transport and securing to your vessel, the Bait BinderZ will hold 10-15 packets of ZMan plastics, depending on the model.

Bait BinderZ are available now, so keep an eye out for them at your local tackle store.

Price: SRP $16.95 www.z-man.com.au

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It’s no coincidence the world’s most successful competitive angler, Kevin Van Dam, trusts Plano to protect and transport his gear.

The durable new KVD Series of tackle bags and Speedbags from Plano provides avid anglers with customizable storage and unmatched access to all of their lures and other gear.

There are four bags in the range. Three of them are Wormfile Speedbags, which come in small, medium and large, and are all designed to carry soft plastics. The fourth bag in the range is the Signature Tackle Bag (3700). The Signature Tackle Bag has a moulded top with elastic tie-down strap, holds two StowAway utility boxes for quick access to your favorite baits, large mesh pocket on back, compartmentalized front pocket for multiple uses, and a padded removable shoulder strap. It also boasts plier and tool holder slots on the front and side pockets, and a clear, zippered pocket under the top cover.

Power on and fish fast, just like Kevin Van Dam, and catch more fish! www.jmgillies.com.au

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GoPro Hero5 Black

Bladerunner Torch

The GoPro Hero5 Black is the most powerful and easy-to-use GoPro ever, thanks to its 4K video, voice control, one-button simplicity, touch display and waterproof design.

Ultra-smooth, super slow-mo opportunities are now possible with a 1080p resolution at 120fps.

Stills can be taken in single, burst and timelapse modes, and saved as raw files.

In addition, a new WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) mode, which is GoPro’s version of High Dynamic Range (HDR), makes shooting perfectly exposed still images much easier.

The 2” touch display lets you preview and play back your shots, change settings and trim your footage, all on your GoPro. With the Quik Stories feature, you can capture and then kick back as your footage moves to the GoPro app and transforms into a finished video – automatically.

Durable by design, the Hero5 Black is waterproof to 10m without a housing. With advanced video stabilisation, it can capture smooth video either handheld or mounted to your favourite gear.

A single press of the shutter button turns the camera on and starts recording, or you can use simple voice commands.

Price: SRP $569.95 www.gopro.com

The new Blade-Runner TDBR013 Dive Torch, created by outdoor equipment specialist Tacspo, was a hit with visitors to the 2017AFTA Tackle Trade Show.

This 700-lumen LED torch is made from a durable aluminium alloy, and has a magnetic switch with four light modes: 100%, 50%, 10% and strobe.

You can safely take this torch down to depths up to 100m, which makes it IPX8 waterproof – the highest waterproof rating there is. It’s rechargeable with a single 18650 battery plus a charger.

Sandy Corrie said he created the Blade-Runner light range in response to customer requests.

“We had so many customers wanting us to do a range, but it took us a long time to find factories that could meet our high standards, and which would provide a 2-year warranty,” Sandy explained. “We are very happy with the final product, which delivers high quality without a premium price tag.”

The new Blade-Runner Dive Torch measures 42 x 29 x 166mm and weighs 254g, and comes with an adjustable lanyard.

Price: SRP $129.95 www.tacspo.com.au

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Coming in at equal first place in the Best Marine Electronics category is the Power Pump aerator series from Japanese company Fuji-Toki.

On display at the AFTA Show were the 1000 and 2000 models. The basic 1000 model is powered by two D-type alkaline batteries, providing approximately 70 hours of continuous operation, with a piston valve pump that delivers 0.6L of air per minute. The Power Pump 1000 comes with a hanging bracket and is IPX5 water resistant.

The larger 2000 model provides a powerful oxygen supply of 2.0L of air per minute. It’s fully waterproof (IPX6) and noiseless, thanks to its 3-valve rolling pump. It’s powered by two D-type alkaline batteries, providing roughly 65 hours of continuous operation, and comes with a hanging bracket.

Price: SRP $55 (1000 model), $100 (2000 model) www.vivafishing.com.au

WINNER TIED Lowrance HDS Carbon 16

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The Lowrance HDS Carbon 16 has a clear SolarMAX HD 16" display with a new dual core high-performance processer, leading-edge fishfinder technology like Live Network Sonar and the latest advances in integrated wireless service tools.

There’s more agility, speed and brute power all in one easy-to-use multi-touch display.

The enormous, 16" ultra-clear SolarMAX HD display is the equivalent of four 7” screens. It delivers wider viewing angles in any light, and also through polarized sunglasses.

Users will also benefit from superior colour accuracy and boosted high-resolution viewing panels, which maximize today’s leading sonar.

With a dual core high performance processor, HDS Carbon delivers faster redraw speeds and quicker response times for CHIRP sonar, Live Network Sonar, StructureScan 3D and StructureMap plus split-screen views showing all this and mapping at the same time.

Price: SRP $6999 www.lowrance.com/en-au/

RUNNER UP Casio Quad Sensor The new Casio G-Shock Gulfmaster Quad Sensor analog model is equipped with all the top level sensor equipment essential to coordinating time on the water. A dualcoil motor drives a retrograde dial hand to provide the wearer with instant feedback on the constantly changing natural environment.

Standard features include depth sensor, a barometric pressure sensor that can be used to predict upcoming weather changes, an air and water temperature sensor, and a digital compass that can be used to determine wind and tide directions.

For boat lovers, there is a clever auto level correction function that detects the angle of the watch during digital compass readings and compensates accordingly, which helps to ensure correct readings while on a rocking boat. A dial at 5 o’clock is used to alert the wearer to sudden changes in barometric pressure, and acts as a tide graph to indicate high and low tide information.

Price: SRP $999 www.afn.com.au

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If you're looking for some great tools on the boat or in the backpack, look no further than the Rapala Custom Design Series, specifically, the Mag Spring Pliers and the Precision Line Scissors.

Rapala's patent pending Mag Spring mechanism on the the pliers has two opposing magnets that push away from each other and hold the pliers open for an easy one-handed operation. Unlike springs, the magnets won’t break or lose their power in use. The durable stainless steel jaws with their gun metal finish have serrated tips for a secure grip, and ergonomic, co-moulded Soft Grip handles for a comfortable grip.

For line cutting, the spring-loaded singlehand operation tool for intricate work and precise cuts make the Precision line Scissors a winner. Thanks to offset shears, these scissors excel in cutting micro super lines and all other non-wire fishing lines. www.rapala.com.au

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Simms’ superior Guide Pliers put rusty, decrepit needle-nosers on notice. These high quality pliers have corrosion-resistant, replaceable 17-4 stainless-steel jaws and powerful 6061-T6, type II anodized aluminium arms.

Other features include: tungsten carbide cutting blade; ergonomic and textured grip; Kydex holster and utility leash; and bottle opener with bevelled notch for tightening knots.

Measuring 7” x 2 1/4” x 3/8”, these brandnew pliers are now available in Australia.

Keep an eye out for them at your favourite tackle store.

Simms is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Manic Tackle, who stock a huge range of Simms waders, footwear, shirts, pants, jackets, headwear, backpacks, bags, accessories and more. Log onto the Manic Tackle website for more information, photos and videos. www.manictackleproject.com

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Wilson Fishing has designed a range of fishing apparel just for the kids, which took out runner up position in the Best Clothing Accessory category at AFTA. Now your little tackers can enjoy wearing the same style of fishing shirts that you do.

The Wilson Kids Fishing Shirts are all UV rated to 25+, and provide a comfortable and cool looking option for the kids when they are out on the water with you. These comfortable, quick drying little shirts are all long-sleeved for maximum sun protection, and the size range is designated by age, so that a size 6 will fit your average 6 year old child.

There are four colours to choose from – pink, pink/purple, Classic Wilson colours, and light/dark blue. Available sizes are 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12.

The Wilson Fishing apparel range also includes men’s and ladies’ fishing shirts in a wide range of sizes and colours, along with soft shell jackets, caps and headscarfs.

Check out the Wilson Fishing website to find out more. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

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The fishing and outdoor market is full of headscarves of all descriptions, but the new Wilson Hooded Headscarf is unlike any you've seen before. It was this uniqueness contributed to its win in the Best Clothing Accessory category at AFTA 2017.

So what is this difference? Well, the Wilson Hooded Headscarf combines the comfort and protection of a UPF15+ headscarf with the warmth of a fleece hood, making it a great choice in cold conditions.

The materials used to construct the Hooded Headscarf wick moisture away from the skin, allowing the angler to be comfortable while fishing in any conditions.

Ideally suited for use in cooler environments, the Wilson Hooded Headscarf is also sure to find favour with many anglers travelling long distances in low light periods anywhere across Australia.

Machine washable and with a one-size fits all build, the Wilson Hooded Headscarf will help make your day on the water far more comfortable. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

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Daiwa TD Sol III

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Daiwa TD Sol III

ZMan Finesse FrogZ

Daiwa’s TD Sol III is the first reel to feature the all-new future design concept LT or ‘Light Tough’.

The new concept LT Zaion body is the lightest, most compact and strongest body frame Daiwa has ever produced. Zaion is composed of carbon resin and long carbon fibres, and it far exceeds the strength of magnesium in strength per unit weight comparison. Zaion transmits vibration through the reel more efficiently than ever before, and it is lighter and stronger than a conventional reel made with similar resins or graphites.

Other features include Air Rotor, ATD (Automatic Tournament Drag), Magseal, Tough Digigear, aluminium Airspool ABS, Perfect Line Stopper and aluminium Air Handle.

The combination on all of these advanced innovations makes the TD Sol III one of Daiwa’s most technically advanced reels.

You will feel more connected to lures, detect more bites and fight fish with ease. www.daiwafishing.com.au

The team at TTs have been pressuring the designers at ZMan to release a bite-size version of the successful 4” Hard Leg FrogZ, and now it’s here: the 2.75” Finesse FrogZ. The Finesse FrogZ has the same design and buoyant ElaZtech construction as its popular bigger brother, letting it float at rest and withstand multiple vicious strikes. Its twin paddle feet create a bubbling surface action that draws in pretty much any fish that loves taking prey off the surface. With its scaled-down profile, it’s the perfect choice for chasing the likes of bass, jacks and saratoga in dams and creeks.

The Finesse FrogZ has a belly slot underneath and a large slot on the top, to effectively hide the hook to make it snagless.

Being soft and flexible, when the fish strikes the hook comes free for a solid hook set.

Available in six colours, the Finesse FrogZ comes in packs of four. TTs recommends rigging it on a 2/0 ChinlockZ weedless hook. www.tackletactics.com.au

THUMBS UP AWARD Shadow Rap 3X

THUMBS UP AWARD Techniice Can Dispensing Ice Box

Samaki ZING Gen ii Rods

Techniice Classic Series ice boxes have become a firm favourite with Australians looking for a tough, high-performance ice box. Now Techniice has built on this proven design and created something entirely new – an ice box that dispenses drinks without you having to lift the lid.

The top of the box is where the most heat enters, so not needing to lift the lid means you’ll keep the contents colder for longer – up to three times as long. Another benefit is that the cans are dispensed from the bottom, which is the coldest area, so you can enjoy perfectly chilled drinks without digging around in ice.

The 100L model has a 2-door dispensing system, can fit around 72 cans, and you only need to open the lid when you’re loading the cans in the dispenser.

There’s also a 200L model in the works, and another that has a wine (or water bottle) cooler recess at the back.

These innovative new ice boxes will be rolled out in the coming months, and custom branding is available (minimum order quantities apply).

Price: from approx. $700 www.techniice.com

Shadow Rap 3X THUMBS UP

THUMBS UP AWARD Yeti Hopper Two 30

ZMan Finesse FrogZ

Yeti Hopper Two 30

The Yeti Hopper Two is the evolution of Yeti’s first soft cooler, the original Hopper.

The original version provided anglers with a portable, leakproof, and tough-as-nails cooler that delivered superior ice retention.

However, Yeti believed there was room for improvement.

Now, with some design changes, the designers have increased its cold-holding power, thanks to Yeti’s ColdCell Insulation – fulfilling Yeti’s promise of ice for days. There’s also a wider opening to make packing (and unpacking) much easier, and a tapered body to make it more comfortable to carry. And with its impenetrable DryHide Shell, this clever cooler is fully waterproof and won’t leak in the field.

The Yeti Hopper Two comes in 20, 30 and 40L options, and the 30 model won a Tackle Junkie ‘Thumbs Up’ trophy at the 2017 AFTA Show. This model measures 18” x 25” externally and 14” x 17” internally, and weighs 2.5kg. It can hold 24 drink cans, using a 2:1 ice to can ratio, or 30lb of just ice. www.au.yeti.com

The Rapala Shadow Rap is getting an Australian upgrade. No other fishery demands more of its equipment, and anglers fishing for iconic species like barra demand a lure that can be fished straight out of the packet with no upgrades needed.

The new Rapala Shadow Rap 3X and Shadow Rap Shad 3X feature upgraded VMC Coastal Black 3X strong 7556 Spark Point trebles and upgraded split rings. Comprising the 110mm Shadow Rap 3X in both deep and shallow bibs, and the smaller 90mm Shadow Rap Shad 3X in both depth varieties, the new range reinforces Rapala’s reputation of building some of the best barra lures available.

Available in eight colours, these new lures feature the same unmistakeable Shadow Rap finish and action. Tuned to suspend in freshwater, the Shadow Rap 3X will turn back on itself with each twitch of the rod tip, bringing the biggest fish out of the shadows for a look. www.rapala.com.au

THUMBS UP AWARD Samaki Zing Gen II Swimbait Rod With modern trends turning towards using larger plastics and jointed baits for catching big fish, and after the success of the Samaki Zing Xtreme Swimbait series, Samaki have released a high quality swimbait rod for a fraction of the price you’d expect.

These rods are built on premium Toray carbon fibre blanks that have RAW technology, making them ultra strong with an unsanded finish. Other features include Samaki’s XO 316 marine grade stainless steel guides with ZR Zirconia inserts, super hard EVA camo grips, high gloss reel seats and rubber end caps. The new Zing Gen II really does have it all.

The Zing Gen II Swimbait rod is 7’9” long with a split butt enhancing the action of the blank, and making it feel like an extension of your arm. It has a line rating of 15-30lb and a cast weight of 1-5oz, and will be available from October 2017.

Price: SRP $199.95 www.samaki.com.au

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Tassie trout season turning up the heat TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

We made it over the hump.

Yes, winter is behind us and we should be looking forward to good weather.

Mind you, the weather hasn’t been terrible, and as the weather heats up, so does the fishing.

I’m not sure if the fishing is often as bad as we think in winter. Over the past few months there have been some great reports of excellent catches in both fresh water and in the salty sea. It is anglers that slow down and hug the comfort of the indoors and the footy games

when it’s cold and wet.

This will change as the days grow longer and warmer, and the footy finishes up for another

Jarvis Wall has had great success with the new Berkley Gulp Eel.

NORTH WEST The river fishing has really taken off in the area now that the daylight hours have stretched out.

Rods are finding their way into vehicles for a sneaky lunchtime fish across the coast.

The northwest coast angler is spoilt for choice with all rivers offering something.

Upstream anglers have been swimming hardbodies to good effect. The water flows aren’t too extreme, so you can cast across the river section and allow the water flow to work your

year. Hang on tight as we head out of the cave and hit our favourite fishing spots like eager bears out of hibernation.

against the bank. Multiple casts can have you try that with all angles in between.

Once you have covered that river section you can move away from the bank, walk a cast length further upriver and repeat.

The best river to try is the Leven River along Lobster Creek Road all the way up to the end. You can also access some great spots from Gunns Plains Road and Lowanna in and around Gunns Plains.

FLATHEAD, RABBITS OF THE SEA Flathead are a staple catch of the Tasmanian angler.

Jarvis Wall has been pulling up one big West Coast brown trout after another.

improve. A late arvo flatty fish is a welcome distraction from a hectic day at work.

Have the boat packed and ready to go. When it’s five bells, swing by home to hook up your boat and grab the kids.

Flathead can be found in varying depths and are often not be where you left them last time. You can steam out to where they were before, but I tend to employ either a stop and drop technique or roar and score.

The stop and drop technique involves heading out to a desired depth and dropping a combination

Tristan Cocker found a nice rainbow trout at Lake Mackintosh on Tassie’s West Coast. in 10m increments at a time and then repeat. Pull up and allow the boat to settle then drop again. This allows you

hundred metres or more and drop again. If you still have no luck, work your way back in water 10m shallower.

will be there for a reason and now you can use your sounder to work out why.

There may be a slight rise

Bryce Purton with another trophy-class brown trout. lure. Giving the rod tip a little rip and drop will serve you well, letting any trout in the area know you’re on the job. Once you have the lure laid back downstream you can slowly work the lure back to your feet.

You can vary the start of your slow retrieve to start at 45° to the bank or, with a longer rod, right up 62

SEPTEMBER 2017

Those fishos and families that like to find a feed use flathead as a go-to species.

They are relatively easy to catch and are good chewing.

The humble flathead is fairly easy to find all year round, but this month they start to increase their activity.

There is also increased angler activity as the weather and available daylight hours

of baits and soft plastics.

Get a little drift going and prospect for a while with baits on the bottom jig and some vertically jigged soft plastics. If you have plenty of eager hands, cast out and work back. If you don’t do any good in 10 minutes, pull ‘em up and head out to sea chasing more depth.

On the north coast I fish

Tyson with another cracker Tooms Lake trout. to cover heaps of ground. If you get out to 40m or more, you can throw in another drift perpendicular to your seaward direction for a few

This may seem like a lot of work, but it’s a systematic way of prospecting for fish.

Once you find fish, the work doesn’t stop there. The fish

or fall in sea bottom that has fish sitting in wait to ambush some food. It might even be a certain To page 63

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

From page 62

type of sea floor bottom the flathead are favouring.

If you pick up a few fish in a certain drift direction, you can use your sounder to help find them again.

Your sounder should be set up to draw a track of your boat direction and travel. It’s important to mark every fish taken on a drift with a waypoint. This will have you collating key information that will allow you to unpick where the fish are and what direction you need to drift across them.

I mentioned before the use of a notebook as well.

This is a great idea if you want to gather information.

Making notes of bite and catch frequency and the tides on a spot drift data and waypoints for is crucial. The endgame here is to have a number of spots you have prospected and marked as productive. This will alleviate the need to run a mad stop and drop run every time you go out, and save you time and money.

This leads to the other technique I mentioned before – roar and score!

You’ve had a couple of prospecting trips, you have taken down the details and proven a spot’s worth.

Now with a winning spot

identified, you can pack the boat, leave the ramp and roar out to the mark you have on your sounder. These marks are a godsend for an afterwork flatty session where time is short. Harvesting a few ocean rabbits for the table? Roar and score!

The best bait for both techniques is fresh pilchards or squid. I don’t have a favourite between the two, unless I take the kids out. The squid stays on the hook much better and if you leave a bit to flap it can be deadly.

Circle hooks are awesome when fishing with kids. The fish often hook themselves and nearly always in the mouth. Releasing undersize fish is a much better proposition than if they were hooked down low. When fishing with kids, you want to maximise the catch rate when thy fish are on the chew and not be trying to de-hook fish that have had the bait for ages.

With all hooks, especially circles, take care not to clog the hook gape. You can get into a bad habit of jamming up the gap between the hook point and the shaft of the hook. This will negate the hook’s ability to work, as the gape must be clear to allow the fish’s jaw to pass and set the point.

INTERVIEW WITH ADAM ROYTER I was lucky enough to spend four days with Adam Royter recently. It was a perfect opportunity to pick his brains about all things

trout and hear a little from his prospective.

KH: Adam you have been an avid trout fisho for as long as anyone can

Adam at the 2017 AFTA Trade Show.

Damian Turner headed out and braved the wet and was rewarded with a well-conditioned brown trout.

remember and involved in a number of soft and hard bait designs. Can you share some of your thoughts?

AR: Well the first thing I feel is you can never know it all about fishing – that’s the mystery behind it. The fact is we won’t be able to catch them pesky trout every time we go, because of something different about the fish or something we don’t understand. It’s what keeps us on the edge and forever keen to go again and again.

KH: They can be super elusive at times and other times huge amounts of fun.

Have you got any tips for the readers?

AR: Yes, I have a few things that will help close the gap on those fish. Let’s chat more about the gear. We can call it an individual tackle

awareness season, if you like.

KH: Sounds good, Adam, let’s hear it!

AR: Let’s talk hooks.

You can very easily ruin the point on a hook. It can happen on the very first cast.

They are made from steel, not diamonds! If the hook is the only thing that is ever going to connect you to your fish, why wouldn’t you want it as sharp as you can get it? Or are you just here for your average looks and bad smells?

KH: Holy cow, man... ease up. What do you suggest?

AR: Thing is, you don’t need to change the hooks every time the point gets turned over – you can just sharpen it. This is a very easy and quick process. Just do a two-angled swipe (sometimes three) with a good quality To page 64

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Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania From page 63

file and you’re back to using sharp hooks again – it literally takes 10 seconds!

KH: Ok, Adam, we have sharp hooks. What are we running them on?

AR: Hardbody lures catch a stack of trout. Tuning these lures is a necessary evil. Whether they come tuned out of the box or not, if you use them enough, it’s likely they become out of tune at some stage. Retuning your lures couldn’t be easier, but it’s something that people seem a little hesitant to do. The thing is, to do it properly you need to put away the heavy hands and get a little more surgical!

KH: So what are we trying to do?

AR: If your lure is swimming to the right then you need to bend the toe point left. You only need to bend it about 1/10th of a millimetre – not much! Go easy and have a few goes at it. Most of the time you’ll take it too far and it’ll start swimming just as out of tune to the opposite direction.

Have another go and always swim it in front of yourself between changes. This is the only way you’ll know if you’re getting it right!

There are few ways to

do this accurately without a good set of forceps or pliers. If you’re lure fishing with treble hooks and don’t have forceps or pliers, go home now.

KH: What else can upset a lure?

AR: Something as simple as weed can be an issue. De-weeding you lure can be time consuming and it can happen every cast in certain waterways. Stopping and grabbing your lure with rod underarm to pluck weed from your lure is a time killer.

KH: What do you suggest, guru?

AR: Make the most of your time and try a few tricks to take the cabbage from your hooks.

The first trick is if you feel you’ve connected with some weed on your retrieve, immediately let down your rod tip and rip some highspeed rod tip flicks. You have to do it super hard and fast and generally more than twice. This will rip the weed from your hook and get you back in the game.

The second trick is to try the ‘water smash.’ Have about 30cm of line out the rod tip, rotate the lure at high speed and ‘slap’ it into the water. The trick here is to

do it in deep enough water that your lure doesn’t come in contact with rocks on the bottom and snap your bib off. Ouch! Also be mindful of other bits of weed in the water or you’ll end up with more on than off!

KH: Adam, you are quite the fly caster. Any words of wisdom for fellow fluff chuckers?

AR: Flyfishing is a funny sport. It involves quite a bit of casting and those

with their two cent’s worth and have taken some good fish on the humble wobbler.

I have some awesome memories of time spent rugged up on the Great Lake reading comics while the rod tip bounced away. Sometimes this was interrupted with a strike and that glorious sound of a reel paying line. The highlands area always attracts some anglers who are happy to fish in artic conditions.

More often than not they have access to a cosy shack to

come back to after a solids day’s fishing.

This was the case again this year with some good reports from Tooms Lake and Four Springs. These fish were taken on plastics fished slow and deep. Hardbodies also fished well early and these waters will continue to fish better as the fish look to put condition back on after spawning.

These lower lying lakes will continue to be popular.

They’re not quite the Bahamas, but these lakes are now a much more settled weather option.

TROUT The trout season has opened with a bang. Many anglers enjoyed a successful opening weekend and first month of the season.

Anglers have hit the ground running, leaving nothing to chance. Fishing stores saw an increased amount of super keen anglers loading up on their favourite lures and soft baits. The debate continues to rage over hardbodies verses soft plastics and bait. The trout trollers have chipped in

AR: Yes! Casting super accurately out to 10m is super important and the real secret here is to make sure your leader turns over straight and true every cast. That way when you’re presented with a fish right there in front of you, your first presentation is on the money. More often than not, if you need to make another cast, the fish will know something’s up.

Practice this and get it right. You need a proper

fishing leader (not a torn-up bit of fishing line) and practice fly (a dry fly you can see with the bend cut off) and a target. You need to put the fly where the fly needs to be, so you need to make the target quite small – let’s say a dinner plate.

Then you need to pull in your line so that you’re holding your fly in your hand and make the cast to the target. Once the practice fly has hit the ground (or better still, the target) you need to strip the line back in and do it all again. Don’t just cast the fly up and down with the one length of line out – that defeats the purpose entirely!

The idea is to practice the whole motion, from unpicking your fly to the false casts needed to hit the target, and produce accuracy every time. If you walk around while you’re stripping in the fly for another shot then you’ll likely be at a different distance for the next cast and this will only make you better!

The 10m zone is a very popular area for sight fishing with a fly rod. Learn it well and make your first cast your best cast every time.

KH: There’s some sound advice and great tips.

amazingly all year round.

The local charter guides were talking it down and made apologies for it being the slow part of the year for

three-person vessel and a large catamaran had us fish the sheltered waters across the top of Fraser Island and some deep water offshore.

We tested new offerings from PENN reels and Abu

Bryce Purton used Berkley’s new 5” Bubble Shiner to trip up this nice brown trout. casts need to be executed correctly or things aren’t going to go as planned!

As you progress through your casting career, you’ll inevitably cast more and more line. That’s good – it shows progression and learned skill. What people often forget is there short game.

KH: Everyone likes to talk up how far they can cast, but like golf, the short game is crucial.

TEST DUMMY I was very lucky a few months ago to get taken to Hervey Bay for an ‘experience day’ This involved testing some new tackle and gear

Stan Kaine found a whopper snapper off Moreton Island.

Tyson Digney loves fishing Tooms Lake early in the season and for good reason.

64

SEPTEMBER 2017

that was showcased recently at AFTA. It was a great opportunity to fish some gear and put it to the test. It was an added bonus that the weather was quite miserable in Tasmania at the time.

Hervey Bay is a great fishery and fishes

their fishery.

They need not have bothered. We had a ball.

There were so many trevally to catch. I increased my species count by eight and that was just the trevally.

The fish were varied and constant. Mixing the two days up between a small

Garcia. Had a chance to put the new Fireline Ultra 8 through its paces. All gear fished very well and what I took from the event was the fun in fishing light.

We had 20-30lb Ultra 8 on 3000 and 5000 sized reels and it was a hoot.

To page 65

Go Behind the Scenery From page 64

The golden trevally had us hooting and hollering and having a ball. I managed to extract some stubborn coral trout from the bottom structure, even when one bricked me hard. He hit my jig and ran back to his hole and I was snagged up. I let him have some line to fool him into a false sense of security and then wham –

new Revo ALX in a 5000 size was put under some serious pressure, but after a good fight we had the fish boatside. It was a great two days and a superb way of making sure rods and reels are capable of standing up to serious punishment.

There were some trophysized longtoms caught and even a sailfish on a soft plastic. If that’s how it

Tasmania

with an Ocean Assassin rod rated for 30lb line. My plan was to jig fish and see what I could find.

What we found was so much fun. It reinforced what a good day’s fishing you can have with good mates and good gear. I’m really getting into fishing lighter – lighter leaders and lighter rods with smaller reels.

Fishing around Moreton Island can be relaxing.

The author holding a stonking pearl perch for Garry Wooster who managed tis beast from 120m of water. locked him up and pumped him clear of the bottom.

On the small vessel we managed to find some great species off the bottom. We used Abu Garcia Skid Jigs and some Berkley Jerk Shads. Halfway through day one we spotted dolphins just mooching about and zoomed over. Casting jerk shads in front of them soon had us hooked up to some longtail tuna. The

fishes on a slow period, let’s all get up there when it’s on fire!

Recently I had a chance to back the testing up with some gear of my own. I met up with very close friends Ben Wooster and Stan Kaine for a trip off Moreton Island. On the back of the light gear fishing in Hervey Bay I took with me a 5000 sized reel in the new PENN Conflict II. I matched this

Modern braid gives you a heap of line capacity, so that’s no issue, and the drag material of today’s reels is exceptional.

Why not fish lighter where you can? I am finding more and more, ‘fish light and get the bite.’ This seems more prevalent when fish are being finicky and shut down a little.

Even when the fish are on the chew, you can pick up some bigger models fishing as light as you can.

Fishing light led to some fun and games with this kingfish.

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 10th August 2017 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Lake Augusta....................................2.15...................................................................

Arthurs Lake.....................................1.15...................................................................

Great Lake........................................13.34.................................................................

Trevallyn Pond................................................................................................Spilling Shannon Lagoon...............................0.09...................................................................

Penstock Lagoon..............................0.23...................................................................

Lake Echo.........................................7.75...................................................................

Dee Lagoon.......................................0.28...................................................................

Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah..............1.25...................................................................

Bronte Lagoon..................................1.24...................................................................

Pine Tier Lagoon...............................1.27...................................................................

Little Pine Lagoon.............................0.41...................................................................

Laughing Jack Lagoon.....................5.21...................................................................

Lake St Clair.....................................1.44...................................................................

Lake King William.............................7.64...................................................................

Lake Liapootah.................................1.65...................................................................

Wayatinah Lagoon............................0.59...................................................................

Lake Catagunya................................1.42...................................................................

Lake Repulse....................................2.15...................................................................

Cluny Lagoon..................................................................................................Spilling Meadowbank Lake...........................0.29...................................................................

Lake Pedder......................................1.18...................................................................

Lake Gordon.....................................27.21.................................................................

Lake Burbury....................................5.62...................................................................

Lake Plimsoll....................................5.16...................................................................

Lake Murchison................................13.45.................................................................

Lake Mackintosh..............................4.88...................................................................

Lake Rosebery..................................0.95...................................................................

Lake Pieman.....................................4.10...................................................................

Lake Mackenzie................................2.73...................................................................

Lake Rowallan..................................8.47...................................................................

Lake Parangana................................0.82...................................................................

Lake Cethana....................................4.01...................................................................

Lake Barrington................................0.91...................................................................

Lake Gairdner...................................2.53...................................................................

Lake Paloona....................................1.00...................................................................

Woods Lake......................................1.24...................................................................

Whitespur Pond................................7.29...................................................................

Lake Newton.....................................3.58...................................................................

Lake Margaret..................................5.94...................................................................

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 SEPTEMBER 2017

65

Waters are warming up after wintery slumber HORSHAM

James Perry

September is the start of the closed season for the iconic Murray cod, and also an indication of things to come.

The waters are warming, schools of juvenile redfin are cruising the shallows learning to feed, and golden perch

particular attention to areas with flooded grasses and other soft structure along with shallow sandy sections followed by a quick drop-off.

Erratic retrieves will be the best method with a good mix of pauses thrown in. At the end of the day, you need your plastic to look like an easier target than the real deal. Aim for the your retrieve to look

Tim Bullock fooled this 7.5lb slob of a brown trout at Lake Fyans. it. Natural colours always seam to perform better than bright and loud designs in this fine pond. If you’re after a feed of redfin, try trolling a wobbler or plastic ultra slow over the weeds to locate a school of reddies. Once you find them, sit on the spot and cast to them.

Lake Bellfield has been fishing well of late, and is well worth a look if there is a bit of wind about. This area offers deep water fishing from the banks along with ample structure

Jake Connaughton with a monster 52cm Fyans redfin. are waking from their winter slumber to feast on the baby redfin. At this time of the year, fishing small plastics in tight and parallel to the bank is a fantastic method that will bring on spectacular strikes from a variety of species.

When walking the banks, take your time and observe the shoreline. Pay

like a frightened or stunned baitfish. This method will work particularly well in the rivers.

Lake Wallace at Edenhope has proven to be a success story producing some good catches of both rainbow and brown trout. Last October 5,000 fish were stocked as part of the drought relief

Luke Preston with yet another healthy redfin.

DAM LEVELS brought to you by w w w. b a r g a i n b o a t b i t s. c o m . a u

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

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

LAKE/DAM

Mulwala

Cairn Curran

June July August 76

75 75

(Yarrawonga) 92 95 92

Dartmouth 77 78 78

Newlyn

Eildon

65 61 61

Nillahcootie 77 77 81

Eppalock

90 89 90

Rocklands 36 36 37

Fyans

73 74 77

Taylors

57 57 59

Greens

65 65 65

Tullaroop

71 70 70

Hepburn

66 n/a 75

Upper Coliban 92

Hume

66 71 77

Waranga

33 34 56

Lauriston

90 87 81

Wartook

68 71 79

Malmsbury 10 12 13

63 66 79

William Hovell 83

94 98

98 102

(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.)

66

SEPTEMBER 2017

in close. Scrub worms fished from both the bottom and top are a simple, effective option. While the redfin are typically stunted in this waterway, they are still a good size for the table. For the kayak and canoe anglers, Bellfield is a fantastic lake to escape the wake of power boats and enjoy the silence on the water.

Lake Lonsdale has started to fish well for both redfin and yabbies. With the good number of yabbies about I expect to see some big redfin come from this lake and hope it returns to its former glory as Western Victoria’s premier redfin fishery. This will come down to water management, as usual. Those who have been fishing it have been quiet guarded about their catch and methods. You might have to crack the code here yourself.

Looking forward, I predict Lake Fyans will start to produce larger numbers of solid redfin. While some monster reddies have been caught over the last few months, the overall numbers have been down due to colder water. As the temperatures come up, so will the volume of fish. Target the change in structure and edges of weedbeds. Fish deep and slow. Soft plastics are always a winner here; look to 4” minnow designs.

program. Due to high growth rates anglers have been rewarded with some chunky fish. Trolling Tassie Devils has been the most reliable method, with no particular colour being a standout.

Small bibbed minnows have also accounted for a few fish.

Colours like the spotted dog, brown trout and Aussie smelt are a good choice.

Lake Toolondo has been on fire the last few months, with more than a few anglers catching their ‘unicorn’ monster brown trout. If you were to ask every angler that pulled into the boat ramp on any given Sunday afternoon what the go-to lure or technique is, you would get a dozen different answers, but they all come with the same wise words – fish slow and stealthy.

Ditch the petrol motor for the electric or, better still, take the time to set up your drogue for some ultra slow drifts.

The big brown trout that call this place home aren’t easily fooled, so tie on your go-to confidence lure and get to

Jamie Cooper getting the job done at Rocklands.

Anglers are the winners around Ballarat BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Ballarat and district anglers are certainly the winners and it’s not only just on the fishing side. Yes, the local fishers are scooping the pool with catches of quality trout around the district, which is due to the trout stockings from last year, but we’re also winning on the infrastructure side as well.

Overall fishing in the

over the past few months. This is a win-win for anglers who fish those waters. Job well done, to all that contributed.

Tullaroop Reservoir has been fishing really well over the past month with excellent catches of both rainbow and brown trout on a variety of methods, including fly, bait and lure fishing. I’ve fished Tullaroop a few times myself catching and releasing plenty of smallish rainbows and browns mainly on lures in a variety of colours. On a

Jayden White snagged this lovely Wendouree brown trout casting black and gold tiger T-Tail Soft plastics. Photo courtesy of Jayden White.

Will Stevens landed some very feisty rainbow trout while casting Bent Minnow Lures at Tullaroop Reservoir. district over the past month has been very good with reports filtering through from most waters in the district. On a worrying note, over the past month the weather has been cold and not wet; Hopefully this is a mirror image of last year where our winter was dry, but we had record spring rainfalls. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Anglers who regularly fish Hepburn Lagoon and also Newlyn Reservoir will have noticed recently that styles have been erected over some fences, so there’s no more putting holes in your waders when trying to climb through or over barbed wire fences.

There have been five styles erected altogether with one at Hepburn Lagoon and four at Newlyn Reservoir.

This is a result of the local Ballarat and District Anglers Association applying for and receiving grants through the Better Fishing Facilities Grants program run by Fisheries Victoria – your angling licence fees at work. The BDAA, as it is known, with the assistance of local anglers, farmers, Murray Goulburn Water and Fisheries Victoria have erected the styles

recent trip with my son Will, he landed and lost a couple of feisty rainbows around the 1lb mark.

We haven’t encountered

any of the trophy trout I’ve been mentioning over the past month. I’m sure they are there; it’s just a matter of time before they start to come in close around the shorelines in areas accessible to anglers.

Lake Wendouree continues to fish reasonably well. Anglers who are prepared to brave the cold have certainly been rewarded for their efforts with trout continuing to be on the chew.

Redfin have disappeared off the radar for the moment, but I’m sure when the weather comes good they’ll appear just like the fishers, as numbers are down on previous months.

Jayden White braved the elements recently landbased casting black n gold Tiger T-Tail soft plastics with excellent results. He landed some lovely conditioned brown trout. I took my boys fishing on Wendouree casting lures with excellent results. We landed some magnificent little brown trout, once again, as the result of last year’s fish releases by Fisheries.

Over the coming months

Wendouree will start to fire up once again. As it does, anglers fishing from the shore and boats using flies, lures, plastics and baits will once again start catching some magnificent trout and redfin – something to really look forward too.

been on the radar for quite a few years, until recently. Like many of our waters, excellent spring rains last year filled the lake up and Fisheries stocked it with both rainbows and brown trout.

Years ago Greenhill Lake

caught on lures, bait and flies.

Greenhill is another water worth having a look at over the coming months, although it could do with a top-up from some spring rains.

Lake Bolac has certainly quietened down since my last report with a lot more anglers fishing the lake. The rainbows are still on the bite, but not as aggressively as last month.

Anglers trolling lures have been catching the most; it’s just a matter of finding the fish and also finding which lure they will eat on that particular day.

On a recent trip with Geoff Cramer, we trolled a variety of different hardbodied and winged lures all over the lake with limited success, until we found the right formula and right spot and then we worked that area with excellent results. The only colour they wanted in that area was gold, which we had tried previously that day in other areas of the lake with no success.

New fence styles located at Hepburn Lagoon as part of Better Fishing Facilities Grants program.

Here’s a blast from the past – Greenhill Lake at Ararat, about 80km from Ballarat, is a water that hasn’t

Lake Bolac action Geoff Cramer landed some lovely rainbow trout trolling spawning brown trout Bullet Lure.

was a true trophy water with many big brown trout being caught up there. The lake isn’t a big or deep lake by any means. It has a few islands located in the lake and the top end is very shallow and weedy. It’s very hard to fish up in that area, but there is plenty of food in there and that’s why the fish get very big – they seem to spend a lot of time foraging in the shallows eating yabbies, galaxias, mudeyes and more. When the water gets too warm they move out of that area into where fishers can access them.

I had heard on the grapevine a few fish had been caught up there, so I took a trip that proved to be very successful. I landed plenty of nice little brown trout around the 1.5lb mark casting bent minnow style lures. The surface action was fantastic.

Seeing these feisty browns smashing lures with lots of hook-ups and drop-offs is exciting stuff.

Other anglers have been catching rainbows, which have eluded me on a couple of trips. These are a bit bigger – around 2-3lb. They have been

Land-based anglers have continued to land some of the beautifully conditioned rainbow trout using PowerBait and also salted white and blue baits. Patience is required. I expect over the coming months that Bolac will continue to fish well, especially when the weather settles down, particularly the wind – the lake get very discoloured after the windy days that we have during the winter months.

The coming months are certainly the time of year that I really look forward to. Hopefully we have early spring rains as I mentioned earlier to compliment the fish stockings that took place last year and our waters all fill up once again over new ground.

The trout will thrive in these conditions and put on lots of weight. Most importantly, they come in close to the shore, which makes them accessible to all anglers in the district.

The waters in the district that I haven’t mentioned in my report that should really fire up over the coming months are Hepburn Lagoon, and the Newlyn and Moorabool reservoirs.

SEPTEMBER 2017

67

Zero big cod at seasons’ end ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

With the cod season all but done and dusted for another year, it’s depressing to look back on the season’s catches in our local waters.

passed and I have not seen a single photo of a large cod caught in the Murray River from Robinvale to Renmark in South Australia.

I did hear of one at 99cm, but when you consider past seasons and the reputation this section of river has as being big cod water, you might wonder on where all

store Got One was forced to close its doors in a city of 60,000 souls based on the mighty Murray River.

The river is cooked and nine months on this section of the mighty Murray River is as dead as the giant cod that floated away in the black water.

As I write this, the bush

The only big cod seen in our local waters this season were the ones upside down in the black water.

I recall the glory days where giant cod would belt a well-placed lure with common regularity and most would count their score at seasons end on more than a single hand. This season, almost nine months have

the fish have gone. Some reputable anglers along this section of river continue to tout that all is good yet failed to raise a single sizable cod for the camera. How can this be good when you consider Milduras number one tackle

is once again being pumped full of water at numerous locations. Why are they creating an artificial flood when it was pumped and then naturally flooded not twelve months gone? Did the trees not get a drink

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or do they require artificial floods every year until the natural ones come along? I fully support environmental flows so long as they are beneficial and done properly. Those in charge have already stated these catastrophic black water events, while not natural on the scale seen in the last two floods, will now become the new normal. As obstinate as that we are required to move on and forget our once great fishery and the giant fish that made our local waters so special. ‘Sit down, shut up, and take your medicine’ seems to be the attitude without real explanation on what can and has been done to change it.

I struggle with the term artificial flood in that true floodwaters are continually on the move rolling in and out of the bush over a few week period. The term stationary flood might be more suited to the forest pumping that sees water sit stationary and stagnant for months at a time. Is this the true sleeping giant behind these two massive black water events?

I have spent the better part of my life exploring the bush and fishing the Murray and its adjoining rivers and have enjoyed every minute of it. It troubles me now to wonder on recent events and the future of our fishes when it is in the hands of the environmental scientists and water managers. What could possibly go wrong with such learned people at the helm?

One thing does puzzle me and that is if Murray cod breed during times of flood – and the last two floods have killed the large breeding fish – where are the future small fish going to

Carp are the new king of the river with their numbers exploding and few predators to speak of. come from? We know only the smaller cod survive the black water and given time these will grow into larger breeding fish. But if the next flood too is hypoxic, and to quote the experts, “this will be the new norm”, then surely these fish too will die and fail to breed. So where are the smaller cod going to come from that survive that event? And how many floods will it take to wipe them out all together?

Sure we still have some fish up this way. We still have good numbers of golden perch that will continue to bite well, especially as we head into spring and the water temperature starts to climb.

We have billions of carp and they will do very well growing quickly with little

fear from natural predators like cod. And yes, we have spatterings of small Murray cod, with possibly the odd big one that has managed to allude the hooks so far.

It still remains to be seen, but given time I expect some sizable cod will make the journey upstream from the lower lochs to repopulate our local waters.

Until then, as locals we need suck it up and forget the worst cod season ever seen in these waters. The real positive in our local waters for next season begins with the simple fact that it can’t get any worse than the last.

Besides, if you go for a drive and get above where the forests are artificially flooded there are still heaps of giant cod to be caught. I wonder why that is…

Spring frenzy fires MILDURA

Darcy Sherger

Mildura’s fishing has recently been like the weather over the winter months – cold and miserable. Leading into September this should change with the days slowly stretching out and the temperatures slowly on the rise. Rising temperatures have the potential to trigger some serious activity for local anglers within the region.

Spring is generally the time of the yellowbelly frenzy around Mildura where the banks are lined with lure fishers casting crankbaits around snags, rock reefs and weirs determined to encounter

a golden perch. This is generally a time where many anglers can get their arms stretched by several golden perch within a session, which will make up for the quiet winter that many anglers experienced.

The weather will need to warm up to create this frenzy and the water temperature will also have to increase for them to really fire up and feed.

Generally when the water temperature hits around 20°C in spring, the golden perch will spawn and create this feeding frenzy that will keep anglers on their toes.

For anglers targeting golden perch this spring, small lures such as Jackall TN60s and 70s on the cast will be very deadly and hard to not tie on for a

cast. TT Switch Blades, Daiwa 65mm Woofers, Sebile Flat Shads and other sinking crankbait lures with a loud rattle around structure will also produce the goods. If you prefer to use spinnerbaits, Bassman C a r l ’s Compacts, Shortys, small Mudguts Spinnerbaits and Micro Mumblers will also be worth a crack.

Small Oar-Gee Plows and JJ StumpJumpers will be very productive on the troll over rocky ledges and snags.

With the reasonably quiet fishing, several local anglers have been trying a different style of fishing than in the river, resorting to areas such as billabongs, dams and To page 69

A look back at the Murray cod season end store and we had a bit of banter about his fishing. I promised to make a hero out of him if he caught a good cod. Low and behold, we received a photo from him with a massive 122cm cod he caught while casting a hardbody lure – a wonderful catch for a great young kid.

I’m sure he learnt a fair bit out on the lake with his dad while wagging school! Well done, Brody.

For those that are keen on their tournament fishing, pencil in 21 October for the Golden Dollar$ tournament. Based at Bundalong targeting yellas (golden perch), this event gives you the chance to share in over

YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

With the clock ticking towards the end of another season, fishos had the chance to battle with a legendary Mulwala Murray cod.

Traditionally, first frost saw anglers pack away the fishing gear and grab the cray pots, but how times have changed!

This season, like no other, switched on cod fishos flocked to Mulwala on mass through the winter months with outstanding results. With only a handful days to go before the threemonth closed season (1 Sep to 30 Nov), anglers didn’t waste what was left of it.

A well-placed cast (or even a lucky one!) had anglers leaving Mulwala with a massive smile on their dial.

Undoubtedly, the new craze of surface lures, wakebaits and swimbaits gave the cod something new to look at. This style of fishing produced results far exceeding the traditional methods of casting and trolling both hardbody lures and spinnerbaits.

If you haven’t given the topwater style of fishing a go, grab yourself a new lure

$3000 cash.

Organisation is well under way for the 2017 Yamaha Cod Classic. The Cod Classic promises to be huge with something for everybody. Prizes include seven boating packages and plenty more.

• If you are visiting town, I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish, Camp & Ski (opposite the post office) in Mulwala and say G’day. We are your largest Murray cod-specific shop in Yarrawonga/ Mulwala and specialise in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on (03) 5744 3133.

LEAVEY LURES BIG COD CAN’T RESIST THEM!

Brody Kenningale with his 122cm cod. or two as I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

The best locations to fish for cod were around the 2m mark and had weed close by. Popular areas for targeting the surface bite included Kyffins, the Northern Bight, from Woodlands through the Skilands area up to Majors Creek and the top northeast

corner commonly known as the ‘Everglades.’

To give everybody a mention who has caught a good cod over the past month would see me running out of ink! There are two who deserve special mention for July. First up is Warren from Shepparton. Waz has spent many hours here with outstanding success, the like

no other angler has seen here this year. To top off the season, he boated three whoppers of 117cm, 118cm and 120cm. They came off the top on Koolabung Cod Crackers.

The feel-good catch of the year came from a young fella, 12 year old Brody Kenningale from Griffith. Brody came in

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impoundments to chase redfin on soft plastics.

Redfin are a beautiful table fish and great fun to catch while casting small soft plastics on light spin rods.

Soft plastics such as 80mm Squidgy Wrigglers, Strike Tiger 3” Curl Tail Grubs and or even Squidgy Worms or Critters will do the job in clear water.

Soft plastics will work the best in clear water, but if it’s stirred up a little bit, small TN50 Jackalls, small blades and or even Small Celta spinners will turn some redfin heads and entice a hit.

I know myself and many other anglers are eager to get back out amongst the golden perch action. The wait will soon be over.

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A decently-sized redfin taken on a Jackall TN60.

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What to expect for the 2017 trout opening WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

Victorian trout season reopens after its annual winter closed season and before I tell you all how excited I am about the new trout season, let’s see what has been biting over the last month.

The big news has been the Merriwa Park Lake trout fishery in Wangaratta.

Back in June the Victorian Fisheries Authority stocked 400 yearling rainbow trout into the pond in Merriwa Park at Wangaratta for the kids to enjoy during their school holidays, and enjoy it they did!

to get lures back. There were kids everywhere, being kids and being outside. They were enjoying fishing and having an absolute blast doing what I was doing myself, 30 years ago.

The Merriwa Park Lake has been an enormous success. In fact, it was so successful that the original stocking of 200 trout was doubled at the start of the second week of the holidays and the second lot of 200 trout were stocked in by a parliamentary secretary, Danielle Green MP. A few members of the Victorian Fisheries Authority were on hand, as well as a show of various local media and council representatives.

Saturday 2 September sees the Victorian trout season reopen and many anglers will be out there eager to catch their first trout of the season.

Every time I went down there for a look there were kids untangling fishing line, seeing who could cast the furthest, and climbing trees

It was truly wonderful to see so many happy kids, who all received a free hat or small tackle box.

Away from Merriwa

With the warm September weather comes an increase in snake activity. Be careful where you put your feet. Most snakes prefer to move out of your way to safety rather than strike and risk breaking a fang.

Park Lake, the other family friendly fisheries were all very popular throughout July. The Ovens River fished very slowly, with the odd Murray cod or trout cod being caught here and there, but certainly no big numbers of fish.

Bring on September and the new trout season! I’m super excited and can’t wait to once again be out walking the streams.

Based on the recent lack of rainfall and weather patterns, I predict that the trout season will be fantastic when it first opens in September, but the water will be lower than usual for September; this could lead to an earlier slowdown for the trout fishing as the reduced flows may lead to faster warming of the water during October.

This prediction is subject to change with one or two decent rainfall events.

In September, the Ovens River itself will be well worth fishing, especially upstream of Bright. Trout numbers are not as great as they were a few years back in the Ovens River, however there are still quite a few trout in there and the reduction in numbers has led to a few larger fish turning up.

The Buckland River will also be well worth fishing.

Trout can be caught anywhere along the Buckland. Past the first bridge over the river and further upstream will likely be the best area.

The Buffalo River may fish okay for trout, but you’ll most likely have to go a long way upstream. Anywhere from Abbeyard and up will be worth fishing with the area closer to Lake Buffalo seeing poor trout fishing in recent years.

I’m not expecting anything too great from the Rose River, which has really been struggling over the last few years, despite the decent flow of water. In fact, if these dry conditions continue, the Rose River may well even dry up this summer, which it has a reputation for doing during drought years. When this happens it flows underground in some sections and above ground in others.

The newly established fishery in Merriwa Park Wangaratta has been an enormous success, with local kids lining the banks every day of the school holidays eager to catch a yearling rainbow trout.

The Dandongadale River will be well worth fishing, particularly up in the Alpine National Park.

The King River will be worth fishing upstream of Lake William Hovell, with the far upper reaches around ‘Pineapple Flat’ and the King River Hut being the best. I am not sure whether that area is accessible during September though; I have a feeling it is subject to seasonal road closures up there.

The 15 Mile Creek may be worth a fish. This once magic little stream is not a fraction of the waterway

it use to be. A lack of streamside vegetation in the lower reaches has lead to warmer water and seen the trout push further upstream.

Recent flooding has caused habitat damage including siltation, which has reduced the amount of available or suitable fish-holding areas.

In other words, there are trout in some sections of the headwaters, but don’t expect the great trout fishing from the 15 Mile Creek that we use to get back in the 80s and 90s.

Around Wangaratta as we start to see the weather warm up we may start to see

With the opening of the trout season, the water should be much lower and clearer than opening weekend last year.

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a few carp start biting in the Ovens River. Anglers using worms or corn as bait may find themselves lucky.

Early this year the Victorian Fisheries Authority stocked quite a lot of golden perch into the Ovens River from Wangaratta downstream.

From memory, they stocked around 30,000. I am not sure whether any of these fish will be big enough to turn up on our lines this spring or not, but there’s only one way to find out and that’s to grab a rod, grab some garden worms and go wet a line.

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With some rains and environment flows it was really hard to get a good report from the Goulburn in August. A lot of locals moved to other waterways to chase a final cod due to those factors, but there were a handful who tackled the tough conditions with success.

There were less fish reported this winter and this may be the flow-on effect of the black water event earlier this year. There is no real way to find out if that’s the case, but hopefully it’s just a one off and come cod opening we’ll see plenty of good-sized fish being caught again.

There were reports of decently-sized crayfish being caught towards Murchison and some floated in from the Broken River, mostly as a by-catch on bait.

With spring now upon us it’s a great chance to target some yellowbelly in both the Goulburn and Broken rivers.

The Broken is probably the best river to target in spring – it’s yellowbelly heaven out there if the conditions are right. The two weirs, both Caseys and Gowangardie get a lot of traffic in the spring and targeting yellowbelly on the downstream sides of both weirs is the best option.

The lures that have worked best in the past in these areas are small spinnerbaits with willow blades retrieved faster than normal to generate attention in the flowing water. Any lipless crankbait around 60-70mm is good.

If you’re using hardbodies, the lures that dive 10ft are great for the local rivers.

With the weather warming up, its time to take the shrimp net out when you’re bait fishing, as both shrimp and yabbies are now slowing appearing. Fresh is best when it comes to bait fishing and any weedy area is ideal to throw your nets in.

SHEPPARTON LAKE The lake fished well in early August with a few people putting in the hours targeting late season cod. There were a number of mid-sized fish around 35-50cm all caught on the surface. Now the cod season is over, it will give these stocked cod some time to feed up and once 1 December comes around I’m sure there will be plenty more reports of cod being caught at the lake.

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The trout have been taking worms on floats around the grass hill and those in boats and kayaks have reported yellowbelly around the 40cm mark caught out in the middle, mostly on weedless rigged soft plastics.

KIALLA LAKES The main lake is again producing yellowbelly around 25-30cm. There haven’t yet been any reports of the bigger fish around the 45cm mark, but there are fish that size in the lakes system. Small TN50 Jackalls or just about any spinnerbaits are the go-to lures at the lakes. The tactics are still the same at Kialla – the trick is a slow roll of your lures back to the bank with a slight raised tip towards the bank.

Make sure you stay switched on all the way to the bank. I have been hit right in close to the bank – that gives the heart rate a rise.

CRAIGMUIR LAKE Spring is a great time to fish Craigmuir Lake.

Redfin and yellowbelly usually come on the bite

over the next 3-4 months.

There is starting to be a bit more weed at the lake, which makes land-based fishing harder, but those in kayaks or canoes will have no worries fishing the lake.

Just like everywhere in spring, if we get a rain event, make sure you’re fishing before or after it as this usually sends the fish into a hot bite.

LOCAL CHANNELS The channels are now back to capacity after being raised again late in July and early in August. The water is still not as clean as the summer months. As each week goes by the clarity gets better and better.

There have been a lot more yellowbelly being caught in the channel system over the past two years and plenty of cod get caught while targeting yellowbelly. I think the natives in the system have contributed to the decline of redfin numbers. Years ago you could go and catch five or more great redfin in a session. Now it seems to be small yellowbelly and cod are in good

numbers as well.

I tend to target the structure in the channels with most drop bars, syphons and bridges holding good numbers of fish.

WARANGA BASIN The basin becomes very tricky to fish in the spring with wind conditions usually picking up in the coming months.

If you can’t get a day without wind, I would suggest picking the ramp closest to where the wind is blowing.

The direction of the wind can create a huge advantage in the spring.

With the wash smashing the bank it creates a feed area for all types of baitfish and larger fish.

It can sometimes be difficult to fish these areas, but I have found fishing the wash side at the basin works best, especially if it’s on a rise.

There will now be some grass banks around the edges and hopefully we see a good rise in the spring. Targeting these flats will also produce good numbers of fish.

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Hoping for rain to boost the trout spawning JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson steve@swtroutfishing.com.au

Welcome to spring! We had a strange winter in the snowy mountains. It was colder than normal and nowhere near as wet as last year. There wasn’t as much snow either.

What this means is that the lake water levels won’t be as high as 2016, unless we get some serious rain over the next month or so. Not a lot of water will come from the snowmelt this year.

The brown trout spawning run was very good this year, but we are still waiting for reports about the rainbow trout spawning run. With only a month until the start to the river fishing season for another year, we’ll just have to wait and see if we have any rain this month to finish off the rainbow trout spawning run. If it’s late, there may be a few trout left in the Thredbo River for the October opening weekend.

Either way, I’m sure we’re going to have a great season on Lake Jindabyne with the excellent fishing last winter.

Let’s have a look at what to expect when fishing this

Noah Biddy caught a couple of great trout during his recent trip to the Snowys. month. There’s no doubt that the shore-based bait fishing over recent months has been the best it has ever been. I found plenty of cruising fish when walking the shoreline of the lake.

While they may have been spooky on the bright days, it has been great fun stalking them anyway.

An interesting method

of fishing on the days when the fish are spooky is to watch the cruising trout and then cast an unweighted worm well in front of

to attract a hungry trout.

Areas for float fishing have been Woolondibby Inlet, Hatchery Bay, Taylors Bay and the Haven.

fish. It’s best to stay high on the bank and try and spot the trout first. After watching its movement for a while, you’ll get an idea of what ‘beat’ the fish is doing and the best position to cast the fly.

A lot of anglers prefer to use larger flies like Woolley Buggers or my Williamson’s Gold Fish fly, but some days you may find that smaller nymph patterns are be best. You just have to keep changing flies until you get it right.

Choose bays like Creel Bay, Hayshed Bay and Wollondibby Inlet to fly fish during the next couple of months.

Lure spinning is also working really well at the moment and the methods are the same as flyfishing.

Look for a trout if you can and cast well in front of them, bringing the lure back a metre or so in front of the fish.

If the day is windy then forget working the shallows. Switch to Tasmanian Devils or wobbler lures and cast them

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the fish and wait for it to approach. If the trout doesn’t see the worm, just give it a twitch. If you’re lucky, it will turn and come back. While not everyone’s cup of tea, this method is just as exciting as any other method. In fact, the bait fishing has been possibly the best method over the last few weeks, as the lake is slowly rising again.

Bottom and float fishing is working okay and a worm off the bottom, as a bunch of meal worms under a float is always going

The lake flyfishing has been great with trout seen fossicking along the edges. These fish can be polaroided in the shallows and are now more responsive to flies cast delicately in front of the

well out, let them sink a bit and then retrieve slowly.

Soft plastic fishing for trout has really taken off over the last couple of seasons and a lot of that is to do with the success of the fantastic range of

Strike Tiger plastics that have been developed in Australia for Australian trout and Australian conditions. Working soft plastics around snags and over weed beds has been deadly over winter and well worth looking at when those hardbodied lures just aren’t working on the day.

Boat trollers will find the trout will be close into the banks while the water is still rising. Keep in close to the edges. Anglers that have an electric motor to troll with may have a little advantage, as sometimes stealth is a major key to success. Use minnow lures with a good action and troll at low speeds below 3km/h.

Soft plastics trolled behind attractors like Ford Fenders or Cowbells are also well worth a try.

I prefer to fish the township end of the lake in September as the water coming out of the rivers is very cold and the fish can be a little less active.

Other areas that have been fishing very well are Sids Bay and the Rainbow Beach area. The sheltered bays are holding good brown trout amongst the weed. Hatchery Bay and Hayshed bay have a lot of rainbows in the shallows, early and late in the day especially.

Use darker coloured lures early in the day and as the sun rises yellow lures have been better.

The best areas for bait fishing at the moment have been, the boat ramp, Wollondibby Inlet (deeper water), Curiosity Rocks Bay, the Haven and Rushes Bay over at East Jindabyne.

• If you’re coming down to Jindabyne over the next few months, why not call in and get the latest fishing information at Steve Williamson’s Trout Fishing, shop 1 at the Snowline Centre, 6532 Kosciuszko Road (next to the Shell Servo), or call 6456 1551.

For visitors to the Snowys we have a full range of fishing tackle for hire at my shop and fishing tours are now available. Check out www.swtroutfishing.com. au for more information and if you’d like to receive a copy of my Trout Tales Newsletters, you can contact me on sales@ swtroutfishing.com.au.

BEST METHODS FOR SEPTEMBER Trolling: Roll surface lures close to the shoreline early in the morning.

Bait fishing: Try scrub worms and artificial baits floating about 2ft off the bottom.

FlyFishing: Polaroid fish working out the direction they are cruising and drop a small nymph well in front of them, so you don’t spook the fish.

Spinning: Work the shallows with small spinners and floating minnows that dive to 1m. Don’t forget the soft plastics, just in case.

It’s never too late to catch a cod at Eildon EILDON

Daniel Piazza

Last month’s fishing action on Lake Eildon was a bit up and down with the lake water level dropping. Owners of the

lake released water for the farmers. As quickly as that was over, more water was released to make power for the townships in the area.

I’m not sure how many townships Eildon has to generate power for, but I’m

sure it’s a few. The fish are still being caught with a few trout snagged around the main arm and up in closer to the feeder rivers.

Over the next two months the lake will almost shut right down for lure fishing, but there

There will still be some big cod caught this month.

will still be some big cod caught as I have seen in past years. A mate of mine caught a whopper 98cm cod on a 50mm spotted dog StumpJumper while trolling for trout at an annual fishing competition.

If you’re still keen to get amongst the action, you might want to rug up and take a good rain jacket.

I like to fish September differently. I like taking it back to basics and fishing bait with the smallest ball sinkers usually on a running sinker rig or a sinker right down to the hook.

We have had some very high barometer days in late July and early August and this is all before the big snow falls just at the start of August.

With a few good frosty mornings and then a good belt of sunshine, the fish know bad weather is on its way.

Some Lake Eildon locals managed to get a few cod in a session. They had some really nice colours and were in great condition.

I know I always say this, but spinnerbaits are the go at Lake Eildon. The natives absolutely hate

Bring on warm weather fishing BONNIE DOON

Andy McCarthy

The water is coming up steadily and is continuing on with consistent patterns for trout with solid reports filtering through on a regular basis.

As reported over the last few months, there has been a lot of the fish are around 1-2lb – almost all browns.

There are rumours circulating that the water that was released earlier in the year may not have been for environmental

flow, but to test how quickly they could produce electricity in case it was required at a moment’s notice, now that Hazelwood has been decommissioned.

If this is the case, it was an incredibly poor decision they made when we were already expecting a dry winter anyway.

As we all know, over the years we have seen some mind-boggling things in regards to water management right across the country.

It seems the yellas have slowed a little over recent weeks, but look for them to really fire in September and

This is one solid brown trout – reports of solid fish like this have been filtering through on a regular basis recently.

An awesome Eildon cod.

October with excitement building for this spring. It looks like a bumper season ahead. I can’t wait for the weather to come good and deliver some warmth for us.

Recently reports were still flowing in on the cod as well with Jarrod Biles and his pal Scotty having a nice little session picking up a hat trick of cod. Well done, lads. Old mate Con from Pascoe Vale picked up a couple of chunky cod to 85cm using big StumpJumpers in the 30ft diving range.

Bring on spring. Now that the rivers are open again, it’s game on. Stay safe on the water.

Fish are still being caught with a few trout snagged around the main arm and up in closer to the feeder rivers. them banging around under the water and the blade sends out so much vibration – if they’re close enough, natives will smash them.

Cast tight to the walls.

My last trip was a blank out trip, as all my usual walls that hold fish shut down. Try new areas, as the fish could be moving around in search of new structure.

The cod will fight for territory and while I haven’t heard of this happening in a lake, I’ve seen this in rivers.

Flat line trolling for the

pesky trout is still available to all who want a few for a feed. Remember a softer tipped rod will always catch more fish.

Lake Eildon is a massive body of water and can still be a bit dangerous at times to the novice angler.

If you’re only new to the lake and want to try it out, jump onto Lake Eildon Fishing on Facebook and have a browse through it.

If you have any questions, ask away.

You’ll find your questions answered very quickly by the massive community.

Relax and enjoy delicious food and warm hospitality.

Open for breakfast from 6.30am everyday Coffee Light meals Pastries Cakes Bread 10 Main St, Eildon Victoria 3713 03 5774 2362 0438 881 629 SEPTEMBER 2017

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Looks like a bumper season for Bendigo anglers BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

I am approaching the change of season with a large amount of optimism. I think the upcoming season is going to be a cracker! The water levels in our impoundments are slowly rising. The Bendigo region has received a reasonable amount of rainfall at this stage. This has produced small amounts of inflows into our water storages and in the majority of these impoundments the water clarity is good.

The southern catchments in the Campaspe River system are the Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury reservoirs, which were recently holding a combined capacity of 80% and were still slowly rising. With the current conditions it will only take a couple of significant rainfall events and these catchments will reach capacity and therefore generate good inflows into Lake Eppalock, which is already holding a healthy water level around 88% of capacity.

LAKE EPPALOCK Water levels are currently steady at Lake Eppalock.

Water clarity is currently good. The Bendigo region traditionally receives its

heaviest rainfall over the spring months. If we receive average rainfall over the next couple of months, we should again see Lake Eppalock reach capacity. If this occurs and the spillway starts running, there will be some very good fishing.

The lake has continued to fish well over the last month.

Redfin are making up most of anglers’ catches. The best concentrations of redfin are being caught in depths range around 10m of water. Casting soft plastics and jigging soft plastics and ice jigs has been the most productive method of targeting the redfin over the last month. There have been several reports of trout being caught at this location lately.

The average trout being landed has measured around 35cm in length. Most of these have been caught by anglers trolling small hardbody lures aimed at redfin. These trout are most likely some of the yearling trout, which were stocked into Lake Eppalock

by Victorian Fisheries last season. It’s great to see the development of the mixed fishery. There have also been small numbers of golden perch being caught lately.

Most of these have also been a by-catch for anglers trolling hardbody lures and targeting redfin, who manage to land a golden perch instead.

The numbers of golden perch being caught in the Bendigo region will improve over the next month as water temperatures increase.

We should start to see an increase in the numbers of golden perch being caught by the end of this month as water temperatures increase and they start to feed more aggressively.

CAMPASPE RIVER Water clarity is currently good below Lake Eppalock.

The further you travel downstream, the more the water clarity reduces. What will happen with the water clarity will largely depend on the amount of rainfall we receive over the next couple of months. If we receive a few significant rainfall events,

water clarity will deteriorate.

If we receive below average rainfall, water clarity will continue to slowly improve.

My predictions are that we will see the water clarity reduce during the middle of spring, and will hopefully see good improvement in water clarity by the end of spring and early summer.

Recently the number of fish being caught in the Campaspe River is low. The occasional quality redfin and small numbers of golden perch are making up the majority of anglers’ catches.

We should start to see a

significant increase in catch rates by the end of the month.

CAIRN CURRAN Water levels have been steady at this location. We should see water levels start to increase over the next few weeks if the catchments receive some good rainfall.

Water clarity still remains poor at Cairn Curran and I’m not sure why the water clarity has taken so long to settle down at this location.

One theory has been the huge increase in European carp, which managed to get themselves established during the drought period from 2000-

2009. Lately redfin have been making up the most of anglers’ captures. Casting soft plastics and fishing with worms and yabbies have been the most productive options. We should start to see an increase in the numbers of golden perch being caught here by the end of the month.

LODDON RIVER Water clarity is also poor at the Loddon River. Water clarity usually improves significantly during most winter periods. The Loddon River usually only receives small flows during winter and the water clarity improves.

This season the water clarity has not improved like it does most years. With the poor water clarity this location has only received a small amount of fishing pressure over the last month.

Golden perch have been making up the majority of captures. The most productive lures for the golden perch have been lipless crankbaits in bright colours such as pink or orange and dark colours such as black and purple, which have also been working.

Small numbers of golden perch have also been caught by anglers fishing slowly with suspending hardbody lures.

Please remember the closed season for Murray cod, which starts on 1 September and reopens on 1 December.

Small fresh flow may dampen trout season WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

The opening of the stream trout season at midnight Friday 1 September should start to see the streams of West and South Gippsland bustling again with anglers chasing stream trout. Unfortunately the streams were not flowing well this winter with little rain, which may impact this year’s spawn.

It will be vital for the longevity of stream trout populations to catch and release this upcoming season. Blue Rock Lake is starting to fill up again after it dropped a fair bit over summer. Hopefully the snowmelt from Mt Baw Baw will get the lake to 100% before summer kicks in.

The streams will still be abuzz with aquatic life despite the lack of flow in the catchments. Some much needed spring rainfall will bring on the insect hatchings, so the best time to head out will be around the barometer drop or rise.

Bead headed nymphs work 74

SEPTEMBER 2017

really well in spring and if you notice a little bit of surface action around (fish feeding or insects skimming the surface), use a dry fly as a strike indicator to increase your chances.

The Toorongo River is a must-fish destination for fly anglers. There are plenty of small rainbow and brown trout about and the setting is just magnificent. It’s an ideal flyfishing river with plenty of open river meandering through farmland for most parts and heaps of good pools and slow runs to cast a fly in.

There are plenty of other small streams to explore in the region including Loch Creek. If the rain holds off then the Latrobe River is worth wading.

Lure anglers will have a lot of fun chasing stream trout too. The most popular lures for targeting stream trout in the Latrobe, Tanjil, Tarago, Bunyip and Lang Lang Rivers are small spinner-blade lures, small floating minnow hardbodies and small wriggler-tail soft plastics on a light jighead.

Small lures between 1” (25mm) to 2” (50mm) work best, as they’re not cumbersome in the water and will attract small and

larger fish.

To wade or not to wade, that is the question. Wearing waders isn’t necessary to fish most of the streams in the West and South Gippsland regions, but it can be an

advantage for particular fishing methods. Waders are an essential part of your stream fishing kit; they get you closer to water level and allow you to access trout feeding zones.

Most of the streams can be waded. You’ll need to hop out and bypass deeper pools or obstacles in the way.

Having waders made from a tough durable material is a must. If you don’t have a

The author with a healthy mid-winter brown trout caught and released on Blue Rock Lake trolling the shoreline.

pair of waders then don’t despair – many streams have good access points and walking tracks.

September is good month for trolling at Blue Rock. The water is still cool and trout are actively feeding off the surface out in the lake where wind currents create bait trails for hungry fish to feed off. Flat-line troll winged lures, spinner-blades and minnow style lures along the wind trails.

Fly anglers can also have a bit of fun if they have access to a boat or sturdy kayak/canoe.

Applying a stealthy approach to the wind trails and casting a dry or wet fly on the margins can result in a hook-up. Don’t be surprised if you end up with a carp or two as you’ll often see their orange lips slurping bugs trapped in the surface tension of the water.

The river blackfish season also comes to a close on September 1 until December 31. If you have any reports, questions or photos from the opening of the stream trout season, please don’t hesitate to email me.

Rain has been good for the water levels CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

When the wind stops blowing the sweetwater fishing in our many lakes has been superb. The rains that fell in July continued into early August giving our impoundments and rivers a decent top-up.

Lake Elingamite has been open for some time now to those possessing kayaks and smallish punts.

Recently those who possess bass boats up to 4m equipped with an electric motor have been able to get out. It’s

At this time of year, fine days mean cold days.

This trip out on Purrumbete was freezing!

Another redfin that fell for a Fish Arrow Flash J Minnow. just a matter of having fine weather in which to do so.

A kayak angler who also works for Fishing Monthly (Corey Gallagher) recently had a weekend on the lake where he landed at least 30 brown and rainbow all

fast approaching 1kg in weight. Oh, and there was a decent redfin or two thrown into the mix.

Camperdown angler and rod builder Ken Carmen also had a session out on the lake in his kayak where he landed

browns, rainbows and redfin using soft plastics such as the Fish Arrow Flash J Shads.

Ken has also been very busy at Lake Bullen Merri where he works the banks with rod in hand. Using the same soft plastics he has landed many rainbows and Chinook salmon, from new release fish up to those weighing close to 2kg. Ken is still trying to tempt a large brown into taking his soft plastic.

Lake Purrumbete has been excellent for large browns, rainbows and salmon with many fish exceeding 10lb in weight. Casting lures and plastics towards the bank or flat line trolling in depths of 6-10m has seen some huge fish caught lately.

Bait anglers suspending a mudeye under a float and allowing it to drift in close to

the bankside weed beds have also picked fish.

The redfin fishery is still going strong except the schools have thinned out somewhat and landing a dozen good fish in a session is more realistic, as opposed to the cricket score catches that were more common just a few months ago.

The quality and size of the fish has vastly improved with the average size now sitting around 35cm and the fish are very fat to say the least. Jigging in 12-15m depth has been ideal and the bottom dwelling redfin can still be found using a depth sounder, but the schools are a lot smaller than they were in autumn.

The redfin’s main diet is minnows, so realistic minnow style soft plastics certainly do work a treat and save on

harvesting live bait.

Now for a bit of doom and gloom – currently Lake Tooliorook has a thick coating of blue-green algae, which seems an uncommon

occurrence in cold weather, but there you have it. The depth marker at the boat ramp is over 1.4m. A reading of 2m means that the lake is full to capacity.

Another fat reddy brought to the surface. Jigging minnow plastics is the only way to go.

Lake Tooliorook with its thick scum of algae is a sad sight to see, as the lake is nearly full after being nearly empty for some years.

Prior to the algal outbreak, boaters and bank anglers alike where reeling in rainbows fast approaching 1kg in weight. Trolled and cast lures and plastics were working, as was bait fishing with mudeyes suspended under a bubble float. Now all of that has been put on hold for the time being. The lake must be so nutrient rich that the cold weather has had no effect on killing the bloom.

Hopefully more rainfall will.

Otherwise, once we hit the warm weather of spring the bloom will escalate even further, possibly resulting in a fish kill. Let’s hope not.

River trout back on the cards for Melbournites MELBOURNE METRO

Dylan Brennan

Spring has sprung here in Melbourne and is probably the best time of the year (unless you suffer from hay fever). The days will only get longer and milder from here on, and the local rivers and creeks are now back on the cards if you’re a trout anglers, as of 12am on the 2nd of September.

While the rivers will see an influx of anglers out in search of trout, some of the rivers can actually be running a little too cold this early in the season – especially if they dot their way through shaded canopies from altitude headwaters.

The lower sections of these rivers can supply a bit more action early on in the season though. The lower Yarra around Woori Yallock can be good with a couple of mild September afternoons starting to kick the food chain along and get the fish going.

A well-placed hardbody or scrubworm can be the undoing of many trout. Just be mindful

that as from the 1 September river blackfish are subject to a closed season in rivers south of

the Great Dividing Range, so if you get one while trout fishing it must be safely released.

Young Tygar Smith with a Casey Fields rainbow trout.

Image courtesy of Don Smith.

On the local lakes scene most of the usual producers are fishing well.

Karkarook Park, Rowville and Lilydale are all worth a look if you have some pellet berley and PowerBait in your bag. Casey Fields in Cranbourne, however, has been the standout recently.

Casey Fields is only a small lake situated behind the Village Green Playspace in the Casey Fields complex.

Being a small lake has both its advantages and disadvantages.

When the fish are really running hot, and there’s some good weather during the school holidays it can be fairly busy and hard to get your favourite spot, but if you are a master of your berley method it will really pay off big time. Once you have a good berley trail going you can hold a big school of trout right where you want them and have some fun.

Coarse fishing methods work well, with rainbow coloured PowerBait fished on running sinker rig a real killer more often than not.

Down along the Peninsula at Devilsbend Reservoir, the fishing has been good over the last month or so, with some nice trout and redfin being caught. The trout have been actively cruising the weed edges where they are in search of a meal.

Early mornings have been the most productive time with both trout and redfin. Many anglers are reporting small ‘nymph’ style soft plastics have been excellent on these marginfeeding fish, as generally they are in this shallow water looking for food. The odd rainbow has also been caught using PowerBait fished under a float out over the deeper edge of the weedbeds during the day as well.

• For any of the latest metro reports and information, pop into Compleat Angler Dandenong at 241-243 Princes Highway, Dandenong, give us a call on 03 9794 9397 or jump on to the ‘Melbourne Metro Freshwater Fishing’ page on Facebook.

SEPTEMBER 2017

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FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS FISHY SONGS PART II

BLUE SKY LINE BONEY AND IVORY BREAM LOVER BUOYS LIGHT UP CHAINED TO THE REEL COLD AS ICE JIG EAGILL ROCK FISH ON EELEEN FLY ME A RIVER HEY JEWDE

HOO ARE YOU JAIL BRAID KELP ME RHONDA LADY IN REDFIN RIG OF FIRE RUN TO BARRADISE SPACE CODITY TRUE BLUEFIN WALK THIS RAY

Loaded For Bass Sudden In-Pact Baits are jig/ spinnerbait trailers that soak up a huge amount of catch scent and continually release it. These supple trailers are very durable, won’t tear off, dry out or become distorted, and their absorbency prevents your catch scent from washing away after a few casts. There are nine models, ranging in size from 2.25” to 5.25”, and colours include red, green, yellow, blue and white.

To place an order visit www.loadedforbass.com.

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO: VIC Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

VIC SEPT 2017

Phone (day):

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to J Stoop from Geelong, who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition!

Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – VFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for July is A Battersby of Elphinstone, who won a Mako sunglass prize.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

Patterson Lakes, M Peeters of Colac, J Ellis of Reservoir, G Bell of Mernda, B Stokes of Morwell, M Moulding of Red Hill, P Merrick of Shearwater, B Walpole of Warrnambool, D Hedley of Hamilton, M Coates of Elliminyt, M Tansey of California Gully, J McNamara of Goornong, G Ball of Clifton Springs, J Brumby of Nirranda South, I Lovel of Bealiba, V Illman of Mt Gambier , K Sutherland of

Leopold, S MacFarlane of Margate, J Wilson of Boronia, N Cribb of Waterford, S Newcombe of Birregurra, P Finn of Numurkah, I Wild of St Arnaud, T Bartel of Montrose, P Geale of Georgetown, P Cobb of Berrigan, R Eames of Essendon, J Collier of Smythes Creek, B Rafferty of Maryborough.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE COASTAL BLACK LOGO

The answers to Find the Coastal Black Logo for July were: 16, 18, 22, 24, 26, 30, 38, 42, 67, 70, 77, 82, 84, 104, 110.

– V&TFM

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SEPTEMBER 2017

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Golden Perch

The Find the Coastal Black prize winners for July were: T Sweeney of Emerald, B Bell of Wodonga, D Robinson of Carisbrook, J Neilson of Rochester, W Henley of Park Orchards, M & D Doherty of Strathfieldsaye, E Forrester of Merricks, D Parry of Stawell, A Bonner of Coragulac, H Skeer of Millicent , M Fryer of Balwyn North, T Mathieson of

GUESS THE FISH?

Answer:

Product Profile

Wild River Bass 3, The Journey BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

Just in case you needed more encouragement and inspiration to hit the water in search of wild river bass this season, Wild River Bass 3 The Journey, filmed and produced by NSWFM writer Dave Seaman, has just become available!

With the success of Wild River Bass and Wild

River Bass 2, comes the third instalment of this series, this time, focussing on the journey.

On this disc, you’ll find 72 minutes of some of the best footage of wild river bass fishing anywhere. After a while, you’ll soon feel as though you’re on a babbling bass stream, dodging spikey over hangs and looking for a place to cast, while behind you a chorus of whistling and cracking from birds

and insects picks up as the activity under the surface reaches a crescendo. With smell of flowing freshwater and wet earth in your nostrils, the rod is nearly ripped out of your hands as a bass makes a spirited attempt to take your small plastic offering home. After a short battle, a beautiful slab of bronze Aussie native lays spent beside the canoe.

This is what the DVD is all about.

This is not a how-to

production, as there is plenty of that out there already, although it did teach me a thing or two about night fishing…

What this DVD is to me, and will be for many others, is the affirmation that us bass tragics aren’t alone, but it also offers a window to those who don’t understand the addiction into the mind of a bass angler. This is a celebration and appreciation for the

nature we immerse ourselves in when taking on this caper, the people we share these experiences with, and most of all, the little bronze animals that keep us coming back for more.

Many non-addicts ask why, and Wild River Bass 3 attempts to answer that question with some amazing footage, photographs and spoken word, with Dave offering a very personal account of

to the physical journey of every trip down to these beautiful waters. It may even be Dave’s journey of filming and producing this DVD all by himself, with this production dedicated to the late David Scarlett, who co-filmed and co-produced the first two DVDs with Dave. I believe it’s all three of these things, and more.

As Steve Starling’s review on the back of the case says, ‘It’s so real and raw I had to check my hands for scratches and bass spike cuts after watching this one!’ and he’s certainly not wrong with this one… It captures every aspect of river bass fishing, from the heartstopping topwater strikes and stunning displays of nature, to the clumsy mishaps and inevitable calamities that we can only laugh at – it’s all part of the package.

This DVD offers a perspective of river bass fishing that is only exceeded by being on the

water itself. There really is no better way to get keen for the river bass season coming! Make sure you

give this a watch before you load up the gear for the first bass adventure of the 2017/18 bass season!

what bass fishing is to him.

A non-fisher who sat next to me during the screening at my place asked me about half way through ‘Is this what you do when you disappear for days and come back with scratches all over you?’ Obviously, I replied in the affirmative. ‘Looks kinda fun,’ he remarked.

The Journey may refer to the journey that is bass fishing that starts from the first fish, it could also refer

FISHING NEWS

Quintrex recognises top dealers for 2016-17

Streaker Marine took out the top honours of National Dealer of the Year for 2016-17; however, many other dealerships were also recognised

for their hard work and dedication to the Quintrex brand. Quintrex Account Managers Nathan Shaw and Drew Jackson said each and every Quintrex

Nathan Shaw and Drew Jackson presenting Dealer Principal Lee MacKenzie with the award for Canobolas Marine.

dealership contributes to the brands success. The Dealer of the Year award recognizes dealers excelling in multiple areas.

“This has been a big year for Quintrex with the release of the Apex Hull. Quintrex would not be the brand it is today without the support we receive from our dedicated dealer network, so we are pleased to congratulate them on their hard work,” Nathan said.

NEW SOUTH WALES – CANOBOLAS MARINE Canobolas Marine, located in Orange in NSW, is a family-owned business that has been operating for over 60 years.

Dealer Principal Lee MacKenzie said their customer service and wide range of stock contributed to winning the Dealer of the

Year award.

‘We will always do our best to give our customers 100%; even through the colder months we carry a good range of boats and always try to have the latest stock on hand when new models come out,’ Lee said.

VICTORIA/ TASMANIA – BENDIGO MARINE & OUTDOORS Quintrex Account Manager Drew Jackson said the husband and wife team (Trevor and Donna Yates) behind Bendigo Marine & Outdoors has a passion for the marine industry that takes their business to the next level.

“Trevor is a very keen fisho who can relate to his customers and provide them with the right boat to suit their exact needs,” Drew said.

Owners Trevor and Donna Yates from Bendigo Marine & Outdoors are building a reputation to be proud of.

Trevor and Donna said it was an honour to receive the coveted award and attribute their success to customer service and quality products.

“To stand with others that have been in successful businesses for many years, it was a thrill to win this

respected award.

“Small business is tough at times and it is nice to be acknowledged for striving to ‘do the right thing’ by our suppliers and customers while building a reputation to be proud of,” Trevor said.

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A day in the life of Steve Morgan (with data) SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Last month I took a bigger picture look at the ABT experience for fishers.

This month I thought I’d zoom in on an ABT fisher and look at the fishing experience in more detail.

During two of the latest events for ABT, Steve Morgan livestreamed his fishing day and recording catches via the Track My Fish app. We have combined the two sets of data, performing

becoming a better fisher series; I want to take advantage of Steve’s data to highlight a part of fishing that is talked about, but not very often with data – casting.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CASTING Allow me to tell you a story; it’s a cold morning as you hit the ramp. That nip in the air is a good sign. Clear skies and just enough breeze add to mounting anticipation for the day ahead. There are three minutes and 42 seconds until the first structure – each a valuable marker on the journey that lies ahead.

How do you use three

Steve’s effectiveness in finding fish over the four days. a review of the livestream – every cast, every rod change, every bathroom break for at least six hours a day.

That’s 24 hours of video we have looked at, or rather, the reviewer Phoenix has looked at.

It’s fair to say she knows every inch of his backside.

I have to say it has been entertaining sitting at the desk across from her getting a running commentary.

Doing this work is not a chore, it’s a privilege. The best part of the review day is when Phoenix comes over with the next hour’s data.

I’ve had no idea what was coming. I lost count of the number of times I got the data and found out I had more questions than answers.

Steve has been fantastic and always willing to provide insights on things we don’t understand.

With that in mind, I’m respectful of what we discuss. It’s not often you get to look in detail at a fisher and I’m grateful that Steve is always happy to share. I intend to cover quite a bit of his day including: • Steve’s method • How he uses time • A deeper look at things like his casting data and success rates • What his data tells us about the habits of bream.

For those that are exercise-inclined, I even did a calculation of how many calories he has burned (with all that movement of the buttocks.)

First back to my 78

SEPTEMBER 2017

minutes and 42 seconds to the full? Pulling up, you realise the good fortune you detected at the ramp – a lack of cars on an early midweek run that confirms everyone else is stuck in traffic right now. You own the river today. It sucks to be them.

On this day, there is time for a deep breath, to draw the sea salt into the bloodstream and dismiss any temptation to descend into electronic distraction. Today, it’s just you and the fish, renewing the ancient battle of wits.

Drawing your favourite weapon from the rack, and gripping it under an arm, you take a moment to rub hands, the friction loosening up tendons and awakening the nerves at the very tips of the fingers. The rod is perfectly balanced, its weight naturally guides the compression of muscle as the tension in your shoulders builds up for that first sighter.

You lick your lips, take one more breath then release the stored energy, watching the lure make a perfect arc tracing a path from the last of deep blue night into the warm orange of the morning then finally landing exactly where you imagined only moments before.

You will never understand how your body knows how to metre out just the right dose of energy in the cast. There is a click as the bail tips over and engages for the slow wind back. An instant later, the line tightens and in the thrill you find yourself looking down at the

scene of a man leaning into the strike and whooping as he lets the world know that the battle is on.

In that next instant you are back focused on one thing and one thing alone.

Hell itself could open up underneath the boat, but that fish is not getting away. The reel starts to scream. This is a solid fish and it too has a plan – instinctively it knows that rocks are safety and in this battle it has the jump on you.

There is a bump on the line as the leader shears against stone. Somehow it holds.

Then that vital moment comes, that moment when one of the combatants makes a mistake and this time it’s the fish. Sensing that the pressure hasn’t relented, the fish makes a break for open water and it’s in this space that the odds turn your way.

With each second you know that fatigue is turning the tide and while it’s a battle of inches, you will take each and every one of them.

A flash of silver confirms that this is a seriously solid fish. The sight of the boat gives it a last burst of energy and the lump in your throat grows as you feel the thump, thump, thump of its tail on the leader. You loosen off a little on the drag and decide that it’s never wise to underestimate the adversary, especially when cornered.

Time crawls as the fish decides to use the weight of the water to hold its ground and there is no way to push the line without risk. Slowly, ever so slowly, you draw it to the boat. You know it’s cooked, but that doesn’t mean you’re the boss. One mistake is all it’s going to take. At last the leader breaks the surface looking more like a piece of postmodern art than a secure tether on the kraken beneath you. It’s time for a short prayer and you’re not sure if it’s for landing the fish or the fact you made it this far. It doesn’t matter.

Your wingman has the net and, while you don’t dare say a word, your eyes let him know this isn’t the day for messing around. Water sprays as the fish gives an almighty kick and you hear the line ping as the leader

gives way, sending you hurtling onto the gunnel. You can’t see what’s happening, but you know it can’t be good. Then your wingman turns to you, grinning ear to ear.

Question: how much do you want that kind of day?

Hello? Are you still there?

Put down that rod and get back here now!

I grew up on fishing stories. I have a few of my own; weirdly, many involve the one that got away.

Anyway, I love helping people to create their own story. That’s why I want to double back to my article a few months ago where I talked about Bayesian maths and probability, because it really helps to understand why good casting skills are so vital.

Figure 2 shows the level of success in each of the hours we assessed for Steve.

As you can see, hour one was the best in terms of fish (though not legal fish). For the sake of this exercise, we will look at hour one and hour three.

For the first hour, Steve cast 381 times in the four sessions for 19 fish in total.

In this case the maths is pretty simple; Steve is catching a fish every 20 casts. In other words, if you bet a dollar a cast for 20 casts at odds of 19:1 you would get your money back. On top of that, three of the 19 fish (15.8%) were keepers. All up you end with 126 casts per keeper.

Here is where Baysian maths kicks in. The probability of Steve catching a fish on a given cast in hour one is 5%. The chance of that fish being legal is 15.8%. To get the probability of a keeper you multiply the two probabilities so you end up with the probability of catching a keeper on any given cast at 0.8%. That translates to odds of 124:1.

How often do you place a bet like that?

I want to rest on that figure for a second. Even Steve, a serious fisher, is looking at a less than 1% chance of a keeper on a cast in good conditions.

Steve casts at around 95 casts per hour when targeting

Catch matched up to tide levels in the day.

Steve’s success by hour. structure. That sort of casting requires a high degree of accuracy.

I say this because Steve knows his stuff. Most people will hit the mark far less often. If you’re, say, half as good accuracy-wise then you can expect to pick up a keeper once every 252 casts.

Given that the ‘magic’ hour is fixed and assuming you can cast at 95 casts an hour, you are looking at three days in the magic hour to land a keeper in similar conditions.

Let’s look at hour three.

In this case, Steve cast 431 times for 11 fish (1 in 39 casts). This is where success is relative because in this case he landed a keeper six times in 11 (55% of the time). That conversion ratio reduces the 126 casts back to 72 to get a keeper.

Nonetheless at half Steve’s efficiency you are still at around 144 casts for that keeper, which is well outside what is realistic in the hour.

In the third hour, Steve manages to make it above 1% for a keeper – a massive upgrade to 1.4% and odds of 70:1. These are still long odds, but it shows how good technique benefits you in the magic hour. Have a think about what sort of odds you would give yourself.

Steve’s style of fishing is a game of hours and every day is different. If you are feeling tempted to raise your hand and say, ‘but I have all day,’ put your hand down.

Based on Steve’s ability to find fish (not just legal fish), there are some patterns, but overall the lesson is that every day is different, which means you can’t just rely on turning up at the right time to catch fish. In a competition that goes double, if you’re hoping for the fish to do the work for you, then there is nothing but bad news ahead.

Like any decent game of football, there’s only so much of the game where you get the run of the play. You want to make sure you can put the score on the board when it’s running your way.

On the first day assessed, Steve put no fish on the board at all and over the next three he managed six fish per

day in the well with at least one possible upgrade.

ACCURACY VS WHERE TO CAST The first part of improving casting is simple, spend time in the backyard with a bucket and you can tighten up technique. That of course doesn’t account for things like wind, but then practice on the water makes perfect.

On this point, I want to be very specific – ‘muscle memory’ develops based on deliberate awareness of the motion. There is a point you reach where if you do a motion enough times and focus on the elements of that motion, your subconscious takes on that information and turns it into a routine that can be replayed again and again without thinking about it.

This is called ‘unconscious competence.’

On the other hand if what you do is practice poor technique (or fail to pay attention to your technique) then that is what the unconscious mind takes on.

Once the unconscious mind takes on a routine – good or bad, it’s a huge battle to change it.

Try this, if you brush your front teeth first, swap to the back teeth first. Set yourself an alarm for a week later and see if you make it to the end of the week before reverting. If you maintain the new routine, reflect on how much effort it took to stay in that new habit. It’s much easier to build good habits from the start.

In the case of Steve in the period we assessed, he averaged around 90 casts an hour. Across his bream tournaments he has fished 209 days, which means he has cast somewhere in the vicinity of 132,000 times.

Given he has an average of 4.1 legal fish per day from those 132,000 casts, it follows that his ‘muscle memory’ is high in quality, which brings me to the second part of casting.

It’s said that Warney could land a ball on a 20c piece. If that 20c piece is 1ft outside off stump though, chances are he wouldn’t

have been successful as often. Warney had a knack of knowing where to bowl to the batter. His ability to know when to adjust his line of attack, combined with the control to execute, is what made him a super cricketer.

Top fishers are no different. Warney, to be as good as he was, needed to be able to get inside the head of the batter. Great fishers are able to get inside the head of the fish.

This comes back to the function mapping I discussed last week; fish use structure and the water column in a certain way. Every cast teaches you something. As I walk through how Steve’s day is structured, it will pay to reflect on this point – his day is based on 130,000 casts’ worth of experience. That his routine is so consistent is a reflection of the fact he has used those 130,000 casts to refine his knowledge of how to fish, and to perfect his ability to land the lure in the right place.

Here’s one last note; a good figure casting-wise to think about is 10,000 casts.

By that time your technique is embedded in your ‘muscle memory.’ If you cast around 75 casts an hour for four hours, that’s 30 days of fishing. Ask yourself – can you find 30 fishing days to get your casting technique right?

That magic day is waiting for you if the answer is yes.

STEVE’S METHOD Before I start on the main topic, I have a recommendation.

Don’t watch the highlights reel from the ABT days if you want to learn something about fishing.

I recommend watching hours 1-3 of each day of Steve, Kris and the other fishers who livestream. There is gold in there for anyone interested in improving their fishing skills overall.

I really enjoy watching Steve fish because he blends the traditional fishing methods with some modern lure magic rather than technology. He has a very simple plan and technique – fish the structure where fish are likely to hang around based on the time of the tide.

Steve’s range of lures includes Cranka Crabs, soft plastics and hardbodies. His

Cast rates across the four days. cast rate varies by tactic.

When the fish are on, he lifts his cast rate by minimising the time between casts, rather than speeding up his retrieve. This is one of the reasons he is so successful, he gives himself a serious shot at catching a fish every cast.

Like most competitors, Steve has a set of rods rigged up with different lures that he can swap between as needed.

This saves time re-rigging during the day. Steve’s rod changes are higher in the first couple of hours where he is working out the conditions and what is going to work, then it settles down to a much narrower set of tactics.

HOW STEVE USES TIME If you watch his livestreams, you are going to feel like Steve’s reality TV version of the ABT events has a single script. Pay attention though, because there is method in that script.

In the first hour he travels the least – rarely more than a few minutes, which is just the distance from the start to a bridge. Steve spends his first hour around a bridge (or large structure), working through a range of rods and tactics.

In the second hour his fishing time drops – that’s where his travel time is highest and his fishing results are weakest. I don’t know if that’s a deliberate sacrifice of fishing time, or if there is just a historical context that says that once that first

light is done the fish go a bit quieter making it a good time to travel.

Hours three to five tend to be the money hours where the bigger fish start to appear and Steve puts the runs on the board. During this time he is fishing rock structure, moorings or mangrove areas where the fish have cover

like a bit more data and a few other fishers to compare to (our next mission), but I have run his results by experts and there is something kind of spooky (good spooky) going on. He makes the most of the times when the fish are on, so his effort peaks when he is most likely to gain success.

On most days Steve

WHAT STEVE’S DATA TELLS US ABOUT THE HABITS OF BREAM Now that you know some of Steve’s tactics and how he uses his time and lures, you probably have one last piece of information you need before you go out there and practice beating him at his own game. Tide is important. The ABT events reviewed (NSW) followed the pattern of early morning low time (6-9am) with an early-mid afternoon high.

The time Steve spends first thing in the morning is either on the last of the run-out or at the change. I did a breakdown of the tide across the day and mapped the fish caught and you get the graph in figure 10.

Note that this is specific to Steve’s method of fishing structure. There may well be a different pattern based on fishing deeper water – that’s something we are looking at right now.

HOW MANY CALORIES HAS STEVE BURNED You already know I am a nerd who can’t help but ask

STEVE’S PERFORMANCE OVER TWO EVENTS Day/event D1/MR D2/MR Steve’s bag weight (kg) 0 3.63 Avg. fish weight (kg) 0 0.73 Avg. fish weight all competitors (kg) 0.54 0.56 Steve’s long-term avg. per fish (kg) 0.61 0.61 Diff vs. group average -100% +29.8% Diff vs. Steve’s long term average -100% +5% for ambush feeding. This is why accuracy is important in casting; if you’re targeting a fish that’s looking to ambush, you need to get the lure in the zone that it wants to hunt in.

After that, the day gets a little more random. I think if Steve has his bag then he’s open to alternative options such as giving his partner the call on where to fish.

One thing that is really spooky is how consistent his downtime is. There are a range of reasons for downtime – bathroom breaks, snags, helping land fish and so on. Steve is a pro when it comes to keeping his daily downtime to a minimum.

A DEEPER LOOK AT STEVE’S CASTING Steve’s casting rhythm and process is remarkably in tune with the tides and the rhythm of bream. I would

Cranka Crabs and crankbaits are popular go-tos for Steve.

manages at least 500 casts.

His ability to make 150 casts in the first two hours with lots of rod swaps gives him the best possible chance to suss out what the fish are interested in. I think this is an important key to why Steve is successful; he has a discovery process every day that allows him to adjust his technique early on.

If there is one thing I can pin Steve’s success down to, it’s his casting. His high quality, highly consistent casting has allowed him to work out the fishery to the point where he can be very efficient with his time on the water. I can’t say enough how important it is to get this basic skill right.

As a footnote, Steve once shared that he put his fishing observational skills down to orienteering when he was younger. That makes sense to me, as that is that natural world functional map building learned at an early age. The stupid thing is that we know a lot about the science of good development practices for kids and despite that we apply almost none of them in schools. There is a very direct link between what happens early on in life and what happens later.

Bottom line, if you want your kids to grow up like Steve, get them off the computer and send them outdoors, preferably with some serious challenges to overcome.

D1/RR 2.69 0.54 0.51 0.61 +5.5% -7%

D2/RR 2.03 0.41 0.49 0.61 -16.3% -20%

questions. I was just a little curious to see if I could work out the energy side of casting (how many joules per cast) and ‘yes’ is the answer, but it involves rigging up cameras and doing a bunch of maths that I didn’t have time for.

I have done the maths for throwing a ball; casting is a bit trickier, because the rod

MACCAS ANYONE? Without being able to break it down to that level there has been quite a bit of work done in the US on the energy usage in a range of activities. On the fishing scene it’s unsurprising to find that commercial fishing is the highest energy user (around 300 calories per half hour). Recreational fishing is a bit more sedate and I used a couple of different calculators that estimated between 200 and 250 calories per hour. Given this is competition, I will go on the high side with 250 calories.

So all up, that comes to around 1750 calories per day for Steve. That is the equivalent of around a 20km walk at a reasonable pace.

The bad news is if you are fishing sitting down, the energy drops to half that or less. I wouldn’t be turning to fishing as your weight loss activity unless you want to fish competition style for at least six hours a day.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF FISHING On that front, testing the health benefits of fishing is quite a difficult exercise. It involves being hooked up to machines, half hourly blood tests and so on to look at the physical changes that occur.

On the exercise side alone, I think fishing struggles to make the case.

I’ve sat with neuroscientists and watched their eyes light up when breaking down what goes on mentally while fishing and I’m a lot more convinced that there is a much bigger benefit mentally. Once again, there are a bunch of tests they do that are hard to do on the water, but there is no doubt in my mind that fishing is

How Steve uses his time across the day. is a mechanical enhancement that essentially reduces the energy required. Think about how much energy is released in pitching a baseball, then think most casting situations.

Not even close to the same.

A reasonable baseball pitch for the record uses about 547 joules (around 130 calories), which is around one and a half hardboiled eggs per pitch. A typical pitcher will pitch around 100 balls a game, so they use about 13,000 calories worth of energy per game.

one of the best things you can do to keep your upstairs in good shape, especially in the era of digital devices.

One thing that I have found with all top fishers is they are high performing individuals in their real work.

I don’t think there is any coincidence in that. Fishing is unique in its ability to tap into sections of our brain that are otherwise underused in the modern world. I have no doubt that becoming a better fisher gives you an edge in real life.

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Tech Tricks

How to tie your own marabou Deceiver jig BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

This month I am going to show you a variation of one of the most popular old school lures ever made. The marabou jig is an extremely popular and productive lure that has been used to target a host of species for more than half a century. The marabou Deceiver jig is a variation of this classic and

combines the traditional marabou jig and Lefty’s Deceiver fly pattern.

Both of these have been extremely popular on a host of fresh and saltwater species over the years and will still work extremely well in the modern era.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first commercially tied marabou jigs. These were created in Amsterdam, Missouri in 1957 by Bill Ward of the Bass Buster Lure Company. This jig was

1 To make the marabou Deceiver jig you will need saddle hackles, marabou, flash material (krystal flash UV grey ghost used here), a jighead, flat-waxed nylon thread, vinyl cement (or other thin, fast drying glue), scissors and a fly tying bobbin (not essential, but will make the task a lot easier).

firstly made to imitate the marabou streamer flies that trout anglers used on the White River. When fished in these waters by Bill’s father Virgil, the marabou Deceiver accounted for scores of trophy trout. They were then subsequently produced in sizes ranging from 1/64oz to 1/2oz, in colours such as black, white, purple, yellow, red/white, blue/grey, pink and orange.

Since then, anglers have made marabou jigs in a broad array of sizes

and colours and the species list of captures is extensive in both fresh and saltwater environs. I think I used my first marabou jig in my early teens (around 1983). It was a small white one with a red ball head tied on a #2 hook and about a 1/4oz in weight.

The first capture was a tarpon in a FNQ lagoon, but it accounted for many more species until there was virtually no feather left intact. I recall catching sooty grunter, spangled perch, jungle perch, trevally,

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giant herring, barramundi, grunter, steelback salmon, blue salmon and several other species on it in the early days. Marabou jigs are also extremely productive on a broad array of reef species and will tempt almost anything swimming.

The amount of action imparted by the marabou is amazing and even when sitting stationary in still water, the marabou will waft and pulse enticingly. The slightest twitch of the rod tip will produce a pronounced

kick to the marabou. When at rest, the marabou will flare and waft, yet when retrieved it condenses back against the body. A stop and start retrieve will have the jig looking like it is actually breathing. Marabou jigs can be cast out and worked back with a hopping action, using a stop and start retrieve or worked vertically in a jigging action. The addition of the Deceiver tail and flash adds to the profile, action and appeal of the original marabou Deceiver jig.

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Next, do the same on top of the hook shank to secure a similar amount of marabou quills.

At this same position, attach 3 to 5 saddle hackles to the far side of the jig with a series of thread wraps. The natural curvature of the hackle should be facing inwards. The middle of the hackle should roughly coincide with the bend of the hook.

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2 What jighead you use is up to you, however a quality hook is essential for making a strong marabou jig. What weight you choose will depend on your fishing requirements. To hold your jighead while you are tying, you can use a fly tying vice if you have one, a pair of locking pliers or just hold it by hand, although this will be a little harder.

3 Attach your thread roughly halfway along the hook shank using a jamb knot or similar. Cut around 6 to 10 strands of flash and attach at this point using a series of thread wraps. You can use a broad array of flash materials including krystal flash, shimmerflash, polarflash, sparkleflash, mylar or numerous others to get your desired effect.

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5 Repeat this step on the side of the hook closest to you. Again the hackle curvature should face inwards towards the other hackle. The same number of hackles should be on both sides and they should be the same length as shown.

6 Cut the marabou so that it is long enough to extend a centimetre or two past the bend of the hook. You will probably want one or two marabou quills tied in on the far side of your hook with a series of thread wraps. A little vinyl cement on the thread will increase the fly’s durability.

Continue to add similar amounts of marabou to the underside of the hook and the side closest to you until you have an even covering around the hook shank. Do repeated wraps of thread to secure and build up the area between the marabou and the jighead. Finish with a whip finish or series of half hitches, cut away the remaining thread and add some vinyl to the thread to increase durability.

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You can leave the head plain or paint it with enamel paint. You can even add some eyes if you wish. What colour and size you make your marabou Deceiver jig is up to you.

It will probably depend on your target species and the water depth being fished. As marabou jigs will attract a huge array of species, you will probably want to tie up quite a few to try.

Taking the few good weather opportunities WEST COAST

Brett Illingworth

I am beginning to sound like a broken record.

The reporting period for this issue continued to be plagued by demonic weather conditions. This

be used to determine the future sustainability of both the commercial and recreational cray fisheries.

The central section, between Cape Woolamai and Barwon Heads cops an absolute flogging from all parties. As already mentioned in previous

onslaught this year. This means more breeding and therefore, in coming years, more lobsters.

The central coast cray population is in dire straits. The new, three year tagging program hopes to provide vital catch rate data. This data will

Nothing tastes as good as squid. They freeze well, they’re fun to watch and they’re fun to shoot.

The squid event is eagerly awaited by all as not only a culinary delight, but also as the official beginning of our winter transition to spring. hideous weather was punctuated by only a few days of benign ocean or even bay conditions. The local population had to strike while the iron was hot. Any calm day was greeted with many of the hopeful braving the cold and trying their luck.

Those who have made it out have been rewarded for their efforts.

While the end of the season is upon us, the local crayfish population has remained relatively unscathed this year. For the past couple of months we have been limited to a maleonly take. This, combined with the restrictions imposed by weather and swell, hopefully means that a greater number have survived our

Divers who have made it out and braved the conditions have been rewarded for their efforts. issues, I would like to see a total closure on all forms of crayfish collection for two

Bream, luderick and black drummer have featured in some of the author’s more recent forays.

years. Then, and only then, can I see the point in some form of reporting program.

This fishery, particularly in this high diver population area, needs a little rest.

Now for some good news – the seemingly fruitless search for a calm spot has led to a few less than impressive locations being tried in a fit of pure desperation. This has culminated in a couple of unusual captures. I have a new appreciation for a few of these sites. There are others, however, that I will never visit again.

Bream, luderick and black drummer have featured in some of my more recent forays. I may have found a small piece of NSW right on my own doorstep.

The mammoth schools of Australian salmon are also continuing to provide entertainment on the Mornington Peninsula from Frankston all the way to Port Phillip Heads.

The scallops are also nice and fat at this time of year. They thrive in the cold. Most of the productive beds are in 10-14m deep, which allows for great free dive training.

Collecting 100 scallops in this depth range will give you a great workout.

While on the shellfish beds it also pays to keep an eye out for other tasty morsels. Although uncommon, you may be lucky enough to come across a Moreton Bay bug or two. These are treasured captures and are a true delicacy. Rye is the renowned hotspot.

One will give you bragging rights. Two will allow you to share. A capture of three will give you legend status.

The biggest news on the event horizon has to be regarding the imminent arrival of the breeding calamari hordes. The squid event is eagerly awaited by all as not only a culinary delight, but as also the official beginning of our winter transition to spring.

Nothing tastes as good as squid. They freeze well, they’re fun to watch and they’re fun to shoot. Once they have been through the motions of breeding, they will eventually die. Don’t

feel guilty about shooting them, just try to let the big boys do their business first.

Squid are prolific breeders and they have a prodigious growth rate.

They are most common over the grass weed beds of Portsea and in the tide over the grass at Queenscliff and other similar areas further up the Bellarine Peninsula.

When they are thick you can pop them from the surface. If cagey, a long

drop close to a fresh clutch of eggs should bring them in for a look.

Carry a big flag. Be aware of boat traffic. Try to peacefully coexist with fishers of other codes. Try not to take your 10 fish limit every day. There are enough for all and the event usually lasts well into December. The good news is that the arrival has already begun. It can only get better from here.

Scallops thrive in the cold and are also nice and fat at this time of year.

While the end of the season is upon us, the local crayfish population has remained relatively unscathed this year.

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South Coast Mighty Bonanza is on this month The South Coast Mighty Bonanza Fishing Competition is a celebration of all forms of recreational fishing. The three-day event encourages families and friends to go wet a line or jump in with a spear.

This year the event organisers have contacted 19 schools and 74 fishing clubs to reach a goal of 300 children in the competition. Each junior (infant to 16 years) will receive a competition bag valued $150 each.

To top it off for attending juniors, fishing celebrity and TV show host Alistair McGlashan from Fishing with Mates will be there to spend time with the kids, give out autographs, encourage them to continue fishing recreationally

and to have a great time.

The angling and spearfishing event held from 29 September to 1 October has over 270 giveaways with fishing and cash prizes totalling just over $80,000.

The vast majority of prizes are for the public entrants. The top male and female anglers receive a Garmin sounder for their efforts and the top juniors receive an autographed copy of Alistair McGlashan’s new book, which he will be presenting!

The Bonanza is now a sanctioned ANSA NSW tournament, so we encourage many ANSA members to come along and enjoy the fun.

We are delighted to announce for the very first time in Australia the Bonanza will

be hosting the very first USFA pairs state title spearfishing event. It’s a true pair’s event of one up/one down, with rock-hopping locations given the evening before. To be part of the spearfishing event you must be a USFA member.

The event is held at the seaside village of Tomakin, 10 minutes south of Batemans Bay in the Eurobodalla. Family and friends can experience some great fishing in the competition fishing grounds between Bendalong to Bermagui.

The Bonanza sees visitors from all over NSW, Victoria and as far as Western Australia.

We encourage all members of the public to come and join in the fun during the October long weekend.

It’s a great time of year

Some of the junior fishers from last year with their goodies and hats on (mostly). Stay sun-safe! during the school holidays to enjoy such a great event, and it’s just in time for and the family brush-up on your fishing skills for Gone Fishing Day only two weeks later.

Find more information on Facebook by searching for South Coast Mighty Bonanza Fishing Competition. For more details on accommodation, prizes, rules and conditions,

and online entry (closes 17 September) visit www.scmb. com.au or contact competition director Adam Martin on 0418 570 131. – South Coast Mighty Bonanza

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2017

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

2-3 Sep

Clarence River BASS Pro Qualifier #6

www.abt.org.au

Clarence River

16 Sep

Rnd 5 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series

David Nelson 0418 378 944

Eildon

roundy@cvlcss.com

16-17 Sep

Round 12 Hobie Kayak Bream Series 9

hobiefishing.com.au

Forster

30 Sep-1 Oct

St Georges Basin BREAM Qualifier #8

St Georges Basin

7-8 Oct

Round 4 Central Vic Pro Series

Lake Hume

14-15 Oct

BASS Pro Grand Final

Richmond River

30 Oct

BARRA Tour Round #1 (Evening Event)

Teemburra

31 Oct

BARRA Tour Round #2 (Evening Event)

Kinchant Dam

3-4 Nov

BARRA Tour Round #3 (Evening Event)

Peter Faust

6-7 Nov

BARRA Tour Round #4 (Night Championship)

Peter Faust

16-19 Nov

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 9 Championship

Western Australia

25 Nov

Rnd 6 Central Vic Lure Casters Super Series

David Nelson 0418 378 944

Lake Eppalock

roundy@cvlcss.com

1-3 Dec

Lake Macquarie BREAM Grand Final

www.abt.org.au

Lake Macquarie

www.abt.org.au

David Nelson 0418 378 944

www.abt.org.au

www.abt.org.au

www.abt.org.au

www.abt.org.au

www.abt.org.au

hobiefishing.com.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.

82

SEPTEMBER 2017

Pryke pulls ‘em up to take out Round 9 Strike Pro Round 9 of Hobie® Kayak Bream Series 9 was contested at the Gold Coast, in sunny Queensland on the weekend of 22-23 July.

A Queensland recordbreaking field of 51 anglers from Queensland, the ACT, Victoria and New South Wales headed to the same stunning location where the 2016 Australian Championship was contested at the mouth of the busy Nerang River.

On both days anglers headed off from the Power Pole starting line off Mitchell Park in Broadwater Parklands, located in Southport at 7am.

The weather was perfect throughout the tournament with warm, sunny winter weather, clear skies and temperatures in the mid 20°C. The tide was just on high, as they blasted off on day one, and about an hour short of full tide on day two. The water temperature hovered around 20°C across the fishing arena.

On day one most anglers

TOURNAMENT STATS Day One Fish Caught...................................... 160 Day One Anglers with Fish........................... 50/51 Day Two Fish Caught....................................... 151 Total Fish Caught............................................. 311 Total Weight............................................. 144.91kg Average Weight.............................................. 466g Total Cash Payout....................................... $3,720 got under way, with a lot of fish moving to the front of the river system and schooling in large numbers.

Winter on the Gold Coast is spawning time when yellowfin bream head out offshore to spawn. They appeared to be gathering in heavy pre-spawn and lighter weight post-spawn schools, but either way they were hungry and eager to take to the lure temptations that were presented to them.

The top 10 anglers shared total cash prize payout of $3720 and over $2500 in sponsor prizes were shared by Open and other divisional winners.

THE MIGHTY PRYKIE Steven Pryke from Lakes

A Queensland record-breaking 51 anglers from all over Australia headed to the Gold Coast to fish the tournament. headed north towards Runnaway Bay and other northern canal systems, Wave Break Island, Crab Island and further up to Paradise Point and Sovereign Island. A smaller group of around a third of the field pedalled towards the city skyscrapers to fish navigation markers at the edge of the main channel, the trawlers around the fish co-op, the Gold Coast Highway Bridge pylons and the pontoons and wharves along the Nerang and its southern canals.

Each day the bite was on right from the start. While those who headed north were still travelling, with kilometre after kilometre already under their belt, many anglers with plans of attack that had them fishing closer to home already had full bags of four bream.

The pre-fish reports had been excellent with anglers bringing back news that there were plenty of goodsized fish across the system.

Predictions proved to be correct when the tournament

Entrance made his massive trip up from Victoria totally worthwhile by moving up from his day one second place to squeeze out day one leader Brendan Pieschel and take out Round 9 of Series 9. Pryke, the youngest competitor of the tournament at nineteen years old, earned himself the young gun title, catching himself four fish on day one weighing in at 2.34kg and backing it up on day two

with four for 2.34kg. The catch gave him a two-day accumulative winning score of eight bream for 4.93kg.

Pryke won $1430 and an excellent sponsor prize pack for his competitive edge.

In only his third season of Hobie tournament fishing, and with his first major win, he has also guaranteed himself a place in the Australian Championship to be contested in Western Australia later this year. He has also accumulated 100 Angler of the Year (AOY) points which has placed him in a strong position to pick up a spot on the team to represent Australia – with three qualifying rounds yet to be completed – at the upcoming world championship in May next year in Amal, Sweden.

Pryke outlined his weekend on the Gold Coast.

“Each day I started out on the channel markers, straight out in front of the take-off area. There were a lot of school fish there, so I got a bag on both days within the first 15-20 minutes, which gave me a long time to upgrade. I was able to get my bag throwing Berkley Shrimps and Hitec Minnows at them.

“I would then head up towards the bridge [Gold Coast Highway Bridge]. I’d work the bridge pylons and pick up a few upgrades from there. The most consistent place for upgrades, for me, was the area out in front to the pool [Gold Coast Aquatic Centre]. I managed to pick up a lot of my bigger fish from that area, especially the 880g fish I caught yesterday [Saturday day one].”

Pryke’s rods were a Millerods Control Freak

The fish were gathering in pre-spawn and postspawn schools, all eager to crunch on lures.

CF XF 6’10 1-3kg and a Daiwa Harrier 6-10lb.

His reel of choice was a Daiwa Luvias 1000 and the line was Berkley Fireline 3lb or Daiwa J-Braid. He used Sunline FC Rock 3lb leader and his go-to lures were the Berkley Gulp 2” Shrimp in banana prawn on a 1/8oz jighead and a EcogearAqua Bream Prawn on 1/0 Owner worm hook PIESCHEL SECOND TO THE POLE Brendan Pieschel, from the Manning River district in New South Wales, led the field of anglers after day one with the second largest single bag over the two days of fishing, with four fish for 2.84kg. Pieschel followed it up with a four bream bag of 2.01kg on day two to finish with eight fish for 4.85kg just 80g behind the leader.

Pieschel won a hefty $750 cash prize and an excellent sponsor prize pack valued at over $250.

Brendan offered these comments.

“Pre-fish was good for me, I did well in that, going into day one. On day one the marinas I wanted to work [Versace and Mirage Marinas] were taken out of play. I wanted to go in there, so that threw me out a bit.

Instead, I slugged it out on both days on the flats to get the good fish. I hit the flats with a lot of grubbing, blades, ZMans and Gulps; that was pretty much it.

I dropped a few good ones today [day two] unfortunately, but that’s fishing. I chased Steven out from the start today, out to the channel markers. He beat me to the mark and got his fish pretty quick. I wasn’t in a rush because I knew the school was there, I just wanted to get four in the well. After Steve did his thing and then got his, I got my four.

Then I went and chased some others on boat hulls, but couldn’t get any upgrades, so I came back onto the flats and they started hitting again.

It worked for me the rest of the afternoon except when the wind came up later in the afternoon and when jet boats were around.”

Third place went to Mark Young from the New South Wales Central Coast who had a fantastic tournament finishing. It was great to see his young family there with him and sharing his moment on stage receiving his accolades and prizes. Young followed up his solid day one bag of four for 2.27kg, with the second heaviest bag of day two with four for 2.57kg.

He took home a handy $480 and a sponsor prize pack for his weekend in Queensland.

ATOMIC BIG BREAM Michelle Carmody from New South Wales won the

Atomic Big Bream $100 cash prize, for the biggest fish of the round. She pulled her 930g yellowfin bream near the Gold Coast Highway Bridge on a Berkley Gulp Crabby 2.5” in camo on a TT Hidden Weight 1/16 jighead.

DIVISIONS Steven Pryke from Victoria took out the Youth Division with eight fish for 4.93kg.

Michelle Carmody from New South Wales won the Womens Division with her three fish for 1.92kg The Masters Division was taken out by Queenslander Lex Irwin with eight fish for 2.99kg Callum Sprott and Koji Maki from Queensland had three fish for 1.38kg to take the PA 17T Tandem Division.

Paul Delos Santos from New South Wales was the winner of the First Timers

Division with eight fish for 3.16kg.

MORTGAGE CORP MONSTER MOVER Billy Howard from Queensland won the Mortgage Corp Power Pack, jumping from 44th position with 0.47kg on day one to finish in 35th position with a day two bag of four fish for 1.72kg.

SPECIAL THANKS Well done to the team from Sunstate Hobie in Queensland for their dealer support and for the delicious pizzas and drinks on both days.

Thanks also to our fantastic sponsors Daiwa, Berkley, Atomic, Lowrance, Rhino-Rack, Strike Pro, TT Lures, Pro Lure, JML Anglers Alliance, Mortgage Corp, Power-Pole, and Hobie Polarized for their much appreciated support.

– Hobie Cat

Round 5 Sept 16 LAKE EILDEN (Peppin Point) • Each round will have a target species, either Murray Cod or Golden Perch • Catch and release lure tournaments • Conditions Apply

NEW – PRO SERIES Round 4 October 7 & 8 (Lake Hume Resort) Check out our Facebook pages:

• Central VIC Pro Series • Central VIC Lure Casters Super Series For more information contact David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com • www.cvlcss.com SEPTEMBER 2017

83

Tristan Taylor trumps Taigan Tristan Taylor is no stranger to the ABT BREAM competition, but it’s been a while since he’s tasted success at the top level. It only took a northern New South Wales deep winter bite for him to break the shackles and stand atop the podium once again.

His two-day combined limit of 10/10 for a 6.24kg bag was good enough to edge out a fast finishing Taigan Heath by 110g and seal Tristan’s entry into the Costa BREAM Grand Final in December.

Taylor has proven himself as a contender any time the winter bite is running in northern NSW. During the cooler months,

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only 20m from Taylor further out on the tip of the north wall.

“Going into day two I just wanted to repeat what I had done on Saturday. I was the first out to the wall and I had made an agreement with both Nabeel and Mark Crompton that we would all resume our positions from the day prior, so Nabeel was right on the tip, then Mark and then myself all within 50m of the end of the north wall.”

The plan was solid, but the fish didn’t play the game.

Sunday’s session proved much tougher for the anglers concentrating on the north wall. “It was brutally slow for most of the day,” explained Taylor. I only managed

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Samurai Infinite 4-8lb Reel: Megabass Idaten 256 Line: 8lb Unitika Aorika PE Leader: Unitika fluorocarbon Lure: Heavy Cranka Crab in a mix of colours

STORM

R

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

84

SEPTEMBER 2017

yellowfin bream congregate in the deeper sections towards the mouth of rivers and estuaries and this is what Taylor concentrated on to claim victory.

Fishing the tip of the northern seaway wall both days, Taylor was able to catch the bigger than average winter bream down deep on the seaway wall and ride them to victory.

Saturday’s first day of competition saw Taylor fish the same location all day. It wasn’t just Taylor around this area. With a line of boats fishing the north wall, Taylor was patient and knew the tip of the wall was going to be the key area.

“The tip of any seaway wall is often the best section.

There were so many boats fishing the wall both days and on the first day I didn’t get there quick enough to get a spot on the tip. I stuck it out and played the waiting game until I slowly worked my way to the tip as other boats came and left. That’s when I began catching fish,” explained Taylor.

Fishing a technique that has dominated most fisheries in Australia, Taylor chose to throw a heavy Cranka Crab in a mix of colours, which he tried to ‘walk’ down the rocks plummeting into the 25ft depths of the Richmond River seaway. “You had to cast up really tight to the wall. The current runs so fast out in that area that if you don’t, your crab gets washed away and it’s hard to keep in contact with it as it works down the wall.”

Taylor’s day one bag of 5/5 3.67kg was the second biggest of the tournament, bettered only by day one leader Nabeel Issa, who unsurprisingly, was fishing

Tristan Taylor was all smiles with his champion boater title at the Costa Richmond River BREAM Qualifier.

my fifth keeper with seven minutes to go in the session.

Without that fish I would have finished third or fourth; I was cheering when the fifth bream came on board!”

Again Taylor relied on the ever-faithful Cranka Crab

and used one trick to keep in contact with the lure in the heavy current.

“I actually slide on one small ball sinker onto my leader before I tie on the heavy crab; it sinks it down faster and helps you keep in contact, which is important for

Darren Borg value added his winnings with his $500 Big Bream Prize.

preventing snags and getting the bites. You’d think a heavier lure would snag more, but it’s actually the opposite. The better you can feel the bottom, the quicker you can control your lure to slide it over the rocks, thanks to the floating hooks on the crab.”

Taylor used a Samurai Infinite 4-8lb rod and a matching Megabass Idaten 256 spinning reel to deliver his winning baits. He says the rod has just the right amount of bottom end power to pull the fish away from the wall and the sensitivity in the tip to feel the lure when it’s down 30ft deep. He spooled his reel with 8lb Unitika Aorika PE and fished a mix of Unitika fluorocarbon leaders throughout the weekend.

Taylor pocketed $3200 for his victory and qualified himself for the Costa BREAM Grand Final in Lake Macquarie in early December where both the champion boater and champion non-boater will walk away with brand new Bluefin boat/ motor/trailer packages worth over $20,000 each!

RESULTS – BOATERS Place

Angler

TF

TW (kg)

Payout

1

2

3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tristan Taylor

Taigan Heath

Heath Blaikie

Mark Crompton Kristoffer Hickson Nabeel Issa Tom Slater Chris Gates Matthew Finney Darren Borg

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10 10/10 9/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 9/10

6.24

6.13

5.73

5.67 5.66 5.32 5.27 5.10 4.83 4.72

$3200 + 1st Mercury Bonus ($250) $1400 + 2nd Mercury Bonus ($150) $1100 + 3rd Mercury Bonus ($100) $950 $800 $550 + Duffrods Big Bag $500 + Yamaha Bonus ($300) $500 $500 Big Bream (1.04kg)

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

Taigan tips South Wall NSW BREAMer Taigan Heath narrowly missed claiming his maiden ABT BREAM victory after a Sunday’s best 5/5 3.16kg bag dropped the scales at the staged weigh-in in front of the crowd at the Ballina Trawler Harbour. Heath’s 10/10 6.13kg limit was one of only two limits over 6kg, which so often earns victory on the ABT BREAM tour.

Heath’s roadmap to runner-up followed an almost identical pattern to that of the victor Tristan Taylor, although Heath fished by himself for almost the entire tournament.

“I really wanted to fish the north wall on the first tournament day; I even went to slot into the line, but it was just too busy.

The southern wall is not normally as popular, because it lacks the depth. I saw that no one was fishing it so I made the choice to spot-lock right on the tip of the southern wall and slug it out by myself,” said Heath.

It proved to be the right decision, with Heath and his non-boater enjoying an afternoon of almost constant hook-ups on the way to his day one 5/5 2.97kg bag. “For day two I thought the north wall was going to receive a lot of pressure again, so I went straight back to the southern tip and hit spot-lock on my MotorGuide again and went to work.”

Although Sunday’s fishing wasn’t as frantic as the day before, Heath found a better size than the

previous day and managed to weigh Sunday’s biggest bag to almost run down Tristan Taylor for his first ABT BREAM victory.

Heath’s go-to lure was again the heavy Cranka Crab. Although every colour he used caught fish, he preferred the spotted crab colour over all others.

He fished the Cranka Crabs on a mix of Palms Pinwheel and Gemtek Custom fishing rods both outfitted with Daiwa 2000 size spinning reels which he spooled with Sunline Super PE in 6lb and matched to a Sunline FC Rock Bream Special 6lb fluorocarbon leader.

Heath is one of the best fishers on the NSW north coast, so it was no surprise to again see him towards

Taigan Heath cashed in with his runner-up result at Richmond River. the top of the leader board come Sunday afternoon.

Heath’s runner-up placing assures him of a Costa

BREAM Grand Final berth in December where he’ll battle Australia’s best BREAM fishers for

the chance at the ultimate prize in tournament fishing, a brand new boat/motor/ trailer package!

BIG BREAM

Cranka Crab

Past AFC and ABT champion Darren ‘Dizzy’ Borg won the tournament’s $500 Big Bream prize. His day one 1.04kg kicker was enough to last the distance despite many other quality fish coming to the scales from the mouth of the river. Borg caught the kicker within the first 500m of river down deep on the base of a rock wall.

For more information on the next ABT BREAM event, head to www.abt.org.au.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG Nabeel Issa sacked up the tournament’s Duffrods Big Bag during the first day of competition. The Brisbane BREAMer parked himself on the tip of the north seaway wall and fished heavy Cranka Crabs down the rock wall to weigh a 5/5 3.71kg limit. Nabeel won himself a custom-made Duffrod valued at over $500 for his day one heroics.

Reeves wrestles winter winners

Justin Reeves found himself an ABT BREAM champion after compiling the only 10/10 full limit of bream over the course of the Costa Sunglasses presented Richmond River BREAM Qualifier.

Fishing with Warren Carter on day one and Chris Findlay on day two,

Reeves was always going to be around the fish. Day one found Reeves aboard Warren Carter’s Mercury powered Legend fishing the popular Porpoise Wall just inside the river mouth. Reeves began targeting the base of the rock wall with a mixture of lures including Cranka Crabs and soft plastics. Half way

through the session, Reeves was struggling with only one fish.

“That’s when I remembered that during my pre-fish with Mark Crompton we sounded fish sitting halfway up the walls,” said Reeves.

“I tied on a 40mm Ecogearaqua Bream Prawn

RESULTS – NON-BOATERS Place

Angler

TF

TW (kg)

Payout

1

2

3

4 5 6 7

8 9 10

Justin Reeves 10/10 4.88 Costa Sunglasses &

Prize Pack Jarryd Aleckson 8/10 4.07 Costa Sunglasses & Prize

Pack + 1st Hobie Bonus ($100) Wally Fahey 6/10 3.86 JML Alliance Rod & Prize

Pack + 2nd Hobie Bonus ($50) Russell Winters 8/10 3.80 Prize Pack James Morgan 7/10 3.55 Prize Pack Michael Maas 7/10 3.22 Prize Pack Glen Sturrock 7/10 3.17 Prize Pack, $300 1st Pro +

3rd Hobie Bonus ($35) Rodney O’Sullivan 7/10 3.15 Prize Pack Jeffrey Espiritu 5/10 3.03 Prize Pack Paul Langley 7/10 3.02 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

and rigged it on either a 1/60 or 1/40oz jighead and cast it tight to the wall.” Reeves would let the lure drift down the wall very naturally, and was able to pick up fish others were missing holding tight to the wall in the crevices of the rocks.

Using this technique, Reeves was able to fill his bag and actually out-fish one of ABT’s finest from the back of the boat.

“Warren was so good out on the water, he had us on the fish and, unfortunately for him, just didn’t have things go to plan. Luckily my fish stuck and I could put five in the boat and bring them back to the scales,” said Reeves.

Sitting in third place overnight, Reeves was keen to put another five fish in the boat come Sunday’s final session. Jumping on board with Chris Findlay, Reeves was given all the opportunity he needed to fill his limit.

Fishing again down the front of the system, Reeves employed the same strategy as day one. Targeting the fish holding up high on the wall, Reeves fished his

Justin Reeves secured the non-boater title with the only 10/10 non-boater limit for the tournament. lightly weighted Ecogear Bream Prawn slowly, letting it waft in the current and watching his line for any signs of movement.

With a full limit in the boat by 9am, you would have thought the pressure would have been off, but that wasn’t the case.

“He was stressing pretty hard, not thinking

he had enough weight to seal a good finish,” said Reeves’ day two boater Chris Findlay.

In the end he had no reason to be worried; with overnight leaders Walley Fahey and Jarryd Aleckson failing to catch a full limit, Reeves was easily the best of the weekend winning by over 800g.

SEPTEMBER 2017

85

Cooking

Frying up a flatfish meuniere BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Sole meuniere is a well known French flatfish classic; a la meuniere refers to a style in which delicate fish fillets are

dusted in flour, cooked in a frypan and finished in a sauce of lightly browned butter with lemon juice and parsley.

The meuniere works equally well with winter whiting and other small whiting.

Ingredients • 4 flatfish fillets • 1 cup plain flour • 2 tbsp butter

1

• 1 tbsp finely chopped flat leaf parsley • Juice of 1 lemon

2

5 86

3 Gently shake the coated fillets to remove any excess flour.

Turn the heat to low then add the finely chopped parsley. Stir gently.

SEPTEMBER 2017

6

In a heavy based frypan (cast iron is excellent) melt the two tablespoons of butter over a medium heat. When the butter is foaming, add the flour-coated fillets to the pan. Cook the fillets on one side for a couple of minutes.

Now add the lemon juice to the pan and stir. To finish, return the fish to the pan for a moment to warm through, spooning the sauce over the fish.

4

7

Place the flour in a shallow dish and coat the fish fillets with the flour.

Carefully turn the fillets over to cook on the other side. The amount of time needed to cook the fillets will depend on the thickness of the fish. When cooked, remove the fillets from the pan and place to one side on a plate.

Your flatfish meuniere is now ready to serve.

News

Improvements to Aire River access A new boardwalk and all-abilities fishing platform has been installed at Aire River to improve access for

anglers. The Aire River is a popular spot for anglers chasing black bream and now it’s even better.

The boardwalk will make it safer, easier and less muddy for anglers to get to the river’s edges to fish. On top of all that, it looks great.

This project was managed by the Association of Geelong and District Angling Clubs with funding from recreational fishing licence fees and Target One Million’s Better Fishing Facilities Fund. – Victorian Fisheries Authority

All looks good for future rock lobster fishers In an Australian first, Victoria recreational fishers will use tags to help estimate the catch quantity of rock lobsters. Fisheries Victoria has worked closely with recreational lobster fishers across the state to ensure we have good catch data to support fantastic lobster fishing now and into the future. All recreational fishers targeting southern rock lobster must tag every rock lobster they catch and keep.

Executive Director Travis Dowling said the tagging requirement is part of a three-year trial to collect data on the recreational catch of rock lobsters to ensure the species remains

sustainable. There will not be any changes to bag or possession limits or existing tail fin clipping requirements as part of this trial.

“Southern rock lobsters are a priority species for both recreational and commercial fishers.” Mr Dowling said.

While the commercial fishery is highly regulated and under strict quota management controls, the recreational catch of rock lobster is currently unknown. From July this year, fishers are required to tag the rock lobsters they keep and report that they’ve used the tag through a simple online process.

“Reporting use of tags is the critical element of this

trial, because it provides the data on catches so we can ensure a plentiful fishery for future generations to enjoy.”

Mr Dowling said the tags will be available online and through selected Victorian Government Offices. Fisheries Victoria has created a website and apps for recreational fishers to use.

“The tags are free and there will be no limit on the number issued each year.

Fishers will simply need to create an account to order tags and report their use,” Mr Dowling said.

From 5 June 2017, recreational fishers will be able to go to www.vic.gov. au/lobstertag to order tags and download the VicRLTag

app via the Apple Store or Google Play. Tags will also be available over the counter at offices in Warrnambool, Queenscliff and Lakes Entrance.

“All recreational fishers will be able to have up to 20 tags at any one time. To get more tags, fishers simply need to report the use of tags allocated to them and order more to top-up to 20 tags.”

Tags will expire at the end of each season and must be reported as used or unused by then.

For more information about the rock lobster tagging programme visit www.vic.gov.au/lobstertag.

– Agriculture Victoria

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This section in V&TFM Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching.

88

SEPTEMBER 2017

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boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 92 Alright Elingamite Inside story...

Northbank Marine was established at Port Adelaide in 1996, in the historic Fletchers slipway. In 2006 they moved south of Adelaide to Lonsdale to purpose-built facilities to cater for the demand for the Northbank range of product. This 4000 square metre facility is state-of-the-art for the production of high-quality fibreglass boats. Northbank Fibreglass Boats is a family owned and operated business that today produces some of Australia’s finest boats.

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This month...

Editor Steve Morgan is having a run in the 759HT with twin Mercury 225hp Verados on Port Phillip Bay.

Corey Gallaghar takes a look at the great little fishery that is Lake Elingamite in his kayak.

94 Going Deeper

NSWFM’s Mark Saxon tests out Deeper’s products in his home water on the Hastings.

96 Aquayak Scout

We’ve tested out the tricked up version, now Peter Jung jumps into the basic version of this great yak.

98 Offshore kayaking tips from an expert

Justin Willmer chats to ‘Paddle Guy’ Jason Milne about getting into offshore kayak fishing.

104 Haines Hunter 656R Steve Morgan has a run of this classy rig down in Port Phillip Bay.

SEPTEMBER 2017

91

KAYAK HOT SPOT

Excellent angling at Elingamite MELBOURNE

Corey Gallagher

Victoria’s southwestern freshwater lakes are an absolute mecca for any trout fishers, with an abundance of stocked waterways in the region, anglers are spoilt for choice. Lakes like Bullen Merri and Purrembete have consistently produced trophy trout for years and continue to do so. Both are relatively large and taking them on in a kayak can often

kayak hotspot feature. Located in Victoria’s volcanic belt, the lake is interesting for a number of reasons. Unlike its larger neighbours, Lake Elingamite is a shallow maar lake, formed when lava or magma comes into contact with underground water. Like most shallow lakes, extensive weed beds can be found throughout creating an outstanding ecosystem that is capable of sustaining large ammounts of baitfish and insect larvae.

ACCESS Elingamite is only a short

TARGET SPECIES Lake Elingamite has been consistently stocked with small numbers of brown and rainbow trout over the last five years; there was even a release

FISH STOCKING AT LAKE ELINGAMITE FROM 2012-16 Year Browns Rainbows Chinook salmon 2012 2000 1000 0 2013 1000 1000 2000 2014 2000 1000 0 2015 300 0 0 2016 3000 4000 0 * Sourced from the Victorian Fisheries Authority

An average-sized English perch from Elingamite. It’s a great spot to catch a reddy with some trophy-sized fish on offer. require a significant paddle to find the fish.

Although I often fish these waterways in my kayak, occasionally I prefer a more intimate waterway that is more suited to my kayak – a lake where I can get on the water away from the crowds and often have the place to myself as well as be able to get into the fish after only a short paddle from the ramp.

Does such a lake even exist? Happily I can report that it certainly does. Any amount of smaller waterways litter the southwest and for those who are prepared to give them a go, often the results speak for themselves. Lakes such as Tooliorook near Lismore and Lake Bolac are both excellent options for those looking to get away from the more popular spots.

Lake Elingamite near Cobden is another excellent example and is this month’s

Aquayak recommends forite Lake Elingam

distance from Bullen Merri and is perfectly suited to kayaks.

It’s possible to get a small boat onto Elingamite, but it’s more suited to kayaks. The lake is fed by a small creek that only flows during periods of high rainfall and as a result the water levels in the lake are often quite low. This is both a blessing and a curse to those wanting to fish Elingamite; for most of the year it’s simply impossible to get onto the lake.

The edges are surrounded by extensive weed and reed edges along with very thick, volcanic mud, so land-based angling is impossible. The boat ramp is only suitable to very small, flat-bottomed punts or, more importantly, kayaks. For most of the year the water levels are too low for even kayaks to get onto the water and the thick mud makes it impossible to drag you kayak out to the water’s edge. During the cooler months, launching at Elingamite is only a realistic option after extensive periods of decent rainfall.

take long to locate the fish, at which point I will generally stop trolling and cast to the schools using a slow roll retrieve. I prefer to cast to the fish as it allows me to make

of 2000 Chinook salmon in 2013. Last year a significant increase in stocking took place after low water levels in 2015 allowed for only a very small release. English perch are also present at the lake with some monster trophy-size reddies on offer. Trout also thrive in the lake. The extensive source of food allows the stocked fish to grow at excellent rates, so trophy fish are common.

METHODS/TECHNIQUES Trolling, although not my preferred technique, is a great way to search out the schools of fish at Elingamite. The edges of the lake are quite shallow and full of large weed beds where trolling isn’t possible, therefore I like to paddle out 100m or so from the edges of the lake to where the weed has died off and it drops down to water 2-3m deep. I like to use diving lures that get down to 1-2m in these areas.

Sticking to the deeper water close to the weed edges, I troll while keeping a close eye on my sounder for any signs of fish. Often it won’t

subtle changes to how the lure is worked; for example, I can pause the lure when casting. I have found this often results in a bite.

The weed edges themselves are an excellent option for targeting trout and redfin where casting lures is the go. Using my Power Pole Micro, I search out areas in the weed where there are patches what will allow me to work a lure and anchor in the spot.

I then like to stand in my yak to get a better view of my surroundings and cast into the lanes of clear water between the weed using shallow diving lures. This can be a very visual form of fishing; the water in Elingamite is often quiet clear and as you retrieve your lure often you’ll see the trout dart out from the cover of the weed and smash your lure. This makes for some very exciting action, to say the least.

As always I like to vary my retrieve to suit the mood of the fish on any given day.

Often a simply consistent slow roll will be enough.

Occasionally the fish will react

A recently released brown trout caught while trolling in water 2-3m deep. more to a paused or twitched lure. Trial and error is critically important to home in on the best method for any one day on the water.

SAFETY As I mentioned earlier, the thick mud at lake Elingamite prevents access to the water during periods when the water levels are low. I would not recommend – under any

A small brown smashes the author’s lure at the side of the yak making for some very exciting action. circumstances – attempting to wade out through this mud to reach the waterline. The mud is exceptionally sticky and thick and getting stuck is a very real possibility. It can make

A beautifully marked brown taken from a shallow weed edge.

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find the water levels are no good, it’s only a short drive to ensure the trip isn’t wasted.

As always, ensure you wear a PFD and keep a bailer aboard as required by local state laws.

CONCLUSION Earlier in the article I mentioned that the lack of accessibility due to low water levels at Elingamite can be both a blessing and a curse – a curse because you just can’t get on the water most of the year, but I failed to mention why it’s a blessing. Due to the fact that it’s very difficult to get onto the water, the lake receives very little pressure.

Combined with the fact that only small tinnies and kayaks can access the lake, this means that when those water levels do come up enough to allow access some truly remarkable fishing is on the cards. Be sure to check it out!

SCOUT SUGGESTED ACCESSORIES:

92

for a potentially dangerous situation, particularly if you are fishing solo.

Ensuring that the water levels are high enough before launching your kayak is also important, as getting stuck while navigating the shallows is also a possibility. Luckily, Lakes Purrumbete and Bullen Merri are nearby, so if you travel to Elingamite and

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93

Product Profile

Versatility with the Deeper Wifi Sonar Pro+ THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

In the fishing game there aren’t too many products you could truly call ‘versatile.’ Let’s face it, we need a different rod, lure, reel, line and most times a different vessel for the various fishing methods

we involve ourselves in.

Recently I got my hands on the Deeper Wifi Sonar Pro+ and it is possibly the most versatile sounding unit ever made.

The deeper unit can be attached to a fishing rod and cast over areas you would like to fish and the info comes straight back to your smartphone or tablet. This takes literally half a minute

The Deeper Pro+ unit and accessories had the author excited to get out on the yak and chase some silver critters.

It wasn’t long before the Deeper unit combined with a smart phone put the author in prime position to get his rod bent.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

to set up and you can create your own bathymetric maps by putting your sonar in boat mode. This is then archived and stored on the smartphone or tablet and you can check it out later for further study.

The unit is to be used mainly on our kayaks and believe me, after countless times changing transducers and redoing goop jobs, the Deeper is a godsend.

Firstly the sonar unit is a small tennis ball size and has a few points for securing for whatever method you fish, be it casting or from the kayak. To secure there is a flexible arm mount; you attach your unit to this and bend it so that the bottom of the ball is in the water. The flexible arm clamps onto the kayak with ease and is out of the way. A safety lanyard is incorporated so you won’t have a lost arm mount. This takes less than a minute to set up.

A fair few things impressed me with the smartphone app once I logged in. It’s so easy and has so much info. You can change the settings to suit the day. Who doesn’t like easy to read manuals? This one is great. Also on your sounder page you have weather, maps and a history that records your soundings of each trip.

Now there is another app from Deeper called Lakebook which you can download at maps. deepersonar.com. This is also simple to use and you can go on your computer and analyse your maps.

You’ll be able to click on any point for depth and GPS coordinates, and you have measuring tools for distances and area size. This will really help when you plan your next fishing trip.

Here are some tips: obviously you want to secure your phone or tablet. A waterproof case is necessary, especially in the yak. I made up a holder and put my phone on this with no dramas. Make sure both your unit and phone are fully charged, as this unit runs off wifi, not internet.

Recently I was on the water for approximately five hours and had 20% battery life in the phone when back at ramp. Perhaps a solar charger on the phone would be the go for longer trips.

Overall this unit impresses me greatly. I managed some bream and mulloway and got a great reading in the deeper 10-12m depths that I fished at times. Did I also mention the convenience of no cables, the Deeper is removable in less than a minute and realistically if you do a mixture of shore-

The phone screen displays the bottom, bait, structure, water temperature and depth.

The Deeper Pro+ performed well in both shallow and deep water and didn’t drain phone battery anywhere near as much as anticipated. based, kayak and even small boat fishing, this can be used for all of these?

Maybe the staff at Deeper can come up with

a mounting system for the bow mount electric and that’ll be the foredeck sounder sorted. If you haven’t checked these out

yet, think about it and check out what a lot of deeper users have to say about them. I think you’ll get a pleasant surprise.

It’s great to be able to combine your smart phone with the portable Deeper sonar to find and catch fish.

SEPTEMBER 2017

95

Aquayak Scout is a great mix of fishing and pleasure FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Victorian-based Aquayak Kayaks are continually striving to offer a quality range of kayaks that are manufactured in Australia and offer a good mix of leisure and fishing-based activities.

SPECIFICATIONS Length..................... 3m Width.................. 0.79m Weight...................19kg Capacity.............150kg Price: (standard)....... $699 RRP (with fish kit).... $799 RRP I’ve had a fair bit of contact with co-owner Paul Varasdi since the Melbourne Boat Show in 2016, including going through the factory and seeing the manufacturing process at their Campbellfield head office.

All ready for a day on the water, Chris Jordan took the Aquayak Scout out at Lake Kurwongbah. established range of kayaks.

Paul is super keen to get feedback from his kayak users. We’ve spoken at length about the kayaks we

The third installment of testing for the magazines is on the Aquayak Scout with a fishing kit. This is not our first look at the Scout, as

Heavy-duty carry handles assist in making the Scout easy to move around.

The spacious cockpit of the Scout has plenty of room for you and any gear you may need.

Paul and his business partner purchased Aquayak as an existing business and from day one have strived to further improve on an

have tested previously for the magazines. He wants the people that purchase them to be as proud of them as he is.

we have featured it before with a Torqeedo Ultralight electric motor fitted to it (see December 2016). I was impressed with how it

The centre hatch and bucket is handy to store a bit of gear or to keep baits out of the sun.

96

SEPTEMBER 2017

performed with the motor fitted, but not everybody has the need for this, so I was excited when the Scout arrived at our offices in its standard form and we organised to get it out on the water.

LAYOUT AND FISHING KIT At 3m long the Scout falls into the small/medium size category for kayaks.

What Aquayak has done

with the space that the 3m affords is quite cleaver.

Their main focus is on the cockpit size and the storage behind the seat.

My testing assistant Chris Jordan’s first thought on the seating area was that they had gone a long way to achieve it, “It’s nice to have so much space for you and all your things.”

I feel the same way; you don’t necessarily want the entire tackle shop with you

on the water, but it is nice to have what you do want within arms reach.

If your intention is to spend many hours on the water at a time then the seat will need to be as comfortable as possible.

I’ve used a number of kayaks that claim to have a comfort seat and my numb backside after a short time on the water would beg to disagree. The comfort seat provided with the Aquayak

The Railblaza rail and port system is second to none.

Scout is a fully adjustable, clips in place easily and provides quite a bit of support for the user. So far so good – my backside isn’t complaining yet.

and port system. If there is a better system out there to provide this much flexibility in setup, then please let me know. The rail systems are standard and if you opt

The rear well area has plenty of room for an esky and some gear.

There is also a large rear well with a bungee for securing your gear. This easily fitted a small esky and had room for more if needed. On the test day we had an esky, tackle tray and net in the well and it was no problem at all.

There is also an additional storage hatch at the front of the kayak. It gives you access to the hull for any fit-out requirements and is also large enough to store the dry bag with any items you don’t need access to while you are on the water.

A huge feature of the layout is the Railblaza rail

FEATURES (including fish kit) • Comfort seat, double paddle (split two-piece) • Two storage hatches • Four heavy-duty handles • Railblaza rod holder R • Railblaza mini port • Two accessory rails • Drift chute • Paddle leash • 12L dry bag • Self draining cockpit and a large self-draining aft well. where you position the many types accessories we all have these days, whether it’s the rod holder provided, a sounder or a camera setup.

The ports are also easy to use and give you the piece of mind that whatever you have mounted to it, it’s securely attached to the kayak.

Other items in the fish kit are a drift chute, a 12L dry bag and a paddle leash. All assist in making the kayak even more fishing friendly.

ON THE WATER Half the battle with any kayak is getting it to the water before you even contemplate taking it out.

At only 19kg (kayak only) the battle is made that much easier with the Scout. It can easily be loaded or unloaded from a car or trailer by one person, with four heavy-duty carry handles systematically placed to assist with this.

The true test as always is on the water. The tri-keel hull design of the Scout is excellent. It has impressive buoyancy and excellent speed and tracking. You get

Charlotte Jung was all smiles at Cudgen Lake.

She is now keen to get out kayaking more often. for the fishing kit set, you also get a rod holder and mini port.

The beauty of the rail system is you can adjust

plenty of reward for each stroke of the paddle. The significance of the 150kg capacity is also not lost on me. The Scout coped with

A forward hatch provides extra storage for items you don’t need while on the water and access to inside the hull for fit-outs.

my 100kg+ and the rest of the bits and pieces with no dramas at all.

The Railblaza accessories and two flush mounted rod holders ensure fishing rods can be kept out

The Railblaza ports are easy to use and will hold anything from your sounder through to a camera or rod holder.

The Scout is beautifully balanced on the water and very stable, making it a great fishing platform. of the way and the centre hatch with bucket is large enough to store a few extra lures, bait or items you want to keep out of the sun.

The one thing I haven’t mentioned is stability. At this point I would normally be mentioning a close call or mishap while on the water, however, thankfully for me I have no stories to tell. I have felt very confident using the Scout and Chris said the same thing after our testing day.

RECREATIONAL USE Although my focus would always be to head out in a kayak for a fish, I also have a youngish family and their thoughts on kayaks are more recreationally focused.

At 16 and 13, like most kids these days, a fair bit of their time is spent with their eyes glued to a tablet or smartphone. When the Scout came home to be tested they were keen to get out and give it a try, so a long weekend away saw the Scout come along as well. It was great to see the girls out using it.

A true testament to the stability of the Scout was three girls all on the kayak (two seated in the main cockpit and one in the rear well). They spent hours mucking around on Cudgen Lake, which meant no fishing for dad. They loved using it and continue to ask me when we can go out again.

GIVE ONE A TRY

The Aquayak Scout in many ways ticks all of the boxes. It’s light enough for one person to load it, unload it and get it to the water.

The layout is spacious and well thought-out and this includes the storage and rail systems. Once on the water it tracks well, manoeuvres easily and is one of the most stable 3m kayaks I have

tested. Couple this with the fact it is manufactured and made in Australia and that gives you plenty of reasons to check out the Aquayak Scout and the rest of the range of kayaks they produce.

To find out more about Aquayak Kayaks and where your nearest dealer is, go to www.aquayak.com.

Chris was impressed by the space in the Scout and enjoyed catching a few bass during the test day on the water.

SEPTEMBER 2017

97

Fishing offshore with Jason Milne the Paddle Guy BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

I have spent many moons on the water kayak fishing, however recently I’ve only had a handful of offshore adventures. The bulk of my time has been spent in the rivers, creeks, estuaries and impoundments around Australia.

With the cooler weather firing up many offshore species, I thought this would be an ideal opportunity to gather some insights into the world of offshore kayak fishing from good friend, experienced paddler and accomplished offshore angler, Jason Milne.

Jason lives, breathes and works in kayaking, helping out loads of new and experienced kayak anglers at www.kayakandsup.com.au on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and you can follow

Jason Milne the Paddle Guy with a great bass. by one of the leaders in this game, Stephen Tapp… and it just made sense.

My addiction to this awesome sport began, leading me to the fortunate position of working within the industry and having access to great products and

each this year. The thrill of hooking up after so many casts is addictive and the new waterways I get to explore in search of these species in the freshwater are pretty spectacular. The options are almost endless, with the only limitation being not enough

A big snapper caught from NZ waters in the kayak.

Jason’s adventures and even fire him through any questions via his Paddle Guy Facebook page. Let’s hear from Paddle Guy. JW: You are recognised as one of Australia’s more proactive and social media active kayak anglers. Give us a bit of a run down on your paddling and kayak fishing background.

JM: I started my kayaking adventures as a sea kayak guide in the Abel Tasman National Park, on New Zealand’s South Island.

At that time I hadn’t thought of fishing in the kayak, nor had many others. Back then the term ‘kayak fishing’ hadn’t been born.

Instead, a kayak was used to access premium rock fishing spots that were inaccessible by land or to drag a long line/set line out off the beach. Some years later I stopped into a local North Island kayak shop, where I was introduced to a sit on top kayak rigged 98

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an endless knowledge base.

I have now been involved in kayak fishing, both in Australian and NZ waters, for around 11 years.

Through video and blogging I share useful knowledge and experiences from the water and it’s very rewarding when I hear from people that have been inspired to get into the sport through something I have shared. It’s equally rewarding meeting new likeminded people along the way.

Seeing my kids’ faces when they hook up to a fish from the kayak is the best, too!

With my background out on the ocean, I have always preferred to head offshore and explore the ocean for pelagic and reef dwellers, with my home waters here on the Sunshine Coast certainly offering a variety of string-pulling options all year round.

That said, I have been bitten by the barra and bass bug after landing my first of

time to fish them all!

JW: You have spent a lot of years kayak fishing in both Australia and New Zealand.

In what ways do you think the two countries differ in terms of paddling and kayak fishing, and what are a couple of highlights of each?

JM: They are both very different fisheries and yet many parts are similar from a kayak angler’s perspective.

Starting with NZ, it has such changeable weather that you literally need to be prepared for four seasons in one day; 90% of the kayak fishing in NZ is done offshore, on relatively unprotected waters, requiring a higher level of preparation in terms of what the colder elements may throw at you.

This can be much the same for the southern state anglers in Australia fishing in the winter. This makes it a little less appealing for the everyday angler to want to take up the sport seriously, but many give it a go in

fine weather conditions, so most coastal homes have at least one fishing kayak in the garage.

A highlight would be that there are some very fertile waters in close on most of the NZ coastline, as is highlighted on the show Big Angry Fish. They really do get big and they don’t need a lot of water to hide. This lends itself perfectly to kayak anglers who use the stealth to their advantage, sneaking up on 20lb+ snapper and monster kingfish.

Kayak fishing in Australia, however, offers endless opportunities and variety country-wide (I prefer to avoid croc territory in my yak, so my comfort boundary would be Bundaberg in Central Qld, unless it’s in the dams) with Northern NSW and Qld being fishable all year round in relative comfort. I imagine the same can be said for WA, but I have little experience there to comment.

A highlight for me here in Australia is the endless waterways and species on offer both offshore and inshore. There are so many more than in New Zealand waters and I have only scratched the surface with the few I have landed. It’s

very exciting to know how many new species are out there to target and right now my freshwater bucket list fish would be a 1m+ Murray cod. For the salt water I am going all out this season to land my first coral trout of any size, with table-sized being preferred, as that’s high on the mouth-watering scale for me.

With so many protected water options available more people have access to this great sport, which can only be a good thing both for the industry and for encouraging more people to get outdoors and explore what’s on their doorsteps.

JW: What are a couple of your favourite species to target from the kayak and why?

JM: That’s a hard one with so many new species still to be caught, but I will go with these two.

On the sea, hearing

boy do they taste good!

On the fresh, though I’ve only landed a couple so far and am yet to join to metre plus club, barramundi would be my favourite to target, as much as for that feeling when you hook one as for the adventure shared with mates on the hunt for the elusive metre plus barra.

The bond created from hours of planning and exploring amazing country in search of the ultimate barra boof also rates pretty high.

JW: You have an extensive offshore paddling and fishing history. What are a few tips and pieces of advice you would give kayak anglers around the following topics: kitting out your kayak for offshore fishing?

JM: Seek the advice of experienced offshore fishers and ask to join them for a few safe trips to learn the ropes.

Sometimes these people can be found in specialised kayak

A highlight for Milne while fishing in Australia is the endless waterways and species on offer both offshore and inshore.

200m of braid screaming off your reel before you even get your hands on the rod and then getting towed around until the fish is tired would certainly have Spanish mackerel up there as my favourite right now. They can be a frustrating fish to search for in a kayak, out in the big blue, but when you get one they really are special and

stores and these are the ideal people to find. There is no video or magazine article that can replace the knowledge passed on from one to another in a real-time environment.

This is not a place to be trying to reinvent the wheel.

Visit a few of the spots you’re thinking of launching at and talk to other kayak anglers

When looking for a paddle, ensure you ask for something that’s good for the surf as there are loads of good options, but remember you get what you pay for. This can be an unforgiving environment for paddles, especially when trying to propel and control a heavy fishing kayak in surf.

you meet. You will grow a network from this and the offshore fishing community is full of anglers only too happy to help newcomers.

JW: Required skills and preparation?

JM: This will depend on many variables, but specifically talking offshore

will already come standard with key features that will benefit you on the water as these have been designed by offshore kayak anglers or at least designers that have been influenced by these market leaders.

But don’t take that for granted, as anyone who

useful when searching such a vast waterway with Navionics or a marine maps app on your phone, giving you GPS marks and reefs.

JW: Beach/surf launching?

JM: There is a lot to this and I regularly run free surf sessions with kayak

In the fresh, barra are an awesome species to target, as much as for that feeling when you hook one as for the adventure shared with mates on the hunt for the elusive metre plus barra.

Milne’s goal as the Paddle Guy is to pass on what others have shared with him through content that either helps or inspires others to get out and have adventures on the water. again, seek the advice of experience. There is a lot that can go wrong that can be avoided with some simple tips and advice, ideally from a specialised kayak fishing

believes in what they are selling will let you try it before you buy, so make sure you do that if in doubt.

Non-negotiable in design would be a kayak with longer

Being able to fish offshore in a yak opens up a lot of different species for kayak anglers to catch like this beaut spangled emperor. store – obviously it starts with the right kayak for the job and a Gumtree or eBay special might read like it’s suitable to take offshore, but do you really want to be 4km offshore being towed around by a tuna, only to find that it’s not quite right?

JW: Kayak fit-out?

JM: Starting out keeping it simple, you can add later.

A true offshore fishing kayak

hull, low set seat position, facility for a rudder and watertight compartments.

Essentially these are usually better sea-going craft; they’re stable and easier for you to paddle offshore. Leash anything on the cockpit. A PFD (personal floatation device) is non-negotiable and a VHF radio is highly recommended.

A fish finder is extremely

anglers, helping them to gain confidence. I will just touch on a few key pointers, but highly recommend practice in the surf with no gear before attempting to take a fully loaded fishing yak out.

Again, the kayak you choose needs to be fit for purpose.

A longer, faster hull with good cockpit drainage and low seat position for greater stability is ideal, along with plenty of below-deck storage and watertight space to stow as much as possible away.

Less is best to avoid gear damage or loss and to reduce weight. If you don’t really need to take it, leave it behind. The lighter and less cluttered the kayak, the better off you will be in the surf.

A strong paddle, preferably glass or carbon, is important – this is not the place you need a paddle breaking.

When looking for a paddle, ensure you ask for something that’s good for the surf as there are loads of good options, but remember you get what you pay for.

This can be an unforgiving environment for paddles, especially when trying to propel and control a heavy fishing kayak in surf. It’s also

It’s always important to wear your PFD. These kids have got it right.

very important to go with a mate, watch out for each other and stay together.

JW: Landing and handling fish?

JM: When pelagic fishing I use either a gaff or have a glove on the hand used to tail grab a fish (making sure the fish is not green when you try this though, as gear gets lost and hooks can get stuck where they are not intended). Rubber nets are ideal for other fish, which I keep secured in a rod holder behind me until needed.

JW: Describe your kayak selection and basic fit-out for us briefly.

JM: My go-to offshore

kayaking, so they are in the business of making PFDs that are not only safe, but designed to remain comfortable over extended periods on the water. A VHF is non-negotiable for me, with a waterproof, floating model attached to the PFD, not stashed in a hatch where it’s no good to you if you’ve been separated from the kayak.

This is not only for emergencies, but also to stay in touch with your mates on the water. It’s very easy to lose sight of one another and mobile phones in dry cases are not reliable. A spare paddle is a good idea

Paddle Guy on social media?

JM: My goal with Paddle Guy has always been to pass on what others have shared with me, through content that either helps or inspires others to get out and have adventures on the water. Along with sharing useful tips and great products, I will continue to share my adventures on the water and am always happy for anyone to tag along for a trip… maybe you can help me get that metre plus barra or the tasty coral trout I am after this season.

Experienced kayak anglers, like Jason, are a great resource for those

It’s always fun to get out on the water with some like-minded fishos. fishing kayak is the Viking Kayaks Profish Reload.

At 4.5m, with a hull and cockpit designed for offshore fishing, this kayak is yet to disappoint. It has all the key features I have previously suggested you look for in a capable offshore kayak. Tackle storage and fish storage options are plenty and it can be a lot of fun on a wave.

The large cockpit scupper drains water quickly after a wave dumps in.

JW: What safety gear do you carry offshore?

JM: A PFD absolutely and my go-to is the Yak Adventure equipment. This company has strong roots with white water and sea

on big trips, just in case, more so if someone else breaks a paddle. The first time I had to tow someone back for 5km was the last! I take a good set of pliers and they need to be able to cut hooks that might get stuck – that’s what I mean by good.

A spare sharp knife, secured to your leg for cutting lines. Sunblock and spare water in summer months for me are safety essentials. That’s just a few, and an EPIRB is recommended if going out wide. As with any trip, make sure you tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back.

JW: What can people expect to see if they follow

new to the sport and also a source of new information and ideas for those more experienced. The kayak community is growing steadily and we can all help by sharing information and ideas with other paddlers.

As the pool of reliable and accurate information grows we can rapidly increase our knowledge and skill set, making our adventures safer, more comfortable, more productive and more enjoyable. Thanks to Jason for taking the time to answer these questions and if you would like to follow his adventures or ask a question of your own, give Paddle Guy a like and follow on Facebook.

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Part II: Ongoing trailer bearing maintenance BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

In last month’s issue I mentioned the importance of keeping boat and trailer bearings in tiptop shape to avoid failure, which can easily involve the loss of

that common bearing components are usually of Ford or Holden origin on smaller trailers.

A check up at home isn’t very difficult. The main tools required are a car jack, a large shifting spanner, a blade screwdriver for prying things and a pair of multigrips for extracting

a split pin along with nitrile gloves, a tub of grease and plenty of rags.

With two sets of bearings to consider it’s the outer (nearest the Bearing Buddy), which is easiest to clean, check for damage and repack with grease, as this bearing will generally fall out by itself once the split

Starting to put the bearing back into place on the spindle.

A look at the rear of a trailer hub: a metal retainer rim is holding the seal in place so the only way of checking the bearing behind that seal is to prise the seal out from the back, or push the bearing and seal out from the inside.

A gentle side-to-side pull and push helps checks for any slack in the bearing.

The fun part: repacking the cleaned bearing with grease. a wheel and subsequently a major inconvenience.

Plainly, it’s wise to keep a check on bearings for wear and tear and it’s a pretty simple procedure.

The first step is to jack a wheel up and give it a spin with the hand; this can easily reveal possible trouble as bearings with corrosion or pitting will usually emit some noise when spun free from ground contact. With the wheel spinning there should be no grumbles, growls or other noise other than a slight whir.

TWO BEARINGS PER TRAILER Boat trailers have two sets of bearings – an inner set near the rear seal on the axle and another (smaller) set up front, located just behind the Bearing Buddy or dust cap. Also, be aware 100

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pin, castellated nut and big washer are first removed and the hub and wheel are slid off the axle spindle. The inner bearing at the back of the hub –in the hub when the wheel is slid off the axle spindle – can be a little harder to work on, but is by no means too difficult.

TACKLING THE REAR SEAL Holden and Ford bearing sets use two types of rear seals. Ford use a metal

This latter operation can cause damage to the bearing cage (where the rollers are situated), so it’s a better option to simply pry

Reseating the Bearing Buddy is best done with the flat of the hammer as the wheel is slowly turned to ensure it seats evenly.

Repacking grease around the spindle is easy when using an old toothbrush handle or plastic knife.

retainer rim over a rubber seal to make things stay put.

As the metal rim is a very snug fit, the only easy way of getting at the bearing under the seal is to first pry the seal off (which will often damage it so ensure a standby seal’s on hand) or knock the whole set out with a brass drift from the inside of the hub.

the metal retainer out of the way to remove the rubber seal. Then the bearing can be extracted for inspection.

Seals are available as separate items to bearings, so it makes sense to always replace them on reassembly, simply because they need to be in tiptop condition to keep water out as best they can.

With the rear seal out

of the way, it won’t take much effort to extract the rear bearings so they can be examined. Sometimes a push with a bit of dowel will be required. Like the front set they can be cleaned up

sits. If it’s also pitted or damaged, there is no option but to knock it out with a brass drift and carefully tap another one in – tapping all around the perimeter to ensure it goes in evenly – to

trailer bearings, have the work done by a professional.

REGREASING A BEARING: GET THE GLOVES! Back to the job at hand, once a bearing is cleaned up

Having lost a Bearing Buddy, the author always put a bit of tape on them these days. with a dip into some petrol or other solvent for close examination. Any pitting or corrosion, or even distortion of the roller cage, means replacement is necessary.

CHECK FOR DAMAGE If there’s a pitting on either front or rear bearing sets, take a close look at the cup within the hub in which that bearing race

replace it. The cup fits into a groove, so have a feel of it to understand where the new one needs to finish up.

A tiny smear of grease will help the process.

What I’ve outlined here is not rocket science and it’s a fairly easy DIY process, but if you’re not entirely confident with the process of removing and replacing your

and assessed as still being fine, and the cup it sits in is nice and shiny as well, more grease can be applied to the bearing. This involves physically forcing it into the cage by pressing it in with fingers while the bearing is held in the palm of the hand.

Nitrile gloves are good here! You will know when the grease application is just

right when the stuff can be seen seeping from around the rollers as the bearing is gently turned.

REASSEMBLY TIPS To reassemble things, firstly remove old grease from around the axle spindle with a rag before putting some fresh stuff on it. The wheel can now be pushed back on so the rear bearing seal makes perfect contact with the step in the axle it sits against. Then with the rear seal sitting in place against the step, some more grease can be pushed in and around the spindle section from the outside of the hub.

Gently moving the wheel up or down, or from side to side, allows ample space for the grease to be packed gently in place. A small plastic knife is ideal for this purpose. Plenty of grease is good: it all helps to reduce friction and keep water out.

Next, slide the newly greased front bearing onto the axle spindle and back into its cup. Then follow up with the big washer and the castellated nut. Tighten the nut to the point where the wheel will not turn. This seats both sets of bearings correctly, but we can’t leave things under this sort of tension, so slowly undo the big nut a quarter turn at a time until the wheel

is starting to revolve freely with a gentle spin.

After testing side-to-side movement to ensure there’s no excessive play and the wheel is spinning freely, push the split pin back through the hole in the axle to ensure the castellated nut remains in the predetermined position.

After a repack or replacement it’s wise to test the bearing’s temperature next time the trailer is used.

Should the hub just behind the Bearing Buddy be warm, that’s okay. If it’s hot, the bearings are too tight and the castellated nut needs to be slackened just a little when

you are able to do so.

The procedure I have outlined is easiest (by a long way) with unbraked trailers. Once override brakes or electric brakes are installed, the braking system must be removed in order to assess the bearing’s freedom of movement. This is more involved, but still a DIY project if you’re keen enough.

Lastly, a very important tip is if you intend to service bearings, always do it at a time when replacements are available. Take a cleaned up unit with you, with the important numbers visible.

Rear bearing seals can be very different as seen with these two (Ford on the left and Holden on the right).

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www.wesfrostmarine.com.au SEPTEMBER 2017

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Northbank 750HT with twin Mercury 225hp Verado - SC

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Main: You’ll never miss this rig when it’s out fishing or filming.

The Northbank 750HT with twin 225hp Mercury Verados delivered

by Melbourne Marine Centre is a truly impressive rig.

Above: All test days are a compromise. There wasn’t enough chop to truly test the rough water capabilities of the Northbank, but we could really get a feel for the top end. I’m glad we weren’t paying the fuel bill.

At wide open throttle, the Northbank delivered a scary 450m/L of fuel burned!

Twin rigs like this really make the functionality of Mercury’s Vessel View shine, with metrics from both outboards easily viewable from the helm. The digital throttle and shift combined with the native power steering of the Verado L6

RPM......Speed (km/h)..Economy (km/L) Idle...........................5........................ 1.3 1000..........................9........................ 1.1 2000........................ 16........................ 0.8 3000........................ 36........................ 1.0 4000........................ 52........................0.8 5000........................ 69...................... 0.75 6000........................ 80........................ 0.6 6400........................ 87...................... 0.45 SEPTEMBER 2017

diving and landing big fish.

Not to be forgotten is the aluminium I-beam Transtyle twin axle trailer under the rig – this is particularly important when travelling long distances.

There’s not much to fault in this rig, apart from the price tag. As tested, Brian’s boat came in at $217,000.

SPECIFICATIONS

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Every so often at Fishing Monthly we get to test a rig that gets the heart racing.

We knew that when Brian Sanders arrived at the Patto River Boat Ramp that we were going to have one of those days.

With a freshly wrapped and spanking new Northbank 750HT (hard top) powered by not one, but two 225hp supercharged Mercury Verados, the fishing lust quickly subsided and was replaced by the need for speed.

This boat offers the best of both worlds – a massive fishing platform and the power to propel it to speeds that get the heart racing.

Usually, a calm-ish day on Port Phillip Bay has us lamenting the lack of waves to test the true rough water abilities of a boat, but the test day had us smiling, because it was calm enough to let us run this rig at wide open throttle. And run it did.

Reaching 87km/h with both Verados singing at 6400rpm, The 750HT isn’t for the faint-hearted when it comes to fuel consumption.

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going to anchor this big rig manually, so a Lone Star Marine Elite (brushless) winch does all the heavy lifting up front.

It’s hard to give the Northbank’s massive cockpit due credit in the pages of this magazine – check out the video review of this boat by scanning the QR code

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platform make it easy for anyone to drive. Fishing Monthly’s partner Matthew Drinkall’s teenage nephew, Zac, grinned from ear to gear when he was let loose at the helm. That’s how easy it is to drive.

Naturally, back at cruising speeds, the economy improved markedly, with 3000rpm over doubling the economy and although 1km/L isn’t cheap to run, it’s not bad considering the size and capability of this rig.

When it comes to fit-out, the team at Melbourne Marine Centre worked overtime to get all of the extras rigged and ready for action. A pair of Garmin 7412s are the base for the autopilot, chartplotter, fish

finder and radar while a Narva spotlight is very handy for night time sojourns.

Of course, nobody’s

Length........................................................7.37m Beam.........................................................2.45m Height on trailer.......................................3.20m Length on trailer........................................8.7m Capacity............................................. 8 persons Max hp..........................................................400 Hull weight............................................ 1,650kg Fuel capacity..............................................350L Deadrise....................................................... 21° Freeboard................................................ 100cm hereby or searching for this boat on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel.

Also impressive is the style-side gunwale door that allows easy egress while

If you wanted a base model with a single 300hp Verado, you’ll need $165,000 to get you started. Call Andrew and the staff at Melbourne Marine Centre for more information.

Rigged with a full arsenal of rods, the Northbank turns heads wherever it goes.

What’s better than a Mercury Verado? A pair of 2.6L supercharged Verados ready to rumble.

The whole point of a hard-top is that the driver and crew can travel in a dry and comfortable environment. Northbank’s 750HT delivers this in spades.

Often forgotten, the twin axles Transtyle trailer is a vital ingredient in this rig, especially when travelling long distances.

Rigging the radios above the windscreen is a standard practise in most hard-top boats nowadays.

An auto catch system lets you launch and retrieve this rig single-handedly.

That’s a lot of boat to wrangle one handed, so setup is important.

A clean transom lets Brian get on with what he does best – catching fish.

This is what a happy captain looks like. Brian was truly impressed by the level of detail that Melbourne Marine Centre achieved in their assembly of this rig.

The style-sided gunwale door allows for easy entry of the boat while on the water and at the dock. I’ve seen unhinged versions of this in other boats and we definitely prefer the hinged iteration.

There’s a pair of 7412 Garmins – one flush mounted in the helm and another on a bracket. Rigged to display radar, autopilot, chart plotter and fish finder information, they combine with the Mercury Vessel View to give the driver all the information needed at your fingertips.

This deck wash helps keep the work and filming area all neat and tidy.

There’s plenty of room in the cabin to store gear, sleep and just take five from the elements.

Mercury’s digital throttle and shift combine with Active Trim to make driving this boat so easy that a child could do it. Active Trim is something you think you don’t need – until you use it – and then you don’t want to drive without it.

You don’t see a butcher buying meat and you don’t see a fishing guru with clapped out, old fishing gear!

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Haines Hunter 565R with Yamaha 150hp 4-stroke - SC

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SPECIFICATIONS Length overall... 5.65m Beam.................... 2.4m Height.................. 2.3m Weight (hull only).720kg Fuel...................... 200L Max hp................... 150 104

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Port Phillip Boating Centre’s Phil Pieridas has been a Haines Hunter and Yamaha dealer for nearly 15 years. With that much experience putting together Yamaha/ Haines Hunter packages, you’d be hard-pressed to find another person – nationwide – who can match Phil’s expertise in that arena.

It was hardly surprising when he arrived at the ramp on the test day with a pair of impressive Haines Hunters.

One was the superlative 675 Enclosed, which we have published in a previous FM edition. The other was the 575R, the ‘R’ signifying the ‘Runabout’ iteration of the hull, spawned from a need to have a smaller brother in the Haines Runabout family, as all of its bigger siblings are 6m+.

“It’s good to have the 565 in the range, which is cheaper to buy, easier to tow and usually doesn’t require a tow vehicle

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flush mounted. There’s no better way to protect your investments, which can be quite significant if you’re a serious snapper angler.

As tested, the supplied 565R came in at around $80,000, although base

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packages start from around $65,000. Check out www. portphillipboatingcentre. com.au for more details. Or drop into the yard and chat to Phil for yourself. The experience in that boating brain of his is priceless.

PERFORMANCE RPM......... Speed (km/h).......Economy (km/L) Idle.............................. 5................................3 1000............................. 6.............................2.5 2000............................12.............................1.7 3000............................16.............................1.1 4000............................42.............................1.7 5000............................56.............................1.6 6000............................71.............................1.1

Main: With three larger siblings, the 565R is a classic Haines Hunter runabout in a size that is more family-friendly. Think tow vehicles and garages. It matches perfectly with Yamaha’s F150 workhorse.

Above: With a dry hull weight of 720kg and an on-water weight of over a tonne, the 565R rides as comfortably as a 5.5m boat gets to ride. upgrade to get you to the ramp,” Phil said, before we launched the test craft.

“And packaged with the Yamaha F150, you end up with platform that’s as reliable as anything in the country at the moment.”

Cradled on a twinaxled Mackay trailer with a Launch and Retrieve system, the boat is a size that’s not intimidating to get out and go fishing in one.

On closer inspection, the trailer is made of galvanised steel C-section, eliminating the cost of aluminium while retaining

the easy-maintenance of a non-enclosed material.

“I probably cost myself some replacement trailer sales down the track, but the C-section trailers are definitely the best for longevity,” Phil continued.

After slipping the rig into the water at Williamstown, an overcast, inky calm bay proved perfect for flying drones and taking photos, but less perfect for testing out the rough water handling abilities of the craft.

With a hull-only weight of nearly three-quarters of a

tonne, there was no surprise that the ride did feel soft.

The cockpit of this rig is eminently fishable, with a flow-coated back deck above to be washed down on-water with the saltwater wash. PPBC had also fitted the test boat with both vertical storage and horizontal fishing rod holders to make both travelling and fishing as efficient as possible.

Such are the joys of boat packages designed by anglers for anglers.

We harp on about this a lot at FM, but I did love the fact that all electronics are

The 565R’s maximum horsepower is 150hp, although you can order a Limited model, which can handle 200hp.

Clever, underfloor storage keeps the decks clean and manageable.

We say it all the time, but we love flush mounted electronics at Fishing Monthly and the 565R has the room to flush mount all you’ll need.

Haines Hunter plays down the size of the cabin on this boat, but it’s suitable for keeping people or gear out of the elements.

Top: Extra, vertical rod storage is added along the side pockets, which also hold the deck wash. You can never have too much rod storage – it’s the first rule of fishing boats.

Left: The plumbed live bait tank on the starboard side is close to the array of rod holders that have been added to the test boat by Port Phillip Boating Centre.

Right: The beauty of the rod holder system is it lifts straight out of the boat’s standard rod holders when it’s not needed.

Yamaha’s F150 powers thousands of boats across Australia. Economy approaching 2km/L was achieved at revs in the high 3000s.

The test boat was fitted with rocket launchers and wrap around clears to keep you warm and dry when conditions get nasty. There are also plenty of places to hang on.

Top Left: Everything about the 565R is practical – a deck you can hose down, stainless steel fittings and spacious side pockets tick a lot of boxes.

Top Right: We all know that the stainless steel cup holder will double as a convenient place to hold the keys, wallet and mobile phone!

Left: The Launch and Retrieve system means that you can het the Haines Hunter off the twin axles Mackay trailer all by yourself.

Right: Sometimes, it’s the little added extras that make your time on the water easy. The LED deck lights illuminate the cockpit and make night time fishing easy.

SEPTEMBER 2017

105

Victorian Tide Times

2017 2017 Local Time

POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA POINT – 144° VICTORIA LAT LONSDALE 38° 18’ LONG 37’

JANUARY Time TimeSEPTEMBER m

Time 0305 0016 0850 0717 SU 1452 1229 FR2050 1850 0343 0058 0928 0811 MO 1534 1315 SA2125 1940 0419 0146 1004 0910 TU 1615 1413 SU2200 2041 0455 0247 1042 1012 WE 1657 1524 MO2237 2149 0530 0401 1118 1111 TH 1740 1645 TU2317 2258 0607 0511 1157 1202 1827 FR WE 1748

11 22

33 44 55 66

m 1.61 0.44 0.63 1.36 1.37 0.75 0.27 1.34 1.64 0.48 0.57 1.32 1.39 0.82 0.27 1.28 1.65 0.52 0.52 1.30 1.40 0.87 0.29 1.24 1.63 0.54 0.47 1.31 1.41 0.87 0.32 1.24 1.61 0.54 0.43 1.35 1.40 0.83 0.38 1.27 1.57 0.52 0.39 1.42 1.39 0.74

Time 0344 0010 0920 0722 MO 1537 1233 SA2130 1903 0427 0104 1009 0831 TU 1627 1333 SU2215 2015 0506 0212 1054 0942 WE 1715 1450 MO2257 2138 0543 0335 1135 1046 TH 1801 1615 TU2335 2254 0616 0452 1214 1146 FR 1849 WE 1728

16 16 17 17

18 18 19 19 20 20

m 1.70 0.31 0.47 1.44 1.49 0.69 0.20 1.38 1.69 0.37 0.41 1.40 1.48 0.74 0.26 1.33 1.66 0.43 0.37 1.39 1.46 0.75 0.33 1.33 1.61 0.46 0.35 1.41 1.42 0.69 0.41 1.37 1.54 0.46 0.35 1.46 1.37 0.59

Time 0359 0013 0945 0814 WE 1603 1338 SU 2147 2002 0435 0156 1023 0912 TH 1646 1429 MO 2229 2104 0511 0249 1102 1015 FR 1730 1531 TU 2310 2217 0546 0357 1143 1118 SA 1817 1647 WE 2353 2332 0625 0515 1224 1215 SU 1909 TH 1800

11

22 33

44

55

m 1.62 0.46 0.44 1.33 1.46 0.74 0.30 1.24 1.62 0.52 0.37 1.29 1.48 0.78 0.33 1.20 1.61 0.57 0.31 1.28 1.49 0.78 0.38 1.20 1.58 0.60 0.26 1.30 1.48 0.74 0.44 1.25 1.53 0.60 0.23 1.35 1.45 0.64

Time 0437 0148 1031 0910 TH 1658 1424 MO 2236 2117 0510 0256 1108 1015 FR 1738 1542 TU 2312 2239 0540 0415 1143 1117 SA 1816 1703 WE 2347 2351 0611 0534 1216 1215 SU 1854 TH 1810

m 1.60 0.42 0.32 1.39 1.50 0.65 0.37 1.29 1.56 0.51 0.30 1.36 1.47 0.64 0.43 1.31 1.52 0.57 0.30 1.36 1.44 0.58 0.49 1.37 1.47 0.58 0.31 1.39 1.39 0.49

0023 0054 20 0644 20 0640 MO 1251

0.56 1.46 1.41 0.57 0.33 1.42 1.35 0.40 0.63 1.55 1.35 0.54 0.37 1.45 1.31 0.32

16 16

17 17 18 18

19 19

1307 FR 1936 1902 0101 0150 0719 0732 1328 TU 1353 SA 2024 1947

0038 0.52 0014 0.50 0000 1.45 0038 1.35 21 6 21 1.48 0649 1.48 21 6 0706 0557 0.44 0628 0.57 21 MO 1308 0.23 SA 1251 0.36 1240 TH1938 1826 0052 0100 0724 0649 1329 SU 1326 FR2030 1914

0000 0.45 1.34 22 770000 0645 0604 1.52 0.48 22 1238 0.35 SA 1248 1.48 TH1921 1835 1.37 0.63

18’ of High LONG 144° TimesLAT and38° Heights and Low37’ Waters Times and Heights of High and Low Waters MARCH FEBRUARY NOVEMBER Time m m Time Time m Time OCTOBER m

1.52 1.32 0.48 0.58 1.53 1.41 0.42 0.38 1.55 1.29 0.39 0.67 1.59 1.34 0.42 0.41 1.57 1.26 0.33

1307 FR 2009 1853 0126 0134 0754 0721 1358 TU 1353 SA 2116 1937

77

0142 0237 22 0800 22 0815 1408 WE 1432 SU 2119 2027

0447 0013 4 4 1042 1722 SA 0542

1.60 1.40 0.20 0.68 1.61 1.36 0.41 0.40 1.57 1.53 0.17 0.64 1.58 1.42 0.46 0.28 1.53 1.66 0.17 0.59 1.53 1.47 0.18 0.53 1.74 1.48 0.55 0.21 1.51 1.47 0.12

11

WE WE

22

TH TH

33 FR

FR

SA 1220 2259 1806 0525 0113 1125 0648 1808 SU 1313 SU 2342 1900 0605 0206 1207 0741 1858 MO 1402 MO 1948 0026 0255 0647 0829 1252 TU 1448 TU 1954 2036

55 66

77

Time 0330 0345 0923 1600 TH 1042 2138 TH 1638 2339 0403 0501 1000 1637 FR 1138 FR 1741 2214

16 16

17 17

m m 1.54 0.67 0.34 1.34 1.56 0.49 0.43 1.38 1.54 0.71 0.30 1.34 1.57 0.43 0.46

Time 0343 0226 0932 1625 SA0928 2200 FR 1509 2233 0323 0337 0918 1611 SU1029 SA 1615 2144 2345 0404 0456 1004 1658 MO1131 SU 1723 2228

11 22

0434 1.52 0040 18 1035 1.46 0.29 33 18 1711 0.70 1.56 SA 0612 SA 1230 2247 1832 0504 0132 1108 1744 SU 0707 SU 1316 2322 1917 0536 0217 1142 0752 1817 MO 1358 MO 2357 1958 0610 0256 1215 0830 1855 TU 1435 TU 2035 0032 0330 0646 0907 1248 WE 1511 WE 1938 2112

19 19

20 20 21 21

22 22

1.35 0.49 0.36 1.49 1.54 0.29 0.67 1.53 1.36 0.53 0.31 1.46 1.60 0.31 0.64 1.49 1.38 0.57 0.27 1.41 1.64 0.34 0.61 1.45 1.40 0.25 0.62 1.66 1.36 0.58 0.38 1.41 1.39 0.25

0447 0048 4 1049 4TU0611 1746

MO 1233 2313 1825 0533 0145 1135 0714 1840 WE1330 TU 1922 0000 0238 0627 0806 1224 TH 1424 WE 1940 2015

55 66

0052 0732 7FR70328 0857 1318

TH 1515 2044 2107

m Time m m 0259 1.49 1.59 0415 0.68 0900 0.79 0.32 0.19 1.33 1543 1.29 1.64 1.73 SU1052 0.49 2123 0.41 0.58 0.47 SA 1701 1.32 0331 1.48 1.59 0015 0.75 0935 1.41 0.33 0.15 1.32 1615 0.80 1.62 1.72 MO0528 0.42 2158 1.28 0.60 0.48 SU 1145 1757 0.37 1.43 1.57 0405 1.46 0.77 0108 0.15 1008 1.48 0.35 1.34 1.68 1647 0.77 1.59 TU0631 0.32 0.51 MO 1236 2231 1.29 0.63 1845 0.33 1.53 0441 1.42 1.55 0153 0.19 1040 1.54 0.38 0.74 1.61 WE0723 1724 0.73 1.55 1.38 0.56 TU 1322 2306 1.31 0.66 0.21 1930 0.30 1.48 0518 1.38 0232 1.67 0.26 1112 1.58 0.43 0806 0.68 1.53 1804 0.68 1.50 TH 1.33 1.43 WE 1404 2342 0.69 2011 0.27 0.13 0.61 0600 1.33 1.75 0307 1.61 1.41 1145 0.47 0.62 0845 0.64 0.35 1850 1.36 1.44 FR 1.48 1445 TH 1.46 0.08 2049 0.27 0.66 0020 1.63 0.72 0340 1.79 1.34 0649 0.60 1.28 0923 0.56 0.46 1226 1.37 0.53 SA 1524 1.51 FR 1942 1.40 1.40 0.08 2125 0.28 0.69 0107 1.63 0.73 0413 1.79 1.30 0750 0.57 1.26 1000 0.50 0.55 SA 1317 1.38 0.60 SU1602 1.52 1.38 2041 0.30 1.37 2158 0.12

16 16 17 17

18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21

22 22

0157 0110 1.66 0.68 80415 23 0401 0850 0727 0.57 1.30 8 0944 0945 SA 1426 TH 1324 0.42

0203 9 0429 0836 1000 TH 1436

0316 1.75 0.68 0205 1.62 0.72 0151 1.64 0.74 90502 24 0433 240445 1008 0.46 1.31 24 0904 0.54 1.27 0815 0.56 1.25 9 1018 1034 1035 SU 1545 0.60 MO 1422 0.66 FR 1405 0.48

0316 0445 0441 0228 0.72 1.58 0319 0.82 1.62 0358 0.76 1.72 0427 10 0939 1119 0915 25 10 100240 0810 1.37 0.42 25 0853 1.23 0.47 10 0933 1.31 0.47 25 1105 1005 1558 0.44 1728 0.31 1708 1517 0.28

0307 10 0515 0951 1045 1547

0434 1.69 0.62 0313 1.59 0.66 0242 1.61 0.78 100548 250520 25 0506 1118 0.44 1.36 25 1024 0.52 1.35 0916 0.56 1.21 10 1054 1110 1124 1701 0.62 1538 0.70 1459 0.53

0029 0312 0.77 1.62 0356 0.86 1.60 0442 1.46 1.72 0459 11 110350 260426 11 0045 1023 1041 0607 0851 1.35 0.44 26 0930 1.20 0.50 11 1016 0.71 0.48 26 0600 1040 1630 0.26 1705 0.43 1217 1233 1.34

0430 11 0601 1112 1132

0346 1.57 0.78 0538 1.61 0.54 0423 1.56 0.56 110635 260555 26 0541 1030 0.57 1.21 11 1221 0.43 1.44 26 1135 0.50 1.46 1129 1215 1144

0355 1.48 1.63 0430 1.34 1.56 0530 0527 1.52 1.68 0122 270021 120001 12 0144 12 0933 0.78 0.47 27 1005 0.84 0.54 12 1115 1100 0.61 0.50 27 0705 0545 0717 0510 1600 1.58 1620 1.46 1724 1719 1.51

0019 12 0651 1221 0553

0500 1.52 0.73 0527 1.51 0.43 0034 0.40 1.44 27 0618 120024 270631 1203 0723 1218 1150 0.58 1.26 12 1236 0.48 1.60 0629 1.53 0.46 27

0614 1.58 1.61 0439 1.56 1.61 0504 1.40 1.51 0606 0209 130105 280113 13 0236 13 1145 0.51 0.54 28 0754 1015 0.72 0.52 28 1041 0.78 0.58 13 1151 0816 0626 0651 1804 1.46 1639 1.54 1655 1.42 1802

0118 13 0039 0745 0701 1315

0113 0017 0039 0.51 1.51 0038 1.46 1.38 0116 0.52 1.47 28 0658 28 13 0813 1240 0710 0623 1.46 0.32 0614 0.58 0.63 13 0712 1.46 0.40 28 1400 0.44 1909 1.25 1257 0.44

1.45 0.63 1.28

0209 14 0132 0845 0757 TU 1415

0205 0103 0129 0.59 1.56 0130 0.52 1.45 0153 0.63 1.48 29 0038 0742 0904 0753 29 14 0715 1.41 0.23 0712 1.41 0.50 14 0750 1.39 0.35 29 WE 1321 0.57 TH 1459 0.44 FR 1341 0.41

0.46 1.39 0.66 1933 1.23

0253 15 0233 0944 0843 1527 WE

0305 0158 0215 0.68 1.59 0217 0.60 1.51 0227 0.73 1.49 30 0127 0832 0958 0844 15 30 0805 1.36 0.17 0800 1.36 0.37 15 0826 1.33 0.33 30 1410 0.54 1600 0.44 1433 0.37 TH FR SA

FR 1330 1.54 2025 1915 1.37 0.52

SA 1407 2125 1957

SU 1436 2229 2020

0318 23 0229 0851 0854 TH 1455

0.70 1.61 1.29 0.53 0.41 1.47 1.27 0.28 0.77 1.65 1.23 0.52 0.45 1.47 1.26 0.26

m 1.54 0.59 0.45 1.30 1.49 0.67 0.35 1.21 1.58 0.65 0.35 1.30 1.56 0.62 0.35 1.28 1.60 0.69 0.26 1.32 1.60 0.53 0.37

0112 8 0343 0737 0915 WE 1340

0133 0053 0.53 1.42 0152 880048 0729 0801 23 0648 1.47 0.45 23 0735 SU 1324 0.32 MO 1411

0225 88 0219 0850 0807 WE 1455

1.41 1.41 0.51 0.61 1.47 1.42 0.53 0.25 1.47 1.39 0.39 0.69 1.59 1.36 0.49 0.28 1.52 1.38 0.28

Time 0252 0201 0837 0920 1505 1446 2050 2147 0331 0305 0918 1022 1552 1553 2133 2304 0410 0421 1000 1123 1637 1703 2215

Local Time APRIL DECEMBER Time Time m

MO 1508 2222 2104

0328 0220 0142 0.63 1.51 0238 0.75 1.62 0312 0.75 1.67 0355 99 0325 990140 1000 0845 0817 24 0729 1.42 0.43 24 0815 1.28 0.44 0850 1.32 0.47 24 0953 0930 TH 1607 0.31 FR 1555 TU 1459 0.43 MO 1416 0.30 SA 1409 1.58 2138 1954 1.38 0.43

SU 1444 1.56 2223 2036 1.26 0.30

TU SU 1446 1.60 WE MO 1516 1.54 2323 2251 2033 1.42 0.34 2114 1.29 0.29

WE MO 1524 1.60 TH TU 1548 1.51 2114 0.28 2149 0.30

TU1137 1.35 WE1146 1.21 FR TH 2155 0.22 0.25 2224 0.40 0.33 1810 1745

WE1246 1.38 TH1248 1.24 FR SA 2238 0.19 0.24 2300 0.36 0.36 1851 1903

MO 1517 1.55 2339 2103 1.41 0.20

FR TU 1558 1.56 2147 0.16

SA WE 1637 1.54 1839 2232 0.29 0.15

TH 1338 1.39 SU 2317 0.27 0.18 1939

FR 1435 1.45 MO 2031 0.27

0.82 1.66 1.19 0.52 1.47 TU 1542 0.48 2328 2140 1.28 0.26

0.83 1.64 1.18 0.53 1.45 SA 1615 0.48 WE 2215 0.27 1.33 1.61 0.78 0.54 1.42 SU TH 1648 1.22 1822 2249 0.45 0.31

1.57 1.40 0.57 0.68 1.38 FR 1321 1.30 MO 2323 0.41 0.35 1919 1.51 1.48 0.60 0.57 1.33 SA 1415 1.40 TU 2357 0.37 0.40 2007

0004 1.61 0.24 0527 1.63 1.56 0542 1.47 1.45 0646 140202 290159 14 0321 0705 0.43 1.53 29 1228 1059 0.64 0.57 29 1117 0.70 0.63 14 14 0906 0730 0743 SA 1231 0.58 SU 1844 TH 1720 1.50 FR 1731 1.36

SA 1348 1.43 SU 1343 1.30 2322 0.17 0.26 2335 0.32 0.41 1950 1949

TU 1528 1.49 1855 0.29 1.40 2117

0053 1.62 0.33 0620 1.68 1.50 0624 1.54 1.39 0031 15 0401 150256 300241 0804 0.36 1.45 30 0730 1145 0.55 0.63 30 1156 0.62 0.69 15 15 0951 0828 0826 SU 1322 0.62 MO 1306 FR 1807 1.44 SA 1814 1.30

SU 1445 1.47 2043 0.17

MO 1432 1.36 2030 0.30

31 0320 0906

1.59 0.53 TU 1519 1.42 2108 0.29

WE 1615 1.51 1958 0.33 1.33 2159

31 0112 0822

0.52 1.34 TU 1351 0.68 2033 1.20

0.60 1.78 1.41 0.52 0.27 1533 1.53 WE 2058 0.10 1.41 2124 0.67 1.78 1.34 0.50 0.34 1618 1.53 TH 2207 0.12 1.37 2213 0.72 1.73 1.29 0.49 0.41 FR 1704 1.50 2315 0.18 1.37 2300

0.72 1.66 1.28 0.50 1710 1.45 0.44 SA 1753 2349 0.26

1.57 1.40 0.51 0.66 1225 1.38 1.32 SU 1848 1824 0.44

0.37 1.45 1.49 0.57 1.40 MO 1330 0.53 1958 1926 1.32 0.42 0.49 1.50 1.42 0.47 1.47 TU 1428 0.54 2118 2016 1.30 0.41

0.59 1.53 1.37 0.39 0.53 WE 1516 1.53 2232 2100 1.32 0.42

TH 1546 1.41 2028 0.27 1.34 2146

FR 1623 1.39 2127 0.30 1.30 2220

SA 1700 1.37 SA 2232 0.34 1.30 2253

1606 1.33 0.56 SU 1739 SU 2338 0.39 1.32 2324

1724 1.29 0.57 MO MO 1820 2358 0.45

TU TU 1259 1.36 1840 0.54

WE 1358 1.49 2007 1939 1.24 0.50

TH 1450 1.61 2117 2029 1.25 0.48

FR 1604 2146 2158

23 23

SA 1654 1.50 SU 1641 1.37 2248 0.19 1.38 2145 0.34 1.37 2247 2230

MO1745 1.45 MO TU1720 1.35 SU 2345 0.29 1.41 2248 0.38 1.40 2301 2336

1804 1.39 0.60 TU1845 MO

1659 1.33 0.69 WE1801 TU 2346 0.44 1.45 2337

1807 1.31 0.66 1315 0.43 1.52 WE TU TH1848 WE1306 1955 1855 1.34 0.59

WE TH 1400 1.59 2106 1937 1.32 0.58

FR 1438 1.63 2213 2014 1.32 0.57

SA 1512 1.64 2315 2048 1.36 0.57

31 0300 0847

1.56 0.27 FR 1538 1.69 2115 0.46

CopyrightCommonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2015, 2015, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology Copyright Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Timesare areininlocal localstandard standardtime time (UTC (UTC +10:00) +10:00) or or daylight daylight savings savings time Times time (UTC (UTC +11:00) +11:00) when whenin ineffect effect New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon

TH FR 1331 1.72 1944 1903 1.30 0.63

SA 1422 1.80 2048 1953 1.31 0.60

SU 1511 1.83 2200 2040 1.35 0.58 0302 0.76 0941 1.33 SU 1535 0.32 2314 1.42

31

Last LastQuarter Quarter

Tide predictions for Port Phillip Heads have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions.

106

SEPTEMBER AUGUST 20172017

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SEPTEMBER 2017

107

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