VICTORIA AND TASMANIA FISHING MONTHLY DECEMBER 2018 by Fishing Monthly

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Boating & Kayaking •

Features

Catching cod around the clock • Christmas gift ideas • Gippsland calamari •

Be weather smart in the boat • One of those kayak days

Tried & Tested •

December, 2018

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December 2018, Vol. 14 No. 2

Contents WEST COAST West Coast

Warrnambool 20 Cobden 21 Apollo Bay

CENTRAL Geelong 22 Port Phillip West

Port Phillip North East

Port Phillip East

Mornington Peninsula

Port Phillip Bay Offshore

Western Port North

Western Port South

Phillip Island

EAST COAST Lakes Entrance

Marlo 46 Gippsland Lakes

Corner Inlet

Bemm River

NSW SOUTH COAST Bermagui 50 Mallacoota/Eden 50 Narooma 48 Merimbula 49

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Robinvale 66 Snowy Mountains

From the Editor’s Desk... It’s an exciting time of year for Victorian anglers for so many reasons. Unfortunately, our print deadlines don’t allow us to cover the major parties’ pre-election recreational fishing promises fully. At the time of publication, there’s some exciting news from the Andrews Government camp involving boat ramps, access, facilities and stocking, but we will miss the final weeks’ counter promises. By the time this hits the shelves, the election will be done and dusted, so we hope that whoever is in power recognises the needs of recreational anglers as well as the current administration has done. COD SEASON OPEN There’s a lot happening on the Murray cod front this month with the season opening and the 2018 Codference in Shepparton. This will be your only chance to catch up with

Australia’s favourite (and only) pro tournament angler in the USA, Carl Jocumsen, as well as a host of other cod experts. The event is free, however, you’ll have to pre-register to secure your seat. CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE It’s the perennial question – what do you buy an angler who has everything? The answer, of course, is “more fishing gear”. We’re here to help. Fishing Monthly staff have put together a comprehensive guide of what’s hot under the Christmas tree for anglers in the fresh and salt. How do you use the guide? You get a Sharpie, circle the bits you need, and leave it in a prominent place. Please stick to these instructions, otherwise you’ll be burdened with the $29.95 Aldi Fishing Set and you’ll need to have more kids to get someone to use it. SNAPPER ARE SMOKIN’ We only had to look at the mass of snapper caught on

Melbourne Cup Day to know that they’re out there and available. It truly is time for Melbourne anglers to make hay while the sun shines on the snapper front. While we’re talking about the bay, remember that there’s plenty of squid to go around as well and if you’re not getting a mixed bag, you’re not doing it right. CHRISTMAS SUBSCRIPTIONS Finally, we love that December is by far the biggest month of the year for people buying gift subscriptions. We

do offer a service where we can send you a Subscription Gift Card with all gift subscriptions, but we do need these by 10 December to guarantee that we can get the cards printed and to you (or the gift recipient) on time. Missed that deadline? You can get a digital gift card and Fishing Monthly subscription by visiting our page on www. isubscribe.com.au right up until Christmas Day. From the FM staff, we wish you a great month and a well earned break at the end of it.

Albury/Wodonga 72 Yarrawonga 66 Horsham 68 Wangaratta 71 Shepparton 70 Bendigo 74 Ballarat 73 Eildon 76

Mildura 60

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Rich from Pier Mafia Production cracked his PB with this Eildon Murray cod.

DECEMBER 2018

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Cod Feature

Catching cod around the clock WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

It is that magical time of year. The weather is warmer, the holidays are approaching, and the Murray cod closure has finally ended. It doesn’t get any more magical than that. With the open season here I thought it was best to go through my method for catching these fish. Before I start, please allow me to explain one thing. I live in Wangaratta, in North East Victoria and most of my Murray cod fishing is down in this area. Because of this, I am writing this feature based on my own experiences in my local area and am fully aware that there are many variables from one waterway to another. This is based on my own 35+ years of experience fishing for Murray cod in the Wangaratta area, in waterways that are largely unregulated or affected by thermal pollution thanks to a lack of large lakes in the

Ovens River catchment. Also, as things vary at different times of the year, I am writing this feature based on what I have observed

complete inability to drag my expanding backside out from under the blankets means that I do not get to fish sunrise often. It is an

anywhere. While it is dark, the Murray cod feel safe to head out into the open. Any light on the water will see them heading for cover and even a full moon can make them scared to come out. So before sunrise, always start with a surface lure that can be cast and fished over all water. An added bonus to this is that you are less likely to get snagged with a surface lure than you are with any other sort of lure.

A lovely Murray cod caught on the author’s favourite spinnerbait, a Bassman DT in fluorescent colour late in the afternoon.

The Deps Buzzjet is a favourite of the author’s. It pops, fizzes, splashes and sways its way across the surface, causing a lot of disturbance, provoking aggressive responses. during the summer months. EARLY MORNING Early starts are not my specialty. Pre-dawn is without a doubt my favourite time of day to go fishing, and possibley the most productive, however, my almost

area of my life that I really do need to work on. Before sunrise it is best to fish with surface lures. Murray cod are often out from under their cover and feeding in open areas. They may lay on shallow mud flats, sand bars, gravel, or

Kayak fishing for Murray cod has surged in popularity in recent years due to their versatility and ability to venture into places that boats and shore-based anglers can’t. With surface lure fishing for Murray cod, larger lures tend to entice larger fish, but as a side effect the hook up rate with smaller fish is poorer. Smaller surface lures have better hook up rates with smaller fish, but

Some people change to something else once the day becomes lighter, and I may do the same if the fishing is slow. As it becomes lighter, I do like to concentrate more of my casts to the really

sun is on the water. Depending on the water conditions and the day I will usually start with a hardbody lure or a spinnerbait. Both lures are very popular Murray cod lures and have their place in

Surface lures are the best option after the sun has set, and throughout the night.

Sandy Hector, or ‘Camo Man’, caught this nice little Murray cod on a diving lure around tea time. Probably an hour or so after this, he and the author switched to surface lures.

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are less likely to entice a monster Murray cod to strike. What size fish are you targeting? As day breaks and things start to become lighter, I like to leave my surface lure on. I usually keep fishing with a surface lure until the sun is covering a large portion of the water surface.

tight shaded corners, under low hanging trees. BREAKFAST TIME By now, the sun is on quite a bit of water and I like to change to something sub-surface. The cod will hit surface lures all day, however, I have found that the surface fishing really starts to slow down once the

terms of productivity. Usually I will start with a go-to lure, one that I have had success with and one that I trust. A large number one StumpJumper in bright green is a great spot to start, so too is a hot pink Wilson Slickback, or a fluorescent coloured Bassman DT spinnerbait.

Cod Feature If my go-to lure does not work, then I will start changing things around and trying other things. I may change colours, brands or sizes. I will keep making changes until I have success. Some days I find it easier to throw my entire tackle box into the water and let the cod choose for themselves. Some days the fishing is so good that I will tie a go-to lure on when I make my change from surface lure to subsurface, and that lure may remain on my line all morning until lunch time.

This is dependent of the snag situation, of course. Between breakfast and lunch time can be a great time of day to catch Murray cod. The fish are often active and willing to hit your lure. LUNCH TIME After lunch the Murray cod tend to slow right down. I find this to be the hardest time of the day to catch a cod. You can still catch cod at this time of day, and you would be mad not to try if you have the time, however, from my experience it can

be tough. Persistence is always key. Usually I find the fish down much deeper during the brightest and hottest time of the day, and usually as close to logs as possible. You really need to get your lure or bait as close to the snags as you can. Open spaces are pretty much a waste of time during the brightest times of the day. Murray cod have not been nicknamed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;River Dwelling Log Hogsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for no reason. They really do love to hog the logs, particularly

A late afternoon Murray cod caught on a Bassman Codman spinnerbait.

Brett Corker with a small Murray cod caught on a spinnerbait around tea time.

during the brightest times of the day. When camping, it is common for Murray cod fishers to hang around the camp during the afternoon and relax, and maybe throw a bait rod in the river while they wait for the evening. Often Murray cod anglers will lie down in the tent for a snooze during the afternoon, enabling them to stay awake more to fish at night when the cod are most active. TEA TIME Usually around tea time

is when the Murray cod fishing just starts to heat back up. During December I like any time from 6pm onwards. As the evening grows later, the shadows become longer and the Murray cod begin to get active again. This time of day is a bit of a role reversal to the morning session. I like to start off with a sub-surface lure such as one of the above-mentioned divers or spinnerbaits, before switching to a surface lure

after sunset. This is when I fish most of the time these days, as it does not involve alarm clocks on my day off work. I love nothing more than to sneak down to the river after tea for a couple of hours of flicking lures, even on the hottest of days. At first I find that I need to get my lures as tight up against the snags as I possibly can. As the light fades, I can be a bit untidier with my casting. To page 10

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Cod Feature From page 10

Closer to sunset, I will change to a surface lure. When is the best time to change to a surface lure? This is a question that I get asked all the time. There is no defined time. There is no perfect time to change to a surface lure. Some people with fish with a surface lure all afternoon, some won’t tie one on until it is almost jet black night time.

I fish a lot with my mate Brett Corker during summer. Brett usually changes to a surface lure before I do. I will often wait until right on sunset, whereas Brett often has one on an hour before sunset. It really is a personal choice. DURING THE NIGHT Surface lures all the way! Diving lures and spinnerbaits will certainly catch fish, but unless you know where every snag is,

surface lures will save you a lot of grief. Fishing for Murray cod after dark with surface lures is becoming more and more popular, and I am sure people would be surprised if they knew how many anglers do spend all night fishing with surface lures, from sunset to sunrise. While this seems like fun, I value my bed way too much and usually pull up stumps when it is total

In the middle of the afternoon with full sun on the water, this cod was caught on bait so close to the snags that it swam straight under them, forcing the author to swim to get it out. Thankfully it was a very hot day!

Brett Corker with his first cod from last year’s opening season. This cod was caught on a Kingfisher surface lure before sunrise.

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dark. Sometimes I will go a bit later, but total darkness usually sees me out. At night try and use a headlamp that is not too bright. You may even like a headlamp with a red or green filter on it. Any light on the water will send the cod racing back to their snags where they feel comfortable. Try to approach your chosen bit of water with your light off if possible. If you must use the light, point it at the ground and not at the water and turn it off as soon as you arrive

You should always carry lures to cover all aspects of cod fishing. Here you can see diving lures, spinnerbaits, surface lures, a large wakesnake and even a large Zerek soft plastic.

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at the riverbank. Once you turn it off it is sometimes a good idea to wait a few minutes before you begin casting. CONCLUSION I hope this article helps a few people out, and gives you the foundation to help organise your Murray cod fishing adventures this summer. Remember that things do vary a lot from river to river and day to day, but by following these guidelines I am sure that you will be putting yourself in the right position to catch a few Murray cod this jolly season.

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This small Murray cod was caught on a Deps Buzzjet surface lure within minutes of changing from a diving lure at sunset.

DECEMBER 2018

The

Perfect

The best Christmas gifts ideas for 2018 FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Christmas is a time for family, friends and fun. There tends to be a fair bit of cheer involved, and way too much good food. People flock to their favourite holiday destination with unwrapped gifts packed, ready to be used for the first time. When it comes to fishing tackle, there are plenty of gift options for any level of angler. The hard part is deciding whether the gift should be practical, outside the box or the start of someone’s fishing journey. Here are some ideas to get you started.

COMBOS

••••••••••••••••••••• Combos fit into the

‘practical gift’ category. There are fishing combos available for almost all aspects of fishing, from colourful kids’ outfits to heavy rods and overhead reels to target larger pelagic species. Most combos include appropriate line, and may even come with a few lures or hooks and sinkers. They also come in many price points (just remember that you tend to get what you pay for). Combos aren’t for everybody. However, if you’re buying for someone who either doesn’t fish often, is a fishing novice, or who wants to try a new style of fishing, a combo is a great choice. Entry level Prices for entry level combos range from around $40-$100, and it doesn’t really matter what brand you

choose. These outfits will get you fishing, and with minimal maintenance they should last a couple of years. Style specific There are so many different ways to catch fish these days that fishing style specific or species appropriate outfits are very popular. Combos to fish with lures or entrylevel bluewater options tend to range from $100$300. There is some real value in these outfits, as manufacturers push the boundaries of product quality. The quality of fishing products, like any other sporting equipment, continues to move forward. Older technology then filters down into the inexpensive ranges, which is a win for everybody. In this category, those brands that put a lot of effort into research and

development also offer the best quality for the price. Daiwa has shown this for many years, and the 2018 TD Black combo is no different. The reel features Daiwa’s latest LT (Light Tough) technology, and the rods are built on their Nanoplus HVF blanks. They’re super lightweight outfits and are great value for money. Shimano is the other major brand that makes good combos during these seasonal periods. They ensure that each outfit is balanced, and only the current reel and rod models are used.

SPIN REELS

••••••••••••••••••••• There are a few key things to look for when purchasing spin reels. Reel size relates to line capacity, line strength and castability.

The smaller the reel, the less of each you get. So if the fishing you are doing is finesse-related, where casting distance is not required, you would look at 1000-1500 size reel. As the casting distance, water depth and size of species increases, the reel size increases as well. When it comes to ball bearings and drag, many people think that more equals better. However, that’s not necessarily the case. With ball bearings it’s important that they are stainless steel, to resist rust. Three good bearings are better than 10 mediocre ones. Reel drag systems have become much stronger in recent years. There are some very small reels with 4-5kg of drag out there, but a smooth drag is the key. Unfortunately, price point

tends to dictate this more than anything else. Entry level Having said all of that, there are some fantastic reels available under $200. The Okuma brand has always offered quality affordable reels, and the new Helios SX range is no exception. They come in three sizes and are well worth a look. Another brand I have tested a number of time for the magazines is ATC. I have a number of the ATC Valour reels in my arsenal of outfits, and I cannot fault them 18 months down the track. Another reel to look out for are the Rapala X-Spin reels. They are solidly built and well priced. Medium level If I can save a little on a rod, I will spend a little more on a reel. It is this $200 to $350 price

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Guide point I am talking about. Most brands include their top line technology in these medium level reels, and you can expect to get some longevity from them with minimal maintenance. The standouts for me from the 2018 offerings are the Rapala R-Type reels. These reels are great quality for the price; they’re designed to deal with bigger fish and not break the bank. Shimano’s Stradic reels continue to impress as well, and the Stradic FK is no exception. I have Stradics that are over 10 years old and still going, and the latest version seems to be even more robust and angler friendly. Finally, I feel that I have to include the Daiwa TD Sol III LT reels, even though they’re a fraction over this price bracket. LT means Light Tough, and they certainly are. It’s amazing that a reel that feels light as a feather can be so strong. Additionally, like all the Daiwa reels at

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this level and above, it’s packed with features.

BAITCAST REELS

••••••••••••••••••••• Baitcast reels have never been everybody’s cup of tea. Bird nests due to uneducated thumbs have deterred many anglers from using them, but that all changed this year with the introduction of the Shimano Curado DC reel. The DC stands for Digital Control, and without getting too technical, you basically cannot get a bird nest while casting. There is a plenty of other tech in the reel as well. This would be a very special gift for any larger lure casting enthusiast.

RODS

••••••••••••••••••••• Most rods these days are made to preform a specific task within a type of fishing. There is a reason that many anglers have a nest of rods in the house: each has its own task and is

a must-have. Spin rods I will focus on graphite based rods, as they form a big part of the market these days. Yes, composite rods still have their place, as they can cope with knocks and abuse far better than a graphite rod. However, the power to weight ratio of graphite just can’t be beaten when you’re fishing for extended periods. When it comes to spin rods, there is fantastic value for money and a broad range of fishing options available. It is ABSOLUTELY amazing how much bang for your buck you can get. Here are a few examples: • Samaki Zing Gen II – this series of rods has 18 models ranging from 5’4” to 9’0”. They look fantastic, have quality components and are very well priced. • Okuma Helios rods – the ideal match for the Helios spin reels, which I mentioned earlier. Helios rods are built using Toray CT40 blanks with Fuji components, and

would be a great present for that special angler in your life. • Daiwa TD Hyper rods – these rods showcase what ‘light and tough’ is all about. I tested the 701LXS earlier in the year and I am still amazed at the technology Daiwa has put into a $130 rod. • Okuma Pressure Point rods – tailored more towards the heavier end of town. This new range of rods focuses on anglers looking to cast poppers, stickbaits and larger plastics for big bluewater beasties. Highly affordable rods for this type of fishing. • Rapala Maxwell rods – these caught my eye at this year’s Australian Tackle Trade Show. This solid range of rods looks fantastic, and any angler would be happy to unwrap one on Christmas Day. Baitcast rods Most of the above ranges also have baitcast options, which are well worth looking at, but there are also a couple of others that I would like to mention.

• Dobyns Sierra rods are a new series available in 2018. They complement the Fury, Champion Extreme and Champion XP ranges already available. If you are looking at baitcast rods, you need to check these out. • Bone rods – A range made up of 21 options, with the majority of them being baitcast. There are several series within the range, including the Voyage series of travel rods. They are some of the best travel rods I have seen. • Live Fibre Venom – these rods are now well established amongst Murray cod and barramundi anglers. Speak to any angler casting big swimbaits and lures for these species, and they will know and recommend these rods. Bluewater rods The Australian-made Wilson Live Fibre Game Series is one of the best new game rod ranges for 2018 – and the RLF46FRD model took out the Game Fishing category at the this year’s AFTA Tackle Trade Show.

It’s fully rollered, features premium components, and comes with an interchangeable bent butt. Another new release worth checking out is the Shimano Tiagra Ultra series. These rods feature braid-friendly guides, and selected models have interchangeable butts. Jigging rods Jigging, in particular micro-jigging, has really taken off in Australia. Rapala Australia with their Storm Gomoku range set the standard, and they are now raising the bar even higher with the new 2018 release of the Gomoku Gen 2. The Belize, Azzura and Vanuatu rods come in light, medium and heavy sizes, with overhead and spin options.

LURES

••••••••••••••••••••• The lure styles and brands that anglers’ use are often just personal preference, or simply what people have read about in To page 14

ANO SHIM A TIAGR ULTRA

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DECEMBER 2018

The From page 13

magazines like this one. Rupe Gaden and I have both written comprehensive reviews of species-specific lures, and these articles can also help you choose the right Christmas present. You can read them at wp.fishingmonthly.com.au, and they cover bass, Murray cod, barramundi and trout. If you’re looking at other species, there are plenty of lures hitting the shelves that will make great additions to anglers’ collections. Here are a few that have caught my eye. Soft plastics The Halco Madeyes soft plastics are not a new offering, but are hugely popular along the West Coast of Australia. I tested a few of the range earlier in the year, and have since added them to my collection. An increasing number of East Coast anglers are now seeing the quality of the Paddle Prawn, Flick Stick and Flutter Shrimp ranges, and are adding them too. The ZMan range of

plastics is far too massive for me to cover here. There is a reason why so many people love these plastics: they catch fish! The addition of the midnight oil colour provides an Australian flavour that I am sure will be on many shopping lists over the Christmas period. Atomic soft plastics have been around for many years. The name may have changed (they’re now called Plazos) but the lures sizes, shapes and options are up there with the best. You tend to get a few more packets of plastics for your hard earned as well. Hardbodies – small Strike Pro lures are one of the original finesse baits to hit the lure fishing scene. Anglers targeting bream, trout, redfin and the like swear by them. The Bass-X, Flatz Minnow and Slinky Minnow are favourites, and the options don’t stop there. Rapala has released a couple of models this year just in time for Christmas. The Jack Deep, Shadow Rap 07 and the Rip Stop have

already proven themselves on trout in our alpine lakes, and the Jack Deep in particular has kicked plenty of goals on Australian bass. Zerek lures have become must-have in many anglers’ tackle boxes. There is a model and style to suit many types of fishing, with the Tango Shad being a standout. Atomic Cranks, like the Atomic soft plastics range, is full of proven lures at great price points. Many tournament anglers swear by the lures in the Cranks ranges. Hardbodies – medium/large Halco is a brand synonymous with producing quality lures designed for Australian species. There ranges cover the full spectrum of species, from bluewater to barramundi and our iconic native freshwater fish. Rapala has always produced quality lures, and this was further enhanced a few years ago when they added Australian colours

and fitted terminal tackle suited to our fish. Rapala lures are always worth checking out. Samaki is another brand that has taken the industry by storm in recent years. Lures like the Pacemaker are standard fare for anglers targeting our bluewater species. Home-grown lures Australian lure makers are an amazing group of very talented people. Just go to the Australian Lure Expo each year and you will be amazed at what is available. A number of these lure makers now have products available through select tackle stores. Matt Fraser launched his Barambah Lures into the commercial sector recently. His Manic Budgie and Bidjiwong 200 would make epic presents for any avid Murray cod angler. Aaron Young, the designer of Kuttafurra Lures, is recognised as one of the best of the new wave of Australian lure makers.

Perfect

From surface crawlers to deep divers, his lures are first class and would look great hanging on your Christmas tree. Spinnerbaits have a big place in the Australian fishing scene, and Raymond Parry from Obsession Spinnerbaits has strived to produce the best spinnerbaits and their variants for native fish. Look out for them in your local tackle store.

LINE

••••••••••••••••••••• I hadn’t planned to write anything about the various lines available, and but then I realised that 2018 has seen the release of a number of high quality lines that would be a great present for an avid angler. One of the new releases was Daiwa’s J-Braid Grand. This Japanese-made, 8-strand PE line is superstrong and has excellent abrasion resistance. It’s set to be very popular amongst the followers of

Daiwa products. Sufix has also released two new braids that have tongues wagging. The first is Sufix 131 braid, which is a little bit different. A single GORE performance fibre is surrounded 12-carrier braided line, producing an incredibly abrasion resistant yet fine line. The second offering is the Sufix X8. The X8 is a slightly lower price point than the 131 and is well positioned in the 8-carrier braid market. Finally, I would like to add an Australian flavour to the line market. Platypus has been producing line since the late 1800s, and this company has always been at the forefront of innovation. Their offering in the 8-carrier market is P8, and it’s accounting for a wide range of Aussie species.

TACKLE STORAGE

••••••••••••••••••••• Looking after your tackle, both on and off the water, is a big part of

RAPALA JACK DEEP

HALCO MADEYES

CO HAL D HAR ES I BOD

STRIKEPRO BASS-X ZEREK TANGO SHAD

ZMAN MIDNIGHT OIL

BARAMBAH BIDJIWONG 200

BARAMBAH MANIC BUDGIE 14

DECEMBER 2018

SAMAKI PACEMAKER

fishing. Being organised means you have more time to actually fish. Tackle bags have come a long way from the canvas backpack I owned as a kid. Most tackle bags have multiple pockets, come with tackle trays and have holders for your pliers and other items. Many weigh next to nothing, and are designed to dry quickly. If only they were available when I was fishing the Murrumbidgee River! Wilson Fishing won the Best Tackle Management category at this year’s AFTA show with their Platinum Tournament Bag. When it comes to complete tackle storage systems, it doesn’t get any better than this. The Tournament Bag has multiple pockets, eight waterproof tackle trays, a couple of handle options and a base designed to reduce water getting into your gear from below. There is also a backpack option in the same series. The Plano brand is

Guide

regarded as having some of the best tackle storage solutions available. The bags and other items come in a magnitude of sizes and configurations to suit every angling situation, so there’s something for everyone.

SUNGLASSES

••••••••••••••••••••• Quality eyewear is essential for every angler, and the options available have increased dramatically in recent years. The biggest mover and shaker has been the brand Costa, and this is a big win for Australian anglers. Costa spends a huge amount of time and effort in developing their lenses and giving back to the aquatic environment. Their Untangled range frames are made from discarded fishing nets that otherwise would be drifting in the ocean and creating a hazard for marine life. This is just one of many positives that the Costa brand offers. Australia also has

some quality producers of sunglasses, with one of the best being Tonic Eyewear is one of these. Tonic introduced the Tango frame at this year’s Tackle Trade Show, providing anglers with a superior quality lens in a great looking frame.

WATERCRAFT

••••••••••••••••••••• I was going to call this section ‘kayaks’, but the introduction of SUPs (stand up paddleboards) into the fishing market means that a kayak isn’t the only option anymore. Hobie kayaks and SUPs are some of the most soughtitems at every boat show I go to. Hobie does a great job of showcasing what they offer. The last couple of years have seen them introduce a SUP with their Mirage Drive pedal system, and this year they released a new kayak, the Mirage Compass. A lower price point offering, with all of Hobie’s quality components, the Compass has been a hit at the shows

and is sure to be high up on people’s Christmas lists. I also want to mention Australian made and manufactured kayak brand: Aquayak Kayaks. Based in Melbourne, they produce a great range of recreational and fishing kayaks. I have tested a number of them for the magazines and I’d be stoked if one of the kayaks found its way under my Christmas tree!

ESKIES AND COOLERS

••••••••••••••••••••• Is there anything more Australian than giving somebody an esky for Christmas? Even better if it is one that has every bell and whistle you could ask for. This summer, I recommend looking out for Otterbox eskies and coolers in stores. We had a number of them delivered to our office and took them out and about with us. We had a chuckle when we read that they were ‘bear-proof’, but we certainly appreciated

how tough and durable they were, and how well they kept our drinks and food cold.

STOCKING FILLERS

••••••••••••••••••••• There is no shortage of smaller items that are practical for any angler. Here are a just few of the options out there. The ultimate stocking filler is something that I haven’t seen before here in Australia. It’s called the Tackle Club. You just pay X amount per month and get a box of tackle delivered to your door. Pricing starts at $49.99 per month, and you get a minimum of $80 worth of tackle each month. You just tick the box related to which species you chase. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Other ideal stocking fillers are sun protection items, such as head socks and sun gloves, which make a perfect summer gift. Fishing pliers, split ring pliers and scissors are other items that you just can’t have

enough of. It’s amazing how many of these find their way to the bottom of your local waterway! Something that really caught my eye this year is Samaki’s ceramic braid scissors. They may be a bit more expensive than others, but they stay sharp longer than any other offerings I have seen, and they won’t rust. Something a little left of centre is packets of pre-rigs. Species-specific rigs are available, you just tie them on and you are ready to fish. There are plenty of brands out there that will do the job, but Black Magic and Mustad rigs are at the better end of what is available. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOOD SHOPPING TO YOU ALL I hope that these pages give a bit of an insight into what is available out there and what that special angler in your life may want for Christmas. Don’t forget to support your local tackle store, and have a safe and Merry Christmas!

HOBIE COMPASS

OTTERBOX ICE BOX

DIAWA J-BRAID GRAND SAMAKI CERAMIC SCISSORS TONIC TANGO

IX SUFF 131 BRAID

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TACKLE CLUB DECEMBER 2018

Rods at the ready for a cracking cod weekend! Gather the troops because this is your chance to secure one of the highly sought-after entries into GoFish Nagambie’s half a million-dollar tournament. Entries are now open for anglers of all abilities to have a crack at winning BIG come April 2019. With entries capped and a further limit of 1000 boats, there’s no time to dawdle. You’ll need to be quick off the mark to secure your spot to compete for some of the biggest and best prizes and cheques seen in Australian fishing industry history. Local fishing legend and GoFish Nagambie stalwart Wally Cubbin is excited to see his backyard come alive with passionate anglers all vying to be crowned the inaugural champion of GoFish Nagambie. “I’m equally as excited to hang out and relax with friends and unwind over the long weekend,” Wally said. “The festival hub is something we’ve never seen before at a comp like this. Live music, a chance to chat and hear other anglers’ stories, and to hang out with out non-fishing families – it’s definitely going to be a highlight.” Wally, who epitomises local pride, reckons a local has a good chance at taking out the $80,000 cheque for the biggest Murray cod, because they know the area like the back of their hand. However, to even the playing field, here is an overview of the tournament zone and some of the best spots to target and beat the locals at their own game. THE TOURNAMENT ZONE The GoFish Tournament zone spans over 11.11 square kilometres of waterways. This is 5x the size of Monaco, 20x the size of the Vatican City or 2746 acres. With access to boat ramps and bank fishing hot spots normally inaccessible to the general punter, there are some very special areas to explore and fish at GoFish Nagambie. The tournament area reaches from the Goulburn Weir and includes everything upstream to the junction

with Hughes Creek, a massive 30km upstream. All backwaters, billabongs, lagoons and creeks within this area are included in competition zone. These areas include, Majors Creek system and Sandy Creek. This waterway is an angler’s paradise with plenty of heavy timber, standing trees, overhanging structure, willow trees, thick weed beds and a river channel that provides the lake system with depths varying from 0.5m down to 11m deep in some locations. Minimal water flow makes for great fishing opportunities and allows for a range of different fishing styles, including bait, lure and even fly.

Entries on sale 30th November Here is the hot tip on some of the key areas to fish within the zone. GOULBURN WEIR Goulburn Weir is the largest expanse of water on the Nagambie Lakes system and it’s loaded with standing timber… which means cod! The main river channel snakes its way through to the weir wall, with shallow flats stretching out either side of the channel. The big fish will reside in the river bed and move out onto the flats to feed during low light periods. The best way to fish this area is to stay in the river channel and cast past the drop-off and onto the shallows. Then retrieve your lure down over the edge and into the deeper water. Hard bodies are the pick of the lures for this technique. KIRWANS BRIDGE This area is loaded with so many options, so much

$500,000

structure and great fishing opportunities. Fishing around and underneath the old timber bridge is dynamite; it’s one of the best structures to fish in the entire lake. Golden perch school up around the pylons and can be caught by trolling alongside and underneath the bridge. Casting lures at the bridge is also successful, and big cod sit under the bridge in the river bed. There is plenty of standing timber in the area with plenty of shallow edges, willows, deep sections of river, standing tress and reeds. DELLA ISLAND Some of the best fishing is right on the edges of these channels. The water on the flats is less than 1m deep, and then it drops off into deep water. Small baitfish and prey move onto the flats and then make their way back into the river channel. This is where the larger predatory fish like Murray cod and golden perch will be sitting ready to ambush! Put your lure in this zone and you will find fish! MAJORS CREEK This is a little hidden gem… a fisho’s paradise! Majors Creeks is loaded with great structure including standing trees, backwaters, weed beds, reedy edges, large fallen logs, overhanging trees and lily pads. Golden perch love all this structure and will hang out close to the standing trees (especially the thinner, twiggier trees), reedy edges and the spindly ends of fallen trees in this area. Throw out some smaller lures such as 1/2oz spinnerbaits, 50-70mm diving hardbodies and 60mm lipless crankbaits. Get in quick as entries are open now. To secure yours, visit www.gofishnagambie.com.au and be sure to check out the GoFish Nagambie Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news and give us a ‘like’ to join the community.

UP FOR GRABS AT AUSTRALIA’S WEALTHIEST FRESHWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT DECEMBER 2018

Dreaming of a warm wonderland WEST COAST

Brett Carson

December is a great time to fish the mighty Glenelg River before the postChristmas masses roll in and take a bit of that solitude away. Everyone is trying to get sorted for 25 December and it can be the quietest warm month of the year, if you can find the time. The last few months

have seen a significant drop in the rainfall, which has left us with a quickly-clearing river. It seems to be a spawn that is taking its time and plenty of fish haven’t looked like dropping their eggs yet, so the schools remain spread through those upper reaches, some fish still on the yearly pilgrimage, others on the way back down. The perch and spawning bream are smashing large bait schools and are super healthy

specimens. The big spawning bream up high are edge feeding and it pays not to get too caught up in the large schools down deep. Flick into the shallows as well, because the ones that leave the dormant school are the fish that are chewing. Hardbodies have been hard to beat. Chubby style deep divers are ideal, as are the slimmer profile

Beau Royal’s first time on the mulloway.

minnows. Neil Humphries and Terry O’Brien fished around Pritchards Landing and found plenty of goodsized perch amongst fat bream. The perch seem to be hanging on the reed beds and are taking everything the bream are. Bait fishos have been slaying the bream on podworms and my shoulder is getting a bit sore keeping up with the orders. On the mulloway front, the fish are starting to spread right back up through the system and reports are starting to come in from 30km+ upstream. Those targeting the tides in the estuary are reaping the rewards with plastics and live mullet being the best. It’s been hard work catching the bait-sized mullet at the moment. The large eating size fish are thick. A bit of berley and a pipi and you can have a feed in no time. Ben Cunnington and his brother-in-law Beau Royal recently smashed mullet fishing in the dark, landing fish numbers in the 70s. The surf beaches have some unbelievable gutters at the moment that hold plenty of gummies and

There were plenty of perch among the mulloway. shoolies. There are plenty of salmon and mullet cruising the surf, so the food source is attracting significant numbers of predators. This year I’ve had more salmon run into me in the surf while collecting bait than any other year, and the schools are thick. • Good luck and feel free to come and see us at Nelson Boat Hire for the latest

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

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Joy to the perch WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

Summer is here and all I can think about is what sort of kingfish season we will have. However, kingfish are not the only fish getting anglers excited this season. Some of the best

southern bluefin fishing the last few seasons has occurred during the warmer months. Many of these fish are relatively close to shore in the 30-40m mark, sometimes mixing in with the schools of kingfish. Cruising along on a flat summer’s day looking for schools of kingfish and tuna to throw lures into is about as awesome as

Some quality mulloway have been taken in the Hopkins River recently.

fishing can get when it all comes together. If surface pelagics aren’t your thing there are a myriad of other things happening offshore. There have been plenty of gummy and school sharks taken recently in the 45-70m marks and they should be around in numbers in December. Dan Hoey from a local charter has been putting his clients onto some quality sharks recently. Cray season will also be in full swing with divers and hoop netters hoping for flat conditions to target their quarry. Don’t forget the new tagging system for amateur taken crays. Closer inshore there will be plenty of pinkie snapper along with the more prestigious King George whiting. The Hopkins River has closed over pretty early this year. The interesting thing is that all the mulloway that

Chasing estuary perch in the freshwater can be a good option in December. are present in the system will be stuck in there. Some excellent size fish in the 80-100cm range have been taken recently from up high in the system and down near the bridge. A wide variety of techniques have been producing from casting soft plastics to trolling live bait like mullet and lures like the 95mm Daiwa Double Clutch. Bream fishing has taken a bit of a back seat

to estuary perch fishing this past month, with some great catches of perch occurring. Trout may not be what you are focusing on at this time of year, however, a sudden rain event can freshen up the rivers, which often bring the trout on the bite. It’s also always a good option if the weather curtails your desire to fish offshore. Add the bream or estuary perch also pushing

up into the lower freshwater reaches as the waters clear, and it can make for a worthwhile session. Jumping in a kayak and cruising up the lightly-fished freshwater sections of the Hopkins and Merri is a great way to spend some time and the rewards can be good. Even as I write this there are still good trout being taken well after what would be thought of as trout season here in the South West.

Blowing the fish away APOLLO BAY

Wayne Diffey

This past month has seen a lot of easterly winds, and as a result there have not been many good fishing days, on and offshore. Salmon have still been a little patchy with some reports of good catches, but only for short periods. Spinning off the beach or rocks has been the most productive. Wild Dog Creek Beach has been productive, but the back beach at Marengo has also been working well, as has Skenes Creek Beach.

On the days where the wind and swell were not too bad, and boats could get out of Apollo Bay for a fish, the gummies and some big flatties have still been about in reasonable numbers. Blanket Bay Reef and off Parker River have been very productive for gummies in 40-50m of water. Matt from Hit-n-Run Charters has still had productive trips with good catches of gummies, snapper, nannygai and other reef fish. There haven’t been many good reports of whiting being caught recently. Craig Rippon tried his luck at Blanket Bay for a few hours but only bagged six fish, with an average size of 42cm. This

could have been because there wasn’t a lot of tidal movement. Improving weather and sea conditions in December should see this change. Calamari in the Apollo Bay Harbour have started to show up in good sizes. The darker colours seem to be working the best.The local streams and rivers were flowing well, but water levels have dropped a bit lately. Some nice bream and brown trout have been caught recently. • If you’re coming to Apollo Bay for a fish, be sure to pop in to get all your bait and tackle needs, as well as an up to date report, or call us on (03) 5237 6426.

Rick Crockerell with a brown trout that he caught on a gold wing Tassie Devil in the Aire River near the mouth of the Ford River.

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Craig Rippon with an Aire River bream.

Be nice to the spawning bream COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

The Hopkins River estuary perch have moved downstream towards the mouth on their annual spawning run. Perch anglers have caught fish up to 48cm using shallowrunning and surface lures as well as flies around the change of tide and often at night when the fish tend

to feed. These fish can be suckers for a lure and, as they are currently schooled up, can be caught in large numbers in a single session. So please remember the bag limit and take only what you need. Meanwhile, bream have moved in the opposite direction upstream to search for the right salinity in which to do their own spawning. The schools are definitely on the move and a sounder

is a necessary tool when attempting to locate bream. Boaters are working the river from Kinnears Hut upstream to Jubilee Park. Soft plastics and metal vibes worked across the bottom have been the go. Successful baits have been soft baits such as peeled prawn and kelp worm, although brown shell pumped near the mouth is also working. Bream to 37cm have been taken in the lower

STA 16123 Revo 519half FM_Layout 1 1/10/2018 4:13 PM Page 1

A trio of Curdie bream in spawning mode prior to release.

reaches of the Curdies River, close to where it enters into Peterborough Lake. The fish are very responsive to bait and lure, as I recently found out. Again, please only take what you need and let the rest go so we will have fish to catch in the future. Lure enthusiasts are using metal vibes in dark colours, like the Damiki Vault in black widow, worked slowly across the bottom, but only a metre or so out from the bank. If the bream are feeding rather than spawning this is where they will be. The number one bait is local shrimp, which can be netted in various weed beds that grow bankside. Many are taking the shrimp home and snap freezing them. This turns them white, which does work better than using live shrimp at times. Packet prawn and whitebait are also working on a given day. The bream are in schools and moving from the river mouth up to Baileys Straits and possibly beyond in search of the right salinity. Offshore has seen a wide variety of fish come onboard, but as it’s early in the season boaters are finding the best results occurring out in the 50-70m,

This chunky bream gets to go home so it can complete the circle of life. over reef or broken ground. Some excellent gummy and school shark have been caught here, as well as pinkie snapper, morwong, rock cod, leatherjacket, knifejaw and nannygai. A single paternoster rig weighted down with a 300g snapper sinker gets to the bottom fast. Drogues or seas anchors are a requirement in slowing down the drift. Best baits have been fillets of barracouta, slimy mackerel, whole baby squid and pilchards. Squid are beginning to move inshore to breed and the snapper and shark are following them. They are easy to catch on squid jigs, tasty on the tooth as well as providing excellent fresh bait.

Closer inshore some excellent sweep, along with the odd salmon, have been taken close to the cliff faces along our Great Ocean Road. Any bommies that are reachable by rock hopping or cliff fishing are holding good schools of sweep to 1.7kg. Pipi flesh tied on with hosiery elastic has been the most productive bait. If you can get a dead crayfish off one of the boats that fish from Port Campbell, that is the best bait of all. By dead, I mean one that has literally died of fright in the craypot when an octopus crawled in for a potential feast. Lobster fishers usually hang on to these deceased crays, as they know they are a gun bait for line fishers.

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DECEMBER 2018

Even a kid can catch a squid GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

We had a few dumps of rain late October and the Barwon remained dirty, so lure fishing hasn’t been much of an option. Those that enjoy carp fishing have

a go for carp. Just squash some white bread over a hook or use sweet corn kernels on a running sinker rig. The Victorian Government has announced a new community-led approach to develop an action plan that will support the management and protection of the Barwon River. The Ministerial

of the Barwon River and to maintain and enhance community aspirations for the Barwon River. For more info, head over to the DELWP website: h t t p s : / / w w w. w a t e r. v i c . g o v. a u / w a t e r w a y s - a n d catchments/barwon. CORIO BAY Corio Bay fishers have enjoyed some quality flathead around the 40cm mark using whitebait, bluebait and soft plastic lures. Hugh Hanson managed a few to 45cm drifting and casting Berkley Gulp Turtleback Worm soft

plastic lures near Point Henry. Kelsi Gull fished from her kayak using soft plastics out off Clifton Springs. She says that the flatties were a bit quiet at first, but once the smell of berley got up they were on fire. Kelsi caught a few flathead up to 40cm using a Berkley Gulp soft plastic before the wind made her pack it in. The star of the show this time of year is undoubtedly the hungry snapper population streaming into the bay. Good numbers of pinkie snapper to 45cm have been caught at Point Henry, Geelong waterfront, Charlie Hayden fished with his grandad Terry off Clifton Springs, where he subdued this calamari.

Aaron from Salt Guide says the gummy shark have been in good numbers in Bass Strait. had a ball down around Breakwater where there has been fish around the 3-4kg mark biting on bread and corn. The warmer weather really kicks them into gear; so if you want to give the kids a shot at something substantial, give the Barwon

Advisory Committee will work in partnership with traditional owners and communities and report directly to the Minister for Water. It will develop a community vision for the river and its landscapes, make recommendations for specific actions for the protection

Gemma Reynolds caught this ripper calamari fishing with her dad out off St Leonards.

Point Wilson, Clifton Springs and Portarlington. Smaller baits such as cut up pilchards, bluebait and squid have done well and fish of this size are soft plastic enthusiasts. Clifton Springs and Portarlington have seen the larger than average size fish, with some up around the 8kg mark taking squid, pilchards and silver whiting out in 6m and deeper. Anglers drifting around the shallows of Clifton Springs Curlewis have caught big calamari around 1.5kg. Craig Rippon from Apollo

Bay took a mate out off Clifton Springs where they caught some absolute ripping calamari. Craig’s mate was rapt, as he’d never caught a squid before. Aaron Habgood from Red’s Fishing Adventures and Salt Guide has been catching some quality snapper out off Clifton Springs. Aaron says squid has been the best bait by a long way, with nearly every fish on it. Young 7-year-old Charlie Hayden embarked on his first ever fishing trip with his

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grandad Terry Hayden last month out off Clifton Springs. A squid jig was set under a float by grandad and Charlie slowly twitched it back to the boat. All of a sudden, things got a bit tense when a calamari grabbed his jig and not long after, he boated the beast. Paul Agterhuis and Stu O’Brien fished the run-out tide off Clifton Springs last month and caught two quality snapper weighing 5kg and 5.5kg, plus several small pinkies near the turning buoy. Their snapper were caught on half a squid head and a silver whiting. Paul says the fish went off the bite about an hour after the tide change. The lads fished the tide change next morning in the same spot with no luck.

BELLARINE PENINSULA Calamari have been going off their chops with some real whoppers to 2kg amongst them. Aaron Habgood has also been catching some monster calamari down around Queenscliff and says size 3-3.5 jigs have been working a treat. Rod Ludlow of Beachlea Boat Hire says his clients have also been catching monster calamari up around 2kg. Rod notes that in 15 years of fishing the region, he has never seen squid fishing so big. Rod says he had a few boats bag out on squid. They are spread from Governors Reef to the Prince George Light, early morning and late afternoon are the best bite times. Rod reports that they have

Aaron caught this cracking snapper off Clifton Springs using squid as bait.

Jack Keys shunned 10 pin bowling for some salmon action on Lorne Pier. had clients catch a few whiting from legal length to 35cm at St Leonards on the flood tide using pipis. Rod says that there have been snapper caught inside the Portarlington Harbour and from the St Leonards Pier. Land-based anglers should give these locations a go, especially after some wind and in the evening. Gemma Reynolds fished with her dad Dave out off St Leonards recently. Dad showed her how to use a squid jig and it wasn’t long before Gemma caught her first ever squid. SURF COAST Aaron Habgood has also been catching plenty of solid gummy shark out in Bass Strait and says that fresh bait is the key to his consistent captures.

Land-based fishos holidaying near Lorne should give the pier a go, as there has been plenty of Australian salmon biting on bait and lures. The Keys family had a few days in Lorne recently where the lads, Max and Jack, had the option of fishing or ten pin bowling. Max decided to go bowling while their dad, Paul, took Jack down the pier for a spot of fishing. Now Max may have knocked a few pins down, but the legend status goes to Jack who managed to capture a nice salmon. Mick Allardyce fished Spout Creek on the Great Ocean Road early one morning, where he caught eight salmon around the 30cm mark casting lures from the shore. Mick says these salmon

have been great bait for gummy shark, who have been biting well off the Surf Coast. PLANNING AHEAD FOR DECEMBER Land-based fishers should give North Shore rocks and St Helens rock wall a go, as this time last year there were a few nice snapper caught from there on pilchards. Portarlington and St Leonards piers always yield a few snapper after dark. December can see salmon school up in The Rip and a little further north. Just keep an eye out for big ships that use the shipping channels here. Bass Strait’s Mako and blue sharks should be high

on the list for those with gamefishing tackle, while snapper will be available around the inshore reef areas. 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).

Kelsi Gull caught some quality flathead fishing with plastics off Clifton Springs.

DECEMBER 2018

Peak snapper time is here PORT PHILLIP BAY WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.au

December is finally here, and it’s a great time of year. Most of us are feeling festive and relaxed with holidays not too far away. The weather has become very comfortable and water temperatures are rising to optimum temperatures for snapper. From a fishing perspective, this time of year around Melbourne is really good because we’re entering peak snapper fishing time. Local boat ramps have queues a mile long, even in the very early hours of the morning, as local anglers are keen to get into the action. Don’t stress too much if you’re still waiting for your first red of the season, because the snapper action was a little slow over October and November, but now catches are being reported almost daily. The usual spots around Port Phillip Bay are starting to fire up. As always, nicely presented fresh bait and some patience are essential, not every trip is going to get you

Warmer weather means big carp are active. snapper, but persistence and a positive attitude certainly will. I spent some time over the last month trailing different rigging techniques for targeting snapper. I tested unweighted double snelled hooks, then small running sinkers with single hooks and recently I have started using pre-made flasher rigs with great success. I came across Reedys Rigz new flasher paternoster

James targeted local squid, and scored big.

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rigs that use glow beads and a reflective cloth like what you see on squid jigs. They have nice intricate details that look great and have consistently produced some big reds. For busy anglers like myself they provide the pure convenience of simply tying the pre-made rig to your main line, attaching a sinker, selecting bait and away you go. Within a minute I’m fully rigged up and ready to go. With snapper season in peak time, it is certainly something to consider. Fresh squid has been a great bait choice when targeting snapper, however, many Melbournians are happy just to go out on the water and target squid for fun and for a great feed. The squid fishing recently has been terrific due to clear waters and reasonably calm conditions. Local angler James Muscat has spent some time on the water this past month targeting squid between Altona and all the way up to Queenscliff with great success. Brightly-coloured squid jigs, such as orange and pink, have worked well either sitting in the rod holder drifting, waiting patiently or retrieved with erratic lifts and pauses.

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James Matarazzo has been catching his fair share of squid too, from many local piers around Melbourne. A recent holiday trip up to Mornington had James catching many squid from Blairgowrie, Sorrento, Mornington and Rye. The Shimano Clinch 3.8g jig in gold YK and green colours have been his go-to. Surprisingly this time of year, there have still been plenty of active schools of salmon around Port Phillip Bay. The schools have been moving around, one day reported in Altona, then Docklands, then Werribee and so on. It’s amazing fun to be caught in the middle of a big school when you have lightspinning gear on hand. Last month I agreed to take some local anglers out

Local piers are a great spot to find squid.

Pre-made flasher rigs are great on PPB snapper. on their first kayak fishing expedition to teach them some basics, initially running through some basic safety aspects and fishing techniques then launching from Altona. After being on the water for a few minutes we noticed many birds flocking to one area, most likely a big school busting up. We went to check it out and that’s when the chaos began. Big salmon jumped all around the kayak, taking just about anything that hit the water. For local estuary fishos, bream fishing the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers has started to improve. Thankfully polluted waters from the recent chemical spill are starting to clear up and we’re starting to see bream move away from deeper water and sit along the edges in the shallows. This means that it’s time to use shallow diving hardbody lures and enjoy some hits while slow rolling up against the edges, which is such a fun way to target bream. Those into carp fishing or carp culling will also enjoy the fact that the warmer weather has them in very active and aggressive moods due to spawning season. Early morning can be fascinating, watching monster size carp leap out of the water, catching you off guard as they make massive splashes. I have caught several carp around the 10kg mark on the old humble scrub worm or corn kernels

and greatly enjoy catching massive mud marlin on light spinning gear. I even sight cast a few recently with some soft plastics, which was a first for me. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but can be very enjoyable, particularly for land-based anglers without a boat looking to catch a decent size fish. On a final note, this month there has been a lot publicised recently about lack of boat ramp facilities or repairs of boat ramps around key areas in Melbourne. I agree that this is frustrating and hopefully promises from

local politicians don’t just fall on deaf ears while trying to win some easy votes. But I must urge everyone to show some common courtesy to each other. Not everyone is an experienced angler and going out of your way to help fellow boaters rather than intimidate them would make launching better for everyone. So, my final words of the month are to just show some patience, respect to your fellow anglers and enjoy your time on the water safely. Merry Christmas everyone, and of course, happy fishing. That’s all from me this month, but please share your recent fishing experiences around Melbourne and Port Phillip Bay so they can be added to next month’s article. Contact me by email – alan@ fishingmad.com.au. Also check out my website www. fishingmad.com.au, and social media pages Facebook – facebook.com/fishingmad. com.au, YouTube channel – youtube.com/c/fishingmad and Instagram – instagram. com/fishingmad.com.au.

Schools of salmon can still be found this month.

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All I want for Christmas is a new snapper PB been reporting finding big numbers of snapper on the sounder near large areas of bait, and also areas of broken reef and rubble, but with cooler water temperatures bite activity has been slow at times. This has been the trend, especially out from the deeper marks out in 18-20m, but some great consolation has come in the form of good numbers of bigger flathead to 50cm and some nice gummies being caught as well. Last month, depths between 17-19m have been the most productive. The importance of pre-dawn starts have also been very prevalent so far this season, especially for those anglers that have also been doing well in the shallower water around Mount Martha, and further north towards

PORT PHILLIP NE

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

After a long and mostly dry winter, and a relatively mild start to the spring months as well, all anglers have welcomed with open arms the warmer weather and change in fishing on the bay. This year has been a strange fishing season in many ways, with a few of the trends that we were used to experiencing on the bay, and further afield, not being as prevalent as in past years. The snapper season started in earnest a couple of months ago, and with water temperatures increasing gradually through the late spring months, some prolonged periods of good fishing continued. The best part is that these trends are set to continue through the summer months as well. Summer on the bay is all about snapper, especially the early summer months.

Harry ‘Muscles’ Bould has been getting amongst plenty of 1-3kg snapper on the inshore reefs. While many anglers have been catching good numbers of snapper for the last few months, traditionally November and December are the most productive as the

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fish look to put on condition before spawning early in the New Year. With the cooler start to the year I reckon we are in for some really good fishing right through the months of December and January. The magic 16-17°C water temperature took a while to reach our local areas this year, resulting in prolonged activity in the shallower water in the northern reaches of PPB. This trend has been steadily changing, and is predicted to stay strong for some time to come. Specifically, the wider marks out from Mornington, Mount Eliza and Frankston have been very productive, and although bite windows and activity have sometimes been shorted-lived, the quality and especially the size of the snapper has well and truly made up for it. Mount Eliza has been particularly productive, as it was last year, especially in depths of 16-17m where the snapper have been stacked up for some time. Even lazy midday sessions on the change of tide have been

Local angler Blake cashed in during a midday session off Mount Eliza with this ripper 8kg red. producing some big snapper in this area, as Blake found out recently, with a ripper 90cm, 8kg fish taken on a fresh silver whiting in 16m. Many anglers have

Frankston and Seaford as well. It’s worth noting the importance of fresh bait, especially with so much natural fodder for the reds to feed on naturally. Fresh

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caught squid and oily fish baits like salmon, slimies and garfish have all been very productive. I’ve always been a big fan of fresh caught squid baits, both in strips and heads, and this has been the go-to bait for many of the anglers I have spoken to this year so far. Reports seem to get better and more frequent each year, especially with anglers and fishing tackle improving. Some really big, quality snapper have been caught from the rocks and other land-based platforms along our eastern shores already this year. Plenty of fish have been caught in the 3-5kg range, and some proper big ones up to and over 7kg as well. Dedicated anglers normally need to fish in the worst weather and conditions for the best

Andrew ‘Joffa’ Wallace was all smiles with this 64cm fish taken on a soft plastic.

results, but it means that anyone with a sturdy surf outfit, and a keen mate or two, has a chance at catching a quality red without a boat. Anglers fishing lures and plastics on the inshore reefs from boats and kayaks have been doing well, with most fish being in the 1-3kg range. A few bigger snapper have been landed as well, especially for the kayak anglers doing their first light missions along the inshore reefs. Areas south of Mornington and Mount Martha have been productive, as well as wider reefs out from Ansetts and Frankston. Expect late afternoon and evening sessions to be more productive as the water warms up moving into the summer months. Lastly, just a quick word about the squid fishing of late. Mornington Pier has been producing some lovely big calamari recently, but expect the smaller specimens to load up in the harbour in the nearby reefs in the coming months as well.

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Catch some cracker snapper this Christmas PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

While October was a little on the slow side for snapper reports, as we rolled into November some seriously warm weather saw the fishing in this part of the bay start to fire up. Anglers fishing between Mordialloc and Sandringham have been catching more and more fish with each passing week. On the land-based front the snapper fishing was a bit up and down in November, as we kept seeing a fair amount of northerly winds that kept the bay flat and the water very clear. When it did turn to the south as expected, the snapper would move into the shallows to feed. MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK You have to wonder when the land-based snapper fishing will slow up, with snapper still being caught in good numbers from Beaumaris and Mordialloc piers throughout November. The simple formula is a bit of wind from the southwest and the fish turn up. The clear water and flatter conditions have seen

Christmas time on the bay can be magic. the calamari around in huge numbers and plenty of anglers are also reporting garfish getting in on the berley while snapper fishing. Fishing started a off bit slow in early November, but the past few weeks have really heated up on all the known areas such as the Hump off Mordialloc and all through the surrounding 14m line. Out off Ricketts Point, the 16m line and then out wider at the Gasso have been very good with a mix of fish being taken in the 2-5kg size. Bigger fish are becoming more prolific with each season. There is no doubt that this season is seeing a lot bigger

snapper, with beasts to 6-9kg getting in on the action. Bigger fish require bigger baits – squid heads, big silver whiting and garfish have proven to be quite productive with the bigger models. Back in closer along the reef edge between Ricketts Point and Black Rock has been a great fallback location, with lots of 1-3kg snapper on offer and more than the occasional 4-6kg fish among them to keep the lure and bait fishers on their toes. Best of all this area often fishes best when it’s rough, and this means that you don’t have to travel too far if you are launching at Mordialloc or Half Moon Bay.

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The great news over the past week has been the success anglers have been having with soft plastics, and while they are nothing new they are definitely holding their own this season. They are accounting for a lot of really big snapper and on several occasions they have also been the food of choice when bait anglers have struggled, especially on those hot calm days. Another great option has been using the small flutter style jigs and the slow jigging method that they are made for with some anglers finding big success with this method, especially when using the Storm Koika jigs in the 40-60g sizes. Pink and orange have been the best colours. Try slowly hopping them just off the bottom, they have been catching not only good numbers but also some seriously big fish. Another new addition to the snapper fishing this season has been the new Black Magic Snapper Snack. It’s similar to the Snapper Snatcher that has always been so popular and

effective, but this new rig has a rubber skirt and the new KLT circle hook, which doesn’t rust up as quickly. I’ve been using this rig for several months now and have had awesome success with it on multiple species. With the warmer weather of December a few anglers will also turn to the whiting and while it’s still early I have heard of a few scattered fish along Rickets Point, so fingers crossed we may see a few fish in the coming months. SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA For the land-based brigade the Sandy break wall, the rock groynes and up at Brighton break wall have all produced snapper during the good onshore blows, however, it’s the boat fishing that is really shining over the past few weeks with lots of good snapper fishing on offer in this part of the bay, with the shallow reef areas in 6-10m of water off Brighton producing some great fishing at night. Out wider along the edge of the shipping land and up toward Fawkner Beacon there have been some big schools of snapper on the chew and a lot of afternoons has seen big numbers of boats fishing and getting into great numbers of fish. What has been interesting is the reports coming from a lot of anglers mentioning how they are only sounding up one or two fish, then anchoring up berleying hard and within minutes are greeted with screaming drags and bent rods. With warmer conditions over the past few weeks and the water all cleared up it has also made for some ideal

squid conditions, with some anglers finding some patches of calamari between Green Point and North Road. I have also had some good reports of decent sized schools of salmon beginning to pop up over the past few weeks, which will hopefully continue with a warm summer. Hopefully some kingfish turn up and mix in with the catches of salmon. ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE Snapper is the word in this part of town and for good reason, as the big schools of reds have made this place home over the past weeks with some incredible snapper fishing unfolding off St Kilda and across to Williamstown. The best action has been coming in the afternoons and into the night, and what could be better than fishing up here on a northerly wind for some seriously good fish. There have been multiple catches of fish 10kg+, with quite a few in the 6-9kg bracket as well. Best of all, however, has been the spread of fish. Anglers putting in the effort on the shallow inshore areas have been rewarded, especially when fishing at night or while it is rough. Boats fishing out wider in the deep water along the edge of the channel have been finding the bigger schools of fish. So here we are back in December once again and it’s time for Christmas. While it was bit of a slower start to the season with a super cold winter, it seems we are on the verge of an exceptional few months of fishing, as always happens after a pile of rain. Have a great and fish filled Christmas.

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Ripper snapper sessions ahead MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Julian Frank

The year is almost over with only one month to go until 2019 and what a way to end the year! Before we get there I hope everyone makes the most of this month’s fishing,

MOUNT MARTHA TO MORNINGTON Snapper are coming in hot and the reports are coming in from all over the Peninsula. Fishing Mount Martha between 16-18m has been the hot depth, the mornings and late afternoons are generally the go to times but occasional midday angler

as the day progresses for a more consistent bite. DROMANA TO ROSEBUD Dromana Pier is fishing well for garfish in the mornings, as well as some calamari and even the odd mullet. In the evening will be a better time as boats start to dissipate to start fishing for squid and even whiting occasionally.

Anthonys Nose rock wall is a fantastic place to go for whiting at night; you can also find good sizes pinkies in the area if you’re fishing larger baits. Plenty of garfish are being found hanging around the reef structure. It is best to get down there early evenings. Rosebud Pier is seeing its fair share of calamari being caught, as well as

John Richardson with a lovely snapper from Mount Martha.

Billy Edwards took this nice red close to home. where we are sure to see some ripper snapper sessions and a heap of other memorable catches for anglers.

will find their share too. Further towards Mornington fish anywhere from 12m of water in the mornings out to the 20m line

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some tommie ruff under the lights later in the night. During the day you can catch flathead and sometimes whiting off the end fishing the deeper edges of the sand banks. Rosebud Reef has been fishing really well for pinkies with some decent snapper to 5kg being caught and some nice table size gummy shark. RYE Rye Pier is still producing plenty of salmon and squid in the afternoons, and some good catches of flathead can be expected in the mornings. There have also been some decent bags of whiting being taken around the South Channel Marker. There are good gummy shark being caught as by-catch from over the other side of the channel, when fishing alongside the Fairway

Lane. If you’re lucky you can also catch some great size snapper. BLAIRGOWRIE TO PORTSEA Blairgowrie has an abundance of good weed beds out the front at the moment that are accounting for big catches of calamari and some really good whiting. The Yacht Club Pier is very busy of an evening with anglers targeting a range of species. Here you have a great chance of snagging some squid, tommie ruff and mackerel. Sorrento Sisters is producing some really

Mick Brittain with a nice haul of whiting.

This offset circle design is the perfect deepwater bottom fishing hook with paternoster ‘dropper-style’ rigs or normal boat fishing with cut baits. When using this hook, anglers do not strike on the bite, rather the fish is allowed to run with the bait and as the line comes tight, the hook will roll into the corner of the fish’s mouth. This is a great hook to use for ‘lazy’ rigs fished from a rod holder as fish simply hook themselves.

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good whiting when fishing in close and out wide. If you’re targeting straight out from the pier it is best to fish early for squid, garfish and flathead. Portsea Pier is usually pretty busy this time of the year. You can see why as there are plenty of squid and gars in the mornings and afternoons. Whiting are an easy target from the pier and boat fishing around the moorings. OFFSHORE There are plenty of baitfish around and that means kingfish, makos and tuna won’t be far behind.

Joel Argentino caught this gummy fishing the wreck.

Hopefully it’ll be a good year for our pelagic fishery and we’ll see plenty of good fish around. The reefs are still fishing well for pinkies and snapper and some gummy have been caught on the deeper reefs. The local flathead grounds out the back of Sorrento and Portsea are producing some good fish too. For more up to date week to week reports pop on in to the Compleat Angler in Rosebud and have a chat to the team for more information, and to all readers we wish you a Merry Christmas! Stay safe on the water and we’ll catch you in the New Year.

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‘Tis the season to be fishing PPB OFFSHORE

Gerry Morsman

Nothing excites me more than rocking up to a boat ramp and seeing all the keen anglers with big smiles on their face, anticipating

an awesome fishing trip with their mates. Hearing the banter, exchanging stories and tips. How good is this time of year! There have been countless reports already for the offshore fishing and I have no doubt that

it’s only going to get better from here on. We aren’t far away from the hard-hitting and powerful kingfish and if that doesn’t get you going then I don’t know what will. Mid-December should see some kingies starting to turn up and by January things

Jack Closter with a cracking 30kg school shark.

will be in full swing, along with the high fives from mates boating one of our best eating and fighting fish there is to be caught here in Victoria. CALAMARI I’ll admit that heading offshore to target calamari isn’t always the best option, as there are plenty of other locations a lot closer to the boat ramp to get your bag. In saying that, I will always have a crack while I am out there targeting other species such as gummy shark. There are reefs all along the coast like Cape Schanck, Flinders and Barwon Heads. Getting in close in around 8m of water is ideal if you want to do the typical drift on jigs or even anchoring up and setting a few baited jigs on silver whiting. The calamari are in huge numbers offshore and if you come across a decent school I can guarantee your baits or jigs won’t be in the water for very long before a hungry squid attacks it and they are mostly big, which is what we are all after. Another technique that has been very successful and quite surprising is dropping down a squid jig on a paternoster style rig with a sinker in

Julian Rennie used a dropper with a squid jig to get it down in 35m of water. up to 35m of water over reefy ground. We found this out while fishing for gummy sharks. We noticed that

our rods tips were pulling instead of the usual wack like a normal attack from a fish. We, along with other

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anglers, tried the paternoster style rig and sure enough there was big calamari down on the deeper reefs and in big numbers. GUMMY SHARK In my opinion there isn’t a better place to target big gummy sharks and have exceptional catch rates than offshore. It may seem daunting while out there with the huge amount of area, but don’t let this get you down, as these big hunks of flake are everywhere. One of the best things you can do is use your sounder and find patches of reef not too far from the coastline, anywhere from 25-45m of water. Anywhere between Seal Rock and Pyramid Rock will see you finding these reefs and the stretch from San Remo to Kilcunda is a ripper section of water as well. The best way to target these areas is to anchor up and catch your baits on the same grounds you are fishing for gummies. Use a paternoster rig and use small baits the same way you would target a flathead. All along these reefs you will catch parrotfish and barbers perch, which are ideal gummy baits. The reason why I don’t use the usual baits like squid and salmon is because they will get picked at the whole time by the parrotfish and barbers perch, and they don’t usually

eat their own kind. Another great way to target them is to get on the drift. I wouldn’t recommend doing this over the reefy grounds as all you are going to get is snag after snag. The best areas are sandy bottom with a nice drop-off that the gummies will swim along trying to find their next meal. Getting to know your sounder is a huge advantage when it comes to this technique, as it can be the difference between a good and an average day of fishing. Using big chunk baits is a great option by all reports and another way is to rig up a live squid and drift it along the bottom. Pickers like flathead won’t go near it because the squid is still live, making it practically gummy shark candy. If it is a bit rough out there and your boat is rocking a lot I suggest getting your baits out as far as possible, as this will eliminate the amount of movement from the rocking of the boat. When fishing for gummy sharks you always have a good chance of hooking up to a school and you will definitely know when you have because your reel will be peeling line. Jack Closter had a day to remember after putting in plenty of hard work over previous trips and landed not one but two huge

Gummy sharks cannot resist a well-presented piece of parrotfish, like this one pinned with an 8/0 Big Bait circle hook.

school sharks. One weighed in at 25kg and the other at 30kg, which for me would be a fish of a lifetime. FLATHEAD Finding a feed of flatties is no hard task and the reports lately have proven this over the offshore grounds. Fishing out the front of Gunnamatta has been a real hot spot in around 40m of water while using squid strips on either a paternoster or running sinker rig. The best method for doing this is getting on the drift. You can basically target any piece of water over the sand in up to 100m of water. Another great way to do this is drop down a paddle-tail style plastic and with the drift of your boat the plastic will do its own thing without having to work it like you would if you were at a standstill. It’s also a great option because you won’t have to keep re-baiting your hooks. I suggest a white plastic, as it will stand out in the clear offshore waters. The fishing is only going to get better from here on with kingfish just around the corner and with the late run of barrel tuna being caught out off Portland, there is every chance they will make their way past our own stomping grounds here, straight out the front of the Western Entrance. We can only hope.

BOWRIDER

DECEMBER 2018

Get out and hit the snapper before the New Year WESTERN PORT NTH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

It’s not long now until Santa will be sliding down the chimney with all his goodies and hopefully that means a few new fishing rods and reels for you all. I guess the only downside to Christmas is that it is the signal that our beloved snapper are about to shut up shop and begin spawning. For the most part, the fantastic bite we have experienced throughout

November begins to quieten the closer we head towards the end of the month, but that’s not to say that you won’t catch a snapper early in the year. In fact, a fairly consistent bite still occurs late January, throughout February and into early March. However, unless you know where the fish are, you could be doing a lot of ground work for little result. Trying to find fish this late in the season sees many anglers head back to their early season marks, especially those areas where there is solid reef and shallow water.

Whiting are the talk of the Port and it pays to use quality terminal tackle when targeting them.

Left: Strips of fresh calamari make excellent baits. Right: With snapper still on offer, fresh calamari rings are the ideal bait rigged on a single circle hook.

Although the craze for catching snapper might be wearing to an end, the last few weeks have certainly been memorable. Anglers on the hunt can still find some good snapper in the north arm, mainly off Lysaghts in 17m of water. With schools of fish still lurking around this area, you will have to sift through the smaller models if you’re after a solid fish. In saying that, the smaller school snapper do tend to be in the 1-2kg range, which I am sure many people are still extremely happy about catching. Don’t underestimate up the top end either. Not all snapper call it quits and head out on the port, in fact, the Bouchier and Boultins channels are still holding some decent fish. If you’re not keen on heading that far up the port, Joes Island is also a reputable location. Fishing the run-out tide along the edge of the channel usually see a few fish caught. At this time of year I tend to favour fishing at the back of Crawfish Rock where the reef extends to Lysaghts. There are always some good reds throughout this area. Snapper aside, it’s funny how quick the change is made from species to species within the port, but with whiting in full force it is no wonder why so many anglers have already made the switch.

The smaller top end channels have really fired up in recent weeks. Anglers fishing the Gentle Annie Channel, Charing Cross, Tooradin and Lyalls Channel have found whiting in good numbers. Of course, berley is the key to attracting them, rather than having to move around multiple times. You’ll notice that the majority of the bite is around two hours either side of a tide change, with the flood tide the preferred. If you have the time, pumping fresh Bass yabbies from the nearby muddy flats proved deadly baits for whiting, however, pipi, mussel and tenderised calamari strips are just as good. Whiting can be found just about anywhere in the port if you work for them. The Tyabb

Under the cover of darkness in the shallows, there are some good snapper on offer. and Quail banks along with the top of the Middle Spit are also productive grounds. Just remember though: berley, berley, berley. A berley mix doesn’t need to be too complicated either. Just a few handfuls of mashed up pilchards placed into a berley cage is enough, however, if you want to go a step further, chook pellets

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Matty Bond has been targeting calamari along the edges of the bank with excellent success. 34

DECEMBER 2018

mixed with tuna oil is amazing. Whiting rigs can also differ, with the most common being the paternoster with two droppers ideal for weedy and reefy locations. If you’re fishing the sandy/muddy flats, I recommend the extended paternoster with a single long shank hook. The fish can be shy in shallow water and the use of the long shank allows for anglers to feel for the bite and strike to set the hook. Now should also be the time to work the Eastern and Chilcott channels on the high tides. These two areas hold squillions of whiting from now until the end of summer. When on the water, you’ll notice a lot of the local fishing charter fleet working these two channels and doing well. Calamari are also still

about, however, the larger breeders have all gone with the rising water temperature. Of course there may be the odd one still about, but most of the calamari caught in the summer months tend to be in the mid-sized range. These can still be caught along the Tyabb and Quail banks, along with the edges of the Middle Spit. Most weekends these areas do have a lot of boat traffic on them, so you might want to work the bank from Stony Point to Hastings Channel. This weedy bank is also home to a lot of calamari, but it does pay to drop your jig size to a 2.5, or if the current is a little strong, a 3.0 size will be enough. Sticking with a 3.5 sized jig will only cause you to become snagged when fishing over the shallow banks and could result in lose lures. Toward the end of the month many anglers will be getting ready to head off to their holiday destinations, meaning the boat traffic won’t just be boats, as jet skis and other watercraft will be buzzing about. This can make finding fish more of a challenge, however, if you get up and fish first light until noon, you’ll find yourself a good feed.

DECEMBER 2018

Jigging bells, jigging bells, jigging all the way WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Snapper are still the talk of the town around the bottom parts of Western Port, with Corinella and Rhyll the most reliable of locations to try your luck. With the water temperature still on the rise, fishing the shallow waters around Corinella has been productive. The top of the high tides have yielded some good snapper, along with sizeable gummy sharks on the flats. Anglers fishing on the high tide along the edge of the bank out the front of Lang Lang have been doing particularly well with average gummy shark catches in the 5kg range. Land-based anglers too have done well from Lang Lang beach on the lead up to the full moon. Although the Spit Point area has begun to quieten over the past few weeks, further south at Elizabeth Island Rhyll there has been plenty of fish. David Jarman from a local charter has been plucking reds from this area along with some nice gummy sharks. Up until the end of the month, Rhyll and the corals will see a lot of snapper action. The bottom in these areas, including Observation Point, is predominately cunjevoi, which tends to keep holding snapper throughout December. Although the current doesn’t run particularly

strong, you can comfortable fish the reds on relatively lighter tackle compared to that in other areas. Another location worthy of exploring from now on is the Western Entrance. Although you won’t necessarily bag a monster, there are more than enough fish in the 1-2kg range spread out over the reefs. On a calm day, drift fishing along McHaffies Reef will yield

to targeting whiting and they are in plague proportions. Coronet Bay is producing whiting out from the boat ramp in 5m of water on the high tides, as well as a few calamari and flathead. From the boat ramp, working down to Reef Island will see good results. This area is also great for kayak anglers to get into some good fishing as it is only a few metres from the car park to the water’s edge.

David Borninkhof had a cracker of a night session landing this beauty of a red.

Matt Caterson couldn’t resist getting into the egi action and managed to hook this beast south of the San Remo Bridge. good results. Keep in mind the reef is heavy here, so you could lose a few rigs. While it is nice to catch a few reds before they are all but gone, many anglers have made the switch over

It’s fair to say that Taj Caterson is addicted to fishing after finding this lovely snapper while fishing with his dad.

Calamari can also be targeted right along the east side from Coronet Bay to the San Remo Bridge then along the western side of the Eastern Entrance from the Bridge to the Entrance. For those visiting, landbased fishing from Cleeland Bight is very productive for whiting, however, the bottom is very weedy, so you’ll need to cast a paternoster to keep the baits away from the leatherjacket and wrasse. If you walk down to the sand dunes, the fishing can be more productive here for whiting and the occasional pinkie snapper. A good whiting haunt for this month is on the Tortoise Head Bank. On the top of the high tide, the whiting mill around looking for any tasty morsel they can suck from the sand. Getting up onto the bank into 2m of water you can easily spot the sand holes amongst the weed

beds, this is where you’ll find the whiting. Due to the shallow depth, there are two very important rules in being successful. The first is to be super quiet as any noise can resonate through the water spooking the fish and the second is to berley, but don’t overdo it. You only want to attract them and not over feed them. The best berley technique is to toss a few handfuls of Zeacol whiting berley into the water followed by a berley bucket with mashed pilchards. The flow of water will disperse the berley and the whiting will move into the area quite quickly. Due to the weed beds, calamari are also an option so either toss out a squid jigs and work it about the area or suspend a baited squid jig under a float and leave it floating out the back of the boat. Of all the locations to target whiting though, none can really compare with the quality of fish caught around Somers and Balnarring. These two locations produce some of the biggest whiting year after year, but getting there is no easy task. If you’re an experienced angler on Western Port, then you can always take the short cut across the Middle Bank but only on a mid to high tide. Alternatively, you can drive down the Western Entrance around Flinders and back up, or if you only have a small boat, beach launch at

Flinders, but you do need to know what you’re doing otherwise you could get caught in a sticky situation given the offshore swells. If you do make it to this area, the majority of the bottom is a mix of weed beds and sand, the perfect

with snapper, so it always pays to catch some whiting then try out a big bait. I don’t like doing both at the same time, as you could spook a whiting school by attracting a gummy to the area. I find it works best if you fish the last few hours of the run-in

While the majority of the big calamari have gone, there are still some sizeable ones about. habitat for big whiting. The techniques here are the same as anywhere and when you start catching them, you do find they tend to be more solid fish. Gummy sharks are a common capture here along

for whiting and then fish the beginning of the run-out for a gummy or red. Land-based anglers can also fish for whiting along this stretch of the coast. Somers and Balnarring are both excellent.

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DECEMBER 2018

It’s a wonderful fish PHILLIP ISLAND

Craig Edmonds

December already and it seems like the season only started a week ago, with the first of the snapper reports. We have been in the shop now for almost 13 years and I will often read back over reports for patterns and while there are a few

similarities each year, there is a lot more that changes year in and year out. Just when you think you have it worked out, the pattern changes. I often get asked where we fish and despite what many think we don’t have magic spots, and in fact probably have a harder time working out where to go than most of our customers would. The main reason is that we get so

James is proof that if you put in the time then good offshore gummies are possible most of the year.

many reports from all over the place that an information overload will often make it more confusing. What we do is exactly what I tell my customers – listen to the reports, but just use them as a bit of a guide to an area then trust your equipment on the boat to find the fish. If you have a plan stick to it, as it’s often the best plan. Many people seem to forget that fish swim, they might have been on that GPS mark yesterday but that doesn’t mean they will be there today or tomorrow. I also get the “my mate in the boat next to me caught them and we got nothing,” or “I could see them on the sounder but they wouldn’t bite.” While this might just be bad luck we often find that their bait was three years old, hooks were rusty but the point seemed sharp and that they didn’t have heavy enough sinkers to get to the bottom. It can be the little details that make the difference between catching and not. There are a few things that make a successful fisher. A good portion will always be luck but after that, preparation and maintained gear, quality bait, knowledge of the fish you are chasing and amount of time on the water are more

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DECEMBER 2018

Ian has had several successful trips on the snapper. important. A thousand-dollar rod and reel won’t guarantee success. This year more than others we have seen this, with money a bit tight customers are putting it into the terminal side and we have been doing a lot more repairs on older reels. The other thing we find when money is a bit tight is customers keep it basic and concentrate on getting the most important things right. It has been a very odd season this year with the weather through winter some of the worst we have seen for many years, but then September and October had some of the best weather for many years. It has been reflected in the fishing reports and I would have to say a very good season so far and as attention turns to offshore hopefully the trend continues. The larger snapper now traditionally start to head home and out to the open water making way for the pinkies to head into the bay. That’s traditionally how it works, but already this season we have seen large numbers of pinkies and larger snapper still being caught. The larger snapper reports are coming from the deeper water and Rhyll Hole, Silver Leaves, Observation Point and around the Western Entrance has been where the reports are coming from. The best time around Rhyll has been first thing in the morning, then as the sun comes up the pinkies take over where as the reports from the deep in the Western Entrance have come from the tide changes. The best spot to chase the pinkies has been around the corals, 4-6m of water and in Cleeland Bight at Woolamai. There are a lot of very small flathead and gummies that you will also catch while looking for the pinkies. You need to scale down your gear – try a paternoster rig with 2/0-4/0 hooks and you will find the type of bait won’t matter too much. Whiting would have to be one of the most frustrating species of fish around here to catch or work out. They go from plentiful to non-existent and then in places you wouldn’t

expect to find them. So far this season it has been no different, with them being as frustrating as ever. There has, however, been a change in the type of whiting around from the last few years. Earlier in the spring customers were reporting hundreds of undersize or just size fish, something we haven’t seen around here for a few years. There has still been the odd 45cm+ reported, but most of the better whiting reported are around 40-45cm. The bigger whiting are being caught first thing in the morning or last thing at night in Cleeland Bight, just before the sand hill and on the San Remo side. The smaller whiting have been in Dickies Bay and many of the low to mid 30cm ones are the undersized from early spring and these will become the 40cm ones in the autumn. I have had a few reports from customers fishing after dark in Dickies Bay and catching larger 40cm ones. Those fishing after dark are telling me that baits like squid and pilchard fillet are working better than pipi or mussel. We have had the odd bad day, but overall conditions for fishing offshore have

been good since winter and at times better than in the bay with offshore winds. With more people heading offshore now and fishing in some different spots we have seen a variety of fish already. There’s plenty of flathead, salmon, ‘couta, pinkies, gummies, morwong and even some arrow squid. Those fishing under the water around the Cape Woolamai headland have told me they have come across a few schools of kingfish. They’re very flighty and not close enough for spearing, but it won’t be long before the rod and reel guys start chasing them. The makos and other sharks won’t be far away and everything else should continue to improve, weather permitting. To be a successful fishers you actually need to go fishing, so over the upcoming holidays grab the family, a bite to eat and head down to your favourite fishing spot. Expect nothing but a good time out with the family and your days fishing will be more enjoyable.

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With the final month of the year counting down and Christmas just around the corner, Lakes Entrance is at its peak, with regular queues at the boat ramps and local businesses. The lower end of the Gippsland Lakes, especially from down towards the entrance, has become very challenging at times with few managing consistent fishing trips. Areas such as Rigby Island should be expected to hold numbers of King George around the scattered weed beds. Traditionally anglers have used fresh mussel and peeled prawn on a paternoster rig then cast these baits into the sand patches scattered throughout the weed. With the whiting not in good numbers it has taken multiple approaches to locate and catch these fish. Over the recent weeks good numbers of gummy sharks have made an appearance, with beach anglers having reasonably consistent success. Fresh baits have been a must, with fresh salmon fillets, or squid if available, producing good catches. They are a good match to a paternoster with a single dropper and snelled double hook rig. LAKE TYERS The lake has become the place to go over recent years for targeting big flathead, with large dusky throughout the system. I have great fun catching the large ambush hunters on surface lures and small swimbaits in ultra-shallow while chasing bream. Small walkers such as the Bassday Sugapen

The new 58mm Bassday Sugapen has become a favourite of the authorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. The small size and brilliant casting distance makes this a great producer, even on those tougher days. 58 have accounted for a number of large duskeis during bream sessions when fishing the shallow mud flats that are scattered throughout the system early or late in the day. The snaggy edges of the Nowa Nowa Arm have begun to hold good numbers off bream, commonly seen grubbing and flashing as they chew barnacles and mussels of the snags. These feeding fish have been hard to tempt at times, yet persistence pays off. Recently either non-weighted prawn pattern soft plastics have produced some fish, but are commonly

refused. I have been having more success recently using crankbait style lures such as the Atomic Crank 38. These lures have been cast up tight to the base of a tree or snags, then slowly rolled along the edges of a snag with the bib of the lure bouncing into cover, creating noise and attracting feeding fish. HAVE YOU BEEN FISHING? If you have been out for a fish lately and have a great pic, please send it to stevenprykefishing@ gmail.com with a short description and you could be in the next edition of Vic & Tas Fishing Monthly.

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Squid

Catching Gippsland calamari GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

I finally got the bug! My calamari addiction first started about five years ago. I had so much fun and knew that one day I was going to be completely fixated, fanatical and even possessed by them. That day has arrived and my infatuation is getting worse. What’s more, I notice that squid have this effect on most people and I hear that chasing them, in terms of participation and sales, is still the fastest growing area of fishing in Victoria. Port Phillip and Western Port bays are renowned hotspots, but come with me as we explore somewhere a little different – the South Gippsland calamari coast. EUREKA! THE BIG ARRIVAL The year will go down as the year the squid arrived into Gippsland in numbers that most people say they had never before experienced. Even the good oldies, the locals who have chased them for too many years, have all said it’s the most squid they have ever encountered. The number of squid was actually phenomenal and plenty of us were bagging out with our 10 squid in record speed. I’ve also noticed that just about every angler I know or have talked to out on the water, or even on the street, has been having fun catching squid. Facebook and text messages have all been about squid. Some people were experiencing calamari for the first time and all the talk around boat ramps and tackle shops has been about how even new comers to the sport are all bagging out. I think you get the idea about how the word was well and truly out and it very much imitated a gold rush scenario. Everyone had calamari fever. Now that summer has arrived, squid things have quietened down a little as the fishing focus now broadens into gummies, whiting and particularly snapper or flathead. But don’t be fooled,

the squid are still there and can be targeted nearly any day of the year. WELSHPOOL I’m quite sure the real home of South Gippy squid is the vast flats and many channelled waters of Corner Inlet because, after all, this has been a calamari hotspot since day one. There must also be amazing return of squid from the Bass Strait through the near bottomless entrance of the swift-running Singapore Deep. Your squid search should start at the southern end of the Lewis Channel as it passes Little Snake Island, between marker numbers 04 and 03, and cast back into the eastern shoreline across the shallow weed beds. It’s actually the broken weed with sand patches you are looking

DECEMBER 2018

to turn up there on your very first trip and by some miracle no other boat is there, then start where I mentioned at that Lewis Channel mark.

A Port Albert squid finds the net. I have to say, the more I explore the more squid I find. Including right near the Toora boat ramp and especially around the Long Jetty right near the Welshpool boat ramp. So, what I’m saying is, you don’t have to travel far to get squid. Handy to know when the wind makes it near impossible to get around and at Welshpool, believe me, that’s most days! Discovery will be your greatest reward when squid fishing.

The author’s PB squid – a Port Albert 42cm hood length calamari. This was one of 30 kayak caught squid for the day. got to the stage that we would release all of the smaller ones knowing that we would find bigger models later on. It was mind-blowing sport and it went on for months. There are still squid there now, just not as many. The simple part about

Wayne Morley with another Welshpool squid that inked him right between the eyes! for and this is typically what whiting purists would consider prime ground. How deep? It seems to change very little on most days and if I gave you a rule of thumb, fishing in 2.5m of water, you could hardly go wrong. Of course, the state of the tide will play a big part as to where you go, but we have also found that squid will bite

Wayne Brown with another Port Welshpool squid. 42

at any time of the tide. Most prominent squid anglers tell me that the last two hours rising to the high and the first two hours of the run-out are

by far the best times. I’m not convinced, but I take notice on their wealth of knowledge. Having spent way too much time chasing squid over the last four months, I’ve caught a few squid even at dead low tide, but just had to move into suitable deeper water. I will say, however, that I have always found a good run-in tide (when the water really gets moving) is the most productive. We have caught squid in just under 2m of water down to 4m deep, but not as many in shallower country. I could list another dozen areas to try at Welshpool because everyone has their favourite and even a few secret ones, but really I won’t need to. For starters, there will always be a few boats out there drifting and squid jigging away for you to use as a guide. Some days there are 30-40 boats barely avoiding bumping into each other. Secondly, if you do happen

There are 14 squid hoods in that scaler bag. This is the best way to remove all ink and skin from your catch. PORT ALBERT This year the amount of squid at popular Port Albert was staggering. I’m not joking when I say that two of us drifting over prime squid water, could bag out in an hour – every cast a squid. Yes, hard to believe, but that’s 20 squid landed between us, not counting the ones dropped at the boat. Ink everywhere! We

Port Albert squid is that they are so easy to find at the peak of the season. Just launch the boat, head down the main channel towards the entrance and stop about halfway there. Start throwing jigs around in all sorts of depths and areas and the squid will soon let you know where to concentrate and where not to try. It really is that simple.

It is best, of course, if you continue watching other boats and observe their success or failure and learn heaps that way. What I can tell you is that nearly everywhere I’ve looked, within about 4-5km from the main boat ramp, has produced squid. And I mean from right at the boat ramp and town jetties all the way out to the main entrance. One of the hottest tips for a bag of land-based calamari is to fish the Port Albert main jetty at night. First up, get a feed of the best and freshest battered fish in Victoria at Wharf Fish ‘n’ Chips. Don’t forget a pineapple fritter or two. Then wait for nightfall and start casting squid jigs close to the jetty. You won’t be alone, as the locals spill plenty of ink over this wharf at night. LAKES ENTRANCE I suppose this is more East Gippy, but worth a quick mention here. This year is the first time I’ve ever heard of squid being caught right in town around the town jetties at Lakes Entrance and Kalimna. It’s probably a smaller population and more for late winter and early spring, but I wonder if many people are even trying down that way. I reckon if we all persevered more we may be surprised if not shocked at the results. TECHNIQUES So this is the part I really love about chasing South Gippy squid. It’s fair dinkum easy. I’m certainly no expert but nobody needs to be. My other forms of lure fishing for estuary perch and bream can be exhausting with big hours of searching and white knuckled brawls amongst snags and pylons. Not to mention many sessions of failure with shut down fish refusing to play.

Unlike that, chasing squid is nearly relaxing! The success rate is extremely high and there is virtually no wear and tear on tackle or angler. Every form of retrieve works, as long as you have lengthy pauses to let the squid jig sink near to or on the bottom. Super slow winding or fast rips and jerks do the trick. Even throwing out and letting the jig drift with the moving tide works, just place the rod in the holder and forget for a few minutes. In fact I often find that while taking photos I have failed to notice my jig bobbing around over the side. Yep, you guessed it, nearly lost the rod a few times! That’s one thing you quickly come to realise, whenever you land a squid there are usually more following. If there are a few of you on the boat you’ll get each and every one of those followers. Most times you want to make long searching casts to maximise your coverage of the water, as you would when chasing flathead. So a fine 6lb braid is perfect, and 8-10lb leaders are strong enough. SQUID JIGS I’m not going anywhere near the subject of what colours you should use, because if it does matter (I’m convinced it doesn’t) then you’ll have plenty of fun working it all out. However, you must have the right size or weight. Start off with size 3 or 3.5 because they sink better than a 2.5, but won’t snag as much as a 4 or 4.5 size. To adjust the sink rate, just vary the retrieve to get close to the bottom. The more you chase squid the more you can then experiment with different gear and jigs. Just remember, you must sink for ink. The more dollars you spend on a jig the longer they last. Squid have a sharp beak that will destroy cheap jigs and high carbon steel spikes are far superior. I happen to have a heap of Yamashita jigs because I was told to get them and I love their name, but Shimano and Yo Zuri are also popular amongst those I know. I’ve gone on a few fishing trips with mate Neil Morrison, and we managed to catch about 80 calamari. As with all fishing you can spend a fortune on rods and reels and all sorts of gear specific to the sport of squid angling. But, as we

all know squid certainly don’t pull like salmon or tuna, but fight a little better than a huge toadfish… just! You really don’t need high performance gear. It’s nice to have great stuff, but my theory is to spend this money on actually going squid fishing than buying all the pretty bling. CLEANING IS MESSY When it comes to getting them ready for dining, expect

ON THE FANG Before I finish up I have to make mention of the superb dining qualities of our yummy calamari. Deepfried is delectable, crumbed and then pan-fried is nearly better or just quickly tossed around with melted butter and stir-fried vegies in a hot wok it’s great! I even use all the tentacles (big and small) by making a tomato-based

580

SEAHAWK

A cracking South Gippsland squid that is barely fitting into the net. ink. After much trial and error I clean them up my quick way now. I cut just below the eyes to remove the tentacles and then pop the beak out. I then start to push the quill down, but then put the knife in to slice the whole hood down the middle, making it easy to remove the quill and all of the guts. I do this to avoid breaking the ink sack. If you force your hand into the tube the ink breaks nearly every time. And yes that means I end up with a “sheet” of squid and I can’t cook squid rings. It all tastes the same when I cook up squares or strips. We have also used a scaler bag or net and towed the hoods behind the boat at a fair speed, and this removes all ink and skin.

A big feed of squid deep-fried in batter and breadcrumbs.

sauce, with all the garlic, onions and herbs you like; the same as you would for spag bolognaise, only without the meat. Then I toss and quickly cook the tentacles in a hot fry pan then stir that into the sauce. So, the tentacles actually double as the meat and the pasta. If you were wondering about the tiny suction cups, well don’t worry they dissolve in the cooking process. The wings or flaps eat the same as the tubes in taste, just not quite as tender. I’ve even left the skin on squid and you would never pick the difference. No matter how they are done, squid are simple and always quick to cook with nearly everyone liking the taste. I also love the fact that squid fishing is very sustainable with their huge numbers and super fast growth rates. I always quickly kill my squid iki jime style so they are humanely dispatched. It takes three spikes around the head area to swiftly despatch them and please learn how to do it. YouTube shows it all in great detail. It’s not fair to let any species of fish suffer after being caught and it can maintain and prolong flesh quality as well. That’s my spin on my latest obsessive fishing hobby and if you haven’t got the bug yet, then be warned – squid jiggin is very contagious.

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Holidays mean flatties and bream GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

First of all, Merry Christmas to all and a very fishy New Year! The Gippy Lakes flathead warm up with the weather and they are now biting right on cue. December is the month we get serious chasing those large hungry flathead. You can also expect the bigger bream to now be feeding in the shallows. The pinkie snapper will move in and there will be loads of trevally to catch. With the Christmas holidays not far away I will go through a couple of ideas on family fishing and also a few tips for the keen bream anglers amongst us. TRUCKY BREAM The spawning season is now over and reports of bream in the shallow lake margins and river edges are starting to come in. This is the time of year that a lot of bream come back down to the mouth of rivers or into the lake shallows. They feed hard and fatten up after breeding. I got some feedback from some keen V&TFM readers that support this. Gun bream anglers Nikki and Blair Bryant fished the Tambo from first light. They headed upstream and found plenty of flathead, trevally and

schooling bream that had a bad case of lock jaw. As the day went on the wind picked up and the fishing got harder. They decided to fish a rocky edge towards the bottom of the system casting ZMan GrubZ in tight to the edge. With a long pause the bream would pick the lure up and it was on. They managed to land two bream in the end. Nikki caught a nice 40cm, and Blair a 45cm that pulled the scales down a little over 1.5kg. Neil Morrison fished the highway bridge in the Tambo and caught a lot of bream and even more trevally using blades and grubs. He also landed some very nice flathead. BREAM TIPS Early morning is the prime

time and slow-worked shallow running hardbody lures will trick even the smartest bream. Bent minnows are the number one topwater lure for bream and start off using smaller bents. Work them with short sharp rips and plenty of long pauses. Unweighted soft plastics are also the go with the ZMan 2” GrubZ in chartreuse and amber colours proving the best lures. The areas to concentrate on are Lady Bay, Emu Bight, Mason Bay and Wattle Point in Lake Victoria. In the clear water be careful not to spook the schools of big bream that will be feeding in the skinny water. Surface lures can be surprisingly effective at this time of year and will even

The author with a big flathead, a surprise find in the Tambo recently.

work during the middle of the day. Slowly drift into the shallows and look for structure like logs and weed beds. FLATHEAD TIME If you’re fanatical about chasing really big flathead then this month is when we expect the real stirring of the Gippy Lakes duskies. Historically the full-size models up to 80cm and beyond are caught over the next few months. The prime spots are usually from Kalimna and up into the North of Cunningham Arms. So far this summer a few big girls to 65cm have been caught and released, but much bigger flathead have been spooked in the shallows. Anglers have told me they saw huge duskies swim off that looked every bit of 90cm. Even bigger flathead have been caught and spotted over in Lake Tyers. I caught some big flatties recently and they surprised me by being in the upper reaches of the Tambo. I was chasing bream and estuary perch with no joy at all and then all of a sudden these big duskies started jumping on my blade lures. I hooked 15 ripper flatties and landed 11, with all of them between 48-65cm. I lost one even bigger girl that spat the lure out halfway into my net and I’d guess her at around 75cm. I returned two days later to

Nikki and Blair Bryant are the king and queen of the Gippy Lakes bream, with a 40cm and 45cm fish to prove it. have another session on those same river duskies and caught nine more to 55cm. FLATHEAD TIPS Here’s my usual advice when looking for the biggest duskies. First of all, you have to upsize your lures or use big live baits. Plastics that are 6” are the go and use a 1/4oz or even 1/2oz jighead to work the deeper areas thoroughly. Try the shallow water early morning and then move out into the depths as the sun rises up towards lunchtime. I’m always surprised how huge flathead will totally ignore smaller plastics or metal blades, but when you fish the same area with much bigger lures they wake up and attack aggressively. You will also be shocked at how even small flathead around 40cm will attack big lures. Live baits like mullet or even small garfish are also quite deadly on big

flathead and the great thing about using live fish for bait is that you could also hook a surprise mulloway or kingfish. PINKIE SNAPPER Once again the lower section of the lakes will be home to heaps of juvenile snapper as the water warms up. For some reason they love hanging around the Metung area and most of them are around 25-34cm. Last season we found the average sizes had increased and a lot of 38-45cm fish were around. For those keen to try for even bigger snapper to 65cm+, then anchor up down near Kalimna and work large baits an hour either side of the tide changes. A few locals get the biggest snapper there at night and not many people are aware of just how good a snapper fishery the eastern area of the lakes can be.

Bemm is blitzing in time for Christmas BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

Over the past ten days we have seen the Bemm rise to the occasion once

again, with quality fish being caught in various locations in the estuary. The average size of bream has been between 32-40cm, but quite a few of our anglers have been

releasing fish over 40cm. A monster 10lb tailor was caught in the river. This fish was also released. The angler was flicking lures around looking for a perch when he hooked it up.

There have been heaps of bream over 40cm caught this season. 44

DECEMBER 2018

Luderick are about in schools, it’s just a matter of moving about to locate them. Bass yabbies have been successful bait, as Keith Chapman discovered on his recent trip. Keith landed a quality yellowfin bream. There have been reports of flatties coming on the bite on soft plastics. They have mostly been caught in the channel. There has also been an abundance of tailor in the channel for the anglers who love action fishing. Plenty of salmon are being caught in the surf and are great fun to catch on silver wobblers. This is a brilliant start of the spring/summer season – it is probably one of the best seasons we have seen in 15 years of being in Bemm River. We wish everybody a safe and merry Christmas and prosperous new year. • 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.

Bass yabbies have been a successful bait, leading to catches of yellowfin bream.

DECEMBER 2018

Snapper Claus is coming to town CORNER INLET

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

Another month has passed and the good news is, it’s snapper time! In the past week, the snapper have come on the chew pretty

fresh calamari, as they are around in numbers inside the inlet at the moment, so it’s been really easy to get a few fresh squid for bait before you go out on the snapper grounds. Pillies have also accounted for a few reds this week as well. There are good numbers

and whiting colours and size 3.5 has been better suited to Welshpool, to get the jig down to the bottom in the strong tides. Even if you don’t have a boat, it doesn’t matter, there are stacks of squid to be caught off the jetties as well. You might just have to put a

Troy Poole and his son Lucas caught this big flathead at Port Welshpool. It measured 68cm. well. This coincides with a bit of an increase in the water temperature of the inlet. In the main channels, the temp is around 16°C and up to 17°C in the shallows inside. The snapper have been going well in the Toora, Franklin and the entrance and most of the snapper have been good-sized and ranging anywhere from 4-8kg. The top baits have been

of gummies getting caught inside now and most of them are around the 90cm-1m mark, with some anglers getting some bigger ones as well. Calamari are in ridiculously high numbers inside and it’s been very easy to get your bag limit of 10 squid per person in the Lewis Channel and surrounds. The prime colours have been the red foils, white

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A nice bag of snapper caught in the Franklin Channel during the run-in tide on squid and pilchards. around Port Albert, and Manns and McLoughlins beaches have been smashing big flathead to the 60cm mark. The lures that have been working best have been 3-4” plastics, such as ZMan, Berkley and

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sinker on the jig as well to get it down quicker. At Port Albert anglers fishing in Whale Bay are smashing gummy sharks and they are spread right around to Manns Beach and McLoughlins Beach offshore. Whale Bay and out the front of Port Albert entrance are fishing well in around 10-13m of water. Squid and pillies are proving the best baits here as well. Inside Port Albert the calamari are in plague proportions as well, with everyone finding it easy to get their bag limit on size 3.0 and 3.5 Yamashita live jigs. For those whiting fishers, the good news is they are now on the chew. Last season was dismal for whiting, but in the past two weeks they have come on the chew and anglers targeting whiting have been getting up to a dozen whiting per session, mostly on the run-in tide. Pipis and Bass yabbies have been the best baits. In other news, the big blue-spot flathead have just come on the chew with the water temperature rise. Anglers using soft plastics

perch, luderick and mullet on most days, with nearly all caught on sandworm. Many other anglers have reported getting good mixed bags of good size fish using different sorts of bait. Lance Hurl tells me he has been getting very good results fishing the Snowy down the Loch end side of the river using sandworm and prawn, with most of the bream ranging between about 28-33cm. I have been shown pictures of a local lady with a prize capture of a bream measuring 50cm. A very impressive catch. As always the surf beaches are fishing very well with many reports of anglers getting plenty of salmon using blue bait accompanied with a popper, with most caught on the poppers. Lots of other anglers have been getting good results spinning with metal lures on a rising tide. For the anglers who target gummy shark the news is good. There have been several reports of gummies being taken in the late afternoon and early evening using squid legs, eel, pilchards and salmon fillets. Off shore from Cape Conran anglers have been getting good mixed bags of flathead, gurnard, barracouta, pinkie snapper and gummy shark.

Tarran van Egmond nailed this 45cm hood length squid from Portsea – one of several for the day.

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With the Christmas rush just about upon us the fishing has really picked up just in time for the visitors to make our local waters home. Wagonga Inlet is firing at present, with a smorgasbord of species available. The fish are widespread with the main basin, channels, sand flats and oyster racks all holding fish at certain times during the tidal cycle. A lot of anglers are having great success fishing the faster water in the channels with bream, trevally, flathead, whiting and blackfish all succumbing to well-presented slowly-twitched soft plastics. Catches of a dozen or more fish has been possible, with the draining tide seeming best when the water is slightly discoloured. The channel areas east of the main highway bridge has been the go. Look for the hollows amongst the sand depressions and concentrate your efforts there. On the western side of the bridge the sand flats to the south are full of whiting, with squirt worms and nippers the best baits. Get the bait at low tide from the flats near the Fisheries office and go back there on the flood tide. Fish lightly-weighted baits on the sand and weed edge and you’re almost guaranteed a feed of quality whiting. You will get a few smaller fish, but persistence will see you get some better class fish too. Further upstream bream have been prolific up the back of the system, especially around the oyster racks. Nearly every set of racks is holding fish; it’s just a matter of finding the bream that want to feed. Fish the last two hours of the flood tide for best results, with a mixture of soft plastics and surface stickbaits doing the trick. Dusky flathead are in full swing, with some decent-sized crocodiles getting around. The best I’ve heard of lately went 91cm and just over 6kg. There are plenty of duskies between the 40-55cm range as well, with smaller softies working well for the smaller fish. If you’re after a trophy fish, fish large lures and fish

Quality flathead like this nice eater are really starting to fire up in both Tuross and Narooma. them slow, keep persisting you will soon get one. You’ve also got a chance of a mulloway, especially if fishing the edges of tailor schools. Salmon are still plentiful on most local beaches and headlands with Narooma Main, 1080 and Tilba as the best beaches to the south. If fishing north of Narooma, Dalmeny Headland and Brou Beach are the pick. All methods are working for the salmon, with anglers casting chrome lures having a ball on fish to 2kg. Expect some good whiting and bream to turn up this month too, with live beachworms, pipi and mussels working best. Fishing the flooding tide in the late afternoon is best. The mouth of Brou Lake has been a standout for bream. It takes a bit to get there, but you will be duly rewarded. The rocks have slowed considerably due to the calmer seas. When the swell increases the blackfish and drummer should play the game again. Kingies are a real possibility this month, especially at the Golf Course rocks and Mystery Bay. Livebait, lures and whole ganged pilchards are the best ways to tempt one. Expect some cracking bonito to turn up too. There have already been some solid speedsters to 4kg, and they are great fun on lighter tackle and not bad on the plate if looked after. There have been a few salmon about, but they’re not thick, you just have to be there when they’re coming through. Offshore sportfishers should be happy with a myriad of species to target. Kingfish have been popular, with

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There are still plenty of pelagics to be caught in Wagonga’s waters. 48

DECEMBER 2018

anglers having a ball on them. These hard-fighting brutes are around and in numbers, which is great to see as they have been a little sporadic recently. Montague Island has been excellent, with kings to 8kg common. Live bait and jigs have worked, although different days means different techniques are working. It pays to stop at the bait grounds below the Golf Course rocks. The day you don’t will be the day that livies work and not jigs, which can certainly be frustrating when it happens to you. There have been kings off Potato Point and Moruya, so if the island is a little slower there are other options. A little wider albacore and school yellowfin tuna to 30kg have been captured, mainly trolling skirted pushers and larger bibbed minnows. The fish have primarily been along the shelf line, although a lot depends on water conditions and temperature as to where they are any given day. They certainly haven’t been thick, so expect to put the hours in for the results to come. It won’t be long before marlin turn up too. There has already been a handful of fish hooked north of us, with a report of a 90kg fish landed, which is great to see so early in the season. If the game species aren’t for you then the bottom eating fish will keep you happy. Down south the snapper have been good, with fish to 2kg common on most inshore reefs. The SW corner of Montague has fired as well and expect some sizable morwong and tiger flathead. Off Kianga and Dalmeny in 35-40m of water has seen excellent captures of sand flathead. They have been patchy, but once you find a patch, bags can be reached pretty easily. The added bonus here is that the stinking leather jackets are gone for the time being, meaning less gear lost and more fish in the boat. I expect this action to continue right through December and onwards, hopefully the weather will be on our side and let the local and visiting anglers get amongst them.

We’ll be dreaming of a whiting Christmas MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson

It’s a busy time of year around the Merimbula region with the holiday period upon us, but don’t let this deter you – the fishing has really picked up and will continue to fire over the coming weeks. The local beaches will continue to produce the goods this month, with bream, whiting, tailor, salmon, mullet and the odd

beach worms for mulloway. The better beaches to try include Tura and North Tura, although any beach with a decent gutter is worth a look. Anglers fishing the stones are in for a treat as the pelagic action is in full song! Kingfish, big salmon, bonito and striped tuna have been caught from Tura Head. It’s a decent walk in but it’s certainly worth it. Both lures and bait have produced, but personally I’d be sticking to the chrome lures or even bigger stickbaits. Casting

hooked by those targeting kings. Most have been lost due to the mono leader, but if you use wire you might be in business. In the estuaries both Pambula and Merimbula continue to shine. Both systems are fishing well for flathead, bream, whiting and blackfish. The flatties have really fired up with the warmer water, with a good feed available on most outings. The fish are solid models around the 50cm mark, with the odd bigger

Big trevally are still abundant in the channels below the main bridge in Merimbula town. they are great fish to land, with hours of endless fun to be had. If artificials aren’t for you, I’d be concentrating in the channels below the bridge with fresh tuna cubes or bass yabbies the preferred baits. You will catch some nice bream, whiting and trevally around the boat moorings, with the flooding tide the best time. Offshore the action has been steady, with snapper, morwong, kingfish and

striped tuna keeping most anglers happy. The flatties have been excellent of late, with both sand and tigers playing the game. The area off Pambula River mouth will produce, as will the 40m line straight off Tura Head. Both have been good of late and should continue to produce. Some decent reds have been encountered in the deeper water off Lennards Island (30-40 fathoms), with kingfish to 4kg at both Long

Point and Horseshoe Reef. All this action will continue over the holiday period. If one reef isn’t firing, move to another until you find the fish. Further offshore there have been a few reports of albacore and smaller yellowfin, but certainly nothing to get to excited about at present. Hopefully the really good water pushes further south and the larger pelagic action really picks up.

Matt with a summer whiting taken on a popper. These speedsters are great sport and are even better on the plate. mulloway all hitting baits with gusto. The best baits for the bread and butter species include live beach worms, prawns, pipis and striped tuna cubes. Both pilchards and bluebait will suffice for the pelagic species. The mulloway are a lot harder to target than the other beach species, but if you are patient and put in enough time, you should be rewarded for your efforts. I like using fresh squid, tailor fillets and big bunches of live

these bigger presentations to the horizon isn’t for everyone, but when it all comes together it doesn’t get much better than that. Some solid kings have been hooked from this ledge in recent weeks, so I’d be upping the ante on gear selection with 10kg an absolute minimum. At least then you’ll have some sort of chance landing one. Don’t be surprised to see a few big sharks too; I know of several 7-8ft whalers getting

female making her presence felt. Most flatties are falling to soft plastics, with live poddy mullet and blades catching their fair share too. With the water now starting to warm, the surface fishing has been excellent for bream and whiting, and Merimbula’s back lake is a good place to start. I know of a few bream upwards of 43cm being caught lately around the racks, with whiting to 42cm also. At these sizes on light gelspun in hard country

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Rex with a few nice bream taken on blades and released. DECEMBER 2018

Early angler catches the fish MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

With winter behind us and water temperatures rising the fishing is really starting to pick up in the Mallacoota Eden area. With summer here and little rain we still need a

Mallacoota has had little to report, with windy and rough conditions making it hard for anyone to get out there and see what’s biting. This time of year will see things liven up, pick the right day an early start and you should be home by lunch (before the wind is too strong) with a feed of flathead. Fishing on the

catching some yellowfin bream and sand whiting on fresh baits of nippers or beach worm. The water temperature is around 17°C and with the rising water temperature things will only improve. The lake has been fishing well for black bream, with fish moving into the shallower water. Fish are being caught on a variety of soft plastic and hardbody lures, with bait fishers catching fish on fresh local prawn. Fish are being caught in all the normal bream haunts in Top and Bottom lakes. Tailor are being caught throughout the system. Find the bait and the

tailor and mulloway won’t be far away, and there have been quite a few reports of mulloway been caught. The water across the border in Eden is a little warmer than in Mallacoota and with it the offshore fishing is starting to fire up. At present there has been little to report out wide, with the coming months seeing the gamefish turn up with the warm currents. Snapper and morwong have been on the bite on the inshore reefs with some good fish landed. Mark Gray from Mornington in Victoria had a great few hours of fishing at Lennards Island, Good numbers of black bream are being caught in both the Top and Bottom lakes.

Morwong also featured in some catches at Lennards Island. decent fall to get all the rivers flowing. As the weather heats up the area will liven up, with visitors enjoying the area and the fishing on offer. The offshore fishing in

local beaches for salmon and tailor has been good, with the gutters along Tip Beach fishing well on the top of the tide. The beach at Bastion Point has seen anglers

A great snapper caught at Eden.

with a catch of morwong, snapper and gummy shark. The biggest snapper was over 5.5kg, and anyone would be happy with that. Fishing the local beaches for salmon has been good, with bream and whiting also being caught, the warmer water will see a variety of species on the beaches and they will only become more active as the water warms.

The estuaries are coming to life with the warmer water flathead taking soft plastic lures, and after being asleep over the winter months this is the time for them to come on the chew. Rain is much needed to allow the bass to move to their summer haunts. With the warm afternoons there has been some good surface fishing, with fish biting into the dark.

Bermi River is the place to be BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

With many of the lakes or estuaries closed to the ocean, the ones that are open are receiving more than their fair share of migrating fish stocks, and the Bermagui River is one of the places to be this summer. Even very early this season with coolish water the river is firing up with a mixture of fish species. Luderick is an early season cool water fish that can be captured a few different ways. The traditional method of float fishing with weed along the many rock walls or the rock bar upstream from the boat ramp at the bridge will produce on a falling tide, although further up the river there are other methods.

This river system has one of the healthiest populations of nippers around spread over the many flats, so you know where the fish will be on the high tides. Mixed

Dave Proust, Laurie Mallia and Bruce Gow from the program What’s Up Downunder had a great day up the Bermagui River filming for the show and promoting Find a Cure for Brain Cancer.

What’s Up Downunder spent 16 days filming along the South East Coast of NSW promoting and raising funds for Find a Cure for Brain Cancer. Dave ‘Prousty’ Proust sadly has a terminal brain tumour, however, his outlook on life is fantastic. It is inspiring the way he goes about fundraising with his humorous bush poetry and outgoing nature, along with his enjoyment of fishing. It was a pleasure to have him and the crew onboard. For more info on this go to their website www. whatsupdownunder.com.au. DECEMBER 2018

with striped, yellowfin and albacore making up the bulk, with the occasional big eye or stray southern bluefin. These are mostly being encountered out wide

Laurie Mallia was happy with a Bermagui River bream.

FIND A CURE FOR BRAIN CANCER

bags of bream, flathead, trevally, whiting and those luderick all feed across these flats, often providing some excellent sight fishing. Matching the hatch with fresh

bait is best. Lures also work well, whether they are soft plastics or hardbodied lures. There is always flyfishing for those after more of a challenge. Some locals are really starting to specialize in capturing these fish on fly. Warm currents have pushed in and down along the East Coast bringing a host of different game species. Tuna are the most prolific,

from the Twelve Mile Reef, along the Continental Shelf through to the Kink and out wide over 1000 fathoms where The Canyons are. They are mainly being taken on trolled bibbed, bibless or skirted lures. Wherever you find tuna you are bound to find sharks and this season is no exception. Those anglers who have laid down berley

trails of tuna have captured some very large blue and mako sharks. This is mainly happening out wide over the Continental Shelf. With the introduction of electronic reels, fishing the deep for all those ooglies is well within the reach of anglers as they wait for the sharks to appear in the trail. Closer to shore along the coast, out to Montague Island there is plenty of movement with lighter tackle sport fishing being prolific. Already it looks like it’ll be one of the best seasons for kingfish in many years, not only out at the island but also along the rocky coastline. Mixing with the kings are schools of bonito, salmon, striped tuna and frigate mackerel. They are being taken using a variety of angling methods from casting, trolling,

jigging and on baits. Not to be out done the offshore reef and bottom fishing is also excellent, with tiger flathead chewing their heads off. These fish are providing excellent bags for anglers where they are coming out of water depths from 30m and beyond. There are quite a lot of sand flatties as well and they are in the same depths or shallower, plus there are some excellent gummy sharks adding to the bag. Out on the deep Four, Six and Twelve Mile reefs morwong are most prolific, with ocean perch, nannygai or pigfish making up the bulk of the catch while the snapper are hanging on nicely to add some colour. So to all I wish you good fishing, tight lines and a very merry Christmas.

Your fishing licence fees at work Better fishing on the Maribyrnong A new boat ramp, better angler access, more fish habitat and stocking of up to 300,000 estuary perch fingerlings. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all happening as part of a three-year project that began last October to revitalise the Maribyrnong River. The project will focus on the stretch of river between Flemington Racecourse and Keilor with fishing licence fees funding $200,000 of this $815,000 project. Delivered in partnership with Melbourne Water, Parks Victoria and local shires, the project will improve fishing for anglers and their families who want to chase black bream, mulloway, mullet and estuary perch in the heart of Melbourne.

New fish cleaning tables The Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Committee of Management have installed new fish cleaning tables at Indented Head and Point Richards in Geelong. Both locations previously had no cleaning facilities. Each new table is adjacent to the boat ramps and has a roof, lighting, a stainless-steel bench and running water to make it easier for anglers to take home a feed of fillets without the mess! The new tables will also reduce the pressure on nearby fish cleaning facilities at St Leonards boat ramp.

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne

DECEMBER 2018

Sight-fishing thrills NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

In the opinion of many anglers (your columnist included), ‘sight-fishing’ is the most exciting form

delicious anticipation as that target fish closes in on the trap you’ve just set. It matters little whether it’s a golden trevally tailing on a tropical flat, a fat whiting cruising over a sandbar, a mahimahi circling a bluewater FAD, or even a stinky old carp snuffling

for successful sight-fishing are a keen set of eyes, the ability to use them, and (in most scenarios) a pair of quality sunglasses with lightpolarising lenses. These so-called ‘polaroids’ greatly enhance your ability to spot fish by dramatically reducing reflected glare bouncing back from the surface of the water, allowing you to see what lies beneath much more easily. Trust me, it’s worth spending as much on your sunnies as you would on a new rod or reel, as they’re at least as important to the sight-fishing process as that shiny piece

The author with a gorgeous brown trout he sight-cast a fly to under cloudy skies.

Keep the sun at your back for optimum sight-fishing results. of angling ever devised. Seeing your prey before you even make a cast and then watching its reactions to your bait, lure or fly lifts fishing to another level altogether, and really ratchets up the ‘hunting’

along the muddy margins of an outback dam. Time seems to slow and stretch as the seconds tick agonisingly by. Will the fish eat, or will it spook away in alarm at the last moment? The three key ingredients

Don’t expect fish to always stand out clearly. Can you see the large trout in this image?

A big trout cruises in clear water. What will be the best way to catch it? aspects of our wonderful pastime. It’s highly addictive! Whether you prefer to use natural baits, lures or artificial flies there’s simply no bigger thrill in the whole wide world of fishing than sneakily stalking your visible prey, carefully placing your offering in front of it and watching what happens next. I defy anyone not to hold their breath and tense every muscle in their body with

of tackle. They’ll also protect your eyes from damaging UV rays, not to mention twigs, rod tips and fast moving lures. I’ve worn Mako Eyewear glasses for many years now and I absolutely swear by them, but there are plenty of other good brands on the market, too. Pick a highprofile maker and steer clear of service station cheapies and the chemist shop bargain bins. Expect to fork out at least a couple of hundred bucks for a decent set of fishing eyewear and then look after your glasses. (With Christmas fast approaching, quality sunnies also make the perfect gift for keen fishers, so why not start

dropping a few hints?) Many anglers believe that bright sunlight and clear, blue skies are essential for effective sight-fishing. However, while these conditions are ideal, they don’t occur consistently. It’s still possible to sight-fish under heavy cloud cover and in low light, you just need to work a little harder at it, move more slowly and look intently for hints like movement and subtle flashes of colour from cruising fish. It can also help to vary your lens selection on duller days by choosing tints from the yellow, rose and brown ends of the spectrum, as well as opting for lenses that allow a higher level of

Don’t be afraid to get into the really skinny stuff when sight-fishing. Your prey will sometimes swim in water barely deep enough to cover their backs.

light transmission. Don’t expect to always clearly see your target fish swimming about, either. Wild fish living in natural environments can be extremely hard to spot at first. Experienced sight fishers become adept at identifying the tiniest clues that often signpost the presence of fish. Subtle movements, suspicious shapes or patterns, dull flashes, ripples and fin tips momentarily breaking the surface are all key indicators of the presence of fish. Often you’ll home in on just a part of the fish rather than the entire animal. This might be the light-coloured mouth of a trout, or a dark V-shape on the trailing edge of a bream’s tail. Finally, remember that some of the finest sight-fishing opportunities encountered in both fresh and saltwater environments occur at extremely shallow depths, often hard up against the shoreline. Many anglers are surprised to learn that even large fish will swim in water barely deep enough to cover their backs, especially early and late in the day. Don’t be too quick to wade in! Always start by visually scanning the very shallowest margins before gradually turning your attentions to deeper water. Get out there this summer and give sight-fishing a crack. I guarantee you’ll be hooked! Starlo’s website portal www.fishotopia.com offers access to lots of nitty-gritty, how-to information like this, including detailed features on sight-fishing. Jump on, have a look around and consider signing up for the free monthly newsletter.

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Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Summer formula for success this Christmas TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

It is that time of year, Santa Claus is gearing up for a visit at the end of the month and there is a lot to talk about. Not whether you’re on the naughty or nice list,

but what is hotting up and fishing well. The great news is the summer season has started off strong and all species are playing the game. Last month we saw the seasons open on a few species that had been shut for spawning. The weather has held a few crews at bay and

TARGETING A TASSIE TRUMPETER It has been a while since anglers have had the opportunity to see the golden flashes of a goodsized trumpeter come to the boat. The season opening was eagerly awaited here in Tasmania and striped trumpeter are much sought after. A good one will give you a good tussle and they are fabulous eating. A number of crews managed to get out and find some in November, but in December with good

bagging a Tasmanian striped trumpeter. I sought his knowledge on the subject and it was a real learning experience, I just had to share it with you all. Hopefully this helps you have some crazy sessions with some trumpeter this Christmas. Occasionally here in Tasmania it can feel as if we have been left out of some of the more exciting fisheries, such as Murray cod, bass, Spanish mackerel and barramundi. We can take

it was hard for people to get out and find fish. This month the weather should be a lot milder and allow a few trips to be planned and some fish to be found. December is a great time to get some fish in the fridge and freezer, as we all like to have some fish in stock for BBQ season. best eating fish in the sea. Striped trumpeter, sometimes known as the Tasmanian trumpeter, are mainly caught in Tasmania, but can be caught in South Australia and Victoria and are also found in New Zealand and South American waters. They are reported to grow up to 1.2m in length and about 25kg in weight and live for up to 30 years. Around Tasmania spawning occurs between the months of July and October and typically a single fish of 3.2kg can produce 100,000

Bryce with another West Coast brown, proving bright conditions can still produce if anglers persist. WHERE TO START LOOKING

Another early season striped trumpeter from the south. weather and a bit of time off, it’s time to get serious. Jamie Henderson has fished the east coast of Tasmania and is a real expert when it comes to

comfort that we do have a fish that very few other states have in good numbers and that is Latris lineata or the striped trumpeter. This fish is quite often classed as the

Brody Corbet has a good strike ratio and often hits the jackpot with a well-planned trumpeter trip. 54

DECEMBER 2018

eggs. Females reach maturity at around 45cm or 5 years old, while males reach maturity at around 53cm or 8 years old. Larvae go through an extended larval phase of around 9 months before settling on inshore reefs. The inshore reefs are where most recreational fishers target the smaller fish but often venture wider to the outer reefs in search of the larger specimens. The striped trumpeter fishery is classed as a relatively young fishery for the fact that the species has not been commercially fished for very long and is only done with setlines and not by netting. It is only in recent years, with large offshore sportfishing boats becoming popular with fishers, that the recreational fishers have been able to target the species with any amount of success.

During the late winter and early spring months the fish come into the inshore reefs to spawn and can be caught in water as shallow as 30-50m. This means you don’t need to venture too far from shore to catch a feed of fish. However, due to its accessibility to hordes of anglers the grounds can cop a lot of pressure and fish numbers can drop accordingly. If you’re looking to catch large fish in good numbers the outer reefs are definitely a better choice. Looking for bottom in the 100-300m depth range will have you on some prime territory and usually away from the pressure of weekend danglers. Don’t become too wrapped up in sourcing secret spots and GPS marks of mystical fish-producing reefs that other fishers keep hidden away. Many good stripey bottom have been found by accident, so don’t discount any good looking reef you see on your sounder. Every bit of reef is worth a look and some key points to look for are nice high pinnacles that jut straight up from reef or on the edge of the reef, good holes, sheer drop-offs and reef structure that runs along the edge of a contour line. Quite often we have fished a patch of reef that produced good fish last trip only to end up empty handed this time. A quick move to another reef nearby has found fish and a move again has found even more. The general rule of thumb is if the reef looks good then give it a try, if no fish are on the chew within 15-20 minutes pull up and try another section. The underwater currents

and tides play a very important role in where the fish will be situated in relation to the reef. It can be hard to gauge what the underwater currents are doing 100m down or more, but as you drift with the tide you will get an idea of the direction. While the tide is running hard try drifting onto the face and off the back edge of the reef. The fish hold in these areas using the currents, much like a trout in a stream, to maintain a position while exerting the least amount of energy and have food items carried to them. Also try the deeper holes and crevices during this time, as fish will hide

in them to keep out of the strong current. When the tide slows drift across the reef, many fish will take this opportunity to move about on the reef hunting out other food items. In order to do this effectively you need to be on the water when there is minimal wind, being Tasmania this is not always easy. You’ll want to aim for a day where the wind speed is around 5-15 knots, any higher and the drift rate increases to a point where contact with the bottom is almost impossible. At this point sea anchors can work well, but having someone on the controls of the boat and driving the boat in reverse to hold station will be the best method.

SOUNDERS ARE KING During the late winter and early spring months the fish come into the inshore reefs to spawn and can be caught

in water as shallow as 30-50m. This means you don’t need to venture too To page 55

Good cray bottom has some ‘up and down’ to it.

Go Behind the Scenery From page 54

far from shore to catch a feed of fish. However, due to its accessibility to hordes of anglers the grounds can cop a lot of pressure and fish numbers can drop accordingly. If you’re looking to catch large fish in good numbers the outer reefs are definitely a better choice. Looking for bottom in the 100-300m depth range will have you on some prime territory and usually away from the pressure of weekend

danglers. Don’t become too wrapped up in sourcing secret spots and GPS marks of mystical fish-producing reefs that other fishers keep hidden away. Many good stripey bottom have been found by accident, so don’t discount any good looking reef you see on your sounder. Every bit of reef is worth a look and some key points to look for are nice high pinnacles that jut straight up from reef or on the edge of the reef, good holes, sheer drop-

offs and reef structure that runs along the edge of a contour line. Quite often we have fished a patch of reef that produced good fish last trip only to end up empty handed this time. A quick move to another reef nearby has found fish and a move again has found even more. The general rule of thumb is if the reef looks good then give it a try, if no fish are on the chew within 15-20 minutes pull up and try another section.

The underwater currents and tides play a very important role in where the fish will be situated in relation to the reef. It can be hard to gauge what the underwater currents are doing 100m down or more, but as you drift with the tide you will get an idea of the direction. While the tide is running hard try drifting onto the face and off the back edge of the reef. The fish hold in these areas using the currents, much like

a trout in a stream, to maintain a position while exerting the least amount of energy and have food items carried to them. Also try the deeper holes and crevices during this time, as fish will hide in them to keep out of the strong current. When the tide slows drift across the reef, many fish will take this opportunity to move about on the reef hunting out other food items. In order to do this effectively you need to

500-1000g of lead to the bottom and systematically winding up 5-7kg fish, quite often 3-4 fish on one rig, is enough to strip the gear teeth and warp shafts of sub-standard reels. Large spinning reels are another good option and are easy to use. Large spool capacity is vitally important as it needs to hold enough braid to be able to fish in depths up to 300m, this will rule out many spinning reels, most of which are cheaper surf style reels with inadequate quality components for the job. Some models that have proven to be tough

enough and suitable for the job are PENN SSV series and the Penn Spinfisher SS series; both of these have a pedigree in heavy saltwater fishing, have proven themselves through the test of time, are robust and can take some serious punishment in a harsh saltwater environment without letting you down. It is important to look at retrieve ratio when purchasing a reel for this purpose. There have been many debates regarding whether a high speed reel is better than a low speed, but at the end of the day a reel will wind in line as fast as you can wind the handle. Remember that when there

is a lot of weight and fish at the other end it’s you that has to do the work. A high speed reel will become difficult to wind quickly when there is a great weight on the end and will tire you fast; on the other hand a low ratio reel will wind with ease, even with a lot of weight, but will take a lot longer to get to the surface. Choose wisely based on your own level of strength and bear in mind some reels are very good at having the wind ratio and handle length matched to make it easier on the angler. Also, a low ratio reel when spooled to capacity with line will have a faster retrieve ratio as the

spool diameter has been increased, as too will the high speed reel, which then may become far too difficult to wind when two or three large trumpeter are on the other end trying to swim back to the reef. Rods need to be strong and in the 15-24kg range, short at 5-6ft, have a fast taper and quality guides suitable for braid, this makes it easier for the angler to pump and wind and short stroke the fish to the surface. This is no time to be sporting, as striped trumpeter hit hard and then aim for their hole in the reef. You need to stop them fast or risk being hung up or busted off on the reef.

GEAR UP This is one area where skimping on quality gear is not an option, rod and line fishing for striped trumpeter is hard on tackle and hauling large hard fighting fish from 100m or more of water tests reel gears, line rollers, bail arms and rod guides to the limit. Many cheaper reels just don’t have the quality internal gearing and bearings to be able to cope with the torture of continuous winding under extreme load and when stripey fishing this is what outfits will spend the majority of their time doing. Dropping between

Tasmania be on the water when there is minimal wind, being Tasmania this is not always easy. You’ll want to aim for a day where the wind speed is around 5-15 knots, any higher and the drift rate increases to a point where contact with the bottom is almost impossible. At this point sea anchors can work well, but having someone on the controls of the boat and driving the boat in reverse to hold station will be the best method. A short rod with a fast taper will load quickly and still have power in the butt section to fight the fish. As far as line is concerned there is only one choice and that is to use a quality braid, usually between 30-60lb depending on the rod and reel being used. Braid, which has less stretch than monofilament, will allow greater line capacity on the reel, feel the bites better, feel when your sinker hits the bottom and allow you to stay in contact with it and most important it will have less drag in the water and be less effected by underwater currents and tides.

DROP IN TO YOUR LOCAL QUINTREX DEALER! TASMANIA Lewis Marine

273 Kennedy Drive, Cambridge TAS p 03.6248 3222 www.lewismarine.com.au

BENDIGO

Bendigo Marine & Outdoors 160 Midland Highway, Epsom VIC p 03.5448 3988 www.bendigomarine.com.au

GEELONG

Geelong Boating Centre 88 Barwon Heads Rd, Belmont VIC p 03·5241 6966 www.geelongboatingcentre.com.au

BRAESIDE

JV Marine World 878 Springvale Rd, Braeside VIC p 03·9798 8883 www.jvmarine.com.au

LAVERTON NORTH JV Marine World

15 Fitzgerald Rd, Laverton North VIC p 03·9368 7100 www.jvmarine.com.au

BAYSWATER Streaker Marine

461 Mountain Hwy, Bayswater VIC p 03·9729 8288 www.streakermarine.com.au DECEMBER 2018

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania BAITS AND RIGS Being a reef dwelling fish the striped trumpeter’s diet mostly consists of octopus, squid, crustaceans and small fish, so using baits found naturally in their environment will produce the best results. Try and use baits that are as fresh as possible and not just some scrap you have had laying around in the freezer for a while – trumpeter can be fussy eaters. However, they cannot resist fresh squid tentacles and Tasmanian octopus bait that is caught and processed at Eaglehawk Neck. Some commercial fishers even swear by garfish, don’t be shy with the amount you put on the hook either – give them plenty to chew on. One of Jamie’s regular fishing partners likes using fillets of fresh gurnard that are an unwelcome by-catch when stripey fishing. Being fresh from the water they are high quality bait and work well. In conjunction to the bait it is beneficial to use something that glows in the dark, usually this is a 5” B2 Candy Squid from Luhr Jensen slipped onto the hook shank before the bait is placed on, these not only act as an attractant in the dark water, but if the bait is picked off by smaller fish there is still a lure on the hook that the fish may go for. Other alternatives to this are plastic glow beads or glow tubing placed on the trace above the hook, whatever the item having something that glows increases the activity, especially when the fish are thin on the ground. As far as bottom rigs go keeping things simple is the best idea and a standard

paternoster rig, albeit a heavyduty version, is the basis for this. Mainline breaking strains are always a subject of much conjecture. Some people will argue that a lighter leader will catch more fish. A lighter mainline will certainly be thinner and give less drag in the currents, but it will also be easier to cut through on some reef. It can also be difficult to handle when you are trying to lift fish aboard the boat and can result in cut hands if you do not wear gloves. A loop in one end should be crimped with some armour spring or tubing as a chaff guard where the swivel from the braid clips to, and then 3-4 Branch Line Swivels should be slid on and crimped into place. The Branch Line swivels work much better than normal cross line swivels because you don’t have to cut the mainline to put them on, just simply slide them onto the line position to where you want your spacing, one metre apart is good, and crimp them into place. From each of these swivels crimp on your trace material, anything from 50lb through to 200lb can be used. Fluorocarbon line for traces has produced great results. It is much harder and abrasive resistant for its relative breaking strain than normal mono trace. Keep the trace length relatively short, 20cm is more than adequate, and crimp a hook on the other end. Put a lumo bead or piece of lumo tube on the trace before crimping the hook on as an added attractant. For stripey fishing the best hook is any good quality, heavy gauge hook designed for live baiting or set line fishing. Circle or ‘sport’ circle style

hooks are a good choice as it allows the fish to practically self hook when it takes the bait, with no need for the angler to strike and being that they hook the fish in the corner of the mouth makes it easier to remove from the fish, sizes 4/0-8/0 are best depending on the brand and style. One of the best styles is a commercial grade Ezibaiter style hook, which is a type of circle hook, but with a longer shank. They are a longline hook used by commercial fishers and are heavy gauge, commercial grade, quite inexpensive and very effective. Sizes 11/0-14/0 can be used depending on the size of the fish in the area. At the sinker end of the rig simply crimp in a loop leaving about 2ft between the last hook and the sinker loop. Very few striped trumpeter are caught in this area, just above the reef is where you will mostly be annoyed by Gurnard. From this loop tie a short length of lighter mono, around 50lb, and attach the sinker or lead weight to this, in the event you snag the sinker on the bottom this lighter line will break and you get your whole rig back only minus the sinker – cheaper and better than losing the whole rig every time. Basic large snapper style sinkers are the best as they sink nice and straight without twisting, 16-32oz should be kept on board to cover all scenarios of tide, drift and current. END RESULT Being at sea fishing for striped trumpeter can be one of the more relaxing types of fishing you are ever likely to experience, especially when you are with a few mates. Conditions that are suitable for drifting the reefs are usually very comfortable for the angler as well, not something we get

to have all that often. However, relaxation can quickly turn into intense excitement when a couple of freight train trumpeter hit your rig with the intent of pulling you over the side of the boat. If you manage to win the fight and haul the fish on board not only have you had

some serious fun without too much danger, but you end up with some fantastic table fare. At this point it is important to dispatch the fish quickly and then bleed and ice down. No point in going to all this trouble to have the fish lay in the sun on the deck all day.

SQUID STAMPEDE Well the entire coast of Tasmania is open for squid fishing in December. The upper southeast coast was shut for spawning, waters including Great Oyster Bay and Mercury Passage. On the north coast squid fishing was shut in October from Cape Grim east to Cape Naturaliste. The squid fishing this month has been exceptional with a number of anglers getting their bag of squid in an hour. Anglers are really waking up to the type of seagrass bottom the squid live and spawn in. Getting jigs low and slow over these areas has been the key. Bruny Island has a number of these areas and Leo Miller took his family out and found good numbers of squid. They found some likely looking ground in 4m of water. There was a bit of wind about and a lot of cloud cover. Due to the low light and ripple on the surface they used a bright Fish Candy blue and yellow jig in 2.5g size. The tide turned and moved in a little clean seawater. This water plus the movement of tide stirred them into feeding and 7yo Elsie Miller caught a stonker all on her own. This squid had a hood length of 37cm. Amelia also got a 38cm and her personal best. The family outing provided

12 for the session in quick time, 8 on the first drift. Leo said, “The key to maximising your session is when you hook one get a jig in behind it as soon as possible. Its friends will be looking to see what’s going on and you’ll get them too.” The areas off Low Head at the mouth of the Tamar River has been fishing well. This will continue through December and ground all the way to Weymouth will be worth a look. The areas off Devonport and Ulverstone

Look after that precious fish flesh and it will be a fabulous and stunning meal. That was some great advice and experience that Jamie shared. Hopefully his wisdom will see you hooking up your own trumpeter soon. continue to provide good numbers of squid. There is some very good squid ground to the right of the Mersey River as you come out. The land-based anglers also do well in the Devonport area. The platform on the west side of the river mouth is a great place for the kids to have a squid fish. The Don River has some areas to the west and along towards Don Heads. You must be careful traversing the rock but a good stout 8ft rod and 3500 sized reel will have you casting over some good To page 57

Elsie Miller was on fire casting, hooking and landing a couple of squid like this on her own at 7 years of age.

INLAND FISHERIES SERVICE

Time for some great facilities upgrades IFS

Tim Farrell

Arthurs Lake has a new picnic shelter, public toilet and black water dump point. The new facilities are on Arthurs Lake Road opposite the store. They are in good place for visitors to stop for a break. The Central Highlands Council built the new facilities, including a black water dump point for campers with portable toilets that will help visitors dispose of waste appropriately and keep our lakes clean. INLAND FISHERIES SERVICE PRESENTS AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE Jonah Yick and Rob Freeman presented at the 2018 Australian Society for 56

DECEMBER 2018

Fish Biology conference held over 7 – 11 of October in Melbourne. The conference brings together delegates from universities, environment, and fisheries bodies around Australia. There are about 200 presentations made. Jonah Yick, Carp Management Program Leader, talked about the status of carp in Lake Sorell, and how close eradication is. Jonah presented during a session chaired by staff from the National Carp Control Program. Rob Freeman, Senior Fisheries Manager, presented two talks. One on the impacts of climate change and invasive fish on the threatened Swan galaxias. The other on the use of adult brown trout collected from spawning runs to support lake-based fisheries. MAJOR UPGRADE TO WOODS LAKE ROAD

Anglers please take extra care when travelling on Woods Lake Road. We will be doing major maintenance work over the next couple of weeks. The work includes adding over 1000 tons of gravel to the road surface at key locations between Arthurs Lake and the Woods Lake boat ramp and grading of the entire road. Exercise extra caution when using the road. Trucks and heavy machinery are operating and there is loose gravel on the road surface. Stick to the recommended speed limit of 40km/h and use high range 4WD on the steep sections, particularly if towing a boat. This helps to keep the road in good condition. Hydro Tasmania and the Inland Fisheries Service, with the generous support of the Central Highlands Council through the donation of road surface material, are jointly

funding the work. LARGEST WHITEBAIT FINE OF THE SEASON At the Devonport Court of Petty Sessions on Wednesday 26 September, Timothy John Tuthill pleaded guilty to one count of possessing whitebait without a licence. Mr Tuthill was fined $5763.36, including special penalties and costs. Members of the public reported suspicious fishing activity on the Forth River. A search was done of Mr Tuthill’s home finding 33.58kg of whitebait. This was a joint effort between Inland Fisheries Officers, Stanley Marine Police, Devonport Uniform Police and Parks and Wildlife. The defendant did not actually fish for the whitebait himself. He assisted by transporting the illegally caught whitebait from the water to his house, by car. Magistrate Jago said that

while possessing illegally obtained whitebait was not as serious as catching it, an appropriate penalty is required, to recognise that the natural resources of our inland fisheries need protecting. If you witness illegal fishing, or anything suspicious at our inland waters please let us know. You can call 0438 338 530 or 1300 INFISH (1300 463 474). You can also email us at infish@ifs.tas.gov.au. UPGRADE TO LAKE CETHANA BOAT RAMP Hydro Tasmania has just completed an upgrade of the boat ramp at Lake Cethana. New guard rails and edging have been installed at the concrete boat ramp, and vegetation around the ramp has been cleared to allow for better and safer access. Located less than an hour’s drive from Devonport, Lake Cethana has deep waters

stocked with brown trout and offers a great day out on the water fishing. The lake is also popular with paddlers, with many taking to their kayaks to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake with its many inlets. The upgrade is part of Hydro Tasmania’s ongoing project of assessing recreational sites and improving amenities to provide a better visitor experience. If you are heading for a day out on the water at Lake Cethana, or any other waterways, please remember to check the weather forecast and adhere to all safety regulations and requirements. Hydro Tasmania also publish lake levels on their website, which provide useful information for anyone planning a trip to their lakes.

Go Behind the Scenery From page 56

ground. I like fishing the lighter 2.5 size jigs from the shore as it can mean less

snags. For the same reason I use 10-12lb fluorocarbon leader in the hope of getting all my jigs back.

Southern calamari is another great table fare. Good old-fashioned squid rings are a hit done in a

simple sauce or crumbed and deep-fried. Squid rings are also a great first dish at a BBQ and are complemented

CHRISTMAS CRAYS November opened the season, but weather was fairly ordinary. December will see a much-anticipated attack on the crayfish around the north-northwest and the west coasts. The eastern zone opens on 8 December and it will be on state wide. Cray fishers will be looking to find a few for the table and maybe that centrepiece for Christmas dinner. Strahan is always a focal point for so many and it doesn’t often fails. In some years it can be tougher than some, but the west coast more often than not fishes very well. What is telling is the weather and off the west the swell and what sort of a mood it is in. No wind with little swell

means that rec fishers can go further down the coast. The areas south of the ‘Hells Gates’ are covered in crayfish and it seems the further south you can get the better the fishing can be. Rocky Cape has some very good crayfish ground and is a solid favourite with many divers. The area is littered with rocky out crops and the sort of underwater features that makes a home for crayfish. The ground extends all the way along the coast to Sisters Beach and Boat Harbour. I used to dive as a younger man, but now prefer the fun activity of ringing. Always a fun time, even if you don’t have great success. The harvesting of bait is where the fun begins and

MAKO December is the time to make sure you have made enough berley, plan a trip and score yourself a mako. You need good weather for a successful mako hunt. You do not want to be drifting too quick and run out of berley. You need a nice high sitting over the state for a couple of days and no wind. Mako fishing means getting on the water early. You need a lot of berley and it needs to be going out constantly. So after you have got a fair bit of berley in the water in the first hour, continue to add some intermittently. Mako fishing is a team sport, so be sure to bring some mates along. It’s busy work at the berley station and it is the cornerstone of success. You have to jiggle the bag of frozen minced berley you

have placed over the side in a fine mesh bag. Then you are at the bait board cutting small pilchards into cubes. You can buy pilchards or you can get some cube material in the weeks leading in. Australian salmon or mullet make great cubes as does barracouta. Cut them into 2cm cubes and plop a few over as you cut them up. Plop a few over when you have made a fair pile. Tip a bit of store bought tuna oil over the side. Plop out a few cubes and then give the bag a jiggle. Do this over and over, methodically. Gaffs need to be found and placed in gunnels for easy access. In the case of a flying gaff you may have to assemble the head to the handle in readiness. You have to find your shark traces and

Wade Hill always finds some Rocky Cape rock lobsters. bait them up. I like to have two at the ready. One with a squid and one with a mullet or other fish. The number one reason for not hooking a mako is clogged hooks on strike. Hook points must be proud and clear of any of the bait used. The way to do this is to use wax thread and either step the hook away from the bait or stitch in a way so it doesn’t move. The rod you are going to use also needs to be easily accessible so it can be used quickly. As you do give it a final check and make sure it is in perfect working order. If it has been 1-2 hours and you have not seen a shark yet, don’t panic, it is probably time to put a bait out. You can decide with your crew if you want the bait on a balloon in the trail, sat in

the trail unweighted or set down and back with a snapper sinker rubber banded on the trace swivel. Everything going well, you should eventually have some action. That action comes on fast and furious. Once you hook it and it goes berserk you just have to get it in your head that you are going to put some time in on this fish. Don’t be in a mad rush to get it to the boat and sink a gaff in it. That is how people get injured and accidents happen. Once you have solid hook up on the fish keep solid and constant pressure on the shark. Don’t let it rest, don’t let it dictate to you and don’t let it get a rest on you. Work the fish and let it tire itself out. If the mako gets on a certain angle and is just swimming with you not being able to get any line back on

Tasmania with a simple garden salad and dressing. Quite often I will smash out a heap of quickly cooked and scorched

squid rings with a selection of different dipping sauces. It is a great way to drink that beer with the lime stuffed in it.

then it’s pack the car and off you go. A road trip is always a good time but seems to be magnified when heading to a fishing location. You can ring from a boat or from the shore. Both ways are effective, it is just easy to cover more ground in a boat. The weather needs to be the same for both techniques and that is no swell. Swell is the bane of a cray ringer, as it is dangerous while in the boat and on shore. Swell will turn into waves and waves can do damage. So be careful. If you are looking to do some cray ringing and have not done anything before. The stores that sell the gear are often well-versed in how to go about it. Let them know you have not done it before and they will offer up the steps to have some luck and also do it safely.

As I type this I can taste fresh BBQ crayfish. I like to bust the tail out of an uncooked crayfish and save the body for boiling. Cut the cray tail down its centre and split the two halves, laying then on a hot BBQ plate. You don’t need to leave them down too long on each side, as you are only looking to firm the jelly like flesh so you can get it out of the shell halves. Once the meat has firmed a little, drive your thumbs down the back of the shell sections and the tail meat will pull away. Cut the tail into big bite size pieces and cook in a big dollop of butter and garlic quickly. You can play with flavours. I have tried sweet chilli sauce and even a honey and lemon version. I need to plan a trip soon!

the reel, move the line angle to your advantage. Hopefully the mako won’t like this and will take off. You want it to keep swimming and expending energy. You’ll want the fish to be super tired at the side of the boat when you sink the gaff. So after a huge tussle success if yours. Do not be complacent though at this stage. A gaffed and dead shark is as dangerous as when it was alive. They are hard to dispatch and when you do the nerves in the muscles can still have them moving and thrashing as if still alive. Be careful. A pet hate of mine is seeing mako sharks that have been processed incorrectly. This is just plain wasteful and lazy. Mako sharks are not a fish that take an intricate skill or knack to remove the flesh. There are a number of very good ‘how to’ videos on YouTube that can

have everyone quite skilful at it. I say this because the flesh is just amazing. It parts out well and it is firm and freezes very well. There are some choice cuts through the back side of the fish, but the belly flaps are awesome as well. One favourite dish of mine is red Thai curry mako belly. Spots to plan a trip around in December are not isolated to just one area. The east coast has some great hotspots in St Helens and Bicheno. St Helens particularly is well known and well-founded to be a mako hotspot. The southern areas in and around Eaglehawk Neck are very popular and yield a good number of fish at this time of year. So make a solid plan and ready the gear as it’s BBQ season, and nothing better than BBQing some mako and retelling the capture story.

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 8th November 2018 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Trevallyn Pond..................................0.83................................................................... Lake Mackenzie................................8.12................................................................... Lake Rowallan..................................7.43................................................................... Lake Parangana................................0.99................................................................... Lake Cethana....................................1.82................................................................... Lake Barrington................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Gairdner...................................3.93................................................................... Lake Paloona....................................1.11................................................................... Lake Augusta....................................3.09................................................................... Arthurs Lake.....................................1.17................................................................... Great Lake........................................12.82................................................................. Little Pine Lagoon.............................0.59................................................................... Shannon Lagoon...............................0.09................................................................... Penstock Lagoon..............................0.14................................................................... Woods Lake......................................0.52................................................................... Lake St Clair.....................................1.64................................................................... Lake King William.............................1.28................................................................... Lake Echo.........................................4.90...................................................................

Dee Lagoon.......................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Pine Tier Lagoon...............................1.93................................................................... Bronte Lagoon..................................0.90................................................................... Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah..............1.72................................................................... Laughing Jack Lagoon.....................1.69................................................................... Lake Liapootah.................................1.03................................................................... Wayatinah Lagoon............................0.27................................................................... Lake Catagunya................................0.31................................................................... Lake Repulse....................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Cluny Lagoon....................................0.30................................................................... Meadowbank Lake...........................0.25................................................................... Lake Burbury....................................4.43................................................................... Lake Margaret..................................2.99................................................................... Whitespur Pond................................6.38................................................................... Lake Newton.....................................4.51................................................................... Lake Plimsoll....................................2.64................................................................... Lake Murchison................................12.95................................................................. Lake Mackintosh..............................2.21................................................................... Lake Rosebery..................................0.22................................................................... Lake Pieman.....................................2.29................................................................... Lake Pedder......................................1.06................................................................... Lake Gordon.....................................22.12.................................................................

These levels are provided for an indication of lake level only and can vary from day to day. For more up-to-date lake level information please visit www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism+and+Recreation/Lake+Levels.htm DECEMBER 2018

BLACK MAGIC

MASTER CLASS

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

Achieving success in the surf Catching fish from the surf beaches is one of the most basic and relaxing styles of fishing there is. While it can be an extremely productive way to fish, it also requires quite a bit of knowledge of what to look for, and how best to approach your target species. Without a doubt the most important element to catching fish from the surf beaches is knowing how to read the beach. Many anglers think beach fishing is a lucky dip, and that it doesn’t really matter where along a beach you choose to fish. The truth is though that 90% of fish you catch from the surf will be caught from the deeper gutters and

Whiting are one of the easiest species to target from the beach. the full brunt of the waves. Fish like bream, whiting, dart, flathead and rays take full advantage of this, and they in turn start attracting other smaller predators

This whiting fell victim to a live worm on sunset. troughs. Sometimes these high percentage zones can be quite large and spaced closely together, while at other times they can be as little as 30m wide and kilometres apart. Fish are attracted and concentrated into gutters for a few reasons. First of all, the deeper water provides refuge from the turbulent surf zones, and it’s also where food like pipis, worms and crabs will wash into after being dislodged from the adjacent banks, which take

like tailor and salmon. The food chain continues all the way up to apex predators like sharks. And then there’s the ultimate beach prize, mulloway, which are also drawn to these areas, especially after dark. When you break it down like this you start to get an idea of how important it is to chose the right area to fish. Your decision will usually be the difference between catching something or nothing. Identifying these areas is not that difficult, and the

best way to look for them is from a high vantage point on low tide. You can spot a gutter between two banks, with darker coloured water funnelling out to sea, and where the waves roll through rather then breaking. A trough is a deeper stretch of water running parallel to the beach with a shallow bank behind it. Sometimes you can have a series of troughs behind each other, which require large casts to make it into the zone. Once you can identify where you should be fishing, the next thing is to employ the right methods for your target species. This is another factor that many anglers get wrong when fishing from the beaches, especially when it comes to bait selection. Fish on the beaches can be quite fussy and switched onto their present food sources, which is why baits like squid, prawns and chicken gut will often perform poorly. For bread-and-butter species like bream and whiting on the ocean beaches you just can’t beat live worms or pipis for bait. You will also get plenty of welcome by-catch using either of these baits; the likes of salmon, dart, flathead and mulloway all find them hard to resist. Setting up for this style of fishing is super simple,

especially using some of the Black Magic pre-made rigs. The Whiting Whacker, Whiting Snatcher and Sandy Snatcher are perfect for this style of fishing. The Whiting Whacker and Snatcher run small KL circle hooks, which are better suited to pipi baits. The Sandy Snatcher uses long-shank hooks, ideally sized for live worms. Both are a double paternoster rig ready to go out the packet. Black Magic also make what they call a Longreach rig which, as the name suggests, gives you significantly extra distance when casting. These are best suited to using half pilchard baits to target the likes of salmon, tailor or even mulloway. While the rig looks a bit complicated, once you tie it to the rod you’ll see that it’s very simple and great for reaching that far-out trough that is out of reach of standard rigs.

Beach fishing is great for kids. Longreach rigs use larger hooks, with a 3/0 suicide and 5/0KL combination with a float on the arms of the dropper to

Black Magic Sandy Snatchers are the perfect beach rig for bread-and-butter species.

keep your bait slightly off the bottom, away from the likes of crabs and rays. To cast it, the bottom hook clips into a plastic shield near the sinker to give a aerodynamic, super long cast, and once it hits the water the hook disengages from the plastic shield. OUTFITS The good thing about beach fishing is that unless you’re targeting mulloway with large baits, you can have one rod that virtually covers everything else. Something around 10-12ft with a softish tip that quickly locks up two thirds of the way down the rod is a really good compromise. Spin reels in the 40006000 size, or smaller Alveys, are perfect for this style of fishing, and I always spool them with monofilament line. While I probably use braid for 90% of my fishing, mono is far superior from the surf beaches. Mono seems to resist tangles when rigs get thrown around in the surf, whereas braid will catch on just about anything. A good 6kg mono such as Black Magic Velocity Surf will handle just about anything from the beaches.

CHECK THE HOME PAGE FOR WEEKLY SPECIALS

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Hot Spot

Fill my Christmas stocking with snapper CRANBOURNE

Mitch Chapman

Often overshadowed by the bigger named boat ramps like Patterson Lakes, Frankston and Mornington, Olivers Hill is the perfect out of the way place for smaller boats to launch. Plus, in season you can be amongst the snapper in no time. They have recently put in two new ramps. I like to get out from here as the bigger boats struggle on a low tide, making it generally a quick launch and retrieve. A bonus is the squid grounds are so

close that sometimes you don’t even need to start the main motor up. PRIME TIME Prime time for snapper is from late October through to December, but snapper can be caught year round. Bulk numbers filter into the bay during September but make their way around to this side during that time. Quantity and quality is what we are all after. THE GEAR For chasing reds you should try 3-6kg rods with 4000 size spin reels. Spool these with 15lb mono, throw your baits out and wait for the reels to start singing.

Gerard Hawthorne looks forward to this time each and every year. He said fresh bait is best, and can be the difference between catching them at times.

If chasing calamari, then a standard 2-4kg graphite spin rod 6lb braid and your favourite jig is all you’ll need. Yamashita jigs are by far my favourite, so get a range of differently colours and sizes, as sometimes they can be picky. A couple of go-to jigs are N01, B30, T004 in the Live range, and a B09 and 011 in the Search Rattles can be deadly. THE RIG Keep it simple, because that’s what the rig for snapper fishing is. A running sinker rig, twin 5/0 hooks on 30-40lb leader with a small ball sinker is all that you’ll need. I like to run the sinker down to the hook, not on the main line, because it allows you to cast further without the sinker sliding up your main line. BAIT AND LURES Pillies and silver whiting are two of the most popular snapper baits, especially for around this area of the bay. If you want to drift throwing plastics, then the ever-reliable squidgy 110mm flick bait is a proven winner. BEST METHOD Drifting and using your sounder is essential when throwing plastics around for snapper. Drifting covers a

Marlon Blackford with a thumping snapper out from Olivers Hill. He is no stranger to catching big snapper like this from his backyard. lot more area and makes it easier for you to find the fish, rather than anchoring up and casting lures. If bait fishing, then the use of your sounder is a must as well. Don’t stop and anchor until you find fish. MOTHER NATURE Like anywhere, just pay close attention to the weather, especially the wind. As this ramp is open to the bay and everything Mother Nature has to throw at it,

PE8

retrieving your boat can be difficult and dangerous if the wind and swell is pumping in towards the ramp. HOT TIP The use of a marker buoy can be the difference between catching a few fish and a lot. A marker buoy is a plastic buoy with 30 odd metres of line with a sinker tied on the end. When a school of fish is located on the sounder throw the buoy over and it will unwind until the sinker hits

the bottom. This will make things a lot easier when on the drift and you can continue to drift over the same patch of fish casting towards the buoy, instead of drifting off them and guessing where they fish were next time around. I also like to use it if bait fishing, as you can locate the fish, drive off them to drop the anchor, then let enough anchor rope out until you are within casting distance of the buoy. It’s fishing made easy!

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA TD BLACK RODS

An evolution of the popular Generation Black rod series (HVF blanks), the new TD Black series has taken a leap forward in blank design and now features HVF (High Volume Fibre) Nanoplus blanks. With higher graphite density able to be achieved through Nanoplus technology, the result is a lighter, crisper, more powerful rod, while the addition of Braiding X technology further enhances rod performance by increasing wall strength and reducing blank twist. Optimum casting and fighting performance is elevated courtesy of the TD Black’s Fuji Alconite K guides, with their lightweight construction and tangle-free design made for braided line, while the TD Black’s neoprene grips and ergonomically designed reel seats ensure ultimate angler comfort and in hand balance and control. The new TD Black series is available in single and multi-piece offerings, with a multitude of lengths, weights, and powers. Whether it’s finesse fishing for trout in Tassie, or muscling XOS thugs from the reefs and mangroves in the tropics, the new TD Black series has you covered. www.daiwafishing.com.au

NEW ATOMIC METALZ SIZES

Atomic Metalz were launched many years ago in a 35 and 40mm size. They immediately became a hit with bream and bass anglers, and were used effectively by some teams to win events where the fish were holding deep. The lure’s effectiveness is down to the careful design and the speed at which the blade works, sending out a vibration that attracts nearby fish. The designers have also worked hard to ensure action at slow speeds. Across the entire range, all sizes swim confidently and perform with that fish-attracting vibration. With feedback from ambassadors, Atomic have added new larger sizes – 55mm, 80mm and 110mm – to cover the full breadth of inshore and offshore fishing as well as impoundments. Team ambassadors have caught bass, bream and threadfin salmon on the 55mm versions during testing, and coral trout and sweetlip have been caught while being fished deep off the reefs. The models are 35mm (1/8oz), 40mm (1/4oz), 55mm (1/2oz), 80mm (1oz), 110mm (1.5oz), and they’re available in a slew of natural and striking colours. Price: from RRP $15.95 www.atomiclures.com.au

NEW LASER PRO 190XDD BIB

Do you want to troll fast and deep but on line classes that still allow you to enjoy the fight, rather than drag it in on heavy gear? Halco have the answer: the new Laser Pro 190XDD Crazy Deep bib, which trolls faster and is far more stable than its predecessor, while reducing the amount of drag required to hold the lure in place. The new 6m+ diver has been trolled to 13kt in calm conditions but it’s the rough, choppy stuff that can get most lures into trouble. Troll at anything like normal bibbed trolling lure speeds in these conditions and the new Laser Pro 190XDD will eat it up. It has already racked up some impressive captures including XOS tuna, wahoo and mackerel. “We had the bib regularly hitting bottom in 6.5m of water during testing on a 50lb outfit with 80lb leader,” said Halco MD Ben Patrick. “You can run it on 10kg line at 6-8kt in just about any conditions that you are likely to fish, and have very few issues.” www.halcotackle.com 60

DECEMBER 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE

OTTERBOX TROOPER 4 COOLERS Equipped with innovative mounting systems, Duraflex tie-downs, 2” wide padded shoulder straps, and unique backpack conversion for Trooper LT 30, Trooper soft coolers are perfect for fishing and camping. The Troopers’ wide openings allow for easy loading and quick access to cold food and drinks. Exterior pockets with water-resistant zippers provide added storage. The coated nylon exterior is water, puncture, UV and chemical resistant, and the heavy-duty base protects the bottom from abrasion. IT’s rated IP-65 to protect against rushing rapids and pounding waves, and is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Features include: 19L or 28L capacity with food-grade liner; quickly convert from shoulder carry to backpack; leakproof seal; accessory mounting system; waterresistant exterior pockets, and premium grade insulation (keeps ice up to 3+ days). Price: from SRP $369.99 www.otterbox.com.au

OKUMA EPIXOR XT SPINNING REEL

The award-winning Okuma Epixor XT offers a quality build and a load of features at a very affordable price. The build includes Okuma’s C-40X long strand carbon fibre technology, which is substantially stronger than standard graphite. At 25% lighter, 50% stronger and 100% anticorrosive, the Epixor’s body, frame and side plate are extremely lightweight and durable. Other features include rigid metal handle design, machined aluminium, 2-tone anodized spool with LCS lip, heavy-duty solid aluminium bail wire and TCA (Torsion Control Armor), a C-40X double arm design that encases the body of the reel, offering higher torsion and flex resistance under heavy pressure. Smooth performance is based on 7BB+1RB stainless steel bearings, quickset anti-reverse bearing, RESII: Computer Balanced Rotor Equalizing System, CFR: Cyclonic Flow Rotor and slow oscillation for improved line lay. With models to suit everything from bream and bass to barra, mackerel and snapper, the Epixor XT is backed by Okuma’s 10 Year Warranty. Price: SRP $99.90-$119.90 www.okuma.com.au

BLACK MAGIC MAGGOT

The Black Magic Maggot has been off the market for a couple of seasons, but due to high consumer demand it’s back and better than ever. Now with 10 exciting colour choices and the same weighted head used in the original range, these lures are going to be an excellent choice in most sea conditions. They are available unrigged or you can have them pre-rigged and ready to troll on 200lb Black Magic Tough Trace and an 8/0 closed gape game hook. These lures are length 7.9” (200mm) in length, and available colours are: Dr Evil; Flaming Squid; Flying Fish; Fruity; Hot Rocker; Jack Mack; Lumo; Psycho Kriller; Skippy and UV Squid. For more information on these and other lures in Black Magic’s range of skirted pushers, visit the Black Magic Tackle website. For all the latest news and catch photos, follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/blackmagictackle) or Instagram (@blackmagictackle). www.blackmagictackle.com

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING EAGLE CREEK CARGO HAULER

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The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler duffel is tough, lightweight and functional. Crafted from an extra durable, water-repellent coated Bi-Tech Armor Lite fabric, it has a fusion of technologies that merge optimum abrasion resistance with ultralight carry technology. With a custom bartack reinforcement on all high stress points for efficient schlepping, one can simply lift and carry it by the unit’s removable backpack straps, padded lop haul handles, or convenient side-grab handles. The foam padded bottom helps keep your gear intact while on the road. Access your gear easily via the u-shaped lid and sizeable, zippered end pockets, which are easy to open even if you’re wearing gloves. The unit has 10 lockable zippers and the ability to be packed down into its own front-end zippered compartment. To cap it all off, the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler duffel features six heavy-duty lash points for attachment to a roof rack. It has a storm-flap shield zipper, made to protect your cargo from the rain. Price: SRP $139.99-$179.99 www.escape2.com.au

OCEAN BORN FLYING SERIES 9 10

Renowned tackle innovator Patrick Sébile has created a new company called A Band of Anglers, and the range includes some truly unique topwater lures. The Ocean Born Flying Series of Poppers and Pencills dramatically increase casting distance without sacrificing action or fish catching ability. Each model features side wings and low air friction ribs that allow them to seemingly ‘fly’ through the air, even under windy conditions. Roughly 85% of air flow passes underneath the belly of any lure when casting, and the Flying Series lures’ ribs significantly disrupt this air flow and cause less resistance/turbulence. Both lures come in Floating (FL), Sinking (SK) and Super Long Distance (SLD) versions, as well as a range of colours. These lures are versatile and easy to master; all you have to do is change or alternate the retrieve speed and rod action to make the lures pop, spit, walk or create a bubble trail. The FL and SK models come with 4X trebles, and the SLD model comes with 6X trebles. www.blackmagictackle.com

EUREKA 3D BAITFISH 9 AND OCTANE

Two of the latest releases from Juro Oz Pro Tackle are the Eureka 3D Baitfish and Eureka Octane Jig. The Eureka 3D Baitfish has an extraordinarily realistic baitfish finish. These lures can be used as a micro-jig or as a casting/trolling lure, and have a superb action. The 3D Baitfish comes with a wire through the entire body, and is rigged with a quality in-line single hook, making it harder for fish to throw the lure. It weighs 40g and comes in six fish-catching colours. The Eureka Octane Jig is an ultra-realistic squid/octopus imitations designed for slow pitch jigging. They have exceptional realism and a tantalizing action. Each Octane Jig features a solid ring with quality Dacron running to twin assist hooks that feature ultra-sharp points that have the fish hooking themselves. Octane Jigs weigh 50g and come in six proven colours that imitate a squid perfectly. Five of those colours also feature a highly luminous underbody for maximum attraction. www.jurofishing.com

WILSON GRAPHWRAP RODS 10 The Wilson Graphwrap is a new series of rods designed to be durable and go the distance. Designed on a graphite composite core with a solid glass tip, the Graphwrap series leaps beyond normal expectations with its custom designed, power-giving graphite outer spiral wrap. This unique spiral wrap gives these rods incredible strength, which adds to the durability of these tough, ocean thug busting rods. Designed in Australia to meet the demands of our harsh fishing environment, the Wilson Graphwrap series brings toughness, durability and user-friendliness together in the one package. For more information on this and other new releases from Wilson Fishing, head to their website. For the latest news, helpful tips and catch photos you can follow Wilsons on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ LWilsonAndCo, or Instagram (@wilson_ fishing). www.wilsonfishing.com

SHIMANO LURE STORAGE

Shimano have expanded their successful tackle storage range to include five new releases, with two of them are targeted squarely at lure anglers: the Game Lure Wrap and Soft Plastic Wallet. Large lures are often the hardest to organise, and any seasoned angler knows that proper tackle storage saves precious time when on the water. Six large Velcro-sealed sleeves ensure your lures don’t tangle, and the breathable, fast drying, heavy-duty mesh makes the Shimano Game lure wrap battle-ready and designed to hold all manner of lures. Whether you’re trolling your biggest skirts for XL black marlin, stickbaiting monster GTs or throwing swimbaits at Murray cod, the Game Lure Wrap has all bases covered for your XL lure storage needs. For any prepared angler, soft plastics are often the most difficult lures to organize. Featuring 10 Velcro removable sleeves and internal zippered mesh pockets, the Shimano Soft Plastic wallet is the perfect storage solution for all soft plastic lures, scent, tools and leader. Price: SRP $39.95 (Game Lure Wrap), $39.95 (Soft Plastic Wallet) www.shimanofish.com.au

SQUIDGY BIO TOUGH CRAWLER

Since their launch in 2017, the Squidgies Bio Tough range of durable, stretchy and more environmentally-friendly bioplastics have made a big impact. From the sweet waters of the high country to our estuaries, bays and offshore, Bio Toughs are the goto choice of many tournament and social fishers. This season, three new families of tails join the growing Squidgies Bio Tough lineup, expanding its appeal to finesse fishers targeting finicky adversaries: from trout, redfin and bass to bream, flatties, whiting and more. One of the new models is the Crawler, which is available in 40mm and 45mm lengths. The Crawlers perfectly imitate bottom-dwelling critters including yabbies, crabs, nippers and shrimp, as well as all manner of other fresh- and saltwater creepy crawlies. Designed to be fished with standard jigheads, the Bio Tough Crawlers have already been accounting for a range of species, including bream, trevally, flathead, whiting, bass, and more. www.shimanofish.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au DECEMBER 2018

WHAT’S NEW FISHING NEW MUSTAD RELEASES

Two of the latest releases from Mustad are the 10881 Jigging Single and Mustad TG77 3x Treble. The Jigging Single is a super strong, super sharp hook designed for jig fishers. Featuring a large eye for ease of connection, it has a short shank and a wickedly sharp UltraPoint hook point that is up to 30% stronger than traditional chemically sharpened hooks. Available in sizes from 1/0-11/0, the Jigging Single can be used to make assist rigs, or you can use them back-to-back on large lures like poppers and stickbaits, tied together with cable ties. The TG77 3x Jawlock Triple Grip Treble features an opti-angle, chemically sharpened needle point for ultimate hook-ups and connections that never let you down. Designed with a standard shaft length and a three extra strong build, these trebles are perfect for retrofitting lures. The build is Nor-tempered for 30% more strength, and the specialised wide bend means that when the hook point bites in, the fish stays hooked. www.wilsonfishing.com

ABU GARCIA ROXANI

Following its release in the Japanese domestic market, Roxani spinning reels exemplify sleek reel design and performance in a compact package. Based on high quality components and a lightweight design, the Roxani incorporates new technology including a one-piece Durametal body that houses an AMGearing system with Computer Optimised (COG) gear design and Salt Shield bearing technology for smoothness and durability. SSC (Salt Shield Concept) bearing employs newly-developed ball bearings that are coated with a water-repelling shield which greatly reduces rotation noise caused by salt adhesion. The AMGearing System combines a precision-machined aluminium gear with Abu’s COG (Computer Optimized Gear) gear design, resulting in a gear system that delivers the ultimate in smoothness and durability. The Rocket Line Management System – a combination of bail angle, spool lip design and slow oscillation – lets you cast further and manage line more effectively. Dedicated to light to medium lure fishing, the Roxani is available in 2000, 2500, 3000 and 4000 sizes. Price: SRP $249 www.abugarcia-fishing.com.au

NORMAN LURES SPEED CLIP

Great for saving time and hassle, the Norman Lures Speed Clip is the quickest and easiest way for you to attach a lure to your line. You can basically think of Speed Clips as split rings that open. Equipped with a circular design that gives lures the freedom to run true, these Speed Clips are stronger than other snaps and work well with braided lines. In addition to this, it takes only one hand to attach these Speed Clips to your lure. Just tie it to the end of your leader and you won’t have to worry about retying your lure again. Just squeeze both sides of the clip together to open the jaw, slip one arm completely through the eyelet of your lure until the jaw can freely close, and you are ready to go. Made of stainless steel, Norman Lures Speed Clips can be used in both fresh and saltwater. They are available in two versions 62

DECEMBER 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE

– 25mm/23kg (pack of five) and 15mm/10kg (pack of 10). www.jmgillies.com.au

DAIWA SALTIST X

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Rigorously designed and tested, and loaded with the pedigree and features that have made the Saltist name famous, the new Saltist X series has it all. Featuring HVF graphite and Braiding X technology, the result is a blank with maximum graphite density and a high resistance to twisting and distorting when under load. Saltist X blanks are slim, lightweight and sensitive, yet immensely powerful and strong, making sure you’re prepared for when that fish of a lifetime comes along. Fuji’s new Fazlite Anti-Tangle K-Series guides ensure trouble and tangle free time on the water, while EVA Grips, and Fuji reel seats and butt caps make sure the comfort and control boxes are ticked. There are 12 models in the range, so whether you’re jigging for snapper on the reefs, popping for GTs on the bommies, or casting for tuna and mackerel on the rocky headlands, the Saltist X range has you covered. www.daiwafishig.com.au

EUREKA GLIDE BLADE KNIVES

Eureka Glide Blade knives offer an exceptional range of knives with outstanding features at affordable pricing. The Eureka Glide Blades currently are available in a Straight Fillet 6” and 8” model. Each knife features a 3CR13 stainless steel Satin blade that is strong, flexible and holds great edge retention. The textured soft grip handles are comprised of nylon and rubber, enabling the handle to fit comfortably in your hand while also reducing the chance of slippage and injury. Each handle also features a finger guard for added safety. The Eureka Glide Blades come complete with a leather sheath with a belt clip to protect the knife and keep it within reach if required. For more information on this and other products in the Eureka range, visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. You can also check out the latest catch photos, tips and videos on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ JuroOzProTackle), and YouTube (www.youtube. com/user/JuroOzPro). www.jurofishing.com

SAMAKI ARCHER ROD SERIES

The Samaki Archer series of rods hits the nail on the head with design and componentry. They are built on crisp matte black blanks which transmit the slightest of bites, and features include carbon locking rings with gold trim detail, composite AA Cork and Ultra Hard EVA grips plus the new Fuji Fazlite guides. The soft yet firm cork is chiselled perfectly for your grip, and turns the rod into an extension of your body. The first model is the extra light 6’9 2-6lb spin, designed for finesse anglers targeting the likes of bream and trout. Then there’s the light 6’11 4-8lb spin model – the ultimate all-round estuary rod for bream and flathead, as well as freshwater species like bass and yellowbelly. The medium, heavy and extra heavy 7’0” spin models are designed for inshore plastics or throwing slugs at pelagics, with a model to suit your lure choice. Casting options range from the new 7’0” medium-heavy 10-17lb suited to big rubbers and vibes, to the 6’0” medium-heavy and heavy models designed for Murray cod, barra and jacks. www.samaki.com.au

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DECEMBER 2018

Murray Codference The recovery of our iconic Murray cod fisheries over the last few decades is a great success story. It means more recreational fishers getting outdoors, connecting with nature and living in hope of connecting to a big green beast. For those anglers who want the back-story to this recovery and tips on how to target them more successfully, then attending the Murray Codference is a must. We are privileged to have Australia’s own Bass Pro tournament champion angler Carl Jocumsen talking about the latest overseas techniques and lures. Stephen Booth will focus on golden perch impoundment tactics, and big cod magnet Lubin Pfeiffer will share his experiences catching cod off the surface. If you’re interested in native fish recovery, you’ll hear from leading researchers about how Victoria’s native fish populations have changed and how fish habitat restoration, fish stocking, regulations and changing angler behaviours are making a big difference. You will also hear from Will Trueman, author of True Tales of the Trout Cod, about the next big opportunity to rebuild trout cod and Macquarie perch populations. Bill Classon, legendary publisher and fishing fanatic, will present on

– Get involved and celebrate native fish will be held at the Eastbank Conference Centre in Shepparton on Sunday 9 December from 9am to 4pm. We expect hundreds of mad-keen anglers to attend so, get in early and register at www.vfa.vic.gov. a u / c o d f e re n c e 2 0 18 . –Victorian Fisheries Authority There are heaps of goodies available this year, thanks to the Care for Cod campaign.

You can learn all about these amazing creatures at this year’s Murray Codference. Victoria’s native fish revolution and local northeast fishing guru, Robbie Alexander, will give a passionate talk about getting the kids involved. The Codference will also revisit and remind anglers of the Care for Cod campaign, which encourages fishers to carefully handle big Murray cod. Finally, if the above doesn’t inspire

you to get along, all participants will receive: lunch and morning tea, a limited-edition Care for Cod Kattafurra surface lure, a Care for Cod boat decal sticker and, a Care for Cod removable tattoo (for the kids), a Codference satchel and, a copy of the Codference proceedings. This year’s free Murray Codference

2018

MURRAY CODFERENCE

FREE EVENT If you love catching Murray cod, golden perch and other native fish, come along to this year’s Murray Codference to hear from: • • • • • • • • •

Carl Jocumsen, Aussie Pro Bass angler Lubin Pfeiffer on Cracking the big cod code Bill Classon on Victoria’s native fish revolution Robbie Alexander on local waters, local fish and getting the kids involved Stephen Booth - golden perch tournament techniques Victoria’s native fish recovery over the last 20 years Macquarie perch recovery - the next big opportunity Native fish horizons - Rocklands and beyond Fisheries’ mega northern native hatchery plans

When Sunday 9 December 2018, from 9am until 4pm.

Where Eastbank Conference Centre, 70 Welsford St, Shepparton.

Registration It’s a free event. Registering helps us plan catering that will include lunch and refreshments, all free for attendees.

Visit: www.vfa.vic.gov.au/codference2018

Conference attendees will receive for free: Codference satchel, ‘Care for Cod’ boat sticker and surface lure, and Codference proceedings.

DECEMBER 2018 VFA0087_MC2018_165x242_HPC_FM.indd 1

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www.daiwafishing.com.au DECEMBER 2018

Cod fanatics paused to strike ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

It’s cod season and our lakes and rivers are primed for the open as are an army of green fish

small lures and bait aimed at perch. Some of these fish have been up around and over the metre mark and all were lovingly returned to the river to await the opening. Once you get below Boundary Bend on the Murray River

bite. The shallow inland waters that make up part of the Kerang wetlands system effectively conducts the warmth of spring and the water temperatures climb quite quickly. This in turn brings the golden perch and redfin that inhabit these lakes on the bite a few weeks earlier than some of the deeper impoundments and rivers. As with any new location, a little local info can be the difference between catching and not. If you leave Swan Hill on the Murray Valley Highway towards Kerang you will find the first of three lakes, Lake Boga. Approximately 906ha of water it is situated next to the Lake Boga Township. Irrigation holding water, it is the lifeblood of the local farming sector and aquatic playground for water skiers and anglers alike. Redfin make up the majority of captures in the lake, but golden perch and Murray

cod have also been stocked over the years. There are a couple of concrete boat ramps at the lake providing good access for larger watercraft. Drifting the lake bobbing baits just above the bottom is an effective way to locate the large schools of redfin. Once found drop an anchor and try your luck. If the redfin are on the chew you will have no problem procuring a feed. Golden perch can be caught using these same methods. During the open season Murray cod can also be taken on a slow drift with a variety of baits including grubs, yabbies and cheese. A little further up the road towards Kerang, Lake Kangaroo is quite shallow and around 980ha in size. The lake supports good numbers of redfin, carp, Murray cod and golden perch. A turbid fishery that is easily stirred by wind, it is best fished during calm weather. Good boat ramps

Besides good numbers of golden perch, anglers we’re treated to some excellent redfin fishing in the run-up to the Murray cod open. fanatics. Three months downtime has seen hooks, lures, rods and reels tinkered to perfection in preparation for that first green fish strike. In the run-up to the open, incidental captures of Murray cod in some of our local waters give promise of a good season to come. The Murray River at Swan Hill is one such location with numerous cod showing favour to

cod captures have been relatively quiet, so we will wait and see what the new season brings. While most anglers are keyed in for the open, it’s refreshing to see the good run of perch that kept lines bent throughout spring. The good fishing was not just refined to our local rivers, but a few lakes as well. In the lead up to the cod open the Kerang Lake produced a great spring

Rigged and ready to go. It should be another great cod season.

This good-sized Murray cod was unable to say no to a Bassman spinnerbait. are available and for those anglers without a boat there are plenty of land-based opportunities. The regulator at the Swan Hill end of the lake prove very productive at times, especially when it’s flowing hard. Goodsized perch and the odd Murray cod have been landed above and below the regulator in the channel at this location. The third of the productive lakes is Lake Charm. Smaller than the other two lakes, Charm still holds good numbers of fish. All three of these lakes are feed by irrigation channels at times effecting water clarity. When the water is dirty, large river

shrimp small yabbies and local whitebait bobbed above the bottom is a killer technique. The bottom of Lake Charm is made up of very fine silt that will hide heavily-weighted baits, so when possible, fish without lead. When the water clarity is good, soft plastics are very effective on the redfin that are frequently caught up to 1kg+. Minnow styled lures and spinners are also effective under these conditions. If you are looking for a new spot to wet a line this season then perhaps the Kerang Lakes might be worth a trip. Good luck for the Murray cod open, may it be a ripper all round.

Stocking filler species on offer YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

Footy grand finals, Bathurst, the Melbourne Cup and any other event held from SeptemberNovember have been like a ‘stocking filler’ for cod fishos who’ve had to down tools for the last few months and wait for the new season to open. The anticipation and build up cod fishos are feeling this time of year is on par with a kid at Christmas. Sure, there have been other waterways open where you can target cod, but nothing beats being at the home of the Murray cod come opening weekend – Lake Mulwala. With cod opening, rods, reels and rigs should be ready. The iconic Cod Classic will help anglers bring in the new season with an 66

DECEMBER 2018

expected 2500+ participants descending on Lake Mulwala. Following on from the past couple of seasons the lake should continue to fish unbelievably well, especially in and around the weed beds. There should be a fair bit less weed due to the recent draw down. For those fishing the lake’s early season, seeking out slightly quieter waters that don’t get excessively noisy boat traffic will be most productive. Sneaking out into the timber via the use of an electric motor should put you amongst the fish. Lure choice is always interesting, if you have confidence in something that has worked before, stick to it. All things surface and sub-surface have been the rage over the past couple of years and I’m sure these trends will continue. In saying this, don’t discount any of your traditional methods of casting or trolling either hardbodied lures or

spinnerbaits, as these will be as productive as ever. For those who prefer the use of bait, options are endless. Bardi grubs, scrub worms (moon bait) yabbies, shrimp and cheese are safe bets, with chicken chips and dim sims also becoming a favourite for some. Looking back, the yellas turned up in their usual haunts with most from the ‘kill and grill’ brigade getting a few for the pan. The Golden Dollar$ had a whopping 57 competitors who took part in late October, with 26 yellas being returned for measuring that day. Team Bald Peckas, Peter and Brendan Pejkovic, took the cash with their four fish bag. Jake Hill and Hunter Brown came in a close second while Jarrod and Ivan Sirca took third with a bag that also contained the biggest yella for the event, measuring in at 531mm.

Organisation is well underway for the 2018 Yamaha Cod Classic. The Cod Classic promises to be huge with something for everybody. Prizes include seven boating packages plus plenty more. Entries will be taken up until 9am Saturday 1 December. For more information call in and see us at Lake Mulwala Fish Camp and Ski, the official Cod Classic shop (opposite post office) in Mulwala, or find us at our Yarrawonga store located between Rivers and One Zach. • 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.

Lachie McDonald with a nice 50cm yella taken in the backwaters around Bundalong.

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Wishing all a ‘Murray Codmas’ HORSHAM

Liam Lannen

Cod season is now upon us, and the season looks to be a cracker, with the local cod lakes currently holding

a crack over the coming months, with good reports of native fish coming in for boat and land-based fishers. Trolling 50-80mm hardbody lures has been one of the best techniques for the anglers targeting golden perch. The

early mornings have been the best time. Since cod season is now upon us it’s time to beef up the gear and upgrade the lure size. Trolling large lures ranging from 100-140mm such as 100mm OarGees, and size 1 StumpJumpers are sure to put you in with a chance. Casting spinnerbaits at the standing timber is also worth a crack for the fish holding structure. They are not an easy fish to catch, so putting the time and effort in is a must. We expect the bait fishers to do well tying up to trees and using larger yabbies and bardi

grubs. Be prepared to move around from tree to tree, as covering area will maximize your chance. Lake Charlegrark, just an hour drive west of Horsham, is also looking primed and ready to go with a good amount of water in the lake and water temperatures sitting about perfect for some hot cod fishing. Charlegrark is a shallow lake and water clarity is usually pretty dirty, so covering water is a must. Lure fishers do very well trolling shallow diving lures that have a loud rattle and are bright in colour. Another

Gage Wright displays yet another beautiful golden perch caught on the Spinwright Spinnerbait.

Al Vanstan landed this beautiful Taylors Lake by-catch while targeting golden perch. good water, warming water temps. A few reports of cod by-catches have been coming thru over the last month, and if it’s gold you are after, the Wimmera River golden perch have been on the chew over the last month. Taylors Lake is just a 10 minute drive out of Horsham and is definitely worth

ideal depth is in the 8-15ft range, trolling through the standing trees and even along the rock wall at the north end of the lake has been producing some nice fish. Land-based fishing with baits such as yabbies and big scrub worms have also been effective, with good reports of golden perch up to 60cm being landed. Evenings and

Great Toolondo bag by the Vanstans. What a great feed!

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great technique is drifting and casting chatterbaits, and lipless crankbaits, both very loud lures that will grab the cod’s attention. Bait fishers do well fishing yabbies and bardi grubs fished on the bottom, but same as lure fishers, moving around is the key to success until you find some hungry fish. The Fisheries have done an outstanding job with stocking 25,000 cod in the lake over the last three years. Wimmera River golden perch have come to play this year with reports of good numbers and good size fish being caught. Downstream of the Horsham Weir all the way to Dimboola has been producing some beautiful fish. Lures such as Storm

Arashi 25, StumpJumpers, and Spinwright Spinnerbaits have been very popular amongst anglers. Targeting the shady banks with deep drop-offs, and fallen timber late in the day is your best bet. These fish will be holding reasonably tight in structure, so don’t be afraid to cast tight and work the timber. You just have to be careful of snakes as I have heard of a few getting around. Lake Fyans over near Stawell has been producing solid redfin for the anglers willing to put the time and effort in, with multiple reports of redfin up to 48cm. Fishing deep and slow has been the best technique for them, and

Typical lure collection for targeting golden perch in this area.

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DECEMBER 2018

minnow style soft plastics and chatterbaits have been the pick of the lures. For the boats with sounders it’s good to always keep an eye on the sounder for possible bait schools, or even school of redfin. First light has been the best time to be on the water because the fish are on the move, feeding before the day heats up too much as they lay low for the hottest part of the day. Toolondo has been consistent for anglers with some nice redfin and trout to be had. Redfin have mainly been caught on soft plastics targeting the open water searching for them. Using

an electric motor and drifting with the breeze have been an effective way to cover water. Trout have been up and down with most of the trout falling victim to a drifted mudeye, but as per usual we expect this to start to slow down as the water temperature rises, so I’d be getting in quick if you’re after a crack at these fish. Over the coming month we expect the natives to keep fishing well, and the redfin to stay on the chew. Trout fishing will drop right off from now on due to the heat of summer. Always remember to check the bag and size limits, if any doubt look up the Victorian Fisheries website and you’ll find all the information you need.

Let it Snowy, let it Snowy, let it Snowy... bottom amongst the nooks, crannies and into deep rock clutches. The gorge areas of Eucumbene and Thredbo River hold some amazing fish and using a thorough tactic, tempting these fish is a great challenge but very rewarding. The iconic Snowy River above Jindabyne has always

SNOWY MOUNTAINS

Rod Allen

There are some amazing shore-based opportunities in the Snowies. The standout lures are bullets, Strike Pro Flatz minnows and the #4 Celta. Searching with wet fly

Wulff And Beetle patterns before the sun gets too strong or as it dies off each night. Celtas are a popular spinner in the little lake, and can out fish the fly at times, especially if there is no obvious hatch occurring. Three Mile Creek and upper Bullocks Head Creek is also producing nice rainbows and is a good

lure have been necessary as we wait impatiently for the terrestrial bug life to hit full swing. Buggers, nymphs and Emergers fished patiently in the slower, deeper sections where dry flies or shallow lures don’t get into the strike zone has been getting results. It’s paramount that your offer is ticking along the very

Trout are about in numbers this season. great results, and a more conservative approach of polaroiding edges is working on the still days. Finally with delight I can say Eucumbene’s midge have been making an appearance again in enough numbers to warrant attention after a few lean years. Early mornings and late afternoons the lake can ‘glass off’ and anglers who notice the subtle things will see the tiny dimples and vortex left behind as the trout gently sip the hatching midge. Small dry flies such as Griffith Gnat, Midge Ball, Midge Emerger and a #18 Pheasant Tail nymph with a greased leader are the most reliable for me on these mysterious feeders. A #18 or 16 buzzer in a Bloodworm pattern can be dropped below your dry if needed. The biggest tip I can give when fishing to these constantly sipping fish is do not get sucked into replacing your fly to each new rise, just put it out in the general area and leave it be. At the most, a very small twitch may be implied if you see the fish rising its way towards your fly, but turns around just before it. Jindabyne is also rising, and its huge resident trout are a major drawcard as it continues to fish well. Trollers and spin enthusiasts are enjoying excellent captures of Atlantic salmon, as well as brook, brown and rainbow trout.

has been reliable as ever, and there’s great polaroiding around Hatchery Bay, Waste Point and the Snowy arm with nymphs. Those who like the relaxed method of bait fishing have also done very well on scrubworms, grubs, PowerBait and mudeye. Tantangara is the odd one out this month with a receding shoreline due to a release via the portal to providence at Eucumbene, but nonetheless is still a great place to bag a trout or two. Flatline trolling or lochstyle nymphing from boats has been the most productive, while shore-based bait, lure or fly is best left to low light periods of dawn and dusk. Three Mile Dam has set the tone nicely for anglers who don’t mind early starts or late finishes with some lovely rainbow trout taking Royal

A whopping trout. An example of some of the monsters available. been a fantastic trout river, boasting great sight fishing and reliable hatch fishing, and now that the Snowy below Jindabyne has had consistent flows due to scheduled environmental releases, Dalgety and Ironmungy are now back on anglers’ agendas. Large browns are on offer and encounters with these brutes leaves most in awe and coming back for the chance to tussle with another. Spinning with bullets, Rapalas and Black Magic BMax minnows certainly works, as does searching the slow deep holes with large wet fly.

flies to mimic these food sources will help get you onto a Snowy brown. Zonker, Egg Sucking Leeches, Buggers and nymphs will be required and also an array of Caddis and Mayfly patterns, from nymphal stage through to adult, for when the fish lock into the bugs. Tight lines and smooth loops! • For more info, tips or queries, drop into The Alpine Angler at 647

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Lovely late spring weather has drawn plenty of anglers to the Snowy Mountains, and with a smorgasbord of locations to choose from and all fishing very well, its no wonder. Lake Eucumbene is still rising and its wild resident browns are loving it! Big well-conditioned trout are on the hunt and eagerly taking trolled or spin-fished lures. Bait fishing with scrubworms, grubs and mudeyes is also accounting for many fine trout, particularly around dawn and dusk. Flyfishing large wets around structure on the days where there is a bit of chop on the surface or overcast skies is consistently producing

The lower Snowy has an annual eel spawning migration and is also abundant in aquatic insect life. The huge browns fatten up on the newly hatched elvers and leeches and also indulge in the prolific mayfly and caddis life. Having a good spread of

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Christmas is the season for red SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

There is no excuse for us all not to be fully prepared for the 2018/2019 cod season. Over the last month we have had some amazing tackle events in Shepparton. They have given anglers plenty of opportunities to stock up, as all events had great savings and some quality guest speakers to set us up for the cod season. Having a lot of success this cod season will be hugely based around what the weather does. There have been some environmental flows, but nothing beats a genuine river rise from a decent downpour of rain. The Goulburn and Broken rivers were fishing well in early spring with a lot of legal-sized yellowbelly being caught on bait and lures. Trolling small codgers and bright green StumpJumpers has worked best in the spring, with spinnerbaits being the casting lure of choice. I don’t like reporting of by-catch cod being caught out of season, but there were plenty of cod caught in spring on smaller lures while we all

chased yellowbelly. So, if that trend continues we should see plenty of smaller fish caught come cod opening. Those looking to upsize their lures for the start of the summer, I would recommend sticking to the Old Mates, Codgers or trolling the bigger Cod Dogs or King Hits. Bait fishing has always done well in our region, so live grubs and big yabbies would be the best bet when chasing a

local cod. LOCAL CHANNELS The strength in the local channel system seems to be growing more and more as time goes on. With the fresh flow of water in early spring the redfin resurgence grew. But, it seems as the cod numbers increased during the closed season, the redfin numbers dwindled. This summer I expect to see some big cod being caught

The kids were happy with their quality catches.

in the channels with more and more locals targeting them, unlike years ago when we would only fish light and small for redfin. The main channels at Pine Lodge, Arcadia, Murchison and Wahring have all fished well lately, with anglers chasing redfin and yellowbelly. Smaller lures like the lipless crankbaits rigged with beetle spins or the smaller vibes have all been successful. Those bait fishing have used live shrimp or a bunch of worms around the weed or reedy banks. SHEPPARTON LAKE The weed issue has temporarily been removed, with the council cutting the weed back at the end of October. This has given us more access to clear water to target all types of species including redfin, silver perch, trout, yellowbelly and most importantly Murray cod. The lake holds some pretty sizable cod that were relocated last year and I would say they have grown a lot with so much to feed them. With birds, water rats and other small fish all on the menu for the cod, I can see the fish being in a real healthy state and looking forward to seeing some cracking photos in the summer months.

The author and his son Ayden Brown with Ayden’s PB 38cm redfin, caught trolling a Hot Bite Jets tail spinner. Fishing big lures will be near impossible in the lake, unless you’re using shallowdiving or topwater lures in the evenings or mornings. Those not chasing cod will be happy to know there were more yellowbelly stocked in the lake in late October with all being around legal length. KIALLA LAKES Yellowbelly are now regularly being caught in all

three lakes at Kialla, with lake number one being the best of the three. Casting spinnerbaits around the willows or weed has been the best method. The lakes will fire right up if we get some rain, with the flush almost always turning the fish on in Kialla. If we do get some rain and the water dirties up I would switch over to small vibes or 50mm lipless To page 71

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You better watch out if you wanna catch trout WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

December is my favourite month on the fishing calendar. December offers the most fishing variety across North East Victoria, with all fish in the region in the mood to bite in one place or another. TROUT The only species to really slow down during December are the trout that may become sluggish and reluctant to feed as the water becomes too warm. In saying that, this is not the case everywhere and there are still some great places to go trout fishing in December. As a rule of thumb, the smaller rural streams running through farmland, which are often more exposed to direct sunlight, are usually too warm in December and the trout are slow. The larger streams running from further up

The average size of Murray cod in the Ovens River system is not big, but there are plenty of smaller fish to provide great sporting fun. fishes really well during December, so does the upper Buckland River and its tributaries. The high-altitude lakes also fish very well throughout December (and most of summer). In the Ovens River catchment, the main lake is Lake Catani on the Mt Buffalo plateau. At 1400m above sea level and

monster trout up there, as the average size of the trout is generally not very big. When trout fishing in summer remember to ensure that you return your fish to the water as quickly as possible. In spring we can hold them up for a photo for much longer, but in summer if you do not release the trout within a matter of seconds it

both lakes fish better after Christmas, however if we get some really warm weather in November and December both lakes can be well worth wetting a line in December. In both lakes I like to start with small brightlycoloured soft plastic lures and the smallest sized jig head that I can get away with. Most smaller waters around the region that contain redfin will be worth fishing during December, and this includes some of the small creeks that have populations of redfin in them. MURRAY COD The opening of the Victorian Murray cod season is 1 December, and it will no doubt be a very busy time on the region’s waterways. Although the Murray cod season is only closed for the three spring months, for many of us in the Wangaratta region it will be the first time that we have had a half decent chance at catching a Murray cod since around April, when they really started to slow down. I consider December to be the best month of the year to go Murray cod fishing in the Wangaratta area, with plenty of hungry Murray cod ready and willing to pounce

on our lures. There is cod throughout the Ovens River, from Bundalong all the way up to Myrtleford and even a bit

a monster. The Ovens River system is a great spot for sport fishers who like kayak fishing, walking the banks

December can be a great time to target redfin in North East Victoria. The main lakes William Hovell and Buffalo usually fish best after Christmas, however, they will certainly be worth exploring during December, especially if we have had some hot weather. further upstream again. In the King River there is a healthy population of Murray cod all the way from Wangaratta, almost as far upstream as Lake William Hovell, with the upland reaches offering some of the best upland, clear water Murray cod fishing in the state. One thing that I do like to mention is that the Ovens River basin is not a known hot spot for large Murray cod. While the odd

and flyfishing for cod. The average size of the fish caught is probably around the 40-45cm mark with 70cm+ fish turning up occasionally, and usually in the lower reaches of the Ovens River. Good luck to everybody heading out this cod opening, and fishing in December in general. Don’t forget your hat and sunscreen and with Christmas coming up, make sure you always stay safe on the water.

Casting hardbody lures such as this Old Mate will be very popular during December once the Murray cod season opens. in the high country are much cooler and can still offer great trout fishing throughout December. The upper Ovens River upstream of Bright often From page 70

crankbaits, but smother them in scent and slow roll along the bottom with the odd pause in your retrieve. Those fishing with bait have seemed to be fishing just off the drop-off area about 5-6ft from the bank with lightly-weighted rigs of worms or shrimp. CRAIGMUIR LAKE Craigmuir has not been as popular compared to some other local waterways, and those fishing the lake have reported smaller numbers of fish, but more quality than some other locations. Off the Echuca Road bank some 45cm yellowbelly and redfin up to 35cm have been caught on worms and shrimp, with other good

set in Snow Gum Forest, this lovely lake has a very healthy population of brown trout, which will readily take a fly or lure all summer long. Do not expect to catch any

will most likely die. REDFIN December can start to turn on a few redfin in Lake Buffalo and Lake William Hovell. Admittedly,

reports from those casting weedless rigged plastics. There is a number of Murray cod in the lake, so those wanting to target them I would be using big baits or surface lures above the weed or edges. WARANGA BASIN The Waranga Basin had been fishing very tough in recent months, especially for larger fish. That’s all starting to change with reports of redfin up to 40cm being caught weekly in many different areas of the lake. I spent a few sessions on the water with my son and it was more of a searching expedition than anything. We managed 15-20 fish most trips, with a handful of those being 28-38cm.

We mostly spent the time trolling 10-15ft small Codgers and Jets tail spinners in around the 13-18ft depths. The tail spinners are harder to fish in the shallows, so we were using them once we came out to the 15ft mark. We just stick to the area opposite the Harriman Road ramp and troll point to point to ensure we have worked over a certain patch, then if we have no luck move to the next set of points. The fish seemed to move in and out of those depths, so we kept it simple trolling up one way in the shallows and turning the boat around and doing the same but in deeper water. The wind is always an issue at the basin and that limited our

Carp fishing has provided many with some great fun while we wait for cod season to open. stand and cast time. But, when we did get onto a good patch on the troll we would flick around the tail spinners and soft plastics. Those bait fishing had plenty of success over the late October early November periods. There were reports of fish around 18-22cm being caught on worms. Now we are heading into the Christmas period the Waranga Basin gets very busy, so getting on the water early or late in the day is the best chance to escape the busy boat ramps and foreshores. With the Christmas period coming up, I would just like to wish everyone a safe and merry Christmas, and I look forward to seeing all the fishing snaps taken over the summer months.

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ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

A monster Murray cod caught while land-based fishing.

Locally in the Albury/ Wodonga area there have been mixed results for myself and other fishos. I’ve been having a lot of sessions on yellowbelly, others have been targeting trout and redfin, but with the warmer weather the yellowbelly have started to become more active and some fairly good numbers have started to pop up for the fishos that have been out on the water. I’ve been having afternoons where I can catch three or four with plenty of follows and strikes, but there have also been days where you work for just the one fish, but as they say, a fish beats catching nothing at all. The common size of late has been the 40-45cm

I’ll be home for Codmas NAGAMBIE

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Anglers around the Nagambie area are looking forward to 1 December and the opening of the Murray cod season. There have been good reports during the closed season of plenty of golden perch being caught, but the real attraction is the Murray cod. This is especially the case with the Go Fish

Nagambie event in April next year. I had a quick chat to Terry Phillips from Boats and More in Shepparton and he explained that the Goulburn River is currently running high, but the hope is that this flow will reduce prior to 1 December, giving the water a chance to settle and clear up in the lake system. Casting lures and spinnerbaits is a great way to prospect any waterway and Nagambie is no different. Outlaw Spinnerbaits and

The size of the cod in the Nagambie system is increasing, with plenty of quality fish available.

Babblers as well as smaller profile Oar-Gee lures are popular amongst locals. TN60s and TN70s are also a fantastic search bait in areas that have a bit of flow. Don’t forget your surface lures as well. Low light periods in the morning and evening are perfect times to give them a try. Depending on how the system has settled, try bright colours if the water still has some colour to it. As it clears, lean towards more natural colours. Bait fishing is very popular throughout the system. Key baits are small to medium sized yabbies, bardi grubs and worms. If the system clears, catching shrimp and using them as bait is a deadly option. Not too many of our native fish can resist a shrimp if it is dangled in from of them. If the last few years are anything to go by, December will be a great month to get to Nagambie. There are plenty of cod and golden perch to play with, and plenty of quality fish on offer.

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bracket. This isn’t very big for yellowbelly, but they are still so fun to catch and that’s what it’s all about. The lures that have been doing the damage of late for me have been small Kuttafurra Mudhoneys, and vibes with a good rattle. Lake Hume has been full of mixed results. I haven’t heard of many trout still being caught, but some respectable sized yellowbelly and redfin have been coming out of there. There has also been plenty of cod by-catch about in the last month, and this bodes well as the closed season lifts this month. It’s good to see that the cod are popping up in decent numbers in Lake Hume, and this month it could be worth running some bigger cod sized lures to try and snag onto a few. Most people I’ve talked to have said that trolling is how they have been catching their fish, but there have been a few that have been picking fish

Yellowbelly are around in numbers at the moment. up casting blades, vibes and plastics around. The Kuttafurra

This month we can finally target Murray cod again, and give these guys a break.

Challenge took place at the end of September at Lake Eildon. What a cracking time. I was lucky enough to be on the net for my good friend Kyle, who hooked onto a 99cm Lake Eildon pig. Funny enough, this beast of a fish was caught before the competition started in the first 10 minutes of the session. I was truly amazed at how fat this fish was, an absolute tank of a cod. So, with the warmer weather here to stay, I’ll continue to target the yellas until the reopening of cod season this month. Fishing opportunities have really started to fire up, and hopefully the fish keep playing the game. As usual, I’m super keen.

DAM LEVELS Dam............................... % Full

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

Sept Oct Nov Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 94 92 95 Newlyn 87 87 86 Nillahcootie 61 60 58 Rocklands 36 35 34 Tantangara 53 42 38 Taylors 54 58 59 Tullaroop 52 51 48 Waranga 44 44 29 Wartook 67 68 59 William Hovell 101 101 100

Sept Oct Nov

Cairn Curran

51 46

Dartmouth

88 84 79

Eildon

64 64 59

Eppalock

62 55 53

Eucumbene 19 14 25 Fyans

78 81 79

Hepburn

73 73 74

Hume

52 50 46

Jindabyne

64 47 75

Lauriston

92 96 97

(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.)

Wendouree is hot to trot BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Anglers in and around the Central Highlands region over the past month have been treated to some really good fishing with excellent catches of trout and redfin. The reports

knowing that their stocking strategies are working with Wendouree being targeted as an excellent venue to host a variety of competitions. The fishing on Lake Wendouree has really been sensational with excellent catches of rainbow and brown trout and now the reddies have started to come

that included Wayne’s new PB of 49cm and Ben’s new Wendouree PB rainbow of 65cm. All fish were released for some other angler to enjoy. The boys caught these fish casting lures out of a drifting boat, which is one of the most popular ways of catching trout and reddies on Wendouree. Cam Griffin

Ben Young’s PB rainbow trout caught and released on a Bent Minnow lure. Photo courtesy of Wayne Rigg.

game on. I suggest anglers target early mornings and evenings, fishing mudeyes under floats or flyfishing can be very rewarding over these periods. Newlyn Reservoir and Hepburn Lagoon have been fishing well with all angling methods producing the goods. Timing once again will be critical. As the weather warms up at both waters mornings and evenings are the best times. Jack Clough has been catching some lovely brown trout from Newlyn Reservoir over the past month, mainly stripping wet flies with the Shrek fly pattern as the killer. Moorabool Reservoir has been flying under the radar a bit over the past few

Wayne Rigg with his 49cm redfin caught on a Bullet. Photo courtesy of Wayne Rigg.

have been filtering through with all waters producing the goods; I expect the excellent catches will continue as we move into the warmer weather and more anglers hit our local waters. All insect varieties are up and about with trout and redfin feeding on them with gusto. Lake Wendouree is the number one water in the district once again, with anglers from all over the state arriving to fish the lake. There has been quite a few fishing competitions held on Wendouree over the past few months with excellent catches being recorded. This is a win for us as anglers and also a win for the Victorian Fisheries Authority,

on the chew. The diversity of Wendouree as a fishery is outstanding – whether you prefer to cast a fly, lure or plastic from the shore or a boat. You can fish a mudeye under a bubble float or a worm on the bottom. It doesn’t matter what method you prefer to use, Wendouree accommodates for it. Another attraction for Wendouree is it offers wheelchair accessible jetties, something that many other areas don’t accommodate for. Ben Young and Wayne Rigg have recently had a fishing session on Wendouree that will be etched in their minds forever. They caught some magnificent big rainbow and brown trout, as well as a bag of big redfin

Cam Griffin nailed this brown from Lake Wendouree on a brown nymph suspended under a dry fly. Photo courtesy of Cam Griffin.

will come up to feed on them during these periods. Lake Burrumbeet is well worth a look for a bit of fun for the kids, there is plenty of European carp in Burrumbeet of all sizes, with some real monsters as well. You can take the kids out to Burrumbeet with a bunch of worms or corn, cast them out on a running sinker rig and have some fun winding them in. Lake Burrumbeet has also been stocked by fisheries over the past few years with rainbow and brown trout. You could try some PowerBait or salted white or blue bait and you might catch one of those as well. The Ballarat Fly Fishers Club recently held the Wastell Trophy, which is the oldest flyfishing competition in Australia, commencing back in 1936. The competition has evolved over the years with many changes being made to the structure of the competition. This year saw

the competition being an one day and length based competition with all captures of trout being caught on fly measured, photographed and texted back to a central point, with the longest fish winning the competition. The competition was based at the Creswick Caravan Park. Anglers could fish Hepburn Lagoon, Lake Wendouree, Newlyn, Cosgroves, Dean, Moorabool, Tullaroop, and Cairn Curran reservoirs. The competition hours were 12am on Friday until 5pm Saturday and 61 flyfishers representing 6 flyfishing clubs from all over the state participated. There were 21 trout recorded as caught and released, with all waters in the Wastell competition producing fish. The winner of this year’s Wastell Trophy was Ballarat Fly Fishers Club member Stephen Lock with a magnificent 53cm brown trout caught from Lake Wendouree.

Steve Lock was the winner of the 2018 Wastell Trophy. Photo courtesy of Trevor Adams

loves to flyfish Wendouree when the mayflies are hatching. Cam has been hitting the water over the lunchtime hatch, catching some lovely brown trout from the shore and out of a boat. The most successful fly patterns for Cam have been brown nymphs and Stick Caddis either suspended under a dry fly or stripped very slowly. Wendouree will continue to fish well as we move into the warmer months. Anglers will need to change the times that they hit the water. The bright blue sky days generally are not very productive, due to the shallow nature of the lake the fish tend to sit in the weed, but when it’s overcast it’s

months. I know there have been a few guys catching some lovely browns on lures and fly thanks to posts on Facebook. Moorabool, like other waters in the district, will fish well over the warmer months with plenty of insect hatches occurring. I know that Moorabool is renowned for its midge and beetle hatches in the warmer weather. The midge normally hatch on sunset and throughout the night, so evening and early morning before the sun hits the water is prime time to fish for the midge feeders. They can and do venture into very shallow water only inches deep to feed on the midge. Warm windier days are the best for the beetles being blown onto the water; the fish

Jack Plough with a lovely golden Newlyn Reservoir brown trout caught on a Shrek fly pattern. Photo courtesy of Cam Griffin. DECEMBER 2018

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Rod Shepherd

The Merri River at Warrnambool has really fired in recent weeks, with plenty of trout and redfin being caught. The reddies have been schooling in the deeper pools and minnow style soft plastics worked slowly across the bottom has been the best method to catch them. Many trout, including some solid browns approaching 2kg, have been taken on the troll with medium divers worked close to the bank. Others are catching a few from casting similar minnow lures towards the bank, especially where there are overhanging trees providing cover for any predatory fish waiting to ambush prey. Above and below the Bromfield Street weir have been the areas to concentrate your efforts. Lake Bullen Merri has seen an increase of Chinook salmon captures, mainly by boaters flat-line trolling a wide variety of minnow lures around the lake’s fringes. Trolling depths between 4-8m has been the go. The odd brown trout to a kilo has also been caught using the same methods.

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We Build Dreams... It’s a Family Tradition

A U S T R A L I A

DECEMBER 2018

Phone: 0410 173 060 www.basscataustralia.com

Lake Purrumbete has been up and down in the trout department lately, with many working the waters for zero captures while others bring in catch after catch. In saying that, on a given day brown, brook and Chinook salmon to around a kilo are falling to casting and flat-line trolling minnow lures and even plastics worked close to the weed beds that line the bank. The odd brown from 5-7lb has also been caught. It can be one tough fishery at times, some days the fish respond well and others it all shuts down. The depth at Lake Elingamite’s boat ramp

is currently sitting around 70cm, allowing most boats enough depth to launch and retrieve. The fishing is a tad up and down and those who are successful usually have put in the hours on the water. So far this season I’ve managed some large, plump rainbow trout, but have yet to entice any of the lake’s population of browns or redfin. This is currently the norm, however, as the temperature warms in the lake the reddies should come on the chew big time. We are expecting fisheries to release more brown and rainbow yearlings into the lake soon. The usual amount

It’s time for gold BENDIGO

Pantera Classic 2018

This plump hen Elingamite rainbow fell to a Pontoon 21 Tantalisa 70 broken backed minnow.

of salmonoids allocated to the lake is 2000 of each, but we will see how generous fisheries are in the very near future. Lake Bolac’s plump rainbows are still being caught, with most fish coming in around 1.3-1.4kg. Bait is catching the majority and a boat is not needed to catch a fish, but handy nonetheless. Local minnow called galaxia is the gun bait. Netted in the shallows and fished live, this bait works extremely well on rainbows. Packet whitebait, earthworm and PowerBait catch a few. Flat-line trolling shallow divers also works. Mount Emu Creek has seen plenty of redfin caught, mainly by bank anglers wetting a line near one of the many road bridges that cross this small river. The odd brown to 600g has also been caught. Working soft plastics in a steady retrieve is working. So is soaking a bait, such as worm, under a bubble float. The weather in the South West has finally become quite warm and it’s good to see the wind and incessant rain leave us, even if only momentarily. I know other areas are in drought so I won’t complain too much, but it’s good to see the sun shine and feel the warmth on our backs.

The fishing in the Bendigo region started slow during spring. The day temperatures have been increasing at a slow rate. The night temperatures have been consistently below average. This has led to water temperatures increasing slower than normal and therefore it has been a slow start to the season. Rainfall continues to be well below average. The good news is that there has been a significant improvement in the productivity in the fishing over the last couple of weeks. LAKE EPPALOCK The lack of rainfall has resulted in dropping water levels at Lake Eppalock. However, the fishing has improved over the last couple of weeks. The good news is the productivity in the fishing should continue to improve over the next month. The number of golden perch being caught here is steadily increasing. The best method has been casting lipless crankbaits around the edges of the lake. This is a popular spot for golden perch. Anglers are also catching in this area when bait fishing with worms and yabbies. In the next few weeks we should

start to see more golden perch also being caught by those anglers trolling the edges of the lake with small to mediumsized hardbody lures. The number of redfin being caught has been low, but is slowly improving. Given the current water conditions the productivity in the redfin fishing will probably be lower than the previous couple of season unless we get some good late season rainfall and see some good water inflows into the lake. CAMPASPE RIVER The Campaspe River fishing productivity has been poor over the last month. This was due to increased flows of cold water being released from Lake Eppalock. Now there has been a reduction in flows, there has been a steady improvement in the productivity in the fishing in Campaspe River. Golden perch are currently making up the majority of anglers captures with the average sizes being between 30-42cm. Casting small profile spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits has been working, for those anglers casting hardbody lures, suspending hardbody lures in dark colours have been working well. Similar to Lake Eppalock, only small numbers of redfin are currently being caught in the Campaspe River.

Golden perch are now being caught in good numbers at Lake Eppalock. CAIRN CURRAN The water clarity is still poor. The number of golden perch being caught has improved over the last few weeks. The most productive areas for golden perch continues to be around the rocky shorelines and around the edges of timber. Anglers using bright coloured lipless crankbaits have caught the majority of golden perch. The most productive colours have been chartreuse, orange and pink. Dark colours such as black and purple have also been working on some days. The redfin fishing has been slow but the productivity has slowly improved over the last few weeks. Locating a school of quality redfin has not been easy, with the majority of redfin being caught currently on the small size. LODDON RIVER The water clarity continues to be patchy in the river. The cleanest sections of the Loddon River are currently above Serpentine and Bridgewater. These

sections will dirty up when increased water flows are being released down the system. The fishing has been productive in the section of the Loddon River directly below Cairn Curran. Some quality golden perch and the occasional good redfin have been caught in this area. Some good numbers of golden perch have also been caught in the Loddon River below Laanecoorie. The majority of golden perch that have been caught in this area are on bait due to average water clarity. The productivity in the Newbridge section of the Loddon River has also been low. The productivity in the fishing has been improving at Bridgewater and Serpentine over recent weeks. Golden perch are making up the majority of anglers captures with the average golden perch measuring around 40cm. The productivity should continue to be good and improve in the near future.

Insect hatches happening for summer sessions WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

Very little rain has hit the ground for spring, so don’t be surprised to see many of your favourite streams flowing a lot slower than usual. Even with a good dumping of snow on Mt Baw Baw this winter, the expectation of Blue Rock Lake getting to 100% is now dwindling with little rain topping up the catchments, so the lake is very reliant on that snowmelt. The fishing in the streams will be tough this summer if there are

no decent rainfall events early on. Trout will be around, but they won’t be big and there won’t be lots of them. It will be very important to catch and release. Blue Rock needs more bass stocking, as the current bass population is fat and well fed from wild food in the system. So while the fish will be fat and healthy, they’ll be challenging to catch. No doubt we’ll hear of some thumpers over 40cm being caught this season! Remember that boat restrictions on Blue Rock have been lifted and there’s already a hype

of recreational activity as fishing boats, kayaks and other vessels have harmonious fun on the lake. Meanwhile on the shorelines, people are getting amongst the fishing and other recreations. There’s lots of space for picnics, walking and just genuinely enjoying the great outdoors. There have been some exciting funding announcements recently, so there’ll be upgrades to some of the facilities over the coming year that will continue to improve the amenity of the place. More and more anglers are improving their skills targeting bass with lures

The author with a beautiful healthy trout caught on a vibe, a welcomed by-catch when chasing bass.

The Blue Rock Angling Club have been enjoying the spring fishing and looks forward to the summer series when the bass fishing fires up.

and are starting to see the fruits of their labour. Other anglers are enjoying the more relaxed nature of trolling the banks for trout, dropping a worm down against a tree for bass and redfin, or setting up a chair and catching a carp or two off the bank. For those really into the bass fishing, there is no doubt that the coming months you’ll be dreaming about bass in your sleep. This is the prime time to be getting out there. The intensity of the strike from an Australian bass is unlike any other freshwater fish

south of the Great Divide and some would argue even further abroad. It really is heart-thumping stuff when that lure is smashed off the surface or just under. Blue Rock is a prime location to target this exciting and addictive sportfish. Spend time fishing the banks in the mornings and evenings out of the direct sunlight for best results on bass. Bass will hide in the shadows, so many of the coves up the Tanjil River Arm will provide the ideal hideout. Out in the lake there are plenty of coves that will host populations

Escape the mad rush in the fresh MELBOURNE METRO

Dylan Brennan

The pointy end of the year has come again! We’re into the mad rush of December, and if you’re lucky enough to find the time for a fish over the next month then there are some good local options for you. The local lakes are still fishing well, and Karkarook Park Lake is one such spot. Situated in Moorabbin, it’s well within reach for a few hours fishing. By far the most productive method in the lake is berleying and bait fishing. The key to the berley mixture is to make sure it is fine enough so that the trout can’t actually ‘eat’ it, but they are fired up and hungry. The best mixture has been a two part concoction of crushed ‘specialist trout pellets’ and Stimulate fine grit berley with a

small amount of water added to turn the whole lot into a claggy cake batter consistency. This berley can either be flung out using a berley spoon or mixed into a feeder cage for a slow release scent. Fished on fine gauge ‘mosquito’ style hooks in size 12, PowerBait in various colours and maggots are the best accompaniments for your berley. The Yarra River around Eltham is a good spot to fish for Murray cod if they are on your agenda. If targeting cod in this area, look for areas that hold deep, slow pools – especially if they have a rock bar close by. The rock in the water holds heat and warms the surrounding water slightly, which can attract smaller fish and shrimp, and then predators like the cod. Larger freshwater yabbies fished without their claws are a good bait in the river, and the reason most anglers take the claws off is because the yabbies can crawl and

dig into crevices and snag up the line. Just remember to keep checking them to make sure they aren’t hiding under a rock where the fish can’t find them. Also, when fishing large yabbies a bite is most likely from a cod, as other fish will generally leave them alone. Sugarloaf Reservoir has been fishing well for golden perch and redfin during the morning and afternoons, especially on the warmer days. Small paddle style plastics rigged up on small TT jigspins have been an excellent way to find the goldens, while smaller vibes have been working well on the redfin. Just remember to work the lures slow, and right to the edge of the bank, as the fish will follow them right back in, especially the golden perch Remember to stay safe if you’re out and about over the Christmas break, and enjoy your time on and off the water. See you all in 2019!

Pheonix Goodwin with her first ever fish, a Karkarook Park rainbow trout. Photo courtesy of Scott Goodwin.

of bass too. At the moment there is an abundance of food about including shrimp, baitfish, white ants, beetles, cicadas, crickets, tadpoles and frogs. Make sure your tackle box has an array of different lures. A good bass angler will be focused on casting and retrieving their lures while listening and keeping an eye out for surface activity. If fishing the streams, there have already been plenty of insect hatchings over October and November providing a staple food source for hungry trout. I would expect a fair few more insect hatchings over this month. Surface feeding fish mean anglers can spot and approach their target carefully, which results in more strikes and ultimately more fish. If you haven’t sight-fished for stream trout before, pick up a pair of brown polarised sunglasses; it adds a whole new dimension to stream trout fishing. Most of the insect hatchings have been flying ants, various fly or midge species and small black beetles. When fishing the evening, ensure you have a collection of natural flies and beaded nymphs that will give you better luck in matching the hatch. Hatchings typically occur in the late afternoons when there is a thundery cool change expected after a warm day. A reminder that the river blackfish season re-opens at the end of the month and offers another target species for the streams and rivers of West and South Gippsland. Feel free to send me a report or photo. Please email me any questions too. DECEMBER 2018

Rudolph the red-sided rainbow EILDON RIVERS

Gary Constantine

The Goulburn River is now in full irrigation mode, which doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s going to be running a banker. Earlier than normal water releases means that there may be a more consistent flow over the warmer months. Mind you that’s not counting a possible rise from time to time with pressure from power generation over summer. Anglers are still reaping the rewards of the Fishery releases back in September, with rainbow trout up to 12lb being caught in the Goulburn River from below

the Eildon Pondage to the bridge near Alexandra. PowerBait in a variety of colours is working on these guys. The more natural looking flies, lures and baits are also working in the Goulburn, Big, Rubicon, Steavenson and Acheron rivers. If you plan on using baits then scrubbies and maggots are the best choice. If it’s lures you’re using then Celta type spinners, small hardbodies like Rapalas, Daiwa Double Clutch and Tassie Devils in the 7-13g are a good way to go. Soft plastics like the ZMan 2.5” GrubZ in motor oil and black, the Berkley Shimmas and the Storm

Relax and enjoy delicious food and warm hospitality.

Rob showing off his catch.

John caught this beautiful rainbow recently.

brown trout averaging 3kg, but there are plenty of the previously stocked rainbows up to 5kg being

picked up as well. Local dough and mudeyes under a float on the far side of the lower

Search Baits cast towards the overhanging trees from a kayak or small tinny have been known to work. Matching the hatch is the best way to describe the choice of flies and during the summer months. Nymphs, hoppers, and moth patterns should do all right. Eildon Pondage has been well stocked in recent months with 5000 rainbows averaging 180g and 300

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DECEMBER 2018

Terry with a cracking rainbow trout.

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pondage when the water is up has been working well. PowerBait in rainbow, sherbet, lemon twist, chunky cheese and both the salmon eggs in yellow and orange do the job from one end of the pondage to the other. The Wonder Krocs in various colours such as 60/40, willow leaf, brown scale and brown trout are firing along Bourke Street, Nursery Corner, the bridge and the footy oval and should continue to do so when the pondage is on the fill. Pink Tassies are a good option on bright clear days, but if you do have overcast conditions switch to the purple no. 26. If you’re having a crack along down Riverside Drive when the pondage is full, don’t try casting to the middle of the pondage stay within 20ft of the bank. There’s a mud flat that extends to the edge of the river course and you will find that the trout will feed along it. Well that’s it for another year! Have a safe and happy holiday period, full of fishing and other festivities. If you’re in town, make sure you take advantage of the terrific trout fishing this area has to offer.

Murray cod on your rod EILDON

Daniel Piazza

The trout stocking in this region really helps. Rhett caught this one on a trip with some mates.

That was a busy and productive few months, with many anglers reaping the fruits of their labour. Many big cod were caught up the Goulburn and Big River arms. One fish caught topped 110cm, now that’s a fish that dreams are made of. It was caught using a trusty old yabby. The arms are where I will be fishing, as all the trout are coming back down the rivers after their spawning, and the cod won’t be far away in search of a bit of fast food. Surface fishing is a popular method at Eildon, for most anglers this is the preferred and more exciting way to wrangle a monster resident Eildon cod. Remember to keep casting, even when it feels like your arms will fall off. Yellowbelly are here and on the chew. Pick your preferred area or cluster of trees and move around until you find the school. Bait fishing is the best this time of year and also great for children starting out.

Reddies are another fun option at this time of year. Simply use a pea-sized sinker loosely running to the 2/0 hook with either a small yabby or worms. This combination is all you need to succeed. I’m the type that tries to cram every style of fishing into one day. It all start well before sunrise with surface lures for the first three hours, giving the most action on the surface. Spinnerbaits are my favourite lure to use and my absolute go-to lure for Lake Eildon. Don’t be afraid to pepper a snag with more than 20 casts, as this will trigger an aggressive hit. I like to be in about 8m of water at this time of year. Most of all, remember to be set up ready for a quick photo and to return the fish to the water. I know everyone wants that photo of a giant cod in their arms, but try jumping in the water with it. Remember you have just dragged that 1m+ cod from the depths where it’s nice and cool, and now the surface temp is 24°C. That fish could die within the next two hours. I have seen

it first hand and it’s an unpleasant sight. This time of year the crowds are massive, and with more activity also comes a greater risk of accidents. Keep boat safety as a number one priority. Try to make time for safety equipment checks every time you plan to head out, it only takes half an hour to make sure the eight hours out on the water are fun, enjoyable and safe. I’m always chasing a couple of good size redfin or yellowbelly for a feed. Just tie up to a tree, drop your bait or vibes. My personal favourite has to be the Berkley range of soft vibes. They have really been pulling in the fish when the bite goes quiet. Drop it to the bottom and give it sharp lifts to make the lure flutter and vibrate, then hold on because dinner is on its way up. Thanks for reading my articles over the past two years. I hope they have helped you to be a more productive and successful angler.

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DECEMBER 2018

Moose mounts SWR comeback

STORM

Forster local Grant ‘Moose’ Manusu blitzed the field on day 2 of the final Costa BREAM qualifier at South West Rocks to take the win in convincing fashion. Manusu said he pre-fished the river some two months prior, and found good numbers of fish well upriver around Frederickton. Unable to fish on the official practice day, Manusu relied on his vast knowledge and experience of the area and the previous pre-fish. Based on this knowledge, Day 1 saw Manusu start well upriver, pitching ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ in motor oil and Cranka Crabs to structure that he has previously done well on over the years fishing teams comps. This resulted in only a few fish for Manusu early, and he decided to make the big run downriver to try and secure a few kickers in big fish spots. This plan did not pan out well, and he soon saw himself back upriver filling out his bag where he started his day. Manusu said it was easy to make the decisions to run from one end of the system to the other knowing his boat is capable of travelling at

Grant ‘Moose’ Manusu was elated to collect the first place cheque and an invite to the 2018 Costa BREAM Grand Final. around 145km/h. Manusu weighed a respectable day 1 bag of 2.36kg that saw him sitting in 7th place overnight. Day 2 saw Manusu head back to the Frederickton

area. He knew the system would struggle from pressure as it always does on day 2. He knew if he was able to get a bag similar or better to his day 1 bag he would move up the leader board. Manusu didn’t change much, and used the same techniques and lures as day 1. With four fish in his bag early, one of which was a 1.05kg kicker, he knew he only needed one more decent fish to be in contention of

winning. Manusu initially filled his bag with a 25 forker, which is a just-legal fish, and soon after he upgraded it with a 26.5cm fish. Not feeling completely comfortable with his bag, Manusu went back to the spot where he caught the 1.05kg fish. This move saw him capture a 850g fish which rounded out his bag to 3.53kg and was enough to leapfrog him into the winner’s seat.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG The Duffrods Big Bag prize went to event winner Grant Manusu on Day 2. The bag weighed 3.53kg.

Grant Manusu with his day two kicker fish. Both bream were caught on ZMan Slim SwimZ in motor oil.

Scan the QR code to watch the day one highlights.

Scan the QR code to watch the day two highlights.

TOP 10 BOATERS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 78

DECEMBER 2018

Scan the QR code to watch an interview with the winner.

Place Angler

Fish (kg) Weight Payout

1 2

Grant Manusu Steve Morgan

10/10 10/10

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Cam Whittam 8/10 4.58 Craig Simmons 8/10 4.55 Jamie Mckeown 8/10 4.46 Richard Potter 10/10 4.09 Denis Metzdorf 9/10 3.91 Grant Kime 8/10 3.85 Charlie Saykao 7/10 3.62 Ross Cannizzaro 9/10 3.52 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

5.89 5.13

$2800 + Duffrods Big Bag $1500 + $250 Mercury Bonus + $200 Pro Up $1000 + $150 Mercury Bonus $800 $700 + $100 Mercury Bonus $600 $500

Morgan takes second Mr Consistent Steve Morgan secured the prestigious crown of BREAM Angler of the Year with his 2nd place on South West Rocks. Cam Whittam needed to finish 3rd or better to beat Morgan for AOY, but he also needed Morgan to finish two places behind him. Half of the plan worked for Whittam as he was able to secure 3rd place, but in true Queenslander style Morgan fought hard and pipped the Victorian by just over 500g to secure his 1st AOY title since the format was adjusted to the current national system. Morgan being in his brand new Basscat Pantera powered by a 200hp Mercury V8 used the power and travelled about 30km up river to the Kempsey Bypass Bridge. Morgan started on the

bridge by pitching heavy Cranka Crabs on the Daiwa Mebaru 8’6” teamed up with an old Daiwa 2500 Luvias spooled with 8lb Sufix fluorocarbon. Morgan was able to nab a few decent fish here before moving to the steep edges and broken weed flats. He switched to his confidence presentation, topwater, throwing Imakatsu Dilemma poppers. Morgan filled out his bag using this presentation, but interestingly he was catching two bass to every bream. An important lesson Morgan learnt was that he had to move the lure slowly and as quietly as possible to avoid the hungry bass beating the bream to the lure. Day 2 saw Morgan head for the same spots. To his surprise he didn’t get a bite on the Kempsey Bypass Bridge, so he didn’t waste much time

there knowing that the bream had not replenished. Morgan then moved to the broken weed edges and flats and used the topwater presentation again. The bass bycatch was again fun but a problem, and Morgan had to switch to the more quiet presentation of a Tiemco Red Pepper Micro rigged with assist hooks. He used the lure slowly and quietly to avoid the bass, and was able to produce three bream before he ran out of goodlooking edges. Morgan then moved to the opposite side of the river, which had a nice looking weed edge that dropped to a sand bottom. He used a deep crank presentation to fill out his bag of 2.30kg, which was enough to secure 2nd place overall and 2018 Angler of the Year.

BREAM SERIES

Steve Morgan looking chuffed with his South West Rocks effort of securing second place overall and being crowned 2018 Costa BREAM Series Angler of the Year.

Johnson bags limits both days

WINNING TACKLE Rod: 13 Fishing Envy Black Reel: Shimano Twin Power Line: Sunline 4lb Lure: 2.5” ZMan Slim SwimZ in motor oil Jighead: TT 1/8oz and 1/12oz

Shoalhaven local Craig Johnson was the only non-boater to fill day 1 and day 2 limits to secure the

2.5” Slim SwimZ in motor oil

non-boater 1st place trophy by a whopping 1.54kg. Johnson drew Stu Robinson as his 1st day boater, and the pair headed to a stretch of rock wall just past the Jerseyville Bridge. Johnson said he slowly chipped away at a small bag of 2.15kg throughout the day by throwing heavy Cranka Crabs in olive to the rock wall where he was targeting cruising fish. Johnson said patience was the key on day 1. He knew the fish were there, but finding the actively feeding fish was a different story. Day 2 saw him in the boat with Wayne Robinson and sitting only 190g in front of 2nd place. Johnson knew if he kept his cool and used the same technique he would be able to patiently pick off a limit. Luckily for Johnson, his boater for the day decided to fish a similar area to where Johnson had secured his day 1 limit. He fished this area exactly the same, pitching the Cranka Crab to the rock wall hoping for active fish to pick it up. Johnson was skilful enough to return a limit of 1.99kg and secure his 2nd

non-boater win in 10 years. He was really pleased as it also pushed him into 5th place in the non-boater AOY standings. Johnson was throwing olive Cranka Crabs on his Millerods 7’0” XF with a

Shimano C2000S reel spooled with 6lb Sunline braid and 4lb Sunline FC Rock leader, he said it was important to use relatively light leader in the heavy structure as the water was very clear.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place Angler

Fish

Weight(kg) Payout

10/10

4.14

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Craig Johnson

$200 Hobie + Costa + Prize Pack Matt Vaccaro 6/10 2.60 Prize Pack Louie Wardini 4/10 2.33 Prize Pack Michael Thompson 5/10 2.27 Prize Pack Russel Winters 5/10 2.11 Prize Pack Chris Micallef 5/10 2.06 Prize Pack Daniel Hayes 3/10 1.35 $100 Hobie + Prize Pack Christian Wardini 3/10 1.27 Prize Pack + Pro Up Brendan McNamara 2/10 1.23 Prize Pack Grant Oliver 3/10 1.17 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Craig Johnson secured his second Non-Boater win in 10 years by filling full limits on both days.

DAIWA J-BRAID BIG BREAM

Scan the QR code to watch an interview with the non-boater winner.

Jason Martin only managed one bream for the two days of fishing at South West Rocks, but it was the fish that secured him $500 and the Daiwa J-Braid pack. The 1.14kg beast fell to a heavy Cranka Crab, which is a consistent big bream lure. Martin was fishing Jerseyville Rock Wall deep with his boater early on day one when he nabbed the tournament’s big bream. DECEMBER 2018

Hopkins heats up in time for Hobie Lurefans Round 9 of Hobie Kayak Bream Series 10, was contested on the Hopkins River over the 13-14 October weekend in Warrnambool, Victoria. The competition saw 68 anglers from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory compete in the largest round to be held in southwestern Victoria since the series started in 2009. The number of fish caught in the round was down on expectations, due to the fact that spawning was still in full swing. However, on day one 47 legal fish were caught, with a combined weight of 32.06kg, and on day two 49 fish for 30.44kg. This meant a total of 96 black bream for 62.50kg were brought to the scales. As we have seen in this year’s series, the consistent

growth in the average size of fish brought to the weigh-in has continued. The mean size of the legal bream reached an impressive 650g. A NEW DAWN BREAKS ON DI MATTINA Cullen Di Mattina, the youngest competitor ever to compete in the 10-year history of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series, displayed

skills beyond his age and impressively out-fished a field of 68 seasoned anglers including, the 2013 world champion, other world championship competitors and anglers who have represented Australia on the international stage. Wade Mobbs, from New South Wales mid-northcoast, had previously held the record

Top three winners Nick Mace, Cullen Di Mattina and Richard Patterson.

what the fish were biting on. The winning technique was slow hopping Gulp Nemesis on 1/8 jigheads downwind amongst the masses of schooled up fish. Di Matta found a narrow part of the river with a deep channel and what appeared to be hundreds of schooling bream in spawn mode. In those numbers, odds were one or two would eventually decide to take what he was offering. This sort of fishing was different to anything he has done before. He had to be patient, as the fish were only biting for a few minutes every hour and it was a real grind to get them on. The school were banked up on one of the only areas with a decent amount of water flow and wind, and this was the key to success for Di Matta. On day one Di Mattina finished with three fish for

Two of the fish that made up Richard Patterson’s third place bag. of the series, Melbourne angler, Nick Mace was the final competitor to make the podium, taking home $650

RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Round 2

2018 CENTRAL VIC PRO SERIES

December 8 & 9

This Series is for Teams of two only, check out the Central Vic Pro Series group on facebok for more details www.facebook.com/groups/CVLCPS/

Location:

LAKE MULWALA (DC on the Lake) To download the free app. Go to ifishcomps in the app store or 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 80

DECEMBER 2018

Angler Cullen Di Mattina Richard Patterson Nick Mace Jon Clisby Declan Betts Morgan Flook Simon Morley Steven Pryke Paul Davidson Aaron Bickery

as the youngest competitor to compete in the Hobie series, ironically, like Di Mattina, he won his first open event back in 2013. Mobbs went on to win another event in that series, and also became the youngest angler to represent Australia in a world championship. Di Mattina will not have the opportunity to repeat that feat this year, as the qualifying criteria for the worlds has changed from past years. One would expect that this new young gun is well on his way to representing his country in the future. In the meantime, he has qualified to compete in the Series 10 Australian Championship to be held early next year. Di Mattina had been waiting months for his 16th birthday, and for his first chance to take on the best kayak anglers in the country. On both days of the tournament he powered off from the power-pole starting line in his Hobie Outback, leaving the field in his wake and showing that there was a new kid on the block and he meant business. It was his first time fishing Victoria and he was really excited to finally fish for black bream. The pre-fish proved that the conditions were going to be challenging. He threw every technique during that time to work out

Division Youth Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open Open

Total Fish 5 5 4 4 4 3 4 3 2 2

Total Weight (kg) 3.68 3.25 3.02 2.97 2.91 2.72 2.31 2.31 2.00 1.98

2.26kg giving him the lead and surprising everyone who witnessed the weigh-in. Then he followed that up with two for 1.42kg on day two, giving him a

Prize $1930 $1000 $650 $300 $250 $230 $200 $180 $150 $130

for his third place finish. Steven Pryke from East Gippsland in Victoria caught the largest fish of the tournament, the Atomic Big Bream, which weighed in

one and was sitting at the bottom of the field. Then in a major turnaround he caught three fish for 2.72kg on day two, to finish among the prize money in 6th place and pocketing the Monster Mover power pack. Prize packs also went to the top finishers in the Youth Division, Cullen Di Mattina; the Master’s Division, Alex Franchuk; and First Timer, Ben Battistello. With two rounds to go in the series, competition for places in the Australia team to compete in the 2019 Hobie Fishing World Championship has become a real battle, and only two chances remain to gain a qualifying spot in the Series 10 Australian Championship. A special thanks to Steve

WINNER’S GEAR Rod Reel Line Leader Lure

Daiwa Zero 3-5kg 701MLXS Daiwa Caldia Z 2000 Daiwa J-braid Grand 6lb in island blue Sunline FC Rock 4lb fluorocarbon 3” Gulp Nemesis in camo on a 1/8th TT Headlockz jighead

tournament winning total of five fish for 3.68kg and bagging $1930 for his first tournament win. PATTERSON PULLS ABOARD SECOND PLACE Richard Patterson from Victoria was the runner up in the tournament, with two fish on day one for 1.56kg and three fish on day two weighing in at 1.69kg. Patterson’s two-day total bag of 3.25kg was good enough to take home an excellent $1000 prize purse. Patterson threw 2” black grubs all day on both days of the competition. He went up to Wheelers and was casting into the reefs, casting right up into the rocks and dragging back through. He was using a Daiwa Hyper 1-3kg rod with a Daiwa reel, Sunline PE line and set up with a Pro Lure Grubtail in UV black with 1/12 jighead. In his second tournament

at 1.39kg. The Mortgage Corp Monster Mover prize went to Victorian, Morgan Flook, who caught no fish on day

and Lisa Moore from the official accommodation for this round, the exceptional, Warrnambool Holiday Park & Motel. - Hobie Australia

Cullen Di Mattina is the youngest angler to ever compete in a Hobie Kayak Bream Series, and he won to top it off.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Brought to you by

2018

DECEMBER

1-2 Dec

Lake Mulwala Cod Classic

Lake Mulwala

www.codclassic.com.au

2019 JANUARY FEBRUARY

MARCH

12-13 Jan

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 1

Bemm River

20-21 Feb

ABT BREAM Round 1

Marlo/Bemm River

23-24 Feb

ABT BREAM Round 2

Gippsland Lakes

2-3 Mar

ABT BASS Round 1

Clarence River

2-3 Mar

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 2

Mallacoota

9 Mar

ABT BASS Electric Round 1

Richmond River

19-21 March

ABT BREAM Australian Open

Sydney

23-24 March

ABT BREAM Round 3

Botany Bay

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

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DECEMBER 2018

Top 5 events in 2018 As we close out the year, I thought it was time to reflect upon the events that we have been involved in. Track My Fish just crossed 50 events and monitoring projects since October 2016, and as I write this, I am about to head to New Zealand for trial events. Things started off slowly, now I only have December off for maintenance and updates before launching into 2019 where our first event starts over in WA on 16 January. Having said that, I can’t wait to get out on the ABT Barra Tour – we have two members of the Infofish team going this year, so the bug is catching. One of the things that often surprises event organisers is we make every effort we can to get around to the event to be there in

do all the work helping people get across the app, we take scorecards, run the live scoreboards, get stuff for social media – basically anything we can do to help we do. That makes life a lot easier for event organisers as they can just focus on other things – like fishing. We don’t charge anything extra for that service, many events help us out with accommodation – I am setting up my XTrail for sleeping on site to make that easier. While we are onsite, we are there to work. Or at least, I am told that it’s work because being a sports tragic at heart my dream job is being the stats man/commentator at ESPN Cricinfo, so for me it does not work so much as living the dream. I have loved every event I have been involved with, but just to set the bar for everyone – I have selected

EVENT SUMMARY: THE REEL WIVENHOE CLASSIC Total Hours 15 Total Fishers 92 Total Teams 62 Total Fish 167 No. Teams Caught Fish 46 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 16 % Teams Caught Fish 74.2 Best Team Big Delemma (11 fish) Mins/Fish 5.4 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 0.91 Average No. Fish/Fisher 1.82 Total Species 5 Total Trophy Fish 24 Total Legal Fish 127 Total Undersize Fish 0 person. Sometimes, that presents challenges – In September we had events on the Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton and Atherton Tablelands, so I couldn’t be in three places at once. That weekend required the whole Infofish team to go separate ways, and even the development team got in on the action as each of the events had their own custom app. The thing I love the most about getting to the events is we make life easier for the event organisers. Like an extra pair of hands, we

my personal top 5 events of 2018. I haven’t picked them on anything other than these were the events that caught my attention with x-factor or bravery. We have started to put together an overall stats block for each event we go to so that fishers can evaluate the different events and have a sense of the differences between them. The measure I look at the most is the minutes between fish, this is the ‘excitement factor’ for an event. The lower this value, the higher the potential live audience for real-time

social media, scoring and commentary because there is action aplenty. Not every event looks to the excitement factor, but events that harness a strong excitement factor with audience interaction will have a significant advantage in attracting an audience, younger fishers and sponsors. I have other measures for excitement factor in development, but that will come in 2019. On that point – we all know that mobile coverage sucks in remote areas, that is, many places we fish. This is the single biggest bottleneck in audience development long term, but that is a discussion for another day. Onto the top 5. 5: SWANFISH (SWAN RIVER) Swanfish is an annual event over in Perth hosted by Recfish West. This was the second event we put together with a branded app and the very first we have run where there was no briefing session for fishers using the app. Swanfish was also the first land-based event we have been involved with, the centre of a capital city no less. I have reported on the Swanfish event in an earlier edition of Fishing Monthly but the thing that makes this my first choice is the way Recfish West took the bold decision to go from a traditional weigh-in event to an app-based catch and release event sending a clear signal to the community even at the risk of losing entrants. All the evidence I have seen so far where we have been involved in that transition says you do lose participants in the short term mostly older but gain younger fishers once they realise that there is an option that suits them. Swanfish is the slowest of the events in the top 5 with 8.7 minutes per fish but that is far from shabby, and I expect that will get even better next year. 34% of the fishers caught fish, which reflects the number of families involved, and there

2018 saw some exciting fishing events all around the country, but 2019 is set to be bigger and better! 82

DECEMBER 2018

EVENT SUMMARY: SWANFISH

were two trophy fish. Swanfish has the foundations for growth with some marketing. I am looking forward to getting over for Swanfish 2019. 4: THE REEL WIVENHOE CLASSIC (LAKE WIVENHOE) Anyone who has met Matthew Mott knows he is a force of nature, that unique combination of fishing talent and larger than life personality. Half of what he says is true, so is the other half. Matt needs a straight man to make the act work, and when you add in Andrew Mitchell, you have a dynamic duo. It has to be said that while Andrew is the quieter of the two, he has his own evil streak if you

Total Hours 24 Total Fishers 221 Total Fish 166 No. Fishers Caught Fish 76 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 145 % Fishers Caught Fish 34.4 Most Fish Joseph Gardner (6), Danny Robbins (6) Mins/Fish 8.7 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 0.38 Average No. Fish/Fisher 0.75 Total Species 14 2 Total Trophy Fish Total Legal Fish 43 Total Undersize Fish 54 fish with 24 of the 167 fish being trophy size. 3: BARRA NATIONALS (DALY RIVER) If you are a serious fisho, you should aim to do the Barra Nationals at least once in your life – just make sure you practice your drinking skills, because the boys in the Territory will leave a

seems highly unlikely that the locals will give him an easy time so he will want to be top of his game. Knowing Griffo – he will be, so expect fireworks. Griffo made this year’s Nationals a fun experience for me, as while Griffo was an unknown for most of the field, I have been analysing

The 4lb Club at Hinchinbrook is a hard comp to top in terms of the excitement factor. happen to get caught making a goose of yourself. Andrew is the glue that makes the events run and deserves a lot of credit for the hours he puts in. The fishing freshwater series has become the most anticipated event on my calendar because the folks out west know how to have a good time. Things happen out there that just don’t happen in the sanitised city life anymore. I cannot recommend more highly to go to one of the fishing freshwater events, leave behind the stresses of daily life and remember that in the end – the good times are what you live for. Everyone needs to see Matt the MC once in their lives, late-night TV talk shows are a pale shadow of the real thing. Lake Wivenhoe has a reputation for big fish, not high catch rates but the rate of 5.39 minutes per fish was far from slow action. This is a teams event with a larger number of family teams, so we focused on results by team. 74.2% of teams found

slew of unsuspecting eastern coasters in their wake. The nationals is the biggest event on the fishing calendar in my estimation, the fishing equivalent of Test Cricket as much a test of endurance as

his performances since 2012, so I saw the ominous signs on the first day. Having said that the remote location for the nationals made the first day of the event a technical nightmare for us, though

EVENT SUMMARY: BARRA NATIONALS Total Hours 47 Total Fishers 210 Total Fish 1185 No. Fishers Caught Fish 197 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 13 % Fishers Caught Fish 93.8 Most Fish Craig Griffiths (30), Wally Wilton (30) Mins/Fish 2.4 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 2.7 Average No. Fish/Fisher 5.36 2 Total Species Total Trophy Fish 4 Total Legal Fish 492 Total Undersize Fish 640 fishing ability. It’s a cutthroat business on the water but one huge party off. This year Craig Griffiths snuck into town as an unknown quantity and snuck out equally fast having just raided one of the biggest trophies in the land. He has plans for 2019, but it

we managed to bring things together by the final day. Forewarned is forearmed and we added new features to the app that will make running events with no mobile signal (and lots of competitors) a much smoother process. The lack of signal makes the nationals less appealing

as a real-time event, but the endurance factor provides a lot of compensation with the last two days being full blackout there mouthwatering anticipation when it comes to announcing the winner. The nationals turned out a fish every 2.4 minutes, with 93.8% of the field catching at least one barra with four trophy fish. Expect a few more trophy fish next year and a few less small fish, which will amount to better scores. 2: 4LB CLUB (HINCHINBROOK) If you are after the excitement factor in an event, the 4lb Club is the number one event on our calendar. The first day was murder for me, trying to get

The Barra Nationals on the Daly River is a competition every serious angler should try at least once.

EVENT SUMMARY: 4LB CLUB Total Hours 17 Total Fishers 113 Total Fish 1118 No. Fishers Caught Fish 97 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 16 % Fishers Caught Fish 85.8 Most Fish Michael Raisbeck (38) Mins/Fish 0.9 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 4.95 Average No. Fish/Fisher 9.89 Total Species 44 Total Trophy Fish 12 Total Legal Fish 338 Total Undersize Fish 660 all the teams sorted (with competitors registered by nickname) and processing 550 fish in a day. The second day was much smoother up until 3:30pm when a flood of catches came in from the remote areas. I was in a groove by then, so the scores were all completed on time

Then there are the anglers pulling coral trout, sweetlip and other reef species. Respect! Producing those sorts of numbers takes some serious fishing skill. As much as I love the anglers on the bream, bass and barra circuits, I think that this was one of the most complete

in the mood to see a good fishing comp! 1: SCF RESEARCH & SUSTAINABILITY EVENT (SUNSHINE COAST) It’s going to take an unbelievable event in 2019 to top the SCF Research & Sustainability Event for me. My first involvement with the event dates back 12 months and much of the past year has been spent running back and forth from the Sunshine Coast. To be fair, when Dean Jackson first contacted me, he put up all the right numbers that suggested he knew what he was in for, but no new event is easy to get off the ground. Anything named ‘Research & Sustainability’ is going to be hard to market to a region that has been dominated by traditional weigh-in events for decades.

I knew that there was a kind of underground movement of younger guys who love catch and release fishing, what I didn’t realize was how large that group was or that they would turn out in such numbers. What really took the event next

care and released into the waters safely lest the green movement come down on the event. We also allowed rays, I actually openly advocated for it on a hunch, and we discussed handling so that both fish and humans exited the encounter uninjured. Rays proved an unbelievably popular category, and it was evident on the final day from the exhausted, emotional, ecstatic winners that we made the right call. All credit to Dean, getting any event off the ground is hard but to deliver a concept that should be unmarketable and pull together the community to achieve something special will be really hard to top. He put up his own money, and I felt we had to do the same – I stand by my core beliefs that fishing will be around forever if fishers help ensure there are more fish in the future. The good news is Dean isn’t done, he is already working on events in other locations. He has definitely found the right

balance for an extraordinary weekend. I was part of the start of something that was good in the old-fashioned sense of quality and morality, and I am so grateful to the community for making this work. So how did the event do? The objective was to spread the effort across species – the event managed 70 species in total. We measured handling issues for the first time in any event with only 3.9% of fish having problems, none severe but we will be going back to competitors next year and making some recommendations to get even better results next year. All up 756 fish were caught at 2.9 minutes per fish. BRING ON 2019 We still have events to run, but I am already looking forward to the coming year. Every time we get involved in a new event there is a chance to meet new people, learn new things about the fish we all love. Thank you to everyone who shared their events with

The teams at the 2018 Barra Nationals had a great time both on and off the water.

Anything named ‘Research & Sustainability’ is going to be hard to market to a region that has been dominated by traditional weigh-in events for decades, but the stats proved otherwise, with 166 fishers taking part in this exciting event. with one person on a job that took several to do before. The other thing that makes this event so special is the results are all achieved with 4lb line, a gobsmacking 1118 fish at that. Hinchinbrook is not the gentlest of environments either. Two of the most common species, blackspotted and goldspotted rockcod (156 and 118 fish respectively) indicate a lot of time fishing structure.

fields of skilled fishers I have ever seen. The numbers back me up on that. A fish every 0.9 minutes with 12 trophy fish and 85.8% of the field coming back with fish is impressive stuff. Add in 4lb line and that’s something special! Think you have something better? You’re always welcome to get in touch with me and show me how it’s done. I am always

level was the appearance of spearfishers, free divers, families, land-based, boat based, inshore, offshore, pelagics, bait, lures – basically every type of fisher you could imagine. This was a community wanting to make a statement, and as the local member popped in to see Dean at his café, I think that message was heard loud and clear. On the briefing night I had the job of presenting the rules, and as there were sharks included on the list, I laid down the law. Including sharks was about gathering data, all sharks had to be handled with

balance of fun, excitement for the followers, a format that is aimed at doing good things for the fish and fishers. My sports heart and stewardship mind found a

us… I hope we deliver even bigger things in the next 12 months. Have a safe Christmas and get out the fishing rods! See you all in 2019!

EVENT SUMMARY: SCF RESEARCH & SUSTAINABILITY EVENT Total Hours 36 Total Fishers 166 Total Fish 756 No. Fishers Caught Fish 123 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 43 % Fishers Caught Fish 74.0% Most Fish Trent Kiehne (30) Mins/Fish 2.9 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 2.3 Average No. Fish/Fisher 4.55 Total Species 70 Total Trophy Fish 19 Total Legal Fish 442 Total Undersize Fish 295

Fishing freshwater events such as The Reel Wivenhoe Classic is a great way to unwind and enjoy your time on the water. DECEMBER 2018

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CENTRAL

PROVEN WORLD LEADING

ANCHOR DESIGNS

The SARCA EXCEL and SUPER SARCA are certified type approved Super High Holding Power

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

SCREEN PRINTING Logan Specialised Screen Printing (07) 5546 4107

BOAT TRAILER

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Chelsea Yamaha (03) 9772 1212

FISH TAXIDERMY

MARINE ACCESSORIES

MARINE MECHANICS

CENTRAL Stick with convex design and leave the mud behind

All you need to worry about are the fish

CUSTOMISED MAINTENANCE & SERVICE to meet your individual boating needs

Vic Marine & Trailer Warehouse 0412 264 450

www.anchorright.com.au | 03 5968 5014

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

KRIS OAKLEY MARINE SERVICES

5 Quality Drive, Dandenong South 3175 Victoria Email: krisoakleymarine@hotmail.com Phone: (03) 9794 5524

BOAT HIRE

Designed and manufactured in Australia Check out the holding power figures on www.anchorright.com.au

Anchor Right 03 5968 5014 or www.anchorright.com.au

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED… Outboard service & repairs Complete boat & motor fitouts Electrical accessory installations

GT Lures

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS Specialty Fishing Products

www.specialtyfishing.com.au

Lake Eildon Houseboats (03) 9397 6977 Boab Boat Hire Shepparton (03) 5822 2108 Boab Boat Hire Echuca (03) 5482 1992

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION WEST COAST Warrnambool Holiday Park (03) 5562 5031

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. 84

DECEMBER 2018

EAST COAST

CHARTER BOATS

SHALLOW INLET CARAVAN PARK

Able Fishing & Charters, Williamstown (03) 9502 3777

FRESH BAIT | HIRE BOATS | ICE

Adamas Fishing Charters, Barwon Heads (03) 5254 3320

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Shallow Inlet Caravan Park (03) 5687 1385

Big Red Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 1800 805 587 Blue Magic Fishing Charters, Rowville (03) 9759 5301 Geelong Charters & Fishing Trips, Geelong (03) 5275 7107

ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR From

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www.marlocamping.com.au Marlo Ocean Views Caravan and Camping Park, Marlo (03) 5154 8268

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TASMANIA & FLINDERS ISLAND Ausprey Tours, Launceston (03) 6630 2612 Gone Fishing Charters, St Helens (03) 6376 1553 Fish Wild Tasmania, Hobart 0418 348 223 Flinders Island Adventures, Flinders Island (03) 6359 4507

Bemm River Holiday Accommodation & Boat Hire, Bemm River

Lazy Acre Log Cabins

Far Out Charters, Lakes Entrance 0428 401 819

Trout Territory, Northern Midlands (03) 6397 5001

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Espirit Charters, Bermagui (02) 6493 4104 or 0407 260 110 Freedom Charters, Eden (02) 6496 1209 or 0415 602 446 Headland Fishing Adventures, Merimbula (02) 6495 1134 Island Charters, Narooma (02) 4476 1047 or 0408 428 857

From

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K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681 Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080 Narooma Charters, Narooma 0407 909 111 (03) 5155 1323 ♦ 0418 516 555 ♦ 35 Roadknight Street, LAKES ENTRANCE

O’Brien Charter Service, Bermagui 0407 214 124

FISHING GUIDES Lazy Acre Log Cabins, Lakes Entrance (03) 5155 1323

CHARTER BOATS WEST COAST Portland Fishing Charters, Portland (03) 5523 3020

NSW SOUTH COAST Wilderness Fishing Tours, Mallacoota 0424 625 160 Aussie Fish Estuary Adventures (02) 6495 9902 or 0400 062 504

CHANDLERY & ACCESSORIES

CENTRAL

Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014

Timeout Fishing Charters

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

Throw Pillows

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MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS ALL MADE TO ORDER

Techni Ice (03) 9783 1922 X Factor Signs 0413 113 828

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Boat Wrap Specialist www.xfactorsigns.com

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Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or email pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au DECEMBER 2018

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS FISHY CHRISTMAS CAROLS

AWAY IN A TINNY DECK THE LURES JIGGING BELLS DRUMMER FISH JOY TO THE PERCH O FISHY NIGHT DAYS OF CARPMAS SANTA COD LAST CODMAS

DTD - REAL FISH OITA

LET EM CHEW SNAPPER BABY SALMON TELL ME FLATTY THE SNOWMAN WAHOO WONDERLAND BOAT RIDE FELIZ NANNYGAI ANGLERS SING SHALLOWLUJAH

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VIC DECEMBER 2018

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

The ‘Real Fish Oita’ is an incredible, award winning squid jig manufactured in Europe by leading Croatian company - DTD. Taking out the coveted ‘best new product’ in its class at the EFTTEX 2015 Expo in Warsaw, this wonderful range is now available in Australia through Dogtooth Distribution. The product imitates real fish species. This coupled with DTD’s use of only the highest grade materials available, ensures great balance and results in superior catching ability. With the unique ‘fish parasite’ feature, aimed at luring predators in for an ‘easy kill’, these truly unique jigs are set to explode into the Australian market. FEATURES - Double weight system with inner weight designed to produce sound while squid jig is in action. COLOURS - 7 different designs representing popular fish species. ADDITIONAL - Luminous body, fish parasite, great balance, sound effect, quality stainless steel hooks SIZES - 5 Sizes available www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to, George Rogowski who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – V&TFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for October is R Camba of South Morang, who won a Wilson Fishing Pack valued at $300. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks.– V&TFM

Wrattonbully, B Bell of Wodonga, T Crawford of Wy Yung, J Brumby of Nirranda South, C Kelly of Cranbourne, E Forrester of Merricks, G Smith of Stawell, S Andrighetto of Inverloch, J Saunderson of Chelsea, G Easterbrook of Rosebud, R Chester of Bairnsdale, L Milkins of Wonthaggi, P Hurd of Toolamba, R Sanders of Koo Wee Rup, R Batty of Brighton, K Hartley of Coburg North, R Coombes of Vermont, R Drendel of Mt Helen. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

MAJOR FIND THE PRIZE

The Daiwa Major prize winners were: 1st J Laseczyk of Newborough who won $1000 Daiwa products, 2nd D Spinks of Scone who won $500 Daiwa products, 3rd R Taskis of Ashmore who won $200 Daiwa products All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks.– V&TFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

DECEMBER 2018

GUESS THE FISH?

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Snapper

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for October were: 16, 18, 20, 24, 26, 30, 35, 40, 42, 44, 52, 55, 58, 61, 88, 93.– V&TFM The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for October were: R Parry of Stawell, A Bonner of Coragulac, R Moore of Greenvale, J Hines of Leopold, R McKenry of Wheelers Hill, J Gillett of Portarlington, T Sheppard of Harkness, N Bryant of North Albury, L Zinga of St Helena, R Waters of Temora, B Shelton of Romsey, J Kerr of Grovedale, R Meaney of St James, I Lovel of Bealiba, P Jeffrey of Cardigan, M Adams of Grahamvale, J Aquilina of Keilor Downs, D Dunn of Warrnambool, N Byrne of Waldara , F Healey of Traralgon, J Beer of Williamstown, J Neilson of Rochester, B Howieson of

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

Inside story...

At Anglapro they share their customers’ passion for both fishing and boating. The hulls are built by a team that draw from this passion to provide anglers with a true fishing weapon. From estuary fishing boats to offshore angling machines, Anglapro have boats to suit almost every type of angler.

Made for...

Anglapro build tough boats for Australian conditions, and this is something they pride themselves on. The end result is a safe and great riding craft for anglers with a sense of adventure.

This month...

Peter Jung takes a look at the Anglapro Sniper 444 Pro with Suzuki 60hp 4-stroke. Check it out on page 94!

90 One of those days

Not all days are full of fish, but when things don’t go right in the kayak, it’s important to have a laugh, as Justin Willmer explains.

92 Wild weather boating Wayne Kampe offers some tips for dealing with summer’s wild weather when out in the boat.

96 Quintrex Trident 650 with 200hp Mercury Editor Steve Morgan jumps into this offshore-ready rig in Mandurah, Western Australia.

DECEMBER 2018

WHAT’S NEW BOATING STEFAN LAUNCHES NEW REFLEX RANGE 1

SAVAGE RAPTOR EXTREME

Stefan Boating World has launched a new range of Reflex Boats, delivering affordable family boating. The Reflex Marine Division has been designing and building Reflex fibreglass boats since the 1970s, and their Chianti models exceed International CE requirements and are certified for stability and floatation compliance. They have outstanding build quality and fit-out, with zero timber. There are six models available: the Chianti 485, 530, 585, 635, 655 Hard Top, 705 Hard Top, powered by Yamaha. The 485-635 models are small enough to launch and retrieve on your own, yet big enough to handle the rough stuff and carry four to seven people in comfort. The 655 and 705 models are aimed squarely at anglers. They have uniquely designed cockpits, a large uncluttered working area, easy walkaround access to the bow, and ample seating for long trips offshore. www.stefanboatingworld.com.au

The Savage Raptor Extreme is a v-nose punt dinghy with increased internal freeboard thanks to the higher sides and greater beam. Suited for river, creek and estuary fishing, boaties of all ages will find enjoyment out of this boat. Available in two models, 355 and 375 with 15hp and 20hp ratings respectively, the Raptor Extreme is a great choice for off-road and camping adventures. Trailerable or a cartopper, this dinghy is designed to add excitement in the most remote areas. This boat comes standard with grab rails for loading, anchor storage and a deep floor for comfort while on the water. There are also large front and rear bench seats with plenty of room in the centre for fishing and crabbing. The Raptor family consists of the Savage Raptor, Raptor Extreme and Raptor Pro, ranging from 3.5m to 4.4m. They have been created to take anglers on adventures all over the country, from the rainforests in Northern Queensland, to the lakes across Western Australia. www.savageboats.com.au

CLUB MARINE’S SUMMER REWARDS 2 Club Marine is giving away $25,000 worth of prizes in its ‘Summer of Rewards’ promotion. All participants need to do to be in the running is to have a Club Marine Pleasure Craft Insurance policy and a Club Marine Magazine subscription in either Australia or New Zealand at the time of each draw between November 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019. Each month during the promotion period, five Club Marine members will each win $1000 to spend at Club Marine Member Rewards partners (listed on the Club Marine website). Club Marine members enjoy a wide variety of exclusive benefits from a ever-growing group of prominent marine businesses. With Summer of Rewards, 25 winning members will each receive $1000 to spend with up to three Member Rewards partners, including Henri Lloyd, Hamilton Island, Musto, Big4 Holiday Parks, Australian Marine Wholesale, Barz Optics, Boat Shoes Online and JSW Powersports, among others. Prize winners will be contacted and announced on the Club Marine website after each monthly draw. www.clubmarine.com.au/ SummerOfRewards

NEW LOWRANCE ELITE TI2

The Lowrance Elite Ti2 gives anglers access to features previously reserved for Lowrance’s premium HDS family of displays. One of the main features is Active Imaging Sonar, which combines Lowrance CHIRP sonar, with Side and DownScan Imaging to allow anglers to quickly search fish-holding structure, and enhances FishReveal with higherlevel clarity and target separation. Simple to use, without the need to change frequencies while fishing in most conditions, the Active Imaging 800kHz setting provides crystal-clear detail with uncompromised range. For anglers needing to see farther than 120ft (36m), Active Imaging can also operate at the 455kHz frequency. Elite Ti2 also lets you wirelessly share sonar and charting between two displays, as well as sync waypoint data. Additionally, it provides Bluetooth notifications so you can keep their phone stored in a safe location while still receiving incoming call and text notifications. Lowrance Elite Ti2 is available in 7”, 9”, and 12” display sizes, and various charting and transducer bundles. Price: SRP $1299-$3599 www.lowrance.com 88

DECEMBER 2018

C-MAP EMBARK APP

C-Map Embark is a navigation app that simplifies planning, cruising and fishing. It shows you the most important info at any given time, so you can discover new places safely and confidently — just like a local. There is helpful info about local marinas, harbours, beaches, shops and more, and you can also share exciting new places and routes with friends. Embark is powered by map data from official hydrographic offices, and it’s continuously updated and augmented to help fill gaps in coastal and inland water bodies. Updated monthly, the maps ensure users always have the most current charts on smartphone, tablet or PC. The charts show all the info needed to navigate safely, and Contour Mode offers a hires bathymetry view, helping you target the best fishing spots. Users travelling to an area without internet or cellular data coverage can upgrade to Premium and download off-line maps and weather. C-Map Embark is now offering users a free twoweek trial on Google Play and the App Store. lightmarine.c-map.com/mobile/cmap-embark-app

C-MAP GENESIS SOCIAL MAP

PRODUCT GUIDE

2 3

5 6

C-Map Genesis subscribers can now select and follow Favourite Waterbodies in Social Map and get weekly updates about increased acres mapped on them. Selecting a Favourite Waterbody will provide both free account and Genesis Edge subscribers with: an up-to-date accounting of how much of the waterbody’s total acreage has been publicly mapped by the C-Map Genesis community, and quicklinks to view and/or download for use on a compatible Lowrance, Simrad or B&G sonar/GPS unit updated charts for your Favourite Waterbodies. After selecting one or more Favourite Waterbody, you will receive a weekly email that announces how many acres of new mapping was added in the previous week to the chart of your Favourite Waterbodies (provided the waterbodies were updated that past week). Social Map is a free online collection of inland and coastal charts generated by fishing, cruising, and sailing enthusiasts. Anyone with a C-Map Genesis account can download Social Map charts to an SD card for use in a compatible chartplotter. insightgenesis.wordpress.com

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Online - ANYTIME DECEMBER 2018

Just one of those days… BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

I caught up with my mate Baz recently and we ended up talking fishing and it wasn’t long before a plan was hatched to kayak fish

first casts for the day. I let Baz drift ahead of me to get first shot at the fish. Three casts in and my little 2.5” paddle-tail soft plastic was nailed by what felt like a solid flathead. A few spirited runs and I had a mid 50s flatty beside the kayak and slid the net under

back of Baz’s kayak, as there was no need for a second icebox to keep our lunch separate from the catch. A couple of ice bricks in a large zip lock bag would ensure the catch was kept in good condition, for a feed of fresh flathead fillets and salad. So often when you catch

What a cracking morning.

A fun size trevally in the net after a spirited fight on light gear. early the next morning. The water wasn’t a great colour after some recent rain, the moon wasn’t ideal and the breeze was supposed to blow from a direction that isn’t favourable… but you know what, we had the time and the morning was supposed to be fine and calm. A 5am arrival and we were pushing the yaks off not long after, making our

Just as the tide was starting to turn to take us back toward our launch point Baz cast to the edge of a nice drop off, the plastic sank to the bottom and he started a slow hop and wind retrieve that resulted in a solid hit! Unfortunately, that’s where the strike ended, resulting in a few muttered words. Baz was suffering from ‘one of those days’, including no bites, catching loads of weed and other random structure and even scoring a nice loose loop of line that took some sorting. Just when we thought it couldn’t get worse I looked over to see Baz stretching

Even small flathead are good fun. This one ate a midnight oil coloured ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ.

it for easy handling. Once on the lip grips Baz snapped a couple of pictures and I decided to keep this one for a meal after releasing the bulk of the fish landed of late. The lip grips make it easy to transfer the fish securely to the icebox, minimizing the chance of ‘the one that got away’ stories. As we were only doing a short session we just had the one icebox, stowed in the

A solid flathead to start the day, landed on a ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ.

Ready to launch and get stuck into a few fish. 90

DECEMBER 2018

a fish straight up you get pumped for a hot bite and then that’s it… and this was one of those days. We made plenty of casts to good water for hardly a rattle. All of the usual structure failed to produce until finally I hooked another smaller flathead. This was followed by a couple of rattles and then another flathead in my net that was soon released. We were enjoying the cracker morning on the water, drifting close enough to have a chat, but I could sense that Baz was getting a bit frustrated that he hadn’t hooked up. The last couple of times we had fished were in my boat and Baz had landed some nice bream, flathead and trevally.

his back a bit and then he was in the drink! He leant too far to one side, the yak had tipped and he ended up taking a dip. Fortunately, the kayak had remained upright so no gear was lost… well, almost no gear. Baz noticed the rod and reel I had let him borrow were nowhere to be seen and as we were drifting quite quickly, so it was long gone. I blame myself for this incident as my pedal kayak needs the broken rudder cable replaced and my seat inside is leaking, so I took my small kayak and he used my wife Sheri’s kayak. This kayak is specifically designed for female paddlers and is light, tracks well and is easy to handle – but it

does have a reduced payload and is slightly narrower and less stable. I jokingly said to Baz before we launched that I was lending him an inexpensive rod and reel combo so that when he falls out of the yak and loses the combo it won’t be a big deal. Good thing I carried a spare combo for him in my kayak. Being a surfer Baz had no problem getting back onto the kayak and I struggled not to take a photo of him laying flat with his face in the seat and his feet hanging over the nose. I opted instead to take one when he was safely back in the seat. There were no smiles, well other than mine, when I paddles over

A mouth built to terrorise baitfish.

and passed him the spare combo I was carrying with me. I assured him that losing the rod and reel was worth every cent after witnessing the priceless display of acrobatics, but I couldn’t get much of a laugh out of him.

and Baz had still not landed a fish, only the one bite. The three hour session had produced only four flathead and one trevally, not terrible, but definitely not a hot bite. I was ready to head for home, however, Baz was looking

with a long paddle back to our launch point against the tide, we instead pulled into the bank, loaded our kayaks onto the trolleys and rolled them back to our launch point with just one quick stop on the way to pick up a

however, I find leashes often get in the way and make fishing more difficult. Instead I now opt to run entry-level rods and reels on the SUP and in the kayak, leaving the high-end gear for boat adventures. You can pick up a reasonable combo from $80-$200 that will handle bream, whiting, flathead, trevally and so on, and it’s less of a worry in terms of it getting splashed or potentially lost. We have only lost a couple of combos over the years, however, if you want to be safe leash it. Also, the number one rule for me is don’t put the combo in the flush mounted rod holders on the sides of the kayak behind your seat as I have heard of at least half a dozen being lifted out with the paddle stroke and lost. In hindsight, when faced with the tough bite, we could have paddled back to the launch site and moved spots, changed up lures more often or tried

Baz gearing up for an early morning session.

This day turned into a hot session after catching a fish on the third cast. To follow this up I landed another small flathead and then hooked onto something that ran hard and the head shakes told me that it wasn’t a flathead. A couple of solid runs and then I saw silver, confirming my belief that I had hooked a trevally. Trevally are great fun on light gear, but this

for redemption and I was happy to tag along. We paddled a few hundred metres and drifted a long flat that normally produces a few fish. The problem was we were now well into a big run-in tide and it wasn’t feeling very fishy, with a breeze from the north, strong current and

feed of hot chips. Baz was angry with himself for falling in, losing the rod and reel and not catching any fish… but you know what, that’s fishing and I’m sure it won’t be long until we are both sharing a laugh about the that time we had a bit of a shocker and he went for a swim. Some

Baz working a plastic down a weed edge. something completely out of the box. At the end of the day these tougher days on the water make the good ones even better and at some point we are all going to have ‘one of those

days’. The best thing you can do is get back on the horse and now that Baz has had a couple of days to lick his wounds we are already planning our next adventure. How sweet

the feeling will be when his rod loads up on the next fish that he hooks and who knows, we might even share a laugh about this not so perfect day out. See you on the water.

Rather than fight the current back, the guys paddled to the bank and loaded the yaks onto the C-Tug trolleys for an easy roll back. little bloke had punched well above his weight and it was nice to get a few pictures and then send him on his way. There have been quite a few trevally caught of late and these fish are too good to catch just once, so I always return them to the water. By this time we had reached our launch point

not much bait around. I had one bream rattle on the flats, with no hook up. It was then onto a weedy drain that has produced in the past and again Baz was landing plenty of weed but neither of us hooked a fish. We persisted for an hour or so, flogging the water to foam for nothing and

days you catch them and some days you don’t, but guarantee you won’t catch them sitting at home. It was good to catch up, go on an adventure, see some turtles and dolphins, and still end up with one in the icebox for a feed. If the rod was leashed on we would still have it,

The author with a fun size trevally landed on a soft plastic. DECEMBER 2018

Don’t let bad weather spoil your summer BRISBANE

forward to keep it directly head-on into the majority of the wind and horizontal rain. The visibility was close to zero, but we were far more concerned about the amount of water gathering aft in the cockpit

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

How good is this summer boating! You don’t need to rug up on those early morning starts, and with daylight around 4:00am it’s a matter of smug satisfaction to be pushing off from the pontoon when lots of less fortunate people are still burrowing under the bedding. A successful fishing trip always involves combining a series of variables. Smart anglers consider the tides, time of day, and available time on the water. And of course, the photos they’ve seen on social media. Where would we be without those images to spur us on? Once you have those variables sorted out, you need to look at the weather forecast and consider what effect that might have. A forecast of showers via a prevailing wind is not a great deterrent if you’re fishing in an estuary or some other place where there’s lee shore shelter, and the wind is unlikely to be excessive. Most skippers carry reserve wet weather gear in their boats and besides, we all know how easy it is to fish in light rain – and the fishing is

This boat test was carried out in less than ideal conditions. As long as it’s safe to set out, the show must go on! are not at home. Your boat is in the water and it’s a fair run to the ramp, so it’s a bit late to be wondering if those big dark clouds approaching fast from the west might be storm clouds. It’s a fair bet they will be. If there’s phone coverage (remember that this is never a given), a look at the BOM or similar site could well confirm there’s a storm looming. Shortly, the sound of thunder will reinforce the folly of being on the water in deteriorating conditions. You now need to cooly consider your next move. If the ramp is too far away, there is no option but to

Maroon Dam on a rainy morning. Break out the rain gear and go catch those bass! often better on those days. That said, fishing well away from base or out in one of the larger impoundments is a far different matter, especially if we adjourn the occasional showers and rain gear scenario, and instead think about a big fat thunderstorm. BEWARE THE WEATHER ALERT You know the sort of thing I’m talking about. At the end of a hot day there’s a weather alert on TV that warns viewers to remove anything outside that could be shifted by strong winds, to get the car under cover, and also beware of large hailstones. There are similar warnings on the news websites. But let’s suppose you 92

DECEMBER 2018

else in the boat, but hey – we were still afloat and underway. BE WEATHER AWARE The lesson here is to check all of the weather forecasts before you set up the gear. And don’t make a

take it head on and ride the beast out. SEEKING SHELTER In an impoundment you should head straight for a lee shore and anchor in the shallows under the lee of some trees or a bank. This is as good as it might get under those circumstances. Don’t ever be tempted to tie to long dead standing timber as the boat will pull hard during squalls, and if that spar succumbs to the pressure and falls into the boat there could be very serious consequences. You should also remember that heavy rain, even for a short time, will cause a surprising amount of water to accumulate on the floor of any open boat, so stand by with the small

bucket. Move anything off the floor that should not sit in an expanding puddle. I have been caught out a few storms over the years. These trips were certainly memorable, for all the wrong reasons. One of the times we got walloped was at Lake Monduran. We were well up one of the main arms when a hailstorm struck late in the afternoon, and we were lucky that the hail wasn’t large. Another bad experience came when we decided to stay overnight at Wathumba Creek on Fraser Island. Big mistake. Our target was small black marlin on fly, and the blacks were on the inside of Fraser, within reach of a run north in the 5.5 Galey centre console. The forecast was for light winds and a possible 10-15 knot northeaster mid morning on the next day. No worries, we’d be heading back to Urangan harbour by then! It was dead calm when we climbed into the tent to sleep, but it all turned feral when we woke to casuarina trees sighing to a building northwest blow. Unfortunately, we needed to wait for some water to float the boat which was hard on

the sand at daybreak. The trip south to Urangan was a nightmare of white water on the beam and salty slaps in the face, but we made it back eventually. It was just

In estuaries and creeks, protection from strong wind isn’t far away.

The author’s boat high and dry in Wathumba Creek right when increasing wind from the northwest made them eager to return to base. one of those unlucky times when a favourable forecast proved incorrect. Another time we got caught out in a storm was on Moreton Bay. The boat was a half cabin so we simply drove slowly

floor. Although the bilge pump was giving its best, it looked to be losing the battle so we had to get bailing with a bucket. At the end of the hour-long episode we were soaking wet, as was everything

Some fairly heavy clouds gather at Lake Moogerah. Fortunately, in an impoundment of this size it’s easy to head back to base when you spot a storm looming.

habit of pushing yourself and your boat to the limits, because sooner or later you will bite off more than you can chew. It’s never been easier to assess weather forecasts and likely conditions as long as there’s internet connection available. The Bureau of Meteorology covers the whole of Australia, and many websites incorporate BOM information into their forecasts. If you take Brisbane’s Moreton Bay as an example, there’s Baywind Moreton Bay, Coastwatch Moreton Bay, Moreton Island Weather Watch Forecast 14 day, Willy Weather Moreton Bay, Moreton Bay Weather Seabreeze, Moreton Bay wind forecast, and BOM Moreton Bay Radar. Other waterways near cities and towns also have similar data available. There’s no reason to not to be well informed. Moving from forecasts to current conditions, prevailing wind/wave scenarios are also available via the Observations and other similar pages within weather sites. These can provide wind strength plus wave heights for a huge number of localities in real time data configuration. Local Observations are great to check before you leave home. After all, why drive to the ramp when the conditions are hostile? If you’re planning a trip to a location where the phone coverage is poor, it’s particularly important to closely examine the forecasts and to be super alert for signs that things will turn bad. At the first hint that things might turn pear shaped, start the engine and get going. Once you hear the thunder you have lost control of the situation!

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DECEMBER 2018

Anglapro Sniper 444 Pro with Suzuki 60hp 4-stroke - SC

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444 Pro. Standard inclusions are a white painted hull (inside and out), extended forward and rear casting decks, a fully carpeted floor, a front kill tank (which can be plumbed) and an electronics pack. EXTRAS AS TESTED Although all the above are essential for a boat to be used as a lure casting platform, Simon and his team understand that

Length........................................................4.5m Beam........................................................2.09m Min.hp ........................................................40hp Max.hp .......................................................60hp Bottom.Sheet ............................................3mm Side.Sheet .................................................3mm Hull.warranty ......................................... 5 years Max.persons ...................................................4

DECEMBER 2018

figures. The best return was at 4000rpm; the motor was getting 4.8km per litre of fuel burned at a speed of 31km/h. It could also get up and boogie, with a top speed of just under 55km/h. FINAL OBSERVATIONS The Sniper 444 Pro ticks all of the sportfishing boxes. It rides and handles well, has excellent stability at rest, plenty of fishing space, and the Suzuki brings it all together with power to burn.

PERFORMANCE Main: The ride and handling of the Sniper was impressive. It certainly looked at home at Lake Mulwala. Above: Stability at rest is important in a sportfishing boat, and the 444 is a very stable platform at rest.

SPECIFICATIONS

and fish further afield. I joined Simon Ryan from Boats and More in Shepparton and Echuca at the top end of Lake Mulwala to put it through its paces. PRO INCLUSIONS It’s always nice to know that everything you would like in a boat doesn’t have to be an optional extra. That certainly is the case with the Sniper

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Anglapro has a reputation for producing boats that are firmly targeted at anglers and their specific needs. The layout of the boats has been refined over the years, so many of the features that anglers look for are already in place – all you need to do is add the electronics and smaller options to make it your fishing boat. I have tested a number of Anglapro boats over the years, but this is my first look at one of the Sniper series models from the range. Aimed directly at the sportfishing market, the Sniper 444 Pro is 4.5m long with 3mm side and bottom sheets. The maximum horsepower is 60hp, with a minimum of 40hp. Although its focus may be for inshore waters, lakes, estuaries and impoundments, it does have a 550mm freeboard, which means that in good weather you can spread your wings

pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

cost marginally, they like to ensure the trailer under any of their packages provides the best towing, launch and retrieve and storage of the boat as possible. So, although not needing a braked trailer, the tested boat was on a Dunbier centreline wide frame braked trailer. The package can easily be towed with a family sedan, and we drove the boat on and off the trailer with ease. Launching and retrieving

Peter Jung

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ultimately there are a few other items that provide that little bit more, and had added them to the boat we tested. These included a Minn Kota electric motor and mount, with a battery and charger storage system underneath the front casting deck. They also upgraded the trailer, which I will go through later on in this test.

RIDE AND HANDLING A true test of a boat of this size and style is how easy it is to drive both at high and low speeds. The Sniper 444 is excellent in this regard. It has great manoeuvrability at low speeds and needs very little trimming once up on the plane to get to that sweet spot where the boat almost steers itself. Although the test day didn’t offer any sort of rough water, we did have a few ski boat wakes to deal with, and the Sniper hull dealt with them with ease. Stability at rest is also a key factor, and the 444 is as stable a platform as you will find. Simon and I peppered a few snags with lures during the test, and the boat was very stable and cruised around well under electric power. FISHABILITY You cannot question the fishability of the Sniper 444 Pro. Both casting decks are big enough to be comfortable to fish from, with the forward deck large enough to accommodate two anglers. Trolling and bait fishing are also looked after, with rods holders at the rear

and comfortable seating to chill out on. There was some simple storage for smaller items in the console and side pockets on the test boat, but not a great deal of other storage. There was plenty of room on the day for two anglers and their gear, but if you plan to fish with more people it’s worth talking to Simon about the different storage options available, including rod lockers. TRAILER AND TOWING The Anglapro Sniper 444 Pro is on the cusp of needing a braked trailer. Simon explained to me that although it increases the

RPM......Speed.(km/h). Economy.(km/L) Idle.(800) .............. 4.9 ..................... 10.4 1000 ...................... 6.7 ..................... 10.3 2000.................... 10.4 ....................... 4.5 3000.................... 12.9 ....................... 2.8 4000.................... 30.5 ....................... 4.8 5000....................... 43 ....................... 3.3 WOT.(6100) ......... 54.5 ....................... 2.7 with one person would be very achievable. SUZUKI 60HP 4-STROKE It’s always a pleasure to drive a boat with a well matched motor. The test boat was powered by a Suzuki 60hp 4-stroke, which is the maximum horsepower for the 444. Simon said they have sold packages with a 50hp, but the 60hp is the perfect fit. The Suzuki also provided some solid performance

The addition of the Minn Kota is a must have in my opinion, as it opens up so many more options fishing-wise. The BMT package as tested comes in at just under $35,000. To find out more about this boat and the other Anglapro packages available, you can go the Boats and More website at www.boatsandmore.com. au or contact them on (03) 5822 2108.

The Suzuki 60hp 4-stroke was perfectly matched to the 444. It got the boat up to an impressive 54.5km/h.

The tested package came on a Dunbier Centreline wide frame braked trailer. Although a braked trailer is not required for the package, Boats and More are very mindful that all the packages they sell tow, launch and retrieve easily.

The view from the back of the boat shows the vee-hull with decent reverse chines. These explain why the boat handles so well and has great stability at rest.

Left: Two side pockets are provided for all those smaller items that you need to get your hands on in a hurry. Right: The Suzuki 60hp provided a great combination of power and economy. The best economy was at 4000rpm. You got 4.8km per litre of fuel burned at 31km/h.

The rear of the boat and console has space to burn. There’s room to store items out of the way and a couple of comfy seats.

As far as the author is concerned, an electric motor is a must on this style of boat. The test boat had a Minn Kota 55lb bow mount motor, which is ideal for the job.

The front casting deck is s good size with battery storage and a kill tank underneath it. It is plenty big enough for two anglers to fish from it.

The author with a beautifully coloured Murray cod. It’s always nice to have the opportunity to fish when doing boat tests, and it’s even better when you catch something!

The anchor for the boat is kept well out of harm’s way.

The console and driver’s seat area was well thought out. There’s plenty of room for electronics, gauges and switches, plus some storage. There’s also plenty of leg space for the driver. DECEMBER 2018

Quintrex Trident 650 with 200hp Mercury 4-Stroke - SC

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SPECIFICATIONS Length �� 6.69m Beam �� 2.48m Main motor �� 300kg Min HP �� 150 Max HP �� 200 Bottom sheet �� 5mm Transom �� 5mm Top sheet �� 3mm Capacity �� 8 persons Hull weight ��1020kg 96

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For all of the Telwater Yellowfins I’ve tested over time, I’d never done a Quintrex Trident, so we were pretty excited when Mandurah Marine arrived with a 650 Quintrex Trident Hard Top loaded with one of the new Mercury V-6 3.4L 200HP four strokes. There’s no denying that it’s a good looking package – with the Australian built hull and trailer matched at the factory, complemented by a dark factory installed wrap that matches the jet black and futuristically styled outboard, but it’s in the water where a boat really needs to impress. So, we launched the rig at the public ramp at Mandurah and took her out to sea. First impressions are strong. This is a plate boat with a full, unpainted, aluminium chequer plate deck that would be well suited to some serious

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

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Supplied on a Quintrex twin-axled aluminium I-beam trailer, the rig weighs in at under 2,500kg fuelled and loaded. This means that it can be towed behind nearly all twin-cab 4WDs with relative ease. A fold down boarding ladder

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deckwash and fuel filter taking up side pocket space – even though they’re accessible for maintenance and inspection. I was a fan, however, of the tiltable rocket launcher rod tubes. I’m 5’10” and often have trouble loading

PERFORMANCE RPM Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) 600.............. 4.............................1.60 1000............ 8.............................2.05 2000............ 15...........................1.55 3000............ 24...........................1.20 4000............ 48...........................1.65 5000............ 60...........................1.20 5575............ 74...........................1.05 Main: There’s no doubting that the Trident/Mercury combination brings the goods. The Quintrex factory wrap offsets the jet black motor and the angular lines complement each other. Above: This Trident took the option of extra fuel capacity instead of underfloor kill tanks, giving the rig 250L in total and over 400km of theoretical range. fishing mates doing some serious miles in their search for fish. A pleasant day on the water with no real chop or wind swell didn’t really give us the chance to put the Trident through its paces on a lumpy ocean, but it did allow us to complete a full set of performance statistics. As expected, economy with the new Mercury peaked at 1.65km/L at a cruising speed of 48km/h at 4,000rpm. The V-6 was very quiet at cruising speeds and travelling was pleasant on the calm seas. The motor revved out to 5,750rpm while achieving a top speed of 74km/h. Notably, economy tanks at the top of the rev range and delivers around 1km/L.

The whole idea of a hard top is to offer a part of the boat that’s right out of the elements for when things get hot, rough or nasty, while still leaving ample cockpit room for activities like fishing. The Trident gets this balance right. High gunwales and a 2.48m beam combine to make the Trident a great compromise between comfort on the go and stability at rest. The test boat didn’t have an underfloor kill tank as is popular in east coast boats. Instead, it’s fitted with extra fuel capacity. This Trident carries 250L underfloor to allow a theoretical range of around 400km. The compromise is that you need to bring an icebox for the fish. That’s

not uncommon for WA, where anglers are used to traveling distances to access spectacular fishing.

and transom door lets your mates or family easily load while at the ramp. The transom mounted bait board and port-side livewell allow you to get the job done down back when you reach your destination. I wasn’t a big fan of the

the higher launchers and I appreciate the ease of which these are loaded. As tested, the Trident weighed in at $105,536. Visit www.jvmarine.com. au, or call in to see them at either of the two stores in Laverton North or Braeside.

The Mercury 3.4L platform has the reputation for providing increased midrange torque and the rig definitely packed a punch getting out of the hole.

Carpet-free chequer plate floors look practical and they are – you can clean up with a power washer or a garden hose.

A pair of comfortable helm seats with storage underneath them is all a serious angler needs.

The rear bench seat folds away when you’re fishing and the transom bait station features a second shelf to hold the gear you use all of the time.

Plenty of room to stretch out here. Not so sure I’d want to share the space with a couple of mates for an overnighter.

Top: There’s plenty of freeboard to keep you confidently fishing in open waters. On water transom access for swimmers is easy with the duckboard, transom door and fold down ladder. Left:The test boat came with a berley pot built into the transom. Right: Supplied on a twin-axle Quintrex trailer with electric hydraulic brakes, the Trident will tow behind most twin cab 4WDs quite easily.

Top: The Trident cruised most economically at 4,000rpm where it delivered 1.65km/L and just under 50km/h. Above: You know that this rig will turn heads at the ramp and on the water. DECEMBER 2018

Victorian Tide Times

2018 2018 Local Time

POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA POINT LONSDALE – 144° VICTORIA LAT 38° 18’ LONG 37’

LATHeights 38° 18’ of High LONG 144° 37’ Times and and Low Waters Times and Heights of High and Low Waters MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY OCTOBER SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER Time m Time Time m Time m Time m Time m 0416 1046 MO 1645 SA

1 1 2 0022 0534 2

TU 1157 SU 1757

3 0124 0645 3

WE 1304 MO 1902

4 0220 0746 4

Time 0.81 0332 1.32 0916 0.26 1547 2141 1.51 0412 0.79 0954 1.35 1621 0.20 2215 1.61 0454 0.73 1032 1.40 1656 0.14 2252 1.69 0540 0.64 1113 1.46 1733 0.10 2331 1.74 0631 0.55 1156 1.50 1817 0.11

Time m 0033 1.38 05450436 0.831.63 11521001 1.220.49 1813 0.381.55 SU 1627 2228 0.26 0123 1.43 06490520 0.791.56 12461041 1.240.55 MO 1703 1904 0.341.48 2307 0.31 0206 1.48 07420604 0.721.48 13361119 1.270.61 TU 1742 1949 0.311.41 2345 0.37 0244 1.53 08250650 0.661.41 14221200 1.310.68 WE 1822 2030 0.301.33

Time m 0102 1.52 0356 1.63 0621 0.72 09371.37 0.52 TH 1246 15550.20 1.50 1849 MO 2148 0.24 0201 1.59 04370.62 1.60 0730 10161.44 0.56 FR 1352 16320.18 1.46 TU 1952 2228 0.25 0255 1.65 05220.50 1.55 0830 10571.50 0.60 SA 1451 17130.18 1.42 WE 2046 2310 0.27 0343 1.69 06120.40 1.49 0923 11401.54 0.65 SU 1546 18000.21 1.37 TH 2137 2357 0.32 0318 1.57 0427 1.69 07100.32 1.42 09050026 0.590.43 1013 12291.55 0.69 15050741 1.351.34 MO 1639 18580.27 1.33 TH 1244 FR 2107 0.300.74 2223 1911 1.27 0352 1.59 0508 1.66 0112 0.49 0051 0.39 0942 0.54 1059 0.27 0836 1.29 0818 1.37 15451335 1.380.80 TU 1730 1.53 1329 0.71 FR SA 2141 0.31 2305 2008 1.21 20130.34 1.29

Time 0131 0545 0715 1115 FR 1311 1729 TU1927 2330 0213 0621 0802 1152 SA 1402 1806 WE2011

16 16

17 17

18 18

0250 1.50 0008 0.56 0.37 18 180843 0700 1.37 1.44 SU 1448

1.54 0.52 WE 1.55 0.35

1.53 0.57 TH 1.51 0.33

1230 TH2048 1846 0326 0045 0919 0745 MO 1531 1311 FR2124 1933 0400 0127 0954 0835 TU 1613 1359 SA2159 2031 0434 0215 1028 0933 1653 WE 1457 SU2236 2143

04260208 1.600.55 0545 03001.61 0.4522 0508 0316 1.56 0.65 22 22 10170935 0.491.27 7 7 1142 10300.25 1.37 221102 1033 0.29 1.25 1734 1.51 1626 1.40 1820 1.49 TH WE

0437 7 0529 1033 7 1203 WE 1714

20 20

1.75 0016 0.33 6 0401 0934 0.47 21 21 6 0732 1.42

21 21

7 7

8 8

SA 1319 1942 1955 0230 0138 0815 1445 SU 0855 SU 1421 2036 2118 0317 0245 0906 1001 MO 1538 MO 1539 2123 2243 0400 0406 0952 1104 1628 TU 1658 TU 2206 2355

20 20

1.52 SA 1554 TH 1245 2147 0.15 1911 0447 0109 1.73 1026 0842 0.40 1.51 SU 1646 1344 FR 0.22 2236 2017 0531 0215 1.69 1115 0956 0.35 MO 1740 1500 SA 1.48 2322 2140 0.31

0.63 0.36 1.29 1.54 0.44 0.48 1.37 1.43 0.68 0.36 1.23 1.57 0.51 0.41 1.31 1.47 0.72 0.37 1.18 1.57 0.58 0.34 1.27 1.50 0.74 0.40 1.16

19 19

FR 1500 WE 2056

0138 0043 3 3 0715 1345 SA 0751

5 0313 0842 5

Time 0440 0608 1118 1718 TH 1143 TH 1759 2354 0038 0656 0604 1237 FR 1228 FR 1851 1838

16 16

1.53 0.48 TU 1.57 0.38

19 19

TH 1405 TU 2001

m 1.38 1.60 0.73 0.54 1.23 1.42 0.39 0.30 1.44 1.52 0.65 0.59 1.30 1.36 0.37

1.50 0.64 FR 1.46 0.32 1.46 0.70 SA 1.42

SU 0.76 1.37

0.35 1.40 MO 0.80 1.34

0.83 1547 0.69 MO 1612 SA 1443 SU 2314 2214 0.341.19 2345 2116 22410.42 1.32 2259 04590321 1.590.58 0622 1.54 0542 0425 0.49 0438 10511034 0.441.28 1222 1138 11360.26 1.39 1131 1705 1.400.80 THMO 1911 17131.43 0.60 FR 1733 SU 1607 TU1817 22472228 0.381.21 2354

23 23

0.38 1.41 TU 0.80 1.34

23 23

0.72 0.45 1.20 1.53 0.68 0.26 1.27 1.50 0.64 0.50

1.570.58 1.63 0.39 05320441 0025 0618 0338 0007 1.49 1.28 00000.51 1.40 24 24 9 0614 11241129 0.401.32 9 9 1202 0.33 1.45 0659 1216 24 9 1104 0602 0.24 0.67 05491.47 0.4924 TU 1837 1.43 WE 1746 1.40 FR 1300 0.29 SA 1905 1.47 SU 1623 0.73 MO 1721 0.72 0.431.27 2301 1.39 23252331

TU 1236 1.44 2000 18241.38 0.48

WE 1223 1.31 1830 0.54

44 55 66

WE 1803 2245

Local Time APRIL DECEMBER Time Time m

m Time m m Time m 0521 0.80 0109 1.47 0.75 0622 1.49 06440559 1.57 0.49 1.60 1139 1.18 1.30 1204 12211238 0.49 1.50 0.57 17500.60 0.55 0.34 FR SU 1.37 0.49 1.40 FR 1816 1.28 SA 18481828 SU 0.27 0101 1.52 1.44 0045 1.32 0010 00330654 0.39 0.39 1.52 0.67 06380.44 0.72 0701 07341335 1.50 1.59 0.58 1.36 SA 12461.43 1.24 MO 0.48 0.48 1.35 MO 0.33 SA 1244 18570.62 0.53 SU 13151919 1902 1.23 1959 1.33 0146 1.55 1.51 0132 1.39 01270740 0.51 0.31 0047 0.36 0.55 07300.52 0.62 0830 1.43 1.66 0745 1.45 1.45 SU 13431.37 1.34 TU 1426 0.47 0.48 0.60 TU 0.31 SU 1326 19450.64 0.50 MO 14152004 1.30 2121 1.32 1958 1.19 0227 1.56 1.57 0215 1.45 02280822 0.62 0.26 0131 0.45 0.43 08100.60 0.52 09291511 1.38 1.68 0834 1.39 1.53 MO 14311.32 1.44 WE 0.44 0.49 0.60 WE 0.30 MO 1415 20250.64 0.47 TU 15222045 2106 1.18 1.29 2235 1.36 0303 1.55 1.61 0253 1.50 0225 03380901 0.71 0.25 0.55 0.33 08460.69 0.42 0930 10281550 1.35 1.67 1.36 1.59 TU 15161.28 1.53 TH 0.39 0.52 0.56 TH 0.32 TU 1513 21030.62 0.46 WE 16322121 2222 1.21 2342 1.43 1.33 0337 1.52 1.62 0330 1.54 0456 0.75 0330 0.76 0.62 0939 0.26 0.26 0922 0.33 1127 1.34 1027 1.27 1.37 1627 1.64 1.61 WE 1559 1.59 FR 1735 0.34 FR 1620 0.56 0.48 WE 2157 0.55 0.36 21411.30 0.46 TH 2332 1.43 1.60 04070.78 1.55 0451 0.63 00430411 1.52 1.48 0.23 09591.28 0.27 1125 1.39 06091015 0.74 0.29 1701 1.60 TH 16400.47 1.63 SA 1726 0.38 1222 1.35 1.59 SA 0.41 TH 2220 0.47 FR 18302232 0.28 0.58

m m 0540 0.59 0629 1219 1.49 1.42 1219 0.55 0.66 MO 1807 1837 1.26 Time

16 16

17 17

0030 17 0015 0624 17 0706 0.51 1.43

18 18

19 19

20 20

21 21

22 22

0509 0.84 22 22 1129 0956 1.29 SU 1653

1.43 0.47 TU 1311 1.54 1257 1854 0.54 0.63 1928 1.23 0115 1.48 0057 0705 0.60 0.37 0748 1.38 1.65 WE 1358 1338 1937 0.52 0.60 2030 1.23 0157 1.52 0145 0746 0.69 0.29 0835 1.33 1.72 TH 1443 1425 2019 0.50 0.58 2139 1.25 0238 1.54 0243 0829 0.77 0.23 0928 1526 1.29 1.75 FR 1520 2100 0.46 0.58 2249 1.32 0317 1.54 0352 0.83 0912 0.21 1026 1.28 1.74 SA 1609 1623 0.39 2356 2143 1.42 0.58 0359 1.53 0.22 1728 0.31 1.70 2226 0.60

0513 1.54 1.56 04431.42 1.54 01370445 1.60 1.44 0057 0441 1.52 8 0059 230033 8 1049 23 1113 0.62 0.2223 10370.76 0.22 8 0708 8 23 0.71 0.33 0638 0609 0621 1040 0.81 TH 1756 1.56 FR 1721 1.63 SU 1736 1.53 MO 1739

1.50 0.26 1.63 1313 1.37 1257 1.42 1220 1.32 1231 1.32 SA TH FR SU 2322 0.28 0.47 23000.36 0.50 19172309 0.24 0.63 1829 2310 1857 1819 0.23 0.62 05191.54 1.52 0546 1.63 1.51 02250521 1.65 1.38 0151 0528 1.62 240126 9 1124 24 9 0154 11160.72 0.21 9 0755 1149 0.59 0.2524 9 24 0.66 0.38 0732 0705 0719 1126 0.74 FR 1837 1.50 SA 1804 1.60 MO 1814 1.46 TU 1830

1.45 0.33 1.56 1359 1.38 1345 1.45 1313 1.36 1330 1.37 SU FR SA MO 23410.26 0.54 2359 0.22 0.53 20012346 0.22 0.68 1924 2358 1944 1906 0.16 0.65

0104 0036 0.41 0.37 06060543 1.530.55 0620 1.70 1.45 05581.65 1.49 03060600 1.68 1.32 0242 0623 1.70 0500 01070.60 1.51 0103 0.57 1.39 10 0243 25 10 0006 25 25 250215 0735 0658 0655 1.56 1.52 11591215 0.361.3810 1225 0.56 0.2925 11570.67 0.221010 10 25 10 25 0818 0751 08371200 0.63 0.45 0811 1215 0.66 1205 06561.39 0.4725 0659 1.44 0.64 10 1340 0.34 1257 0.24 1857 1.40 1930 1248 0.33 1831 1.39 1917 1.44 1851 1.55 WE

TH TU 1812 0.62 SAWE 1330 1.50 SU MO 1737 0.61 TH 1310 1.37 2052 2000 1938 1.38 19201.32 0.35 1910 1.43 0.43

SA 1429 1.47 SA 2026 0.19

1401 1.41 SU SU 1951 0.19

1.39 TU MO 1440 2042 0.22

1.40 0.42 WE 1.43 1.49 TU 1425 2016 0.12

0.52 1.48 00050026 0036 1.73 0.59 0.501.36 00221.72 0.59 03430026 1.67 0.73 0330 0051 02060.68 1.61 1.74 0152 0.65 1.51 11 0050 26 26 11 0327 260300 26 26 110147 11 0012 260121 0737 1.48 0.35 0816 0744 0656 0.55 1.3826 06420630 1.490.5211 06400.62 1.441111 09160645 0.59 1.26 07501.31 0.4526 0859 0835 0900 0732 0.58 0608 0742 1.39 0.60 11 1333 0.35 1423 0.38 1344 0.26 1300 0.34 1238 0.51 1312 1236 0.32 1240 0.25 TH

FR WE 1255 1.43 SU TH 1417 1.54 MO TU 1300 1.58 FR 1353 1.42 2039 1839 1.34 0.48 19231851 1.380.52 2146 2104 20091.29 0.26 1947 1.39 0.33

0.67 1.35 1519 1.39 WE 1516 1447 1.45 SU 1509 1.47 MO TH 1.47 0.52 MO TU WE SU 2000 0.19 1.37 19430.14 1.49 21211947 0.24 1.34 2107 2033 2106 2036 0.11 1.44

0405 0345 04160112 1.65 0.77 0416 0200 1.74 02590.76 1.69 0236 0.72 1.61 0.62 1.58 00490114 0.581.45 0115 1.72 0.66 01071.76 0.65 27 27 12 0114 27 120237 270213 12 0134 12 27 27 0937 0918 09540741 0.57 1.22 0948 0857 0.51 08371.24 0.4527 0820 1.33 0.57 12 0704 0820 1.39 0.34 0734 0.54 1.3127 0904 0841 07220709 1.440.5012 07300.58 1.391212 1545 1.45 1532 1.47 1558 1.38 1606 1.49 1500 1.56 1434 1.46 1347 1.63 1332 1.48

1515 0.43 TU 0.30 SA1441 0.29 WE 0.37 TH MO FR FR 1420 SA 1317 20531.27 0.20 2025 1.37 0.25 2138 1932 1.32 0.36 20221927 1.370.43 2245 2217

0.67 1.34 MO TH FR 1421 0.61 MO 1339 0.40 TUTU 1327 0.31 WE TH 1325 0.59 2145 2122 21582045 0.27 1.31 2158 2137 0.15 1.42 2048 0.21 1.32 20450.13 1.43

04480208 1.62 0.79 0501 0319 0440 0429 1.72 03450.82 1.72 0319 0.76 1.68 0.72 1.65 01380156 0.661.53 0159 1.68 0.73 01591.75 0.70 130337 28 28 13 0210 28 280318 13 0224 28 13 28 10310849 0.56 1.19 1014 1002 1036 1015 0.45 09191.19 0.4628 0900 1.30 0.55 13 0754 1001 0953 0907 1.32 0.35 08090745 1.390.4813 0819 0.54 1.2428 08300.54 1.331313 1635 1.36 1622 1.42 1616 1.47 1656 1.48 1540 1.55 1515 1.48 1431 1.65 1408 1.52

1618 0.45 WE 0.28 SU1553 0.33 TH 0.40 SU 1406 FR TU SA SA 1513 21351.28 0.18 2103 1.39 0.20 2345 2331 2237 2020 1.31 0.28 21302000 1.370.35

0.63 1.38 TU FR SA 1543 0.67 TU 1422 0.46 WE WE 1423 0.39 TH FR 1423 0.65 22332148 0.32 1.30 2246 2239 2222 2208 0.21 1.43 2144 0.25 1.27 21550.15 1.39

04290.84 1.71 0400 0.80 1.68 02340237 0.741.60 14 0301 29 140452 09591.17 0.48 29 0939 0839 14 0322 29 1107 0959 1.26 0.39 09040821 1.340.4814 SU 1616 1.52 MO 1554 FR 1512 1.64 SA 1444 1.53

05210319 1.58 0.77 0545 0433 0514 0513 1.67 0250 1.62 0.79 03041.70 0.72 14 29 29 11071007 0.55 1.22 1051 1046 1126 1125 0.40 14 29 0915 0.55 1.1929 09500.52 1.301414 FR 1713 1.33 SA 1749 1.46 WE 1659 1.38 TH 1702 1.45

05081.32 1.66 0442 0.84 1.67 03430316 0.801.63 150042 15 0350 30 10370.81 0.51 30 1019 0921 15 0432 30 0611 1055 1.22 0.43 10120859 1.310.4915 MO 1652 1.48 TU 1633 SA 1550 1.60 SU 1519 1.52

0547 0557 05540440 1.54 0.69 0629 0535 1.61 0357 1.56 0.82 04281.64 0.69 15 30 30 1128 1132 11431118 0.55 1.30 1215 1228 0.36 15 30 1025 0.57 1.1630 11160.50 1.321515 TH 1736 1.34 FR 1752 1.41 SA 1753 1.30 SU 1849 1.41

WE 1730 0.45 SU 1611 0.41 MO 1504 0.27 2215 0.20 2336 2105 1.34 0.24 22442034 1.390.30

TH 1212 1.19 MO 1714 0.41 TU 1615 0.27 22530.43 0.24 2147 0.23 23572111 1834 1.440.26

31 0502 1130

0.79 1.32 WE 1735 0.24

1.72 0.53 1.48 2144 0.17

1.71 0.54 1.47 2225 0.18

31 0524 1100

1.67 0.55 WE 1715 1.44 2308 0.21

WE 1516 0.51 2259 2245 0.31 1.26

TH 1627 0.55 2334 2348 0.37 1.28

TH 1536 0.46 2255 23050.21 1.38

FR 1703 0.50 2344 0.29

31 0011 0551

1.42 0.61 SA 1231 1.40 1823 0.50

0.55 1.46 SA 1537 0.69 SU 1701 0.69 23072248 0.37 1.33 2335 2335 0.30 1.45

SU 1702 0.69 23402343 0.44 1.37

0.46 1.56 MO 1806 0.68

31 0024 0714

0.41 1.54 MO 1306 0.35 1959 1.38

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia2016, 2016,Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide are in local standard time (UTC +10:00)orordaylight daylight savings savings time when in effect TimesTimes are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) time(UTC (UTC+11:00) +11:00) when in effect Moon Phase Symbols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon LastLast Quarter New Moon First Quarter Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Tide predictions for Port Phillip Heads have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions. 98

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