Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly September 2018 by Fishing Monthly

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September 2018, Vol. 13 No. 11

Contents WEST COAST West Coast

Portland 16 Warrnambool 28 Cobden 19 Apollo Bay

CENTRAL Geelong 20 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 38 Gippsland Lakes

Corner Inlet

NSW SOUTH COAST Bermagui 43 Eden 42 Mallacoota 42 Narooma 41 Merimbula 40

VICTORIAN FRESHWATER Robinvale 80 Mildura 80 Snowy Mountains

From the Editor’s Desk... We received an interesting email from the BIA Victoria the week before we went to print. It pointed us towards the Ramp Rage website – a site obviously spawned from thousands of frustrated recreational boaters in this state. With promotional videos featuring prominent ind us try identities including Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner, Ramp Rage tackles the issue of poor boat ramp facilities in Victoria head on. We found this information on their website: ‘Ramp Rage is a community information and grass roots advocacy campaign that aims to increase awareness amongst the Victorian community about issues affecting our public boat launching facilities. Ramp rage is the

voice of 193,000 Victorian registered boat owners! Without that voice, Victoria’s recreational boaters will lose the ability to launch their boats in safety and on time, as well as lose the ability to find a convenient trailer parking spot. It’s death by a thousand cuts at the moment for Victorian boaters, and

now a new threat has emerged that only boaters, with the support of the community and industry, can fix. The marine fees you pay are now going to enforcement officers, who wait for you at the ramp, instead of the fees going towards fixing public boat ramps!

There are reasons why Victorian boaters have the worst public boat ramps in the country. Know them! Fix them! Victorian boaters must speak up!’ We haven’t dug down to check any of the figures quoted, but we’re sure the campaign will definitely cause a stir with those making the decisions. What should you do if you want to get involved? Visit the website at ramprage.com.au. There’s a petition their you can sign and also contact details for local politicians – call them and let them know how you feel about the state’s boat ramp facilities. In other news, the AFTA Tackle Trade Show is over for another year, and there are plenty of pages in this issue dedicated to the best products from the show. We hope you enjoy the read.

Albury/Wodonga 81 Yarrawonga 81 Wangaratta 83 Shepparton 84 Nagambie 84 Bendigo 85 Ballarat 86 Eildon 88

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Back to Basics

Black Magic master class

Chappy’s Hotspot

Dam Levels

Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas

Fun Page

Inland Fisheries Service

Science Meets Fishing

Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold, Cordelia Adams Annie March

Tasmanian Lake Levels

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Testing Booth

Tournament News

Track My Fish

Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

Trade and Services Guide

Victorian Tide Times

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What’s new boating

101

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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Alan Bonnici worked hard for this chunky Moorabool Reservoir brown trout.

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Trout tactics for the start of the season

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Trout

Trout tactics for the start of the season WESTERN PORT

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Growing up in the foothills of the Dandenongs, fishing for trout was my weekly escape. It was even better with Monbulk Creek being only a kilometre from my driveway. Although it may be only a skinny water

while the season may close from the Queen’s birthday weekend in June to 1 September, fishing for trout doesn’t necessarily stop. There are plenty of lakes being regularly stocked. Although it is nice to be hunting trophy trout in our lakes, flicking a softie or casting a fly to a wild brown or rainbow is something extremely special.

that are thriving with fish. If you’re close to Melbourne, the upper Yarra around McMahons Creek and Reefton is a great area to start. The river winds through some tough terrain and holds a very healthy population of trout, which can be caught on lures, fly and bait. There is good access from the roadside and it’s just a matter of parking the car, getting

The Goulburn River is a top producer for opening season trout. Fishing around the Thornton area when the river is low is very productive.

Casting to the right spot can lead to hooking some quality trout. creek, it still delivers some impressive trout fishing throughout spring and it’s not alone – there are hundreds more just like it all worth having a flick in with trout season now open. Speaking of spring, we have finally reached that glorious time of the year. While saltwater anglers are chomping at the bit to chase snapper, for those inland anglers it’s all about trout. Trout fishing in Victoria has gone from strength to strength over recent years. Regular stocking programs have increased the trout populations in our rivers and

WHERE TO GO Victorian streams are thriving with trout and it’s sometimes hard to decide on where to head for opening weekend and thereafter. Too many choices can be confusing but it’s really just a matter of picking one stream one day and trying another the next. In the coming weeks, rivers such as the Goulburn, Stevenson, Acheron, Rubicon, Big, Howqua, Jamieson and the Delatite rivers are go-tos but there are hundreds of other smaller streams that don’t become over crowded with anglers

out to fish a section and then moving onto the next. If you’re up for more of an adventure, further east you have a selection of the better rivers: Tanjil, Thompson, Tarago and Latrobe. Most of these wind through farmland and have great access for anglers. Most of the fish in these rivers are your typical stream trout averaging 300-400g and are willing lure takers.

Trout love cover. Make precision casts in between the weed to encourage a strike.

When fishing in any river it pays to flick into the head of the pools, which is where most of the fish will be holding. To the west, rivers such as the Campaspe around Kyneton and Coliban are also well-known trout rivers.

Even though they are small and shallow, they both have an extremely healthy population of brown and

rainbow trout. These are just a few of the more well-known rivers to make a cast into, but surrounding these there are myriad smaller creeks which also hold plenty of trout willing to take a lure. TECHNIQUES Fishing for trout, no matter what creek or river you fish, requires the same approach. Remember, trout face upstream to see what potential food is flowing down with the current. An angler walking with the flow will only spook the fish as they trundle through the water. It’s imperative for success that you walk against the flow and cast well ahead of yourself to specific points. Even then, stumbling and splashing over the rocks and

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Trout just can’t resist a well placed lure.

Trout through the water will also spook them because of the noise. The best approach is to take your time, look and read the water and make plenty of casts. If you’re a lure flicker, flick the edges of the river to the snags. If the river has boulders or rocks sticking out of the surface then cast ahead of them bringing the lure through the current to pass by the eddy formed behind the rock; this is most likely where a trout will be waiting. Keep in mind; brown trout tend to favour an area with less current while rainbow trout tend to be found in the more turbulent water. Most rivers are pretty

fishing methods can vary too. Firstly, you could have a bunch of garden worms rigged on a running sinker rig cast into the current to slowly flow down with the water’s flow, while next you could be suspending

wire berley cage clipped onto a ledger boom, which your mainline is threaded through. The berley tends to be a mix of aniseed pollard stuffed into the berley cage, which also acts as the sinker. On the

A little Tanjil River brown.

Trout are cannibals, so build your lure collection with trout imitation lures.

much the same with fast runs leading into slow, deep pools. When working a pool, a deep diving lure worked around the edges is quite productive, but also don’t be too shy to focus your energy where the fast water enters the pool. More often that not, there are a few trout loitering in these areas waiting for food to flow down. Casting up into the fast water and bringing your lure down is an effective technique. If you’re planning on bait fishing then you’ll have to take a slightly different approach. Bait

Stream trout can be difficult to hook when retrieving a lure so make sure you have the sharpest of hooks rigged on them. a mudeye under a float and letting it slowly drift into the deep pools with the current. Another effective bait fishing method is to use berley. This is done by rigging a small plastic or

hook have a few gents (maggots) to float in the current. The trout pick up the smell of the berley and when they move in, devour the maggots. All these bait fishing To page 10

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Trout to work along the bottom. Keep jigheads light though, so as the plastic is sinking it gives a natural baitfish

From page 9

methods are effective it just comes down to where you position your cast. WHICH LURES Fishing for trout at this time of the year is extremely successful for all methods but when it comes to lure fishing, things can get a little more technical. Depending on the river being fished, a selection of shallow and deep diving lures will be required. Obviously, for the deeper sections, a deep diving lure that reaches around 2m will suffice, but make sure it’s a suspending model, so that during the retrieve you can pause the lure and allow it to stop moving. Trout will often attack it when this happens as the lure

Flicking around structure is where you’ll find a hungry trout. becomes vulnerable. Shallow diving lures are best used for the shallower sections. These should be floating, so if you happen to bump into a snag, the lure can be left to float up over it before the retrieve is continued. While there are plenty of lures on offer, small creek fishing tends to warrant smaller lures. Yakamaito

The Goulburn River holds some very big rainbow trout.

These fish are fun to catch and it’s a great feeling seeing them swim off. Slim Minnow 60s, Yo-Zuri Pins Minnow 50 and Yakamaito’s Raven II tend to be a good selection followed by the Zerek Tango Shad 50, Yakamaito SXY Shad and Rapala’s Original F5s and F7s for the deeper pools. If you’re a soft plastic fanatic then you’re ready for action. Softies are extremely effective on trout in rivers mainly because they are easy

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presentation. Jigheads in the 1.5g and 3g weights with a #1 or #2 hook size are ideal. As for plastics,

Zerek’s Live Flash Minnow Wriggly, Berkley 3” PowerBait minnow, Berkley 2.5” T-Tail minnow and the Keitech 3” Easy Shiner are just downright deadly. With the season now open, suiting up and wading through our majestic rivers first thing in the morning is very rewarding and enjoyable. There are plenty of trout to be caught, it all comes down to picking a river or stream and turning the key in the car’s ignition.

Be careful when wading in rivers as some of the pools can be very deep.

Rivers such as the Tanjil are reliable producers of trout. Flicking around the weed beds is where you’ll find them holding.

SEPTEMBER 2018

Science meets fishing

Tagging reveals snapper secrets GEELONG

Ross Winstanley

We know more about the life history of Port Phillip Bay’s snapper stock than we do of any other major snapper stock in Australia. And the news keeps getting better for snapper anglers, who stand to gain more insights into snapper following the results of the latest study of snapper movements in the Bay. In fact, anglers who keep detailed records will be able to more confidently plan their seasonal fishing calendars. For more than 60 years, Victorian fisheries researchers have been at the forefront of applying the most up-todate tagging techniques to unlock the secrets of snapper. Increasingly diverse and technically advanced forms of tagging have played a major role in revealing the origins, dispersal, localised movements and larger-scale migrations of snapper in the Bay and the wider range of this stock, between Wilsons Promontory and Kingston, SA. This article outlines the results of the Victorian Fisheries Authority’s (VFA’s) three year long acoustic tracking study of the movements of individual snapper as they moved around Port Phillip Bay and entered, left and re-entered the Bay. NEW AGE SNAPPER TAGGING AND TRACKING The VFA team, led by Paul Hamer, added the latest chapter to this story by inserting acoustic transmitters or tags in snapper to track their movements inside Port Phillip Bay and as they moved in and out of the Bay. These surgically implanted tags emit acoustic signals or ‘pings’ that are detected at distances of up to 400m by strategically placed listening stations moored on the seabed. Listening stations record dates, times and the unique tag identification number of each fish. Between November 2011 and December 2013, 157 snapper were tagged: 53 pinkies of 22-34cm and 104 adults of 35-87cm. Movements and associations of snapper with listening stations, habitat types and surface temperatures were recorded between November 2011 and December 2014.

One month before tagging started, 47 listening stations were moored around the Bay, including the entrance channels to the Bay and a string of stations across Port Phillip Heads. Some listening stations were provided to anglers for use as mobile stations. Fixed station locations included six artificial reef sites in 11-20m of water and six natural reef sites in 5-9m. Most other stations were located near well-known snapper fishing marks, particularly in the regions of Carrum Bight and Hobsons Bay. A summary of the report of the Recreational Fishing Licence-funded study, headed ‘Tracking Snapper in Port Phillip Bay’ is available on the VFA’s website at vfa.vic.gov.au. The report and this article make the distinction between: • The numbers of detections recorded by listening stations,

days. The more times a fish was detected, the more sites it was likely to have visited. Adults tended to move around a lot and not spend long periods associated with individual listening stations. Juveniles: Unlike adults, juveniles had much higher detection rates, indicating that they spent longer periods than adults close to listening stations. Thirty-two fish each recorded more than 1000 detections, including 15 with more than 10,000 detections. In contrast to adults, there was no relationship between the number of detections and the number of sites visited. Most fish were detected at five or fewer stations and only three were detected at (the maximum) eight stations. One remarkable juvenile was recorded 156,616 times over two seasons, showing

Fig. 1. Port Phillip Bay showing the main regions, localities and listening station positions. including multiple detections of individual fish, sometimes referred to as frequencies of detection; and • The numbers of individual fish recorded by listening stations. FISH DETECTION PATTERNS Over the entire study, a total of 733,157 tag pings were recorded and these data were analysed separately for pinky and adult snapper life stages and described for the three broad regions shown in Fig. 1. Adults: Of the 85 adult snapper detected, 31 were detected more than 100 times. One small adult fish was detected 3513 times. Twelve adults were detected at 11-21 stations and 22 adults – mostly above 60cm – had detection periods spanning 100-750

localised movements between Mordialloc and the artificial reefs as far south as Seaford. OVERALL SEASONAL PATTERNS Detections of tagged adult snapper showed distinct, reasonably consistent patterns. This was more so in the eastern section of the Bay between Beaumaris and Mornington – the main fishing and spawning area. Peak detection numbers were recorded from October to December, with smaller peaks in April and May. The pattern was similar in the northwestern section of the Bay, including the Geelong Arm where a smaller peak in June-July 2012 indicated adults which remained there over winter. Springtime detections in

FACT BOX • Most adult snapper spend October to December in the Bay each year, aggregating from Hobsons Bay to Carrum Bight and in the Geelong Arm, then leave immediately after spawning. A smaller number remain until April-May, mainly in deeper waters, before leaving the Bay. • No movements in or out of the Bay were detected in June, July and August. • Juveniles are highly dependent on natural reefs in autumn and winter, but use both natural and artificial reefs in spring and summer. • Adults detected migrating in and out of the Bay across multiple years showed very similar timings and movement patterns within the Bay. • One remarkable juvenile was recorded 156,616 times over two seasons. 12

SEPTEMBER 2018

the eastern region increased quickly as sea surface temperatures rose past 13°C, peaking at 15-18.5°C and declining rapidly at higher temperatures (Fig. 2). In the northern region the peak occurred at 16-17.5°C. The first tagged snapper to return to the Bay after wintering in coastal waters arrived in the first week of September. Low numbers of adult fish were detected in September, on reefs from Ricketts Point to Woolies Reef (Frankston). Through October, increasing numbers of fish were recorded at an increasing number of sites in the region from the Faulkner Beacon and Sandringham to Mornington. The main peak in detections occurred in November at all sites in that region, including both inshore and central Bay sites in 18-20m. In November, artificial reefs recorded higher detection frequencies and numbers of individual fish than natural reefs or sediment stations. This may indicate that artificial reefs provide focal points for snapper spawning aggregations that form in November, These aggregations appear timed to match surface water temperatures of 15-19°C which are optimal for survival of snapper eggs and larvae in the water column. By December, while adults were still evenly spread, their greatest numbers occurred off Mornington. By January, many adults had exited via the Rip and most of those remaining in the eastern half of the Bay were recorded in deeper sites off Mornington. There is evidence of a second minor spawning period around March as surface temperatures fall below 18°C. Separate to the SeptemberOctober wave of incoming pre-spawning adult snapper to the eastern side of the Bay, the report suggests there is a separate incoming ‘contingent’ that heads to a different spawning region in the Corio Bay Outer Harbour. None of the adults tagged in the eastern side of the Bay was detected in the Geelong Arm, where the Outer Harbour between Point Wilson and Clifton Springs is a known spawning and juvenile nursery area. MOVEMENTS IN AND OUT OF THE BAY Over the course of the study, the results showed an annual pattern of tagged adult snapper moving into the Bay from early September to early December, with a clear peak in October. Just as clear were the outbound movements, peaking each December-January and a secondary period in April-May. Movements through Port Phillip Heads were recorded at each of the 15 listening stations spanning Queenscliff to Portsea. The highest movement numbers were recorded from three stations at the entrance to

The VFA research team tagged their first four snapper in Corio Bay in November 2011. the South Channel. HABITAT USE Adults: Individual adult snapper were detected most often and in greatest numbers on the artificial reefs and soft sediment offshore habitats, all in waters deeper than 10m. During October, similar fish numbers and recording frequencies were detected on all habitat types: natural and artificial reefs and sediments. But, in November, the peak spawning period, individual adult snapper repeatedly visited the same artificial reefs where they were detected more frequently than on natural reefs and sediments. From December through to May, adult recording frequencies and fish numbers were highest on sediment habitats. Outside the spawning period, the deeper artificial reef and sediment habitats seemed to be more important to adults. Juveniles: In terms of numbers recorded, juvenile snapper were strongly associated with natural and artificial reefs; they were rarely detected on sediment habitats. Individual fish which were tagged and released on natural reefs were detected most often and in greater numbers on natural reefs. Fish released on artificial reefs were detected on the artificial reefs far more often and in greater numbers than on natural reefs. In contrast to adults, most juveniles showed longer residence times around individual listening stations on natural and artificial reefs. Lower detection frequencies, fish numbers and residence times on sediment habitats suggested that juveniles detected there made brief daytime forays or were moving between different areas of reef habitat. While juvenile snappers’ attachment to artificial reefs was strong it was also seasonal. Detection frequencies per

fish and the number of fish detected increased in October, peaking in December, before dropping away through autumn. No juveniles were detected on artificial reefs during the colder months. In contrast, on natural reefs individuals were detected most often in the colder months, peaking in July, indicating localised residency and limited movement during winter. The highest numbers of juveniles detected on natural reefs occurred between February and May – the peak pinky fishing season on the Bay’s inshore reefs. Juveniles released on natural reefs in summer either remained there over autumn and winter or dispersed, heading into the Geelong Arm and Hobsons Bay. These fish tended not to use the artificial reefs. However, those released on the artificial reefs in summer were detected in autumn/winter on natural reefs to the north, in Hobsons Bay and well into the Geelong Arm. Only two tagged juveniles appeared to leave the Bay. Juveniles smaller than 25cm were not tagged in this study but have been shown to occur more commonly on open sediment habitats before transitioning to reefs when they reach at least 15cm in length. While natural reef appears preferable to juvenile snapper year-round, the addition of artificial reefs has increased the amount of suitable habitat for juveniles. DAILY MOVEMENTS Most adult snapper detections on natural and artificial reefs showed strong daily movement patterns. The highest frequencies were recorded during daylight hours, with peaks in detection numbers from 7-9am and 2-5pm. In terms of individual adult fish, higher numbers were recorded on artificial

Fig. 2. The relationship between numbers of tagged fish detections and sea temperatures for adult snapper in the eastern region (the main spawning region).

Science meets fishing

Fig. 3. Fish 142, a 65cm male, was tagged on 17 April and left the Bay on 22 April 2013.

the Bay and coastal waters. It was clear that tagged fish could move through the Heads without being detected by the southern Bay listening stations. For example, some were recorded re-entering the Bay in spring without previously being recorded leaving, while one undetected emigrant was reported as being recaptured in Western Port Bay. To be reliably detected, a tagged fish had to be within range of a listening station for 4-5 minutes. Based on detection data, the researchers concluded that most snapper could move through the Heads fast enough to avoid detection. Making allowances for unrecorded exit/entry movements, expired batteries, deaths and unreported captures, they estimated that 74% of tagged adults migrated out of the Bay, with 31% returning in spring. From this study it appears that few tagged adult snapper remain in the Bay over winter; only two tagged adults were confirmed as being resident over at least one winter. However, these numbers may have been under-estimated if remaining adults became less active and occurred in the central Bay and Geelong Arm where there were few listening stations. Also, the majority of adult snapper were tagged in the Carrum Bight-Hobsons Bay region. It is possible that these fish showed different

winter residency patterns than adult snapper occurring in the western Bay and Geelong Arm. INDIVIDUAL JOURNEYS Adults: Tracking records for individual adults indicated that those entering the Bay in spring moved quickly to the northern and eastern main spawning areas. Within 1-5 days of entry most were recorded on the natural and artificial reefs in Carrum Bight. In contrast, before leaving the Bay the time between last detections in those areas and detection at the southern listening stations varied from 3-4 days to several weeks. Individual “residence periods” in the Bay fell into two categories matching the two observed times when adults migrated to coastal waters: DecemberJanuary and April-May. While all fish arrived over a similar period, the “short-stayers” left after 20-60 days, presumably after spawning; the ‘longstayers’ ranged more widely in the Bay before leaving after 160-170 days. Adults with multi-season detection histories showed remarkably consistent entry and exit patterns and moved widely in the main spawning areas during their time in the Bay (e.g. Fig. 3-5). In successive years, one long-stayer exited the Bay on April 25th and 22nd, and returned on November 7 and October 22, spending time

Fig. 4. Fish 142 re-entered the Bay on 27 October 2013, was detected on artificial reefs and sediment habitats, and left on 16 April 2014. in similar areas in both seasons. A short-stayer left the Bay on December 24 and 12, re-entering on October 20 and 21 in successive years. This fish spent time in similar areas in both seasons. There are differences in the movement of adults in the Geelong Arm compared to the rest of the Bay: no adults detected in the north and east of the Bay were also detected in the Geelong Arm where there were also indications of over-wintering. Juveniles: Juvenile snapper tended to occupy localised areas – particularly inshore artificial and natural reefs – for extended periods, often revisiting the

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same sites. They were far less inclined than adults to visit reef and sediment habitats in deeper waters. Movements of most juveniles were limited to Carrum Bight inshore reefs and the more northern inshore natural reefs. Many juveniles tagged on the artificial reefs and detected there numerous times, moved onto natural reefs from Mordialloc to Pt Ormond in autumn, returning to the artificial reefs in spring and summer. Some moved from Carrum Bight 50-60km to the Geelong Arm and as far as Corio Bay, often returning to the eastern side of the Bay (e.g. Fig. 6).

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structure, masking tag signals. MOVEMENTS AND MIGRATION Individual adult snapper commonly recorded pointto-point movements or displacements of up to 10km in 24 hours. Two fish recorded displacements of 41 and 46 km, moving from Port Phillip Heads to the north of the Bay in one day. In contrast, few juveniles recorded movements of more than 3km in 24 hours and the maximum movement in one day was 17km. More than 50% of adult snapper, from 39-87cm, were recorded moving between

reefs during daylight hours (6am to 6pm). On sediment habitats, adult detection frequencies and fish numbers showed no such marked trends, although both frequencies and numbers declined through evenings until midnight before rising slowly until daylight. Detections of juvenile snapper on natural and artificial reefs showed a similar daily pattern, increasing from late morning to peak between 2pm and 4pm before returning to a lower level from evening until mid-morning. This probably indicated lower activity at night and sheltering close to reef

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Science meets fishing From page 13

The shorter battery life of tags used in juveniles prevented multi-season movements to be tracked. CORIO BAY CAMEO The research team’s first four snapper were tagged in Corio Bay and were the only snapper tagged and released west of Portarlington. Though few in number they have a story to tell in relation to the big part of the Bay that’s of particular interest to anglers in the Geelong region – the Geelong Arm. Part of the interest lies in the association of juvenile snapper with seagrass habitats in this region; the broader study in the central and eastern side of

Port Phillip Bay focused on comparing adult and juvenile snapper movements in relation to natural reefs, artificial reefs and sediment habitats. On November 4, 2011, I caught those four fish for the team and suspended a mobile listening station over the side of my boat every time I went fishing over the next two seasons. This added to local detections by the fixed stations off Pt Henry and the sandbar which divides the Corio Bay inner and outer harbours. During the summer of 2011/12, a 48cm adult was detected 15 times in the Corio Bay-Pt Henry area before heading out of the Bay via the West Channel in March (Fig.

Fig. 5. Fish 142 re-entered the Bay on 24 October 2014 and was detected on artificial reefs and sediment habitats.

SEPTEMBER 2018

7). Thirty-one months later, in October 2014, an angler caught this fish near the Wilson Spit at a size of 77cm and 5.2kg. Of the three juveniles, the only one to be detected more than once was recorded 55 times during 2011/12. During that period it was detected multiple times off Pt Henry, the nearby sandbar and in southern Corio Bay. It was eventually caught by a commercial fisherman on seagrass habitat close to the eastern side of Pt Henry. Along with the adult referred to above, this fish illustrates a localised summer residency pattern similar to that of snapper in Carrum Bight. None of these four fish was detected in association

with rocky reef habitats: all sites were shallow seagrass and sediment habitats. In this region, the shallow spoil grounds and associated seagrass beds either side of Pt Henry appear to hold snapper over summer months in much the same way as natural and artificial reefs do on the eastern side of the Bay. FISHERY IMPACTS Commercial and recreational fishing pressure in the Bay was as intense during this study as at any time during the previous 20 years. During the study, eight out of 85 adult and two out of 57 juvenile snapper were reported as being caught. On the intensively fished reefs in

Fig. 6. Fish 106, a 24cm juvenile, was detected 569 times at five sites on natural reefs and seagrass habitats in 2012 and 2013.

Carrum Bight, 11 legal-sized juveniles averaged more than 9000 detections each and only one was recaptured. The region and times when most of the 700,000 tag detections occurred coincided with the region and times of highest recreational fishing intensity – the spring and summer fishery on the natural reefs and artificial reefs between Mornington and Hobsons Bay. In addition, individual adults returned repeatedly to this area, season after season. Taken together, these observations indicate a healthy snapper stock and a low probability of capture by hookfishing. Anglers should find this

heartening, particularly as the phase-out of commercial net fishing in the Bay approaches completion in 2022. THE BOTTOM LINE Dedicated snapper anglers who take the time to read the results of this acoustic tagging study will find much that matches and explains their own observations, particularly in relation to fishing in the eastern half of the Bay where most results were collected. In fact, those who fish there and keep records of catches, times, water temperatures, etc., will be able to modify their own predictive seasonal fishing calendars with a high degree of confidence.

Fig. 7. Fish 4, a 48cm adult, was tagged on Corio Bay spoil grounds on 4 November 2011, detected in the same general area 15 times before leaving the Bay in March 2012.

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$500,000 Your eyes do not deceive you. The rumours you’ve heard are true. The largest freshwater fishing competition and exhibition Australia has ever created is coming to Victoria in April 2019. GoFish Nagambie is giving away a guaranteed $500,000 in cash and prizes, and you could win a share of it. Come the 25th to 28th April 2019, the Goulburn River and Nagambie Lakes will host the biggest weekend on the Australian fishing calendar… all within a 90-minute drive from Melbourne. GoFish Nagambie 2019 will give away the biggest and best prizes and cheques unrivalled by any other fishing tournament. With the $80,000 price tag for the biggest Murray cod already announced, you can be assured that there are plenty of prizes remaining that will be awarded to anglers of all abilities. Tournament entry is capped and will sell out, so you’ll need to get in quickly – you don’t want to miss this one! If you fancy yourself as a gun fisho who’ll be going after the metre cod, you’re in with a shot. If you’re an occasional angler who goes out every so often with mates, you’re in with a shot. And if you’re a teenager or a child who is learning the ropes, then of course, you will also be in with a shot. And for those saltwater fishos out there, this is the perfect opportunity to come inland and test your skills. If you’ve never been freshwater fishing before, it’s about time you experienced that special deep thud of the lure as it stops abruptly in the middle of a retrieve and shakes violently before racing back to the nearest log. Cod put up a short but gutsy fight that is unlike any other. You saltwater fishos will certainly get a kick out of GoFish Nagambie too, and it’s a great excuse to get some new gear – not that you need one! Where on earth did this event come from and are there really any fish at Nagambie? GoFish Nagambie has been a long-time dream for event directors and is an ode to their love of the industry. Fishing has been crying out for an event of this size, and the industry is more than ready. The overall goal for the event is to create one of the great fishing festivals of the world, promoting industry and generating regional tourism. The event is passionate to use GoFish as a vehicle to endorse important environmental messages and communicate the VFA’s message of Target One Million, more Victorians fishing, more often.

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It has been a community effort to get GoFish Nagambie up and firing, and this will be reflected in the event. Leading the charge at the community level is Nagambie Angling Club and town legend, Wally Cubbin. Wally has ridden the industry’s highs and lows in the area, and has a mud map of the waterways etched in his brain. He is absolutely stoked that through the efforts of the VFA with their re-stocking program that the area has become somewhat of a hotspot for Murray cod fishing… a fishing secret that Wally is now happy to share.

New to tournament fishing? Here are our top tips to even the playing field • Fish early and hard – you need to be on water ready to go as soon as competition time starts! This is when you have the best opportunity to catch that winning fish. They have been rested for the night and will be awake and ready to feed. • Shallow then deep – At first light, fish in the shallows, 1-2m with large 200mm+ surface lures. As soon as the sun hits the water find deeper water, the river bed, channels, and large structure and cast or troll large spinnerbaits, soft plastics or hardbody lures. • Fish hard and don’t give up – You need to fish every second of the competition and never give up! You might land that metre plus winning cod in the dying moments. You just never know when the big girl is going to grab hold. GoFish Nagambie ambassador Rhys Creed and some of his mates from out of town were absolutely astonished at the sheer amount of structure, snags and habitat that the Goulburn River, Nagambie Lakes and the backwaters had. On his latest fishing trip to the area Rhys witnessed firsthand how close Nagambie is to a fishing boom. It’s amongst the best fishing that Rhys and his crew had seen for some time. It really is a hidden gem and we can’t wait for it to be discovered. So, how do you win? Entries are available for boat, kayak and land-based fishing. The GoFish Nagambie 2019 tournament entry is capped, so it will sell out quickly! The total number of anglers is restricted, and the number of boats allowed on the water will also be limited.

The tournament zone spans across the Goulburn River and Nagambie Lake system, providing anglers with plenty of space to reel in that winning catch. The zone provides compelling arguments to fish from your boat, kayak and the bank, with sections favouring each discipline. Both the lake and the river are littered with timber and full of heavy structure that, is no doubt, home to some monster cod. GoFish Nagambie is a catch, measure, release tournament. Entries by anglers will be made via the tournament app which will easily photograph and measure the catch, and automatically enter eligible fish into the running to win. Importantly, this will ensure a fast release back into the water. Target species will include Australia’s apex predator of the rivers and lakes, the Murray cod. Prizes will also be given away for anglers chasing the always fun, golden perch, redfin and carp (carp are not to be released). There’s plenty happening off the water too. Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre will play host to the GoFish Nagambie Festival Hub. Located on the picturesque banks of Victoria’s iconic Goulburn River and Nagambie Lakes, surrounded by red gums and indigenous flora and fauna, you’ll want to come down and soak up the electric atmosphere and immerse yourself in all that it has to offer. It will be a universal gathering place for fishos and non-fishos alike to congregate, relax and chill-out. A place to unwind with good food and drinks, great entertainment going into the night and a place full of great stories and workshops by personalities and experts in their field. Good luck and see you next April! Entries will be available online in October at www. gofishnagambie.com.au. Don’t forget to ‘like’ our Facebook page and stay up to date with all the latest news, and get access to early bird entries by signing up to our e-news.

Bream and other species are on the chew WEST COAST

Brett Carson

At this time of year there are plenty of great fish on offer; we’ve just had the best mulloway in 20 years caught in the system and things don’t look like backing off. The winter freshwater flows are well and truly happening as a result of our high July and August rainfall, so you just have to mix it up to find the fish. I’m always getting questions from people saying they are coming in two months; what should we do,

where should we go? My answer is always to speak to me closer or when you get here. Our river, more so this time of year than any other, changes by the week. With winter’s ongoing salt versus freshwater battle raging, the mulloway, bream, and perch react and move accordingly. The saltwater wedge at times is being driven hard into and up the river by the massive winter swells, and the next minute a high rainfall can drive the salt back towards the ocean. When this is happening look for the mulloway and perch on your sounder, just

Paul, from the kiosk, with his 42cm bream.

chilling down in the deepest parts at the bottom end of the river. The saltwater, being denser, sinks to the bottom and the freshwater can flow clean over the top of them. I have stood in the river mouth, a stone’s throw from the sea, and drunk freshwater flowing over the top of the salt back up in the deeper holes around the poles area. If you know what you are looking for you can often see the line between the salt and the fresh on a good sounder. Chase your perch, bream and mulloway away from the edge. The bream are heading upriver to spawn and the perch will be thick on the sounder, at times almost blacking it out in schools from Donavans down. Perch will be in breeding mode as well so feel free to only take what you need for a feed. Once the milk gets on the fillet at cleaning time it does my head in, so I tend to leave them to their devices more than ever, everyone deserves a honeymoon. Live mullet have slayed the mulloway of late, but vibes will bring them unstuck while they are schooled up

Gordon’s 3kg salmon taken on fly. down deep; try tops of the tide on the larger inflows. Vibes will work on the bream and perch too, especially the dark colours – you just need to find their bite period. If you are fishing bait pod, worms and pipi are real go-to baits this time of year, as is the ever-reliable crab, but make sure you crush them a little or cut them in half to get the scent out to the masses. The surf beaches are holding plenty of school and gummy sharks, and the salmon run is in full swing.

Ripping a fillet from a fresh salmon to put out for a shark is as good as you can get. You have to be prepared to fish until late to get the sharks, but when it happens our hardly fished beaches can really produce. The beaches are steep this time of year, so gutters aren’t hard to find and you don’t have to cast far. Make sure you have some wire trace for the schoolies; gummies are like granny with her falsies out, but schoolies teeth do more damage than breast feeding a

five year old. • 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 pod worms 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.

The spring run of barrel tuna begins again PORTLAND

John Johnstone

Spring has arrived in the South West and brings a change in the fishing opportunities. The offshore scene will be dominated by the spring run of barrel tuna. Anglers are wondering, ‘How many, how big and will they be in the usual areas again this year?’ All the early indications are that this year will again bring a good run of jumbos inshore, with the winter run off the NSW coast being equal to, if not better, than previous years with plenty of bait holding in the usual areas. Traditionally trolling the larger skirted lures and minnow-style lures has been the tried and true method of encountering one of these animals. As with any tuna, these need to be treated with respect and the heavy gear is required to tangle with them. As with any tuna they should be bled then gilled and gutted and put on ice to maximise the eating quality. Cooling the fish as quickly as possible with a flake ice slurry is the best method. If the fish isn’t required for food then releasing is a good option as these are the large breeding fish – after you take a couple of photos of course. As we roll further into 18

SEPTEMBER 2018

spring the bottom fishing will only get better with the gummy and school sharks moving inshore to breed. Snapper will start to be encountered on the shallower grounds and the flathead and other table species will feature in anglers’ bags. Whiting will start to be encountered more often in these areas between Danger

Point and the north shore. Whiting around Portland are usually a good size and 50cm+ fish may be encountered. Pipis, strips of squid or even a pilchard fillet will generally tempt some of these tasty fellows. Don’t use too much berley; moving until the school is located is the best option. The Lee Breakwater

Daniel Mizzi and his son Tom caught 32 whiting in two hours.

will see snapper and gummy and school sharks with the possibility of large trophy snapper being foremost on peoples’ minds. During and straight after bad weather is the best time to target these fellows. As always the fresher the bait, the better, although plenty are caught on frozen squid or pilchards. Further offshore when weather permits bags of blue-eye, pink ling and other bottom dwellers will be there for those willing to make the journey out to the deeper water; just remember to check the forecasts and carry sufficient fuel for these trips. The Glenelg River has had some large mulloway in recent months with fish up to 69lb in the old scale being caught. Other catches of smaller mulloway have also been taken along with good bags of bream. Some large salmon have also been providing some unexpected entertainment for lucky anglers. The local beaches will still have large schools of Australian salmon available, along with gummy and school sharks for those willing to brave the cold nights to target them. As always, fresh bait is best and strips of fresh-caught salmon are great bait. The freshwater scene will have redfin available in the upper reaches of the local rivers. Casting soft plastic lures is a good method of securing a feed of reddies.

A 101kg barrel caught on charter. Fillet them, take the skin off then cook them in a light beer batter – there aren’t many better freshwater fish to eat and as they are a feral species the more you catch, the better. Get out and enjoy this great fishing destination. From the rivers to the shelf, Portland offers something for all anglers with the safest harbour and best boat launching facilities west of Melbourne. • Portland Bait and Tackle is family-owned and operated stoking fishing tackle, bait and marine accessories. They are open 7 days a week from 7 to 7. Portland’s one

stop fishing tackle shop, we cover everything from chasing redfin and trout in fresh water to blue eye and other deep sea fish over the continental shelf. The new owner John Johnstone has extensive fishing experience for both fresh and saltwater. He has fished most areas of Australia, from chasing trout in the high country to the jumbo tuna down the West Coast – the chances are John has done it. To get the latest advice on what’s been caught call Portland Bait and Tackle on (03) 5523 5213 or drop in and see them at 111 Bentinck Street, Portland.

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Salmon and trout abundant in the South West WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

September used to mark the opening of trout season, but this year with the Hopkins and the Merri being open all year the event won’t be the same. However, it’s been a good thing as the winter weather has recently shut down

a lot of angling options, so the ability to walk the banks stalking trout has kept keen fishers busy. With no massive flows of water yet, most fish taken have been smaller in the 0.8-1.3kg range. September often sees us get some of our heaviest falls, so hopefully that will get a few of the bigger fish moving. Local salmon beach

hotspots like Levis, East Beach and Killarney have continued to produce some good fish recently. Those strong, northerly winter windy days tend to wipe out many options locally, but are often good times to hit the beach in search of a salmon or two. The tuna have slowed right up with very few windows of opportunity to get out. Most fish caught locally have

Salmon and trout are some of the September staples on offer in the South West.

been right out near the shelf. The Hopkins River has continued to be a productive location. At the moment fish are mainly in the lower regions around Ski Lane, but come September they may have begun moving upstream depending on water conditions. Deep water techniques such as blading and heavily weighted soft plastics have been the main technique on the bream, perch and mulloway. Even in the dirty water, light leaders can make the difference between quality bags and just a few fish. The Moyne River is often a good option to provide plenty of fun with trevally, mullet and salmon all available around the boat ramp jetty on a high tide. The back passage area is always worth a look for some decent trevally at this time of year. Port Campbell Pier also used to produce some good silvers at this time of year, as well as some decent squid. Squid begin moving along the inshore reefs and can provide a tasty treat, or a stockpile of bait for the coming season ahead.

Trout are best targeted by cast or trolled lures when fishing in the smaller lakes at the moment. They can be found either off the bank at places like Killarney or in small boats in Port Fairy or Lady Bay. Spring can also be a great time to try some of the local smaller lakes like Gillear, Ellingamite and Aringa as the water levels are often at their best for

the season. Trout and redfin are best targeted by cast or trolled lures from small boats or kayaks in these locations. Lake Pertobe is set to receive a stocking of rainbow trout and these fish can provide some fun for young anglers at this time of year.

Getting in tune with tuna APOLLO BAY

Wayne Diffey

The weather has been all over the shop this last month, so getting out fishing has been a little hit and miss. On the days that have been fishable, some reasonable size salmon have shown up off Wild Dog Creek Beach and Johana Beach, but still very patchy. Likewise, out wide, weather permitting, there have been some good catches of gummies and flathead. Matt who runs a local charter was out recently and landed a 33.2kg gummy. He was in approximately 40m of water off the Parker River and, being by himself, this

Dan Gardiner and crew landed this 101.4kg tuna during the Tuna Classic.

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gummy gave him some grief as he was trying to lift it in. The southern bluefin tuna have been a little quiet, with only the odd fish being caught. The Victorian Game Fishing Club held the Simrad Tuna Classic competition out of Apollo Bay on 14-15 July. There was one fish caught on Friday 13 July, just before the comp, by Steve Arthy and his mates, weighing in at 120.4kg. There was only one fish caught in the competition itself on the Saturday morning by Dan Gardiner weighing in at 101.4kg. The competition was called off on the Sunday due to strong winds. September heralds the opening of the trout season from midnight Friday 31 August and the closure of the rock lobster season for both male and female lobsters. From Saturday 15 September to midnight 15 November, all rock lobsters are off limits. The winter rains will

Steve Arthy took this massive 120.4kg tuna the day before the Simrad Tuna Classic. have freshened up the local streams, and the baitfish will start to appear and get the trout stirred up. I prefer using small hardbodied lures in the

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Matt cuddles a 33.2kg gummy that he managed to bring aboard solo.

streams, like 4cm Rapala X-Raps, Ecogear SX40s and MW62s. Casting an unweighted scrub worm on light braid with a good fluorocarbon leader is also a good option. Bream should also be starting to fire up a little better at this time as well. Again, the small hardbodied lures will work, but don’t discount soft plastics like Gulp Sandworm in camo and the Squidgy Bug. • If you’re coming to Apollo Bay for a fish, be sure to pop in to get all you bait and tackle needs, as well as an up to date report, or call us on (03) 5237 6426.

Curdies mulloway sightings are the hot news COBDEN

Curdies River estuary and this should really be looked at, especially if you want to catch one but don’t have the time to spend a few days over at Nelson on the South Australian border where they are going right off. Decent-sized mulloway have been visibly identified swimming into the mouth from the ocean road bridge during the day and this shouldn’t come as a great surprise, as they have done this before. This year could be different, as sightings have reported larger specimens and more of them.

Rod Shepherd

The weather is still a tad up and down but at least we are receiving some rain – enough to keep topping up our lakes and rivers somewhat. Keep this in mind as we progress into spring and then inevitably summer. The longer our waterways remain a viable prospect, the better, even if it’s hard to find a free day to wet a line now. First things first – mulloway are entering the

This thumper fell to a Fish Arrow Flash J Huddle fished tight right up against the riverbank in the lower reaches.

I’d concentrate efforts in the main channel in the lake or fish the river. Trolling medium to deep diving lures close to the riverbank would be the go. I wouldn’t bother upsizing the lure too much, but I’d be upgrading my leader to at least 12lb strength and use a quality fluorocarbon product. Skimp here and you’ll be busted off in quick time. An 8lb braid should be able to handle most mulloway up to 1m or so; just remember to let the fish run under drag before doing the pump and wind thing and then be prepared to do it again and again before the fish tires. Make sure your trebles are of a decent quality. You may only get one chance at a fish during a session, so don’t risk losing it. Bream can be found in the lower reaches of the river up close to the bank until you reach the last 100m or so before it enters the lake. Here I would be blind casting everywhere and do so until at least the second channel marker that juts out into the lake. The bream are beginning to school up in anticipation of their spawning run,

Mulloway catches, such as this 99cm beauty caught by Wayne Sleep at ‘the Lodge’ in the Curdies recently, could very well be repeated in the near future. which can start any time in August onwards and many fish are sitting around the river mouth waiting to see if the brackish water pushing down lessens or increases. This will determine where and how far up the river they begin to spawn. Bait is working well, especially local live shrimp that has been snap frozen in sawdust and has turned

white. The same applies to any greyback minnow that is still residing inside the estuary. Come October if the mouth is still open we will see the annual migration of whitebait (greyback) entering our estuaries from the sea so they can breed and complete their lifecycle. Those dip netting for shrimp shouldn’t discard

any spider crabs they pick up, as these are gun bream baits and should be fished unweighted in the shallows around the channel with the drag backed right off. When you receive a strike sit on your hands and count to five before picking up the rod and tightening the drag. Hopefully by then the fish has crunched the crab and swallowed the hook.

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Action building for September GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

September is a good time to be alive in the region. With temperatures, daylight hours and fish activity on the increase, we bid farewell to the coldest months.

Despite the warming temperatures, you shouldn’t discount cold water species like trout, as September is one of their most active months. Expect there to be good fishing at Wurdee Boluc and Stoney Creek Reservoirs – don’t pack away the trout gear just yet. Both waterways offer

good access to reasonably deep water, so sinking lures work well here during the day while shallower running lures will get the job done dawn and dusk. CORIO BAY The place has been alive with yellow eye mullet, garfish, Australian salmon and baitfish by the

Snotty trevally have really turned it on around Corio Bay in recent weeks.

truckload! I’ve seen birds all over the water on most excursions into the bay but sometimes it’s just dolphins gorging themselves on pilchards and other baitfish with no salmon to be found. I’ve even seen cormorants working large bait schools to the point where the water is teeming with baitfish scales or cormorant leftovers. Salmon are definitely available, with quality fish to 55cm pulverising baitfish on the surface on occasions. Sometimes, they are holding deep, so cruising about with an eye on the sounder and sending down a jig or soft plastic lure down can pay off. Anglers fishing Cunningham Pier and Limeburners boat ramp breakwall have enjoyed plenty of garfish. They have been caught on just about any bait cut up nice and small after a liberal dose of berley. Your berley can be as simple as a few chook pellets mixed with a dash of tuna oil and seawater to get them excited. Best rigs have been quill floats with enough split shot to just keep the float above water so it is taken underwater easily when a fish bites. Finish the rig off with a sharp long shank hook

Malcolm took this 90cm Corio Bay elephant fish. around size 10. Cunningham Pier has also seen a good run of snotty trevally to 600g. They have been taken on lightlyweighted or unweighted raw chicken, pipis, pilchard

fillets and a variety of soft plastic lures. Kelvin Baldwin got stuck into them fishing from Cunningham Pier one afternoon using a pumpkin seed coloured Berkley Turtle Back Worms cut in half.

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Kelvin says he casts out the lure using a light jighead then closes the bail arm as soon as it hit the water. He allows a slow pendulum drop, then slowly lifts the rod tip and gives it a few winds, working the lures at mid to three-quarter depth. Kelvin says their bite is slow and soft, and if you strike at the fish, you’ll miss the hook up. The key is to wait until there’s a little weight to bend the rod and then lift into the fish, rather than strike. Collan Erard and his brother Malcolm launched at St. Helens and headed to fish Corio Bay’s outer harbour just off Mountain View Quarries hoping for a gummy shark. After a while without a sniff, they decided to put out a smaller bait for a flathead. This idea turned out okay, as they caught a nice feed of these tasty bottom dwellers. Mid flatty fish, Malcolm’s rod baited with a half pilchard bent over and after a short fight, they bought an elephant fish to the surface that measured in at a very respectable 90cm and weighed 4.2kg! They then decided to nip across to Point Henry where they anchored just outside the channel. It wasn’t long before Collan’s rod took off at a fair rate and after a torrid tussle, they had an angry seven gill shark they

estimated at about 25kg boat side! Unfortunately, the shark bit through his 20kg leader before they could land it. They rounded out the day with one of the best eating fish in the bay – a rock ling. Clifton Springs and Portarlington can be deadset snapper hotspots in mid to late September. Get rid of last year’s yellow pilchards from the bottom of the freezer and grab some fresh ones, because things will get nuts as soon as word gets out the snapper are in. Early starts with fresh bait is the key, and try locations on both sides of the shipping channel. Remember, it is illegal to anchor in the channel or tie up to any navigational markers. Clifton Springs in particular has produced some fantastic calamari fishing over winter. Anglers had days where few squid were caught, but some were approaching 2kg, but other days there were lots of them, but they were much smaller. BELLARINE PENINSULA St Leonards to Queenscliff has been steady, with calamari captures over the colder months and into September. This time of year can see the whoppers over in the grassy beds in the Lonsdale Bight, so put

Calamari have been thick over the last month and are a great source of fresh bait. some time in and you may find them. Silver trevally and calamari have been caught by anglers fishing from the St Leonards and Portarlington piers dawn and dusk while the same species have been

biting inside the Queenscliff boat harbour. Bait seems best at Portarlington and St Leonards for trevally, while Queenscliff anglers have caught them on bait and soft plastic lures. Point Lonsdale Pier has

seen a few quality salmon caught plus some calamari after dark. SURF COAST The Surf Coast beaches have been pumping out a few Australian salmon on lures and baits. Paul Mayer

got stuck into plenty up to 55cm fishing from the beach at Jan Juc using Munroe’s Soft Plastics. Bancoora has seen a few quality salmon around the 30-50cm mark, as has Fairhaven and Moggs Creek. The Surf Coast estuaries copped a bit of rain and many opened up to the sea, sending the bream off their rockers. Trout fishing in rivers opens this month and there are some pretty little creeks along the Surf Coast that have plenty of trout in them. Don’t expect anything real big, but thy are great fun on light tackle. Please remember these are small estuaries and consider catch and release of any fish caught in them. FISH HARD – DIE HAPPY! Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in a report to slaterbunch@ optusnet.com.au with “VFM” in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 997 348. Please include where (without giving away your secret spot!), when, what on and who caught the fish. Pictures are always great, but please make sure they are at least 1mb (file size).

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The State Government is investing a record $46 million, including $9 million from fishing licence fees, into its Target One Million plan to increase participation to one million anglers by 2020. Kings Billabong platforms Two new fishing platforms will be constructed at Kings Billabong, near Mildura, which was stocked with 80,000 native fish in February. The platforms will extend beyond dense cumbungi vegetation that currently makes shore-based fishing difficult and will help anglers make the most of the fishery that includes Murray cod, golden perch, redfin, silver perch, yabbies and carp. The Mallee Catchment Management Authority will build the platforms, along with two canoe launches and car parking facilities, as part of a larger project with Parks Victoria, VFA, Lower Murray Water and Traditional Owners.

Bullen Merri ramp repairs A $15,000 grant has helped the Lake Bullen Merri South Beach Foreshore Committee of Management undertake repair works to storm-damaged pontoons at the boat ramp. The funding complements $10,000 provided to the committee for a detailed design of a new boat launching facility. Lake Bullen Merri is stocked annually with brown trout, rainbow trout and Chinook salmon, grown at our Snobs Creek fish hatchery, near Eildon.

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Ramp expansion at Corinella A $1.45 million expansion of the Corinella boat ramp precinct will double the number of ramps to four, install an all-abilities pontoon and improve fish cleaning and trailer parking facilities. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all thanks to $1.16 million from the Boating Safety and Facilities Program and $250,000 from Target One Million.

Purrumbete renovations

Clifton Springs jetty

The Lake Purrumbete Foreshore Reserve Committee will use $100,000 to build a new family friendly, allabilities 70-metre fishing pontoon at Lake Purrumbete.

The fishing jetty at Clifton Springs will be extended by 35-metres, complete with lighting, hand rails and rod holders along its length.

The boat ramp and jetties will be renovated too, and weed removal will assist boating access around the launching area.

The extension will make it easier to catch flathead, calamari, whiting and snapper. Even better, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be ready in time for warmer weather and the Christmas holidays!

New lake at Hopetoun A new lake is taking shape at Hopetoun, adjacent to Lake Lascelles. Once complete, the 1.4ha Willow Lake will boast two 9-metre fishing platforms and picnic facilities, making it a family friendly destination, located away from motorised water-based activities. Water levels permitting, the lake will be stocked with thousands of golden perch and silver perch fingerlings this summer, which will find homes in root balls installed as part of the project.

SEPTEMBER 2018

Time to put away the doughnuts and get back to fishing PORT PHILLIP BAY WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.au

I’m always keen to go fishing, but cold conditions over the last month have

dampened the spirits of even the most enthusiastic anglers. Cold temperatures, constant rain, and strong winds have tested the limits that keen fishers like myself are prepared to endure in search of good fishing. The

chill factor has kicked into full gear, and multiple layers still won’t protect us from the bitter cold. However, September is upon us and we can breathe a sigh of relief that the worst of the cold conditions are over and

The author with a beautiful pair of Williamstown bream.

Mark finding plenty of small salmon with metal lures.

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that warmer weather is ever so slowly on its way. Those with boats have had the most success finding fish this past month. One such person is Mark Nelson, an experienced angler who knows Port Phillip Bay like the back of his hand. He has been putting in the hours despite the cold conditions – launching from boat ramps in the west including Altona and the Warmies, and then covering great distances. He attributes his success to keenly following the sounder and closely searching for groups of small arches that indicate when schools of pinkies are in the surrounding area. When he finally locates the schools, he has been anchoring up and throwing out bait, such as chopped pilchard and squid. This has lead to regular bag out sessions, and plenty of fishing fun. Mark Bonnici and his good mate Luke Ford have also been cleaning up this past month around Port Phillip Bay. The duo have been targeting squid and whiting, with success. Mark, a local angling gun, has the incredible ability to locate fish. Together, the guys have had many great sessions on the water, covering distances from Mornington all the way through to Port Melbourne. It’s been cold, but using light spinning gear the boys have stayed warm with frequent catches, making their time on the water very enjoyable. They’ll both be eating well with fresh servings of squid and whiting in the coming weeks. It can be tough going at times around Melbourne as a land-based angler. Putting in many hours, soldiering through tough conditions, often dreaming about reaching deeper waters and catching fish that you can’t access from land. Many land-based anglers have resorted to purchasing

a fishing kayak. Something I did myself a couple of years ago. It’s a great way to reach deeper water, find schools of fish and cover distances that are impossible from land. Local young gun James came back from a trip to Port Douglas and his first point of action was to pick up a kayak. With unpleasant weather looming James has stayed within sheltered areas around Melbourne’s Docklands. This has given him cover from the winds and swell but also provided fantastic fishing for bream and pinkies. James’s go-to lures have been the ever popular and reliable ZMan GrubZ in motor-oil colour on 1/8oz when targeting pinkies and then lighter jigheads when targeting bream. A big advantage of having a kayak is the ability to cast amongst

the structure and that is where James has found plenty of good-sized fish, deep within the pylons and pontoons opposite the footy ground. For me, it’s been a tough slog this past month and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve had the odd doughnut session – either defeated by cold conditions or because the land-based fishing has shut down in some areas. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some productive sessions, but in general, it’s been tough going. It’s been a challenge trying to find a weekend with suitable enough weather conditions to take a kayak or boat into the bay. This means I have put in plenty of hours around Port Melbourne and Williamstown landbased fishing and the

Mark Nelson tackling the cold nights.

catches have been few and far between. When the weekend mornings have been pleasant I have eagerly grasped those brief moments to get out in the kayak and fish around Werribee and Altona, generally managing to catch my fair share of flathead, squid, pinkies and whiting. I like to firstly target squid at sunrise, casting several different squid jigs including the Shimano Sephia egixile

Pro Grubs. Thankfully, I have been catching plenty between 40-55cm, which is a great size when using light spinning gear, and perfect if you want to keep a couple for eating. Mark Moseley has travelled a little out of Melbourne this month and ventured to a couple of wellknown surf fishing hot-spot locations including Lorne, Torquay, and Gunnamatta. He has had success flicking large

using rods that are significantly longer and awkward to cast. However, in time you start to get the knack of things and it can be a lot of fun. Especially if you can manage to catch salmon retrieving metal lures. The salmon should continue to stick around for another month or two, so you can give this a try at your next fishing session. That’s all from me this month, please share your recent fishing experiences around Melbourne and Port

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Mark Bonnici and Luke Ford with another bag out session. SS 3g in white and pink, and the Savage Gear hybrid squid jigs in bright colours. Some of the new squid jigs have rattles and glowing UV coats that certainly seem to increase catch rates. I then like to drift around for flathead, flicking a range of soft plastics such as the Berkley Turtleback Worm, ZMan GrubZ, and Savage Gear

metal lures and then switching to a full blue bait when the bite has become quiet. He hasn’t landed too many beasts but has caught plenty of smaller salmon. If you haven’t done much surf fishing before then it’s something you should place on your to-do list. It can be very challenging at first – the waves knock you about and the strong swell throws you off balance. You’re also

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.

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There is more to do than just watch footy! some great sessions on massive schools of fish casting lures and plastics into the feeding fish, and weather permitting, this should continue. The lack of recent boat traffic also means that these schools will often feed on the surface for much longer periods of time, much to the delight of anglers. Squid fishing has still been very good after a slower start this year in our local areas, but has also been confined to the sheltered and protected bays

PORT PHILLIP NE

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

The cold and windy conditions have continued for the best part of the last month on the bay, providing limited fishing opportunities and small windows of calmer weather. While the footy continues to be the focus for many of the bay’s anglers, there have still been plenty of shore-based opportunities for bread and butter species for those still keen to have a crack. Of some concern has been the lack of substantial rain over the winter months leading into spring, but last month we were moving into a period expected rain on the bay. This does wonders for the bay’s food chain at this time of year, and is especially important to the yearly snapper migration into the bay. Fingers crossed we get the rain we need over the coming months all over the country. During the early winter months, we enjoyed a prolonged late run of snapper out from the wider marks around Mornington and Mount Martha. This is normally a feature around the changes of seasons in late autumn, and while most anglers’ focus and opportunities have changed, there have been enough resident reds still around to keep dedicated anglers

Tom Vercoe with a nice brace of brown trout from Devilbend, with the largest of the two measuring 57cm. Photo courtesy of Mark Keaveny. interested. There has also been plenty of nice gummies and other sharks around the shipping channels and further south in the bay as well. The most consistent fishing over the past 4-6 weeks has been the exceptional run of garfish all over the bay, but this has been particularly good in our part of world, especially at Mornington Pier. Consistent northerly and northwesterly winds have kept the resident schools and bait inside the harbour, and anglers have

been really cashing in. I’ve been talking to the young jetty rats and the old warriors and they have all been getting amongst the action. Both have been collecting bait for the season ahead, and getting amongst some great table fish as well. A feed of gars is pretty hard to beat, and they are also a great fun fish for kids and inexperienced anglers. They respond to wellpresented baits and berley, but this will also attract predatory fish like salmon,

‘couta and squid. A great way to learn is to sit and watch experienced anglers do their thing as well. Big schools of salmon have been around our part of the bay all year, but have also been feeding closer to shore, and in the protected areas due to the persistent onshore winds. Mornington and Frankston piers and the mouth of the Patterson River have been very consistent. Boat anglers have reported

Mornington Pier has been producing some quality bags of garfish during the calmer days over the past month. Photo courtesy of Harry Bould. improved facilities have provided more options for anglers during bad weather. Anglers fishing lures from the bank and from kayaks have taken good numbers of redfin and estuary perch, with some quality brown trout thrown in. The lake provides a great access for anglers of all ages, and is now bearing the fruits of a solid stocking program. While the weather might have been cold (and very ordinary at times) over the past month, there’s still been some great fishing options during the better days to keep anglers busy on the bay. With the warmer months and the annual snapper migration just around the corner, now’s a great time to get out amongst the action.

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due to the consistent wind. The lack of rain has kept the inshore waters relatively clear, and consequently natural-coloured jigs like brown, gold, green and red have been best. The larger squid are also still turning up regularly further south as well in both of the bays. The diamond in the rough with the recent inclement weather has been the consistent fishing in Devilbend Reservoir for a variety of species. Recent changes to access and

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Snapper season is upon us PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

So they said it was going to be a cold winter and I’m fine with that, but I must have missed the memo saying that it was going to be one of the windiest, howling gales have been fairly normal for the past few months. Fingers-crossed as we roll into spring that we might start to see some better weather over this month. Last month there was the odd report of some quality snapper finding their way into anglers’ boats, so let’s hope that as the bay warms there will be an influx of reds making their way into the bay. MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK With a slight increase

in water temp the pier has begun to fish really well for garfish. While in the rougher weather the pinkies have started to fire-up and it’s only a matter of time before anglers start to cross paths with the big early season

snapper that call this part of the bay home every year. In the creek, anglers have been finding a few mullet and bream. Out the front, when the water has been clear fishing anywhere from the pier right up to

Black Rock is the ticket for land-based snapper when there is rough weather.

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Beaumaris Bay has seen some excellent squid fishing. Up in Beaumaris Bay it’s also prime time to be putting in effort on the pier. The calm conditions have resulted in plenty of squid, but when it’s rough the big snapper flock to the area, and for the past few years it’s been a prime place to catch yourself a large early season red. Out in the boats is the time to be looking for a good early season snapper. The pinkies have been going great over the past few weeks, and now is the time to get serious by fishing some larger baits or plastics. It’s only a matter of time until the big fish move on to the shallow reefs. Good areas to focus on over the coming weeks are the Parkdale Pinnacles and the very point of Ricketts Point, with the area out the

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front of Table Rock often seeing the first big run of snapper for the season. Over the past month a pile of whitebait and small pilchards have been moving into the shallows and are being hammered by the

birds and other predators. A good tip is to fish in near proximity to these piles of bait as they will often have everything from pinkies and

shoreline between the rock groynes and up to Brighton you’ll get some great pinkies and the chance to get stuck into some big early season fish. Fishing to the west side of the Anonyma shoal at dawn and dusk usually produces some decent snapper and this area usually holds good numbers of garfish. While you’re waiting for a snapper you can get the berley going and load up on a bit of prime snapper bait. Up off Brighton, pinkies have been taken at night by land-based anglers and now it’s time to get serious about some bigger fish. On the inside of the wall I have been hearing

of fish start to feed and move their way up along the edge of the shipping channel. ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE Some heavy bouts of rain have kept the water with a fair bit of colour in it over the past weeks, but this won’t affect the snapper fishing, and in fact many anglers live for the dirty water as they feel this is what the snapper are following to feed and spawn in. Either way, the coming weeks could and should see some solid reds being taken in this part of the world with Kerford Road and Lagoon Pier being top places for land-based anglers.

The famous Mordialloc Pier has been a bit quiet lately, however it’s a nice place to spend some time for the land-based fishers. flathead to squid and even bigger snapper following them around in search of an easy meal. SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA It’s always a great time of year in this part of the bay. There are lots of options for land-based and boat anglers, with both getting into the early spring run of fish. In the shallows the pinkie fishing is often excellent, as numbers of fish move around the end of the Sandringham Breakwall and up along the rock groynes. This provides great opportunities for landbased anglers to get in on the action. While most people will fish the end of the rock groynes there are excellent opportunities for those anglers who fish off the beach, especially if you find an area with a bit of rock and reef that is close to shore. This area attracts the pinkies and some bigger snapper at night. If you’re in a boat when it’s rough, in along the

of a few pinkies and trevally getting caught by anglers who berley up and fish floating baits. Up at north road I haven’t heard too much on the fish front over the past weeks, but when the water has been clear the squid reports have been good with anglers reporting plenty of smaller sized calamari on offer. As this month rolls by the wider grounds out towards Fawkner Beacon will also see some better sized snapper being taken as the big schools

If you’re in a boat then it’s the time to get up around the Princess Pier, as this seems to be a stopping point for one or two schools of early season big snapper. It seems they enter the bay and swim right to the top of it, possibly chasing warmer water before working their way back further south over the following months. Either way, no matter where you head or what you’re chasing, longer days are here and so is the start of the exciting new season.

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Chasing quality snapper MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Julian Frank

Winter is technically over and although we had a number of really good days in July and August we have also had some very rainy days and gale force winds through some of the weeks gone by. Let’s hope the good days will continue for the

most of this month, allowing temperatures to peak and the fishing to be at its best. Even though the salmon are still hot on the bite and are a huge focus for anglers, it’s the start of the new snapper season and I think it will be a good year. We’ve seen plenty of fish over the last few months, and the reports are still coming through. Port Phillip Bay is

extremely healthy at the moment with an abundance of marine life on display, from penguins to whales and everything in-between. MT MARTHA TO DROMANA Fishing out wide on the mud is a good start to finding good snapper, as there are plenty of them just waiting to be caught. Mid mornings have been producing the goods

for anglers using fresh baits of squid and pillies. Around the mussel farm has been fishing well for flathead, with the odd school of salmon turning up. I have had some reports of whiting from the mount Martha Beach area too. ROSEBUD The shallows around the area in front of the main shopping strip is worth a look for whiting during the morning period. The grounds around the Rye wreck will produce its share of gummy shark and pinkies for anglers fishing a couple hours either side of the tides. Use pilchards and other fish baits, and you may

One very happy lady showing off a fantastic snapper from Bass Strait.

The author with a nice squid off Rosebud.

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also pick up some salmon, which are abundant around these guys. There are plenty of squid still around Rosebud and Tootgarook, so don’t be shy to race out to get a quick feed. From the pier you can catch garfish, salmon and squid at the moment. Successful anglers have been throwing smaller silver lures and a mix of jigs. It’s worth having a bait or two off the end as well. BLAIRGOWRIE AND SORRENTO Salmon have been the talk around Sorrento and Blairgowrie lately. These fish have been on the bite for weeks and are still being regularly caught through the day and evening. The standout method has been spinning, with a few guys also catching them on bait. From both the piers and boat you’ll find some decentsized squid inshore around

the moorings and weed beds within a couple of hundred meters from the shore. Blairgowrie marina has been fishing well, with mixed

reports of flatties and pinkies. Occasionally the gars have shown up, allowing anglers to get a good bag. PORTSEA The garfish are here and in decent numbers. A simple float rig with a single hook will get you a great feed in no time! Whether you’re fishing from the pier or out of your boat, berley up well and they should come to you. The larger squid will continue to show throughout the month, so if you’re chasing trophy calamari now is the time to do it. BACK BEACHES AND OFFSHORE Gunnamatta has been the hotspot for the last few weeks and should continue to fire up, with lots of salmon still running along there coast. I have had plenty of reports of fish up to 3kg consistently being taken fishing up to the high tide. At low tide you can access a lot of the smaller gutters and pools of water which will trap and hold smaller fish making for a generally easy session. The fishing offshore, has seen local charter operator Phil Stevens from RIP Charters has putting his customers on a good array of species. For more advice head down to the Compleat Angler Rosebud and see the guys there for all your fishing needs.

Emma Sommer with a really nice salmon for Sorrento.

Gummy sharks have been the real standout PPB OFFSHORE

Gerry Morsman

Melbourne offshore is still providing plenty of quality options for us recreational fishers through what is usually a tougher time of year to put a feed on the plate. Although the weather gods have been heavily against us for the last four weeks, there were still

Gummy sharks have been a real standout, with most anglers having a high success rate. One thing I love about gummy shark fishing is that the process is very simple and you have the chance of a solid by-catch. Aaron Habgood was out chasing gummies and had plenty of action on them using freshly caught salmon. He was out off Barwon Heads when his reel screamed off harder than

target because they, along with gummy sharks, are very reluctant to take a bait with a wire trace hanging off it. I have been told they can sense the wire, so it is best to stay away from it. Andrew Palling and his son Riley recently headed out for their second ever trip offshore. It was going to be hard to top their trip from four weeks ago that consisted of a few ripper gummies around 10kg. But,

Aaron Habgood with a nice table-sized gummy shark.

It was a memorable day for Andrew and Riley Palling landing a winter mako shark. fishable windows allowing boaties to get out on the water and do their thing. By all reports, there’s been great results. The popularity within the fishing community for offshore fishing has definitely grown in the past year or so. And why wouldn’t it? With high success rates on quality eating fish like gummy sharks, flathead and kingfish, there’s so much to love. It’s not that long until we see our first reports popping up of kingfish around the place and come December, it’ll be all systems go on what has become an amazing kingfish fishery down here in Melbourne. If the pattern goes the same way it has the past few years, we will be in for yet another epic season on these underwater steam trains. Southern bluefin tuna have been another popular species to target, and although I haven’t heard a lot about it the past four weeks due to the big seas the weather has brought, there has still been a lot of reports of schools getting around. I believe there will be more boated tuna to come in the following weeks. The exciting thing about it, apart from the fact that we have tuna in our own backyard, is that you have every chance of boating your self a 100kg+ fish! Now, that’s an incredible fishing feat by anyone’s standards.

usual and after a solid fight on 30lb braid using 100lb leader he landed a cracking 26kg school shark. A prize catch and a perfect example of the remarkable by-catch opportunities while fishing for gummy sharks. School sharks used to be huge in numbers and while there are still plenty around, the numbers are definitely down. Being a toothy shark makes them very hard to land using a monofilament leader. They are a hard shark to

their most amazing capture was a winter mako shark that took a liking to their berley trail and the fresh parrot fish chunk they threw in front of its face! They had another memorable day fishing in the same area close to Seal Rock landing seven gummy sharks and letting six of them swim away. They were fishing in around 30m of water, anchored up over reefy ground. I look forward to seeing what comes out of their next trip!

One of the great things about being anchored up is that you can berley the reef you are fishing on. There isn’t a strong tidal flow like Western Port Bay or the southern end of Port Phillip Bay, so your berley chunks, such as cubed up pilchards, won’t end up far from the boat by the time they reaches the bottom. This is an important factor when catching your fresh baits like parrot fish or barbers perch, and of course helps with bringing in your target species. There’s one species that gets left behind when it comes to respect ratings because of all of the other hard fighters there are to target, and that’s the good old flathead. They are arguably the best eating fish in the waters down here and Melbourne offshore is full of them. If you have never eaten a tiger flatty then I highly recommend it. They are more commonly known as an offshore species, but I have heard of random

catches in the bays. The easiest way to identify them is by their teeth. Fishing on the drift in around 50m of water is a good place to start, using squid on either a running sinker rig or a paternoster. It’s not only tiger flathead, there are still great numbers of sand flathead and rock flathead a little shallower.

people think they cook up really well, but if that’s not your cup of tea, they are amazing bait for most shark species and even snapper, which have been in great numbers up to 2kg over reefy structures. Southern calamari is another species that we can target all year round. When getting in close to land,

Fresh parrot fish is a seriously good bait when targeting gummy sharks offshore.

A cracker of a school shark that couldn’t resist a fresh chunk of salmon caught by Aaron Habgood.

Australian salmon are one of our greatest sportfish – they fight hard, come in huge schools and are very common in offshore waters throughout the year. One of the great things is you don’t need anything fancy to catch them. When you have a school of them smashing up bait on the surface the ideal lure to use is a metal slug. Bomb it straight into the middle of them then retrieve and you are almost guaranteed a hook up. There are some seriously sizable salmon out there at the moment so be ready for a fight. Some

there are massive amounts of reef on the Flinders side where squid like to target their prey. Fishing in around 10m of water, and even deeper if you have the right gear, is a good way to go about it. Using 3.5-4.0 size jigs has been the go. Cuttlefish are a popular item being put on the menu from those targeting squid. They grow to massive sizes, are great to eat and they are a fantastic bait for most species, especially whiting. If you are going to use it as whiting bait be sure to tenderise it before it goes on the hook. SEPTEMBER 2018

The end of winter brings out the spring reds WESTERN PORT NTH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Spring has sprung and so have the snapper. The top end of the port is fishing well at the moment with plenty of solid reds being plucked from the murky waters.

fish during the last three hours of the tide you should be able to get away with using a 10-12oz sinker. Just remember to back off the weight every hour or so. Due to the current pressure, it is also a good idea to use a standard running sinker rig, but I’d opt to use a Mustad Demon Circle hook over a snelled

If you’re familiar with the Long Reef area, you’ll know that now is the time to be fishing it. Lysaghts has also started to produce a few reds, so in a week or two this area should really be firing. All throughout winter the whiting have been very consistent in the top end, but most of the action has

Working the top end channels can lead to catching some great quality reds in spring.

Justin Blythe from Amazing Bait and Tackle snuck up the top end and caught a cracking spring red. Most of the reports have come from the Bouchier and Boultins channels in the deeper water while anglers have been fishing the run-out tides. Justin Blythe from Amazing Bait and Tackle took the opportunity to head up Boultins Channel and had no trouble finding a nice red one evening. Other anglers have had similar success in the same area. Joes Island has also started producing some nice fish, however there is an abundance of smaller sized fish ravaging baits before a larger model can get to it. In saying that, bigger fish have been caught on the last of the flood tide as they have been moving up onto the banks in search of food. For those looking for a spring red, Bagge Harbour and the inside of Crawfish Rock are the most reliable areas. These two locations are best fished during the run-out tides. The tide does run quite hard, but if you

pair of suicides. Striking to set a hook into a fish in this current is very difficult with the amount of slack line let out when using suicides, whereas with a circle the fish will hook itself without angler intervention.

been along the Tyabb and Quail banks. Now that we are in spring, they will really start to fire up a lot more as the water temperature increases. Anglers should also start to work the top end of the middle spit and

Sunken Island areas, as the fish will move into these areas. While it might take a few drops to find the schools, they are most certainly worth targeting, as at this time of year they will be quite chunky. Of course, you can’t go past using mussel and pipis for bait, but it also pays to use fresh calamari. Another whiting hotspot is around Tankerton. The area is quite shallow and sandy, but the further you get towards the ban, the weedier it gets, and this is where you’ll find whiting in good numbers. There is an abundance of calamari, that can be caught while you’re targeting whiting. While

artificial jigs work, the weed can become a nuisance, so a baited jig works best. Doing this allows you to concentrate on the whiting rods while waiting for the calamari float to be taken under. Right through the top of the port, calamari have been

Warnett Jetty has seen a lot of activity lately and is a great place to take the kids.

If you’re still keen to target whiting then it’s worth working the edges of the banks.

abundant all year. If you’re heading out for a snapper mission, there is no better bait than fresh calamari. So, if you can make time to gather bait, before or after your snapper session, it is worth doing so. Tyabb and Quail bank are the most popular areas to target calamari. But, areas around the Submarine near Sandstone Island, and in behind Crib Point Refinery jetty get less fishing pressure and you’re more likely to catch them with ease. In fact, from the Refinery jetty right down

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to the mouth of Hanns Inlet, the banks are full of calamari and are all worth fishing. The most consistent time to work these banks is on the top of high tide until about two hours after, as the calamari will be moving off the bank with the tide. Both

artificial jigs and baited jigs work well along the edge of the bank. Land-based anglers have had success recently fishing from the Warneet Jetty. Salmon, mullet and silver trevally are the main species caught in this area. On the top of the high tides at night, some nice calamari have been taken. While it is just the beginning of spring, the fishing is starting to ramp up and with nicer weather approaching more and more anglers will be out trying their luck.

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Spring right into snapper season at the port WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

So, it begins – another spring is upon us and another snapper season is about to explode. There is something special about this time of

Island area. However, I haven’t heard of any from there just yet. No doubt that in the coming weeks, and with more anglers hitting the water, reports will flow through. Fishing out from Elizabeth Island on the edge of the bank, it drops into 13m of water where snapper, gummies, elephant, seven-

If you’re looking for a reliable land-based location, the Stony Point pier is fishing well. year and whether it is the smell of the spring air or that we all know the snapper are about, one thing’s for sure; it’s time to hit the port! Reports have been filtering through that plenty of snapper are arriving in the Corinella region. Good size reds have been caught at Spit Point, Lang Lang and in the main channel out from the Corinella Pier. The key has been to fish a few hours either side of the tide along the edges of the channels. This is also the time of year when reports typically filter in from the Elizabeth

gilled, and bronze whaler sharks are common catches. The key is to fish with oily baits like salmon or trevally fillet. However, fresh calamari bait should never be passed up. Other snapper hot spots include Observation Point, Rhyll, Cowes, and Buoy 15, with the odd big red coming from the western entrance. The Buoy 15 area is very reliable because it is in the junction point where the snapper entering the port can pass by to head up the north arm or over towards Elizabeth Island. Rather than just dropping the anchor randomly, sound a school of fish and set yourself in the right position. Keep in mind that the best bite time is generally two hours either side of a tide change, so don’t waste time during that period. Sound during mid-tide so you’re right to go during the prime time. Coronet through to Dickies bay is still producing whiting and calamari over the weed beds. This time of year the lower sections of the port always fire up with calamari, whiting and garfish and it is certainly worth working these areas if you’re looking for a little bread and butter action. Those wanting a little more line-pulling action tend to find it in the western entrance where gummy sharks tend to be the main target. Although at this time of year they are traditionally smaller than those caught in

Although a long walk, fishing from Stockyard Point is good for gummy sharks, snapper, mullet, trevally and tailor. Land-based anglers have also been doing well, with the top location being Stony Point and Flinders Pier. Stony Point has been producing a wide variety including silver trevally, salmon, garfish, pinkie snapper and calamari. Once again, fish two hours either side of the high tide

change for your best chance. Flinders has always been well known for producing calamari amongst the weed beds and it is continuing to fire. Anglers fishing with artificial baits and baited jigs have been doing exceptionally well of late. There has also been an

abundance of grass whiting about, with plenty of anglers getting a good feed of them. There is a lot going on in the port and it is only going to get busier in the coming weeks. Snapper are the talk of the town, so why not get out there while they are in abundance!

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Stony Point pier is getting busier with the onset of good weather and is a great place to wet a line.

If you’re fishing near Corinella, the edge of the bank as the tide starts to run-out is when you’ll most likely hook into a few solid reds.

the winter months, but are still a viable option. There are some nice snapper to be caught right throughout the entrance, but it is the small pinkies that are a more common catch. Whiting and calamari are also common catches, but I’d suggest working the weed beds at Ventnor right down to Cat Bay, as this is where they are primarily found. It is important that you get your timing right, as the tides can be strong along this section and fishing it can be challenging. SEPTEMBER 2018

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Pantera Classic 2018

Craig Edmonds

While it’s a little early to put the coats and beanies in the cupboard, especially if you’re heading out early for a fish, already there’s a bit of a change in the weather. It’s also that time of the year where the expectation of a good bag of fish grows. As the football season comes to an end and teams are knocked out you see more and more activity at the boat ramps. You also see more dusty boats heading out for the first time. While most are smart about it, plenty aren’t and the first time they try and start the boat for the season is on the boat ramp with a halfflat battery sucking up the condensation and old fuel. This generally adds up to a fishing trip that lasts 100m off the jetty. Do yourself (and those who would have to cut their trip short to help you) a favour – speak with your boat repairer to find out what you should do if the boat has been sitting in the backyard for the last four or five months. The same goes for your gear; don’t just assume it will all work as you left it before winter, as many do heading out for a fish without checking anything. At this time of the year we get dozens of customers coming in with very sad looking reels

– ones that were going to be washed before being put away for the winter but were somehow forgotten. Rusted blunt hooks, swivels, empty leader spools and knives that wouldn’t cut through butter are all very common for the first trip of the season. After 12 years in the shop it still amazes me the number of people that come in that have cut a trip short because of one of the above reasons. Salmon and calamari are all we have seen in any great number over the last couple of months. It hasn’t been that they are the only species around, more that the weather has been that bad at times that they were the only thing you could target. Getting the boat in the water to fish The Corals and some of the early snapper areas has been all but impossible with the relentless north winds. It’s an old fashion winter wind pattern and the usual west-southwesterly winds just haven’t shown up. The only good thing has been when they have dropped off a bit, it’s been possible to head offshore to have a fish or a whale watch. Salmon sizes have been good on the Kilcunda beaches from the Middle Beach back to Cemetery Beach. The lure fishers have been more successful for numbers than the bait fishers. The salmon have been bigger at Kilcunda, and at times big schools of up to 3kg fish have turned

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Sometimes the wildlife scenery is better than the day’s catch.

Local angler Zac has been one of the lucky ones with time off when the winds dropped. up, making for very frantic sessions. When the schools came through they were that big you generally saw them swimming in the surf long before you caught one and the amount of fish you caught was only determined by how quickly you could cast out again. The beaches at the island have been mixed in reports, but almost all reports told me the salmon were small. The numbers were a bit better on the island and at times Anzacs Beach at Woolamai was plagued with very small salmon. From all areas the best time for salmon was the change of the tide with pilchards for bait. Due to the north wind patterns there have been more chances to head offshore than normal. It’s a bit bumpy getting there, but once you get out of the bay conditions are quite good. While several of the reports mentioned ‘couta and salmon as you would expect, the number of customers that reported catches of pinkies was a surprise. Those who headed offshore to either target gummies or flathead caught pinkies around 40cm. The flathead were there but fished better if you were out two days after the weather settled, as they seemed to come back together as a school. There are less gummies lately, but there are still some quality catches from the reef down off the Powlett River. Calamari reports came

from everywhere, mainly because the conditions dictated where you could fish both on the land and from boats. The reports were better from the boats, but it was more that you could find a bit of cleaner water from the boat without as much weed than there being more calamari. Those fishing from jetties said they could see plenty, but there was so much weed in the water it was impossible to fish. Jig colour and size don’t seem to make any difference and even time of day or tide was hard to get a pattern on. The quality, as it always is at this time of the year, was there, but the numbers have been down a bit and you need plenty of patience. By the time next issue comes out we will have all forgotten about the cold of winter and be well into the season and hopefully catching plenty. We will all be armed with the best of the new season’s gadgets that are supposed to help us catch more fish, but remember to spend your money on things that will help you catch more fish and not just make you look good catching them; we get too many people buying $500 rods or reels and then $2 packs of hooks. Don’t fall into the trap of always fishing the same fishing spots. Try your favourites first, obviously, but if they aren’t working, don’t be afraid to go looking and try something different.

Yellowfin bream biting LAKES ENTRANCE

Steven Pryke

With the start of spring the Gippsland region has come out of one of its dryer winters in a long time. The lack of freshwater has increased the lake’s salinity and with changing conditions all manner of critters have begun to call our lake home. Over recent weeks anglers have managed to find several species running around the lakes system with good numbers of squid being taken in the higher end of Cunningham Arm around the Lakes Entrance footbridge. Anglers have mostly targeted these squid above the scattered weed beds. Some anglers argue that the squid have moved; personally I have found them consistently, though they have been hard to locate. Once found there are plenty to be caught. Yellowfin bream continue to dominate the lower lake. Large numbers of school-size bream have been found around areas such as Metung Harbour closer to Lakes Entrance. Areas such as the Lakes Entrance bar have held large yellowfin bream. Timing has been critical, as these highly migratory fish come and go. Once you locate them, make the most of it, as there are some genuine crackers throughout the tidal sections of the lower lake. These large yellowfin have been hard to tempt at times due to the extremely clear water. At times it’s as if you’re fishing in an aquarium and you can

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES

Local angler Lucas Smith with a 1.62kg yellowfin bream caught on a soft plastic grub worked in tight cover. watch your targets cruise around structure or your boat. Lighten up your line and lure weights; this has produced bites. However, once these large fish are hooked close to cover, it can be a challenge to land them. LAKE TYERS The lake continues to play its winter tricks with thick schools of spawning bream holding tight to the bottom throughout the higher sections of the lake. Anglers have had red-hot sessions and returned later to find nothing. These schooling fish have been extremely picky and will often refuse manyofferings.

Anglers have some good results using small blades and given them just enough action along the bottom to get the lure to puffing sand along the bottom like a shellfish. Quality marine electronics are truly valuable and side imaging sounders take all the hard work out of locating these school 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 Victoria & Tasmania Fishing Monthly.

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Eildon Pondage is one of the best put and take fisheries that not only Victoria, but Australia has to offer in the way of trout fishing. Not far from the heart or Melbourne, it is an easy day trip for anglers of all levels and families to enjoy. Monster brown and rainbow trout are a real possibility with 10lb+ fish caught regularly. PRIME TIME When fish are stocked into the lake the pondage is perfect to fish year-round. Different times of year suit different styles of fishing. Flyfishing with dry fly is good in the warmer months when there are hatches of insects, and the fish can be seen rising and are easy to cast at. Winter is when the

George with a nice pair of rainbows. Fluorocarbon leader and light braid of around 6lb is more than enough. Bait fishing like to fish baits under bubble floats (the old school way) or a small running sinker

worked back. This way you cover a lot of water until you find where the fish are concentrated. MOTHER NATURE At certain times of the

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they become active and hit lures with aggression. THE GEAR Trout fishing here is best with light tackle and for casting lures a 7ft graphite rod is ideal. Flyfishing and bait fishing are very popular. A long light tip rod for bait fishing is good as it allows you to cast lightweight baits out and has enough give in the rod when you hook a big one. THE RIG As mentioned before, fish as light as possible or as you feel comfortable.

from the spillway to the Fixed Interest rate main body of water that is Lake Eildon. Currents can Fixed Interest rate and repayments

dough type bait. BAIT AND LURES Lucky Craft Flash Minnows are the ideal hardbody to cast from the banks. They imitate a small baitfish that the trout cannot resist. Dough baits like PowerBait are by far the most popular and easiest to fish with if you prefer bait fishing. BEST METHOD Keep moving. The lake is accessible on foot. Casting heavy spoons or Tassie Devils is another great option as they are heavy and can be cast out to the middle and

be strong and unexpected so be carful if you decide to wade the banks and head out. HOT TIP It doesn’t hurt to carry a net with you. There are some true giants in this waterway and many are lost in the final moments of trying to land them. The last thing you want is to lose the fish of a lifetime because you couldn’t finish it off and net it.

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No rain, yellowfin bream and mullet save the day GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

This drought is getting downright ugly. At least the Mitchell River got a little flow after a splash of rain up in its catchment, but the Avon River has basically not flowed for five months. The Nicho and Tambo rivers are not much better. On the splus side, mullet have made a welcome return and I have some very exciting news about yellowfin bream. MULLET ARE BACK The good news for those like me who look forward to

dining on yelloweye mullet, is that they are well and truly back. They have schooled up in the lower Mitchell River near the ‘Cut’ and down around the Paynesville jetties. Even better news is that these yummy fish are big long fat suckers! As you can probably tell, I consider these mullet the best eating our Gippy Lakes has on offer. For those who haven’t had the joy of catching and eating yelloweye mullet, let me go slow on how and where to get into them. First of all, you need sandworm bait and this is a must have item, because mullet are notoriously fussy and will mostly refuse all other

A typical yellowfin bream that you can sight fish in the shallows of the Gippy Lakes. This 41cm fish took a lightly weighted soft plastic in about 2ft of water.

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baits. It is critical to know where to get good quality sandworm! Your first stop is at Bairnsdale to visit Matthew and Wendy who run their home business from 172 Macleod Street, behind the local KFC takeaway. Lucky for the early travelling angler like myself, Bairnsdale Bait Supply is open from 7am-6pm, seven days a week. Trading every day, you don’t have to worry about them being open and they have a mountain of fresh worm there all the time. They also make the cured sandworm from their own secret recipe. A feature of cured worm is that you can freeze it. You can buy your worm well in advance and keep it in the freezer ready for future fishing trips. It can last up to three months in the freezer, so you can keep any you have leftover for your next trip. In my experience cured worm works just as good as fresh or live sandworm and I recommend buying both. While getting your worm you must ask Wendy where the mullet are. I’m tipping she will send you somewhere along the banks of the Mitchell River where you can set up a few chairs, two rods and enjoy the scenery. Keep in mind you will need fairly small hooks, a bit of patience, but that’s it! ARE YELLOWFIN BREAM HERE FOR GOOD? Now for some amazing

MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

The little rain we did get wasn’t near enough to give our rivers a good flush or make the farmers happy. Now we’re hoping for more rain to give them a good spring growth for their pastures to grass up and provide good spring fodder for their cows. More importantly, the

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Big black bream like this 43cm fish have moved much further west this year and Owen Pierce was there to meet them in Lake Wellington. each cast. At times we saw schools of 20-30 cruising the shallows and a few single fish here and there. My first win was a 41cm and 1kg yellowfin that finally attacked a 2” ZMan motor oil grub on a very light jighead. My next two yellowfin measured 36 and 37cm, but that’s all we could get. If only I had hooked the bigger ones we saw that were easily 45cm and better. I’ll be back to improve my tally very soon and keep you posted. BLACK BREAM BLUES Over the last month anglers have tried every trick in the book to find the black bream and then wasted hours failing to catch them. It’s been some of the leanest times for

bream anglers that I can ever remember. The Twin Rivers Bream Competition was on recently and catch rates were around the lowest they’ve ever been. Even the years of major algae blooms produced more black bream than this winter. A huge number of bream have moved much further west this year into Seacombe and Lake Wellington areas and I’ve written plenty about that. A lot of bait anglers and a few lure anglers have been spoiled rotten with top class bream fishing. For good reason, most people rely on the traditional hotspots like the Tambo or Mitchell rivers, but unfortunately the last two years have seen very low bream catches there.

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news about a species that is making Gippy Lakes its new home. This year has seen the biggest recruitment through the entrance of those sea-going yellowfin bream. Not only are the numbers up but the sizes of fish have shocked us all. Over the last six years I’ve been reporting on their numbers rising each and every season, but now there are so many of them that you can head out and specifically target yellowfin bream. And that’s exactly what I did recently! A mate and I were astounded at how many of these big fish are now in the lakes. They have moved into areas from the township jetties of Lakes Entrance right up into Newlands Arm and Duck Arm. It was a big day searching, we started at Paynesville and by the end of the day had moved to Metung. Before long we started sight fishing big bream cruising in the shallow edges around jetties and boat moorings. The water was crystal clear so we could easily see the black line down their tail fin to identify them as yellowfin and not black bream, and nearly all were big! But they were super spooky and it was nearly impossible to get them eating our soft plastic and hardbody lures. We spent hours casting without any joy and watched hundreds of thumper fish ignoring or spooking with

local anglers are hoping for a good flush to give them a bright start to the fishing season. In the meantime anglers are doing the best they can with the conditions. There will always be a few anglers who relish the hard conditions and strive to catch a few fish for the table, and of course a few reports have come in. Anglers are reporting catching some good size bream around the islands up towards Lake Corringle with most bream over 33cm and up to 43cm. Other captures of bream have come from the cut-through of the Snowy River into the Brodribb River and another good size bream was taken above the Brodribb River Bridge. Luderick have been taken by anglers fishing from the Marlo Jetty using sandworms and weed. Salmon and tailor are still being taken down near the entrance on a run-in tide by anglers either trolling or casting metal lures.

The surf beaches are still fishing very well, with plenty of reports coming in of anglers getting salmon and tailor fishing either with surf rods and bait accompanied by a popper or using light gear and

casting metal lures. Offshore (weather permitting) is also fishing very well, with plenty of flathead, gurnard, barracouta, pinkie snapper, morwong, ling and gummy sharks.

Seith Steed with a good-size salmon that he caught off the beach.

Cracking calamari season at Corner Inlet CORNER INLET

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

Corner Inlet has produced fantastic fishing for calamari over the past month. They have been the main target species for anglers fishing the area. It hasn’t been

been some really good ones over 1kg being caught so they are definitely worth heading down there for. • For more information,

difficult to get your bag limit of squid and they are mixed sizes from 20cm to 30cm+ hood lengths. Size 3.0 and 3.5 jigs have been the go-to and colours that have been working the best range from whiting, white, gold and red foils. Calamari are over most of the weed beds in Corner Inlet and are being caught between

contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 51748544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle.

Darren Clarke caught this good haul of calamari at Corner Inlet. They are getting caught in great numbers at the moment.

Shane Wedrowicz with a nice sized calamari caught at Port Welshpool.

2-4m. The water temperature inside has been very cold, however this month and next month we will start to see the water temperature increase and the snapper should start to show up. Further east towards Manns Beach and Mcloughlins Beach, there are some monster salmon getting caught on 4-5” soft plastics. Make sure you

use heavier jigheads of around 3/8oz as the current runs very hard. There are lots of average sized salmon inside of around 30-40cm but there have been some monsters of up to 6lb over the past month. There are also some cracking trevally inside and they are being caught on smaller 2.5-3” soft plastics fished on lighter jigheads. There have

Matthew Reid found a greedy pack of salmon while spinning off the sand near the entrance. You know the Maria Mucho Lucir is a good lure when it catches two salmon at once!

SEPTEMBER 2018

Still a cool time on the South Coast MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson

It’s been the coldest winter I can recall around the Merimbula region, with minimal rain, clear nights and a lot of frosts making those early morning starts just that bit more difficult, but with spring

now upon us the days will become longer and hopefully the temperature a little bit warmer. The bonus is it hasn’t hurt the fishing at all, especially in the estuaries, with the local systems in full swing, although different techniques need to be used to get consistent results. The fishing in both the

Pambula and Merimbula lakes is ticking along nicely and it should only get better as the water slowly warms. It’s still a cool 15°C, so lighter leaders and slower presentations are still the go for all types of fishing. Anglers using an assortment of soft plastics and blades are faring best in the basins of both systems, with flatty

White or pearl soft plastics catch a lot of mulloway, with this 6kg fish falling victim.

numbers on the rise. The best fish I’ve heard of recently went 84cm and was taken on a 65mm wriggler aimed at bream. This big girl was in shallow water on the edge of the ribbon weed and was quite a surprise for the lucky angler. Thankfully, it was released in great condition, but the lads also got eight others from 40-58cm, which provided a good feed. The key to their success was the smaller softies, as when they cast bigger more conventional flathead lures they didn’t get zip. That just shows that the fish are there, but sometimes you need to think outside the square. It wasn’t just flatties for this session either, with trevally, tailor and a few blackfish filling the bag. The run-out tide was the peak time to fish, and I can’t see any reason why this will change in the short term. Closer to town in around the main channel below Merimbula bridge, the trevally population continue to give anglers a stack of fun, with some days better than others. Casting an array of softies

There are some horse bream getting caught in our local estuaries, as Matt Collins found out recently. will work, with bait fishers using fresh Hawkesbury prawns on the change of tide also catching their fare share. You can also expect a few bream, with blackfish numbers around the boats near Mitchies jetty in huge numbers. This happens every year as they move back into the estuaries after winter. On the beaches, it’s slowed up somewhat with the flat seas of late, but there’s still a few salmon poking around. The mouth of Pambula Lake has fared best, with quite a few schools heading up the

river as they do every year. They’re not thick, but if you’re there at the right time on the flooding tide you should get amongst a few. Casting metal shiners or mid range soft plastics will work with tailor and salmon, with trevally also possible. Other beaches that have fished reasonably well when conditions suit, including North Tura and Tura Main, mainly for salmon, although some nice bream have been caught on the northern end of North Tura near Bournda Island. Using a mixture of To page 43

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Hoping for a good flush NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson

Narooma and its surrounds have experienced the driest run of weather I can recall, with hardly any rain over the last three months. We are in desperate need of it, and it’s the same story all over the state. The outlook looks bleak at present, but hopefully that will change over the coming weeks. Estuaries need a good flush from time to time, and when we do get rain it will really benefit these systems and provide better fishing than what’s on offer at present. The waters of Wagonga Inlet are currently crystal clear, with the bottom visible in 6-7m of water in some locations. This clarity, combined with blue skies, has made fishing tough on most days, so those anglers that have still caught a few are fishing very early in

the morning before the sun gets too high. You can also try fishing dusk and into the evening, but it gets pretty cold very quickly at this time. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still fish to be caught but you certainly have to work a lot harder at the minute. I’d be focusing on the main basin of the inlet in the deeper sections, with 8-14m the depth to concentrate on. Try to fish around the whitebait schools here, and fish slow, methodical presentations close to the bottom. You will still get flatties, bream and the odd legal snapper. Additionally, you’re always in with a chance at a mulloway, especially in September. These gold bars enter this system this month, mainly following the blackfish or luderick schools back into the system after their spawning. The mulloway tend to be decent fish too; there might not be huge numbers, but the

average size definitely gets the blood pumping. Don’t be surprised to see 15kg fish this month! Live baits, fresh squid and bigger soft plastics fished deep and slow are the go-to methods. Casting a range of larger soft vibes may also entice a strike, so have all the weapons at the ready. If the larger prey isn’t for you, the channels on the eastern side of the bridge are worth a look on the draining or run-out tide when the water is a little more disturbed. You can expect bream, trevally, blackfish and the odd flatty on fresh bait or smaller 3” softies. On the beaches the salmon run continues; all beaches with a half decent gutter have been producing. It’s been a good season thus far, and once you locate a patch you’ll be in for some action. Salmon are reasonably easy to catch with the right tackle and preparation.

There will be some nice EPs in the Tuross River system this month after the recent closure. From page 42

pipi and beachworm for bait should do the trick. This part of the beach has a deep gutter at the moment, so hopefully the fishing here continues to produce. Offshore the game fishing is at a stand still, with little to report as the SBT run is all but over. I’d be waiting another month or so to see what the temperature does and take it from there. We might see a late flurry, but only time will tell. Closer to shore though, the bottom crews are doing well, with flathead numbers excellent. It’s been like that all winter, although it does seem the size of the fish has dropped off with a lot of fish around that 33-38cm mark. The fish seem to be deeper,

with the 45m line being popular straight out the front of Bournda Island. This area has been the pick of places to fish, and hasn’t seen too many dreaded leatherjackets that other areas have seen. Those after a feed of snapper and morwong are happy too, with the reefs down south of Pambula being the pick. Lennards Island is the go and has been for weeks now, with a few fish coming from Long Point too. The morwong have been solid, with fish to 4kg, although the reds are school fish averaging a 1kg or so. Both micro-jigging and bait has worked, with drifting a better option than anchoring up and using berley. Off the stones, it’s been pretty slow, which is a little surprising considering the conditions have been

pretty good. It should be red-hot for drummer, but it’s not! Granted, there’s a few fish being caught, but there’s not much size to them and no numbers either. I hope this will pass and they pick up, as they’re great on the plate and fight like nothing else. What has been good is the pelagic action, with salmon numbers on the increase. The main wharf in Merimbula Bay and the rocks off Long Point has seen a lot of the action, with whole pilchards and deeper running hardbodies catching the fish. There’s been a few smaller rat kings, but I have heard of some absolute shreddings from bigger kingfish around that 10kg mark, so let’s cross the fingers these greenbacks come back in numbers, as they did at this time a couple of years ago!

Bruiser with a cracking 88cm flatty. These big girls will start to get active this month, and the river section at Tuross is a good place to try your luck. They fight hard, and best of all they are great for kids that are starting out either using bait or lures to capture them. All you need to do is get a light bream spin stick, cast 20g lures into the suds and you’ll have some fun. If you’re after more bread and butter species, we will see some solid bream and whiting this month. The rockier corners of beaches will produce, with Tilba, Narooma main, and Handkerchief the better ones to try. A lightly weighted bait like live beach worms or pipi will suffice. Using a little berley won’t hurt, but don’t overdo it or the stingrays and banjo sharks will become a nuisance. Outside, the fishing for popular species like snapper, morwong and flathead has been okay when the weather has allowed. Those cold westerlies should soon back off and make the early morning sessions a little

more comfortable. Anglers are getting good snapper to 4kg with most coming from the 60m grounds straight off Potato Point. This area is a hot spot for the reds, with the gravel patches on the edges of the harder rocky reef the place to fish. Either anchoring or drifting will work, depending on the current etc. Montague has produced some nice reds too, with the southwest corner being the place to fish. This section has plenty of gravel mixed in with the reef, and fishes well in early autumn. There’s also the chance of catching a king here early in the season. Those of us who like fishing wider for the pelagics like yellowfin tuna and albacore might just have some luck if the charts are anything to go by. Bluewater anglers are getting some cracking tuna north of us, so let’s just hope that good water

gets here soon and the weather gods do their thing so the game crews get a crack at them. Those anglers fishing the stones have done it tough lately with the flat seas. This will change once we get some decent white water around the ledges. When this happens the usual bread-and-butter species will be available from the regular haunts. The golf course rocks in town usually fires for blackfish this month, as does the southern break wall of the bar as the blackfish head back up the estuaries. We can expect a few yellowfin bream too, with mullet schools on the increase as well. If you’re after the pelagics, then salmon, tailor and the odd smaller king are the target species, with 30-40g chromies the go. You have to put the time and effort in to catch these fish, so expect long sessions to get consistent results.

Atomic Semi-Hardz sink slowly and are capable of being fished in a wide range of situations. They are built extra tough with heavy duty wire running through the lure, insuring you stay connected with your prey. The life-like feel of the Semi-Hardz will keep fish coming back again and again.

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What are the options when the rain won’t fall? BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Following an incredibly dry autumn and winter the estuary systems are doing poorly, so what are the options? Firstly, I would be concentrating on those that are open to the ocean. The Bermagui River is one such place. Fish like bream, whiting, flathead and luderick will seek out the warmer water where they know their food sources become more active. Prawns, worms, nippers and small fish are a lot more energetic, giving the predators a chance at ambush. Your best option is to start over the flats as the tide starts to fall, then make your way into the channel to fish around weed beds and rocky outcrops. Fish will respond well to lures, although I prefer to actively

Whiting are just one of many fish you would expect to encounter over the flats.

work nippers in this area. Anglers visiting the beaches are encountering plenty of salmon all along the coast. Any decent gutter at the top of the tide will see these fish moving into them. There is not a lot accompanying them at present, only the odd tailor and occasional gummy shark of an evening. These salmon are also an option from the rocks, where those wanting to cast a lure can be entertained from some of the more reasonable outcrops surrounding Bermagui. On the stones anglers can chase one of the many black drummer that are available. Throw in the odd luderick, blue groper and trevally and angling can be interesting there. Offshore anglers can turn their attention to the annual run of tiger flathead. They are just starting at the moment, although as the water warms more and more of these tasty bottom

dwellers start to appear off the coast from Bermagui. To find these you have to look on the edges of the Four and Six-Mile reefs, anywhere from 40-60m water deep. If you find the drift from north to south you will be able to slide along the fringes of the reef picking up these fish on a regular basis. Amongst them you’ll likely find some reasonable snapper, plenty of morwong, and both jackass and rubber lips. You’ll also get some of the usual by catches like ocean perch, the odd pigfish and more commonly, and quite annoyingly, a tasty leatherjacket. If you are looking for some large tiger flathead, concentrate your efforts out around the Twelve-Mile reef – even though the water is deeper you will find the fish are of an extremely large size and there is always the possibility of other good species like the Tassie To page 45

Still worth heading out to get cool water fish EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

With the cold weather there are very few tourists about, but the fishing options available at the moment make it worth a visit, particularly if you enjoy chasing southern bluefin tuna. It’s a long trip out to where the fish are, around 50km, so pick a good day, that way you can be sure you are going to come across fish. There are plenty out there with the big fish up to 80kg and the average fish around the 40kg mark. Fish are being caught on trolled skirted lures with good catches also coming from anglers berleying up and fishing a cube trail. These fish are only passing by; how

long they stay in the area is anyone’s guess. The tiger flathead are still being caught with the water temperature around the 18°C mark. The fish are still on the bite closer to shore. Good numbers of sand flathead are also being caught. Snapper should be on the go soon once the cuttlefish shells are being washed up on the beaches. You know it’s time to chase the snapper with the bigger fish generally caught over the next few months. Some good gummy sharks are also being caught. You need a bit of luck finding an area with fish, but as with all fishing if you can catch one, you can be sure there are more in the area. Salmon are being caught on all the local beaches with good gutters around. You only need a bit of wave action to stir things up and the salmon

will be on the bite. Fish are being caught on both lures and fresh baits like pilchards. The local estuaries have all the winter species on the bite with plenty of silver trevally around. The trevally really love the colder water and they can be caught all year round. Usually they are at their best over the winter months. Yellowfin bream are still being caught around the mouths of the estuaries with the black bream on the bite, and they can be found in numbers further upstream. The dusky flathead fishing should slow down. Work your lure slower than you would in the summer months and look for warmer water and those northern facing bays that might be just a bit warmer than other locations. A little rain has fallen, but a good wet is needed to fire things up once spring arrives.

Silver trevally have been biting well over the colder months.

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trumpeter. This is also a good time of year for those who have got the gear to go deepwater fishing beyond the Continental Shelf. Here you can find hapuka, blue eye trevalla, gemfish and some of the ugliest cod you could

ever imagine! Unfortunately, this time of year the weather is unpredictable and you will have to judge your window carefully to be able to make the most of this style of fishing. While you are out in the deeper water keep an eye out for any early season

tuna that may be working their way back down the coast, although I predict it may be too early to see any of these fish in numbers. The best chance for those wanting game fish would be to lay a berley trail and see if you can entice a mako shark to the boat.

Trevally are a cool water fish found in the estuaries and offshore.

Wait for good rainfall MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Very little rain has fallen over the past month but the temperature keeps reminding us that it’s winter; it’s been freezing and with the cold has come a lot of windy days. The whole area is in drought and without rain the lake level has seen little change. All the lakes in this area have always been in a boom then bust situation; they fill up with the rain, break open to the ocean, become tidal and without the rain they eventually close up again. It has been a cycle that has gone on forever. Even the biggest lake system in Victoria used to operate that way and it is important to remember that because the permanent opening it has to the ocean is not natural, it has changed the ecology of the lake weed beds, which also impacts the fishing. We are patiently waiting for a good rainfall – the more we get the better the entrance when it flushes

open and the longer it will remain open. Unfortunately, no one knows how long this drought is going to last. The offshore fishing has seen some catches of sand flathead and tiger flathead from around the Gabo Island area. When the wind has backed off and allowed anglers to head out fishing, gummy sharks have also been caught towards the front of Gabo Island. This time of year the fish can school up in small areas so it pays to keep moving until fish are found. Once found try and keep drifting over the area and you should end up with a good feed. Trolling lures around the rocky headlands is the best way to encounter a few salmon. The fish are not fussy and will strike at a variety of lures. Very little action has come from out wider and things won’t really liven up until the water temperature starts to warm up and that won’t be for another few months. This

time of year the fishing along the local beaches is all about salmon and there is no shortage of them. Fishing the lake at this time of year is all about bream. Flathead can still be caught but catching them in numbers is not easy. The odd jewfish has been caught up around Cape Horn. It’s too cold to spend the night out there but if you are keen to catch a fish, put in a few hours just after dark and you could be lucky. Some decent tailor are being caught. These fish can turn up anywhere at any time and you need a bit of luck to land the bigger models as they usually end up biting you off. The black bream have been on the bite with the usual winter tactics working a treat. Find the fish with the sounder, then fish with soft plastic lures or blades and you should end up with a few fish. They are being caught in both the Top and Bottom lakes and up towards Gypsy Point.

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING TESTED

PRODUCT GUIDE

New Siglon PE braid from Sunline great for no-fuss luring

The purchase of braided line should be seen as an investment. It might not be quite as long-term as a rod and reel setup, but usually longer than a many lures, and certainly any terminal tackle. It’s for this reason that, despite my not being particularly moneyed at this stage in my life, I always look for the best quality braid I can get my hands on. Lesser braids, while cheap and affordable after a standard tertiary studyladen week, won’t give the same mileage, often rubbing through and breaking only weeks after installation. As a result, an angler will often end up spending more in the longterm if they want to keep fishing, but there are steps available to minimise unnecessary spending and maximise catching! EJ Todd Fishing Solutions have a history of

From experimentation in the past, I’ve learned that braids with less strands tend to operate better on a baitcasting set up, because they flatten much easier and often end up slightly stiffer. This stiffness helps line to run off the spool during a cast, where softer braids often can’t keep up with the rotation and end up overrunning. Braids with more strands on the other hand, usually end up being rounder in profile but softer and more flexible, and definitely better suited to a spinning set-up. With no risk of overrunning, spinning setups can get away with using comparatively soft braids. With this in mind, I decided that the PEx8 would go onto my Daiwa BG 2500 spin reel, and the PEx4 onto my 13 Fishing Concept A baitcaster.

Techniques like jerkbaiting can be a nightmare when using substandard braids, with the potential for looping and uneven wrapping on the spool between jerks. There’s none of that with Siglon PE!

bringing in high-quality fishing products from all over the world. Basically, if you take fishing more seriously than just about anything else in life, you’ll have brought EJ Todd products. Everything under the Todd’s banner comes with unmistakable quality identified by Australian anglers for Australian anglers, and the new Siglon PE from Sunline is no exception! SPOOLING UP Having been sent two spools for testing, the PEx4 and PEx8 (both in 16lb), I decided I would do a comparison of the two. The two 150m (165yds) spools were in the ‘light green’ colour, perfect for my planned testing site that features a lot of aquatic weed. The PEx8 is available in light green, orange and multi colour, and the PEx4 just in light green. As the name suggests, the PEx8 is an 8-carrier braid, and the PEx4 a 4-carrier.

SEPTEMBER 2018

As for the comparison of the two models, I found that my decision to put the braids on their respective reels was a good choice, and feel that anyone interested in using this line should follow the same principal – PEx4 for baitcasters and PEx8 for spin reels. QUALITY THE BEST SOLUTION Some of us might not think too hard about what braid we use, but we should – it’s what keeps us connected to the fish!

potential for uneven wrapping on the spool, I thought this was a perfect test for the braid. For a bit of fun, I decided to fish jerkbaits on both the spinning and baitcasting setups loaded up with the Siglon PE. Like with all braids, it took a few casts for it to warm up and cast properly, but within 2 minutes I was belting out long casts with a 4.5g jerkbait, and within 5 minutes, I was hooked up on the spin gear! This fish started a fantastic few months of top-class jerkbaiting in South East Queensland for me, and I got plenty of use out of the PEx4 and the PEx8. On the 8 I was able to deliver good casts comfortably with jerkbaits as light at 3.5g, while with the 4 on the baitcast set-up, I used baits as light at 4.9g without any trouble at all. I also got some use out of the braids fishing for flathead, bream and squid without any loops, wind knots or troubles associated with lesser braids. They’ve even retained their original colour better than other braids I’ve used! As a bonus, I found it to be extremely thin for its poundage, which aided in casting distance and overall stealth.

If you want a braid that will last more than a few months, retaining its strength and abrasion-resistance, Siglon PE is a great choice. Being as trouble-free as it is, you’ll be able to spend more time fishing and less time stressing about retying, untangling wind knots and re-packing the spool. Siglon PEx8 comes in poundages from 5-130, while the PEx4 in 3-50, so there’s a PE for literally every fishing scenario. Coming in at a pretty incredible price for a high-quality braid, this is the perfect option for anyone looking for peace of mind with braids, where you can spool it up and not worry about it for over a year. At around $24.95 for 150m spools of PEx4 and around $40 for 150m spools of PEx8 (more for 300m spools), it’s a product that marries up supreme quality and affordability. Choosing a braid when spooling up new reels and re-spooling old ones can require a bit of thought. EJ Todd have made that decision much easier for me! For more information, and to find an outlet near you that stocks Sunline Siglon PE Braided Fishing Line, visit www.ejtodd.com.au. - Bob Thorton

The author was just happy to be out bass fishing after a period of little to no linewetting. A trouble-free braid made those first few trips out to the dam pure joy.

Even the baitcaster got a run with the jerkbaits! The 16lb PEx4 had no trouble delivering a 4.9g bait into the nooks and crannies where the bass were.

As with all re-spooling of braid on my reels, I made sure to pack it down as tightly as I could onto about 20-30m of squishy monofilament, which I use as backing. ON THE WATER Soon enough I was on the water, and the end of autumn saw me getting stuck into one of my favourite forms of fishing – jerkbaiting for impoundment bass! With the constant jerking of the rod and

Developing your own friendly fishing network NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

We all need a ‘network,’ right? But in this modern age of social media and increasingly impersonal online interactions, how do you build a reliable

Traditionally, at least in my day, a lot of us learnt how to fish from our parents, grandparents or other family members. However, as life became busier and fishing less ingrained in the matrix of our culture, that knowledge and know-how skipped entire generations. Today

melded families. Budding anglers in this brave new world often don’t have an obvious Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda to turn to for wisdom and instruction. For a big chunk of my own development as an angler, books, magazines, videos and television shows filled this mentoring void.

Fishotopia.com produces a free monthly newsletter, with lots of great info and links. brains trust that can help you grow your fishing and enhance your on-water experiences? No matter what hobby, sport, craft or passion you’re into – from football to gardening to motor racing – you really need a strong support group or network to nurture your development and offer a helping hand when the learning curve gets steep and slippery. Typically, this network is a loose collection of friends, family, fellow fans, mentors and even total strangers who share your love for that particular pursuit, and who are willing to offer advice, or act as sounding boards for your ideas. Without such a network of supportive peers, it’s very easy to lose your way, and with it your love of the hobby in question. Fishing is certainly no exception.

we live in a time-poor, information-overloaded world of single parents and

I owe those instruments of ‘old media’ an immense debt of gratitude, as I do

the various fishing clubs and associations I’ve been a part of over the years. None can replace a sage old grandpa or a sharp-tongued relative standing by your shoulder and pointing out – gently or otherwise – the errors of your way, but they do guide you in the right direction. For better or worse, the hard copy pages of old media are gradually vanishing (with rare and welcome exceptions like the wonderful publication you’re holding in your hands), and less than %5 of fishers choose to join clubs these days, while most TV shows and DVDs have been forced to become blatant marketing vehicles in order to survive. It’s increasingly hard to get the good oil from a trustworthy source. Many of us have turned to social media to replace traditional support networks, and that’s understandable. But Facebook and Snapchat and Instagram and YouTube are indiscriminate platforms, with little in the way of inherent quality control, which is my polite way of saying that there’s an awful lot of rubbish out there! You need to have your BS filter cranked to max and your scepticism drive firmly engaged when

Fishing is a wonderful pursuit for the whole family, and you’ll be hardpressed to find a better support group than your nearest and dearest.

We all need to start somewhere, and then learn more. But who should we rely on for getting good advice? diving into the crowded pool of social media. It also seems that much of what goes on in the realm of social media involves the dynamics of envy. The underlying message is: ‘I have a better life than you, with a betterlooking partner, brighter kids and a much funnier cat than yours… and I catch huge fish that look like this… and this… and this.’ The way things have been heading over recent years was making me sad. Fortunately, I’m married to a marketing guru 10 years my junior who has a wealth of ideas about ways to improve things. It was Jo who cooked up the concept of Fishotopia. com, which is our latest attempt to provide a safe, reliable platform for fellow fishers seeking to grow their support networks. I’m not going to do a hard sell on Fishotopia here, and I know it’s not going to appeal to everyone. But if

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it tickles your interest, scan the QR code here or go to www.fishotopia.com and have a look. Meanwhile, if you already have a reliable fishing network, I suggest that you value it, nurture it and never, ever take it for granted. In closing I’ll give you the most important tip I’ve learnt about networks in my six decades on this planet: you will get out of them exactly as much as you’re willing to put in. Tight lines! VIDEO

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abt

BARRA TOURTournament

FREE GUIDEBOOK

Guide

Australian Bass Tournaments A Peter Jung cover image

ABT.ORG.AU SEPTEMBER 2018

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

2018 zerek barra tour calendar Welcome to the 2018 version of the BARRA Tournament Angler Guide or TAG as we like to call it in the office. For the third straight year Zerek is the naming sponsor and for the third straight year it looks like they’ll have a range of baits that both the barra and the barra anglers will love. Whether you’re throwing their Flat Shads, Fish Traps (in the small or new larger sizes) or the new Zerek large hard swimbaits, you will be covered in each of the lakes the BARRA Tour visits. One of the highlights of last year’s BARRA Tour was watching tour newbie Dean Jackson tie on the Zerek Fish Trap he received

in his tour sample bag and land the biggest barra recorded at the Kinchant event. It was a great reward for a team who decided to give the BARRA Tour a go and tasted success in their very first event. Each year the Zerek BARRA Tour is a mix

of seasoned veterans and aspiring newcomers. It doesn’t take the newbies long to get into the swing of things, the routine of fishing, driving, having a few refreshing ales and doing it all again not only accelerates your barra learning curve but also

forges great friendships. The fact that Camp Kanga at Peter Faust Dam will be open again for this year’s tour only adds to the excitement and the social atmosphere. We definitely missed this social gathering point in the 2017 tour. Once again, we will be using the TrackMyFish powered ABT Tournament Series App to record catches. On lakes likes Kinchant, it allows ABT to deliver live scoreboards to those keen on following the results. Inside this guide you will find calendars, how-to articles and stories from teams who have given it a go for the first time. You’re all welcome! Just

DATE

LOCATION

EVENT

SPONSOR

SESSION TIMES

13 November

Kinchant Dam

BARRA Tour Round #1 (Evening Event)

Hobie Polarized

4pm - 12am

2o November

Teemburra Dam

BARRA Tour Round #2 (Evening Event)

Wilson Fishing

4pm - 12am

21 November

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #3 (Night Championship)

Westin

4pm - 8am

5-6 Nov

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #4 (Evening Event)

Lucky Craft

4pm - 12am

fill out the entries, make your travel plans and we will see you on the 2018 Zerek BARRA Tour.

You can download the entry forms, rules and event information at www. abt.org.au

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abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

Finding the ‘perfect funnel’ TNQ

Karim DeRidder

For the average angler, stepping into the tournament scene for the first time is a massive leap out of the comfort zone. For most, there is a high level of anticipation for that first dabble into competition, and every

current tournament angler has felt this at some stage. Tackle preparation, boat organisation and research into their likely destinations builds a solid level of excitement. Anglers traveling to the Mackay area and sampling the delights of fishing talk around the Camp Kanga Dongas near Lake Proserpine will most likely hear plenty

of chatter about certain productive spots, key areas of the lake, and when the conditions are perfect, hordes of barramundi on their side imaging units each session. While some anglers may pass on valuable information to help find those sweet spots, these areas are generally fairly close kept secrets for each angler, especially for the tournament angler

who will generally work extremely hard to find the ultimate spots, which may lead to tournament success. The questions will develop in new anglers trying to take in all that key information that may lead to success on their part; a 1m+ barra hitting the deck. What do these areas generally look like? What characteristics do they share? What separates poor locations from good locations, and what makes great ones? The following explanation will hopefully enlighten the average barra angler and turn them on the right path towards finding their own ‘perfect funnel.’ The perfect barra funnel is a concept discussed to some extent in most victory speeches after an ABT BARRA round every year. The talk will cover techniques and tackle used and briefly describe a location on the lake where its physical characteristics and environmental conditions have ensured a consistent confluence of barramundi directed past the victorious angler’s boat. This is essential to any success during the barra tour and

Craig Griffiths with a solid deepwater daytime capture. Large schools of barra can be targeted successfully in lakes when knowing where to look and what to throw. generally requires a level of understanding of what to look for, ensuring that you are maximising your time spent on the lake. During pre-fish prior to the start of a tournament, it’s important to spend a significant amount of time sitting in front of the sounder to identify areas that are most likely to see movements of fish during critical times in a tournament session. A good starting point is to identify river beds and creek channels – areas of deep water that are the arteries of the lakes. Their role in directing fish movements around the lakes is essential to

understand. The perfect funnels will generally be fed from these deep water areas, transferring fish to ideal feeding zones via these pathways and hopefully right to your interception point – an area where each cast has the highest probability of interacting with moving, feeding fish. Structure such as tree lines and weed beds will determine these fish movements and act as physical steering mechanisms to direct them to feeding zones. Both Faust and Teemburra have vast amounts of standing timber including vivid

TOURNAMENT RODS FOR ALL ANGLERS TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT RODS RODS FOR FOR ALL ALL ANGLERS ANGLERS The ideal location for the perfect barra funnel.

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The ABT Faust round in 2015 required very specific boat positioning and identifying fish movements through vast, open water weed beds. When the perfect funnel was identified, this was the result: a 110cm class fish.

lines along creek channels and sparse flooded forests; both influence the barra movements in their own way. It can be quite interesting to compare fish movement and behaviour in these structure-rich locations to the more open water areas; this movement and behaviour changes by the hour and it’s important to keep in touch to ensure you are casting to the most viable locations. As Kinchant is mostly void of timber, the weed edges influence their movements in similar ways. Being a smaller lake, Kinchant is easier to work out than Faust and Teemburra. Both weed and timber are key structures in their own right, and both work together as perfect ingredients in

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au the development of the ultimate funnel. As most ABT rounds are afternoon/evening sessions, it’s important to understand the movement of the barra as they relate to these particular times of the day, and generally their movement to feeding zones. Gradual sloping ridges that enter the lake (commonly referred to as ‘points’) and wide extended flats are well known as reliable feeding zones, by identifying a close relationship to the deep waters as discussed previously, more knowledge is built towards identifying funnels to these areas. The perfect shallow areas will have significant ambush zones and, as discussed earlier, structure such as a

LURES TO USE Deep water creek channel to flat Transam 95, Madness Vibe Tree line of creek and at end of point Lucky Craft 100XD Pointer, Madness Vibe, Transam 95 Weed edge to boat position Lucky Craft 100 pointer (shallow), Rapala X-Rap XR14 or 12, any 130-250mm paddletail plastic such as Slick Rigs, Castaic Jerky J 5/7”, Berkley Hollow Belly Weed-edge and lantana towards water edge Same plastics as above, suspending hardbodies such as Lucky Craft 100 Pointer, X-Rap, glide baits.

weed bed, weed channels, significant snags or tree lines. On most occasions the barra will feed close to these structures. The cover presents as the perfect ambush spot for an unsuspecting bony bream. Faust has been well known to produce insane sessions when the lake was at capacity; places where masses of old lantana had long died off were ideal areas for barra to hunt and the no-holds-barred, hand-to-hand combat is still discussed by many barra anglers who experienced this type of fishing. For relating those areas to specific bite times, the old saying, ‘make hay while the sun shines’ relates well to barra fishing. Interchange the sun with moon and you have a winner. The standard bite time that all lakes exhibit right on dark generally starts and fades quite quickly, however a gradual build of action usually progresses with the moonrise towards its upward extremity during most ABT events. The last important aspect discussed here is the geographical location of the area and environmental factors, as these directly influence the amount of fish that will travel through these areas. As most successful tournament anglers are well aware, the weather patterns

The author with a dark coloured weed-dweller. A perfect funnel was identified on the point of a vast weedbed with high activity of moving barra observed. This fish bit as the lure broke free of the weed into clear water right on the point. and prevailing wind that drives the current in the lakes must be studied and adapted in the plan of attack. Bulk barra movements will locate themselves in areas of the dam in significant numbers; a steady single or minimal variant direction of wind can develop these quickly. At the same time, the presence of a drastic change of stability influenced by wind direction

change and velocity can disperse them as quickly as they arrived. During your pre-fish, keep track of areas where a majority of barra are identified on your SI, where the winds have been pushing current and nutrients to certain areas of the lake. Keep narrowing your focus until you are seeing mass movements of the fish into small specific areas. These areas will be like a

convergence of footpaths to a multidirectional crossing, waiting for the green ‘walk’ light to illuminate. Identify your deep water/shallow relationships, locate your structure, pre-empt your bite time and stay flexible to your environmental factors; the lights will turn green and the restaurant doors will open. Now you may read this and wonder what my To page 6

abt

TAG 2018

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

From page 5

ultimate funnel looks like – close your eyes and visualize the following: a gentle slopping ridge of land enters the lake, escaping from the hills behind. Sparse natural grasses meets a bare red soil shoreline influenced by the eroding rippling waves. A cluster of stumpy lantana bushes protrude from the lake not 6ft from the shoreline with approximately 2ft of water covering their roots. A narrow creek’s lily-

ridge. From underneath the cluster of lantana is a thin weed line, which builds as it approaches deeper water, presenting as a thick lush texture, dark blotches on the surface the only giveaway. From the sheer wall of weed at approximately 5ft deep, a large clear gap is present in front of the lantana, allowing a clear movement of bait and fish into just 2ft of water. To the right of the point, a large fallen snag

A metre class fish landed after targeting the perfect funnel. lined channel turns its way into the lake, nearly touching the lantana bushes. A clearing of approximately 40m meets sparse standing timber, illuminating the edge of the

lies perpendicular to the shoreline. From the 5ft front of the weed edge, a steady decline towards the end of the point makes way to approximately 15ft and thick trees dead ahead; these

are located a cast length off the edge of the weed. Remnant waves continue from the consistent easterly winds that once hit square on, but has sheared slightly as an afternoon northeasterly builds its pressure and moves an earthy colour change past the lantana trunks. The light changes from yellow to orange as the sun wanes. Minimal barra are seen on the SI where the boat is positioned at the treeline in front of the point. A boat movement towards the creek channel verifies a solid stream of barra straight onto the weed edge. A steady flow of bites progress the afternoon to night and as the moon rises a steadily increasing number of barra are seen moving past the boat’s position inside the tree line. A change of boat position out into the open water towards the point sees the Humminbird’s screen fill with barra shadows moving onto the point. My casts are pinpointed towards the little V in the weed between the lantana bushes. As the lure drops, I lift the rod and hop through the thick stuff, allowing it to contact clean bottom. A slow roll then bang! Another fish on. The perfect barra funnel has been found!

abt.org.au

A large amount of fish moving past the right side of the stationary boat. This is positioned inside the treeline facing the point, just like the ‘Perfect Funnel’ illustration hereabouts.

A perfect point illustrated with help of AutoChart, showing deep water access on all sides, weed on top with scattered brush, and five fish positioned amongst the structure.

M A P I T. O W N I T. S H A R E I T. I can’t believe how good this map is I just downloaded free off the Quickdraw™ Community. Look at this structure, those drop offs. Never would have known about this lake without the community. It’s fun fishing new water. I’ve already caught two nice keepers. Of course, I’ve uploaded some pretty nice maps, too. Glad someone decided to share this one.

IT’S YOUR TIME

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abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

The keys to Kinchant Dam TNQ

Peter Price

Kinchant Dam is so different to all the other barra impoundments on the ABT Tour, because it’s a small, shallow dam at approximately 920ha with an average depth of only 6.8m when full. Kinchant Dam requires filling by an inlet water channel from the nearby Pioneer River, due to the dam’s limited

like a salad bowl – the only fishable structures in the dam are weed beds and the lily-lined banks. There is a lack of standing timber and submerged structure. The most daunting thing about Kinchant Dam is getting your head around fishing weed. Weed is no different to fishing any other structure. This structure provides the barra with protection, comfort, security, and a place to hunt and ambush food. It’s a home

This is how I go about finding fish-catching spots in all that weed. The most important fishing tool in your boat is your sounder. I will,

always about energy used for energy gained. I prefer to use different icons on my sounder to mark different parts of the weed

The point near the ramp is worth a look.

The dam doesn’t have many points, but the ones it does have usually hold fish.

Wind blown points are excellent places to start looking. water catchment. It has a ‘No-Fishing Exclusion Zone’ area of 100m all along the dam wall, spillway and pump station. Kinchant Dam is more

to most of the bait in the dam. At first the weed all looks the same, but like any structure some parts will hold fish and be better than other sections.

for example, sound for five hours and only fish when I can see barra on my sounder. You are only wasting your time if you stay fishing these no-fish areas. I start by sounding the lilies, weed edges, and points that have wind blowing over them. This wind makes current and the current concentrates the bait in certain parts of the weed, making it easier for the barra to feed. Just remember with barra, it’s

CHASING BIG BARRA?

PROLUREAUSTRALIA.COM.AU

structure. I use one to mark along the weed edge every 10-15m. Then I will use the fish icon to mark a position where I want to cast to, and place a boat icon to mark where to anchor my boat. I will place a GPS icon in other locations such as single clumps of weed, out from a point, holes or divots in the weed edges, and any gully in the weed that may allow the barra to move in and out freely. Once I have identified and marked all these possible fish-holding locations, I will start my fishing session. These are locations that I will investigate throughout the fishing session. I will give each spot a period of time to settle down and if no fish are present on the sounder after 20 minutes, I will move on to the next spot. I will frequent these locations at different times to check if and when fish are staging and feeding there. When having to relocate at night, it’s a bonus having these areas marked on your sounder. It makes navigation so much quicker and easier and reduces wasted time by knowing where you are and where the structure is at all times. Kinchant Dam

barra are already pressured enough without you driving your boat over a location you may wish to fish. Possible bite windows are moonrise and moonset times, an hour either side of high tide and two hours either side of low tide times. I look for areas in the bays that have water covering the weed beds. I will place my boat up on top of this weed and go prospecting using surface stickbaits, weedless soft plastics or even crankbaits, so long as I’m not getting weed-fouled trebles. You have to be able

to fish the weed with different lures and different techniques, however it’s no good getting weed fouling on your line every cast – it’s just a waste of your cast and your fishing time. I have three different lures set up on my rods ready to go. If the weed is patchy, I will cast a crankbait, or weedless soft plastic or a Reidy’s Weedies. If the weed has 10cm or more of water over it I will change to surface stickbaits or frogs. All these types of lures are great search lures and the old saying is true, ‘you don’t leave fish to catch fish,’ so

Above: A good selection of vibes for Kinchant. Below: Surface lures will work, particularly around the weed.

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COMING TO AN ABT

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au once I find fish I sit on them. In saying that, one tip I will share with you is this; I have found if a barra you catch is really dark in colour, it’s a loner fish and not a

One tip with surface lure fishing is not to strike until you feel the weight of the barra on your line. I know it’s not easy to tell yourself not to react with your rod when

Quarry Bay can hold barra at times. schooling fish, so move on. If that barra is a real silvercoloured fish, more like a saltwater coloured fish, stay. That fish is a schooling fish

that barra has just missed the lure and left a great hole in the water where your lure was. However, by keeping

your lure stationary, it will remain in the strike zone and after the ripple settles, start your retrieve again and sometimes that fish will return and engulf your lure on its second attempt. While there is still some daylight left before evening falls, I will position my boat in the deeper water on the edge of the weed or weed point, ready for the night fishing session. I always keep an eye on my sounder screen, set on side and down scan. What I am looking for is to see if the barra are just passing through on the outside of my boat, or up against the weed edge – basically where the barra are positioned in relationship to my boat. If you are going to have a cast, it’s better to cast to

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COMPASS

KINCHANT DAM Locations to try • Ramp Bay • Camp Bay • Feeder Gully • Quarry Bay • South African Point (‘Safa Point’) • Rocks • Drain • Weed Bed • One Post Bay • Inlet

Above: South African Point is the most prominent point. Below: Isolated weed islands litter the dam.

and there will be more fish there to catch. When on top of the weed, these fish will spook easily. Keep any unnatural noise to a minimum. I like to use the wind to move my boat where possible and keep my Minn Kota electric motor usage to a minimum. Be sure to cast with the wind to maximise cast distance.

Above: Crankbaits are worth having onboard. Below: Weedless paddle-tail soft plastics are a must.

fish, not just cast for casting sake. The barra will push the bait up against the face of the weed and feed on it. Therefore, this is where you will need to cast towards the weed edge. At this location I will cast soft plastic paddle-tail lures like Squidgy Slick Rigs, Reidy’s Rubbers, Castaic Jerky J Swims, ZMan SwimmerZ and Zerek Flat Shads in the 5-7” size range. Cast right up on the weed then start your retrieve by rolling the lure back over the weed edge. Dead stick the lure at the weed edge and let it fall down that front weed face to the bottom. Most of the bites will happen as it is falling, so be ready to strike. If there’s no strike, hop the plastic all the way back to the boat. Always pause at the boat before lifting the lure out of the water, because sometimes the barra will follow the lure all the way to the boat. I believe they think their food is getting away, so they will engulf To page 10

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your lure right at the boat. Basically, it’s a good habit to pause before lifting your lure out of the water every time and after a while it becomes second nature.

Tournament Angler Guide multiple sharp lifts and then hopping the vibe all the way back to the boat. With vibes you also need a fast retrieve reel, due to the fact that most of the barra bites will occur on the drop

and strength to allow you to cast further and have the ability to control and steer a large fish. I believe the longer you can have your lure in the water, the better, and the greater the chance of catching your barra. If I hook a fish in the weed and feel that it is going to snag me up, I will drive the boat straight towards the fish and try to pull the barra straight up. If the barra get too much line out, there is

them, so it pays to have a swimbait rod rigged and ready to cast. I use a Venom 7.6ft swimbait 30-50lb bait caster rod. Like I said at the start of this article, use your sounder. I have that much confidence in my new Lowrance HDS Carbon 16” sounder that if I don’t see any fish on the sounder, I move on. Barramundi are one of Australia’s most fickle native fish species and I think we

Camp Bay should never be overlooked, particularly if there’s wind blowing into it. Also at this location, if I notice that the barra are feeding on the bottom, I will change to a vibe. With vibes you may need to change retrieve techniques to encourage the barra. The hard part is working out what that retrieve is. I always start by casting long to the weed, allowing the vibe to sink to the bottom before starting my retrieve. I always mix my retrieves up, with slow single short lifts, right through to

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as the vibe is falling back to the bottom. Once the barra inhales the vibe it will swim towards the surface to remove the lure from its mouth. A reel that can pick up slack line quickly is essential. I like to use a 7ft 6kg Venom baitcaster rod and 7ft Venom 40-50lb spin rod. Both spooled with 30-50lb Sunline Braid and I use a 55lb Schneider leader and 60lb FC Rock Sunline fluorocarbon leader. These rods have the length

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Top: Paddle-tail soft plastics are another must have. Above: Deep diving hardbodies can have their day. Below: Swimbaits are a growing craze in Kinchant.

Lily and weed point are dynamite places for barra. a greater chance of getting your line tangled in the weed structure. Drive up on them and hold their head up. If I view free-swimming barra on my sounder, I will throw a swimbait lure at

will never completely work them out. That’s why the reward of landing a barra after all the effort is special and keeps us coming back. Enjoy our dam; it’s one of Australia’s best.

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Zerek Fish Trap scores TNQ

Nick Wells

When the Fish Trap touched down a few years back, it hit the ground running. Anglers were wanting something different, something innovative and cost effective – not just another generic vibe. The Fish Trap ticked all the boxes. In an era where soft vibes have evolved as the go-to lure for targeting impoundment barra, the Zerek Fish Trap has cemented itself as a household name amongst impoundment barra anglers, racking up plenty of good bags across the field in recent ABT BARRA tours. The Fish Trap boasts many key characteristics that all come together to make this one of the most successful vibes on the market. From its notorious patented curl tail right through to its attractive vibe factor, the Fish Trap is constructed from extra tough TPE and has through-wire connections between all tow points, which makes this lure virtually bulletproof. SIZE AND WEIGHTS The Fish Trap is available

in 65mm/10g, 95mm/23g, 110mm/34g sizes in 15 colours, and Wilsons will soon be releasing a 160mm/58g and 78g size, with 10 colours in the range. The all-new 160mm vibe

is the big brother of this great range and was recently released at the AFTA Tackle Trade Show. It’s going to be a massive hit. For now, however, we prefer to use the

The ‘rip ‘n’ roll’ technique that we use has seen plenty of fish hit the deck on the Fish Traps. Night jigging the main basin is something that everyone needs to experience at least once.

When the Faust barra are on the chew you can expect to see plenty of lures getting completely inhaled. Another victim of the notorious FAB 110mm Fish Trap.

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110mm/34g size for chasing impoundment barra. COLOUR SELECTION Every angler has that favourite colour that they can always throw with confidence, but to maximise your catch rates there are several factors to consider when deciding which colour to tie on. Water clarity, moon phases and the time of day or night are just a few of the things to take into account. For example, on the build-up to the full moon we like to throw the white coloured Fish Traps. If the water is dirty we prefer to throw a brighter colour, such as FAB. At different times we’ve caught barra on pretty much every colour in the range, which can certainly make it hard to decide which one to tie on. Statistically speaking, when it comes to the numbers of barra caught the frontrunner is the FB (flying bear) colour in the 110mm model. It’s closely followed by FAB (fat Betty), BB (baby barra) and BG (barred grunter). The fact that the flying bear colour catches plenty of fish isn’t the only reason it’s our favourite colour. FB has also been the saving grace when the fish just didn’t want to play the game. RIGGING There are a few mods that we do to the Fish Traps just for that extra peace of mind. Impoundment barra can be brutally unforgiving and they do a pretty good job at finding any weak points in your gear. If you give them an inch they will take a mile. For our beloved 110mm Fish Traps, we retrofit them with either size 2 Mustad Saltisms or Decoy YW-77s. We’ve also been trialling the new Mustad TG-77 Jaw Lock Triple Grip trebles with great results. People often ask us the reason for running the different treble arrangements. Our answer is that barra don’t always strike in the same way. They either hit hard, engulfing the

whole lure, or they swipe the lure fast during the retrieve. When they engulf it you know they’re hungry, and feeding hard and fast. When the barra are hungry like this, the strong Mustad Saltisms come into their own. During a hard strike, quite often the lure

don’t let go. This can be the difference between success and failure when the fish aren’t fully playing the game. We generally run two of the same Fish Traps in our box, each rigged with the different trebles for the differing situations. It’s all these one percenters that add

Those frustrating taps and strikes can soon be turned into a fish in the net with the assistance of Decoy YW-77s. The Mustad TG-77s are also proving to be a big hit in tough situations. will get caught in both the bottom and top lips. The amount of pressure applied when a barra opens its mouth while hooked is massive. Unlike a crocodile, which has the power advantage in closing its jaw, barra have the advantage when they’re opening their mouth. We’ve seen some brands of trebles completely straightened when fish became hooked like this. On the other end of the scale, when barra head slap the lure you can barely feel the strike. This is where the YW-77 Decoys are great. The short, curled, ultrasharp tips stick well and they

up in end. When tying the lures to our leader we always use a loop knot. This allows the lure to perform to its maximum potential. We also remove the split ring on top and tie the loop knot straight to the tow point. By removing the split ring on top of the lure, you are eliminating another weak point. TECHNIQUES With a lure as versatile as the Fish Trap, it can be as easy as tying one on and going your hardest. Still, there are a few techniques that we’ve had most of our success on. They’re location specific, and they aren’t

rocket science. The first technique is one that we call ‘burn and pause’. Although the 110mm Fish Traps weigh 33g, you shouldn’t be afraid to throw them in the shallows. We love fishing them around shallow or weeded points in 3-4ft of water. As soon as the lure hits the water we crank them fast for a few metres, pause for a few seconds, then repeat. When a strike occurs it’s usually just after the pause. Another technique of ours is the ‘rip and roll’. This can be used as a deep jigging technique or on a straight retrieve. It involves a sharp rip of the rod tip followed by a steady retrieve, either hopping off the bottom or

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Matt with a Faust midnight metery taken on the BB 110mm Fish Trap. The white colours are great for fishing on the build-up to the full moon.

The authors’ favourite colours: BB (baby barra), BG (barred grunter), FAB (fat Betty) and FB (flying bear).

working down the face of a point or weed edge. Having your drag set right for these techniques is paramount. Your lure being retrieved at a rate of knots and a barra swimming a hundred miles an hour can only end one way – pulled hooks. A heavy drag is not needed. You can always increase drag pressure after the hooks are set. A popular technique in Peter Faust (Lake Proserpine) is deep jigging the main basin. Fish Traps have proven to be deadly using this technique. The most productive areas are

from the boat ramp along to the toilet block, and across the rope near the wall. A quality sounder is vital with this technique as you want to make sure every drop counts. We like use our ‘rip and roll’ technique when deep jigging the Fish Traps. Heavily timbered impoundments like Peter Faust are super productive. The majority of the best timber-laden points in Faust are on the western side. We like to sit 20-30m out off a point in around 10-12ft of water in areas that look like

“

the timber has been cleared. We refer to these as ‘arenas’. We position the boat in the middle of the arena, turn on the side scan and wait for the fish to swim through. These arenas give us a 360° angle to rotate our casts around the boat. It doesn’t take long to figure out which side they’re feeding on. Sometimes we hop our Fish Traps back along the bottom, and at other times (depending on where they’re sitting in the water column) a straight retrieve is all that’s needed to get the bite. The barra generally chill out in the deeper water through the day, and roll in with the help of the current in the afternoons, bashing up baitfish which they herd onto the points and into the bays. Generally you will intercept them on their way in, but sometimes

you will have to move in or out to catch their bite period. That’s pretty straightforward with the assistance of a good quality sounder. Kinchant is another highly productive dam with the Fish Traps, but it’s very different from Peter Faust. It’s like one big weed bowl. We like to find the edge of the weed (curtain), sit out a good casting distance in the clear open water, set the finder to 80-100ft and wait for the barra to swim through. Sometimes they will come out of the weed and go back in, while at other times they follow the weed edge back and forth, herding the bait. Spin gear is good in Kinchant as you can achieve those longer casts, and hop them back all the way to the boat. The longer the lure is in the water, the better.

Top: 100mm Fish Trap rigged with Mustad TG-77s. Middle: Rigged with Mustad Saltism size 2s. Bottom: Rigged with Decoy YW-77s.

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The North Queensland dam barra experience TNQ

Jacko Davis

Queensland is littered with many freshwater impoundments that are regularly stocked with the iconic barramundi. For many years I had read, watched and dreamt of these North Queensland barra. On one wet winter day last year, yet another article published about the consistent 1m+ barra in these impoundments had me on the phone to my fishing partner and cousin, Mark Donnelly. We agreed that we’d both procrastinated too long about making the trip, and proceeded to pencil in some dates in November that we believed we could sneak past our bosses. Two weeks in early November was the goal, and after some last-minute hurdles, we set sail from Bathurst in Central West NSW on route to Mackay in Central QLD. The 22-hour haul in our LandCruiser with Skeeter in tow went smoothly as we

that Peter Faust would provide the best opportunity to connect with quality fish. Bullish about our chances, we jetted off into the unknown of the lake as an afternoon storm approached. Scoping the layout of the dam and the structure options, we were soon concerned about the darkness of the clouds getting near. Without a cast thrown we were meet with a violent electrical storm with heavy rain. Bobbing around in the middle of the dam with waves coming over the front of the boat, it would have been evident to the local bystander that we were a couple of firsttime southerners that were still pondering the main use of sugar cane. With most smart fishos retreating home, we endured mother nature’s first crack at us and pushed through into the night. As base camp was 20km away, we decided it would be a better option to have a little nap on the boat and wake up for another attempt early the following morning. With a saturated deck from the night before and only one towel

over the top of us and hit ‘spot lock’ on the electric motor. Again, we rose early in the dark and began firing casts out into the unknown for nothing. Then, at around 7am in some dense timber, still half asleep, I received our first hit which resulted in a solid hook-up. I was still in shock as the fish came straight at the boat, almost jumping in. I had a clear view – this fish was big! It took off again and snapped the petty 50lb leader I was running, and it was like a dagger in the heart. After many long hours of casting we finally got an opportunity, and blew it. I may have let a little rod rage out on my way to the back of the boat where I sat down and questioned if that was going to be the only chance we would have. We headed back to camp deflated. That midday was spent preparing lures again, and doing some solid Google Earthing. Peter Faust offers a range of structure. The western bank is littered with trees, thousands of them,

This was the best fish of the trip. Although not a monster for Peter Faust standards, it was a very respectable 105cm. travelled through the centre of NSW and QLD, popping out in Rockhampton. The last few hours of the drive were hampered however, as Mark insisted on buying shares in every tackle shop between Rockhampton and Airlie Beach. He seemed to think that if we filled the craft with enough tackle the fish would magically jump in the boat, but we were soon short of space, having soft plastics stuffed in every nook and cranny. Still, all this new tackle provided us with plenty of entertainment as we sat around the boat and ‘pimped’ our lures in an array of configurations. A caravan park in Prosperpine was our base camp, and with rods rigged and the boat packed we were ready for our first afternoon on Peter Faust Dam (Lake Proserpine). PETER FAUST DAM Our prior research into the area gave us the impression 14

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on board, Mark slept across the bench seat of the Skeeter whilst I was relegated into the rod locker. The next morning, we rose at 4am wet, cold and I was stiff from a night in the rod locker. Fishing to no avail until mid-morning, the harsh North QLD sun had us packing back to base camp. Without a touch from the previous night session or the morning, we were a little baffled but still confident we could succeed the following session. After spending the middle of the day resting and tweaking more lures, we were eager for the afternoon and night ahead. However, with a similar storm front smashing us again right on dark, the wind was taken out of our sails. We fished through until 11:30pm without even a sniff, and it was becoming clear this impoundment barra fishing isn’t a walk in the park. Being a little more prepared we rolled out a fresh tarp over the wet carpet, threw a blanket

which can make navigating tough at night. Faust Point is a well-known shallow point that spans out to the middle of the main basin. We’d fished both these areas relentlessly and it was time for a new plan. With a few extra pointers from a couple of fellow fishos at the caravan park, we had a plot to target two prominent points on the north side of the dam. As sun set that afternoon we had a distinctive hit, followed by a fish. A lovely mid 70cm barra was netted, and what a relief that was. After a few celebratory cold ones, we headed back to base camp as a proper night’s sleep was well overdue. With renewed confidence due to cracking a small pattern, we took the morning off and focused on the afternoon/night session. The two points we fished were shallow and thick with weed, however there were channels throughout that were clear. Using structure scan on our sounder, we were

A lovely high 90s chrome barra caught just as the last light was disappearing. able to see the barra travelling through these channels, which really boosted our confidence. That afternoon we went out early and spent some time sounding and scoping the points. We found a prominent channel on one point, which ran parallel to the bank only a few metres off it. This channel was about 10m wide and around 2m deep. With sunset approaching, we positioned the boat at one end of the channel, securing the vessel by using both spot-lock on the electric and deploying dual power poles at the rear. As it was quite windy, this technique allowed us to maintain a side-on position with the parallel channel. It didn’t take long to witness the barra start rolling through the channel on the sounder. In groups of around 3-6 fish, it was like witnessing a car load roll through a McDonalds drive-thru as they picked off bait on the way through. The sounder would light up every 10-15 minutes, and each time we would squeal like kids with excitement as a hit was almost always expected. Over that night and the following night, we managed to land 17 barra to 105cm, all from that one channel. We couldn’t believe it – after such a brutal first few days we managed to find the fish and put them in the boat. With success ticked off at Peter Faust, the monkey was off our back and the swagger back in our step. We were no longer the lads at the boat ramp each morning looking like we’d been at the pub all night without sleep and no fish to boot. With limited time left, we made the call to pack up base camp and head south to check out another dam on our radar: Kinchant. KINCHANT DAM After another re-stocking of lures at the tackle shops around Mackay, we made the 50km drive inland to Kinchant Dam or, as the locals may know it, ‘the bath tub’. Unlike Faust, we were able to set up camp right on the banks of the dam, which made things a lot easier. The Kinchant caravan park was clean, had good

amenities, green grass and most importantly, a pub. We had only two days left before we had to begin the voyage home, so we eased into a few schooners and rigged some tackle ready for the afternoon. Starting at a prominent point with a solid weed edge, it didn’t take long for the sounder to begin lighting up. After the learning curve at Faust, we were able to pick up where we left off, and fishing a very similar style we began catching fish. For the two nights we fished Kinchant, it went off. With barra consistently rolling through the one point, we managed to land 15 fish and lose countless others due to jump-offs. This didn’t really matter however, as it was an amazing couple of sessions on the water, with constant strikes on a range of lures including big swimbaits and surface lures. The Kinchant barra we caught were all between 80-99cm and would have pulled Floyd Mayweather backwards. Kinchant, being a much smaller dam than Faust, seemed less daunting and a lot easier to navigate. Our prior research as well as talking with local tackle staff made Kinchant stand out as the easiest location to catch an impoundment barra. However, we made an effort to learn our craft on Peter Faust and I believe if we didn’t have the lows and highs there, then we never would have achieved the instant success at Kinchant.

WHAT WE LEARNT The whole trip was a learning curve for both of us. Coming from a southern freshwater background, we really didn’t know what to expect. I’d heard many rumours amongst the fishing community that these impoundment barra don’t fight as hard as their saltwater counterparts. I can safely dismiss this from our experience, as well from talking to fellow fishos at the boat ramp. There was plenty of ‘geez they go hard’ chat getting thrown around. So, in saying this you’ll need the right gear. We threw almost exclusively baitcast tackle and would definitely recommend using these. They allow you to fight the fish more aggressively, which is paramount in tight country. You can be far more accurate with a baitcaster and they are more comfortable for casting over long hours. The baitcast outfits we opted for were Daiwa Tatula HD reels and Tatula heavy rods, which performed faultlessly. Line selection is a page we completely missed in our preparation, and in turn cost us dearly as our first fish (which probably would have been the biggest of the trip) snapped my 50lb leader like a toothpick. After some sharp re-adjustments, we fished 50lb Daiwa J-Braid mainline and 80lb extra abrasion resistant fluorocarbon leaders of around

Mark made a serious investment at the local tackle shops. It paid dividends in the end.

a rod length. Although you can land barra on much lighter lines, I recommend a leader of at least 60lb for these impoundment beasts. Barra have crazy sharp gill rakers, and when a fish inhales your lure (which happens most of the time) they will shear through light leaders with ease. Therefore, having a heavy leader with added abrasion resistance is key to consistently landing these fish. When it comes to lure selection, like any species there’s a million and one different ‘lollies’ to choose from. Mark dropped a small fortune in the local tackle shops and although you don’t need to spend an excessive amount, I’d definitely recommend purchasing your tackle from the locals. Barra Jacks in Rockhampton and Tackle World in Mackay were both stores that had all the gear we needed and helped steer us in the right direction with some generous local knowledge. Keeping it simple was what payed dividends for us in the end. We fished an array of baits but the Squidgy Slick Rigs were the stand out lure. We added an upgraded main hook and treble underneath to increase hook-ups. These barra are pros at throwing a hook,

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abt.org.au so having a treble for extra insurance was definitely necessary. There are plenty of videos on YouTube on how to rig these, and it’s quite enjoyable sitting down ‘tricking’ your lures ready for the next session. Although the Slick Rigs were our confidence bait and caught the majority of fish at Faust, we played around with others at Kinchant. Swimbaits like the Westin Barry the Bass and the Jackall Gantia worked well and were a lot of fun. We also caught fish on surface fizzers, DUO Realis hardbodies and a range of other soft plastic shads. Choosing your time on the water wisely was also important. North Queensland’s temperatures were a definite shock to the system, and fishing through the middle of the day was out of the question. Guys trolling the deeper banks will have success as the barra school at suitable depths, but for us, taking refugee during the heat of day and then hitting the water late in the afternoon was the key. As the last of the sun went out of view each day was when the fish started rolling into the shallower margins to feed. We found a consistent bite window between 7-11pm each day, and when there

was a tide change in this period it was chaotic. The first time I heard of these freshwater barramundi feeding on a tide change I honestly thought the bloke was taking me for a fool, but he was far from lying. Although these fish may be landlocked from the sea, they are still programmed to feed on these changes, therefore fishing hard around a tide change is vital. PLANNING Giving yourself time would be the most important tip I could give. Heading north we were well aware of the challenges that lay ahead: a species we had little experience with, in an

environment we had never been before. If we had have planned a rushed trip and fished Peter Faust for just three days and then moved on, we would have caught nothing. So, when planning a trip, give yourself as much time as possible. With travel included you realistically need the best part of two weeks to give yourself the full experience these impoundment barra have to offer. In terms of picking the right time of year, the warmer months are considered the best. From talking with a few notable fishos, November would have to be the pick of the months. However,

All systems go as the sun sets in the background! This proved to be the most productive period of the day.

October right through to April is considered prime fishing. Barra can still be caught throughout winter, but you’ll need to change your tactics, as they can be extra temperamental when the water is cooler. If you can factor in the moon phase when planning a trip, definitely do. The week leading up to the full moon in considered the prime time. We fished the week leading up and found the closer it got to the full moon, the better the fishing. It also makes it a little easier to navigate in the dark when a full moon is glowing down on the water. Choosing your location is another obstacle. North Queensland has plenty of notable impoundment barramundi fisheries. Peter Faust, Kinchant, Teemburra, Monduran, Tinaroo and Awoonga are some of the more well known locations. As we speak, Peter Faust appears to be the premier impoundment for catching metre barra. Kinchant is very consistent, with an abundance of quality fish, Tinaroo is further north but holds some crackers, while Monduran and Awoonga are both on the recovery after losing many big fish to floods in the past decade. We only had the time to fish Faust and Kinchant, and

I recommend both highly. We called to Teemburra to have a look on the trip home, but unfortunately had no time for a few casts. It looked unreal nonetheless. GET IT DONE A trip like this takes a lot of planning and preparation, so there’s no better time to start than now. In this day and age most people are more concerned about making money than making life experiences, and that’s not sustainable. I can honestly say that spending that quality time on the water, catching the iconic barramundi and exploring new places, made this my most memorable fishing trip to date. It was far from smooth sailing, and sleeping in a wet rod locker and going fishless for the best part of three days will test any keen fisher, but it’s these moments that make a trip. If we had gone and smacked a bucket load of barra from the start, the whole thing wouldn’t have been as rewarding. The fact we went through the failures, put the work in and finished with jubilant success was priceless. For those readers who follow suit and make the trip north, I wish you the best of luck. I can guarantee you’ll learn a lot and bring home some great stories.

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BEST OF SHOW AWARDS

2018 AFTA Tackle Trade Show Each year the fishing tackle trade conducts a business-to-business show on the Gold Coast in the middle of winter, and it’s always an event to remember. Distributors and fishing tackle stores from all over Australia gather to show off new products and do deals. This show is not open to the public, so we at Fishing Monthly and www.tacklejunkie.fish are bringing you the latest and greatest tackle via social media, YouTube and print. To those of you who missed our videos broadcast straight from the Gold Coast Convention Centre, where we interviewed wholesalers showing off their latest gear, you can check

them out on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel. One of the most exciting things about the AFTA Show is the Best In Show awards. It starts with retailers voting on what they judge to be the best new gear, the votes are tallied, and the awards are presented at the formal Gala Dinner. We have compiled the winners and runners-up for you in this issue, and some of them are particularly innovative and exciting. And just quietly, we hear that there’s a good chance there will be a public (non-buying, look and see only) day next year. It’s not confirmed yet but we’ll bring you news of this as it comes to hand!

JOHN DUNPHY MEMORIAL FISHING TOURNAMENT Every second year the John Dunphy Memorial Fishing Tournament is run in conjunction with the AFTA Trade Show. John Dunphy was one of Australia’s greatest tackle innovators, and Australian Bass Tournaments (ABT) uses the event to help debut new technology and improvements to fishing tournament data capture. This year was no exception. Seven tournament pros took out 14 industry identities with the aim of catching their biggest bag of five bream. However, they didn’t bring and fish back to the weigh-in. Instead, all of the captures were recorded on the ABT Tournament Series App (powered by TrackMyFish). At the same time, the majority of the field were live streaming their fishing day via a collection of Garmin action cameras. This live stream was curated and presented on at the Trade Show on two massive screens. “ABT’s aim is to make fishing a real spectator sport,” said ABT founder

Steve Morgan, “and with live streaming technology getting smaller, cheaper and easier to manipulate we are enjoying taking the lead in this area.” The live stream is managed by InfoFish, and it’s a great partnership. Not only does the company (which administers Queensland’s tagging program) run the back end of this system, but the data gets used meaningfully after the tournament. With over a million fish recorded in the InfoFish database, the company believes that monitoring the top 20% of anglers gives a great snapshot into the structure of a waterway’s fish stocks. This means that catch and release fishing can become an important part of community monitoring of the resource. That’s a great position for catch and release fishing. For the record, team Costa won the day with a cracking Gold Coast bag with over 4kg for five bream. Well done to Jamie Mckeown (ABT); Jenny Gordillo (Costa) and Tanya Konsul (Costa).

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION AWARD In an age when everything has a use-by date and companies and brands come and go, longevity is rare. J.M. Gillies has written its story into history and has significantly helped shape the fishing industry in Australia. For J.M. Gillies this story now spans 90 years. Over the years J.M. Gillies has been responsible for the distribution of brands such as Plano, Rapala, Maxima, Berkley, Redington, Sage, Arbogast, Classic, Bomber, Killalure, Warlock, Tassie Devil and SeaDog. J.M. Gillies was established in 1928 by John Malcolm Gillies in West Melbourne, and his vision was to service the fly industry. Fly tying was the core business, and this built a foundation and a name for the brand in Australia. The start of 1987 saw Pat Levy, who at the time was a young storeman and packer, risk everything to buy the business. Gillies had a number of warehouse moves in a short period of time due to the expansion of the business, before

finding a base in Port Melbourne in 2000. The business continued to expand, and a number of neighbouring warehouses were taken over before finally running out of space, and the company moved to a purpose-built warehouse in 2009 that is still home today. During the company’s 90 years, J.M. Gillies has distributed and manufactured more than 70 brands of fishing products and other sporting goods. For Pat, it’s always been about providing the best service and brands. The service side has been a foundation for the business, with a core sales team and internal staff that’s being largely unchanged for the past three decades. Although brands and products come and go, the team at J.M. Gillies have become a family with a common goal, and have established great relationships with tackle stores all around the country and also other countries around the world. Pat Levy was inducted to the AFTA Hall of Fame at the 2018 AFTA Gala Dinner and Awards Night, in recognition of his services to the fishing tackle industry.

WOMEN IN RECREATIONAL FISHING Also represented at the show were members of the WIRF leadership program (Women in Recreational Fishing). Focused on unearthing tomorrow’s female fishing leaders, this scholarship program gave 10 women the chance to attend the AFTA Gala Awards and contribute their voices to the future of the industry. The network has been created by the VFA (Victorian Fisheries Authority) as part of the Target One Million program to encourage females to participate in the fishing activity with the family, rather than just watch. It is linked to the Target One Million drive to increase participation to get one million Victorians fishing by 2020. Some of the goals of the program

include how to better share knowledge about the skills and equipment need to fish, to empower women with the right info; how to get more women on boards and in leadership roles within the fishing industry; and how to advertise women in fishing in a more positive way. An interactive Facebook group has been created for women to enable them to talk, gain and share knowledge to engage in recreational fishing activities in a comfortable manner. Female anglers of all levels are encouraged to join, post and learn from one another. Interested parties can check it out at www.facebook.com/ groups/womeninrecfishing. And that’s all the news from the AFTA Show. Read on to check out all the product winners!

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BEST ROD CATEGORY WINNER Abu Garcia Real Finesse Abu Garcia Real Finesse

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Abu Garcia is ushering in the next generation of sleek design and high performance rods with the Real Finesse range. Featuring 100% carbon blanks with Abu’s Triarchy Force production methods, finesse rods deliver sensitive, ultra-light blanks with higher break strengths and improved impact and fracture resistance. Features include: nano carbon (super high modulus Nano Carbon 55t material); 4 Axis Cross (carbon tapes are wrapped around the blanks in an X shape, both from 45° and

135°, enhancing torque and preventing twist); equipped with Advanced Fuju Torzite Micro Guide System; Triarchy Force (100% carbon material arranged in both length and width directions with unique multilayer construction and finishing techniques, increasing hoop and overall rod strength). There are five models in the range, all 2-piece: 51OULS (EXF action, 5’10”, 0.14g rig weight, 0.1-0.3 PE line), 67SULT (F action, 6’7”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.5 PE), 610LS (EXF action, 6’10”, 0.1-5.5g, 0.1-0.3 PE), 76LT (F action, 7’6”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.5 PE), 79ULS (EXF action, 7’9”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.3 PE). www.abugarcia-fishing.com.au

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BEST REEL CATEGORY WINNER Shimano Curado DC

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For smarter, more efficient lure casting under a variety of circumstances, the new Curado DC changes the game and represents the latest in Shimano Technology development. Shimano’s Digital Control (DC) braking system is the star element of this reel and gives you the ability to make every cast count. The Curado DC offers four adjustable settings that enable anglers to fish a wide variety of lures of different shapes and sizes, in all weather conditions, without having to constantly fiddle with internal brake settings. It can also accommodate different casting techniques and even line type. Housed within the aluminium Hagane Body, Micromodule gearing provides seamless gear

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Shimano Curado DC

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Daiwa Exist LT 3000 DC

meshing for smoother winding performance, whether on the retrieve or when hooked up. There are four reels in the Curado 150 DC stable, including a choice of a medium (6.2:1) to an extra fast (8.5:1) gearing ratio, and a lefthand wind option is also available. www.shimanofish.com.au

RUNNER UP Daiwa Exist LT 3000 DC Celebrating 60 years of innovation isn’t easy, and that’s why Daiwa held nothing back in creating the new 18Exist LT. The flagship model, the Exist, has personified excellence throughout Daiwa’s history, and now the new 18Exist LT, which stands for Light and Tough, introduces even more ground-breaking technology, and it was the 3000 DC that was recognised in particular at the AFTA show. Monocoque body also debuts in the 18Exist LT for the first time through the entire size range. Monocoque body is a truly one-piece frame with no side plate. Instead, the side plate is replaced by the main drive gear housing, which screws into the body allowing for maximum gear diameter and ultimate rigidity. You will find the brand-new Machine Cut Tough Digigear inside the new 18Exist LT is up to 109% larger than non-monocoque reels. The 18Exist LT’s monocoque body is Daiwa’s most advanced body they’ve ever developed, and they’re available from 1000 to 4000 sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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Abu Garcia MGXtreme Finesse

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Daiwa TD Black Combo

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Abu MGXtreme and Real Finesse

Daiwa TD Black combo

The clear winner in the Best Combo category was the Abu Garcia MGXtreme spin reel matched with a Real Finesse rod. The Abu Real Finesse also won the Best Rod category. MGXtreme spin reels are Abu Garcia’s lightest and most compact spinning reels. These brand new reels feature the CMg carbon rotor and one-piece X-Mag alloy gear box to reduce weight to 5.6oz (159g). The high performance, durable AMGearing system is combined with HPCR and Salt Shield bearings for both freshwater and saltwater use. This extremely lightweight, versatile reel is also equipped with an innovative removable sinker keeper that eliminates tangling when using a drop shot. Features include: 11 stainless steel HPCR bearings (Salt Shield ball bearings for pinion gear and line roller) + 1 roller bearing; CMg rotor; AAMGearing system; Carbon Matrix drag system; one-piece X-Mag alloy gear box; C6 carbon body; Rocket line management system; compact bent carbon handle arm with cork knob; always on, instant anti reverse; and attached sinker keeper. abugarcia-fishing.com.au

An evolution of the popular Generation Black rod series (HVF blanks), the new TD Black series of rods 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. This allows a lighter, more dynamic rod to be created. For the perfect reel to match the new TD Black Rod, you can’t go past the new TD Black LT reel. Bearing the famous Black name that has been featuring so strongly in the Daiwa line-up over the last few years, the TD Black LT features the LT’s Light Tough Concept to deliver anglers a reel that impresses in looks and wows in performance. Both these great innovations from Daiwa combine to create one deadly combo. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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Chasebaits 200mm Ultimate Squid

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The Zerek Live Swimbait takes the famous Live Mullet body profile to the next level. It uses the same concept as the widely acclaimed Live Shrimp – to emulate natural prey movements to trigger strikes. The segmented TPE (thermoplastic) body is held together with a Kevlar webbing, providing superior strength and freedom of movement. The main body section hides an ingeniously designed one-piece wire frame that connects the tow point to the hook hanger, giving even more strength. The wire frame also has additional hangers – two on top for attaching a spinnerbait arm or extra hooks, and a hanger underneath for chin weights such as the Mustad Fastach Football Weights and the traditional hook hanger. Easily workable with a straight retrieve, the lifelike 3D eyes and detailed finishes (natural and attractor patterns) make the 8” Zerek Live Swimbait very effective on barra, Murray cod, mulloway and more apex predators. Available in 12 proven colours, the new Zerek Live Swimbait is designed to sink in freshwater at the rate of 1ft per second, allowing anglers to effectively target suspending fish, thermoclines or bait schools easily. www.wilsonfishing.com

The original Chasebaits Ultimate Squid has taken Australia by storm, catching a huge range of species in both fresh and salt since its 2017 release. Now, in response to angler demand, the Chasebaits team has released a 200mm version for anglers targeting larger offshore species. The larger model has all the same features that made the original such a smash hit – those trademark rippling wings, extended candles that flutter with any movement, contracting tentacles, custom 3D squid eyes, and custom scent. Designer Grainger Mayfield said the new model has been performing very well in field testing. “Naturally it has been catching a variety of pelagics and reef fish,” he said, “but anglers may be surprised to know that it’s also effective on cod and barramundi in the fresh. The Squid may not represent a specific freshwater prey item, but neither do spinnerbaits and it doesn’t deter the fish. As more anglers start changing their mindset, we’ll see a lot more freshwater catches on the Ultimate Squid.” Another new release is a custom jighead called the Ultimate Squid rig, made from ultra high tensile steel. It comes in 21g and 42g versions, has twin 4/0 assist hooks, and makes the Squid falls at a natural 45° angle for the most natural presentation possible. Keep an eye out for both the Ultimate Squid and Ultimate Rig from October. Price: approx. SRP $13 www.chasebaits.com.au

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Chasebaits 200mm Ultimate Squid

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Lake Craft SayoriS235

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The Sayori-S mimics one of the world’s most common baitfish – the garfish. Not only is the Sayori-S the perfect shape, but it also swims with the perfect, natural ‘S-type’ motion, just like the gar that it’s imitating so well. This sinking lure can be used for shore casting or for casting and trolling from a boat. At low speed, it swims under the surface with a tight, snaking action, while at higher speeds it will skip and splash across the surface like fleeing prey. You can also add a trolling weight or use a downrigger without affecting the lure’s action. If you remove the hooks, Sayori-S also makes a great teaser. The Sayori-S HD-Saltwater edition is fitted with premium quality 6X strong saltwater-grade ODZ Trinity SX hooks by Maruto Japan. Matched with HD stainless steel split rings, this lure is ready to tackle the biggest and strongest fighters in the sea. No aftermarket terminal upgrades are required. The Sayori-S 235 measures 235mm and weighs 58g, and will be available from October. Price: SRP $34.95 www.unitedtackle.com.au

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Building on the success of the original Pompadour, Jackall has released the much-anticipated 120mm Mega Pompadour. The Mega Pompadour is aimed squarely XOS freshwater fish such as Murray cod and big impoundment barramundi, and in a short time it has already gotten a number of 1m+ cod captures under its belt. This top-of-the-line crawler bait has been built to demanding specifications for Australian conditions, so there’s no need

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The new Frill Seeker is one of the latest lifelike creations from Chasebaits, and when you watch a video of it swimming you’ll know why it caused such a stir at the AFTA Trade Show. The Frill Seeker can be used as a surface wakebait or subsurface, diving to 1ft. Its fluid, lifelike movement comes from its segmented body, soft segmented tail and supple frill that shakes when the lure swims. When paused, the frill flares out, adding an extra dimension to the lure’s realistic appeal. As well as imitating a lizard, its profile also mimics a swimming mouse or rat. This durable lure features an ultra strong 10X soft tail attached securely with a corkscrew wire, and is fitted with ultra sharp and sticky BKK trebles. It measures 175mm (95mm body and 80mm tail), which is an ideal size for bass, small cod, small barra, jacks and any other fish that feeds on terrestrial animals like lizards or mice. Frill Seeker comes with a spare tail, and will be available from December. A larger model is in the pipeline, so watch this space! Price: SRP $24.95 www.chasebaits.com.au

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to upgrade hooks or rings – it's ready to go straight out of the pack. The Mega Pompadour’s wings close on the cast, and its magnetic weight movement allows the lure to be cast long distances while keeping its flight attitude. It also has a unique noisy rattle system, comprised of a glass rattle and brass ball. The Mega Pompadour has a strong crawling action made by metal wings, two types of loud rattles, and additional water disturbance made by the rear prop. It creates a massive noise and commotion on the surface, which large predators can’t resist. Price: SRP $59.95 www.jackall.com.au

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Bluewater HC Stickbait

Rapala Xtreme 160 HDFFU

The new HC Stickbait from the JM Gillies Bluewater stable is built tough to take on the most ferocious predators in the sea. The HC Stickbait is handcrafted, and both the insert and body are made with polyurethane material. The lure also features a heavy-duty wire through construction. This new lure measures 175mm long, weighs 120g and is initially available in five reactive UV colours with internal shell. It is set to be a smash hit with anglers targeting the likes of tuna, mackerel, wahoo and giant trevally. It won’t be available in stores until October, but in the meantime you can find more news and photos at the JM Gillies website, on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jm.gillies) or Instagram (@jm.gillies). www.jmgillies.com.au

When fishing offshore, anglers often like to troll between spots to maximise their chances of catching a feed, and now Rapala has come up with the perfect bait for this application. As we know, Rapala makes lures that perform well, and look absolutely fantastic, and the Xtreme 160 is no exception to that, and with the new High Definition colours, they’re sure to see hungry fish launching themselves at it coming over the side. With the ability to handle trolling speeds of 15-20 knots, you can rest assured that this bait will stay in the water, and won’t come to the surface. This bait is perfect for tuna, mackerel wahoo, mahimahi and many, many more. Fitted with quality VMC trebles and built tough to handle the riggers of pelagic teeth, this is an absolute winner for anyone wanting to troll at high speeds offshore. www.rapala.com.au

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BEST GAME FISHING ACCESSORY

Rapala Xtreme 160 HDFFU

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Viva Entice Bench Crimper

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AFN Complete Book of Fishing Knots

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Viva Entice Bench Crimper

Complete Book of Knots

The Entice Gamefishing Bench Crimper from Viva won the AFTA Best Game Fishing Accessory Award by a large margin. This reliable bench crimper can be used with nylon, wire, brass, copper, aluminium – any kind of crimp and any leader material. Owning a bench crimper is ideal if you want the power to do the biggest crimps, and the Entice does crimps up to 400lb. And if you’re making a lot of crimps, it makes the job much easier. Viva director Ran Feng said the Entice had gotten a great response in the short time it’s been available. “We gave it to a number of gamefishermen to try out, and they loved it,” he said. “It’s just so easy to crimp, thanks to the leverage from that long handle. Everyone wants to be sure that their crimps are 100%, and with the Entice you can achieve this with very little energy.” The Entice Gamefishing Bench Crimper has interchangeable dies, and is excellent value for money. Price: SRP $249 www.vivafishing.com.au

Learning how to tie the correct knot is one of the fundamental necessities of this great sport, because the knot is a critical connecting point between you and the fish. If your badly-tied knot fails, your fish is gone! This latest book from AFN will set you on the right path. The Complete Book of Knots has been put together by Bill Classon and Nigel Webster, hosts of the popular TV show The Fishing Show. . In this fully illustrated publication the pair outline all the knots anglers will ever need. This book caters for everyone, from the beginner to an expert, and has everything in it – from the basic knots through to some of the more advanced. Whether you are a first timer or a seasoned angler, there is something in it for you. Superbly illustrated by Trevor Hawkins, the steps are easy to follow, making it easy to master the process, and to tie dependable knots. Price: SRP $16.99 www.afn.com.au

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series, which feature Fuji Guides on the runner models, Pacific Bay rollers, Pacific Bay bent butt, and a carbon butt on nonbent butt models. All Ocean Assassins are built using SLS3 construction, which uses inner and outer spiral wrap layers of carbon fibre to sandwich middle layers of alternating longitudinal carbon and glass. The spiral wraps maintain a round cross-section in the blank when under load, which helps the blank handle higher loads. The middle layers of unidirectional carbon and glass create the backbone of the rod by utilizing the strength of glass combined with the light weight of the carbon fibre to deliver a strong, balanced and thin rod blank. www.pennfishing.com.au

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Daiwa’s J-Braid goes to another level with the release of the premium braid in the line-up, the new J-Braid Grand. A premium 8-strand PE, J-Braid Grand is made from an advanced new raw material (IZANAS) and is J-Braid’s strongest, most abrasion-resistant line ever. Four times more abrasion resistant than other lines, J-Braid Grand has a short pitch fibre construction that significantly reduces line damage and failure to dramatically increase line abrasion resistance and line strength consistency. Like all true premium Japanese 8-strand PE lines, the new J-Braid Grand maintains a true round profile for optimum line performance through the guides and on and off the reel. Made in Japan and available in sizes ranging from 6lb (0.6PE) to 150lb (PE16) and in multi and island blue colours, J-Braid Grand is the smoothest and best performing J-Braid they have ever made. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Utilizing the latest 9-carrier technology, the award-winning Berkley X9 Braided Line Crystal is an extremely smooth and strong line that has been designed for optimal strength and casting distance. Featuring a 9-carrier construction with a PE core, Berkley X9 braided line is extremely round and smoothly flows through guides for increased casting distance. Its high strand construction also enhances wear resistance for fishing over rugged structure, and provides higher knot strength. It is finished in Berkley’s highly visible crystal and flame green colours for easy strike detection. Berkley XP Braided Line Crystal is currently available in 150m, 300m, 2000m spools in crystal and flame green, and Berkley has also released a 5-carrier version (X5). For more information on these and more new releases from Berkley, visit their website or check them out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BerkleyFishingANZ) or Instagram (@berkleyfishing). Price: SRP from $34.99 www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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Penn Ocean Assassin Game Rod

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When it comes to quality and value for money, Penn’s Ocean Assassin range of offshore rods are a definite winner. Since their launch, they have accounted for a wide range of bluewater species. For 2018, Penn has added a series of Game models to the Ocean Assassin range. There are eight models in the new Game

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Wilson Fishing Live Fibre RLF46FRD

The Live Fibre RLF46FRD from Wilson Fishing brings together years of development in a package that has been designed to be more affordable yet retain all the qualities Live Fibre rods are known for. Rated at 37kg, this fully rollered bent butt game rod features premium quality, big foot roller guides, a deluxe leather foregrip and a detachable butt. The blank features a composite build with world leading Toray carbon cloth that places the pressure on the fish, not the angler leading to shorter fight times and less angler fatigue. Built to Australia’s exacting demands, loaded with features to put the fight in your favour and now awarded the AFTA Best Game Fishing Rod for 2018, the Live Fibre RLF46FRD will be available in December. www.wilsonfishing.com

Wilson Live Fibre RLF46FRD

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Much of the best fly fishing in our amazing country exists in the tropical regions of the north, and now Rio have provided the perfect fly line for tropical climates. Rio’s Jungle Series of fly lines are designed to withstand the heat of tropical jungle destinations. Each line is built on Rio’s low-memory DirectCore that is extremely easy to anneal (stretch) and lies perfectly straight on the water, yet retains the stiffness

needed to cast on hot conditions. Each line has a short, quick-loading head that will easily cast and turnover typical large flies used in the tropics, and a range of density options ensures anglers are covered for all species, conditions and waters. So next time you’re headed north in search of a tropical fly fishing fix, or even overseas to a typically humid fly fishing Mecca, be sure to load up your reels with something that’s up for the job – Rio’s got your back! www.jmgillies.com.au

RUNNER UP Primal fly rod series Primal Fly Rods are the newest brand from Manic Tackle. They deliver a high premium performance and finish quality at an affordable price. They’re ideal for anglers looking to upgrade from an entry level package. At the heart of all Primal rods is a helical core of Nano matrix prepreg. As well as making the rods strong, it means they cast a very smooth, tight loop with very little tip bounce and exceptional tracking. Casting is smoother and more accurate. The award-winning RAW freshwater series of rods are lightweight and fitted with customised machine cut skeletal reel seats with double locking rings and stabilised timber inserts. The stripping guide is a titaniumframed SIC and the guides are custom light wire single foot guides. The rod actions are fast while still maintaining enough feel to drop a tiny dry at close range off the rod tip. The RAW freshwater rod range includes an 8’6” 4wt, with 9’ 5wt, 6wt, 7wt and 8wt, all 4-piece. Price: SRP $499 www.manictackleproject.com

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Sage Igniter Fly Rod

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The most demanding conditions require a different kind of tool, whether it’s a strong head wind, a fish at a distance, bulky rigs, or a heavy sink tip. The new Igniter from Sage is tuned to handle the most technical of conditions. This is not a rod for the everyday angler, the Igniter is equipped with a high line speed taper to carry large amounts of line at distance with wind cutting performance. This rod is absolutely perfect for streamer fishing with heavy sink tips or covering big water when conditions turn south. Made form quality materials, like Fuji ceramic stripper guides, hard chromed snake guides, KonneticHD technology, laser etched line weight on slide band, Sage retains its reputation for being some of the best fly gear available anywhere. The rod also comes with a black powder coated aluminium rod tube with a Sage medallion. If you bring the will, the Igniter will supply the way. www.jmgillies.com.au

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Tackle Tactics TT Lures Swimlockz Jigheads

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TT Lures SwimlockZ

Berkley Snap Jigs

TT Lures SwimlockZ jigheads have been designed for fishing large soft plastic paddle tail swimbaits, with a tapered head design that shifts the bulk of the head weight below the hook to control the torque of the tail, and reduce the tendency of big plastics to roll onto their side. Built on heavy-duty, black nickel Mustad chemically-sharpened hooks to handle big fish, SwimlockZ also feature TT Lures’ ‘head lock’ grub keeper to secure your soft plastic in place, and a stainless steel connection point moulded into the underside of the head to secure stingers or a blade for added flash and vibration. Lock it on! SwimlockZ are initially available in three hook sizes (8/0, 9/0 and 10/0), and four weights: 1/2oz (14g), 3/4oz (21g), 1oz (28g) and 1.5oz (42g). Keep an eye out for them in tackle stores from September. Price: SRP $15.95 www.ttlures.com.au

An innovative take on a time-tested technique, the Berkley Snap Jigs deliver all of the fish-catching performance of an ice-jig, but with the ability to attach your favourite soft plastic. The Snap Jig can be fished both vertically over structure and for suspended fish in open water, or cast and retrieve for side-toside and backward-and-forward dynamic darting action. This versatile jighead naturally glides on the fall, and can be worked over points, open water, and on a straight retrieve for an enticing side-to-side action. Along the underside, the Berkley Snap Jigs feature a hook hanger that allows anglers to increase attraction with the addition of a blade, and improve hookup rates with a stinger hook. Offered in a number of lifelike colours, the Berkley Snap Jigs provide a unique take on a lure that has been putting fish in the boat for years. www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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When relentless heat threatens to cut short a pleasant afternoon tossing carefree casts, arm yourself with cool comfort and keep chasing those elusive fish. Simms’ SolarFlex Armor Shirt features hard-working COR3 technology, with all-day oudor-fighting and moisturewicking protection. The shirt shields against the sun’s harmful rays with a UPF 50 rating. The Coolcore fabric chills down as it gets wet, giving you natural relief from the heat. Mesh panels on the sides and arms add breezy ventilation that will keep you feeling fresh on the water from dawn until dusk. It is finished with a full-coverage built-in gaiter for all over protection. Features include: COR3 technologoy (quick‐drying, wicking and UPF 50), Coolcore fabric technology (up to 30% lower surface temperature when wet), Polygiene fabric treatment (natural and permanent odour‐ control), patent‐pending full coverage gaiter design, and mesh inner side and arm panels for ventilation. Price: SRP $199 www.manictackleproject.com

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Wilson Fishing has just released the Venom Deluxe Multifunctional Headscarf, which takes a well-accepted product and improves it to make the headscarf much more user friendly. For starters, the material is much softer, being constructed from 95% polyester and 5% spandex. This makes the user far more comfortable during the day’s fishing. The design is also tapered to provide vital protection in two areas. Firstly there is a hump designed into the top of the front that more effectively covers the nose of the wearer. A similar, but slightly larger hump is also designed into the bottom to cover up that annoying spot

Venom Deluxe Headscarf

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Getting plenty of looks, feels and votes at the AFTA show this year was the Black Marlin Sublimation shirt from Samaki. Samaki have a history of providing anglers with good quality, reasonably priced and sun protective fishing apparel, and this fantastic design will fit in nicely with the rest of the range. Just like the rest of the range, the eyepopping images on the material will let other anglers know you mean business. As usual, Samaki have used their UPF 50+ Fish Dry fabric, which is a lightweight 100% polyester material, and will keep you incredibly cool, will dry quickly, yet still breathes. All of Samaki’s fishing shirts are available in adult, youth and kid sizes, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out on the water, and still say sun safe. www.samaki.com.au

Samaki Black Marlin shirt

at the base of the neck that is left exposed by zippered or buttoned fishing shirts. Rated by ARPANSA at 15+, the material is also moisture wicking, making it perfect for anglers fishing in hot weather. Comfortable and cool to wear, ideal for all outdoor activities and machine washable, the Venom Deluxe Multifunctional Headscarf is a brilliant clothing accessory to keep you on the water longer. www.wilsonfishing.com

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Mako Edge

BEST SUNGLASSES CATEGORY WINNER TIED Mako Edge All anglers are looking for that extra edge when out on the water, and Mako Eyewear have delivered with their aptly named, Edge frames. Designed for style, flexibility and comfort, these lightweight warp resistant nylon frames have an 8-base wrap to reduce side light entry. The TR90 frame material has rubber grommets in all the essential places, the tapered arms and bridge, to make sure they stay put all day. The polarised lenses are available in polycarbonate and glass and in all Mako’s popular colours. makoeyewear.com.au

WINNER TIED Spotters Fusion Spotters have done it again with their new Fusion frames. It combines style and functionality with a matt black frame contrasting with an ice mirror lens. The modern wrap frames are comfortable and light enough to wear all day. Cleverly designed with ergonomic

non-slip grips on the arms, they’ll securely stay in place when you need it most. The Fusion comes in a wide choice of lens material and colour tints to suit your fishing style. The grey-based lens give incredible colour definition, glare reduction and superior depth perception delivering 100% UV protection and perfect visual clarity. spotters.com.au

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RUNNER UP Tonic Tango Tonic Eyewear know good design, so it is no surprise that this year’s newest offering, Tango, has balanced sleek style with supreme comfort. The Tonic Tango is incredibly lightweight with a mere 1.7mm lens, and a streamlined arm that doesn’t rely on rubber grips to stay on your head. The cleverly designed fit holds smoothly and securely to ensure you won’t be constantly pushing them up the bridge of your nose. An update to the lenses haven’t been forgotten. Keeping anglers in mind, extra yellow has been added to perfect fishing tactics for flats fishers. www.toniceyewear.com.au

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The YETI LoadOut Bucket is no ordinary bucket. It’s well-nigh indestructible, and is built to last a lifetime. Essentially, it’s the last bucket you’ll ever buy. This 5 gallon (19L), super-tough bucket can handle any tough job on the boat or out camping. It features a HeftyHauler Handle for a comfortable, secure grip, as well as a LipGrip Handle, making it easy to carry when full. It’s food safe and has a BearFoot Non-Slip Ring, so the bucket will stay where you put it, and not leave scuff marks on the deck. The LoadOut Bucket is made from high-impact-resistant, high density polyethylene construction, and has AnchorPoint Tie-Down Slots for securing to your boat or vehicle. It measures 10.25” x 12.875” x 15.875” ( Weight: 5.8 lbs. If you want to cover the contents of the Bucket, you can purchase a Loadout Lid separately. The Loadout Lid keeps contents safe from salt spray and contained when conditions get rough. It’s transparent, easy to remove and water-tight. It’s also super strong; the HeftHex Construction makes for a durable framework that resists cracking, even in extreme temperatures, with over 130kg of pressure. If you didn’t think lid technology

was a thing before, this might get your attention. And thanks to the Four-Finger Release Tab, it takes just four fingers to get the lid off. Price: SRP $69.95 (lid not included) au.yeti.com

RUNNER UP Hook’em Teaser Bar The new Teaser Bar is another quality Australian-made product from Melbourne-based company Hook’em. This new dredge boom allows anglers to run dredge teasers further behind the boat, eliminating the problem of dredges going into the prop wash on turns. It’s an effective and affordable option for smaller boats which don’t have outriggers. The Teaser Bar goes in both straight and 30° rod holders. The drag of the dredge puts a lot of pressure on rod holders, so Hook-em have added an extra support hole at the top of the Bar. This hole, which sits above the dredge connection, has been added to take a retainer, to greatly reduce the weight and pressure imparted to the rod holder. As you’d expect from a Hook’em Product, the Teaser Bar is made from all stainless steel and is over-engineered for superior strength. It’s also great value for money. Price: approx. SRP $275 www.hookem.com.au

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The Wilson Fishing Platinum Tournament Bag is a large hold-all tackle bag supplied with eight waterproof tackle trays, to fit enough tackle for any trip. There are three outer pockets, two of which are constructed with open mesh to allow the stored product to breathe and dry out, making them perfect for things such as fishing gloves, packets of plastics and more. The front pocket is fully enclosed and will suit lure sleeves and the like, and on the front of this pocket is a tool holder that can accommodate any tool you’re likely to need, and may even be used to dry lures on! Up top there is clip-attached cover that houses a carry handle and a mobile phone and wallet compartment. Underneath this cover is the zippered top that gives access to the eight waterproof trays. On the sides are two sturdy, plastic sleeve covered carry handles and a padded shoulder strap. The bottom of the bag is constructed from waterproof, formed and condensed plastic foam, giving your tackle protection from water ingress from below and creating a solid base that will never collapse. www.wilsonfishing.com

Daiwa have come up with a tackle storage solution to allow you to keep all of your different accessories in one place. Daiwa’s series of Tactical Tackle Boxes have tons of storage, and the large top pocket will hold five 3600-sized trays (medium) or five 3700 sized trays (large). Tactical Tackle Boxes also feature a moulded sunglasses holder, two zippered side pockets on the back, a mobile phone/ GPS holder on the front, and a pliers holder on both of the side pockets. All of this clever, space-optimising placement means you don’t have to leave anything behind to save on space. Large carry handles, padded shoulder strap and great tackle organization will allow the angler to take the Tactical Tackle Boxes everywhere. Each box comes with five Modular Storage Trays, which are perfect for lures, jigs, terminal tackle, sunblock and tools. The DTTB-60 model (medium) is 9” x 13” x 14”, while the DTTB-70 (large) is 12” x 14” x 12”. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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The Zexus ZX720 Motion Sensor Headlamp can be used in traditional on/off mode, or you can put it in motion sensor mode, and trip the sensor by waving your hand in front of it. This feature is very useful when you have wet or dirty hands, and is designed to not get tripped accidentally by other moving objects. This bright LED light (550 lumens) runs on 3 x AAA batteries, and when left on it will shine for around nine hours. During normal use, however, when it is being switched on and off, it lasts for weeks. The ZX720 Motion Sensor Headlamp features a very wide band to provide the most comfortable fit possible, and it’s fully adjustable to fit a wide range of head sizes. It’s also splashproof, rainproof and corrosion resistant, which makes it the perfect choice for fishing, hunting and camping. Price: SRP $199 www.vivafishing.com.au

Zexus Motion Sensor Headlamp S

The Hopper BackFlip 24 fuses the durability of the Hopper Flip with a new, convenient-to-carry design. It is Yeti’s first cooler engineered to double as a backpack, using the best tech of both worlds. Built taller and wider than its Hopper Flip counterparts, the Hopper BackFlip is designed to efficiently distribute the weight of your goods. Yeti designers have added supportive, ergonomic shoulder straps to help lighten the load, and a removable chest strap and waist belt are included for added stability and security. And like the rest of the Hopper family, it promises superior cold-holding, a 100% leakproof zipper, and a tough DryHide Shell. The Hopper’s high-density fabric is waterproof and resistant to mildew, punctures, and UV rays. The liner is made from an FDA-approved food-grade material. Closed-cell rubber foam offers far superior cold-holding to ordinary soft coolers. With a DoubleBarrel frame and Diehard joint construction, the Hopper BackFlip 24 is strong enough to support up to 227kg

without losing its shape. Price: SRP $449.96 au.yeti.com

Yeti Hopper BackFlip 24

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Watersnake Prowler Kayak PFD

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The new Watersnake Prowler Kayak Vest combines the storage capacity of a traditional fishing vest with the essential safety requirements of a PFD. The clever design is ideal for kayak fishing, canoeing, or any lightwatercraft activities. The Watersnake Prowler includes multiple zip pockets on the front and back for storing fishing tackle, tools, and personal items. It also features easy-to-adjust straps, durable buckles, tough zippers, and a camo print design that enhances the stealth factor by blending into the surroundings. The Prowler’s PFD 50S rating provides adequate buoyancy for swimmers in sheltered waters, while the streamlined construction also allows plenty of freedom for paddling and casting. In fact, it’s so comfortable you’ll forget it’s even on! The Watersnake Prowler Kayak Vest is available in four sizes (small, medium, large and extra-large) to suit a range of body weights, from 40kg to in excess of 70kg. www.watersnake.com.au

The AFN Fish Kool Bag is a new fish chiller bag that has been designed to store your catch in a hygienic environment, ensuring fresher, longer lasting fish. This durable insulated bag holds ice for days. It’s portable, ideal for boats, and has a flared bottom to ensure it doesn’t tip over. The Kool Bag is insulated with 1/2” dense foam, and is UV and mildew resistant. Other features include comfortable and strong carry handles, a waterproof zip and fish ruler. The bag includes wheels for easy transport of heavy loads, and has a drain plug so it’s easy to empty out at the end of a trip. This fully sealed bag comes in four sizes: Small (750mm x 400mm x 200mm), Medium (1000mm x 400mm x 200m), Large (1400mm x 400mm x 300mm) and X-Large (2000mm x 600mm x 400mm). Price: SRP $99-$300 www.afn.com.au

Watersnake Prowler Kayak Vest

AFN Kool Bag

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Penn Spinfisher VI Liveliner

Chasebaits Rip Snorter Vibe

Daiwa Exist LT 3000 CXH

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Costa Untangled Pescador

Chasebaits Rip Snorter

Costa have absolutely pushed the envelope this year at the AFTA show, with a completely new concept to the world of fishing accessories. Introducing the Untangled range, which has taken a positive step towards cleaning up our environment. What makes the Untangled series so unique, is that the frames are actually made from discarded fishing nets! Every year, thousands of tonnes of fishing nets are left in the ocean to rot and be hazardous to marine life. Taking out the prestigious John Dunphy Award for Innovation this year is a member of the Untangled family, the Pescador, which is available in for lens colours. On top of all this, the cases are made from recycled material as well, and in this case, they are made from old Patagonia clothing. They look as good as the other frames in the Costa range, and by wearing them you’ll be saving the environment as the same time! www.costadelmar.com.au

With so many vibes on the market, the creative team at Chasebaits set out to provide something truly different. After many months in R&D, they have achieved their goal with the world’s first truly weedless vibe. It’s great news for anyone who’s lost a lot of expensive vibes, or who is too afraid to fish them in snaggy country. Designer Grainger Mayfield said it took a long time to get the design exactly right. “The hook design in particular was very complicated,” he explained. “Even when we had finished the design, it took another eight months to find the right factory to combine the quality, strength and shape that we wanted. It was a great feeling when we finally achieved our goal of creating a fantastic hook that works seamlessly in the lure to make it a true weedless vibe.” An obvious concern with any weedless lure is the hook-up rate, but that’s not an issue with the Rip Snorter. Field testers have been using it deep into snags and rock beds to great effect, catching bass, cod, mangrove jack and more. Its ease of use means that even novice anglers can catch fish. The Rip Snorter is 90mm long, weighs 16g and will be available from October. Keep an eye out for a 12mm version in the coming months. Price: SRP $17.95 www.chasebaits.com.au

The new Penn Spinfisher VI features IPX5 sealing so whether it gets hit with a wave, or you let it ride in the spray all the way home, you don’t have to worry about saltwater getting into the gearbox or drag system. The HT-100 drag washers are housed in a fully-sealed spool to give the stopping power needed for big saltwater fish. A Full Metal Body and sideplate keep the CNC Gear System in precise alignment under heavy loads. Durability, Smoothness, and Precision is what CNCGear Technology delivers. By using state of the art software and CNC machinery brass drive, pinion and oscillation gears are cut to exact tolerances. The new Spinfisher VI live liner system has four ‘on’ positions which progressively increase the rear drag when needed. Factory matched settings have been applied for each size reel, and can be user adjusted to the angler’s preference with the included tool. With the turn of the handle, the live liner is automatically disengaged and back in fighting mode. The Spinfisher VI is available in standard, Live Liner and Long Cast models. Price: from SRP $199.99 pennfishing.com.au

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RUNNER UP TIED Daiwa Exist LT 3000 CXH Celebrating 60 years of innovation isn’t easy, and that’s why Daiwa held nothing back in creating the new 18Exist LT. The flagship model, the Exist, has personified excellence throughout Daiwa’s history, and now the new 18Exist LT, which stands for Light and Tough, introduces even more ground-breaking technology, and it was the 3000 CXH that was recognised for innovation at the AFTA show. Monocoque body also debuts in the 18Exist LT for the first time through the entire size range. Monocoque body is a truly one-piece frame with no side plate. Instead, the side plate is replaced by the main drive gear housing, which screws into the body allowing for maximum gear diameter and ultimate rigidity. You will find the brand-new Machine Cut Tough Digigear inside the new 18Exist LT is up to 109% larger than non-monocoque reels. The 18Exist LT’s monocoque body is Daiwa’s most advanced body they’ve ever developed, and they’re available from 1000 to 4000 sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

Winter is over, and spring fishing looks promising TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

Congratulations ladies and gentlemen, we have made it through another

one – yes, another Tasmanian winter. September is the first month of spring and wow, don’t we fishers love it. The days are getting longer and the

weather has been steadily improving. The fishing over winter was good, but with the warm weather comes the enthusiasm to actually get out there and have a crack.

Trout opening was an absolute belter with many people getting out and trying to find a trutta. The weather was cold and it will continue to be frosty in the highlands. The low

level waters found favour and will continue to do so. Gamefishing had a solid year and it seemed that the season just would not slow. Estuary fishing was

NORTH COAST All the coastal rivers of the North West and the rivers of the south have been fishing well for searun trout as they’re starting to migrate upstream. Fishing these depends on the bait being thick. The sea-runner loves gorging on whitebait, but they will take in most things to satisfy their big salty hunger. The Derwent River has many bait options. Hardiheads, gudgeon, sandy or roach are all on the menu as these silver torpedoes cruise into rivers around the state. The big searun trout are even dangerous to the juvenile mullet and cocky salmon. They best way to fish bait for searunners is slowly, very slowly. Cast out your bait and wind at a painfully slow pace. This allows your bait to be seen and create some interest. It is best to have your rod at a right angle to your line as you retrieve, this will allow you to drop the rod tip back towards the fish at the slightest touch, giving you some slack line and time to open the bail arm. You are looking for the fish to swallow or come back and inhale your bait. Once the fish has picked it up and run with it for a little while strike and set the hook. You can use the very same method with larger soft plastics as well. You’ll need a rod 7ft or longer. This will allow you to cast the soft plastic unweighted or with very little jighead weight. The technique is

the same and relies on you feeling the initial bite and dropping back some slack. The fish will swallow them or circle back and hit it again. For this reason Gulp or PowerBait product are excellent. They have an awesome amount of scent that has fish hitting again and again. Their many profile shapes will have something for all tastes. The North of Tasmania in September is particularly exciting, especially around the Forth and Mersey rivers. Whenever these fish are in a feeding frenzy it always makes for an exciting fishing event. These big silver fish will be pushing bait hard into the shallows, trying to take their one avenue of escape away from them. Once the fleeing baitfish realise what’s going on they will break from the surface and fly everywhere in a mad panic. This is when you need to be ready to throw a lure that is representative of what they are feeding on close to that action. The best option would be a lure or soft plastic that is lightlyweighted but castable. A little slap down and commotion when landing on the water is advantageous, but too much and it will spook the feeding fish. Patience and technique are crucial. Don’t use big tweaks and high-speed retrieves. Just twitch the lure and jiggle it with a slow wind occasionally. You are trying to mimic a baitfish that is bewildered and not on

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Adam Hill with a searunner caught off the coast of Hobart. top of their game. If there is one thing a searunner likes more than a whitebait, it is a wounded whitebait saying eat me NOW! The key is the stalk; be slow and deliberate when you approach the riverbank. These fish will be in close and you will be amazed at where they are laying in wait to trap the bait. A few casts into the shallows from well before the river’s edge can often see you finding a fish. Waders are a good idea and will allow you to slowly work your way out kneedeep, looking as you sneak along. This time of year, with a little rain around, the rivers still flow seaward the majority of the time. If you start upstream of an area and slowly work downstream you should have groups of bait making their way past you and even through your legs if you are stealthy enough. This is perfect, as the searunners are on their tails looking to strike. If you see that bait burst out, get your lure out and watch for the bow wave. It is exciting to see the fish you are stalking come at your lure at speed. The bow wave is mesmerizing. So, if you have never experienced the fun and excitement of a searunner stalk I suggest you try it real soon. If you are unsure of where to try or what to use you can head into your local tackle store. All the Tasmania tackle stores will have someone who can help put you onto spots to try, tides for best success, and what gear is best for you. Flyfishing is making a comeback. Yes, that’s right, the long wand brigade has had a resurgence over the last

few seasons. I have noticed some young anglers show some keen interest and are taking the sport up in earnest. Things start to really fire-up for the flyfishing brigade this month – September is all about tailing fish and there are flooded margins all over the place. The late August rainfall will have swollen lakes and rivers. Tailing fish in the shallows will get fluff and fur chuckers flipping out at the mere mention of it all. The flyfishing gear has been cleaned and stowed for far too long and it is time to dust it off. Other than some big flashy wet fly presentations and some nymphing, August was a sad month for the flyfishers. Once spring gets a hold on our weather patterns these fish can be quite easy to locate. Shallow water in and around marshes and grass plains on an overcast or foggy day is hot property. The beauty of this style of flyfishing is that accurate casting is not essential. Even part-time punters like myself can land a frog pattern wet fly close enough to a brazen hungry brown trout. Fly patterns like the Black Woolley Bugger are very popular as are the Sloane style fur flies. Dry flyfishers miss out on this action, but late September could see these anglers turn their frown upside down. If the conditions later this month align we may see some possible hatchings of the mayfly spinner on lowland rivers. This, with a bit of luck and a little breeze, could also include Four Springs.

The North of the state really comes alive this time of year. If you are visiting, stay in Launceston or somewhere nearby, as we have a huge range of options only an hour or from Launceston city centre – rivers, rivers everywhere. The Macquarie, Meander, St. Patricks and South Esk rivers are all great low altitude choices until the warmer weather returns. The snow run-off and rain can have these rivers rising and spilling throughout the month. Casting a fly, soft plastic or worms to trout as they forage over newly flooded ground can be exciting and rewarding. The

fabulous all through winter and those who rugged up to head out found fish. So, let’s have a look at all this and what we can expect going forward in September. Esk rivers, particularly the south, are known to perform this time of year. Look to Longford, Evandale and Hadspen to access these fabulous waterways. There is a project currently underway to improve access to this river and I will share in future months when complete. There are access opportunities on some of these rivers and the IFS (Inland Fisheries Service) have a brochure that shows angler access points for the Macquarie and Lake rivers, and can also be found on the IFS website. Still waters are always popular and the Launceston area has a few good ones. Brushy Lagoon is often stocked with Atlantic salmon and I have read a number of stockings placed fish from 1-4.5kg. Not far from Brushy is Four Springs Lake. The heavy opening weekend pressure will be starting to abate. Brown trout transferred from highland spawning would have fed well in their new surroundings. Good size brown and rainbow trout bring smiles to faces and this lake produces grins from ear-to-ear. it’s very important to remember that these two lakes, Brushy and Four Springs, have a five fish bag limit with only two fish over 500mm allowed to be taken.

SOUTH COAST The weather has settled in the deep south and the fishers have been a bit spoilt. The southerners are lucky they get a head start. Searunners started to move into the Derwent and Huon rivers well before the

gun had sounded to start the trout season. The water below Bridgewater and the Huonville bridges are open all year and is a favourite spot for searunner anglers. The excitement and energy

Not to be left out, Chloe Hammersley caught some great striped trumpeter.

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Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

From page 76

was up as soon as the first trout was caught with even the slightest silvery look. Then the word went out and it was on. Gear was readied, bait was found and caught, and lure anglers dived into their tackle boxes looking for their favourite nighttime slow rollers. There were some very nice fish caught all through August once the season opened proper. The river systems are now open on both, as are all the little tributaries that run into them. These two rivers fish well early August, but in September really start to fire. There are many spots to try all the techniques at your disposal up and around the New Norfolk area. I have only had the chance to fish this area last year for two days, but I fell in love with it. There is a lot to like for both landbased and boat anglers. The scenery is fantastic and the fish you encounter are in great nick and of good size. The Huon River is

Fishing St Helens is your best chance at a yellowfin tuna. lake has received 2030 adult brown trout from the highlands and if the resident monsters have not eaten them, they too should add to the fun. Big bright and flashy is the rule of thumb when using anything in Crescent. Flies, lures or soft plastics

Bay Rocks and the jetties in North West Bay. Silver slice lures are always a popular choice. Slow trolling soft plastics with a heavy jighead works well. Flathead slowed in August but has been improving. The crews venturing out off Bruny Island have been doing well. Bait has been the standout so far on a paternoster rig. Chris Boon had an early season 35kg bluefin caught over the shelf at Eaglehawk Neck. Fish was tagged and released, and caught on an Eaglehawk Lures emerald green prowler. They caught another three on this day all around the same size.

fish. It didn’t seem to matter if it was early in the season or where he went, his skill and persistence paid off. He found early season albacore and mako sharks. He even found some good fish as close as Storm Bay in the state’s south. Jonah is a prime example of what I say all the time. Watch the weather, organize yourself, spend time on the water and you will be rewarded. Jonah Yick and Sam Nichols also had success over the shelf at Eaglehawk Neck. Rays bream were quite prolific this season, and anglers ended up catching a lot on the sword bait. They could be found hard to the bottom as well as

weather of August the local area fished well and looks to improve as we head into spring. Local rivers have produced some nice bream, with Browns River being the clear stand out with some anglers managing fish greater than 40cm. Vibe lures worked slowly

Jonah Yick and Sam Nichols with some early season albacore.

Josh Hammersley and his daughters Molly and Chloe love spending the day fishing. another that fishes well in September and regularly produces large trout. They have sensational whitebait runs and as the whitebait move up the river, visual fishing can be exciting. Still water anglers have some real gems to travel to and try their luck. Craigbourne Dam is a short drive from Hobart and was stocked with 2150 adult brown trout from the central highlands. I drove past the other day and the lake was looking full so finding these fish should provide challenging sport. In this area you cannot go without mentioning Lake Crescent. It has significant history and an aura around big trout. If you are looking for a trophy trout, a visit to Lake Crescent in the early part of the season is worth a try. Last season saw some huge fish up to 8kg being caught and this year they’re looking to be bigger! This

benefit from a bit of razzledazzle and size – big is beautiful. Despite the cold

along the bottom produced the goods for most. The Atlantic salmon are still in and around the

area, with catches still being reported. These fish escaped in a storm so should start to show up soon. The calamari hunters have reported captures in the shallows of North West Bay, with smaller squid jigs being the key to success. The overcast days and low light conditions of after work means a colour or foil change may be needed to fire them up. Salmon are always a chance at this time of year. Last year at this time we had a solid run of Australian salmon turn up. Key spots are Blackmans

Matt Webb and Johnny Valentine with a couple of winter double hook ups.

Chris Boon with an early season 35kg bluefin caught off Eaglehawk Neck.

The majority of bluefin caught early season were much smaller, around the 10kg mark. I have had many reports of tiny ‘couta plaguing anglers. Although fun, these little guys are a tackle stores owner’s dream, with even the smallest ‘couta making quick work of an angler’s tackle. For those of you who want these for a feed, I recommend cheap silver wobblers with a light wire leader. A fisher that had a great season is Jonah Yick. He managed to take out friends and family and for the most part, caught some fabulous

in 300-400m. The albacore run this season was early and strong in numbers and in the size of fish encountered. When looking for albacore in the early part of the season, try a feather lure like the Zuker and back the speed off a little. Get the speeds down to around 5-6knots and throw some Halco deep divers in as well. These bibbed lures work well and dive deeper when trolling slower and on a longer set from the back of the boat. The Zuker’s run well at a lower speed and you can place some small skirts in with them around the wash of the propeller. SEPTEMBER 2018

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania SOUTH COAST The 2017-18 Gamefishing season just keeps on giving. There are still reports of bluefin off St Helens and Bicheno as I write this. It has been a fantastic year for gamefishing all around Tasmania and I say all around as the West Coast is starting to make a name for itself as well. St Helens has made a great comeback in the gamefishing department after a few lean years. The gamefishing clan has been making a beeline for Eaglehawk Neck. But, St Helens fishes well early and is your best chance for a marlin or the hallowed yellowfin tuna. These two fish were elusive this year. We had a great couple of marlin bites a couple seasons back but the currents didn’t flow for us this year. The good news is that we had a heap of gamefishing action on mako sharks, albacore, bluefin and broadbill swordfish. Mason Paull and his son Daniel have had a stellar year on the swords this season. The lads caught six swords off St Helens, which was better than their last season by two fish. They have their technique working a treat and are leaders at releasing these fish to fight another day. They are strong believers in using big circle hooks for this type of fishing. They obviously have some good spots to start their drops, but quite frankly it’s all about the available food at the right depth. These swordfish are big protein munching machines and live down in the cold waters needing lots of food. Find the food, get some bait down and you are in with a chance. The sword fishing by-catch is also pretty cool with all sorts of fish being taken on the baits meant for the big broadbill swords.

In the waters off St Helens we saw Melissa Mcgiveron and her husband Jason trolling for big tuna and they found one. A tuna of 123kg is a sensational fish and on a 37kg line – a pending state, Australian and world ladies record makes it even more special. These two are Tasmania’s premier fishing couple, spending many hours on the water and finding fish often. Their massive fishing weapon Ice Age is set up to hunt and find all manner of game fish and a credit to them both. Tasmania currents are all dependent on weather

arrive we are in with a good chance. Having said that we did see some currents that brought with them some good numbers of yellowtail kingfish. These fish are great fighters for their size and a big one will really take you to task. There were many crews that reported heaps of these much sought after fish along the coastal points, but also out on the shelf. This water can often bring delights such as mahimahi, but not this year. Tyson Digney found some good water off Bicheno and managed three small yellowfin. They got these fish in a three-way hook up and managed to land all three fish. Tyson is a keen

very spoilt as the fishing is so close to us. We can travel 5km and be into the tuna and 20km if we want to hit the shelf, and we are in some great fishing grounds for all gamefishing species. So get involved and don’t think it is all too hard as there are many people willing to share information and make sure you have some success. Don’t wait till next year either. If you can find a weather window and get a crew together there are some great fish off St Helens right now. Another skipper that

SEPTEMBER 2018

comes to mind when it comes to time on the water and dedication is Josh Hammersley. Josh and his two daughters Chloe and Molly rack up some serious water time and find fish often. Chloe has some great line class captures to her name and young Molly has the bug now as well. It is fabulous in this electronic era to have an activity you can do as a family. There are so many skills kids can pick up from fishing that can carry on through all aspects of life.

Tom Srodzinski with a 60kg mako shark caught off Eaglehawk Neck. events from much further north. When the currents play the game we can have some great fishing off the east coast of Tasmania for striped marlin and big yellowfin tuna. We didn’t get that bite this season but we did have some fish caught that provide hope it may happen next year or the year after. So, we never give up, we gear up and we learn so that when they do

young angler and has the uncanny ability to out fish his disgruntled dad Paul. Mako sharks have been fishing very well for a few years now and this season was no different. There has been a real push for the majority of anglers to let the big ones go and harvest the smaller sharks for the table. There are still some big ones taken each year and this comes

Damian Turner had a great trout season and often gets around the open-all-year waters. 78

A swordfish caught off St Helens.

down to how often a crew gets out each year. The mako shark’s numbers are increasing you’ll find them closer inshore than people used to fish. Nowadays, it seems that if you have enough berley you will find one just about anywhere. There were a number found in 30m in Bass Strait this season and a few off Schouten Passage not far out off the passage. The continental shelf is still your best bet if you are looking to maximize your chances. If you are out trolling lures and the weather calms off super flat it pays to be set up to hit the deep ocean floor. Many crews had great success when it glassed out looking for the tasty morsals that inhabit the drop offs around the shelf. The rays bream and blue eye trevalla are always a welcome sight to come over the gunwale during a gamefishing season. The freezer looks good with a few shelves of self-caught deepsea delights and this season fished very well from around Tasmania. So as you can see there have been some fabulous catches this season and we have not even scratched the surface. The fishing is world class off Tasmania and we are

Melissa Mcgiveron with a 123kg tuna caught off St Helens.

Go Behind the Scenery

Tasmania

INLAND FISHERIES SERVICE

Tasmanian Inland Fishery management Plan IFS

Tim Farrell

During June Sarah Courtney, Minister for Primary Industries and Water, launched the Tasmanian Inland Recreational Fishery Management Plan 2018-28. The plan will guide management of the recreational trout fishery in Tasmania for the next 10 years. It aims to provide a sustainable, vibrant and healthy fishery. After extensive public consultation, the plan provides better opportunities for anglers, assesses fishery performance, and conserves fish stocks as a recreational resource for future generations.

The plan outlines measures to increase participation locally and from tourism markets. It balances the needs for individual fishery management while standardising regulations. It supports the actions to grow and develop recreational fishing in Tasmania. This includes a freeze on trout fishing licences, improved access for anglers, and better facilities that encourage female participation and angling tourism. The plan ensures all anglers will have an enjoyable fishing experience into the future. CARP MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Jonah Yick, IFS Leader of the Tasmanian Carp Management Program,

A superb brown trout from Little Pine Lagoon. attended a workshop in Canberra during July. The workshop was part of a larger project under the National Carp Control Plan

(NCCP). At the workshop there were specialists from all over the country including: researchers of small and large fish,

Daily catch rate of brown trout from Little Pine Lagoon, 2000-18 from IFS Angler Postal Survey.

plant scientists, water bird scientists, amphibian (frogs and toads) researchers, and entomologists. The workshop discussed how different levels of carp reduction from mainland waterways might affect the surrounding ecosystem. They talked about water quality, system modelling, risk analysis, and the economics surrounding this idea. Hopefully, the outcome of the workshop will assist the NCCP to plan an integrated approach to controlling carp in Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s waterways. From this they can understand and manage the risks involved with the removal of carp, quantify the benefit/cost analysis of the project and generate stakeholder engagement. For more information about the National Carp Control Plan see http:// www.carp.gov.au/.

LITTLE PINE LAGOON TURNS IT AROUND Fishery surveys suggest Little Pine Lagoon is well and truly on the up. Over recent years, anglers fishing for brown trout at Little Pine Lagoon have experienced a daily catch rate well below the longterm average. The reasons for this are still unclear but survey results are showing a change. Our survey of the trout population during April 2018 found fish of a wide range of sizes. The average weight for fish over 300mm was 1.044kg and 85% of the catch was larger than 300mm. Our annual angler postal survey shows the catch rate for the 2017-18 season was the highest recorded at 1.6 fish per day. This sets a very positive scene for the 2018-19 season!

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 9th August 2018 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Trevallyn Pond..................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Mackenzie................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Rowallan..................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Parangana................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Cethana....................................0.75................................................................... Lake Barrington................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Gairdner...................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Paloona....................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Augusta....................................0.01................................................................... Arthurs Lake.....................................1.15................................................................... Great Lake........................................12.82................................................................. Little Pine Lagoon.............................0.00.......................................................Spilling Shannon Lagoon...............................0.00.......................................................Spilling Penstock Lagoon..............................0.00.......................................................Spilling Woods Lake......................................0.77................................................................... Lake St Clair.....................................1.26................................................................... Lake King William.............................0.31................................................................... Lake Echo.........................................5.75...................................................................

Dee Lagoon.......................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Pine Tier Lagoon...............................0.21................................................................... Bronte Lagoon..................................0.16................................................................... Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah..............0.08................................................................... Laughing Jack Lagoon.....................2.20................................................................... Lake Liapootah.................................1.18................................................................... Wayatinah Lagoon............................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Catagunya................................0.17................................................................... Lake Repulse....................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Cluny Lagoon....................................1.56................................................................... Meadowbank Lake ..........................0.50................................................................... Lake Burbury....................................3.50................................................................... Lake Margaret..................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Whitespur Pond................................2.39................................................................... Lake Newton.....................................2.81................................................................... Lake Plimsoll....................................0.55................................................................... Lake Murchison................................2.38................................................................... Lake Mackintosh..............................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Rosebery..................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Pieman.....................................0.00.......................................................Spilling Lake Pedder......................................0.60................................................................... Lake Gordon.....................................23.61.................................................................

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

Fewer fish are being caught as we head into spring MILDURA

Rob Oswin

The last month has been considerably slow for fishing, with few reports of anglers catching anything. The reports that were coming in have been of few cod and even fewer perch. This is most likely due to the difficult weather stopping many anglers from getting out onto the river. The majority of anglers have been avoiding the river due to the colder temperatures, the wind and rain being a huge hindrance. Many have chosen to stay indoors and wait for the spring weather to finally start. There is also the upcoming end of the cod season now effective, so those anglers who have

The Mildura area has had a good season on cod, although the numbers being caught are steadily declining as we head into the closed season.

already caught their fix of cod for the season have stopped targeting cod or just simply quit while they’re ahead. After all, it has been a very good season for cod. For those who have braved the weather there have been some very good outcomes with very nicesized cod being caught and a few reports of perch being caught on vibes and smaller spinnerbaits. For the cod being caught being on hardbodies, Ballistas and StumpJumpers have been successful. With the majority of cod being roughly 60-90cm, the river was still producing some good fish last month, but the number being caught is on the decline. From the reports of perch being caught, most are 30-40cm and being caught on small lures.

Medium-sized yabbies are also a good way to go. The end of the cod season has started. With declining rates of cod being caught, it can be safer to say that many anglers are going to be primarily targeting perch in the upcoming month; it’s also safe to say that with the spring weather bringing warmer weather there are going to be many more people on the river. It can be expected that bait fishing is going to become a lot more successful and with more and more people taking to soft plastics it’s going to be a successful month for those targeting perch. Don’t disregard the continued effectiveness of lures on perch. Vibes and spinnerbaits are still extremely successful as always.

The cold weather bite continues in September ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

As we roll through the chill of winter it’s refreshing to see the fish are still on the chew at many locations. With a good rise coming through the Murray River; both Murray cod and golden perch have been caught on bait and lures. Swan Hill tackle proprietor Jim Credlin says several large Murray cod to 90cm have been landed

on lures upstream of the road bridge. A few cod have also been landed on bait as has the odd golden perch. Worms have been the best bait and black, red and green are the best lure colours. Most of the lure-caught cod have been taken on the troll, but the 90cm fish was landed on the cast. The Wakool River at Genoe is still producing good-sized golden perch on bait. Worms fished close to the snags or backwater eddies have been most productive. Boundary Bend on the

A large golden perch taken from the Murray River on the cast.

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Murray River was producing a few small Murray cod on lures and golden perch on bait. The Murray River between Wemen and Mildura was producing Murray cod to 65cm on lures and golden perch on both lures and bait. Downstream Lock Nine had some larger Murray cod to 90cm being caught mostly on trolled lures. Some goodsized golden perch to 55cm are also biting on lures at this location. While the chill of winter has culled all but the keenest of anglers, those still wetting a line have enjoyed some good fishing in some of our local waters over the past month. Now that the season is closed, Murray cod anglers will retire the heavy gear for a few months. These past few months have been very rewarding for gaining new angling knowledge. Being of the old school, modern day technology generally takes a backseat to gut instinct in our boat, but I find myself far more attuned these days as the big picture becomes clearer. SOUNDING OUT THE DEPTHS In angling-related matters the parting of the Red Sea by Moses was a conjuring trick that most who wet a line might only dream of. Imagine if you will the ability to simply wave your hands and the river or lake would instantly reveal the hiding places of its many fish. As we are not blessed with such gifts, we rely on guesswork for where and when we might expect to find fish at certain locations. While it’s not exactly parting the water, sounder technology has come a long way over the past few seasons and the range

of portable fish finders available to anglers these days is nothing short of amazing. Not only will a good sounder provide on-water information, it will help improve your angling no end. With a simple click of a button your underwater view rolls across the screen revealing a wealth of realtime data and what lays hidden below the surface. On a recent trip to the Murray River I was to put one of the new Helix side imaging models to the test and was blown away by what it revealed. In split screen mode I was able to see the structure and depth directly below the boat at the same time picking up large snags and rock bars on the side imaging. It was like sweeping the riverbed and the information was relayed in an instant. The graphics were crisp and clean where balloon shaped bait balls hovered mid water and rock bars and snag piles were easy to pick as the fish were holding just above them. Several times over the course of the day the distinct image of a giant Murray cod would appear on the screen holding just above the bottom. I almost felt sorry for the fish as they were clearly revealed in all their splendour safe in the depths, but not hidden from eyesight. Now here’s the one thing true of fishing, no matter how much information you have whether self-taught or made possible through modern technology; if a fish doesn’t want to bite, it won’t. And so it was with the giant cod that could clearly be seen on the sounder. While they were easy enough to spy they would

A large ball of bait hanging midwater above a riverbed snag.

Above two images: Giant Murray cod sitting just above the bottom structure clearly visible on the Helix 9 sounder. not be tempted to bite. While this was the first run of my new sounder I was very impressed with the information it provided and can’t wait to get out on the water and see what other underwater secrets

it might offer up. While I don’t profess to be at a level befitting Moses’ prowess, it’s comforting to know a full-blown view to the underwater world is just a simple button click away.

Murray cod season all over ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

This past month has seen frozen fingers and tired legs. The water has been quite low in the rivers, although it has started to rise again as the month comes to an end. My focus over the past month has been primarily on Murray cod, and I have seen myself with some more success,

but that has taken time and persistence and been well worth it. Numbers of Murray cod have been down, there have been many sessions where I have had big donuts, that’s cod fishing. But in between these sessions I have also seen some really exciting ones. This month I haven’t caught any cod of a monster size but I have caught some decent fish! The 60-70cm size range has

been my most common catch size, with these fish taking an interest to hardbodied lures, particularity lures of a bigger profile. I have snagged myself a few golden perch while in search of cod, but I have only managed to keep a couple on long enough to scoop them up in the landing net. The golden perch have taken a liking to the Jackall Chibitarel in the white copeton magic colour, I have seen more goldens

Lake Hume is a good place to catch golden perch.

attack this lure than cod. It’s not the biggest swimbait model on the market, but it’s an awesome size for targeting all fish sizes. Most of my cod of late have been taken on the size 1 stumpjumper, but they have also shown interest in my most faithful colour: kuttafurra mudhoneys. I have been resorting to lures I have confidence in to keep my spirits alive, but this being said, throwing around swimbaits is a new thing for me. Sometimes throwing something different around can be a game changer. I have had some missed opportunities on them, but it’s all things that I can improve on when I next use that particular styled lure. With the local river on the rise, Mulwala has started to rise again, too. Boat access is accessible again. I recently gave Lake Mulwala a crack along with my friends, Kyle and Cameron. It was an awesome day to say the least. Cameron caught a 105cm cod on fly, this is the biggest Murray cod I’ve seen. It was an awesome to see a fish over the metre mark. A huge congratulations to Cameron on that fish! I haven’t had the chance

The Author with a Murray cod. to target any trout as of yet, but I have heard that Lake Hume has produced some nice sized trout. These fish have certainly been worked for, and many anglers have said that Lake Hume still hasn’t kicked into gear yet. My plan of attack is to hit here in the cod closed season in search of golden perch. Hopefully, I can hook into some pig sized! Similar to last month, fishing hasn’t been on fire but there has been a few pop up. With persistence and patience

I have been eventually rewarded. To me any fish is a good fish, whether it is big or small. I just love having the opportunity to get out and do what I love doing, even though it’s been bitterly cold! I can’t wait for summer to come back around again. My passion and persistence is still pumping as usual, and I’m keen to keep trying to crack that PB this season. My fingers are crossed and I’m very excited to continue fishing until the close of the Murray cod season!

Mulwala now returning to more normal levels YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

Now that the Murry cod season is in place, we can reflect on a few great captures from around the region. Lake Mulwala is finally looking full again and it will be interesting to see how the cod settle back into their home snags. Traditionally, after a drawdown then refill action is a bit slow until the water settles. Given a three-month dry spell, no one knows how things

will be come December. Lake Mulwala can be very rewarding one minute and ‘the lake of 1000 casts’ the next. One thing that never changes, Lake Mulwala will always be home for the Murray cod. Looking back, July and August were interesting months. Those who made an effort to go out in kayaks or smaller boats were rewarded with some great cod. Having mastered the drawdown technique, Brad Murray and friends boasted a staggering 33 cod, with nine of them measuring above the magical metre mark, the best coming

in at 124cm. They had another 13 that surpassed the 80cm mark, showing they had the low water levels figured out. Others to excel were the Rogers brothers, Ian and Matt, with plenty of cod measuring up to 126cm and the Wright brothers, Justin and Dan, who landed a couple of true monsters. Harry Crawford and company from Corowa also cracked the drawdown code and encountered numerous beasts, including a 125cm behemoth that was caught on one of Harry’s homemade creations.

Regarding drawdown, credit must go to all parties involved in the new upgrade work done on local boat ramps, especially those at Owen Bridges Reserve, Majors Creek and Bundalong. Cray season was steady and didn’t jump about much. The majority returned with their bag limits, but the reward does not match the effort. The laws have changed, increasing the minimum size, and reducing bag limits, and for some the novelty has now worn off. Credit goes to fisheries for allowing the targeting of these tasty critters to

remain when it would have been easy to ban craying altogether. Please be be aware that along with Murray cod, Murray crays are also off limits for a few months – so don’t be caught targeting these special little critters! As the fishing slows down, organisation for the 2018-19 fishing competition season ramps up. If you are keen to get your name added to the Golden Dollars, Cod Classic, Dash 4 Cash, His and Hers Partners Classic or Cod Nationals mailing lists shoot me an e-mail at codclassic@bigpond.

com. Big news on the Cod Classic front, a tagged cod with the potential reward of a new Toyota Hilux Ute on offer thanks to Yarrawonga Toyota. • 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 Ya r r a w o n g a / M u l w a l a and specialise in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on (03) 5744 3133.

n Trout Hatchery e d a G

Gaden Trout Hatchery

Gaden Trout Hatchery See how premier sport fish are bred and raised! Closed Anzac, Christmas, Boxing day.

Guided tours 10 am and 2 pm.

Self-guided tours on selected days. Small admission fee.

Ian Rogers with a metery pulled from the sticks.

leaping fish * 4 species * aquaria, ponds, AV show * beautifulbreeding picnic–BBQ area * smoked trout sale * find out about for kids fishing workshops. *

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The Snowies are looking good this month SNOWNY LAKES

Rod Allen

The Snowies are looking fantastic with great snow coverage over the peaks, making a spectacular visual backdrop to our lakes. Very low rainfall and the need to generate power has forced Eucumbene and Jindabyne

it’s quite the opposite at this venue. As Eucumbene drops its abundant yabby beds are revealed, and this is the ticket to success. The yabbies have retreated to their homes to hibernate through winter, which would normally ensure their safety and well and truly off the trout radar, but as the lake drops and these yabby beds end up on

These homeless, dormant crustaceans don’t have the energy to right themselves and crawl to safety, so they either get mopped up by the browns that have full confidence to patrol these shallows under the cover of murky water and a wavy broken surface, or they get pushed up onto the shore where the birds pick them off. Tell tale clues of blue claws

Searching Jindabyne for the fish.

Jack Allen with a thumper from Eucumbene. to drop in levels, which has created some excellent angling opportunities around the exposed structure. Eucumbene was at 20% recently and likely to drop further. Many lakes suffer with a receding shoreline but

the edge of the lake, trouble looms! Strong winds drive large waves that pound into the soft clay, totally destroying the yabbies’ homes and leaving a discoloured margin where the helpless, sleepy yabbies are at the mercy of the elements.

Sam Watts with a yabby feeder.

2-3m from the water’s edge are a sure sign of what’s just happened. The best time to take advantage of this is during or directly after consecutive strong wind days. Try big wet flies such as Woolly Buggers, Matukas, Tiahape Ticklers, Woolly Worms, or casting Bullets, vibes and plastics over the dirty water into the clean. Slowly working along the bottom back into the turbulent edge for a great way to prospect each likely spot. Scrubworms fished under a float, unweighted or with the bare minimum of lead in the same areas have been just as productive with many anglers bagging out in a few hours. It’s really encouraging to see the condition Euc’s fish

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

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

LAKE/DAM

LAKE/DAM June July August Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 0 0 81 Newlyn 49 50 62 Nillahcootie 54 55 55 Rocklands 32 32 33 Tantangara 30 31 36 Taylors 49 47 49 Tullaroop 53 51 51 Waranga 14 23 35 Wartook 47 47 53 William Hovell 48 101 102

Cairn Curran

June July August 54

52 52

Dartmouth 88 89 89 Eildon

54 52 55

Eppalock

62 60 60

Eucumbene 25 23 21 Fyans

66 67 71

Hepburn

45 49 53

Hume

37 44 45

Jindabyne 65 63 62 Lauriston

80 79 79

(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.) 82

SEPTEMBER 2018

are in, as they were looking a bit lean a few months ago, and when you hold a brown in your hands you can feel the yabbies in their gut. The best areas to fish straight after these winds are Braemar, Buckenderra, Rushies and Seven Gates. Trolling Eucumbene has been very good since Easter as that trend continues. Anglers have had excellent results flatlining Tassie Devils in a variety of colours. Depending on the weather, the hot colours are FLC, 81 and 39 and the darker patterns work on dull days. Frequent reports of over 30 fish for a weekend have been quite common and it’s terrific to see people practising catch and release once they have filled their quota. Boat access has been limited to launching at old Adaminiby on the old road or at the dam wall. Buckenderra Holiday Park has put in a new concrete boat ramp 130m in length and 4.5m wide that will cater for boats down to 30%. RMS will be officially opening it in the near future, so watch this space for more info. Jindabyne is currently sitting at around 62% and has also been very rewarding to visiting anglers with huge Atlantic salmon pushing scales

down past 7kg as well as brooks to 4kg. Trolling big lures like the Zerek Tango Shad Atomic Shiner 60 or spinning from the bank is the best way to intercept these cruising salmon from the Haven to Curiosity Rocks. Other favourite lures have been the Bullet in trout patterns, Tassie Devils and Tillins Cobras. Similar to Euc, windy days

and work it back dead slow. An intermediate or sink tip line will aid the fly enthusiast with Jindy Buggers, Bushy’s Horror, Woolly Buggers or Jindy Goldfish. Polaroiding is another great tactic on these still days and is probably the most exciting. Once a fish has been detected, watch its movements and place your fly, lure or

This yabby was washed up by windy water. are providing excellent sport. Simply search the chopped-up edge with lures or large profiled wet flies. On the calm, blue-skied days, however, a slightly more subtle approach is warranted. Allow your offer to get down deep amongst the structure of the bottom

A Jindy brown that couldn’t say no to the author’s Woolly Bugger.

unweighted bait around 3m ahead of its path. If the fish doesn’t notice your offering or your cast is a little inaccurate, don’t pull it out and risk spooking by replacing it; simply add a bit of life by twitching delicately – just enough to gain the attention of your quarry. The best polaroiding for me has been at East Jindy around Mill Creek and the Snowy River Arm beyond Waste Point. Bait fishos have been enjoying some great captures lately on the humble scrubby and PowerBaits as the fish return from the spawning migration and look to regain condition. Chunky cheese and fluoro orange are the most popular, but it pays to have a selection of colours as the fish can change what colour they like from day to day. Prime bait areas are Wollondibby Inlet, the Clay Pits and Waste Point. • For more info, find us on Facebook on the Alpine Angler page, call (02) 6452 5538 or drop into Alpine Angler at 647 Snowy Mountains Highway, Cooma, NSW.

Start of trout season marks start of hot fishing WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

Finally, September is upon us. Winter is my quietest time of the year – my ‘off season’ if you like. I usually scrounge around and get a few ordinary fishing adventures in during winter, but it’s not until September arrives that my fishing gears engage properly and I truly become motivated to wet a line once again. The Victorian trout

will be trout this spring. Some good places to try will be the Ovens River anywhere upstream of Bright, the Buckland River, upper Buffalo River upstream of Abbeyard, the King River upstream of Lake William Hovell and the Dandongadale River in the headwaters deep in the Alpine National Park. Those rivers listed all fished quite well last summer, so I’m expecting them to fish well again this season. The upper reaches of the Buffalo River have

fished really well with an abundance of small trout. If the spring rains fail, I have concerns for that particular area, as the upper Buffalo River tends to carry very little water in drought years and has been known to dry up to a series of pools. Without knowing exactly what the weather gods have in store for us, I will suggest some lures based on below average rainfall. Bladed spinners, particularly metallic bladed spinners such as Celtas, tend to work well during

Saturday 1 September marks the start of the 2018 trout season. Get excited to fish areas like this.

Green grass, blue skies and trout – what’s not to love about trout fishing in September? season opens on the first Saturday in September each year, and this year that happens to be 1 September. Recently the streams were flowing okay, but much lower than usual for this time of the year and with little rain in the forecast it’s looking increasingly likely that we could be in for a drier than usual start to the trout season. September should be awesome, however I am holding onto some grave concerns for later on in summer if decent rain doesn’t arrive during spring. TROUT Following on from some really good trout fishing in autumn I am expecting some fantastic trout fishing this September. Anywhere there were trout in autumn, there

water flows, particularly in the Ovens River upstream of Bright, which can be particularly hard to wade even during times of modest water flows. MURRAY COD Here’s a reminder that Murray cod fishing is off limits during September each year. It’s totally illegal to target Murray cod anywhere in Victoria during any day in spring, with the only exception being Lake Eildon, which remains open all

A season opening trout for me a few years back. I am looking forward to chasing these feisty small stream rockets in September.

Redfin start to get active when the water starts to warm. Usually that’s not until October, although September certainly can produce a few redfin if we get some early warm weather.

spring. Small minnow type lures can get good results, and small soft plastics work very well too, provided the streams aren’t too high and discoloured. Tiny black soft plastics such as the Strike Tiger 1” nymph in black and gold are a favourite of mine as they may mimic some of the many tiny invertebrates that live under the rocks in the stream bed and make their way to the surface of the water column when conditions are favourable. September is an exciting time for trout fishers in Victoria. Make sure you stay warm and be wary of strong

year round. Each year some anglers target Murray cod under the guise of targeting yellowbelly or redfin. Not only is this illegal and detrimental to the future of Murray cod fishing, but it’s also heavily frowned upon by the majority of anglers who choose to do the right thing and leave them alone. Fishing for Murray cod in the closed season is not a good way to make friends! YELLOWBELLY Although September is a little bit early for yellowbelly fishing, it’s still well worth a try, particularly if we’ve had a few warm days. In the western half of the state September can be a great time to catch yellowbelly, but over here in the North East it’s much cooler, and therefore our yellowbelly fishing usually starts a bit later. I will be heading out chasing yellowbelly in September, most likely with bait at either the Broken River or Lake Nillahcootie, which is on the Broken River. Here in North East Victoria Lakes Hume and Eildon are the places to head if you’re after the monster yellowbelly, while Lake Nillahcootie is the place to head if you’re after a feed of nice plate-sized yellowbelly.

Good baits will be worms, freshwater shrimp and small yabbies. For the lure fishers, try 60mm lipless crankbaits, medium-sized spinnerbaits and mediumsized diving lures. REDFIN Similar to yellowbelly, September isn’t the greatest time of the year to target redfin in North East Victoria. If we get a few warm days and we’re lucky, the redfin might start to bite early. In the past, I’ve had success at both Lake Kerford and Lake Sambell in Beechworth in September while targeting redfin. I don’t recall ever catching great numbers in September, but I do recall catching a few. Lake Hume can also be worth a try in September if you’re after redfin. I would be trying shallow water, paying particular attention to rocky banks/outcrops and grassy flats with small soft plastics or bladed spinners. September is the start of our unofficial fishing season. We usually have fantastic trout fishing in September and then in October and November we have trout, redfin and yellowbelly. Once December gets here the Murray cod season opens and it’s the best time of the year to go fishing in North East Victoria.

A lovely early season brown trout caught in a small stream with a decent spring flow of water. SEPTEMBER 2018

The reddies are ready for you SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

The weather plays a huge part in fishing this month and with this winter being very dry I hope this spring brings some rain. There hasn’t been the standard river rise from rain recently, and that is perfect time to target yellowbelly in the Broken and Goulburn rivers. The 28 day forecast promised some rain when I wrote this article and fingers crossed we get enough to saturate the ground before a big spring downpour. If we do get wet weather make your way to Broken River, anywhere from Benalla to Shepparton, as the yellowbelly fire-up on a rise. Casting lipless cranks and spinnerbaits is the best way to chase the springtime yellas if you’re using lures. Those looking to use bait – big juicy scrub worms or freshly-caught shrimp will work best, but you might just need to upsize your sinkers in fast-flowing water. If you can get to some backwaters, these areas always have some potential. Both the Goulburn and Broken rivers hold large numbers of cod so make sure you downsize your lures, and stay away from surface

fishing as it limits the chance to catch cod out of season. We all understand cod can still be caught on smaller lures, but the chances are not as high as when using big spinnerbaits or hardbodies. Rafterys Road area fishes well in spring, especially near the sandbars with plenty of shrimp around these areas. Downstream towards the Shepparton cemetery has been a prime spot for yellowbelly on a rise. SHEPPARTON LAKE There have been plenty of reports of trout being caught over the winter months and this trend should continue into the spring. Floating worms has been the best method for bait fishers and those using lures have opted for small spinners or hardbodies. Some have been taking off the middle treble and just running the back treble on their hardbodies in the lake as a way to pick up less weed. The hook-up rates are not as good this way but they have reported a lot more hits as there was no weed on their lures. There is still plenty of cod in the lake, so make sure in the coming months you just release the cod as soon as you can. KIALLA LAKES No surprise the winter was quiet at Kialla Lakes, with a few reports of redfin and

yellowbelly being caught, but nothing too exciting. The water temperatures should now be warming up and there will be much more action in all three lakes. Casting spinnerbaits and lipless cranks around the willows has always been very popular and unweighted baits or under a float about 4-6ft from the bank will work well. I am looking forward to a few spring storms rolling in because those who fish Kialla regularly know that these storms send the fish stupid. Just make sure you’re not stupid – don’t stay on the water too late and get caught out. CRAIGMUIR LAKE The upcoming months are the perfect time to fish Craigmuir Lake with the redfin and yellowbelly usually coming on the bite over the next 3-4 months. There is plenty of weed in the lake, so adjusting the way you rig your lure and bait is important. Doubles, not trebles, are more weed resistant, but you could also try using plastics rigged weedless. Those using bait, floating your bait around the weed edges works really well in most smaller lakes. Small vibes and spinnerbaits work well during this season in the open water, with colours like pink, purple and silver working best

last spring. LOCAL CHANNELS The channels are back to capacity after being raised again July and August. The water is still not as clean as the summer months, but as each week goes by the clarity gets better and better. When the water was on the rise the fish went crazy with an influx of fresh food coming in off the banks. Redfin were taking plastics slow rolled around the rocky edges and cod were still taking bigger profiled lures around the structure. The week or so after the water rise the fish had shut right down, but I would suggest by September the water clarity will be much better and the fish will be back to a consistent bite. There hasn’t been many smaller redfin being reported, most have been bigger types around the 30-35cm mark and I think the reduction of smaller fish being caught is due to the larger number of native fish. With the cod season being closed, switching to smaller plastics and hardbodies is your best option if you’re looking to target redfin and yellowbelly. WARANGA BASIN The basin can be a tough place to fish in the spring as the wind conditions usually pick up. If you can’t get a day without wind I would suggest

The author caught this decent reddy recently. picking the ramp closest to where the wind is blowing to. The direction where the wind is blowing towards can create some opportunities in the spring with the wash smashing the bank. It creates a feed area for all types of baitfish and larger fish. It can sometimes be difficult to fish these areas but I have found at the Basin fishing the wash side works best, especially if it’s on a rise. There will now be some grass banks around the edges and hopefully we see a good rise in the spring, so targeting these flats will also produce a good number of fish. If you’re chasing fish in deeper water, I have had some success using lures that are used mostly to target bass, these are the Hot Bite Jets Tail Spinners and the G2 Gangbangers. Both lures work

well on a slow retrieve along the bottom and as they’re 18-21g they cast a mile, which allows you to cover more water. Chasing redfin with bass techniques can work very well and there is so many good articles and videos on most bass pages on Facebook. GREENS LAKE There is always anticipation regarding water rising at Greens Lake. This is due to the crazy fishing that you get on the rise out there with 15-20 fish in a session not uncommon. The days either side of the rise they go back to their normal feeding patterns, so if you do hear about the rise get out there ASAP. When I wrote this report there had been no rise so hopefully we’ll see the yearly rise soon.

No cod for a while NAGAMBIE

Daniel Brady

The fishing in Nagambie has been steady to say the least. Good numbers of cod were being caught and some anglers are scoring some pleasantly surprising by-catch. The Goulburn is currently sitting at

9°C and has been flowing steadily for some time now. With steady water flow the fishing was good up until closing weekend. Some steady reports came through over the last few weeks from Mitchellstown to bridge, and everywhere in between! MITCHELLSTOWN I managed to sneak down to Mitchellstown on a

The author with a nice Murray cod up near Mitchellstown. 84

SEPTEMBER 2018

Thursday morning and had the whole river to myself. I started fishing at the bridge and slowly worked my way up stream, fishing both shallow edges and some deep holes. Throwing Another Lure Company spinnerbaits in bright colours I was rewarded with two nice Murray cod. Both fish were around 60cm in length and caught in about 4ft off water. Later in the afternoon I moved down towards Mitchellstown winery and landed another healthy 70cm Murray cod, this time on a diving hardbody. I fished until two hours after dark, trying my luck with surface lures to no avail. I didn’t manage any monsters – but with three nice fish on lures I think it was a great day fishing. KIRWANS BRIDGE Young local guru Sunny Brislin Martins has been getting amongst the action around the Kirwans bridge area. Fishing out of his kayak and slowly working his way upstream from the bridge, Sunny managed to land a cracking 61cm Murray cod on a Kuttafurra Mudhoney. Fishing in 20ft of water the fish was quickly landed and after a few photos was

Sunny with a beautiful looking fish from the Kirwans bridge area. safely returned to the water. Not one to go admit defeat, Sunny fished a few days later in the same area and this time landed a 64cm Murray cod off the top. The fish was caught on the surface in 25ft of water. Sunny reported the fish hit the lure six times before hooking up. This goes to show how aggressive these little tanks can be at times! A couple of keen bait anglers have reported catching some good size cod around the 70cm mark with the odd yellowbelly mixed in all off the bank around the bridge area. The most successful bait was yabbies with their claws ripped off!

LAKE NAGAMBIE The lake itself has been fishing solidly for both bait and lure anglers. It’s a personal favourite of mine as this time of year it’s so peaceful and quiet on the water. Redfin seem to be most prolific around the lakes edges. The humble worm is accounting for its far share of numbers. A small number of cod and the odd yellowbelly have been caught right around the caravan park. Slow trolling Oar-Gee divers in 3-5ft has given the best results. MURRAY CRAYFISH Keen anglers who were devoting some hard-earned

time were being rewarded with a few good crays. The key was finding new water and checking nets regularly. Finding holes around 30ft deep yielded some cracking results. Remember that the season is now closed on these precious species and fisheries patrol the region heavily this time of the year. The fishing can be tough at this time of year, but rest-assured, there;s still options there. If you’re keen to put in the hard-yards, there is some quality fish to be caught. See you on the water!

Golden times ahead BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

The trend of below average rainfall is continuing in the Bendigo region at this stage. The southern catchment areas around Kyneton and Malmsbury are now getting saturated, but so far the run-off has been minimal. More significant rainfall is needed over the next couple of months if we are going to see any good rises in water levels in our local impoundments. During September we will start to see water temperatures increasing and fish activity will slowly improve. LAKE EPPALOCK Water levels have still been slowly dropping over the last few weeks. We should hopefully see this trend stop and water levels should start to increase during this month. How much the water levels increase is going to depend on the amount of rainfall the southern catchments areas receive. At this stage redfin are continuing to make up the majority of anglers captures. There are only a small amount of anglers who are currently

fishing Lake Eppalock. The majority of redfin are still being caught in deep water. The most productive depth ranges have been between 10-18m of water. Finding a good concentration of redfin has not been easy, but if you do find them some quality redfin have been landed up to 1kg. The most productive techniques for the redfin have been casting soft plastics and jigging with ice jigs. For those anglers targeting the redfin with bait small yabbies have been working the best. Those anglers targeting the trout have been producing small numbers. The most productive techniques have been trolling winged lures and small hardbodied lures. Trout weighing up to 1kg have been landed. Recently the number of golden perch being caught has been very low. We should see an increase in the numbers of golden perch being caught by the end of the month when the increase in water temperatures start to see the fish become more active. I am predicting that we should see a good improvement in the numbers of golden perch being caught later this season. CAMPASPE RIVER The fishing has continued

to be slow in the Campaspe River over the last few weeks. The water clarity is still good and the conditions should remain that way for the short term at least. Small numbers of redfin and the very occasional golden perch have been caught by anglers. The most productive lures for the redfin have been bladed spinners, soft plastics and small hardbodied lures. The most productive areas for the redfin continue to be along cumbungi-lined banks and along the edges of weed beds. The numbers of golden perch being caught is currently very low, but by the end of September we should start to see an improvement in the catch rates of golden perch as water temperatures increase and the fish become more active. Please remember the closed season for Murray cod, which is from the 1 September to the end of November, and the season reopens on the 1 December. If you do accidently catch a Murray cod during closed season, it must be released unharmed as soon as possible. CAIRN CURRAN Water clarity still remains below average at Cairn Curran, and the water levels have still

The rising water temperatures at the end of September will see an increase in the numbers of golden perch being caught in the Bendigo region. been slowly. Hopefully by the end of September we will start to see water levels starting to increase again. The amount of anglers fishing continues to be low. Redfin are the main species being caught by anglers at the present time. Bait fishing with yabbies and worms has been the best option for the redfin. Some anglers fishing with soft plastics and ice jigs have also caught small numbers of redfin. The numbers of golden perch being caught has been very low. We should see an improvement in the numbers of golden perch being caught

by the end of this month. LODDON RIVER The productivity in the fishing has been low in the Loddon River. The occasional quality Murray cod was caught during August, and the majority of these were caught on swimbaits and large hardbodied lures. Now we are in closed season for the Murray cod, the focus will change to the resident golden perch population. There’s currently not a lot of golden perch being caught, but by the end of the month when water temperatures increase we should start to see a good improvement

in the numbers. While the water temperatures are cool I recommend using hardbodied lures and lipless crankbaits without rattles. These options often can be more productive at this time of the year. Hardbody lures that suspend are great options at this time of the year as well. Water clarity is still patchy at the Loddon River. The amount of rainfall the region receives and the volumes of water being being released from Cairn Curran and Laanecoorie reservoirs will be the major factors that determine what happens with the water clarity.

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New season begins and it’s goin’ to be a cracker BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Anglers are full of optimism – another trout season has begun and it’s a cracker. Hopefully we receive aboveaverage spring rains to top up our waterways; this will compliment the fish stockings by the Victorian Fisheries Authority that have taken place as part of their Target One Million Campaign over the past few years. I believe we as anglers are in the best position that we have been for many years, as we fire up for a cracker year with plenty of trout waiting to be caught. The Ballarat and Central Highlands Region of Victoria is no different to the rest of the state with plenty of fish waiting to be caught. With rising water levels the trout will come out of their winter breeding and slumber mode and move in around

the flooded margins of our lakes and reservoirs to feed freely on worms, grubs and other aquatic morsels that move into the shallows as part of their life cycles as well. Now’s the best time of the year for anglers who chase trout. Tullaroop Reservoir continues to be one of our best fisheries in the district as it has been for the past few months. Rainbow and brown trout averaging around the 1.5kg mark have been caught casting lures, soft plastics, fishing a mudeye under a bubble float, a bunch of worms on the bottom and by casting flies. I have been flyfishing the lake’s margins with excellent results. Brightly-coloured fly patterns like pink Woolly Buggers bring some lovely browns and rainbow trout undone. At Tullaroop the fishing will only get better as the water levels rise. The trout will cruise in around

the edges in search of newly flooded-out food. All angling methods will bring these trout undone. Lake Wendouree has certainly been quiet over the cooler months; it’s a case of anglers not hitting it like a few months ago. Icy days have meant a lot of anglers have stayed home in the warmth of the lounge room waiting for the warmer weather. Visiting angler to Ballarat Michael Geary has braved the elements and been rewarded for his efforts. Michael has been casting soft plastics land-based, which works very well early in the season, landing some lovely

The author brought this beautifully marked brown trout of 55cm undone on Lake Wendouree casting an Ecogear Power Shad soft plastic.

Visiting angler Michael Geary nailed this golden brown trout land-based on an Ecogear Spoon Tail Shad soft plastic. Photo courtesy of Ben Young.

Alan Grieg landed these lovely rainbow trout on PowerBait while fishing Lake Bolac recently. Photo courtesy of Ben Young.

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brown trout on Ecogear Power Shad soft plastics. The shore-based anglers will continue to catch plenty of trout over the next couple of months as the trout start to feed up once again. Whether you fish bait, fly or lure, Wendouree will produce the goods. For those anglers who fish out of boats the main rowing channel, islands and tall weed beds will be the areas to target with mudeyes under floats, while casting plastics or lures. For flyfishers the same areas will also be productive. I targeted the main rowing channel recently with soft plastics on a freezing cold Ballarat day with excellent results landing a magnificently golden coloured brown trout of 55cm on an Ecogear Power Shad soft plastic. I also had a couple of other missed opportunities as well. This is a sign of times to come I hope. Lake Bolac continues

to produce a few rainbow trout. Patience is the key to catching these trout at Bolac. The fishing hasn’t fired up as much as us anglers would have liked. Early indications were that it was going to be de ja vu from last year, but that’s not the case at the

moment. We can only hold our breath that things turn around and they fire up. For those anglers like Alan Grieg who have put in the hard yards and spent quite a few hours waiting for the trout to come and bite, PowerBait, salted white

or blue bait or pilchard fillets have been rewarded with some lovely rainbows ranging in size from 1.5-3kg. At Moorabool Reservoir the fishing has been patchy. Plenty of anglers have been hitting the shores of the reservoir, with the fish being on the chew one day and not a bite on the next, but hey, that’s fishing. I expect that over the coming months that Moorabool will be one of our best fisheries in the district. The reservoir has been heavily stocked by Victorian Fisheries, and with water levels rising the fishing will only fire up. One of the best aspects of Moorabool is that it caters for all land-based angling methods; you just need to be prepared to walk to its expansive shorelines. At Newlyn Reservoir the water level has slowly started to rise over new ground and the fish have started to move in with the rising levels; these fish feed freely in the shallows with first light, evenings and overcast days being the best days and times to fish. For the lure fishers I suggest surface or very shallow diving lures or spoons work the best. For the flyfishers Woolly Buggers in olive colour or a Hamills Killer works well early in the season. For the bait angler no one can go past a mudeye suspended under a float.

The author nailed this beautiful Tullaroop Reservoir brown trout on a pink Woolly Bugger fly.

Filling lakes a joy for anxious southern anglers CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

Late July and well into August saw some more decent rainfall in the South West. Shallow crater lakes such as Elingamite, Tooliorook and Bolac filled once again. Small boat owners now have no trouble whatsoever in the launching and retrieving of their craft. Lake Bolac has seen some excellent, fat rainbow trout well in excess of 2kg come out of the lake. Flat line trolling shallow diving minnow lures almost anywhere has seen quite a few fish landed. Those bank fishing have had success, with many just fishing in and around the yacht club using galaxias, PowerBait and mudeyes, with all baits fished under a float. Lake Tooliorook is a bit of a hit and miss affair, but those who are connecting up with both browns and rainbows are finding

Besides a 2lb rainbow that was released, these four reddies including the 1.1kg fish in the foreground were invited home for dinner. All were taken trolling minnow lures on Lake Elingamite. themselves in a real tussle, as fish exceeding 3kg are about and on the prowl. Again, flat line trolling medium to deep divers is the go. The weed has dissipated due to the cold and will take some months to thicken up again and become a nuisance. My

guess is that this will happen about mid summer. Fly anglers really love this lake, as cruising trout in the shallows are a viable target and a sinking leader can now be employed due to the lack of weed in the shallows. Plenty of flies

are working well, including the Red Rag, but many are sticking with the famous BMS Specials, and why not? They were designed by a local, the late Muzz Wilson, to maximize trout captures in South West Victorian lakes. Lake Elingamite’s water

levels are slowly rising and approaching 50cm depth at the ramp. Locals along with trout aficionados from further afield are travelling down to the lake chasing both browns and rainbows around 2kg+, and also some excellent 1kg+ redfin. Trolling and casting lures and plastics remain the most popular methods employed here. Personally, I cannot wait for the new ramps and pontoons to be installed at Lake Purrumbete. Not only will congestion be reduced boating wise, but more non-boater angler access will be available, especially for those who may be infirm, disabled or don’t have access to a boat. Thanks to funds raised through the fishing licensing scheme, this is about to take place! It was good to see the jetty and pontoon work that was much needed at Bullen Merri happen at a great speed of knots. At one stage the foreshore committee and council where going to close the whole thing down

due to the steepness of the ramps due to receding water levels causing the odd person to slip. This lake attracts many anglers from well outside our jurisdiction and to close the whole operation down would have been a travesty. Due to many concerned people including myself, we all quickly raised public awareness about this potential travesty and funds were soon found to rectify the situation. In saying that, I would personally like to thank Rex Hunt (whom I contacted) for using his punch in the piscatorial world with various bodies such as VFish to get this out into the wider community and make more anglers aware so something could be done. And thankfully it was. Thanks Rex and to all the other concerned anglers and angler bodies. The jetties and pontoons at south beach are now up to scratch for all those anglers and boaters to enjoy once again.

The mighty Murray cod season wraps up HORSHAM

James Perry Instagram: @James_Perry_Outdoors

Spring is here and that’s a wrap for the mighty Murray cod season, but don’t despair – the greater Wimmera region offers plenty of

about after the rain too. These quick shifts and weather have been the key to my September success on most species within the region. The Wimmera River is typically set to fire up from this time onwards, with each day getting better as the sun hangs about longer. Work your lures tight into

more success recently than floating them from the top. The best locations along the river will be the sections that are harder to access. Strap on your hiking boots and get out of town a bit. Horseshoe Bend at Little Desert would be a great starting point for a day’s adventure. Lake Fyans has really picked up over the last month with some solid redfin being caught along the weed beds close to the shore. If you’re land-based spinning, look to lures that will cast a long way. The ever-reliable Tassie Devil, Paco Spoon or a larger Celta will be a sure bet to cast a mile into the wind. Even a heavily-weighted soft plastic is a versatile option in the shallows. If you’re out in the boat,

throw the drogue over the side and slow your drift down. Bobbing plastics while keeping an eye on the sounder for sharp drops in the weeds and sandy patches will help keep you motivated until you find a few redfin. While it may be a bit early in the year for the yabbies to come out, it’s always worth a cast around the yabby flats at the caravan park end of the lake. Mix it up by casting some larger hardbody lures like the Jackall Colt Minnow and the Woolley Crash Morsel, as more than a few big trout have been claimed on these flats over the last year. With they water typically quite clear, more natural colours and silvers will be a smart choice when Sam Cameron nailed this slab of a rainbow with the ever-reliable spotted dog.

Gage Wright with a fat Toolondo redfin. options all year round and September is no exception. With the shift in weather there is also a stirring of activity in the water. While the water is still cold enough for the big lake trout to be active and aggressive, it’s just warm enough to get the yellowbelly on the move. September has proven to be one of the best months for me over the last few years. As the days begin to warm up, aim to fish before a storm rolls through and don’t be afraid to hang

the banks and target root balls and undercut banks. Dark coloured spinnerbaits with black or gold blades have proven to be the best bet to strike success along. These are reasonably snagresistant too. If you cover enough ground, you should find yourself an inquisitive yellowbelly along with the odd redfin. For the bait fishos, don’t be surprised if you come across a catfish or two when drowning a few worms of an afternoon. Bait fishing these on the bottom has had

Jason Meehan has been busy working the Lake Fyans’ shoreline with great rewards.

tying on a lure. Bait fishing off the wall is a solid option to find a few redfin and pass some time in the sun. Worms floated from the top will put you in the zone to find a few redfin basking in the warmer surface water around the trees. Lake Toolondo has been a bit hit and miss lately, but the guys that call this lake home have continued to prove there are plenty of solid offerings to be caught. Just don’t expect them to come easy if you aren’t familiar with this mighty lake. Your best bet is to hook up with a local and learn

from them. Otherwise, bring your best weedless rigs and keep casting. Make sure you have a few bent minnows in your box along with a few weedless rigged plastics. Keep your boat noise to a minimum and just keep casting. As the month warms I expect to see larger schools of redfin become active on most of the lakes. Wartook is always a dark horse and well worth the time if you want to get away from the fair weather fishos that will start to emerge over the coming weeks. SEPTEMBER 2018

Trout, trout, and more trout! BONNIE DOON

Daniel Brady

This time of year brings out the most picturesque views of Eildon – frosty mornings, blue skies, and the chance to catch a cracking cod or trout. The water temperature is right down and this has brought the trout right up on the bite! The northern end of the lake is now sitting around the 9°C mark and is expected to hover there until the snow starts to melt. Talk on the water is all about the trout bite. With best results being on the humble Tassie Devil, some anglers are mixing it up and getting some nice catches. DELATITE ARM With the lake sitting at about 55%, the Delatite arm has been the pick of spots.

Many have been focusing on trout and Murray cod, and the steep rock walls have been producing some cracking results. Local gun and trout guru Joel Gibson reports that the trout have been on fire during the late afternoon. Slow trolling Tassie Devils in luminescent green and white has lead to his best captures. He also noted that his best captures have been caught less then 10ft behind the boat. FORD INLET Like last month, the trout have been actively feeding around the timber at first light. I’ve had reports from anglers who are doing the same as I was last month. Using light spin outfits the boys have caught numerous trout on small grubs and even had a few redfin mixed it with the trout. ZMan GrubZ in 2” on

a 1/12oz jighead gave the boys their best fish. MAIN ARM Good mate and gun angler Jamie Smith from Melbourne Marine Centre fished the main arm with his dad Greg and had a successful day on the water. Flatlining Tassie Devils in spotted dog and purple haze the boys put a few trout on the table. Jamie reported spotted dog was the standout lure and all fish were caught flatlining. Fishing their way down to stockyard bay, the fish came from all over. They got most of their fish in 20ft of water. COD The cod are currently living up to their reputation as the fish of 1000 casts! The ones that have come in are good fish. Not huge numbers, but most have been over 80cm. If you want to

Jamie Smith from Melbourne Marine Centre with a nice brown trout.

NEW

give it a crack, I suggest now is the best time to try for that magical metery! Throwing bigger lures like swimbaits or hardbodys up to 20cm would be my advice. Fishing lake Eildon at the moment is as beautiful as it gets. Snow-capped hills and trout on the chew! So get out there and give it a crack! And don’t give up! Tight lines!

Water levels rise again The lake’s management has stopped draining the lake to make power and for irrigation or agricultural industries. Our beautiful

water, so we tend to cast into the area of hard-running water and around that vicinity – about half the time you will succeed. On two trips this year I have had blank trips. It’s hard to digest. This is what makes us want to go out time and time again.

and this gives you a greater chance of success. Trout are still taking flat lined Tassie Devils near Big River mouth. The Delitite and Boonie Doon areas are worth a try for those early season yellowbelly; these fish will be the

Lake Eildon is back on the rise and I have noticed that the fish need time to settle into new grounds on my recent trips. As fishers we all love to think we can predict the locations of feeding fish. Unlike a trout stream or river the fish love oxygenated

With the lake water level increasing by the hour I would start searching the edges. While doing this it would be a good idea to find a heavily timbered area and get out and walk the banks. When you’re walking the banks you have a different perspective to what you see from your boat,

more frequent catches in September. I’m sure the cod are on everyone’s score card for the warmer months. Hopefully the snow melt will open up new fresh feeding grounds for the bigger aggressive brown trout. Until next time, stay safe on the water.

EILDON

Daniel Piazza

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Pondage anglers loving the latest trout stocking EILDON RIVERS

Gary Constantine

Victorian Fisheries has been busy lately stocking various areas of the Goulburn River with 10,000 brown trout between 45-55g. With recent environmental flows ruining the chances of brown trout naturally spawning in the Goulburn River, this season the releases are greatly appreciated by anglers. Eildon Pondage has also received a healthy boost with over 5000 rainbow trout ready to catch or around the 190g mark and 83 ex-brood stock rainbows up to 4kg. Over the last 12 months Fisheries

has produced and released well over a million trout into Victorian waterways. With the rivers due to reopen on 1 September the local rivers are all flowing at a very moderate level for anglers. Add accessibility and their condition and it will prove to be a very productive opening. Eildon Pondage was still averaging water levels between 50-70% on most days recently and many of the smaller rainbow trout are being caught in the shallower areas. Some anglers dislike the smaller trout, but they do have a tendency to stir up the larger ones that have been in the pondage longer, and many new and young anglers have a great time just landing

a trout. The bridge area and the rear of the Eildon Pondage Caravan Park have been the hotspots recently with anglers doing well on PowerBait in the lime twist, salmon egg, chunky cheese, and the rainbow nuggets. Several rainbow trout around the 2.5lb mark have been caught. The local dough is always worth using, especially with the new releases. The Wonder Krocs and pink Tassie Devils are also working along Bourke Street, the gate access, Cemetery Point and near the floating pontoon. If you happen to hit the pondage when it is on the fill, Riverside Drive is certainly an area well worth hitting with the small hardbodies

and bladed Celta type lures as well. For the fly flickers Nursery Corner and Cemetery Point (when the water is a little on the low side) are still the best areas to target using the caddis, spider mudeye and Woolly Bugger patterns. Don’t forget the Goulburn Fish Festival on Saturday on 1 September. There will be tours of the Snobs Creek Fish Hatchery, fishing clinics for those new to angling and of course the kids, plenty of prizes and giveaways. Rex Hunt will be a guest speaker and professional chefs will be showcasing how to prepare and cook your catch. All festivities wrap up after a spectacular fireworks display over the pondage at 7pm.

Joseph caught this decent rainbow on a Mardi Gras Tassie Devil at Bourke Street on the Eildon Pondage.

Spawning season makes for great fishing MELBOURNE METRO

Dylan Brennan

While we haven’t quite shaken the grips of winter, once September rolls in a warmth creeps

through with every week. Football finals finish up at the end of the month and the days are already starting to get a bit longer. Most importantly, trout season for the streams

Lure-angler Tommy with a nice rainbow trout from one of the fishing platforms at Devilbend.

SEASON

and rivers is back on the cards. If spinning the streams for trout is your thing then get up to the Yarra, up around Warburton. As soon as the trout season opens up the river is worth a look. While there is normally a bit of water pushing downstream during early spring the trout can be ready to ambush. Concentrate your efforts around the backwaters and slower moving sections out of the main flow. This way you can fish your bait or lure without having it anchored down or swept away into the current. For the lure casters, spotted dog or spawning trout patterns are still good options as some trout will still be finishing up their spawn and aggressive towards rival fish. If your lure choices have a bit of black, orange and gold in the colour mix then they will work great – the dark colours will cut through the murk of the river and provide a good silhouette for the trout to focus on, and also imitate a small trout or galaxias. Not far from the river, Sugarloaf Reservoir has started to slowly creep into gear for both redfin and

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on

golden perch; how mild this month is will dictate how active the golden perch will be. While the fish are still very tentative and timid towards artificial offerings the first spike in water temperature normally brings the goldens into feeding mode. If we get some mild, sunny days they’ll definitely be worth a shot. If you’re planning on checking out Sugarloaf, make sure to visit during park hours and use artificial bait and lures only. Devilbend Reservoir will start producing a few more quality trout for anglers working their way

around the lake’s shoreline. Extensive weed-beds run around most of the edge, and while they can be tricky to fish around, there are a few good locations and platforms to get around the thick vegetation. Most of the time there are some good trout moving around the weedbeds, and they will normally make short work of any lure fished through the weeds. All the food items that the trout need are around these weed-beds and include small shrimp, aquatic insects and forage fish. By using lures that imitate these food items you

will tempt a few hungry trout. Soft plastics are a very good option here as they can be modified to suit the conditions and temperament of the fish. Early and late during the day are the best times to target these trout as they cruise around higher in the water looking for food. • For any of the latest metro reports and information, pop into Compleat Angler Dandenong at 241-243 Princes Highway, Dandenong, give us a call on 03 9794 9397 or jump on to the ‘Melbourne Metro Freshwater Fishing’ page on Facebook.

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Listen on 5am-6am Every Saturday SEPTEMBER 2018

Stream trout season opens in September WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

The opening of the stream trout season on 1 September will see a burst of angler activity again on the streams throughout the West and South Gippsland regions. The streams have been flowing well but a lack of winter rainfall means the catchments won’t be at capacity and stream flows will slow over the spring and summer seasons. It will be vital for the longevity of stream trout populations that anglers practice catch and release. Blue Rock Lake was slow to rise over winter but levels should continue to increase as snow melts off Mt Baw Baw. The main tributary feeding Blue Rock is the Tanjil River, which begins at the foothills of the peak of Mt Baw Baw. Despite the lack of rainfall, streams will still be abuzz with aquatic life and some much-needed spring rainfall mixed with warm weather will bring on the insect hatchings, so the best time to head out will

be around the barometer drop or rise. Bead headed nymphs work well in spring and if you notice a bit of surface action about, use a dry fly as a strike indicator to increase your chances. The Toorongo River is a must fish destination for fly anglers over the coming months. There are plenty of small rainbow and brown trout about looking for a feed. It’s an ideal flyfishing river with plenty of open water meandering through farmland for most parts and has plenty of good pools and slow runs to cast a fly in. There are plenty of other small streams to explore in the region including Loch Creek and the Latrobe River, so there’s lot of area to explore in the Noojee area. Lure anglers will have a lot of fun chasing stream trout too. The most popular lures for targeting stream trout in the Latrobe, Tanjil, Tarago, Bunyip and Lang Lang rivers are small spinners, floating minnow hardbodies and wriggler tail soft plastics on a light jighead. Small 1-2” lures work best, as they’re not

cumbersome in the water and will attract small and larger fish. Waders aren’t a necessity when fishing most of the streams in West and South Gippsland, but they can be advantageous for particular fishing techniques and are handy for certain areas where bank access is limited or non-existent. It’s very much a case of exploring and seeing how far you can get on the bank; having waders will open up more fishing ground and allow you to reach some of those locations that other anglers can’t get to. Blue Rock in September is worth a visit for boat, kayak and land-based anglers. The water is still cool and trout are actively feeding off the surface where wind currents create bait trails for hungry fish to feed off. Troll winged lures, spinner-blades and minnowstyle lures along these wind trails for more success. Fly anglers can also have a bit of fun from the boat or sturdy kayak/canoe casting into these wind trails. Amongst the trout feeding on the surface will be the distinguishable orange lips

Tom Williamson landed this feisty brown trout trolling Blue Rock recently. The lure of choice was the trusty Tassie Devil flat-line trolled amongst the sticks. Many trout over winter were really healthy, which is a good sign for Blue Rock. of the carp, which are a lot of fun out in the deep water once they’ve taken the hook. Please remember the

river blackfish season closes on 1 September through until 31 December. If you have any reports,

questions or photos from the opening of the stream trout season, please don’t hesitate to email me.

FISHING NEWS

Illegal netting fines Two East Gippsland men have been found guilty, fined a total sum of $17,356.64 and had a vessel, motor vehicle and other equipment forfeited in relation to illegal netting in the Gippsland Lakes. Senior Fisheries Officer Matt Bateson said a Lakes Entrance man pleaded guilty on 25 January in the Bairnsdale Magistrates Court to multiple charges relating to taking fish for sale, using commercial fishing equipment and obtaining financial advantage by deception. The second man from Nowa Nowa pleaded guilty

on 31 May in the Bairnsdale Magistrates Court also to multiple charges relating to taking fish for sale, using commercial fishing equipment and obtaining financial advantage by deception. Mr Bateson said the court heard the men colluded to gain a financial advantage by deception by posing as legitimate licensed commercial fishermen and consigning their illegal catch for sale in Melbourne. In total, the pair made $11,356.64 from the 3,852.5kg of fish they sold. The pair were convicted and each ordered to pay a pecuniary order of $5678.32, as well as a further $3,000

each. The pair also had various commercial nets and equipment forfeited including a motor vehicle, vessel with outboard motor and trailer, another trailer and scales. Mr Bateson said the result showed that the courts are taking illegal netting very seriously. “This crime has an impact on the environment as well as commercial and recreational fisheries who share the resources of the Gippsland Lakes.” Anyone with information relating to illegal fishing is encouraged to ring the illegal fishing reporting number on 13FISH (133 474). – Fisheries Victoria

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Alex McCormick caught this 50cm yellowbelly during a family holiday to Mildura. It was caught while trolling a size 2 StumpJumper. The fish was released unharmed.

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Keysborough Angling Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beach trip This month Keysborough Angling Club members travelled to Woodside on the 90 Mile Beach, not only for a surf but for the last trip of our angling season.

Both days we could not have asked for better weather. we enjoyed blue skies, good seas and even the dolphins enjoyed swimming past us. The fishing was extremely

good on the weekend, with most of our members fishing Woodside Beach to the right of the Life Saving Club. On Sunday one of our members fished Reaves Beach and he

Left and Above: Keysborough Angling Club on the last trip of their angling season did very well. On Saturday, 65 salmon were caught for a total of 36.6kg, and on Sunday a massive 90 salmon were weighed in at 41.7kg. Notable catches inluded:

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Mark Watson with a 1.51kg; John May and Norm Bull with 1.48kg; Mick Webber with 1.39kg; as well as other good fish weighing in at 910g; 990g; 1.03kg; and 1.15kg.

We look forward to our presentation evening in a couple of weeks and then back to a new angling season of estuary, freshwater, saltwater and surf fishing. Helen Simester

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2018

OCTOBER

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13-14 Oct

Round 7 Hobie Kayak Bream Series

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27 Oct

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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. 92

SEPTEMBER 2018

Peninsula Snapper Challenge The Peninsula Snapper Challenge, Western Port and Port Phillip Bays only snapper fishing competition with a catch and release option, is on again in 2018. Brought to

November entrants will meet at the Frankston Bombers Football Netball Club, which is just 15 minutes from Mornington, Frankston, Hastings and Patterson River boat ramps. This is where

trophies will be presented and prizes given away. Peninsula Snapper Challenge entrants will compete for trophies awarded for the longest snapper in the open, kayak

The 2017 open trophy winners. you by the Cripps Family Fish Farm, the challenge this year will be held over nine days to give everyone the chance to fish for the trophies, have fun with family and friends, and win some of the great prizes on offer. From 3-11 November, Peninsula Snapper Challenge anglers can fish either bay and submit captured snapper using a smartphone photo of the fish placed on a measuring device and displaying the daily code word. After the photo, the angler then has the option to release the fish to sustain our snapper stocks. At 2pm on Sunday 11

and junior divisions. Each and every entrant, regardless of fishing success, will be in the draw to win one of the great lucky draw prizes. Up for grabs will be a $2500 Tackleworld shopping spree, Humminbird Helix Mega Imaging combo unit, BLA drum anchor winch, quality Shimano outfits like the Stella, Stradic and Spheros reels matched with Dialuna, Revolution and Terez rods, Spotters sunglasses by Karingal Optical and a pirate’s booty of additional prizes. All of these prizes will be given away in a lucky draw format giving every entrant an equal chance to win. Last year 1 in 5 entrants took home prizes. Every junior Peninsula Snapper Challenge entrant

will receive a Wilson rod and reel package as well as a gift voucher to the Cripps Family Fish Farm in Baxter where they can tangle with brown and rainbow trout or barramundi. Whether it is fishing for glory or fun, the Peninsula Snapper Challenge offers the community a fishing competition experience that is fun, safe and promotes sustainable fishing. Combine that with the opportunity

to win top quality prizes, specifically chosen for local angling, and you have Melbourne’s premier snapper fishing event. Follow the Peninsula Snapper Challenge on Facebook or visit www.peninsula snapperchallenge.com. Further details and media opportunities are available from David Glennie 0412 441 074 or k_optical@bigpond.com. David Glennie

David with an 87cm snapper.

FISHING NEWS

Glenroy man charged with undersize snapper A 65-year-old man from Glenroy recently appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court charged with taking undersize fish from the Geelong area earlier this year. Acting Regional Manager Operations, David Burgess said Fisheries Officers originally inspected the man early in the evening and found him in possession of eight undersize snapper and one undersize bream, which ranged in size from 19.8 to 25.9cm. The minimum size for snapper and bream is 28cm. “After he was interviewed the man returned to fishing and was later inspected again and found in possession of another undersize snapper.” Mr Burgess said the Court was told the man had a record of 10 previous accounts of prior conduct relating to taking undersize fish and other fisheries offences stretching back to 2008. He said as part of the submission to the court the Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) requested that the presiding Magistrate impose

a prohibition order on the man to stop him from fishing. After a plea of guilty the man was fined $1,000 and $193 costs and prohibited from recreational fishing for two months. Mr Burgess said however, much to the surprise of Fisheries Officers, the man was caught allegedly recreationally fishing the very next day at Cunningham Pier. As a result, his fishing rods were seized and he will be charged on summons in relation to breaching a prohibition order under section 130AA of the Fisheries Act. Mr Burgess said it is disappointing to see some people have such disregard for the State’s fishing rules, which are in place to ensure our fisheries are managed sustainably. Anyone with information relating to illegal fishing is encouraged to ring the illegal fishing reporting number on 13FISH (133474), anytime. DUO ARRESTED FOR ABALONE TRAFFICKING Fisheries Investigators

arrested a man and woman in St Albans following the execution of a search warrant with Victoria Police as part of a four-month investigation into the illegal trafficking of abalone and rock lobster. Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) Acting Supervising Investigator, Peter Watson, said the search of a St Albans house allegedly detected 175 shucked abalone. An additional commercial quantity, greater than 100 abalone, were earlier seized during the investigation. “The man and woman, aged 28 and 33, were taken to the Sunshine police station for questioning and charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of abalone, which is a priority species in Victoria,” Mr Watson said. “The pair were bailed to appear at a later date in the Sunshine Magistrates Court and face maximum penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment. “During the search warrant, Fisheries Officers seized commercial quantities of abalone, lobster tails, measuring scales and a quantity of cash.”

Mr Watson said the VFA will allege the pair used social media to facilitate the illegal sale of abalone and lobster. “Our Intelligence Officers conduct routine monitoring of multiple social media platforms, and in this case, discovered a significant number of individual posts listing abalone for sale. “Unauthorised taking and selling of this priority species threatens the sustainability of the fishery and jeopardises legitimate take by recreational and commercial fishers. “The VFA will continue to detect, disrupt and dismantle organised illegal fishing activity as a priority. “Investigators and Fisheries Officers are dedicated to exploring all avenues and technology to investigate offences and protect our fisheries resources.” Anyone who sees or suspects illegal fishing, including the unauthorised sale of recreationally caught fish and shellfish, can report it to our 24-hour reporting line 13FISH (133 474). – Fisheries Victoria

Round 5 OCTOBER

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• Central VIC Pro Series • Central VIC Lure Casters Super Series For more information contact David Nelson 0418 378 944 roundy@cvlcss.com • www.cvlcss.com SEPTEMBER 2018

BLACK MAGIC

MASTER CLASS

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

Using Black Magic hooks for mulloway

Hook choice for mulloway can be a very contentious issue amongst anglers. While some swear by circles others strongly argue over a single or double snelled J hook and that’s before we even get into hook sizes. A good reason for the number of mulloway hook opinions is that these fish are caught in a range of habitats and vastly different conditions. The

for another. Things like swell, current, water depth, the size and type of bait as well as the target size of the fish all play a part in determining which hook you should be using. CIRCLES When circle hooks are used incorrectly they provide a woeful hook-up rate, however when used in the right situation by someone who understands how they work they become lethal. The first thing to get right

mouth. Instead of striking, slowly lift up your rod tip until you have weight. This allows the circle hook the time it needs to set into the corner of jaw and then once the fish starts pulling a bit of string you can begin a normal a fight sequence. A softer tip rod that locks up with plenty of grunt in the middle section is also beneficial for circle hooks as it aids the gradual increase in pressure, helping the hook to roll into place. With the

C Points work best from the beaches.

Hook placement and choice for mulloway are the keys to high hook-up rates. truth is there are a range of different factors that influence what hook will work best on mulloway and one that works great for one situation will often perform poorly

currents around bridges and rockwalls. Hook placement is also very important when using circles. When fishing under the boat it’s best to lightly pin the live bait just behind the shoulder and when using them in strong current situations place the hook through the cartilage in front of the eyes. By far the best circle hook I’ve used for mulloway is the Black

fish on one yet! J HOOKS J hooks work best on mulloway in situations

smaller baits starting with large beach worms I prefer a 5/0 Black Magic DX hook. When rigging these,

with circle hooks regardless of what you fish for is to resist the natural reaction to strike when your bait is taken. Striking a fish with circle hooks will usually pull the bait straight out of their A single J hook for smaller live baits works best.

The size of the fish you’re targeting can be factored in when choosing the right hook.

Top: This is always a dissappointing sight – the tell tail signs of a mulloway bite. Above: Just how sharp BM C Points are – These C Points missed the mouth on strike but still penetrated through the scales resulting in one very unlucky 22kg beach mulloway. 94

SEPTEMBER 2018

right rod many anglers also swear by letting the fish hook themselves when using circles and simply leave it in the holder and wait for the rod to buckle over. Circles work best when using live baits in scenarios where the line is always taut. Fishing straight under the boat in areas like deep water estuary drop-offs and holes or on the offshore reefs are good examples of this as is fishing in strong

Magic KL pattern in an 8/0. The best thing about these is it doesn’t matter if it’s a soapy or a 50lb fish; they always seem to find that corner of the jaw regardless of bait size too. Black Magic are also releasing a new circle to the market modelled off the KL design, but with a Teflon coating. I managed to get my hands on a few to test and these are going to be deadly. I haven’t dropped a

where there is often slack in the line like surf fishing and casting out weighted baits where there isn’t too much current flow. Fish in these parts will often fumble around with the bait or take the bait and move towards you, creating slack line. In these situations you may need to wind up slack line before striking or time your strike for when a fish is playing with the bait. For this reason circles can often result in missed bites and J hooks are far more effective. One major difference between circles and Js on mulloway is with circles a single Black Magic KL hook in size 8/0 will cover all sizes of live baits big or small as well as all sizes of mulloway. With Js the hook selection needs to match the type and size of bait you’re using and to a lesser extent the size of the mulloway you target. For

thread the worm over your hook and continue to push the worm over the eye of the hook and up your leader about 6”. For small yellowtail mullet, herring and arrow squid I still prefer a single hook around a 7/0 in the Black Magic DX pattern. For anything larger than this I go to snelling two hooks together using the Black Magic C Point hook suicide pattern. The 7/0 size will cover your medium-sized live baits like whiting, mullet and yellowtail and the 8/0 size will do tailor, pike, big mullet, large squid and slabs of tailor or mullet. Mulloway have a mighty big mouth, so don’t be afraid to put out jumbo-sized baits for them; a 1kg tailor or mullet isn’t too big. For these bigger baits step up to the 10/0 C Points.

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BAIT & TACKLE WEST COAST

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ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

Kris Oakley Marine Services (03) 9794 5524 JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883

Portland Bait & Tackle (03) 5523 5213 Compleat Angler Portland (03) 5521 1844

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CENTRAL

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Melbourne Marine Centre (03) 9703 2003 Regal Marine (03) 9874 4624 Streaker Marine (03) 9729 8288

For all your fishing tackle needs

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Triple M Marine (03) 9465 8787 Warragul Marine (03) 5623 6250

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Wes Frost Marine (03) 5976 4622

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FRESHWATER

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Adrenalin Flies

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Korr Lighting

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She Left

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Boats and More Shepparton (03) 5822 2108 Boats and More Echuca (03) 5482 1992 Eades Xtreme Marine Echuca (03) 5482 2333

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Come in and say hello PROUDLY OWNED AND OPERATED BY MICHAEL FELSOVARY

FISH TAXIDERMY

For updates check us out on Facebook

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Naaj Marine 0421 955 371 Unique Marine Accessories (03) 5427 1802 CMC Marine Sales www.cmcsales.com.au Hunter Marine Boat Builders (03) 5032 2320

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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

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS Specialty Fishing Products

BOAT TRAILER CENTRAL Vic Marine & Trailer Warehouse 0412 264 450

BOAT HIRE

Boab Boat Hire Echuca (03) 5482 1992

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

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Logan Specialised Screen Printing (07) 5546 4107

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MARINE ACCESSORIES

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Lake Eildon Houseboats (03) 9397 6977

Minn Repairs & Servicing 0412 605 080

MARINE MECHANICS

Fish Taxidermist 0428 544 841

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FRESH BAIT | HIRE BOATS | ICE

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Shallow Inlet Caravan Park (03) 5687 1385

This section in V&TFM Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. 96

SEPTEMBER 2018

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION

CHARTER BOATS Able Fishing & Charters, Williamstown (03) 9502 3777

EAST GIPPSLAND

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MARLO

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

EAST GIPPSLAND (Continued)

Adamas Fishing Charters, Barwon Heads (03) 5254 3320 Big Red Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 1800 805 587 Blue Magic Fishing Charters, Rowville (03) 9759 5301 Geelong Charters & Fishing Trips, Geelong (03) 5275 7107

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From

T-Shirts

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22 85

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Far Out Charters, Lakes Entrance 0428 401 819 Prom Coastal Charters, Yanakie (03) 5687 1248 or 0429 935 583

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Phone Cases From

29 45

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From

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SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 30 words within a 5x2 ad size.

$320 + GST for 6 months Email : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au CHARTER BOATS WEST COAST Portland Fishing Charters, Portland (03) 5523 3020

CENTRAL

Timeout Fishing Charters

Trout Territory, Northern Midlands (03) 6397 5001

Clocks $

NSW SOUTH COAST Reel Affair, Merimbula freecall 1800 233 247

42 7 0

Carry Bags

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

20 3 3

K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681 Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080 Narooma Charters, Narooma 0407 909 111 O’Brien Charter Service, Bermagui 0407 214 124

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

CHANDLERY & ACCESSORIES

Throw Pillows

From

25 4 2

and lots more...

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

Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014 Salt-away 1800 091 172 or www.salt-away.com.au Techni Ice (03) 9783 1922 X Factor Signs 0413 113 828

0400 440 705

www.timeoutfishingcharters.com.au Timeout Fishing Charters 0400 440 705 South-West Fishing Charters, Portland 0418 306 714 Gone Fishing Charters 0409 007 068

Boat Wrap Specialist www.xfactorsigns.com

fishingmonthly.redbubble.com

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

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS SEA CREATURES THAT USE CAMOUFLAGE

STONEFISH PYGMY SEAHORSE RIBBON EEL LIONFISH FLATFISH MIMIC OCTOPUS COLEMAN SHRIMP TAPE TAIL REEF SQUID MAHI MAHI

ANGLERFISH TRUMPETFISH LEAFY SEADRAGON REDDEVIL TOADFISH ROCK POOL GOBY DOTTY BACKFISH PYGMY LEATHER JACKETS CUTTLEFISH SCORPION FISH

Valley Hill Rocketeer Slicer

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack. SEND ENTRIES TO: VIC Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

VIC SEPTEMBER 2018

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

The Rocketeer Slicer from Japanese tackle giant Valley Hill is a real feat of Japanese design and engineering. The Rocketeer Slicer has a unique metal plate at the nose of the jig, which lets you secure line in two places, and ensures a superior swimming action even through debris. In addition, its tail system lets you cast more effectively into the wind. The Rocketeer Slicer is available in two sizes (3.0 and 3.5) and 13 different colour combinations. It has proven to be highly effective on Australian squid. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Daniel Gillett from Portarlington, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – VFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for July are: P Craig of Frankston, D Austin of Carnegie, N Bull of Dandenong North, R Kaiser of Traralgon, who each won a OtterBox Defender Series phone cases valued at $74.95. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

H Kirk of Hadspen, M Lea of Caramut, H Siesmaa of Ferntree Gully, A Foster of Drouin , F Healey of Traralgon, A Giblin of Warrnambool, P Stevens of Capel Sound, W Tippet of Nurrabiel, J McNamara of Goornong, J Killian of Paynesville, R Morgan of Dingley, M Crook of Frankston, R Gillett of Portarlington, D Wyatt of West Wodonga, T Curran of Ararat, A Bourchier of Toolamba, M Wallace of Porepunkah, J Collier of Smythes

Creek, J Stoop of Norlane, J Laszczyk of Newborough, I Lovel of Bealiba, I Errey of Leeton, J Neilson of Rochester, F Oleszko of Braybrook, P Musgrove of Casterton, P Reed of Wangaratta, N Sanders of Irymple, D Fitzgerald of Coldstream, N Bryant of North Albury, R Meaney of St James, F Saunders of Rosanna, B Peeters of Colac. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for July were: 8, 10, 15, 20, 28, 32, 34, 43, 45, 52, 55, 62, 68, 73, 80. – V&TFM

SEPTEMBER 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Flathead

The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for July were: B Howieson of Wrattonbully, B Sharp of Wendouree, A & J Waller of Rosebud, J Gwynne of Dromana, R Barnes of Kyabram, R Waters of Temora, J Titter of Werribee, D Hill of Cranbourne North,

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

Inside story...

Horizon Aluminium Boats are an Australian family-owned and operated boat-building empire. Founded in 1992 by Bob and Christine James, who’ve built their business from a small shed in Burleigh making two models, to a factory on the Gold Coast producing 84 models of boats that continue to charge at the forefront of boat design in Australia.

Made for...

Horizon have endeavoured to design and manufacture boats that not only fulfill fishing fantasies, but cater to a family oriented boating experience. Their motto is ‘Building family dreams today,’ and they have consistently fulfilled this promise.

This month...

Wayne Kampe has a run in the Horizon 515 Northerner, powered by a Yamaha F115hp. Check it out on page 108!

100 Werribee wonders

Corey Gallaghar takes a paddle in this urban arena, home to some big bream and mighty mulloway!

102 Kayak family fun Justin Willmer looks at how kayaking can be made family friendly, and fun for the kids.

104 Take a seat

Seating in boats is a major consideration. Wayne Kampe can help to make that decision easier.

106 Sea Jay 610 Preda-King

Steve Morgan takes a ride in the offshore-ready rig, powered by a Yamaha F150hp.

SEPTEMBER 2018

Bream and mulloway on offer at Werribee River MELBOURNE

Corey Gallagher

When you only have a few hours up your sleeve to get the kayak out on the water good knowledge of local options can be invaluable.

offer another option as these fish grow into maturity in the near future. ACCESS Werribee South boat ramp is the perfect launch location. Located near the mouth of the river on Beach Road, Werribee South ramp

onboard is important to find the bait that will get them biting on any given day over the cooler months. Metal vibes are a great place to start, their bullet like performance through the air on the cast makes them the perfect tool for searching

Only a short drive from both Melbourne and Geelong the Werribee is a great option when time on the water is limited. Photo courtesy of Scott Boyd. the tide and work the lure back to the kayak with the flow. Allowing the vibe to sink to the bottom on a taut line, I then allow the lure to pause for varying lengths of time before lifting my rod tip 10-15cm and repeating the process. During winter I always slow right down to match the mood of the fish, so longer pauses and

Werribee South boat ramp is the perfect launch site. Maximising your time on the water means a short drive is key. Perfectly located just off the Princess Highway, halfway between Melbourne and Geelong, the Werribee River is in the mayor’s office in terms of its close proximity to highly populated areas. TARGET SPECIES The Werribee River is home to a variety of estuarine species, but for majority of anglers travelling to the river bream are the major drawcard. Good numbers of bream move into the river at certain times of the year, with winter being the prime time to target schooled up fish that have moved into the river to spawn. When I fish the Werribee I always keep an eye out for larger returns on my sounder, mulloway often enter the system and are an outstanding sports fish to target in a kayak. Estuary perch have recently been stocked by fisheries into the Werribee and will

has excellent facilities including: six concrete ramps with accompanying floating pontoons, a large car park, fish cleaning facilities and an amenities block. Fees do apply at certain times of the year. Bank access is difficult with steep banks along much of the eastern side of the river and restricted access on the western bank due to the Western Treatment Plant. TECHNIQUES During winter bream move into the river to spawn and as a result are usually easy to find, as long as you are running a sounder on your kayak. The schools can be quite large and will position themselves in the deeper sections of the river near the cliffs, but can move around. Finding the bream is the easy part, bream are notoriously fussy eaters during their winter spawn and the Werribee fish are no different. Having a good arsenal of fineness style plastics and metal vibes

Colour choice is another important consideration when selecting which vibe to tie on, I almost exclusively use dark vibes, blacks and dark browns, with an orange, UV reactive belly. I’m not sure why the dark colours are so effective, but years of experience has proven that if you want to catch bream in winter on vibes,

Scotty Boyd with a good example of a Werribee River bream caught on plastic. Photo courtesy of Scott Boyd.

switch to a lightly weighted plastic is the next logical step. The ever-faithful motor oil grub is very difficult to go past, rigged on a jighead heavy enough to get the plastic down to the bottom on a slow fall through the water column. The jighead weight will vary as the tide picks up, so keep changing up so the jighead suits the conditions. Again, I prefer to work my plastic back to the kayak with the flow. Work the plastic back to the yak using a variety of pauses and lifts, in winter subtly is the key, so small twitches and long pauses are often the most beneficial. Creature baits and worm imitations are also worth a look. SAFETY The Werribee is a relatively safe waterway for kayak anglers, however kayak anglers need to adhere to local laws and always wear an approved PFD and keep a bailer on board at all times. The Werribee has plenty to offer kayak anglers, particularly for those who live in the Geelong and Melbourne

large areas looking for active fish. Vibes are relatively easy to retrieve, making them the perfect choice for younger anglers or those just beginning to venture into the world of bream lure fishing. I like to cast my vibes in the opposite direction of

Dale Baxter with a school-sized mulloway take from the Werribee River. Photo courtesy of Dale Baxter.

Using his sounder to locate the school, Scott Boyd displays a bream taken on plastic. Photo courtesy of Scott Boyd. 100

SEPTEMBER 2018

more subtle lifts can be the key to enticing a bite. When the fish are more active the pause can be shortened with more erratic and dramatic lifts employed to great effect.

black vibes are one of your best options. Vibes have the added benefit of being a great lure for mulloway. If the vibes don’t get the bream biting, then making the

regions. Its close proximity to these highly populated areas make it the perfect choice for those anglers who are short of time but itching to get out on the water.

WHAT’S NEW BOATING M.A.P PRO REMOTE 1 STEERING

MERCURY 3.0L 1504 270HP DIESELS

M.A.P Technology’s state-of-the-art autonomous boat control device, M.A.P Pro, allows you to remotely steer your vessel on a pre-routed course, via an app on your handheld device. The mobile app interfaces with a compact, marine-proofed unit, housing a GPS, Wi-Fi, INS and solid state compass. This unit connects via Wi-Fi to a handheld android or iOS app device that facilitates rudder control, battery monitor and other steering commands, allowing the vessel to travel along a pre-selected route to its destination, and at any time the skipper can take control with optional remote steering. M.A.P Pro is suitable for any boat, and can be used with outboard, inboard, sterndrive and electric motors. It comes pre-loaded with navigational charts, and allows the user to manage unlimited waypoints and routes. Highly precise, the GPS horizontal accuracy of the system is within 2.5m. www.amisales.com.au

Mercury has released a new line of 3.0L diesel engines for sterndrive, inboard and water-jet applications. Available in 150hp, 230hp and 270hp, these engines have been engineered to lead their class in several key attributes: acceleration; reliability; ease of installation and maintenance; and reduction in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). “Mercury already has a class-leading diesel portfolio, and these engines add to that with their impressive low-end torque and exceptional durability,” said Reinhard Burk, Mercury’s Senior Director, Global Inboard and Sterndrive Categories. Features include: a new water-cooled, variable-geometry turbocharger and commonrail fuel delivery to provide exceptional performance and substantial improvements in acceleration and top speeds; compliance with tougher diesel emission standards; compatibility with Mercury SmartCraft technologies, and Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Inboards (JPI) and Sterndrives (JPS); and a new factory-backed limited 3-year Recreational Warranty with an additional 2 years on selected major components. A Light Duty Commercial Warranty provides protection for 1 Year or 1500 hours. www.mercurymarine.com.au

PRICE DROP ON LOWRANCE ELITE-TI 2 Lowrance has dropped prices by 20% across its EliteTi range of MFDs, delivering savings of up to AUD$700. This all-in-one fishfinder/chartplotter series offers great value at an affordable price, with displays available in 5”, 7”, 9”, and 12” sizes. Features include an easy-to-use touchscreen interface, wireless connectivity, proven Lowrance navigation technology, and highperformance sonar. Paired with a compatible transducer, Elite Ti can deliver CHIRP, Broadband Sounder and StructureScan HD imaging sonar with SideScan, DownScan Imaging and new FishReveal views. FishReveal allows anglers to quickly and easily discover how fish orient themselves in and around cover and structure, with clearly defined fish arches. The highly accurate built-in GPS antenna displays position on a detailed C-MAP or Navionics+ chart. Bluetooth and wireless connectivity also provide control of single or dual Power-Pole shallow water anchors, and enable remote access to the display via phones or tablets. www.lowrance.com

WATER-ACTIVATED GME EPIRBS

GME’s MT603 Series of water-activated, GPS-equipped EPIRBs are the most advanced MEOSAR-ready 406 MHz digital EPIRBs on the market. Designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia, the MT603 series has obtained international Cospas-Sarsat approval. These EPIRBs have an integrated 66 channel GPS receiver, delivering greater position accuracy and faster location fix than previous models. Boasting zero warmup digital technology, MT603s acquire and transmit accurate latitude/longitude and personal ID info to rescue authorities as soon as possible. It also has a high-intensity, solid state strobe light and auxiliary 121.5 MHz VHF homing transmitter. These EPIRBs can be activated both manually and automatically upon contact with water. The Category 2 model (MT603G) will automatically activate when the unit is removed from the mounting bracket and is deployed in water. The Category 1 model (MT603FG) will automatically deploy from the ‘Float-Free’ housing via a hydrostatic release unit at a depth of 1.5-4m, with the beacon activating upon contact with water. www.gme.net.au www.lorem.com.au

RAYMARINE OS UPGRADE

Raymarine’s Axiom and Axiom Pro MFDs feature the fast and fluid LightHouse 3 operating system, along with powerful CHIRP DownVision, CHIRP SideVision, High CHIRP, RealVision 3D and 1kW CHIRP sonar capabilities. Now, owners of Raymarine’s popular eS and gS Series multifunction displays can unlock these high-performance tools. Owners of Raymarine’s eS and gS Series MFDs running LightHouse 2 can upgrade to LightHouse 3 for free. Simply download the update from Raymarine.com.au to any microSD memory card and insert it into your display. LightHouse 3 is easy to learn. It brings your most commonly used features forward with an intuitive menu system, and its simple home screen icons are easily customised. Anglers who upgrade to LightHouse 3 can also unlock the power of Raymarine’s latest sonar technology using the new RVX1000 3D CHIRP Sonar Module. www.raymarine.com.au

CHARGE MATE PRO 90

PRODUCT GUIDE

The Charge Mate Pro 90 is an electronic relay that allows a second battery to receive up to 90A of charge current from a single alternator. Suitable for all battery types, it is ideal for recharging lithium ion cells and has built-in safety features. When a boat has two batteries on board, typically an engine start battery and a service battery, the second battery usually requires its own charging solution. A mechanical relay will charge the flattest battery first, and then switch to the other, but this isn’t always ideal, as it could leave the engine starter battery discharged. The Charge Mate Pro 90 works differently, by always prioritising the primary battery while still charging the secondary. The relay is housed in a corrosion-resistant housing flanked by two heat sinks, and its operation can be monitored via built-in LED indicators. The unit includes automatic battery detection, so it can work seamlessly with either 12V or 24V systems. Price: SRP $578 www.bla.com.au

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

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All the family fishing fun BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Recently my wife’s sister and her young family picked up some secondhand kayaks, keen to spend some family time paddling, adventuring and as the kids get older, fishing. Their first adventure was planned, paddling a local freshwater lake, where

freaking out a little and yelling, before his parents told him to relax and float in his PFD. The PFD was well fitted and floated him perfectly. Once Will realised he was safely floating he relaxed and they assisted him back on board. Kait’s recap of their adventure reinforced to me the importance of visiting a reputable dealer and having your children fitted with quality PFDs. It’s pretty

newbies to kayak fishing, or kayak fish yourself, make sure your PFD is suited to your location, application, build and of course meets any legal requirements. During the chat about their adventure we discovered that Kait had never caught a fish… never… ever… in her entire life! Being an angler my whole life I decided that this horrific situation needed to be rectified. When an opportunity became available

Smiles all around.

A handful of flathead from a fun family session. tide and current wouldn’t impact their experience. Safety first, and it was off to get everyone fitted with PFDs for their first session on the water. Kait, Wade and the three kids had a great day on the lake! They became familiar with their watercraft and how to effectively propel and manoeuvre them, enjoyed the outdoors, explored the lake and shared a few laughs. At one point five year old Will fell from his kayak and ended up in the water,

cheap insurance and peace of mind. I know that back in the day I would have been guilty of grabbing any available PFD to fit on people when we were boating, paddling, tobogganing and undertaking other aquatic activities. Decent quality, modern PFDs are much more comfortable than the old ‘brick’ style PFDs. They allow for more freedom of movement, airflow and also support the wearer much more effectively when in the water. If you are introducing

we would take her out for a paddle and get her onto her first fish. When introducing newbies to kayak fishing, there are a few things that I normally do to maximise both their enjoyment and also their chances of successfully catching a fish. You can’t make the fish bite, but you can ensure other variables are in your favour. WEATHER Poor weather can make fishing trickier for even the most experienced kayak angler, so keeping an eye on

sites such as Seabreeze and BOM can assist in choosing a weather window that is more conducive to kayaking and fishing. We had our window, a perfect Sunday morning that would make for a beautiful day on the water… even if the fish didn’t bite. TIDES When starting out in kayak fishing, or getting others into kayak fishing, it’s a good idea to take the tidal flow out of the equation or utilise it to your advantage. Spend more time fishing and less time paddling, especially when it comes to working hard against the current to hold position or fish effectively. We selected a couple of hours of run-out and an hour of run-in to bring us back home. The old saying is no run, no fun and some of the best fishing I have experienced has been when there is plenty of flow from big high-tides and lower low-tides. On this occasion a low high-tide and high

Kait makes a cast toward the weed edge. to kayak fishing I also like the term short and sweet. I would rather they finish the session wanting more than finish with fatigue, a sore butt or worse, never wanting to fish from a kayak again. I find

or exotic adventure. Keep it local, keep it easily accessible and keep it simple. We selected an easy access point for launching, a simple edge bite for flathead and the tested and proven soft plastic

It didn’t take long to get the first flathead on board and fire everyone up.

Fish on! The author did a better job with the net this time around. 102

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low-tide would allow us to slowly meander along with the current. This helped us stay together as a group and assist Kait with where to cast and retrieve techniques, and be close enough to hopefully net her first fish. DURATION When introducing people

2-4 hours is a good starting point, and it’s important to look for signs that they have had enough. Better yet, add a swim, morning tea or lunch to the adventure to break up the session. KISS Keep it super simple. It doesn’t need to be a crazy

and jighead combination. Kait used one of our kayaks and we made sure there was minimal clutter. I carried the tackle, lip grips, landing net, fish measure and so forth in my kayak. There was no need for her to be distracted or hindered by additional items and I

would be close by to land the fish, should she manage to convince one to bite. A single rigged rod, scent, water bottle and snacks were all she required, keeping the cockpit uncluttered and tangle free. MAKE IT ABOUT THEM I will generally stay close to assist with kayak positioning, casting, retrieves, fighting fish and

day we want to see them hooked up to a fish. ON THE WATER Kait, my wife Sheri (Kait’s sister) and I sat down to a cooked breakfast, chatted about the day ahead and then it was time to launch. A few tips on boarding the kayak and launching is always a good idea, as entering one side of the kayak and exiting the other into the water will

catch a flathead. Mixing up the retrieve between a couple of hops and a pause, or a wind, wind, wind and pause to allow the plastic to sink back to the bottom, I was confident that Kait was in with a good shot. It was time to catch a couple. A few minutes later I was sliding the net under a nice flathead and this lifted everyone’s level of enthusiasm, also taking the heat off a bit as we had one in the icebox for Kait’s family for dinner. It wasn’t long before I found myself hooked up again, landing another legal flathead. I then took the time to ensure Kait was on track, before threatening to tie my lure onto her rod if I landed

Success! Kait was pretty stoked with her first ever fish, a legal flathead.

It doesn’t take kids long to get their balance and confidence. Remember PFD and safety first. so forth, demonstrating, observing and offering advice. Once they have the basics down, I will then fish hard in the hope of landing a fish or two. A couple of reasons why it’s important for me to catch a couple is firstly, to give them confidence that there are fish in the area and secondly, to crack a pattern in terms of what’s working on the day, such as a particular colour, retrieve, water depth or structure type. From here I

put a dampener on the day from the outset. We launched without issue and began our drift. It didn’t take long for Kait to get the positioning side of things under control, positioning the kayak a cast distance from the weed edge. A nice slow drift along the edge, with no wind to contend with and the casts were landing in the general area of where they needed to be. A 3/8oz jighead ensured the plastic was finding

When it’s your second fish ever it doesn’t matter whether it’s a yellowtail pike or a marlin, it’s still awesome! another one. It was a magic day on the water and we all enjoyed the serenity, chatted, laughed and cast lures. After landing my third flathead I paddled over and tied the lucky lure onto Kait’s rod, before Sheri was yelling

back and forward beside her kayak. Instead of taking my time to position the kayak alongside her and allow her to steer the flathead into the net, I rushed a little, grabbed the leader, the flathead shook its head aggressively and threw the lure. I apologised, tucked my tail between my legs and paddled back over to where Kait was positioned in the mouth of a drain. Then it happened and Kait was yelling and woohooing, while Sheri shouted advice and I dug the paddle in to get over to her quickly. The smile on her face is what it’s all about. I love seeing people catch their first fish, first of a species, a new PB… hey, I just love seeing people

catch fish! I was relieved when it was in the net, on the lip grips and I had the first photo taken. We snapped a few photos, even a selfie or two, and with the fish a couple of centimetres over legal Kait opted to take her first fish home to feed the family. Mission successful! It was then Sheri’s turn and I made no mistake this time, allowing her to steer the flathead into the waiting net and we had all successfully landed a fish for the day, making it even better. The tide turned and we began our drift back to the launch site. It definitely wasn’t a hot bite but I added another to Sheri’s icebox. While stowing the flathead the

lure, which had been dropped back in the water, was nailed by a yellowtail pike, giving us all some entertainment and a few laughs. As we approached the launch point Kait wanted one more cast and was on again, and pretty happy with her yellowtail pike, as was the little kid standing on the beach celebrating the catch with her. A quick photo again, then a group selfie to record our adventure and the day of Kait’s first fish. I can still hear her correcting me, “hey, my first two fish!” I often fish with some pretty hard core fishos and it was refreshing to get back to basics and see someone that was just as pumped with a yellowtail pike as a flathead. I don’t think it will take Kait as many years to catch her third fish as it did to catch her first or second, in fact she has already thrown her name in the hat for the next session. I often reflect on my childhood fishing with my grandad, uncle, dad and other family members. Plus, learning to catch different species or use different techniques, taught to me by fishing buddies and more experienced anglers. I think we all have a responsibility to give back to the fishing community, to help educate and inspire others, and assist a newcomer to the sport to catch a fish or two. That smile, fist-pump, celebration and future fishing yarn that you’ve helped create is also pretty rewarding. It’s time to take someone fishing. See you on the water.

This yellowtail pike nailed a lure left hanging in the water while stowing a flathead in the icebox. can offer assistance in terms of refining their technique, explaining the nuts and bolts as we fish. At the end of the

the bottom regularly and combined with a 3” paddle tail soft plastic we had a dynamite presentation to

that she was hooked up. The fish was taking solid runs and as I reached her I saw a quality flathead running

Sheri and Kait in action hopping and rolling Z-Man 3” MinnowZ. SEPTEMBER 2018

103

Sort out that boat seating and reap the rewards BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Seating in fishingorientated trailer boats is a complex business. You might think that

for our boats. A larger craft that’s intended for long hauls and the rods being removed from the racks virtually demands installation of the best quality supportive seating for all occupants while travelling. This can take the form of a well-

storage box, with a hand rail or other item close by as a brace point when travelling in the rough stuff. Centre console craft on the other hand might have pedestal seats for the skipper and mate, perhaps a seat up front of the console as

Sea Jay have set up a smart ice box seating arrangement here, ideal for two folk to sit at the helm area. Check out the bracing afforded by the framework for the T top.

A pair of high-backed bucket seats on short pedestals will provide plenty of support when the 150 on the transom’s opened up. seating in any boat has been arranged carefully for optimum comfort and easy use by the driver and other occupants. While this is certainly the hoped for outcome, it’s not a hard and fast rule. Generally, manufacturers try to get things right but seating options are so diverse these days that there can be a lot of daylight between really useful seating and what’s been provided. Just for the record, I’ve been in centre console craft with no seating but without exception, always wished there was some before long! Standing for extended times takes a big toll on the vertebrae when on the water. SEATING WILL ALWAYS VARY Boat seating varies greatly in accordance with the varied uses we anticipate

mate. As a handy back rest you’ll often see a flexible fore/aft sliding bolster rail for the one or two people seated there, but without an additional handhold or grab rail close by things can by

A padded storage box or ice box makes a reasonable seat but it needs a handhold of some description if you’re heading for rough water. the unit, plus the restricted access to any shelves in the console. On the other end of the scale is the small tinny, car topper or other lightweight rig where cross seating is integral to the structural strength of the craft. These

Flexible seating takes on a new meaning here – the lounge seat in this boat can be left out altogether. padded bucket or dedicated pre-formed seat on rigid framework or perhaps the latter items being set up on a

thwart is fair enough but there must be some depth for the legs or you’ll likely feel some discomfort. If you’re intending to buy a light little car topper or similar, take a look at the depth between floor and seat and assess how some time spent there

well. It’s common to see a padded ice box or other storage arrangement aft of the console for skipper and

This well-padded pedestal seat is handy to the helm area and it’s a strong-looking one at that.

Variations on a theme – high backed bucket seats on a storage box for the skipper with a padded ice box for the mate. 104

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tricky when the boat starts to bounce. For mine, the only downside of an ice box or storage box aft of the console is the room taken up by

cross-seats are often no more than a bench for the backside with cushions and other items to provide comfort underway. Sitting on a hard

will work for you. The floor depth is handy in a small boat and this factor should be a serious consideration for an owner.

Midway between these extreme seating examples are the one-size-fits-all seat set up where a supportive

strategy as selecting the right outboard engine will pay off many times when the craft’s in the water.

There’s a perfect mix of seating here with a strong bucket seat on a pedestal (with plenty of back support) to set up the skipper with a pair of back-to-back seats on a storage box to port. Note the depth of the padding.

BEST TO MATCH SEATING WITH BOAT USE In short, seating should compliment the proposed use of the boat. As mentioned, long hauls on the water demand the best seating – end of story. Seating needs to cater for all intended crew and should be strong for the entire life of boat while providing optimum support at all times. Smaller craft to be used in bay/estuary or other similar localities also require robust seating, as these craft won’t always be used in quiet water. In selecting the correct seat the idea is to work out what will have the longest life, be value for money and remain trouble-free. Pedestal seating is useful in smaller craft; pedestals offer the ability to be customized to fit a particular craft. The actual seating section can be padded to a greater or lesser degree and be mounted on a suitable stem of just the right length to provide plenty of comfort and floor depth within reach of a tiller handle or wheel. With today’s trend towards flexible seating arrangements where a pedestal seat can move from one floor spigot to another, it’s essential

to keep things in perspective and not overdo the size of the seats. If the seats are too bulky, moving them about might be awkward. It’s also wise to keep stems and bases well

seating at length. First, it was a given that it would be a two-person fishing team, so we only required seating for two. As the Galey was to be helmed from the

we simply remove one seat – stem and all – and sit it down beside the console to port. In practice we have one fishing up front where a lean post provides excellent

High backed seats on rigid frames are mounted on storage boxes in this craft and it’s a win-win all round. Note the room between the seats to allow easy access to the cabin.

The flexible pedestal seating in the author’s boat is meant to be moved in many fishing situations, hence the specially selected lightweight seats.

A pedestal seat of this kind offers good support, but if you intend to move it, sometimes that floor spigot will need lubrication to keep it freed up. seat of some form or other is placed at a strategic distance from the tiller handle or steering wheel, or perhaps near a small console where instruments might be set up. Bucket seats – with varying degrees of padding – are usually installed for this purpose and if things aren’t quite perfect, the buyer makes the best of it anyway and reflects, perhaps, on how good it might be to actually plan and organize seating for another boat in the future. Purchasing a turnkey package can see you in the situation I’ve just mentioned. If there’s an opportunity to arrange seating prior to taking the craft, put some serious thought into the best seating arrangement; putting as much thought into this

lubricated to prevent binding from salt corrosion. A CASE STUDY For the construction of our Galeforce 4.5 centre console, we considered the

Whittley don’t ever do things by halves. Massive seats with lots of support and inherent strength are custom made for serious sea travel. There’s storage and other useful features under those seats as well.

console it was obvious we’d need seating at that point, but selection of just the right seats took some thought. The storage/ice box bench was tempting, but ruled out; there’d be far too much restriction of available work area aft and access to the storage shelf, so pedestals topped the short list. Moreover we’d opted for a big centre console – this we’ve never regretted, as we love the handy storage capacity, which meant that two pedestals aft of the console could take up a fair amount of room. This would be no issue when travelling, but when fishing things could be a bit tight, especially if flyfishing – careful storage of the fly line between casts is essential. The solution was easy. We selected light but strong pedestal seats that sit on spigots at just the right distance from the console for comfort and when fishing requirements dictate terms

support while the other person fishes from aft of the console and I must say, this system has been near perfect. A look at the seats we selected reveals they are not the most thickly padded around the boat yards, but for us they are part of a system that works well. IN A NUTSHELL Seating is just one of the many issues that can involve compromises in the world of boating. Sometimes seating’s perfect. Other times it’s not so good. If you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity to arrange your own seating, go for it! When buying a turnkey package just give some extra thought as to how the seating in that particular boat is going to affect your personal requirements for on-water travel as well as fishing. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes when necessary either. Boat layouts are pretty flexible in my experience. SEPTEMBER 2018

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Sea Jay 610 Preda-King with Yamaha F150hp - SC

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Main: Sea Jay’s 610 Preda-King is a great looking, classically designed plate boat. All of Sea Jay’s Plate Xtreme rigs are factory built and factory sold from their Bundaberg, Queensland headquarters. Above: A steep entry flattens to 16° at the transom and provides a good balance between ride and stability. this line of boats from Sea Jay is appealing to hardcore anglers, with wait times for a build at around a year. And you can’t buy them from your Sea Jay dealer – you need to buy them straight from the factory. That’s a good thing. Sea Jay boats is a family business and the Glass family are happy to discuss customisation when it comes

Length overall.......................................... 6.34m Beam........................................................ 2.45m Bottom sheet............................................. 5mm Side sheets................................................ 4mm Transom deadrise......................................... 18° Capacity..........................................Six persons BMT Weight............................... approx. 1.35km Rec hp...........................................................115 Max hp......................................................... 150 Fuel............................................................. 220L SEPTEMBER 2018

casting at a tuna or pulling in crab pots. And with a boat that looks as sharp as this Sea Jay, we’re sure that you’ll have plenty of mates lining up for the experience.

PERFORMANCE

SPECIFICATIONS

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I love boat tests when the weather gets nasty. I especially love it when the weather gets nasty but there’s still somewhere to get some nice photos and a video to get the job done. That was our test day on the Elliott River in Bundaberg. With a newly launched Sea Jay plate boat in tow – a PredaKing 6.1m from their Plate Xtreme range – we headed down to the ramp eager to get the new hull wet. Sea Jay Sales Manager Garry Fitzgerald said that this model, which was launched at the 2017 Brisbane Boat Show, lasted only a day on the floor before being snapped up by an eager customer. “There’s been a few changes to this model, including an upgrade of the hull plate size to 5mm, more deadrise and a massive 220L fuel tank, so it ticks a lot of boxes for anglers wanting an entirely seaworthy rig that you can travel a long way in to catch fish,” he said. There’s no doubt that the design and build quality of

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

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what rig you’re in. I liked that when the boat landed, nothing really rattled and the hull felt rock solid. What I also liked was that you can flush mount a couple of 12” sounders side

FMG

to putting together your dream plate aluminium boat. The test boat was fitted with the maximum allowable horsepower in the form of Yamaha’s F150 4-stroke, the 2.7L workhorse that’s done millions of hours on boats worldwide. Quick out of the hole, the engine delivered 2.0km/L at the most economical cruising speed of 45km/h and 3800rpm. Drop the hammers to wide-open throttle and you’ll get 75km/h at 5900rpm but you’ll only get 1.1km/L. But the best bit of the test was heading out the mouth of the river and punching into a solid 20knot northerly that represented about the nastiest conditions that I’d be headed out fishing in. At a speed of around 25km/h, the upswept bow stayed high and dry –

even when we tried to bury it – and the ride was dry both punching into and riding with the slop. Quartering, of course, will get you wet, no matter

RPM............................................. Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) Idle.................................................... 4......... 4.3 1000................................................... 8......... 3.5 2000................................................. 12......... 1.9 3000................................................. 24......... 1.4 3800................................................. 45......... 2.0 4000................................................. 46......... 1.8 5000................................................. 60......... 1.5 5900................................................. 75......... 1.2 to side in the console. I’m a great believer that keeping the connections out of the weather makes your gear last a little longer. As for fishability, there’s plenty of room for you and your mates to fish all around this rig, no matter whether you’re dropping for reefies,

As tested, this customer’s rig priced out at $79,590, with the electronics, eskies and aluminium trailer, however packages start at $60,195. Visit www.seajayboats.com. au for more information or like Sea Jay Boats on Facebook for updates on the entire Sea Jay range.

Sea Jay is proud of their complementary trailers. The aluminium, fully welded I-beam trailer under this rig looks great and gave the hull maximum protection while trailering.

Left:Yamaha’s F150 is the maximum horsepower for this rig and delivered economy of up to 2km/L at 3800rpm. Combine that with a 220L underfloor fuel tank and there’s over 400km of range to get you to where the fish are. Right: The hull’s 2.45m beam allows Sea Jay to place this broad console and still have plenty of space for anglers to walk around.

The big T-Top folds away for storage in some garages.

Top Left: The transom bait and rigging station combines extra rod holders with a cutting board and drink holders. Left and Right: The starboard transom door and ladder allow for easy boarding from the water or the bank.

There are welded-in battery trays at the bow to power the electric motor up front. The test rig didn’t have one fitted.

With a few anglers on board, access is important and the Preda-King offers 360° fishability.

The new model of the Preda-King was released at the Brisbane Boat Show in 2017 with a 5mm hull sheet.

In Queensland, men are still men and pull up their anchors by hand.

The transom is as neat as it gets in an Australian-built plate boat.

Optional electric motor mounting plates are a near necessity on a modern boat and it’s a popular factory option.

You could mount a pair of 12” screens in this console. That’s some solid space available for keen anglers. SEPTEMBER 2018

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Horizon 515 Northerner with Yamaha F115hp

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Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

If there’s a better place in South East Queensland to review a boat than the Southport Broadwater, I’m yet to find it. The launching is easy thanks to several sheltered ramps, the scenery is quite picture perfect, and there are a variety of conditions ranging from the near calm of the Broadwater to the open ocean just through the Seaway entrance to test a craft’s mettle. AN ENTIRELY NEW BOAT I’m grateful for Scott James of Horizon Boats for arranging my time with his new 515 Northerner and he pointed out that this year there’s an entirely new craft in the Northerner range with 4mm bottom sheets, 3mm side sheets, a new transom

Main: A great place for a boat review; a great looking boat, and check out that classy wrap! Above: The 515 Northerner’s excellent hull design ensures there’s minimal lean in a hard turn to port. for 4am’ angling pursuits. The new Horizon 515 Northerner combined virtually everything that makes alloy mid-sized craft so popular. It’s strongly built and offers a compact, easily towable size

PERFORMANCE Rpm........ Speed.(km/h).......... Economy.(L/h) 1000 ......................... 7.4 ............................ 2.4 1500 .......................10.6 ............................ 3.5 2000....................... 11.8 ............................ 5.6 3000.......................36.2 ............................ 9.1 4000.......................41.3 ............................. 7.0 5000.......................53.3 ............................ 8.6 WOT .......................62.5 .......................... 40.1 and a massive front storage area, just to name some of the additional features. The entire Northerner range – craft from 4.15-5.40m – all focus on fishability and a large degree of userfriendliness that carries over to laidback family fun days as well as serious ‘set the alarm 108

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involving versatility in both storage and mobility while the economical side console layout always provides as much work room as possible for a given size of craft. Two anglers fishing up front and another two aft would be entirely feasible in quiet conditions. The rail and windscreen

equipped console was a lesson in practicality as it offered mid-shelf storage, foot room within the base plus a large area up top to set up even a very large sounder as well as multi-function gauges for the Yamaha 115 on the stylish new Horizon Fast Back Transom, which is 700mm high – same as the sides. Offshore runs on good days – why not? Bolster-style console seating is a bonus for the skipper and mate, but another additional two seating positions provide options with balance and fishing space. Up front an elevated deck sat watch over a massive hatch, concealing a 110L ice box, with adjoining side storage compartments also handy. Not to be overlooked, of course, was the big under-floor storage aft, which doubled as a catch well. All the floor areas were carpeted, naturally, and an electric motor pad and cockpit side pockets completed

the picture. Decent freeboard is a big feature of the Northerner and it’s certainly a feature that adds to overall versatility. Confidence in sea conditions

is a great asset in any craft and the easy, soft ride of the 515 Northerner – whether in the calm of the Broadwater or out towards the end of the Seaway walls – was a bonus. SMOOTH YAMAHA 115 In my view the 115hp Yamaha 4-stroke on the transom certainly contributed a lot to that particular boating experience. Whisper-quiet at idle, the 1.8L engine easily shot the rig onto the plane at 15.6km/h (2700rpm) and ran her up to almost 62.5km/h at full throttle. Top speed doesn’t tell the whole story; at one point we had five folk (maximum) aboard her yet the 515 cruised smoothly at 4800rpm/47.3km/h. In a nutshell, the 515 Northerner is a very competent fishing package and combines plenty of work area, excellent storage, comfortable seating and great sea keeping and

handling. Best of all was an overall feeling of comfort while underway or walking around the hull to note its steady attitude in the water. If you’d like to check out the this boat or the others in the range, visit www.horizonboats. com.au, or call into Chelsea Yamaha, 13 Ashley Park Drive, Chelsea heights. You can also call them on (03) 9772 1212. SPECIFICATIONS Hull.length...........5.15m Beam ...................2.40m Depth ...................1.23m Bottom ..................4mm Sides......................3mm Weight.hull ..........480kg Min.hp ...................90hp Max.hp ................ 115hp Hole.Shot 4.80 seconds Number.of.people..Five

The Northerner’s freeboard certainly shines through in this image, as does the fact there’s room for additional anglers to work as well.

The Northerner’s name is well recognized but the 515’s eye catching design represents an entirely new boat.

Under the Northerner’s 40cm high front casting platform there’s a generous hatch which conceals a 110L ice box.

A full height transom allows the 515 Northerner’s lucky owner to enjoy a huge range of fishing activities, all enhanced by a wide work area.

A dedicated fishing craft needs a live well and the Northerner’s is a beauty at 75L capacity .

A boat with off shore capability deserves a large anchor well so just check out the size of the 115 Northerner’s!

A carpeted cockpit aft offers plenty of room for a couple of anglers to work in comfort.

The Northerner’s under floor storage is complemented by the big catch well in the cockpit area.

At 1.8L capacity the 115 Yamaha certainly made easy work of powering the solid Northerner’s hull.

This image gives a complete look at the easy, uncomplicated work area of the Northerner. Note the close spaced side ribs for extra rigidity, the additional seat spigots to provide flexibility in seating.

Bolster seating of this quality is a rare feature in a mid sized sports boat and certainly represents a bonus to skipper and mate.

Seeing is believing; there’s a 110L ice box set under the northerner’s front deck area. SEPTEMBER 2018

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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. 110

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