Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly - September 2014 by Fishing Monthly

TROUT ARE BACK • SNAPPER STILL FIRING

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Benny Mosman landed this 18.6kg mulloway while fishing at the Hawkesbury River, NSW. Benny used a Black Magic KS 4/0 hook.

Black Magic 40lb Tough Trace was used to catch this 92cm murray cod. Jordan Sanders was fishing at Hattah-Kulkyne National Park.

Paul Carson used a Black Magic Snapper Snatcher 5/0 ‘original’ to take this 5.1kg snapper. Paul was fishing off Barwon Heads, VIC.

Neville Dean caught this 80cm flathead using Black Magic 8lb Fluorocarbon tippet. Neville was fishing in Botany Bay, NSW.

A Black Magic KS 6/0 hook was used by Craig Wathne to catch these dhufish. Craig was fishing off the rocks in Perth.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

September 2014, Vol. 11, No.10

Contents WEST COAST

From the Editor’s Desk...

Sub-Editors: Jacqui Thomas, Nicole Penfold Field Editor: Kelly Hunt Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall Advertising: Ph: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Copy and materials should be sent direct to: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

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OUR COVER

Production: Melissa Carroll, Karen Millward, Jenna Moir

Matt Caterson spent many hours on the water during winter and was well rewarded for his efforts with this cracking snapper. A Jarrod Day iamge

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REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 66 Boating 78 Chappy’s Hotspot 38 Dam Levels 62 Fun Page 67 Inland Fisheries Service 48 Kayak 74 Science meets fishing 52 Spearfishing 72 Tasmanian Lake Levels 48 Tournament News 44 Trade and Services Guide 90 Victorian Tide Times 88 What’s New Boating 87 What’s New Fishing 68

Return of the chooks Top 10 trout tips Side scan success ABT’s BASS Pro GF trip 10 trailer tips Boat safety feature

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a bigger say than you realise about how the magazine looks and what it contains. Fabulous Phil Jones, Australia’s only triple by-passed fly fishing cartoonist, Heather Nicolas and current ad rep Peter Jung, you have all taught me things, frustrated me and given me the most amazing support ever. To the subbies who have helped, you have all done amazing things and your futures are hopefully brighter after working with us. To my current subbie Jac, my biggest regret with moving on is not working with you anymore, and to Nic, you’ve been here longer than me and have always put the company before yourself. Both of you I will miss dearly. With all that said and done, I wish you all the best in your fishing. The magazine is an awesome source of info with some of the best writers Vic and Tas have to offer. Use it to better your fishing and love your time on the water. Signing off.

As an editor I am expected to be over every topic, every fishing style and every issue. The truth is I am not and often we are kept out of these conversations because we are information givers, because we do share, because we want to inform. These ethics do not necessarily gel with governments, people and organisations that want to keep their secrets and want to be seen as the good guys when they are really stabbing you in the back. All of that has made me tired and a little worn out. Lastly I would like to acknowledge all the people who have worked on V&TFM with me over the years. The writers are amazing and as a group are first class with information and the ability to share. To the previous editors, Ben Sandman, Marc Ainsworth, Martin Auldist and Neil Grose, I can’t write enough gratitude. You are all still good friends I trust and seek advice from. To the ad reps, of which there have only ever been three, thank you for your input into the mag. You have all had

and direction. I am glad to say that after 12 months of hard slog, the wonderful workers at Fishing Monthly have allowed the plans to work and the company is in excellent shape. I am immensely proud that I was part of that. To the industry as a whole I can’t say enough good about it. What a great industry to work in. Having said that, never, ever believe that all we do is go fishing for free and get garage loads of free gear. I buy over 90% of the gear I use (albeit at a great price) and over 25 years of writing and working in the industry have been on only 2 free trips away fishing. All my other adventures were funded out of my pocket. The industry is not the realm of millionaires and free stuff. Everyone has to work hard for small wages bought about by the belief that the industry provides a lifestyle job. What a load of crap! We all do our jobs and work hard and any rewards anyone gets from the fishing industry are through their hard work, not because they were lucky or are ‘in’ the industry.

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How do you write your final editorial? Yep, this is it, my last time at the editorial desk as I am moving on to something else. I am not sure what that is, but if you never jump, you never find out. I have debated about what to write for a few days. Do I get cranky and spill the beans on the seedy side of the industry? Do I say thanks? Do I regale you of all the things I loved about working at Fishing Monthly? This will likely be a combination of all as after 13 years with Fishing Monthly, plenty of everything has happened. For starters I have to say thanks to my bosses Steve Morgan and Matt Drinkall. They have had as hard a time as anyone I have dealt with in the industry over the last 12 months and have had to do things that I would not have been able to do. While the hard workers of Fishing Monthly all stood up and did the work (in fact I reckon the general staff went over and above in a massive way), we all still needed some guidance

Glenelg 10 Portland 12 Warrnambool 12 Apollo Bay 14 Cobden 14

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Return of the Chooks WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

Chinooks, aka Quinnat salmon, are an introduced salmonoid native to the west coast of North America from southern California to Alaska, and northeastern Asia. The species has been introduced into several countries, but only in the South Island of New Zealand has a self-sustaining population become established. However, Victoria holds two of only a few land-locked Chinook salmon fisheries in the world. The fish have been stocked in a variety of Victorian waters over the years but historically have only really succeeded as a viable angling species in three locations: Lake Bullen Merri, Lake Purrumbete and Lake Murdeduke. With Lake Murdeduke having received no stocking since 1999 due to low or no water, Bullen Merri and Purrumbete have traditionally been the home of the Chinook salmon. In the deep, cool water of these twin lakes the salmon thrive and grow quickly producing strong, fit fish that fight exceptionally well for a freshwater salmonoid.

SEPTEMBER 2014

However a combination of drought conditions at the hatchery and difficulties with the brood stock saw no stockings of Chinook being possible in these lakes since 2007. Fisheries Victoria, with the intention of recreating a world class Chinook salmon fishery in Victoria’s western Crater Lakes, began stocking these fish again and in November 2012, 10,000 Chinook salmon fingerlings (20g each) were released into Lake Bullen Merri thanks to funding from Recreational Fishing Licence fees. Further stockings have occurred in 2014 in traditional Chinook strong holds Bullen Merri and Purrumbete as well as in other trial waters such as Lake Ellingamite, Bellfield Reservoir, Bostock Reservoir, Lake Tooliorook, Lauriston Reservoir and Rocky Valley Reservoir. If you were making a trip to try to catch your first Chinook, Bullen Merri would be my first choice for a couple of reasons. The absence of eels and small redfin in Bullen Merri makes it a better place to practice some of the successful bait fishing techniques. Even with the closure of some of the South Beach area, shore-based access is also more prolific at

Bullen Merri than Purrumbete. For boat anglers, Bullen Merri’s fairly uniform depth gradient and shore contour makes finding the depth you want to fish, or need to be fishing, relatively easy. Also the Chinook at present seem to be growing quicker, and are in better condition at Bullen Merri. One of the good things about fishing for Chinook is that there are plenty of productive techniques to target Chinooks and the other salmonoids in these fisheries. The good thing is that if technique number one doesn’t work, then the trip may not be wasted as there are plenty of other options to try. This article will relate to Chinook fishing at Bullen Merri, although similar techniques can apply in Purrumbete. SHOREBASED CHINOOK In the past, many of the best fish each season are taken by bank anglers. As it is an extinct volcanic basin, deep water is only an easy cast away from the shore. Bank anglers concentrating their efforts around dawn and dusk are most successful, although bank angling through the night also produces fish.

Having trouble identifying one silver lake salmonoid from the other? Chinook have a distinctive black lining in the mouth. The big browns used to be an attraction for these cold night vigils but they haven’t been stocked in the last two years, so the attraction to fish during these hours has diminished somewhat. There are two schools of thought on bait fishing technique – either fishing with an open spool or closed spool with the drag on strike. Fishing with the open spool and allowing the fish to run works best when you are able to keep a close eye on what is going on with your line. A closed spool with a set drag, in combination with a stinger hook rig for live baits, works best if it is difficult to maintain constant vigilance on the line, for example in the dark. The fish hooks itself as it tries to take off with the bait, the extra stinger hook assisting with finding purchase in the fish’s mouth. It is important in this scenario that the drag is set with enough force to set the hook but not so tight that the fish can pull the rod from its holder. Rod holders should point horizontally and you should ensure line doesn’t catch anywhere and can peel off unhindered, either under drag or in free spool. When choosing your outfit go for something a little more substantial than you would normally associate with bank fishing for salmonoids. A decent sized Chinook, or rainbow for that matter can peel some line, which can cause some trouble if you already have a significant amount of line out having made a long cast. Chinooks take a wide variety of baits, much more so than the browns. Not only are Chinooks happy to eat more natural live baits like gudgeon, minnows and mudeyes aimed at the fussier browns, but they will also take a wide range of frozen and processed baits. Glassies, saltwater whitebait, blue bait, pilchard fillets and Powerbait are all willingly accepted by hungry Chinook salmon. Rigs depend on the bait you’re using, wind conditions and the bottom structure you’re fishing on. The three

basic options are; bubble float, running sinker or unweighted bait. The bubble float is best used for suspending live baits, which can be positioned 1-3m below the float. Bubble floats are useful in rocky areas, such as the North Shore and Potters Point, but can be useless if the wind is blowing across your fishing spot. The unweighted bait is a good option for using the frozen baits such as whitebait and glassies, in calm conditions. Add a running sinker if you need to get a little more distance, the wind is blowing or you are using Powerbait, which floats slightly up off the bottom. With little structure to concentrate your efforts on, shore based lure or fly fishing is a game of persistence. The exception to this rule is on the odd occasion when the fish can be seen smelting in casting proximity. A mobile bank angler can pursue a fish and get within casting range more effectively and subtly than a boat angler, as long as the fish remains within casting distance. Many good captures of quality Chinooks and browns are taken by bank anglers targeting these smelting fish using plastics. The plastics have proven

to be a good option as they cast better than a minnow style lure, yet land and work more subtly than the easy to cast winged lures. Popular styles have been 3-4” minnowshaped and coloured plastics that match the local galaxid population. BOAT-BASED CHINOOK Bait fishing is also a popular option for boat anglers. Apart from being more mobile than the bank angler, the boaties can establish an effective berley trail in deeper water. It seems like their original genetics play a large part in Chinook behaviour. They can behave very much like their saltwater ancestors in the way they fight hard and respond to a light berley trail, much the same way as saltwater fish like snapper, trevally and Australian salmon. Deep bait fishing is often the preferred technique in the warmer half of the year or when the lake is busy. Chinook are best targeted at depths of 12-20m. With a little patience and with a light, consistent berley, Chinook of varying sizes should be swimming under your boat. Even on a calm day there is often a slight movement in the water like a light ‘current’ that

Bullen Merri Chooks look good, grow fast and pull hard. There are going to be some serious sized ones by next season.

helps distribute a fine berley trail through the depths. Chinook are a schooling fish, respond to a wide variety of baits and are quite susceptible to berleying. It is this gregarious nature that makes them a willing target. Fish from new release to about 1kg can be quite easily captured; by all means keep a few for the table but their flesh doesn’t freeze too well so release a few before you reach the legal bag limit. Anglers fishing at Bullen Merri have a perfect incentive to release smaller fish because of the incredible growth rates of salmonoids in this lake. A 500-800g salmonoid in many fisheries may be quite an acceptable, pan-sized fish. That same fish though, caught and carefully released in Bullen Merri, may be a 2kg+ trophy if you catch it 12 months later. Chinook don’t like being CRATER LAKES Purrumbete Chinook salmon Rainbow trout Brown trout Atlantic Total Bullen Merri Chinook salmon Rainbow trout Brown trout Atlantic Total

Glassies make a great bait and berley combination. They can be cut up into cubes and fed over the side in a constant stream with a whole one being lowered into the berley stream. Just like cubing for tuna but on a trout lake! handled too much – their scales fall off very easily. Fish hooked in the side of the mouth are best released using long nose pliers without removing the fish from the water. Gut hooked fish are

FIVE-YEAR STOCKING PLAN 2011 2012 2013 0 0 25,000 15,000 30,000 10,000 15,000 0 0 8,500 0 0 38,500 30,000 35,000 2011 0 20,000 10,000 8,160 38,160

2012 10,000 15,000 0 0 25,000

2013 20,000 10,000 0 0 30,000

usually the keepers. If they’re really small and swallowed the hook deeply, cut the line without removing the fish from the water. While bait fishing at depth can be an all year round

2014 25,000 10,000 5,000 0 40,000

2015 25,000 10,000 5,000 0 40,000

2014 20,000 5,000 5,000 0 30,000

2015 20,000 5,000 5,000 0 30,000

pursuit, trolling is a popular way of targeting salmonoids in the cooler months. The fish that were holding below the thermocline, thus being viable targets for deep bait fishing in the warmer months; disperse throughout the water column. By fishing a variety of lures/ depths you can cover the water column to locate productive depths and lures. Even though Chinook can be taken on flat lines, particularly early morning and evening, a downrigger is an essential tool if you are serious about targeting them using trolled lures consistently. The most important aspect of this is to use lures in the spread that work well together at the same speed. For example, the speed that is used to get a winged lure working correctly is too fast for a bibbed minnow to be used on another line in the same spread. Colour is another issue that keeps tackle suppliers happy as a wide variety work in different scenarios. Whites are popular at depth, pinks and reds on fish frustrated with their inability to spawn. Natural/green, brown hues that resemble the baitfish population work well with some form of bright attractor to get the fish interested in the first place. As you can see there are many different ways you can

go about pursuing Chinook. The day might start flat lining followed by some trolling at different depths. A bit of deep bait fishing in the afternoon can then be followed up with another troll. Pull the boat into

the bank for the evening and toss out a few baits while you have tea. Remember if one technique, lure, location isn’t working a quick change of tactics can soon see Chinook in the creel.

Downriggers are an essential tool for trolling and baitfishing. As well as their usual task of plunging trolled lures to depth they are great for helping to distribute berley at deep with the aid of a weighted cage.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Top 10 trout tips WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

Top ten trout tips, try saying that 5 times really fast! Finally, the dull gloomy skies are about to move over to make way for one of the greatest seasons of the year, spring. I love spring as the days get longer and warmer and all species of fish become more active. I look especially forward to the first Saturday in spring when the Victorian trout season opens each year. This year opening is on Saturday

6 September, and I will be out there pumped full of excitement and anticipation with my annual trout opening mate/companion/competitor/ nemesis Wayne Gardner for what is becoming somewhat of a trout opening tradition. Here are 10 tips to help you catch more trout this September: 1. WORMS Make sure you carry a punnet of worms and some small hooks and split shot sinkers with you. Even if you are one of those strange lure tossing elitists that turns your nose up at bait fishers.

It’s only a small trout, but it was the author’s first fish of the season last year. Wayne Gardner couldn’t take the photo, he was too busy in the background trying to level the score, which he did and outfished Robbie!

SEPTEMBER 2014

A metallic Super Vibrax bladed spinner accounted for this Kiewa River brown trout caught by Brenton Richardson last season. Metallic spinners are a great starting point early in the season. Following this very wet winter we have had a well presented bunch of worms might make all the difference in the world to your early season success. As I write this feature the main rivers have just dipped below minor flood level after spending a few days there. The ground is saturated and there is water everywhere. Worms will be getting washed into the system en masse at the moment and the opportunistic trout will be making the most of this worm banquet that is being delivered to them on a platter in the form of swollen creeks and rivers. Lures and fly will no doubt work effectively as well, but lure selection may be important. Any worm will do after all of this rain.

2. THE RIGHT HOOK AND SINKER If you are planning on bait fishing with worms it is very important that you use the right size hook and sinker. For trout you want something that is not too big, yet not too small. A size 6 or 8 hook is usually ideal. Smaller hooks make for a better hook-up rate, but they are also more prone to ‘letting go’ resulting in the fish getting off. Larger hooks, however, can make it harder to hook the fish, but if you do hook up they generally stay on the line. Sinker selection is probably more critical as trout like things to look as natural as possible. A bunch of worms sitting stationary swaying from side to side in a raging current is not natural; neither is a worm floating on the water’s surface. So I like to use as small a split shot sinker as I can get away with. In most streams something around 2-3g is usually a good starting point. Many people prefer to drift their worms totally natural using no weight whatsoever. This is a great technique as the hook will very slowly assist the worm to sink. In fast flowing water I like the split shot to help the worm sink, and also to assist with casting. I will usually cast my bunch of worms upstream, and then turn the handle of my reel slowly so that the worms float back downstream at a similar speed to which the current is flowing. Using a size 6 or 8 hook and a small split shot, this is a deadly way to catch trout, particularly in rain affected waterways. 3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK Make sure you monitor river levels via the Bureau of Meteorology website (www. bom.gov.au). Keep an eye on weather maps and rainfall figures, and very importantly, have a back up plan in case your chosen destination is not fishable due to unforeseen circumstances such as flooding. 4. GET THERE EARLY This is particularly important on opening morning as there will no doubt be a lot of people on the waterways eager to catch their first trout for the season. I have no doubt that I am not the only person

The author’s annual trout opening fishing partner, Wayne Gardner caught this lovely rainbow trout on a fluorescent orange Super Vibrax bladed spinner on opening day last year. in Victoria counting down the days at the moment. 5. LURE SELECTION As mentioned above, I have no doubt that lures will work this September. They work well early in the season each year. Lure selection may be a bit more critical though. From my experiences, shiny metallic bladed spinners tend to work well in spring. The old faithful Celta has always been a decent spring bladed spinner. I have always preferred the green and gold ones in spring and the red and silver, or red and gold in autumn. Metallic Super Vibrax spinners are another great spinner, particularly the gold and copper ones with a few colourful spots on their blades. Success with small minnows and soft plastics seems to have many more variables during spring than bladed spinners do. Some years, minnows will clean up in spring and some years they won’t. What I have noticed is that the small Rapala type minnows seem to work best in streams with a bit less flow. Maybe smaller creeks, or catchments that have not received as much rain. No doubt other people will disagree, but as I said this is just an observation that I have made. Whether it is the current effecting the lure’s action, or the fact that small minnows are not seen swimming around in raging torrents of water making the lure look unnatural, I could not tell you. 6. THE RIGHT ROD AND REEL Most people who fish for trout understand that light gear is essential. A light rod of

1-2kg, or 2-4kg rigged with a small spinning reel of 10002500 size is usually ideal. One thing that people often overlook though is the gear ratio on the spinning reel. So many people get caught up in the ‘bells and whistles’ that many reel manufacturers offer these days that they pay no attention to the most important thing...the gear ratio! I have seen fishing reel boxes stating that they have 7 ball bearings, you beaut drag systems, twin handles, anti twist, gold plated handles bla bla bla.....but not actually state what the great ratio is anywhere on the box. To me the gear ratio of the reel is the most important part of any trout fishing outfit. I like a 6:1 gear ratio as it is nice and fast. I use Shimano Stradic reels. They are expensive but the quality is great for my needs and most of all they have a 6:1 gear ratio. This fast gear ratio makes it easier to retrieve the lure fast enough to keep up with the current. For example, if you are retrieving a Celta with a 4:1 gear ratio reel in a set of rapids on the Kiewa River in spring, chances are that you won’t be able to reel the spinner in fast enough for the blade to turn. A 5:1 gear ratio will keep up, but you will have to turn that handle like a man possessed. A 6:1 gear ratio will do it easily. It is much easier to turn a fast reel slowly than it is to turn a slow reel quickly! As for the rod choice, well the market is now flooded with light spin gear. I love the ultra light N.S.Hurricane rods. I broke mine last season through my own stupidity, so went into Adventure Camping

Small minnows are effective early in the season, but they are more effective in waterways that are a little bit lower, or smaller creeks and rivers.

and Fishing in Wangaratta and replaced it with a Shimano Ballistix 5’6” spin rod. It’s a bloody riper of a rod for trout and redfin. The best advice I can give for choosing a rod is to pop into your local tackle store and get the person working there to help you out. As for the reel, whatever brand you choose is your personal choice, but I highly recommend you look for a fast reel with a 6:1 gear ratio. 7. WHICH LINE? Mono all the way for me. I have written before and will write it again, light braided line on a spinning reel is overrated. If it tangles it is harder to untangle, you don’t gain any casting distance like you do with heavy line and it has

no stretch, which can come in handy when trout fishing, especially when you hook a trout that likes to jump from the water and shake it’s head. I use and recommend Maxima Ultragreen. The 4lb is best but can be hard to find; 6lb works very well also. I love braided line, but prefer it on my heavier cod fishing gear. 8. THINK OUTSIDE THE SQUARE Use this article as a guide, or a starting point but don’t take it as Gospel. For example, you might start with a shiny metallic Celta on opening morning, as I have suggested, and find that it is not working. Don’t quit, try something that may not usually work in September

A small rainbow trout from a small waterway on a minnow. Early in the season rainbow trout can be very hungry as they finish spawning and start eating. Rainbow can still be spawning as late September in some waterways.

W E

the negative comments along with it are a clear indication that so many people have forgotten why it is that they actually go fishing. Have fun and enjoy the fact that you are not at work. Trip your mate over or push him in the water, take a photo and enjoy a cut lunch in the sun. Sit and chat with your fishing mate. It’s all about enjoyment and relaxation.

I can come home from a full day of fishing on trout opening having not caught a single fish and not be disappointed. Remember, it’s fishing. It’s there to be enjoyed not taken too seriously. I catch my fair share of fish, but I am by no means an expert. I am however, an expert at having a great time and a lot of fun on every single fishing trip.

Pre-dawn last trout opening and Wayne Gardner is casting a lightly weighted bunch of worms into a backwater creek that is high and off colour. like a black spinner of some kind, which I find usually work best after Christmas. It may turn your luck around. There are so many variables in fishing, particularly pertaining to the weather. If a small minnow isn’t working, try a large minnow. If a bunch of worms is not working, try threading on a single worm, or changing your sinker size, etc... 9. LOCATIONS This is the trickiest part for me to write for a few reasons, one of which has been the recent state wide decline in trout fishing. The extreme heat of recent summers has really knocked the trout fishing around in many waterways. One thing I do know is

that the Kiewa River has a reasonable number of trout in it. Nothing too exciting, but enough to warrant a trip there. The Ovens River was very slow last season as it has been for a couple of seasons due to natural disasters, such as bush fires and flash flooding. I am hoping to see an improvement in that waterway this season. Pretty much the best advice I can give on locations is to head upstream into the hills as far as you can to areas that may not have been as effected by severe heat waves in recent years. 10. ENJOY YOURSELF. Have a great time. Don’t take it all too seriously. I see so many photos shared on social media of magnificent fish being caught, where the angler is not even smiling, and

Top: Think outside the square. If you are using a metallic bladed spinner and it’s not working for you, try something different. Sometimes a change can bring instant results. Bottom: Towards the end of last season the Kiewa River really turned it on. These trout won’t have disappeared during the closed season. In fact, they will have been feeding like mad and will be bigger and fatter when the season opens.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Glenelg opens up options WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

September is a great month to fish the Glenelg River as the onset of spring brings new opportunities. Water flow in the river tends to slow up in September as we start to receive less rain in the slowly warming weather of spring. A late start to the big mulloway run in the river means this month could be the peak for chasing these prize fish in the estuary section of the system. The last three years have seen the best fish

caught in July and August but previous to that (in 2010 and 2011) September has been the best month. There have certainly been some larger fish caught in the last few months but the bigger congregation of large fish has been elusive so far this season. The best time to fish the estuary for these prize fish is three days leading up to the full moon and three days after as they seem to be far more willing to take a bait or lure in this period. That’s certainly not to say they can’t be caught outside this window but it does seem to be the most productive time.

As always the best techniques seem to be trolling hardbody lures and live mullet or casting large soft plastic lures and vibes/blades.

live minnows suspended under a float and cast in close to the heavy snags. In September I would expect to find the best congregations

Russel Anderson with a great Glenelg River estuary perch.

Early spring Glenelg River bream never disappoint.

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Baits such as podworm, squid and pilchard can also be very effective. The reduction in the river flow also means that the annual estuary perch spawning run in the lower reaches of the river will be coming to an end and these fish will be starting to move back up river. Estuary perch spend most of the year in the higher freshwater sections of the river but they do move to the lower reaches to find the exact salinity levels needed to successfully spawn in the winter months. Perch are quite prolific in the Glenelg River with fish from 40-50cm not uncommon when specifically targeted. After spawning these fish become veracious feeders and will take a wide range of lures from lightly weighted soft plastics, large and small profile hardbodies and even

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of perch from Donavans through to, and even above, Sapling Creek. Bream will also be starting

to turn their attention more towards feeding rather than spawning and will be starting to spread themselves more widely through the river. Sapling Creek, The Caves, Dry Creek and Taylors Strait are all well worth concentrating your efforts on this time of year. The bream will start to push harder up on to the edges to feed rather than

sitting wider and slightly deeper. Throwing shallow diving lures such as SX40s and lightly weighted soft plastics can be very productive. Baits such as prawn and cut crab are also great options at this time. September leads us into the most exciting time of the year to fish the Glenelg River and things will only get better from here on in.

Dan Mackrell with a cracking metre-plus Glenelg mulloway. FISHING FILL-ITS

Illegal fishing detected at Flinders An anonymous call to Victoria’s 24-hour fisheries offence reporting hotline, has resulted in a 52-year-old Doncaster East man being found with more than five times the daily legal limit for grass whiting. “Two Fisheries Officers, from the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) responded immediately to the 13FISH call on 21 July,” Senior Fisheries Officer Rod Barber said. “The fisheries officers travelled to Flinders Pier on the Mornington Peninsula where they observed the 52-year-old man allegedly exceeding the daily limit of 20 grass whiting over a two-hour period. “The officers then observed

the man pack the fish into a plastic bag, walk off the pier and place the bag into the boot of his car. “The man then walked back to the pier, resumed fishing and allegedly took another 12 grass whiting. At this point the Fisheries Officers intercepted the man and inspected his car. “During the inspection they found 89 grass whiting in the boot which, together with the fish he had just caught, bringing his total catch to 101 – more than five times the daily bag limit for that species.” The man will be charged on summons with exceeding the daily bag limit for grass whiting and will appear in the Frankston Magistrates Court at a later date.

“This is a great example of how accurate and timely reporting of illegal fishing activity can help us to ensure the sustainability of the state’s fisheries,” Mr Barber said. “This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and shows a blatant disregard for our valuable natural resources in Victoria. “You can help ensure all Victorians have fish for the future by complying with fishing regulations and reporting those who break the rules to the 13FISH hotline.” Anyone who see or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call 13FISH (13 34 74). – DEPI

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Plenty after the tuna PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

September has certainly come around fast and after such a great tuna season in Portland we can now concentrate on what other fish are in our area. The weather should start to turn again and we will see some warmer conditions. This will be a nice change after a pretty cold winter and some big storms that created 50 knot winds and 10m swells. We generally see good deep bottom fish out in the 140m range and beyond; trumpeter, sharks, snapper, knife jaw and other top eating fish. Bridge Water Bay is usually on fire with good numbers of flathead, gummies

and school shark. The bay should still see whiting, flathead, salmon, squid, sharks and the odd snapper. Some of these are in better numbers at certain areas of the bay. Breakwater will start to fire and the odd big red will get caught this time of year, along with salmon and sharks. I hope the squid start to show too! There always seems to be good fishing off the beaches in September, whether it’s the North Shore area up to Fitzroy River mouth or over to Bridgewater and Discovery Bay. These beaches are great for sharks, salmon, snapper and mulloway. The river systems should also start fishing better as the water levels drop and start to clear from the winter floodings.

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Our new four-way boat ramp is in full operation and seems to be working well. A reminder that there is a $10 parking fee now or you can get annual fees through the Council. Come down to Portland and check it out on your next fishing trip. PORTLAND LOOSES A FINE YOUNG FISHERMAN On a sad note I would just like to say a little bit about young Jack Hose whose life was taken too short. I have only known Jack for around 3 years since I have been with Compleat Angler. He was a very friendly and happy go lucky young fella a smile that you couldn’t wipe off. His passion for fishing was just incredible and at a young age the fish he caught were amazing. He did a lot of part time work for Chris Hall at Bait and

Jack Hose doing what he loved every chance he got. Tackle and did a lot of fishing with him and Bob McPherson, so he was lucky to learn a lot from these guys that took him under their wing. He also did a lot of decking for quite a few charters throughout the tuna seasons gone by. When he wasn’t doing that it, he was with his mates, which

are far too many to mention. Jack was only 17 years of age and due to a unfortunate accident while fishing lead to his life taken short. We all send our prayers and condolences to family and friends and I know that the anglers of Portland and beyond will not let his name

fade away in the fishing community – RIP Jack. • For all your fishing or weather reports you can contact us at Compleat Angler on 55211844 or call in 61 Bentinck st Portland next to the Gordon Hotel. Fishing licences are also available in store.

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After a long spell of poor offshore conditions, things calmed down again late July and, guess what, there were still tuna everywhere. Around 50m of water off Point Fairy/Warrnambool was the hotspot with school sized fish eagerly taking both trolled and cast lures. September would be one of the few months where you would expect the tuna not to be present, but the way each season seems to get longer each year, who knows? The excellent bottom fishing should still be on call in September with snapper catches becoming more prevalent amongst the gummy and school shark that are being caught in good numbers recently. The Hopkins River has continued to be a productive location. Some

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Just a few of the many quality bream being taken from the Hopkins River recently. seriously big bream have been turning up for anglers who are well versed in the techniques required to produce consistent numbers of quality fish. Fish 1kg+ are showing up amongst some good bags of bream with the odd exceptional fish approaching 1.6kg. At the moment, bream are mainly in the lower regions around the Ski Lane but come September they may have begun moving upstream depending on water conditions. Deepwater techniques, such as blading and heavily weighted soft plastics have been the main technique on the bream as well as some perch and mulloway. Even in the dirty water, light leaders have made the difference

between quality bags and just a few fish. So far there haven’t been as many big perch that often encountered downstream at this time of year. However mulloway around 55-63cm are still being caught in the Hopkins – so much so that if you’ve had a big day on the bream and perch, it’s almost a disappointment not to have had a mulloway encounter. This is a far cry from a couple of years ago when a mulloway from the Hopkins was a distinct rarity. Trout fishing has been okay without being outstanding. In September the opening of all the trout waters will give anglers, who have been restricted to hammering a few of

the prime locations open over winter, the chance to spread out in pursuit of their speckled quarry. But it wasn’t the continuing tuna run or the big bream that was the recent major talking point angling wise locally. Geoff and Barry Hose were minding their own business fishing at anchor in 50m water 6km off the coast when suddenly their boat, usually only capable of 8km/h, was suddenly doing 20-30km/h as a whale became entangled in their anchor rope! The subsequent drama became front page news locally as the whale dragged them along for some time before they could sever the rope and set themselves free.

SEPTEMBER 2014

Blow the trumpets for trout as season opens APOLLO BAY

Daniel Kent apollobaysurfshop@bigpond.com

I know I say it every September but this is my favourite month as it marks the start of the Victorian trout season. All the rivers in this area have a healthy population of brown trout that will respond to a wide variety of lures or baits. It’s just a matter of getting out there, exploring and experimenting. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks chasing bream and trout in the Aire River estuary, which remains open all year. The river has a big tidal influence at present that stirs these fish into action and I have had good success casting small hardbodied lures from the shore. Bream love a jerky, stop-start kind of retrieve and are usually found close to structure. Casting hard against the reedy banks and employing a short pause in the retrieve should see the bream smashing your lure and diving for cover – awesome fun and great sport on light line.

The trout on the other hand love a nice steady retrieve. Lures can vary from soft plastics to small hardbodied lures to bladed spinners. I’ve been using a small shallow diving hardbody to good effect on recent outings, but whatever you’re comfortable using will also work. Gummy sharks are biting well down around Point Franklin and Cape Otway reefs in 40m of water. For best results fish the slack water periods of the tide with fresh squid heads or fillets of barracouta for bait. The occasional snapper to 5kg is being caught in this region too, along with some decent hauls of morwong and nannygai coming from over the hard reef. I have been told that there are some large flathead lurking on the sandy patches amongst the reef systems. Don’t expect big numbers of flathead at this time of year but you should still get enough for a feed. The boat harbour will be worth a shot for calamari at this time of year using prawn style jigs. Again don’t expect lots of fish but the

ones encountered should be of quality size. Beach anglers are still having good success from the sand at Wild Dog and Marengo beaches with schools of hungry salmon and the occasional silver trevally being landed late in the afternoons. Best baits have been pipi and blue bait fished on a paternoster rig or metal lures cast out behind the breaking surf. A wetsuit is a good option when wading out to cast lures and provides a much safer option than waders when trying to sneak that last little bit of casting distance in the shore break. The salmon have ranged in size from 500g-1.5kg and at this size make great eating if prepared fresh.

Wave of change brings life COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

Mid July saw the manual opening of the Curdies River allowing floodwaters to push existing stale sweet water out of the system into the southern ocean while allowing life giving, oxygenated salt water back into the system. This has occurred in estuary systems right along the south west coastline: the Hopkins River at Warrnambool along with the Merri (which is rarely ever closed); the Gellibrand River at Princetown; Yambuk Lake and the Eumeralla River west of Port Fairy

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Trout season opens early in September and all the rivers are in great condition after excellent winter rains.

and finally the Fitzroy River at Tyrendarra just east of Portland. All are open to the sea and will remain so for quite some time. This is all good for the estuary bio systems that exist, sometimes under pressure from human impact as well as nature to begin or complete their lifecycles. Live bait such as shrimp, whitebait and crab can once again do what they do when tidal conditions once again become a major factor of influence. The Hopkins River has seen bream actively feeding in the lower reaches but as the flow of freshwater upstream subsides these very fish will shortly move into the upper reaches in the hope of spawning new life. Most bream are averaging around 32cm but it has been good to see the odd blue-nosed thumper of 40cm+ falling

victim to anglers who put in the time and have honed their angling skills. Experienced bait anglers have triumphed of late but those fishing scented plastics and medium diving minnow lures have also caught their fair share. The Curdies system has seen plenty of bream taken on bait as well as plastics fished shallow in the lake well out of the main channel. The better fish have averaged from 33-39cm and while natural bait stocks such as shrimp, greyback minnow and spider crab renew themselves, the hungry bream have been gorging themselves on earthworm, juvenile salmon and mullet flesh, as well as commercially packed frozen prawn and whitebait. As the spring weather slowly warms the water, weed growth will once again take off providing food and shelter for more

natural, local baits. King George whiting to 35cm and silver trevally to 600g have become an almost regular occurrence along our coastline with catches coming from fishing sandy spots available from many of our local beaches (the better spots are surrounded by weed and reef patches) to the Port Campbell pier (our only artificial protuberance into the sea from Warrnambool to Apollo Bay). Thrown into the mix are Australian salmon with many exceeding 2kg although the majority of the schooling fish average around 600g. It’s potluck with the salmon – great sportfish, especially on light gear, but who will be next to crack the big’un? That’s why they call it fishing, not catching!

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GEELONG

Neil Slater njbamslater@bigpond.com

Wurdi Buloc out near Moriac has attracted plenty of attention, and rightly so, with quality brown trout and redfin being caught by anglers casting lures from the bank. The better redfin caught are from 40-48cm and the best trout I have heard of so far was just over 2kg. Michael Evans continues to dominate both species with some classic captures on Fish Arrow soft plastics and Daiwa

Double Clutch lures cast from the banks. The best one Michael had caught was 49cm and 1.9kg. October can see some cracking redfin caught in the Barwon if it clears up. So far, it is as brown as a cold cup of coffee, which makes lure fishing almost impossible. CORIO BAY It’s been a heck of a winter and we’re always very keen to see the end of it come this time of year. October has us all reaching for snapper gear and those that fish inside Corio Bay will be dead keen to tussle with these great sport fish. Anglers armed with soft

Quality fish have been caught from Wurdi Buloc Reservoir near Moriac.

plastic lures should try the Geelong Waterfront and just out off the Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Western Beach and just out off the East Geelong Golf Club. Bait fishers should try out of St Helens and if you’re land-based, try the Grammar School Lagoon on low tide, North Shore Rocks or St Helens rock wall after dark. Bait up with a pilchard on a running sinker rig and sit tight. BELLARINE PENINSULA There’s no denying the Bellarine Peninsula is where the action is in October. Gear is dusted off, sickies are taken and those big red fish lift to another level in October. Clifton Springs and Portarlington are popular and with good reason. Quality snapper up to almost 10kg are caught here every year. Everyone has their favourite spot, bait and rig but you cannot discount just being in the right place at the right time. The bottom line is that the fish can be showing up all around you on the sounder, but if they are not hungry you won’t catch any. Nevertheless, if you do happen to lob onto a school of hungry snapper this time of year, you can be assured of

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All the action at Bellarine some quality sport fishing as they can really turn it on. An outgoing tide always seems best and of course, the freshest bait you can get. A running sinker rig is most reliable, but use as small a sinker as the tide will let you to get your bait down. Top baits include pilchards, fresh squid, silver whiting, red rockets, sauries, cuttlefish and octopus if you can get it. Popular and proven soft plastics include brightly coloured minnow imitations, such as the 4” Berkley Gulp Minnow in nuclear chicken and the dull pumpkinseed Turtleback Worm. Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head says quality whiting had kicked into gear off St Leonards but anglers have been working hard for them. Rod recently had two clients return with a pair of gummy sharks taken out off Indented Head in the deeper water. Plenty of squid have been kicking around the Outer Governor Reef and there has been some good flathead drifting in between the Prince George Light and directly out from the Indented Head Boat Ramp. One thing to watch for was both Indented Head and

This is what October on the Bellarine is all about – snapper! St Leonards boat ramps were inundated with sand making launching impossible recently. Good mate, Dean McDonald took his sons Harvey and Hunter down there for a fish and saw two cars bogged so he headed back into Geelong and launched at Limeburners. QUEENSCLIFF Some ripping whiting have been caught by anglers

fishing inside the shallows around the Lonsdale Bight and out front of the Pilot Jetty in the deeper water. Some of these fish have been around the 45-48cm but not in bag limit numbers. Large calamari have also been patrolling the shallow weed areas of the Lonsdale Bight, so pack a variety of tackle! To page 17

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FISHING FILL-ITS

Portland’s boat ramp opened Fisherman can now launch their boats in Portland Bay without the long wait following the official opening of a new $1.98 million four lane boat ramp. Premier and Member for South West Coast Denis Napthine today joined local fisherman to open the ramp which marks the final stage in the $7.1 million Portland Harbour upgrade. The transformation includes a 70-berth marina, new access road and boat ramp apron, improved car and trailer parking, in addition to on-shore infrastructure. “As one of Australia’s premier fishing locations, Portland is now better prepared than ever for the influx of fisherman who travel from all corners of the country for the lucrative tuna catch each year,” Dr Napthine said. “Boats and vehicles lining Bentinck Street had become a common scene as anglers raced to hit the water. This boat ramp is a key piece of infrastructure which will reduce this wait as it will be able to handle up to 300

boats a day during the peak fishing season, allowing for better and safer foreshore traffic flow. “Portland’s Southern Bluefin tuna fishery injects up to $9 million into the local economy annually with up to 90 per cent of the nation’s recreational blue fin tuna caught in these waters. “It attracts thousands of visitors to the region each and every year and the addition of this boat ramp will only see this number grow. “This harbour redevelopment is providing for this growing tourism industry, allowing more boats to enter and exit the water at the same time, reducing the bottle necks experienced in the past which is welcome news for the region.” The Portland Harbour Project was jointly funded by the Victorian Government, which invested $5.1 million and the Glenelg Shire Council, which contributed a further $1.9 million. The ramp has been delivered as part of the Victorian Government’s Boating Safety and Facilities Program, which

included $1.98 million in funding. The initiative plays an important role in making boating safer and more accessible for all Victorians. Dr Napthine said the new boat ramp would ensure more fisherman visited the region. “These improved facilities will make Portland, more than ever, a desirable location for recreational fisherman to visit and cast a line. The tuna is biting and the wait to enter the water is now reduced as these four lanes will provide a safe and more efficient way for anglers to get their vessels on the water,” Dr Napthine said. “Overall this Portland Harbour upgrade provides state of the art facilities to support new tourism opportunities from recreational fishing charters, eco-tourism to cruise ships. It is already having a positive impact on the community and I trust this will continue to grow with further developments planned for this popular foreshore area in the future.” – Denis Napthine, Member for South West Coast

BARWON HEADS AND SURF COAST The Surf Coast can cop some astounding snapper this time of year and are often the first to get a sniff of snapper fever. It is not uncommon to hear of some 9kg specimens caught off Torquay and Barwon Heads as they make their way along the coast and into Port Phillip Bay. On occasions, October can see the sea floor carpeted with nuisance draft board sharks but the school sharks should make

an appearance as well. School sharks hang tough with gummy sharks in deeper water around 15-30m and like to forage over gravel bottom or reef areas. Fine wire will make sure you stay connected as they can bite through 20kg leader. The surf beaches have been fishing well for Australian salmon just on dusk. Jan Juc Surf Beach has had salmon on dusk and quality gummies caught after dark on (wait for it) fresh salmon fillets! The salmon have averaged about 800g but there has been a

couple around the 1.5kg mark come ashore. The couple of gummy sharks reportedly weighed in at around 5kg. • Catch a few around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in a report to slaterbunch@ optusnet.com.au with “VFM” in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 997348. Please include where (without giving away your secret spot!), when, what on and who caught the fish. Pictures are always great, but please make sure they are at least 1mb (file size).

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Bay snapper are on schedule PORT PHILLIP WEST

Brenton Hodges blhodgey@hotmail.com

Spring is in the air and with it comes the muchanticipated Port Phillip snapper migration. While we’re still at least another month away from getting our teeth into the season proper, already there have been some inspiring catches across the top end of the bay, and indeed throughout the lower Yarra River.

WILLIAMSTOWN TO ALTONA Land-based bait anglers in particular have been amongst the action of late with some solid reds to 5kg available at Port Melbourne, Williamstown and Newport. Likewise, casting soft plastics on the drift across the shallow inshore reefs has been producing plenty of smaller pinkie snapper, and the odd larger specimen, especially in close to structure in surprisingly shallow water. Each of these

The inner reef areas have been producing plenty of pinkie snapper and while most have been quite small, there are a few larger fish amongst the juveniles.

areas should only improve as we move deeper into spring. Determined to snare a land-based winter red, Preston Alley made the long drive from Colac to Melbourne early one morning and despite adverse weather conditions, eventually came up trumps. While the lower Yarra River failed to produce on this occasion, Preston relocated to Port Melbourne where his first cast with a whole pilchard produced an immediate result. After some blistering long runs and thumping headshakes, Preston secured his prize – a sensational 7.1kg winter red! Over at Williamstown, the inner reef areas have been producing plenty of pinkie snapper and while most have been quite small, there are a few larger fish amongst the juveniles. Worm and baitfish pattern soft plastics, including Gulp! Turtle Back Worms and 3” Minnows rigged on a 1/12-1/6oz jigheads are well worth a shot in 3-6m of water. Just as the sun dips below the horizon of an evening generally produces the hottest bite, especially when this coincides with a

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change in the tide. Overcast conditions coupled with a moderate surface chop can also bring the fish on the chew in the shallows. The local piers and jetties have been producing reasonable numbers of pinkie snapper, along with some serious bream. Youngster Nathan Wright and his mates Michael Craig and Daniel Poth put together a solid bag while presenting live crabs alongside the jetty pylons and moored boats. According to Nathan, just 4lb fluorocarbon leader material and a small circle hook proved highly effective. The technique involved flicking the unweighted crab tight up against structure and allowing it to slowly sink on a semi-slack line. Nathan says, upon any sign of movement in the line he would engage the reel, allow the rod to load up and set the hook. Steering an angry bream away from its lair is not an easy task on light gear and sure enough, a few of the larger bruisers won their freedom. The boys finished with 30+ bream with the largest stretching the tape out to 38cm during an incoming tide. POINT COOK TO POINT WILSON Squid have been consistent around at Point Cook throughout mid to late winter and there’s no suggestion they will slow up any time soon. A range of jigs will do the trick and there’s no real need to be too concerned about particular patterns. In saying that though, in clear conditions it pays to stick with more

Determined to snare a land-based winter red, Preston Alley battled through adverse weather conditions before coming up tight to a superb specimen. natural tones. Local favourites include silver, gold, purple and black with a splash of pink or orange, especially in the smaller 2.5-3.5 size jigs. METROPOLITAN RIVERS Snapper have been a relatively common catch in the lower reaches of the Yarra River through the later stages of winter, particularly for land-based anglers casting towards the edge of the channel. Ahmad Najjar was among those to do well with a hefty specimen taken on fresh squid just prior to a mid-afternoon high

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Live crabs brought about several bream for Nathan Wright amongst the jetty pylons and moored boats at Williamstown. 18

SEPTEMBER 2014

tide change. Further upriver at Docklands, bream have been responding well to small vibe style lures cast close to the jetty pylons. There are also some good pinkie snapper and school mulloway hiding out in the calm, structure-laden waters of Victoria Harbour. Sebastian Widjaja picked up several pinkies, along with some small bream and flathead, before he came up tight to a larger opponent. A short time later, a 63cm mulloway was brought up onto the pier. Interestingly, it took a small piece of raw chicken rigged on just 8lb line and a small hook, while a heavier outfit remained untouched. Both the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers have been turning up good numbers of these silver slabs with vibe style lures, paddletail soft plastics and live baits faring best. The Werribee River bream are mostly schooled up in preparation for spawning, but they are feeding in short bursts on the making tide. There are also plenty of big yellow-eye mullet still in the system and they’ve been responding well to live baits and occasionally small lures intended for bream. BEEN FISHING? If you would like to see your name and/or photograph published, please forward reports and images to blhodgey@hotmail.com. You’re certainly not obliged to give away your secret spot, but please include a general description of when, where, the technique and bait used, and who caught the fish.

Help released snapper survive Fish shallow water to avoid barotrauma Leave snapper in the water for release Minimise handling and netting Use circle hooks or lures Release snapper quickly

Snapper fishers can help the survival of released snapper by following these key points. For further information on these points go to www.vrfish.com.au/snappersurvival

This project was funded by the Victorian Government using Recreational Fishing Licence fees SEPTEMBER 2014

Roll out the snapper gear because here they come PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

There have been crazy conditions – horrific weather mixed with some insanely good days, and fishing that just leaves you scratching your head in amazement that the local fish population doesn’t seem to know its been a real Victorian winter. With some spectacular snapper reports over the past weeks, not to mention that the garfish and squid have been really calling this part of the bay home for the past month or so. And now as we roll into September it also heralds the start of the new snapper season. Although saying that, several of our customers at Fishing Fever have already got some good numbers of big snapper under their belts. MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK A daily procession of anglers fishing in the creek itself can and does only mean one thing, the mullet are biting with great numbers and some very solid fish to be found for those anglers fishing with delicate floats and small hooks. On the pier, pinkies and a few salmon have been keeping anglers busy during the rougher weather, while the calm conditions have seen plenty of squid hitting the deck. The upcoming weeks however are often the most

exciting as Mordialloc Pier will produce some spectacular fishing for big snapper, especially in the rough conditions. And don’t think you can only catch them at night, with the daylight hours often producing some great fishing. In the boats, anglers have been getting stuck into some great pinkies and even some very solid early season snapper on the inner shallow reef areas, such as Parkdale Pinnacles and up off Ricketts Point. Not to be out done, the kayak crew are also making their mark with some solid fish being taken by this lot of keen anglers. Regular customer Beau opened up his season a few weeks back with a lovely 4.6kg fish taken on a 40g Koika jig on his Gomoku outfit. Interestingly, Beau had baits out also but the fish clobbered the micro jig over the pilchards. On Beaumaris Pier, squid and garfish have been the focus for anglers over the past month or so. During some of the rough weather there has also been some solid snapper being taken by those keen or crazy enough to sit it out in the cold, wet and windy conditions. During the daylight hours however, the garfish have been great and with school holidays on this month it’s a great way to spend a few hours out of the house, and sure to keep the kids entertained.

Out wider we are starting to hear and see those early season reports from boat anglers as they begin to sound up schools of fish in areas, such as the 12-15m areas off Mordialloc through to Black Rock. And for those that have been getting a few bites on the early season fish it is definitely the morning period that is seeing most of the action. SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA Land-based options in this area will really fire up this month as anglers continue to catch squid, garfish and pinkies. However, there will now be a bit of a change in tackle, as the long rods come out with bigger baits being hurled out into the bay in search of the big early season snapper that will move through the area. Locations such as the Sandringham breakwall, Hampton Rock Groynes, and of course the famous Brighton Breakwall being notable locations to put in some effort. While in the boats, it’s the same sort of areas that will produce the goods for anglers; the 8-12m areas off Sandringham and Brighton holding some really great reef bottom that attracts and holds big early season reds on the chew. As a bit of a side note, and I say it every season, I encourage boat anglers to be aware of and respectful to the land-based anglers. They can’t just fish anywhere like boaties

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can, so please give them the space they deserve. Moving further to the north the shallow reefs of the North Road to St Kilda area have been producing pinkies and some solid squid up around the 600g-1kg size, which should continue if we don’t get too much rain. During late July and August I also heard of some lovely ling getting taken out on some of the rough bottom that lies in 12-14m of water off North Road. While these slimy fellas may not look great they are spectacular eating and well

worth the effort to chase. ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE September can be a real surprise packet in this part of the world. It often sees a big early season school of snapper move into the area well before what is regarded as the correct time. In turn, it can also offer some first class land-based fishing off St Kilda Breakwall and the surrounding piers. If the past weeks are anything to go by, then it may well be a belter of a season, as there has already been enough bigger reds being taken both

in the boats and land-based to indicate that there must be a few fish in the area. One good tip to remember in this part of the world is that it’s never too shallow for a big snapper, with some of the stories I have heard over the years of big snapper being taken in 2-4m of water being more than a rare situation. So no matter if you are land-based or you have a boat, now is the time to get the gear out and get ready because winter is on the way out and we are rolling into snapper season 2014-15.

FISHING FILL-ITS

New fishing facilities available The Nationals member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said Konongwootong Reservoir’s reputation as a prime recreational fishing location has received a further boost following the announcement of Victorian Coalition Government funding to improve the reservoir’s fishing facilities. “Wannon Water has been allocated $255,000 from the 2014/15 Recreational Fishing Grants Program, over three years, to improve the reservoir’s access points and install new facilities at the site,” Mr Delahunty said. Mr Delahunty said the works, funded through the Recreational Fishing Grants Program, include upgrading the parking and access to the existing boat launch area, establishing a new access point at the reservoir’s northern end and installing trails, seats, fishing platforms and signage. “The Victorian Coalition Government recognises the significant economic, social and cultural benefits of recreational fishing and is committed to ensuring our state remains a top fishing destination for locals and visitors,” Mr Delahunty said. Nationals Candidate for Lowan Emma Kealy said recreational fishing is enjoyed by western Victorian individuals and families and builds stronger regional economies by supporting local bait and tackle stores,

supermarkets, hotels and petrol stations. “Konongwootong Reservoir is a popular fishing destination, particularly for anglers in Western Victoria who visit the site regularly, and this funding will significantly improve the visitor experience at the site,” Ms Kealy said. Mr Delahunty said the upgraded parking and access points will improve angler safety and reduce environmental damage, while the new trails, seats and fishing platforms will assist all anglers, including those with limited mobility. “The funding also provides for new interpretive signage to be installed to alert anglers to the history, facilities, access options and responsible use of the site,” Mr Delahunty said. “The upgrades form part of Wannon Water’s Master Plan for Konongwootong Reservoir, which sets out the vision for the site, including

future uses and management guidelines.” Mr Delahunty said $1.7 million of the funding had been allocated to 21 large community projects this year, while almost $2 million would fund broader statewide projects including fish stocking, fisheries surveys and education to support local projects. “The Victorian Coalition Government believes it is important to invest proceeds from the sale of licences directly back into the pastime fishers enjoy,” Mr Delahunty said. The Recreational Fishing Grants Program includes year-round small grants, as well as annual large grants and commissioning programs for major projects. To see a full list of fishing licence fees at work in 2013-14 visit: www.depi. vic.gov.au/feesatwork2014. Hugh Delahunty

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Normal conditions nourish fish numbers PORT PHILLIP EAST

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

A few prolonged periods of clearer and calmer weather over the past month have really given a good old shot in the arm to the fishing on

the bay. While the encouraging reports have no doubt increased due to more anglers wetting a line, more settled periods of weather have allowed water clarity to improve, and for more normal feeding activities to resume by many popular species.

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The other impact to general angler traffic and activity along the eastern shoreline at this time of year is the various other winter options available elsewhere in the bay, and further afield as well. Far south of PPB is currently fishing very well for whiting and calamari, and Western Port is turning up some lovely winter snapper, particularly in the north of the bay. The recent settled conditions have no doubt also had a positive influence on the offshore fishing. Recent southern bluefin captures and reports from Tathra, Bermagui and Narooma are nothing short of amazing. Call me loyal, or maybe lazy, or both, but I still love fishing my local waters at this time of year. The line burning runs, and cricket score captures might not

The inshore reefs are swarming with small pinkies at the moment. They can be a nuisance, especially for bait fishers but are great fun for kids and newcomers to lure fishing in the bay. Their numbers are a great sign of previous spawning, and the health of the bay’s reefs.

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Species like flathead, red mullet, pike and wrasse will also readily take soft plastics on the reefs, and provide good late winter options when things are a little slow. be there, but there’s always great reward for your efforts when you have success during quieter times of the year on the bay.

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A recent lure fishing afternoon session on the bay with my mate Pete took me back 15 years or so, when I first started fishing soft plastics for snapper with my crazy old mate Adam Royter. It had been a fair while since I last fished this way, and I forgot how much fun you can have. While most of the pinkies we caught were well and truly undersized, they made up for it with vigour and willingness to eat our lures. As well as these, we also landed wrasse, red mullet and flathead and went home with a nice feed for the table. Expect this inshore action to continue during better weather for the next couple of months until the bigger snapper arrive to spawn. Areas like Sunnyside, Frankston

Wreck, Canadian Bay, Fishies Beach all have lots of scattered reefs to explore, and this is best done from a drifting boat casting soft plastics, or even trolling bibbed lures, which is also very effective. This fishing is a great way to teach kids and newcomers to lure fishing, as the action is normally constant, even during the middle of the day. The other plus is that other species like squid are also in the same area and can even be effectively targeted by leaving a jig out of the back of the boat while drifting over the reef. Peak activity occurs during first and especially last light, and one of the more exciting elements is knowing that you are never far away from a 1-2kg snapper, which can really pull the kinks out of light line, or you kid’s arms! It’s

worth mentioning at this point that care needs to be taken with undersized pinkies to return them to the water unharmed. They are the future of our fishery so take care and let them swim for another day. As far as other reports go, I have still had a couple of encouraging emails from anglers landing the odd snapper from the rocks around Bradford Road, particularly after a long blow, and the use of fresh bait, predominantly squid, seems to be doing the damage. Most boating mission on the reds have been confined to Western Port of late, but a few solid fish have been taken by anglers targeting gummies out wide from Safety Beach and further south. Schools of salmon have been going strong right along the eastern shoreline all year, and they continue to pop up close to shore, especially around Mornington and Frankston, and also further south. Late afternoon seem to be the best of late, and switched on anglers have been hitting the piers, jetties and rocks around this time to tangle with a few sambos. Metal slugs are your best bet giving you good casting distance, and surface lures are also very effective, particularly in the extreme shallows where the salmon love to hunt. Inshore calamari has been a little tough of late, with boating anglers doing better on deeper reefs, and also shore-based squidders in patches of cleaner and clearer water. Brighter jigs are the go at this time of year, as well as moving your jig a lot slower to get a take from a squid.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Winter snapper sensational ROSEBUD

Dan Lee info@peninsulatotaltackle.com.au

As we wind out of winter and into spring, I can’t help feeling a level of excitement. For me this period of the year heralds the start of the ‘fishing season’. The football will soon be over and for many that coincides with furious snapper fishing. But it is not only the snapper I look forward to at this time of

year. We often see fantastic, big calamari and a host of other species returning in big numbers to the bay. It is certainly time to do a once-over of the fishing gear, re-spool, wash-down and get ready for the busier six months of the piscatorial fishing calendar. SNAPPER Probably the most notable, and I will say a bit unusual, catches over the last four weeks have been the number of snapper coming from the Western Port side of the Peninsula.

Mason also got in on the winter snapper action taking these fish off Hastings.

It has been the best winter snapper fishing (outside Corio Bay) that I have seen in recent years. The quality of the fish, often 4kg and above, and the numbers caught have simply been staggering. Mostly caught at night on fresh squid, good snapper have been found from Hastings right up to the Bouchier and Boultons channels. Hopefully a sign of a cracking season ahead! SALMON Salmon have really produced for land-based anglers this year. And although winter surf fishing has been around since grandma was a girl, I dare say it is still increasing in popularity as the years go by. In recent times, anglers realising the ease with which they can ‘spin’ or cast lures for salmon has really got a lot of attention. Lures are, quite simply, a quick and easy way to fish that lots of people appreciate during the cool winter months. Anglers don’t necessarily want to spend hours dragging gear up and down the beach in the more traditional form of surf fishing. As far as reports go, we had plenty of big

schools moving around the mooring areas inside the bay. Sorrento to Rye has been the hottest patch with all the piers in this area seeing sporadic action. Blairgowrie Marina and Rye Pier were probably the pick of the bunch this year but guys were also finding them right up near the Rosebud Hospital, usually out of a kayak in a couple of metres of water. The favoured back beach down here, Gunnamatta, has seen some exceptional fishing over the last month. For the lure fishos, the blue mackerel metal slug has been by far and away the most popular of the season, indicating that the fish have probably been feeding on small pilchards. There has still been good action for the bait fishos too, with blue poppers also doing plenty of damage for those wetting a line. SOUTHERN CALAMARI I am predicting straight off the bat that we might see some unique calamari fishing over spring. The numbers of squid on the southern Peninsula and right up to Mornington and Frankston has been

Jon Maslin from the Western Port Fishing Club with an absolute honker 20lb snapper. sensational this year. There has simply been no let-up. For those seeking big calamari we have already been seeing quality examples coming from around the Portsea Pier, Lonsdale Bight and even up towards Queenscliff. This has all the hallmarks of a fantastic big squid season, so stay tuned! LOOK AHEAD Well it’s arrived – spring! And no doubt a happier, busier time for most of the fishing fraternity in greater Melbourne. Many anglers will this month begin their hunt for snapper, often doing reconnaissance of old marks and bait collecting. My hope is that we see a serious bite off Mt Martha this year as,

unfortunately last year was a bit of a disappointment as most of the snapper stayed in the far north of the bay. Time will tell. PENINSULA COMPLEAT ANGLER Finally, my shop previously known as the Peninsula Total Tackle has now joined the Compleat Angler chain. No change to management or staff so business as usual from our end but you might expect to see different signage the next time you visit! Happy fishing! For more information feel free to drop in and see the boys at Peninsula Compleat Angler, 11 Boneo Road in Rosebud or phone (03) 5981 1994.

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East Gippsland Eight new recreational fishing reefs have been installed into three estuaries: Lake Tyers, Mallacoota Inlet and the Gippsland Lakes. Funded by the State Government’s $16 million Recreational Fishing Initiative and fishing licence fees, the reefs will improve fishing opportunities for estuarine species such as black and yellow fin bream, dusky flathead, tailor, mulloway and silver trevally.

Mill

148 04.785 37 50.071 Point 148 04.839 148 04.783 37 50.071 37 50.124 148 04.481 37 50.109

Fishermans Landing

148 04.917 37 50.542

148 04.873 37 50.580

Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust

148 05.473 148 04.955 37 50.517 37 50.580 148 05.476 148 04.911 37 50.517 37 50.620

148 05.536 37 50.517 148 05.534 37 50.569

148 06.402 37 50.690 148 06.407 37 50.719

148 06.474 37 50.676 148 06.480 37 50.704

Lake Tyers

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Lake Tyers township Bass Strait

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Glass House Point

Lake Tyers

Is commercial fishing allowed? The reefs in the Gippsland Lakes have commercial fishing exclusion zones around them so can only be fished by recreational anglers. Exclusion zones are not required in Mallacoota or Lake Tyers because both are Recreational Fisheries Reserves and are closed to commercial fishing, except for some licensed bait collection.

Purpose-built reef modules will provide new fish habitat.

www.depi.vic.gov.au/betterfishing

fishing reefs 149 47.073 37 31.124

149 47.114 37 31.139

149 47.039 37 31.204

North Goodwin 149 45.779 37 31.870 149 45.764 37 31.906

149 45.848 37 31.893

149 47.084 37 31.220

Goodwin Sands

149 45.836 37 31.929

South Goodwin Bottom Lake

Bass Strait

Mallacoota township

Mallacoota Inlet

Silver trevally are likely colonisers.

Chinamans Creek

147 51 625 37 53 090 147 51 611 37 53 151

147 53 399 37 53 096

147 51 653 37 53 098

147 53 354 37 53 151

147 51 640 37 53 157

Metung Boardwalk

Gippsland Lakes

Bancroft Bay

147 53 426 37 53 118

147 53 380 37 53 174

Nungurner

The reefs will attract black bream.

Is it snapper season already? WST PORT NTH

Adam Ring

PHENOMENAL! I really wanted to open this month’s report with that word because it’s the only word that springs to mind when I think about the snapper fishing this ‘off’ season. Get excited everybody because if this

freezer a little bit for later in the summer when the short, sharp after-work trips come into play. All of the usual haunts are holding great numbers of squid so make your way over to the Quail and Tyabb banks to stock up. If there has been one little difference of late it has been the colours in squid jigs have continued

are reporting snapper from 3.5-5kg and fresh squid has done the job in the bait department. Zoran and Vito are two of those anglers getting amongst the snapper and their fish have come from only 4m of water! That big snapper beacon known as Joes Island has been attracting snapper like nobody’s business and, let’s just say, it would be

A sample of the quality cold water snapper around in great numbers at the moment. snapper bite continues, and all signs point to that being the case, then this September is shaping up to be the best we have seen in quite a long time! THE TOP END I am going to structure this report a little bit differently this month. Before we talk about the snapper it will be beneficial to all if we talk calamari first. You will see why a little bit later in the report. The calamari fishing is still as consistent as ever and I would be hitting those top end banks right now and stocking up the

to change and new trends are being discovered as the season continues. Matt ‘Cato’ Catterson discovered that it was the browns and silvers that were out fishing everything this time and is further proof that it pays to have quite a diverse range of colours in your arsenal, just to be covered. Now, let’s talk snapper! The shallow water around the Bouchier Channel has been a great place to fish and September is typically where it all really begins to fire up here. Most of the reports I have received from here

a hard decision to drive past it if you were after an early red. The 8-10m range around the island has been the magic depth and I have also heard whispers of fish to a whopping 7kg, however, most fish are anywhere from 3-5kg and the run-out tide has been the pick of the tides. Once again, fresh squid rings and squid tentacles are the best baits – are you starting to notice a trend here? THE NORTH ARM The snapper bite continues along the north arm and I think this is where we will start to see a little bit more consistency as we push further into September. The first few better reports have started to show up around Lysaughts with a few nice fish popping their heads up. There were reports of a cracker 5.3kg fish so some slightly larger fish are starting to take residence in the area. If you want a snapper in the north arm then Hastings is where it’s at! It is here that the most solid reports have come and some really nice fish have come between 15-17m of water with the bottom of the tide being the most productive. Some seriously big snapper have come from these waters too. The

Matt Cini showing us a sample of a cracker night red.

Still plenty of squid coming from the Tyabb Bank. usual 3.5-4.5kg specimens are in great numbers but some bumper fish to 6.5kg are definitely around and, surprise, surprise, fresh squid has been the best bait. Now it’s not just snapper that have been on the chew. The whiting have still been around and although a little harder to find than the snapper the rewards have still been there. The top end of the Middle Spit is where the most recent reports have come from and with the whiting averaging around the 35cm mark it’s well worth having a good poke around to find them. Shucked mussel and pipi combined with a slither of fresh calamari has been the best bait. It is more important than ever to stay on the move if you want to find the whiting because multiple anglers have commented that the bite time has been quite short. The action is thick and fast but

can only last as little as 20 minutes, so make sure those mussels and pipis are pre-shucked and the squid strips are all pre-cut so that you can make the most of the quick bite period. So to throw in a quick summary, September is shaping up as follows: If you want to catch a snapper, first catch a squid, cut it up and send it to the bottom. If you need to catch the squid, make sure you have brown and/or silver jigs, and if you want to catch a whiting be prepared for an action packed little session so make sure you make every bait count! Bring on the footy finals, which as a Collingwood supporter I may just write off this season, so that we can turn our attentions to the water and participate in hopefully one of the better snapper seasons on record! Good luck and keep the reports coming.

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Snapper fever continues on WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

The past few weeks have been nothing but sensational in Western Port. With every month that has passed, snapper have been a major feature throughout the entire winter period! Correct me if I am

wrong but ever since this time last year, there hasn’t been a monthly report without a snapper that has been caught. I am bewildered as to why so many fish are being caught. Is it that the reds have always been there and more anglers are fishing for them these days? Or is there more snapper hanging around throughout the winter period? I’ll let you ponder on that one, but one thing is

for sure – when spring hits, anglers go crazy for snapperdapper-do time! September is traditionally the kick off time for anglers in search of an early season snapper, but that kicked off months ago. In the past I would suggest a good early season location to head to, but this time around I am way too confused as to suggest a particular spot. In saying that, if I was a betting man,

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I’d still say that the Corinella region and in particular Tenby Point Channel and Spit Point will most likely fire up in a big way. My Facebook feed is already being clogged up with photos of snapper arches on fish finders, anglers holding solid reds and even quite a few nice gummy sharks, which is good to see. Before getting tunnel vision and devoting all your time to catching snapper, early September is a great time of year to head out on bait gathering missions. As they say ‘fresh is best’, which couldn’t be more true. Western Port supports a wide diversity of species with many of the smaller variety making excellent baits for snapper. Calamari are the top of the hit list and they are abundant throughout the Port. The regular areas are productive but sometimes can be a little quiet due to heavy boat traffic. Quail and Tyabb banks do perform well on the high tide, but sometimes it pays to explore new terrain where the fishing can be a lot better. It’s not often that I see anglers drifting the edges of the Middle Spit in search of calamari rather they anchor and catch whiting. The Middle Spit is a very under-rated calamari hunting ground and during spring performs very well on the run-out tides. In fact, the cardinal marker is one of the best areas along the bottom end of the Spit. That aside, anglers also fail to

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The author with a nice calamari caught from the Middle Spit, a location not really fished by anglers in search of calamari.

keep them stored in a freezer. Mind you, at this time of year they probably wont be in the freezer for too long before being used. Aside from garfish and calamari, anglers can also head out of the Easter Entrance near San Remo and catch silver whiting. Silvers begin their annual run offshore in around 20-30m of water over the sand patches. Drifting is the preferred method used to catch them with a paternoster rig containing size 10 long shank hooks. Very few anglers catch silver whiting, rather they tend to purchase them frozen. Silvers are one of the most widely used baits for snapper and, while they can be caught in Bass Strait, when the weather is ok to head out it’s worth gathering a few for the next few snapper sessions. Any fish caught in Western Port can be used as fresh bait for snapper, barracouta, mullet, pike, snook, salmon, yellow tail scad and slimy mackerel. Although spring is here, now is the time to be out bait gathering. Nevertheless, if you can resist the urge to chase snapper for a few more weeks, from Mid September until the end of the season will be epic. Fresh bait is the key. When you do decide to head out and find a few reds I suggest no other location than Corinella. This area fishes very well every spring and this year will be no different. Some of the best fishing early in the season is at the entrance to the Tenby Channel and up along the channel edge near Lang Lang. The fish caught up here at this time tend to be quite solid, in the 5-6kg range, and caught quite regularly. If this season is anything like winter has been, we are in for the most epic snapper season we have ever seen.

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Stormy weather surf PHILLIP ISLAND

John Dalla-Rosa

This past month’s weather pattern of wind, rain and more wind has made it extremely difficult to fish

A couple of winter salmon caught by the author on a recent surf fishing trip.

SEPTEMBER 2014

Game on for gummies

anywhere. I can’t recall a July like this with such extreme weather conditions. Having said that, it is winter and we just have to grin and bear it and be ready to get out on the bays, or the surf beaches or the estuaries or lakes, whenever Mother Natures decides to let up for a day for a chance to go fishing. SURF BEACHES I have had a couple of trips to Williamsons and Baxters Beaches and it was difficult fishing, dirty churned up water, sidewash, seaweed, wind and rain to top it off. Needless to say I asked myself a few times, “What the hell I was doing there?” The answer was simple I just needed to fish somewhere and, because of the weather, most other options were out. So it was either stay in bed or get out and have a go. I did manage a couple of reasonable salmon on each trip. I think that catching them was a bit of a fluke because if I were a salmon I wouldn’t have been swimming around in that water. To page 33

NINETY MILE BEACH

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

September is here and now it’s time to start heading down to the Ninety Mile Beach and chase those early season gummy sharks. Lately it’s mainly been about salmon fishing, as the cold mornings and nights have been tough for anglers to get out there and chase gummies. However, September sees us with some better weather and also that increase in water temperature brings the gummy sharks in close so we can catch them off the surf. The first full moon in September is always a great time to start targeting these premier fish and you can bet that there will be plenty of gummies caught on this weekend. Fish 2 hours either side of the tide changes for the best chance and if you can catch yourself a salmon or get your hands on some fresh bait you will have a very good chance of getting a big early season gummy. Another tip is to look for deep water. If you find a beach with a nice deep slope indicating deep water in close, this would be a good beach to try for gummies. Any

Shane Jackson shows that the full moon during the August/September period is when it’s time to start chasing gummies again on the Ninety Mile. These two decent 1m gummies were a good start to the season. prominent gutters or rips will also be great locations. There have been plenty of salmon around lately along all the beaches and they will hang around for a few months. September/Oct period is when we get a second run of big salmon on the surf. This is not only good sport but good news for shark fishers as they are prime bait for all shark species. It’s worth pulling the land-based game outfits back

out now as well as those toothy sharks will be turning up very soon. • For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 51748544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Tune into Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner’s “Off the Hook” on 1242 to hear Will’s report on what’s going on in Gippsland!

Big hopes for spring fishing PORT WELSHPOOL

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

With good conditions on the way we will be looking forward to seeing an improvement in the fishing, which will no doubt please many boaters and land-based anglers. Welshpool has been through such an awful season, so bad that many anglers have just about had enough and can’t wait to get out on the water again. The local jetties, according to reports however seem to be going along fairly well with locals who know where to go probably with bigger smiles. On a recent trip I came across a regular visitor to the area and he said he has been doing all right through the winter, which is different from most reports I have received. Frank Henderson from Morwell says that he and a mate often come down and try their luck off the jetty at the eastern end and just about every trip will go home with something to put on the plate. He

says that the eastern end of the structure seems to be the best place to wet a line. He also likes to have a variety of baits, which includes pipis, squid and sand worms. He explains that fish are finicky things and the bait they will go mad on one day will not be touched the next trip. There has been a modest sprinkling of whiting through the winter where they have been to the 37cm mark as well as a few silvers that are being caught in the Lewis Channel. The fish are not in big numbers by any stretch of the imagination but they will grow in the warmer months. The larger fish of prey will also make an appearance when the cycle will again commence. There have been quite reasonable numbers of garfish making an appearance, along with mullet. Colin Johnson discovered this when he visited the area with a mate and they ventured out near the old jetty on a fine sunny day. They had enough for a reasonable meal and, being their first trip, they can’t wait to get out again. I have received reports

from visitors who have just come down just to suss the area out. Jess was with two friends who decided to have a look at the area around Welshpool jetty. Being such a great day they decided to try out the newly constructed rock wall near the jetty. The tide was nearly at high water level and they had some whitebait at their disposal. With their baits in the water they waited for a few minutes until the action From page 32

SAN REMO AREA Below the Bridge There is still the odd whiting about and some decent size squid in the Cleelands Bight area, if you are brave enough to venture out. Above the Bridge Just before the big blow and heavy rain mid month, there were some good reports of some fishos bagging out on snapper up around Corinella and the top end of the bay. I have been out a couple of times since and have not turned a reel. However, there is still the odd one being caught if you are prepared to sit and wait. And this time

began and a very nice mullet was brought aboard. According to Jess it was huge, by mullet standards, and shortly afterwards the other rods took off. As it turned out the water was boiling and the fish were going crazy. It was a matter of being at the right place at the right time. The good fishing continued for the best part of an hour and the ‘boiling’ water moved further up the inlet, but the crew was happy. of year when you do get a fish, it’s usually in the 5-8kg bracket. Flinders Shoreham Area The usual run of the big squid is with us once again although early reports coming in suggest that they are not about in big numbers yet. When fishing this area it pays to fish with both artificial and baited jigs as the bigger calamari usually favour the baited jigs. Well, I am off to Bemm River to chase a few bream. It’s a great place to fish and the bream go like cut cats when hooked in the shallow water. I will let you know how we went next month!

Seb Sudano had a great time fishing with his dad, Carmelo, at Lauriston Reservior, Kyneton. This is just one of many redfin caught at Seb’s secret spot, as dad’s top location failed to yield a fish.

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Reward for your efforts INVERLOCH

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

The typical winter weather continues with just a trickle of boats braving the elements. Some are having reasonable returns for their efforts but it would be fair to say there is plenty of water mixed in with the fish. There are those brave souls who will always be found out on the water and catch fish when us mere mortals will cave into the elements. Phil Wardle is one of those who can always be found out on the water despite the conditions and I received a call from him saying how he and girlfriend Anne decided

to try their luck out of the wind on an estuary looking for bream, where he seldom fails. This trip was no exception, and Anne caught the biggest bream that dragged the tape way out to the 42cm mark. I have received scattered reports of flathead being caught on various presentations. Susie Walton was one very happy lady after she bagged a ripper yank off Cape Woolamai and will be hoping to do it again at the next chance. Pensions Corner at Inverloch is always worth a look and when conditions allow there are always fishers trying their luck off the shoreline. I came across a visitor Norm Sykes and a mate who had just landed a small but legal size salmon and hoped that this was the

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first of a few more! Of course the recently renovated jetty at Inverloch is making life that much easier for land-based anglers. In my last report there were some very happy anglers catching mainly mullet and salmon with a sprinkling of flathead that made the trip to the area worthwhile. There have also been a couple of large stingrays swimming around the pylons when I last paid the spot a visit. To say I was horrified when I saw some youngsters chasing them around under water would be an understatement to say the least. I told some adults who I guessed were supervising the kids, just how dangerous this could be. They were also surprised when I explained the spike in the tail bit but when it sunk in they told the kids to get out of the water. I emphasised to the youngsters just how dangerous this behaviour was and they stayed out of the freezing cold water, until I left at least. Mahers Landing is always worth a try where boaters and land-based anglers can always be seen trying their luck. For the benefit of boaters and those not familiar with this area,

This very impressive 42cm bream was caught on a Bass yabby by Anne from Korumburra, who was fishing with friend Phil Wardle in a local estuary. there is always a better than average chance of fish such as mullet, flathead as well as salmon. I came across Andrew Holgate, who does not own a boat but is happy to try his luck from the area a short distance to the left of the ramp. He said that on his last trip he managed a very nice bag of silvers,

salmon and mullet that he caught on the top half of the run-in water. He said that although he had a variety of baits, frozen pipis did the job, which just shows that it will pay to have a variety of presentations on hand. Further to the left of the ramp there have been quite a few anglers trying

their luck from the shoreline or from a boat where there have been encouraging numbers of flathead and silvers. As we are soon to be on the way out of the freezing cold conditions, the warmer water should bring with it an improvement as far as fishing results are concerned.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Breeding bream get lockjaw GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

It’s that time of year again when bream think far less of eating and more about the need to breed. I’m quite sure they are going about this vital business a lot earlier this year because mature spawning fish have been very reluctant to eat bait or lures. Smaller immature bream have also been tougher than normal. I put that down to the real cold snap we had about six weeks ago when water temps crashed almost overnight, from the unusually very mild start to winter. All good in theory but the fact is catch rates have been far from pleasing with lure fishing downright impossible. As far as flathead are concerned, they are 100% shut down now and will probably only show up again about mid November. But I have a plan – I’m going bait fishing! BAIT RULES It’s all good news for

those willing to put in effort with various baits. Although Hollands Landing now has a high flow of dirty water, most anglers are getting a fair bag of medium-sized bream to 34cm. Fresh or preserved sandworm are definitely working and are by far the best, with frozen prawns or shrimp a poor second. The bream can be very hit and miss, but put in the hours and you will get results. If your baits have not been taken within 30 minutes then move; it may require a big change of a few kilometres. Even if you are land-based be prepared to pack up and try a new area or maybe even change rivers. The best results will always come from those prepared to put in the effort and all the best bait anglers I talk to tell me that this time of year the bream are often moving around and covering big distances. So where am I going to try and start bait fishing? I’m told the entire Tambo from the Blue Hole right down to the mouth can produce good bags at the moment

and you can cover most of that area land-based as well. The upper Mitchell near the Wyung Bridge has also been fishing really well, with big schools of mullet another bonus. Boat anglers should also try between the two bridges in the Nicho and about 1km either side of this area. At this stage all the popular lake areas that have historically held bream are not producing a single thing. This will all change towards late November and early December when the bream migrate out of all the rivers. LURE DOLDRUMS Lure fishing action, and in particular using blades, is just about totally shutdown. Bream are marking up on the sounder within large schools in deeper water across many of the popular areas like Hollands, the lower Tambo River, The Cut in the Mitchell and the upper Nicholson but they have proved far too cranky for most of us chucking every lure known to mankind! After months of stacking big numbers of quality bream on lure I have now

resigned to being a beaten man. Those bream are just way too hard for me to trick at the moment. Far better lure anglers than me keep at it and get a couple of fish here and there and I shake my head in amazement with even the odd bream to 44cm. My bream gear is getting a bit of dust on it as I get my yearly fix of big salmon down at Port Albert. Call me soft but I only target fish that I know will eat my lure! GOOD RAIN AND HIGH FLOWS The best news is that all the Gippy Lakes catchments have had very healthy inflows and the Latrobe has been in minor flood for at least a month. Even the Nicholson started to run a lot harder with a bit of coloured water and the Mitchell as always came barrelling down from its huge basin. The Tambo also rose a little and so all this water tipping into the lakes means that the 2014 spawning season will be a ripper. Another factor into the equation is that a solid base of snow has built up onto the hills and it is thick and

Bream are now spawning and have a bad case of lockjaw. A few are showing up like this one caught on lure in murky cold water very widespread. This will also add to the vitality of all systems as the snow is now melting. This water may come down rather cold but it is usually very clean. CRYSTAL BALL So sorry everyone it’s hardly an inspiring report this month but I must say totally predictable for this time of year. If I had to pick the toughest fishing months on the calendar it is definitely now through to November. The winds of spring kick in and cold fronts can blow you off the

water for days on end. I had a quick glance into the future at the fishy crystal ball and I saw a few bright lights. I’m really looking forward to chasing those shallow water lake bream when they finish spawning in the rivers because they will be super hungry and aggressive. The dusky flathead numbers seem to have exploded last year and this summer should prove to be a ripper with plenty of medium sized flatties to 45cm.

Plenty inside and out MCLOUGHLINS

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

As winter generally goes, we have had cold mornings and mild days. This has given us anglers plenty of fishing days to get out there and chase a few. INSIDE Mcloughlin and Manns beaches over winter are renowned for salmon, however this winter they have been hit and miss. There have been plenty of those smaller 500-750g fish around in the entrance at Mcloughlins during the run-in tide and they are scattered throughout the inlet around St Margarets

Island and the Manns channel towards the snapper hole. Manns Entrance has been a better option and more reliable on the salmon; there have been days when the salmon are over 1kg. September is always worth trying for the bigger salmon and as the water temps warm slightly we generally get another run of really big salmon up to 3kg in weight in late September and into October. The real surprise this month was the trevally. Mcloughlins and Manns beaches had good numbers of trevally and some of them were massive. I saw fish over 40cm caught this month but I heard anecdotal reports of trevally over 50cm caught up towards Manns Beach and some of the channels around St

Margarets Island. Soft plastics are definitely the go and the end of the run-in tide and start of the run-out is when all the trevally have been caught. They are spread over the weed beds a bit around St Margarets Island and most of the deep gutters have been holding them as well. BIG FLATHEAD A few local gurus have always told me that August is the time to start chasing the really big 70cm+ blue spot flathead inside, and we saw some fish close to that recently. The cold water certainly shuts them down but doesn’t make them disappear. The key to catching flatties is to get them active. This can be done with berley – a lot of

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Clint Stanistreet holding one of three big trevally caught at Mcloughlins Beach using a Berkley pumpkinseed minnow. This one measured 40cm. it! This is why garfishers often get good flathead as a by-catch as they are always using berley and creating a food chain. The sand flats around Manns and Port Albert have been producing some massive flathead in the past few weeks and they are only going to get easier to catch over September and October. If any warm days come up, definitely get the 3-4” soft plastics out, but if the water temps remain cold hit the shallow areas and use lots of berley. OFFSHORE The thing I love about owning a tackle store is the amount of learning I get to do every day. In Victoria, winter is definitely the time when three-quarters of the anglers stop fishing and it’s only the fishoholics that keep going – rain, hail or shine. This means that a lot of our knowledge of species diversity and habits are

relatively unknown over winter. This year I have learnt a lot and I would say to anyone don’t be pessimistic about winter fishing. The number of gummy sharks, big flathead and even snapper that have been caught offshore this winter is a real eye-opener. The gummy shark fishing off from Port Albert has been especially good in close and some anglers have been lucky enough to get 2-3 gummies in a session. The tide changes seem to be the important thing to remember when chasing winter gummies, along with fresh bait such as salmon, trevally or squid. The good thing is that there have been no small gummies, they have all been around the 4ft mark and some a bit bigger. The flathead, as always in winter, have been sensational and have been averaging the 40cm and are in 20-35m.

We heard of some really good sized pinkies (50cm) recently caught out at Cliffy Island, which shows they probably don’t all leave and there are populations that hang around over winter. The pinkies have been caught by anglers drifting for flathead. It will definitely be worth chasing an inside snapper this month. I can’t believe we are already in the start of the snapper/gummy season again. It has gone so quick, I can’t wait to send in the first snapper pics of the season. Good Luck! • For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 51748544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Tune into Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner’s “Off the Hook” on 1242 to hear Will’s report on what’s going on in Gippsland!

SEPTEMBER 2014

Foul weather tests anglers LAKES ENTRANCE

Lucas Smith squidgy_man1@hotmail.com

After the Victorian coast copped a hammering from some serious weather the fishing has been slow, although there are still plenty of options for those chasing a feed. Lakes Entrance jetties have been invaded by huge schools of yellow-eye mullet and are easily caught using sandworm or bread under a float. Best jetties have been the Ferrymans Wharf, Nautilus Jetty and the skate park boat ramp. With all the mullet around there have been reports of large fish being hooked and lost, which are possibly mulloway or huge flathead. It pays to have a livie out as you never know what’s hanging around. Some nice bream have

been caught in the early hours on live shrimp and sandworm fished on slack line around the boat hulls. Trevally and luderick have also been caught but most have been small. Bullock Island has been firing with salmon, tailor and trevally caught on the flood tide using pilchard fillets and small metal lures. Sand crabs have been in big numbers too and are easily caught in a hoop style trap. Just make sure you check local regulations before setting pots. The odd school whiting and butterfly gurnard have been caught at Kalimna Jetty on peeled prawn. Small pinky snapper to 30cm have been caught along the rock wall on pilchard fillets along with some thumping big yank flathead on the run-out tide drifting baits along the

wall. Some huge winter yellowfin bream have been caught on black crab fished unweighted along the wall too, but getting a crab past the wrasse is challenging. Lake Tyers has been fishing well for bream and luderick in the deeper areas around The Glasshouse and Long Point on metal vibes and soft plastics. The upper reaches of the Nowa Nowa Arm have been fishing well for big bream using lightly weighted soft plastics on weedless jigheads and hopped through the timber. It’s a tricky way to fish but very effective when the bite is tough. Huge tailor have been caught trolling through the system on Rapala X-Raps and Halco Twisties. Garfish have been caught at Burnt Bridge on worm, and a few flatties have been

taken just above Cherry Tree by the kayak anglers on plastics and peeled prawn. Offshore has been challenging due to the bad weather but the boats getting out to the 8 Mile Reef have been rewarded with some nice pan size pinkies, morwong and nannygai and the occasional school shark. Squid have been in big numbers and make great fresh bait. The couta have moved on, which is good news as it can be very frustrating re-rigging every drop when they are thick. In close, the flatties have been patchy but drifting should see you get a few. The surf beaches have been the highlight with big numbers of salmon caught both spinning and bait fishing. Lake Tyers Beach has been best but don’t

Spinning the beaches is great fun for all ages. discount eastern or main beaches as there are good gutters all the way along the beach. Green surf poppers, bluebait and 40g metal slugs

are best. Look for the deeper channels but also watch for birds and dark patches in the water as these could be cruising schools of fish.

HOT SPOT

Bemm River – East Gippsland CRANBOURNE

Mitch Chapman

Bemm River is situated in East Gippsland along the shores of Sydenham Inlet, which is only a short 5 hour drive from Melbourne. It is famous for its exceptional fishing in both the Lake and the River, where anglers target big bream and estuary perch along with tailor, salmon trevally, luderick and some very big and healthy flathead, just to name a few. PRIME TIME The warmer months

from November through to March offers very good lake and river fishing for most species that you are likely to encounter. The bream push up into the shallows and can be caught on a variety of methods. As the weather cools and the icy cold mornings approach us in winter, this is when the fishing really heats up. Large numbers of bream school up in the lake which can make for some exceptional fishing up there with the best in the country. Also the large number of salmon patrolling the surf beaches and the mouth of the inlet push weights in excess

of 4kg, which sure gets anglers forgetting about the cold and the heart rate going. THE GEAR With the large variety of species on offer a standard bream/estuary type outfit will be more than capable of getting the job done. A 7” graphite spin stick married with a 2000 sized Reel, and 4-10lb braid is perfect. THE RIG Depending on what species you are willing to target then the rig can change ever so slightly. A rod length of 4-8lb

fluorocarbon leader tied to your braid with a double uni knot is a very good start to ensure best results. All you have to do now is tie your go-to lure on, and cast away. BAIT AND LURES All methods of fishing work well at Bemm River. While sandworm and live prawns are gun baits which can be all collected there, the lure fishing is what has really taken off in the past decade. Casting lures such as Daiwa Double Clutches, Nories Laydown Minnows and blading the deep water with vibes are lures that

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Gez Hawthorne with a big blue lipped bream caught fishing the edges of the lake.

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Eases up around Eden EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Winter is here and the next few months are the quietest time to visit the far south coast. Weather wise, the past month has seen some cold fronts push through resulting in some much-needed rain. The local rivers have all cleared up now and all the creeks are flowing; this is just what is needed as we head towards spring. The beach fishing has been good with plenty of salmon. Some good fish have been caught down at

Wonboyn, averaging around 2kg, and along with some bigger fish (around 3kg) amongst them. Anglers fishing with both lures and bait have been getting amongst the fish frequenting the good gutters up and down the beaches. There are still a few yellowfin bream been caught along the beaches and their numbers will increase in the months ahead. Heading out wide, there has been a patch of warm water a long way out but those getting there have been catching mahi mahi. A few yellowfin tuna have been caught but as yet not much to report on the southern bluefin tuna.

The fishing on the inshore reefs has been good. With cuttlefish backbones washing up on the beaches, you know it’s time to fish for snapper. This time of year the fish can be caught in close around the headlands with fresh baits and soft plastics also catching fish. The flathead, sandies and tigers, are still being caught, you just need to keep on the move until fish are found. This time of year they can be on the bite one day and quiet the next. The fishing in the local rivers has been good and the winter months sees some big blackfish enter the systems with good fish caught on greenweed fished under a float.

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Winter bream can be hard to find but once found there can be some great fishing. Silver trevally and tailor captures, should continue but the bigger models are generally caught throughout winter. Winter slowed down

the flathead, but with the days getting longer and the water warming it won’t be long before they fire up again. Further upstream black

bream are been caught with the coming months seeing them spawn then once again spread out through the system.

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Weathered the worst MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

We have moved through the worst of the winter months and endured the cold, wind and rain in an attempt to catch a few fish for the table in an unfriendly environment. The anglers who ventured out in the cold windy conditions have reported the going tough. With the rivers running fast and cold it has held up the annual winter run of bream coming into the system. The weather will warm up slightly and the entrance is deep and wide, so the bream have began to enter the system in large schools, accompanied by big schools of mullet on their annual run.

In a very short time they will have moved throughout the system and up into the rivers and small streams preparing for the early spawning run. From now on the fishing will only get easier and, with the warmer weather, more enjoyable. As the spring approaches a lot more species will be entering the system and again making the Snowy River estuary system the best fishing spot in all of Victoria. We are very lucky as the surf beaches seem to hold fish all year round. Huge schools of salmon and tailor patrolling along the whole shoreline are moving into the gutters that run along the beaches to feed on sardines and other small species. The most popular methods in the area is using a paternoster rig baited with either blue bait, pipis,

squid and pilchards always accompanied with a popper. Other anglers prefer to use light tackle and spin with metal lures. Anglers have also reported gummy shark still on the chew along most of the beaches for those who brave the cold evenings and venture onto the beaches. Best results using squid legs, eel and fresh fillets. Offshore the water is still too cold for any pelagic fish to be in the area. We will have to wait several months for that to change and for the warm currents come down the east coast from the north. In the interim, the fishing is still very good, with anglers reporting good captures of flathead, gurnard, squid, barracouta, pinkie snapper and gummy shark.

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Martyn Gittens from Mornington caught a decent bag of calamari and flathead in a kayak, using a berley pot that he designed and made himself.

SEPTEMBER 2014

All happening inshore MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

This is a great time to be in Mallacoota! You get to see the town without all the crowds unlike during the warmer months. The offshore fishing at this time of year is not worth worrying about. The cold water means very few locals will head offshore, but once the water warms the fishing fires up, and so do the locals. The work on the breakwall is still going on with the completion date sometime around October. At the moment, the only way to head out to sea is via the lake,

so you need to pick your day. Along the beaches, the salmon are about and they have made a few jaunts into the lake. However, with the recent rains the lake has just cleared up so the coming weeks will see the salmon push their way into the lake and get stuck into the whitebait schools. As mentioned earlier, it’s the winter lake fishing that really fires up. On my last 3 two-day charters the anglers have caught over 100 fish for the couple of days – that’s enough to make it worth fishing! Good numbers of decent size silver trevally are moving around the lake, and they can turn up anywhere.

The key is to find big schools of baitfish and it won’t be long before the fish turn up the big models, around the 50cm mark. Tailor are also hooking into the baitfish schools. Most are only choppers but there are a few fish being caught around the 1kg mark. A few yellowfin bream are being caught, but on the whole there has been a lot better fishing for this species in the past years. The fish that are about are a good size but the numbers are just not there. Black bream are about and they are challenging to catch. First you need to find them, which is not always easy, then work out what lure

September can still be cold but the fishing makes it worthwhile. they will take. The one thing that is noticeable is their size; on average they are a hell of a lot smaller compared to the size caught not too

many years back. We need to start cherishing these 800g fish as they are becoming the big ones. Flathead are still being

caught with fish in the bottom lake and up towards Gypsy Point. This time of year, the flathead tend to bite well for a few days then they go quiet.

Early spring opens entrance and fish fire! BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

The fishing has improved out of sight and the entrance remains open. A large school of tailor

have been sighted in Bobs Bay cruising back into the channel. Catching these are a lot of fun on spinners and bream gear. Around the mouth of the river and the reed beds, the bream have really been on the bite and

obviously starting to move up the river. Lester Burge fished his favourite spots around Pelican Point in the last week and was rewarded with quality bream up to 40cm and just over the kilo mark. Now that we

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are heading into the warmer weather and hopefully the water temperature starts to improve we should see the flathead (dusky) back in abundance. It has been noticed by some night anglers that the flathead lays are prominent all over the sand beds throughout the entire system.

Surf beaches have been producing some great salmon, especially at Pyoot Bay where anglers have been sheltering from the prevailing winds. These fish are always fun to catch and good table fare if prepared properly. All in all, Bemm River will be the ultimate spring fishing destination in 2014.

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Portarlington set for a big pier The Portarlington pier is set for major redevelopment with the Minister for Ports David Hodgett today announcing over $3 million in funding to renew the pier by mid-2015. Mr Hodgett was joined by Candidate for Bellarine Ron Nelson and representatives from the City of Greater Geelong and Parks Victoria at Portarlington today to announce the redevelopment and call for tenders. “I am pleased to announce that the Victorian Coalition Government will invest over $3 million to provide the immediate renewal that Portarlington pier needs. The project is ready to build and suitable contractors are invited to tender to deliver the works by mid-2015,” Mr Hodgett said. “The Portarlington pier is vital to the Port Phillip aquaculture industry based on the Bellarine Peninsula – by renewing the pier the Napthine Government is supporting the ongoing strength of this industry well into the future.” The major infrastructure upgrade will deliver a new 175 metre long 4.5 metre wide pier aligned alongside the existing pier and designed to have a life of 50 years. The project includes minor works to the existing Portarlington pier to ensure safe access for pedestrians.

There will also be an increase to the load limits on the new pier section to improve aquaculture and other marine industry vehicle access. “The upgrade at the Portarlington pier has been fully scoped and designed by Parks Victoria to find the most cost effective and efficient outcome to allow vehicle access for the aquaculture industry and other users,” Mr Hodgett said. “The investment in the region by the Coalition Government will secure access for the existing aquaculture berth holders and take an important step towards the development of the precinct. “The Coalition Government is committed to investing in Victoria’s local ports and today’s announcement adds to the rejuvenation of several local piers including the $15 million reconstruction works underway at Mornington Pier and the recently completed $3 million jetty arm and maintenance works at St Kilda,” Mr Hodgett said. In addition, the Coalition Government is partnering with the City of Greater Geelong to progress planning for the longer term redevelopment of the pier at Portarlington and surrounding precinct. “The former Labor Government announced in 2006 that they would build a safe harbour at Portarlington. In 2009, all Labor could release

was a master plan. Labor never committed any funding from 2006 onwards to commence any capital works, upgrades or renewal at the Portarlington pier,” Mr Hodgett said. “In contrast to Labor, who were all talk and no action when in government, this announcement means works will commence at Portarlington with the first stage of the pier renewal works to start this year, and a process is in place to guide the long term development at the precinct. Deputy Mayor Cr Bruce Harwood welcomed the funding announcement. “The funding announced today will provide for works to upgrade the pier and keep it in working condition which is essential for Portarlington’s thriving mussel industry. We’ll continue to work closely with State Government on the broader redevelopment of Portarlington pier,” Cr Harwood said. “A redevelopment will stimulate investment in the commercial aquaculture industry, provide recreational boating facilities and boost tourism for Portarlington and the Bellarine,” Cr Harwood said. Parks Victoria is now calling for tenders to be lodged by late June. Construction is scheduled to commence this year and be completed by mid-2015.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Estuaries on and bluefin arrive MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Merimbula’s game fishing fraternity are in a buzz of excitement as bluefin fever kicks well and truly in. The last two weeks have been epic for this small port as local and visiting anglers get amongst the SBT on offer. It’s great to see 30-40 trailer boats in Merimbula’s so called ‘quiet time’ heading offshore to have some fun. The blues have been

wide with 60-80km of travel needed some days to get to the fishing grounds. That’s a long way, but if the conditions are right and you have an experienced crew then there should be no problems. The SBT have responded well to trolled pushers, especially the bigger fish upwards of 70kg. When trolling you get to cover that much extra ground to locate the fish, when you do, you can revert to a cube/berley trail and get them at the back of the boat. It’s exciting

Tom and John Williams with a decent brace of bream caught on softies. The boys managed 33 for the day and all released.

when this happens and you will find it’s possible to catch them on poppers and jigs on spin tackle. You tend to find though that the school fish between 40-60kg are the culprits you will catch. The larger fish are generally a little deeper and will be harder to attempt at times, but it’s still adrenalin running stuff. Mixed in with the SBTs are yellowfin tuna to 60kg, they are certainly not as thick as the SBT but they are there. Most of the yellowfin being caught are by the trollers. If tuna isn’t your thing and sharks are, then you’re in for a treat. There have been some cracking mako sharks around following the tuna schools and I’ve heard of a few 200kg+ fish being hooked but lost due to biteoffs. In saying that, makos to 120kg have been caught regularly mostly by anglers cubing but they are partial to a trolled pusher as well. Closer to shore, the snapper are still going great guns and I can’t see it slowing down any time soon. It’s so good to see these fine table fish as a yearround proposition, especially

for the locals, big travel distances are not needed and you get a great feed for the family. Most reefs are holding snapper but this month they will head into deeper water now the cuttlefish run has finished. Better baits to try include squid, cuttlefish and pilchards with the soft plastic brigade getting their fair share as well. I’d look at Horseshoe Reef to the south and White Cliffs to the north for your best chance. Those after sand flatties won’t have too many problems. Try straight off Tura Head in 40m of water, you should be right there at present. In the estuaries, it will only get better as the month rolls on, we have had very cold water in close thus making some estuary dwellers a little sluggish. Flathead will come out of hibernation as the water warms, with both Pambula and Merimbula lakes worth a look. Try fishing smaller soft plastic prawn imitations around the ribbon weed edges in 3-4m of water. The jelly prawn has grown a bit since it entered the systems

The author’s daughters Sophie (9) and Jessica (12) had a great time catching salmon one morning at Pambula Lake. The girls caught plenty and let them all go, great family fun and times to remember. in June/July so it makes sense to fish something like it. You’re in with a good chance at bream, trevally and even blackfish with these presentations but remember to fish them slow. What is chewing big time are the pelagic species, like salmon, tailor and trevally. These cold water species have been excellent all winter and still will be chewing big time this month. The channels in both systems are good places to start with the flooding tide and your best chance at a cracking session. Those fishing the beaches and rocks are

going okay on the pelagics, with salmon and tailor in good numbers. It’s not red-hot fishing but still fun, especially when fishing lighter outfits with gelspun line. Anglers casting smaller metal shiners are probably out fishing the bait guys, mainly due to the smaller numbers of fish around. You get to cover a lot more ground, especially when fishing the beaches. Tura and North Tura still remain the pick of beaches to target salmon, but this month will see and increase in bream and whiting numbers as they get ready to enter the estuaries once again.

Tackle up for the massive tuna MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Tuna, tuna and more tuna, that’s the word around this neck of the woods with game fishos licking their chops with some of the best SBT action seen for years. It’s been a fantastic month for these speedsters with the average fish around 45-50kg. These are small compared to some of the stories of monster barrels

being lost after many hours hooked up. I know of at least 8 monster SBT lost after pulling hooks, which will happen when trolling lures. One boat had a five way hook-up of fish over 70kg with only two landed, both over 80kg. There’s been even bigger barrels landed over the last week with the best I’ve heard of going 119kg – that’s a big fish! With the way the water is looking (temperature 19-20ºC) and the eddie that’s formed off Narooma this action may

Ben Bolton from Playstation and a client with three jumbo barrel SBT of 80kg+. It’s been an epic season so far for these enigmatic species. 42

SEPTEMBER 2014

continue for a few weeks yet. Everything will depend on Mother Nature, but let’s hope this pocket of water stays on our door step for a little longer. The SBT are wide of the shelf. Every day is a little different to their whereabouts but generally speaking the inside edge of the eddie is around 40 miles out. The fish have responded well to trolling, especially the bigger barrels. Those who have got the fish to the boat after hooking up and keeping them there with pilchards have been getting a lot of the school fish. Once you have them at your transom then jigs, cubes and big stickbaits will all catch them. When they’re like that, they’re not too fussy and are all revved up. But if a monster barrel is for you, then trolling skirted pushers or big bibbed minnows is the go. There’s been the odd yellowfin mixed in with the blues; 60kg is the best I’ve heard. There was a report of a very big striped marlin hooked too, plus a few short-billed spearfish landed. I know that sounds mad for late winter but it’s true! At Montague Island the kings have been pretty good right through winter and I expect that to continue this month. The last 3 months have been excellent for the kings with fish to 8kg on the cards. Anglers using live bait and jigs will catch plenty,

while trolling smaller Xmas Tree lures is also worth a go. The Fowlhouse Reef and the Pinnicles down south of the island is where most of the action is happening. For those after a bottom feed then snapper is still your best option. The reds are quite wide spread along the inshore reefs, it may take a little time to find them but once you do it’s all systems go. Drifting has been productive when conditions allow as you get to cover more ground. It’s a good idea that when you locate fish, make a GPS mark and anchor upstream about 50m from where your mark. If you berley hard and use cubes you will get the snapper off the bottom and into your trail. It’s not for everyone as some work is involved but more times than not you will improve your catch rates. In the estuaries it’s been a little slow but that’s to be expected coming out of winter. Wagonga Inlet has been good for the colder pelagic species like salmon, tailor and trevally. The key is to find the white bait schools that are littered throughout the system, once you find them then the action will happen. Try casting small stick-style softies around the edges for best results. This month will see mulloway enter the system again, every September it’s the same and I expect to see some solid specimens coming from the Wagonga depths in

Linda with the type of black bream that we all want to catch regulary. This beast was part of a dozen caught with her 5 fish bag going 6.30kg. coming weeks. Up at Tuross, the system needs a flush as it’s very clear at present. Anglers are struggling a bit in the crystal clear water, especially those after bream and EPs, but those that are fishing the silly string (3lb) are still getting results although working hard. There’s a few flatties coming from 4-ways downstream towards the boat shed. I’ve heard of a few 70cm fish coming from this section so it may be worth a look. A few locals are still getting the odd mulloway to 90cm from the lower section mainly on soft plastics and big vibes, I reckon this season may be a corker for the mulloways in this system. The coming weeks and months will see this waterway fire up again and I can’t wait for it. The ocean beaches and rocks have been good without being red hot. It really depends on what you want to target but the salmon fishing was good until a few weeks ago. They

have copped a flogging of late from the netters south of Narooma, not too sure why they would want to target them as they bring bugger all money but they still flog them. In the wash up, it’s made these fine beach sports fish harder to find but the better beaches to try are Brou, Tilba and Coila to the north of Tuross. Casting shiners will catch fish, once you locate a patch you will have some fun. Using a paternoster rig will work too, a bait/popper combination is the best presentation. September will see yellowfin bream around the estuary entrances as they head back inside after spawning. This bread and butter species will only get better as the month rolls on with live beach worms and pipi the gun baits. You should get a few bigger sand whiting mixed in with the bream as well.

NSW South Coast

Go upstream for spring BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Things are starting to warm up on land but not so much offshore. That’s OK though, because the warmth is seeping into the upper reaches of the estuaries, brackish, freshwater and impoundments. This is an exciting time of year for fishing and you don’t need a luxurious game boat or a million dollars, just a handful of lures and a packet of bait. Starting in the upper sections of the estuaries, fish

will migrate back into the systems and head upstream to the warmer water and better feeding areas. In those lakes that are closed to the ocean and not allowing fresh stocks of fish to enter, finned residents of these waters will congregate in the warm shallower margins of the upper stream and flats. Look for fish in areas you would not normally expect to find reasonable numbers. Areas like Narira Creeks, up the back of Wallaga Lake, are prime spots. Bream especially will be seen with their tails protruding out of the water as they nose in the gravel for crabs, worms and

Bream are a popular target in the upper reaches.

such, usually in the middle of the creeks. This is a great time to target these fish with lures and with a good set of Polaroids, as it will provide some of the best visual fishing on the South Coast. Small hard bodied lures are my pick although plastics can also be effective and of course bait fishing will be extremely productive. Other species regularly encountered are luderick, flathead, mullet and bass returning from spawning. In the estuaries that are open to the ocean the upper tidal flats that are exposed at low tide and then covered with enough water at high tide will provide some excellent bait fishing. These flats will often pay host to large nipper and worm beds with weedy areas surrounding them, providing cover. Well placed baits will take a wide variety of grazing fish as they work the flats over. Use ultra light line with very little drag and allow the fish to have its head when hooked. Bream are especially sought after using this method, and some of the first runs can be sizzling. Not all the fish in the estuaries will be encountered on the flats. Drop-offs, weed

beds and rocky outcrops will produce their fair share, as tides fall carrying the rich nutrients and warmer water coming off the flats and out of the mangrove swamps. Bait fishing is extremely good and lure fishing will also produce the goods, particularly on large dusky flathead. FRESHWATER Moving further inland to the brackish and freshwater, now is the time to intercept bass as they return to the fresh after spawning. Hopefully the spring rains and warmer water will allow the bass to migrate inland to their summer feeding grounds, and with this most of the eastern flowing streams will host fish. Estuary perch may also be a regular catch while targeting bass, especially in the brackish margins. Lure fishing is extremely good. Searching the deeper holes with lures like spinnerbaits, soft plastics and deep diving hardbodies can produce surprisingly large fish for this time of year. You should also keep an eye out this month for those balmy days that will produce early insect hatches. This is the time to attack bass with a variety of surface lures.

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Upstream in spring can produce excellent duskies in the shallows. Bass in Brogo Dam are also on the move. Evenings after a warm spring day will often be the best, with both surface and sub-surface lures working. Bait will be more productive than other methods, however I still find this time of year to be a little early for the dam. OFFSHORE Offshore is actually at its worst at this time of year, with water temps at their lowest – or near enough. Gamefishing will probably be poor to non-existent. With water temps around

14-15°C, you’re only likely to encounter sharks and the odd bluefin tuna. Reef or bottom fishing can be good though, with anglers targeting the 50-70m depth range as large tiger flathead return to the area. These fish are regular catches in the spring months along with morwong, snapper and other assorted reef species. If you strike some good, calm seas you can fish the deep water off the Twelve Mile Reef for even larger tiger flathead and maybe some Tassie trumpeter.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Lake Hume Classic It is on again, the 11th Lake Hume Fishing Classic proudly sponsored by Leigh Martin Marine and Mercury, and will be held on the weekend of 1-2 November. A total of 439 anglers entered last year’s event and they weighed over 700 fish between them. With 150 golden perch presented for measuring and released alive, this event is fast becoming a premier event for this species. The competition is held on the picturesque Lake Hume, and the event is open to all ages. The centre for all activities is the Lake Hume Tourist Park under the big marquee.

The boundaries for the event are the confines of Lake Hume from the Wymah ferry (nearest weigh station is the Holbrook boat club on the Murray arm) and the Tallangatta narrows on the Mitta arm (nearest weigh station is at Ludlow’s reserve). Entry for the 2014 classic is $65 for adults and $25 for juniors. Juniors must be under 15yo on the 31 October 2014. The cost of entry for a team is $40 of up to 4 anglers. All entries received and postmarked by the 24 October 2014 will go into an early bird draw for $500 worth of fishing gear. Entry in the event

includes a meal on Saturday night and a sausage sizzle on the Sunday at presentation; all entrants also receive a Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Lake Hume Fishing Classic stubby holder and an information pack. Junior and female entrants get a lure from the lucky lure box. Registration at the event is from 4pm until 8.30pm on Friday the 31 October and from 5am until 11am on Saturday 1 November 2014 sharp at the Lake Hume Tourist Park, in the marquee. This year’s major prize is again a Quintrex boat with a Mercury outboard on a trailer. In all, prizes totalling over $40,000 are on offer for the competition. All competitors who enter the Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Lake Hume Fishing Classic will go into the draw for the boat, motor and trailer package. There are four fish categories: golden perch (catch and release only), trout, redfin and carp. The greatest number of fish caught by the four members over the two days will

determine the team’s event winner. Champion Angler is based on the number of measurable fish caught, excluding carp, over the two days by an individual angler in both the senior and junior categories. Mystery weights for golden perch on both days will give everyone who weighs a golden perch a chance to win a prize. The Kevin Downey lure wall will be available again this year, simply

place a lure on the wall for a chance to win the entire wall. Lures can be new or used (only whole packets of plastics please) and the classic will start the wall off with 10 brand new lures from our sponsors. On the weekend, a Minn Kota motor and swag will be raffled, and drawn. With up to 50 Lucky Door prize draws to be held on Saturday evening, after the evening meal, this promises to be a great

weekend of fun for the whole family and a must not miss event. Therefore, get your accommodation booked to avoid missing what will be an excellent weekend. All event merchandise for the 11th Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Lake Hume Classic is only available through pre-order. For more information, visit the web site at www. lakehumeclassic.com.au. – Lake Hume Classic

Tea Tree Snapper Fishing Competition incorporating The Victorian Amateur Snapper Championship FRIDAY 31st OCTOBER & SATURDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2014

Hosted by the Snapper Point Angling Club. Weigh in and presentation MORNINGTON RACECOURSE.

$130,000 IN PRIZES including...

sponsored by:

3 BOATS!

Snapper Point Angling Club wishes to acknowledge the generous support given by the sponsors of this competition and thank them for their involvement.

The 31st Annual Mornington Peninsula Tea Tree SnapperFishing Competition

- the competition for the serious Port Phillip and Westernport Snapper fisherman...

Entry details at www.teatreesnapper.org.au 44

SEPTEMBER 2014

Fishing Fill-its

Lure and Fly Expo Award winners The third Australian Lure & Fly Expo, held over the weekend of August 9-10, changed locations from Fernvale to the Ipswich Show Grounds for 2014. A part of the Expo that always attracts interest is the annual Lure Awards, featuring creative entries which are voted on by lure makers’ peers. The following three lure craftsmen each took away a trophy from this year’s event.

BEST COTTAGE LURE Chris Nielsen from Chris’ Creations Chris is a jeweller by trade with 20 years’ experience under his belt, and a couple of years ago he decided he wanted to indulge his fishing passion by creating beautiful lure artefacts and collectables. “I wanted to create something a bit out of the box, to put something out there that would make people

say, ‘how did he do that’?” Chris said. He has certainly achieved his aim with his new cicada, which took out the Best Cottage Lure award. Chris’ skill is evident in the intricate body and stunning finish, but it’s the bib that really catches people’s attention with its unique, elongated edges. Chris says he hand cuts and swages all his own bibs. At the time of writing

Left: The Gobsmacked BuzzBug is designed to imitate a Bogong moth for Murray cod chasers. Right: This lure really turned a lot of heads in the display cabinet. Check out the stunning detail in this Murray Cray lure.

Chris hadn’t yet decided on a price for his new cicadas, but interested parties can contact him at christophers. creations@yahoo.com. au for a price, or for any other information about his expertly crafted collectables. MOST ARTISTIC LURE Aaron Young from Kuttafurra Lures Winning the Most Artistic Lure award was a great achievement for lure maker Aaron Young, whose large crayfish imitation was pitted against some very strong contenders. Aaron’s crayfish exhibits exceptional attention to detail, with a carved body, realistic spikes and jointed moveable claws. Like all Kuttafurra handmade timber lures it has a design and paint job that’s second to none. This stunning lure was both a side project and a labour of love for Aaron, who worked on it whenever he found some spare time to kill. “It took many months to make,” he said. “I just kept coming back to it and tinkering with it until I finally had the finished product.” This lure does swim, so theoretically you could fish with it, but Aaron says he wouldn’t dream of fishing

Check out the bib on Chris Nielsen’s award winning cicada. such a unique collectible. You can find more information on Kuttafurra Lures at www. facebook.com/kuttafurra. lures.7 along with stacks of photos of the range. BEST COMMERCIAL LURE Jamie Judd from Gobsmacked The winning Commercial Lure was the Buzz Bug from Gobsmacked – essentially a topwater popper with buzzbait arms. It’s designed to be popped along the surface, which makes its propellered wings spin to create maximum attraction, like a large winged insect struggling on the surface.

Designer Jamie Judd said the inspiration for the design came from cod fishermen, specifically one of his friends in Canberra who told Jamie the cod were smashing big bogong moths on the surface. He told Jamie it would be great to have a lure to replicate the large moths, so Jamie got to work. The Buzz Bug will be available in tackle stores for a suggested retail price of $16. To view the full range of Gobsmacked Lures you can check out their website at www.gobsmackedlures. com.au. - FM

EILDON PONDAGE ~ EILDON VICTORIA Saturday & Sunday 18th & 19th October Food and Wine Festival

This competition supports catch & release for sustainable fishing

Motorboat Major Draw

Each fish caught gives you an entry into the Major Draw

Saturday: • Trade Shows • Stalls all day • Children’s Amusements • Live music Saturday 5pm-9pm from Harry Hookey and the Family Band • Casting competitions

Sunday 10am-3pm:

• Trade Displays • Market Stalls • Food • Children’s Amusements

Major Raffle: Tinny full of tinnies + trailer

• Competition Presentations & Raffle Drawn 2pm Sunday

SATURDAY

SATURDAY Fishing from 7am-4pm Fishing entr y fee • Adults $25 • Junior / kids $10 • Family $60

• food • bar, • auctions from midday SUNDAY Fishing from 7am-12noon

TRADE DISPLAYS SEPTEMBER 2014

Long days bring rewards TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

The weather has started to come good and there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. The wet and windy conditions of August are hopefully far behind. It is not quite daylight savings time, but the days are noticeably longer

but the weekend itself was manageable and there were some reasonable days throughout. Now the weather is on the improve and the footy has slowed down there will be a huge increase in anglers making their way to their favourite spots. The pressure will have come off the lower altitude waters as the rivers start to slow and the

slimmer well finished lures in the Ecogear MX range that are well respected in this domain. If you are looking to get deeper and target bigger trout, look no further than Nories Laydown Minnow, they’re pricey but excellent. The Tassie Devil lures are popular and well worth a run out the back of the boat when traveling from spot to spot.

Tassie guru Mason Paull put this chap onto a monster from a western river.

A range of trout lollies from Ecogear and Nories. as we head toward that awesome day in October where we get to turn the clocks forward. Let’s turn our attention to what anglers can get up to in September. FRESHWATER FUN The diehard trout fishers battled the conditions and did quite well in August on the days they could get out. The lead up to opening weekend was horrendous,

highlands become a bit more hospitable. Arthurs Lake How can you go wrong? It is a fabulous waterway and a favourite of many as it provides spectacular fishing for all disciplines. No matter if you like to troll wobblers of flick small hardbodies into the sticks or flooded margins, there are fish there for the taking. Rapalas are good but there are some

Southern calamari are an all year prospect in Tasmanian waters. 46

SEPTEMBER 2014

SEA RUNNERS The Derwent River gave up some very nice sea run trout in August, as it always does. It was a brown coffee colour for the first two weeks, but eventually cleared up. This will continue right through September. This river is a godsend for those anglers who can knock off work or get a fish

MAINTAINENCE This is a great time to make sure everything is sweet with the pride and joy. Boats that have been hidden away for the winter will need a once over. There is a lot to consider when giving a boat a safety and condition check so it may be a good idea to get it done at a local boat dealer if you don’t have the time and interest in doing it yourself. If you are quite the handy type by all means get stuck in and make sure everything is ship shape. Wheel bearings, tow points, electrics and engine all need to be given some attention before heading out. While the boat gets a bit of love don’t forget to check your safety equipment. Flares, EPIRBs and life jackets should all be part of a vigorous going over. In Arthurs it is just a matter of which spot? You can be spoilt for choice, so fish to the conditions and look for a shore that is exposed to the weather. Great Lake The Great Lake is open all year round, but of course as the good weather returns so do the shack owners. I love the place and its highland lifestyle. Nothing is too much of an issue and if the fishing is slow the fire at the Great Lake Hotel is always warm. Unlike Arthurs, which is more a lake for the boaters, Great Lake has many more shores for the land-based angler. Here, the tried and true technique of walking a wind blown shore working soft plastics and hardbodies works very well. We shouldn’t forget the faithful spinner as well. A thing not to forget when spinning is an anti kink. This little jigger will help alleviate line twist. Spinning is a technique where you can put a bit of speed on the retrieve.

in at lunch time in Hobart. The rocky shores can hold some trophy sized sea run trout that are foraging for a good meal to feed their ferocious appetites. The legendary sea run river systems of Arthur and Gordon rivers will be starting to get into the hearts and minds of Tasmanian

anglers. These rivers are legendary for holding massive silver football shaped trout that have and will gorge themselves on the annual whitebait. There are a large number of anglers that treat their annual trips to these rivers as a pilgrimage. Plan the weekend trips to the mecca of sea runners as if it were a military operation. No detail is left to chance and as important as the fishing is, so too is the right stubby holder and something to put in it. These hungry silver torpedos are feeding heavily on the annual whitebait runs during September. Whitebait is a general or collective name for Tasmanian native fish that collect along our coastal areas and migrate in large numbers upstream. The key here is to develop a sound understanding of which rivers have good numbers of migratory whitebait and where on the river the feeding trout will congregate. In the slack water against fallen logs is a great place to start as reduced river flow allow the whitebait to head upstream easier and the logs create cover for the trout to ambush from. Rocky covered shallows out of the flow of the main

river is another area worth some attention. There is something very exciting about stalking a river bank to see a shower of whitebait bursting clear of the water with their best ‘I am outta here,’ expression on their cute little faces. This normally means there is a nice big sea runner about to dine out! Obviously a hardbody or soft plastic that resembles the small whitebait is a key to success. Being able to find a design small enough to mimic a whitebait while also swimming correctly is the trick with hardbodies. Ecogear have a range of lures in their MX48 range that will get the job done. When thinking of colours remember that whitebait are predominantly translucent as they head up the river or stream and darken up as they reach their destination and spawn. I grew up learning from local angler Warren Fisher from Forth. He would catch a lot of fish using a fly made with paintbrush bristles. These bristles were pulled from one of his used paintbrushes and tied with black cotton. Dab with a clear nail polish and once that was dry, use a dab of Tipp-Ex and the trap was set. Pistol grip rods with closed

Long gone are the cheap hand held jigs used for squid. Nowadays, Japanese-designed jigs are specialised to target this species.

faced reels were used to cast the fly with 3 very light split shots (closed gently on the line about 30cm apart) between the drowned logs between the banks. SQUID Squid have been a fisher’s bread and butter for many years here in Tasmania and it is seeing a huge increase in interest. Southern calamari have more often been an afterthought or by-catch when chasing something else. This mentality has been slow to change, but in the last 12 months has picked up steam dramatically. Heading to target them specifically is huge amounts of fun and having an impromptu squid catching comp amongst mates is even better. The changing attitudes are in a big part to the fun you can have deliberately targeting squid and the fact they are pretty good on the chew. Growing up, it was adults that got to use the rods and reels and my brother

drop rod action and hope for the best. However, I have changed my squid rod action and have had great results. There are a number of things to think on because there is a bit at play. If you try to use the very aggressive rod ripping action of the day with your old squid gear you may just wear a jig in the moosh. Heavy rods and cheap squid lures will work right out of the bottom zone and be quickly at the surface before you know it. The specialist rods combined with quality Japanese jigs are heavier and designed to allow control of the jig in the water column. The jigs from the Japanese manufacturers are exceptional quality and very hard wearing. The colour ranges are fantastic and you could do worse than stock up on GanCraft and Geecrack jigs. Horses for courses There is no doubt that when the squid are grouped up and in their aggressive spawning patterns you can

ELECTRICS AND WIRING Often forgotten about when talking boats and fishing, but that coloured spaghetti up under the gunwales and dash of our fishing craft needs attention. I have seen a few well planned and organised trips fall foul of an electrical issue. Once wiring and contacts have seen a few years of use it pays to have a look from time to time. Things to look out for are chaffing and anything that has come loose. We all know even the softest riding hull will be exposed to vibration and the odd hit from traversing the constantly changing sea surface. When wiring and connections cause issues it is most likely from a dead short. When that happens not only can it fry your expensive equipment, but it can cause a spark or even fire. If you are unsure, get to a boat dealer or auto electrician to have things checked over. While you are at it ask them to show you where every fuse is in your boat and keep a few spares in a small plastic container. and I would be masters of the handlines. This was the way to catch squid back in the day with primitive looking jigs; you could buy a handful of for $10. Kit up More and more anglers are targeting squid. When other species are quiet they are heading out to their favourite squid haunts with specialist Japaneseinfluence gear. Mainland Australia, and in particular the squid rich grounds of Victoria, have really gravitated to the Japanese domestic market gear available. JDM squid gear is high in quality and very specific in its purpose. Rods are lightweight yet finely balanced and matching with the correct reel is very important. This is brought about by the distinctly different action used to lure the squid. Give it a rip The new crew of squid experts favour a very aggressive rod action when enticing a squid bite. Traditionally in Australia we rely on a gentle lift and

catch them on just about anything. Southern calamari are an all year prospect in Tasmanian waters, which is a little known fact. Certain times of the year you need to actively target them with the right gear and a better designed offering. The broken ground and weedy sections of Tasmania hold lots of squid all the time. Be aware there are some seasonal closures in some East Coast waters, check Tasmanian government sites for more information. Big squid, and it is not uncommon to find them over 3kg, are so much fun on light gear. If you are like me and love targeting squid in clear shallow water, get into a local tackle store and kit yourself out for some squid stalking. There is a heap to discuss and learn about squid fishing so keep an eye out in future months for a Tasmanian squid special. EAST COAST OF TASMANIA In Tasmania when you start to talk of weather improvements and longer

days, the East Coast starts to call to anglers. The St Helens area is hard to beat for an angler looking to increase their species count. September will see the start of the localised bream spawning runs up the rivers and creeks. Further down the coast, word from the locals is there are ‘1000s of bream in the Swan’. They go onto say that they are very susceptible to vibe style lures. Cranka and Ecogear have some fantastic product in this area. Head in to a tackle store and check those out and more. The Scamander area and Ansons Bay will still be holding some good garfish schools, as should St Georges Bay. St Georges Bay continues to go from strength to strength in regard to fish stocks. The schools of big salmon come into the bay and often have some tailor mixed in with them. They don’t call them ‘chopper’ tailor for nothing – if you are getting bitten off try for a longer slender lure where the hooking point is further from the line. If this doesn’t work you will have to go for a fine wire trace. Speaking from experience don’t, in all the excitement of catching some big salmon with the kids, dive your thumb into what looks like at first glance another salmon. The resulting smiley face at the end of your thumb will leak a lot of blood. The teeth on tailor are wicked ! September is also a good time for some decent flathead offshore and a few gummy sharks. September can have a bit of wind about so the opportunity to head offshore may be limited. Don’t forget that the season on striped trumpeter will be closed for September. Although not known for their sea run trout action local guru and tackle store owner Jamie Henderson has mentioned having a seasonal small run of whitebait in the lower Georges River and Scamander River. This has lead to a healthy population of sea run trout milling about. He has also seen trout to 8lb caught out of Georges Bay and similar fish in the Upper Scamander. Squid also feature well in this part of the world. From Ansons Bay all the way down the coast past Bicheno and Coles Bay you will find good numbers of the tasty cephalopod family. • If you are in the St Helens area make sure you get into St Helens Bait And Tackle and speak to Jamie. You will get some great local info and may even walk away with some amazing art photography.

Ashley could walk into an East Coast river bare foot and walk out with bream on his toes! INLAND FISHERIES SERVICE

Joint congress in Darwin IFS

Tim Farrell

Inland Fisheries Service presents work at the Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) and the Australian Society for Limnology (ASL) joint congress in Darwin. The 2014 ASFB and ASL congress was held from the 30 June to 3 July at the Darwin Convention Centre. Delegates from universities, environment, and fisheries bodies around Australia attended the conference. There were 237 oral presentations, including two given by Fisheries Biologist Jonah Yick and Senior Fisheries Management officer Rob Freeman, both representing the Inland Fisheries Service. The presentations were titled The eradication and management of European carp from two large freshwater lakes in Tasmania and Extinct habitat, extant species: lessons learned from conservation recovery actions for the Pedder galaxias (Galaxias pedderensis) in south-west Tasmania, Australia, respectively. Both of the presentations were well received by the other delegates, and highlighted the importance of managing threatened endemic fish species, as well as invasive pest fish. LAKE SORELL CLOSURE A reminder that Lake Sorell remains closed for the 2014/15 angling season due to carp control activities. This is an extension of the closure from the previous seasons. Notification of Closure of Lake Sorell I, John Diggle, Director of Inland Fisheries, acting in accordance with Clause 3 of

the Inland Fisheries (Delay or prevention of Spread of Controlled Fish) Order 2003 hereby advise that Lake Sorell is closed below its high water mark and access is totally restricted to all persons from Saturday 2 August 2014 until further notice unless otherwise authorised by me in writing. Further I hereby direct, pursuant to Section 152(4) of the Inland Fisheries Act 1995, that access by persons and the activities of such persons in and around Lake Sorell be restricted in accordance with the above notification. NAV HAZARD REMOVED An inspection of the boat ramp at Lake Binney, which coincided with a low lake level of -3.7m, allowed IFS staff to remove a large submerged tree from the toe of the ramp. The tree was lying across the bottom of the ramp just below the water level and could have been an unpleasant surprise for early season anglers. ARC FUNDING FOR GENETIC CONTROL OF GAMBUSIA The University of Tasmania in collaboration with Inland Fisheries Service (IFS) and NRM North has recently secured research funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) to genetically control Gambusia. The Gambusia is a pest fish of national concern and in Tasmania it is currently restricted around the Tamar Island Wetland Reserve (TIWR) in the Tamar estuary. The Gambusia was introduced into Australia more than 100 years ago to combat malaria. However, it was ineffective in controlling mosquito populations, but has bred prolifically and caused extensive damage to the native aquatic fauna – eating

endangered fish and frog larvae and also the adults. The funding is a significant leverage to the IFS resource commitments (1:4), towards addressing this important fisheries management challenge. UTas will be the lead research agency with contributions and participation form IFS, NRM North and volunteer groups at TIWR. The outcomes of the project will be of national and international significance. FISH ARE OUT THERE This year the IFS have built new traps in the Central Highlands at Arthurs Lake. What this means to anglers is that there have been a lot more adult brown trout transferred to other water than previous years. Rather than waiting for fry to grow to legal sized fish (minimum size for waters is 220mm or 300mm in most fisheries) these adults are ready to catch with all those transferred greater than 220mm and most greater than 300mm in length. Fisheries that have received the most benefits from these developments are: Bradys Lake with just under 10,000 stocked, Four Springs Lake with 2,700 stocked, Craigbourne Dam with 4,000 stocked, Tooms Lake with 2,300 stocked and Lake Leake with 1,800 stocked. Penstock Lagoon was stocked with 2,000 adult brown trout that have been adipose fin clipped. This was to estimate the size of the brown trout population there but also provides some extra stocks for anglers to target during the first few months of the season. To page 48

SEPTEMBER 2014

Tasmanian Anglers Broadbill Initiative (TABI) TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

The considerable interest in the recent broadbill action in Tasmania has

been nothing short of spectacular. The captures by Leo Miller and his crew put Tasmania on the map as far as broadbill swordfish are concerned. There have been a

number of anglers over the years, but Leo and Simon Turner laid a foundation. Their success in deliberately targeting and catching quality broadbill laid the foundation for

Even the swords are happy.

Jamie and Ashley with their awesome sword.

From page 47

During May to July period Lake Barrington, Craigbourne Dam and Brushy Lagoon all received Atlantic salmon in the 2-6kg range. Craigbourne Dam and Lake Barrington also received some big rainbow trout averaging 2.5kg. Lake Kara is planned to receive Atlantic salmon and adult rainbow trout prior to the season opening, watch this website for details. It is also worth noting that Lake Kara was stocked with 550 brown trout, which will further encourage northwest coast anglers to visit during the first months of the season. Tight lines everyone, this season should be a ripper.

They werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t all this big but this is an example of a brown trout from the Central Highlandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; spawning runs.

others like Jamie Harris and Ashley Hallam to try their hand. The anglers of Tasmania have come together with the Game Fishing Association Australia and TARFish to raise some funds to launch and run a study into the emerging fishery. It is a breath of fresh air to have anglers engage with some science and a considered approach based on solid information. On 19 August, the Tasmanian anglers and scientists came together for a very entertaining night. Brett Cleary the president of the GFAA and Mark Nicoli CEO of TARFish opened the evening. In a massive coup the large crowd then heard from Dr Sean Tracey from the

Institute for Marine and Antartic Studies and none other than Al McGlashan. The night was a great success and the species awareness was much improved and the need for a research project agreed. There was a massive information share with Al and Leo Miller telling those in attendance a few tricks and tips. The evening also saw a massive tackle raffle debut and will still be open for a while yet so head over to the Tasmanian Anglers Broadbill Initiative Facebook and check for detail how to get a ticket. The raffle is just one part of the fund raising effort needed to get the project up and away and all the raffle funds will be going towards helping sustain this fishery.

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 12th August 2014 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Lake Augusta ...................................0.31 ....................................................... Falling Arthurs Lake ....................................0.72 .......................................................Steady Great Lake .......................................15.07 .....................................................Steady Trevallyn Pond .................................1.91 ........................................................Rising Shannon Lagoon ..............................0.04 .......................................................Steady Penstock Lagoon ............................. -............................................................Spilling Lake Echo ........................................8.42 .......................................................Steady Dee Lagoon .....................................0.2 .........................................................Steady Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah .............0.54 .......................................................Steady Bronte Lagoon .................................0.42 .......................................................Steady Pine Tier Lagoon ..............................0.5 ......................................................... Falling Little Pine Lagoon ............................ -............................................................Spilling Laughing Jack Lagoon ....................3.64 .......................................................Steady Lake St Clair ....................................1.21 .......................................................Steady Lake King William ............................1.37 .......................................................Steady Lake Liapootah ................................0.28 .......................................................Steady Wayatinah Lagoon ...........................0.12 ........................................................Rising Lake Catagunya ...............................0.65 .......................................................Steady

Lake Repulse ...................................0.59 ....................................................... Falling Cluny Lagoon ...................................1.04 ....................................................... Falling Meadowbank Lake ..........................0.15 .......................................................Steady Lake Pedder ....................................0.73 ....................................................... Falling Lake Gordon ....................................34.47 .....................................................Steady Lake Burbury ...................................6.16 .......................................................Steady Lake Plimsoll ...................................3.32 ....................................................... Falling Lake Murchison ...............................4.52 ....................................................... Falling Lake Mackintosh .............................4.62 .......................................................Steady Lake Rosebery .................................0.43 ........................................................Rising Lake Pieman ....................................0.97 ....................................................... Falling Lake Mackenzie ...............................0.36 .......................................................Steady Lake Rowallan .................................2.91 .......................................................Steady Lake Parangana ...............................1.43 .......................................................Steady Lake Cethana ...................................1.33 ....................................................... Falling Lake Barrington ............................... -............................................................Spilling Lake Gairdner ..................................1.13 ........................................................Rising Lake Paloona ................................... -............................................................Spilling Woods Lake .....................................0.50........................................................Steady Whitespur Pond ...............................7.22 .......................................................Steady Lake Newton ...................................3.55 .......................................................Steady Lake Margaret .................................0.48 .......................................................Steady

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

SEPTEMBER 2014

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Side scan success BRISBANE

Nabeel Issa

“But that’s not fair on the fish… is it?” This is what I get told almost every time I teach someone about how Side Scan sonar works! If you have used it or seen it used, you are probably well aware of how successful this technology on your sounder can be. Although this article will be based on Lowrance products (Lowrance have had this awesome tool out for a

few years now), a lot of the principles of how it works can be shared across all brands. The screen shots are all taken from Lowrance HDS Touch Screen Models. If you have no idea what I’m talking about when I say Side Scan, it is basically sonar that can show you what is left and right of your boat, as opposed to traditional sonar that shows you only what is directly underneath. With Side Scan you can cover large areas as you drive your boat around and get a much clearer image of what’s underneath.

Show me the fish! So what do fish look like? Side Scan makes it easy to find fish but you need to know what you’re looking for and you need to make sure you understand your sounder. Making sure that you have a suitable range setting (i.e. the distance you are scanning) will also help to give you a better image. Generally fish will show up as small blobs or lines but in some cases you will actually be able to see the shape of the fish.

Got it? Good! Let’s get started on understanding how to read the image our sounder shows us. IN THE SHADOWS When it comes to reading our Side Scan images, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you get a much better understanding of what’s going on. Firstly remember that the brighter the object in the image, the harder the object is. Harder objects will give the sounder a better return signal and will display as brighter on your screen.

Have a look at this first image. No prizes for guessing that it’s a sunken boat. You can also see the dark shadow that is next to the boat; the shadow of any object can help with telling us more about what’s happening. Much like how we get a shadow behind an object that is lit up by a torch, sonar works the same. The sonar has ‘lit up’ the boat and we can see the shadow behind. In this instance the shadow is telling us the height of the sunken boat.

This image shows a school of mulloway from Moreton Bay in Southeast Queensland. Mulloway (or jewfish) are an easy fish to pick up on Side Scan as they are generally quite large. The fact that they often school up in big numbers also makes them easier to spot. In this image you can see to the left hand side of the screenshot there’s a bunch of small squiggly lines. Each one of these lines is a single fish. You can also see the shadows behind the fish. Here, the shadows are giving us a better indication of the fish and their shape. Different sized fish will show differently on Side Scan; smaller fish will obviously be smaller on the sounder. This is where playing with your range setting can help. In the previous screenshot of the mulloway, the range was set to 120ft. This is fine when searching for large schools of big fish, but when looking for smaller fish you’ll find that tuning the range down will help pick up those smaller fish that may otherwise become tiny specks on a larger range.

Shadows can also help to give us more information when we are unsure about what the object is. This next screenshot is of a ‘fish box’, a large, concrete box used in artificial reefs. If we look on the left of screen, at the actual object, we can see the white lines that make up the box. However, by looking at the shadow behind it we can get a better idea of the actual shape and form. We can also see a group of round objects showing on the left hand side. These are known as ‘reef balls’, another type of artificial reef structure used throughout Australia. There is no distinct shadow behind the reef ball so we can assume that it is tight to the seabed and isn’t very tall. © The State of Queensland (Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing).

SEPTEMBER 2014

In this image the range has been set to 60ft and there is a school of fish that can be seen to the right hand side. These fish were tarpon ranging from around 40-60cm long. It’s also worth taking note of the shadows here. There is a slight gap between the fish and the shadows which tells us that these fish are not quite sitting on the bottom but are higher in the water column.

THE BOTTOM LINE Side Scan Sonar is a great tool for anglers and can really help improve your catch rate. It just takes a bit of practice to understand what you are seeing on the screen and knowing the limitations of the tool. For example, it won’t be as useful to you if you constantly fish in

water over 100m. In deeper water, your range needs to be increased and with some of the smaller screen sounders it can make it hard to pick up what’s going on. This is where having a larger screen will help. By the same token, in water under 1m deep, having a range setting of 150m is probably not the

smartest move and won’t give you much detail at all. Side Scan is an impressive feature that we have at our disposal, so why not take advantage of it and use it to help you catch more fish? I guarantee that once you spend the time to learn how best to use it, it will change your fishing as it has done for me!

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Illegal fishing detected

One last screen shot, again showing how important it is to look at the shadows. In this image we can see fish in the water column (in the dark blue section). It’s hard to tell what they are apart from the fact that they are quite large. If we look to the shadows on the right we can actually see a lot more detail and can pick out that they are actually sharks. In some of the shadows we can see the tail and fins of the shark. Knowing what range to set is a crucial part of gaining a good image. I like to start at around 80ft and alter it from there. There are no set rules and selecting the range all depends on what sort of fish you are looking for and the depth you are fishing in. I have found that the more time you spend using your sounder, the better you will become with picking the best range for the situation. When it comes to other settings, I like to leave my unit on ‘Auto’. With Lowrance units this setting tunes itself to give you a clear image and I find that there is rarely a need to change.

An anonymous call to Victoria’s 24-hour fisheries offence reporting hotline, has resulted in a 52- year-old Doncaster East man being found with more than five times the daily legal limit for grass whiting. “Two Fisheries Officers, from the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) responded immediately to the 13FISH call on 21 July,” Senior Fisheries Officer Rod Barber said. “The fisheries officers travelled to Flinders Pier on the Mornington Peninsula where they observed the 52-year-old man allegedly exceeding the daily limit of 20 grass whiting over a two-hour period. “The officers then observed the man pack the fish into a plastic bag, walk off the pier and place the bag into the boot of his car. “The man then walked back to the pier, resumed fishing and allegedly took another 12 grass whiting. At this point the Fisheries Officers intercepted the man and inspected his car. “During the inspection they found 89 grass whiting

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in the boot which, together with the fish he had just caught, bringing his total catch to 101 – more than five times the daily bag limit for that species.” The man will be charged on summons with exceeding the daily bag limit for grass whiting and will appear in the Frankston Magistrates Court at a later date. “This is a great example of how accurate and timely reporting of illegal fishing activity can help us to ensure the sustainability of the state’s fisheries,” Mr

Barber said. “This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and shows a blatant disregard for our valuable natural resources in Victoria. “You can help ensure all Victorians have fish for the future by complying with fishing regulations and reporting those who break the rules to the 13FISH hotline.” Anyone who see or suspects illegal fishing activity is urged to call 13FISH (13 34 74). – DEPI FISHERIES

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Science meets fishing

Victoria’s snapper fishery in top shape! GEELONG

Ross Winstanley

Victoria’s western snapper stock is assessed as being one of the two most robust in Australia in the recentlyreleased report, Status of Key Australian Fish Stocks 2012. The report was commissioned by the Australian Government’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and prepared by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) in conjunction with government fishery research agencies around Australia. A total of 13 biological stocks have been identified and assessed within the snapper’s range, from far north Queensland to Shark Bay, WA. Of these, only four were classified as currently being sustainably fished. Indications for these four stocks are that recruitment (i.e. spawning success) is currently sufficient to maintain healthy and productive fisheries and that the level of control over fishing pressure is appropriate. Two of these ‘sustainable’ stocks support very small recreational fisheries in WA’s

particularly in Port Phillip Bay. This includes annual commercial fisheries data from 1914, recent recreational catch estimates, direct measures of spawning success each year and an increasingly detailed picture of what drives successful recruitment to the stock and the fishery. Studies by DEPI’s Queenscliff researchers have shown that the bay is the major

SEPTEMBER 2014

PORT PHILLIP BAY OUTLOOK Typical of snapper stocks, Victoria’s western stock is largely maintained by occasional years of exceptionally high spawning success, such as occurred in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2005. More recent annual recruitment has been poor to average but the previous stock build-up has carried

A 6mm snapper larva 12 days after hatching. Photo courtesy of Fisheries Victoria, DEPI.

Annual snapper spawning success in Port Phillip Bay since 1993, compared to the long term average. Graph courtesy of Fisheries Victoria, DEPI.

In the first days after hatching snapper larvae are particularly dependent on the availability of an early larval stage of these copepods. Photo courtesy of Fisheries Victoria, DEPI. Shark Bay. The other two are the more substantial and productive South Australian Gulf St Vincent stock and Victoria’s western snapper stock, extending from Wilsons Promontory to the Murray River mouth, SA. From estimates in 2000/01 and 2006/07, a feature of the VIC’s western stock fishery is that recreational fishers take about 80% of the total catch by weight and an even higher share in terms of fish numbers. WESTERN VICTORIAN STOCK By national standards, Victoria has excellent information on the western snapper stock and the fishery,

capability 2-3 years ahead of when each year-class reaches the 28cm entry point to the fishable part of the western Victorian stock, and 6-7 years ahead of when they enter the adult fishery (>40cm length). Until now, what has been lacking is an estimate of the overall size of the western snapper stock, mainly because so much of the stock lies outside the bay in waters where there

spawning area and recruitment source for this stock. Year-toyear variations in numbers of new juvenile (3-5 months old, 5-10cm long) snapper are linked mainly to the abundance of particular microscopic prey that the tiny snapper larvae (<20 days old, 3-10mm long) like to feed on during their first few weeks of life while still drifting up in the water column, and, to a lesser extent, water temperature during this period. Annual trawl sampling of these small juvenile stages plus monitoring of 1 year old and older pinkies by Angler Diary volunteers now provide us with a strong predictive

is comparatively little fishing pressure and associated data. However, recent advances in fish population modelling are overcoming this limitation, aided by the overall nature, length of time, and quality of information being collected for this stock. One of two new Queenscliff-based projects titled Development of integrated assessment for western stock snapper aims to combine fishery and biological monitoring data in a model to provide estimates of stock size, more objective and quantitative measures of how the fishery is performing and forecasts of future stock and fishery conditions. It will also enable fishery managers to project how the snapper stock and fishery will respond to alternative management strategies – changed combinations of regulations and fishing pressure. Closely linked to this is a two-part project aimed at developing a ‘harvest strategy’ and improved monitoring of recreational snapper catches. The harvest strategy is a framework to guide managers and fishers in their agreed responses to future changes in the stock abundance in order to keep the fishery performing at an acceptable level. With anglers taking 80% or more of the western stock snapper catch, improved estimates of the recreational catch are important for reliable stock and fishery estimates, performance monitoring and forecasting.

the fishery on at a healthy productive level. By 2012, recreational fishing catch rates in the bay stabilised after more than quadrupling since the low points in the mid 1990s and doubling in the past decade. Consistent with the recreational data, commercial fishery catch rates had also doubled during the 2000s. In October 2013, DEPI researchers presented an update on the western snapper stock and related biological research. As previously predicted – and recently observed by anglers – overall catch rates have now

begun to decline moderately from the mid/late-2000s highs as the result of recent poor to average recruitment. The effect of this on anglers’ satisfaction has been offset by the larger sizes of adult snapper being caught. Over the next 3-5 years, the decline should stabilise as the consecutive average recruitment events in 2008, 2009 and 2010 enter the adult fishery. Encouragingly, the March 2013 survey showed the fourth strongest spawning success in the past 21 years and the more recent 2014 recruitment level was only slightly lower. From these results we can expect to see a clear increase in the number of pinkies entering the fishery in 2-3 years time, and an increase in adult numbers in 5-6 years time. In the mean time, snapper and whiting anglers can expect to be plagued by undersized pinkies over the next two years. This is the price to pay for a stock, which is in a stable, healthy and productive state and is being fished sustainably. So please take care returning these little snapper - they are the future of the fishery! TRACKING TAGGED SNAPPER DEPI researchers’ based at Queenscliff are now approaching the end of a 3

By late autumn, at several weeks of age, juvenile snapper are widely distributed over sand and mud bottom, mainly in 10-18 m. Photo courtesy of Fisheries Victoria, DEPI.

year study of movement patterns of snapper within the bay and between the bay and coastal waters, using acoustic (i.e. electronic sound transmitter) tags. This study is being funded by recreational fishing license fees. Since November 2011, around 160 snapper ranging in size from 25-90cm have been implanted with individually identifiable acoustic tags and released in Port Phillip Bay. Over 50 fixed-site plus boatmounted listening stations around the bay and across the rip have enabled movements of each fish to be tracked, including exits and re-entries to the bay from Bass Strait. Snapper detected leaving the bay, were almost all above 45 cm in length, with the smaller pinkies staying in the bay over winter. There was a high degree of consistency in movements observed over two full years. Snapper entered the bay in a single pulse from early September to mid-November, peaking in October. Snapper were detected leaving the bay over two discrete periods: from early December to early February, and in smaller numbers from mid-March through to May. From late May until September no tagged snapper were detected leaving or entering the bay. The short turn-around between the end of arrivals and start of departures was interesting and the data, so far, suggest that many fish spend less than a month in the bay during the spring/ summer spawning period. Pinkies moved onto inshore reefs during winter and were more commonly detected on artificial reefs further offshore during summer. The degree of consistency extended down to individual fish. For example, several snapper were recorded leaving the bay within days of when they entered and left during the previous year. There were also interesting records of 60-70cm snapper that beat the odds by eluding capture while spending almost two months moving around the heavily-fished Carrum Bight area among many well known snapper marks, including the Recreational Fishing Reefs.

Science meets fishing The study is now in its final stages – the analysis and synthesis of all this information will be available shortly. The large amount of movement data poses a real challenge in terms of how best to present the results to the angling community. While words may effectively describe the broad or consistent patterns of snapper movements and

how these vary with size and between years, each fish has its own story to tell. The challenge is to come up with effective visual presentations to convey both the general movement patterns and the intriguing behaviours of individual fish. There is also a host of questions and theories to consider in relation to how movements relate to climate,

Snapper larvae spend up to 25 days in the water column, reaching 12mm in length, before settling to the bottom as tiny juveniles. Photo courtesy of Fisheries Victoria, DEPI.

water temperatures, moon state, tides, etc. Other parts of the study include consideration of the diets of adult snapper and the nature of the seabed habitats where they spend large amounts of time. This will hopefully shed further light on feeding behaviour and habitat selection. EAST COAST STOCK The snapper off eastern Victoria are part of the Australian East Coast stock that is undefined in terms of fishing sustainability, largely because parts of it are assessed separately off Queensland and NSW rather than as an entire stock. While it is relatively lightly fished off Victoria, the stock is so heavily fished off the East Coast that fishing pressure must be reduced to avoid further decline (southern Queensland) and to improve the return from each fish caught (NSW). The available data across the three states suggest that around 70% of the catch is taken by recreational fishers. SOUTH AUSTRALIAN STOCKS Many Victorian anglers view SA’s Spencer Gulf snapper fishery as the benchmark or model for other Australian snapper fisheries. The prospect of catching numbers of 10kg+ fish attracts many of our anglers there on a

regular basis and others for an once-in-a-lifetime experience. In fact, of the five snapper stocks identified in SA waters, the northern Spencer Gulf stock has declined from producing more than 50% of the SA catch to yielding around 20% in recent years. Despite increasingly restrictive management controls on commercial and recreational fishing this stock is assessed as ‘depleting’, at least partly as the result of the lack of any substantial spawning success since 1999. It is unclear whether this has been caused by fishing pressure or unfavourable environmental conditions during the spawning season but fishing will continue to deplete the stock until recruitment improves. More than 90% of the catch is taken by the commercial fishery. Much the same assessment applies to the southern Spencer Gulf stock. In contrast, the Gulf St Vincent stock has increased recently as a result of strong annual spawning success, lifting the healthy fishery there to unprecedented levels. There is insufficient information to assess the state of the snapper stocks off SA’s west coast and south coast. SNAPPER CATCHES NATIONALLY The 2012 ABARES national snapper status report

Sustainably fished stocks of fish with a 30+ year life span can continue producing large fish even after some years of mediocre spawning success. showed that in 2010 the total commercial snapper catch in Australia was over 1800 tonnes, including 91 tonnes from Port Phillip Bay and 5 tonnes from Victorian coastal waters. In Victoria the 70% reduction in commercial licences since 1987 coincided with a decline in commercial catches in Port Phillip Bay. DEPI has put a cap on the State licensed trawl catches of snapper in our coastal and offshore waters to limit growth in this area. The most recent estimates of recreational catches from all mainland states was in 2001 and estimated a total recreational catch of 1334 tonnes, around 400 tonnes or

30% of which were taken in Victoria. Total recreational catches far exceed commercial catches in the East Coast and Victorian western stock fisheries; the reverse applies in the SA and WA fisheries. All states except Victoria monitor recreational charter fishing catches; with the most recent estimates for this sector, excluding Victoria, totalling 164 tonnes. The status of key Australian fish stocks 2012 reports on the status of 150 identifiable stocks within 49 species representing the bulk of Australia’s marine fisheries, in terms of catch weight and value. It is available at www. fish.gov.au.

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Fresh sparks spawning blues HORSHAM

Trevor Holmes

While we experienced some good rains to freshen the lakes and streams up this month, the fish have been patchy; jumping all over offerings one day, turning their nose up at them the next. Frustrating but not unusual for this time of year with fish in spawning mode and some already completed the chore! With consistent rains and water starting to run in feeder

creeks from the ranges we can only hope the El Niño weather event predicted earlier in the year has disappeared. Toolondo is pretty much dependant on Rocklands Reservoir reaching the trigger point and local water authority GWM allowing a much needed inflow that could save the lake’s future. I fear another long, hot summer will destroy this icon of the Wimmera. Already we have had the stocking halved to 15,000 due to risky water levels. LAKE TOOLONDO With spawning in full

Tony Boreham from Phillip Island with a cracker brown taken on a Fish Arrow J Huddle.

swing the trout have been spasmodic in their feeding patterns and switched right on one day but off the next. With trolling now a very viable option when floating weed blows to one side, Tassie Devils have accounted for many captures lately; #4 white clown being the pick of them. We have also taken some bigger browns on the Fishooka Hoodlum in yellow, red and purple trolling them on the surface. Bait fishing has been hard work for most but we managed a few on minnow and gudgeon, as well as the ever-reliable mudeye. Fish Arrow J Huddles in natural colours are the best plastics rigged on very light jigheads. Flicked to weed and structure should tempt a feisty fish. Some redfin have taken offerings intended for trout and make a great by-catch, with 1.6kg being a cracker we landed recently. LAKE FYANS Fyans has once again tapered off as it usually does this time of year but will switch on with the days becoming longer and the water level still rising, so expect some spring action to fire up soon. Reports of some bigger browns are being taken as well as some great redfin in

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the shallow water just left of the boat ramp. Being 85% full, this fishery is in great shape and a full recovery from the past setbacks of fire and drought will see more stable results before too long. StumpJumpers, Diawa Double Clutches, Norries Laydown minnows, as well as Shimano Waxwings are favourites here and well worth having in the tackle box. Minnows, mudeyes or gudgeon fished under a bubble float have taken a few fish too up at the inlet and wall area. LAKE BELLFIELD Chinook salmon have been growing well and providing anglers targeting them with some great sport on light gear. As these fish are not up to the taking size as yet my recommendation is to a avoid bait fishing for them so as a quick, clean release is effected by lures. Redfin have also been active in the shallow water early and late in the day. I recently sighted a large brown trout lurking at the wall area late afternoon, but I was only on a passing visit with no gear! Trout have also been smelting after herding these tasty morsels into a ball then ambushing them on top. WARTOOK RESERVOIR Reports have been a bit scarce from here by boaters but bank anglers have taken some good fish on Tassie Devils off the wall casting and retrieving. When conditions favour it, a mudeye or minnow under a float off the wall is a proven method. Powerbait in orange is a certainty this time of year here replicating a freshly laid egg at spawn time. Running sinker rig on the bottom is my preferred rig. Trolling shallow running lures early and late should produce fish. WIMMERA RIVER The river continues to produce a few yellowbelly to 1kg for bait fishos willing to sacrifice baits but the carp are very pesky and beat the natives to most offerings. Persist and some good fish will be the reward. Yabbies and scrub worms work well. Vibes and spinnerbaits around the snags and logs will get you away from the carp but be prepared to lose some tackle. Redfin are also being taken on the same baits but are very few and far between. Get out of Horsham a bit and explore the tracks and legal access points to the river for best results. TAYLORS AND GREEN LAKES With very few people venturing out to these lakes I don’t have a lot to report. However, I do know of one local angler bank fishing Green Lake taking a couple of nice redfin to 1.2kg on scrub

Jarrod Biles from Epping with a beaut rainbow buck taken on a Norries Laydown Minnow. worms fished on the bottom on a running sinker rig. Another angler I know spent a day on Taylors for no result but sounded up many good marks for the day with the fish refusing to take baits or lures. ROCKLANDS RESERVOIR Rocklands has also been very quiet, which is normal for this time of year. I have spoken to a few locals from Balmoral of late and they are very disappointed at the lack of edible species in the reservoir. There has always been abundant numbers of redfin there for the taking but the usual haunts just haven’t produced this year. Most say the contributing factor is the masses of carp that infest this waterway. With the water levels rising slightly we may be lucky enough to get a flow into Lake Toolondo via the channel. I’m sure those that spend enough time here trolling hardbody lures will eventually strike some trout or redfin but of late it just hasn’t produced. LAKE BOLAC I’m sorry to say that there are very lean pickings with the lake becoming very low and dirty over the last few months. So far there is an inflow from the creek in the south west corner so maybe with continued rain, the levels will rise and hopefully see a resurgence. Bolac holds some fantastic rainbow trout. Fishing glassies or locally caught minnows or Powerbait is the preferred method for bank anglers. The lake also holds a thriving population of estuary

perch that are growing well but still up to 2 years away from reaching the size limit of 27cm. BOATING SAFETY It never ceases to amaze me the amount of boat anglers who roll the dice with their own safety and wear waders while boating. Sure they are a great windbreaker in winter but are a death trap should the angler fall overboard. Water rushes into the waders creating air pockets in the boot/toes and the angler is upside down before they know it either drowning or succumbing to hypothermia. Many anglers in more remote lakes also take their safety into their own hands and fail to wear a life jacket or inflatable vest while fishing. This could be the difference between life and death so please don’t become a statistic! • Victorian Inland Charters are proud to announce we have just purchased 3 Polycraft 4.1m hire/drive boats that are now available at Fyans, Bellfield, Wartook, Toolondo and Rocklands. We also have a 4.5m Polycraft in survey for hire drive or charter work based at Halls Gap. These vessels being powered by 8hp Tohatsu motors require no boat licence to operate and are available in daylight hours only. Full equipped with safety gear they are ready for you to enjoy a day or weekend, be it fishing or sightseeing on these magnificent lakes. Enquiries to Trevor on 0438 132 130 or 03 5388 1338. Catch us on Facebook: Victorian Inland Charters or check our web site: www. victorianinlaandcharters. com.au

Mark Wilson form Werribee landed this decent brown taken trolling a #4 Tassie Devil white clown.

Set for a super September MILDURA

John Menhennett goobyfish@hotmail.com

Since the boards were placed back into Mildura weir after a period of being out for maintenance, river levels have finally gone back to normal. After what has been a productive winter for Murray cod, things are looking even better for September. The maintenance of the Mildura weir and removal of the weir structure in July/ August meant that river levels above Mildura were extremely

low, making it difficult to launch the boat. The weir maintenance has now ceased and river levels have re-gained some normality. Some nice Murray cod have been caught recently around Mildura over the past couple of months, but were a bit hit-and-miss toward the later part. Water clarity has been good since the start of the year, making lure visibility very good, but the Murray River has since started flowing faster and dirtied up. This has made fishing with lures difficult. A flush of dirty water has been affecting the way in which

the fish, in particular Murray cod, have been behaving. This has resulted in some slow fishing for most anglers leading up to the season close. The few fish which have been caught recently have been very healthy looking, obviously feeding up on copious amounts of baitfish with a few of these fish reaching well over a metre. Time on the water is the key at the moment in order to catch that monster Murray cod. The Darling River cleared up during July and still has decent water clarity, making it the spot for luring Murray cod. Numerous reports of decent Murray cod were made from

With the cod season closing, golden perch will now be the main target.

Robert Powell from Mildura with a Murray cod caught recently on a Bassman spinnerbait in the Darling River. this location over the past month or so. Cast spinnerbaits of all sizes and colours have been working well where water clarity has been best. Whites and silver heads with nickel oversize blades have been working best in this clear water. Trolling large lures in the deeper parts has been slow of late, as can often be the case during winter, but it has still been producing results. Bait fishos have been enjoying some good fishing with yellowbelly up to 50cm caught on shrimp and worm

around Mildura and below. Of course, there have also been plenty of carp being caught everywhere. Quite a few reports of smaller cod around the 50-60cm range are still being caught on lures and bait in several locations around Mildura and up the Darling River. These smaller cod have been enjoying the flows that this river can bring being active especially around eddy currents and the downstream side of snag piles. GOLDEN PERCH Spring is upon us and

it can be a special time of year for yellowbelly anglers around Mildura. Spring can be a very busy time of year for recreational anglers as they flock around the weir structures in great numbers for an easy catch on bait or lures. This is the time is when golden perch start to swim upstream and school in readiness for spawning. Luring with lipless crankbaits around lock 10 and 11 during these times can be fun and quite productive, and a good alternative with cod season closed for another year.

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Welcome rains a reward CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

The end of June and most of July saw heavy but welcome rains fall in the southwest. Although the cold, wet and windy weather was a pain in the backside and curtailed time spent out on the water, anglers are now reaping the rewards. There was over 250ml of water that fell within a matter of weeks. Lakes that have suffered in the past from low water levels are now open to most watercraft and the trout are responding well to most methods. Lake Elingamite situated near the township of Cobden is firing well for browns and rainbows; last year’s stocking topping the 1kg mark plus a few fish from two years ago weighing in at well over 2kg. Redfin are still a tad

sluggish due to the still cool water temperatures but the odd one over 1kg has responded to lure and bait. Presently the most vigorous fish are the Chinook salmon and they are coming in at over 600g. The growth rate here seems to be slower than those released in Purrumbete and Bullen Merri however there was only ever one release in Elingamite, which was was approximately a year ago. Quite a few releases occurred in the other two lakes over a more prolonged period of time. Lake Bullen Merri is firing for browns easily topping 2kg and rainbows fast approaching that size. Plenty of Chinook salmon from 600g-1.3kg are keeping bait and lure anglers busy as their aggressive nature takes hold and can be annoying to those attempting to target the big browns. Shallow trolling

Loftys Cobra lures in depths from 4-6m is accounting for the above three species, so too is casting minnow lures towards the bank and using a steady retrieve back to the boat. Local gudgeon minnow fished from the bank is another tried and true method in which to tempt a strike or two. Lake Purrumbete has seen anglers targeting the Chinooks by simply bottom bouncing fillets of pilchard in depths approaching 10m. The odd brown approaching 3kg have also been caught using this method. Browns and rainbows are also skulking around the verges of weed beds that abound around the perimeter of the lake. Stealth must be employed here as the water is so clear that often the fish can see the angler (and boat) long before the angler spots the fish holding station. There’s

Plenty of yearling rainbows on offer at Elingamite. This one responded to a Damiki 3’’ Armor Shad. nothing like seeing a flash of silver erupting from a gap in the weeds about to eat the lure that you just placed there. The only drawback to this exciting method is

feisty redfin will often hold in similar spots and greedily take your offering meant for something much larger. Lake Tooliorook near Lismore and Deep Lake

just north of Derrinallum have benefitted from all this rainfall and hopefully fisheries will look at restocking these lakes any time now.

Bank side can shine ECHUCA

Ian Page

Finally spring is here. For some anglers it is time for a small break with our cod season now closed until December. For others, it is time to explore all our other species in the region that sometimes get put to the backburner. September can also present the type of angling where boats aren’t as important and bank fishing really shines. Yellowbelly in great size and numbers start to appear right along the Murray as well as the Goulburn, Campaspe, Gunbower Creek and Kow Swamp. While some prefer to use lures at this time of year those that like to use bait will certainly have

some great results. Jackalls are an excellent lure choice and account for many strikes and hook ups. Now is a good opportunity to cast spinnerbaits and hardbody lures as you walk the banks; keep in mind that there will be some aggressive redfin looking to devour those lures as well. If looking to fish with bait, scrubworm is always top of my list this time of year. If you have another rod try either yabbies or shrimp, as on their day they can all have results. I fail to understand why more anglers in the region don’t fish with plastics. This is the perfect time to hone the techniques involved and catch some great fish on lighter gear – it is just about putting in some time. I have had some great days

targeting redfin on plastics and at times have talked some regular anglers that come into the shop into giving it a real go. They often come back days later telling me of their catches and are now converts to the art of plastics! There is also large numbers of silver bream and trout cod around and the size of these fish seem to be increasing. Both of these species are protected and must be returned to the water – they will at least keep the kids occupied. Most anglers obey the fishing regulations as we all focus on fishing for a better future and sustainable numbers, so future generations of anglers get to enjoy our pleasurable pastime. So with the warmer longer days of spring comes the perfect time to explore

A trout cod on an Oargee Lure taken near Mathoura that was released shortly afterwards. the local waterways and enjoy the fishing. • For the latest fishing and

boating information in the Echuca/Moama region, drop into Boats and More’s

Echuca store at 76 Northern Hwy or give them a call on (03) 5482 1992.

Cod done and dusted ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

The Murray cod season is all done and dusted and when we look back and reflect on the last nine months we realise that our fishery is forever changing. The excellent cod catches we experienced this season are but a small slice of a much larger fishery that continues to struggle at many locations. 56

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Some areas affected by the blackwater events are still producing but only a few, if any, cod, which is a stark reminder of the past. So what did we learn from these mistakes and the detrimental impact they played on our native fish populations? Well, I would say nothing as the bush at many locations along the Murray River has once again been pumped full of water. Try dropping into Bottle Bend Reserve near Mildura, a popular camping and fishing spot, which up until this

season was enjoyed by many. The gate has been locked for a few months now and the countless acres of dry land well above river height are flooded as far as the eye can see, all the way to the highway several kilometres from the actual river. This is just one of many locations that are experiencing a so-called natural event that has replaced Mother Nature with a giant pump and generator. I am either too tired or perhaps too ignorant to see To page 57

Gus Storer and Gareth Lynch with a typical late season cod landed on a 120 Codzilla on the troll. One hit is all it takes!

Bites continue through chill BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

There are certainly no winter blues for the diehard Ballarat and district anglers who have rugged up in pursuit of

Anglers are lining the shores and boat ramps are full of cars and trailers. In the middle of winter, anglers are on the water trying to catch that elusive trout or redfin that lurks in Lake Wendouree. Tom Shaw, one of the keenest

released. The Ballarat Fish Acclimatisation Society has just released another 3,000 brown trout into the lake giving the lake another healthy population of trout for the upcoming season. In Hepburn Lagoon the trout have started to show up again. There has been a recent release of yearling trout into the water. Like others around the district, water levels are on the rise and the bigger fish have started to move into the flooded reservoir margins in search of food. Searching flies, like Woolly Buggers, Woolly Worms, Fuzzy

Wuzzies and Hammils Killers are perfect for this technique. For the bait angler at this time of the year, a bunch of worms on a lightly weighted running sinker will do the trick. The fish will be in very close to the shore so there is no need to try and cast your line to the other side of the reservoir as you will find them at your feet. Hepburn has some very large trout lurking in its waters so you just never know what you could hook up. Barry Kentish was fly fishing along the north

This redfin was caught casting hardbodied lures at Tullaroop. Photo courtesy of Tom Shaw. their favourite pastime – angling. And yes they have been rewarded for their efforts in the middle of a freezing cold Ballarat winter despite the snowfalls and temperatures in the minuses. The district waters are slowly on the rise as the ground is now water logged and any drop of rain is now flowing into our district waters. Lake Wendouree is still the most popular angler destination in the district. From page ###

the bigger picture but I have seen the past and the legacy it has left. Did we learn nothing the first time round? I guess only time will tell.

anglers going around, has been catching quality trout from Wendouree casting hardbodied lures while drifting out of the boat. Tom has mainly been using minnow pattern type lures. Mick McKay and myself have been fly fishing the lake using Woolly Bugger fly pattern. Bright coloured flies seem to be on the menu, with orange and pink the best. We’ve been either stripping very fast or using a rolly-polly retrieve. Brown trout to 5lb have been caught and We did experience some excellent fishing this past month that was hit and miss as the Murray fluctuated up and down and the clarity changed from week to

Steve Muns with a bad dose of cod thumb.

Hepburn has some very large trout lurking in its waters, like this one caught on a Tom Jones by Kiel Jones. Photo courtesy of Kiel Jones. week. The chill of winter’s cold did little to help on the slowest days that sometimes would yield but a single strike on the lure. If it happened to stick, then all was good as most often these cool water fish were well above the metre-mark. To chance an oncoming rise in water levels would see the cod bite with gusto and these days are those we remember over all else that’s fishing. Several times this past month we had captures of three or more metre-plus cod on lures in a weekend trip. Casting was most productive as the water cooled, and the larger fish seemed to find comfort in the shallows. While the golden perch were harder to tempt, most sessions would see at least one or two boated on lures with more on bait if you tried. Carp continued to bite well on bait and many an evening session was spent catching and feeding these rubber-lipped vermin to the numerous pelicans that were readily dying of natural cause and starvation

Tom Shaw with an excellent brown trout caught casting hardbodied lures at Lake Wendouree. Photo courtesy of Tom Shaw

shore and then he was hit by a steam train. He lost all his flies and leader when the trout struck so you just never know. In Newlyn Reservoir, the water level is rising and the trout have come in out of the deeper water. They are chasing the smelt and also foraging in the shallows for worms and grubs. Newlyn, like Hepburn, has just received a stocking of trout so there is a healthy population of trout out there; it’s just a matter of extracting them from the water. All forms of angling methods should catch a fish it’s just a matter of time and effort to get the results. Moorabool Reservoir has been fishing well as the water is rising over new ground. There is no insect life that will entice the trout to feed on the surface, so it’s all heads down bum up casting lures and flies. The trout still appear to have all their focus on the smelt that live in the lake. Minnow

or smelt representations would certainly be my choice when targeting these fish. Tullaroop Reservoir I have mentioned as my favourite winter destination the water like others is slowly on the rise the fish haven’t moved into the shallows yet but it’s only a matter of time. Tom Shaw has been catching some lovely rainbow trout to 4lb in the lower reaches of Tullaroop casting hardbodied minnow pattern lures. Tom said just do the miles to get the smiles. I have said in previous articles Tullaroop is blessed with lots of shallow bays, nooks and crannies that trout love to feed in. It’s just a matter of the fly, bait or lure caster walking the shores of this magnificent reservoir to catch a fish. Over the coming months, those anglers that fish this water will certainly be rewarded as quality trout and redfin are lurking in Tullaroops waters.

The fish was responsible for Steve Muns’ cod thumb. along the banks of the Murray River. As we head into spring and the closure of the cod season, anglers will shift their focus – the numerous golden perch will become active and will now be the intended target. Smaller lures will replace those intended for cod and the action will come

thick and fast, as the water starts to warm. Bait anglers too will cash in on the action as the fish once more glut a new generation of shrimp that seem to explode overnight. A few trips are in line for the cod closure and while the Murray locally at Wemen and Robinvale will provide good catches of golden perch

I am looking for an upsize. Eildon is just the place to lock horns with a monster of the species. Off to the surf to chase a few mulloway and a feed or two of redfin from the Kerang Lakes will be a welcome change from the Murray River while the cod season is closed. SEPTEMBER 2014

Fortune unfolds for the region’s fishy future BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

September is often a very interesting month to say the least in the Bendigo region. The fishing is not necessarily the most productive during this time but what happens with the weather over the next couple of months has a huge bearing in determining the productivity for the next season. At this stage the weather conditions have continued to be very cold. Rainfall has been consistent while not heavy. Our catchments are saturated and any significant rainfall is producing good run-off. At this stage it looks likely the cold weather will continue for the majority of the month. However, typically we will start to experience some warmer weather towards the end. LAKE EPPALOCK Water levels are starting to rise slowly at this location. Water clarity remains very good around the lake. If we start to receive higher inflows toward the end of the month the water clarity will start to deteriorate in the Twin Rivers and to a lesser extent in the Derrinal Pool sections of the lake. There is a good chance that Lake Eppalock is going to receive good inflows over the next couple of months. In the three main catchments above Lake

Eppalock, which are Upper Coliban, Lauriston and Malmsbury Reservoir the water levels have been increasing nicely. When these impoundments’ water levels are near capacity this is when greater volumes of water are released and Lake Eppalock inturn can fill quite quickly. The fishing over the last month continues to be very slow at Lake Eppalock. Redfin are still making up the majority of anglers’ catch rates. However locating a good concentration of redfin has been difficult and then getting them to take anything has also proven to be difficult most days. Although the numbers of redfin has been low, there has been the occasional quality specimen measuring over 40cm being caught. The majority of these have been caught by anglers trolling deep diving hardbody lures. A few redfin have also been caught by anglers jigging ice jigs and soft plastics. The numbers of golden perch being caught has been low. Towards the end of September if we receive some mild weather we will start to see a small increase in the numbers of golden perch being caught. Golden perch fishing should be very good during spring thanks mainly to the very good stocking into the lake over the past few seasons. There has still been the

This well-conditioned 60cm Murray cod was caught casting a Jackall Clone Fry soft plastics slowly retrieved in 10m of water at Lake Eppalock. The fish was caught in the winter months before the close of the Murray cod season. occasional Murray cod being caught before the close of the season. This is encouraging – when the water warms up, the catch rates will pick up. It was good to see an increase in the numbers of Murray cod, which were stocked into Lake Eppalock last season. Hopefully we will see a further increase in the Murray cod stocking into Lake Eppalock during the 2015 season. CAMPASPE RIVER Currently, the water clarity remained good at most locations along the Campaspe River. How long this last depends mainly on

the rainfall. If the rainfall remains consistent but only moderately falls, then water clarity will stay good. Given the current saturated nature of our catchments it will only take a couple of large rainfall events and the water clarity will deteriorate. Golden perch are currently making up the majority of anglers’ captures. The most productive lures have been small profile spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. Late afternoon continues to be the most productive time. The numbers of Murray cod being caught has been low.

Catch rates of redfin have also been low. CAIRN CURRAN Water clarity remains good in the majority of this location. Recent inflows have produced steady increases in water levels. Water clarity has started to deteriorate in the top section. Redfin are making up the majority of anglers’ catch rates and are being caught in deep water. Depths greater than 12m have been the most productive. Downrigging with hardbody lures and jigging soft plastics and ice jigs have been the most productive

methods for the redfin. The numbers of redfin being caught has only been average with the occasional quality fish being caught. The numbers of native fish being caught at this location has been low but should start to improve shortly as the water levels continues to rise and water temperatures increase. LODDON RIVER Water clarity remains good at most locations along the Loddon River. The water clarity can change quickly in this system. At this time of the year it will only take a couple of significant rainfall events and water clarity will deteriorate. Small numbers of Murray cod have been caught throughout the river. Anglers are reminded of the closed season for Murray cod and you must not target them during the closed season and if a Murray cod is caught accidentally it must be returned to the water as soon as possible. The numbers of golden perch being caught has been low. We should start to see an increase in the numbers by the end of the month. As the water starts to warm we will see greater concentrations of fish moving into the shallower sections of the river. Casting small profile spinnerbaits, small hardbody lures and lipless crankbaits are all effective options for the golden perch at this time of the year.

Spring into trout season MELBOURNE METRO

Ian Debar iand@gottabite.com.au

While we haven’t completely shaken off the cool weather, once September rolls around it normally gets a bit better every day. Footy finals finish up at the end of the month, trout season for the streams and rivers opens up and the days are starting to get a bit longer… everybody’s winning! Speaking of river trout, if that’s your thing then get up to the Yarra around Warburton. As soon as the trout season opens up, the river is worth a look. Normally there is still a bit of water pushing downstream in early spring but it shouldn’t up set things too much. Concentrate your efforts around the backwaters and slower moving sections out of the main flow where you can fish your bait or lure without having it 58

SEPTEMBER 2014

anchored down. For the lure casters, ‘spotted dog’ or spawning trout patterns are still good options at the moment as some trout will still be 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/black colours will cut through the murk of the river and provide a good silhouette for the trout to focus on. For the more casual angler, Karkarook Park Lake has been worth a shot. The lake has been producing trout and redfin for bait fishers. Prime time for the trout here is early morning with a bit of cloud cover and surface chop being ideal weather conditions – which at this time of year we can pretty much still expect. Most of the trout caught lately have been landed before about 10am, with a few biting later through the day. When targeting the trout in Karkarook, two long (7-9ft) graphite rods will

come in handy, rigged up with 2-3kg monofilament line. With the two rods you are able to experiment with different rigs and setups, however the most successful are a suspended bottom rig and a weighted sliding float rig. In terms of bait selection when targeting trout in Karkarook Lake, the best baits are dough style, such as Powerbait and Dynamite Baits Trout Dough. There are lots of pretty colours in these dough baits, and some days some colours will outperform others… but that’s pretty much how it goes with fishing! These dough baits fish best on a small treble hook on the suspended bottom rig – that is where the sinker runs down your main line to a swivel, with one metre leader from swivel down to hook and bait. On the rod rigged up with a small sliding float, baits of mudeye (if you can find them) are excellent. Be sure to pack some adjustable bank rod holders

The vibrant colours of a young trout from the crystal clear waters of the river. and a comfy chair, and the trap is set! • If you have had some success in these areas lately send me a photo and go into the draw for your chance to win a store voucher valued at $100. Email it to:

admin@fishingcamping. com.au Include, angler’s name, species, and the area you were fishing. For up to date fishing information, contact the guys at Compleat Angler in Dandenong on 9794 9397

or drop in and see us at 241 – 243 Princes Hwy, Dandenong, we are open 7 days a week. For our other latest fishing reports and to download information sheets, go to www fishingcamping.com.au

It’s been crazy on the crayfish SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

Spring is finally here and I am very happy to see the back end of winter. It’s been a disappointing winter on the fishing side of things but it was the best cray season I have ever seen in our region. Reports just kept flooding in over the past month with many people catching their bag limits on most trips. For years I have been talking about the potential of the Goulburn River and it has well and truly delivered this season. Now with the crays and cod out of our target list, we shift our attention to spring golden perch and redfin. Over the past couple of months, the rivers have been higher than usual and if we get the same rise and falls in spring, it will see the golden perch go on the bite. Other than cod opening the start of spring for me is the most exciting time of the year, there always is such an anticipation of what the season will bring. If we get some good spring rain you can almost guarantee yourself a fish on

the rise in the Broken River in September and October. If you’re bait fishing on the rise, try and find any pool/ backwater and make sure you are using fresh bait. If you’re more a lure fisho you will have a ball in the spring chasing yellowbelly as they normally take to lures more aggressively than bait. When fishing the Broken I would suggest targeting the waters either along Broken River Drive or get in the car and head to Benalla and fish just downstream of the town. The best spots used to be out Pine Lodge way but years of over fishing and over taking of fish by some have just stuffed those areas. Fingers-crossed in a few years’ time they fire up again out that way but between now and then there is still plenty of good spots closer to town. If heading out the Goulburn I would target Rafterys Road area. This spot seems to fish best in the spring, there is plenty of good bank or boating spots out there. If launching a boat there is a good little ramp as you enter the bush or some of the sandbars can make handy launching spots. If you’re looking for a

redfin fix then now is the time to target them in the channels, there is plenty of water in them and the fish are responding well to both lures and bait. As I always say, target structure and the channels have limited structure so if you can find rock walls, bridges and drop bars I would suggest fishing there. There has also been trout and golden perch caught in the main eastern channel lately so it’s starting to become one of our best fisheries in the area so if the rivers are not your style get out to the channels. KIALLA LAKES Spring is normally a fun time at the lakes, if you can get hold of a kayak or canoe I would make your way out to the island and just cast your arm off, as that’s where the big fish will be holding. The water clarity is the best I have seen it in a year it’s still not like it used to be but its improving as each month goes on. Remember if there are storms, around the lakes fish extremely well. I don’t suggest you fish during the storms but before or after is dynamite and the yellas really go nuts.

Slow rolling any type of lure would be the best method for spring. However, don’t stick with just one type of lure, constantly change your lures until you crack the code. SHEPPARTON LAKE The trout have been on fire lately in the Shepparton Lake; they may be small but still great fun on light gear. You can target the trout either from the fishing platforms or from a boat, which makes fishing for them very accessible for everyone. As well as targeting trout, there are plenty of golden perch between the 35-45cm mark in the lake, so if using light gear expect to have some good fights with a yella or two while chasing the trout. Best lures lately have been small lipless crankbaits, and for the bait fishos a big heap of worms suspended below a float. WARANGA BASIN There have not been too many reports from the basin lately. This could be a result of the recent windy conditions. The bad news is that over the next few months the wind is most likely going to stay with us.

Matt Hooper and his young boy Cody with a decent cray caught earlier this year. For those who got out for a fish at the basin, they found the bigger fish were holding in 10-15ft of water, and trolling small Codgers was the most successful technique. Any bright colour hardbodies will work, but I feel the Codgers work best in these water depths. CRAIGMUIR LAKES A Craigmuir Lake is one of Mooroopna’s best kept fishing secrets and I can’t hold onto it anymore. The lakes are similar to Kialla Lakes, as it’s a residential area, but does not have the

same amount of bank access. So if fishing the lake do so out of a kayak or canoe, but remember just like Kialla be respectful of the home owners on the water’s edge as we are pretty much fishing from their backyards. There are plenty of redfin and golden perch in the lake but I can’t stress enough catch and release is suggested as it’s not a stocked lake, so every fish you take is one less for next time. Over the spring and summer months I hope to have more reports from the lake.

Preparing for the trout season that’s ahead YARRA VALLEY

Ian Loft ringwood@compleatangler.com.au

This month sees the opening of trout season at midnight on Friday 5. So in preparation for this I thought it wise to do a little checklist of the things people often forget to replace, fix and take when heading out for open season! Obviously before this time you can fish the Yarra River because its entire length is not known solely as a trout river. As a matter of fact, the best of the trout fishing starts at Woori Yallock and goes upstream from there. I’ve always considered this to be the unofficial ‘no go zone’ for when the trout season closer is in place. You will however still catch trout in the mid to lower section (all the way to Flinders St Bridge in fact) and in the close season your obligated to put these fish back into the water unharmed. OPEN SEASON BITS AND PIECES One of the first things you should do at open season is check your fishing licence. You would be surprised how many officers are cruising about

looking for a valid licence on the 5 September! Next is to check your outfits thoroughly. Because a lot of good trout rods make great ‘other fish’ rods, you’ll often find that you’ve used them during the closed season for bream fishing or salmon spinning or something saltwater orientated. This can be a nightmare if you forgot to wash them properly after the session. You’ll need to make sure that your reels are in full operation including making sure the bail roller rolls and the drag is still smooth. A quick oiling will generally fix any of these issues. Line is the next to consider. I like to replace my monofilament fishing lines once a season so this is a good time to do it! If you were smart you would have bought a 600m spool of your favourite line last season so you’re ready to go and wind on a ‘freshy’ right now. Otherwise it’s a trip to your local tackle store to get respooled. If you’re a devoted braid user, all you’ll need to check is that all your line is in good order and maybe cut off the last 10m of line if it looks a little fuzzy. After this, you’ll need to check that your leader materials are up to scratch and you have enough of the right weights and lengths.

Open season is a great time to do one or two types of fishing in the Yarra. First and foremost in my mind is spinning. With quite a bit of water still coming down and some still very aggressive post spawn trout in the river, you’re going to want to hit them with some special types of lures. My favourite are minnow style lures dressed up in the spotted dog paint pattern. There are quite a few companies doing this paint job these days so you don’t have to break out the nail polish just yet but as a preference, I do prefer painting my own because it’s fun! Casting these lures upstream and working them back a little faster than the current is the go, as you do so you’re going to want to put some serious rod tip twitching action into the retrieve. This will really fire the trout up! Other good lures are Mepps Black Fury, Vibrax Hot Pepper and Berkley 3B Trout Range. The other type of fishing that works really well is something that I’ve mentioned numerous times before – a single scrub worm cast upstream with a split shot rig. It’s a classic at this time of the year because the fish have been eating worms all winter and they don’t miss a trick when one drifts down

past them. Whether you cast upstream or let it run downstream it wont really matter, just be prepared to loose a bit of gear doing it. It’s heavy on hooks and split shot. Lucky they’re cheap as chips! So remember your gear needs to be looked at asap and so does your licence. Get out there and have a great trout opening. • For all the latest information on how to go about fishing the Yarra River and surrounding areas, drop into Compleat Angler Ringwood or give them a call on (03) 9870 77922.

A selection of trout lures to open season, which will put a few on the bank.

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SEPTEMBER 2014

Belter golden season to come EILDON

Andy McCarthy

I can’t believe it’s spring already! And it’s my favourite time of the year to fish Lake Eildon as the golden perch start to school up and feed like nut jobs. They offer anglers so much fun in the run up to Christmas. Unfortunately it’s also the end of the road for chasing green fish until December 1, so if you do get any by-catch cod make sure you look after them as best you can; always support the belly no matter how small the fish. Another winner is that the trout season opens up. The rivers will flood with an extra 1350mgL per day running down the Goulburn. This trout opening should be a cracker and should be a

very productive spawn with the extra flow. It is also good news for the rivers as they need a bit of natural TLC. I’d also like to remind people that we need to give the rivers our TLC as well. We all go nuts and get excited about camping and trout fishing but please don’t litter. Last year was one of the worst for rubbish on the rivers – if you can take it in, you can take it out. Sadly, once again this year a great little river, the Rubicon, took an absolute beating after another accidental brook trout release. Quite a few knuckle heads decide to head on up and take everything they could get their hooks into until our good friends at Fisheries showed up. These fools got in liquorice all sorts, and so they should! On top of that flogging, it copped a lot of

flooding over winter. I hope it doesn’t do too much damage for the spawn season, which is just the opposite to the Goulburn. Funny how things work some times. Back to the lake: it is going to be a belter of a season on the yellas. I’m sure it could start early again, as nature has seemingly brought spring earlier than even last year. For some reason the water clarity is still super

clear so I would be starting to fish deeper in the 25-40ft range; perhaps even deeper until the water temp starts to get up to the 16ºC. The warmer water will bring the fish up closer to the surface. Just remember the clearer the water, generally the deeper the yella will go. Use the usual suspects – lipless crankbaits or soft plastics on heavy jigheads 1/6oz or so – to get you down deep.

Cooper Groaters with a decent Pondage rainbow. The Eildon Pondage should really start to produce in the next two months.

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Bowen McCarthy with his PB cod of 62cm.

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You will probably pick up a lot of reddies too, but even they have been in the 50-60ft range. It will be the next 2 months or so that the pondage really goes off with the

Brave anglers at Bonnie Doon BONNIE DOON

Darren Macdonald

It has taken only brave anglers to test the waters here at Boonie Doon at the north end of Lake Eildon. The temperature has dropped below 0°C several times, the water is rising and the lake is very dirty. With the water rising the trout have dropped off but they can be found along the grass banks around the 30-35cm mark with some regularity. Our international residents catch plenty of carp off Kennedys Point and this area resembles a lit up city street on any given night. It’s great for them and great for the waterway with this pest being removed and put to good use. The lake itself is already up 7% compared to this time last year. Local angling enthusiasts, Adrian and Penny Mortor are always keen and have been landing some nice trout in the

cold weather and rising water. My great mates Jeff and Aerlen from Lake Eildon Cruisers are about to change direction and get into guided cruises around the Boonie Doon area. As I am one of the guides, along with Adrian Mortor, there will be a wealth of experience in all fish species between us. This is an exciting time. Constant stocking of the lake and now plenty of water in the lake is fast turning into a haven for our native fish, giving the angler more opportunities to catch that fish of a lifetime. With the cod season closing, spring native fishers have always looked to cash in on the incredible golden perch fishery that Lake Eildon has become. Bonnie Doon is the perfect jumping off point for a spring sojourn. Currently the natives have gone very quiet with the golden perch hard to find, but if the

Trout in skinny water are a feature of this time of year. The smaller browns follow up the rising water in search of minnows, worms and insects.

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unusual flows I mentioned earlier. Its levels won’t fluctuate a great deal until irrigation starts again, so it should go off like a carp in the sun! Tight lines everyone, it’s spring!

Trolling in shallow water is a good tactic if the lake is rising.

angler works hard casting around the bays in amongst the sticks some good cod have been caught. Trolling deep with darker colours has also produced some fish over the metre-mark, which are the real trophies of this waterway. On a closing note I would like to remind everybody of the Adam Person Memorial Fishing Comp to be conducted this year from the Boonie Doon Hotel over the weekend of November 1-2. Check out the Facebook site for all the links and details. Fish hard, stay safe and look forward to the next report.

Wangaratta welcomes the warm WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

After one of the coldest, wettest winters we have experienced for quite a few years, spring is finally at our doorstep and is being welcomed with open arms! Obviously the big news headline is the Victorian trout season, which opens on Saturday 6 September when many people will be out and about before sunrise with anticipation of what will hopefully be a much better trout season than last season. Towards the end of last season I started seeing a lot of small trout pop up in many of the region’s creeks and rivers, particularly in the headwaters, which was a positive sign of better things to come. It is still unclear how the Ovens River will fish this season as it is still suffering the effects of a large bushfire and flash flood that wiped out a large amount of the river’s trout a few years back. It is bouncing back, but it’s taking a while. Hopefully this season will see an improvement in the

Ovens River as a trout fishery. The King River will most likely fish poorly downstream of Lake William Hovell as this area was decimated by summer heat in recent years. Upstream of Lake William Hovell the trout fishing is much better and well worth a visit, but you will need a 4WD to get up there. The Buckland, Buffalo and Rose rivers should all tick over okay. I’m not expecting anything too flash out of these, or any waterways this season however I am expecting them to produce more trout than last season. Lake William Hovell will be worth fishing for trout as the water will still be icy cold, and a few small redfin may start to make an appearance, although they will be slow. It’s a similar story over at Lake Buffalo as the water just begins to warm towards the end of the month. A few redfin may start to move, and the mythical Lake Buffalo yellowbelly might start turning up towards the end of the month. Remember it is very early into the warmer season so things will start moving, but

Small trout started turning up more frequently towards the end of last season, hopefully a sign of better things to come this season.

very slowly. In the lower reaches of the rivers, the Ovens River around Wangaratta will be worth dangling a bunch of worms in to provided we have not had too much rain. It doesn’t matter if the river is high, as long as it is not flooded. Obviously Murray cod are off limits as it is the closed season, so avoid

than has been seen in the last 10 years put together. If you seriously want to target yellowbelly, head over to Lake Nillahcootie in September and fish the shallow margins at the top end of the lake. Lake Sambell in Beechworth will be worth fishing as it will receive a fresh European carp are common in the Ovens River around Wangaratta and provide a lot of angling fun as the weather starts to warm up in September.

Beechworth gold! Golden perch are stocked into waterways in Beechworth, Rutherglen, Chiltern and Yackandandah each year and often start to get active around late September. using lures and known Murray cod baits, such as bardi grubs, large yabbies and cheese or you may find yourself in hot water if a Fisheries inspector deems you to be targeting Murray cod. A good old bunch of worms will catch just about anything in the Ovens River, and if you do hook a Murray cod on worms, chances are that it will be too small to be a breeding fish anyway. Yellowbelly are few and far between in the Ovens River, so in spring you are really only fishing for carp with the slight possibility of catching a yellowbelly. In saying that, last season saw more yellowbelly caught around the Wangaratta area

stocking of yearling rainbow trout just in time for the spring school holidays. ON A PERSONAL NOTE Please excuse my ‘off-topic’ subject this month, but I am in the mood to express my feelings with words. I had just parked my backside on my computer chair to start working on this report when my phone rang. It was my father, telling me the sad news that my Great Aunt Millie had passed away. Aunty Millie was 87

Brett Corker proves that golden perch are in the Ovens River catchment by catching this lovely fish on a pink Bassman Spinnerbait at Wangaratta last season

and lived her entire life in Wangaratta. In fact, she lived her entire life in Park Lane. She was born there in the mid 1920s, then got married in the 1940s and moved about 3 houses down the street to where she spent the rest of her life. She lived for 87 years not more than about 100m from the bank of the Ovens River. Her and her brothers (my Great Uncles) were catching bluenose (trout cod), Murray cod and Macquarie perch in the Ovens River in Wangaratta back in the 1930s and 40s. I have some amazing photos of my predecessors here in Wangaratta with huge hauls of cod, the old fashioned way, strung up along lengths of rope. Many of these fish were caught before my uncles went off to fight in World War II, that’s almost 80 years ago (and people these days have a firm belief that I am giving away their ‘secret river’). R.I.P. my beautiful great auntie, Millie Bowden, a true Aussie battler that joined the army to serve our country in World War II but never ended up going offshore. I can still taste those magnificent homemade lamingtons on my lips that you use to feed me when I wagged school to go fishing behind your house.

Last siren sounds for cod YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

The final siren is about to sound on the 2013-14 cod fishing season from September through to November inclusive. For those who are keen, you have a week or so to track down that elusive green beast you may have been chasing season long! Don’t despair, you may be only one cast or a short troll away from what you are dreaming of. Wind the clock back 12 months and Mulwala local Brad ‘Sultan’ Pepper landed a hat-trick of metreplus Murray cod below the weir in the dying moments of the season, so there is still hope! Best bet fishing anywhere within Lake

Mulwala or the Murray River is to troll big lures, 120mm+ in search of the bigguns. AC, Koolabung, StumpJumper, Custom Craft, Kuttafurra, Gidgee, Mud Eye and Paul Nicel’s are all lures that won’t let you down if you put them in the right place! Once the frosts hit, July’s fishing slowed dramatically with only sparse reports of cod and golden perch being caught within the region. The most exciting period was when the gates were opened below the weir and the golden perch fired up for a few days, as they traditional do when there is an increase in water flows and a steady rise. Riley Norrish and Ian Ratcliffe were a couple of young fellas who ‘met in the middle’ when they came together from Adelaide and

Orange respectively. Six days fishing saw the boys have a lot of fun in between little action. After casting and trolling all points of the lake the boys changed tact and headed down the river with a bucketful of bait. Persistence paid off as on their final day Riley landed a healthy 42cm trout cod along with half a dozen crays (released) that took a liking to their scrub worms. Cray season continued and with it reports suggested most crews were getting their daily bag limits with a bit of work. Majors Creek and above up to Bundalong returned more consistent results than below the weir. Don’t forget come 1 September the targeting of Murray cod is illegal and Murray cray season closes. If you are in search of a golden perch or two remember that

the Murray River between the Yarrawonga Weir and main bridge at Tocumwal is totally closed to all forms of fishing. • Competition season is drawing closer by the day. If you are keen to get your name added to the Cod Classic, Golden Dollars, Dash 4 Cash, His and Hers Partners Classic or Cod Nationals mailing lists shoot me an e-mail at codclassic@ bigpond.com. If visiting Yarrawonga/Mulwala I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski, the shop with the big green cod out the front (Opposite the Post Office) in Mulwala and say G’day. We are your largest Murray cod specific shop in the region and specialize in all things “Green”! For any info on upcoming events or fishing reports give us a call on 03 5744 3133.

Riley Norrish with his 42cm trout cod from the Murray River. SEPTEMBER 2014

Back on the trout track KEIWA VALLEY

Robbie Alexander

Spring is finally here and so too is the new trout season, which opens on Saturday 6 September 2014. To say I am very excited is a serious understatement! In late April, I got the fishing bug back, and I got it good and proper,

morning. One thing I can guarantee is that the trout will be actively feeding on worms in all waterways this month, particularly at the beginning. Even if we get no August rainfall there will still be plenty of water around. The Kiewa River will be very high and un-wadable for most of the month, if not the entire month. So land-

based fishing it is! Anywhere from Dederang upstream will be worth fishing during September with the area close to the Mt Beauty spillway being the best place to head. The Mitta Mitta River will be worth a look as well. Anywhere from Eskdale township upstream will be worth a try. The area upstream from Mitta Mitta township has some amazing

Although not a big trout, a few this size were caught in the Kiewa River late last season. These fish will have grown considerably during the closed season with the high water and abundance of food in the system making the Kiewa a great choice for trout opening weekend.

Tiny redfin are a reasonably common by-catch in the Kiewa River for anglers targeting trout. only for the trout season to close in June. This winter has easily been the longest, most painful closed trout season in memory for me as I mark each day off the calendar in anticipation of the new season. One thing is certain, there will be decent flows of water in all of the rivers and creeks of North East Victoria during September. Winter has been very wet and we have already had moderate flooding in several rivers. Due to the wet winter, the wise angler will take a punnet of worms, some small hooks and split shot sinkers along on opening

around the rocky outcrops. However catches will be pretty few and far between with the second half of September offering the best chance at catching one of these huge green machines from Lake Hume when conditions warm up that little bit more.

A Snowy Creek brown trout caught on a Super Vibrax last September.

Lake/Dam % Full

Dam % Full

LAKE/DAM Jun Jul Aug Cairn Curran 58 58 64 Dartmouth 89 92 94 Eildon 68 75 84 Eppalock 73 74 74 Fyans 85 84 84 Greens 55 65 56 Hepburn 56 57 87 Hume 44 57 72 Lauriston 79 80 83 Malmsbury 33 38 42 Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 98 89 93

Newlyn 49 59 86 Nillahcootie 70 94 100 Rocklands 32 24 26 Taylors 45 22 25 Tullaroop 48 49 52 Upper Coliban 65 72 90 Waranga 29 64 91 Wartook 46 57 73 William Hovell 99 103 100

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starting to move slowly, and the recently stocked rainbow trout that are put there for the September school holidays will be feeding actively. The serious yellowbelly anglers heading to Lake Hume may start to see a few early season yellowbelly pop up

Redfin this size and under are common in Alans Flat waterhole and should start making an appearance during September when the water begins to warm up.

DAM LEVELS

water in it, but is also very hard to wade and access. There are some decent trout in this section that are worth targeting if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re willing to put in the hard yards walking the overgrown banks. Snowy Creek upstream of Mitta Mitta was very slow last year, but there were a few trout in there for anglers who put the time in. This area will be worth a visit on opening weekend, the water

All levels correct at time of going to press. Damlevels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.

up there will be flowing quite quickly so take care when wading the creek. Lake Dartmouth will definitely be a great place to head in September as the rainbow trout make their way back down out of the rivers and into the lake looking for as much food as they can fit into their mouths. They will be trying to regain lost condition from their spawning run up the rivers. Away from the trout, the redfin and golden perch will start to move in Lake Hume and Alans Flat Waterhole. In both lakes the action will be slow, but the warmer days, particularly towards the end of the month, may just wake them a little from their winter torpor. Bait fishing at Alans Flat Waterhole in September can be great fun with the redfin and yellowbelly just

A lovely deep hole on the Snowy Creek alongside the Omeo Highway. Snowy Creek fished quite poorly last season although there were a few trout caught. I am expecting the Snowy to improve a fair bit this season.

Rain won’t stop anglers playing WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

September 5 sees the season re-open. Don’t expect any fireworks and grand openings; instead there will be a lot of happy stream trout anglers wading the streams or walking the banks of their favourite stretch with a smile on their face. Not even the icy cold and wet conditions can deter a stream trout angler venturing out this time of the year. Mt Baw Baw has had a good snow season and later this month we’ll start to see rivers, like the Tanjil and Tyers, rise with strong clear icy flows. And because of the snowmelt into the Tanjil, we’d expect to see Blue Rock Lake at 100% well into summer. Icy waters will make for another top spawning season for the wild populations of stream trout. What anglers have to remember is that these rivers in West and South

Gippsland rely solely on wild populations spawning annually. No stocking programs take place in these rivers, so anglers must catch and release to protect the sport they love doing. Blue Rock on the other hand is the only waterway stocked in this region. It receives healthy stockings of brown and rainbow trout and Australian bass. Bass are by far becoming the target species on the lake over trout. In saying this, there are some monster trout at Blue Rock cruising about and if you have the patience to troll day in and day out you can be pleasantly rewarded. September is the best time of year to get on the lake trolling a couple of lures. The best thing now is that lake anglers have a few options: troll for trout in the morning and flick lures around the trees in the afternoon for bass. Bass are also being caught on scrub worms either fished unweighted from the bank or under a float next to a dead tree; another option if you

feel like tying up to a tree or pulling up to the bank. Blue Rock has a size restriction for boats (hull no greater than 4.3m and engine rating of no greater than 9.9hp), which allows kayakers to enjoy the lake without the worry of fast boats darting around. It really is a haven for small boat owners and kayakers. With the season opening for stream trout fishing, fishing fast flowing water is always a challenge, especially this time of the year. Retrieving lures, particularly bladed lures and hardbodies with a bib is difficult against or with the flow. Flicking a beaded nymph will also be difficult as it rises up to the surface with the strong flows and out of the strike zone. Lure and fly anglers will have their work cut out for them as they search and concentrate on slower flowing stretches of stream. Working the river bends where the flow slows down will be the best option for the start of the open season. Soft

plastics cast close to the bank on straight sections of river will work well as you generally have a bit of backwater right up along the bank. You may have to increase the weight of the jigheads to combat the flow of the water. The opening of the season is a great time to get back to basics using baits for stream trout. At this time of the year artificial baits with hormone and scent added attractants are very productive on stream trout. Live baits, like garden or scrub worms also work a treat and if fishing two rods, it’s well worth having a line out with an artificial and live bait fished in small pools with backwater or in river bends. Once the line is cast and the rod put into a rod holder, it is important to stand well back and keep activity well away from the water’s edge so that you don’t spook any interested fish. The river blackfish season closes for the south of the Great Dividing

Les with a 62cm brown trout caught and released just before the season closed on the Queen’s Birthday weekend in June. Range is the 1 September and re-opens on 1 January 2012. Feel free to send me a report or photo particularly if

you have any success stories from the opening of the trout season. Please email me any questions too. Happy fishing!

Robbie Alexander Fishing Adventures is live

For several years we have read Robbie’s reports and enjoyed his photos here at Fishing Monthly. Now Robbie has decided to take his career in the fishing industry a step further by starting up his own ‘no frills’ landbased guided fishing service catering for the average angler and the average Aussie. Based in Wangaratta, North East Victoria, Robbie Alexander Fishing Adventures has been designed to be more than just a fishing experience, but a full comprehensive informative tutorial type lesson providing clients with as much knowledge as can be packed into a fishing session. While the aim is always to get clients onto quality fish, Robbie openly states that there are no certainties in fishing. One thing that Robbie is certain about however is that a fishing trip with him will leave you pumped full of useful information which you can take with you wherever you head. Robbie has been fishing the lakes, rivers and creeks of North East Victoria for over 35 years and has extensive knowledge of the waterways in the area, and the fish that live in them. The main target species of fish on a trip with Robbie Alexander Fishing Adventures are Murray cod and trout.

There are several different fishing options available for clients including full day trips, half day trips, twilight sessions, junior twilight sessions and half day ‘Bait Basics’ sessions designed for families and kids. The rates are $350 per full day for one person, or $400 per full day with 2 people, $250 per half day or twilight session for one person, or $300 for 2 people. Junior twilight sessions are a bargain at just $60 per person, $100 for two people, or $120 for three people (all must be under 18). Parents are most welcome to sit on the bank and watch. If parents want to join in and fish with their kids they will be charged at the junior rate.

The Bait Basics session is a flat rate of $150, and this can include up to two adults, and four kids, although Robbie says he is not very good at counting so a few extra kids can be thrown in free of charge. These Bait Basics sessions were designed via feedback from people that have taken the time to email Robbie. They are designed as an entry to bait fishing for new comers to the sport, or as a way to involve Robbie Alexander in your family fishing day as a role model, or mentor for your kids. These neat little packages also include golden perch (yellowbelly), redfin and carp. Due to insurance red tape, all of Robbie’s tours are

based on a ‘follow me’ style of operation. In other words, you bring your own gear, meet Robbie at Adventure Camping and Fishing in Wangaratta and follow Robbie to your destination. Basically, you are paying to squeeze as much of Robbie’s knowledge and experience out of him as possible. Providing a taxi service, food, equipment, boat etc... that all starts running into big money; before long the no frills guided service starts having pretty frills! Robbie is a trained mental health professional and has spent time as a youth worker and counsellor. So if you have a teenager that is starting to run off the rails, a fishing session with Robbie might just be a great

place to try and find some guidance for him or her. Robbie is also a radio personality, runs a YouTube channel as well as a magazine photo journalist. All of these diversities add up to ensure that Robbie is very versatile in his approach towards

people, he is a wonderful communicator and has a great sense of humour. Fishing with Robbie is NEVER boring! For more information, or to contact Robbie directly, visit his website at www.robbiefishing. com. – FMG

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Robbie Alexander will help you learn about and experience the best of the local fishing. SEPTEMBER 2014

ABT’s Grand Final winner takes on Nomad’s GT FMG

Chris Byrnes

Anglers dream of fishing pristine locations teeming with the opportunity to land the catch of a lifetime. The reality is this has never been easier for all anglers to experience world class fishing. ABT joined 2013 BASS PRO Grand Final winner Dean Silvester as he travelled with Nomad Sportfishing Adventures to experience Australian fishing at its best. Hamilton Island provided the idyllic backdrop to the start of the Nomad trip. ABT arrived at Hamilton Island the day prior to departure and stayed overnight at the Reef View Hotel. The following morning we were picked up from the hotel and shuttled to our floatplane. After a quick safety briefing we were soon airborne and on our way to the Outer Great Barrier Reef for our 6 day adventure (Nomad do have shorter 3-4 day adventures starting in 2015 for those with less time). A swift 50 minute flight saw us touching down a few hundred metres from our home for the next week, Nomad’s mothership Odyssey. This 80’ aluminium catamaran was purpose built for fishing charters and provided all the creature comforts required. The mothership is served by four tenders that

ferry guests to the fishing locations each day. Once aboard we were introduced to Odyssey’s Captain and crew and briefed on safety and the ship’s facilities. When this was completed we acquainted ourselves with our fellow passengers

SEPTEMBER 2014

provides a table area to sit around, area to store any tackle you may have brought and a clothesline to dry any washing or wet gear. The lower deck houses the ship’s accommodation, bathrooms, galley and dining area, on board shop

Left: The Odyssey is a sensational home base anywhere on the reef. The crew are first class and you are looked after like you’re part of the family. Right: This is a pretty standard GT that will smash your lures. While they get much, much bigger, fish like this keep you somewhat worn out while you wait for the really big ones to kill you for the day. and begun to prepare our tackle for the following day’s session. Nomad provides rods and reels for all guests. These are top of the line Shimano outfits that will stand up to the rigors of the fishing. In the event of loss or breakage, the angler is responsible for replacement. This unfortunately does happen

From 7.30am until 5pm you are in with a chance to hook your biggest GT ever. The guides work hard to put you in the right place, you’ve just got to take the chance when it comes – and it will come! 64

time to time (including on this trip) but it is a risk all guests accept. You can take your own rods and reels, but these do form part of your luggage allowance. Guests are required to bring suitable lures for use, or purchase lures from the

onboard tackle shop. For the uninitiated this may sound daunting (and expensive), but with the guidance of Nomad the process was fairly straightforward. For example most of the lures I researched and brought were suitable for use, but a number required larger or stronger terminal tackle (split rings/hooks) that I didn’t have so I purchased that on board (an on board running tab is used for purchases). The use of barbless single hooks is mandatory for all heavy tackle fishing, which makes releasing fish easier and ensures the welfare of the fish and the angler. After getting our tackle ready we checked the board that indicated the guide and passenger allocation for the next day. Nomad works with all passengers to identify their preferred type of angling and then allocates boats to suit. Passengers are rotated throughout the range of vessels ensuring everyone has the opportunity to experience the different guides and tenders used. Our guide for the following day kindly rigged our chosen rods with the leader and lures required. The guide clearly explained the knots used, tackle and what we could expect in terms of target species. It was clear all the guides held a wealth of knowledge and were happy to share their insights and experiences. Odyssey is divided into two levels; upper deck and lower deck. The upper deck

INFORMATION NEED TO BRING Sunscreen Appropriate sunsafe clothing including buff/ headscarf Wet weather gear – the best you can afford! Polarised sunglasses – ideally two pairs in case of loss Hats Toiletries Medical requirements Travel insurance LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS There is a 20kg weight limit on the seaplane to the Coral Sea. This includes all rods, reels, tackle and carry-on that you may bring. Check with domestic carriers regarding weight limits and restrictions on the length of rod tubes allowed to be carried. TACKLE Guests are free to bring their own rods, reels and tackle as long as it comes under the weight restrictions for your particular trip and is of the standard required. COST OF TRIP Varies depending on trip location and duration. New to 2015 Nomad are offering 3 or 4 day packages for February and March 2015, fishing Escape Reef and the Ribbon Reefs, exiting Cairns. These new packages will allow guests to access some of the world’s best GT fishing plus casting, jigging and trolling for an incredible variety of species. These trips are quick, easy and great value for money, with no long overnight ocean passages, and same day access to the reefs exiting Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne. If you prefer an extended trip, Nomads 6-day Ultimate Adventures offer 6 days of fishing in some of the most remote fishing grounds available. There are 4 main destinations to choose from – Jewell Reef, Bligh Reef, the Claremont Isles and Ashmore Reefs, which are all accessed via Cairns. Extended and Exploratory charters are also offered each year. Remember 30-40% of customers are repeat customers so make sure you book quickly to ensure your place on these once in a lifetime fishing adventures. The 3-4 day packages start from $3,100 PP excluding transfers. Check out www. nomadsportfishing.com.au/wordpress/ for further information.

and rear bar area. Access to the wheelhouse and motor room is strictly limited to crew. The area is well laid out, spacious and provides the opportunity to either mix with fellow guests or just enjoy some private time. Optional facilities (additional costs involved) included small clothes washing service, satellite phone and email. I would be lying if I didn’t point out that most people took the opportunity not to be contactable during their time on Odyssey. All guests stay in either quad share bunkrooms or in twin share cabins (for an additional fee). There was plenty of storage space within the cabin for all occupants and all linen and towels were provided. The beds were spacious, comfortable and provided a well earned rest at the end of each day. Given that you may not have met your fellow guests I suggest taking all the necessary precautions to ensure a good night’s sleep including earplugs, face masks and any necessary sleeping aids. All meals are provided during your journey and they quickly became a highlight of each day. A full hot or cold breakfast greeted us each morning. Lunch packs covered us throughout the day while fishing. Dinner was served at 7pm, which was comprised of a three course meal. At no time did anyone complain of hunger and were presented to a

high standard. Two kegs of beer were provided free of charge ensuring no one went thirsty (the bar stocks a full range of beer, wine and spirits for purchase). Personal culinary highlights included the fresh fish guests caught served for dinner (including the freshest tuna sashimi I have ever tried), a first class crème brûlée and fresh squid sashimi prepared and served to guests within minutes of capture. A day’s fishing would normally extend from 7:30am to 5pm including a half hour break for lunch. In this time we travelled around the various reef edges, bomboras, blue holes and flats that harboured the fish we were chasing. During each session we spent the majority of time casting for giant trevally punctuated with trolling between locations where possible. Schools of yellowfin tuna, shark mackerel and bludger trevally provided welcome moments of frenzied activity where triple hook-ups were not uncommon. During the session the environment provided the perfect backdrop with whales and dolphins popping up regularly and the tides and current showcasing the vast amount of water that moves through the reef area and shapes the reef system. The crew was ably led by the Master of MV Odyssey, Andrew Caines. Caines, who has been in the role for three years, oversees a crew that includes guides, engineer, cook and host, and whose responsibilities include the safety of personal, seafaring, voyage planning and crew and

Dean Silvester made a seemless transition from bass to giant trevally. guest management. Caines undoubtedly takes his role very seriously, but always remained friendly and approachable throughout the entire journey. When questioned it was the guest’s experiences that provided the greatest fulfilment within his role. The guides work together throughout each day sharing information about where they are fishing and what conditions they are encountering. When questioned on what identifying features they are looking for on the water to the answers were not unfamiliar; bait activity, birds, current, wind and areas of pressure to name a few. The guides provide guests with advice and direction on the lures to use, how to effectively work the lure and where to

cast the lure to maximise opportunity. There is the expectation that anglers are familiar/experienced with using a rod and reel and are able to cast a lure. Regardless of your skill level it will take time getting used to casting large lures on heavier gear and it was a few days before I was able to regularly get the desired casting distance. If guests were using lures that required a specific technique the guide would advise accordingly. For example while using a large popper I was informed that the retrieve needed to be more aggressive in order to work effectively. The guide illustrated how the popper should be worked, when to pause the lure and the correct action of lure and level of water displacement I should be looking for. There were no shortcuts

to replicating this, but by alternating sides and using a gimble retrieve the exertion was manageable. Anyone who thinks that this type of fishing is easy on the body will quickly realise that endurance plays a pivotal role in the process. Crossfit training anyone? Dean Silvester took to the experience like a fish to water. Despite not having fished for GT before, Dean’s focus and technique allowed him to adapt to the style of fishing and get results. The numerous giant trevally that he caught (and many more that managed to escape) were the result of persistence, skill and determination. Silvester was the first person to offer advice, share stories or assist fellow guests when asked and was always the first person ready to board the tender after breakfast each morning. Given that most guests had limited exposure to tournament fishing it was an ideal situation to have a great representative able to talk about the sport, share his experiences and showcase his obvious passion. Each day on board Nomad was a unique experience. Between fishing there were many experiences to be had including swimming in blue holes (a cave or underwater sinkhole) located on the reef, seeing first hand hundreds of types of fish species inhabiting the coral reef and witnessing the kaleidoscope of vivid colours of the world’s largest coral reef. It really was up to the individual to determine how their day unfolded and ultimately gave each guest a blank canvas at the start of each day. To remember and share the experience a complimentary DVD of guest’s photographs was compiled at the end of the trip and provided as a memento of the journey. This DVD showcased the locations travelled to and large number and variety of fish caught throughout the trip, illustrating the adventure through the eyes of each guest. I will leave the last quote to the Master of

Odyssey Andrew Caines, “If you are a person seeking a unique adventure then Nomad Sportfishing Adventures will provide you with the opportunity of a lifetime. If you are an angler that is serious about your fishing then my advice would be to do training prior to arrival.

Finally, if after the day’s adventures you can lie down and regardless of what transpired you are still smiling then we have done our job”. Two weeks on since our return and the smile is still there when I go to sleep. I am already looking forward to my next adventure...

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Dean Silvester used a variety of lures and techniques over the trip and showed that tournament anglers are very adaptable to just about any fishy situation.

Check out the short video of the trip by clicking on this QR Code or by logging onto youtu.be/ JB8BHg8ertE.

Top: Poppers are popular simply because it makes everything so visual. You’ve got to love those surface lures getting slammed. Above: Chris Byrnes with a typical GT that nailed a stick bait. Good fun for anyone. SEPTEMBER 2014

Hail the humble flatty NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.me

Flathead are one of Australia’s most iconic and readily available fish. They’re also a great target on which to hone your fishing skills, or try out a new technique… And best of all, they’re on the chew right now! You’ve got to love the humble, abundant and almost always willing flathead clan. There are more than 30 different species of these ugly but tasty bottom dwellers living in our salt and brackish waters, and at least a couple of varieties are available almost anywhere you might care to cast a line, right around Australia’s vast seaboard. Up north and over in the West you’ll mostly catch bar-tails. Along the east coast we have sandies and tigers offshore, along with the jumbo member of the clan — the dusky — lurking in our estuaries. Down south there are blue spots and rock flathead, plus even more sandies and tigers. In short, wherever you go, there’s no shortage of flatties!

Flathead are masters of camouflage and ambush. That big mouth is lined with small, sharp teeth and rarely misses its mark.

The dusky flathead is the giant of the clan, very occasionally topping a metre in length and giving the 10kg mark a nudge. However, most of those caught by anglers will measure between 35-80cm. Flathead are also not a particularly difficult fish to catch. They’re opportunistic predators and occasional

Flathead settle and bury into the sand between ambush assaults, often leaving clearly discernible ‘lies’ that can be easily spotted at low tide.

scavengers, spending much of their time lying motionless and well camouflaged on the sea floor or riverbed. However, if something vaguely edible happens to swim, crawl or drift by, these reptilian fish are incredibly quick over a distance of a metre or two. They also have an over-sized mouth lined with small, sharp teeth: a mouth primarily designed for one-way traffic. Favourite tucker for flathead includes all sorts of little (and not so little!) fish, as well as prawns, crabs, octopus, squid, yabbies or nippers and various marine worms. But they’ll eat bits of dead animals, too. The biggest trick to catching flathead is to remember that they’re almost

always more likely to grab something that’s moving. These fish really do seem to be attracted and excited by motion and action. One of the best ways to achieve constant bait movement is to drift with the wind or tide in a boat, kayak or canoe while your weighted and baited lines drag slowly along the bottom behind you. If you’re land-based, the same result can be achieved by slowly retrieving line, or even shuffling backwards up the beach or bank after making a cast. The flathead’s fondness for hitting a moving target also makes it a sucker for many lure and flyfishing strategies. It’s no accident that a flathead is often the first saltwater species racked up by any newcomer to lure and flyfishing. The only real trick to success lies in ensuring that your artificial bait stays within a metre of the bottom at all times, whether trolling or retrieving. Closer to the bottom is even better, and making occasional contact with the sand or mud is best of all.

Perhaps the deadliest method yet devised for catching flathead on rod and reel is to throw out a 7-12cm long soft plastic (a shad, T-tail or curly-tailed grub will do the job) rigged on a 7-14g (1/4-1/2oz) jighead, carrying a 1/0-4/0 hook. Let this lure sink all the way to the bottom, then give it a reasonably sharp flick or two, retrieve the slack line generated and repeat… all the way back to the rod tip. Keep doing this — making sure the lure regularly falls back to

the seabed — and you WILL catch flathead, I assure you… It’s honestly as simple as that! The colour of the lure isn’t usually all that important, either. Try natural tones in clearer water or bright hues such as hot pink and chartreuse (lime green) in dirtier or darker conditions. Or black. Or white. They all work! Spring is prime flathead time in most parts of the country, so get out there in the next few weeks and give it a crack!

volunteers at the Tamar Island Wetland Reserve – a section of the River Tamar in northern Tasmania where Gambusia is breeding and eating endangered species such as the green and gold frog and the Australian grayling fish. The reserve will become the trial site for the experiment which, if successful, could be applied to utas.edu.au other species of pest fish. The University and its partners will create a unique pool of knowledge - in fish

biology, population-genetic modelling, sex chromosomes, genomics and pest fish management. “It’s wonderful to have the funding available to launch this project to find a way to genetically eliminate the Gambusia,” Dr Patil said. “This situation urgently needed effective and sustainable long-term action to protect many of our endangered native species, with broader implications throughout Australia and

regions outside the species’ endemic distribution in the south-eastern United States of America. “This proposal takes a fresh approach to address a global issue, and like much innovative research, it carries an element of risk to delivery of planned outcomes. “Nevertheless, the rewards of success would be truly significant to manage this and many other pest fish around the globe.” – UTAS

There are few better targets than flathead with which to open your saltwater flyfishing account. They love a streamer-style fly!

FISHING FILL-ITS

Genetic weapon against pest fish The University of Tasmania in Australia will lead a collaborative effort to rid the world’s waterways of the invasive Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) by genetically manipulating the sex of hatchlings with a Trojan Y chromosome. The mosquitofish, native to eastern and southern America, was introduced to many countries around the world over the past century to control mosquito numbers and reduce the incidence of malaria. However it proved no more efficient in controlling mosquitos that most native fish, but bred prolifically and is causing extensive damage to native aquatic fauna – eating endangered fish and frog larvae and also 66

SEPTEMBER 2014

the adults. Having secured $476,000 of Australian Research Council funding Dr Jawahar Patil, a lecturer and researcher with the University’s National Centre for Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability at the Australian Maritime College, can now begin a four-year project that will apply genetic strategies to potentially eradicate the pest fish species forever. Dr Patil and his colleagues will attempt to develop a Gambusia-specific Trojan Y chromosome that will make female fish produce mainly male eggs, which will eventually lead to population extinction. The University of Tasmania already has a worldwide reputation for expertise and infrastructure to conduct

invasive fish research including developing genetic pest control options, determining the pest fish population structure, applying recruitment dynamics, assessing pest fish stock and implementing hormonal sex reversal. The Gambusia project will be complemented by the University of Adelaide’s expertise in the sex determination and differentiation of vertebrates. Collaborative funding, specialist knowledge and data from the Tasmanian Inland Fisheries Service, Northern Tasmanian Natural Resource Management Association (NRM North) and possibly Tamar NRM and Parks and Wildlife Tasmania will also be crucial to the project’s success. The project will also rely heavily on the contributions of

HAWK FISHING • FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION

Stuff on fishing shirts

BAIT BITS BBQ SAUCE BLOOD BRANDING BURRS CAMO CRUMBS DIRT FISH ART FLIES

GREASE GRIME GUTS HOLE INK LOGOS MUD OIL PRICKLES RID

RIPS SCALES SLIME SLOGAN SPILLED BEER SPOTS STAIN SUNSCREEN TEAR

Name Address

P/Code Phone (day):

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

VIC Hawk Tournament Competition PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129 VIC SEPTEMBER 2014

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE The subscriber prize winner for July was J Roberts of Wheelers Hill, who won a Shimano Sport Camera valued at $400. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. The Hobie Cat Australasia and Power-Pole prize winner was A Budic of Clarinda, who won a Power-Pole Micro Anchor. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

FIND THE SPECIALTY FISHING FISH WINNERS K Martin of Lavington, S Lintzos of Scoresby, B Whyte of Myers Flat, S Neale of West Heidelburg, G Bonner of Coragulac, M Cichy of North Balwyn, J Randall of Torquay, V Ripper of Bushfield, J Shelley of Glen Waverley, R Leathers of Romsey, F Healey of Traralgon West, I Lovel of Bealiba, T Sweeney of Emerald, M Peeters of Colac, K Morrison of Moama, J Morrison of Clunes, B Mark of Avoca, T Hodgkinson of Kyabram , M Loebert of Boronia, R Batty of Brighton, J Tydell of Craigieburn, G Waddington of Hastings, R Ware of Echuca, F Oleszko of Braybrook, M Reynolds of Gladstone, S Tillack of Birregurra, P Mott of Lancefield, P Robertson of Keysborough, S Tichborne of Mirboo North, B Tonkin of Lavington, K Dowell of Highton, N Gilbert of Horsham, M Stewart of Ballan, T Tatlow of Morwell, D Robinson of Carisbrook, R Jenkins of Warrnambool, S Davies of Craigieburn, L Murray of Sale, L Wright of Drouin South, T Polgar of Ocean Grove. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – V&TFM

FIND THE SPECIALTY FISHING JULY LOCATIONS GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The answers to Find the Black Magic C-Point Hook for July were: 8, 16, 18, 20, 28, 30, 37, 43, 49, 50, 63, 65, 71, 80, 86. – V&TFM

FIND-A-WORD WINNER Congratulations to James Ellis of Reservoir, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive Hawk Tournament Tested Bayer Perlon IGFA line, assorted Panther Martin lures, Youvella hooks and a keyring. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – V&TFM 1

• DECEMBER 2010

SEPTEMBER 2014

What’s new fishing Powered by

ECOODA ROD CASE

The new Ecooda Deluxe Rod Case is leading the pack in design concepts for rod friendly travel. With a threepart design, two-colour concept the Deluxe Rod Case extends from each end in a telescopic manner with the blue sections being able to be placed in more than one travelling position. From 1.5m to 2.2m the Deluxe Rod Case can carry up to 10 rods, has internal wavy foam that is adjustable to suit the guides, tips and butts and aid in the protection and secure travelling of your products. There are six locking mechanisms as well as two points for padlocks to prevent the unrequired opening of your case. A flat design ensures that your rod case won’t roll around in the car, ute or airplane and allows you to pack on top of it in all circumstances as well. Price: from RRP $239.95 www.ecooda.com.au

SQUIDLY RIGS BY BLACK MAGIC

Black Magic has added a new product to their extensive range of pre-tied rigs – the Squidly. Rigged with three soft squid lures, it is similar to others on the market, but Black Magic has made sure that this one is a cut above the rest by using superior quality raw materials. Each squid is rigged on a strong hook to suit tougher fighting fish, and is rigged on 80lb trace. Squidly rigs come in a range of five great colours that are effective on a wide variety of fish species. Target species include snapper, cod, kingfish, coral trout, flathead, mackerel, queenfish, mangrove jack, mulloway, trevally and salmon. Keep an eye out for the Black Magic Squidlys at your favourite tackle store. Price: RRP $9.95 www.blackmagic.com

PENN BATTLE II SPIN

Inspired by design innovations made possible through new technology, Penn introduces the improved Penn Battle II. Penn has added line capacity rings to let the angler know when the spool is properly filled. This ensures that the casts are not subject to excess line stripping from the spool, resulting in improved castability. This reel has enhanced corrosion resistance due to the improvements of using five sealed bearings and one antireverse bearing. The Battle II incorporates keyed carbon fibre washers in the HT-100 drag system that uses both sides of the drag washers and increases maximum drag by 15-50%. Many original Battle features remain in the Battle II, including the full metal body, sideplate and rotor; instant anti-reverse, heavy-duty aluminium bail wire and superline spool. Eight Battle II spinning reels are offered in 1000 to 8000 sizes. New to the line-up is the 2500 size designed for inshore/light braid applications. Price: RRP $220-$260. www.pennfishing.com.au

STRIKE TIGER MICRO SPOONS

Strike Tiger is a Tasmanian fishing lure brand best known for their range of quality soft plastics. With the island state having some of the best trout fishing in the country, Strike Tiger has now released a specialised lure aimed solely at trout in small rivers, creeks and streams. Measuring only 22mm, the new Strike Tiger Micro Spoon is exactly what the name suggests. The spoons weigh in at 2g and are fitted with single, fine-wire barbed hooks. This ensures maximum hook-ups, even on smaller trout. These tiny spoons can be cast accurately and for lengthy distances, despite their small size. They will naturally flutter as they sink to the bottom, attracting trout to strike almost immediately. They can be fished with a slow, flat retrieve, or left to drift and flutter in the current of any stream or river. The spoons are currently available in three trout slaying colours: beetle, fire tiger and perch. Price: RRP $9.95 www.striketiger.com.au

NEW BULLET COLOURS

Hot on the heels of successfully launching his 3cm Bullet Minnow, Jason Pace from Bullet lures has added a great range of new colours just in time for the upcoming trout season. The Bullet Minnows are popular due to their fantastic castability and their great action, no matter what speed they are retrieved. A lot of effort has gone into the development of these lures to ensure they swim true, regardless of water depth and flow. It’s small wonder these lures have a great reputation for their fish catching ability. These new colours are bound to be a musthave for any serious angler. These lures are fitted with quality Owner trebles and are built to last, so go out and get one today. Price: RRP $12.95 www.bulletlures.com

SHIMANO ANARCHY RODS

Shimano’s new Ian Miller-designed Anarchy rods are looking to restore order to lawless fish wherever they are found. This impressive rod range makes use of Shimano’s new X Technology Construction, which is a major development in rod blank design, and something we’ll be hearing a lot more about in the future. Fuji K series ‘tangle free’ guides for greater casting efficiency and distance are almost a given on a prestige rod series like this, while hook keepers on the lighter rods are useful to protect that small minnow’s trebles or soft plastic tails from damage The line-up consists of nine rods — five spin, from ultra light to a beefy saltwater spin, a one-piece medium baitcaster, and three PE-rated spin jig rods. The custom EVA and cork grips (where applicable) have aluminium accents which, when combined with the gloss black ergonomically designed reel seats, make Anarchy rods look ultra stylish and definitely cutting edge. Price: too new www.shimanofish.com.au

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2014

What’s new fishing Powered by

9 10

SHIMANO 3 ZERO

The Ian Miller-designed 3 Zero rods are an all-new release for the upcoming season. There are seven rods, ranging from a two-piece ultra light spin through to a handy Top End spin, plus a onepiece baitcaster. These rods are all about being in tune with what that hard body, vibe, spinnerbait or soft plastic is doing down there, transmitting any tap, nudge or bump from structure or fish immediately to the angler’s hands. This is due to the use of nano technology in the high modulus blanks they are built on. As befitting a rod series like this, they all feature Fuji K series ‘Tangle Free’ guides, and the reel seats are of a custom design, combining strength with lightness. The grips are interesting, with a mix of custom cork and EVA combinations, providing longevity and instantaneous strike transmission. Of course the whole sensitivity experience is enhanced by using braided line like Power Pro, which these cutting edge rods are perfectly suited to. Price: too new www.shimanofish.com.au

BLACK MAGIC BMAX

DAIWA DT4601 TREBLE

Black Magic has introduced a new range of lures under the name BMax. The BMax 60 is designed as a subsurface suspended lure ideal for the likes of trout, bream, redfin and Australian bass. This 60mm lure has an ideal weight for casting and it is perfect for both spinning and trolling. The short bib lets the lure dive down 1.2-1.8m and ensures a very enticing swimming action. The Black Magic BMax is rigged with strong, sharp treble hooks – one on the belly and one on the tail. It’s available in a range of five fish-catching colours and is competitively priced. Price: RRP $9.95 www.blackmagic.com

The best lures need the best accessories and there are none finer than new performance inspired lure accessories from Daiwa. Advanced in technology, performance and features, these Japanese-designed accessories are the must-have items to take your lure fishing to the next level, and keep your lures performing at their best. One of the latest models to be launched is the DT4601 treble. Strong and rigid in construction, it has a titanium nitride (TiN) coating for unrivalled corrosion resistance and hardness. Featuring a super sharp cutting point for optimum hook set, it’s sharper than most and cuts and penetrates like few others. With a sizing range from 1 through to 10, the DT4601 is the ultimate mid-size treble range. The models are: DT4601 #1 (size 1, 6 per pack), DT4601 #2 (size 2, 6-pack), DT4601 #4 (size 4, 7-pack), DT4601 #6 (size 6, 7-pack), DT4601#8 (size 8, 7-pack) and the DT4601 #10 (size 10, 7-pack). Price: too new www.daiwafishing.com.au

NEW FROGS FROM SEARING

Quality tackle distributor Searing has launched two new frog imitations: the Damiki Air Frog and the Fish Arrow Still Frog. The 4” Damiki Air Frog features two hollow air chambers in its arms that act as floats. The self-righting design will always allow the frog to sit on its belly ready for a strike. A hook slit combined with two large paddle tails incorporated into the legs will allow this frog to be fished in open water or the thickest of cover. It’s ideal for barra, sooties, Murray cod and XOS bass. The Still Frog, created by Japanese lure company Fish Arrow, is a 65mm long weedless lure with a cupped popper face. Its extremely soft body allows for high hookup rates. It is also slightly weighted in the tail to help get over cover easier as well as to maximise the hook-up rate. The hooks are super sharp and strong for barra and cod. It weighs 3/4oz and comes in four colours. Price: RRP $12.99 (Air), $19.99 (Still) www.searingtackle.com.au

TT KIDS SHIRTS

If you have a little fisho in the family they can now share their love of the sport, just like mum and dad, in their ZMan or TT Lures Tournament shirt. These shirts are cool and comfortable, quick dry and they have a UPF 45 rating to help protect your little fisho, whether they’re collecting bait, fighting a fish, or splashing around and building a sand castle. ZMan and TT Lures Tournament shirts are now available in kids’ sizes – 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and XS, along with the adult range of S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL and 5XL. These shirts are ideal for those spending time outdoors and make a great gift idea for the angler, boatie or camper. Available to order from your local fishing tackle retailer, or online from the Tackle Tactics website at www.tackletactics.com.au. Price: SRP $59.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

NEW GULP MODELS

Combine the fish-catching profile of a Jerkshad with the enticing tail action of a grub and you get the Berkley Nemesis. Designed in Australia, the Nemesis shape is now available in a 4” size. The tail action of this shape has to be seen to be believed. On the drop or on the wind, the Nemesis tail swims at the slowest of speeds, delivering continuous lifelike action. Each Nemesis is also loaded with Gulp scent, a powerful water-based scent dispersion system that also makes Gulp 100% biodegradable. Berkley has also released a 3” Powerbait Twitchtail Minnow, with a unique thin tail that delivers continuous, lifelike action. Perfect for finesse situations, it comes to life with the slightest twitch of the rod. Each Twitchtail is loaded with Berkley’s Powerbait scent, which causes fish to hold on 18x longer. Both new models are available in a wide range of proven colours. Price RRP $8.95 (Twitchtail), $9.95 (Nemesis) www. berkley-fishing.com.au

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2014

What’s new fishing Powered by

DUO AOMASA 188

RUPE’S IRONHIDE

Back with another release for 2014 is one of Japan’s most highly regarded lure manufacturers, DUO International, who have just launched the Aomasa 188. It took two years of R&D to give the Aomasa 188 the kind of sub-surface swimming action that meets the high standards set by DUO. It was created primarily with kingfish in mind – a species that is popular both in Japan and Australia – but it’s proven effective on other bluewater speedsters as well. Measuring 188mm and weighing 69g un-rigged, this lure casts like a bullet for its weight. By letting the lure rest on the surface then sweeping the rod back, you can achieve an ‘S-curve’ action just below the surface. Follow it up with a pause to cause the Aomasa to kick out to the side before resting vertically on the surface. This is the way the lure was designed to work, usually enticing a hit on the pause. The Aomasa 188 can also be retrieved fast to skip or walk. During Australian field testing these lures have accounted for GTs, sailfish, cobia, southern bluefin and yellowfin tuna as well as big kings. Price: RRP $45 www.duolures.com.au

The Rupe’s Ironhide lures have been designed and crafted in Australia for our tough Aussie fish and conditions using only the best methods and materials. The new and improved ABS plastic models of the Ironhide are quickly gaining a reputation as strong fish catchers, especially when targeting our freshwater natives. The new range of Ironhides features different finishes that were never possible with their timber predecessors, including rattles, clear body finishes, chromes and a couple with a laser finish that is sure to get a reaction from even the most stubborn fish! All Ironhide series lures come fitted with extra strong rings and trebles that will stand up to the toughest fight. With 10 colours in the range and a diving depth of 10-12ft, you are sure to find the right one for your target species. And if one of your favourite targets is bass, now is definitely the time to stock up on these fish catchers for the open season. For the full range of stockists of Rupe’s Lures go to www.rupes-lures.com. Price: RRP $14.95 www.rupes-lures.com

DAIWA SNAPS AND RINGS

Daiwa has released a new range of lures and lure accessories, and two of the latest releases are the Tournament Snaps and Tournament Split Rings. The new Tournament Snaps make it easier than ever to change lures. Light, symmetrically designed, and slim-line in profile, these high-quality stainless steel snaps won’t compromise the action of the lure, and are available in three models so you can match the right snap to the right lure. The models are the 8-SNAP (6.0kg), D-SNAP S (13kg) and SW-SNAP (34kg) and they come in packs of 10. Made in Japan from tempered highquality stainless steel the new Tournament Split Rings are the ultimate choice for the ultimate luring experience. Light yet incredibly strong, these super rings are available in five sizes and are unsurpassed in quality and performance. The models are the TSR #1 (5.4 kg, 20 per pack), TSR #2 (8.8kg, 18pack), TSR #3 (12.6kg, 16-pack), TSR #4 (27.9kg, 14-pack) and the TSR #6 (64.9kg, 10-pack). Price: too new www.daiwafishing.com.au

BX WAKING MINNOW

Combining the unmatched responsiveness of balsa with the rugged durability of a copolymer outer shell, the Rapala BX Waking Minnow is the ultimate surface waking bait. When fished slowly with the rod tip held high, the wide rolling action of the Waking Minnow rides right on the surface like a wounded baitfish, leaving a highly visible wake and bubble trail that will attract any lurking predators. Once the fish strikes, the premium VMC black nickel hooks will ensure you remain connected. Hand-tuned and tank-tested for perfection, the BX Waking Minnow is now available in a 13cm model that weighs 22g. Look it up on YouTube to see clips of the BX in action. RRP: $24.95 www.rapala.com.au

CHILLER FISH BAGS

The Chiller Fish Bag, distributed by Demop Imports, is designed to store your fish catch in a hygienic environment ensuring fresher, long lasting fish. This insulated bag holds ice for days and is ideal for boats both small and large. Its flared bottom keeps it stable on the deck, it’s insulated with 1/2” dense foam and has a waterproof zipper to keep fishy fluids contained. These sturdy bags are UV resistant and mildew resistant, and are built to withstand the harsh saltwater environment. They have a drain spout and a filler spout for easy cleaning, and fold up for easy storage. There are three models in the range, and the dimensions are as follows (*width refers to base which opens out): MINI – 100 cm (L) x 40 cm (H) x 20 cm (W*); MIDI – 150 cm (L) x 40 cm (H) x 20 cm (W*); and MAXI – 200 cm (L) x 60 cm (H) x 40 cm (W*). Price: from RRP $129-$299 www.demopimports.com.au

ECOGEAR PP 60F

The PP 60F is a new addition to the Ecogear premium hard baits range. This new arrival is a topwater popper lure, and its large cup-face makes an attractive popping sound on the top of the water to attract any predator fish in the area. When you make quick rod twitches, the popping sounds emitted by the PP 60F mimic the sound of fish feeding on the surface in shallow water. This new popper is fitted with ultra-sharp hooks and the best quality components to prevent dropped fish and give you the best hook sets possible. The PP 60F is designed to work great on a range of topwater feeding fish in both salt and fresh water. It measures 60mm, weighs 7.5g and comes in six awesome colours. Price: SRP $21 www.jml.net.au

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2014

What’s new fishing Powered by

TESTED: Doble Outdoor’s LED lighting solutions Lighting in a camp is always important and the range of LED lights out there these days is impressive to say the least. On my recent camping trip along the Murray River I had the opportunity to sample a new product, a product that at that time was still in development but now has hit our shores and is available to consumers across Australia. That product is the Doble Outdoors camping system To start there are three products and these include a tent pole light (200t) and a wand or strip light (100p) and a 5w solar panel. Let’s look at each of the two lights individually as they offer great convenience and ease of use. 200T TENT POLE LIGHT The tent pole light is an incredibly simple and at the same time incredibly lateral piece of thinking. Essentially the tent pole light is a set of LED lights encased in a tent pole. Yep, a light in a tent pole. Just think about that for a little while and let the brilliance of the idea absorb into your head. I know when I was first told about the idea about a million things rushed through my head and all of them were good. The tent pole light is constructed using stainless steel outer casings with a twist grip extension mechanism that works very well. I used the developmental pole light behind where we cooked and that gave off enough light for us to work by when it came time for dinner or for an early cuppa in the pre-dawn gloom. There are three light intensity settings and we found the darker it got, the lower the intensity light we needed. While I’ll admit to not using the lowest setting all that much, the middle and top setting got a very good workout. On the top setting the LEDs throw out about 250 Lumens. That’s a lot of light! But where does the power come from I hear you ask? It’s all internal. Yep, a rechargeable lithium iron phosphate battery is inside the pole and the best part of all is that the pole comes as a kit with a small 5w solar panel that will charge the batteries within six hours, even on cloudy days. It’s quite amazing! The pole is extendable from 1.3m through to 2.3m and that gives you enough range to cover just about any tent or tarp set up around.

But that’s not all, as they famously say. The pole also has the ability to charge devices from the batteries. There is a USB adaptor with every light and also a Nokiastyle pin charging port included in the unit and I found that I could recharge my video cameras that needed a USB jack to charge. It was simply plug it in and the batteries charged them easily. Impressed? You should be as this is a really cleverly thought out piece of camping equipment. 100P PORTABLE LIGHT The 100P Portable Light or wand as I call it is just that, a small LED wand that can be used in a thousand different ways. Like the tent pole light the wand has three light settings and we used the lowest setting most often on the wand. Mainly used in the

The charging system is amazing. I charged my video cameras with the in built charger, however phones and more can be charged easily – even better when the 5w solar panel is attached as well.

to fix stuff under the bonnet of your car and more. The uses really are endless. SUMMING UP Both of these lights are brilliant in their simplicity and thinking. I love the idea of a tent pole that has a light in it. I love the idea of a solar rechargeable light – brilliant. These two lights are not cheap and nasty and are built to last, In fact the two year warranty gives purchasers a secure feeling when you buy them. I didn’t treat the lights with any great respect as I was told to use and abuse them. Most of the people who fish with me or know me, will know that’s not an ideal things to say to me as I will take that literally. On our trip the pole and wand were transported with all my other tarp poles in their canvas bag. They were treated no different from any other tarp pole I own and neither of the units showed any signs of breaking or damage. Additionally, the last night and morning both light got to experience the worst of the Murray River weather with persistent and heavy rain falling. It made pack up and the drive home for 20 hours a bit stinky and wet! I checked both lights when I got home and was drying everything out and the 12 or more hours of rain falling on them and then the day and a half of essentially wet storage did them no harm at all. That IP 54 water resistance rating is actually that – a very, very good water resistance rating. In my experience rain is no problem at all. I loved this kit. Both units filled a niche and provided more than ample light for my

The 5w solar panel is a little ripper and charges the pole and the wand quickly meaning you will have light whenever you want. Inside and out you can light up your world with these products.

You want light, you’ve got it. The tent pole is an ingenious idea that answers a lot of lighting questions.

tent, the wand was used as a tent light and as we trundled off to bed each night there was certainly no need for the full force of the LEDs to be used. The 100P actually outputs between 5 Lumens at the lowest setting and 125 Lumens at the highest setting and in a confined space, that is a lot of light output. Like the tent pole light, the wand came complete with an internal lithium iron phosphate battery that could be recharged by the same solar panel. In use though we did not charge the wand at all over a week’s use and that is a good testament to the charge the internal batteries hold. There is something like 250 hours of use available in a fully charged wand that is used on the lowest setting – that’s a lot of nights camping. The uses for the wand are almost endless as its portability makes it ideal for so many uses. A night light in the tent for the young ones, a stronger light for night excursions, a boat light for night fishing, an entryway light for the tent, a light to assist in cooking, a light

needs and we do set up a reasonably large camp. The 100P Portable Light sells for $139, while the 200T Tent Pole Light sells for $189.99. If you’re into camping that’s great value, especially when you consider how tough these units are. The 5w Solar Panel is valued at $109 and comes with its own neoprene protective bag. This is an essential purchase, but you do only really need one of these regardless of the number of poles or wands you buy as you can purchase a ‘daisy chain’ cable to charge multiple poles simultaneously. You can also buy a complete kit (Combo Pack) that has the 200T, 100P, 5w solar panel and a multi-function mini table (attaches to the pole) for $425. This would be the way I’d go as it’s good value and has everything you need. Check out the range at www. dobleoutdoors.com. Innovative, extremely useful and exceptionally functional. – Stephen Booth

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2014

Spring spearing superb WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

September heralds the beginning of spring, the start of the build up to better diving conditions and an exciting time for spearfishers. September 15 sees the closure of the southern rock lobster season. Female rock lobster have been closed since June 1 to protect the spawning stocks with males now closing to also assist in the spawning run of these delicacies. All southern rock

very fast growing and this month sees the peak build up of large specimens in the bay and surrounding areas. The best areas for hunting squid will be the shallower weed beds. Look for the egg clusters attached to the weed as they are the premium areas to hunt in, and they are generally quite obvious for those that know what they are looking for. Concentrating your efforts around these weed beds is sure to produce a feed of calamari with a very generous bag limit of 10 Squid. However, please

Brett Illingworth from Esclapez Australia had great success free-diving for scallops. lobster are off limits until the 15 November. To compensate for the closing of the rock lobster season September is the best month to hunt large southern calamari and scallops in Port Phillip Bay. Southern calamari are relatively short lived and

only ever take enough for your immediate needs. September is also the best time for scallop collection as the scallops are of larger average size with much thicker meats and roe. Free diving for scallops is best done in depths ranging from 5-15m

with the best areas to try being off Rye, Blairgowrie and Rosebud at this time of year. While diving for both these species keep your eyes open for flathead and whiting as an extremely tasty by-catch. Remember to dive safely in these areas by always displaying your diver below flag on your float. If boat diving, it’s better to have a boat handler following the divers in the water and keeping an eye out for boat traffic as the divers drift and dive in the current.

Mac Riddle with a great late season school southern bluefin tuna. Down in the far southwest of the state we are still seeing a very late run of school tuna with some of the action being extremely close in. Fish have been common in 20-30m of water and at times the fish have been even closer in; within 1km of shore.

Late season male crays and southern calamari. The crays are now off the menu but the calamari will make up for it. 72

SEPTEMBER 2014

Scallops, abalone, snook, sea sweep, salmon and snapper are all prime targets in September. September is sure to be the very last chance at these school fish until next season, as this late run has been quite unusual. The usual reef and pelagic species for this time of year are certainly about; trevally, snook, King George whiting, sea sweep and Australian salmon are quite prolific on the inshore reefs at this time of year. Sweep, salmon and trevally in particular preferring the deeper turbulent holes behind and adjacent to reefs and bommies. Whiting are best hunted in the shallower waters where weed edges and reefs bordering sand holes are the prime spots. Spring is a great season for spearfishing so get out and enjoy your diving in the lead up to the warmer months.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Licence fees support local projects The Victorian Coalition Government continues to improve fishing opportunities in East Gippsland by allocating $54,600 from the 2014/15 Recreational Fishing Grants Program to investigate the reproduction and egg quality of dusky flathead in East Gippsland. Dusky flathead is a popular species amongst anglers in East Gippsland. In 2012, Fisheries Victoria introduced a maximum size limit of 55 cm and a minimum size of 30 cm. A commonly asked question by anglers is whether the current maximum size limit for dusky flathead is effective, allowing maximum stock availability. This one-year study by Charles Sturt University will provide information to help answer this question, identifying when females are at their optimum reproductive capacity and which subset of the population has the highest reproductive potential. Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said the Victorian Coalition

Government recognises the significant benefits of recreational fishing and is committed to ensuring our state remains a top fishing destination for locals and visitors. “More than $3.6 million raised from the sale of fishing licences is being allocated to community projects this year to improve recreational fishing across Victoria. “The Coalition Government believes it is important to invest proceeds from the sale of licences directly back into the pastime fishers enjoy. This includes funding projects around fishing access and facilities, fish stocking, sustainability and habitat, education, enforcement, and research. “Many of these projects will be carried out in partnership with local organisations that have identified opportunities to improve recreational fishing in their community – so these grants are a great example of the Government and community working together to achieve the best outcome.” The Recreational

Fishing Grants Program includes year-round small grants, as well as annual large grants and commissioning programs for major projects. Mr Bull said $1.7 million of the funding had been allocated to 21 large community projects this year, while almost $2 million would fund broader state-wide projects including fish stocking, fisheries surveys and education to support local projects. “All of this is top of the Coalition Government’s $16 million Recreational Fishing Initiative, which is funding the installation of fish cleaning tables, expansion of angler access, construction of fishing reefs, improvement of fish passageways and strengthened fisheries enforcement and education,” he said. To see a full list of fishing licence fees at work in 2013-14 visit: www.depi. vic.gov.au/feesatwork2014. – Tim Bull, Member for Gippsland East

SEPTEMBER 2014

Stand up and be counted! NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.me

The first time I saw a stand-up paddle board or SUP I remember thinking to myself: “Wow, that looks fantastic! I’d really love to try that!” However, almost immediately the more pragmatic side of my brain responded with: “Don’t be a complete idiot! You’re 120kg, have two left feet and absolutely no sense of balance. If you could stand up on one at all, it’d only be for long enough to fall off again.”

through of people fishing — apparently with some success — from these boards, and I even found one in a South African fly fishing magazine that was designed primarily with fishing in mind. Still tempted, and despite my selfconfessed shortcomings, I exchanged a few emails with the manufacturers in South Africa, but it was all too hard. The boards were expensive, too heavy and too large to have shipped, at least without taking out a second mortgage. Once more, the SUP idea found itself shelved away in the back corners of my mind.

With a fish hooked, it pays to align the rod down along the centre of the board. Even quite small opponents can pull the craft around! Photo courtesy of Jo Starling.

CHANCE EVENT This situation would probably have prevailed, if not for a chance event. On a visit to Capacity Sports showroom in Melbourne to pick up Jo’s wonderful new Native Watercraft Slayer 13 kayak (recently featured in these pages) my eyes spied an unusual looking craft perched high on the storage racks in the same warehouse. “What’s that?” I exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the vessel. “Oh,” Capacity’s owner Natalie Joffe replied, “It’s a Native Watercraft Versa Board. Basically it’s a stand-up paddle board designed for fishing. That’s the demo model… Would you like to borrow it for a couple of months and give it a try?” “You bet!” I heard my inner dreamer blurt out, while old Mr Rational smacked his brow with the palm of his hand, moaned loudly and shook his head in total dismay. But it was done… I was now the temporary owner of an SUP! SUCK IT AND SEE In retrospect, the depths of a NSW south coast winter probably wasn’t the ideal time to agree to an extended field test of a craft like the Versa Board, and for the first few weeks after coming home, the SUP sat under the house slowly gathering dust and spider webs as we were flogged by one stormy cold front after another. Eventually, one of those big, fat high pressure systems that usually characterise our southern winters slid in from the west and parked its 1030plus millibar butt firmly over us. Nights became especially chilly, but the short days were crisp, sunny, bright and very

ample rear end parked in the appropriately shaped and thinly padded seat depression. I immediately noticed two things. Firstly, the board was more stable than I’d dared to expect. Secondly, I already had a wet bum! Next I climbed off, stood in the shallows beside the board… and then stepped gingerly up onto it. When I opened my eyes, I was amazed to find I was still upright, albeit with slightly quivering knees. Tentatively, I poked my paddle into the water and gave a gentle push. Still I remained upright. Within a few minutes I was laughing and shouting excitedly to Jo: “Look at me! I’m doing it!” Remarkably, I got through that entire first session without taking a dunking and I even left the jelly knees behind after a while. I paddled the Versa Board sitting, kneeling and standing and also poled it with the 5m fibreglass flats pole I’ve had for many years. Everything worked! In fact, I was already kicking myself for not bringing a rod. BLOODING THE BOARD A week or two later, and with a Scotty rod holder now fitted to the board’s forward accessory track, I set out

The Versa Board is a big lump of an SUP, with a load carrying capacity to match. This board was designed very much with fishing in mind. Photo courtesy of Jo Starling. for my first halfway serious SUP fishing foray. I chose an older rod and reel and

NATIVE WATERCRAFT VERSA BOARD SPECIFICATIONS Length:............................................................................................... 3.73 m (12’3”) Width:.................................................................................................... 0.84 m (33”) Weight:..................................................................................................25 kg (55 lb) Depth:..................................................................................................... 0.18 m (7”) Load capacity:..................................................................................136 kg (300lb) Dealer:.................................... Capacity Sports, 225 Bay Road, Sandringham, VIC Phone:...............................................................................................(03) 9598 9821 Online:..... capacitysports.com.au and on Facebook at Native Watercraft Australia Sadly, I had to agree with my rational self, especially in light of abundant memories of earlier abject failures on skateboards, roller skates and wind surfers. I’m even a bit of a worry on a pushbike, and seem to have an involuntary attraction to trees and fences when riding one. So I never did get around to trying an SUP. In more recent years, stories began to filter 74

SEPTEMBER 2014

Occasionally, however, shreds of old daydreams would flit into my imaginings. How good would it be to stand up on something that drew scant centimetres of water while paddling quietly across the estuary flats, eyeballing the fish I was about to cast a lure or fly at? But each time these dreams took wings again, my rational self slapped them down.

welcoming. In short, I’d run out of excuses! Accepting the fact that my first effort was likely to end badly, I took absolutely nothing but a paddle and a pole with me on that shake down cruise, working on the theory that if I didn’t want to lose it or at least get it wet, I shouldn’t carry it. I started in very shallow water, and sitting on the board, with my

Success! A nice little chopper tailor landed from the Versa Board. Photo courtesy of Jo Starling.

carried the minimal spare tackle I’d need (a spool of leader, braid scissors, plus half a dozen jigheads and Squidgies tails), stashed in my shirt pockets. I was still getting used to the whole concept of casting from the SUP when the first fish nailed my soft plastic. I called it for a keeper flathead, but it actually turned out to be a nice, plate-sized flounder. Sliding it onto the board was a breeze and I quickly found that one of the foot well depressions ahead of the seating position also made a perfect ‘flounder well’. In fact, by pulling out the drain bungs, it even had flow-though circulation! Ten minutes later my plastic was nailed by a much more spirited opponent. After a thrilling tussle, I knelt and comfortlifted a 40cm tailor onto the Versa Board. Deciding to keep it for dinner, my only option was to break the fish’s neck, bleed it out immediately and then place the paddle blade across it in the opposite ‘wet well’ to the flounder while I continued to fish. A couple more good hits failed to connect and by then my thighs were starting to tell me it was time to bring the session to an end, so I paddled back towards the ramp, smiling from ear to ear. This was fun!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS My first impressions of the Native Watercraft Versa Board SUP are, for the most part, incredibly positive. It’s much easier to operate than I’d expected and surprisingly stable on flat water. I coped with a few modest boat wakes on the first fishing day while standing, but for bigger stuff I reckon I’d definitely drop into the kneeling or seated position. Transitioning from sitting or kneeling to standing is a little heart-in-mouth the first few times, but quickly becomes second nature. Kneeling is my favourite position for covering longer distances and, in this mode, I find a standard, double-ended canoe blade better than the specialised stand-up single paddle. Poling is also a dream, although a shorter, lighter pole would probably be better than my big beast. Using the pole (and with the board’s retractable keel skeg in its fully raised position) I was able to easily traverse water that was literally ankle deep or even less. Best of all, visibility from the standing position is superb (very nearly as good as from the casting deck of my boat) and the Versa Board seems to have a negligible ‘signature’ or presence in the water. I can honestly say I have never been

able to move as close to wary fish like whiting, bream and flathead in any other style of craft, nor while wading. It’s nothing short of amazing. On the downside, everything on board (including me) gets wet to some extent. Even sitting in the forward rod holder, the rod and reel is frequently dribbled with water as you swing the paddle or pole across above it. In reality, this is also the case in most kayaks and canoes, of course, but it’s exaggerated on a low, open SUP. Any additional gear carried would need to be stowed in a watertight

Stand up and paddle! Photo courtesy of Jo Starling. reckon these things are good for your core fitness levels! All in all, I’m pretty damn excited about the Native Watercraft Versa Board, and

I’m going to make Capacity Sports an offer to buy this demo model. I see so many applications for it, not least reaching those distant and largely inaccessible back flats this coming summer to chase whiting and big flathead on poppers and flies. Often, I’m sure I’ll end up mooring the board when I arrive by clipping it off to a pole or paddle pushed into the sand, then wade to fish, but it will be my magic carpet ride for getting there and back. Oh, and don’t tell anyone, but I’m also planning to take it out in the surf and try catching a few waves! Not bad for an overweight 56 year-old who could never stand up on roller skates, eh? The message is pretty clear: If I can do it, anyone can!

Poling the Versa Board allows sneaky access to some incredibly shallow areas. Photo courtesy of Jo Starling. container or dry bag and secured under the elasticised cargo straps. This is also not an especially light craft at 25kg. I can certainly handle it on and off the roof racks and in and out of the water on my own, but a young person or a lightly-built woman might struggle — perhaps more with the unwieldy bulk than the actual weight. Fortunately there’s a permanently fitted wheel under the tail of the board, which makes travel across firm land surfaces much easier. Finally, there’s no denying that operating an SUP is a bit of a workout, especially for an unfit desk jockey like me. Your ankles and thighs will certainly let you know you’ve done it, at least for the first few outings. No wonder they

Kneeling and paddling is the author’s favourite way of covering longer distances. Note the rod holder. Photo courtesy of Jo Starling.

Blake Gallagher from Whittlesea had a great weekend fishing Lake Eildon in and around Goughs Bay, catching plenty of nice sized trout.

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10 things to check on your trailer before you go SYDNEY

Christian Bold

Anglers who use their boat and trailer over the colder months generally check their trailer

LIGHTS If you still have globed lights on your trailer make sure you check them to ensure all lights are working. Although your lights may have been marketed as ‘submersible’, I believe that if you can remove a lens to replace a globe then it is not fully submersible. If you have LED lights, make sure that on each light more than half of the diodes (round things in the light) light up on each light.

regularly. However, for those of you who migrate in doors for winter and venture onto the water

once the temperature hits over 25°C, this is a must read for you. A lot of people neglect

RUST Although most boat trailers are galvanised they are still prone to rust. You will usually find that cross members are the worst offenders for rusting. If you notice some rust on your trailer, grab a wire brush and start rubbing it back. If you see raw metal that’s good. Grab a can of cold gal (galvanised spray paint) and give it two coats for protection. If you can’t see raw metal, grab a solid object (like a screw driver) and start poking the rusted area. If you can poke straight through the rust then it’s time to have the trailer repaired.

to service their boat trailer every year, and these trailers end up on the back of a tilt tray tow truck. I’m going to

BRAKES For those of you who have a trailer with a Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) over 750kg you must have a braking system on your trailer. If you don’t have brakes on your trailer and the GTM is over 750kg, get them fitted ASAP (it’s the law in Australia). Make sure your brakes are adjusted properly and there is plenty of brake pad left in your callipers. If you have rusted brake cable or brake line, have them changed before they break. It’s one thing to have brakes fitted to your trailer; it’s another for them to work.

Tyres should be checked for signs of wear.

TYRES Most trailer owners don’t think to check the condition of their tyres until it’s too late. Check the tread on your tyres for wear and the side walls for any cracks. If cracks appear in the tyre it’s an indication that the tyre is getting on in age and it’s time to change it.

Cancerous rust on rear cross member.

TOW COUPLING/SAFETY CHAIN Trailer owners rarely think to check their coupling and safety chain before they hook up to their car. The coupling can easily detach from a tow ball if its worn out and not locked on properly. Make sure your coupling fits onto the tow ball nicely and there is no play (movement) between the two. Ensure that there is grease in the coupling head and in the spring housing if you have an override coupling (used on trailers with brakes). Check the safety chain for any wear or warping. It is common to see chains too long and dragging on the ground when towing. This will weaken the chain.

give you 10 trailer checks you can do yourself to help keep your boat trailer on the road.

Mechanical brake calliper with worn and rusted brake pads.

MUD GUARDS A lot of people use the mud guards on their trailer as a step to get into the boat. Make sure there are no cracks or sharp edges on the mud guard as these can cause injuries to feet and legs if the guards give way.

This trailer has had replacement mud guards added.

BEARINGS Bearings are the cause of most trailer issues! To check the bearings jack the tyre off the road, place one hand at the top of the tyre and one on the bottom of the tyre, and move the tyre back and forth to feel for any play (wobble). If you can feel play in the bearing then there’s a good chance that the bearings need to be changed. Better to do it now then be stuck on the side of the road en route to your holiday destination.

Top: A damaged bearing. Above: A severely damaged bearing. 76

SEPTEMBER 2014

Trailer owners rarely think to check their coupling and safety chain before they hook up to their car.

WINCH STRAP/CABLE The winch strap or cable can start to fray over time. Straps can tear, which although annoying, will only cause you to lose your boat back into the water. Cables, however, can cause serious injury if they break while winching under load. The cable can flick back into the direction of the person winching and cause lacerations or worse still, loss of eyesight. Make sure you extend the strap or cable to its full reach and inspect for wear and tear. Although this is a checklist you can do yourself, if you are ever in doubt about the condition of your trailer it’s best to get your trailer looked at by a specialist. Make this

summer hassle-free and enjoy our beautiful waterways. • Christian Bold, also known as ‘The Trailer Guy’, is one of Australia’s leading trailer and caravan repair

SPRINGS Suspension on a trailer is vital for Australian roads. If your trailer doesn’t have the right springs or they are damaged then it will cause the trailer more harm than good. If you notice gaps appearing between the leaves of the spring and they’re compressed in the centre, it’s time to get a new set. Springs are what hold the axle, bearings, hubs and tyres to a trailer. If they break it can cause a lot of damage.

REGISTRATION It’s becoming more and more common now for people to forget to register their trailer. Now that rego stickers don’t need to be displayed on a trailer in some states, people are forgetting to take their trailers for rego check and paying the registration. Make sure you keep your rego renewals in a visible spot until it’s due, that way you won’t be the one getting fined for not having your trailer registered.

specialists. As the director of Bold Trailers he is a licensed motor mechanic, auto electrician and automotive body builder. Christian is also an AUVIS and e-safety

examiner for the RMS. You can contact Christian at Bold Trailers on 02

8544 8114, or for more information visit www.

boldtrailers.com.au.

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© 2014 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Terms and conditions apply, excludes commercial purchases. # Extended warranty covers MY11, MY12,

© 2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Terms and conditions apply, excludes commercial purchases. * 'Spring Cashback Promotion' offer valid on MY11, MY13 MY13 & MY14 Evinrude E-TECE-TEC engines 40HP40 and newlynewly purchased andand registered from participating authorized full terms and conditions please contact local participating dealership. BRP January 31styour 2014. Cashback will beEvinrude in the form of a Prepaid MY12, & MY14 evinrude engines HPabove, and above purchased registered from participating authorizeddealers. dealersFor between December 1st 2013 and Visa Card. the ** For normal recreational use. # Extended warranty covers MY11, MY12, MY13 features, & MY14 Evinrude E-TEC engines without 40HP and above, newly purchased and registered from participating dealers between reserves right at any time to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, models or equipment incurring obligation. Products are distributed in Australia authorized and New Zealand by BRP October Australia 1st and December 31st 2013. ^ 25hp-250hp consumer models. For full terms and conditions please contact your local participating Evinrude dealership. BRP reserves the right at any time to discontinue or change specifications, prices, PTY Ltd. Card Issued by Heritage Bank Limited ABN 32 087 652 024 AFSL 240984. designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Products are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by BRP Australia PTy Ltd. Card Issued by Heritage Bank Limited ABN 32 087 652 024 AFSL 240984. Visa Card Terms and Conditions apply. SEPTEMBER 2014

Streaker’s Navigator 4850 The Streaker Navigator 4850 has been designed with a user friendly set of goals and I am more than happy to say it meets and then exceeds a lot of these goals. Designed to be a comfortable boat for anglers to use in bigger waterways, the Navigator 4850 is a pocket rocket. Being the smallest craft in the Streaker fleet you may think that the sea legs on this craft have been compromised. Well if you think that, you’d be wrong. We had the chance to take the 4850 Navigator for a spin in some pretty ordinary conditions and for such a small boat, the ride was brilliant in the sloppy conditions. Let’s take a look at some of the features that Leon and Paul Savage’s team has put into this little gem of a boat.

And like its bigger brother reviewed earlier in the year, the 4850 demonstrates Streaker’s attention to detail. This again is part of the beauty of the Streaker range. For the angler inclusions such as side pocket rod holders, alloy rocket launcher above the bimini top, tackle tray storage in the seat boxes, custom bait board and rear livewell make this a superb rig off the rack for an angling family. But the inclusions don’t stop there as Streaker thought of just about everything to make your boating experience simple and enjoyable. ON THE WATER We were fortunate to be able to really test this rig out in shocking conditions on the Bay. For such a small boat, this rig handled the chop thrown up by a nasty 20-30 knot northerly very, very well. Just think about this for a while as this boat is only just over 4.8m long and the swells

This 4.85m vessel provides the perfect cuddy cab platform for first-time boaters or the experienced angler that enjoys weekend boating. The compact nature of the 4850 Navigator means that it is easily towed, easily handled and capable of venturing through many waterways that larger boats cannot explore. And while this is a compact model, it is by no means short of features and appointments. Included in the standard inventory is a fully moulded cabin liner, bait board, rod holders, underfloor ice box and separate anchor locker. The 4850 Navigator also now offers the convenience and safety of a forward walk-through hatch plus all the practical extras expected from a Streaker Boats fishing package.

were up and over a metre with the frequency of the waves being pretty tight. It was no place to push the motor and boat to their limits, however they had to do some seriously tough work. Like most fibreglass rigs, the thumping over the waves and into the troughs was minimal with only one wave catching us by surprise and having us land a little heavy. But it was a soft kind of heavy if that makes any sense and not a bone rattling, teeth shattering bang you can sometimes get. Spray should have been a big issue but it wasn’t. Right at the transom there was a little bit of spray intrusion, but tucked in the skipper’s or passenger’s seat not a drop of the salty stuff was felt. Whether going across, with or against the swells,

FMG

Stephen Booth sbooth@fishingmonthly.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2014

the Navigator handled the treatment well. Going across the waves was actually a bit of fun as this stable platform didn’t have that frightening tendency to heel over too much going up the side of a wave or down the back side of them. By the end of the test runs I was really enjoying the rough stuff and for me, that’s a near on miracle as a batch tub can make me sick at times. The hole shot with e Yamaha 70hp 4-stroke was impressive in the suds. Quick and responsive, the Yammie got the Navigator up and working very quickly, which was appreciated greatly in the sloppy conditions. There was a feeling that this power rating would have you safely across coastal bars even though you can fit the Navigator with a 2-stroke 90hp. It just didn’t feel like it needed the extra horsepower and I am usually one that prefers the top end in the horsepower range be used

The 4850 Streaker Navigator is a good looking boat set up for some serious fishing and boating. because you just never know when you’ll need it. Driving the Navigator was a simple task as the seating and controls all fell to hand easily. They were placed in a ‘natural’ position and by that I mean a position that

seemed right. Like most of the details on the Navigator, this arrangement had been fine tuned before they released the model and the fine tuning certainly showed through. One other piece of design that helped in the messy conditions

The test day conditions gave me an appreciation for this little boat that I reckon I just would not have got if we’d tested her on a flat day. Brilliant!

was the foot rests for the skipper and first mate. They were raised slightly from the cabin’s walls and had a strip of non-slip material placed on top. I found my feet naturally falling onto these foot rests and the non-slip material made it

Above Far Left: A handy grab rail ensure the first mate has something to grab onto when conditions are average. Middle Top: The side pockets had plenty of storage space including room for fishing rods – that’s assuming you need more rods than what the rocket launchers can store. Middle Bottom: Designed to allow easy access to the anchor well up front, the walk through design is fantastic in the Navigator. Above Right: Extra storage under the seats makes perfect sense from an angler’s point of view. Little details like this make the 4850 Navigator a great option for bay work.

easy to balance as we blasted around in the chop. Again, it’s the attention to detail by Streaker that impresses. OVERALL EASE Streaker unashamedly build their boating packages to be easy to use. They want their customers to have a fun experience, not a troubled experience. They want their boats to be used, not stored as semi-permanent garage ornaments. To achieve this goal, they have chosen to use a custom designed Easytow Drive-on

Trailer. This trailer cradles the Navigator perfectly while travelling and when you get to the ramp, the Navigator slips off easily and can be driven on effortlessly. This is one of the main times new boaters start to get nervous sweats and one of the reasons many boat owners don’t get on the water as often as they’d like. The electronics package that is available with the Navigator package is tailored to the user’s needs. The test rig was fitted with a Lowrance Mark 5 Pro

sounder, marine radio and gauges to suit the Yamaha and everything was placed in easy reach and site of the skipper without anything interrupting the skipper’s view of the surrounds. The bimini was a work of art. Tough, durable and topped with a rocket launcher custom built to suit. It provided good coverage and with the open front section, allowed a standing skipper to clearly see over the top of the windscreen when required. Easy to use? It sure was. From the ramp to the slop

With the swell the Navigator rode very well and no water or spray intruded into the cabin.

The small cuddy cabin will provide some shelter and rest while the seating and instrument design makes this boat easy to use in any conditions.

of the test day and back again, the Navigator was a great rig to play around with, even if for only a short time. CHECK IT OUT The 4850 Navigator is a fantastic smaller boat that will suit bay anglers and estuary anglers alike. With the test day being so ordinary, I’d have no trouble taking this rig offshore as it’s a solid, dry rig capable of handling trouble when it’s thrown at it. It feels safe, it doesn’t play up and the 4-stroke 70hp Yamaha

was an ideal match in terms of power and ultimately brilliant fuel economy.

As tested, and at boat show prices, the Streaker 4850 Navigator comes it at around $40,000. That’s a lot of boat for a great price and the snapper this season, next season and for a lot of seasons to come will be in for a real surprise! For more details on the 4850 Navigator, log onto www.streakerboats.com.au or give the team a call on (03) 9729 8288. You can also check out the range of Streaker Boats at the showrooms found at 461 Mountain Highway in Bayswater. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

SPECIFICATIONS Hull Length (Inc. Bow Sprit)...........................4.85m Beam................................................................ 2.11m Height to top of windscreen..........................2.05m Length Inc. trailer and motor...........5.75m (approx) Deadrise...............................................................17º Fuel Capacity......................................................76L Towing Weight (B.M.T.)........................... 800-950kg Max Horsepower - 2 Stroke.............................90hp Max Horsepower - 4 Stroke.............................70hp Load Capacity..............................................5 Adults As tested (show price)................................$39,990

NAVIGATOR 4850 • Yamaha 70HP four stroke EFI outboard • Easytow custom drive on trailer with alloy wheels, disc brakes, LED lights, galvanised axle, springs and hubs, mesh walkway and spare wheel • Bimini canopy with envelope and alloy rocket launcher • Lowrance Elite 5 colour sounder/gps incl map, marine two way radio and aerial • Concealed side mount controls with dash mount ignition switch • Instrument pack to suit motor choice • Two tone hull and deck • Fibreglass side pockets with rod racks • Removable rear corner seats and carpeted interior

$39,900 461 Mountain Highway Bayswater VIC 3153

Tel (03) 9729 8288

• Deluxe bucket seats on storage boxes and tackle tray on drivers side • Fibreglass cabin liner and underfloor ice box • 2 x stainless steel flush mounted rod holders and 2 x retractable cleats • Removable bait board mounted in stainless steel sockets • 75L underfloor fuel tank with deck filler and water separating filter • Led navigation lights and interior lights • Safety gear kit (anchor, flares, fire extinguisher, bucket, torch, 5 x PFD1s) • 12 months Victorian registration for boat and trailer

DRIVE AWAY NO MORE TO PAY

streakerboats.com.au SEPTEMBER 2014

Clark’s classy 430 Crew Mate FMG

Stephen Booth sbooth@fishingmonthly.com.au

The Clark 430 Crew Mate reminds me a lot of the small estuary boats I grew up with, the difference being that the hulls these days are much more refined and the ride is uncountable better. Set up as a forward steer, the Clark 430 is a basic boat that has that element of protection many anglers want, especially if cold weather and a bit of wind are about. At 4.3m long, this rig is an ideal platform for two-up fishing, however the rear seat will allow for four anglers on the boat if you have to. I’d fish this boat 2 up as a maximum, but knowing there was room for a third angler just in case you suddenly found yourself with more friends now that you own a boat. Internally the Crew Mate is sensibly kitted out. Up front, underneath the bow there is room for storage of large items such as life jackets and safety gear. This is a good place to store this gear too as it keeps it away from the outboard, battery and fuel. Above this storage area, the bow section contains the anchor well, a large enough receptacle for all the rope, chain and anchor you will ever need to secure this boat safely. The anchor well is accessed via a fold out windscreen that is secured with two twist handles. This access is all you need and the bow of the rig can easily be reached making deployment and retrieval of the anchor very easy from the safety of the cabin. The front dash is large enough to take all your instruments, including space for a massive sounder if you’re that way inclined. Gauges, steering wheel and throttle control are all placed

Even with all the weight up front the 430 Crew Mate still gets on top of the water and moving. sensibly and within easy reach of the skipper’s seat, which, like the first mate’s seat is set down lower than the main floor. In between the two forward seats is a

Top: The front console has plenty of room for just about any electronics package you want to use. Above: The split, fold out windscreen is secured by twist handles that are easy to use and, importantly, access to the anchor well is easily gained.

Driving the Crew Mate onto the trailer was easy work with the skipper’s seat so far forward. Vision forward was excellent. 80

SEPTEMBER 2014

Top: The 430 Crew Mate underway and at speed. This is a great little rig for taking on a lot of different fishing situations. Above: The 40hp EFI Mercury was a great match for the Clark. Plenty of power and plenty of speed.

Top: The rear side pockets are small but will help keep things tidy on this neat rig. Tackle trays, rags, odds and ends will all end up here, safely stored off the floor. Above: On the starboard side behind the rear thwart seat is the battery. It comes with its own isolator switch which is a great addition.

handy little wet storage area. While I wouldn’t store fish here, things like bait traps, spare ropes and other odds and ends that can get wet would be ideally stored here out of the way. The main deck is a good flat working area that backs onto the rear thwart seat. This is a very useable clear space that will allow users to easily access their bait rods, troll lines and pick up yabby and crab pot floats. Just in front of the rear thwart seat are some storage pockets on either side that can hold all sorts of bits and pieces. They’re not large, however they are very handy to keep items off the floor and keep the working space neat and tidy. Behind the rear seat is the battery (with an isolator switch) and the tote tank for fuel and strapped onto the back was the impressive 40hp EFI Mercury 4-stroke. This outboard was a good match for the rig with the boat reaching 21 knots at 5,800rpm, which was wide open throttles with two aboard. THE RIDE While most smaller boats these days have centre, side or rear skipper positions, the Crew Mate has the skipper in the front third of the craft. In terms of ride, this is a pretty ordinary place to be in a boat that is not designed to handle the extra forward weight. I remember sitting in the first mate’s seat in old-school rigs set up like this and wondering whether my teeth would fall out or not. These days, the Clark hull does not deliver that same crash and bang. In fact it was a really good ride given my expectations and

trepidation. And that is one thing I reckon a lot of people will need to get over – that trepidation that this boat will rattle you to the core. While we tested the rig on a relatively flat Lake Mulwala, during testing I looked for and searched out any boat wakes I could to test the ride. Banging over boat wakes is never really pleasant, but the Clark 430

but this rig was one of the easiest boats I have driven onto a trailer for a long time. Summing up the ride I would say to not be afraid of the set up. The forward seating delivered a good ride, a ride that was far better than I thought it ever would be. A delightful surprise. AT HOME… The 430 Crew Mate would be at home in any

had a good chance to play around with. It brought back great memories of bobbing for redfin out of Swan Hill as a kid and bashing around Andersons Inlet chasing silver trevally, estuary

in Shepparton or Echuca. Priced from $14,850 (the tested rig as fitted out by Boats and More is priced at $20,990 drive away), this is a great rig to get you into some great fishing.

PERFORMANCE RPM Speed (knots) 1000......................................................................2.8 2000.........................................................................5 3000.........................................................................8 4000.......................................................................13 5000.....................................................................17.5 WOT (5800).............................................................21 Crew Mate didn’t deliver any unexpected pain and misery, in fact it was a really soft ride. Being so far forward in the boat also provided unparalleled view for the skipper. It was easy to see where everything was and how close you were running to snags, channel markers and more. When it came time to drive the boat back on the trailer, being up front allowed a perfect view of where the boat was in relation to the trailer and driving the 430 Crew Mate onto the trailer was a breeze. It might just be my old eyes starting to go,

estuary, smaller bay, or inland waterway. I can see owners anchored up on a hot whiting bite in Western Port or bobbing for redfin in Lake Eildon. This would be a great craft to troll for trout in winter too as the windscreen and bow set up would provide superb protection from the elements and the large working area would allow for creative trollers to get four rods out and working in a canter. With modern designs there is a little bit of a return to the past with craft like this and the Clark 430 Crew Mate is the first one I have really

The shape of the hull meant that the bumps and knocks of older style boats are simply not there in the Clark 430 Crew Mate. perch and flatties on bait. Super fun and a great little craft that will fill a niche for anglers chasing a craft that will provide a good deal of protection coupled with an ability to do a lot of great fishing. Check out the 430 Crew Mate at Boats and More

• Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

SHEPPARTON

PACKAGES

395 Predator

430 Crew Mate INCLUDES

• Suzuki 30hp 2 stroke motor • Dunbier Trailer • Registrations • Inshore Safety gear

5822 2108

STANDARD FEATURES Suzuki 30hp 2-stroke electric start Dunbier trailer 2 x part upholstered swivel seats on fixed pedestal bases 3mm bottom sheet with 2mm pressed side sheets Aluminium dash Anchor well - self draining with cleat Bilge pump bracket Rear side rails Double bow eye Fishing rod holders x 2 Folded side decks Low split bow rails with bow roller Full width fuel tank rack Fully carpeted floor with underfloor floatation Glove box One transom handle Painted white inside and out Rear aluminium bench seat Rear step with grab rail Screw in bung x 1 (35mm) Side pockets Steering wheel with steering cable Transducer bracket 3 piece windscreen Registrations and inshore safety gear Additional features on this boat Mercury 40hp 4-Stroke electric start motor, bimini, electronics package, nav lights, bilge pump, switch panel, marine battery, battery box and isolator switch

ECHUCA

QUALITY

s.ryan@boatsandmore.com.au

SPECIFICATIONS Length (m)..........................................................4.38 Beam (m).................................................................2 Depth (m)............................................................0.85 Max hp...................................................................50 Recommended hp................................................30 Max Motor Weight (kg).......................................120 Weight (kg) boat only..........................................278 No. of persons........................................................4 Bottom Sheet Thickness (mm)...............................3 Side Sheet Thickness (mm)....................................2

9,990

207 Numurkah Rd SHEPPARTON VIC 3630

INCLUDES

• Mercury 40hp 4 stroke motor • Electric start • Bimini • Dunbier Trailer • Marine electronics package • Registrations • Inshore Safety gear

20,990

76 Northern Hwy ECHUCA VIC 3564

salesechuca@boatsandmore.com.au

5482 1992

www.boatsandmore.com.au

SEPTEMBER 2014

Boating Safety

What to know about boating safety accessories FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

When we think about our fishing and boating expenditure, it’s usually all about the latest and greatest rods, reels, tackle and lures. If you have a boat, maybe you dream about the latest marine electronics or a flash new outboard. Not many of us devote a lot of thought to our safety gear and the bits and pieces that, hopefully, you’ll never have to use. The truth is, however, that you would be extremely glad to have them if things ever got nasty. So we’ve done some of the thinking for you and gathered a collection of products that you might like to have kicking around when the chips are down...

EPIRBS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

With luck, you’ll never have to use your Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). However,

when you do have to flick the switch on it, you’ll want to know that yours is in-date, well maintained and built to work when you need it. Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are an ideal safety device for anyone on the water that does not require an EPIRB. They are small, easy to store on your person or on a lifejacket, can save you in an emergency and, best of all, will notify emergency services as soon as you pull the trigger. Remote creeks, large lakes and estuaries or even inland waterways a long way from civilization; they’re ideal for a PLB.

FLARES

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Although it can be a pain in the butt to constantly ensure that your safety flares are in date, you’ll love that they’re as good as gold if you ever need to relay your position to a spotter plane or search boats. Drop your old ones off at your local VMR or Coast Guard and keep your new

World’s SMALLEST EPIRB and Personal Locator Beacon rescueME EPIRB1

the

rescueME PLB1

ones in a watertight container that’s easily accessible in an emergency.

LIFEJACKETS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Australian Distributor

For more information contact

1300 747 587 sales@allsat.com.au

MARINE RADIOS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

If you don’t log in to your local Coast Guard as you head offshore, you’re crazy – and you’ll need a decent marine radio and the training to use it. It’s so important when you’re offshore that a lot of guys fit their boat with two – 27mHz and VHF.

DISCOUNT

www.allsat.com.au

We all like to think that we’re Ian Thorpes in the water, but the reality is that if you’re treading water for any length of time – particularly clothed – you’ll fatigue very quickly. Well maintained Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are not worn nearly often enough in this country. I reckon that you should have them on at all times the

boat is under outboard power and any time you’re boating or fishing alone – regardless of what the regulations say about boat size. While I’m on the subject, if you don’t use your outboard kill-switch when you’re driving a boat, you’re mad. The last thing anyone wants is to fall out of a boat you’re driving and have it do a circle and repeatedly try to run you over. Wear it.

SEPTEMBER 2014

LIGHTING

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

If you’re boating between dusk and dawn you’ll need nav lights that are legal – and that includes a white anchor light on a pile the right height to give you 360 degree visibility. The emergence of LED technology makes nav lights (and trailer lights) much more reliable and trouble-free. And a quality spotlight is just as useful in a rescue situation as it is finding that missing crab pot.

BATTERIES

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A lot of marine breakdowns are batteryrelated. We load up the cranking battery with so many electronic devices that sometimes they simply

Skippers Mate 5x3

just get flattened. Modern batteries are clever – some lithium ones are smart enough to turn themselves off and save enough charge to start an outboard when they are getting drained to their limit. Regardless, keeping your battery new and charged solves a lot of potential problems.

FUEL SEPARATION AND OPTIMISATION

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Bad fuel, old fuel, the wrong fuel – we’ve seen it all. It doesn’t like water in it, it doesn’t like sitting there for a year and there are products that you can get which can help in all these situations. Today’s outboard motors are a significant

OFFER!!

the

Boating Safety TRAINING AND LICENCING

ESKIES

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Don’t laugh. Plenty of people have been saved – literally – by their floating esky! And of course, they have the added bonus of keeping your food, drinks, bait and catch cool. We’ve even heard the story about an angler paddling to shore holding on to his floating camera box.

FIRST-AID KITS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Do you have one on board? Is it fully stocked? DO you know how to use what’s in it? Is it in a waterproof container?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Of course, the best way to be fully prepared is to have the correct training. From obtaining your boat licence to marine radios to first-aid courses, you’ll be much more prepared to deal with a nasty situation if you have the confidence of experts teaching you how it should be done. In the following pages, there’s a selection of relevant products that you may want to know about. They may save your life one day.

RESCUE LASER FLARES “One of THE BEST night signals invented”

-US Navy Aviation Survival Gear Field Test Report

• Non-hazardous • Lasts up to 2400 times longer than pyrotechnic flares

TO ORDER PHONE: (02) 9700 0233 or email: sales@sosmarine.com.au

www.sosmarine.com

“Your tool for pure Fuel”

REMOVES

financial investment and in these modern times extending engine life, improving efficiency and improving performance is becoming more important. For too long marine outboards have relied on basic fuel filtration. As any outboard mechanic will testify, finer particles and water emulsion will evade the capabilities of basic filtration, exposing the engine to accelerated wear which contributes to loss of power and loss of economy. A dedicated waterseparating fuel filter

assembly is the best way to ensure the right fuel quality is delivered to your outboard motor all the time, and a clear inspection bowl helps you monitor the overall quality of the fuel coming from your tank. Also, a funnel that can separate, instantly, a litre of fuel from a litre of water might seem expensive, but wait till you need it. You’ll want to marry it.

JUMP STARTERS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A pocket-sized jumpstarter in the glove box is a great way to treat the

symptoms of bad battery management. Push a button, hook it up and presto: outboard started. You can also use them to charge your phones and other devices.

INSURANCE/ GEAR PROTECTION

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

In worst-case-scenario, you want to know that your pride and joy is covered. Insurance might seem painful – until you need it. There are more and more players moving into the

marine market and it pays to check out the fine print. What will they do for you when all goes to hell? Do a bit of reading and find out.

• Water • Dirt • Sand • Rust and debris Portable, self cleaning, static free, no replacement parts

www.mrfunnelaustralia.com.au 2 PERSON LIFE RAFT

ANCHORS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

If you’re having dramas near a river bar on the outgoing tide, then you’ll want to make sure that you’ve got the right anchor for the job. It needs to be able to stop your craft from drifting in several knots of nasty chop and current. Does yours fit the bill right now? Be honest.

• Compact • Easy to handle • A must have safety accessory

TO ORDER PHONE: (02) 9700 0233 or email: sales@sosmarine.com.au

www.sosmarine.com

GENERAL BOATING AND JET SKI LICENCE NOW AT

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We conduct training workshops from the following locations: Sydney Metro, Windsor, Woy Woy, Cardiff, Raymond Terrace, Taree, Maitland, Mudgee, Merimbula, Coffs Harbour and other locations by arrangement.

Bookings essential | Freecall 1300 302 123 NSW FISHING & INDUSTRY TRAINING COMMITTEE LTD TRADING AS MARITIME & SAFETY TRAINING NSW (ACN 002 693 291)

www.powerboating.com.au NSW Maritime Accredited Training Provider.

PORTABLE EMERGENCY POWER PACK

THE SMALLEST MOST POWERFUL JUMPSTART PACK IN ITS CLASS

ONLY

4.8kg

have one! 1300 136 413 Every boat shouldwww.superminibooster.com SEPTEMBER 2014

Boating Safety  GME EPIRBS SRP

399



GME EPIRBS

Laser Flares SRPF $149.90

In both the commercial marine and recreational environments, EPIRBs are an essential safety device. They are often the only means to alert rescue authorities in a life threatening situation so it’s critical that before heading out for a day’s fishing you check that this indispensable piece of life-saving equipment is in good working order. Firstly check the battery hasn’t expired. The expiry date is clearly indicated on the side of the EPIRB. Beacon manufacturers around the world strongly suggest that their EPIRBs are tested on a monthly basis. To test a GME EPIRB vatch the video by scanning the QR code to the left. If you have any concerns regarding the test result or the integrity of your EPIRB, immediately contact your marine electronics supplier for advice. If you’re in the market for a new EPIRB, consider upgrading to a GPS-equipped model. GPS-equipped EPIRBs provide significant advantages including emergency signal detection within minutes and position accuracy of around 100m. Authorities will be able to determine your location faster and reach you sooner. It could save your life. To view the full GME range of EPIRBS log onto www.gme.net.au.

WaterScreen Nano Filter SRPF $59.00 3

Boat and PWC Courses SRPF $65.00

SRPF $29.99

Mini Jump Starter SRP

SEPTEMBER 2014

144.95 6

LASER Flares

Rescue Laser Flares are a worthy addition to your pyrotechnic kit. The Greatland’s Rescue Lasers (from RRP $149.90) are available at SOS Marine, and are designed to signal in an emergency by creating a line of light. Point the compact Rescue Laser Flare at a wall and you’ll see a short line. Point and slowly sweep it toward a passing boat or aircraft and the line is 3.600ft high (1097.28m) at 17km, appearing as a brilliant flash of light. Best of all, Rescue Lasers last for hours, are environmentally safe, and there is no fire hazard where pyrotechnic flares burn for 40 seconds. The Rescue Laser Flare can also be used to detect reflective material on lifejackets, channel markers, and other objects up to 1.7km away. When the laser line is scanned over any reflective element it produces a bright flash of light. SOS Marine has pioneered marine safety equipment for over 30 years and supplies safety equipment to 12 defence forces world-wide. For more information visit www. sosmarine.com or email sales@ sosmarine.com.au.

Mr Funnel

GME EPIRBS

WATERSCREEN Nano Filter

WaterScreen specialises in marine fuel filters. Their expertise has resulted in them becoming a leading manufacturer of premium marine fuel filters and a number one choice of waterseparating fuel filter for your outboard motor. WaterScreen’s latest innovation is the Nano fuel filter assembly. The fuel flow through the Nano is similar to that of the larger WaterScreen filter assemblies. The Nano will separate water on the run, making the Nano unique in the market. Other small filters will filter particles and yet fail to separate the water out, relying on gravity assistance or sedimentation to get the water out of the system. The Nano opens the way to class-leading filtration for all boats. Not only does it fit into smaller spaces, but it makes for a better looking and neater installation. The Nano’s exclusive, high-tech 10 micron filter media technology is specifically designed for today’s complex fuel blends. The fuel filter grade offers higher flow characteristics and efficiencies, better water separation and improved dirt holding capacity. This media protects your engine against the dangers of unwanted particle

contaminants in the highly-tuned tolerances of the fuel system, which contribute to a loss of power, economy, and accelerated engine wear. WaterScreen delivers optimum protection and optimum performance. Check out all the specs at www. marinewarehouse.com.au/waterscreen.

BOAT And PWC Courses

Maritime and Safety Training NSW is recognised by NSW Roads and Maritime Services as an accredited training provider. The course takes three to four hours. When you have successfully completed a comprehensive General Boat and/or PWC (jetski) safety training program you will be awarded a Certificate of Successful Completion. Presentation of your certificate along with the licence fee and completed logbook to NSW Roads and Maritime qualifies you for a General Boat or PWC (jetski) licence. The General Boat Licence seminar and test is $95 for adults, $75 for a Young Adult Licence (12 – 15 years old) and $75 for pension card holders. On-board practical training is $125. A PWC Licence seminar and test is $65. For more info visit www.powerboating. com.au/courses/boat-jetski-course or call 1300 302 123.

MR FUNNEL

When you’re next re-fuelling your boat, ask yourself this: how safe is the fuel and will it offer you and your crew a safe return? Dirt and water are practically unavoidable in stored fuel in Australia, causing components like filters to become clogged, decreasing combustion efficiency and causing engine shutdown or system failure. Mr Funnel products can save you thousands of dollars in repair bills by catching fuel contaminants like water and debris BEFORE they enter your fuel tank. Many articles have been written about ethanol, which likes to absorb water. Take away the water and you’ll eliminate the chance of damage to your engine. Mr Funnel products are self-cleaning and have no replacement parts. They come in four sizes and can be used for petrol, diesel, two-stroke, kerosene and any other hydrocarbons. Each size has a specific flow rate for the job at hand. The black model is carbon injected when moulded to mitigate against static build up during the fuelling process, while the tough stainless steel filter mesh is coated with Teflon, preventing contaminants obstructing the flow while fuelling. Log onto mrfunnelaustralia.com.au to view the entire product range.

Even Smaller MINI JUMP STARTER

Weighing in at only 210 grams, the latest version of the popular Mini Jump Starter – the PowerSLIM is small and light enough to store in the smallest nook and cranny in the boat. Pushing out 300 cold cranking amps of power, though, it’ll jump start motors up to 5 litre V8s. This means that there’s virtually no outboard that it won’t kick to life when your battery dies. Smaller and lighter than the original Mini Jump Starter PowerBLOCK, the unit features a USB port and is supplied with a multifunction squid-style cable array that will charge anything from smart phones to laptops. Available in four colours, the Mini Jump Starter PowerSLIM costs $144.95 with free shipping from www.minijumpstarter. com - FMG.

IS YOUR EPIRB DUE TO BE REPL ACED?

Prepare for the extreme with GME, because your life could depend on it Digital EPIRBs have been around for quite some time now, and many are about to reach their expiration date. So next time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re out on your boat, double check the expiration date of your EPIRB. If it has expired, or is approaching expiration, contact your local Authorised GME Dealer and discuss options for replacement, including updating to the latest GPS equipped model from GME. With a GPS equipped EPIRB, you will be located faster, and rescue authorities will be able to reach you sooner. It could save your life.

gme.net.au SEPTEMBER 2014

M355G

1300 463 463

Boating Safety 1 EVIE N150 SRP

69.95 1

Super Mini Booster SRP

The EVIE N150 automatic inflatable lifejacket is light and simple to wear and doesn’t restrict movement. You can enjoy your fishing and at the same time be safer and more visible. Once activated, the reflective tape can be seen from a considerable distance away, especially at night under spotlight. The EVIE can also be activated manually via a pullchord and comes with a rescue whistle. For all-day wear, the EVIE includes a soft neck protector avoiding the irritation of nylon rub. An additional feature of this lifejacket is a clear plastic pocket so that you can easily slip in a label with your vessel’s name and registration. The recommended retail price is $69.95 and you can find out more at www.skippersmate.com.au.

299.95 2

2 RescueMe PLB1 SRP

Jaunt Safety Gear Bag SRP

SOS Raft Life SRPF

EVIE Inflatable PFD

1499

250.00 5

399

Imagine being out from port and your batteries run flat? What do you do? To get you out of trouble, the answer is simple: you have a portable emergency power pack, the Super Mini Booster, on your boat at all times. The Super Mini Booster is the smallest, most powerful jump start pack in its class, weighing only 4.8kg. Delivering 1200 amps instantaneously giving you 400 CCA cranking when needed it to get you out of trouble. With the ability to start engines up to 7.0L V8 petrol and 4.5L diesel 12V engines, your boat’s cranking battery is no challenge at all to the Super Mini Booster. This little unit comes complete with a low charge warning light, two super bright LEDs and a 12V auxiliary outlet that provides 12V/80W to charge mobile phones, run motorised 12V reels and trailer winches, spot lights, fridge freezers, plus power when you need it. The RRP is $299.95 and more info is available at www.superminibooster.com (to become a recommended stockist, contact Steve Moore on 1300 136 413).

3 4

Super MINI BOOSTER

RESCUEME PLB1 Locator

Easy to use and 30% smaller than other personal locator beacons (PLB), the rescueME PLB1 is suitable for a range of activities and will provide a level of safety unparalleled in its field. The rescueME PLB1 easily fits into a lifejacket and has a retractable antenna

making the package non-obtrusive. A 7 year battery life is supported by a 7 year warranty giving you longevity when you need it. A 1 candela strobe light makes location easy while the 66 channel GPS receiver means you are always going to be located, wherever you may find yourself in need of help. Wherever you are at sea or on land, the rescueME PLB1 provides the reassurance that emergency services can be alerted by the press of a button. Simple and effective. RRP: $399 www.allsat.com.au

SOS 2 Person Life Raft

SOS Marine has designed an ultra-light SOS 2 Person Life Raft that ‘bridges the gap’ by offering all the boaters travelling alone or with one other person an easier system to use in a person overboard situation. It is easier to handle and throw by man, women and child in an emergency situation. Often the existing 4 person rafts are too heavy and cumbersome for a couple to move into position when the need arises. The SOS 2 Person life raft is compact in size (500x350x110mm) weighs around (7.5kg/16lbs). The life raft is packed in a high visibility orange valise. It is easier to maintain with much smaller servicing costs. It has and easy-to use boarding platform and a thermally insulated floor which can also reflect to search and rescue teams. It can be stowed in the smallest of spaces on every boat. More information: www. sosmarine.com

JAUNT Safety Gear Bag

The Jaunt safety gear bag contains a comprehensive collection of all the safety gear you require for recreational boating, all in one easy to grab gear bag. The gear bag is perfect for trailerable boats, allowing you to conveniently remove your safety gear for storage when required. The safety pack includes, 4 Jaunt Level 100 PFDs, 2 paddles (not shown), current inshore flare kit, V sheet, signal mirror, waterproof torch with batteries and of course, the Jaunt Gear bag. The weatherproof Jaunt gear bag is a great traveller, it features an insulated cooler at one end, vented mesh pouch as well as a wet gear pouch and a pen and phone holder. Shoulder and hand straps make it a perfect overnighter/travel bag. More Information: www. marinewarehouse.com.au. - MW.

CALL SALES 024 297 5156 ww w.mini jumpsta rt er.com 86

SEPTEMBER 2014

What’s new boating

TOURNAMENT AMM 7800

The Tournament 7800 is AMM’s latest 7.8m rig, designed by Barton Thomas. With features including a separate toilet and shower cubicle; heat insulation, exceptional cabin sound insulation; a fresh, hot water system; a fridge freezer running on solar panels, the boat was launched with twin 200hp Yamaha G series outboards fed from a fuel capacity of 750L. The Tournament 7800 has a beam of 2.5m and a 20° deadrise, and achieves a premium ride with outstanding stability at rest. The cabin and helm are located 800mm further aft than in a similar sister ship, removing any hint of the dominant ‘nose down’ attitude prevalent on many deep vee plate boats where the cabin has been pushed too far forward. The greater lift in the bow sees the Tournament rising more readily to meet the faces of pressure waves. The price ranges from around $118K to $225K depending on the level of customisation, and specs are available at australianmastermarine.com.au. – AMM

COMPACT RESCUEME EPIRB

Ocean Signal has introduced the world’s most compact EPIRB, the Category/ Class 3 rescueME EPIRB1, which features a 30% reduction in size compared to other EPIRBs. The new rescueME EPIRB1 measures 178mm (height with antenna stowed) by 89mm and weighs 422g. It’s manually activated and can be easily retained within its manual release bracket or placed in an emergency grab-bag or life raft. A retractable antenna provides maximum protection and reduced outline for stowage and is deployed with a gentle pull, using one hand if necessary. A protective tab over the operating keys prevents inadvertent activation. The rescueME communicates your location in three ways – the designated 406MHz Cospas-Sarsat satellite system with position provided by a 66-channel GPS, a 121.5MHz homing beacon, plus two high brightness strobes. Operating within a temp range of -20°C and +55°C, it will transmit for 48 hours. It has a 10-year battery life and is backed by a 5-year warranty. For more info visit www.allsat. com.au. – OS

BAR CRUSHER HTP

Bar Crusher has launched its new Hard Top Pilothouse (HTP) series of offshore Fishing Weapons. Incorporating three models – 670HTP, 730HTP and 780HTP – this series offers the ultimate in protection from the weather, as well as the opportunity to stay overnight, with fully-enclosed cabins, toilets and other comforts. The flagship 780HTP has plenty of space to fight and handle big fish; a fully-welded and sealed, self-draining checkerplate deck with scuppers; alloy rod holders; good-sized baitboard; transom livebait tank; deck wash; sizeable kill tank; tackle storage; leader dispenser; and more. The flexible layout can be changed in minutes, from a functional fishing machine to a dining layout for the evening. The fully-lined cabin has comfortable V-berth, LED lighting, long storage shelves and a plumbed toilet under the centre cushions. The HTP series comes on a customdesigned trailer, and the Bar Catch system allows for single-handed launch and retrieve. For more info visit www.barcrusher.com. au. – BCB

MINN-KOTA 55LB POWERDRIVE

With the increasing popularity of deep V boats with higher freeboard being fitted with Minn-Kota electric motors, MinnKota has responded by introducing a 54” shaft. Replacing the previous 601450 and 601484 models, the Minn-Kota Saltwater PowerDrive 55lb, 54” SP motor (RT 55SP) is supplied standard with full function foot pedal, giving the user accurate control, power and steerage. This motor provides optimised saltwater performance with Riptide SP’s re-engineered electric steer control, and new advanced deploy-assist lever for easy operation. Features include: Digital Maximizer - up to five times longer run time on a single charge; Stainless Steel Hardware - maximum durability and corrosion resistance; Sacrificial Anode - attaches to prop hub, eliminates corrosion on other metallic components and Riptide trolling motors; Indestructible Composite Shaft - stronger then steel, flexes on impact, will not break, kink or corrode, guaranteed for life; and Fully Encapsulated Electronics - protects electrical components from the saltwater environment. More info is available at www.bla.com.au. – BLA

COLOUR SOUNDER <$150

The most affordable colour fishfinder ever introduced, the new Lowrance Elite-3x includes a dual-frequency 83/200kHz Broadband Sounder transducer and features an LED-backlit display with detailed 240x360-pixel resolution that’s easy to see in full sunlight from wide viewing angles. The Elite-3x allows anglers to quickly and easily identify fish targets, bottom contour, structure detail, bottom hardness, thermoclines and more. Offering selectable dual-frequency operation to maximize the view beneath a boat, 83 kHz sonar provides up to 60° of conical coverage, while 200 kHz sonar provides up to 20° of coverage for enhanced fish-target separation and lure-tracking. The Lowrance Skimmer transducer, included with the Elite-3x, can track bottom at speeds up to 75mph, and has a built-in water temperature sensor. Protected by a one-year limited warranty and the Lowrance Advantage Service program, the Elite-3x fishfinder is priced at $149 in Australia. For more info visit www.lowrance.com. – Navico

4 5

STACER 509 SEA RUNNER

Stacer’s new Sea Runner Range includes three models – the 509, 539 and 579 – all featuring a walk around cabin. Built tough, the popular 509 Sea Runner features 3mm bottomsides, and rated to 115hp this cabin is made for cruising through bays, lakes and estuaries. With room for up to seven people, it has a folding rear lounge as standard and a 77L underfloor fuel tank. Options include a bimini, ski pole, live bait tank, sounder, vinyl wraps, ski hooks, a mega cutting board, sound system, berley bucket, rocket launchers and a twin battery box and switch. The 509 Sea Runner is available as a Ready 2 Go Package complete with a boat, motor, trailer and a 3-year limited factory warranty. For more info visit www.stacer. com.au. – Stacer

6 SEPTEMBER 2014

Victorian Tide Times

AUSTRALIA, SOUTH COAST – PORT PHILLIP HEADS (PT.LONSDALE) LAT 38° 18’

LONG 144° 37’

TIMES AND HEIGHTS OF HIGH AND LOW WATERS Time 0400 0942 MO 1607 2204

1 2

0440 1017 TU 1642 2238



m 1.52 0.52 1.53 0.34 1.51 0.56 1.50 0.33

Time 0507 1025 TU 1651 2255



0554 1106 WE 1733 2336

m 1.59 0.50 1.51 0.26

Time 0421 1000 WE 1617 2211

1.50 0.56 1.43 0.33

0502 1037 TH 1657 2249

1.47 0643 1.42 3 0523 1055 0.61 18 1147 0.63 1718 1.45 1817 1.35

2314 0.33

1.43 0018 0.41 4 0611 1135 0.66 19 0734 1.34 1800 1.41 1232 0.69

2355 0.33

1909 1.27

1.39 0105 0.48 5 0705 1219 0.71 20 0829 1.29 1849 1.37 1325 0.74

2010 1.21

0.35 0200 0.55 6 0045 0809 1.36 21 0926 1.26 1314 0.74 1432 0.76

1951 1.33

2119 1.19

0.39 0313 0.59 7 0145 0920 1.36 22 1023 1.26 1422 0.75 1556 0.74

2109 1.32

0300 1030 MO 1543 2233

0.41 1.40 0.69 1.37

2230 1.21

0430 1115 TU 1708 2331

0.59 1.29 0.67 1.27

0.41 0532 0.57 9 0420 1132 1.46 24 1201 1.34 1700 0.58 1800 0.57

2347 1.46





NOVEMBER – 2014

OCTOBER – 2014

SEPTEMBER – 2014

1 2



m 1.57 0.53 1.45 0.26 1.53 0.56 1.41 0.28

Time 0516 1042 TH 1702 2301



m 1.52 0.53 1.37 0.35

1.44 17 0558 1122 0.58 1745 1.30 FR

2341 0.43

1.47 0641 1.36 3 0547 1117 0.59 18 1204 0.62 1742 1.37 1835 1.23

2332 0.32

1.41 0023 0.51 4 0639 1203 0.62 19 0729 1.30 1835 1.33 1252 0.65

1936 1.18

0.38 0112 0.59 5 0023 0740 1.36 20 0823 1.25 1257 0.64 1350 0.67

1942 1.30

2048 1.17

0.45 0213 0.66 6 0125 0849 1.34 21 0919 1.23 1405 0.62 1504 0.65

2107 1.31

2200 1.20

0.50 0331 0.70 7 0240 0958 1.36 22 1015 1.24 1527 0.56 1621 0.59

2230 1.38

0404 1101 WE 1644 2340



0.52 1.40 0.44 1.49

2304 1.27

0452 1107 TH 1718 2358

0.69 1.27 0.50 1.37

0550 0.66 0.51 9 0520 1159 1.46 24 1155 1.32 1802 0.41 1747 0.32

TIME ZONE –1000



Time 0530 1106 SA 1730 2317

m 1.52 0.52 1.36 0.34

Time 0555 1140 SU 1804 2346

m 1.42 0.55 1.23 0.53

1.46 0634 1.36 2 0617 1153 0.52 17 1222 0.57 1828 1.32 1900 1.19

0.43 0030 0.62 3 0009 0713 1.40 18 0720 1.30 1248 0.52 1311 0.57

1942 1.30

2008 1.18

0.53 0121 0.70 4 0110 0817 1.36 19 0812 1.26 1355 0.49 1407 0.56

2108 1.33

2119 1.21

0.61 0224 0.77 5 0222 0924 1.35 20 0908 1.24 1512 0.43 1513 0.52

2223 1.41

2226 1.28

0.64 0342 0.80 6 0344 1028 1.37 21 1006 1.24 1624 0.35 1619 0.45

2330 1.51

2323 1.38

0.63 0500 0.78 7 0500 1127 1.40 22 1103 1.27 1726 0.26 1714 0.37





0029 0603 SA 1220 1818

1.61 0.60 1.44 0.19

0015 0556 SU 1157 1800

1.48 0.73 1.31 0.29

1.69 0101 1.58 9 0121 0654 0.56 24 0641 0.67 1310 1.47 1246 1.36

1906 0.15

1842 0.22

DECEMBER – 2014 Time 0600 1148 MO 1827 2359

m 1.52 0.41 1.35 0.48

Time 0555 1154 TU 1826 2355

m 1.43 0.47 1.24 0.60

1.46 0633 1.37 2 0649 1242 0.39 17 1234 0.47 1945 1.34 1925 1.23

0.59 0040 0.69 3 0055 0746 1.40 18 0718 1.32 1343 0.38 1318 0.46

2100 1.36

2030 1.24

0.68 0132 0.77 4 0200 0849 1.36 19 0810 1.28 1451 0.35 1411 0.44

2210 1.42

2136 1.28

0.73 0236 0.82 5 0315 0953 1.34 20 0907 1.25 1600 0.31 1511 0.40

2314 1.49

2241 1.35

0350 0.84 0.73 6 0431 1054 1.35 21 1010 1.25 1615 0.34 1701 0.26



2341 1.44

1.57 0504 0.80 7 0012 0539 0.70 22 1115 1.28 1151 1.37 1715 0.27

1756 0.22

0104 0634 MO 1244 1845

1.63 0.64 1.39 0.20



1.54 23 0034 0604 0.73 1215 1.33 TU

1810 0.21

1.66 0123 1.62 9 0151 0722 0.59 24 0655 0.65 1330 1.40 1310 1.39

1930 0.20

1900 0.17

0.39 0024 1.35 10 0534 1229 1.54 25 0621 0.54 1807 0.45 1241 1.39

1.60 0045 1.47 10 0042 0621 0.48 25 0633 0.62 1250 1.52 1238 1.37

1.72 0145 1.65 10 0209 0740 0.53 25 0723 0.61 1355 1.48 1333 1.41

1.66 0210 1.67 10 0232 0805 0.55 25 0743 0.56 1414 1.40 1401 1.44

1.57 0109 1.44 11 0052 0635 0.37 26 0701 0.52 1320 1.60 1318 1.44

1.69 0127 1.56 11 0137 0713 0.46 26 0711 0.58 1338 1.55 1320 1.41

1.72 0228 1.69 11 0252 0822 0.51 26 0804 0.56 1436 1.47 1418 1.44

1.65 0254 1.70 11 0310 0845 0.52 26 0830 0.47 1455 1.39 1450 1.47

1.65 0148 1.51 12 0149 0728 0.37 27 0737 0.50 1406 1.64 1354 1.48

1.73 0206 1.63 12 0227 0758 0.45 27 0748 0.55 1421 1.56 1400 1.44

1.68 0310 1.70 12 0332 0902 0.50 27 0845 0.51 1516 1.44 1502 1.45

1.61 0337 1.70 12 0344 0925 0.50 27 0916 0.40 1533 1.37 1539 1.49

1.70 0227 1.57 13 0243 0815 0.38 28 0812 0.49 1450 1.64 1430 1.50

1.72 0245 1.66 13 0313 0841 0.45 28 0825 0.53 1502 1.54 1440 1.46

1.62 0351 1.68 13 0409 0942 0.50 28 0929 0.48 1556 1.39 1547 1.44

1.57 0418 1.67 13 0415 1002 0.49 28 1004 0.34 1613 1.34 1630 1.47

1.70 0304 1.60 14 0332 0900 0.41 29 0846 0.49 1531 1.62 1505 1.50

1.68 0325 1.66 14 0356 0922 0.47 29 0903 0.51 1543 1.50 1519 1.45

1.56 0432 1.64 14 0444 1021 0.52 29 1013 0.45 1636 1.34 1634 1.42

1.53 0500 1.62 14 0446 1040 0.48 29 1052 0.30 1653 1.31 1724 1.44

1903 0.32

1955 0.23

2043 0.18

2129 0.17

1842 0.48

1918 0.40

1952 0.34

2026 0.29

2100 0.27

1.66 0342 1.60 15 0420 0944 0.45 30 0922 0.51 1612 1.58 1541 1.48 MO

2213 0.20



2134 0.26

1842 0.22

1930 0.16

2016 0.14

2100 0.15

2142 0.20

1841 0.33

1917 0.26

1953 0.22

2030 0.20

2109 0.20

1.60 0405 1.63 15 0437 1002 0.50 30 0943 0.51 1622 1.44 1600 1.43 WE

2222 0.27

2149 0.23

1951 0.15

2033 0.18

2114 0.23

2152 0.30

2230 0.37



1924 0.18

2006 0.16

2049 0.18

2134 0.22

2220 0.28

0515 1.58 1.49 15 0518 1100 0.53 30 1059 0.42 1726 1.39 1717 1.29 SA



2307 0.45

2308 0.37

1.58 31 0445 1023 0.52 1643 1.40



2012 0.22

2051 0.26

2128 0.32

2203 0.38

2239 0.44



Height datum is Lowest Astronomical Tide Moon Symbols

 New Moon



1948 0.15

2036 0.17

2124 0.22

2212 0.29

2300 0.38

1.48 0542 1.57 15 0519 1116 0.47 30 1141 0.28 1737 1.27 1827 1.41 MO

2315 0.52



2347 0.49

1.50 31 0628 1230 0.28 1936 1.38 WE

2231 0.28



Bureau of Meteorology

National Tidal Centre

When daylight saving time is in force, add one hour to times

 First Quarter

 Full Moon

 Last Quarter

Tide predictions for Port Phillip Heads have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions. 88

SEPTEMBER 2014

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LIMITED TIME ONLY. *Terms and conditions apply, weekly payment is based on a MerCruiser 3.0 Litre Carb,135HP Petrol Sterndrive Engine Replacement Only, after Guaranteed Trade-In of $975 with a 20% deposit over a 36 month term and a net loan amount of $7,842. Finance for credit approved purchasers only. The payment per week is an indication only based on the examples given above including a 20% deposit and does not include installation and freight charges. The offer is available to Australian customers until 26/09/2014 from participating dealers only. **The comparison rate is based on a secured loan of $30,000 for a term of 5 years at a 5.08% annual percentage rate. The amount of credit provided to you and the term of the loan may be different to this. WARNING: The comparison rate only applies to the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might results in a different comparison rate. Finance is provided by Mercury Finance Pty Ltd ABN 28 156 248 092. Australian Credit Licence Number 421347.

CHELTENHAM

ECHUCA

QUEENSCLIFF

MORNINGTON

120 TALINGA ROAD, CHELTENHAM Phone: 03 9583 3881 Email: admin.sales@bellmarineservices.com Website: bellmarine.com.au

24 STURT STREET ECHUCA Phone: 03 5482 2333 Email: info@xtrememarine.net.au Website: xtrememarine.net.au

No.1 BUILDING 10 WHARF STREET EAST QUEENSCLIFF Phone: 03 5258 1305 Email: service@queenscliffmarineservices.com.au

3 SATU WAY MORNINGTON Phone: 03 5976 4622 Email: sales@wesfrostmarine.com Website: wesfrostmarine.com.au

BELL MARINE SERVICES PTY LTD

EADES XTREME MARINE

QUEENSCLIFF MARINE SERVICES

SHEPPARTON

MORDIALLOC

HASTINGS

207 NUMURKAH ROAD SHEPPARTON Phone: 03 5822 2108 Email: sryan@boatsandmore.com.au Website: boatsandmore.com.au

3-5 BOUNDARY ROAD MORDIALLOC Phone: 03 9580 6670 Email: hmarine@bigpond.net.au Website: hurreysmarine.com.au

WESTERN PORT MARINA Mullet Street HASTINGS Phone: 03 5979 1211 Email: sealand@sealandmarine.com.au Website: sealandmarine.com.au

EAST GIPPSLAND

SORRENTO

MELBOURNE

35 SLIP ROAD PAYNESVILLE Phone: 03 5156 6613 Email: manager@bluewatermarinecentre.com.au Website: bluewatermarinecentre.com.au

139-141 HOTHAM STREET SORRENTO Phone: 03 5984 1666 Email: nautical@surf.com.au Website: nauticalmarine.com.au

6 HOLLAND DRIVE MELTON Phone: 03 9747 0588 Email: admin@themarineshop.com.au Website: themarinesop.com.au

BOATS & MORE

BLUEWATER MARINE CENTRE

HURREY’S MARINE SERVICE

NAUTICAL MARINE

SEALAND MARINE & MARINE MOTORS

THE MARINE SHOP

WES FROST MARINE

Nautical Marine Nautical Marine has been providing all your boating and marine needs since 1976, and continues to ensure that your days on the water are enjoyable and safe.

S TO M E R

GUASR

ANTEED

Screen Printing Logan Specialised Screen Printing (07) 5546 4107

Boat Imports

ERVIC

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

RE-POWER & SERVICE EXPERTS NEW

Boat, motor & trailer packages!

Bait and Tackle West Coast Portland Bait & Tackle (03) 5523 5213

Boat Import USA 0435 476 177

Boat Hire Lake Eildon Cruises 0422 166 986 Boab Boat Hire Shepparton (03) 5822 2108 Boab Boat Hire Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Compleat Angler Portland (03) 5521 1844

Central

Holiday Rental

Hooked On Bait and Tackle Hoppers Crossing (03) 9748 3811 Fishing Fever Mordialloc (03) 9590 9899

West Coast

Peninsula Total Tackle (03) 5981 1994 JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883 Complete Angler Ringwood (03) 9870 7792 New World Marine (03) 9709 8444 The Flyfisher Melbourne (03) 9621 1246

FINANCE AVAILABLE

East Coast Always Angling Traralgon (03) 5174 8544

Freshwater

PH: 03 5984 1666 W: nauticalmarine.com.au E: nautical@surf.net.au Nautical Marine: 139 - 141 Hotham Rd Sorrento Vic

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

Central Naaj Marine 0421 955 371

Nautical Marine (03) 5984 1666

Unique Marine Accessories (03) 5427 1802

New World Marine (03) 9709 8444

CMC Marine Sales www.cmcsales.com.au

Regal Marine (03) 9874 4624

Hunter Marine Boat Builders (03) 5032 2320

Streaker Boats (03) 9729 8288

BOAT STORAGE AVAILABLE

Triple M Marine (03) 9465 8787

Marine Mechanics

Warragul Marine (03) 5623 6250 Wes Frost Marine (03) 5976 4622

Central

East Coast

Kris Oakley Marine Services (03) 9794 5524

Inverloch Marine (03) 5674 1502

JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883 JV Marine World Laverton (03) 9368 7100

Freshwater

The Outboard Workshop (03) 9783 0840

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

Boat Modifications & Repairs Salt-Away 1800 091 172

Online Tackle Products

FLUSH YOUR ENGINE WITH

Call Now: 03

www.whpark.com.au

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

5562 5031

Warrnambool Holiday Park (03) 5562 5031

East Coast

SHALLOW INLET CARAVAN PARK

CORROSION CONTROL SALT REMOVING TREATMENT

WARNING!

9 out 10 engines fail from salt corrosion ACT NOW AND PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE BOAT, ENGINE, TRAILER, FISHING AND DIVE GEAR.

FREECALL For more info

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FRESH BAIT | HIRE BOATS | ICE

• Easy access for boats • 10 cabins (3 with ensuites) • LPG gas refills • Kiosk from dawn to dusk

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Korr Lighting www.korrlighting.com.au

WASHING BOATS FISHING & DIVE GEAR

1800 091 172

VISIT www.salt-away.com.au

She Left www.hdvcs.com.au

• Plenty of powered and unpowered camping sites • BBQs • Playground

FREE ADVICE ON WHERE THEY’RE BITING

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Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au

SALT-AWAY IS A MUST FOR:

ENGINE FLUSHING JETSKIS TRAILERS

“For all your fly fishing needs”

On the Waters Edge

Lester Rd Yanakie WILSONS PROM E sicp@sicp.com.au

03 5687 1385

Shallow Inlet Caravan Park (03) 5687 1385

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

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

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

Able Fishing & Charters, Williamstown (03) 9502 3777

Accommodation East Gippsland

MARLO

21 Marine Parade MARLO VIC

OCEAN VIEWS CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

03 5154 8268

• Deluxe cabins HOSTS: Les & Kathy HEYNE • Cabins with ensuite • Budget cabins • Premium ensuite vans • Powered & Unpowered sites • Pet friendly • Undercover BBQ areas in Marlo • Large oval • Kitchen Largest park • Camp fires • Kiosk the beach to lk wa Short • Coffee shops

www.marlocamping.com.au

NSW South Coast

ACE Fishing Charters, Bonbeach (03) 9773 4183

Reel Affair, Merimbula freecall 1800 233 247

Adamas Fishing Charters, Barwon Heads (03) 5254 3320

Espirit Charters, Bermagui (02) 6493 4104 or 0407 260 110

Big Red Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 1800 805 587

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

Blue Magic Fishing Charters, Rowville (03) 9759 5301

Headland Fishing Adventures, Merimbula (02) 6495 1134

Calypso Fishing Charters, Tootgarook (03) 5985 8463

Island Charters, Narooma (02) 4476 1047 or 0408 428 857

Geelong Charters & Fishing Trips, Geelong (03) 5275 7107

K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681

Impulse Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 3739

Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080

Jillian Fishing Trips, Blairgowrie 0418 148 426

Narooma Charters, Narooma 0407 909 111

Katrina Louise Charters, Cheltenham 0402 828 140

O’Brien Charter Service, Bermagui 0407 214 124

Kestrel Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 1783 Queenscliff Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 0458 504 058

Fishing Guides

Pro Red Fishing Charters 0421 442 775

NSW South Coast

Reel Adventure Charters, Yaringa 0409 932 077 Rip Charters Fishing Trips, Sorrento (03) 5984 3664

Wilderness Fishing Tours, Mallacoota 0424 625 160

Saltwater Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 4888

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

Marlo Ocean Views Caravan and Camping Park (03) 5154 8268

Victorian Alps

DARTMOUTH MOTOR INN

Come and experience the comfort onboard

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

“Imagine That”

• Nightly, weekly & corporate rates 1 Eustace St, Dartmouth VIC 370 P 02·6072 4233 E dartmouthmotorinn@bigpond.com FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT WAYNE ON

IDEAL GIFT!

0418 107 071

www.sharkmen.com.au www.dartmouthmotorinn.com.au

Dartmouth Motor Inn (02) 6072 4233

Queensland Cairns Bed and Boat 0418 772 751

Sharkmen Charters, Carrum 0418 107 071 St Kilda Fishing Charters, St Kilda (03) 9770 2200 Western Port Fishing Charters, Hastings (03) 9769 5544

DVD’S -

East Coast

Series 2 through 8

Capella III Fishing Adventures, Port Welshpool (03) 5688 1585

Chandlery & Accessories

Far Out Charters, McLoughlins Beach 0428 401 819 Prom Adventurer, Port Welshpool (03) 5682 2633 or 0428 594 767

Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014

Prom Coastal Charters, Yanakie (03) 5687 1248 or 0429 935 583

Techni Ice (03) 9783 1922

Razorback Bluewater Charters, Port Albert (03) 5183 2691

$19.95 each GST INC. - with FREE P&H

1800 228 244

Freshwater Boat Trailers

Angling Expeditions Victoria, Tawonga (03) 5754 1466 Highland Trout Lakes, Ballarat (03) 5368 9574

Central BMS Marine (03) 9731 7269

Charter Boats East Gippsland East Gippsland Charters 0400 564 032

West Coast Sharkmen Fishing Charters 0418 107 071 Portland Fishing Charters, Portland (03) 5523 3020

Millbrook Lakes Lodge, Ballarat (03) 5334 0404

Tasmania & Flinders Island Ausprey Tours, Launceston (03) 6630 2612 Gone Fishing Charters, St Helens (03) 6376 1553 Fish Wild Tasmania, Hobart 0418 348 223 Flinders Island Adventures, Flinders Island (03) 6359 4507 Professional Charters, St Helens (03) 6376 3083 Trout Adventure Tasmania, Bronte Park 0418 139 048 Trout Territory, Northern Midlands (03) 6397 5001

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 30 words within a 5x2 ad size. Email : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Shipwreck Coast Diving & Charters, Warrnambool (03) 5561 6108

Central South-West Fishing Charters, Portland 0418 306 714

Charter Boat Picture Doug Thring and his mates, with a 97kg late season southern bluefin tuna, caught off Portland on Sharkmen Charters

Gone Fishing Charters 0409 007 068 Off The Hook Fishing Charters 0419 554 916

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

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