Western Australia Fishing Monthly November 2018 by Fishing Monthly

TASTY TENTACLE TIPS • DEMERSAL CLOSURE ALTERNATIVES

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Scoring squid from shore • Whiting are warming up • Avoid boating pitfalls

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November 2018, Vol. 1 No. 3

Contents 10

METRO Perth metro

Cockburn Sound

Swan & Canning Rivers

Metro Offshore

SOUTH COAST Esperance 26 Bremer Bay

Albany 27 WEST COAST Augusta 30 Busselton 30 Bunbury 31 Mandurah 32 Lancelin 33 Jurien Bay

Geraldton 35 Kalbarri 36 GASCOYNE COAST Shark Bay

From the Editor’s Desk... Third issue, wow doesn’t time fly when you are having fun. So first up I really want to say a very big thank you once again to all of the area report writers who have been doing an outstanding job on writing and reporting on their local fishing areas, doing a monthly column is not an easy task. These guys have got up to speed on what is required very quickly and are supplying great info on the fishing in their back yards. This information is such a valuable tool for the travelling angler as well as anyone thinking about a new destination for their next holiday. On the West Coast zone the demersal closure is in full swing and is a great time to do all of those jobs on the boat that you have been putting off all year. The boat yards will be bursting at the seams servicing boats as it is

a good time to get it done, so if you haven’t had your yearly boat service done yet, ring up now and book it in.

Making sure your boat is in top seaworthy condition should be a priority, ‘she’ll be right’ is no way to go about safe

Ian Sewell boating. If something is not right get it sorted. Lives can and do get lost because of simple preventable problems, and we all know sea rescue have enough on their plate to deal with every summer. The demersal closure period is also a great time for some enjoyable family fishing trip. You might not be able to take the kids out wide every trip, so why not get them out chasing some squid or whiting. There are two great articles in the pages of this edition that will give you some great tips to get you started. Best of all, you can stay in nice and close so that all of the family feels safe. Otherwise get out there on the road and try something different, maybe a trip down south chasing redfin perch and trout, or maybe a trip to Mandurah chasing crabs. Whatever you do this November, keep it safe and happy fishing!

Carnarvon 38 Exmouth 40 NORTH COAST Broome 42 Dampier 43

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Kayak 58 Recfishwest 53 Tournament News

Trade and Services Guide

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Jacob Crispe with a cracking southern calamari.

NOVEMBER 2018

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Squid

Squid success from the shore WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Jacob Crispe @Jampacked_Fishing_Adventures

This article will cover all the things an angler should think about when trying to catch squid land-based – everything from choosing the right rod and accessories, right through to what to look for when identifying a good squidding spot while staying safe at the same time. We will also touch on jig colour and type selection to suit different conditions that can vary between spots on any given day, plus techniques and more! ROD SELECTION There are a couple of things that come to mind when choosing the right rod: the size of the jigs, and the distance of the cast needed to get the best results at the desired locations. Knowing this will help determine whether you need a short, soft action rod around 7-7’6” long with a light to medium light action rating for smaller jigs for a closer cast

grassy patches are a lot further out, this is where a longer rod with a firmer action is required. The heavier action rod will allow you to use larger and heavier jigs and achieve a much longer cast. In this case, the best rod to use would be around 8’3”-8’6”

Fremantle’s Fleet Street rock wall, known as South Mole. in length with action ranging from medium light right up to medium heavy. Keep in mind these are specialised egi rods that are designed and tuned for casting specific jig weights. An egi-specific

Matthew Petrillo was working his jig with a fast action in shallow water when he caught this cracking southern calamari. radius. Jetties are a great place to use shorter rods because a long cast is not usually needed. The jetty’s pylons commonly attract baitfish, which in turn can bring active hunting squid to the area. If the locations you want to target are from rock groynes or natural rock ledges, where good looking 8

NOVEMBER 2018

comfortable and enjoyable. Matching your reel with a good quality thin diameter braid is the next key factor you need to take into consideration. This will really help achieve a much longer cast to reach your desired spot – or you can just cast as far

rod will always outcast and outperform a standard style spin rod when squid fishing. REEL, BRAID AND LEADER SELECTION Reels around the 20003000 size are best suited to egi rods, and maintain a nice lightweight and balanced combo that will make your experience a lot more

as possible and reach what is known to land-based anglers as ‘virgin ground’. It is called this because a majority of people can’t normally reach these areas from land with standard rods and reels and lines. When choosing your braid strength, keep in mind that your jigs can sometimes be worth up to around $30 apiece, so you don’t want to use any braid under 10lb in case you get snagged in the weed. If you get snagged you need good line strength to try and pull your jig out without breaking and losing your jig. The preferred line strength would be between 10-16lb with the thinnest diameter possible. Your leader line of choice should never be less than the breaking strain of your braid, so I generally use a 15lb monofilament or fluorocarbon to maintain good strength and abrasion resistance. Ultimately, it’s all about getting your set-up matched perfectly between three things: the rod, the reel and the braid. This combination, when tuned, will greatly increase your chances of making a longer cast and catching more. IDENTIFYING GOOD LOCATIONS When you are looking for new locations to target, there are a couple of invaluable tools needed for the job. The first is a smartphone and the other is a quality set of polarized sunglasses. Keep it simple. Looking at Google Maps on your phone is a great way to figure out areas that you may not be too familiar with, especially when travelling. When doing this, one of the main things to look for is large weed and sea grass areas with visible sand patches amongst it. These types of locations can be commonly found in most bays and harbour type areas,

and are referred to as ‘broken ground’. If you aren’t sure what this looks like, jump on your phone and type in ‘Princess Royal Harbour’ or ‘Frenchman Bay’, which are both in Western Australia. Zoom in and look at the shallower areas where it’s a lighter green and patchy colour. This is the kind of thing to look for in your local area. When you’re on location, a good set of polarized sunglasses is a must to help reduce glare and identify exactly where the most appealing weed and sand patches are. By doing this you can really home in on your targeted areas while also maintaining the best vision. You may be able to spot squid following your jig, where you can adjust your action to entice them. You may even spot a free swimming squid, where you can sight cast for a hook up. This can make your experience a lot more fun. Tides can also have a part to play when considering which location to try. There are a lot of areas that may become too shallow on a low tide, making it difficult to target without losing too many jigs. In this case, a high tide will be essential to maximising your catch rate with minimal jigs lost to snags. If you are walking around a new area looking for good places to try, keep an eye out for ink stains. If you can see a lot of ink on the rocks or jetty, you are definitely in the right area. Knowing where baitfish regularly gather can help you out a lot. Whatever species you are chasing, if you find the baitfish you will generally find the predators that feed on

A natural blue baitfish colour with a silver foil base. There was very low activity that day, which made using this jig the perfect weapon of choice. lights they were falling onto the water where we watched squid and fish fighting to get to them first. It was easy pickings for everyone who was there that night. My favourite spots are South and North Mole, and I often go there before or after work where it’s not too hard to catch a feed. Often I’ll drive south to my home town of Albany and fish for larger species, but I always end my trip down there in the harbour beaches or bays that are easily accessible, and which always produce good-size squid. Another gem that is only a short drive from Perth is the Busselton jetty; this is a great spot that makes for a nice day or night out, and can produce good numbers.

The ink stains that squid leave on the rocks or ground are a tell-tale sign that a land-based spot is productive. them. One spot where they are easy to find is any jetty at night with lights on – a prime location for targeting squid at night. Not only are fish and squid attracted to light, but so are insects, and when the insects fall into the water it can entice small fish and squid to feed on them. At a young age I witnessed this happen at the old wharf in Albany with my father. It was always a well lit place with very bright lights, and on this particular night there were so many moths attracted to the

BEST TIMES TO GO First and last light are always the best times to fish for squid. Usually, getting up early and getting out there before the sun comes up is a great way to start, because the squid are very active through this period. This also allows you to go through your jig base colours on the light change as the sun is coming up. Generally, the best way to go is to start with glowin-the-dark and then change through different reds to purples, blacks and oranges in

the low light. You can switch to more natural patterns with clear, silver and gold in bright, sunny conditions. The last light of the day is in the exact opposite sequence. You should start with silver and gold while the sun is up, then orange, red, purple and blacks while the sun goes down, and then lumo as it gets dark. Solunar and tide changes are another great thing to consider when choosing a time to go. If you get a tide change in the same period as a light change, you can usually expect big things – and if there are tidal changes in the middle of the day, it’s still a good time to fish. You can catch squid at any time of day, not just in the peak times. As long as you have a line in the water, there’s always a chance of catching one. JIG TYPES AND TECHNIQUES There are a range of jig types and sizes available to suit different depths and currents. As a general rule, 3.5 size shallow types have an average fall rate of 5-6 seconds per metre, while 3.5 basic types have an average fall rate of 3-3.5 seconds per metre and 3.5 deep types have an average fall rate of 1.8-2.2 seconds per metre. These sink times may vary between jig sizes, and you can usually find all this out on the packet. For better results, you need to learn how deep the water is. If you can see the bottom and there’s not too much water movement, your basic type jigs are a good choice to start with. If you are standing on a jetty you can start by dropping your jig straight down, and it will always fall at a 45° angle. Count how long it takes to reach the bottom. By doing this you have learnt exactly

Squid how deep the water is by the jig’s sink rate time. If you are standing on rocks or beach, you can do this by counting down on your

eighteen or nineteen before beginning your retrieve, then you know you are right down in the strike zone where 90% of the action happens.

It is easy to see where the egi clip is connected to the leader for fast, easy jig changes. first cast. As an example, if you have counted 20 seconds before your jig reaches the bottom, then with your next cast you should start counting again as soon as your jig hits the water. If you count to

When it comes to technique, there is no right or wrong. In the early days most people would cast their line and just let the jig sink a little bit before starting a slow retrieve, but nowadays

squidding has become more of a culture and is being taken a lot more seriously. A very helpful tool for learning techniques is the internet. There are great techniques coming from Japan, and I have learnt a lot over the years by watching videos on YouTube, especially those made by Yamashita featuring an absolute master of squidding, Eisuke Kawakami. Eisuke is still releasing a lot of videos on YouTube, showing people

angler will cast, count the jig down into the strike zone and then, once the desired depth is reached, give two to three sharp whips or jerks with the rod while winding the slack line between each jerk. With each jerk or whip action the jig will dart up to 90° from left to right while sliding forward and upwards at the same time. After a few whips of the rod you pause and allow the jig to fall back down towards the bottom again. It is often on

A perfect example of a red foil jig working its magic in an extremely low light situation. exactly how to master the art of squidding. The main technique most people are now adopting is a basic jerk style action. The

the drop where you get the most strikes. The more you practice this the easier it will get, and over time you’ll find

The result of a sneaky cast after work down at the South Mole, Fremantle. yourself customising your technique to suit different scenarios. Remember there is no right or wrong – just keep it simple and try to stay comfortable at the same time. That way, the time you spend on the hunt will be a lot more enjoyable. If you’re targeting a shallow area where the water is no more than 3m deep, a shallow type jig is the go. This jigs take almost twice as long to sink, which gives you double the hang time. It can increase your chances of a strike before your jig can hit the bottom and potentially get snagged or pick up weed, which can deter squid from attacking. When you’re working your shallow jigs, be a little gentler on the whip action;

these jigs are much more buoyant and lift a lot easier through the water, meaning you can work your jig more slowly and gently. If you were to work a basic style jig in this same depth you’d have to work your jig a lot quicker, meaning less time between each set of jerks to keep your jig off the bottom. Sometimes this technique can entice squid to attack even more fiercely though, as the jig mimics a fleeing baitfish or prawn. Deep style jigs are best used when you are faced with a lot of water movement or current, where you may have trouble reaching the bottom with a standard basic jig. For example, if you cast a basic style jig out onto a small target area, by the time your jig reaches the bottom it may To page 10

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Squid From page 9

be 10m to the left or the right of where you first landed. A deep jig, by contrast, will sink vertically, putting you on the targeted patch a lot quicker and maximising your chances for a good catch rate. The other time to use a deep jig is if the water is a lot deeper than anywhere you would normally use your basic jigs, as it will reduce the waiting time to reach the bottom. TIP: Always aim to have the wind at your back. This will help you to cast further and will prevent your slack line being pulled to the side on the drop. COLOUR SELECTION There are so many different jig colour combinations that choosing the right one can be overwhelming. However, once you know what to look for you’ll find the task a lot easier. The three main things to take into account when selecting jig colour are the base colour, tape/foil (the reflective layer underneath the cloth), and cloth colour. Each combination suits different conditions. Base colour • Glow – best suited for low light or dark conditions; • Clear – best suited for bright conditions where it gives a natural appeal; • UV glow – best suited

for deep water or cloudy weather; and • Rainbow glow – excellent when cloudy or rainy, or in dirty water. Tape/foil colour • Silver and gold – works

well on both sunny and cloudy days; • Red and pink – great all-rounder colours, best suited to murky water and low light; • Purple – versatile for day

Who said the middle of the day is no good for squidding? Here you can see that a dark jig can also work well in bright situations.

and night, a stand-out in low activity, and provides a strong silhouette in low light; • Orange – a great all-rounder, especially when squid are highly active and in low light; and • Rainbow – another great all-round colour as it has a range of hues. Cloth Colour • Pinks and oranges – the best all-rounders; • Red, violets and bright greens – a great choice for low light and murky water; • Browns, dark greens – great for cloudy days and clear water; • Naturals , clears and blues – best for sunny days with clear water; and • Black – a great all-round colour, and a stand-out for low light as it throws a strong silhouette. Remember that there’s no right or wrong – these colours are just guidelines to help increase your chances. CONCLUSION As a land-based angler you should travel light, bringing only the essentials. By doing this you’ll be able to stay mobile, and can cover more ground on foot while carrying everything you need. If you’re just starting out, all you need is a good backpack where you can store your jigs and accessories. And remember, the only thing you want in

Squid are highly visual creatures, so the jig selection and technique are important. your hands is your rod and reel, as this will allow you to keep casting while on the move. Also, depending on the location, you may need a net or a squid gaff, which you can clip to your backpack or body while you’re moving between locations. A gaff is best suited to locations that are high above the water, such as jetties and steep rock ledges, while a net is best suited to low sloping rocks or low jetty platforms. Handy items include egi clips (a must-have for quick and easy jig changes), braid scissors, UV torch (for charging glow jigs at night), ike jime squid spike (for fast, humane killing of squid), large snap-lock bags

(to store squid in the backpack without a mess), and a rag or hand cloth. STAY SAFE Lastly, remember that safety should always come first when you are fishing. Be aware of your surroundings, never step on slippery surfaces, and never step on wet rocks, especially wet black rock. It’s advisable to wear a PFD, especially when fishing off rocks, and you should always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back. I hope that within the information in this article you have found something helpful to increase your chances of more success to catching squid in the future.

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How to catch a crocodile NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

It’s big flathead time right now in many parts of the country. So, how do you set about targeting the largest flatties living in your local waterways?

exceeding 55cm is a pretty good fish. The same goes for sandies and rock flathead in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay. Over in South Australia’s gulfs, around Kangaroo Island, or on the northwest corner of Tasmania, a ‘big’ southern blue-spotted flattie could well be a fish in excess of 70cm, and there’s always

catch a few less of the smaller, run-of-the-mill flathead that generally tend to fill anglers’ bags. You need to decide up front how important this is to you. Are you more interested

flatties (these fish are often referred to as ‘crocodiles’ or ‘crocs’ by those who love them). Big flathead of any species are capable of

Flatties can reach impressive proportions!

Starlo with a reasonable dusky. Not quite a crocodile, but getting there! Jo Starling prepares to release the sort of jumbo flathead we all want to catch. Whether you chase sand, rock, blue-spotted or tiger flathead down south, bar-tails in the west and north, or the king of them all, the mighty dusky flathead of our east coast waters, right

the chance of an 80cm+. And of course, from Wilsons Promontory to Cairns along our heavily populated eastern seaboard, duskies are known to top a metre in length on very rare occasions, although

in quantity, or quality? Bear in mind too, that in most cases you’ll be releasing these jumbo flathead after a quick photo anyway, either because local laws require you to do so, or simply as recognition of their importance as breeders. This is not a meat hunting game.

eating very large meals. In fact, an 80cm+ flattie can easily wolf down a 25-30cm mullet, whiting, bream or tailor. They are also not at all averse to dining on their smaller brethren, and stories of genuine crocs grabbing average-size flatties that have been hooked by anglers are surprisingly commonplace. I know of one 88cm flattie that grabbed a hooked 44cm dusky and held on long enough to be netted, photographed and released. That’s a potential meal half

as long as the diner themself! So, if you normally use whitebait or sprats, upgrade to whole pilchards, while if you already cast pilchard or poddy mullet baits measuring 10-15cm in length when chasing flatties, think about scaling up to significantly heftier yellowtail, slimy mackerel or herring. Similarly, if your standard flathead lures or flies are mostly in the 8-12cm length range that is so justifiably popular for this purpose, bite the bullet and double their dimensions. Seriously. You may need to beef up your tackle slightly to cast these larger baits and lures, but that’s not a bad idea anyway, as it will help you handle not only XOS flathead, but also the sort of by-catch you’re likely to encounter, which may well

include mulloway, kingfish and even barra, estuary cod and jacks further north. Think about strengthening your leaders and terminal tackle, too. Big crocodiles are extra hard on leaders and it’s heartbreaking to play a monster lizard almost to your feet, only to have it win its freedom at the last moment. Hunting crocodiles isn’t for everyone, but if you’re up for it, these fish are certainly out there. Happy hunting. Starlo’s new website portal www.fishotopia.com offers access to lots of nittygritty, how-to information like this, including a 34-page flip magazine dedicated to the pursuit of extra large flatties. Jump on, have a look around and consider signing up for the free monthly newsletter.

All XOS flatties should be carefully released to continue breeding. now is a pretty good time to be looking for the biggest specimens of the year. Exactly how large a truly ‘big’ flathead is depends very much on where you happen to be fishing. If you’re chasing bar-tails in Perth’s Swan River, anything 12

NOVEMBER 2018

anything over 80-85cm is a trophy dusky for most of us. Targeting these largerthan-average flathead generally requires a certain degree of dedication and specialisation in terms of both gear selection and technique. It may also mean that you’ll

Assuming that you’re serious about wanting to target those extra bigger flatties, the first and most important tip I can give you is to significantly upsize the dimensions of your bait, lure or fly. This is by far the most vital key to catching larger

Don’t be afraid to throw seriously large lures if you’re chasing seriously big flathead!

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Metro

Be ‘shore’ to wet a line as the weather warms METRO

Kurt Blanksby

November is an exciting time, as the door is fast opening towards summer, and that will allow a flood of hot weather species to filter into metro waters. It’s worth noting that warm days and bright sunlight belting down or reflecting up off the water at you means you must keep the sunscreen handy, and don’t forget the hat and sunnies. Getting burnt and risking skin cancer is easily avoidable, so make this your first priority when getting the

prime locations for several reasons. Firstly, it allows access to a deep-water channel that was cut decades ago to allow ships to dock and load munitions. No longer do large ships berth at this jetty, and it has been opened up to the public, making it one of the most popular fishing locations in Perth. Secondly, it also attracts huge schools of baitfish, mostly scaly mackerel that are like a magnet to hungry mackerel and tuna. The most productive method is to catch live bait like scaly mackerel on light gear and keep them alive in a bait net or bucket with an aerator pump. These are then

especially on the days when the easterly wind is blowing, as good ballooning weather is usually when it’s going to be a good boating day. Having a boatie cut through your line is frustrating, especially if you have a good fish hooked up. If you’re feeling fit enough, then casting lures is also effective, and although it might be thousands of casts between fish, it is still an awesome feeling when your lure is smashed mid-retrieve. Generally, you will need a good spinning outfit that will be able to punch a lure out a fair way, and the same

The warm weather means good numbers of tailor and whiting will now be turning up for beach anglers around Perth. mulie (pilchard) on a set of ganged hooks in the churned up water for these fish. Some of the shore reefs around Burns Beach, Yanchep and Two Rocks are prime tailor spots, but concentrate on the areas where water is washing off the edge of the reefs into any holes, as this is where the bigger tailor

will be lying in wait for any baitfish washed into their strike zone. Both baits and lures, especially metal slices, stickbaits and surface poppers, will usually trigger an aggressive strike from any fish waiting to ambush prey in these spots. When fishing the surf

beaches a lighter outfit is also a must, as there will now be plenty of sand and yellowfin whiting in the shallows. Use baits of small pieces of coral prawn for best results. The by-catch of silver bream and herring are also welcome additions when fishing light tackle from the beach.

November will see some of the northern pelagic species moving through. gear ready for a day’s fishing. Many northern pelagic species will now be hopefully finding their way south and into metro waters, where those prepared to put in the time and effort stand a really good chance of ticking one of many species off their bucket lists from the shore. Spanish and shark mackerel, longtail and striped tuna, and bonito are the main targets and the key to catching them from the shore is finding deep water. The Coogee Ammo Jetty is well known as one of the

Wellcraft 182

sent out live under a balloon or float to swim enticingly around a metre or so under the surface where predators will be hunting. Wire trace is a must, otherwise a mackerel will easily snip off any leader with their razor sharp teeth as they strike. Other prime spots are any of the rock groynes like Coogee Marina, North and South Moles, Mindarie and Two Rocks, which all give the angler a chance to send baits out into deeper water. The only problem with these spots is the boat traffic,

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goes for lures, as a long cast covers more fishable water. Metal slices and stickbaits are good choices, as they usually allow good casting distance and are proven fish takers. Minnow lures will also work, but you will be limited to how far you can chuck one from your position on a jetty or rocks. Beach anglers should now be taking advantage of better numbers of tailor from the surf as the days warm up. Late afternoon and into early evening are prime times and soaking a

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A perfect day on the Coogee Ammo Jetty for ballooning baits out for mackerel and tuna.

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The most popular size in the Fisherman range, the Wellcraft 22’ is the perfect offshore weapon. At 6.71m in length, they are ideal to tie alongside your mothership at Rottnest and more than capable of making the crossing in comfort. Construction standards are ideal for our rugged conditions and the heavy duty deluxe T-Top is a highly recommended option. Complete with live bait and catch tanks, toilet and family seating packages. Powered by the all new Mercury 225Hp four stroke. Trailer available.

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NOVEMBER 2018

$149,900 Wellcraft 262

Perfect for our conditions, this 2019 model is available for delivery now. Powered by the new Mercury V8 four stroke outboard for 40 knot performance and optioned with bow seating, deluxe T-Top, stereo, anchor winch, live bait tank and a toilet with holding tank. Ideal for family picnics at the islands or fishing and diving up and down our coastline. This brand new vessel by one of the worlds best manufactures is available now. Optional EZ Loader Ali trailer available.

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This new model is a very large 26 footer with an impressive 9ft beam providing plenty of deck space for entertaining large groups. Highly regarded as a serious offshore performer with all of the required extras like live baitwells, fish box, rod holders and tackle storage all standard. If you don’t want to get in each other’s way then the big 262 is the boat for you. 2019 model in stock now and optioned with twin 225Hp Mercury four stroke outboards, toilet and seating packages for family days out.

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the competition timeframe, all five fish will remain fishing spots of Arnhem Land or the intertidal waters active in a bonus round from 1 April – 30 September of the Tiwi and Vernon Islands. Prime barra fishing 2019, so get up to the Top End now before that $1M spots include the wide Victoria and Daly rivers as finds itself on the end of someone else’s line! well as the network of winding waterways found in There will also be 100 fish worth a hearty the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and $10,000 each and a special new category of 20 the Mary River wetlands. The Top End’s spectacular fish, worth $5,000 where the bounty is shared natural design means it offers a variety of worldbetween the angler and class fishing options, so one of three Territoryyou definitely won’t be Visit based charities. The short of fishing hot spots www.holidaysofaustralia.com. throughout its picturesque charities include the Cancer Council NT, landscapes. As you cast au/milliondollarfish Junior Indigenous your line out into the water and stay, play and fish Guide Program and the with the aim of reeling in Star Ball Darwin. one of the specially tagged in the Top End! But why the Top barra you may also find End? Well, this is an unrivalled fishing destination yourself on the other end of the line to a collection with huge tidal rivers, scenic inland billabongs and of different fish, including giant trevally, queenfish, mangrove-lined estuaries, as well as a scattering Spanish mackerel, black jewfish, golden snapper, of remote islands along hundreds of kilometres of coral trout, marlin and sailfish. unspoilt coastline. These pristine coastal waters are There are plenty of well-serviced tourist where some of the best tropical sport fishing action facilities to be accessed in the Top End along with in the world takes place. Those seeking something expert fishing guides, accommodation, and services different can venture through to the crowd-free such as fuel, food, repairs and supplies. Every

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NOVEMBER 2018

Metro

Anglers are still needing a fix COCKBURN SOUND

Kurt Blanksby

With summer fast approaching the warmer weather means many of us will now be spending more time out on the water, and with bans on demersal species outside the sound and pink snapper bans inside the sound, many anglers can be a bit unsure of what they can target. While many just park the boat up and wait for the bans to be lifted in a few months, there are those of us who need a fishing fix. Luckily there are other species that are there for the taking. On the smaller species side there are plenty of good sand and King George whiting about from Rockingham all the way up to the end of the sound. Drifting over the sand and mud areas will cover plenty of ground and allow you to mark the spots where fish are found.

Light tackle and small hooks baited with fresh squid, cut pieces of coral prawn or even soft plastics with plenty of scent will soon get the attention of any ravenous whiting below. Keep your baits on the bottom with enough lead to compensate the drift and current, but not too much to dampen your feel for the bites. Both King George and sand whiting are better off targeted from anchor in a likely looking sand spot close to seagrass beds, with small hooks and baits. Add a by-catch of herring, flathead, silver bream and goatfish to the list of good eating species and it’s not a bad way to spend a few hours. You may be plagued by pesky wrasse and blowfish at times, but this is just part of the process of finding the more desirable species. It is also still worth keeping a squid jig handy or in the water when targeting whiting, as these tasty creatures are often still

about in reasonable numbers, especially close to any weed beds. Add the occasional cuttlefish to the mix and you can end up with a good feed at the end of a day. Not often targeted but in abundance in the sound are octopus, and commercially purchased occy traps dropped in the seagrass will produce the goods. Those who don’t mind doing a bit of skin diving will also be able to find a few occies in any of the weed and rock areas around the sound. The northern end of the sound is also worth keeping an eye on for pelagic species like Spanish and shark mackerel, longtail tuna and bonito, which will now be a real possibility with the warmer weather. Trolling a few lures behind the boat as you move from spot to spot is one way of covering ground, especially along the edges of the shipping channels. Always keep an eye out for birds working above any hunting fish, as

this is a good indicator that there are possibly baitfish getting chased from below. Shore anglers in Cockburn Sound will also now have more luck on several species including sand whiting, herring and tailor. The beaches along the industrial strip are ideal spots to set up for a few hours and put in the time to see what fish are about. Challenger Beach near Alcoa is one such spot that is worth checking out, especially late in the afternoons for tailor, and the long walk down to the hot water outlet from the power station is usually well worth the effort for herring. The public jetties down at Rockingham are also good spots to focus on, and you’ll usually find mixed bags of yellowtail, herring, sand whiting and squid can be made on the right day. A big bait set out at night on heavier gear will usually see some fun with an eagle ray, but mulloway can be a possibility for the lucky few.

Like the popular squid and cuttlefish, occies are fast becoming a targeted species and the seagrass beds in Cockburn Sound are full of them.

Rivers coming to life SWAN & CANNING RIVER

Kurt Blanksby

The season change has seen the cleaner water flush back into both the Swan and Canning rivers, bringing with it many fish and crustacean species that we all love to target. The lower reaches of the swan are now well worth the effort for picking up a

around any jetties there are often a few flounder about as well. Small lead head jigs with either soft plastic tails or more blowfish resistant bucktail or feathers will do the job. Fish deep along the bottom with a bouncing motion to attract any flathead or flounder that might be waiting to ambush any prey swimming past. The other prime warm weather species in the shallows is sand whiting, and these tasty

with a small surface stickbait is the best method, and these can be worked back with lots of flicks and darts of the rod tip to bring the lure to life, imitating a small fleeing prawn or baitfish. Hungry whiting will often shoulder each other out of the way to snatch the lure from the surface, and once hooked a spirited fight can be expected. Black bream anglers will now be enjoying some decent

Some of the best tasting blue swimmer crabs can be found in the Swan and Canning rivers. Just make sure you keep an eye on the legal size, as there can be lots of small ones about early in the season.

Light rods and small lures in the shallows of the Swan River will give you lots of thrills when the whiting are hungry. few early season flathead, especially as the warmer weather heats the shallows. Fishing along any of the drop offs or shallow flats is the way to pick up a couple of flathead, and if you target the deeper water 16

NOVEMBER 2018

little fish are great fun on light spin gear and small lures. In only ankle deep to knee deep water you can target these fish, and a stealthy approach is needed in the clear shallows, as once one spooks the rest of the school will follow. A long cast

fishing sessions on lures in the upstream areas of both the Canning and Swan. If after bream, fish any jetties, tree snags or bridge pylons with small soft plastics or hardbody lures. The fish will be much more aggressive at this time

of year due to the increase of small baitfish, prawns, shrimps and crabs now moving about in the saltier and warmer water. The bream have gone from feeding on slow moving invertebrates like worms and mussels to suddenly having to chase down and catch desirable items like fish and shrimps. As a result your lures will get hit with more aggression. November is also a prime mulloway time in the rivers, and this could be because more anglers are now finding it much more bearable to spend time out at night fishing without freezing to death, and as a result there’s more reports of fish being caught. Add to this the big number of food items now in the rivers that the mulloway like to feed on, and you can see why there is a good chance you will hook into a few if you put in the hours. Tailor are now also a

very reliable both from shore locations and boat, with big schools from Perth and down to the harbour. Shore anglers should be fishing late afternoons from any of the jetties like Applecross, Mosman Bay and Claremont, where casting small lures on light tackle will bring the best results. Boat anglers can cover plenty of water by trolling small lures and locating fish, and even during the middle of the day there’s a possibility of a hook up. Concentrate on the deeper water sections and especially around any bridges, as these are popular feeding areas for bigger tailor. Blue swimmer crabs will also be improving in numbers, however there will be plenty of undersize specimens about, so make sure you measure any that you might think are close. With a legal size of 127mm it can be frustrating when eight out of every ten you

catch are a mil or two under this. Thankfully, the Swan is home to some massive crabs so perseverance in the deeper water will usually bring better results with drop nets. Those prepared to wade around the shallows at night with a torch will also be in the chance to scoop a feed early in the season, but this is where you will have to keep a close eye on the legal size. River prawns are there for those prepared to put in the time and effort dragging a prawn net through the shallows, and while you shouldn’t expect huge catches, it is a great way to spend an evening with friends and family on the banks of the Swan. The shallows along Como are a good place to start and if you fluke it on a good night then a nice feed of tasty river prawns will be your reward.

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Metro

It’s time to lock horns with XOS samsonfish! METRO OFFSHORE

Alan Bevan

Another month has passed and we are halfway through the demersal ban. With the weather heating up, it’s my favourite time of the year and catching up with my old mate, the samsonfish! I’m sure all of you anglers have had the pleasure of tangling with these brutes. The scourge of bait fishers and the joy to jiggers, the samsons are

well into their schooling phase at the wrecks to the west of Rottnest Island. These areas are easy to find, just look on the chart and the wrecks are marked. This could be one of the reasons sharks are such a problem out there, along with light tackle anglers that – and I cannot understand why – believe they can get the fish to the surface without a shark taking them. It really does concern me about the sustainability of

this fishery. It was only 15 years ago that this fishery was rated as one of the best sports fisheries in the world, and talked up as a gear testing ground. I’ve lost count of the number of highend reels and rods that have failed the brutal samson’s test. I still do samsonfish charters with success. Yes, I lose fish to sharks, but as soon as this happens it will be lines up and we relocate to another school. With the schools, there are multiple

A samson showing signs of barotruma. There’s a very poor chance of survival in this case, and this fish was taken for smoking.

A chunky samsonfish recovering on the deck hose after a strong fight. spots that are not on a chart that can be found from 60m to out past 200m. I have 20+ marks that I fish, so moving around on a charter does not present many problems. This is from tracking and observing spots over the last 20 years and using the sounder for what its designed for, finding fish! On the wrecks it’s not just samsonfish. Kingfish, monster skippy and amberjack are also mixed in. Tuna are also a fastmoving target species worth chasing in the coming months. Southern bluefin make the bulk of the tuna schools, but if you put the effort in you can also be rewarded with good-sized yellowfin tuna.

For the game fishers, the sharks are a great test for gear, rigs and learning how to fight big fish and all the fun stuff that comes

with large fish at the side of the boat. Inshore with the demersal ban on, snapper are now a pest. Ground

This visiting angler looks pleased with an average size jigged samsonfish.

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NOVEMBER 2018

Metro and areas that you look for KG and sand whiting is near to the same ground that pinkies like, so you’re dammed if you do… You can be sure that now that the closure is on you will surely hook the odd pinkie, so just remember if you do, keep it for the minimum time out of the water so they can continue doing their thing. If you get to see a spawning school its up there with one of the best fishing

A few points from the Samson Science Project • Keep the fight short • Slow the retrieve in the last stage of the fight to give the fish a chance to vent • Have the crew ready to land, photograph and release the fish The full catch and care for samsonfish protocol can be found at www.fish.wa.gov.au/Documents/ occasional_publications/fop043.pdf sights that you can hope for. Rottnest has been fishing well, with KG and sand whiting abundant in

most sand holes, and the north side is producing the better fish. Add a small amount of berley and the

Cradle the fish when holding them up for a photo. Having them wellsupported and controlled makes for a great photo and a very easy release.

back of the boat will come alive with herring and skippy. This is always a great add-on to a day out and if the kids are with you, the excitement of kids catching fish is contagious. West End and Parker Point have good numbers of kingfish that have developed a taste for expensive stickbaits and poppers. They are climbing on anything that makes a bit of noise. Crayfish are on the march. If you’re not bagging out on these tasty things have a good look at pot positioning. You should be placing your pots just on the seaward side of the reef in the sand. That and a good amount of fresh bait should see you the envy of friends with BBQ crayfish for everyone. A quick reminder that the ropes are to be weighted down so only the float is on the surface. This is a great change to the rules that will reduce cut offs from propeller strikes. Travel safe and I look forward to seeing you out on the water. • Shikari Charters is a local Fremantle business running half and full day fishing charters catering to small or family groups or for specialised fishing. To find out more go to www. shikari.com.au.

A wolf in sheep’s clothing! A mako cruises at the back of the boat. SAMSONFISH FISHERY “Over the two years of the project 5,464 samsonfish were tagged and currently 60 tagged fish have been recaptured, with two fish being recaptured 210 and 278 days later close to Kangaroo Island, South Australia (approximately 2,500km from Rottnest Island). Such a low recapture rate could be seen as indicative of very high level of fishing induced mortality. However, it is likely that the low recapture rate is more likely a result of the sheer numbers of fish out there. This supposition is based on the facts that echo sounding shows that the four schools targeted can be up to 200m long, 100m wide and rise from the bottom to depths of 40-60m; echo sounding and video footage demonstrates that the fish are densely packed; there are other less accessible schools of samsonfish that are not heavily fished (and there are almost certainly schools that have yet to be discovered); recapture data suggest that fish not only move between schools but only remain in the schools for a few weeks.” – extract from Development Of Responsible Recreational Fishing And Fish Handling Practices; Andrew Rowland, Howard Gill, Allan Bevan, Michael Mackie and Paul Lewis.

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SAND WHITING

Wonderful warm weather whiting PERTH

Ian Sewell

Sand whiting would have to be one of the easiest fish to target in the West Coast zone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they are very easy to catch and are exceptional eating. While

they might be small they more than make up for their size in flavour. The best part about sandies is the fact that you can catch them from any sized boat or from shore. Beaches tend to fish better at night than during the day, but in saying that if you get onto

If you do a lot of whiting fishing scaler bags are well worth looking into. Ensure they are in good condition with no holes before you go throwing your dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s catch over the side. It is money wisely spent if you just replace them every year.

them the day fishing can also be well worthwhile and if you do not pick up sandies you have a good chance at some yellowfin whiting instead. Sand whiting can grow up to 40cm, however they are far more common in the smaller size range of about 20-30cm. There is no legal size for sand whiting and the bag limit is 30 fish per angler. Even though there is no size limit, setting a personal size limit is not a bad idea. Trying to fillet a heap of small fish can become old very fast. Personally, my whiting only hit the ice if they are 26cm and above. This size is big enough to give a decent fillet and relatively easy to work on, any smaller and they are just too fiddly. Catching whiting is very easy, however catching bigger whiting takes a bit more effort. There is no end to the sand off our coast and just about all of this sand will hold whiting. Whiting can be caught from 5m of water out to 40m and deeper.

For ease, 10-20m is probably a good compromise. If you like to anchor and fish, your best bet is to find a suitable spot and do a drift or two to make sure the fish are there and that they are of a size that you want to catch. If the fish are generally small then it is best to move around until you catch a few bigger specimen and then anchor on that spot. Once anchored, a berley bucket near the bottom will attract the fish closer to your area. If drifting is your preference, also just keep moving until you find the better-sized fish, mark a waypoint on your plotter and then keep going over that area. Whiting are not a very fussy or finicky fish, so tying rigs with a heavier leader than is needed is no issue. For shallow or beach fishing lighter leaders should be considered but anything 10m and over, 20lb leader is a great place to start and best of all the heavier leader will reduce the chances

A nice solid sand whiting caught on a squid tentacle. Tough baits and larger hooks ensure baits are not shredded from the hooks on the first assault, especially when there are lots of smaller fish around. the bottom hook will catch the majority of fish, but if you are on a good patch it is

and there are some great options out there that work exceptionally well, in trying

A plump sandy on its way onto ice. Being a small fish with delicate flesh, keeping them in prime condition with a well prepared ice slurry is essential. of tangles on the drop or retrieve. As far as the rig goes, a paternoster with 2 or 3 hooks is pretty hard to beat,

Pre-tying rigs before fishing and leaving the hooks off allows for easy storage in small packets. When tying ensure that hooks are not able to reach each other, the sinker or the top swivel, as this will save on big nasty tangles. If you are getting lots of tangles from line twist try going to a heavier leader. One, two or three hooks and rig bling are optional. 20

NOVEMBER 2018

not uncommon to get double and triple headers. Everyone has a favourite hook to use for whiting

to find the best hook to suit your needs it is a good idea to consider a few things first. Whiting are very greedy,

A popular by-catch while whiting fishing are gummy sharks. It certainly gets the kids going when they hook into one of these things and they are always a welcome addition to the ice slurry.

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they will suck down a bait and a small hook with vigour and very often will get gut hooked, which makes them difficult to unhook and release if too small. Your fishing technique is also worth considering when looking at hooks. If you are an active angler and you like to hang onto the rod and set the hook then you will probably want to consider a different hook to the rod holder angler. Young kids without much fishing experience will also fall into the rod holder angler category as they will also want a hook that the fish can hook itself on and that preferably hooks the fish in the lip rather than in the gut, so that they can be easily removed and released if too small. The last consideration for hooks is what bait you intend to use. So, a basic rundown of hooks would look something like this. For the rod holder angler and kids the Black Magic KL hook is a great option, these are a cross between a wide gap hook and a circle hook, so most fish will hook themselves and will also be hooked in the corner of the mouth or in the lip. For the active angler who like to set the hook, wide gap or long shank hooks are the best choice. Chemically sharpened is also a wise decision, but if you are using smaller baits then the long shank is probably the best option. For many the red long shank hook is hard to go past, especially if you are

a fan of using a bit of red tube above your hook, but more on that later. When selecting hooks the most common mistake is to buy or use hooks that are very small and it is an obvious choice when you

fish. This is about getting a feed of big whiting, not a bucket of little ones. By using bigger hooks you will certainly get a lot of bites that you will not hook up on, which will usually be the smaller fish, but this activity

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While you are drifting around chasing sand whiting it is not uncommon to accidently drift into George town every now and then. This is when it pays to use slightly larger hooks. look at the size of a whiting mouth, they have a pretty small mouth. You would be amazed at what a small whiting can cram into its mouth though. The biggest issue with small hooks is that you will spend most of your day throwing back little

around the bait will bring in the bigger specimens and will result in the fish that you finally hook and wind up being larger than the rest. So how big, I hear you ask? Well for me it is 1/0 in the wide gap hook every time. When you look at this hook you will definitely say that I am crazy, but I can assure you even though I only keep whiting 26cm and over I still have to throw back plenty. The other benefit of using larger hooks is that when you get any by-catch like gummy shark, pink snapper (in season) or King George whiting you can be reasonably confident that it will be well enough hooked and that the hook will be strong enough to do the job. The rod and reel you use for whiting fishing should be more matched around the sinker you have to fish rather than the size of the fish you are catching. As we are into late spring and summer fishing we can be pretty confident that the wind will either be blowing from the east or from the south to southwest. Either way chances are you will also have a fair drift going even if you catch the lull between the easterly and the sea breeze. Sinker weight will also have to increase the deeper CRUSADER you go. These fish are in the bottom metre or less of water, so if you stop getting bites then chances are you are not on the bottom and need more lead or have lost your bait.

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NOVEMBER 2018

SAND WHITING From page 21

To cope with the sinker required, an outfit suited to around 15-25lb is not out of the question. Where possible use a nice graphite rod with

a quality braided line and you will feel every bite, no matter how small. The only thing left is what bait to use? On this topic everyone has their own

I think the smile says it all, who doesn’t like a fresh feed of whiting?

favourite. The bottom line is that whiting will eat pretty much anything. The best baits however will sustain a merciless and relentless attack from the whiting and stay on the hook, they might be small but they certainly aren’t timid when it comes to attacking a bait. So if you use soft baits like pieces of prawn they will be stripped off your hook in no time and you will find yourself rebaiting hooks instead of catching fish. Some good baits include bloodworm or sandworms (as long as they are not soft), squid tentacles, ox heart, cut to size octopus tentacles, small strips of red meat or small strips of fish fillet (skin on) being sure to put the hook point through the skin. Of most importance is to not overfill the hook with bait, cutting baits into thin wedge shaped strips gives a great presentation and cuts down on line twist on the way up and down. With the strip just put the hook through the fatter end twice and that should be enough, any more and the hook gap will begin getting full and will reduce its hook up rate. Worth noting are some of the biodegradable soft plastics now available like the Gulp worms, these work pretty well as bait and are very easy to store so are a great

Putting a bit of bling above your hooks can help attract extra attention to your baits, and common bling includes red beads, glow beads, red tubing, fluoro tubing and red hooks. option for travelling anglers or just to keep as a back up in the tackle box. Worth mentioning is the whiting rig bling. Many seasoned whiting fishers

love a bit of bling, probably the most popular is a thin bit of red plastic tubing that sits on the leader above the hook. For others the green glow in the dark tube is the

preference while others like red beads. If you decide for a bit of bling then it certainly will not hurt, and sometimes it might even produce more fish. I guess it is up to each individual angler to make up their own mind on what colour or type suits them or if they want to use it at all. Just about every store bought whiting rig has the bling already attached so I guess there is a reason for it. As I mentioned right at the beginning, whiting are sensational eating, they have a very delicate flesh and no matter how they are cooked will delight the diner. To keep whiting in the best condition be sure to drop the keepers directly into an ice slurry with plenty of ice. Being small if they get warm the flesh will start to deteriorate almost immediately and the flesh will start to get a bit soft and mushy and will make filleting harder. Remember to remove the pin bones and enjoy one of the finest eating fish in the ocean. Oh, and one last thing, it is not a bad idea if you have the room to run a squid jig or two while whiting fishing or at least have one rigged up and on hand. It is pretty rare that you do not have a whiting followed up by a squid at some stage during a good whiting session.

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The summer abalone fishing dates announced This summer’s West Coast Zone recreational abalone fishing season is due to take place over one-hour sessions on four Saturday mornings between December and February in line with changes implemented last season. Fishing for the popular shellfish in the West Coast Zone will only be permitted for licensed fishers from 7am to 8am on the following Saturdays: 8 December 2018, 12 January 2019, 2 February 2019, 16 February 2019. The West Coast Zone extends from Busselton Jetty to Moore River and the number of fishing days may be reduced, or extended, if in-season monitoring shows it is necessary to protect stocks or to provide the opportunity to take the recreational sector’s allowable catch (the current total allowable recreational catch is between 18-22 tonnes).

The abalone season for the Southern Zone (extending from Busselton Jetty to the South Australian

Local water conditions can vary between fishing locations and you must take responsibility for your own

border) is from 1 October 2018 – 15 May 2019. Fisher safety continues to be of paramount importance and, if poor weather conditions are forecast, we will take action on the advice of Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA), and in consultation with Recfishwest, to close the fishery.

safety – at no time should you enter the water unless you are confident in your ability to handle the sea conditions. Abalone fishing safety tips are available on the SLSWA website. For more information see www.fish.wa.gov.au. – WA Fisheries

Pink snapper research shows the importance of annual sound closure Pink snapper is an important indicator species of Western Australia’s demersal scalefish resource along our West Coast, so protecting the swirling aggregations in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds from 15 October for four months is crucial for its breeding stock.

closure in the Sounds was important to provide targeted protection of the largest known pink snapper spawning aggregations on the West Coast. “This time of year, it is crucial to remove the fishing pressure on the pink snapper spawning aggregations in Cockburn and Warnbro

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A pink snapper aggregation in Cockburn Sound near Garden Island. How pink snapper use the Sounds, when they come and go, and other migratory patterns have been the focus of recent research on spawning activity. The activity is also wellunderstood by recreational fishers, who make the most of the activity ahead of and after October 1 – January 31 and also by fishing close to the closed areas. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Fisheries Management Officer, Shane Walters said the spawning

Sounds, because these longlived, slow-growing, fish need this nursery phase to replenish and ideally build the species stock,” Mr Walters said. “Pink snapper is one of the key indicator species of the West Coast demersal scalefish resource and we have been working to rebuild those demersal scalefish stocks since 2008.” Mr Walters said recent research into pink snapper spawning activity in the Sounds and recreational fishing activity targeting

pink snapper aggregations, prior to the spawning closure, may require a review of the closure to ensure the species nursery is adequately protected. “It is likely to take up to 20 years to recover pink snapper and other West Coast demersal scalefish stocks, so this is a good time to remind fishers that their support for the recovery of West Coast demersal scalefish stocks is appreciated,” he said. “It’s important fishers understand pink snapper have variable recruitment with only one to two strong years each decade and the majority of the current West Coast pink snapper catch is attributed to a good recruitment year in 2005. “Studies on demersal scalefish also indicate that capture and release of some species, prior to spawning, can reduce spawning success or even cause fish to skip the stage altogether.” Fisheries officers from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will be on patrol in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds during the four-month closure, from today and until 31 January 2019, to ensure its enforcement. – Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development NOVEMBER 2018

South Coast

Land-based delights on the South Coast ESPERANCE

Jaimen Hudson

The Queen’s Birthday long weekend coupled with the school holidays has seen a great influx of tourists visiting Esperance! The weather has joined the party as well, allowing people to spend their days outside fishing. Inland fishing on the lakes has been fantastic, with people reporting back on decent catches of bream. People wanting a fresh feed of bream who are keen to travel a little further can go to Quallilup Lakes. Alternatively, those not feeling as adventurous can go fishing at Woody Lake, which is only around 5km

from town. Sticking with land-based fishing, the Esperance Land Based Fishing Club held their annual fishing comp

on the WA Queens Birthday long weekend. Kicking off at lunch time on the Saturday and going through until 12pm on the

Monday, it gave participants a good length of time to stake out their preferred location to try reel in the winning fish. Gummy sharks, salmon,

The Esperance Land Based Fishing Club with the results of a great competition.

skippy, whiting, bream and herring were all caught. The heaviest was a gummy weighing in at 8.64kg! No mulloway were pulled in during the competition, but I have had reports of people catching them during the evening east of Esperance. Schools of salmon have all but dispersed, which is to be expected at this time of year. The odd one or two are still found in gullies off the beaches. Taylor St Jetty in Esperance has been delivering good numbers of herring and skippy. If you get down there on dark, you are always guaranteed a squid or two. If you are lucky enough to have a tinny, my source at the fisheries has said the Esperance Bay is delivering

an abundance of large squid, with each boat inspected having around 4-5 each. Heading offshore now, and our charters have been running more regularly. Red snapper, queen snapper and breaksea cod are all coming up from the depths. No large schools of samsonfish have been found yet, but a few individual fish being landed have been thumpers! People using their own vessels and heading out of the bay have also reported bonito being caught while trolling. • If you are visiting Esperance be sure to hook up with Esperance Diving and Fishing for a great day out on the water or check them out at www.esperancedivingand fishing.com.au

Break out the bream gear! BREMER BAY

Kurt Blanksby

Some of the best black bream fishing is upon us, and the South Coast has many little hidden waterways that are

how the fishing used to be in more populated areas once upon a time. The Beaufort Inlet is mostly landlocked and only breaks through the bar at the mouth when the Pallinup River fills it due to winter rains, however it rarely stays

This southern estuary is a ‘must visit’ spot for those wanting to catch plenty of black bream on lures, and is ideal kayak country! remote, pristine and chock-a-block full of black bream! Although the local beaches and rocks have been fishing well for a wide range of species, a day fishing a South Coast estuary is a reminder of

open long, and this creates a hyper saline system that is perfect for black bream. Easy access roads to the inlet are found by following the signs from the main road into Bremer Bay, and good camping and basic shore

launching can be done from here. Several other unsealed roads that turn into sandy and muddy 4WD tracks allow access to the upper reaches of the river, however be warned that these are summertime tracks only and getting through them after heavy rain will test both driver and car. Once you are on the water, be very careful as it is extremely shallow in many places and the dark tannin-stained water hides numerous rock bars that have destroyed many an outboard in the past. A kayak is perfect in this system, allowing you to quietly explore and fish from the bar at the mouth to the upper reaches of the river. You should stay clear of the mouth when it is broken out to the ocean, as a strong current will easily wash a kayak out into a choppy wash. You’re better off paddling well upriver where you can either troll small lures or cast them along to the many spots you will pass. Black bream in this

system are in good numbers and some really big bluenosed fish are there to keep you keen amongst numerous smaller ones. Bait fishing is almost too easy, and if you really want to crack the bream on lures method then leave the bait at home. If you can’t catch a black bream in this system trolling a small minnow lure, then you might as well give up fishing, it is ridiculously easy and the fish are very aggressive. Soft plastic lures also produce the goods and can be slowly twitched down deep to trigger aggressive takes. Fly fishers should also put this estuary on their ‘must visit’ list, as casting small weighted flies on a 6-8wt rod will provide many memorable moments, as fish are not fussy on most days. Although there are a few people who take the Pallinup black bream for the table, I find their eating qualities are not that great compared to other spots, maybe it is the hyper saline water or their diet of mostly marine worms that makes them very

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NOVEMBER 2018

Trolling or casting small lures from a kayak is the perfect way to fish the Pallinup River, as there are plenty of hungry black bream to keep you amused all day. average on the plate. These fish are better being released than kept for the plate, after all, it is a small and fragile system and catch and release will ensure the population is not depleted. Other species like herring, salmon, trout and even big mature salmon have turned up in this estuary, especially down near the mouth when it is open to the ocean. In fact, after it has been opened the chance of picking up other species is good. The beach

at the mouth is also a good place to spend some time soaking baits from the shore, as it produces salmon, tailor, herring, gummy sharks and mulloway. • Are you a local angler who wants to share your fishing knowledge? We are looking for a regular writer to cover the Bremer Bay area in future issues. No previous writing experience required, please contact Ian Sewell at ian@ fishingmonthly.com.au.

South Coast

Big bites happening in the river and off the rocks ALBANY

Callum Dowell

Winter left mixed emotions around the South Coast. Systems from Albany through to Walpole have received bumper rainfall and a good flush, while

with the warm conditions, we are in for a fun summer up our rivers. The best topwater lures I have found to target bream are 76mm Bent Minnows, 60mm Bassday Sugapens and unweighted pink EcoGear Grass Minnows. The action you give the lure should be

take some practice! The best places to learn is up the Kalgan River or your local system on the hoards of small greedy bream. Casting your lure along the reed line or snags is your best bet at tempting a strike. Land-based rock anglers are just starting to get a break from the pounding south-southwest swells. Solid harlequin, dhufish and groper have been landed, as baits and soft plastics can be worked along the bottom for longer. My housemate Grayson managed what I would think

is some type of world record. He landed a blue groper in the 25kg+ range on 20b line and a 7” McCarthy pearl white soft plastic in the Cheynes Beach area. The fish bricked him on multiple occasions, but with years of fish fighting knowledge and with the help of Dave Parker they managed to land the beast. The fish was released and with a bit of encouragement swam off strongly. The best baits have been the humble herring strip or an unweighted mulie, however the pesky wrasse may test your patience!

Grayson Delury with a monster blue groper. A fish of this size is most likely over 50 years old! east towards Pallinup and Bremer Bay remain low. The past couple of years have seen huge summer downpours, however I can’t see that happening this year with the irregular lead up conditions. With the surface bite already starting to heat up

adjusted depending on their mood. Have a good play around. Bent Minnow styles are versatile and you can ‘drag’ the lure under the surface where the bream may feel more comfortable eating it. Getting their attention is the easy part, however making them commit can

Slowly worked bent minnow type lures in calm conditions are hard to beat on summer bream!

Dan Perella with a tank harlequin he took from the stones. Local gun angler Jack Dawson has recently captured the most elusive fish in our southern ocean, a huge broadbill swordfish! He has spent years of fruitless sessions trying to figure these mythical beasts. However, with a piece of samsonfish dropped down in hundreds of metres of water he came up trumps! Unfortunately he has not released much information on gear, depths and the fight, nor supplied a photo. The next few months will have some lovely warm balmy evenings awaiting

beach fishers. With some trench-like gutters formed over winter the upcoming month or two is your best chance at a prized capture. Gummy sharks, small bronze whalers and big tailor are just around the corner. Tailor have become more frequent in the past few years, with reports of fish upwards of 70cm. Sand Patch is only for the keen anglers but it’s the best beach for this caper. Normans, Nannerup and Reef beaches east of town are also good options with the right conditions.

NOVEMBER 2018

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FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

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ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to, Peter Buszan who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition! Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – WAFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for September are D Woodruff of Narrogin, R Warren of Wagin and D Ellis of Attadale, who won a AccuMat fish measuring mat valued at $99. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – WAFM

K Ramage of Boyanup, D Vassallo of Kingsley, J Bremmell of Brunswick, B Granger of Falcon, K Forrest of Allanson, M Stevens of Baldivis, B Piercey of Eaton, J Boyce of Gosnells, C Warren of Wagin, D Culshaw of Banyo, J Addenbrooke of Maddington, R Przybylski of Cross Roads, J Parnell of South Fremantle, N Metcalfe of Falcon, G Gervasi of Busselton, G Shute

of Claremont, D Clifton of Whitby, S Mercovich of Beeliar, M Carroll of Kingsley, D Elkerbout of Dunsborough, O Keet of Karrinyup, P Dunlop of Capel, M Cubsone of Busselton, R Pascucci of North Beach, A Couch of Bellevue , A Hogan of Parmelia. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – WAFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for September were: 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 29, 37, 42, 45, 53, 57, 59, 62, 67, 71. – WAFM

NOVEMBER 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Yellowfin Bream

The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for September were: P Buszan of Withers, V Stacey of Butler, M Keet of Karrinyup, S Ellis of Attadale, A Cowan of Padbury, P Reichstein of Winnellie, J Balestra of Aveley, W Rosevear of Cowaramup,

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West Coast

Pick your windows in the weather for success AUGUSTA

Anthony Gillam

The weather in the South West has been very changeable lately, with plenty of the wet stuff being deposited. With a bit of prior preparation, it has been possible to take advantage of the windows of opportunity and get out for a sneaky fish in between rain, wind and the odd hail storm.

small soft plastics giving results, especially in the early morning and an hour before sunset. As always, there are plenty of schools of juvenile fish, so it pays to treat them gently for a better chance of survival once released. The recent heavy rainfall has resulted in a large increase in freshwater heading down the Blackwood and Scott rivers into Hardy Inlet. The cooling effect of the rainfall to the

The Augusta Marina rock wall an hour before dark is an excellent location for skippy and herring. Snook have been around in good numbers in the shallower waters of Flinders Bay and although much maligned for being of inferior quality in fight as well as edibility, they are well known as being an exceptional cut bait. Any shiny gold or chrome lure trolled behind a boat at around 6 knots will help to locate them. Should you be willing to try something different, give them a go in the smoker and you will be pleasantly surprised with their texture and taste. Rock wall fishing at the Augusta Marina has been producing skippy, with the better fish ranging between 25-30cm, with the odd fish reaching 35cm. Try light gear for some great fun, with squid and

waters around Alexandra Bridge has subsequently shut down most of the bream bite. Another result of the extra freshwater is that it has pushed larger numbers of yellowfin whiting down, with some larger fish now showing up around the Ellis Street Jetty and Colourpatch boat ramp. No demersal fishing from 15 October-15 December means it is time to hone the skills on other types of fishing for two months. The waters around Augusta produce a variety of fish, so it is possible to swap and change between species depending on your mood and the conditions at the time. Yellowfin whiting are one of the most sought

too bad to eat when cooked fresh. Good-sized herring are frequently caught like this as well. Skippy fishing in spring is very good, and some thumpers can be caught in Flinders Bay, Hardy Inlet and off the rocks all the way around to Hamelin Bay. Whether in a boat or fishing from the rocks, the use of berley will produce many more fish. Any good pollard-based berley with oil mixed with some mashed up mulie will soon begin to gather a crowd. My recommendation is to use a 1/0-2/0 hook with a cube of mulie or strip of squid floated down unweighted or with only a light weight when fishing from a boat or

fish popping up. Landbased fishing in Augusta is always fun and can be very rewarding. It is to be noted that the oceans of Augusta (yes there are two of them) can be subject to sudden changes in wind and waves and there have been fatalities due to drowning. King waves happen and even the most careful people can be caught unaware. • If you are fishing from the rocks at any time of the year it is important to take advantage of the free lifejackets available from Augusta X-treme Outdoor Sports. It is also the best place to obtain a mud map and list of locations where they are currently biting.

The local tackle store owner with a skippy off the rock wall at the Augusta Marina. This one took a fresh squid strip floated down the water column. after fish in Hardy Inlet, producing great-tasting fillets, which is probably due to their diet that consists of a large percentage of the glass shrimp that are prolific in the area. It is possible to catch them any time during the day or night, however, the most successful times are generally just after nightfall and into the early hours of the morning. The best rigs consist of small size 4-6 long shank hooks loaded with 2-3 glass shrimps or a river prawn with a small running sinker rig. Try casting into the channels around the Ellis Street, Old Town or Turner Street jetties and slowly wind the line back in. This technique will soon show if the fish are on the prowl, as they will strike and fight with surprising vigour. A static rig will

produce very few fish compared to a moving rig. Locating shrimps for bait is very easy and you will just need a small piece of fish carcase or similar left in the rocks or weed in the shallows to have them congregating in large enough numbers to use a butterfly net to scoop them up. They stay alive very well and can be found year round. Shrimp traps are not legal to use in Hardy Inlet. Tailor are prevalent in the waters between Molloy Island and Dukes Head, where they hunt for the schools of various baitfish. Trolling a small metal lure or hardbodied lure behind a dinghy or kayak is very successful and 50cm tailor are commonly caught in good numbers using this method. Tailor of this size are good fighters and not

Allan Brown with a double header of sand whiting. He caught them while waiting for the fog to lift so he could venture out into the deep water. jetty, and a paternoster rig from the rocks. Generally speaking, now is the time to be looking around the beaches, rocks and river for some of the more common bread and butter species, with the chance at the odd trophy

The locations mentioned are all well-known and are marked on most vehicle GPS units, especially if they have HEMA maps, or a list of locations can be obtained from the local tackle store, Augusta X-Treme Outdoor Sports.

Plenty of options during demersal closure BUSSELTON

Stephen Norman

We had a sunny start to spring, with temperatures in the low to mid 20s, and at times back-to-back days of low winds. The warmer weather and calmer winds gave anglers an opportunity to get stuck into some demersal species before the ban took over on 15 October. Dhufish and pink snapper catches remained consistent before the closure, with the likes of harlequin and breaksea cod mixing up anglers bags occasionally. 30

NOVEMBER 2018

Success was found to be widespread, with areas in 20-40m of water producing fish – it just came down to

finding that ground that was holding fish. Samsonfish have also plagued anglers fishing

Flathead are suckers for soft plastics. Flick your plastic off the bottom then allow it to pause once it settles on the bottom again, as this is often when flathead strike.

these depths, snapping up live skippy as well as jigs and soft plastics retrieved at high speed. Whiting catches showed a significant increase, as many lucky anglers picked up large King George while targeting demersals, however inshore sand holes in 3-10m have also been firing. Areas in 20-30m of water off Eagle Bay have been hotspots for a tasty feed of plump sand whiting, and drifting across rubbly bottom with a simple two-hook dropper rig is always the best method. If you’re catching plenty of small flathead, you’re in the right area, just keep persisting! But who

This 20kg+ South West mulloway is the stuff of dreams for any mulloway angler, especially from the beach. You’ll need a lot of persistence and a little bit of luck! doesn’t love a good feed of flathead anyway WHAT TO EXPECT THIS MONTH Late spring/early summer is spawning time

for the female blue swimmer crabs, so be mindful of ‘berried’ crabs, which refers to a female crab carrying eggs on her To page 31

West Coast

Weather warming and the fish are swarming BUNBURY

Grant Teede

The fish are on! Warmer days are here and the fish are responding well! The yellowfin whiting have been in massive numbers on the local Leschenault flats. Fishing the rising tide with small poppers and stickbaits is all the rage. Fishing these types of lures using a slow continuous retrieve with small twitches is your best bet. The estuary has also been producing some quality

herring, especially around The Cut area. The hard-fighting samsonfish have been providing some excellent fun for the boaties. These aggressive speedsters have been in good numbers, with the larger units testing the anglers and their gear to the limit. They will readily take baits, but really fire up when you drop down a metal jig in the 100-200g range. No finesse work is required, just get that jig down, pump and wind, and hang on! Crays are out in full

force and as usual the guys dropping the pots seem to get great results with the crays on the move. Straight out from Bunbury seems as good as anywhere, but the ever-reliable Binningup area will produce better results as summer kicks in. Bait choice for these delectable morsels is always a hot topic, but you can’t go wrong with a combo of tuna heads and blue mackerel. Blue swimmer crabs have been in reasonable numbers in the harbour; look for deeper water drop offs to run your

Kurt Krispyn and Mitchel Spurling were stoked with this handful of jumbo crays.

Josh Luvera with a solid samsonfish. From page 30

underside. These crabs must be returned to the water. The warmer months are a prime time for scooping from the shore, and the blue swimmers become active once the sun sets, so wade the shallows after dark for the best results. Much to the delight of light tackle anglers, inshore waters have begun showing signs of a good summer ahead. Areas such as the Port Geographe Marina is a hotspot for a plethora of species. Tailor are a popular target and they can be excellent fun on poppers and stickbaits. Most stickbaits and poppers up to around 80mm will do the trick in this case. Flathead are another species that are common in the marina as well as along all our beaches, although larger fish tend to take refuge in the marina. Using soft plastics is the most effective way to target flathead. Unfortunately, we don’t get the larger fish that are more common in the east, so soft plastics between 2-4” will be ideal for our fishery. Paddle and curl-tails in natural colours

are a good starting point, however I have found that flathead can rarely say no to most styles of soft plastic

slowly bounced along the bottom. Anglers venturing inland to chase trout and

What samsonfish lack in eating quality they make up for in brute strength!

nets in. Numbers of crabs in the estuary will only get better from here, with some reports already coming through of people walking and scooping on the flats at night. The local beaches have been good of late. Belvedere Beach has been producing some cracking tailor up to 50cm. As the weather warms the size will usually drop a little, but the numbers of fish will increase. Binningup and Myalup anglers have been getting good catches of yellowfin whiting in the early mornings. Remember to not cast too far for these tasty fish, as they are usually right on the edge. Bunbury’s Back Beach has been going off with redfin have consistently found fish. Harvey Dam, Honeymoon Pools and the Warren River have been the hotspots. Mepps Spinnerbaits have been by far the most effective lure of choice for anglers. While not in abundance, November is one of the best times to fish for large mulloway along our southern beaches. These fish are not overly common, so be prepared to put in some hours. Luckily, the rewards are huge and with plenty of tailor and herring on offer there is always something to keep you busy while you wait for that elusive mulloway. For your best chance, fish after dark around a new moon and on a rising tide. I’ve found that fresh baits can be key when it comes to mulloway, such as tailor fillets or relatively fresh squid presented on a surf slider rig. • 2 Oceans Tackle is the South West’s premium fishing tackle outlet. Drop in and see our friendly staff for professional advice and choose from our massive range of fishing tackle that is sure to keep you fishing for longer. 2 Oceans Tackle 14 Albert St, Busselton WA

herring in the afternoons, and plenty of berley is required to get them into a feeding frenzy, but when you do, it’s on for young and old! • Any questions on something you have read or if you just

want to have a chat, duck into Whiteys Tackle and Camping in Treendale, WA. One of the guys or Whitey himself will be happy to help get you on the right path to that next trophy fish.

A selection of popular whiting lures.

This slider rig is popular among mulloway surf anglers. It allows the fish to run with the bait before they feel any tension while also allowing for your bait and sinker to be cast together for extra distance. NOVEMBER 2018

West Coast

Bread and butter fishing on fire MANDURAH

Jesse Choy

October was a good month for anglers out there wetting a line. Those in the Mandurah area were reporting that plenty of fish were on the chew and the variety of species being caught was quite broad. Bream, herring, tailor, whiting and mulloway were just some of the fish starting to show up more regularly at places like Dawesville and fish activity continued to improve as the warmer weather became more constant. Anglers in the Mandurah region are still not able to target their favourite demersal species due to the demersal fishing ban, which is currently in place. Although we wish we could enjoy metro pinks and dhufish all year round, it really is not sustainable at all. While it is seen as a hindrance to some, the

through summer as the water warms up. Whether by boat or land, fishers are spoilt for choice

to drop nets, as it provides easy, secure boating access to the southern end of the estuary, which is known

A nice feed of blue swimmer crabs caught by scoop netting just south of Dawesville. A soapy being released to grow bigger. when it comes to picking locations for chasing blue swimmer crabs. Launching

to hold large quantities of quality-sized crabs. Another popular

Mandurah is home to some thumping whiting, like this one caught on the flats. fishing ban helps our fish replenish so that we have many more to catch in future, and this is done by decreasing the pressure that recreational fishers put on them at critical times in their cycles. During this time, anglers are turning their heads elsewhere and changing up their style of fishing to ensure that they get some action. Through November, we can really expect Mandurah to live up to its reputation as a prime destination for crab fishing. On 1 November, being the first day of the ban being lifted, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s as good a time as any to try your luck with crabbing in the Mandurah estuary and the action should continue to pick up, particularly 32

NOVEMBER 2018

People who choose to use this ramp will generally drop nets after the second bridge, heading away from

from Dawesville Marina is a popular choice amongst the boat anglers choosing

choice is to launch from the Fairbridge Road (Mary Street) boat ramp in town.

the ocean and closer to the estuary. You can fish immediately, dropping your nets along the various sections on your way out to the estuary and this should allow you to gain an understanding with regards to the crab behaviour and holding patterns on that day. Land-based crab fishers really are spoilt for choice and can certainly take their pick when it comes to choosing their location for an outing with the family. Popular areas are typically around the Erskine, Coodanup and Yunderup flats. When choosing a spot to start your scooping mission for the day in Mandurah, it is ideal to do some research. If you are not totally familiar with the area, a simple Google Maps search looking at the roads near the estuary, will show you numerous locations where you can pull your car in, jump onto a sand flat and start scooping your dinner up pretty quickly. Crabs will typically move a lot, so if things are

not going to plan, it is a good idea to first adapt to the situation by changing depth, and structure you target. By being a little bit more purposeful about the areas you are hitting, you will soon discover a

more around Mandurah, with anglers catching great-sized fish out of the estuary on the sand flats and broken ground. Small poppers are fast becoming one of the preferred lures for anglers

A bulging whiting belly, full of food!

The Peel-Harvey estuary, just south of Dawesville. These are top hunting grounds for solid yellowfin whiting and big blue swimmers!

pattern or patterns that will ultimately increase your capture rate. Always remember to take your measurer, ice for your feed and also be sure to educate yourself regarding the crab fishing rules if you are unsure before you go out. Another type of fishing that will really take off through November and well into summer is whiting fishing. The yellowfin whiting are starting to show themselves a bit

when targeting whiting, as they allow for excellent ground coverage and also a whole lot of excitement when a fish explodes on your lure. Poppers sure are a fun and popular way to go about whiting fishing, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not the only way. People are also finding great success on bibbed minnows around 30-60mm and also on blades. Blades are often overlooked when it comes to whiting fishing, To page 33

West Coast

Fighters and biters in November LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

There was a great run of fish landed in the run up to the closure of demersal fishing. Plenty of pink

quite quickly, making it challenging just to keep up. Sometimes they just sound down only to re-appear later hundreds of metres away. Casting metals to them can be one the most effective methods if they

water has been producing tailor at sunset. For anglers working soft plastics from a boat or kayak, there have been plenty of tarwhine along the reef areas. The weed banks have been holding snook, pike, and

Alan Kho nailed this 138cm amberjack in 90m of water. snapper were caught from depths around 35m. Dhufish were coming from quite a wide range of depths starting under 10m, with some real monsters among them. It was great to see some better numbers of juvenile dhufish this season than we have seen for a few years. There were also plenty of breaksea cod and baldchin groper featuring in the bags. Deep droppers made the most of the calm weather for some massive size hapuka and blue-eye trevalla. Now that the demersal ban is in place, what to do? Schools of southern bluefin tuna have now been encountered regularly west of town, but they can be tricky to catch. When moving between fishing locations or looking for schools, running skirted lures out the back of the boat can be productive. Get the lure so it just skips out the water every now and again creating a bubble trail. Once you find some feeding fish, trolling lures around the schools is one way to go, but more often than not the fish keep moving away from the boat. They can move From page 32

but will often turn an unproductive day into a productive one quite quickly, as the whiting seem to hone in on the masses of vibrations being sent through the water. Good whiting are typically located where you will find the crabs, and often you will see people chasing blue swimmers and whiting at the same time. Quite often

are being fussy. Use a rod suitable for casting a good distance, and I’ve certainly not been shy to take one out more suitable for beach fishing. Lighter line helps with a long cast, and as tuna fight clean, 10kg line is plenty for the average fish. The reel should be a high speed retrieve, and the faster the lure goes the more likely the tuna is to nail it. Position the boat so the wind will continue to push you towards the school and even kill the motor. Don’t get over excited! Hold off your cast until it will get well into the school, let the lure sink a few metres and then crank as hard and fast as you can, keeping the rod tip low to the water and be sure the lure stays submerged. This time of year sees the best water clarity in the bay, and is a great time to target some species with lures. The flats leeward of Edward Island have been producing some horse flathead on soft plastics. Look for the little gutters and drop-offs in the sand between the point and Grace Darling Park and work your lures along them. Wading out on the sand bank at Edwards Point casting stickbaits into the deeper

skippy, all happy to eat a well-presented plastic. If after flathead, look along the weed bank edges and sand holes. Herring can be caught on small metals or the old trick of using a piece of green drinking straw towed behind a float.

if you are doing one or the other, you will notice that they both like the sand patches with a little bit of weed nearby. A constant retrieve is best when trying to target whiting on the Mandurah flats if you are intending on using lures. A constant moving lure seems to encourage a better response and a lot of the time if you stop the lure, the fish will turn away. Going forward, things

should really begin to heat up on quite a few fronts. Remember, if you are going to go out and chase bread and butter species during the ban, they respond well to berley and lures that are moved quite quickly. Small hooks, pieces of prawn, mullet or pilchard are a good way to go and you can easily use your catch as a live or fresh dead bait for something much bigger if you wish.

around the sand holes and jetty. There has been an increasing number of mulloway caught from the local beaches north and south of town. November has always been a good month to target them. They might not all be huge, but generally they’re in pretty good numbers. Last year, the November new moon saw a particularly good run of fish. The prime bait to use was fresh mullet, although tailor, herring and whiting baits all account for their fair share. Mulloway typically swallow their prey whole and head first, so ensure when chasing them to set the hooks so the points are exposed and facing towards the tail end of the bait. Burying the hooks within the bait often results in missed fish. Small sharks have been taking the baits at night, so it is a good idea to use some wire to prevent any bite offs. It was a pretty poor tailor season over the winter, and every time the fishing looked to be improving another big storm front and swell came in. The big winter greenbacks we look forward

There have been quite a few whaler sharks caught from both the beaches and boats. been some nice size King George whiting caught from the jetty, with some at a really good size. They

Brooke Weir has been having a great run hitting some milestones and catching this 70cm tailor. Bait fishers have been doing well on the same species and there are still a few King George whiting

to every season seemed non-existent along the west coast south of Jurien. Now the storms have eased, the big fish have been caught in far better numbers. The chopper tailor run has also started, and we generally expect smaller fish to start mixing in with the initial run of larger choppers by the end of November. The jetty has been producing the usual culprits such as herring, skippy, whiting, pike, squid and tailor. Daytime is better for whiting, with the others mainly caught under the lights at night. There have

have been landed during the day and at night. Early mornings have been the best time to catch a samsonfish from the jetty, with fish up to 30kg being caught recently. Almost all of the samsonfish are released, as they are from a resident population and they eat very poorly. There was some controversy over a recent fishing Aussie Amateur Anglers competition, with the major prizes awarded only for dead fish weighed in at the end of the competition. Local concern was the jetty samsonfish population

would be targeted just to win prizes, and so the organisers removed samsonfish from the competition. They are now considering including some non-lethal categories in their future competitions. Schools of big skippy, with some to 60cm, can be found on the inshore reefs. Samsons are attracted to the schools, and if you’re fishing for the skippy you can try putting a smaller live one out the back under a balloon for a samsonfish. During November, most big samsonfish are expected to move to deeper waters to congregate in breeding schools. Look for some nice reef pinnacles in 75m and deeper and use heavy knife jigs to chase them. Sharks showed up in increasing numbers towards the end of the demersal season. A number of boats reported fish being taken by sharks and quite a few small whalers were landed from both boats and the beaches. It could well be a good idea to chase some of the toothy critters during the demersal ban. Anchoring up and berleying before sending a few bait cubes or livies down the trail might also turn up a nice yellowfin tuna. It’s the time of year lobster potters get very excited with the annual white cray run, when newly-moulted crays gather to migrate to deeper waters. We can usually expect the run to start mid-November and continue through to Christmas. During this time pots are often filled and bag limits reached. NOVEMBER 2018

West Coast

Resting the demersals JURIEN BAY

Jason Harris

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES

The weather has been kinder to us lately, and the town jetty has been fishing well. Good numbers of herring at night along with skippy and squid are keeping everyone busy. Once again, the green and yellow squid jigs in the 2.5 and 3.5 size have been the best squid producers. Whiting up to 30cm, along with the occasional tailor are also being taken from the jetty. Whiting and mulloway have been firing off the beaches, with both seeming to come on the bite after sunset. Mulloway are being caught south of the bay towards Hill River, with the whiting and herring showing up all over. There have been some tailor caught off the beach, not in large numbers, but the sizes have been good.

If you locate the birds working offshore you are likely to find yellowfin tuna like this one attacking the bait. beach for those who put in the time and a berley trail at night. Some good dhufish and snapper were caught before the demersal closure came into effect. Fish were caught just outside the bay and off

515 Northerner You know the fishing is good down at the jetty when every man and his dog starts turning up.

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Worms are the best bait for whiting, with ox heart also working well. The herring and skippy have been taking prawns and squid. Mulies, poddy mullet or any whole fish that fits on a gang of hooks are catching the tailor. Fresh flesh baits like yellowfin, a bit of whiting or even tailor have been producing mulloway off the beaches. There were also catches of snapper and sharks from the

Sandy Cape in as little as 6m of water. With the closure on demersal fishing coming into effect, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to concentrate on the other inshore species. Fishing for whiting has been consistent, with good numbers and good-sized fish coming in. Inside the bay and particularly the sand patches behind Favourite Island are fishing the best. There are plenty of herring around, as well as

squid coming from the weed patches. Like the jetty, the green and yellow squid jigs are working best. There are good-sized skippy in numbers inside the bay, with good catches reported around Wire Reef. You need to anchor up and get a berley trail going. Shane from Seasport Tackle recommends frozen shredded mulies as berley. This can be placed in your berley bucket or simply hung over the side of your boat in a berley bag. It will slowly defrost and provide a continual berley trail while you get on with the fishing. Plenty of birds and bait have been sighted offshore, with reports of a few yellowfin tuna being caught. This should continue to improve, and with the demersal ban in effect, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good option for those wanting to head offshore. There are also mulloway and samsonfish around if you want to try your hand at something different. Crays are still being caught inside the bay. As spring progresses the crayfish will go into their breeding cycle. Be on the lookout for tar spots and berried females.

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Alex caught this dhufish with the Berkley Squiddo and Gulp combination just outside the bay before the close came into effect. 34

NOVEMBER 2018

West Coast

Good times after a few blustery months GERALDTON

Graham Maunder & Michael Triantopoulos

It doesn’t take much to brighten up a beach anglers mood, especially after the predominantly blustery weather of the last month or two.

The rock walls at Port Denison have had mulloway to one metre or over, chopper tailor, herring, whiting and a few squid off the platform. The larger fish have been hooked using pilchards for bait, but the pickers don’t take long to strip the bait. Locally-caught yellowtail

Drummonds Cove Bay is a bit patchy at the moment, with consistent catches of tailor being hard to find. As the beach is easily accessible by foot, there is always someone managing to catch a feed of mixed species such as whiting, herring, flathead and tailor. The area is a bit

Dave Maynard caught this 9.5kg dhufish 8nm northwest of town in 35m before the demersal ban. BEACHES Warmer days, quieter seas and the improvement in the quality and size of fish has made fishing a much more enjoyable day out, especially as catches of mulloway, large tailor and bread and butter species such as yellowfin whiting, herring and squid have been more regular. The Eastern Breakwater rock groyne has been producing a reasonable number of squid for those anglers putting in the time and effort. Jigs in size 3.0 and natural colours have been the preferred jigs. There has also been good numbers of skippy, with some larger models proving difficult to land from the rocks. Half or whole small pilchards with very little weight on either a set of gang hooks or suitable single hook have been working to good effect. Smaller tailor, herring and striped sea pike have also been caught from there.

and mullet fillet certainly stay on the hooks longer when the bite is a bit slow. The tougher bait holds better if you’re trying to cast your bait out to the deeper water northwest of the rock walls. Inside the marina and around the jetties, yellowtail, small chopper tailor, black bream, the occasional school mulloway, skippy and cod will keep you busy. Pilchard chunks, halves or small pieces of fillet work the best and the most productive times have been one or two hours before and after sunset. Staying up and looking for something bigger has not been worth the effort. Australian salmon don’t always make it up our way, and it has been a couple of years since any quantity fish have been caught in our area, but recent catches of 3-4kg fish in front of the Sea Spray Resort on the northern side on the Irwin River mouth have had locals hopeful of a good season.

prone to drift weed, so you may need to keep moving or just wait until the weed has moved along.

South of Drummonds Point is a placed called ‘Overnooka’ by the locals, and it has turned it on for some of our senior anglers, some of whom have not been able to put in the effort they would have in earlier years. Tailor over 2.5kg caught in enough numbers to let everyone think they still knew what they where doing, and there is no substitute for skill and perseverance. Coronation Beach has been producing plenty of whiting in front of the car park camping area and around to the north point, but again weed movement northward with the current and wind can make it a long drive, with very little fishable area left available. The best baits for whiting in our area are sandworms and coral prawns, but some regulars also like pilchard fillets and pieces and mullet fillet cut into small cubes, as this is a tougher bait that stays on longer. If you’ve driven out to Coronation Beach, caught a bag of whiting and still have a couple of hours before sunset, then it’s worth the extra couple of kilometres south to the Oakajee River Bay. The southern end of the bay has resident samsonfish. SMALL BOATS/KAYAKS The sea grass areas inside the reefs

around Pages Beach, Lighthouse and Point Moore have been providing anglers with a nice mixed bag of species including herring, whiting, striped sea pike,

It won’t be long before anglers can target snapper again, like this one Izee Sekodell caught northwest of Geraldton in 20m on an Abrolhos Tackle 6.5” McPaddle. skippy, school mackerel and squid. The herring respond well to berley and small bibbed lures, soft plastics and metal slices. The school mackerel

Nat Gedero with a decent mulloway caught at Coronation Beach.

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respond very well to berley made from pilchards. The shredded pilchard logs and shredded pilchards work extremely well. Small to medium bibbed lures, vibes,

soft plastics along with small pilchards have been the preferred methods. Don’t forget to use a short piece of wire above you lure or hooks, as they have sharp teeth, so make sure the wire isn’t too heavy or long as this will affect the action of your lure. BOATS There has been plenty of bait along the edge of Pensioners Bank and out to the 20-25m contour. Striped and longtail tuna have been pushing the bait up, so casting small lures into the bust ups has been the preferred method. Small sinking stickbaits and metal slices are needed, as you need something that you can cast a reasonable distance without scaring the school of fish and making them sound. • If you are staying in Geraldton or passing through, don’t be afraid to call in to Geraldton Sports Centre for a chat. We are located at 204-208 Marine Terrace, Geraldton.

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NOVEMBER 2018

West Coast

Try for some tip-top tailor The up-river sand flats have also proved productive for the larger male blue manna

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With the sun shining as bright as ever and the tell tale summer southerlies forever making their presence felt here in Kalbarri, the fishing action over the past few weeks has proved productive for land-based fishers and boaties alike. The wind and swell have been holding off bringing the town some simply brilliant weather. Anglers fishing the local Murchison River have reported large numbers of black bream and mangrove jack congregating around boat ramps and the local jetty, with reports of crystal clear water on the high tide allowing anglers to sight cast small baits and soft plastics around the pylons for these fish, however, landing them has proved to be more of a challenge than hooking them. As expected, the yellowfin whiting have gradually made their re-emergence after the cooler weather moved on. Fish are being picked up around the usual haunts such

The author with a solid land-based mulloway. crab, with captures increasing as the water temp rises throughout the river.

A tasty pair of shallow water demersals. as the up-river flats and sand bars near Oyster Reef with the local whiting guns preferring small peeled prawn baits over the popular bloodworm.

November weather patterns swing into action we can be relatively certain they will

The absence of pelagics has been felt with cooler waters seemingly keeping the tuna and mackerel at bay for now. However, as

not be far away. Tamala Station in Shark Bay received a visit from a few mates and myself during the month; however, with the snapper ban in place we were reluctant to throw a line in. We did manage a few sharks from shore and a couple of decent snapper around the Guano Island in the evenings (released of course). After talking to a few other campers at the station the consensus seemed the same with everyone struggling to get a feed. Warming water temperatures and stronger, more frequent southerlies are expected for the next month and present a double edged blade for local fishing action, with summer winds usually keeping the boaties at bay. This does allow river fishos to reap the rewards of the bubbling hot pot of species that the Murchison provides over the warmer months. Expect species such as giant herring,

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NOVEMBER 2018

Perfect weather at Tamala Station.

To page 37

Gascoyne Coast From page 36

trevally and the red dogs under the jetty will get their appetite back. Tailor are known to churn the waters around Kalbarri from time to time, but they are most commonly caught from October through December. These premier

produced by the swell means that spots such as Oyster Reef, Red Bluff, Chinamans and Back Beach are all popular tailor haunts. With tailor being such an aggressive sportfish they are very susceptible to lures, especially surface lures. Poppers and stickbaits account for hundreds of tailor

more effective in the clearer water at high tide than the chocolate soup brought by the low. Tailor are notorious for being able to bite through mono traces, so often it pays to have wire on hand in order to avoid this. • If you need a boat and are heading to Kalbarri or beyond, be sure to give us a

Kalbarri local Frank Rystenberg with a 5.2kg tailor caught off Chinamans Point. sportfish can be targeted on a multitude of different lures and baits and are a popular catch for landbased fishos in the Kalbarri area. Often being caught in and around the whitewash

captures around the Kalbarri area every year, with fish to a metre not uncommon. If the fishing has shut down, a large unweighted garfish fished on a 4 gang can be hard to beat, however, this method is far

call at Murchison Boat Hire. You’ll find new dramatically reduced pricing. With three quality boats to choose from, why would you stay stuck fishing from shore! Call Paul for details on 0427 645 037.

Mackerel mayhem SHARK BAY

Kurt Blanksby

If you want mackerel, then you need not travel any further than Shark Bay. This part of the state not only offers excellent boat fishing, but boasts some of the best land-based game fishing in the world. The Zytdorp Cliffs that run up the coast north of Kalbarri and reach the tip of Shark Bay at Steep Point offer anglers the chance to target many gamefish like mackerel. First things first, don’t just rock up and expect to get a spot out at the point, as its reputation means it has a steady stream of anglers heading there practically all year, however, summer is the best time. You need to contact the ranger and book a site. There are many catering to those who are just going to fish the rocks. If bringing a boat to beach launch, then a sheltered spot further around the bay will be a better choice. Once you have booked in, and this often needs to be done months in advance to avoid any disappointment at busy times, all you then need to do is make the easy day’s drive up to the point.

Now this is purely 4WD access only, and if towing trailers and boats then you need to make sure they are in top condition, as the often boggy and corrugated road in will put huge amounts of stress on everything. You need to bring in everything that you will need, as there are no supplies once you are there, so running out of food, fuel and water is one way to cut your holiday short. Most anglers fishing from the rocks usually arm themselves with a medium to heavy spin outfit capable of punching lures out a fair distance as well as being able to fight, control and land large pelagics from a high vantage point. Also pack a decent bait fishing outfit, and it’s better off being on the heavy side, as there are some decent demersal species caught in the same area from the rocks. Finally, if you like your balloon fishing, then a heavyduty outfit capable of handling this type of fishing is a must, as many a massive mackerel, cobia, tuna and billfish has been caught on balloon gear from Steep Point. Boat anglers who can beach launch will find that the deep water out from South Passage will open up endless

opportunities to troll, cast lures or bait fish, be it from heading south down past Steep Point or north to the fish rich waters at Dirk Hartog a short distance away. Just remember to be courteous to the guys fishing from the cliffs; you have access to much more water than they do so give them a wide berth and don’t go cutting through their lines, especially balloon rigs drifting well offshore. A week or two up at Steep Point in November is usually very pleasant, as the strong summer winds have not kicked in and the extreme heat and flies won’t turn up for a few months, which means you will come away with far better memories of the trip. With good numbers of Spanish and shark mackerel about, your lures will not spend too much time swimming un-noticed, and add to this a mix of other species and you can see why this part of the coast is a must do for any keen sportsfisher! • Are you a local angler who wants to share your fishing knowledge? We are looking for a regular writer to cover the Shark Bay area in future issues. No previous writing experience required, please contact Ian Sewell at ian@ fishingmonthly.com.au.

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Gascoyne Coast

Spanglies to spare CARNARVON

Ben Smith

We’ve had some good weather windows in recent weeks, and the offshore fishing has been pretty good. There are good numbers of pinkies, and the rankin cod and spangled emperor have been reasonably prolific

as well. You can pick up all three species on both the inside and outside of Bernier and Dorre islands. Most guys are chasing them on a tide change, and most of the spanglies have been coming during the late afternoon or sunset. Also over the islands the Spanish mackerel and small yellowfin have been around in pretty good numbers.

Nine-year-old Jack Smith was happy with this nice spangly.

Anglers are catching them by dropping at various depths, from 2-7m, with two of the most productive lures being the Halco Laser Pro 190 and the new Halco Max 190. The whales have been around in massive numbers, so it’s likely you’ll encounter them when you’re heading out or returning. We went out recently with our kids and came up to a pod of four whales, and watched them from a couple of hundred meters away. They ended up swimming right to the boat, and were probably only 10ft away. The kids loved it. Inshore, close to town, the Lady Joyce wreck has been fishing pretty well for pink snapper. Some good cobia have been caught off it as well. It’s a good idea to just chuck a floating bait out the back while you’re flicking plastics or dropping a bait down, as you’ll often catch a decent cobia or even a Spanish. A lot of golden trevally are around that area too. They are super responsive to just about anything – small jigs, plastics and vibes all work pretty well. Guys trolling on the inshore channels have been trolling up a lot of school

Geoff Huth with a spangled emperor from Bernier Island. mackerel lately. The Classic Bluewater F160 has been really good for inshore trolling, and so has the Halco Max 130. Beach fishing around town has been yielding some really good tailor, up to 600mm, near 1 Mile Jetty. There are lots of small mulloway around as well, with a few bigger models to 10kg thrown in. The beach guys have also been getting a lot of yellowfin whiting, although the average size is a bit small for this time of year. Striped threadfin salmon are a popular target off the beach, and there are a few of them around at the moment. For whatever reason are seeing more and more of them in this area, which is good. Catches of blue manna

crabs have been fairly steady for the dingy guys close to shore, with mullet being the most popular bait. The LBG guys fishing up along the Quobba coastline have been enjoying a reasonable run of shark mackerel, with most caught on 60-80g metals. There are also some pretty reasonable cobia coming off the rocks. Most guys are chasing the cobia on big 4” or 6” plastics, with the most popular being white McCarthy Paddle Tails. Guys bottom fishing off the rocks up there have been reporting fairly consistent catches of spangled emperor and pink snapper. THE MONTH AHEAD Weather permitting, it shouldn’t be too difficult to catch a feed in November. If the weather holds off we can expect the Spanish to carry on

for a while, and the longtail tuna should also school up and move inshore, within the reach of the tinny brigade. All going well, the shark mackerel will hopefully turn up on the Quobba coast in big numbers too. Additionally, as soon as we get some warmer weather we’ll see the jacks in creeks and estuary systems start to fire up. For the very latest information on what’s biting and where, drop into the Tel-O-Mac Tackle Shop at 348 Robinson St, give them a call on (08) 9941 1873 or look them up on Facebook. Tel-O-Mac Tackle Shop stocks a wide range of fishing gear, and the experienced staff are always happy to provide tips and advice to help you on your next adventure.

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Gascoyne Coast

Ready for those summer blues EXMOUTH

Jenni Gates

The rise in spring temperatures came early to Exmouth, with hot days and warm water temperatures being encountered from mid September. This particularly encouraged spear fishing anglers to get in and test the waters. Some of the days have had insane water clarity with visibility to 25m, as crew can see the bottom clearly in these depths. This clear water can be incredible to witness on a glass-calm day as you head across the gulf and over reefs and ledges in shallower waters. The spear fishing crews have reported good numbers of trout and bluebone in the gulf, while the deeper bluewater enthusiasts have been reporting mahimahi and wahoo. The rock lobsters are always a winner in this area and luckily we get five different species of these to keep the dinner plate interesting. Red rock lobster are the sweetest and most highly prized, but the others can also make a tasty feed if cooked with various ingredients. The large ornate rock lobster is certainly the most spectacular and can have legs as long as your arms. The best way to get these tasty treats is using a loop, but make sure you have some good dive gloves on to handle them, and

several kids catching their first billfish and all kids making great memories with family and friends. Kids as young as four participated. There were sensational

NOVEMBER 2018

blue marlin officially caught over 1000lb after angler Clay Hilbert caught the 1089lb blue marlin on New Years Day in 2018. This amazing fish is estimated to be between 12-15yo and is on display at Tackle World Exmouth. We expect the blues to be in thick through the summer months and lead up to GAMEX, Western Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier game fishing tournament. Shore-based fishing in November can be very exhilarating, particularly as queenfish roam the flats inside the gulf. The rising tide from low is the best time for this and we always recommend people use barbless single hooks for the best interest of the fish and angler. Queenfish are not particularly fantastic eating, but a fresh one is enough to get you a good feed. You can steep it in vinegar, coriander, ginger and soy to give it a sensational flavour, or toss it in a curry, but it is

The author with an ornate caught from the shore. congregate at this time. The bait will also be harassed by mackerel, cobia, tuna and the odd small black marlin. This fishery is ideal for someone trying billfishing for the first time or flyfishing for

the sailfish will frequent this area and look forward to seeing further footage of the reef as Recfishwest work on getting us more information with volunteers recording fish encounters.

The author with a queeny. conditions for the 25 kids and over 35 parents/adult anglers to work as a team and tag some sailfish and marlin. Jack White was the first junior to tag a billfish, with a black marlin tagged

Matt Gates with a gulf bluebone (black spotted tuskfish). we always recommend only getting enough for a fresh feed during your stay as they are best eaten fresh. The Australian Junior Billfish Tournament was another great success with

each that were caught on a 15kg line by brothers Declan and Jaxon Kabelka aboard Sin Bin. Young 5yo Harvey Mitchell caught a sailfish for the first time in a

on day one. This was the first marlin for 9yo Jack. There were more billfish encountered on the second day with some incredible angling including two black marlin estimated at 80kg

tournament, while Lochlan Turrell did an amazing effort with a 60kg black marlin on a 10kg line. Scott Turrel took out Champion Skipper, while Champion Team Junior was won by Team Kajiki, Champion Team Mixed was won by Sea Trix and Champion Team Small fry was won by Team Evolution. The clubhouse was full of kids, proud parents and big smiles with every child taking home a tournament shirt and prize of some sort for being a part of the team. Some great memories were made over a weekend that will continue annually, so get your calendar out and mark it in for 2019. November typically sees the big blue marlin increase in numbers along the Ningaloo coast. This fishery has been highlighted in recent years by the increasing charter fleet that tag and release thousands of billfish every year. Captain Eddy Lawler has had blue marlin tagged and recaptured, while the Exmouth Game Fishing Club have participated in the IGFA Great Marlin Race where 10 blue marlin were satellite tagged. All these results show a growing healthy fishery that is gaining interest nationally and internationally, as anglers fly in from around the globe to target big blues. Of course, Exmouth is now home to the first

Colin Dawe with a bar-cheek trout caught on an Entice jig. not a good fish to freeze. We suggest you also handle the fish as little as possible, for they flap about badly and have large spines that hurt. As we head toward summer we expect that the sailfish will continue in the gulf areas as large bait schools typically

sails. Either way, with the new King Reef in place, we expect there to be plenty of fresh live yakkas for people to use when chasing the sailfish. King Reef is located in just 17m of water close to the launching facilities of Bundegi and the Exmouth marina. We also expect that

â&#x20AC;˘ For more up to the minute information on what is biting and where, drop into Bluewater Tackle World Exmouth and have a chat to the friendly and informative staff. They are located at 3 Maley St Exmouth and can be contacted at (08) 9949 1315.

Anglers ready for some warmer fishing.

BLACK MAGIC

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Black Magic bottom bashing When it comes to putting food on the table, good old fashion bottom bouncing is still pretty hard to beat. It’s probably safe to say that drifting around with a paternoster rig has accounted for more pink snapper, fingermark, coral trout, and many southern demersals, than any other method of fishing out there. While simple and extremely effective, it

This is why drifting around with big sinkers and fishing virtually underneath the boat in waters less the 15m is not too far short of a waste of time. The most effective depths for bottom bashing are from 40-200m as boat presence to bottom feeding fish is not usually an issue. Breaking it down further inside this window of ideal depths, each species will have its own ideal range and bottom territory

and move a short distance away either side to give yourself a different line to go over new territory. If, however, you find a patch of fish on the first drift, be sure to mark it on your GPS and then try to do a re-run over it. Drift speed

gear can be either overhead or spin set up, the most important thing is braided line, as the zero stretch makes bite detection and setting of hooks instant. Braid also cuts through the water much better then mono, which is a big

The Black Magic Snapper Snatcher rig can out-fish other rigs 5-1.

Snapper are going to love the new Black Magic Snapper Snacks. still needs to be done in the right way and in the right areas to have success. Probably the biggest mistake anglers make with this style of fishing is trying to do it in waters that are way too shallow and more suited to anchoring up and casting lightly-weighted baits away from the boat. Fish, especially snapper, are very wary and will quickly spook in shallow water when there’s a boat drifting over the top of them.

it prefers. This is why bottom fishing when done right can produce a real mixed bag of species. Getting your drift right is a really important factor that will greatly increase your catch. Work out which way the wind and current are going then move in the opposite direction until you’re just off the reef to give you maximum drift coverage back over it. Plot your start point on your GPS and as soon as you finish your drift go back

An armful of long-fin perch.

Long-fin perch are the coral trout of the south. The new Black Magic snapper snacks work a treat for them. as well as water depth will dictate what size sinker you should be using, which should be the lightest possible that easily finds the bottom. A sea anchor can also be a handy tool to slow your drift down, especially on days with a lot of current or wind. While bottom fishing

advantage when fishing in this manner especially in the deeper water or when you have current. I use Black Magic rainbow braid in 30 or 50lb as it’s colour coded every 10m. The best benefit of this is you can count your colours going down knowing exactly where in the water column you are and this can be particularly handy if you mark a patch of fish say in 70-100m of water. The paternoster rig is by far the best way to set up for bottom fishing and is just basically a 2m piece of mono leader with a loop on the bottom for a sinker and two short lengths of line off the sides about 60cm apart. While you can easily tie these yourself, Black Magic tackle has a range of pre-made flasher rigs that are hugely popular and lethal for this type of fishing. My first experience with these was fishing with a paternoster rig I had tied next to a mate using a Black Magic Snapper Snatcher rig and was pulling in snapper at a rate

of five to my one. Ever since that day I’ve used the premade flasher rigs and never looked back. Another reason they work so well is you can bait them up and when you do unknowingly lose your bait, or after a missed bite, the flasher rig alone will usually still get nailed, meaning you never waste your time in the water. The Black Magic range is always growing with a huge expanse of colours and sizes, now with 1/0 to 8/0 available in suicide and circle hook patterns. Personally, I prefer the ones rigged on the KL circle hooks as the fish

tend to hook themselves with a slow lift on the rod all that’s needed. I’ve also been testing a new product by Black Magic, which is going to be deadly. While they are the same concept these don’t use the flasher type material but rather thin small plastic and this gives more movement than traditional flasher rigs teasing shutdown fish into a bite. These went on the market in October, so keep your eyes peeled. They’ll be perfect for hitting up southern demersals once the season opens back up!

You are better off trying to target snapper in deeper waters. NOVEMBER 2018

North Coast

Broome fishing heating up BROOME

Troy Honey

The fishing has been nothing short of exceptional over the past month in Broome and surrounds. The creeks are starting to fire, the pelagics are still enjoying a local visit, and the reef fishing has really turned on the goods. The reef fish being caught from boats include red emperor, rankin cod, bluebone, coral trout, blueline emperor, Chinaman fish, Spanish flag, saddletail and gold-spotted rock cod. Boats managing to get out wide to good ground in 30m+ of water have achieved the best results, with many reaching their bag limits with good size fish. Jigs and baits have both been working well. It’s best to have one of each down so you can assess which is working better on the day, and then you can focus on using the lure that is having the most success. Fishing one to two hours either side of the tide change always delivers the best results. The warmer water can bring the sharks in, but searching for less popular fishing ground can be of benefit as the sharks generally learn where to hang around and gain an easy feed. In my experience, fishing outside of these popular areas provides a much less taxing day of fishing, and puts less pressure on the regularly fished spots. Pelagic fishing hasn’t slowed down yet, with Spanish mackerel being caught in good numbers. Many of them are very large specimens of 150cm and above. Northern bluefin tuna are about in schools, and this is where you can find the

Amy Meeuwissen got amongst the reef fish with a superb 69cm Chinaman fish caught on fresh cut mackerel for bait. Spaniards lurking, ready to take a trolled lure. They have been caught south of Broome right up past James Price Point. Look for the schools of tuna feeding or areas where there is a fairly sandy bottom with the odd good structure, and concentrate your trolling there for best results. Sailfish are still being caught, although the numbers are dropping off slightly. Roebuck Bay has seen some excellent catches of mulloway (northern jewfish) from line and spearfishers. Frank Ansey has been spear fishing for mulloway in Roebuck Bay, and recently won the Broome North Fishing Club Bluewater

Comp dive division with a whopper of a mulloway coming in at 115cm. Look for the holes and broken ground in and around Roebuck Bay from the Broome town right across to Eco Beach. Good baits to try are mulies or bony herring on a paternoster rig with the lightest sinker allowable to make bottom in the tidal current. Mulloway run very hard, so ensure your outfit is up to the task with at least a PE3 rod, 4000 – 5000 size spinning reel and 30lb braid or higher. The threadfin salmon are being caught right across the bay, with the incoming tide providing good hookups. Over November and December they should

really fire up, and judging by the size of the threadfin being caught at the moment it shouldn’t be a problem gaining a good feed of this great table and sportfish if you persist. Use cooked Vannamei prawns for bait, or pink, green and white lures and soft plastics. With the water temperature now starting to rise the barramundi will be becoming more active. The last two years of record rainfall during the wet season have allowed the barramundi to breed in abundance, and last year it was noted just how many barramundi of the 30-40cm range were being caught and released. Those thousands of barramundi are now in the 60-70cm range and will provide exceptional sportfishing, from land or from a boat. Catches have started to be reported, with even land-based anglers catching over 20 fish in a single session, with most over 50cm. Try the creeks around Broome such as Crab Creek, Dampier Creek and Willy Creek, or drive inland to the Fitzroy River around Wilare for barramundi. Land-based fishing in Broome has been producing bluebone, golden trevally, GTs, mangrove jack, flathead, whiting, barramundi and threadfin salmon. The wharf jetty has been popular, with big GTs being caught with

Spear fisherman Frank Ansey with one of the mulloway caught during the Broome North Fishing Club Blue Water Comp. This beauty came in at 115cm. and shallow reef from Crab Creek right up the Dampier Peninsula. They are being caught on light spinning outfits, with metal slice lures cast from shore and trolled in. Vary your speed until you get strikes and then focus on maintaining that speed.

could find yourself stranded with some large crocodiles for company. Broome is set for a fantastic wet season of fishing. Reef fish are being caught in abundance, threadfin salmon and barramundi are well and truly

Keen angler Aaron Flowers succeeded in the fight against a massive 100cm golden trevally.

An impressive 20.44kg dhufish caught by Michael Webb before the closure at Two Rocks. He used squid bait in 38m with a Shimano Terez rod and 8000 Saragosa 50lb braid.

NOVEMBER 2018

large bibbed lures on the tides above 8m. Diamond trevally, which are a stunning fish to see and also a fantastic sportfish, have been thick at times at the wharf jetty and around the rock at Entrance Point boat ramp. They are being caught on trolled lures cast from shore. Queenies are being caught at the Wharf Jetty and around the rocky headlands

Mud crabs continue to be caught either by looking for them on the low tides or via drop nets on the high tides above 8m. Try lamb necks on a wire clip for bait. Large green mud crabs have been coming from Willy Creek, mostly in drop nets from tinnies on the larger tides. Be careful to watch the tide, as Willy Creek can empty very fast and you

firing up and in good sizes, and pelagic species such as queenfish and trevally can always be found over the reefs around Gantheaume Point. The accommodation providers around Broome have great deals during the wet season, so there is no better time for visitors to come and try their luck on some of our state’s most iconic sport and table fish.

North Coast

The wind can make you crabby DAMPIER/KARRATHA

Troy Honey

The Dampier and Karratha regions endured a windy start to spring, challenging even the most persistent anglers. Finding refuge behind islands in

two on the water. The offshore reefs are providing plenty of action with both pelagics and reef species. Yellowfin tuna, large Spaniards and grey mackerel have all been caught in numbers on lures trolled between 5-12 knots. The Spaniards are very

reefs. The GTs have mostly been caught on large poppers retrieved at high speed. Big gear, including heavy leader of 80lb and above, has been the key to landing these beauties, but prepare yourself for a battle as they will try their hardest to cut your line on the shallow reef.

allows the free divers to reach bottom in what would be deeper water during high tide. In the creeks, barramundi are making their presence known to bait fishers, but are not showing a great deal of interest in lures. Live mullet baits on a light running ball sinker rig are the best option until the water heats up more during the wet season, which causes the barra to become aggressive and territorial. There are reports of some very large barramundi of well over the metre mark hitting schools of mullet in the creeks south of Karratha around 40 Mile. Small mangrove jack are in all the creeks in big numbers, schooling up in the warmer shallows. There have been 50 or more fish per school, which shows the health of the creek systems around Karratha and Dampier. There have been larger mangrove jack caught, but reports have been low. While diving at Cleaverville I spotted some large jacks in the 50-60cm range around the mangrove edges, so they

The author getting in on the light tackle action with a feisty little GT in a creek caught on a trolled Shimano Waxwing. baitfish on the surface, and it only took a few casts before we were onto the action on our light spin gear with our reels screaming; these fish are known for their power, even in the 30cm range. Kids love this kind of fishing, as smaller trevally are easy to hook up and provide a fantastic fight. Trevally aren’t fantastic eating pan fried or barbequed, but don’t be afraid to try a fresh chilled trevally as sashimi – you’ll

limits. This does highlight the numbers of crabs around at the moment though, and they’re a great option when the wind makes a day out in the boat too challenging. Mud crab catches have been reported from 40 Mile right up to Whim Creek, so picking the best creek that suits your access, whether from a boat or 4x4, should provide you success. Blue swimmer crab catches are starting to slow

The author landed this grey mackerel in the Dampier Archipelago by trolling a gold 180mm, 5m depth lure at 6-8 knots along the pipeline. the stunning Dampier Archipelago or cruising up one of the many creeks north or south of the two towns has been popular, allowing fishers to escape the wind and rough conditions. For larger boats lucky enough to still be able to get out in the conditions, there have been some exceptional reports coming in of sailfish, cobia, red and spangled emperor, rankin cod and Spanish mackerel, to name a few. There have been a few days of better conditions, allowing the smaller boats to get out on the water. One weather window fell on a weekend, and there were hundreds of empty trailers in the boat ramp car parks. It goes to show just how keen the local and visiting fishers were to finally enjoy a day or

thick; anglers casting bibbed lures while their buddies are fighting a fish have been rewarded with hook-ups. Areas such as the pipeline and back of the white water along Hamersley Shoal have produced the most mackerel. The deeper water beyond the archipelago near the oil rigs has delivered a few yellowfin tuna, with some very good size specimens coming in. Fishers in the same area and all along the 40m contour and beyond have caught red emperor, rankin cod and large coral trout in good numbers. One fish that has been a bit of a stand-out has been the GTs, with some examples being well over 20kg. Again, focus your efforts over the white wash behind the breaking surf on inshore

Inshore reefs have provided protection from the wind for boaters, with good catches of Spanish flag and fingermark being reported. Amongst them have been bluebone, with the smaller ones almost being a pest at times, and the odd larger one caught. For those who have cast lures, both bibbed minnows and metal slices have caught solid queenfish and smaller trevally, with the odd mangrove jack unable to resist the temptation. Smaller but often legal-size spangled emperor are also being caught at times this way. Tropical lobsters are being caught in good numbers by divers on the shallow reefs in the Archipelago and areas such as Cleaverville, with low tide producing the best results as it

Even in the windy offshore conditions, shelter and fishing action can always be found in the protection of the islands in the Dampier Archipelago. There are many species such as coral trout, Spanish flag, bluebone and fingermark on offer.

Using drop nets and lamb necks for bait, Alex Foster enjoyed catching some big green mud crabs in the local Karratha creeks. are there. Try using small deep diving bibbed minnows, soft vibes or plastics with heavier jigheads to get down to the bottom, as this is where the jacks have been hiding. Remember that jacks are territorial fish, so being persistent in one or two areas at a time can produce fish, as they will eventually become annoyed with your lure and take it out. A great option for fishing in the creeks with the family can be casting lures where the water is making its way around bends near the mouth. This is where fish such as trevally and queenfish work the incoming and outgoing high tide change for baitfish. With the speed of the water increasing they become more active and can be seen hitting fish on the surface. On a trip south of Karratha to 40 Mile we spotted trevally busting up

be pleasantly surprised at just how good they are. The kids can enjoy their catch straight away on the banks if you take some quality soy sauce, pickled ginger and wasabi out with you. The mud crab reports have been great, with some very large greens being caught, mostly from drop nets in the creeks during the spring high tides. The crabs tend to come out and walk in the last metre of the high tide. The Department of Fisheries have been doing a great job at ensuring the mud crabs have a fighting chance, and Fisheries officers are actively out chatting with fishers and inspecting catches. Unfortunately not everyone has been following the rules created to protect the mud crabs for future generations, with some people exceeding the bag

in Nickol Bay, but a few are still being caught. Try your pots spread out over three or so different parts and depths of the bay, and once you start to get onto crabs move all of your pots into that area. It is coming to the end of the season for blue swimmer crabs, but it’s still worth a try. Having a fish for whiting from the boat during net pulls is a great way to bring home an excellent feed. Both mud and blue swimmer crab fishing is a perfect way to get one over the wind. It’s something the whole family or group of friends can enjoy, and you don’t need a boat to have success. The Karratha/ Dampier regions hosts some of the best crabbing in WA, so when planning a trip here you don’t have to worry that the wind will ruin your fishing adventure. NOVEMBER 2018

Some dam good fishing FRESHWATER

Peter Fragomini

Good rains fell from June through to August, until it slowed down significantly in September, but most dams have still risen to well above 2017 levels. Most rivers flowed nicely this year, but we needed some spring rain to keep levels adequate in preparation for our dry summer. DAMS All our dams are fishing well for trout and redfin, with some beautiful brown trout showing up after the recent stocking from the hatchery. I fished a few of them and noticed an increase in anglers this year, with most hooking a few for their efforts. It’s great to see the

into Harvey Dam. They are proving to be elusive at the moment, so hopefully we can stock this dam

Waroona Dam has resulted in lots of water going over the wall, with up to 50cm at one time being recorded

A good sounder is a must for locating fish in our inland Impoundments. with advanced yearlings next season. These advanced yearlings should be well over legal 30cm by the end of

at the spillway. This could have triggered a downstream migration with no barrier to stop them, so a walk downstream is worth the

Redfin can be aggressive, with two hooked on the one lure a common occurrence. capable of flicking a fly at night this is the place to try. I’ve caught big browns late at night as the moon comes up after midnight on fluoro Fuzzy Wuzzy or Craig’s Night Time flies. Redfin numbers are increasing with the warmer water and boat fishers are doing better in the deeper water, generally in 5-10m using deep diving hardbodies and soft plastics. HARVEY DAM A lot of rainbow broods are turning up but the yearlings are hard to find. It’s good to see some of last year’s broods still in there and I would say it’s

a delight to flyfish at night if you have a boat to access it. The long deep stretch known as the Olive Run near the wall is holding big numbers of rainbows, but they have been hard to tempt so far. Redfin are scattered around but I would go up the back in the timber if you are chasing these superb eating fish. All your favourite lures are working, so keep changing until you find what works. GLEN MERVYN DAM No reports coming in, but it fishes well every year so give it a go as it receives very little fishing pressure.

has just approved the use of electric motors outside the ski area. It was a project that I started a few years ago to gain access to the whole dam with a boat and later was followed through by a mate. This will open up the whole dam to trolling and I can see some truly large redfin coming out of areas that were once off limits. This water is twice the size of Harvey Dam and the biggest water that we have access to with an area over 1000 hectares. BIG BROOK DAM Some nice trout are turning up lately and this water fishes well

A little rainbow yearling just stocked into Harvey Dam. advanced yearlings turning up in Waroona Dam, Drakesbrook Weir and Big Brook Dam and willing to take lures, flies and bait better than the standard yearlings that were stocked

October, so they’ll be fun to catch on light gear. DRAKESBROOK WEIR This area is not firing as well for larger fish and my concern is that the water coming down from

DAM LEVELS Waroona Dam Spilling Drakesbrook Weir Spilling Logue Brook Dam 73% Harvey Dam 84% Wellington Dam 83% Glen Mervyn Dam Spilling Big Brook Dam Spilling All our irrigation Dams are well up on last year so providing good food for trout in flooded shallows.

effort with small lures or flies flicked in the tight runs. Redfin are showing up with one weighing in at 2kg being caught recently, but most are under the 30cm mark. WAROONA DAM Waroona Dam is fishing well for trout and redfin, but the ski boats are active, so pick the quiet back area known as the Fish Tail. I managed to land a couple of last year’s yearlings on a black bead head Woolly Bugger, so it’s great they survived through the summer. Some big browns are being caught, so if you are

The spillway at Drakesbrook Weir offers a good escape downsteam for our large ex-brood trout unfortunately. due to the mild summer we had last year. Trolling is again producing the larger numbers but the bank anglers are still getting a few. The better areas are the flooded grass flats and Quarry Bay is

WELLINGTON DAM There is some good news on this water, with it not only being the favoured location for a trial stocking of east coast natives, but the Department of Transport

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until midsummer when it normally gets too hot and fish go down into deep water. Spinning is a great way to fish the timbered side but watch out for snakes as this

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dam can be notorious for numbers, as is the case with any place around water in the warmer months. Redfin are always there ready to be taken and some are of a good size. RIVERS If you want a close location to Perth then the Serpentine River is worth a look with the occasional rainbow trout being caught. The only access is around a couple of kilometres above and below the highway, but be warned the ranger at the Falls is a little unwelcoming to us fishers, but if you

pools and cast into the logs where they seem to sit. Some reddies are being caught, but size is generally on the small side with larger specimen turning up further upstream. BRUNSWICK RIVER This water does not receive the same attention as others and can fish well at times, but unfortunately it’s not as productive as it once was. Still, it’s a pretty water to fish in the spring. COLLIE RIVER Above the dam, this water is a prime redfin water

happen to catch one then try releasing it as sometimes it can be a better feeling than catching and killing. BLACKWOOD RIVER Some reports have come through of a few decent rainbows being taken from Balingup through to Nannup. The numbers aren’t large but if you get one it’s normally a decent fish. Fish the fast runs with a large fly or lure and move from spot to spot until you find one. DONNELLY RIVER This is a beautiful river

being placed on the table, with some in the 7lb mark and a few 6lb rainbows waiting to be weighed by keen members hoping for a prize. Still, it gets a huge stocking and anywhere from

using soft plastics around the logs and rock bars. LEFROY BROOK Some nice rainbows and browns are showing up around the town site and upstream lately. This is a delightful little

Some big browns have been spotted but have proven hard to catch. With around 27,000 yearlings, 2,400 ex-brood rainbows, 120 very large ex-brood browns stocked recently there should be a

Big brown trout are a real chance. This one fell to a Rapala in rainbow pattern while trolling at Drakesbrook Weir.

Trolling is a relaxing way to fish and at times can be very rewarding. hold a inland licence then you have the right to fish any water within a National Park. MURRAY RIVER This river can be dead on occasions but can turn on some good fishing if

around the town site with some nice fish being caught by some of the locals. A small boat or kayak is the way to explore this river but shore anglers get their share as well. Below the dam fishes

and the top end can be good at times, but unfortunately redfin have found their way into this water so things could deteriorate over the next few years. It’s good to see brown trout being stocked into

the Rooney Bridge to the sea is worth a cast into the faster runs, with Big Streamer and Woolly Bugger flies or large lures being preferred. Redfin are being taken and some nice size fish come out of the deeper pools, try

brook to fish with a dry fly cast up in the gentle runs when the water has settled in spring. Small spinners, like a Celta, is a good choice, or small hardbodies have been working as well.

good opportunity to land a few trout this spring by the intrepid freshwater angler. Check you have a current inland fishing licence if you are 16 years or above and be aware of snakes in these warmer months.

Dani Zamani with a nice rainbow caught on a lure in a Pemberton stream. you know the spots away from the crowds. Most trout are around the 35cm mark but fun to catch in the fast water. Keep moving from spot to spot. I would choose to fish here midweek and avoid the school holidays and weekends, as the more popular times get very crowded here. Redfin are widespread and if you have a kayak it’s a better option to access the

well in the summer months with cold water being released from the dam for irrigation. It received a stocking of brown trout yearlings last year and they have done well with a number turning up with the rainbows. Look for a moderate flow and fish the runs with a fly or lure that gets down in the depths. Remember, browns love the tail of pools and if you

here for the first time in many years, so time will tell how they go with the redfin. WARREN RIVER Water levels were low in late September for the annual Fishafest held by the WA Trout and Freshwater Angling Association, with a number of fish coming out of this river although the sizes weren’t great. I can remember back in the 80s seeing a number of large browns and rainbows

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Product Profile

Lowrance goes LIVE with new flagship fishfinders The new Lowrance HDS Live fishfinder/chartplotters deliver powerful realtime sonar, charting and connectivity features. Lowrance held a media day in Sydney to give the Aussie media an advanced look at the Live units – and everyone was mightily impressed. Scan the QR Code hereby to watch the full launch video – or visit the Fishing Monthly Magazine channel on YouTube. The following is Lowrance’s release about the new units’ features, and you can expect a full review in a future issue of Fishing Monthly. ACTIVE IMAGING SONAR Active Imaging displays structure and cover with a new level of refined detail, and at a range unmatched by any other structure imaging technology. Offering superb clarity without sacrificing range, it delivers unmatched image quality of structure, fish and bottom composition. Active Imaging 3-in-1 sonar combines Lowrance CHIRP with SideScan and DownScan Imaging, allowing you to quickly search fishholding structure, and enhances FishReveal with

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Scan QR code to see Steve Morgan’s ‘Launched’ video.

higher-level clarity and target separation. Active Imaging 2-in-1 sonar includes Side and DownScan Imaging, and is perfect for use with a separate traditional sonar transducer. Simple to use without the need to change frequencies while fishing in most conditions, Active Imaging 800kHz provides crystal-clear detail with uncompromised range. If you need to see further than 120ft, Active Imaging can also operate at 455kHz. Active Imaging enhancements are coming to existing StructureScan 3D modules via a free software update. LIVESIGHT SONAR Livesight sonar delivers

the most detailed views of fish as they swim in and around cover. You’ll be fishing in real-time as you watch fish react to your lure, and see how

they are relating to structure. Mount the transducer in a front-facing position to cast toward the fish, or mount it in a down-facing position to do

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some vertical jigging. When using LiveSight forward in conjunction with the Lowrance Point-1 GPS antenna, an on-chart indicator shows the direction the transducer is pointed, allowing anglers to line up on a waypoint or pinpoint the structure they are trying to fish. GENESIS LIVE CHARTING Delivering real-time,

custom-mapping capabilities, HDS Live harnesses the power of Genesis Live charting, which uses digital depth to create depth-contour overlays

on charts. Users can control contour transparency, density of contours drawn on the screen up to unprecedented 30cm intervals, depth and safety shading colour palettes, and more. Charts can easily be saved to an SD card. LIVECAST SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION HDS Live lets you display fishing information and entertainment from their smartphones on their 12” and 16” sunlight viewable displays. Users can view their phone in full-screen or splitscreen windows via HDMI connection, allowing them to stream video, view Google Maps and fishing data. HDS LIVE features a low-profile design with edgeto-edge glass; a SolarMAX HD screen; bracket, flush and rear mounting options; user-programmable keys; and an optional fullyprogrammable Bluetooth remote. The available sizes are 7” ($1549), 9” ($3249), 12” ($4649) and 16” ($6299). LiveSight TDX is $1145, and Active Imaging TDX is $275. For more information or to locate an authorized dealer, visit www. lowrance.com. - FM

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI BIG GRIP DIGITAL SCALE

NEW SUGAPEN COLOURS

The Samaki Big Grip Digital Scale has so many features that it’s hard to name them all. For starters, the ergonomic big grip handle is ideal for weighing big fish, with the scale catering up to 50kg or 100lb. It’s very comfortable to hold in the hand while you ready your catch for the weighing process. The casing is completely waterproof and holds a 100cm measuring tape for you to document your catch with ease. The Samaki Big Grip Digital Scale also has a backlit LED screen to give you readings in low light environments, plus a built-in thermometer in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. For more information and stockists just visit the Samaki website, or you can follow them on Instagram (@samakifishing) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/samakifishing). www.samaki.com.au

The Sugapen is one of the most popular surface lures on the market today, and it comes in sizes that cater for both estuary and offshore fishing. Now the range has recently been expanded to include sizes from 58mm through to 120mm, which gives the lure enormous versatility. Bassday has also expanded the colour range, and now two new variations have been added. The current Sugapen colours remain, with the two completely new Australia-only additions being a red tiger-striped clear and gold tiger-striped clear with a pink head. For more information on this and other new releases from Bassday, visit their website or look them up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BassdayAus. www.bassday.com.au

SUFIX 131 G-CORE

HALCO MAX 220

The new Sufix 131 G-CORE is a 12-carrier braided line with an additional GORE Performance Fiber.These 13 fibres combine to guarantee a strong construction with no weak points, delivering reliability during casting, strikes and fighting action. The single strand of GORE Performance Fiber is surrounded by 12 precision braided HMPE fibres, and this results in a super-round line that is smoother, quieter and casts more accurately and further than other lines. Sufix 131’s non-hollow construction does not absorb water, thus preventing the line from getting heavier and reducing casting distance. Its solid structure also avoids conventional braid flattening, while the Gore centre fibre also protects the line from internal fraying. This new line is currently available in 4lb to 50lb in 150 yard neon chartreuse spools, and 10lb to 100lb in 300 yard neon chartreuse. Keep an eye out for it in leading tackle stores. www.rapala.com.au/sufix

DAIWA HRF SONIC SPEED 9.1R-TW

Dressed in red and ready to tear up the water, Daiwa releases its fastest HRF baitcaster ever, the HRF Sonic Speed 9.1R-TW. The super car of the HRF line-up features the designs, strength and performance that has made the HRF famous, with the revolutionary T-Wing System (TWS), Hyper Digigear, Super Metal body, Magforce Z, Magseal, Speed Shaft and corrosion resistant ball bearings (CRBB) combining to make this reel a must-have for saltwater baitcaster fans. Stopping power is at your fingertips with Daiwa’s UTD, giving you the muscle to stop fish in their tracks, while a 100mm swept handle and large EVA knobs offer added comfort and ultimate handle control. Loaded with features and with a spec sheet to impress, the new super-charged HRF Sonic Speed 9.1R-TW is a baitcaster that’s designed to amaze its users and is impossible to forget. www.daiwafishing.com.au 48

NOVEMBER 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE 2 1

If you love the sound of a reel screaming in agony as line pours off the spool, then Halco Tackle has developed the perfect lure for you in the Max 220. Halco has developed an ultra tough, sinking, bibless minnow that will get the attention of any XOS Wahoo and Mackerel, huge Tuna and other massive predators that lurk out in the deep blue. Capable of being trolled at very high speed (up to 20kt) like its smaller brothers, the lure features heavily reinforced side walls to resist punctures by the toothy brigade and able to withstand the incredible crushing pressure inflicted by the jaws of its intended victims. Halco rounded out the package by included their legendary ultra tough 7xx fish rings and Mustad 9/0 inline singles for great hook sets and the ultimate in holding potential. The lure is 220mm long, weighs 175g, and is designed for heavy trolling and jigging applications. If you are into fishing for the brutes of the ocean, look for the all new Max 220 at all good tackle outlets. www.halcotackle.com

BLACK MAGIC PINK 6 SHOCK LEADER Pink leader has been popular for some time, given that it is seen as less visible in certain water conditions. Although fluorocarbon options are common, Black Magic’s Pink Shock Leader is produced as a copolymer trace. This provides great value for money but still gives robust performance under stress. It retains the high performance in abrasion resistance and knot strength seen in Black Magic tough and supple trace. It’s coloured pink to provide less visibility, particularly when water conditions are a little murkier, and provides a more affordable option to anglers than fluorocarbon. Current breaking strains are 20lb, 40lb, 60lb, 80lb and 100lb. www.blackmagictackle.com

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA ELIMINATOR

Stunning in looks and flawless in design and performance, the new Eliminator delivers anglers one of their newest and most durable and reliable light to offshore tackle reels for some time. Designed to excel and built to perform, the Eliminator integrates many of Daiwa’s most innovative designs and technologies including Real Four, Digigear and Air Rotor, and blends them with proven designs and features to create a reel that has few peers. It features Daiwa’s famous ABS spool design, with the reverse taper spool enabling greater line control and increased casting distance. Daiwa’s ATD gives the Eliminator fingertip drag control and unrelenting stopping power. The Eliminator will never see you under gunned in the heat of battle. Dark in looks yet bright and bold in design and performance, the new Eliminator spin reel opens the door to a new age in light and offshore tackle durability and reliability. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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WILSON PLATINUM FISHING CHAIR

The new Wilson Platinum Fishing Chair is rated to 150kg and built with a wider base to ensure anyone can comfortably sit in it. This folding chair also has some clever additions for anglers. For starters there is a rod holder that can be easily attached to the left hand side of the chair on the legs, setting your rod at an easy angle. If you plan on getting up from your chair, the designers have included a peg for the leg to ensure the chair is secured to the ground, and a massive strike won’t tip the chair over. There is also a drink holder and a lined cooler bag in the arms, and a small bottle opener attached to the arm on a lanyard. On the right arm there is also a mobile phone holder pouch, to ensure your phone doesn’t get damaged when the action heats up. The comfy and strong Platinum Fishing Chair is available now in your choice of blue or purple. www.wilsonfishing.com

MAPSO SAJA #3

Mapso lures in recent years have become the go-to lures for the serious trout angler. Mapso is the Lukris house brand, which is known for their innovative ability and superior quality, and they offer 100% perfect spinning action every time. Lukris have been responsible for producing some of the world’s best known and most trusted brands. Now Lukris have released a couple of new colours in their popular Saja range of spinners in all four sizes. They have also released a larger Size 3 model that is 60mm long, weighs 7g and comes in twin packs. These will certainly be great for anglers wanting a bigger spinner for lake shore fishing, and anglers wanting a heavier lure for further casting distance. The new Size 3 size will also be suitable for a number of other species, including yellowbelly,

silver perch and bass. It is available in all 14 colours. To find out more visit the Juro Oz Pro Tackle website, or for the latest news and catch photos check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JuroOzProTackle. www.jurofishing.com

MARIA RERISE

Maria have an extensive range of floating and sinking stickbaits, but the new Rerise adds another dimension to the line-up. This new concept lure measures 130mm long, weighs 70g and can search deep areas normal minnows can’t reach. It sinks at one second per metre, allowing the angler to fish any level of the water column with the appeal of a tuned Japanese stickbait. The heavy weight enables lets you drop the lure to the bottom, and the swimming action imitates a wound baitfish, resulting in explosive strikes. Fitted with Owner ST-66 trebles and a strong wire through construction, the Rerise is ready to battle any pelagic you can target. It is available now in eight colours. www.ejtodd.com.au

HOBIE PET PFD

Why leave your pet at home while you enjoy a day on the water? You can now take your fur friend with you safely and in Hobie style, with the Hobie Pet PFD. Features include added flotation as a swim assist, grab handles, adjustable fit, leash attachment, side pockets, grab handles and soft foam undercarriage support. Happy days for furry friends! The Hobie Pet PFD is available in the following sizing: XS (12lb, 8’-12’ collar, 13’17’ body girth); S (12lb-24lb, 10’-14’ collar, 15’-21’ body girth); M (24lb-60lb, 13’-19’ collar, 18’-30’ body girth); L (60lb-90lb, 18’26’ collar, 24’-36’ body girth); XL (90lb-120lb, 22’-30’ collar, 30’-42’ body girth). Price: SRP $59 www.hobie.com

SHIMANO CATANA FD

The Catana has been revamped for 2018 and is perfect for anglers who are looking for a high quality reel at a reasonable cost. There are four reels in the re-launched Catana range, from 1000-4000 size, with the C2500, 3000, and 4000 HG having high retrieve ratios from 5.8-6.2:1 thanks to the presence of zinc DC gears. Perfect for freshwater, estuary and light offshore applications, the larger reels are capable of producing up to 8.5kg of drag power, so for relatively small reels this new range really packs a punch! The AR-C spool lip design increases casting distance, controls the development of wind knots, and creates less slap on the stripping guide. What more could you want from a spinning reel? They come with two SUS ball bearings, plus one roller bearing, so it’s smooth sailing all the way with these value packed reels. www.shimanofish.com.au

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

WHAT’S NEW FISHING ZEREK TANGO SHAD 13 1M DIVER The Zerek 50mm Tango Shad 1m diver comes in floating only, and is ideal for all manner of estuary and freshwater fishing situations. There are 10 colours in the range, covering both natural and attractor patterns, including UV colours for maximum attraction. The 50mm Floating Tango Shad 1m diver has been an amazing success story in testing on a host of estuary and freshwater species. From flathead to bream and trout to redfin, this floating lure tested incredibly with some amazing captures. Attractor colours for dirty water, natural colours for clear water and UV colours to take advantage of the latest theories on fish’s vision see these lures cover every conceivable situation in terms of water conditions. To see the full range of colours, as well as other models in the Tango Shad series, visit the Wilson Fishing website. www.wilsonfishing.com

OKUMA KOMODO SS

The Okuma Komodo SS features stainless steel main gear, pinion gear and drive shafts, along with a multi-disc, high output Carbonite drag system, giving it a level of power and durability that is the best in its class. Drag output levels include 11kg maximum drag on the 350 size and 14kg maximum drag on the larger 450 size. The high quality build includes ALC: rigid diecast frame and sideplates with CRC (Corrosion-Resistant Coating process) and A6061-T6 machined aluminium anodized spool. A micro-click drag star allows precise drag settings, and Japanese ABEC-5 spool bearings and 6-pin Velocity Control casting system allow long, smooth casts. The 350 size is fitted with 6HPB+1RB SS bearings, while the 450 size boasts 7HPB+1RB. Other features include a synchronized levelwind, optimized for braid; zirconium line guide inserts for use with braid; dual antireverse and an on/off clicker. This big fish stopper is available in a 350 and 450 size in both a left and right hand model and a 350 size in a Power Handle version. A Power Handle is also available separately for the 450 size. Price: SRP $379-$399 www.okuma.com.au

OKUMA CERROS SPIN PODS

Designed in Australia to suit Australian species and techniques, the Cerros family of spin rods from Okuma are built on quality 30T Toray carbon blanks and are finished with SeaGuide Hero Hi-Grade 316 stainless steel, anti-tangle guides and Fuji reel seats. There are five 7’ models in the range, L, ML, M, H and XH, covering everything from bream and bass to snapper, barra and pelagic species. Cerros rods feature a stylish design, classic two-tone anodized metal components and crisp actions, and they are also excellent value for money. This new rod range is perfect for those anglers wanting to get into lure fishing, and are also deadly in the hands of experienced lure fishers. A selection of Cerros baitcast models are also available. For more information on the Cerros range and on other new releases, visit the Okuma website or like them on Facebook 50

NOVEMBER 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE

at www.facebook.com/okuma.australia. Price: SRP $119.90 www.okuma.com.au

WILDFISH SMOKER DUST

13 16

The Wildfish Smoker dust and chips are perfect for hot smoking fish, poultry and other meats. They are the perfect addition to the Wildfish range of smokers. There are five flavours available: apple, hickory, peach, sheoak and wine. The wine flavour comes in a 200g bag of wood chips. All the other flavours are sawdust, and are available in 500g bags. The Wildfish Smoker cooker is constructed from long life stainless steel. It contains two smoking racks, a stainless steel drip tray and is supported on an elevated stand which houses two spirit burners for even cooking. Wildfish products are distributed by JM Gillies. For more information on the smokers and other products in the Wildfish range, visit the JM Gillies website. You can also find them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jm.gillies) and Instagram (@jm.gillies) www.jmgillies.com.au

GULP TWIN TAIL

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New for 2018 is the Berkley Gulp Twin Tail. The Twin Tail has more moves than a bowl of worms! A minnow profile with a set of twin tails that flutter and swim at any speed. Based on the crazy legs jerkshad, the designers have downsized this deadly concept to bite-sized 3” and 4” models. With 400X more scent dispersion that a plastic bait the Twin Tail is packed with Gulp scent to trigger more strikes. These new soft baits are currently available in either colours, including both natural and hivis variations, so you can match the hatch and the conditions. For more information, or to find your nearest stockiest, head over to the Berkley Australia website. For all the latest news, catch photos, videos, tips and tricks, check them out on Facebook at www.facebook. com/BerkleyFishingANZ. berkley-fishing.com.au

STRIKE PRO GUPPIE 18 NEW COLOURS Strike Pro has released two new colours in its popular Guppie swimbait lures and spare tails. There are three crltails and one Paddletail in five colours to match the Guppie lures. The TrueGlide Guppie has been the gold standard for handmade wood glide baits throughout Europe and the USA The paint schemes incorporate using paint or glitter on the inside shell of the bait, in addition to painting the outside shell, layering paint between topcoats for a 3-D effect. It also prolongs the colour of the bait fish after fish. Strike Pro has even replicated the 3-D eyes that TrueGlide are famous for. The Guppies body profile allows the lure to produce an amazing body roll and it slides from side to side in outstanding fashion. The Guppie also features an innovative cork screw at the tail of the bait allowing the angler to fish with either a curtail or paddletail soft plastic tail, creating the ultimate swim bait! The Guppie is a very effective lure that is deadly on barramundi, mulloway, murray cod and pelagic species. www.jurofishing.com

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Field-testing Daiwa J-Braid Grand: it’s a J-Braid Grand life! Last year I was lucky enough to be sent a Daiwa Tatula baitcasting rod and reel combo to have a play with, and inside the box was a spool of the original J-Braid x4 line to fill it with. For a 4-ply braid which was certainly at the lower end of retail pricing in tackle stores, I was very impressed. Some 18 months later I’m still using that same spool of line. I have had some torrid battles with threadfin salmon that have put me in and around any number of artificial and natural structures, but the braid has held up beautifully. With that in mind, you can understand my excitement in June this year when we opened an AusPost express bag with four

TESTED

I normally leave the spooling up to the tackle store I buy line from, because they’ve usually got a machine and it’s faster, packs it on tighter and leaves me more time to spend far too much on lures. However, spooling the two reels myself actually gave me a really nice feel of the lines before I’d even wet them. The first thing I noticed from both weight classes was that the new J-Braid Grand is a much smoother profile than both the original 4-ply and 8-ply versions, and also very soft and supple. It had little to no memory coming off the spool, and didn’t lose colour as it ran through my fingers that were keeping tension as it filled the reels. If you’ve ever done this job you’ll know you can end up looking

Squid have great eyes but the 10lb J-Thread Fluorocarbon did the trick and was near impossible for this tiger to see.

Not bad for your first thready. The 30lb J-Braid Grand and J-Thread Leader combo held up well in some very tight country. spools of the new Japanese made Daiwa J-Braid Grand in multi-colour, and an equal amount of J-Thread fluorocarbon leader. I took two spools of braid – 10lb and 30lb – and two spools of leader to match, and headed home to fill some reels and plan my testing missions. The 30lb went on an old Luvias DA Custom 3000 (yes, the one with the tribal tattoos on the side), and the 10lb was wound onto my Emeraldas MX 2508. The heavier set-up would come with me when chasing threadfin on the Brisbane River, and the lighter pairing would be on hand for any estuary fishing that was on the cards.

like you’ve had a fight with a packet of Sharpies. Once both reels were full to capacity it was time to tie a couple of FG knots and a rod length or so of the J-Thread fluorocarbon leader. The bride and I were lucky enough to have a babysitter that night, so we went out for a kid-free dinner and then hit the river for some thready action. The braid cast both light and heavy lures very well, with no signs of wind knots or colour fading, and it wasn’t long before the first of five nice fish were hooked and trying their best to rub through the J-Braid and J-Thread on some pylons.

Having used the old J-Braid for a long time (and enjoyed it) meant it was easy for the author to see just how superior this new version is.

The line held up incredibly well on both wooden and metal structures. The fluorocarbon was scuffed and tattered by the end of the night, but didn’t even look like breaking or rubbing through. I am a notoriously terrible knot tier, but I managed to re-tie new leaders with ease, even with a heavier line class than I normally use. With the heavier combo proving itself so well, I was pretty pumped to get out and try the 10lb versions as soon as possible. Over the last few months they’ve been put to the test on bream, bass and squid. With this set-up the lures I’ve used and the situations I’ve used them has been a lot more varied than with the 30lb combo so while the strength and durability has certainly still been tested, it’s more about performance when casting lures for long periods of time in both fresh and saltwater arenas with topwater, diving and sinking hardbodied

lures, squid jigs and soft plastics. In every situation it has performed like a braid and leader combo that you’d expect to pay twice as much for. Cast after cast it peeled off the reel with no memory, no wind knots and once I was connected to a fish or squid, performed very well under stress. J-Braid Grand is available in both multicolour and island blue in weights from 6lb through to 80lb in 150 yard and 300yd spools with RRP’s starting from only $39.99. J-Thread fluorocarbon leader comes in spools of 100m for the 4lb to 20lb classes and 50m spools for 30lb to 80lb and RRPs from $22.99. If you’re after a high quality Japanese designed and manufactured braided line or fluorocarbon leader without breaking the bank, I would highly recommend asking your local tackle store for J-Braid Grand and J-Thread. - Rupe

Another victim of the J-Thread leader. Even on a bright sunny day the line was undetectable.

NOVEMBER 2018

Round three WA Bream Classic Boat Series The third round of the 2018 Getaway Outdoors and Hobie Polarized WA Bream Classic Boat Series, brought to you by Gosen,

rain throughout winter, which seemed like it was never going to end. In that time while many of us were indoors and out of the nasty

the results at the pointy end most certainly reflected that. Making the most of these spring opportunities was Tom Harders and Joseph Gardner

provided products and a trophy board for each to take home and display. The two anglers used JML perfection rods matched with Daiwa 2500 Luvias and Exist reels. Spooled on each of their reels was 11lb Yamatoyo jigging braid and connected to the ends of their braided lines was Yamatoya 6lb Harris Fighter fluorocarbon line. During the presentation the two thanked the organisers, the sponsors for getting on board the series and on a personal note Joseph thanked his sponsor JML for the support they’ve shown him all year. Hot on their heels and falling 70g short of the winning team was Alex Greisdorf and Jack Barker from team Lowrance/ TackleTactics who weighed in a full bag at 3.4kg. The two

Team JML proved that you don’t have to be a Perth local to get in on the action and take advantage of the fruits that the Swan River has to offer. decision to head to a yacht club made all the difference. Throwing the Cranka Crabs amongst the boat hulls and

$500 cash, a Lowrance Hook2 sounder, a Watersnake PFD and a product prize pack. The two anglers used Duffrods and

Team Herring proudly displaying the four big bream that earned them the win, incredibly in an area that most teams struggled in. got underway with a relatively small field of 19 teams heading out to tackle the Swan River’s iconic black bream. The river has only just started to settle after a period of persistent

weather, the bream were busy fattening up as they are drawing ever so close to spawning. This meant that the teams who managed to find the fish were going to find them in a big way and

from team Herring who put together a fantastic bag of fish that tipped the scales to 3.47kg and earned them their maiden win. The two anglers actually began fishing while the majority of the field was

Team Strike Pro/Shimano/Hobie got to work on the bream using hardbodies to great effect as you can see. fished ZMan TRD Craws and Cranka Crabs amongst deep snags and yacht clubs in order to compile their bag. Their day wasn’t going exactly as well as they hoped but a late

pylons, it was almost a fish a cast and with a number of late upgrades they almost pinched the victory from team Herring. Yet it didn’t leave them short, they took home

Atomic rods matched with 2500 Daiwa Certate and Exist reels. Their reels were spooled with Gosen and Evo8 braid along with 3 and 4lb Sunline

Team Lowrance/TackleTactics proved that fishing right until the end pays off with most of these fish coming in the last 90 minutes of their session. still passing by and the sound of boats coming through most definitely didn’t turn off the bream. They got off to a fantastic start with a decent fish coming off one of their first casts. The early morning action didn’t stop there and by peppering shallow snags with Ecogear Aqua Bream Prawns they were able to put together much of their 3.47kg bag before some anglers even started fishing. Another decent bream was caught later on in the morning but after that the action dried up for the pair. Their early morning blitz pocketed them $1150 cash, a prize pack of sponsor 52

NOVEMBER 2018

The Lure Pro showed that the Canning is providing just as good quality bream as the Swan River is with these four chunks.

To page 53

recfishwest What the demersal closure means for your fishing There are plenty of misconceptions in the fishing community around the management of our favourite demersal species in the West Coast bioregion. The demersal fishing ban began on 15 October and ends on 15 December, so it is worth answering some of the commonly asked questions around the current status of these highly soughtafter species. How does the demersal closure protect spawning fish when many of them don’t spawn during this time? It’s a common misconception that the demersal closure was implemented to protect demersal fish while they are spawning. This is not true. In fact, this closure was implemented to reduce the overall catch of demersal fish by reducing fishing effort during this period. This period represented an adequate balance between achieving biological outcomes while having only limited social impact. Species such as pink snapper do spawn during this time; however, they are subject to additional spawning closures in Cockburn and Warnbro sounds. From page 52

FC Rock fluorocarbon leaders that was tied to their braid. Alex Greisdorf wanted to thank his sponsors Lowrance and TackleTactics and added a special mention of appreciation to Jim from Albany Rods and Tackle and to the series sponsors. Rounding off the top three podium with another

Dhufish are known to spawn at different times of year in different locations, so a spawning closure for dhufish is not an effective tool for managing the take of this species. While some believe the impact on fishers is high, it has been acknowledged that the demersal closure is playing its part in managing the catch of these important demersal species. Recfishwest advocated raising the dhufish boat limit last year. Why didn’t you advocate removing the demersal ban instead? In a nutshell, there was room to catch more dhufish, but not more pink snapper, so the dhufish boat limit was the most obvious management arrangement to alter in order to provide increased amenity to fishers without impacting on the sustainability of any other species. Research indicated that the catch of dhufish was below the target (50% of what people were catching in 2005/06) set by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Recfishwest believed that there was scope to increase the dhufish boat limit to take pressure off pink snapper and baldchin

groper. Unfortunately, catches of pink snapper were right on the 50% target, so any change to the demersal ban as a whole would have had an adverse effect on snapper catches. Recfishwest is currently awaiting the next stock assessment for West Coast demersal species, which will inform any management changes for these species going forward. I’m catching a lot of small dhufish and pink snapper, does this mean we will see a relaxation of rules in the near future? High abundances of juvenile fish is always a great sign. In the case of pink snapper and dhufish, who can live for over 40 years, any recovery of the fishery and therefore relaxation of rules must be underpinned by proper research. Given the slow growth of these fish, it’s important that we see multiple years of good juvenile recruitment before any decision is made on management changes. Right now, it’s important the recreational sector maintain their catches at current levels. I see people catching and releasing dhufish, is this recommended practice? No. Dhufish, as well as other demersal fish, suffer

from barotrauma. This is caused by the expansion of gasses inside the fish’s organs as it ascends through the water column during capture. You will see the signs of barotrauma such as organs protruding from the fish’s mouth, or the fish’s eyes appearing like they are ‘on stalks’. Barotrauma significantly reduces the fish’s chance of survival once released, and although methods such as proper handling and the use of a release weights increases the survival rate, the best practice is to keep the dhufish you intend to take home then fish for other species or move to new ground. Continually fishing the same ground and releasing dhufish after dhufish is not recommended practice. We all love the opening of the West Coast demersal season because it offers plenty of great fishing opportunities for the community. Looking after our fish stocks is our number one priority, and everyone needs to play their role. With good reports of juvenile fish around and people understanding the importance of seasonal closures, there’s no reason why our demersal stocks can’t be great again in the coming years.

very respectable bag was Matthew Jeffery and Brenton Madaus from team The Lure Pro with a full bag limit of 3.06kg. Matthew and Brenton fished snags and drop offs along the Canning River and by throwing Yamamoto stickbaits, Samaki Boombaits and Duo Bivi Vibes they were able to bag out quickly in the morning and gradually

First Place, team Herring with Tom Harders and Joseph Gardner.

Kim McIntyre holding the event’s Big Bream winning fish up to the camera, which weighed in at 1.25kg.

make upgrades throughout the day. The most effective lure was the Yamamoto stickbait, which they would let sink to the bottom then quickly lift their rod and the lure vertically into the middle of the water column before letting it sink back down. The bream gave it the tick of approval and because of that they took home $250 cash, a Lowrance Hook2 sounder, a Watersnake

WA BREAM CLASSIC ROUND 3 RESULTS Position Team Name Competitor 1 1 Herring Tom Harders 2 Lowrance/TackleTactics Alex Greisdorf 3 The Lure Pro Matthew Jeffery 4 Team StrikePro/Shimano/Hobie Paul Siemaszko 5 Team JML Kim McIntyre

Two dhufish caught before the demersal closure began on 15 October. the organisers and their own sponsor LurePro. In an event where many big fish were caught there is always one bream that sets itself apart from the rest and Kim McIntyre’s 43cm bream did just that. This donkey weighed 1.25kg and was caught on a 2.5” Motor Oil ZMan Grub. The fish smacked the lure with force, resulting in Kim’s 1/16th Jim Allen jighead to be firmly embedded into the bream’s mouth before a frantic fight unravelled. Kim wound like mad on the reel to stop this fish from getting back under cover and busting him

off, which he did to great effect. If that didn’t make him happy the $500 in cash certainly did! Last but not least, the winner of the Guess the Weight competition was Benjamin John who guessed the winning weight to be 3.41kg. He walked away with an easily earned $50 cash. Okay, so that wraps it up for the qualification rounds in this year’s WA Bream Classic Boat Series. Congratulations to everyone who managed to qualify for the grand final.

PFD and a product prize pack. Matthew and Brenton’s rods of choice were a 6’6” 2-4kg Daiwa Pinster and a 6’ 2-4kg Nitro Vapour. On the Daiwa Pinster, Matthew used a Shimano 2500 Sahara and Brenton used a Stella 1000 FI on his Nitro Vapour. Spooled onto their reels were 12lb Gosen Casting braid and 6lb Daiwa J-braid. The two thanked the series sponsors,

Competitor 2 Joseph Gardner Jack Dawson Brenton Madaus Jesse Choy Ben Scott

Total Weight (kg) 3.47 3.40 3.06 3.03 2.89

A happy Benjamin John holding up the easiest $50 cash he’s earned for winning the game, Guess The Weight. NOVEMBER 2018

Trades, Services, Charter BAIT & TACKLE METRO TackleHQ Kingsley (08) 9309 4200 WA Bait Supply O’Connor (08) 9314 1755 Castaway Tackle Malaga (08) 9248 3800 Gun-Mart & Tackle Midvale (08) 9274 5699 Earlybird Bait Rockingham (08) 9527 3333 Bluewater Tackle World Morley (08) 9375 9800 Bluewater Tackle World Myaree (08) 9330 7766 Bluewater Tackle World Joondalup (08) 6244 0344 Bluewater Tackle Mindarie (08) 9407 9766 Tim’s Tackle Plus Guildford (08) 6161 0044 Baitmate-Bricap Wangara (08) 9309 5474 Compleat Angler Nedlands (08) 9389 1337 Anglers Anonymous Fishing Tackle Supplies Canning Vale (08) 9455 2521 Dawe’s Bait & Tackle Mandurah (08) 9534 6661 Fishing WA Pro Tackle Wangara (08) 9409 2253 Hillarys Boat & Tackle Hillarys (08) 9401 4331 Sportsmarine Bunbury (08) 9721 4961 Anglers Fishing World South Fremantle (08) 9433 4768

Anglers Fishing World

FISHING GUIDES/CHARTERS Apache Charters South Fremantle (08) 9339 2432 West End Charters Winthrop WA 6150 (08) 9332 4303 Blue Juice Charters (08) 9401 4666 Mills Charters Hillarys (08) 9246 5334 Achievement Charters Fremantle 0418 655 188 Port Bouvard Charters Wannanup 0477 347 465 Blue Horizon Fishing Charters Exmouth 08) 9949 1620 Fly Fishing Frontiers Exmouth 0427 366 142 Top Gun Charters EXMOUTH 0418 925 131 Diversity Bluewater Adventures Exmouth Exmouth 0488 009 989 Set The Hook Exmouth 0433 049 988 Esperance Diving And Fishing Esperance (08) 9071 5111 Duke Charters Condingup (08) 9076 6223 Black Jack Charters Bandy Creek 0429 106 960 Spinners Charters Emu Point (08) 9844 1906 Great Southern Discovery Albany 0455 105 127 SHIKARI Charters Fremantle 0412 131 958 Evolution Fishing Charters 0477 901 445 Kalbarri land Based fishing Carters 0418930695 Tailored Treks - Lancelin 0427 941 126 Perth Fishing Safaris 0422 686 363

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www.anglersfishingworld.com.au Tackle World & Outdoors Mandurah (08) 9581 6953 Getaway Outdoors Balcatta (08) 9344 7343 Getaway Outdoors Cockburn (08) 9417 4644 Getaway Outdoors Joondalup (08) 9300 1330 Getaway Outdoors Kelmscott (08) 9495 4444 Getaway Outdoors Mandurah (08) 9581 8877

ROCKINGHAM Compleat Angler & Camping World -Rockingham (08) 9528 5255 Port Kennedy Cycles and Fishing (08) 9524 6774 Whitey’s Tackle & Camping Australind (08) 9797 0762

ALBANY Albany Rods & Tackle (08) 9841 1231 Trailblazers Albany (08) 9841 7859 Tatey’s Bait ‘n’ Tackle Castletown (08) 9071 5003 Esperance Camping & Workwear Esperance (08) 9071 2142

DONGARA & GERALDTON Dongara Sport & Tackle Dongara (08) 9927 1196 Geraldton Sports Centre (08) 9921 3664 Getaway Outdoors Geraldton (08) 9965 3766

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ALBANY Cheynes Beach Caravan Park Cheynes (08) 9846 1247 BIG4 Emu Beach Holiday Park Albany (08) 9844 1147 BIG4 Middleton Beach Holiday Park Middleton Beach (08) 9841 3593 Kalgan River Chalets & Caravan Park Kalgan (08) 9844 7937

Carnarvon Tackle & Marine (08) 9941 4161

KALBARRI Kalbarri Sports & Dive (08) 9937 1126

EXMOUTH Tackle World Exmouth (08) 9949 1315 Exmouth Tackle & Camping Supplies (08) 9949 1179

BUSSELTON 2 Oceans Tackle (08) 9752 4924 Geographe Camping & Tackle World (08) 9754 2909

BOAT HIRE BlueSun2 Boat Charters Ardross 0405 353 353 Boating West O’Connor 0429 887 798 Boat Hire Perth Mindarie 0403 095 868

WALPOLE – MANJIMUP – PEMBERTON Peaceful Bay Caravan Park Peaceful Bay (08) 9840 8060 Peaceful Bay Chalets Peaceful Bay (08) 9840 8169 Rest Point Holiday Village Walpole (08) 9840 1032 Coalmine Beach Holiday Park Walpole (08) 9840 1026 Riverside Retreat Walpole, (08) 9840 1255 Nornalup Riverside Chalets Nornalup (08) 9840 1107 Pemberton Caravan Park Pemberton (08) 9776 1300 Warren Way Caravan Park Balbarrup (08) 9771 1060 Manjimup Central Caravan Park & Deli Manjimup (08) 9777 2355 RAC Karri Valley Resort Beedelup (08) 9776 2020 Big Brook Arboretum Pemberton (08) 9776 1207 One Tree Bridge Chalets Manjimup (08) 9777 1196

AUGUSTA Flinders Bay Caravan Park Augusta (08) 9780 5636 Molloy Caravan Park Kudardup (08) 9758 4515 Turner Caravan Park Augusta (08) 9780 5633 Hamelin Bay Holiday Park Hamelin Bay (08) 9758 5540 Sheoak Chalets Augusta Augusta (08) 9758 1958

MARGARET RIVER

HOPETOUN – BREMER BAY

ESPERANCE

DENMARK Denmark Rivermouth Caravan Park Denmark (08) 9848 1262 Denmark Ocean Beach Holiday Park Denmark (08) 9848 1105 Karri Aura Caravan Park & Motel Suites Shadforth (08) 9848 2200 Denmark Waterfront Denmark (08) 9848 1147

Prevelly Caravan Park Prevelly Park (08) 9757 2374 Gracetown Caravan Park Gracetown (08) 9755 5301 Riverview Tourist Park Margaret River (08) 9757 2270 Margaret River Tourist Park (08) 9757 2180

Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour Mews Road, Fremantle WA 6160

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Emu Beach Chalets Emu Point (08) 9844 8889 Albany Holiday Units Middleton Beach (08) 9841 7817 Havana Villas Albany (08) 9844 1085 Lilacs Waterfront villas & cottages Robinson (08) 9841 2390

Albany Happy Days Caravan Park King River (08) 9844 3267 Albany Holiday Park Albany (08) 9841 7800 King River Palms Caravan Park Willyung (08) 98443232 Two Peoples Caravan Park Kalgan (08) 9846 4024

YALLINGUP – DUNSBOROUGH Caves Caravan Park Yallingup (08) 9755 2196 Yallingup Beach Holiday Park 1800 220 002 Dunsborough Lakes Holiday Resort (08) 9756 8300 Dunsborough Beach Cottages (08) 9756 8885

BUSSELTON RAC Busselton Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9755 4241 Busselton Villas & Caravan Park Busselton (08) 9752 1175 Geographe Bay Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 4396 Lazy Days Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 1780 Amblin Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9755 4079 Four Seasons Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9755 4082 Busselton Holiday Village Busselton (08) 9752 4499 Sandy Bay Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9752 2003 Fourseasons Holiday Park Busselton (08) 9755 4082 Busselton Beachfron Busselton (08) 9755 2607 Busselton Jetty Chalets Busselton (08) 9752 3893

BUNBURY Bunbury Glade Caravan Park Bunbury 1800 113 800 Discovery Parks - Bunbury (08) 9795 7100 Binningup Beach Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9720 1057 Riverside Cabin Park Bunbury (08) 9725 1234 Leschenault Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9797 1095 Waterloo Village Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9725 4434 Brunswick Junction Caravan Park Bunbury (08) 9726 1544 Taralea Farm Bunbury (08) 9728 1252 Australind Tourist Park Bunbury (08) 9725 1206

MANDURAH Pinjarra Caravan Park Mandurah (08) 9531 1374 Mandurah Caravan & Tourist Park Mandurah (08) 9535 1171 Belvedere Caravan Park Mandurah (08) 9535 1213 The Dwellingup Chalet and Caravan Park (08) 9538 1157 Waroona Caravan Village (08) 9733 1518 Timber Top Caravan Park (08) 9535 1292 Lake Clifton Caravan Park (08) 9739 1255 Miami Holiday Park (08) 9534 2127 Tathams Caravan Park (08) 9537 6844 Peel Caravan Park (08) 9535 4343 Lake Navarino Holiday Park (08) 9733 3000 Estuary Hideaway Holiday Park 0407 838 061 Pinjarrah Holiday Park (08) 9531 1604 Waters Edge Caravan Park 0427 281 622 Mandurah Ocean Marina Chalets (08) 9535 8173 Murray River Caravan Park (08) 9537 6140 Footprints Preston Beach (08) 9739 1111

This section in WA Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. 54

NOVEMBER 2018

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory MOORE RIVER – LANCELIN – CERVANTES Guilderton Caravan Park (08) 9577 1021 Branchys Holiday Homes Guilderton (08) 9577 1321

JURIEN BAY – GREEN HEAD – LEEMAN Jurien Bay Tourist Park Jurien Bay (08) 9652 1595 Green Head Caravan Park Green Head (08) 9953 1131 Leeman Caravan Park Leeman (08) 9953 1080

DONGARA – GERALDTON Seaspray Beach Holiday Park Dongara (08) 9927 1165 Dongara Tourist Park Port Denison (08) 9927 1210 Leander Reef Holiday Park Port Denison (08) 9927 1840 Port Denison Holiday Units (08) 9927 1104 Double Beach Caravan Park (08) 9921 5845 Batavia Coast Caravan Park (08) 9938 1222 Drummond Cove Holiday Park (08) 9938 2524 Horrocks Beach Caravan Park (08) 9934 3039

KALBARRI

Chandlers Marine Service Wangara (08) 9303 9366

DERBY Kimberley Entrance Caravan Park (08) 9193 1055 West Kimberley Lodge & Caravan Park (08) 9191 1031

Mobile Marine WA Osborne Park 0428 225 877 GP Marine Cockburn Central 0408 913 104 Hitech Marine Wangara (08) 9309 2888

KUNUNURRA Town Caravan Park (08) 9168 1763 Wyndham Caravan Park (08) 9161 1064 Lake Argyle Caravan Park (08) 9168 7777 Discovery Parks - Lake Kununurra (08) 9168 1031 Kimberleyland Waterfront Holiday Park | Kununurra (08) 9168 1280 Ivanhoe Village Caravan Resort (08) 9169 1995 Lake Argyle Resort (08) 9168 7777 Hidden Valley Caravan Park (08) 9168 1790 Kununurra Lakeside Resort (08) 9169 1092 El Questro Wilderness Park 1800 837 168 Kona Lakeside Caravan Park (08) 9161 1139

BOATS Aquasports Marine Midvale (08) 9250 3339

Bravo Marine Services Bayswater (08) 9272 9300 Seasport Marine Kelmscott (08) 9498 1799 The Boat Business Henderson (08) 9437 5144 Total Marine Repairs Mandurah (08) 9582 7211 West Coast Boat Works Perth Landsdale 0439 969 459 Boat Lifters Blue HQ Perth (08) 9239 9333 Bravo Marine Services Bayswater (08) 9272 9300 Perth Boat Mechanics Huntingdale 0405 593 786 GP Marine Cockburn Central 0408 913 104 Platinum Boating Maintenance Wangara 0402 477 656 Parker Marine Fremantle (08) 9336 6979 Westmarine Boating Services Fremantle WA 0425 177 700

MARINE ACCESSORIES

Murchison River Caravan Park Kalbarri (08) 9937 1005 Kalbarri Anchorage Caravan Park Kalbarri (08) 9937 1181 Kalbarri Tudor Holiday Park Kalbarri (08) 9937 1077 Murchison House Station Kalbarri (08) 9937 1998 Kalbarri Beach Bungalows A & B Kalbarri (08) 9937 0400 Murchison caravan park Kalbarri (08) 9937 0400 Kalbarri Blue Ocean Villas Kalbarri (08) 9937 2442

Challenge Batteries Osborne Park (08) 9446 6122 JPW Marine Wholesale Distributors Perth (08) 6253 3000 Whitworths Marine & Leisure - Leerderville (08) 9381 1442 Crackpots Marine Supplies O’Connor (08) 9337 2211 Hydrowave – www.hydrowaveaustralia.com

SHARK BAY Denham Seaside Caravan Park, (08) 9948 1242 Shark Bay Caravan Park (08) 9948 1387 Blue Dolphin Caravan Park and Holiday Village Denham (08) 9948 1385 Oceanside Village Denham Shark Bay (08) 9948 3003 Bay Lodge Denham Shark Bay WA (08) 9948 1278 RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort (08) 9948 1320

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CARNARVON Wintersun Caravan and Tourist Park (08) 9941 8150 Capricorn Holiday Park (08) 9941 8153 Outback Oasis Caravan Park (08) 9941 1439 Carnarvon Caravan Park (08) 9941 8101 Norwesta Lifestyle Park (08) 9941 1277 Coral Coast Tourist Park (08) 9941 1438

CORAL BAY Peoples Park (08) 9942 5933 Bayview Coral Bay (08) 9385 6655 Ningaloo Club (08) 9948 5100 Ningaloo Reef Resort (08) 9942 5934

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Discovery Parks Port Hedland (08) 9173 1271 Port Tourist Park Port Hedland (08) 9172 4111 Blackrock Tourist Park South Hedland (08) 9172 3444 Landing Resort Port Hedland (08) 9172 4111

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EXMOUTH

Dampier Transit Caravan Park (08) 9183 1109 Discovery Parks - Pilbara, Karratha (08) 9185 1855 Karratha Caravan Park (08) 9185 1012 Discovery Parks - Balmoral, Karratha (08) 9185 3628 Harding River Caravan Park (08) 9182 1063 Aspen Karratha Village Baynton (08) 9185 2726 Karratha Apartments Karratha (08) 9143 9222 Searipple Village Karratha Bulgarra (08) 9158 7400 Karratha Village Karratha 1300 321 669

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John’s mobile trimmers Jandakot (08) 9417 4414 Cutting Edge Marine Trimming O’Connor 0432 062 834 Mandurah Motor Trimmers Greenfields (08) 9581 8180

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Northbank Fibreglass Boats @northbankboats MARINE MECHANICS Falcon Services Australia Midvale 0458 852 591 Bay Marine Maintenance Crawley (08) 9386 7059 Pleisure Marine Maintenance O’Connor (08) 9337 9569 Boat Fix Balcatta (08) 9240 8778 Parker Marine Fremantle (08) 9336 6979 Matich Marine East Fremantle (08) 9339 7722

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Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call 0417 901 301 or email nick@fishingmonthly.com.au NOVEMBER 2018

Planning a boating trip PART 1 BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Owning a boat definitely widens your fishing horizons, but there’s more to going fishing than just going fishing. Many years ago I often fished on mates’ boats, and they weren’t always

any of us suffer through misfortunes when they can easily be avoided? Whether the proposed excursion is to a local hotspot or you have to make a long drive to a distant ramp, it’s worth considering things that might throw a spanner in the works. First, the trailer. Why the trailer? Well, it’s generally a major part of any the boating set-up so it

attention. Sorry about that! It’s good to put some lubricant on the winch gears and axle and then closely examine the strap (if you don’t have a cable) to look for any nicks or small tears. These little flaws can widen dramatically when you’re retrieving a boat and they’re under serious strain. LAUNCH LESSONS The D shackle that links the boat and safety chain is

Let’s have a cast! Planning the trip carefully and checking out all aspects of the rig to avoid problems will give you peace of mind. well. You should never ever simply undo the chain and let her go! If the boat races back too quickly and kisses the concrete there’s

wiring and accessories are already in place. Next comes the winch handle. Many trailers have a removable handle, and these

BOAT BITS Now let’s turn our attention to the boat itself. Regular checks and maintenance are important,

The safety chain shackle should be carefully maintained to avoid issues with jamming on the ramp. maintained correctly, so we were sometimes involved in what you might call ‘issues’. Have you ever seen a tinny come off a box trailer at 100km/h on the M1? Enough said, I’m not going there.

needs a once-over. The first thing to do when you get home is to check all lighting and indicator functions. If something isn’t working, a spray with an electrical contact enhancer might just bring to life the offending contact

a definite risk management site. How often have you seen a boat backed down a ramp, a member of the launch team trying in vain to undo a seized shackle, and then frantically searching for a tool? It’s a good idea to clean out the bilge pump occasionally. This lot came from the author’s boat’s bilge area, and he thought he’d kept the craft very clean! a big chance of damaging a valuable and hard to replace transducer. Trying to feed a new transducer plus cabling back through the boat to connect to a sounder can be a nightmare when other

are notorious for being left on the winch when the boat is retrieved, and they then get lost on the drive home. You should always keep a spare winch handle under the car seat.

particularly if you’re planning a trip far afield, a long way from your local marine/chandlery outlets. It’s easy to fire up the engine at home to assess battery performance and

Pedestal seats rely on screws to connect the seat to the base framework, so it’s best to ensure that they are all tight! While there was always lots of fishing and boating, sometimes things happened that made a trip memorable for the wrong reasons, and the memory of these events is why I’ve decided to write this article. Why should 56

NOVEMBER 2018

or contacts. Wait a short time after the application of spray, and gently jiggle the trailer’s plug into the car’s socket. This will either bring a smile to the dial or confirm that there is a wiring problem which needs

Meanwhile other people are waiting to launch and getting annoyed as work progresses on the offending shackle. It’s not a good way to start a trip. The launch itself is worth thinking about as

A $25 spray deflector will keep displaced water from a transducer from finding its way to the engine’s intake.

ease of start-up, and while the engine is running you can have a quick look at the engine gauges to check that all’s well. Next is the bilge pump. You never know when a bilge pump will be required, but unfortunately it’s very hard to assess what is down in the bilge sump area that might inhibit the bilge pump

pump turned off, remove the bung to totally flush the bilge to wash out foreign material. As sure as night follows day, this stuff will accumulate over time. Now to seating. Pedestal seats are deservedly popular these days, but it’s a good idea to up end a seat now and again to ensure that none of the screws or other

FILL HER UP! Fuel issues in outboard engines are legendary because our modern unleaded 91 RON petrol does not remain in good condition in hot weather. If the fuel in the boat’s tank is months old it can degrade in as little as a month during a hot summer. With this in mind, it’s wise to

The author’s Galeforce had its maiden run without a spray deflector, and you can see the displaced water it created to starboard of the E-Tec. with its busy little impeller. If possible, try to get a ‘feel’ for things by having a poke around the bilge sump and pump. If it’s difficult to physically access the bilge area – as will be the case with some craft – there’s nothing wrong with running a hose into the bilge area and giving it a good top up to test the pump’s ability. Then, with the

fittings holding the seat onto the base are loose, or even missing. You should also look for unwanted material in tote tanks. Tote tanks in smaller boats are conveniently portable so it’s easy to check for cleanliness and possible intrusion of unwanted material. And on the topic of fuel tanks…

think about the fuel prior to hooking the boat up. Old, stale fuel can cause filter issues, pre ignition, and other problems. Adding a stabilizer (always into fresh fuel of course) when a boat is going to be idle for an extended period is a handy safeguard. Likewise, it’s a good idea to leave the fuel tank

almost full prior to the next use as it will prevent unwanted air intrusion into the tank. Because there’s moisture in the air, when the temperature drops, it can cause condensation. Don’t fill it right to the top though, because in hot weather fuel will expand and then find its way out of the filler neck (which of course doesn’t have a lockable cap like a car does). Another thing you can do if the tank has been left somewhat depleted, but certainly not for a very extended period, is to add higher octane fuel to top it up. A last word on fuel: its smell can tell you whether it’s stale or not. It may not be possible to check the fuel smell in an underfloor tank, but with a tote tank you can. When the petrol has degraded due to aging it will smell like rotten eggs. Don’t be tempted to merely top it up with 95 RON as it will still be degraded and can cause engine damage. It’s best to remove it and start again. TRANSDUCER ISSUES This paragraph might be of particular interest to people who have recently bought a boat. We all understand that a transducer must be right in line with the bottom of the hull to be most effective, but said transducer can also be responsible for a lot of spray coming up onto the engine when travelling at speed. Even freshwater spray, if it’s up around the engine’s air intake, can shorten an engine’s useful life, so a spray deflector set onto the transom just above the transducer puts

that worry to bed. My own Galeforce 4.5 centre console had its maiden run in Somerset Dam without a deflector over the transducer. The accompanying image shows the extent of spray deflection which I fortunately picked up on

immediately. I restricted my speed to less than planing pace that day, and fitted a deflector immediately after the craft came home. That’s it for this issue. Check out the December issue for more tips on how to prevent unwelcome issues from cropping up.

Lucy Bonnin enjoyed a bit of squid fishing during her recent holidays. She caught this one in Princess Royal Harbour in Albany.

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The author with a Tinaroo Dam barra. Your boat and trailer need to be in tip-top condition when you go fishing far from home.

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NOVEMBER 2018

Torqeedo Ultralight revolutionises kayaking FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Recently, Fishing Monthly Magazines attended the launch of three of Torqeedo’s electric outboard motors by their Australian distributer, Power Equipment. German manufactured Torqeedo is recognised as a leader in the field of electric motor technology. In particular, for their attention to detail when it comes to minimizing battery use, while maximizing output. At the time we were impressed by what we saw and looked forward to getting our hands on them to put them through their paces. After catching up with Jason Hodder from Power Equipment and Paul Varasdi from Aquayak Kayaks, I organised with them to ship an Aquayak Scout kayak with a Torqeedo Ultralight 403 1hp fitted to our office. Once it arrived, we quickly organised to go to Hinze Dam in the hinterland of the Gold Coast to see if it would meet our expectations. TORQEEDO ULTRALIGHT 403 IN A NUTSHELL This outboard is designed to be mounted on a kayak. A universal mounting ball means that 58

NOVEMBER 2018

it can be attached to most brands of kayaks and the partnerships Torqeedo has with numerous well-known kayak brands overseas is a testament to this. Aquayak, a Melbournebased kayak manufacturer, is their Australian partner. They offer two models, which are ideally suited to having the Ultralight 403 fitted to them, which are the Scout and Ranger kayaks. Weighing in at just 7.3kg including the battery, the Ultralight, as the name suggests, doesn’t add a significant amount of weight to your kayak. In the case of the Scout kayak we tested it with, the total weight still falls well under 30kg, meaning it can still be manhandled by one person. Included when you purchase a 403 is the outboard, high performance 320Wh lithium battery with integrated computer and GPS, throttle with display, mounting ball, charger, magnetic kill switch and a bag for it to go in. The cost is $2750. Spare batteries can also be purchased, or you could option for the solar charger, which allows you to charge the battery while you are using the kayak. BATTERY LIFE The million-dollar question when it comes to any electric motor is, how long will the battery last? Jason Hodder provided me

with some pretty impressive figures from when the 403 was attached to a similar sized kayak to the Scout. At slow speed (approximately 4km/h) you can get a range of 35km or a battery life of just under 8.5 hours. Half throttle (approximately 6km/h) has a range of 25km or just over 4 hours of use. Full throttle (approximately 9km/h) provides a range of 7km and just under 1 hour of use. During our test at Hinze we were on the water for 4 hours. About 10% of this time would have been at full throttle and the rest was as you would use it in a normal fishing situation, and the unit only used 18% of the battery. That says to me that you could expect to get a couple of days on the water from the battery, as long as you don’t go full noise too often. To fully charge the battery from empty takes around 5 hours. The beauty of lithium batteries, other than how light they are, is the fact that they have no charging memory. This means you can charge them after every use and not worry about diminishing the capacity of the battery. ON THE WATER Hinze Dam was the perfect location to test the 403. It is a picturesque waterway in the hinterland behind the Gold Coast that has very good bass fishing

and watercraft can only be electric or paddle powered. As a ‘crawl before you walk’ type person, I had some reservations prior to launching in the eastern arm of the dam. The biggest being, how many times was I going to end up in the drink while I was getting used having the Ultralight powering the kayak? I needn’t have worried, once I deployed the 403, using a toggle system on the side of the kayak it only took me 5-10 minutes to get a feel for the pulley steering, the throttle, and then you couldn’t stop me after that. In many cases power was your friend. Turning from a stationary position was much easier when you applied a bit more throttle. This turned the nose of the kayak quickly and set you on your way. The steering is simple and I was very quickly negotiating my way around the abundant timber of the east arm of the dam. The motor also has reverse, which was great to position yourself when casting and also to get away from structure when you hooked a fish. I can hear everybody asking about what it performed like at full throttle. The answer is really well. It got up to a fraction under 11km/h (5.8 knots) and still handled and steered beautifully! At the end of our session on the water, I

decided it was time to be a bit more daring and test out what would happen if I lent back or sideways at speed (expecting to end up in the water). Impressively, the kayak either banked left or right , depending on which way I leant, and was easily corrected once your weight was centred again. No swimming in Hinze Dam for this puppy! Should you have a spill, the magnetic kill switch that you attached to your lifejacket or arm will automatically turn the motor off. CONCLUSION I can think of numerous occasions I would have loved to have an option like the Torqeedo Ultralight 403 for my kayak over the years. The first that comes to mind is Googong Dam just outside my hometown of Canberra. We were very limited with our electric motor options when I was fishing there, and the 403 would have been the ultimate bonus to get us to some amazing fishing, even all the way back then. Extended trips on rivers is another scenario where the Ultralight would provide the icing on the cake so to speak. You have all the stealth a kayak provides, with the bonus of paddling less and returning to areas, knowing that time constraints are less of an issue. However, I digress.

There are many positives the Torqeedo Ultralight 403 provides. The first and foremost outside of the places it can take you is how light the unit and battery is. Matched with the Aquayak Scout, it is a one-person fishing machine. The simplicity of the steering and the deployment of the unit suited the simple person using it and makes using it achievable for any person. It should be noted that there is also the option to have it attached to your existing steering system). I think I would add a solar charger as an option if I were to purchase a unit. I love the thought of the battery charging while I am out on the water. You also couldn’t help but be impressed by how frugal the motor was with its battery use. This just backed up the claim that Torqeedo is at the forefront of electric motor technology. If you are a kayak owner or somebody who would like an electric motor option, you don’t need to look any further than the Torqeedo Ultralight 403. To find out more about the Ultralight 403 and the range of Torqeedo motors you can visit the Power Equipment website www. powerequipment.com. au/products/torqeedo or through Aquayak kayaks at www.aquayak.com.

Fishing success for the author with a nice little Hinze Dam bass. The Torqeedo Ultralight 403 is a 1hp electric motor that can be attached to most kayaks.

Aquayak kayaks have two kayaks that they fit the Torqeedo onto, the Scout (tested) and the Ranger.

The author found the steering to be very easy to use and ended up navigating the timbered areas of Hinze with ease.

The lithium battery that comes with the unit is compact and lightweight, which means it is perfect for this kind of application.

The Torqeedo was easily deployed with a simple toggle system.

Simple is always best and the throttle unit is easy to use. It has forward and reverse and provides battery usage information as well as speed.

The universal mounting ball provided with the unit allows the 403 to be fitted easily to a kayak. NOVEMBER 2018

Sea Jay’s 460 Vision CC with Yamaha F75 - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

NOVEMBER 2018

it. Like the rest of the boats in the Sea Jay range, the warranty is effectively doubled with the purchase of the factory-matched trailer. It’s good value in our eyes. The single axle setup is achievable with a half-ton hull weight and allows you to manoeuvre the boat in

PERFORMANCE • Top speed 63.5km/h at 5900 rpm • Best economy at 4000rpm of 3.3km/L

Main: It was great to be able to take the 460 Vision out for a serious test in some rough water. Above: Powered by the new Yamaha F75 (which is 1.8L, compared with the 1L existing F70), the rig delivered 3.3km/L at 4000rpm. With a massive 2.3m beam, this 4.6m long boat holds a console that would be at home in a hull much longer. Well designed, with a grab bar all the way around

SPECIFICATIONS Length overall.......................................... 4.74m Bottom........................................................4mm Sides...........................................................3mm Beam...........................................................2.3m Depth........................................................1.24m Floor ribs........................................................ 11 Capacity........................................ Five persons Hull weight............................................... 495kg Max hp............................................................75 Max motor weight................................... 175kg went over the setup and quickly deduced that this rig was for anglers who wanted the versatility to fish anywhere from a tidal river to offshore.

DE FOR EX

One of the most popular boat tests we’ve completed in Fishing Monthly recently was the simple and effective Sea Jay Ranger 460 – an unpainted, tiller steer open boat with the Samurai hull. That hull – powered by a 70hp tiller Yamaha – struck a chord with anglers Australia-wide. This iteration of the same hull is painted, has a plywood, carpeted floor and a giant console. Enter the Vision 460. And we finally got a nice, rough day to take the test boat for a spin – 15-20 knots from the southeast with a big tide is a pretty standard nasty-dayon-the-bay. Meeting Sea Jay’s Garry Fitzgerald at the ramp, we

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

CON

AN THE

Same as most boats? Yep, and once you learn the limits of the hull, you’ll comfortably traverse water that’s too uncomfortable to fish in. High gunwales make this rig comfortable to fish in, especially from the cockpit.

FMG

the windscreen, there’s ample room for a mountain of big screen electronics and a dry storage shelf underneath. The front casting deck is elevated from the main

floor, but not so high that it’s unfishable in a bit of a sea. Underneath the floor is some gear storage and a compartment that’s ideal for the batteries for the bow mounted trolling motor. On the water, we had plenty of opportunity to see how this boat performed in a variety of conditions. In the lee of the wind and chop behind the headland, the Vision jumped up and onto the plane with the 1.8L 75hp Yamaha showing the benefit of its displacement. Around the corner where the waves and wind met current you needed to match the trim and speed of the boat to conditions. Get it right and the Vision lands gently, with the bow cutting the water. Try to traverse the chop too fast and you’ll

land the boat on the belly of the hull and wear the bang to match.

Wound out to 5900rpm, the Yamaha pushed the Vision along at 63.5km/h, but the most economical speed was at 4000rpm, there the Vision delivered 40km/h at a frugal 3.3km/L. Cradled on a Sea Jay aluminium I-beam framed trailer (manufactured by Dunbier), the Vision isn’t so heavy that you’ll need a specialised 4WD to tow

tight garage situations. Overall, the 4.6m Vision would suit an angler that wants the best of all worlds, with a bent more towards bay and inshore fishing than estuary work. For more information, visit Sportsmarine Boat Centre at 57 Strickland Street, Bunbury or go to their website sportsmarine. com.au or call 08 9721 4390

With a 2.3m beam and 4.6m overall length, the Vision is definitely a wide boat with a big ol’ console. Spinning a 15” GP Alloy Yamaha prop it definitely jumps up and onto the plane.

With a steep entry up front flattening out to a 16° deadrise down the back, the 460 Vision’s Samurai hull addresses the balance between stability and ride.

The upswept shape of the Samurai hull has become a Sea Jay trademark.

Now that’s a big console – we loved the handrail the whole way around and the abundance of room to mount electronics.

You can have the best of both worlds up front. The traditional, roomy anchor locker and bowsprit can work with an offset mounting plate for a bow mounted trolling motor.

A plumbed livewell in the port corner transom is a typical, simple Sea Jay design.

The front casting deck is raised, but to an intermediate height. This provides a balance between height and stability in rougher conditions.

The practicality theme continues towards the transom with the fibreglass cooler doubling as a seat.

Even with a medium-height casting deck forward, there’s still a mountain of room to store gear underfloor – including trolling motor batteries.

Store your catch, your lunch or the food for a week away in here. The world’s your oyster with the Vision set up like this.

Cradled on a Dunbier-built, Sea Jay-branded aluminium I-beam trailer, the Sea Jay gets a twoyear rather than a one-year warranty – a solid reason to go with the factory-designed kit.

There’s some extra storage in the transom and the standard side-pockets are great for the incidental gear you’ll take for a day on the water. NOVEMBER 2018

WHAT’S NEW BOATING YAMAHA SUMMER SALE

Say hello to summer with Yamaha’s outboard sale, and take advantage of this special deal: $15 per hp off all 2.5-130hp Yamaha 4-stroke outboards. This offer provides significant savings of up to $1950. Whether you are repowering or buying a new boat, Yamaha is giving boaties this summer the perfect opportunity to pick up a new outboard for less. From the revolutionary F25 and F75 to the next generation F90, Yamaha outboards have been fuelling the summers of Australian boaties for many years. With one of the most extensive ranges of outboard engines in the market, Yamaha has reliable engine options for every boat, large or small. This special limited offer is available to recreational customers until 30 November. Visit your local Yamaha dealer to learn more, or visit the Yamaha Marine website. You can also check them out on Facebook at www. facebook.com/YamahaOutboardsAustralia. www.yamaha-motor.com.au/outboard

AUGMENTED REALITY FROM RAYMARINE 2 Raymarine ClearCruise AR (Augmented Reality) brings enhanced on water awareness to Raymarine’s Axiom multifunction displays (MFDs). There is also a new video stabilisation module, the Raymarine AR200, which integrates with ClearCruise. ClearCruise AR video imagery is supported by Raymarine CAM210 HD marine cameras to provide an augmented reality view from any camera position on the vessel. The video stabilisation module includes a precision GPS/GNSS sensor and the same attitude heading reference sensor (AHRS) technology used in Raymarine’s award-winning Evolution autopilots. ClearCruise AR accurately displays nearby navigation markers, automatic identification system (AIS) traffic, objects, and waypoints in sync with real-world imagery, which is ideal for complex navigation and high traffic situations. ClearCruise AR for Raymarine Axiom, Axiom Pro, and Axiom XL is compatible with the upcoming LightHouse 3.7 OS update. Price: SRP $999 (camera), $899 (video stabilisation module) www.raymarine.com/clearcruise

SIMRAD HALO24

Simrad’s HALO24 combines the performance and reliability of Simrad’s radars with the advantages of innovative technology and a lightweight design. It boasts 60rpm high-speed rotation at distances up to 2nm. Offering high quality short, mid, and long-range detection, up to 48nm, HALO24 processes multiple ranges simultaneously for instantaneous Dual Range performance. VelocityTrack Doppler technology provides instant visual feedback on the motion of radar targets in relation to the boat – colourcoding approaching vessels, as well as MARPA functionality, decreasing the risk of collision. The lightest 24” Pulse Compression radar dome on the market, the low profile Halo dome offers different power-level options. In a matter of seconds, the radar will boot from low-power standby to full functionality in any mode—harbour, offshore, weather, and bird. This easy-to-use radar optimizes up to 18 parameters for each pre-defined mode. Price: SRP $3599 www.simrad-yachting.com 62

NOVEMBER 2018

MERCURY FOURSTROKE SALE

Big savings of up to $1150 are now available on selected 2.5-115hp Mercury FourStroke outboards. By acting quickly, boat owners can also take advantage of Mercury Finance’s very competitive loan rate of just 3.99% (comparison rate) for 40-150hp repowers**. The Mercury FourStroke Revolution savings offer is available to recreational and commercial customers until 23 November. Mercury FourStrokes deliver reliable starting, excellent fuel efficiency, smooth operation, electronic fuel injection (EFI models), tougher components, corrosion protection, and the availability of SmartCraft digital monitoring on selected models. *All new 15 and 20hp FourStroke models excluded. **For recreational customers. Fees, terms, conditions and credit criteria apply. www.mercurymarine.com.au

RAYMARINE RVX1000

The RVX1000 3D CHIRP Sonar brings RealVision 3D high-powered CHIRP Sonar to Raymarine’s Axiom XL MFDs (available in 16”, 19”, 22” and 24”). The RVX1000 can be customised to fit any boat with a wide range of available transducer options. There are dual transducer ports; Port 1 supports a Raymarine RealVision 3D transducer system while port 2 supports a range of AIRMAR broadband CHIRP transducers. Supported channels include: RealVision 3D, which shows you in 3D space the exact position of fish and structure (you can rotate the image and view it from any angle); CHIRP DownVision, which gives you a high definition, 2D photo-like view of underwater structure and fish as deep as 180m; CHIRP SideVision, which can see out to 90m on both sides in water as shallow as 1ft, and produces photolike images; High Frequency CHIRP, used for spotting gamefish and bait balls to depths of 270m; and 1kW CHIRP, which delivers excellent performance in depths up to 1500m. Owners of Raymarine eS and gS Series systems can also use RVX1000 sonar. www.raymarine.com.au

SUZUKI DF175A AND DF150A

PRODUCT GUIDE

The new Suzuki DF175A and DF150A deliver outstanding power and performance together with superior fuel efficiency – all from a super compact and lightweight unit. Osawa Yasuharu, Executive General Manager, Global Marine Products Operation, said the DF175A and DF150A both benefit from Suzuki’s Lean Burn Control System, which is designed to save fuel both at low speed and up into the cruising range. “The new DF175A and the DF150A are packed with the very latest Suzuki’s technologies,” he said. The new outboards are equipped with a Semi-Direct Air Intake System for a cooler flow of air, O2 Sensor to optimise combustion, and a knock sensor for superior reliability. Suzuki has also utilised its pioneering offset driveshaft to move the outboard’s centre of gravity forward, to improve balance and reduce vibration on the transom whilst contributing to the outboard’s overall compactness. The DF175A and DF150A will be available in early 2019. www.suzukimarine.com.au

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

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Business Profile

Millard Marine’s got southerners sorted Millard Marine is one of WA’s preferred dealership for new and used boats and service, located in Bunbury. If you are looking to buy, sell or trade-in on one of our new and used boats or service your current boat, Millard’s have got it covered, with the one-stop toy shop for boating enthusiasts. They offer one of the largest ranges of new and used boats in WA, a fully equipped and dedicated boat servicing department

and a great range of boat and trailer spare-parts and accessories. Representing a great array of major brands, you can rest assured we will have the product you’re looking for. Those interested in Formosa boats, they offer a range of these great rigs to get out and enjoy the fantastic water that this part of the world is famous for. So if you’re in the market for a new boat, or are thinking about enetering

the grand world of boating, Millard is your one-stop shop if you live in the south. For more information on their range of Formosa boats, or any other of the myriad products they have in stock, visit www. millardmarine.com.au. If you want to call in and see the team and check out the range of boats and accessories in stock, you can find them at 13 Halifax Drive, Bunbury, WA. You can also call them on (08) 9721 3033. – FMG

Seasport Marine a paradise for Perth boaties Seasport Marine is a family owned and operated business that prides itself on service and value for money. At Seasport Marine, they can get you into your dream boat much sooner than you think! Whether crabbing at Mandurah, chasing marlin off the coast at Exmouth, or taking the family to Rottnest, Seasport Marine can put together a new or second hand boating package to suit your lifestyle and/or budget.

Seasport Marine can help you with a number of things. Firstly, you’ll find a huge range of new boats, outboard motors and trailers. If you’re looking for something more affordable, they also have a great range of used boats, outboard and trailers. You’ll also be able to source spare parts, both new and used, and accessories. Outboard servicing is available for all brands and models, with their highly qualified and experienced marine technicians more

than willing to sort you out. Seasport are agents for a number of big brands, which includes Formosa. Seasport have a fantastic range of Formosa boats on hand, and cover everything from ready inshore vessels, to offshore rigs for multi-day fishing adventures. For more information, visit www.seasport.com. au. You can browse their range of Formosa boats, spare parts and accessories, or you can book a service for your outboard motor!

Alternatively, you can call in and see the team, and browse through the

yard to see if anything takes your fancy. Seasport marine is located at 19 Brant Road,

Kelmscott, WA. They can be contacted on (08) 9498 1799. – FMG

NOVEMBER 2018

- JOIN THE FOURSTROKE –

REVOLUTION

UNBEATABLE SAVINGS UP TO $1150 ON SELECTED 2.5–115HP FOURSTROKE It’s time to join the Mercury Revolution and get out on the water this Summer. With UNBEATABLE savings across a range of 2.5 – 115 horsepower FourStroke models and great Mercury Finance offers also available…Why Wait? So, go online to find your nearest participating Mercury Dealer and join the Mercury FourStroke Revolution today.

HURRY OFFER ENDS NOVEMBER 23RD 2018. mercurymarine.com.au