Western Australia Fishing Monthly September 2019

2019 PERTH INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW GUIDE INSIDE

Features Bag demersals before the close • Spring prospects • Buying a used boat • Kayaking vs SUP •

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Tried & Tested Daiwa TD Zero rod range • New products from Rapala • Northbank 55R with Mercury 115hp • Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed with V8 Mercury Verado 250hp •

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September 2019, Vol. 2 No. 1

Contents 6

METRO

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Metro 11 Metro Offshore

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SOUTH COAST Esperance 14 Bremer Bay

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Albany 15 WEST COAST Augusta 16 Busselton 19 Bunbury 20 Mandurah 21 Lancelin 24 Geraldton 26 GASCOYNE COAST Exmouth 30 NORTH COAST

From the Editor’s Desk...

This time last year we put together the first issue of WA Fishing Monthly and here we are one year later still going strong! To have such a strong following so fast with a new publication here in WA has been overwhelming. We have a great group of area report writers as well as feature writers and working with everyone has been a pleasure. As always though, we are always looking for new writers so please get in touch if you are keen to earn some extra fishing money or think you have something interesting to share.

Later this month is the Perth International Boat Show. We will be there manning the stand and giving out some mags so come along and wish us a happy birthday, grab a mag and have a chat! We will also

be doing subscription specials for the show, so be sure to get down and check out all of the show specials on offer.

New rules around pink snapper have already come into place as of 1 September for Cockburn Sound, and about time too. While most seem to think the rules are overkill, I think it is great, and hey, the benefit of overkill is that you

can wind it back later or fine tune it as we go. Looking after spawning aggregations and habitat should be our highest priorities as without these, there are no fish in our future.

Next month we are back into the demersal ban, so if you need a feed of demersals check out the article from Jesse Choy in this issue for a few tips to have a bit more success.

Ian Sewell Fishing around the state has been very good over the past month and it seems that it is set to only get better as the weather sorts itself and we move closer to summer.

As always, if you have not taken the boat out for a while, get it serviced and make sure everything is working as it should be. There is no point in taking risks with other peoples’ lives or your own.

Now is also a great time to think about joining your local Volunteer Marine Rescue Group, these guys do a great job around the state and joining will keep you safer while out on the water.

If you have the time, why not also consider volunteering with your local group, as they are always on the lookout for more volunteers!

As always, I hope you have a great month on the water and I hope to catch up with a few of you at the show!

Broome 32 Dampier/Karratha 34 FRESHWATER

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2019 PERTH BOAT SHOW GUIDE

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Bag some demersals before the close 6

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10 years in - Samaki has a very bright future The fishing tackle industry has changed significantly in the last 10 years, but one brand that has adapted and thrived in that time is Samaki, they are responsible for a fantastic range of high-quality gear covering everything from rods to clothing and an ever growing stable of reliable, affordable lures!

This year, Samaki celebrates 10 years in this very competitive industry, and Josh Lowry, the company owner, couldn’t be prouder. In 10 years Josh has started the company from ground zero, built a team, produced some fantastic Australian designed fishing gear, and rivalled some of the best-selling gear in the country and the world.

Josh used his experience in tackle retail to pick a good time to enter the fishing tackle market.

“I was working in retail at the time, and when I left there was a massive gap in the market for rods, with only a few rod brands dominating,” he said.

“I’d always been into my rod building and lure making, and had a crazy habit for lure collecting, so that’s basically how it begun.”

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Our motto is Quality first

Australia has produced fishing gear locally for a long time, but when Samaki was starting out as a brand, much of the available Australian gear was low quality or for entrylevel users.

“We were trying to create a high quality brand made by an Aussie, and at the start it was also super affordable,” Lowry said.

“Our motto is ‘Quality first’, we don’t build it for the price, we build it for performance.”

Of course, growing the business hasn’t all been smooth sailing, and there have been a few hurdles and mistakes that the team have had to learn from.

“We brought out micro jigs in 2010, and we pushed them because it was a craze overseas, but we had to get rid of them because there was no call for it here yet,” Lowry said. “We ended up bringing them back a few years later when the craze finally

reached Australia.”

But outweighing these setbacks by a country mile are the achievements, and Josh is particularly proud of some of the products he and the team have managed to create.

The design, finish and fish-catching ability of many products under the Samaki banner is testament to the tireless hard work and determination that went into them.

“The most painful ones are probably the ones I’m most proud of,” Lowry said. “Making a product that works from scratch is definitely the winner for me.”

“A lot of people probably don’t realise how much effort goes into making a lure from start to finish. We have an extremely successful vibe range, and it took nearly three years to develop!”

Josh is always looking to the future, and has big plans for the business in the next few years. He sees Australia’s fishing tackle market as having huge potential still, and wants to be there to give the anglers what they want.

“We’re about to release a lot of fresh new products over the next 18 months, expanding into new territories with some exciting gear to come.”

Josh’s determination to deliver a quality product that is created by Australians for Australians is the reason they have become such a loved brand in Australia. The future clearly holds a lot for the dedicated team at Samaki, and we’re all very keen to see what’s next for this innovative Aussie favourite.

Some of their iconic high end graphite rods Zing, Zing Xtreme, Vamp, C-12, Vanquish and Jig Pro series sit at the forefront of the Samaki name. The world renowned Vibelicious and Pacemaker lures have already been impacting in Australian fishing history as well as on the global market.

Samaki are proud to be a part of the Australian fishing tackle industry, passionate about our products and their customers.

Bring on the next 10 years!!

Still time to bag some demersals before the close MANDURAH

Jesse Choy

The demersal ban is almost upon us again, so it’s time to get out of the house and get stuck into a few fish, and maybe stock up the freezer with tasty fish for the closure! The

begin on 1 September and run until 31 January.

Such regulations protect large aggregating schools of pink snapper, so anglers should take care when out fishing and do what they can to ensure healthy stocks in the future. Seasonal closures such as these and others around Western Australia are best

How’s this for a chunky West Australian dhufish? This dhuie gave Craig some trouble while it was trying to get home! ban comes into place on 15 October and runs until 15 December, meaning that you have only a limited amount of time to target these bottom dwelling species before you are forced to focus on other things to get your fix.

It’s well worth noting too, that both Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds have their own pink snapper bans, which

clarified prior to heading out on your mission just to keep on the safe side of things.

Fishing with fresh bait always increases your odds and often outshines the packaged bait. While packaged baits bring in great-sized fish, presenting something straight from the ocean will tempt the fish that can be quite smart and sometimes fussy.

GATHERING BAIT Heading out from our coastline, there are markers, poles and rock walls are all around. These structures are great for species like herring or salmon trout, which will happily take a bait chasing rig or small soft plastic dropped down beside them. When fishing horizontal structure with lures, remember that casting parallel to the rocks will allow you to bring your lure back through the structure that the smaller species love to hang around. When fishing for your bait along these rock structures, it can be worth throwing out a squid jig if you notice some weed patches amongst the rock, as you will often find some of your bigger squid are on this

to get quickly onto some good squid gathering grounds close to the boat and even from the shore. As previously mentioned, rock walls with a bit of weed around are a great place to start, but if you are heading out wide, you may want to squid some of the slight deeper weed beds like the ones around Rockingham, Garden Island, Woodmans Point, Coogee and Fremantle.

Jig colour choices varies between anglers, but you can work on the theory that when the water is less clear, you may want to turn to bright colours that pop and stand out.

Bold colours like pink, orange, green, yellow and even black are top performers when it comes to catching squid in messier conditions. When the

Releasing pink snapper every now and then is a great way to ensure WA anglers have future stocks in the years to come. broken ground. Often you will find squid relatively close to shore, using your sight to both catch squid and locate suitable grounds. Stopping where it is clear, with water depths of around 3-4m, and casting around your visible patches should get you onto enough squid for a reef fishing session.

In most cases you are able to both gather your fresh bait or a delicious feed, or both!

Since you can hunt squid in shallow water, you are able

water clarity is quite good, you can often opt for more natural colours, like gold, pilchard, white and prawn patterns. Although these colours are generally quite subtle, the natural colours are a big winner for many, as they do a great job at imitating real baitfish and crustaceans.

DEMERSAL PREPARATION Although there are plenty of advocates for monofilament

Fishing with soft plastics from the kayak is insanely fun. Brad spends a lot of his time side imaging structures and dropping down his plastics to land awesome quality fish like the one. lines, there are just as many anglers switched to fishing with low-stretch braided lines and fluorocarbon leaders.

Fishing a fluorocarbon leader is very beneficial, as not only does it add abrasion resistance, but it is also your friend when it comes to powerful runs and absorbing shock.

Choosing your leader strength is dependent on your personal preference, but will more often be influenced by the type of structure you are fishing on the day. Lighter leaders will generally fool bigger fish, providing great sport, but stopping them and getting them out of the structure than becomes harder.

Depending on how the fish are biting, heavier leaders may or may not decrease your capture rate, but when you do hook up, you have a far greater chance of being able to land the fish by going harder and applying more pressure.

Most anglers targeting demersal finfish tend to fish around 20-40lb, but bait anglers can get away with fishing as heavy as 80lb and the fish will still find it hard

to turn down a well presented bait. Although you are able to fish as light as 10-12lb, it certainly pays to rig slightly heavier in anticipation of the bigger bites. You will certainly feel a bit more reassured if a big fish comes along.

Knots for connecting your braid to your leader can be as simple or complex as you like. The double uni knot will serve a lot of purpose, but you can also use more slim line knots that pass through the guides much easier, such as the FG, PR or Improved Albright knots. There are a lot of ways to tie each knot, so it is definitely best to do some research online and find a way that works for you, so that you can hang on to your fish with more confidence.

When rigging for a bait fishing mission out of the boat, there are many different approaches and ways to catch fish. One rig that constantly gets mentioned is the paternoster rig. Other popular rigs include a single hook or snell rig run either unweighted or with a ball sinker. Time on the water is the best way

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A few different rigs worth giving a crack when you head out. Note that running rigs allow the fish to feel less weight, whereas paternoster style rigs are better for lifting your bait off the bottom.

to refine your process, as it broadens your understanding to things such as bait size and preferences in certain waters. Sometimes you might want to drop down a whole squid and at other times it is much more beneficial to run

FINDING GROUND Looking for good places to start fishing or signs of fish doesn’t always involve electronics, although it does play a big part in today’s fishing scene. Fishing deeper water is certainly harder

Thys is known to put himself through a bit of pain and loves fishing lighter leaders, even when targeting bigger fish. just a tube ring with plenty of hook exposure. You can spend your life attempting to crack the code, but varying your approach when you head out and trying a few different things at one time will help you to work it out what the fish want eventually.

without the help of electronics, considering you cannot see what you are driving over or the way the structure is shaped to effectively fish and or drift over it. One of the most popular ways of fishing these days is using crayfish pots to identify various rock

structures, which they are usually positioned on. Fishing around these pots can lead to fish on some quiet days, but keeping a distance is also a good idea to ensure you don’t leave hooks in any ropes or gear beneath the surface.

Good places to check when heading out can consist of both flat and vertical structures in anywhere from 5-100m. Fishing hard flat rock bottoms, small drops and mounds can hold some of your biggest fish. Not overlooking the smaller raises or drops also means that you are often fishing untouched waters and covering more ground in general.

BERLEY Berley deserves a special mention, as it has proven its worth time and time again.

When berleying, a cage to keep your mix in is a great way to go, as it lets out a scent and small snacks for the fish to keep them interested. Good quality cages often come in stainless, which means you won’t need to put an external weight inside to drop it to where the fish are. If you have a cage or have made one yourself that is unweighted, it can definitely pay to put in a few sinkers, rocks or small bricks to act as a weight and keep your berley from coming to the surface.

Baitmate are a great local brand manufactured in WA.

Herring, squid and salmon all make top snapper baits when they are available. You never know what you will get when your bait is fresh!

Brands such as Baitmate offer premixed berley and pellets that can add a lot of content to the other products you may choose to place inside your cage. These days you can buy frozen blocks that slowly release their scent, and you can also make your own blocks with things such as bread and other foods that have gone out of date in your pantry.

Lifting your cage approximately 1m from the bottom will help distribute your berley and also allow the swell surge to bounce your cage without your attendance.

If freezing your own berley blocks, it pays to keep in mind the size of your cage, to ensure

you are easily able to drop the berley in, even when the block is rock solid and straight out the freezer. By doing this, it will ensure the block lasts throughout the day, and you are also able to return unused blocks back to the freezer for another mission.

Being mindful of your drift or boat positioning will not only allow you to fish the structure lines for longer, but will also allow a more effective cast into the berley trail, making the bait presentation more natural.

If you are fishing shallow, it is possible to visibly locate structure, provided the water is reasonably clear and you are aware of your surroundings

at all times. Anchoring ahead of the structure, keeping drift direction in mind will allow you to bring fish out of the structure, making it slightly easier to both hook and land the fish.

TRY SOME PLASTICS Soft plastics to 7” in size are worth trying, but generally you should start with something around 4-5”. The best profiles to use varies amongst anglers, but for any sort of demersal fishing, curl-tail or shad profiles are generally the most popular options.

Curl-tail plastics such as ZMan GrubZ are great since they are durable, but the tail is also supple enough to with the motion of the waves and flow, depending on how you rig your lure. Shad style plastics come in a lot of different shapes and sizes, but split and paddle-tails certainly shine when it comes to this sort of fishing. Not only do these lures offer a more active approach to fishing, but in comparison to a curl-tail, they also rely a lot more on your ability to impart an action into the lure to tempt the fish.

When manually jigging your plastics, you can fish with slow raises of the rod and you’ll often feel the weight of the fish on the lift. Another popular way of working plastics is to erratically whip To page 8

SEPTEMBER 2019

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From page 7

your lure and let it sink.

Fishing with plastics, whether it be for bream or pink snapper, is an anything goes type of technique, and you shouldn’t think there is only one way to go about doing it.

Switch it up, do things you’ve never done before and you might be surprised!

When choosing a jighead to match to your plastic, the old saying go light to get the bite should come to mind.

Ensuring that your soft

plastic doesn’t plummet to the ocean floor will allow the fish more time to look at your offering, and it will also look like it is descending in the water column more naturally. Your plastic is not only more enticing on the fall if rigged as light as possible, but when you choose to hop, jiggle or shake your plastic, it is also suspending off the bottom for a second longer before returning to the floor.

Weights from 1/4oz up to a heavier 5/8oz will serve you

for most of your inshore fishing, but occasionally you may find yourself stepping up to 1oz to keep in contact with the bottom in the rougher conditions. Heavier jigheads to 4oz are generally best in waters upwards of 50m, however if you are leaving a curl-tail in the rod holder while you drift over shallow grounds it can really put you onto some good quality fish and can bounce away while you do other things.

The best plastic colours

Allowing your boat, berley and cast to work together often results in some great fish coming aboard. Positioning correctly ensures you get the most out of your session.

are widely debated, but there are quite a few standout colours regardless of the profile. Nuclear chicken, bleeding banana, glow white, coconut pink, pink, pilchard and bright orange are all favourite colours for anglers.

Choosing colours is not something you should obsess over, but you should certainly aim to change it up every so often, if you’re not getting the desired results.

When you are going offshore, you are generally better off focusing on rigging your plastics as straight as possible, your jighead weights and retrieves play a bigger part when it comes to catching fish on plastics.

JIG FOR JOY Jigs are well worth trying, especially if you are out targeting dhufish on the rocky structures. Slow fall jigs, which are more rounded in shape, are generally the anglers’ choice when targeting demersals, as they offer a slower fall rate, whereas knife jigs both descend and ascend faster, which is far more effective for species that actively hunt faster moving prey.

Like plastics, jigging technique is best left to the angler, as there is no proper way you need to go about things. Slow lifts, continually picking up your slack line and also rapid jigs with pauses allowing your jig to sink back to the bottom are really effective. When fishing in depths up to around 50m, a jig of 80-120g is going to be a great start, but if there is a fair bit of current and you’re finding it hard to get your jig in the zone, going heavier might help.

Above: So long as you have weed beds, you are generally going to find some squid if you are patient and try a few different jigs. There are so many jigs out there, you just need to find what works for you.

Below: Trying different style jigheads can produce different results, and it also affects the sink rate of your plastic. Choosing a few different colours is beneficial since a lot of the time you will be trying to figure out what is working.

glow, zebra, orange, red and gold are all very popular choices amongst anglers.

LOOKING AFTER YOUR CATCH Caring for your fish can sometimes be overlooked in the heat of the moment when things are going on all around you. Ensuring that you take the time to properly measure any questionable fish, as well as bleeding your fish quickly and putting them on ice will ensure that you are going to get the most out of

before heading out is from a local. Checking out local boat ramps, filleting stations and tackle stores can be very beneficial for finding what is working in the area. A lot of tackle stores have great knowledge on rigs, terminal tackle and effective local ways at approaching your next mission. If you have a little bit more time on your hands, you may want to also pick up an almanac from your local fishing store and plan your trip around the best times.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Similarly, if you find your jig is getting to the bottom quite quick, you may want to try and change your approach and use a lighter jig. Colour choice is totally dependent on your personal preference, but choosing patterns that resemble something in the natural environment will usually turn over some good results. Pattern choices are endless, with companies continuing to revolutionize their approach to jig design, but colours such as sardine,

what you have borrowed from the ocean.

If you are releasing any demersal finfish, it is also a requirement that you send your fish down on a release weight to heighten their chances of survival once they leave the boat. Avoiding contact with dry hands or rags prior to release (especially around the gills) will help fish to survive and also protect the slime coat.

DO SOME RESEARCH As always, the best information you can get

Remember that if you are heading out, especially by yourself, keep your own safety in mind. Wearing a life jacket, logging into your local marine safety channel, educating your passengers on procedures in case of an emergency and carrying all the appropriate safety equipment will ensure that you return from the great day out on the water.

Enjoy the short window of time before the close, and don’t forget your RFBL!

IT’S NO SECRET. JUST ASK.

SUZUKIMARINE.COM.AU

Springtime prospects NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Right across the country, but especially down south, anglers keenly await the better weather and improved fishing prospects that typically accompany springtime.

“Spring has sprung, the grass has ris’… I wonder

spring often took a little longer to really take hold than we might have hoped.

The lawn had indeed begun to grow once again, after lying dormant for several months, but very often those promising flower buds remained stubbornly closed for at least another week or two.

These days, most people in the southern hemisphere regard 1 September as

hours apiece).

The precise timing of the vernal equinox can vary by a day or two from year to year, typically falling somewhere between 19 and 23 September. In 2019, that all-important equinox doesn’t occur until 23 September. But personally, I’m more than happy to count 1 September as spring’s official kick-off…

After all, it already seems

Spring is a great time to get back to basics, chasing a few rock wall bream on bait. far more active and many rainbows are actively seeking gravel beds in an effort to spawn. The trout season in streams and rivers is already open in Tasmania and is about to reopen in Victoria, although those of us in NSW have to wait another month, which hardly seems fair! Meanwhile, over

to the Gippsland Lakes, dusky flathead are shaking off their winter lethargy and beginning to bite much more freely, as are yellowfin or sand whiting, while offshore it can be a great time for snapper and even an early run of kingfish in some areas.

Surveys and anecdotal

you have reels that need topping up or re-spooling with line? And what’s going on inside closed tackle boxes that might not have seen daylight since May? Are your hooks a corroded mess? Are you running short of sinkers in the sizes you most commonly use?

Do your lures need a sort

You’ve got to love a springtime mulloway, even the small ones!

You might still need to slip on the hoodie for an early or late session, but the fishing is definitely warming up. where the flowers is?” I can clearly remember my father reciting that quaint little ditty at this time of year. As a kid, I was never quite sure what it meant, but over the years I came to understand that it was a humorous acknowledgement that the lengthening days and gradually warming weather we typically associate with

signalling the official end of winter and the welcome beginning of spring.

However, some would argue that spring doesn’t actually start until what’s known as the ‘vernal equinox’: that moment when the sun crosses the earth’s celestial equator and our days and nights become roughly equal in length (at around 12

as if winter has hung around for far too long, and I’m just about ready to see the back end of it!

Overall, spring is a wonderful time for all sorts of fishing. In NSW and Victoria, the bass and estuary perch season reopens on 1 September, while in the cooler and higher country, trout are now becoming

Spring is a wonderful time of year to be on the water, regardless of where you choose to fish and what you chase.

The next few weeks can be a great time to begin seriously targeting snapper of all sizes in our offshore waters. Make sure your reels are well topped up with fresh line first!

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SEPTEMBER 2019

in WA, the South Western trout season is year ’round these days.

Of course, it’s not all about seasons opening.

This is also the time of year when the Murray cod season closes in all but a handful of impoundments, in order to help protect these highly-prized native fish during their spawning period. Anglers should leave river cod well alone to get on with that important job for the next three months.

Luckily, there are plenty of other options: in both the fresh and salt.

Right along the eastern seaboard, from Hervey Bay

observations consistently indicate that the number of anglers hitting our waterways ramps up dramatically from about early September onwards.

In particular, the two big footy grand finals (AFL and NRL) staged later in the month tend to mark a sort of unofficial kick-off for what many southerners regard as the serious fishing season.

Time to dust off dormant gear and get out there!

But before you hit the water, it can really pay to pause for a moment and give your gear the once over. In particular, how are those line loads? Do

out, a clean-up and quick re-sharpening of their treble hook points? If so, now is definitely the time to do it!

I actually find it quite therapeutic to pull all my gear out at the beginning of spring and check it over.

Go through it and see what needs servicing, upgrading or replacing. Jot down a list of the top-ups you might need and then hit the local tackle shop for a bit of retail therapy. Apart from anything else, it’ll really put you in the right frame of mind for some new season fishing action!

Anyway, happy spring and tight lines!

Metro

Land-based luxuries as weather warms METRO

Hon-Su Chin

With spring comes warmer weather and increasing water temperature.

Although the Cockburn Warnbro Sound Pink Snapper Ban is coming up, squid can still be caught from this

area, with the added bonus of a few early season Spanish Mackerel.

Spots such as Woodman Point, Ammo Jetty, Port Coogee and Coogee Jetty are great land-based spot for all these fish. North Mole is also another great spot for squid, as well as skippy and herring.

Berley is the key for those

Above and right: Luke Ryan from Tackle West has been getting into the squid out from Woodman Point in Cockburn Sound. He managed to get his bag limit within a couple of hours on this occasion.

There’s a soft plastic down there somewhere…

chasing herring and skippy.

They are also great to target on lures. Various metal lures and soft plastics, such as ZMan 2.5” GrubZ and 3.75” StreakZ are the go-to lures for these species.

Drone fishing has become an increasingly popular way of fishing. Although expensive, it’s a great way of getting your bait out further without getting yourself wet in a kayak or a boat. Many people

have been having success with pink snapper, mulloway and sharks all along the metro beaches fishing in this way.

Black bream have been increasingly active throughout the river particularly around East Perth, Herrison Island, Canning Bridge and the foreshore around the Old Swan Brewery. Soft plastics such as the ZMan 2” and 2.5” GrubZ have been producing the better fish.

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11

Metro

Plastic pandemonium METRO OFFSHORE

Hon-Su Chin

It’s going to be a great month this August, with some good weather on the cards. Many have made the best of the weather, getting out chasing bottom fish.

Plenty of good size dhufish have been caught up and down the Metro Coast, with the bigger fish in northern metro waters and out deep in over 40m. Metal jigs and soft plastics rigged on Vexed Dhu jigheads have been doing the damage.

One angler was not

having much luck bottom fishing with bait at the back of Rottnest. He decided to drop down a 150gm Vexed Dhu Bomb and soft plastic and nailed a fantastic dhufish. It just shows even a beginner can catch fish on soft plastics!

Other than the usual

Snapper are just another species that will happily scoff a plastic. bottom fish, squid have been prolific at times, particularly when when the sun has been shining and the water is nice and clear. The stretch inside Garden Island, between Carnac Island and the

shipping channel have been producing good numbers, as well as the front of the abandoned power station.

There are also squid around Woodman Point and just south of Woodman Point

Boat ramp. These are great spots for a bit of kayaking, as the water is sheltered and easily accessible. Jigs of choice have been the Harimitsu jigs in the lemon and AR red colour.

Jeff Morrisey has been getting into some good dhufish using plastics.

Jay Simpson with a cracking dhufish caught on a Hunt Tackle Kacka soft plastic.

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Reece Powell joined the 20kg+ club with this behemoth of a dhufish caught on a Lamble Bait jig.

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A 150gm Vexed Dhu Bomb and soft plastic was the undoing of this chunky dhufish.

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South Coast

Having fun on flathead BREMER BAY

Bremer Rural Staff

At the moment there is some good fishing off the beaches.

Skippy and herring have been consistent in the gutters of Triglow, Bremer and Short beaches. Look for a gutter with a bit of flow along the beach for around, say, 100m.

The best gutters have an entry/exit to deeper water for the fish to use. If you find a gutter like this and you cast out a piece of

mulie on a running sinker rig, you should get results.

There are still a few salmon about on the back run, mainly on Dillon and Short beaches. Because the fish aren’t in concentrated numbers, it can be a good ideal to use metal lures, as they let you cover a lot of water to find the fish. The best metals seem to be those with a bit of colour along the side, such as a Halco Twisty, Spanyid Raider or Sure Catch Knight.

Alternatively, you can do what most people do and use mulies. Coral prawns

also catch their share.

Most of the salmon caught lately have been at least 60cm long, so they’re nice size fish, but you can’t always trust them to play the game. On a recent trip my son said he could see the salmon sitting there but it didn’t matter what he threw at them, they just wouldn’t bite.

Lots of squid are being caught off the rocks and at the marina. It’s been a great year for squid; everybody is talking about how many there are. Catching a few of these tasty cephalopods

Frankie was very happy with this Bremer Beach flatty.

A good feed of flatties for the family.

is a great way to spend an evening.

Offshore the fishing has been good when the weather has allowed. When the winds have eased, offshore anglers have been catching nannygai (Bight redfish) and queenies in good numbers, often coming home with their limit. There’s also the odd groper popping up now and then. Please remember to bring your life jackets and know your bag limits.

At the moment not much is happening in the river because of the rain.

When it eases off, we should see things settle down in a

couple of weeks.

A few flathead are being caught off Triglow Beach on mulies fished with a medium sinker in the gutters. You can catch them at any time of day; one customer caught a good at 11am. Even if you don’t catch a fish, Triglow Beach is a great place to be.

We were out there the other day and saw 30-40 whales go past, which was amazing.

Both southern right whales and a few humpbacks are still around.

FISHING IN SEPTEMBER The fishing for some species should start to

quieten down this month, but there will be more King George whiting off the rocks. You can also have fun chasing herring and sand whiting out in the bay, with a piece of mulie fished on a paternoster. Flathead will be around as well.

• Bremer Bay Rural & Hardware is your one stop shop in Bremer Bay for all your fishing, camping and hardware needs. To browse the range, stop by 144 Wellstead Rd or give them a call on (08) 9837 4274. You can also find more information at www. bremerbayhardware.com.au.

Changing targets in spring ESPERANCE

Murray Johnson

It’s the start of spring, and more anglers are getting out for a fish.

Locals fishing off the Tailor Street jetty have been catching herring, the occasional King George whiting to 35cm and some smaller skippy around 0.5kg, usually early in the morning. At night there are still plenty of squid and garfish.

If you’re there to chase herring, skippy or whiting, try bottom fishing with a bream or whiting rig using either a sliding or fixed sinker. You can also target herring on the surface using floats, along with the garfish. Adding berley will usually help to get the bite started. The squid tend to hide low in the weed during the day and come up to the lights at night. Using a rise and fall motion brings the most success during the day. At night, use a quicker retrieve higher in the water column.

Bandy Creek boat harbour is being dredged, so there’s a lot of stirred up mud and sand. This 14

SEPTEMBER 2019

has attracted some hungry predators, including King George and black bream, and at night there are garfish and herring.

The local lakes have plenty of black bream. At

be very aggressive, with fish up to 40cm being landed.

Topwater and shallow diving lures are worth trying, and the bream’s favourite baits are strips of herring or river prawns.

Corey Johnson with a nice offshore skippy that took a liking to the jigs. this time of the year you have to be a bit more patient to get them to bite in the colder water, but once you get them interested, they can

Salmon are all along the coast, but usually in smaller schools of up to 30 individuals, rather than those large dark clouds created by hundreds

of fish. Salmon Beach has been very successful, and you can also catch herring and salmon trout.

At Fourth Beach through to Fourteen Mile you can target the salmon along with good skippy and flathead plus the occasional nighttime gummy shark at this time of the year. Most fishers target them on paternoster or snelled rigs. You don’t get many tailor here so nylon leader is fine.

If you have a 4WD and want to try Roses Beach, you can get big salmon up to 8kg, with the average size being 4-5kg. There are also skippy to 3kg, and this is where you find those occasional tailor of 2-3kg.

Roses and its salmon also attract a fair few bronze whalers, with younger anglers paddling out baits around 200m offshore at night.

Popular outfits normally include a 10,500 size reel and 37kg rod to give yourself a fighting chance. Most fishers practice catch and release, but if you do want to keep a whaler remember that they have a maximum size limit of 700mm (measured over the inter-dorsal fins) in the west and south coast bioregions.

Further out west of town, another good spot is

You can never be sure what will take the hook.

Mark Pittard with his surprise cuttlefish.

Munglinup Beach, but be aware of how soft the beach sand is to drive on. It’s a nice place to camp, and there are plenty of herring and small salmon.

Closer to town at Stockyards (Wylie Bay) you can chase smaller salmon, skippy and good sized flathead

around 2kg. There’s also plenty of herring and even the occasional pink snapper.

It’s also a good spot for small soapy mulloway. It’s 4WD access but at this time of the year the beach sand is usually firm and easy to travel along.

To page 15

South Coast

Successful missions despite big seas and little rain ALBANY

Albany Rods & Tackle staff

The conditions have been a bit hot and cold around Albany recently, but those choosing their days have been able to put together some nice feeds.

OFFSHORE Big red snapper out near the continental shelf have been a target for the bigger boats recently, however only boats around 8m have been able to reach these ground with the swells we’ve been getting. Fish up to 3.5kg have been common for those going to the effort. The shelf is about 26 miles out, so From page 14

Dunns Rock, Wharton Beach, Alexander Bay, Thomas River and Poison Creek are all fishing well for salmon at the moment, along with herring and skippy. Poison Creek and Thomas River are also great spots for bronze whalers and mulloway.

A couple of guys are doing some more designated rock fishing targeting blue groper, which are prolific in the area. The best bait is crabs, and it’s recommended to use breakaway sinkers to try to eliminate snags.

Samsons and yellowtail

care needs to be taken when making this trip.

Anglers in smaller boats have worked what we call the coral in around 60-80m of water and getting a good mixed bag of species. The main prize is the dhufish, however breaksea cod, pinkies and queen snapper have graced anglers bags, but anglers are finding they have to move about a fir bit in order to find good numbers.

Samsonfish have been about, with a few anglers targeting them in reefy areas, with the chance of a yellowtail kingfish thrown in.

Most will head to broken reef, coral bottom, or any contour lines to find their

fish. Smaller red snapper can be taken in this area, but they will be smaller than the ones outside, but most are still legal.

There’s been a few sharks out there, which are mostly bronze whalers whiskeries.

Depths of about 60-80m east or west of Albany seem to be the places to go looking for shark.

It’s worth remembering that east and west of town is all beach launching facilities, so make sure you check out the beach before launching.

BAYS King George whiting are about and being found in reasonable numbers and in sizes up to the low 40s. The

The Esperance Deep Sea Angling Club supported by Recfishwest have installed rock bolts and life buoys along some of the popular headlands. You can also borrow inflatable life jackets and rope from local tackle shops.

BOAT FISHING The Archipelago of the Recherche, known locally as the Bay of Isles, is a group of 105 islands so the boating options are bountiful.

The tinny brigade fishing in the bay are catching lots of squid, with some going 1.5kg.

The trick with catching these squid during the day is to fish

The sand whiting may only be around 30cm long but they’re solid fish. You can catch them in depths from 8-15m. Unlike fishing for King George, you don’t need to fish around weed patches, as you can find them on the sand. Do a drift to find what depth they’re at, and then anchor on that depth line. Snook also prowl along here, nailing both baits and lures, even squid jigs.

Trolling is a great way to target inshore species. Snook love gold lures, so good choices include gold Laser Pro 120s, Halco gold Twisty or Bomber Long A in chrome gold. There are herring mixed

slightly deeper water seems to be the place to find them.

Amongst the KGs should be a few sand whiting as well.

Squid are also a good target at this time of year, but again, the deeper water seems to producing best.

Anything in around 10-15m is a good bet, with the shallower water producing smaller squid.

With both whiting and squid, it pays to be fairly mobile and look around a bit to find good numbers.

Those getting results are moving around a lot to find their fish. When squid fishing, some have found a few cuttlefish, which some people like to eat.

ESTUARIES The river is still fishing well, however lots small bream have made up the majority of captures.

West of town seems to be better, particularly towards Denmark. In town we’re just find there’s lot of small fish, however they are still good fun.

Out east the fishing is slow because there’s so little water in the estuaries. We really need some rain to top the systems up.

SHORE-BASED FISHING Shore-based has been a bit quiet, and the salmon seem to have gone east. If you want to get them you’re better of heading towards

Bremer Bay. As always there’s plenty of herring about if you want a feed.

Skippy are another fairly reliable target, with some nice ones to 1kg (and sometimes over) being reported. The evening has produced better results.

The odd samsonfish has been plucked off the rocks, but please take care when rock fishing at the moment, as the seas have been up. It’s for this reason that not many people are rock fishing.

Squid are also a chance from the shore, around any rocks of weed, but near the shore the squid are mostly small.

The author with a blue groper caught on a ZMan Grass KickerZ.

Jethro Bonnitcha with a nice skippy off the rocks. kingfish start to come closer to the mainland around August. They can be caught off the headlands throwing stickbaits or using live herring. If you want to give yourself the best chance you have to be prepared to walk a fair way from the carpark.

When it comes to gear, you want a reel with a 15kg+ drag spooled with at least 80lb braid sitting on a PE8 popper rod. You can also target whalers or makos off the rocks.

If you want to fish the headlands, please take measures to be safe.

low near the weed. It’s best to drift fish for them rather than anchor, and putting a squid jig on a weighted paternoster rig will help keep you in the target area, especially if it’s a bit windy. Use a light tipped rod and give it a strong flick ever once in a while. Once you get a squid on, try leaving it in the water hooked up, as this can get more squid to come to investigate.

If you’re not chasing squid, there are plenty of sand whiting and herring to target.

They sit in schools with a few flathead mixed in, and the occasional daytime gummy.

in, and they like Tassie Devils in blue/silver, or shallowdiving bream hardbodies.

At this time of year, a lot of the nannygai (Bight redfish), move in closer.

You can pick up specimens around 450-500mm, which is a reasonable size in close.

There are plenty of queen snapper around the islands, along with breaksea cod and groper. There are also heaps of big sea sweep along with skippy, with some going 4kg. The standard rig is a paternoster with 8/0 circles baited with pilchards or squid.

Out wide in around 70m of water you can catch more nannygai, and when you get onto a good school, they can go 3kg. On a recent trip we had a productive session on the nannygai, and also landed a big cuttlefish. Other catches that day included a nice blue groper, chinaman leatherjackets, sweep, and breaksea cod. There were no samsonfish or yellowtail kingfish on that trip, but there have been plenty of boats hooking them along with an occasional mako shark.

THE MONTH AHEAD This month the salmon will start disappearing off the beaches and will head out wide, depending on what the baitfish are doing. We will also start to see gummies quietening off.

The squid will still hang around for another couple of months in good numbers, and we’ll see more mulloway off the beaches. Herring numbers and size tend to get bigger and the skippy start to be smaller samples as the bigger fish head into deeper waters.

September is when the samsons and kingies typically start coming in closer, and you can often catch multiple fish in a session within 20km of town. Catches off the

headlands will get better and better as temperatures rise.

• Southern Sports and Tackle specialise in the supply and servicing of fishing equipment. They have an extensive knowledge of the local area and provide all

brands, whether you’re fishing from beach, jetty or boat. Drop in for a chat at Shop 16, The Boulevard, Esperance or give them a call on 08 9071 3022.

• Images supplied by Mitch Johnson “@gawn_fishn”

Mitch Johnson made the most of a sunset squidding session.

SEPTEMBER 2019

15

West Coast

Time to get back into it AUGUSTA

Anthony Gillam

Winters come and go, and this year’s winter has now gone. As it wanes into the past it will be remembered for being an infrequent interruption of mildly

of opportunities to wet a line, not only land-based but out on the briny during the whole of the season.

The infrequent rain along the length of the Blackwood River meant that the run-off that usually causes the clear waters of Hardy Inlet to become muddy and tannin

incoming tide.

Freshwater fishing in the Blackwood River continues to be good, with the bream population obviously in a healthy state. Freshwater cobbler pop their heads up every now and again and a walk along the riverbank reveals that they are in

Oli Stevenson with an excellent example of a Blackwood River bream caught using soft plastics.

Chad O’Connell with a 22.5kg narrow barred Spanish mackerel that he speared in 16m of water in Flinders Bay. This fish was part of a group of three macks that crossed his path. annoying cold fronts rather than the three months of mind numbing and bone chilling fishing famine that you would expect. When all is said and done, we were pretty blessed with plenty

stained didn’t happen for long. Any freshwater that did enter the system flushed out pretty quickly through the cut to be replaced by the pristine saltwater drawn from Flinders Bay by the

fantastic numbers. Heading downriver from Sues Bridge towards Alexandra Bridge starts to bring in the saltwater and the fish caught in those waters are in my opinion of a much better eating quality.

Whenever the freshwater entered the system, it helped to flush large numbers of yellowfin whiting down into the Hardy Inlet, continuing a great run of these high quality table fish. With King George whiting also in good numbers, it is pretty hard not to catch a first class feed for the family. Prawn, bloodworm and squid strips are very successful baits, and if you collect some cockles

or glass shrimps you are guaranteed to have plenty of bites.

The Colourpatch Boat Ramp and the Turner Street Jetty remain dynamite for all whiting, herring and small tailor. If you have a dinghy or kayak the Dead Water and Sticks will pay off. When operating a powered craft around this area you must pay attention, as currently there are numerous sandbars

ACTIVE TRANSOM

16

SEPTEMBER 2019

from Hardy Street jetty to the cut and hitting one at 8 knots will cause damage to you and your boat. Stick to the channels and speed limit and all will be good.

Flinders Bay never fails to produce something out of the usual, and when a 22kg narrow barred Spanish mackerel fell to a spear fisher it just shows that the warm Leeuwin Current will continue to bring northern

TRUE SELFDRAINING DECKS

West Coast species within the reach of us southerners. After a number of calm days in the bay it was some of the average condition days that actually proved to be the most bountiful for demersals. A number of 20kg plus dhufish were boated in fast running currents and choppy water while boats that returned from glassy days with low swell had very few large specimens. Both large soft plastics and baits resulted in good catches.

If you are new to fishing Flinders Bay, then you can’t go wrong with following the reef along the coastline down towards White and Black Points in the 12-18m depth range. There are plenty of dhufish, breaksea cod and pink snapper to be found on the lumps along the coastline, and bottom bouncing baits or jigging soft plastics will pay off.

If you want to head deeper into the ocean then I suggest heading out behind St Alouarn Island and using your charts to find lumps and sudden changes in depth.

Just try a drop or two in likely areas and you will soon narrow down areas of interest.

Oscar Jones shows off a typical first-rate mixed bag of Flinders Bay table fish. large skippy will continue to school in the bays and coves around the southern tip of the Augusta coastline, along with herring and tarwhine. Make a berley trail of pollard, oil and mashed up mulies to bring them around

Morrie Marshall hit the jackpot and scored a feed of solid King George whiting and herring with his offsider while dinghy fishing in the Dead Water.

If you are land-based then the fishing off the rock walls of the Augusta Boat Harbour will generally result in some great mixed bags.

This is borne out by the recent catch of a john dory by a 5-year-old angler on his birthday. This catch has followed that of a 20kg blue groper, numerous juvenile yellowtail kingfish and the sighting of an estimated 50kg bluefin tuna around the boat pens. This shows that you don’t have to travel out to sea to get into trophy fish. The rock wall is a perfect place to try slide baiting a live-bait out into the deeper water or to berley up on the inside to bring them in close enough to sight cast. There are plenty of scad and herring around the service wharf and boat ramps that make ideal livies and are eaten by everything big enough to swallow them.

As the weather changes with the start of spring, it is an ideal time to get back into rock fishing. Dry rocks are infinitely better to fish on rather than the slippery death traps you find in winter. The

and continue to replenish it to keep them around. For something different, instead of filleting and grilling any skippy you catch, why not try sashimi or ceviche? They have the perfect flesh for it.

I was pleasantly surprised the first time I tried sashimi

skippy with soy and wasabi.

Give it a go with one straight out of the water and you will be doing more often!

As I always point out, Augusta has some really productive rock fishing locations, however, people have died here by being washed off by king waves Unpredictable weather can quickly affect the fishing conditions and slippery rocks are a recipe for disaster. Please remain vigilant when rock fishing; wear a life jacket and tie off to something solid. You can hire one for free from Augusta Xtreme Outdoor Sports at 66 Blackwood Avenue Augusta, the local tackle shop and front of all local fishing knowledge. It’s right next to the Better Choice Fuels Service Station.

• 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.

Fishing through some average conditions, Tim Maciaszek managed to land this 20kg dhufish on a Vexed Bottom Meat jighead and sergeant baker bait strip behind St Alouarn Island in 40m of water.

SEPTEMBER 2019

17

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MIDVALE

Stephen Norman

Spring time! This means that the days are gradually growing longer and the window of opportunity to get out for a fish has improved.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? Pink snapper numbers have remained relatively consistent throughout Geographe Bay in the past month, and anchoring in depths between 15-30m has produced solid results, with most fish landed coming in between 4-7kg, which is marginally smaller than previous years.

We have been getting an early taste of the squid season to come, with good numbers moving into the bay, even harassing the snapper baits out in 30m of water. Back on dry land, as always the Busselton Jetty has been a hotspot for the squid, and size 3-3.5 squid jigs in bright glow colours such as white and lemon lime have been the picks.

The jetty has also seen productive numbers of silver trevally and herring. Casting a small piece of lumo tube behind a float, or small metal slices around 5-15g are both efficient ways of targeting herring, while basic running sinker rigs coupled with blue sardines or fresh squid will be your best chance of bagging a few skippy.

After a pretty dismal winter on the crabs, the blue swimmers are making a return, although numbers have been patchy at times. Those who have put in the effort have had success, dropping nets within 2-300m of the shore baited with spleen and tuna heads. Heading north of the Port Geographe Marina towards Wonnerup and Forest Beach has been productive.

UPCOMING Springtime is noted as

Glow white redhead squid jigs are deadly at this time of year. being a red-hot time of year to try your hand at freshwater fishing. Waters levels have receded and water clarity should have recovered after the winter rains. During the winter months, Recfishwest release thousands of trout ‘fry’ stocks into various waterways around the state, and this includes rainbow and brown trout.

Notable areas include Harvey Dam, Donnelly River, Big Brook Dam, Lefroy Brook, Warren River, Drakesbrook Dam and many more.

For a full list of locations and numbers released into each region, visit the Recfishwest website and follow the ‘Freshwater stocks’ link. Along with there being a wide variety of areas to target trout and redfin, there are also a wide variety of methods to target them. A simple spinning setup is the most popular choice for anglers in the South West, with short rods aiding with casting in tight areas.

Rods around 5ft or shorter are perfectly matched with a small

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A simple feed of fat herring and a tarwhine is not too difficult to come by in September on the West Coast.

1000 size reel and some light braid or monofilament line, ad 2-4kg line is fine.

Lures are when things can get a little confusing, as there are just so many options out there. To start with, a few small hardbody lures such as the Halco RMG 35 range is a great one to start with, as well as the range of Rapala Countdowns, Mepps spinners and Celta spinners. In deeper bodies of water such as dams, soft plastics can be a great option, as they allow you to sink the presentation into the deeper sections of the dam.

Small 3” paddle-tails in natural green and brown colours are a great start, as well as spotty redfin colours – trout go nuts for patterns that resemble redfin fry.

Try various jighead sizes depending on location, but starting around 1/161/20oz size should get you in the game.

Hitting some of our beaches, the western side of Cape Naturalist at this time of year is a productive area to chase herring, tarwhine and tailor. Injidup Beach is the best place to start, but Wilyabrup Beach and Redgate Beach are both worth trying too.

September is always a solid time of the year for squid, and thus far we have seen great numbers in the bay, so look for this to only get better as our days slowly grow a little longer. Good quality UV or ‘warm jacket’ Yamashita squid jigs are working well during the day, but you should also pick out some solid glow colours for night time sessions, such as white and pink.

• 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. SEPTEMBER 2019

19

West Coast

Options available even when weather is bad BUNBURY

Josh Italiano

If braving the storms in search of snapper is not on your agenda, then the dams and rivers are well worth a crack for a redfin perch or the various trout species.

Wellington Dam and the Collie River are two of the most easily accessible spots to target these freshwater fish. Fishing the dam can produce large redfin perch.

Targeting deeper waters around fallen trees and tree stumps will yield the

best results.

Typical redfin perch lures consist of small soft plastics in the 2”-3.5” range, with the ZMan GrubZ being one of the most popular, along with the various types of bladed spinner lures.

Both rainbow and brown trout can be found in many freshwater streams throughout the South West.

Fishing the rapids of these streams will yield trout.

Using bibbed minnow lures against the flow of water will have your lure in the prime location to be prey for a lurking trout.

The black bream reports are really starting to fire up with the warmer weather starting to hit the South West. The Collie River is still producing good numbers of fish for those willing to put in some effort, and it will only get better as the warmer weather rolls on through. Small vibes and soft

iconic bream fisheries in WA. Record numbers of fish catches per day is not uncommon, with upwards of 60 fish per day becoming the norm. If you haven’t had the chance yet, you need to check out the Blackwood River bream fishery!

The start of the demersal ban is looming, so it’s your

Robert Goodlich was stoked with this lovely South West trout.

Pink snapper are going to be off limits soon, so get in while they’re still legal to target!

Monster pink snapper, like this one caught by Cam McCamish, are there for those who put in the effort.

plastics seem to be the go-to lures. You still shouldn’t discount the trusty river prawn floated unweighted down into the snags. This can be an especially effective technique when the fishing is slow or the bream just won’t hit lures.

The Blackwood River in the state’s south would have to be one of the most

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last chance to get stuck into some demersal species. The pink snapper are still being found in the shallows after the winter blows, with most reports occurring in the 20-30m depth range.

Finding isolated ground and berleying hard is your best chance at attracting schools of big hungry pink snapper.

Dhuies can be found in their usual haunts. Again, fishing small low-lying ground is your best bet at finding a good size dhuie.

Some days they can sit hard up on structure, so getting your rig placement is key to getting fish.

With the warm weather, the surface action is starting to fire up in the Leschenault Estuary, with the yellowfin whiting turning up in good numbers. Walking across the various sand flats in the estuary and casting small prawn-like stickbaits and poppers will put you in with

a chance. Some of the more popular lures are 60-70mm range. As the weather continues to warm up, the whiting surface action will only get better and hopefully this season is as productive as the last!

• If you have any questions about something you have read or just want to have a chat, duck into Whiteys Tackle and Camping at 1/143 Grand Entrance, Treendale, Australind.

One of the staff or Whitey himself will be happy to help get you on the right path to that next trophy fish.

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West Coast

First sunrays of spring are here MANDURAH

Jesse Choy

There have been reports around Mandurah of offshore fishing going quite well through August.

Around the Five Fathom Bank and the inner reefs has been producing well, with an abundance of life coming

rockier structures and drop offs. Drifting and following the weed and sand line is producing plenty of snapper for anglers.

Those fishing such areas are also finding that chucking a squid jig out the back or manually jigging one can pay off while waiting for the fish to bite. Natural patterns, whites and red foils are all

the weather becomes better.

A number of local banks have been getting changed around by the constant water movement, presenting new opportunities for both the angler and fish. On top of the usual species, there are tailor, plenty of mulloway to various sizes, smaller salmon and school sharks around.

Fresh baits are always the

This mulloway crunched a Cranka Crab while Charlie was fishing up the Murray River. These lures have small hooks and he was lucky not to get bitten off or taken into the trees. in closer to chase their prey.

There certainly has been a diverse range of species on offer for those fishing offshore, but there has also been plenty of action and opportunity from our local shores as well.

Plenty of pink snapper, dhufish, squid, whiting and even the odd tuna are all being caught around the

doing the job in different conditions. If the water is lacking in clarity, or there are low light conditions, it is worth also trying something brighter like a yellow, bright orange or fluorescent pink, which allows the squid to zone in on your jig a bit easier.

Local beaches have been fishing good, with the weed starting to abate as

This monster dhuie is testament to the quality of fish that are out there on the reefs at the moment.

way to go, so ensuring an early arrival to your chosen destination will allow you to top up on baits, which are actually active in the area and are likely to encourage a bite from smarter fish.

The rivers are fishing well for bream and mulloway, with concentrations of fish appearing to be making their way further upstream as the rain backs off. Those fishing with bait are finding that bony herring and mullet are the best bait to use when heading out. Those using lures are opting for baitfish and paddle-tail profiles and are finding that the fish are more partial to these offerings.

The abundance of baitfish throughout the systems means you are more likely to catch, particularly when you are opportunistically tuned in to what is currently around and active.

Freshwater fishing has picked up significantly for those chasing trout and perch.

If you are lucky enough to fish a local dam on a peak feeding time, you will notice an increase of surface bug and fish activity, which is generally a good time to be out there. Fishing lightlyweighted soft plastics to these rises, or setting out a trout bait, is proving effective, particularly when fishing from the land and targeting these fish higher in the water column.

September will be a great month to go fishing,

whether it is offshore on the boat or on your kayak at one of the dams. With winter conditions thinning out, we welcome the spring days, which should make things much more enjoyable out on the water. Mornings will still be chilly, but if you brave the first light, the bites are likely to be on offer as a reward. Not only does the end of winter mean better weather on average, but it also means that fishing opportunities will change with the conditions.

As the tides become less influenced by the winter weather, we can expect to notice a significant decrease of seaweed which will make fishing much more enjoyable and bearable, particularly for the beach anglers.

There are two main focuses when it comes to fishing in Mandurah this September, most important being the demersal ban. It is a great time to try get a few extra fillets in the freezer or get a good fix of string pulling action before your options are restricted by the ban. When heading offshore, it is certainly worth checking out the structures relatively close to shore, whether you are fishing

Brett loves to get out and chase some squid.

They certainly are fascinating creatures to observe and catching them is great fun. fishing. While many do not partake, there is a large amount of people who love throwing a line out on the fresh water and sitting back in a camp chair with their families. Events like Troutfest

Smaller trout are such wonderful creatures, and it sure is amazing to see how they develop more defined colours as they age. with baits or lures. Paying attention to birds, bait schools and your electronics may very well result in catching some of the tuna that are revealing themselves occasionally too.

The other focus around the Mandurah area during September is freshwater

really highlight our fishery as well as its potential. It also encourages many people to get involved with the process of rejuvenating our fish stocks and allows them to see what is out there to be caught.

Remember that when you are fishing during this time of

the year on our surrounding dams, we need to allow these stocked fish some time to reproduce. Taking fish is not a crime, but being conscious of your impact will mean that future generations have more to enjoy.

Freshwater activity tends to be far better at this time of the year. When heading out, having a few selections of lures or baits will certainly allow you to apply yourself in a variety of situations.

Setting out worms, corn or trout baits is very effective.

Running spoons, spinners, shallow diving hardbodies and also casting plastics at rises is a great way to find some results when you head out. Fishing shallower banks, with some depth contour and fast moving water will only increase your odds.

Going forward, we can expect to see more tailor starting to show up and beach fishing becoming much more appealing. Rock fishers will find there is less of a chance at catching a land-based pinkies, as sights are more heavily placed on enjoying the demersals before the middle of October.

Ensuring anglers release some of the fish they catch means there will be more of these chunks about in the future.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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BLACK MAGIC

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

Get a start on squid this season Squid are an extremely popular target all around the coast of Australia, and it’s easy to see why as they are great fun to catch, fantastic on the plate and a top bait.

Often referred to as ‘egiing’ by enthusiasts, fishing for squid has really boomed in Australia over the past decade. These days, entire walls of some tackle stores are filled to the brim with squid jigs of every size, shape and colour combination imaginable, as well as scents and special tools for killing and cleaning. There are also ranges of squid fishing rods and reels designed solely for targeting squid, and even braided lines just for squid.

Expanding even further, much of what we see on the walls here is still only a small portion of what’s actually out there and what’s coming, especially from the squid fanatical Japanese market, which is constantly coming up with new and exciting technology for the world of squidding.

With all this going on, it’s easy to get lost and confused in the squidding world and forgot the basics fundamentals that make up the bulk of squid fishing success.

Any squid around 30cm in the hood is a beauty.

Perhaps the most important choice to make is what size jig you be should using. The depth you’re

The author took these two monstrous squid fishing out of the boat.

22

SEPTEMBER 2019

fishing should determine this, and to a lesser extent, the size of the squid you’re targeting. The larger the jig will usually mean it’s heavier and sinks quicker.

Squid jigs come in a variety of sizes starting from around 1.5 up to a 6.0. Smaller jigs from 1.5-2.0 will sink pretty slow and work well in shallow water less then 1m in depth. I use this size jigs when fishing the shallows at nighttime under around areas that are illuminated by a nearby light. Baitfish are attracted to these sorts of places and squid will move right against the shoreline to feed on them. You can also use these smaller jigs on a paternoster rig when fishing deeper water to get them down. This is sometimes a good idea when there are smaller squid around that are reluctant to hit the bigger jigs, or when you’re in areas where arrow squid are the main target.

Size 2.5 jigs are my favourite size to use when casting in waters less than 5m over seagrass beds, which will typically be the best areas to find squid inside estuary.

For deeper environments you could again drift with a paternoster rig or up your jig size to a 3.0 The 3.0-4.0 jigs are best suited for those fishing ocean

rocks or boat fishing offshore around the protected bays and coves with kelpy bottoms where big squid like to hang.

The 4.5 and larger size jigs are good for getting down to deeper offshore reefs in less then 30m of water, where extra large calamari can sometimes congregate, and there is always the chance of picking up a monster cuttlefish when fishing theses parts too.

GEAR While you could go all out and use a dedicated squid outfit, you probably won’t see the benefits unless you are very serious about your squidding. A 2-5kg 7ft graphite rod and 2500 size reel spooled with 6lb braid will certainly still do the job and cover you for just about any form of squid fishing you do, with the exception of the big jigs over 4.0. Also, if you’re land-based fishing the ocean rocks, you should up your rod length to a stick around 8-9ft.

I like to use about 1m of 12lb Black Magic Pink Leader on my squid jigs. While some might call this overkill, it will save your jig if you get a tip wrap mid-cast, as it won’t bust off and fly into the drink.

BEST JIGS There are so many jigs on the market these days, and they range from dirt cheap to $40 a pop, but the best value for money quality jigs around that I’ve come

The author with a cracker squid that took a fancy to the Black Magic Squid Snatcher in ghost glow colour. natural baitfish patterns when the sun’s out and the waters clear. Pinks, oranges, greens, and whites that have a bit of lumo are better for late afternoon or early morning. The new colour ‘fire glow’ in the Black Magic Squid Snatchers has been my go-to of late and

you make sure you’re letting the lure sink and stay in this zone as long as possible. Once it’s in the zone, a double flick of the rod tip to give it some action on the retrieve will help attract squid to your jig. Try not to allow too much slack line in your

A good selection of jigs to cover all situations will pay off. across are the Black Magic Squid Snatcher range. They represent excellent value for money, with a great colour range for sizes 2.0-4.0, which virtually covers everything you’re ever going to need.

When it comes to colour choice, everyone has their favourites, but I like to use

out-fishing everything else.

Black also has its place and is an excellent choice when fishing on a moon lit night or around areas of water that are lit up in the evening.

TECHNIQUE Most of the time squid will be located in the bottom two thirds of the water column, so it’s important

retrieve, as squid jigs have no barbs, meaning unless there is resistance pulling the other way a squid can easily push forward and disconnect itself from the jig. Another tip is to have your drag set quite loose, as the heaver drag can often rip the tentacles of a squid clean off.

West Coast

Stock up before demersal ban LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

The next six weeks are a great time for the small boat anglers to get amongst some quality table fish.

Dhufish are available from the inshore lumps up until the demersal ban kicks in on 15 October. Plenty of fish can be found on or well

the vertical face.

Drift fishing these lumps is best done in calm or light winds. One method to try is to drop on top of the lump, keeping tension on the line to feel any bites while drifting away for a minute or so. Then, if you have not caught a fish, lift the rod to raise the sinker away from the snags dragging the line a little further along before

starting on top of the lump and drifting away, raising and lowering the soft plastic until it falls of the top of the lump, allowing it to go all the way to the base. In the shallows they certainly put up a good fight and don’t give up at the boat like they do in the deeper water. If releasing fish from these depths they have a much better chance of survival, and they don’t suffer any barotrauma, powering off once the hooks are removed.

Sometimes, the fish may be spooked in the shallow water. If you have some lumps accurately marked on your plotter known to produce fish, consider dropping baits on these just using the plotter alone with the echo sounder

caught from the beaches south of Ledge Point to Guilderton, with some people having very good success using drones to take the bait out of the main beach at Ledge. This year has been quiet for people who regularly chase them north of Lancelin. There have been plenty of small fish, but the big ones have been hard to find.

Skippy have been schooling up in aggregations.

Berleying up near reef usually brings a school to the back of the boat, either in the bay, or along any of the reefs from the white bank inshore.

Samson fish have been hanging around the schools.

There have been plenty of herring and good size sand

Leanne scoring a feed of tasty sand whiting from the northern beaches. near reef. The turbulent beach gutters are also a good place. From the boat, any of the near shore reefs or even the reefy areas within the

The author with an 80cm dhufish from 10m of water. inside the White Bank in as little as 6-7m of water.

Look for lumps with caves or overhanging structure on your sounder. If there is a decent school around, the fish sometimes can be observed on the sounder, even rising to the boat.

If there are only one or two, other fish may be hidden by the overhangs, so always give each promising lump a drop or two. Fishing the shallow lumps inside the white bank for dhufish you will need to use different

dropping the bait back until you feel it tumble off the top and let it fall to the base.

Drift again for a few minutes while leaving the bait at the base of the lump, and more often than not this is where the fish will be.

When the water is clear enough to visually see the lumps’ edge, drop right on the very edge of the lump where it meets the sand. You can also anchor up just down wind of the lump using berley and cast unweighted baits to the edge of the lump. This is

There are plenty of skippy within the bay, and they’re great sport on light tackle.

Graham Doodson with a good size mulloway from one of the many local beach gutters. techniques than what would be used out wide. The lumps they live on are quite snaggy.

Many are only a few meters across and have vertical sides and caves or overhanging ledges and a heavy kelp covering. If you drop upwind to drift into the lump your rig will meet the side of the lump and snag as it tries to come up 24

SEPTEMBER 2019

a great technique to use just on sunset when the dhufish become more active and start to move away from their ledges. Fishing soft plastics is also a very effective way to target these shallow water fish. I prefer to use large white coloured plastics for the dhuies.

Use a similar technique,

ping off. In shallow water, the echo sounders can emit quite a lot of noise that may put off fish that are shy or have encountered anglers before.

Also, don’t release any under size or unwanted fish directly back into the school. One stressed fish can put the whole school off the bite.

Pink snapper have been

whiting available to make a good feed from the beach.

This is the time of year the beach fishing starts improving dramatically. Typically, small whaler sharks will improve through the month.

Tailor should show up now in big numbers. The next few months are the best time to chase tailor, with some very reliable fishing starting with a run of big 50cm plus fish migrating back south.

When these fish fist show up they are in a poor condition and very hungry, ravenously feeding on any baitfish they can find and taking any baits or lures offered.

Make the most of the tailor fishing while it is good, as the average size will decrease before Christmas. They start stacking on the weight and within a few weeks and will be nicely fattened up.

Remember, there is a bag limit of only two fish over 50cm and lots of fish are very close to this size, so measure them carefully to avoid any problems with fisheries officers.

The tarwhine have been slow this year. Typically we see the better-sized ones now, so hopefully the big ones will put up a good show. From the sand you can connect with some by fishing

bay are great for them too.

They are a nocturnal species, so fishing for them over the full moon at night can be very productive.

The gutters have formed up well over winter and now hold some mulloway. There are good gutters both north and south of town, though with the beaches heavily eroded, you may have to do some hiking away from the

herring have been abundant.

Squid numbers have been improving; this month is one of the better months to chase them. King George whiting have been turning up at times for lucky anglers fishing from the jetty. A surprising number are caught some nights under the lights, with bag limits met if you happen to be there on the right night.

The King George can be more reliably caught from boats because you can move about to find the schools.

Look for areas where the weed meets the sand and cast your baits on the sand edge adjacent to the weed.

KGW can be a wary of boats, so cast to the edges a few meters away from the boat for the best success.

You can use berley to bring them in, but be wary you don’t also bring in plagues of trumpeters, butterfish and blowfish. Start off without the berley, and if you not getting any KGW after a while, then try some The southern beaches within Lancelin Bay always fish well at this time of year, as the weed tends to move down to the northern end of the bay. It makes for very comfortable and sheltered fishing, even manageable in the worst of the weather, with some really good mixed bags of great eating fish.

Along with mulloway, there are some solid tailor in the beach gutters.

4WD to safely access some of the good ones.

For those fishing around the bay in small boats and from the jetty,

You can expect to catch flathead, King George whiting, tarwhine, cobbler, herring, skippy, yellow eye mullet and tailor.

West Coast

Bay bonanza before the closure JURIEN BAY

Jason Harris

There have been plenty of snapper in close, with shore-based anglers getting amongst them too.

They are getting snapper from the beach, marina wall and even on the jetty. The best

breakthrough and the fishing down that way has been good for mulloway. The tailor fishing has been patchy, but the odd one has been showing up. This should continue to improve into spring. The best times are sunset and on into the evening. The early morning is also worth a go.

The beaches in the bay

They are also getting plenty of the large sand whiting, which are around in good numbers at the moment. Skippy and flathead are still being caught, and we are starting to see the odd tailor turning up out there too.

The squid size as been improving and anglers have been catching them at the jetty. Nighttime is best if you want to berley up for snapper or mulloway from the jetty.

Plenty of herring are being caught and some skippy are getting around too.

Smaller boats and those fishing in close and inside the bay have had a few options.

The snapper have well and truly moved into the bay,

and the baldchin groper have started to move in too. Finding a nice lump and getting the berley going is the best bet for snagging a few. Mulies, squid and occy are all working as bait. Mulloway are also coming from the reef edges.

The fish are taking jigs, as well as baits such as mulies and squid.

There are also a lot of big squid around the weed banks, and large whiting have been coming from the sand patches. The best places to try are behind Favorite Island or down towards Essex Rocks.

Ox heart and sandworms have been the best bait.

The weather has not been ideal for venturing further

Double hook-ups on samsonfish are chaotic, and these anglers were lucky to wrestle both of these beasts aboard. tactic is to brave the cold and fish at night. Try berleying with crushed up mulies, and keep the berley going – they will find you. It’s best after a bit of a storm as this gets them moving. Mulies, squid and occy all make great baits.

The Hill River had a

have been fishing well for large sand whiting. They are catching the whiting on the beaches north and south of the marina, as well as down at Island Point. Sandworms, ox heart and squid are all working.

Out at Sandy Cape, anglers are getting plenty of herring.

A nice baldchin that took a jig out in the bay.

One of the bigger sambos that are hanging around the lumps at the moment. offshore, but the results are worth it if you pick your days.

Kristen from a local charter says the big swells mean they are picking up plenty of pink snapper just outside the bay.

These have been taking squid bait and jigs. Kristen reports that anglers are tangling with big schools of samsonfish, which are hanging around the lumps and providing plenty of fight for the guests. One group managed a double hook-up of samsonfish. Both fish put up quite a fight and they both measured 115cm and weighed 25kg each.

The dhufish are around too, with lots of small ones coming through. The bigger fish are there mixed up with

them. Just a little tip, when you can tell the fish does not have a lot of weight, slow down your retrieve. If you bring them up a bit slower it will be in better condition for release.

The fishing inside the marina has been going well lately, but there is a lot of weed building up inside. In the meantime, there are still some crabs being caught, although a lot have been small females.

On the fishing side, at night the sand whiting are moving in and good-sized fish are being caught. There are also a large number of small silver bream and snapper, and there are still lots of herring biting when it’s calm.

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West Coast

Bag-outs on the beaches GERALDTON

Graham Maunder & Michael Triantopoulos

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This year’s late winter and early spring mornings and evenings have been very chilly, but most of the days are warm and sunny, with clean and clear water along many of the Mid West’s best beaches and reefs.

BEACH Even though reports of consistent catches of tailor and mulloway have dropped off lately, the colder weather keeps the fair weather anglers at home, and the regulars who know the best fishing spots tend to keep their results to themselves. So fishing information other than what we catch ourselves can be hard to come by.

Whether you fish the southern beaches from Cape Burney to Seven Mile or north of Drummonds Cove to Lucky Bay, there are still some good fish to catch.

Most of the beach caught tailor have been in

swells have been a bit bigger than usual.

Because many of the sea grass banks are close to shore, and this year’s squid season is much better than the last couple, using squid jigs suited to the shallow water but with enough weight to be able to cast out to the wider sea grass beds in deeper water would be well worth the effort. Even though most of us fish for squid during the day, squid are mostly night feeders, so don’t just give up once the sun has set!

Land-based snapper season started earlier this year, with 2-4kg fish being caught consistently since March, and as the year has progressed the average size fish has now increased to about 3-7kg. Our coastal snapper season usually starts late July, with the best of it being late August through to November, but as we now have a Fisheries closure on all demersal fish between 15 October-16 December, the early arrival of the fish has been a real bonus.

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Author Graham Maunder with a nice 7kg pink snapper caught land-based at Coronation Beach. the 30-45cm size range, and while catches of 3-5 fish have been the majority, the occasional bag limit (8 fish) has been landed north of Coronation Bay. The reefs and reef gutters have larger fish, some over 60cm, but you would be fortunate to find more than one or two fish. Fishing stickbaits or poppers for them can produce fish when things are quiet and often shut down.

Whiting catches have been consistent and widespread, with plenty of western school and yellowfin whiting caught locally, and the further north you fish the more goldline whiting are in the mix. As usual, the majority of whiting are from about 25-30cm (occasionally bigger) and are in good numbers. The best spots are along the beaches at South Gates, Glendening Road, Separation Point, Drummonds Cove Bay and both south and north sides of Coronation Bay. All of these areas have banks of sea grass edging the beach channels and shallow bays, so floating weed is a bit of a hassle if the

Herring are a great recreational fish, as they can be caught on almost any tackle with bait on the surface or bottom, small lures, jigs or soft plastics from the shore or in shore or from a small boat or kayak. They fight well for their size and are great eating.

At the moment the herring are not consistent enough to say you would get a feed every time you go, but the beaches north of Flat Rocks are productive from about midday through to 5pm. The size is quite good as well, with the majority of fish over 20cm. Around town is a bit hit and miss, but over the next months or so catches will

Mr Colourful Nat Gedero with a spangled emperor he caught on a recent trip north to Quobba Station. improve and the rock walls and bays up to Drummonds Cove and Coronation Beach normally produce a good range of species including herring, tailor and whiting. So keep fishing and you will be there when the fish arrive.

BOATS Late winter has been fairly consistent, with large swells and wind which has put a dampener on the boat fishing.

There has been small breaks in the weather where anglers have been able to get out, mostly week days, which are more suited for shift and FIFO workers.

South off Greenough River mouth to south off African Reef we’re still getting reports of consistent numbers off dhufish around 5-10kg, pink snapper, baldchin groper, coral trout and some reasonable skippy.

The majority of the fish have been coming from the shallower water.

West to northwest off the Batavia Marina around the ship anchorages, fish are being hard work. Some anglers are reporting dhufish, pink snapper, baldchin groper and morwong if they are fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time.

The lumps between Drummonds Cove north to Horrocks Beach have been fishing well for pink snapper to 7kg, coral trout, sweetlip, estuary cod, dhufish and the occasional late season Spanish mackerel.

A nice bag of land-based pink snapper and tailor for Graham Maunder.

The southern side of Pensioners Bank from Hells Gates to South Gates has had a consistent number off coral trout, dhufish, samsonfish and skippy. Unfortunately the nor west blowfish have been playing havoc!

SMALL BOATS/KAYAKS Squid season has been a great one and is still going, but numbers and sizes are a little inconsistent.

Batavia Marina to St Georges Beach along the fringing sea grass beds, sand holes and rocky platforms, is still producing reasonable numbers, with the better fishing being from late afternoon into dusk.

In front of Pages Beach rock groyne to Separation Point, numbers are still consistent. Fishing the deeper water with faster sinking jigs is at times a good move, as we tend to find larger squid this way. Just be mindful the depth of water is relevant to the weight of your jigs. The protected water inside the outer reef has had a lot off skippy to 1-1.5kg, schoolsized samsonfish and the occasional unstoppable models. Anchoring, beryling up and using light tackle is excellent fun, as skippy are a great fish to catch, as they fight well and are good to eat.

Around Seal Rock numbers off skippy have also been consistent along with small pink snapper, tarwhine, herring, pike and whiting.

Late afternoon and evening has been fishing best, and it’s also semi protected in there from the southerly breeze.

• Geraldton Sports Centre is the Mid West’s specialist fishing tackle store. Drop in and see the friendly professional staff for local advise and knowledge and browse the extensive range of fishing equipment on show at 204-208 Marine Terrace Geraldton WA, or Phone (08) 9921 3664.

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recfishwest

Spawning snapper get the help they need The Cockburn Sound pink snapper spawning aggregations are the largest known and most important on the lower West Coast.

The breeding success of these fish plays a significant role in maintaining the future of snapper across the region.

provide the greatest protection to spawning fish.

More recently however, fish have turned up and begun spawning in Cockburn Sound earlier than expected. Reports from the last few seasons indicate that snapper require more protection, particularly during the spawning period

closure was overdue for a research update and review.

There are many reasons as to why these snapper may be migrating earlier; however the changes in fish behaviour raised Recfishwest’s concerns over the effectiveness of the current rules in providing adequate protection for spawning snapper.

As a result of our own concerns, as well as concerns from recreational fishers over the past few years, Recfishwest requested a research update from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development on pink snapper in the West Coast bioregion.

The latest science was concerning, with the Fisheries research indicating that: • There are fewer older snapper in the south-west/ metro population than there should be.

We were pleased for this proposal to be supported

by Minister Kelly in July.

The pink snapper spawning closure has now been extended to an area outside of Garden Island and Carnac Island and now occurs a month earlier commencing on 1 September and ending 31 January.

These measures will allow fish to spawn undisturbed as well as provide protection for the known migration pathways to spawning grounds.

Protecting spawning stocks has been recognised as an effective and productive method of managing pink snapper populations; implemented not only in Cockburn Sound and Warnbro Sound, but further north in the inner gulfs of Shark Bay and offshore of Carnarvon as well.

Pink snapper are a significantly long-lived fish and we hope to see

Cockburn Sound Closure map.

The breeding success of Cockburn Sound pink snapper plays a significant role in maintaining the future of snapper across the region. the only measure being considered at this time?

Additional protection for spawning snapper is the most immediate management tool that will be implemented this season. Additionally, we will need to consider how we further manage snapper into the future to best sustain or grow the great experience of snapper fishing in the West Coast Bioregion. This discussion will take place as part of a wider review of west coast demersal finfish due out later this year.

Why is the spawning closure area being extended?

AResearch project tracked tagged snapper movements in the lead up, during and after spawning in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds. This research showed that 99% of pink snapper migrate into Cockburn Sound between Carnac and Garden Island.

The current closure area did not afford adequate protection to spawning pathways and as a result, these migration pathways now form part of

the spawning closure between 1 September-31 January.

What is Recfishwest doing about the Cockburn Sound Outer Harbour Proposal? Won’t this have an impact on pink snapper as well if it goes ahead?

Recfishwest are part of the Westport Taskforce Working Group and are actively contributing to positive policy development through this process. While we cannot guarantee what the final recommendation of the Westport Taskforce will be, what we can guarantee is that Recfishwest will continue to fight to protect pink snapper and the great fishing provided by Cockburn Sound. Recfishwest will not support any options that further impact on Cockburn Sound fishing experiences.

Especially when more environmentally friendly alternatives are available, something we’ve outlined in our Outer Harbour Position Statement. You can read this on our website.

Map courtesy of DPIRD

In 2001, fishers played an instrumental role in implementing a snapper spawning closure in Cockburn Sound. The initial closure occurred for a six week period, which was later extended to two and half months and then to four months, in order to

when they are very easy to catch due to their schooling nature and predictable migration pathways.

It’s important to constantly review fisheries management strategies and Recfishwest believed that the Cockburn Sound spawning

Recfishwest were concerned over the effectiveness of the current rules in providing adequate protection for spawning snapper.

28

SEPTEMBER 2019

Reports from the last few seasons indicate that snapper require more protection, particularly during the spawning period when they are very easy to catch due to their schooling nature and predictable migration pathways.

• There are a limited number of age classes in the population.

• Pink snapper in spawning condition begin to gather in Cockburn and Warnbro Sounds in August and September.

• Evidence suggests that fishers are actively targeting pre-spawning fish as they make their way to the spawning grounds.

Put simply, it meant snapper required more protection, particularly during the spawning period when they should not be interrupted or disturbed and are easy to catch.

After reviewing the evidence, Recfishwest put forward a proposal to extend both the time and area of the current spawning closure.

the positive experiences provided by this fishery secured long into the future through these changes.

Find out about the increased protection for spawning snapper in and around Cockburn Sound by visiting Fish.wa.gov.au.

Many of the snapper you’re catching may be large – surely this is good?

Although many of the snapper currently being caught are reaching lengths of up to 900mm, most of these fish are less than 13 years old, which for a snapper is less than half way through its lifespan. We need these snapper to last at least another 10 years.

Why is additional protection to spawning fish

The Cockburn Sound pink snapper spawning closure is now in place from 1 September-31 January.

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Josh Bruynzeel

trevally and shark mackerel have been the by-catch.

Inside the lagoon you can catch spangled emperor and chinamanfish on poppers, such as the Nomad Chug Norris. Golden trevally, mangrove jack and queenfish have been a bycatch. Poppers are the go-to, but if you can’t catch them on that, try small subsurface stickbaits.

Off the beaches there are good reports of yellowfin whiting and yellowfin bream, and traditional style prawns and berley have been doing the trick. More anglers are

n Hwy MIDVALE 3339 Over the past month we’ve been chasing mainly black marlin and sailfish offshore, and the fishing has been excellent.

A variety of skip baits and switch baits have been producing the goods, with the best being whole garfish and belly strips of tuna or mackerel. It’s a good idea to rig them on circle hooks and allow the fish to eat the bait before you set the hook.

We use BKK Inline Heavy Circles in 9/0, as they are very effective.

While chasing the billfish, the bycatch has included mahimahi, yellowfin tuna and wahoo. You can target these species by trolling little 6-8” skirted lures at around 7-8 knots. The favourite at the moment is the Pulsator Tube.

Closer to the back of the reef we’ve been casting stickbaits, mainly Nomad Riptides and Madscads.

Casting around the wash zones for GTs and spangled emperor has working well.

You can also get good results fishing the 20m deep ledges for Spanish mackerel on the same lures. Cobia, gold-spot

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Exmouth Gulf has started to have annual baitfish migration show up, and close behind there have been longtail tuna, mac tuna, shark mackerel and cobia. A reliable way to catch them is by casting small metal slices up to 70g, and our favourite is the Richter Sea Iron. The larger model Sea Irons, up to 120g, are proving deadly when vertically jigged for cobia.

Queenfish being caught along the flats in the Exmouth Gulf on both fly and lure. The

5 Griffiths Way EXMOUTH Phone: (08) 9949 2795

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best choices are 3” Clouserstyle flies or any natural colour subsurface stickbait.

FISHING IN SEPTEMBER September is an exciting time in Exmouth because with the migration of bait into the Gulf, the sailfish start aggregating around the baitfish. In Exmouth we get to witness amazing sailfish feeding behaviour, which happens in only a few places on the planet. You can sight cast to feeding sails, with up to seven fish on a single bait ball. Last year in a 24-day period we released 169 sails, and not a single one was trolled; we just spotted them feeding on the surface, and got close enough to throw in a live bait.

The prime baits to cast at them have been yellowtail scad and Gulf pilchards, and we rig them on BKK Inline Heavy Circles in 7/0. Finding the birds working an area is a tell-tale sign of feeding sails, and once you’ve found the fish you simply cast your bait in front of them.

Spanish mackerel will also be prominent along the offshore reefs and islands in September. Trolled baits behind the Pulsator Cuda Matic are a great way to catch them.

We can also expect more spangled emperor along the shoreline as the water starts to warm up, so there are plenty of options this month.

• On Strike Charters are WA’s

premier game, sport and reef fishing adventure specialists, with a host of tournament wins and awards under their belt. Options include casting poppers and stickbaits to GTs and red bass; jigging for amberjack, trevally and tuna; flyfishing for queenfish and golden trevally; and bottom fishing for species such as red emperor, coral trout, spangled emperor and gold-band snapper. For more info on the charter options available, visit www.onstrike. com.au, or to see all the latest catch photos and videos visit their Facebook page (www. facebook.com/onstrike. charters). You can also follow them on Instagram (@ onstrikecharters).

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Broome billfish action just gets better and better BROOME

Troy Honey

Broome has certainly put itself on the game fishing map! At the recent Broome Billfish Comp the numbers of fish recorded one just one day alone were staggering. One the Sunday the numbers of sailfish were 465 raised, 367 strikes, 242 hook-ups and 196 captured.

being recorded in numbers, with fish up to a metre. These fish are taking everything from vibes tolive bait, soft plastics and hardbody lures. The upcoming wet is looking set to be a bumper season, with all the local fishing clubs kicking it off with their barra comps in the Fitzroy River in September and October.

As reported in last months article, the threadfin salmon are showing no sign of slowing

based anglers have done best fishing with cooked prawns during the two hours prior to the high tide on springs with those fishing the last few parking spots of Crab Creek Road being the most rewarded.

September is when Broome really starts to fire up. Not only are the daytime temperatures perfect to enjoy a day either in or on the water, but it is also when anglers get to enjoy the best of both worlds

Shane Coles got into plenty of sailfish recently while working on one of the local Broome fishing charters. If you want to experience this yourself then jump on board one of the charters working out of Broome for a day you will never forget.

With numbers such as those coming in it is hard to argue that Broome is not in the elite few spots around Australia for targeting billfish.

For some, the whole billfish scene is one that is often thought of as left for the pros. This is not the case, as anyone can get amongst the action in Broome, even the tinny brigade, as many have found out. If you haven’t tried or been on a boat targeting billfish before, then jump on board one of the local charter boats to learn what it is all about. The charters are only too happy to show you what’s what and you will come away not only with the basics of targeting billfish, but I am sure you will have an unforgettable experience on the glassy waters of Broome.

From billfish to barra, the season is well and truly starting to fire up, despite last wet seasons low rainfall.

Captures in the Fitzroy River around Langis Crossing and

down. Roebuck Bay continues to produce the goods, with many boats not only bagging out in short time, but anglers aboard setting new PBs. Land-

of fishing. This includes the pelagics such as Spanish mackerel and billfish in big numbers and great size, the demersal species on the reefs

and the barra in the creeks and rivers.

If you are looking for a feed you cannot go past some of the reefs within 15 nautical mile of Broome at this time of year, as they will be holding red and blueline emperors, rankin cod, coral trout and bluebone, which are in very good numbers at the moment.

For those looking for a feed from the shore, you can try for large whiting the hour after the turn of the high tide right along Cable Beach. Try north of the rocks and fish the gutters, but keep your small baits of worms, prawns or diced lamb hearts in the whitewash for best results. The whiting are of very good size at the moment, so catching a feed on the majestic Cable Beach is certainly a fantastic way to spend a couple of hours.

Amongst the whiting along the beach and around the sandy flats in the creeks there are ample flathead to target and a fish that can certainly hold its own on the table against the whiting.

Mud Crabs are plentiful around Broome at this time of year and combined with a few chillies and tomato paste or simply put straight on the coals of a campfire will create a memorable evening your social media friends will envy. Don’t forget you’ll

Golden trevally can be found year round in Broome from out deep to off the rocks at the local town beach.

Flat Rock on the southern side of Willie Creek is well known for providing a mixed bag of fish and crustacean species that most anglers could only dream of. The author got amongst some spectacular eating flathead caught on a small bibbed minnow slowly retrieved on an incoming tide. have opportunities to hunt for the elusive blue swimmer crab in Broome. You can fine them best from the mouth of Dampier Creek right around to the Broome jetty. Not many people try for the blue swimmer crab in Broome, even the locals, but they are there and I have caught them.

One thing to watch if you use drop nets is the small sharks that tend to wreak havoc on your bait and nets. Use lamb necks for great resistance and double bend the end of your wire clips over to stop them ripping the bait out. Most importantly, keep a close eye on your floats, as they can start moving pretty quickly if either the tide or a shark gets hold of your net!

If you are looking for some light sport from shore during September, you cannot go past flicking a few stickbaits or silver metals from the rocks around Entrance Point for

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queenfish and trevally. There are also plenty of cod, perch and Spanish flag that are partial to a silver metal, but if you change it up a bit with a bibbed minnow there is always a chance at a land-based coral trout in this area too, although you may lose a lure or two to the snags.

There’s plenty of options left before the heat and humidity makes its presence felt in the Broome region. You are sure to find some of the most iconic sportfish in the world on the bite, or the perfect table fish from the shore, it’s just a matter of working the tides. A timely reminder: if either leaving your car on the beach before setting out for a day on the boat or walking up the creeks for a flick, always park above the high tide mark.

Many vehicles are lost every year in Broome to the tides, so take heed and enjoy what only the Kimberley can offer.

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FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS AUSTRALIA’S TOP FISHING LOCATIONS

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Name: Address:

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GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The ‘Real Fish Oita’ is an incredible, award winning squid jig manufactured in Europe by leading Croatian company - DTD. Taking out the coveted ‘best new product’ in its class at the EFTTEX 2015 Expo in Warsaw, this wonderful range is now available in Australia through Dogtooth Distribution.

The product imitates real fish species. This coupled with DTD’s use of only the highest grade materials available, ensures great balance and results in superior catching ability. With the unique ‘fish parasite’ feature, aimed at luring predators in for an ‘easy kill’, these truly unique jigs are set to explode into the Australian market.

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SPOT THE

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ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to J Curley, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – WAFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for July is G Bradshaw of The Vines, who won a pair of Tonic Tango Sunglasses.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – WAFM

Rockingham, S Cowton of Mount Helena, B Jacobs of Safety Bay, P Dunlop of Capel, S Bastick of Two Rocks, C Carey of Bentley, K Lockwood of Rockingham, D Myers of Sorrento, J Curley of Halls Head, L Felsch of Bicton, P Baskerville of Glenfield, P Williams of Brookton, G Higgins of Eaton, K Masolini of City Beach, D McGillivray of Moora, J Benson of Oakford, R Lambly

of Woodlands, C Walker of Canning Vale, A Hogan of Parmelia, C Heslewood of Busselton, S Cameron of Tyndale, F Fraser of Bridgetown, J Addenbrooke of Maddington, Y Hwangbo of Ballajura, J Cammell of East Fremantle, L Rojahn of Banyo, D Elkerbout of Dunsborough.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – WAFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

GUESS THE FISH?

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Chinaman Fish

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for July were: 7, 8, 11, 12, 20, 22, 24, 31, 36, 42, 45, 51, 53, 54, 59. – WAFM The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for July were: G Uren of Ballajura, C Warren of Wagin, B Atkins of Mandurah, J Hislop of Yokine, B Crossington of Secret Harbour, R Taylor of

Answer: SEPTEMBER 2019

33

North Coast

Fish fire as grey nomad season comes to an end DAMPIER/KARRATHA

Troy Honey

It has been a challenging couple of months, as I have started a new job and moved to a new house, and if you combine that with the windless and glassy waters off Karratha and Dampier and you can imagine my frustration.

These things need to be done at times in our lives,

but being an avid (and some may say addicted fisherman) I’m constantly searching for ways to get a short fishing session in when possible.

With my boat and majority of fishing gear packed away for the move, I only had quick access to a tackle box full of small lures and my trusty Shimano Zodias rod fitted with the ever-reliable Stradic 3000.

I really like this set up for

creek fishing and casting small stickbaits from the rocks or beach. With that being said, when it was time for a break during the hectic month, I phoned a friend and we set off for the Maitland River, just a short drive south of Karratha.

The Karratha region has some of the best creek systems in Western Australia and the best part is they are full of fish and crustaceans.

The key to successful

fishing in these creeks is access and tides. When we arrived early it was right on the high tide mark, so we new we only had a very short time, as generally an hour or so either side of the tide changes is when things heat up and fish are on the bite. We immediately rigged up and due to the creek off shoot section we chose being very narrow and surrounded by overhanging mangroves, baits of small prawns were our weapons of choice.

My first bait didn’t even have time to sink, as the moment it hit the water right next to a snag it was engulfed by a beautiful mangrove jack. For the next hour we went on to catch quite a few more feisty jacks and among

being stuck in a saltpan and trying to get out. Sometimes it’s impossible to free the car even with assistance from other vehicle or earth moving equipment.

For those who were lucky enough to enjoy the perfect weather over the last month and get out on the boat amongst the islands, there was a plethora of fish on offer. Billfish and large pelagics such as Spanish mackerel were regularly targeted with great success by most, and some beautiful examples were landed.

Demersal species such as red emperors and rankin cod have been caught in the deeper water of 40m or more to the west and north west of the islands.

Back in amongst the islands

vehicle combined with a walk over the dunes, but fourm-wheel drive is highly recommended.

Large GTs, Spanish mackerel and golden trevally can be caught over the shallow reefs that surround the Archipelago, with heavy tackle and large surface poppers and stickbaits the go to choice for hooking up to and battling these beasts.

When heading out to these reefs, it can be quite a trek, but the ground that you will go over to get there holds some very good fish such as coral trout and coronation cod. The tide change is best for fishing for the GTs, and you can then enjoy your trip out by trolling some brightly coloured deep diving lures such as green or pink over

Dylan Munn was recently put to the test while out in the Archipelago, with this very large golden trevally attacking his metal jig.

tackle h c u m o Is to gh? u o n e y l r ates on not nea r daily upd

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SEPTEMBER 2019

The creek systems in the Karratha region are not only beautiful, but are also plagued by great fish such as mangrove jack. them there were flathead, trevally, very large bream and a couple of healthy cod.

With them all being caught on light line, it made for some epic battles. There’s no better way to alleviate the mind and soul from the stresses of moving house and starting a new job.

When searching for creek systems to try, I spend a lot of time looking over digital maps. The creeks are easy to find, access tracks and spots to use as way points is what I mostly search for. All too often when you get out to these areas the tracks look very different to what the internet displayed, so having a good satellite navigation system loaded with GPS waypoints makes for light work. I also always take a personal location beacon with me, just in case the worst happens, and you find yourself lost or get your vehicle stuck in the mud, which happens every week in this region to someone. I know firsthand what it is like

of the Archipelago, there have been excellent catches of coral trout, bluebone, Spanish flag and a few very nice tripletail, which were caught under the moorings opposite the Dampier Salt Export Wharf.

September sees the daytime temperatures start to rise, and with it the water temperature. It is still early days for the barramundi to fire up, as we need a water temperature of around 28°C or so, so another month or two yet. Mangrove jacks and mud crabs are plentiful in the creek systems, with plenty of trevally, cod, flathead and queenfish amongst them.

The beaches and shallows right along the coast are holding great schools of whiting. One of the preferred spots for targeting whiting in the region is south of Karratha in the well-known campground of 40 Mile.

The stretch of beach here is perfect for whiting fishing and easy to access. It can be done in a two-wheel drive

the ground for the chance of a hook-up. I will often bottom fish for a few hours with limited success only to head off and troll a lure over the same ground and immediately hook up on a nice trout or cod.

The annual grey nomad migration will be coming to an end in September and October, so if you are travelling up by car and pulling your boat please exercise caution on the busy roads. For me this is a great time of year, as the temperature is perfect for diving and combined with a few days of no wind and neap tides a chance to get out for some ornate crayfish, which are in good numbers this year. As always, there are lots of options at this time of year, so picking a day with appropriate tides and wind direction and then matching it with location and fish species will ensure you have the best chance of success.

Good luck!

FIND FIND THE THE

LOGO COMPETITION

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The first 40 correct entries drawn at the end of each month The first 40 correct entries drawn at the end of each month will win a Neck Scarf will win a Neck Scarf

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entries will Prize draw All entries will then thengo go into the Major Prize draw to win 1 of All entries will then go into the Major Prize draw to win 1 of to be bedrawn drawnon on31st [DATE].

3 prize packs to October, 2019.

3 prize packs to be drawn on [DATE].

MAJOR $$ $ $ $200 $ 1000 500 PRIZES 1st 1st PLACE PLACE

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MAIL MAILENTRIES ENTRIESTO: TO: MAIL ENTRIES TO: NSWFM WAFM Find Findthe theDAIWA DAIWALogo LogoCompetition, Competition, NSWFM Find the DAIWA Logo Competition, PO BOX 3172, Loganholme PO BOX BOX 3172, LoganholmeQLD QLD 4129 4129 PO 3172, Loganholme QLD 4129 Entries must be received by 30TH DATE 2019 2019 Entries must be received by 30th SEPTEMBER, Entries must be received by 30TH DATE 2019 Original entriesonly. only.No Nophotocopies. photocopies.

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WAFM SEPTEMBER2019

NAME NAME

Trout moving over freshly-flooded ground FRESHWATER

Peter Fragomeni

September was traditionally the start of the trout fishing season in WA, but it was decided that an all round season would be a better option,

the opening day and on a number of occasions would wait it out until midnight before casting a fly in hope of landing my first fish of the season. If it coincided with a rising moon after midnight, some truly fantastic fly fishing could be had.

in of good size fish being taken from our northern dams and southern rivers on fly, lure and the not-sopopular bait. The size of the ex-brood rainbows are well up on last year, as up to 50% of the females were barren of eggs and the result was similar to a triploid effect,

The beautiful Collie River is one of the nicest waters WA has, although the trout can be elusive on occasions.

DAMS Waroona Dam A number of advanced yearlings and ex-brood rainbows have been caught and a few are from the

fly and lure being the best methods. The redfin are still being caught, but mostly by trolling in the deeper water, although a recent trip only produced

to showcase what our government run hatchery produces. There was lots of other activities like fly casting lessons and displays for the whole family to

Wellington Dam can produce some excellent redfin at times. This 47cm model fell to a trolled lure and was one of five landed by Amara Blackwell. as trout don’t successfully breed in our streams in most situations.

I’m not quite sure who came up with this idea, and I can say that they obviously don’t venture

Still, it’s an exciting time to fish, with the warming water flooding over new ground giving the trout very good reason to venture into the shallows chasing food drowned by

being all their energy was put to gaining weight and not producing eggs. The staff at the hatchery are not quite sure how this came about, but one theory is that after a record spawning a A rainbow trout showing off its superb spawning colours.

2018 stocking, as is evident from their lean appearance, unlike the well-conditioned hatchery-fed counterparts.

It seems everyone is enjoying success from both shore and boat, with

a few for the many hours spent trolling.

Drakesbrook Weir This was the site of the annual Troutfest run by Recfishwest on 31 August and it was a great time

enjoy, and it was a license free weekend, so a good time was had by all.

Logue Brook Dam This is our one true trout water that can switch on and off in a matter of

Brown trout are eagerly targeted by anglers and this year around 500 have been stocked at around this size. out to areas that I do, and I’m sure others would also agree that there’s lot of self sustaining trout populations in many of our waters and has been for many years. I know many like myself would anticipate 36

SEPTEMBER 2019

the encroaching water.

This year sees a record stocking of larger trout, with around 3000 large trout and 6500 ready to catch advanced yearlings being stocked in our SW waters. Reports are coming

couple of years back, the fry were heavily stocked in the trays, which caused the problem. Anyway, I’m looking forward to catching some of these, as they should put up a good fight on light gear.

Redfin are great table fish, but their fighting ability can be poor at times. These were caught using a dropshot rig at Harvey Dam.

weeks. It was fishing well in May, but slowed right down in June and July, but things should have improved by late August when trout return to the

may be worth a visit if you are down that way.

Big Brook Dam Some nice ex-brood rainbows have been caught off the wall and by people

RIVERS Serpentine River I dropped in and had a look at this river and found it to be overgrown near the highway bridge

was the location where the state record rainbow trout was caught back in ‘60s, a fish of nearly 7lb that still sits on the wall of the Trout Club cottage WATFAA in Pemberton today Murray River There have been no reports recently, but spring is the time to fish this river, with some nice rapids to explore around Dwellingup.

or Greenwell Glory can be deadly, but also frustrating at times when they rise only to turn away at the last moment.

The section above the town weir is another great place to explore, but unfortunately Watercorp keeps placing signs up stating its closed to fishing, as the weir is used for drinking water. Without

worth a look if you are down that way. Try the upstream section around One Tree Bridge.

AUSSIE NATIVES Unfortunately I was notified that the proposal to stock Wellington Dam with bass or golden perch has been rejected. No clear reason has been given, but it seems that it had no support. I think it is the

A rainbow trout that survived what looks like an attack from a cormorant.

A lucky angler with a nice rainbow caught at last year’s Redfin Kayak Bash. This event is on again in September and October. dams after spawning up the creeks in winter.

Harvey Dam Spring is the best time to fish this dam for trout, although most of the catch are predominantly stocked hatchery fish in the form of ex-brood rainbow and brown trout. The redfin fishing seems to taper off, but this could be the case of anglers targeting trout with shallow running lures or fly fishing off the bank as opposed to deep trolling with specific redfin lures.

There should be a few larger yearlings around this year, as it has received a good stocking of advanced rainbows.

Wellington Dam This dam still manages to frustrate anglers, with many blanking on a number of occasions where others land some of the biggest redfin of any of our dams.

My advice is to persevere and not go there expecting to land a bucket of redfin.

Cover lots of water until you find a few.

Glen Mervyn Dam This dam has surprised a couple of anglers this year with a few nice trout coming out, which is a turn around on the last report.

Some nice redfin have been caught, but not in any great sizes.

Norolup Dam A couple of small rainbows were caught by a party of fishers calling in on a trip to Pemberton, so it

trolling Rapala style minnows, and there’s a few redfin thrown in the mix too. Spring is the best time to fish, as this is when it gets a fresh stocking of large rainbow and brown trout.

and difficult to fish. The downstream section is easier to access if you have some extra time. Some may not be aware that the upstream section near where the dam is located

It’s great to see the youngsters getting into the trout. Liam Matzkov took this nice 42cm rainbow in one of the irrigation dams.

Brunswick River A few small rainbows have been caught, which is not a surprise, as it gets a regular stocking every year.

Blackwood River This river can be high in early spring, so keep a eye on water level. I would give it a miss if it’s running high and fast. Balingup to Nannup is the preferred section, an while there isn’t great numbers, the size is normally good.

Warren River It’s great to see the increase in the number of brown trout caught in recent times, and this is the result of the excellent work Terry and his team at the hatchery have done in conjunction with the members of the Recfishwest stocking committee, who are pushing for greater numbers of these superb species of trout that every trout angler hopes to land every year. Some nice rainbows have turned up, so it’s looking good for the coming season. Redfin have not disappointed those who chase them, but the fight can’t match that of a solid brown unfortunately. Some great YouTube videos have been posted of nice size specimens being caught from kayaks recently.

Lefroy Brook This is my favourite stream in WA, but unfortunately I don’t get to fish it as often as I did in the past. It has received a huge stocking this year and the section known as Thompsons Flat upstream of the highway can be productive on the right flow. It gets a lot of traffic and the wild fish can be spooked by a careless approach, so casting a dry fly like a Humpy, Red Tag

encouraging anyone to break the law, I would ignore their signs, as they have been ordered to remove them previously, as no official law has been passed to prohibit us from fishing this section!

All the favourite lures work, but I prefer a floating minnow that easily glides over the logs that abound in this stream. Try a Celta, as the browns love them for some reason. A walk down to the mouth of the Warren River below Clauders Bridge can produce some nice trout in spring.

Donnelly River As was reported in previous issues, there’s a proposal to place a dam on a tributary of this river and build a small weir on the river, so water can be pumped to it for irrigation to Manjimup area. I can confirm that after raising the issue with Recfishwest they have had a meeting with those involved and have set out some important guidelines that not only benefit us fishers but the environment most importantly.

Some nice browns have turned up recently, so it’s

clear lack of support by the local minister that is of the opinion that they may interfere with the redfin and marron fishery in that dam. With a few of the mines closing in the Collie area I would be looking at ways to boost tourism, and there’s no better way than to introduce a hardfighting sport fish to entice anglers to your area. I know a number of anglers that spend thousands of dollars chasing freshwater natives over east, driving their vans and boat across the Nullarbor where that money could be going to our local towns in this state.

Still, they haven’t said no to stocking, just that this water is not suitable.

Things have been quiet, with not many reports of natives being caught, although the silver perch have been actively feeding out in the western wheat belt where I reside!

So with spring and clear warm days upon us, it’s a good time to get yourself a freshwater licence and chase some trout or tasty redfin down in our scenic SW of the state!

DAM LEVEL PREDICTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER This year has been difficult to predict dam levels, as it was dry in May, but we had well above average rainfall in June then low in July, and August is not looking much better at this stage. On a positive note, most dams are up from last year, but Harvey and Glen Mervyn are still very low.

WAROONA DAM

88%

DRAKESBROOK WEIR

100%

LOGUE BROOK DAM

79%

HARVEY DAM

57%

WELLINGTON DAM

64%

GLEN MERVYN DAM

63%

BIG BROOK DAM

104% SEPTEMBER 2019

37

WHAT’S NEW FISHING EQUALIZER TWIN PIN PRO

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The Black Magic Equalizer has grown a reputation around the world for being the ultimate fish fighting gimbal and harness, and now it’s even better.

With the advent of different fishing styles and the growing popularity in bent butt rods, Black Magic has introduced a new Equalizer, called the Twin Pin Pro (patent pending).

The change is simple yet significant, offering a great advantage to anglers who use both bent and straight butt rod types.

As the name suggests, the Twin Pin Pro has two pins, one in the traditional recessed position, and a new pin in the front of the rod bucket. Now, anglers have maximum leverage whether using a straight butt or a bent butt rod, without the need for an adaptor. Simply choose the best pin for your style of rod and you are fishing without restrictions.

Head to the Black Magic website to see more information, photos and a video of the Twin Pin Pro. www.blackmagictackle.com

OKUMA HELIOS SX SPIN RODS

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Taking on all comers and reigning supreme in the Best New Rod category at the prestigious 2018 EFFTEX tackle trade show, the eye-catching Okuma Helios SX spinning rod is now available in Australia.

There are three models in the range, covering many of our most popular light spin applications.

Helios SX rods offer anglers high end components, ultra-light feel, crisp actions and incredible value for money. Features include 30T Toray carbon construction, creating slim blanks and fast actions, Japanese EVA split grip design, comfort grip ergonomic reel seat and Seaguide Gun Smoke SS guide frames with zirconia guide inserts. All up, it delivers classy looks, quality components and proven performance at an affordable price.

The range consists of the following models: HSX-S-702L (light action, 7’0”, 2-piece, 1-3kg, 1-8g casting weight), HSX-S-702ML (med light, 7’0”, 2-piece, 2-4kg, 3-15g) and the HSX-S-702M (medium, 7’0”, 2-piece, 3-6kg, 5-20g).

Price: SRP $109.95 www.okuma.com.au

STRIKE PRO X-BUSTER

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The Strike Pro X-Buster is a deadly swimbait with a superior quality and finish.

This jointed swimbait replicates a bony bream to perfection and is deadly on barramundi and Murray cod. It has an outstanding side to side action, and you can crank, rip, twitch, pull, jerk or troll it. Just remember to give it a good pause; it glides deadly to the left or right and it stays in the strike zone.

This lure is extremely strong, with a tensile strength of 35-40kg, and it comes fitted with extra strong split rings and trebles so it’s perfect to use straight out of the packet for large species.

The X-Buster is 17cm long, weighs 80g and suspends at approximately 4ft. It also features extra loud in-built rattles for added attraction, allowing the fish to home in on the lure in murky waters.

The X-Buster is available in four natural baitfish colours and is a must for the serious swimbait angler. www.jurofishing.com 38

SEPTEMBER 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

BASSDAY BACKFIRE 4 Bassday’s expertise in the surface lure market is second to none, with the SugaPen one of the deadliest surface lures available.

Their newest creation, the Backfire, was originally designed for catching black porgy on Lake Hamana in Shizuoka, but it has proven itself in our local conditions already. And like the SugaPen, it’s sure to be a favourite for keen anglers.

The Backfire is 65mm long and through wired, making it strong and dependable. It weighs 7.5g and casts exceptionally well for a small lure. The large cupped face is capable of both dramatic pops, and small subtle, ripple inducing pops, when using a slow and light touch.

The slim profile produces little wind resistance. The action is that of a classic popper and will be excellent for bass, bream and other surface feeders. It works best with a ‘pop, pop, pause’ technique.

The new model comes in eight colours, and all but one have been designed exclusively for Australia. To find out more visit the Bassday Australia website, or Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BassdayAus. www.bassday.com.au

DAIWA KIX LT

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Combining many of Daiwa’s latest technologies with stylish looks and contemporary design, the Kix LT delivers on both performance and price.

The Kix’s impressive design and strength begins with its ultra strong, ultra corrosionresistant alloy body providing a rock solid foundation for the reel’s long list of features.

Daiwa’s LT Concept delivers lightness and toughness while Tough Digigear provides flawless internal gearing, with its high-precision cutting technique achieving perfect gear meshing and ultra-smooth performance.

MagSeal protects from the elements, while Air Rotor, ATD, LT’s Longcast ABS spool, Perfect Line Stopper, Air Bail and EVA knob combine for superior performance, power and precision.

The new Kix LT is available now in six different sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

UPGRADED FG WIZZ

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The FG knot is the best braid-to-leader knot because it has the slimmest profile of any other knot, allowing you to reel it through your guides and use longer leaders. It’s also stronger than any other braid-to-leader knot.

This tool leaves your hands free to tie a slim, uniform and reliable FG knot every time, quickly and easily. There is no need to use your teeth or your rod. The FG Wizz is compact so you can take it anywhere.

This Aussie invention is hand-made by angler Ray Fewell.

“The original FG Wizz has been selling well, and everyone who has one loves it,” Ray said.

“If there has been any criticism at all, it’s the fact that it doesn’t handle heavy braids and leaders as well as the lighter sizes. That’s because the stems get drawn together at a faster rate.

“The new version is more versatile, holding heavy leader better in the back bobbin when finishing the knot.”

To see how easy it is to use, look up ‘FG Wizz’ on YouTube.

Price: SRP $44 www.fgwizz.com.au

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

MAJOR CRAFT N-ONE 7 EGI RODS The Major Craft N-One Egi Series are all 8’6” lengths that cater for small 0.4 jigs all the way up to larger 3.0 and 4.0 jigs.

The rods are all spin, using a nano-alloy and carbon blank construction to reduce weight. They also incorporate the CrossForce technology used elsewhere in the Major Craft range.

These rods are a delight to use, with a super sensitive tip and an incredibly light weight, which allows anglers to impart jig movement with minimal effort and less fatigue. The guide train is all Fuji SiC, arranged in the KR Concept pattern, and ergonomics are at the centre of the build with carefully constructed composite EVA grips. The rod uses gold winding checks and black, gold and red bindings for a bold look.

There are three models, the NSE-862EH (8’6”, PE 0.6-1.5, 3.0-4.0 jig size), NSE-862E (8’6”, 0.4-1.2, 2.5-3.5), and NSE-862EL (8’6”, 0.4-1.0, 2.0-3.5).

For more information visit the Major Craft Australia website or Like them on Facebook. www.majorcraft.com.au

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RAPALA TOURNAMENT 8 SHIRTS

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You can fish all day in comfort with the new Rapala Tournament Fishing Jerseys.

These quick drying, 100% polyester shirts make a day on the water comfortable, and have a UPF 30+ sun protection rating to protect you and your kids from the sun’s harmful rays.

These jerseys are available in adults’ sizes small to XXXL and kids’ sizes 2 to 14. For more information visit the Rapala Australia website, or check them out at your local tackle store today.

To find out more about these and other products in the Rapala apparel range, check out the Rapala Australia website or like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapala. australia), or Instagram (@rapalaaustralia). www.rapala.com.au

SHIMANO SLX DC

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The Shimano SLX DC offers smarter, more efficient lure casting under a variety of conditions.

Shimano’s Digital Control braking system automatically activates and controls brake force at every moment of the cast. A microcomputer controls the spool rotation by measuring and adjusting its speed, at 1000rpm/second, during a cast and little to no thumbing of the spool is required. It doesn’t require a battery, as the system re-charges itself as the spool rotates.

Four adjustable settings enable anglers to fish a wide variety of lures in all weather conditions, without having to constantly fiddle with internal brake settings. The DC system can also accommodate various casting styles and even different line types, with setting 1 providing the least amount of brake control and 4 providing the most.

The Hagane Body helps to ensure that the reel is extremely rigid and durable, so all movement results in smooth, yet strong cranking power. There’s an enlarged 48mm Throw Handle across three right-handed models, with gear ratios of 6.3:1, 7.2:1 (HG) and 8.2:1 (XG), and one left-hand (7.2:1 HG).

With a maximum drag output of 5kg, the SLX

DC can provide great stopping power.

Price: from SRP $339.95 www.shimanofish.com.au

SALTIGA 12 BEX UVF 10 PE+SI Made with UVF (Ultra Volume Fibre) and Evo Silicone, Saltiga 12 BEX UVF PE+Si Line is the ultimate high-density braid, exhibiting supreme abrasion resistance and ultimate strength.

With 72% improved abrasion resistance, 20% more strength, an 18% more slippery surface and 30% less line stretch compared to 8 braid premium PE lines, Saltiga 12 Braid UVF is the ultimate in line technology.

A reduced diameter provides an ultrasmooth surface for less friction/resistance on the guides and spool rim allowing for longer smoother casting, less noise, minimal water penetration and incredible sensitivity.

Saltiga 12 is the ultimate heavy duty jigging and casting line for big gamefish, and is colorcoded in 10m, 5m and 1m increments to allow full line control. It’s available in a range of sizes from PE0.6 (200m spool) up to PE8 (400m spool), and you can see all the specs at Daiwa Australia website.

Price: from SRP $99 www.daiwafishing.com.au

OKUMA EPIXOR SQUID RODS

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A dream rod for egi anglers, Okuma Epixor squid rods feature stunning aesthetics, top quality components and slim blanks with crisp actions.

Balanced for long casts and imparting action into jigs, with plenty of power down low for casting and control, combined with tips that can bring jigs to life in the water and control the surges of hooked squid, while reducing the chances of tearing jigs free.

High end components are used in the manufacture of these rods, including 40T Toray carbon blanks for a light and responsive rod, finished with Fuji K guides and Fuji reel seat.

Okuma Epixor Squid rods are available in 7’6” and 8’3” two-piece models, rated PE 0.61.2, with a casting weight of Egi 2.5-4.0. For more information head to the Okuma website, or look them up on Facebook (www.facebook. com/okuma.australia).

Price: SRP $179.90 www.okuma.com.au

NEW FISH TRAP COLOURS

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Anglers who love the Zerek Fish Trap will be excited to hear that seven new colours have arrived.

The new colours have been developed with the assistance of gun anglers across Australia and with the help of tackle stores. Needless to say, Zerek has delivered an exceptional new range.

Within the range are the following colours: BF – blended fog, GC – ghost carp, GH – gold herring, GS1 – green sunset, PS1 – pink sunset, SH – silver herring, and SS – sunset.

Initially available in the 95mm size, these colours will be rolled out into the 65mm and 110mm sizes in the coming months.

The Zerek Fish Trap features virtually indestructible TPE construction matched to forged split rings that hold the Mustad 4x strong Saltism treble. www.wilsonfishing.com

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

39

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

TESTED

PRODUCT GUIDE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Perfect timing for flathead season

The flathead season on Australia’s east coast hits its peak in Southeast Queensland in late September, and the action filters its way south as water temperatures increase in December and January. Anglers all the way to bottom of East Gippsland in Victoria, and the southern coast of Western Australia, head out looking to tussle with a flat fish.

Those of you who follow the Tackle Testing Booths in the magazines and the www.tacklejunkie.fish website know I love targeting flathead. When the team at Rapala Australia wanted to do something flatheadrelated, I was on board straight away. Much of what they sent me was newly released in 2019, and I could see that the lures were likely to catch their fair share of flathead. For now though, let’s start with the rod, reel, line and leader.

Rapala Australia’s portfolio of brands cover all the bases for you to catch flathead.

The author’s chief product testing assistant, Nicholas Willett, has had a lot of success using paddle tail plastics this season.

This flathead took a liking to a 4” 360GT Coastal Mangrove Minnow.

The Rapala Maxwell rod that they matched with a Rapala R-Type reel immediately intrigued me. The Maxwell rods are available in nine different spin configurations, two of which are new for 2019. The rod to be tested was the 7’ 2-piece, 2-4kg model (MXS702L). Maxwell rods fit into the finesse spectrum of rods – super lightweight, quality Fuji KR Concept

guides, skeleton reel seat with an EVA foregrip and composite cork rear grip.

They are a fast taper configuration.

The Rapala R-Type 25 reel they matched it with is a new size within the R-Type Spin range, added in 2019. It and the R-Type 35 have been added to the three other sizes available this year. These reels have 6+1 ball bearings and the new models have a 5.2:1 gear ratio with a 6kg drag rating.

A big part of the Rapala Australia portfolio is the Sufix range of lines. I was provided with a 10lb 150yd spool of Sufix 832 Advanced Superline in coastal camo colour to put on the reel, and some Sufix Super 21 fluorocarbon leader to go with it.

Both lines are recognised for their abrasion resistance and sensitivity.

The Sufix 832 is an interesting concept.

It is an 8-strand line with 32 weaves per inch of line. The line itself is a blend of 7 HMPE fibres and a GORE performance fibre. The GORE fibre assists with abrasion resistance while the HMPE fibres provide the strength and sensitivity. The Sufix Super 21 complements the main line, providing a strong, supple and invisible leader to fish with.

VMC COASTAL X JIG HEADS AND STORM 360GT COASTAL SOFT PLASTICS The Coastal X jigheads and 360GT Coastal soft plastics were a new release for 2019, following on from the highly successful Storm 360GT Searchbait range.

The VMC Coastal X jigheads range from 7-14g and come in 2/0-4/0 hook sizes. I would call the hook medium heavy, certainly fine enough to get through the top lip of a flathead.

Storm 360 Coastal plastics come in a number of profiles and sizes, and you can find more information in the fact box hereabouts. Each style has eight colours.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS The combination of the Rapala R-Type

reel and the Maxwell rod is a good one.

It is well balanced, and although the reel feels a little heavy compared to some out there, it is spot on for the rod.

Initial impressions of the rod where that it is quite soft or very tippy, whichever way you want to say it. I did have concerns that casting a 3/8oz or 1/2oz jighead and plastic may be a challenge, and that the initial power required to set the hook on a larger flathead may not be there. Loading the rod correctly (not the wiggle test) alleviated this concern. As tippy as the rod may be, there is plenty of power from two thirds of the way down the blank to deal with the above lures and to drive that hook home.

The VMC Coastal X jigheads are also a little different. Their medium heavy wire covers the best of both worlds – fine enough for quick hook penetration with the strength to give you peace of mind if you need to dictate terms while fighting a fish. I would have loved for the 3/8oz to come in a 4/0 hook (like the 1/2oz) not just 2/0 and 3/0. It just has that hook point a little further back when you are fishing 4” and 5” plastics. I did love the concept of a second eyelet under the head. You can run a blade or add a treble or stinger hook, something that shifts the odds just a little

STORM 360GT COASTAL PLASTICS Type

VMC Coastal X jigheads have a second eyelet so you can add a blade, treble or stinger hook. The author has chosen to add a stinger to the tail of this 4” Storm Coastal Shrimp.

40

SEPTEMBER 2019

Coastal Shrimp Coastal Mangrove Minnow Coastal Manta Tail Coastal Largo Shad Coastal Trick Tail Minnow

Size

Colours

Plastics per packet

3” and 4” 3” and 4” 4” and 5” 3” and 4” 5”

8 8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7 7

PRODUCT GUIDE more in your favour.

The 360GT Coastal plastics range has five styles, of which I selected four, and they are a good variation on traditional proven profiles. The Coastal Shrimp and the Manta Tail were my initial favourites. I also like the colour range, as I have always been a fan of contrast colouring, whether it’s layers or tail contrast. Each model has enough natural and ‘out there’ colours to meet most anglers’ needs.

IN THE FIELD It has been an interesting three months testing the gear and plastics on my local flathead. Lower rainfall and longer than expected warm weather has my local haunts fishing a little differently from previous years. Smallish (3-3.5”) baitfish profiles have been the go.

I expected the 3” Coastal Shrimp and Mangrove Minnow to be the standouts,

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

too many fish that don’t like a feed of prawns. Also coming in 3” and 4” sizes, the larger size seems bigger than it is. I did use a stinger hook set-up with it on those occasions when the fish weren’t in full smash ’em mode. It has proven to be the downfall of plenty of flathead, and has its fair share of bycatch as well.

Flathead haven’t been the only fish to take a liking to the 3” Storm Coastal Shrimp. This nice little snapper smashed one in the new penny colour.

The Rapala Maxwell rod fully loaded during a cast. and I was half right. The Mangrove Minnow paddle tail comes in two sizes (3” and 4”) and is quite a slender profile. What was unexpected was how hard the tail thumps.

The feedback through the rod in amazing considering the profile of the plastic. This has translated into some good fish being caught, but not as many as I expected it to. The season has been about finesse, and maybe the Mangrove Minnow was a bit full-on for some of the fish.

The Coastal Shrimp, however, has exceeded my expectations. The profile suits any style of retrieve, and I don’t know

The Coastal Manta Tail and Trick Tail Minnow are a jerkshad configuration with different tail set-ups. Flathead love this style of plastic, and this proved to be the case with both lures. The Trick Tail Minnow is a 5” plastic where the Manta Tail is available in either 4” or 5” sizing.

Flathead are not afraid of a large plastic, and the Trick Tail Minnow has caught its fair share of fish, but the Manta Tail has been winner between these two plastics.

Like the Coastal Shrimp, the Manta Tail has accounted for some fun bycatch as well.

The Rapala combo has been ideal for targeting flathead. The reel has a smooth drag and the rod is easily powerful enough.

The combination of the Sufix 832 braid and Super 21 leader with the outfit is next level. The feedback through the rod from the line is second to nothing I have tested.

You feel everything that is happening at the end of line, which is exactly what you want when you’re fishing plastics. The

No wonder the author is a fan of the New Penny 3” Coastal Shrimp!

Although all the Storm plastics tested caught fish, the author’s favourites were the 3” Coastal Shrimp and this plastic, the 4” Coastal Manta Tail.

This mulloway was a welcome by-catch. It was caught on a 4” Storm 360GT Coastal Manta Tail in the kickin chicken colour.

marketing for the Superline in particular is all about abrasion resistance, and I can’t fault it. More importantly for me, they are great to tie knots with. You can deal with your line being rubbed through, but not your knots giving way.

FINAL THOUGHTS As an overall package, Rapala Australia has done a great job, and anybody who likes chasing a flathead or two should check out these products. The standouts for me were the Storm 360GT Coastal Shrimp and the Coastal Manta Tail. The Sufix 832 Superline is amazing too.

Although I did like the coastal camo colour that I tested, I would probably steer towards the neon lime colour, as my aging eyes need all the help they can get.

You can check out these products in your local tackle store, on their website at www.rapala.com.au or like Rapala on Facebook to get all the updates on their new products.

– Peter Jung

The author didn’t expect to catch this on a 360GT Coastal Shrimp.

SEPTEMBER 2019

41

PRODUCT GUIDE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

A perfect combination of touch, power and looks It would be the understatement of the millennium to say that product developer/fishing nerd Tommy Slater and the team at Daiwa Australia have been busy in 2019.

some time working out exactly which rods I’d get the most use out of.

I initially asked for one of each model (16 total rods), and once the laughter on the other end of the phone stopped we settled on one

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

TESTED

setting means little to nothing once you’ve actually strapped a reel to it, chosen a lure and set off to put a REAL bend in it.

As crazy as my old mate Jimmy Reid from ABT can be, he’s got nothing on a wild bass who’s decided your Mazzy Pop looked good for afternoon tea and is heading back to the gnarly snag he calls home.

In the three months or so I’ve been fishing the TD Zeros I’ve been most impressed by how well they’ve thrown lures of all different shapes and sizes. Using everything from Bent Minnows and iWavers through to

Throwing jigs into tight cover was easy with the TD Zero baitcaster.

NTENT CO A

SEPTEMBER 2019

CA N T H E Q R

42

RE ONLINE MO

-S

A wild fish that was extracted from a nasty snag thanks to the abundant low end power.

various bass jigs, crankbaits and vibes, they’ve handled everything asked of them with ease.

And when I put those lures in the right spots and actually hooked a fish or tiger squid, the fun really began.

Ask any angler or experienced tackle store employee, and they’ll say that previous Daiwa rod ranges had too many versions of the same rods. The livery, cosmetics and price points would all change, but most of the lengths, weights and actions were very similar. This has really started to change in the last 12 to 18 months, and the TD Zeros are a perfect example of that change.

The two models I’ve fished with so far (I’m still holding out hope the other 14 models will show up any day now) both have actions that are different from older Daiwa models I’ve got in the rack. If you were to just read the numbers though, you’d assume they’d be very similar to fish with.

The spin rod has a light action and a fast taper, making it perfect for light lure work, so I’ve primarily used it for casting surface lures across flats for bream and whiting. The extra rod length means I can cast a long way without a lot of effort and once connected, the fast taper surrenders the tip of the rod without giving away power. This means you are less

FOR EXTR

spin, and one BC option.

You can’t knock a bloke for trying right?

In the end I settled on the 6102MLB for the baitcaster and the 732LS in the spin, with the bulk of my fishing being done in skinny freshwater and my local estuaries targeting bass, bream, squid, jacks and so on.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Unboxing is always fun, and holding both of these rods in the hand was no exception.

Yes, they’re very pretty and everything is styled perfectly from the hook keeper to the ergonomic Daiwa reel seat and EVA grips, but the first thing you notice is just how light they are in the hand.

As you all know, the natural thing to do with a new rod is to put a bend in it, and so every person who walked through our office did exactly that and everyone remarked how nice the new tapers were and how much power you could get out of a light set-up.

ON-WATER PERFORMANCE Of course, how a rod performs in an office

DE

Constant releases of new ranges of line, accessories, reels and rods has created plenty of work for them, and have given us mere anglers plenty to drool about as new press releases were rolled out and videos of them in action dropped on YouTube.

One launch that really took my fancy was the re-vamped TD Zero range.

The Zero name has been stickered on Daiwa rods for a long time now, but the 2019 version is the boldest and most ambitious version ever, with a range of spin and baitcast options to suit just about any light tackle angler in the country.

Striking colours, unique handle designs, a balanced combination of Fuji stainless steel, titanium and SiC anti-tangle guides and the inclusion of a rod sock make the 2019 model an instant and impressive upgrade from previous offerings.

When I was asked if I’d be keen to put them to the test for Fishing Monthly readers I said YES! very quickly. Then I had to spend

CO

Close quarters bassin’ means you better have quality gear on your side.

likely to pull small hooks out of lips, but you can maintain control during the fight. It was matched with an older model 2506 Luvias and felt very well balanced in the hand.

The baitcaster has now accompanied me on many boat and kayak trips on dams and skinny bass water, and has been tasked with fishing everything from Soft Shells and Shinmushis in the timber at dawn to spoons, jigs and vibes on schooled fish while the sun blazed above. I paired it with one of the new Tatula 150H reels and it’s been a dream to fish with.

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK The RRP on the TD Zero range is $299, which is about the middle of the road in today’s fishing retail market. There are plenty of rods that sit either side of this price point, but there aren’t too many that offer as many options in the range and come packed from tip to butt with so many premium features.

The 16 models cover everything from ultra light finesse fishing through to heavy work you’d expect to encounter in far north QLD or the Territory, and if all the models are as well built and thought out as the two I’ve been playing with, they’ll handle it easily.

PICK ONE UP As I’ve mentioned, the rods do have particular actions that may be a little different from Daiwa rods you’ve used in the past, so I’d highly recommend getting into your local tackle store and putting a bend in one.

A red hot looking rod with a free Daiwa rod sock for under 300 bucks is well worth it.

– Rupe Gaden

WATA social event on the Swan You couldn’t ask for better weather for the WATA Social Event. Sunny skies, very little wind and a comfortable temperature of 20°C was what 34 anglers were able to enjoy as they took part in the social event.

The pristine conditions,

Boaters and non-boaters were randomly paired so they would be able to fish with someone new and have the chance to make new friends while sharing knowledge. The kayakers fished around each other for most of the day, so the social aspect on the water

The event site was a real buzz. Familiar and new faces were all mingling with each other, sharing stories of how their day went, cracking jokes and most importantly, just having a really good time.

After everyone finished filling up on pizzas and drinks, it was time to fetch their bream from the livewells to be measured and pictured. Anglers were tasked with trying to catch their two longest bream, and the combined measurement of each bream would be their

division was Rene Van Doorn, who caught two fish with a combined total of 61cm.

Dallas Brennan finished second, with one bream that measured 33cm and finishing in third place was Hamish McNabb with one fish that measured 27cm.

The non-boater division was won by Graeme Kovacevich who caught two fish for a combined total of 65cm, which included a cracking bream of 39cm.

Oliver Kirsch finished in second place with two bream

Shane Owens holds up his two bream that he caught on Bait Breath Rockin Crabs. These lures are proven winter time lollies for black bream and the results continually back this up. however, created a tough bite for most of the anglers, but a handful still managed to find the bream including a couple of decent-sized specimens, which were brought back to the event site to be measured

Anglers were also just as keen to pick themselves up a few quality products from Tyrone and Mark’s pop up Tackle HQ shop.

Peter DeGroot who caught two fish for a combined total of 64cm.

After the top three place getters were announced, some random draw prizes were given away thanks to Tyrone and Mark, who donated four $20 Tackle HQ gift vouchers, four Tackle HQ brag mats and also four Tackle HQ

very nice fish were caught, a top lunch followed and people made new friends. What more could you ask for?

On behalf of WATA, we would like to thank everyone for coming down and taking part in the event. We would also like to thank Tyrone Pablo Yahiya and Mark

wasn’t lost for them, which was fantastic. WATA provided the competitors with pizzas and drinks for lunch to satisfy the many hungry tummies after a morning on the water.

This went down a treat, and

Graeme Kovacevich has a special knack of being able to find big bream. This day was no exception, with this brilliant 39cm bream being the biggest of the event.

The competitors gather around Alex Greisdorf to be briefed on the event before they all set off on the Swan River for some fun on the water. and photographed. Despite the tough conditions, the day wasn’t all about catching fish.

The day was for new anglers to be able to get a taste of what bream competitions are like while having the opportunity to make new friends at the same time.

so too the opportunity to buy some fantastic products from the Tackle HQ pop up shop, which was put on by Tyrone Pablo Yahiya and former Eagles champion Mark Lecras who came down and made this possible for everyone.

total score. The angler who achieved the most centimetres in their division would take out the honours. Some anglers took photos of their fish on rulers while on the water and presented these photos to the organiser in charge of scoring.

This came in handy for those who didn’t have live-wells.

Before long the measuring, scoring and collating was finished and it was time to announce the top three from each division. The winners from each division couldn’t go home empty-handed, so the team put together a small prize for their efforts.

Winning the kayak

for a combined total of 53cm and Craig Doherty finished third with one fish for 35cm.

Last but not least the boater division, which was won by Shane Owens, who caught two fish for a combined total of 66cm, which included a healthy 37cm bream. Shane also donated his prize, an Anaconda gift card, to the winner of a novelty game, similar to paper scissors rock, which he played with the crowd and was won by Shannon Norris. Finishing in second place was Alex Greisdorf, who caught two bream for a combined total of 65cm, and finishing third was

Paul Burton is always a happy camper and the social event was no exception, where he weighed in two healthy Swan River bream. buffs. This ensured that people could still walk away with something despite not having won in their division.

The day wasn’t about prizes, but it’s always nice to walk away with a small token for your efforts.

In the end the day turned out to be brilliant in every aspect imaginable. The event was relaxed, some

Lecras from Tackle HQ for their efforts, and also Karl Hoffman from Anaconda, who donated a couple of gift cards for prizes.

For more information on future events keep an eye on the tournament section of this magazine and also check out the WA Tournament Anglers Facebook page.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2019

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

The competitors’ kayaks and boats lay dormant along the banks of the Maylands foreshore on a beautiful winter’s morning.

Oct 6

WA Bream Classic Kayak Series Round 3 – Moore River

watournamentanglers.com.au

Oct 20

WA Bream Classic Boat Series Round 3 – Blackwood River

watournamentanglers.com.au

Nov 9-10

WA Bream Classic Kayak Series GF – Swan River

watournamentanglers.com.au

Nov 23-24

WA Bream Classic Boat Series GF – Oyster Harbour

watournamentanglers.com.au

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

SEPTEMBER 2019

43

To SUP or kayak?

BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Winter has turned on some fantastic weather for fishing and hopefully you have had an opportunity to get

thoughts and sometimes the solution just pops into your head… once you make some space for it.

With this in mind, I keep an eye on the weather and tides and grab any opportunity that I can get my hands on… often despite both the weather

and tides that I’m paying attention to! If it’s glassy I’ll slide the SUP in, and if it’s blowing then I’ll drop the kayak or boat in and if the weather is horrible, I’ll often still have a crack land-based, just to throw a few casts.

It’s the SUP that I really

A magic morning for SUP fishing. Calm conditions are perfect for this style of fishing.

The green lantern coloured ZMan 3” MinnowZ getting the bite. out and chase a few. It’s a busy time of year for those of us in the fishing tackle industry, with the ICAST Fishing Tackle Trade Show in the USA and AFTA in Australia, along with new product development and releases, new catalogues and everything else that goes with it. Fishing Monthly is a great place to keep up to date with the latest releases, both in the magazine and via their Facebook page, so stay tuned for more exciting new releases.

When we’re busy, many of us will often shelve the fishing for a while, however I find that this is when we most need to get out, relax, defrag and chase a few fish.

Even a couple of hours casting can help you get a better perspective on what you’re working on, clear the

SEPTEMBER 2019

easily retrieved and leashed to the deck or additional floatation attached.

It’s in weather and tide where I did learn my lessons hence the title of this article. If you want to give SUP fishing a go, you can hire them or borrow one from someone.

To get the most out of the experience, add an icebox with rubber feet to the deck in case you wish to sit down, but more importantly, check the weather! My decision on whether to SUP is almost entirely based on weather.

I check on Seabreeze and other such weather programs and I am looking for winds under 5 knots for a sustained period, preferably blowing in a direction that will be at my back on the way home. I also make note of the tides and try to use them, rather than battle them for the entire session.

Mornings are often the prime time for SUP fishing, before the afternoon sea breezes that commonly blow in many regions. With a glassy morning on the forecast, I readied my gear the night before and launched at sunrise

of drains, I had landed two small flathead, a small bream and an aggressive but small whiting. The session was panning out as I had expected, with little bait and fish action, however the weather was amazing, and so I decided to make the most of it by spending more time stand up paddling than I normally do. I explored a large shallow weed flat, spotting schools of big mullet, paddling and cruising with stingrays, as well as spending time with a couple of small turtles. Talk about unwinding… I was getting a good dose of vitamin sea!

My time on the water was limited and I was keen to take home a feed of fresh fish for my wife and I, so I thought of the times previously when I had written ‘eat the bait’, in relation to species such as gar, mullet, squid and in my local waters, yellowtail pike. Yellowtail pike hold over the weed beds where I live, hunting prawns and baitfish through the cooler months. I knew where they would be holding and that I was guaranteed of catching

Just undersize but where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

The kayak is a better option than the SUP in windy conditions.

44

love to get out on though, when the weather is good.

There’s a sense of freedom on the SUP, with minimal gear, that sense of floating and gliding, and just standing on the water. You almost just blend into the environment and become a part of it, with fish cruising beneath you, with virtually no noise, no fuel smells, an elevated view to observe wildlife and the environment and when you do hook a fish it’s a unique experience fighting, landing and handling them from a stand up paddleboard. I guess

it’s the sense of freedom that surfers, hikers and other lightweight adventurers seek.

There is adrenaline filled moments and then there are those moments where you just feel at peace with the world.

I know, it all sounds a bit romantic and I haven’t mentioned falling in, dropping things overboard and battling the wind and tide. Touch wood though, I haven’t fallen in or dropped anything in the water and I always ensure important tools and accessories are either leashed or have an accessory float attached to ensure they will not sink if they find themselves in the water. I always test newly attached accessory floats in the shallows prior to launching so that items can be

Boat hulls are a good producer of bream, trevally, tailor and other species. to beat the boat traffic and make the most of the weather.

I was expecting a slow bite, as I was just after the full moon, the tides weren’t great and there hadn’t been a lot of bait around, however it was more about getting out there and making the most of a spectacular morning.

After an hour of drifting and casting plastics along the weed edges and into a couple

a dozen for a feed, so a short paddle had me on the spot and casting.

These slimy, smelly and toothy critters can’t resist a ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ, slow rolled on a 1/8-1/4oz 1/0 jighead. The head weight ensures the paddle-tail swims on the drop and a simple slow roll (slow wind), or slow roll with the occasional pause or a few twitches, will get their

attention. It is often a fish a cast, with half landed and half managing to free themselves or occasionally bite you off.

Most of my yellowtail pike fishing is done in a metre or two of water and when landing them I just swing them in, grab them firmly and then store them on ice.

I quickly had a dozen in the icebox and decided to head for home, making a few casts at boat hulls on the way back. I have pulled plenty of bream from boat hulls on the Gold Coast, however I had only recently started paying attention to the boat hulls in my local waters. I usually make a cast along the mooring rope and try and trace the rope down to the bottom so that my lure is working the mooring and lower section of rope. The next cast is to the front corner of the boat and swum back along the hull.

I’ll then make another cast to the middle of the boat hull, bringing the lure past the back corner of the boat and finally a couple of casts around the outboard and eddies at the

flathead. In the cooler months the flathead fight especially hard, although and I was surprised when a flathead that measured a couple of centimetres under legal was in the net and released. This was quickly followed by another small flathead.

Instead of being frustrated, I remembered that the smaller fish often school with bigger fish. Sure enough, a cast right to the weed edge, a couple of hops and I was battling what felt like a better quality

The C-Tug Trolley from Railblaza makes launching and retrieving simple. and lost a powerful fish that may have been a trevally, before moving onto the second hull and pinning a bream, right on the back corner where I tend to hook most fish.

It was time to call it and it had been a fantastic day on the water, despite the lack of

fish, however my previous experiences told me to make a call based on the weather and kayak fish instead.

It turned out to be a good call, as the wind would have been blowing me away from the bank that I wanted to fish… a much more difficult

Chasing yellowtail pike means scales, slime and smell everywhere, but a feed for dinner. stern of the boat, or around the propeller on inboard motors.

It pas to work both sides of the boat, even though the shady side often produces the most fish, and it’s also worth letting the lure hit the bottom in the shadow of the boat, as this has produced plenty of flathead that lay in the shadow and ambush prey.

At the first hull I hooked

It took about 20% of the time to drift back as it had to drift down and I managed another legal flathead on the way back, which I kept for my folks, as I wasn’t sure when I would be back on the water again… although I knew I would make a couple of hours somewhere.

These two short sessions had been enough to keep me sane and improve my state of mind, focus and productivity.

Remember to look after yourself and if your love is

big fish. That night we turned a less popular table fish into some delicious fish cakes and salad, with sweet chilli sauce, before it was back to work, recharged and with a fresh set of eyes.

The next window of opportunity that arose saw a less than favourable forecast, with winds to blow up quite early. I had planned to SUP

A solid flatty comes up yakside, ready for the net.

assignment on the SUP. In the kayak I could position my drift angle for casting and so that a few pedals would quickly and easily return me to a cast distance from the edge.

With a few hours available this session was to be my classic edge bite session, with a 2.5” paddle-tail on a 1/4oz jighead and a 3” paddletail on a 3/8oz jighead. The lighter jighead was for the slower tapering edges and the heavier jighead was for steeper channel edges and working the lure effectively when the wind picked up. At the end of the day you need to stay in contact with the soft plastic and hop it effectively, so the added weight makes this much easier, especially when targeting flathead, and you want that soft plastic hitting the bottom regularly.

The water was clear in the shallows and a green colour deeper, so I opted for a natural, more translucent

green colour, as opposed to a dark silhouette colour or fluoro. Again, the moon and tides weren’t in my favour, but I had the time and was happy to drift and flick, enjoying the serenity and confident that I would bump into at least one legal fish for dinner if I covered enough water and made enough casts.

It’s often the same anglers catching the fish or posting a quality capture on social media… remember it’s also often these anglers that are the ones spending time on the water, going the extra mile and making plenty of casts. Regardless of the sport that you take up, be it golf, tennis or football, it’s time on the course, court or field where you learn the most and for us as anglers our arena and training ground is on the water.

After a hundred metres of bank I had no fish and not even a bite. Not to worry.

The bank structure and depth changes as you move along it and I wasn’t trying to catch cricket scores, rather just trying to enjoy the time on the water and land one for dinner.

It wasn’t long before the lure was nailed as it sunk down after a couple of hops, the rod buckled over and I was into what felt like a reasonable

A second quality flathead for the short kayak edge bite session. flathead. It was soon in the net and then onto the lip grips to make handling safer and easier for a photo and dispatched into the icebox. I had my fish for dinner and the tide had begun to turn to carry me back home!

The return drift was wind and tide together, creating a fast drift that required the heavier 3/8oz jighead to cast ahead of the drift and effectively control and stay in contact with the soft plastic.

fishing, a few casts off the bank somewhere is better than nothing. The busier that you find yourself, the more important it is to make time, step back and clear your mind, making you happier, more productive and maybe even a better person to be around!

I’m no doctor, however I can definitely recommend a solid dose of vitamin sea… or lake… or river.

See you on the water.

They’re slimy and smelly but they’re also pretty good smoked or turned into fish cakes.

SEPTEMBER 2019

45

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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.

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47

The state of fishing tournaments At Track My Fish, we have been busy with tournaments pretty much every weekend since January 16, with more than a few weekends requiring a presence in more than one event. While we run some from home base, we get around to a good many of them providing on the ground support to the tournament organisers.

Every now and again, someone has the thought that fishing should be an

recognition be it from family, mates or on social media.

In other words – now there is a base to work with if you were going to build the sport.

I thought this might be a good time to take a step back and have a look at the tournaments we are involved in and where fishing is up to from a sports perspective and where it might go.

STANDARDS ARE STILL FEW AND FAR BETWEEN One of the things that defines most sports is the standardisation of the rules and

without one of the variants of bass boats from the US, which is a pretty sizable investment given the dollars on offer. Similarly in the barra circuit, electronics plays a pretty big role in success. At the community event level that is less of an issue, but only because they typically tend towards simpler rules like biggest fish wins.

In places like the UK and Europe, peg fishing has provided something of a standard by physically constraining the fishing area of fishers, but that works in the

closest to fishing is martial arts like karate and taekwondo.

Both of these martial arts provide a myriad of stylistic and philosophical differences and are every bit as fragmented as fishing. In order to resolve the need for standards and to bring kids through their system, they broke into two systems, traditional and sports.

The traditional maintains all the values and variation you would expect, the sports path offers a consistent set of rules. This allows the sport to bring kids into competitions with a clear path of the skills they need to develop in order to compete.

Let me say – they didn’t get there on any easy path. It took a lot of compromise.

COACHES SHOULD BE A THING Back a couple of years ago, one of the locals that wanted to win the Rocky Barra Bounty turned to Johnny Mitchell, a renowned fishing guide who provides training in fishing skills. The investment paid off with victory.

I have often wondered

the next generation. All coaches perform that role slightly differently based on interest but there is one thing that is consistent among all of them – all coaches are focused on progression of their charges.

Fishing has kids clinics in varying forms, some commercial, some volunteer but they are simply focused on introducing kids to fishing.

Only a small segment of them are focused on taking kids through the gears in terms of skills, and all too often that is left to the invested parent or for the kids to work it out themselves in their teens. Note – that is easier in the rural areas than in the cities but it happens in both.

By the way, I see this independent development of skill as being one of the key strengths and appeals of fishing – there is no way to progress other than under your own steam. All the same, this is a limitation in developing fishing as a sport.

Is it impossible to set up a coaching clinic system?

Not in my view, although it’s

base the equivalent of two states of fishers.

The difference is the peak body is able to offer a public face at the highest levels, a spectacle that shows off the best athletes and the public good of co-ordinating the grassroots. Fishing offers none of that.

I have great sympathy for the challenges the sponsors have. Increasingly we are being asked to help out with promotion and I can see why.

HOBIE WORLDS AND BERKLEY SUPERSERIES Speaking of spectacle, the Hobie Worlds and Berkley Superseries gave us the chance to work closely with Nicholle Smith and Steve Morgan on livestreaming. We developed the plugin content that shows scores and stats during the live feed, which makes it easier to contextualise what is going on. Steve and Nicholle did a brilliant job on the Hobie Worlds, putting on a show that was compelling and enjoyable.

I think they not only did themselves proud, but put a professional face to a sport that

Comparison of No. Fish/Category by Event Type Fig. 1. – Participation in fishing based on Fisheries Queensland surveys. official sport, often as a means of funding something.

Personally I think that’s an idea long overdue pursuing, as I have seen first-hand some terrifically skilled fishers that qualify to me under the term athlete. The challenge though is to work through the currently fragmented nature of fishing competitions and consider how you could build a network.

Another interesting stat out recently in Queensland was an uptick in the number of fishers. After a decade of serious decline, fishing didn’t just rebound, it’s back to levels not seen since the mid 1990s.

I think there is a couple of reasons for that. Firstly, there is a generational change: Gen X was a much smaller group overall so was never going to replenish the stocks of new fishers, while the millennial generation numbers as a group are much closer in numbers to the baby boomers. Second, we have seen the rise of larger retail chains that more visibly promote fishing. Lastly, it is one of the few ‘sports’ left that recognises an angler’s achievements. Even for relatively unskilled fishers, catching a good fish will get

the process by which people come into the sport. Sports like the football codes, athletics, cricket have consistent rules, limitations on equipment and everyone plays on the same pitch.

I can speak with expertise on the lack of standards for fishing, as I am the guy who gets to put together the scoring system. Our scoring engine has taken nearly two years to develop and every time I think I have all the bases covered, someone comes up with something new. Overall we have a crazy number of scoring arrangements, including 43 separate scoring algorithms, which breaks out into thousands of combinations once you consider species, fisher class, fishing categories (eg. kayak vs beach) and a range of bonus systems and even ways to resolve ties.

THE DUCKWORTHLEWIS SYSTEM HAS NOTHING ON FISHING! Scoring is just the beginning. As we get around to a lot of events we get to see first-hand the variance in vessel capability, electronics and gear. Nobody is going to win bream series like the ABT or Berkley Super Series

VARIANCE IN FISHING COMPETITIONS

Total Average no.

Class of Event Total of Participants Club 1075 56.6 Community 5355 281.8 High End C&R 4611 164.7 Length Weigh in 222 37 Live Weigh in 1098 91.4 Photo Only 541 60.1 Traditional Weigh in 3684 736.8 48

SEPTEMBER 2019

smaller geography on offer.

At this point, I don’t think that fishing could really get much further away from standards. Fishing competitions regularly seek to provide a point of differentiation in attracting competitors, often through their scoring systems – i.e. the chance to win.

Rather than providing a progression path to skill, competitions all too often work against each other.

One area where standards are both possible and not too far away is the kayak segment.

The equipment is relatively standardised, athleticism is rewarded and there is no easy way to gain an advantage other than skill. Having been involved with local kayak events and recently the Hobie Worlds, the level of difference is far less than most sports.

IGFA also have a pretty consistent set of rules, though gamefishing is a far less accessible sport.

Most sports have addressed this problem by providing a peak body that drives the standards, provides recognition and progression paths. I have been involved with many, and probably the

Fig. 2. – Comparison of categories by event type. why more don’t turn to coaches. In my experience competing in fishing isn’t just a skill thing, there are tactical elements and psychological elements as well. Fishers play mind games all the time.

All high-powered athletes forge their own identity on the field but they don’t do it alone. Nobody is an expert in all areas of preparation and even if they are, nobody has a perfect view of the action. As an athlete, feedback, statistical assessment and a different point of view are important parts of problem solving.

That is where coaches come in.

At a lower level, coaches form the base for developing

VARIANCE IN FISHING COMPETITIONS

Avg. Number of Class of Event Prize Categories Club 4.57894737 Community 7.95 High End C&R 3.67857143 Length Weigh in 2 Live Weigh in 2 Photo Only 2 Traditional Weigh in 25

challenging in some areas in terms of accessing a ‘playing field’. In the long run we have enough people who have the ability, and it’s probably funding that is the issue, which comes back to standards.

The only way to get funding through the sports commission is to have a national body and standards.

EVENTS NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEIR SPONSORS Another area where fishing probably falls short of other sports is in how they deal with sponsors. The lack of a formal structure and the plethora of fishing event styles means events are not just competing for participants they are competing for sponsorship dollars, often from smaller outlets and local businesses.

More organised sports negotiate sponsorships at a peak body level and bring to bear the size of their base.

Recent controversies in cricket over the number of participants should be noted by fishers – Cricket Australia has a playing

has been largely amateur in all respects.

Steve and Nicholle took the presentation of fishing up a few notches and helped to provide useful insights into the skill and dedication of its participants.

Not to mention – they made fishing fun, which is critical to growing an audience.

You should check out the Hobie Worlds video on the Hobie Worlds Facebook page.

There is still quite a lot of work to do on the waterside of the sport. Events like the Tour de France follow the action throughout the day, which can be done because the leaders all group together, but it’s much harder with fishing because everyone scatters. Then there is the limitations of mobile signals. Nonetheless, these are challenges that have to be overcome to deliver a product that will gain a wider audience.

In the long run, audience is what delivers value to sponsors and funding for the sport.

Personally, I think livestreaming has to be where

the content/presentation of events is developed because it’s the cheapest medium that you can still create a professional product in.

Unlike television, the potential livestreaming audience is not limited in format.

WHAT’S THE SCALE OF THE FRAGMENTATION CHALLENGE? I wanted to put some actual data around the variance in fishing competitions. All up we have seven classifications for events we use at present: • High End C&R – competitions like the Barra Nationals that attract top fishers specifically for the prizes/recognition of skill for Catch and Release.

• Community – open to general community, can have both high and lower skill fishers but the format is some form of catch and release.

• Club – run specifically for members of a fishing club.

Tends to have highly skilled fishers but focused on recognition within the club.

• Live Weigh In – events like the ABT with fish stored in live wells, weighed at a central point then released.

• Length Weigh In – Variant on the live weigh in where fish are measured.

• Photo Only – Artistic or Glory photo competition.

• Traditional Weigh in.

I extracted a sample of the past twelve months of events

from our network that fitted that list.

Note in the near future we will be doing offshore and gamefishing events which will add to the list above of variants.

BREAKDOWN OF PARTICIPATION As TMF started out in high end events, that has been our staple but over the past six months community and club events have more and more been a part of the mix. We added Traditional Weigh Ins in March, so we have only run a small number of events there, so it has to be noted that the results for that class are likely skewed.

It should also be noted that the Traditional Weigh Ins we

have participated in would be considered community events in terms of attendance.

Nonetheless as you would expect typically community events are the most well attended, followed by High End. Of the Traditional Weigh Ins we have worked at though, there have been big numbers.

This may be due to the fact that this format is dying off and so people rally around the fewer events that are out there.

The more important takeaway from my point of view is just how fragmented the tournament scene is and in the long run I don’t think that’s sustainable.

EVENT CATEGORIES Another measure we have of these groups is

event categories, i.e. how many prize categories are on offer. This analysis excludes one common category – random draw/ random length as these are essentially raffles by another name. Having said that, I would say on experience that almost all community events, and even many high end events have some form of random prize.

As a rule, the more serious the competitions the less categories are on offer, with a greater emphasis on placings and prizes for placings. In my mind that’s a good thing from a sports perspective, though in most sports placings rarely are considered past third from an official perspective.

Fig. 3. – Comparison of participation in event categories.

The more interesting breakdown comes in how those categories are assessed.

While there are an endless variety of systems, the number of fish is the dominant feature of all systems with three common formats: Best Fish (single), Best Bag (fixed number of fish), Open (number of fish).

Overwhelmingly single fish categories dominate when considering the number of categories on offer. The one surprising value for me though was that the bag format was more common in high-end events that are unlimited. That is a great example of the mind playing tricks on me, because my perception from on the ground was the complete opposite.

The first measure was looking at how many categories are on offer – but how about participation in those categories? As there is more single fish categories on offer, you would expect those to dominate. Against expectation, while they do at the community/traditional weigh in level, they don’t in almost all other event types.

That suggests to me that in the more sports events fishers prefer to focus on categories with numbers.

The unexpected takeaway is bags dominate in terms of participation at the sports level in events we work with.

MOVING FORWARD If fishing is to move forward we have to pick a set of rules, have a better system for bringing in people, provide a centrepiece for the best fishers and a peak body capable of negotiating not just with government but sponsors as well.

The real question though – is it time? My personal answer, almost certainly!

The era of the sole amateur is going away in most sports, and having seen the skills of fishers across the country, the time has come for proper official government accredited recognition of that skill.

I would be first in line to do the scoring and be part of a national tournament series that takes juniors through the ranks to compete with the best the country has to offer. I have already done that for more than one sport and I would consider it the achievement of a lifetime to do it for fishing.

Does that mean the traditional tournaments need to go away? I don’t think they ever will. There will always be a traditional fishery but there should be a choice for competitors on their progression path.

What would that national sport look like? That is a question I have been thinking on for some time, but you will have to wait a month for the answer.

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The kit consists of Mechanical SC1000 SmartCraft rigging kit, a single panel control, two control cables and one trim harness. Those wanting the premium experience can use the bonus value and upgrade to Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) and simply pay the remaining difference.

These MerCrusier engines have been designed and built for true customer value, with a proven durable marine design, smooth and quiet boating experience, greater performance with increased power and torque, exceptional fuel economy at cruising speeds, and improved access to maintenance touchpoints.

Mercury MerCruiser engines and drive systems are designed, tested, and built exclusively for the marine environment. They have ultra-responsive acceleration, impressive manoeuvrability and superior durability. The large displacement of a Mercury MerCruiser means it will barely break a sweat while it delivers all the well-mannered power you want.

The offer runs until 27 September 2019. www.mercurymarine.com

MAGMA KAYAK HOLDER

3

No more cluttered decks or damage to expensive kayaks and paddleboards from inadequate transport. Magma’s new adjustable, all-angle, rod holder-mounted kayak/SUP rack fits into any standard paired set of rod holders to safety transport your water toys.

This convenient storage rack easily attaches to any paired set of standard straight or angled rod holders to crate a strong and reliable rack system. Made of 100% 304 marine stainless steel and 365 hand-anodized aircraft quality aluminium, each arm has two strong welded tie-down loops and is covered with a durable UV-protected polyethylene foam pad to protect your water toys from damage.

These racks are designed to hold almost any kayak or one or more SUPs, wakeboards or surfboards. Magma’s LeveLock all-angle adjustable mounting system, along with the Pow’rGrip adjustable quick release rod holder system, allows the racks to be quickly installed and adjusted without tools.

Price: SRP $430 www.magmaproducts.com 50

SEPTEMBER 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE

4

1

MOTORGUIDE CABLE5 STEER TOUR PRO The MotorGuide Tour Pro is the industry’s first true cable-steer motor with GPS anchor. Tour Pro models combine Pinpoint GPS, the most accurate GPS anchor available, with traditional pull-pull stainless steel cables for smooth, responsive steering.

The Tour and Tour Pro motors are both built for tough conditions with a full 360° breakaway mount with integrated bounce buster and a rugged 2-piece shaft with metal outer column and composite inner shaft. Both models include a no-flex metal foot pedal that provides the most solid steering in the market.

The new motors will include MotorGuide’s Zero-G lift assist system, which requires half of the effort compared to the competition, as well as the new Katana propeller – a Mercury designed two-blade weedless prop that delivers more power and up to 30% better battery efficiency than previous props.

Both models also offer options for MotorGuide’s new HD+ universal sonar with both traditional 2D views and high-definition down-looking views compatible with most major fishfinder brands.

The Tour and Tour Pro will be available in the first quarter of 2020. www.mercurymarine.com

NAVIONICS SONARCHART SHADING

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Navionics has released SonarChart Shading for its Platinum+ cartography products for Australian waters.

Embedded within the satellite overlay content layer, SonarChart Shading provides a detailed rendering of the seafloor. Varying shades of blue reveal changes in depth, highlighting channels, drop-offs, and other structures that give users better situational awareness and clear, visual cues to identify fish-holding structure.

SonarChart Shading can be viewed on the same GPS chartplotters that are compatible with Platinum+ satellite overlay and with the same options, including selectable overlay on land, land and shallows or full overlay.

Adjustable transparency allows customers to view the new imagery blended with either the SonarChart bathymetry map or the Nautical Chart.

At closer zoom levels, SonarChart Shading is replaced by the actual satellite imagery over water, allowing boaters to see a bird’s eye perspective of sandbars, marshes and backwater channels. In addition to SonarChart Shading, Platinum+ will offer updated and optimized high-resolution satellite imagery. www.navionics.com

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

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boats & kayaks

PERTH BOAT SHOW

Inside story...

Northbank Marine was established at Port Adelaide in 1996, in the historic Fletchers slipway. In 2006 they moved south of Adelaide to Lonsdale to purpose-built facilities to cater for the demand for the Northbank range of products.

This 4000 square metre facility is state-of-the-art for the production of high-quality fibreglass boats.

Northbank Fibreglass Boats is a family owned and operated business that today produces some of Australia’s finest boats.

SPECIAL EDITION

52 2019 Perth International Boat Show guide 64 Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed with Mercury V8 Verado 250hp 4.6L

Made for...

Northbank aim to build the best boats they can at a price that is sure to satisfy the buyer’s budget without compromising safety, integrity or style.

66 Northbank 550R with Mercury 115hp.

This month...

Editor Steve Morgan takes a ride in the Northbank 550R with Mercury 115hp! Check it out on page 66.

SEPTEMBER 2019

51

PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY – 20th - 22nd SEPTEMBER

Perth International Boat Show is on again

The Club Marine Perth International Boat Show is the major boating event in Western Australia. Held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and Elizabeth Quay, the Show takes full advantage of the stunning Swan River location.

New boat displays will be featured within PCEC and on water at Elizabeth Quay; plus the Show will offer exciting attractions, entertainment and activities for the whole family to enjoy. The Club Marine Perth International Boat Show is presented by the Boating Industry Association of WA, and runs over three days from

52

SEPTEMBER 2019

Friday 20 September to Sunday 22 September.

GETTING THERE Buses Elizabeth Quay Busport is located adjacent to Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. Many bus services depart and arrive at the Elizabeth Quay Busport including the free CBD ‘Blue and Green CAT’ service. Perth’s other major busport is the Wellington Street Bus Station, located along Wellington Street next to the Perth Central train station.

Trains Elizabeth Quay train station is located at the doorstep of the Centre and services the Mandurah and

Joondalup Railway Line.

Other train stations within close proximity of the centre include: • Perth Underground Station (Mandurah and Joondalup Railway Line) located at the corner of William Street and Murray Street Mall.

• Perth Central station (Armadale-Thornlie Railway Line, Fremantle Railway Line and Midland Railway Line) located along Wellington Street (across from Forrest Place).

• An underground walkway connects the Perth Central station to the Perth Underground station.

Ferries A ferry service operates across the Swan River

between Elizabeth Quay Jetty (Perth) and Mends Street Jetty (South Perth).

Elizabeth Quay Jetty is only a short walk to the Centre. Services operate daily from 7:50am-7:20pm (extended times operate on weekdays and during the Summer months).

For all bus, train or ferry information, or to plan your journey, please contact Transperth on 13 62 13 or visit their website.

Taxi Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre is a designated Cab Spot location. A taxi phone is located at our Plaza Entry doors on Level 1. Our Cab Spot number is 1088.

Alternatively, to book a taxi, please contact: Swan River Cruises Forget worrying about parking – make a day of it and catch a Captain Cook Cruise to the Show.

Travel from Fremantle to Perth on a relaxing and

picturesque Swan River cruise while listening to your Captains’ detailed and entertaining commentary.

Departing three times daily, this cruise pulls up to Barrack Street Jetty, walking distance from the Show.

TICKETS Adult (16 years and over)

$20

Concession

$16

Child (aged 12-15 years)

$10

Family (2 adults, up to 4 children)

$45

PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY – 20th - 22nd SEPTEMBER

NEW SEA MASTER FOR STACER Straight from customer feedback to reality, the 589 Sea Master is born and bred from Stacer’s ability to listen to exactly what a customer wants and make the dream come true. Now Stacer’s runabout range has 6 models to choose from: 429, 449, 469, 499, 519 and 589m and they will all be on display at the 2019 Perth International Boat Show!

is noticeably larger with a cockpit space that measures 2.3m from the back of the helm chairs to the transom and 1.8m of internal beam from the inside of the port and starboard rolled side decks. That’s a massive 2.8 cubic meters of cockpit volume.

To make it the ultimate offshore runabout, the 589 Sea Master has 0.67m of freeboard, making it safer while offshore and has a transom that is fit for an XL outboard engine shaft.

Designed by boaties for boaties, the comfortable helm and dash area make it easy to control the vessel. To make it more

EVINRUDE ENGINES

STACER BOATS One particular boatie asked for a good open fishing boat that is able to handle offshore conditions; a boat that will fish 75% of the time and cruise the remaining time.

One of the most popular styles Stacer offers, the 589 Sea Master, is now the biggest model boasting a massive 2.35m beam and whopping 5.96m length. This boat is extremely roomy.

While inside the 589 Sea Master, it

comfortable for the captain and navigator to sit or stand, there is a drop-down floor in front of the seat positions.

The 589 Sea Master is equipped with the soft riding revolution hull as well as comfortable rear lounge and Maritime Seats as standard. The most popular options to make this fishing boat even better is a transom door for dragging in a big catch or an electric drum winch for easy anchoring.

“That’s the neat thing,” Cameron Wood, National Account Manager for Stacer said.

“This boat can be used basically anywhere in Australia. It makes sense in offshore or inshore situations and is built to handle Australia’s coastal conditions.”

“What was impressive was how well it cornered,” Wood said. “The boat stayed level and stable while making a turn at full throttle without any porpoising.”

For more information on the 589 Sea Master or the entire Stacer range, visit stacer.com.au.

EVINRUDE RELEASES NEW G2 ENGINES Evinrude expanded the revolutionary Evinrude E-TEC G2 product line to include 115 H.O., 140HP and 150HP models, which will be on display at the 2019

Perth International Boat Show. Evinrude’s extended line-up is designed to give more boaters confidence on the water – in any situation.

Shattering the paradigm for mid-range outboards, the new models house a direct injection inline three-cylinder powerhead.

Delivering refined running quality, and quiet operation, the 115 H.O., 140HP and 150HP models enhance the complete boating experience. With more torque and fuel efficiency at lower RPMs than comparable four-stroke engines, the new E-TEC G2 models give boaters extended cruising capabilities and more power whenever it’s needed. In addition to the thrilling performance, all E-TEC G2 engines are worldwide emissions compliant and have the most user-friendly ownership experience with no break-in period, no dealer-scheduled maintenance for five-years or 500 hours, five-year factory backed service coverage

We hand build every Yellowfin with a perfected and balanced layout so you get the ultimate ‘soft and dry’ ride.

So we fly over waves, we don’t plough straight into them like a submarine!

Yellowfin.

Crushes Everything SYFFMCRUSHES001

We can only do that because our superstructure is superbly balanced and designed. And with 6mm bottomsheets we can take any landing.

With the sharp entry point of our Offshore HD hull and reverse chine design our captains always experience a predictable and stable journey.

‘Soft and Dry’. ‘Safe and Strong’.

‘Australian Made.’ Take your pick.

To find out more visit yellowfinplateboats.com.au To have your mind blown, visit your local Quintrex Yellowfin dealer.

To page 54

PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY – 20th - 22nd SEPTEMBER From page 53

and no engine oil changes, ever.

“We are proud to continue the legacy of Evinrude innovation in 2019 and well into the future,” Tracy Crocker, president of the BRP Marine Group said. “By bringing the E-TEC advancements to the 115 H.O., 140HP and 150HP models, some of the most popular outboard sizes in the market, we are once again, delivering the pinnacle in innovation and performance that inspires confidence in each and every Evinrude owner as they pursue their life on the water.”

Evinrude now packs next-generation technology such as digital shift and throttle, the iTrim control system, digital

instrumentation, custom colour panels and optional iSteer dynamic power steering into outboards from 115 H.O. to 300hp. Evinrude also added a new look and feel for the 2020 product year. All E-TEC G2 engines will have new premium graphics and give owners the option of white or slate grey frame and two new propellers. In addition, the 115 H.O. and 140 models will be available with premium controls and gauges, as well as a tiller option that feature touch troll and trim switches, LED’s for basic diagnostics and an NMEA 2000 connection for integration with external gauges and accessories.

Evinrude’s engine line up, from 3.5-300hp, offers customers superior value

QUINTREX BOATS

QUINTREX BOATS

across a full range of applications, and are available at authorized Evinrude dealerships worldwide. Follow Evinrude on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvinrudeAUS. For a complete list of new and existing Evinrude dealers, visit www. evinrude.com.au.

QUINTREX RELEASES THE FISHABOUT PRO Australia’s favourite runabout just got better with the release of the Quintrex Fishabout Pro. The Fishabout Pro is offered in three sizes, the 430, 450 and 481, and each has a max capacity of 5 people and horsepower ratings of 60, 75 and 75hp respectively. Make sure you check them out

at the show this year.

Maintaining tradition, the new Fishabout Pro will feature the current Blade Hull with a new and improved flared bow. The stretch formed aluminium side sheets have more curve that will run further down the length of the boat to deflect more spray away from its passengers.

The greater internal space is immediately noticeable in the new Fishabout Pro. As a result of a wider beam and more space between the dash and the transom, boaties can enjoy more elbowroom.

To add to the increased space in the Fishabout Pro, each boat no longer comes with a motor well that intrudes into the rear lounge area. Instead it is fitted with To page 56

120 years is a long time to be around.

Want to know how we do it?

We build the qualities people want in a boat. Strength. Safety. Great design.

Practical Innovation. Unbeatable value for money. Simple, huh?

It’s a formula that’s kept us building amazing boats, and our owners getting the most out of life, for 120 years.

The weekend’s coming, talk to your closest Savage dealer now.

Be prepared. Get Savage.

54

SEPTEMBER 2019

Find out more at savageboats.com.au SAVFM120YRS001

E V A S

UP TO

$

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*

BOAT SHOW ONLY

500C – SAVE $1,000 600C – SAVE $2,000 750HT – SAVE $5,000

550C/R – SAVE $1,000 650C/HT – SAVE $3,000

*Value of boat show savings based on Northbank factory options only. Rebate to the purchased model value is listed above.

Strictly Limited to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth Boat Shows.

Western Australia Dealer:

Northbank Fibreglass Boats @northbankboats

18 HAWKINS ST, EAST BUNBURY, WA 6230

(08)

9791 1499 SEPTEMBER 2019

55

PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY – 20th - 22nd SEPTEMBER From page 54

a pod transom that allows the outboard to be mounted further back with useful duckboards on either side of the engine.

Quintrex has reconfigured the dash and bow space to be more user friendly. The Lean Through Dash and Step separates the captain and navigator panels allowing for easy access to the bow anchor or optional drum winch.

Every Fishabout Pro now has a bimini, fully welded side decks, two transducer brackets and Premium Hookless carpet as standard in addition to current features like rod holders, folding rear lounge, and side pockets.

Going above and beyond, the Quintrex Fishabout Pro can be optioned up to have a ski pole, sounder or stereo. That way the

YELLOWFIN PLATE WILL SHAKE UP THE MARKET IN PERTH

YELLOWFIN BOATS

In the heart of a passionate community of custom plate boat builders, Yellowfin Plate will make its Western Australian depute at the 2019 Perth International Boat Show.

Mandurah Outboards will show off the all new 5800 and 6500 Folding Hard Tops as well as the popular 7000 Southerner Hard Top. Yellowfin Plate boats are hand built in a specialised plate factory by 17 of Australia’s most skilled builders. These individuals are what make the Yellowfin Plate Boats For the chargers out there who want to go to new destinations and get there faster, the Yellowfin Plate Southerner Series is the boat of choice. Serious plate boat angler can choose between the 7000 and the 7600 Southerner, the most popular boat in Yellowfin Plate’s range.

“Yellowfin Plate has raised the bar and stepped up to the plate,” Drew Jackson, Yellowfin Plate Account Manager said. “We have worked hard over the past months to select the perfect range of boats to show WA boaties at the Perth International Boat Show.”

YELLOWFIN BOATS

For more information, visit www. yellowfinplateboats.com.au.

MIDWAY MARINE MAKING WAVES Midway Marine offers Australia’s top brands like Mercury, Haines Hunter Boats, Revival Boats, Sea Jay Boats, Fish Hunter Boats, Dunbier and Mackay trailers, as well as electronics from Raymarine, Simrad,

MIDWAY MARINE Fishabout Pro is perfect for any day out fishing, cruising or simply lazing about.

“The first Fishabout dates back to 1945, so as you can imagine improvements are incremental on a boat that has been a best seller for years,” Drew Jackson, Quintrex Boat’s National Account Manager said. “Making improvements to a perfect product is hard, but once we focused on what is most important to the customer, we believe we made great leaps to enhance the ever so popular Fishabout Pro.” “From families to fishos, the Fishabout Pro is my favourite all-rounder. This boat has a great use of space for fishing to water sports to cruising.”

“This boat is the memory machine; boaties will never forget a smooth ride in a Fishabout Pro” For more information about the Quintrex range of boats, visit www. quintrex.com.au.

safer, stronger and smoother than any other plate boat.

What sets Yellowfin Plate apart from other plate boats is the company’s eight full time research and development professionals.

This team collectively has 150 years of marine design experience.

Yellowfin Plate offers the most complete range of any plate boat builder, with 27 models to suit the specific needs of serious anglers. There will be the all-new Folding Hard Top and Centre Cab as well as the everpopular Southerner Hard Top. The Folding Hard Top is a manoeuvrable fishing machine that is easy to fit in most standard garages. Available in 5800, 6200 and 6500, and will be on display at the show.

You can get the best of both worlds with the fishability of a centre console and the protection of a cabin. Yellowfin Plate Boat’s Centre Cab gives fishos 360-degree fishability.

“Yellowfin Plate are the best riding plate boat on the market, and now that the range has expanded, there is a boat that suits all WA fishos. They can get exactly what they want.”

Come see the new Yellowfin Plate boats and talk to Mandurah Outboards about what sets them apart at the Perth International Boat Show.

Lowrance, GME and Fusion. Midway Marine is a one-stop shop for all your boating needs.

Their service department is a certified service centre, using all genuine parts and lubes for your outboard, boat and trailer. As To page 58

Polycraft approved for commercial applications

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See your local dealer...

56

SEPTEMBER 2019

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WESTMINSTER Boat City – 08 9345 4311 BUNBURY Sports Marine Boat Centre – 08 9721 4390

Aussie Owned and Operated

Check out the full range of Polycraft Boats at

www.polycraft.com.au or contact us on 1800 336 603

NO COMPROMISE Direct injection optimizes all elements of how fuel is delivered into the cylinder and combusted fuel is removed, creating the most efficient engine on the water today.

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*Evinrude G2’s have 30% more torque than any competitive four-stroke outboard, the Evinrude® E-TEC® G2® delivers the most torque in its class (based on Dyno testing at BRP’s Sturtevant, WI engineering department). E-TEC G2 outboards produce less CO than any 150hp outboard on the market (source: 2017 EPA certification database). All Evinrude G2 outboards include leading technology: i-Trim Automatic trim system, I-steer dynamic power steering and i-Contol digital shift and throttle.

PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY – 20th - 22nd SEPTEMBER From page 56

well as offering expert advice, they have a huge display of chandlery in store and will take the time to help you out with anything to do with boating.

At the show you can see the new Haines Hunter 760R Hard Top, powered by twin 225 Mercury V6 outboards, as well as more from the Haines Hunters range. You can also have a look at the new the new Revival range, and the WA made Fish Hunter plate aluminum boats.

Ask about show special prices on Mercury outboards, and Dunbier and Mackay trailers.

For more information, visit www. midwaymarine.net.au/boatsales.

Exhibiting Yamaha dealerships are also offering exclusive deals at the show on a range of their premium products. It means you can get the quality that Yamaha is known for and at competitively low boat show prices.

Yamaha Motor Finance are making ownership easy with super low comparison rates on eligible repower options over 24-60 months and on WaveRunners over 24-36 months.

Completing the suite of offers is Yamaha Marine Insurance. Their policies come with a range of benefits, and they also offer three years of new for old replacement on your new Yamaha. A hassle free process and guaranteed use of Yamaha parts on all

MERCURY MARINE

MIDWAY MARINE

Pro XS models. These engines are naturally aspirated, durable, powerful and provide options that boat owners have never had before.

The new 250 and 300hp V-8 Verado outboards provide exhilarating performance across the rpm range. The 300hp Verado is up to 20% quicker than its closest competitor, while still providing up to 8% better fuel economy. The Verado driving experience has been further enhanced by class-leading reduction in noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH).

YAMAHA RETURNS WITH EXCLUSIVE DEALS

repairs are just some of the reasons YMI is the ultimate in marine protection.

Be sure to stop by their stand at the show for exclusive deals.

For more info visit www.yamahamotor.com.au/outboard.

Yamaha Motor Australia, in conjunction with their Queensland dealership network, continue to exhibit the latest in outboard technology alongside some exclusive offers at the 2019 Perth International Boat Show. With the largest display of outboards covering all horsepower ranges, there will be something for everybody. As with all Yamaha engines, legendary reliability and unmatched quality comes standard.

The display will be dedicated to the

MASSIVE DISPLAY FROM MERCURY MARINE

ever) 300hp V-8 Pro XS outboard engines are the next generation of performance.

Featuring Mercury’s new compact cowl, these engines boast ample torque from their high-displacement powerheads and superior acceleration due to their quad-cam design and Transient Spark technology.

Boat show visitors will also be able to inspect Mercury’s new line of 3.0L diesels for sterndrive, inboard and waterjet applications. Available in 150hp, 230hp and 270hp variants, these engines have been engineered, developed and tested

MERCURY MARINE

Mercury Marine is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Over the last decade, Mercury has invested more than $1.4 billion into the expansion of its R&D and manufacturing capabilities, and the fruits of

YAMAHA MOTORS

various marine lifestyles that can be enjoyed in Australia. From camping to offshore fishing and more, Yamaha’s display at the show will capture the best of living an on-water lifestyle.

Complementing the complete Yamaha Outboard range is Yamaha’s leading range of outboard technology. There is a selection of products packed with all the features to provide a seamless boating experience.

58

SEPTEMBER 2019

that hard work are on display at the 2019 Perth International Boat Show.

Starring at the show will be Mercury’s new range of V-8 and V-6 outboards, from 175hp all the way to 300hp. Highly configurable, these engines meet the needs of a wide variety of boat lovers – from the Verado’s refined performance, and the FourStroke’s fuel efficiency and rigging versatility, to the competitive edge of the

The new 250 and 300hp V-8 FourStroke engines are high-tech without being highstress. The high-displacement, quad-cam design of the new V-8 powerhead generates plenty of torque, especially at mid-range.

Indeed, the 300hp FourStroke delivers up to 9% more torque than the nearest competitor at 3500-4500rpm. It boasts class-leading 4.6L displacement, yet is the lightest in the 300hp class by more than 4.5kg.

The new 175hp V-6 along with the 200, 225, 250 and (for the first time

over three years to lead their class in: acceleration; reliability; ease of installation and maintenance; and reduction in noise, vibration and harshness. A new watercooled, variable-geometry turbocharger and common-rail fuel delivery provide exceptional performance and substantial improvements in acceleration and top speeds. With impressive low-end torque and exceptional durability, these engines deliver the best of both worlds – high performance with lower emissions.

PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY – 20th - 22nd SEPTEMBER Mercury subjected these diesels to intensive testing including ‘accelerated life’ tests that exposed the motors to greater rigors than any customer would impose in normal operations.

These new engines are fully compatible with Mercury SmartCraft technologies, so users have instant access to a broad array of engine-related information, as well as maintenance alerts and troubleshooting guidance. The engines also integrate with Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Inboards (JPI) and Joystick Piloting for Sterndrives (JPS).

The all-new 400hp Verado outboard is the most powerful Verado on the water.

Built on Mercury’s proven L6SC Verado platform, it’s suitable for a wide range of applications, and the added power has not

taken away the smooth and quiet operation that Verado outboards are known for.

Weighing just 303kg, the same as the 350hp Verado, the newest Verado is the lightest outboard in the 400hp+ category by more than 130kg.

The 400hp Verado will exclusively use the 5.44” 1.75 HD (heavy duty) gearcase and is compatible with Mercury Joystick Piloting for outboards. It will be available in the same model variations as the 350hp Verado.

At the Mercury stand at the show, visitors will also be able to check out Mercury’s range of ultra-lightweight portable outboards, which range from 2.5-25hp. Featuring battery-free EFI for fast, dependable starting, instant throttle response and better overall performance,

AQUASPORTS MARINE

these small engines pack plenty of power.

They are easy to install and operate, with reliable starting, low vibration, and instant throttle response, and there are engine protection warning systems for low oil pressure and over revving.

With all that and more, the Mercury stand is a must see.

For more info visit www.mercurymarine. com.au.

AQUASPORTS MARINE

TWO NEW BRANDS FOR AQUASPORTS MARINE Aquasports Marine have acquired two of Australia’s leading brands over the last 12 months and they are excited to debut them at the 2019 Perth Boat Show.

Bar Crusher boats need no introduction and their hardcore fishing range from 4.9-7.8m has been leading the industry for many years now. Aquasports will be displaying a full range of these fishing weapons including the brand new 670XT, which is just another example of this brands innovation.

Southern Formula are a modern take with an old school fibreglass fishing boat look and all new hull specifically designed for outboards, with a fully foam filled hull they will get you home in anything. Coming from the Haines Hunter factory these boats have decades of fishing pedigree behind them and are set to take the fishing world by storm.

Aqasports are running their biggest mega sale ever at the Perth Boat Show, with all boats heavily reduced. So if you want to grab a bargain, come down and do a deal!

To page 60

THE SERIOUS BOATIES CHOICE

GO ANYWHERE CHASE ANYTHING www.anglapro.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

59

PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY – 20th – 22nd SEPTEMBER From page 59

They are considered Perth’s Quintrex specialists and have been awarded WA dealer of the year for six years straight.

They will have a massive range of Australia’s biggest selling brand at unbeatable prices.

If you are after a family friendly fishing and cruising fibreglass boat, Aquaports also have that covered, with the famous Stejcraft boats also on display, with over 45 years of boat building excellence Stejcraft, won’t let you down.

Last but not least, Aquasports will be displaying New Zealand’s biggest selling fibreglass boat Fi-glass. These no-nonsense tough glass boats are amazing value and an absolute winner on our waters.

All packages are available with

Yamaha or Mercury outboards, so there will be something for everyone at the Aquasports Marine for this year’s Perth Boat Show!

For more information about Aquasports marine’s range, visit www. aquasportsmarine.com.au.

HALCO

NORTHBANK BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR Northbank Boats once again will have a presence at this year’s Perth International Boat Show at the Bluewater Marine stand.

Purchase a Northbank boat at the show

NORTHBANK BOATS and save up to $5,000, depending on the model you choose.

Bluewater Marine will have a number of boats at the show, including the new Northbank 550R, which was tested for the magazine and is included in this Boat Show feature!

Check out Northbank Boats at www. northbank.com.au to see the full range or come and see the deals at the show.

WA’S OWN HALCO Halco is as Western Australian as it comes, so why not visit the boys on stand and see the very latest releases from the company!

You’ll be able to check out new releases like the new Slidog 125 sinking stickbait

HALCO or the Poltergeist 110, the fantastic new maxi cod and barra lure.

Alternatively just swing by and grab a new catalogue or ask the experts the questions you always wanted to know about lures, how to fish them and what colours to use when and where!

BOAT SHOW SPECIALS $44,000

$87,000

Sea Jay 538 Avenger, 90HP Mercury

Haines Hunter 585R, 150HP Mercury

$69,990

$39,000

Revival 640 Sportz, 135HP Mercury

Sea Jay 490 Crusader, 80HP Mercury

CELEBRATING OVER

SERVICING THE ROCKINGHAM BOATING COMMUNITY

Heaps of boats on display

Ph 9527 6963 | 43 Hurrell Way, Rockingham 60

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PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY – 20th – 22nd SEPTEMBER They will be available throughout the show and have many years of experience in the field, so if they don’t know the answers – chances are nobody does!

For more information about Halco’s range of products visit www. halcotackle.com.

HORIZON AND STESSL MOVE TO NEW PREMISES Queensland aluminium boater builder Horizon Boats, which now also includes Stessl Boats, has recently moved their factory to a bigger space in Coomera, Queensland, to keep up with the demand and facilitate their continual growth.

The move was completed in June this year, and the new factory is now putting

HORIZON AND STESSL

together and fitting out boats as they did before, and the team are all very excited.

General Manager of Horizon and Stessl Boats Scott James is very pleased with production so far.

“With the new premises we can expect improved efficiency and quality, an increase in production, and overall a better workplace for our staff,” he said.

“I see this as a huge growth opportunity for both Horizon and Stessl. I think the market both wants it, and needs it, and it’s something we’ve been talking about for a long time as a family-owned business.”

This isn’t just good news for the team and Horizon Boats, however, as the increased production will obviously mean more boats being built, but there’s also a strong focus on improving research and development, meaning there will be new models available soon.

“We’ve got a dedicated R&D bay down there, so the quality of the product will

STESSCO BOATS

increase and will be ever-evolving as a result of this focus on R&D,” James said.

“As we expanded the range we needed a space to facilitate that growth, particularly with the bigger boats that we will be releasing very soon.”

But the team at Horizon Boats aren’t going to stop there, and there are plans to develop the facility even further, to ultimately make Horizon and Stessl even better and stronger brands.

“Our new facility only covers half of the total area of the site, so we still have the capacity to double the amount of factory area we have available to us in the future,” James said.

You’ll be able to check out Horizon and Stessl’s range of boats at this year’s Perth International Boat Show. Make sure you talk to the team at Dinghy World, who will be showing off these Aussie favourites, many of which will have been built in the new facility!

For more information on the Horizon and

Stessl range of boats visit www.horizonboats. com.au or www.stessl.com.au.

STESSCO GULF RUNNER IN TOWN The Stessco Gulf Runner is built in Queensland for Aussies. No wonder it is such a soughtafter range of boats!

The Gulf Runner is an open side console all rounder with a paddock of room to fish, ski, snorkel, or simply lounge around. This boat is packed full of features that are ‘as standard’, unlike their competitors who have them listed as optional extras. Boasting a massive front cast deck, super tough by design and by use, this boat is the full monty that represents great value for money.

The classic side console is as much at home on the rivers as it is on the high seas.

To page 63

Our new Apex Hull is amazing.

In the rough, it’s smoother than any tinnie we’ve built before – thanks to the radical flared bottom sheet that extends to the bow gunnel, as does the wide chine.

Add the thicker and higher topsides and the raised deck and you get a softer ride with less spray. And it looks fantastic – don’t you reckon?

Discover MORE at Quintrex.com.au *Size and features comparison made with 2016 Quintrex models.

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PERTH INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW 20th–22nd SEPTEMBER PERTH CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE & ELIZABETH QUAY

From page 61

This boat is built on the outstanding SRH Stessco soft ride hull, delivering a reverse chine that again gives you the best of both worlds with a great riding hull and stability to burn. This is truly an all rounder that delivers. The boat comes standard packed full of features that will impress.

The range of Gulf runners comes to you from the Merlin Marine and Leisure stable.

They are known as tough built Aussie boats that represent great value for money – there isn’t a short cut taken with this range of boats.

From the Gulf Runner 490 up to the Gulf Runner 580, the Stessco range of Gulf Runner boats just might be the best-valued bang for your buck at the show.

Be sure to check the range of Stessco boats at the show. They will be on display at the Boat City stand at the 2019 Perth International Boat Show.

For more information visit www. stessco.com.au.

driveshaft. To find out more about the ultimate outboard motor, visit the Suzuki Marine corporate stand at stand 24, or one of our five dealers – Dinghy World at stand 41, Mandurah Motor & Marine at stand 55, Muhling Marine at stand 51, Seabreeze Boating at stand 33 and West Coast Suzuki at stand 8 across the boat show weekend.

Don’t miss your chance to check out an exciting array of show-stopping boats from Australian marine industry icon, The Haines Group.

From their flagship brand, Haines Signature Boats, you’ll see a great selection of boats on display at the West Coast Suzuki stand. The range offers everything from affordable entry-level options for families looking for their first boat, to tried-andtested offshore fishing rigs with all the bells and whistles for serious anglers. With six decades of boat building nous behind the brand, all built on the renowned and patented Signature Variable Deadrise Hull,

SUZUKI MARINE

HUGE DISPLAY AT HAINES GROUP BOATS AND SUZUKI MARINE This year, Suzuki Marine is returning with a show-stopping corporate stand offering all the latest outboards, tech, gadgets, parts and accessories to really take your boating to the next level! With exclusive Suzuki on Sale offers for boat show patrons, you’ll be sure to find the perfect outboard for you whether you’re looking to upgrade or buying your first boat motor.

Come check out the limited edition SS Series outboard models with their edgy matte black styling and striking red graphics, as well as a full range of white and black outboards on display.

Suzuki’s outboards are known for their fuel efficiency, value and performance thanks to innovations such as Lean Burn, maintenance-free timing chains and offset

there’ll surely be a model to suit your needs at the show.

Seafarer Boats has a legendary reputation amongst boaties and anglers for their hardcore performance and practicality.

If you’re interested in climbing aboard a Seafarer, Dinghy World will also have a great selection of models on display.

Seabreeze Boating will be showcasing some of the award-winning range of trailerable sports cruisers, day cruisers and fishing boats that are Tournament Boats. The complete stable of Tournament Pleasure Boats is purposely designed and built to withstand the harsh Australian conditions.

With three boat brands, Haines Signature, Seafarer and Tournament as well as Suzuki Marine outboards under their stable, you’re sure to find something to get you out on the water this summer from The Haines Group.

Don’t miss out on your chance to see the brand-new Suzuki KATANA 2020 that will be showcased at the Suzuki Marine stand located 24.

For more information on the boats in the range check out www.thehainesgroup.com.

SUZUKI MARINE

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Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed with Mercury V8 - SC

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Visibility was predictably good, and the helm position comfortable.

Performance-wise, the rig jumped out of the hole with an Enertia 17” propeller.

Wide open, it was fast-ish

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Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

I’ve only been testing boats in the west for a short time, but I’m quickly learning that the boat you need here is a little different from the craft that would be normal on the East Coast. Plenty of East Coasters want a rig that can do multiple jobs – maybe estuary and inshore plus offshore on a good day. There are plenty of sheltered waterways to support that.

West Aussies also need a multi-purpose boat, but it’s for multiple purposes in the ocean!

Midway Marine specialises in big rigs that get the job done on the big water, and their dealership is spotless and well run to match their appetite for man-sized rigs that get you where you need to be.

Warwick Rann runs the joint, and even after years of boats and boating, his face lit

SPECIFICATIONS Length.Overall...........................................6.75m Beam..........................................................2.40m Height ........................................................2.30m Hull.weight .............................................. 1300kg Fuel ..............................................................270L

Main: There’s no doubt that this is a great looking (and sounding) rig on the water. There’s plenty of cockpit space and lots of comfort up front. Above: Drop the hammers and this rig gets along, although as the rpm rises above 4,000, economy drops significantly. up when he got to take this Haines Hunter 675 Enclosed for a run. Granted, that may have been because it was powered by a new Mercury Verado 250hp, which is the latest 4-stroke V8 model. It boasts a ridiculous powerto-weight ratio, smooth

PERFORMANCE RPM.......................... km/h......................... km/L 650 ...............................4.5 ..........................1.55 1000 ............................... 7 ..........................1.42 2000..............................12 ..........................1.04 3000..............................25 .......................... 1.16 3500 ..............................36 ..........................1.50 3750 ..............................42 ..........................1.46 4000..............................44 ..........................1.33 4500 ..............................54 ..........................1.31 5000..............................60 .......................... 1.18 6000..............................75 ..........................0.87 • 17” 3-blade Enertia stainless steel propeller.

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Midway Marine if you want more information on this boat (www.midwaymarine. net.au) and make sure you Like their Facebook page if you want to stay up to date on what they have

operation and fuel economies that make its supercharged predecessor seem downright greedy with the gas.

The Enclosed is ideal for many locations along the coast, providing shelter from the sun, wind and rain. It also packs the kind of open water ability that gives you confidence that you’ll get to where you’re going and back in comfort and safety.

As a demonstration boat in Midway’s yard, this rig ticks plenty of boxes when it came to options. The dash fits a full sized display for your sounder/GPS and there’s also flush-mounting room for your digital engine gauges and accessories.

The side door is always a super-practical addition, and the mixing of seat bases

allows the user to take a secured cooler for food while storing tackle under the driver’s seat.

The cabin is easily large enough for overnight trips, and the hard top is high enough to fit your biggest mates. It’s also ventilated by side and overhead hatches and windows. The test model even had lights and speakers inbuilt.

The rig comes on an alloy Mackay trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes, which usually means that it’s out of the zone of towing with the family car. Still, it will tow with nearly all twin cab utes.

Warwick yanked it around easily with his LandCruiser.

Out on the water, the Haines was fun to drive and surprisingly trim sensitive.

and thirsty, delivering 870m/L at 75km/h. Ease up on the stick and economy jumps; at 3750rpm, you get just under 1.5km/L. Rigs like this aren’t cheap; the test rig weighed in at $158,000 as tested, with packages starting from $135,000.

Contact the team at

happening locally.

Alternatively, you can watch the video that we made on the test day, and you can check it out on YouTube or scan the QR code hereabouts.

There are some great running shots and a walkaround. (You may have heard a rumour that we ditched a drone filming it.

Rumour confirmed!)

Out in the open water, the Haines was a fun ride. The testing arena at Rockingham Bay provides both calm and open water options.

The Haines Hunter arrived on a Mackay alloy trailer with electric over hydraulic brakes. It makes for a sharp looking rig at the ramp.

Once you’ve had a side door on a boat, you’ll never want one without it. Even at the ramp it makes for easy loading.

Plenty of room and a couple of shelves in the cabin makes it functional and easy to maintain.

Twin livewells on each side of the transom with windows allow you to load up on livies and to check easily that your pumps are working and that they’re in good nick.

You can tell if a new Mercury is a Verado version by the presence and colour of the mid sections.

Verados feature an AMS (Advanced Mid Section) that’s silver and adds some weight while dampening engine vibrations.

That’s what we like to see in a fishing boat – the ability to mount a MFD flush in the dash. The bigger the better. There’s even room for the ZipWake auto tabs beside it.

Midway has set up this boat with one seat base of storage and the other able to take a third party cooler. Talk to the team about customising your boat.

The transom lines are clean and there’s plenty of height in the gunwales to keep lines down in rougher weather.

There’s plenty of height in the hard top, which includes storage for nearly a dozen rods.

The trailer is designed to drive on and off, even though the club rules disallowed this at the launch.

In the test model hard top there was built-in ventilation and radios fitted.

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Northbank 550R with Mercury 115HP FourStroke - SC

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PERFORMANCE

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RRM.....Speed.(km/h)............Economy.(km/L) Idle ....................... 2.0 ................................. 1.5 1000 ...................... 6.5 ................................. 2.8 2000.................... 11.0 ................................. 2.0 3000.................... 19.5 ................................. 1.9 4000.................... 38.5 ................................. 2.3 5000....................... 58 ................................. 2.1

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Fairly early on in the purchase process, you’ll need to make some big decisions when it comes to buying a boat – and in particular, a fishing boat.

You’ll need to decide if you want an open boat, a centre console, a runabout (with minimal cabin), a cuddy cabin or a cruiser. Generally, the more comfortable you get, the less fishing room and functionality you have in return.

And the perennial compromise is between family comforts and fishability.

The ‘runabout’ layout skews a long way towards the angler. There are no bunks up front but there’s miles of cockpit space. No lockable space, but heaps of options to tote a lot of gear around. A runabout is a real angler’s boat.

Northbank make a SPECIFICATIONS Length............... 5.50m Beam................. 2.34m Capacity ..... 7 persons Fuel ..................... 100L Max.hp .................. 150 Deadrise ................21° Hull.weight ....... 750kg Tow.weight ..... 1450kg 66

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and we’re always a sucker for a dash that allows for flush mounting of electronics.

But we know you’ll be able to catch fish from this rig. The question is: will you get the rest of the family across the line?

The team at Bluewater Marine in Bunbury will be able to help you with that. Visit their website at www.bluewatermarine.com. au, or even visit their stand at the Perth International Boat Show!

Main: Northbank’s 550R runabout powered by the Mercury 115 CT 4-stroke is a smaller boat with a mile of cockpit space.

Additionally, it gets great economy, with 2.3km/L at 4000rpm.

Above: As tested, the Northbank 550R package will cost you around $60,000. great 5.5m runabout in their 550R, which combines their build quality with a simple, practical design. When paired with a double axle trailer and a 115HP Mercury 4-stroke with the CT (Command Thrust) gear box, it gives any angler the tool they’ll need to get out and about in semi open and open waters.

Importantly, this rig weighs in at around the $60K mark, which is right in the hitting zone of plenty of anglers who want to take that step up from an open tinny. Also, you can tow it behind virtually any SUV or twin cab 4WD. Andrew Stephen, who

deals Northbanks, was excited about the capabilities of this rig, and explained that it’s much more flexible in use than you’d think at first.

“Some families would write this off as a fishingonly boat, but that Mercury with the CT gearbox will easily throw the kids around on a tube,” Andrew said, “and there’s still plenty of shade with the soft top to have a great day out on either the fresh or the salt.”

Mercury’s Andrew Small added, “With a 6-year warranty and the CT gearbox, this 115 offers the boater a wide range of prop selection, with the ability to turn blades

that offer greater thrust.”

The test rig ran a 17” stainless steel Vengance prop on the 2.38:1 box.

Performance-wise, the rig sat most economically at 4000rpm, delivering 2.3km for each litre burned, and cruising at just under 40km/h.

We loved the build quality and simplicity of the Northbank. And the space.

There’s as much space in this boat as any in this size class. Serious anglers will love it – especially with the seats swivelled around and a spread of baits out the back.

What would we add?

Clears for one, to add that extra level of waterproofing,

The Mercury CT gearbox spun a 17” propeller and gave great hole shot.

Twenty-one degrees of deadrise will make for a comfortable ride home in sloppy conditions.

Supplied on a twin axle Mackay trailer, the 550R sits wonderfully on the road and trails true.

The storage up front is simple and nowhere near as comfortable or complicated as a bunked, cabin boat. This suits plenty of anglers.

Long side pockets – and we mean long – will swallow up a lot of your everyday gear.

There’s easily enough room for half a dozen rods in the rocket launcher.

Mercury’s 2.1L 115hp with the CT (Command Thrust) gearbox is designed for lots of torque. Spinning a 17” Vengance stainless steel propeller, it jumped out of the hole.

You step through the windscreen to deploy the anchor in this rig, and there’s plenty to hold onto and tie onto.

That’s why you buy a runabout – for the mountains of deck space. The layout of the 550R is simple and effective. The folding rear lounge provides additional passenger seating while travelling.

The helm is simple and comfortable. You can turn the seats around to fish from if you’re soaking baits.

It’s not the fanciest bait board in history but it will definitely get the job done, and keeps a low profile.

Thinking of a serious fishing boat that’s a step up from the tinny but isn’t a stretch to operate and keep clean? The runabout format may be for you.

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UNBEATABLE 40–60hp FourStroke

Mercury’s unbeatable 40–60hp FourStroke range. With class leading speed and fuel economy you won’t find a better all round performer.

50HP FOURSTROKE SPEED

50HP FOURSTROKE ECONOMY

HIGHEST

Mercury Honda

Mercury

56.33

Honda

53.27

Suzuki

49

50

4.55

3.87 3.7

Yamaha 51

52

53

54

55

56

57

THE MERCURY 50HP WILL GET YOU THERE SOONER, ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST TOP SPEED IN ITS HORSEPOWER CLASS.

*Based on Mercury’s 50hp model. Information based on manufacturers’ claimed horsepower.

mercurymarine.com.au

KM/L

BEST

4.51

Suzuki

50.21

Yamaha KM/H

56.33

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

MERCURY’S ADVANCED ENGINEERING MEANS THE 50HP DELIVERS PLENTY OF PUNCH, BUT USES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUEL COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION.