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Blue Water Game Plan! HOW TO
Prep Your Tackle For Big Fish Action Catch Shallow Reds Tie Perfect Knots DIY Cheap Lures
DESTINATIONS
NSW South Coast Holiday Hotspot
WEST OZ SPECIAL
• Bream • Jewies • Barra!
Impoundment Green & Gold How Stocking Has Made Eildon Boom
NOVEMBER 2015
FIGHT NATURE’S TRUE POWER
WITH YOUR OWN
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N E W C O N C E P T for RE E L TOU GH NE S S The more you challenge it, the more you learn about the strength of nature and its underlying, unknown force which is beyond the control of logic or knowledge. With every defeat, anglers have made a step forward, while their tools have evolved to respond to such tests. When confronting the might of Mother Nature, what ultimately works is ’toughness’ - a resistance to its true power, that promises the angler victory.
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CONTENTS fishingworld.com.au NOVEMBER 2015
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10
With summer’s run of game fish just around the corner, now is the right time to check, fix, tune-up and prepare all your tackle for the upcoming game fishing season. If you plan on chasing big fish in the months ahead, correct preparation of fishing gear is essential for success. In this issue’s cover story, experienced bluewater specialist David Green provides a handy checklist to ensure your rods, reels and lures are maintained and ready for action in the season ahead!
Contents
REGULARS 09 EDITORIAL 18 NEWS 42 NEW PRODUCTS 54 DAVID GREEN 56 ROD BUILDERS 58 KNOTS & RIGS 66 Q&A 68 SHIMANO JUNIORS 90 THE FISHING SCHOOL 92 BOAT FISHING 98 DAVE RAE COVER: Ensure your tackle is up to scratch if you plan on tackling heavweight gamefish like tuna or marlin this season. Find out how to prepare your game gear by checking out Greeny’s feature on page 10. Regular cover girl Chloe Taylor caught this ripper 61.5kg yellowfin on 15kg line east of Browns Mountain off Sydney. The fish ate a Squidgy Bluewater Livie, a deadly tuna lure now as rare as hen’s teeth! IMAGE: TOM LAURENCE.
COVER STORY
10 GAME FISHING GEAR CHECK BY DAVID GREEN
Right now is the time to check, fix, tune-up and prepare all your tackle for the upcoming game season. Our resident bluewater specialist provides a handy checklist to ensure your rods, reels and lures are ready for action!
WA SPECIAL
30 THE BREAM COAST BY SCOTT COGHLAN
The south coast of WA is a region where choosing where to fish can be harder than actually catching bream. And there are plenty of big blue-lipped trophies tucked away in a plethora of unspoiled systems.
70 KING OF THE CREEKS! BY BRAD BELL
Black jewfish pull hard and never give up. Pilbara-based Brad details the unique appeal of these estuary heavyweights.
82 RETURN TO ONE TREE BEACH BY WARREN “WAZZA” SMITH
When it comes to amazing fishing destinations, it doesn’t get much
better than the famous One Tree Beach camp established by legendary Kimberley guide Robert “Bluey” Vaughan.
SPECIES GUIDE
42
36 REDDIE BASICS – PART 1 BY JAMIE CRAWFORD
Snapper are a prime target for just about all Aussie anglers. Jamie provides how-to info to help you catch more of these great sport and table fish.
DESTINATIONS
76 EUROBODALLA, NSW BY BEN CADDAYE
76
With the summer holidays looming, now’s the time to start planning a fishy escape. Ben outlines the angling options along southern NSW’s Eurobodalla coast.
FRESHWATER
60 GREEN & GOLD STOCKING SUCCESS BY SCOTT GRAY
Victoria’s Lake Eildon is booming thanks to intensive stocking programs which are providing plenty of Murray cod and golden perch for anglers to target.
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 5
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EDITORIAL
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www.fishingworld.com.au Publisher & Editor-In-Chief
Jim Harnwell Ph: 0412 456 832 jimharnwell@yaffa.com.au
Editor
Scott Thomas Ph: (02) 9213 8278 scottthomas@yaffa.com.au
Assistant Editor
Josh Carpenter Ph: 0422 885 674
Field Editors
David Green, Pat Brennan, Greg Finney, Sami Omari, Dave Rae, Chris Cleaver
Learn The Basics BY JIM HARNWELL
IMAGE: WAZZA SMITH.
I’M a firm believer in the idea of doing a “fishing apprenticeship”. That is, spending time learning the Keep scrolling to basics before branching out into more specialised or see exclusive iPad Technical Editor Mark Williams only extra pics challenging angling activities. Marine Biology Editor Dr Ben Diggles Tap here to Tap here Most of the really good fishos I know – and I’m Keep scrolling to Environment Editor John Newbery watch video see exclusive iPad location only extra pics Foreign Editor Martin Salter talking here about game fishing specialists, SA Correspondent Jamie Crawford accomplished fly anglers and really switched on sport NT Correspondent Peter Zeroni fishermen – grew up catching “small” fish like bream VIC Correspondent Martin Auldist Tap here to and mullet using cheap gear and fresh or live baits. watch video Staff Photographer Shane Chalker Keep scrolling to As their skills and experience developed, see exclusive iPad Illustrator Chris Palatsides only extra pics they acquired better gear and learnt more Tap here to Tap here Contributingwatch Writers Scott Coghlan, Scott Gray, advanced techniques. Keep scrolling to video Keep scrolling to see exclusive iPad location Bell, Wazza Smith, only extra pics I still see plenty of kids doing exactly the same see Brad exclusive iPad onlyBen extraCaddaye. pics stuff my mates and I did when we were fish-mad Keep scrolling to Tap here Keep scrolling to see exclusive iPad youngsters. There’s a lot to be said for a childhood see exclusive iPad ADVERTISING only extra pics location Tap here to only extra pics spent pumping nippers, chasing crabs and trying to watch video Chris Yu AssociateTap Publisher here to Tap here Keep scrolling to catch poddy mullet from the local wharf. watch video Ph: (02) 9213 8270 see exclusive iPad location only extra pics ABOVE: Robert Vaughan, better known in fishing You develop a lot of basic yet important skills chrisyu@yaffa.com.au circles as “Bluey”, helps his mate Rolf with a nice when you’re just mucking around down at the river Advertising Dan Lal Kimberly barra caught at One Tree Beach. on the weekends. Production Tap here to Ph: (02) 9213 8216 But there are also plenty of novice anglers who watch video danlal@yaffa.com.au seem to want to jump straight3/5/13 in to the top levels of The Wild West 4:57 PM the sport. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with To most of us on the eastern seaboard, Western Marketing Robert Bozek that – and there may well be good reasons for it to Australia is a distant yet highly appealing Executive Ph: (02) 9213 8242 RobertBozek@yaffa.com.au happen – but I can’t help thinking that there’s more sportfishing location. Along with the NT and Far indesign dinkus.indd 1 3/5/13 4:57 PM long-term satisfaction to be gained by putting in North Queensland, WA is seen by many as a SUBSCRIPTIONS time and effort to learn the basics before tackling sportfishing frontier. WWW.GREATMAGAZINES.COM.AU the more advanced aspects of the angling game. This issue we feature three separate articles CALL indesign 1800dinkus.indd 807 760 1 3/5/13dealing 4:57 PM For example, I reckon it would be very hard for with WA sportfishing. The first outlines the SUBSCRIPTIONS@YAFFA.COM.AU someone with minimal angling experience to take spectacular breaming on offer in the many creeks, up fly-fishing, although many seem to want to try. rivers and estuaries of southern WA. This temperate SUBSCRIPTION RATES Ditto game fishing, GT popping and jigging. region of our biggest state is an apt home for some of 1 Year/12 issues A$95.00 incl GST When it comes to fly fishing, learning the the biggest black bream available. 2 years/24 issues A$171.00 incl GST 3 years/36 issues A$228.00 incl GST mechanics of casting is one thing but there’s far We then travel north to the dry and seemingly Overseas 1 year NZ A$100, more to catching fish on the fly than throwing a lunar like landscape of the Pilbara, where tidal ASIA A$110, nice tight loop. Most top fly anglers can cast creeks snaking in along the flood plains play host to ROW A$160 extremely well but the thing that separates them the mighty black jewfish. from less successful anglers is that they have superior From there we head even further north to one of Customer Service Martin Phillpott skills when it comes to finding fish, selecting the my favourite spots in the world, One Tree Beach in Manager 1800 807 760 right fly pattern, reading water, understanding the remote Kimberly wilderness. This legendary Production Director Matthew Gunn Art Director Ana Maria Heraud seasonal influences and so on. fishing camp, presided over by the equally legendary Studio Manager Lauren Esdaile These skills can only be learnt by spending time Robert “Bluey” Vaughan, should be on the bucket Designer Bree Edgar on the water. Someone who’s spent time learning the list of all fishos. Yep, OTB really is that special ... fundamentals of fishing will probably find it easier Hopefully one, or even all three, of these articles FISHING WORLD is published by to catch fish on the fly for first time than someone will inspire you to consider planning a trip to West Yaffa Media Pty Ltd ABN 54 002 699 354 else who hasn’t had the same on-water opportunities. Oz. I know it’s the place I’ll be heading if and when 17-21 Bellevue Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010 Ph: (02) 9281 2333 Fax: (02) 9281 2750 There’s nothing at all wrong with wanting to I get the time and money for that much dreamt All mail to: GPO Box 606 Sydney NSW 2001 develop your angling skills and to try new things. about fishing trip of a lifetime … But it makes a lot of sense to get the fundamentals in place before getting out there and pushing the envelope. Learn the basics and you’ll be well Fishing World’s editorial policy is to include indicative retail prices indesign dinkus.indd 1 3/5/13 4:57 PM with boat tests and product releases. These prices are sourced positioned to succeed with – and fully enjoy Jim Harnwell from the manufacturer, dealer or supplier. Fishing World does not – all facets of our great sport. Editor-In-Chief accept responsibility if prices change before or after publication. Fishing World ISSN 1320-2839 Tap here location
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fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 9
MAIN: About now the EAC will be running south, bringing with it warm water, plankon, bait and predators like marlin. Get your gear ready now!
10 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Game Fishing
Gear Check Right now is the time to check, fix, tune-up and prepare all your tackle for the upcoming game season. Experienced bluewater specialist DAVID GREEN provides a handy checklist to ensure your rods, reels and lures are ready for action!
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 11
COVER STORY: OFFSHORE
IMAGE: GREG FINNEY
P
ELAGIC game fish are part of a moving carpet of life. Every summer the East Australian Current (EAC) winds its way south along the east coast. In the west, the Leeuwin Current similarly pushes warm water from north to south. For game fishermen, the pre-season is a time of anticipation and preparation. Anglers often focus on sea surface temperature charts and closely follow the reports coming from more northern areas in anticipation of when the warm water will arrive and what it will bring. The large tunas that hunt the colder waters in winter and spring often drift south as the water warms, and marlin, dolphin fish, wahoo and other warm water fish ride steadily south on an ever-increasing current. The EAC is an amazing phenomenon. It’s fairly predictable in most coastal ports, heralding its arrival with warm water and sheets of debris and brown slicks often called coral spawn on its edges. This body of water is
ABOVE: Respooling game reels with fresh mono, checking leaders and making wind-ons is all part of the pre-season prep for most keen game fishermen.
IMAGE: CHRIS CLEAVER.
While fishing from big boats is a heap of fun, most Aussie game fishermen – like NSW South Coastbased Guy Jamieson, pictured here aboard his boat Slayn – fish from fairly small trailerboats.
12 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
stacked with life. The vast shoals of baitfish, plankton and marine algae that live in this body of water feed the myriads of fish that follow it. The juvenile black marlin that are spawned in north Queensland in the spring ride this nutrient tide and grow rapidly through the summer months, reaching around 20 kilos in weight by the time they arrive at the Queensland-NSW border. Every summer different species predominate. Last year saw an amazing run of dolphin fish along the Queensland and NSW coast with large schools of adult fish from 6-18 kilos turning up from Mooloolabah through to Sydney. There were excellent numbers of blue marlin out on the continental shelf, a reasonable number of juvenile black marlin on the inshore grounds but very few wahoo on the grounds of South East Queensland. Striped marlin were in fair numbers off the NSW coast. Overall, 2014-15 was a reasonable season.
I’ve been carefully watching water temperatures for a few decades now. Over the past few years there’s been a definite warming trend. This year the water off the Gold Coast wide of the continental shelf the water was still 24 degrees in July. This extended the blue marlin season by at least a month.
Tinkering
With the season of warm blue currents almost here, it’s time to start on gear preparation for the upcoming 2015-16 season. A few days of tinkering, respooling and preparation in the pre-season helps when you get to the main game. The worst thing that happens to game fishing tackle is a prolonged period of no use. Even small salt intrusions can lead to corrosion and serious mechanical problems. Modern lever drag reels are fantastic pieces of tackle, but if they aren’t maintained properly, problems can occur. At the start of the season go through a checklist on all of your outfits. If you have meticulously washed down, lubricated and used a protective spray like Tackle Guard after every trip, your pre-season maintenance may be minimal. But if you’ve let a salt-encrusted reel sit for five months in a humid environment you may have a considerable amount of work to do. Firstly, rewash the reel. Then oil the handle knob and ratchet clicker. Check the drag on scales and screw the drag adjust knob up and down to ensure it has free play. Remove the side plate and check for any water intrusion. Check the thrust washers and drag plate and clean if
IMAGE: CHRIS CLEAVER.
Game fishing can be a frustrating business. There are hundreds of uncontrollable factors involved and generally a lot of water between the fish. The key to success is to sort out the things you can control and to ensure you amass as much information as possible before you go out. As regular readers know, I love chasing big blue marlin from my 6m centre cabin boat, usually with two or three keen anglers on board. These fish are probably the pinnacle of our sport. The first time I saw one was quite life changing. It was such a wild and explosive fish. It totally destroyed our gear and comprehensively knocked us over so quickly that I had to rethink, regroup and plan how to sort these monsters out. That was 20 years ago. For many years we caught a lot of blue marlin using 37 and 60-kilo tackle from a game chair in big professionally crewed boats. While this is still very exciting, taking up the small boat challenge is a whole new game when targeting blues. I had to relearn the game. The key thing I learnt is that you need to invest time and a fair bit of money to get your confidence up to the level where you actually go out there expecting to be successful. Good gear preparation is essential.
IMAGE: CHRIS YU
Keys to success
necessary. If there’s no evidence of any water intrusion you can reassemble after regreasing the main shaft. Make sure you have plenty of grease on the screws holding the side plate in place. If these get significantly corroded, it can make it almost impossible to disassemble the reel. All lever drag reels are fairly similar in principle and quite simple in their overall design. In two speed reels you need to check the gear change mechanism, regrease and lubricate the external gear change knobs or slide. This can be a potential source of water intrusion in some reels. I’ve got a few game reels that have served me well for more than two decades – their long life is due to this maintenance regime. This whole process takes between 30 minutes and an hour and most of the time, in a well looked after reel, there’s no problem to fix. Game reels aren’t subject to the fads and almost yearly updates in designs that threadlines and baitcasters are. They are basically a spool designed to hold a lot of line, a well-made clutch mechanism that works on a pressure plate, a ratchet and anti-reverse mechanism and a handle to retrieve. As these reels are not designed for
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Up until fairly recently, gamefishing for species like blue marlin or big blacks was limited to heavy tackle aboard gameboats. Modern offshore capable trailerboats have changed all that!; Carefully check your lures to ensure hooks aren’t corroded and that leaders are free from scuffs and damage; Roller tips that don’t roll can cause major problems. Inspect your rollers and lubricate and repair where necessary. Use quality products, like AFTCO rollers.
casting and have no level wind mechanism, the internal workings are generally robust, strong and long lasting. If you’re not mechanically minded, it’s worth getting an annual reel service from a specialist tackle shop. The take-home message, however, is that washing, cleaning and lubricating your reels after every trip prevents future problems. Game reels spend days in rod holders getting covered in salt. By washing them down properly each trip you avoid salt build up. fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 13
COVER STORY: OFFSHORE
G
New line
Monofilament line is a disposable item. While good mono can last a few seasons, I work on the principle of “if in doubt, throw it out”. It’s nice to start the season with all your reels full of new line. If you’re using braid on heavy threadlines or jig reels, changing the top 100m as a top shot is a good idea, especially if the line has had a lot of work. To top shot braid I use a loop-to-loop connection which gives a perfect 100 percent join. This is done by doing a 30-turn Bimini Twist to either end of the braid and connecting the two loops via a cat’s paw connection. There are plenty of online videos that show how to do this. It’s a very simple connection that you can trust to hold up. With heavy tackle I generally use a top shot of mono about 100m long connected to Dacron. This allows you to put more line on the reel as the Dacron is thinner than mono. The top shot gives you some stretch, while the Dacron helps you get line back when a fish goes deep. The mono is connected to the Dacron by feeding it up the internal core of the Dacron for about three metres and then whip finishing it with a short length of braid, similar to a wind-on leader. At the start of the season I pull the top shot off and replace it and reconnect the join.
TOP: Maintain your gear properly and you’ll be able to display tag & release flags like this during the 2015-16 season! RIGHT: Hardbodies like the venerable Halco Laser Pro and Rapala X-Raps are great for dollies, tuna and wahoo. Single hooks often improve the catch rate. 14 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
IMAGE: CHRIS CLEAVER.
ame fishing can be a frustrating business. There are hundreds of uncontrollable factors involved ... The key to success is to sort out the things you can control and to ensure you amass as much information as possible before you go out.” Wind-on leaders are subject to a lot of wear and tear over a season. It is quite easy to make your own. It’s worthwhile buying a set of wind-on leader needles and a splicing kit. This will save you a lot of money over time as commercially made wind-on leaders are quite expensive. Once again, there are plenty of instructional videos on how to make these. In the pre-season a few hours spent making wind-on leaders can save you a lot of time when the fishing season starts in earnest. If you fish from a small boat with limited crew wind-on leaders make landing fish a lot easier as the angler has much better control of the fish when it’s close to the boat. Rods also require inspection and maintenance, especially when they’re fitted with roller guides. Once again, if you’ve washed and lubricated your rollers after each trip, you may have no problems. The main corrosion points on rods are the roller guides and the reel seat. At the start of the season remove the reel from the rod, clean the reel hoods and fully unscrew the reel seat thread and regrease both of these. Salt build up between a reel seat and the winch can cause significant corrosion. With the roller guides take a length of Dacron or string and wrap it around each roller. If the roller
does not turn easily disassemble and look closely at the bush for any corrosion. Good roller guides like AFTCOs are generally pretty reliable but salt build up can cause them to stick. Use a light grade oil on your rollers and ensure they are free and turn easily under minimal pressure. The most important roller is the tip. I’ve taken apart some cheap game rods with horrible roller guides that stick and corrode after a few trips. This can result in excess line wear and lost fish. If you have such a rod, replace the rollers or bin the rod.
Lures
Your favourite lures all have one thing in common: they get the most water time. On our light tackle lures we use a lot of fine Gamakatsu 10/0 SL12 saltwater fly hooks. These last quite well with a zinc corrosion anode in place but if there is any corrosion it tends to be on the hook point. In comparison to most game fish hooks, these SL12s are relatively cheap. At the start of the season I go through my lure boxes and replace any corroded hooks. It helps if you dunk all your lures in the suds bucket after every trip, rinse and then hang them up to dry. With heavy tackle lures I tend to use Mustad 7691 Z steel hooks. These are extremely hard steel and file to a great point but even with anodes are subject to corrosion. At the start of the season I go through all my big lures and recheck them for any problems. Large stainless hooks are much lower maintenance but are softer and the points can roll on the bill of a marlin. Take it from me, finding the perfect hook can be frustrating! The upcoming game fishing season, like all before it, will have highs and lows. When all the conditions line up perfectly and you see that bill and high dorsal fin behind your lure followed by a screaming reel and a leaping angry fish, all the little things you do in the pre-season preparation period will give you a better chance of staying connected. Right now is the time to invest a few hours in going through your game gear. You won’t regret it when you’re out on the water in the next few months.
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FISHING NEWS
BEST OF THE
INTERNATIONALLY, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing is estimated to strip between $10bn and $23bn from the global economy, and impacts the way fish stocks are managed around the world. It could account for up to 26 million tonnes of seafood per year, more than 15 per cent of the total global catch. In 2009 the UN’s FAO drafted an agreement to take action to detect illegal fishing when ships come into port. It strengthens inspection and control procedures and, most importantly, allows states to prevent the landing of catches regardless of what flag the ships fly. But it needs 25 countries to ratify the agreement for it to come into force, and so far it’s at 12 with two more pending.
By John Newbery.
WEB fishingworld.com.au Here’s a rundown of the 10 most popular stories recently posted on the Fisho site:
➀ GIANT SPANISH MACKEREL CAUGHT OFF FRASER ISLAND
➁ METRE-LONG FLATHEAD CAUGHT ON NORTH COAST
➂ ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS COME AFTER GAME FISHING
➃ BAIT TIPS FOR BIG BREAM
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➄ 5 REASONS YOU DON’T CATCH FISH
➅ FISHO’S TOP 10 FROM THE SYDNEY BOAT SHOW
➆ Redcliffe Hobie Kayak Bream Series results AUGUST 22 and 23 was a huge weekend in the Hobie Kayak Bream Series on Deception and Moreton Bays in Redcliffe, Queensland. Anglers tussled for excellent prize money, sponsor packs, Angler of the Year and Series Ranking points and qualification in the Australian Championship. Most important of all though were the two places on the team to represent Australia at the 5th Hobie Fishing World Championship in November. 18 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
SYDNEY’S $1 MILLION CARP!
➇ FISHERMAN CATCHES DRONE
➈ 3 WAYS TO REMOVE A HOOK
➉ OPINION: NEWSPAPER “BEEF BERLEY” REPORT WRONG TO BLAME FISHOS FOR SHARK ATTACKS
Big catches at Snapper Classic THE annual Dave Irvine Memorial Snapper Classic took place in August with about 150 competitors enjoying some fantastic fishing at Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast. Dom Thornely took out best Male Angler, while Chloe Taylor won best Female Angler. Chloe, who is featured on the cover of this issue with a stonker yellowfin tuna, also won Champion 4:57 PM Overall Angler. The3/5/13 Biggest Snapper went to Christopher Smith with a 91.3cm fish, while Edgewater/Lowrance won the Team category. The Juniors section was won by Shaun Cameron; the Kayaks division was taken out by Dale Johnson. Organiser Mark Luttrell told Fisho the event was well received, and despite some bad weather, punters had a good comp
with big numbers of fish caught. Saturday morning was reportedly fine until a strong nor-easter blew up. Sunday’s fishing was cancelled. “We’re happy with the event this year. Saturday probably had the most fish ever caught in one day with an average size of 48cm,” Luttrell said. “Most people reported good captures and we were happy with the new venue at Coffs Harbour Yacht Club. We had about 40 anglers more than last year with men and juniors, while females remained the same.” Organisers said the change of date from June to August was popular and the committee will soon confirm next year’s dates. At this stage August is a probable choice. Visit Fisho’s website at www.fishingworld.com.au for a full list of winners.
Farmed cobia AN aquaculture company in Queensland is using a land based seawater pond system to farm cobia. Pacific Reef Fisheries started producing the fish in partnership with the Queensland Department of Fisheries. The business is based in Ayr in North Queensland, giving it access to a constant flow of Coral Sea water. Water leaving the farm is “cleaned” through man-made mangrove wetlands. Fish are harvested at five to seven kilos and the company, founded by the Mitris family, recently beat more than 5000 entries to win the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW president’s Medal for its sashimi grade Pacific Reef North Queensland cobia. Sound like the way of the future …
By John Newbery
IMAGE: JIM HARNWELL
Combating illegal fishing
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Push for Sydney lock-outs
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➀ ENVIRONMENT NEWS
MORE ON LOCAL FISH
COMMENTS by the FRDC’s Patrick Hone on my last piece sent me scurrying onto the website and ABARE’s Australian Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics 2013, and of course he’s right. While we export 49 per cent of our seafood by value, that’s only 22 per cent of the combined tonnage of Australian wild catch and aquaculture product …
➁ FISH FACTS
GIANT HERRING
ONE of the most explosive sportfishing challenges available in Australia’s tropical estuaries is an encounter with a good sized giant herring (or Hawaiian ladyfish, Elops hawaiensis). Weight for weight these fish are exceptional sportfish
20 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
AN ABC news report has raised concerns about the health of Sydney Harbour with divers and one marine scientist advocating rec-fishing closures. According to the report, divers conducted 45 surveys at 25 sites as part of the Sydney Reef Life Survey. As a result, there are calls to trial further marine sanctuaries in Sydney Harbour. “We did all the way from Barrenjoey all the way down to Cronulla,” John Turnbull, from the Underwater Research Group, told the ABC. “Sydney has incredible diversity, so lots and lots of species. But a lot of those species aren’t able to grow up. They get caught 3/5/13 they 4:57 PM grow to full size,” he said. Professor before Emma Johnston from the University of NSW told the ABC there was evidence indicating a “huge” impact on fish from angling. “It was only the
Siblings catch record SBT off Tassie BROTHERS Toby and Sam Nichols have caught what is believed to be pending junior world records for southern bluefin tuna off Tasmania. Ten-year-old Toby Nichols caught his 119kg SBT on 37kg tackle. The fish was boated after a two-hour fight. It took a 9” JB Lures Little Smoking Gun in the Mardis Gras pattern. Toby’s older brother Sam, 12, caught his 112kg SBT on 24kg after a fight of more than three hours. Sam’s fish ate a 6.5" JB Lures Micro Dingo in the Frigate pattern. The brothers have caught many other southern bluefin tuna off Tassie, some of which would have broken records if not for the regular seal attacks! Great job, fellas!
fully-protected sites that had seven times the abundance of large fish, and three times the diversity,” she claimed. Local anglers refute the anti-fishing claims, citing an abundance of fish in the harbour. Professional guide Justin Duggan told Fisho stocks of fish in Sydney Harbour have never been better. He said claims by vested interest dive groups show bias that isn’t backed by real science. “I can say with 100 per cent certainty that Sydney Harbour fishing has improved exponentially over the past decade to the point that Sydney is now a shining beacon to other fisheries around the world,” Duggan said. “When you have vested interest groups such as divers running ‘scientific’ surveys such as this, the chances of confirmation bias is 100 per cent.”
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FISHING NEWS
A COMMUNITY clean up of the Macquarie River has prompted Dubbo Council to take action and permanently fix the ongoing litter problem plaguing the river. Dubbo's Daily Liberal newspaper reported at the August Ordinary Meeting of Council, a motion was passed to convene a meeting of interested parties to address the level of litter in the river. The Council, according to the Daily Liberal, also resolved to continue to seek grant funding for the installation of more gross pollutant traps (GPTs). Recently about 40 Dubbo locals gathered to clean up the river and removed an enormous amount of bottles, cans, household waste, syringes and more.
➀ THE OUTLAW OCEAN THE New York Times recently ran a series of articles titled “The Outlaw Ocean”, highlighting weak rules, lack of oversight and violence affecting high seas fishing fleets. Titles are “A Ship’s Trail of Crime”, “Killing With Impunity”, “Enslaved on a Fishing Boat” and “The Longest Chase”. They can be viewed online at the US newspaper’s website.
NEW
By John Newbery.
Dream continues for Jocumsen CARL Jocumsen is a young Queensland country boy mixing it with the best while competing in the US’s Elite Series Bassmaster events. Carl is up against some of the biggest names in fishing, including superstars like Kevin Van Dam, Mike Iaconelli and Skeet Reese. Recently he earned himself another top 10 finish, which is a huge achievement. Plenty of anglers in the Elites might never make a final day cut but Carl has done it twice this year. To put it into perspective, Carl is the first angler to qualify who doesn’t come from a background of targeting largemouth or smallmouth bass. Australia doesn’t even have these species of fish. Until a few years ago, Carl hadn’t caught many let alone staked his livelihood on IMAGE: COURTESY OF THE MAD HUEYS
Council to clean up the Macquarie
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consistently catching them against the best bass anglers in the world. Australians have been “blowing up the internet” following Carl’s journey on Bassmaster. com when watching the weigh-ins and on board coverage.
By Josh Carpenter
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FISHING NEWS
Warning against faulty EPIRB battery
➁ ‘SHOCK’ SIGNAGE ON ROCK FISHING DEATHS FOLLOWING seven recent deaths on rock platforms in its area and completion of a study into contributing factors, NSW’s Randwick Council plans to install “shock signs” along its coastline highlighting the
IM AG E: SC OT T TH
OM AS
PERIODIC battery replacement is essential to maintaining the compliance of EPIRBS and PLBs beacons with applicable ANZ standards. These standards are produced in order to maximise the likelihood of the beacon functioning correctly in the adverse environments in which distress and emergencies generally arise. Only the manufacturer or its authorised service centre has the necessary equipment, access to the factory approved parts and technical information to carry out battery replacement or repairs and then confirm that the beacon continues to meet the relevant standard. Serious risks arise if batteries are replaced or repairs to beacons are undertaken by someone other than the manufacturer (or its authorised service centres). It has come to GME’s attention that a number of non-certified beacon service centres are offering a low cost EPIRB and PLB battery replacement service. Whilst such offers and operations are not technically breaking the law in replacing beacon batteries, they are certainly exposing themselves for liability particularly if the beacon owner is unaware they are non-compliant and the beacon may not function correctly in an emergency. Beacons must be returned to the manufacturer or a manufacturer’s approved service centre. Should there be any doubt regarding the status of companies offering battery service on GME EPIRBs, contact 1300 462 462 or servadmin@ gme.net.au.
24 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
number of eastern suburbs rock fishing deaths. The signs are being developed in consultation with local rock anglers, will feature updateable “score boards” showing numbers of fatalities, and will be installed at known black spots. Mayor Ted Seng is reported as noting that no recent victim was wearing a lifejacket. He called the stretch of coastline “a death trap” in bad weather conditions. By John Newbery.
The science behind fly lines SCIENTIFIC Anglers is a name that flyfishers instantly associate with quality and innovation in flyfishing gear. In particular, the Michigan-based company has led the way in fly line design for decades and this year celebrated its 75th anniversary. When such an esteemed organisation holds the biggest launch of new products in its history, you’d better believe it’s a big deal! So big, in fact, that Scientific Anglers sent its international sales manager, Jeff Pierce, and research and development manager, Andrew Bosway, all the way to little ol’ Australia to tell us all about it. I was lucky enough to get an invitation to attend an information day at Millbrook Lakes recently, to meet Jeff and Andrew, hear about the science behind their product range and, best of all, test some of the new lines in the trout-laden Cabin Lake. Essentially, the team at Scientific Anglers has given its entire range the once over to make sure it’s meeting the needs of flyfishers around the world. Some products have been retired, some stay the same, while many new lines have been added. The info day was organised by
Andy Summers at Mayfly Tackle primarily to educate some key Scientific Angler retailers about the new gear – so there shouldn’t be any excuse of your local bloke isn’t the full bottle. Highlights of recent developments in flylines include the evolution of the ground-breaking range of Sharkskin textured lines, introduced by Scientific Anglers in 2007, to become part of the newer Sharkwave series. The increased surface area of these innovative textured lines allows them to sit higher in the water, offering less drag, easier mending, less water spray, and easier pick-ups, while the micro-textured surface traps air to provide increased shootability and flotation. The one slight downside of the Sharkskin lines was a tendancy to be a bit rough on angler’s hands. Scientific Anglers has taken this into account in its new lines. For the full story, visit www.fishingworld.com.au.
By Martin Auldist
Queensland gets net-free zones! THE Queensland Government has delivered on its election commitment and will move ahead on the implementation of three net-free fishing zones before the end of the year. State Fisheries Minister Bill Byrne said Cabinet had considered the feedback from more than 6,300 public submissions received during a recent consultation process.” Ninety per cent of submissions were in favour of introducing net-free zones,” Byrne said. "The net free zones will offer benefits in tourism and recreational fishing in Queensland and I am excited about the opportunities these zones will have directly on the communities along the boundaries. As the Minister for Fisheries I am proud to be leading the reform of fisheries management that has been talked about over the years but never progressed.” The final maps for the net-free areas are available at www.daf.qld.gov.au
IMAGE: SCOTT THOMAS
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FISHING NEWS
Tournament for Recreational fishers honoured kids announced in NT awards REC anglers from around the Territory have gathered in Parliament house for the inaugural Northern Territory Recreational Fishing Awards 2015. Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries Willem Westra van Holthe said the gala event is a celebration to recognise individuals and organisations for their contribution to recreational fishing. “Fishing is an integral part of our fantastic Territory lifestyle with around 32,000 anglers taking to our waterways every year,” Minister Westra van Holthe said. “I’d like to congratulate each and every winner, along with everyone who was nominated for the inaugural Northern Territory Recreational Fishing Awards 2015.” The list of winners includes: 1. Individual Award – Terrence “Bomber” Farrell 2. Youth Award – Jordan Smart Tap here to 3. Fishing Tourism Operation Award – Cobourg watch video Fishing Safaris IMAGE: PETER ZERONI
FISHING tournament website GetFishing.com. au is introducing the revolutionary new tournament for junior anglers aged 15 and under. The tournament will allow kids to be part of an online fishing club and compete every time they hit the water. As opposed to a traditional annual fishing competition, this new-age tournament is a nation-wide online competition that enables members to compete every day of the month, every month of the year. Participants simply register online, retrieve their monthly tournament code and compete from their favourite fishing locations. When they catch a fish they place it on a brag mat (fish measure) with their code, take one photo of the fish on the mat and one photo of them holding the fish, then submit their photos via the website. If their fish is a new leader their name and photo will instantly be displayed on the live leaderboard for all to see. For more information and to register your kids visit: http://getfishing.com.au/kids/.
4. Fishing Media Award – ABC Tales From The Tinny 5. Fishing Competition Award – Barra Classic, Darwin Game Fishing Club 6. Top Fishing Researcher Award – Warren de With 7. Fishing Art Award – Marie Oliveira 8. The Overall Award – The Mike Reed Award: ABC Tales from the Tinny Keep scrolling to The NT Government has closely with see worked exclusive iPad only extra pics the Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the Tap here Northern Territory (AFANT) on this key Country Keep scrolling to see exclusive iPad only extra pics Liberalslocation Government election commitment.
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Animal rights groups attack game fishing AN international animal rights organisation has prepared a nomination to list game fishing in Australian waters as a key threatening process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Humane Society International, which is linked with the extremist PETA group, claims game fishing is having a significant impact on fish stocks in Australian waters through the removal of large predatory species, which it claims can lead to “trophic cascades and potential ecological collapse of marine ecosystems”. Making its argument for the nomination, HSI said: “Catch & release fishing is no longer thought to be as beneficial for the conservation
of fish stocks.” The group did not specify any scientific basis for its claims. HSI said it’s most concerned with the catch & release mortality rate of sharks and mentioned hammerhead, thresher and mako sharks in a bulletin about the nomination. Fisho understands listing KTPs under the EPBC is relatively difficult to achieve, although there are concerns a lack of data on any impacts of game fishing could potentially result in the HSI nomination getting a “foothold”, even if there are no fisheries management concerns about game fish species. Fisho understands recreational fishing organisations, including the Game Fishing Association of Australia, are working to ensure the HSI bid fails. VRFish, the recreational fishing peak body in Victoria has slammed calls from the HSI. Chairman Russell Conway said: “This is an outlandish claim that has no basis. It is a knee jerk reaction to the sensible decision by the Australian Government not to proceed with the listing five species of sharks under the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) earlier in the year.” 28 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Have your say on NSW marine park rezoning NSW Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair and Minister for the Environment Mark Speakman announced that community consultation will begin to determine final arrangements for the ocean beaches and headlands sites where an amnesty on recreational line fishing is currently in place. Draft regulations have been prepared following the Government’s decision last year to retain an amnesty allowing shore-based recreational line fishing at 10 sites while enforcing sanctuary zone rules at 20 sites. Mr Blair said the draft regulations were informed by the independent scientific advice of the Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel. “The Panel determined that recreational shore-based line fishing can be a low–risk activity and it’s great to see the draft regulations will allow recreational fishing in rezoned areas,” Mr Blair said. Mr Speakman said that “the proposed changes will affect the Cape Byron, Solitary Islands, Port
Stephens-Great Lakes and Batemans Marine Parks; all sanctuary zones in the Jervis Bay Marine Park will continue”. “The proposed changes are for 10 sanctuary zone sites to be rezoned to habitat protection, which makes shore-based recreational line fishing lawful at these sites. However, in each marine park in which such fishing will be allowed at some sites, there are other multiple sites at which fishing is permanently prohibited.” Community members are encouraged to comment on the draft regulations before submissions close on 13 November 2015. Copies of the draft regulations and a discussion paper are now available at www.marine.nsw.gov.au. Submissions can be made via an online survey or by email to: contact.us@marine.nsw.gov.au or in writing to C/- Marine Environment, Locked Bay 1, Nelson Bay NSW 2315, marked “Ocean Beaches and Headlands – Draft Regulations”.
Berkley Fishin’ Gear Giveaway BERKLEY is giving away $50,000 worth of prizes. Buy $25 of Berkley Fishin’ Gear and have 50 chances of winning $1000 of Berkley Fishin Gear! Entry is simple and there’s 50 chances to win. Each prize contains: 31 packs of Gulp!, 30 packs of PowerBait, 20 x packs of Nitro jigheads to suit, 4 spools of FireLine and 4 spools of Vanish leader. There’s light estuary, medium estuary and offshore packs to choose from. How it works • Purchase any Berkley product to the value of $25 value from a participating store during the promotional period to be eligible to enter. (Promotional Period, Sept 1 - Dec 31 2015) • Entry form awarded to customer by store staff • To enter, the customer must then visit the promotional website, enter the required personal details AND the unique code on the entry form, and fully submit the completed entry during the promotional period. • Customers receive an entry form for every $25 purchase of Berkley product during the promotional period. • Make sure to keep your receipts! For more information visit www.berkley-fishing.com.au.
IMAGE: SCOTT THOMAS
FISHING NEWS
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DESTINATIONS SPECIAL: WEST OZ
Action in an Esperance lake. Even skinny water on WA’s south coast can hold plenty of good bream. OPPOSITE: Sinking stickbaits over weed beds can produce some cracking fish.
30 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
SPECIAL
The
Bream Coast
The south coast of WA is a region where choosing where to fish can be harder than actually catching bream. There are plenty of big blue-lipped trophies tucked away in a plethora of unspoiled systems, as SCOTT COGHLAN reports.
T
HE south coast is Western Australia isn’t always considered a prime destination for travelling anglers. Cool to downright wet weather for several months of the year and the lack of line-tearing pelagic speedsters sees many fishos looking for a trip away invariably turn their gaze to the north of Perth. Which is understandable when WA’s North-West offers the chance to tangle with iconic bluewater species like marlin, mackerel, giant trevally and tuna, not to mention the challenge of barramundi. But the south coast of WA also has an appeal all of its own, with pristine beaches, fabulous scenery and the chance to savour some genuine serenity far from the madding crowds. And if you like bream fishing then you really needn’t look any further – WA’s south coast really is the “Bream Coast”. From Esperance, near the edge of the Great Australian Bight, all the way west to Augusta and the rocky outcrop that is Cape Leeuwin and marks the start of the almost endless west coast, there are seemingly unlimited options for the keen bream fisher. There are hundreds of waterways, in the form of rivers, estuaries and even lakes, fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 31
of these monsters get caught every year. that hold good numbers of Acanthopagrus butcheri. At times the biggest challenge is getting past the Many of them rarely see any significant fishing smaller fish to get to the trophies, with some pressure and most of them also hold trophy fish. systems boasting plague proportions of little bream. Bream over the magical 40cm mark are not an While these spots may not appeal to the serious everyday occurrence, but they are reasonably bream angler, they are a great option for the family common and good anglers, and even the lucky or inexperienced angler. ones, catch them regularly along WA’s south coast. And they are also ideal if you want to build some Any fish over 40cm is a bragging right, and confidence in your ability to catch bream on lures, many also get caught over 45cm. or maybe try something different like targeting Indeed, for many WA bream aficionados the them dream these days is a 50cm-plus1fish, and a handful STA15815 OR-FW_Layout 10/09/14 4:13 PM Page 1 on fly.
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32 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
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My biggest bream was 45cm to the fork of the tail, close to 50cm overall length, and was caught in an otherwise unremarkable and quite small south coast estuary. This particular estuary, which like many on the south coast opens intermittently to the sea, seems to produce unusually good numbers of big fish. Multiple 40cm fish sessions are not uncommon when it is firing. On this particular day, I was fishing near the mouth of the small inlet, using a gold Sugar Lipless, when the behemoth struck. It must have been sitting on the edge of a very small drop-off in the middle of a sand flat, out in the open and well away from the sort of cover you often associate with bream. The great thing was that even on 3kg gear I was never in danger as it had nowhere to run to. I was absolutely blown away by the size of the fish when I got it to the kayak. There are plenty of places where you can do classic flats fishing and there are also numerous locations where you cast into the sorts of snags that have long been associated with big bream. One particular inlet I have been fishing over the past 12 months is a kayak fishing dream, offering a mixture of flats and snags. I’ve caught good bream all along its length from and at times have enjoyed
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DESTINATIONS SPECIAL: WEST OZ
quite amazing fishing in one section where the fish can be found moving among heavy weed. A sinking lure, or diving minnow, will only see the lure get fouled by the weed and for some reason they won’t hit poppers. Yet a sinking stickbait worked just a few centimetres below the surface, in the narrow gap between the top of the weed and the surface, has proven to be dynamite. Crashing surface strikes are the norm and the fish are invariably over 30cm and closer to 40, and in prime condition. It’s not uncommon to have 100-plus bream days in this system, with a quarter of those fish over the 30cm mark, and not see another angler. Another of my favourite systems is a river near Albany. I’ve discovered that at a certain time of year big bream gather at the mouth of the river, likely preparing to spawn, offering multiple shots at trophy fish in skinny water. I’ve had several sessions where I have pulled more than 20 fish, all over 30cm and most over 35, in less than a metre of water on sinking stickbaits
Too Many Options!
Looking along the south coast, the hard part is settling on a location. I live in Albany, around 400km south of Perth, and there are at least a
dozen very good bream spots within an hour’s drive east or west of home. One of them is only a few hundred metres from my house, a tiny river that holds some surprisingly good fish! The hard part is finding the time to fish all these south coast gems. The fact is I simply don’t get to try some locations as often as I probably should. There are a number of population centres that make ideal bases for keen bream fishos. Heading from east to west, Esperance boasts a number of lakes which hold good numbers of bream, although relatively few locals seem to bother to target them. Yet the fishing can be amazing and these lakes can produce insane numbers of fish in summer, including a healthy proportion of 35cm-plus bream. As you head west, Stokes Inlet is renowned for producing exceptional bream fishing. The small coastal town of Hopetoun has a couple of rivers that feed into the Culham Inlet which can fish very well, as well as the land-locked Jerdacuttup River. I’ve seen pictures of some monster bream from this area. Continuing along the coast you come to Bremer Bay, which has two fantastic bream fishing options in the Wellstead Estuary and the Pallinup River, which both fish well all year.
ABOVE: The Blackwood River has improved greatly as a bream fishery in recent years, as Michael Sammut proved with this 38cm fish on a Bent Minnow. OPPOSITE: Keen angler Scott Medhurst with a solid Esperance fish caught on a vibe.
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 33
DESTINATIONS SPECIAL: WEST OZ
Albany, WA’s oldest town, is home to the Kalgan River, one of the more renowned breaming rivers in WA … and with good reason. The Kalgan offers the whole range of breaming options from wide flats, to deep snags, to rocky pools and deep holes, and produces trophy fish all year. A great bonus in the Kalgan is the chance of a mulloway. Other places to try around Albany include the King River, Oyster Harbour flats, Torbay and Nanarup. Either side of Denmark are the Hay, Denmark, Kent and Bow rivers, all good bream producers, along with the Wilson and Parry inlets. For many, Walpole is the spiritual home of WA bream fishing and the Frankland River has a well-earned reputation for quality fishing. The flats in the Nornalup Inlet, into which the Frankland flows, used to be famous for their flats fishing for bream, but don’t seem to be as productive these days. The Donnelly River is a great little fishery from the boat ramp down to its mouth, and also offers the rare chance of a sea-run rainbow trout as well. The last stop on the south coast is Augusta, on the banks of the superb Blackwood River. The Blackwood has had its problems over the years, but a decade of bream restocking has seen the fishery recover strongly and it has once again reclaimed its mantle as one of WA’s premier big bream rivers. As is so often the case in fishing, the road less travelled is the one that leads to the best spot, so an adventurous spirit is a real asset for trophy hunters! It’s a year-round fishery, but warmer weather sees the fish become more active and one of the most fun aspects of south coast fishing is the summer surface bite at sunrise and sunset.
TOP: The shallow flats of his home river produced this 40cmplus fish for the author. Typical bream water as found in most of the estuary systems along WA’s south coast.
34 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Throwing surface lures is an incredibly joyous way to fish for bream, with the swirls, bloops, boofs and bow waves of fish chasing your lures in the fading light. Earlier this year I happened to be on my local river during a flying ant hatch and for the first time experience a bream “rise”. The river around me bubbled with feeding fish that I initially thought were mullet, but proved to be bream which were happy to hit surface lures, but wouldn’t strike anything sub-surface, such was their fixation on surface feeding.
Techniques
As a lure fisherman, I have three distinct lure preferences for the three south coast scenarios I usually encounter. When casting at snags, I have a few different types of small minnow lures including Zipbait Khamsin Tiny DRs, Halco Laser Pro 45s and RMG Scorpion 35s, Atomic Hardz 40s and sometimes bigger lures such as Jackall Squirrel 61s. On the flats, my absolute first choice is a Bassday Sugar Lipless sinking stickbait, preferably in a metallic colour. It has to be said just about all of my biggest bream have been caught on this lure, and the ability to cast them a long way is a big advantage when prospecting the flats. If I find myself fishing deeper holes in river and estuaries, and along drop-offs, I will invariably use a Tackle House Rolling Bait, with trebles removed and a pair of assist hooks running off the rear of the lure. I’ve found these lures to be dynamite on bream, and mulloway, when bounced along the bottom. When it comes to surface action on south coast bream, the little Halco Roosta 45 is a proven winner, throwing up plenty of water and catching the attention of any fish in the area. I also like Berkley Scum Dogs and Atomic K9 Pups.
Perth Mandurah Bunbury Margaret River Augusta Denmark
Albany
My personal preference is for hard-bodied lures as I simply prefer the crunching strikes of bream on these, but of course soft plastics also catch plenty. When fishing the south coast I use 2kg braid and 2kg leader to maximise the sport but move up to 3kg in both when fishing around structure, and even 4kg sometimes in treacherous territory. With so many fish on offer there’s nothing sinister about keeping a bream or two for the plate if that’s your preference but, with the slow-growing nature of these fish and the importance of big breeders, I’d personally recommend releasing any trophy captures so they can fight again another day. WA’s south coast bream may not have the glitz and glamour of leaping marlin and tearaway Spaniards, but it’s a special fishery with an appeal all of its own. Check it out sometime …
WE’VE SHOT CONVENTIONAL THINKING
FULL OF HOLES.
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Welcome to Generation Exo. Where finesse meets firepower. Where an exoskeletal aluminium frame sheds excess weight without sacrificing strength. Where a mere 196 grams adds up to a colossal advantage on the water. Learn more about Exo PT ™ at www.quantumfishing.com.au.
SPECIES GUIDE: SNAPPER
Reddie Basics Part 1
Snapper are prime target for just about all Aussie anglers. JAMIE CRAWFORD provides how-to info to help you catch more of these great sport and table fish.
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RECENTLY had a day on the water chasing bluefin off my home waters of Port Lincoln, here in SA. I know a few of you are probably thinking “hey, I thought this was a snapper story”, as bluefin tuna and snapper don’t generally go hand in hand. Bear with me … It was a superb day with light winds, low seas and good tides. The blueys had been running pretty well around the offshore reef systems. I had a couple of mates on board for the day. We arrived at the tuna grounds shortly after sunrise and immediately spotted some fish breaking the surface … Game on! We were pretty confident of a hook-up – maybe too confident – as two hours of trolling and casting passed without even a strike. The fish had pushed deep and the diving terns were now sitting atop a nearby rocky outcrop watching us do laps around them. Our confidence had definitely waned, and I suggested to the guys that we do a spot of
36 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
bottom bouncing to pass the time until the tuna would (hopefully) rise to the surface to feed as the sun rose higher. I hadn’t bottom fished this particular reef before, but on the sounder it looked pretty good. It peaked at around 35m, and after sounding around we found a nice plateau off the main peak that levelled out at around 50m of water before tapering down into 70m. This is pretty deep for snapper fishing in SA, but seeing as the bluefin were playing hard to get, we hadn’t anything to lose. We stowed the heavier gear and pulled out some 30lb outfits to drop baits down to the reef. I had thrown a bag of squid heads in the esky “just in case”. The conditions were ideal for this deep water fishing, with a change of tide and light winds offering a slow drift over our chosen reef. We’d only have a short window before the tide would start pushing hard again. The first couple of fish lifted over the gunnels were sergeant baker; not exactly what we were
A
fter sounding around we found a nice plateau off the main peak that levelled out at around 50m of water tapering down into 70m.�
You don’t need to go miles from land to catch quality reds. Fishing prime reef in low light can often produce some outstanding fish. OPPOSITE PAGE: Targeting reds in shallow water is all about downsizing your gear and using finesse methods.
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 37
SPECIES GUIDE: SNAPPER
It’s hard to catch inshore snapper in clear water. Water that’s been stirred up by wind, rain or swell makes the fishing far easier. BELOW: Fishing from landbased locations can produce some decent reds, especially just after a big blow.
hoping for but a handy addition to the bait supply. A couple of tasty red snapper (southern nannygai) were soon added to the ice slurry, along with a couple of pan-sized snapper in the 40 to 50cm range. These fish certainly boosted the morale on the boat. We repositioned for another drift, taking a similar line as before but slightly to the south. There was a good sounding of fish on the bottom, and after we landed a couple more red snapper I set the hook on a better fish. After a typical head thumping fight, the red and blue hues of a nice snapper emerged from the deep. At around 5kg, it was good red for this area. We managed another three snapper of similar size before the tide started moving hard again and the fish disappeared – maybe to sit on the lee side of the reef until the next tide change. It was cool to pull some fish off a reef we hadn’t fished before, and they were probably some of the deepest snapper I have caught here in SA. It got me thinking about the different environments and scenarios we target snapper, and how each scenario has its own place. With differing weather conditions, tides and times of year, it is possible to target snapper year round if you are willing to adapt how and where you focus your efforts on these great fish. I’ll be talking here about snapper here in SA but a lot of the techniques also apply to reddie fisheries in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and WA. The different scenarios in which we target snapper include shallow water, i.e. under 10m. The fishing can be great but often fickle. Then we have the deeper Gulf waters. This is the 38 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
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t’s possible to target snapper year round if you are willing to adapt how and where you focus your efforts on these great fish.”
most popular (and arguably the most consistent) snapper fishing here in SA. This is fishing in water from 15-30m deep, and is where we see the bulk of our bigger reds. Then we have the deep water option, as detailed above. This is generally fishing offshore in ocean waters in depths from 30m and deeper. The last fishing scenario covers land-based fishing for snapper, when water clarity and timing is important. Snapper from the shore can be a challenging quest here in SA. In this two-part feature I’ll break down each of the above snapper fishing scenarios to look at when each of these situations comes into their own. We’ll look at how to best tackle each scenario, how the fishing differs, and will provide details on when to target one scenario over another.
Shallow Water Fishing
I’d have to say that fishing for reds in shallow water would be my favourite form of targeting them. Seeing a good fish appear in the berley trail, then watching him take a bait or plastic before scorching through rock-studded shallows is heart-in-mouth stuff. Although the average size of these shallow water fish is generally relatively small, it is still possible to land some great fish to 7-8 kilos from shallow water. Most inshore sessions would see us land one decent fish above 60cm; but it’s the consistency for “plate size” reds on light tackle that draws us inshore. But why would we choose to target smaller fish inshore when bigger snapper are available further offshore? Firstly, the bigger reds in our Gulf
waters aren’t available all year; like a lot of other species, they’re subject to seasonal migrations. When the conditions are right and the snapper are holding over structure, the fishing can be amazing, but there is a lot of down time on these wrecks and reefs too. The shallow water fishing, on the other hand, is pretty consistent, offering action almost yearround when the conditions are right. We see runs of bigger fish over these reefs at certain times of the year, but the typical 40 to 50cm “rugger snapper” are the mainstay fish on these reefs. One of the big advantages of targeting the inshore grounds is the accessibility. Some of the best inshore reefs we access are only 10 minutes from the boat ramp, so it comes down to the time factor. Sometimes you only have an hour or two spare, and these inshore sessions are certainly do-able in that time frame. Also, the weather forecast might be questionable to head offshore, and rather than run the risk of a long and rough trip home it can be better to fish inshore, offering a quick run back to ramp should the weather turn foul. And targeting pan-sized reds in shallow water is a heap of fun, no matter what some of the “big snapper” purists might say. Scaling down to 2-4kg spin outfits helps to bring out the best in these fish. These inshore reefs don’t fire every day, and are dependant on the conditions to trigger a good session, so it comes down to making a judgement on whether the conditions are right for your local area. When fishing inshore reefs we look at three main factors: 1. water clarity; 2. tides; and 3. time of day. We steer clear of the shallow reefs after a prolonged calm spell when the water is clear. But following a blow or during periods of bigger ground swell these inshore waters are stirred with fine matter. Good tides help to keep this matter suspended, and for some reason the cloudy water triggers the snapper into feeding. Whether it’s from the cover it offers or from suspended food we’re not entirely sure – all we know is when we arrive at our chosen reef and the water is dirty we get excited. The main reefs we target inshore are nuggets of limestone surrounded by broken bottom in around 4-8m of water. We aim to anchor over the broken bottom surrounding this structure, and then begin a berley trail. The best time to hit these inshore reefs is during the hour following sunrise, and again in the final hour of light before sunset. Fishing small baits or plastics through the berley trail is the key over these shallow grounds.
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he best time to hit these inshore reefs is during the hour following sunrise, and again in the final hour before sunset. Fishing small baits or plastics through the berley trail is the key over these shallow grounds.”
Matt Beckman caught this ripper 10kg red just before sunset. Low light periods definitely coincide with snapper feeding activity.
Land-Based
Of all the snapper fishing scenarios, fishing land-based definitely offers the greatest challenge. Landing snapper from the shore fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 39
SPECIES GUIDE: SNAPPER
with any sort of consistency is no easy feat. Snapper can be caught from a variety of land-based environments including man-made jetties, piers, and breakwater groyns, and also from the surf at certain locations. Here in SA we pull some good reds from our remote surf beaches from September to November (although they are more silver than red from this environment). However, targeting snapper from the rocks is the most common form of land-based fishing for them, so that’s what we’ll focus on here. To target snapper from the shore, we’re actually looking for similar conditions to what we would when fishing inshore reefs. Dirty water, good tides, inshore structure and fishing dawn and dusk periods are all important factors when chasing snapper from the stones. Why would we pick fishing land-based over fishing from a boat? As well as suiting those fishos without a boat, it’s one style of fishing that actually gets better the rougher it gets. So on those days when it’s physically too rough to launch, it’s still possible to hit the stones to get your snapper fix. Shallow water snapper like rough conditions.
But while they may like it rough, the windier it gets, the harder the conditions are to fish in. We normally have a cut off of around 20 knots; anything stronger becomes too difficult and dangerous to fish in from the rocks. It goes without saying that standing on wind-swept rocks is the last place you want to be when the swell is pumping. Always study the conditions before venturing onto your local rock platform. The rocks we’re accustomed to fishing from for snapper are within Gulf waters, so while it gets choppy it lacks the heavy ground swell that’s seen along more exposed coastlines. If you time your run well, you can fish these rocks directly after a blow while the inshore water is still stirred but you don’t have a stiff headwind to contend with. But if it’s been blowing for a few days it can choke these shore-lined grounds with weed, making it difficult to fish. When fishing from the rocks for snapper, I use a typical surf-casting outfit. Something in the 9-10ft range and rated at around 8-10kg is ideal for land-based snapper fishing. Rod selection is vitally important in this situation, as you will need
to punch 3-4oz of lead into a head wind a lot of the time, as well as using the rod to steer hooked fish away from the reef. Well, we’ve discussed shallow water and land-based snapper fishing in this first feature. Stay tuned for the second instalment next issue where we’ll detail fishing medium depth structures in bay and Gulf water settings, as well as targeting big reds around the deeper offshore reefs.
ABOVE: Berley is a must if you want to get snapper on the bite around areas of scattered reef. As detailed in the story, Jamie went offshore to target tuna but turned his attention to snapper when the SBT proved elusive!
40 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Your fishing licence fees at work New offshore reef Victoria’s largest ever artificial reef modules have been installed approximately three and a half kilometres offshore from Torquay. The modules were deployed into 25 metres of water on bare sand and will improve fishing opportunities for boat-based anglers. The 25 concrete modules each measure more than four metres high and weigh up to 20 tonnes. They were designed to create variable water turbulence and habitat that will attract baitfish and predators such as the highly sought after kingfish. More than $1 million from fishing licence fees contributed to the $1.5 million project. Watch the reef deployment video:
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38˚19.828’ S 144˚ 22.500’ E
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25 m
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Ocean Grove
38˚19.942’ S 144˚ 22.600’ E
4 38˚20.065’ S 144˚ 22.225’ E
Queenscliff
Torquay
Cluster 3
Cluster 2
1 2
4 3
Cluster 1
Anglesea
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38˚20.184’ S 144˚ 22.320’ E
Tap here to Tap here Each reef cluster consists of five concrete modules, grouped to create watch video location habitat for species such as kingfish.
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38˚19.828’ S 38˚19.942’ S 38˚20.184’ S 38˚20.065’ S
144˚ 22.500’ E 144˚ 22.600’ E 144˚ 22.320’ E 144˚ 22.225’ E
The new offshore reef is Victoria’s largest and complements others already installed in Port Phillip Bay, the Gippsland Lakes and Mallacoota.
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www.vic.gov.au/fishinggrants
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Fisho highlights the latest tackle, gear and accessories.
SMOKING SPEED FREAK
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HE Quantum Smoke Speed Freak baitcast reel features a screamingfast 8.1:1 gear ratio, which rips in 89cm of line for every turn of the handle. It also features Quantum’s new PTX frame, designed to add rigidity while reducing overall weight, which for this reel is just 181g. The Micro Infinite ACS external centrifugal cast control has a 250-degree rotation, adding 13 new settings for an even wider range of control for precise adjustments. Plus, when casting, the new Smoke Speed Freak design disengages from the pinion gear completely, allowing the spool shaft to “float” freely for zero friction, adding even more distance to your casts. The Speed Freak’s drag delivers 11kg of power while the reel design features 10 bearings and one anti-reverse bearing, plus a lightweight aluminium frame and gear-side cover. More info at www.quantumfishing.com.au.
VENOMOUS KIDS!
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HE Wilson Team Venom sublimated fishing jerseys have shrunk in the wash and are now available in kids’ sizing. Featuring the same credentials as the adult jerseys, the kids Team Venom jerseys have a UPF rating of 25+, thumb holes in the arms to provide sun protection for the back of the hands and a full collar that can be flipped up to protect the back of the neck. Coming in kids sizes from 4 through to 14, the Team Venom kids jerseys are generous in sizing to allow the kids to grow into the shirts and not grow out of them too quickly. More info at www.wilsonfishing.com.au.
42 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
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Tap know-how here to When you’re out on the water, it’s nice to know you have thewatch of great brands video behind you. Not just the terrific reputation of Stacer but also the engineering reliability of a factory fitted Evinrude E-Tec motor. And with the purpose-built trailer, you get the perfect package. Sure you can get other deals, but you won’t get the same quality, experience, innovation and engineering as a Stacer/Evinrude factory package.
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HE new Silstar Backpack is designed for Aussie anglers who love to explore new fishing spots and take plenty of fishing tackle. A number of well thought out and easy access storage sections have been incorporated into the Silstar Backpack, making it ideal for storing extra fishing tackle, clothing, food supplies and even a pair of sunglasses. To keep your lures and hooks organised, this model comes with four tackle trays that are designed to fit the lower section of the backpack. More info at www.silstar.com.au.
REVOLUTIONARY REELS
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RECISION engineering, sleek design and performance describe the new Revo spinning lineup from Abu Garcia. Advancements such as the Rocket Line Management System and the AMGearing system on the newly designed Revo spinning reel, combined with the lightweight and compact design, embody Abu Garcia’s commitment to this new range of reels. These reels also feature a Carbon Matrix system, which provides anglers with smooth and consistent drag pressure throughout the entire drag range. Abu Garcia’s Revo includes the MGX, Premier, STX, SX, S and Inshore reels. RRP for the Revo family of spinning reels begins at $219. More info at abugarcia-fishing.com.au.
ICONIC STICKERS
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44 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
USSIE Icons has announced the release of a series of iconic Australian fishing stickers. Aussie Icon’s Fish Series stickers are a patriotic representation of the most commonly species of fish caught by Aussie angler. Currently there are 30 fish species depicted in the series. Further species and special requests will be considered in the short to medium-term. Aussie Icons will be donating part of its profit from the retail sales of the Fish Series to Keep Australia Fishing, a group it has identified as being actively concerned with the interests of the recreational angling industry. More info at www.aussie-icons.com.au.
Images for illustrative purpose only
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CHANGE THE OIL
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OSTA’S Rooster sunglass is a large-fit design and includes built-in side shields to block incoming glare, as well as vents to alleviate lens fogging. The temple tips provide open slots for a retainer cord. The frames are built of tough co-injected moulded nylon, with sturdy integral hinge technology. Rooster frame colour options include blackout, tortoise, matte black, and white with a blue Costa logo. Costa’s 580 lenses are available in either glass or impact resistant polycarbonate. Lens colour options include: grey, copper, amber, sunrise, blue mirror, green mirror and silver mirror. More info at www.blackpete.com.au.
46 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
-MAN’S Motor Oil colour has proven to be dynamite on a wide range of species and it’s no surprise when you swim it in the water or shine a UV torch on it and watch it change from a transparent amber to an iridescent green that fish can’t resist. Previously available in 2” CrusteaZ, 2”, 2.5” and 3.5” GrubZ, 2.5” Slim SwimZ, 3” MinnowZ, 3.75” StreakZ, 4” StreakZ Curly TailZ and 4” DieZel MinnowZ, Z-Man was flooded with requests that have led to the release of big fish favourites in this go-to colour, including 5” and 9” GrubZ, 5” and 7” Scented Jerk ShadZ and the 4” SwimmerZ. Pre-release testing of the new models has exceeded expectations, according to Z-Man, with flathead, mulloway, snapper, barra, mangrove jack, trevally and a myriad of reef species falling victim to the good oil. More info at www.z-man.com.au.
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APANESE Lure Company O.S.P’s latest creation is a metal vibration lure called the OSP Override. The Override has a body shape and a precise vibration that perfectly mimics a baitfish. It can be fished in a multitude of techniques from a hopping approach right through to a steady crank through the water column. The O.S.P. Override can be wound at exceptionally slow speeds while still putting out its unique fish attracting vibration – tempting even the most shut down Aussie Native. The Override comes in a 3/8 ounce weight and has a RRP of about $19. More info at www.fish-tecsolutions.com.
SAMURAI GOES FOR A CRUISE
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AMURAI’S four piece travel rods combine quality rod construction with the convenience of a manageable length travel series. The advanced construction starts with a blank capable of handling being broken into four convenient lengths and that bends all the way through the joins with no flat spots, delivering true power along the entire length. Add high quality Fuji components such as K Series Alconite guides to deliver long accurate casts and smooth line delivery and a comfortable VSS reels seat finished with ultra comfortable cork split butt handle and butt end, and you have a rod finished with quality components you’d expect of Samurai. There are four rods in the series that will tackle everything from shore casting the banks of a river to offshore work for snapper and other reef species. More info at www.frogleysoffshore.com.au.
Fins 40G is an all new process designed to produce the slickest, smoothest braid available. Manufactured using the latest 2015 ‘Hi Tenacity’ SPECTRA fibre from Honeywell ® – design engineers at Fins have developed a thinner, stronger, smoother braid with “Full disclosure labelling”
The Game Changer Full disclosure labelling Confusion over the technical specifications of the braid has frustrated anglers for years. Full disclosure labelling Equivalent Diameter
4 pound equivalent Diameter Mono
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Diameter
008” diameter – 203mm
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FINS 40G is a manufactured with a unique process that involves a core of SPECTRA fibre being over-braided with an 8 carrier of finer SPECTRA fibres.
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JMGILLIES.COM.AU 48 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 C14036 AFW JM GILLIES.indd 1
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TWIN POWERS ARE BACK
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HIMANO’S Twin Power reels are back. There are five reels at the light end of the spectrum, suitable from micro lure work through to offshore snapper, as well as a large-spool small-body compact that really packs some punch. The Hagane Body is a new concept, where the highly rigid metal reel’s stiffness and impact resistance virtually eliminates body flexing, according to Shimano. The Hagane Gear is the heart of the reel, whereby Shimano’s exclusive cold forged technology provides smoother gear meshing while under load, as well as higher power, which translates to a smoother, more efficient reel. G-Free Body Technology is another plus, where the reel’s centre of gravity has been moved closer to the rod, which means less fatigue when casting and winding for long periods. Each reel is loaded up with no fewer than nine SA-RB bearings and one roller bearing, and gear ratios ranging from 4.3:1 for the baby 1000PGS through to the 5.8:1 for the 4000HG, which means they can cover a number of different fishing applications with ease. More at www.shimanofish.com.au.
LOOMIS FOR LOCALS
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50 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
.LOOMIS has released a range of rods designed specifically for the Aussie market. What makes these rods so special, the guys at Loomis tell us, is an exclusive blank that draws upon proprietary materials with low resin content and high strain rate carbon fibre. Most importantly, they have the right weight balance, sensitivity and actions for Australian fish, techniques and conditions. There are six rods in the line-up — four spin sticks of single piece design from 6’ 3” to 7’, and two single-piece baitcasters of 5’ 8” and 6’. The grips are fine density cork with customised Fuji reel seats, and quality lightweight Fuji guides help keep the actions sharp. Line weights are 2-17lb for the spin rods and 10-20lb for the baitcasters. They should cover most freshwater, estuary and inshore coastal fishing situations. More info at www.shimanofish.com.au
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HE Rovex Specialist EGi Squid Wrangler rods have been made for squid fishing enthusiasts. Choose from either the 7’6” or 8’6”, and both are rated for squid jig sizes 1.5 to 4.0. The rods are built on a modern high-modulus graphite blank fitted with oval silicon guides, to help avoid light-braid-line tangles on windy days. A jig hook-keeper is fitted for convenience and the stylish cosmetics and split-rear-grip design to keep weight to a minimum. Both models are two-piece design. The parabolic rod blank actions are inspired by the latest Japanese technology and each Specialist EGi Squid Wrangler is built to absorb the pulsing movements of a squid. More info at www.rovex.com.au.
WIN PRIZES! As part of our New Product of the Month section, Berkley is offering a fantastic prize package. Simply email a photo of a fish you’ve caught on a Berkley Gulp! product (try and include pack in the photo) to “Berkley Gulp! Comp” at comps@fisho.com.au. Please include a few words to describe the capture and your full address and contact details and you’ll go into the draw to win this great prize pack which includes: • Powerbait large tackle bag c/w 3 large tackle trays • 6 x Dog lures, 8x Gulp soft plastics • Nitro Pro jigs • 2 x FireLine Tournament Exceed line • Value over $300!
Get your entries in now! THIS MONTH’S GULP WINNER Luke Woodley caught and released this 43cm bream in Brisbane Waters, NSW. It was on a bright yellow Berkley Gulp Jig’n Grub. Luke said he “was over the moon” catching this fish on 4lb leader 8lb braid and enjoyed putting her back even more. Nice one, Luke!
52 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
PENN ON THE TOOLS
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CCORDING to Penn, if the boat is outfitted with the five pairs of the company’s new pliers, there will never be a need for MacGyver-style improvisation. There’s a spring-loaded Penn Plier designed for a wide range of applications. Quality 304 and 420 stainless steel wrapped in a titanium black nickel coating gives these tools the maximum level of hardness, durability and corrosive resistance. Each tool passed Penn’s extreme 168-hour saltwater and acid tests, while handles are non-slip and ergonomically shaped for comfort. RRP start at $44.95.
LONG CAST SHallow X-RAP LONG CAST SHALLOW Action: Darting Baitfish & Fluttering Retrieve: High Speed, Twitch & Jerk Body Length: 12cm / 14cm Weight: 36g / 53g Diving Depth: Variable
Distance: 45m Species: Tuna
locate. identify. cast. 1mm Through Wire Construction 7266 VMC In-Line Single Hooks
Deep 3D Holographic Eyes Sinking
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DAVID GREEN
Generation Gap Are young fishos too focused on “cool” stuff like lure casting at the expense of learning important skills like trolling? Or is it just that crusty old veterans like Greeny are stuck in their ways and not up with the latest fishing trends? A LONG-TIME FISHO CORRESPONDENT, DAVID GREEN ENJOYS CATCHING EVERYTHING FROM FLATHEAD TO MARLIN.
Connor Frendin, aged 12, dislikes trolling when he’s out fishing with Greeny and his old man. However, after hours spent fruitlessly casting, he caught this 62cm flattie on the troll! 54 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
YOU know that you’re getting really old when a kid is offered a fishing trip but then becomes highly critical of the idea of trolling. Like so many of the fishing kids of today, this young fellow doesn’t want to waste his time trolling – all he wants to do is cast. Connor Frendin is 12. Apart from his dislike of trolling, he’s a good young bloke and a keen angler. However, in recent times he has been a tad over the top in his criticism of his father (Fisho writer Mark Frendin) and I regarding our penchant for flathead trolling. We do troll a lot, I suppose. It’s easy, relaxed and catches fish; you can sit in a seat, cover a lot of water and enjoy a sandwich and a drink while you work your lures. When, like me, you get older, crustier and supposedly wiser, you tend to do what works best at the time. On the other hand, all the fishing youth of today want to do is launch lures into the weeds with long, inaccurate casts ... I like casting as well but trolling is an integral part of the flathead game. Instead of wanting to learn about it, Connor tends to look dejected when you mention the dreaded “t” word. The head drops and he loses his attention to detail. The lure fouls up with weeds and then gets put it in the rod holder so it trails behind on the surface as a brown blob of snot weed, the same type of crap he catches casting! And this is despite a constant advice line of feedback from his dad. Clearly, trolling for flathead is very uncool in the eyes of young Connor Frendin. I suspect plenty of other young guys feel the same way. When they do start to catch a few on the troll they may get marginally excited for a short period, but it doesn’t last. Let him catch fish on the cast and he’s happy. Mention that it’s time to troll again and the head drops, the wheels fall off and that chunk of weed soon reappears out the back. I hope when Connor reads this he’ll have a good look at his trolling etiquette. And it isn’t as if we aren’t catching anything when we troll. This season alone we’ve caught 378 flathead in 15 trips, including lots of nice sized fish. Probably 60 per cent of these have been on the troll. As you get older, you can get a bit stuck in your seat when it comes to trolling. While you might be smarter, you get slower. If you’re fishing with someone who’s as old, crusty and experienced as you are, you develop patience and trust in trolling. To encourage trolling sceptics like Connor further, you can highlight that flathead actually give you a stack of bites per session when compared to other targets like marlin and Murray cod. The idea of spending many hours at sea or on a dam to generate a single bite is looked at as a kind of torture by the young fishos of today. Like most youngsters, Connor enjoys winding his dad up. But he has, when aboard, definitely pushed us to cast more. That’s probably a good
thing. He may go on to pioneer blue marlin casting methods wide of the continental shelf ... My son Michael, who’s now 25, has a genetically inbuilt trolling gene as he spent a lot of time offshore when he was quite young. He loves both trolling and casting, and his best flathead, a 96cm beauty, was caught on the troll on 3lb braid. Michael mixes up both trolling and casting on his own trips. Unlike the upcoming generation of teenage anglers, Michael is clearly well balanced in his approach to flathead fishing. Flathead trolling is very popular on the Gold Coast, particularly with the more mature angling crews. It’s frowned upon by many in the giant motor/fast boat brigade, who consider it a “lesser method”. These elitist types often tell you “they wouldn’t lower themselves to trolling”. Connor Frendin, start saving now for your 200hp super speedy bass boat! The reality is, however, the fewer boats that troll for flatties in my local waters, the better I like it. I just want to catch flathead. Other boats trolling means I don’t get as many chances to do
I
t’s important to note that trolling for flathead (and various other species) actually has a lot of subtlety to it ... It takes time and dedication.”
that. And the flathead don’t seem to care if a lure is trolled or cast – it’s just something that looks like food to them. Barra trolling and even trout trolling often generate similar feelings in the groups of anglers that chase these fish. Casting snobbery is alive and well! In truth, I’d rather experience the bite on a cast lure than a trolled one. But all methods are a part of an overall game plan to catch fish and have fun. The fact is that being an exclusive “cast only” lure angler will cause you to miss out on a stack of fish. Trolling is not allowed in the bream, bass and
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barra competitions run by ABT and other groups. The US Bassmasters is a cast-only comp as well. While this type of comp is a totally different style to the Flathead Classic (which both allows and encourages trolling), it seems that trolling is now a disregarded method in many fisheries. Notwithstanding this state of affairs, it’s important to note that trolling for flathead (and various other species) actually has a lot of subtlety to it. Becoming a competent and effective troller takes time and dedication. A good troller is an expert at the use of marine electronics and is highly tuned into the marine environment. Lastly, and probably most importantly, trolling makes you better at finding good casting spots. When I was a young angler I was given some very good advice: Never ignore old blokes with straw hats fishing in small boats. Why? Because they know stuff you don’t. Now I am one of those old blokes … It will be interesting to see if the young generation of keen anglers take on board what we crusty old grey-haired veterans have to offer …
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fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 55 16/09/15 3:38 PM
ROD BUILDER WITH BRAD JOB
Tip: Fuji TFST #8/1.8
80 mm
Bay Snapper Spin Stick
#8
85 mm
#8 95 mm #8 115 mm #8 145 mm
BRAD JOB answers the needs of inshore snapper fishos with this specialist rod suitable for targeting reds.
#10 185 mm
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56 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
235 mm
only choice for this type of rod, which will see plenty of casting. This frame shape virtually eliminates any tangles from the line wrapping around the guide frame. I prefer to use Titanium framed Silicon Carbide guides, but this will be influenced by your budget. The Titanium frames are light, flexible and do not corrode. I only underbind the stripper guide, but I prefer to double overbind all of the guides. Keep these binds as short as possible. About 2 mm beyond the guide foot is all that’s needed to provide a secure bond for the guide. The majority or our rods are built with minimal decorative binds these days. This I feel enhances the rod’s build and results in the blank’s qualities being maintained, which then provides the angler with a rod that possesses that beautiful crisp feel of a graphite blank. When applying the epoxy finish to the binds, I prefer to use two thin coats rather than one thick coat. The first is basically to expel any air in the thread and along the guide foot. This will also bond the guide securely to the blank. The second coat provides the smooth finish which gives the rod that professional high quality look we all desire. If you’re thinking of building yourself a plastic rod to fish for snapper in places like Moreton Bay, then give this blank a try as I think you will be pleased with the result.
#20
295 mm
#30
Fuji Duralon CAMVSS 17S
Fuji VSSSD 17
S PECIFICATIONS
Fuji Duralon CAMSB50
SABRE SABG76M-2 BUTT CAP: Fuji BRC 19 BOTTOM REAR GRIP: Fuji Duralon CAMSB50 REEL SEAT: Fuji VSSSD 17 FORE GRIP: Fuji Duralon CAMVSS 17S TIP: Fuji TFST #8/1.8 GUIDES: Fuji TKWSG 1 x #30, TKLSG 1 x #20, 1 x # 12, TKTSG 1 x #10, 3 x #8
ILLUSTRATION: CHRIS PALATSIDES
FISHING plastics for snapper is a popular and effective technique these days. As a spin off, targeting snapper on plastics in inshore waters such as Moreton Bay is also an increasing trend. I’m fielding a growing number of enquiries and orders from customers wanting custom built rods to fish plastics for our “bay snapper”. For this reason I thought it was timely to profile a rod suitable for this purpose. I recently found a new two piece blank from the Sabre range that would suit this type on fishing nicely. The blank is 7’6” with each half equal length. This is a good feature when plane travel is involved as it allows for a shorter rod tube. This blank has a line rating of 4-6kg and will handle jig head weights of ¼ to 3/4oz. The blank construction is 100 per cent graphite and has a moderate to fast action, which I like for this type of fishing. Advantages of a blank with full graphite construction is the sensitivity which transmits the most subtle of bites. That’s important when the wind is blowing and there’s belly in your line. This rod produces positive hook sets with its responsive tip and nice amount of power in the butt section. With a blank weight of 75 grams, the rod feels lightweight in your hand and is a pleasure to use over long periods. It’s surprising how far this rod can cast your plastic with a minimum amount of effort. To maintain the blank’s lightweight integrity it’s important to keep the building components to a minimum. For this reason I used a split butt with no grip at the bottom of the reel seat. With a short fore grip which marries into the Fuji graphite reel seat, the outcome is a lightweight handle set up. The handle length is a personal choice and can easily be adjusted to suit your needs whether it is longer or shorter than what I use. An average length is 200mm from the bottom of the reel seat to the bottom of the butt cap. To keep weight to a minimum you can use cork grips, however I prefer the feel of the Duralon grips and the additional weight is minimal when using these. Fuji guides with a “K” frame shape are the
Fuji BRC 19
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KNOTS & RIGS WITH MARK WILLIAMS
Rigging Tips For Tough Times Knots and rigs are easy to tie at a work bench or in your lounge room but what about when you’re fishing at night, in the rain or on a rocky boat? Fact is, it’s vital to tie good knots no matter how adverse the conditions … So read on and learn how to do it! TECHNICAL EDITOR MARK WILLIAMS IS A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED ANGLER WHO WRITES REGULARLY FOR FISHO.
ABOVE: Once you hit your 40s, tying knots in light fluoro leader becomes increasingly challenging! BELOW: With practice, the trusty Uni Knot is easy to tie in low light conditions.
ONE of the great aspects of fishing is being able to spend time outdoors around our beautiful coastline, estuaries and inland waterways. However, while anglers experience more than our fair share of postcard perfect fishing days, we also cop plenty of crap weather as well. This month we’re going to look at rigging strategies to ensure you can keep a line in the water no matter how hard the going gets. Some of the factors that I’ve found to adversely impact on my knot tying and rigging are poor light or darkness, rain, rough seas and, in recent times, deteriorating eye sight. Each of these issues can affect an angler’s ability to tie knots as well as influence the quality of the finished product. Some of the best times to target species like mulloway, snapper, bream, drummer, bass and Murray cod are during periods of low light or total darkness. Anglers who specialise in chasing these species become adept at rigging in dim or blacked-out conditions. For example, hard-core competition anglers practice tying hook to line in total darkness to avoid spooking fish by light shone from headlamps or torches. When I’ve quizzed them about this, they usually say that feeding the line through the hook eye and ball sinker in the dark is more difficult than actually tying a knot. Interesting, hey? My go-to connection in low light situations is the Uni Knot. The below illustration by Fisho’s Chris Palatsides demonstrates how to tie this simple yet reliable connection. But not all night fishing activities mean you need to tie knots in the inky black. For example, most nocturnal boat fishers I know these days have LED strip lighting wired under the gunnels of their boats. This assists with rigging and also ensures that no light is directed onto the water. My preference for most low light rigging situations is to use an LED head lamp and take care to avoid directing the light beam over the water I’m fishing.
UNI KNOT 1. Pass the tag end through the eye of the hook and return upward.
2. Create another loop by running the tag end back toward the eye of the hook. TAG (end of line)
TAG (end of line)
TO MAIN LINE
58 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
TO MAIN LINE
TO MAIN LINE
3. Now make a series of wraps in an upward direction around the two lines that originally passed through the eye of the hook. The thicker the line the less wraps required.
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ABOVE: Mustad’s Fastach clips are handy when you’re changing lures constantly.
Rough water always provides rigging challenges for boating anglers, especially those of us who are prone to sea sickness. Doing as much rigging as possible prior to the trip is the best way to go. Pre-rigged leaders stored in Ziploc bags will minimise the amount of rigging required out on the water and thus maximise your fishing time. If you do have to do any complicated rigging in rough conditions, try and find the most comfortable position in the boat and stick to knots you’ve practiced and learnt to tie confidently. Heavy rain can also make life difficult when knot tying. I lost a couple of good longtail tuna when live-baiting the rocks many years ago while fishing in torrential rain. Because it was so wet, I was unable to tension my Albright leader knot correctly. My hands just slipped on the line. After that day I always kept a piece of rag or a rigging glove in my backpack to ensure I’d always be able to get enough purchase on slippery leader material to ensure my knots were fully pulled up. That solved the problem and I can’t recall having any difficulty with the usually reliable Albright knot ever since.
4. Lubricate the knot, and gently pull the knot tight.
H ANDY
I’m told that most people will suffer some deterioration of their eye sight during their 40s. Over the past few years I’ve found it more and more difficult to tie knots in light fluorocarbon leader material when chasing species such as bream, whiting and luderick. A couple of my keen fishing mates have opted for laser surgery for sight related issues. They’ve experienced varying results so I’m not keen on going down that path ... Another friend has given me a cool pair of Ugly Fish sun glasses which feature bifocal magnifying lens for knot tying, but I’m having trouble getting used to them. I recall my late Dad having trouble playing golf wearing bifocal lens glasses and I can really relate to this with my fishing now. Hopefully, I can get used to them over time as they’re a really nice pair of fishing sunnies. For the moment I’m using a pair of 1.5X magnifying glasses when rigging ultra-light leaders. These work just fine. I’ve also found that over recent times my rigging techniques have evolved to cope with the changes in my eyesight. I’m using knots for ultra-light lure fishing that are simpler to tie, particularly in low light conditions. The aforementioned Uni Knot and the Surgeon’s or Seaguar knot are ideal for tying GSP main line to fluorocarbon leader. I’ve also begun using snap clips in situations where frequent lures changes are necessary. I still prefer to use Lefty’s Loop knot to connect lures or flies to leader, but must admit I’m enjoying using the Mustad Fastach clips when continual lure changes are the order of the day. These snap clips are strong, reliable and really user friendly. I’ve been using them for my local estuary work, but have friends who’ve used them barra fishing up the Top End with good results too. The Mustad Fastach clips are available in a range of sizes to cover most lure fishing situations. The keys to rigging success in tough conditions are doing as much pre-trip preparation as possible and to practice those critical connections till you’re confident you can do them in your sleep.
HINTS
WIN! A SPOOL OF BRAID
To enter, simply send us a photo of your original or innovative handy fishing hint or tackle-rigging idea, ensuring you include any relevant written information *
THIS MONTH’S WINNER UPSCALE YOUR LURES! HARD-BODIED lures often lose their shine, and with that, some of their effectiveness. The restoration solution came via my grandson’s great Fishing World prize pack… a packet of Squidgy Scale! First, clean the lure and allow to dry then apply a coat of clear varnish. While it’s still wet apply the Squidgy Scale. When it dries, apply two or three topcoats of the clear varnish. The finished product is durable, reflective and effective as 36 barra on one lure without damage testifies. John E. Frisch – Rockhapmton, QLD.
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5. Slide the knot down toward the eye of the hook and trim off the tag end.
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TO MAIN LINE
TO MAIN LINE
ILLOS: CHIS PALATSIDES
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Send us a digital photo of your handy hint in action, with a 50-60 word description. Rigs, knots and hints for any fishing application are acceptable. The lucky winner will get his/her idea published, and will receive a 135m spool of Rovex Viris 10lb super sensitive braid. Send your e-mail entry to: fisho@yaffa.com.au
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 59
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60 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Green & Gold
Stocking Success Victoria’s Lake Eildon is booming thanks to intensive stocking programs which are providing plenty of Murray cod and golden perch for anglers to target. SCOTT GRAY reports.
I
Lake Eildon produces some football-shaped golden perch. This fish measured 630mm, weighed 6.2kg and was aged at 10 years.
N recent years, Lake Eildon has reestablished itself as one of Victoria’s best stocked impoundment fisheries for native sportfish. And with sensible management and stocking programs in place, the future looks even brighter for anglers targeting Murray cod and golden perch in the lake. Eildon has for decades been stocked on an annual basis with hatcheryreared fingerlings. More recently, the waterway has been boosted by the “Million Murray Cod” project which was implemented from 2010-2013. This project was funded by investing $800,000 of Victorian recreational fishing licence revenue into the stocking of a million cod fingerlings. These million cod were stocked in addition to the 50,000 cod fingerlings that Lake Eildon normally receives annually.
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 61
NATIVE SPORTFISH
This solid golden perch was lured up on a Rapala X-Rap suspending Shad.
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62 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
The timing of this project couldn’t have been better implemented as the impoundment refilled in 2011 after years of crippling drought. The high water levels over the past few years and associated increase in habitat have been of great benefit to the establishment of these stockings. Anglers are beginning to see the benefits of these stockings with juvenile cod in the 40-70cm size range now prolific. As the lake has plenty of water and habitat, the fish are in excellent condition. Even anglers flatline trolling for trout or fishing lipless lures for golden perch are catching cod! Larger fish of over a metre are also a possibility thanks to previous stocking efforts. This year a record number of golden perch was also stocked into Lake Eildon to help further improve freshwater fishing opportunities. About 250,000 golden perch fingerlings were released in 2015, eclipsing the previous biggest total of 233,500 in 2009. Golden perch do not breed in Lake Eildon, so stocking is the only way to maintain the fishery. This increase in stocking is part of the Victorian Government’s “Target One Million” plan which aims to grow recreational fishing in the state by increasing angling participation
to one million anglers by 2020 and boost fish stocking from three to five million fish per year. This latest stocking takes the total number of golden perch stocked in this water to around 1.8 million fingerlings in the past two decades. Holding four times the volume of water as Sydney Harbour when full, some of the unique aspects of Eildon as a native fishery include crystal clear water and a massive shoreline hosting a variety of habitats including steep gullies, river arms, rock walls and points and heavy timber. There are almost limitless casting or trolling opportunities in Eildon. In fact, when the impoundment is full there are hundreds of kilometres of fishable shoreline. Each year when I visit the impoundment I struggle to get around and fish all my favourite locations in a week! I really love the water clarity that this impoundment provides. There aren’t many places where you can see down to around 4m in depth, target the best logs, structure and drop-offs and see the fish follow or hit the lure. Take it from me, this isa very exciting visual experience. While baitfishing is popular, Eildon has become a lure fishing paradise for anglers targeting cod and golden perch.
Not many other impoundments can match Eildon’s water clarity. This offers the potential for exciting sight fishing! BELOW: You don’t need a boat to catch Eildon’s chunky goldens. This one was caught while walking along a rocky bank.
Murray Cod research
A scientific study conducted in 2014 has revealed Lake Eildon’s recreational Murray cod fishery is almost entirely dependent on stocked fingerlings rather than natural breeding of fish already in the lake. Some 148 Murray cod from Lake Eildon were analysed by fisheries scientists, and 99.6 per cent were found to be stocked as part of the annual stocking program. To achieve this, fingerlings were marked with a harmless dye so they could be distinguished from any wild fish that spawned naturally in the lake. The study’s results confirm that stocking Murray cod fingerlings is crucial to the long-term sustainability of Lake Eildon’s fishery, which has a growing reputation for the species and is attracting more angling effort every summer.
Golden perch research
In recent years fisheries researchers have studied and tracked golden perch movements in the impoundment. In the warmer months as the lake stratified golden perch were found to move in closer to shore in around the lake edges. This is usually correlated with rising water temperatures, which occur from September– December. This is the best period for bank anglers to target fish from the shore. While this vast waterway is best explored from a boat, if you take the time to pull up and go for a walk there is some excellent shoreline fishing, particularly on warm spring and summer evenings. Once summer reaches its peak and the water temperature begins to drop, the fish tend to move further out into deeper water. In the study nearly 60 per cent of golden perch were found within 2m of the bottom or the thermoccline. The research indicates that shore anglers will find benefits fishing near the bottom, while
those in boats fishing further offshore fishing positioning lures close to the thermocline is important (usually 12-14m depth). Focusing on structure was also revealed to be a key tactic: 90 per cent of golden perch were found within 40m of standing dead timber and 73 per cent were found within 20m. I had a few golden perch aged last season, and the results were quite interesting. The first fish was a 63cm female weighing 6.2kg which was aged at 10 years, the second a 48cm male weighing 1.98kg aged at eight years and the third was a specimen of unknown sex that measured 51cm, weighed 2.8kg and was aged 13 years. This variation in age at length is not unusual for this species, but it demonstrates that these fish are long lived and grow quickly when conditions are good.
The Future
The future of this fishery is looking extremely bright with ongoing stocking creating excellent opportunities for anglers. With large numbers of Murray cod approaching the top end of the slot limit, these fish will soon be subject to no take, securing good numbers of trophy-sized cod for Catch & Release in the years to come. Given the significant investment of recreational licence funds, and the reliance of the fishery on stocking, questions are being raised about the annual closed season (September 1-November 30) for Murray cod on this water. Why does a closed season for cod remain when 99.9 per cent of the fish identified in the recent study are stocked? This figure demonstrates that this fishery is heavily dependent on stocking and not natural recruitment. fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 63
NATIVE SPORTFISH
Lake Eildon
Melbourne
Geelong
The closed season regulation is an effective fisheries management tool for protecting vulnerable fish populations and has been a successful regulation in many Murray cod fisheries, particularly in natural “wild” populations where the fish can be vulnerable to fishing mortality when breeding. Removing the closed season regulation on this impoundment, or simply opening this period to C&R, would give anglers the opportunity to capitalise on the investment and value of these fisheries without jeopardising cod sustainability, given the fish are managed by individual catch limits, slot limits, gear restrictions and stocking. These fisheries were designed to improve opportunities for anglers. At present anglers are not able to access the full potential of their Recreational
Scott hooked up to a solid golden perch on a warm spring evening on a steep rock wall. 64 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Cod are booming in Eildon, thanks to intensive stocking and plenty of water.
Fishing Licence investment and revenue. The opening of Copeton Dam in NSW from November 3, 2014 to the taking of two Murray cod per person during the closed season (within the 55cm-75cm slot limit) and allowing C&R fishing for large cod is a very innovative and proactive management decision that will provide excellent opportunities for anglers in NSW to enjoy their cod fishing all year round. Let’s hope for some sensible and logical fisheries management in Victoria in the coming years to give anglers the opportunity of fishing for Murray cod in Lake Eildon during the closed season period. This de-regulation would create great new recreational opportunities for anglers to capitalise on the success of the stocking program and provide support for regional
economies without jeopardising the sustainability of this fishery. With the recent success of the “Million Murray cod” project and the Victorian Government scrambling to find homes for an additional two million fish per year, there’s also room to continue stocking hundreds of thousands of Murray cod fingerlings into Eildon while there’s good water security and quality. With the demonstrated success of the “million cod” project, why reduce stocking to 50,000 fish a year? Thanks to the licence fees paid by Victorian fishos, the Government has the budget and capacity to stock large numbers of fingerlings annually. These fish are reared literally only kilometres from the impoundment at the Snobs Creek fish hatchery facility. Why not continue the good work?
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Black Pete Marine Pty Ltd PO Box 3094, Allambie, NSW 2100 blkpete@bigpond.net.au www.blackpete.com.au | 02 9905 7888
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Q&A PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
EATING JEWIES
®
Q
I recently heard a guy refer to a small jewfish as a “soapie”. I’d never heard that term before. I read it was something to do with the eating qualities of mulloway but I’ve always though they were good eating because I see them for sale in fish shops. I’m a little confused about whether they are worth keeping or better off being released? Alum Natraj – via email.
QA &
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Greg Finney is one of Australia’s best known fishing writers. Send your fishy questions to Greg at Fisho’s Q&A.
EMAIL: COMPS@FISHO.COM.AU SNAIL MAIL: GPO BOX 606 SYDNEY NSW 2001 FAX: (02) 92812750.
DEAR DIARY
Q
Is it worth keeping a diary if you fish a lot? I read somewhere that all the gun fishos keep a diary and log their trips with tides, moon, weather and dates so that they can look back through and determine the best time to fish a certain location or for a particular species. Would you just write all of that stuff in a yearly diary or are there special fishing diaries available anywhere? David Vasallo – Evans Head, NSW.
A
Back in the 1980s I kept a fishing diary religiously. I logged every trip over a four-year period recording weather and sea conditions, tides, moon, weather, date and tide stages fished along with what we caught. I also recorded fishless trips. The info was useful when working out the best times and
ABOVE: Small jewfish under around 10 kilos are best released, as the flesh can be very soft and mushy when cooked.
Juvenile mulloway have been referred to as “soapies” for as long as I can remember. The term originates from the fact that small mulloway or jewfish are usually very soft and mushy when cooked. The meaning was that the flesh was as soft and mushy as a bar of soap that been left in the bath over night. I’m unsure why this is the case as larger jewfish in the 15 to 25 kilo size range are very good eating. Whatever the reason, I can testify to this being true as
conditions to fish. A couple of problems arose after that. We got to the stage that the recorded information was ruling our lives. We would only fish when the moon, tide, time of year and conditions were ideal. This meant we were fishing a lot less and that took some of the enjoyment out of it. It was also very frustrating when you had perfect conditions but big seas that prevented you from fishing the rocks or beach … Long story short, if you only chase one or two species then keeping a diary is a great way to work out when and under what conditions are best. If you target multiple species, then a diary would probably be too much work and effort to compile. I don’t know of any specialist fishing diaries being available so just use a 128 page ruled notepad like I did.
we kept a six kilo jewfish for the table many years ago and once cooked it was virtually inedible due to the mushy flesh. If you fish for jewfish or catch the odd one I’d suggest you do the same as us and release all fish under 10 kilos as you’ll be very disappointed when they’re cooked up.
Spin rods with cork split grips are Finney’s preferred set up for lure work in the estuaries.
SPLIT OR FULL BUTT?
Q
I’m in the market for a new spin stick. I’m tossing up whether to go with a solid butt grip or a split grip. The rod needs to be around 7 feet long and suited to 20lb braid for tossing lures and plastics at snapper and jewies. I’m still not sure what type of butt arrangement is best and even what materials. Cork or EVA? Spilt? Any suggestions or advice would be handy. Paul Stevenson – via email.
A
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If you want to be successful at chasing a particular species and spend a lot of time on the water, then a fishing diary is a good way to gather information to help maximise your efforts. 66 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Up until a few years back I’d have probably suggested a solid one piece butt in EVA for a spin stick. Recently, however, I’ve been converted to split grip rods. I’ve also swung over to cork grips over the standard UVA. I like the lightweight and direct feel these grips offer. I noticed how effective cork was on my fly rods and I think the same “feel” on my spin sticks is a big advantage when fishing soft plastics or hardbodies. Cork looks pretty good as well. Just about all of my spin rods these days, and there are about 10 of them, are split grips in cork. Find a quality rod with a split grip in cork in your local tackle shop and have a good play with it. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a very effective butt arrangement.
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FISHING CLUB
SHIMANO JUNIORS
Q&A Luderick hints
Q
I always see plenty of luderick at my favourite wharf but how do I catch them? Jarrod –Via e-mail.
A
The humble luderick (aka blackfish) has always been a popular angling target, and with good reason. Along the east coast, especially around rocky shorelines and rivers, luderick are arguably the most prolific species available to anglers. They posses good fighting capabilities and taste great if
dispatched correctly. The best technique for catching luderick from a wharf is to gather some local green weed. Finely chop a portion of the weed and mix in with some sand in a bucket. Use a ratio of about 10 parts sand to one part weed. This weed/sand mix is used as berley. A good handful every five minutes is usually enough to get the fish fired up. Then you’ll need to fish some of the weed you have left under a weighted float set-up; be sure to weight the float correctly so it’s just buoyant. Adjust the depth until you start to get bites and then you should start to catch a few luderick. This is only a basic overview of estuary luderick fishing so do some more research to fine-tune the details. And make sure you check out episode three of Fishing World’s
ABOVE: Check out episode 3 of Fisho’s online TV show Fishing Journeys for great info on luderick.
online TV series Fishing Journeys at www.fishingworld.com.au. This epsiode features great info on this style of fishing.
Berleying reds
Q
Dad and I try to berley and use bait for snapper but all we get is sweep. What are we doing wrong? Cam –Via e-mail.
A
Yes, those pesky sweep can be very frustrating when you’re trying to catch snapper on offshore reefs. At times they almost black out the water! Unfortunately, some days they can be almost unavoidable but there are some steps that can alleviate the problem. Sweep tend
stay very close to reef structure. Position the boat well up current of the reef you wish to fish so that berley is well down by the time it gets close to the strike zone. Another tip is to avoid using any berley at first and just try fishing your baited lines; if the snapper are hungry there may be no need to berley at all.
Lures in the dark
Q
How do fish find lures in the dark? Matthew –Via e-mail.
A
Many fish seem to be more adept to finding lures in the night than they are during in the day. The reasons for this
Grin and Win! 4 2 Each month as well as our lucky “Pic of the Month” major prize winner, five more junior fishos are selected as worthy winners from the entries and kitted out with a cool Shimano shirt and cap! So keep those Pic of the Month entries coming in for your chance to win! Your first jewfish is always an amazing catch. Eight-year-old Piper Holtsbaum caught hers in the Gold Coast Seaway on a live herring.
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Thirteen-year-old Joel Farrell landed this great red emperor, his first legal sized one. The big red weighed an impressive 8.1kg.
68 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
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Gunnamatta Bay Wharf in Cronulla was the place to be during the school holidays where Angus Knight caught and released this kingfish using prawn as bait.
They grow some big snapper in Victoria and John Liapis recently reeled in this beauty. A great effort for the eight-year-old from Melbourne.
Untitled Puzzle Win A Great Shimano Spin Reel!
WITH CHRIS CLEAVER
include the fact that some fish species are more active during the night and are hunting more aggressively than they do during daylight hours. Many fish that actively feed in lower light have quite large eyes. This may help them process the available light far more effectively than, for example, we can. However, I firmly believe a fish’s lateral line is the key factor helping it find lures. The lateral line, which runs along a fish’s side, allows it to home in on vibration or noise in the water. Once close enough, the fish can then use its eyes and any other senses (like smell, for example) to attack the lure. The lateral line also helps fish find food in dark or dirty water.
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Send in your completed crossword and go into the draw each month to win! Post your entries to: Shimano Junior’s Crossword, c/- Fishing World Magazine, GPO Box 606, Sydney NSW 2001.
2 3
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Across 5. Pesky sweep can be very _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ when you’re trying to catch snapper. 6. Avoid using any _ _ _ _ _ _ at first and just try fishing your baited lines. Down 1. The humble luderick has always been a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ angling target. 2. Finely chop a portion of the weed and mix in with some sand in a _ _ _ _ _ _. 3. A fish’s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ line is the key factor helping it find lures at night. 4. Many fish seem to be more adept to finding lures at _ _ _ _ _.
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The October Crossword winner is ANGUS ANGEL from Seaford, SA. Nice work, Angus!
KIDS!
Send in your questions!
To Chris at: Fisho’s Shimano Junior’s Q&A , GPO Box 606 Sydney NSW 2001, email to comps@fisho.com.au or fax 02 9281 2750. Published questions receive a beaut Squidgy lure pack – make sure to include your name and address.
FISHO ONLINE!
For more info, go to www.fishingworld.com.au
Shimano Pic of the Across Month 5. Pesky sweep can be very FRUSTRATING when you’re trying to catch snapper. [FRUSTRATING] 6. Avoid using any BERLEY at first and just try fishing your baited lines. [BERLEY]
Whopper chopper!
Matt Sheridan, 14, from Hunters Hill, NSW, fished land-based for this great 56cm tailor. This is biggest fish he’s caught in Sydney Harbour so far. Well done, Matt!
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Jackson Lollo, 2, has to be one of the keenest junior fishos around. This is the first mangrove jack he has caught. If only we could show you the video of him catching a barra as well …
Each month we will select a Pic of the Month Major Prize Winner as well as FIVE other lucky winners for our Grin & Win section. Pic of the Month winners receive ALL of the great prizes you see here, while Grin & Win kids will each receive a cool Shimano cap and Squidgy DVD (right)! Tap here to
Send us a digital photo or print of your catch and you could be in the running for some great monthly prizes!
Down
1. The humble luderick has alwa POPULAR angling target. [PO 2. Finely chop a portion of the w with some sand in a BUCKET 3. A fish’s LATERAL line is the k find lures at night. [LATERAL] 4. Many fish seem to be more ad lures at NIGHT. [NIGHT]
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E-mail your entry and contact details to: pictures@fisho.com.au or post it to: Tap here to Shimano Pic of the Month, Fishing World, watch video GPO Box 606 Sydney NSW, 2001 Please include your name and age and details of your catch. Send a stamped, Visit the Shimano Junior Anglers’ self addressed envelope if you want your photo back! Good luck! website at www.shimanofish.com.au Tap here location
CROSSWORD ANSWERS ACROSS: 5:FRUSTRATING, 6:BERLEY DOWN: 1:POPULAR, 2:BUCKET, 3:LATERAL, 4:NIGHT
King
Of The
Creeks!
70 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Black jewfish pull hard and never give up. Pilbara-based BRAD BELL details the unique appeal of these estuary heavyweights.
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A quality black jew for Browny. A fish of this size would pull an equivalent barramundi backwards yet most northern anglers rate jewies well behind barra. Maybe because they don’t jump? INSET:Black jew caught in deeper offshore waters suffer badly from baratrauma. Fish like this caught in shallow creeks are prime candidates for release.
OMETIMES the best laid plans come unstuck, leaving you scratching your head in bemusement. You’re not necessarily disappointed, just intrigued. Last time this happened to me was on one of the numerous estuaries snaking in along WA’s Pilbara coast between Onslow and Port Hedland. Although barramundi and jacks often take the limelight in these systems, there’s another species cruising these waterways that would arguably win any battle against its forementioned neighbours. The mighty black jew is a noted estuary brawler. In fact, black jews could well be the kings of the creeks!
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 71
DESTINATIONS SPECIAL: WEST OZ
It’s 9pm and my mate Browny just burned the hell out of his mouth on a three-day-old servo pie. The positive thing, however, was that the boat was full of fuel and ice and we had 45 hours of wife and child free time ahead of us to talk crap and catch a few fish.
The plan
We were heading up the coast to an area that I’d spent a bit of time exploring during the preceding weeks. The target species was barra, and we’d mainly be fishing plastics and hard-bodies through the day and with livies during the night time sessions. Browny hadn’t had much luck with any style of fishing in the months leading up to this trip so his expectations were low. The tides were OK but not great. It was the night before the full moon which meant more water movement and smaller windows of reduced run. Saying that, bait was around and easy to catch so we settled into the arvo session with high hopes. While we were waiting I noticed schools of larger fish moving through on the Structure Scan. Almost immediately following that our rods screamed off. We were
TOP: On light tackle – or heavy gear, for that matter – jewies like this are fantastic sport in such skinny water. MAIN:A typical Pilbara estuary system. At certain times black jew will congregate in the rivers and creeks. Other times they’ll be on offshore reefs and wrecks.
72 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
using big mullet as live bait so whatever had hit us was pretty decent. Unfortunately Browny didn’t survive the first run. I was forced to jump out of the boat and run along the sand bank on the opposite side of the creek to get some control on my fish before it rubbed me off on the rock bar behind the boat. The first run was insane! Huge tail pumps and head shakes, typical antics of what felt like a Pilbara black jew. I managed to stop the fish before it reached the rock bar and coaxed it back into some deeper water. Browny wandered over to help me land the fish just as it came into sight. As suspected, it was a solid black jew. A few quick photos and it was released. It looked as if our plans had just changed ...
Tough fish
Black jewfish (Protonibea diacanthus) are members opf the Sciaenid family and closely related to southern mulloway. Widely regarded as a better table fish than their southern cousins, black jewfish are also a much tougher fighters. They are renowned for their extremely hard runs and powerful head shakes.
Found right around the Top End, black jew are reputed to grow to more than 40 kilos, however a fish bigger than 15kg is thought to be a decent capture. They congregate on wrecks and along rocky coastlines, usually in large schools, and favour deep holes and gutters. Certain bays and estuary systems also seem to attract large congregations of the species. The fish tend to be more prolific at specific times during the season. In the Pilbara, the warmer months tend to produce large congregations of fish more consistently.
Baiting up
It soon became obvious to Browny and I that the jewies were moving in and out with the tide. Double hook ups were the norm as the fish passed by. The only downer was thing was that we’d only managed to collect a fairly limited supply of bait before dark. The lack of bait was exacerbated by the hideously sharp rock bar upstream of the boat which saw more than a few jewies find their freedom. The fish weren’t keen on plastics or hard-bodies, they really wanted the livies. We were getting a few hits from the jews, plus the
odd barra, on the lures but to take advantage of this situation we really needed to arm ourselves with the food of choice. And at the time that was big juicy mullet. We decided to move up the creek to an area that the fish would have to be moving past. With no rockbar, it would be a bit more forgiving than the first area. We repositioned the boat and set ourselves up for the next tide. As the sun rose we were able to collect a lot more bait and prepare ourselves for the action to follow. I was the first to set a bait; it was an extremely still and humid morning, one of those days that you can hear every boof and see every swirl all the way to the next bend in the river. My livie was wallowing on the surface, sort of slapping its tail every now and then. Just as Browny mentioned how enticing it looked, something big slurped it off the surface and set off toward the mouth on a blinding first run. I called it for a jewie straight away as I ran after it. We were only fishing with 12lb gear on
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he thing with the northern jew is they don’t just have the one run in them. They’re an incredibly strong and stubborn fish. For some reason they play second fiddle to barra, I guess because they don’t jump and carry on in the same fashion.”
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 73
DESTINATIONS SPECIAL: WEST OZ
small spin outfits so beating these things with a locked up drag was out of the question. The thing with the northern jew is they don’t just have the one run in them. They’re an incredibly strong and stubborn fish. For some reason they play second fiddle to barra, I guess because they don’t jump and carry on in the same fashion. Either way, they go hard and never give up. On this occasion I managed to bring the fish to the bank for a few happy snaps before release, and I wasn’t complaining one bit about the fact it was a jewie and not a barra. We landed another six or seven fish during that two-hour hour session, the highlight of the morning being a 20 kilo monster Browny landed on his light spin gear. It made things hard for him and he did very well to bring the fish alongside. It was certainly a fish of a lifetime and one that will be pretty hard to beat.
How & when
As detailed previously, black jewfish, aka kingie, mulloway or northern jew, can be found across northern Australia including parts of the Pilbara coastline. In this section, I’ll concentrate on how we fish for them in estuaries throughout the Pilbara. There are no hard and fast rules, just snippets of information that will hopefully encourage you to get out there and develop your own techniques and successes. In my experience, black jew will take baits, either dead or alive, big plastics, hard-bodies and flies. Most of my success has come either trolling hard-bodies like the RMG Scorpion on an incoming tide, or soaking baits in a deeper section of the creek. Jewies tend to move around in an estuary, typically with the tide. I’ve found that the period
around the low tends to produce more consistently in the creeks, not dissimilar to the periods you’d fish for barra. Live baits work well but so do fresh slabs of mullet or whiting. The rig doesn’t have to be complex: a small running sinker tied onto 60 or 80lb leader and an Owner SL12 8/0 hook does the trick. Connect the leader to your 20 or 30lb braid via an Albright and you’re good to go. A 4000 size spin reel with a “bait runner” style function, or 200 size baitcaster with a ratchet, is useful, however not completely necessary. Match this up to a 6-8kg rod and you are well and truly in the game.
The end of the trip
I’d be lying if I told you that Browny and I went up the coast looking to score on decent schools of
mulloway. Truth be told, we didn’t have jewies in our sights at all. They just happened to come along. We were fishing an area where the jews are common bycatch when targeting barramundi. That said, I’ve fished these areas many times specifically targeting mulloway and had reasonable amounts of success. I guess the moral of the story is that it pays to be prepared and willing to change your game plan should the circumstances warrant it. In this case a better opportunity presented itself and we opted to jump on board. Mulloway are hands down the strongest fish in the Pilbara estuaries – or probably any estuary in northern Australia, for that matter. When they’re on, you had better be ready because they will blow you away if you aren’t fully prepared …
ABOVE: Setting up position and deploying baits or lures as fish move past is a gun jewie tactic in the Pilbara’s many creeks and estuaries The deeper holes in an estuary are where the jewies will hang out. They’ll use channels to move around with the tide. 74 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
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DESTINATIONS: NSW SOUTH COAST
Estuaries Of The
Eurobodalla
With the summer holidays looming, now’s the time to start planning a fishy escape. BEN CADDAYE outlines the angling options along southern NSW’s Eurobodalla coast.
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T’S a stretch of NSW coastline synonymous with exquisite waterways and first-rate fishing. It’s also one of the hottest summer holiday destinations for anglers from Canberra, Sydney and beyond. The Eurobodalla coast, which extends from just north of Batemans Bay to just south of Narooma, is a haven for anglers, boasting scores of saltwater creeks, rivers and lakes. In fact, Eurobodalla means “Land of Many Waters” in the local Aboriginal dialect, so if you’re into estuary fishing, you couldn’t find a better place to wet a line. The Eurobodalla coast has been my saltwater stomping ground for more than 30 years and I’ve fished most of the estuaries in this special part of the world. Some have been very kind to me over the years; other have been more challenging. I’ve enjoyed
76 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
every second I’ve spent exploring them on a boat, kayak or on foot. With thousands of holidaying anglers destined to visit the Eurobodalla region over the coming summer holidays, here’s a guide to fishing some of my favourite rivers and lakes in this pristine pocket of south-eastern Australia.
Durras Lake
Durras Lake sits at the northernmost point of the Eurobodalla region. Located a few clicks north of Batemans Bay, Durras is a small, shallow estuary – but it punches well above its weight in the fishing stakes. The anglers who get the most out of Durras are those prepared to jump in a canoe or kayak and explore its expansive shallows. Flathead and whiting are the staples over the flats during summer. It’s become one of the gun locations on the coast for
The Clyde River, which runs into the sea at Batemans Bay, is the biggest system in the Eurobodalla region.
IMAGE: EUROBODALLA TOURISM.
OPPOSITE PAGE: Hefty flathead come out to play in the Eurobodalla region in late spring and summer. This fish came from the Moruya River.
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 77
ere to video
re to video
DESTINATIONS: NSW SOUTH COAST
RIGHT: The Moruya River boasts some of the best shore-based estuary fishing in the Eurobodalla region. MAIN OPPOSITE: Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet is a fantastic estuary untouched by commercial nets for many years. BOTTOM OPPOSITE: Take your kids fishing in the Eurobodalla estuaries this season – they’ll love it!
surface-lure enthusiasts, with poppers, walkers and stickbaits undoing plenty of flatties and whiting when the water warms during December and January. The lake does feature a few holes and drop-offs and these are ideal for exploring with soft plastic lures for large flathead. Just because Durras is small, doesn’t mean its flathead don’t grow big. Every season a handful of fish around the 90cm mark are taken from the lake. Bait is great at Durras, too. Working the shallows with fresh nippers and worms will yield a steady stream of whiting, flathead and bream.
Clyde River
The Clyde River is by far the largest estuary system in the Eurobodalla and it’s a focus for literally thousands of anglers over summer. The Clyde is huge. It begins in the hills as a tiny crystal clear freshwater stream before winding its way some one hundred kilometres and spilling into the sea at Batemans Bay. Deep water – up to 20m in parts – and strong tidal flow can make the Clyde difficult to fish at times, but if you get it right it has the potential to dish up the finest fishing you’re likely to find
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78 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
BATEMANS BAY MORUYA NAROOMA
E
urobodalla means ‘Land of Many Waters’ in the local Aboriginal dialect, so if you’re into estuary fishing, you couldn’t find a better place to wet a line.” on the Far South Coast. This summer, most visiting fishos will try their luck between the two highway bridges – at Nelligen and Batemans Bay. Flathead, bream and tailor are abundant and can be caught from a drifting boat or kayak on soft plastic lures and fresh and live bait. Don’t focus too much on fishing the deepest holes for these species; they’ll most likely be found where the deeper water gives way to the shallows, especially around weedbeds and rock bars. The Clyde is also renowned for its monster mulloway. These are taken by experienced anglers fishing the deep holes and “bait balls” with big soft plastic lures, live baits and fresh dead baits. The Clyde’s upper reaches, around Shallow Crossing, are brilliant areas to target bass and EPs. It’s stunning country up here. Drifting in a kayak and pelting hard-bodied lures at the rock bars and sunken timber is a sublime way to pass the time. Expect to hook into some beaut fish, too. The Moruya River doesn’t tend to get the plaudits that some of the better-known estuaries to the north and south receive, but it can certainly compete as a fishery with the more “glamorous” waterways of the Eurobodalla. The lower reaches of the system are fertile drifting grounds for bream and flathead. The stretch of river between the mouth and the highway bridge is littered with rock walls, weed-beds, sand flats and creeks. Focusing on these forms of natural and man-made structure can result in terrific catches of flatties, mainly on Squidgy Wrigglers and similar plastics. Hard-bodied divers and surface lures fished over the seagrass beds will coax good numbers of bream and whiting. Another productive patch to fish is the stretch of river upstream of the highway bridge, where flathead and bream abound over the sand and around the rocks. The upper reaches of the river produce estuary perch and bass. Unlike some South Coast estuaries, the Moruya River has lots of great shore-based options. Near the river mouth, there are breakwalls on both the northern and southern sides that provide a relatively safe and accessible place to chase tailor, salmon, bream and flathead. The wharf near the historic quarry has
IMAGE: EUROBODALLA TOURISM.
Moruya River
recently been upgraded and is a great fishing platform for bream, flathead and tailor. So is Preddys Wharf near Moruya Heads.
Tuross Lake
Lake Tuross is the poster child for “rec-only” fisheries on the NSW South Coast. Since commercial fishing was banned well over a decade ago, Tuross has quickly gained a reputation as one of the fishiest estuaries in the state, with anglers often prepared to travel long distances to fish its waters. A number of well-known anglers from television and magazines fish Tuross regularly. In fact, a day spent on the lake over the holidays can be a bit of an exercise in spotting the fishing “celebrity”. fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 79
DESTINATIONS: NSW SOUTH COAST
With commercial netting now a distant memory, species such as flathead, bream, whiting, EPs and mulloway have thrived in Tuross. Flathead are the main drawcard. Tuross produces a handful of huge flatties every year – and you don’t have to go far for these fish, either. Many are caught within sight of the various waterfront cafes and eateries that swell with tourists over the Christmas break. Live poddy mullet are deadly on big Tuross crocs, but you can also try large soft plastics bounced around the drop-offs. Anglers employing this technique are also in with the chance of a prized mulloway. Big whiting are on offer towards the mouth of Tuross on fresh bait, vibe lures and surface poppers. The oyster racks that abound throughout the system are magnets for bream, and fishing small soft plastic and
Wollongong Nowra Canberra Batemans Bay Eurobodalla Coast Narooma
minnow-style lures around the leases on a boat or kayak can often result in an actionpacked session. The picturesque upper reaches of Tuross are brilliant for bass. Access via boat to this water can be problematic above the highway bridge, with shallow stretches preventing all but the smallest craft from getting through. It’s perfect for kayaks and canoes, though.
Wagonga Inlet
Wagonga has been a rec-only fishery longer than any other estuary on the South Coast – and it shows. Its reputation a first-rate location for monster flathead, big bream, fat whiting and mulloway is legendary. Like Tuross, Wagonga’s crocs grab most of the headlines. They live around the drop-offs, where the sandflats drop away to holes and channels more than 10m deep. Large soft plastic lures, especially big shads, on relatively heavy jig heads are the go-to artificials for true trophy lizards. Experienced anglers tend to follow around the schools of bait and feeding tailor, and deliberately fish under the surface action. Mulloway are also on the cards in Wagonga and are often caught by anglers fishing for flatties. The sandflats and channels towards the front of
the system, between the lake and the entrance, are home to big whiting. Target these fish with fresh nippers. The oyster racks up the back of the inlet are a noted haunt for big bream. Shore-based anglers can stroll along the “Boardwalk”, which boasts purpose built fishing platforms. Expect to catch bream, flathead and leatherjacket in this area. Note the marine park sanctuary zones within the system.
ABOVE: A big bream on a soft plastic – this is what fishing these southern estuaries is all about! The benefits of banning comemercial netting have been realised in Tuross Lake, which is recognised as one of the best fisheries in NSW. 80 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
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One Tree Beach When it comes to amazing fishing destinations, it doesn’t get much better than the famous One Tree Beach camp established by legendary Kimberley guide Robert “Bluey” Vaughan. WAZZA SMITH reports.
82 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Nestled in a cove within the majestic Admirately Gulf, OTB offers an unrivalled wilderness fishing experience. This shot shows the comfy guest shacks along Breezy Beach.
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 83
DESTINATIONS SPECIAL: WEST OZ
A
FTER a recent catch up with my old mate Robert “Bluey” Vaughan, I found it hard to believe it was more than 12 years since my last visit to Bluey’s fishing camp at One Tree Beach. A game plan was put into place over a few beers. Not long after that I was ready for a return to OTB. The idea was that I’d do some guiding for the first five days and then kick back for another five days with Bluey with no pressure to do much except enjoy ourselves. Didn’t sound like a bad gig … The One Tree Beach fishing camp is located smack bang in the middle of the Kimberly’s Admiralty Gulf. It’s as remote as you can get in Australia with access gained by undertaking an
T
awesome 90-minute flight from Kununurra in one of Kimberley Air’s two floatplanes. Our outward-bound flight was on a Cessna 208 Caravan amphibious floatplane. There were five of us and the Caravan swallowed our gear and us with ease. The flight out is part of the whole Kimberly / OTB experience. You fly over some of the best scenery we have in Australia, passing over very remote and rarely touched country. I reckon some of the freshwater streams you pass over would hold the best sooty fishing to be found. Soon enough, the Admiralty Gulf came into view with its inviting blue waters. The plane passed over the camp than dropped down onto the smooth water and idled the last hundred
metres towards the camp. There we were met by Bluey and his pet sharks. The guests on this trip consisted of June and Frank Rodda (first timers to OTB), Bob Morland and Rolf Polak (both seasoned OTB guests) and myself. With introductions out of the way, we were soon sitting back in the shade of the kitchen/ dining area watching the Caravan depart on its return flight to Kununurra. It felt good to once again be sitting back in this place. Next was a short walk to the guest and guides accommodation positioned along Breezy Beach. Inside your beach shack you have two single beds, a battery powered light and fan. Bit different than the swag and mozzie dome from last time I was here ...
he One Tree Beach fishing camp is located smack bang in the middle of the Kimberly’s Admiralty Gulf. It’s as remote as you can get in Australia ...”
84 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Bluey’s pet sharks always appreciate a feed of fish frames; A bit of time castnetting live bait always pays off when targeting the Admiralty Gulf’s prolific jacks, goldies and barra; A 90-minute ride in a floatplane from Kununurra sees you land on the beach at OTB. On the way you’ll see some amazing scenery …
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 85
DESTINATIONS SPECIAL: WEST OZ
T
he plan on day two was to secure fresh bait then locate some mangrove jacks, a few of which were to accompany us back to camp to provide lunch. We quickly cast netted plenty of live baits consisting of mullet, whiting and herring and the search for jacks began.�
ABOVE: Plenty of lures get crunched, smashed and otherwise wrecked by the hard-fighting sportfish of the Admiralty Gulf. The retired lures find a new life as decorations for Bluey’s camp! Bluey displays a nice queenie caught during a hot bite off Steep Head Island. 86 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Once all the bags were sorted Bluey told us that the first chore was to catch dinner, preferably a nice size queenfish so we could all have a go at a famous OTB fish curry. It didn’t take too long to get both of the boats organized and a quick run to Malcom Island soon had us amongst the queenies and mackerel. We started off using the ever-reliable marabou/ deer hair jigs, which worked a treat as always. Dinner was secured quickly. Frank and June were having a ball catching and releasing queenies and macks before the run back to the camp came late in the arvo. The fish curry was superb … The plan on day two was to secure fresh bait then locate some mangrove jacks, a few of which were to accompany us back to camp to provide lunch. We quickly cast netted plenty of live baits consisting of mullet, whiting and herring and the search for jacks began. It didn’t take long. Frank, June, Rolf and Bob were into a typical OTB “jack attack” with a few other species thrown in as well. We kept enough for a feed and returned the rest before running back to camp and feasting on fresh jack fillets for lunch. A bit of a rest than a repeat of the first arvo’s fishing at Malcolm Island. This time a nice broad bar mackerel was taken back for the night’s dinner. Next day we poked around a few beaches before gathering more bait with the cast nets and running
Waz with a typical chrome Kimberley barra caught on a hardbody twitched around a rockbar.
to the mouth of the Lawley River. Bluey had timed it just right as the last couple of hours of run-out tide were just starting to expose the rock bar at the mouth. It was a pretty hot session with plenty of jacks, golden snapper and a couple different types of cod all falling victim to the baits. I had June and Frank in the boat with me and as the bite slowed we decided to run up the Lawley a short distance. Not too far up we found a beaut looking bank with deep water and plenty of snags. We decided to run a couple of lures out to see if we could find a barra. Frank was soon hooked up to a spectacular silver barramundi (his first). At around 75cm it was a nice fish to start off with. Next pass and Frank was on again. I called it for another barra as it broke the surface but it actually ended up being a nice black jew (also a first for Frank), which was quickly photographed and released. The next troll saw Frank score an 80cm barra, which put up a great fight with plenty of head shaking jumps. Fresh barra on the BBQ for dinner that night was the best ... Day four saw us head off early for an all-day assault on the fish. Both boats did the 30-minute run to some country that Bluey calls the “Land Of Po”. We targeted rocks and small creeks that were starting to drain out nicely. We were encountering good fishing at most stops but one spot in particular really produced a memorable session. It was a very small creek with a big rock in the mouth of it. Plenty of barra up to 80cm plus jacks and cod kept everyone busy for a good hour before it was time to get out or risk stranding. We slowly made our way along the rocky coast fishing all the likely spots with a plan to meet up and lunch on the truly impressive Steep Head Island. While lunching in the shade of giant boab trees, the queenfish started putting on a show right in front of us. Everyone was pretty relaxed and in no hurry to get amongst them but eventually we dragged ourselves out of our comfy spots and got
in to a red-hot queeny bite. Jigging, poppering and trolling all produced the goods. They were good-sized fish as well with plenty pushing the metre mark. June and Frank where glad when Bluey said it was time to head back to camp. Their arms needed no more stretching … Day 5 was spent chasing tasty blue bone, jacks and golden snapper. Not too far from camp is a spot known as “Gotham City” (bat fish are seen here regularly) and I reckon Frank and June caught and released more than 20 snapper using jigs. A great little session. A couple of snapper kept for dinner, along with a huge feed of black lip oysters, made for an awesome last night’s feed for those departing the next morning. Day 6 saw the Cessna 206 floatplane arrive mid-morning. In no time we were waving good-bye to Frank, June and Bob. Bluey had a few chores to attend to so Rolf (who was staying on with us) and myself decided to get organized and head to the Lawley for an arvo session on the barra. The productive bank we trolled a couple of days earlier only produced a lonely old cod so we moved further up the river casting to any likely looking snags. The first barra fell to a Z-Man Swimmer rigged weedless and allowed to sink deep amongst the sticks. We moved on to the next likely spot and found a few more barra willing to hit both hard and soft body lures. Next day we went for a run to a new spot known as “Crocodile Creek”. As the tide was still a bit high we decided to jump out of the boat at the mouth for a bit of a look around. We found plenty of Aboriginal shell middens and other signs of the rich indigenous history of this land. It was while I was poking around the rocks that I discovered why this place is called Crocodile Creek. I was a long way from the water and not even thinking about crocs when one around 3m long exploded from beneath a small ledge I was standing on. I went for higher ground while the fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 87
DESTINATIONS SPECIAL: WEST OZ
TOP TO BOTTOM: The kitchen/dining area at OTB is possibly the coolest place in the world to sit back with a beer and do nothing at all …; June Rodda visited OTB for the first time with her husband Frank. This golden snapper was the basis for one of the fresh fish dinners Bluey Vaughan is famous for preparing; Waz with one of his favourite eating fish, a nice coral trout caught on a Halco deep diver.
88 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
croc went for the water. I was very close to needing a change of shorts after that... Back in the boat we went looking for a fish. Not long after Bluey called for a troll run, I connected to a nice barra around 80cm. In typical barra fashion, it did some great jumps while pulling plenty of braid off a stiff drag setting. A quick photo and he was released. The water was still a bit high so a change of location was called for. We headed back to the small creek that had produced plenty of barra a few days earlier. Once again, the fish were lining up to grab our lures, mainly barra and a couple of mangrove jacks thrown into the mix as well. I had a few of the new Samaki Vibelicious Thumper soft plastic vibes to try – they proved to be highly effective. As we were moving out of the creek, a school of king threadfin were seen feeding on jelly prawns. On my first cast one peeled out of the pack and nailed the 70mm Vibelicious as it ran past his nose. He was no monster and was quickly beside the boat for release. A couple more casts and an identical size thready nailed the same lure again before we got out of there as the water level was falling fast. We poked around a few more likely looking spots picking up jacks, goldies and cod before heading to a spot known as Turtle Rock (yep, there’s a rock with an uncanny resemblance to a turtle). It was a great looking Tap here to watch video location with all the water draining out of a vast bay running past the rocky point we were positioned at. One back eddy kept getting better, holding more and more bait as the water got Tap here to watch video lower. And it was from this spot that my shallow running lure was crunched by another beautiful silver barramundi. We called it at around 85cm a great fish to finish the day off with. Next day we went for a run out and around the Osbourne Islands group, which yielded plenty of awe-inspiring scenery and some great fishing. We got stuck into queenies, trevally, coral trout and a
few other tropical species. It was a pretty laid back type of day but great nonetheless. Our last day of fishing and we made a group decision to fish a system known as Rail Creek. This waterway reminds me a lot of the typical water you fish around Darwin: lots of drains with a few rock bars thrown in and the odd snag. We were getting near spring tides by this time and when the water turned to run out it really started to drop out quickly. About half tide out things started looking real good with lots and lots of bait pouring out of the drains and more than one sign of bigger fish getting stuck into them. We pulled a few jacks from a shallow drain before moving to the mouth of the side creek we were fishing where a shallow rock bar produced more Jacks and a few nice barra before a shark turned up and put an end to that. Bluey had secured a few baits with his trusty cast-net and we moved further down the system to a spot known as “Jack Nicholsons”. You can guess what we got stuck into with a name like that ... We caught more than 20 jacks before it was time to head back to camp. Bluey has been running tours in the Admiralty Gulf for more than 20 years and knows the place and its waters better than anyone. He is extremely proud that he has built One Tree Beach from scratch with a little help from friends. Bluey loves giving people the whole Kimberly experience which includes fresh seafood gathered while out and about during the day. Mud crabs, black lip scrolling to the menu. oysters and just caught fishKeep dominate see exclusive iPad You get to see amazing scenery that only extra pics I can’t justify with words. Tap hereWalk beaches that have no footprints Keep scrolling to exclusive iPad all that often on themlocation and watch wild lifesee not seen only extra pics Bluey only runs very limited tours these days with between 20 to 30 people a year visiting One Tree Beach. Groups of four are the norm. I love going to this place – there’s nowhere else in Australia like it. Every day feels like an adventure. I’m going to make damn sure it doesn’t take me another 12 years before my next visit. Editor’s note: See a comprehensive website at www.kimberleyfishing.com for full details on planning an adventure at Robert “Bluey” Vaughan’s spectacular One Tree Beach fishing camp Tap here location
CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Celebrating Celebrating 25 25 years years guiding guiding anglers anglers to to the the most most spectacular spectacular sportfishing sportfishing in in Australia’s most spectacular wilderness. Australia’s most spectacular wilderness. Keep scrolling says, to Like renowned see exclusive iPad Like renowned international international sportfisherman, sportfisherman, Dean Dean Butler, Butler, says,
only extra pics “You Bluey’s One Tree Beach before “You owe owe it it to to yourself yourself to to get get to toTap here Bluey’s One Tree Beach before you you die.” die.” to Tap here watch video
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Phone Phone Bluey: Bluey: 08 08 9193 9193 5689 5689 Email Bluey: Bluey: bigfish@wn.com.au bigfish@wn.com.au Email www.kimberleyfishing.com www.kimberleyfishing.com Tap here
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83 83
THE FISHING SCHOOL PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
DIY Lures While home-made lures are rarely as well finished or effective as commercially made models, many anglers get a great deal of satisfaction in catching fish on lures they’ve made themselves. Sami explains the basics of DIY lures. WITH SAMI OMARI
AS a kid I remember scouring the house and shed looking for an old broom, mop or scrap piece of timber then sitting around with a few simple tools and attempting to carve out a lure. Paper clips were used to create the eyelets and a sliver of plastic from a cassette tape was formed into a bib. Take it from me, it was tough going with a blunt knife, a file milled to suit metal and a few worn pieces of sandpaper … I hid my lure making box and tools under my bed; it was a prized possession and one that I’m fortunate to still have today. Those initial forays into DIY lure making spawned an interest in lure dynamics that gradually built into the consuming passion lure fishing has for me today. The fact is, making lures is a relatively simple affair. There are many lure types you can make yourself – a few examples are listed below. DIY lure making is not only a cost effective way to fill your tackle box but an extremely rewarding way to catch a fish. Give it a go!
Lead slugs
These are probably the easiest lures to make. In their most basic form, you simply paint a barrel sinker white, thread it onto your line then tie a treble hook to the end. The more advanced form of the lead slug utilises some stainless or galvanised steel tie wire which is threaded through the sinker then looped back and twisted on itself to form a loop at each end. The treble is then attached with a split ring. You can jazz them up by sticking on some reflective tape while a coat of epoxy or lacquer will help protect the finish.
Ear plug poppers
As silly as it sounds, you can actually make a topwater lure out of one of those little foam earplugs. Just heat a needle with a lighter to get it hot and push it through the centre of the earplug to create a hole all the way through. You can then thread the earplug onto your line, tie on a small treble and, presto, you have a tiny popper. To add a little weight, crimp a tiny splitshot directly above the treble and try to push the popper over the split shot. A touch of paint or nail polish is all that you need to add some colour.
Saltwater flies
ABOVE: Tying simple saltwater flies is pretty easy. But as you can see, these DIY flies certainly “match the hatch”.
90 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
Flies are very simple to make, especially saltwater whitebait imitations. You can use anything as a vice that will securely hold the hook – a pair of vice grip pliers work well at a pinch. An offcut of old braid to bind some flashy material to a hook along with some fast setting epoxy to hold the binding together is all that is required. You can become much more
D
IY lure making is not only a cost effective way to fill your tackle box but an extremely rewarding way to catch a fish. Give it a go!”
creative and elaborate as you gain experience, however I’ve used the simple flies pictured opposite to catch everything from salmon to kingfish. One tip that I’ve discovered is to tie them quite long and trim the tails down on the water to match the size of the bait the fish are feeding on.
want to step it up a notch you can buy some clear casting resin and attempt to mould your own skirted lures using a film canister or pill bottle. You’ll need to fix a thin tube to the middle of your mould so you can thread the lure onto your leader and you can add glitter and or to spice up the lure head.
Trolling lures
Soft plastic kits
You can make simple yet effective trolling lures from a basic pink squid threaded onto a leader which has a hook tied onto it. If you put the squid in hot water it will become pliable allowing you to wedge a ball sinker in the head of the squid which can improve its performance in the water. If you
If you want to get serious about making soft plastics there are a range of liquid plastics and moulds that can be purchased online. From simple curl tail grubs to elaborate worms, all of the materials you will need including liquid plastics and colourants along with the moulds
ABOVE: Making lead slugs is a very basic and cheap way to make lures which work well on a range of species, including tailor, bonito, trevally and queenfish.
can be purchased to make soft plastics to your heart’s content. An advantage of making your own soft plastic lures is that you can fine tune the design until you find a winning combination which you can make again and again without the fear of having the shape or colour discontinued by a lure maker down the track!
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fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 91
REVIEWED: PHOENIX BOATS CUSTOM PLATE ALLOY
Phoenix Rises!
MOST production boats built by Australian boat builders come out of the factory rigged to handle general sportfishing applications. Many of these boats can be further optioned up to suit owner requirements. But even the best production boat will struggle to compete against a custom built vessel designed to exacting specifications with significant owner input. So it was interesting to examine Offshore Hooker, a 7.7m plate alloy sportfishing boat custom built on the NSW South Coast, with both the builder and the proud new owner. Rod Brown is well known in boating circles for his work with Predator Boats. These tough-as-nails plate alloy vessels were extremely popular with commercial operators and hard-core game fishermen. More recently, Rod has established Phoenix Boats, based at South Nowra, again producing commercial and recreational vessels. The newest boat to come out of the Phoenix factory is the aptly named Offshore Hooker. Owner Andrew “Cookie” Cook commissioned the vessel after checking out what was available in the production plate alloy market. He liked what he saw but none of the boats he examined really fit the bill in terms of optional extras or customisation. An initial conversation with Rod about a new boat was followed by some months of planning and research. Cookie and Rod both worked closely to design a boat that encompassed all of Cookie’s requirements. Following the design 92 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
process, a WA-based naval architect drew up plans for the hull and the build began. As an interesting aside, I watched this boat’s construction via social media. Ben Blades, a keen young local angler whom I’m friends with on Facebook, works for Rod and he posted various images as the boat began to take shape. As soon as I saw the first pictures of the hull I thought it would make for an interesting article. Soon after the boat was completed I arranged with Rod and Cookie to meet them at a local ramp to head out for a ride. Sitting on its alloy Transtyle trailor, with the Reelax riggers set up, the boat looked like an absolute weapon. The distinctive WA hull design, with its sharp bow and raised sheerline, matched nicely with the classy X Factor wrap featuring a school of yellowfin hunting baitfish. As I walked around the hull, I noted aggressive chines, a big boarding platform and wide gunwales. As you’d expect from a boat builder of Rod Brown’s experience, the welds and overall finish was top notch. At 7.7m long with a beam of 2.5m, the boat looked massive on the trailer. Tow weight is about 3300kg, meaning no major dramas for Cookie’s V8 diesel Landcruiser. An equivalent fibreglass boat would be significantly heavier and would probably require a small truck as tow vehicle. Once Offshore Hooker was launched, I put the Fisho Bar Crusher 670HT in the water to use as a camera boat. Sea conditions were ideal with a low swell and no wind. We motored offshore a few miles to get a few shots and I then jumped onboard the big Phoenix to check out the cockpit and cabin layout. As expected with a boat of this size, the cockpit was huge with plenty of room for at least four anglers to comfortably jig or livebait. Cookie’s a very keen kingfish angler so plenty of room for active sportfishing was one of the key design features he required. I noted plenty of gunwalemounted rod holders, plus more across the top in the rocket launchers. You can never have enough rod holders in an offshore sportfishing boat … At the transom, a set of nifty circular hatches provided access to large, rounded livebait tanks.
IMAGES: JOSH CARPENTER
Offshore Hooker is a seriously tough plate alloy sportfishing machine custom built on the NSW South Coast. Jim Harnwell takes a look over a unique bluewater weapon.
Round tanks are favoured by offshore anglers as the baits can’t damage themselves against corners as found in standard square tanks. A set of custom made slimy tubes on the outer edge of the transom will doubtless come in handy this summer for pitching baits at teased up striped marlin out of Jervis Bay. Like many offshore anglers, Cookie likes droplining during the cooler months when the current slackens off. Waterproof 12v plugs for his electric reels, plus a plug to provide 240v shore power if overnighting at a marina or wharf, are neatly positioned in the coamings. A big plumbed kill tank is positioned aft just in front of the transom. This is foam insulated and would be ideal for ice slurrying kings, snapper or tuna. Hatches in the transom provide
access to storage space and the gunwales are nice and high to enable an angler fighting a big fish to comfortably “lean in” and brace himself. Inside the wheelhouse style cabin are two “skipper” style chairs and plenty of standing room. Hatches in the plate alloy roof allow for ventilation and the 6mm toughened glass winscreen provide an expansive view almost across the entire beam of the cabin. The dash is dominated by twin 12-inch e Series Raymarine MFDs. The Raymarines are powered by a CP570 CHIRP sounder module in conjunction with a CP100 unit. The big CHIRP transducer is mounted at the transom with the smaller sonar/down vision transducer for the CP100 through-mounted in the hull. Cookie also opted for a Raymarine radar and
MAIN ABOVE: The big Phoenix isn’t short on power with twin 175hp Suzukis. OPPOSITE: While it’s a big rig, at 3300kg, Offshore Hooker still towable behind a Cruiser. LEFT: Twin 12-inch e Series Raymarine MFDs dominate the spacious dash.
fishingworld.com.au | November 2015 | 93
REVIEWED: PHOENIX BOATS CUSTOM PLATE ALLOY
autopilot. The marine electronics were professionally installed by Matt Adamson at Culburra-based Emjay Communications. There’s plenty of storage and accomodation in the cabin with infill bunks providing enough room for overnighting. Cookie has five children and one of his specifications was to get a boat with plenty of room if one or other of the kids wanted a lie down in the cab. Bearing in mind I had only limited time aboard, one of the things I really liked about this boat was the extra wide gunwales at the bow, meaning you could easily traverse around the cabin. Offshore Hooker isn’t a centre cab or true “walkaround” but there’s plenty of room to safely access to the bow, which always comes in handy. Another aspect to consider with this boat is that it’s built solid. Some mass produced boats are marked as being “plate” but are constructed with only 3mm aluminium. Offshore Hooker is a true plate boat in that it features 6mm bottomsides and 5mm on the sides and frame. The deck and cabin are constructed from 4mm plate. The self-draining hull is filled with bouyancy foam (which also acts as a sound absorber). Foam lined compartments against the rear cabin wall act as coolers. Cookie says ice in these compartments lasts for days, making the boat ideal for extended family holidays in Jervis Bay or for hard-core gamefishing trips. I didn’t get much of a chance to see how the
94 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
LEFT: Offshore Hooker has been designed inside and out with plenty of fishing friendly features. BELOW: Offshore Hooker is a custom hardcore fishing machine built on the NSW South Coast.
boat performed – Cookie, Rod and Ben were keen to head out wide to chase tuna after we got the pics – but Cookie says the twin 175hp Suzuki four-strokes provide plenty of power, pushing the big plate hull to a top speed of 42 knots, while being economical and efficient. For example, a recent trip to the shelf to troll and also dropline saw 105 litres of fuel used. That’s pretty good for a big, heavy plate alloy boat. Given the 500l underfloor tank, Offshore Hooker obviously has plenty of range. All up, I think it’s safe to say that Cookie is pretty wrapt with his new boat. Everything he
wants is where he wants it – which is exactly what you expect with a custom boat. And Rod Brown’s heritage with Predator Boats means Cookie can be assured that Offshore Hooker is built to go the distance. Interestingly, Cookie said Offshore Hooker was price comparable to the production boats he looked at. It’s generally assumed that custom boats are significantly more expensive than equivalent mass produced models – it seems that’s not the case with Offshore Hooker … For more info on Phoenix Boats, call 02 44234881 or visit phoenixboats.com.au.
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DAVE RAE
Getting Hooked Wearing a hook is never pleasant but most of us have had it happen at least once in our fishing careers. Dave recounts a few human hook-ups that have lingered long in his memory … BY DAVE RAE
hardware shop, stuck the hook in a vice and hacksawed the two barbs off. I remember being horrified with the amount of stretch required on my skin to get the saw in. When I queried what she was doing, she called me a “princess”! A bit unfair, I thought, as I wasn’t the one turning green at the sight of a bit of blood … That would be her husband and fellow medico, the aforementioned Darryl … Just recently I’ve returned from an amazing GT adventure courtesy of Sport Fishing PNG. The first fish I caught on the trip was a jobfish from the front deck of the mother ship. My pleasure at the capture was short-lived, however, as Moli, one of the guides, ended up wearing a rather meaty GT style treble, and a flapping fish, from his foot as a result of kindly insisting that he’d do the de-hooking.
T
here’s a bad side to becoming hooked on fishing. And that’s when the angler wears the hooks instead of the fish!”
A treble in the foot is definitely not pleasant and should be avoided at all costs!
BECOMING hooked on fishing is a good thing. Fishing is a healthy outdoors activity that can be shared with family and friends. As a keen angler, you see some neat places and become tuned in to the water, the weather and the wildlife. Other benefits include the fact that a competent fisho can just about always provide fresh seafood for his or her family. And fishing yarns are about the only style of story in which an exaggeration is not a lie. Take it from me, you can keep telling them even when your kids say, “Heard it, Dad” or “It wasn’t that big, Davo”. However, there’s a bad side to becoming hooked on fishing. And that’s when the angler wears the hooks instead of the fish! I’ve managed to avoid serious hooking all but once. Back when I was slim with more hair on my head than my chest, I reached out to lift a striped tuna into the boat without taking the pressure off the rod. Just as I touched the line, the trebles tore free of the fish and imbedded in my forearm, as far in as they could go, when the rod whipped back. 98 | fishingworld.com.au | November 2015
I drove the tinnie back to the ramp and winched the boat onto the trailer before walking across to the corner store to ask for help cutting my fish-slimed raincoat off. Unfortunately, the young woman I asked for assistance fainted at the sight of the hooks protruding from my bloodied arm. Even worse was the fact that she was very pregnant. Happily her man rushed out when I called and came to the rescue. He didn’t impale me on a sharpened stake, although he may have been tempted … A visit to the hospital the next day, laden with chocolates, confirmed that she and the baby were fine … But I’m getting ahead of myself … After the debacle at the corner store, I drove off to visit a mate by the name of Darryl. Luckily for me, Darryl was a doctor. After supplying a “happy shot” to yours truly, Darryl pushed the barbs through my arm but was unable to continue the removal of the treble because he, like the unfortunate mother-to-be in the corner shop, felt sick! Luckily his wife, also a GP, took me to the
Luckily, the point was part way through his skin and after a good icing down we were able use a pair of pliers to push it right through before cutting off the point and pulling it out backwards. Given that we were 12 hours from medical assistance in Port Moresby, and considering that the potential for a serious hook injury is ever present when heavy tackle sport fishing, Moli was pretty lucky. It just goes to show how easily things can go wrong ... Which is why I always remind myself to take care when dealing with big fish and sharp hooks. It makes a lot of sense to use long-nose pliers or some other de-hooking device – definitely not fingers – in these circumstances. You definitely wouldn’t want a situation where angler was impaled with a big hook still connected to a powerful fish like a GT, marlin, tuna or thrashing barra ... That sort of accident really is the stuff of nightmares ... Of course, not all hook incidents need involve carnage. For example, you can easily remove smaller hooks with a loop of line and a firm quick tug; just remember to push the eye of the hook down into the victim’s skin during the removal process! That said, you’re probably better off avoiding hook impalement in the first place. After all, fish hooks are designed for sticking in fish, not humans!
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