Fishingworldmay2016

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CONTENTS fishingworld.com.au MAY 2016

Kingfish are one of Australia’s most popular sportfish.

The popularity of species like kings and their proximity to major population centres puts immense pressure on the fishery and makes targeting these popular species difficult. Inside this issue we show you how to think outside the box and trick even the most heavily pressured fish into biting.

➤

10

Contents

REGULARS 09 EDITORIAL 20 NEWS 40 NEW PRODUCTS 50 DAVID GREEN 52 ROD BUILDERS 54 KNOTS & RIGS 64 Q&A 66 SHIMANO JUNIORS 86 THE FISHING SCHOOL 84 BOAT FISHING 90 DAVE RAE

COVER STORY

10 UNDER PRESSURE While Australia’s population continues to grow, our target species are under increased angling pressure. We show you how to fool even the fussiest sport fish.

OFFSHORE

26 DEEP WATER OBSESSION

BY JOSH CARPENTER

The search for big dogtooth and GTs under a picturesque back drop makes Vanuatu a must-visit fishing destination.

TECHNIQUES

34 A FIGHTING CHANCE

BY DAVID GREEN COVER: The tough fighting kingfish is an accessible fish to the majority of southern Australia.

Kingies, along with several other popular sportfish, can become educated and difficult to catch. Turn to page 10 for tips on tricking pressured sportfish.

40

BY SCOTT THOMAS

A boat is one of your best tools for effectively landing big fish.

Greeny runs through various scenarios and shows you how to maximise your chances through effective boat driving.

DESTINATIONS

56 THE CROSS-OVER COAST

BY DAVE RAE

Nambucca on the NSW North Coast has everything for the keen fisho with ample offshore, estuary and freshwater opportunities and a diverse range of southern and northern species.

68

ESTUARY

68 FLAT OUT IN TASSIE

BY NICK REYGAERT

A trip to Tasmania saw Nick experience some world-class flats fishing on the local bream using lure and fly.

FRESHWATER

76 MEETING MR BROWN

BY BEN CADDAYE

An awareness of conservation issues has led to a surge in the popularity of spawn run trout.

Ben explains how to catch trophy browns on spin gear.

IMAGE: NICK WOOD

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 5

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EDITORIAL

www.fishingworld.com.au Editor

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ISSN 1320-2839

Keep Sydney’s Fishery Open

BY SCOTT THOMAS

IN March the NSW Government released its long awaited discussion paper for the Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion Assessment. While the paper covers a broad range of topics, it's the proposed Sydney Marine Park and possible rec fishing lock outs which are most concerning to local anglers and charter operators.

The Hawkesbury Shelf Marine Bioregion covers an area from Newcastle to Wollongong and takes in a highly populated part of the NSW coastline. It’s a popular and important area for rec fishing and includes Sydney Harbour, Hawkesbury River, Botany Bay and several other well-known spots.

The discussion paper is broken down into eight parts or “management initiatives” which include improving water quality, marine research, and spatial management for biodiversity conservation and use sharing, amongst others.

At this stage we’re talking about a discussion paper and no final decisions have yet been made regarding lock-outs or further regularity measures.

That being said, it's hard not to get the feeling we’re already heading in that direction.

Between now and April 24 the NSW Government is accepting submissions from the public and I encourage anyone who fishes the area or cares about the future of recreational fishing to have a read and voice your opinion. The anti-fishing lobby is, of course, assuming fishos are generally apathetic and a push-over with a "won't happen to me attitude".

Let's prove them wrong and show both the government and anti-fishing lobby just how powerful and well informed we really are.

So do we need to worry? While the discussion paper covers 48 pages and is filled with various charts and pretty pictures, it doesn’t give a lot away.

Interestingly however, it does rate recreational fishing as a higher threat than commercial fishing.

The “threat” of recreational fishing is repeated throughout the document which suggests a need for greater “protection”. Some of the other threats 3/5/13 4:57 PM include pollution, litter, overfishing, etc.

Backing the discussion paper are several studies and results from public consultation. A closer look at the science and consultation shows a strong anti-fishing agenda at work. For several years now a handful of environmental and self interest groups, mostly divers, have made unsupported negative statements claiming areas of overfishing and lack of legal size fish around Sydney. These claims have been doing the rounds as the groups lobbied for a Sydney marine park. Their voices, unfortunately,

Sydney Harbour is a healthy fishery and a good example of sensible fisheries management.

have been heard and are echoed in the supporting documents attached to this discussion paper.

In a nutshell, the anti-fishing groups are calling for more no take sanctuary zones and other measures to regulate and restrict recreational fishing.

Don’t get me wrong, with its expanding population the Sydney region does indeed deserve proper protection to match this vulnerability.

While to the general public, the idea of much needed “protection” sounds like a necessity, as anglers we follow the same strict bag limits, size limits and seasonal closures as the rest of NSW. Furthermore, extensive parts of Sydney Harbour and Botany Bay are already restricted through existing marine reserves, naval zones, shipping lanes and other areas closed to boating and fishing.

Meanwhile, since the abolition of commercial fishing a decade ago, Sydney Harbour has become one of the state’s premier sport fishing locations with an abundance of fish.

If the Government and environmental groups were serious about protecting the region, they would implement more rec only areas in the bioregion while maintaining strict bag and size limits to match increasing pressure on the fishery. Is this an achievable goal as part of the Sydney Marine Park or 3/5/13 4:57 will lock-outs andPM heavily restricted sanctuary zones be the solution?

Let’s hope for the future of our sport and industry, that it’s the former.

Check out the news story on page 20 with links to the discussion paper. Don’t delay in having your say!

Scott Thomas Editor – Fishing World fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 9

Under

Pressure While Australia's population continues to grow, our target species are under increased angling pressure.

SCOTT THOMAS shows us how to fool even the fussiest fish.

T

HE carpark was full and the well-worn track was strewn with lure packets and fresh footprints. Ever get that feeling you're not alone?

We arrived at our spot and were greeted by three fishos flogging the same water we intended to fish.

It's a common scenario around big cities.

We turned around and went with plan B...

This experience got me thinking about ways you can avoid the crowds and still catch good fish in areas of high populations.

10 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

IMAGE: ANDREW MCKINSTRAY

Kingfish are a popular species, but can become fussy and shy with increasing fishing pressure. fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 11

T

he average fish was bigger and the ability to fish shore based was a viable option.�

12 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

TECHNICAL

Fishing is one of Australia’s most popular past times. And while that's great for the future of our sport and the tackle industry, it does mean fishing spots are becoming crowded and the fish are getting smarter. With a growing population and less accessible water, anglers also need to become smarter in order to catch more fish. So how do you stay on top of the game? Read on for a list of ways you can fool the educated fish.

Get out of town

Sick of the crowds and fussy fish? The first and easiest solution is pack the bags, hook up the boat and find a secluded location away from other people.

Research maps or Google Earth and find the rivers, estuaries and offshore spots away from major population centres and access points. It's hard work because invariably these places aren't easy to access and mean days away from home and long drives or boat rides. But it’s worth it! It’s amazing how fish react differently to your presentations in these areas. The fish are more abundant and the average size is bigger.

However, not everyone has the luxury of spending days away from home. If you’re a family man or have work commitments, this may not be an option. Even around major capital cities like Sydney, Brisbane or Melbourne, there are out-of-the-way places which don't receive too much pressure. Again, study those maps and find the difficult to reach places in your home town or city.

Most big cities are bordered by national park and have access to secluded spots. Another option is to find the small rivers and creeks or tributaries of the larger more heavily fished waters. In my home town of Sydney, there are plenty of these. You not only feel a million miles from anywhere, but the quality of the fishing improves and there are some great fish to be caught.

If you, like the rest of us, can’t get out of town and settle for fishing busy waters around cities or big towns, there are still a few techniques to fool hardened fish.

Go light

Downsizing line and tackle will usually result in more and bigger fish. Of course it’s a trade-off between fooling shy fish and landing them once hooked. Fish like jewies in Sydney Harbour seem more accepting of small plastics, light line and tackle. The subtle approach works, but can be tricky when you hook a big fish. Thin braid/fused lines like Gliss or ultralight fluorocarbon can be used to fool fussy clear water bream and whiting.

Whichever species you’re targeting, try to use light and long fluorocarbon leaders and rig them with a loop knot or snap for a more natural lure action.

ABOVE: Fussy urban fish like salmon respond well to naturally coloured lures.

LEFT: Stay on top of lure trends and experiment with fresh techniques.

OPPOSITE: Fishing busy waterways means sharing with other boats, or in this case, a ship!

Lighter action rods to match the light line will also work in your favour and allow you to cast smaller, more life-like lures and work them more naturally.

My advice is to go as light as possible while still keeping in mind your chances become more limited if you hook a decent fish. This is especially the case in areas of heavy cover and structure.

Change lures and techniques

I'm a firm believer that fish react differently to new lure designs. Are fish really that smart?

When lures like spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and

micro jigs became popular, there was little doubt they were successful. That could’ve been the lures themselves, or perhaps the fresh technique used to fool the otherwise educated fish.

Whether new lure style or techniques work or not, it's a great excuse to visit the tackle shop and stock up on the latest and greatest gear.

Lures such as spybaits were born out of overfished Japanese waters. Anglers in those parts were looking for a new approach to trick switched-off fish. It’s a technique that involves light line, subtle retrieves and shy fish. It’s worth researching techniques like this and adapting them for our own fish and conditions. fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 13

TECHNICAL

I’d imagine scenarios where overfished bass in crystal clear water would respond well to this approach. Who knows what the next technique or lure style will involve?

Match the hatch

Matching the hatch is an old fly fishing term for presenting realistic artificials to fish. It’s equally at home in the fresh or salt with any number of fish responding well to natural looking presentations.

The variety and choice these days in lures and flies for realistic baitfish initiations is mind blowing. I do a lot of saltwater fly fishing and find the size, profile and weight of a fly incredibly important for fussy fish. It’s not uncommon to outfish lure casters using similar size metals. The difference is only small, but often comes down to the subtleties and weightlessness in the water. The way they hit the water and slowly sink is hard to resist for fussy fish!

M

atching the hatch goes beyond ultralight gear. Fish of any size will be more likely to take a lure if it represents their food source in size, shape, colour and profile.”

14 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Lure throwers should look at using small plastics from Samaki, Zman and Jackall. All of these companies and more produce realistic baitfish imitations which can be fished on a lighweight jighead for a subtle approach. It’s amazing how big fish will still engulf small realistic plastics.

Matching the hatch goes beyond ultralight gear. Fish of any size will be more likely to take a lure if it represents their food source in size, shape, colour and profile.

If that's still not working try using scents like S Factor or scented plastics like Gulp. These are renown for turning even the fussiest urban fish onto the chew.

Fish at night

I grew up fishing the Nepean River west of Sydney. Night fishing for us was standard practice; it was almost unheard of to catch good

fish during daylight hours. If you did catch anything during the day, it was invariably small and usually in areas away from popular swimming spots and heavy fishing activity.

Shore based fishing during the day was a waste of time.

Night time, however, was entirely different.

The average fish was bigger and the ability to fish shore based in busy areas was a viable option.

Many freshwater fish in heavily fished rivers and lakes switch to night feeding because of fishing pressure. Even some saltwater locations fish better at night, depending on species and tidal influence.

In the fresh, I’ve experienced some fantastic bass and cod fishing during the night. Fish generally move away from heavy cover and cruise more open water in search of food. They do this because they feel more comfortable and less fearful of predators.

MAIN: With the right appraoch there are lots of fish to be caught in places like Sydney.

LEFT: Using ultralight tackle for fooling switched-on bream is a proven tactic.

BELOW: Notice a resemblance?

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 15

TECHNICAL

This bass was caught early in the morning while the rest of Sydney slept.

Buy a boat

Everything from freshwater fish, bream, flathead, kingfish and most offshore gamefish respond well to a livebait. My home waters of Sydney harbour become increasingly difficult to fish towards the end of kingfish season. Each day will see literally hundreds of boats fishing the same structure. This goes on day after day for months until the kingfish finally work it out.

During this time those who use fresh squid, cuttlefish or yakkas will get the bite and leave the lure and fly guys scratching the heads. It’s also a better method for catching the larger fish.

More often than not, I'll use a topwater lure for bass or cod and work the various spots from tight structure to mid water.

Live bait

Up until now we’ve talked mostly about artificial lures and fly. While using artificials is my favourite, there’s no denying a properly presented live bait will outfish almost anything. For that reason, and following the above principle of matching the hatch, if you’re looking to fool fussy fish you should be considering live baiting.

Easier said than done, right? If you can afford a boat you stand a better chance of hooking shy fish.

You can reach places in busy waterways that shore based anglers would only dream about. You can move about and cover more water, while the shore based fisho is restricted to a certain area.

Even better than a boat in many calm water scenarios is a kayak. What better way than sneaking up on wary fish than the subtle approach of a ‘yak? They’re quiet and they’re small. Most fish probably think it’s a floating log drifting past. A kayak will also allow access to more remote sections of urban areas. Places like creeks, dams, and even beaches where launching a boat is too dangerous.

As you can see, living in high population areas shouldn’t minimise your chances of tangling with quality fish. If the option of escaping the rat race isn't possible, there are still plenty of techniques and unique approaches to fishing big cities and tricking the fish to bite. Get out there and give it a go!

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FISHING NEWS

BEST OF THE

Discussion on Sydney marine park closing MINISTER for Primary Industries, Niall Blair, and Environment Minister, Mark Speakman, have announced eight initiatives to enhance marine biodiversity conservation along the coast and in estuaries between Newcastle and Wollongong.

Mr Blair has said threats to the environmental assets and the social and economic benefits of a bioregion have been identified for the first time and prioritised through community engagement and an evidence based threat and risk assessment.

“The initiatives aim to enhance marine biodiversity conservation while also achieving balanced outcomes for multiple uses of the bioregion such as boating, fishing, shipping, diving, swimming, education and research,” Mr Blair said.

Mr Speakman said the NSW Government was seeking the community’s feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the suggested initiatives.

“I encourage the community to continue this great work and provide feedback on the initiatives to help further evaluation of the management responses and final recommendations.”

Submissions close on 24 April 2016. For further info and to have your say visit the NSW Marine website at www.marine.nsw.gov.au and click on the links.

WEB fishingworld.com.au Here’s a rundown of the 10 most popular stories recently posted on the Fisho site:

➀ BAIT TIPS FOR BIG BREAM

➁ PRACTICAL CRABBING BASICS

➂ SHALLOW WATER LIZARDS

➃ SUCCESSFUL JEWIE FISHING

➄ OPINION: AUSTRALIA'S BEST EATING FISH

➅ WORLD RECORD TIGER SHARK SPARKS FIERCE DEBATE

➆ LIFEJACKET UPDATE: MINISTER RESPONDS TO ROCK FISHOS CONCERNS

➇ THE JACK GURU

➈ ABALONE RING LEADER JAILED FOR 2 YEARS

➉ COMPULSORY LIFEJACKETS FOR NSW ROCK FISHERS

20 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

NT’s Million Dollar Fish to get a second season TOURISTS and locals will have more chances to reel in a lucrative barramundi after the Northern Territory Government announced the Million Dollar Fish competition will be back for a second season.

The announcement comes after the official end of the inaugural season last night, which saw 10 prize tagged barramundi worth $10,000 caught across the Northern Territory over the last five months.

Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Adam Giles said the Million Dollar Fish competition had been a great success and delivered huge promotion for the Northern Territory around the world.

“We’ve had more than 43,000 people register for the competition from 62 different countries including 25,800 people from interstate and 14,600 Northern Territory locals,” Giles said.

“This was 33 per cent higher than our original target and a figure we hope to see grow further now we’ve announced a second season of the competition.”

“After our 10 $10,000 competition winners during season one, interstate anglers can travel up here with confidence that the tagged fish are real and can be caught.”

Mr Giles said the competition generated more than 200 media articles and the Million Dollar Fish website received over 26,000 visits a month.

“A Tourism NT registrant survey showed

an estimated quarter of the 25,800 interstate registrants – roughly 6000 people – came to the NT and went fishing with the visitors mainly coming from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria,” he said.

“It was also great to hear that while in the NT, these holiday makers said they undertook sightseeing tours, visited Litchfield and went camping, providing further flow on benefits for local businesses.

“While official visitor survey data conducted by Tourism Research Australia is not currently available for the period of our Million Dollar Fish season, all our anecdotal feedback has been very positive.

“We’ll be running tourism promotions over the next few months to capitalise on the huge interest in the Million Dollar Fish competition, encouraging people who registered to book a holiday and stay, play and fish the Top End.” Mr Giles said the competition generated spin-off benefits for local businesses with marine dealers reporting a boom in out-board motor servicing, servos selling more fuel and 4:57 tackle 3/5/13 PM shops reporting increases in business.

“Tourism NT research showed locals also loved Million Dollar Fish with 92 per cent of Territorians registered saying they would definitely register and fish in the competition again,” he said.

Registrations for season two of Million Dollar Fish will open soon, stay tuned to the website for more details.

As tough as they come…

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FISHING NEWS

ONLINE THIS MONTH FISHINGWORLD.COM.AU

➀ ENVIRONMENT: COMPLIANCE ISSUES

BY JOHN NEWBERY

THERE seem to be a couple of people wandering around Sydney’s northern beaches claiming to be “honorary fishing inspectors”. Presumably they are in reality Fishcare ...

➁ FISH FACTS:

BIGEYE TREVALLY

BY DR BEN DIGGLES

BIGEYE Trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus) are one of the more easily recognized species of the internationally renowned sportfish in the trevally family (Carangidae). This is partly due to them being one of the larger trevallies, but also because ...

Port Phillip Bay’s increased scallop quota angers rec fishos A FIGHT is underway in Port Phillip Bay concerning the bay’s annual scallop quota, which could be lifted from 12 tonnes to 750 tonnes per year according to a report in The Australian.

The commercial scallop quota was set at 12 tonnes in 2013 and defined as a “new fishery” with the need to explore commercial viability.

The quota was then increased to 147 tonnes for 2015 based on the discovery of further deposits in various locations within the bay, and has been set by Victorian Fisheries at 250 tonnes for 2016.

Port Phillip Bay Scallops, the company that holds the sole licence, and the company behind the push towards an increased quota, purchased the “boutique fishery” licence for $180,000. It is set however, to increase the scale of operations with the goal of eventually exporting to lucrative overseas markets with an estimated annual turnover of $13m, which will see a fleet of boats working the beds.

Recreational fishermen are unhappy about the scale of operations and say it is a return to the industrial scale scallop harvest seen in the past, that was eventually banned, and could damage

the bay’s recreational scallop fishery, and booming recreational snapper fishery.

David Kramer, chief executive of the Future Fish Foundation, believes that rec fishos have been conned.

“We didn’t know they had given them a licence with an ability to do their own assessment and adjust the cap. They have basically given them a licence to do what they want,” Kramer told The Australian.

Belinda Wilson, chief executive of Port Phillip Bay Scallops, defended the move to increase the quota and highlighted that her company had assumed all the risk in developing a new fishery.

“This is a new model fishery. Not only is this a wild catch, hand-dive fishery close to Melbourne, it has been modelled on best practices,’’ Wilson told The Australian.

Ms Wilson also producted a letter from celebrity chef Neil Perry, whose Rockpool group of restaurants serve the scallops.

“It’s quite simple — without a supply of fresh quality seafood, Melbourne’s reputation as a global gourmet institution will suffer,” Perry wrote in the letter.

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22 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Hooked on Adventure.

Having the right equipment for your 4WD is just as important as having the right fishing gear. So whether it’s a suspension upgrade to assist with heavy loads, an Air Locker to negotiate extreme off road trails and slippery boat ramps, or a fridge freezer to store your catch, look no further than ARB 4x4 Accessories.

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FISHING NEWS

NZ’s mixed marine park model THE Key government is proposing a quite different approach to the setting up of marine reserves to what we’ve become used to seeing in the past few years. If adopted, it would involve the creation of four different types of marine protected areas. Marine reserves, which are the same as currently exist.

Species-specific sanctuaries, which would be similar to marine mammal sanctuaries but extend protection to other species like albatross and great white sharks.

Seabed reserves, which would include prohibitions on seabed mining, bottom trawl fishing and dredging. And, recreational fishing parks, where certain key species would be off limits to commercial operators.

SNIPPETS

➀ FISH HARVEST RATES A report on a Canadian study published earlier this year in the journal Nature Communications claims that global fish catches have been underestimated by up to 50% in developed countries and up to 200% in the third world. It put the global catch in 2010 at 109 million tonnes, rather than the 77 million tonnes reported by the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

By John Newbery

By John Newbery STA15958 OR-FW_Layout 1 21/03/16 11:49 AM Page 1

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NSW hammerhead shark guide NSW DPI has issued a comprehensive five page guide to help fishers identify the three species of hammerhead found in NSW waters. While the most commonly encountered smooth hammerhead shark is not threatened or protected, the scalloped hammerhead is endangered and the great hammerhead is vulnerable. Catching and keeping, buying, selling, possessing or harming

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endangered or vulnerable species without a specific permit or other approval can lead to a fine of up to $220,000 and/or up to two years in prison and up to $55,000 and one year in prison respectively for recreational fishers.

The guide is informative and very well illustrated, and can be downloaded at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

By John Newbery

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FISHING NEWS

NT boat ramp upgrades RECREATIONAL anglers and boaters will soon enjoy greater accessibility and safety at two of the Northern Territory’s most popular fishing spots following the release of tenders to upgrade boat ramp facilities at both Dundee Beach and Shady Camp.

Minister for Infrastructure Peter Chandler said $4.5 million will be invested into the Dundee Beach upgrade and $2 million will be spent on boat ramp construction at Shady Camp.

Once completed it will eliminate the current need for the commercial tractor launch service to access the water.

Works at Shady Camp will involve a 50-metre non-slip extension to the ramp. The parking will be sealed and improved with 60 marked car and trailer bays.

SNIPPETS

➀ JAPANESE WHALING The ABC has reported that Japan has ignored the International Whaling Commission’s finding that there was insufficient justification for killing whales in the name of science.

Despite Australia’s win in International Court, and forced suspension of the 2014 hunt, the fleet is back out there again to catch 333 minke whales, which will all end up on tables somewhere in Japan.

By John Newbery

AFMA accused of whale shark cover up A REPORT by the ABC revealed The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) has been accused of covering up details surrounding the Geelong Star’s capture of a whale shark.

Allegations emerged in late February that the embattled super trawler, the Geelong Star, had captured a whale shark off Bermagui.

An AFMA spokeswoman responded by saying: “The whale shark ran into the outside of the net, and two fins had to be freed ... it wasn’t inside the net, but got snagged on the outside.”

According to the ABC news report, AFMA has now confirmed the whale shark was lifted from the water for three and a half minutes before being released.

Environment Tasmania spokeswoman Rebecca Hubbard told the ABC, AFMA had “specifically downplayed the level and

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intensity of the interaction with that protected species. We’re very concerned that they’re misleading the public and that we can’t trust the reports that are coming from the fisheries management authority.”

Rebecca Hubbard said Environment Tasmania wanted the Federal Government to step in. “I think the unravelling of this entire story... demonstrates that AFMA is actually putting the corporate interests of the fishing company ahead of the wellbeing of our protected species and certainly ahead of the concerns of the Australian public,” Hubbard told the ABC.

Hooked up on heavy gear to something unstoppable!

INSET: Experienced GT man, Simrad’s Nick Hamilton Smith with a good size fish.

26 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Deep Water

Obsession The search for big dogtooth and GTs under a picturesque backdrop makes Vanuatu a must-visit fishing destination.

JOSH CARPENTER reports.

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 27

DESTINATIONS: VANUATU

V

ANUATU is a mere three hours plane ride from Sydney. I was travelling with a bunch of anglers and the crew from Simrad to experience the awesome fishing on offer while checking out the latest and greatest in marine electronics.

On arrival the rest of our crew greeted us at Port Vila airport on the island of Efate.

Altogether there were nine of us booked for five days fishing from three separate boats.

Ocean Blue Fishing and Trees and Fishes resort work hand-in-hand and cater to a mix of Australian and Japanese anglers, with a few other nationalities thrown in. The resort was beautiful. While a major cyclone recently swept through the island and did its fair share of damage, the resort was largely unscathed.

The rooms are air-conditioned and the food is excellent. It’s the kind of place you could take your missus for a holiday or honeymoon and sneak in some fishing on the side.

Ocean Blue Fishing runs three Edgewater boats, two 32 footers and a 21 foot long, with a fourth on the way. The fishing options are endless with marlin, wahoo, yellowfin tuna and dolphin fish in the blue water, dogtooth tuna, countless species of reefies, and of course, GTs. Most of my fishing back home is in relatively shallow water, so the idea of idea of throwing lures over 1200 metres of water to raise yellowfin was an eye-opener. All of the boats are kitted out with the latest electronics. Twin 12-inch Simrads adorned the console, one for navigation and one for sonar. In addition, all

28 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

boats were fitted with an autopilot so the captains could drive the boat with the touchscreen display and a couple of buttons.

Day 1

Our first day was greeted with wind. Lots of wind! The plan was to split up the three boats and see what was working. First stop was Hat Island to catch some live bait.

Downrigging live baits is an excellent way to locate fish and it didn’t take long before a bull dolphin fish fell victim to a bait. A few of his mates followed and were caught on stickbaits.

Next off the mark was a small wahoo before we hit the FADs. Ocean Blue installs its own.

Trolling a spread of skirted lures it wasn’t long before a feisty blue marlin climbed on one.

Not bad, a few hours into the trip and we had already encountered three of the main blue water targets. The FAD was lit up with fish, and huge schools of yellowfin tuna could be seen on the sounder and the rest of the day was spent micro jigging tuna from “jelly bean” size up to about 15kg with cruising dolphin fish on the surface thrown in to occasionally spice things up. Upon returning to the resort the stories from the other boats consisted of a steady stream of small to medium GTs and some unstoppable dogtooth.

Day two and we decided to target GTs - and was I in for a lesson! GT popping is one of the most physical forms of fishing. Again there was a bit of wind and chop which made things tough. Throwing massive poppers on broomstick rods and using your entire body to

Landing big dogtooth isn’t easy, but catching one on topwater made the wait worthwhile.

OPPOSITE: A nice coral trout comes off the reef.

FOLLOWING SPREAD: Life is pretty good on the island!

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 29

DESTINATIONS: VANUATU

sweep the rod tip isn’t easy, but the GTs love it!

We got a few up around 20kg plus plenty of smaller models and with a few red bass and some big barracuda mixed in, it was an enjoyable morning’s fishing.

Next on the agenda was deep jigging dogtooth tuna on heavy tackle. Again, the Simrads came into their own showing fish in deep water. Just a day before I had a chuckle to myself thinking the boat that lost their “jignity” must have been a little on the soft side but karma has a way of slapping you in the face!

Even adrenalin has a tough time cutting through the pain when a dogtooth crushes your jig and runs at top speed towards the reef. Our captain’s advice was go “fast, dogtooth want it fast”. When you think you are going fast, go faster. I left with a new appreciation for dogtooth tuna and why they’re a target held in such high regard.

The following day we continued to hunt for big GTs and travelled towards Efate to a bommie just outside Port Vila. The reef rose from a few hundred metres into a coral crowned sea mount with four metres on top of it. The day got off to an unfortunate start with my angling partner’s bail arm closing mid cast and a couple of thousand dollars worth of rod and

30 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

reel ending up overboard! We worked this section of coast hard and my technique with the popping rod had improved.

Again, we tried for dogtooth, first with some downrigged live baits which attracted some of the biggest rainbow runners you’ll ever see, but no doggies. Then it was back to try the reef edge again, but to no avail. The dogtooth buried us again and left us scratching our heads…

Dogtooth redemption

Dogtooth redemption was the mission for day four and we had something special lined up. We had an early start and a two hour trip of 35 nautical miles through rough seas to an island renowned as the dogtooth mecca. The smaller Edgewater boat was left at the resort while each captain set the autopilot for the long ride.

The scenery was striking and so were the reels! The downrigged dead bait went off instantly, and as quick as it went off, it buried itself and was gone. The sounder showed a bunch of red streaks and what followed was pure mayhem. Jigs were dropped and hook ups were two and three at a time with most ending in pulled hooks, bust-offs or sharks. The good news is the dogtooth were finally making it onboard the boat.

F ACT BOX ACCOMMODATION Ocean Blue bases its fishing out of Trees and Fishes, a secluded private retreat with a high standard of personal service, fantastic gourmet meals, and a great location right on the water.

Having a background in hospitality, I always find the small details can make a great experience. Each day Trees and Fishes greets you after fishing with a cold wet face towel and icy glasses of lemonade. It’s the perfect way to wrap up a hard day on the water chasing big GTs and dogtooth.

Find out more about the fishing at Vanuatu at www.oceanbluefishing.com and the accommodation at www.treesandfishes.com.

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 31

DESTINATIONS: VANUATU

N

ot only do you have to battle a hard pulling fish but you have to race the sharks and I wasn’t prepared to lose this time.

My reward was 60 pounds plus of peg-toothed, chrome torpedo.

You couldn’t wipe the smile from my face!”

We continued trolling a dead bait as well as a big popper at a reasonable length behind the boat. I hadn’t boated a doggie but was on strike as we rounded the island onto the side copping the full brunt of the wind. The downrigger popped like clockwork, but again I was swindled with a shark. The next bait to go off was our real account opener with one over 50lb hitting the deck.

They say good things come to those who wait and and finally my chance came. What made it even more special was that it came on a popper.

Not only do you have to battle a hard pulling fish but you have to race the sharks and I wasn’t prepared to lose this time. My reward was 60 pounds plus of peg toothed, chrome torpedo!

You couldn’t wipe the smile from my face. We ended up with two around 50 and my 60 plus the various disembodied heads of good fish.

The locals living on the nearby islands were happy as well with big smiles on their faces as they paddled their dugout outrigger canoes to swap fresh dogtooth for packages of steamed corn, pumpkin and yams wrapped in banana

32 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

leaves which were welcomed by hungry, spent anglers who had finally regained their jignity.

Four days fishing had left us sore, so after a few more GTs on the morning of the fifth day we called it early and left the resort for a night in Port Villa. Those same sore bodies were soothed that night at one of the local back street kava bars.

The whole trip was one of my all-time fishing experiences and I would highly recommend giving it a go. Even for someone like me who has never done it before, it was hard, but ultimately rewarding and I think I may have caught the bug. Here comes a whole new fishing tackle addiction.

Josh Carpenter fished Vanuatu courtesy of Simrad Marine Electronics.

RIGHT: A blue comes to the boat. Vanuatu has a great variety of target species.

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BOAT DRIVING

Catching big fish from small boats is possible with the correct technique and boat driving skills..

OPPOSITE: A nice jewie fought quickly with the boat over the fish.

34 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

A Fighting Chance A boat is one of your best tools for effectively landing big fish. DAVID GREEN runs through various scenarios and shows you how to maximise your chances through proper boat driving.

IMAGE: SHANE CHALKER

L

EARNING the correct boat driving techniques is very important if you want to maximise your chances of landing big fish. From flathead fishing, to barra and to billfish out on the blue water, it’s crucial to get your boat into the right spot at the right time to maximise your chances of landing good fish. The ability to place your angler in the most advantageous position does a lot to minimise breakages, pulled hooks and lost fish.

This applies when both trolling and casting.

A good skipper can greatly reduce the fight time and minimise the chances of the angler getting “stitched up” in rocks and timber if he can quickly get the boat into the right position to put the fish in clear water. Knowing when to turn, at what angle and how fast can be very important.

In crowded spots the aim may be to minimise the amount of line that the fish takes to avoid anchor

ropes and getting run over by other boats. The boat is one of the best fish fighting weapons you have. The following are typical scenarios where good boat driving helps get the fish. They are all adapted from experiences I have had over the last few years. If you develop a good game plan before you hook up, you can react quickly.

Scenario 1.

I am fishing by myself near the Jumpinpin Bar at the southern end of North Stradbroke Island.

I’m holding station in a big back eddy on my I-Pilot and I hook up a big mulloway on a deep jigged jerk shad. Initially the fish stays in the back eddy, then runs hard towards the ocean. I know there are a lot of bull sharks around and have just lost a fish to one earlier.

The fish rips off about 50-100 metres of 10 kilo braid in heavy current. fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 35

BOAT DRIVING

ABOVE: Rocky Edwards’ 107 cm barra hooked right on the edge before being driven mid-river and clear of snags.

BELOW: Leadering time!

OPPOSITE: Fighting a big jew on light tackle; keep the boat above the fish.

36 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Game Plan: As I’m fishing on my own a lot of the movements are single handed. The aim is to get on top of the fish without having slack line at any stage, and avoid any sharp angle changes in the line that risk pulling the hook. The following actions are required.

Start main motor and get out of the back eddy into the main current body so the boat drifts in the direction of the fish, holding the rod high and watching the spool capacity. Take I-Pilot off spot lock. Only turn off electric once main motor is started, never be without a power source.

Move to the front of the boat, make sure line is tight, lift up the electric and prepare the net.

Slowly motor towards the fish while retrieving line. The aim is to get above the fish quickly. When position ok, put main engine into neutral planning to net the fish mid ships. In this case it all goes to plan and I net a nice 114cm mulloway, but when they get into heavy current on small threadlines you have to follow them. The key is to not panic and maintain a tight line and put your “pre plan” into action.

Scenario 2.

We are trolling a set of snags in the famous Barra Classic fishing tournament on the Daly River. It’s the last hour of the run out tide, and on side

imaging there is a large clump of logs next to a pile of rock. The fish are holding tight in one cover and we are slowly trolling three Halco Poltergeists into the direction of current flow at a speed of 1.8km/hr when the angler on the inside line hooks a nice barra.

Game Plan: The main risk here is getting stitched up in the timber in the first few seconds of the fight, and the task of the skipper is to help get the fish away from the snags and into the middle of the river as quickly as possible.

Actions: The angler must immediately call the hook-up so the skipper can react. It’s much easier for the skipper to do this with a tiller controlled motor.

The skipper turns the boat into the middle of the river and accelerates slowly. It’s important that this is steady and smooth. The angle of turn is vital. Too sharp a turn can lead to loose line and lost fish. In general a steady 45 degree turn pulls the fish away from structure and gets it out into clean water. Getting this right is a bit of an art form, and none do it better than my mate, Peter Washington. By this stage the other lures are generally retrieved.

The angler maintains a constant rod angle throughout to avoid pulled hooks and the skipper settles the boat into good position to stay close to,

or over the fish. We net a lot of our barra in the air. If you hold the boat over the fish and lead it up it will generally jump and most are pretty easy to catch with a good net.

Scenario 3.

We are trolling a spread of five lures on 10kg tackle in summer on the inshore grounds targeting black marlin and dolphin fish. There’s a wild strike on the lure on the “short corner” just behind the teaser and a nice black marlin about 40 kilos takes to the air and is solidly hooked.

There are three people on board and the fish pulls off about 100 metres of line.

Game Plan: Catching marlin from trailer boats has become increasingly popular in recent years and there are lots of keen skippers with little experience on the water. The following actions need to occur to catch the fish.

Action: 1. Never stop the boat. When the fish hits maintain speed and watch the fish while the deckie starts to retrieve the lines and teaser.

If the fish is heading away, maintain troll speed until the lines are cleared. If the fish turns and heads towards you, speed up and turn away from the fish so the line stays tight. When retrieving the other lines always start with the shortest lines first and the “shot gun” last. The skipper should not leave the wheel at any time in the initial take off of the marlin. They are commonly lost when they come jumping back towards the boat.

2. When the lines are cleared and the fish has settled work out the angle to drive so you keep the fish either to the side or rear of the boat.

I never like fish to get ahead of the boat. In general a black marlin of this size on light tackle takes around 20 to 30 minutes to land but it does vary a lot. Once things have settled down the aim is to drive slowly to the fish and put the line back on the reel. If the fish goes deep and you are unable to lift it, drive off it and change the line angle, preferably driving the boat into the current. In general the fish will lift in the water column with the change in angle. If you are reversing down on a fish with an outboard motor trim the motor up to keep the stern high in the water.

3. When the fish is starting to tire and you are getting close to leadering it, it’s important to not let the fish get ahead of the boat when the deckie grabs the leader. Keep the boat speed the same or just faster than the fish, as if the fish gets ahead, it will jump and may end up in the boat with you. I’ve had this happen and it’s not fun in any way!

T

he main risk is getting stitched up in the timber in the first few seconds of the fight, and the task of the skipper is to get the fish away from the snags and into the middle of the river as quickly as possible.”

Scenario 4.

We are trolling for flathead on a large shallow flat.

It’s close to high tide and the depth is about a metre. There’s a spread of four lures, the two short lines are in the rod holders and the longer lines, about 50 metres back, are held by the anglers. fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 37

BOAT DRIVING

There are two on board. I know this flat very well and have a well-marked troll line that has been worked out carefully by using the side imaging mode on the sounder. Half way into the run we have a double hook-up on reasonable 50 to 60cm fish. One is on the short line, the other is on the longest line.

Game Plan: The main problem here is avoiding tangles. The principle is to keep all the lines tight. I keep the boat idling forwards. The fish on the short line in the rod holder runs across the back of the stern across the other short line.

The fish on the longer line is a good one and pulls about 10 metres of line off the reel on a light drag.

The first thing to do is to let the fish move off a bit while retrieving the other short line, working out if the cross over is “over or under” and then quickly winding it in while holding my line with the other hooked fish high in the air while still motoring slowly forwards. The cleared rod is then placed on the casting platform out of the way.

We leave the other long line alone and put it in the rod holder. The angler nets the first fish and then retrieves it. By this stage, the second fish is under control and we net a bigger second fish shortly after as the net has quickly been cleared of fish number 1. The end result is no tangles and two nice flatties.

Trolling multiple lines is easy with a bit of practice. The key is to keep going forwards, work out the risks before they happen and keep the boat straight. It takes a bit of practice but after a while is easy to do and will catch you more fish.

Scenario 5 Heavy tackle/small boat.

I spend a lot of time chasing blue marlin wide of the continental shelf in my 6-metre centre cabin with only two people on board. This is extremely

challenging and no fish will find a weakness in your tackle like a blue marlin. These fish take a lot of line and are crazy in the initial stages of the fight. On this particular day we are having a quiet bite free day until there is an explosion like a depth charge on the short lure just off the stern followed by an absolute screaming run. Way out the back a solid blue marlin is carving the water to foam. There are four other lines and a teaser out the back and two on board.

Game Plan: Don’t leave the wheel! Work out the line the fish is taking and chase it. Try to work out the angle where you can separate the fish from the other lines and get after it. The risk is getting spooled, and it can happen very quickly if you are on the deck clearing gear. A blue in full flight can empty a 50w size reel in less than a minute, so you have to be quick.

Once the fish has settled it will generally go deep. If you’ve got a reasonable amount of line on the reel, and are happy with the direction, keep the motor in gear and start clearing the other lines, starting with the short lines first and the longest lure or “shotgun” last. Keep an eye on

your angler and the direction of the fish.

Sometimes you will have a cross over with the hooked fish but this is usually pretty easy to work out, and if you survive the first 3 to 5 minutes you are in with a good chance.

With the gear cleared steadily chase the fish down. It will usually go deep. With the reel in low gear you will steadily gain line. If you reach a stale mate, drive off the fish and head into the current.

You can use the current to drag them up. This part of the fight is quite dour and tough and can go for hours. You will reach a point where the fish ‘breaks’, and you gain line more easily. Get your gloves, cutters and pliers ready. Once you get close the fish will usually be quite tired and most blues are pretty easy to handle at the boat. Keep the boat in gear, draw the fish alongside, remove the hooks and set him free. In general, blue marlin at the boat are much easier than black or striped marlin.

Learning to drive the boat effectively is very important in so many styles of fishing. The boat need to be in the right spot at the right time and is the second best fish fighting weapon you have after rod and reel!

ABOVE: A nice black marlin staying behind the boat.

Netting a big flathead midship.

38 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

BRPSTFW001

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It’s nice to have friends out on the water.

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When you’re out on the water, it’s nice to know you have the know-how of great brands 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.

stacer.com.au

NEW PRODUCTS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

COLEMAN INSTANT UP

New What’s

Fisho highlights the latest tackle, gear and accessories.

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OLEMAN has released the 10 year anniversary Gold Series of its Instant Up tent.

This limited edition tent uses the Instant Up integrated pre-attached frame, that allows for a very quick, two minute setup. The large six person design will fit two queen airbeds and has a centre standing height of 1.9m.

The front door can be pitched out as a front awning with two poles, and a detachable oversized three pole awning which can be attached to both left and right sides so you can follow the shade (poles included). The Instant Up also features Coleman Circle Ventilation for added air flow, rear door integrated internal storage hammock and organisers, plus a power cord management system. A convenient welcome mat will help keep the tent clean and dry inside and it comes with a heavy duty carry bag.

Weight: 14.2kg Size: 3.3 x 2.7m RRP: $599.99 More info: www.colemanaustralia.com.au

MIX 2016 WITH TONIC

T

ONIC Polarised Eyewear is setting bold new trends for 2016 with its latest frame styles and a super-cool new Photochromic Grey glass lens. Tonic’s new Trakker and Rise frames combine Tonic’s signature VistaView de-centred lenses and adjustable IntegraBridge for maximum viewing comfort all day long. IntegraBridge features soft-feel pads which follow the contours of the frame when retracted and can adapt to a wide range of facial contours.

Trakker and Rise join Tonic’s ever-growing selection of styles that are just as much a fashion item as a high-performance fishing accessory.

Photochromic Grey glass is the perfect complement to stylish new frames, and to other Tonic unisex styles such as the smart Torquay and elegant Cove.

More info: www.toniceyewear.com.au

RHINO-RACK LOCKABLE TIE DOWNS

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HE Locking Tie Down Strap (LTDS) from Rhino-Rack features a security stop which snaps into place when the cap is tampered with. This makes it extremely difficult for thieves to utilise anything to “jimmy” it open, like a screwdriver. The LTDS locking cap can also be completely removed. This is uniquely beneficial when compared to other cap locks, which only slide out partially, restricting access to the cam buckle.

The steel wire begins 250mm from the end; this ensures for easy installation of the webbing via the cam lock, a stronger grip, and the ease to pull it through the housing. The LTDS can handle loads up to 225kg and is corrosion and cut resistant. Rhino Rack have also made sure that the tongue and housing won’t make contact with the car.

RRP from $89 More info: www.rhinorack.com.au.

40 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

NEW MODEL, OLD FAVOURITE

S

IENNA spin reels have been part and parcel of the Shimano lineup for well over a decade now, and the latest model certainly raises the standard when it comes to entry-level performance. The compact XGT-7 body has a changed centre of gravity, which makes them comfortable for newcomers to fishing to use, while one ball bearing and one roller bearing combine with Dyna-Balance to makes winding delightfully smooth.

There are three general purpose sizes: 1000, 2500 and 4000, which cover all manner of light line situations, from bait fishing to soft plastic and hardbody lure fishing. Gear ratios in the 1000 FE and the 2500 FE are 5:1, while the 4000 FE is slightly faster at 5.2:1. They punch out 4kg drag and the AR-C die-cast aluminium spools hold a generous amount of monofilament and a lot more braid. So if you’re just starting out in fishing or the kids are showing some interest that requires something more sophisticated than just a basic handline, check out the new Sienna FE range.

More info: www.shimanofish.com.au

SLIM SWIMMER!

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ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ is a deadly little paddle tail, with its bite-sized baitfish profile and under hooked tail produces loads of action even at slow speeds. Angler requests have led to the addition of favourite colours Pumpkin, Baby Bass, Electric Chicken, Bad Shad, Mood Ring and newly released Calico Candy, which has proven deadly on a wide range of species.

As well as producing results in both the bream and bass tournament scene, anglers chasing everything from trout, redfin and grunter to flathead, yellowbelly and estuary pelagics will find a favourite amongst these new colours. The 10X Tough ElaZtech construction means this little plastic will stand up to toothy critters and aggressive strikes, while the buoyant material also creates a natural ‘tail up’ feeding pose when paused on the bottom, attracting fish and triggering strikes.

There are now 20 colours in the ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ range and they come in a pack of eight.

RRP $9 More info: www.z-man.com.au

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 41

NEW PRODUCTS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

USE YOUR ILLUSION

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH PENN PROTECTS

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NGLERS looking for graphite performance, value for money and cutting edge cosmetics will appreciate the new Illusion rod series from Pflueger. High Modulus blanks combine with Fuji “O” guides for performance and reliability on the water. Urban Camo EVA grip with practical full rear grip design and cool carbon fiber inlay make the Illusion series a real head turner, and it all comes in at under 100 bucks! The Illusion series is suitable for both lure and bait fishing and come in one and two piece configurations.

Models include, lightweight spin (6’6’’, 6’10’’ 1-3kg and 7’, 2-4kg), medium spin (7’, 3-6kg and 5’6’’ 4-7kg), heavy spin (7’, 6-10kg) and a lightweight baitcast (2-4kg 6’4’’).

RRP $99.95 More info: www.pflueger.com.au

WHETHER you’re casting metal slugs from the stones or working offshore for pelagics, stay cool and protected from the sun’s harmful rays with Penn’s new line of moisture wicking shirts.

Constructed of 100 per cent polyester, these shirts are very light and comfortable, and are treated with moisture wicking properties, UPF protection, and scent control treatments. The range consists of two types; Performance Shirts, which are like a traditional long sleeve t-shirt, and Vented Shirts, which are a button down shirt with a vented back and chest design.

RRP $59.95 More info www.pennfishing.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 E xceed line • Value over $300!

Get your entries in now!

THIS MONTH’S GULP WINNER TYLER Hogg, from Albion Park, NSW caught this fantastic 25cm bream on his “special secret bait” down at Lake Conjola on the NSW South Coast. Well done, Tyler, a Berkley prize pack is on it’s way out to you. We hope it helps you catch more fish!

42 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

SPY HARD

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PY has introduced the Angler, its answer to the ultimate outdoor sunglasses featuring the Happy Lens, Trident polarisation, Hytrel nose pads and temple tips, and small temple openings for leash attachment. The Angler is an oversize, masculine square shape and is new to SPY’s outdoor offering this season. Built from virtually indestructible Grilamid and polycarbonate lenses the Angler utilises the Happy Lens, a mood and color contrast enhancing lens technology. They’re also available with Spy’s Trident polarised technology, which blocks 99 per cent of the sun’s glare and features Hytrel nose pads and temple tips that become tackier when wet to ensure a comfortable fit in all conditions. Also includes a small opening at the end of each temple for easy leash attachment.

SPY’s colour and contrast enhancing Happy Lens is the first and only sunglass lens technology designed to allow in the sun’s “good” rays (long-wave blue light) that studies suggest create an uplift in mood and alertness, while still blocking the sun’s “bad” rays (short-wave blue light and UV rays). Research indicates that exposure through the eyes to these “good rays” brings about a number of positive physiological changes, including elevated mood and increased alertness. Similar technology is used by lighting manufacturers in products designed to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder. SPY has a patent pending on this “therapeutic eyewear” and claims its the only eyewear company with this advanced technology.

More info: www.spyoptic.com

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NEW PRODUCTS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

EIGHT STRAND PERFECTION REVIEWED TEVA FISHING SHOES

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SPENT a great deal of my early years barefoot, and fishing was no exception. The threat of sharp rocks, oysters, stingrays and stonefish were very easily dealt with by telling myself, “it won’t happen to me”. I do the majority of my fishing from the shore so this meant that my footwear options were usually very limited. If there was a chance my feet would get wet then it usually meant that I was going barefoot.

However, this all changed recently after I sliced my foot open on a rock while fishing. Not only was my fishing trip cut short by the accident, but being unable to walk and having stitches in the arch of my foot meant no fishing for 10 days.

That gave me plenty of time with my feet up to work out a smarter way to keep my feet safe while fishing.

Fisho colleague and LBG nut, Pat Linehan put me on to Teva’s range of fishing shoes. Pat owns two pairs. I eventually chose the Kimtah which I thought would be a good compromise between a sandal and a completely closed shoe Keep scrolling to and would best suit my needs.

I firstiPad pulled them out seeWhen exclusive of the box I was instantly worried only extra pics because of how stiff they were. They are very hard and I

immediately thought they would be uncomfortable to wear for long periods. I also thought they would give me blisters because of their stiffness. However, I can honestly say they extremely comfortable!

They have a thick sole that offers padding and support on any surface and I didn’t get any blisters at all, which is surprising for me because new shoes always give me grief. I will often drive with my Tevas on, and not only is this a testament to their comfort, but it also highlights the fact that the Tevas drain exceptionally well through the vents and I don’t need to worry about dumping a load of sand or water inside the car when I’m done fishing.

They also have an easy “toggle closure” which tightens the entire shoe by pulling a cord, which I’ve found to be very useful. You can pull them really tight when you’re fishing and then at the push of the release button give your feet some extra breathing room when you want a break or you’re done fishing.

I can’t recommend the Tevas highly enough.

Not only have they achieved everything asked of them, they’ve actually exceeded my expectations. I’ve even found them to be a handy pair of boat shoes and they work well on a slippery boat ramp or when pushing the boat out from the bank. Teva’s range covers everything from thongs right through to fully enclosed boots so there’s something to suit your needs. Pat even wears his Teva open sandals on his North Coast rock platforms when chasing tuna and Spanish macs. Essentially, my pair achieved what I thought nothing could, which was to have all the benefits of being barefoot with the added protection of a pair of shoes.

RRP: $169.95 More info: www.tevaaustralia.com.au

By Jereme Lane

E

XTRA thin and round, P8 is Platypus' premium quality braid. Utilising eight strand construction ensures P8 is one of the thinnest braids on the market. Round, smooth and supple, P8 will pack more evenly onto your reel for longer and more accurate casts time after time. Ideal for all lure casting applications from light tackle soft plastics through to rock fishing and deep sea jigging.

Eight carrier construction is the best braid structure for any fishing situation or species using either overhead or spin gear. Eight carrier braids are rounder and thinner than regular three or four carrier braids and do not flatten and take on water as 12 or 16 carriers do. With the actual un-knotted breaking strain on the label, anglers are able to make a more informed choice about arguably the most important component of their setup.

Available in 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50lb in 150yd and 300yd lengths in Hi-Vis Orange.

More info: www.fishplatypus.com.au

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44 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 C14024 Spanyid.indd 1

11/06/15 9:15 AM

E CHOMA P ™ CHIRP

Available in 4”, 5”, 7” and 9” models garmin.com.au

NOW, OVER TO YOU… Look at those arches! They actually look like the backs of fish. You can even separate big ones from little ones. Look at them hanging off the structure.

The new echoMAP CHIRP combo reveals all – and then some. Even in murky water, everything is crisp and clear. We’ve helped you find the fish.

Now, over to you to catch them!

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IT’S YOUR TIME.

NEW PRODUCTS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

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ACK in the day, the original Kokoda Flash Shads were the world’s first foil integrated swimbait, which spawned the popularity of swimbait’s worldwide. The internal weight coupled with a heavily tapered hydrodynamic body provides the Flash Shad XTM series with an action that fish simply can’t resist. Throw in Big John’s real fish infusion, oversized eyes, rear body ribbing, holographic insert tape, heavy duty hardware and gills that actually move in the water.

Huge performances in recent barra classics, and again in 2015, has cemented this series as arguably the best barra swimbait in the world. It’s not just barra that respond strongly to the Flash Shads either. From flathead to jewfish, just about any fish that responds to lures will love Flash Shads.

More info: www.kokodafishing.com.au

ENSURE YOUR CATCH WITH SURECATCH!

A BLUE LABEL FLUORO

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EAGUAR claim its Blue Label fluorocarbon has incredible impact and abrasion resistance, is fast sinking and has superior tensile and knot strength. Seaguar Blue label 100 per cent fluorocarbon leader material allows you to use a smaller test leader than comparable nylons or fluorocarbon for unmatched bait presentations.

Available in 25yd spools from 4lb to 80lb.

RRP from $7 More info: www.seaguar.com

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Fishing

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Kayaking

N entirely new range of SureCatch rigs has been released to make the complicated task of rigging up for different situations a breeze. Within the range there are rigs for all the popular species including bream, whiting, snapper and flathead as well as rigs to help you fish the deep reefs, surf, rivers, lakes and estuaries. All rigs in the range –there are 41 different rigs –are hand tied to give the best result time after time, and the range of hook sizes means that you can tailor your rig to the fish you are chasing.

Chemically sharpened, circle, stainless Keep hooks scrolling and bronze areto used to create the see exclusive iPad perfect rig for each situation and best of onlyrigs extra all, these willpics not break the bank, giving you a cost effective way to make the mostKeep of your timetoon the water. scrolling seewww.wilsonfishing.com.au exclusive iPad More info: only extra pics

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46 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

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info@tevaaustralia.com

NEW PRODUCTS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

INSPIRA-TIONAL

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KUMA said its new Inspira spinning reel delivers lightweight performance well above its price range. Featuring Okuma’s Torsion Control Armor Design and made with Okuma’s C-40X long-strand carbon fiber technology, this design not only significantly reduces the weight of the reel but it is also extremely rigid, which reduces torque and keeps all internal parts in perfect alignment. It also comes equipped with Okuma’s advanced Cyclonic Flow Rotor design, which creates a “cyclonic” airflow that significantly increases airflow through the ported rotor. This thoroughly-tested technology allows for a much faster drying time if the reel becomes wet, minimizing corrosion possibilities throughout the reel.

The Centrifugal Disc Bail is another unique design that Okuma said separates the Inspira from the competition. It incorporates a heavier brass disc, which is perfectly weighted and balanced to create a smoother and easier bail operation, while also increasing the strength and stability of the overall bail functioning. Lightweight, smooth and powerful, the Okuma Inspira Spinning Reel delivers serious performance at a more affordable price and is backed

by Okuma’s 10 year limited warranty.

RRP $189 More info www.okuma.com.au

MEDIUM ZINGER TO GO PLEASE!

Z

INGERS are a great way to keep tools handy, and sometimes the small zingers just aren’t large enough. This is where the mid-size Zinger with carabiner from Boomerang Tool comes in. It is ideal for keeping fishing tools handy, securing keys and other important items, attaching gear to your boat or kayak and the light weight zinc carabiner means it can quickly, easily and securely be attached to almost anything.

This zinger is built to survive the elements, featuring a polycarbonate case, 24in heavy duty Kevlar cord, USA made quality and it has been proven to last over 1-million pulls! If you are looking to secure items to yourself, your vessel or your vehicle, check out the range of Boomerang Tool and T-Reign products.

RRP: $24.95 More info www.tackletactics.com.au

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Your Knife Sharpening Solution!

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WITH THE CP470 AND CP570’S TOURNAMENTWINNING WIDE-SPECTRUM CHIRP SONAR AND eS S SERIES MFD, YOU CAN SPEND MORE TIME CATCHING FISH AND LESS TIME LOOKING FOR THEM.

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CAPTAIN TIM DEAN & CALYPSO CHARTERS TOP NOTCH PERFORMANCE FROM ELECTRONICS IS PARAMOUNT TO ACHIEVING SUCCESS ON THE WATER FOR ME. RAYMARINE CHIRP SONAR IS A GAME CHANGER – THE CLARITY AND DEFINITION IS UNBELIEVABLE” CAPTAIN TIM DEAN CALYPSO FISHING ADVENTURES WWW.MARLINFISHINGAUSTRALIA.COM

RAYMARINE FISHING PACKAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR TRAILER BOATS AND GAME BOATS, CONTACT YOUR RAYMARINE DEALER FOR DETAILS WWW.RAYMARINE.COM.AU

DAVID GREEN

Windy Weather Options A windy forecast is a great opportunity to refine your estuary tactics, as Greeny found out during a recent run of bad weather on the Gold Coast.

A LONG-TIME FISHO CORRESPONDENT, DAVID GREEN ENJOYS CATCHING EVERYTHING FROM FLATHEAD TO MARLIN.

wind and rain stopped the bite slowed down.

With a lot of fish on the chew it let me experiment a bit as to the most effective way to get a hook up. Whiting are not the sort of fish you would expect to chase a surface lure and their mouth is very ineffective at grabbing a lure on the top as it’s small and on the underside of the head. But what they lack in a mouth they make up for in ferocity! After a bit of mucking around with tiny stinger hooks on braid loops and small fine trebles I found the most effective way to get a reliable hook-up was to down size the trebles and use the finest sharpest models I could find. The key seemed to be to get the treble back a bit behind the lure by using three tiny split rings instead of the single ring that comes with the lure. In my experience this worked a lot better than single hooks on small braid loops. Most whiting are caught on the rear treble. On my favourite whiting lure, the Bassday Sugar Pen, I use three small split rings off the back and a number 12 very fine Owner treble. You can dispense with the front hook if you like if you are just targeting whiting.

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TOP TO BOTTOM: The otherwise “timid” whiting is a switched on topwater feeder and responds well to a number of carefully-rigged surface lures; Bream are another popular topwater target and require different tactics and lures than used for whiting.

50 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

OVER the past month the weather in my part of the world has been a constant series of howling winds and rough seas. Even the estuaries have been full of foamy waves, and with the offshore options all cancelled out, fishing options have been looking quite bleak. I spent a bit of time catching mud crabs and while I wait for the tasty muddies to enter the pots I usually throw a lure around. In summer the flathead in my part of the world are few and far between, and most of our effort has been more of a “muck around” fish while we wait between checking the pots.

What really surprised me this summer was that fishing surface lures in 20 to 30 knot south easterlies or howling northerlies was quite effective. We had a lot better results than I had experienced in more reasonable conditions.

Casting poppers and small stick baits downwind over shallow weed beds produced a lot of fish. Whiting and bream were extremely keen to chase down our offerings in the windy wavy conditions. While I’ve never been a fan of bream, I must admit they do go well on surface lures on two pound braid, and I love catching whiting. Our best session produced 19 fish and some of the whiting were very solid. When the

hat really surprised me this summer was that fishing surface lures in 20 to 30 knot south easterlies or howling northerlies was quite effective.”

I also found I had a better success rate when I used an absolute minimum drag. Just enough so the line stays tight during the retrieve seemed to be the key to more solid hook-ups on whiting. In rough conditions the whiting definitely seem to bite more aggressively but it can be hard to spot the following fish and a lot are just blind strikes. When you do see the characteristic follow of a whiting, which can be quite subtle as they don’t break the surface, never stop winding as the fish will veer off.

The retrieve I use is generally a fast series of little lifts so the lure is spitting and popping, but when a whiting shows itself a longer draw on the rod seems to get a better hook-up as they can more accurately hit a lure moving in a straight line.

Bream have a characteristic sucking sound and are more likely to strike hard when you slow down the retrieve and give the lure a lot more small fine movements. My best bream surface lure to date is the Luckycraft Sammy.

If you identify the type of follow you’re getting

you can adjust your retrieve accordingly, but in truth I much prefer whiting. They are one of the tastiest fish you can put on a plate. We also use small poppers and I much prefer clear bodied lures in natural patterns that look very similar to prawns.

Why do these small estuary fish bite better on surface lures when it is windy? There are probably a number of factors involved, but the key seems to be that when the water edges and flats are a bit rough it disrupts the normal behaviour of the bait, especially small prawns and shrimp. The constant turbulence means they are more likely to be out in the open as the weed cover is often disturbed, and the fish have much greater opportunity to hunt them out in the open. The rough surface also means the feeding fish have a degree of protection and it’s difficult to spot them from above. The shadows they cast as they move over the flats are also hard for bigger predators to see. The wind means it’s possible to cast small lures a long way when you work down wind, and this gets your

LEFT: A whiting caught on a Sugar Pen with conventional trebles.

lure well away from the disturbance of the boat.

We’ve had good success when the edges and flats are quite discoloured and there are mud lines and wind lanes in the small channels we fish. In windy conditions the best tide seems to be the first two hours of the run in and the last of the run out, although in calmer conditions we have done well on the top of the tide working mangrove fringes.

We don’t seem to get the numbers of whiting on surface lures on the Gold Coast as happens

in some NSW estuaries like Yamba and the south coast, but like all types of fishing, the more you do the better the results you get.

We also quite commonly encounter other species such as GTs, giant herrings and big tailor that can make life interesting on two pound braid, especially when some of the whiting poppers are around thirty dollars! Despite this, when the wind blows hard, the surface lure fishing for bream and whiting is a fun way to spend a few hours in even the most horrible conditions.

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fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 51 21/10/2015 11:19 am

ROD BUILDER WITH MARK SAXON

Tip: FUJI BFAT 7-5.0

100 mm

Kayak Rod

7

125 mm

7

140 mm

MARK SAXON builds this two-piece spin rod, a handy kayaking set-up for natives.

8 170 mm 10

PROUDLY SPONSORED BY 210 mm

R

ecently, while using vibes for some brackish water bass, I had the good fortune of landing a 96cm jewfish and the Matrix handled the situation perfectly.”

The blank I've chosen is from Matrix Blanks and it can be sourced through one of our Aussie rod building suppliers. The blank is a 7ft 2in piece of high modulus spin stick rated at 2-5kg.

It uses twilled carbon fibre in the blank so there's no need for fancy marbling or decoration on the grips. The blank's look is quite appealing straight out of the box.

A couple of simple bands on the Fuji split and fore grip will suffice. I've used Fuji K guides along the entire blank and for the bind it will be simple A-thread in black with a green trim to match in with the grips.

As a major portion of my personal kayaking is for Australian bass, which we find in some tight structure, I've opted for a fast taper and plenty of fish turning power in the rod blank.

I don't want to compromise the strength, because I want a rod blank that's not too parabolic, and can stop a rampaging bass from getting back into the structure, which this rod is more than capable of doing.

I'll mainly be looking to cast vibes and spinnerbaits with this rod as the other rod I normally take in the kayak I use for my surface work. I want it to be able to handle 52 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

slightly heavier vibes and the like with ease and the Matrix blank has no trouble delivering larger hard or soft vibes as well as spinnerbaits up to 3/8oz.

Although this build was mainly for my kayaking expeditions, it’s turned out to be quite a versatile rod. I've found both my wife, Mandy, and myself using them on the boat when chasing mulloway on vibes in the river. Light rods really do make fishing much more enjoyable as they're not heavy to hold for long periods while making a lot of casts, especially with lures like vibes where your arms are moving up and down regularly. A heavy rod in this scenario will result in tired arms!

Another important part of this style of fishing is sensitivity in the blank and knowing that subtle rod movements from the angler will produce the correct action from the lure.

Recently, while using vibes for some brackish water bass I had the good fortune of landing a 96cm jewfish and the Matrix handled the situation perfectly.

With so many good two piece blanks on the market today, the rod builder does have plenty of options, and it’s not hard to see why. I find they really do make life a lot easier, not just for kayaking, but also for transporting and ease of storage. Maybe this is the rod for you!

12 250 mm

16

265 mm

25

S PECIFICATIONS BLANK: Matrix AMSP843-2

Fuji VSS split reel seat kit

LENGTH: 7 ft LINE RATING: 2-5kg ACTION: Fast REEL SEAT AND GRIPS: FUJI VSS Split Reel seat kit size 16 in green camo with black winding checks GUIDES: FUJI K guides BKLAG size 25, 16, 12 BKTAG 10, 1x 8, 2x 7 TIP: FUJI BFAT 7-5.0 GUIDE SPACINGS FROM TIP: 100, 125, 140, 170, 210, 250, 265 mm CENTRE OF REEL SEAT FROM BUTT: 275 MM

ILLUSTRATION: CHRIS PALATSIDES

MANY anglers these days own a kayak as a second boat, or in many cases, as their main water craft. I thought this month we could look at a rod that would not only fulfil my own personal kayak fishing needs, but I also wanted to come up with a rod that could be stowed inside the 'yak when not in use.

Let’s face it, having a second rod standing upright often creates problems, like when you have to go under a hanging branch to save a wayward lure from a bit of greenery after a dodgy cast ... it happens to all of us!

Matrix AMSP843-2 blank

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KNOTS & RIGS WITH MARK WILLIAMS

Looking Back Celebrating his 20th year writing for Fisho, Mark Williams takes a look back at some of the many advances in gear, rigging and knots over that time.

TECHNICAL EDITOR MARK WILLIAMS IS A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED ANGLER WHO WRITES REGULARLY FOR FISHO.

54 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

THIS month marks my 20th anniversary as a Fisho contributor. At the time I was based in a power station maintenance work shop and my first article was punched out in a very ham-fisted manner during lunch breaks in the foreman’s office. It was about chasing freshwater natives on lures from the bank, and while I’m sure the words I cobbled together were pretty average, it did feature some quality gorge country pics which I’m sure got my foot in the door. There’s a lesson in that for anyone with ambitions to get an article published in Fisho, poor spelling or grammar can be fixed, but crap photographs can’t, even with Photoshop.

I’ve gained a tremendous amount of pride and satisfaction from my involvement with the nation’s leading fishing magazine over the past 20 years, far more so than my time spent working in the now crumbling NSW power industry. It was always just a job to pay the bills and subsidise my fishing addiction.

I believe what set Fisho apart from the competition over this period has been strong, forward thinking editors who have been able to assemble and maintain a genuine first eleven of the nation’s fishing writers over the period, while other rival magazines have fallen by the wayside.

This month I thought it would be interesting to look back at the changes we’ve experienced over the past two decades of rigging and terminal tackle. Of course, the introduction of Gel Spun Polyethylene, or GSP lines has had an incredible impact on recreational fishing and resulted in a revolution in rigging techniques that’s still ongoing to this day. I must admit I was pretty wary of the first GSP lines that hit our shores. This was mainly because just prior to that we got hold of some Kevlar line which inexplicably failed on some big impoundment bass hook ups. So after those initial preconceived ideas were set aside, the GSP lines turned out to be very reliable and there was no turning back. It didn’t take long to realise these new wonder lines required some fresh thinking in regard to rigging, and knots in particular.

The first fix was to simply double the number of turns that you would normally use when tying a knot in mono. However, recent times have seen a number of superb GSP specific connections developed such as the PR knot and the FG knot which is really an outstanding connection that should feature in the rigging arsenal of every angler that uses GSP line.

Chemically sharpened hooks have also had a massive impact on recreational fishing over this period, particularly for finesse style lure fishing techniques such as chasing whiting on surface lures and bream on soft plastics, blades and hard bodies. Using those fine gauge, razor

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was pretty wary of the first GSP lines ... mainly because just prior to that we got hold of some Kevlar line which inexplicably failed on big bass.” sharp hooks makes all the difference when chasing whiting and bream on lures. There’s a good reason that consistently successful bream tournament anglers religiously change the hardware on their lures because it really makes a significant difference to hook up rates.

Fluorocarbon leader has also been readily adopted by anglers doing everything from fishing live marine worms for whiting on the local sand flat through to trolling lures and live baits for marlin over the continental shelf.

Fluoro’s excellent abrasion resistance and near invisibility underwater has seen it become the first choice leader material for the majority of fishing situations.

Other areas where there have been significant improvements in terminal tackle include the development of super strong split rings such as the Owner Hyper Wire heavy duty models.

These have become essential for deep water jiggers and surface luring addicts chasing hard fighting lure crunchers like kings and GTs. High quality snaps such as the Mustad Fastach clips now provide a strong, lightweight connection for lure fishers that doesn’t negatively impact on a lure’s action.

Sabiki bait catcher and flasher rigs have also become extremely popular during this period with recreational fishers, especially game anglers who can now successfully target deep water bait

A MILLION USES FOR MAGNETS

schools of species such as slimy mackerel.

The larger flasher style rigs are also popular in Australia and New Zealand with bottom fishers targeting snapper and other species.

Circle hooks have been a real revelation for recreational fishers, especially for tag & release billfish and tuna anglers. I still find it hard to believe that something that was designed by commercial fishers to kill more fish has become equally important to recreational anglers Tap here to healthy condition!

Tap here looking to release fish in watch video Numerous scientific studies have shown location circle hooked fish that are released have a far higher survival rate than those hooked on traditional J hook patterns. I personally think that our fisheries authorities should be looking here at encouraging bait fishers to use circle Tap hooks Tap here to more in specificwatch areas such as in our declared video location recreational fishing havens or stocked freshwater impoundments to improve the survival rates of released fish and help maintain or improve fish stocks in the long term.

It’s mind blowing when you try and think about all the advances in fishing gear over the past 20 years. We haven’t even mentioned the superb rods and reels, 3D sounders, GPS systems, super-efficient outboards and purpose built fishing hulls. Who knows what the future will bring. I hope it’s as exciting as the past 20 years!

Magnets are without a doubt one of the most useful fishing accessories. They can be used to hold all kinds of different items. As a long time fly fisherman, one of my favourite uses for magnets is to hold my rod upright against the car while I rig up. Wrap a small magnet and the end of a thin 15cm piece of rope in duct tape. Do the same to the other end of the rope with another small magnet and you’re done. The rod goes in between the two magnets and won’t fall over or have the tip snapped off by the car door.

Barry White – Dubbo, NSW.

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* ENTRY REQUIREMENTS 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 | May 2016 | 55

Coast

With The Most Nambucca on the NSW North Coast has everything for the keen fisho with ample offshore, estuary and freshwater opportunities and a diverse range of southern and northern species. DAVE RAE reports.

56 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 57

Spotted mackerel are great sport during late summer and autumn.

INSET: Dave with a nice snapper.

OPENING SPREAD: Whiting and flathead paradise!

58 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

DESTINATIONS: NAMBUCCA VALLEY

U

NLESS you can holiday at the drop of a hat, the success of a fishing trip is always at the mercy of the weather. Offshore anglers play Russian roulette with wind and swell, estuary anglers battle wind and rain whilst the freshwater fisherman requires steady river heights and flow.

As well as the above, the family fisho needs a bunch of activities for the wife and kids.

Given that the East Coast has so many fishing holiday opportunities, it can be difficult to know where to go. In addition, if you’re like me, there’s a certain feeling of risk to commit precious holiday time to a new destination. Not only do I want to catch fish, I also need to know that the less-keen anglers in my crew have things to do that result in a happy time for all. Therefore, a family fishing holiday needs to be to a destination with options for everyone… Which is why I reckon the Nambucca Valley is worth a look.

As far as fishing goes, you’ll find quality opportunities for saltwater and freshwater alike.

The offshore fishing is brilliant, the estuary offers quality akin to the more well-known North Coast rivers but with less crowds, and there are bass in them there hills!

Offshore

I was just a young tacker when I first became aware of Nambucca. My Dad would bring home old fishing mags from a bloke at work and I’d devour them. I remember reading about a guy called Noel McClung who was an expert at catching massive samson fish in the area. He used live bait and heavy hand lines, fishing out of a timber boat.

My first Nambucca stopover was many years ago and we turned off the Highway to find a truck that fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 59

DESTINATIONS: NAMBUCCA VALLEY

RIGHT: A tasty pearl perch, one of the areas best eating fish.

MAIN: The area features great access to the estuary system.

60 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

sold pineapples for 10 cents. I can’t remember if we scored 10 cent pineapples but I do remember seeing the Noel McClung Memorial Library and also the break wall. It was my first sight of a North Coast break wall, and it was pretty impressive, both for the sheer size of it and also for the artwork painted on the rocks. The artwork changes every year, but it remains a cool outdoor gallery. These days there are lights along the path, so it’s a great place to stroll safely in the evening … and you’ll still find it to be a good spot to wet a line!

We fish off Nambucca quite regularly, particularly when there’s too much swell to launch my boat off my local beach or over the river mouth. There’s a protected ramp at Shelly Beach, although it’s best approached with a 4WD or the tractor owned by the fishing club. A quick call on the number on the toilet block opposite should see you with permission to use the tractor if required; which would be during low tide periods.

Mid-North Coast fishing is seasonal. The warm northern currents during summer and the cold waters of winter make it a “cross-over” area and you’ll encounter a wide range of species that are less common both north and south. Late summer and autumn are prime mackerel times.

Spotted mackerel are more common than the larger Spanish mackerel (called baries by the locals), but the big guys are far from rare.

The best bet for these toothy critters is to catch slimy mackerel (so much better than yellowtail), or pike and rig them on a single strand stainless steel wire trace. The lighter the wire the more bites you’ll get, but you do risk being bitten off by a larger fish. I use 27lb wire for spotties and 42lb wire for Spanish. Slow trolling live baits is a great way to go because you’ll cover more water, but make sure to use “straight” hooks, one without an offset, otherwise your bait will spin. A popular rig employs a hook at the top, which is passed

through the nasal canal of the livie, and one or two more hooks behind it. I use as small a hook as I can and tend towards two small trebles, one for the midsection and one for the tail. A swivel is tied right at the front of the wire and the mainline to that. Keep the swivel as small as you can and go for black to minimise it being bitten by another mackerel during the fight. You don’t need heavy gear for mackerel because they won’t reef you, and lighter line makes for very exciting fishing. 15 kg is as heavy as I go and I use that to have the muscle to set large hooks when trolling dead bonito on a Spaniard sized chin rig.

Winter and spring are reef fish time. It goes without saying that snapper get the most press, but there are more species on offer. Trag are still common and are targeted by many boats. Whilst trag bite best at night, access to the ocean is limited by shallow bombies that are located just off Shellies. If you’re keen for a nocturnal

adventure try a full moon with little swell, and be careful. A quality chart plotter is a big help. All is not lost however as you are only allowed five trag each and most guys do well, as long as they get onto the water at first light. The most productive grounds lie from 6km out, so it’s not far to travel.

Pearl perch are a prize and you can expect to catch a few out on the trag grounds. Usually they come in ones or twos, but half a dozen is not uncommon. These guys are the best table fish we have on offer. They have moist white flesh and you’d have to be a pretty poor cook to stuff them up. Pearlies take bait and plastics, although in my experience a plastic based on a blue colour seems to be the plan.

Another prime species common in the area are tusk fish. They look like a big parrotfish and generally have a blue green sheen to them. The bones are blue and like a pearlie, tuskies have beautiful white flesh.

T

here are plenty of flats, rocks and oyster leases to fish, and there’s good bream to be caught. Bream are common around structure as well as on the flats. Nambucca still has remnants of wooden leases as well as the newer floating setups, so you won’t struggle for places to fish.”

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 61

F ACT BOX NAMBUCCA VALLEY Getting There: Nambucca lies 485 km north of Sydney and 435 km south of Brisbane – that’s approx. five hours by road. Trains stop here and the Coffs Harbour airport is 45 min away.

Things to do: Enjoy swimming, snorkeling and surfing. Try Shelly Beach for a sheltered day during a southerly wind. Play golf, visit the local cinema, day trips to Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Scotts Head and the Pub With No Beer at Taylor’s Arm. Drive through the Way Way Forest or hike up to Yarrahappini. Walk the V-Wall and enjoy the outdoor art gallery.

Eating Out: Plenty of options from McDonalds and pizza for the kids to Indian, Thai, Chinese and seafood restaurants for variety.

The V-Wall Tavern and RSL have beautiful views across the river.

The feel of the Nambucca: Nambucca is a relaxed coastal town. If you want Ritz and glamour then head north and battle the crowds.

Facilities: Shopping Centre, full medical facilities, and a variety of clubs and pubs.

The local tackle store: Nambucca Boatshed and Café sell tackle as well as hiring out boats, kayaks and paddleboards.

Places to stay: there are a variety of retreats, holiday homes and motels well as the following caravan parks: • White Albatross (02 65686468) • Nambucca Headland (02 65686547) • Foreshore (02 65686014) • Big 4 (02 6568 6120) • Aukaka (02 65686647) • Valla Beach Resort (Deep Ck) (65 695555) • Pelican Pk (0265 686550) • Nambucca River (02 65681805) • Scotts Head (02 65 698122).

62 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Snapper inhabit reef from right inshore (you can catch the odd one from the rocks), to out into the deeper water. It pays to use your sonar up this way because there is much reef and it’s a good idea to search for either snapper themselves or schools of bait before stopping.

A lot of anglers are switched onto soft plastics as their go-to snapper tactic, and if that’s your thing, Nambucca won’t disappoint. Water from 15m to 30m is the easiest to fish and 30lb braid with a 30lb leader will help you keep the larger fish clear of reef.

There’s no doubt that lighter line (10lb – 20lb) will result in more action, so as long as you don’t mind the odd wipeout, this may appeal to you.

Floating baits and berley trails are also a very productive snapper technique. Use pilchards, small ball sinkers and 15-20lb lines for best results. Bread, chook pellets, prawn shells and cut up fish will bring snapper to you, just allow them to run for a few seconds before you set the hook and you will have a ball.

Samsonfish are another winter customer, far more common that their cousin the kingfish in fact. They come in all sizes although 15kg fish are as large as I’ve ever caught. Try fish bait, live baits or a plastic and get ready to hang on.

Estuary

I reckon the Nambucca River is a really good river to fish. Summer is whiting time and the sandbanks around the mouth, as well as further upstream, can produce some wonderful whiting.

Being so close to the ocean means clear water with good flow. An early morning trip using

surface lures can leave you with a day to remember. Use assist hooks on the tail of your lure and aim for a falling tide for best results.

For those without a boat or with limited time, whiting are a good option from the shore as well.

There’s plenty of good water that's accessible on foot, all you need to do is explore. Try Bellbrook Reserve for starters.

For those with a boat or kayak, a visit into the mouth of Warrell Creek is a must. This is a pristine waterway with plenty of bream, whiting and flathead. When clear ocean water floods the flats on a rising tide, you’d be hard pressed to find a prettier piece of water. It’s a great spot for a family picnic. There’s a couple of cleared areas on the eastern bank, but it pays to bring insect repellent as there can be sandflies at times. You’ll find Warrell Creek inside the mouth of the river to the south.

There are plenty of bream and flatties on the flats with the odd red devil i.e. mangrove jack, in the snags, although Deep Creek just to the north, is the place to go for these guys.

Heading upstream towards Macksville will put a smile on the bream specialist's face. There are plenty of flats, rocks and oyster leases to fish, and there’s good bream to be caught.

Bream are common around structure as well as on the flats. Nambucca still has remnants of wooden leases as well as the newer floating setups, so you won’t struggle for places to fish.

I’ve experienced decent catches right beside the Pacific Hwy; not the best for peace and quiet, but good fishing.

DESTINATIONS: NAMBUCCA VALLEY

LEFT: A successful night session and a couple of jewies.

Autumn is mullet time and there are some hefty mulloway to be had when you can find a spot where the mullet are congregating. The break wall is always a popular haunt for mulloway men with live mullet producing some thumpers. Tide changes around dawn and dusk are prime times to fish and there’s plenty in the 15-20kg range with the odd 30+kg beast to aim for. Take a long gaff though, racing waters and break walls can cause difficulties when landing big fish.

Luderick turn up during winter, and you’ll see quite a few anglers chasing them from the main break wall. Tailor come into the river during these times but most tailor anglers fish from the tip of the wall. I’m sure the odd mulloway takes tailor bait or a tailor lure at times here too.

OPPOSITE: The upper reaches of the local rivers provide great access to bass. Check out the snags!

Rock options

There’s not a lot of rock to fish from, but what there is produces. The rocks are located between the end of the break wall north to Shelley Beach.

Tailor, drummer, luderick and mulloway are the main targets, although I’m sure more than the odd snapper is landed.

There are several holes and gutters that are worth a look, and if you can handle it, there are always lobsters in the spring. There’s a chance of a school jew on a plastic as well. That said, Wellington Rock, at the south end of the platform is the spot for mulloway and tailor. In floodwater it has all that is required for exciting mulloway on lures as long as you have the time to put in.

Freshwater

When you’d like a change from the saltwater, the freshwater rivers of the Nambucca Valley hold healthy populations of bass. You’ll be best off with a canoe or kayak and plan to enter and leave the water via many of the small bridges that span

the smaller rivers. Taylors Arm, west of Macksville holds good bass, as does Warrell Creek. To access Warrell bass water, drive south on the Pacific Hwy and take the Scotts Head turnoff, there’s canoe and limited small boat access under the Warrell Creek Bridge. Travel upstream for bass and downstream for bass and bream. During summer, surface luring for bream can be very productive here.

Further Afield

The good thing about Nambucca is that both Coffs Harbour and South West Rocks are within a 45 minute drive. Both are productive locations that are well worth a look for a change of scenery. Coffs has the Solitary Islands (just be sure you fish outside of sanctuary zones) that hold kingfish, marlin, snapper and mackerel. SWR has a brilliant juvenile black marlin fishery just outside of Trial Bay; best over the Christmas period, water Tap here to currents allowing.

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Rock, Beach, Boat, Kayak, Surf, River and Estuary.... the Nambucca Valley has it all!

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Scotts Head is another gem that’s just up the road. It offers easier access to the ocean via a concrete ramp and the fishing is just as good as Nambucca. There’ s some great rock and beach fishing here as well.

Family Options

Nambucca is a small town with all the amenities; shopping centre, cinema, golf course and all the medical facilities needed. Eateries include Maccas, Chinese, Thai, seafood and Indian restaurants.

There are plenty of places for the kids to swim (check out the sheltered waters of Bellbrook Reserve) and there’s surf on the main beaches.

Main Beach has a surf club and is patrolled during holiday periods and weekends over the warmer KeepHarbour scrollinghas to a butterfly house, Big months. Coffs see exclusive iPad Banana and more shops. You’ll also find Fishing only extra picsHighway - it’s a huge shop Tackle Australia on the and worth a visit!

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For FREE information on accommodation and facilities visit

Nambucca Valley Visitor Information Centre Open 7 Days Cnr Pacific Highway & Riverside Drive Nambucca Heads

The many options the Nambucca Valley offers allows you to fish in any weather • Great facilities • Good boat ramps • Disabled fisher access • 7 day Tackle Shop • A great spot for families • All kinds of accommodation

Freecall 1800 646 587 or p: (02) 6568 6954

e: nambuccatourism@nambucca.nsw.gov.au or visit: nambuccatourism.com.au

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 63

Q&A PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

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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.

Q

What’s the best line to use for catching blackfish off the rocks? I’ve heard there’s a special floating line available. I’ve also seen guys rubbing Vaseline on their line to make it float.

Any help would be appreciated.

John Francis – Ballina, NSW.

A

I’ve fished quite a few lines for blackfish over the years in the search for something that floats. Before we get around to what works best I’d like to explain to the readers why your line needs to float when fishing for blackfish.

When fishing with a float that is used to suspend your bait in the strike zone it pays to have your line floating along the surface rather than sinking. Striking and maintaining a good drift is much easier with your line on top of the water.

As you said there are some lines on the market that actually float. They achieve this by being hollow, which I wouldn’t imagine is easy or cheap to manufacture.

Two that I can recommend are Dango

Using a floating line and/or Vaseline on your line when float fishing for blackfish makes striking and hooking fish a lot easier.

Wax and Siglon Float. Both of these lines do actually float and I give around 50m of line a thin smear of Vaseline before each session.

Specialist floating lines aren’t cheap so if you’re looking for a cheap alternative try Platypus PreTest in fluoro green 4 kg.

This is a game and sportfishing mono and isn’t a floating line but with a wipe of Vaseline it does a great job and will handle the scuffs of rock fishing!

FLATHEAD JIGHEADS

Q

When using soft plastic lures for flathead is it best to use a heavier jig head and keep the lure bouncing along the bottom or do you prefer a lighter jig head that sinks more naturally?

Riley Johnson – Narooma, NSW.

A

If you’d asked me that question six months ago I’d have nominated a 3/8oz jighead and keeping it on or near the bottom.

This past summer however I’ve been using 1/4oz heads and keeping the lure off the bottom a little longer. The lighter head takes a little longer to sink and I believe give the fish a better chance of seeing, and then eating, it off the bottom.

Our preferred technique when chasing

flathead is “whipping” which involves casting the plastics ahead of the boat drift and letting it sink to the bottom. Once there we whip it up with a fast rod lift then let it sink back down to the bottom. The flathead will usually notice it on the quick lift up then eat it as it flutters back down to the bottom.

Increasing that flutter time with a slightly lighter head has improved our results considerably. With the lighter 1/4oz jig head you can also work the lure back just above the bottom by keeping it moving and lifting it gently before it reaches the bottom.

My preferred jig head for flathead with soft plastics is the Gamakatsu Darter 26 in 1/4oz. These are also available in 1/8oz or 3/8oz.

Using a lighter head on your plastics will allow the lure more time in the drop zone and allow it to act more naturally. Don’t go too light however as the lure needs to be down near the bottom.

64 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Going light when chasing jew on lures has several big advantages. You don’t need heavy tackle to catch jewfish on lures.

LIGHT OR HEAVY ON JEWIES?

Q

A

What tackle and line do you use for jewfish with lures? I read about guys using 20lb braid and 30lb leader but other guys fishing 10lb braid and light leader. I assume you’ll catch more fish with lighter line but what’s a good starting point and how do you decide?

Guy Rosskelly – Via email.

I would only fish 20lb braid and 30lb leader for jew if I was fishing around structure and the fish were big. In those circumstances you might need to keep them out of the rocks or wharf pylons, but most of the fishing I do for jewies with plastics is in reasonably open water. I usually fish 10lb Platypus Platinum braid with around 4m of 15lb Stealth leader that I join with an FG knot. I find that’s plenty for the average fish I catch that run 6–10kg. It may take a while longer but 15-20kg jew on 10lb braid are not that difficult. Just take your time, let them run when they want to and don’t try to force the fight in the later stages near the boat. I find 15lb fluorocarbon is plenty for most fish. Jewies don’t have real abrasive teeth and it’s rare to be chewed off by one even during a long fight. A lighter leader means that your lure will swim a lot more naturally too!

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Legislation has been passed to phase out commercial netting from Port Phillip Bay, beginning in 2016.

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2016 - first nets removed in April 2018 - all netting ceases in Corio Bay 2022 - all netting ceases throughout Port Phillip Bay. That’s better recreational fishing for you!

Removing nets from the bay is a key element of Target One Million, which aims to boost participation to one million anglers by 2020 and get more people fishing, more often. vic.gov.au/targetonemillion

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Sharks are opportunistic feeders but don’t be fooled into thinking they are simply scavengers!

Q&A Ice Jig Bass

Q

I heard bass can be caught on Ice Jigs, how do you use them?

Archie e-mail

A

Australian bass can be caught on a large variety of lures from surface to spinnerbaits.

It’s quite surprising how many different techniques and lures will work for bass, particularly strange methods like ice jigging! The tournaments that have been running for many years are

largely the reason so many different techniques and lures have come to the fore of bass fishing. Ice jigs have been around since before you and I were born, but notably in the last few years have been a staple technique to target deep and shut-down bass.

The technique does have a bit of a knack to it and will require a bit of patience to get it right. Firstly you need to find a patch of bass (regardless of whether they’re feeding or not) either schooled up tight or spread over an area. Then simply lower the jig to the bottom or the depth fish are showing on the sounder. Then give 2-3 sharp flicks of the rod tip 5-15cm followed by a pause of 5-10 seconds and repeat. The bite

may came as a slight tap so make sure you strike, and once you do get a bite try to remember the exact retrieve and repeat it the next time.

Fishing Around Bendigo

Q

Where is a good place to fish around Bendigo?

Isaac e-mail

A

Bendigo is a placed famed in Australian history and heritage after gold was discovered along the banks of Bendigo creek back in 1851. Possibly the best fishing close to Bendigo is in Lake Eppalock which is about 30 minutes drive from town. The lake is quite famous for holding extremely large golden perch with

some caught there measuring over 8kg. Murray cod and redfin are also available in Eppalock, along with the odd trout. If you want to use bait I’d try fishing some scrub worms on a running sinker rig near some prominent points or areas of heavy timber. Or, alternatively, if you want to use lures I’d try casting bibbed minnows, spinnerbaits or soft plastics in the same areas, making sure you get your lure right into the strike zone. Good luck, Isaac!

Shark Bait

Q A

Is live or dead bait best for Sharks? Craig e-mail

Sharks are opportunistic feeders but with that being

Grin and Win! 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!

1

Josh Madders, 16-years-old, caught this black jew at the mouth of the South Alligator River. It measured 130cm and weighed 34lbs. Well done Josh!

2 66 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

3

Tyler Hogg, 10, caught this bass on a lure one afternoon with his dad at the bottom of Macquarie pass in Wollongong, NSW. Tyler is already designing his own lures too!

Piper Holtsbaum, eight, caught this school jew on a live herring in the Gold Coast Seaway. She also released the fish too. Well done Piper!

4

Fynn Holtsbaum, four, caught this giant trevally on a live pike in the Gold Coast Seaway. What a great catch, well done Fynn!

Win A Great Shimano Spin Reel!

WITH CHRIS CLEAVER

said don’t be fooled into thinking they aren’t intelligent. Their inquisitive nature and feeding habits are usually what brings them un-stuck as, unlike humans, they do not have hands to test a possible food item, but instead use their mouths. I have caught sharks on both live, and dead, bait, however, like most fishing scenarios sharks do prefer a naturally live prey item as this is what they target most of the time.

Yet, in saying that, the easy meal of a dead bait is always going to be hard for a hungry shark to pass up! Personally I would try both and see which method yields the best results for you in your chosen spot. Good luck!

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

5

Max Lush, five, from Naracoorte, SA, was the only one to catch a fish, this nice 47cm flathead, when he went fishing with his family. Well done Max!

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.

Across 2. Naturally live _ _ _ _ 6. Bass can be caught on a large variety of lures from Surface to _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1 2

3 4 5

6

Down 1. A placed famed in Australian heritage when Gold was discovered along the banks of _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

3. I have caught sharks both live and dead _ _ _ _ 4. The lake is quite famous for holding extremely large Golden _ _ _ _ _ 5. the last few years have been a staple technique to target deep and shutdown _ _ _ _

THE WINNER of last month’s crossword competition was Oliver Sharp of Tarrawingee, VIC. Well done, Oliver, you’ll be glad to hear that a great Shimano spinning reel will soon be on its way to you. Congratulations!

Across

2. Naturally live PREY [PREY] 6. 1. Bass can be caught on a large variety of lures from Surface to SPINNERBAITS [SPINNERBAITS]

Shimano Pic of the Month Barrier Reef speedsters!

Thirteen-year-old Caitlin Priems caught this 105cm Spaniard on her second trip out to the reef off Cairns.

Schooling dad she also caught a 43cm coral trout and 58cm Tap here to school mackerel! watch video

Down

1. A placed famed in Australia Gold was discovered along BENDIGO [BENDIGO] 3. I have caught sharks both l [BAIT] 4. The lake is quite famous fo large Golden PERCH [PER 5. the last few years have bee to target deep and shutdow

KIDS!

Send us a digital photo or print of your catch and you could be in the running for some great monthly prizes!

Keep scrolling to see exclusive iPad only extra pics Tap here location

Keep scrolling to see exclusive iPad only extra pics

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, Tap while here Tap here to Grin & Win kids willwatch each receive a cool Shimano video location cap and Squidgy DVD (right)!

E-mail your entry and contact details to: pictures@fisho.com.au or post it to: Shimano Pic of the Month, Fishing World, 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

CROSSWORD ANSWERS ACROSS: 2:PREY, 6:SPINNERBAITS DOWN: 1:BENDIGO, 3:BAIT, 4:PERCH, 5:BASS

Flat Out In Tassie

A trip to Tasmania saw NICK REYGAERT experience some world-class flats and estuary action on the local bream.

C

RAIG was on the bow, double hauling like a man possessed! A few casts earlier, Ashley had told him he was fishing “angry”, a cheeky stir, but there was some truth in it. I could tell Craig was a little pissed at not catching one on the fly. Ashley and myself had been smashing them all day long on hard bodies.

But Craig is one of those rare anglers that can channel frustration into positive energy – the harder it gets, the harder he tries!

He fired a long cast and it laid out in a perfectly straight line down the sand flat. The bream hit his fly the moment it touched the water and the instinctive, forceful hook set that followed had the bream tail-walking across the surface in a shower of spray. The scene was reminiscent of fishing for big predators on a tropical flat in Australia’s North, but here, we were drifting down a sleepy estuary on Tasmania’s East Coast.

68 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

An average black takes a vibe in shallow water.

Tasmania is an untapped resource for estuary sport fishing with an abundance of bream willing to take a lure or fly.

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 69

DESTINATIONS: TASMANIA'S EAST COAST

MAIN OPPOSITE; Targeting big black bream on fly is a real alternative to Tassie trout fishing.

The lure of bream

RIGHT: Tasmania is more than a trout fishery! Keen fly and lure anglers can have a ball targeting bream in the shallows.

BELOW: Nick with a big bream on fly.

Up River

Ashley Hallem had invited Craig Rist and I down to his local stomping ground after he heard we were having a tough few days on the Tassie trout.

Ashley lives in Swansea, a small coastal community about halfway down Tasmania’s East Coast. He makes his living as a professional fisherman, harvesting calamari and garfish amongst other species. Ashley is a full-blown “fishaholic”; I’m talking a chronic case – one for the textbooks! I fish a lot but looking at Ashley’s Facebook feed leaves me with serious fish envy.

I'm a great believer that there is no substitute for time on the water and Ashley is the walking embodiment of that mantra. Between his job and his recreation he is literally on the water everyday, it's no 70 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

surprise then that he has Tasmanian fishing totally wired. His offer to show us some of his treasured bream flats fishing was too good to turn down.

The morning dawned bright and calm, an unusual event on the Apple Isle! As we drove down to Swansea, Craig felt like we had perfect conditions. Upon meeting up with Ashley at the boat ramp we launched and began motoring upstream. The focus of the day was to target bream on the estuary sand flats but, according to Ashley, the bream need a specific tide to feed on the flats. While we waited for the tide to come right he suggested we go up river and target schools of fish that would be holed up in spawning aggregations in brackish water higher up the system.

I live in New Zealand these days so it had been many years since I'd caught a bream, in fact the last one I remember catching was in my early twenties in the 90s when I lived in W.A. Back then the technique of catching bream on lures was very much in its infancy; I had only ever targeted them with bait. I was very keen to try to get one on a lure and, if the opportunity presented itself, on fly as well.

As we motored upstream the river became narrower, there were shallow sections interspersed with the odd deep hole. I was surprised at the clarity of the water, the bottom was clearly visible even in the deeper sections. Ashley explained that during winter, bream would congregate in these deep holes to breed. They need brackish water to spawn successfully so they become very concentrated in the part of the river with the optimum conditions. He continued to motor up hoping to flush out a large school as the boat passed above. We got to one long, deep hole and immediately we noticed bream darting off in every direction.

Ashley passed a spin rod to me with a small red vibe lure, explaining that the best technique was to let it sink close to the bottom and then twitch it back with the odd decent pause. Craig was focused on getting one on fly and he was using an intermediate flyline and a size 6 gold bomber fly.

It didn’t take Ashley long to get his first bream, a nice 30cm fish. He followed that up with another three in about as many casts. I was keeping an eagle eye on him, trying to replicate his technique. I changed a couple of things and bang! Fish on. I got a bit of a surprise, I certainly didn’t remember bream being much of a fighter but the fish at the end of my line was really going for it. After a really spirited fight another nice bream came to the boat. I was so stoked. I never realised bream could be so aggressive, I immediately understood why bream fishing with lures has become so popular.

Over the next hour, Ashley managed a few more fish until things went quiet. Craig had struggled with the fly, probably because it is so hard to get the fly deep enough, fast enough to stay in the bite zone. It is a perpetual problem fly fishing in deep water, fly really comes into it own when sight fishing in shallow water. As the action tapered off Ashley suggested a move to the flats, the tide was now perfect.

These particular flats were right at the point where the river expanded into the estuary, no doubt formed by silt flushed down the river during floods. It was a large expanse with an even depth of around 1 metre. The bottom was a combination of turtle grass and mud. Ashley pointed out small pockets and channels in the bottom, mentioning that the bream loved to feed around these. Floating with the wind we immediately spooked some bream, they were clearly visible even on the mottled bottom.

Ashley swapped out the vibes for swimming

T

he best technique was to let it sink close to the bottom and then twitch it back with the odd decent pause. .�

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 71

DESTINATIONS: TASMANIA'S EAST COAST

I

stuck it out and eventually a bream hit the fly, actually, it monstered the fly. I couldn’t believe how hard he hit, one thing I love about fly is you have direct contact with the fish; you feel each shake of the head, each charging run rips line from your hand.”

72 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

minnows. Mine was a classic gold bomber style while Ashley went for the blue over white combination. He was at it again, nailing a fish on the first cast. Craig had instant success as well, his first cast with the fly was grabbed on the first few pulls. Unfortunately that fish came unbuttoned.

There was obviously a lot of fish around and sure enough my minnow was pounced on after a few casts. Again the fish fought really well, possibly even better in the shallow water, tearing around the boat.

On fly

My bream on lures itch was well and truly scratched now. It was time to wet a fly. In the shallow water I opted for a floating flyline with a long leader, around 12 foot, of straight 6lb fluorocarbon. The fly was Craig’s creation, an amalgamation of two really great patterns, the gold bomber and the clouser. Not surprisingly, he calls it the gold bomber clouser.

Craig kindly offered the front of the boat to me.

The front deck is a bonus when fly fishing because you can flail around without seriously endangering the other occupants with flying fish hooks! I began casting, covering likely looking

areas as best I could. A number of bream followed the fly all the way to the boat, it was exhilarating seeing the fish in such detail. But after a few refusals I could tell the fish just weren’t convinced with the fly. It didn’t help that Ashley was hooking up constantly on the minnows.

I stuck it out and eventually a bream hit the fly, actually that fish monstered the fly. I couldn’t believe how hard he hit, one thing I love about fly is you have such a direct contact with the fish; you feel each shake of the head, each charging run rips line from your hand. I was soon cradling my first ever bream on fly, an amazing moment for a mad keen fly fisho like myself. Lots of photos followed plus a couple of hoots and high fives.

Ashley continued to hook bream after bream on the minnow and I changed back to the spin rod to try to get in on the action. Craig continued with the fly but the fish were following it all the way to the boat without striking. We stuck at it for a couple more hours but the action was slowly tailing away as the tide shifted. My stomach began to rumble as we had completely forgotten to eat during the thick of the action. Right on cue, Ashley suggested some lunch and a regroup at his house a few kilometers away.

The unique landscape and big fish make Tasmania a memorable experience. fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 73

DESTINATIONS: TASMANIA'S EAST COAST

Living the Tassie dream

Casa del Hallem is the absolute epitome of what I love about the East Coast of Tasmania, stress-free and hospitable. Nestled on a large section 80 meters from the beach it’s a large, comfortable, double storey brick home that, at a guess was built in the late 80s maybe early 90s. It is not opulent but cozy and friendly, a house but a home as well.

The internal garage doesn’t look like it’s had a car in it for a very long time! Because it is wall to wall fishing, hunting and outdoor gear. It made me laugh because my garage is exactly the same, the fishing gear retains pride of place meanwhile our car’s paint slowly fades in the summer sun.

We met Clea Hallam, Ashley’s daughter, a mad keen fisho herself, who had just got back from school and was very keen to hear how we got on during the morning. We sat on the deck, overlooking the bay, and had a lunch of various bits of seafood, cheese, crackers and some venison salami that came from an animal that Ashley had shot the previous month. Father and daughter regaled us with tales of their fishing adventures together. It was idyllic, sure there are people in this world that are richer, more famous than this pair but I seriously doubt that there is anyone more content with their lives.

Ashley decided that for the afternoon session we

Hooked up on fly along one of the many reed lined edges.

would change location to a smaller estuary that had a reputation for producing the odd very large bream, sounded great to me. We travelled about twenty minutes south of Ashley’s home, crossed the tiny creek that flowed into the estuary and took a left turn into a farm and followed a dirt track down to the waters edge. The estuary was small, barely more than a decent cast across, Ashley told us that during summer it is often closed to the sea. While it wasn’t very wide, it was deep and my imagination soon conjured up images of the giant bream that Ashley assured us lived there.

We fished for a few hours until the sun set.

Fishing was slow. We didn’t get a touch although

we did see a few moving in the shallows. Not that the lack of action made any difference, the setting was awesome and the company even better. We swapped stories and laughs while drifting in the boat along throwing hard bodies and flies into likely spots.

It had been an action packed day; my first bream on lure, my first bream on fly, sight fishing to bream on the flats but the highlight was hanging out with a father and daughter duo that are totally stoked on fishing and hanging out together. In an increasingly complicated and technology-driven world sometimes the simple things in life are the most fulfilling.

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74 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

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76 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Meeting

Mr Brown An awareness of conservation issues has led to a surge in the popularity of spawn run trout. BEN CADDAYE explains how to catch these trophy browns on spin gear.

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 77

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F

ABOVE: A beaut 7lb Eucumbene River brown graces the net.

TOP: A rugged up author with a lovely 5lb brown taken on a drift-rigged glo-bug. This is an average sized spawn run brown.

MAIN OPPOSITE: A lone fly fisher checks out a likely run. Plenty of fly anglers fish side-by-side with the spinners during the spawn run.

PREVIOUS PAGE: Large spawn run browns are handsome fish.

78 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

ISHING the rivers for trout during their annual spawning migration isn’t every angler’s cup of tea. I remember reading fishing magazine articles in the 1980s and early ‘90s about fishing the spawn run. Back then it was a numbers game with photos of huge hauls of dead trout gracing the pages. The slaughter that took place on the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers in particular probably put a lot of trout anglers – especially the purists – off this form of fishing for life.

But a lot has changed. Strict bag limits, increased size limits and a general shift these days to catch and release has greatly improved the image of spawn run fishing. It’s no longer viewed as the sole domain of “meat” fishermen hell bent on filling their creels with kilos of breeding brown trout. It’s “self-regulated” to a degree as well, with attempts by anglers to keep an undersized fish or exceed their bag frowned upon by their fellow fishos.

Personally, I have no qualms about fishing for spawning trout. It’s an exciting form of angling and there’s a genuine buzz around the high country rivers in April, May and June as waves of fish, including some of the largest trout you’re ever likely to tangle with, make their way upstream to breed.

Like the vast majority of anglers who head for the hills during trout spawning season, I’m not interested in knocking a trophy brown on the head and dragging it back home to boast about it.

I’m more than content to take a few happy snaps of my fish and then let them go. If I do decide to keep one for the plate (and anglers are permitted one river fish over 50cm per day in May and June) I’ll ensure it’s a healthy, clean fish fresh out of the lake, meaning it won’t go to waste when served up to my seafood-loving family.

Trout chasers in southern NSW have been lucky of late. The past four spawning seasons have dished up the best fishing action that many trout anglers can remember. It’s gained a fair few converts too, with quite a few newcomers to trout fishing trying their hand at this form of angling for the first time – and getting hooked in the process!

I count myself amongst the ranks of spawn run “newbies’” Even though I live in Canberra, on the doorstep of some of the best trout water in the country, I’ve tended in the past to head to the south coast in autumn and early winter to chase bream and flatties instead of capitalising on the great freshwater action unfolding to the west.

But that’s no longer the case. As soon as the leaves start changing colour I find myself glued to trout fishing and weather reports from the NSW Snowy Mountains and, at the first signs of significant fish movement, I’m off to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with scores of others in the quest for a big brown.

A

s soon as the leaves start changing colour ... I’m off to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with scores of others in the quest for a big brown.�

F ACT BOX DRIFT-RIG FOR SPIN GEAR I use 4-6lb braid and two-to-three metres of 6-8lb fluorocarbon leader.

At the end of the leader, tie on a weighted glo bug, then add a 30cm length of leader trailing behind the glo bug (I tie it to the gape of the hook). To this trailing line attach a small (size 8, 10 or 12) weighted nymph in olive green, brown or black. To add weight, attach one or two small split shot about 45-60cm above the glo bug.

fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 79

FRESHWATER

In a spin

A lot of anglers who fish the spawn run are fly-casters. But there’s a growing band of anglers armed with spin gear who fish the spawning season and do just as well – or even better – than their counterparts waving the long wand. Some of these guys are casting large, brightly-coloured hard-bodies, but plenty are drift-rigging with glo-bugs and weighted nymphs – an absolutely deadly technique that, when done correctly, is ideal for snaring aggressive pre-spawn browns. Despite the sheer volume of fish that pour into the rivers towards the end of the season, catching them on spin gear isn’t always straightforward. For instance, while some anglers easily landed 10 or more fish per session last spawn-run season, plenty of fishos armed with almost the same tackle and fishing in almost the same manner lucked out completely. There can sometimes be a fine line between getting it right and drawing a blank. Here’s how to do it right.

What is drift-rigging?

Drift-rigging with spin gear isn’t a new technique by any means. It’s an approach that’s been used for decades by anglers fishing the Eucumbene and 80 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Thredbo river spawn run. It’s gained popularity of late, though, because of advances in ultra-light spin gear and the advent of braided and fluorocarbon lines. Drift-rigging allows anglers with conventional threadline tackle to bounce a tiny nymph and glo bug combination across the rocky river bed where spawn-run trout are sitting.

These fish are generally preoccupied with doing what comes naturally – making baby trout – and aren’t necessarily actively feeding as they head upstream. Put a bright orange glo bug in front of their nose, however, and you’re suddenly in with a shot. Trout will hit the glo-bug out of hunger or aggression, or swallow the trailing nymph because, well, it’s there!

How

Drift rigging with spin tackle is a balancing act.

Success hinges on being able to get your glo bug and trailing nymph, weighed down with a split shot or two, rolling along the riverbed at the right pace and correct depth. Too much weight, and your rig will consistently snag on the bottom; too little weight, and it will drift too high in the water column and go unmolested.

I start with a light approach and adjust accordingly after a series of exploratory casts. The perfect scenario is a rig that is regularly in contact with the bottom – and, with braid, you’ll feel the tell-tale bumps transmitted up the line – but not consistently fouling on rocks, weed and sticks. To get into the strike zone, expect a few snags – that’s just part and parcel of targeting fish that are hugging the riverbed.

The flow of the river plays an important role, too. Spawn-run fishing fires when water levels are high – and this can make it challenging to get a tiny nymph and small fuzzy glo-bug where the fish are sitting. If the river’s “pumping” you will almost always need two split-shot to weigh your rig down sufficiently. If you’re not getting snagged, but you’re not catching fish, always react by adding a little more weight.

The cast and retrieve process is simple. After a long cast towards the opposite bank and slightly upstream, take up the slack and follow the drift with the tip of your rod, gradually taking in more slack to ensure you remain in touch with the rig at all times. A hit from a spawn run brown – even a big one – can be subtle so it pays to strike at the

A crowd of anglers fishing a deep pool at the tail-end of some rapids on the Eucumbene River. The popular locations become very crowded during the spawn run.

BELOW: Expect to encounter some of the largest brown trout you’ve ever seen during the late autumn/early winter spawn run.

first sign of any bumps or extra weight. Watch the line, in the same way you watch it when bream fishing with plastics, for any pauses or changes in the direction of the drift. A lot of these will be false alarms, but some will also be fish. You’ll know when you’re on, especially if it’s a sizeable trout! Expect lots of near-misses, too, with fish often fumbling around with the glo-bug or nymph, or sideswiping it half-heartedly as its drifts by.

In my experience 50 per cent of fish will hit the glo-bug and the rest will snaffle the trailing nymph. Sometimes a fish will inhale both!

There are a number of drift-rigging set-ups that spin anglers use with varying degrees of success. I’ve included the details of the one that works best for me in the accompanying Fact Box.

Where

In NSW, the spawn run centres on two locations: the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers. Literally tens of thousands of brown trout pour in to these waterways fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 81

to deo

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every season. As mentioned, the last few seasons have seen unprecedented numbers of fish leave the lake and enter the rivers, resulting in vintage fishing.

Brown trout can and will travel a long way up river to spawn but, in general, most fish tend to concentrate in the two-to-three kilometre stretch of water upstream from either lake. At Eucumbene, the Providence Flats area immediately up river from Providence Portal is by the far the most popular spawn run fishing location and, when the fish are running, is sometimes home to more than 100 anglers, especially on the weekend. At Jindabyne, the focus is usually on the stretch of river between the lake (at Creel Bay) and the bridge where Kosciusko Road crosses the river, just before the entrance to the national park.

Of course, trout will travel much further upstream than these areas just mentioned, especially towards the latter end of the season.

The key is to keep your ears to the ground and tune in to the latest fishing reports to determine where the fish are at any given time. If in doubt, just follow the crowds of anglers – that’s usually a sign the fish are in the vicinity.

The deeper pools at either the tail-end or the Keep scrolling to head of a set of rapids are likely haunts to chase see exclusive iPad spawn-run trout. Fish will generally favour the only extra pics

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82 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

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deeper sections in broad daylight and be inclined to move over the shallow sections, from pool to pool, under low light conditions. That’s the thing about spawn-run browns – they’re constantly on the move, so the fishing is always changing. When the going is a bit tough, anglers will have to put in some hard yards on foot to find fish. Conversely, at the peak of last season, it was just a matter of finding a likely hole and waiting as wave after wave of fish swam by virtually under anglers’ noses.

F ACT BOX RULES AND REGULATIONS From 1 May until the close of the season, anglers fishing the Eucumbene and Thredbo rivers are permitted to keep one fish per day over 50cm.

Trout streams in NSW are closed from the end of the June long weekend until the start of the October long weekend.

For more information on trout size and bag limits, and closed season restrictions, visit www.nsw.dpi.gov.au/fisheries.

When

The annual spawning migration of brown trout usually commences in mid-autumn and runs well into winter. The run is triggered by two key ingredients: air temperature and rainfall. A decent fall of rain and dipping temperatures as early as April will see the first waves of trout spill into the rivers. From then on, the run gathers momentum with every cold front that hits the NSW Snowy Mountains. If we get an unusually mild and dry autumn, the spawn run might not commence until June, meaning anglers will only have small window of opportunity until the season closes on the June long weekend. Last year, the spawn-run fishing was at its absolute best during the second half of May and first week of June – but that can vary.

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YELLOWFIN

Yellowfin revamps plate boat line-up The revamped Yellowfin boat range delivers a tough Aussie-built offshore plate boat as part of the Quintrex brand.

SCOTT THOMAS REPORTS

YELLOWFIN re-launched its range of offshore plate boats at a recent Queensland media event.

The Yellowfin name dates back to the late 1980s and early '90s before the boats made a comeback with a re-release in 2009. Moving forward to 2016 and the brand now comes under the Quintrex name and will be sold throughout its nationwide network of dealers.

The line-up comes in four sizes - 5800, 6200, 6700 and 7400 - in both hard top and soft top configurations, making it eight models in total.

Yellowfin is hoping to capitalise on its strong Aussie-built reputation and will complement the Quintrex brand with this range of serious offshore boats.

T

he hulls were noticably quiet through the chop and despite the nasty conditions, we set a reasonable pace in comfort.”

ABOVE: Perfect conditions for testing the new series of boats from Yellowfin.

RIGHT: Evinrude’s G2 range of outboards are a good match for the boats and have plenty of power!

84 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

The models feature 6mm plate bottomsides, 5mm transom and 4mm sides, except for the 5800 with 5mm plate bottoms. A 19 degree variable deadrise ensures a soft landing and stability at rest.

A new hull design sees Yellowfin modify its transom and extend the waterline length. This, according to Yellowfin, gives it more lift and allows for larger and heavier outboards. Most of the test boats available were fitted with Evinrude's G2 E-TEC which sit further back on the transom to free up space on the duckboard.

The solid construction process features a sub frame rib structure. This “milk crate” structure is made up of longitudinal and latitudinal ribs of 6mm vertical stringers and 5mm horizontal ribs.

The floor is a fully welded checker plate floor and its self draining with a no-return scupper system.

The range features basic floatation.

Other new features include water deflectors on the side deck, a concealed control box at the helm and a fully-welded alloy anchor well. The hard top windscreen comes with hardened glass and the helm sits low, which caters for shorter users and overall better vision at sea.

Under the cabin, the extra long bunks means this is more than just simple storage space. The 5800 features a 1.8 metre bunk, while all the other models stretch out to 2 metres, meaning there's enough space for sleeping.

New options include a drum winch, LED lighting, seat boxes, and cabin bunk infill, plus all the usual electronics options. On that note, the test

boats all featured Simrad electronics and the helm area has enough dash space for 12 inch units.

LEFT: The latest Yellowfin release features four models all suitable for serious offshore work.

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The 7400, Yellowfin's largest boat in the range, was also noticeably quiet and as expected featured loads of space in the cockpit and cabin. Being such a big boat and featuring the same thoughtout design and tough heavy duty build, the 7400 ate up the sea! The stability at rest was good and the 730mm high sides gave us an extra measure of security in the rough. The 7400 starts at $71,628 fitted with a 130hp E-TEC. The range comes in five colours: Mica Grey, Ocean Blue, Carmine, Jet Black, and white. All boats feature Yellowfin's striking new graphics.

Check them out at www.quintrex.com.au and visit www.fishingworld.com.au for a video showing the boats in action off Mooloolaba.

A big swell and limited time meant a serious day's fishing was off the agenda. However, big seas equalled perfect boat testing conditions and the new line-up didn't disappoint. Fishing World spent most of the day onboard the 5800 and 7400. The smallest boat in the range, the 5800 handled the rough conditions better than expected. The hulls were noticeably quiet through the chop and despite the nasty conditions, we set a reasonable pace in comfort. Stability at rest was good in the challenging conditions.

With a starting price of $57,636 fitted with a 115hp E-TEC, it's well worth a look if you're in the market for a plate boat of this size.

WEB DEVELOPMENT

The range caters well for the serious offshore fishos. Things like large capacity fuel tanks, kill tanks, live well with glass window, ample rod holders, large dash space for electronics and high sides make the Yellowfin a suitable option for offshore use.

The 110 litre kill tank would hold a decent size fish, or if you refer, it can be converted to a long-range fuel tank.

The range features five "reel easy" rocket launcher style rod holders on the hardtop. This clever design, seen on other Quintrex boats, features a folding mechanism which makes reaching for the rod a whole lot easier, especially for the vertically challenged!

Optional ice boxes under the helm and passenger seats are a good use of space and double as seating for additional passengers.

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fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 85 10/03/2016 10:55 am

THE FISHING SCHOOL PROUDLY SPONSORED BY

STORM Fishing Lures

Good Bait, Bad Bait Ever wondered why some baits are better than others? Sami discovers why not all baits were created equal and why the same baits might work better in different locations.

WITH SAMI OMARI Live squid are soft and nutritious making them a dynamite bait for kingfish and jewies

I ONCE learned a valuable lesson on the water as a teenager during a few years of serious rock and land based game fishing with my good mate, Jeff Debono. We had spent all morning filling a rock pool with live yellowtail and managed to snare a lone garfish which was over handled and soon floating upside down.

After soaking live yellowtail for a few hours and thinking the fishing was slow, I decided to lob out the hapless garfish and was surprised to have it hit by a rat kingfish as I was giving the float rig some line to help drift it away from the rocks. That same day saw a local angler fish alongside us and casting a squid jig relentlessly for an hour before finally capturing a prized calamari. After setting his bait a short distance in from our yellowtail we all started playing the waiting game. Old mate with the squid didn’t have to wait too long before his ratchet screamed and reel started yielding line to a hefty kingfish that was later landed and would pull the scales down to about seven kilos. While we thought our live yellowtail baits were prime, it was clear that the kingfish preferred the fresh garfish and 86 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

squid offerings, as evidenced that morning.

That was one of many lessons learnt through time on the water and over the years you tend to learn which baits work best for a particular species but have you ever stopped and thought why this might be the case?

There is a clear pecking order with live local baits generally being a standout followed by fresh baits and so on till you reach the smelly old frozen bait that has been sitting in the sun for hours. Not all baits are created equal however and the following points will hopefully give some insights to get you thinking about the optimal bait for the fish you’re planning to target.

Safe eating

Repetition and familiarity are important survival instincts that fish focus on – unfamiliar food sources are likely to be dealt with timidly while a familiar and safe food source will likely be eaten with gusto. In the kingfish example I mention above, yellowtail are a somewhat spiky bait with annoying tail scutes that make it a less desirable bait than

the relatively soft and fragile garfish or jelly like squid. Eating a yellowtail from the wrong angle could result in a fish “choking” or being injured from the spines and scutes.

Squid and garfish on the other hand are relatively safe to eat from any angle being softer and no doubt easier to swallow and digest, resulting in them being favoured over baits that are bony and pose higher risk. I like to take the claw off a nipper bait while fishing for whiting and will prefer a blood worm bait without the pincers in the head trying to bite me or the fish I’m chasing! Pilchards are a wonderful bait for good reason, they’re soft little balls of protein that require little thought when eating and no doubt their soft bones and plump bodies require less energy to digest making them a safe and sought after meal.

Sensory stimulation

Lifeless bait that isn’t nervous or trying to flee from predation would appear somewhat peculiar to a predator on the prowl for their next meal. Picture your dead frozen prawn, curled up on a hook, wafting around lifelessly

J

ust remember that predatory fish develop favourable feeding experiences over time which live baits mimic more readily than dead ones. Juvenile fish are yet to develop these experiences so will latch onto any bait haphazardly, which is why you often catch undersized fish.”

in the current. The abnormal behaviour of that lifeless prawn will likely give off a negative visual cue. Any bait that has been long dead will start to decompose so will likely “smell” abnormal also. Live baits send out vibrations through their movements and these familiar vibrations are picked up by a predator’s lateral line. Similarly, the appearance of a live bait and chemical signature or “smell” will differ to one that is dead and decaying.

These different sensory cues are a primary factor in explaining why live bait will generally out fish dead bait. Just remember that predatory fish develop favourable feeding experiences over time which live baits mimic more readily than dead ones. Juvenile fish that are yet to develop these experiences so will latch onto any bait haphazardly which is why you often catch undersized fish. Larger fish have a more developed sensory faculty so will require baits that are live or fresh and rigged and presented as naturally as possible to optimise your chances of success.

ABOVE: Snapper are a wily fish that easily spook and are best tempted with a natural looking bait.

LEFT: Beach worms make deadly bait for all sorts of species.

BELOW: Pike are a great bait off the rocks but mightn’t be as good for a jewie up river that might never have seen one

Core versus novel baits

I recently read a research article that examined the diets and feeding habits of freshwater fish which suggested that predatory freshwater species preferred that small core group of prey items rather than novel prey. Familiarity of the bait is key in this instance. If the bait you are using is found in the habitat you are fishing in then it is likely to be typical core bait that the predators chase and will increase your chances of success. The takeaway point is that locally sourced bait is often preferred to bait sourced out of area. If you can catch it yourself near your fishing grounds and use it fresh then your chance of success will increase immensely. fishingworld.com.au | May 2016 | 87

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DAVE RAE

Winter is Coming With the steamy summer now a distant memory, plans are in place for a bumper season of snapper, pearlies and other cold water species on the North Coast of NSW.

BY DAVE RAE

Winter is snapper season on the NSW North Coast.

However, speaking of treasures, nothing is as nice as a piece of pearl perch. Whilst it’s true that pearlies can be targeted in 40m plus of water, inshore they are more of a by-catch, but far more regular in the cooler months. I’ve found pearlies to be fond of blue plastics, so I tend to replace the chickens and brown lures with something based on blue - for example, blue ghost, pepper or sardine. They don’t fight like a true sports fish, but eh, my sport fish account is full at the moment. I’ve just enjoyed a mackerel season on 4-7kg line, so I reckon I can afford to tag a few pearlies for the table!

As far as the mackerel went, the smaller spotted mackerel on 4kg line were awesome fun. Typically, each fight took at least five minutes and some longer. I thought 20 minutes would be about right for the average fish, but it was surprising how quickly 4kg line would subdue a spotty. The inevitable Spaniard-spooling did occur once and that was probably because I had to argue with a mate who didn’t want to take the rod; I don’t think either of us appreciated how quickly the spool was emptying. By the time he took it, he handed it straight back with the words: “you take it, there are only three turns of line left on the spool.” Bugger!

T

here’s nothing quite like spotting a few reds on your favourite reef edge and getting hit as the lure or bait sinks down behind the boat.”

I DON’T know about you, but I experienced a very hot and humid summer. Some days I’d be sweating after the smallest bit of movement and on others I seemed to be enjoying a cold outside shower a half dozen times each day. Makes me think how tough the tropical dwellers are, as for them heat and humidity make for a normal wet season day and night.

Whilst we had a cracker of a mackerel season, and spent many an evening on the beach enjoying a meal of hot smoked mackerel or muddies cooked in the smoker on the tailgate of the Triton. I became officially over sweat and am already really enjoying the cooler weather!

It’s easy to complain about winter. True it’s colder (of course), but with a “glass half full” as opposed to “half empty”, the advantages of cooler weather becomes much easier to appreciate.

90 | fishingworld.com.au | May 2016

Beach fires with steaks or fillets of reef fish take precedence, as does a tailor or mulloway bait being deployed whilst we warm our feet near the flames.

Winter for me is primarily snapper time.

I really enjoy floating a bait or throwing a plastic on those cold and still mornings. There’s nothing quite like spotting a few reds on your favourite reef edge and getting hit as the lure or bait sinks down behind the boat. Snapper fight really well and they look fantastic as their blue potholes light up against the pink and white of their flanks. Plus, they are great on the table, and even better if ike’ jimed upon capture and bled in an ice slurry. Thai curry snapper, crumbed skinless fillets, honey and mustard sauce and good old beer batter are the main ways we devour these winter treasures.

The cooler months see the mulloway become concentrated as they target mullet.

It’s a case of finding where the mullet schools congregate on what tide and then hitting the spot until you nail one. School jew are far more common off the rocks as are the tailor, bream and black drummer.

Up here on the Mid-North Coast of NSW, wintertime is rock fishing time. So my beanies and raincoats are ready. The shoulder bag has drummer and bream hooks, as well as a new box of tailor gangs and my schoolie soft plastic bottle is full too. There’s an IQF box of pillies in the freezer as well as 10 packets of plastics sitting nearby. Because I’m a princess I’ve bought a pair of warm woolen gloves to keep the colour in my fingers as I drive the boat out to my favourite snapper grounds… So one could say that Rae is ready. Let’s hope the water cools sufficiently in order to bring the snapper into the shallows!

.

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