25 SEPTEMBER, 2015
MONTHLY
VOLUME 12
Welcome one and all and thank you for tuning in
QLD waters. Over the past decade almost every
to this month’s edition of JTSM, your local
likeminded sport fisho I’ve discussed the matter
sportfishing news. Spring has sprung, the winter
with has voiced strong views on removing the
angling season that never really was, has departed
commercial nets from our estuaries and bays.
for another year. Whilst air temperatures in patches
Follow the link below and sign the “Nets out
were quite brisk this winter, water temperature
Queensland” e-petition, it only takes a moment of
never dropped much below 20 degrees. Sustained
your time and could start a flow on effect
warmer waters didn’t encourage the winter fish
benefitting all fishos state wide. The Queensland
migration which ended up being little more than
parliament is finally willing to listen, let’s make
sporadic at best.
sure we are heard!
A busy month it’s been, we’ve welcomed our fourth Prime Minister in five years (not counting the forgettable Mr Rudd twice) and there’s been a strong push to remove more commercial nets from
Steve Kelly
EDITOR
image taken from “Waypoints - Chilean Patagonia” video
CLICK HERE
Waypoints - Chilean Patagonia
This month’s short video is a beautiful destination fishing piece shot by Denver Miller, part of the sequence that makes up the world renowned “Waypoints” DVD. Confluence films have produced some of the finest multi destination fishing videos over the past decade, I can highly recommend following the link and purchasing one of their productions.
Offshore Fishy
Frank Gilligan subdued this brute of a bludger trevally on a recent trip to Hervey Bay
REPORT
Damon Mclean with a healthy example of a hard fighting Cape Moreton Yellowtail Kingfish
Offshore Fishy
REPORT
Well it seems the greater blue water fish population
Western Rocks and Hutchison’s Shoal have both
of South East Queensland hasn’t been informed of
continued to produce excellent quality Spanish and
the benefits vitamin D and Omega 3 fatty acids
broad barred mackerel right through the cooler
have on the human body and brain. When sea and
months. Tepid winter time offshore waters played a
wind conditions have permitted for offshore
large part in this. It will be interesting to see if
fishing, the majority of our local angling fleet have
these toothy critters hang around throughout
found it tough to bring home a feed.
spring. The local light tackle marlin fleet is franticly re rigging and re skirting lures in
One of the more consistent areas for squire over the
preparation for the start of our juvenile black
past few weeks has been the shallow reef systems
marlin run. September last year had the first of the
and coffee rock under the lighthouse at Cape
junior blacks arriving at Hervey Bay, Brisbane
Moreton. Typically these areas start to fish well in
following in the weeks thereafter. Over the past
early spring; productive times tend to be when a
decade I have certainly noticed a trend, when we
high tide change coincides with dusk or dawn.
have an excellent mackerel season in SEQ we
Lightly weighted soft plastic jerkshad or prawn
typically have a poor juvenile black marlin run and
imitations cast well away from the boat while
vice versa. The exception has been at Hervey Bay
drifting these locations should attract attention. In
and Bundaberg, here’s to proving me wrong in
glassy calm conditions the shallow coffee rock
summer 2015.
patches tend to be more like an aquarium. Try fishing these locations when slightly turbulent
Pearl perch, squire and tusk fish have been caught
water lifts the nutrients and attracts the schools of
sporadically over the past few weeks, weather
bait. Bait schools will frequent the shore line along
permitting they should only continue to improve
the eastern beach at Moreton and Stradbroke
this month. Wide Caloundra and the shallower
Islands as we progress further into the month,
systems to the west should provide fishos with
larger predators often in close proximity.
quality perch right through spring time. This area is also home to some of the largest amberjack in
Sight casting to the large cobia or tuna that cruise
our local waterways. Both kingfish and amberjack
with the bait makes for entertaining sport fishing
have offered excellent sport on light to medium
on relatively light tackle. On your way offshore this
jigging tackle at Hutchy’s, Round Patch and Square
spring, try cruising the northern facing beaches at
Patch and should only continue to grow in size this
both North Stradbroke and Moreton Islands
month. Perl Perch or Snapper locations in depths
scanning for large bait schools in on the shallows,
ranging between 50 – 80m are all likely hotspots to
being mindful of the green zone surrounding
try high pitch jigging for kingfish or amberjack.
North Point on Moreton Island.
Fingers crossed for favourable conditions this spring so we can all get out on the salt and briny.
Moreton Bay and Estuary
REPORT
Flathead have continued to provide local inshore
channel edges and exposed coffee rock. The ledge at
enthusiasts with quality fishing throughout August
Bulwer and the Curtain Artificial Reef have been
and the first half of September. With the annual
two of the more consistent locations, soft plastics
Flathead Classic just around the corner many of
and micro jigs both popular choices for attracting
the participants have been getting in plenty of pre
all matter of species. Cobia are starting to move
fish time in the lead up to the event. The ever
into the northern bay with sporadic captures
popular Jumpinpin flats, gutters and deeper
already coming from the Wild Banks Artificial and
channels will be targeted heavily in this year’s
Curtain Reef. Cobia are a sucker for a well
tournament; fish over 90cm in length already
presented slow pitch jig, this technique allows the
caught and released this season. Nudgee Creek and
angler to very precisely present their offering
the flats at the entrance of Jackson Creek have
directly into a bait school or particular piece of
produced some of the best flathead and chopper
structure with a sense of urgency. Next time you’re
tailor captures we have seen for some years. The
venturing into the northern bay targeting cobia or
size of the flathead should continue to improve and
kingfish around the navigational markers, make
it will be worth targeting whiting on poppers in the
sure you have a 60-80 gram slow pitch jig in your
same locations in the later stages of this month.
arsenal.
Scarborough Reef and the southern end of the
It’s been a relatively slow winter season around the
Bribie Passage are offering quality bream of late
Southern Bay Islands. Warmer waters and a lack of
with the odd squire thrown in for tasty measure.
squire proceeding down through the bay have made
The Bribie Island Bridge has been a popular
for slim pickings in August and September.
location late at night with large jew fish and green
Flathead numbers around Macleay and Coochi
back tailor the prized quarry. The months of
have been positive, the region also experiencing a
September and October are historically excellent
good run of diver whiting. Although diver whiting
times to target large jew fish, shad styled soft
are not usually recognised as a sport fishing target,
plastics and sinking blades are proven lure choices.
the species that eat them are. Hopes are high
Look to target the mouths of the Brisbane and Pine
amongst locals in the southern bay that we should
Rivers or the Jumpinpin Bar and Gold Coast
see a good springtime snapper run. Tailor are still
Seaway either side of the tide changes.
frequenting the southern bay islands and in years
Northern Moreton Bay has been fishing reasonably
passed we have seen Australian salmon join them
consistently for schooling squire along the deeper
during early spring.
Here’s hoping they may turn up and inject a little
squid with a few big eye trevally and tailor also
life into what’s been a relatively slow sport fishing
present. The month of September often sees large
winter. Mud Island has also had an uncanny winter
schools of bonito and mac tuna arrive in the bay,
with only a handful of quality fish being recorded
fingers
thus far. Fortunately the shallow waters have
accommodating.
crossed
both
weather
and
fish
are
provided quality sight casting opportunities to
The delectable Lesley Marshall with her slice of Hervey Bay gold
Below: Frank Gilligan with a fine Spanish Mackerel.
Above: Cricket legend and keen fisho Andy Bichel getting amongst a few snapper at Moreton Island earlier this month
Freshwater REPORT
Noel Frost with a prehistoric looking North Pine Dam Saratoga
The punctuality of our local dam bass populations
Samsonvale. Almost unbelievable numbers of fish
has also been poor this winter; the usually reliable
were tagged over the 48 hour period, between 24
schooling bass have also been late to stack up in the
vessels (50 anglers) they managed to capture, tag
deeper waters. Locations such as Pelican Point and
and release 1,333 Australian bass. Very exciting to
Queen Street at Somerset Dam are both now
hear the fishery appears to be thriving and even
holding good schooling fish, the old creek bed off
more exciting to see one of our very regular
Platypus Cliffs at Wivenhoe still takes some
customers Noel Frost land a stunning saratoga over
beating in September. Recent bass tournaments at
75cm in length. Although small numbers were
Hinze Dam have uncovered excellent quality
stocked into the lake, saratoga has never really been
fishing with the majority of competitors all
thought of as a targetable species in the North Pine
weighing in hefty bags. Concentrate interests off
Dam. A stunning example of a prehistoric saratoga
the deeper points and around the underwater tree
Noel, many thanks for keeping us up to date with
tops using spin tails, vibes and ice jigs. Early
the happenings in and around PRFMA. The
October is often a magic time to fish the margins of
PRFMA’s Boating Access Scheme has just kicked
our local dams with surface lures and spinnerbaits.
off for another year and I’m led to believe there are
If the warm day time temperatures we are
still many permits available.
experiencing
continue,
then
I’m
confident
locations like Hinze Dam and Borumba will
For all the details regarding Lake Samsonvale
produce excellent sport fishing throughout spring.
Boating Permits or to check out the good work the folks
at
the
Pine
Rivers
Fish
Management
On the 29th and 30th of August Sun Tag in
Association are doing then be sure to follow the
conjunction with the Pine Rivers Fish Management
link. http://www.prfma.com.au/home
Association held a survey tagging event at Lake
New PRODUCTS
“The CRANKA Crab is an original and unique Crab design that has been more than 10 years in development. This lure was designed specifically for bream but as anglers are quickly finding out it is deadly on a wide range of different estuarine species. This lure features realistic floating foam claws that are attached to the treble hooks to make the lure come to life in the water. The foam claws float up above the crabs head in the water waving around just like a real "defensive" crab that is trying to defend itself from predators that are trying to eat it. These floating claws not only make the crab look extremely real in the water, but they also place the hooks into the perfect position for a positive hook up when a fish eats the lure... these floating claws also makes the lure extremely "snag resistant" as the hooks stay up off the bottom during the retrieve!”
Taking the Australian tournament bream scene by storm the latest designed Cranka Crab has earned pride of place on the wall at Jones’s Tackle. The tournament winning design, realistic looks and seductive swimming action are sure to account for many species down the eastern seaboard. The Cranka Crabs bigger brother will be available in the coming months, wearing the same good looks and a single saltwater hook; a must have for the skinny water enthusiast.
“Every couple of years it seems the Shimano technical people grab hold of the Stradic spin reel lineup and make a great reel even better. Well the 2016 reels continue that tradition — big time. Firstly, a reel of this standing couldn’t be without the new Hagane Body. This metal frame delivers high rigidity, so there’s no flexing when under load and no loss of cranking power either. This is complemented by the Hagane Gear system — not cut gear teeth, but 3D design cold forging for increased resilience and longer durability.” “The new Stradics have an additional SA-RB bearing and they’re all high 6:1 to 6.2:1 plus gear ratios, so cast lures will really motor on the retrieve. Aero Wrap II, the AR-C spool, One Piece Bail and G-Free Body all demonstrate that these reels are going to be are a repetitive caster’s delight to use, with better balance in the hand. While the new gen’ Stradics can be used just about anywhere, the presence of Coreprotect on the roller clutch, the drag, the body and the line roller, indicate that these reels are going to be perfectly at home in the world’s harshest environment — the salt.”
“Australia's leading manufacturer of custom made Spinnerbaits for the tournament angler, diehard fisherman and people who just want to catch fish. Made and manufactured in Australia using top quality components and silicone skirt material. Let Bassman build your own winning spinnerbait. We have a proven track record for attracting all freshwater and saltwater species.” Bassman Spinnerbaits are excited to release this year’s new editions to their tournament winning range. The new compact “Shorty” is available in ½ oz and comes rigged with tandem blades, compact wire and has a stinger hook. Bassman Shorty sinks faster, is more snag resistant and the compact design allows for tighter running at speed. “Yellaman” is the second edition to the range for 2015 weighing 3/8oz, donning a compact wire system with cupped tandem blades, stinger hook and includes a paddle tailed grub. Yellaman is sure to tempt even the cagiest old Yellabelly. Attention to the finer details, quality components and exceptional paint work are just some of the subtleties that make Bassman the number one Spinnerbait in Australia. To view a range of their products drop down to the store and say G’day or check them out at http://www.bassmanspinnerbaits.com.au/.
Final
WORD
Well this old pen is just about out of ink for another month. Phalanges crossed this prevailing southerly blow departs for elsewhere leaving magic conditions in its wake. We would like to thank our regular contributors for sending in their reports and images and welcome any of our readers to send us their favourite happy snaps. For any further information about what’s biting around the pond or to find out the latest tackle and tips be sure to email us at jtsm@jonestackle.com.au or drop into the store and say G’day. Enjoy the outdoors this spring, tight lines, Hooroo.
Steve Kelly
EDITOR