Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 068 2007 June

Issue 68 June - July 2007

$3.95

Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027

Almost a World Record

Tim Youd, Rob Arnold and Paul Rigby with the 153 kilo southern bluefin tuna landed off St Helens in May. Read the full report on page 6

• Southern bluefin tuna catches continue • Winter fishing • East Coast lagoons • The bream Doctor • Winter getaways • Jan’s flies • Sarah’s kitchen • Boats and boating

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CONTENTS

Inland Fisheries News 4 Sea Fisheries news 4 Southern bluefin tuna - almost a World Record - Jamie Henderson

6

Bluefin mania continues - John Orchard 9 East Coast lagoons - backyard Winter secrets - Jamie Henderson Tasmanian Bream Classic - Round 1 - Dan Clifton

10

13

Servicing reels - Leroy Tirant 14 Tamar River gummy sharks - Damon Sherriff

15

Jame Haddy - the bream Doctor - Dan Clifton

16

Winter getaway - Craig Rist 18 Feeding the Winter habit - Jamie Harris 22 Lowland trout to finish the season - Mark Salisbury

24

Sarah’s kitchen 27 Fishing and boating directory 28 Choosing the right line for you 30 Boats and boating 30 Jan’s flies - Jan Spencer 34 Classifieds and subscriptions 37

My Say What a fish! The cover shot is a beauty.

Tim Youd, on the left delivered my firewood for a while and fishing was always talked about. After the momentous capture he rang and told me I had to run the photo on the cover. Jeez man I was too frightened not too, but what a worthy fish.

I had to use a few Photoshop skills to clean a few things up - especially Tim’s ‘lucky’ shirt.

It was a bit messy to say the least, but as his lucky shirt it doesn’t get washed too often.

Well it sure worked for him.

What this capture should really tell all of us is don’t give up - keep fishing and you will be rewarded. These three guys work really hard at chasing game fish and I am ecstatic that they have been so well rewarded. I am sure we will get a few more cover shots out of them in the future, but I am not sure how long the lucky Shimano shirt will last.

Well done Rob, Tim and Paul.

Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News has moved into the www world with a website.

Check out www.tasfish.com sometime soon.

We get lots of request for old magazines still and we wondered if we could get all, or most of the stories from old issues on the web.

Eventually we will have most of them on line and they will be easily searchable.

If you go to www.tasfish.com and register you will also start getting a weekly fishing report and other useful stuff. It is very much under construction and if you have a suggestion drop us an email. And yes old issues are still available.

The great Australian fishing line manufacturer, Platypus, has given us a bunch of line to give away. All you need to do is find the four individual Platypus logos, cut them out and send them into us at the address below. Tell us what line you like and we will pick five winners.

If you don’t want to cut this august publication just write on your entry what pages you found the Platypus logos on.

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Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Published by Michael Stevens PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250.

Ph/fax; 6331 1278 Email; fishn@bigpond.net.au Advertising: Quenton Higgs - 0427 129 949 Stevens Publishing, ABN 79 095 217 299 All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027 Printed by Harris Print, 39 Alexander St, Burnie.

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Fishing News - Page 3

Inland Fisheries News

Top weekend at Liawenee

the pond earlier in the week and were really keen to bite by the Saturday. The whole construction was totally professional, the only result you would expect from IFS and received huge acclaim from the kids, mums and dads who patiently queued for their youngsters to hopefully catch dinner!

Supervision of fishing was managed by a very enthusiastic band of Fishcare Volunteers

Liawenee Trout weekend conducted over 19 & 20 May just past was surely a great success if measured by the huge smiles on kids faces on their way home. And they certainly had plenty to smile about after catching a fat rainbow trout from a pond, custom built by Inland Fisheries.

In a first for the Liawenee Trout weekend (Formerly known as Open weekend) Inland Fisheries did a splendid job building a Junior angling pond some 20 m in diameter and 2 m deep. Approximately 300 Lucy Devries with a nice little rainbow domestic triploid rainbow from the fishout pond. trout were introduced to from both the south, north and north east of the state. Five kids at a time were allowed to try their luck for 15 to 20 minutes and by far the majority were rewarded with the weight of a fat, hard fighting rainbow. With a queue at times 20m long the volunteers had to utilise all their fishing prowess and advice to get a kid hooked up. Most times it was virtually instantaneous, others just a bit longer and at the end of the weekend over 250 fish were extracted. Needless to say this caused great applause from the waiting audience, particularly so when one lad landed a seven pounder!

The Junior angling pond was not the only first for the weekend. Work had been completed on a new fish trap about a Fishcare Volunteer co-ordinator, kilometre down Liawenee Canal that enabled Quenton Higgs helping Lauren IFS to run a courtesy coach from the main and Sharon bell catch a fish. exhibit area. The public was able to view the

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thousands of brown trout returning from the Great Lake to the canal for annual spawning.

And so the life cycle continues and this was magnificently aided by record flows of water into the canal from Lake Augusta.

Up to four thousand people attended on both days of the weekend taking in various exhibits including the good work that IFS continues to do on fish propagation, pest fish, native fish, protected species and infrastructure projects such as the Woods Lake road upgrade. It should be noted that

eggs and milt from the trout at Liawenee are transported to Inland Fisheries brand new, state of the art hatchery at New Norfolk where they will be hatched, grown to 100 mm fingerlings for release throughout the state. This is another exciting story for a later issue. There was also opportunity for fly casting practice, fly tying plus a host of other interesting fishing related ventures plus lots of delicious tucker.

Well-done John Diggle and the team at IFS, great job!

Recreational Marine Fisheries News June 2007 Scallop Season Ends

The recreational fishing season for scallops closes at the end of this month.

More than 5,000 recreational scallop dive licences were issued for the 2007 season with fishers again reporting good catches.

The 2006 scallop stock assessment conducted by the Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute shows that recreational fishers are having a significant impact on scallop stocks, particularly commercial scallops, in areas that have been subject to heavy fishing pressure. However, there are still significant numbers of scallops available to support further seasons.

The vast majority (88 per cent) of scallop fishing was concentrated in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel, with Great Oyster Bay of minor importance. Effort was focussed in the central Channel with 87 per cent of all scallop fishing trips resulting in the daily bag limit of 40 scallops being reached.

The majority of fishers (83 per cent) indicated that they were satisfied with the cautious management approach taken, i.e. conservative bag limit, large minimum size limit and a relatively long fishing season.

Equal proportions of fishers considered that the daily bag limit of 40 was either ‘about right’ or ‘too low’.

All fishers are invited to have their say about how the recreational scallop fishery is managed with the review of the recreational scallop fishery management plan.

Some of the key issues being reviewed include: • prohibited areas for the commercial scallop dredge fishery; • setting the rules for the recreational fishery (so that they are the same from year to year); • bag and possession limits; • season dates; • consumption of scallops at sea; • size limits and when to measure scallops; and • fishing on behalf of other licence holders.

Keep your eye out for notification of the public consultation periods in the public notices section of Tasmanian newspapers or on the Legislation and Management page of the Department’s website www.fishing. tas.gov.au

Thumbs up from Recreational Fishers

A r e c e n t s u r ve y o f Ta s m a n i a ’s licensed recreational fishers has found an overwhelming majority of fishers are satisfied with the Department of Primary Industries and Water’s management of recreational sea fisheries with 79 percent of respondents

either “very satisfied” or “quite satisfied”.

Recreational fishers returned more than 5,000 completed survey forms (sent out late last year with sea fishing licence renewal notices) giving DPIW extensive feedback on how they prefer to access information on sea fishing rules, how they feel about the current rules and how their fisheries are managed.

The results show that the DPIW’s work in fisheries management is being recognised and greatly appreciated by the fishers themselves.

More than three-quarters of licensed recreational sea fishers thought Tasmania's current rules and regulations were ‘about right’ in terms of the balance between how generous or restrictive they should be.

Communication materials prepared for recreational fishers are proving their worth with 91 percent of fishers using the Department’s Recreational Sea Fishing Guide as their main source of information regarding marine fishing regulations.

More than 85 percent of fishers found sea fishing regulations “very easy” or “quite easy” to understand, showing the Department’s education program to help fishers understand quite detailed regulations is meeting fishers needs.

While the overall survey results are extremely positive, they also provide feedback on areas where the Department can improve.

The survey showed only 23 percent of fishers were aware of the Fishwise Community Grants program which uses funds raised from the sale of recreational sea fishing licenses to provides grants for projects that improve recreational sea fisheries and community understanding of fishing issues.

The Department will be looking at how to better promote the excellent projects that have been funded by Fishwise Community Grants, as well as the availability of the grants themselves, to show fishers how their licensing money is put back in to projects that benefit them.

Awareness of the Fishcare Volunteer program was also not as high as expected, with 46 per cent of licensed fishers being aware of this key program to provide the fishing public with on the ground advice on fishing rules and regulations as well as good fishing practices.

Need more information?

For information on recreational sea fishing: • call the Recreational Sea Fishing Line on (03) 6233 7042; or • visit www.fishing.tas.gov.au

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...from page 1

Not only dreamers ..but doers

As fisherman we are always dreaming of the perfect day on the water where everything comes together resulting in a meritorious catch, be it chasing brown trout in the highlands, bream in our estuaries or big game fish in our oceans its what drives us to keep trying even when we think it’s a waste of time.

We watch fishing shows on the television and read magazines where wonderful fish of magnificent proportions are caught in far away places, destinations most of us will never see but wish we could. But every now and again we hear of a capture in our own back yard, caught by fisherman just like the rest of us, no plane trips to remote fishing spots or expensive charters, a capture that drops jaws and leaves people amazed, gets the respect of seasoned veterans and gets fisherman everywhere fired up and twitchy…….this is one of those stories.

It all started 5 or 6 years ago, two mates, Rob Arnold and Tim Youd, decided to try their hand at game fishing and concentrate their efforts on the East Coast of Tasmania, St Helens, the “Game Fishing Capital” of Tassie.

With a boat and fishing gear they headed off to explore the blue waters of eastern Tasmania, a few years went by with mixed results, all the time new gear was purchased and collected, rods, reels, a myriad of lures that any tackle shop would be proud to own and the most important thing of all, experience on the water.

These guys were dedicated, always looking for a trip, working hard all week just to get on the water on the weekend and never wasting any part of the day; leaving the boat ramp pre-dawn and most days not returning until it was getting dark. With guidance from people like charter operator Gerald Spaulding on the “Norseman” and his seasoned, and very experienced deckhand, Paul Rigby, things started to come together.

The last couple of seasons brought some good success, and with every trip the guys would gain a little more knowledge and a feel for what goes on when the tuna are about.

Then the 2007 season came around and by this stage the guys had amassed a big investment in gear so making the most of every opportunity was very important. The season started slow with many missed hookups and dropped fish, from Christmas time onwards the boys were on the water most weekends, by mid May they had racked up around 30 trips but there had been a couple of exciting encounters.

The first was getting a good marlin up behind the spread out in an area known as the Binalong Patch, but they were denied a solid hookup. Then some decent albacore to 25kg, a solid catch in anyone’s books, but the best was yet to come.

While fishing without his regular partner one afternoon, Tim with Rob’s sister as crew hooked a 55kg yellowfin on a 15kg outfit. The fish was hooked just south of the Plateau and

Rob Arnold with nearly a World record. 153 kilograms of southern bluefin tuna. Maybe next time Rob...... gave Tim hell, the fish fought hard coming to the boat a few times but just wouldn’t give up, darkness was drawing close and Rob’s sister was tiring from the heavy steering on the boat, local charter skipper Rocky Carosi on “Saltshaker” was nearby and had lost a good fish. He had been on the radio with Tim earlier and knew he had hooked a good fish and radioed back to see how he was going, Tim had been on the fish for a few hours by this stage so the decision to help out

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Fishing News - Page 6

by dropping Rocky’s deck hand, Greg, onto the other boat was made. Greg took over the wheel and steered the boat to help Tim subdue the fish and after 4 gruelling hours he was there to help with the gaff shot, fighting a big fish from a trailer boat into the darkness was a gutsy effort. continued page 8.......

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Fishing News - Page 7

For most fishermen this would be the pinnacle, but for these guys there is always a bigger fish to catch and three weeks later saw them back on the water this time together and with Paul Rigby as a third crew member.

The day was beautiful, flat calm and clear skies, the boat was pointed towards the Plateau once again as the preceding weeks had seen some action and good fish in the area. A couple of mid sized albacore were soon boated and the day was looking fishy, then it happened a double hookup with the 15 kg screaming line only to have the hooks pull free….. but it was a good fish. Robs 24 kg outfit, a Shimano TLD50 2 speed, was hit hard and was losing line rapidly, 700m of 24kg line disappeared in seconds and the boys knew they had something big, the fish dived hard but with only 250m of depth he arced out and ran fast creating a huge belly in the line. This only worked against the fish as the drag on the belly of line took its toll, Rob worked hard on the fish with the encouragement of his crewmembers and everything held together. After a 2 ¼ hour battle the fish was boatside and the size of the fish wasn’t realised until it took 2 gaffs and a tail rope to get it into the boat.

A massive southern bluefin tuna lay in the boat but and the boys called it for somewhere around 90-100kg. A southern bluefin of that size was a magnificent catch for St Helens waters but it wasn’t until they had the fish back at the Hillcrest Caravan Park and up on the gantry with the scales that the true significance of the capture was realised.

The big bluefin pulled the scales down to 153kg, a mere 5kg under the world record for southern bluefin tuna but smashing the Australian record by 27.25kg, a record that has stood since 1985 of a 125.75kg fish caught by Ashley Hallam also in Tasmanian waters.

This is one of those captures that lays testimony to never giving up when the fishing is slow, never throwing in the towel and to keep plugging away as the rewards will eventually come. For these guys the dedication and hard work has put them in the record books and cemented them as local legends.

Jamie Henderson

Places to stay: Scamander Beach Resort: 6372 5255 St Helens Caravan Park: 6376 1290 St Helens Bayside Inn: 6376 1466 Tidal Waters Resort: 6376 1999

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Fishing News - Page 8

Bluefin mania continues

Above: Southern bluefin tuna put up a fantastic fight - even the small fish.

Here we are into June and the game-fishing season is well and truly in full swing in the south, but not just the south. Over the past month we have seen many albacore in the 15 – 20 kilo range caught off St.Helens - not to mention the huge Australian record bluefin that weighed in at an incredible 153 kilo’s. But it is in the south of the state that anglers are really having a ball!

Eaglehawk Neck is on fire as those anglers that fished the recent Southern Bluefin Championships found out. I am not aware of a single boat that didn’t land multiple bluefin for the competition and organisers even ran out of “catch & release” tags on the first day, certainly the best competition to have been held out of “The Neck” for many years.

Over the past couple of weeks the fishing has continued in the same vein with one boat even landing a wahoo, or dolphin fish as it is more commonly known. Although there have been wahoo found washed up on our coastline before, this is the first one known to have been caught in Tasmanian waters on a rod and reel which just goes to show what a diverse and productive fishery we have right on our doorstep.

There is a huge amount of baitfish in the area at the moment made up predominantly of redbait and small squid. This bait is sure to hold tuna in the area for weeks to come so don’t be fooled on bright sunny days when the fish “stay down” and give the impression that there are no fish left – it’s times like this to run a darker coloured “Mack Bait” or Halco Trembler at the front of your lure spread – or be radical and try something different! The bulk of these fish are currently in the 20 kilo

Left: You can never troll too close to the rocks. Unfortunately the seals know when a boat has a fish hooked up and they are very fast to investigate - often they win.

range so have some fun, locate them on the sounder and pull out the “knife jigs” – tuna are great fun on spinning tackle!!!

I have even managed to get hold of some super sized soft plastics in a dark colour branded “YUM” which are going over the side soon for the first time just for something different – bluefin on soft plastics, that’s different!!!

When the conditions are ideal – cloudy and overcast with a bit of surface chop - the fish are coming up and can be seen “busting” the surface everywhere – it’s times like this that the redbait imitating Meridian Super Donger lure (affectionately known as “the brown dog”) comes into its own and has been responsible for many a fishes demise over the past two or three weeks – if you don’t have one in your tackle box, you might do better to stay home and do the gardening!

Pedra Branca, off the southern tip of Tassie has also been (and still is) fishing well and although the average size of fish is currently only around the same 20 kilo mark the bigger fish that this area is well renowned for won’t be far away.

Last season we had bluefin right through until the first week in August which is

probably the latest season we have ever had – this season is shaping up to be the same so it looks like there will be ample fish to keep us out of mischief until the trout season opens again.

Beat the winter blues, rug up and go and get hooked up – IT”S FUN !

John Orchard.

Bluefin Mania – footnote (Thursday 24 May) Although the weather was too rough to throw my “YUM” soft plastic over the side - thanks to a howling northerly wind, we still had a ball. Having traveled quickly down to the Hippolyte Rock we put out four lines, trolled fifty yards, got a four strike and landed the lot – with only two people on board our day was going to be over before it started so we let one go! We put out two lines, trolled thirty yards and got two more – both of which were released so that we could keep fishing – you can’t pack up and go home after only 30 minutes!

By lunch we’d hooked 19 fish, the seals helped themselves to 6; we landed 11, and broke two more off trying to land them on locked drags before the seals took them. A great morning fishing. Go the Brown Dog!

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East Coast lagoons - backyard secrets

Jamie Henderson looks at his backyard lagoons around St Helens at some fantastic fisheries that are all but deserted at this time of the year.

Access is easy, a boat is not essential and accommodation is bargain priced. Why not take a break in Tassie and enjoy the fishing.

As winter looms closer many of our fishing options become restricted, trout fishing is limited to only a few lakes and the snowy weather conditions stop us venturing to the highlands. Many of our salt water species either migrate or become dormant in their activity and less daylight hours means less time on the water. But there is a saving grace of piscatorial delights that is commonly overlooked by most anglers, many drive straight past them next to our main coastal highways and don’t even give them a second look, yet they can be alive with fish life just waiting to be caught.

I am talking about our coastal lagoons.

Some of these lagoons are no bigger than that a couple of backyards and some can be as big as many of our lakes, some are landlocked for long periods of time while others are open to the sea and tidal.

PLACES TO STAY ON THE EAST COAST

St Helens Bayside Inn

The east coast means sun, blue ocean and white sparkly beaches. St Helens basks in the magnificent Georges Bay, a haven for yachts and fishing boats and a wonderful view from the Bayside Inn. Relax in a roomy and comfortable ensuite unit, an easy walk to the shops and cafes in the centre of St Helens.

There you’ll also find the St Helens History Room; take a walk round the bay to get a feel for the town and its beautiful surroundings; drive the short distance to St Columba Falls, the highest in Tasmania; visit the Bay of Fires north of St Helens, where you’ll find fishing lagoons, beaches for swimming and fishing, intriguing rock formations and colourful displays of wildflowers.

Its an easy drive to three national parks in the area: north to Mount William and south to Douglas Apsley and Freycinet.

A swim in Bayside’s heated pool will refresh you after an active day, and sharpen your appetite for local fresh seafood in the restaurant or bistro.

After that you might play a little keno before retiring before another day of fun on the east coast.

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The serene character of the lagoons alone is worthy of a visit. But hook into one of many species of fish and your day will be even better.

They can be fished by walking the shore, wading or even from a small boat or canoe/ kayak. They can have a wide variety of fish and environments for fish to live in, many have small creeks that feed them with fresh water whilst others are pure salt water that are topped up from seepage through sand dunes. Some have dark tannin stained waters while others have crystal clear water with fantastic sandflats ideal for polaroiding but they are basically all the same, wonderful places to wet a line.

They stretch right up and down the coast with names like, Big Lagoon, Sloop lagoon, Grants Lagoon, Dianas Basin, Wrinklers lagoon and Hendersons Lagoon and many that don’t even have names but they all offer their own little surprises. Most are at the top of the East Coast, but not all.

sitting it there almost like a bait will be most effective. With the flick bits an erratic twitchy retrieve trying to imitate a wounded baitfish will bring savage strikes from any hungry bream or trevally in the area, same again every now and again just sit it in the bottom and you will be surprised as to how many fish will just pick it up.

In this situation a top quality pair of polarized sunglasses is a must, not only to protect the eyes from harmful UV rays reflecting off the water but to also spot schools of fish moving around up on the sandflats. Contrary to popular opinion many good sized bream will venture into water as shallow as 1 foot to feed so don’t discount the water right at your feet.

Another method that is very effective on the flats is the use of hard body lures, in this situation very light mono line and fluorocarbon line used all the way to the lure is preferred so as not to spook to many fish and to better work the lures. By using the light mono it is possible to cast very long distances which is needed to prospect as much open water as possible. I like to start by wading in water of about 2-6 feet deep and use a straight slow wind rolling retrieve. This will cover a lot of water quickly and usually results in some attention from any fish in the area. This type of retrieve quite often draws very savage strikes from fish especially Bream but if the fish are just following and

The Fish

Most of our coastal lagoons hold an amazing variety of different fish species, these include mullet, Australian salmon, tailor, leatherjacket, flounder, flathead, snapper, whiting, luderick, eels, silver trevally but by far the most common is the bream. I have personally caught all of these species out of one lagoon or another all up and down our East Coast and these fish can be targeted by many different forms of fishing such as bait, soft plastics, lures and fly.

continued on page 12...

The Techniques

Lagoon fish can be targeted by using a number of different methods by far the most popular being bait, however soft plastics, lures and fly come a close second.

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Bait

A simple rig of a running ball sinker, keeping the size of the sinker as small as possible, straight through to the hook will be ideal. As most of the lagoons are landlocked there is no tides or currents to have to deal with so a minimal amount of weight is required, just enough to let you cast out a reasonable distance from the shoreline. If there is weed around or the bottom is a little rocky rather than sand or mud then a small swivel tied 18” above the hook to act as a stopper for the sinker will stop your hook from becoming snagged to often. Hooks such as size #2-1/0 in long shank, octopus and sports circle styles are ideal depending on the baits being used. Good baits to try for the lagoons would be frozen prawns and pippies from your local tackle store or for those with a little more dedication freshly pumped nippers and sandworms are dynamite baits.

Soft Plastics/lures

This is my most favored technique for fishing the Lagoons as it is a very versatile method and you are able to mimic a wide variety of natural food items. Most of the substrate of a coastal lagoon is either sand flats, patchy weed covered mudflats or weed beds and is home to a wide variety of prey items for the fish. On the sand flats nippers and sandworms bury into the sand leaving little mounds all over the place and lots of small baitfish scurry everywhere.

All around the weed areas there will be schools of small baitfish as well as crabs, prawns and shrimps a rich food source for most fish.

Silver trevally, snapper, tailor and bream are all caught in the East Coast lagoons.

With the use of soft plastics you can imitate most of these natural food items and by adjusting the jighead weights different depths can be fished, the shallows a mere foot deep to the deeper drop offs that can reach 20-30 feet in depth. If wading from the shoreline and fishing the shallows I like to start prospecting with a TT-Head hidden weight system in either 1/40 or 1/60 ounce and #1 hook. These weights coupled with a Berkley Sandworm in natural or Camo to imitate a sandworm or a Squidgy Flickbait 70 mm in Evil Minnow to imitate the small baitfish. Just by walking the shallow waters staying in water from ankle depth to knee depth and placing long casts in a fanning type motion to cover as much water as possible until you find an area of feeding fish. With the worms a very slow rise and drop retrieve with small twitches and jerks and every now and again just

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Fishing News - Page 11

PLACES TO STAY ON THE EAST COAST

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not hitting the lure then a few changes in the action need to be made. By simply stopping the lure mid retrieve and letting it slowly float or suspend can draw a strike, if not than subtle little twitches or movements with the rod tip may work.

Its just a matter of closely watching your lures and the water around them to see what the fish are doing then trying a few different things until the code is cracked and the fish will take the lure. Lures that I find very effective in this situation are the Bushy’s Stiffy in most of the colors however the black and gold seems to be very good over a sandy bottom in bright sunlight and the Halco Laser Pro 45 in any gold/bronze type colors. The hard body lures are also a great way of fishing around the weed beds, as most of the lures are either suspending or floating and generally only dive to 3-4 feet in depth it is easy to fish over the top of the weed and around the edges. By holding the rod tip high you can keep the lure above weed patches and leave it to suspend there letting any fish using the weed as cover to race out and mount an ambush, by twitching the lure down hard you can fish the outside edges and margins of the same weedbeds where many fish will be patrolling feeding on small baitfish, prawns and shrimps etc.

The deeper water can be fished in the same manner as with the plastics mentioned earlier however heavier jigheads in the 1/20th and 1/16th ounce regions will be needed. Here the Berkley Sandworms and Sand Eels and Squidgy Wriggler styles work well, also the Squidgy Fish in larger sizes such as 80 mm in Gary Glitter, Avocado, Wasabi and the Killer Tomato are among some of my favorites.

The Tackle

For bait fishing a nice long soft rod is ideal, this will allow you to cast lightly weighted or even unweighted baits a good distance and also detect subtle little bites from finicky fish. Rods in the 7-9 foot range and 3-4 kg are perfect as some larger than average fish can be encountered at times.

Any good reel in the 1500-2500 size range with a smooth drag will suit such as Shimano Olivio, Slade, Sienna and the Sahara range are a good choice.

For plastics and lures a high modulus graphite rod in 7 foot and 1–4 kg is needed to get the long casts whilst fishing the flats.

Rods such as Shimano Starlo Stix, Catana, T-Curve are great as are Strudwick Sic Sticks.

One of my favorites is a Millerod Bream Buster Finesse XF, a great rod for casting long distances with ultra light jigheads and imparting fine movements in the plastics. I also like it for use with mono or fluorocarbon lines when using hard body lures. Reels in the 1000-2500 range, such as Shimano Symetre, Twin Power and Sustain with either 4 lb Fireline or a good fluorocarbon line in 2-4 lb such as Sunline Basic FC. The Coastal lagoons are an ideal place for the family, they are safe for kids with plenty of shallow water for them to paddle in if they get bored, mum can have a sunbake while dad can wander off and have a bit of a fish.

Many have camping areas close by the water and BBQ area’s too. Its easy find a sheltered spot and with such a variety and healthy population of fish they can be just the place to introduce the kids to fishing. So if you are looking for a nice spot to take the family and have a fish don’t overlook that lagoon right beside the highway.

Jamie Henderson

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Fishing News - Page 12

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leaving with only one after two good fish had broken the light line in the weed and oysters.

The Stiffy was fished mainly on the steep drop off in front of Tidal Waters Resort.

I feel these larger fish were striking from aggression more so than for food as the lure may have been cast to them more than once before getting a rise out of them. They were the favored lure for the larger specimens as I was using a smaller lure and not getting a rise from the larger fish Nick was spotting on the drop off.

A classic dream After a fantastic start to the year in the ABT qualifier rounds for local Tasmanian anglers, Steve Steer and Leigh McKenzie smashing the mainland fisho’s in an exciting and heart pumping day two at both events, it is now time for the Tasmanian Bream classic series a teams event which sees three rounds carried out within the state.

The first round was held at St Helens Georges Bay in April. It had been on everyone lips for the weeks leading up to the competition. It was a going to be tough as the fish that fill this waterway during the warmer months, feeding for optimal growth and condition for spawning in winter, had, apparently, been given the sign from mother nature, and left to visit distant breeding haunts. Many knowledgeable anglers of the area were scratching there heads wondering whether or not it was going to be a doughnut for all boats.

Friday morning, pre-fish opens, Nick Martin my team mate was keen as ever to get out into the action an find these bream that were not there. We headed to the boat ramp; it was still dark and we thought that we might have first kick at the fish come sunrise. We were sadly mistaken - local fishing guide and angler Michael Hayley, keen as mustard itself, was already out and had been apparently for some time.

Also making the most of pre-fish was the Leroy Tyrant and Paul Mason team, using a boat each, splitting up and seek the fish by breaking the bay into two. A problem shared is a problem halved, so they say. Nick and myself were working all the areas we could get to, the tides was on springtides and it was out, it was like half the water in Georges Bay was gone - taking the elusive black battlers out with it. By about 11 O’clock we had all gathered, talking of the injustice that had unfolded this morning with no one at this point catching a bream, a few very small schools had been sighted but that was it.

With the bream being slim picking, most of us decided it was time to enjoy some of the day, and we had a half hour bash on some fantastic trevally in the channel.

First round winners of the Tasmanian Bream Classic Dan Clifton and Nick Martin “Now lets get serious again Dan” said Nick “we need to just find one patch of fish that is on the bite at high tide, and we are in with a chance”. After a lengthy discussion it was decided we would hit the flats at around 12 o’clock. This would be approx. the same tide as 1 p.m. the following day, giving us an hour of fish time to find the bream hook one or two and get out of there.

We were able to get into the preferred flats just before noon under electric power, doing everything we could not to spook any fish.

Nick and I looked at each other and said this is the place fresh digs in the sand meant only one thing, BREAM. Trying to contain our excitement was hard but we did it with poker faces. We had almost decided not to even cast a line, but we were itching to get a look at a bream, so I tied on a new lure I had just got the day before, a Daiwa Shiner.

I thought, this is the ticket, if I can’t get on with this little beauty than I can’t get one.

Nick was tossing around some other red hot number he had up his sleeve, and I got started with the new Daiwa. First cast I threw out and did a straight quick retrieve to see if it swam properly. It was swimming like a dream - dead straight. As it came into sight I thought I would pause it and see how it suspended.

Wack a bream took a bite, no hookup, but it was a bream and it was keen. I said to Nick ‘did you see that?’.

Well it was action from here on in, next three casts - three fish and one stirred up.

‘Nick said, that is it, I am changing to one of those Shiners.’ It was a different colour but it was going for a swim anyway, after his second cast, zip, zip, scream - the bream was going home and peeling his line off like no tomorrow.

Nick was trying hard not to attract any attention, as he nearly split in half with excitement knowing that if the bream were here again tomorrow we were in with a big chance of winning this round.

Now I suppos you are itching to find out exactly what colour we where using, what size we used, and the all important part - retrieve technique.

Well I would like to tell you but I would have to kill you (only joking). OK I will tell you, because I like to see people catching fish.

I have benefitted from many ‘so called’ secrets and if I hadn’t I might have given up long ago.

There are only so many trips you can make with out a fish before it gets boring, so I don’t want you to miss out on all the action.

Firstly, as I have mentioned, every time you are on the water make sure you learn

something, watch, listen and investigate the water and your target.

Fishing in a competition is not about just throwing your line in the water and retrieving your lure. Competition fishing is hard work, but the most rewarding of all fishing, it is also about testing your problem solving skills, using the data bank of knowledge you have built up from your own fishing adventures and from listening to what other have done in the past.

The information I am giving you may not work at the Derwent or Scamander River or even in Georges Bay next time you are there, but one day it will be the key to success, as it was for our team in St Helens.

Lure selection

1. Daiwa Shiner in olive green, and light green. Fish = 10 2. Strike Pro shallow running in green.

Fish = 02 3. Bushy Stiffy in Brown Snake.

Fish = 01 4. RMG Scorpion in a green configuration.

Fish = 01

Where and when we fished the above lures

Daiwa Shiner’s were fished extensively through out weekend, but we concentrated on using them mainly on the flats, using a fast rip and pause technique and sometime just cranking it in fast until it got a hit, after a touch or hit pausing then returning to the fast rip then pause technique.

These lures where very effective at getting what appeared to be uninterested and non feeding fish into striking. I cannot say whether they were hitting out of aggression or whether they were actually feeding at the time.

I do believe the tight shimmy action of the shiner and its suspension played a great deal in its success, I think it is a good finessing lure and works very well in clear shallows on 2 lb and 4 lb straight flurocarbon, Strike Pro lures were fished a lot in shallow broken bays while waiting for the tide to come in, this lure worked well over the broken bottom without getting snagged in the weed or clumps of oysters. It was producing quite well with a few being dropped and cut off in the oysters. Retrieve technique was mostly both rip and pause or a slow constant retrieve.

Bushy Stiffy lures were used for a while with some nice results on the Brown Snake.

Starting with three on Sunday morning and

RMG Scorpion has been one of my favorites since I was a young boy fishing the Bega River at Tathra on the South coast of New South Wales. It is still ever present in my tackle box and they are a excellent lure for flats fishing and for deep drop offs.

They dive a reasonable depth for a small lure - approx 1.5 metres and this is good when coming off the flats into deep water.

They also have a good action when beating into the sand in shallow water, they seem to have a good resistance to tripping up, in the shallow flats where some other small diving lures can struggle.

The technique used was just a constant retrieve with a pause every 6 or so winds, then maybe a rip here an there. This is the same retrieve I have always used with the Scorpion and it has always done well for me.

In addition to correct lure choice, retrieve technique and an adequate amount of luck line choice also seemed important. Nick used mainly braid with 4 lb flurocarbon leader, except when on the flats where 4 lb flurocarbon straight through was used. I ran mainly 2 lb straight through flourocarbon, which I can’t remember the name of, but I got from Jamie Henderson at St Helen’s Bait and Tackle. It was really nice line, and occasionally when the bottom was a bit broken up I used straight 4lb Berkley Vanish flurocarbon.

I hope that my article has been informative enough to keep young anglers keen to know a bit more about bream fishing in Tasmania.

Perhaps what I have passed on can be put to good use.

I would also like to remind you to keep a diary of what happens on the water, weather conditions, tide, surface action, bait fish present etc, and most of all what you did to catch fish that day. When you have similar conditions you can hopefully reproduce it.

Dan Clifton

TasmanianBreamClassic

21/22 April: Georges Bay, St Helens 23/24 June: Derwent River, Hobart 8/9 Sept: Scamander River Phone Leroy Tirant for more details 0428 347736 First round results.

1. Team Sportsfishing Magazine N.Martin & D.Clifton 12/20 6.87kg 2. Team Suzuki L.Tirant & P.Mason 4/20 3.21kg 3. Team Shimano M.Hayley & M.Turner 4/20 3.10kg 4. Team Tamar Marine J.Dennis & P.Delphin 5/20 3.0kg 5. Team Coastal Marine/Tica G.Woods & M.Tapsell 1/20 1.24kg Fishing News - Page 13

Servicing fishing reels Most anglers I know make an effort to ensure that their fishing reels are well maintained and serviced regularly. It takes very little effort, and a bit of oil and grease can make the difference between landing a good fish on a smooth drag or busting off a fish of a lifetime because of a sticky drag.

I’ve seen reels that are 30 years old come into the shop that have been in pristine condition because they have been looked after and then have had reels that are only months old look like they Reels don’t take much looking after. A good wash in freshwater when you get home is one of the best things belonged in a bin because of you can do. A close inspection every now and then and an annual service should be all that is required. neglect.

Looking after your reels starts 5 minutes after you get home from fishing. Regardless of the type of reel you have you should do up the drag and give it a good wash down in fresh water to get all the salt Bait casters. off and then it should be left to dry with the drag undone to 1. Undo screws on side plate and remove. release the pressure on the drag washers and preferably kept 2. Spool should slide straight out.

3. Check shaft of spool for burrs etc out of the sun.

The first thing I tell a lot of my customers is it doesn’t 4. Put a small amount of oil in reel where shaft sits. matter if you buy a $50 reel or a $500 reel, don’t go spraying CRC or RP7 or Tackle Guard on your reels as these spray on 5. Lubricate any bearings. lubricants have very little effect in protecting your reels, in fact 6. Lubricate worm drive and pawl. Check pawl for wear. it can have the opposite effect by thinning or dispersing grease from bearings or other parts of your reel. These aerosols are 7. Re assemble. good if you are completely stripping a reel and removing all 8. Remove locking screw and nut from handle.

9. Undo star drag and remove drag washers. Re oil and grease to replace with new lubricants. oil then re assemble handle.

The other most common mistake I see is anglers can kill their reels with kindness by over lubricating and over servicing. 10. Remove spool tension cap and put in drop of oil.

Fishing reels don’t actually have that many moving parts and thus don’t require a lot of lubricant, in fact a reel that is Game reels. washed down properly after use only needs a few drops of Unless you know what you’re doing I wouldn’t oil and a light grease once or twice a year - depending on how much use it has of course. And by all means if you have no advocate servicing a game reel, especially a 2 speed confidence in servicing a reel take it to your local tackle store model. I often get game reels in a box in a hundred pieces because the angler thought they’d attempt who should be able to do it for you.

Here is a very general breakdown of how to give a reel it and then didn’t remember how it went back a quick service and I mean general because not all reels are together. If you are going to attempt it ensure you at least have your parts listing available to see the the same.

In these days of digital photography why not take some order all the washers etc go back in. photos as you disassemble your reel. It might make it easy Lubricants. if you get stuck.

It is very important to try and use the right You will also find exploded views of most reels on the lubricants when servicing a reel. Most reels don’t net as well if you get your self into trouble. like thick oil in fact the thinner the oil the better because most reels of today are made with very Spinning reels. fine tolerances and need oil thin enough to run 1. First undo the spool cap and remove the spool. between the working parts. Most tackle stores sell 2. Check in spool for sand/corrosion etc, wash out if reel oil which is recommended by manufacturers. needed.

3. Remove spring clip on the top of the spool and remove Grease is also important. Most manufacturers also sell grease and it is best to check with your drag washers.

4. If washers are oil soaked felt (most are) remove any foreign tackle store to see what they recommend for you purpose. For example Shimano game reels demand particles and re-oil.

5. Ensure washers go back in correct order and put retaining a very specific grease for their drags that to the best of my knowledge is not available from anywhere spring clip back.

6. Remove click gear and washer from main shaft, undo lock else. If you try to substitute this grease I guarantee your drag won’t last long because the pressure screw and then lock nut.

7. Remove complete rotor housing. Be careful not to knock plates in these reels get indentations in them very easily if the viscosity in the grease is wrong. anti reverse spring off.

8. Grease any bearings, add a few drops of thin oil to shaft, check for corrosion and re assemble.

Remember servicing a reel is not difficult, just 9. Undo handle and undo screws to remove side plate cover, take your time and don’t rush it. Lay the parts on gently.

10. Grease any bearings located on inside each side of cover a clean cloth in the order you remove them in so you remember which way they go back. Tackle where handle slides through.

11. Check for any corrosion and oil lower shaft and cog stores will only be to happy to help you with reels you’ve brought from them, as a service to our spindles. Use oil sparingly. customers at Bigfin Sportsfishing we service all 12. Re assemble.

It is not a big task to service your own reels. It does 13. If any corrosion is found it can be removed with a very reels we sell for free. need care and some methodical laying out of parts Leroy Tirant fine emery paper or steel wool, but remember if you don’t to ensure you put all the parts back in order. have confidence take it to a tackle store.

Fishing News - Page 14

Tamar River Winter Submarines Although the Tamar is a Shark Refuge Area they are a regular catch and I always release them unharmed.

Gummy sharks are a year round catch in the Tamar River. They can be caught in very cold and even dirty, fresh water. Big gummies are also a great sport fish and really go on the right tackle. Gummies are located in many locations on the Tamar, and of course in many areas adjacent to the mouth. They can be caught in water as shallow as a metre. So land-based fishing is a real option. There are a few tricks in maximising your fishing success.

Gummy Sharks will take a wide variety of baits including crabs, prawns, squid, cuttlefish, fish fillets, west Australian pilchards, octopus and fresh water eel. But fresh is best. Fresh bait will out fish frozen bait. So if you are serious about targeting gummies source fresh bait if you can. Gummy sharks love crabs on caught location and it costs you nothing.

Hook size will depend on bait size but I would use around a 7/0 or 8/0 octopus pattern hook. I use the larger hook to make it easier to release them. They don’t seem to get as deeply hooked when using the larger hooks.

You would normally know when a gummy picks up your bait as they would normally run up the current against the tide. The really big gummies often come in very quietly until they see the boat and then come to life and perform. A big gummy can often be mistaken for an eagle ray.

Big gummies can be caught in very shallow water at any time of the day. There is no rule, but saying that they can be caught in very deep water as well. Good places to look for a deep cunji beds, reefs, shallow muddy channels and sponge beds. Gummy sharks will bite on the run-in and run-out tides, although the run in is normally better in shallow after dark. Gummies seem to like fast running tidal areas so don’t be put off by fast running water. Shallow bays can also be very productive such as West Arm and Middle Arm. Gummies come in after dark and feed on square backed crabs in the shallows.

A land based fishing outfit needs to be long enough to make a good cast but strong enough to handle a big gummy. A rod with a length around 8 – 10 foot is ideal. Reel size should be around the 6000 size. If you would prefer the overhead style as I do your reel needs to hold around 250 meters of at least 8kg mono.

The Tamar River and surrounding areas are fabulous fisheries. Gummy sharks, such as these are protected in the Tamar and must be returned unharmed.

I prefer a longer when bait fishing out of a boat. I use a 7’6 – 8 foot rod which allows mw to get a great cast. I find that overhead reels are far superior for this type of fishing.

The moon plays an important place in catching gummies.

Around 5 days before till the full moon seems to be the most consistent time to catch big gummies. Daytime fishing around the new moon can also be very good. The barometer plays a very important part of most fishing. Gummies are not an exception. I like the barometer to be either rising or steady.

A fast falling barometer makes deep water fishing slow. I probably wouldn’t bother going when the barometer falls below about 1005. Although once the barometer has fallen

to its lowest point and starts rising, this can be a red hot time to fish. For example just after a big storm.

Gummies are very plentiful in the Tamar River but whole you are targeting them you will come across some ugly monsters such as sting rays, seven gill sharks, elephant fish and if you are lucky maybe a snapper. But just remember that the Tamar is a Shark Refuge Area: this includes all sharks and rays, but not elephant fish. So do the right thing and let them go. Gummy sharks can be caught as far up as Rosevears and possibly the best place that I know to catch big gummies would be in Swan Bay which is just South of Hillwood. So you don’t have to travel too far to get into the gummy action.

Damon Sherriff

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Fishing News - Page 15

James Haddy the Bream Doctor Bream’in with passion - by Dan Clifton Passion for bream? Well if you have ever had the chance to just watch a bream do its thing, you will start to understand why they are the most addictive small fin fish in Australia. Not only are they tough on light gear, they are extremely intelligent and mysterious. Bream, like many species, proffer many questions.

It is when you start to search for answers that you start to realise the truth behind the fact that we know more about the moon than we do ocean, and it is in our backyard.

We have very little knowledge of bream movements. And many questions arise such as are they a resident species, are they migratory species, or do they just move at their own accord?

Well I was asked to go and talk to a man who has more than just an interest in bream in Tasmania, he loves to fish for them on a recreational level, and he has the most passion of any bream fanatic I have ever seen. So much so he has invested his lifes work into understanding the physiology and ecology of the black and yellow fin bream across Australia.

Dr James Haddy first started studying black bream biology in 1995 for his PhD at UTAS in Launceston. This work concentrated on the reproductive physiology of black bream and the development of spawning techniques to breed bream in captivity. After completing and publishing his PhD work in international science journals, he relocated to QLD to work as a fisheries biologist to investigate the biology of by-product species being retained in the Queenslands east coast trawl fisheries. It is here James found himself making a difference by proposing management changes for the fishery based on sound biological knowledge on a variety of species such as threadfin, bream, pipefish, crabs, cuttlefish, lobsters and bugs. With his recommendations new laws were placed into the management strategy of these fisheries. Once his QLD work was finalised he moved to NSW to be involved with a research project on yellow fin and black bream in the NSW estuary systems. James undertook a long research project that has given a massive amount of new information about the fragility of the bream population if not managed correctly.

James is currently researching the movements of black bream in Tasmania to find out where they are from and when and if they move estuary systems. These questions are being answered by the use of genetics and tagging, and already providing some very interesting results indicating that some population mixing is occurring in Tasmanian bream stocks, and that Tasmanian bream are found in the ocean. However the extent of these movements need more research.

After talking to James and getting to see what research he has already done I find myself deep within his passion to help preserve bream stocks in Tasmania. James took me though a lecture he had given in Tasmania about the spatial and temporal trends of black bream spawning activity in intermittently opening estuaries. The lecture was a summary of the research that James did with bream in NSW estuaries, and shows the demise of bream in one such location due to bad commercial and recreational practices. Commercial practices can also be managed to provide a robust fishery.

It also demonstrated the trends which spawning bream require from Mother Nature to successfully spawn. Bream are broadcast spawners, whereby they release their eggs and sperm into the water column, but in order for these eggs to have high fertilization and hatch rates, conditions need to be almost perfect. The conditions that need to be in perfect synchronisation are a suitable habitat e.g. a creek with water temperature between 15-26C, salinity levels between 15-35‰, and oxygen saturation levels above 5 mg/L. It is a fine balance because if the salinity is too high, then oxygen levels can become low, and fresh water from rainfall can decrease the salinity allowing for higher dissolved oxygen and then water temp generally falls.

Bad fishing practices do not help. When these spawning conditions are favorable bream will be venturing into the creek and river systems on the estuary to find the optimal environment to spawn. It is at this time the fisherman, in the past placed nets over the entry and exit points of estuarine creeks, removing a considerable amount of the large adults.

This activity results in the age structure of heavily fished estuaries being dominated by many small young bream. This situation is worsened if repeated years of environmental Fishing News - Page 16

The author, Dan Clifton with Dr James Haddy at rear.

recruitment failure were to occur.

Poor water quality, as a result of low environmental river flows, also affecys how long the estuary would take to re-establish a new population.

James’s research is providing helpful information to fisheries in Tasmania and this may prevent similar issues arissing in our Tasmanian estuarine systems.

James is working on locating distinct families of bream in Tasmania and taking small fin clippings from the fish caught.

DNA analysis is taken to see which family they belong to, and to see if these families migrate or are located in a specific area.

Other information James has been obtaining from his research is to see how many of our Tasmanian black bream are true black bream or hybrids with yellowfin bream from the The patients are held in recirculating tanks for study. mainland. James told me that from his research from the DNA samples, Tasmania probably has the only pure strains of black Anyone who is interested in supporting a community based bream left in Australia. bream hatchery please send an email to breamcommunity@ I asked James what he plans for his future research on iinet.net.au with your name, number and email address. You black bream in Tasmania. With a smile he told me of his will receive an email to let you know it has been received and desire to start a community based project to breed bream registered. If you are interested in volunteering your labour and snapper for replenishing the depleted stocks such as the in its construction and on going running please let us know current situation in the Tamar River. Other waterways may also in your email. gain some extra help in re-establishing healthy populations.

Dan Clifton Dr James Haddy is a well published name in the International and Australian fisheries literature, and has made great changes in the past to recreational fishing laws as well as commercial fishing regulations. This should help preserve fisheries within Australia for many years to come. After my meeting with the "Bream Doctor" I believe Tasmanian are privileged to have someone so dedicated to making our fisheries better for the future.

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Fishing News - Page 17

A northern winter adventure

As we all know, Tasmania has some great fishing, even during winter, but there’s something very compelling and exciting about heading north to experience new waters. Squeezing in an extra 5 weeks of summer by heading north is definitely something to look forward to. Even more so when you are towing a 6 metre boat to one of Australia’s best tropical fishing destinations. Mind you, wanting to go and actually taking that first step can be one of the hardest things to overcome.

It was late July, overcast and raining, as we drove onto the Spirit of Tasmania 3 in Devonport, bound for Sydney, the start of our road trip north to Cape York in far north Queensland.

We travelled in two groups, both towing 6 metre Quintrex centre consoles. Our crew consisted of Steve Hambleton, Jim Schofield and myself, while another good friend of mine, Simon Hedditch, and his partner Cassie Arnold decided to take their own boat on the same trip. Simon’s brother, Steven, also accompanied them.

By day three we had travelled 2,500 kilometres, arriving in Cairns around midday. We were soon tackling the 600 kilometres of gravel road from Lakeland on the infamous Peninsula Developmental Road to Weipa. This road has a well-earned reputation for destroying unprepared cars and trailers.

By the end of day 3 we had stopped at the Archer River Road House, less than 200km from Weipa. The road this far consisted of severe corrugations, dust holes and steep dips, some with water up to the doors of the Landcruiser.

The next morning revealed some minor damage to Steve’s boat and Simon’s trailer. One of Simon’s mudguards had lost all, but one bolt and had spent some time resting on the wheels.

This was easily fixed with some spare bolts we had brought along for such an incident. Steve’s boat, on the other hand, had a little more damage with the hydraulic steering broken off the motor and a broken battery isolator from a mobile battery that had worked its way free of the strap. The repairs to Steve’s boat would have to wait until Weipa.

As we neared Weipa the road improved dramatically and even had bitumen inside the town boundary. Weipa itself was very clean and modern with everything you would expect and more from a mining town. The locals were very friendly and were only too willing to help a fellow angler and the marine shop owner kindly allowed me the use of his workshop to repair the damage to Steve’s boat. We then booked into the Weipa Caravan Park and stocked up on supplies from the supermarket complex in preparation for our first week of fishing the coast north and south of Weipa.

Towing a 6 metre boat to Weipa may seem extreme to some people, but for us it gave the freedom to go anywhere along the western side of the Cape in safety for days at a time. It only took one of us to mention a new destination or fish we wanted to catch and we could be there within hours.

The Fishing

As with most places, different fish species will favour certain times of the year. Researching the prime times to fish for any given species and the techniques used to catch them, will be time well spent in the planning stage of a trip.

Queenfish and many types of trevally can be found at most river mouths. These fish are great fighters and it was a regular occurrence to have double and triple hook ups.

The river systems to the north of Weipa had massive schools of baitfish entering them, creating a feeding frenzy on an incoming tide. The river was alive with birds and fish. Giant herring, Spanish mackerel and queenfish were slashing through the bait balls as the baitfish made there way into the estuary.

We spent days exploring the estuaries along the Cape.

Catching mangrove jacks, golden snapper, javelin fish, barra and estuary cod on both lures and flies. We also caught mud crabs in these estuaries and had our crab pot destroyed more than once by sharks or crocs.

The remote beaches and flats both north and south of Weipa are a magic place to fish. Some of these beaches have brilliant red cliffs as backdrops and fresh water springs draining into the sea creating a small patch of green vegetation amongst the white sandy beaches. Fishing these beaches by foot or from the boat with the electric outboard produced threadfin salmon, dart, queenfish, giant trevally, golden trevally, diamond trevally, barramundi, bream, mackerel, giant herring, permit and one blue bastard (aka Sweetlip).

Wading the flats was only ever an option when we had good visibility into the water. Crocodiles are very much at home along these remote beaches. One overcast afternoon, Jim and I were searching for permit along a remote beach. We had very limited

Fishing News - Page 18

visibility into the water from where we were standing. Just as we were talking about wading into the water to get a better view, a croc surfaced 30 metres away. Needless to say, we decided it would be safer to fish from the boat in these conditions.

Out to sea we saw manta rays feeding on plankton and schools of mack and northern blue fin tuna had the water boiling as they push the baitfish to the surface. Jim managed to hook up onto one of these northern blues on his 8-wt fly rod only to have his fish taken at the boat by an 8 ft bull shark. Jim was now firmly hooked up to this shark and was losing line fast. Using the boat we managed to get the fly line back onto the reel, breaking the shark off without losing everything.

Mackerel were abundant at this time of year and could be seen leaping clear of the water towards evening. A large silver spoon trolled in the late afternoon light was a pretty reliable way of connecting to these great eating fish.

With the aid of the chart plotter we located some outer reefs and managed to drag out some coral trout and blue lined emperor in some pretty rough seas.

Using the boat as our accommodation each night meant we could keep fishing after dark. These night sessions soon became our own shark fishing competition. Just on that, I would highly recommend you don’t bring a live 5-foot black tip reef shark aboard for a photo. We tried this and nearly broke a couple of thousand dollars worth of fly rods in the process, as this reef shark went ballistic in the back of the boat. We managed to wrestle it into submission before releasing it back into the water.

A welcome change to the sharks at night were golden snapper and jewfish, caught while anchored in a deep hole of the Scardon River north of Weipa.

Camping out

We set up Steve’s boat to live onboard, with a gas stove, 12volt fridge, 120 litre under floor water tank and extra under floor storage for food and equipment. Storing enough fresh water on board was essential for extended trips.

The centre console layout had ample room to roll out three swags. All that was needed at the end of each day was enough water to float the boat overnight. While we enjoyed sleeping on the boat, Simon and his crew were much happier to set up a base camp ashore, returning before dark each night. They used tents to sleep in and lit a fire most nights to cook with. They also had a 12-volt fridge that stayed in the boat. Using a 12-volt fridge instead of ice was a very convenient and effective way of keeping food cold. The dual batteries were used in each boat allowing us to run the fridges throughout the trip without any problems.

Preparation

Prior to the trip, we spent a lot of time on Internet forums, reading articles, talking to the locals in Weipa and anyone who had previously travelled to the Cape.

We invested in a map of the area for the GPS chart plotter.

This turned out to be an invaluable tool. The GPS allowed us to find reefs, navigate coastlines and find the channels into the many river systems along the Cape.

Tides are also worth investigating prior to the trip. Some river systems can only be accessed on certain days depending on the height of the tide. An hourly tide chart for each area along the coast, proved to be a great asset.

Both trailers were modified so that each boat could be chained down to the trailer. One chain was used to hold down the front with two chains holding down the back of the boat. All three chains were tightened using turnbuckles and locked off with cable ties. The outboard leg was also pulled down onto a bracket, mounted to the trailer. Both boats were fitted with extra under floor fuel tanks, so we could freely explore the coast for up to a week at a time without being limited by fuel. Auxiliary outboards were fitted to each boat.

Before we covered the boat with a full boat cover, we used industrial cling wrap to cover the centre console and motor to keep the dust out when travelling over the dirt roads.

A complete tool kit and spare parts for the boat and trailer were taken. Some of the spares we took along were: - Leaf spring, tow ball, 2 spare wheels, wheel bearings and hubs, U-bolts, assortment of bolts, oil for the boat and car, vee belts, radiator hoses, spare propellers and anchors.

Guides or do it yourself

Guides and charter operations are a great option if you have limited time. Having fished the area for many years, these guys know exactly where and when to fish for a whole range of species and what you need to do to catch them.

If time is not a problem and you like the idea of discovering new places and catching different species of fish at your own pace, then I would highly recommend doing it yourself. The sense of adventure and achievement you get from a trip like this will soon have you planning your next quest north to escape yet another Tasmanian winter.

Craig Rist

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Fishing News Page PM 19 26/3/07- 5:02:00

Fishing News - Page 20

Fishing News - Page 21

Feed the Winter habit My name is Jamie. I am 33 years old and I am a fishaholic.

Around this time every year when most trout waters have closed and the seafishing action slows, I get withdrawal symptoms. I mope around the house annoying the missus, playing all my home fishing DVD’s from previous years, watching the weather forecasts intently hoping the swell might back off a bit on the West Coast so I could at least go and catch a blackback or two.

When a mate said to me the other day “the salmon are out at Strahan” my ears pricked up. He was talking about atlantic salmon and rainbow trout escapees from the fish farms at Macquarie Harbour. There are varied opinions about how or why these fish escape, ranging from rogue sales or floating logs ripping cages or being released when the market slows.

Whatever the reason, it makes for an awesome fishery when they are out in good numbers. The atlantics can be anywhere from a pound to 30 lb. Imagine catching that on the old 3kg spinstick! The rainbows are usually anything up to 10 lb.

Strangely though the big “bows” are usually quite lazy on the rod and its not until they come to the net that you realize how big they are. On comparison, the atlantics will make blistering runs and jumps all over the harbour. While these fish may not be of the truly wild variety, their sheer size and condition makes them trophy fish in anyones language. Now before you go packing your gear and heading for Strahan I will say that these fish can also be very challenging. My best effort was just seven fish in a day. They may not come thick and fast but their size makes up for it. Half the battle is getting reliable information as to then the fish “escape”. If you can do that and be there within a few days or so you should catch fish. Because Macquarie Harbour is such a huge expanse of water, the fish can show up just about anywhere. The best way to find them is to troll lures and cover as much water as possible. Study your sounder, work the edges of sandbars or dropoffs and get in tight against the steeper rocky banks.

When you find one, chances are there will be more close by so try a few passes or drift and cast the area for a while.

Much of the harbour is fairly shallow and I don’t think I’ve caught a fish any deeper than about 4 metres of water. In saying this, I’ve had most success fishing the steeper rocky or gravely banks that run straight into the 2-3 metre depth. Shore fishing these same banks is also worthwhile. A miserable day in June last year saw me wading a favourite shore on Neck Island for two hours with no sign of a fish. Just when I thought I’d been given a bum steer I saw a big atlantic roll over within casting distance. This got the juices flowing again and over the next half hour I saw maybe a dozen fish, most within range. It was like someone had flicked a switch, however I still couldn’t hook one. After a few choice words and bout six lure changes I was getting desperate. I tied on a No. 2 celta in gold with red stripes. I waded back out to my waist and three casts later my frustration turned to relief as the little celta was inhaled by a solid fish. For the next twenty minutes my 3 kg Fishing News - Page 22

Fish can quite easily be targeted from the shore. A good indicator of recent ‘escapes’ is when nets dot the shores. Most will only be 10 metres or so from the shore and mostly set off points. spin tackle was tested to its limit. After six or seven big jumps and runs the big salmon was finally beaten. I was actually a little disappointed when I pulled the fish from the net, I thought it had to be 20lb, it pulled the scales down to just 12 lb. My most recent trip produced the fish pictured. The rainbow had been out for some time and lost condition but at 5 lb, still a nice fish. The atlantic however went just over 18 lb, my best to date and another epic battle that I will never forget not to mention a fine feed of fish that sells for around $30 kg in fish shops.

Lure choice doesn’t seem to matter much as long as it is flashy or an in your face colour and only dives to about a metre. After being fed pellets their whole life and then having to fend for themselves, after a few days they are ready to snap at just about anything. Lures I have had success with are Rapala Husky Jerks, Nilsmaster Invicibles, Cobras, Wonder Wobblers and Spoons. The old celta is a regular in my Strahan tackle now too, although I would not recommend trolling with it as they can cause some line twist. Soft plastics are also an option but traditional lures will probably account for more fish because of the faster rate of retrieve meaning more water covered, therefore giving a better chance of a hookup.

I always replace all my lure trebles with Gamakatsu chemically sharpened trebles as they never miss. Your standard 2-3 kg spin outfit is all you need to stop these fish. There are a few snags in the harbour and the light line will allow for longer casts and your lures will work at their optimum. Macquarie

Harbour must be one of the few if not the only sheltered waters that is still open to netting day or night. I personally would like to see all netting banned outright. A good indication that there have been recent fish escapes is when you will see locals (and not so locals) nets dotted around the shores everywhere. They usually wade them out in only a metre or so of water. The fish seem to move into the shallower margins after dark and its not unusual to see 60 to 80 fish come from just one net. Enough to make us dedicated sportsfishers cry!

There are boat launching facilities in town or follow signs to Macquarie Heads. It would be wise to go boating with someone who knows the area as there are many sandbars and channels to negotiate. If shore fishing is your thing any of the shores around the township are worth a look or follow the Heads road to the Swan Basin area where there are plenty of good wadable shores. If you need to feed your habit like me and are looking for something a little different give Strahan a go and maybe tangle with a gigantic atlantic.

Jamie Harris

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Fishing News - Page 23 24/5/07 3:28:34 PM

The Lowland Rise

Tassie fly fishers and regular ‘blow-ins’ like myself will remember the 2006-7 Tasmanian trout season for the late season dry fly bonanza that took place on the lowland rivers in the northern midlands. The only thing preventing the fish from rising every day was inclement weather and even then a few fish could usually be picked up by visiting notorious insect hatching ‘hot spots’.

Some of the hatches were immense and the dry fly fishing was outstanding. Every single fish we caught during March and April was stalked, seen or ambushed. On certain days the fish were working themselves into a feeding frenzy likened to the spectacle of bronze whalers rounding up pilchards in the surf. We couldn’t even reel in our fly lines without fish slashing and smashing dry flies as they skidded and waked across the surface. The late season fly fishing in northern Tasmania completely eclipsed the early and mid-season’s sport.

Enter the black ant

The best dry fly action came to some enormous flying ant hatches that took place both in the highlands and the northern midlands. At one point it almost became farcical driving through Cressy observing heaving clouds of ants hovering up and down Cressy Road. The locals were either bemused or annoyed by the presence of the flying insects but the nearby trout were waiting in gluttonous anticipation.

The colossal head of fish which live in both Brumby’s Creek and the Macquarie River began positioning themselves mid-stream from around 10 am waiting for the flying ants to come hovering over the water. Providing the weather was fine and the breeze light, there were predictable hatches each

Normally when the tap is on and the water is up, fly fishers from near and far will be found patrolling around or drifting over weir number 1, picking off the monster brown trout that govern this great water. When the water flowed, the fishing was superb at dawn and dusk with trout mooching around the edges sipping beetles or splashing at red spinners if the weather was cooler. The beetle feeders Hook-up! A beetle feeding trout takes a small Adams dry fly. Photo: C. Gasking were big, unproblematic and predictable, but the day peaking at around 1 pm, then dissipating and ceasing by fish gliding under the clouds of red spinners were cautious 3 pm. If you were fortunate enough to experience Tassie and galling. That said, they could be coerced using a flat red magic, clear skies, warm air and very light winds, you could spinner fished in the surface film, but the tippet had to be almost set you watch to the gigantic hatches, which took place unobtrusive. Co-polymer tippets are indispensable on these under these conditions. demanding trout.

As the weather deteriorated, so did the hatches. Cold, I rarely bother joining the crowds on weir number 1 blustery overcast conditions kept the insects out of sight anymore during clear days. The maddening trout feeding and the trout down. In these conditions, fly fisher’s really on adult dragon and damselflies are a sadistic diversion I desperate for some action managed to scratch out the odd fish usually try to avoid. When the gigantic weir number 1 fish by searching the depths but to me this is a bit like watching are performing back flips taking these large flies, an astute grass grow, possibly less interesting. The flipside to fishing a fly fisher can find another late season bonanza just down trout Mecca like northern Tasmania, is the unpredictability of the road. the weather, especially late in the season. For every fine day you will get an absolute shocker. Normally there will be 2 or Canal chaos 3 days of really poor weather followed by a fine spell, then The canals, which link the 3 weirs to the Macquarie back to the bar for another 2 or 3 days. It’s important to make River are, a magnet for the big flying ant hatches previously use of the fine spells and fish hard during these times. mentioned. Surprisingly the better fishing occurred during those maligned days when the HEC turned off the Brumbys Creek Brumby’s Creek tap at Poatina. The very low water served One of the more notable observations I made during the to concentrate the enormous head of Brumby’s Creek weir autumn involved the generally erratic and capricious Brumby’s fish into the confined canal runs and pools, where they could Creek. The HEC who regulate the flows on this celebrated be found gorging themselves on flying ants. water had raised and lowered the flows all season. Quite often One day when conditions were perfect, I stopped at Lees the ‘tap would be turned on’ in the morning and switched Bridge and almost fell in upon seeing 30 or more fish rising off later the same day, only to resume again later that night! to ants in stationed positions upstream of the bridge. Further This type of thing is usual for Brumby’s and regular fly fishers inspection revealed hundreds of fish rising throughout the become blasé about these flow irregularities.

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entire canal system. The weirs were depleted of water, lifeless and bleak and the canals were receiving an influx of hungry, opportunistic fish.

Every conceivable patch of water saw fish sipping black ants from the surface. It reminded me of the old-timers tales of the famous Shannon Rise, where you could “walk across the fish’s backs” as they moved upstream from the Shannon Lagoon in search of the snowflake caddis.

Furthermore on this weekday I had the entire system to myself. A car with three very ‘green’ fly fishers drove up and down the dirt track beside the canals showing some moderate interest only to drive back out the gates headed in the direction of Miena. I wonder if they realised what was causing the water surface to boil the way it was?

A well-timed strike is necessary to secure the Brumbys A small black spider fished dry on a fine Creek ant feeders. Photo: C. Gasking co-polymer tippet brought a dozen fish to the bank in a little over fifteen minutes. This frenetic action started to become ridiculous as 1-1 ½ pound fish kept Macquarie River taking everything thrown at them, so I decided to limit my The flying ants were also present on the Macquarie River casting over the gin clear water choosing to target the bigger during the day but in nowhere near the same proportion. rises and larger fish. A pod of quality fish were rising line a The ‘Mac’ fish are notoriously stubborn patrons due to their stern below some bushes mid-stream, closer to the near bank. tendency to shift positions in the river, refusing to take up These heavier fish were the ultra-selective erudite variety, station in opportune locations. The trap here was to speedily which ridicule any hint of drag. They became irritating during cast a fly just ahead of the rise before the fish had a chance the latter part of the hatch as the wind picked up, refusing to move on. A fly delivered approximately one foot ahead deliveries which positioned the fly more than two inches of the rise usually encouraged a take. Quickly landing the fly either side of their station. When presentations met their in the forward ripples of the rise usually saw the fish offer approval the fly was taken convincingly usually in the top lip, a bit of latitude in terms of perfect presentation. In fact a a common occurrence with ant feeders. The fish in this small splashy landing in the rings of a rise was often met with a area averaged 2-2 ½ pounds with one big-tailed fish pushing more confident take as the fish took immediate notice of towards 3 ½ pounds. the imitation.

This activity took place every day during late March providing the sky showed more blue than grey and when The evening rise the wind was mild to warm. Previously I would never have I’ve always found daytime fishing on the lower Mac a bit picked the Brumby’s Creek canals as a setting for hatches of of a slog, never really living up to expectations. For me the this magnitude especially at minimum flow. fishing begins just before sunset, when the ‘splatters’, small

fish leaping to white moths, pre-empts the better fishing that follows. If the wind abates to anything less than a light Tasmanian gale, there are normally larger fish working the edges under clouds of white moths. If you are fortunate enough to encounter a flat calm on the Mac in early autumn get ready for a memorable session. Some almighty fish show themselves in these conditions as the white moths swarm around the tussocky banks.

The late David Scholes and other fly fishing luminaries would deride any suggestion that colossal hatches of white moths still exist on the lower Mac today. Evidently the majority of fly fishers still believe this fallacy. In early March I visited the Mac every night, fishing the hatches of white moths for the giant fish that patiently sit below the vast swarms. For three weeks I remember seeing maybe five other anglers and only one other fly fisher. Several unforgettable evening rises saw the entire river heaving with surface feeding trout.

There is a particularly big pool with strong swirling currents that I normally walk past and ignore, as it is generally too deep to effectively sight fish. Having caught a number of rising fish upstream for an hour or so I headed back downstream towards the car. As the sun set behind the Great Western Tiers, every fish in the river began rising like it was their last meal. Some of the rises were stunning, 4 pound plus fish breaking the flat surface with their prominent nebs. In the ensuing bedlam that took place I managed to shatter two 3 pound tippets on unexpected weighty fish before landing four 2 ½-3 pound fish in 40 minutes.

A large trout was rising off a point in the big swirling pool mentioned previously. Satisfied with my catch I wasn’t too fussed about taking any more fish so I casually dapped and dragged a size 10 Adams through the area, not really expecting the 5 pound brute to smash the fly the way she did. When you’re attached to a fish this size and it pushes it’s way into the mid-stream torrent of a fully flushed Macquarie River, especially after dark, you soon realise you will be arriving at the hotel much later than first anticipated. But who cares! continued next page....

Vision Extreme waders

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• Entrant® HB breathable membrane • Waterproofing 20 700 mm. water pillar measured after 100 wash cycles • Breathing ability 20 000 g. / m2 / 24h.

• Triple-ply laminate with tough, thorn resistant Taslan nylon outer • Six-ply reinforcement from knee to ankle • Built-in gravel guards with elastic fitting around boot collar • Adjustable web braces and side straps • Easily worn at waist height • 2 x D-rings • Internal mesh pocket with zipper closure • Curved cut profile for perfect fit • Neoprene feet shaped left/right Ten years ago Vision made the first Extreme waders. Extreme waders are known for ultimate quality at a great price.

Entrant® breathable membrane from Toray Ltd. Japan leads the way with breathable fabrics and is what is used in Extremes.

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Vision GTfour rods The new GTfour is a beautiful combination of mid flex blanks with a

relatively fast action. This makes casting easy, with effortless controlled power, yet this is not just a casting tool, GTfour rods are designed foremost as fishing rods. This year several new sizes have been added into the GTfour family. There are great short light line rods for close presentation and longer rods that will feel so easy to work with that you might need to check the length to believe it.

• Mid Flex / Fast Action • T-40 graphite blanks #3 to #7 • TiGold® super hard single guides • TiCH® frame TiGold® ring stripper guides • Machined nickel silver plated reel seats with maple wood inserts on 3-6 class rods • High quality cork handles • Epoxy coated wrappings • Black Cordura rod tube with dividers included • Saltwater rods: Fast - T-46 graphite blanks: Super hard chrome single guides: Fully machined aluminum reel seats. #8 to #12

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See more at: www.visionflyfishing.dk or piscesfishingtackle.com Fishing News - Page 25

Difficult fish

When the weather was anything less than perfect, the Mac fish adopted a supercilious attitude similar to that of their snooty Brumby’s Creek cousins. The small hatches of white moths kept moderate numbers of fish moving about in search of a meal, the rest stationed up in the current and were easy targets with a small Adams. The moving fish tend to loiter in the calmer edges where they can pick off a substantial meal away from the energy sapping main current. By placing a small Partridge & Orange wet fly in the area a fish is patrolling, then ‘stroking’ the fly back just under or even through the surface, these fish can be provoked into attacking the flies, normally hooking themselves in the process.

I get a lot of short takes, missed and dropped fish when the small wet fly fishes with the hook point down in the standard fashion. The fly can be made to fish upside down by applying a very large drop of varnish to its head. It’s a pain, but the hook-up conversions seem to go from about 60 % to 80 % when the fly fishes upside down. Alternatively you can use a short twist of lead wire on the under body but expect to spook hoards of wary fish. The fish you land will generally be hooked solidly in the top lip.

This is exciting stuff as the fish are usually mooching around in less than a foot of water and the splashy charging attack normally occurs at short range. This close quarter stalking in the half light beats drifting dries in the main current hands down for excitement.

I spent three nights at the end of March working on one such fish in the Mac, which had a habit of patrolling a 15 m beat on the near bank. It was a perfect location and even in horrendous weather this trout was able to find an easy meal of white moths at dusk while his friends took refuge in the depths. This was one of those insect hotspots where the overall geography of the location culminates to create an unlimited smorgasbord of food on any given evening regardless of the weather conditions. I try to keep these places up my sleeve for when times get really hard and I ‘need’ to land a fish. This fish was rising under a patchy gorse bank and after dropping him on two consecutive nights, a slight rise in water level, clear skies and a carefully stripped Partridge & Orange brought him undone on the third night.

A healthy brown trout surfaces after a dogged battle.

Photo: C. Gasking

A typical Lowland brown trout in good condition.

Stewarton spawners

The upper Macquarie proved a tougher nut to crack due in no small part to the regular buffeting it receives from the prevailing north westerlies. I’ve always found it bizarre that it can be flat calm at my Longford base and yet only 40 km away (inland!), blowing a ferocious gale at the Stewarton Bridge.

Nothing weather related surprises me in Tassie anymore, it can be black and pelting down in Evandale, yet blue skies and no chance of rain in Longford some 15 km away!

At the end of March I peered over the Stewarton Bridge to find two very big black trout in full spawning regalia paired up in the stick weed. This seemed like an early spawning move to me, especially for lowland fish. Even stranger was that in the very next pool the fish were still feeding hard on spinners and moths during the day and at dusk respectively, with no sign of them heading into spawning mode in the foreseeable future.

Photo: C. Gasking

Many of my friends who live in Tassie’s northern midlands declared the 2006-7 fly fishing season as “the worst they can remember”. I’m certain the key is to keep searching for the fish. If nothing is moving in Brumby’s Creek weir number 1 during the day, head back at dusk. If the tap is turned off, fish the Lake River during the day. If the weather is poor fish the Macquarie River at dusk. There are so many options in this rich band of trouty Australia that it only requires a moderate search to find a few moving fish on any given day no matter what the conditions bring. Search hard on the good days and spectacular late season sport will eventually surface.

Mark Salisbury

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Find Stacer at - www.stacer.com.au Fishing News - Page 26

Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm, Sat: 9 am to 12 noon, Sun: Closed

Sarah’s Kitchen Parmesan Pesto Fish

4 fish fillets ¼ cup basil pesto 1 egg ½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs 50 g butter 1 tablespoon oil ½ teaspoon iodised salt Freshly ground black pepper Wash fish and pat dry with paper towel.

Spread the pesto on one side of each fillet.

Beat the egg.

Mix the cheese, breadcrumbs and salt and pepper together.

Brush the egg over the fillets and roll the fillets in the breadcrumb mixture.

Melt the butter and oil in a large fry pan.

Cook the fish for 2 to 3 minutes, turning once, until golden and cooked through.

Would be nice served with a tomato salad.

Below is a recipe that Damon cooks for our children and they love it. You should give it a go.

Damons Hot smoked fish Fish fillets need to be placed in a leaching bath consisting of one full cup of salt to 4.5 liters of water for about ½ an hour to 1 hour to draw out all the blood.

It is then washed in fresh water and placed in a solution made from 85g of Hickory Smoke Mix to 570ml of water.

Leave in the solution for 4 to 12 hours depending on the size of the fish.

The fish should then be removed and dried on absorbent paper. Then it needs to be wrapped in glad wrap and placed in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Sarah Sherriff Using a hot smoker

Unwrap the fish and place it on one of the trays and coat with salt.

(It is best if the fillets are placed flesh side up.)

You then cook the fish for 12 to 15 minutes in the smoker.

When cooled wrap in glad wrap and place in the fridge till chilled.

It is really nice just as it is served with some biscuits and a few greens.

Buying fishing on-line - friend or foe?

Slowly but surely over the last couple of years internet trading has begun to make inroads into killing the retail tackle store industry in Australia. A bold comment I know, but it’s the truth. Many anglers these days prefer to sit at home and surf the net for their tackle purchases, for everything from rods and reels to simply things like hooks and swivels.

Why is that?

When I was growing up my mates and I spent every chance we had hanging around the local tackle store, trying to learn more and gas bag about fishing with the people that knew what they were talking about. It made the down time between fishing trips bearable because if we couldn’t be fishing we were at least in a place surrounded by tackle.

What will life be like when the local young tackle rats have no where to go on a Saturday morning if they for some reason can’t go fishing? I’ve got a few young lads that hang around my store and it’s always great to see them as their always keen to learn something new and tell me about their latest captures.

Tackle store staff aren’t just there to teach you about fishing either we seem to deal with life’s complex issues as our customers drop in for a chat or a coffee on the way home from work and we try to solve the latest world issues or justify predictions of the coming season. Your local tackle store can be just a great place to hang out and leave the worries of work and family life at the door when you walk in.

I almost sound remorseful and I guess I am, as I’ve just heard of another tackle store I know well in Melbourne, has just shut its

doors after nearly a lifetime of trading. And why has it shut? Well like any other store they just couldn’t compete against the internet and large chain stores any more.

I know as well as anyone that we all have to make our dollar count more these days but have you ever stopped to think to what extent do our choices effect our communities? As an example I once had a customer whom over a period of three weeks would come into the store, have a coffee and get advice on tackle over the period of an hour or so.

The customer would then go away and buy his tackle on EBAY and quite proudly come in and show me his purchases. After a while of course it got the better of me and I asked why he brought all of his gear off the internet and not from my store? Well his answer was it’s cheaper, so I looked at what he brought and how much he paid and he was quite surprised to find in 2 instances I was cheaper and on the third could have matched the price of what he paid! Now what effect did he have you might ask? Well let me continue.

A few weeks passed and the customer came back into my store with his 15 year old son, whom I recognized as he was one of the young tackle rats that dropped in from time to time. Dad proceeded to tell me that his boy would one day like to work in a tackle store and would it be possible for me to hire him for his school work experience and if he was any good could I offer him some part time work?

Well I politely told him that I’d like to help the boy out, but I could not at the present time afford to put the boy on. When

he asked why, I made mention that too many customers were buying gear off the internet and not locally so the store couldn’t support another wage. The light bulb clicked in his head and I knew he could see that by purchasing goods off the internet and sending his money offshore or to a mainland mail order place, he wasn’t supporting local business, and we all know in a place as small as Tassie if we don’t support local industry then their will be no local industry, and what will our future generations do?

Purchases made from the internet should always be made with care also as I have had quite a few customers that purchased a reel that looked good in picture but then found that it wasn’t what they thought it was.

Australian wholesalers are also telling tackle stores that they will not honor warranties on products bought from overseas, so if your reel breaks down you may have to send it back to where it came which would probably be at a great expense.

I once had a customer who purchased a game reel off the internet and asked me to spool it up for him, which I was quite happy to do. But as I sat talking to him whilst spooling on the line the reels internals melted and jammed the reel. When I took it apart in

front of him all the gears were made from plastic! So buyer beware! I’ve also heard from another customer that they successfully bid for a reel and only received an empty box, when complaints were made to Ebay it was found in the small print that was what was on offer.

There are lots of anecdotal stories of how things have gone wrong when buying off the internet too many to mention here.

The internet isn’t going to go away and more people will probably buy goods via this medium but I ask you to consider is it worth the lack of personal service? Is it worth the possible demise of local stores?

Leroy Tirant

Caveat emptor - let the buyer beware Fishing News - Page 27

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St Pauls River Cabins

St Pauls River Cabins are nestled at the bottom of St Paul’s Dome. An ideal location. Magnificent views. A few metres walk to your own fishing spot on the St Pauls.

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Boat building and repairs

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Mercury 15 HP 15hp outboards are probably the biggest selling engines in the market and with the latest two stoke from Mercury it’s easy to see why. Easy is the operative word because it is ‘easy to use’.

Starting is easy with a simple push/pull choke that just requires just two pulls to prime the carby. Starting is instantaneous. Idling is controlled by the same knob, clockwise increases speed, anticlockwise decreases speed making optimum trolling easy. A handy cut-out switch with lanyard is positioned just to the left of the choke knob.

All other controls are on the twist-grip tiller handle including forward, reverse, stop and start. From the start or neutral position twist anti-clockwise for forward or clockwise for reverse. This is a great feature as it can

Best boats Best deals Savage 520 Blue Water all be operated by the one hand. A red stop button is located in the butt of the twist grip.

Navigating shallow water is easy with tilt options controlled by the tiller handle. By simple applying downward pressure on the handle the motor tilts easily to negotiate rocks or sunken logs and can be clicked into three settings. The fourth click smoothly drops the motor back to the usual operating position.

Be it for a tinny or and auxiliary motor the 15hp Mercury is a proven work horse!

New Nitro traveller rod 6 piece.

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In its carry-case, the 007 measures just 415mm (16.5”) long. Featuring our precision butt over tip ferrule technology, which allows a smooth flawless taper providing a multi piece rod with a 1-piece action. This 6’6” 6-piece is easily slipped into a backpack or suitcase – even under the car seat! This rod is ideal for hikers, kayakers and poachers or those anglers who travel often and are finding the current airport difficulties of oversized luggage an unnecessary hassle to the start of

HeavenonEarth

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Georges Bay Marine

Introduces the new 4.8 metre Tournament fishing boat. Built in our workshop at St Helens, this custom designed boat has all the avenues covered when it comes to fishing. Be it for a pro tournament or just for the fisherman that wants something special in a boat.

For further details phone Des on 6376 2800 or 0407 300766

a trip. With ‘007’ Traveller there’s no longer an excuse to be without a rod. The 007 Traveller is perfectly suited for lure and bait casting for trout, bream, bass, flathead and natives. Visit www.innovatorrods.com for your closest participating stockist.

The larger fuel tanks, bigger cabins and wide walk through decks of the Savage Sports Pro Series make these boats the ideal rig for serious offshore or coastal fishing. The larger cabins, not only provide protection from the elements and areas for your family to bunk down, it also gives you the freedom to comfortably stand at the helm. The moulded fibreglass cabins have ample room for any electronics and instrumentation you desire.

The aluminium hulls with full-length storage, carpeted floor and folding rear lounges provide a stable and practical platform for fishing and other fun activities on the water for your family.

With GPS, Fishfinder, radio, canopy, side curtains, safety gear and regos on Mackay trailer and 90hp Mercury Optimax. $35 000

Mercury 15 HP The 15HP Mercury is renowned for its reliability, lightweight and ease of use.

Practical features include forward and reverse gear change on the throttle. Ratcheting shallow water drive, also operated by the tiller handle is a great feature, allowing 3 shallow water settings just by pushing down on the tiller.

A great motor for a small tinny or as an auxiliary. $2500

MotorGuide 55lb saltwater

bowmount wireless remote. $1300 (handheld remote extra $120) 75lb 24v freshwater $1400

3 year warranty.

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MotorGuide has long been the industry leader in trolling motor innovation and design.

MotorGuide were the first to create a foot-controlled steering system and a retractable bow mount.

A large range of models in the lineup include; Freshwater, Saltwater, 12 and 24 volt. MotorGuide are proud to offer you an unique product that will redefine the way in which you go fishing from lakes to estuaries and bays.

MotorGuide has the product to handle the task.

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391/1a Westbury Road, Prospect Ph 6344 3311 2005 Australian Savage Dealer of the Year Fishing News - Page 29

Lines aint Lines Have you ever stood in a tackle store and been confused or amazed at the amount of fishing lines available to today’s anglers? Have you stood there thinking, which is the best one for what I want to do and what the hell is Dyneema or Co Polymer? Well don’t be disheartened, as a tackle shop owner I can understand how confusing your choice can be as every year manufacturers produce newer, slicker, better casting lines with more abrasion resistance etc etc etc and bombard retailers with samples and stories of how this is the newest stuff and everyone’s going to want it. How do sort out what the marketing hype is and what is actually a good line? Well I know you’ll hate to hear this but price is usually a good indicator.

Monofilament is what you would call the normal fishing line you probably began you angling careers with and although many lines are called this there are many small subtle differences between brands such as coatings and diameters. Most cheap monofilaments have some sort of memory to them because of the materials they are made from, which means when stored under tension on a reel for long periods of time the line will memorize being stored this way and will spring off the reel in coils when cast and will take quite some time on a normal fishing day to straighten properly, this will also worsen and can cause more line twist than when fishing with better lines even if using swivels and anti kinks. Co Polymer monofilaments are much better at not keeping a memory and will cast flatter than normal mono’s. They are more expensive but obviously for a reason, because they are a better line.

Monofilament and Co polymer lines are fantastic in several fishing situations because of their stretch characteristics, such as game fishing, float fishing, fishing un weighted baits and as leader material on super lines such as Gelspun or Braid.

Color is one of the most important things I think an angler should consider when purchasing lines because regardless of what you might think science has proven fish can see fishing line. If for arguments sake you were fishing worms or another bait on the bottom of a river or a lake I would recommend a green or brown colored line so it blends in with its surrounds but if I was spinning on the same water

I would use a clear colored line. In the saltwater clear and blue/green colored lines are what you should stick with especially I believe when game fishing. I know there will be hundreds of game fishermen reading this thinking what the hell is he on about but believe me when I say Tasmania is the last stronghold of Hi Vis yellow mono for game fishing. Switched on fisho’s have of late started changing their trolling outfits to clear or blue mono and I try and encourage as many game fisherman as possible to change because fish definitely see this color. It’s only because your lures have a clear mono leader that you catch the fish that you do. And remember that Hi Viz line was developed so that Captains could see the line from a flybridge of their game boat when backing down on a marlin etc, and even these guys don’t use a lot of Hi Viz lines these days. You might think to yourself that you catch plenty of fish now using yellow colored game line but how many would you catch if you didn’t?

Diameter is also very important when choosing a line, as a thinner line for the same breaking strain will pack neater on a reel and not only will you increase spool capacity but will also cast further. Basically when choosing a mono or co polymer buy the best you can afford and you will more than likely get a line that’s got good abrasion resistance and have a thin diameter for its breaking strain.

Flourocarbon lines are a different kettle of fish again. A lot of monofilament lines claim to be invisible in water but science tells us that fluorocarbon has the same refractive light index as water which means it probably really is the only type of line that is nearly invisible to fish. There are many brands of fluorocarbon and they are all ok, obviously everyone will have their preference for what they think will work better but just describe to staff in your local tackle store what kind of fishing your doing and they should be able to recommend a particular type for your needs. Flourocarbon is probably the most expensive type of monofilament on the market.

Recently there has been a big push of high end Japanese monofilaments on to the Australian market and whilst these are very good lines and probably some of the world’s best I still don’t think anglers should look past good Australian made stuff like Platypus. They have a huge range of lines and produce some of the worlds thinnest strongest line like Super 100 and have also recently developed Platypus Lo Stretch which doesn’t stretch quite as much as normal mono but isn’t

The quality, type and prices of fishing line varies enormously.

Seek advice from a reputable tackle shop when next you need line.

They should be able to recommend a line that suits your use perfectly. as unforgiving as Braided and Gelspun lines. Its probably the closest you would get to the best of both worlds. And remember it Australian made and owned.

So if you are in the market for some new fishing line stop and think about what you need before you make a purchase, and consider color, diameter and type of mono. You might find a line that suits your needs better than what you have been using.

SHIMANO SAVINGS FOR A

TLD 25 / 15 OR 24KG BACKBONE ROD

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TLD 50 2SP/ 24KG FULL ROLLER BACKBONE ROD

TIAGRA 30 WIDE / TIAGRA T – CURVE 15KG

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TYRNOS 30 REEL / T – CURVE HEAVY ROD

TYRNOS 30 2SP/24KG FULL ROLLER BACKBONE ROD

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SEASONS STOCK COLOURS OF of TheNEW bluefin are still red AND hot. We have heaps BLACK PAKULA ANDof game gearBART, in stock and UZI plenty advice onZUKERS where INto STORE find the big!!!fish.

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Fishing News - Page 30

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Quintrex continues to put safety first with level flotation

Quintrex remains at the forefront of boating safety with level flotation as standard across a wide range of boats in the brand’s extensive range.

The safety feature enables boats to remain level and in an upright position if they become fully swamped in controlled conditions with full occupants, motor and gear on board.

National Sales and Marketing Manager Damien Duncan said Quintrex started introducing level flotation to the Quintrex range in 2004.

“We were the first aluminium boat manufacturer to introduce level flotation as we see our customer’s safety as priority and we wanted to offer customers one of the safest products on the market,” Damien said.

“Level flotation is a major safety factor in that it supports the boat, motor, cargo and the weight of passengers in the event of a boat becoming swamped in calm conditions. This is unlike boats with basic flotation that cater for boat, motor and cargo only.

“We build recreational boats and the safety benefits from level flotation can not be underestimated,” he said.

Level f lotation is made possible through significant quantities of foam being strategically installed in the sides and underfloor compartments of Quintrex boats to ensure consistent results.

“Quintrex doesn’t use just any foam, we use both Polystyrene and Urethane foams in our boats in accordance with the American Boating and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards.

For example, we install fuel resistant Urethane foam in the bilge area which is determined as four inches from the lowest point where water may accumulate in the boat,” he said.

To ensure all Quintrex boats perform to optimal standards, they are swamp tested to allow for the heaviest rated motor, occupants and gear.

“We design our boats with this safety feature but hope you will never have to use it,” Damien said.

“Level flotation gives you and your family the peace of mind to enjoy every journey in your Quintrex,” he said.

For information on the Quintrex range and to locate your local dealer visit www. quintrex.com.au.

Refrigeration for Trailer Boats and Keeping Your Batteries Charged On today’s market there is wide variety of preassembled fridge and freezer units to suit camping, caravans and larger boats, some of these units are robust enough to take out in the average trailer boat, but unfortunately many struggle to perform in the rough and tumble conditions encountered in general boating, especially the open craft as often used by fisho’s.

About 7 years ago we looked at ways to overcome this problem, but also meet some criteria that may not be encountered by the average camper and caravaner. The unit needed to be fitted to a 5.5m Savage Jabiru side console that was primarily purchased for estuary use but often found itself in the bay chasing Snapper or in some big dams after Bass. This is a superb vessel for its desired application apart from the fact it is a 17’ punt and in a bit of slop or chop, life gets a tad wet for the occupants. The boat is also used for plenty of tournament fishing in areas where ice is not readily accessible and carting eskies to and from campsites after a day on the water can often put a dampener on an otherwise good day’s fishing.

We had been using an 85lt fibreglass esky that fitted perfectly in front of the side console. It doubled as a seat and casting platform as it’s height was about the same as the extra wide gunnels fitted on the Jabiru, so the decision was made to turn this into a 85lt fridge/freezer that could withstand all that could be dished out by fisho’s and the Aussie elements.

sensor. It has a simple rotary thermostat on the on/off switch with the best feature being that it came pre-gassed with reusable quick connect fittings, making connection extremely simple.

This style of unit runs a piston type compressor which is far more economical than swing type compressors or heat exchange units.

The Isotherm as it is supplied in kit form The evaporator plate size we chose was listed by the manufacturer as a 260lt fridge or 85lt freezer, they recommended when heading into tropical conditions to reduce the capacity by 10-20%. This suited us perfectly as the boat frequents the Barra Nationals & Classic every year, the unit would be used in the Territory as a fridge and not a freezer, due to the excellent facilities provided by the organisers of these events and the staff at the Banyan Farm.

When it came to fitting the unit I could not believe how simple it was, my only concern came when I had to bend the evaporator plate to fit the dimensions of the esky. For the best results, it is recommended the plate cover at least two sides for refrigeration and three sides for freezing. The instructions supplied give very clear, step by step instructions on how to measure and the procedure required to bend the plate.

need to drill a 30mm diameter hole in the upper section of the esky, adjacent to where the hose joins the evaporator plate. Run the hosing through the hole and then secure the pre-shaped evaporator plate to the internal walls of the esky. 5mm spaces are supplied in the kit as the evaporator plate needs to be mounted this distance from the walls of the esky. You then have the option of what material to fill up the 30mm hole with. A small amount of expanding foam with a gel coat finish would be the perfect finish. Unfortunately like many “gunna jobs’ at home I was in a rush and filled the whole with silicone, as you can see in the photo the silicone is still there 7 years later and has performed admirably, but one day I will get around to…

I used nylon washers between the stainless screws and the plate, and Sikaflex where screws entered the fibreglass in an effort to keep moisture out of the eskies insulation.

When mounting the compressor, the way that suited us may not suit you, but with a little bit of ingenuity a solution is sure to be found. As the Jabiru has a low side console that is 3 sided and only open to allow the helmsman feet to fit under, we decided to mount the compressor on the floor, underneath the console and hard up against the front wall in a large battery box without a lid and one end modified to allow for cooling. This still gave plenty of foot room and allows the boat to be liberally washed down (if water restrictions allow) with no imminent danger to the electrics. There is enough hose to mount the evaporator and the compressor up to 2 metres apart, giving you plenty of flexibility to your mount options.

97_07_FMG_Refrig_05-07

The first goal was to ensure every time we left to go fishing the batteries were at their optimum charge. To do this we fitted a Minn Kota onboard 240volt charger that was hard wired in underneath the console. To benefit all batteries house and start, we fitted an emergency parallel switch between the batteries to allow all batteries to receive charge from the 240 volt system, this also allowed us to isolate either battery bank when required.

For charging whilst out on the water, we fitted a BEP Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR), allowing two systems to be charged at the same time from the engines alternator. On initial startup of the engine the VSR will first charge the start battery until it reaches a preset 13.7 volt charge level, then at this point, the VSR will engage and direct current between both battery banks while the engine continues to operate. Once the engine is switched off and the voltage in the start battery reaches 12.8 volts, the VSR disengages, eliminating any chance of the draining the start battery.

The power distribution centre. Neat and simple to operate.

The esky fitted perfectly, with the batteries under the stowage hatch directly in front.

The unit we selected was an Isotherm Classic Compact System with an air cooled compressor by Indel Marine. The compressor operated on power input from 12-24 volts and most importantly has a low voltage cut off

the problem we faced is that we also run bow and transom mount Minn Kota electric motors off the same battery bank and need to keep these batteries operational for periods of up to two weeks without any 240 volt assistance.

We opted for 2 by 130amp deep cycle house batteries that fitted under the forward casting platform and a 15 plate start battery for the Yamaha 115HP 4 stroke.

Seven years after instillation and still going strong.

Prior to fitting the evaporator plate, you will

The compressor tucked securely away leaving leg romm and remaining dry.

On average the unit draws around 1A/hr @ 12volts which is economical in anyone’s terms,

For those anglers operating a 24 volt trolling motor with batteries connected in series, BEP now offer a 24 volt VSR that allows for batteries connected in series to be charged from a 12 volt charging system. This unit operates under the exact same principal as the 12 volt VSR, previously mentioned.

Fishing News - Page 31

rides beautifully in 20kt of wind, should you have to run home in those conditions, whereas most of our competitors’ boats just about pound you through the floor.

“Add to this the QuickFlow™ water ballast system, for superior stability at rest, and you have a pretty special package!”

The QuickFlow™ system is comprised of a cavity that runs the full length of the keel (open at the transom) which quickly fills with water when the boat stops, lowering the chines into the water. This lowering of the boat sees the outer corners of the hull just sitting in the water, which provides incredible stability, even in less than favourable conditions.

Bar Crusher – the best of both worlds

Built into every Bar Crusher boat, the QuickFlow™ water ballast system is one of the plate-aluminium boat brand’s most distinguishing characteristics.

The ingenious and inconspicuous design feature solves the seemingly eternal problem of ‘smooth ride vs stability at rest’.

Bar Crusher’s Peter Cleland said while the technolog y was inherent to every

Bar Crusher’s ingenious QuickFlow™ water ballast system solves the seemingly eternal problem of ‘smooth ride vs stability at rest’.

boat the company had ever built, current consumer demand had confirmed the market’s acceptance.

“A deep-V hull provides a smooth, soft ride in all conditions, while a flatter hull with a shallow V is much harder riding when the wind comes up,” Mr Cleland said.

“Our trademarked WaveSlicer™ deep-V hull design ensures every Bar Crusher boat display resolution. 640 vertical pixels provide the highest resolution to show maximum detail from the advanced Side Imaging sonar system. boat which weighs approx. 400kgs easily at The 797c2x SI Combo can be either indash or gimbal mounted. The footprint of 3100 revs. Fully trimmed out I can reach the unit allows it to be mounted in-dash on Over the years I have owned quite a few speeds of 70kmh at 5800 revs and hold tight the majority of today’s boats. It can also be boats with 4 stroke motors and whilst all into a turn without cavitation problems. mounted with Humminbird’s patented Tilt & have performed admirably there is one in my The Suzuki also has the advantage of Swivel Quick Disconnect Mounting System opinion that stands out on its own. having a fail safe mode that reduces revs to which allows for adjustable viewing and the Last November I upgraded my boat to a 5 ensure that the motor does not over heat or ability to easily connect and disconnect the metre Quintrex Hornet and after doing some gets damaged in any other way from over unit without hassling with cables.

Included with the 797c2x SI Combo is research I listened to the advice of the boys revving. The motor also has fitted as standard a precision 16 channel GPS receiver that at Coastal marine and had them fit a Suzuki a tilt limit switch which means your dealer plots position on a built-in, 4nm UniMap DF90. Now I don’t claim to be mechanically can set the trim height of the motor so that of Australian Coastal waters, or on optional minded and I don’t profess to know the ins it does not hit your transom or bait board by Navionics® Gold Cartography.

Another new feature is Humminbirds and outs of these highly technical motors over trimming.

The Suzuki DF90 also has a 40amp CannonLink giving anglers the ultimate but I do consider fuel consumption and control of their electrically operated Cannon performance as I use my boats for fishing in alternator which is nearly double the size of downriggers from the menu system on tournaments. the opposition. Besides that latest computer Humminbirds 700 and 900 Series units. This The first time I slipped into the driver’s technology the motor also the advantage of feature controls the depth the downrigger will seat and started the motor I turned around a self adjusting oil bathed timing chain that troll at, lets the operator raise the downrigger to see if it was actually running as it was does not need to be changed for the life of weight once a fish has struck, have the downrigger track the bottom and also will probably the most quite motor I’ve ever heard. the motor where as opposition motors have have the downrigger rise and fall to two pre- Or haven’t heard! I would go so far as to say timing belts.

I have found in the short time I’ve owned entered depths, allowing the bait/lure to cover it was quieter than the 60hp Yamaha 4 stroke that was on my previous boat. a Suzuki that the motor started easily every a wider strike zone.

The memory card expansion slot on What I really love about the Suzuki is the time and I believe the motor to be very the 797c2x SI Combo can be used for performance, the out of the hole acceleration reliable, I have even heard anecdotal stories Humminbird’s exclusive Digital Screen Snap is awesome and rivals 2 strokes for their of a commercial operator in S.A that has got Shot feature. This technology provides the instant power. The Suzuki has a reduction two motors with 7000 hrs of service and they ability to mark a waypoint on the screen and then save the entire screen image on a memory ratio gearbox which allows you to run a large are still going strong.

I highly recommend a Suzuki motor to card. The image can be reviewed later on- size range of props which means you can pick screen like a digital camera, and downloaded the best prop to suit the hull of your boat for anyone that is looking for reliability and an to a PC for logging and trip planning. maximum performance. The engine performs engine that has good fuel economy at a very Like previous 700 Series models, the well through entire rev range and planes my competitive price.

797c2x SI is fully Fishing System upgradeable Leroy Tirant and now includes Double accolades for Quintrex at the 2007 “We are ecstatic with our wins at the AMIF awards HumminbirdLink, and are particularly proud of our 580 Freedom Crusier Australian Marine Industries Federation Awards a l l ow i n g f o r t wo head units to share Australia’s leading aluminium boat brand, Quintrex won for taking out both AMIF’s “Day Boat of the Year” infor mation from two prestigious 2007 AMIF awards in the categories and Modern Boating’s “Aluminium Boat of the Year”,” Humminbirds add “Day Boat of the Year” and “Fishing Trailerable Boat of Damien said. on accessories such “Launched at Melbourne Boat Show last year, the 580 the Year (Aluminium Under 6m)” for the 580 Freedom as CannonLink, Cruiser and 580 Coast Runner respectively, on Thursday Freedom Cruiser is the first of its kind in the Australian SmartCast, aluminium boating industry with its stern drive transom 24th May, 2007.

WeatherSense and design and built-in MerCruiser engine.

Quintrex’s innovative 580 Freedom Cruiser began GPS receiver. Mark a “The model is a huge credit to our research and the winning streak in early May being awarded Modern waypoint on one unit development team who continually strive to cement Boating magazine’s “Aluminium Boat of the Year” in and the information Quintrex as a market leader,” he said.

Sydney. will be instantly Quintrex also received two Commendation awards at Finalists for the annual Modern Boating awards were available on the second head. selected from models tested by Modern Boating over the the AMIF Awards in the “Cruiser Trailerable (Aluminium For more Under 6m)” and “Fishing Trailerable (Aluminium Under last 12 months. information on the Quintrex National Sales & Marketing Manager 6m)” for the 540 Freedom Cruiser and 580 Top Ender new 797c2x SI Combo Damien Duncan said the awards are a wonderful models respectively. or to find your nearest For more information on the Quintrex range or to acknowledgment of the company’s dedication to retailer visit www.bla. locate your local dealer visit www.quintrex.com.au innovation and quality. com.au

Suzuki DF90

Humminbird 797 - a big combo

After taking the industry by storm two years ago with the introduction of Side Imaging™ technology, Humminbird© is now offers the same technology to anglers in a smaller, more economical package with the introduction of the Tournament-grade 797c2x SI Combo.

Packed with 500watts (RMS) of power, the new 797c2x SI is the perfect alternative for those wanting to fish both inshore and offshore. Side Imaging sonar, gives picture-like images over a wide 160 degrees of coverage to reveal structure, fish and topography up to 146m (480’) of the bottom at once. This enormous coverage lets the angler search more water in less time to find the most promising areas to fish.

For the freshwater angler, Side Imaging reveals fish-attracting structure such as timber, stumps, rocks and creek beds. In saltwater, Side Imaging is extremely useful in picking up precise detail of fishing structure like wrecks, reefs, humps and drop-offs, as well as spotting bait balls in open water. In each application, the detailed image helps the angler to better understand the bottom topography, type and orientation of structure to improve fishing tactics.

If it is deep water performance you are after, the 797c2x SI Combo is also a fullfeatured traditional 256 colour sonar unit with DualBeam PLUS™ which provides penetration to over 300m. Side Imaging and DualBeam PLUS can be viewed individually or split-screen, and both capabilities are built into one easily mounted transducer.

The 127mm (5”) colour screen on the 797c2x SI Combo features “hemispherical viewing” f o r e xc e l l e n t readability from any angle, and a leading edge 640 vertical x 480 horizontal Fishing News - Page 32

The ballast water is jettisoned in seconds as the boat moves forward to allow it to leap effortlessly onto the plane, faster than many other boats.

“A smooth, non-pounding ride and excellent stability at rest is an important aspect when buying any offshore boat,” Mr Cleland said.

“With our factory located in Melbourne, in close proximity to the often treacherous seas of Bass Strait, our customers are well aware that every Bar Crusher model has been tried, tested and proven.”

Further information: Bar Crusher Boats – (03) 9702 8555 or visit: www.barcrusher. com.au

530C

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Bait Board StepThroughTransom Nav Lights Dive/Swim Ladder Suzuki DF140 EFI 4 Stroke Bilge Pump FoldingGasStrutRoofwith Kill Tank Twin Batteries clears Live Bait Tank SkiPole,VHFRadioEasytowtandembraked Rocket Launcher 150L Fuel Tank Trailer Trim Tabs HydraulicSteering$53990 Rod Holders

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Barcrusher 560WR Bait Board

FrontCastingPlatform FullWalkAroundDesign Nav Lights StepThroughTransom Dive/Swim Ladder SuzukiDF115EFI4Stroke Bilge Pump Kill Tank Twin Batteries Folding Roof VHF Radio Ski Pole Live Bait Tank 150L Fuel Tank Easy Tow Tandem Rocket Launcher HydraulicSteering Braked Trailer Trim Tabs Ice Box Seats Rod Holders $53990

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Barcrusher 640C Demo Bilge Pump

Out Riggers YamahaF200EFI4Stroke(20hrs) Step Through Transom LawrenceSounder/GPS Kill Tank Dive/Swim Ladder 300L Fuel Tank Live Bait Tank FoldingGasStrutRoofwithClears Hydraulic Steering Rocket Launcher Twin Batteries Normal Retail $73317 Trim Tabs Ski Pole Demo Discount-$5327 Rod Holders VHF Radio Your Price Bait Board EasyTowTandemBrakedTrailer $67990 Nav Lights

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Why you should consider a Barcrusher BarCrusherBoatsarewithoutadoubtthemost amazinghullsonthemarket.Headstraightoninto roughseasandtheseboatswillamazeyouwith nobanging,jarringorslammingthatyougetwith most hulls on the market.

ToughplatealloyBarCrusherboatsusecutting edgedesign,sotheyarehightechratherthan low tech.

Look at the features: Smootherridethananyaluminiumboatand comparabletoglassboats.Strongplate aluminiumconstruction(5mm&4mm)Hull constructionuses6fullyweldedandfolded stringersrunningforeandaftwhicharefully weldedtothebottomplateprovidingincredible strength and rigidity.

Lighttotowbehindvehiclewithlowtowing capacity.

Innovativefoldinggasstrutroof,thatcanbefolded intoboatforstorageinshedswithlowheight.

Deeper“v”thananyotheraluminiumboatofits typeinAustralia.Waterballastsystemprovides exceptional stability at rest.

Superb following sea performance.

Windscreensaretoughenedglassforlonglife and good visibility.

Largefronthatchforeasyaccesstotheanchor.

Thedecktreadfloorisfullysealedtoprovide aneffectivesecondsealedbottominthe boat.

Nounderfloorspacestotrapsmells,oldbait andtackle.Theentireinsideoftheboats canbehosedoutwithfreshwaterfor effective and fast cleaning.

Allhullscomewithstandardfeatureslike: Large kill tanks, live bait tanks, solid rearaccessladder,dualbatterysystem, foldingrearseat,rodholders,stepthrough transom,swimplatform,navlights,anchor light,burleybucket&muncher,storage pockets,clearbowlfuelfilter,plusahostof otherstandardfeaturesthatareoptionson most boats.

Weinviteyoutoacloseinspectionofthese remarkableboats.Thenyoucandecide what boat is for you.

Barcrusher 640 Hard Top Bait Board

Lock Up Cabin Titanium Pearl Paint 2 x DF140EFI 4 Stroke Suzukis Nav Lights Bilge Pump Anchor Light 300L Fuel Tank Step Through Transom Hydraulic Steering Lowrance Sounder/GPS Dive/Swim Ladder 27mhz Radio Kill Tank Deck Wash EasyTowtandembrakedtrailer Live Bait Tank with4wheeldiscsandalloywheels Rocket Launcher Twin Batteries Ski Pole Itsimplydoesn’tgetanybetter Trim Tabs than this VHF Radio Rod Holders

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Bass Highway, Somerset, Burnie, TAS 7320 Phone: 64 352 200 Email: anthony@coastal-marine.com.au Fishing News - Page 33

Jan’s Flies Jan Spencer

The weather has cooled and the trout fishing slowed, so it’s the time of year to reflect a little and look forward to the next season. Slot in the diary what weekends and holidays will be set aside for some fishing, it’s great to do it early so one has these times to look forward to.

There are many things to catch up on through the winter months. Check those fly boxes for old fallen apart flies that have caught too many fish and toss them out. Flies with rusty hooks should be discarded as these will surely loose you that trophy fish. Replace the favourite flies with new ones, it’s never good to go for your favourite fly and the compartment is empty.

Fly lines should be checked carefully for damage and if like mine, they need some tender loving care with a good clean.

Check the connection knot between the fly line and backing in case you connect with that monster trout and it takes off for a long run. Put a new leader on for a quick start next season. Reels also need to be cleaned and oiled.

Check rods for any damage, eyes and bindings are all worth a look. Give the cork handle a clean. It’s nice to start the new season with clean gear.

Waders seem to get neglected, so check for holes and mend. The best way to find any leakages is to fill them with water, mark the area where the leak is found, dry waders out and mend with appropriate glue for the type of waders you have.

In the off season it’s important for me to have the time to tie some flies and have a look at anything new

that might have become available. I was excited the other day when visiting my local fly fishing shop to be shown some new capes from Whiting Farms.

Firstly there is the Herbert Miner Hen Hackle, these hen capes have rarely been seen before. They have exceptional feathers for tying we t f l i e s. T h e feathers are wide, long, very dense and unequalled in softness, so any fly tied with these feathers will have movement.

The range comes in many natural colours of ginger, brown, cream and dun shades to name a few. The feathers could be used for matuka’s, nymph legs, wing cases, hackle collars on trout and saltwater flies.

The Brahma Hen cape if I hadn’t known differently it could have been mistaken for a grey partridge cape; the feather markings are very similar. The feathers can be used for many wet flies or if required, a turn or two of a mottled hackle in front of a main hackle as in a dry march brown, just to give that lovely leggy look. The cape comes in mottled grey but could be dyed in many shades.

The cape that really took my eye was the Whiting Genetic Spey Hackle; these feathers are nothing short of amazing. Spey and Dee flies need a unique feather to create their very swept back style. The Spey Cock from the Spey River Valley in Scotland provided the feathers required for these unique flies, but by the early 20th century the number of birds dwindled so fly tyers had

to look further afield. The Heron species of bird was used but they became highly protected so many substitutes were used. By the mid 1990’s the ever creative Tom Whiting of Whiting Farms decided it was time to try and breed a line of fowl good enough to replace the Spey Cock and Heron feathers. The development of this special hackle took some years. The feathers on these birds had to have extra long barbs, no webbing between the barbs, very good density and no brittleness for easy tying. I really must say in all my years of fly tying I have not seen feathers like these.

The capes will come in white which are ideal for dying, there will also be unusual feather colours and patterns for the creative tyer.

Beside the rooster capes which have the largest and longest feathers, there will be rooster saddles, hen capes, hen saddles and rooster breast pelt with chickabou. All the above mentioned capes have various size feathers to assist in tying carious size flies.

These capes will be available in the near future from Essential Fly Fisher, Launceston.

Deegan Marine Charting a New Course

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Open 7 days a week during the fishing season

Fishing News - Page 34

After thirty seven years in the business Lindsay and Pat Deegan are hanging up their boots, err, boats and looking forward to a more relaxed lifestyle. Pat reckons a few rounds of golf each week will be just the break she needs and Lindsay is looking forward to seeing a bit more fishing than he’s enjoyed in the past and perhaps a few trips to the big island later on.

During their time at the helm Lindsay and Pat have witnessed remarkable changes in the industry. The progression from marine ply boats such as Hartleys, fibreglass boats like Caribbean, Mustang and Swiftcraft evolved into now popular plated aluminium and high tech glass boats. There has also been a revolution in motors as well with huge changes from the original Evinrude/Johnson’s to the clean green direct injection ETec engines available today. For more than a decade Pat and Lindsay have developed their Honda dealership that is now a leader with their super quiet four strokes.

But it’s not the end of the strong association with boating for the Deegans.

Son Hadley, who has been an integral player in the family business for twenty

years, will be taking over the company effective from 1 July 2007. Hadley is excited about further extending the highly credible reputation that Deegan Marine has built up through excellence in customer service. When it comes to outboard engines few people would know more than Hadley who is a fully qualified outboard master technician. He has raced boats for many years and knows the importance of having an outboard finely tuned and professionally rigged. In more recent years Hadley has been Sales Manager and built up a great rapport and personal relationships with customers.

The Deegan family invites customers old and new to visit during our big June clearance sale to pick up a bargain and have a yarn about boating and fishing, old and new.

Ed: All the best for the future Lindsay and Pat!

New Boat Package CLEARANCE for June - No Gimmicks - No inflated prices, just genuine discounts - Showroom specials - Big selection of new and used propellers - Bargain basement - Finance available

CHARTING A NEW COURSE

( Must secure purchase with deposit by 30/6/07 )

102 Eastland Drive Ulverstone Ph: 6425 2238

The new BF90 and BF75 Honda High performance Superior ‘holeshot’ performance Lightest weight in their class

For further details contact: • Lindsay Deegan Marine; 102 Eastland Drive, Ulverstone, Ph. 6425 2238 • Maynes Marine; 119 New Town Road, Hobart, Ph. 6228 3999

Or phone Honda, freecall 1800 80 75 90 Fishing News - Page 35

Ally Craft arrives in Hobart Ally Craft, the name long synonymous with high quality and cutting edge technology in aluminium boat design, finds its way to Hobart following the appointment of respected Hobart marine retailer, Eastern Shore Marine, as the 56th dealer in the Ally Craft Australia-wide network of dealers. An integral facet of the Ally Craft master plan to establish a genuine nationwide network, the impetus into Tasmania will provide buyers in the greater Hobart region with a full range of aluminium boats purposefully designed and suited to conditions typically found in the Tasmania region.

The move complements the family owned and operated Eastern Shore Marine’s extensive portfolio of marine products, including the market-leading Yamaha range of outboard motors. “We have outgrown two sets of premises in the 18 years we have been in the marine industry. This our third and latest venture, into this brand new one-stop state-of the art service and sales centre in the heart of Mornington, has raised the bar so to speak and has virtually demanded we specialise in a ‘major’ brand of aluminium boats that will go hand in hand with our premium brand of outboards,” Eastern Shore’s Dealer Principal, Lew Bush, explained.

“Our comprehensive research into the ‘right’ brand of trailerable aluminium boats for this dealership however, always ended up back at the brochures and website of the industry-leading Ally Craft brand. Their comprehensive range of cabin, bowrider, runabout, and fishing models in both pressed as well as the innovative plate construction, was the perfect fit for our philosophy of

offering our customers the very best boating options available. Very few if any of the other ranges offered the buying public such a wide and importantly cost-effective variety of sizes as well as configurations,” Bush added.

Eastern Shore Marine’s first shipment of Ally Craft boats will arrive shortly, and includes models such as the eagerly sought after 435 ‘Family’ model. Light and easily handled in a one-couple situation, this unpainted model is perfect for the fisherman as well as the family boater. For the fisherman Lew and his staff have chosen three of Ally Craft’s most popular models, the fishing-orientated 375 Cody and 410 Rhino ‘Open Heavy Duty’ models; and for those who want to take both the caravan and the boat away on vacation, the mandatory 255 ‘Car Topper’ model.

For the more serious family situation, where overhead cover and few home comforts are the expectation, Eastern Shore Marine have opted for 5.1m and 5.4m versions of the popular ‘pressed’ Cabin range. Like all the models in the expansive Ally Craft range, these cabin models feature a list of ‘sensible’ standard features that are then further complemented by optional enhancements such as transom doors, boarding ladders, live-bait tanks, steps and rails and overhead biminis. While you can customise your Ally Craft model to your own specifications and budget, Eastern Shore Marine will also supply turn-key appropriately-powered boating packages complete with YMF finance – that take all the heartache and confusion often associated with choosing and buying the right boat for your own particular application.

For Further Information, contact: Lew or Glenda Bush Eastern Shore Marine 14 McIntyre St, Mornington, TAS 7018 Ph (03) 6244 1163 Email: esm@internode.on.net Web: www.easternshoremarine.com.au

The Biggest Little Boat In It’s Class!

The Fisherman 5 is just about the perfect fishing boat in the 5 metre & under class with it’s walk thru to the anchoring area (the centre windscreen pane and a fibreglass deck hatch open out to provide excellent access to the huge self draining anchor well), complete with big wide storage bins forward of the front bulkhead which are either side of the walk way.

Down aft, the Fisherman 5 has arguably the biggest cockpits for this class of boat, actually larger than a good proportion of much larger boats. For this reason, it’s an excellent inshore and coastal fishing rig for three perhaps even four people.

Other cockpit features include full length fibreglass side pockets complete with above floor battery and oil bottle platforms, recessed stern cleats, rear bait storage bins with cutting board lids, four rod holders, underfloor storage (could be used for either an ice box or kill tank) and extra wide side coamings. The latter feature makes installing makes installing

rod holders, downriggers etc., a simple task.

The boat also comes standard with basic foam flotation (as per Australian Standards), a 60 litre underfloor fuel tank with sender unit, non feedback steering, fibreglass non skid floor, driver’s seat - forward and aft slide and swivel, fibreglass one piece stringer system and a ten (10) structural hull warranty on an approved Dunbier trailer to the original owner.

The boat can be ordered with different coloured gel coat stripes on the hull with matching upholstery and decals.

OPTIONS include: rear boarding platforms, folding rear lounge or fold down quarter seats, stainless steel bait table, stainless steel split bow rails.

Available from Eastern Shore Marine

Two fantastic new boats in stock now are the:

Ally Craft 510 Premier

This is a great boat for Tasmania. At 5.1 metres it is big enough to be serious about fishing, but l i g h t e n o u g h to tow w i t h a f a m i l y c a r. Lo a d e d with features we invite your inspection.

Allison Fisherman 5

A huge boat for just five metres. This is one of our all time favourites. A great family or fishing boat for Tassie.

www.easternshoremarine.com.au 14 McIntyre St, Mornington

Ph: 6244 1163

Fishing News - Page 36

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Seaport Marine 2006 90 ETEC $9500 2005 90 ETEC $9000 2006 60 ETEC(NEW) $7800 2003 YAMAHA 115 $8000 2003 YAMAHA 30 TILLER $2500 2005 MARINER 150 EFI $9500 1995 MARINER 150 EFI $5500 1993 EVINRUDE 130 $3750 391/1a Westbury Road, Prospect Phone 6344 3311

Wanted Old Japanese swords, WWII or older.

Must be authentic. Phone 0417 543 815

Garmin Etrex GPS New and still in package $190. Ph 64434420 or 0427 571 212

De Havilland Topper Mariner 8hp, trailer rego to 8/07, plus extras. $1900 ono Phone 6267 4659

RL Winston Fly Rod BoronII 8ft 6in AFTM#4 fast taper, light Approx 80grm) yet powerful.

Beautiful green rod, unused.

Reluctant sale. Bargain at $700 neg. Phone 6234 2456.

28lb Minn Kota

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Port Sorell Marine Second Hand Boat 435 Savage with 30hp 4 stroke Mercury (near new) $10,500 16ft Lukey Ski Boat American Import 1960 $1,800 435 Quintrex Hornet Boat & Trailer only $7,300 400 Bass Elite Stacer with 20hp 4 stroke Honda motor $9,000 3.6 Savage runabout with Yamaha 30hp motor $3,500 Second Hand Motors 135hp Optimax ‘98, 300 hrs $9,000 25hp Evinrude ‘85 fwd controls, power tilt & trim $2,200 2hp Yamaha $375 Club Drive, Shearwater TAS 7307

Furuno GPS/WASS Navigator GP-32 Near new condition, ready to go. $150 Ph 0407 843 485

Wanted Tasmanian Metal Fishing Club Badges Phone 0418585310 or email dannymur1@bigpond.com

Transom mount. Had little use. $150 offer. Phone Mike Stevens 0418 129949.

Minn Kota 55lb Bowmount Riptide model with foot control. Only 3 months old, all paperwork and warranty. Good cond. $1000 0428 347736

Quintrex 5.0 metre Hornet Trophy

November 2006 model Lowrance LMS 337 color depth sounder/GPS unit with navionics card.

Full length rod locker 9ft.

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55lb Riptide Bow mount Minn Kota (3 months old) 3 year warranty.

120 amp battery wired with 50amp circuit breaker.

60ltr under floor fuel tank.

Quintrex Millenium hull.

Suzuki DF90 hp 4 stroke motor. (20 hrs use) 5 year warranty.

Deluxe easy tow drive on trailer. Color coded wheels.

Custom fitted, trailable, boat cover, 17oz cotton, felt lined.

Ultimate lakes and inshore sportsfishing boat.

Excellent condition only 7 months old. $35,000 Phone Leroy Tirant on 0428 347736.

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while externally providing a means to neatly and professionally clip fendering to the outer hull.

Advantages of the Generation II pontoon • Tighter tolerance • Higher rigidity and lateral strength • Cable ducting on inside and means to clip belting to outside • This is all without compromise to buoyancy.

Build quality

Stabi-Craft - innovative leader in safety and performance

Heritage

“Stabi-Craft Marine will be the leading international innovator of rigid pontoon trailer boats, offering the best value and representing the brand of choice on boats used for all serious marine sports activity and rescue craft”

Pedigree of Stabi-Craft

At the southernmost corner of New Zealand lies Foveaux Strait, a notoriously stormy stretch of water that separates Stewart Island from the southern mainland. The men who fish there naturally treat these waters with great respect.

It was in 1986 that two local Foveaux Strait fishermen approached the fledgling Stabi-Craft Marine with a brief to design and build a small, rugged, unsinkable pontoon style boat. The key criteria was, it would have to allow them to fish these waters in almost any condition and always bring them and their catch safely back to their mother boat. This began the evolution of a brand that was to set world-class standards in aluminium rigid buoyancy boat design and construction.

Even today Stabi-Craft Marine’s standards are without equal of performance and safety. Precision build and thorough testing ensures Stabi-Craft’s superiority.

Right from the beginning Stabi-Craft Marine instituted a program of research, development, thorough hull testing, and meticulous attention to detail. As a consequence, you can be sure that every Stabi-Craft to leave the factory is built to the highest possible standards of engineering precision. The hull design has been thoroughly tested beyond what you are ever likely to ask of it and the build quality is still there even in the places you’ll never see.

Take a good hard look at a Stabi-Craft and you’ll see what we mean. Better still, take one for a test run in rough water.

You won’t want to give it back, because you’ll quickly realise that at last you can enjoy adventure with confidence.

Particular attention is given to each and every Stabi-Craft model produced with quality and pride of workmanship being an important aspect of the manufacturing procedure.

A quality checking system is in place to check material and product at each stage throughout the manufacturing process.

Every attempt is made to provide a quality product to enter the market place.

Production process

Stabi-Craft boats are made to order. After an order has been confirmed, high quality aluminium sheets are precisioncut and pressed using high-tech, computerised equipment according to Stabi-Craft’s exacting design specifications.

The hull, floor and tube frame are fabricated into a complete lower half of the craft. All components are precision welded by Stabi-Craft’s highly qualified welders.

The superstructure (cabin) is fitted and pre-paint preparation is completed and the craft is then sprayed with high quality paint, all hard-top boats are painted with graphic kits on XR models.

A full Quality Control checklist is run on the boat to check both materials and build quality.

Company qualifications

Built to NZ Boating Industries Assn CPC Certified standards CPC certification means your family gets an independent engineering certification of the hull structure, an independent

Design of Stabi-Craft

With an ever watchful eye on the future, at Stabi-Craft we are always researching new design concepts that will improve performance, safety and design aesthetics.

Generation II pontoon

Not being content to rest on their laurels, the Stabi-Craft team continually researches and refines hull to ensure it leads the market with breakthrough innovations. For example, following a process of testing and refinement, the Generation II hull was introduced into the production line in the late 1990’s. The Generation II pontoon cross-section is deeper then previous configurations which means most Stabi-Craft have greater freeboard (higher sides) than before. The slimmer pontoon shape also provides increased internal beam. The overall effect is more room, more storage and more protection from the elements, yet with improved traditional Stabi-Craft benefits of buoyancy and stability. This was only possible because of a unique and technically advanced Stabi-Craft process in which the pontoon sections are now extruded with exacting precision, rather than cut and rolled.

Improved lift

The Generation II pontoon design with its stepped chines provides improved lift, more responsive cornering and a drier ride. Inside or out, Generation II pontoons give you a better performing, roomier and safer Stabi-Craft.

Associated Benefits Associated benefits of this innovative procedure are then inclusion of concealed internal cable ducting on the inside, Fishing News - Page 38

Stacer boats…feature packed and ‘Ready 2 Go’ Stacer continues to make getting into boating easier with their ‘Ready 2 Go’ packages boasting more features than you can poke a stick at.

Features including the Evo Series II hull, mod pod transom, level flotation and modern internal styling are featured across the range and ensure every Stacer is value for money.

National Sales and Marketing Manager Damien Duncan said Stacer boats are perfect for the first time boat buyer and the more experienced boating enthusiast.

“At Stacer our ‘Ready 2 Go’ packages make getting into boating easier for the first time boat buyer as we take the confusion out of buying a boat by matching your boat of choice with a suitable motor and Stacer made trailer,” Damien said.

“At the same time we offer value for money with a huge list of standard and optional features for both the experienced and entry level boatie.

“Our current range also features a wide range of unique Stacer features, most notably the Evo Series II hull, featured on mod pod transom models 4.49 metres and larger. This hull boasts a rolled side pressing that starts at the transom and runs along two thirds of the boat towards the bow delivering a smooth and pleasurable ride.

factory audit of build compliance and a safety item fit out to international standards.

All certified welders are to British Standard 4782 Pt 2 Ability to produce to US National Marine Manufacturers Assn standards Ability to produce to AU Survey standards for Commercial Vessels Stabi-Craft is part of the “New Zealand Way”, a certificate which assures you of the highest export quality.

Stability under power or at rest

Your family will be safe with the unequalled stability provided by Stabi-Craft’s airtight pontoon hull design. These pontoons have large amounts of buoyancy and this provides unequalled stability while either under power or at rest.

Virtual unsinkablity

A Stabi-Craft can be full of water to the gunwales, yet remain fully afloat. Sadly, few other boats on the market can match Stabi-Craft’s positive buoyancy and design safety. Even if a pontoon is pierced, the separate water-tight chambers limit the damage, making a Stabi-Craft virtually unsinkable.

Superior rough water handling

When travelling at speed, Stabi-Craft’s Generation II hull creates a cushion of water under each pontoon, thus softening the ride for your family. Observe a Stabi-Craft at speed compared to most other boats and you will immediately become aware of how little spray rises above the gunwales because it is deflected and trapped by the hull design. Naturally this contributes to passenger comfort and dryness of ride.

Legendary toughness and durability

Apart from aiding buoyancy, Stabi-Craft’s pontoons with internal hull bracing provide longitudinal rigidity to the boat.

The unique shaped design of the Generation II pontoon affords greater cockpit space than most other simarly styled boats. What gives greater confidence are things one cannot easily see. For example, the entire hull is meticulously welded and finished to a standard that is without peer in the aluminium boat building industry.

Available in Tasmania from Deegan Marine

“The design enhances your boat in three distinct ways. It provides spray deflection to keep you and your boat dryer, more stability and more space that allows for level flotation capabilities,” he said.

Stacer has one of the best back ends in the business with their unique mod pod transom design that provides a modern and sleek look to the boats.

“Stacer’s mod pod transom provides more duckboard space for easier boarding and is perfect for swimmers, snorkelers and divers,” Damien said.

“The design does not compromise on any of our generous cockpit space and allows for a larger engine and increased cable accessibility,” he said.

The mod-pod transom design also allows for an integrated transom door which is easy to use and practical in design as it doubles as a step to access the cockpit from the duckboard.

Transom doors are standard in 619 models and larger.

Stacer’s are one of the safest boats on the market with level flotation as featured on a wide range of models.

“The Evo Series II hull provides extra space for foam to be installed into our boats for level flotation,” Damien said.

“This safety feature enables your boat to remain upright when swamped in calm water with cargo and your passengers on board,” he said.

Stacer boats are also more stylish than ever before with modern internal styling including upholstered side panels with soft touch padding and a moulded dash with a functional layout for the motor instruments, steering wheel, glove box and a built in area for stereo installation.

The Stacer range currently boasts 63 models encompassing open boats, prolines, SF series, nomads, entry level runabouts, runabouts, bowriders and cabin boats.

For more information on Stacer’s ‘Ready 2 Go’ packages or to locate your local Stacer dealer visit www.stacer.com.au.

“Stacer’s Cabin Boat range encompasses three plate models - the 569 Coral Runner, 619 Ocean Runner and 669 All-Rounder Centre Cabin,” Wayne said.

“All three models are constructed with thick gauge aluminium with top sides measuring 4mm in thickness and bottom sides ranging from 4mm to 5mm.

“As a result, these plate boats boast superb structural strength and integrity,” he said.

Stacer’s Cabin boats can be purchased as ‘Ready 2 Go’ packages and range in price from $33,454 for the entry level 519 Sea Runner and extend to $65,648 for the 669 All-Rounder Centre Cabin (all prices exclude dealer delivery charges).

All ‘Ready 2 Go’ packages include a boat, Mercury outboard motor, trailer combination, complete with bimini and envelope, registrations and a factory backed warranty.

For more information on Stacer’s cabin boat range visit Port Sorell Marine located at 7 Club Drive, Shearwater, Port Sorell or alternatively visit www.portsorellmarine.com.au or phone (03) 6428 7124.

Web: www.stacer.com.au

Enjoy the best of both worlds on board a Stacer cabin boat Perfectly suited to both fisherman and families alike, Stacer’s cabin boat range offers more standard features and factory options than ever before.

Built on the revolutionary Evo Series II hull, Stacer’s cabin boat range boasts five models – 519 Sea Runner, 549 Wave Runner, 569 Coral Runner, 619 Ocean Runner and the fishing focused 669 AllRounder Centre Cabin.

Port Sorell Marine Dealer Principal Wayne Weeks said the new cabin boats are some of the most popular models in the Stacer range.

“There is constantly interest in Stacer’s cabin boats, proving they are some of the most popular models in the range,” Wayne said.

“The versatility of these boats makes them perfect for both fisherman and families and features like the unique walk through cabin make them even more attractive.

“The cabin bunks allow for ample head space and the walk-through cabin offers easy access to the anchorwell.

“The cabin area also features a roomy bunk layout which includes back rests and soft touch upholstery.

“Other features include a splash well, plush internal styling, the innovative Mod Pod transom and moulded dash,” he said.

Stacer cabin boats range in overall size from 5.45m to 6.95m and can be powered by a maximum 115 horsepower on the 519 Sea Runner ranging to a maximum 225 horsepower on the 669 All-Rounder Centre Cabin.

The list of standard features is endless and includes front clears, bimini and envelope, folding rear lounge and telescopic rear ladder for family friendly days on the water.

Serious fisherman can prepare their vessels with options including a anchor winch plate, burley bucket, cutting board, live bait tank, maxi bracket and rocket launchers to name only a few.

According to Wayne the Cabin boat range also includes three plate models.

Fishing News - Page 39

YAMAHA MOTOR FINANCE

EVERY INDUSTRY HAS A LEADER

MARINE SUPREMACY

• V8 5.3 litre 60° • 32 Valve with Variable Camshaft Timing - Quad Cam • Multipoint Electronic Fuel Injection • Digital Electronic Throttle Control • Digital Fuel Management

WORLD’S

ST PRODUCTION 4-STROKE V8 OUTBOARD

heart of Your Boat

The

Visit the Yamaha website to find your local Yamaha dealer:

WWW.YAMAHA-MOTOR.COM.AU

Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027

Issue 68 June - July 2007

Almost a World Record

Tim Youd, Rob Arnold and Paul Rigby with the 153 kilo southern bluen tuna landed off St Helens in May. Read the full report on page 6

$3.95

• Southern bluefin tuna catches continue • Winter fishing • East Coast lagoons • The bream Doctor • Winter getaways • Jan’s flies • Sarah’s kitchen • Boats and boating