Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News Issue 073 2008 April by Tasmanian Fishing

Issue 73 April - May 2008

$3.95

Print Post approved; PP 702512 00027

Tasman Peninsula bluefin Kayaks and canoes Lake Mackintosh Late season trout Boating Reviews

Bluefin Port Sorell Cooking

Bringing you the biggest and best in Tasmanian fishing news

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CONTENTS

Fly fishing – April and May – Christopher Bassano

Canoeing rivers - Craig Rist 7 Kayaks and canoe review 10 Lake Mackintosh – Leroy Tirant 16 Game fishing Tasman Peninsula/South – John Orchard Lighten up – Small rivers and streams – Craig Rist

Jan’s flies – Jan Spencer 27 Port Sorell – Shane Flude 29 MPA – Bruny bio region – Mark Nikolai (TARfish)

Reviews 34 Georges Bay - Autumn mecca - Jamie Henderson Delicious salmon – Chef - Adam Gower

Carp management – Chris Wisniewski IFS 41 Fishing, boating services directory 44 Inland and Marine fishery news 46

My Say

With this in mind one of the most spectacular events you can attend is the IFS Trout Weekend at Liawenee Canal, Great Lake on 17 and 18 May. Mark this in your diary to view the annual spawning run of hundreds of brown trout in the canal plus many activities and businesses involved in the freshwater fishing industry. The kids fishing pond, run for the first time last year will be extremely popular and most will enjoy a fresh trout for dinner!

May 4th is another date worth celebrating as it is the 144th. anniversary of the introduction of trout into Tasmania, indeed the Antipodes! Fifty or so dedicated anglers have celebrating trout’s birthday for a number of years will be toasting the 1864 arrival of ova at New Norfolk at a dinner in Launceston. If you are interested in attending give Quenton a call on 0427 129 949 for detail and cost. Most of us will agree that Marine Protected Areas are a good thing as long as commonsense is used in the consultation process. Mark Nikolai from TARfish talks about the key Bruny bio region in this issue and notes the positive comments from Minister David Llewellyn. Recreational saltwater fishing across the state has been spectacular and well managed MPAs will ensure this continues. Mike Stevens - Ed.

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It only seems like yesterday that the current trout season opened yet in just a few weeks most brown trout waters close in readiness for the annual spawning run. Low water levels in the State’s rivers and in larger lakes have effected the fishery and angler sport in different ways. The usually reliable fishery of Arthurs Lake has been good, despite some gloom and doom from some anglers. Great Lake fishing however has been spectacular with prolific weed and invertebrate growth due to the low water and increased sunlight. This has provided a feast of tucker for rainbows and browns alike and top sport for those in the know. Recent rainfall is encouraging and we hope this continues to ensure a strong spawning period.

Ben Hodgetts 0400 560 450 Shane Lohrey 0439 111 863 Fiona Isaks 0418 354 068 (Finance)

Fishing News - Page 3

Fly Fishing - April and May

Woods Lake has been a great late-season performer. The end of April has traditionally brought about the conclusion of the trout fishing season for three months. More recently, things have changed and a few waters remain open year round. Amongst fly fishermen however, there is a perception that mid to late March coincides with the last of the ‘worth while’ fishing. In reality, I believe the back end of any season can produce memorable fishing and after one as productive as this, those willing to brave the impending cold are likely to be well rewarded. There are always a few negatives associated with fishing at the end of the season and these need to be understood by the angler. Firstly, the fish (brown trout in particular) are gearing up for their annual spawning run. Their external coloration darkens and they become much slimier to touch. The colour of their flesh also changes from what is usually an orangey pink, to a much lighter colouration. Even the texture of their flesh alters, becoming softer and less edible with time. All of these traits (although still present) are less obvious on stream fish than on their still water counter parts. For those of us who fish for the sport and are not looking to kill their fish, none of these things matter. A second downside to fishing at this time of year is the unpredictability of the weather. More inclement days should be expected and the colder weather brings a down turn in the amount of surface food available to the trout. This means there is the potential for fewer dry fly fishing opportunities. These negative attributes to fishing at this time of year are outweighed by the success that awaits the observant angler.

fishing. I have already witnessed decent numbers of them on Arthurs and Penstock over the past few weeks but not enough to speak of a ‘rise’. With a bright red under belly and tent shaped black wings, these little flies are often imitated with a red tag. More imitative patterns would be my first choice tied on size 14 or short shank 12 hooks. The warmer weather that brings the Jassids will still produce good gum beetle falls. On Great Lake and its surrounding lakes, the Gum Beetle falls have been well spread through out the season but generally, in smaller numbers. This may be due to the increased spraying regimes practiced by the forestry this year. Do not discount the Gum Beetle if warm weather returns to the highlands. On many occasions I have caught and released well over my bag of trout on the last day of the season by casting to Gum Beetle feeders in amongst the timber. With winter closing in, the number of south westerly weather patterns usually increases. When beetles fall, look for lee shores and points from which the wind is blowing. They will start to congregate in these slick areas and the fish will be waiting. Cold, frosty mornings will still bring about good midge hatches and these can continue right through the winter months. The number of fish feeding will not be the same as that found in January, but if you want dry fly fishing and are prepared to brave the elements you will find limited opportunities in the wind lanes even in the dead of winter. Of course, calm conditions are a must as are gloves, warm clothes and a pinch of madness.

Jassids are mentioned at the end of every fishing season. These little leaf hoppers are certainly loved by trout and when available, can produce superb dry fly fishing. Consistency is not one of their best traits and the hatches / falls of Jassids are very hard to forecast and predict. Many people believe that they come in seven year cycles but I have not found that to be the case. There have been dribs and drabs over the past few seasons and being in the right place at the right time seems to make the difference between having a great day and not seeing a fish at all. As they come off the trees on surrounding hills, those waters best known for consistent gum beetle feeders are also those best suited to Jassid Falls. Lake Echo, Dee Lagoon, Bronte, Arthurs and Penstock can all produce excellent Jassid

Mayfly hatches this season have been nothing but disappointing and Penstock aside, their consistency has been anything but. The fishing at the aforementioned lake at the time of writing this article has shown no signs of slowing up and although the hatches are less prolific, the fish seem keen to eat the fly. On bright days, success should still be forth coming when polaroiding the shallows. Water levels are low in the western lakes at this time of year and although some fish are not in perfect condition, they can often be found tailing throughout the day. Having seen many anglers and any number of fly patterns over the past seven months, these fish also provide a worthy challenge to even the best of fishermen.

Fishing News - Page 4

World Championship fly fisher, Ian Donnachy taught the author some good tips on finding late season trout. Realistically however all of these fishing scenarios require good weather conditions and these are not as common as we would like this late in the season. Good weather does provide more opportunities for sight fishing but bad weather and wet fly fishing usually brings more fish to the net. The best wet fly fishing seems to coincide with the first of the heavy rains after late March. At this time, the fish begin to colour up and their instincts turn to finding a partner and spawning. Fishermen need to change their approach in order to take full advantage of this phenomenon. Finding fish in pairs or small schools is not uncommon at this time and locating these congregated fish is not that difficult if you apply a few basic principals. Remembering that many of Tasmania’s more accessible lakes have been built or enlarged by the hydro will greatly increase your chances of finding fish. It is common knowledge that towards the end of the season when the rains are falling and fish are getting ready to spawn, they will gravitate towards the creek mouths up which they will eventually run. It is a common misconception that fish will swim to these river mouths on the most direct route. Although this may be the case for a small percentage of the fish, most take a different route all together. It first came to my attention years ago during an Australian Fly Fishing Competition where competitors were

Fishing News - Page 5

allowed to fish anywhere along the shore, south from Tumbledown Bay in Arthurs Lake. Not being involved, I later spoke to Ian Donnachy (the eventual winner) about his success. Ian had accessed a part of the shore where the old river bed ran close enough for him to cast into. He did not move during the entire three hour session and caught fish at regular intervals on a Yeti style fly later to be named, “Donachy’s Donger.” The fish seemed to be moving through on their way towards Tumbledown Creek but instead of taking the fastest route, they were following the old creek bed. Later exploration found this to be the case and every subsequent trip has brought enormous success wherever the creek beds can be accessed. The phenomenon is not confined to Tumbledown or even Arthurs but seems to be a common theme throughout the state. If you can locate old maps which show the locations of the river beds or you find them with your fish finder, April and May could become your most successful months. Sinking lines and the ability to cast large flies will increase your catch rates even further. Large Woolly Buggers and Yetis seem to annoy the fish into grabbing the fly. For the loch style fisherman, the key is silver. Silver Dabblers, Silver Invictas and Butchers are all worth using. Bead head nymphs fished slowly are also taken well. I favor fluro carbon leaders and rarely fish less than eight pound. It is not uncommon to hook two fish at once and if you want to stand a chance of landing them both, heavy tippet material is a must. If you are fishing with a partner who hooks a fish, keep casting in the immediate area as others are sure to be close by.

There are no rivers open during the month of May and hence, April 28th is the last available day on these, my favourite waters. Grasshoppers continue to be found in extra ordinary numbers around all of the lowland rivers. There seems to be a resurgence in the smaller, faun coloured hoppers. Brumbies Creek, the lower Macquarie and the South Esk should all produce good rises to spinners on the calmer days. Although not talked about and rarely practiced, sea trout fishing at this time could be worth trying. Adopting a northern hemisphere approach by going out at night and fishing down and across with silver flies such as the Teal Blue and Silver and the Silver Stouts Tail may produce surprisingly good results. The season is all but over and the weather is turning wintry with every day that passes but for the fly fisherman who adapts to the conditions and is willing to change their approach, the rewards are certainly there. Wet flies during inclement weather, polaroiding in the sunshine and dry fly fishing on streams and rivers provide options aplenty for even the fussiest of anglers. There is simply no reason to hang up the rods just yet. It’s a very long winter and I for one will not be passing up the opportunity to wet a line where ever and when ever possible. Christopher Bassano Christopher Bassano has been a full time guide in Tasmania since the early 1990s and has recently released a DVD called “Tasmanian Fly Fishing Techniques – Volume 1.” Although predominantly based in Miena over the summer months, Christopher also lives on the banks of the St Patricks River and shares his knowledge and secrets of five essential techniques for increased success on both the lakes and rivers. Volume 2 has already been shot and is planned for release before Christmas. He is aiming to produce an annual fishing DVD over the coming years to provide further insight into the wonderful fishing the state has to offer. Tasmanian Fly Fishing Techniques – Volume 1 can be purchased from any good tackle store. See page 34 for a full review.

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Canoeing Rivers

There are many rivers in Tasmania that are just waiting to be explored using a canoe or kayak. These let you fish those inaccessible parts of rivers that are heavily overgrown and too deep to wade. Some of these sections have had little or no angling pressure and can hold some big fish. Things to consider, before planning a trip, are water levels and whether or not the river is at all passable. Low water levels can have you out of the canoe more often than you are in it. Impassable waterfalls, gorges and rivers choked up by willows and logjams are all worth some investigation before taking the plunge into the unknown. A full day floating down a river usually requires two vehicles, one to launch the canoe and the other to retrieve it at the end of the day. Estimating how long it will take to paddle and fish a section of river is one of the hardest

things to do. There are so many variables to consider. For one, time can soon get away from you when you start catching fish. On a long day trip, where you plan to cover a few kilometres of river, a 1:100 000 topographic map is a must. By having a good understanding of how far you have travelled, you can allow enough time to catch a few fish while they are on the bite and reach your planned destination before dark. On some slow flowing rivers, you can use the canoe to travel upstream. The easiest way to do this is to fish as a team. One person can row or use an electric motor to travel up stream, then hold the canoe in the best position for the person in front to deliver a cast to rising fish or any likely lies. Teaming up also works well when travelling downstream. Positioning the canoe to effectively fish those fishy spots is as important as making the perfect cast. When fishing downstream, a good way to hold position is to deploy an anchor at the stern. This will allow you to quietly hold off rising fish until you have made the right presentation with fly, lure or bait. continued next page....

A canoe or kayak allows you to find some fish you might never get to by wading.

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Fishing News - Page 7

Choosing a canoe or kayak

With so many different types of canoes and kayaks on the market these days, choosing one can be a daunting task. I started out with a big fibreglass three man kayak that had the top cut out of it to make it more like a canoe. A set of out-riggers made from 90mm PVC pipe were fitted to improve the stability of the craft. This was fine for the rivers that had weedy bottoms, but when it came to rivers with rocky rapids, things got a bit scary. I remember one trip down the Meander River with Simon Hedditch, where I soon found out the limitations of a fibreglass canoe. The plan was to fish the section of the Meander River from Deloraine down to Porters Bridge. The morning started off well, as we quietly made our way down the river, alternating the role of paddling the canoe while the other fished. When we came to a set of shallow rapids we would get out and lead the canoe down the rapids using a long rope. This system worked fine until we realised we were running out of time to reach Porters Bridge before dark. We decided to makeup some time by paddling through some of the quieter rapids. With each rock we slid over, came an unnerving cracking sound, as we watched another white seam of damaged fibreglass appear through the hull. This was the beginning of the end of our once water-tight canoe, as the obvious eventually happened. Fortunately we had brought along a roll of duct tape for such an occasion. This slowed the leak enough to continue, but put an end to shooting the rapids. Needless to say we didn’t make the bridge before dark and we were forced to abandon the canoe and walk the last 500 metres to our second car at the bridge. Soon after that trip, I upgraded the old fibreglass canoe to a more durable plastic model. Kayaks, sit on top canoes or open canoes all have their advantages and disadvantages and the choice you make will depend on the type of fishing you want and where you want to take it.

Accessories

My new canoe still had to be customised to suit my needs. The 90mm PVC outriggers were fitted so I could stand up and fish if I wanted and the anchor at the stern was a must. The anchor is just a lump of lead that hangs from a rope guide mounted to the back of the canoe. A V-Cleat mounted along side the back seat conveniently holds the anchor rope. The cleat and rope guides allow the anchor to be quickly lowered and retrieved within seconds. Installing backrests on your seats will give your back much needed support, making a day on the water a lot more comfortable. A long lightweight rope is very useful to lead your canoe down some of the more severe rapids. Having something to bail out water is also a must. Cutting the bottom out of a two litre cordial bottle makes a cheap and effective bailer. For rivers, I prefer to use the extra long double-ended paddles. These paddles make manoeuvring the canoe a whole lot easier. Trolleys are useful when access to the river, by car, is limited. These trolleys are a set of wheels mounted on a frame that will support the mid-section of the canoe, so it can be wheeled cross country. Airtight containers and dry bags are essential if you need to keep items such as cameras, phones and spare clothing dry.

Safety

Personal floatation devices come in many forms these days, allowing free movement when paddling and fishing, giving us no reason not to wear them. If waders are to be worn in a canoe, a wading belt is a must. If you do happen to fall in, a belt will stop your waders filling up with water. Simply roll onto your back holding both knees up and scull to the river’s edge. The action of holding your knees up will create an air lock inside your waders preventing any more water entering them. Most new canoes have sufficient buoyancy to keep them afloat. Buoyancy can be added by introducing buoyancy foam or airtight containers. Become familiar with the stability and handling of your canoe before taking on a faster flowing river with rapids. A torch kept in a dry storage compartment or bag is a good idea, just in case you don’t reach your planned destination before dark. Flares and an EPIRB are also worth carrying in case of an emergency.

Fishing

Fly fishing, lure fishing, soft plastics and bait fishing can all be very effective methods of fishing a river from a canoe. The main thing to remember is, when fishing down stream, trout will be facing upstream towards you and will spook a lot easier. Longer casts and approaching a fish from the side will help. When fly fishing directly downstream, using an indicator nymph or dry fly, more time is needed before setting the hook. This will improve your chances of a solid hook-up. The best thing about fishing rivers from a canoe is getting the opportunity to cast a line in those previously out of reach places and the anticipation of what may lay around the next bend. Craig Rist

My canoe is fitted with outriggers for stabilty. However it does not shoot the whitewater very well.

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Kayaks

Kayaks and kayak fishing has really taken off over the last year or so. We haven’t been immune to it either and have procured one of these ‘trendy’ craft. arePM plenty to choose from and here are 2/1/08, There 3:10:22 AS-10X3PV-ALLGOODS04.indd just a few that are available in Tasmania. shams 00.0% There are several dealers in Tasmania and most own their own fishing kayaks so they do know what they are talking about. They can also 3PV-ALLGOODS04 advise and assist with just about any accessory you might need. So check out the kayak or canoe you want and talk to a local dealer.

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A long time favourite with the Australian market. Hull shape is ideal for all-round use. Stable for beginners, but tracks straight and is efficient enough to tackle paddles on larger bays, estuaries and rivers. Flat bottom means shallow draft, ideal for river touring. Sealed rear compartment for gear storage. Cockpit design suits both touring and fishing use. Plastic and build quality up there with the best. Length: 370cm Width: 68cm Weight: 20kg Capacity: 160kg

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Fishing News - Page 10

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Wilderness Systems Pungo 120

Taking the market by storm, paddlers have fallen in love with the super adjustable Phase3™ seating position, wide easy access cockpit, and the premium quality of the fit and finish. Ideal size for all-round touring and fishing fresh and salt water. Still easily handled by a single person. The best plastics quality available. Length: 366cm Width: 74cm Weight: 23kg Capacity: 147kg

Wilderness Systems Pungo 140

Unbelievably quick for a 14’ boat, this will put some sea kayaks to shame. A perfect boat for fishing big bays and the salt water, or carrying heavy loads. All the comforts of a totally adjustable Phase3™ seating system, SlideLock™ footbraces and roomy sealed stern compartment. Comes with the superb plastic quality and level of fit and finish expected from Wilderness Systems boats. Length: 427cm Width: 71cm Weight: 159kg Capacity: 159kg

Old Town Molitor Classic

The Molitor Classic is hand crafted using techniques that have been honed and handed down generation-to-generation for more than 100 years. With the iconic look of a classic 1920s-1930s canoe, the craft has long decks, outside stems and oval mahogany gunwales. The gunwales create a frame so strong that no thwarts are needed, leaving the entire centre of the boat open Not only is this a usable craft, it is also ideal for art lovers as this wooden canoe truly is a unique creation that is sure to catch the eye no matter where it is displayed. Length: 5.2m Width: 89cm Weight: wooden light weight Capacity: 2 person

Old Town Guide 147/160

Tsunami 175

Wilderness Systems Tsunami Family

The ultimate paddling machines, available in a range of sizes to suit every application, from river touring through to serious multi day trips in the sea. Bigger volume hulls for added buoyancy in wild weather, with cockpit sizes that still allow plenty of room for fishing use. Features all the quality and comfort you could want, including Phase3™ seating system and SlideLock™ footbraces. Available in sizes from 381cm, to 525cm.

Tarpon 100

The Guide is a breakthrough in canoe construction by using an adaptation of the PolyLink3™ process to provide a stable, durable, stiff and affordable canoe. Its sharp entry provides efficiency whilst being stable enough for fishing or family outings. Features include polyethylene decks with grab handles, ash carrying yoke, vinyl gunwales and contoured seats. Variable layer polyethylene construction available on red or green hull exterior. Length: 147/4.4m – 160/4.9m Width: 147/0.97m – 160/0.94m Weight: 147/33.5kgs – 160/37.1kgs Capacity: 147/401kgs – 160/538kgs

Old Town Predator K140

Tarpon 160

Wilderness Systems Tarpon Family

For rough water, diving or serious salt water fishing, you need a draining hull. The Tarpons come in a range of sizes for all sorts of applications. Look out for the 100, which is an awesome, easy handling compact boat. The 130T lets you paddle tandem or one-up, and the 140 has a flat floored cockpit so anybody with reasonable balance can stand and cast. Available in sizes from 305cm, to 488cm.

With its camouflage finish and exceptional stability, the Predator K140 sporting kayak is a must for the hunter or fishing enthusiast. Features sliding adjustable high back folding seat, adjustable foot rests, Polyethylene construction, accessory tray with cup and gun holders, large storage capacity, bow and stern work decks, paddle holder, rod holder and integral tape measure (imperial). Weight: 30.8kg. Length: 4.3m. Width: 0.79m. Cockpit 2.39m x 0.53m. Capacity: 204kgs.

fishingkayaks Feelfree Moken

Catch big fish with the Moken! Features front storage locker, cockpit hatches and a large storage area for a storage crate. Complete with rudder and even room for your GPS and sounder the Moken is the ideal way to fish. $1450 with paddle and leash.

X-Press Tourer

Versatile, stable and comfortable, the X-Press is a great fishing kayak. Comfortable seat with an adjustable backrest, stern hatch, rod holders and rudder. Stable with heaps of storage the X-Press Tourer is a value packed sit in kayak for those long days fishing. $1140 with paddle and leash. Fishing News - Page 11

Ocean Prowler Elite 4.5

Has the waterline length to deliver excellent speed making it ideal for battling strong headwinds. It’s inherent stability and seaworthy lines make it an excellent choice as a fishing kayak and as a touring sit-on-top kayak. Features include transducer scupper, seat, aft moulded-in cargo area, two flush mount rod holders, Plano® tackle box, paddle holder, carry handles, centre moulded storage bucket and large forward hatch. Also available as an optional accessory is the Fish Finder Ready kit comprising of a transducer boot to suit most Humminbird transducers, sealed battery, battery tray, Humminbird power cable with fuse, adjustable rod holder, adapter plate for Humminbird mount bracket and battery charger. Supplied with or without rudder the Prowler Elite 4.5 is capable of accepting a wide variety of fishing accessories. Polyethylene construction. Weight: 30.4kg Length: 4.5m Width: 0.71m Capacity: 230kg

Ocean Scupper Pro

With its tri-formed hull and longer length, the Scupper Pro offers the efficiency and look of a traditional sea kayak but with the ease of use and stability of a sit-on-top. Forward and aft deck hatches enable easy access to generous below deck storage. Supplied with carry handles. Supplied with or without rudder. Polyethylene construction. Weight: 27kg Length: 4.54m Width: 0.66m Capacity: 159kg

Kayak trolley

This light weight trolley suits kayaks, canoes and general use for static loads of up to 120kg. Designed to be stored in forward hatches, the complete trolley can be assembled or disassembled in under a minute and is supplied with a 2.4m webbing strap and cam lock buckle.

Feelfree Moken Fishing Kayak

The Moken fishing kayak has been designed for the avid paddler wishing to do a little bit of diving, fishing and overall exploring.The Moken fishing kayak has ample storage, it allows for you to kayak anywhere you desire. Features include padded seat, bow storage locker and mid hatch, molded carry handles either side, drink bottle holder, drain plug, strong molded in bow handle, new generation hull edges and keel for great tracking, rudder system. Weight: 30kg Length: 3.9m Width: 780mm Capacity: 180+kg

Venus 11

Designed by women for women and is a comfortable lightweight kayak that makes the ideal Mother ’s Day present. Whether Mum is a first-time paddler or experienced adventureseeker, she’ll fall in love with the Venus 11. This stunning pink kayak makes a great first impression and looks fantastic out on the water. The Venus 11 is also available in oceans, flame or mango flame colours. Constructed from strong hard wearing polyethylene, the Venus 11 suits kayakers up to the early 90kgs and at under 20kgs with specially designed and positioned carry handles, the Venus 11 kayak can be comfortably managed by one person. Packed with extras, the Venus 11 features a slightly wider comfort seat, cup holder, paddle holder, front storage hatch and rear cargo area. Weight: 18.1kgs Length: 3.3m Width: 72.4cm Capacity: 99.8kg

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80 Hobart Road, Kings Meadows Phone 63 444 000 www.brucestevenson.com.au Fishing News - Page 12

Wilderness Systems Pungo 140

I’ve had a Pungo 140 in the family for about 8 months now and put it through its paces in a variety of conditions. The 140 is surprisingly fast to paddle. 14’ length and more ‘vee’ in the hull helps to slice through the water. The Pungo also tracks very straight, so you can focus your entire paddle stroke into shifting the boat forward. This speed was very handy chasing schools of Salmon over Georges Bay at Easter. A secondary chine halfway up the hull provides added stability. This boat is stable at rest, so drifting along casting poses no problem. I’ve also ‘bottom bashed’ in a reasonable swell and had no issues (unlike some of the 12’ boats I have used). On flat water, I can actually stand up in the boat! Wilderness Systems are known for their superb level of fit and finish. The plastic looks glossy and feels solid. The mouldings are smooth and all the adjustments and fittings work as they should. The Phase3™ seating system means the seat back is adjustable in height and rake, and the amount of under-thigh support is also adjustable, all while sitting in the boat. The SlideLock™ footpeg system allows you to easily adjust the setup for paddlers of different heights. This is also adjustable on the water, which is a very useful feature. It’s a real hassle when you start paddling and realize you need to return to shore for adjustments! After a couple of hours paddling I found that I could change my seating position slightly and avoid the usual cramps and sore spots I have experienced in some other boats. The Pungo 140 will carry up to 160kg (including the paddler). It has enough storage for a night or two touring down a river, and more than ample room for a big days’ worth of fishing gear. The large rear compartment is bulkheaded and watertight. The access hatch is larger than on other kayaks I have used, so loading larger items is easy. The massive cockpit has plenty of room for additional storage. My plastics wallet, bait board and accessories end up here, right at hand where I need them. There’s plenty of room to land and handle fish. It’s nice not having to drop Flathead right between your wedding tackle! Further forward, there is room to store gear in dry bags when touring. If you have the boat chockers, the front hatch means you can get to items right in the bow without unpacking everything. I have no real criticisms as such, but a couple of points to consider if you are thinking of purchasing: • The ‘vee’ on this boat makes it draw slightly more water than some of the flat bottomed boats I have used. This means it will occasionally ‘bottom out’ in very shallow rivers. 99% of the time it’s fine, but if you were paddling a lot in very shallow rivers, it may annoy. • The ‘vee’ design also requires a bit more care when transporting. When loading on flat roof bars, cranking too hard on the tie downs ‘squashes’ the boat. I easily solved the problem by cutting ‘cradles’ to support the vee shape on flat bars. • The high quality plastics make this boat surprisingly light for its size (24kg). Still, 14’ is about the maximum size you would want to handle by yourself, especially loading onto roof bars. This is especially the case for smaller women, older people, etc. The Pungo 140 shines as an all round boat for recreational fishing and touring in estuaries, bays, big rivers and salt water. In standard trim, it is a fast, safe and very comfortable tourer. With a few adjustments, you could turn this into a serious fishing machine. Plus, the superb quality will ensure years of happy fuss free use. James Ainslie

Hobie Mirage Outback

Put more fish in the boat with the Hobie Mirage Outback Fish. The foot-powerd MirageDrive system means your fishing pole stays in your hands so you’re always ready to set the hook. With its 400 pound capacity, three hatches for in-hull storage, handy ondeck utility trays and four molded-in rod holders, there’s room for plenty of tackle. Weight: 28.12kgs Length: 3.68m Width: 0.84m. Capacity: 181kgs

21 Morrison St Hobart Ph: 6234 5422

Fishing News - Page 13

Feel Free Moken

would be simple. There are the little fold up anchors, but I wanted something that was more a weighty than a traditional anchor. This meant the weight would hold the kayak rather than an anchor digging into the bottom structure. So off to Review by Mike Stevens I needed a kayak suitable for an old bloke. Well I am not Google I went and found kayaks benefit from a system called that old, but at fifty I wanted a bit of comfort, something I an anchor trolley. This is simply a cord loop running from could manage on my own and a fishing kayak that was a bit bow to stern with a stainless ring joining the ends. The anchor of fun. I did the search and found a 13’ Feel Free ‘Moken’ at rode is passed through the ring and by moving the ring to the Tamar Marine - amongst a huge range of kayaks for a huge bow or stern the anchor can be set as desired to position the kayak to the best advantage. range of uses. Often you are in less than two metres of water so not The Moken is a dedicated fishing kayak and initially impressions are it is ‘dull’. Well the colour is dull, but that is much anchor rode is required. For an anchor I simply melted a good thing for fishing. I am often able to move well within a couple of kilos of lead into a small stainless steel container a boat length of trout and often a cast of just three metres and put a stainless loop into it while it was still molten. This anchor works superbly, but any number of other weights or past the bow is all that is needed to reach a fish. small anchors would work just as well. It doesn’t take much weight to hold your kayak. I know of some people that just fill a two litre container with some gravel and use that. Another method I found on one of the websites is a simple pole of a little less than two metres that can either be stuck through the scupper holes in your kayak or dropped through the anchor trolley stainless ring. This works extremely well, but storage needs to be sorted for this when not in use. It can be stuck in a rod holder, but when you are attached to a fish you can get into trouble when it does a lap of the boat. I used an old paint roller extension pole to see if this system worked. It works well and needs to be about 1.5 metres long. When underway the rudder will give some steerage even when So with these couple of jobs done off I went not deployed. This is very handy in weedy conditions. - just for a paddle really, but I thought I may as well Weight was all important as it needed to be lifted on and go where there are some fish. Brumbys Creek was selected. It off the roof racks alone. The Moken weighs about 28 kilos has some current, is exposed to wind, but also has protection. and is reasonably easily managed. I can lift it over the side and There are shallow areas, weed and deeper drop offs as well. I onto the top in one go. An easier way though is to just lift one put a rod in and a few flies, but didn’t really plan to fish. The launching area was engulfed in weeds and pin rushes end onto the back of the car (I put a cloth or towel on the edge of the roof first) and then lift up the other end on and due to the water level being right down. My first paddle slide it forwards. It sounds a little complex, but is quite simple. seemed like it would be a bit of a struggle through heavy Unloading is just the reverse. I suggest anyone using a kayak rushes, but surprisingly, it was a piece of cake. Twenty metres purchase some dolly wheels even if you are only going ten of this and then into the open water. I had not deployed the rudder at this stage due to the rushes. It is simply deployed metres to the water. It makes it so simple and strain free. The only addition I initially thought the kayak needed was via a cord and jam cleat on the port side. Just as I dipped the an anchor. I purchased some light cord and thought an anchor paddle for an open stretch of paddling a fish rose within three to four metres. I stopped, but really thought I would have spooked it. The next rise was even closer and by now I was stopped. I slid the anchor over and waited. The fish kept rising and I couldn’t believe how close I was to this fish. I wasn’t good enough to catch this fish, but it gave me a good chance to mess around with the anchor. It worked perfectly. I even stood up to see where the fish was at one stage. I don’t really recommend doing this, but the Moken is very stable. Okay, so with that fish ignoring me I just went for a paddle. The Moken strokes along very quietly and fuss free. I was paddling into the current and at reasonable clip too. I had forgotten to drop the rudder, but even with The Moken has plenty of storage. A small cooler is ocky strapped it up the rudder assembly is a few centimetres into on with much more storage to the rear of this available. A net is the water and gives some reasonable steerage. It is stored in the port rod holder and when not in use the paddle is in line with the bottom of the kayak and the sharp stored on the starboard side with an easily used arrangement. lines of the hull at the stern give good control. Fishing News - Page 14

With the rudder down and heeled over the kayak can be paddled on one side only and travel in a straight line. I hadn’t paddled a kayak with rudder before, but it quickly became second nature. Pedals are used for control and these have an innovative and simple arrangement to adjust the length from the seat. More trout appeared ahead. So it was down with the anchor – a bit of adjustment with the anchor trolley and I was set. I caught two fish here in less than half a metre of water before moving on. An angler called out from the shore. He had been trying to reach these fish all morning, but couldn’t as the bottom is so soft and not wadeable for more than a few metres from shore. ‘I’ll have to get a kayak by the look of it’ he said. I paddled on, this time traversing water just a few centimetres deep, but with underlying soft bottom more than one metre deep. This is water only fishable from a very shallow draft vessel. My friend and guide Peter Hayes uses an imported American drift boat, and whilst this works well it is very difficult on one’s own. I saw a fish close to shore near a little island. So in to shore I glided, got out/off and caught that fish on a little Barry Lodge Emerger. Then it was time to go home. I was very excited with my first ‘paddle’ in the Moken. Since that first paddle I have used the Moken extensively in a variety of conditions. It feels safe, stable and most of all it is fun. I haven’t given it a good go in sloppy sea conditions to really test it, but I am sure it would handle it with ease. They are not the sort of fishing conditions that I would enjoy though anyway. Like all the poly kayaks it has inherently good buoyancy so it is very safe. Don’t forget though you should always wear a personal flotation device. Modern pfds need not hinder you, and there are models designed for kayak use.

A simple pole through one of the scupper holes will anchor you in shallow water.

Moken features

The seat has some padding and an adjustable back. If you have a boney bum you might want to add a little padding. The adjustable back rest work well. The rear deck will hold heaps of stuff. You can strap on a crate, box, Esky, dive gear , dry bag and more. At the front of this, just behind the seat are two rod holders. On the starboard side is a handy clip to hold the paddle. This works well, but don’t be without a paddle leash either. Between your legs is a little hatch with a mesh bag and slightly in front of this is a hinged compartment. It looks too small to be useful, but in practice it holds quite a few small items such as tackle boxes, sunscreen, scissors, pliers, phone (in a dry bag). It could also hold a small battery for a portable fish finder. On top of this is a couple of bungy straps that bits and pieces can be held down with. I clip my fly rod butt and reel under this. At the hinged front of this a small fish finder could be mounted and on either side of the hull there are positions for more rod holders or accessories. A large front hatch gives plenty of room for other clothes, tackle and camping gear etc. It is not waterproof, but dry bags will take care of that. There are straps on top where more gear can be stored as well. In fact if you use all the storage options up you are either going a long way or have too much stuff.

The Moken is 4 metres in length .8 metres wide, weighs 28 kilograms and has a capacity of 200 kilograms. Colours available are sunrise (orange/yellow), camouflage, beige and Torres blue. A Feel Free Moken package with paddle and leash retails for around $1450.

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Fishing News - Page 15 17/3/08 12:50:59 PM

Lake Macintosh

The lakes of Tasmania’s west coast are probably some of the most scenic an angler will find anywhere in Australia, and they are, I believe, a real proposition for an angler looking for a trophy fish. Danny Holmes had been telling me for quite awhile about the quality of fishing to be had at Lake Macintosh and finally after a few non starts I was going to get the chance to fish what turned out to be quite an amazing lake. Located just outside of Tullah it was a fairly easy drive from Burnie to get there. Once at the lake you cross the dam wall and as long as the lake isn’t spilling you continue down a well maintained dirt road to one of two excellent boat ramps. The first thing I noticed was how dark the water was. All west coast lakes are tannin stained but the water at Macintosh was probably the blackest I have seen anywhere. This starts the cogs turning as to what color your lure choice should be. It’s funny how we will pick a certain lure color because we don’t think fish can see it in such dark water but realistically fish see Galaxia and small insects at incredible depths in this water so our perception isn’t always right. Over the last few seasons I’ve really started leaning towards using more natural colored lures even in tannin stained waters and even fishing at depths more than 15 ft deep. My catch rate hasn’t changed much, but I think the quality of fish has been better. We always hear “you’ve got to match the hatch”, and yes bright colored lures catch fish but as you will see by what happened on this days fishing I believe it isn’t always the best way to go. Once you set off on the lake its probably best to not tear around until you familiarize yourself with the many bays and few rivers that surround the lake. There is quite a lot of standing timber that is just below the surface as well. Much of this timber extends out from the points for a surprisingly long way. We started fishing in a bay about a kilometre from the ramp as Danny had caught some good fish here, trolling the in the few weeks prior. As we entered the bay I scanned the sounder looking for fish in 10-15 ft of water, but after traveling a fair distance I had not seen anything to excite me. So I dropped the bow mount Minn Kota in and commenced fishing along the shoreline with soft plastics, using a fast hopping retrieve. I alternated this with a small lipless vibe slow rolled out from the bank, but it was all to no avail. Using the Minn Kota electric motor I steered the boat out into the middle of the bay and tried using the vibe with a hopping retrieve across the bottom in deeper water whilst we both kept an eye on the water around us to see if we could spot any fish moving. We spent a good hour in the bay and only saw two fish porpoise out of casting range. Danny decided a quick troll through the bay would show me that there were really fish here. I was becoming a little

dubious. Danny was using a 12cm deep diving lure in Elton John color (pink and blue), whilst I opted for a Strike Pro Galaxia 2 minnow in Rainbow Trout colors. We trolled for an hour for only one small fish so we headed up the lake to where one of the rivers that flowed in. I really like fishing the points and bays where a river first runs into a lake so this was the next stop. Once we arrived at the Brougham River I immediately found fish on the sounder and using the ever faithful 65 mm Gary Glitter soft plastic I caught our first decent fish on about the third cast - a beautifully marked brown of about 2 ½ pounds. Other fish soon followed. Then the bite slowed, so I suggested we rest the spot for a while and go look for more fish elsewhere and come back later. Danny was still keen to troll the first bay we started in as he was adamant the fish were there so we set up for another run this time he used a HJ12 Rapala in Brown Trout color and produced three small, but fat fish just a bit better than a pound. This wasn’t what I was hoping for as I knew this lake held big fish. My mate Jamie Harris often pulls fish from here up to 8 lb. I asked Danny to steer us in the direction of another river so off we went. At the next stop just outside of the Josephine River I watched the sounder and found a ledge that started in 10ft and dropped off to some really deep water. This got me excited as this was the sort of water I had been looking for all day. The bottom was clear of logs which only extended from the bank but the odd patch of rocks could be seen so again I went with the soft plastic. Second cast saw me hook up to a fish of about 4lbs that followed the lure out of the depths back to the boat. As soon as I saw him I stopped the plastic and just twitched it gently, the fish flared his gills and just inhaled the lure. It was awesome stuff as it was so visual. Not long after I scored another fish of similar size that I really shouldn’t have landed. As soon as the fish hit the lure from about 20 metres it had me around some ridiculous snags for several minutes. I did what I could by just holding the rod tip high and not really applying a lot of pressure and just let the fish go mad at the other end. When it stopped thrashing around I slowly retrieved line and I don’t know how but it eventually came back around everything and into the net. Again it was just awesome. On the way back down the main lake Danny took me into a small bay that had something like a waterfall with only a trickle of water coming down the bank into the lake. I used the Minn Kota and slowly made my way in closer throwing a Bassday Kangoku lure in clear colour, and had a huge fish follow it to the boat, but it couldn’t be enticed into eating it. A few more casts in the next hour or so saw a couple more

Lake Mackintosh is a big water that can be overawing. Apply a few basics though and you can get some great results.

fish and a couple of bust offs on unseen but obviously large fish and we decided we had enough. So what did I learn in my first trip here? Well most importantly I was reminded again of how important my electric motor is. Without being able to sneak up quietly to areas that were holding fish we never would’ve caught what we did. These motors allow you steer through trees and around the bays effortlessly just but rocking your foot backwards and forwards on the foot pedal. I cannot state the importance that my Minn Kota has in my fishing and the rewards I get from using one. The next thing I learnt was it doesn’t matter how dark the water is fish will see your lure. I used three different lures on this day and they were a 50mm Gary Glitter Squidgy Fish with a 1/12 oz TT jig head on a #1 Gamakatsu hook. A Bassday Kangoku hard body lure in clear color and a 50 mm Strike Pro Vibe in clear. All these lures are clear or dark in color and yet the fish still saw them easily in water up to 15 ft deep which was probably the deepest I fished. Why did I choose that depth? Simple that was where the thermocline was showing on Danny’s sounder. It was also where most of the baitfish was showing on the sounder so it made it the obvious choice where to fish. Tackle was standard stuff. Both Danny and I used GLoomis rods in 7 ft fast tapered with 4 lb braid and 6-8lb leader. With the vibes we used GLoomis 5’4 casting rods with Team Daiwa baitcast reels 4-6 lb braid and 6-8lb leader. The Ultimate Fly Line. A revolutionary taper design allows

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Fishing News - Page 16

Three lures to try: Squidgy Fish 50 mm in Gary Glitter Bassday Kangoku in clear Strike Pro Vibe in clear

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The catastrohic impact of accidentally introduced alga “Didymo”, also known as Rock Snot, on New Zealand’s freshwater environment.

Shore based anglers can do just as well as boaters. The catastrophic impact of accidentally introduced alga “Didymo”, also known as Rock Snot, on New Zealand’s freshwater environment.

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Check, & Dry Dry your yourﬁshing fishingequipment. equipment. Check, Clean Clean & For more information visit www.ifs.tas.gov.au For more information visit www.ifs.tas.gov.au or www.biosecurity.govt.nz/didymo or www.biosecurity.govt.nz/didymo or phone Quarantine on 03 6233 3352 or phone Quarantine on 03 6233 3352

Photo - Brad Harris

This lake has enormous potential. Whilst it is a large body of water it has some fairly obvious fish holding areas. If wind lanes are about that’s where I’d look for the big rainbows. If not then I’d fish the timber stands that extend far out into the lake in deep water. For browns look in the bays and points off bays. Most importantly use your sounder which is probably the most under utilized piece of equipment in your boat. Look for thermoclines (changes in temperature), baitfish clouds, bottom structure, drop offs etc. All these things attract fish. Shore based fishing here is also excellent. Whilst retrieving the boat Danny caught and released a beautiful fish right next to the ramp. I would target shores that had a bit of wave slap. Just be prepared to walk. I probably wouldn’t bother with bait fishing as I believe you would be more productive with lures. Fly fishing wind lanes would also be fantastic fun. Next time you decided to hit one of the west coast lakes don’t drive past Lake Macintosh looking for greener pastures as it is worth the effort and won’t disappoint. Leroy Tirant

Fishing News - Page 17

Game Fishing - Tasman Peninsula and South

Once again it’s that time of year when avid game fishermen pull out their gear and give it the once over in anticipation of the arrival of the mighty Southern Bluefin Tuna. These powerhouse fish put both angler skill and product quality to the ultimate test each year and anglers look forward to the challenge. The season so far has been on and off a lot due to the weather conditions that, for anglers, has been almost too good! With numerous calm, bright sunny days scattered throughout the season so far when the tuna have been wary about coming too close to the surface, due to the fact they have no eyelids to protect their eyes from the bright sun, it is quite understandable that they have taking some enticing to the top and pickings have been somewhat lean. Some anglers have managed to overcome this problem to some degree with the advent of the new Classic F18 high speed deep diving lures which have allowed them to run lures down to 15 feet whilst still running a spread of traditional “skirts” on the surface. On other days when there has been cloud cover and a bit of surface chop the pickings have been excellent and it has only been a matter of working out what colours are performing best at this time of the season. Many fish boated so far this season have had a varied diet, anything from krill to mackerel and squid which has made colour selection less critical than in seasons past and until such time as they “switch” onto a particular bait species, such as redbait, not much is likely to change. Once this happens, the Meridian “Brown Dog” will once again take some beating. On good days, striped tuna have been abundant this season and many anglers have struggled to keep their lures in the water long enough to “wedge” an albacore up through them. There have also been some great yellowfin tuna landed this season with quite a few in the mid 40s range and also a

Southern bluefin tuna are the prize catch during Autumn. couple that I know of that topped the 70 kilo mark – good fish in anyone’s language! Although there have been the odd bluefin mixed in with these fish over the past month or two, it has only been since mid March that the “Bluey’s” have started to make their presence felt in earnest and should continue to “thicken up” over April, May and June. I know Stuart Nichols from Personalised Sea Charters landed numerous bluefin over the last week of March with most fish being in the 20 – 30 kilo bracket. A great sign!! Ideal days for catching bluefin are the dirty days when it is overcast or raining and there is a nice south westerly chop on

the go, the type of day you need to take care and not risks. So, what will give you the edge when conditions aren’t ideal and you want your reel to scream on those calmer bright days? One way that often helps to produce the goods is to run a deeper diving style of lure such as a “Mack Bait” or the new Classic F18 at the front of your lure spread. Lures that are capable of being trolled from 6-10 knots whilst still allowing you to run traditional skirted style lures at the same time. These high speed lures put your “bait” in a conspicuous position underneath the outboard wash, out of the direct glare of the sun and deep enough that the fish aren’t required to

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the amount of brake required every 1/1000th of a second, and adjusts accordingly. This equates to longer casts, less backlash and quick easy external adjustment. Of course, like all good technology, the best part of all this sophisticated gadgetry is that you don’t have to worry about it. Everything happens behind the scenes, simply cast and wind as you would with any overhead and let the reel take care of itself. The system has been built into eight reels from the Shimano range, four in the Calcutta TE series, one in the Calais and three in the Trinidad. Check out these award-winning reels at your Shimano dealer today and experience the future of fishing.

Fishing News - Page 19

come right up to the surface in order to strike. The good thing about running this type of spread is that it will usually draw more than one fish up from the depths and those that “miss out” will then often have a go at the other lures that are now so close – bugger, multiple hook-up! On days like this it often pays to keep all bar one of your spread “bunched” up fairly tight behind the deep diver, the other lure should be run well back from the rest to represent a lone baitfish out on its own. A l s o w h e n ch a s i n g t u n a , d o n’t underestimate the power of the teaser! These aren’t used just to draw marlin to the boat, they work just as well on tuna, particularly the one’s that create a lot of surface disturbance, lots of splashing etc that represents fleeing

baitfish trying to escape a predator – “Bird” style teasers are great for this as are “spreader bars”, run in close off one of the back corners of the boat where it can be retrieved quickly in the event of a hook-up. Don’t be scared to vary the colours of your lure spread from dark to light and dull to flashy patterns until you find what they are taking on the day. Many anglers stick to the same old favourites trip after trip without trying anything new – sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t – be adventurous and try new lures, one may just be the “jackpot” you are looking for! The only lure I personally tend to leave out investigating in almost all weather conditions is a Lumo coloured one, which I run way out the back on its own (as a lone baitfish) and has been responsible for many a fine capture when all else has been struggling. If the fish are feeding on redbait, the Meridian “brown dog” has proven itself time after time and is probably the safest bet you can run, otherwise mix it up a bit. The main thing is to be prepared to experiment if things aren’t going your way, clean your fish as you catch them and pay attention to the stomach contents and whereabouts in the stomach each type of baitfish is found – this will be your early warning signal that the feeding habits are starting to change and give you an indication as to what colours you should now be thinking of running. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for circling/diving birds, particularly gannets and albatross, and what ever you do, don’t overlook the humble muttonbird A 70+ kilo yellowfin taken off St Helens

Shearwaters spend hours every day cruising the ocean in search of krill, the same thing that small baitfish search for - which are in turn sought out by bigger fish and these are in turn being sought out by you! Look for large congregations of muttonbirds feeding on the surface, lifting off and then settling back down again ahead of the main mob – a sure sign that something is going on down below and well worth taking a close look at. Another sign to watch out for is the “beloved fur seal” feeding flat out – a great sign something is happening down below – and a pain in the butt once you have hooked up!! I hope that these few tips will help you to, catch more fish on “bad” days, and have more fun out there “doing it”! With the Southern Bluefin Championships just around the corner and Eaglehawk Neck traditionally fishing so well from now until June, anglers are sure to have an absolute ball at the competition again this year - and they tell me there are some great prizes on offer once again. John Orchard

The bigger Southern bluefin tuna seem to be caught during May and June.

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Tasman Peninsula - Wildlife, Fishing and Awesome sights

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Superbly situated on a beautiful waterfront, The Fox & Hounds Inn is a family owned and operated business, located at Port Arthur on Tasmania’s spectacular Tasman Peninsula. Just one minute from the Historic Site, the property provides a link to our convict history, as well as the opportunity to explore 24 acres of native bushland, perhaps spotting wildlife such as cockatoos, echidnas, or wallabies at night. The Fox & Hounds Inn is a one-stop location, with an on-site bottle shop, bar, and licensed restaurant – renowned for delicious, hearty meals made from the freshest Tasmanian produce.

www.foxandhounds.com.au

Thankyou to Lynden Chipman, Stuart Nichols and Mike Stevens for the images on this page.

on port arthur’s waterfront...

380 Pirates Bay Drive Eaglehawk Neck Toll free 1800 639 532 (03) 6250 3262 www.lufrahotel.com or lufrareception@bigpond.com Fishing News - Page 21

Tasman Peninsula - Wildlife, Fishing and Awesome sights

Fox and Hounds

The “Fox and Hounds Inn” is a family owned business superbly situated on the beautiful waterfront of Long Bay, just two minutes drive from the renowned Port Arthur Historic Site. Set on 24 acres of native bushland, visitors have the opportunity to meet up with some of Tasmania’s native wildlife, including wallabies, echidnas and cockatoos, stroll along the foreshore or relax by the waterfront on the jetty. Bring a fishing line and try your luck! Hotel facilities include a full size tennis court (racquets and balls available from reception), children’s play area, guest laundry, conference rooms, fully licensed restaurant, bottle shop and bar. Comfortable ensuite motel rooms and fully selfcontained two bedroom villa apartments are available, along with a water-view spa room. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities, mini-bar and in-house movies. The Fox and Hounds Restaurant is renowned in the area for its hearty, delicious meals! We use only the freshest Tasmanian seafood and local produce to create meals that are a fusion of traditional English fare and contemporary cuisine. Enjoy the ambience of our Olde English memorabilia and relax by our open fire with a pint of Guinness! email: reservations@foxandhounds.com.au website: www.foxandhounds.com.au 6789 Arthur Highway, Port Arthur (03) 6250 2217

a unique experience. We’re open to your suggestions, or we can create a full programme for you.” If you’re after a more relaxed journey, you could consider a half-day, full-day or overnight trip for sightseeing. Precision is a very comfortable and luxurious vessel, which, with its flybridge deck, offers a number of vantage points for admiring Tasmania’s natural beauty. “A sightseeing trip is a fantastic way to show visitors to Tasmania our spectacular coastlines, cliffs, caves and waterfalls, remote islands, off shore rock formations, and pristine waterways,” Lynden says. “And don’t forget the wildlife and including fur seals, southern right and humpback whales (in season) and dolphins, as well as majestic soaring sea birds.” If you’re looking for a combination of experiences, look for a provider who can offer you the best of both worlds. Try a half day of fishing and a half day of sightseeing onboard Precision. Lynden and the team are proud of their record of never sending a group home without a feed of fresh fish. “If the worst comes to the worst and we don’t catch any gamefish on the day, we’ll cruise inshore and do some bottom fishing for flathead,” he said. Your catch will be cleaned, filleted and packed in ice to ensure that it will make a perfect dinner to top off your busy and memorable day on the water Precision, and all the equipment onboard, is in survey in accordance with Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST). Precision is in survey for eight people for fishing or sightseeing, and four people for overnight trips. For more infor mation, visit the website at www.precisioncharters.com.au or call Lynden on 0408658857.

with heating, electric blanket, TV, clock radio, refrigerator, linen and tea/coffee making facilities. Other guest facilities and services include: infant cots, iron, high chair, public telephone and laundry. As part of our new development a new heated pool and 2x 8 person spas. Our new 2 bedroom self contained units are the perfect family retreat. LCD T V with Austar, large lounge/eating area and outdoor balcony. All have fully self contained kitchens including dishwasher, washer/ dryer, hotplates, oven, microwave, large fridge, spa bath, separate walk in shower, Airconditioning as well as your own fireplace!!! Additional car parking development allows substantial car and boat parking close to your unit door Our studio units are just as great but without the spa, oven and fireplace!! Our licensed restaurant and bistro restaurant are complemented by a games/recreation room, TV/lounge area with open fireplace, café/coffee shop and two bars. It is no exaggeration to say the Tasman Peninsula is truly remarkable with possibly the best sport fishing, highest sea cliffs, outstanding diving in giant underwater kelp forests, renowned fine food producers, Australia's leading convict site and some of country's best bush walks. The Lufra Hotel 380 Pirates Bay Drive Eaglehawk Neck Toll free 1800 639 532 (03) 6250 3262 www.lufrahotel.com or lufrareception@bigpond.com

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Don’t miss the boat. After a bumper game fishing season last year, people are queuing up to make sure they get a slice of the action. This year’s season started early and southern bluefin tuna are expected to extend well into June. Drop line fishing on the edge of the continental shelf in 400+ metres is also rewarded with good catches of blue-eye trevalla, and reef fishing for stripey trumpeter is particularly good in the Tasman Island area. To ensure your slice of the action, it’s never too early to make a booking for a boat charter for you and your friends, family or corporate group. When deciding on a charter service, make sure your provider can custom-design a trip for you and your group. Lynden Chipman, Skipper of the 38-foot flybridge cruiser Precision, knows that a game fishing charter can comprise a considerable outlay, and that not everyone wants a standard 8 hour game fishing experience. He recommends ensuring that your charter provider is flexible, offering a customised experience so you get the best value for your money. “With Precision, for example, your charter can be personalised and fine-tuned to meet your individual needs and expectations,” Lynden says. “It’s our aim to offer you Fishing News - Page 22

The Lufra Hotel, situated at Eaglehawk Neck, provides relaxed affordable accommodation close to Port Arthur and natural attractions. Australian aviation pioneer and tourism entrepreneur Sir Reginald Ansett is reputed to have described the Lufra Hotel as “the hotel with the best view in the world.” No wonder there has been an accommodation house on the same site for more than 150 years. Nor was it a surprise when Sir Reg decided that he would make that view available to the growing number of tourists visiting Australia’s island state. He built the present hotel in 1948. Just one hour from Hobart, The Lufra is ideally located as the base for you to enjoy many activities, sitting as it does at Eaglehawk Neck, the narrow isthmus which connects the Forestier and Tasman Peninsulas. Visit the Lufra and you’ll share more than a stunning view because the area abounds in many attractions — both natural and made-made — all within easy driving or walking distance. Close to the hotel are several amazing rock formations and attractions - The Blowhole, Tasman Arch, the Devil’s Kitchen and the Tessellated (or tiled) Pavement. You will be impressed by the drama of these geological wonders, sculpted by Mother Nature over millions of years. A mere 15 minutes south by car the history of Tasmania’s convict past comes alive at the former penal settlement of Port Arthur and other historical sites on the Tasman Peninsula. Nearby you can also indulge in sports and pastimes like surfing, fishing and bushwalking, or visit other nearby attractions like wildlife parks and wineries. The Lufra Hotel offers comfortable accommodation in a range of rooms.The Lufra hotel has 27 ensuite rooms, all

The location is superb, nestled between the sandy white beaches of Stewarts Bay and Ladies Bay. With moorings situated right in front of the property and our own jetty, the lodge can be accessed by both land and sea! All around are turquoise waters and across the bay is the nationally recognised Tasman National Park. And perhaps most importantly on the southern boundary, connected by a waterfront walking track, is Australia's most profound historic site _ Port Arthur. Stewarts Bay Lodge is in a fabulous location with extraordinary natural beauty and has what promises to be one of the most outstanding restaurant and conference facilities anywhere. The lodge has 18 well-appointed cabins, available in one, two or three bedroom configurations and another 23 new deluxe spa cabins have been recently added to this thriving property. All stand alone lodges are fully self-contained with balconies for private dining or family dinners. There is a recreational area with tennis courts, play equipment, shared barbeque facilities and a brand new outdoor hot tub. With plenty of parking and a large designated area with secure boat parking, this property is a must for all keen fishermen and families. The developers have ensured that the new two bedroom cabins are purposefully designed to meet the highest possible environmental standards. Some of the features the cabins will have include solar hot water systems, energy efficient heat pumps and low energy eco-lighting. What a great time to come and enjoy this wonderful property, plus mention you’re a reader of the Tasmanian fishing and boating news to receive our great rates! 6955 Arthur Highway, Port Arthur www.stewartsbaylodge.com.au info@stewartsbaylodge.com (03) 6250 2888

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Fishing News - Page 23

Fishing News - Page 24

Lighten up Tightening up onto a big fish in a river is a great feeling with those first few seconds of uncertainty, as to what the fish might do, as it powers off after setting the hook. Will it head straight for the nearest submerged tree or swim out into open water. Instinctively you lay the rod on its side to lead the fish away from the submerged tree, the rod nearly bends in half under the shear weight and power of this fish as it now races downstream with the flow of the river. You turn the fish just before it reaches rapids; it then slogs it out deep in the middle of the pool, each beat of the tail getting slower and slower. Finally you land a fish of around 4 pounds, what a feeling. If only all the fish in our rivers would average that size. The reality is, they don’t. However, what we do have are streams and rivers that are packed full of fish ranging from half a pound to a pound, that are nearly always looking up for a feed. Catch these fish on a rod you would normally use at the lakes and they would hardly make the rod bend as you easily gain control and skip them across the water. Try catching these same fish on a 3, 2 or even a 1 wt fly rod and you’ll get the same feeling of hooking up to a much larger fish on a heavier rod. Once you have used a light weight rod, there will be no turning back and it will open up a whole new fishing experience. You’ll find yourself looking at those small streams and rivers in a whole new light.

Big fish are great, but small fish, in small streams, on ultra-light gear can be just as exciting.

Rivers and Streams

Rivers such as the Flowerdale, Leven, St. Patricks, Ringarooma, South Esk, North Esk, Plenty and Liffey River to name a few, are all great waters to try out these light weight rods. Because these rods are made to cast light lines, they are harder to cast into the wind. Try and choose a river that has the wind blowing up stream. This will make casting a lot easier, allowing you to enjoy your day. Peter Broomhall and I recently fished the Ringarooma River in the north-east with 1 wt and 2 wt fly rods. After a 2 ½ hour drive from Latrobe we called into a farm with the Ringarooma River flowing through it. The owner was happy to let us access the river and thanked us for calling in. By now it was 10 o’clock and the day had started to heat up, grasshoppers leapt everywhere as we approached the river. Peter had brought along his 7’10’’ 2 wt rod with a double tapered floating line, while I had my 7’ 1 wt rod with a weight forward floating line. The first pool we approached saw 3 or 4 fish spook from the tail of the pool as our presence was easily detected in the low morning light. I had tied on a size 14 Red Tag while Peter confidently tied on one of his mini Chernobyl Ants. Peter walked down to the next pool while I continued upstream. At this stage there were no fish rising, I drifted the Red Tag down the seams and foam lines and along each bank. I was beginning to think today could be a bit tough when the Tag disappeared with a little sip. I paused then lifted the rod into a nice little river fish that leapt clear of the water sending shock waves through the rod. As it found its bearings back in the water it made a beeline straight for the branches of the submerged willow tree. I could feel the line catching on the sunken branches as the fish struggled against the line. I bent the rod further, persuading the fish out of the sticks and to the surface, leading it to the shallows. The fish was about a pound in weight with bright orange spots down each side. I removed the fly and steered the fish back into deeper water. I continued up stream taking another fish on the Tag in the next pool. By now Peter had caught up with me, having caught and released two fish of around the same size. As this section of the river was only wide enough for one person to fish. We took turns fishing each pool, only swapping after a fish had been caught. One of us would be a spotter, polaroiding the edges and looking for rising fish, while the other would search the likely lies with a dry. When the spotter located a fish they could then give directions to the exact location of the fish and call the strike if needed. When it all comes together the person doing the spotting can have just as much fun as the person with the bent rod. Another advantage of fishing this way is you’ll attempt to cast in some pretty tight situations, knowing your spotter is there to unhook your fly from a tree on the back cast, or hand you their rod when hooked up on the forward cast. This is a great way to fish two up on small rivers without having to go your separate ways. continued next page......

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Fishing News - Page 25

Come lunch time the fish had really started to come on the chew. The count was now somewhere around the twenty mark. The river had widened giving us the opportunity to fish one side of the river each. Rises to the fly had changed dramatically. The slow sip of the morning had now changed to a savage slashing take and in some cases the sound of the fly landing would provoke a charging take of the fly that would pull the fly line from your hand. I had now changed to a size 14 brown parachute nymph that has always fished well with a few grasshoppers about. Peter continued with his foam theme, changing to a small Bionic Bug. Hook ups came pretty fast with the small rods allowing us to put a fly on just about every part of the river. My brown parachute nymph had caught its fair share of fish but lacked the heavy landing of Peters foam flies that would first send out a dinner bell, and then those rubber legs would lure the fish over for a closer inspection. Having seen first hand the fish taking ability of Peters foam creations, I put on one of my foam dear hair flies. These are as close to a Chernobyl Ant as you can get, still using fur and feather. The response to the fly was instant as a fish magically appeared under the fly and took it with confidence. The no stop action continued well into the evening.

Blackfish on Fly

As the river narrowed again Peter walked up to the next pool. Along the way he saw a fish rising in an overgrown section of a deep pool. The steep grassy paddock ran all the way down to the rivers edge. Peter laid out a cast over the grass, landing the leader and fly into the path of the feeding fish. The fish rose again taking the fly, Peter lifted the rod, but there was no weight, he put the fly back on the water, the fish took it again, he lifted again, but still nothing. Back in went the fly; the fish took the fly once again, only this time the hook pulled up tight. The rod slowly pulled back under the weight of the fish. This fish was unlike any trout as it sluggishly fought against the rod. Eventually a blackfish of around a pound came into view with the little Chernobyl embedded in the corner of its mouth. Not a bad way to end the day.

Rods

Modern technology has allowed rod manufacturers to make strong lightweight graphite fly rods that can now carry lines down to a zero weight. These rods are as light as a feather

Small stream fish can be incredibly beautful and highly marked. and a pleasure to use on small streams and rivers that are often over grown. Rods are available as short as 6’ in length allowing you to cast a short low line with a normal back cast in many more situations.

Reels

Reels need to be light enough to balance the rod. A reel spool diameter of 3 inches or less seems about right. Reels with heavy duty drag systems are not required for this type of fishing. When it comes to drag systems the reel need only have enough resistance to prevent line backlash, when pulling line from the reel.

Backing

The small diameter braids available these days are great to use for backing on the small fly reels. A good 20 or 30 metres of backing on a reel can come in handy when you’re suddenly connected to a much larger fish well above the average size for the river you are fishing. I like to join the fly line to the

backing using a loop to loop connection. By stripping off a small section of fly line to expose the braided core, a small loop can be formed in the braid that can then be whipped off using some fly tying thread, followed by a small dab of super glue. For the loop in the braid, tie a surgeon’s loop that is big enough to pass the reel through.

Fly Lines

A floating line in a double taper or a weight forward is all you really need. Some people prefer the light presentation of a double taper while others still like the speed of a weight forward line. The choice of line often depends on your own casting style and your rod’s casting action, be it slow, medium or fast. For instance a double taper line on a fast action rod can slow things down to a more relaxed casting stroke and a lighter presentation.

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Leaders

Trying to manage a nine foot leader outside the tip of a seven foot rod can be a little frustrating. The join between the leader and the fly line needs to run through the rod eyes without catching. Super gluing the butt section of your leader into the end of your fly line, can make a very slick transition between fly line and leader. This will allowing you to wind in as much leader through your rod as you like and still be able to draw it back out, with out catching up on the snake eyes.

The rewards of casting to small fish in skinny water, surrounded by shrubbery, getting it to take the fly and landing the fish is great.

Who would think you could catch a native blackfish on a dry fly?

One way to catch more fish in rivers using a dry fly is to make your fly drift naturally, without drag. The length of your leader’s tippet is the first thing to consider. By simply lengthening or shortening the tippet length you can manipulate the way the leader presents the fly. If you’re casting into the wind and your fly and tippet is landing in a heap, try shortening your tippet to straighten out the leader. If you have the wind behind you and your fly is dragging soon after it has landed, then lengthen your tippet until the leader snakes across the surface on each cast, giving your fly a longer drag free drift before the line is straightened out by the current. A spool of 4 and 6 pound tippet material will see you through most situations encountered on a small river.

Basic Casting Techniques

Using the different casting techniques to reach that impossible fish is one of the best things about fishing rivers. With the use of a short rod, a normal straight-line cast will cover most situations, but not all. The water at the tail of the pool starts to speed up rapidly as it is pushed over the shallow rapids. This rapid acceleration of the water will instantly pull on the fly line causing the fly to drag down stream unnaturally. By using a slack line cast you can land the fly line and leader in a series of snaking loops to give you a longer drag free drift. This is achieved by shaking the rod tip side to side, after the power stroke of the forward cast, as the line falls to the water. Another way to fish the tail of the pool with minimum

Jan’s Flies Jan Spencer

Sexy Legs Let’s look at things with legs, most insects whether aquatic or terrestrial have legs. The more leg movements that the insect has, the better the trout will like it. If one thinks about it, movement will get attention much more quickly than something that’s stationary. If the fish are up and looking around, stationary is fine or just a slight twitch will get a reaction. Trout down deep need to be reminded to look up, so movement is needed to get their attention. The amount of movement will depend on the day, if there’s a strong wind, then more movement will be needed as the water is turbulent and the trout seem to have trouble seeing the flies. If the water is calm, so should your flies action, in very soft water just a slight twitch every few seconds will do. I believe feathers for tying legs on flies should be of a soft variety so when the fly moves, so do the legs. Not always should the legs look exactly like the real thing, just as long as the movement is there. A really food place to have a look at the variety of legs on flies is in your local fly shop. This will also give lots of ideas on what materials and feathers to use.

The following little fly had no name, poor thing, but has caught many fish. Then the editor decided to call it Sexy Legs. He warned me it would have a name by the time this appeared. So here you have the Sexy Legs. The fly is simple to tie but is by no means beautiful, but in fly tying, beauty is only fur deep.

Hook – light gauge dry fly hook, sizes 10-12-14 Thread – Black Body – Claret seals fur Legs – Natural coloured pheasant feather barbs (not knotted) Hackle – Soft hen feather Method: 1. Take thread full length of shank. 2. Dub on claret seals fur, bring the seals fur full length of shank, do not make the seals fur too heavy. 3. Tie in four natural coloured pheasant feather barbs, tie these in so the legs are underneath the body, cut away excess barbs. No need to knot the legs. 4. Take one black cock hackle feather, tie in and make three turns with feather, tie own, cut away excess feather. Pull the hackles back slightly and form a small head, whip finish and varnish head. This little fly is mostly fished in soft water such as wind lanes. Fished on a light tippet and lightly greased it floats very well. Also fish this fly in a team of three, mostly on the tip. Note: To put a bend in the pheasant barbs for the legs, bend them around a warm needle.

Fishing News - Page 27

drag is to land the fly line on the bank or over a large rock at the top of the rapids, so only the leader lands on the slower part of the river. A stretch of river that provides cover and a good food supply will often hold the largest fish. Tree branches hanging low over such areas often protect prime lies that are impossible to reach using the normal casting stroke. Perfecting a low side cast and wading into the best position before making the cast is often the way to reach these tricky areas. To perform an even lower cast, allow the current to take your fly and fly line behind you, feeding out the required length to make the cast. With one forward side cast, deliver the fly, using the water to load up the rod. This is some times the only way to make a cast when low branches are in front, behind and above you. When wading small rivers you sometimes have to push through overgrown sections before the river opens up into the next pool. As you reach the opening a bow and arrow cast can be used, followed by a roll cast as you move into the pool. These basic casts can be used all day on a river to cover more water and fool more fish. Despite the end of the season drawing near, there is still plenty of time to down size and experience the magic of our small streams and rivers. Craig Rist

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Fishing News - Page 28

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Port Sorell Fishing opportunities out at port Sorell will probably equal any are along the North coast of Tasmania. From the estuary itself to offshore reef fishing, the Port Sorell area offers an enormous selection of fishing opportunities. This article gives a general rundown on the immediate area between Point Sorell and Badgers Head, the fish species available and various techniques.

Access

In 2006 a new dual lane boat ramp with floating pontoon was constructed at the old beach boat ramp location off the end of Wilmot Street. This ramp has proved very popular and on most fine weekends it is not uncommon to see more than 50 vehicles with trailers parked there. Most locals prefer to launch on the inland side of the ramp as the wind and tide have the least effect here. If the wind is pounding in from the west, even launching from this side can be tricky. The Squeaking Point ramp a couple of kilometres further south up the estuary is a preferred launching location in such conditions. This is located off the bottom end of Charles Street at Squeaking Point. Chances are if conditions are that rough then the angler will only be wishing to fish the estuary anyway, so the Squeaking Point ramp will be closer. There is another ramp at the ski beach area, opposite Port Sorell. This is accessed by the camping area from Narawntapu National Park and generally only used by the people camping there. The old cement ramp at Hawley Beach still exists but was only reliable at high tide and is now rarely used.

Estuary

I’ve fished the Port Sorell estuary increasingly over the past few years and have experienced some fantastic fishing, particularly for Australian salmon. The runs seem to have increased over the last two years, with large schools now present from late July until late November. The last two hours of the incoming tide is best as the current appears to sweep the schools up the estuary. Any area between the two main boat ramps offers the best location but I have caught salmon in numbers right up past the Franklin/Rubicon junction. As the high tide settles the fishing drops off slightly, the schools seems to spread out around the bay but can venture into quite shallow water. During this period I have caught some beautiful fish in only four feet of water along the eastern shoreline opposite Rabbit Island. By far the most effective technique has been soft plastic fishing using the Berkley 3” power minnow in the pearl watermelon colour. The jig head size is usually determined by water depth but the ¼ oz is a good all rounder. I use a light graphite rod with 6lb fireline and a 6 – 8 lb mono trace. A big salmon will certainly test your gear so a reel with smooth drag is essential. There is any amount of good reels available but I have found the ultra smooth drag of the Shimano Spheros to be superb. When the salmon are running it is not uncommon to get continual hook-ups. It doesn’t matter if fish are lost, they are soon replaced by the next one and it just adds to the excitement. Fish up to 4 lb are common with the odd monster topping 5 lb. For eating qualities the smaller fish seem to taste a bit better and cook faster. Coated with Cajun spice and pan fried that night is the only way to go. Unlike their mates who swim around Georges Bay rising to baitfish, the salmon at Port Sorell don’t seem to come to the surface much and you will rarely see any birds working. Do not be put off by the lack of surface action, if you have timed it right they will be there. Atrocious weather might also put you off and rough days are common at Port Sorell in spring. Some of my best days last year were in howling north westerlies but don’t forget the Gortex. If you spend enough time in the estuary using plastics you will also encounter other species. The next most common would probably be flathead particularly if you fish near the bottom. We have dragged some real heavyweights out, but there are not there in large numbers. Pike will also savage the plastics and are more numerous towards the mouth. Squid will also grab hold but once these make an appearance it is better to swap to the standard squid jigs. From Christmas time on the bream fishing hots up and as the summer lengthens they travel further down the estuary into the shallows. They have recently been swimming in large schools between the two boat ramps in very shallow water, but were apparently difficult to catch.

Australian salmon are a mainstay at Port Sorell. They may not always show themselves, but they are there. Ryan and Josh Wolfe share the prize

Fishing News - Page 29

The mouth

As you head out to sea from Port Sorell you will encounter Griffiths Point on the right hand side with Bakers Beach extending into the distance behind. Most people tend to race past this area out to the blue yonder, but the fishing that exists around the rocky points and weed beds at the mouth is excellent. It has been a particularly good year for squid at Port Sorell and this area was my favourite destination. I tried a variety of squid lures, but don’t believe there was a great deal of difference between colours or patterns. The deepest part of the weed beds that extend from Griffiths Point reach 25 feet deep. The squid can be caught from this depth right into only four feet deep just off Bakers Beach. As the tide turns and starts to rush into the bay the current around the points really gets the squid fired up. They are all calamari squid, and often in groups of four or five. Despite our best de-inking methods outside the boat these things always managed to keep a final shot ready for when they were hauled on board. (Editors tip - learnt from Jamie Henderson. Tap them lightly on the back of the head when alongside and you will get another couple of ink jets.)

It has also been a good year for arrow squid, but they prefer the much deeper water and have been present in numbers past the 100-foot mark. I’ve fished extensively with various soft plastics around the mouth area and have had some fantastic days on both species of pike. They took a liking to the Power Grub baits, which have a soft, wiggly tail. The long tail pike (jack pike) were numerous throughout the weed beds and provided some fast and furious action. Their sharp teeth decimated my Power Grub tails but after swapping around baits I always ended up back with the Power Grub. Nearly all fish took it on the drop, practice the jigging action beside the boat first and you’ll see why the pike go for it. Plastic fishing will raise a heap of wrasse from these weed beds, once hooked they will make a furious dash for cover, so you will lose some gear to them. Locals may only call them parrotfish but a 3 lb wrasse on light gear is great fun. As the salmon move out of the bay in November, they too tend to congregate at the mouth, the often travel up and down the edge of the weed beds, apparently not wanting to cross over the sand. They will take the soft plastics at sea just as well as in the bay. Once clear of the points the water gradually deepens as you head out to sea in front of Bakers Beach. The bottom is basically all sand with some small patches of weed and rocks towards Badgers Head. Flathead are the most commonly sort species in this area and can be caught anywhere out over the sand. Generally off Port Sorell their size will disappoint, with an average two thirds being returned due to being undersized. The exception to this seems to be when they congregate to spawn, which is usually between November and February. This year they formed up at the 130-foot mark about 7 kms due north of the boat ramp. Their numbers and size were unbelievable, double hook-ups were common, with fish reaching 540 mm. They seem to cover an area of about a kilometre across and were present in high numbers for around six weeks in late summer. This location is certainly marked on my GPS and I will be anxious to see if they return to the same location next year. The last time I encountered such huge spawning numbers of flathead was several years ago, at this time they formed up in about 80 feet of water directly off the mouth. Whiting is another common species caught off Port Sorell and usually show up in strength from Christmas to late autumn. Best areas for the past few years have been in the 45 to 80-foot mark in a north-easterly direction off the carbuncle. This is a small island situated out towards Point Sorell off Hawley Beach. Whiting have been present in reasonable numbers this year but were not as prolific as last year. The key to catching them is using tiny hooks and baits. Squid works well as bait and stays firmly attached. Once you have located the fish and chosen the right area, double hook-ups are common. If after the 10th missed strike, downsize those hooks. They may look too small to use at sea but believe me the results will speak for themselves. Whiting off Port Sorell will not be huge in fact I don’t think Tasmanian Whiting get huge but they do taste nice and are well worth the effort.

Offshore

The most common offshore location from Port Sorell is Five Mile Reef. As the local name suggests, this football ground-sized reef lies about five miles (or 6.5 km)

Fishing News - Page 30

offshore from the Carbuncle. Any reasonable chart should reveal its location as it’s about the only blemish on the bottom as you travel into Bass Strait. The surrounding water is 140 feet deep with the reef rising to 85 feet. The western side of the reef has some steep rocky edges, there are extensive weed beds across the centre (which will claim some gear) and it gradually flattens back to 140 feet on the eastern side. Over the years I have heard of some nice sized crays being taken from this reef, it is however a long way out and back when the weather Gummy shark are a great catch and delicious too. gets up to check your pot. It’s a great spot for all the usual reef-type fish but unless it’s very calm, you will only have a few minutes of fishing before being blown off the area. It is home to some large cod, gurnard, leatherjackets, Sergeant baker fish and countless species of wrasse. Being the only reef for several kilometres it attracts all sorts of sea creatures. Baitfish often shows up on the sounder around the reef and attracts the usual numbers of squid and couta. Seals are often seen sunbaking nearby with albatrosses floating alongside. I’ve hear several reports now of snapper and kingfish being taken from above the reef, but am yet to confirm these exciting An easy way to instantly despatch calamari is to urban myths. give them a sharp pinch behind the eyes. For general variety and very quick fishing on a calm day, the reef is a hard location to beat. Even on a calm day you will need large sinkers and at least 20 lb line. There are some smaller reefs further east which provide similar fishing but these are in deeper water and not often fished. They are not on the charts. Back in close to shore around Badger Head before Greens Beach any rocky bottom will provide similar fishing for these types of reef fish. Large numbers of the common wrasse or bluehead will be caught on the reefs from the end of Bakers Beach to the headland. The headlands and rocky points are suitable areas to target the salmon as they Start with a Berkley Pearl/Watermelon Power minnow. If you can’t catch move around the coast. Some anything with them the author will buy them off you. good sized flathead can also Most long liners I know have now swapped to the circlebe taken in the patchy sand areas just of these reefs, often in type bait hooks. There is no doubt that once a fish is hooked only 30 feet of water. Like most areas around Tasmania the deep sea fishing for with these they will remain firmly attached, however the makos has also proven popular out of Port Sorell. Several by-catch of skates and draughtboards are almost impossible kilometres past the reef puts you in the apparently productive to unhook and have to be cut off, so choose your hooks 200-foot mark, although this may be 10 km offshore. For the wisely. Whatever method of whichever location you choose, less adventuresome shark hunters long lines are quite effective set anywhere out off Bakers Beach. I’ve experimented with fishing at Port Sorell is well worth a look. Certain species are various depths but it appears the 60-foot mark is as good as abundant at certain times so don’t expect to catch everything at once. Like any fishing location be prepared to try some any. This depth is only about 3 km off the beach. The best times are mid to late summer, gummys prefer different methods and techniques. For those of you that the warmer water and become increasingly scarce as the haven’t yet made the switch to some sort of soft plastic lure you temperature drops, and are soon replaced on the sharkline really are wasting valuable fishing time. Start with the Berkley by numerous draughtboard shark. These can be eaten once Watermelon Power minnow, if you can’t hook anything I will you’ve used a laser beam to cut through their skin but cannot buy them from you. Despite improved access and increasing compare to the fantastic table qualities of a freshly caught numbers of anglers the fishing just seems to get better, let’s gummy. The elephant and saw sharks are not far behind on hope this continues. Shane Flude the taste test.

Bruny Bioregion MPAs

The Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) publicly released its Final Recommendations Report for the Inquiry into the establishment of marine areas within the Bruny Bioregion on the 17 March. The report provides for a period of public consultation until Wednesday 16 April. TARFish, as the fully independent peak body representing the interests of recreational marine fishers in Tasmania, has been involved in the marine protected areas (MPA) process since its commencement over two and a half years ago. In that time TARFish have provided the RPDC with feedback on all of the various reports and publications generated by the inquiry including the Background Report in mid 2006, the Interim Report released in March 2007 and the Draft Recommendations Report released in September 2007. For a comprehensive summary of the background and status of the MPA process have a look at Andrew Large’s article on page 42 in Issue 70 October-November 2007 Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News. There are a number of interested persons or groups who have been involved in providing comment, feedback and input into the MPA inquiry including commercial and recreational fishing bodies and individuals, charter boat operators, dive operators, conservation bodies, tourism operators, government departments, marine farming operators and concerned individuals. The RPDC have noted “Of the nine Tasmanian bioregions the Bruny Bioregion stands out as being the most complex and diverse in terms of ecosystems and human activities and uses.” In our discussions with various recreational marine fishing bodies and individuals there appears little disagreement with the RPDC’s view on the value of the Bruny Bioregion to Tasmanian’s.

Final report summary

The RPDC notes that it has endeavoured to minimise the impacts on fishers as far as practicable, whilst ensuring a meaningful set of areas are established to create a system that is representative and manageable. This objective is going to be difficult to achieve as the various interested persons and groups have competing positions on the uses, access and acceptable practices within the recommended MPA zones. TARFish

agrees with the RPDC in accepting that compromise and balance are required from all interested persons and groups if we are to provide the basis for a sustainable, ecologically viable and biologically diverse fishery into the future.

Recommended MPAs

The report recommends 7 No Take MPA’s, namely Hippolyte Rocks, Waterfall Bay-Fortescue Bay, Tinderbox, Lime Bay, D’Entrecasteaux Channel (Zones A & B), South Arm and Blackman Rivulet. The report also recommends 7 Restricted Take MPA’s, namely Sloping Island, Opossum Bay, Roberts Point, Huon Estuary, River Derwent, Port Cygnet, Cloudy Bay Lagoon and D’Entrecasteaux Channel (Zone C). A number of the recommended areas have reduced in size from the previous Draft Recommendations Report following significant input and feedback from interested persons and groups. It is pleasing to see that the reasoning, logic and factual evidence that were provided to the RPDC have been taken into consideration in the Final Recommendations Report. Total MPA Area Reduced The total marine protected area in the Bruny Bioregion under consideration in the Draft Recommendations Report totalled over 38,400 hectares and this has been significantly reduced in the Final Recommendations Report to an area totalling just over 12,000 hectares. The RPDC maintain that the 12,000 hectares provides a comprehensive, adequate and representative system of areas that meet the requirements of the Tasmanian Marine Protected Area Strategy.

Activities in MPAs

The RPDC has recommended that: • Anchoring of boats be allowed in MPA’s as a number of the recommended areas are currently used as a safe shelter from poor weather conditions which can occur quickly in the area • Trawling, scallop dredging and gillnetting be prohibited in any marine protected area (No Take and Restricted Take) as these activities are incompatible with the objectives an MPA is trying to achieve and • Trolling be prohibited through No Take areas. • A complete list of allowable activities within an MPA will be at the discretion of the managing authority.

TARFish CONCERNS

Insufficient Socio-Economic Data The RPDC notes that “the jewels in the crown of this system of MPA’s are the Waterfall Bay-Fortescue Bay and Hippolyte Rocks areas on the Tasman Peninsula.” TARfish believes that the greatest potential economic impact of the recommended marine protected areas will be on the Tasman Peninsula and it concerns TARFish that there has been limited socio-economic information available to understand the breadth of impacts in this region. TARFish notes that “the Commission fully supports any research in the Bruny Bioregion that will help increase the understanding of this area.” Other concerns include No Restricted Take definition, climate change, introduced species and natural processes not considered and the need for a whole of state approach to MPA planning.

What’s Next

The period for public consultation extends to Wednesday 16 April 2008 and TARFish will again be providing a submission on behalf of Tasmania’s recreational marine fishers. If you would like to have input into TARFish’s submission please send your comments to info@tarfish.org by no later than 5pm Friday 11 April 2008. Following the consultation process, recommendations for marine protected areas will be considered by Cabinet.

Minister’s Comments - 19 March 08

Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn commented “The Government’s position, as publicly stated during the assessment process, is that it would not agree to recommendations that would adversely affect fishers”. Mr Llewellyn said he recognised the value of protecting marine environments and more consultation would take place before a final decision.” TARFish is very pleased with the Government’s considered position. Obtain a complete electronic copy from www.rpdc.tas.gov. au to understand the full analysis of the recommendations. (340 pages) Mark Nikolai Chief Executive Officer - TARfish

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Fishing News - Page 31

Tasmanian Fly-Fishing Techniques – Volume 1 - Christopher Bassano

Because DVDs are seemingly so easy to produce everyone wants to do them. They are even school projects these days and with a hi-definition camera costing as little as $1500 it is within the reach of most to produce something. Even computers come loaded with software to edit the film and the music. But they aren’t all the same. If you give two people the same items and some instructions you will virtually always get a quite different result. That can apply to a cake, building a house or tying a fly. Christopher Bassano has invested in some top quality equipment and done a wonderful job on his first DVD, Tasmanian Fly-Fishing Techniques. He tells me that although he scripted the introduction and the basic outline, the whole DVD was adlib and live to camera. This is a remarkable effort and one I want to just spend a little time on. Just think of how much you enjoyed Rob Sitch and Tom Gleisner in ‘There’s Always a River Somewehere’. It is a great production, but not too much voice to camera. There is some, but there is clever use of music and plenty

of voice-over done in the studio. This means lots of filming, choose the good bits and then voice-over the top. You end up with a very fine piece of work and something really enjoyable. And of course it had a budget that one could live on for some years. Christopher, perhaps even naively, took the hard road and did it ‘live’. It is remarkable how rarely he stumbles for words, how few (if any) ums and ahrs there are, and how well he comes across. The fish cooperate and with much of the filming done by friends, rather than a professional, the result is awesome. You can really learn thing or two from this DVD. I took a critical look at a few sections, and after more than 37 year of fly fishing myself I must say Christopher is really on the ball. I do wonder how people like Christopher accumulate so much knowledge, in what I think is a short amount of time. I know Christopher has had a few years of professional cricket in the UK and he certainly would have been on the receiving end of some serious coaching. This, I think, has helped enormously. He is a fast learner and has an ability to crtically analyse himself, and improve the way he does things. I didn’t talk to Christopher about this, but feel sure his presentation, and thirst for knowledge has been enhanced by his cricketing experiences. Conversely, perhaps his cricket was enhanced by his fly fishing. Anyway he has done a very good job.

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Fishing News - Page 32

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I will just comment on one section ‘Wade Polaroiding’. I am not purposely leaving the other sections out, but don’t feel the need to give a blow by blow description on each part. Christopher takes a look at flies first, then approach, whilst giving you plenty of little tips along the way. I am not even sure he realizes he is doing the tips sometimes, and I can’t pick any bits he misses, if, in fact, he does. Christopher reveals flies that he uses and if you want to tie them yourself you can go the the website (www. highlandgoldtasmania.com.au) for more details. As I wrote this review I went backwards and forwards watching bits and pieces, analyzing and perhaps thinking I could offer critical advice. I got over that pretty quickly and offer this. If you think there are still things you can learn, if you want to be entertained, if you just enjoy fly fishing or you are just staring out then buy this DVD. It is Tasmanian, it is not just about Tasmania though. You will learn heaps. Sections include: Wade Polaroiding, River Nymphing, Sea Trout fishing, River Mayflies and Tailing trout. Available from all good tackle stores.

Streamline Upholstery

It is so easy these days when buying a product to give it some thorough research ‘before you buy’. I was looking at camera lenses and couldn’t decide between two that were similar. I googled them, added ‘review’ and had five direct comparisons with highly detailed technical information at my fingertips. It had all the pros and cons and my selection was easy. But there are things you can’t google. I wanted a weather/travel/protective cover for the new Haines Hunter Pro Strike and whilst I had a thought about who I would get to make it I asked around. One would expect a few different answers if say five people were asked, but they all said the same - ‘Streamline’ in Devonport. Prior to the cover though I wanted some protective panels to stop the boat getting stone chips from the road. I’d had these before and wanted them as panels fixed to the trailer, rather than a bra attached to the boat. Boat bras are okay, but if you launch and retrieve your boat several times a day like I often do at St Helens a good setup attached to the trailer is ideal. I rang Mike Febey and started to tell him exactly what I wanted, in both the stone guard frames and the cover. There wasn’t really much need. I had the frames made at Aluman Engineering in Launceston and then sent them to Streamline. It was a little easier this way as I wouldn’t have to make an extra trip to Devonport. Mark Tapsell at Aluman, like Mike is a long time boater/fisherman and really understands what boaters and fishers want. They can simplify things while engineering them to work exactly as they are meant to. So the frames were sent to Devonport for the inserts to be made. Mike suggested they be padded, for some reason I can’t remember, and back they came. They looked great and work a treat. There was a particular fabric which I thought was best for the cover, and he knew straight away what it was. I didn’t want any clips screwed onto the boat (unsightly and places for line to catch), or trailer (areas for corrosion to start). I can do that, Mike said. So a couple of weeks later I dropped the boat off to Streamline and was told to come back in a couple of days. I don’t like to interfere with professionals when they are doing their work and just hoped I had given Mike good instructions and he was as good as everyone said. The cover was faultless, it fitted perfectly and he made a storage bag for it (I had only thought about that on the way to collect it) and it was all sitting there ready to collect. It is very easy for one person to put on and remove and after five months of use there isn’t anything I would change to improve it.

While I was in his workshop I must say I did a bit of a snoop at some other work. There was some upholstery and a complicated re-carpet job in a boat that looked better than new. Some clears and storm covers and some work on a couple of new boats. It was all absolutely first class. The workshop was tidy and staff really on the ball. The price was in the ball park of what I expected. I hadn’t asked for a quote as quotes are often a little overestimated to allow for unexpected extra time or materials. No quote is usually a ‘do and charge’ and you just pay for the time and materials used. This always seems fair to me. So if you want any boat upholstery, covers, cushions or any upholstery work call Mike Febey at Streamline, phone 6424-9964 or visit their website: streamup.com.au

Fulling Mill tippet material

I wouldn’t normally give tippet material much of a real test, but as luck would have it the day after I ran out of tippet material Mayfly Tackle sent me some of the new Fulling Mill copolymer to try. I am not sure if Barry Unwin still owns Fulling Mill, but I fished with him some years ago when he visited Tasmania. Fulling Mill is based in the UK and is a huge worldwide supplier of commercially tied flies. You will see plenty of them around – especially some of the specialist English styles. Fulling Mill are renowned for their quality and as well as knowing Barry Unwin, and running out of tippet I was more than happy to give this a test. I don’t know what it means, or if it means anything when it says on the box ‘World Class Copolymer’. Is it marketing hype? I suppose it is, but only if it doesn’t live up to its hype. The box is marked prominently with its ‘X’ rating and whilst this is favored in the UK and USA Tasmanians don’t seem too keen on it. They seem to want to know breaking strain and consider it more important than diameter. Odd really because the ‘X’ does reasonably accurately describe the diameter of the line in thousandths of an inch. Starting with the number 11 you take the ‘X’ rating for that and you will get somewhere close to the real diameter. So for 6X you take 6 from 11 and get 5: this should be .005 of an inch diameter, which is what it says on the Fulling Mill box. It also shows a breaking strain for this of one kilogram or 2.2 pounds. Tasmanians it seems just want 4, 5 or 6 pound breaking strain and if it is thin for its breaking strain that’s great. On the box it does show breaking strain with 7X at 2.2 lb, 6X 3.1 lb, 5X 4.2 lb, 4X 6.4 lb, 3X 7.9 lb and 2X 9.5 lb. So you can pretty much get what you want. The other claims on the box are: Clear and non shiny, High abrasion resistant, Supple and memory free, Superfine and exceptionally strong, Superior knot strength. Are all these claims correct? It is difficult to say. However from my use over a month I found it to be very good. Like most very thin lines you need to be vigilant when tying knots. Use a seven turn locked blood knot on the small diameters and you won’t have a problem. It is supple and has very low memory. It is fine and strong and I like the clear colour. I loved the 50 metre spools. Many manufacturers only do 25 or 30 metres. They should The spools clip together and have a useful line clip as well as an elastic line keeper. This is a good system. RRP $13.95

Scientific Anglers Sharkskin Saltwater Fly Line

Following the outstanding success of the launch of the Sharkskin fly line the Ultimate Trout taper, Scientific Anglers has now released its saltwater counterpart, the Mastery Sharkskin Saltwater Taper. The Sharkskin Saltwater Taper features the same core and coating technologies as their popular Bonefish and Tarpon lines but with the added enhancements that 3M’s micro-replication technology (Sharkskin) delivers, such as: • Super-shootability – longer distance with less effort – vastly reduced friction through the rod guides.

• Improved floatation – micro-textured surface e nt ra p s a i r – d u a l diameter running line for optimum floatation when wading. • Increased durability – longer life of the fly line. What is microreplication technology? This technology was developed in the 1960’s initially in optical applications but has since spawned a billion-dollar family of products that range from mechanical fasteners to computer lap-top screen. Perhaps its most notable application was to Dennis Conner’s America’s Cup campaign. Conner approached 3M seeking any assistance in improving the performance of his yacht, the Stars & Stripes in the upcoming race. Using their knowledge micro-replication technology, 3M coated the hull of Stars & Stripes with a micro-replicated drag-reducing film that reduced surface tension and drag, allowing the yacht to cut through the ocean with less resistance. Conner and Stars & Stripes won the America’s Cup. Micro-replication is a core 3M technology and when applied to fly lines, is termed Sharkskin, which involves the radical modification of the typically smooth surface of a fly line by introducing a precise repeating geometric micro-pattern that achieves surface interface properties that mimic nature such as the ability of insects to walk on water, the shedding and self-cleaning ability of Lotus leaves, or the adhesion that allows a gecko to walk up vertical surfaces. Sharkskin provides the best of nature and science. Mastery Sharkskin Saltwater Taper lines are available in 6-weight thru to 12-weight and are mist-yellow in colour with a RRP of $149.95

in a noncompetitive situation. “We want our customers to have all the confidence in the world when they buy an engine and this site provides the information for people to make a fully-informed decision,” said John Temple, Mercury Marine’s General Manager - Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific. “Anybody who goes to the site will quickly see that not all the information goes in our favour. However we’re very confident that when people look deeper into the unbiased and independent data they we have provided they will see that Mercury engines – outboards, inboards and sterndrives – are simply the best available. “Whether you are looking for power, performance, fuel-economy or special features, we encourage you to look deeper into the facts so you’ll make the right decision for you.”

Mercury’s new web resource

In a fantastic initiative for engine buyers, Mercury Marine has created a unique website which allows boaties to compare and contrast the facts about the outboard, sterndrive or inboard motor they are thinking of buying. This brilliant new consumer resource – at www. mercurymarine.com/look_deeper – provides potential purchasers with three kinds of valuable information: Boat House Bulletins – which are the results of noncompetitive tests carried out by Mercury Marine. Head-to-Head Engine Tests – which show how Mercury engines performed against the competition in tests carried out by independent third parties, and Third Party Engine Reviews – where Mercury engines were performance tested by independent third parties

RUN OUT SALE

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6.60 mtr - Centre Cab, 2 X 80 hp Yamaha 4 stk. 5.10 mtr - Ocean Series Cuddy cabin 4.80 mtr - Master Series Runabout 4.85 mtr - Territory Pro

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24 Gleadow St, Launceston Phone 6334 3118 Fishing News - Page 33

G. Loomis - for life Go G. Loomis Xpeditor and never worry about a broken rod again What is the Xpeditor program and how does it work? If you have a breakage contact or call into any G. Loomis Pro Store and request the G.Loomis Xpeditor Service. Tell them the model number and rod series. If G. Loomis no longer offer that model it will be replaced with what G. Loomis determine to be the closest current comparable model. Pending stock and availability, you may receive a current replacement rod immediately and walk out of the store with a brand new rod. The cost: $150 or $200 for GLX. Do I have to return my broken rod? Yes, all broken rods replaced by our Expeditor Service do need to be sent back to the factory. Tasmanian G. Loomis Pro Store dealers: Spot-On Hobart; Bridges Bros Hobart; Got One Launceston; Big Fin Sports East Devonport

Introducing the Allison 244

Ocean Angler ALLISON 244 Ocean Angler Centre Cab

With the serious sportsfishing angler in mind. A comfor table and spacious fishing area combines with bunks that are nearly seven feet long. This is a real â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;comfortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boat for the serious fisherman who wants strength and durability in a stable soft riding hull, the ability to spend a night on board, for those with a family, and equally those that are serious about fishing. In stock now, powered with the fabulous twin 150HP 4-stroke Yamahas $92 800.

www.easternshoremarine.com.au

14 McIntyre St, Mornington Ph: 6244 1163 Fishing News - Page 34

Allison 244 Ocean Angler Centre Cab Gary Howard

Thanks to Gary Howard for this review. Gary is a highly regarded boat reviewer from Queensland, so take into account his northern flavour to this review. It’s been that long since I’ve been in one of Col Allison’s 244 Ocean Anglers that I’d forgotten what superb boats they are. This test boat came from Coorparoo Marine, and has been decked out as a full-on hard core long range fishing boat. With such a detailed fitout on a proven performance hull, I couldn’t help but wonder why you don’t see more of these boats around the place. The potential of the 244 Ocean Angler is quite diverse, and for what you get for you money they are reasonably priced. With a pair of 135hp outboards fitted to the pod of the 244, you couldn’t help but be impressed with the size and profile of this hard core fishing machine. From this prospective you get a bird’s eye view, and a few pictures ran through my mind of extended trips away to remote areas of the coastline. Such voyages are exactly what the new owner had bought and fitted the boat out for. The Layout The large centre cab format of the 244 Ocean Angler is one of only a few boats that I have seen in this size that are able to offer comfortable and spacious sleeping area below, a good aft deck area for fishing, and still have good width and depth to the walkway around the centre cab without reducing the helm area to a tight little place where you barely have enough room to swivel your chair around. Deck Area To accomplish the larger helm area on the deck and the abundant room below to stretch out and have a sleep, the boat has been basically designed into two areas - the aft deck and the helm. The helm area is a step up of around 25cm from the aft deck, so more of the boat’s beam can be used to make that wide and deep cabin below and keep that walk way around the side of the cab. The boat has plenty of weight to it and sits well in the water, so there are no worries about this raised front deck area being too high above the waterline and creating instability as you move about. Aside from the height difference between the helm and aft deck area, they are also visually separated with the aft area being carpeted and the helm and cab area left with the smooth white gel coat finish of the fibreglass. Looking around in the aft area you will find three big oval-shaped wells in the transom of the boat. The two outer wells are larger of the three with the smaller tank sitting centrally below the bait board. Cutting Board Bait boards can be quite a complex little area, becoming more of a work station than anything else, but this one has been left pretty standard. The reasonable nylon cutting board has four rod holders and a smart stainless steel frame to support it all. Rod holders are fitted in various location along the side decks to give a diversity of positions and angles to sit the rods in for trolling or setting out a bait. Other Features The inside of the transom and the gunwales are smartly covered and padded with the rear lounge being made of two folding seats either or both of these seats can be removed without fuss. Most of the power and engine hardware is located behind the folding rear lounge on the two service shelves that are fitted here. The boys at Coorparoo Marine have done a pretty good job in setting the twin oil bottles and batteries that are needed here with the twin outboards, along with all the fuel filters, power cables, battery switches and cables. They haven’t had a whole heap of room here to do the job but have managed to do it in a compact and neat manner. I have a bit of a thing about keeping such areas neat and tidy, away from the saltwater yet still be easily accessed and not too awkward to work on.

In rough seas this area can get quite wet as the water is thrown back. If I had one criticism it would be that this area is not covered in well enough and at the very least could do with a clip-on cover that stops the salt water splashing back here and prevents any items bouncing back to the area where all these vitals are situated. The under floor area of the aft deck has been very well utilised with three separate compartments. The largest being in the centre section to which the owner has had insulated and glassed in to provide a good size ice box. Two long boxes are found either side of this and can be used to stow a heap of gear or can be used for fish boxes as there is adequate length. Side pockets provide the necessary room for all those odds and sods as well as regularly used items. Helm Area We now step up into the helm area of the boat. One of the big differences here is that the swivel seats are mounted on large fibreglass boxes which have a heap of storage room in them.. Standard, they come with hatches in the front and tackle tray hatches in the back. There are many possibilities for this area though. The stainless steel framework for the Targa top starts behind these boxes as well, with bars running horizontal across the back of the boxes, mounted to the box, the floor and the main uprights for the Targa. While this does offer cross bracing it provides the ideal place for the crew to stand and hold onto. In a boat this size you usually have three or four anglers on board - two seated in the helm seats while travelling and two standing behind the seats - and it is the seats or part thereof that they usually hang onto. Here they have a good solid grab rail, and you will find that it will be well used. The front of the box has a couple of recesses in it to accommodate the EPIRB and fire extinguisher. It’s a good place for them as they are out of the way and away from the salt air yet, like all safety gear, they are easily seen and easy to get to. Dash The dash area is all on the driver’s side, with the passenger’s side having the walk through down into the sleeping area. When you have twin engines and a full kit of electronics the whole dash is taken up, so a bit of careful planning is needed to make sure it all fits in neatly and in a practical manner. Cabin When it comes time to walk down into the cab area I just about guarantee that you will be surprised by just how much room there is in here. The bunks stretch out to near seven feet, and two big adults can lie next to each other for a good night’s sleep without worrying that one is hogging all the room. The cabin walls are lined with carpet with matching bunk cushions, so it looks quite inviting. Below the cushions is a whole heap of more storage space, which is where you would keep a lot of your food and clothing on longer trips. The entry into the cabin is a tinted perspex door that slides across and behind the steering helm. It does swing open and closed, doesn’t rattle and is lockable. The walkway around the sides of the cab are just that - walkways that are nice and deep and give you sure footing all the way around. There is no worry about overbalancing or it being to hard to get up to the anchor well. It is one of the best walk arounds that I’ve seen in a boat this size. The Targa top offers protection from the elements with an overhead rocket launcher for rod storage. Outriggers have also been fitted to this boat.

Putting it to the test When it comes to the ride it is bit hard to beat the ride of a heavy deep V fibreglass boat. The 244 Ocean Angler has a very deep 22 degree deadrise which simply carves up the average chop. Even those nasty little deep troughs that you hit with a jar don’t need a second thought. With reversed chines and a decent reversed spray chine, the boat is very dry. The hydraulic steering allows you to throw the hull around with ease. This might be no big deal in average conditions, but when the sea and wind are up and you have to fight the conditions all the way home, the hydraulics make all the difference. For a big boat with a pair of 135hp engines sitting on a small pod, the boat sits surprisingly level in the water. The engine blocks were getting a little close to the water level while going slow, though this was the first run of the boat in the water it appeared that the engines they could be lifted another hole or two. This is only a bit of fine tuning, and any dealer worth going to will play around a little with the motor height and even the props to get it all running as it should. The engines were very smooth and super quiet, ticking along super slowly or rocketing the rig to a top speed of 46 knots. Once the engines are run in and the rest of the rig sorted out there is a fair chance that the boat will achieve 50 knots, which is well and truly flying. While we were out testing we managed to work out how to get a fuel consumption reading, which I know a lot of readers want us to include. During our running around which involved all speeds - the fuel consumption averaged 37 litres an hour. That’s combined, not each engine. Looking at that sort of economy you would have to rate the 135hp engines as very efficient. There are two of them working the boat, so they don’t need to work real hard to achieve and maintain comfortable cruising speeds. With 330L of fuel under the floor, that’s a fair bit of travelling that you can do. We didn’t venture offshore on this particular day, but the 15 knot chop of Moreton Bay didn’t even warrant slowing down for. There was no harshness in the ride, and the waves felt little more than just a slight, soft, bump. The standard hull weighs 1350 kg, so along with the extras, a pair of outboards, and a belly full of fuel, you are going to crack the two tonne mark. That is a fair lump of a boat in the water.

The internals of the hull involve a full fibreglass stringer grid giving strength and durability to the hull, with a three year structural warranty. The Allison 244 Ocean Angler is worth a closer look if you enjoy open water fishing and are looking for a boat with good cabin room that retains the capacity for fishing around the entire vessel. For further information and to inspect the 244 contact Eastern Shore Marine. 14 McIntyre Street, Mornington. Phone: 6244 1163.

Fishing News - Page 35

The Quintrex Offshore range. The Concept

Quintrex began building boats in 1945. Today it remains the largest alluminium boat builder in Australia and only second in the world. This Aussie icon this year celebrates 40 years of the release of the Flared Bow – which was an incredible innovation in boat design in this country. With an incredible range of 67 models the company is once again leading the charge with some incredible advances in its plate range of boats – The Quintrex Offshore Series. The company identified that there were two clear and defining fishermen segments that were seeking large plate aluminium boats in a trailerable format. The first segment is an emerging group of fishermen graduating from smaller runabouts to larger rigs. These anglers are growing both in experience and in budget and have a desire to get into larger rigs and to fish grounds further and wider. The second segment that Quintrex identified with was the game fishermen that is looking to downsize their rigs. Des Hughes- Quintrex Sales and Marketing Manager for Southern States explained “We kept meeting these guys at boatshows. They were sick of burning hundreds of litres of fuel a day and sometimes with mixed catch results. However they still wanted to fish the same grounds that they were accustomed to and also wanted the mobility and capability of towing their rigs up and down the coast. Plate alloy boats appealed because of their robustness and lighter tow weights compared to GRP. The development of modern four stroke outboards and the emergence of turbo diesel sterndrives have significantly reduced the running costs of larger trailer boats in both aluminium and fibreglass trailer boats. The design brief for the Offshore Series entailed a simple philosophy albeit in a complex execution in design. Simply put the Offshore series utilises the strength of a pressed plate aluminium hull and what sets it heads and shoulders above any other plate boat on the market is that it emulates the classic hull designs of the best grp gameboats in the world.

The Design Challenge.

The design challenge for aluminium boat builders is a great one. Unlike fibreglass manufacturers that can shape a mould and develop deep entries, big flared bows and variable deadrise hulls, the aluminium manufacturers are limited to more simplistic designs. Often the choice is between running a moderate deadrise and having a boat with great stability but with a banging rough ride or running an aggressive deep vee at the expense of stability. Clever hull design by the best of the plate manufacturers has seen aggressive reverse chines which gives excellent stability. Others build ballast tanks into the hulls. These work by flooding the hull with hundreds of litres of water to assist stability at rest. Quintrex remains the only Australian manufacturer that produces a true variable deadrise hull and flared bow in aluminium. Its ability to stretch form aluminium into complex shapes allows it to design hull shapes that only fibreglass manufactures have been able to produce. When you think about the classic Gamefishing Boats of the world whether it is Cabo. Luhrs, Blackwatch or even the old Raymond Hunt designs – they all had aggressive fine entries

exaggerated flared bows and of course variable deadrise hulls. It was in 2000 that Quintrex introduced plate boats with the Millennium Hull and Flared Bow. Quintrex has the ability and technology to produce any hull shape that they want and continue to fine tune the millennium hull.

The Hull

The hull is pressed plate in construction with pressed bottom sheets and top sides. The physics are simple a 5mm pressed plate hull will be measuredly stronger than a slab sided sheet of plate. Strakes are pressed into the bottom sheet to assist planing and offer added strength to the hull. Des explains this often misunderstood feature “Some manufacturer’s weld these on some actually do without them. Whether they are welded or pressed, strakes assist with planing and directional stability. You just have to think about surfboard designs as all of them have strakes to assist with planing and turns. The same theory works with boats. You will be hard pressed to find a glass boat without them and there’s a very good reason for that.” The Offshore carries an aggressive fine entry that sweeps back towards the stern of the boat in variable deadrise. This design allows for a soft ride, superior lift and planing attitudes. Above the chine line the hull carries the flare bow. Apart from the flare bow one of the most striking aspects of the Offshore design is the broad shoulders that these hulls have. The variable deadrise design allows the beam of the boat to be carried far forward. The maxi 3 transom offers amazing stability and floatation for the increasing demand of heavy four strokes and twin rigs applications which are extremely popular in Tasmanian waters. A recent innovation by Quintrex has been the installation of sterndrives into their larger models. This innovation has allowed for fantastic fishability in the cockpit of their Offshore models. Instead of fighting fish around outboards and motor wells anglers are now able to fish to the rear edges of an Offshore platy. Perhaps the most exciting power configuration now available to Offshore owners is the ability to option up with Diesel power.

Why Diesel?

Both the 630 and 670 models can be optioned with the incredible state of the art 1.7Litre Turbo Diesel Cummins Mercruiser. These motors offer incredible economy and performance in a very compact package. Installed into the cockpit of the Offshore the engine box is both small and great place to install a work station. At a cruise speed of 18 knots these incredible little motors are burning around the 16 litres per hour mark. Whilst no rocket ship they can propel the 670 up to the 38 knot mark. Des Hughes further explains “The performance we are seeing out of the SDD models is truly stunning. The torque produced by the Cummins is

very strong. Even with a crew of nine blokes on board, it doesn’t drop any performance. Weight does not kill it which is great for the true gamefisherman that intends to carry big loads. The other benefit of this power delivery is that through huge seas the torque of the diesel just keeps ploughing through. We find that we don’t loose revs and momentum like the outboards do. Des further explains the economy benefits of the diesel. “This is a true expedition vessel. With a 270 litre tank we have trailerable plate boat that has the ability to travel 500nm plus. We have new owners of these boats that are spending $40 to get to the shelf and back. It’s just ridiculous! Whether you are on a week’s expedition on the top end or cruising the coat line, anglers will never have to carry drums of fuel in the Quinnie.” There is also the old theory that the hum of diesel attracts the big ones on the troll…but that’s a debate for another article.

On the Water

They look impressive in the water. The inboard versions of the 670 are actually 7.44 metres long. That’s a good 23 footer in the old money! With those broad shoulders, aggressive entry, lift in the hull and bow sections the ride is predictable, safe and dry. Where a deep vee design without a flared bow will cut nicely into a big greenie, it will also keep digging in. What the flare of the big Quinnie does is actually gives the boat lift after it cuts in. This is graphically demonstrated in the Offshore video on the Quintrex website which shows the flared hull in action. Where the big Quinnie excels punching in to a big sea is will actually ride over the second wave in a set whereas a deep vee without flare will keep cutting in and the potential is wear a greenie overhead. The Offshore excels in bar crossings as it does not lose momentum. The big Quinnies have no peer in a big following sea. The broad shoulders, lift in the hull and the big flare allow the boat to track strong and true. In the freezing waters off Tassie it is reassuring to know that for hours on end you are to going to enjoy a safe, dry and swift ride in these big plate Quinnies.

The Ultimate Test.

In the ultimate test of endurance Quintrex will soon be taking a 670 SDD Diesel Offshore down the east coast of Australia in a 1200nm epic journey from Brisbane to Melbourne. The event is called the Offshore Relay and will begin on the 16th May finishing up at the Melbourne Boat Show on the 2nd of July. Customers will be able to test the rig and other models at a host of 17 on-water days during the 5 week event down the coastline. In Tasmania the demand for twin rig applications is greater than ever before and it looks like the bluewater legend of Quintrex will continue in this exciting Offshore series range.

Fishing News - Page 36

Georges Bay, St Helens – an Autumn Mecca

As the summer months come to an end many fisherman see it as a time to pack the rods and fishing gear away and hibernate for a few months until the springtime brings some fresh action, but on the east coast this is far from the truth. The months of April, May and even in to June can bring some of the best Estuary fishing the East Coast has to offer and in particular Georges Bay St Helens. The warmer summer months can quite often mean periods of high winds and rough waters on the east coast making it difficult to have consistent days on the water however as we move into April we find the windy weather gives way to more mild conditions. Days can start off quite chilly with frosts quite common but as the day wears on this can mean beautiful clear blue skies, warm air temperatures, glass calm conditions and magic times on the water. This is a time when many fish species have fed hard over the summer and as the water temperatures lower slightly they become very active, some species that are prevalent in the Bay this time of year and are targeted by anglers are large garfish, Australian salmon, silver trevally and calamari squid.

Squid

Squid rings dusted with cornflour and lemon pepper, fried for a few seconds until golden brown and served up on a bed of rice with some sweet chilli sauce and a small side salad is a dish that can be hard to beat. The Autumn period is when the calamari squid have grown to quite large proportions and are quite aggressive, good quality squid can be caught throughout Georges Bay as they hang around the seagrass beds mostly up and down the main channel leading out to the Barway. The squid can be quite easily targeted with the use of good quality squid jigs in the 3.5” size; popular colours tend to be orange, blue, green and red head/white body. Good quality spin tackle consisting of rods 6’6” in length and 4000 size reels spooled with 10lb line are all that is needed and a good quality net if fishing out of a boat. A couple of little tricks I have picked up to save a lot of mess in the boat is to tap the back of the squid while its still in the water even if you think he has squirted all his ink, this triggers the fish to squirt whatever he has in reserve completely emptying the ink sac, once you have brought the squid aboard just squeeze with your thumb and forefinger just behind the eyes and watch the hood(body) go white instantly, this dispatches the fish fast and humanely and you wont end up with a fish tub full of inky squid. Water of about 5-15 feet in depth with good sea grass beds around it is a good place to start searching for squid, simply casting out the squid jig and retrieving with a steady lift and drop retrieve back to the boat should result in a take and a steady pull back from the squid. If after a dozen casts or so there is no action move to another spot and try again, if the squid are around you will generally see some action relatively quickly. The squid tend to hang around in pairs or groups so if you catch

one get your jig back into the water quick smart and quite often you will catch 2 in as many casts. Another technique is to use a squid darpin hook, the squid barbs on a shaft with no lure, and place a piece of large bluebait or whole small fish (such as a mullet or mackerel) on the shaft. Place this under a squid float with a couple of feet of trace and let it drift about with the current and wave action. This can be done whilst casting and retrieving you jig and can quite often be a very deadly technique.

Southern Sea Garfish

The particular species of garfish that is common to Tasmanian waters is the Southern sea garfish and is found in most Southern Australian states both out in the open ocean and throughout our estuary systems. They are predominantly a herbivore and feed mainly on varying species of sea grass, algal filaments and small amounts of crustaceans. They spawn in shallow sea grass beds throughout the summer months October to March. Georges Bay becomes a hot spot for big fat XOS sized garfish from April onwards and when a hot garfish bite is on dozens of boats line up to jostle for a position along the main channel leading out to the barway One of the most important factors to successful garfishing is the use of berley to attract the fish and keep them in the immediate vicinity of your boat. A berley mixture can be as simple as a can of catfood mixed with some bread and thrown in handfuls over the side of the boat or as elaborate as a home made concoction of fish oils, fish scraps, breadcrumbs, meal, pollard, chicken pellets and some secret herbs and spices. One important point to be aware of with your berley is not to make the pieces too large as this will only serve to feed the fish and they will soon eat their fill and move on. By far the most effective and lethal berley I have come across is the Stimulate Ultrabite range of berley’s, in particular the Ground Berley model. This is a premixed berley that is in a fine particle form that resembles breadcrumbs but has some added attractants mixed in for good measure. I mix about 2 handfuls of the berley mix and half a cupful of tuna oil to a berley pot and lower into the water over the side of the boat; this creates a cloud of fine particles in the water as well as an oil slick on the surface. As there are no large food items for the garfish to feed on they tend to swim around getting a good whiff of the berley and oil and become quite agitated and enter into a feeding frenzy. Provided you keep a continuous stream of this berley mixture in the water the fish will stay attracted to the area for long enough to catch your feed. A small size10-12 long shank hook under a small quill or ball float with a small piece of squid, chicken skin or anything white placed on it will result in a hooked fish. There are two other techniques for catching garfish that are becoming more and more popular and offer great sport; these are soft plastics and fly-fishing. Small soft plastics such as No.1 Squidgy Wrigglers in drop bear, gary glitter and silver fox are very effective as are 2” Berkeley Power grubs in pumpkinseed and bloodworm also 2” Ecogear Paramax i n w h i t e. U s e d i n conjunction with a small 1gm and 1.5gm squidgy jig head and wo r ke d e r r a t i c a l l y through the berley trail it is a dynamite technique and a lot of fun on light tackle. The garfish can get

Southern calamari are a delicious feed, but they sure can make a mess of your boat.

quite aggressive once fired up with the stimulate berley and will attack the plastic lure surprisingly hard. For those looking for a bit more of a challenge a fly rod and small flies such as Crazy Charlies and small minnow patterns in predominantly white colours will also catch fish. I have found a few retrieval techniques work with the flies, either a slow draw and stop letting the fly rise and fall in the water column or if the fish are particularly aggressive short quick strips close to the surface will draw strikes. Garfish tend to favour areas that are shallow and have good seagrass beds, in Georges Bay the hot spot seems to be along the red channel markers leading out to the barway next to the shallow sandbank. Here you have shallow water, plenty of seagrass and on the incoming tide some good current to carry your berley trail and keep the fish swimming behind your boat. I have found that the incoming tide from about half in to full tide is about the best time to chase the Gars. The garfish can often be seen swimming right up on the shallow sand flats also and large schools of fish will jump out of the water as if they are being chased by something larger.

Australian Salmon

Ardent fly fisher, Ross Pullin shows how to catch garfish on fly.

The Australian salmon would have to rate as one of the most popular sports fish this country has to offer and Georges Bay finds itself home to large schools of fish reaching sizes of up to 6lb. Since the banning of commercial and recreation netting in the bay the salmon have come back with a vengeance and as each year goes by larger schools and larger fish are showing up and being caught by the average angler. Once again good quality basic tackle is all that is needed to target this species, average fish sizes tend to John Farell with an average size Georges Bay Australian salmon be around 2-4lb mark and can be caught with spin tackle consisting of rods of or up current of the school of fish switching 6’6” in length and 3-6kg matched to spinning the motor off and drifting down onto the fish reels in the 2500-4000 size range spooled with casting lures or soft plastics ahead of you, this keeps the school up on top and quite often you 8-12lb line. Australian salmon respond well to a number end up right in the middle of the school with fish of different baits such as bluebait, whitebait, all around you. The boat itself can also act as a squid, pippies, sandworms and prawns but large F.A.D. (fish attracting device) as it casts a “matching the hatch” is always your best option large shadow in the water and the baitfish quite and if the fish are chasing bait schools then the often try and find refuge underneath keeping the school of salmon all around your boat. smaller fish bait is the best option. The salmon tend to roam the bay following While the salmon are focussed on the bait schools it is prime time to target the fish with the bait but likely spots to start are the main artificial means such as lure, soft plastics and channel leading out to the barway and the saltwater fly. When the salmon schools are Moulting Bay area, all the while keeping a boiling on the surface a few different techniques lookout for hovering birds and pelicans on the can be employed, by far the most common is move. Lures such as Halco Slices and Twisty’s, trolling lures behind a boat, whilst this seems an Raiders, Snipers and Norstream Sluck lures in easy method it is by far not the most effective as the noise from the outboard motors tends to put the 15-30 gram sizes work wonders especially if the schools down and move them around too retrieved at high speed, even skipping the lure much. A far more deadly and effective method is across the surface can attract savage strikes from drift spinning, by this I mean motoring up wind hungry salmon and makes for exiting Visual

Fishing News - Page 37

fishing. Soft plastic lures such as Squidgy Fish in True Blue, Black & Gold and Silver Fox, Squidgy Flick baits in Evil Minnow and Blue Pilly, Berkley 3” Bassminnows in just about any colour and Snapback 4” Finesse Jerk Bait are all deadly on salmon. When the salmon are marauding a bait school simply casting out a soft plastic and letting it sink down slowly will usually result in a hookup if not either a straight retrieve back to the boat or a twitchand-drop retrieve will be effective. If targeting salmon on fly tackle a good #6-8 weight fly rod with plenty of backing should subdue all but the largest specimens with leaders tippets around 8-12lb. Flies such as Lefty Deceivers, Surf Candy’s, Epoxy Minnows, Clousers and my favourite a Muzz Wilson Fuzzlebugger will all work well and once again either a fast stripping retrieve or let the fly sink then fast jerky retrieves back to the boat with intermittent pauses will result in savage strikes from the salmon. Sometimes clasping the flyrod in between your knees or under your armpit and double handed stripping at high speed will result in savage takes from timid fish, sometimes this technique is needed to fire the fish up and get them in the mood. Whilst not considered much of a table fish by most if dispatched immediately after capture, bled, filleted and placed on ice will offer quite a tasty meal on the BBQ that night with the smaller fish being the sweetest.

Silver Trevally

In the last few seasons in Georges Bay a run of unusually large silver trevally have been turning up during spring and staying all through the summer. Fish of up to 600mm fork length and 5lb+ are being caught; fish of this size have never been seen in the bay until recent years, evidence once again that the ban on netting is improving the fishery all the time. Trevally averaging 300-350mm fork length seems to be most common and can be caught with much the same tackle as the salmon. However these fish seem to be much fussier about the baits they will eat and require a little more attention to detail in the presentation. The trevally will respond very well to a good berley trail and nothing works better than Stimulate Ultrabite Prawn pellet burley with some Tuna Oil added to it and slowly but consistently introduced to the water column. Small pieces of peeled prawn flesh, pippies or chicken breast meat floated unweighted down the berley trail appearing as natural as possible are very effective as are the use of sabiki rigs with

Seaport Marine’s St Helens Game Fishing Classic 2008 roundup

XOS silver trevally have had a huge revival in Georges Bay. They can be caught on a regular basis and range up to well over 50 centimetres. small pieces of bait added to the hooks. The bite from a trevally can at times be very subtle and requires a bit more concentration from the angler to strike at the right time but once hooked can test light tackle out to its limits. One technique that is becoming more and more popular with sport fisherman chasing these XOS trevally and one that offers excellent and very exciting sport is the use of soft plastic lures and light tackle. Soft plastic specific High Modulus Graphite spin rods of 6’6”-7’6”(2-5kg) in length and spin reels in the 1000-2500 size range spooled up with 4-6lb Fireline GSP line and 6-8lb leaders are perfect. This type of tackle enables the angler to make long accurate casts with very light jig heads and plastic lures, detect the small and subtle takes of the trevally and offer a huge amount of fighting power needed to keep the large fish from finding the reefy bottom, pylon or rock formation they live around. Finding the schools of trevally is the first part of the puzzle, they like a bit of current and some structure but do tend to move around a bit so the main channel leading out to the barway is a good place to start, drifting the channel with the incoming tide along the edges and around the pylons seems to consistently produce fish. Jig heads in the 1/16th to 1/8th size are perfect for

this technique and by far the best plastics I have found are the Berkley 6” Sandworm in Natural, Berkley 2” Powergrub in Pumpkinseed or Bloodworm, the Squidgy Wriggler in Bloodworm or Wasabi and the Squidgy Flickbait in Evil Minnow. Cast the plastics out and let them sink and sit on the bottom for a moment, quite often the fish will pick it up off the bottom, then either a slow lift and drop all the way back to the boat or alternatively small hopping twitches combined with slow lifting will draw strikes from the trevally. Once hooked trevally are awesome fighters on light tackle testing drags and leaders to the limit and are heaps of fun whilst also being a reasonable table fish. As you can see there are many fantastic sport fishing options you can tackle over the Autumn period in St Helens, all in one bay and all achievable in a day on the water. More often than not the weather will be favourable which makes it a pleasant option for the whole family and one can also produce a seafood banquette of sorts at the end of the day. So don’t pack your gear away just yet, break out the light tackle for one last session before winter and you may get a pleasant surprise at just how much fun you can have. Jamie Henderson

The month of March proved to be quite a busy month for the waters of St Helens and the East Coast, with the Seaport Marine St Helens Game Fishing Classic being held on the 8th & 9th. The Game Fishing Classic was fished in top weather with a calm sunny day on the Saturday and almost as good conditions on the Sunday there was a good chance of fish being caught and weighed in. Day 1 saw quite a few small to medium sized Albacore Tuna weighed in including the overall winner Mark Perkins with a 22.2kg Albacore, this fish won Mark the Savage Dinghy, Mercury Outboard and Trailer package valued at $6500 supplied by Seaport Marine and Mercury. Other notable catches for the first day were Keith Smith with a 16kg Albacore, Paul Snare with a 15.4kg Albacore, Steve O’Moore with a 218kg Mako Shark that won Heaviest Shark for the comp and a quite rare catch in Tasmanian waters a 144.3kg Thresher Shark caught by Grant Miller while fishing from local charter boat “Saltshaker” of Professional Charters. Day 2 saw less fish come to the gantry and luckily for Mark no fish large enough to take over first place however there were some good fish such as Angela Matthews with a 16kg Albacore, Rod Cooke with a 17.8kg Albacore, John Farrell with a 15.86kg Albacore and Andrew Leale with a 63.8kg Mako Shark. Jason McGiveron won the overall Tag and Release category with a total of 3300 points which he gained by tagging a number of Mako Shark winning him the NT Barramundi Safari donated by Darrens NT Barra Safari’s. The weekend was a great success and the committee would like to thank Seaport Marine and Mercury and all the major and minor sponsors for their support.

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Fishing News - Page 38

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Seaport Marine’s St Helens Game Fishing Classic 2008 Competitor

Overall Species/points Boat

Overall Heaviest Gamefish

Mark Perkins

22.2kg Albacore

Replay

17.8kg Albacore

Cookie I

2nd Heaviest Gamefish

Rod Cooke

Highest Point Scoring Angler

Mark Perkins

555 Point

Replay

Heaviest Ladies

Angela Matthews

16kg Albacore

Masterbatier

Heaviest Junior

Kayne Hanson

6.6kg Albacore

Keen Angler

4100 Points

Terminator

8.46kg Albacore

Battered

700 Points

Ice Age

218kg Mako Shark

Big Fella

3300 Points

Backlash

4.402kg Albacore

Syco

Junior Tag & Release

Daniel Paull Heaviest Small Fry

Zac Kerrison Small Fry Tag & Release

Tim Cook Heaviest Shark

Steve O’Moore Tag and Release

Jason Mcgiveron Heaviest Salt Water Fly

Brett Oxford Day 1

Daily Prizes

Heaviest Gamefish

Keith Smith

16kg Albacore

Gizmo

Dean Lawrence 1300 Points

Replay

Tag and Release Heaviest Shark

Grant Miller

144.3kg Thresher Shark Saltshaker

Heaviest Albacore

Paul Snare

15.4kg Albacore

Wild One

5.24kg Albacore

Ice Age

1300 Points

Ice Age

15.86kg Albacore

Barcrusher I

1200 Points

Cookie I

14.8kg Albacore

Xtension

63.8kg Mako Shark

Nifty Ii

4.263kg Albacore

Ice Age

4.14kg Albacore

Ice Age

1200 Points

Evil

Heaviest Junior

Erin Cooke Junior Tag and Release

Rosie Cooke Day 2 Heaviest Gamefish

John Farrell Tag and Release

Rod Cooke Heaviest Albacore

Chris Mace Heaviest Shark

Andrew Leale Heaviest Junior

Erin Cooke Heaviest Smallfry

Tim Cooke Junior Tag and Release

Dylan Scott

Fly Fishing film festival ‘RISE’ comes to Tasmania

Rise – The Annual Fly Fishing Film Festival will be playing shows in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie/Devonport in May. Now in its third consecutive year the festival promises to deliver more exciting fly fishing adventures from around the globe. The feature movie for this years show ‘The Search – Tahiti’ is an epic adventure into the South Seas in search of huge bonefish, one of the fastest fish in the sea. Festival organiser Nick Reygaert was a member of the expedition team that hitched rides on local freighter ships to remote atolls in French Polynesia. Although the crew endured plenty of hardships on the adventure they eventually found an uninhabited, paradise island teeming with giant bonefish. Other features include a short movie about the trails and tribulations of being an Alaskan fishing guide, which features plenty of big rainbow trout and salmon to keep the freshwater addicts entertained. A section of the recently released Soulfish movie will also be shown and includes amazing fishing action for the world’s largest trout, the taimen. The film festival has grown from strength to strength in recent years and now plays over 50 shows annually throughout New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. It has been on the forefront of a recent revolution in fly fishing media with an upsurge of young media companies making adventure driven entertainment. Visit www.gin-clear.com to view movie teasers and get information on dates and venues. Show tickets are available through the website.

It feels so comfortable to wear today’s wading gear compared to the times when we all had neoprene or PVC waders. Who would guess that another revolution in wader technology is just around the corner? Actually, it already took place last year. It was no surprise for Vision. Last year was Vision’s first to have a waterproof zipper on a breathable wader. To maintain our position at the forefront of wader development we approved the continuation of this design and it will move waders to an all new comfort level. The same has taken place with Stealth Amphibia rubber. This US made special rubber was first used by Vision and has been approved as a much more advanced sole material for wading shoes than traditional felt. This year we introduce our all new wader fabric F3Wader. It is a strong yet very comfortable and breathable fabric. It will be in our Flywater and world famous Extreme waders

Extreme Zip Wader

Our world famous classic Extreme wader is born again for another 10 years of success. It also comes with a Riri Storm® waterproof zipper and our new F3wader fabric. The zipper will not only make it easy to get in and out of wader but you will soon find how much you like to keep it open while not wading to avoid unnecessary heat and sweat. It’s really hard to find another pair of waders that can offer all this at such a price level. The new F3wader™ fabric makes Extreme waders stronger while still maintaining good breathability. These favourite waders have also YKK™ lightweight braces and the Vision design NoSeam™ leg cut. Extreme Zip is available in 16 different sizes. This way you can really find a perfect fit wader to maximize the comfort.

Extreme Guide Wader

These wading trousers offer a new level of comfort for wading. They are easy-wear waders that fit like a pair of hiking trousers. You can use these all day without the feeling of being “trapped” by braces. If you are not looking for the deepest holes in rivers, these are the ultimate waders to choose.

Extreme Thigh Wader

There is no better way to fish in shallow waters on hot summer days than in our Extreme hippers. They have both adjustable belt loops and shock-cord drawstring top closure for snug fit and safety. They are also very light and handy to pack!

Sprinter Aqua Stealth Sole Boots Studded And Plain Sole

Sprinter boots are made out of nubuck leather and durable nylon for optimum strength while remaining super light weight. Sprinter is like having a pair of running shoes on, yet they support you for safe wading. They have EVA-soles with an extra thick rubber toe and heel support, giving the stability needed. The design allows the sole to flex at the ball of the foot and at an angle, making it comfortable for walking. The speed laces are solid with rounded edges lacing down to the toe for good adjustability. Many fishing guides say nothing beats a combination of Stealth Amphibia® rubber and studs when it comes maximum grip in wading. Stealth Amphibia rubber is a US made special rubber and is used by Vision and is a much more advanced sole material for wading shoes than traditional felt. Tungsten studs grip the hardest rock surfaces and this is what good wading grip is all about. Sprinter, sizes: 6 – 13. Sprinter Amphibia®+studs, sizes: 6 – 13. Fishing News - Page 39

BAR CRUSHERS 620C ENTER THE ULTIMATE COASTAL AND OFFSHORE SPORTSFISHING RIG...

The latest model in Bar Crusher’s hugely-successful cuddy cabin series – the 620C – slots in perfectly between the 560C and 640C. Following in the footsteps of every Bar Crusher, the brand new 620C delivers the smoothest ride of any aluminium boat on the market!

KE A I L P O H C S T A ! R E H NOTHING E S U R C R

At last…

...someone has built a stylish-looking boat that provides all the advantages of aluminium while delivering a ride that genuinely feels like a fibreglass boat. While most aluminium boat builders have been struggling for years to make small incremental improvements, Bar Crusher has used cutting-edge technology to leap frog the industry. For fishing or cruising, this is one clever design. Simply brilliant! So you’re looking for a new boat? Do you want a smooth ride, toughness and durability, stability at rest, low cost to buy and run, light to tow and power, and good resale value? Everyone knows aluminium is light and tough, but most aluminium boats just don’t give the smooth ride of a heavy deep-V fibreglass boat.

Enter Bar Crusher Running along the full length of the keel, there is a cavity in the bottom of the hull, open at the transom. When the boat stops, this fills, becomes ballast, lowers the chines into the water and provides tremendous stability. The moment the boat moves forward, this water ballast is jettisoned from the hull allowing the boat to fly up on to the plane. More on toughness. It’s built right through the boat. Whereas pressed sheet boats will flex, each Bar Crusher has six longitudinal stringers fully welded to cross frames, forming a structurally strong, triangulated sub-floor frame. Then, a strong checkerplate floor is welded in. This super strong sub-frame, when combined with a fully welded floor, is called Rigideck™.

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Fishing News - Page 40

560C

640HT

560C

Whole baked Atlantic salmon

This issue we welcome Adam Gower, Head Chef at K&H Restaurant in Launceston. The editor happened upon Adam after eating a fish dish at K&H one evening. Is seems reasonably uncommon for a chef to be able to cook fish to perfection. Adam does. The ocean trout the editor ate was simple and perfectly cooked. Mostly fish is overcooked, but not Adams. Perhaps it is because he is both a keen angler and a determined chef.

This is Adam’s recipe. It is not complicated, but it is thoroughly delicious. Whole Tasmanian Atlantic salmon baked in a bag with lemon and herbs. This is one way I cook whole or even filleted fish at home often using freshly caught freshwater trout. It’s a quick, simple and basically self saucing with the lemon, oil, fish juice and herbs making a great warm dressing. There

is no messing around plating up, just let everyone help themselves. This recipe can also be used with barbecue, camp oven and camp fires so you can cook your catch straight away. 1 x 2 kg Atlantic salmon scaled and gutted 1 red onion, peeled and finely diced 1 clove of garlic, peeled and finely sliced Maldon sea salt and black pepper 1 tbsp fennel seeds 1 cinnamon stick 1 bunch each of parsley, oregano, thyme and tarragon 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil 4 lemons Preheat oven to 200˚c. Tear off four pieces of foil two times the length of the fish, layer these up. In the middle of half the foil, scatter red onion, cinnamon and garlic. Place fish on top. Season the fish inside and out with sea salt, pepper and fennel seeds, then stuff the fish with ripped

badly discolouring the water. T he trouble with the clay is that does not settle out easily. Continuing low levels and strong wind compound the problem to the point where fishing is difficult. There have also been some times of high water over this 20 year period but they have not been consistent or Could this be the last carp from Lake Crescent? allowed for enough A 2.7kg female caught 3 days before Christmas. of the dirty water to be flushed from the system. On top of all this the lack of winter rain and on some years little or no flow in Mountain Creek has limited recruitment to the lakes. Tasmania’s East Coast freshwater fisheries, including those lakes on the eastern side of the Central Plateau, are really struggling Both lakes Sorell and Crescent have due to the lack of rain. The trout in both of these lakes are in struggled to recover from prolonged periods of low water level of the past 20 years. The good condition but the population numbers low levels have enabled the wind to scour the are right down. You may ask why doesn’t the bottom, of Lake Sorell in particular, bringing IFS stock them! We believe that if we try and clay particles up into the water body and increase trout numbers in these lakes at this

Lakes Sorell and Crescent. What’s happening!

Adam Gower Head Chef, K&H, Launceston

bunches of herbs, squeeze the juice of two lemons over, slice the remaining two lemons, lay over fish and drizzle with olive oil. Fold the foil over the fish and seal the edges by folding tightly on all three edges being careful not to pierce the foil as it has to be air tight to cook the fish. Place in preheated oven for twenty minutes per kilo. Once fish is cooked, remove from the oven and rest for five minutes, then tear the bag open and serve. I would recommend serving a crisp green salad and sautéed potatoes. K&H is a delightful cafe, restaurant and bar at 106 George Street, Launceston. Phone 6334 2490

time that we would only put further pressure on a system trying to recover. For the lakes to recover it requires good consistent rain to hold the lakes high and flush the turbid water out. They will come back naturally if this happens.

Carp

On the carp front we are having some success. As was to be expected as we reduced the carp population Early season trout from Lake Sorell. Up it becomes more difficult to to 3kg. (August 2007) catch the remaining fish. To this end we have had to continually develop new methods to increase during the spring and summer to prevent any our efficiency and to prevent any successful successful spawning. For some years now we have been saying spawning occurring. Along with the radio tracking of male carp, which has been the that there are less than 10 carp remaining in cornerstone of the fish down effort, over Lake Crescent. This past year we have only the past few years we have developed new caught one female. That is a lot of effort trapping methods and deployed extensive for one very important fish. We have now amounts of barrier netting to block spawning removed 7797 fish from this lake. In Lake sites. We are undertaking ground breaking Sorell we have caught 76 carp this financial work using large female carp as pheremone year for a total of 2734 from this lake. The generators to lure carp to our traps. The estimate of what remains in Lake Sorell is less program still requires an intensive focussed than 50 carp. As previously stated the last fish effort by staff to make the most of every take a concerted effort to catch. Chris Wisniewski - IFS opportunity to target the carp. This is critical Fishing News - Page 41

THE ONLY MANUFACTURER WITH A

YEAR WARRANTY ACROSS THE ENTIRE RANGE Honda’s world-famous 4-stroke reliability is evident in every powerful, fuel efficient, quiet, low emission outboard we sell – from 2 to 225 horsepower. Which is why we’ve backed them all with another industry leading and Honda First: the most comprehensive 5 year warranty* on the market. It all adds up to peace of mind and hassle free boating. Don’t compromise, demand a Honda 4-stroke. For more information freecall 1300 1 HONDA or visit www.honda.com.au

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Fishing News - Page 42

Honda rocks the cradle

When you’re operating in one of the most pristine environments in the world, carrying up to 15000 passengers every season, reliability, economy and performance are vital. Trevor Chalker skippers a 29ft passenger catamaran on Tasmania’s Lake St. Clair, carrying up to 22 passengers at a time across the lake to access the famous Overland walking track, which links the lake to Cradle Mountain. As well as ferrying walkers, he also conducts sight seeing tours on Lake St Clair. This sort of heavy use requires reliable and economical outboards, and the operating environment demands environmentally sensitive, low emission technology. In October 2006, he fitted his boat with twin 225 Honda outboards from local dealer Maynes Marine, and after a full season of tough usage he has nothing but praise for Honda four-stroke technology.

During this time he has managed to rack up an impressive 800 hours of operation, covering more than 7500 nautical miles. “Initially I was a bit sceptical about fourstrokes, but now I’m converted,” Mr Chalker said. “Since fitting the new outboards, I have had no problems at all – I haven’t lost a single trip and there have been no breakdowns. “In fact, I’ve found the Honda four-strokes to be absolutely faultless power units in all conditions.” As well as the reliability and peace of mind delivered by Honda, low emission technology ensures that Lake St Clair remains pristine and beautiful. Mr Chalker said he was also extremely happy with the support he has received since fitting his new outboards. “I have an excellent working relationship with both Maynes Marine and Honda, so help is only ever a phone call away,” he said. “The backup service has been top shelf.” Further information: Honda – (03) 9270 1111 or visit: www.honda.com.au

Relief skipper, Paul Kaine loves the big Honda power on the Ida St Clair. A Honda convert Paul also runs Hondas on his trout guiding boat and his hire and drive boats.

Honda reveals details of new 40 and 50 HP

Honda has revealed details of its soon-to-bereleased, completely-redesigned BF40 and BF50 four-stroke outboard engines. Retaining their class-leading lightweight and compact styling, the new engines are enhanced with electronic fuel injection, Honda’s revolutionary Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLAST™) air/fuel ratio and ignition-timing technology, and lean-burn control to deliver powerful start-up and acceleration together with outstanding fuel economy during cruising. BLAST™, along with a newly-designed streamlined gear case and other improvements, contributes to greater acceleration and a higher top speed, while lean-burn control results in a 22% improvement in fuel economy over the previous models. Battery charging capacity has also been increased to 17amps – over 1.7 times that of the previous BF40 and BF50. The new models are compatible with Honda’s latest general purpose engine diagnostic systems and also feature a new one-touch plastic cap, which permits easy inspection of anode wear inside the engine, for significantly improved ease of maintenance. Consistently leading the world in environmental performance, Honda has also managed to reduce noise levels by 1.0dB over previous models through such improvements as a longer exhaust pipe and an optimised rib design inside the upper portion of the extension case. Both models exhibit outstanding environmental performance and exceed: 2008 CARB emissions standards – the most stringent in the world; US EPA standards for 2006 and domestic Japanese voluntary regulations. The engines also achieve the Outboard Engine Distributors Association’s (OEDA) three-star rating for ultra low emissions. Honda’s new BF40 and BF50 will be available in Australia in from May this year. Stayed tuned for more details… Further information: Honda – (03) 9270 1111 or visit: www.honda.com.au Fishing News - Page 43

GREAT TASMANIAN FISHING ACCOMMODATION

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CEDARHEIGHTS, STRAHAN

• affordable accommodation • bbq facilities • car park • laundry • microwave oven • television • video cassette recorder • dvd

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Our time is yOurs… Strahan Marine CharterS

A truly unique wilderness experience; right on the shore of Australia’s deepest freshwater lake. Self contained wilderness cottages, travelers lodge, camp sites & powered sites. Licensed Restaurant with lake views. Surrounded by a World Heritage National Park. Scenic cruises on the Lake, walkers ferry. Fishing hire and Fishing license agent. Ph: 03 6289 1137 Email: stay@lakestclairresort.com.au www.lakestclairresort.com.au

The perfect place for all your accommodation, shopping and activities in the Central Highlands.

“ What a great place to stay! These quality, new bungalows have everything you could ask for to comfortably explore this beautiful region of Tasmania.” (Wendy & Harry- Ulverstone TAS) Let us be your guide, whether you are after the excitement of catching your own fish or a more relaxed scenic cruise we will personalise the cruise to suit you.

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Cottage Accommodation

Phone Tarraleah on www.tarraleah.com 6289 3222 Phone: 6289 0111 Web:

Anchor Down Holiday Accommodation

122

Six, cottage-style, two bedroom accommodation apartments located in the beautiful tourist town of Strahan.

Reflective journeys, deep wilderness, * echoes of the past and $ an untouched coast from

Annie & Max invite you to enjoy a quiet, relaxing stay in their smoke-free units.

Stay at the welcoming Strahan Village, the perfect base to explore the rugged West Coast, from just $122* per night, including two breakfasts. Book your Gordon River Cruise, West Coast Wilderness Railway or Piners & Miners journey when you call.

Ideal for travelling couples or families to relax and enjoy while visiting Strahan and the surrounding area.

For bookings or information call

Fishing News - Page 44

9359

1800 084 620 *Per room, per night (Garden View room, single/double occupancy, including 2 breakfasts). Subject to availability. Conditions apply. Valid to 30/11/2007. Quote GS068 when booking.

Five fully self contained units. Five minutes walk from Strahan’s main street. Enjoy our 2½ hour crayfish dinner and fishing cruise on our yacht ‘Stormbreaker’

10 Andrew Street, Strahan Tasmania. 7468. Ph:(03) 6471 7006 Email: enquiries@anchordowncottages.com.au www.anchordowncottages.com.au

The Esplanade, Strahan. 7468 ph: 03 6471 7422 email: wcyc@tassie.net.au

Relax in style and comfort on the shores of Great Lake at Miena Now Relax in style and comfort on the open 12 shores of Great Lake at Miena months of Central Highlands Lodge is the most central fishing lodge

the year to the famous fisheries of the Western Lakes, Arthurs Lake, Penstock and Little Pine lagoons. • Selection of guided tours available to surrounding areas. Evening eco-spotlighting tours. Experience the Tasmanian Highlands. • Licensed cafe, bar and restaurant with comfortable and affordable accommodation. •Comfortable, affordable accommodation Restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days per week.N (Open ow for • Licenced cafe, bar and restaurant opfunctions. breakfast Sept till April only). We cater for in-house conferences and en 2 • Private and • Brush up on yourfishing fishing skills withtuition some advice from our experts. monPrivate1fishing th transport lake. Hire one of ourtours professional fishing guides, complete with equipment, • Guided f the y s o and a picnic lunch. ear • Licences and tackle • Discounts for fishing club members - just present your membership card. We sell fishing licences, flies, maps, ice and gas.

Relax in style and co shores of Great Lake

Under new ownership and management. Ph 03 62 598 179 Email: highlandslodge@bigpond.com www.centralhighlandslodge.com.au

Central Highlands Lodge is the most c to the famous fisheries of the Western

Now

Fishing and Boating Directory Advertise here for $77. Contact Quenton Higgs 0427 129949

Fishing • Guiding • Charters

GO Fishing charters

46’ Cresta Sports Fisherman Based at Southport fishing Pedra Branca

• Up to eight anglers • Professional crew • Comfort plus • Full range of tackle • Huge variety of fish • Australian record holders Contact: Lee Harris 0407 240 750

Tackle and Supplies

Boat building and repairs

Call in for all your fishing tackle including full range rods, reels, lures, landing nets and bait. Also life jackets plus diving gear and stuff for all water sports.

BURNIE MARINE Services

Scott, 53 King Street Scottsdale.Ph. 63522357 Julie-Anne, 41 Quail Street St Helens. Ph. 63761390

Private Fisheries

• Over 30 years experience on all types of motors • Approved insurance repairer to boats and motors • Propellor rebuild and refurbishing • Repairs of all types - including skegs etc. • Contact: Cyril Stevens Phone 6431 3082 Fax 6431 1255

Top Service – Top Price

Aluman

Engineering St Pauls River Cabins MOONSHINE CHARTERS

36’ Steber Sportsfisher Eaglehawk Neck - Jan-April Pedra Branca - July Bookings/info - Steve Gilbert 03 6261 1558 or 0408 105 311 www.moonshinecharters.com.au

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. Break O’Day and South Esk rivers nearby. Email: saint146@pacific.net.au Phone: 03 6384 2211 www.stpaulsrivercabins.com

Launceston Lakes Fly Fishing Fly Fishing Tuition, conducted at the waters edge max. of four clients per guide, 9am or 1pm 7 days 3 hours tuition and ½ day is 4.5 hours full day 10 hours same tuition 3 hours minimum. ½ day $150. Full day $200. Bookings are essential. 1166 Ecclestone Rd, Riverside Phone 03 63 966100 www.launcestonlakes.com

Air-O-Float Stabilizers

Constructed of an extremely strong, flexible, welded outer bag, with a tough inner bladder. Attached to the boat by sliding into a track that any handyman can fit (or fitting can be arranged). Air-O-Floats give great stability and safety with their buoyancy. Suitable for tinnies, fibreglass, punts, canoes, fishing, whitewater, yacht/boat tenders and clubs. For more info phone 6443 4420 or 0427 571 212

St Helens Youreveryneedcateredfor •Eighten-suitecabins• Conveniencestore•Hot takeaways•Groceries• Newspapers•Fuelandoil • Bait and tackle • Boat parking•Boatandcarwash

Hillcrest Tourist Park & Mini Market 100 Chimney Heights Rd. 63763 298

Vandieman Seaman boats Proplate custom boats, Boat repairs Propellor repairs Mark Tapsell 424 Hobart Road, L’ton Ph 6343 3341

GREAT LAKE SHOP

SPINNING RODS, REELS & LURES • Hooks, sinkers, bait including mudeyes, scubworms •Excellentselectionlocallytiedflies • Fishing licences • Maps Petrol, diesel, air, ice, gas bottle refills. Full range groceries, magazines and papers.

Ph 6259 8149

Cnr.MarlboroughandGreatLakeHighways.

Fishing News - Page 45

Inland Fisheries News Huntsman Lake - a new fishery for the 2008/09 season

Huntsman Lake (the Meander Dam) is filling and will be ready to fish next season. A boat ramp is already in place and a recreational plan has been developed. Whilst there are resident trout in the lake with some nice sized specimens being seen by dam owrkers, the lake will be stocked by the IFS. 1000 adults will be transferred from the highlands to bolster the breeding population of the lake. Huntsman Lake will be artificial lures and flies only and will be open to fishing inline with the normal brown trout season. The bag limit will be 12 fish per angler per day and the minimum size will be 220 mm. Access to the lake will be from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Caution to boating anglers

The Jonah Bay ramp at Arthurs Lake is now closed and the ramp at Pumphouse Bay should be used with caution. All ramps are closed at Great Lake with the exception of the low water level ramp of the Boundary Bay. The new Large Bay boat ramp at Lake Echo will be completed over winter and ready to use for next season, this ramp should not be used till completion. A navigation hazard has come into play at Lake Echo with the historically low water levels. This hazard is 300 m offshore between the middle Echo boat ramp and Dog Island.

Prosecution of illegal fish farm operator

For some years now compliance staff have been receiving information about small illegal trout hatcheries but have had limited success with finding and prosecuting offenders. On Friday the 29 February 2008 Boris Pervuhin, of Meander appeared before Magistrate P. Wilson at the Launceston Court of Petty Sessions charged with operating a fish farm without a fish farm licence, releasing fish without written consent of the Director and rearing propagated salmon without written consent of the Director. Mr Pervuhin pleaded guilty and was fined $10,000 plus costs of $30 and given two years to pay. This was a joint operation between Inland Fisheries Officers and Police and should send a clear message to future would be offenders.

Elevated Mercury levels in Derwent estuary bream and trout

The Director of Public Health, Dr Roscoe Taylor, has advised people to avoid eating bream caught in the Derwent estuary and to limit consumption of other Derwent fin fish species. Dr Taylor said his advice was a precautionary measure based on a pilot survey of fish caught in the estuary which found mercury levels in bream and sea-run brown trout are in excess of recommended food safety standards. Bream and sea run trout were targeted in the pilot survey because, as the condition of the Derwent has improved, these recreational fisheries are becoming increasingly popular.

Recreational Marine Fisheries News obtains a good supply of oxygen. Hold the fish upright in the water and gently wave it left and right until it is ready to swim away.

Responsible Fishing

Over this summer you may have seen our spokesfish, Fletcher the Fish, on television talking about responsible fishing practices. Tasmania has some of the world’s best sea fishing and together we can make sure it stays that way. By following the rules and fishing responsibly we can ensure there will always be fish for the future. As Fletcher says, there are three simple things we can all do to make sure there are enough fish in our seas to enjoy for a long time.

Only Take What You Need For A Feed

The bag and possession limits for many fish species are quite generous and shouldn’t be viewed as a target to meet every time you go fishing. Take only enough fish for your families immediate consumption so there will be plenty more fish left in the sea for another day. Fresh fish tastes better than fish that have been frozen for extended periods. Treat your catch well by immediately bleeding and putting it on ice. Fish left in a bucket of water in the sun will not be in the best eating condition when you get them home. Treat your catch like the precious resource it is. Learn how to fillet fish to get the most flesh off the frame and consider using fish frames in soups or stocks to get the maximum value from your catch.

Use Good Fish Handling Techniques

There are a number of situations in which you will want to release the fish you have caught. You may be fishing for enjoyment or sport, the fish you caught may be undersized, you may have caught more than the bag limit or more than you may need for a feed. There are a number of fish handling practices that can help increase fish survival: • Minimise the time spent to land the fish. Long fights on light tackle are very stressful for the fish; • Use barbless or circle hooks whenever possible to minimise hook damage; • If the hook is deep down the throat (‘gut’ hooked), cut the line and return the fish to the water. Don’t attempt to remove the hook; • Where possible, release fish while they are still in the water or minimise the time out of the water. Remember fish need water to breathe; • If a landing net is required, use fish-friendly landing nets with soft knot-free mesh to reduce harm to a fish’s scales, eyes and fins; • Handle fish with wet hands or a wet cloth and don’t place them on hot or rough surfaces – if you damage the protective slime covering the fish’s scales you increase the chance of disease; • Support the weight of large fish under the belly and don’t hold them by the jaw or gills; and • Return the fish to the water quickly and gently – don’t throw them – in the same area where they were caught. You may need to help the fish recover by “swimming” it so it

Be Considerate of the Environment and Others

Tasmania’s beautiful coastline and fish are a resource to be shared by everyone. With one in three Tasmanians doing some fishing every year, together we can have a big impact. This is why we must all share not only the catch but also the responsibility for looking after our marine environment. Being considerate of the environment includes properly disposing of rubbish and fish waste, retrieving fishing gear wherever possible, and being a barrier to the spread of marine pests and diseases. Introduced species and marine diseases have the capacity to cause massive damage to Tasmania’s fisheries. Some pests and diseases can live for days in bilge water, fishing and diving gear, ropes, boat hulls and even in bait. • Do not move water, fish or fish products between locations including bait, shells and offal. Take your whole catch home and dispose of the waste and shells with your household rubbish; • Keep your fishing gear, dive gear and boat clean and disinfected. Thoroughly clean surfaces and remove organic matter that may harbour pests and diseases and dispose of waste in land-based facilities; • Wash all gear, the boat and trailer with fresh water and detergent, away from the coast and any drains, and let it dry; and • Do not release aquarium fish, pond fish, or plants into our waterways. This will help prevent the introduction of new pests and diseases.

In and Out of Season

Just a reminder that the season for female rock lobster and giant crab finishes at the end of April in time for the breeding season. Although male rock lobster can still be taken until 31 August, all female rock lobster should be carefully returned to the water immediately, in the area they were caught. Female rock lobster can be easily distinguished from males by the large pleopods (red flap-like structure) under their tails, which are used to hold the eggs, and the small nipper claw on their rear legs. Male rock lobsters have much smaller pleopods and no nipper claw on their rear legs. The banded morwong season is currently closed and will re-open at the end of this month. Banded morwong is the only finfish that has a closed season, which is designed to provide protection for this territorial rocky reef species at the peak spawning period. Need more information? For information on recreational sea fishing: • call the Recreational Sea Fishing Line on (03) 6233 7042; • visit www.fishing.tas.gov.au; or • subscribe online to have fishing news information updates emailed to you.

Squidgy Pro-Range Winner of the recent Port Macquarie ABT Bream Classic. Check out the Squidgy Pro Range at good tackle stores. Fishing News - Page 46

•Strong,reliableper- •Leakproofandimpact formance resistant •Highcrankingpower •Strongcarryhandles • Shock endurance • Withstand deep • No Vibe™ vibration dishcharge resistance •Highreservecapacity •Envelopedseparators

140InvermayRoad 6326 2900 Invermay For your nearest EXIDE stockist

Free Classifieds Advertisements of a non-commercial nature, to current subscribers of Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News, are free and can be inserted for two issues. Cost for commercial and non subscribers remains at $11 and must be pre-paid.

E-Tec 150hp

RL Winston Fly Rod

2006 Saltwater, longshaft, still under warranty$13 500 Phone Leroy 0428347736.

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.

Channel Marine QUICKSILVER 6.4Mtr WARRIOR HALF/CAB 175Hp Optimax Mercury 20hrs only Dunbier tandem trailer Ex demo $48,900 3.6 Mtr dinghy’s three to choose from with4.5Hp, 8hp and 15hp From $2,000 to $2,500 Sterncraft 7.85Mtr alloy 200Hp mercury outboard Tandem trailer many options $54,000 ONO Islander 440 runabout 80Hp yamaha four/stroke Fishfinder & radio Saftey gear included $17,500 90Hp xl 2003 mercury outboard Excellent condition $6,500 90Hp xl 97 johnson outboard Excellent condition Ph 62671456 or 0407040751

2 Fly Rods Redington 8wt, 7pc, see review issue #52, used once rrp $350, now $250. Orvis TLS 10wt, 4pc, used twice RRP $400, now $300. Tim 6331 2441

Eastern Shore Marine BOATS Haines Hunter 23.5’, Yamaha 225hp ‘03 low hrs, extras $39,990 Allison Bayfisher 5, 5.2m, 90hp Evinrude Etec ‘04, extras $30,500 Pride fg half cab 18.5’, 2x70hp Tohatsu, extras $19,750 Stacer 4.55, 40hp Yamaha ‘04 model $15,000 Sea Jay 4.1m, 25hp Mariner $4,400 MOTORS 200hp Yamaha ‘99 good cond. $5,500 135hp Mercury, low hrs, good cond. $5,500 50hp Mercury ‘78 $1,200 30hp Suzuki $2,500 20hp Evinrude ‘96 model $1,700 9.8hp BB Mercury $600 9.8hp Tohatsu s/s ‘06 $1,500 5hp P125A Yamaha ‘69 $350 Electric Winch 1500lb

Launceston,7248

Wanted Old Japanese swords, WWII or older. Must be authentic. Phone 0417 543 815

Captain Marine 4.0mtr – Quintrex Runabout, 30hp Yamaha, $9000 24 Gleadow St., Invermay Ph. 63343118

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

13 foot Quintrex 25 hp Evinrude fresh water use only, screen, fwd controls, fish finder, safety gear, spares Goes well $2500 o.n.o. Ph 0427936604

Coastal Marine Trail Craft 5.6m Johnson 115Hp, Johnson 25Hp $40,000 Sea Jay 450, Mariner 50hp oil inj. $15,990 Mid Night 5.25m, Yamaha 115HP V4, Yamaha 15HP 4 stroke, King trailer, $18,000 5.20 Cavalier Express, Evinrude V4 90 HP, Evinrude 5 HP 4 stroke, Mackay Tilt Trailer, $15900 Markham Whaler, Twin Evinrude 25HP Quintrex 510 Spirit Outboards 2004 Mercury 8HP S/S Yamaha 8HP S/S $ 1996 Mercury 6HP S/S – fresh water only $1000 Johnson 20HP Somerset 6431 6500

Gone Fishing Charters

• East coast estuary and bay • Bream, salmon, garfish, flathead, mullet and squid • Specialising in BIG BREAM • Soft plastics, lures, flies and bait • 5.8 metre sportfishing boat.

Gone Fishing Charters - St Helens MichaelHaley63761553or0419353041 mhaleycharters@bigpond.com www.breamfishing.com.au

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