Issue 108 February - March 2014
Super Trawler
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Leven River We reveal what Bluefin Tuna the pollies think Yellowfin Tuna Grass Hopper Fishing Blue-eye Trevalla Plan a Day Walk Kayak Trolling
Simon Hedditch with a ferocious, but tasty gemfish.
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6 13
18 29 M
argiris — is a super trawler. Even the mention of it will bring a deep gasp to any recreational fisher. You can change its name and talk about letting science dictate whether it should be allowed to fish in Commonwealth waters off Tasmania, but it is not wanted – and not needed. There is nothing good about super trawlers anywhere in the world. They are designed to take huge amounts of fish in a short time. Then they move on and decimate another fishery. One of the most important principles in fishery management is the ‘precautionary principle’. If you are not sure, be cautious. We have an election coming up and asked all parties about their support or otherwise for super trawlers. We got political double speak with little commitment from the major parties.
Gill Nets — or Fish for the Future?
4
Leven River – Top to Bottom — Adrian Webb
6
Yellowfin Tuna — Kelly Hunt
10
Bluefin Tuna — Kelly Hunt
11
Hopper Time — Daniel Hackett
13
Jan’s Flies — Jan Spencer
15
Super Trawler – Politicians have their say
16
Blue-eye Trevalla — Simon Hedditch
18
Canadian Lesson for Tasmania — Mical Rybka
21
Kayak Trolling — Gard Saxon
27
Arthurs Lake – Myth Busted — Peter Dixon
29
Western Lakes – What to take on a walk — Craig Rist
30
Australian Fly Fishing Museum
34
New Products and Reviews
35
Red Kellys – Interview with Leo Miller
39
Marine Fishing News
40
Fishing, boating and accommodation services directory
42
There is a summary of policy and comment on page 16 and a full copy of their statements on www.tasfish. com We also encourage you to go to www.stopthetrawler.net and sign the petition. I’d also like you to think about whether we should still be using gill nets in Tasmania. I think not. Read about that on page four. We do have heaps on fishing in this issue though and some great fishing there is too.
All new hard body Yep Lures Suspending 5.5cm, 3 gram
Read about everything from tuna to trout, gemfish and trevalla, plus kayaks, boats and new products. There is even a big fish story from Arthurs Lake - where they are all meant to be small.
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Mike Stevens
Mike Stevens talks fishing ABC Statewide Saturday mornings 6.40 a.m.
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Tasmanian Fishing and Boating News
Published by Michael Stevens: PO Box 7504, Launceston, 7250. Brendan Turriff – P: 0418 313 179 or E: sales@tasfish.com Mike Stevens – P: 0418 129 949 or E: mike@tasfish.com Stevens Publishing, ABN 79 095 217 299 All material is copyright and cannot be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Print Post approved; 100003074
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Fishing News - Page 3
Recreational gillnets in Tasmania – or Fish for the Future
Blue Warehou and Banded Morwong Populations of other reef species such as banded Morwong and Blue Warehou are also suffering historic lows (Hartmann and Lyle, 2011). While the decline of the latter is closely linked to overfishing by the deepwater trawling and netting in offshore Commonwealth waters, stock recoveries for Tasmanian inshore waters will be hampered by the netting capacity within the recreational sector. It is well understood among fishers that blue warehou survive very poorly from gillnet capture and, when present, are caught in large quantities (Lyle and Tracey, 2012). Such vulnerability to netting effectively also deprives anglers of a popular species. While banded morwong are generally not gillnet target species, considerable numbers are caught unintentionally, with an 80% discard rate and little information available on post-release mortality (Lyle and Tracey, 2012). The 2009-10 Scalefish fishery Assessment determined Banded Morwong to have “continually high harvest rates above the internationally recognised reference points for mature biomass”. Also, the fact that it “depends on newly-recruited fish from the populations at a potentially unsustainable rate”, incidental bycatch of Banded Morwong through recreational gillnetting is contributing to an alarming decline of this fishery (Lyle and Tracey, 2012; Hartmann and Lyle 2011).
Other inshore reef fish In the absence of stock assessments for inshore reef species such as boarfish and jackass morwong, anecdotal reports of declines similar to those experienced for bastard trumpeter suggest that a ban or moratorium on net fishing would be prudent and long overdue. While fishery level impacts from this effective form of capture may have been absorbed at very low effort levels, declines in key species over recent decades demonstrates that recent and current fishing effort, both real and latent, clearly transcend what can be sustainably absorbed by inshore reef fish populations. While the use of recreational gillnets to remove escaped Atlantic salmon has merit in minimising the potential impact of these exotic species, a study conducted in 2010 reported that only 7% of fish caught in gillnets were Atlantic Salmon (Lyle and Tracey, 2012).
Bring the fish back
N
etting was banned in Georges Bay, St Helens in 2004, and although there was some initial opposition from old-timers who had been netting for decades, within a year everyone supported the nonetting rule because of the results. “People would come down here to have two days’ holiday, they’d set their nets. If they didn’t allow for, let’s say the tide, weather conditions sometimes those nets weren’t retrieved, so they were drifting around catching fish basically 24 hours a day. You know, there was a lot of fish being caught that were going to waste out there that no one was getting any benefit out of whatsoever. So now that the nets have gone, you know, it’s unbelievable fishing now.” Michael Hayley “Fish stocks have improved a real lot since the netting was banned, since the netting was finished out of the bay. We get a lot of things here now, you even see big stingrays and stuff go past. Lots of those would have drowned in nets and stuff earlier on. We get to see a lot of those now.” Alan Andrews (Stateline broadcast, 2005)
Shifting baselines In the not too distant past, it was common for people to set a net and haul in a big catch. There was always plenty of fish, and usually a few different species. The extended family would have a feed and you’d have the next day covered too. However, those days are gone. The steady depletion of inshore reef fish around Tasmania has been observed by many who have been fishing or diving Fishing News - Page 4
our coastline over the years. As the use of gillnets is the predominant fishing method in these areas, the link between depletion and gillnetting is intuitive, and at modern effort levels, inevitable. Not surprisingly, most other Australian states abandoned this fishing mode from the recreational sector many decades ago. In 1996, the State of the Marine Environment Report suggested that “the depletion of local fish populations may be severe” and “gill-net use has the potential to deplete reef fish communities”.
Based on their impact on inshore reef fish, gillnets are not an appropriate method of capture for recreational fishers and effectively negate a potential recovery in these stocks for the benefit of anglers, divers and other resource users. There are also likely to be significant ecosystem-level impacts by the maintenance of these once abundant species at very low levels, which are yet to be documented and understood.
Bastard Trumpeter
Unwanted
The cause and effect relationship between gillnet use and the decline in inshore reef fish stocks in Tasmania is reflected in a recent IMAS report assessing historical abundance and size changes of five key fish stocks (Lyle and Tracey 2012; Frijlink and Lyle 2013). Of particular relevance has been the alarming depletion of the key netting target species – bastard trumpeter, of which stocks are at historic lows. The species is particularly vulnerable to net fishing owing to their tendency to move between reefs in small schools and their inability to swim backwards and therefore escape from nets6. Based on catch per unit of effort estimates provided by long-term Tasmanian fishers, the average number of trumpeter caught per net set has declined from 18 to 2 since the 1950s: a ninefold decline over 60 years (Frijlink and Lyle 2013). The report also noted the growing lack of size variation within the trumpeter population, indicative of poor reproductive success.
Recreational gillnets catch too many of the wrong type and size of fish. Of almost 174,000 fish estimated to be caught in gillnets in 2010, over 61,700 fish were unwanted and thrown back dead, or dying (Lyle and Tracey 2012). Undersize, poor eating, damage to the fish, exceeded bag limits, and protected species are the key reasons for not eating more than 61,700 fish caught in gillnets in 2010.
Unprotected It is estimated that each year hundreds of protected penguins, seabirds and sharks are caught in gillnets and killed (Lyle and Tracey 2012). Some are caught in ghost nets - nets that get away during bad weather or are forgotten - and end up in a current or reef system for weeks or months, entangling fish, birds, sharks and mammals until finally they are washed up on a beach somewhere.
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Unnecessary “When I was younger my family was right into gill netting, over the years it was obvious to see the impact on the fishery. The uncontrollable by catch is also a concern. It wasn’t all that uncommon to catch penguins.... Not ones you could release. My grandfather also caught a white pointer many moons ago which was also dead.... While not protected back then and not all that common netting doesn’t discriminate... By species or numbers. I can remember hauling in over 50 snotty trevalla one morning.... That’s a lot of fish for one family! Around 10 years back I convinced my old man to change, now he fishes with line and hook, catches what he needs for a feed and heads home. This form of fishing will see our fish stocks stay at a healthy level for many years to come. I’d be very keen to see the removal of netting from tassie waters.” Pat http://www.sportsfishtasmania.com/phpBB2/ viewtopic.php?f=16&t=15365
Proposal Protect our kids fishing future by phasing out all Tasmanian recreational gillnets within 12 months of the 2014 Scalefish Management Plan Review References: 1. J.M. Lyle And S.R. Tracey (2012), Recreational Gillnetting In Tasmania – An Evaluation Of Fishing Practices And Catch And Effort. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, Tasmania 7001. 2. Klaas Hartmann and Jeremy M. Lyle (2011), Tasmanian
Recreational gillnets aren’t necessary to catch a feed, but they are a huge threat to the future of our fishing and our marine life in Tasmania. Commercial, game and recreational fishers, conservationists and bird lovers, are all concerned that this outdated practice is taking an unnecessary toll on our fisheries. Continuing to use gillnets is only succeeding in taking away the ability of our kids and our grandkids to catch a fish or see a penguin.
Scalefish Fishery - 2009/10. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Fisheries Aquaculture and Coasts, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS 7001. 3. Stateline, Broadcast: 18/02/2005, St Helens Fishing. http:// www.abc.net.au/stateline/tas/content/2005/s1306043.htm 4. Frijlink, S.D. and Lyle, J.M. (2013). Establishing historical baselines for key recreational and commercial fish stocks in Tasmania. IMAS internal report. 119p. 5. Hickford, M.J. and Schiel, D.R. (2008). Experimental gillnetting of reef fish: Species-specific responses modify capture probability across mesh sizes. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Vol 358: 163-169.
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Fishing News - Page 5
Leven River Author, Adrian Webb propecting one of his favourite rivers - the Leven.
I
believe the Leven River to be one of the best rivers in Northern Tasmania. It flows freely from Black Bluff Range below Mt.Tor, through Loongana and the Leven Canyon. It then flows through the farmland district of Gunns Plains all the way to the estuary at the seaside township of Ulverstone. There is not a single dam on this beautiful river to interrupt its natural flow and that is great. The river above the Loongana Bridge is now classed as a rainbow water, and below it is classed as a brown trout fishery, and a very good one it is. Around Loongana there are Angler Access points on Loongana Bridge and further upstream at Taylor’s Flats. See the map on page 9 or pick up a brochure from your local tackle store. The river here can be waded and just below the bridge is a long stretch of medium to deep water ideal for bait fishing. If you do decide to fish the Loongana area remember to make sure you are not low on fuel or food as these two items are not available here. Don’t forget you also have a chance of catching both brown and rainbow trout at Loongana, and maybe even the elusive native black fish as well. The waters above Gunns Plains in the Leven Canyon can be quite strenuous on the body as most sections of the river are quite tough going due to it being strewn with large rocks. This area is rugged, but spectacular and you also have a chance to catch a few rainbow trout here as well as the browns. This section of river is mainly fast water and is quite good for spinning and fly fishing. The rewards can be worthwhile as the fishing in this long stretch of river is well worth the effort put into it, especially in the warmer months of the season. They are not big trout and would average 330gms with the odd fish going close to the kilo mark. This area is for the young and the fit fishermen that’s for sure as there’s no easy way in or out of this area of the river.
have had the access to so many great sections of as the weather improves and the days become that the river that we have today. There is some excellent little bit warmer. Even at this time of year there can trout fishing to be had in the Gunns Plains area, so still be some very wet, cold days so always have please respect the areas that you enter and fish. a jumper and waterproof outfit with you. There is Please do not LITTER where you are fishing, take also one other area where you can camp and this it away with you. Camping is allowed for a small is Bannons Park next to the bridge, toilets are also fee next to the Wings Wildlife Park, enquire at the there for your convenience. Getting back to fishing park for access and fees. The Wildlife parks is also the Leven River, don’t forget to use the Angler well worth a visit too. The flatter farmland area here Access areas available for use. With the stiles is much easier to access and not as hard on the body, especially for us older fishermen. There is ample parking and access in most areas at Gunns Plains. Popular access points are at Marshall’s Bridge, Bannon Park and the Lee Memorial Park and in these areas you can go off fly fishing, spinning or just sit back with a bait in the river and wait for a bite. There are plenty of roadside signs so you should find your way quite A nice brownie with beautiful markings. easily. Brown trout is the main catch in this area and they are quite plentiful, though not real big fish the majority would go around the 350gm mark which is a reasonably good size river fish. The river right through this area is at most times wade-able unless there has been considerable rainfall above Loongana. The start of the trout season when there is usually a good flow of water due to winter rains, bait fishing with worms is very popular and a nice bag of fish can be caught. I have found the best time to fish this area has been from November onwards
Below the Leven Canyon is Gunns Plains and there are many Anglers Access points that are available to the public due to the permission from the various landowners and a lot of negotiation and hard work by the Inland Fisheries Service. Without the time and effort that the IFS and AAT put into getting this project off the ground, we may never Fishing News - Page 6 www.tasfish.com
having been set up for easy access over barb wire fences thus saving one from tearing the crutch out of your pants or ripping open your waders its made it much easier, so please use them. It has opened sections of river that a lot of fishermen had never fished previously, myself included. On one stretch of water that I fished for the first time since the stiles were installed is where I had one of my best days fishing in this river. The Leven River has quite a lot of long fast water sections and is my favourite type of water that I love to fish, and there are also many
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Fishing News - Page 7
stretches of slow moving water that’s ideal for the fly and bait fisherman too. For me being a spin fisher (small 1.5 gm metal blades) these tiny little spinners work extremely well in this type of water and using the Gold & Black colours, working every bit of river I finished up having sixty one hook ups and
caught and released forty five trout for the day - hooked and lost the other sixteen. There are many other areas just like this that are now accessible, and I have fished these with a lot of success. As you will find when you do come to fish the upper reaches at Loongana, or the flat pasture area of Gunns Plains there will be a stretch of the Leven River you will be over whelmed by it and want to keep on going back to this great river. In all of my trips to different sections of this great river I have managed to catch and release quite a lot of brown trout and many rainbows. During the warmer months of late January through March is when the grasshoppers are out and about and these are the best fish takers that you can put on a hook. I have a kids butterfly net in the back of my car and this is ideal for catching them. When caught keep them in a clear container as this will keep them used to the light. If they are kept in dark containers, as soon as the lid is opened they will head for the light and you will lose the majority of your hoppers. After your days fishing they can be taken home (with a feed of trout hopefully) and kept in the bottom of the fridge, this makes them go into a state of hibernation and can be kept for several weeks. Always put some grass in the container and even a little mist spray of water in with them and do not leave the container out in the sun when fishing. The more they move on the water surface the better are your chances of catching a trout.
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Penguin
OPEN 7 Days
Ironcliffe Rd
Penguin, Tas, 7316 Ph: 6437 2192 Fishing News - Page 8
I use a little piece of cork connected about a meter above a size 6 hook and just flick it out of a pool and let it drift down with the flow. By using this method it keeps the hopper on the surface making it much more inviting to the trout. So give this method a try when you go fishing this river or any other river in Tasmania when the grasshoppers are in season. When spin fishing the Leven River, you will catch more trout by wading. Get to the centre of the river where possible and cast to one river bank and work your way around 180degs to the other. This river is not over wide and it is easy to reach either side of it, in most sections it can be reached from casting from one side of the river bank. The stretch of the Leven in the Gunns Plains area varies from knee depth to around 1.8 mtrs, so like fishing any river care must be taken when wading. It also has a very rocky bottom, but is still reasonably easy to wade compared to some of the other rivers that I fish. For the majority of the year it has a slight tannin colour and this not uncommon with many of the rivers in Tasmania.
Leven water - tannin and fast.
I have found that most of the brown trout taken in the Leven have a beautiful gold colour and the red spots really stand out on them. I’m not sure if this is due to the tannin water or not, but I have seen it in others that I have caught elsewhere in the same type of tannin water. The next section of the Leven River that has Angler Access is in the Dial Range State Forest Recreation Reserve, and there is around 2 to 3 kms of river to fish. To reach this area you must travel into the beautiful seaside town of Penquin and take the Dial Road for several kilometres and keep your eyes open for the Anglers Access signs to the river. You then have a reasonable walk along the Penquin Trail Walk (keep an eye out for snakes here) to the river where it is wade-able. This section of the Leven River is more suited to the experienced angler, as you need to be quite accurate with casting the fly or spinner. Native forest runs right through this area, and that is why it is better left for the experienced fisherman. Last but not least is the stretch along Lobster Creek Road and this area is affected by tidal movement and regularly fished by locals for the sea run trout early in the season. The seaward side of the Allison Bridge is open to fishing all year round and lure casting, fly and bait fishing are quite popular here. The choice of lures to fish the Leven River are many, such as the blade spinners like Celtas, Mepps, Vibrax,to name a few, all fish extremely well. Small light hard body rapalas and the like are effective, then you have the soft plastics that many fishermen have changed to. As for the fly fisher well you fellows will have your favourites that’s for sure. With me being a spin fisher I would not even have a guess of what to suggest, maybe a hopper pattern during February and March? Anyway give this great free flowing Leven River a fish you won’t regret it hopefully. A
Leven upstream of Taylors Bridge.
A typical and beautifully marked Leven River trout. bag limit applies throughout this river system and a trout license must be obtained to fish any inland waters in Tasmania. The minimum length for Blackfish, Brown and Rainbow Trout is 220mm. Angler’s must observe the access signs and where access is not specifically identified you MUST get permission from the land owner before entering that area. When purchasing your IFS license remember to ask for
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your Fishing Code booklet as well as any Angler’s Access Brochures that are available for this and many other rivers around the state of Tasmania. NOTE. The area above the Loongana Bridge classed as rainbow waters is open for the 2013-14 season as of 28-9-13 up until 1-6-14. Adrian Webb
EK
To Penguin
Angling Notes
SS
Y
LAUNCESTON
ULVERSTONE
See Enlargement 1
Rang e
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Seaward Limit
Dial
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Enlargement 1
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pump house R I V E R R E S E RV E
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See Enlargement 2
Dial
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For access contact: Tom Lane 835 Gunns Plains Road Ph. 6429 1315 (before 8pm)
Gunns Plains
AD
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Rang e
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Bannons Park
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Hobbs Bridge
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Gunns Plains
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Marshalls Bridge L EE M EM O RI A L PA RK
There a number of easily accessible Boat are Ramps locations the Leven atsides places Boat ramps on are located on both of the like estuary at Ulverstone. Park, Hobbs bridge, Marshalls Bannon’s Bridge, Loongana Bridge and Taylors Flats Responsible Boating however for anglers prepared to walk and Practice minimal impact boating by accelerating wade there are many stretches that gently get very in shallow water to avoid the underwater wash from Bannons little angling Park the propeller jet pressure. stirring up silt and mud. This sediment D Rthe Locations such as the Dialweed Range clouds water, disturbs sensitive beds,(Access smothers S ALLISfish habitat. ON plants and degrades aquatic T O via R the Dial Road from NPenguin), various PU R AD spots along Lowana Road at Othe southern North end of Gunns Plains (Including one spot where you can cross theMotton river via a ford Remember and then fish both up and downstream for • Check your wash- ‘if it’s white it’s all right - if it’s a number of kilometres on the eastern side brown slow down’. Fishing from a boat within 100 metres of an angler of• the river) and the State Forest south of fishing from the shore is prohibited unless the boat Taylors Flats (Where IFS release rainbow is securely moored. trout fry annually) promise solitude, • Do not park on or obstruct boat ramps. excellent water and scenery and the potential for great fishing.
Riv
Enlargement 2
Heka
C127
ons
Butt
Heka
Brown trout
Riv
For access contact: John and Michelle Pegler 1860 South Riana Road Ph. 6429 1244 (before 8pm)
ule
t
RT O
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Marshalls Bridge River
PU
No access beyond this point
For access contact: Peter and Marilyn Brack Mathom Farm 1857 South Riana Road Ph. 6429 1144 (before 8pm)
Toilets LO NA WA
Foot access only
Allison Bridge
1 SS BA WY H
e Lev
The tidal reaches of the river from Ulverstone to the pump house on Lobster Creek Rd. are renowned for early season sea trout. Lure casting and fly fishing with whitebait patterns is recommended. The section of the river below Allison Bridge is open to angling all B17 year round. UTH
Rubbish bin
North Motton
er Riv
er
The section of the river accessible in the Dial Ranges recreation area via the Penguin Cradle Trail is best described as ‘tight’ water surrounded by native forest suitable for wading and accurate light lure casting or fly fishing. The access track is of good standard and follows the river for approx 3km making this an excellent day walk.
Boat ramp
ROAD
RD
RD
Riv
TRACK
RO N TO
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North Motton
All methods of fishing can be practiced with equal success however the late summer and autumn are renowned for bait fishing with a single grasshopper.
Access only with prior permission
Gawler ALLIS ON AD
E PR
D ROA
S
ON
T UR
At Gunns Plains the river flows through flat pasture although steep overgrown banks inhibit access to the river until low summer flows make much of the river wadeable. The best access points are at Bannons Park, Lee Memorial Park, Marshalls Bridge and Lowana Rd.
N TO
RD
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Dial Range (STATE FOREST)
P
Anglers Access
To Devonport
1
HOBART
Between Loongana and Gunns Plains the river runs through the spectacular Leven Canyon. This section is only accessible on foot and is extremely challenging terrain.
Brown and Rainbow trout illustrations Kristii Melaine Blackfish illustration by W.Fulton Giant freshwater lobster illustration by P.Hamr
pump house R I V E R R E S E RV E
HW
ROAD
RIVER LEVEN
At Loongana Bridge and upstream the river is generally shallow and riffled, interspersed with deep pools. The water is tea coloured throughout and can be turbid after periods of heavy rain however it clears quickly. Best fishing is during the warm summer months when rising fish are reliable. Fishing with small lures, bait fishing and fly fishing can be productive. The chances of catching a rainbow trout are elevated in this section as a result of IFS stocking and the prescribed angling season.
RIVER R E S E RV E
BA
LOCATION
Access has been provided by the goodwill of landowners. Anglers must observe the access signs and where access is not specifically identified permission must be sought from the landowner.
CRE
DI AL
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Bannons Park Rainbow trout
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A project funded by the Australian Government Recreational Fishing Community Grants Programme
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Fishing News - Page 9
East coast Yellowfin...
T
he weather in Tasmania is sometimes unpredictable and the start to the “warm” weather was a bit iffy.
The weather gods have it well sorted now and water temps and ambient air temps are on the rise. If you have seen the Disney Movie NEMO you will know The East Australia Current is great for turtles, but it is also wicked for tuna fishermen.
The East Australia Current or EAC has been balled up off Eden and is ever so slowly making its way down the east coast of Tasmania. By the time you read this the albacore will have thickened right up off the east coasts of Tasmania after a slow start. Warm currents from the east meeting the cooler currents from the south east will for temperature breaks. In around those temp breaks will hopefully be some good numbers of yellowfin tuna. We have had a number of lean years when it comes to yellowfin and it is time to think smarter, try harder and try new things. The yellows are often on the edge of the current and temp lines. Habitating in the warmer water and breaking out into the cooler water to feed. These temp breaks and current lines hold the nutrients that attract the krill that inturn have the small pelagic bait fish feeding on them. It is what is next in line that is of interest to us.
The yellows The yellowfin tuna is among the larger tuna species, reaching weights of over 400 pounds (180 kg). Tasmania is not famed for its large yellowfin and the mens 24kg record sits at 87kg. The east coast has been known to turn over good fish between 40 – 60 kg. Yellowfin tuna love to eat other fish, pelagic crustaceans, and squid. Like all tunas their body shape is designed for speed, enabling them to pursue and capture fast-moving baitfish such as red bait, sauries, and mackerel. Yellowfin will often travel in schools on their own, however will often travel with other fish species. It is not uncommon to find them with schools of striped tuna. The next time you are off the coast and had have enough of a school of stripeys, try something different. Upsize the lures considerably if using pushers or try getting under them by using deep divers. Slow down and really try and let the bib work its magic and get in under the school of stripeys. Letting a lot more line out than you might normally thing “right” will help the lure gain maximum depth. Yes you may be pestered still by the little skipjacks, but you also might find yourself hooked up to a nice yellowfin. You will not have had that happen if you had just motored off leaving the striped tuna in disgust.
They will also travel with dolphins and whales and spend some time around any floating flotsam that you may come across. So keep a keen eye out and always motor over and check something that has some size about it while trolling. Many seasoned anglers hold yellowfin in high regard. Pound for pound they are said to be the fastest and strongest of all big game tuna. It is sometimes said that a yellowfin tuna will pull a Bluefin tuna of the same size backwards.
Gear Like I have said in the past a good size egg beater reel of reasonable quality will hold you in good stead with fish to 50kg. Over that and a traditional over head will be the reel of choice. Very hard to go past the new PENN Squall 2 speeds at the moment. They come in 3 sizes and the package available at the minute including rod, reel and gimbal belt is hard to fault. If you are not fishing in competition where line class is a concern fish as heavy as you can. 24 and 15 kg is perfect and will keep you in with a chance should you stumble upon that upsized specimen or a hungry marlin. Get yourself a knot book and practice tying a double — plait or bimini style it doesn’t matter. What ever you are more comfortable tying and can remember to tie stick with it. The staff in a good tackle store will be more than happy to get the job done until you have it under your belt.
Tuna bycatch. Leader material is crucial. If ever there is a fish that will try to touch you up at the boat it’s a feisty yellowfin tuna. To that end a top quality fluoro carbon like Momoi’s NEO is a good start. It is a 100% hard fluoro that will resist abrasion. Its of a quality that allows smaller line diameter for poundage breaking strain and this is crucial when trying to fool the wily yellow. So get out there and go find some. Keep your eyes peeled for any surface disturbance that may indicate some distressed bait. Slowly work the edges and keep an eye on the sounder for anything of interest. Don’t forget to look skyward and monitor bird activity. If you have a crew of four put them on duty across the sectors of the boat and concentrate. If you have a few cobbers out in other boats decide where you are going the night before and work different areas. If one boat comes across some action get on the radio and let them know. There will be fish out there but there is a massive amount of water between then and every little bit helps. Kelly Hunt
Where to start Although mainly found in deep offshore waters, yellowfin tuna will approach shore when the right conditions exist. The reason they venture in is food. Squid and mackerel will be the food of choice off Tasmania and any structure can harbor yellowfin feeding on the baitfish these spots hold inclose to the shoreline. Yellowfin may venture well inshore of the continental shelf when water temperature and clarity are suitable and food is abundant. A range of good quality lures are a must. A mix of Halco style bibles divers and traditional skirts is a good start. Zukers are a great lure for Yellows but upsizing to the bigger size will help with Striped
Fishing News - Page 10
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A dream yellowfin.
...and bluefin too T
asmania had a crazy southern bluefin run last year. Just plain crazy. School fish were big in the early part of the season but quite sporadic. Then Victorian NAVICO representative Bill Milonas came over from the big island and plucked a 127 kg specimen right from under ‘the rock’ early. This set the Island on fire and the game fishing community was all awash with ‘what ifs’ Come to Tasmania they said…Have a fish they said.
The Hippolyte rocks are well known for holding bait that draws tuna in and holds them for months. Big and little Hippolyte are home to school size southern bluefin tuna that roam between Tasman Island, the continental shelf and back to the rocks. The small township of Eaglehawk Neck swells to the numbers of recreational fisherman who take advantage of the unique topography and short run to the fishing grounds. The ramp at Pirates Bay is a short 7nm run to some of the world’s best southern bluefin fishing.
Big Hippo
Big three figure Bluefin are the target around the colder months as the redbait school up in and around the many underwater haunts stretching from the picturesque Tasman island to the big and little Hippolyte Rock. Traditionally they are thin and far between and take a bit of finding from the wise and canny fisherman who have spent years compiling some local knowledge.
Not last year The week before the Tom Jenkins Memorial Bluefin tournament big schools of jumbos came to town and tore the place up. There is a mindset that the bigger ‘Jumbo’ fish travel and will only be found in smaller groups. Rubbish. They came and they came in big numbers and those that found themselves in their way had better have come prepared. There were many fish
Graham Purton’s monster bluefin.
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Fishing News - Page 11
The madness continued for nearly a month and crews mixed great frustration with immense joy as the fish appeared and fed at will. The word managed to travel across Bass Strait and we saw an influx of mainland crews that were amazed at how close our fishery is to the boat ramps and the cover the coastline can provide in most weather situations. The well set up and experienced mainland crews did a few things a little differently to what we might commonly do here in Tas.
Slightly different
in the 80 kg to 100kg range. It was not unusual in that month or so to see large areas of southern ocean alive with big powerful bluefin feeding hard and getting their backs out. In a hard blow with a bit of chop and sea spray they would take a lure and turn for the bottom. Looking to join the school again they took some stopping. Long battles over the hour yielded some very good fish.
Happy anglers These fish took up residence in and around the Tasman peninsular for a number of weeks. The excitement and word soon spread and locals and mainlanders alike made the journey to Pirates Bay for a chance to hook and land that fish of a life time. The weather was not always conducive to helping anglers out. In the calmer days the big tunny would still come up get their backs out and feed hard, but were very selective on what they would inhale. In this sort of mood they were tough to hook. Feeding on the smaller redbait they often snubbed the customary sized skirted and bibbed lures. This proved to be very frustrating to all that witnessed the spectacular scenes.
Meat torpedo The weigh station was peppered with anglers that ticked the big bucket list item and managed to weigh that fish of a lifetime. Pictures of bluefin pulling the scales down near or past that magical 100kg mark with anglers with big smiles were quite common. Equally as common were the stories of hardship and lost fish. I personally had my arse handed to me by a fish in a stiffening south-westerly. That fish came up and flossed his gills with a Sebile Bonga Jerk we had not long pulled out of the box to give it a swim. Hooked up and heading north along side the little Hippo, he was in a rush to head back to the pack. He screamed line off the 24kg outfit at an incredible rate, had me bent over like a 90 year old man.
The 3 day Tom Jenkins memorial bluefin tournament was the very next day and there were some very excited anglers arriving to hear of Adrian’s fish.
Frustrating Very tough was the only way to describe the Tom Jenkins event. The tuna were there and they would show and feed a number of times a day but getting them to take a lure was driving most nuts. Graham Purton from Wynyard was one of the lucky ones that managed to hook, battle and land good fish, but alas the seals would ruin his chance to take the glory. Graham’s fish was good enough to take the prize, but seal damage ruled it ineligible and the trophy for biggest fish of the competition went to Stephen Fitzallen on Shanta Marc Largerewskij captain of the Risky Rider crew battled a fish for 4 hours only to have the hook pull and get the old school Zuker grass skirt back fully intact. Marc is a seasoned angler with plenty of experience and on the helm was long time tuna wrangler Johnny Jaws. The drag on the reel checked out later that day and this battle further suggests that there were some serious fish that may have gone well over the 120kg mark.
Fishing lighter leader material seemed to provide much better hook up rates for those fish that were stubborn to hit lures. The lures themselves were also a touch smaller than the traditional size we might always go to. This is a combination that is not new to other styles of fishing of course, but is something worth trying when the tunny are being very selective. I noticed a couple of the crews doing well were also trolling that little bit quicker than the 6 to 7 knots that is the norm. I didn’t get a chance to speak to them to ascertain speed, but it makes sense if something you have done ‘all the time’ is not working, try some variables. As always with fishing just when you think there may be a system and a train of thought to matching the hatch and downsizing the lures to match the redbait being fed upon, something throws a curve ball. The third and final day of the Tom Jenkins was called off because of heavy 50 + knot winds from the North West. This had some of the bigger boats still being able to fish in and around Tasman Island. One such vessel was South East Charters skippered by Michael. They managed to pick up 2 nice tuna that went 101kg and 128kg One of which had 2 mutton birds and a little storm petrel in its stomach. I happened to see these and they looked like they were eaten 5 minutes before capture. Crazy ! That was the season 2013 season in a nutshell really, crazy, but in a good way. Let’s hope season 2014 is even crazier. Kelly Hunt
No time for facebook now Adrian This did not end nicely — and in the shallow water I was busted off with such force the rod come out of the gimbal and back into my leg with huge force. The next morning it looked like I had taken a Brett Lee full toss flush on the inner thigh. The weather and conditions were kind and thank fully we set things right by landing a big fish three hours later. The big Bonga Jerk did the job again and in deep water, and wide, Adrian Morrisby managed to get the fish boat side in just under an hour. Ten seconds later and Clinton Howe and I had 121kgs of southern bluefin on the deck at our feet. Fishing News - Page 12
The Hippolyte Rock - a prime hotspot.
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Hopper Time Top three flies WMD Hoppers and bottom are two Wee Creek Hoppers.
I
n cricket terms, hopper time is the 20-20 cricket of the fly fishing world. There’s a lot less tactics to fishing a hopper fall than compared to a springtime mayfly hatch, or chasing sea trout on the whitebait, but it offers the best chance of easily fooled trout, and lots of them. It can be fast and full of action. Grasshopper time is also the best time of the year to catch the biggest brown trout; the pool dwellers that you never otherwise see, coming up for a high protein hopper feed. The basic tactics are fairly simple: head to a river flanked by grassland full of hoppers, match the fly to the hoppers (are they small brown wingless hoppers; do they have orange legs or brown; are
the large yellow-winged locusts around), and fish the likely runs. Polaroiding the river will ensure you see the biggest of the fish, which will hang around the areas of the river with the best flow, combined with the most structure. Hoppers are more active on hotter days, and a stiff breeze can offer the best conditions for blowing lots of bugs onto the river. A 15 knot wind can be a definite blessing. My favourite flies are fairly simple, but the range is important. One fly always works better than the others, and the effective pattern changes year to year, according to which hopper species are prevalent during that season. Our Wee Creek Hopper variants (inspired by Muz Wilson’s original
patterns) are the go-to early in the season during January, but by February and through to late March the Mini WMD Hoppers and full sized WMD Hoppers are the go. If the flying yellow-winged locusts are about, then the #8 WMD Hopper will outfish smaller patterns by a large margin. The reverse is true, and during a season where the smaller hopper species are most common, then Wee Creeks and MiniWMDs are the go. Size matters, and smallest isn’t always best. There are two vital design features to a good hopper pattern: the fly mustn’t be too buoyant (for example, made just of foam), and the fly should be designed to sit low in the water, just like the real insect.
What’s the best way to test waders? Outfitting anglers since 1986
Get someone who practically lives in waders to give ‘em heaps! We asked Trout guide, Commonwealth Gold Medallist and competition angler, Christopher Bassano to try them for a season.
Christopher wears waders for about 250 days a year and he gave Aquaz the big thumbs up. ‘Right up there, and in fact better than some of the highly priced brands used by some snobs and greenhorns. ‘Love the fit and comfort, great belt and gravel guards, and reinforced knees. And when I learned the price I couldn’t believe it’. We are so confident in Aquaz waders we offer a three year seam warranty. If the seams leak within three years we will repair or replace your waders — no questions asked. However, to be fair, if you roll down a forest of black berries, have the crotch eaten out by a Tassie Devil, or lose a fight with a barbed wire fence, we will gladly sell you a repair kit to keep the water out. Worn by Christopher - Aquaz Trinity chest, stocking foot waders and Aquaz Trinity wading jacket. Breathable Waders from $229 to $299 Breathable Jackets from $229 to $299 Visit your local specialist retail outlet to view the full range of Aquaz products from thermals, wading boots, softshell jackets, gloves.
Contact 03 9899 0034 for your stockist.
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Fishing News - Page 13
My usual approach to the day involves common sense: fish when the hoppers are active. This is easy to work out by simply listening to the hum of the hoppers along the riverbank, which usually starts about 10am, and finishes about 4pm. I’ll start with an orange legged Mini WMD, and if this brings the fish up, but ends in refusals, I swap to a duller brown or olive legged Mini WMD or Wee Creek Hopper. On the flipside, if the Mini WMD is working, but not raising as many fish as I think it should, I’ll move up in size to the full sized #8 WMD Hopper.
Favourite hopper waters
The Lower Macquarie From mid Feb to late March the Lower Macquarie has some brilliant hopper fishing, which is best experienced by bank anglers. Fish are easily found feeding on hoppers, or leaping for damsels, and once they are seen, they rarely move off station. The secret is making the close-up presentation along the bank, with only part of the leader on the water. Keep the flyline off the water. Between Richmond Hill and Cressy House is the best water, though Oakshot has some great water upstream from the Woolmers Bridge (pity about the ‘no trespassing’ signs on this bank).
South Esk
Forester
The South Esk and Tributaries are probably my favourite hopper waters. The river meanders through grassland within the driest parts of Tasmania, making it the ideal habitat for big hopper events. A feature of the South Esk hopper falls are the giant yellow locusts, which hit the water like a brick, and bring every fish in the river to the surface. Target weed beds and undercut banks. Best times are mid Feb to late March.
The Forester is a cracking little hopper stream, and though severely overgrown in parts, offers some excellent creek-style fishing. Stick to smaller hopper patterns, such as the Wee Creek Hoppers, and don’t be afraid of the willows and blackberries: the more structure, the more fish.
Hopper time is fun and the good fish come out to play. Meander The meander has probably the longest hopper season, from midJanuary to early April most years. The upper Meander sees lots of the smaller hopper species along the banks, so small Wee Creek Hopper style flies are the best patterns, fished through the bumpy runs and along undercut banks. Below the Quamby Brook inflow all the way to Hadspen the river also features good falls of bigger hopper and locust species, and the WMD
Fly Fest
variants are my preferred patterns. Target the gravelly runs, logjams and weedbeds in faster runs for the best results. Drop into FlyShop 1864 at 45 Cameron Street and grab a handful of our excellent hopper patterns, and feel free to ask us any questions that you have. We are happy to help. Daniel Hackett.
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and Proudly presents April Vokey — international fly fishing identity, conservationist and leading ambassador for female fly fishers. Join April and the FlyShop 1864 team for a fun day of activities including fly casting demonstrations, fly tying, entomology with Greg French, gear talk with Bill Klyn of Patagonia International (ESPN’s Pirates of the Flats), Australian Fly Fishing Museum displays, fly casting games, prizes, and wine tasting at the vineyard. Be the first to see the new Patagonia women’s fly fishing gear to be launched by April. Sunday 2 March 12.30 to 4pm at 370 Relbia Road Relbia. Entry by $5 fee at the event, children free. 12.30-4pm Bookings for private fly casting classes with April Vokey can be made by emailing simone@flyshop1864.com.au March 1, 10am-2pm - Fly Casting Improvement $195pp March 2, 8am-Noon - Women’s only class $195pp March 3, 8am-Noon - Spey $295pp
Photo: J Koreski
*lunch bookings at the vineyard are strongly recommended prior to the event.
Fishing News - Page 14
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Jan’s Jan Spencer
A
s I write this we are experiencing some very hot weather in the Central Highlands. Prior to this though over Christmas it was cold and extremely windy. On most lakes as it gets hot the fish retreat to cooler waters. I don’t like to go boating on the very rough days, but am happy to give the shore fishing a go.
Flies
Just recently Bill and I were fishing the Bronte system and we started with a team of English dries - no fish, then small English wets - no fish. It was hot, so the thinking cap went on and I put a #3 sinking line on and some weighted flies. Bingo, we were into the fish and took a number of nice specimens – mostly on the bead head ‘Streamline Bugger’ point fly. I love these bead head style flies and they can be fished deep on a weighted fly, but also near the surface on a floating line. Mostly I tie the fly with the bead hard against the eye of the hook, but you can put it anywhere to change the action of the fly. The variety of beads is extensive — from plastics, to glass, brass, lead and tungsten. Lead wire can be added for even more weight.
The two flies most commonly tied with beads are nymphs and wolly buggers. The fly shown is one I use to get down deep — it is not my favourite way to fish, but it does get results.
Streamline Bugger
1. Place bead on hook and let it slip back to the hook bend. Build a small mound with the thread behind the eye and whip finish and cut off. Apply some head cement and slide the bead over the mound. 2. Start with the thread again behind the bead and wind back to bend. Take a nice bunch of marabou for the tail about 1 1/2 time the hook length, add a length of Shimmerflash each side of the marabou and tie in.
Hook: Size 8-12 long shanked hook. Thread: Black. Bead: Choose your bead to suit the hook being used.
3. Tie rib in and dub a nicely formed body of Glister and finish hard up against the bead. Tie the rib forward to bead, tie down and cut off.
Tail: Black marabou with two strips of black Shimmerflash fine holographics. Rib:
Method
Medium bronze wire.
4. Dub a throat of orange seals in behind the bead, whip finish and seal thread here with head cement.
Body: Glister in peacock black. Throat: Orange seals fur.
5. With a brush, velcro or sandpaper tease some of the seals fur back over the body.
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Fishing News - Page 15 13/01/14 12:58 PM
localized overfishing in Tasmania in previous years with much smaller vessels. We need to protect the integrity of this fishery by banning large capacity freezer factory trawlers,” said Nobby Clarke of Game Fish Tasmania. “We need to protect the ability of fishers to take their kids fishing, to protect the long-term sustainability of our fishing and tourism industries, and the lifestyles that we all hold dear. We work hard to earn our annual leave and we won’t stand idly by if politicians try and allow greedy multi-national companies to decimate our vital marine resources and destroy the recreational fishing we all enjoy. All political parties must commit to permanently ban super trawlers in Tasmania,” said Todd Lambert, long-term super trawler opponent and State CEPU Organiser.
Super Trawler who will stop it coming back? Thursday 30th January 2014 saw recreational fishers and conservation groups launch a joint campaign seeking pre-election commitments from all political parties to permanently ban super trawlers and prevent Tasmania becoming the dumping ground for companies using destructive commercial fishing methods. The threat of a super trawler depleting Tasmanian fish stocks has not gone away, with a court challenge to the federal government’s two-year ban still being considered and proponent Seafish indicating it will try to bring fish factories into Australian waters again. The Stop the Trawler Alliance, which led the public campaign that resulted in a two-year ban on super trawlers fishing in Australian waters in 2012, has renewed their campaign and is growing in strength, with new member groups including Game Fish Tasmania, TasFish Tasmanian Fishing News, Launceston Environment Centre, the St Helens Game fishing Club, and letters of support from the Longford Fishing Club. “We are seeking a commitment from all political parties to secure the long term health of Tasmania’s marine resources, such as its fish stocks, unique marine life and ecosystems that support vital industries, including tourism,” Rebecca Hubbard from Environment Tasmania said. Since the Federal Government ban on super trawlers was put in place in November 2012 the owner of the super trawler FV Margiris has been charged with illegal fishing in France and is being investigated for illegal fishing in Ireland. “So when Australia’s federal ban ends this year, Tasmania’s oceans will once again be under threat from these destructive freezer factory trawlers,” said Ms Hubbard. “Concerns from fishers about the potential for localised over fishing and impacts on predators such as tuna remain unaddressed. While we welcome more scientific research into our fisheries, there is currently no management strategy that addresses localized depletion, which is unacceptable for a freezer factory trawler that can catch up to 5,000 tonnes in one trip, especially when we don’t know the movements of these fish. We’ve already seen Fishing News - Page 16
At this state election which political party is protecting our fisheries? The next Tasmanian state election is scheduled for 15 March 2014, when Tasmanians will elect all 25 members to the House of Assembly. The 16-year incumbent Labor government, currently led by the Premier of Tasmania Lara Giddings, will attempt to win a fifth consecutive term against the Liberal opposition, led by Opposition Leader Will Hodgman. The Greens party is currently led by Nick McKim and the Palmer United Party is led by Kevin Morgan. We wrote to each of the political parties and their candidates, asking for their position on a permanent ban on super trawlers to help secure Tasmania’s marine resources for the future. We have given them the following star ratings based on their party policy, and include their party statements below. There are a couple of exceptions to the party rule, so you can read our letter and the individual candidates’ positions online at www.tasfish.com.au
?
Palmer United Party: Some candidates have made clear statements that they don’t support super trawlers in Australian waters ever. We really need to see a party policy that firmly supports a permanent ban to feel confident they’re going to protect our oceans and fisheries at all levels of politics.
The Greens: They have consistently stood by their party policy calling for super trawlers to be banned from Australian waters for fishing, environmental and economic reasons, and have taken action at a state and federal level.
Help turn the tide – sign the petition for a permanent super trawler ban Join thousands of others and sign the petition to all Tasmanian political parties calling for a permanent ban on super trawlers.
Go to www.stopthetrawler.net We need to ensure that all political parties are reflecting the community’s concerns and support a permanent super trawler ban. Sign the petition at www.stopthetrawler.net and we’ll keep you updated on the parties’ policy progress and events around Tasmania on this critical issue.
The Greens party policy Via Kim Booth (Bass): Greens Primary Industries spokesperson
Liberal Party: The Liberals have consistently
failed to completely denounce super trawlers in Australia, voting against the two year ban in 2012, and now presenting a policy with enough “wiggle room” to drive a super trawler through, with statements such as “dependent on the science”. Experts are predicting a Liberal majority government to take power in Tasmania after the election, so it is critical that they change their position and commit to protecting our fisheries and marine life from super trawlers. This is especially important because we know that Federal Liberal Senators such as Eric Abetz and Richard Colbeck are strong advocates for super trawlers in Australia.
Labor Party: At a state and federal level they “eventually” listened to the overwhelming voice of the community during the original super trawler campaign and initiated the two-year ban. Labor Party policy still leaves the door ajar with the option of “new science proving it’s sustainable”. They need to step up and show they will protect the future of our fisheries with a party policy supporting a permanent super trawler ban.
The Tasmanian Greens do not support Super Trawlers operating in Australian waters or anywhere else. We were the first political party to respond to concerns raised by fishers that the Super Trawler planned to go fishing. We worked with the community to host a public forum that was attended by around 400 people. We took the forums’ concerns to the House of Assembly and raised the issue of the super trawler for debate to ensure that the community knew the position of each of their elected representatives. We continued to work hard in parliament to successfully move for a motion to be passed with tripartite support opposing the FV Margiris proposed operations in Australian wasters and waters around Tasmania (22 August 2012). This contributed to the Federal 2 year ban coming into place. We also undertook and released a report last year, Super Trawler: Netting more than their Fair Share, which provided a snapshot of how local Tasmanian businesses thought the super trawler would impact upon the state’s marine resource base economy. The Tasmanian Greens will continue to stand up for the best interests of our ocean ecosystems, commercial operators and recreational fishers to keep our waters Super Trawler free.
www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.
We do not support a super trawler, never have. Never will.
Palmer United Party (not confirmed as party policy yet) Via Jacqui Lambie: Party leader and Senator Elect I want to assure the tens of thousands of Tasmanians (including many anglers and conservationists) who fought the Dutch owned Super Trawler’s application to fish in our waters – that I haven’t forgotten my promise to stand by and support you. Before the last federal election I stood should to shoulder with the Anti-Super Trawler Protesters - and I will continue that fight after I take my seat in Federal parliament after 1st of July this year. Unlike Liberal politicians, including senator Richard Colbeck, I understand that a fleet of super trawlers (including the one brought to Tasmania) was responsible for wiping out the pelagic baitfish fishery in Africa - and pose a significant danger to our environment and local fishing industry. I am a pro-development, pro-business politician – but wiping out fisheries for short term financial gain, makes no economic or environmental sense - and must always be opposed.
Labor Party policy Via Bryan Green (Braddon): Minister for Primary Industries Thank you for your recent email requesting Labor Party policy position in respect to the super trawler. I am pleased to respond on behalf of Tasmanian Labor and also add this response reflects my personal position on this issue. This issue was first considered by Tasmanian Labor at our 2012 State Conference where delegates overwhelmingly supported a ban on the super trawler until the appropriate scientific research was undertaken. The position of a ban, subject to scientific review, was endorsed by delegates at Labor’s 2013 State Conference and now included in the ALP State Platform. You may also recall when the issue of the super trawler first emerged Federal Labor politicians most notably Julie Collins MP, Senator Lin Thorp and Senator Carol Brown were strident in their opposition. Unfortunately that opposition was not shared by Tasmanian Federal Liberal MP’s, especially Senator Richard Colbeck, who strongly supported this vessel and type of fishing. At that time I wrote to the Commonwealth Minister responsible and pointed out a large number of concerns on behalf of the Tasmanian recreational fishing community. It was pleasing the Labor Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke was able to achieve a 24 month ban to allow proper scientific research to be undertaken. Similar to Senator Colbeck’s support of the super trawler, the entire Federal Liberal Party voted as a block against Labor’s ban. It was equally disappointing the Tasmanian State Liberals did nothing to stand up to the Federal Liberals and point out the errors of their decisions and federal Liberal Party support for the super trawler, I am appreciative of the concern the ban will expire on 19 November this year. As a result I can inform you Tasmanian Labor’s strong opposition to the super trawler remains unchanged. This is the policy the Party will take to the 2014 state election. Notwithstanding any future scientific evidence, Tasmanian Labor will not support a super trawler operating in Commonwealth waters around Tasmania.
Please be mindful of the fact the vessel is expressly prohibited to operate in Tasmanian waters and I can assure you trawling of any type will remain banned in Tasmanian waters under a Labor Government.
As you know, Tasmanian Members of Parliament have no jurisdiction about who can fish or how they can fish in Commonwealth waters. However, as you are also aware the State Liberals strongly opposed the Margiris/Abel Tasman proposal.
Should the Federal Liberal Government overturn Labor’s ban and allow the super trawler to operate in adjacent Commonwealth waters, a Tasmanian Labor Government will do absolutely everything in its power to have the decision reversed. I would be interested to know whether the Tasmanian Liberals would have the same gumption to stand up to Tony Abbott.
The Liberals will maintain that position for any similar super trawler proposal, unless there is new and compelling scientific evidence showing that the localised depletion and sustainability issues have been overcome.
In summary I would hope the Tasmanian recreational fishing community recognise that over the terms of Labor Governments our support for recreational fishing has been demonstrated through achievements such as banning of commercial netting in Georges Bay, and allowing recreational fishing in most parts of marine reserves. Tasmanian Labor always has and always will remain strong supporters of recreational fishing and to this end our Party will never support a super trawler operating in Commonwealth waters.
Liberal Party policy Via Rene Hidding (Lyons): Shadow Minister for Fisheries Thank you for your email to all Liberal Members and candidates in relation to a super trawler operating in Commonwealth waters. The Leader, Will Hodgman MP, has asked me to respond. You have asked for personal view points from our Members and candidates and as well as our Party view point and I can tell you that all Liberal Members and candidates, and the Party hold the following views: We strongly respect, and want to protect, the recreational fishing sector in Tasmania and acknowledge both the positive lifestyle it promotes and the very substantial economic contribution it makes to the Tasmanian economy. With so many Tasmanians participating in recreational fishing we lean strongly towards expansion of opportunities to fish, better public facilities and the sustainable management of the target species of recreational fishers. As an example, we recently announced funding to translocate huge amount of rock lobster from the deep south to be resettled into habitats far more accessible to the state’s recreational fishers. And only the Liberals will implement a moratorium on the creation of any new Marine Protected Areas in Tasmanian waters.
As for a blanket ban on any trawlers with processing capacity in any Commonwealth waters remotely near Tasmania, this could have extreme consequences as it would call into question the widely applauded fishing operations elsewhere in Commonwealth waters by vessels, smaller than the Margiris, which often unload and resupply in Tasmanian ports. With very strong action by the Federal Coalition in removing the hugely excessive marine protected areas put in place by the former Labor Government (in the Coral Sea) and the implacable push by the Greens for a chain of no-take MPAs in Tasmanian waters, only a majority Hodgman Liberal Government can be the true friends of the recreational fishing sector in Tasmania. To read the candidates full responses, go to www. tasfish.com
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Simon Hedditch
B
lue Eye Trevalla is the name most used by Tasmanians to describe Hyperoglyphe Antarctica, a fish species found in all southern oceans and like most widely distributed fish they have come to be known by a variety of different names. Blue Cod, Antarctic butterfish, Bluenose Warehou, Deepsea Trevally, Blue Nosed Sea Bass or Deep Sea Trevalla, are all names used to describe one of Tasmania’s finest eating fish. It is regularly seen on restaurant menus — and as a line caught fish it is unlikely it is overfished. Blue Eye can grow to 50kg and 1.4m in length with females of this size producing over ten million eggs in a season. They reach maturity at 8 to 12 years of age in a size range of 62cm to 72cm. Juveniles of 10cm have been found living in association with masses of floating seaweed and as their size increases they become semi-bottom dwelling. Once fish are around 50cm they form schools over rocky bottom in depths of around 300-450 metres along the continental slope. Larger adult fish will live and feed in water as deep as 1500 metres. Commercial fishermen generally target them with long lines or drop lines but blue eye can be targeted by recreational fishers. Recreational anglers in Tasmania use a variety of different methods including drop lines retrieved through pot haulers, hand reels such as the Alvey deep see deck winches and more recently electric reels. I had never contemplated targeting them, considering them to be the bastion of big boats with costly specialist equipment that would have to be used regularly to justify the expense but by chance I came across two boats fishing a lump about one kilometre off the edge of the shelf while trying to locate some late season albacore. I figured they were targeting blue eye and the encounter got me thinking. Not my forte I know! So I knew where the fish were and at a depth of around 400 metres, but a lot of questions rattled around in my brain. Was it possible to feel a take in that depth of water? How much weight would I need to hold the bottom? Was it even physically possible to wind a fish up from that depth on conventional gear without having a heart attack? There was only one way to find out, give it a go. I gave Craig Rist a ring and lined up a trip the next weekend, a man in love with anything epic. I dropped into see Jamie at St. Helens Bait and Tackle for, strangely enough, some bait and tackle. He makes up some heavy duty bottom rigs with big circle hooks that are very durable. I bought some of his largest sinkers and a few big packs of squid as well. Craig arrived on the Friday afternoon and we set about prepping the boat. The only reels I had with enough space for 600 metres of braid were a couple of venerable 330 GTi Penns that were about half loaded with 25kg Fireline. We left the 25kg in place and added some 37kg/80lb braid I had sitting in a drawer. Both reels were loaded with as much line as we could get on them without hindering the level winder. With all the pre-made rigs and new sinkers packed in a box we were ready for the water.
Fishing News - Page 18
Tasmania’s finest table fish..
Blue-eye Trevalla
Craig Rist with a couple of blue-eye trevalla.
We dropped the boat in the water the next morning about 7:30 and headed for the mark slightly north of dead east of the St Helens Point just towards the bottom of the steepest part of the shelf. The run out was a pleasure in the windless conditions which were forecast to last most of the day. As we approached the mark I noticed we had it to ourselves, a good thing as the last thing we needed was a peanut gallery for this possibly flawed venture. We dropped off the plane, I popped the motor in neutral, grabbed a rod and turned to old mate and said “where did you put the box with the bottom rigs and sinkers?” I thought you grabbed it?” After the ardent profanity, we set about searching the boat to see what we could find. We came up with a dozen or so 4/0 bait hooks, a handful of snapper leads and a reel of 60lb trace. Two three hook drop rigs were soon made up with double sinkers on each. We had managed to bring the squid and we didn’t skimp on applying that.
While we rigged up the boat had drifted southeast off the mark so we motored a couple of hundred metres northwest of the mark and started our first drift. I dropped the sinkers and baits over the side, clicked the reel into free spool and waited and waited and waited some more. It was about now that it started to dawn on me just how deep 400m is. That sounds like a funny thing to say, but to see that much line disappear off your reel when you’re used to fishing for flathead or trumpeter is something else. I touched down a bit before Craig, gave the reel half a dozen winds to clear the bottom and dropped the rod in a rod holder. We had a southerly swell of about a metre slowly rolling through that gave the rod tip a slow bowing motion. After a few minutes my rod suddenly loaded up with what appeared to be a solid take. I grabbed it out of the rod holder and was surprised at how easily I could feel the fish fighting and head shaking even at that depth. Only having standard open gape
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Fishing News - Page 19
bait hooks I couldn’t risk taking the weight of the fish so I started a pump and wind retrieve. With only a few metres back on the reel the line suddenly gained more weight as fish hit the other baits. By this stage Craig was also hooked up and retrieving. At first I tried to use the rise and fall of the swell to assist in the pump and wind retrieve but it just didn’t have much effect. So it was just a matter of slow and steady retrieve and try not to think about the burning in my rod arm. Also what ever you do don’t look at the amount of line on the reel as you’re going, it’s the fastest way to lose heart. Eventually we got colour on fish as they rose out of the depths! I had managed two Gemfish and Craig got a Gemfish and our first blue eye.
Gemfish are a bottom dwelling (100-800m) fish from the same family as the barracouta and just like them have a formidable set of teeth but thankfully taste a lot better. It was a great start, except that we had both lost a hook, bitten off by Gem fish. The fish were quickly bled out in the kill tank and put on ice. I took the time to tie up a new three hook rig with longer droppers to help keep the Gemfish teeth away from the main line, also to give me some length to replace a hook if I lost another. I baited up and sent it back to the bottom. With a bit of a forage through the side pockets I also managed to find two cheap plastic gimbal belts I received with the GTi 330 Penn combos when I had bought them 12 years before. They would help save some bruising.
Simon Hedditch is in on the act as well. That’s pretty much how the day went, we missed the fish with a poor drift a few times and had to do a retrieve for nothing but also managed a triple hookup. The biggest impediment proved to be the light 60lb line we had for the droppers. We had hooks bitten off quite a few times and I lost two hooks and sinkers on one occasion when a Gemfish went through the main line at the second hook. The hooks also weren’t great with fish getting off well into the retrieve. Overall we did well, with a good feed of blue eye and Gem fish for us both. I had a bit of a count up and as far as I can tell we both had either 11 or 12 retrieves for the day, boy did I sleep well that night.
Since the first trip went well we Simon with a deep sea gem fish. decided to get set up a little better, we both purchased a big spinning reel and a new One good thing we both noticed very quickly was rod each. I opted for a Penn Spinfisher V 10500 on that the fish at that depth don’t stuff about, they a Wilson 5’6”, 15-24kg stroker spin rod. The Penn just swim over to the bait and inhale it. That was has a huge line capacity with well over 800 metres certainly the case on the next drop, with the line of 50 lb braid loaded on it. I resisted the urge to go going slack when the sinker hit the bottom, clicked heavier, surmising that I would prefer more length the reel into gear, wound it up tight and the fish than strength. Lighter braid will have less drag in was already on. No rest for the wicked. This time I the water and if you’re breaking 50 lb you’re doing managed a blue eye but old mate retrieved a fish all something wrong, that simple. the way up to within five metres of the boat only to The weather wasn’t the best on the next trip, with have it fall of the hook. Craig didn’t have the energy a gusty NE wind that persisted well into the morning to get upset he just sat there shaking his head. We meant we had trouble holding the bottom on the re-baited and got ready to reposition the boat for first drift, so we retrieved for nothing on the first another drift when we both noticed a bird land on pass. We repositioned for another drift, deployed a the water about 20 metres away and start picking drogue and added an extra sinker. Craig was using at a floating object on the water. We motored over a three hook stripey rig, I had a five hook drop rig, to find Craig’s lost fish, a nice blue eye laying on both with large commercial circle hooks. We both its side unable to swim back to the depths due to found fish very quickly when we got to the bottom its distended swim bladder. Now it was my turn to on the next drop. I left my rod in the rod holder for shake my head as he grabbed the net and collected a few minutes longer to let the fish have a chance his fish. Fishing News - Page 20
to find all the baits. On the next retrieve Craig was pretty quick to get his fish on board, a Gemfish. I on the other hand was having a bit of trouble. I had some serious weight but eventually four nice blue eye came aboard. I spent quite some time unhooking and bleeding the fish as I told Craig all about it. He just removed his sinkers from the bottom of his rig tied on a second two hook stripey rig, put his sinker back on, baited up and sent it back down. Yes, the inevitable happened within 15 minutes, he had five blue eye on the deck in one hit. He told me all about it on the way home. We had close to our limit of fish within one hour of arriving. A great morning on the water. Fishing with conventional rod and reel for deep sea fish is not for everyone. However, it can be done as long as you have a reasonable level of fitness and you take it easy on the retrieve. If you are using good quality circle hooks you don’t have to rush it, the fish shouldn’t get off. Blue Eye aggregate in waters around Tasmania in Autumn to spawn and are best targeted at this time as this also coincides with our most settled weather. The less wind the better, as your line needs to be as vertical as you can get it. Too fast a drift or insufficient weight on your line will mean you are going to need to use 600 metres plus of line to reach the bottom in 400 metres of water. That means you’re retrieving your catch over 600metres. That’s pain I don’t need! Use a drogue if you have one and you’re better adding more weight than you think you need just to stay as vertical as possible. Be meticulous with the setup of your drift so you don’t miss your mark. Blue Eye suffer badly from barotrauma when brought to the surface due to the massive pressure change, a condition that is fatal in most cases. The bag limit is 5 fish per angler, so if you’re getting close to your limit and want to go for all five maybe only bait up enough hooks on your next drop to get you limit. Keeping more than your limit isn’t worth losing your boat, your fishing gear and a large fine. Use good quality squid, octopus and fish baits for the best results as you would with most bait fishing. When you get your catch on board bleed them and put them in an ice slurry as quickly as you can, these are premium table fish and should be treated as such. Blue Eye costs over $40 a kilogram in my local supermarket so that puts a bag of five fish at around $400. Get the picture? I also have it on good advice that they make fantastic sashimi due to their firm flesh and great flavour. Simon Hedditch
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Canada
Lessons from abroad
Michal Rybka shares some useful trout techniques that he discovered on a recent trip to the Canadian wilderness. Introduction For the third time now, I have been fortunate enough to fish for trout and salmon in British Columbia, Canada. The most recent trip was certainly the most enlightening, with lots learned. My experience started when I walked into one particular tackle store in the city of Vancouver. While the size of the shop was the first thing I noticed, I was more intrigued by what was on the shelves! Fly-fishing, like in many places all over the world, seemed to be very popular - with a lot of gear on offer. But the real surprise came when I discovered several aisles full of just spoons and wobblers. While I also saw quite a few soft plastics, there were next to no hard-body lures for sale. The fly and spoon seemed to be the method of choice for Canadians, and this was confirmed when I talked to the staff at the shop.
When it comes to the Canadians fishing for salmon and trout, the methods that seem ‘old school’ at home in Tasmania, are the preferred choices over there. And it is because these methods work so well. Below, I have described some simple, but deadly, Canadian methods that are well suited for catching trout in Tasmania.
Spoons and wobblers rule in Canada.
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Fishing News - Page 21 30/12/13 1:29 PM
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Fishing News - Page 22
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The bubble float rig This style of rig may already be familiar to many of you who like to fish mud-eyes under a bubble float. However, while similar, the Canadian version has many more applications. Instead of just using a mud-eye as bait, the Canadians use a single artificial fly. If you are fishing a lake, the rig is cast out and simply retrieved using a very slow, flat wind. You can also just leave it sitting there and wait for the bite! I liken it to fly fishing without a fly rod. Best of all, there are no special skills required. Both trout and salmon will readily fall for this method. This rig can be set up on just about any type of fishing rod. The water filled bubble float ensures super long casting distances. It really is a great rig to use in places such as Arthurs Lake in the warmer months when the trout feed near the surface. The Canadians use this rig a lot in their huge rivers, simply drifting it in the current for salmon. From experience, it is equally as effective fished this way in any Tasmanian small river, stream or creek – just be sure to adjust the depth of your leader to suit. Try it somewhere like the Meander River, Macquarie River or South Esk. Cast it upstream as far as possible. Make sure that you have plenty of line out while still having the ability to set the hook. Then just watch the float like a hawk as it drifts downstream. You could even walk downstream with the float if the current is not too fast. I have tested this technique in the Meander recently and I can tell you that my little adventure was productive and, above all, a lot of fun! A final tip with this method for those anglers who don’t like to use flies, or have little knowledge as to which fly to use, a small micro-sized soft plastic can be substituted in place of the fly. A natural coloured Strike Tiger 1 inch nymph is perfect for the job (I use the ‘olive pepper’ colour for rivers). You can also try using Berkley Gulp crickets in ‘brown’ or ‘green pumpkinseed’ - they come packed in a small jar of fish attracting juice.
Weighted trolling rig – the perfect substitute for lead line This setup is perfect for trolling deep water in places such as Arthurs Lake and Great Lake. It is a good method to use if you don’t own a lead line setup. The Canadians use it for catching those big Chinook salmon the ones that you have probably seen when watching TV shows like Robson Green’s Extreme Fishing. To get the lure running deep, a sinker of around 50 grams is typically
used in lakes similar to ours. However, I suggest experimenting with the weight of your sinker in order to find which best suits your style of fishing. Our lakes aren’t nearly as deep, so you may get away with a lighter setup. In saying that, the Canadians like to run these rigs very deep in order to get the lures right in the face of the fish. Over there, salmon tend to sit on the bottom in large lakes. Often what results is a so called ‘reaction bite’. This is where the salmon or trout strikes at the lure in order to protect its territory or to simply get it out of its way. A large spoon or wobbler is used as the lure on this rig. Don’t overlook these lures. A lot of them essentially have the same ‘side to side’ swimming action as the winged devil and cobra lures do. In saying that, for those of you who religiously troll Tassie Devils or Lofty’s Cobras, this rig is equally as effective. Simply substitute the spoon for your favourite devil or cobra. Thinking outside the square, you can even use a hard body lure or paddle-tailed plastic to do the same job. Whichever lure you choose, you will soon find that this setup will get you to the bottom very quickly!
The idea of a trolling an attractor in front of a lure is certainly not a new one. Many mainland anglers regularly use attractors, like ‘cowbells’, to draw the fish in to their lures. What surprises me is the fact that we seldom see trolling attractors used in Tasmania. It is most often just a cobra or devil tied on at the end of a lead line and that is it. With the added ability of attracting trout from great distances, I urge you to try this rig? The Canadians run large spoons behind the attractor in this setup due to the large size of their fish. Since our trout aren’t nearly as big, a smaller spoon or wobbler will work well for most Tasmanian applications. Try also running Tassie Devils or Cobras behind the attractor. You will be surprised at how much more effective your lures will become!
Attractors used all around the world, but seldom in Tasmania.
Trolling attractor rig All of the big Chinook salmon that I have seen caught in Canada have been taken on this rig. While one key element of this technique is to run the lure at a great depth, the other element is the attractor itself, and this is what I want to concentrate on. A ‘flasher’ is essentially a fish attractor and it is the most important part of this rig besides the lure. While the lure itself will attract the attention of fish, a ‘flasher’ will work to catch the attention of fish located much further away. To a fish, the bright flash
represents a school of baitfish. It can also represent a fish (or a group of fish) that is in distress. The idea is that fish will initially be drawn to the flasher and, when closer, they will see the lure swimming behind the ‘flasher’ and (hopefully) strike. It not only works on salmon, but is also deadly on trout. As a matter of fact, you will find that most predatory fish like the idea. Tuna fishermen will even use larger versions of such attractors in the off-shore environment.
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Fishing News - Page 23
Something different: Canadian Gravadlax If you are a keen trout angler, you will have probably heard about this dish. Gravadlax is a traditional Scandinavian dish. It is basically raw salmon that has been cured with salt, sugar and some fresh herbs for some extra flavour. I guess it is a bit like our cold smoked salmon, with the difference being that there is no smoke flavour. It is popular in many parts of the world and there are many variations to the recipe. While in Canada, I got to experience the local version of this dish. The Canadian recipe is very similar to the Scandinavian original. The thing that sets it apart however, is the substitution of the pure maple syrup for the brown sugar. The flavour that the syrup gives is very unique, and tasty to say the least! Since we are in Tasmania, forget about the salmon. This recipe works equally as well using our wild brown or rainbow trout. It has become a breakfast favourite of mine on a lazy Sunday morning. Simply serve it on some nicely toasted bread spread with Philadelphia cream cheese. Serve with a poached egg on the side and you have a gourmet breakfast that will certainly impress your better half! What you need to make it: Ingredients 1 good sized fresh trout (not frozen) ¼ cup pure maple syrup (not the artificial stuff) 2 tablespoons of salt (non-iodised) Zest of 1 lemon
Delicious plate of Canadian style gravadlax
Fresh dill Equipment on the plastic. Sprinkle a thin layer of salt, evenly covering both fillets (I use around 2 tablespoons for a trout of up to 2 lb).
Clean cutting board x 2 Glad Wrap (kitchen plastic wrap) Paper towel Long sharp fillet knife Microplane or grater (for lemon zest) Instructions Clean your trout the usual way. Take the fillets from both sides. Ensure that the rib cage is cut away from both fillets. Make sure that all traces of blood are removed from each fillet. This is important, as blood will spoil the flesh. There is no need to scale the fillets and pin bones can be left in if desired. Once you have cleaned both fillets, pat them dry with paper towel. Lay a generous amount of Glad Wrap on your cutting board and place the fillets skin side down
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Drizzle the fillets with maple syrup and rub it into the salted flesh so that it is mixed with the salt and evenly distributed over the fish. Sprinkle a fine layer of lemon zest evenly over the top of the fillets. Finish off by chopping up some fresh dill and covering both fillets with a reasonably thick layer. Sandwich the fillets by placing them on top of each other (flesh to flesh). Wrap the whole thing tightly with the Glad Wrap that you had lining the cutting board. Place in fridge with another cutting board on top. Place something heavy on top so that the fillets are pressed together. I usually use a small brick for this. Turn the wrapped fillets once a day for three days. You will get juice escaping from the fish – so be sure to wipe it up. On the third day, your gravadlax will be cured and ready for eating.
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To eat, unwrap the fillets. Wipe the dill, salt and maple mixture, and any remaining liquids, away using paper towel. With a long sharp fillet knife, cut very thin slivers from each fillet and place them on a plate. If you have left the pin bones in, then start in the middle of the fillet and cut away. Discard the skin (pin bones will be still attached to it). You should be left with a tasty plate of Canadian style gravadlax! Tips Only use the freshest and cleanest trout possible. The deep red or orange fleshed ones are the best for making any type of gravadlax. Beautiful looking trout from places such as Arthurs Lake, Woods Lake and Little Pine have all produced some great results for me in the past.
Use only proper Canadian maple syrup and not the artificial maple-flavoured stuff. The sugar in the maple syrup and added salt in this recipe ensures that the trout is properly cured – hence safe to eat. The final product will keep in your fridge for at least 7 days – that is if you don’t eat it all at once! Conclusion The rigs and techniques that I have described are not difficult to setup, or to use. In my mind they are very simple, back to basics approaches that should not be overlooked. They are often good alternatives when hard-bodied lures and soft plastics aren’t working for you. And let’s not forget the humble metal spoon or wobbler. They were so popular in Tasmania back in the 70’s and 80’s, yet they have lost their popularity in more recent times. While very effective on Canadian salmon, they can also be successfully used on our Tasmanian trout. Spoons are simple to use and, due to their weight, have the ability to be cast a considerable distance. In summing up, probably the biggest lesson that I learned from my overseas trip is to keep it simple. Dust off some of those old spoons in the garage and give them a go next time that you are up at the lakes. I am sure that you will agree that fishing methods change over time, but the fish don’t. Sometimes ‘simple’ is the best way to go! Enjoy your 100% Tassie-bred (Canadian-style) trout gravadlax! Mic Rybka
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Fishing News - Page 25
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Kayak trolling Gard Saxon
K
ayak fishing is becoming even more popular and is a great way to fish. With our increasing awareness of the importance of physical exercise, houses getting bigger but yards getting smaller, and the ever increasing cost of fuel its understandable why. Kayaks open up many fishing opportunities denied to the land based angler, without the expense and logistics of owning a boat. Mic Rybka looked at some trolling techniques last issue. Here are my experiences. Fishing from a kayak can be as simple as soaking a bait or a more technical style like fly fishing or even live baiting for tuna. An often overlooked method of kayak fishing is trolling, yet it can be very productive, and to me seems a natural thing to do.
Double your trolling chances with two rods.
What do you need? A kayak with a rod holder or two. The rod/s should be positioned so you can see the tips without turning too much. This lets you see hits on your lure; it also lets you see at a glance if your lure is working, or if it has been fouled with weed. Even though my kayaks are Hobies that are pedalled, both have adjustable rod holders mounted just behind the seat and the rods angled slightly up and forward for trolling. This means they are out of the way for getting on and off the kayak, and the kayak can be paddled if need be. Some younger and more flexible anglers mount rod holders far enough forward that they can paddle without being obstructed by them. A fish finder or sounder is also very helpful. It helps to know how deep the water is, as well as seeing structure, weed-beds, and even fish. You can troll and catch fish without one, but you will usually catch more, and get fewer snags, with one. It doesn’t need to be all that fancy. The Lowrance Elite 4x is a great little colour sounder for under $200. Garmin and Hummingbird also make good sounders in this price range. For a bit more you can get the DSI (Down Scan Imaging) version, which is even easier to interpret in this kind of fishing. Some people advocate a GPS “so that you know if you are going the right speed for the lure”. I disagree. If the rod tip is wiggling, you’re going the right speed. GPS do have other uses though.
What species can you catch Just about any fish that will take a lure can be caught by trolling from a kayak. Trout of all flavours, salmon (Australian and Atlantic), bream (slow it down!) trevally, tailor, pike, ‘couta, squid, wrasse and flathead have been among the species I’ve seen caught trolling from a kayak this year. Why? Kayaks generally move at a speed that is very much suited to trolling for many species. You will have to be pretty fit and probably paddling a fast fibreglass ‘yak to target pelagic fish, but for species like trout, bream and salmon, any kayak, with just about any kayaker, can move at an appropriate pace. To me, it’s a no–brainer, when launching and heading to the “first spot,” to drag a lure or two behind. The same applies when moving from one spot to another. I seldom pedal anywhere without at least one lure out, and some days it works so
well that it’s the only method I use. It can also be an effective method for locating fish, then you may choose to anchor off and cast to them if you prefer. It’s also about the simplest style of kayak fishing, as you just dawdle along and enjoy the scenery between fish. No need for anchors, drift chutes, tying off etc.
Technique Simple really. If you know the depth of the water and what species you are targeting, choose an appropriate lure, cast it out behind you, and start paddling (or pedalling)! You don’t generally need the lure too far back. Just a cast away is usually plenty, because the kayak is much quieter than a boat with outboard, or even an electric, so you are less likely to spook fish.
Where should you troll All the same places you’d target fish with any other method. Edges of weed beds with diving lures or wobblers, over the top of weed beds with shallow running lures, flies, or soft plastics. Along banks and drop-offs are worth a try, as are shallow bays. When trolling along a bank I prefer the one that is casting a shadow onto the water, but sometimes the sunny one will be the one that produces. Keep in mind that on a river, the outside of a bend is usually deeper, so if you believe the fish are down deep, that’s the side you should be on. You can even troll over flats, because a kayak is very quiet and unlikely to spook fish. It may be worth having the lure a bit further back than usual if the water is very shallow or particularly clear. In a slow flowing river you can troll in both directions (upstream and downstream). If the flow is a bit faster, most fish will be facing into the current, so trolling with the flow (downstream) will be best.
Do I need special tackle? No, you can troll with a handline if you like. Of course, you can use downriggers, leadlines, paravanes etc, but you don’t usually need to. You can happily use your usual gear. You can get away with cheap, short rods because casting isn’t important, but you don’t have to. A lanyard or leash on any rods trolled from a rod holder instead of held is a really good idea. Make sure your drag is set properly, as fish hooked when trolling often hit really hard. For this reason, I prefer a rod with a slightly softer action to absorb some of the initial shock, especially when the rod is in a rod holder and not held in the hand, even more so when using braid mainline and fluorocarbon leader as neither has much stretch. If you use a decent length of mono leader you can get away with a stiffer rod as the mono will stretch and help to stop hooks from pulling.
Which lures? Many lures are suitable for light tackle trolling. The tried and true wobblers (Tassie Devils, Wigstons, cobras, etc) remain a favourite for trout in
A selection of effective lures.
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Fishing News - Page 27
many lakes, and if you do loose a couple to snags they won’t break the bank. Minnow styles are also effective for many species. Your local tackle shop will be able to advise colours / patterns for your chosen waterway. Soft plastics will also work, but you will need a heavier jighead than usual to stop them just skimming along the surface, and you must rig them straight so they swim straight and don’t spin. Test them next to the boat once rigged. In the brine over the warmer months it can be worth trolling a squid jig if you are paddling over shallow (< 6m) reef or weed or close to rocks. I would not troll any spinning style lure, even with an antikink, unless you have a love of wind knots. Wet flies can also be trolled effectively, usually behind a length of leadline or small sinker (barrel sinker or split shot) to keep them below the surface. Along with soft plastics rigged with a single hook, or “weedless”, this can be a great method to use when weed prevents the use of other lures.
Trolling tips, tricks and tactics. *When you hook-up, KEEP PADDLING (or pedalling)! Get a bit of forward momentum before you grab the rod out of the holder. This will help to keep the line tight and make it more difficult for the fish to throw the hook. Head for deeper water, or away from any snags to give your self the best chance of landing the fish. *Know where your lure is. Your lure will be some distance behind you. With practice you will get pretty good at knowing when it is passing the fish or snag you saw on your sounder, so can lift the rod to swim it over the snag, or give the rod a wiggle to impart some extra action to get the attention of the fish. *Go wide and turn slow. Your lure will not
follow directly in your path when you are turning. As soon as you start to turn left, it will start to turn left. The further behind you the lure is the more pronounced this will be. Make your turns wide and
gradual, or you’ll be going back to retrieve your lure from the last point. If you have to make a tight turn, wind your lure in first.
*When you get a snag, open the bail arm. Then you
can safely replace your rod in the holder, turn around, and head back to retrieve your snagged lure. Failure to open the bail arm can result in a lost or snapped rod. Most times you can just pull your lure off the snag by paddling back the way you came.
*Cobra or Tassie Devil type lures will spin if trolled too fast. Soft plastics may do
the same, and minnows will too if trolled too fast or if the front treble hook fouls the leader. If you are going to troll for a long session instead of casting, an “antikink” or “keel” tied between the mainline and leader is a good idea.
*Double your chances. In the salt or in the fresh if you have a two rod license, you can troll two different lures, almost doubling your chances of a fish. Beware, it will also lead to more snags and tangles, and even double hook-ups, which can keep you really busy… So, next time you launch your ‘yak, and head of to your spot, why not drag a lure or two behind you? Who knows, you might catch fish you would otherwise have just paddled straight past. You may even decide the whole area is your spot, and spend all day trolling around, or explore some new areas you never went to before. Gard Saxon
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Arthurs ... Myth Busted A
ll Arthurs fish are small this year. Myth Busted. I recently spent a day with a friend on a water that some people have deserted because they believe all the fish are small. They are wrong. One of the delights of fishing is the friendship built up over the common bond. So it was with some delight that I accepted a call from Graham early in the season to catch up at his local club shack and fish Bronte. Graham is the sort of chap that friendship is never blemished by time. He represented Australia in the Commonwealth fly fishing championships in Wales but now prefers the friendly competition of mate against mate. Unfortunately our schedules didn’t suit for the Bronte match, but in the third week of January he responded to my call for a day on Arthurs. Arthurs formerly held the position of my favourite water in Tasmania. A decade ago guided by Peter Hayes my son James and I had cut our teeth and learnt the basics of fly-fishing. Each day the father son combination compared their catch. Everywhere Hayes guided us fish fell to our fly. Drifting the rocky edges ever alert for the flash of gold, the instant strike and subsequent reward, lunches in a variety of bays, followed by drifting slicks and wind lanes seeking the signs that gave away the presence of another challenge. Evenings around the table were with my son conspiring with Hayes to bring down a father’s ego as his errors of the day were magnified, but there was no doubt Arthurs was a prolific fishery. Over the intervening decade things changed, son grew up and was away to lands far off; Arthurs lost its pre-eminent position as my fishery of choice in the highlands. Fish numbers diminished, days of slick and windlane fishing became fewer and generally to the fly fisherman the glory and triumphs of former years diminished and replaced by waters that often seemed more crowded than the main streets of our capital cities. The Christmas of 2013 had seen me visit Arthurs on a couple of occasions, things seemed to be on the turn. A day on the lake with Peter Hayes and his son Lachie reminded me of similar occasions of decades past except now Lachie replaced my son at a similar age. Again a reflection of former years as several fish of two plus pounds came to the net along the edges at Jones Bay. Around Cormorant Point in the early evening and Tumbledown untouchable fish ignored our offerings as they flew suicidally after damsel flies between islands of kerosene bush. So it was with some eagerness that arrangements were secured that Graham, and Jim his close fishing ally, agreed to meet me at the Jonah Bay boat ramp. We made a hasty departure for Camping Ground Flat. Several promising drifts but no interest saw a move to Hydro Bay, but the only sign of life here was a tiger snake winding its way between drowned trees.
They’re not all small... Weighed at just over two kilograms this Arthurs fish went back for the next angler. Dan Dempsey” CDC quill dry By now the wind had picked up and we took refuge in the lee of an island that Graham suggested as always fishing well. Our thirst for action was quenched with the release of several fish over a pound. Lunch saw us tied to rocky island outcrops at the entrance of the Lily ponds. Just as the Jetboil produced its welcoming coffee duns started to appear curling around the boat in tantalizing numbers. They were shortly followed by fish eagerly harvesting the hatch.
wrest control resumed the fight in deeper water. The surging trout silenced discussion as each had seen that this was no normal trout! The net was armed and trout led to the keep saw the specimen lifted to the boat for the routine digital recording for future memory. Jim armed with weight net Jim confirmed a brown trout at 4 ½ lbs undoubtedly a fish to good to be caught by only a single angler. Into the evening with friendship rekindled our musings again centred on ‘the return of Arthurs’ a venue that we shall visit many times this season. Peter Dixon
Sandwiches and coffee were soon discarded and a likely drift set down the wind at islands edge. A likely fish that measured over three pounds stretched Graham’s line. Once released our discussions recounted similar fish from years past and the hope that this once most prolific fishing grounds in the highlands could be returning to its former glory. By 3pm the wind had settled and the hatch disappeared as quickly as it started. Moving to the lee of Hook Island we covered a number of fish mopping up and weaving trails, several were missed due to inattention the vagaries of nature or the sharp spurs of native brush. But I must just tell you about the last fish hooked. Not far from the “Spirit“ a handy cast distance to a rise adjacent to a seam of flooded brush followed by the instant flick of the tail as a fine trout devoured a “Dan Dempsey” CDC quill dry. The battle saw the line and leader snaking through brush and bush. A steady side strain to
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Make sure your knots are well tied and tippet strong. At Arthurs it can be a battle with the shrubbery. Fishing News - Page 29
Western walk
What to take for the day One of Tasmania’s most experienced Western Lakes anglers, Craig Rist, explains what’s in his day pack and why.
W
hat to pack for a day out West is something I consider very carefully through out the season. The time of year and the expected weather conditions for a particular day will dictate what I throw into my pack. How many kilometres I expect to walk into the heart of the Western Lakes, away from civilization, is another factor I consider, especially if it’s going to be a solo trip and you don’t have anyone to help you limp out with a broken or sprained ankle. There are many things that can go wrong when you step foot into this harsh, but beautiful environment. The terrain in this part of Tasmania isn’t easy to walk on and you can’t
condition yourself by racking up the kilometres walking on the footpath before a trip. This terrain becomes your knees, feet and ankles, worst nightmare with the constant rolling and twisting that takes place with every step. It’s just something you have to go out and do, the more trips you have the easier it all becomes.
Taking distance into account A day walk can be an easy day out from base camp which has more fishing than walking or it can be that epic single dusk till dawn trip from a lonely car park at the foot of the Walls Of Jerusalem. Carrying too much or too little gear can be the difference between a good day and a very bad one. There’s a big difference between spending a day on the water close to civilization and
Grandfathers and Fathers Pass on the Trout Fishing Tradition
Take your grandchildren or own kids trout fishing this Summer Share the thrill of a catch, the fun of being outdoors - and start a lifelong passion. Trout fishing is easily accessed and good, clean, honest fun. Go to www.ifs.tas.gov.au, your local fishing and tackle store or Service Tasmania to buy a licence today. Help celebrate in 2014 - the 150 year anniversary of the introduction of trout.
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Fishing News - Page 30
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one that takes half the day to reach your destination. A pack that has everything in it but the kitchen sink will leave you sore, unbalanced and fatigued. A pack that has very little in the way of clothes and survival gear may be easier to carry, but you take the chance of placing yourself in a very unforeseen and uncomfortable situation, a long way from home.
Essential items These are the things I always take with me on whenever I am going on all day hike, many kilometres into the Western Lakes. • First aid kit with at least one pressure bandage. • Survival blanket • EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon), • Headlamp or torch • Flint lighter • Compass • Maps When it comes to putting together a first aid kit for these conditions I always like to have items that can cater for those more unfortunate situations such as snakebite, blisters, lacerations, sprains, and broken bones. I’ll also throw in a few over the counter painkillers for those unexpected headaches or more serious situations to take the edge off. To complement a first aid kit a survival blanket is very comforting to have in your pack when your core body temperatures start to drop and hypothermia is a real possibility. An EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) is something I have always carried when I go on a solo trip. I now use a satellite messaging device such as the Spot2 Messenger which allows custom preset messages to be sent to your friends
A stop for lunch with a few well packed essentials. or family via text or email to let them know you are okay or that you need help from them and not the rescue helicopter. Which is a nice option when you are out of mobile coverage. One of the great functions when the message is sent to a email address is that it sends a link to Google maps with the precise location of the Spot2 messenger at the time the message was sent. As well as the preset messages, which can be change online and used at anytime. The device also has a button dedicated to initiate the Emergency
Response Authorities. The down side to this device is that the messages can only be sent and not received by the device. However the newer models, do allow for two-way text communication, which would obviously allows confirmation that someone has received your message. I am yet to make the upgrade to this new satellite messenger device but from what I have read and heard about them, an upgrade won’t be far away. I always like to carry a head lamp or hand torch with me on a day walk. Because there is always a lake to explore over the next hill and before you know it getting back to the car in day light hours has long gone. It’s also very hard for me to leave rising fish in the evening and walking back in the dark over this terrain is a very dangerous option. Having a torch in the pack just takes the stress out of having to make it back out to the car or base camp before nightfall. A torch also allows you to start the walk before dawn and cover a few more kilometres before you reach water that holds fish. A flint lighter has obvious survival advantages particularly if you’re unlucky enough to get stuck in the Western Lakes over night. It’s amazing how comforting a fire can be when you’re lost or freezing cold. Fortunately I have never had this happen to me but I know people who have and a fire can definitely save you life. A map of the area and a compass are not only good survival tools they are a must when you want to find those new fishing spots. A GPS is a great tool to have as well as maps of the area but they are no use to you if the battery charge runs out. I like to save the battery life of mine for when the fog rolls in or for walking at night.
The rewards of a day walk can be some sensational fishing.
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Fishing News - Page 31
Keeping It Simple When it comes to cutting down on weight I take only what I really need in the way of fishing gear. One fly rod and reel, one small box of flies, a spool of 4 and 6 pound tippet material, some line sink and my two favorite floatants, Gink and Frogs Fanny. I might go a little over board when it comes to camera gear, lugging in a big heavy SLR, lenses and a tripod at times. But that side of fishing has become very rewarding to me so I’m willing to carry the extra weight. I have since cut down on a landing net, which was used solely to support the fish in the water while I set the camera up for a shot. I now simply use the netting from a landing net, which has a drawstring attached to keep the fish calm and out of the silt, while I prepare the camera. By the time I have finished taking a few photos the fish is fully revived and ready to be released.
Preparing for the cold. When it’s wet and cold at the start of the season and then again at the end of the season, hypothermia is a real possibility if you haven’t packed some basic survival equipment. During this time I like to fill a dry bag with a selection of light to heavy weight thermal or merino blend tops, leggings, gloves, bandanas or neck warmers and a spare pair of merino blend hiking socks. A raincoat made from breathable material is always in my pack at these times, as well. If you’re warm and dry you can keep focused on the task at hand, catching a fish. But if you allow yourself to become wet and cold then your willpower to fish will be sucked away from you as quickly as your plummeting body temperature. When I know it’s going to be really cold, I’ll throw in a small gas stove to make a hot drink or cook some noodles,our bodies need fuel to keep warm and eating or drinking something hot is a real treat. I’ve recently discovered the Jetboil gas cooker which is super fast at boiling water. Now my old single gas burners have been made redundant. I would highly recommend them for any hiking trip. I find one of the best ways to stay warm and dry, particularly early and late in the season, is to start and finish the walk wearing breathable stocking foot waders
Walk in your waders when it is cold.
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Fishing News - Page 32
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Cover up and protect yourself from the sun. with a pair of lightweight wading boot. These waders are so good these days that you barely know you’re wearing them. They really come into their own when there are multiple creek crossings and tracks covered in water. I don’t think there a better way to stay warm, dry and focused on the game at hand during these cold and often wet conditions.
In the heat of summer When the temperature rises during summer, everything comes to life in the Tasmanian bush. This is a great time to explore some remote trout fishing locations. Many types of insects are either hatching or being blown onto the water at this time, which brings trout out from under the rocks and deep weed beds to where we as
anglers can see them. On a blue-sky day this place is truly sight fishing heaven and catching fish in this environment is quite unique to Tasmania. Sun protection is a must at this time of year and 50+ Invisible Zinc sunblock is something I try very hard not to forget. Micro fibre head and neckware such as the Groper or Buff bandanas are becoming more popular and work extremely well against sun and windburn. Time seems to slip away so fast when you’re fishing and missing that re-application of sun block has often caught me out. So I will be like so many other anglers and have my face completely hidden under one of my favorite bandanas. Craig Rist
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Fishing News - Page 33
Australian Fly Fishing Museum clarendon
- tasmania
Lakes Eucumbene and Eildon were targets and his successes foe excessive sized trout have been donated for display.
T
he Museum has now been open for quite a while and there have been many developments. It has been a well-considered and non-rushed approach since opening, but a lot has been achieved. The displays are beautiful and get great comments from anglers, artists and non-fishers. It seems we got most things ‘right’. Most of this can be attributed to Rhonda Hamilton who curated the opening. However, whilst these initial displays have not changed much we have not been idle. Andrew Braithwaite has come on board as the Collections Manager and manages the process of accession, archiving and describing objects. His attention to detail has been outstanding and his contribution enormous. Every item we have is recorded and if not on display it is available. If you want to know about any item we have, or perhaps you have something to donate please call Andrew on 0428876145. Recent contributions have been a collection of books from the late Frank Bond, donated by his wife Helen. This collection of over 50 books contains a cross section on Australian fly fishing that was Frank’s reference and reading over many years. Frank fished the Shannon Rise with Dick Wigram, and was mates with many our Australia’s early fly fishing pioneers. His son Andrew is also a keen fly fisher, and rather than keep the books for himself recognised the value of sharing with many. Thank you Andrew. The Victorian Fly Fishers Association has loaned a significant piece of their history. This is the Jack Ritchie cabinet and features some beautiful old gear. Another significant donation is from Hardy ‘Hall of Fame’ angler and Victorian David Featherstone. ‘Feathery’ as he is mostly known has had a passion for chasing large trout for most of his 83 years.
The way in which these large trout are displayed is yet to be decided. They are a great addition. David also donated a huge range of flies tied by Fred Craker. There must be thousands – all in a case with pull out drawers. Displaying these is a challenge and perhaps you will see something innovative here.
Future displays Future displays are also under discussion – and if there is something significant you would like to see please let us know.
Website now live Our website www.affm.net.au is now live and is a great reflection of the Museum. It will change as time progresses and I invite you to make comment on what you think and changes you might like to see. The aim is to have this site information rich with it truly reflecting a physical museum visit. We will add a shop so items can be purchased, but more on that later. For purchase we have three different canvas bags, lapel badges, boxed fly selections, several books, wine and champagne glasses and T-shirts. A few other items are planned, but these will progress slowly. On the website we will also be adding some of our top Museum items, which Andrew Braithwaite is undertaking at the moment. Items such as the Wackett fly mould, BSA Bantam, Gillies dinghy and other items will be featured for all to see.
Casting pool A casting pool is under investigation and this project is being progressed by Charles Peck. Charles won a Tasmanian casting championship in 1955 and then another in 2005. Charles has great connection in regard to planning and surveying the site. It would be grand if this progresses and it does look very positive. In all likelihood the pool will also be used as a juniors fishout pond. The Inland Fisheries Service committed fish to this if the Museum chooses this approach.
The Clarendon Photography Competition The Clarendon Photography Competition and Exhibition has kicked off and you can see the details of this on the website. The basics are the Museum supplies a Red Hackle fly, which must form part of the photo entered for the competition. The exhibition will open 2 May and hang for about 6 weeks. This will be a stunning exhibition and you may like to put that on your calendar. Please email info@affm.net.au if you would like an invitation. This is an amazing opportunity for both professional and amateur photographers alike to tap into their creative juices!* Winner $1500 cash Second $500 Third $250 Peoples Choice $250 Photographs must include the Red Hackle fly – supplied by the Australian Fly Fishing Museum, after registration is received. Photos must be high quality (preferably no less than 5 megapixels) and suitable for viewing by the general public at exhibition. To enter – complete the registration form via download on the website and submit with payment of $30 no later than 25th March, 2014. Upon receipt of payment the AFFM will post the entrant a Red Hackle fly. Photos must be submitted by 11 April.
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BERKLEY® improved FIRELINE® and Fireline Tournament Exceed
The best new products FireLine Tournament Exceed, with new packaging, is available in line sizes from 2 through 24kg Colors include the original crystal plus Blaze Orange and flame green. 135, 300, 600 and 1500m spools. Berkley-fishing.com.au facebook.com/ BerkleyFishingAustralia
Smoother Than Ever: Right Out of the Package — Tougher, too FireLine® from Berkley® has been a leader in the superline category for years. FireLine was always smooth and now it is even smoother. FireLine was always tough and now it is even tougher. Just about every characteristic for the line is now improved. New FireLine, thermally fused with Dyneema®, performs best on spinning tackle with longer casts, up to 17% longer, and it is quieter through the guides due to the new smoother coating formula. The smooth finish is noticeable right out of the package and combined with the line’s thin diameter FireLine lets crankbaits dive deeper, getting the lure where the fish are. The abrasion resistance is improved resulting in less fraying. It also has 3% greater strength retention after wear; standing up to rocks, timber and even zebra mussels. With FireLine anglers can cast farther in open water to reach those sensitive fish or present the bait into the thickest cover knowing the line will hold up. With the new FireLine anglers discover improved casting with more accuracy and smoother handling. The line also has better color retention. Watch the product video here http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=NlFEG350iR4&feature=c4overview&list=UU5VaSmX0pcr7ypBQ zleIniw FireLine, with new packaging, is available in line sizes from 2 (crystal color) through 30-pound test. Colors include the original crystal plus smoke and flame green. 125 yards.
Given the Verado’s legendary reliability and all-round performance, this offer is available to both recreational and commercial customers. This special offer is already open and engines must be purchased by Friday, 31 March 2014.
So don’t wait. Speak to your local participating Mercury dealer today, or go to www.mercurymarine.com.au for more information. Everything Mercury does is designed to make that one moment on the water an unforgettable and unbeatable experience – and a new Verado will certainly do that.
Save up to $3,850 FourStroke Verado Offer Mercury’s FourStroke Verado is an engineering triumph which has redefined the reliability, power and performance you can get from an outboard engine. Whether it’s a 4 or 6 cylinder model, a new Verado will also give you exceptional fuel economy, a fluid driving experience with precise shifting, a superior hole-shot and outstanding acceleration. Now you can experience (and enjoy) all of that, and save some serious money.
Mercury Marine celebrates 75th anniversary
That’s because Mercury Marine is starting 2014 in the best way possible – with special deals across the FourStroke Verado range, from 135-350hp.
Mercury Marine celebrates its 75th anniversary today - Wednesday Jan. 22 - from its humble beginnings in Wisconsin to its growth into the world’s leading provider of marine engines.
And Verados come with a host of world-class features, including
Mercury, a division of Brunswick Corporation, designs, manufactures and sells the broadest range of marine propulsion products for applications ranging from inflatable tenders and fishing boats to cruisers and yachts.
Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS) Digital SmartCraft gauges Stainless steel propeller Maintenance-free valve train 3-year corrosion warranty Electro-hydraulic power steering (six cylinder models)
“Mercury will celebrate its 75th anniversary throughout 2014 in ways that will reflect our strong heritage of innovation and leadership
in the marine industry,” said Mark Schwabero, president of Mercury Marine. “We will conduct events in locations around the world that will engage our customers, suppliers, employees and communities and will recognise the roles those people and entities have played in establishing the foundation of our business and our future. “We’re excited about sharing this celebration with those who have helped us grow and succeed.” Mercury was founded by E. Carl Kiekhaefer in 1939 when he purchased a bankrupt engine manufacturing plant in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, not far from the Kiekhaefer family farm. The plant assets included 300 outboard engines that had been rejected by a large mail-order retailer due to defects and operating problems. Hoping to transform the engines into working capital to fund the future business he envisioned – magnetic separators for the dairy farm industry – Mr. Kiekhaefer redesigned, rebuilt and sold the engines to the retailer that had initially rejected them. The engines sold immediately and Kiekhaefer suddenly found himself in the marine engine business. Mercury made its initial mark in the marine industry by providing reliable, innovative products. But it didn’t take long before its engines were highly regarded for performance and speed. Mercury has long been recognised for producing engines that not only get you where you want to go, but also get you there first. Mercury directs the activities of more than 5,400 employees in dozens of countries from its global headquarters in Fond du Lac, Wis., and works hand in hand with more than 4,200 dealers and distributors around the world. Mercury’s year-long 2014 celebration plans include events in various locations throughout the world.
Goes up in 30 seconds RV4 shown
Watch the demo. Scan the QR code.
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Fishing News - Page 35
The choice is yours
Get the family out on the water and start living with Sea Jay.
4.55 Territory Car Topper 3.15 Angler $2,490
Complete with: Casting deck with full flat floor, Bow mount plate, Wide side decks, 5 seat Positions Powered by Yamaha 40VMHDL with gas assist $17,990
4.4 Ranger “As tough as they come” 3mm bottom with capped keel, 3mm plate sides, Fully sealed deck, Foam filled, Cast deck / Huge storage, Wide side decks, Splash well. Powered by Yamaha 40 VMHDL 3cyl. Gas assist tilt, long tiller handle $18,990
4.7 Ranger
Car Topper 3.75 Angler $3,100
4mm Bottom & 3mm plate sides Powered by Yamaha F60 EFI 4 stroke, Tiller, PT & T $29,990
4.55 Tropic Car Topper 3.7 Nomad $3,100
Centre console, Bow mount plate, cast deck, 3mm bottom & plate sides Powered Yamaha F60 EFI 4 Stroke $26,990
Other Car Toppers in stock: 3.55 Angler $2,850 3.5 Nomad $2,850 3.85 Angler $3,500 3.85 Nomad $3,500
4.55 Classic Runabout 4.4 Escape Sports Side console, casting deck “Great lake / estuary boat” Powered by Yamaha 40XWTL $21,990
Magnum X Pack Dinghy Complete with: Wide side decks, Rear Step & rail, Gunnel protector rubber, Bow Rails, Rear step and rails. 4.2 Suzuki DT30 $10,990 4.4 Suzuki DT30 $11,990 4.5 Yamaha 40VMHDL $15,990 4.85 Yamaha 60Enduro $19,990
4.4 Discovery
Complete with: Deluxe lounge, Ultimate edge hull design, Great Family Boat Plate sides, powered by Yamaha 40VETOL $26,990
4.4 Seeker Runabout
“Loads of room” Stable & Safe. Painted inside & Front & rear casting decks, Tiller steer and Bow mount out, Padded seats, Rear thwart seat, Anchor well. plate. Powered by Suzuki DT30 $16,990 Powered by Yamaha 40XWTL $18,990
Life’s better with a boat
Cray Slayers 3mm sides & bottom PLUS splash well, checker plate floor, Wide side decks, Rear Step & rail, Gunnel protector rubber, Bow Rails, Rear step and rails 4.2 Suzuki DT30 $12,990 4.4 Suzuki DT30 $13,990
We have plenty of boats in stock and ready to go. These are just a few. Boats shown are indicative of model only. Motors, colour and setup may not be as shown. Please ask us for exact details and fitout. NOTE: Photos are supplied by Seajay. PFDs are compulsory when underway in boats under 6m in Tasmania.
Easy finance available on all boats. View these boats and more at Cnr Fairlands Dr and Bass Hwy, Somerset
Burnie TAS, 7320 Phone: 6435 2200 E:anthony@coastal-marine.com.au W:www.coastal-marine.com.au Fishing News - Page 36
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The best new products
Bar Crushers now lighter to tow
Al McGlashan Teams up with Yamaha Yamaha Motor Australia is excited to welcome Al McGlashan to the Yamaha family. Famous for catching some of the biggest fish in the country, Al is a highly respected fishing journalist who has built an international reputation. His images both above and below the surface are world famous and have been published in hundreds of magazines and papers around the world. Al has authored several books and his ground breaking TV show, Big Fish Small Boats, is filming a third season which is due to air nationally on ONE in the second half of 2014. Al’s fishing exploits are legendary. He has received international notoriety for capturing record sized tuna, the discovery of a giant squid and even swimming with massive mako sharks. “I live to fish and I fish hard, pushing my boat to limits in pursuit of big fish, so I demand a lot from my gear,” said Al. “I need the best outboard and that is why I am really excited about teaming up with Yamaha who are the market leaders. Being powered by Yamaha is a natural fit for me”. Al lives by the mantra that if you love what you do you’ll never have to work a day in your life, and that’s certainly true for Al who spends more than 200 days every year on the water. Al’s new boat, an Evolution 600 Extreme, will be set up for serious offshore fishing with all the latest technology electronics and most importantly it will be powered by a Yamaha’s F250D. The F250D is the biggest displacement engines in the 250 horsepower class, delivering huge torque and great performance. Amazingly, due to new technology and innovation, Yamaha’s F250D is also the lightest 250 horsepower four stroke outboard on the market. “These unique advantages are the reasons why serious boaters and fisherman like Al are turning to Yamaha’s class leading range of four stroke engines,” said Grant Binskin, National Marketing Manager for Yamaha Marine Products in Australia. “Yamaha is very excited to be associated with Al McGlashan. We really respect the passion and enthusiasm he brings to everything he does. Yamaha looks forward to powering Al’s adventures in 2014 and beyond”.
STARLO’S JUNGLE STIX Not one to put his name to a product that he’s not 100 per cent happy with, Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling is more than pleased with his new Jungle StiX rods! These high-modulus graphite rods are designed to put a tournament-standard rod with near custombuilt specifications into the hands of every Australian angler, yet at an affordable price. Notwithstanding the catchy ‘camo’ grips and a military theme, Starlo StiX also feature Sea Guides with zirconium inserts, and custom reel seats. Rod options cover everything from light to medium and heavy spin, and a couple of handy baitcasters suitable for bass to barra. Steve says, “These are the rods I actually choose to use in my personal, day-to-day fishing: whether shooting DVD and TV segments, competing in tournaments, researching magazine stories and blog features, or simply wetting a line socially with friends and family.” Starlo has also provided his own analysis of the current rods in the Jungle StiX range and their best applications on his website, at www.starlofishing.me/ whats-new/starlo-stix-rods/
Australian plate aluminium boat manufacturer Bar Crusher continues to lead the charge in trailer boat innovation with the introduction of a new series of custom-designed alloy trailers. Available as an option with the 615, 670, 680, 730 and 780 hull series, the premium-quality alloy trailers shed up to 150kg off the average tow weight on the larger models. Bar Crusher director Peter Cleland said the alloy trailer option again lifted the bar to a new level, by offering a range of lightweight, high-quality trailers under Bar Crusher’s range of high-performance sportfishing boats. “All Bar Crusher boats are factory-packaged on custom-designed trailers to deliver the ultimate boating experience on the water, at the ramp and on the highway,” Mr Cleland said. “For people who consider tow weight a limiting factor in their purchasing decision, Bar Crusher’s new alloy trailer series provides a workable solution to owning the boat they really want. “Just like Bar Crusher’s range of galvanized steel trailers, the new alloy trailer design ensures the boat self-levels and self-aligns, so the boat can be driven on and hit the winch post first time, every time… even my young kids can do it!”
Specifically engineered for each boat to ensure maximum support and stability, Bar Crusher’s alloy trailers are more heavily constructed than most other alloy trailers on the market. With heavy duty 190mm beam rails, the trailers feature torsion bar axles, stainless steel callipers and vented rotors. The full keel roller system incorporates sleeves in the polyurethane rollers for less rolling friction at the ramp, while a premium winch ensures the boat is held securely while on the road. Alloy wheels, heavy duty swing-up jockey wheel, and fully-sealed and waterproof LED lights are standard on every trailer. The new alloy trailers also incorporate Bar Crusher’s Bar Catch™ launch/retrieve system, to ensure a hassle-free experience at the ramp.
Yamaha Powers Paul Worsteling and IFISH TV Yamaha Motor Australia is pleased to announce a new partnership with Paul Worsteling and IFISH. The popular TV presenter and angler will join the Yamaha family in 2014. This exciting partnership will see Yamaha outboard motors on the back of Paul’s boats throughout 2014 and beyond. Paul has spent his whole working life in the recreational fishing industry with his first job in a tackle shop at 14 years of age. Opening his first tackle shop at just 22, Paul is well qualified in all aspects of piscatorial pursuit.
Islander Campers from Penguin Composites Outback 2.3m
Floor length 2.3m and a side door, the Outback 2.3 slide on caravan is designed to fit extra or freestyle cab size flat tray vehicles. Many options, but typically includes: Sandwich panel construction; Fibreglass cupboards; Fully insulated panels; Electric camperjacks; Security door; Electronic battery management system; 90 litre fridge; 95 litre stainless steel water tank; 6’2’’ x 4’ or 5’ bed; 2 burner stove and grill; Easy lift mechanism for pop top roof lifting; Aluminium full pop top section with vinyl sleeve; Approximately 610Kg.
Innovan campers are a
ground breaking and top-selling new camper with a solid fibreglass shell that can ‘hinge open’ to provide more space. Their revolutionary patented design allows the Innovan camper to expand from 1.5 metres above the floor to an enclosed living space with solid walls and a ceiling close to 3 metrescould highbe in one seconds. Amenities Penguin Composites specialises of them. and your storage space areboat cleverly fitted on mean the interior in taking old fibreglass That could a pod and on the and building modern, back or a total makelight, overmobile from a exterior itofinto theaunit, allowing the Innovan to stay practical platform. cuddy cab or runabout to a terrific and fishing affordable. There are many excellent boats little bay, estuary, lake, bream or Innovan campers come in both a slide-on and a caravan around that just need a revamp trout boat. model. to bring them up to date. Yours All walls are thick insulated fibreglass, and the interior is comfortable and spacious. To this
A new boat from your old glass clunker
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Ph: 03 6437 2791 808 South Road, Penguin, Tasmania 7316
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Fishing News - Page 37
The best new products Paul’s TV career started as a presenter with fishing icon, Rex Hunt, on Rex Hunt Fishing Adventures in 2000. This was later followed by the launch of IFISH in 2005. The success of IFISH has been phenomenal with the show gaining huge popularity amongst fishing and non fishing audiences right across Australia, receiving several Logie nominations in recent years. Paul’s experience with Yamaha outboard motors is not limited to this new partnership. In some respects Paul has come full circle, with the TV presenter first using Yamaha Outboards with Rex Hunt in the late 1990s. In fact the first two boats Paul ever owned were Yamaha powered. When the opportunity arose, it was these experiences along with the superior quality and technology found in Yamaha’s latest four stroke outboard engines that drew Paul back to the Yamaha brand. “I am genuinely thrilled to be in partnership with Yamaha Motor Australia. It’s an exciting time for both IFISH and Yamaha,” said Paul. “IFISHTV has a massive year ahead, we’re in the middle of filming some great new episodes for season 9. And Yamaha are going to take it to the next level with the innovation they are bringing to four stroke outboard market this year. I can’t wait to be part of it.” Yamaha Outboards will now power Paul and the rest of the IFISH team throughout 2014 and beyond starting
with Paul’s 2150 Stabicraft Supercab which will now be powered by a pair of Yamaha’s F100D fuel injected four strokes. “Yamaha is thrilled to have Paul on board for 2014”, said Grant Binskin, National Marketing Manager for Yamaha Marine Products in Australia. “IFISH is a great program and really connects with fisherman across Australia. We particularly appreciate the way Paul takes the time to interact with fans of the show and we’re really looking forward to working with him this year”. IFISH Series 9 will air on channel 10 and One HD from April through to December and will also appear on Foxtel’s Lifestyle channel.
PENN Australia Partners with Braid products! Braid Products are a perfect addition to the PENN Australia stable with harnesses, fighting belts and lures included in the range.
Re-Power and Service Specialists
Qualified service staff New workshop Comprehensive range of parts for all major brands Authorised sales/service dealer for SeaDoo Jet Skis and Jet Boats
Well known as a true pioneer in harness development. Braid harnesses are used across the globe in gamefishing circles. Braid harness design was refined through hours of fighting huge gamefish such as yellowfin tuna off the Baja Peninsula. The result of years of experience Braid harnesses are the best in harness technology. Full utilisation of the angler’s body weight, spreading out of opposing forces at the pivotal point and using all elements of rod, reel and manpower to the fullest mechanical advantage. What does this all mean? More power and control and less pain and strain when fighting big fish! Catering to modern sportfishing, Braid products took their knowledge of harnesses and developed a range of fighting belts. Covering a wide range of fishing styles from popping for GT’s and jigging for Kings to general bottom fishing. In particular the new Braid Fighter Belt is destined to become the GT fisho’s best friend with its combination of versatility, comfort and rugged construction. It’s not all harnesses and belts though. Braid products incorporate an extensive range of lures as well. Jigging enthusiasts will find an array of new jigs from 7gram micro jigs right through to 330 gram models in a range of styles. Surface fishing for big fish is an addictive past time. Braids range of Tantrum poppers and stickbaits feature realistic colours and a highly reflective holographic finish. They are also built to withstand the rigours of this kind of fishing with heavy duty trebles and through body wire construction.
Shimano’s Ocea Offshore series, launched with welldeserved fanfare last year, are an incredibly diverse range, consisting of four saltwater spin, overhead, stickbait and GT stickbait rods. Three new rods have been included for this season — PE5 and PE8 rods for jigging, and a 50-80 pitch bait rod. Jigging in deep water is a gruelling, demanding way of catching a fish, but the Offshore Jig PE5 and PE8 make it almost a pleasure. The PE5 is suited to use with 40-65 pound Power Pro and 200-400 gram jigs, and the PE8 65-100 pound Power Pro and 350-500 gram metal. The 50-80 Pitch Bait is also braid-friendly, being ideally suited to 50-80 pound Power Pro, or nylon if fishing a game fishing tournament. As with the existing series, the new rods make use of Shimano’s proprietary TCurve TC4 graphite in the blanks, and marine-grade aluminium Alps reel seats, Fuji K Series ‘Tangle Free’ guides with Alconite inserts, and well shaped and extremely comfortable EVA grips that are perfect for long fights. The two jig rods feature full length EVA butts, and the pitch rod a graphite Slick Butt.
SHIMANO Stella SWB Spin Reels
Dennis Braid. Truly an Experienced Angler Australian born, when it comes to international fishing experience, Dennis Braid has been there and done that. From Central America, the Bahamas, Bermuda, even testing giant bluefin tuna off the coast of Italy, and with forays ‘all over the Pacific’ he is no stranger to the global sport. Yet vocation took him first into sheet metal work and then as a model and racing car builder. There he became an expert in developing ideas into prototypes and finally into finishing products. But he never stopped fishing. Braid studied, devised and crafted, and when the time was right, he put those manufacturing skills together with his fishing expertise to produce the most innovative and effective lures and fishing accessories on the market. Today he is renowned for his more than 20 years as the leader in big game fishing equipment. Visit the PENN Australia website and check out the Braid product range. www.pennfishing.com.au
6 Effingham St, Moonah
Phone: 6214 9999
www.maynesmarine.com.au sales@maynesmarine.com.au Fishing News - Page 38
SHIMANO Ocea Offshore Rods
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Shimano’s new Stella SWB series will change the way people think about spinning reels — forever. Blue marlin, Giant bluefin tuna, house-size giant trevally and those once uncatchable monster dogtooth tuna are now comfortably within reach of all angling extremists. And as for more mortal fish, well they really don’t stand a chance. We are all familiar by now with X-Ship, which is a feature in a number of high-end Shimano threadlines. It enhances power transmission through the gear for increased cranking power, but a 20 per cent thicker barrier gear with a proprietary surface coating means it is now 38 per cent stronger than the existing Stella SW. The use of High Rigidity Aluminium in the body, as well as being a weight saver, won’t twist or warp, keeping the internals in perfect alignment, while
Red Kellys - all for the fish With MD Leo Miller
The island of Tasmania is well known for its magnificent table fare and in particular its seafood. “World famous” is a term that is bandied about far too often and it tends to lose its effect, but in this case it is spot on the money.
years hundreds of Southern Bluefin Tuna with my best going 91kg in southern Tassie.
It doesn’t matter what fine fare we drag from the depths. Farmed Atlantic salmon raised in pristine waters delivering unsurpassed flavour and texture. Wild abalone flourishing in unspoilt coastal waters growing succulent and delicate flavoured meat. These are but a few of the Tasmanian species and industries that are recognised globally as being the best on the market.
The boys and I take my 7m “Sonair” called “Choonachasa” out whenever work and family commitments allow. We go far and wide chasing mainly Southern Blue fin. Although Broadbill is now on the list and we will be targeting them this season.
I managed to sit down with mad keen fisherman and now Tasmanian Leo Miller. Leo is Managing Director of Tasmanian business RED KELLYS dressings. In that role he “manages” to pull of the incredulous task of making Tasmania seafood taste even better. When did it all begin for you? “I caught my first ever fish before I could talk. A mighty Wrasse on a handline at age 3 and a half, off to see a speech therapist at 4, and those that know me well would say I have never looked back on either front!” What is your favourite fishing? “My love of all fishing is strong, but my fishing obsession is game fishing. I was introduced to game fishing at 11 years old cubing Yellow fin Tuna. I caught my personal best Yellow of 24kg off Eden and I am yet to best those school sized fish. We had many trips catching smaller models until I spent an hour on a 70kg+ bruiser at 14years old with Dad’s help. How did that fight end? “We put up a good fight but was bested by a good fish when we broke him at the boat. After that I was well and truly hooked and my stubborn nature only fuelled me to try harder, travel further and fish more. Since then I’ve added marlin, 120kg est. released, Make’s 105kg est. released. Albacore (PB 23kg on 8kg), Kingfish, Dolphin fish, Barracuda, and in recent
That’s a fabulous species list that anyone could be proud of and I get a sense of the tip of the iceberg.
I know work hard to put some fish on deck but your tag and release efforts are prodigious. We love to catch Bluefin Tuna but taking all you need rather than all you can is far better practice. While we practice a lot of Tag and Release we always bring home a feed…. You have considerable insight as part of RED KELLY. What goes well with the seafood you catch. We primarily make premium dressings; several of which are a perfect match with a fresh Tuna steak, a couple of cray tails or some Tempura Mako! RED KELLY’s is of course well known for its salad dressing and salad is perfect accompaniment for any well-cooked seafood dish. Do you have any recipes for those blokey bloke fisherman that like to dabble in the kitchen and impress her in doors with their culinary ability? My word I do….after gorging on Sashimi for an entrée I love to whip up a simple seafood meal. Here are a few of my favourites
Popcorn Albacore
Jan / Feb usually sees albacore hit Tasmania’s east coast and often so thick you can walk over them. Guys chasing flathead start getting them on paternoster rigs, often you only need to drop a lure from your boat and hook up. Hauls of 50+ in a day are common. Most of the early fish are small with more 15kg+ specimens taken March to June however you
usually manage to snag one or two 6kg+. I personally think the bigger Albacore taste better because of a higher fat content but I’ll always keep the first 1 or 2 regardless because they are delicious. I like to cut 2 to 3cm cubes out of the fillets and then whip up a seasoned batter. Plain flour, ice cold soda water, and egg yolk and half a teaspoon of bi-carb soda. I generally spice this up although plain is fine. Flavour with anything you like but I pop in fresh ground Coriander, Chilli, Lime zest, ginger and Italian parsley. I have a mini deep fryer although you can use a pot it’s just messier and less accurate. Get the oil to 190+, shake your Ably in a bag of plain flour then coat with batter and start “popping that chicken” cook til the batter is crunchy and the tuna should still be raw in the middle, 2 to 3 mins. Drain and dry on paper towel and serve with a side salad Drizzled with Red Kellys Dressing; I like the Sweet Chilli Lime for this dish. I put a bit in a dipping bowl to dip my ably cubes in
Blue fin steaks, mango and fetta salad
My favourite cut of tuna for steaks is the top part of the shoulder. For sashimi I love the meat just above the belly flap as it tends to be higher in fat content but a tad softer when raw than the shoulder. I slice off steaks around 20mm thick, dip in plain flour and shake well, egg wash, then crumb. Preferably a home-made crumb if you have time; blend in some fresh chopped parsley, grated garlic and a dash of grated parmesan and I like to add a good shake of Red Kellys Tasmania Lemon Myrtle Pepper.
MD Leo Miller on the job finding some fish to test his sauces on. Prep your salad first. Mixed leaves, cut Lebanese cucumber, Crumbled Feta (I like Danish), and fresh cubed Mango (if out of season replace with seedless halved grapes or cherry tomatoes). The fish only needs 4 mins cooking so get your spuds on. Tassie Pinkeye’s for me but small bintji’s or Kippflers will work. Boil til soft then pop in a pan with fresh garlic, rosemary, olive oil (Cobram estate is readily available and the best by far), a knob of butter and generous shake or two of Red Kellys Sunday Roast Spice Shaker. Whole these are frying off get another pan on a high heat for your fish. Add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan, I use Canola here as it has a high smoking point, and a knob of butter. Gently place your steaks in, 2 mins or until golden then turn, add a squeeze of lemon and 1 to 2 mins or til golden. If they are cooked thru when you remove them they are over cooked. Fish will continue cooking in its own heat after removing from the pan so Tuna especially needs to be raw in the middle when removed; it will taste much better medium rare than medium and at well done throw it out and start over. Serve with a generous drizzle of Red Kellys Dressing over your salad and Tuna, I use Lemon Myrtle or Lemon Oregano but any of the varieties work. Kelly Hunt
The best new products being impervious to the effects of salt water. There are no fewer than 14 SA-RB bearings inside, so line retrieval via the new cold-forged aluminium handle is as effortless as can be, even under punishing loads. The rotor, titanium bail wire, and a SW barrier-coated Diamond Like Carbon bail roller all combine to deliver rigidity, strength and power, to make fishing jigs and high resistance lures like poppers so much easier. To stop these sorts of fish, you obviously need a serious drag system. X-Tough Drag, with its Coil Wave Spring and increased washer size means enhanced drag consistency at every compression level, but
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Seasonal Closure Protects Spawning Squid A seasonal squid closure for all species from 15 October to 14 November operates each year around the south east coast for all waters south from Lemon Rock (south of Wineglass Bay) to the northern end of Marion Beach (south of Maria Island). This includes Coles Bay, Great Oyster Bay and Mercury Passage. The purpose of the seasonal closure is to lessen disturbance during mating, protect spawning squid and prevent disturbance to squid mops (laid eggs) around the major known spawning areas for calamari in Tasmania during the peak spawning period.
RECREATIONAL SEA FISHERIES NEWS February/March 2014
FOCUS ON SQUID Recently, there have been reports of Gouldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s squid around the East and South East being caught in fairly large numbers. For many fishers, particularly if you are fishing from a boat, this is an opportunity not to be missed. To others the arrival of the squid season is not always welcome as it can be difficult to get your line to the bottom for a feed of flathead. The most commonly caught species in Tasmania are the southern calamari (Sepioteuthis australis) and Goulds squid (Nototodarus gouldi), also known as arrow squid. Southern calamari are more fickle to catch but have eating qualities preferred by many fishers. Goulds squid is still great eating, and is also a popular bait used for targeting striped trumpeter and other deep water species. Squid are known for their veracious appetite and aggressive hunting behaviour. Given the opportunity, they will happily devour each other.
Their diet is mainly fish at which they are adapt at immobilising and killing by biting their victim behind the head, cutting the spine. They then tear apart their prey with their parrot-like beak. They eat anything they can capture and consume a broad range of prey including crustaceans like prawns, shrimps and krill and other squid and octopus using their suckered arms and tentacles. Squid are an important source of food for higher predators such as sharks, tuna, marine mammals and seabirds while also playing an important ecological role as predators.
This closure gives squid the opportunity to reproduce multiple times and protects the large spawning aggregations that occur during this period from targeted fishing. The closure ensures future adult populations. Many of the squid that hatch in these waters return or remain in these regions to return as spawning adults. Courtship is an involved process with both sexes participating in dancing, coloured displays, fighting, deception and caution as the desired partner may be considering a meal rather than reproduction. Competitions amongst males for mates result in aggressive attacks from other males defending their mate. As a mechanism for getting under the guard of these male other males change their colours and behaviour to the same as females. The down side of this deception is the undesirable attention of other amorous males. Mating only takes two seconds during which the male transfers spermatophores containing packages of sperm to the female using a modified arm. The fertilised eggs are then encased in a shell and then 4-7 eggs are covered with a membrane to form fingers. These are concealed in seagrass beds in clumps of 50 or several hundred to form mops. Other spawning pairs may also lay eggs on the one egg mop. The eggs take 3-5 weeks to hatch depending on water temperature producing miniature adults around 4-7 mm in length. These hatchlings are able to behave like adults: producing ink, swimming freely and hunting.
Southern Calamari
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In Australia, calamari inhabit shallow inshore waters from Dampier in Western Australia to Moreton Bay in Queensland, including Tasmania. They are mobile and migrate between feeding and spawning grounds. They grow rapidly with individuals increasing their body weight by as much as 8% per day. They live between 260 -280 days and most that are caught in Tasmania are 25 - 40 cm in mantle length with some fish taken being greater than 50 cm. The primary method of capture is using squid jigs although some are taken in nets and spear. Calamari are mainly targeted during the day over shallow areas of seagrass and other algaes. Traditionally, the calamari fishery has been focused in Great Oyster Bay, Mercury Passage, off Bicheno, around Tasman Peninsula and Stanley. In recent years the catch from other areas has increased around the state.
hot spots. A good indicator will be black ink sprays on the platforms and rocks. Many of the jetties have lights that attract prey which the squid ambush from the shadowy margins. Squid do not like fresh water so clear clean water is more productive. An incoming or high tide is ideal and the presence of small patches of or beds of sea grass increase the chance of catching a feed. A simple method used is the drop and retrieve.
Southern Calamari
The lure is cast out and allowed to flutter down towards the bottom, it is then retrieved in several short sharp jigs and allowed to sink and the process is repeated. In all squid fishing there is a jigging action of some sort required.
Goulds (Arrow) Squid
Goulds (Arrow) Squid Arrow squid inhabit open and coastal waters from southern Queensland to mid-Western Australia and around Tasmania. They move widely but no largescale migration occurs. As with other squid species, they live for around one year and can grow to 40 cm in length and weigh up to 1.6 kg. Most caught in Tasmania were between 20-35 cm and averaged weight of 0.7 kg. Individuals spawn once and then die but spawning occurs all year round. Egg masses are free floating at least 1.5m in diameter and contain several thousand eggs.
Once you start catching the action can become prolific and it is not long before you reach your bag limit and dribbles of sticky ink are all over your clothes.
Cooking Squid, and in particular calamari are almost revered for their eating quality. Due to its global distribution different cultures cook and consume squid resulting in many different preparation methods. It is suitable to bake, fry, boil, marinated, grilled or barbequed, smoked, and eat raw. The ink can be used as colouring and flavouring. Squid has to be cooked quickly or over a longer time to make sure it is tender.
New Scalefish Fishery Management Plan Keep an eye out for the release of the new Scalefish Management Plan which is must be in place by November 2014. Any new rules will apply from the start of next year’s fishing season. The Department is progressing issues that have been identified and aims to consult on the draft management plan before Easter this year. Notification of the release of the draft management plan and the commencement of the 60 day public consultation period will be in all Tasmanian newspapers and at www.fishing.tas. gov.au. The Department will also use its Fisheries Tasmania Facebook page, and the email alert service to keep you informed. Flyers will also be available from Service Tasmania and tackle shops. You can register to receive email updates on the latest sea fishing news in Tasmania, including public consultation documents, fisheries rule changes and season reminders at www.fishing.tas.gov.au.
Need more information? Get a copy of the Recreational Sea Fishing Guide from Service Tasmania; Download the Tasmanian Sea Fishing Guide app for iPhone or Android; visit www.fishing.tas.gov.au; or www.facebook.com/ FisheriesTasmania or Phone 1300 720 647 (local call cost) or 03 6165 3046
The availability of Gould’s squid in Tasmania is highly variable and dependent on the influences of environmental conditions on the survival of the juveniles.
Responsible Fishing Tips Keep within the catch limits and do not waste your catch. Ice or brine your squid. The possession limit is 15 for each squid species. There is also an on water possession limit of 10 calamari in the South East from Lemon Rock (south of Wineglass Bay) to Whale Head. Squid have a well-developed nervous system and once caught should be killed as humanely as quickly as possible by removing the head or using an ika shime (squid spike). The spike is quickly and firmly inserted into the top of the head between the eyes and again behind the head. All colouration in the squid will fade to white.
Fishing gear The global popularity for catching squid has resulted in an array of specialised fishing equipment being developed. Often referred to as ‘Egi’ gear it covers rods, reels, lines and in particular jigs. The jigs are available in different sizes, sinking rates, action, colours and surface finish. The colours of the jigs are diverse and selection is a personal choice but other characteristics are dependent on depth, tide and weather conditions. The Egi rods are designed to give the correct action to the jigs and come in lengths of 7 – 10 feet. Fishing for squid is one of the popular shore based fishing activities in Tassie. The easily accessible jetties, launching ramps and rocky shore lines in sheltered bays around our coast offer a multitude of fishing platforms. Stanley Wharf, Low Head, Petal Point, Eddystone Point, Coles Bay, Triabunna and Pirates Bay are a few of the many
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TASMAP’s Highland Lakes Map and Angling Notes is an invaluable guide to the world class trout fishing in the thousands of lakes and tarns located throughout the region. It covers most of the Central Plateau, shows all of the lakes, how to get there along with launching facilities, accommodation, camping and caravan areas, fuel supplies and services.
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