BNB Fishing Mag | April 2024 by bnbfishing

Awesome April action 495

Includes GST

April 2024

Yabbies still a prime bait

Dirty water fishing tips

Caring for your catch Moreton Bay missions

Wicked time in Whitsundays Offshore action around K'gari

Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 35, Number 4

ISSN 1832-4517

04 Proudly produced and printed in Australia

9 771832 451001

Soft plastic flathead tips

Estuary • Offshore • Freshwater • 4WD • Camping • Touring www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 1

Page 2 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 3

GEN III

The Ultimate 115HP & 140HP Outboard Motor Range now fitted with the Suzuki Micro-Plastic Collecting Device. Suzuki’s third generation 115hp & 140hp outboard motors boast more torque, quicker acceleration, and improved top speed thanks to revising the cylinder head and piston design and increasing the compression ratio to 10.6:1. The new cowling and semi-direct air intake greatly reduce intake noise resulting in quieter operation. Suzuki’s Micro-Plastic Collecting Device (MPC) is part of Suzuki’s Clean Ocean Project initiative, which collects micro-plastic without any effect on performance when boating. The third generation 115hp & 140hp are available in both Suzuki Precision Control (Drive-by-wire) and mechanical-drive variants and backed by Suzuki’s 3+3-year recreational warranty.

Page 4 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing editor

A NAG I N G our fishery is a bit like walking a tightrope. Lean too far to one side and you could over balance, leaving a mess. Conversely, lean too far to the other side and the outcome is the same. Finding that central point allows you to move a little each way, giving scope to management practices. This scope is required because it’s basically impossible to stay exactly in the middle. However, the key is staying within that scope – requiring good balance (or management) – where efforts need to be focused. Weather events, catch quota, bag and size limits, recreational impacts, biomass, environmental impacts and livelihoods are only a few of the things that need to be juggled (or taken into account) when delivering management strategies. Sometimes it’s hard to understand the exact direction the government is going, though at other times it’s very easy. The recent announcement from Fisheries Queensland regarding the establishment of gillnet-free zones in the Gulf of Carpentaria has not been welcomed by commercial fishos. This announcement also sparked concern by commercial fishers that the phase out of gillnet fishing on the Great Barrier Reef may be fast-tracked to before the planned date of mid-2027. Fisheries Queensland has highlighted one of the key factors for the

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removal of gillnets was to better protect the threatened, endangered and iconic species of the Great Barrier Reef, in keeping with its world heritage status. These phase outs have been implemented as part of commercial fishing reforms led by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to support sustainable fishing in Queensland – which I believe is what all anglers are after. Well, most. Unfortunately, a few from both the commercial and recreational sides still seem to think regulations don't apply to them. Hopefully these viewpoints will change over time, or Fisheries will be allocated more resources to enforce their management strategies. Is it the weather or just me? I’m not sure if I’m just getting more cynical as I get older, but it seems as though we’ve had a tough run in the weather department lately. Or am I simply becoming a little soft in my old age? I know the hours aren’t ticking over on the engine, which is always a shame because it means I’ve spent less time on the water. And thinking back, nothing used to stop me heading out – not rain, not wind, not anything. Sure, in winter it was hard on those frosty mornings, particularly fishing out of an open boat with the freezing cold air piercing though your skin, but it was also invigorating. So am I getting wiser, or softer, or has the weather actually been that bad?

Well, it’s probably a combination of all three. We have had a very poor start to the year weather wise, with persistent rain and wind. Hopefully as we start to move into the cooler months, the rain and wind abate, the water clears up and we have a cracking middle section of the year. Thanks Our fishery wouldn’t be as good as it is without the help of heaps of volunteers. Whether it's cleaning up our creeks and foreshore on Clean Up Australia Day or stocking local creeks and dams – volunteers play a major part. One group I want to highlight is the Somerset and Wivenhoe Fish Stocking Association, which is constantly putting the hard yards in to ensure our creeks and dams are alive with native fish. Recent projects include restocking Mary River cod fingerlings and bringing back Brisbane River cod. Another group working hard to maintain our awesome country is OzFish Unlimited. This is a nationally run organisation with the aim of helping fishos protect and restore fish habitat. BNB Fishing run regular OzFish articles detailing past, present and upcoming events, which often require volunteers. If you’re keen to get involved, there are a few events coming up – March 23, April 10 and April 27 – aimed at restoring the local shellfish reefs of Moreton Bay.

Check out ozfish.org. au for more information. Giving back not only makes you feel good, but the results of your efforts benefit the fishery and ultimately future anglers.

Why not check out who your local volunteer group is and offer to lend a hand? It is also a great way to teach our kids about respecting the country.

Ben Collins

OUR COVER Awesome April action

495

Includes GST

April 2024

Yabbies still a prime bait

Dirty water fishing tips

Caring for your catch Moreton Bay missions

Wicked time in Whitsundays Offshore action around K'gari

Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 35, Number 4

ISSN 1832-4517

04 Proudly produced and printed in Australia

9 771832 451001

Soft plastic flathead tips

Estuary • Offshore • Freshwater • 4WD • Camping • Touring www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 1

FLATHEAD are a fun fish to catch when targeting them on soft plastics. Check out Justin Willmer's article on page 16 on how to lure a lizard on a mix of Z-Man plastics.

NEXT EDITION: May edition will be on sale in newsagents from April 26. APRIL SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: See the subscription form on page 84 to subscribe this month to go in the draw to win one of 20 Companion Ultrafine Microfibre Travel Towels valued at $17.95 RRP each. FEBRUARY PRIZE WINNERS: Congratulations to B. Frankel, Urangan; G. Morianos, Coomera; K. Newman, South West Rocks; P. Cumming, Prospect and R. Love, Manly West who will each receive a lure pack from S Tackle, valued at $61.80 RRP each. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 5

April 2024 contents Local lizard and snapper action. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Conlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Tuna, tailor, bream and flatties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mark Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . P12 Join Redland Bay Amateur Fishing Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14 Flathead with soft plastics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Justin Willmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P16 Fishing Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P19 Tide Times - Brisbane Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P20 2024 Women’s Fishing Classic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P20 Junior angler's one percenter flathead tips. . . . . . . . . . . . by Guy Lambert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P22 Awesome time on Moreton Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Peter Herbst . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P24 Tackling ghost gear in Aussie waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P26 Average offshore activity persists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . . . . . P27 Caring for your catch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Andy Melville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 Yabbies never cease to fail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P32 Mack, jack and crab capers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P36 Dirty water options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P38 Bream, tailor and jewies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tye Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P40 Product News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P42 Stacer Sea Runner an all rounder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P46 Quintrex encourages females to get in the driver’s seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P48 Dunbier announces key appointments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P50 Mercury portable outboards savings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P50 Setting up for a sweet sortie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Craig Tomkinson . . . . . . . . . . . P52 Barramundi fire up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Rippon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P54 Living it up at Log Dump Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . . . . . P56 Persistence pays off at K'gari. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Raimondi . . . . . . . . . . . . . P58 Tide Times – Waddy Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P59 Boyne Tannum HookUp 2024. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P60 Crossover species smorgasbord. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gary Churchward . . . . . . . . . . P62 Charter Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P63 Capricorn Coast Shimano King of Kings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P64 Whitsundays sortie – Part 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . P66 Chasing 1m barra at Lake Proserpine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P69 God’s country – Cape Range National Park. . . . . . . . . . . . by Ben Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P70 Talking tyres – everything's on the wall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul 'Chief' Graveson . . . . . . . P74 Freshwater gold clam found in Brisbane River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P76 Fish deaths reignite frustration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P76 Dam Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P77 Autumn in Tasmania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P78 Moura Muddy Water Classic Fishing Competition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P79 Clean Up Australia Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P80 Glenlyon's water releases end. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P80 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P82 Readers’ Forum ��P83 Subscription Form ��P84 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

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The Team

EDITOR: Ben Collins ADVERTISING: Chantal Rimmington PRODUCTION: Tiffany Brown Lisa Jones

Bush ‘n Beach Fishing magazine is published monthly by Collins Media Pty Ltd ABN 43 159 051 500 ACN 159 051 500 trading as Collins Media. Phone 07 3286 1833 Email: ben@collins.media PO Box 162, Wynnum, Qld 4178 PRINTER: SpotNews DISTRIBUTION BY: Wrapaway Max. recommended retail price $4.95 (includes GST). CORRESPONDENTS: Editorial contributions are welcome, as is news from clubs,associations or individuals; and new product news from manufacturers. Entire contents copyright. Nothing may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. It is the responsibility of advertisers and contributors to ensure the correctness of their claims and statements. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 7

Michael’s personal best 84cm monster flathead.

Local lizard and snapper action

Michael was stoked with his catch, an 84cm flathead taken on a Zerek Live Shrimp Hot Legs on his second cast of the morning.

HE water around the southern bay islands is getting clearer, but is still rather dirty, especially when we start going south of Macleay Island. So over the past month we’ve tried to concentrate on areas north of that, looking for cleaner water. To achieve this, I’ve only been fishing incoming tides, staying away from the outgoing tides. This means we haven’t been out on the water but, by using these principles, the charters we have done actually produced some nice fish. Also, considering the surface water temperature most days was

Southern Moreton Bay by SEAN CONLON

somewhere about 28C – with the highest so far being 31C, which is rather warm – this definitely had an effect on my flats fishing. Trying to catch flathead in warm and rather dirty water has been quite difficult, however we’ve still managed to pick a couple up. A lot of the flathead came out of 6-7m of water – my theory is that they’re moving into the deep water where it’s cooler. I had a standout trip this month with a fisho called Michael, who

wanted to learn how to catch a few flatties on soft plastics. I met him at the boat ramp at 6am and we headed to an area that I felt would have slightly cleaner water. The spot was somewhat deeper, roughly about 3m near the edge of a mud bank. Taking my theory into account, even though it was close to the flats, in that depth it might be a little cooler for the fish, rather than fishing close to the mud bank edge in about 0.5m of water * continued P9

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Flathead are still about but in slightly deeper water when the water temperature is high.

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Local bay lizard and snapper action * from P8

that would be at a higher temperature. We arrived at the location for the last hour of a run-out tide. I put the old electric out and popped it on spot-lock while we had a chat about why the fish should be there. As well as the retrieves we were going to use, the right sized jig heads, the coloured plastics for the depth of water we were fishing in and the clarity of the water – which was fairly poor. Because prawns were around, we put on a Zerek Live Shrimp Hot Legs, the colour being slightly darker due to the clarity of the water. I put a cast in to show Michael the retrieve that he should use and then basically handed the rod to him. He started casting while I got a couple of rods with different lures ready to show him how they worked. Michael made his first cast and got his lure back to the boat.

He then made his second cast and, right at the boat, just before he was about to pull the lure up, the old rod buckled over with a big clunk. Before we knew it, Michael had a rather large lizard close to the boat. Now the fish was very green, but I had a net shot and scooped her up. Unfortunately for us, this flatty had a completely different idea. With a huge kick of its tail, it punched a hole straight through the net and took off. I had the fish still hooked on one side of the net with the rod on the other side of it. We opened the bail arm and let the fish settle down. It had made a rather large hole in the net, so we were able to feed the rod through this. I told Michael to lock the bail arm back over and take up the tension. He was back on fighting the solid lizard, which was a little upset and giving Michael plenty at this stage.

Ryan caught a nice southern bay snapper on the first cast of the morning using a Zerek Live Flash Minnow Wriggly. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Eventually, he had the beast beside the boat. While Michael was fighting the flatty, I had fixed the net with a couple of zip ties, so this time I scooped it up and put it on the deck. Long story short, 84cm of solid southern bay lizard was boated. Needless to say, it was a personal best for Michael – flathead fishing 101 on his second cast. I said to Michael, “There you go mate, there’s a nice flatty, that’s how you do it.” He said, “That’s not a flathead, that’s a monster – we can go home now!” Obviously we didn’t and, after a few quick photos, we had the beast back in the water swimming away to fight another day. Another predominant species in the bay, even though it’s rather warm, were southern bay snapper. Admittedly, they too were hanging about in 6-8m, possibly doing the same thing as flathead and looking for cooler water. While not in huge numbers, when you do find some, they’re a good quality table fish. The techniques that work best for me are using soft plastics and trolling hard-bodies for them. We had plenty of this species around prior to Christmas, then the rain came and dirtied the water, which made them rather scarce. And this is why I’ve been fishing in the cleaner water on bigger incoming tides. I’ve definitely found that the fish turn up as soon as the water turns a lovely green colour, instead of that very ordinary brownie-grey. * continued P10

This 52cm southern bay snapper couldn’t resist a Zerek Flat Shad.

A happy customer and his personal best 50cm snapper taken on a Zerek Flat Shad.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 9

Glen’s 48cm snapper on the brag mat.

A Zerek Flat Shad scores a personal best 59cm snapper.

Local bay lizard and snapper action * from P9

Glen managed a decent 48cm snapper on a Zerek Live Flash Minnow Wriggly. www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au

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For all of our charters, we have fun when we catch fish, though there’s usually a standout for the month. This was a charter chasing snapper – I tried to get the fishos to go on a different day because the day they wanted didn’t have the best tides and I was a little worried we weren’t going to find any clean water. The crew were adamant that the date scheduled was the only day they could all get off together. So, we made a plan and, as usual, I met them at the ramp at 6am and we headed out. I have to say, the first few hours went very slowly. The water temperature was 29C, which was quite warm, and the water was dirty. Luckily, about halfway through the char-

ter, the water started to clear into that lovely green colour. Suddenly, like a switch had been flicked, drags were screaming and rods were bending – the fishos were onto some great fish. The first few to come over the side where a couple of 50cm plus snapper. And it didn’t take long before the rods were bending with a couple of nice trevally. After a few quick photos, I had lines back in the water. Then there were more bent rods and screaming drags and the crew had a couple of decent pinkies in the net. The fishos kept fishing until the end of the charter, picking up a few more snapper and trevally. Most of the fish were about 50cm, with the biggest snapper being 59cm, which was a

fantastic outcome. The crew had a ball. They caught a nice feed of fish, and what could have been a very ordinary day turned out to be great. The one thing we definitely had to have was that green water. Once we had that, the fish couldn’t resist the Zerek Flat Shads, which were the standout lure of the day. As we all know, with our jobs and lives we are time poor, so if you can learn more to optimise your time on the water, why not – remember knowledge is key. Until next month, stay safe on the water and, if you’re interested in our fishing tuition or want to do a fishing charter, give me a call on 0432 386 307, send an email to seanconlonsfishing@ hotmail.com or check out the Facebook page Seano’s Inshore Fishing Charters and Tuition.

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Email: admin@wynnummarine.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 11

The author’s chunky bream was perfectly captured by the photographer, being cheeky.

Check out our website • Latest fishing news • Boat reviews • How-to articles • Useful links • Subscription offers • Monthly specials • Tips from the pros • Comment on articles • Join our free e-news www.bnbfishing.com.au Page 12 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Finally, V broke his Big Mac curse with a decent longtail tuna.

Tuna, tailor, bream and flatties

PRIL is such a great time of year – chasing mackerel in Moreton Bay, gearing up to bag a few squid and watching the water temperature and clarity start changing too. Traditionally, we usually start seeing a few tailor in May and June, yet for 2024 they’ve been caught in both good numbers and great sizes all through the year! Has the weather been a factor or perhaps the floods? Could they be here permanently? I guess we’ll find out in a few months’ time, when the main run starts again. We’re happy to say that we have a success story from our great friend Big Mac. As we’ve mentioned previously, V is the king of mack tuna.

Northern Moreton Bay by MARK TEMPLETON

Even if he’s surrounded by schools of dolphinfish, marlin or trevally, he’d pull a mack tuna. Well, we can finally share a photo of V with a nice longtail tuna. It finally happened and the drought is broken! V actually managed two longtails for the trip and he was ecstatic. Well done V, hopefully you can now add a few more species to your new list. Recently, I took the opportunity of ducking out with a couple of friends to check how the freshwater was clearing around the area. Vince and I had not seen each other in over 20 years and of course

it seemed like yesterday that we last caught up. We got straight into checking the waterways out and I decided to try my go-to outfit, an unweighted whitebait on two-ganged Kumho hooks. The Kumho is a very strong hook, as the fish around the pylons will take advantage of any weakness in your gear. In two hours, we landed 20 bream. The majority of these were taken by dropping the whitebait right onto the pylons and letting them drift down with a little slack line. Most times, they’d hardly sunk 1m before being monstered. So, a couple of things. * continued P13

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Tuna, tailor, bream and flatties * from P12

Whitebait is an awesome bait for chasing bream and flathead particularly. Never be afraid to get your bait right into the danger zone, where you may lose tackle. Give your line a little slack so that it feels reasonably natural when the bream pick it up. Lastly, take a friend who can actually take a decent photo! This bream went 29cm but it was very broad across the back and quite chunky. Now, I’d like to mention a great young fisho, Guy. If he is not at school, he and his dad Gary are out fishing and learning new things. For his age, Guy has gained so much knowledge and he loves to share what he’s learned, be it through his blogs or on his YouTube channel ‘gaffedbyguy’. We will be hearing a whole lot more from this young fisho. Head to page 22 for the Young Guns junior angler feature article by

The author’s go-to outfit includes an unweighted whitebait on twoganged Kuhmo hooks.

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Guy – a new initiative by Tackle Land and Bush ‘n Beach Fishing Magazine to encourage junior anglers to write about their fishing adventures – contact the shop on 07 3269 5060 for more information. Here’s a quick write up he did to share with you. Thank you Guy, keep up the awesome work. Northern Brisbane land-based fishing with soft plastics by Guy Lambert When the water warms in spring and summer, I’ve found the local bait downsizes and predatory species’ diets move towards smaller bait such as herring, small garfish and jelly prawn. Due to the smaller bait, I downsize my plastics from 3” to 2” and 2.5”. Many places around north Brisbane have better access on the lower stages of the tide, for example the last hour of a run-out and first two hours of a run-in. These are prime times for ambush predators such as flounder, flathead, bream and estuary pelagic species, due to the last of the bait running off the shallows and re-entering through the mouth of the river systems. I find places with rock walls, rubble, sunken or exposed timber and pylons fish better on the higher stages of the tide, often due to more bait holding tight to those places. At this stage of summer, we get a good flathead edge bite, with smaller prawns taking refuge on the drop-offs and shallows. This has made it

easy to find a tide and weather pattern to successfully fish for them. Lately, a dropping or rising barometer matched with the change of tide has been flathead’s kryptonite, and many have been caught using the following techniques. The gear I run will usually be a versatile rod and reel around the 2-4 or 3-5kg range, the rod being 7’ with a whippy tip to detect any little nudge and retrieve plastics effectively. I generally pair that with a 2000-3000 sized reel, which includes features that reduce weight and focus on comfortability and durability, spooled with an eight-strand thin-diameter braid in a natural chartreuse colour to cast even further. Recently, I’ve found 2-3” well-scented minnow profile plastics have been killer due to the more dominant vibration and baitfish imitation. Grubs and creature baits have also been stand-outs, with subtle vibrations to match the jelly prawns that overtake the river systems during summer. I carry Motor Oil, Midnight Oil, Electric Chicken and Smokey Shad with me to cover natural, vibrant and dark silhouette colours. And depending on current, wind and water depth, I’ll fish with a double hop or slow roll retrieve and weighted jig heads ranging from 1/12-3/8. I hope you find this helpful. For more of my tips, go to my YouTube channel @gaffedbyguy

Guy advises that the lower stages of the tide are prime times for ambush predators such as flounder, flathead, bream and estuary pelagic species.

Guy finds places with rock walls, rubble, sunken or exposed timber and pylons fish better on the higher stages of tide.

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Join Redland Bay Amateur Fishing Club

RBAFC caters to fishos of all skill levels. Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

HE Redland Bay Amateur Fishing Club caters to fishos of all skill levels. Founded 30 years ago by a few enthusiasts at the Redland Bay pub, the club has grown into a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for the outdoors and fishing. The clubhouse for the RBAFC, located at 247257 Esplanade Redland Bay, boasts a two-storey viewing deck with stunning views of the southern bay. In response to the fishing industry’s focus on sustainability, we have introduced a catch and release competition called the Sports Fishing Competition. Sponsored prizes and vouchers are up for grabs in this monthly competition, which allows members to enjoy the thrill of fishing while promoting conservation efforts. The Sports Fishing Comp features two designated species for the month, with separate categories for both senior and junior members choice. This year, we have an overall prize of a custom-made and engraved Thoroughbred rod and Okuma reel combo. The comp will be done on a points system. Every winner of a species will receive two points and every winner from a members choice will receive one point. The person at the end with the most points will win the overall prize. In addition to the Sports Fishing Competition, our packed calendar includes events such as beach fishing competitions at Stradbroke and

K’gari islands, camping trips, freshwater dam excursions, artificial bait days, social gatherings and inshore and offshore fishing competitions. Monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month. Though the sign-on day for 2024 has passed, interested individuals can still join the club by visiting our website at rbafc.org Don’t miss out on the opportunity to become a part of our vibrant fishing community! Thank you to all the wonderful sponsors of our Sports Fishing Competition – Marine Care Qld, Mossops Tackle Shop, Bayside Bait and Tackle, DW Property Maintenance, Nyree Ewings Properties, Bay-

side Custom Painting, IC4U Building Inspections, Reel Repairs Australia, Pool Leak Services, MEPS Security Systems, Queensland Trailer Spares, Savvy Bop Designs, Fish Flickers, Redland Bay WholeLife Pharmacy and Health, Jaipur Palace Wellington Point, Slug-A-Bug, Emlytics, Agent Real Estate Media, BMG Building Qld, Bush ‘n’ Beach Fishing Magazine, Outer Line, Tonic Polarised Eyewear, Jim’s Pool Care Australia and Jim’s Pool Care Victoria Point, Gorilla Graphics Australia, Mr Bait Online, Thoroughbred Fishing Rods, Boaters World, Wazza’s Bait and Tackle and Suburban Locksmiths. Visit rbafc.org for more information.

This year’s Sports Fishing Competition overall prize is a custom-made and engraved Thoroughbred rod and Okuma reel combo.

RBAFC is a community of like-minded individuals who share a passion for the outdoors and fishing.

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Townsville 07 4721 1554 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 15

SCAN QR CODE

Barry scored a handful of flathead from a red hot session fishing Z-Man 2.5” PrawnZ in a large sandy drain.

Tyler Bolitho and a cracker 80cm flathead from the shallows, flicking a Bloodworm coloured Z-Man 4” StreakZ Curly TailZ.

Flathead with soft plastics

Anne with a nice flathead safely on the lip grips for a few photos prior to release.

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LATHEAD really are the people’s fish as they are readily available, eat a wide variety of bait and lures and the next trophy fish could be caught land-based next to the boat ramp. In this article I want to look at key areas to target flathead, a few of my favourite soft plastic presentations and a handful of tips to help you catch more fish. Where to fish Low tide Prime times to target flathead are the last two hours of a run-out tide and the first hour of a run-in. Baitfish and prawns are forced out of the mangroves and off the flats, so key areas to target include channel edges, drop-offs and, in particular, drains that carry the last of the bait off the flats. Flathead will concentrate in these areas to make the most of the food being brought to them by the falling tide. If there’s additional structure, such as timber snags and weed edges, or points that create eddies in the current, the fish won’t be far away.

Tackle Tactics by JUSTIN WILLMER

Keep an eye out for active bait because this is another sign that fish are feeding in the area. High tide The last couple of hours of a run-in tide and the first hour of a run-out can also be productive for a high tide. I tend to target areas that the flathead can’t access on the lower stages of the tide, such as mangrove edges, drains, rock and rubble patches and also manmade structures, such as rock walls, stormwater drains and near high-tide boat ramps.

Flathead will often hold hard up against these edges, patrolling them and feeding on the bait that is looking for shelter, so get your plastics right in against the structure and along the edge of the mangrove root line. Flathead also love to use shade lines to ambush prey and you will often find them holding under pontoons, jetties, bridges and boat hulls, which also attract bait and in turn predatory species. Soft plastics are also * continued P17

Geared up – a light spin combo, Z-Man 2.5” PrawnZ and some Pro-Cure Super Gel Scent.

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Fishing flathead with soft plastics * from P16

effective after dark and key places to target include areas with artificial lighting that attracts bait, such as boat ramps, bridges and areas where street lighting floods the water. Select a soft plastic with a solid colour profile as a strong silhouette and fish the shadow lines created by structure and where the light fades into darkness. Go-to soft plastic styles Soft plastics are a goto for many flathead anglers because they look and feel real, so fish keep biting them. They are inexpensive, can be fished with a wide variety of retrieves to suit the mood of the fish on the day and the same plastic can be rigged to fish the shallow flats and drains and

down to deep edges, channels and structure, based on jig head selection. The same plastic can also be rigged weedless to fish deep in structure such as timber, weed and mangrove roots, with minimal chance of snagging or fouling. Let’s look at some popular soft plastic styles in more detail, including how, where and why we might select and fish them. Paddle tails Without a doubt my favourite presentation for targeting flathead is a paddle tail plastic – much of their diet is made up of small mullet, whiting and other baitfish, with a paddle tail matching the hatch perfectly. Paddle tails are easy to fish as the tail paddles, making them ‘swim’

on the drop, the retrieve and even when sitting in the current flow, in turn attracting fish and triggering strikes. On bright days and in clear water, I’ll stick with a natural baitfish colour, such as Opening Night or Bad Shad, switching to fluoro and ultraviolet colours in low light and dirty water conditions, such as Gold Rush, Electric Chicken and Motor Oil. My go-to paddle tails include a Z-Man2.5” Slim SwimZ (1/0 jig head) if the bait is small, a 3” Slim SwimZ or MinnowZ (3/0 jig head) as a great allrounder for flathead, and a Z-Man 4” DieZel MinnowZ (3/0 or 4/0 jig head) as a larger profile if the bait in the area is bigger. You can fish a paddle tail almost anywhere on * continued P18

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Slade hooked a quality flathead land based on the ever-reliable Z-Man 3” MinnowZ in Gold Rush to suit the dirty water.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 17

Fishing flathead with soft plastics * from P17

The author with a flathead on his go-to light spin combo, the TT Red Belly 2-4kg rod and Okuma Ceymar HD 2500 size spin reel.

Paddle tail, curl tail, jerk bait and crustacean profiles are all effective for varying applications.

Tackle box Justin’s Tackle Box

• TT Red Belly Spin Rods – RBS702ML 7’ 2-4kg, a great allrounder • Okuma Ceymar HD Spin Reel – CHD2500HA • Platypus Pulse X8 Braid – 8-10lb • Platypus Hard Armour Leader – 10-15lb • Z-Man 2.5” GrubZ / Slim SwimZ / PrawnZ – 1/8-1/4oz 1/0 TT HeadlockZ HD jig head • Z-Man 3” Slim SwimZ / 3.75” StreakZ – 1/81/4oz 2/0 TT HeadlockZ HD jig head • Z-Man 3” MinnowZ / 4” StreakZ Curly TailZ – 1/4-3/8oz 3/0 TT HeadlockZ HD jig head • Z-Man 4” Scented Jerk ShadZ / 4” DieZel MinnowZ – 1/4-3/8oz 4/0 TT HeadlockZ HD jig head • Pro-Cure Super Gel Scent – Mullet or Sardine / Pilchard • Z-Man Rattle-Snaker Page 18 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

any retrieve, however they are my go-to for slow rolling (slow winding) and twitching over the flats and hopping down drop-offs. Curl tails Another favourite that also has loads of builtin action is the curl tail grub. This plastic is extremely versatile, easy to fish and responds to most retrieves, again making it great for those getting into soft plastics fishing. Go-to curl tails in my kit for flathead include the Z-Man2.5” GrubZ and ST GrubZ (Size 1 jig head), along with the 4” StreakZ Curly TailZ (3/0 jig head) as a larger profile. I tend to fish the curl tail plastics in deeper water because they get down quicker and the naturally buoyant Z-Man ElaZtech plastic creates a seductive ‘tail up’ pose when at rest on the bottom, which draws strikes from flathead, snapper, mulloway and more. This natural attraction is handy when fishing deeper water where contact with the plastic may be reduced. Jerk baits You will notice that unlike a paddle or curl tails, jerk bait profiles are straight with minimal in-built tail action. That lack of tail action provides some benefits to anglers. Less tail action means reduced drag – both through the air and in the water – which is great for casting distance, particularly in windy conditions, and also for allowing the plastic to glide down through the water column quicker and more naturally. These characteristics make them especially effective when fish-

ing deeper water and stronger currents and have made the jerk bait style of plastic a go-to for offshore anglers. However, the jerk bait is also deadly on flathead, from flicking it over shallow flats to fishing deeper structure and edges. Minimal in-built action means that it is up to the angler to impart the action by flicking and twitching the rod tip, so that the jerk bait profile imitates a fleeing or injured baitfish. A couple of my favourites include the Z-Man 3.75” StreakZ (2/0 jig head) and the 4-5” Scented Jerk ShadZ (4/0-5/0 jig head). Crustaceans I will reach for a prawn profile, such as a Z-Man2.5” PrawnZ (1/0 jig head) or 3.5” EZ ShrimpZ (3/0 jig head), if I’m fishing weed beds, structure and drains that are home to prawns, or if it’s prawn season and they’re running in the rivers and estuaries I’m fishing. In prawn season, it can be a matter of simply casting these profiles into the areas where the prawns are holding or casting them to prawns that are being harassed and flicking on the surface, which can result in brutal and almost instantaneous strikes. Remember that prawns tend to move slowly, rather than darting

around and swimming larger distances as many baitfish do, so I tend to fish these profiles slower with more hops and twitches and less winding of the reel. They are especially effective when cast in tight to structure and worked close to that structure. Combo selection When it comes to rod selection for targeting flathead, a 7’ 2-4kg graphite rod is a great starting point as it allows a long cast and the application of plenty of action. This is commonly paired with a 2500 size reel and 8-10lb braid for reduced drag, long casts and increased feel, finished with a rod length of 10lb leader to minimise visibility and increase abrasion resistance. This is a great starting point for anglers, with many adding a 7’ 3-6kg rod to their kit if fishing larger presentations and heavier jig heads as they move into deeper water. Additional tips Remember, when handling flathead, they have a spike either side of and on top of their head. Landing nets and lip grips make landing and handling simpler and safer. If you don’t have a landing net when fishing land-based, you can use the momentum of * continued P19

Amelia managed a flathead safely on lip grips, caught on a Z-Man 3” MinnowZ.

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Kayden landed a decent flathead flicking a Z-Man Slim SwimZ along the edges.

Flathead with soft plastics * from P18

the fish and the water it pushes in front of it to slide it up onto the bank. If you don’t have lip grips, you can hold the flathead securely from underneath by holding firmly on the bony sections between the front and secondary fins, with your thumb on one side and a couple of fingers on the other. The front fins then protect you from the spikes. If the water is dirty or the bite is tough, adding scent or a glass rattle to your soft plastic can make a difference. These are a couple of the one percenters that can make a difference when the fishing is tough, helping experienced anglers to consistently get the bite. Flathead are a schooling fish, so once you find one, it’s worth making a few more casts in the same area. If you are catching a bunch of smaller fish (males), it can be worth persisting because they may be schooling around a larger female fish. We prefer to return these larger 60cm plus fish to the water as

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they’ll produce loads of flathead for the future. Likewise, being a schooling fish, we limit the number of smaller fish we keep, ensuring that there are plenty available to enjoy into the future. Hopefully these few tips help you to get stuck into your first or a few more flatties on your next adventure. Remember to think like a fish and breakdown where the fish may be holding and why they might be holding there (structure, current breaks, food), what they may be feeding on (visible bait or the type of bait that resides in that type of area), how that bait moves (your retrieve) and a colour option that suits the conditions you’re fishing in. Flathead are aggressive, accessible, fun and tasty. So set yourself up with a basic kit, hit your local river or estuary land based or on the stand-up paddleboard, kayak or boat. Find the key structure, match the hatch and it won’t be long until you have a bend in the rod. See you on the water…

FISHING EVENTS EVENT

DATE

LOCATION

2024 Moura Muddy Water Apr 13-14 Classic Fishing Competition

Moura, Qld facebook.com/groups/MouraFish Stocking

Boyne Tannum May 3-5 HookUp

Gladstone, Qld boynetannumhookup.com.au

King of the Pin May 31-Jun 2 Alberton, Qld kingofthepin.com.au Womens Fishing Classic

May 11 - Jun 8 Southeast Queensland womensfishingclassic.com.au

Sanctuary Cove May 23-26 Gold Coast, Qld International Boat sanctuarycoveboatshow.com.au Show Rainbow Beach Jun 2-8 Family Fishing Classic & Expo

Rainbow Beach, Qld rainbowsportsclub.com.au

Evans Head Fishing Classic

Evans Head, NSW evansheadfishingclassic.com.au

Jul 5-12

AFTA Tackle Show Aug 15-17

Gold Coast, Qld afta.net.au

Moreton Island Fishing Classic

Aug 28-31

Moreton Island, Qld moretonislandfishingclassic.com.au

Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival

Sep 16-21

Baffle Creek, Qld bafflecreek.com.au

Flathead Classic

Sep 24-27

Gold Coast, Qld flatheadclassic.com.au

Fitzroy River Barra Bash

Oct 9-12

Fitzroy River, Qld fitzroyriverbarrabash.com.au

Tackle World Bundaberg Family Fishing Classic

Oct 19-20

Lake Monduran, Qld masa-fishstocking.org.au

To have your competition listed in the calendar, please phone (07) 3286 1833 or email ads@collins.media Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 19

Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST Registrations are open for the 2024BAR Women’s Fishing Classic. Photos: Women’s EAST COAST – BRISBANE BRISBANE BAR AUSTRALIA, Fishing Classic 2023 2024 2024 LAT 27° 22ʼ S LONG 153° 10ʼ E

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Time

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Page 20 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

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2024 Women’s Fishing Classic * from P20

Whether you’re angling for the largest barramundi or the most colourful coral trout, this year’s competition offers a diverse array of challenges to test your skills and push your limits. Celebrating women in fishing Beyond the thrill of the competition, the Women’s Fishing Classic is a celebration of women in the world of angling. From seasoned veterans to newcomers eager to cast their first line, this event brings together fishos of all backgrounds and skill levels to share their passion for fishing and forge lifelong connections. With a supportive and inclusive atmosphere, the competition serves as a reminder of the important role women

play in the fishing community and encourages more women to take up the sport and experience the joys of angling firsthand. Join the adventure Whether you’re a seasoned fisho or a newcomer looking to cast your first line, this event invites you to join in the adventure. With expanded boundaries, exciting new categories and the chance to win a $22,000 boat from Wynnum Marine, there’s never been a better time to test your skills and reel in victory. So, grab your fishing rod, pack your tackle box and get ready for an unforgettable experience on the Fraser Coast and beyond. For more information and to register, visit womensfishingclassic. com.au

The Women’s Fishing Classic is a celebration of women in the world of angling.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 21

YOUNG GUN anglers

The author has had plenty of flathead success using these one percenter tips.

Flathead are a highly sought-after fish that eat basically anything, which makes using soft plastics perfect for targeting them.

Junior angler's one percenter flathead tips

LATHEAD are a highly sought-after fish that eat basically anything vibrating or wiggling in front of them. This makes using soft plastics a lively way of targeting them. But it isn’t easy all the time, so here are some tips for fishing the tough bite and improving catch rates. Gear for flathead Generally, you want to find a rod and spin bait cast reel setup that has a balance of power and comfortability. I like graphite rods due to the smooth buttery casts and lightness. I find a 7’ rod between the 2-4kg and 2-5kg range, with a casting weight of 2-8gm or 2-14gm, is suitable for flathead of all sizes and any by-catch you come across. A rod with a soft tip is a no brainer because it gives you the ability to detect the slightest bite, offers little resistance

Fishing Tips by GUY LAMBERT

against hook set and is needed when constantly lifting the plastic off the bottom with the right action. Reel sizes vary between 2000-3000, depending on the size of the fish and how big your lures are. I fish Shimano’s Ci4+ material due to its smooth easy fast rotor and, being 48 percent lighter to turn, this helps start your lure retrieve faster, without needing to work to build speed as happens with lower quality reels. I also carry a Stradic or a Sienna for a heavier option to throw larger lures and work them back correctly without stressing the reel internals. Braid Two good options for spooling your setup are eight-strand or fourstrand braid.

Page 22 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Now, a lot of people think that because the four-strand is generally cheaper, it’s of a lesser quality and weaker, but it’s the opposite. Four-strand allows for better abrasion resistance when fishing areas such as patchy rock, thick weed beds, pylons and such, whereas eightstrand comes off the reel and guides smoother because its thinner in diameter. This aids the casting length, is better for facing a headwind and reaching channel or depth changes that are further away, if fishing land based for example. When it comes to leader for flathead, I take 6, 8, 10 and up to 15lb with me. I fish fluorocarbon as it’s a sinking material that helps get your plastic past the current and down to your desired

water depth quicker. Flathead lures When it comes to lure fishing for flathead, I have all the ranges and sometimes find it hard to decide what to pull out on the day. So, here’s a guide that may help you to pick the right packet! Dark or muddy stained water Colours darker than the water colour give off a bold silhouette, making it easier for flathead to see. Bright erratic colours can stand out too and cause a reaction bite if it’s a high fish activity day. Grubs and paddle tails are your best bet, as they give off a more dominant vibration, matching the natural fleeing patterns of smaller baitfish and making it easier for the fish to find. Clear water A more natural baitfish colour, such as silver/white, works best because you have no

murky water to help make the baitfish have a darker tint. Vibrant colours can also stand out from the local bait that inhabits the area, making it more interesting and easier to see for the more curious flathead. The subtle constant action of a grub tail is a lot more natural and matches that of the crustaceans and worms frequently inhabiting the lower reaches of the water column. After rain periods The smaller bait that are beginning their life further up the creek system are flushed down to near the river mouth, where all the nutrients and bait settle, having a bit cleaner water. When fishing the river mouth, use the dark and erratic colours as outlined for dirty water, but try downsizing your lure. You’re not necessarily downsizing your * continued P23

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YOUNG GUN anglers One percenter flathead tips * from P22

catches, though you are matching the bait that congregates around the river mouth and that the predatory species change their diet to. Creature baits perfectly imitate the action, fleeing pattern and vibrations of stirred up bait. Scent Another little one percenter is to add scent. Scent not only improves the distance from which your lure is ‘seen’ due to the strong amino acids and crushed up bait, it makes it look more natural and realistic. So, when fishing a tough bite for finicky fish, it’s a must-have in your tackle box. I’ll reapply scent every 20-30 casts or after having caught a fish to ensure my lure is more noticeable to the fish. Jig heads Using a jig head really depends on the depth, headwind and current because remember, flathead are an ambush species and inhabit the lower reaches of the water column. It’s hard to go past the TT Fishing chemically sharpened Gamakatsu and Mustad hooks for maximum penetration and to reduce how quickly the hook goes blunt. I like to carry 1/12, 1/8, 1/6, 1/4 and 3/8 and hook sizes 1, 1/0, 2, 2/0, 3, 3/0 and sometimes 4 and 4/0. Where flathead hide This is the most important factor to flat-

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head success, so here are my tips for the best places to look for when targeting flatties. Generally, my favourite area – where I have most success – are shallow drains that run to sharp drop-offs or edges. This provides an outof-current spot for the bait to sit in on a running tide and around a slack tide – when the water movement slows up, all the nutrients settle along the edge. Flathead will usually ambush their prey from the bottom of the dropoff, so hopping your lures over that depth change can be deadly. As for most fish, you have to find the bait to find the predators. So look for smaller more subtle snags, including weed beds and slowly drifting weed, that are commonly found near all creek entrances. This provides plenty of nutrients for bait and in turn, flatties use it as a point of ambush. Broken up shell and rubble also provide nutrients. Found in most river systems, drop-offs, drains, shallow and deep sand flats and submerged timber are all quality places to fish for flatties. Lure retrieves Another important one percenter is the retrieve. You generally want to match the movements and fleeing pattern of your local bait, so a double hop will get the tail and feelers – that many

new lures have implemented in them – vibrating. The pause will return the plastic back to the bottom to look like a feeding baitfish. Fish may not always respond to the same double hop or retrieve presented to them. Try varying them – so changing the length of the pause, hops and speed of your retrieve – to see what the fish want on the day. A slow or fast roll retrieve fished close to the bottom will stir up sand and mud, making it easier for the fish to locate in murkier water conditions or after rain, and then, as for the double hop, the pause will look like a feeding and vulnerable baitfish. A different technique would be to cast into the current with a light jig head, give it plenty of time to fall naturally to the bottom and then double hop, only winding the slack in. This will hop the lure into the current, where it will slowly get taken and naturally fall back to the bottom – in the process, cause commotion with the jig head bumping along the bottom. I hope this bit of advice helps and that you get stuck into this style of fishing. Tight lines and see you next time! If you would like to support an up-and-coming Young Gun angler, check out Guy’s YouTube page gaffedbyguy and subscribe.

The author uses fluorocarbon as it’s a sinking material that helps get the plastic past the current and down to the desired water depth quicker.

Vibrant lure colours can stand out from the local bait that inhabits the area, making it more interesting and easier to see for the more curious flathead. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 23

C ASTfrom the past Awesome time on Moreton Bay

Arthur with a nice scarlet sea perch that took a pink FLT Transam. Nice sticker!

EATURING a great article from the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing mag archives, welcome to Cast from the Past. If you have a hankering to read about a certain topic, drop us a line and we’ll do some deep diving. Here’s a piece by Peter Herbst from April 2014 covering tips for targeting the many species on offer in Moreton Bay. April can be a great month on the water – as temperatures drop, the wind usually backs off and, most importantly, the fish should be on the chew.

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Page 24 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Luring Moreton Bay by PETER HERBST

It is also a crossover month because both summer and winter species can be on offer, giving anglers plenty of options for where and what to target. Moreton Bay has fished quite well for longtail tuna recently and many anglers have seen big schools surface feeding throughout the area. While tricky to hook at times, switched-on anglers have been landing quite a few using soft plastics and floating or sinking stickbaits. As usual, tuna have been lost to sharks, worn leaders, straightened hooks and even broken lures. This can add to the frustration of chasing longtails in Moreton Bay, making most captures very well-earned. School mackerel have also been about in good numbers in the bay. Either trolling the channels and drop-offs or spinning the beacons has produced a feed for a number of anglers. These mackerel should hang around even as we move into winter and can save the day if tuna don’t play the game. Squid are starting to get about and their numbers should only improve as we head towards winter, especially if there are no floods this year.

From either the bank or a boat, squid fishing can be great sport and for those who don’t mind a bit of calamari, it’s a great way to get a feed together. Large numbers can be caught at times, so I urge anglers not to keep too many and only take what they will eat themselves. Jig size and weight should reflect the depth of water being fished, as it can be difficult to keep a larger heavy jig from snagging the bottom in shallow water. Alternatively, it’s hard to get a small light jig down to the squid in deeper water with current. Prawns will be a major food source for many species during the month, so targeting areas where the prawns are and using lures that imitate them can put a few fish in the boat. Jewfish, trevally and threadfin salmon are great targets in the deeper water, as they love to chase prawns at this time of year. Fishing around the tide changes can help in these areas because these species can be more active when the current slows. Lures such as the Z-Man ShrimpZ, Atomic Prong and Zerek Live Shrimp rigged on jig heads are deadly prawn imitations worth * continued P25

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C ASTfrom the past Awesome time on Moreton Bay * from P24

using for any of the above species that may be honing in on prawns. The Southport Seaway, Jumpinpin and mouths of any of the larger rivers can be great places to look for threadies, trevs and jew. Bream, flathead, whiting and tailor can get into a frenzy when hunting down stray prawns that have ventured into the shallows. Surface lures cast over the flats while the tide is moving can be a very effective technique for all the mentioned species at this time of year, making for a lot of fun. Sha l low-r u n n i ng hard-bodies can be another option when the fish aren’t so keen on taking lures off the top. Southern Moreton Bay through to Southport has plenty of flats worth trying, just look for structure, current and flicking prawns. Mangrove jack will still be on the chew this month but it won’t be too long before they move offshore or qui-

eten down over winter, so make the most of them while they’re still a viable option. Jacks can school up in the deeper holes near bars and entrances such as the South Passage, Seaway and Pin at this time of year. It’s as though they have one last big feed before going into a kind of hibernation during winter. Working plastics and vibes down the dropoffs can see anglers connected to multiple jacks, so if one is hooked, it may be worthwhile focusing on that area. This doesn’t happen every year and only lasts for a short time, so if you’re lucky enough to experience it, enjoy. Wild Australian bass is another species not accessible during winter as there is a closed season imposed on them. During winter they reside in the brackish and saltwater reaches of rivers while they breed, so anglers wanting to

tangle with a few before the close of season should look to the lower reaches of rivers. Like jacks, they feed up before going into breeding mode and large numbers of fish can be encountered in a small area. So, whether you’re looking to target a species you haven’t caught for a while, or trying to catch a few favourites before they’re gone, all I can say is make the most of your opportunities.

Make the most of mangrove jack while they’re still around. This one took a slowly rolled Z-Man MinnowZ 3” in New Penny.

Sinking stickbaits such as the Maria Loaded catch plenty of tuna but can also be used on a number of species, including this big golden trevally. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 25

Tackling ghost gear in Aussie waters

F Fisheries in northern Australia are experiencing the negative impact of abandoned, lost and discarded crab pots.

Head to ozfish.org.au/projects/the-great-aussie-cr ab-pot-recovery to find out more.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

ISHERIES in northern Australia are experiencing the negative impact of abandoned, lost and discarded crab pots. In collaboration with OceanEarth Foundation, through its Ghostnets Australia program, OzFish has launched the ‘Great Aussie Crab Pot Recovery’, to recover these ghost pots and find a preventative solution. Ghost gear Crab pots used incorrectly or left in the water when not being used are becoming a serious threat to our marine environment. These pots – often referred to as ‘ghost gear’ or ‘ghost traps’ – can keep catching recreationally and commercially valuable fish and crustaceans long after they have been forgotten or lost. This can lead to unnecessary loss of marine life and disrupt the balance of aquatic ecosystems by affect-

CREATING BETTER HABITAT FOR BETTER FISHING Page 26 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

ing biodiversity and the health of fish populations. The problem Crab pots are easily lost when set and left, which is becoming an issue that impacts commercial and recreational fishers who often travel to remote regions for one-of-a-kind fishing experiences. They can also cause frustration for fishers as they are terrible snags and lead to the loss of many lures. It is important that pots are heavy enough and have plenty of rope attached to the float so they don’t become lost in strong tidal currents. Additionally, they should be marked with the user’s name and fixed to objects above high water, such as a jetty or tree. Sunken and unmarked pots are illegal. The impact Lost and abandoned pots pose a risk as they can capture and drown turtles and birds, as well as critical apex species such as crocodiles and sharks. Sadly, animals trapped in these pots can face a long period of suffering before they die. These species play a pivotal role in the resilience of these ecosystems and fish productivity. Further to this, the pot materials are typically non-biodegradable plastics and metals, contributing to pollution, microplastics and habitat degradation. These ongoing issues highlight why we must fish responsibly and work harder to protect our oceans. Creating change The Great Aussie Crab Pot Recovery looks to understand why this

problem grows and investigates solutions to prevent it from recurring. The project seeks to identify sustainable solutions that will control the ongoing accumulation of ghost gear into the future. Two clean-up events will be delivered in Kurumba, Queensland and Borroloola in the Northern Territory, utilising OzFish members, local volunteers and Indigenous rangers. The collected pots will be dismantled, with the netting contributing to OzFish’s Tackle Loop recycling program. Proceeds from selling the recycled products will be channelled into fish habitat restoration efforts. Finally, to tackle the root causes of this problem, recreational fishers will be invited to contribute to community research and online surveys, which will help to understand the barriers of managing this ongoing issue and stop it at its source. We can sculpt a legacy that nurtures the Gulf of Carpentaria for future generations by harnessing the synergy between environmental stewardship and community engagement. Fishos are asked to fill in the survey, which looks to uncover information about the loss of crab pots, helping us tackle the root causes of this problem. Head to ozfish.org.au/ projects/the-great-aus sie-crab-pot-recovery to find out more. The Great Aussie Crab Pot Recovery is an initiative by OceanEarth Foundation, in partnership with OzFish Unlimited. OzFish Unlimited

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Average offshore activity persists

here hasn’t been much offshore action to speak of, given the ordinary weekend fishing forecasts that have persisted for the first quarter of this year. Dale McClurg took the opportunity to head out in the bay to chase sand crabs. He set four pots for an overnight soak, hoping for a decent catch the next day. Despite there being nothing in the first two pots, he managed five good keepers and was fairly sure the pots hadn’t been raided because they were bang on his marks and didn’t look as though they’d been tampered with – good to hear. Dale did mention that he had two big sharks accompanying him

Power Boat Anglers by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

when he was retrieving the pots, with one banging into the boat when competing for the old bait scraps. Now Dale has never been very keen on washing his hands over the side, and this is a good reason not to. Just a reminder that, from Saturday June 1, 2024, the exception to the safety equipment requirement for carrying life jackets on registered boats – other than personal watercraft and tenders – when operating in designated smooth waters, will no longer apply. I’m not going to detail the changes here in case someone mis-

interprets my words, however as a responsible boat owner, operator or user, you should make yourselves familiar with these changes that can be found on Maritime Safety Queensland’s website – msq.qld.gov.au/Safety/ Safety-equipment-rec reational-ships On a personal note, I wish that, as a minimum, any changes impacting boat owners are communicated via a mailout to all registered boat owners. The next PBA meetings will be on Wednesday April 3, and then in May on Wednesday 1. Until next month, safe boating.

Changes to life jacket carriage requirements. Photo: Miguel A Amutio

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Jets and Cats Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 27

Queensland Recreational Fishing Guide

daf.qld.gov.au

Qld Fishing 2.0

Catch and depredation reporting Coming soon

Which fish is this?

Can I fish here?

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Get HOOKED on Queensland’s recreational fishing app. Download fisheries.qld.gov.au FisheriesQueensland FOR FREE now

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fisheries.qld.gov.au 13 25 23 FisheriesQueensland Have feedback? 13 25 23 QLDrecfishingapp.support@daf.qld.gov.au fisheries.qld.gov.au FisheriesQueensland 13 25 23 Authorised by the Queensland Government, William Street, Brisbane Page 28 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

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daf.qld.gov.au

Get involved so we can all

Join the

Women in Recreational Fishing Network Qld

fish for the future! Here are some ways…

Fish aggregating devices (FADS) are an awesome way to attract fish. Find a FAD near you:

Fish the day away at more than 60 stocked impoundments across Queensland with your SIPS permit. Save time and buy online. Sales support community fish stocking activities.

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Enjoy your fishing and stay safe on the water Authorised by the Queensland Government, William Street, Brisbane www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 29

Caring for your catch n The thrill of the kill and then the chill

I A quickly dispatched catch using the Ikipik tool.

An ice slurry is perfect for cooling fish quickly when the bite is hot.

A-grade reef fish after a commercial trip, set for the market.

After an ice slurry, there’s no need to overpack the Esky with ice, as long as there’s a cold wet towel covering the fish.

Striped marlin vacuum packed and set for longterm storage after careful handling and treatment.

Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

N this three-part series, we take a look at those little extra steps that can make a lasting difference to the quality of your fish. This month it’s all about the thrill to kill then chill, taking into consideration factors such as handling, treatment and storage along the way. In a nutshell, if I was to give every fish the best chance of being in prime condition by the time I’m ready to cook, I’d follow these steps. Brain spike (iki jime), bleed the gills, ice slurry, gut, store under ice, scale, refrigerate overnight wrapped in Chux cloth, fillet, vacuum pack then freeze or make dinner plans. Let’s expand each step. Brain spiking Brain spiking (or iki jime) is a Japanese method adapted worldwide that kills the fish by stopping the brain from sending any signals through the nerves. What this means is that the blood can’t get flushed to stressed out muscles and lactic acid doesn’t build up creating faster deterioration of the flesh. The difference when filleting is unreal – the brain-spiked fish offers a whiter tone and creamier texture compared to a sometimes-grainy look and tougher mouth feel. I cannot recommend the Ikipik tool enough for this, for safety and functionality – no more snapped knifes or bloody hand injuries.

Sea to Plate - Part 1 by ANDY MELVILLE

Bleeding the gills Bleeding the gills helps to get any excess warm blood out the fish where it would usually congeal and contribute to faster spoilage. Do this straight after spiking the fish, before the pulse rate slows down too much to pump any blood back to the heart. Ice slurry A small ice slurry will help to quickly cool the catch down and double as a bath to wash unwanted blood off, especially after gutting. Gut The only time I’ll leave the guts in is when I don’t plan on filleting fish immediately after I get home from fishing or with larger fish where filleting is made a little easier with the guts still in. Otherwise, it’s best to just get it over and done with, to give yourself a cleaner space when filleting. Store under ice In the Esky, I use the cooling air that travels downwards to keep the space more like a fridge, rather than using the actual ice directly on the fish to chill it. I’ll have ice in bags, so it doesn’t make the fish go blotchy from ice burning. When I notice any pools of melted ice, I simply drain the Esky by unscrewing the bung. Note, once dead, try not to handle by the

tails, where the weight of the fish is being absorbed by the tail muscles. This splits the grain on the fillets, resulting in poorer filleting and cooking quality. Scale I leave the scales on to protect the fish from the ice and so the skin doesn’t absorb too much unwanted moisture. Scale the fish anywhere except on a hot filleting table next to a boat ramp. And avoid using warm water when scaling. The temperature change has a cooking effect and will turn the flesh into a mushy texture. Refrigerate overnight Unless I’m eating raw fish in the form of sashimi or ceviche (marinated and cured with citrus dressing), I prefer to give the flesh every chance of the proteins setting, which gives a nice firm fish to eat without damaging the grain of the flesh. This is a vital part when it comes to filleting fish, which we will look at in further detail in Part 2 next month. It might sound like a small detail, yet a firm intact fillet will transfer heat more evenly than a ripped piece. Wrapping the fish in a Chux cloth helps with the absorption of any impurities and stops the fish from drying * continued P31

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That and the freezer taste you get if you’re not using a mini vacuum packing machine. In an ideal world, we would all have deckhands and chefs to do the dirty work for us while we fished away, but let’s face it, that’s not happening. So, I hope there are a couple of points to take into account the next time the fish are on, and the kill bin has the makings of a good filleting session for stocking the freezer or to shine at the family gathering. That’s the storage covered. Next month we’ll have a look at preparation to help maximise the eating quality. As always, tight lines and stay safe.

out or going soggy at points of contact against other fish. Generally, don’t wrap fish in cling wrap and store in an airtight container – allow the fridge to air them out and dry them ever so slightly. The less moisture there is, the better for cooking, especially grilling or barbecuing. Vacuum pack Speaking of moisture, the more there is, the shorter the shelf life of your fish before it turns and starts to lose it’s fresh appeal. Even with freezing, the water content freezes and the cell structure of the flesh is burst, which makes for a softer mushier texture when defrosted.

* from P30

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 31

03 5022 7 03 5152 3 03 5562 6 03 5443 5 03 5822 2 03 5174 1 03 9397 6 02 6024 6

Brad Smith and his nephew Spencer got up early for a fish on the Tweed River and were rewarded with a decent mangrove jack taken on a trolled Atomic lure.

Yabbies never cease to fail

H The author captured a good-sized summer whiting when wading the shallow flats of the Broadwater.

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Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Broadwater Guide by CLINT ANSELL

lures come into play a lot on my daily charters when we’re targeting a big variety of fish and squid. This month however, I’ll be getting back to basics with some tips for catching heaps of fish on the humble but amazing saltwater yabby. The Gold Coast Broadwater has some of the best yabby banks in Australia. We are very fortunate to have such an abundance of them, which means no shortage of bait for anglers. I always say it’s impossible to not catch fish on yabbies, they never fail. Have a look at the map I’ve marked in this article for the best spots to pump, all very close to the major boat ramps in southern Broadwater. A decent yabby pump helps, and I’ve found that Alvey’s is the best. Around a low tide is the easiest time to pump yabbies.

Look for soft clean sand and lots of holes. A floating sieve helps pump in deeper water and puddles. Always pump the same hole three or four times until you get deep enough to reach the bigger yabbies. Then move a few metres and start again. You should get two to six yabbies every few metres. Yabbies do not like heat, so keep them cool in shade and change the water in their bucket as often as possible. If you can’t get yabbies, live beachworms work well too – you can buy them from Aqua Adventures at Southport. To anchor or drift? I get asked this question often. It really depends. If the wind and tide allow, I’ll often start by drifting until I find fish then anchor. If there are no bites, I * continued P34

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A mix of trevally were in the Gold Coast estuaries recently, including this juvenile golden trevally.

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Derek and son Ash took home a nice feed after a fun day on the river.

Yabbies never cease to fail * from P32

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Generally, the more rain there is and during summer, the fish are further downstream from Bundall to Southport. During drought and cooler months, they can be found from Capri to Carrara. Fish like a run to feed – no run, no fun. You’ll find the best bite periods coincide with tidal flow. During big tides, around the inside of big bends work well and, during neap tides, sit out wider to get better flow and therefore fish. After a big rainfall, a run-in tide is best and, during dry periods, a run-out is better, day or night. If you have a fish finder, areas with an undulating sandy bottom are good. When the tide is running, you’ll see the water rippling in these areas.

Getting back to simple fishing methods is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Even better if you catch a fresh feed of fish for dinner. Anchoring is easy and effective. My favourite rods for anchoring and using yabbies for these species are the Shimano Maikuro II 762 1-3kg whiting rod and the Atomic Arrowz Whiting Tip. As they have soft tips, I find these perfect for whiting. Big whiting don’t get big by being the stupidest fish in the sea, so it’s essential to fish lightly for them. The setup includes these rods with 2500 sized reels, spooled with 10lb Platypus Platinum Line, a 3 or 4 sized ball sinker, a small swivel tied to at least a 1m long 6lb fluo* continued P35

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Ash landed an outstanding summer whiting that measured over 40cm.

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Yabbies never cease to fail * from P34

rocarbon trace, then the hook. My favourite hook for fishing with yabbies for big whiting and other species is the size 2 Mustad Fine Worm Baitholder. Always be fussy about how you present the yabbies on the hooks. This makes a big difference to the quality of fish you will catch. Slide the point of the hook through the tail and underside of the yabby, gently slide the yabby over the hook, then push the point back out when you reach close to the legs and head. Then hold onto the point of the hook and gently slide the yabby tail over the eye of the hook and up the leader, so that half the yabby is on the hook and the tail half is on the leader. The whole yabby should be lying straight. This looks more natural in the water and stops the bait from spinning and twisting the line. Another big tip is to cast the yabby at vary-

ing distances when anchored, as the fish can often be right under the boat. It is uncanny how often you can be holding the rod and waiting for a bite with none coming, then as soon as you put the rod down… it gets a bite. This isn’t best way to catch whiting. Put the rod down and do not strike until they have crushed the bait, swallowed and start to move off, otherwise you will miss a lot of big fish. When the tide is running, cast straight out the back of the boat while anchored and allow enough length in the line to keep the bait on the bottom. Leave the yabbies for five minutes at a time, then wind in to check the bait and cast again. Leaving them too long will result in hooking stingrays. If you aren’t catching fish, keep moving! Don’t be lazy – results require effort. I hope these tips help. Let me know how you go.

Mick scored two whiting over 40cm on a charter with the author. www.bnbfishing.com.au

You can buy a lot of the tackle I use at Sporty’s Fishing in Bundall. At the Tweed River, Brad Smith will be catching heaps of nice flathead on lures this month, as well as mulloway and trevally. To book on a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, visit goldcoastrivercharters. com, SMS 0432 990 302 or email fishing withclint@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook at Brad Smith Fishing Charters.

Luke with two of 20 big whiting caught on a trip with the author.

The author’s pick of spots for yabby pumping in southern Broadwater. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 35

Hayley displays an iconic summer species, the spotted mackerel.

Mack, jack and crab capers

AC K E R E L are still all the rage this

Gary caught a thumper parrotfish when waiting for a mackerel.

month. While not the worst season, they have been patchy, particularly the spanish variety. Spotted mackerel have been consistent without being thick. I came in with a bag of spotties recently that averaged 4kg a piece, so the quality has been fairly good for the most part.

Nev and Hayley with the makings of a good feed. Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Tweed to Byron Bay by GAVIN DOBSON

In previous seasons, my daughter Keira had caught a few decent spaniards and some monster doggy mackerel, though she hadn’t caught a spotty. This year she filled in the gap, as you would have seen last month. I was very excited to get last month’s BNB and find her on the front cover, proudly holding a spotted mackerel. She’s been a great deckhand while I’ve recovered from my appendix operation. One morning, we had one of those great occasions when we hooked a spotty as soon as the bait hit the water. Keira caught seven fish in seven casts and then somebody turned the switch off. Mackerel can be a frustrating fish. We persisted fishing

and caught a few more that bit very tentatively, but it’s bizarre how they just stop biting. What haven’t stopped biting yet however are the sharks. I had a fairly good whinge about them recently, so I won’t bang on about them again, though seriously, enough! Hayley and her dad Nev headed out with Damien, and about a hundred other boats, for a morning on mackerel and were rewarded with a feed of spotties. They are keen to get out again soon and knock over a few more spaniards. On an afternoon adventure, Damien also put Rocco onto a nice spanish mackerel. Good on you Rocco, I hope the future holds * continued P38

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 37

Dirty water options

Recently, decent quality tailor have shown up from the rocks and beaches.

ELLO all, I’m going to start off by saying that I shouldn’t complain too much about the current pattern of wet weather. As much as it appears that it won’t go away at present, it is a far cry from the catastrophic events from exactly two years ago, when the entire Northern Rivers region was devastated by floods. As I drive around the area, to this day there are still reminders of that time. Half repaired or abandoned houses, empty shop fronts and marks on poles or walls indicating the unprecedented height of the water. These are indicators of much tougher times that are now behind us, and are also reminders of a time when a community joined hands and began

Ballina Bait & Tackle by BRETT HYDE

to rebuild this wonderful area together. The rebuilding continues for many. It is slow, painful and arduous but necessary if we are to return to a level of life enjoyed pre-2022. One thing I’ve learnt from living through that experience is that as independent as you think you are, we all need help from someone at some time. So, if you would like to help the people of the Northern Rivers, come on down and check out our little part of paradise. We would love to see you for your next holiday, your next weekend

getaway, perhaps a day at the beach or a little time spent soaking a bait. As far as the fishing is concerned, as at the time of writing, rain had maintained the water discolouration in the river. While the larger high tides around the new and full moon phases have pushed some clearer water up the river as far as Pimlico Island, unfortunately during the smaller tides, the river remained quite discoloured, and it will probably stay this way until we see a serious reduction in rain totals for at least a month or two. * continued P39

Mack, jack and crab capers * from P36

Rocco admires his first spanish mackerel. Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

many more for you. As I sit here and type away, I’m thinking of my latest trip which, at the time of writing, was just this morning. It was a good reminder of being persistent and the benefits of also mixing things up a little. We anchored at sunrise on a good patch of slimy mackerel. After putting some bait out, we waited patiently, yet the only bite we got was on a half pilchard that I unfortunately had the drag a bit tight on and it broke us off. After an hour we moved to another location and anchored up again. I had Gary with me and, to fill in time, he fished the bottom with

a paternoster rig. After a couple of moses perch, a nice parrotfish and a tailor, he set the hooks into something that took a bit of drag. Initially I called it for a small jewfish, but it emerged as a big parrot that weighed exactly 4kg. We caught a few more moses before it went a quiet, though we weren’t unhappy with our mackerel by-catch. The current changed and we ended up fishing back around the anchor rope, so we changed tactics and slow trolled some slimy mackerel. Finally, at 11am, we hooked and landed a spanish mackerel. Not a huge fish but a nice feed nonetheless. Into the rivers and mud crabs have been

sensational in both numbers and quality. Try to find the boundary between fresh and salt, as it moves up and down the river with the varying rainfall. During the last rain event on the Brunswick River, there were some massive buck crabs caught between the highway bridge and the mouth of the river. As the salt starts to push upriver, the crabbers getting the best results are the ones who continually move and place their pots slightly upstream of where the salt is pushing to on the top of each tide. Mangrove jack are also going off their heads in the lower reaches, so now is the time to get a jack… before the water starts cooling off.

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Dirty water alternatives * from P38

Looking at the longrange forecast, I suspect we’ll see a drop in rainfall during the winter months, though I’ll be keeping my fingers and toes crossed for this to happen. The regular rain has kept the vast majority of flathead in the lower reaches of the river. Due to the reduced visibility, lures with plenty of vibration and smell have had the most success. With the warm weather set to continue, for the most part I would expect flathead to stay in this area, however if the water clears a little or the water temperature drops, a few early birds may begin to make their way back upriver. The warm temperature has meant that we’ve still had good numbers of mud crabs. Both the creeks and main river have all produced crabs in recent weeks, with the better-quality crabs coming from the main river. Whiting and bream have been a little on the quiet side over the past month, yet we have seen a small improvement lately. Most of the bigger whiting were up in North Creek, and the main river has been the pick of spots for the bream. The usual bait worked on both species, together with some bright coloured surface lures. While mulloway have been fairly quiet, mangrove jack turned up in good numbers over the past few weeks. Live bait were the most consistent producer of fish, however there’s been a few good fish landed using jerkbaits, surface poppers and 4” paddle tail

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soft plastics too. Most of the fish were found along the rock walls between the ferry and Broadwater, though the occasional fish was also landed along the rock walls near the mouth of the river. Expect to hear of plenty of fish being landed over the next month, until cooler conditions move in. Offshore fishing has been extremely inconsistent over the past few weeks. The weather pattern was largely to blame for this inconsistency, with the wind direction changing daily and a significant amount of current pushing to the south. There was some mackerel at Lennox Point, Black Head and also at Riordan shoals, though weather dependent, they were there one day and gone the next. Slow trolling live bait, particularly when using a downrigger, has proved fairly effective on spanish mackerel, yet a number of fish were also taken on slow trolled dead bait and high-speed hard-body lures. Out wider, mahi mahi have been similar to mackerel in that we’ve had good numbers of fish showing up at times and at others it’s been a ghost town. At times, the fish that did turn up were rather spooked, mainly with live bait, so plenty of anglers used pilchard, vibes or even trolled skirted lures as alternatives. The high water temperature and strong current lately has meant that snapper, kingfish and pearl perch were difficult to target. The warmer water temperature has kept

them out wide on the 42s and 48s, and this will probably continue for the next month or two. With the heavy current at present, most anglers reported that large knife jigs to 400g along with slow pitch jigs to 250g were successful, along with bait such as mullet and squid. Well, that’s me for this month. Until next time, tight lines and happy times.

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www.facebook.com/bnbfishing Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 39

Bream, tailor and jewies

Rebekah Ellis with her first fish landed on an Alvey reel.

P E R S I S TENT foul east-southeast wind and large swells put a dampener on land-based fishing around Iluka and, on the rare day the sea did calm down, the inshore water was that steely cold grey colour big pelagic hate. Reports have it that a few die-hards still gave the wall a try and were smoked by a couple of big speedy things that nobody got to see, but I suppose the big ones always get away. Hopefully April will be a lot kinder once the beautiful early morning southwester-

Iluka angler Rebekah Ellis with a nice bream taken on pipi bait along the beach at Shark Bay. Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Just Jew by TYE PORTER

ly wind kicks in. Though even then, we only seem to get a few days at the fish before that very wind causes a big ground swell. A few boats put to sea at Woody Head and fished the more protected water of Shark Bay for nice spanish and spotted mackerel, along with the occasional longtail tuna. So the fish are here, we just need to catch a break along the stones. Ten Mile Beach at Shark Bay has been producing excellent catches of nice bream on both pipis and beachworms, even during the big swells. Local angler Rebekah Ellis was only one of many anglers getting into the bream and, after years of using a thread-line reel, I finally convinced her to have a go with an Alvey and she was successful using one on her first trip. The southern end of Back Beach adjacent to the second bluff had some reasonable formation about it, which saw some decent chopper tailor to 3kg being caught late evening, with one angler managing to snare a 12kg jewfish on a bonito strip meant for tailor. The southern end of the first bluff has been as fishable during the last couple of hours of a falling tide, which has seen a few of the local anglers bagging

turrum and school jew on minnow-style lures, but as soon as the tide begins to make, the swell pushes in way too hard. Inside the Clarence River the usual pansized flathead are in good numbers as always, while reports of good whiting catches are dwindling by the day, though this is to be expected as we head into the cooler months. April is definitely the month that gets my jewie senses tingling. It marks the start of yet another winter chasing this smelly species inside the river as they move in to feed on the yearly run of sea and flat tail mullet. Once the mullet start moving, it will be standing room only at the T-Piece on the corner of the Yamba wall. Thousands of flat tail mullet congregate there each night and, naturally, the jewfish are not far away. The best thing about April and May is that, as long as the swell plays nice, you can chase mackerel and tuna from the walls during the day and then switch gears to target big jewfish at night – it just doesn’t get better than that. Sorry my report is so short this month but, with all things being equal, I should have a lot more action to report on next month. Until then, safe fishing.

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Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

As soon as the Gulp 2.5” Grub hits the water, the tail goes into action, creating turbulence and distributing scent into the water column. The Berkley research and development team have also spent many hours developing new clear colours to complement what could possibly be the best Berkley grub action since production, back in the 1980s. Features include: • Offset tail design stops the bait from spinning • Tail designed to start up quickly on light jig heads for maximum hang time in strike zone • Built from the proven Gulp formula • Available in six great colours including new translucent colours • Torpedo ribbed body offers a variety of rigging options • Perfect for bream, bass and whiting. Visit berkley-fishing.com.au

Z-Man RattleSnaker

Z-MAN’S innovation continues with the revolutionary new Rattle-Snaker, allowing the insertion of a glass rattle into your soft plastic presentation for added attraction and strike triggers. An ingenious hollow needle and pushrod design makes this insertion process quick and simple. This patented tool consists of two parts that allow the precision insertion of rattles and weights into your soft plastics. Simply push the insertion needle into the soft plastic where you wish the rattle to be placed, remove the rear section of the tool and drop the rattle point first into the front (needle section) of the tool that remains in the plastic. You can then reinsert the rear section of the tool and the pushrod slides the rattle into place. The Rattle-Snaker can then be removed from the plastic and you’re ready to attract the big bites. Other features include a neat flip top compartment in the rear section of the tool for storing additional glass rattles

and the Rattle-Snaker comes ready to go with 10 glass rattles included. Replacement glass rattles are also available in a convenient 10 pack. A surgical tubing needle guard is fitted onto the stainless-steel needle for safe storage and to prevent accidental harm when not in use. This is an exciting development in soft plastics fishing and is sure to be a game changer, especially in low light conditions when the water is dirty and when the bite is tough. Suggested retail price for the tool and 10 rattles is $23.95 and for replacement rattles in a 10 pack $9.95. Visit z-man.com.au

Berkley Clear Top Tackle Box

THE Berkley Clear Top Tackle Box is a heavy duty storage case perfect for storing a range of different fishing tackle, wherever you go. Made from a heavy duty PVC material to form a rigid body design, the top of the case is clear for easy identification of contents. Featuring full nylon zips for corrosion resistance, Berkley Clear Top Tackle Boxes are designed to nest inside the larger Berkley Bakkan Tackle Box, allowing you to consolidate your tackle and add another layer of protection for your gear while out on your next trip. Features include: • Full nylon zippers for corrosion resistance • Tackle box made from a heavy duty PVC material to keep box upright and maintain shape • Clear top for easy identification of contents • Compatible with Berkley Bakkan Tackle Box to allow for modular storage. Available in small and medium. Visit berkley-fishing.com.au

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Z-Man Mulletron LT

HANDS down the most realistic mullet profile we’ve seen! With an ICAST award for Best Soft Plastic, you know that the Z-Man Mulletron LT is going to turn heads and catch fish. This innovative top hook line-through designed true-to-life mullet profile features 10X Tough ElaZtech construction, photo printed realism and a wedgeshaped tail that presents a fluid natural swimming motion at a wide range of retrieve speeds. Available in 4.5” and 6” sizes and in six dynamite colours, this hyper-realistic look is combined with a line-through design that allows the plastic to slide up the line after the hook set, reducing leverage from the fish and enabling the custom heavy-duty sickle hook to remain securely pinned in the fish, even during the most aggressive head shakes, jumps and tail walks. The 4.5” Mulletron LT is fitted with a heavy-duty, black nickel needlepoint 3/0 hook and features a 1/4oz internal weight and 3/4oz overall casting weight. The larger 6” model is equipped with the same style of heavy-duty hook in a 5/0 size, with a 3/4oz internal weight and overall casting weight of 1 3/4oz. A moderate and perfectly balanced sink rate – thanks to the internal weighted harness and buoyant ElaZtech superplastic – allows the Mulletron LT to maintain an upright posture on the slowest retrieves, on the fall and even at rest on the bottom to attract fish and trigger strikes. Mullet are one of the most popular prey fish in both our fresh and saltwater systems, with captures through the research and development process including barramundi, mangrove jack, Murray cod, mulloway, flathead, trevally and loads more. Suggested retail price for the Mulletron LT 4.5” is $19.95 and for the Mulletron LT 6” $23.95. Visit z-man.com.au www.bnbfishing.com.au

Atomic Linez X4 Braid

ATOMIC Linez’s four-strand Dyneema-fibre braid is a top tier fishing line designed for optimum performance. This braid boasts exceptional line and knot strength, thanks to its high-quality construction using four tightly woven strands of Dyneema fibre. The result is a smooth, supple and highly durable braided line that resists abrasion even in rugged conditions. Atomic’s proprietary smooth cast finish is added as a final layer, enabling effortless casting and minimising guide noise. The low stretch properties of the Dyneema fibre enhance sensitivity, allowing for precise and accurate angling. Additionally, the four-strand Dyneema fibre braid is built to last, with a waterproof finish and infused ultraviolet protection that extends its lifespan. Visit frogleysoffshore.com.au

Berkley Pro-Tech Tommy Glide

BERKLEY’S Pro-Tech Tommy Glide is a natural baitfish profile two-piece glide bait designed to be slowly retrieved with a wide slow action. This action is easily controlled with the speed of the retrieve. Swim depth can be adjusted by adding

a chin weight if required. Tommy Glide is perfectly suited for fishing shadow lines for barramundi and mulloway or winding its way across the sand flats for that 1m long flathead you’ve been chasing forever. The Berkley Pro-Tech Tommy Glide is fitted with high quality Owner STX58TN trebles and Hyperwire rings to ensure the slightest swipe connects and keeps you on until the fish is in the boat. Visit berkley-fishing.com.au

Daiwa 23 Legalis

COMBINING classic looks with contemporary design and technologies, the 23 Legalis delivers anglers a value packed spin reel. The latest Legalis welcomes Daiwa’s new airdrive design, a leap forward in spin reel design, form and function that elevates the Legalis to a new level in performance and precision. Sporting a new look, the 23 Legalis’ redesigned airdrive rotor and bail arm reduces the weight of each respective part, combining to greatly reduce start-up inertia and produce that sought after buttery-smooth rotation that anglers all crave. A Zaion V composite body is impervious to the harsh saltwater elements and produces a rigid and sturdy frame that houses Daiwa’s famous tough Digigear drive system. ATD drag, infinite anti-reverse, Twistbuster II and an ABS long cast spool combine to further enhance the 23 Legalis’ performance, strength and features. Strengthening Legalis’ reputation for reliability, performance and bang-for-buck value, the 23 Legalis is primed to become a hit with Aussie anglers. Available in sizes 2000D-6000D and with a black and gold colourway, the 23 Legalis is destined to become a favourite. Visit daiwafishing.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 43

POWERUP

1300

& SAVE UP TO

$10 OFF PER ^ HORSEPOWER

30HP TO 130H

POWERUP

A NEW BOAT

*Terms and Conditions: All prices stated are GST inclusive. Promotion available on all new 30 to 130 horsepower Yamaha Registered between 15/03/24 to 31/05/24 through participating authorised Yamaha dealers, while stocks last. ^$10 off per from 30 to 130 horsepower and subject to change without notice. The $1,300 saving is based on current recommended available for private buyers only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers. See your authorised Yamaha outboa Australia Pty Ltd. ABN 88002556989.

Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

www.bnbfishing.com. au

0 *

AIRLIE BEACH | Whitsunday Powersports & Marine P: 4948 3298, 4/11 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale, QLD www.whitsundaypowersports.com.au BRISBANE | Northside Marine P: 3265 8000, 2294 Sandgate Rd, Boondall, QLD www.northsidemarine.com.au BRISBANE (BAYSIDE) | Wynnum Marine P: 3396 9777, 31 Fox St, Wynnum, QLD www.wynnummarine.com.au BRISBANE (REDLANDS) | Marine Care Qld P: 3186 5270, 30 Gordon Rd, Redland Bay, QLD www.marinecareqld.com BRISBANE (NORTH) | Brisbane Yamaha P: 3888 1727, Bruce Hwy, Burpengary, QLD www.brisbaneyamaha.com.au BRISBANE (SOUTH) | Stones Corner Marine P: 3397 9766, 117 Old Cleveland Rd, Stones Corner, QLD www.stonescornermarine.com.au BUNDABERG | Bundaberg Marineland P: 4130 0500, 95 Targo St, Bundaberg, QLD www.bundabergmarineland.com.au

GOLD COAST | Gold Coast Boating Centre P: 5576 7388, 66 Kortum Dr, Burleigh Heads, QLD www.gcbc.boats GOLD COAST | Whitewater Marine P: 5532 4402, 10 Hinde St, Ashmore, QLD www.whitewatermarine.com.au GYMPIE | Watson’s Marine Centre P: 5482 2135, 52 Wickham St, Gympie, QLD www.watsonsmarine.com.au KARUMBA | Jones Marine P: 4745 9159, 30 Yappar St, Karumba, QLD www.jonesmarine.com.au

UPGR ADE YOUR BOAT

a outboards sold, installed and Warranty r horsepower is available on all outboards d retail price for the F130. Promotion is ard dealership for details. Yamaha Motor

MACKAY | Reef Marine P: 4957 3521, 26 Prospect St, Mackay, QLD www.reefmarine.net SUNSHINE COAST | Sunshine Coast Yamaha P: 5346 9981, 14 Machinery Ave, Warana, QLD www.sunshinecoastyamaha.com.au TULLY | Cavs Marine & Outdoor P: 4068 2222, 59504 Bruce Hwy, Tully, QLD www.cavsmarine.com.au TWEED COAST | North Coast Yamaha P: 02 6680 3322, 4 Lucky Ln, Billinudgel, NSW

www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 45

BOATING & marine

Stacer Sea Runner an all rounder

S For a simplified boating experience, the Sea Runner is available with three turn-key option packages.

With family friendly features and a range of available extras, the Sea Runner is a versatile and reliable boat that caters to a variety of fishing, boating and watercraft activities.

INCE 1971, Stacer has delivered a wide range of carefully designed hand-built boats that aim to provide a unique boating experience to everyday Australians, avid fishos and adventurous families. Each design comes from an extensive research and development process, involving insights from Stacer consumers, dealers and the wider boating industry to continue evolving the market and meet the needs of all consumers. These models have been engineered to suit Australia’s unparalleled marine landscape – from inland alcoves to protected bays, diverse coastlines and a hive of offshore discoveries. The boat designed to do it all… the Stacer Sea Runner. Established in 2003, the Sea Runner range was specifically de-

signed to complement the Australian lifestyle and has been constantly refined over the years to ensure it continues to offer fishos and families a top-notch multi-purpose boat. With family friendly features and a range of available extras, the Sea Runner is a versatile and reliable boat that caters to a variety of fishing, boating and watercraft activities. The available range includes both standard Sea Runner models. Offering the most cost-effective Sea Runner option featuring only the essentials and the Sea Runner SE, which includes the most sought-after options to deliver the best of boating in one turn-key package. Enjoy the freedom of customisation with a wide range of options available – including a bimini and envelope,

The 519 Sea Runner is designed to comfortably navigate through different waterways including estuaries, rivers and creeks, ideal for both inshore and offshore fishing. Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

rod holders, transom door and much more – to easily option up the standard Sea Runner to your individual needs. And for a simplified boating experience, the Sea Runner is available with three turn-key option packages. Create the ultimate family boat with the Entertainer’s Pack, fishing vessel with the Angler’s Pack or dial up the driver’s experience with the Captain’s Pack. This range features a mass of storage space, with its spacious cabin design, v-bunk and underﬂoor area and room to accommodate up to seven people onboard. These features, combined with the Revolution Hull with 4mm bottom sides, gives you a comfortable, soft and stable ride – elevating the overall onwater experience. This boat is perfect for any family – take the kids out on the water, away from technology and the hustle of everyday life to enjoy the beautiful Australian waterways in our very own backyard. To ensure a simplified customer journey experience, Stacer boats are available as a fully configured boat, motor and trailer package direct from the factory through select dealers. Find out more about the Stacer Sea Runner range at stacer.com.au/ aluminium-boat-range/ sea-runners or contact your local dealer for more information.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

SEA JAY BOATS NEW MODELS

590 TITAN

AVENGER SPORTS Console

460 RANGER Heavy duty tiller

AVENGER Tiller

AVENGER

TERRITORY Console

For more information visit www.seajayboats.com.au Talk to your nearest Sea Jay dealer for pricing and options. STRENGTH

www.bnbfishing.com.au

WORKMANSHIP

CUSTOMISATION

SINCE 1989

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 47

BOATING & marine

Quintrex encourages females to get in the driver’s seat

ENOW N ED Australian trailblazer for marine, Quintrex continues to take a stand for diversity in the industry, as it leads the way in breaking ground for the long-standing gender gap within the workplace and behind the helm. Through a rich history of boating handed down through generations of boat builders and buyers, the brand has opened the industry up to thousands of Australian females, providing vital skills within the workforce and countless memories on the water. As of June 2021, according to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, less than 20 percent of marine license holders in Queensland identify as female – a trend that Quintrex is committed to changing. For 2.5 million Australians, boating has become a way of life, pro-

viding a safe and fun means to connect with family and friends, escape the everyday, live off the land and build a heritage to hand down through generations. Quintrex brand partner Amy Henry said, “Boating has always been a big part of my life.” “I remember as a child waking up at dawn, heading out with my dad to watch the sunrise and catching fish for my family.” “Women can be fearless out here, you’re in the driver’s seat to navigate the water with confidence and determination.” As a home-grown family-founded brand, community is at Quintrex’s core. This long-standing commitment comes with a passion to share the lifestyle with all Australian’s by creating products that are easy to use, functional, economical and family friendly.

This year, the brand stands up to encourage more women to ‘get in the driver’s seat’ as an invested campaign towards growing the female boating community. As the industry stands together, it can make tangible change by celebrating the unparalleled lifestyle that fosters inclusivity and celebrates family unity. “Boating allows us to break away from the crowds, we swim with sea life, beach comb for shells and find inspiration in nature,” Ms Henry said. “It’s the solitude we seek, the calmness in the water and salty wind in our hair.” With a range of fishing, leisure and crossover vessels, Quintrex endeavours to offer a platform that suits all people and all hobbies, through all walks of life. This year, to make waves in the industry from all angles – in

Quintrex commits to further making waves in the industry by challenging the gender gap to seeing tangible change for drivers and workers alike. Page 48 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

partnership with parent company and global leader in powersports Bombardier Recreational Product’s – the brand challenges the industry to do better. Quintrex’s fundamental diversity plan aligns with BRP’s strategic activations, with investments in a dedicated diversity, equity and inclusion journey, global women employee resource group and more, established as a proactive means of further nurturing the group’s movement towards having the industry’s most inclusive working environments. Quintrex human resources manager Zoe Binger said, “We have a hard trend to curb, with under 10 percent of workers in marine identifying as female, but we do not shy away from a challenge.” “We are proud of how far we have come and our actions towards joining the greater BRP statistics, which surpass industry standards with 29 percent of the company’s workforce identifying as a woman. “While we still have a long way to go, we can already see how we’re changing the industry and our sights are set on continual growth, with aspirations to double our representation of women in the Quintrex workforce within the next five-years.” Backed by a force of approximately 400 of the industry’s top boat builders, with a key investment in innovation and growth, the

Quintrex team offers a wealth of opportunity within the workplace. Staff incentives include monthly bonuses, an annual boat giveaway for Employee of the Year, on-site mental and physical health support and more to foster a healthy rewarding working environment. Quintrex currently upholds female representation across most business facets and manufacturing specialties – from weld, to fit-out, metal works, transport, fabrication and administration, with some employees exceeding a tenure of 30 years. The brand has established its industry leading reputation due to the quality of product, build and its dedication in continuing to evolve the boating world with new innovations and new norms. Each boat has been strategically, designed and engineered then tested by a dedicated team of research and development professionals, before being hand built on the Gold Coast by the industry’s best boat builders. With world-class boats comes a world class team and business acumen, grounded by excellence as Australia’s most sought-after aluminium boat brand since its conception in 1945. To explore the current job availabilities and become part of the team, visit seek.com. au/Telwater-jobs/inCoomera-QLD-4209

www.bnbfishing.com. au

WITH QUINTREX, the only catch is the fish. We’ve been building Australia’s premier fishing boats since 1945 – always offering

what everyone asks for: reliability, terrific resale value, and a great range of unrivalled fishing bundles. So when it’s time to go fishing, fish with the best mate you could have on the water. Quintrex. Scan the QR code for everything you need to know.

BRISBANE Brisbane Yamaha 174 Eastern Service Rd, Burpengary Q T 07 3888 1727 brisbaneyamaha.com.au

www.bnbfishing.com.au

BRISBANE Brisbane Boating & Leisure 1743 Ipswich Rd, Rocklea Q T 07 3875 1600 brisbaneboatingleisure.com.au

BUNDABERG Boats Galore 142 Enterprise St, Bundaberg Q T 07 4152 6744 boatsgalore.com.au

GLADSTONE Ship & Sail Bryan Jordan Dr, Gladstone Q T 07 4972 7111 shipandsail.com.au

GOLD COAST Surf Coast Marine 50-56 Brisbane Rd, Labrador Q T 07 5563 7733 surfcoastmarine.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST Caloundra Marine 8 Baldwin St, Caloundra Q T 07 5491 1944 caloundramarine.com.au

QXB&Fish 001

quintrex. WHERE NEXT?

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 49

BOATING & marine Dunbier announces key appointments

UNBIER Marine Products, Australia’s largest boat trailer manufacturer with both Dunbier and Mackay brands, is excited to announce the expansion of its team with the appointment of three seasoned professionals. This significant investment bolsters Dunbier Mackay’s commitment to growth, dealer satisfaction and overall excellence in serving our valued customers. The newly appointed state managers – Mark Johnson for Queensland/ Northern Territory, Todd Burton NSW/ ACT and Matt Utber Victoria/Tasmania – bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their roles. Their leadership will play an important role in driving Dunbier Mackay’s success and ensuring unparalleled service to its customers across the eastern seaboard. Mark, Todd and Matt each bring a unique set of skills and experience that will contribute to the continued success of Dunbier Mackay. Their roles will involve overseeing operations, fostering relationships with dealers and implementing growth strategies to

maximise potential for Dunbier Mackay’s dealers and business. With an extensive background in marine original equipment manufacturing, Mark aims to “bring a genuine family-like approach to every customer interaction, drive growth and exceed expectations.” Meanwhile, Todd said, “I’m excited to join the team at Dunbier Mackay and am committed to building on our success and fostering strong relationships, all while upholding our values.” Todd joins Dunbier Mackay from the marina industry. And Matt said, “I’m dedicated to ensuring outstanding experiences for our customers and delivering exceptional results for us all.” Matt comes to Dunbier Mackay from a background in the agriculture industry. As Dunbier Mackay expands its impact across the eastern seaboard, the company remains committed in its mission to provide top-notch products and services. The addition of these talented team members reflects Dunbier Mackay’s dedication to being a leader in the marine industry.

Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

The four-stroke portable outboards are offered in both manual and electric start, and tiller and forward control models.

Mercury portable outboards savings

ERCURY Marine is bringing incredible value to the waterscape with big savings on offer on selected four-stroke portable outboard models. Available from participating dealers until April 26, 2024, Mercury’s ‘unrivalled performance, unmatched reliability’ portable sale offers discounts on 2.5, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.9, 15, 20, 25 and 30hp four-stroke outboard engines. Including both manual and electric start, and tiller and forward control models, savings range from $200 for the 2.5hp model up to a whopping $800 for the 30hp FourStroke outboard engines. Mercury Marine Australia and New Zealand senior marketing manager Anthony Brown said, “These outboards give boaters even more incentive to get out on the water, by offering enhanced portability, designed for easy trans-

port to the water.” “Those looking at a four-stroke will immediately be impressed with Mercury Four Stroke’s reliability, compact lightweight design, easy to start and simple to operate portable outboards. “All these advantages while delivering fuel efficiency, quick acceleration and impressive speed. “Anyone who has been considering upgrading their portable outboard or wants to add a small engine to their fleet, now is the time to make the most of this limited offer.”

The simplicity of installation and the lightweight nature of the four-stroke outboards make them exceptionally well-suited for a variety of watercraft, suited to powering small aluminium fishing boats or inflatables. The ‘unrivalled performance, unmatched reliability’ portable promotion is available at all participating dealers until April 26, 2024, subject to availability. Find a Mercury Marine dealer near you or checkout the rest of the Mercury Marine range at mercurymarine.com/ au/en

Mercury is offering an array of savings on Four Stroke portable outboards.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

POWER YOUR LIFESTYLE WITH MERCRUISER – BUILT TO PERFORM, BUILT TO LAST, BUILT TO ENJOY Mercury MerCruiser engines and drive systems are designed, tested and purpose built for the marine environment.

POWERFUL - High displacement delivering more torque FUEL EFFICIENT - Providing extended range DURABLE & RELIABLE - Complete peace of mind

Go online or see your nearest Mercury Dealer to discuss powering your time on the water. Contact or visit us for more information.

AIRLIE BEACH

GOLD COAST

Whitsunday Outboard Centre 17 William Murray Dr, Cannonvale Q 4802 P: 07 4946 7286 www.whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

TR Marine Gold Coast 167 Currumburra Rd, Ashmore Q 4214 P: 07 5532 5812 www.trmarinegoldcoast.com.au

BRISBANE

IPSWICH

Manly Harbour Marine 570 Royal Esp, Manly Q 4179 P: 07 3893 2199 www.manlyharbourmarine.com.au

Ipswich Marine Centre 45 Huxham St, Raceview Q 4305 P: 07 3294 3944 www.ipswichmarine.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH

SUNSHINE COAST

Holt Marine 25 Queens Rd, Everton Hills Q 4053 P: 07 3353 1928 www.holtmarine.com.au

North Coast Boating 22 Enterprise St, Caloundra West Q 4551 P: 07 5493 9376 www.northcoastboating.com.au

GOLD COAST NORTH

Onshore Marine - Horizon Shores Marina, Cabbage Tree Point Rd, Woongoolba Q 4207 P: 07 5546 2480 www.onshoremarine.com.au www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 51

Setting up for a sweet sortie

The new AirBag Man airbags ready to go in the 80 Series back coils.

The spare tyre spring minted in place.

ELLO everyone, it’s Tonk here. With the good rain we’ve been having lately, the close in reefs off Noosa will be firing for sweetlip, tuskfish and trout. If I was going out, I would be fishing the top of Sunshine Reef. Just anchor up on some of my marks and use a running sinker rig with cut-in-half pillies or nice fresh bits of local trawler squid for bait. The same with off Double Island Point, I’d be fishing in close just off the bar area and across the front of DI. I would use the same running sinker rig and bait, as well as jigging live slimy mackerel or yakka in that bar reef area, and fish with live or half yakka or slimies cut lengthways on a snooded rig. Expect to catch estuary cod, sweetlip, moses perch, pearl perch

SIGN UP FOR WEEKLY FISHING NEWS! Subscribe to the FREE BNB e-news to receive a weekly email with the latest fishing news and local fishing reports!

Sunshine Coast by CRAIG TOMKINSON

and snapper, maybe even mulloway on the wrecks on the top and bottom of the tide changes. You may even pick up an occasional spotted mackerel on the drop down. Over a fair few weeks, I was doing a lot of crabbing in the Noosa River and have caught some lovely mud crabs so far this year. But now, from the mild floods we had from a few weeks of rain – up to 130mm at times – the fresh water has moved the crabs right down the river. It’s only a few weeks before I head up to the Weipa area on my annual camping and fishing trip. In the run up to my trip, I fitted new brakes and parts all around on our Toyota LandCruiser 80 Series, plus installed Airbag Man airbags with Kevlar covers into the back, running them at 10psi fully loaded. And I rebuilt the back sway bar and back shock absorbers rubbers. The 80 Series also had an engine oil change

and new air and fuel filters, and all of the running gear had an oil change and grease too. On the boat trailer, I fitted a spare spring holder for the more remote trips. The holder is two 17cm long by 16mm thick grade 8 high tensile bolts welded to one of the trailer cross members. They stick out long enough that the spring slides onto the bolts with the spring’s bushes in place, and it’s bolted on with washers and double locking nuts. I also bought a second-hand Toyota 80 Series spare-tyre windup winch setup for $55 from Cooroy Auto Wreckers. I welded the winch setup to a piece of 75mm x 50mm x 3mm box steel and welded it in place under the back of the boat trailer to carry a spare tyre. It fits and works great. Hopefully when you’re reading this, I’ll be packing my gear ready to head north. Until next month, be safe on the water.

FREE Hop on to bnbfishing.com.au Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

The spare tyre was fitted to the 5m boat trailer using an 80 Series spare-tyre winch.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

PERFORMANCE

X RELIABILITY +

BRISBANE STONES CORNER MARINE 117 Old Cleveland Rd Stones Corner (07) 3397 9766 stonescornermarine.com.au

GYMPIE WATSONS MARINE CENTRE 52 Wickham St Gympie (07) 5482 2135 watsonsmarine.com.au

HERVEY BAY BAY CITY BOATING 55 Islander Rd Pialba, Hervey Bay (07) 4124 6988 baycityboating.com.au

www.bnbfishing.com.au

BUNDABERG BUNDABERG MARINELAND 95 Targo St Bundaberg (07) 4130 0500 bundabergmarineland.com.au

MACKAY REEF MARINE 26 Prospect St Mackay (07) 4957 3521 reefmarine.net

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 53

The author managed a personal best southeast Queensland barramundi at 98cm.

a For

ll yo

a t in g ur bo

& f s h in g n e e d s .

• Kayak Hire • Fishing Rod Hire • On water 24hr fuel • Full range of chandlery • Paints & antifouls • Bait • Tackle • Ice • LPG All the BIG brands right here in Tin Can Bay!

Shop 1 The Marina, Emperor St. Tin Can Bay, QLD 4580 e - chandlery@bigpond.com www.tcbchandlery.com.au

Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Barramundi fire up

’DAY crew, I trust you’ve all been well and enjoying our little slice of heaven, or your own if you don’t live on the Cooloola Coast. Where has the year gone already? I’m now writing an article for the April edition and I’m sure we only took the Christmas tree down the other day! What a summer we had. It really reminded me of when we lived in Nhulunbuy in Arnhem Land – hot wet days and some fairly good fishing to go with it. Personally, I love hot barmy days because

Tin Can Bay by CHRIS RIPPON

generally it means the creeks are firing and mangrove jack and barramundi are wanting to play. Speaking of jacks, it sure has been a great session for them this summer. We’ve also had a number of recaptures from our Tag A Jack Competition – a few from the 2023 event and even some from the 2021 comp. It’s great to see that about 50 percent of the recaptures are going

back to fight another day and the other 50 percent are going home as food to feed the family. On the barra front, it has been an exceptional season here in Tin Can Bay and the whole of the Great Sandy Strait. The sheer number and quality of fish being caught is great to see. A good number of fish have been captured here over the past couple of years, and I’d say the two good wet summers * continued P55

www.bnbfishing.com. au

TCB barramundi fire up * from P54

coupled with the two floods we’ve had have played a big part in this. We’ve scored plenty of fish in the high 8090cm range, with the smaller fish still measuring in at over 70cm. Live bait are a great way to target barra for a lot of anglers, yet the diehard lure fishos have been holding their own too. A few standout lures that have consistently produced are the ever-popular Molix RT Shads in 5.5” and 7”, with the new 9” catching plenty of fish. With their prawn patterns, the 5” Zerek Live Shrimp and the 120mm Pro Lure Clone Prawn have proved successful. Retro rigging them with a couple of stingers is best done at home on the rigging bench because it can take a little time to get done. But with the right gear and a bit of patience, you can knock out a few pre-rigged plastics in no time and in doing so, you’re sure to up your conversion rate. On the hard-body front, the Samaki Redic DS80 and the Lucky Crafty Pointer 78XD have raked up the points too.

If you want the best advice and local intel on fishing our barramundi, together with how we rig our lures and bait for constant success, pop in and have a chat with one of our team members. For a lot of anglers, mud and sand crabs were on the menu recently and in reasonable numbers too. Muddies were reported in good numbers and condition in the lead up to the full moon towards the end of the month. The middle reaches of the creeks were the places to go. Also, being able to get up into the mangrove flats with the bigger tides saw good numbers being caught. Sand crabs were a bit patchy around the moorings in the bay, yet there was whisper of good numbers being caught on the sand flats in and around Pelican Bay. Despite the dirty water in through February and March, decent quantities of squid and winter whiting have shown up, bucking the trend that they’re only about in winter. As usual, fishing deep for squid is the

Jeffrey recaptured a mangrove jack from the 2023 Tag A Jack Competition during a Great Sandy Straits Sports Fishing charter. www.bnbfishing.com.au

way to catch them. A paternoster rig is a great way to fish for these tasty cephalopods. A few fishos told me that they ran a couple of 8 long-shank red hooks above and below their squid jigs – doubling the catch and banging a few divers at the same time. Sounds like a great system, though I reckon it might result in a few tangles. In saying that, at the time of writing, we were heading out with the kids, so I’ll give it a go and see what happens. I included the Relaxn bean bag as a comfy spot for the cherubs to crash in on the way out. Well, that’s it from me for another month. If you want to find out what’s been biting and for some local intel, pop in and have a chat to our team. Take care and tight lines. The Chandlery Bait and Tackle for all your boating and fishing needs.

Megan Fah managed a decent Great Sandy Strait barramundi.

Captain Jon Mallard with one of the small fish from the start of the open season.

Captain Jon Mallard released a tagged mangrove jack during a guide’s day off.

Jackson Hehir caught a belter 55cm mangrove jack from one of the local creeks. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 55

Lakis with the bounty from the river and the reef.

Living it up at Log Dump Camp

Lakis cooked up a feast. No one goes hungry if he’s on the trip.

Cozza with a nice chunky buck. Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

FEW weekends ago, seven members of the club travelled north and camped at Log Dump Camp, near Tinnanbar. Recent rainfall meant the creeks were running with a fair bit of fresh and this, combined with neap tides, was to make crabbing just a tad harder. That said, it certainly didn’t stop the Ruthenburg or Rimmer teams. Far from it – they both recorded great catches for the weekend. Despite the fresh there was plenty of fishing activity, with Zac Rimmer chasing and catching a very nice mangrove jack after several bust-offs from quite large fish. Rob Schomberg was also quite proud of his jack, though I’m not sure catching it in a crab pot actually counts. On the fishing front, Lakis Zeniou also did well outside, trolling up some nice mackerel and topping this off with cod and sand crabs for good measure. A good number of mud crabs were about, and for a change included some good keepers

PBA Spin by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

that were particularly full. One of them decided to do a runner through the camp and reek a bit of havoc, causing Dave Alexander to let out a shriek when it ran over his foot. Shriek, scream, whatever it was, Bradan Ruthenburg launched into action and in no time had the crab subdued, tied and in the bag once again. The rest of the fishos were quite impressed, so it was crab-tying lessons for the duration of the afternoon. All up it was a great weekend, with everyone

more than keen to do it again. The only downer was the uninvited snake that someone found in their bed… no names mentioned, Rob. Any interested parties are invited to come along to our monthly meetings, which occur on the first Wednesday of every month at ‘The Club Manly’ (bowls club), 26 Faine St Manly from 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The next PBA meetings will be on Wednesday April 3, and then in May on Wednesday 1. Until next month, safe boating.

Zac Rimmer with his cracker mangrove jack.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 57

A decent coronation trout.

Persistence pays off

Near perfect conditions at K’gari.

A lovely pair from the K’gari shallows. Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

ITH trips offshore few and far between for me of late, I jumped at the chance to get up to K’gari for what looked like a nice little weather window. Those who frequent K’gari and beach launch inside Waddy Point would be well aware of the preparation and planning required for such trips. On this occasion, the weather person was correct and, despite messy conditions early on our first day offshore, we were greeted largely by calm seas and a light northeasterly wind. One of the most appealing aspects of this trip were the neap tides. For those not aware, the term neap is used to describe the period in which there is minimal difference between the high and low tide. Typically, these smaller tides mean there is

Fishing Tips by CHRIS RAIMONDI

less water flow and hence slower currents. This is not always true though – more about that later. Any offshore trip in a 5.5m trailer boat requires preparation and beach launching takes that to a whole new level. Any little weakness in your trailer or vehicle can be quickly exposed and lead to an unenjoyable and expensive experience. On this occasion, it was largely smooth sailing for us getting the boat in the water. Over the past few months there has been a real absence of gutters deep enough to launch at Orchid Beach. With little to no residual swell and a light wind, we quite easily dropped

the boat in the calm water inside Waddy Point and made our way offshore between sets as they rolled around the point itself. From early on day one, it was obvious that fishing was going to be fairly challenging. K’gari can offer up some of the best offshore fishing on the planet, yet it can also greet you with strong currents and aggressive sharks. On this particular trip, the combination of the latter two was going to haunt us. Live bait was scarce, though on the first drop of the morning one of the few yakka we managed to snag was immediately nailed. Unfortunately, whatev* continued P59

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Persistence pays off at K'gari

more natural fashion. where we could drift at Varying depths will 2-3kms per hour. er nailed it was almost immediately smashed often throw up different Thankfully, the fish by what was presumably conditions with regard were chewing and we to current, and I didn’t started to chip away at a fairly sizeable shark. As I re-rigged, the spot think deeper was a via- some very nice venus lock on the Minn Kota ble option, so it was to tuskfish, redthroat emgave up and a glance at the shallows we went. peror, moses perch and When I say ‘shallows’, grass sweetlip. the sounder showed we were drifting at 5-6kms we moved from fishing My friend Matt nailed AUSTRALIA EAST COAST depths of 40-55m to a cracking grassy and per hour. in closer to the POINT Good old K’gari! was then lit up aISLAND) few AUSTRALIA, 20-30m EAST COAST – WADDY (FRASER AUSTRALIA, EAST COA WADDY POINT So that stuff I was island. minutes LAT 24° 58ʼ S LONG 153° 21ʼ E later by what LAT 24° One ofand theHeights great things saying about neap tides Times was an of High andwe Lowsuspected Waters Time Zone –1000 Times and is that even bigger MARCH meaning lessJANUARY current about K’gari FEBRUARY model. APRIL MAY m Time there m m of spots Time m Unfortunately, Time m Time m Time m Time m areTime plenty offshore…Timeyeah, well Time m Time m Time we’ll 0418 0.77 it’s 0458 0.68 0534 ground 0.96 0110 1.74 0508 0.98though 0031 it1.93 0026 1.81 0214 1.88 0229 1.77 0123 1.87 with rubble and just be 1mindful, a never know, 16 1 16 1 16 1 0739 1.05 16 0959 0.96 1 0844 0.88 16 0951 0.90 1 0314 1111 1.87 1150 2.02 1148 1.65 0723 1.05 1106 1.57 0730 1.05 0957 structure in close the 1.50certainly guide not rule.0.80 TU 1823 0.59 1802 0.75 to 0.74 a 1232 1.37 MO a TH 1823 FR 1259 FR 1712 was SA great MO 1222 1.28 TU 1533 1.30 WE 1415 1.28 TH 1556 1.39 SA 1623 2337 1.30 1918 0.77 1824 0.87 1756 0.87 2017 1.06 2049 1.04 1905 0.93 2147 A frustrating morning island, especially at the little afternoon session, 0508 0.85 0031 1.50 0058 1.48 0234 1.78 0005 1.67 0148 1.90 0145 1.80 0323 1.83 0236 1.88 0327 1.72 northern end. ensued 2and by about salvage 2 0643 1.06 17 0921 1.10which2 helped 2 0917 0.98 17 1048 0.90 2 0944 0.77 17 1034 0.83 2 0411 1153 1.77 17 0558 0.84 0612 1.08us17 0924 1.05 1039 1845 0.78 1240 1.84 1227 large 1.53 rocky SA 1415 1.35 The FR many 1pm, theTUshark and WE curSA 1144 1.45 SU 1407 1.27 TU 1410 1.25 WE 1639 1.38 TH 1534 1.37 FR 1648 1.48 SU 1715 the day. 1913 0.64 1904 0.74 2021 0.83 1750 0.77 1937 0.95 1918 0.90 2140 1.02 2041 0.89 2258 2204 1.00 rent theme had contin- headlands, such as InWith 0107 only1.67 a few hours 0047 1.31 0146 1.55 0217 1.53 0353 1.85 0307 1.89 0305 1.85 0421 1.81 0340 1.93 0505 0418 1.68 dian 3Head, ued at almost spot 3 0613 every 18 1112 1.04to fish 3 0744 0.94 18 0715 0.97 0810 1.12 Waddy 1.12 18 on day two,1051 we0.99 3 1020 0.84 18 1122 0.83 3 1033 0.65 18 1105 0.75 3 1117 1314 1.42 Ngkala 1542 1.31 TH 1723 1.46 FR 1637 1.52 SA 1729 1.58 WE 1238 1.67 TH 1333 1.65 SA SU 1550 1.27 SU 1233 1.35 MO 1554 1.27 MO 1802 Point and South we fished. wanted make 2100 the0.99 WE 2100 1932 0.75 2006 0.67 1953 0.74 2131 0.86 1842to0.81 0.86 2243 0.95 2301 0.94 2204 0.79 Rocks, provide rubble Apart from a nice cormost of 0214 1.36 0309 1.65 0330 1.62 0456 1.91 0229 the 1.70 morning 0416 1.89 0410 1.95 0506 1.80 1.96 0500 1.65 4 0957 4 4 1109 and coffee rock for1214 a 0.96session. onation 4trout, we19 had 0728 1.01 0857 1.05 4 0437 4 0000 1.10 19 0943 1.07 19 1139 0.92 0.69 19 1151 0.76 1114 0.54 19 1129 0.68 0555 1424 1.32 MO 1717 1.27 1401 1.27 TU 1711 1.33 1651 1.43 FR 1758 1.55 SA 1728 1.68 SU 1805 1.69 TH 1327 1.57 FR 1436 1.49 1155 SU MO TH TU fair way2050 out 0.72 to sea and very little2020 to show for 0.70 2102 0.69 2236 0.84 Based on our 1953 0.83 learnings 2216 0.96 2228 0.74 2328 0.86 2306 0.70 1846 2346 0.88 are always worth a look our efforts.0328 1.46 from the we1.89 0420 1.77 0429 1.74 0546 1.96 0343day 1.79before, 0510 0506 2.06 0543 1.80 0526 1.96 0537 1.60 5 20 5 20 pe5 our 5 1151 0.55 20 1214 0.68 5 1150 0.45 20 1149 0.61 5 0057 0849 1.04was to 1042 1.04 1113 1.00 and 1248 0.89 1052 0.94 20 1209 0.86 0645 for reef species Our challenge made way to shal1542 1.26 1755 1.40 FR 1422 1.47 SA 1550 1.37 MO 1550 1.27 TU 1813 1.32 TU WE FR 1745 1.57 SA 1830 1.65 SU 1812 1.84 MO 1838 1.80 WE 1233 lagic. 2155 0.69 find an area the 2107 where 0.65 2157 0.69 2329 0.79 2121 0.80similar 2313to0.88 2326 0.60 2358 0.63 1930 low ground, By mid-afternoon, our current wasn’t 0425 as 1.59strong, 0515 1.89 0519 1.88 0626 2.00 0444 fished 1.92 0551 1.91 0554 2.13 0005 0.78 0612 1.91 0026 0.84 what we’d the day 6 1012be1.02able 21to1202 0.97 6 1207 changed 6 1142 0.78 21 1233 0.79 6 1227 0.44 21 0615 1.78 6 1224 0.40 21 0612 1.56 6 0155 0.86 21 1312 0736 luck finally as 0.82before. hence we’d SA 1521 1.39 SU 1702 1.31 TU 1701 1.27 WE 1853 1.39 WE 1658 1.33 TH 1828 1.48 SA 1829 1.72 SU 1233 0.62 MO 1855 2.01 TU 1214 0.56 TH 1314 2152 0.59 2249 0.68 0.62a decent 2247 0.69 2355 0.79 we came2300 across drift slower and present 1900 1.74 2015 1909 1.90 The early signs were patch of 0605 fish 2.03 in an area our bait and a 1.99 0510 lures 1.72 in 0602 0014 0.72 0536 2.06 0626 1.92 0014 0.50 0040 0.72 0049 0.61 0107 0.81 good, with a few more 7 1120 7 1252 0.72 22 0703 2.03 7 1225 0.63 22 1258 0.72 7 0638 2.15 22 0645 1.76 7 0656 1.83 22 0646 1.51 7 0252 0.95 22 1253 0.89 0827 1758 1.43 smashing SU 1621 1.34 MO 1805 1.30 WE 1802 1.33 TH 1338 0.75 niceTHtuskies FR 1859 1.56 SU 1301 0.37 MO 1254 0.56 TU 1258 0.39 WE 1241 0.53 FR 1358 2235 0.54 2337 0.65 2355 0.52 1927 1.46 2344 0.56 1911 1.88 1930 1.84 2101 1940 1.99 1938 2.14 our squid bait, however 0549 1.86 0644 2.06 0648 2.17 0053 0.64 0624 2.18 0030 0.70 0059 0.46 0116 0.70 0140 0.63 0149 0.79 was0.50 short 8 1214 0.86 23 1330 0.82 8 1333 0.59 23 0737 2.04the joy 8 1304 23lived. 8 0720 2.10 23 0715 1.71 8 0740 1.73 23 0723 1.48 8 0347 0657 1.93 0917 1847 1.56 was 0.66 1334 0.34 TU 1317 0.52 WE 1333 0.42 TH 1311 0.52 MO 1715 1.31 TU 1857 1.33 TH 1855 1.41 FR 1407 0.70 The FR current SA 1322 MO SA 1441 a lot 2318 0.49 1958 1.51 1928 1.63 1954 2.01 2001 1.93 2146 2022 2.24 2014 2.07 stronger than the previ0626 2.00 0022 0.62 0044 0.43 0128 0.60 0032 0.44 0103 0.64 0146 0.48 0154 0.71 0437 0236 0.69 0235 0.78 9 1302 0.76 24 0723 2.11 9 0732 2.28 24 0808 2.03ous day, 9 0707mirroring what1.91 9 0802 2.00 24 0747 1.66 9 0827 1.61 24 0803 1.45 9 1004 2.26 24 0727 1408 0.36 WE 1343 0.51 TU 1807 1.32 WE 1403 0.75 FR 1413 0.48 SA 1434 0.68 SA 1339 0.41 SU 1344 0.62 SU 1524 TH 1410 0.50 FR 1344 0.54 dealt out1.70 TU 2038 1940 1.38 1944 1.51 2027 1.55we had 1930 1.69 with1957 2.12 2033 2.00 2107 2.27 2051 2.11 2230 wider. 0002 0.44 0105 0.59 0131 0.36 0159 0.59 0116 0.37 0135 0.62 0236 0.57 0234 0.74 0523 0338 0.76 0324 0.78 10 0705 2.13 25 0801 2.13 10 0817 2.35 25 0838 1.99 By1010am, 0750 2.28 0755to1.87 10 0846 1.85 25 0822 1.60 10 0914 1.50 25 0848 1.42 10 1049 in 25 close WE 1347 0.65 TH 1439 0.71 SA 1452 0.42 SU 1500 0.68 SU 1415 0.36 MO 1406 0.59 WE 1443 0.44 TH 1411 0.53 MO 1608 FR 1447 0.61 SA 1422 0.59 1858 1.36 out1.80conditions, 2018 1.41 2033 1.60 2055 1.58glassed2015 2027 1.77 2124 2.18 2108 2.05 2153 2.25 2133 2.12 2312 and0.64 0048 0.39 0143 0.58 0217 0.35 0232 0.61we called 0201 it 0.38a day0210 0331 0.71 0319 0.80 0607 0441 0.84 0417 0.78 11 0747 2.25 26 0837 2.11 11 0902 2.35 26 0905 1.93headed 11 0833back2.23to26the0823is-1.82 11 0930 1.69 26 0900 1.53 11 1002 1.40 26 0936 1.38 11 1136 TH 1432 0.55 FR 1512 0.70 SU 1533 0.40 MO 1524 0.68 MO 1451 0.37 TU 1429 0.58 TH 1518 0.55 FR 1441 0.58 TU 1656 SA 1524 0.73 SU 1504 0.67 1950 1.41 2051 1.43 2122 1.66 2125 1.61land. 2100 1.90 2058 1.83 2211 2.18 2145 2.05 2355 2239 2.17 2219 2.08 0137 0.36 0218 0.59 0304 0.41 0305 0.67 By no 0248means 0.46 0246 it0.70 0437 0.84 0409 0.86 was 0542 0.90 0513 0.80 0652 One of the Waddy Point locals. 12 0833 2.33 27 0909 2.06 12 0948 2.26 27 0933 1.86an 12 0917 2.10 27 0853 1.74 12 1016 1.52 27 0941 1.45 12 1052 1.33 27 1030 1.33 12 1234 offshore tripWEto1454re-0.59 FR 1553 0.67 SA 1514 0.66 SU 1607 0.85 MO 1550 0.75 WE 1751 FR 1517 0.48 SA 1544 0.72 MO 1613 0.44 TU 1548 0.69 TU 1528 0.42 2043 1.46 2120 1.43 2212 1.70 2158 1.64 2147 1.96 2259 2.13 2226 2.02 2327 2.06 2311 2.02 member, but any 2132 time1.87 0226 0.37 0250 0.62 0353 0.54 0340 0.76at K’gari 0338 0.62 0326 0.78 0553 0.95 0506 0.91 0641 0.95 0610 0.82 is magical 13 0921 2.34 28 0940 2.00 13 1034 2.11 28 1002 1.77 13 1000 1.92 28 0926 1.66 13 1106 1.39 28 1025 1.37 13 1154 1.29 28 1133 1.30 13 0043 0742 SA 1602 0.46 SU 1613 0.74 we1606 had0.52 a couple TU 1656 0.51 WE 1613 0.70andWE TH 1520of0.62 SA 1633 0.81 SU 1551 0.76 MO 1704 0.95 TU 1642 0.83 TH 1348 2138 1.48 2149 1.43 2303 1.72 2235 1.66 2236 1.98 2208 1.89 2353 2.05 2312 1.96 1852 decent bags of fillets, 0315 0.43 0323 0.67 0447 0.72 0421 0.87 0437 0.80 0409 0.88 0713 1.00 0612 0.95 0021 1.95 0009 1.96 0136 to persisting 14 1011 2.29 29 1009 1.93 14 1119 1.91 29 1032 1.67thanks 14 1044 1.72 29 1001in1.56 14 1211 1.29 29 1117 1.29 14 0744 0.97 29 0709 0.82 14 0840 1645 0.63 FR 1547 0.67 SU 1649 0.48 MO 1642 0.75 WE 1739 0.60 TH 1641 0.71tough TH conditions. SU 1729 0.93 MO 1636 0.84 TU 1321 1.28 WE 1247 1.29 FR 1505 2232 1.49 2223 1.44 2317 1.67 2329 1.97 2247 1.88 1817 1.02 1746 0.89 2003 As the weather starts 0405 0.54 0359 0.75 0000 1.73 0555 0.96 0459 0.97 0059 1.96 0009 1.90 0124 1.85 0111 1.90 0232 15 1101 2.18 30 1039 1.85 15 0553 0.91 to 15 cool1132 and1.52 we30 embark 1037 1.46 15 0843 1.01 30 0729 0.94 15 0853 0.95 30 0810 0.79 15 0931 1728 0.75 SA 1619 0.74 1355 1.26 TU 1238 1.25 WE 1446 1.31 TH 1404 1.33 MO 1736 0.53 TU 1713 0.76 TH 1205 1.70 1610 FR MO SA on the colder months, 2329 1.49 2304 1.45 1824 0.69 2330 1.84 1852 1.02 1740 0.91 1931 1.05 1900 0.92 2125 super strong currents 0441 0.85 0604 1.04 0213 1.86 31 1111 1.75 31 1120 31 0907 0.74 will become less fre-1.36 WE 1746 0.75 SU 1658 0.81 FR 1519 1.43 quent and we’ll be able 2355 1.46 2024 0.92 to go on K’gari trips © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2022, Bureau ofwith Meteorology ©First Copyright Commonwealth of Austra New Moon Quarter much more confiDatum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astro dence. Full Moon Last Quarter still have toFull batMoon Phase Symbols New Moon FirstWe’ll Quarter Moon Last Quarter New Mo Moon Phase Symbols tle the sharks though. Matt’s quality grassy sweetlip. 16

* from P58

Tide Times 2024

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 59

Boyne Tannum HookUp 2024 n With over $450,000 worth of prizes

The major promotional prize for the senior category is a Sea Jay 590 Titan powered by a 150hp valued at over $112,000.

At the ‘Kids Hub’ children are encouraged to participate in the treasure hunt, fun crafts, competitions and to learn more about our beautiful local marine animals and environment.

The GAWB Educational Fishing Marquee features speakers on boating safety, fish monitoring and research, fishing tips and tricks and cooking demonstrations.

The Gladstone region is a beautiful area for fishing enthusiasts, with fishing spots in abundance, making the Boyne Tannum HookUp a standout event for keen fishos across the nation.

HE twenty-ninth annual Boyne Tannum HookUp is back this May Day long weekend, from Friday to Sunday May 3-5, 2024. This year, Australia’s biggest family fishing competition offers a bigger prize pool than ever before, with over $450,000 worth of prizes to be won! The HookUp is a much-loved and favourite event for thousands of locals and visitors from all over Queensland and interstate. The 2023 event had over 3300 registered competitors and brought a record attendance of over 30,000 people to Bray Park in Boyne Island across the three days. The Gladstone region is a beautiful area for fishing enthusiasts, with fishing spots in abundance, from beaches and creeks to estuaries and a platform to the reef, making the HookUp one of the region’s biggest tourism drawcards and a standout event for keen fishos across the nation. Junior anglers (aged 3-15) and senior anglers (aged from 16 years plus) competing in the event can fish and weigh-in any of the 16 eligible fish species for the chance to win daily

Australia’s biggest family fishing competition has over $450,000 worth of prizes to be won. Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

and overall cash, prizes and fishing charters totalling almost $70,000. Our new ‘overall elite angler’ category will also win $1000 in cash, trophy and fishing charter. One lucky junior angler will win a Sea Jay 3.5 Nomad and one senior angler will be taking home a Sea Jay 4.28m Magnum 2 on the Sunday night. As well as team-category entrants having the chance to win a fantastic holiday prize to the world-famous Heron Island. Plenty of opportunities to take home a prize! For those who aren’t fishing enthusiasts or may not have luck catching a fish, there will be plenty of promotional prizes up for grabs for anyone who purchases a ticket. Promotional prizes are drawn on each of the three nights and include the biggest catch of them all… the major promotional prize for the senior category of a Sea Jay 590 Titan powered by a 150hp, valued at over $112,000. As well as both a junior and a senior tinnie, junior bikes, rods and reels, plus many other prizes up for grabs. The Boyne Tannum HookUp offers great activities for the whole family, including amusements, information stalls, kids learn to fish sessions, live music, food and drinks (including a licensed bar) and a fantastic fireworks display on the Sunday night. Returning for the second year is the Gladstone Area Water Board Education-

al Fishing Marquee, where attendees can hear from a variety of speakers on interesting fishing-related subjects such as boating safety, fish monitoring and research, fishing tips and tricks and cooking demonstrations. The marquee has been expanded and incorporated into our new ‘Kids Hub’, where children are encouraged to participate in the treasure hunt, fun crafts, competitions and to learn more about our beautiful local marine animals and environment. New to the 2024 HookUp are the ‘Ladies Fish and Sip’ sessions that will run each afternoon, hosted by a selection of star fishing guests to create a fun and friendly atmosphere. Bring your favourite sip along to accompany the provided platters and learn how to tie the perfect knot, take part in interactive casting demonstrations and pick up some handy fishing tips, all the while enjoying the scenery of a beautiful patch of Central Queensland’s coastline. Registration for these sessions will be opening soon through the Boyne Tannum HookUp Facebook page. Don’t miss out on this fantastic family fishing event – sure to be a highlight of your year. • Senior competitor $99 • Junior competitor $44 • Team entry $10pp (2-4 people per team). Register for the 2024 Boyne Tannum HookUp at boynetan numhookup.com.au

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MAY 3RD MAY 5TH 2024 Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 61

Crossover species smorgasbord

Finn scored a nice 76cm coral trout on a 5” Zerek Live Shrimp from Rock Cod Shoals.

Redthroat emperor where firing on the reefs, with this one eating a 5” jerk shad in 18m.

Chinaman fish aren’t that common at Rock Cod Shoals, but Sam pulled hard and caught one on a soft vibe.

ELCOME to April, hopefully cooler temperatures have kicked in. We finally managed to crack a string of good weather at the end of February and into March. Even more surprising were the great weekends, which saw many people take advantage and head out wider. While most reefs and shoals had their fair share of boats on them, most people caught a good feed of fish from all locations. Coral trout and redthroat emperor made up the majority of the catches, though I didn’t hear of many sizeable red emperor or nannygai being caught. I fished Rock Cod Shoals, catching good numbers of both trout and redthroat on soft plastics, jigs and vibes. Typically, I concentrate my fishing around the southern section of the shoals, in the 1520m depth range, as this area sees less fishing pressure. On this day though, the bite on the southern end was a bit slow. There was enough to

Byron headed from the Sunshine Coast to fish Lake Monduran with good results chasing barramundi. Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Gladstone Region by GARY CHURCHWARD

keep us busy, just not a consistent bite. After a few moves, we ended up on the northern end of the shoals, fishing the shallower 1013m water with many other boats. From the moment we dropped our first lures down the bite was nonstop, with good trout to 75cm and redthroat to the mid-50cm range. Throw in the occasional tuskfish, spanish flag and various other reef dwellers and we left the shoals catching over 70 fish for the day. The best part was the lack of toothy critters – we didn’t see a shark or lose a fish to one all day – a very rare occurrence these days. A near-flat run home topped off a great day on the reef, taking advantage of good conditions and catching plenty of good fish. Hopefully the great weather continues for Easter and the school holidays. April is one of the best months to be on the water, with the temperature perfect during the day and just starting to chill at night. It’s also crossover time – warm-weather fish will slow down and cooler-climate species will become more active. Species such as barramundi and mangrove jack will still be on offer, though they’ll be a little harder to get a bite from. And fish such as blue salmon, bream and flathead will start to turn up more often. April is one of the few months when both sum-

mer and winter species will both be common captures. On the local fishing front, the rivers and harbour have provided good catches of barra, yet these will start to drop off towards the end of the month. And mangrove jack will be in the same situation, however the top of the Boyne River and to the back of smaller creeks will still produce a few. Good sized fingermark have been caught in decent numbers through the harbour and around the deeper rock sections of the Calliope and Boyne rivers. Hopefully blue salmon numbers will start to increase as the water temperature drops. This species have been hard to find, with the occasional fish caught as by-catch. Grunter numbers and sizes were good throughout the Gladstone area, with most gravel banks holding small schools of these fish. Bream and flathead will also be found in better numbers as we move into the cooler months. Awoonga, Monduran and Callide dams have all been fishing well for barra. As the temperature drops, try concentrating on shallower areas where the water can be a degree or two higher. Let’s hope for some periods of good weather so we can enjoy what our local waterways have to offer. Cheers and happy fishing from Gladstone.

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Coby Pascoe and one of his team’s biggest winning barramundi coming in at 130cm.

Capricorn Coast Shimano King of Kings

Luke Peisker hooked our best barramundi, which came in at 123cm.

S promised last month, we are looking into everything that happened back in early February at the Shimano King of Kings Capricorn competition. First, a big congratulations to all of the organisers, who put together an awesome event again. This year saw record-breaking numbers, with plenty of new

Big barramundi central for the author on the Humminbird Apex 16. Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Capricorn Coast by JOHN BOON

teams registering to be part of the fun. One hundred team nominations were taken up without even breaking a sweat, so they opened up another 50 entries – which went like hot cakes and made this a sold-out event. Keep this in mind for the 2025 event or you might miss out. The weather forecast for the comp weekend was looking average. A weather window did pop its head up on the Saturday for the anglers who were keen to run wide. Our team Humminbird/Dobyns Rods, which consisted of myself, Luke Peisker and Matty Arnold, opted to stay in the creeks once more to chase barramundi and king

threadfin salmon. In this tournament, the rules are about as simple as it gets. Whichever species you decide to target, your team needs to catch their biggest two and submit via the SCF app. You take a photo of your fish on the supplied brag mat, with the length clearly visible. The big $5000 prizes were giant trevally, barra and king threadfin. And this year, another $5000 was added for red emperor, which evened up offshore and estuary species for the big money. Plenty of smaller prizes were on offer for other species, such as coral trout, nannygai, cobia, flathead, bream, * continued P65

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Capricorn Coast Shimano King of Kings * from P64

grunter, fingermark and more. You were able to target as many or as little of the selected species as you chose. Targeting more species would hedge your bets I guess. The registration held on Thursday night February 2 was a busy one at Beaches Restaurant. The parrilla was top notch for dinner and it was great to catch up with friends from near and far. Once the business was over, all the teams headed home to get ready for two and a half days of solid fishing. For day one, we opted to try for some big barra in Coorooman Creek. It wasn’t a great choice because we ended the day with a handful of small cod and a fingermark. Plenty of big barra were on the Humminbird Apex, though getting a bite proved difficult. For day two, we headed out to Port Alma to try our luck. It took us a while, yet we finally managed to get on the board with a beautiful king threadfin at 125cm. It was looking like a tough-bite competition all round in the creeks and I hoped the offshore fishos were getting more action. We spot-hopped our way about Port Alma until we pulled into an area that was crawling with barra and threadies. Even though the sounder was loaded once again, they just swam around our lures. I dug around in the tackle locker looking for the next lure to tie on, when I heard Luke grunt those sweet words, “Yep, on!”

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I spun around to see a gigantic bucket mouth come crashing across the surface. Luke did well and played the big barra out nicely. Matty and I cleared everything out of the way and prepared for its arrival. It was scooped up and swung onboard and, after high fiving each other, we laid it on the mat for a quick photo. It was a new personal best for Luke at 123cm, which we were all excited about. I took a quick glory shot before Luke put this beauty gently back in the water, giving it a swim. The fish wasn’t out of the water long, so the recovery was quick. We spot-hopped for the rest of the day and were able to put a bag in for both barra and threadies, with the next barra being 103cm and the next king 97cm. Day three for us was short and sweet. We scoured Port Alma and couldn’t manage any upgrades, so we pulled out early, went home for a clean-up and got ready for a few beverages and to find out how everyone had gone at the presentation. The best thing about this comp, especially the presentation, is that you can’t walk more than a few meters without running into someone for a catch up or a yarn – it has a mint social side to it. Once everyone was fed, hydrated and relaxed, the presentation started. First of all, a big congratulations to team Pascoe Boys for taking out the barra category. Our best two barra came in at a respectable 226cm, but Coby and his teammates (consist-

ing of dad Liam and uncle Leith) came in at 250cm. A tribute to Coby – he deserved this without a doubt, he’s a local big barra specialist and in a league of his own. The thready crown was won by Reel Play with a total of 272cm. Those are two giant threadies and a credit to what we know as the Rockhampton net free zone. The newly introduced red emperor trophy went to a team that lives and breathes reef fishing – red emperor gurus, the Bats crew deserved this acknowledgement, with their two best reds coming in at 169cm. The GT crown was won by Middle Water, with a massive bag coming in at 255cm. There were many other winners, though far too many to list here. Once again, a big thank you to the sponsors, Beaches Restaurant, the King of Kings organisers and the 2024 competitors. It will be hard to top this year’s event, so I guess you need to ask yourself the question for 2025, which is “Do I have what it takes to be king?”

Team Reel Play took out the king threadfin title.

Team Bats Fishing won the red emperor category.

Team Middle Water deserved the giant trevally crown.

Team Pascoe Boys took the well-earned barramundi trophy. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 65

Benny landed a juvenile maori wrasse on a Chasebait Flick Prawn.

Whitsundays sortie – Part 1

Palm Bay Resort was a great spot to stop for lunch and a drink. Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

T the end of 2023, Shaun, Benny and I started planning a trip. Our idea was to head north around the Whitsunday Islands for a couple of weeks. When organising a sortie north, going at the beginning of the year is always a little risky. Heavy rainfall and the threat of cyclones can put an end to any plans made in advance very quickly. Luckily, we were all in the position of being able to cancel the excursion at the last minute and reschedule it for a few weeks later. The plan for this trip was to fish the reefs and headlands rather the rivers for barramundi and mangrove jack. We made sure it was going to be open barra season, just in case we scored bad weather and couldn’t get out to the reef.

Fishing Trip by KEITH STRATFORD

In early February, about a week before our departure, a dirty big low-pressure system started to take shape in the Coral Sea. It had a fifty-fifty chance of forming into a tropical cyclone, so we waited until a couple of days out before making the call to go ahead with the trip. It didn’t turn into a cyclone, though it did push south towards New Caledonia. This meant the start of our sortie was going to be a little windy. We booked accommodation at Cannonvale (outside Airlie Beach) for five days. This would give us plenty of time to have a look around before planning the second

week of our trip. I had only fished the Whitsundays region once before and that was just a quick stopover with limited gear and no access to a boat. My wife Ash and I spent a few days at Palm Bay Resort on Long Island when on our honeymoon. And while I took a couple of rods and few lures to the resort, access to spots wasn’t very easy. I went out on a kayak in front of the resort a couple of times, targeting the first drop-off, and caught a stack of coral trout and honeycomb cod on Pro Lure Clone Prawn plastics, though none of the trout would have been legal. * continued P68

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 67

Whitsundays sortie – Part 1 * from P66

A small-mouth nannygai taken from a wreck at Bowen.

Benny captured a nice coral trout off Bowen.

Shaun landed his first legal trout for the trip. Page 68 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

But it did get me keen to go back for a look in my own boat. We left Brisbane with the 4.5m Polycraft in tow at 10pm on a Tuesday night. We weren’t roughing it on this jaunt, so we didn’t have a lot of gear onboard. As always, we had way too many rods and lures, but that happens every trip. We arrived in Proserpine at about 10am the following morning and put the boat in the Proserpine River to have a quick look. If the wind didn’t allow us to get out to the islands, the Prossie was a good back-up plan for us. It has plenty of barramundi and king threadfin, plus a very healthy population of crocodiles to watch for. We had planned the outing to start during the bigger tides leading up to the new moon, so we weren’t sure how the river would be in these conditions. We arrived close to high tide and it was terrible. The current was roaring, the water was filthy, the wind was blowing and there were some sizeable waves pumping up the middle of the river. While we had a quick look at a couple of edges anyway, the conditions were disgraceful, so we decided we were a lot more excited about lunch washed down with a few cold beverages. We had a look around Airlie and, with the forecast of a 20-25 knot southeasterly wind, made the decision that for the next morning, we’d stay fairly close to the mainland. Early the following

day, we put the boat in around the corner from our accommodation at Cannonvale and the water was very flat. The wind hadn’t started up yet and we also knew that, in close, the mountains gave protection from a southeasterly wind on this side of the bay. A little further out it got a bit lumpy, but our plan was to get around the corner, out of the wind, and fish some headlands for trout and other reef fish. Benny didn’t muck around, hooking a solid fish on the first cast with a Chasebait Flick Prawn. The fish almost took him into rocky country, though a little handy rod work had a beautiful maori wrasse next to the boat. While it was only a juvenile at about 65cm, it was a fairly impressive way to kick the trip off. They are a protected species so, after a quick photo, it was released to keep growing. At that stage the wind started to crank up and the action was quite slow, with only a few grass sweetlip and spanish flag coming aboard. We switched over to bait to see if the trout wanted to play, however we didn’t see one that morning. Due to the wind picking up to an annoying 25 knots, we headed in early. Once we got around the corner, we were smashed. We were all soaked by the time we got back to calmer water. Also, we were surprised at the lack of surface activity in the area. We didn’t see any bustups or fish feeding anywhere.

The forecast for the following day was slightly worse, so we decided to head to Shute Harbour and use Long Island as protection from the wind. The trip over was a little rough, however once we were across the channel and close to the island, it was protected. There is a lot of deep water in the channels between the islands. Even where it drops off closer to the island is about 15-21m and some of the deeper sections are over 45m deep. We fished plastics and vibes along the dropoffs for a few small cod before moving up to the edge in front of Palm Bay Resort. This must be a trout honey hole. We caught a stack of smaller models, with one just making legal at about 40cm. Most fish were caught on a Pro Lure Clone Prawn. The trout were definitely keen on a good prawn imitation, though I did manage a small one on a surface lure over the top of some coral bommies. At one stage, a big queenfish came out from the depths next to the boat to check out what a trout was eating. A change of scenery saw us hiding out of the wind on the northern end of Long Island. There was some very good water here and we caught plenty of nice grassies and a variety of other fish when fishing with bait. We hooked a few solid fish that were sharked halfway up, so we pulled the pin and went back to Shute Harbour with a howling southeasterly wind behind us. To be continued next month.

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The Whitsundays’ Lake Proserpine is a hidden treasure for those seeking to catch an iconic 1m barramundi.

Chasing 1m barra at Lake Proserpine

HOUGH the Whitsundays are commonly associated with beautiful beaches and colourful reefs, there is a hidden treasure for those seeking to catch an iconic 1m barramundi – Lake Proserpine. Positioned perfectly in a valley surrounded by lush hinterland inland from Airlie Beach, this freshwater dam boasts a thriving population of barramundi. Compared to other impoundments in Australia, Lake Proserpine is said to have the most barramundi over 1m, making it the location for those wanting to improve their chances of catching one. The lake is a beauti-

ful all-year barra fishing location, restocked annually with 20,000 fingerlings. Fishing at Lake Proserpine presents a unique journey into the inland areas of the Whitsundays. Imagine casting your line with the backdrop of mountains, listening to the symphony of birdsong and feeling the gentle lapping of the water against your boat. The breathtaking scenery and tranquillity of the lake creates a picture-perfect setting for an unforgettable adventure. And the lake’s submerged branches and structures provide the perfect habitat for other fish species, such as

sooty grunter, sleepy cod and saratoga. Barra World in Proserpine is the best place for gathering all the knowledge, must-hit spots and gear to use on the lake. But the fun doesn’t stop at the catch. Take your barra experience all the way, with local restaurants passionate about showcasing the region’s fresh produce often featuring expertly prepared barramundi on their menus. While the barramundi on the dinner table will be salt and not freshwater, it will taste like a winning catch. For more information about fishing, permits and camping, visit tour ismwhitsundays.com. au/lake-proserpine

Lake Proserpine’s submerged branches and structures provide the perfect habitat for sooty grunter, sleepy cod and saratoga too. www.bnbfishing.com.au

The lake is perfectly positioned in a valley surrounded by lush hinterland, inland from Airlie Beach.

Compared to other impoundments in Australia, Lake Proserpine is said to have the most barramundi over 1m. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 69

TOURING & exploring

Not a bad place to sit back, relax and watch the sun set over Ningaloo Reef.

We loved the tranquil nature of Kurragong Beach. A bit of shade is a must though. The CoolCabana did the trick, though a bit of basking was also enjoyed.

The Shack was a great place to sit and check the reef out. In its prime I’m sure it would have been the hub of many a surfing competition.

God’s country – Cape Range NP

R AV E L L I N G and exploring our country is something I’ve been fortunate enough to do for most of my life, which is probably why I have such a passion for it. Back when I was 21, I did a lap in an old HX Kingswood panel van with a friend – who is still a good mate today. I guess that spending quality time with fellow travellers builds

Sunset from our campground at Kurragong. Even if you weren’t on the water’s edge, the sunsets were still amazing. Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Family Adventures by BEN COLLINS

strong bonds, which was a big part of why we did the trip – so our family unit would become even stronger and we could foster deeper relationships with each other. We obviously wanted to see what this country had to offer as well, so to mix the two was a no brainer. Kurrajong There are several camp sites in the Cape Range National Park, many situated right next to or only a short stroll away from water. Kurrajong Camp was no exception, with good-sized caravan spots only seconds from the beach and the Ningaloo Reef, where you could spend hours snorkelling. There isn’t any fresh

water here, so you’ll need to make sure you’re stocked up. In terms of facilities, there are pit toilets and a couple of benches situated high on the dunes to take in the magical sunsets. All campsites are unpowered, which you need to take into account. Though with the amount of sun we had, battery charging wasn’t a problem. As mentioned, there are several places to stay in Cape Range National Park and Kurrajong would have to be one of the quieter camps, and up there as one of the nicest. Our time at this spot was very enjoyable. However, like any * continued P71

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TOURING & exploring God’s country – Cape Range National Park * from P70

place, you need to be careful and aware of the creatures around you. We spent hours snorkelling, enjoying the marine life, and didn’t see even one shark here. However, a few days after we were there, a shark bite was reported from in the shallows, so stay alert. Osprey Bay There were only two places we booked before leaving and the Osprey Bay Campground was the second. Thankfully we did because when we were there it was quite busy. Not that it impacted on our stay, far from it. The large caravan sites were well spaced out and, if you check out the web before booking, you can score a spot with a view, which is what we did. Unfortunately, you

can’t fly drones here, though plenty of people didn’t follow that rule. It would have been good to get an aerial shot of our camp to show the magical blue water only 1m from our campsite, but it wasn’t to be. Osprey Bay is one of the larger camps in the park, with 46 unpowered sites. Like Kurrajong, there isn’t any fresh water specifically at the campground, yet you can get water in a couple of places within the Cape Range National Park if you need to. Our JB Scorpion has a relatively large water capacity, so by the time we had our girls trained to manage their water usage, we didn’t have a problem, even though we stayed at this camp for several nights. Which allowed us to

Vlamingh Head Lighthouse is situated 17km north of Exmouth, where both sunrise and sunset can be observed. www.bnbfishing.com.au

once again spend plenty of time snorkelling and to check a few of the area’s beaches and gorges out. If you are keen kayaker and snorkeler, there is a 3.4km route you can do, and two buoys mark the main snorkelling area. We decided to tackle this trip as a family, with two on the standup paddle board and two on the kayak. Unfortunately, as we were arriving at the first buoy, the weather unexpectedly and dramatically changed, which made paddling very tricky. Amaya and Greta, who were on the standup paddle board, also encountered what they believed to be a decent-sized tiger shark just before reaching the buoy.

* continued P72

Our girls just had to be in or near the water. This tidal pool was enjoyed by several of the camping kids.

This photo was taken at our camp in Osprey, facing away from the sunset. The colour in the sky was breathtaking. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 71

TOURING & exploring Face nets were a must on our trek in and out of Mandu Mandu Gorge.

Amaya had a real connection with several turtles, which seemed to enjoy interacting with her.

God’s country – Cape Range National Park * from P71

Despite there being no water now, I’m sure it pumped through this gorge at some point in time.

Matia checked out the view from the gorge edge. Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

I didn’t get a chance to see it, yet we had very recently viewed one in captivity, along with several other shark species, so I took their word for it. This sighting certainly dulled the enthusiasm for a snorkel, so the decision was made to head back – which in hindsight was a good call because the weather continued to deteriorate. Oyster Stacks One of our favourite snorkelling locations in Cape Range National Park was the Oyster Stacks. Ningaloo Reef is only 300m from shore here, which is the closest it gets along the coast. Combine this with five isolated islets that protrude from the reef and you have an area

that is littered with all kinds of marine life. We were lucky enough to encounter a myriad of fish life and a number of turtles, which fascinated the girls and I. You don’t have to be a strong swimmer here because you can drift along with the tide. However, you will

need to swim either side of a high tide, which needs to be at least 1.2m high. This ensures there is enough water over the reef so the swimmers and snorkelers don’t damage this fragile piece of nature. Even though we are all fairly good swim* continued P73

If you have a keen eye, you are sure to spot one of the local black-flanked rock wallabies.

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TOURING & exploring God’s country – Cape Range National Park * from P72

mers, we still took pool noodles to aid us when we floated along. That didn’t stop us from diving down and getting close to the marine life, but it did make it easier to keep away from the reef in the shallower areas. Mandu Mandu Gorge Littered along the range are several gorges that are worth checking out, such as Mandu Mandu. The 3km loop is relatively challenging, so a certain level of fitness is required. Also, depending on which way you attack it, the trail involves first walking along the creek bed, which has heaps of large loose rocks.

However, this aspect gives you a closer view of the gorge and some of the native animals, including the blackflanked rock wallabies. You are then required to climb a steep track back up to the gorge rim, which offers a spectacular view of Mandu Mandu and Ningaloo Reef in the distance. Flies weren’t a problem at any other place in the park, though for some reason they were in plague proportions here – hence the fly nets in the photos – yet it’s still a must do. Yardie Creek Gorge There are a couple of ways to explore this ancient gorge and we managed to tick both off.

Exploring Yardie Creek Gorge from a different angle. You are also allowed to kayak or paddle board up it, but you can’t get off when you reach the end. www.bnbfishing.com.au

One way is to explore the gorge on foot, where you follow a 2km trail that overlooks the red limestone cliffs. There are several vantage points for taking spectacular photos or to simply sit and take in the view – we recommend both. This is a relatively easy walk, with awesome visual rewards. Another way to explore this gorge is on a guided boat trip, which we also did. The tour operator was excellent and relayed a host of information about his life on and around Cape Range National Park, the traditional owners and the history of the gorge. In contrast to the walk, on the boat we got very close to the cliffs, which, as they soared high into the sky and below the water’s surface, allowed us to gain a different perspective and reverence of them. If you’re in this neck of the woods, add it to the must-do list. Cape Range National Park is a magical place to visit, and I’ve touched on only a few of the key spots we visited. If you are planning on heading to the park, make sure to check out the exploreparks.dbca. wa.gov.au website for more details. On this site, there’s also a link to Park Stay, for booking campsites.

The view from the rim of Yardie Creek Gorge.

What a spectacular view of Yardie Creek.

The crystal-clear water, red limestone cliffs and bright blue sky were an exciting contrast of colours. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 73

TOURING & exploring

Keep an eye on those manufacture dates. The first two numbers are the month of production and the second two are the year.

A blow out at 100km/h. That rubber and wire could have done some damage.

Talking tyres – everything you need is on the wall

I all, heavy rain, run-off, floods and swell – what a wild start to 2024. Due to the weather, we decided to take a quick trip in the caravan – naturally doing our usual check of the van before hitting the highway. One of the most important factors of your towing equation is the actual tyre on your caravan.

Talking Tyres by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

We have a single-axel off-road caravan, so it’s safe to say each of our van tyres supports 1.3 tonne of weight individually. When selecting tyres for your rig, make sure you use the appropriate load-rated tyre for your requirements. You will find every

TURKEY BEACH 2 Bedroom Villa Holiday Rental • Outdoor BBQ and pergola For • Fish cleaning facilities enquiries • Large yard with room and for the boat bookings • Undercover carport phone • Close to boat ramp 0458 742 153 • Linen available www.turkeybeachfishingvilla.com Page 74 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

detail and specification you need right on the outside of the tyre wall. We recently changed to Kuhmo AT52s because of the strong feedback we received. The AT52 is rated to carry 1550kg per tyre at 80psi cold, hence we run ours at approximately 65psi due to the lighter overall weight of the van. Before you hit the road, your first job is to check the tyre pressures. It would be advisable to do a first check a few days before leaving and then a second last-minute check, just to identify any slow leaks that may create problems as soon as

you hit the highway. It is so much easier to deal with problems at home than 200km into your journey. Another important pre-check is of the walls of your tyres. So, look for any cuts or gouges you may have picked up from the sharp rocks on outback gravel roads – some of those rocks can cut like a knife. And don’t only check the outside walls – get under your caravan with a torch to inspect the inside tyre walls as well. Also, scan along the beading where the tyre meets the rim for any obvious weakness, which may present as a small bulge. An additional and equally as important tip is to look at the age of your tyre – all tyres

have a year of manufacturer displayed in the wall. You may look at the tyre tread and assume the tyre is in great condition but remember, rubber perishes and weakens over time. Both your caravan and boat tyres are more likely to give you this false indication. The above scenario caught us out recently, as we assumed the age of our tyres. We had a caravan tyre blowout when we were travelling at approximately 100km/h. The year of manufacture is usually four numbers in a symbol – the first two numbers display the week of production and the last two digits state the year. Go out and check your own tyres to make sure * continued P75

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TOURING & exploring Talking tyres – everything's on the wall * from P74

that your family and friends are safe. Remember, it’s not the mileage but the age that is important and, as a rule of thumb, six years is a good time to look at upgrading tyres. We were lucky. I believe the upgraded Fulcrum Suspension on the Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain, in conjunction with the AL-KO electronic stabilising control allowed us to bring the van to a safe controlled stop. Simply checking the year stamp on our van

tyres may have saved us from this unwanted drama. The force of that tyre blowout was incredible, so much so that the 4mm welded plate supporting our tyre flaps had folded back against itself like a piece of paper. Thank goodness On The Move Caravans built such a well-constructed wheel well, which suffered minor damage and only a few cosmetic touch-ups were needed. Lastly, we carry a Kojack 4-tonne caravan

jack, which is purpose built to handle the job at hand. Your normal car jack is not to be relied on. A few points to keep in mind to help you get to your destination safely – whether you’re travelling with a boat or a caravan. And remember, everything you need to know is right there on the tyre. I’m back on deck after a few recent computer glitches. Looking forward to bringing you more stories in 2024.

All the specifications you need to work with are on the wall. If you have brought a used van, double check you’re running the appropriate load-rating tyre.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 75

Freshwater gold clam found in Brisbane River

HIGHLY invasive species of clam – freshwater gold clam (corbicula fluminea) – has been detected for the first time in Australia at several places along the Brisbane River – at Savages Crossing, Colleges Crossing and Riverside Park. Freshwater gold clam is highly invasive because of its rapid growth rate, high reproductive rate and ability to broadcast its larvae over a broad area using water flows in rivers. It can also potentially clump and block waterways, pipes and other water infrastructure. What to look for The inflated round to triangular clam shell is yellowish brown to black with evenly spaced ridges.

The shell length is usually less than 25mm, though it can grow to a length of 50-65mm. What is the biosecurity risk? Freshwater gold clam breeds quickly and spreads easily. It can cause significant damage to our rivers and waterways by clogging water infrastructure including hydroelectric dams and water treatment plants. The clam can also displace native clams and diminish water quality. What to do if you see freshwater gold clam If you think you have seen a freshwater gold clam, report it immediately to Biosecurity Queensland. If possible, take a photo to assist with identification.

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Recent fish kill has reignited frustrations over the managing of waterways. Photos: The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

Fish deaths reignite frustration

RECENT fish kill in Gunbower Creek has reignited frustrations over managing the waterways. Jason Lunghusen’s family has been farming on the Gunbower Creek for six generations and said blind Freddy could see the late January fish kill happening. “The fish kill in January … was because of the record January rains, farmers had to drain water into the creek and the creek was stagnant because no irrigation took place,” Mr Lunghusen said. “No one was irrigating, the creek wasn’t flowing and then it all falls back to North Central CMA to monitor water quality.” A North Central CMA spokesperson said, “As a result of high unregulated flows from the Goulburn and Murray rivers after the January storms, a slug of low dissolved oxygen water resulted in about 10 Murray cod deaths in and around Thompson’s Weir on Gunbower Creek.” “The North Central CMA worked closely with Goulburn-Murray Water to successfully deliver additional water to flush the creek and improve water quality.” Mr Lunghusen, a keen fisher, said that he

filmed seven dead cod in a short one-minute video just at his place, and it took his neighbour raising the alarm before the management authority knew. When asked if fish kills were a natural occurrence in his family’s six generations of living on the creek, he said they are only a recent occurrence. “No, never,” Mr Lunghusen said. “There was a blackwater event in, I think it was 2011. “My father, who’s 80, has never seen a blackwater event before that, and he doesn’t ever remember his father mentioning one either. “I think that 2011 was immediately after environmental flooding of the Barmah Forest and then a natural flood came and washed that blackwater out and that came downstream. “I believe that was what caused that blackwater fish kill in our view.

“We started seeing some environmental flooding in the forests where it doesn’t come close to a natural flood, the water stays out in the forest and goes black and then gets washed back into the creek.” Mr Lunghusen said while the January fish kill was different, it has all the marking of a process that has seen him and many others left frustrated and bewildered. “There was plenty of good water to put a flow down the creek, but no, Central Catchment didn’t monitor the water – they seem to remotely control things at the moment.” “We read all their things they put on Facebook and their glossy brochures, which is basically equivalent to propaganda,” he said. “They want everyone to know the good things that they do and they completely ignore the * continued P77

Aquatic weed explosion in the creek was a recent development.

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Fish deaths frustrating * from P76

bad things that are happening and don’t want anyone to know about, which is just frustrating and almost makes your blood boil.” Mr Lunghusen points out that the aquatic weed explosion in the creek is only a recent development and said the impacts to farmers, fish habitats and water flows are dramatic. “For years and years, I’ve told them you need to drop the creek to help to control the invasive weed breeding.” “Before they built the environmental weir at Hipwell Road, just close to our farm, the creek would have a proper drawdown each year. “That was controlling the weed. “It will never eradicate it, that’s here for good, but it will control it.

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“There has to be some compromise between fish breeding and weed eradication. “It’s become a massive problem, it chokes pumps, you can’t fish. “If they’re trying to improve fish breeding and putting fish ladders in, which is brilliant, these fish need to find a snag spawn. “Well, every snag in this section of the Gunbower Creek is absolutely chock-a-block with invasive weeds.” Mr Lunghusen would like to see a sensible approach to having a drawdown to allow the frost to kill off the weed burden but said engagement hasn’t changed since the planning fiasco for the Hipwell Regulator. The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 13/03/2024

DAMS Atkinson * Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen * Boondooma * Borumba * Burdekin Falls * Callide * Cania * Coolmunda * Dyer/Bill Gunn * Eungella * Fairbairn * Glenlyon * Hinze * Julius * Kinchant * Leslie * Macdonald * Maroon * Monduran/Fred Haigh * Moogerah * North Pine/Samsonvale * Peter Faust/Proserpine * Somerset * Teemburra * Tinaroo * Toonumbar Wivenhoe * Wuruma * Wyaralong *

PERCENTAGE NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

52 54 72 73 77 69 18 27 73 43 95 29 79 80 86 62 83 64 91 86 77 47 64 75 95 73 87 64 77 91

50 54 76 75 75 73 17 25 74 40 95 30 75 79 85 60 82 60 91 86 77 46 63 75 94 70 88 62 76 93

48 55 76 75 91 90 18 25 71 43 99 28 68 103 84 70 76 104 97 87 84 50 66 82 97 105 101 64 80 101

73 57 84 85 100 109 18 25 72 80 100 39 65 101 100 72 75 103 100 89 100 65 66 80 100 103 102 70 81 100

75 54 85 84 100 106 18 25 69 98 101 42 63 101 100 83 73 106 100 89 100 67 68 80 101 104 101 74 80 99

For updates on dams, visit sunwater.com.au or seqwater.com.au *This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 77

Autumn in Tasmania

S A female brook trout from clear water. These aren’t nearly as colourful as those from the western lakes.

The silver enigma, an Atlantic salmon. This fish was taken from a small lagoon in northern Tasmania.

Lake Plimsoll in the Apple Isle’s northwest, where the scenery matches the fishing. This lake holds brook trout exclusively.

UMMER is officially behind us and what an ‘interesting’ summer it’s been, fluctuating between heat waves and flooding rain. In the Sunshine State this month, we’ll still experience 30C days. So for a little respite from the heat, heading south is always an option. During early autumn, Tasmania has cool weather and can turn on some absolutely brilliant fishing. You can expect temperatures in mid-single digits overnight, climbing to high teens for daytime maximums – so take plenty of warm clothing. Though the Apple Isle provides some excellent estuary and blue water angling opportunities, my attention is drawn to its superb trout fisheries. This is the last month to fish most trout waters in Tassie, with the 2024 season ending on April 28. There are several lakes and sections of a few rivers open year-round but check local regulations to ensure wetting a

Tasmania is world famous for its brown trout fisheries, they are a stunning looking fish. Page 78 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

Fishing for Sport by NEIL SCHULTZ

line is legal at the time. The most sought-after of all the salmonids in Tasmania would be the brown trout. Browns are impressively coloured fish, especially those living in clear gravelly streams. They are a little more difficult a quarry than rainbow trout and the larger specimens are a genuine challenge on light gear. Fortunately, browns are quite common throughout most of Tassie’s freshwaters, so finding one is almost a certainty. Much less common is the enigmatic brook trout, itself another very appealing fish visually, with multicoloured spots and white-edged red fins on its underside. Brook trout are regularly stocked into a handful of the state’s hydro lakes, with Lake Plimsoll in the western ranges being a personal favourite. Expect fishless days when targeting brook trout however, paradoxically, when you do cross paths, they are aggressive feeders. My first brook trout was taken in Lake Jindabyne in NSW on a Predatek MinMin cast from the shore. So, perhaps naturally, that remains my most used and subsequently most successful lure for the species. If you really enjoy a challenge, Atlantic salmon will surely put your skill and patience to the test. Fortunately for an-

glers, Inland Fisheries Service regularly stocks salmon into a few lakes within day tripping distance of Hobart. The largest and most heavily stocked of those is Craigbourne Lake, a 200-hectare body of water open to boating and fishing year-round. Trolling bibbed lures is the most popular method of chasing salmon in Craigbourne due to its size, yet casting lure or fly from the shore can produce results for the lucky angler. Much smaller at only 24 hectares and stocked with significantly fewer salmon is Wayatinah Lagoon, northwest of Hobart. You need to be extremely lucky to score a salmon here because the total fish released last year was only four, though they were 1kg each. Rainbow trout are plentiful in Tasmania, however I don’t fish for them when visiting as they are readily available in northern NSW, a few hours from home. Angling techniques for Tasmania’s freshwater species are the same as those used for trout on the mainland, so you will be able to use generic fly and lure patterns. You do need an inland angling licence to fish freshwater in Tassie, with options from 48 hours to the full season available through Inland Fisheries Service. For something completely different, give Tassie a whirl.

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Moura Muddy Water Classic Fishing Competition

T’S getting close to that time of the year again, when we pack up the gear and head to the Dawson River at Moura. The weekend of April 13-14 is the Muddy Water Classic Fishing Competition – always a great weekend of fun, fishing and mixing with friends. Run by the Moura Fish Stocking Group Inc that, with the support of the district, mines and agricultural holdings, hold this awesome event at Apex Park on the Moura River. Slightly to the west of Moura, the park offers a shaded grassy camp area and dollar-coin operated hot and cold showers at the amenities block.

The event kicks off on the Friday night with entertainment and good food, and you can stock up on raffle tickets for some great prizes, so bring your chair, relax and join in. You can nominate to fish or nominate to only be in the running for one of the two lots of major senior and junior lucky draws. Nominations are $20 seniors and $10 juniors. There are meals available – brekky, lunch, snacks, coffee and refreshments and, everyone’s favourite, the ice cream truck. Once again, Charlie Ladd from Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland will be attending the classic with the

freshwater tank and a few species for viewing, including some pest species that we do not want in these waterways. Joining us also is Dave ‘Hodgie’ Hodge, the barefoot fisho who will entertain and amaze you with his casting skills, plus he’ll share and chat about his fishing tips and techniques. The popular casting competition for all ages will feature again this year too. Onto the fishing side of things, the river has had a good run, topping the level up and running over the weir a little at the time of writing, so by comp time, it will have settled down to give us plenty of good water.

As with last year's area, you can navigate a long way upstream. Remember that there’s a lot of timber so, because of those hidden stumps, care is always required. Saratoga and yellowbelly have been very active, loving the influx of new water. This will be the third year of ‘catching a tagged saratoga worth

$1000’ – none of which have been caught yet. So, this year, there are three toga out there for the catching, each worth $1000. We’re looking forward to your company for a great weekend, happy fishing. For any more information, contact Zelma Lewis on 0428 971 932 or email m.a.f.s.g@big pond.com

Henry Dales with a 38.5cm black bream he caught at last year’s event.

Moura Muddy Water Classic Fishing Competition

April 1314 2024

Dave Hodge The Barefoot Fisho

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 79

Glenlyon's water releases end

OzFish volunteers sort rubbish.

Clean Up Australia Day

ZFISH volunteers supported the efforts of Clean Up Australia Day recently by removing over three tonnes of rubbish from 16 waterways across the country. The fishing community knows all too well how much rubbish flows in and around our waterways, leading to 208 volunteers getting stuck in and demonstrating their commitment to healthy waterways. The fishers picked up hundreds of pieces of litter. Happily, there were minimal amounts of discarded fishing tackle reported. The most common items collected were food consumables, such as plastic packaging, aluminium cans and glass bottles. A Jumanji board game was the most unusual item found by the OzFish Hastings Chapter, who were cleaning the litter that had washed up between the mangroves along the Hastings River. OzFish director of habitat programs

Cassie Price said Clean Up Australia Day was an opportunity to address litter head-on. “This event is more than a clean-up, it’s about fostering a culture of awareness and I can’t tell you how proud I am to see so many anglers helping out through our OzFish work.” “Each item removed during Clean Up Australia Day marks a victory, and from what we’re seeing, it is making a difference to the larger challenge of litter and debris impacting our creeks, rivers, and coastal areas. “We can continue to make progress in reducing litter in our waterways by making it part of our collective fishing culture actively reducing, storing and picking up litter any time we fish,” Ms Price said. As OzFish continues its mission to improve Australia’s fish habitats, the success of Clean Up Australia Day this year serves as a testament to the collective power of community action.

Page 80 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

S the call for water to grow crops starts to decline, once again we are seeing safer conditions for river fishing from canoes and kayaks on the border river systems, with flows from Glenlyon Dam’s releases down to 100ML a day, as at the time of writing. With the shutdown taking place, cod in the storages will start to look for locations to set up nesting sites. This being the job of the male cod, they will become quite aggressive when it comes to tyre kickers checking the same site out. Debbie recently took some good photos of two males doing the blue heeler waltz around in a circle, trying to outdo each other. Cod fishing on the storages throughout the upper Murray-Darling will now take place with a flurry, rivers included. Handy rainfall would be gratefully received from any cyclone spin off. You may remember an article I wrote about safe fishing on rivers and streams when there are decent water flows from large releases. Well, a while back, we had a visit from three regular anglers who fish the river systems. These fishos hail from South Africa originally and love catching cod. Aside from the occasional hook being extracted from legs and thumbs (using the doctor’s own medical kit), the trip was also marred by an event on the river, with barbwire and electric fencing across its width. The river had a flow

Glenlyon Dam by BRIAN DARE

of about 350ML running downstream which, for this area at the top of the Darling River system, is a serious flow down rapids and the like. A dogleg left, then right, covered by bottlebrush and logs made seeing what was ahead quite difficult. It was in these conditions that three strands of barbwire, from the NSW side to the Queensland side in a narrow-gutted part of the river, lay in wait. The lead angler was lucky to have seen the man trap in time, flipping his kayak and getting into the water deep enough to miss being dragged under by the barbwire death trap. After this close call, he was then belted by the electric fence tape that was strung across the river 30m down from the wire in similar rapids. I was advised that inquiries were in progress to find out who the drongo was that put

these death traps across the river. I remember when the riparian zone – the section of land above the riverbed and the farm boundary – had to be fenced off to keep stock from forming deep tracks to the river bed, which then causes erosion to the river, damaging its ecology and fish habitat. It could well be time to revisit this situation and have land-care groups supply pumps (electric), tanks and water troughs with a front switch to refill the water supply for stock to drink from. This also stops the ‘I own the river’ attitude. No, you don’t. In NSW, you can access the river from bridges, stock reserves and Crown land locations. Though, you are not allowed to enter a farm or private property by going over fences, you may ask the property owner for permission to enter their land. * continued P81

Chris Sellen and Rhonda Eyears from Lismore with a quality yellowbelly.

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Glenlyon Dam water releases end * from P80

It’s the same situation as someone entering your front lawn without permission. You may remember Warren Steptoe’s articles from his Sunshine Connection column in Modern Fishing – he would always say, “Don’t bring guns or dogs to a farm, the farmer has already got enough.” A word of warning if you’re silly enough to trespass. Meanwhile for the Queensland side of the system, I’ll be looking further into the barbwire concern and obtain further information on this type of situation. As well as answers regarding your legal rights and access as an avid recreational an-

gler fishing in the Sunshine State’s rivers and streams. Speaking of waterways, it’s good to hear from local fishos and farmers about the return of good fish numbers. Bony bream are back moving through all systems, until they front a barrage. On the local Dumaresq River, we need to see the Bonshaw, Bebo and Cunningham weirs removed (or blown up), as they are well past their use-by dates. With Glenlyon Dam as the backup for water use and storage, these three locations each have large sand deposits above them. This impedes water flow and the movement of both sand and aquatic life, restrict-

ing total connectivity downstream – from the Mole, Bluff and Deepwater rivers, and Pyes and Tenterfield creek systems. It’s a known fact that these three weirs are beyond repair and would be too costly to attempt any type of major restoration for little result. As I said, get rid of them. The storage is fishing well, with anglers catching decent yellowbelly and silver perch. We still have the situation of sitting on our hands and not pursuing a discussion on the size limit of golden and silver perch being lifted back to five on a stocked impoundment in Queensland. Don’t make waves, just keep plodding along.

Guy Peachey and Jenny Davidson with a morning’s catch.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 81

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Page 82 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

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Henry frequents his local jetty almost daily for fish and crabs, and he’s come up with the goods over summer. Clare Byrnes

A stonking sweetlip caught by Jake in Sunshine Coast waters. He worked hard to get past the sharks for this. This flathead was caught on my go-to light spin combo, the TT Red Tayler Chesterfield Belly 2-4kg rod and Okuma Ceymar HD 2500 size spin reel. Justin Willmer

Tony caught a beautiful 39.5cm whiting on a Nerang River charter with me. Kristy did well to land this 47cm barred grunter after a hard fight. Clint Ansell Clint Ansell To have a photo of your catch featured in Readers’ Forum, simply email ads@collins.media with a good quality picture, your name and details or hop onto our Facebook page and send us a message. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 83

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 85

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024 – Page 87

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Page 88 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, April 2024

BNB Fishing Mag | April 2024

Articles inside

Crossover species smorgasbord

Stacer Sea Runner an all rounder

Bream, tailor and jewies

2024 Women's Fishing Classic