BNB Fishing Mag | November 2023 by bnbfishing

Angler’s Almanac inside 495

Includes GST

November 2023

Offshore options

Monduran monsters

Trolling tips for flatties Moreton Bay snapper Hot jack action

Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 34, Number 11

ISSN 1832-4517

9 www.bnbfishing.com.au 771832 451001

Estuary options

Proudly produced and printed in Australia

Estuary • Offshore • Freshwater • 4WD • Camping • Touring Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 1

Page 2 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 3

Page 4 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing editor

ESPITE the weather being all over the shop for the past month or so, I’ve still managed to get out on the water to fish the Moreton Bay Fishing Classic, the Gold Coast Flathead Classic and the Fitzroy River Barra Bash. Thankfully, I have a very understanding better half, and even though I try to pass these events off as work – which they are – I couldn’t fish them without her support. It was my first time fishing both the Moreton Bay and Fitzroy River events, which made them both a little challenging but still very enjoyable. Moreton Island is a magical place and simply being there is reward enough – with wetting a line, swimming at the wrecks and watching the sun set over the water all bonuses. Since tailor were on holiday while we (myself and a few friends) were there, the plan changed to chasing dart in the surf and flathead

on the southern and western sides of the island. Given our base was at Kooringal, this plan worked. Flathead were on the chew and I managed to score a daily prize on the final day, and that fish came in fourth for the event. Not too bad considering it was caught when walking the flats flicking surface lures. Bring on the Flathead Classic! The old team of Sean, George and I overcame a few challenges and some insane weather – look up ‘microburst’ for some context – to finish third out of the 39 visiting teams and thirty-second out of 245 overall teams. Congratulations to Warric Johnston and Clint Ansell, the two-person BNB Fishing team who finished fourth out of 123 teams. It was a tough competition, with plenty of small fish caught – I think the area may have been netted prior to the

Caught on a Berkley Pro-Tech Bender, this flathead measured 64cm and weighed slightly under 2kg.

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event, something Fisheries Queensland needs to address. The event brings a lot of money into the region, in addition to the money spent on new tackle, plus boat and car fuel. Perhaps compensating the commercial fishers with a few weeks’ pay so they leave their netting until after the event is the way to go? That way it would be a win-win for both parties, with the commercial crews getting a few weeks paid leave. Moving onto Rockhampton and the Fitzroy River Barra Bash – it was great to see the local council there so passionate about the event and recreational fishing. They were very proud of the event and were keen to keep it running annually. Aside from bringing like-minded people together, I’m sure they also see the monetary benefit the comp creates for the local community too. While we didn’t trouble the leader board in this event, we (myself and Sean Conlon, who I fished with) sure learnt a lot about fishing this particular system. I’m keen to go back, either for the competition or for a quick fishing trip. Something that was highlighted as key for success was the use of either the Humminbird Mega Live Imaging, Lowrance ActiveTarget or Garmin Panoptix equipment, which enabled anglers to target specific fish instead of blindly casting. While we didn’t have any of this technology on our boat, it’s some-

thing I’m keen to investigate further. Hopefully I can tee up a trip with various anglers who already have the equipment and know how to use this technol-

ogy, so I can detail what each unit does or doesn’t do, therefore allowing you to make a call on whether you need it for your fishing. Ben Collins

OUR COVER Angler’s Almanac inside

495

Includes GST

November 2023

Offshore options

Monduran monsters

Trolling tips for flatties Moreton Bay snapper Hot jack action

Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 34, Number 11

ISSN 1832-4517

9 www.bnbfishing.com.au 771832 451001

Estuary options

Proudly produced and printed in Australia

Estuary • Offshore • Freshwater • 4WD • Camping • Touring Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 1

MELINDA HENDERSON from team Rapala CrushCity nailed this monster flathead on her way to winning Female Champion Angler at the recent Gold Coast Flathead Classic. Check out Clint Ansell’s article on page 26 for more details. Photo: Mick Horn

NEXT EDITION: December edition will be on sale in newsagents from November 24. NOVEMBER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: See the subscription form on page 84 to subscribe this month to go in the draw to win one of four Okuma Avenger 3000 spinning reels and a BNB cap valued at $115 RRP each. SEPTEMBER PRIZE WINNERS: Congratulations to everyone who subscribed in the month of September, you all received a pair of braid scissors, valued at $10.95 RRP each. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 5

November 2023 contents

Techniques for targeting squire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Conlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Prime time for river fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . . . . P10 Tide Times - Brisbane Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P11 Moreton Bay and Woodgate sorties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . . . . . P12 Versatility to shellfish restoration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul Suttor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P15 Trolling tips for flatties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean ‘Skip’ Thompson . . . . . . P16 Tackling Moreton Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mark Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . P20 Get your state guernsey on for Reel Gauntlet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P24

2023 Flathead Classic round up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P26 Getting hooked up on hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Andy Melville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P28 Fishing Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 Family fishing fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P32 Summer species start stirring things up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P34 Bread and butter bonanza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tye Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P36 Continuing Alvey’s legacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P38 Angler’s Almanac. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P39 Maximising motor power with propellers. . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Conlon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P40 Product News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P42 Empowering women in fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Corinne Aiken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P46 Reeling in mixed reefies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Rippon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P48

Bucket list bragging rights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tri Ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P50 Tide Times – Waddy Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P52 November is a favourite month . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul ‘Chief’ Graveson . . . . . . . P53 Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival 2023 wrap up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P56 Great fishing options around Gladstone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gary Churchward . . . . . . . . . . P57 Top three species to target during barra closure. . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P60 Charter Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P62 Southern Cross Small Arms Taipan Light. . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P64 Effects of feral cats on Australian wildlife. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P65 Recent Cooroy to Townsville trip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Craig Tomkinson . . . . . . . . . . . P66 To Broome along WA’s coastline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Matt Potter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P68 Spoils of southern WA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Ben Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P72 Gold Coast Pest Fishing Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P75 Anglers fined for ignoring bans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P76 Making the most of Monduran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sam Rowley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P78

Fishing at its Glenlyon best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P80 Dam Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P81 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P82 Readers’ Forum ��P83 Subscription Form ��P84 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

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The Team

EDITOR: Ben Collins PRODUCTION: Tiffany Brown Lisa Jones ADVERTISING: Laura Campbell

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: Spotpress 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, November 2023 – Page 7

A couple of happy clients with a double hook-up on squire.

The author got in on the squire action and had a cast.

Matt hooked a pan-sized southern Moreton Bay squire.

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Page 8 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Techniques for targeting squire

ITH the temperature warming up, I’ve noticed a definite increase in enquiries to go fishing this month. Let’s hope the weather plays the game and we can all get out on the water a few times over the coming month. Of course, as the water temperature heats up and overall flathead numbers decrease slightly, bigger flathead quantities surge. So, for the coming weeks, they’re going to be a target species on my charters. With the larger-sized fish, we may throw bigger plastics and swim baits at them to see if we can entice a few on the ends of customers’ lines. The other species we’ll be targeting is summer squire. They should start to arrive at the same time as this issue comes out. We’ll be chasing this species around the bay islands on rubble ground using a few techniques. One will be soft plastics, the second will be trolling hard-bodies and the third, we’ll be using fresh bait. When targeting squire in this way, we’re not using very heavy tackle. If using plastics or trolling, we’re usually in a depth of somewhere between 4-8m and keeping the line class down to 15lb braid with

Southern Moreton Bay by SEAN CONLON

a 20lb leader on a 6-12lb graphite rod. Remember if you’re fishing like this, you’ll probably be using a 3/81/4oz jig head, depending on how much current you’re fishing in. Also, have a look at the colour of the water you’re fishing in – it has a tendency to dirty up in summer. So, if the water isn’t looking too clear, the general consensus is to go with darker colours. Also, as the water heats up, don’t muck about with the fish too much. Try to get them in the boat reasonably quick-

ly because the warmer conditions mean the taxman won’t be far away. If you’re going to target squire on bait, don’t be afraid to deploy something decent sized – such as a large banana prawn, squid or pillie about 10-15cm long. My preferred bait is a fresh strip of mullet fillet – 10-15cm long and 2cm wide. Attach the longer bait to a two or three gang 3/0 or 4/0 hook, with not too much weight on the sinker – you don’t want the bait plummeting to the bottom too quickly. * continued P9

A few squire were hanging about recently. They won’t be huge, but 42cm is still a legal fish.

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Techniques for targeting Moreton Bay squire * from P8

To get the bait down slowly to where the fish are sitting close to the bottom, use a running sinker straight to the top of the hook or have your sinker, a swivel, 500600mm of trace and then your hook. I use both and berley up for these fish. If I’m bait fishing and a small shark turns up, so be it – there’s always a little fun on light gear. Shark will be another species we’ll target during summer – plenty of clients enjoy a feed of flake. While they don’t usually arrive until December or January, we may see spotted mackerel and pelagics north of Peel Island start firing up if the water temperature increases quickly. And, if they do turn up in numbers, we’ll definitely be chasing them, albeit a little earlier. Let’s see how things pan out. One thing I can confirm is that if everything continues to heat up rapidly – as it currently is

– we’ll be doing a lot more bait fishing this month. After a crazy few weeks, it’s only a short article this month. Though before signing off, I have to say a big thank you to Ben Collins, the publisher of this magazine. We fished the Flathead Classic together with George Mole. While we had a few little problems and weren’t able to get on the water to do any pre-fishing, we didn’t do too badly, and we had a good time regardless. After a couple of days at home, we were off again, with Ben and me fishing the Fitzroy River Barra Bash in Rockhampton. It was a very tough competition. The fish did not want to play the game – and not only for us but for a lot of teams – some crews not even boating one fish over the three-day event, and not through lack of trying. We were fortunate – we managed to catch

a couple of fish, learnt heaps, had a good time and met some great people. The Fitzroy River Barra Bash is a great competition – if you’re thinking about doing it, I can thoroughly recommend it. The crew run an awesome comp and we had an amazing time. Now we’re home and back into work, but thank you Benny for the past few weeks and putting in a huge effort to get everything organised. 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.

Matt’s 72cm flathead was released to fight on.

A decent 60cm southern bay flathead.

Tick all the boxes and catch more fish! FISHING TUITION

WITH SEAN CONLON

A four-hour off-water course for up to four people covering: Target species BOOK TODAY Moon phases Weather and tides Techniques Environment Tackle tips

0432 386 307 It’s not very often the author gets to chase barramundi, so it was great to get into a couple. www.bnbfishing.com.au

seanconlonsfishing@hotmail.com Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 9

A Brisbane River snapper ate a Jackson Puri Ebi 3.25” plastic.

Prime time for jacks, jewies, threadies and snapper

N Luke Stratford pulled his personal best snapper out of some rough structure on a pilchard.

Page 10 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

O R M A L LY, November is the start of the very hot southeast Queensland weather. The days get longer and thunderstorms become more common. However, this year, the weather gurus, while forecasting a lot more storms this summer, are expecting it to be very dry. The rivers and creeks have been very clean throughout spring so far and these conditions will keep them that way, unless the storms dump a lot of rain. This can make fishing up the creeks much harder. It gives the bait more water to spread out in and will see fish such as mangrove jack, jewfish, threadfin salmon and estuary cod push well into the upper reaches of each system. I haven’t put a lot of effort into chasing jack this season yet, but I have managed to tangle with a couple while chasing other species. A lot of small jewies and flathead are still in

Local Luring by KEITH STRATFORD

the middle reaches of most rivers. These fish seem to be feeding mostly on the large schools of herring. I’ve had a lot of success sounding the bends and looking for the dense schools of herring that are closer to the bottom.

When there’s a lot of herring around, I find using a lure that doesn’t imitate a herring tends to work better. I guess the fish get a bit excited when they see something different swim past, after gorging themselves on the same thing every day.

* continued P11

Ashlee Stratford landed a nice flathead from the Brisbane River by jigging a Pro Lure Clone Prawn in deep water.

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Prime time for river fishing * from P10

At this time of year, there aren’t a lot of prawns in the rivers, so prawn imitations have been working very well. The 92mm Pro Lure Clone Prawn is still catching a lot of fish for me. I use these everywhere and they out-fish most other plastics. Juvenile jewies can become a real pest after a while. They belt lures and they are also good at ripping soft prey plastics apart. Mangrove jack will be biting hard this month. They cop a lot of pressure from anglers in the rivers around Brisbane, so try to mix up your lures, and try a few different retrieves and techniques to get a bite. I prefer to travel a little north to chase jacks. They still get plenty of pressure put on them from the Sunshine Coast right up to Bundaberg, but they seem to bite a bit better in these areas. Around this time, the Brisbane River is defi-

nitely the pick of sys- in some areas and it tems for me. can take a jig head of Threadfin salmon around 1/2oz to get to will soon start to school the bottom. up around the mouth in Even though the curlarger numbers. rent runs a lot slower And while there have out there, the wharves been a fair few getting out the front are all around, most of the fish about 15m deep, so I’ve seen were under a 1/2oz head is often AUSTRALIA EAST COAST 1m, at about the 80- needed to get down. AUSTRALIA, EAST COAST – BRISBANE BAR 90cm range. Snapper have been BRISBANE BAR LAT 27° 22ʼ S LONG 153° 10ʼ E Sizes and numbers very active in the river Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Time Zone Zone –1000 –1000 Time should increase as the too. SEPTEMBER DECEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER water temperature I see good Time m As soon Time m m Time m m Time m rises. Time m m Timeas m Time m Time m Time Time Time 0419 0.42 0443 0.36 0.36 0515 0.36 0.36 0443 0.23 0511 0.49 0.49 Jewies are normally numbers 0443 of 0.19 jellyfish 0409 0.33 0505 0.35 0443 0511 0515 1 1022 2.13 16 1010 2.03 1 1044into2.36the 16 1021 2.25 1 1143 2.40 16 1122 1 1200 1200 2.34 2.34 16 1201 1122 2.42 2.42 1201 2.56 2.56 about inFRgood numbers coming 1851 0.74 0.74 SA 1804 0.63 0.63 1857 0.56 0.56 1630 0.19 0.35 MO river 1643 0.53 SA 1619 0.45 TH 1804 FR 1851 SA 1857 SU 1703 WE 1823 0.66 TH FR 2219 2.24 2323 1.70 1.70 2243 2.61 2252 2.20 2219 2.00 2344 1.63 2323 at this time of year on a run-in tide, I put 0446 0.40 0520 0.42 0.42 0007 1.57 1.57 0016 1.75 1.75 0.22 0515 0.23 0438 0.34 0537 0.46 0520 0007 0016 too, feasting a lot 2more effort into 2.27 2 1225 2 0521 17the 17 1057 2 0547 1108 on 2.19all 2.29 17 1208 1045 2.07 1208 2.39 2.39 0547 0.59 0.59 17 0604 0604 0.43 0.43 1127 2.37 2.29 0.76 FR 1655 0.50 1858 0.67 0.67 1240 2.25 2.25 SU 1250 2.51 2.51 1748 0.48 TU 1721 0.59 SA 1717 0.27 SUare FR 1858 SA 1240 SU 1250 MO TH 1912 0.76 SA small prawns that these fish. 2248 2.15 2253 1.89 1932 0.78 2323 2.46 1948 0.56 2330 1.99 1932 0.78 1948 0.56 getting around. They’re great fun to 0557 0.25 1.50 0514 0.40 0015 1.63 1.63 0051 1.53 1.53 0114 1.74 1.74 0545 0.32 0506 0.38 0027 1.50 0015 0051 0114 3 1153 18 1134 2.26 3 0613 3 0630 0.59 18 0605 1119 2.09 0605 0.50 0.50 0630 0.69 0.69 18 0700 0700 0.52 0.52 1209 2.32structure 0.59 To date, the 2.22 fish18 I’ve target3around 1803 0.41 1309 2.17 1731 1300 2.34 1322 2.16 1341 2.44 0.58 1835 0.63 1802 0.67 1309 2.17 1300 2.34 1322 2.16 1341 2.44 SA SU MO TU SA SU MO kept to SU eat have all MO been on lures and bait.WE 2330 1.76 FR 2009 2009 0.84 0.84 1959 0.69 0.69 2040 0.55 0.55 2018 0.81 0.81 2317 2.04 1959 2018 2040 full of small taking 0537 my 0.44 0001 prawns. 2.24 0120 1.41 1.41 0117 1.57 1.57 0145 1.51 1.51 0217 1.76 1.76 0540 0.43I’ve been 0008 1.77 0120 0117 0145 0217 4 0631 0.32in19the 4 0616 0.43to 19target 4 0657 4 0722 0657 0.73 0.73 19 0702 0702 0.59 0.59 0722 0.80 0.80 19 0803 0803 0.62 0.62 1155 2.09 1215 2.22 The MO jewies son WELuke 1239 2.20 TU 1809 0.68 1400 2.06 2.06 SU 1358 2.30 2.30 1409 2.08 2.08 TU 1435 2.33 2.33 1254 2.23 TH 1850 0.74 SA 1400 SU 1358 MO 1409 TU 1435 SA MO 1851 0.58 2115 0.87 0.87 2105 0.67 0.67 2132 0.53 0.53 2109 0.80 0.80 2348 1.90 1928 0.78 2115 2105 2109 2132 Brisbane River love a them with half a pil0040 1.99 0235 1.37 0234 1.57 0253 1.52 0327 1.83 0608 0.47 0050 1.56 0013 1.63 0235 1.37 0234 1.57 0253 1.52 0327 1.83 good prawn imitation chard5and we’ve been 20 1234 2.07 5 0705 0.41 5 0800 5 0826 0800 0.85 0.85 20 0814 0814 0.66 0.66 0826 0.89 0.89 20 0914 0914 0.71 0.71 0651 0.56 20 0615 0.52 1852 1327 2.15 1502 1.99 1502 2.27 1502 2.01 1532 2.21 0.77 1344 2.12 1305 2.18 1502 1.99 1502 2.27 1502 2.01 1532 2.21 WE TU SU MO TU WE FR TH SU MO TU WE and, as expected, the having 2034 a ball trying to 1945 0.76 2221 0.84 0.84 2210 0.61 0.61 2202 0.76 0.76 2225 0.50 0.50 0.88 1951 0.80 2221 2210 2202 2225 Pro Lure 0122 Clone Prawn keep them out of the 1.74 0025 1.75 0145 1.40 0408 1.42 1.42 0355 1.66 1.66 0407 1.60 1.60 0436 1.94 1.94 1.52 0111 1.52 0408 0355 0407 0436 6 0737 0.70 21 0707 0.61 6 0743well. 6 0924 6 0941 0.52 21 0641 0.53 0924 0.90 0.90 21 0935 0935 0.69 0.69 0941 0.93 0.93 21 1030 1030 0.77 0.77 0.61 works very structure. 1610 1.96 1.96 TU 1609 2.25 2.25 1600 1.97 1.97 TH 1632 2.09 2.09 2.14 FR 1445 2.01 SA 1408 2.14 WE 1422 2.08 TH 1320 2.04 MO 1610 TU 1609 WE 1600 TH 1632 MO WE The Jackson Puri Ebi fish0.91 average 1947 0.86The 2203 2053 0.90 2318 0.77 0.77 2309 0.52 0.52 2254 0.69 0.69 2318 0.46 0.46 0.81 2113 0.81 2318 2309 2254 2318 3.25” plastics are alaround 0319 45-55cm at0234 the 1.46 0114 1.59 1.32 0215 1.53 1.46 0516 1.55 1.55 0506 1.82 1.82 0514 1.73 1.73 0542 2.09 2.09 0516 0506 0514 0542 7 0846 0.82 22 0821 7 0830 and 7 1047 7 1056 0.63 22 0726 0.60 0821 0.69 0.69 1047 0.87 0.87 22 1053 1053 0.66 0.66 1056 0.92 0.92 22 1146 1146 0.78 0.78 so excellent have moment. 1525 2.15 2.15 1712 1.99 1.99 WE 1713 2.24 2.24 1656 1.94 1.94 FR 1734 1.97 1.97 SA 1600 1.96 SU 1525 TU TH 1530 2.02 FR 1423 2.02 TU 1712 WE 1713 TH 1656 FR 1734 TH 2227 fish. 0.94 2107 0.90And they 2323 0.85 2236 2236 0.72 0.72 2343 0.61 0.61 2343 scored good pull hard, 0341 1.39 deep 0230 1.47 0500 1.38 0411 0005 0411 1.52 1.52 0005 0.67 0.67 0003 0.42 0.42 0608 1.89 1.89 0011 0.42 0.42 0003 0608 0011 The river is quite especially on light8 0936 8 1021 8 0608 8 1203 0.72 23 0835 0.67 0.85 23 0951 0951 0.69 0.69 0608 1.71 1.71 23 0608 0608 2.01 2.01 1203 0.87 0.87 23 0641 0641 2.24 2.24 2.02 1.98 MO 1642 1642 2.21 2.21 1153 0.80 0.80 TH 1206 0.62 0.62 1749 1.92 1.92 SA 1300 0.75 0.75 FR 1648 SA 1545 2.05 SU 1714 WE in places, so if you’re MObeen WE 1153 TH 1206 FR 1749 SA 1300 FR er gear – we’ve 2358 0.87 2246 0.84 2345 1802 1810 2345 0.59 0.59 1802 2.03 2.03 1810 2.20 2.20 1834 1.88 1.88 1834 not used 0521 to fishing the getting drilled by some 1.40 0413 1.46 0019 0.75 0529 0045 0053 0529 1.69 1.69 0045 0.57 0.57 0053 0.34 0.34 0028 0.52 0.52 0100 0.39 0.39 0028 0100 9 1059 sure 9 0651 9 0655 24 0734 area, make you 0.74 24 bigger9 fish. 1006 0.67 0604 1.52 24 1114 1114 0.60 0.60 0651 1.87 1.87 24 0702 0702 2.19 2.19 0655 2.06 2.06 24 0734 2.37 2.37 0.78 TU 1748 2.30 2.30 1247 0.72 0.72 FR 1313 0.58 0.58 1303 0.80 0.80 SU 1404 0.70 0.70 SA 1757 2.07 SU 1709 2.16 MO 1141 0.78 TH SA TU 1748 TH 1247 FR 1313 SA 1303 SU 1404 pack a few heavier jig That’s1811 it for 2.05 1846 1903 1838 2.05 me this 1846 2.06 2.06 1903 2.14 2.14 1838 1.90 1.90 1930 1.81 1.81 1930 heads than0059 you0.76 normalmonth. 0101 0.65 0010 0.69 0042 0122 0137 0110 0147 0.65 0042 0.44 0.44 0122 0.48 0.48 0137 0.28 0.28 0110 0.45 0.45 0147 0.37 0.37 10 0630 1.50 25 0539 1.58Hope 10 0650 25 0630 25 0822 1.68 1.68 you 0630 1.89 10 0730 0730 2.02 2.02 25 0751 0751 2.34 2.34 10 0738 0738 2.22 2.22 25 0822 2.46 2.46 ly would. to see out 1.89 0.68 WE 1226 0.50 0.50 1336 0.65 0.65 SA 1412 0.55 0.55 1358 0.72 0.72 MO 1500 0.65 0.65 SU 1212 0.68 MO 1130 0.57 TU 1238 0.68 FR SU WE 1226 FR 1336 SA 1412 SU 1358 MO 1500 1852 2.15 1818 2.31 1858 2.12 1845 2.37 1927 2.06 1952 2.05 1926 1.88 2023 1.76 1927 2.06 1952 2.05 1926 1.88 2023 1.76 1858 2.12 1845 2.37 The current runs hard on the water.

Tide Times

2023

0143 0.65 0113 0.52 0138 0131 0157 0217 0150 0230 0138 0.56 0.56 0131 0.32 0.32 0157 0.40 0.40 0217 0.26 0.26 0150 0.39 0.39 0230 0.37 0.37 11 0719 26 0906 1.63 26 0645 1.75 11 0729 0729 1.82 1.82 26 0723 0723 2.07 2.07 11 0808 0808 2.15 2.15 26 0837 0837 2.45 2.45 11 0820 0820 2.35 2.35 26 0906 2.51 2.51 1308 0.59 1242 0.44 1325 0.59 1329 0.42 1421 0.60 1505 0.54 MO 1308 0.59 1937 2.22

TU 1242 0.44 1915 2.45

WE 1325 0.59 1937 1937 2.18 2.18

TH TH 1329 0.42 1935 1935 2.38 2.38

SA SA 1421 0.60 2004 2004 2.04 2.04

SU SU 1505 0.54 2038 2038 1.95 1.95

1448 0.65 0.65 MO MO 1448 2011 2011 1.85 1.85

1550 0.63 0.63 TU TU 1550 2111 2111 1.74 1.74

0220 0.58 0204 0.37 0211 0215 0230 0255 0230 0309 0211 0.48 0.48 0215 0.24 0.24 0230 0.35 0.35 0255 0.26 0.26 0230 0.34 0.34 0309 0.38 0.38 12 0759 12 1537 27 1.74 27 0741 1.93 12 0803 0902 0947 0803 1.94 1.94 27 0811 0811 2.24 2.24 12 0845 0845 2.27 2.27 27 0920 0920 2.52 2.52 12 0902 2.45 2.45 27 0947 2.51 2.51 1354 0.51 1344 0.32 1407 0.52 1424 0.37 1506 0.57 1556 0.54 0.60 TU 1354 0.51 2015 2.28

WE 1344 0.32 2006 2.54

TH TH 1407 0.52 2012 2012 2.20 2.20

FR FR 1424 0.37 2021 2021 2.33 2.33

SU SU 1506 0.57 MO MO 1556 0.54 2041 2122 2041 2.00 2.00 2122 1.86 1.86

1634 0.63 0.63 TU TU 1537 0.60 WE WE 1634 2057 2154 2057 1.83 1.83 2154 1.73 1.73

0253 0.53 0249 0.27 0242 0254 0303 0330 0309 0345 0242 0.42 0.42 0254 0.20 0.20 0330 0.28 0.28 0345 0.40 0.40 0303 0.31 0.31 0309 0.31 0.31 13 0833 1.83 28 0830 2.08 13 1626 28 1714 0945 1026 0838 2.04 2.04 28 0856 2.08 13 0838 0856 2.36 2.36 13 0923 1001 2.53 2.53 13 1026 2.49 2.49 0923 2.35 2.35 28 1001 0945 2.53 2.53 28 1433 0.46 1439 0.25 1446 0.49 1515 0.37 1549 0.56 1643 0.57 0.57 0.64 WE 1433 0.46 2050 2.31

TH 1439 0.25 2051 2.56 2.56

FR FR 1446 0.49 2045 2045 2.20 2.20

SA SA 1515 0.37 2103 2103 2.23 2.23

MO MO 1549 0.56 2118 2118 1.94 1.94

TU TU 1643 0.57 2204 2204 1.77 1.77

WE WE 1626 0.57 2144 2144 1.81 1.81

TH TH 1714 0.64 2233 2233 1.72 1.72

0323 0.49 0330 0.20 0312 0330 0335 0403 0349 0421 0312 0.37 0.37 0.20 0330 0.19 0.19 0335 0.30 0.30 0403 0.33 0.33 0349 0.31 0.31 0421 0.44 0.44 14 0906 1.91 29 0916 14 1715 29 1749 1030 1102 0912 2.13 2.13 29 0939 0916 2.21 2.21 14 0912 0939 2.45 2.45 14 1001 1001 2.41 2.41 29 1042 1042 2.50 2.50 14 1030 2.57 2.57 29 1102 2.44 2.44 1509 0.43 1530 0.23 1526 0.48 1604 0.40 1632 0.56 1727 0.62 0.55 0.68 TH 1509 0.43 2122 2.31

FR 1530 0.23 2133 2133 2.50 2.50

SA SA 1526 0.48 2116 2116 2.16 2.16

SU SU 1604 0.40 2145 2145 2.09 2.09

TU TU 1632 0.56 WE WE 1727 0.62 2157 2245 2157 1.87 1.87 2245 1.69 1.69

TH TH 1715 0.55 2232 2232 1.79 1.79

FR FR 1749 0.68 2309 2309 1.71 1.71

0352 0.45 0408 0341 0403 0408 0437 0430 0455 0408 0.18 0.18 0341 0.34 0.34 0403 0.21 0.21 0437 0.40 0.40 0455 0.49 0.49 0408 0.32 0.32 0430 0.32 0.32 15 0937 15 1806 30 1821 1115 1137 0937 1.97 30 1000 1000 2.30 2.30 15 0946 0946 2.20 2.20 30 1021 1021 2.49 2.49 15 1041 1121 2.43 2.43 15 1137 2.39 2.39 1041 2.43 2.43 30 1121 1115 2.58 2.58 30 1617 0.27 1604 0.50 1651 0.47 1717 0.59 1810 0.68 0.55 0.70 FR 1545 0.42

FR 1545 0.42 2151 2151 2.29 2.29

SA SA 1617 0.27 2214 2214 2.38 2.38

SU SU 1604 0.50 MO MO 1651 0.47 2147 2224 2147 2.09 2.09 2224 1.94 1.94

WE WE 1717 0.59 2238 2238 1.79 1.79

TH TH 1810 0.68 2326 2326 1.62 1.62

0434 0434 0.26 0.26 31 1101 1101 2.47 2.47 1736 0.56

SA SA 1821 0.70 2345 2345 1.71 1.71

0530 0530 0.55 0.55 31 31 1853 1211 1211 2.33 2.33 0.72

TU TU 1736 0.56 2304 2304 1.78 1.78

SU SU 1853 0.72

© Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2021, 2021, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology New Moon Datum of Predictions Predictions is is Lowest Lowest Astronomical Astronomical Tide Tide Moon Phase Symbols New Moon Phase Symbols New Moon Moon First Quarter Quarter A mangrove jack scoffed a 92mm Pro Lure Clone Prawn fished on a deep rock First bar.

www.bnbfishing.com.au

FR FR 1806 0.55 2323 2323 1.77 1.77

Full Moon Full Full Moon Moon

First Quarter Last Quarter Last LastQuarter Quarter 99

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 11

Graham Bell’s grandson Taj with a longtail tuna from Moreton Bay. The author and a golden trevally.

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POWER BOAT ANGLERS REEF FISHING CLUB INC Page 12 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Moreton Bay and Woodgate sorties

RAHAM Bell was chuffed to get a call from Taj, one of his seven grandchildren, during the school holidays asking if he could take him out fishing for snapper. The answer to that was never going to be no, but Graham did tell the young angler that they would have to be up and off early to take advantage of the prime bite period and tide the next day. Taj even stayed over the night before to ensure everything went smoothly. They were up at sparrows the next morning but unfortunately Taj was crook with a bad headache. Graham sent him back to bed with some pain medication, thinking that the fishing trip was a no-go and they’d look for something else to do later when he got up. Much to his surprise, Taj was up a couple of hours later feeling much better and still keen to head out fishing. They boated over to the northern end of

Power Boat Anglers by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

Moreton Bay to see what was around. Though they’d missed the best of the bite period and tide, they still managed to lose bait to smaller fish. That was until Graham decided to up the ante, casting out a live herring on his favourite rig with a long trace and a dropper sinker. In short time, something picked it up and was heading for the horizon and, as Taj set up with a rod bucket, the fight was on. It didn’t appear to be a shark and definitely wasn’t a snapper, but the possibility of a cobia was there, as they do frequent the area. After some toing and froing, it breached the surface in the distance, giving off a distinct flash of silver. Now thoughts were not of a cobia, but possibly a big spanish mackerel. Though as soon as it headed deep and started pin wheeling, Gra-

ham was fairly sure it was a longtail tuna. After another 20 minutes, Taj had it near the boat – starting the next challenge of hand-lining in the 8m or so of trace after the dropper. The fish wasn’t too keen on playing the game, yet after a few late runs, it was finally in the boat – where it was immediately de-hooked, weighed, photographed and dispatched back into the water. What a great experience for Taj and one he will never forget, with the fish weighing in at 15.97kg – what a cracker. Woodgate and Burrum Heads It had been years since I’d been out fishing with my good friend Jason Cass, so we decided to catch up to do just that, boating out from Woodgate about 30km for a bit of exploratory work. Three days out, the * continued P14

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Email: admin@wynnummarine.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 13

Moreton Bay and Woodgate sorties * from P12

A Burrum Heads humpback whale – majestic, though happy it kept its distance.

Taj had a ball on longtail tuna in Moreton Bay.

weather was perfect but from that point on, it went south. By the time Saturday arrived, out wide was a no-go, so we drove to Walkers Point to launch the boat and head over to see what was around east of Burrum Heads. It was a bit bumpy on the way, with an overcast sky, but the wind was predicted to drop out later in the morning and clear up. That said, I do prefer overcast conditions with a bit of chop when targeting mackerel and that species was what we’d decided to have a crack at. We picked a spot and began the first drift using pilchard on ganged hooks for starters. Jason was first in the water and first to hook up, then unfortunately, first to be bitten off. I followed shortly after with fairly much the same story, 0-2 to the mackies. We were hit a few

times before I finally hooked up and had a nice fish in the boat. The fish weren’t exactly going ballistic, but they were biting, so we kept at it – getting a few more in the Esky as we went. I decided to drop a plastic to see if there was anything on the bottom and was bitten off three times before I got something to the boat – where I managed to drop it back in the water when lifting it over the side – a sort of Rob Schomberg thing to do. Jason also decided to fish the bottom, but with a bait, and soon hooked up to what turned out to be only an undersized smallmouth nannygai. I also landed a small mouth on the plastic before something decent slammed me and took quite a bit of line. It didn’t want to turn its head to start with, and we were getting close to having to fire up the motor and chase it, when it finally changed direction and I could get some line back. The fight went on for another 5-10 minutes before I had a nice golden trevally by the side of the boat. Jason had it in the net

and onboard in quick time, so we took a few photos and sent it back home. They’re always a good bit of fun on light gear and there are some good-sized mackies throughout the bay. As the morning went on, the sky cleared and the wind dropped further – it turned into quite a nice day. We picked up bits and pieces here and there and even had a few humpback whales cruising around. While they are majestic creatures and cool to see, I was quite happy that they kept their distance from my 5.1m boat. We headed back in with a nice catch of fish that was split between our Childers and Bundaberg-based families. Can’t wait to head out again with Jase, and keen to get out to that 30km area. Note that the meetings 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. Upcoming meetings are Wednesday November 1 then Wednesday December 3 before the long break. Until next month, safe boating.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

CREATING BETTER HABITAT FOR BETTER FISHING Some of the mackerel from the Woodgate and Burrum Heads sortie. Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

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Quilted oyster doonas bring versatility to shellfish restoration

ZFISH Unlimited continues to innovate the shellfish revolution with the upcoming trial of quilted oyster doonas, set to bring an added layer of versatility to restoration projects. OzFish Unlimited senior special projects officer shellfish revolution Robbie Porter, who invented the quilted oyster doonas, said: “No one has ever done something like this before and we think it could be really useful.” The home-grown invention uses a non-degrading flexible gabion blanket that incorporates recycled oyster shells, which can be securely attached to rock walls, eroding banks and urbanised waterways, effectively trans-

forming these structures into vibrant living seawalls. “Effectively, the doonas are stainless-steel chicken wire that we make an envelope out of and put shells inside it,” Mr Porter said. “To stop all the shells falling to one end, we quilt the chicken wire so that the shells are spread out evenly – much like duck down in a doona.” As part of the restoration trial, OzFish will test the doonas through a partnership with The Southport School on the Gold Coast. They will be trialed in the Nerang River in coming months. The project should increase biodiversity and contribute to improved

water filtration – bolstering fish numbers in the river. One key aspect of their expected effectiveness lies in the use of recycled and sanitised oyster shells. The complex nature and chemical signature of these shells make them highly attractive to spat – a term for baby oysters – or young shellfish, thereby serving as an ideal substrate for shellfish recruitment. OzFish plans to mobilise its army of volunteers to make the quilted oyster doonas, with councils and civil engineers expected to use them in future projects. “There will be a lot of hidey-holes for ambush predators,” Mr Porter said.

“They’ll give lots of overhanging spaces for invertebrates such as sponges, limpets, crabs and worms to hide in.” This ambitious initiative has received funding from Queensland Fisheries through the Queensland Community Fishing Grants program, enabling OzFish

to bring this innovative project to life. It will also provide educational opportunities for students at The Southport School to learn of the importance of environmental stewardship and the role of shellfish in ecosystem health. Paul Suttor OzFish Unlimited

Quilted oyster doonas are envelopes of stainless-steel chicken wire with shells inside, which are then quilted so the shells are spread out evenly.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 15

Troll in creek offshoots on big high tides or in front of entrances on a low.

On a low tide, even small drains are a good target for trolling past.

Trolling tips for flatties

W Look for darker bait-filled sand to troll over, not hard white sand.

A graphite rod, small reel with 6lb braid and a light fluorocarbon leader is an ideal choice for shallow water.

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www.boatcovers.com.au Page 16 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

ITH the successful Gold Coast Flathead Classic out of the way for another year, again the results speak for themselves. Flathead are a great option on lures – be they hard-bodies or the ever-popular soft plastics. However, what stood out for me as a distant observer was reading that the four top-placed teams were all in smaller boats who did a lot of trolling! Which is awesome because, in my view, it appears that trolling is making a comeback in southeast Queensland. For me, since the 1990s boom, the trolling bug never went away, and I’ve continued to enjoy it to this day. The other thing to note is that trolling the estuaries and inshore open bays – such as Moreton Bay – can be very successful, and not only for flathead but also mackerel, mangrove jack, snapper and more, including freshwater fish such as bass. In fact, each trolling session, I usually end up with some by-catch of whiting, bream and trevally, and I’ve even caught a squid – all on small hard-bodies. Why do I love trolling so much? First and foremost, it’s the success.

Fishing Tips by SEAN THOMPSON

You cover so much more ground trolling two or three lines behind your boat – putting your lures in front of fish you might not have found if you were throwing only soft plastics or drowning bait. I also love the thrill of hearing the creak of the rod holder and then the screech of the reel as the rod buckles under the pressure of a fish on the other end! Also, I prefer to fish actively rather than simply throwing a line out and hoping. It’s a great way to learn about where the fish are – by watching your sounder closely, following map contours and water depth changes, taking note of your speed, water temperature, baitfish and even subtle changes to the water’s surface indicating different current flows. Finally, active fishing puts you ‘in the moment’, which can be great for your mental health – helping to stop you worrying about issues that might otherwise be troubling you. All that said, sometimes trolling can be one of the more frustrat-

ing fishing techniques. On some days – usually after a few days of a strong northerly – the water can turn a dirty stained colour and be full of floating ribbon weed. Continuing to remove weed from fouled trebles can drive even the most patient angler nuts! Just be aware of this and avoid those days after a strong northerly. For this reason, trolling during the morning can usually be best in the warmer months in southeast Queensland because a northerly tends to pick up around lunchtime. Small boats Trolling lures for flathead in very shallow water is one of the key reasons I’ve always had a smaller shallower draft boat. This allows you to get into super shallow water for flathead – about 0.60.9m depth. The bonus is that in such shallow water, apart from using shallow-diving minnow hard-bodies, you can also troll soft plastics on 1/4-3/8oz successfully behind the boat. In addition – while it’s * continued P17

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Tips for successful flatty trolling sessions * from P16

very handy to have an electric motor in such water and you’ll probably catch more fish – you can still catch them using a reasonably quiet four-stroke and making sure your lures are a few boat lengths back from the boat. I have certainly done this in water of 0.6-0.9m deep in the past. However, after purchasing a new Watersnake Geo-Spot electric motor recently, the biggest advantage I find is that you can lock in your speed and direction, and move about the boat without altering your direction. Further, when you hook-up to a fish, if you have other rods out, you can either keep trolling forward or, when you’re on your own, put the boat in spot-lock to try reducing the risk of tangles with other rods. Yet another feature of this electric is that you can record trolling routes, where you might

weave in and out following the contours of the estuary bottom. Once recorded, you can follow that route hands-free. This is a great option, particularly if you’ve caught fish there that day or previously. Target areas Top spots to troll on the falling tide include along the edge of sand flats that drain into deeper water, along the front of creek mouths and shallow drains, alongside patches of ribbon weed on the sand flats that will hold bait, close to fallen timber in a creek, in front of rocky points and along the outer boundary of oyster leases. On a rising tide, shallow drains deep enough to troll in are a good option and, as the tide approaches high, the edges of mangroves can be a great opportunity. Other good high tide options are shallow bays that are only accessible on a high tide.

I’ve had some amazing fishing in such water – especially on a big tide around a full or a new moon period – because more water pushes into them, giving access to a smorgasbord of bait, often predator-free on lower tides. Another tip is to pull your electric motor up – or simply start your four-stroke if you don’t have an electric – and motor between target areas, rather than waste your time trolling the barren grounds between them. By barren grounds, I’m referring to areas such as hard featureless sand and spots free of any structure. These are devoid of bait such as yabbies and worms. Look instead for the soft darker sand that is full of yabbies, soldier crabs and worms. * continued P18

Make sure your rod tip is ‘nodding’ to ensure the lure is not fouled with weed.

Angle your rod tip up in very shallow water if your lures dive deeper.

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A selection of the author’s shallow-water trolling lures. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 17

Tips for successful flatty trolling sessions * from P17

A lovely fish caught on one of the author’s favourite coloured Zerek Bulldog Crank lures.

Bright coloured UV lures are a good option in dirty water.

Soft rubber landing nets are the best option when catching and releasing fish.

The author runs deeper lures very close to the boat, these can stir the sand up and catch fish!

Page 18 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Looking at the bottom through polaroid glasses is a great way to spot the best target areas. Tackle tactics For those who haven’t tried trolling before, keep the light whippy fibreglass whiting rods at home. Instead, you want to be using high modulus graphite rods in about 7’-7’6” with a medium-fast action – that is, just enough flex in the tip of the rod to transfer the action of the lure but not too whippy so that the rod tip absorbs any action of the lure being pulled through the water. Any experienced fishing tackle salesperson should be able to show you through the different options for one with just the right amount of action in the tip of the rod when trolling. If they can’t, try somewhere else. The tip action should be subtle enough that as soon as the lure catches any weed, the lack of action of the lure in the water will be transferred up through the braid to the rod tip and show that the lure is fouled and needs shaking off or retrieved and removed. When it comes to reels, small reels in the 10002000 size range are perfect to balance the graphite rods mentioned and the type of braid recommended below. Be sure to set your drag so the line comes off under a bit of pressure to set the hooks but not too tight that the hooks can pull from the fish’s mouth on hook-up. Bright braided line is a big advantage when trolling, so you can see where your lines are to avoid them tangling each other. The other advantage of braid is that the stretch-

free line shows the action of the lure better on your rod tip and will also mean any hits on your lure aren’t absorbed through the stretch of monofilament line. In shallow to mid-water depth, I find 6lb braid is more than enough and I’ll vary my leader according to water colour and depth, but generally run 3m of between 1014lb clear fluorocarbon leader at the business end of the line connecting the lure. In deeper water, you might go up to 8-10lb braid and 14-16lb leader. Lure depth Choosing the right lure for the water depth you are fishing is also critical. When trolling for flathead using hard-bodies, you want to be regularly hitting the bottom where the fish will be laying in ambush. Hitting the bottom regularly will also be throwing up little puffs of sand and mud, attracting the attention of the fish. Having a range of lures that dive to different depths helps you cover a variety of options, even in terms of a spread of lures in your boat while you troll. As an example, when I’m trolling along the edge of a drop-off, I’ll have a shallower-diving lure on the inside and a deeper-diving lure on the outside in the deeper edge. I also run a deep-diving lure close to the boat – say a boat length – to stir sand and mud up and attract fish to the lures behind it. Occasionally it will be taken too. Regarding the length back from the boat for the other lures, I’ve experimented with lures up to 25-30m back from the boat previously,

though I’ve found that a range of between 1.53.5 boat lengths tends to work well. You can also have one shorter and one further back to mix your options up. Another trick when you’re in water perhaps too shallow for your lure is to, rather than changing them over to a shallower lure, first try angling your rod holder upwards so the lure isn’t running hard into the bottom and at risk of getting fouled up. On the other hand, if the water is a bit deeper, try angling your rod holder down and thus getting your lure deeper. Lure colour Lure colour is personal preference, however the key is trying to match the water colour. In winter, the water can become very clear, so you want to be using clear colours, light greens, blues and whites. Pinks are an all-water colour favourite of mine too. After rain, discoloured water calls for darker hard-body colours, fluorescent colours in greens, pinks and oranges and lures that have added ultraviolet that make them stand out in the dirty water. So, there you go. A few tips and tricks to get you started or to improve your trolling for flathead results. For more tips and reports, follow my social media pages on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram @ Ontour Fishing Australia.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 19

Tackling Moreton Bay

T Ducking out for a quick session, Jack and Dan landed an 8.5kg 92cm beast!

Eric took home a great feed from Cabbage Tree Creek.

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0402 703 519 Page 20 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

HIS would have to be one of the best times of the year, with such a variety of species being available to both on and offshore fishos. In saying that, if you are new to the Moreton Bay area or if you are only starting to venture out into the bay, be very mindful of the weather. Moreton Bay is notorious for its changing weather patterns – one moment it’s as flat as a tack, the next the wind rips through and being on the water is a seriously dangerous and life-threatening scenario. Never take Moreton Bay for granted. Before hitting the water, double check the serviceability of your safety equipment – check the dates on your flares and make sure they are in good condition. Test your bilge pumps – most models can be unclipped and dropped into a container of water for testing. Never assume that your gear runs okay – if it fails when you need it most, it can add to an already bad situation. When you finish checking your pride and joy, set some time aside to check your fishing gear. It has been a long and hard year, your fishing rods and reels may not have seen much time on the water, so they too may need a little tender loving care. Most gear gets put away without much thought, so check for damage from the last trip or damage from being put away without being serviced. We see a lot of ‘roller bearings’ on the reel’s

Northern Moreton Bay by MARK TEMPLETON

bail arm – these must be able to roll freely. A seized bearing can cost you both a great fish and will damage that expensive braid! The average timeframe for reel repairs is about two weeks, with an influx around the Christmas holiday period, so you can anticipate this blowing out. Remember that many of our suppliers will close for Christmas or may have only an exceedingly small crew on deck to send parts out. While our rod repairs should stay on schedule with weekly pick-ups and drop-offs, remember that our rod repairer will take time off over the Christmas period. So don’t take the chance and wait – get those guides checked and repaired sooner rather than later! Now to the fun stuff!

Two anglers who know how to get out there and have fun are Jack and Dan. They put so much time and effort into learning the Moreton Bay area – when and now where to fish – and are really producing the goods. Ducking out for a quick session, they landed an 8.5kg 92cm beast! Using local cuttlefish and heading to one of their marks in the bay, it wasn’t long before they put this brute onboard and called it a day. Well done team – I don’t think there’s a much better way to start the day! Early one morning, Eric also found the opportunity to get in a quick flathead session at Cabbage Tree Creek and he too took home a great feed. Plenty of good flat* continued P21

You know it’s a great day when you see Harvey break out his crab pot and head down to the creek.

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Tackle Moreton Bay in November * from P20

head have been caught in Cabbage Tree Creek, the Pine River, around the swimming pool at Brighton and near Pelican Park as well. Hays Inlet has always been bit of a performer when it comes to producing decent numbers of flathead, bream and grunter. Lures, soft plastics and bait are readily taken but, as for other places, some days you have to work a little harder for good results. You know it’s a great day when you see Harvey break out his crab pot and head down to the creek. Like a trooper, before and after school he is down there checking and rebaiting his pot. Harvey is starting to produce nice crabs a little more consistently and loves to be able to contribute fresh local crab to the dinner menu. Well done Harvey, we hope you have a cracker season – don’t forget us and our Christmas

seafood dinner requirements. If we had a flathead of the month award, it would have to be presented to Joel. On light gear, Joel had a battle on his hands but, with patience and persistence, he managed to land this beast of a lizard. Being a big female, she was treated with kid gloves – a quick photo and she was safely and very quickly returned to the water. This was an awesome very healthy-looking fish, which tells us that our waterways are starting to thrive too. Well done Joel, you deserve to wear that smile, this was an awesome flathead that you’ll remember for a long time to come! We had the privilege of helping a few of our local female anglers out recently with some fishing basics tuition. We’ve run a couple of small classes for absolute novices with Donna, who runs the Cab-

bage Tree Creek Fleet page on Facebook. A need was identified, so Donna approached us to see if it was something we would assist with. Being right up our alley, we were very keen to jump aboard. After running a couple of test sessions to make sure we’re getting the right information out there, we’re now looking at running a few more ad hoc classes over the next few months. Who knows, it may become a more regular event if the need is there. I would like to thank Donna for all her efforts in putting it together and helping out our local community. I know that Ian Nye and I have had a great time teaching these keen female anglers and watching them catch their first fish. Get out there and have a great time!

Roller bearings on the reel’s bail arm must be able to roll freely. A seized bearing can cost you both a great fish and will damage that expensive braid!

We had the privilege of helping a few of our local female anglers out recently with some fishing basics tuition.

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On light gear, Joel had a battle on his hands but, with patience and persistence, he managed to land a beast of a flathead. It was safely and quickly returned to the water.

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www.custommarinewelding.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 21

It’s that time ! n i a g a r a e y f o Our Fisheries Queensland East Coast fisheries manager Daniel answers some questions about the Queensland barramundi closed seasons during spawning periods. For Gulf of Carpentaria this is from 7 October 2023 – 31 January 2024. For east coast Queensland tidal and freshwaters excluding selected dams from 1 November 2023 – 31 January 2024.

Why do we have closed seasons? How are they determined? Closed seasons are typically developed to reduce fishing pressure on fish stocks during a period of vulnerability. Typically closed seasons are determined around the time when the fish is most likely to be spawning, migrating or aggregating, and fishing activity may disrupt this important part of its life stage.

How long has a barramundi closed season been implemented in Queensland? The first barramundi closed season was introduced in November 1980 and has strong support amongst the fishing community. It was expanded into the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1996, but to commence in early October in line with updated information on moon phase and the potential for early rain, in order to protect aggregations of large female fish prior to spawning.

Do we have data about how this has helped populations? How do scientists collect this data and monitor population changes? Wild populations of barramundi are routinely assessed every few years using published stock assessments that utilise monitoring data on catch, effort and biology such as length and age of the stock, to understand how the status of the stock changes through time. In the early 1990’s East Coast barramundi stock was around 20% of unfished levels. Now stocks sit at around 60% on average which is our target biomass.

Do closed seasons need to continue into the future? Will there always be closed seasons? Closed seasons are an important and effective management tool in reducing a known impact on a fish stock. In the face of changing environments that include weather patterns, currents and flows, and water temperature to name a few, reducing the impact of fishing will assist in improving the stock’s resilience in light of these harder-to-understand impacts. Some research has been published on the importance of not disrupting barramundi during spawning times, as well as the benefit of targeted closures both temporally and spatially. Closed seasons may change or be removed as new information on the fish’s biology and the effectiveness of a closed season become more available. They are an effective and fair management measure, as they apply to all sectors equally.

Where can I catch a barra during closed season? Prescribed barramundi waterways are open to fishing during the closure Barramundi as they are above waterway barriers without fish passage and rely on stocking to maintain a recreational fishery. Scan the QR code for more information about the barramundi closures and prescribed barramundi waterways.

Watch this video for more on barramundi closures Barramundi closures

Download the free ‘Qld Fishing 2.0’ app from the App Store or Google Play DAF2090 10/23

Page 22 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 2090 Bush and Beach November 2023_FINAL.indd 2

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Changing seasons and catch limits

What you need to know Spanish mackerel MANAGEMENT CHANGES* Management changes to recreational catch limits – 1 fish per person, or 2 fish per boat with 2 or more recreational fishers on board a boat.

*the boat limit does not apply to charter fishing trips.

CLOSED SEASON Queensland east coast waters north of 22˚ South (located slightly north of Stanage Bay) • 12 October – 2 November 2023 • 10 November – 1 December 2023 Queensland east coast waters south of latitude 22˚ South (located slightly north of Stanage Bay) • 1 February – 21 February 2024 • 1 March – 21 March 2024

Coral reef fin fish CLOSED SEASON Two five-day closed seasons in October and November each year. East coast Queensland tidal waters north of latitude 24˚ 50’ south. • 12 October – 16 October 2023 • 10 November – 14 November 2023

Barramundi CLOSED SEASON Closed during spawning period. Gulf of Carpentaria • 7 October 2023 – 31 January 2024 East coast Queensland tidal and freshwaters excluding selected dams • 1 November 2023 – 31 January 2024

Spanner crab CLOSED SEASON All Queensland tidal waters • 1 November 2023 – 15 December 2023

Tropical rock lobster CLOSED SEASON Queensland east coast north of latitude 14˚ South and Gulf of Carpentaria waters • 1 October 2023 – 31 December 2023 Note: unless otherwise stated, closed seasons commence immediately after midnight at the beginning of the first mentioned day, and finish immediately before midnight at the end of the last mentioned day.

Search fisheries.qld.gov.au for ‘closed seasons’ or ‘closed waters’, or use the Qld Fishing 2.0 app to find out more.

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2090 Bush and Beach November 2023_FINAL.indd 3

Join the responsible

rec fisher revolution! Fishing is Queensland’s number 1 recreational activity and it generates more than $333 million to the economy… but how do you make sure your fishing experience remains for future generations? To help you Fish for the Future, we’ve prepared a new responsible rec fishing landing page that’s a great tool for new anglers, and those who’ve been around a while as well. How can you Fish for the Future? Here’s a snapshot:

• Be aware of the bait you use • Make sure your catch and release skills are on-point • Be SharkSmart and reduce shark depredation. Keen to learn more? Scan on the QR Code below to maximise your enjoyment and minimise the impacts on our fish populations. And don’t forget to download the Qld Fishing 2.0 app while you’re online.

• Vary what you catch and where. Target a new species with plentiful wild stocks, or head away from the coast and fish in a stocked impoundment

More info

Queensland’s unique fish species in the spotlight It’s World Fisheries Day on 21 November and we want to celebrate by honouring the work of one of Queensland’s most committed volunteers, Charlie from the Freshwater Fishing & Stocking Association of Queensland (FFSAQ). Charlie spreads the word about our unique native fish, their importance and how we can all play a part in ensuring we can all fish for the future. Here he is catching up with Department of Agriculture and Fisheries DirectorGeneral Chris Sarra at the Ekka. Great job Charlie and all the volunteers at FFSAQ!

fisheries.qld.gov.au 13 25 23 FisheriesQueensland FisheriesQld DAFQld

RIGHT

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 23 5/10/2023 12:13 pm

State teams from across the nation will compete in a series of thrilling Reel Gauntlet fixtures, showcasing their angling skills and battling it out for national glory.

Get your state guernsey on for Reel Gauntlet

USTRALIA’S Reel Gauntlet is set to capture the imagination of everyday fishers, igniting a battle for personal and home-state glory that will keep everyone hooked from the first cast to the final catch. This world-first concept will redefine fishing competitions and unleash an unprecedented level of fishing engagement and anticipation.

Lines in for the inaugural season of Australia’s Reel Gauntlet is on Friday December 1, 2023. State teams from across the nation will compete in a series of thrilling fixtures, showcasing their angling skills and battling it out for national glory. With teams such as the NSW Kingfishers, Northern Territory Crocs, Queensland

The greatest game on the water, where you get to pull on your state guernsey and fish for national glory! Page 24 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Brolgas, South Australian Opals, Tasmanian Devils, Victorian Seadragons and Western Australian Gogofish in the mix, the competition is sure to be fierce. Australia’s Reel Gauntlet is not only a competition – it’s an unforgettable fishing challenge that unites anglers of all skill levels. From December to June, state teams will face off in exciting monthly fixtures, with the winning team earning two championship points. A rotating bye ensures that every state has a chance to collect an automatic win, guaranteeing fairness throughout the competition. At the end of the general season, the seventh-placed state team faces elimination, while individual competitors continue

their quest for the prestigious State Best and Fairest Award. The competition heats up in July with the qualifying round, followed by the quarter finals in August, the semis in September, the preliminary finals in October and the grand final in November. The state that emerges victorious in this gripping encounter will be crowned the Champion State Team, etching their name in Australian angling history. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the fishing. It’s time to throw your rod in the ring, demonstrate your fishing prowess and compete for personal and homestate glory like never before. The Reel Gauntlet is thrown by the Women’s Recreational Fishing League Inc, an Australian not-for-profit

organisation committed to achieving gender participation parity in recreational fishing by 2050. States can boost their teams and points by encouraging female anglers to join the WRFL and compete in the ongoing league championship. As a reward for state competitors encouraging women to take up fishing as a sport, bona fide members automatically contribute their fishing points to their home state’s score. There are no limits to the number of participating WRFL members in each team, so let’s empower more women to pick up their rods and join the fishing revolution. The Reel Gauntlet awaits, and the glory of victory beckons. For more information, visit reelgauntlet. org

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 25

Mel Henderson caught and released an impressive 80cm flathead on a Rapala CrushCity The Imposter plastic while pre-fishing for the Flathead Classic with her partner Mick Horn.

Tyne Cuttance put a huge effort into the classic to win champion angler.

Damo had fun catching flathead on a charter with the author, Ecogear ZX 40 lures worked best.

Lachlan did well to catch a bunch of arrow squid for dinner.

Page 26 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

2023 Flathead Classic round up

I everyone, the 2023 Flathead Classic was held at the end of September, with 639 anglers and 257 boats competing in this time-honoured tournament. Bush ‘n Beach Fishing Magazine had two teams entered and both did well, finishing a respectable seventeenth and thirty-second in the overall team rankings. The ‘OG BNB Fishing’ team consisted of magazine chief Ben Collins, Brisbane scribe and charter guide Sean Conlon and George Mole. The team overcame a slow start and electric motor problems to finish strongly – ending up twenty-fourth in the three-angler team category with 60 flathead caught and released and 1737 total points for the event. Warric Johnston and I made up team ‘Last Cast BNB Fishing’ and finished fourth out of 123 in the two-angler teams, seventeenth in overall teams out of 244, and I came twen-

Broadwater Guide by CLINT ANSELL

ty-sixth out of 528 anglers with 46 flathead and 1183 points and Wazza came thirty-eighth with 40 flathead and 1010 points. The first day of this year’s classic started off with sunny weather and a light wind. We chipped away for some early points before getting good numbers of school flathead on a strong run-out tide. We chose to fish the Gold Coast Broadwater for all three days because flathead fish-

ing had been good there in the lead up. Day two started with calm weather and a slow start for us on the fishing front, with only 160 points scored before a violent storm hit the Broadwater, which intensified when it moved through the Jumpinpin area. We weren’t well prepared for the wet weather, so went home shivering and despondent at 1pm, falling down the leader board after a shocker of a day. * continued P27

The author with a healthy flathead caught on a Rapala CrushCity soft plastic and released.

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2023 Flathead Classic round up * from P26

Two boats capsized at the Pin in 55-knot wind gusts during the storm, noting there were no warnings published anywhere. It was very lucky that no one drowned or was seriously injured in the lightning and hail. After a good night’s sleep, we were ready to go hard and do our best on the final day. Warric got us off to a great start early, boating a 68cm fish in the shallows along South Stradbroke Island. From then until the 2pm finish, flathead were on the chew and we scored many 4055cm at regular intervals. We were stoked to find out later that we had climbed back up the ladder to finish fourth overall in the two-angler team event. By the third day, the word had got around that the Crab Island region was the place to be this year and the area was packed with boats fishing. Over 6500 flathead were caught and released in this year’s classic. After fishing the first two days in the Pin area, team OG BNB Fishing stuck around for the final day and scored well in the Broadwater too. We worked hard to fish and mixed it up, casting soft plastics and vibes and trolling hard-bodies for our 86 flathead. The best lures for us were Ecogear ZX 40, Ecogear Balt 3.5”, Z-Man 3” MinnowZ and Rapala CrushCity The Imposter. Thanks heaps to Ben and the Bush ‘n

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Beach Fishing Magazine crew for making it happen for our teams. Wazza and I have done two classics as a team now and finished second and fourth consecutively in the two-angler team division. A big thanks also to Gold Coast Sportfishing Club and the committee for putting on an amazing and funfilled event. I know from running events myself how much hard work, time and detail goes into it. As always, a massive thanks to Sporty’s Fishing at Strathaird Rd, Bundall for all the support. The best local shop to buy all the tackle and lures we love to use and for fishing advice! Special thanks to Tackle Tactics, My Lure Box Australia, Brendon Knight and Go Fish Australia for helping the Men of Business team with gearing up for the event. Congratulations to Ross McCubbin and the ‘Mad Huey’s’ Heritage Bank team for winning the overall event with a massive 4737 points, and to team ‘MMD Fishing’ winning the two-angler event with an epic 4302 points. Tyne Cuttance from the MMD Fishing team took out champion senior angler with 2504 points and 59 flathead. Champion female angler was Melinda Henderson who scored 1532 points and 49 flathead. Melinda and her partner Mick Horn as team ‘Rapala CrushCity’ finished third in

the two-angler teams. The Rapala CrushCity The Jerk in Budgie and Neon Pearl accounted for a fair chunk of their 104 fish, amassing a total of 3221 points. Well done everyone! The flathead fishing will still be good into December, however the whiting season will be in full swing then, so I look forward to reporting on that species in coming months. We’ve been catching arrow squid, tuskfish and winter whiting on charters, while Brad Smith has been finding lots of flathead and trevally on his charters in the Tweed River. To book on a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, visit goldcoastrivercharters. com, SMS 0432 990 302, email fishingwith clint@gmail.com or find us on Facebook – Brad Smith Fishing Charters.

The two-angler champion team consisted of Tyne Cuttance and Mick Molnar from MMD Lures, pictured at the 2023 Flathead Classic presentation.

Mick Kelly caught and released a 65cm flathead using a Rapala CrushCity The Imposter soft plastic on a Broadwater charter.

Ferris was very happy to catch a stunning tuskfish in the Gold Coast Broadwater.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 27

Scott will frequently fish for snapper at long ranges of plus 400m using a drone and depends on thinner-gauge circle hooks for penetration. Adam landed an impressive black cod on 7/0 SnappaSlappa assist hooks on the Sunshine Coast. The fish was cared for and released after venting.

Getting hooked up on hooks

Thinner hooks double or triple-snelled together will undoubtedly increase your chances of double hookups.

Without targeting specific fish, this is what the author’s hook box typically looks like. Page 28 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

HH yes, the age-old debate of what is the ‘best’ hook to use and what brand has the best hooks. This month, we’re talking about finding a balance between strength and sharpness – to get the performance on point… literally. It’s very easy to focus on the weakness of a hook once it’s failed to do a job it was never appropriate for – such as an unexpected larger amberjack when fishing for snapper or a donkey cod that came out of nowhere while fishing for pearl perch. The truth is, you should get what you paid for – if the hook is made of quality steel and treated according to the job it was intended for. If you can warp a soft hook with your hands, that’s generally a sign it’ll let you down in what could be one of your finest moments. Usually, steel is enhanced with carbon, anti-rust treated and forged to create a stronger structure and harder exterior. Depending on the target or style of fishing, these are great.

Gold Coast by ANDY MELVILLE

As an example, live bait hooks have a small profile though are thick enough to withstand blistering runs and unpredictable force at close quarters on larger fish. However, these may not be the best of hooks for smaller finnicky fish, where a needle-sharp hook will ultimately result in a higher hook-up ratio. In southeast Queensland waters, it can occasionally be frustrating trying to find the hook that’s right for you on the day, so before you gear up, it may help to ask a couple of the following questions. What are the target species? Let’s use coral trout as an example. A hard-hitting and hard-fighting species that generally doesn’t ask too many questions when taking a bait. Preferring smaller vulnerable targets or snatching another fish’s meal before hunting down their own. These fish don’t have the ability to properly

mush a bait up quickly before shallowing, nor do they have huge bucket-mouths capable of swallowing in one go anything that gets too close. A species that predominantly thrives in coral, surrounding ledges, reefs and bommies. Considering what I know about the species tells me the relevant hook exposure, which puts me at an advantage. And therefore, a hook large enough to get past coral trout lips into tougher flesh for a better hook-up is key to dragging them up off the bottom. An offset beak-style hook will no doubt slay in this situation, provided you have the strength sorted. However, too much exposure can lead to a greater risk of snags. Softer bait that will inevitably get mashed don’t need huge hooks to achieve a solid hookup. What depth and bait? Coral trout can easily extend their mouths to * continued P29

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Hooked up on hooks * from P28

engulf a bait, including big slab bait that they’ll run for cover with. Strips of hussar, small squid, whiting frames and pilchard are very effective when rigged properly. Trout can be very talented when it comes to spitting a hook or rejecting a bait if you can’t properly set hooks quickly enough. Shallow trout use coral for cover and will always bolt for it once hooked. Deeper trout hang around harder rugged ground yet are more likely to explore open areas to track down a meal. Again, taking what I know of this species into account, fish shallow water where feedback is instant and reaction

times are quicker, along with engagement to pull them out of the reef, especially with braid. Occasionally, a slightly stronger hook with less of a point can mean less chances of the points getting a burr after the first few contacts with coral or penetrating a jawline. Too much hook exposure can lead to snags if you’re fishing a bait hard on the bottom or drifting over reefs. Two 8/0 live bait hooks snelled or twin gang hooks are killer when paired with an 8 or 10 ball sinker. Any heavier, think about a single dropper rig with a decent lead. Larger bait will require a bit of hook exposure or longer hook configurations. * continued P30

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 29

Redthroat emperor are a common catch on the reefs and don’t tend to shy away from heavy tackle.

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Hooked up on hooks * from P29

Particularly if you’re geared up to handle bigger fish that – to be in with a chance of landing them – demand a bit of strength. Remember to add a flasher to get longevity out of your bait and draw a harder strike when the bite is quiet. When pickers smash a bait before the trout that circle the outside come in, it’s pretty much only the flasher swimming that the trout will scoff. Larger bait with work best as you go deeper – it’s effort versus reward out there. Unlike the thicker hooks in the shallows, it’s a better idea to drop your gauge down and focus on penetration. As an example, snelled 8/0 octopus beaks with smaller barbs are deadly in twos or threes. Alternatively, 6/0 quad gangs are a good option but can be a little clunky compared to a newer-styled triple assist set-up – such as the well-developed SnappaSlappa that allows for easier baiting, flexible hook placement and higher hook-up rates thanks to the savage points and wider gape. Quality or quantity? Finally, and often most

importantly, are you chasing quality mixed bags alongside your feed of trout over quantity? When hoping for big by-catch, the key is giving careful consideration to the largest bycatch likely. Taking into account what hooks and terminal tackle will be required to cope with the pressure put on your gear and the strain that fish will put on the business end is crucial. Sharper hooks are likely to need maintenance between every few fish or replaced if the points bend over. At the end of the day, the value of an extra one or two fish is by far more prized than the cost of a hook. The only consideration is to not go too hard and risk failure or pulling hooks due to a smaller barb. While stronger hooks will get the job done and the points will last longer, at the same time they will make you work harder when it comes to capitalising on enquiries from smaller fish – resulting in less fish to take home. From Suncoast Skutes, take care out there and tight lines.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 31

Family fishing fun U Whiting bite at night, something not a lot of people are aware of.

Ron with a couple of springtime staples from the Tweed River.

NCLE Ron and my cousin Melissa spent a week with us recently, so we put a little time into chasing a few fish. Our first two trips were up the river chasing flathead and whiting. We did quite well on both species, with a couple of nice trevally as an added bonus. As you would expect in spring, the number of flathead in the river has increased and a good feed is available around most of the flats and drop-offs. We targeted the drop-offs on the last of a run-out tide and did well on both lizards and whiting. The bulk of the whiting were well upriver, near Murwillumbah. Though there were enough for a good feed in the lower reaches still. The whiting at Murwillumbah were great quality fish. A friend of mine went up and caught 20 in fairly short order recently, using beach-

Tweed to Byron Bay by GAVIN DOBSON

worms as bait. The 20 fish went slightly under 10kg – roughly a pound a fish – that’s good whiting fishing! With the tide and weather lining up for a fish off the jetty, we loaded up and had a crack at bream in the harbour. They were on from the get-go, with Melissa hooking up immediately on her little ‘pinky’ rod. Keira got stuck into fish from the start too, while Ron missed his first couple of chances. He made up for it though, coming home strong with the two biggest fish and pulling the hooks on a cracker. The key to fishing off a jetty is to use light line, little or no sinker and, if possible, throw some fish frames in for berley. It doesn’t matter what

you throw in to attract bream – it could be anything from whiting frames to mackerel – but never use bream scraps. Bream frames or scraps will scatter the bream quick smart. They hate seeing their dead relatives and it will be a week before any bream come back to that spot! Speaking of things less than ideal, we have had some rubbish wind lately. In the week Ron and Melissa visited, we had only a small window to get offshore. And by small, I mean a few hours in between the change from a northerly to a southerly. As you can imagine, the ocean was fairly messy from the morning’s northerly, however we bashed our way out wide and managed a few snapper. * continued P33

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Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Keira with a parrotfish.

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Family fishing fun * from P32

Melissa caught her biggest yet and Keira caught her first parrotfish. When the southerly started to puff, we headed to the fish aggregating devices but couldn’t get a bite out of the dozens of mahi mahi we could see. Even a live bait wouldn’t tempt them, so we made our way home and, by the time I towed the boat back over the hill, the ocean was full of white caps again. Apart from the species I’ve already mentioned, the rivers will be prime for mangrove jack this month. As the water warms, the fish’s metabolism fires up and their de-

sire to eat everything intensifies. Due to the lack of fresh water this spring, they will be all the way to the weir at Bray Park in the Tweed River and Mullumbimby in the Brunwick River. Heaps of little mud crabs have been on the move recently and some bigger models should start to get about this month. It’s also a good time to be targeting jewfish upriver, and this year there are more than I’ve ever heard of. Legal-sized models are rare, however the little models are everywhere, grabbing bits of worm meant for whiting. It’s a great sign for the future.

The results of a great bream session in the harbour.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 33

Summer species start stirring things up

ELLO and welcome. Summer has well and truly kicked into gear on the north coast. The typical summer species have already started showing up in numbers and, apart from potentially being a little dry this summer, on the fishing front, it is setting up to be a cracker. With the reasonably dry run of weather we’ve had, the river is currently looking amazing. Some may even say it

Ballina Bait & Tackle by BRETT HYDE

is too clean in the lower reaches of the river – if that’s possible. Bream have begun to make their way upriver for the summer. If the dry weather continues, I expect to see some good numbers upriver around Wardell, and we may even see fish around Broadwater and beyond. As is usually the case at this time of the year,

bream have been favouring the rock walls but have also shown up on the sand flats on rising tides. Most of the fish on the rock walls showed plenty of interest in bait such as prawns, mullet and other cut bait. Deep-diving hardbody lures have also had some success, and I expect to hear about good captures over the next few weeks on lightly weighted soft plastics as well. Small minnows and curl tail grubs will be the best bet to tempt even the fussiest of bream. In clear conditions, more natural-coloured plastics will be the best bet, with a jig head weight of 1/12oz or less. Flathead are making the march towards the mouth of the river in preparation for their breeding run for the season.

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02 6686 2527 Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

At present, the better numbers of fish are still between the ferry and Wardell, though we have seen good captures in the lower reaches of Emigrant and North creeks, as well as the main river. With the weather heating up and, in an attempt to beat the heat to some degree, some of the fish have moved into slightly deeper water. Blades, vibes and soft plastics all had some success of late, particularly those in more natural colours. Over the course of summer, usually flathead will bite on a number of different bait, including prawns, pilchard, mullet, herring and yabbies. I suggest always taking a couple of different options with you because there are no guarantees that flatties are going to be interested in only one particular bait. Whiting and mangrove jack have also popped their heads up in anticipation of summer. I would say that jacks were a little slower than the whiting, but if you’re keen to chase a couple, I suggest targeting the rock walls further up the river, as well as Wardell Bridge and the bridges around Broadwater. Early in the season, suspending hard-body lures is always a great option, as you have the ability to leave the lure in the face of the fish for longer periods of time. The ability to then twitch the lure in close proximity to the fish will often illicit

a strike, as oftentimes, a moving lure may be ignored due their lack of aggression early in the season. Whiting conversely were already keen to attack a moving lure. Small poppers and stickbaits accounted for a number of quality models, with the more transparent and natural colours having the best results so far. A run-out tide in the afternoon has been the best time to target them, however the main thing to note was that most of the fish were in less than 1.5m of water. As we move through the season, they usually push into slightly deeper water due to the heat. When this happens, surface poppers are definitely the best option. Bass have been another species keen to play already. Most of the winter schools have broken up and the fish have moved onto the banks. They seem to be moving upriver as well, with plenty of fish above Coraki now. Early morning and late afternoon offered some surface activity, with frog imitations, fizzers and buzz baits proving effective. Later in the day, diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs have all accounted for fish. As for the fish in the lower reaches of the river, lure colour choice has been more natural, except during low-light periods when darker colours also worked quite well. Offshore has been a * continued P36

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 35

Bread and butter bonanza

Rebekah Ellis of Iluka found a good feed of whiting along Goodwood Island banks.

Guy Stewart of Lismore landed a decent jewfish at the old ferry approach on a live whiting.

HE fishing along the Clarence Coast of northern NSW has been excellent over recent weeks, especially for our typical bread and butter species such as bream, whiting and flathead. The majority of the better catches of bream came from the breakwalls and headlands, with white pilchard or shelled small king prawns being the best bait to use at the moment. During summer, big bream will be taken by floating lightly weighed bait around the wash of the rocks, however one downside could be that a lot of the fish may be in very poor condition after spawning. Whiting are on the chew all along the coast, with some of the bigger fish having been landed from beaches on bait such as live worms and pipis. While inside the river, there appears to be a lot of smaller fish, with live nippers and beachworms accounting for the majority of fish. We spent a few nights fishing with worms along the southern

Just Jew by TYE PORTER

bank of Goodwood Island for nice feeds of smallish fish from 2832cm, however I have seen the occasional bigger nugget nudging 40cm taken in the shallow gutters along Shark Bay beach. The Clarence River is loaded with flathead currently, with fish caught as far upstream as Grafton – proven by the 48cm fish landed from a jetty there by local angler Graham Norton, who was fishing with peeled school prawns. Back at Iluka, flathead are in near plague numbers and I am rapidly getting to the stage of not wanting to see one ever again. While it definitely helps if you know how to fish, all of our fishing was casting soft plastics from the shore, so I’d hate to think how many we would have caught if my trusty old boat had

had a motor on it. It’s not hard to tell that it’s breeding season for flathead as there have been untold numbers of large female flathead lies in the sand, with numerous smaller male lies around them. As I’ve said on numerous occasions, jewfish can be caught at Iluka twenty-four seven, 365 days a year, and Queensland angler Tom Barton made the most of a recent trip here by landing a nice fish on the breakwall using sliced squid, which Mischa had the pleasure of gaffing for him. Lismore angler Guy Stewart also fished the wall with squid one night but couldn’t keep his bait away from large dogfish, so the following night he retreated inside the river to the old ferry approach where he duly landed a nice jew on a 28cm live whiting. * continued P37

Summer species start stirring things up * from P34

struggle through winter, so with the water temperature remaining quite high, most of the snapper has stayed on the wider grounds. Now that summer is upon us, the water temperature is slowing beginning to rise, which will mean snapper will most definitely stay out for a while. We have seen mahi mahi around the fish

aggregating devices and, with the current already marching down the hill at a great rate of knots, it is now making me wonder whether we’ll see an early arrival of mackerel on the close reefs. I suppose time will tell, but I for one am going to dig the mackerel gear out and start getting ready, just in case. As usual for sum-

Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

mer, the current has made fishing wide of the 42-fathom line a very difficult proposition but, if you’re keen to do so, I would check the 48s for pearl perch and small amberjack or stick around the 32s for a mixed bag of flathead, small snapper and teraglin. Well, that’s about all from me this month, until next time – tight lines!

Flathead of this size were in near plague numbers recently.

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Tom Barton and a nice jewfish taken from the wall using squid strip as bait.

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snapper grounds? It couldn’t hurt. All in all, November should be a duplicate of October, so there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t be able to scratch up a decent feed and enjoy the cracking weather to boot, with a long-term forecast of no heavy rain. Until next month, safe fishing.

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the fish aren’t moving onto the beaches come dark, as they usually do. Offshore catches have continued to consist mostly of snapper and teraglin however, by the end of the month, you can expect to hear reports of early catches of spotted mackerel from the warm shallow waters of Shark Bay off Woody Head. They tend to move in for a few brief weeks then disappear again through to early December, so it’s simply a matter of making sure you’re one of the early birds and don’t miss that initial run. Early in the season, spotties were only being taken by trolling lures at first light. So, what’s the harm in towing a small lure on your way to the

A friend of mine, Jake Hyatt of Grafton, told me that heaps of small soapie jewfish were being taken on lures meant for bass around the pylons of the Grafton Bridge, so it just goes to show how far upstream the salt water is pushing. Jake and his fellow fishos have been catching and releasing plenty of bass above Grafton, as well as an occasional decent cod – also released as they are a protected species. Anglers chasing tailor from the beaches have found it tough lately, with very few fish being landed, though those who were spinning for them from the headlands have had no problem getting a feed late evening, so it’s odd that

* from P36

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 37

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Continuing Alvey’s legacy

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Alvey is synonymous with crafting the most durable and reliable fishing reels in Australia.

N the world of Australian fishing, there are few names as iconic and cherished as Alvey. Since Charles Alvey produced the first sidecast reel in 1920, Alvey has been synonymous with crafting the most durable and reliable fishing reels in Australia, and we are thrilled to continue the Alvey legacy. We are Gowings – an Australian-owned investment company with a rich and proud history dating back to 1868. Explaining how the purchase of Alvey Reels fits within Gowings, John Gowing said, “We saw an opportunity to keep an icon in Australian hands and took it.” “Gowings also owns FCS, an iconic surfing brand, and we think Alvey will complement our interests in ocean sports. “Philosophically, we want to encourage sustainable enjoyment of our seas and oceans. “Demonstrating this commitment is our ‘1 percent for the oceans’ pledge, with proceeds going to the Gowings Whale Trust, which

Few names are as iconic and cherished as Alvey. Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

aims to fund positive change in our oceans,” Mr Gowing said. Gowings and Alvey are two companies deeply rooted in Australian heritage, making this union a match made in angler’s heaven. Our shared commitment to quality, craftsmanship and preserving time-honoured traditions brings our two remarkable legacies together, with 258 years of combined experience. For over a century, Gowings has been at the forefront of investment and innovation, driven by a passion for maintaining strong family values. Our company’s history, spanning many generations of the Gowing family, is a testament to our commitment to Australia’s economic growth and prosperity. The acquisition of Alvey is not only a business venture for us – it’s an honour. As we take the reins, we pledge to continue the legacy of crafting the highest quality fishing reels in Australia. Alvey’s reputation for excellence aligns seamlessly with our own values. We are committed to preserving the techniques and craftsmanship that have made these reels the go-to choice for generations of Australian anglers, and we’re here to assure you the legacy is in the most capable hands. Our journey to set up a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Darra has been a long and rewarding one. We are excited to announce that we are nearing the final stages

of this transformation. This facility will not only uphold Alvey’s proud tradition but also provide a platform for innovation, ensuring that the brand continues to be the gold standard for fishing reels in Australia. Looking ahead, we have big plans for Alvey. We will use our expertise and resources to elevate the brand, expand product offerings and explore new horizons in the world of fishing gear. Rest assured, we will always stay true to the brand’s heritage of quality and craftsmanship. Our aim is not only to meet your expectations but to exceed them. The Gowings team is excited to join Alvey’s experienced craftspeople to continue delivering the excellence you’ve come to expect from this iconic brand. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Alvey customers for your trust and loyalty over the years. We look forward to serving you with the same passion and dedication that has defined the brand for over a century. Together, Gowings and Alvey will create a brighter future for Australian fishing enthusiasts, with a strong focus on tradition and innovation. With Bruce and Glenn Alvey still very much a part of daily operations, we invite you to join us on this exciting journey as we begin a new chapter in this iconic brand’s story. The Gowings and Alvey Team

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Angler’s Almanac November 2023 DAY Above Below Wed.

LAST GIBBOUS

Thur.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun. LAST QUARTER

Mon.

Tue.

7 Wed. LAST CRESCENT

8 Thur.

Fri.

Sat.

Sun.

Mon. NEW MOON

13 Tue.

14 Wed.

15 Thur.

1.09am

December 2023

Notes

DAY Above Fri.

1.38pm

2.06am

2.34pm

3.01am

3.29pm

3.55am

4.20pm

4.44am

5.08pm

LAST GIBBOUS

Sun.

Mon.

Tue. LAST QUARTER

5.30am

5.53pm

6.14am

6.35pm

6.55am

7.15pm

8.14am 8.55am

Wed.

Thur.

7 Fri.

8 LAST CRESCENT

7.35am

Sat.

7.55pm

Sat.

Sun.

8.35pm

Mon.

9.17pm

Tue.

9.38am 10.02pm

Wed.

10.25am 10.51pm NEW MOON

13 Thur.

11.16am 11.44pm

14 Fri.

12.11pm

15 Sat.

1.10pm 12.41am

Below

1.43am

2.10pm

2.35am

3.00pm

3.23am

3.47pm

4.08am

4.30pm

4.50am

5.11pm

5.30am

5.50pm

6.09am

6.30pm

6.49am

7.10pm

7.31am

7.53pm

8.16am

8.40pm

9.05am

9.32pm

Notes

9.59am 10.28pm 10.58am 11.29pm 12 Noon 1.02pm 12.32am 2.03pm

1.34am

2.59pm

2.32am

3.51pm

3.26am

4.41pm

4.17am

5.28pm

5.05am

6.15pm

5.52am

7.03pm

6.39am

7.52pm

7.28am

8.45pm

8.19am

9.40pm

9.13am

FIRST CRESCENT

Fri.

17 Sat.

Sun.

Mon. FIRST QUARTER

Tue.

Wed.

Thur.

FIRST GIBBOUS

Fri.

Sat.

25 Sun.

26 Mon. FULL MOON

27 Tue.

2.11pm

1.41am

3.11pm

2.42am

4.09pm

3.41am

5.03pm

4.37am

5.54pm

6.19am

7.30pm

7.07am

8.18pm

Tue.

Wed.

8.43am

10.00pm

9.34am

Fri.

Sat.

FIRST GIBBOUS

Sun.

Mon.

25 Tue.

26 Wed.

10.54pm 10.28am

FULL MOON

Fri.

Sat.

1.16pm

Sun. LAST GIBBOUS

Minor Times: Add 6 hours

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11.32pm 11.05am 12 Noon

12.29pm

Summer Solstice: Longest Day

10.36pm 10.09am

Thur.

11.51pm 11.23am

12.48am

Thur.

7.55am

9.08pm

29 30

Mon.

5.30am

6.42pm

Sun.

FIRST QUARTER

Wed. Thur.

FIRST CRESCENT

12.25am 12.52pm 1.15am

1.40pm

2.02am

2.24pm

Minor Times: Add 6 hours

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 39

BOATING & marine

Maximising motor power with propellers

I crew, for those who read my articles in this publication, you’ll know that I recently purchased an older 5.5m Aussie Whaler as my new work boat. When I bought the boat, it had a two-stroke OptiMax on the back. Though it had plenty of power, at 2500 hours, it started to have a few issues. So, we decided to repower it with another engine and to look for something with the maximum horsepower, which was a 4-stroke 115hp. It performed quite well in the mid-range and top end with that horsepower, and the particular propeller that motor had. Unfortunately, we had a lot of trouble getting the boat on the plane – to the point that when the boat was loaded up,

Propeller Review by SEAN CONLON

it could take me up to 100m or more to get the boat on the plane – which was no good. We had to come up with a solution, deciding that the best way to get the most performance out of the boat, would be to see what we could do with different propellers. After making a few calls, one company stood out. Ozpropellers in Maroochydore was very helpful and quite happy to give me advice over the phone on what I should do. I told them of the vessel and engine and the performance I was trying achieve from my boat. With the information

The Ozpropellers loaned to the author.

supplied, the propeller recommended to me was a three-blade stainless-steel Power Tech RED3 13.25” x 14” pitch. I asked them how it all worked with payment, postage and if it wasn’t the correct propeller for my boat. Payment was over the phone. They package the propeller and send it. And, if it didn’t do the job and hadn’t been damaged, they were happy for me to send it back and try another propeller. I also mentioned that, in the past, I hadn’t considered changing propellers to get more performance out of my engines and that perhaps other people were in the same boat, so to speak. The reason I hadn’t thought about the propellers much was because, as long as my boat was performing reasonably, I didn’t really worry about them.

Look at your propeller to get better results out of your vessel.

Page 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

I told them it might be a good subject to write about – what the differences are by having the right propeller. So, the crew from Ozpropellers offered to loan me a few different props to put on the engine, so I could evaluate each propeller and its performance on the same boat with the same engine. And I thought it would be a great idea to provide you with the comparisons. If you’re looking for more performance, better fuel economy or to get on the plane quicker, this article may help you consider looking at your propeller to get better results out of your vessel. A cheaper option than perhaps remapping an engine to get more power out of it. Plus, if your engine’s still under warranty, in most cases, changing the propellers won’t void it, which could happen by getting an engine remapped. To help us get on the plane quicker, we also fitted the motor with one of Ozpropellers’ aluminium hydrofoils. After picking an area with reasonably smooth water and very little wind, I did all the tests on the turn of the tide in a bay with very little to no tidal movement, and with two people and a full tank of fuel onboard. I wanted to test how long the vessel took to get on the plane at midrange speed and how

many litres per hour were used at that speed, and again for both at the top end. These were the results. Factory propeller The one the engine came with: • Size 13 3/4” x 15” pitch three-blade aluminium • Time to get on the plane: 10 seconds • At 4500rpm, 22 knots, using 25 litres per hour • Wide open throttle 5300rpm, 26 knots, using 39 litres per hour. Propeller 1 Ozpropeller: • Size 13 7/8” x 13” pitch four-blade aluminium • Time to get on the plane: 8 seconds • At 4500rpm, 20 knots, using 25 litres per hour • Wide open throttle 6000rpm, 27.5 knots, using 44 litres per hour. Propeller 2 Ozpropeller: • OZPRO-D4, Size 13 1/2” x 13” pitch fourblade stainless steel • Time to get on the plane: 5 seconds • At 4500rpm, 20 knots, using 23 litres per hour • Wide open throttle 6000rpm 28 knots, using 43 litres per hour. Propeller 3 Ozpropeller: • Power Tech RED3, Size 13.25” x 14” pitch three-blade stainless steel • Time to get on the plane: 6 seconds • At 4500rpm, 22 knots, using 23 litres per hour * continued P41

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BOATING & marine Maximising power with propellers * from P40

• Wide open throttle 5800rpm, 28 knots, using 41 litres per hour. As you can see by the figures, the three-blade stainless-steel and the four-blade stainless-steel propellers are the best options for my vessel. The four-blade stainless-steel propeller gave the vessel definitely more lift. So, when you’re on the plane, the vessel itself rides slightly higher in the water, which I think is a good thing – we found it to be a little more com-

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fortable in the chop. As a result of the testing, we decided to go with the three-blade stainless-steel Power Tech RED3 because in the mid range, it’s gives the best speed and fuel economy. I was very happy and the crew at Ozpropellers know what they’re talking about – this was their recommendation to me over the phone. Something to note, if you don’t have the option of testing various propellers. The lift provided by the aluminium Ozhydrofoil was also great.

So, with those two small investments, we’ve been able to completely change the performance of the boat. Also, when the product arrived, it came with all the hardware needed to fit the propeller and the finish was second to none – everything was top-quality. If you’re not getting the full performance out of the engine on your vessel, I suggest giving the crew at Ozpropellers a call on 07 5479 0253 or check out ozpropellers.com. au

The lift provided by the aluminium Ozhydrofoil improved performance.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 41

Squidgy Bio Tough Wriggler

AN addition to Shimano’s Bio Tough range is the Wriggler. Combining Dura Stretch toughness with our new synthetic bioplastic, we have been able to merge superior strength and durability with at least 50 percent biodegradability. Shimano Squidgies Bio Tough integrates these features with our existing ultra-violet treatment to further enhance lure presence and ensure your plastic lasts longer. The Bio Tough Wriggler works particularly well on the drop, with its fluttering curl tail. The Wriggler can be hopped or spun at a variety of retrieves without compromising action, however when paused and left on the bottom, the tail will still move in the slowest current – enticing even the wariest of fish. Visit squidgies.com

TT Jig Head Value Packs

TT Jig Head Value Packs are perfect for those getting into soft plastics fishing, as well as experienced anglers looking to top up their jig head kit. Each pack includes a reusable plastic

tray containing a selection of quality TT jig heads, hand-picked to suit a specific application. There are seven packs in the range, including the AFTA award-winning TT HeadlockZ River and Estuary Value Pack. As well as new releases that include the HeadlockZ HD Flathead Value Pack, HeadlockZ Finesse and HWS Breamin’ Pro Pack and the TT HeadlockZ HD Inshore Reef Value Pack. The team at TT Fishing have made it simple for you to grab a pack to suit your adventure. Get out there and get stuck into a few. Bring it on! Visit ttfishing.com

ATC Vandal

THE ATC Vandal caters for different fishing applications – from ultralight to heavy casting. Constructed and designed in a wide range of sizes from 1000 up to 6000, the Vandal features a CNC aluminium spool and handle for enhanced durability. The body and rotor are constructed from graphite to keep the Vandal light yet strong, and the Vandal is equipped with a copper pinion gear that is paired with a zinc-alloy drive gear to keep this reel rugged and able to handle the pressure of tough fishing situations. A multi-disc drag system gives the reel a smooth drag over a wide drag range and the 6+1 stainless-steel ball bearing system adds an all-round smoothness to make this reel feel amazing in use. Priced to impress. Visit wilsonfishing.com

Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Bassday Crystal Pencil

INTRODUCING the Bassday Crystal Pencil – the perfect lure for your next fishing adventure. The Bassday Crystal Pencil is a high-performance fishing lure that combines advanced technology with innovative design to deliver exceptional results. Made with a durable and translucent body, the lure is designed to mimic the natural movement of baitfish, making it irresistible to predatory fish such as tailor, bonito, kingfish and tuna. One of the key features of the Bassday Crystal Pencil is its internal holographic plate, which reflects light and creates a realistic shimmering effect. In addition to its advanced design, the Bassday Crystal Pencil is also incredibly easy to use. It features a streamlined shape that allows for easy casting and retrieval, and its slim profile makes it perfect for fishing in shallow or weedy areas. Its long castability is a weapon, allowing you to use it in an estuary or offshore, where stealth is of the utmost importance. It makes an excellent searching lure that can be cast far to locate fast moving pelagics or even whiting on the surface in the estuary. This is a sinking lure but is designed for fast topwater action. The lure is solid with a through-wire diameter of 1.4 mm, a #5 ring and a thick #2 hook, so it can handle unexpectedly large fish too. The Bassday Crystal Pencil is available in multiple clear colours including clear green yellow (HH716), clear red head (HH711) and clear rainbow (HH190). Visit frogleysoffshore.com.au

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Penn Prevail Apex

INTRODUCING the Prevail Apex. Ready for battle, the Prevail name has become synonymous as the go-to rod series for serious rock and beach anglers. The Apex range delivers the performance you deserve when making your next cast. Get ready to conquer surf and rock fishing with confidence, with these premium rods built specifically for demanding surf environments. Featuring premium Fuji K frame guides with SiC inserts and Fuji reel seats, the Prevail Apex range incorporates Penn’s SLC2 blank construction to handle heavier payloads and provide longer casting. The hybrid X-wrap shrink tube Winn grip design provides maximum comfort and ergonomics for long casting sessions making this a seriously premium surf rod! Visit pennfishing.com.au

Platypus Hard Armour FC

THE Platypus Hard Armour Leader range includes Australian-made Supple, Tough and Game Leaders, covering nylon leaders from 4-600lb breaking strains. To complete the Hard Armour range, Platypus have now added a quality 100 www.bnbfishing.com.au

percent Japanese fluorocarbon leader, designed to suit the most finicky feeders in the toughest environments. Hard Armour FC is virtually invisible in water, for clear conditions and spooky feeders, while also offering excellent knot strength and abrasion resistance. Available in breaking strains from 2-50lb to cover many popular sportfishing applications, Hard Armour comes in value for money spool lengths, with a bonus line tamer included to keep your selection of leaders tangle free. Another quality addition from Australia’s longest-running fishing tackle brand, Australian owned and operated since 1898. Fish on! Visit tackletactics.com.au

Atomic Hardz new pricing

IN response to the ever-increasing cost of living pressures and recognising the vital importance of outdoor activities for mental health, Atomic is thrilled to announce a significant change in pricing structure for the Hardz range. The highly sought-after Atomic Hardz lures will be available at a new more affordable starting price of only $19.95, winding back the clock to the same price they were at launch in 2012. This pricing adjustment applies to the entire range of Atomic Hardz lures, known for their durability, innovation and effectiveness. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to the sport, Atomic Hardz offers a wide variety of lures to suit all fishing preferences and environments. Visit frogleysoffshore.com.au

Predatek MR65 MoonRaker

THE Predatek articulated 65mm MoonRaker is a good-looking surface paddler for Australian bass, estuary perch and large-mouth bass. The MR65 MoonRaker is articulated for strong action and features a tough puncture-proof body and quality hardware, #4 bronze hooks and a clear antenna-style bib that generates fast action, loud plopping sound, bow-wave and bubble trail. Made in Australia, the MoonRaker works on both slow or fast retrieves and has an aerodynamic shape for longer and accurate casts. Visit predatek.com

Abu Garcia Revo SX

REDESIGNED from the ground up, the Revo SX spinning reel has been engineered to deliver unmatched performance and durability. It combines a Zenon-inspired A-Sym body design to minimise the body size and optimise weight and balance, with the AM-G fully machined gear systems for the ultimate in smoothness and cranking power. Casting performance is maximised by the V-rotor design and rocket line management system that allows anglers to fish mono, braid and even difficult-to-manage fluorocarbon. Visit abugarcia-fishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 43

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*Terms and conditions: All prices stated are GST inclusive. Promotion available between 01/11/23 to 31/12/23 on new and eligible outboards, through participating authorised Yamaha outboard dealers, while stocks last. ^$20 off per horsepower of all 4-stroke outboards from 2.5 to 25 horsepower, $500 saving based on F25. Offer available for private buyers only where warranty is registered on or before the 31/12/2023. See your participating authorised Yamaha outboard dealership for details. Not available in conjunction with any other offers. *$99 annual premium offer available to personal applicants only from 29/9/23 until 31/12/23 for all new Yamaha portable outboards models F2.5 F4 F5 F6 F8 F9.9 F15 F20 F25 T9.9 T25 in their variants. Insurance issued by HDI Global Specialty SE - Australian Branch ABN 58 129 395 544, AFSL 458776 (HDI) acting through its agent Yamaha Motor Insurance Australia Pty. Ltd. ABN 48 603 882 980, AFSL 497198 (YMI). Any information or advice provided is of a general nature only and does not take into account particular objectives, financial situations or needs. Please read the product disclosure statement (PDS) for full details on the policy coverage before making any decisions regarding this product together with the applicable target market determination. Contact your Yamaha dealer, call 1300 794 454 or visit www.ymia.com.au. Claim payments subject to claim approval; policy conditions, exclusion and basic excess of $250.00 applies. Yamaha Motor Insurance Australia Pty Ltd ABN 48 603 882 980.

Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

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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 CAIRNS | Bills Marine P: 4051 6733, 136-138 Lyons St, Carins, QLD www.billsmarine.com.au CANNONVALE | Whitsunday Powersports & Marine P: 4948 3298, 4/11 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale, QLD www.whitsundaypowersports.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 MACKAY | Reef Marine P: 4957 3521, 26 Prospect St, Mackay, QLD www.reefmarine.net

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 45

Empowering women in fishing n Women’s Recreational Fishing League

I A dedicated angler, Nadia Taylor transitioned from her Secret Women’s Business days to become an integral member of the founding committee for WRFL.

MAGINE a space where women from all walks of life come together to not only fish but to empower each other and build a strong sustainable community. That’s precisely what the Women’s Recreational Fishing

WRFL national vice president Karen Van Bael overcame her fear of handling fish within two years of joining the league and is now a confident angler.

find us on facebook • Win prizes • Post your brag • Chat to readers shots and writers • Join in on the fun • See who’s catching banter what • Have a laugh

www.facebook.com/bnbfishing Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

WRFL Queensland by CORINNE AIKEN

League aims to do. Founded with the mission to make fishing accessible and enjoyable for women, WRFL is breaking down barriers and setting new standards in the world of recreational fishing. As the newly appointed vice president of WRFL Queensland branch, I’m excited to bring my background in sport and community development, along with experience in the fishing industry as owner of Bait Master Fishing and Tackle on the Sunshine Coast, to WRFL. My husband and I were keen to become involved with WRFL because its mission aligns so closely with our own values of community building and sustainable fishing. Since its inception in 2015, WRFL has expanded into a nationwide movement, with state leagues now established across Australia. WRFL president and founder Jo Starling – the driving force behind its rapid expansion – said: “The league’s growth across Australia is a testament to our mission of fostering female empowerment and community within the realm of recreational fishing.” The Women’s Recreational Fishing League was born out of a deeply personal

journey that began with Jo’s introduction to fishing in her early 30s. She started competition in various tournaments, gaining valuable experience and camaraderie. It was when she participated in the Secret Women’s Business Barra Challenge – a female-only tournament – that Jo realised the need for women to become self-reliant anglers. After relocating from Darwin in 2012, Jo teamed up with fishing friend Vicki Lear and created ‘The Barra’Prentice’ – a program that mentored one woman each year to become a competent angler. The program’s success, culminating in a tournament win in 2017, led to calls for its expansion. This eventually gave birth to WRFL, which was established to provide pathways for female anglers in recreational fishing. WRFL aims to make getting into fishing less daunting, opening the sport up to women who may otherwise have never picked up a rod. “The Women’s Recreational Fishing League was born out of a need to create a welcoming and empowering space for women in a field that has traditionally been male dominated,” Jo said. * continued P47

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WRFL empowering our female anglers * from P46

“Our mission is to provide an enjoyable pathway for women to take up fishing as a pastime or sport, or to build and develop their fishing skills to a higher level in a friendly and supportive environment.” The league also focuses on strengthening Australia’s family fishing culture and enhancing the experience for couples who enjoy fishing together. The idea is simple – when women are empowered and skilled in fishing, they are more likely to support their partners in the sport. This eliminates the outdated notion of needing permission from the non-fishing ‘missus’ to go out and cast a line. The ultimate goal of WRFL is to boost participation in recreational fishing, cultivate a community of educated and sustainably minded anglers and foster the development of female leaders in all facets of the sport nationwide. Sustainability is another cornerstone of WRFL. “The league is aligned with OzFish Unlimited and places a strong emphasis on educating its members about responsible fishing practices,” Jo said. “The importance of environmental stewardship is instilled in members, as there can be no fishing without a healthy habitat to sustain fish life.” One of the highlights on the WRFL calendar is the upcoming

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Reel Gauntlet competition. Reel Gauntlet is an exciting gender-inclusive angling event that aims to encourage a sense of friendly contest and community among anglers. The competition starts on December 1 and is open to participants from all states and territories in Australia, setting the stage for a ‘mate against mate, state against state’ showdown. The tournament consists of a seven-round regular season that culminates in a grand final. It’s an exciting opportunity for anglers to not only showcase their skills but also to rally behind their state in a nationwide competition. The Women’s Recreational Fishing League is making waves in Australia’s fishing community with a clear mission – welcome more women, champion sustainable fishing and foster a tight-knit community. Whether you’re a female angler eager to cast a line or interested in the Reel Gauntlet comp, visit womens recfishingleague.org for more information. WRFL offers an inclusive platform to enhance your angling abilities, connect with fellow enthusiasts and participate in thrilling tournaments. It’s not only about fishing – it’s about empowerment, camaraderie and responsible enjoyment of one of Australia’s beloved pastimes.

Founder of the Women’s Recreational Fishing League Jo Starling showcased the spirit of self-reliance as she triumphed in the world of kayak fishing, reeling in a prized catch.

2023 BremX competitors on the Clarence River in NSW, celebrating winners and lifelong friendships forged through WRFL.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 47

Dom Long captured a decent red emperor.

Reeling in mixed reefies

G Captain Jonathan Mallard landed a snapper on the SnapBait Proto-J jig.

l yo

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• Kayak Hire • Fishing Rod Hire • On water 24hr fuel • Full range of chandlery • Paints & antifouls • Bait • Tackle • Ice • LPG

’DAY crew, so what’s been caught over the past few weeks? Towards the end of the month, with night-time high tides, we received great reports of good catches of whiting from a keen bunch of landbased fishos. Fishing the incoming tide along the Esplanade, with a mixture of live yabbies and our locally caught and cured beachworms, saw anglers scoring fish in the 30cm range and in good numbers. One report was that a family caught 30 of them in one night. Some nice flathead were also in the mix

Tin Can Bay by CHRIS RIPPON

to keep people on their toes. A bit further up Great Sandy Strait near Inskip and Big Mick there were a few small mackerel caught by trolling smaller lures such as the 120mm Halco Laser Pros and 2” spoons. If you haven’t tried using a paravane, now is a great time to give it a go. Very easy, simple and effective fishing. Tie the paravane onto the mainline of your rod and reel or handline, run about 2m of 60lb monofilament off the back of

the paravane – you can run a little single strand wire if you wish – and attach the spoon with a snap swivel, drag it about 30m behind the boat and catch fish. It’s that easy. As always, if you want to run through the rig or need a paravane or some spoons, come and see us at the shop. A few nice-sized longtail tuna have been hunting in the same area, so keep an eye out for the birds and look for those distinc* continued P49

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 48 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Jett Buller and Emily Clements showed off a stud of a longtail tuna.

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Reeling in ripper mixed reefies * from P48

tive longie bust-ups. The fish I saw a picture of at the beginning of October was 105cm and would have gone close to 10kg. Up the creeks, there have been a few barramundi showing up. But getting them to eat is something else, particularly if you’re lure fishing for them. I found a small school of fish recently and after 15 lure changes and multiple casts, I left them swimming. All I want is one southeast Queensland barra to my name! I’ve seen a few photos over the past couple of weeks that were all very good fish – a couple nudging the 1m mark. For the past 3-4 weeks, mangrove jack have fired up. Many mid-40cm models have come over the gunwale, and it’s nice to hear that a few of them are being returned to fight another day. As it normally does, offshore has been producing. Catches of snapper, pearl perch, red emperor, jewfish, amberjack, tuskfish and cod have been keeping punters very happy. Inshore, snapper fishing has been red hot,

with seemingly everyone catching good fish. Snapper, jew and mixed reefies have all been hitting the decks. Float baiting a pillie is always an ideal way to bag a feed, however, in my opinion, working a few plastics through the bait schools is way better fun. The standout plastics have been Molix RT Fork Flex 5” and Berkley Gulp 7” jerk shads, and any prawn imitation plastic, such as Zerek Live Shrimp. With the shrimps, remove the weedless worm hook – put that in your tackle box for your skipping plastics – and run a 7/0 TT Fishing jig head in any weight from 1/2oz up to 1.5oz. A 7’ 20-30lb spin outfit with 20-30lb fluorocarbon leader is all you’ll need to get the job done. On the mangrove jack front, we are in full swing organising our Tin Can Bay Tag-AJack 2023 fishing competition. After a hiatus last year, the wheels are well and truly in motion for 2023, with this year’s tag and release fishing photo comp run through our store, in conjunction with Infofish and Suntag.

Tye Ost managed a good-sized cobia from out the front. www.bnbfishing.com.au

There are limited spots for this event – capped at 50 anglers to help keep the cost down. Entry fee is $50, which gives you a custom brag mat, a tagging applicator and 10 tags to start the comp with. You’ll also receive a small merchandise pack from our sponsors. As a competing angler, we will provide more tags as you need them. If the previous event was anything to go by, there will be a couple of hard to beat anglers, so you’re going to need to ramp up your efforts. If you’re keen to give it a go, pop into the shop to register. Registrations opened October 1 and close November 15 at 4pm, with the competition running for four weeks between November 18 and December 17. The prize pool will be announced soon. It’s going to be a cracker of a comp, so get in early to secure your spot! Tight lines from The Chandlery Bait and Tackle, for all your fishing and boating needs.

Russell Reedman scored a nice Tin Can Bay mangrove jack.

Ken French was happy with the school mackerel he trolled near Big Mick.

Bryce Mangold got among the mangrove jack. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 49

Josh shows off his first golden trevally with some help from the author.

Henry managed his first longtail tuna.

Bucket list bragging rights

Lewis was stoked with his first trevally.

Levi with his first golden trevally.

> Hervey Bay > Fraser Island > Sandy Strait

OT a bad ending to September, with some nice weather coinciding with the end of school holidays. Kids and novices were getting into some fun fishing. The type of fishing that usually marks the return of an ‘easier’ time of year in the region. The returning surface-feeding tuna and mackerel are often the backbone of each tour. If you’re new to fishing, this is a great time of year – from spring to autumn. And while there are

Get into the best fishing action! Full and half day tours All levels of experience Experienced guide

www.fraserguidedfishing.com.au > 0427 230 261 Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Fraser Guided Fishing by TRI TON

many an option to chase, I feel most novice to moderately skilled anglers are still not yet proficient enough. It’s a process of accumulating experience, not bucket listing, that truly dictates success. In saying that, we still give other species a go if they present themselves. An open and clear mind From a novice’s point of view, this often provides only a short-lived experience, where much of the valuable learning to be gained is lost in the excitement of the encounter. Many times, we are scrambling, with me dictating much of what’s happening to avoid disaster. While on the more common species, with the repetition of constantly doing the basics over and over, one can steadily gain knowledge that hopefully sinks in. You can witness this when a seemingly proficient angler encounters a larger fish. With the excitement and stress, many often forget the basics and end

up looking worse than when they began the session. And that shows a lack of realisation that they can repeat a process but have yet to understand why it is. When you understand the reason, you try your best not to get overwhelmed and stay under control. And yes, sometimes you must submit a little, but only in preparation for your moment to regain the upper hand. As you have read so far, I have not mentioned a lure and or rod. Not even focussed on a species yet. The mind is the most important thing to bring. It must be open and clear – open to my instructions and the actions of the fish. Ready to react appropriately – because you’ll experience things that are often very counterintuitive and you won’t know until it happens to you… usually in the form of a disaster. And without experienced guiding, you won’t understand how * continued P52

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TIN CAN BAY The Chandlery Bait & Tackle Shop 1, The Marina Emperor St, Tin Can Bay www.tcbchandlery.com.au 07 5486 4744

BRISBANE Neptune Marine Oceania Unit 1/3361 Pacific Hwy, Slacks Creek www.neptunemarine.com.au 07 3290 6370

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GOLD COAST (NORTH) Slades Marine 16 Paradise Pde, Paradise Point sladesmarine@bigpond.com 07 5577 1011 www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 51

Tide Times

AUSTRALIA EAST COAST WADDY POINT 2023 ONG 153° LONG 153° 21ʼ 21ʼ E E

DDY DDY POINT POINT (FRASER ISLAND)

igh igh and and Low Low Waters Waters NOVEMBER

Time Zone –1000 DECEMBER

me m ime m 205 205 0.32 0.32 847 847 1.88 1.88 445 445 0.57 0.57 040 040 1.56 1.56

Time Time 0257 0257 1002 1002 1644 WE WE 1644 2204 2204

232 232 0.35 0.35 923 923 1.92 1.92 528 528 0.64 0.64 117 117 1.47 1.47

0314 0331 0.60 0.60 0314 0.49 0.49 2 0331 1046 1046 2.02 2.02 17 1028 1028 2.06 2.06 TH 1746 0.82 FR 1720 0.67

0.72 0406 0.58 0.58 0347 0.72 0406 2 0347 1058 1.95 17 1116 1116 2.11 2.11 1058 1.95 SA 1801 0.81 SU 1804 0.59

0411 0411 1133 1133 FR 1850 FR 1850 2355 2355

0400 0.61 0.61 18 0400 1122 1122 1.98 1.98 SA 1824 0.70

0437 0437 1145 1145 SU 1852 SU 1852

0.80 0.80 1.84 1.84 0.82 0.82

0503 0.69 0.69 0503 1212 2.00 2.00 18 1212 MO 1859 0.62

0457 0.72 0.72 19 0457 1227 1227 1.90 1.90 SU 1932 0.69

0026 0026 0543 0543 1239 MO 1239 MO 1949 1949 0201 0201 0659 0659 1340 TU 1340 TU 2049 2049 0321 0321 0817 0817 WE 1440 1440 WE 2138 2138 0420 0420 0933 0933 TH 1533 1533 TH 2214 2214 0504 0504 1037 1037 FR 1619 1619 FR 2246 2246 0541 0541 1129 1129 SA 1702 1702 SA 2317 2317 0614 0614 1217 1217 SU 1743 1743 SU 2348 2348 0647 0647 1302 1302 MO 1825 MO 1825

1.20 1.20 0.88 0.88 1.74 1.74 0.81 0.81 1.22 1.22 0.93 0.93 1.66 1.66 0.75 0.75

0057 1.32 1.32 19 0057 0607 0.79 0.79 0607 TU 1310 1.88

0022 0022 0722 0722 TU 1347 1347 TU 1909 1909 0059 0059 0800 0800 WE 1435 1956 WE 1435 1956 0140 0843 0140 0843 TH 1526 1526 TH 2047 2047 0226 0931 0226 0931 FR 1618 2143 FR 1618 2143

0.31 0.31 2.09 2.09 0.63 0.63 1.41 1.41 0.30 0.30 2.19 0.57 2.19 1.40 0.57 1.40 0.33 2.25 0.33 0.54 2.25 1.39 0.54 1.39 0.39 2.25 0.39 0.53 2.25 1.36 0.53 1.36

302 302 0.42 0.42 002 002 1.92 1.92 618 618 0.72 0.72 157 157 1.36 1.36

333 333 0.51 0.51 044 044 1.88 1.88 718 718 0.80 0.80 242 242 1.25 1.25 411 411 0.62 0.62 134 134 1.82 1.82 835 835 0.83 0.83 339 339 1.16 1.16 501 0.72 501 0.72 243 1.78 243 1.78 007 0.80 007 0.80

123 1.13 123 0.79 1.13 617 617 1.78 0.79 406 406 1.78 123 0.71 123 0.71 300 1.19 300 0.79 1.19 756 756 1.83 0.79 517 517 0.58 1.83 219 219 0.58 413 1.32 413 0.70 1.32 936 936 1.89 0.70 618 618 1.89 304 0.44 304 0.44 509 1.48 509 0.57 1.48 044 044 1.93 0.57 710 710 0.34 1.93 343 343 0.34 555 1.64 555 0.47 1.64 136 136 1.93 0.47 756 756 1.93

017 0.26 017 1.80 0.26 636 636 0.41 1.80 224 224 1.88 0.41 838 838 1.88 049 0.22 049 1.95 0.22 716 310 716 0.41 1.95 918 310 1.79 0.41 918 1.79 121 0.23 757 121 2.06 0.23 357 757 0.46 2.06 959 357 1.67 0.46 959 1.67 154 0.27 839 154 2.13 0.27 448 839 0.55 2.13 041 1.54 448 0.55 041 1.54 226 0.36 921 226 2.14 0.36 543 921 0.65 2.14 122 543 1.42 0.65 122 1.42

m m 0.48 0.48 2.10 2.10 0.75 0.75 1.31 1.31

TH 1746 0.82 2252 2252 1.22 1.22

0506 0506 1231 1231 2003 SA SA 2003

0134 0134 0629 0629 1340 SU 1340 SU 2118 2118 0312 0312 0756 0756 MO 1451 1451 MO 2212 2212 0417 0417 0917 0917 TU 1549 1549 TU 2249 2249 0502 0502 1021 1021 WE 1635 1635 WE 2316 2316 0539 0539 1109 1109 TH 1713 1713 TH 2339 2339 0611 0611 1151 1151 FR 1747 FR 1747

5 66

77 88 99

10 10

0.72 0.72 1.91 1.91 0.86 0.86 1.16 1.16 0.83 0.83 1.80 1.80 0.86 0.86

Time 0234 0941 TH 1620 2145

m 0.38 2.12 0.63 1.33

FR 1720 0.67 2239 2239 1.25 1.25

SA 1824 0.70 2349 2349 1.20 1.20

SU 1932 0.69

1.14 0118 1.14 0118 1.20 1.20 0.91 0612 0.91 0612 0.79 0.79 1.71 1337 MO 1.71 MO 1337 1.85 1.85 0.82 2039 0.82 2039 0.64 0.64 1.19 0241 1.28 1.19 0241 1.28 0.93 0739 0.81 0.93 0739 0.81 1.66 TU 1444 1.83 1.66 1444 1.83 0.74 TU 2137 0.56 0.74 2137 0.56 1.28 0352 1.42 1.28 0352 0.77 1.42 0.89 0909 0.89 0909 1.80 0.77 1.65 WE 1545 1.65 1545 1.80 WE 0.65 2224 0.47 0.65 2224 0.47 1.39 0449 1.59 1.39 0449 0.70 1.59 0.81 1024 0.81 1024 0.70 1.64 TH 1639 1.76 1.64 TH 2304 1639 0.39 1.76 0.55 0.55 2304 0.39 1.51 0537 1.77 1.51 0537 0.64 1.77 0.72 1123 0.72 FR 1728 1123 1.70 0.64 1.63 1.63 1728 1.70 FR 0.45 2339 0.33 0.45 2339 0.33 1.64 0619 1.93 1.64 0619 0.60 1.93 0.65 1216 0.65 SA 1813 1216 1.63 0.60 1.62 1.62 SA 1813 1.63

21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25

Time 0307 1018 FR 1715 2225

SA 1801 0.81 2315 1.22 2315 1.22

3 4

5 66 77 88 99

10 10

0002 0.36 0014 0.30 0002 1.77 0.36 26 0700 0014 2.07 0.30 11 11 0641 11 0641 0.60 1.77 26 0700 0.59 2.07 11 SA 1230 SU 1306

1230 1.59 0.60 SU 1857 1306 1.55 0.59 SA 1820 1820 1.59 1857 1.55 0027 0.30 0048 0.31 0027 1.89 0.30 0048 2.17 0.31 0712 0740 0712 0.57 1.89 MO 1356 0740 0.60 2.17 SU 1309 1309 1.56 0.57 MO 1940 1356 1.47 0.60 SU 1854 1854 1.56 1940 1.47 0054 0.26 0123 0.36 0123 2.21 0.36 0054 2.00 0.26 0744 0821 0821 0.63 2.21 0744 0.56 2.00 TU 1448 MO 1350 1931 1.52 2023 1.40 1448 0.63 1350 0.56 TU MO 2023 1.40 1931 1.52 0125 0.26 0158 0.43 0820 0900 0125 2.08 0.26 0158 2.20 0.43 0820 0.57 2.08 WE 1540 0900 0.67 2.20 TU 1435 1435 1.47 0.57 WE 2105 1540 1.34 0.67 TU 2012 2012 1.47 2105 1.34 0158 0.30 0232 0.53 0858 0939 0158 2.13 0.30 0232 2.14 0.53 0858 0.59 2.13 TH 1628 0939 0.73 2.14 WE 1524 2056 1.40 2145 1.29 WE 1524 0.59 TH 1628 0.73 2056 1.40 2145 1.29

12 12

27 27

12 12

13 13

28 28

13 13

14 14

29 29

14 14

15 15

30 30

15 15

ureau of Meteorology New Moon ureau of Meteorology e Full Moon First Quarter Full Moon First Quarter Full Moon

m 0.62 2.05 0.78 1.25

1.31 1.31 0.94 0.94 1.60 1.60 0.67 0.67 1.42 1.42 0.92 0.92 1.55 1.55 0.58 0.58 1.56 1.56 0.87 0.87 1.50 1.50 0.49 0.49 1.70 1.70 0.81 0.81 1.46 1.46 0.41 0.41 1.84 1.84 0.75 0.75 1.43 1.43 0.35 0.35 1.97 1.97 0.69 0.69 1.41 1.41

Time 0314 1022 SA 1710 2242

m 0.48 2.20 0.56 1.33

SU 1804 0.59 2346 1.31 1.31 2346

MO 1859 0.62

TU 1310 1956 1956 0215 0215 0723 0723 1409 WE WE 1409 2053 2053

1.88 0.62 0.62 1.39 1.39 0.87 0.87 1.77 1.77 0.59 0.59

TH 1509 2143 2143 0435 0435 1018 1018 1610 FR 1610 FR 2228 2228 0525 0525 1129 1129 SA 1707 SA 1707 2309 2309 0609 0609 1227 1800 SU 1227 SU 1800 2349 2349 0651 0651 1318 1850 MO 1318 MO 1850

1.65 0.56 0.56 1.68 1.68 0.90 0.90 1.55 1.55 0.52 0.52 1.84 1.84 0.85 0.85 1.46 1.46 0.49 0.49 1.98 1.98 0.80 0.80 1.41 1.41 0.47 0.47 2.09 2.09 0.75 0.75 1.38 1.38

0332 1.52 1.52 21 0332 0852 0.91 21 0852 0.91 TH 1509 1.65

22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25

0029 0.47 26 0029 0731 0.47 2.16 26 1406 2.16 0.70 TU 0731 1937 TU 1406 1937 0109 0109 0811 0811 WE 1451 2021 WE 1451 2021 0148 0148 0849 1533 TH 0849 1533 TH 2100 2100 0224 0926 0224 0926 FR 1611 2133 FR 1611 2133 0300 1000 0300 1647 SA 1000 2206 SA 1647 2206 0336 1035 0336 1723 SU 1035 2245 SU 1723 2245

27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31

0.70 1.37 1.37 0.49 0.49 2.19 2.19 0.68 0.68 1.36 1.36 0.52 0.52 2.17 0.69 2.17 1.35 0.69 1.35 0.58 2.11 0.58 0.72 2.11 1.33 0.72 1.33 0.63 2.03 0.63 0.76 2.03 1.32 0.76 1.32 0.69 1.95 0.69 0.78 1.95 1.30 0.78 1.30

Father David and son Dan found out how hard longtail tuna pull.

Bucket list bragging rights * from P50

you may have mitigated or resolved the hurdles. It’s much harder to bring a clear mind than is thought, ironically. We tend to clutter our minds with things such as the latest tackle and gear. It seems the one thing we are all born with and costs nothing is often left off the checklist. Gear The first test I put forward is often the most important bit of kit on my boat. I never go fishing without it. I always ask people to wear shoes with grip. Nothing fancy, just footwear with grip. Not thongs or bare feet. Grippy shoes will help you move around the

vessel under all conditions, and they will protect your toes from getting stubbed, as you charge around vying for a good position on a fast-moving fish. Appropriate footwear helps anchor you in position on a dogged fight, so you concentrate physically on only the fish, not the rough seas and poor grip your feet or thongs provide. It is absurd how often I’m questioned or ignored on this. A pair of polarised glasses and a hat will protect from the sun – also, both will help you see into the water. That little gap between the lens and your brow will let light in and affect your vision. Put a hat on to cut that light coming down and

you’ll notice a drastic change. They will also help protect you from the errant casting of your crew mates! That is all I ask of my new crew – a sense of openness, being quick to react and trusting my judgement – I most probably have a little more experience than you. Don’t dream big, look at what presents itself and refine everything you can with species that are more common. I have seen many an angler with big ‘ticked’ bucket lists then, after a few hours of watching them, I wonder how? In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few – Shunryu Suzuki

First Quarter Last Quarter Last Quarter Last 18 Quarter

Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November182023

Mav battled a couple of 1m plus giant herring.

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November is a favourite month

I all, if Captain Cook had landed on the beaches of Seventeen Seventy during November, he may have broken out the deck chairs and decided to stay a little longer. We find ourselves taking a late afternoon stroll along Main Beach, deciding whether to take one last cool plunge into the waves. In the distance, I can see the birds dropping on a school of pelagic just outside the breakers. They are there because bait schools have arrived en masse, providing an absolute smorgasbord of the various types of mackerel, tuna, trevally and queenfish. What a dilemma – do I go home and put the spinning gear in the boat or do I chase a few early morning waves.

Agnes Water by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

Either way is a winner – being connected to the ocean and enjoying life. With holiday season around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get the kids out fishing, surfing and building lifelong memories. Mums and dads, if you’re not into surfing but you want to give it a try or the kids are frothing to hit the water, book into a surf class and take a running start into understanding technique, etiquette and water safety. I’ve taken my grandchildren to Stylez Surf School, which is situated at Main Beach Agnes Water, near Tom

Jeffery Memorial Park. Sam is the owner operator and a true gentleman – full of patience and empathy – exactly what is needed when it comes to teaching. And he’s no slouch when it comes to surfing, with an emphasis on style. Being a small community, I often see holiday makers who have taken a lesson with Sam build a rapport for the duration of their stay. He’s always quick to give them a shout out and check to see if they’re getting their share of a few waves. The laid-back beach * continued P54

The Penn Spinfisher VI 650 – my favourite highspeed spinning reel for quality with affordability.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 53

November is a favourite fishing month * from P53

Mal was pleased with the Brisbane River result.

First cast of the day and number one of seven caught in a quick two-hour session.

It’s all about enjoying the ocean.

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vibe of Sam and his crew helps to make Agnes Water a little more special. With the festive season building up from now to January, I suggest booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Give Sam a call on 0488 177 000 and take the plunge into the ocean culture here on the Discovery Coast. I mentioned the bait schools pushing along our beaches with the predators following. It appeares the first speedsters to arrive in spring are schools of hungry mack tuna. They’ve been ripping into the bait and gorging themselves. As an introduction for youngsters to sportfishing, you couldn’t ask for a better opponent. They fight hard, with blistering runs – they dog it out deep and do not give up the fight. You can’t go past the TT Fishing Hard Core 20g and 30g slugs here, with its small baitfish profile that seems to perfectly match the prey the predators are feeding on. My go-to straight up is the 30g because it allows good distance when casting. Remember, Josh at Agnes Water/1770 Bait & Tackle always keeps these lures in stock. A good starting point for a spinning combination for targeting mack tuna would be a 7’ 6kg spinning stick of reasonable quality and a spinning reel about 450-650 in size. I use a Penn Spinfisher VI 650 and Slammer IV 650 because they offer me the spool capacity to hold a decent amount of line and, due to the spool diameter and gearing, it gives me a high-speed retrieve rate – an impor-

tant factor when chasing tuna. I use about 1m of 3040lb fluorocarbon leader, which allows me to grab the heavier trace and lead to fish close enough to tail grab and lift into the boat. This also helps for a quick release back with minimum stress, or damage sometimes caused by using a landing net. The quicker you deal with this species – such as dehooking, a quick photo and release – the better its chance of survival. I love to fish by myself, so the Angler RSF 149 centre console is just the ticket. The centre console is such a great format for spinning with 360-degree castability. Storing my spin rods on the front of the console allows open space for unrestricted casting and I can move anywhere around the boat when fighting a better fish – very important to me when solo fishing. The last consideration when tuna spinning is the approach. This varies greatly to how much pressure has been placed on the schools. Keep in mind, if they are finicky, sit back and watch which direction

they’re heading when feeding – position the boat ahead of the school and let them come to you. I must admit with the quietness and lack of pollutants associated with the new four-stroke motors, approach is so much easier. Fishing is all about finesse in every aspect, so if you’re not trying to troll a lure through the middle of schools or charging around in a panic, you should be in with a chance. Use your vision – watch how the fish react to your approach or the presence of your boat. Even watch how fish can startle and react to the landing splash of your slug. Awareness helps you acquire knowledge and to build the finer techniques for success. Take in everything and simply let your approach evolve – before you know it you and your young anglers will be having a ball with these speedy opponents. To finish up, I was talking to an old friend about the Brisbane River and gave him a few options that seem to have paid off – nice one. Get in, on or under the water during the warm weather season and enjoy.

Book in with Sam from Stylez Surf School at Agnes Water.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 55

The winner of the Sea Jay 3.75 with 15hp Yamaha thanks Bundaberg Marineland.

2023 Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival wrap up

HAT a week! And what a day Saturday

There were some stand out catches – and not only by the seniors, with quite a few juniors getting right into it.

The Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival’s famous mullet throw competition. Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

was. The 2023 Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival kicked off on the Monday, with the majority of entrants picking up their packs and heading off with high expectations. The Wednesday night catch up – held at the same location as the ‘Family Fun Day’ – was well attended, with plenty of happy people taking home promotional and raffle prizes. Saturday’s Family Fun Day presentation saw 350 people onsite and included jumping castles and face painters for the kids and our famous mullet throw competition. This year’s event saw competitor numbers up by 25 percent from 2022, with the younger angler entrants doubling, from 40 in 2022 to over 80 this year. While the fishing for this year’s Baffle Creek Family Fishing

Festival was a little tough, with a constant southeasterly wind and an unseasonal amount of weed in the system, there were some stand out catches – and not only by the seniors, with quite a few juniors getting right into it. Here’s the list of winners. Senior categories Barramundi – none caught Bream – Joel Greener, 340mm Cod – Sandy Robinson, 502mm Flathead – Graham Cooper, 690mm Grunter – Shirley Wilkins, 512mm Mangrove jack – Jack Verrenkamp, 480mm Trevally – Dan Robson, 460mm Whiting – Steve Lee, 355mm Biggest mud crab – Jeff Riethmuller, 164mm Most species – Simon File, 11 Junior categories Bream – Scarlett Dyer, 310mm Cod – Edmund Dyer, 355mm

Flathead – Amelia Heit, 552mm Grunter – none caught Trevally – Jethro Suosaari, 590mm Whiting – Seth Harrison, 310mm Most species – Rylee Keleher, 8 Pre-junior categories Bream – Lucas Hengst, 303mm Flathead – Lucas Hengst, 503mm Trevally – Daniel Coyers, 420mm Whiting – Olivia Hengst, 350mm Most species – Lucas Hengst, 8. The Baffle Creek Fishing Club would like to thank all of our sponsors, with a big thank you to Tackle World Bundaberg for its support and the winner of the Sea Jay 3.75 with 15hp Yamaha thanks Bundaberg Marineland. Next year’s event will be held from September 16-21, 2024 – we can’t wait to see you there. Baffle Creek Fishing Club

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Sam with a nice 65cm coral trout from Rock Cod Shoals on a 95mm Zerek Fish Trap.

Great fishing options around Gladstone and Stanage Bay

’DAY readers, it’s been a while since my last article – life got busy, there wasn’t much in the way of fishing and enjoying the outdoors got in the way. Since my last story, I purchased a new boat – to open my fishing options up, get me out wider and take me to some new and interesting places. I fished a few of the barramundi competitions around central Queensland, unfortunately without much to show for it. There was also a trip to Stanage Bay to fish the closer islands and chase the black jewfish the area’s known for, which was affected by bad weather and a recent jewie closure, so it turned into fishing the flats and sight-casting for blackspot tuskfish. It was a welcome sur-

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Gladstone Region by GARY CHURCHWARD

prise when the iridescent blue of these fish shone out in the shallow clear water of the bay. Trying to entice these fish to take a bite by throwing prawn imitations at them, only to watch them refuse or spook and take off, was both frustrating and an adrenaline rush at the same time. We did manage to get a few interested enough for a few hits and hookups. We were lucky to keep a couple connected, away from the bommies and land them. I’ve spent quite a lot of time fishing the islands and reefs off the coast of Gladstone for reefies and anything else that came along. But fishing around

Stanage Bay was something I’d done very little of, so had to learn the basics of how to fish these areas.

Luckily, the same techniques used to target fingermark around the deeper headlands in the harbour worked there too. Locally, Rock Cod Shoals has been a constant producer of good fish, with coral trout,

redthroat emperor and tuskfish all being very common, and the occasional red emperor, cobia and mackerel among other reef species to keep you busy. Hummocky Island is a picturesque spot to * continued P58

Decent snapper can be found in central Queensland. This 74cm model took a 3” Berkley Gulp Shrimp at Jenny Lind Bank. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 57

Fingermark were still around, with a nice river model from the Calliope River taking a vibe fished over a rock bar.

Using a 5” Daiwa Bait Junkie jerk shad and fishing the bottom at Rock Cod Shoals, a solid cobia took Phil’s lure.

Great fishing options around Gladstone and Stanage Bay * from P57

spend a day fishing, with a nice sandy beach on the oceanside to pull up to for having lunch and a swim or snorkel. Fishing around the island will provide plenty of unwanted cod, lots of stripies, as well as the occasional trout and grass sweetlip too. Facing Island has a surprising amount of reef structure around it, both on the outside and inside, with much of it visible at low tide, then running off the island into deeper water. Facing is a great option for a quick fish if the weather isn’t good enough to venture out wider. There’s still good fish to be had here, with a surprising number of trout between 50-60cm. Jenny Lind Bank is another good close reef option not far from the Boyne Island river mouth. It’s a shallower reef with not much in the way of structure deeper than 8-9m, outside of that it turns to rubble with a few small bommies around it.

This area gets fished regularly, so it can be common to see 10-15 boats here on a good day. Though it can still produce a good feed of fish, with trout, sweetlip and tuskies all common. Moving a bit deeper and fishing the rubble, you have a chance of picking up a snapper as well. If you’re fishing along the coast of Curtis Island, make sure you’re aware of the zoning because a lot of the coast is zoned green. As you move north along the coastline and out of the green zones, there’s Rundle Island and Cape Capricorn. As yet, I haven’t fished these areas much, though good numbers of mackerel have been taken from here, with reef fish available around Rundle Island and the wrecks a bit further off the coast. Cape Capricorn and the wrecks also hold good fingermark, black jew and occasionally a decent nannygai. On the fishing front,

Page 58 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

it’s now closed season for barramundi, so if you’re still keen to chase a few, the lakes and dams around the region have been fishing well in both sizes and numbers. In the estuaries, fingermark were a standard capture, with fish in the mid-70cm range quite common. They’ve been falling to lures – vibes and prawn imitation plastics – and both live and cut bait have also worked. If you can find larger herring, they are best, and fresh mullet strips are a good back up. Grunter are about in good numbers and sizes – when using lures for this species, it pays to downsize both the lure size and the leader size to entice a bite. Good bait are live prawns and herring or, if you’re keen, yabbies are a good option, and fresh-cut bait also works well. Finding schools of blue salmon has been difficult for me, with only small groups of fish around – I’m put-

ting this down to a lack of herring schools in the river. If you do find these types of bait schools in the harbour or rivers, there’s a good chance salmon won’t be far away. The humble flathead will be found along the edges of most of the sandbanks in the area and a well-placed lure or pillie will get their attention. Mangrove jack will fire up as the days continue to get warmer, with most rock bars and fallen timber holding some – the trick is trying to extract them. A weedless paddle tail or prawn plastic worked through timber will get their attention, and don’t rule out a trusty hard-body as an option. Floating a live mullet or prawn back into the snag or over a rock bar is another effective method. If they’re not responding, try a cut bait or pillie because the scent can get them stirred up and into biting. On the reef front, if on

the rare occasion we get a break in the relentless wind, these areas will be firing. If you have or can manage to get hold of some GPS marks for the more isolated less pressured structures, you’re likely to get a few more fish to bite. When fishing places such as Rock Cod Shoals and Jenny Lind Bank, I prefer to drift – either casting or jigging 4-5” plastics in a variety of colours and styles. I find that by drifting over places that are large and consistent in topography, you can find more fish, because there’s little in the way of bigger bommies and pinnacles to hold large numbers of fish. I tend to not use vibes as much on the reef, though will use them during higher tidal flow in deeper water, if the fish are shut down or if they’re not biting aggressively. Let’s hope for a more consistent light wind. Cheers and happy fishing from Gladstone.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 59

This is a Humminbird Mega 360 shot of a school of threadfin hanging on a rock.

A recaptured 1m threadfin. You can see the old tag with some growth. Scratch the weed off to get the tag number and call it in to the number provided.

Top three species to target during barra closure

OR me, it’s the worst time of year again. East coast saltwater barramundi season is closed now for the next three months. It’s tough not pursuing your number one interest but, as they say, as one door closes another one opens. There are three main species that I move my focus to when it’s closed barra season. The first is king threadfin salmon. I’ll put my neck out and say that the Fitzroy delta is the best place in Australia to target extra-oversized threadfin. Threadies are a very cool species and, the bigger they get, the cooler they are. They have a rocket-ship shaped tail that gets them on the move super quickly and they also have the turning ability of a forklift.

Capricorn Coast by JOHN BOON

Lightning speed and the ability to turn on a dime makes them an incredible sport fish. With long whiskers for feeling out shrimp and other prey in very dirty water and mud, it’s a weird almost alien-like feeling when, holding one up for a photo, they wrap those whiskers around your hand. On smaller tides, threadies like to hang around in schools and occasionally those schools can be in the hundreds. It’s an impressive sight to see on side or 360 imaging. The bigger the schools, the easier it is to keep lures in front of them. If I had to pick my three favourite lures for threadies, they

This is what a school of fingermark looks like tucked in behind an old wreck. Page 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

would be the following. First, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned soft vibe – Zerek Fish Trap or Samaki Vibelicious Thumper Tail. Second, you’ll need a prawn imitation, so a 3” Berkley Gulp Shrimp. Last but not least is a good old paddle tail option and it would be hard to beat a Molix RT Shad in 3.5” and 4.5”. My next target species would be fingermark – also called golden snapper. This time last year, we absolutely killed it on this species. The last trip out to Port Alma, I did about 3 hours fishing, and the rest of the time was spent searching for new ground. I managed to land 13 all up, with the biggest going 66cm. Fingermark love structure, particularly rock bars. Though another favourite location to target them are wrecks. In all my hours of searching for new spots, I’ve found a couple of sneaky wrecks that not many people know about. The less likely these

spots have been fished, the better the odds of catching quality models. You will still catch good fingermark off snags and bank slips, but I’ve had a much higher success rate targeting them on these types of structure. Another plus to pursuing this species is that they can be caught in a wide range of depths. I’ve caught them in 1820m in some of the deep holes in our estuary systems and in as little as 1m of water. Though bear in mind, fingermark are extremely slow growing, so take only what you need. I generally keep the

better quality fish for the table, because they are an absolute delicacy, and then tag the rest. It’s always interesting to get data back on where they have moved and how slowly they grow. Picking my top three fingermark lures is tough – I use a wide range of lures for this species, however a soft vibe is hard to beat. I really like a vibe with a lot of vibration, so first, I would go a Nomad Vertrex Max in 75mm and 95mm. For a prawn imitation, I’m absolutely loving the Chasebaits Flick Prawn * continued P61

My favourite mangrove jack lure, the Molix RT Shad in Blueback Herring.

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Top three targets when no barra * from P60

in the 95mm size, so that would be second. The third and final lure is the one I pull out when fishing deep rock bars. Fingermark can be spread out sometimes, so trolling deep-diving lures can be a real winner. My favourite would be the Halco RMG Poltergeist Crazy Deep in the orange and gold colour. For some reason, that colour catches. I’ve even put it up against different colours and it outperforms them every time. My third and favourite fish to target in the barra closed season is mangrove jack. These hard-hitting red devils are so much fun and can be a real pain in the butt to work out.

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It’s the same old story – just when you think you’ve got them sussed, they send you back to the drawing board. My two favourite places to target them are snags and rock bars. If I’m chasing smaller-sized jacks, then skip-casting under mangrove canopies is my go-to. If chasing larger models, look to go deeper, targeting deep snags and rock bars. In my experience, big jacks love a fast burn, so this is the retrieve I use the most. The ‘burn and kill’ is my number one technique. If the structure is deep, I might occasionally go to a 1oz jig head – so I can keep the plastic down and still get a fast burn going.

Three of my favourite jack lures… Number one is the Molix RT Shad in 3.5” and 4.5”. The Blueback Herring colour has been a massive stand out. If you’re skip-casting under mangroves, Z-Man MinnowZ and Diezel MinnowZ rigged weedless are deadly. If the jacks are a bit lethargic, a natural prawn imitation such as the Chasebaits Flick Prawn is a great option. Well, there you have it. A bit of information as to what you can do to get by in the closed barra season. I ran out of time to do a write up on the Humminbird Fitzroy River Barra Bash, but stay tuned, hopefully I’ll have it done for next month.

Fingermark love prawns, so make sure you have some quality prawn imitations on hand.

The Molix RT Shad also works well on quality estuary fingermark.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 61

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Contact Bill Corten M: 0447 233 247 / 0447 ( a f f a i r ) E: reel_affair@yahoo.com Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

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HUNTING & archery

The author’s Taipan in full battle dress, sporting 3-9 scope, thermal clip-on and power pack. Everything below the optics is factory standard.

Southern Cross Small Arms Taipan Light an Aussie-made gem

A I N TA I N ING my longheld following of Australian-made products, I’ve recently added a firearm to my collection from one of the newer players in the industry. Sitting alongside my old Sportco rifles from the 1970s and Lithgow Arms products from the current century is now a modern-styled rifle from Southern Cross Small Arms. The Taipan Light was introduced to the market early this year and, after handling one from the first delivery into the shop, I bought it for pest control use.

Hunting for Sport by NEIL SCHULTZ

SCSA have been manufacturing alloy rifle chassis for several years, but the Taipan is their first complete rifle. Their design team certainly did their research because the Taipan ticks all the boxes for a light centrefire pest control rifle, allowing for quick follow-up shots. Nuts and bolts At the time of writing, the Taipan was available in one chambering .223, which is arguably the world’s most used

Feral cats are small targets when faced front-on. Not a problem for this accurate little rifle.

Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

centrefire cartridge. An alloy chassis is the base for the rifle – Australia’s own homegrown pump-action firearm to replace the discontinued American Remington 7615. Rotating bolts are the norm for pumps and the Taipan follows that design, with seven locking lugs engaging to lock the bolt into the battery. At the pointy end is a Walther stainless-steel barrel of 42cm with a 1:8 rifling twist, enabling the heaviest .224 calibre projectiles to be used. I have run projectiles ranging from 50-80 grains through mine and it stabilised even the 80s perfectly. Note that, contrary to what some keyboard experts will suggest, the fast twist rate doesn’t need heavy projectiles to shoot accurately –

just that it can shoot the heavies, where a slower twist barrel cannot. This rifle is just as accurate with the superb ADI 55 grain Game King ammunition as it is with heavier loads. Taipans come boxed with a pair of 10-shot polypropylene Pmags and they’ll function with any gen 3 AR style magazine. The controls of the Taipan – trigger, safety, pistol grip, magazine release and such – are familiar to anyone who has handled an AR15 platform, a design feature which may be aimed at breaking into the massive American market. Without delving too much into the mechanics, the Taipan – as for the AR15 – has a twopiece receiver, with the upper carrying the bolt assembly while the lower houses the trigger group. An alloy fore-end features eight M-lock slots for mounting a torch,

laser, bipod, et cetera, while effectively acting as a hand guard to keep tender flesh from contacting a hot barrel. The butt end of the rifle features a removable stock, which is adjustable for length of pull and sports an adjustable cheek riser. The alloy components are anodised for durability then given a dark olive Cerakote finish for camouflage and to eliminate shine. Function Handling the Taipan for the first time showed how smooth and precise the action was when compared to imported pump-action rifles. The rifle was light and compact, making it perfect for pest animal control in Australian scenarios. During the six months I’ve owned the Taipan, I’ve put slightly over 600 rounds through the barrel – both at the range and in the field. Only once did I expe* continued P65

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HUNTING & archery Southern Cross Small Arms Taipan Light an Aussie-made gem * from P64

rience a light hammer strike and extraction difficulty – both from the same cartridge that was an unsized reload previously fired in a different rifle. It is standard operating procedure for a handloader to full length size cartridges to be fired in all pump-action or lever-action rifles for that very reason. Using factory ammunition – as the Taipan’s manufacturer recommends – of fully resized hand-loads, the rifle has functioned absolutely flawlessly. Uncharacteristically, and surprising for a pump action, has been

the accuracy achieved through the short barrel, with 55g projectiles grouping less than 1” at 100m – yes, rifle groups are still measured in inches. Using a thermal clipon sight on the Taipan, I have been tipping over cats and pigs on the southern Darling Downs with confidence. Even the heavy 80g copper monolith projectiles I have loaded for pigs group at slightly over 1”, which is plenty of accuracy for the chosen target species. Internally, the rifle shows no signs of excessive wear anywhere on the alloy receiver, bolt group or barrel.

Externally, the Cerakote finish on mine is standing up to use very well and looks pretty much as it did when new. The only aspect of the rifle I’d like to change is the weight of the trigger pull. They are listed in the owner’s manual as being between 5-6lb from the factory and non-adjustable. Mine is now down to about four and a bit after some use, but I’d prefer 3lb for those precise shots at small targets. There is an after-market two-stage trigger available from another Aussie manufactur-

er based in southern Queensland, but I’ll persevere. In a nutshell, if you’re looking for an accurate light Australian-made pest control rifle capable of putting quick

shots down range when required, the Taipan fits the bill. Pricing is very attractive too, with the Generation 1 Taipan Light retailing for around $1499 at the time of writing.

The Taipan really shines when mobs of feral pigs are encountered. Its pump action allows for multiple shots to be taken without the hunter removing their eye from the scope or finger from the trigger.

Effects of feral cats on Australian wildlife

HE energy expended by an adult male cat requires it to consume 5-8 percent of its body weight in prey per day, while females raising kittens require 20. Based on these figures, one study concluded that 375 feral cats on Macquarie Island would consume 56,000 rabbits and 58,000 sea birds per year. Where present on the mainland, rabbits may comprise up to 40 percent of a feral cat’s diet. Cats are successful as a control mechanism only when rabbit densities are low. At other times, cat predation does little to halt the build-up or spread of rabbit populations – rabbits merely

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help to support a larger number of cats. When seasonal shortages of rabbits occur, there is a corresponding rise in the number of native animals taken by cats. The feral cat is an opportunistic predator and dietary studies have shown that small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects and even fish can be taken as prey. Cat predation is particularly harmful in island situations and a number of species have become extinct due to the introduction of cats by early sealers and lighthouse keepers. On the mainland, native animals – which already suffer due to the destruction of their

habitats by man and other introduced animals – may be endangered further by cat predation. Actual competition for prey can cause a decline in the numbers of native predatory species such as quolls, eagles, hawks and reptiles. Not only do native animals bear the brunt of predation but they also suffer the effects of a parasite that reproduces only in the intestine of the cat. This disease – toxoplasmosis – is particularly harmful to marsupials, which may develop blindness, respiratory disorders, paralysis and suffer the loss of offspring through abortion and stillbirths.

Native animals may be endangered by cat predation. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 65

TOURING & exploring

Recent Cooroy to Townsville trip

The free camp at Lake Victoria was a cracking spot.

A stunning view from the top of the hill at Notch Point overlooking the sea and a few camps.

I, I haven’t been fishing or crabbing so far this month but with this dry spell, if there are no floods as per the past couple of years, my local area of the Noosa River system should fire up. Once it warms up, I’ll start crabbing then. It will be great to give my 3.7m Quintrex and 15hp Yamaha two-stroke a good run, and my older 5m tinnie with a 60hp fourstroke Yamaha a decent blast too. During the September school holidays, my wife and our four kids packed up our old 1983 wind-up Jayco van and 1990 80 Series Toyota LandCruiser and headed north to Townsville. The first day we got

The free camp on the first night of the trip, about 30km from Biloela. Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Touring Queensland - Part 1 by CRAIG TOMKINSON

away at about 7.30am and took the Wide Bay Hwy, then headed north towards Monto and Rockhampton, but on the way up, we pulled into a few places to eat, stretch our legs and check out some local attractions. We called into Wuruma Dam for a look and wow it has changed! The last time I was there, you could free camp right on the water under shady trees, with your boat slightly in the lake in front of your camp. Now, you have to camp in a small cramped hot spot 400500m from the water – not my cup of tea at all. They’ve ruined that spot for me, I’ll never camp there again. We travelled steadily north and free camped up a gravel road, a lovely spot about 40km from Biloela. Up and away after brekky the next day, we drove past Biloela and called into Lake Victoria at Goovigen. What a lovely quiet spot – we would have camped there but it was too early to stop, so we checked it out and moved on to Rocky. There, we visited Kershaw Gardens, then headed to Emu Park and sussed that

area out for a few hours. We ventured back towards Rockhampton via Yeppoon and camped that night on the Stanage Bay Rd – far enough in so that we didn’t hear the trucks on the highway. We had a nice fire in a 20-litre stainless-steel drum – we use less firewood that way – and all sat around the bush TV. The sky was so clear – we saw many stars, planes and satellites. Next day we packed up and headed into Stanage Bay. Not much gravel road is left now and what was there had been graded recently. We spent a few hours exploring the beach, bought a lovely feed from Plumtree Store, then headed out and up the highway to St Lawrence Wetlands. It took a bit of finding because the signs were very confusing. We explored the wetlands and moved on to Ilbilbie. We fuelled up there and then drove to Notch Point – arriving with just enough time to set the van up, have some chicken and ham wraps for dinner, start a fire and kick back and relax as night fell. Until next month, be safe.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 67

TOURING & exploring

A trip to Broome isn’t complete without a sunset camel ride on Cable Beach.

To Broome along WA’s coastline

The author and his daughter had a great day on board Broome Billfish Fishing Charters.

Page 68 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

INCE mid-April my family – myself, wife and daughters five and seven-years old – has been travelling Australia. We’ve spent several months making our way north along the Western Australian coastline, which has given me a new appreciation for how big our country is. Following on from my previous article, after several days of exploring the stunning ancient landscapes and gorges of Karijini National Park, we headed back to the busy mining town of Port Hedland, with its huge bulk carriers. The $187 million Spoilbank Marina project currently underway is impressive and will certainly see an increase in recreational fishos visiting the area once completed. We checked the port out and stocked up on groceries, before head-

Travelling Oz by MATT POTTER

ing further north to one of my favourite WA coastal camps yet – Cape Keraudren. The impacts of category 5 Tropical Cyclone Ilsa – which hit the region in April – could still be seen in the flattened landscape and the completely destroyed Pardoo Roadhouse and Tavern. Once we reach the campground, we found a great level spot overlooking the bay and kicked back with a campfire and cold beverage as the sun set over the water. The next day, I caught a couple of small trevally off the rocks on a Halco Twisty Gold. Noticing huge schools of garfish, I rigged the kids’ rods up and they had a ball catching garfish one after the other on bread squashed onto

an unweighted Gamakatsu long shank size 12 hook. The girls also managed a couple of very big bream, which put up a great fight on the light gear. The tides were over 7m and at low tide the bay would completely drain, allowing keen mud crabbers to walk 1.5km to the other side in search of mud crab and octopus. As some campers found out, it was a race to make it back before the tide started flooding again. We caught up with some friends we’d met on the road. They had already been at the campground for a couple of days. Paul and his son Jack went for a dive off the headland and caught a * continued P69

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TOURING & exploring Travelling to Broome along WA’s coastline * from P68

couple of nice painted crayfish. Which certainly had me keen to suit up and jump in because it would be one of the last places I’d have a chance prior to us heading further north into crocodile country. We put a plan together and I joined Paul and Jack in the water. As any spearo knows, it is always safer to have dive buddies. While the younger kids played in the rock pools, our wives kept a watchful eye on everyone. The visibility was reasonable and there was plenty of fish life. A few hours later, when the tide dropped, we would have to scale several metres back up the rocks. I grabbed a quality painted cray and also speared a couple of nice mangrove jack that were filleted for dinner. One of the best things about traveling the coast is actively hunting and fishing for fresh seafood. Paul also shot a monster blue bone that would have been over 8kg. He had only recently taken up spearing and was elated – rightly so. Towards the end of the dive, I thought I heard whales and those onshore confirmed later that two whales had passed only 30m behind where we were diving. After a few days enjoying what Cape Keraudren had to offer, we packed up the van and

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continued 117km up the coast to Eighty Mile Beach, where we were booked into the caravan park. Despite the name, the shoreline actually stretches 220km – or 137 miles – and is the largest uninterrupted beach in Western Australia. Eighty Mile Beach is a shell collector’s paradise. Dozens of people walk the beach early morning and late afternoon in search of little treasures, some staying in the park for several months to do just that. Blue and threadfin salmon are regularly caught along the beach at high tide, along with blacktip reef sharks and the occasional black jewfish. After chatting with a few travellers, not much had been caught and, without any obvious gutters or channels, it was a little guessing game as to where the fish were. I went for a drive along the beach using the Navionics app to mark a couple of interesting areas to try at high tide. As the tide goes out for almost 1km, there is only a two-hour window prior to the top of the tide that’s worth fishing. I tried walking out to fish it earlier but found myself walking my gear up the beach every 10 minutes or so because the then 8.5m tide had water pushing over the sand flats very quickly. Prior to high tide, dozens of four-wheel-

drives head onto the beach to stake their little patch of shoreline to fish – as the tide peaks, there is only a few metres of soft sand to park the car on before the base of the sand dunes. I headed back to the area I’d marked on the Navionics app and walked a trail of berley up the beach to the car, the idea being that as the tide came in, more berley would be released into the water. I fished with pilchard and strips of mullet but found I had fish picking up the bait and dropping it when they felt weight, so I used circle hooks with the Shimano Baitrunner OC 8000 and let them swim off with the bait before engaging the reel. This resulted in a couple of nice blue salmon and a couple of blacktip reef sharks, which provided a bit of sport and were released. The blue and threadfin salmon can be clearly identified by inspecting the filaments * continued P70

The day was topped off with a frantic spanish mackerel session.

Bartail flathead were a common capture around Entrance Point at Broome.

A visit to Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park is a great educational opportunity about being croc-wise. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 69

TOURING & exploring To Broome along WA’s coastline * from P69

The colours of Broome at Roebuck Bay.

Fishing Eighty Mile Beach for salmon.

Kicking back with a campfire at Cape Keraudren. Western Australia has some amazing coastal campgrounds. Page 70 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

– or whiskers – with the blue salmon having four shorter filaments and the threadfin having five longer filaments and a more yellowish colouration. The king threadfin salmon grows much larger and is a more prized catch. That said, blue salmon eats very well, so I filleted the fish and gave them to an elderly couple who had been spoiling my girls with figurines made from collected shells. The next day, we met up with Paul and his family again and had another fish on the beach, and enjoyed the sunset over a few beverages while the kids found a few impressive shells. Appreciatively, the caravan park has a wash-down bay and air for reinflating tyres – very convenient for campers. Another 256km north of Eighty Mile Beach is Barn Hill Beach Side Station Stay. This place is a family run cattle station situated on a breathtaking stretch of coastline, with the park well set up for travellers. We’d booked an unpowered site overlooking the Indian Ocean and enjoyed more stunning sunsets in God’s country. With live music, pizzas, a bowling green and taking a roofless shower under the Kimberley night sky, you couldn’t go wrong spending a few nights there.

The tides were then 9.5m and, faced with a stiff onshore breeze, I found land-based fishing quite tough. This was blue bone country, so I set about targeting one of these brutes – initially by throwing around a crab imitation lure and then floating out prawns, which are both methods I’d had success with in the past – but this time, no such luck. I flicked an assortment of plastics, hard-bodies and vibes and also tried some high-speed spinning for a queenfish or trevally with the ever-reliable Halco Twisty Gold but still came up empty handed. Eventually, I downgraded to the kids’ rods and managed some garfish, whiting and a couple of very solid bream. Unlike most areas along the coast that fish well on an incoming tide, Barn Hill seemed to fish better around the rocks as the tide started to recede. After Barn Hill Station, it was a 140km drive to Broome, which had been a bucket-list location for some time. We based ourselves at

the Discovery Park for 10 days – a sensational spot overlooking the picturesque Roebuck Bay. High tide was the time to admire the famous Kimberley colours of the red pindan cliffs, turquoise water, green mangroves and white sand. We enjoyed the local sights and ticked off a few of the must-dos – such as camel rides on Cable Beach, night markets and Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Park. The croc park was certainly an eye opener for the kids and a timely reminder to be croc-wise when heading further into croc country. On the fishing front, I had a great session on queenfish in Roebuck Bay using a 30g Halco Twisty Gold. Broome has several jetties that are worth a fish. Town Beach Jetty is a great fishing platform but there’s usually a crowd. While I didn’t fish there, we did see several trevally landed. Streeter’s Jetty was originally built for pearl * continued P71

Put Barn Hill Station Stay on your list if you’re planning on travelling WA.

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TOURING & exploring Travelling to Broome along WA’s coastline * from P70

dealers and merchants – it is definitely worth having a flick around here for a salmon, barramundi or queenfish. It’s also worth dropping the dillies in for mud crab – which I didn’t do but Paul did, and he landed a couple of monsters that I was a little envious of. Finally, Deep Water Jetty at the Port of Broome is also worth a fish. I spotted a couple of squid from the footbridge, so grabbed the rod and headed down to the beach as my wife Kristy reluctantly ‘guided’ me onto the squid – yelling out where to cast from above. It worked a treat – I landed two squid in quick succession and dropped a third. Not far from there are two boat ramps at Entrance Point, which give fishos a couple of launching options depending on the wind direction. On the beach there, I had a fun couple of hours and managed seven bartail flathead on prawns as the sun was setting, which were all released.

The fun ended when what I suspect was a shark took both the bait and my rod – which I had foolishly leant against a bucket – and shot off into the water. By then it was dark, so I flicked a spotlight about but wasn’t game to head out any further. I was sad to say goodbye to my little Shimano Sienna combo that had accounted for many fish on this trip. It was in Broome that I’d planned to go on a fishing charter – debating whether to chase barramundi or salmon, or perhaps head offshore to chase reefies. I called around a few charter operators to make enquiries and with the forecast looking good, decided instead to chase sailfish with the crew at Broome Billfish Fishing Charters. The Broome Billfish Classic had been held only a few weeks earlier, with the statistics going 383-271-194 and reports of plenty of sails and the occasional marlin still around. So, we headed out, with my eldest daughter Zahlee also keen to get onboard the game boat Billistic.

Eighty Mile Beach – famous for its shells and stunning sunsets. www.bnbfishing.com.au

The team run a fantastic operation – owner Ben, skipper Ash and deckhand Jack all know their stuff and fielded plenty of questions from myself and Zahlee. It was about a 90-minute steam to the sailfish grounds and Jack kept everyone entertained, running through the rigs and game plan on the way out. With teasers and daisy chains deployed, each of the four clients had a swimming garfish rigged on a circle hook. When skipper Ash saw a sail come into the spread, he’d yell to the closest person to ‘dump’ their line – which meant to free spool it. The hardest part was counting to five before engaging the reel – coming up tight, hopefully, as the circle hook did its job. At about 90 minutes into trolling, not one but three sailfish were raised and, of course, it was the three other clients onboard who’d hooked up. So, I cleared my line and stepped back to watch the mayhem unfold. With reels screaming and sailfish tearing across the surface in all directions, things had gone from calm to chaos in a matter of seconds. A critical error was made when one of the clients told the others they would get spooled if they didn’t tighten their drags, then reached over and locked up their Daiwa Saltiga reels – resulting in two of the * continued P72

Dinner sorted. A couple of Cape Keraudren mangrove jack and a beautiful painted crayfish.

The author’s daughter Lyla with Paul’s impressive blue bone.

The author’s daughters with a painted crayfish. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 71

TOURING & exploring To Broome along WA’s coastline * from P71

three fish busting off. Deckie Jack and I both called out “Leave it!”, but it was too late. The crew did well to bite their tongues after working hard to find the fish. Still, one sail was landed and, with bird activity increasing, it was a good sign. We had a black marlin come into the spread a couple of times, but it failed to hook up. Then it was my turn, so while everyone was having a bite to eat, I was sitting at my rod eagerly watching the teasers when the skipper yelled “Sailfish – dump it!” I free spooled my gar and counted to five before engaging the reel. I came up tight and was onto a nice sail that tore across the surface. I played the fish back to the boat – it certainly put on a show. Ash cut a couple of circles around the fish – a technique skippers use to try to keep sharks off the fish. It was high fives all round – we landed a beautiful sailfish and took a couple of quick pictures while pumping water through the gills. We quickly mo-

tored away from the sharks, swam the fish and watched it swim away healthy. An hour later, several more sails were raised and another landed. The final count on sails was 12-6-3, with a black marlin also coming into the spread. With things going quiet, we finished off with a mad spanish mackerel session and, because the sharks were thick, we had only one line out taking turns. The crew made Zahlee’s day by helping her land her first spanish. Ash backed the boat up to each mackerel as if we had a 1000lb marlin on and Jack was swinging them aboard within 30 seconds of them being hooked. It was a frantic session and a great way to top off the day, with no fish lost to the sharks circling below and a feed of fresh mackerel to take home. The team at Broome Billfish Fishing Charters had certainly delivered, so if you’re heading to Broome, look them up. In the next article, I’ll share more on our Kimberley adventure as we head across the notorious Gibb River Rd.

Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Cave Point Light House is one of the many attractions in the Torndirrup National Park.

Spoils of southern WA

FTER our quick foray into the outback, it wasn’t long before we were en route back to the coast. As much as we love the bush, there is something to be said about sitting on the coast, enjoying the cooling breeze as you watch the sun sink slowly over the horizon, signalling the end of another day in paradise. We decided to skip Bremer Bay as we’d heard the road was in poor condition, plus we were on a tight schedule to meet my in-laws and stepson, who were flying into Perth to join us in exploring southern Western Australia for a few weeks. Though after speaking with some fellow travellers, we possibly should have made time for a quick stop at Bremer Bay – next time! Instead, the call was made to head straight to Albany and follow the coast around the southwestern tip of WA. I am a patriotic

Family Adventures by BEN COLLINS

Queenslander – we live in god’s country here – however, WA is on a par with the sunshine state, which made it an extremely enjoyable place to explore and immerse ourselves in. Albany Our stopover in Albany was our first venture to a larger town in several weeks. Despite having a host of beautiful beaches and an awesome national park, I wasn’t overly im-

pressed with the town itself. Port Albany was busy, and it gave the air a ‘dirty’ feel, which was a shame as it’s situated on what would have been a nice piece of coastline. Unfortunately, this is a main reason why the town exists, as it provides jobs for many locals. That said, we did manage to find a more secluded spot to enjoy * continued P73

The crew enjoyed exploring new places on our adventure.

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TOURING & exploring Spoilt for choice in southern WA * from P72

some fresh fish and chips on Middleton Beach, but that also became a hive of activity as the day progressed. Thankfully, Torndirrup National Park, which has several natural attractions worth checking out, is only a short drive from town. The Gap, Blowholes, Natural Bridge and Salmon Holes are all worth visiting and are scattered throughout the national park. The national park is very enjoyable to drive through and it’s evident a lot of money has been thrown at it to make access to these natural attractions easy for everyone. This is great because it really is a spectacular part of the world, with rugged rock cliffs descending onto white sandy beaches lined with crystal-clear blue water. Another visit-worthy attraction is the old Albany’s Historic Whaling Station. It was here we were

able to learn the history of the town and how it was once a thriving whaling village. Denmark My tribe certainly enjoys the free-camping aspect of traveling, however occasionally it’s nice to change it up and stay at a caravan park. The fact that you can plug into power and have access to water does make life easier, plus it allows you to freshened up and prepare for more time off the grid. We originally booked in for one night at the BIG4 in Denmark on Ocean Beach, but soon changed that to four nights after we saw how the kids had made new friends instantly and realised what there was to do in the area – which was heaps. The town of Demark was a very quaint and peaceful place that had a bustling IGA, where we sourced fresh fruit, veggies and pre-made meals for a few days. The town also boasts a few fine dining spots,

Sampling the local delicacies on offer around Denmark.

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including The Dam that produces hemp-infused ginger beer on site – it tasted good. Aside from these attractions, there was also a mix of random boutique places scattered within a short drive of town, including Denmark Chocolate Company, Denmark Good Food Factory and Jassi Leather Works – all worth a look. Another place we ventured to via the courtesy bus at the BIG4 was Willoughby Park Winery and Boston Brewing Co. The large area was well set up for live music, with plenty of room for the kids to play outside, and the refreshments were on point. One last place we managed to visit was The Surf Gallery – what an array of surfboards they had on display. With both of my girls recently sparking an interest in surfing, it was awesome to wander through the surfing museum, which detailed the history of the surfboard and where its beginnings lay. Best of all, my girls got to hold some famous surfers’ boards, including one of Mick Fanning’s. In addition to the wealth of attraction this small town had, you could also get back to nature by spending hours in the local William Bay National Park. There you could snorkel in the protected waters of Greens Pool, take a walk to Elephant * continued P74

Rocky outcrops, white sand and crystal-clear blue water – it doesn’t get much better than this.

The Dam provided a mix of fine dining and casual eating with plenty of room for the kids to play outside.

Couldn’t help but stop at Denmark’s biggest cone. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 73

TOURING & exploring Slater and the author checked out the view from the top of the Gloucester Tree.

Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk was high on the list of things to do around Walpole.

Spoilt for choice in southern WA * from P73

The Gloucester Tree was not for the faint-hearted, as the girls soon found out.

The Surf Gallery is a must-do for any aspiring grommet. Page 74 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Rocks, or freshen up in the natural freshwater spring on Waterfall Beach – all which were simply amazing. Walpole and Nornalup As mentioned, we planned to meet some family in southern WA and tour with them around the area. The first place we visited was the Valley of the Giants Tree Top Walk – to get everyone in the mood for climbing one of the massive karri trees. Unfortunately, the boardwalk section – the ‘Ancient Empire’, which is on the ground – was closed due to being upgraded to allow better access, though the tree top section was still open. I’m not afraid of heights but the same can’t be said for the entire crew, particularly when 40m off the ground. Despite that, all managed to work their way along the walk, which enabled us to appreciate just how big these

trees are – massive! To further explore this area, we ventured to a place where you could climb one of these ancient trees, so plans were made to head to the Gloucester Tree. The Gloucester Tree was originally used as a fire lookout from 1947 to 1952 and was one of eight lookout trees. Earlier this year, improvement works were carried out at the Gloucester Tree, which included repegging, so it

could be climbed safely to a height of 42m before reaching the platforms. When open, you can climb 53m to the lookout structure for spectacular views over the surrounding karri forest and farmland, which Slater and I did. Unfortunately, it looks as though this tree has since been closed on the advice of structural engineers, so that work can be done on the upper platforms.

The heights and trunk structures of some of the ancient karri trees were amazing.

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Gold Coast Pest Fishing Classic

ITY of Gold Coast and My Catch Australia need your help removing tilapia and other introduced fish – goldfish, Texas cichlids, koi and European carp – from waterways in the region on Saturday November 11 from 6am to 5pm. This is the first year the Gold Coast Pest Fishing Classic – formerly known as Tilapia Busters – has expanded to allow competition fishing to occur in all Gold Coast waterways, with standard fishing regulations still applying. The day aims to encourage the use of our park and waterway assets and raise awareness of how we can all improve the quality of our waterways. Along with enjoying the great outdoors and helping improve our beautiful lakes and waterways, there are a host of amazing prizes up for grabs, kindly donated by event sponsors. These pest fish outcompete our native species for food and shelter, they cause damage to aquatic plants and increase water cloudiness. They can also introduce diseases and parasites to our waterways that once introduced are difficult to remove. We also encourage anglers to identify and remove other invasive aquatic animals – redeared slider turtles – and ornamental fish such as platy fish and swordtails. All these species will be accepted at the weigh-in and should never be returned into our waterways. The event weigh-in ar-

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ea is located at Boowaggan Rd Park ‘n Ride area in Merrimac, opposite the Robina Parkway dog area. Important information before you register • Each attendee including supervising adults must be registered to attend • Further event details including location information is provided within the confirmation email as you scroll down • Juniors and young adults should be supervised by guardians or carers • Best suited for ages five and above but all ages welcome • This is an unsupervised outdoor event held close to water, each participant must agree to accept the indemnity clause. Tilapia Busters statistics Registrations for the 2019 event totalled 409, with 347kg of tilapia removed and 102 successful anglers. For the 2020 event, registrations were 338,

with 342kg of tilapia removed and 72 successful anglers. For the 2021 comp, of the 398 registrations, 71 anglers were successful and 302kg of tilapia removed. And registrations for the 2022 event totalled 482, with 95 successful anglers and 95kg of tilapia removed. The total tilapia biomass removed since 2016 is 3.175 tonne. In the 2022 event, 11kg of carp were removed – the first time carp have been weighed in. One red-eared slider turtle was removed during the competition and Biosecurity Queensland then funded a response that removed an additional red-eared slider turtle. The longest tilapia caught was 46cm. The largest bag was 57kg of tilapia. The smallest tilapia was 8.5cm. The longest carp was 50cm. Visit pestfishingclass ic.com.au for more information.

This is the first year the Gold Coast Pest Fishing Classic – formerly known as Tilapia Busters – has expanded to allow competition fishing to occur in all Gold Coast waterways.

City of Gold Coast and My Catch Australia need your help removing tilapia and other introduced fish on Saturday November 11 from 6am to 5pm.

Pest fish outcompete our native species for food and shelter, they cause damage to aquatic plants and increase water cloudiness. Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 75

Anglers fined for ignoring bans

Fisheries Queensland officers closely monitored the Mary River cod breeding areas. Photos: Fisheries Queensland.

A fish frame was left below Wyaralong Dam, which was stocked with Mary River cod.

ECENTLY two campers were fined $619 on the spot and others cautioned after breaching a freshwater fishing ban designed to protect the critically endangered Mary River cod. Fishing in southeast Queensland’s upper Mary River catchment and adjoining creeks was prohibited from August 1 until the end of October to safeguard Mary River cod during its breeding season. The species has been pushed to near extinction in its natural habitat by decades of hunting and clearing on riverbanks. Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee project officer Brad Wedlock said the simple act of pulling a male cod from the water for a photograph at this time of year could have devastating consequences. Mr Wedlock said male Mary River cod build nests, then guard and oxygenate the eggs. If that area is fished and a male cod pulled

Two people were fined for breaching Mary River cod fishing bans this year. Page 76 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

away from protecting its nest, other predators such as tilapia can come in and eat the eggs. “And then we just don’t get another spawning for this year, so one year goes without more Mary River cod fingerlings going into the river,” Mr Wedlock said. Fisheries Queensland field officer Benjamin Akers said his department had stepped up its strategy this year by putting up “a series of public information signs around popular fishing holes on the upper Mary River area in the closed waters.” The area was patrolled both on foot and via drone to monitor for any fishing activity. The two campers fined were found with fishing gear past fishing ban signage on the upper Mary River. The annual temporary fishing bans – upstream of its junction with Six Mile Creek near Gympie – also apply to Canungra and Guanaba creeks and parts of the Albert and Coomera rivers on the Gold Coast, plus the Stanley River above its Neurum Creek junction east of Woodford. People are encouraged to download the Fisheries Queensland Smartphone App. It will notify you of any closures, both of time and space, and it has a ‘Can I fish here?’ button, so it will use the GPS in your mobile device to locate you and say ‘Yes, you can fish here,’ or ‘No, these waters are currently closed. Numbers of the Mary River cod tumbled to as low as 600 individuals in the wild in the 1980s. Mary River cod need deep, cool and shaded

pools with submerged logs for breeding. They can be caught and kept with strict bag limits in some stocked dams, but they are a no-take species in the upper Mary River. The MRCCC is working with the Burnett Mary River Group and Griffith University to assess stocks of the cod in the river. Mr Wedlock said a long-term hatchery breeding program and decades of work to revegetate riverbanks had been successful in increasing numbers. “Fingerlings that were released 20 years ago have transitioned into adults and now we’re picking them up as breeding adults,” Mr Wedlock said. “We’ve only possibly got less than 1000 Mary River cod adults breeding in the Mary River – there’s not that many out there. “Our ultimate aim is to have a population of Mary River cod that is not endangered anymore, to make it a common species.” MRCCC chairman Ian Mackay encouraged fishers to abide by the temporary ban and said the future of the species “is in our hands.” “I’ve watched two frog species become extinct out in the Conondale before we realised what was happening,” Mr Mackay said. “I just really feel the onus of looking after these things is on us.” A Fisheries Queensland spokesperson said that while people who were travelling could still carry fishing gear, it must be securely stowed out of sight and not used in closed areas during the three-month ban.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 77

Deena managed a 102cm barramundi on a Jackall Super Squirrel 115SP.

Making the most of Monduran

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T’S been a very busy spring on Lake Monduran. A great population of fish and reasonable weather has meant that many anglers had the opportunity to land some lovely fish. With a lot of reports of fish between the 100-110cm range and a few 120cm beasts being landed as well. As always though, not everyone has been as lucky, but that’s the nature of barramundi fishing. To ensure you aren’t one of the unlucky anglers, there a few things you need to be

Lake Monduran by SAM ROWLEY

doing to increase your chances. For people who don’t have the time to do regular trips to the lake, it is important to give yourself the best chance of locating fish by purchasing the best quality sounder possible. Being able to find and be confident that you are on to decent numbers of fish is the first step to a good barra session. All sounders will

work in a way, however there are light years between the cheaper models and the more expensive brands. In my experience, the Humminbird side scan – such as the one on my Helix 12 – is the best you can get and is a vital tool in locating the better numbers of fish. Points, flats and backs of bays will be your go-to in November as the water really

* continued P79

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A suspending Guru Lures 105mm Provoke went down the gob of a 98cm barramundi.

Tyson and a solid 98cm barramundi taken on a Jackall Super Squirrel 115SP.

Making the most of Mondy * from P78

starts to warm up. The fish are likely to be very shallow at times in the afternoon and often up on top of weed beds in the back of bays. Making excess noise when you’re in the shallows is a killer when it comes to a pressured waterway such as Lake Monduran. These fish are very aware of your presence, so the less noise you make, the more chance you have of catching good numbers of fish – and more importantly, the trophy sized fish we’ve all come for. A good quality electric motor and an anchor or rope to tie on two trees are important tools to staying stealthy. In windy conditions, your electric motor will often spook fish, so in these conditions tying to trees and anchoring may be necessary. It is no secret that there are many different lures that will work for barramundi in various circumstances. One mistake that anglers can make is using a thousand different lures, in particular,

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lures that they have used for other species but that may not work at Monduran. There is a heap of information available online and on social media on what lures to use. A few lures to keep in mind for November would be 100-130mm jerk baits rigged to suspend with a diving depth of 1-2.5m. Suspending means not sinking or floating and this allows you to keep the lure in the strike zone for longer. This can be achieved through changing the size and weight of treble hooks and split rings. It is important to fish these lures very slowly, with twitches and pauses. Paddle tail plastics in the 6-10” sizes are also very effective on big barramundi through the warmer months. These lures can be fished anywhere, from a slow wind through to an almost full-speed retrieve when the fish are high in the water column and active. Putting the above into action should result in success for those heading to Lake Monduran.

Anthony captured a 103cm barramundi on a Molix Shad 120.

Lake Monduran Fishing Charters What’s the mission? Catch more fish!

0432 420 034 themondyman.com Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 79

Fishing at its Glenlyon best

Mitchell Petrie from Tenterfield with a monster 96cm Murray cod.

The author’s granddaughter Adelyn with her first fish at five-years-old, a 34cm yellowbelly from the bank. So much excitement.

RECEIVED an email from a good friend of mine, Daryl Cupitt from Biloela in Queensland, and it read like a breath of fresh air. Good afternoon Daryl, The Flynn team passed on your email regarding an all-waters permit system for Queensland. As an avid fisher myself, I’m always keen to explore alternatives that continue to improve our fishing opportunities in our own back yard. I will raise this with our Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Tony Perrett MP, for consideration as part of the LNP’s policy formation process in the lead up to next year’s state election. I know that much more can be done to improve the management of our waterways and, unfortunately, we see regular failures from the State Government. Thanks for raising this issue with your federal member! Enjoy the rest of your week.

Steve Norris with a solid 93cm cod. Page 80 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

Glenlyon Dam by BRIAN DARE

Kind regards, Bryson Head MP Member for Callide, Queensland More on this at a later date. Meanwhile, it’s been one heck of a fishing month in Glenlyon, with grins on anglers’ faces that you could not wipe off. The shrimp came on line at the right time and made it a whole lot better for all the yellowbelly and silver perch fishos. Lure fishing also proved to be the way to go in the evening, as the sun dropped behind the hills at sunset each day. The fish caught were of a good size and some stronger silver perch up to 42-45cm. We are yet to see the possession limit lifted to 35cm, along with the take-home quantity bought up to five and not two, as is the case currently on stocked dams. We have a problem with the silver perch on the river systems, as it’s two only and should remain as is, though a weir is classed now as a ‘storage’ upstream. Question… how far upstream before it becomes a river again? This needs to be re-worded prior to any change takes place within Fisheries’ regulations. Each year from September on, we see the grubs return – those who raid or take shrimp traps at the cost of honest anglers – be advised, the fine is over $1400 per trap.

This year, it has been good fishing and the next six months will be a season to remember. This storage is primed for anglers to record good-sized perch and cod too. School holidays have been and gone, with one great memory of taking my granddaughter down to the bank of the dam to fish. This being her second attempt, I was looking to see a big grin from her when she actually nailed her first fish. I caught two catfish that were released with the words, “When will it be my turn to catch a fish?” Ten minutes later a shout of, “Poppy, something is pulling on my fishing rod – help me!” I gave her advice on lifting up the rod while she tried to bring the first fish she’d caught to the bank. “It’s hard to wind in Pop,” said five-yearold Adelyn as she was winding up line. To my surprise, the flash of a yellowbelly about 34cm long came into the bank and took off again. There was a lot of shouting from the new freshwater angler, and the smiles and excitement were great to see, confirming the joy and fun she was having. “Can I keep it?” “Is it big enough to eat?” “Can I show Nan please?” This is a memory that will stay with her, as the words, “Can we please * continued P81

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Glenlyon Dam fishing at its best * from P80

fish again Pop?” are mine. Now it’s, “Can we go out in your boat next time and catch some nice fish to eat?” Yep, a new angler in the making, one who has experienced the fun of catching a fish, who now asks questions such as, “Was it one of those little yellowbelly we let go last Christmas?” Of course, the photo takes pride of place on the fridge at Nan and Pop’s, as well as at the kiosk at Glenlyon Dam. By the way, we had the fish for dinner the next night and it was enjoyed by all.

The stocking group at Glenlyon would like to give a special thank you to the Ballina RSL anglers and the Lismore Worker’s Club. Each year, this band of freshwater anglers fish out in a family competition. This year Ballina took out the point score. Once again, both groups put the funds collected together to help with restocking fingerlings into Glenlyon, which will take place on New Year’s Eve. We get to see about 60 children run around will little buckets of fish to put into the storage, while the boats and anglers do the same thing on the water.

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 18/10/2023

DAMS

PERCENTAGE

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 *

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

77 60 87 85 95 94 21 34 99 80 99 41 98 90 93 74 92 85 98 97 90 55 70 79 100 95 100 73 88 96

73 59 86 83 94 90 21 31 98 71 99 40 98 87 97 72 90 86 97 96 88 53 70 79 100 91 100 71 87 95

69 58 84 81 92 87 20 30 96 61 100 38 97 86 95 77 89 84 97 95 86 51 69 78 100 89 98 70 86 94

65 58 82 79 90 83 20 30 92 54 99 36 97 84 92 77 88 79 96 93 84 51 68 78 100 86 95 69 85 94

59 57 77 75 83 76 19 30 81 48 97 33 88 82 89 70 86 72 94 90 80 49 66 77 98 79 87 66 81 92

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.

GLENLYON DAM TOURIST PARK A great place to fish! • Powered and Unpowered Sites • No Domestic Pets or Generators • Kiosk • Ice • Gas • Petrol • Amenities Blocks and Laundry • BBQs • Hire Boats • EFTPOS • Fishing Permits

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GLENLYON DAM TOURIST PARK via STANTHORPE 4380 Contact Debbie or Brian Dare for more information or for bookings Ph: 02 6737 5266 E: glenlyondamtouristp@bigpond.com Visit our new website at glenlyondamtouristpark.com.au www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 81

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SELL YOUR BOAT – without the associated hassles and risks with a private sale – through John Crawford Marine, Queensland’s Used Boat Specialists since 1964. Seeking premium condition trailer boats to consign or purchase from Quintrex, Signature, Cruise Craft, Stacer, Surtees, Stessco and Sea Jay. Avoid the dodgy ‘phishers’. Call JCM on 07 3890 2322 or visit www.johncrawfordmarine.com.au

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HOOKER SERIES II CENTRE CONSOLE – A magnificent fishing rig purpose-built to suit the avid angler who wants extra space for moving around. Designed to

suit our local climate and sea conditions, it has many fishing features and certainly looks the part. You’re sure to enjoy this Aussie-made heavy-duty all-fibreglass fishing boat, with its uncluttered fishing decks, easy-care layout, agile performance and wonderfully soft ride. You can have plenty of fun with family and friends too, which makes this boat the perfect choice. Visit our yard and climb aboard to see how great this boat truly is! $75,990. Contact AMC Boats on 07 3808 7333 or visit amcboats.com.au

AQUAMASTER 420 RUNABOUT – A cool little boat that can provide loads of fun for family and friends. Go tubing with the kids up the dam, chuck a few pots in the creek, cruise the bays or fish with your family and friends. Can be easily towed behind your car and be manoeuvred single-handedly on the launch ramp. It’s also easy to store or garage, what more could you ask for? This is a boat the whole family can get onboard! $18,990. Contact AMC Boats on 07 3808 7333 or visit amcboats.com.au

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Cost per insertion: 2 lines $15, $1.10 per line thereafter. Contact details must be included in ad. NAME: ...................................................................................... PHONE NO. ................................................... MONTHS OF INSERTION: ...................................................... AMOUNT: $ ................................................... CREDIT CARD NO.: ___ ___ ___ ___

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Page 82 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

KELLERCRAFT 1980 – 5.5m half cabin in good condition. 130hp Yamaha 290 hours, Savwinch, perfect tandem trailer. $16,500. Ph: 07 4693 1478

ADVERTISERS – To organise a classified ad in the Trading Post, call 07 3286 1833 or complete the form and post it to the address provided or email it through to ads@collins.me dia

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My son Billy Sturgess caught a 75cm flathead at Woodgate recently. An exceptional fishing experience on the Gold Coast recently – I took two huge Kylie Sturgess mahi mahi on a double hook-up. The adrenaline rush on hearing the reels screaming was indescribable and seeing these beauties jump out of the water made the experience even more memorable – a moment of pure joy and happiness. Kristal McNamara

Copeton gold! While trolling a spot on Copeton Dam, my lure was smashed by this yellowbelly. It doesn’t get much Paige with her first bass that went to Jacko got into a monster of a bull shark recently. 42cm, from the Logan River. better! Andrew Green Cooper Caltabiano Adam Nicholls 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, November 2023 – Page 83

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Page 84 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au

WATCHING THEM LEARN. IT’S A STACER MEMORY WORTH KEEPING. For more than 50 years we’ve been building strong, reliable, aluminium boats you can depend upon, right here in Australia. Whether for fishing or family fun, the Stacer range has an enviable reputation for not just affordability but also great re-sale value. Have a talk to your local dealer – and start creating your very own Stacer memories.

Creating Stacer Memories is easy with the all NEW boat packages. Build your perfect boat in just three easy steps.

For more information contact your local Stacer Dealer:

WYNNUM | WYNNUM MARINE 31 Fox St, Wynnum P 07 3396 9777 E info@wynnummarine.com.au wynnummarine.com.au

www.bnbfishing.com.au

See stacer.com.au for details.

BOONDALL | NORTHSIDE MARINE 2294 Sandgate Rd, Boondall P 07 3265 8000 E info@nsmarine.com.au northsidemarine.com.au

ROCKHAMPTON | RIFEN MARINE 6 Dooley St, North Rockhampton P 07 4927 9150 E rifen.boats@bigpond.com rifenmarine.com.au

CALOUNDRA | NORTH COAST BOATING 22 Enterprise St, Caloundra West P 07 5493 9376 E sales@northcoastboating.com.au northcoastboating.com.au

BUNDABERG | ADRIAN’S MARINE 28 Ritchie St, Bundaberg P 07 4153 1819 E admin@adriansmarinecentre.com.au adriansmarinecentre.com.au

ASHMORE | WHITE WATER MARINE 10 Hinde St, Ashmore P 07 5532 4402 E sales@whitewatermarine.com.au whitewatermarine.com.au

MACKAY | PHOENIX POWERSPORTS 165 Paradise Street, South Mackay P 07 4952 2436 E admin@phoenixpowersports.com.au phoenixpowersports.com.au

STB&B 006

Stacer. Memories for a Lifetime.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 85

LIGHT, POWERFUL, DURABLE…

INTUITIVE

CONTROL

The game has changed… The ALL NEW Mercury 15-20hp FourStroke battery-free EFI range changes the way you will think about portable outboards.

• 13% lighter than previous model • Battery-free EFI for fast, reliable starting • New exclusive multi-functional tiller handle, adjustable for left or right handed operations Page 86 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Available now from:

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

GOLD COAST TR Marine 167 Currumburra Rd, Ashmore Q 4214 P: 07 5532 5812 E: elle@trmarinegc.com.au www.trmarinegoldcoast.com.au

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

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

BRISBANE SOUTH Australian Marine Centre 3491 Pacific Hwy, Slacks Creek Q 4127 P: 07 3808 7333 E: info@amcboats.com.au www.amcboats.com.au

ROCKHAMPTON Rifen Marine 6 Dooley St, North Rockhampton Q 4701 P: 07 4927 9150 E: rifen.boats@bigpond.com www.rifenmarine.com.au

BUNDABERG Adrians Marine Centre 28 Ritchie St, Bundaberg Q 4670 P: 07 4153 1819 E: sales@adriansmarinecentre.com.au www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au

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

CAPALABA Mike’s Marine 9 Smith St, Capalaba Q 4157 P: 07 3390 3418 E: admin@mikesmarine.com.au www.mikesmarine.com.au

YEPPOON Sea Breeze Marine 150 Scenic Hwy, Yeppoon Q 4703 P: 07 4933 6366 E: info@seabreezemarine.com.au www.seabreezemarine.com.au

GOLD COAST Onshore Marine Horizon Shores Marina, Woongoolba Q 4207 P: 07 5546 2480 E: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au www.onshoremarine.com.au www.bnbfishing.com.au

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023 – Page 87

SALE

IN STOCK

450 FISHABOUT PRO - 60HP

550 FRONTIER - 135HP

Includes: Mercury 60hp ELPT, painted sides, live bait tank, alloy trailer

Includes: Mercury 135hp, transom door, hydraulic steering, alloy trailer

NEW INTO STORE

SALE

590 CRUISEABOUT - 150HP

530 RENEGADE CENTRE CONSOLE - 115HP

Includes: Mercury 150hp, live bait tank, bunk infill board, alloy trailer

Includes: Mercury 115hp, bimini, painted sides, Lowrance sounder, hydraulic steer, alloy trailer

IN STOCK

NEW INTO STORE

540 OCEAN SPIRIT PRO - 135HP

460 RENEGADE SC - 60HP

Includes: Mercury 135hp, live bait tank, bimini and envelope, alloy trailer

Includes: Mercury 60hp CT, raised front cast deck, alloy trailer

Finance & Insurance available

* Mercury Finance terms and conditions apply. Photos for illustration purposes only.

Can’t make the yard? Shop online! For quality new and used boats! www.brisbaneboatingleisure.com.au 1743 Ipswich Road, Rocklea | Call 07 3875 1600 | Formerly Karee Marine Page 88 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2023

BNB Fishing Mag | November 2023

Articles inside

Making the most of Monduran

Summer species start stirring things up

Quilted oyster doonas bring versatility to shellfish restoration

Prime time for jacks, jewies, threadies and snapper