BNB Fishing Mag | November 2024

Awesome angling action

595

$

Includes GST

November 2024 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 35, Number 11

Options during barra closure Tackling Moreton Bay Training for tuna Back to basics

Proudly produced and printed in Australia

ISSN 1832-4517

11

9 771832 451001

Land-based fishing tips

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 1

Page 2 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 3

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From the Bush ‘n Beach Fishing editor

R

ECENTLY I received the news that one of our long-term writers Gary ‘Squidgie’ Palmer had passed away.

Our thoughts are with his family in these tough and trying times.

While Squidgie hasn’t written for a few years, he was an integral part of the BNB team for many years.

I can still remember getting his first article and someone emailing in about it – Gary said it how it was, or at least how he saw it.

He didn’t mince words and you knew exactly what he was thinking, which I believe gave him integrity – he fully backed whatever subject he was talking about.

Aside from writing for this publication, Squidgie also had a show where he talked about everything fishing.

Thankfully, Squidgie was keen and generous in passing on plenty of knowledge about fishing – he was happy to share his experiences so that punters could go out and catch a fish.

To say he was extremely passionate about angling is probably an

understatement – he basically lived it.

Unfortunately for me, it had been a little while since seeing him in person, but I’m thankful for all the texts and messages we shared over the years.

The banter and stirring we gave each other, especially around State of Origin, was crazy.

If you didn’t know, Squidgie was a fanatical South Sydney Rabbitohs and NSW supporter.

I’m equally as zealous, but a die-hard Queenslander, so there was plenty of communication each year in the lead up to and after the games.

I guess NSW winning this year’s State of Origin series lands a little softer now because Squidgie was able to experience one more win – which had been a little few and far between over the past decade or so.

Yet, his passion and alliance never wavered – that was the sort of man he was.

It’s hard to believe he’s gone – he will be missed by many!

Price rise Unfortunately, as the cost of producing the

In honour of a great fisho, BNB writer and fishing advocate, Gary ‘Squidgie’ Palmer. You will be missed.

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magazine has gone up – particularly posting and printing – we’ve had to increase our prices.

The last time there was an increase was January 2022, so we haven’t done too badly at keeping BNB affordable.

Even with this slight increase, we are still the cheapest and best value fishing and boating mag around.

Subscriptions have also risen slightly to $55 for one year and $100 for two years, with a sub possibly the better option if you don’t want to miss an edition.

FAD removal As part of the compensation for having a snapper and pearl perch closure, Fisheries Queensland deployed several fish aggregating devices off the coast in order to provide structure for the alternate species being targeted.

Unfortunately, Fisheries has decided to remove them for maintenance over the next six months.

This beckons the question – why do it now?

We are literally coming into prime time for pelagic fish, when these FADs will do their best work.

Second question – rather than remove a FAD, why not replace it with a substitute while the one to be maintained is away?

Seems logical, doesn’t it?

Well, that isn’t the case – from what I’m reading on social media communications, the FADs will be out of action for the remainder of 2024.

The new FADs are set to be returned in 2025, with a better design and maintenance solution.

Again, why hasn’t this

been addressed before now?

The FADs were a positive move by Fisheries Queensland, but the removal has many anglers confused and disgruntled.

Unfortunately, the Queensland Government is in care-take mode due to the upcoming election, so I guess we’ll have to wait until after that to get some feedback.

Ben Collins

OUR COVER Awesome angling action

$

595

Includes GST

November 2024 Print Post Approved PP100001534 Volume 35, Number 11

Options during barra closure Tackling Moreton Bay Training for tuna Back to basics

Proudly produced and printed in Australia

ISSN 1832-4517

11

9 771832 451001

Land-based fishing tips

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 1

BEN CHALMERS captured this beautiful beast at the Flathead Classic held on the Gold Coast recently.

NEXT EDITION: December edition will be on sale in news­agents from November 22.

NOVEMBER SUBSCRIPTION OFFER: See the subscription form on page 68 to subscribe this month and go in the draw to win one of 10 essentials packs - includes a Rapala buff, Z-Man 3” Electric Chicken MinnowZ and a pair of braid scissors, valued at $40 RRP each pack.

SEPTEMBER PRIZE WINNERS: Congratulations to A. Ryder, Suffold Park; R. Thompson, Taigum; C. Price, Capalaba; M. Green, Thornlands; D. Sneddon, Samford Valley; H. Baxter, Buderim; S. Bix, Tewantin and R. McDonald, North Bundaberg who will each receive a Ikipik from Evolve Tackle and a BNB cap, valued at $50 RRP each pack.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 5

9

November 2024 contents The lure of a prawn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Justin Willmer . . . . . . . . . . . . P8 Tide Times - Brisbane Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P12 2024 Moreton Island Classic wrap-up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P13 PBA trips around Moreton Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . P14 Land-based fishing tips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Sean Thompson . . . . . . . . P16

18

Straddie school holiday sortie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mick Clutterbuck . . . . . . . P19 Tackling Moreton Bay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mark Templeton . . . . . . . . P20 Fishing Events Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P23 Gold Coast Flathead Classic a reel success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P24 Getting back to basics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Clint Ansell . . . . . . . . . . . . . P26 Snapping a personal best. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Gavin Dobson . . . . . . . . . . P28 Lure and bait tips for fishing around Ballina. . . . . . . by Brett Hyde . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P30 Rigging mullet for jew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tye Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P32 OzFish launch sustainable fishing comps in NSW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P34 Bread and butter species at TCB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Rippon . . . . . . . . . . . . P38 Tide Times – Waddy Point. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P39 Training for battle on tuna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Tri Ton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P40 A full circle fishing moment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Chris Raimondi . . . . . . . . . P41 Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P43 Seventeen Seventy delivers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Mitchel Zygnerski . . . . . . . P44 Developing skills with boat and tech upgrades. . . by Gary Churchward . . . . . . . P46 Options during barra closure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by John Boon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P49 Still basking in Broome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Ben Collins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P52 Top Townsville trip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Keith Stratford . . . . . . . . . . P56 Keeping that outdoor spirit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Paul 'Chief' Graveson . . . P58 McGowan Island adventure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Craig Tomkinson . . . . . . . . P59 Back to big lake basics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Neil Schultz . . . . . . . . . . . . . P62 Freshwater access issues. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Brian Dare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P63

26 44

Dam Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P63 Baralaba Saratoga Classic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . by Helen Abdy . . . . . . . . . . . . . P65 Trading Post. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P66 Readers’ Forum ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������P67 Subscription Form ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������P68 Page 6 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

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13 Like us on Facebook (Bush ’n Beach Fishing Magazine), post your photos, share in the laughs and win prizes!

Check out our YouTube channel BNBFTV for boat tests, product reviews and other interesting videos.

20

Follow @BNBFISHINGMAG on Instagram to see cracking catches from all around the country.

38

56

e

Subscribe to the FREE BNB e-news on our website to receive email updates packed with the latest fishing news and important information.

w

Our website bnbfishing.com.au is updated several times a day with the latest news and handy fishing articles.

The Team

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

Bush ‘n Beach Fishing magazine is published monthly by Collins Media Pty Ltd ABN 43 159 051 500 ACN 159 051 500 trading as Collins Media.

Phone 07 3286 1833 Email: ben@collins.media PO Box 162, Wynnum, Qld 4178 PRINTER: SpotNews DISTRIBUTION BY: Wrapaway Max. recommended retail price $5.95 (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 2024 – Page 7

A selection of the author’s go-to jig heads for fishing the Z-Man 2.5”PrawnZ.

Michael Wright with a decent whiting that ate a Z-Man 2.5” PrawnZ.

The lure of a prawn

I

Emmett and a mid-60cm flathead taken on the Beer Run colour, flicked into a weedy drain.

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Page 8 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

AM a big believer in many of the old fishing sayings, such as ‘find the bait, find the fish’, ‘match the hatch’ and ‘think like a fish’ and, when the bite has been tough, it’s reflecting on these sayings and what I can take from them that has turned my sessions around.

In this article I wanted to reference another of these sayings and break down how it has turned a few sessions around for me recently, including the how and where, along with a couple of my go-to lures.

The saying that I am referring to is ‘everything eats a prawn’ and it’s so true.

Many anglers would have caught their first fish on a prawn and a packet of prawns from the service station would have accounted for most target species in the fresh and the salt.

It has always amazed me how many trophy captures have fallen to a dirty old prawn that turned black from being left in the sun.

And yet, the fish still eat it.

There’s no denying that prawns are tasty, they’re likely to also be

Tackle Tactics

by JUSTIN WILLMER

a much easier target for predators than a baitfish that can travel faster over a greater distance.

It’s common to have fish cough up prawns on capture or to find a large prawn inside a fish when filleting.

Prawns are still a popular bait option, however we now have access to some realistic and durable prawn imitations that can effectively out fish the real thing, especially without wading through the many smaller fish and vermin that also love to eat a prawn.

These prawn lures can also be stowed easily in your tackle bag or watercraft and are ready to go should the opportuni-

ty arise to fish them.

So, that’s the why we fish prawns – because fish love to eat them.

But when is the right time to fish them?

Without doubt, my goto plastics are paddle tails – they allow me to fish fast, cover plenty of water and fish also love to eat a baitfish.

So, why are we talking about prawns then… well, let’s look at a few recent scenarios where my prawn imitations have dominated the session.

Prawn season An obvious time to throw a prawn is when prawns are running – you can see them skip* continued P9

The author likes to fish his PrawnZ on a TT DemonZ jig head, with UV pop on the left and ultra natural on the right.

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The lure of a prawn * from P8

ping across the surface as fish chase them and they flick out of the water as your lure lands.

This could be a bit of a no-brainer – the fish will often be zoned in on prawns and the bites can be quick and aggressive.

I generally fish prawns slower than other lures, imparting a couple of sharp lifts of the rod tip to get the prawn kicking up before allowing it to fall slowly back to the bottom or into the strike zone.

This means you’re not covering as much water as you would be when rolling a paddle tail, so when fishing prawn imitations I tend to have a slower and more focused approach, which makes them very effec-

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tive for targeting structure.

Breaking down structure During some recent tough bite periods, I have turned to the dominant structure in the system to produce a few fish and it’s the prawn that has attracted the bites.

The slow fall and short kicks of the prawn keep it in the strike zone longer, attract the attention of the fish and stir them up until they eat it.

Key structure where I have fished these lures include mangrove edges, weed edges and drains – all areas where prawns would congregate.

I am slow and methodical when breaking down these key structures, fanning casts to cover the area thorough-

ly, ensuring that I make casts into any pockets in the weed, breaks or laydowns in the mangrove line and working slowly into the drains from the entry right into the tail of the drain.

Keep an eye out for current lines, where water is flowing over the edges of flats and weed, as this can be another area that holds prawns and where fish wait in ambush.

Fish will eat a prawn in super shallow water – I’ve fished them from almost no water to about 3m on the edges and in deeper drains.

The bites commonly come on the pause, as the prawn is falling back to the bottom, though I’ve had some aggressive takes throughout the * continued P10

A cracker bream on the author’s go-to Opening Night coloured Z-Man PrawnZ.

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 9

The lure of a prawn * from P9

That tail kick and the leg and antennae vibrations on the sink make the PrawnZ Elite effective and easy to fish.

Ryan Friske with a monster flathead fishing the Z-Man 3.5” PrawnZ Elite in Golden Boy colour.

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retrieve, so be ready for a brutal strike as they eat the realistic prawn imitation or that subtle tick on the line as it sinks.

Neap tides Another saying we anglers commonly use is ‘no run, no fun’, and it’s normal that when there’s little flow, the fish often seem lazy and don’t want to eat.

Without the need to battle the flow they seem to use less energy, require less food and have more time to eat passing bait, so their feeding seems less urgent and less aggressive.

This is not true of all species and scenarios, however there are times in the areas that I fish when the small high tides and high lows see the fish spread out and more passive.

Enter the prawn imitation – then the fish can’t seem to help themselves.

As always, it’s important to look for areas that offer structure and bait, then it’s time to put the prawn to work.

If, like me, you’re a run and gun angler who fishes fast, you consciously need to slow down, in keeping with the water flow and fish.

Reduce the target area from a large flat or channel to a weed edge, mangrove edge or drain and pick it to pieces.

As always, fan casts to cover water, and mix up your retrieve, including some long pauses with the prawn just resting on the bottom for a few seconds longer than you normally would.

Yes, just leave it there, count to three once it hits the bottom, if it helps, then give it a couple of flicks.

If I’m fishing super shallow then I’ll keep

the hops smaller or the rod tip lower so the prawn doesn’t blow out of the water then, as it gets deeper, you can make your flicks longer and more aggressive if required.

I’ve seen fish follow the prawn for some distance and even have a few swipes at it before it finally becomes too much and they commit to eating it, so be patient.

Two favourite prawn imitations Over the years, I have fished a stack of prawn lures, some are still around and some have disappeared into fishing history, and I’ve settled on a couple of favourites.

One is a river and estuary all-rounder and the other I use primarily to target flathead and larger predatory species.

Let’s look at the two in more detail.

Z-Man 2.5” PrawnZ This little 10X Tough prawn imitation has everything you want in a prawn, including a realistic profile, lifelike tail kick and that slow glide and fall that gets fish to commit.

It’s a bite-sized snack, so I fish it when I’m hedging my bets in terms of species, especially when bream are in the mix, having caught an incredible mix of species on this prawn – from whiting, bream and flathead, to grunter, trevally and snapper.

When I’m fishing it fast across the flats or slow in deeper drains and on deeper edges, I rig it on a 1/4oz 1/0 TT HeadlockZ Finesse or DemonZ jig head.

For more finesse applications, tough bites and slow fishing the * continued P12

Bream love a bite-sized prawn, this one rigged on a 1-8oz jig head.

The new Yabbie colour proved effective in the PrawnZ, especially when targeting sand flats and yabby beds.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 11

The lure of a prawn * from P10

Tide Times AUSTRALIA EAST COAST -

AST ST – BRISBANE BAR BRISBANE BAR

ONG 153° 10ʼ E igh gh and Low Waters NOVEMBER

me

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

Time

m

230 822 435 034

0.24 2.23 0.32 2.42

0303 0919 FR 1540 2115

1

0.34 2.27 0.56 1.97

16

0.18 2.60 0.44 1.94

0300 0932 SU 1606 2125

1

0.36 2.40 0.63 1.79

16

310 908 528 118

0.17 2.37 0.30 2.34

0331 0952 SA 1617 2147

0.34 2.31 0.58 1.89

0.21 17 0352 1022 2.63

0332 1009 MO 1646 2204

0.37 2.42 0.64 1.76

0.34 17 0414 1054 2.60

347 954 619 201

0.14 2.48 0.33 2.20

0.35 0430 0.28 3 0400 1026 2.33 18 1108 2.59

SU 1655 0.62 2220 1.81

MO 1757 0.55 2317 1.70

TU 1729 0.65 2245 1.73

WE 1830 0.62 2351 1.69

424 040 709 245

0.16 2.53 0.40 2.02

0429 1100 MO 1732 2255

0.38 19 0509 1155 2.50

0443 1127 WE 1813 2330

0.50 19 0534 1216 2.42

459 126 801 330

0.22 2.52 0.51 1.82

0.44 0007 1.60 5 0500 1137 2.28 20 0550 0.50

TU 1814 0.73 2334 1.64

WE 1242 2.38 1944 0.70

TH 1900 0.69

535 0.33 214 2.45 857 0.63

0532 0.51 1218 2.23 WE 1900 0.78

1.53 21 0101 0636 0.64

0019 0608 FR 1255 1950

019 614 304 001

1.63 0.47 2.33 0.74

1.57 0203 1.49 7 0020 0615 0.59 22 0731 0.77

TH 1306 2.19 2000 0.81

117 700 400 115

1.48 0.62 2.20 0.80

0120 0710 FR 1406 2111

236 802 507 227

1.40 0.76 2.09 0.79

1.52 0426 1.60 9 0240 0822 0.72 24 0959 0.90

406 930 618 328

1.43 0.84 2.04 0.73

1.61 0527 1.74 0446 1.91 0529 1.88 10 0404 0945 0.71 25 1110 0.89 10 1036 0.74 25 1125 0.99

518 1.55 055 0.82 722 2.05

1.79 0617 1.89 0551 2.10 0623 2.03 11 0516 1103 0.65 26 1213 0.84 11 1153 0.72 26 1233 0.93

017 614 200 814

0.65 1.71 0.75 2.07

0.44 0038 0.53 0024 0.37 0027 0.56 12 0016 0616 1.99 27 0701 2.04 12 0650 2.28 27 0710 2.17

058 658 253 858

0.56 1.86 0.68 2.09

0.32 0115 0.46 0115 0.32 0112 0.51 13 0106 0711 2.20 28 0741 2.17 13 0744 2.45 28 0753 2.29

132 736 339 936

0.49 1.99 0.62 2.10

0151 0.41 0154 0.46 0.24 0202 0.29 14 0151 0800 2.38 29 0818 2.28 14 0834 2.56 29 0835 2.38

204 812 421 011

0.42 2.11 0.58 2.07

0.19 0226 0.38 0248 0.28 0235 0.42 15 0233 0849 2.51 30 0856 2.36 15 0923 2.63 30 0915 2.45

234 845 501 044

0.38 2.20 0.56 2.03

0.38 31 0315 0955 2.51

2

4

0.39 2.31 0.67 1.73

6

8

1.52 0.66 2.17 0.78

SA 1514 2.17 2220 0.69

SU 1622 2.21 2321 0.57

MO 1725 2.26

TU 1215 0.58 1822 2.27

WE 1320 0.51 1915 2.24

TH 1421 0.46 2004 2.17 FR 1517 0.44 2052 2.06

0313 0936 SA 1612 2141

2024

Time Zone –1000 DECEMBER

SU 1704 0.48 2229 1.82

TU 1850 0.63

TH 1330 2.25 2038 0.75 FR 1422 2.13 2131 0.77

1.52 23 0315 0841 0.86 SA 1518 2.05 2224 0.74

SU 1616 1.99 2314 0.68

MO 1713 1.96 2358 0.60 TU 1802 1.94

WE 1307 0.78 1847 1.92 TH 1356 0.72 1930 1.89 FR 1441 0.67 2009 1.86

SA 1524 0.64 2047 1.82

2

0331 1009 MO 1700 2220

0.30 2.64 0.54 1.75

TU 1747 0.57 2307 1.72

0.39 0454 0.41 3 0407 1046 2.43 18 1136 2.52

4

0.42 2.41 0.67 1.70

TH 1911 0.67

0.46 0034 1.67 5 0522 1209 2.39 20 0615 0.61

6

1.67 0.53 2.36 0.68

FR 1256 2.31 1949 0.71

1.65 21 0120 0700 0.72 SA 1336 2.20 2029 0.72

1.66 0212 1.65 7 0115 0702 0.60 22 0752 0.84

SA 1345 2.33 2045 0.65

SU 1418 2.08 2111 0.72

0222 0806 SU 1441 2140

1.68 23 0315 0855 0.94

8

1.69 0.67 2.28 0.59

MO 1506 1.97 2158 0.70

1.77 0424 1.76 9 0335 0920 0.73 24 1008 1.00

MO 1541 2.22 2236 0.52 TU 1644 2.15 2330 0.44

WE 1745 2.07

TH 1308 0.67 1845 1.98 FR 1415 0.61 1942 1.90

SA 1515 0.56 2038 1.84

SU 1609 0.53 2130 1.79

TU 1601 1.87 2248 0.66

WE 1700 1.79 2338 0.62 TH 1759 1.75

FR 1332 0.84 1852 1.73

SA 1423 0.76 1941 1.73

SU 1510 0.69 2027 1.75

MO 1555 0.65 2111 1.77 TU 1638 0.62 2155 1.80

ureau of Meteorology First Quarter

New Moon

First Quarter

Full Moon Full Moon

Last Quarter Last Quarter 9

Page 12 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

shallows, I rig it on a 1/8oz 1/0 TT HeadlockZ Finesse jig head.

If you fish canals, areas with little flow and extremely finicky feeders, then you can drop it right down to your favourite TT Hidden Weight System jig head or the 1/20oz, 1/16oz or 1/12oz that you generally fish, giving it more time on the fall and more time in the strike zone.

This little prawn can also be rigged weedless on a TT NedlockZ EWG jig head, or a ChinlockZ or SnakelockZ Finesse in a size 2, if you really wanted to put it into some gnarly structure, through weed and timber.

A few colour favourites include Opening Night in clear water, Blood Oil in dirty water, Houdini as a great all-rounder and the new Yabbie colour has produced some great fish.

When fishing slower, scent becomes even more important, with Pro-Cure Super Gel in Shrimp or Saltwater Yabby/Nipper helping to sell your presentation.

Z-Man 3.5” PrawnZ Elite I’m often 50/50 on pre-rigged soft plastics, due to the quality of the hook and the amount of weight used, however the Z-Man pre-rigged stuff has always been ready to go straight out of the packet.

This pre-rigged prawn imitation was released at AFTA 2024 in August and it has blown me away, to the point that it is now in my top three flathead lures, alongside the 2.5” Slim SwimZ and 3” MinnowZ. The profile is spot on, the lifelike tail kick is deadly and the leg and

antennae vibrations on the slow sink need to be seen to be believed.

The 3.5” PrawnZ Elite is built on a strong quality hook, has a glass rattle for added attraction and the internal weight is almost 1/4oz, which is perfect for flathead in the shallows and on the edges.

When I took it out of the packet, I thought it might be a little large and then I proceeded to catch a stack of flathead from 30cm through to quality fish.

Even a 30cm flathead can inhale it so that only the antennae are poking out of its mouth.

I fish it with two hops and a pause, casting into the edges, shallows and pockets and working it back out.

It’s simple to fish, looks awesome and fish just eat it.

So far, I’ve only fished it half a dozen times for flathead, but it’s blown me away, especially when the bite is tough.

I’ve heard similar from anglers chasing mangrove jack, barramundi, mulloway and even

spangled emperor and coral trout on the reef flats, so I can’t wait to throw it for some other species.

There’s also a 5” model available, with a 1/2oz internal weight for anglers chasing a larger profile.

Everything eats a prawn Prawn imitations are an effective option in many scenarios and these are only a few examples.

If you find you’ve been struggling to get the bites during those shut-down sessions, tie on one of my favourite prawn profiles and give it a swim… it may unlock the bite you’re looking for.

Remember to be patient, mix up the retrieve to imitate a prawn and be ready for that subtle tick as a fish inhales the prawn… or your line takes off as a fish grabs it and races off.

Who knows what might be on the other end… everything eats a prawn.

See you on the water.

The Z-Man 2.5” PrawnZ rigged on a 2, 1 and 1-0 size TT HeadlockZ Finesse jig head.

Match the hatch.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

This winning tailor snagged the angler one of many great prizes.

2024 Moreton Island Classic wrap-up

T

HE Moreton Island Fishing Classic competition was very successful this year, with 208 adults and 42 juniors attending.

A northwesterly wind of about 10-15-knots hung around for most of the four-day competition, making the surf side of Moreton Island very easy to fish.

The competition started with registration and all juniors aged from four to 14 years received a Shimano rod and reel combination, thanks to Mossops Tackle Shop in Cleveland.

Moreton Island Classic 2024 shirts were also handed out at registration.

With the competition open and junior angler education underway, the following day saw the start of the Ladies Casting Competition.

South Queensland Amateur Fishing Clubs Association’s famous Australian Ladies Casting Champion Rachael Bunker instructed female anglers on how to cast overhead with the right footwork.

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One competitor cast 68.2m, winning her a pink Alvey reel.

The daily weigh-in was next.

The mystery ‘weight on whiting’ was picked at 0.197kg by a junior out of a selection of five weight envelopes and the winner received a rod and Alvey reel.

The winners of the heaviest of the six target species of the day all received a new Alvey reel too.

More winners came from random prize draws, followed by another five major entrant prize draws.

The following day was the junior angler education day at Tailor Bight where 23 juniors caught 58 fish, releasing 36.

At the weigh-in, the bream mystery weight was 0.421kg, with the lucky winner receiving a rod and reel.

The anglers with the heaviest fish of each target species all received a Gary Howard rod.

The final day saw the mystery dart weigh-in at 0.438kg, followed by the weigh-in for the

heaviest species of the day.

Winners received a beach chair, Esky and fully knitted wading bag.

Anglers with the heaviest fish overall for each species received a $1000 cash prize.

Two records were set at the competition for a 10.265kg mulloway and a 3.405kg tailor.

Second place for the heaviest fish of each species was $300 cash and third prize was an Esky.

Some quality fish were caught during the competition this year, making for some very happy anglers.

All 20 winners of the last major prize draw received some amazing ARB 4x4 Accessories prizes, Moreton Island Adventures vouchers and fantastic holiday accommodation vouchers.

We look forward to next year’s competition.

For more event details, go to the Moreton Island Fishing Classic Facebook page or more tonislandfishingclassic. com.au

A happy winner with his champion mulloway, caught at the 2024 Moreton Island Fishing Classic.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 13

St Helena Island was a high security prison from 1867 until 1932. Photo: NPAQ

PBA trips around Moreton Bay

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PBA members were treated to an informative tour of the island. Photo: Parks DESI Queensland

Offshore reef fishing fanatics WANTED One of Brisbane’s oldest deep-sea fishing clubs has vacancies for new members.

Owners of suitable vessels encouraged.

All levels of experience. Those without own vessels also invited to apply. Approximately 15 deep-sea trips per year. One week-long fishing holiday to town of 1770.

Monthly meetings, video shows, guest speakers and free nibbles. 4WD beach fishing and camping. Inshore fishing also on the agenda.

Interested? Then call Dave (0455 125 358) or Tim (0436 625 590).

POWER BOAT ANGLERS REEF FISHING CLUB INC Page 14 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

H I R T Y- f o u r members and guests of the club were treated to perfect weather conditions on a recent trip to St Helena Island.

Departing from Manly, it was a relatively short 30-minute journey over to the St Helena jetty, where the crew were greeted by the friendly staff before commencing an informative and enjoyable tour of the island.

For those who don’t know, St Helena Island was originally to be used as a quarantine station but overcrowding in local Brisbane prisons resulted in the conversion of the existing buildings and numerous add-ons to establish a high security prison, which operated from 1867 until 1932.

The island prison was totally self-sufficient, with all food, clothing and such grown or made onsite.

It even won international awards for the olive oil and leather goods that were made by the prisoners.

A tour through the ruins revealed a sombre hard life endured by all

Power Boat Anglers

by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

who were unfortunate enough to be sent there as a guest of His or Her Majesty.

If you haven’t been before, it’s a very enjoyable outing and highly recommended.

You’re guaranteed to learn some of the history of our magnificent bay and its surrounding islands.

Mid-September trip With a forecast of light wind first up escalating in the early afternoon, Arthur Woo and his crew headed out across a lumpy bay to navigate a tame northern channel of the South Passage Bar. After a rough trip out, they soon found a good show east of the cape and had their bag limit of snapper well within an hour.

The average was about 55cm, with many of these being released back.

The biggest fish landed went slightly over the 70cm mark.

Early conditions weren’t exactly favoura-

ble, with a solid 10-15 knot wind and plenty of white caps on top of an annoying easterly drift.

That said, the weather did drop out at about 11am, making it easier to get to the bottom, where they were able to bag a few nice pearl perch.

Not wanting to push their luck and knowing that the wind was to pick up again, they decided to head back.

The return was pleasant with an easy bar crossing and a glassedout bay.

Meetings Any interested parties are invited to come along to our monthly meetings that occur on the first Wednesday of every month at ‘The Club Manly’ (bowls club), 26 Faine St Manly from 6.30pm for a 7pm start.

The next meetings will be Wednesday November 6, then Wednesday December 4.

Until next month, safe boating.

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Email: admin@wynnummarine.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 15

Tailor can still be caught in season in suitable beach gutters during the day.

Fish the estuary flats up to the mangroves for whiting on a rising and early falling tide.

Land-based fishing tips

F

The beach at night can result in surprises, such as a nice flathead.

OR those new to fishing or who don’t have the resources or space for a boat, land-based fishing could be the only option.

Even for people who do have a boat, landbased fishing can be relaxing and also very productive when you know where and when to fish.

And for those who might not be able to afford a boat or prefer more exercise on the water, a kayak is a very handy transport vehicle to getting to land-based fishing spots further afield.

A giveaway on the estuary flats of suitable sand holding flathead.

Page 16 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

Fishing Tips

by SEAN THOMPSON

Reliance on technology It’s true, owning a boat opens up more options.

A boat gives you access to a wealth of technology – from stealthy electric motors, GPS and side scan sounders to water temperature readings, radars, devices to stimulate fish feeding and more.

In fact, sometimes we get so addicted and reliant on this technology that we forget about the basics, whether it’s reading a map or reading the water with your eyes.

If you can’t break your technology addiction, there are a plethora of mobile devices you can use from the shore, including portable fish finders you can Bluetooth to your phone and GPS units.

But I enjoy going back to basics.

Simply angler against fish.

The only difference is that the primal instinct to catch food to survive is replaced by the

sheer pleasure of having your feet planted on the sand, the bank or in the water while admiring the beautiful sights and sounds of so many fishing locations up close.

My message for those of you who rarely get out of the boat or think you need one to catch fish is to think again.

Not only can landbased fishing be occasionally more productive than when fishing from a boat, it’s also a lot of fun, great exercise and saves you the hassle of launching, retrieving and cleaning your vessel!

Given the high price of fuel, it can also save you plenty of dollars.

Yet another great option, which gives you the best of both worlds, is to do a combination of boat and land-based fishing during your day on the water.

This gives you the option to fish different areas at the times and tides that suit them.

There are loads of options for land-based * continued P17

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Land-based fishing tips * from P16

fishing, whether it’s the serenity of fishing a river, lake, dam or an estuary on foot.

Some advantages over a boat Obviously if your main form of fishing is reef, you have no choice but to fish from a boat.

The focus of this article is on areas – such as estuaries or freshwater rivers or lakes – where you have a choice of fishing from the boat and shore.

As you are more restricted in how far and quickly you can move on foot, it is even more important to target landbased locations wisely.

Yet, being on foot does give you a few advantages.

Such as: • You can fish much

shallower areas such as drains that whiting, flathead and trout might frequent in low-light periods • You have a lot more room to cast and can get right into the tight spots that can’t be accessed with a boat • It’s much easier to be stealthy and spot fish, then sight cast to them • You can move between nearby locations without disturbing the fish by walking over land or quietly wading the shallows, rather than spooking them with the motor or shadow of a boat • If bait fishing, you can pump yabbies at the edge of the water and create a berley trail while you fish with set rods.

Areas to target As land-based fishing might be the only fishing experience for newcomers or casual anglers, they can be uncertain of where to go.

This can unfortunately lead to comfort and ease-of-access influencing where they decide to throw a line.

Which could be straight into featureless water off a riverbank in front of where they parked the car, the busiest area of the beach where the sand track comes out or simply casting as far as they can off a nearby jetty into open water away from the jetty structure.

Likewise, even normally productive estuary flats can be unproductive if you fish the * continued P18

A nice flathead caught on soft sand featuring holes and pockets of weed.

Land-based fishing for flathead near drains on a falling tide with lures is a good option.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 17

Land-based fishing tips * from P17

Casting lightly weighted lures off marina jetties can turn up a myriad of fish such as golden trevally.

Berley is a great option when land-based fishing.

If you fish lightly weighted bait or lures, jetty fishing can be a lot of fun for the whole family.

hard featureless sand devoid of bait (such as yabbies and worms) and lacking structure, holes, ribbon weed or rocks.

So where are some of the best types of landbased locations?

The areas you should be looking for are listed below according to whether you’re fishing the salt or freshwater.

Whatever location you choose, simply follow a few key principles: • Use live or very fresh bait • Fish as light as you can • Use long traces and appropriately matched rods and reels.

Beach Suggested target areas include: • Shallow low tide gutters for whiting • Gutters near isolated rocks and headlands will often hold bream, tarwhine, dart and even soft reef fish • Deeper gutters with close back banks or steeply shelving beaches are good for tailor and are best at dawn or dusk and into the night, though don’t discount them at high tide during the middle of the day • Deep isolated holes or deep water close to shore with plenty of bait

Tailor action can be thick and fast at dusk from deep beach gutters close to shore.

Page 18 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

are spots worth targeting mulloway at night.

Estuaries • Recommended target areas include: • Shallow sand flats covered in yabby holes – fish the drains and little gutters on these flats up to the mangroves or the water’s edge on the faster rising tide, as well as the early stages of the falling for fish such as whiting and bream • Entrances to shallow drains and creek mouths on the falling tide for flathead • Edges of weed beds and drop-offs for flathead on the falling tide • Rock walls at the entrance to the estuaries, making sure to change your technique according to the tide for fish such as tailor, salmon, mulloway and luderick on weed baits in winter • Boat ramps with fish-cleaning facilities – target these spots with fish flesh bait, particularly late in the day or at night when most boats are gone • Sandy estuary entrances using live worms for whiting and bream, and yabbies or soft plastics for flathead • Directly under landbased structure such as jetties during the day using lightly weighted bait or lures, remembering to use a tight drag to drift your lines down under the shade and near the pylons where the fish feed • Safe jetties and marinas are great spots for kids to fish using lightly weighted bait such as peeled prawns or pilchard pieces and using berley to attract the fish • Marinas and jetties can also be top spots for more advanced anglers throwing and jigging lightly weighted lures for a myriad of species

• Bridge and jetty pylons at night, the boundary line between bridge lights on the water and the dark area beyond are good spots for tailor, flathead, mangrove jack and jewfish, as baitfish are attracted to the lights and predators often lurk at this boundary line.

Freshwater dams and lakes Optional target areas include: • Recently drowned green grassy banks holding worms and grubs after rainfall or snowfall (down south), particularly at night or dawn • Drowned timber using lures, bait under floats or unweighted bait such as shrimp • The steeper bank side of river bends that are carved out and form a deeper backwater • If legal to do so, the deep water near dam walls and downstream from the overflow after water is released • Off the bank among rocky structure such as granite boulders • Creek offshoots from dams • Pull up on lake islands in a boat and fish the steep side during the day or shallow side at dawn and dusk.

For those of you who want to get out of the boat more or simply want to get into landbased fishing, these are productive spots to try your luck.

Be sure to use plenty of berley, particularly around the slower change of tide periods in saltwater estuaries.

I hope these tips help you get into the fish.

For more tips from Skip, check out my Facebook page at facebook.com.au/on tourfishingaustralia

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Linda Tilbury with an illuminated dolphinfish.

Straddie school holiday sortie

G

OOD weather saw the Tilbury family head out in Lady Bird for a couple of nights over a full moon during the September school holidays.

Leaving Manly boat ramp late on Friday afternoon, they pulled up at the swim enclosure beach at Dunwich, anchored and walked up to the Straddie Brewing Co for a pizza and a couple of quiet beverages.

On arrival, they found the place full of like-minded families and were lucky to get a spot – exceptionally good pizza though.

After dinner, they moved to One Mile near the Little Ship Club before settling down for the night in the well-protected anchorage.

Next morning, a light air had Tim up and about poking and prodding the family to get out of bed, in a bid to get offshore before the wind came up.

They travelled through the Rainbow Channel on the South Passage Bar and headed to the coffee rock ground for some livies before heading out to the Point Lookout fish aggregating device.

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A tasty tuskfish captured by Tim Tilbury.

PBA Spin

by MICK CLUTTERBUCK

The place was well and truly alive with bait being harassed by mahi mahi as soon as they hit the water – great fun on light gear for sure.

The fish did seem to have a preference for slimy mackerel and hit them hard, while a little hesitant on yakka.

The Tilburys managed to get three dollies in the Esky and dropped a couple before heading back to the southern 35s to try for snapper.

On the first drop the fish pulled were mainly pan-sized snapper to 47cm.

Hoping for something bigger, they moved to various spots, landing some nice pearl perch, with the best one going to 59cm.

Next it was on to the 29s, where they found some good tuskfish before the tropical snapper moved in and picked the bait apart.

The time was never boring, with no shortage of whales trekking south to keep them on their toes.

With the day running out, it was time to head

back through the north channel for the last hour of the outgoing tide.

After negotiating the inner banks, they headed to Days Gutter to wander ashore and visit the Gutter Bar for a bag of ice and a feed.

While the sandflies were overly friendly, the drinks were cold and food was good.

Anchoring off in the deep water in the gutter again led to a good night’s sleep, with a gentle southerly keeping them in their sleeping bags.

The next day started with a breakfast fit for royalty, then off to Fishermans Gutter for a few whiting.

On arrival, they found a heap of the infamous grinners and then, after calling Robin Love for some expert advice, found a school and picked up a dozen to take home.

A great trip for some family time and to reiterate that we live in an awesome part of the world – good anchorages, great fishing and stunning weather.

Linda showed the crew how it’s done with a cracker pearl perch.

Tim boated a nice pearl perch.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 19

Dan’s cracker bay snapper came in at slightly over 8kg.

School mackerel of all sizes smashed bait off Shorncliffe Pier.

Tackling Moreton Bay

W Ian with a chopper tailor, a great species for light gear.

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0402 703 519 Page 20 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

HAT a cracker month it has been, with so many different species caught in Moreton Bay! Snapper were readily caught in the bay area, with a few personal bests ticked off the bucket list.

A cracker that Dan landed came in at slightly over 8kg.

It’s one to be proud of, well done Dan – I think it was a close to the boat Blackjack’s PB too.

There are still a few chopper tailor hanging about Woody Point Jetty, the Shorncliffe Pier and in Moreton.

They may be throwback size, but they’re a great way to have some fun with the kids on light gear.

We nailed a few towards the end of Shorncliffe Pier on Bream Bites – Tackle Land’s in-house bait – and baby blues (small pilchard) on small #4 Kumho gang hooks.

They provided hours of entertainment and onlookers were entertained with the way these little fish were

Northern Moreton Bay

by MARK TEMPLETON

striping line off the light gear.

In between catching tailor, we watched flashes of silver chase both baitfish and tailor.

I sent an unweighted blue bait down, slowly lifted it when it sunk and on the uplift,

school mackerel of all sizes smashed the bait.

I landed only one small fish, which was released, and a much larger mack emptied two thirds of my spool as it headed towards Woody Point. * continued P21

A basic mack rig of #4 Kumho gang hooks with small pilchard.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Tackling Moreton Bay * from P20

I managed to get it to the pier so we could have a look, but unfortunately the bream gear wasn’t up to the challenge and the fish cut loose.

Here’s a first… Harry was at Baxters Jetty fishing very patiently with his mum and pop when he was realised he was down to his last prawn.

Thinking it was going to be a dud fishing trip, he put the prawn on, cast out and started packing up when his reel began to scream.

Harry quickly grabbed his rod and did battle with a 65cm flathead.

His pop, seeing that it was a cracker, helped Harry by netting it for him.

An awesome team effort Harry and Pop. And we can’t forget Mum, who had picked the bait up.

Also, this was the first flathead Harry had ever caught – what a cracker for his first!

It just goes to show, even when you think it’s all over and time to pack up… boom, fish on!

This will be one to remember.

Many times, you’ll head out for a fish and have the species you’re going to target in mind.

You set out, catch some herring and send the bait out.

So, I don’t know that Eric was ready for what destroyed his live herring.

Eric had only just settled in when a beast of a jewfish decided to amp his adrenaline up by torpedoing toward open water.

After a decent battle, Eric came out triumphant in the end.

It was a well fought and a well-deserved dinner he took home that day.

Well done Eric, a great fish and a great story to go with it.

As school mackerel are in good numbers at the moment, Geronimo

This beast of a jewfish amped up Eric’s adrenaline.

* continued P22

Harry did battle with a 65cm flathead.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 21

Light gear, live bait and hours of dedication paid off for Geronimo and Oliver.

Vivian landed a solid 50cm snapper on her ever-faithful pink rod.

Oliver added a very nice 65cm flathead to his recent catches.

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Page 22 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

Tackling Moreton Bay * from P21

and Oliver got into the action too and took home a good feed.

These anglers love fishing from the Shorncliffe Pier and are out every chance they get.

Well done crew – the light gear, live bait and many hours you put in really paid off.

And Oliver was at it again.

Fishing Shorncliffe Pier with Geronimo and Cullen, it wasn’t long before Oliver found the fish once more.

Adding a very nice 65cm flathead to his recent catches.

Good job Oliver, I dare say we haven’t seen the last of your great catches.

One of our junior female anglers had an awesome day out on

Moreton Bay with her family during a good weather window.

Vivian landed a solid 50cm snapper on her faithful pink rod.

Her dad Ben said that when they’re out fishing, Vivian’s pink rod seemed to do all the damage, and by the looks of things, it again brought dinner home.

Nicely done Vivian, I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of your fishing achievements in the near future.

If you want to have some fun off rock walls, piers or jetties, grab a small selection of shallow diving lures or small plastics with light jig heads and test out the shallows.

It is a great way for kids to be able to see what action different * continued P23

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Tackling Moreton Bay * from P22

lures or soft plastics have when retrieved at various speeds or how they react with the occasional twitch or flick.

Surface lures are awesome weapons to have in the tackle kit.

It’s pretty cool seeing how surface poppers such as Sugapen, Nomad Maverick and little Chug Norris lures work, as well as hearing the amount of noise they can make.

And the first strike or hook up you get on a surface lure is a memory that is burnt into your brain, such an awesome feeling.

Spice up your trip and step out of your comfort zone – throw some topwater lures, you won’t regret it.

Speaking of throwing lures, Eric and Xuan recently cast out Daiwa Double Clutches in Chrome, chasing whatever was boiling up the baitfish one morning.

After a few casts, with a new Tairyo rod, Eric was blitzed by a cracking little mack tuna.

As with jewie, the tuna made him earn the right to do battle and

fought him all the way.

Eric was very fortunate to land this fish because most head straight for the pylons and snap you off.

Another dinner was provided from the incredible Moreton Bay. Well done Eric and Xuan.

Oliver seems to be starring in this edition – not only is he catching great fish but, and this is a first for me, he nailed a samson fish from Shorncliffe Pier!

A sambo!

I just can’t believe the incredible number of different species we can catch around our local waterways.

The other week we caught an Australian salmon and now Oliver caught and landed a juvenile sambo.

It was one of those ‘if there wasn’t a photo, it didn’t happen’ scenarios.

I can’t wait to see what Moreton Bay will throw our way next.

An awesome job Oliver – now go back for its big brother.

Be safe out there and enjoy every moment on or around the water.

Eric and Xuan cast out Daiwa Double Clutches in Chrome and came up with a cracker mack tuna.

Competition Winning Performance

FISHING EVENTS EVENT

DATE

LOCATION

2024 Gold Coast Pest Nov 2 Fishing Classic

Gold Coast, Qld pestfishingclassic.com.au

2025 Capricorn King Jan 31 - Feb 3 Yeppoon, Qld of Kings kingofkings.live/tournament

Oliver nailed a samson fish from Shorncliffe Pier.

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Sanctuary Cove May 22-25 International Boat Show

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Rainbow Beach Jun 8-14 Family Fishing Classic & Expo

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To have your competition listed in the calendar, please phone (07) 3286 1833 or email ads@collins.media Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 23

Special presentation to the junior anglers, with kids’ packs gifted by our sponsors.

John was the winner of the major draw, thanks to Surf Coast Marine.

Gold Coast Flathead Classic a reel success

T Off the Gold Coast, classic senior team fishing.

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HE 2024 Gold Coast Flathead Classic reeled in a fantastic few days of fishing, fun and fierce competition, all blessed by near-perfect weather.

Anglers hit the water with enthusiasm and, as the final day wrapped up, the weather held long enough for a full day of fishing and an exciting evening of presentations before a dramatic turn, with wind and rain bringing the event to a thrilling close.

This year saw an impressive 5952 flathead caught and released – a testament to the skill and dedication of the 303 teams and 750 plus anglers who participated.

But it wasn’t only about the fishing.

The classic continues to have a positive impact on the local economy, with participants and their families filling local hotels, restaurants and supporting shops and other businesses in the area.

This ripple effect contributes greatly

to the event’s ongoing success and the vibrancy of the Gold Coast community.

With over $500,000 in prizes, giveaways and rewards up for grabs, the Flathead Classic keeps its promise of giving back.

For every $1 received in angler registration fees, $2 is returned in prizes and giveaways – a clear demonstration of our commitment to celebrating and supporting the fishing community.

We couldn’t have done it without the generous backing of our sponsors, including Surf Coast Marine, Quintrex, Suzuki Marine and many more.

A special shout out to our incredible volunteers, local businesses and of course, the participants for making this year’s event one to remember.

Mark your calendars for next year.

We’ll be back with even bigger prizes and plenty of fish to catch at the 2025 Flathead Classic!

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 25

Terry caught a solid giant trevally on a beachworm.

Nick and his son Raff enjoyed a river charter with the author.

The author’s six-year-old son Jordi getting hooked on fishing.

Getting back to basics

F

In the Nerang River, big whiting of 42cm are not rare.

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OR me, getting back to basics when river fishing never gets old or boring.

There’s something about the old-school way of anchoring and casting out bait.

Maybe it’s the tranquility or the ease of it – either way it’s hard to beat for effectiveness and enjoyment.

We are fortunate that the Nerang River regularly produces good numbers of sand whiting all year round.

Depending on the time of year or rainfall, the fishing can be great anywhere from upriver to the southern end of the broadwater at Southport.

Generally, when the water is clear and there hasn’t been heavy rainfall, the fish will move further upriver or feed at night near the council chambers.

When there’s been hundreds of millimetres of rain, the best fishing is downstream.

Among the schools of big whiting, there will also be juvenile mulloway, trevally, grunter, bream and tarwhine.

Nothing is more im-

Broadwater Guide

by CLINT ANSELL

portant when river fishing than the right bait.

Worms are great anywhere upriver from Sundale Bridge, while yabbies are best in the broadwater.

If you can get them, bloodworms are the better option but I use beachworms and they still work well.

Next is the right tackle.

You don’t need expensive gear for light-tackle bait fishing, though I do like soft-tipped rods of at least 7’ paired with 2500 size reels.

Because 10lb monofilament is an ideal main line for this type of fishing, you don’t need braid for your line.

The trace that works for me is a number 3 ball sinker running above a small swivel, then at least 1m of 6lb fluorocarbon leader attached to a number 2 size Mustad fine worm hook.

Using a light leader helps fool large wary whiting while keeping the reel drag light * continued P27

Mark was happy with a decent sand whiting.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Getting back to basics * from P26

enough to prevent bust offs from even bigger fish.

Only use a small bit of worm on each bait – just enough to completely cover the whole hook.

From there it’s a matter of finding the fish and every day is different.

I move many times a day but often cover only a short distance.

If I don’t get bites after 10 minutes on a new spot, I’ll move on.

I have a Minn Kota Ulterra electric motor, which is great for spot locking.

I do not miss the days of dropping and pulling anchor 20 times a day.

Fish in the river love tidal flow and feed hardest during the strongest part of the flow.

Mostly, I find the better fish in shallow areas no deeper than 3m – usually 1-2m is best anywhere in the river.

I cast out as far as I can in, or side on to the direction of the tide.

If you cast against the tide, the trace will come back towards you with the flow, resulting in missed bites and rolling over snags.

Once the bait is cast out, I always place the rods in rod holders.

Whiting are often timid feeders and when holding the rod it’s too tempting to strike early and miss good fish.

Whiting will first mouth and slowly crush the worms before swallowing, so be sure to wait for the rod tip to fully load up before striking only once to set the hook.

Most other fish will greedily grab the bait and instantly run.

If a rod hasn’t had a bite in five minutes, wind it in, check the bait and cast back out at a slightly different angle and/or distance.

When you catch a good-sized whiting, try to remember exactly where you cast the last bait and repeat the process.

Whiting are a schooling fish, so there’ll often be more where you caught the previous one.

They move slowly with the tide while grazing on food.

In Queensland, the current size limit is 23cm for sand whiting, 25cm for bream and tarwhine, 30cm for spotted grunter and 40cm for barred grunter.

Sand whiting have a possession limit of 30 per angler.

In my opinion this is

too much and should be halved.

Just because you can catch and keep more fish, doesn’t mean you have to.

Personally, I would only keep enough to eat fresh for one dinner, and I never freeze fish.

Remember, it’s not a daily limit – whiting in your freezer counts towards the possession limit.

Also, if the fish you’re throwing back has swallowed your hook, remember to remove it first.

Often these fish won’t survive, floating away to get picked up by birds of prey, and we don’t want these beautiful birds getting hooks in them.

To book a charter with myself or Brad, or if you have any fishing related questions, visit goldcoastrivercharters. com, text 0432 990 302, email fishingwithclint@ gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Brad Smith Fishing Charters.

Mark’s spotted grunter.

A good-sized sand whiting measuring 38cm.

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This nice grunter put up a good battle for Lexi.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 27

A nice snapper and pearl perch for the author.

Bethany with a mack tuna. Some rods accidentally onboard for a whale watching trip.

Snapping a personal best

O

Hayley got in on the tuna action.

Page 28 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

NE of the best snapper seasons we’ve had on the NSW north coast has come to an end.

Of course, these fish are still there, but nothing like they were.

Something I’ve done only occasionally in the past was to hook two snapper on the one rig.

This year however, most boats were talking about having done it.

The snapper must have been that thick they were trying to rip the bait out of the hooked fish’s mouth, instead finding a second hook.

The current did cause problems towards the end of the season, however the fish were so thick, you only had

Tweed to Byron Bay

by GAVIN DOBSON

to get near the zone and you were on.

I love catching a personal best and managed to do it when fishing for snapper, even though it wasn’t a snapper.

The wind was blowing, the current was raging and in general, I wasn’t happy to be out there.

I was on my first drift and had missed the mark by a fair margin.

I did feel like my bait hadn’t gone anywhere near the zone depth wise, but I continued with the drift regardless.

I was way past my mark and hadn’t seen a fish on the sounder.

The bottom was flat and sandy and, because I was off the spot, I stopped free spooling with the bait lifting higher in the water column.

I started winding in flat out and had at least 15m back on the reel when whack!

The hit on the braid with a fast retrieve was quite savage.

I assumed it was a snapper because that was the intended target, plus they will hit a bait on the retrieve high in the water column.

It fought hard and I had no reason to think it was anything other than a snapper, until a * continued P29

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Snapping a personal best

410 Challenger

or more onboard these days for fresh sashimi or ceviche.

And of course, there’s the sporting aspect because not much pulls harder or fights dirtier.

Out a bit wider again, if the warm blue current pushes in, this is the best month to look on the 50-fathom line for good-sized mahi mahi.

The same goes for the shelf, with big yellowfin grabbing lures there too.

If all else fails, hit the river for a few whiting or flathead.

Sand crabs should also be about at this time of year, and don’t forget mangrove jack will be feeling hungry as their bodies warm up.

Hayley multitasked, whale watching and catching donkey parrotfish at the same time.

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So, with snapper pretty well finished, what do you do in November?

While in most years November can be a tough month, there’s always something to chase.

In close is hard, with the possibility of a jewfish or snapper, though they won’t be thick.

November is traditionally the best month for yellowtail kingfish on Windarra Banks.

Once a much-maligned fish, most boats are happy to have one

LOW

big pearl perch came into sight.

I couldn’t grab the gaff quick enough!

When it was onboard, I admired it’s size but couldn’t decide how big it was.

I’ve caught some nice pearlies over the years to 5.5kg, though I had to wait for the official measurement – one minute I thought it was 6kg and the next perhaps only 5.

Anyway, as you can surmise, it was over my personal best, weighing in at 5.77kg.

A few people asked what technique I used to catch it, my reply was ‘the fast mullet fillet retrieve way out over the sand 30m off

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Lure and bait tips for fishing around Ballina

H

ELLO all, well I guess there’s nothing more exciting than starting the summer off with a flood… a little sarcasm there.

This most recent event provided us with a downpour of slightly over 6m in Lismore.

While not to the catastrophic levels of 2022, it was still enough to make plenty of people around the area more than a little nervous.

Surprising was how swiftly the river began to clear itself after this flood.

Ballina Bait & Tackle

by BRETT HYDE

As per usual, if we don’t receive any massive follow-up rainfall over the next few weeks, the discoloured water should clear quite quickly, particularly as we have a couple of reasonable tides around the corner.

I’m fairly confident it will also help to fire the fishing up for the warmer period ahead – fingers crossed.

Shortly before the flood arrived, summer

species were beginning to fire up.

Now the deluge, along with a few windy and cooler days, seem – at the time of writing – to have stalled things for a while.

Reasonable numbers of whiting emerged from North Creek and while a couple have been caught since the drencher, their numbers have certainly thinned out.

Smaller fish were grabbing the usual bait such as worms and yabbies, with the better-quality fish belting surface poppers and stickbaits.

We probably need to allow a couple of weeks to give the water a chance to improve further, then I would expect to see whiting return in the quantities they were before the floodwater hit.

Flathead and mud crabs were in a similar situation, with decent amounts starting to arrive before the torrent.

They will improve

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Rick with a quality snapper from the 32-fathom line.

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02 6686 2527 Page 30 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

reasonably quickly as the water clears and the weather continues to heat up over the next few weeks.

Flathead were in the process of moving towards the mouth of the river in preparation for their breeding season, so the flood has hastened their summer migration.

From Pimlico Island to the mouth will be the best section of river for flathead over the next few months, though you may find them congregating in some of the deeper spots of the river as the water temperature increases.

While the discoloured water doesn’t bother bream anywhere near as much as other species, they will enjoy the improvement in quality over the next few weeks, as they begin to make their way upriver for summer.

Rock walls and sand flats will become a haven for bream over the coming months, and small hard-body lures, surface lures and bait such as prawns, mullet and worms will all be good options for those wishing to chase a few over the warmer months.

Mangrove jack will also be haunting rocks walls during this time, and terrorising live bait and lures placed in front of their noses.

Great options if suspending hard-body lures are Lucky Craft Pointer, Samaki Redic and Jackall Squirrel, top lures as far as hard-bodies go.

If you prefer a soft plastic option, the Daiwa Bait Junkie Minnow 4.2”, Crush City Heavy Hitter from Rapala or DieZel MinnowZ from Z-Man are

the way to go, with a 1/4 or 3/8oz jig head.

Offshore, the water temperature has climbed early this year but as yet, the current has not kicked in to any significant degree.

The increase in water temp has meant the majority of snapper have moved from the close reefs already and taken up residency on the 32-fathom line or beyond.

Producing plenty of the fish in recent weeks have been 7-9” soft plastics rigged on 1-2oz jig heads, as well as octo-style jigs such as the Daiwa Kohga.

Those targeting snapper, pearl perch, kingfish or amberjack out wider had the most success on either live bait or speed jigs.

Up and down the coast, fish aggregating devices have been put back in place, ready for the summer pelagic season.

The FAD is located on the 32-fathom line, and mahi mahi, marlin and small kingfish have set up camp in this area already.

Lightly weighted pilchard, live bait, soft plastics, vibes and metal spinners are all great options for these species.

The other great way to find fish at this time of the year is to troll skirted or hard-body lures about.

It would definitely be worth starting in the area near the FAD, and moving wider in search of a current line or temperature change if you want to target extra-large mahi mahi or marlin.

That’s all from me this month.

Until next time, tight lines and happy times.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 31

Rigging mullet for jew

F

For live mullet, the author pins one 10/0 hook at the back of the head, with the second hook slightly above the anal fin.

When fishing with whole dead bait, simply cut one side as shown and place hooks the same as with a live mullet.

ISHING the Iluka and Yamba areas for breadand-butter species such as bream, luderick, whiting and flathead over the past month has been fair to good, with whiting numbers and sizes steadily increasing, which is to be expected as we head into summer.

Look, I know that flathead are rated as a summer species but the fact of the matter is that you can easily catch them year round in most river systems in the Northern Rivers of NSW. I can take you out in a boat in the dead of winter with a spotlight and show you 1m long lizards laying on the rocks of retaining wall edges submerged at high tide, waiting for a hapless flat tail mullet to swim by.

Last summer, we didn’t really have the chance to chase many whiting at night, though

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www.bnbfishing.com.au Page 32 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

Just Jew

by TYE PORTER

this season, we’re keen to give them a red-hot crack along the southern bank of Goodwood Island during a falling tide.

In recent weeks, some very nice deepish water has finally formed along the ocean side of the Iluka wall and during daylight, several anglers have landed good feeds of whiting from it using live nippers, as well as a handful of swallowtail dart and pan-sized bream.

The ever-popular old ferry approach in Iluka continues to yield nice feeds of luderick, though the size has dropped considerably, with most of the bigger fish having headed to the walls and headlands for summer.

Also, an occasional nice school jewfish has been taken from this spot on live herring during the low water change of tide – the beauty of this location is that you can fish right next to your vehicle.

Over on the Yamba side of the river, half decent chopper tailor to 2kg were being spun up on metal slice lures at Lovers Point, while the Yamba breakwall has fished well for nice school jew around the 10kg mark on live yellowtail at night.

And the approaches to Oyster Channel Bridge have produced just-legal school jewies on soft plastic lures, along with a few nice flathead to boot.

Here at Iluka, tailor are still being annoy-

ing along the beaches, with barely a fish caught, and yet those anglers who were spinning the headlands had no trouble getting a feed, so go figure.

The yellowtail kingfish I mentioned last month appeared to have moved on, but a strange thing occurring from time to time is that solid schools of longtail tuna are still feeding along the wall and at the back of the surf break on Main Beach, which is unheard of at this time of year.

There were excellent bream and whiting formations along the beach at Shark Bay near One Tree, with a lot of anglers having a ball getting a good feed on light line.

Yet when I drove the beach recently looking for good jew water to drown a mullet, I found some of the best water I’d seen in years – right up the top end, near Black Rocks – but unfortunately it was loaded to the hilt with kelp, which just about sums up my fishing of late.

In the 30 plus years writing for this magazine, I’ve previously never repeated anything I’ve done.

However, in recent months, I’ve been asked via email and on Messenger how I rig my live mullet when fishing the beaches, so I will briefly run through it again.

Whether I’m using a small flat tail mullet in * continued P33

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Techniques for rigging mullet for big jewfish * from P32

the river during winter or fishing the beaches with a large sea mullet, I always use a twohook rig that consists of two 10/0 Eagle Claw 6045BU hooks and 5070lb leader, as shown in the accompanying picture, connected to 30lb mono main line.

For a live bait, insert the first hook slightly under the skin on the back of the bait’s head, then the second hook – the one closest to your swivel – just above the anal fin, which allows the bait to easily swim away from you.

When fishing the beach for big jewies with live bait, I always look for a decent rip that will take my bait out, be it dead or alive.

And, more often than not, once your bait finally gets out the back – sometimes even on the way out – it gets eaten by something bigger, even if it is only a toothy old shark.

If you find a good rip on a beach but don’t have a live mullet, it’s worth trying a few casts with a metal slice lure in the hope of getting a chopper tailor for bait, which in my books is the ultimate live bait for a hungry jewfish.

If all that fails, grab a few whole dead mullet from the local fishers co-operative and cut one side of fillet, from the tail forward to the pectoral fin – as shown in the pic – and set your two-hook rig as

you would a live mullet.

In a proper rip, once you cast the dead bait into it, the cut fillet will open out and act as a sail and the bait will get drawn into the water current – it is important that you put minimal resistance on either type of bait, simply let the rip do its job.

You may find your bait will go straight out the back, though once out of the rip, it washes back towards you – this is quite normal.

However, you will find that, more often than not, once it comes back a certain distance, it will wash back into the rip and go out again, so have patience.

Also, if you suddenly

feel more pressure on your line than normal, it pays to strike because when fishing this way, you never actually feel the initial bump of the fish hitting your bait, all you feel is your line getting tighter, so if in doubt, hit it.

Of the methods I’ve used to catch big jewfish since 1978, using a live bait from the beach is by far the least productive in terms of success rate, however the average size of the jew makes up for it in spades.

One thing you will learn fishing this style is that there’s no shortage of sharks about, so you had better stock up on hooks.

If nothing else, learning how to fish this

way will simply give you another piece of ammo to put in your arsenal in the quest for that elusive big silver ghost, good luck.

November is definitely the month that the offshore crew begin to get excited.

Any time now, the first reports of spotted mackerel will begin to filter in from the warmer water of Woody Bay and then, by the end of the month, spanish mackerel should also have been boated.

As for myself, if nothing else, I really want to spend a few nights chasing big whiting – if the mosquitoes leave me alone for long enough.

Until next month, safe fishing.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 33

Reflections Holidays and OzFish launch sustainable fishing comps in NSW

S

USTA I NA BL E fishing charity OzFish Unlimited and social enterprise Reflections Holidays are pleased to launch the Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series, a series of angling competitions held in NSW’s premier fishing destinations across three weekends in 2024 and 2025.

With a wide variety of fishing categories, a $25,000 prize pool per event, family friendly

entertainment and plenty of activities, keen anglers are encouraged to tune up their tackle, pack their favourite rods and book a stay with Reflections Holidays for a weekend of fishing that can keep waterways, and fish, healthy for the future.

The Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series will be held at: • Copeton Waters, November 1-3, 2024 • Burrinjuck Waters, March 21-23, 2025

• Lake Keepit, May 1618, 2025.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the competition on Friday or Saturday.

All profits from entry fees will be used

by OzFish to restore fish habitat in the local catchment area, and with a keen focus on sustainability, entrants can expect a few changes to the regular fishing competition format.

Fish health will be at the forefront, with a

Each Reflections has a OzFish Tackle Loop bin for safely depositing old fishing tackle and anglers are encouraged to bring along old rods, reels and other unneeded fishing equipment for safe disposal.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

CREATING BETTER HABITAT FOR BETTER FISHING Page 34 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

catch and release photo system for entries and entrants will receive advice on the correct way to handle fish.

The events aim to minimise plastic and waste and to promote recycling and careful disposal of old gear.

Each Reflections has a OzFish Tackle Loop bin for safely depositing old fishing tackle and anglers are encouraged to bring along old rods, reels and other unneeded fishing equipment for safe disposal.

OzFish is also encouraging participants to bring along their old opera-house yabby nets, now illegal in NSW, and swap them cost-free for an Oar-Gee Plow lure.

The Tackle Loop Repair Tent will also be there to fix any rods or reels that need a helping hand.

OzFish members receive a 25 percent discount on Reflection entry fees for the Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series.

OzFish chief executive officer Cassie Price said, “OzFish is thrilled to partner with Reflections Holidays to bring the fishing community these sustainable fishing events that families will enjoy, and that will keep waterways healthy for better fishing for now and into the future.”

“Our partnership with Reflections Holidays is perfect alignment – their ethos in caring for the environment and getting people outdoors is in harmony with OzFish’s goals of sustainable fishing and restored and protected habitats for fish.”

Reflections CEO Nick Baker said the organisation was committed to reducing its environmental footprint and the new fishing series would encourage partic-

ipants and their families to respect the beautiful waterways at Copeton, Burrinjuck and Lake Keepit and beyond.

“Reflections Holidays is privileged as a crown land manager to care for more than 25,000 acres of nature reserve, which includes premium fishing locations that are enjoyed by our guests, many of them families,” Mr Baker said.

“The Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series is an exciting new development in our partnership with OzFish because it actively educates anglers to show care in how they fish and for the fish they catch, passing that knowledge on to others to adopt wherever they fish.”

OzFish and Reflections recently announced their partnership aimed at helping recreational anglers and communities improve the health of rivers, lakes and estuaries in fish habitats in 40 holiday parks and campgrounds and 45 nature reserves across NSW. Partnerships Local businesses who would be interested in participating at the Reflections Sustainable Fishing Series with a stall, demonstration of sustainable fishing items, category sponsorship or other ideas that support sustainable fishing, contact OzFish director of fundraising and sponsorship Tim Davenport via timdav enport@ozfish.org.au If you’re hosting an event and you’d like some help with your catch and release entries, sustainable rules or prize categories, a Tackle Loop bin, a yabby trap drop spot, someone to demonstrate sustainable fishing practices or any other advice, contact in fo@ozfish.org.au

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 35

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GET IN BEFORE THE SUN SETS Page 36 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 37

Hobie got in on the action on a recent trip out in the bay with an extra-large queenfish that fell to a erratically worked lure.

A day out onboard Great Sandy Straits Sports Fishing produced the goods for Olivia Fajardo.

Bread and butter species at TCB

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Page 38 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

’DAY crew, as always, I hope you’ve been well and keeping busy enjoying our beautiful slice of heaven.

I know my family and I have been, and we made the most of the good weather throughout the school holidays.

Fishing and boating with the kids, going for adventures in the bay, picnics and swimming until they were all wrinkly and simply having a good time.

And of course, making some great memories – that’s what living is all about.

So, what were people catching during the holidays?

The bread-and-butter species of bream, whiting and flathead were out and making themselves known.

In fact, many customers have said it was the best whiting fishing they’ve seen in quite a while.

Both locals and tourists were telling us of plentiful catches of whiting in the bay, with lots of fish in the 30-35cm sizes being caught throughout September.

Tin Can Bay

by CHRIS RIPPON

Let’s hope this is a trend that continues.

Also trending were catches of flatties – land-based or from a boat, quality fish in the 60cm range were a common capture.

Up in the creeks, mangrove jack played hard to get.

However, those caught were done so on both lures and with bait.

The water temperature has played havoc with the bite.

One day it’s up to 24C and two days later it’s 19.5C. Now that’s a sure-fire way to give them lockjaw for a couple of days.

But the days are getting a lot warmer – recently we had our first taste of some summer storms, so it won’t be long before the red fish start to make themselves known in numbers.

Our Tag A Jack mangrove jack fishing competition has been on the minds of some very keen anglers.

Normally held annually at the end of November and the beginning of December, sadly we will be taking a hiatus in 2024.

This is due to a number of reasons, but mainly because we’ve * continued P39

On the same charter as her sister, Amalia picked up a great queenfish too.

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Bread and butter species at TCB * from P38

and the shop.

The last thing the team and I wanted to do was to run a competition that wasn’t set up properly.

But, come 2025, it will be back bigger and better than before, so watch this space!

On the bigger tides in the local creeks, there was some awesome pelagic action.

Giant trevally, queenfish, golden trevally, bigeye and the sought-after diamond trevally were all there, if you knew when to look.

I found them more productively on the first couple of hours of a run-out tide.

Shooting up the creeks and looking for small bust-ups on the surface or scanning up good bait schools is a good place to start.

I like to hunt around the moorings in the creeks, find the bait and the pelagic species won’t be too far away.

While I fish relatively light for them – 2-6lb rods and braid to match or a 4-6wt fly rod with an 8-12lb leader – the retrieve is nothing finesse.

Three or four quick rips of the rod tip, then a free fall and remaining in contact with the lure is a fairly deadly way to catch them.

Working 7-15g micro jigs is a great way to catch them too, along with small prawn plastics, 2” grub tails and small paddle tails and sizes 1 and 1/0 jig heads in 1/8-1/6oz seem good for the little creek thugs.

In saying that, some of the queenies have been about 80cm, with goldens over 60cm and up to 70cm and GTs to a few kilograms.

It’s great fun on the light gear and often overlooked as a fishing

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option in our locals. ly baitcast gear on my So why not go light boat and when targeting and get the bites? these fish, I’m running Speaking of pelagic 20-30lb braid and 30action, big queenfish 50lb fluorocarbon leadhave also been around er. in good numbers if you I’ve found 95-100mm know where to look. vibes work exceptionalFinding a good pres- ly well, along with 4-5” sure edge with some jerk shads – such as the relatively deeper water Molix RT Fork Flex, AUSTRALIA EAST COAST is a good place to start EAST AUSTRALIA, EAST COAST WADDY POINT(FRASER (FRASERISLAND) AUSTRALIA, COAST WADDY ISLAND) Rapala Crush––City The POINT WADDY POINT looking, with a few of Jerk LAT 24°58ʼ 58ʼSSold faithLONG153° 153°21ʼ 21ʼEE LAT 24° LONG and the our steeper ledges hold- Times Times andHeights Heights High andLow LowWaters Waters and ofofHigh and Time TimeZone Zone–1000 –1000 ful Z-Man StreakZ 5” ing decentSEPTEMBER fish on the SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER DECEMBER – rigged on a 5/0, 1/2oz right tide.

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0856 2.16 2.16 0924 2.01 2.01 19 1.54 1.77 0856 1011 2.22 2.22 0946 2.08 2.08 19 1040 2.08 2.08 1431 0.55 0.55 TH 1426 0.34 0.34 1436 0.59 0.59 SA 1505 0.49 0.49 MO 1550 0.69 0.69 TU 1706 0.69 0.69 WE 1635 0.65 0.65 TH 1729 0.74 0.74 WE1431 TH1426 FR1436 SA1505 MO1550 WE FR TU1706 WE1635 TH1729 needs.

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Tide Times

2024 2024

0314 0.59 0.59 0300 0.26 0.26 0234 0.46 0.46 0251 0.31 0.31 0253 0.50 0.50 0347 0.63 0.63 0321 0.57 0.57 0423 0.75 0.75 200300 200251 200347 550314 550234 550253 550321 200423 0924 1.56 1.56 20 0922 1.91 1.91 0919 1.81 1.81 20 0943 2.18 2.18 1002 1.97 1.97 20 1120 0924 0922 0919 0943 1002 1100 1032 1100 2.09 2.09 1032 2.02 2.02 20 1120 1.94 1.94 1503 0.61 1515 0.46 1516 0.66 1609

TH1503 0.61 FR FR1515 0.46 TH 2128 1.71 1.71 2134 1.80 1.80 2128 2134

0.62 SA1516 0.66 SU SU1609 0.62 SA 2111 1.50 1.50 2150 1.44 1.44 2111 2150

1642 0.75 0.75 WE 1802 0.76 0.76 TU1642 WE1802 TU 2159 1.27 1.27 2159 2322 2322 1.23 1.23

1726 0.67 0.67 FR 1811 0.79 0.79 TH TH1726 FR1811 2350 2245 2245 1.27 1.27 2350 1.28 1.28

0336 0.61 0.61 0336 0.34 0.34 0336 0336 0956 1.59 1.59 1010 1.95 1.95 0956 1010 1540 0.70 0.70 SA 1613 0.63 0.63 FR1540 SA1613 FR 2157 1.61 1.61 2220 1.61 1.61 2157 2220

0300 0.49 0.49 0328 0.45 0.45 0300 0328 0954 1.82 1.82 1032 2.13 2.13 0954 1032 1600 0.75 0.75 MO 1720 0.74 0.74 SU1600 MO1720 SU 2145 1.40 1.40 2241 1.30 1.30 2145 2241

0329 0.59 0.59 0329 0439 0439 0.76 0.76 1044 1.90 1.90 1044 1151 1151 1.95 1.95 1740 0.79 0.79 TH 1859 0.80 0.80 WE1740 WE TH1859 2247 1.20 1.20 2247

0409 0513 0409 0.65 0.65 0513 0.85 0.85 1123 1200 1123 1.95 1.95 1200 1.82 1.82 1819 0.68 0.68 SA 1854 0.80 0.80 FR FR1819 SA1854 2351 2351 1.25 1.25

66

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66

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66

21 21

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0359 0.63 0.63 0414 0.46 0.46 0327 0.56 0.56 0408 0.60 0.60 0411 0.69 0.69 0038 1.20 1.20 0504 0.74 0.74 0059 1.29 1.29 220414 220408 220038 770359 770327 770411 770504 220059 1032 1.60 1.60 22 1102 1.94 1.94 1031 1.80 1.80 22 1127 2.04 2.04 1135 1.82 1.82 22 1032 1102 1031 1127 1135 0545 1219 0612 0545 0.87 0.87 1219 1.87 1.87 22 0612 0.94 0.94 1623 0.81 1728 0.78 1651 0.85 1836

SA1623 0.81 SU SU1728 0.78 SA 2226 1.50 1.50 2309 1.42 1.42 2226 2309

0.81 MO1651 0.85 TU TU1836 0.81 MO 2221 1.30 1.30 2345 1.20 1.20 2221 2345

1847 0.80 0.80 FR 1248 1.82 1.82 TH1847 TH FR1248 2353 1.15 1.15 2353 2001 2001 0.81 0.81

1914 0.66 0.66 SU 1247 1.71 1.71 SA SA1914 SU1247 1944 1944 0.78 0.78

0424 0.67 0.67 0456 0.60 0.60 0424 0456 1111 1.60 1.60 1201 1.91 1.91 1111 1201 1715 0.92 0.92 MO 1901 0.88 0.88 SU1715 MO1901 SU 2257 1.38 1.38 2257

0356 0.63 0.63 0502 0.75 0.75 0356 0502 1112 1.75 1.75 1231 1.93 1.93 1112 1231 1757 0.92 0.92 WE 1957 0.84 0.84 TU1757 WE1957 TU 2301 1.20 1.20 2301

0507 0.77 0.77 0507 0207 0207 1.23 1.23 1240 1.76 1.76 1240 0658 0658 0.93 0.93 1959 0.76 0.76 SA 1350 1.72 1.72 FR1959 FR SA1350 2106 2106 0.77 0.77

0106 0220 0106 1.26 1.26 0220 1.34 1.34 0612 0723 0612 0.80 0.80 0723 1.01 1.01 1318 1.81 1.81 MO 1339 1.60 1.60 SU SU1318 MO1339 2011 2036 2011 0.61 0.61 2036 0.74 0.74

88

23 23

88

23 23

88

23 23

88

23 23

0450 0.71 0.71 0011 1.25 1.25 0432 0.71 0.71 0125 1.16 1.16 0128 1.16 1.16 0326 0227 0335 0326 1.31 1.31 0227 1.34 1.34 0335 1.44 1.44 240011 240125 90128 24 990450 990432 9 9 9 24 1157 1.58 1.58 24 0552 0.73 0.73 1202 1.69 1.69 24 0624 0.86 0.86 0625 0.81 0.81 24 0624 0625 0732 1157 0552 1202 0817 0848 0817 0.96 0.96 0732 0.84 0.84 24 0848 1.04 1.04 1826 1.01 1316 1.86 1926 0.94 1344

MO1826 1.01 MO 2332 1.27 1.27 2332

TU1316 1.86 TU 2048 0.89 0.89 2048

1.83 WE1926 0.94 TH TH1344 1.83 WE 2358 1.12 1.12 2119 0.81 0.81 2119 2358

1353 1.75 1.75 SU 1450 1.65 1.65 SA1353 SA SU1450 2103 0.67 0.67 2103 2157 2157 0.70 0.70

1419 1.75 1.75 MO MO1419 2105 2105 0.55 0.55

1436 1.50 1.50 TU TU1436 2125 2125 0.69 0.69

0522 0.76 0.76 0151 1.16 1.16 0524 0.78 0.78 0301 1.20 1.20 0257 1.24 1.24 0522 0151 0301 0425 1.42 1.42 0338 1.49 1.49 0432 1.57 1.57 Anna also on0.83 charter with Great 10and 25 100524 25Sandy 100257 250425 10 10 25 100338 250432 1254Oscar 1.56 25 0711 0.83 1313 1.65 1.65 0751 0.91 0.91 10 0756 0.80 0.80 25 1254 1.56 1313 0939 1014 0711 0751 0756 0858 0939 0.93 0.93 10 0858 0.84 0.84 25 1014 1.02 1.02 2015 1.04 1.04 1439 1.83 2057 some 0.88 FR 1455 1.76 1.76 1500 1.78 1.78 MO 2015 2057 0.88 1.83 1455 1544 1.59 1.59 1519 1.69 1.69 WE 1533 1.42 1.42 TUSports WE1439 THinto FR SU1500 MO1544 TU WE TH SU TU TU1519 WE1533 Straits Fishing got stuck quality 2221 0.83 0.83 2218 0.75 0.75 2156 0.54 0.54 2235 2205 2221 2218 2156 2153 2235 0.62 0.62 2153 0.47 0.47 2205 0.63 0.63 fishing.

0019 1.17 1.17 0336 1.18 1.18 0141 1.09 1.09 0415 1.29 1.29 0404 1.39 1.39 0404 0510 0437 0518 0510 1.55 1.55 0437 1.67 1.67 0518 1.70 1.70 110019 260336 110141 260415 11 26 11 11 26 0609 0.80 0.80 26 0842 0.87 0.87 11 0644 0.82 0.82 26 0919 0.89 0.89 11 0925 0.72 0.72 26 0842 0919 0925 1044 1016 1119 0609 0644 1044 0.88 0.88 11 1016 0.80 0.80 26 1119 0.96 0.96 1413 1.56 1552 1.82 1434 WE1413 1.56 WE 2155 0.98 0.98 2155

TH1552 1.82 TH 2315 0.76 0.76 2315

1.68 FR1434 1.68 FR 2158 0.75 0.75 2158

1556 1.72 1.72 SA1556 SA 2258 0.67 0.67 2258

1558 1.82 1.82 MO1558 MO 2239 0.41 0.41 2239

1631 1.54 1.54 TU TU1631 2303 2303 0.55 0.55

1616 1.62 1.62 WE WE1616 2236 2236 0.41 0.41

1627 1.35 1.35 TH TH1627 2242 2242 0.58 0.58

0152 1.09 1.09 0454 1.26 1.26 0321 1.16 1.16 0506 1.40 1.40 0457 1.57 1.57 0547 1.67 1.67 0526 1.86 1.86 0556 1.82 1.82 120152 270454 120321 270506 120457 270547 12 120526 270556 0724 0.82 0.82 27 1006 0.83 0.83 12 0826 0.79 0.79 27 1028 0.83 0.83 12 1032 0.62 0.62 27 1133 1210 0724 1006 0826 1028 1032 1123 1133 0.81 0.81 12 1123 0.74 0.74 27 1210 0.89 0.89 1529 1.63 1651 1.82 1543 TH1529 1.63 TH 2251 0.86 0.86 2251

FR1651 1.82 FR 2352 0.69 0.69 2352

1.77 SU 1645 1.70 1.70 SA1543 1.77 SU1645 SA 2245 0.59 0.59 2330 0.60 0.60 2245 2330

1649 1.83 1.83 WE 1713 1.49 1.49 TU1649 WE1713 TU 2317 0.30 0.30 2327 2317 2327 0.49 0.49

1711 1.55 1.55 TH TH1711 2317 2317 0.36 0.36

1717 1.30 1.30 FR FR1717 2317 2317 0.54 0.54

0340 1.11 1.11 0542 1.34 1.34 0432 1.29 1.29 0543 1.50 1.50 0542 1.77 1.77 0543 0620 1.79 1.79 0612 2.05 2.05 0631 1.92 1.92 130340 280542 130432 28 130542 280620 13 130612 280631 0905 0.79 0.79 28 1105 0.75 0.75 13 1000 0.67 0.67 28 1117 0.75 0.75 13 1129 0.53 0.53 28 1215 1254 0905 1105 1000 1117 1129 1224 1215 0.76 0.76 13 1224 0.67 0.67 28 1254 0.82 0.82 1632 1.73 1738 1.82 1638 FR1632 1.73 FR 2333 0.71 0.71 2333

SA 1738 1.82 SA

1.87 MO 1724 1.68 1.68 SU 1638 1.87 MO 1724 SU 2325 0.43 0.43 2355 0.53 0.53 2325 2355

1736 1.80 1.80 WE 1736 WE 2351 0.22 0.22 2351

1751 1.45 1.45 TH TH 1751 2352 2352 0.43 0.43

1804 1.50 1.50 FR FR1804 2359 2359 0.33 0.33

1802 1.28 1.28 SA SA 1802 2354 2354 0.50 0.50

0501 1.19 1.19 0019 0.63 0.63 0523 1.44 1.44 0616 1.60 1.60 0625 1.96 1.96 0651 1.89 1.89 0656 2.20 2.20 0704 2.01 2.01 140501 290019 140523 290616 140625 290651 14 140656 290704 1035 0.68 0.68 29 0618 1.43 1.43 14 1101 0.52 0.52 29 1155 0.68 0.68 14 1220 0.48 0.48 29 1035 0618 1101 1155 1220 1254 1321 1335 1254 0.72 0.72 14 1321 0.62 0.62 29 1335 0.75 0.75 1723 1.86 1148 0.67 1726 SA1723 1.86 SA

SU 1148 0.67 SU 1814 1.81 1.81 1814

1.95 MO 1726 1.95 MO

1758 1.65 1.65 TU 1758 TU

1821 1.74 1.74 TH 1821 TH

1826 1.40 1.40 FR FR 1826

1856 1.46 1.46 SA SA 1856

1845 1.29 1.29 SU SU 1845

0011 0.55 0.55 0045 0.56 0.56 0001 0.30 0.30 0017 0.46 0.46 0026 0.18 0.18 0019 0.40 0.40 0043 0.33 0.33 0032 0.47 0.47 150011 300045 150001 300017 150026 300019 15 150043 300032 0555 1.31 1.31 30 0649 1.50 1.50 15 0606 1.61 1.61 30 0647 1.70 1.70 15 0707 2.13 2.13 30 0649 0647 0707 0721 0737 0555 0606 0741 0721 1.98 1.98 15 0741 2.30 2.30 30 0737 2.08 2.08 1131 0.53 1224 0.59 1149 SU 1131 0.53 MO MO 1224 0.59 SU 1807 1.98 1.98 1846 1.80 1.80 1846 1807

0.40 WE 1230 0.62 0.62 TU 1149 0.40 WE 1230 TU 1809 1.99 1.99 1828 1.62 1.62 1828 1809

1313 0.46 0.46 FR 1313 FR 1908 1.66 1.66 1908

1334 0.69 0.69 SA SA 1334 1902 1902 1.37 1.37

0035 0.41 0.41 310035 31 0716 1.80 1.80 0716

1415 0.59 0.59 MO 1415 0.68 0.68 SU SU 1415 MO 1415 1927 1948 1948 1.43 1.43 1927 1.32 1.32 0111 0.45 0.45 31 310111 0814 0814 2.14 2.14

1304 0.59 0.59 TH 1304 TH 1858 1.57 1.57 1858

1456 0.62 0.62 TU TU 1456 2010 2010 1.35 1.35

© Copyright Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2022, 2022, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology © New Moon Datum of of Predictions Predictions isis Lowest Lowest Astronomical Astronomical Tide Tide Datum

Full Moon George Adams giant Moon Phasecaptured Symbols a night New Moontrevally, alsoFirst First Quarter Quarter New Moon Moon Phase Symbols Full Full Moon Moon on charter with Great Sandy Straits Sports Fishing.

First Quarter Last Quarter

Last Last Quarter Quarter 18 18

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 39

SCAN QR CODE

SCAN QR CODE

Mikael and his proud dad Harris.

Liam with his first tuna.

Training for battle on tuna

H

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Twila, 70 years young.

Paul and a neat snapper.

> Hervey Bay > Fraser Island > Sandy Strait

ERVEY Bay has been trying to get into its usual spring swing.

But the tuna haven’t quite hit their straps, even though the northerly wind has definitely started.

I will be extremely happy once both tuna and mackerel start up again.

Mother Nature controls it all, and currently that weather is pretty horrible, which is nothing out of the ordinary – as the temperature ramps up, so does the unstable weather.

Why do I miss tuna so much?

It is probably because they are plentiful and,

Fraser Guided Fishing

by TRI TON

on many occasions, hungry.

For an operator who often has clients with low to moderate levels of skill, they are a godsend.

As at early October, I would have expected them to be a little more abundant.

Often even a few schools of longtail too, if you knew where to look.

I did notice the lack of surface activity out wider this winter – out where survey regulations do not permit me to charter.

Travelling to areas such as the southern gutters, it wouldn’t be uncommon to see mack tuna, however that wasn’t the case for the

few times I went during winter this year.

So, I simply locked into bait schools in areas I’d previously caught larger predators and stuck to basics.

Constantly reminding customers to keep to the process I had designated for each of them.

It was gruelling and often uneventful… until a reel sprung to life or the sounder notified me of the mayhem playing out below.

If it was the electronics, this often meant I could be sure we were dropping into schools and, if they were tuna, it could mean a fairly high strike rate.

Otherwise, it was in * continued P41

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 40 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

Sam put a feed on the table with a little grunter.

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Training for battle on tuna * from P40

the hope of fooling one fish at a time.

And for that block of time, it was predominantly small predators such as bonito, tailor and extremely large yakka.

The bonus fish were mack tuna, though they could also be longtail, mackerel and trevally.

The smaller more common predators made it great for keeping the kids happy.

And also helped me refine skills in preparation for the main event, which could have been that same day or, more often than not, further down the track.

Now, this was not the only way we caught tuna.

In the previous period, we occasionally found surface-feeding fish and used the traditional method of casting into the school with a slukk or soft lure.

Spin it back fast and hang on!

For the uninitiated, ‘fast’ means if ‘you ain’t sweating, you ain’t getting’.

Tuna and mackerel will run down your lure with ease.

It pays to have the right reel because if it

retrieves about 1m or more per handle turn, this will make your ‘getting’ much easier and your ‘sweating’ less profuse.

This is the type of fun and easy fishing that gets most anglers coming back.

Tuna pull fast and fight dogged, and novices will learn quite a bit about battling fish.

When the surface feeding becomes a regular occurrence, I tend to use a slightly heavier rod and braid as this helps prevent shark attacks.

Vigorous battles will always attract sharks and fishos must persevere to keep that fish moving to the boat.

Which isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

Learning how to angle and coerce a fish is one of the finer arts that has even regular fishos struggling.

But that’s why hordes of tuna are important.

It gives us the chance to repeatedly practice, particularly the battle part of the fishing process.

You really don’t want to be learning 15 minutes into a battle with a 15kg longtail!

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Matt with a nice queenfish. www.bnbfishing.com.au

Rosie was on fire.

Will caught a cracker at Bribie Island on Father’s Day.

A full circle fishing moment

M

Y family and I are extremely fortunate to spend so much time on K’gari and never take our trips to paradise for granted.

As is normally the case, our September school holidays were spent on the northern part of the island at Orchid Beach, passing our days at the beach near Waddy Point.

My eldest two children Rose and Will have spent a lot of time at the beach and are getting to the age where they really are starting to enjoy their fishing.

Their little one-yearold brother Freddy wakes up at the crack of dawn, meaning it’s the perfect combination for early morning sessions during our holiday at K’gari.

My earliest fishing memories are of my dad waking me up at sunrise during our Gold Coast holidays, where we stayed only a short walk from the beach.

I remember walking onto the cold white

Fishing Tips

by CHRIS RAIMONDI

morning sand as if it was yesterday, with dad and his father, my nonno, leading the way to the nearest surf gutter.

I seldom see people fishing those busy Gold Coast beaches these days but my goodness, they used to produce some cracking whiting back in the day.

No doubt those in the know still catch a few before the crowds arrive.

While we used to buy bloodworms from

Miami Bait and Tackle all those years ago, on K’gari it’s all about pulling beachworms – something I’m absolutely useless at.

Thankfully, my wife Kate is a downright guru.

In fact, her whole family are pretty handy at it and, as she always reminds me, you can’t catch a whiting without any bait.

Tides on our most recent trip were perfect * continued P42

Will’s quality K’gari whiting.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 41

A full circle fishing moment * from P41

Hugo and Tara hold one of many whiting aloft.

Even Eric the echidna was up for a photo.

The older cousins also got in on the action.

A happy young angler, hooked for life.

Page 42 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

for an early morning beachworm session, followed by a crack at the whiting and then home in time for brekky.

In recent years, there have been plenty of beachworms around Ocean Lake.

Though a strong wind can make them really timid and tricky to catch, so my advice is to find someone who knows what they’re doing and marry them!

With bait sorted, I had eyed off a few little gutters at the bottom of the northern beach entry.

We started fishing in the larger of the two gutters and didn’t turn a reel for 10-15 minutes, which was disappointing given the conditions were perfect, in my opinion.

The kids were sticking with it, yet I could see that the lack of fish and their growing hunger for breakfast was starting to distract them from the task at hand.

We moved to the second gutter, literally 250m from where we had been fishing.

This was a much smaller system though looked very similar to the first spot – calm shallow water no more than 30-50cm deep with plenty of melon holes, and it was starting to fill up as the tide trickled in.

We pulled up and, as we headed down to the water’s edge for a cast, I noticed what I thought was a heap of weed in the water.

Hopes sunk at the sight, until I realised it wasn’t weed I was seeing, it was a massive school of whiting

cruising in the first few waves.

Quality polarised sunglasses make such a difference!

They weren’t huge fish, however they were hungry and the next 45 minutes was mayhem.

I baited hooks, cast, dehooked fish, baited hooks, cast, dehooked fish at a record rate.

The whiting were well and truly on and Rose and Will had an absolute ball.

While whiting have never seemed to be too big in this area of the island, there were plenty of legal fish among them.

Fishing doesn’t get much simpler than light gear and a simple rig of a running ball sinker above about 80cm of trace to a single hook.

As the mayhem unfolded, I cast my mind back to an unforgettable session I had with Dad on Bribie Island.

As always, we were up early and made our way to Red Beach, an ever-reliable spot for whiting, especially in September-October.

By mid-morning, we’d hardly caught a fish, it just wasn’t happening.

Instead of going home, we drove over to the main surf beach, with no real expectation of things turning around.

As was the case at K’gari recently, you could see the whiting surfing down the face of the waves and, on this particular day, they were quality 30cm plus fish, which is typical for Bribie Island.

My whiting session memories with Dad had come full circle.

I’d love to know how many people’s first fish

was a whiting or bream.

I reckon it’d be a high percentage of anglers in southeast Queensland.

We ended up with 30 nice whiting in that early morning K’gari session and the news spread quickly.

The next morning, we were accompanied by the whole extended family, and it was a good thing too because worms were very tricky to come by, though we got it done.

And, after another slow start on whiting, we eventually managed to get onto them again, with the quality even better than the day before.

This time we brought brekky to the beach – pancakes with Nutella, strawberries, banana, maple syrup and ice cream.

And yours truly didn’t get one bit of it… until I’d baited up and dehooked another stack of lovely whiting.

We kept another nice feed – given that where we were staying we had about 18 mouths to feed – and threw a heap of fish back for next time.

The kids and adults had a ball lining up to get stuck into a few whiting during the hot bite.

The biggest mystery for me was wondering where everyone had disappeared to when it was time to fillet and clean all those whiting!

I was left alone with that task.

Of course, when their catch was covered in panko crumbs and had spent a few minutes in hot oil, they all reappeared – go figure.

Catch you.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Junior winner Beau Cassado in his new Primal kayak.

Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival

W

ELL, that’s another successful Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival done and dusted.

We had a record number of entrants, with a 28 percent increase from 2023, including a 41 percent increase in junior and pre-junior entries.

There was a total of 599 fish entered via the TMF app, which was up from last year.

This year, apart from the target species, we also had a team challenge sponsored by Bundy Crustacean and Fishing Group.

Andrew and Renee Newitt and Kevin and Margaret Charteris took out this event, with a total catch of 47 fish over six days.

Our other cash prize winner was Kerri Wilsom with a 53cm mangrove jack, winning her the $500, sponsored by Tackle World Bundaberg.

Local Jess Smart was very happy when Karen from Bundaberg

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Marine pulled her name out the barrel to win the senior major prize of a 3.85 Sea Jay Angler boat with a Yamaha motor on a Redco trailer.

The junior major prize of a Primal kayak went to Beau Cassado and the pre-junior prize of another kayak went to Frankie Smart, with thanks to BCF Bundaberg.

The family fun day started off with our famous mullet throwing contest, always a laugh.

Other attractions included a jumping castle, train rides and the ever-popular helicopter joy flights, which circled around our beautiful Baffle Creek all afternoon.

We had a good cross section of stalls, and even our local Wartburg Rural Fire Brigade attended, called in halfway through the afternoon to attend a grass fire.

Some stand out fish for the competition were Ben Lovell’s 34cm bream, Jason Hen-

ningsen’s 48cm cod, Brock Catasti’s 73.5cm flathead, Ryan Masner’s 67.5cm grunter and junior Grace Sauer’s 40.5cm whiting.

We thank all our sponsors for their support, especially major sponsor Gladstone Regional Council for their ongoing backing.

Planning for next year’s Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival started the day after the 2024 event finished.

The 2025 festival is on from September 22-27, so be sure to add it to your calendars.

Tight lines and we hope to see you there.

David and Jess Smart were thrilled to win the senior major prize of a 3.85 Sea Jay Angler boat, Yamaha motor and Redco trailer.

Team challenge winners Andrew and Renee Newitt and Kevin and Margaret Charteris.

A record number of competitors showed up for the Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 43

Brandan and a nice red emperor caught on mullet fillet.

Seventeen Seventy delivers

G

The author boated a solid school red emperor.

Page 44 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

’DAY everyone, Seventeen Seventy would have to be my favourite destination to go fishing.

The variety of fish there is insane, including the iconic red emperor, coral trout, redthroat emperor and many more.

Roughly, it’s a seven-hour drive from the Gold Coast, which includes refuelling and toilet breaks.

On arriving, you can almost sense how busy the boat ramp will be – the pub is usually packed with boats, or the petrol station is backed up with people

Coastal Cruising

by MITCHEL ZYGNERSKI

waiting to fuel up big rigs and get out.

If early enough, you can choose to make the two-hour run out to the Bunker Group straight away or take your time and have a sleep at either the boat ramp or in the lagoon, ready to head out early in the morning.

On my most recent trip, we had two boats and, as we were only able to leave the Gold Coast after lunch, it meant we got into Sev-

enteen Seventy at about 10.30pm.

Once fuelled up, we decided to run out at midnight to give us the most fishing time possible.

We drove straight to Sykes Reef and had about three hours sleep before we were up and fishing the shallows for redthroat and coral trout.

The morning bite was crazy.

We were fishing in * continued P45

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Seventeen Seventy delivers * from P44

9-20m and had a good bag of fish before we knew it.

Float lining the shallows is the most productive way to catch coral trout and redthroat.

Let your nicely presented pillie or mullet strip drift slowly down with the current and wait for that blistering run.

Using a snell rig consisting of two 6/0 big guns or two 7766 ganged up works just as well paired with a Shimano Talica 10 on a 7-12kg rod, 40lb braid and a 40lb leader.

It’s light enough to use all day without getting sore arms and you can still pull some big fish to the boat.

From there we made our way up to Broomfield Reef in search of reds and goldband snapper in deep water.

Fishing depths of 5085m requires heavier gear.

A Shimano Talica 12 paired on a 10-20kg custom Neritica rod makes short work of all fish, including sharks.

Running 65lb J-braid with an 80lb leader gives you great resistance on the reef.

Out wide, I also use a snell rig with two 8/0 big guns.

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It’s important to make sure the hooks have a big enough gap between them to cater for the size of the bait you’re using.

For example, if I’m using a whole mullet fillet, I create a longer length between my hooks as opposed to if I were using a small squid.

You can pretty much use whatever bait you desire up north because the fish will crash tackle whatever you throw in.

My favourite bait are mullet fillet and fresh squid.

Nothing compares to the bite of a red or goldband snapper.

Red emperor will slowly pull your rod down while you’re drifting, so let them eat for a few seconds before you strike.

Then hold on and fight the fish.

The first thing a big red will do is run straight to the bottom, so you’re trying to pull it away from the bottom and at the same time race the sharks to get it to the boat.

Once you get sharked, it’s time to move on!

While a red emperor will slowly pull your rod down, a goldband will almost rip the rod out of your hands and have you bent over the

side as you’ve never been before.

Their massive tail pumps and huge head shakes make most anglers grunt.

These brutes of the reef are pure power, making a kingfish look silly.

After a good day of fishing – catching about 17 fish – we headed behind Broomfield Reef and anchored for the night.

We knew the next day was going to be a grind trying to get our limit of 40 fish.

In the morning, we were greeted with a stunning sunrise when fishing the shallows again for coral trout and redthroat.

After about two hours, we’d bagged out, giving us the option to run back out and tackle a few bigger fish.

Fortunately for us, this paid off.

We boated another three reds to fill our bag of 40 fish for the trip, our best outing to date.

By the end, we’d bagged six reds, 14 trout, 16 redthroat and a few maori cod.

It’ll be hard to beat.

I can’t wait to head up for the next session.

Tight lines everyone and I hope to see you on the water!

The author hooked a decent early morning coral trout.

Brandan was happy with two solid coral trout.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 45

Many years ago, in the first boat, Sam caught his first barramundi on a live bait.

Not the most desirable mackerel but good fun on light gear. Phil hooked this fish off Facing Island.

Developing fishing skills with boat and tech upgrades

W

ELCOME to the last month of spring – the way the months are passing us by, Christmas will be here before we know it.

If you’re thinking of fishing, camping or leisure-time gifts for Christmas, now is the time to start looking – before the rush during December, particularly the lead up to the big day.

We are spoilt for choice nowadays, with plenty of tackle and adventure shops waiting to help out wherever you need.

If you can’t find what you want in store or can’t get into a shop, there’s plenty of options online that can be delivered to your door.

I have been in Gladstone now for 18 years and my fishing has changed quite a lot during that time.

When I first moved to town, I had no boat and most of my fishing was done off banks, rock bars and jetties.

I caught a few species I’d never caught before during this time – including my first barra-

Gladstone Region

by GARY CHURCHWARD

mundi and fingermark captures.

I caught the typical smaller fish, with plenty of estuary cod, bream and moses perch all very common.

It was during the first few years that my fishing gear changed from a lighter rod and reel to heavier options to handle the larger fish I’d started to target.

The occasional invitation to jump aboard a friend’s tinnie helped grow my want for a boat of my own, to open up even more fishing opportunities.

This had me at boat yards looking at what was available and more importantly what I could afford.

After some begging and pleading with my wife, I had the go ahead to purchase a boat and, not long after, we welcomed our first boat into the household – a Stacer 4.29 Seahorse with a two-stroke 30hp Mercury.

I fitted this with a black and white Low-

Page 46 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

rance sounder, added some lights and a transom-mount electric that Kmart was selling at the time and my next level fishing adventures started.

While a basic style of boat, I was able to fish the local estuaries and harbour.

The increased catch rate of barra, fingermark, mangrove jack and salmon justified the purchase of a boat.

We even dragged it to Rockhampton a few times to fish the Rocky Barra Bounty and around the front of Curtis Island to Keppel Creek.

With the transom-mount electric, lure fishing was a challenge, so mainly bait and live bait fishing was done.

This boat did account for some good fish, and I cracked the 1m barra club with a nice 110cm fish from the Calliope River.

As my fishing styles were changing and I was turning to lure fishing more, it was time to

upgrade the boat.

After much looking and social media research, I landed on a 4.10 Polycraft with a 40hp Mercury FourStroke with gas-assist lifting.

I fitted this one out with a Lowrance HDS5 and a Watersnake bow-mount electric motor.

After a few years, the Watersnake died and I upgraded to a Minn Kota with spot lock.

I also upgraded the engine to a 50hp Yamaha Trim and Tilt and added an HDS10 sounder, moving the HDS-5 to the front, mounting the transducer on the electric.

This boat opened up my lure fishing options and helped me develop my skills in deeper and faster running water.

Once I managed to improve in this style of fishing, my fingermark and salmon catch rate increased quickly.

Havi ng t he bow-mounted electric also allowed me flick to bank side snags with the use of the foot pedal.

While it was a small boat with low sides, it

handled some fairly ordinary conditions as I pushed out wider and to further away places.

After 10 years, I sold it two years ago to upgrade, but I still miss it for fishing rivers and creeks.

I now have a Sea Jay 4.90 Velocity Sports with a 90hp Yamaha, and while it was a pre-loved boat, it was in great condition and came with an 80lb Minn Kota and a small Simrad sounder.

All I’ve added to this vessel is a 12” Humminbird sounder, keeping the Simrad for charts.

The Sea Jay has opened up some amazing fishing opportunities – getting well offshore and to some awesome spots up and down the coastline.

It was also great to finally have a boat that was comfortable when sitting in seats for long drives and, unless the conditions were nasty, offered a dry ride.

Being big enough to sleep in, we’ve spent nights out at the reef or remote area, allowing * continued P48

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 47

Developing fishing skills with boat and tech upgrades * from P46

for more fishing time.

Funnily enough, some of the places I now consistently fish these days, I could have easily

reached with my other boats.

I still enjoy getting back to basics and at times will head down to the local banks and rock

bars with a bag of pillies or some livies, chasing anything that wants to bite.

On the fishing front, it’s now closed season

Fishing deeper helped the author’s fingermark catch rate. This one ate a vibe fished over a rock bar in the Calliope River.

for the mighty barramundi, though there’s still plenty of other options to chase.

Jacks should be biting now and, as the heat of the day picks up, bait and lures will both be extremely effective.

If you haven’t tried chasing them on the surface, I highly recommend it because the surface strike of a cranky jack is very impressive.

Fingermark and grunter will be haunting rock bars and gravel banks, so target the deeper areas for fingermark and the shallower for grunter.

If you’re still chasing a barra fix, the freshwater scene has been firing lately and this will continue over the warmer period.

Moving out wider, coral trout seem to pre-

fer the hotter weather, especially on the shallower headlands and broken reefs closer in.

Grass sweetlip, redthroat emperor, stripies and tuskfish will add to the majority of your catches on the reefs.

There’re a few pelagic fish available, with cobia, mackerel and the very present tuna – mainly mack – showing up.

Mud crabs will be about, though a flush from some rain would help get them moving as, at the time of writing, they’re a little patchy.

Enjoy what we have on our back door before the weather really heats up.

Cheers and happy fishing from Gladstone.

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The author captured a nice creek fingermark. The burn and kill technique got the bite.

Troy Newman caught a good-sized fingermark on a Molix RT Shad slow rolled across a rock bar.

Options during barra closure

I

T’S the saddest time of the year for saltwater barramundi enthusiasts.

The start of a long three month wait begins on November 1 as the East Coast barra closure comes into effect.

Many barra anglers turn to impoundments to get their fix.

If you live locally near Yeppoon or Rockhampton, you only have a few options close by.

You can either head down to Lake Awoonga on the outskirts of Gladstone or head inland to Emerald and fish Lake Maraboon.

A consolation is that you can take all the same rods, reels and lures into the fresh and still be very productive.

However, if you’re heading for an impoundment, I would add a few vital extras.

Lures such as the Molix Shad 140 Swimbait, 130mm Squidgies

www.bnbfishing.com.au

Matty Arnold hooked an impressive impoundment barramundi from Lake Maraboon.

Capricorn Coast

by JOHN BOON

Slickrig, 5.5” Zerek Live Mullet and 7” Zerek Flat Shad are proven impoundment winners – make sure you have a few colours of each if you want to target impoundment barra.

Even though saltwater barra are off the target list, there’s still plenty of action to be had in our local estuaries.

During the closure, the first species I enjoy targeting is fingermark.

Fingermark (golden snapper) aren’t overly complicated to catch and deep rock bars are great places to start looking for them.

Trolling deep-diving hard-body lures to slightly bop the top of bommies is usually a successful technique.

The more I touch the structure, the more bites I get.

Isolated structure such as solitary rocks, wrecks or even snags are also worthy options to try.

One thing I’ve learned about fingermark is that it pays to give isolated structure a few casts, regardless of whether you see any fish on your side or down scans.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve driven away from structure thinking there weren’t any fish on it, only to turn around and go back to check it out with live imaging.

Sometimes fingermark are buried in the structure and aren’t visible on your side imaging, but if you use the live, you can see them swimming around in it.

If you’re chasing fingers with lures, these are * continued P50

Zerek Live Mullet are a great choice when hitting the impoundments.

Blubberlip bream go hard for their size and were a nice by-catch while targeting fingermark.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 49

A school of threadies found using the Humminbird Apex 16. The forks in the tails are a giveaway.

The author with one of the locals from Lake Maraboon.

Options during barra closure * from P49

Brendan Wales with a solid local king threadfin.

a few confidence lures I swear by: • 4.5” Molix RT Shad • 4” Zerek Flat Shad • 3” Berkley Gulp Shrimp • 4” Holt Productions Swimprawn • 4” Z-Man StreakZ Curly TailZ

Trolling Motor Stabiliser Australian designed and made.

• Made for all models • Custom made to length • No drilling or screwing into boats • No tools required • Accessories - cable covers and skeg protection kits.

Protect your electric motor with a Lecky Leg

www.leckyleg.com.au sales@leckyleg.com.au Page 50 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

• Lucky Craft Pointer 100mm XD. This range covers paddle tails, prawns and hard-body lures.

If you’re chasing a good trolling lure for rock bars, go for something noisy such as a Classic Barra or RMG Crazy Deep.

Fingermark would have to be the best eating fish in the estuary, though remember, they are also very slow growing, so only take a feed and not a fridgeful.

They have a bag limit of five per person and a minimum size of 35cm.

Another amazing sportfish species to target during the closed season is king threadfin salmon.

During the closed barra season, we have a king threadfin competition that runs from November 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025.

There are several special tagged threadies swimming around in our Rockhampton netfree fishing zone that are worth $10,000 each.

The ownership of this competition has recently changed hands, so I recommend checking in

with one of the local tackle shops for further instructions on how to register.

King threadfin is another fish that is relatively easy to catch, once you’ve work them out.

A good side and down image sounder is a wise investment.

It’s important to know exactly what species you’re casting at, especially during a closed season.

There’s nothing worse than putting in the time and effort on what you think are threadies, only to find out you’re actually targeting a school of barra.

Personally, I like my Humminbird Apex 16.

It shows all fish-life crisply and clearly, which takes away the guesswork.

A good place to start scanning for king threadfin are creek mouths.

Of the thready spots I’ve found, 90 percent are at creek mouths.

Well, that’s it from me this month.

I hope your November is full of fishing memories shared with friends and loved ones.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 51

TOURING& exploring

Still basking in Broome

L

Some well-earned pamper time for the girls.

Officially opening in 1916, the Broome open-air cinema is worth a visit.

China Town has been the heart and soul of Broome since the early pearling days.

Page 52 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

AST month I mentioned we used Broome as a base to do a bit of travelling, however there’s also plenty to do in and around this tropical delight, as we discovered.

As much as we love camping in remote corners of this awesome country by ourselves, our family also enjoys the social aspect of travelling and being a ‘tourist’.

Broome is well known as a tourist destination, with heaps on offer for everyone – from relaxing on the beach to fishing offshore or shopping for a world-famous pearl necklace.

With all this on offer, and loads more, there was plenty to keep us busy as we enjoyed a week of relaxation and touring before we hit the Gibb River Rd. The town of Broome has all the usual shops you’d expect – including a nail salon that my wife and daughters thoroughly enjoyed.

I suppose after being on an extended remote adventure, a pampering of the claws and talons was okay.

Broome city Broome caters for everyone – there are backpackers travelling on a budget, all the grey nomads and families caravanning and then there are the luxury resort patrons.

Whatever way you’re there, plenty is on offer in the city itself.

China Town is a great place to get a feed or you can spend a few hours

Family Adventures

by BEN COLLINS

checking out the markets.

If you time your trip right, you can also see the stairway to the stars, which is when the full moon rises at low tide, giving you the spectacular illusion of a set of stairs rising into the sky.

Thankfully were there when this happened.

Another must do is the open-air cinema, and there’s a section with no roof, so you can watch movies with the stars overhead.

Of course, if you’re into shopping, there’s a host of pearl and jewellery shops with an array of magnificent items – thankfully our travel budget wasn’t impacted here.

For the savvier shopper, the Broome markets are a must, with a whole

range of items, food vans, music and much more.

Beach camel rides No doubt many of you have seen the sunset pictures of camels on Cable Beach, well we also ticked that off the list.

I’ve never ridden a camel before and nor had the girls, so it was a novelty experiencing this for the first time.

As it turned out, we scored the first two camels in the line, with Amaya and Matia on an ex-race camel and Greta and I on one of the larger ones.

Thankfully, these days you get onto the standing camels from the back of a utility, so you don’t need them to sit and then stand once you’re on them. * continued P53

Stairway to heaven.

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TOURING& exploring Postcard picture of our time on the camels.

Ticked the sunset camel ride off the list.

Still basking in Broome * from P52

If you’re keen to do the camels at sunset, we did have lots of fun and got the essential postcard picture.

However, you definitely won’t see me putting my hand up again for any long adventure rides on a camel – the hour or so we were on them was plenty.

Horizontal Falls In the planning stage of our adventure, we highlighted a few special places we wanted to visit, with Horizontal Falls being one of them.

Thankfully we budg-

eted for them – the fact that we rented our house out while we were away travelling made a big difference, even though at the time setting it up was painful.

There are a few different ways to view Horizontal Falls – we chose to do the bus and seaplane route on a full-day tour.

For this adventure, we departed Broome by bus and ventured north to Dampier Peninsula, where we visited Cygnet Bay Pearl Farm for breakfast and a tour, then it was onto Ardy-

Matia modelling one of the magnificent pearl necklaces – this one was worth a few dollars. www.bnbfishing.com.au

aloon Hatchery at One Arm Point.

Both places were extremely interesting.

We learnt about the history of Broome pearls and Greta was able to open an oyster to see what pearl it had inside.

Next it was into a seaplane and off to the falls.

I was fortunate to be given the copilot seat for the journey – what a special part of the country this place is.

The area was littered with islands varying in size, from small to large, all with their own characteristics and beauty.

Another way to experience this neck of the woods is by going on a cruise, which would be spectacular – maybe one day when we’re retired.

On the flight out, the captain gave a running commentary about the different islands and the history of the area.

As anticipation grew to see Horizontal Falls, it wasn’t long before we were making a few diving turns to line up for the perfect bird’s-eye view. * continued P54

All set for our seaplane adventure.

Greta about to dive into the oyster, looking for a pearl.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 53

TOURING& exploring

The spectacular Horizontal Falls. A cruise is another way to view this natural wonder, which is on the retirement bucket list.

Still basking in Broome * from P53

Hold on – punching through the falls.

Swimming with, or more like next to, some of the local sharks was a surreal feeling.

Page 54 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

Banking the plane and coming in on a sharp angle was awesome, giving a different perspective to view this amazing natural wonder.

Soon after, we were on a huge floating dining pontoon having barramundi for lunch prior to heading out on a high-speed craft to run through the falls.

These falls are very different to a normal waterfall.

The Kimberley region experiences some of the largest tidal variations in the world, with tides rising and falling by several metres.

Hence these powerful tides play a crucial role in the creation of the Horizontal Falls.

As the tide changes, water from the ocean is forced through narrow channels and gorges, resulting in rapid and powerful horizontal flows.

The sheer volume of water rushing through the gorge is incredible

and well worth the effort and cost.

After our high-speed run through, we were soon back to base camp, where we got to swim up close and personal with several sharks – thankfully there was a thick piece of Perspex between us and the teethy critters.

However, it was still

wonderful to be in the water near these creatures.

Our final foray in this area allowed us to explore more of the region by boat, where we managed to see one of the local crocodiles.

It was then back onto the seaplane headed for Broome – a truly * continued P55

Enjoying a local brew – Matso’s ginger beer, made in Broome.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

TOURING& exploring Still basking in Broome * from P54

amazing day and well worth it!

Crocodile farm A trip to Broome wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Farm.

While possibly a little rundown in places, the experience was still unreal.

The fact that we could get as close to the crocs as we did was awesome, giving complete respect as to how strong and powerful these creatures are.

I definitely don’t want to come across one of these beasts in the wild when I’m swimming.

Even though predominately they move very slowly on land, they have the capacity for an insane burst of speed and incredible reaction times.

Plus, the power of those jaws slamming closed is something to behold.

The noise they made when grabbing a whole dead cook was incredible – you almost felt it.

If you are after a new

We were often less than 1m away from these beasts at the Malcolm Douglas Crocodile Farm.

Getting up close and personal with one of the locals. www.bnbfishing.com.au

appreciation of these animals, the farm is certainly worth a visit.

Fishing charter Each year, many tourists flock north to escape the cold of the southern winter.

Aside from the perfect weather, fishing is another reason many travellers make the trip north each year.

As we didn’t have a boat, charters were the only option for us.

Unfortunately, my first charter trip was a bit of a dud, despite the big promise of lots of fish when booking.

Despite being burnt previously, I risked going on a different charter – and I’m glad I did, as Amaya and I had a great time with a skipper who knew his stuff.

Adam Cave, the skipper of WA Fishing Charters, certainly delivered – we scored a mix of fish in a short and sharp fishing session.

Adam offers a mix of inshore and offshore charters and has boats to suit each.

As conditions were favourable, our trip was offshore and we came home with a great bag of reef fish.

Speaking with Adam, there are so many different fishing options around Broome.

So I can’t wait to get back there, hopefully with a boat but if not, I’ll be booking a couple of charters with Adam.

Check out his web page for more details, wafishingchartersbro ome.com.au

Skipper Adam Cave from WA Fishing Charters certainly knew his stuff. I would highly recommend booking one of his charters.

Amaya with the first fish of the trip, a solid coral trout.

This one tested the arms – a bit of line-pulling fun.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 55

TOURING& exploring Chris Stratford landed a nice mangrove jack off a rock wall in Townsville.

Luke landed his first mangrove jack on this trip.

The author and his son Luke with a double hookup on small Townsville mangrove jack.

Page 56 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

A cracker 54cm mangrove jack for the author.

Top Townsville trip A T the start of September, I came up with a plan to try getting my son Luke onto his first barramundi or mangrove jack.

His tenth birthday was in the middle of September, so I organised a plane flight for the two of us to fly to Townsville.

My father lives in this coastal city and my brother Chris was already there on holiday.

We surprised Luke after school on the Thursday, telling him the news.

To say he was excited was an understatement.

We went straight to the airport, landing at 8.30pm.

Chris has been going to Townsville for a few years now and had found a few land-based spots that were possible hideouts for our target species.

The next morning, we got to one of the local beaches near Townsville as the sun was rising.

The wind was blowing a little, which had some

Family Fun

by KEITH STRATFORD

waves breaking on the beach and dirtying the water.

Barra prefer calm and clean water in these areas, so our hopes weren’t too high.

We flogged the water with a range of surface lures and lightly weighted paddletail plastics, giving it a couple of hours before deciding to move on to the next spot.

A southeasterly wind had kicked in by then, which had the fish shut down.

We hit a range of spots, from beaches to bridges to drains, and could barely get a bite – other than a fringe-eye flathead.

Chris had been out the day before looking for some activity and found a school of tarpon in one of the drains as the tide started to push in.

These were the biggest tarpon I’d ever seen, and

they were in a strange mood.

They weren’t feeding but were constantly swimming up and down the drain and around in circles.

I’ve seen threadfin salmon do the same thing in one of the local rivers in Brisbane.

After talking to some anglers in the know, it turned out the fish were actually spawning.

As the tarpon were moving similarly to the threadfin I’d seen, perhaps they were also spawning.

Either way, we threw everything we had at them and never got a bump.

Some of these fish were pushing close to 1m long, so when they do eventually feed, there’ll be some spectacular scenes if you hook one. * continued P57

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TOURING& exploring Top Townsville trip * from P56

We pulled the pin after missing out and went for a game of golf to wrap the day up.

We saw a couple of freshwater crocodiles on the course, which was very cool.

The next morning, we fished one of the bridges, yet once again the wind was howling, and the fish didn’t want to play the game.

We decided to fish a rock wall out of the wind.

Over the past few years, we’ve caught nice jacks at this particular spot – another target species on Luke’s list.

We were struggling to get a bite on a lure, so we grabbed a box of pilchard and started drifting half pillies along the rock wall.

It didn’t take too long before Chris hooked up to a solid fish.

He did well to keep it out of the rocks at his feet and a nice jack of about 45cm was lifted over the wall.

This boosted our spirits and we were all keen to get more bait in the water.

I pulled the hooks on a jack shortly after and then got smoked by a better fish.

It went quiet after that, so we moved up the wall a bit to a likely looking spot.

I pulled the hooks on another, then hooked up solid to a big fish.

It immediately tried to bust me off in the rocks, so I free spooled it.

This worked and the

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fish swam straight out to the middle of the river.

While the gear I was using was possibly too light to be chasing this particular fish, at that stage we were still in with a chance.

On several occasions, the fish came close to the bank and tried to get me into the rocks.

It popped up – it was a cracking big mangrove jack.

It took another couple of dives before it tired and Chris dragged it onto the bank.

The 30lb leader was shredded and it snapped as soon as it was on the rocks.

Chris pounced on it and had it up the bank before the fish could kick back in.

The jack measured 54cm – an absolute cracker for the Townsville area.

The tide turned shortly afterward and everything shut down, so it was time for some more golf.

The next morning, we returned to the same area, hoping we could get Luke hooked up.

The midges and sandflies were next level due to the lack of wind.

It was the nicest day we’d had, however we had only a couple of hours before needing to be back on the plane.

Because barra were boofing on the other side of the river, the bait was nervous.

Luke hooked up but it wasn’t the target species.

It was a flounder, a rare species to be sit-

ting on a rock bar.

Shortly after, he got a good bite and sunk the hooks into a better fish.

As it got closer, we saw a red flash and got excited.

It wasn’t the biggest jack, yet it was Luke’s first and he was stoked.

To make it better, I hooked up while he was having a photo taken and it turned out to be another little jack, so we got to take a double hook-up picture.

We missed out on the barramundi this trip, but we ticked off one of the target species at least.

Of course, the weather improved after we left and Chris scored a few nice barra off the beach.

We had a great time fishing and visiting family, it was good to see everyone.

Hopefully next time we can get Luke his first barra.

Luke’s first fish was a flounder – rare for this area.

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FREE Hop on to bnbfishing.com.au Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 57

TOURING& exploring

Keeping that outdoor spirit

H

When the author was little, two legends taught him so much.

Our little fisho Jack, happy to grow up to be a dad just like his.

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I all, in these days of technological devices playing a prominent role in our younger generations’ lives, it’s interesting to see how quickly and enthusiastically they can place it all to the side and simply return to being kids again.

We recently hooked the caravan up and met with our three children and their families, including our nine grandchildren, for a family gathering.

Tonia and I tend to bush camp when we travel, however with a small tribe below preschool age, the decision to look for a caravan park with amenities was a no-brainer and would help with the mental health of the parents.

One picture shows the kids’ setup, with the camper and tents surrounding a small private amenities block, which consisted of toilets and showers.

I know your probably thinking that ensuite sites have been around for ages, but Tonia and I were absolutely blown away with this as an introductory step to camping with young families.

No matter how you’re camping, the basic principles remain the same – simple games around the table, swimming at the beach and wetting a line become daily rituals.

The excitement of the older boys using

Building Bonds

by PAUL ‘CHIEF’ GRAVESON

the 12V compressor to blow their air mattresses up and placing them in their small tents seemed as important as Burke and Wills preparing for an overland expedition.

Time has a way of standing still and, as the general interruptions of home life disappear, the one-on-one interactions with each child during play and conversation deepen the connection.

I remember fondly a conversation I had with 8-year-old grandson Jack – explorer and fisho – who was talking about what was important to him in the future.

It brought a lump to my throat as he explained that the best thing he could achieve was to be a dad, just like his dad.

Some readers will remember Jack’s dad (our

son Garrett) from when he graced the pages of this magazine 20 years ago, fishing and exploring the Brisbane River.

Garrett has always said he wished to bring his kids up the way he was raised – fishing, camping and hunting.

Over the years, I’ve been lucky to have fished with and know some top people, and have enjoyed their comradery, yet I’ve never been backward in saying my first choice of company in my boat has always been my own kids.

My oldest son Clint was a keen member of a Brisbane sportfishing club and the Australian National Sportfishing Association as a sub-junior during the 1980s.

When he reached about eight, I rarely had the opportunity to skip* continued P59

What the heck? Our own personal camping amenities.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

TOURING& exploring Keeping that outdoor spirit * from P58

per the Easy Rider 157 as we punched across Moreton Bay chasing mackerel and tuna.

Don’t ever underestimate the power of these early memories and the bonds that are made when families share quality outdoor experiences.

I admire those who value this type of what I call ‘lifestyle education’.

We’ve recently read about this publication’s owner Ben and his family undertaking a fantastic family adventure.

I remember reading his article ‘God’s Country’ in April and his words, “I guess that spending time with fellow travellers builds strong bonds, which was a big part of why we did this trip – so our family unit would become even stronger and we could foster deeper relationships with each other.”

Every moment we’re in the present

and attentive to our friends, family, partners, children and/or grandchildren, we’re building strong connections, and what a perfect place to do it – outdoors in our Australian bush, water and coastal environments.

When we’re away from the everyday stresses and responsibilities, the changes simply sweep over you.

One saying rings true for me, ‘if you don’t have any expectations, you can never be disappointed’.

It doesn’t cost the world to pick up a couple of simple tents, air mattresses and/or a double swag.

Do an overnighter somewhere, cook up a few snags, sit with your kids around a fire and let nature do the rest – in 10 years you can tell me if it was worth it.

Little steps are only the start, these may lead to outcomes you never believed possible.

The kids loved the special movie night, projected onto a tarp. www.bnbfishing.com.au

The beach area I camped at 36 years ago with Mum and Dad in 1988.

McGowan Island adventure

I

RECENTLY visited McGowan Island in the Kimberley for a couple days and realised how important it was to know how much fuel to take to such a remote spot and the best places to buy it.

On this trip, I bought my fuel for $1.92 per litre in Kununurra at a twenty-four seven unmanned fuel station located on the right as you come into town from the Darwin side.

As a guide, if you’re headed up, staying for 3-4 weeks with a 3.54m tinnie, you would need about 60 to 100-litres of petrol and, for a 4.5-5m tinnie, you’d need about 200-litres minimum plus 60-litres of diesel in spare jerry cans.

I bought my fuel at Kununurra because the fuel at Kalumburu was at least $3.50 per litre.

I also bought food at Coles in Kununurra and two boxes of squid and a cast net at the tackle shop.

Drysdale was a good place to top up on the way.

Kimberley Key

by CRAIG TOMKINSON

When launching my boat off the sandy beach near camp at McGowan, I let the Toyota LandCruiser 80 Series’ tyres down to 10psi cold.

I highly recommend letting your tyres down to 10psi to avoid getting bogged, as the 99 percent of people who neglect to do this do.

On this trip, after I’d launched the boat, I slipped a few kilometres up the coast to have a look at the spot I’d camped at with my parents 36 years before.

While there were plenty of small fish about, the bigger ones would’ve come out at night.

I went out wider for about 10km and started sounding around on the contours, but my GPS combo stopped picking up the satellites.

After 30 minutes, I eventually gave up trying to fix it on the boat and decided to head back to camp for a cuppa and to retrieve my glasses. * continued P60

Overlooking McGowan Island from the ridgeline above the camp.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 59

TOURING& exploring McGowan Island adventure * from P59

A 4m McGowan crocodile swam past nearly every day on sunset or during the day.

Once I could see, and after prodding the plug with a fine fishhook, I had the GPS up and running again ready for the next day.

The morning saw new campers bogged to the guts at the boat ramp.

Camp host Shawn helped them let their

A McGowan Island camp sunset.

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 60 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

tyres down and eventually they were away.

Once I could get out, I went straight to Bird Island and after an hour, I found some nice bommies about 5-10m high in 30m of water.

I anchored and in no time got my daily bag of three great saddletail snapper and a golden snapper of about 5065cm.

That was enough fish for me.

I headed back to camp where I cleaned the fish at the lovely stainless steel cleaning table and had some for lunch.

After another few trips out by myself, I met a chap called Jason Barnett who was keen to join me for a fish.

Once Jase and his wife Michelle had stocked up on squid and ice, we headed out.

Jase was stoked to be able to catch his bag of saddletail snapper and a few goldies before he had to head off.

A few days later, I was chatting to Mark McLennan, Huey Paterson and Greg McLennan who had come up the Plenty Hwy and Tanami Rd, which they described as gravel roads in good condition.

We decided to go out fishing together near Bird Island after they’d bought some bait and ice.

Again, we bagged out on red fish and caught a couple of nice goldies.

The crew invited me for dinner and I was excited to see Mark’s extra special setup.

He had a slide-on

camper on an extended chassis with an extra axle on his Ford Ranger and the biggest solar panels I’d ever seen.

Mark was kind enough to offer me one of the panels in return for taking them out fishing.

He and his friend had bought 160 between them in an online auction at a bargain price.

That day also introduced me to some new neighbours.

Robin and Gary Davies were lovely people with an awesome setup that included a Mitsubishi Canter truck, with a slide-on camper and towing a 4.5m Polycraft.

They’d caught some good spanish mackerel and reef fish offshore and were, after a week or two, headed off to another camp.

Sadly Mark, Huey and Greg were leaving the next day.

Over those last few days, Michael Quadrio and I had also gone fishing and caught some lovely fish.

While I was sitting in my camp one afternoon, Jack Jeffery and his partner Emily came over to ask if I was keen to do a run up the Drysdale River to Dons Camp and the freshwater rapids, staying overnight.

It sounded good so, after checking I had enough fuel for the trip, I asked Mick to join us and we headed off the next day.

To be continued...

Until then, be safe on the water.

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 61

A typically fat mid-40cm Wivenhoe bass taken on an old reliable 65mm Predatek Boomerang.

Roxbee trolled along a substantial rock face. Obvious structure such as this is always worth a few passes.

Back to big lake basics

I

Taken with the absolute basics in gear, this is what a 54cm bass looks like when not held out at arm’s length.

The Boomerang struck again, scoring a well-coloured and well-conditioned golden perch.

Page 62 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

N an era of high-tech electronics that have revolutionised the world of angling, you could be forgiven for thinking a barrow-load of money is required for success.

Young anglers on a tight budget trying to make mortgage payments could be depressed just by looking at the prices of live view sonar units and GPSlinked electric outboard motors.

Yet, the most basic watercraft with no electronics should not be seen as a handicap.

Recent fine weather and a coinciding rostered-day-off had my long-time fishing partner and I taking to Lake Wivenhoe with barebones gear.

Both of us fished from the most affordable fishing platforms available – kayaks.

Though there isn’t a lure type or technique we haven’t thoroughly enjoyed using during the past 40 years of fishing stocked lakes, on this outing we elected to troll ever-reliable deep divers.

Trolling allows a lot of water to be explored, which is especially advantageous when fishing blind.

While Wivenhoe is renowned for its open-wa-

Fishing for Sport

by NEIL SCHULTZ

ter schooling bass, they are difficult to locate without a sounder.

Luckily, there is always a percentage of the piscean population that will maintain their riverine habits and live close to bank-side structure.

It is those fish we targeted, negating the need for sonar as we simply trolled along parallel to the shoreline.

Using this method, judging depth is done simply by feeling the lure bumping the bottom and as required, moving further from shore.

Likewise, the lure dictates trolling speed, which should be fast enough to have the rod tip vibrating strongly from the lure’s action.

One of the benefits of fishing from paddle (or pedal) powered craft is that you can fish 100 percent of the time, as there is no temptation to zoom between locations.

Wivenhoe has some very conveniently located hard structure close to launching points, with Logan Inlet and Billies Bay producing fish from rocky points within a few hundred metres.

Though obvious structure is desirable, plenty of fish come while trolling along apparently featureless shorelines.

What is above the waterline doesn’t always reflect what is hidden beneath the surface, with isolated boulders, tree stumps and sunken gullies providing ideal ambush points for fishy predators.

We both used Australian-made lures and ran a couple of different makes during the day, yet hits kept coming on well-chewed Predatek Boomerangs.

Wivenhoe has earned a reputation as a trophy bass lake, though it also supports a reliable golden perch fishery.

The active local fish stocking group keeps the lake topped up with both bass and golden perch fingerlings every year to optimise opportunities for anglers.

Those fingerlings are largely funded with revenue raised by Stocked Impoundment Permits, which are compulsory on most lakes, so don’t forget to check yours is current before heading out.

www.bnbfishing.com. au

Freshwater access issues

T

HIS is becoming a major concern for most anglers east or west of the Great Divide.

We have limited means of being able to put our watercraft into action on rivers and streams.

The only means of gaining access to locations is either by bridges or water and stock reserves throughout Queensland.

The local government authorities or shire councils maintain these areas.

I have yet to see a more user-friendly format for this type of fishing than that of the Goondiwindi Regional Council.

Its camping and dayuse conditions outdo any other shire, with visitor friendly opportunities to catch the local native fish species.

Behind the above good news, we also have the other side of the coin… limited access, with the words, ‘I own the land and water, move on’.

In NSW, you are able to access locations of fishing spots through reserves, camping locations and similar areas.

This is part of the NSW Fisheries projects, giving kids in the bush a place to try out their skills fishing.

A word of warning with the coming months and spring sales of water for the growing of cotton, maize, lucerne and other crops.

With this comes large flows of water down river systems from allocations of water required for farming needs.

I came across a fence put across our local river system on the Dumaresq River.

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Glenlyon Dam

by BRIAN DARE

Three strands of barb wire and a signed electric fence.

Given that you can access locations along river systems in your own local regions, it is time for these types of actions to cease, now, before an angler or young child gets hurt.

With about 200ML of water flowing downstream and you’re fishing a good long hole of water, you come to its end, rapids.

In most cases on rivers such as the Dumaresq, the rapid systems wind left and right.

Blind spots, narrow quick runs and, you guessed it, a fence across a section of the river.

It’s easier to fence off a narrow part of a river than a wide section, either way, it is very dangerous for a recreational angler on a kayak or canoe or a kid on a car tube.

Over the past eight months, there has been increased conflict over access.

This problem needs to be sorted out with both local and state government authorities posthaste.

The question to be answered is why stock fish fingerlings if access locations are not signposted?

It makes it an elitest sport for those who own land along rivers and streams, not township anglers in Queensland who would like to fish unsigned stock and water reserves, this is yet to be done by local councils.

On the fishing front, this is the end of the breeding period for cod in Glenlyon, Leslie, Coolmunda, Pindari, Copeton, Split Rock.

The same now applies to the river systems in the far north of the Murray Darling system, and ranges upstream of Tamworth.

We are seeing yellowbelly up to 57cm in length and about 4kg taken on lures and bait, good to see the shrimp back in the rivers as well.

From now over the next few months into Christmas, don’t be surprised to see and hear of good rainfall. * continued P64

Mark Smith from Ballina NSW with a big yellowbelly.

DAM LEVELS CURRENT AS OF 15/10/2024

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

PERCENTAGE JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

82 53 88 91 100 98 17 26 70 99 100 37 63 100 95 85 72 101 100 90 98 66 66 80 100 102 101 82 79 100

78 53 88 88 100 95 76 26 70 98 100 35 63 98 92 85 70 101 100 90 96 64 66 78 100 101 101 81 78 99

77 52 87 87 99 93 16 26 70 95 100 36 63 96 90 84 70 100 100 89 94 63 65 78 100 101 101 80 78 99

76 52 87 88 100 90 16 27 69 98 100 34 64 97 88 82 69 99 100 93 94 64 64 79 100 100 100 80 78 99

72 51 85 87 99 84 16 26 64 95 99 32 61 96 85 74 69 94 99 92 91 62 62 79 98 97 101 79 77 99

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

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 63

Freshwater access issues * from P63

Stuart Rowland, author of The Murray Cod book.

The region could do with it, as at the time of writing, outflows were taking place from the storage.

Be advised that visits from our Boating and Fishing Patrol officers will be frequent from now on.

The cod will be out there feeding, ready for next year’s event.

This year in the photos we took of cod at the wall, the background showed thousands of bony bream from 7cm to close to 50cm en masse.

Currently, small cod from 24-63cm are being caught on lures and blades by trolling with line out the length of a cricket pitch.

You will find that

most boat motors put into idle speed are working great on pulling fish, the noise is not a problem.

Debbie and I had a visit from Lyn and Stuart Rowland recently.

After Debbie and Lyn went to bed, Stuart and I talked fish until late.

He also dropped off copies of The Murray Cod, taken from a section of his The Codfather book, these versions being 130 pages of good reading.

Badger Bates did a drawing of a Murray cod with a crayfish in its gut, the cover of the edition for sale at Glenlyon.

It’s not the full 643-page book that Stuart initially released, it’s only the section on cod.

You’ll be well informed once you’ve read through the pages.

Most anglers will get a better understanding on this iconic Australian freshwater fish.

Keep in mind, as at the end of October, you’ll be able to fish for cod in rivers and streams of Queensland – 60cm minimum keeping and no maximum size for this fish.

To give you an idea of growth rate, a cod was caught and tagged at a size of 64cm.

Six years later it was caught and measured 110cm.

If travelling out this way, watch out for kangaroos, wallabies and wild pigs – there are stacks of them on the roads to Glenlyon.

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

14 CABINS bookings necessary

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 Page 64 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

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Baralaba Saratoga Classic

I

N the central Burnett area, the weather has started to encourage summer water temperatures.

Yet the nights are still a little cool, so once that settles down the fish should turn on again.

At present, it’s tough fishing everywhere, though by putting the hours in on the water, I’ve found windows when the fish were hungry, and it was a fish a cast.

Have to love that.

On the weekend of September 14-15, I ventured to Baralaba, a small country town on the Dawson River, a couple of hours west of Gladstone.

Surrounded by mines, the town recently had a disaster – the only pub in town burnt down.

That’s not good for any town.

The one thing that brought people’s spirits up was the running of the Baralaba Saratoga Classic.

There hadn’t been a competition run for a few years because, as for many groups, getting enough members to help run events was difficult and there weren’t enough people to put an event on.

This year the classic helped make Baralaba a very popular spot for the weekend, plus the stocking group ran a bar during the competition.

But not only that, it was a great community event.

An enthusiastic group of locals got together to form the new stocking group and, with a bit of support from existing members, they

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Outback Fishing

by HELEN ABDY

put on a great weekend – the town loved it.

The free campgrounds at Baralaba are fantastic and very popular with grey nomads, who also keep the town going.

There are shady trees throughout, a toilet block, gold coin hot and cold showers, a playground for kids, shelter sheds and a solid cement boat ramp.

The river at the time of the competition was still full, not having had any water released for farmers, which may have not helped fishos because the fishing was tough going.

Lots of water and lots of food yet, even though everyone was happy the event was happening again, the fish played very hard to get.

It’s a very healthy river system that holds barramundi, saratoga, yellowbelly and black bream, to name a few.

Even though not many of those were caught during this competition, it was a great event and the new stocking group were keen to make next year’s even better.

They had some awesome prizes, raffles and lucky draws.

Charlie from Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association Queensland attended with the pest fish display trailer, which attracted a lot of attention.

It is amazing how many people aren’t aware of different fish species and whether

they’re native or pest fish.

It shows how important it is to make the general public aware of this.

Check out Baralaba Recreation and Fish Stocking Group Inc on Facebook for more information and pictures from the weekend.

Fraser Bradshaw with one of the few sleepy cod caught on the weekend.

The campgrounds have an awesome river frontage fishing platform.

The front stage was very informative.

Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 65

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POST TO PO BOX 162, Wynnum QLD 4178 or EMAIL with a photo to ads@collins.media When completing this form please leave one square of space between each word (Hyphens, full-stops, commas, word spaces count as one letter) ALL ADS MUST BE PRE-PAID 1 1 2

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Page 66 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024

AQUAMASTER 490 CENTRE CONSOLE 2020 – This boat will bring plenty to the table in terms of options, such as two Garmin 95sv sounders, a Minn Kota Ulterra electric motor, VHF radio, battery isolator switch, solar panel, front light bar, deck lights and safety gear to name a few. There’s no need to own a 4WD to tow this boat either – it’s easy to launch and retrieve at the boat ramp. Don’t miss an opportunity to own this very capable fishing boat. $46,990.

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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.media

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A monster 50cm bass caught on the Clarence River using a Zoomy Whacker hard-body diver purchased at the recent Australian Lure and Fly Expo.

Matt Griffin

Caught a golden trevally on a Flasha spoon in Hervey Bay. Billy Daniel

Redland Bay Amateur Fishing Club winners of the August/September RBAFC Sports Fishing Competition, which runs monthly. Winner with a snapper was Jason ‘Macca’ McMillan, Junior Members’ Choice winner was Brax Temple boating a flathead and Seniors’ Members Choice winner was Josh Senczak with a cobia.

RBAFC

I caught a nice76cm flathead on squid.

Serena Sullivan

The heaviest catfish caught at the Catch a Catty Family Fishing Comp at Mingo. It came in at 4kg.

Jenny Suter

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 2024 – Page 67

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Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024 – Page 71

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Page 72 – Bush ’n Beach Fishing, November 2024