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Features

Bass bolts from the yak • Yabby basics: catching crayfish • Starlo: it’s troutin’ time! • Queensland cod in the creeks • Atomic line up review • Australian Fish Stock reports •

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Toby Grundy searches for bass bolts from the kayak

November, 2024 ISSN 2652-5798

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Contents From the Editor’s Desk... improving our events offerings. Through ABT, we have lots of livestreaming expertise and you’ll see me a bit in that space as well. Our website will still endure and we plan to make all of our paywalls on Issuu disappear so everyone can read all of our content since we started simultaneously publishing on digital platforms. I still have lots of demand for our video and written boat tests and there’s a whole bunch of corporate video work that I’ll be able to devote more time to. Who knows - you may even see a sneaky annual or two forged from the old fires. Maybe get back to the days where quality journalism rather than social media fads drove technique innovation. But for now, expect the December 2024 issue to be the final ‘monthly’ we produce. And we expect it to be a ripper! Paid subscribers: there will be instructions on the final flysheet how to receive the balance of your subscription paid back to you. This will be pro-rata for the number of months you have left.

INSIDE This Issue

QUEENSLAND The Tweed

Forster

Port Albert

Mandurah

111

Port Macquarie

Gippsland Lakes

Lancelin

112 114

Port Stephens

Lakes Entrance

Kalberri

Brisbane

Swansea

Marlo

Exmouth

115

Northern Bay

Central Coast

Mallacoota

Freshwater

116

Sunshine Coast

Illawarra

Bemm River

Bundaberg

Batemans Bay

Robinvale

Mackay

Bermagui

Wangaratta

Townsville

Tathra

Yarrawonga

Hinchinbrook

New England Rivers

Shepparton

Cairns

Hunter Valley

Bendigo

Port Douglas

Batlow

Ballarat

Cooktown

Albury/Wodonga

Gippsland Freshwater

100

Cape York

Canberra

Eildon

100

Freshwater

Crater Lakes

Jumpinpin

VICTORIA NEW SOUTH WALES

Portland

TASMANIA Hobart

Sydney Rock

Warrnambool

Sydney South

Cobden

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Ballina

Geelong

Esperance

108

Coffs Coast

Port Phillip

Bunbury

108

South West Rocks

Phillip Island

Metro

110

6 NOVEMBER 2024

REGULAR FEATURES Bass bolts from the yak

Yabby: catching crayfish

Starlo: it’s troutin’ time

Phases of the moon

QLD cod in the creeks

Sheik of the Creek

Review: Atomic line up

Australian Fish Stocks

102

Fun page

107

Tournaments

118

Tide page

122

Test: Whittley CR2180

124

Trades and Services

126

COMPS AND OFFERS Find the logo

123

Angus James with a beautiful redfin from Victorian waters. An Angus James image.

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FISHING MONTHLY MAGAZINE Published by:

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Business Office: Unit 1, 11 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, Qld, 4128

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FISHING MONTHLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2024

staff and Editors over that time. Many of them stuck with us through the hard times. After the Robyn Lawrie fraud that was uncovered in 2013 and the COVID crash of 2020 we restructured and regrouped to successfully continue the monthly title. Part of that strategy was to build a large subscriber base to insulate us from the decline in news agencies. This strategy has now bitten us in the bum. There’s no guarantees at all that there’s not a catastrophic postage price rise again in 2025. There’s been several bankruptcies of advertisers who owed us a lot of money that will never be recovered. I suppose it’s a part of all business. So for all of you who have worked and written for me, read the magazine and advertised with me - thank you. It’s been an awesome ride. Is this the last you see of me? Not at all. We will still publish the business-tobusiness trade magazine that the industry sees behind the scenes. FM’s sister company, Australian Bass Tournaments (ABT) is doing just fine and I’ll spend a percentage of my time there,

ISSUE: VOLUME 5 NO.8

RIP FISHING MONTHLY I predicted this in an editorial a few months ago - Australia Post having a major part in making the production of a quality Australian-made fishing magazine unviable. I did the numbers and we are now there, despite a large subscriber base and substantial advertiser base, I now have no levers left to pull to make a monthly magazine profitable. With increases in postage, print and inflation in general, it’s now nearimpossible to make a monthly magazine with six staff and to not go backwards. So, after writing for the magazine since Volume 1, Issue 2 in 1987, when I was 15 and buying the company in 2000 when I was 28 I get to be the one who has to make the decision to wind the printed magazine down in December 2024. That’s around 450 months of magazines. For a lot of the time, we published up to four magazines a month and since COVID in 2020, it’s been a single, nationwide issue. We’ve dealt with millions of copies sold, hundreds of writers and dozens of

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FEATURE

Species

FMM

Bass bolts from the yak CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

There are very few fish that captivate me to the extent of the Australian bass. I think it has something to do with growing up in Canberra where there isn’t a bass in sight and reading ‘Bethune on Bass’ on cold mornings while dreaming of surface strikes in the middle of crystal-clear pools along the coast.

but that I was going to need a kayak to access some of the trickier spots and hook a 50cm specimen. Nowadays, I spend a good portion of spring chasing Australian bass from my kayak. However, when I first started fishing from a kayak, it wasn’t the game changer I thought it would be, in fact for a long time, it proved more of a hinderance. I found adjusting to life on a kayak instead of a boat difficult as the smaller creeks and rivers still contained plenty of current which made learning to stand tricky and working out how to pedal, cast and manoeuvre the rudder all at once was like relearning how to drive a manual car. Suffice to say, I got there in the end and it is now a case of basically having the kayak permanently strapped to top of my ute through the warmer months because I can’t imagine fishing for bass without it anymore.

Releasing another quality bass. THE KAYAK I use a Native Slayer Propel 10 when fishing the rivers and creeks that feature prominently right throughout large

The author with a 50cm fish pulled from a tiny pool. I remember catching my very first bass while fishing the Gloucester River in Northern NSW and while it was tiny (around 20cm), catching that fish not only reiterated to me that bass fishing was as challenging as it was interesting 8 NOVEMBER 2024

The Dragon Maggot is the author’s favourite plastic.

sections of the NSW South Coast. This kayak is remarkably light at around 27kg (without the propel attached) and so I can carry it over my head from shed to ute and then from ute down to the water with ease. It is also incredibly tough, easy to steer and because of its small size can cruise in and out of some remarkably tight spots. I started my kayak fishing journey with a 13-foot kayak and this was a mistake. There are long lengths of overgrown wilderness along the creeks and rivers where I fish. The branches often reach out right over and under the river and there were instances where I would move parallel while fighting a fish and get the kayak wedged between branches and because I couldn’t move, the fish would often brick me and snap off. I have no such trouble now with the Slayer 10. This kayak has the Native

Species FEATURE

FMM

Bass love a plastic worked slow in clear water. Propel Drive which means I can pedal forward but also backwards instantly, and it is a very quick yak. I don’t have anything fancy on the kayak like a sounder. Fishing for bass from a kayak is all about enjoying the natural environment, reading the river and keeping a sharp eye on the edges of the bank and observing fish behaviour. If I’m fishing a wider river and I

know I’m in for some rough weather, I switch to my Native Titan 10.5. This kayak is heavier than the Slayer but it is more stable. I can stand up and fish comfortably as the yak is broader than the Slayer and handles choppy water very easily. I will say that it doesn’t turn nearly as well and because it is heavier, it is slower than the Slayer. LOCATIONS I start by looking for any kind of structure that is going to slow up the current and give me a pocket of slack water to cast into all while being able to keep my kayak drifting along in the middle of the pool. Even artificial structure like a sunken slab of old pylon or a half-eroded metal barrel

David Pidcock proving that a paddle yak is just as effective as a pedal yak.

LURES Dragon Maggot 2” in carrot Squidgie Wriggler 80mm in bloodworm Bite Science Dirty Grub 2.5” in motor oil Ecogear ZX35 DStyle Reserve Hatch OSP Bent Minnow Tiemco Soft Shell Cicada Megabass Siglett

A quality bronze bolt.

can provide enough of a break in the current to create slack water. The bass sit in the pockets of slack water, out of the current waiting for a tasty morsel to swim past. That said, if I spot a bit of structure creating slack water that then leads to a cluster of reeds or overhanging trees then this is by far the best location as the bass will ‘queue’ in these areas and it is possible to pick up a dozen fish as the slack water created by the root ball or pylon then continues into the overhanging branches that follow ensuring that the water stays slower than the main flow meaning more fish can sit in this area.

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QLD Southern

FMM

If your pots go a few drops with no luck, try moving them into deeper water. Alternatively, you could try a different part of the system, as muddies can sometimes become clumped in stretches of river where the temperature and salinity is most comfortable for them. FRESHWATER The bass fishing across the region

more competition for food, and now is when we often see the best fishing in the small streams. A whole range of lures work well in these confined environments, with bass tending to be quite opportunistic with their feeding. With that said, small stream bass aren’t pushovers. Being highly attuned to their surrounds helps them to find food when it enters the pool,

your lure has landed. The bigger pools in the North and South Pine, Brisbane, Logan and Albert rivers have been fishing well too. Nighttime sessions will start to become more productive as the daytime temperature increase, with larger fish often coming out after dark to hunt. Smaller local lakes like Kurwongbah, Ewen Maddock , Enoggera, Borumba and Manchester have been teetering on the edge of spilling, and by now some may have already spilled. The tiny pools downstream can fish really well when the dams are spilling, with stocked bass reverting back to their wild habits as soon as they tumble over the spillway. In the dams themselves, things have also been very exciting. Ewen Maddock, Borumba, MacDonald, Maroon and Hinze have all been

in the deep has become very effective in certain dams. Trolling is a fun summer activity, and a simple way to bag a few fish when you have kids or inexperienced adults with you. Samsonvale, Moogerah, Borumba and Baroon Pocket have been a trollers’ paradise lately, with thermoclines (a layer of cooler water visible on a sounder, usually forming at about 3-4m) providing a comfortable spot for bass to suspend during the heat of the day. It’s fairly easy to find these fish, and trolling around in open water with lures that dive to 4-6m is a highly productive way to do it. Once found, suspended fish can also be caught by casting spoons, spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, soft plastics and even flies fished on fast-sinking lines. Trolling is a successful method in most lakes stocked with bass, however the lakes mentioned above tend to provide the

This tagged fish ate a LuckyCraft Sammy on a hot and humid afternoon at Lake Maroon. The tagging data revealed only a few centimetres of growth in several years. Hopefully this fish can provide more valuable data in the future! has been fantastic, with both local dams and streams providing plenty of action. Recent rains have resurrected many small, local systems, which prior to the rainfall were a series of stagnant pools. Increased flows have brought these delicate ecosystems back to life, providing oxygenated water to fish that have been doing it tough. Tributaries of the Pine, Brisbane and Logan rivers have all received enough rain to aid the upstream of migration of post-spawn fish, which mix with residential fish during summer. Extra fish in the creek results in

but it also allows them to spot danger coming from a mile away. Because of this, anglers need to move quietly. Staying low and making accurate casts toward any likely looking piece of cover is a good approach, giving the fish plenty of time to find your offering with your retrieve. Casting accuracy is a huge asset in any bass creek, but keep in mind that small, shaded pools will often have a plethora of sunken structure littered through them. In other words, sometimes it’s worth throwing a cast into the middle of the pool, as quite often fish will be holding in structure right below where

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Tackle World Lawnton owner Ryan displays a good eating size school mackerel. Schoolies have been turning up in all corners of the bay lately, including close to the shore around Woody Point and Shorncliffe. producing excellent morning and afternoon topwater bites on bass. Lily-lined lakes like Kurwongbah and Maroon have been on fire, with soft plastic frogs and other weedless presentations ideal for working the pockets between the weed and lilies. Saratoga have mostly come out of their spawning lock-jaw, with Borumba, Somerset, Kurwongbah and Samsonvale boasting good numbers of fish up to 80cm. Borumba and Somerset are holding the dual title for biggest toga captures lately, however we’re seeing better numbers of fish from Kurwongbah. Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits are getting the job done, as usual, though lightly-weighted soft plastics and flies have been very effective when the bite is tough. With the warm weather, trolling

best conditions for it. WR AP-UP As we get to the pointy end of the year, November offers us a chance to wet a line before seasonal obligations and the extremities of summer and really set in. With a wet summer predicted, it’s difficult to say how fishing will be affected over the next few months. All the more reason to get out for a fish asap! • Thanks to all our wonderful customers who send us photos and give us intel over the counter. If you’re in the Brisbane North/Moreton Bay region, make sure you swing by Tackle World Lawnton on 640 Gympie Road and check out our range. We stock everything you need to chase local species, plus a great selection of fresh bait as well.

FEATURE

Location

FMM

Get started on catching cod in the QLD creeks NORTH QUEENSLAND

Joe Nugent

Holding the title as Australia’s largest freshwater fish, Murray cod are known for their aggressive strikes and powerful fights. With their impressive size and dirty tactics, big cod have been the subject of many anglers’ “one that got away” stories.

Murray cod can be found throughout the Murray Darling Basin – a network of rivers and streams spanning from southern QLD to Northern Victoria. Unfortunately, commercial fishing in the 19th century had a massive impact on the population, a consequence of which anglers still pay the price today. Cod numbers are at an estimated 10-15% of their pre-settlement numbers, and their recovery is hampered

The author with a healthy cod from an early morning session. 48 NOVEMBER 2024

by habitat destruction, weather events and overfishing. Nonetheless, for many anglers, the challenge of pursuing these elusive fish is part of the appeal. Murray cod are one of our most popular sportfish, both in the rivers and impoundments. Typical Murray cod measure 50-100cm and weigh 5-20kg. However, in ideal conditions, it’s possible for a Murray cod to grow over 1.5m and weigh over 100kg! Like other species of freshwater cod, they are predominantly ambush feeders. These sedentary fish spend most of their time lurking deep within structure, waiting for prey to pass by. They feed on baitfish, redclaw/yabbies, birds, lizards, snakes, and more. Throughout the year, cod behaviour changes slightly. During winter, smaller fish tend to shut down and conserve energy, while larger fish continue to feed in order to maintain their size and weight prior to spawning. Spawning typically occurs during spring each year. Unlike some other species in stocked impoundments (e.g. barramundi and bass), which require salt/brackish water to breed, there’s evidence that Murray cod can reproduce in freshwater. For this reason, state regulations prohibit targeting Murray cod during the vulnerable spawning period.

Walking the banks in search of cod. Rules vary from state to state, so check your local regulations before hitting the water. QLD MURRAY COD Murray cod can be found throughout Southern QLD in rivers and stocked impoundments. Although the largest cod are generally caught in impoundments, I prefer to target wild cod. I focus my efforts on walking the banks of smaller rivers and streams which meander their way through Southern QLD, and across the border

Location FEATURE

FMM

into NSW. This region includes a mixture of private farmland and National Parks, which provide access to various creek systems within the Murray Darling basin. Targeting cod in this area is a rewarding experience. The border of QLD and NSW is a well-known tourist destination for hikers and campers, and

for different depths and water flow. At a minimum, I’ll carry a surface lure, a hardbody and a spinnerbait. This allows me to significantly vary the presentations on offer and easily adjust my fishing style when needed. Given the sophistication and craftsmanship of some cod lures, prices vary drastically, from $10-$100+. If you’re on a strict budget, don’t overlook some of the simpler, triedand-true lures on the market. They may not be handmade or feature intricate paintwork, but off-the-shelf lures are a cost-effective way for the weekend fisho to get into cod fishing. On the cheaper end of the scale, retailing for about $15, the Size 2 StumpJumper from JJS Lures is one of my favourite and most reliable cod lures. I prefer natural colours that match the surrounding structure; anything green is usually a good starting point. Cod can also be targeted using bait. Small fish, worms, yabbies, dim sims and cheese are all common baits for cod. Many old-school cod fishers swear by using cheese. It’s unclear whether the cod are attracted to the cheese itself or the baitfish that it attracts, but nonetheless,

CLOSED SEASON FOR COD Queensland NSW Victoria South Australia

1 Aug - 31 Oct 1 Sept - 30 Nov 1 Sept - 30 Nov 1 Aug - 31 Dec

* Exceptions apply. Please check your local state regulations for further information.

Size 2 StumpJumpers are a costeffective and reliable lure. many of the creeks are found within the deep, granite-lined valleys surrounded by steep, mountainous terrain. There’s something special about being on the water before sunrise and watching the early morning fog roll off the mountains above. Cod in this area generally aren’t massive, but can be found in good numbers. Make no mistake, although there are fish throughout this area, you will have to work for them! They are elusive and temperamental, requiring a great deal of patience and persistence to achieve success. CATCHING A COD Given Murray cod have such a broad diet, there are hundreds of different lure and bait combinations marketed at catching cod. When it comes to fishing small creeks, it’s wise to carry a variety of lures, and adjust your fishing style to cater

volunteers are also working to improve the habitat of river systems by removing pests, re-snagging rivers and reducing bankside erosion. For anglers, the most effective way to help is to do the right thing with regard to size limits, bag limits and closed seasons. After all, the best thing about Murray cod is the thrill of catching them, and the enjoyment of being outdoors.

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The author’s go-to lures for land-based Murray cod.

it catches cod all across the country. The most important aspect when trying to trigger a cod to strike is working close to the structure. Cod tend to set themselves up deep within structure, waiting patiently for bait to move within striking distance. When lure fishing, make sure your casts are accurate, and the lure is worked appropriately, keeping it as close as possible to the structure. Cod strike hard and love to dart back into the structure they came from, so you need to use an adequate set-up to avoid disappointment. A barra outfit can be a good option, if you have one. My go-to is a baitcaster combo with 50lb braid and 50lb mono leader. Having an adequately-sized leader is vital to a good cod set-up – not only to avoid being broken off by a snag, but to avoid getting rubbed off by the rough plates on the top and bottom of the cod’s mouth. If you catch multiple fish in a session, or have an extended battle with a giant, these plates can easily rub through smaller leaders. AFTER THE CATCH It’s rare to find an angler who is willing to keep a Murray cod – not because they taste bad, but because most anglers want to protect these iconic sportfish. Still sitting at a fraction of their pre-settlement population size, the road to recovery is a long one for this slow-growing species. Many restocking groups, both government and private, exist throughout the country. These organisations are reintroducing and restocking Murray cod populations, both wild and captive. Staff and

Riley was stoked with his first Murray cod, taken slow rolling a hardbody alongside submerged timber. NOVEMBER 2024 49

VIC

West Coast

FMM

Catch yourself a tasty mixed bag off Portland PORTLAND

Nigel Fisher

G’day fishos! I’m sure we are all gearing up now for a big season ahead. Here in Portland we have seen significant changes in the last few weeks, both in the weather and the fishing. Land-based off the breakwater, we have seen some good snapper already, with models up in the high 70cm range, plus some very healthy gummies and

area, like Snapper Point, Narrawong Beach and along Dutton Way, will also start producing some good quality landbased fish. This time of year is always exciting around the harbour and bay as we start to see greater numbers of big whiting getting around in better numbers. Some of the whiting can be as big as 60cm, but the average size is 40-45cm, which is still a good size. These fish are very common in both shallow and deep water. Wellpresented baits such as squid and pipis will give you a great chance of catching a good feed. We are also seeing good-size whiting being caught on jigs and plastics. The North Shore reef lines from

snapper, gummies, schoolies and even kingfish. As we head deeper outside the bay and back of Lawrences Rock right through to Bridgewater certainly opens you up to a huge variety of fish, especially in 50-100m of water. Flathead and gummies are highly sought-after fish down towards Bridgewater, drifting around the hot spots. Back towards Cape Nelson, you can encounter a good variety of snapper, sharks, nannies and more. Big makos will also be on the cards in these areas. Out wide, in depths of 140m right through to the shelf in 350m+ of water, there are some great opportunities for big boat fishos, when the weather permits. You can have some memorable sessions

Kraken Fishing Charters have been putting their customers onto some quality flathead.

This month, we will start seeing some good quality calamari, both from the boat and land-based. A great catch from the shelf, taken on a trip with Matthew Hunt Fishing Charters. schoolies. Over the next couple of months, the Breakwater jetties and landings will also improve, with fish such as whiting, squid, snapper and trevally, just to name a few. These areas are great for traditional baits, soft plastics and hardbody lures, so you can have fun mixing it up for an extra chance of a quality fish. Beaches around the North Shore

Young Oscar and Harriet love catching slimy macs in the Harbour. the Town Reef, Dutton Way up to Julia Reef, will only get better as the weather improves. Depending on the water temperatures, you can catch some quality

on deep bottom fish – everything from trumpeter to blue-eye. There are also makos in these deep water areas, which are always a big game prize.

With so much on offer, let’s hope we are in for some warm, stable weather throughout November, and get into some great fishing. • For all your weather and fishing information, call us at Compleat Angler on 03 5521 1844. You will find us at 61 Bentinck Street, Portland, and we have all the bait and tackle you need. You can also find us on Facebook, where we post regular updates with news, photos and in-store specials.

FISHING NEWS

Codference lures fishers to Shepparton Murray cod fishers will descend on Shepparton for the 7th Murray Codference, once again being held in the heart of the Goulburn Valley on Saturday 16 November from 9am to 4pm. Victorian Fisheries Authority CEO Travis Dowling said the free event has become a favourite for native fishing enthusiasts and will once again feature presentations from a host of experts, including renowned recreational fishers Lubin Pfeiffer, Kate Norman, Colby Lesko and Robbie Alexander. “Our Codference has become one of the most highly anticipated dates for cod fishers from Victoria and interstate and it’s a great way to get you primed for the season opening again in many lakes and rivers on December 1,” Mr Dowling said. “Attendees can learn how some of the best fishers in the country target

82 NOVEMBER 2024

and catch metre-long cod, the latest on our record-breaking stocking effort and updates on the project to triple the size of our Arcadia hatchery – which is just a short drive down the road from Shepp.”

This year’s event will be held at a new venue – the GV Hotel on High Street – and has again attracted an array of renowned cod fishing experts from Victoria and interstate. Recognised as Australia’s pre-eminent recreational fisher, keynote speaker Lubin Pfeiffer travels the globe in search of great fishing experiences as part of TV programs BigAngryFish and Full Scale Fishing Adventures. He has also represented Australia at world fly fishing championships, but his love for Murray cod and immense skill catching them keeps him coming back to the iconic native species in Victoria’s rivers and lakes. Fishing personality and photographer Robbie Alexander, who has more than 130,000 followers on his Robbiefishing Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages, will share basics for beginners so you can get the family wetting a line and catching their first cod.

Young guns of the recreational fishing scene, Colby Lesko and Kate Norman, will help you catch your next ‘metery’ and all speakers will discuss using livescope or active targeting in cod fishing. The VFA and project partners will also share the latest on construction of the Arcadia hatchery expansion, Cracking the Code on Macquarie perch production and the 10inTen initiative to boost numbers of threatened species at the Snobs Creek conservation hatchery. “This year’s Codference will be our best yet and we’d love to see you there, chat fishing and share lunch as we get set for a bumper summer of cod fishing,” Mr Dowling said. Tickets for the event are free, lunch will be provided and spaces are expected to fill up fast. To register and find out more go to www.vfa.vic.gov.au/ murraycodference. – VFA

West Coast

FMM

VIC

Plenty of options to look forward to in November WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

Conditions here in the southwest have continued to conspire against anglers and most fishing options locally continue to be a bit quiet. Constant strong winds over the past month have limited all offshore bottom fishing, which had been so good earlier in the year. Lack of

Bream should return this month, eating lures close to the bank as the water warms.

rain has continued to hamper inshore options. Trout fishing has been fairly productive, but hard work with sizes down on most years. Many of the local estuaries have been frequently opening and closing with the lack of flow, and good bites have been hard to come by, with many fish still schooled up deep in the cool, clear water. So, let’s look ahead to November with a bit of positivity; hopefully things will turn around as the weather begins to warm up. One thing to look forward to in November is the southern rock lobster season opening on the 15th of the month. Divers and drop netters will be hoping for some good weather to get in nice and close to their favourite ledges or reefs. Warmer, longer November evenings will also see more anglers out targeting another tasty southern specialty: King George whiting. Shallow waters less than 5m of water around Lady Bay, Killarney and Port Fairy should provide some quality fish, with most in the 36-43cm range. Whilst most snapper anglers are targeting Port Phillip and Westernport bays, there are still snapper on offer off the South West Coast at this time of year. At this time, you are always a good chance of a better fish before the droves of summer pinkies arrive. The added attraction of doing a bottom bash for

local snapper is the possibility of a mixed bag with gummies, schoolies, morwong, squid even a big whiting all a chance when you are fishing the deeper waters from around 30-45m. November is always a good month to chase bream and estuary perch in the Hopkins. The fish have usually well and truly returned to the edges by November, and can be targeted on shallow-running hardbodies and even surface lures. Another fisher y that’s not too far away, but is a good option at this time of year, is Rocklands

Reservoir. Fisheries have pumped a huge amount of cod and yellowbelly into this system over the past years, and the fish are really now starting to reach impressive sizes. Cod to 70cm and yellowbelly to 60cm are impressive specimens and are now being taken at these sizes. Despite the large number of fish stocked, it is a massive waterway and very heavily timbered. Finding fish can be difficult so it’s important to give yourself plenty of time on the waterway and use your electronics well to locate fish.

background looked very much like the Curdies River bank, and the information attached to the pic pointed out it was taken only days prior. It seems that some fish are still hanging on. This was a very large bream; hopefully the angler in

question released it to help keep the species alive in this system. The Hopkins River has been slow going for many anglers lately. However, a few have done well, catching bream to 1.4kg on bait, mostly pod worm followed by live

shrimp. I’ve been told you are doing well if you manage a decent bite or hook-up once every half hour or so. Most bream have been caught in the bottom half of the river. However, by the time you read this, I suspect the fish will be schooling up and moving upstream on their annual spawning run. Estuary perch are also about, but they have been finicky when it comes to striking an angler’s offering. Plenty of small fish are getting around, and a ‘big fish’ only pulls the scales down to 800-900g. The perch are being taken all over the estuary, but that will change soon as they school up and move down towards the mouth for their spawning run. The Gellibrand River at Princetown has been hard going, with only small perch and bream being caught in close to the bankside reed beds. A few sea-run brown trout have turned up, although not of any notable size. Most of the trout have been taken on lures being cast out for the perch.

Rocklands Reservoir is a good option in November for stocked natives.

Anglers hold out for warmer days on the water COBDEN

Rod Shepherd

I cannot believe the extended blast of wintry weather that has engulfed most of spring and could easily threaten our summer. Fishing conditions have been frightful on most days, and only the hardy have been venturing out on the water. Low barometer readings point to a distinct scarcity of bites. The fish, almost like us, do not want to play the game. Many anglers have written off the Curdies River. There has been much pollution of the waters in recent times, due to too many nutrients running into the river from nearby farmland. High temperatures and a lack of rain contribute to fish kills, and there have been several in recent years. However, recently a little bird showed me a photo of a very sizeable bream taken on a black vibe in 4m+ of water, and it was dripping milk, indicating it’s a male in breeding mode. The

A brace of Hopkins bream taken on soft plastics on the edge of the channel opposite the ski club.

NOVEMBER 2024 83

West Coast

FMM

Tailor your fishing MANDURAH

Jesse Choy

November is an exciting time for the people of Mandurah who love to fish. Not only is the weather great, but we are particularly spoilt for options when it comes to inshore fishing. Although demersal fishing is off the cards until next month, anglers may opt to go chase pelagic species offshore, or perhaps head to the beach and make the most of the annual tailor run. Unless you are an avid demersal fisher looking to fill your fridge, there is surely

Not only are redfin fun to catch, but they also have an incredible display of colour!

going to be something there which will keep you busy and scratch your itch at the same time. Our local waters are starting to become much warmer than previous months which means that beach fishing is a great option for anglers. Seaweed abundances have begun thinning right out, the water has cleared up significantly and fish activity should really pick up as we progress through the month. Tailor fishing will be the main prospect of many beach anglers, as like clockwork, they begin to show up in larger numbers when warm water is frequent and as such will provide a lot of regular fun to anglers of all skill levels. If you are targeting tailor from the beach, a simple ganged hook setup will suffice when paired with a three-way swivel and a moderately sized star stinker. This setup is especially effective as the linked hooks will protect you from their teeth while also giving you plenty of chances at hooking fish and keeping them connected too. Though tailor tend to be a species that you can target all day long, focusing your fishing efforts around first and last light where fish are actively looking to feed will yield the best results. Many fish

Soapies and tuna are producing clean fun particularly with a jet head will also give the required speed. The idea is to run the lures out a good 70-80m behind the boat, passing ahead of the school’s path. Done right the lures will run through the head of the school, keep the throttle on after one rod hooks up. Multiple hookups are common. CASTING Casting to the schools can is the most effective way to catch fish without spooking the school. Long

LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

While the demersal ban remains in place, ending next month on the 15 December, tuna will be the main game for offshore fishers. At this time of year tuna are rampant out past the 20m depths. There are two basic methods commonly used, trolling or casting to the schools. A few tuna tactics for those wanting to give it a crack: TROLLING Trolling can be with a rod in either overhead or a spin reel

Dean had a great morning on typical plump spring tailor.

Everyone is waiting in anticipation for the white cray run to start later this month. 112 NOVEMBER 2024

combo. Size wise, a 5k spin reel with 10-15kg line will tackle the average bluefin or skipjack we see locally. However, any smaller will struggle to tow a lure at speeds up to 15 knots and should you hook up on one of those big yellowfin, I can testify there can be less than 30 seconds to turn the boat and take chase with a good helmsman before all of the line is stripped off the reel! While bibbed minnows do work, bibless will give a speed advantage chasing down schools that can be traveling at 9 knots or more positioning the lure in the sweet spot for a strike – Halco Max being a favourite in red head. Otherwise, skirted lures

The past two seasons have seen small soapie mulloway in numbers we haven’t seen for 15 years. This bodes well for the future of the fishery. casts are best as often tuna will sound if you try get too close. Positioning the boat upwind will help with cast distance and a stealthy drift towards the school. A 5k, 10kg spin reel is a lot of fun on the average fish, 6-10k with 15kg line will have a decent

West Coast

FMM we target are best targeted around a change of light as the low light conditions offer a sense of security to fish which allows them to feed with far less hesitation unlike mid-day where they are exposed and hesitant. Clearer waters of the beach can leave species like herring, whiting or tailor feeling susceptible to being preyed upon and as a result you can sometimes struggle to catch unless you fish this period of light change. Estuary fishing is another option which is hard to look by during this month and will provide some great fun if you are willing to put in the yards. Though we cannot crab in the Peel-Harvey just yet, anglers will find a lot of entertainment chasing yellowfin whiting around the estuary. Though they may not be thick in numbers yet, the numbers of fish will only increase as the month goes on and warmer days become more prevalent. If you are looking to chase some yellow fin, you are going to find a lot of success if you are wading sand flats or drop offs surrounded by an area of seaweed. Yellowfin can be hard to target on lures, but it is by far the best

diving minnows or metal blades which are much easier to tempt fish with and covering ground to ensure you appealing to different fish. If you are planning on heading out to a dam, it will be well worth throwing a rod into the car and trying your luck at some redfin. Redfin are a species that produce year round, are relatively easy to fool and will also keep you entertained

for hours provided that you fish for them correctly. If you are fishing from the banks, lures like spinners or metal blades can prove very effective as they offer great casting distance and an action that brings fish in from a large area around it. If you are looking for an option that is less active whilst you have a beer, anglers will find great success throwing worms or trout baits on a small hook and pairing the bait of choice with a small split shot sinker. Kayak or boat anglers have many more options when it comes to fishing freshwater, as their mobility is a huge advantage when it comes to locating fish rather than relying on them to come to you. Though sounders prove very useful in figuring out what depths fish may frequent at, once you cover enough ground you will generally find similarities or factors that will allow you to refine your understanding of what the fish are doing on the given day. When fishing freshwater, it is always a great option to try both shallow and deeper waters with a variety of presentations to give yourself a good chance at catching.

stickbaits or poppers to the white water when it can be done safely. Inside the bay we have seen some great catches of King George whiting and flathead around the sand holes and weed edges. While squid have been most active late in the day as the sun sets. Sand whiting always a reliable fall back for a feed while the demersal ban is on. Larger specimens have been around the 20m depths and just north

starting late this month and running throughout December. There will be a very busy beach each morning with pretty much every boat in town and some heading out to pull full lobster pots. November being the last good mulloway fishing month, for volumes if not size with plenty of schoolies in the gutters along with the odd big fish. Pink snapper have been mostly

Whiting are a thrill on topwater, especially as you get to see them explode on your lure. This is why Han is so addicted! approach to targeting these fish as you are able to trigger a reaction bite and you are also able to simultaneously appeal to more fish. Targeting these fish on surface is a satisfying experience when you see the fish swiping at your lure, though fish can be hard to connect with and pattern. If you are a novice lure fisherman, you will want to focus on sub surface presentations like shallow

There’s been good numbers of greenbacks on the reef breaks and along the surf gutters. chance if a larger specimen or mackerel smashes the lure or, as often happens, eats a smaller hooked fish! High geared reels HG or XG will give the lure the speed to get a reaction bite, you can’t wind too fast, too slow and the fish just won’t bite! Most importantly wait until the right moment to make the cast, often fishers new to this type of fishing rush the cast missing the sweet spot guaranteed for a hookup. Take the time to be sure the boat is at the right distance, if the school is moving don’t cast at the school or the fish will have passed before the lure lands. Make sure to consider the direction and speed fish are moving, casting so the lure lands as it passes through the head of the school on the retrieve. Lures of choice would be small

stick baits or metal slugs, there are plenty of choices in these categories some proven favourites would be the CID shiverstick in pilchard or the Gillies baitfish in whitebait is irresistible. But do change the hooks on the Gillies as the standard will easily be straightened by the speed of the tuna crashing the lure. WHAT’S AHEAD While it would normally be considered too early for mackerel, times are a changing. The season is getting longer with a smattering of fish caught throughout the winter months. Last November after a series of calm hot days saw warm surface layers and some good catches. Yellowtail kingfish have been schooling on the outer bays’ reefs. Any sign of birds hovering the breaks is a sure indicator there will be kingfish present. It is well worth casting

John West has been touring Australia and came out to cast a few baits. A 120cm mulloway was a little more than expected on gear more suited to tailor. and south of the bay in 5-6m. There have been plenty of herring from beaches, bay and jetty. Along the surf beaches bull herring 30cm+ have been hitting the tailor baits! The beach fishing is usually best in the mornings with offshore winds as the floating sargassum weed has started early with a vengeance this year, washing into the gutters with each afternoon sea breeze. The big event everyone is anticipating is the white cray run

falling to drone drops 200-300m, but we can soon expect a lot of 40-60cm fish within casting range at sunrise as the month progresses. The spring run of larger sized tailor are feeding aggressively along the beaches, with 50cm not at all uncommon. Do keep in mind only two over 50cm make a bag limit and these fish are full of roe preparing to breed, so only take what you immediately need. NOVEMBER 2024 113

BASS SERIES presented by

Cameron Hall’s Emotional Wivenhoe BASS Win Coffs Harbour and Motackle’s, Cameron Hall overcame breakdowns to take his first ever ABT Boater win. Fishing out of a borrowed boat with an electric and sounders unfamiliar to him he showed how versatile you need to be to get the job done. Here’s how he did it. Day 1: 5/5, 7.155kg Day 2: 5/5, 6.555kg Total: 10/10, 13.710kg Cameron had one particular plan, which was to make the 1h 25min run to the top part of the river arm from the start, after having caught some fish there in prefish on what he says was “river style” fishing. Hall said, “the way I was fishing and the baits that were used was very much like my home Clarence River, aggressive fish that wanted lures moving quickly and with plenty of structure to try and get back to it was great fun.” He fished mainly exposed higher edges of the creek bed he could see on his sounders that had turned into almost little islands of spindle trees and grass. Sitting in roughly 10-15ft and casting towards these shallow feeding grounds he soon found the fish hadn’t moved at all, losing his first three bites to

Emotions were high for Team Hall who were by Cameron’s side for his first ABT win. bust offs and pulled hooks. “This really had me scratching my head after the third fish, so I sat down, drank some water and just fished how I like to. It wasn’t until then I started to get them in the net,” Cameron explained. He used two main techniques of casting a Jackall TN 60 in Brown Dog colour matched with a beetle spin

blade for extra vibration and flash and also throwing a Megabass Z3 crankbait for any fish he saw out deeper on the Lowrance Active Target. Hall found himself in third place after the weigh in on Day 1 and was confident he could catch 5 fish again on the final day.

handy 1.14kg fish. Another key bait for Hall was also a Jackall TN 60 in colour Senko Gill with a single hook of front and rear. “I found the bite for me on the dressed Jackall slowed, but they still wanted a loud presentation and this looked

Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winners Interview

Stepping up from Bass Electrics to the Bass Pro events this season, Shaun Ezzy is one to watch in the future!

The near 90min run to his spot each day paid off for Cameron.

BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 118 NOVEMBER 2024

Angler Cameron Hall Shaun Ezzy Mick Johnson Simon Marchant Adam Mears Callum Munro Mark Parriott Matthew Langford Peter Phelps Mark Lennox

Fish 10/10 10/10 10/10 7/10 10/10 7/10 9/10 9/10 8/10 4/10

Cameron set off for his section of fishing area on Day 2 and quickly converted fish to the boat that eluded him the day before and by 9:30am he had his full limit. He noticed some fish sitting in 25ft of water on a hump and casted a Flash Union Full Metal Sonic Blade, 7g in colour 001 Horohas which landed him a

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 13.710kg 13.690kg 12.335kg 10.575kg 10.450kg 9.505kg 9.115kg 8.605kg 7.380kg 6.845kg

Payout $2,800 $1,400 + + $250 Merc bonus $1,000 + $125 Merc bonus $900 + $75 Merc Bonus $800 $700 $600

like a Bony Bream imitation to me’ said Cameron. Using some of his favourite tools in his Daiwa TD Zero 722MLXB matched to a Daiwa Tatula 100H, J-Braid Grand in 10lb and a Daiwa X-Link leader in 12lb. “The water had a bit more colour up there than in the main basin and with where I was fishing not to mention how hard the fish were hitting, there was no need to go light!” Hall said. Cameron showed emotion on stage after a week long of using a borrowed boat after his was out of action, you could truly see how much this win meant to him and his watching on family EZZY SECOND BY 20 GRAMS Shaun Ezzy from Brisbane may have only just started

BASS SERIES presented by boating in his brand new boat, but that doesn’t mean he struggles to find his way. Having placed well in previous ABT Bass electric events all over the country, Ezzy showed he has what it takes to mix it with the top guys. Day 1: 5/5, 7.310kg Day 2: 5/5, 6.380kg Total 10/10, 13.690kg Shaun travelled upstream for over 1 ½ hours before even picking up a rod. Fishing similar patterns to the winner Ezzy quickly put his fish in the boat, losing a handful of bites on a TN 60 in Matte Black rigged with a beetle spin blade. He fished this on a 12lb Leader which goes to show the size and power of the fish he was around. Weighing the biggest bag on day 1 Ezzy was excited to head out again. “I caught 20 odd fish today and lost some better ones, each fish I hooked had 4-5 mates with him to the boat trying to eat the TN out of its mouth,” Shaun said. After the painstaking run back to the top of the creek arm, Shaun picked up his lure of choice from Day 1 and went to work on Day 2. With 4 fish in the well by 9:30am Ezzy landed his 5th fish soon after, anchoring

BIG BASS PRIZE

The Maui Jim Big Bass for this event was caught by Ben Tootle, using a Palms 20g Slow Blatt spoon. This fish weighed 2.395kg. another high 6kg bag. “I knew I had close to the day before weight wise, but at the same time I didn’t have that 2kg kicker. They were all good fish but I really needed a kicker,” Ezzy explained. Shaun used some of his favourite gear over the couple of days including a Daiwa Tatula 762 crank rod matched with a Shimano Bantam Reel, His braid of choice was Sunline Almight in PE1 with a round Sponsor Karma leader for this round using X-Braid Olltolos in 12lb. Having only has his brand new boat for a handful of weeks, Shaun certainly feels right at home in the boater

ranks. As he has more seat time we are sure we will see his name on entry forms in the future, he is definitely one to watch when the bite is tough as he thinks outside the box and being very versatile. MAZ MASTERS THE ‘HOE Taree’s Paul Mazaroli knows how to get the job done

rock wall area in 15-30ft. His boater had found fish moving through on prefish and were happy to eat slow hopped blades, something Paul is very confident in doing. Using a combination of Ecogear ZX 43 in 416 colour and a Little Max blade ¼ oz in colour 119 and 209 he went to work. Working with his boater they managed a bag each very quickly and from there it was all about those important upgrades. The fishing then slowed down on this particular spot so his boater decided to still fish the same patch of fish just from a different angle and that’s where a key Day 1 fish came for Maz, ending up with one of the tournament’s biggest non boater bags. On Day 2, Paul found himself in a completely different half of the lake up the creek arm which was quickly known as ‘the carpark’, with 10-15 boats there at any one

By wearing his Rapala Jersey on each day of the tournament, Chris also secured a Rapala Cash Bonus with his win.

Ever consistent, Paul Mazaroli takes out another ABT win.

NON- BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler Paul Mazaroli Jake Hardie Hayden Woods Damien Winters John Siggs Paul Aldous Michael Thomas Barry Reynolds Matt Branthwaite Niki Sticklen

Fish 5/6 6/6 4/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 3/6 1/6 2/6

Weight(kg) 5.805kg 5.665kg 5.445kg 3.485kg 3.120kg 3.005kg 2.680kg 2.510kg 2.20kg 2.100kg

from the back of the boat. With previous Grand Final wins and consistent finishes throughout the year, Paul came into the last round at Wivenhoe with one main goal - to win. Day 1: 3/3, 3.915kg Day 2: 1/3, 1.890kg Total: 4/6, 5.805kg Fishing the lower half of the dam towards the dam wall, Paul found himself on a steep Full results at abt.org.au

Payout Rapala pack + $250 Rapala bonus Bassman pack + $125 Rapala bonus Keitech pack EJ Todds pack + $75 Rapala bonus Molix pack Duo pack Z Man pack Samaki pack Atomic pack Ecogear pack

Scan the QR code to watch the Non-Boater Winners Interview

time. Once again Maz fished to his strengths and was using blades, however in much deeper water being 50ft plus. It wasn’t until around the last few hours of the session Maz noticed fish sitting at the back of a another boat and yielded a solid 1.3kg fish. During the fight of this fish the school then moved underneath the boat he was in. He vertically dropped his blade to the fish and that’s where he got a second fish. He used a 13 Fishing Omen Black rod matched to a Daiwa Caldia 3000 reel, Daiwa J-braid Grand in 10lb with a 10lb Gama leader.

BASS SERIES presented by

Reinbott Smashes BASS Records at Somerset Mark Reinbott is certainly no stranger to how tough Somerset can be, especially come time for a tournament. Fish well over the magical 50cm mark are in numbers throughout this lake, getting them to bite is another challenge in itself. Magic happens when they bite in a tournament, and that they did on Day 1 of the Rapala Crush City round of the 13 Fishing BASS Pro series for winner, Mark Reinbott. Day 1: 5/5, 13.24kg Day 2: 2/5, 3.925 Total: 7/10, 17.17kg That’s not a typo - over 13kg for 5 bass is an ABT record bag and anchored a victory when he didn’t even need to fish on Day 2 to take the win. During the prefish day, Mark fished all over the dam, but the better looking fish on his sounders he found sitting the in the creek bed to the right around Pelican point and into Happy Clappers. Knowing those fish would come up to feed, he made his decision to target those fish as he hadn’t seen them shape up like that in years and was confident in his plan. Reinbott threw large spoons (between 20-40g) and this was key early in the session as the fish hadn’t felt the angling pressure. His main technique, however was long lining, using a deep diving

Mark Reinbott’s win is one for the ABT record books! Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winners Interview

crankbait on a Megabass p5 Destroyer Flissa matched to a Shimano Stella 4000 size reel. The braid he used was Tasline 8lb and 8lb leader. The size of reel may surprise anglers but there’s a method to the madness, with the 4000 size reel holding 300m of the tasline braid with ease for covering much more water than his competitors. This allowed Reinbott to fish his lure effectively over a larger

patch of fish he was seeing on his sounder. Between these 2 baits he weighed in his 5 bass for a new ABT record of 13.24kg. As you can imagine everyone watching was in shock!

landed another 3kg plus fish long lining which proved to be enough to seal Mark’s first ever ABT Boater win. “I thought if I got 5-6kg on day 2 I’d be happy, but I know the potential of Somerset,

No stranger to the pointy end of the leader board, Matt Langford tops up his winnings by being a Mercury owner.

The magic that happens when a plan comes together.

BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 120 NOVEMBER 2024

Angler Mark Reinbott Matt Langford Braden Schuch Simon Marchant Callum Munro Tommy Wood Shaun Falkenhagen Peter Phelps Steve Morgan Matt Johnson

Fish 7/10 9/10 10/10 10/10 8/10 10/10 7/10 6/10, 9/10 6/10

Mark said, ”you know you’re having a good day when you get a snag mid retrieve, go back over the top of it, pop the lure off and a close to 3kg fish eats it.” Mark’s Day 2 was tougher and after struggling on the flat, he ran straight to a snag in the back of a bay and caught a confidence boosting 1.4kg fish. He then went back to his Pelican Point spot and

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 17.165kg 11.250kg 10.870kg 10.510kg 10.370kg 9.885kg 9.690kg 9.475kg 8.185kg 7.940kg

Payout $2,800 + $250 Mercury bonus $1,600 + $125 Mercury bonus $1,100 + $75 Mercury bonus $1,000 $900 $750 $650

someone can catch 3 fish for 9kg” mark said. It was a truly incredible win on one of Australia’s best bass fisheries. LANGFORD A SOLID SECOND Day 1: 5/5, 5.965kg Day 2: 4/5, 5.285kg Total: 10/10, 11.250kg Kingaroy ’s Matthew Langford is a four-time, successive BASS Angler of the Year champion and a Somerset fishing guide. He’s how his tournament went: Langford decided to fish the top half of the lake mainly right up in the 6knt zone as that was where his bites came from in prefish. “The fish up there aren’t your school 3kg plus fish, but when the going gets tough on the flats I knew I could grind out fairly consistent bags up

BASS SERIES presented by there,” Matty said. The further he ventured up he found more brown colured water and from experience he threw a Bassman Shorty 1/2oz in Feider Shad as this is a great search bait in the conditions. Targeting submerged laydown timber in 10-12ft of water utilizing his Garmin Livescope to watch the fish belt the spinnerbait coming across the top of the structure, and with 99% of his fish nailing the main hook rather than the traditional stinger hook, Langford knew the fish were hungry. He was using his beloved Millerods Blade Freak matched to a 13 Fishing TX2 reel, Yamatoyo Resin Sheller braid in 22lb tied to Yamatoyo leader in 14lb He also had a spot that after prefish had completely been covered over with hyacinth weed. He adapted and used his landing net to scoop out small pockets of the weed which had laydowns underneath. Dropping an Ecogear ZX 40 in colour 416, Langford got smoked the first few drops but then landed a couple of key fish to his bag. “As much as it was a pain the scoop the weed, getting bit before the blade had even hit the bottom was so worth it” Matty said. For this he used a Millerods XFLC matched to a Daiwa TD Black 2500 reel, Yamatoyo 11lb braid and Yamatoyo leader in 14lb. On Day 2, Langford went

BIG BASS PRIZE

The Maui Jim Big Bass for the event went to Tasmania’s Peter Mazey with a new ABT record at 3.880kg, coming on the newly released Rapala Crushcity 3” Heavy Hitter!

straight back to his laydown and spinnerbait technique, Catching two handy fish early and losing another he was looking forward to pushing further along his banks. However due to the emergency on the dam, he was asked to leave that section of lake and ended up at the South end of Queen Street, another well known location. A handful of boats were already on this spot as he pulled up so he decided to longline as most seemed to be casting. Using an Imakatsu IK-800 he soon landed a 1.5kg fish. The next 2-3 hours were very quiet until the earlier finishers left the main target area and Langford capitalised by slowly making his way there where he landed a 2.5kg fish with half an hour to go, which really helped his bag, seeing as

he fell one fish short of a full limit on Day 2. AARON’S BONZA WIN D’A guilar’s Aaron Bonser has only just came across to the bass scene from bream and after having a handful of charters with Matthew Langford on Somerset, he decided to enter as a non boater and came up trumps. Day 1: 2/3, 3.015kg Day 2: 2/3, 2.600kg Total: 4/6, 5.615kg

the bottom-hugging bass. Big long casts with a slow 2 turn of the handle slow roll then letting the lure make contact with the bottom once again achieved his bites on Day 1. He used a Daiwa Infeet 762ULRS matched to a Daiwa Caldia in a 2000 size, his braid choice was Daiwa J-Braid Grand in 6lb with an FG knot to Daiwa X-link 6lb leader. Sitting in 6th after the first day, Bonser was paired with Brett Hyde from Ballina Bait & Tackle. A different location challenged Aaron to start the session, fishing up in the 6 knot zones targeting rocky, sloping edges. “The fish had been schooling up in deeper water then returning to the edges to feed so this was a great place to start,” Aaron said. Once again channeling sponsor karma, his first legal fish came on the budgie coloured Suspect. Not long after they were asked to leave the area due to an emergency in the top half of the lake which then found the pair

Aaron’s win earned him a spot in the BASS Pro Grand Final at Lake St Clair, NSW.

The Rapala CrushCity Suspect was Aaron’s weapon of choice.

NON- BOATER RESULTS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler Aaron Bonser Tony Delahaye Ryan Bollard Mark Saric Corey Goldie Peter Mazey Elyon Cloete Reece Winters Riley Hannemann Neil Tschutura

Fish 4/6 3/6 2/6 5/6 3/6 2/6 3/6 2/6 2/6 2/6

Weight(kg) 5.615kg 5.395kg 5.155kg 5.015kg 4.985kg 4.685kg 4.490kg 3.820kg 3.270kg 2.870kg

Fishing with Shaun Ezzy on Day 1, the pair headed to a popular tournament location known as Pelican Point. Bonser channeled some sponsor karma tying on a Rapala Crushcity 2.75” Suspect in Budgie colour with a combination of 3/8 and 1/2oz jigheads. The technique was fairly simple but proved effective for

Full results at abt.org.au

Payout Rapala pack + $250 Rapala bonus Bassman pack + $125 Rapala bonus Keitech pack + $75 Rapala bonus Molix pack Molix pack Duo pack TT Pack Samaki pack Atomic pack Ecogear pack

Scan the QR code to watch the Non-Boater Winners Interview

back to his similar day 1 spot on Pelican Point, but by this time it was more of a “carpark”. After trying plastics Aaron caught his second fish longlining as again the sounders had fish all around the boat, using an Imakatsu IK-800 in colour 261. “As a non boater its essential to be able to adapt on the go throughout the day and try to have one of everything to get the bite,” Bonser said. “The credit for my win I’d have to mostly hand it to my boaters, they put me on fish and from there its was up to me to catch them.” NOVEMBER 2024 121

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Whittley CR2180 with Mercury 150hp 4-stroke FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Whittley’s CR2180 is the second smallest cruiser in the range. It’s around 6.3m long and can run an outboard up to 150hp. It is an entry-level cruiser, suitable for weekends, watersports and a little bit of fishing. Alan Whittley explained the differences between their fishing (Sea Legend) and cruising hulls. “You may think that the Sea Legend and CR range are based on the same hull, but this is not true. The SLs have a deep V, 23° transom deadrise, while the cruisers have a 19° deadrise, which offers more stability at rest,” he explained. Whittley makes cruisers from just over 20 feet to their giant 28-footer. The 2180 is eminently suitable for a small family, looking to get on the water for more than

SPECIFICATIONS Length ............................................. 6.32m Beam ................................................ 2.35m Height on trailer ....................... 2.45m Transom Deadrise ........19 degrees Fuel .........................................................110L Water ......................................................40L Max HP...................................................150 Capacity.................................6 persons a day trip. Whittleys are also used a lot as off-water accommodation. Owners can park them at a caravan site and stay comfortably while on the road to their boating destinations. You’ll sometimes hear the term ‘Waterbago’ thrown around, describing their versatility. While the 2180 doesn’t have all the appointments of the largest boat in the range, it still has enough to keep you

comfortable on the water. The 1.8m long berths will sleep most couples while the kids can roll out a swag or blow-up mattress in the back deck. A shower, stove, BBQ and fridge are all included on the test boat, which we took for a ride on Queensland’s Broadwater. The boat has narrow, walk-around side decks and plenty of shade. Remember that the CR range is built mainly for cruising and comfort. If you’re after a more serious fishing-only boat, make sure you check out the Sea Legend Whittleys. Weighing around 2,000kg on the

with the detuned 135HP version of the 3.0L platform, but you’ll enjoy the extra power. At the most economical cruising speed, 3,500rpm propelled the boat to 41km/h and delivered 1.9km per litre of fuel burned. And as with nearly all outboards, drive at wide open throttle (WOT) and your economy nearly halves. At 5,300rpm you get 64km/h at a neat 1km per litre. Whittley have a network of their own dealerships around the country, where they can offer the turn-key boating experience, with boat, motor, trailer

Main: Whittley’s CR2180 is an ideal first-cruiser for a small family. It’s towable by a regular ute, and the outboard power is simple and effective. Above: The 2180 is the second-smallest CR (cruiser) in the Whittley range.

The drive on-off twin axle trailer is set up at the Whittley factory, meaning it’s perfectly matched and fitted to the hull. 124 NOVEMBER 2024

trailer, the rig is easily trailerable by most mid-sized family cars and utes. It’s easy to drive on and off, which is best done by a couple of people - one at the helm and one in the tow vehicle. On the water, Mercury’s 150HP is the right choice. You could get away

and options all factory fitted with full warranty. They also have mobile service teams available to keep your investment in top shape. As tested, the CR2180 was $139,000, and you can visit whittleyboats.com.au for more information.

FMM

BOATING TEST

Top: The CR range has a 19-degree transom deadrise for maximum stability at rest. Above: We like it when the battery isolators are all in one place and easily accessible.

The 3.0L Mercury 4-stroke is the maximum power this hull is rated to, and is an ideal match for this rig.

It is important to be able to get into and out of the boat easily – both on the trailer and in the water – and you can do it with this fold-out ladder.

Drop in the cockpit table for socialising on and off the water.

This model has no lockable door – just a sliding privacy curtain.

Top Left: A portable toilet sits out of the way when not in use. Top Right: Designed as an 80% cruising and 20% fishing boat, you need a good sound system. Bottom Left: The bunks are 1.8m long, which will sleep a couple of adults comfortably in most cases. Bottom Right: There isn’t a lot of space wasted in a Whittley; it’s always converted into clever storage.

Left: Helm seating is comfortable for the driver and the passenger. Top Right: Like all Whittleys, the dash holds all your electronics and flush-mounted gauges. Bottom Right: The 150 Mercury is a cable-shift outboard. NOVEMBER 2024 125