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AFTA Best of Show Winners • How to catch TNQ flathead • Vic Fisheries Stocking • What tournaments teach us • Review: Shimano SLX 150 HG and Curado 200HG bait cast reels •

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Joseph Nugent gives us the lowdown on catching flathead at the top

October, 2024 ISSN 2652-5798

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From the Editor’s Desk... As I mentioned in last month’s editorial, the AFTA Show happened on the Gold Coast in August and what a cracker it was. There was a record number of exhibitors and a record number of the public showed up to check out the latest and greatest in fishing tackle from the 75 exhibitors on site. As always this is not a selling show where companies truck out all of their old stock for special prices. It’s at the other end of the spectrum where you could get a sneak peek of

everything that’s new and cool and that will be turning up in your local tackle store in the near future. It also lets you check out gear that your local may not stock - all in one place. Whatever your reason for attendance, we saw over 3,000 of you on the free Public Day. Massive thanks to the Queensland Government for their sponsorship of the day, which made the free entry possible. And you’ll see in this issue all

of the winners of the Best of Show awards for the trade and public days. There’s a mountain of new gear and we’ve distilled it down for you to the best of the best. As this issue goes to press, BARRA tournament season is starting up and the lakes look prime to produce the goods. Queensland really is the big barra capital of the world at the moment. You can read about that in a future issue.

A Martin Auldist image.

QLD NSW

VIC

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FISHING MONTHLY MAGAZINE Published by:

INSIDE This Issue

Qld Fishing Monthly Pty Ltd

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Esperance

Bunbury

Metro

Mandurah

100

Lancelin

102

Kalberri

104

Exmouth

104

Karratha

105

Freshwater

106

New England Rivers

Jumpinpin

Hunter Valley

Brisbane

Batlow

Northern Bay

Albury/Wodonga

Sunshine Coast

Canberra

Bundaberg

Mackay

Townsville

Hinchinbrook

Cairns

Port Douglas

Cooktown

Cape York

Freshwater

VICTORIA Portland Warrnambool Cobden Geelong Port Phillip Phillip Island Port Albert Gippsland Lakes Woodside Marlo Mallacoota Bemm River Robinvale Wangaratta Yarrawonga Shepparton Bendigo Ballarat Gippsland Freshwater Eildon Crater Lakes

Sydney Rock

Sydney South

Ballina

Coffs Coast

South West Rocks

Forster

Port Macquarie

Port Stephens

Swansea

Central Coast

Illawarra

Batemans Bay

TASMANIA

Bermagui

Hobart

74 75 75 76 78 80 82 83 84 84 84 85 86 87 88 88 89 90 92 92 91

REGULAR FEATURES AFTA Best of Show

Starlo: tournament

TNQ Flathead

Phases of the moon

Sheik of the Creek

Review: bait cast reels

Vic Stocking Management 93 Fun page

108

Tournaments

110

Tournament calendar

114

Tide page

115

Test: Stabicraft 1850

116

Trades and Services

118

All material is © copyright, and cannot be reproduced in part or in full, by any means, without written permission of the Managing Editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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FISHING MONTHLY MAGAZINE PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2024

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ISSUE: VOLUME 5 NO.7

QUEENSLAND

6 OCTOBER 2024

Steve Pettenon with a great haul of King George whiting from Western Port.

GEN III

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

AFTA Trade Show: best of show awards The AFTA Trade Show on the Gold Coast has wrapped up for another year, and it’s been another successful event. Run by the Australian Fishing Trade Association, the show attracts tackle wholesalers, retailers and media from all around the country. There was a huge variety of gear on display, with exciting releases from many big brands – and some promising smaller brands, too. For the first two days, the show was open exclusively to wholesalers, retailers and media. Then, on the

final day, the show threw its doors open to the public, giving everybody a chance to see the latest and greatest gear. The biggest highlight of the Show, of course, was the Best of Show Awards, where products in 19 categories were judged by over 100 tackle retailers. The Awards are a great recognition of the ingenuity and effort that goes into developing new tackle, and we’re excited to share all the winners with you in this feature. On top of that, members of the public also got to have their say by

voting in the popular AFTA People’s Choice Awards, and we have included those winners as well. Read on to see which products were voted as the best of the best for 2024! PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS Here’s where things get interesting! Sometimes the public and the retailers agree on which products are best, while at other times they have very different opinions. We’ve listed the winners and runners-up that the industry chose and then alongside we included the

People's Choice awards. Who do you think got it right? Read on! The Best of Show Awards precinct was generously sponsored by NSW Fisheries and Shop for Shops, and run by Dale and Pam on behalf of the Somerset Wivenhoe Fishing Stocking Group. NB: Despite our best efforts, some products are just too 'new' and there isn't any public information available. But rest assured, we will bring you all the latest product news in our What's New section in coming months. As soon as we know, you'll know!

BEST FLY FISHING PRODUCT BEST TERMINAL TACKLE BEST TERMINAL TACKLE

People's Choice

RU: TERMINAL TACKLE

BEST FLY FISHING PRODUCT

8 OCTOBER 2024

People's Choice

BEST TERMINAL TACKLE WINNER RU: FLY PRODUCT

BEST COMBO WINNER

Enforcer Jigheads (TT Fishing) Built for taking on big fish, TT Enforcer jigheads have a heavy-duty Owner hook and include a ‘head lock’ keeper to lock your soft plastic in place. On the underside, there’s an integrated stainless-steel loop, giving you the option to add a treble or blade. Enforcer jigheads are currently available in 1/2oz, 3/4oz and 1oz weights, with 9/0, 10/0 and 11/0 hook sizes. You can see them in action, along with the matching Enforcer soft plastics, on the ‘Tackle Tactics TV’ YouTube Channel.

WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE Lure Us In Reaper Rig (Lure Us In)

RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE TT Fishing Ceramic Scissors (TT Fishing) The ultimate scissors for cutting braid and mono fishing lines, TT Ceramic Scissors have extra-sharp zirconia ceramic blades for a clean and effortless cut. They also feature corrosion-resistant construction, making them the perfect choice for saltwater anglers.

BEST COMBO WINNER WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE 24 Saltiga 15 & 25 Saltiga SJ S62-3 (Daiwa)

BEST FLY FISHING PRODUCT

Premium Japanese technology, components and blank design, and specialised Australian designs, actions and tapers makes these the best slow jigging rods Daiwa has ever released. High-elasticity SVF Nanoplus graphite gives the blank more rebound, allowing the rod to work the jig quicker and allowing the angler to input smaller more refined movements for maximum jig control. A new slow jigging specific Zero Seat reel seat improves comfort for long jigging sessions and heavy drags, while the Complete Control (CC) grip design gives increased comfort and control during the fight. The Fuji Titanium Framed SiC guides have double-foot construction all the way through the tip, preventing damaged guides from heavy, long fluoro leaders. The new Saltiga 15 overhead reel is suited to a variety of light jigging situations. The compact size and newly designed thumb rest frame make the reel comfortable to palm over many hours of repetitive jigging. Hyperdrive maximises the reel’s performance under heavy load, with Hyperdrive Digigear increasing gear strength and efficiency, making this reel incredibly easy to wind. Hyper Armed Housing and Hyper Tough Clutch create a solid feel, maximising reel confidence. The Saltiga 15 has 13kg of ATD drag with click mechanism.

WINNER

RUNNER UP

The Reaper Rig is designed to be used with dead bait such as pilchards or slimy mackerel. Simply slide your dead bait to the rig and lock it in place using the Grim Reaperinspired scythe, and watch it come to life when it hits the water with a hyper realistic swimming motion. Thanks to that super simple attachment mechanism the Reaper Rig is very easy to use.

RUNNER UP RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE VMC Grip-R Jigheads (Rapala) VMC Grip-R Jigheads have a chemicallysharpened, needle tip hook point for exceptional sharpness and durability. The unique keeper design secures TPE and other soft plastic materials on the jighead for prolonged use. Current models include Hidden Weight Finesse, Solid Lead Wire Keeper Finesse, Solid Lead Wire Keeper Heavy, Split Lead Wire Keeper Finesse, and Split Lead Wire Keeper Heavy.

Sea Pro Xtreme 140mm Plier (AFN)

RU: COMBO

RUNNER UP

The Sea Pro Xtreme 140mm Plier is constructed from 420 surgical grade stainless steel, ensuring longevity and reliability in harsh saltwater conditions. These pliers have an ergonomic handle with a forefinger locking grip, for superior comfort and control. Equipped with long-nosed split-ring plier jaws, a tungsten carbide gelspun line cutter, and crimping capabilities, the Xtreme 140mm Plier is designed to handle a wide range of tasks, from rigging and lure preparation to hook removal and line cutting.

WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE Hardy Averon 5000 Titanium (Pure Fishing)

The Hardy Averon is the centerpiece of the Hardy freshwater performance reel range, boasting an ultra-lightweight disc drag system that exemplifies the quality and reliability of the Hardy brand. Available in both half-frame and fullcage models, this reel offers unparalleled performance and versatility for freshwater fly anglers.

RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE Stradic SW 4000XGB & TCurve 7’10” Extra Heavy (Shimano) The Stradic SW series is designed to conquer big game in the brutal saltwater environment. Featuring the robust X-Tough Drag system, innovative Infinity Drive, and X-Ship technology, the Stradic SW series offers up to 16kg of drag force and smooth, powerful winding. Built to last with superior waterproofing and high-quality materials, the Stradic SW series sets a new benchmark for performance and durability in offshore fishing. Shimano’s iconic T-Curve rods have received a comprehensive upgrade for 2024. These new rods incorporate the advanced Armour 40-5 blank technology, offering enhanced strength and reduced weight. The range includes 13 rods with brand new KR Alconite ring guides, improved Fuji reel seats, and comfortable EVA and cork grips. The sleek design, with a black finish and gradient dark blue paint fade, makes these rods both visually appealing and high-performing. OCTOBER 2024 9

BEST OUTDOOR/CAMPING

BEST GAME FISH ACCESSORY

WINNER

WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE Daiwa Insulated Tote Bag (Daiwa)

Designed with durable materials, the DaIwa Insulated Tote Bag features thick wall insulation to ensure your catch stays colder for longer, giving you more time on the water. It has ample storage space, a waterproof interior, and sturdy handles and carry straps for easy transport. It also has an integrated hard base to ensure your snacks or fish stay put if it gets a bit bumpy in the car or boat.

RUNNER UP Gerber Dredge Folding Shovel (AFN)

Whether it’s fire pit maintenance, digging trenches or removing stones from a tent pad, the full-size Dredge folding shovel is essential for your campsite chores or vehicle recovery kit. When the job is done, just fold it up and pack it away to save some space. Features include: powder-coated, high carbon steel blade; glass-filled nylon D-handle with rubber grip; glass-filled nylon shaft with aluminium rod core; large anti-slip step plate; and corrosion-resistant, all-weather design. .

RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE Barnett L’il Buck Archery Set (JM Gillies) This lightweight bow and arrow set is perfect for entry-level archers and usable for kids over the age of seven with adult supervision. The kids bow comes with two arrows to get you started, and it’s designed to be used by right or left handers when adjusted.

BEST DIVE/WATERSPORT WINNER

WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE Oceans Legacy Fighting Gimbal (Oceans Legacy) This new release from Oceans Legacy features an ergonomic design with a fullsized aluminium 6061 machined fighting gimbal. It has a bucket cup style designed for non-metal gimbal applications, which is great for topwater fishing, slow pitch jigging and surf fishing. This gimbal also features A grade EVA cushioning for extra comfort while battling fish, and a handy Velcro adjustable belt for easy use and adjustment on the move. It’s available in three colours – frost white, blue, and seafoam green.

RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE Mapheox LED Rod Tip Light (Mapheox)

BEST DIVE/WATERSPORT

These LED rod lights come with a BR435 battery which lasts over 20 hours and up to 40 hours through tests. You can see your rod tip from over 100m away, even in the rain.

BEST FISH/BOAT ACCESSORY WINNER WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE Wilson Electric Assist Battery (Wilson Fishing)

RUNNER UP

10 OCTOBER 2024

BEST OUTDOOR/CAMPING

Sea Pro XTreme 200mm extra-long nose split ring pliers have an integrated braid cutter. These pliers also have a multi-crimping tool, plunge lock for smooth operation and a no-rust lanyard. They are made from CNC Machined 420 stainless steel, hard chrome matt with no rust.

RUNNER UP This 16” x 24” bag is the equivalent of a 24L icebox. Two D rings on each side allow you to tie it down to your kayak, and an adjustable top cord securely stores your gear. These insulated fish bags are UV and mildew resistant, and the closed cell foam holds your ice as long as you need. It’s equipped with a drain plug, a non-corrosive YKK zipper, and two sturdy handles to make carrying your catch a breeze.

People's Choice

Sea Pro Xtreme 200mm Plier (AFN)

This small version of the classic Roadie Family still packs all your favourite essentials, cans, and bottles, and is Yeti’s most portable design yet. It’s the perfect fit for a kayak, and easy enough to carry down to the beach or fishing spot. Features include: DoubleDuty Strap for comfortable carrying; LipGrip Handles that sit out of the way; BearFoot Non-Slip Feet; and leakproof, BestDam Drain Plug. The QuickLatch allows for quick, one-handed cooler access. Yeti’s Permafrost Insulation locks in that ‘just packed’ temperature, and the Interlock Lid System creates a form-fitting barrier against extreme heat.

RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE Seapro Kayak Bag (AFN)

RU: OUTDOOR/CAMPING

RUNNER UP

Wilson Electric Assist 14.4V batteries have an easy-to-view battery life indicator that takes the guesswork out of how much time is left, and are useable on almost all modern electric reels, linking accessories and cables. Strapping the battery onto your rod (regardless of whether it’s the 3.5, 7 or 10Ah model) allows you to hand-hold the rod during a fight or when fishing shallower water for species such as snapper and kingfish. You can also walk around the boat while fighting larger fish, unobstructed. Of course, these batteries are just as much at home on heavier outfits that sit in rod holders. In testing, the 10Ah batteries have lasted a full day’s fishing, and with easy recharging accessories, you’ll never find yourself short of charge again.

WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE Yeti Roadie 15 (Yeti)

RU: OUTDOOR/CAMPING

RU: GAME ACCESSORY

People's Choice

BEST GAME ACCESSORY

RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE Yakin Bait Mate (Yakin Bait Mate) The Yakin Bait Mate is a live bait containment system specifically designed for kayak fishers. This live bait bladder is built from tough, durable, food-grade vinyl and UV-rated plastics, and it’s easy to remove and clean. Yakin Bait Mate is not a permanent fixture, so there are no tools needed to install it, and it’s 100% Australian made and owned.

RU: DIVE/WATERSPORT

BEST GAME ROD

BEST HARD LURE WINNER Rapala Shad Rap Elite 95 Heavy (Rapala) Designed in Australia to handle our harsh conditions, the Shad Rap Elite 95 is perfect for casting long distance or when you need to make an accurate cast tight to structure. Combining a premium balsa body with modern Elite heavy-duty construction has created a lure with maximum durability without sacrificing the action. Featuring a stainless-steel plate connecting both hook points and a reinforced bib design, the Shad Rap Elite 95 is one tough bait. It’s finished off with 3X strong sticky-sharp VMC hooks and heavy-duty split-rings.

RU: HARD LURE BEST HARD LURE

WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE Malosi Echo 65F (Malosi Studio)

RU: GAME ROD

The Echo has an exaggerated walk the dog swim action that is both irresistible to fish and extremely easy to use. Experience the excitement and satisfaction of a topwater bite on your favourite estuarine and inshore species, across Australia and around the world.

RUNNER UP RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE Halco Roosta 195 Haymaker KO (Halco Tackle) The new Halco Roosta Popper 195 Haymaker KO is designed for catching some of the toughest fish that swim, from giant trevally to dogtooth tuna. This lure is built with extra heavyduty, custom-made 7xx fish rings and is equipped with two 4/0 5xx BKK trebles.

RU: GAME ACCESSORY

BEST HARD LURE

People's Choice

BEST GAME FISHING ROD WINNER WINNER PEOPLE'S CHOICE Daiwa Saltiga Game Rod (Daiwa)

BEST FISH/BOAT ACCESSORY

It’s been a long time since Daiwa released a standalone jigging-specific Saltiga series and the wait has been worth it, with a full redesign from the ground up, featuring new technology and features like the brand-new Power Hold reel seat.

RUNNER UP RU: FISH/BOAT ACCESSORY

Penn Ocean Assassin II Game 551 24kg Roller Rod (Pure Fishing) The Ocean Assassin Game Series range features a mix of models targeting light to extra heavy pelagics, and everything in between. These rods are built with quality Fuji and PACBAY componentry and feature Penn’s SLC construction with improved actions and crisper blanks across the range. The Ocean Assassin Game Series has models designed for trolling, deep dropping and game spin for light tackle applications.

RUNNER UP PEOPLE'S CHOICE Sabre T10 Dredgemaster (United Tackle) This product is so new that they are still putting all the great info together! OCTOBER 2024 11

FMM

BACK TO BASICS

What tournaments can teach us Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Competitive fishing is certainly not for everyone, yet the truth is, we all benefit from its valuable lessons. I’m guessing that of the many anglers reading this column, well under five percent will ever seriously contemplate entering a fishing tournament or competition, and perhaps two percent, at most, will actually get around to doing

wider fishing community. That’s why competitive-level fishing is so important, even if the thought of it might not appeal to you in the slightest. I’ve dabbled in a wide range of tournament circuits and competition styles through my long fishing career. Back in the 1970s, I was right into the various ANSA conventions, line class records and “masters” awards. A little later, through the 1980s and ’90s, I competed in a string of game fishing tournaments, while also taking part in AFCA-style

of most team sport selections at school also means that I’ll never be much of a comp’ fisher. I simply don’t have that all-important “eye of the tiger”. I’m far too easily distracted, and too quick to lose heart (and discipline) when the going gets tough. But I’m okay with all of that. I’ve come to terms with my innate failings, and I can still enjoy a bit of comp’ fishing now and again, under the right circumstances. I also appreciate just how much it has taught me over the decades. One of the biggest lessons to come from competitive fishing is the surprising impact that increased angling pressure has on fish stocks and their “catch-ability”. Throw 50 or 60 boats and 100-plus keen anglers onto a specific waterway — regardless of its size — for a day of pre-fishing, followed by two or three days of intense tournament action and

Jo Starling with a cracking flathead on ultra-light gear. A welcome catch at any other time, it was actually something of a distraction during a bream tournament!

YOUTUBE

NSW SOUTH COAST

Scan this QR code to watch a recent VIC Bream Classic tournament at Mallacoota.

Yes, you can win money in tournaments — sometimes serious money. But those who get into it with this as their main aim are largely missing the point. so. Competitive fishing is certainly not everyone’s cup of tea. It represents just a tiny fraction of the Australian recreational fishing scene. Yet, for such a seemingly peripheral or “niche” activity, organised tournaments and competitions have a disproportionately significant impact on

bag-weight weekend comps. Later still, I was briefly but intensely immersed in the ABT BREAM and (to a lesser extent) BASS circuits. Along the way I’ve had a crack at other disciplines as varied as casting comps, barra classics and fly fishing challenges, to name just a few. To be brutally honest, I’ve never been especially good at any of it, although I did somehow manage to pull off the ABT’s NSW BREAM Angler of the Year gong in 2001, and captained the premier state’s team to victory against the bananabenders that same year. Ultimately, however, I have to admit that the same lack of killer instinct and below par eye-hand coordination that ruled me out

Flashback to 2001 when Starlo captained the victorious NSW BREAM team in a hard-fought state of origin against QLD. There are some great fishing identities in this line-up. How many can you name? trust me, you’ll invariably see a dramatic downturn in that “catch-ability” factor! For this reason, tournament fishing is really nothing at all like social fishing. I’ve met so many good, local anglers over the years who are amazed when a tournament round comes to their local waters and supposedly gun competitors fail to score decent bags. I commonly hear them say things like: “Wow! You only needed five bream? Jeez, that’d take me about 20

Tournament circuits have helped to cement the place of species like bream on the Aussie fishing scene — and taught us all plenty in the process. our day-to-day social or fun fishing. The main reason for this is the fact that competition fishing is a hot house for the development of tackle and techniques. It spawns gear and methods that quickly wash down to the rest of the angling world, thus benefiting all of us. Cutting edge developments in everything from boats and electronics to lines, lures, knots, rigs and subtle ways of working our offerings to catch more fish nearly all originated on the world’s various tournament circuits, before being gradually adopted by the 16 OCTOBER 2024

Stephen Booth (right) presents Bushy with a pay cheque after a podium finish in a very early ABT BREAM round we suspect Bushy is doing some quick mental arithmetic about how much he spent getting there and competing in order to pick up this modest prize. Any Aussie going into tournaments with the expectation of making their fortune is destined for disappointment!

minutes!” Sure. On any other weekend, perhaps. But tournaments are a different ball game altogether. My advice to these naïve but well-meaning pundits is simple: if you think you’d do that well, sign up and have a crack! Those who do usually get a rude shock. At one level, this tournament impact on a waterway is obviously a negative, especially as it can take weeks for a smaller system to bounce back to “normal” after the competitors and their flash boats leave town, despite the fact that such events are almost all catch-and-release these days. But it’s also no different to what happens on a long weekend, a popular school holiday period, or across the busy Christmas/New Year break. Just as at those times, the fishing gets much harder during a comp’. But you know what? Some individuals and teams will still score extremely impressive bags and stunning results at the final weigh-in, despite all that extra pressure. As I like to say: the cream always rises. And the fact that these guns are capable of making those stunning catches under such difficult conditions is a huge lesson to the rest of us or it should be! It can be done. The fish are still there. You just need to be smart enough to fool them. Make THAT the biggest lesson you take from tournament fishing.

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NSW

Sydney

FMM

Good snapper catches when distance casting SYDNEY ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

This magnificent weather we’ve been having has made anglers very keen to get out there. Although the atmospheric temperature is warm, the water temperature is still on the chilly side – but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t fish for your favourite species. October can be a good month for a beach mulloway, and some years the whiting turn up in numbers this month as well. And off the ocean rocks, October is quite good for rock blackfish and trevally, and the snapper and kings may also show up, depending on the ocean current, food migration and water temperature. Let’s look at what’s been biting recently, and I’ll share my predictions

The first rock blackfish for Mark George. He also caught his first silver drummer on this trip. to a warmer current that comes in periodically. At this time of year, you need to be fishing on the right days and the right places compared to the peak of the season later in the year. To give yourself a better chance of success this month, your best bet is usually distance casting. When distance casting for snapper, I recommend using a tough bait. Good options include salted fish baits like slimy mackerel fillet or striped tuna fillet. And of course, fresh squid strips, squid heads and (if you can get hold of it), cuttlefish

very uneven bottom? The answer is yes! But the problem with distance casting on a very uneven bottom is the snag ratio. For distance casting snapper anglers, it’s common practice to cast over the reef onto the sand or gravel edge, where the chances of snags can be much less. When distance casting, I recommend a minimum of 13ft rod and 13-15kg braid with 40lb leader connected to the braid. This may seem like overkill because most of the snapper you’ll encounter will be 30-40cm. However, if you fish light you are bound to hook a monster, and then your fish of a lifetime will become very difficult or impossible to land, depending on the location you’re fishing. Spots that fish well in flatter conditions for snapper are South and North Curl Curl, North Narrabeen Point, and the Mona Vale basin front ledge area in front of the swimming pool. In rougher conditions, it’s best to be up on a well elevated rock ledge. South Curl Curl high ledge and Warriewood high ledge are good in these sorts of conditions. These ledges are about 7-9m above the ocean. Luderick and rock blackfish are still a good option at this time of the year; some days they can really come on the bite in the warmer conditions. When chasing luderick, you don’t need to fish the lower light periods

The author caught this snapper on a three-quarter pilchard bait early in the morning. for the coming month. ROCK FISHING October can be good for snapper fishing, particularly distance casting for them. In the whitewater zone in closer to the rocks, there can be a

degree or two difference compared to 90-120m out. The slightly more temperate water licking the coastline can produce a swag of reds, while right in close the snapper may be absent. Of course, this is subject

COHOE MARINE PRODUCTS John Halford with a 47 and 48cm snapper. Distance casting for them is often the best option at this time of year, depending on the current.

Sales • Service • Repairs Dinghies • Tenders Boating Accessories 209 Australia Street Newtown PHONE: (02)

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50 OCTOBER 2024

strips are very good. If want to use a softer, mushy bait, you’ll need to wrap it up with bait thread. Good mushy baits include pilchards and soft fillets of bonito or tailor. When it comes to distance casting, a frequently asked question is: do snapper feed on undulated,

when the sun is on a low angle. You can get up late and go to your local rock ledge, pick up cabbage or hair weed where you’re standing, and have a ball fishing for them throughout the day. The standard way to catch them is with a well-balanced, long stem float and a no. 8 hook. Rock blackfish can also be caught

Sydney NSW

FMM far easier if you’re wearing hi-vis! BEACH FISHING This month we can expect some sizeable salmon in the 2-3.5kg range, and it’s not unusual to catch a bigger 70cm+ model as well. Salmon have a lot of stamina when hooked; they just go and go and go, especially on 3-4kg line. When using light gear it’s generally better to spin metals in that 20-30g size. The OT Jig is my go-to metal, and my favourite colours are sardine glo, silver and gold. I recommend bringing three colours as a minimum when you’re fishing with metals for salmon. My preferred rod is a 4-8kg Sea

A beautiful 2kg+ rock blackfish caught by James Fereday.

Bass matched to a 4000 Saltist MQ, spooled with 10lb Expedition braid and 10-12lb X-Link FC fluoro leader. It’s a nice outfit for salmon and also an ideal beach outfit for whiting and bream. I recommend using it with my Bellissimo paternoster rig. To check it out, head to my YouTube channel and type in ‘Paternoster rig’. October can see decent numbers of whiting caught, especially towards the end of the month. Water temperature plays a big part; you ideally want the water to be 20°C or higher. As usual, the best baits are beach worms. If you can’t catch them yourself, you might be able to buy them from a tackle shop that specialises in live bait. A good alternative is yabbies, which you can pump on a low sand bank in the estuaries. Here’s a quick tip when you’re fishing for whiting /bream off the beach. Gutters can be carved out parallel (or nearly so) to the stormwater pipes. Manly Beach is a classic example, as the pipes are 20m+ out into the surf. On the stormwater pipes there is a big variety of food for the fish, including cunjevoi, barnacles, limpets, crabs, weed and more. Fishing near these pipes (providing there is a gutter near them) will give you another option when the gutters are sparse on the beach. Beach mulloway are also a good option this month, and there are fewer dusky and bronze whaler sharks around at this time of the year. • Alex Bellissimo is an experienced rock fishing guide with proven

FISHING NEWS

Large rainbow trout stocked in new Central West fishing spot To enhance recreational fishing opportunities and improve fishing access at popular locations across NSW, there has been a release of 250 rainbow trout into Orange’s Spring Creek Dam. The ex-broodstock rainbow trout – each weighing more than 2kg each – were stocked into the dam, which for the first time will soon have a section of its foreshore opened for lure and fly only fishing in the coming months, providing an exciting new location for local and visiting anglers. This new fishing spot will complement other popular local fisheries such as Gosling Creek and Lake Canobolas. The NSW Government will work with Orange City Council to stock popular native sportfish species including Murray Cod

and Golden Perch into the local water ways, including Spring Creek Dam. The ex-broodstock trout released into the dam were used to breed millions of fingerlings at the NSW Government’s Dutton Trout Hatchery, located at Ebor. This stocking event is one of many that happen across NSW as part of the NSW Government’s program to boost recreational fishing opportunities for trout and native sportfish in dams, creeks, rivers and other waterways. The Spring Creek Dam release is one of several stockings that have taken place across the Central West over the past month including: • 5,000 advanced size Rainbow Trout stocked at Lake Wallace at Wallerawang; •5,000 advanced size Rainbow Trout stocked at Oberon Dam;

•260 large ex-broodstock at Carcoar Dam, near Blayney; •2000 advanced size Rainbows Trout at Wyangla Dam, near Cowra; •4,000 advanced size Rainbow Trout at Lake Lyell, near Lithgow; and •1,500 advanced size Rainbow Trout 26 released into Ben Chifley Dam, near Bathurst. In total around 2.5 million rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, Atlantic salmon and tiger trout will be stocked across NSW this year with funding support from the Recreational Fishing Trust. Fish stocking in NSW is carefully managed to ensure sustainability and supports some of our most important inland fisheries for recreational fishers. For information on the Government’s fish stocking program visit the website – NSW Fisheries

teaching formulas. If you’re an experienced angler, he will bring your abilities to new heights. And if you’re new to rock fishing, Alex will teach you all the fundamentals so you can consistently catch fish -- and stay safe at the same time. All tackle and bait is supplied. To find out more, visit www.bellissimocharters.com.au, email alex@bellissimocharters.com.au, or call Alex on 0408 283 616.

Power for your GOPRO or VIRB from your navigation light socket

$250 + P&H

GOPRO not included

AVAILABLE FROM: www.tournamentboats.com.au

in the middle of the day but lower light periods are better. The best times are early in the morning and a couple of hours before sunset. Good spots to try for the luderick and rock blackfish are Old Man’s Hat at Manly, South Curl Curl, Long Reef Collaroy and North Whale. If you want to hit the rocks this month, don’t underestimate how dangerous it is. Get yourself a wellfitted lifejacket, steel spike boots and a hi-vis rain/spray jacket. Some anglers seem to think that jackets and PFDs are fashion accessories, and prefer to wear dark colours. This isn’t a good idea. If you get into trouble, and rescuers need to locate you, it’s

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Spring means time to target squid and salmon PORT ALBERT

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

This spring will go down as one of the best squid seasons on record. The numbers and sizes have gone to a new level unmatched for maybe a decade. The Aussie salmon are also providing excellent sport, and even a few early flathead are showing up.

one of her huge squid looked about 45cm hood size and would feed a family of four. The hubby and wife team were holding up some very impressive models and caught over 20 big squid in two hours, releasing those over the bag limit. As Wayne said it certainly was a glamour day. When the weather has behaved itself, other squid anglers have had no trouble finding a bag of calamari at Welshpool. In fact, I’ve seen quite a few newcomers visit the area and on their first try, much to their surprise and delight, they land plenty of large calamari. It goes to show just how plentiful the stocks really are. PORT ALBERT The area from McLoughlins, Manns and the Port Albert entrance also have squid, but you need to know the prime spots and work the optimum tide windows. My good buddy Brad Stokell loves a challenge to explore and discover. We toyed with going to Welshpool and almost guaranteeing a bag of squid, but we decided to launch at the Port Albert ramp and start our search there. In the past we have discovered new areas close by so we

Brad Stokell recently got a nice bag of 10 large calamari. SOUTHERN CALAMARI Every year, from late winter until the end of spring, an army of anglers dig out their favourite squid jigs and start chasing the best-tasting critter in South Gippsland. From the entrance at Port Albert and especially to the larger Welshpool areas, the squid have been thick, and it looks like they could hang around until mid-summer. Wayne and Kerry brown sent me pics of some of the biggest Welshpool squid this season and probably as large as they get in this area. Kerry is a gun angler, and

Chasing big squid is some of the best lure fun you can have with a rod and reel.

Taming big salmon with a fly rod can raise a sweat even on the coldest of days. gave them attention first. I’ve even bagged out on squid right near the main jetty. Sadly, we only plucked a single squid after a good hour at each location. Evidently, they were not home. It was time to look elsewhere, and after a tip-off from a mate, we headed to a brand-new location. After our super-slow start, we weren’t expecting much joy. We were wrong. Within 90 minutes we had bagged out with 20 squid to 38cm hood and plenty around 35cm. It was chaos, and at one point we had four rods all hooked up at once! We were casting our favourite jigs out as far as we could but also had a rod each as ‘sleepers’, with those jigs out the back of the boat just mooching around as we drifted along. Another crazy time, we both had squid on without knowing it. I was unhooking a squid and rested my rod against the side of the boat, and my jig was dangling over the side, barely 2cm underwater, right next to the boat. You guessed it – a squid grabbed it, and it was pulling hard enough to make me worried I’d lose my rod. I quickly saved the rod and also landed the squid. Then the same thing happened to Brad, which made it twice as funny. At another point in the trip, I had to wind in my jig super-fast so we could

make a move after drifting too deep. My jig came in as fast as I could wind my reel – almost quicker than when luring for salmon or kingfish. To my disbelief, a large squid followed close behind all the way to the boat, travelling as fast as any fish could swim. I thought maybe I was dreaming; surely squid can’t travel that fast? But when I casually flicked the jig back in the water, just a metre from the boat, a squid came up and immediately attacked it. I netted the same sized ‘rocketpowered’ squid I saw just seconds before. Incredible. To round off my squid report, I have to mention two kids, Lachie and Lexie, who went fishing with their dad, whose nickname is Frog. The two young guns caught about 14 big squid in about an hour, got covered in slime and ink, and laughed their head off. I loved the picture. SALMON Schools of salmon are still patrolling the entrance areas at McLoughlins, Manns, Karneys and Port Albert. Right now is when their numbers peak, so get the soft plastics ready and you will have even more fun with surface lures. Be brave and keep some for a feed for making fish patties or try a few school fish in your smoker.

Rising temps draw visitors back to the area MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

It’s the time of year when things start speeding up! Spring has sprung and things will only get better as we head towards summer. The town always comes to life as we leave the cold winter weather behind, with more visitors to the area to enjoy the good weather. Over the past month or so there hasn’t been much rain in the area, and the warming weather has seen the fishing in the lake start to fire up. Offshore the water temperature is still pretty cool, but it will start heating up over the coming weeks and months. Sand flathead and tiger 82 OCTOBER 2024

A beautifully conditioned bream caught on a hardbody lure.

flathead are being caught by those anglers prepared to put in the time, and keep on the move to find patches of fish. We should see increasing catches of these fish as spring progresses. A few good gummy sharks have been caught lately, and again, the fishing will only improve in the months ahead. Salmon and the odd tailor are still being caught on all the local beaches. The good gutters along Tip Beach and around the lake entrance have been producing plenty of fish, particularly on the rising tide. The warming water sees a bit more variety to the beach fishing, with yellowfin bream and sand whiting also being caught. Fresh local

East Coast

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Local anglers having big fun on little bream GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

Right now, we are seeing an explosion in bream numbers and schools of juvenile fish are everywhere. There are still bigger bream around for those willing to search the upper rivers and even a few big flathead around with them. BREAM RECRUITMENT There has been some serious bream breeding going on over the last few years, and the endless schools of young bream around 22-26cm are astonishing. My first example of this comes from James Boyce (7yo) who was on a family holiday staying at Metung. He took Dad fishing down to the local jetty right in front of the pub with a bag of local prawn bait, and within 30 minutes he had caught seven bream. He was even catching them two at a time with his double hook rig, and you can’t beat that! These huge schools of fish have been gathering around jetties for months now from Lakes Entrance, Metung, Paynesville and through to Newlands Arm. Another example of these abundant juvenile bream comes from brothers Lawson and Mitchell Ware and their

mates Isaac and Linden. While using Hurricane soft plastic lures like the Sprat 75 and 85 patterns they were walking the jetties at Paynesville and returning between 30 or even up to 50

baits such as worm and prawn are the best for catching a feed of fish. The lake has been fishing well over the past month, with everything starting to fire up. Good catches of dusky flathead have been reported, with plenty of fish being caught in the shallows sunbaking in the warm

the same areas. From now right through until Easter, mulloway will be caught, particularly around the full moon. This doesn’t mean you have to fish all night though, as plenty of quality fish are caught during the day around the time of the full moon. Good numbers of

The author has been having success with his homemade shell lure on bream around the jetties.

bream a session. The bream were so thick they told me at times they were pulling up a fish with nearly every cast. Just about every single bream was around 24cm, with a bycatch every so often of mullet, small tailor or salmon. These four gun bream anglers also used live crab baits and crab lures to land much bigger bream to 45cm. BREAM ON SHELL LURES My third and final example of these massive packs of bream is also back at Paynesville. After hearing about so many fish being caught there, I was due for a look. I took the Hobie for a run and fished between all the local jetties and moored boats. My sounder was showing thick schools of fish everywhere I searched, and I mean mountains of bream – sometimes they were so deep on the bottom they looked close to a metre thick. They were also quite hungry but only with certain lures. I tried soft plastic grubs but couldn’t interest a single fish, so I tried tea-bagging small blades and immediately started pulling bream in about 3-4m of water. It was almost ridiculous to count my tally of the constant procession of bream between 23-27cm, and a few around 32cm long. I tried everything to find bigger models without success. So, to change things up a little, I tried a heap of lures and eventually pulled out my latest homemade creation, a mussel shell lure. And yes, a straight copy of the marvellous Muss lure, but I use the real thing. I collect the appropriately sized live mussels from the local pylons and then dunk them in steaming hot water. After they open up I clean the insides out and polish the outside shell. I then use epoxy adhesive to fill the shell’s void, place a set of stinger hooks between the two halves, and glue it tight again. The adhesive adds enough weight to make it sink and stops the shell from being

Salmon have been caught in good numbers in the lake. As the water warms the fish will leave the lake system. water. The early season often sees good numbers of fish in the shallows facing the north. Once these areas start to warm up, the fish will drop back to the deeper water. Both yellowfin bream and black bream are starting to spread out, with good numbers of fish being caught in and around the margins of the lake. Once again, keep on the move until fish are found. Sand whiting, luderick, tailor and silver trevally will all be caught in

fish are being caught on lures fished around schools of bait located with a depth sounder. The spring months are also a good time to target estuary perch. This involves putting in the time to find the areas where fish are lurking. For those keen anglers that like chasing bass, this is the time of year to head upstream looking for the action with the best days being those hot days that end with a southerly change.

There’s a special catch for James Boyce at Metung catching two bream at a time.

punctured. They are so simple to make, and they work a treat! I caught about 12 bream on my shell creation before trying another lure. It was good fun catching so many bream but the real joy is seeing so many young fish around. It proves the Gippy Lakes are in great shape and providing the perfect nursery to millions of juvenile bream. MITCHELL RIVER The stand-out stream that’s been fishing the best by far is the mighty Mitchell River. Some of the best reports are from above the highway bridge. Jai Rykers caught a new PB bream at 41cm and then a cracking 69cm flathead and although fairly new to the lure fishing caper, it’s fair to say Jai is now hooked. His mentor, Lucas Smith, is also in form and somehow wrestled in a huge bream that went 46cm to the fork on a super light 2lb leader. He sent

Jai Rykers with a new PB bream at 41cm. me a video of him releasing the huge bream, and I estimate it was close to the magical 2kg mark. Matt White also spent a session chasing bream in the Mitchell but this time at the bottom end of the system, around The Cut. He and the better half released 47 bream to 37cm between them by jigging blades amongst some schooled-up fish. LOOKING AHEAD We are now moving into that transition time where bream start to think more about reproduction and will move right up into all the major streams. Even now, as I’ve already mentioned, some big adult bream are heading high up into the stream. At this time of year, the dusky flathead start to wake up and head back down to the lakes after spending winter in the rivers. I wonder if that elusive 1m dusky will be caught here this spring? The odds are looking good. Check the VFA website for details of the Gippsland Metrey Competition and the $1000 prize on offer. OCTOBER 2024 83

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October options open up for Kalbarri anglers KALBARRI

Stephen Wiseman

After a long break due to ill health I am glad to be penning articles for FMM of what’s on offer for those travelling along our great coast in the west and calling in on my local ground of Kalbarri. While this may be a brief insight on what is available for visitors the shear enjoyment of fishing is half the fun. With the wettest winter on records the Murchison River has been running brown for months and changing the norm for fishing in the river and outside the mouth. Big bream are abundant around the commercial pens and up river around Castle Rock. One local has been getting a good feed opposite the Anchorage Caravan Park by the rocks and also losing a few good hook ups thought to be mulloway. Best bait has been prawn for bream while mullet strip is still a

long time favourite for mulloway. For those targeting mulloway be prepared to put in the long hours, like local Pete and son Leigh who often spend from midnight until 2am chasing the silver slabs from under the town jetty. Over the past few weeks they have managed a couple of fish close to the metre-plus. With the continuing runoffs into the river, whiting have been hard to find with some fish being taken on the change of tides as some clear water pushes in and along the flats at the back of Oyster Reef. Best bait for a try would be prawn pieces and patients. For those venturing offshore in boats, the reefs are littered with pink snapper from a very nice 50cm to some big honky heads of 80cm+. Keep a check on local closure dates for demersal fin fish species. Tuna have turned up around the 3 Mile Reef and up to the north around the sand patch and all the way to bald face, pick your days as

Leigh and his dad have had a lot of success chasing mulloway during the midnight hours. the winter pattern can change and leave you with a long bash home if you venture north. Reasonable catches of crays are

still being taken along the inshore reefs but just pick the drop in swells after the fronts push through for safety.

Plenty of opportunities for anglers inshore EXMOUTH

Barry Taylor

This month’s report has been supplied by Kyle Daniele. Over the past month we’ve had a fair few windy days, but the fishing has been good when the weather has allowed. The inshore fishing is still going well, with reports of blacks and sails being taken on Richter Soft Grassies and Soft Oscars.

while jetheads and skirts have been scoring numbers of wahoo and tuna. There are plenty of good longtail tuna in the Gulf and queenies in the warmer water, plus all your usual reef species such as trout, black snapper, spangled emperor, reds and rankin. The Vexed Bottom Meat hybrid jigs have been accounting for plenty of fish, and the Nomad Squidrex vibes have also been catching their share. Out wide, the deep-droppers have been getting the usual gold-band, ruby snapper and so on. Land-based anglers have been catching some nice-size Charlies, spangoes, black snapper, trevally and more. Lure fishers have been getting good results on small stickbaits like

These fish were part of a mixed bag of spangos, GTs and mackerel, including a shark mac. Image courtesy of @maccydave.

There have been good numbers of sailfish around. Image courtesy of @daveyjohnn. On the sportfishing scene, anglers have been getting good catches of mackerel, wahoo and tuna on the back edge of the reef on the west side. Trolled divers have been catching most of the mackerel, 104 OCTOBER 2024

A quality bycatch wahoo caught on a Bonze Rambo. Image courtesy of @daveyjohnn.

the Mad Scad or Keeling, and small, soft plastic jerkshads and paddle-tails. The grey nomads have been getting plenty of whiting off the beach using small prawn baits. A few fish have also been getting caught on Ecogear ZX30 blades and surface lures, such as Pygmy Poppers and Bassday Sugapens. LOOKING AHEAD In the coming weeks as water temperatures change, the queenies will fire up in the Gulf. The focus on inshore fishing for black marlin will shift out wide for blue and striped marlin, weather permitting, as we transition from light tackle game fishing to heavy tackle game fishing.

North Coast

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Threadfin salmon season fast approaching DAMPIER/KARRATHA

Troy Honey

It is difficult to imagine that the milder months are almost over and that days with temperatures consistently above 40oC are quickly approaching. We love it though, and that’s why we live in such a vast landscape with the widest variety of fish species in Western Australia on offer. The demersals are still firing and that will continue for a couple of months yet before the big numbers disperse into the cooler depths and the sharks make fishing unbearable in closer. Continuing from last month’s article, the pelagic and sports fishing is right in the zone with Spanish mackerel and sailfish both about in huge numbers. Behind the islands and around the ship’s anchorage is the go-to spot if you are chasing a sailfish to tick off the bucket list before your holiday ends. Spaniards are being caught around Hammersley Shoal, and in between Bare Rock and Rosemary Island. You can also try along the pipeline that runs adjacent to Angel and Gidley Islands. The mackies run up and down the pipeline picking up an easy feed of baitfish, so this is a good place to start or if you have a smaller boat. October and November in Karratha will see plenty of reds, rankins, mackies and sails caught but we will start to see the wet season species pop up and one in particular is the superb eating threadfin salmon. Threadies can be caught all year round in Karratha but catching one during the cooler months is a rare occurrence. Scientific studies have shown that although the threadfin can be caught from Karratha right up to the top of WA (and around to Queensland), the fish are many different strains, or families for e better description. This points to the strains keeping in the same location

and not migrating, which is interesting as they are rarely seen for many months and then become prolific during the warmer months. In Karratha, threadies are found mostly around the mouths of creeks and over the flats. To locate them, look for shallow water bait schools, as this is where they will be spending most of their time feeding. The threadfin’s favorite meal is poddy mullet or prawns, and Karratha is stocked with both. While prawns are more difficult to spot visually, they are abundant in the streams and over the flats of Nickol Bay. Poddy mullet are easily located since they jump out of the water when startled or pursued. To land threadies it is recommended to either use their natural foods for bait by catching either with a cast net or mimicking with lures or soft plastics. Working the banks for mullet or head up the creeks as they start to shallow, and water becomes dirty for the prawns if live bait is the preferred option. For

• For the latest news on what’s biting and where, drop in to Tackle World Exmouth at 3 Maley St, Exmouth or call them on (08) 9949 1315. You can also view the range at www.tackleworldexmouth.com.au,

and see the latest catch photos on their Facebook page. This family business stocks a large range of tackle, from light spin to big game. The staff have a wealth of local knowledge and expertise, and are always happy to help.

Catching barra in the Karratha region in the cooler months is no easy feat but local fishing guru Taj Hicks knows the secrets to get the job done with the great example of a night barra.

Zak with a mac from the yak. Image courtesy of @maccydave.

the water warms and crab population becomes sparse, bluebone switch their focus to other foods such as rock crabs, oysters, octopus, clams and prawns. Similar to threadies, the larger tides work best for tuskies if fishing nearshore with the run up to high tide being the optimum fishing time. This is when the water rises over the rocks and allows access for the bluebone to the oysters, crabs and octopus. I can’t count the number of times I have been sitting quietly on a rock an hour before high tide and watching the bluebone come right up to my feet to gnaw an oyster off with their powerful oversize teeth. It is an amazing experience seeing such a stunning fish up so close, one move or a bit of noise and they are off, which is something to keep in mind when landbased fishing for tuskies, keep it quiet and still.

There are plenty of reds firing around Karratha right now including these solid emperors caught by Shannon and Kody Bernard off the back of the archipelago. lures, white, silver and black soft plastic mullet / paddletails work well or brightly coloured greens and pinks in prawn style. Don’t go too big on the plastic length or same if using hard body lures. Five inch would be the largest generally as both poddy and prawns are found in this length or less, remembering the key is to match the threadies preferred bait and that includes size. When the water is murky from flowing across the mud flats, threadies enjoy feeding on the incoming tides. To help them locate the mullet and crustaceans in the murky water, they have incredibly long feelers. This is when trolling, casting, or floating baits should be done.The larger spring tides are preferred as this will see dirtier water and the optimum opportunity for the threadies to hunt. Another key target species as the water warms, besides the barramundi of course, is the blackspot tuskfish, aka bluebone as commonly referred to in Western Australia. Bluebone start to fire up nearshore as the water warms and this is partly attributed to the blue swimmer crab population teetering off, which is a main food source for bluebone around Karratha during the cooler months. As

Barramundi will start making more of an appearance over the next couple of months as well. Night fishing for barra is a great way to increase your chances, even during the cooler months as barramundi are predatorial feeders and use the darkness to assist in cover while feeding. The warmer nights already setting in will fire things up and we will see the usual haunts such as Nickol and Airport creeks as well as all around Point Samson being targeted by the locals. Balla Balla is a better option for larger barra early in the season and reports are we are seeing a few come out of there already. Balla Balla is also producing good numbers of mud crabs at the moment so well worth the extra effort to head up there for an overnighter. Plenty of squid are being caught along Dampier and Point Samson coastlines as well as around the islands over the weed banks and shallow bommies. Neap tides is best to find them, or they find you as the clearer water on the neaps allows them the visibility to spot jigs from further out and start attacking. Great time to be fishing the Karratha region with almost the full range of species coming in, or still in the zone. OCTOBER 2024 105

BREAM SERIES presented by

Healey Dominates Richmond and Secures AOY After an impressive year on the ABT circuit, Mark Healey entered part one of the Northern Rivers double header with one thing in mind: to secure Angler of the Year. After seven rounds this year, there were several anglers who were in a position to take out Angler of the Year at the start of the Atomicsponsored Richmond River round. However it did end up being the battle of the ‘Marks”! The two Marks, Mark Healey and Mark “Crommo” Crompton battled it out on the sea walls at the entrance to the Richmond River. EXPERIENCE CONQUERS THE RICHMOND Mark Healey had never fished the Richmond River before. “I did a bit of research leading up to it on Google Earth and all the usual type of things,” Mark explained, “I thought the style of fishing might suit me if I could find the right fish and convert opportunities, and tournament fishing is all about that.” Day 1: 5/5, 3.315kg Day 2: 5/5, 3.340kg Total: 10/10, 6.655kg On day one, Mark headed to the entrance of the system, securing a position on the northern wall upstream of Crommo. Mark used Cranka

Mark Healey’s dream run continued on the Richmond River securing his third win for the season. Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winner’s Interview

“You had to literally, you drag in your crab across the rocks and they were covered in barnacles.” Day two started with a hiccup before getting his boat to the water. Due to the strong currents on day one, Mark had depleted his batteries so much that they only charged to 25% leading into day two. With this in mind, Mark knew his best chance of a good result was to catch his fish early while. “No excuses, get out there and get it done” Luckily for Mark he was able to secure a bag by around 8:30 am. He also landed a kicker fish of around 37 fork to anchor his bag. Mark fished the last 3 hours with no electric motor. He “drift fished” the wall, using the main motor to adjust position. Using this technique Mark was able to catch a couple of upgrades to complete his bag. Mark used his beloved Shimano T Curve rod, 2-5 Kg, 7’ paired up with a 2500 Shimano Twin Power. His Twin Power was spooled with

Crabs, targeting fish by casting the crabs tight to the rock wall and allowing them to drift naturally down the boulders and rock faces. After filling his bag, Mark changed to the bigger 65 mm Cranka Crab to target bigger fish. Mark did lose a few lures because he found the fish holding extremely tight.

Mark used a 65mm Cranka Crab to land his bigger fish.

Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 110 OCTOBER 2024

BOATER RESULTS Angler Fish Mark Healey 10/10 Mark Crompton 10/10 Peter Breukel 10/10 Jamie McKeown 10/10 Liam Carruthers 10/10 Drew Griffith 10/10 Charlie Saykao 10/10 Joe Darmody 10/10 Paul Langley 10/10 Michael Horn 10/10

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 6.655kg 5.985kg 5.910kg 5.865kg 5.765kg 5.765kg 5.690kg 5.405kg 5.205kg 5.190kg

Payout $4,000 $2,000 + $250 Merc Bonus $1,500 + $125 Merc Bonus $1,000 $900 + $75 Merc Bonus $800 $700 $600 $550 $550

6lb Kairiki Braid and 6lb Ocea Fluorocarbon leader. CROMMO WORKS THE WALL TO FINISH 2ND Day 1: 5/5, 3.210kg Day 2: 5/5, 2.775kg Total: 10/10, 5.985kg Mark’s pre-fish approach was relaxed and strategic. He focused on confirming the presence of fish in known productive spots using his Lowrance rather than aggressively fishing. Mark began at the northern rock wall, a spot he had successfully fished in previous competitions. He started with crabs but quickly switched to using BaitJunkie grubs. Mark preferred the subtle presentation in the high tide wash zones, aiming to catch bigger fish that often hold in white water. He experienced moderate success and moved around to find calmer waters when conditions became too rough. He ended the day with a solid bag anchored by a 34 cm fork-length fish. On day two, Mark stuck to his strategy of targeting wash zones at the leading edge of the rock wall, focusing on higher areas with BaitJunkie grubs. He adjusted his jighead weights (ranging from 1/16 to 1/4 ounce) according to the current speed and tide conditions, switching between lighter and heavier weights to keep his lure in the optimal strike zone. Despite losing some good fish, he maintained a consistent approach, trying to catch numbers in hopes of landing bigger fish among them. Mark ran four-pound leader

BREAM SERIES presented by with eight-pound mainline and used a combination of Daiwa rods, including the 6’10” Infeet Z for crabs and a Infeet EX 7’3” rod for plastics.

MAUI JIM BIG BREAM PRIZE

consistently. Within half an hour, McKenzie had his bag, consisting of a 30 cm, a 27 cm, and a 29 cm fork-length bream, easing the pressure for the rest of the day.

Steve Lampsakianos landed the event’s Maui Jim Big Bream. He caught this 1.075kg fish on a heavy 50mm brown Cranka Crab thrown on a custom Brawler Millerod. He won $500 cash and a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses for his efforts.

Daiwa’s BaitJunkie grubs were the winning bait for Mark Crompton on the Richmond River. MCKENZIE EARNS MAIDEN NB WIN Joel McKenzie’s Richmond River win was well earned after two and a half years of near misses, with many second and third-place finishes under his belt. Day 1: 3/3, 1.645 kg Day 2: 3/3, 2.1 kg Total: 6/6, 3.745 kg On day one, McKenzie joined Mark Healey and headed straight to the North Wall, known for its challenging conditions. The swell was significant, with the boat bobbing up and down as they

Scan the QR code to watch the Non-Boater Winner’s Interview

SUCCESS AT SHORES BAY BRIDGE On day two, McKenzie was paired with Liam Carruthers, and they began their day at the Shores Bay Bridge, where they managed to secure prime position on the pylons. McKenzie quickly filled his bag which included a 29 cm and 30 cm fork-length bream,

The Cranka Crab was key to Joel’s success on the Richmond. positioned themselves near the end of the wall. Despite the rough waters, McKenzie adapted quickly, throwing crabs into the wash and letting them drift down the rock face. He secured his first fish,a 30 cm fork-length bream, early which set the tone for the day. By keeping his casts tight and allowing the crab to settle on the bottom, he felt the familiar ticktick of a crab bite, landing fish

After many, many top five finishes, Joel McKenzie secured his first ABT Non-Boater win. plus a 26 cm tarwine that he later upgraded. After leaving the bridge, McKenzie and Carruthers moved back to the North Wall, but unlike day one, they fished tighter to the rocks due to stronger currents and wind. The key was casting as close as possible to the rocks and feeling the crab drop off ledges which led to quick strikes from bream waiting in the tight structure. McKenzie used Daiwa INFEET rods, a 722 and a 6’1” model with five-pound Daiwa X-Link leader, preferring the light line for its sensitivity and ability to handle the aggressive bream. He primarily used

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

Angler Joel McKenzie Scott Scicluna Mathew Cameron Jordan Armstrong John Glover Ethan Glover David Yuill Ben Gohl Duncan Jameson Judd Kirkland

Fish 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 5/6 6/6

brown and UV Cranka crabs, with heavier weights to maintain contact in the rough conditions. Reflecting on the event, McKenzie appreciated the opportunity to fish alongside and learn from top anglers like Healey and Carruthers. His perseverance over the last few seasons has paid off, and he proudly took home a Daiwa prize pack filled with gear he regularly uses and, most importantly, his first trophy. “I’m stoked to finally get the win,” McKenzie said. “It’s been a long journey, but to have that trophy sitting at home now makes it all worth it.”

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 3.745kg 3.375kg 3.365kg 3.155kg 3.150kg 3.030kg 3.020kg 2.920kg 2.895kg 2.870kg

Payout Daiwa pack Daiwa pack Rapala pack Daiwa pack Samaki Pack Tackle Tactics pack Cranka pack Cranka pack Ecogear pack Atomic pack OCTOBER 2024 111

BREAM SERIES presented by

Healey Secures Fourth Series Win on the Tweed Mark Healey has been on an impressive streak this season, securing his fourth win at the Tweed River Daiwa BREAM Qualifier. This win not only adds to his impressive tally for the season but also secures his Angler of the Year title with 497 out of a possible 500 points. This year has showcased Healey’s versatility, with wins on waterways new to him. He attributes his success to a deep understanding of different fishing systems, emphasizing the importance of reading water conditions, tides, moon phases, and other environmental factors that affect fish behaviour. Day 1: 5/5, 3.440 kg Day 2: 5/5, 2.845 kg Total: 10/10 6.285 kg On day one, Healey made the strategic decision to start upriver, away from the crowded downstream spots. After a slow start and with only four small fish in his live well, Healey adjusted his approach, moving to a reef in Terranora Creek. The move paid off as

A fourth win for Mark Healey was the icing on the cake of a stellar season and a well deserved AOY title. Scan the QR code to watch the Boater Winner’s Interview

Healey’s tactics involved using crabs on a reef, where fish were actively feeding. As the water slowed, he switched to Z-Man grubs on lightly weighted jig heads, using his forward-facing sonar to sightcast to fish suspended just below the surface. Day two presented new challenges with slack tides and less cooperative fish. Healey stayed committed to the reef, grinding through the session with crabs and plastics. Despite a slower bite, Healey’s persistence paid off with a few critical fish, including a solid 36.5 cm fork-length bream. Mark used his Shimano T Curve rod, 2-5 Kg, 7’ paired up with a 2500 Shimano Twin Power. His Twin Power was spooled with 6lb Kairiki Braid and 6lb Ocea Fluorocarbon leader. Reflecting on his performance, Healey acknowledged the impact of forward-facing sonar, saying, “It’s probably the first time in my tournament career that the technology directly helped me catch fish. It’s an incredible

Healey quickly filled his bag and upgraded several times which had him leading the event at the end of the first session.

Mark fished a patch of reef in the Terranora arm.

Place 1 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 112 OCTOBER 2024

BOATER RESULTS Angler Fish Mark Healey 10/10 Wally Fahey 10/10 Liam Carruthers 10/10 Peter Breukel 10/10 Steve Morgan 10/10 Jamie McKeown 10/10 Alan Lister 10/10 Joseph Gardner 10/10 Paul Langley 10/10 Drew Griffith 10/10

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 6.285kg 6.200kg 6.000kg 5.950kg 5.665 kg 5.595kg 5.580kg 5.495kg 5.485kg 5.460kg

Payout $4000 $2000 +$250 Merc Bonus $1200 + $125 Merc Bonus $1000 +$75 Merc Bonus $900 $800 $700 $600

tool, but it’s just one part of the bigger picture.” Looking ahead, Healey is excited for the Grand Final, eager to continue his journey and enjoy the competition without the pressure of the season standings. With four wins this season and unmatched consistency, Mark Healey’s unstoppable run continues to inspire and set a new standard in the Daiwa BREAM ABT circuit. “UNCLE” WALLY FAHEY SECURES SECOND Day 1: 5/5, 2.920 kg Day 2: 5/5, 3.280 kg Total: 10/10, 6.200 kg It was Wally Fahey’s first time on the Tweed River, and he made the most of his pre-fish, exploring various spots and identifying productive areas like the front wall and the long rock wall upriver. On day one, Wally started at the front wall where he filled his bag on Cranka Crabs. To upgrade his bag Uncle Wally headed up river successfully using Daiwa Wave Minnows. Wally cast in tight to rock wall where he hopped the plastics down the steep drop-off using the current. He noted that accurate casting was key Day two saw him sticking to a similar strategy, quickly securing a bag of fish early at the front wall. Conditions changed around 10am with a lot of sand moving in and shutting down the bite. Wally decided to move back to the upriver rock wall for upgrades. Wally had good success with the Daiwa Wave Minnow using 1/12 – 1/6 Daiwa jig heads.

BREAM SERIES presented by active. Switching to a heavy olive Cranka Crab, Justin landed his last significant upgrade coming just half an hour before the session ended. Day two saw Eagles team up with Wally Fahey, where they initially fished the south break wall and later moved to Scan the QR code to watch the Non-Boater Winner’s Interview

the north side of the Fingal Wall. Starting with the crab he was able to fill his bag quickly. Eagles again changed tactics to use the Sprat 75 and worked through multiple lure colours adapting to the conditions. Despite some challenges with murky water and tide changes, Eagles managed to secure a solid bag, including a standout fish at 35.5 cm fork length. Justin used Daiwa Infeet Rods, TD Black reels and Daiwa Finesse 4lb Flourocarbon line.

Justin Eagles had a great day two on the Tweed to secure the Non Boater win. Wally is aware of the importance of timing and location. He noted, “Sometimes it is about being on the spot at the right time,” highlighting how crucial it is to be adaptable and observant. His strategy of using lighter jig heads with the Wave Minnows allowed him to present his lures effectively in the fast currents of the Tweed. Wally’s approach was methodical, yet relaxed. He avoided dwelling on lost opportunities, focusing instead

saying, “It definitely wasn’t expected, but I’ll take it for sure.” On day one, paired with Adam Kennedy, Eagles began fishing bridge pylons and reefs between the two bridges. Although it was a slow start, he gradually accumulated fish using Cranka Crabs and Hurricane Sprat 75’s. When using the Sprats he adjusted the weight of his setup from 1/16th to 1/12th jig heads which helped him get deeper, where the fish were more

A combination of Cranka Crabs and plastics helped Justin on the Tweed.

MAUI JIM BIG BREAM PRIZE

Chris Greensill landed the event’s Maui Jim Big Bream using an Atomic 7’ 6” Bream Flats Crank rod paired with a Daiwa Silver Creek LT2000S reel. Slow rolling a Zipbait Khamsin Jr DR colour 223 got the job done. This bream weighed in at 998g and won Chris $500 cash and a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses.

Wally Fahey loves his bream fishing and follows the Daiwa BREAM Series around the country. on making the most of each cast. This mindset, combined with his extensive experience and solid strategy, earned him a total of 6.20kg, just shy of the top spot. EAGLES SOARS TO NB VICTORY Day 1: 3/3, 1.670 kg Day 2: 3/3, 1.770 kg Total: 6/6, 3.440 kg Competing in only his third ABT BREAM event, Eagles expressed his excitement,

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

Angler Justin Eagles Lance Marsh Scott Scicluna Nestertsov Maksym Grant Painter Chris Hokin Duncan Jameson Chris Curtis Judd Kirkland John Glover

Fish 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6

Full results at abt.org.au

Weight(kg) 3.440kg 3.380kg 3.275kg 3.160kg 3.140kg 3.135kg 3.135kg 3.135kg 3.025kg 2.990kg

Payout Daiwa Pack Daiwa Pack Crushcity Pack Daiwa Pack Samaki Pack TT-Zman Pack Cranka Pack Cranka Pack Ecogear Pack Atomic Pack OCTOBER 2024 113

BOATING TEST

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Stabicraft 1850 Super Cab with Yamaha F130 FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Over the years, we have tested many Stabicraft boats. In that time I have seen them develop from a basic, functional craft to an aluminium work of art. Made in New Zealand, the Brisbane dealer for these hulls is Northside Marine. They sell plenty of Stabicraft and brought the 1850 Super Cab powered by a Yamaha F130 outboard to Moreton Bay for us to test. Mark Golden is the Stabicraft man to see at Northside Marine. “We sell plenty of these hulls,

and Stabicraft owners seem to love their rigs,” Mark said. “Depending on your budget, you can fit them with a standard trailer or a top-of-the-line rig, like the GFab aluminium trailer under the test boat.” Although the 1850 seems like the smaller brother to many of the bigger Super Cabs in the Stabicraft range, it’s a supremely capable hull that you can tow with most family cars, and is well within standard towing regulations. Like all Stabicraft, it features the 360° foam-filled pontoons that aid safety and stability. Over the years, the integration of these pontoons has become more and more streamlined. Also, Stabicraft have refined

their use of internal space; the current models seem to have storage everywhere. From the ground up, the twinaxle GFab trailer is impressive. Built out of aluminium in Australia by the NZ company, they offer an option for boaties who like the very best in their gear. The aluminium trailer also offers a lighter BMT package, so you may be able to tow with a vehicle that would be overweight with a standard steel trailer. Full rubber decking on the floors, gunwales and steps seems to be standard nowadays, with the coverings being easy on the feet and super easy to maintain. “You can get these boats with bare aluminium, but hardly anybody orders them like that,” Mark said. Seventeen degrees of transom deadrise helps keep the ride soft, yet the pontoons make the roll while cornering much less than in a standard tinnie with the same angles. And with the sponsons now foam-filled, the ride is noticeably more quiet. With a 150L fuel tank underfloor, you need an economical outboard to PERFORMANCE RPM Speed

(km/h)

Main: Here’s a great illustration of how the Stabicraft hull works – the reverse chines under the life ring channel the spray down and away from the boat. Above: 130hp isn’t maximum horsepower for this rig, but it’s a great balance between performance and economy. 116 OCTOBER 2024

Economy

(km/L)

600 ............................ 3 ........................3.5 1000 .......................... 6 ......................... 4.1 2000 ........................14 ........................2.6 3000 ........................21 .........................1.6 3500 .......................29 ......................... 2.1 4000 .......................39 ........................2.2 4500 .......................45 ........................2.2 5000 .......................53 ......................... 1.7 5800 .......................62 ........................0.4

SPECIFICATIONS Length ............................................. 5.69m Beam ................................................ 2.29m Transom deadrise...........................16° Hull........................................................4mm Sides ....................................................3mm Hull weight.................................1,362kg Capacity.................................6 persons Fuel ........................................................150L Max hp..............................................140hp keep good range, and the Yamaha F130 fitted to this hull delivered good economy over quite a wide range of speeds. Anywhere between 3500 and 4500rpm saw economy between 2.1 to 2.2km/L. Even at wide open throttle at 5800rpm, you still get 1.4km per litre of fuel burned. The helm is comfortable and able to hold all of your electronics flushmounted, and the helm seats have cooler box storage underneath in this iteration. The cabin is comfortable, but it’s definitely not a full-length design for stretched-out sleeping. At the end of the day, this rig offers miles of cockpit space and a stable platform to make your dream fishing trips come to life – and you can be confident that the rig will get you back in one piece. Northside Marine supplied a Stabicraft 1850 SuperCab for testing at Clontarf on Moreton Bay, fitted with a 130hp Yamaha 4-stroke and on a fancy G-Fab trailer. As tested, the package came in at $138,888, with package prices starting from $111,500.

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BOATING TEST

Top: There’s a large, neat workstation in the centre of the transom. Above: How do you like the modified cup holders to take paternoster weights?

The 1850 is all about cockpit space.

This 1850 was matched with a GFab trailer, which is undeniably a work of art.

Top Left: Although you can get this boat with a bare aluminium floor, the rubber decking makes it comfortable and fishable underfoot. Top Right: You can also get to the bow through the for’ard hatch from the cabin. Bottom Left: This is the right cooler to have stowed under the helm seat – one with split-lid access. Bottom Right: A close-up of the walkaround slot.

Top: The best economy was between 4000 and 4500rpm, delivering 2.2km/L. Above: The recess at the bottom of the cabin makes walking around it to the bow more achievable.

There’s 17° of transom deadrise to cut through the chop.

Left: There’s plenty of space at the helm to flush mount your favourite electronics combinations. Right: The boarding foldaway stairs are rugged and functional for getting into the boat on the trailer and in the water.

OCTOBER 2024 117