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Urban bassing • Spinning for trout • Are estuary stocks sustainable? •

Technique Spotlight

Bob Thornton takes us awesome urban bassing

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Fishing Monthly Magazines

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CONTENTS

OUR COVER October 2022, Vol. 3 No.6 VIC

TAS

QUEENSLAND The Tweed Gold Coast Jumpinpin Southern Bay Brisbane Northern Bay Noosa Bundaberg Mackay Townsville Hinchinbrook Cairns Port Douglas Cooktown Cape York Freshwater

16 18 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 37 38 38 39 42 46

NEW SOUTH WALES Pittwater Sydney Rock/Beach Sydney North Sydney South Ballina Coffs Coast Hastings Forster Port Stephens Central Coast Swansea Illawarra Batemans Bay Bermagui Tathra Albany/Wodonga Hunter Valley Batlow New England Rivers Canberra

54 56 57 58 60 62 64 65 66 68 69 70 71 72 72 74 74 75 76 77

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

78 79 78 80 82 84 88 88 86 87 87 90 90 91 92 92 94 96 96 98

OCTOBER 2022

From the Editor’s Desk...

Brett Howie with a beautiful example of a Central Coast greenback tailor, taken from the sand on a recent camping trip. A JJ Edwards image. Come and visit Fishing Monthly Group’s official Facebook page for all your monthly fishing information. Download QR Reader to access.

TASMANIA Hobart

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Esperance Bunbury Augusta Lancelin Metro Exmouth Kalbarri Mandurah Karratha Freshwater

105 105 106 107 108 110 110 111 112 114

REGULAR FEATURES Urban basssing Starlo: Spinning for trout Sheik of the Creek Sustainability of estuary species Fun page WIRF What’s New Tournament Calendar Tournaments Trades and Services/Tide page Stessl 660 Seahawk Boat Test: Whittley CR2380

8 12 45 50 113 100 122 104 102 116 118 120

COMPS AND OFFERS Find the logo Subscriber Page

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WIRF

Firstly, a big shout-out to the team who are back in Brisbane finishing this magazine while I’m off running ABT events in Central Queensland. We get a lot done with a lot fewer people than we used to pre-COVID, with both Fishing Monthly and ABT, so I thank them for adapting to the new-normal. We’ve also got new neighbours in the building. Rapala VMC Australia have taken all of the available space to run their sales, marketing and advertising divisions. It’s becoming a real fishy hub, with Fishing Monthly, ABT, Infofish Australia (who do lots of tagging, surveying and mapping work) and now Rapala sharing space. When you’re running into Mick Horn or Timmy Morgan in the hallways, you know that there’ll be plenty of ideas bouncing around.

CARL MAKES CLASSIC Since the last issue, the news that Toowoomba’s Carl Jocumsen has qualified for the prestigious Bassmaster Classic in 2023 is a real milestone. The gun Aussie angler has become a real crowd favourite – both stateside and in Australia – and next March there’ll be an army of fans cheering him on. Interestingly, he’s not the first Australian to fish the event. Ex-columnist Kim Bain qualified once through the Women’s Tour over there and fished it. Carl is headed back to Australia in November to see family and fish the BARRA Tour with Canadian pro Jeff Gustafson. Let’s see if he remembers how to catch a barra… BOAT TESTING RETURNING It’s been a tough couple of years to get boat tests done. Firstly, the COVID restrictions shut it down and then after that, the massive demand for boats left a lot of companies short of demo stock. Supply seems to be catching up with demand, though, and we’re gradually finding it easier to get hold of boats to run through their paces. We get a lot of readers and viewers (on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel) reach out for boat advice. After all, buying a boat is now more than ever a big financial decision, and often you don’t even get to ride in the boat you’re buying before you sign on the dotted line. We help where we can. I haven’t ridden in everything, but if our experience can help then we are happy to do so.

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Awesome urban bassing BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

Bass fishing takes anglers to some absolutely breathtaking locations. Whether they’re grand boulder-strewn valleys with torrents of clear mountain water gushing through or little spring-fed trickles meandering through a paddock, the location becomes as much a part of the experience as the fishing itself. With our busy lives and ever-changing world, though, finding the time and money to get to these places can be a huge challenge. Many bass fishing heartlands lie hundreds of kilometres from any major population centres. Even stocked impoundments

set of challenges, though. So, let’s take a look at these environments and the wily little bass that live in them! THE BIG SMOKE Bass can be found in many freshwater bodies these days. Where once naturally occurring populations were doomed to disappear with rapid development, stocking efforts, research, conservation work and closed seasons have ensured there are, once again, plenty of bass to be caught in our cities and towns. Weirs, culverts and other impassable barriers built along natural watercourses were a major damaging factor to bass stocks. So too were many construction and farming practices, which due to a lack of research at the time, didn’t consider the

involved to do it. ARE THERE BASS HERE? This is the first question you need to ask yourself, because there are some very appealing creeks around that just don’t have bass in them. Despite all the conservation efforts, things like pollution, artificial barriers and other environmental damage are still a factor. If you can’t find any information on bass stocking for your local system, or there is no stocked dam or weir to provide ‘escapee’ fish, there’s still always a chance of a natural population. The first thing I consider is access to saltwater, which bass need to breed. Bass are able to navigate rapids and some small waterfalls when flow is sufficient and will

The urban creeks that flow below major dams have recently received an injection of escapees with the recent rain. Fish topple over the spillways in search of flowing water, which is why this fish looks a little knocked around. Photo courtesy of Peter Jung.

There are some truly magical little streams in the heart of suburbia. Unsurprisingly, the author could hear a lawnmower cranking while snapping this shot! with good bass fisheries are often located outside the city limits that many of us live in. While we as anglers strive to get away from the crowds, good bass fishing certainly isn’t limited to areas completely free of human activity. In fact, some fantastic bassing can be found right under our noses, sometimes in the heart of the urban and suburban jungles of our major cities! What’s more, restorative efforts from forwardthinking State governments and research groups have brought back many of these fragile environments from the brink. Modern anglers can enjoy great bass fishing in places that have you wondering whether to grab the rod or the camera first, while not worrying about taking days off work or spending precious savings on fuel. Bass fishing in our cities and major regional centres isn’t without its own unique 8

OCTOBER 2022

wildlife in the area. With more modern weir and bridge designs to facilitate migratory breeding behaviour, as well as environmental groups to keep agricultural activities in check, things are looking up. We now know how fragile these important ecosystems can be, and while the management of our riparian and marine environments isn’t perfect, it’s come a long, long way. Being able to not only preserve natural stocks, but also reintroduce them to areas where they were once common has ensured there’s plenty to go around, even in the big smoke. Urban bass fishing is no walk in the park though… well, if you’re walking through a park to get to a piece of public water it is, but you know what I mean! Difficulties can arise when chasing our much-loved battlers in the cities, but these challenges can make each fish more special and well worth the planning

often migrate back upstream with the first floodwaters of the season following their spawning. Weirs, dams,

barrages and causeways may block this migration path for our little friends. A great way to assess

the ‘navigability’ of such structures is if you notice schools of mullet in the system above these barriers, as these fish also require access to the salt to complete their life cycle. My rule of thumb is that if mullet can do it, bass can do it. Don’t underestimate a bass’s will to swim upstream! Secondly, there needs to be sufficient real estate for them. Bass will live in some pretty skinny creeks, but they require shade from undercut banks, snags, boulders, overhanging trees, or artificial structures like bridge pylons, pipes, concrete slabs and retaining walls. Unlike the mullet and herring that swim out in the open (making them easy to spot), bass will almost always keep themselves hidden during daylight hours, only venturing out to snaffle passing prey. It’s worth remembering that bass will happily live in very shallow water, so long as they can get their head under

Josh Dunn likes to fish the rivers and creeks around the Gold Coast, and manages to find fish like this 50cm urban brawler! Photo courtesy of Josh Dunn.

something. A creek with year-round flow is certainly preferable, but not necessary, so long as there are a few permeant pools that hold a bit of depth and structure. Lastly, footprints and other items left behind by anglers are a dead giveaway. I can remember once when visiting a creek for the first time, I noticed a small popper with treble hooks hanging from a tree over a deep, shaded pool. I got a confidence boost just by seeing this, and my suspicions were soon confirmed when I landed a bass. I certainly don’t condone leaving rubbish behind, as these are things that damage the environment, and in more public waterways, could result in anglers getting kicked out! If you can, leave only your footprints and take only photos. ACCESS Accessing bass water in the concrete jungles is something of a challenge, just as it is in the real jungle. Out in more regional and remote areas, the main challenges stem from geography. High banks, thick scrub and long walks are an accepted part of the package for intrepid creek crawlers like myself and many others. In the city however, creeks wind their way through suburbia and form the border between many peoples’ properties. There are sections of public land such as parks and walkways adjacent to these waterways, and these provide great access points. In a lot of creeks though, the good habitat sits amongst private property. Getting access to such areas can be tricky, however if you can get down to the creek legally (via a bridge, park or some other public land), that’s a good start. Traversing along the creek, or indeed in it if you choose to wade – like I often do – is a

great way to find productive water. Having a quick glance at the Land Act 1994, the only thing on it clear enough for my blue collar brain to understand is that non-tidal watercourses are property of the State. By this logic, fishing from a kayak or other small vessel is fair game.

It’s less clear about the riparian zones, which are the areas (usually thick with vegetation) on the water’s edge. Walking or wading in this zone, well below a high floodwater mark, certainly seems harmless enough, but not everyone feels this way. Some bass anglers (including myself!) have been warned

off at gunpoint, although this is more of a problem in the backcountry. In most if not all instances, the landowner was in the wrong. My advice is to stay in the creekbed where possible, without compromising your safety. Most creeks will allow you to wade in ankle to shin deep water as you

Concrete slabs, broken bricks and pipes aren’t a classic feature of a bass creek, but the fish don’t seem to mind! venture along casting to likely hidey holes. It’s always good to call in and request permission if you plan to fish firmly from the bank. LURKING IN THE SHADOWS It’s no surprise that to be a good bass angler you need to be quiet and discreet, almost blending in with the environment. Bass diehards learn to stay hidden from not only fish, but other wildlife

Peter Jung loves exploring the bushy creeks that wind through Brisbane’s suburbs, with decent fish like this not uncommon at all. Photo courtesy of Peter Jung.

that may ‘spook’ a pool, like water dragons, turtles or ducks. They also learn to stay hidden from people, partly for the reasons mentioned above, but also to keep their fishing spots close to their chest. With this sort of covert training, I’m surprised the special forces don’t recruit more city bass anglers! Urban bass generally experience a higher degree of human activity, so it’s just

a fact that they will be a little more weary and better educated than their rural and remote counterparts. This just reinforces the idea that success comes to those who are stealthy. Over years of fishing these places, I’ve come to notice that I get more interest from fish when I take extra care not to disturb the environment I’m in. Little To page 10

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Time for big flatties JUMPINPIN

Bo Sawyer

G’day everyone, I hope you’ve had a great month and caught plenty of fish. It was another successful King of the Pin for 2022 and there were some great fish brought in.

been catching as many fish as they usually do. So if you’re struggling with bigger baits or lures, don’t be afraid to downsize. Coming into October we should see the water temperatures climb again and the warmer water species spark back up. Let’s hope the weather is kind to us!

fish as well. I have learned that using a glove will cause the fish a lot less stress. Areas that should produce good fish are Kalinga Bank, Pin bar, Gold Bank, Crusoe Island, North Lagoon and Millionaires Row. Pilchards would be my choice if you’re using dead bait, otherwise live mullet, gar, herring and prawns are great options as well. For anglers using soft plastics, smaller sizes have been producing better at the time of writing, but I will be looking to use 4-5” minimum plastics throughout October. Whiting have been on the chew around sand

Daniel scored this solid mulloway on a soft vibe. this past month. Tailor are best caught on small metal spinners or pilchards – just look for birds working and the tailor shouldn’t be

too far behind. The tailor fishing hasn’t taken much of a break this year so I won’t be surprised if we still get some decent ones

Marco got this beast 88cm flatty onboard Capn’s Charters. Well done to everyone who gave it a crack. At the time of writing it’s been very windy, which has discoloured the water in a lot of the muddier areas. However, the water in the channels and out around the Pin is quite clean. Most of the bait feeding through the system has been fairly small, and I’ve noticed my normal size lures haven’t

I can’t think of a better species to start on this month than the mighty flathead. October is a great time to target these fish in the Pin area, and we should see some monsters being pulled in. Just remember to treat the big girls with care and support their body weight around their belly and not just their head. Lip grips can damage bigger

Dani Milligan with a stonker bream that got her 1st in the King of the Pin. 22

OCTOBER 2022

Laurence with a quality flathead. and yabby banks. You can try fishing for them using yabbies or worms along the North Lagoon, Gold Bank and the mouth of the Logan River. Use a long trace of light fluorocarbon (4lb is ideal) and just remember to spit on your knot before tightening it because fluorocarbon can get friction burn and weaken the knot. We weren’t wrong about having a great jewfish (mulloway) season this winter, but the bigger models will most likely be in fewer numbers as the temperatures rise. If you’re still keen to target them, use big live baits or plastics/vibes in the Pin bar and along Kalinga Bank. Deeper holes will also hold fish looking for deeper water, so it’s always a good idea to scan these areas with your sounder if you’re driving past any. There have been plenty of bream and tailor terrorising the whitebait balls in the deeper water

A nice flatty out in the deep.

Brett was out-fished by his wife who scored this wonderful bream. Don’t worry mate, it happens to all of us.

in the warmer months. You can target bream using whitebait or lightlyweighted 2.5-3” plastics. I’ve been sounding plenty of them up along Kalinga but any deeper channel holding bait will produce well. There are millions of them up on the flats eating yabbies, however the size isn’t worth chasing. Well that’s it for me this month guys, you’ll see me out there hitting the flathead pretty hard this month before turning my sights onto the local jacks and threadfin salmon. Don’t forget to jump in and see Brett at Jacobs Well Bait and Tackle for your bait and tackle needs. Also, Ryan from Capn’s Charters has some charters available if you’d like to catch some monster flatties in the coming weeks. Until next month, tight lines and stay safe out there. • To see more of my fishing adventures on Instagram, follow The Bobo Boat (@ thebobo_boat)

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OCTOBER 2022

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The bottom bashers are really kicking goals COFFS COAST

Rob Taylor

We’re finally starting to defrost and dry out here on the Coffs Coast as we move out of winter and intro spring proper. For those chasing a feed, it’s been a bumper season for bottom fishing, with plenty of pearl perch, trag, mulloway and snapper coming over the side. Pearlies in particular have been schooling in solid numbers from in close out to the 100m line, and everywhere in between. With them have been goodsized trag, which has made for some very tasty outings. Some big, bruising snapper are still falling to plastics in close, with some epic fish being taken in relatively shallow water. The usual presentations from Gulp, ZMan and Squidgies have been doing the damage. Keep jigheads light, cast your plastics forward and let them sink

down to the bottom third of the water column. You should find some reds! Bass season has opened with a bang! Many of the local rivers as well as the bigger systems produced some astonishing fishing for those willing to get off the beaten track and be in position for the opening bell. Some hot bites were recorded, and hopefully this all bodes well for a great 22-23 season! While historically October can tend to fish a bit on the quiet side, let’s take a look at what should be on the chew. CREEKS, RIVERS AND ESTUARIES As mentioned, it’s all systems go in the freshwater with the opening of Australian bass season. With the weather warming, there’ll be plenty of red-hot bass fishing on offer in all of the local creeks and rivers. Systems such as the Bellinger and Clarence will be well worth a prospect on foot or in kayaks and

Fishing with his good mate Rick Mocket, local angler Carl Perry tempted this fine mulloway in 85m of water with a live slimy.

Laurie Banks with a solid king that fell to a plastic out around the islands.

AVOID THE DELAY A

and big seas, then there’s a good chance of solid silver ghosts around the local rock walls chasing big lures and plastics. Sadly, drummer numbers have started to thin, although there will be more than enough fun in the suds with bream, tailor and salmon all there for the taking. This month is always a fun time to be walking beach gutters at low tide flicking either soft plastics or lightly-weighted live yabbies in search of flathead, bream and whiting. This is a surefire way to bag a decent feed. We should start to see some dart also moving into the beach gutters as the water warms.

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ROCKS AND BEACHES The local rocks and beaches will still produce good catches of tailor in the white water for those keen on some fish for the smoker. I like to work the local headlands at this time of year and spin for choppers. If you don’t fancy eating them, they make a great troll bait for the upcoming Spanish mackerel run. Plenty of big Spanish fall to slow-trolled dead tailor. Plenty of mulloway are also still on offer for those throwing baits or lures around. Now is the time to find them in good numbers before the warmer summer water makes them harder going. If we get some rain

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canoes. There’s a plethora of lures to chase bass with, so get down to your local tackle store and chat to the sales people for the best options. By the end of this month we should start to see the first mangrove jacks turning up on the social media pages, so keep an eye on the water temperature if you’re looking to get among the red devils. Small GTs will start working the bait throughout the systems, so always keep an eye out for surface activity and have a suitable lure at the ready. Flathead and early summer whiting will start to increase in numbers as the bream and luderick fall away.

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OFFSHORE This month we will continue to see some solid snapper in close, so make the most of it while the big models are in town. A

around places like South and North Solitary. Some very big greenbacks patrol the island washes at this time, so they are always worth a prospect with metal

action right along the 100m line for those willing to put the time in pulling lures. There may still be the odd yellowfin getting about, but these are always

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lures. The kings will be easy to find, just look for the pros doing laps and that will be bang on where the kings are holding up! We should also see the start of our game fishing season this month. Striped marlin are usually the first to arrive and there should be some good billfish

hit and miss and hard to predict. If you’re keen to lock horns with one, I’d head to at least the 200m line and start cubing. While not the hottest month for fishing on the Coffs Coast, October can still produce some good catches, so get out there and get into it!

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The author kicked off the new bass season with a bang! OCTOBER 2022

VIC

A trip to stonker city PPB WEST

Alan Bonnici alan@fishingmad.com.au

We have arrived at the part of the fishing calendar that I am always the most excited by. The dreaded cold, windy and wet winter grind is now behind us, and spring is settling in, and the outdoor temperature as well as the water temperatures are starting to rise. This means more pleasant days on the water, no more freezing cold mornings and most importantly, lots of productive fishing. With this increase in water temperature, we will start to welcome back our beloved bread and butter species into Port Phillip Bay, including snapper and whiting. We will also see flathead fishing improve. It’s usually around the Melbourne Cup weekend that I consider

snapper season back and in full swing and we’re almost there, which is super exciting. Now before we get completely submerged into snapper fishing over the coming months, it has been an awesome month working alongside the Victorian Fisheries Authority on the Stonker Stocking programs in many of the family fishing lakes around Melbourne and Victoria. This year 1,000 rainbow trout around 5kg have been stocked in Albert Park Lake, Berwick Springs Estate Lake, Casey Fields Lake, Caulfield Racecourse Lake, Don Lake, Emerald Lake, Ferntree Gully Quarry, Garfield Lake, Karkarook Lake, Lilliput Lane Reserve, Lilydale Lake, Navan Park Lake, Pakenham Lake, Rowville Lakes, Roxburgh Park Lakes, Spavin Lake Sunbury and Yarrambat Lake. This is an amazing

initiative to encourage family fishing around Melbourne and to help grow fishing by welcoming beginners. True, there will always be a few people who will complain that these fish are not wild, and that it’s equivalent to targeting fish from a fish farm. However, you try and wipe the smile off a young kid or beginner’s face who has just landed their first 5kg rainbow trout for the first time. Sure, these fish don’t fight real hard (they are often likened to fighting a wet sock), but their sheer size and weight is amazing. I have caught hundreds of trout in my time, but I was still thrilled to land a few of these huge fish. Let’s face it, there are not many areas around Melbourne where you can target a prized species like a trout of this size, so let’s focus on the positives. I had a few productive

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Taya with a giant trout stocked by VFA. sessions targeting these massive trout fishing at Yarrambat Lake and Spavin Lake. On the first occasion at Yarrambat Lake, I managed to land a beast of a rainbow trout. It’s arguably the biggest and girthiest trout I’ve ever seen stocked. I landed it while fishing with my daughter, and I was thrilled to watch her struggling to lift this massive fish. We spent that session creating some video content for beginners on the basics of trout fishing, covering

the gear you should fish with, which in our case was 7ft, 2-4kg rods paired with 2500 size reels and 10lb braid. On second thought, this may have even been a tad light for these giant fish! We also went through the right bait choices for trout and how to rig them correctly. Our bait choices included PowerBait, particularly the bright orange salmon egg colour, mudeyes pined in the wings and suspended under a float, maggots, scrubworms and corn. We always make

sure to have full hook exposure. We also walked through the endless choices of lure options. For us this is mainly spoons between 7-12g in shiny and bright colours, shallow-diving hardbody lures between 50-75mm, spinners, and soft plastics, ideally in black and gold colours like 2.5” paddletails and curl-tails. It’s an information-heavy video, so make sure you head to the FishingMad YouTube channel to check it out. I went out the following

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The author enjoys targeting salmon on light gear in the Port Phillip region.

VIC

day with my good mate Michael Smith, who landed another awesome trout while flicking an 8g metal spoon in a trout pattern. It was a pleasure filming this catch, as he landed it on his 1-4kg Daiwa Infeet rod and Luvias 2000 reel with only a 4lb leader. Talk about turning it into a challenge! It was lots of fun and it’s been great to see so

many pictures sent to me by families out and about fishing around Melbourne. There have been lots of smiles and lots of kids holding huge stonker size trout. That’s what it’s all about! Don’t forget that trout season opening in the majority of rivers and streams around Victoria is here, and places like Lake

Eildon will light up with their own trout stocking and events. It’s a special time of year for trout fishing, so make sure you get amongst the action. As I mentioned at the start of the article, October is here and this is generally the very start of snapper season. The water temperature from this point will rise rapidly, and once

The author with a genuine stonker trout caught in Yarrambat Lake.

s t a c e r. c o m . a

Michael Smith was very pleased with this huge trout taken in a local lake.

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it starts reaching 15°C the fishing will only go from strength to strength. The snapper will start to come into the bay and seek warm water and clear water conditions. They will move around, and we will be trying to find them as often as possible. I love fishing from October through to April, as it’s warm and comfortable and you can catch some amazing

6,349

fish. No doubt I will be covering snapper fishing in great detail in the coming articles, so make sure you keep an eye out for that. Until next time, good fishing everyone. Please feel free to contact me directly to share your fishing experiences, photos and catches around Melbourne, Port Phillip Bay and beyond, and they might feature in next month’s article!

You can contact me by email at alan@fishingmad. com.au. Please consider becoming a FishingMad member at www.fishingmad. com.au/member for fishing workshops, podcasts, detailed reports and exciting monthly giveaways. Also, don’t forget to follow my fishing adventures on the FishingMad YouTube channel and on social media.

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BASS SERIES presented by

BASS AUSTRALIAN OPEN

abt

Second time’s the charm for Mick Johnson If you had the pleasure of following the action at home via the LIVE scoreboard on the ABT tournament app or our social media, then you wouldn’t have missed the epic battle between 1st place Mick Johnson and 2nd place Tommy Wood that unfolded at the 2022 Rapala BASS Australian Open. The inaugural event this year took us to Somerset Dam in Southeast Queensland. Renowned across the country as one of the premier big bass dams, it lived up to its reputation as Mick Johnson brought almost 10kg to the scales on day one, throwing down the gauntlet and giving the rest of the field something to chase on day two. MICK JOHNSON – 1ST PLACE 9/10 FISH FOR 13.27KG A slip on the boat and

fish are homed in on jerkbaits. Mick fished the bottom of Bay 13 on day one, where he had a bank with a good variety of rock and weed to fish a jerkbait around. The areas he targeted were shallow, typically less than 6ft of water, and the fish seemed to come off any standing timber sticking out of the water about 12-15ft off the bank. Using his Garmin LiveScope, Mick was able to target the trees holding fish while skipping past the trees with no fish, to maximise his chances of a bite. Six of Mick’s seven fish on day one came on a Jackall Squirrel 67 in ghost minnow Scan the QR code to watch the Winner Interview

Biggun! This 51cm model at nearly 3kg secured Mick the Big Bass prize for Day 1 - a 13 Fishing Baitcast rod and reel combo. sitting a little deeper, so I threw the 79 Squirrel to get a bit deeper and straight away got my kicker fish,” Mick explained. That fish won Saturday’s Big Bass prize of a 13 Fishing Omen Black rod and 13 Fishing Concept baitcast reel. As the jerkbait bite died on day two, Mick was

overtaken on the scoreboard by Tommy Wood heading into the blackout period, and was struggling to find the Squirrelcrushing fish he was on the day before. Changing to a noike gill coloured Jackall TN60, Mick deflected his lipless crankbait over the gravel and rock with a slow roll to fill a 4/5 fish limit

Fish like this brute are what kept Tommy Wood right in the hunt after the first session. He was able to snatch back the lead heading into the blackout period, which made for an exciting reveal. a few sore ribs had Mick Retire hurt from his innings at Somerset two weeks prior, so you could say the dam owed him one. Well, it paid him back 6000 times over as the lake handed him a staggering day one bag of 9.857kg, his smallest fish being 42cm to the fork and his largest 51cm, which had him leading the event after the first session. In a pleasant change from the usual deep-water techniques that Somerset is known for, Mick found a consistent jerkbait bite on the edges of Bay 13 that he knew would be hard to beat. This theory was quickly re-assured on the second cast of the first session, when he landed a 48 fork fish to kick his bag off. “It’s not often you get a jerkbait bite in Somerset but when you do, they’re usually quality fish,” he said, adding that he was happy to beat a lot of fellow anglers who are usually hard to beat when the 102

OCTOBER 2022

rigged on an ultralight 2-6lb Samurai Infinite, which Mick explained is crucial for lightly tapping the jerkbait and not imparting too much action. He paired this up with a 2004 size Daiwa Freams, spooled with 10lb Sunline braid and 10lb Sunline V-hard leader. “Sunline make great line, I don’t think I broke a line all weekend fishing around structure like weed and rocks,” Mick said. The 7th fish? Well, at a

Scan the QR code to watch the Runner-up Interview

stonking 51cm and 2.668kg, it fell to the 67 Squirrel’s big brother, the 79 Squirrel, in the same colour, only it came from deeper water than the rest of the bag. “I could see some really nice fish on the sounder

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

Angler Mick Johnson Tommy Wood Tom Slater Matt Johnson Braden Schuch Mark Reinbott Steve Morgan Jake Schwerin Steve Kanowski Nick Anderson

After a 2nd place finish in 2021, Mick Was over the moon to get it done in 2022. Full results at abt.org.au

Fish 9/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 8/10 10/10 9/10 10/10

Weight(kg) 13.270 kg 12.403 kg 12.207 kg 10.670 kg 10.064 kg 8.870kg 8.676kg 8.614kg 8.549kg 8.513kg

Payout $6000 $3000 $2000 $1000

BASS SERIES presented by to finish the session, which was all he needed to take back the lead after an epic battle with the young gun. SUNDAY BIG BASS PRIZE Mitch Petty from the naming sponsor Rapala won Sunday’s big bass prize with the biggest bass for the weekend at 52cm and 2.842kg. He, too, won a 13 Fishing Omen Black rod and 13 Fishing Concept baitcast reel. TOMMY WOOD - 2ND PLACE 10/10 FISH FOR 12.403KG Feared among barra anglers for his skills with a jerkbait, Tommy Wood Scan the QR code to watch the Day 1 Highlights

The winning set-ups Mick Johnson used to whack ‘em all weekend.

lure and any fish following on the sounder. A combination of 16lb Olltolos Zone Finesse braid and 8lb fluorocarbon leader was enough to stop all his fish without any breakages. Having found the same fish in the same area as Mick Johnson, the pair were neck-and-neck heading into a very different day two, where the jerkbait bite almost completely disappeared and Tommy was able to snatch the lead back going into the blackout period. Adaptability is the cornerstone to tournament success, so when the jerkbait bite died on day two Tommy picked up his second Samaki C12 combo, this time a 6-12lb model spooled with 16lb X-Braid Upgrade Pentagram braid rigged up with a 3/8oz Evergreen Little Max blade. He chose the blade due to its subtlety in comparison to

BASS AUSTRALIAN OPEN

abt

Sunday’s Big Bass prize of a 13 Fishing baitcast combo went to Mitch Petty with the biggest bass weighed for the whole event at 51cm and 2.8kg! It ate a Rapala DT08 in smash colour on a shallow edge.

Matt Johnson took advantage of the edge bite on jerk baits and lipless crank baits perfectly translated the same skills into the bass world for a second place in his first event as a boater. Of course, the jerkbait is only one half of the skill set, and in the modern tournament landscape utilising your electronics to their maximum capabilities is pivotal to success. Tommy knows this all too well, and as a supplier of Garmin electronics, he knows how to get the most out of his 8416 Garmin Livescope set-up to catch more fish. “With the new LVS34 Transducer in forward mode I was seeing bass clear as day following my jerkbait from over 50ft away in as shallow as 2ft of water,” he said. “They would only eat it if there was a pack of them fighting for the lure, and I had to watch to make sure I didn’t pull it away from them

too fast or they would spook. It’s pretty much exactly how I fish for barra.” With his 7ft, 4-8 lb Samaki C12/Shimano Vanford combo, the key was

to cast his jerkbait – a Jackall Squirrel 67 in purple gill - up as shallow as possible around the grassy edges and give it a twitch and pause retrieve back to the boat, watching the

Keeghan Painter hit an early lead on the live scoreboards and kept it for half the session.

Scan the QR code to watch the Day 2 Highlights

the lipless crankbaits that a lot of the field were using. This allowed him to fish water where anglers had already been through with lipless cranks, and still catch fish. He rigged his blade with double hooks facing backwards so he could slow roll the blade over rock like a lipless crankbait, deflecting off structure without getting snagged like a treble hook would. Tommy Wood has already won from the back of the boat, and he makes up one half of the 2021 Barra Tour Team of The Year so we’re very sure this is only the beginning of an illustrious career as a boater for him. Mick Johnson won this event after a 2nd place the year before, so who knows? Perhaps there is a pattern there and we’ll see Tommy atop the podium at this time next year. OCTOBER 2022

103

South Coast

Spring saviours on the chew AUGUSTA

Anthony Gillam

Last month the recreational fishing scene in the West Coast zone of WA was in turmoil. The current Fisheries Minister is contemplating a 9-month ban for demersal recreational fishing over a massive section of the coastline stretching from Kalbarri about 600km north of Perth to Black Point around 300km south.

now been reduced with the removal of restrictions. With the possibility of hijacking this article to create a political statement, I will refrain from saying too much other than simply voicing my disagreement with the minister. We already have a 2-month ban on demersal fishing in place in this zone, and it is certainly required to ensure a healthy fishery, however, speaking specifically of the Augusta fishery, I have no doubt that it is in a healthy position when

in a huge decline in tourist numbers and consequently have massive implications for small coastal towns such as Augusta that rely on the recreational fishing sector to survive. Getting back to actual fishing, spring weather has arrived, and the associated clear skies brought people out of the woodwork like skinks soaking up the early season sun. With the change into spring, the fishing has continued to be strong in all sectors.

This is what you want the esky to look like at the end of a fishing trip, and this is a common sight for the local dhufish whisperer Jason Morgan. This is in response to the belief that although demersal species such as dhufish and pink snapper numbers are recovering, they are not recovering quick enough for the date of 2030 set 12 years ago. There seems to be no scientific evidence involved in this reasoning, and it doesn’t take into account the increased fishing activity that was created by the state government closing the borders for two years during the COVID emergency period. This pressure has

compared to some other areas. With large numbers of juvenile dhufish and pink snapper easily observable throughout our bays, a rational management plan needs to be in place, not a blanket ban on the 100 demersal species found throughout this massive section of coastline. Having already imposed marine sanctuary areas throughout the West Zoast zone as well as the two month ban, the state government now wants to impose further restrictions. This will result

Jigging over a large lump of coral near St Alouarn Island resulted in this thickshouldered 6kg samson fish. 106

OCTOBER 2022

The Blackwood River continues to flow strongly out to sea via Hardy Inlet, with recent rainfall throughout the area ensuring the tanninstained waters are continually competing with the incoming salty tidal inflow. This has resulted in large changes to the system and poses a navigation risk to those not paying attention to the channel locations. Several very large sand bars now appear at each low water. These are located from East Augusta through into the Dead Water, and this means that there are large areas of shallow water flats that will be perfect for surface fishing for yellowfin whiting. Boaties need to remain alert in these areas to prevent accidents, however. Currently the King George whiting numbers in the Hardy Inlet and Dead Water are very high and with the average size having increased significantly in recent months, most fish landed are above the legal size. Not only are they well known for their edibility, but they also put up an excellent fight on light lines for their size. Their gut contents show they are currently feeding on small crustaceans such as crabs and glass shrimps, and therefore baits of river prawns are very successful. Black bream numbers right throughout the system are also very good, and when not specifically targeted give the angler an unexpected run for their money. Good numbers of bream above 30cm can be found around any feature that

provides an ambush position for them to lay in wait. There are hundreds of submerged trees and rocks lining the river banks and channels from Sues Bridge right through to the Colourpatch, and fish can be found around many of them. Whether bank walking or using watercraft, it is possible to locate bream throughout the waterways without too much effort. The hard bit comes in when landing them, as they are experts at finding the sharpest snags in their territory. The main thing to remember is to fish an area over with a few casts and then if there is no action, move on and repeat. When hooked up, keep the pressure on or you are destined to re-rig shortly after. While kayak fishing recently it was almost impossible to not locate a bream of worthwhile size. They have been taking small soft plastics and hardbodies, but have been especially aggressive toward river prawns drifted down to the bottom and then slowly wound past their haunt. Surface stickbaits continue to be an absolute winner. They are dynamite on black bream, flathead, flounder and all species of whiting and herring. Jetty fishing continues to be very good, especially early morning and late at night. There are plenty of whiting on the bottom, while herring and tailor haunt the top level.

This Flinders Bay dhufish was taken jet ski fishing by Blake Gillam on a 6” Berkley Gulp Jerk Shad with a Nitro Elevator jig head. with a couple of days each week that have been perfect for getting out into the deeper waters. Dhufish and pink snapper have made up most of the demersal catches, with the odd breaksea cod and bight redfish also joining the party. Bait fishing has been pretty good, with whole squid and herring baits working very well. Soft plastics also produce good results, and hybrids like the Vexed Bottom Meat have continued to top the catches list. Soft plastics have been decimated by horseshoe leatherjackets biting them to pieces, so if this is happening, drop a bait down to see if you can land a couple. They are delicious and despite people claiming they are difficult to process, they skin easily in a few seconds and are well worth the effort.

the winter seaweed banks due to the massive amount of maggots, it has created a natural berley, bringing fish from far and wide. Herring, skippy and whiting have been amassing in the slick of wrigglers while on the bottom the leatherjackets are busily munching anything that comes their way. A good rig to use is an unweighted bait on a long shank hook, as this will prevent bite-offs by the guillotine-like teeth of the leather jackets if the bait makes it through the breadand-butter species. Rock fishing is dangerous at times, and careful consideration of where and when you fish must be done. Unpredictable weather can quickly affect the fishing conditions and slippery rocks are a recipe for disaster. Please remain vigilant when rock

A typical Hardy Inlet mixed bag taken by the author while kayak fishing. Lately there have been octopus and squid on the move as well, so it always pays to keep a jig ready to go. When the lights are on at the Ellis Street Jetty, keep an eye on the lumps on the bottom between the shore and the western side of the jetty; recently there have been black bream lurking nearby waiting to pounce. As usual glass shrimps, river prawns and cockles are the go-to for most of the fish, while small metal slices work well for herring and tailor. Boat fishing in Flinders and Hamelin bays remains productive and the latest weather has been very kind,

Beach fishing around the district has been good for herring, tarwhine as well as King George and sand whiting. Some nice fish have been caught from the sand at the northern end of Junes Beach, and the small beaches south of the marina and west of Elephant Rock. Mulie pieces and squid baits will score plenty of fish, along with shelled coral prawn pieces. Long strips of squid have worked well on the whiting and herring, especially. Rock fishing has been the go lately, with the warming weather and lower swells making for safer fishing. With the breaking down of

fishing; wear a life jacket and tie off to something solid. • You can hire a life jacket for free from Augusta Xtreme Outdoor Sports at 66 Blackwood Avenue, Augusta, the local tackle shop and font of all local fishing knowledge. Look for the big green sign on the roof, it’s right next to the BP Service Station in the centre of town. • The locations mentioned are all well-known and are marked on most vehicle GPS units, especially if they have HEMA maps or a list of locations can be obtained from the local tackle store, Augusta X-Treme Outdoor Sports.

West Coast

Lancelin lunkers lurking just offshore LANCELIN

Peter Fullarton

October and November would be my favourite fishing period for the year in Lancelin. We have crystal-clear water in the bay, tailor and tuna are going off, mulloway are still around and the weather is usually fantastic.

the boats leaving the bay target them. Recreational fishers have been asked to reduce the take on demersal species by a further 50%. GPS technology become popular with recreational and commercial fishers, and this led to dhufish and other demersal fish being more efficiently targeted. Boats can now go straight to the best spots without spending

whether they be recreational, charter or professional. The larvae resulting from these protected areas can then disperse on the currents. Instead, fisheries minister Don Punch has proposed an unacceptable 8-9 month ban on fishing for demersal species. We ‘the recreational fishing community’ were offered an 8-9 month ban as our supposed ‘consultation’ to have ‘our say’ on how the restrictions will affect our lifestyles. Reductions need to happen, but DPIRD can be more concerned about cost and convenience of compliance rather than the

Local fishing identity Scott Mcdonald has been catching and releasing a few sambos off the jetty. their speed and agility. Samson fish have been featuring in a lot of the catches while chasing demersal species around structure in the 15-30m depths, but most the fish are not huge at around 5-10kg. Baitfish have been finding

sharks and the odd mulloway have been caught casting larger baits in the evening along the beaches. Tailor have been active until mid-morning and late afternoon, with fish around 50cm common. Gutters and reef breaks are holding larger

You don’t need to be too far out to find dhufish, as Chris is able to prove fishing out of his Hobie. The fun factor can be through the roof, with lots of opportunity to chase fish on lures. I would rather rate the days’ fishing on the fun factor than with the kilograms of meat in the freezer. Some people seem to get caught up in the fillets and wanting to stock the freezer before the demersal ban kicks in on 15 October, and then stop fishing when the freezer is full. During the ban, there is still plenty of fun to be had. It’s hard to beat some fresh whiting or squid for a feed, or the mountains of tuna lurking offshore for a bit of fun, or even pulling lobster pots! Demersal species are of prominence at Lancelin, and probably 80-90% of

time looking for fish. Recreational boats have also greatly increased their range and reliability with 4-stroke outboards. So even far offshore, the fish have nowhere of safe refuge. In the past two decades, all the spots have been found, and while not everyone has all the spots wired, combined efforts have seen all the places fish congregate found and marked. This has affected the dhufish’s ability to behave normally, and to aggregate in big schools for breeding purposes. A long-term solution would be protection for dhufish to aggregate and breed undisturbed by fishers using GPS. A series of no-take areas excluded to all fishers,

Chris Hartanto with a nice snapper taken 150m off the beach using a drone.

After popping up some tailor earlier in the morning, Huxley pulled this odd-looking snapper off a 150m drone drop. enjoyment of our pastime and cost to small businesses. With 2030 set as the benchmark for a recovery, what’s the plan after that? We will have another 500,000 new West Australians and an older population with more time to spend fishing mid-week. A 9-month ban is no long-term solution; in 2030 we will still be in the same boat with increasing fishing efficiency of the recreational fleet, more people on the water and more people for the professional fishing industry. Most likely the increasing pressure on stocks will lead to further bans until the demersal fishery is much like the abalone fishery, which is just a few scant, mad days per year. Pink snapper breeding aggregations were given significant protection, which is a long-term solution for this species! We are already seeing the benefits, with many fishers along the coast reporting good numbers and so many small fish they are a pest. Dhufish and breaksea cod have been caught inside the white bank where smaller boats even kayaks can target them. While further offshore, baldchin groper have been more predominant in the

catches out from the 30s. In the next few months crays will be close to the shore until late November when the white migration sees them heading out deep again. Now is prime time to dust off the dive gear and have a look under some ledges or drop a few pots from the tinny. Tuna can provide some

It’s prime time to be casting lures off the beach, and Huxley Taylor managed this nice one on a Halco Roosta Popper.

There’s plenty of baldies on the flats out from 30m. insane fishing sessions at this time of year, and though they’re not overly large along our coast, there is normally pretty good numbers about. Matching the gear to the size of the fish lets them show

refuge under the jetty at night and in the early mornings the sambos often come in to maraud the bait schools and can be caught on live baits, stickbaits and poppers. Plenty of small whaler

fish to 80cm. Beach fishers should make the most of conditions now, as floating weed tends to become more of a problem late this month. Drone fishers had a dream pink snapper season, but once the ban starts you can try drone fishing for King George whiting. The first thing to do is establish an area of broken weed and sand holes, which could be anywhere from 2-300m from shore. The depth only needs to be 2-4m. Once you identify the ‘drop zone’, keep dropping berley pellets in dissolving mesh, or you can add a berley cage to the rig. Try a three-hook paternoster using with no. 1 circle hooks, as they tend to hold better in the jaw for the longer retrieves. It’s hard to go past squid for bait, though prawns with shell on generally won’t fail either. OCTOBER 2022

107

Whittley CR2180 powered by Mercury 135hp - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

CON

AN THE

DE FOR EX

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Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

The CR2180 was the second of the Whittley cruisers that we got to test recently on the Gold Coast. It was an ordinary, showery and cool sort of day – by Gold Coast standards at least – so it was nice to be in an enclosed rig rather than an open centre console or the like. In fact, as I age, I appreciate a little comfort on the water after decades of being beaten by the sun and wind. I turned 50 this year, so maybe that’s what happens when you reach the halfcentury. Your eyesight goes downhill and you start to like comfortable boats?

Main: Whittley’s CR2180 is the second smallest cruiser in their range. Above: The Mercury 135hp, 3.0L 4-stroke keeps the costs down, but maximum horsepower is 150, provided by the same configuration engine.

The 135hp Mercury delivered 1.7km/L at the optimum cruising speed of 3500rpm and 42km/h. The Whittley CR 2180 (CR stands for Cruiser) is the second smallest cruiser in the Whittley range. In short, it’s perfect for people to take their friends on a trip for the day but equally as comfortable for a couple to spend a night on the water. If you want to do that with more space for you and your family, you’ll probably want to look at the CR 2380 that we ran a few months ago, which offers an extra double bed 120

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and a lockable cabin door as an option. According to Whittley staffer, Gary Honeychurch, who chaperoned us on the test drive “The CR 2180 is the perfect mid-sized cruiser for the bay, rivers and lakes with comfortable seating in the spacious cockpit. It comes standard with a sink, shower and toilet. There’s room for a cooler in the test rig which has also had optional 12 volt outlets fitted to power it. The other advantage of this

boat is that you can tow it with nearly any car with a 2.5t towing capacity or any standard twin-cab ute once you load it with all of your stuff, water and fuel for a weekend away it would be the perfect match” he said. There’s a privacy curtain for sleeping and using the loo, and offers high headspace in the cabin with a plush headlining fabric and cabin light. There is also room to install a small screen TV and aerial for those perfect overnighters for couples or day trips with the family.

We did like the clipin, washable synthetic flooring. Whittley seem to be finding a balance between functionality and price in these rigs. Their proprietary rubber flooring is still fixed to the duckboards, but there’s a definitely a horses-forcourses approach. As is standard on

Whittley cruisers, the seating is well designed for serving a meal or chatting socially. There’s a table in front of the outboard well, and the built-in seating pairs with gunwale seats add to the atmosphere. In the case of overnighting in this boat, it was fitted with a full canopy, which keeps the warmth in and the bugs out at night, whether you’re on water or land. When running with full canopies, this rig is noticeably less efficient than a low-profile hull of the same length. Still, if you drive it economically (the Merc achieved 1.7km/L at the optimum cruising speed of 3500rpm and 42km/h) you’ll get more range out of the small-ish 110L underfloor fuel tank than if you drive around like a maniac

(5000rpm have 61km/h and 1.4km/L). However, the gap isn’t as pronounced as in other craft where you can easily double range by going easy on the stick. There are definitely plenty of features packed into a Whittley. I can understand why people love them and make these boats a major part of their life. Packages with this hull start at $126,405.00 and comes standard with a Mercury 135 XL (mechanical) 4 stroke engine and Mackay dual axle trailer. (Also available as a sterndrive with a Volvo Penta V6 200hp engine) For more information, visit your local Whittley dealership or search www. whittley.com.au.

PERFORMANCE RPM ............Speed (km/h) ... Economy (km/L) 1000 ................................ 8 ......................... 0.1 2000.............................. 15 ......................... 0.4 3000.............................. 30 ......................... 1.4 3500 .............................. 42 ......................... 1.7 4000.............................. 51 ......................... 1.5 4800 .............................. 54 ......................... 1.4 WOT .............................. 61 ......................... 1.4

SPECIFICATIONS Hull length............ 6.32m Beam .................... 2.35m Height on trailer .. 2.45m Width on trailer ... 2.35m Transom deadrise.....19° Max HP.................150HP Fuel .......................... 110L Water .........................40L Capacity......... 6 persons

The 110L tank gives a maximum theoretical range of nearly 200km.

Top: Entry to the boat is easy while on the trailer, with the folding rear boarding ladder. Above: Access to the bow is through the front hatch, although most cruisers will be ordered with an anchor winch fitted.

Whittley’s Cruiser dashes are neat and can fit all of the electronics you need.

Social seating options are a Whittley Cruiser highlight. The 2150 has a fold-up table and gunwale seating.

There’s no lockable, sliding door. A curtain separates the cockpit from the cabin and offers privacy when using the loo.

Here’s the Cruiser set up for entertaining. This rig is ideal for a couple of people.

Left: Whittley’s clip-on flooring runs right through to the front of the cabin. Top Right: Although there’s no fridge in this model, there is room for cooler storage. Bottom Right: With the infill fitted, the cabin is big enough to berth two people in relative comfort.

Left: Passenger seating swivels around so that the occupant can be part of the conversation. Top Right: The windlass fits neatly in this compartment. Bottom Right: Only the rear duckboards have the custom Whittley rubber-style stick-on decking. OCTOBER 2022

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PRODUCT GUIDE

FISHCRAFT B-CRANKY

Get your target species enticed with B-Cranky lures from the newly released FishCraft. These fish lollies are 38mm in length, weigh 3.9g, are a floating lure and come in two diving depths (0.6m and 1.8m+), getting you to target that edge perfectly no matter where your fishing. The B-Cranky comes in a tasty range of fish-satisfying colours, including matte black and pearl shrimp, plus some fresh new concepts in the form of running prawn camo, brown prawn, spotted herring and more. FishCraft lures are built tough, with supersharp trebles in #12 and ultra-hard external coatings for longevity against those nasty teeth. For more information on the FishCraft range, and all the details on what’s to come, check out their website or follow @ fishcraftfishing on Instagram and Facebook. www.fishcraft.com.au

VENOM TARGET SERIES

Accurate casting has become increasingly important in hard-fished waters and, with the use of live sonar technology on the increase, casting accuracy in lakes and dams has never been so important. Taking feedback from anglers, the Australianmade Venom Target rods are designed with a hand and a half butt arrangement to allow for easy underhand casting if anglers are pitching lures ‘on the scope’, or flinging them underneath overhanging mangroves. The butt also allows for 2-handed overhand casting. The Target series features a full EVA rear grip. This butt design allows scoping anglers to place the rod in their scope poles while dealing with the beast they just landed, and also lets trollers use this rod in metal rod holders without damaging the blank. The full rear grip also differentiates this series from the spilt rear grip models. There are three models in the Target range – the RLFVT1 (10-30lb), RLFVT2 (2040lb) and RLFVT3 (30-60lb), all 6’5” long. The RLFVT1 has a 10-40g casting range, making it ideal for heavy jighead-rigged plastic fishing and perfect for throwing the 95mm Zerek Fish Trap. The RLFVT2 is designed for casting 30-100g, putting this rod squarely in the medium to large swimbait category, while the RLFVT3 can cast lures up to 200g! www.wilsonfishing.com

TONIC BLAQ

Tonic Eyewear has released their classy new Blaq model, which has been designed in Australia and manufactured in Japan. These new sunglasses feature a black anodised lightweight metal frame, internal spring hinges and non-slip silicone nose pads. The most popular lens option is Tonic’s Slice Polarised Photochromic glass lenses, which adjust to the prevailing light conditions. They also boast an antireflective coating to absorb reflective glare, and they deliver superior accuracy and depth, so you can survey your surroundings with outstanding clarity. And like all Tonic glass lenses, they are extremely scratch resistant. To view all the models and lenses in the Tonic range, check out their website or look them up on Facebook. www.toniceyewear.com

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SUFIX RECYCLINE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Sufix has created the world’s first 100% recycled fishing line. Sufix Recycline Monofilament is made from 100% Econyl, which is regenerated nylon made of recycled fishing waste, such as fishing nets and old fishing line, pulled straight out of the world’s oceans and turned into a dependable monofilament fishing line. Recycline is a premium grade monofilament fishing line and has been tested in a wide range of environments with great results. It has very good abrasion and knot strength and is a great option for anyone looking for a new monofilament fishing line. As a part of a fully recyclable product system, the spool is also made of fully recycled plastic, reducing the impact on the environment. As the packaging is constructed with recycled paper and plastic, the entire packaging can be recycled again and again, contributing to preserving our resources and environment. Recycline is available in 300m spools from 6lb-30lb, to suit a wide range of fishing conditions. Price: SRP $15.95 – $23.95 facebook.com/rapalaaustralia

TOADFISH FILLET SYSTEM

The Toadfish Stowaway Fillet System combines both the Folding Fillet Knife and Folding Cutting Board, in a neoprene case that is designed for easy and safe transportation. All items are available individually or as a Stowaway Fillet System in two sizes, a 7” knife and standard board, or 8.5” knife and XL board. The Stowaway Folding Fillet Knife combines the high-end performance and ergonomics of a full-length fixed knife, with the safety and versatility of a folding knife. Features include a full-length ergonomic handle, salt-tough titanium corrosion-resistant components, titanium coated salt-tough blade, non-slip raised rubber grip and stowaway carabiner. The Stowaway Cutting Board fits easily into kitchen drawers, boat boxes, tackle bags, or travel packs and it’s constructed from solid, non-porous, high-density polyethylene material for safe food handling. It also features a built-in, 2-stage knife sharpener (carbide section and ceramic section) and anti-skid bottom. You can check out the Stowaway Fillet System and other innovative products, including seafood tools, non-tipping drinkware and more, at the Toadfish website. www.toadfish.com.au

DAIWA HEADWEAR

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Look the part this summer with the new Daiwa headwear range. Featuring new and classic inspired models Daiwa’s new ripple jersey design features in the Daiwa hat range with curved and flat bill models in navy, moss and grey colour schemes. The classic DVEC curve bill range welcomes two new colours with black peak/black bill, and grey peak/navy bill designs, added to the Daiwa hat line-up. Anglers looking for more all-round protection are catered for with the new navy coloured Boonie styled bucket hat delivering you the 360-degree sun protection that’s so important in the harsh Australian outdoors. www.daiwafishing.com.au

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

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