NSW Fishing Monthly February 2018 by Fishing Monthly

TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE INSIDE • FLATHEAD FUN

Features • • • •

Dusky flathead secrets Trout lures and techniques guide Pumping yabbies for summer fun DIY Lure making: Pop‘n’Doc

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February 2018, Vol. 23 No. 7

Contents BYRON COAST The Tweed 30 Ballina 31 Yamba 32 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 34 Coffs Game 35 Nambucca 36 South West Rocks 37 MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 38 Forster 40 Harrington-Taree 43 HUNTER COAST Hunter Coast 80 Port Stephens 81 Swansea 82 Erina 83 SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 16 Sydney North 18 Pittwater 20 Sydney Harbour 22 Botany Bay 24 Sydney Rock and Beach 26 Sydney South 27 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 85 Nowra 86 BATEMANS COAST Batemans Bay 87 Narooma 88 Merimbula 89

From the Editor’s Desk... We love the February magazine for plenty of reasons, but a major one is that we get to include one of the two Tournament Angler Guides from ABT in the middle of this issue – 32 pages of tips, tackle and techniques that have been derived from the BREAM, BASS and BARRA Tour in 2017. Now we know that most of the fishing population aren’t tournament anglers and don’t ever want to be a tournament angler, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that there are techniques and tackle developed on tour that will help you enjoy your fishing even more. So if you keep an open mind, there’s a lot to be gained from those pages. An example is Stefan Sawynok’s piece merging sports science and fishing. Although targeted at tournament anglers who want

to improve their performance, who doesn’t want to catch more fish? DIGITAL MAGAZINES OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED Thank you to all of our new digital subscribers that have signed up through the platform on www.issuu.com. We are confident enough now to run the ad in the magazine to promote it (rather than just a couple of paragraphs in the Editor’s Desk). The three-magazinesfor-one-price has been really popular. You get your home state magazine plus the two others and they are launched

about an hour after we sent the title to the printers. That’s nearly two weeks earlier than they arrive in your mailbox. There has been little confusion about the digital subs; some readers thought that you got it for free with your paid, printed subscription. That’s not the case – for your $65 per year, you get either a print issue (from your state) OR a digital subscription (for three states). Got it? Good. If you have any teething problems, give us a buzz in the office and we can sort you out.

REDBUBBLE One of our 2018 resolutions was to solve the FM merchandise issue – y’all love it but we infrequently stock it. Problem fixed. We’ve partnered with Redbubble to offer a massive variety of clothing and other merchandise to satisfy your urge, or to fill the gift bag. The way Redbubble works is that you pick your item, pick your logo and they custommake and ship it to you. THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR And apart from all of that, we hope you enjoy the tail end of summer. It offers warm water and what many would argue is the best time of the year to catch fish and spend time on the water. There’s our popular Find-the competition inside and mountains of articles that relate to fishing in YOUR state. Get into it!

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SPECIAL FEATURES Unlocking dusky flathead secrets 8 Trout lures and techniques guide 12 Pumping yabbies for summer fun 44 DIY lure making: Pop‘n’Doc 106

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Flathead

Unlocking dusky flathead secrets SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

In my early years dusky flathead were the main fish species that I used to catch when fishing with my dad drifting the Georges and Port Hacking rivers. It was just a matter of rigging up a handline with a large sinker above a match stick on a handline and then putting on a strip of mullet onto a long-shank hook that was about a foot away from

baits. Sure, there are times when I catch them while fishing for other fish species like bream, whiting, trevally and mulloway, but I sure do like my lure fishing and so does my wife, as I come back home much cleaner. Dusky flathead are not all that hard to catch once you have worked out what type of habitat they live in, the types of baits they prefer and a few different techniques to use. DISTRIBUTION The biggest by far of the flathead family is the dusky flathead, also known as the

They have been reported to reach a maximum weight of 13kg and 1.2m in length, and are easily distinguished by the conspicuous black spot on the trailing edge of the upper lobe of their caudal fin. The longest that I have seen in the flesh was 95cm and was caught by Dave Fletcher on the Gold Coast on a Berkley 6” grub pinned on a 3/4oz, 5/0 TTs jighead. The flathead shape is unmistakable, with its flat head, long tapering body, spines on either side of its cheeks and also in the

Dave Tosland with his PB dusky flathead that was caught while fishing in a bream tournament. He was using 2kg Crystal Fireline and 2kg fluorocarbon leader. It took a liking to a Berkley 2” Gulp on a 1/12oz TT no. 4 jighead. the sinker. Either the cork or a Coke bottle was placed on the floor of the boat and when the dusky sucked in the bait and the bottle or cork started to bounce around everywhere, you would grab the 20lb line and start pulling away. How things have changed for me since those early days. Nowadays I mostly target dusky flathead with either soft plastics, blades or live

mud, estuary, dusky river and black flathead. Dusky flathead usually spawn during the warmer months of September to March in northern tropical waters, November to February in Moreton Bay, and January to March in NSW and Victoria. Eggs and larvae of the dusky flathead are dispersed along the coast by tidal and current movements.

front of the first dorsal fin, fawn to black on top and white underbelly. The tailfin features a characteristic dark spot in the top end corner and a patch of blue on the lower half. WHERE TO FIND FLATHEAD Duskies are usually found over mud, silt, gravel, along the edges of weed or rock walls while facing

into the current, and when the unsuspecting small fish, prawn or crab passes by, it will use its brilliant turn of speed in a short distance to grab hold of its prey. You will also find them laying in-wait along the edges of mangroves, breakwalls, retaining walls, drop-offs, the edges of rock bars, gravel patches, mussel and cockle beds, sand and mud flats, the edges of deep holes, on the edges of fast moving currents, in between and underneath oyster racks, at the bottom of marker buoys and poles, at the base of a bridge pylon and around the edges of floating pontoons. WHAT BAIT SHOULD YOU USE? In my experience, dusky flathead will nail just about any bait that is put near them. The trick is to determine which one they would prefer at the time. Over the years, I have caught them on what I would class as weird baits for flathead. Baits like the skin off a yellowtail or slimy mackerel, cunje, limpets, earthworms and freshwater yabbies have caught me flathead before. When it comes to targeting dusky flathead with bait, live baits win hands down over dead baits. Then comes fresh whole baits, followed by fresh strips of bait and lastly, old smelly bait. Some of the flathead I have caught over the years and have taken home for a feed have had everything from mullet, yellowtail, squid, whitebait, worms, yabbies, garfish, sweep, mados, trevally, crabs, oysters, mussels, cockles and one even had a small seahorse in it. I have found that the trick to catching duskies that are of a good edible size (40-55cm) is to have a live bait that is about 4-6cm in length. This is where poddy mullet are ideal. On the other hand, if you

Whether you are using dead or live baits, soft plastics or blades, a dusky flathead will take it down quite easily. can catch yellowtail that are around 7-8cm in length, they are deadly when it comes to catching larger duskies. In NSW, the term ‘poddy’ refers to the juvenile of a particular species, and a poddy mullet is a juvenile sea mullet. It can be very difficult to identify the various species of mullet, particularly when they are juveniles. As a result, anglers may take any species of mullet in NSW for use as live bait only. Provided they are less than 15cm and the total number does not exceed 20 per person, this is perfectly legal. At times, catching poddy mullet can be very frustrating, but so much fun, especially for the kids. You don’t even need a rod. A handline, a small no. 12-14 long shanked hook and some white bread will do the job. As for berley, you could use white bread, but this will also attract the seagulls. Because of this, I use bread crumbs for berley and small pieces of white bread. The only problem is that you can only catch one at a time, unless you try using a multi hook

bait rig. You could also catch yellowtail, whitebait and hardiheads this way. For a quicker way of getting numbers of poddy mullet you should try using a poddy trap. This can come in the form of an Alvey clear plastic cylinder, a plastic bottle with a hole cut in it or a clear glass bowl covered with fly wire. If you find that trying to catch your own live poddies or yellowtail is too much work, you could try using strips of mullet, tuna, bonito, slimy mackerel, pilchards, yellowtail, pike or garfish. How to rig them live There are three ways that I rig my poddy mullet or yellowtail. When you are drifting or fishing in fast current while at anchor, I will put the hook through the nose or bottom jaw to allow to water to flow through the fish’s gills, keeping it alive. Sometimes I have had a strike only to come back with part of the poddy. When this happens, I will usually use a two-hook rig and put a stinger on the top of the fish near the tail.

TUNA ALLEY

Named after the legendary 15-mile stretch of sand cutting through the deep blue Bahamian waters where the Bluefin tuna migrate north.

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Kingfish are a welcome by-catch when it comes to targeting dusky flathead.

Flathead If the area you are going to fish has a snaggy bottom or where there is weed, you can put the hook through the shoulder of the fish and suspend it under a float. The last way is to pin the hook through the tail wrist when you are casting the live bait into a snag, creek mouth or along the edge of a small drop-off. This allows the bait to swim off into the snag or to the edge of the drop-off to seek protection, but what it doesn’t realize is that there is usually a flathead lying in wait. How to rig whole dead baits What you need to remember is that dusky flathead will eat anything, and more importantly you also have to remember that if you are using a dead bait and it has a NSW Fisheries size limit, you must adhere to the rules. Whole tailor and whiting also make great dead baits. Just remember that tailor have to be at least 30cm and sand whiting are 27cm. You could try using red spot whiting, trumpeter, squid, silver biddies, garfish, cowanyoung and slimy mackerel as whole dead baits. Before I position the hooks into the dead bait that I am using, I will make sure that I break the vertebrae in the back bone, giving it much more flexibility when rigged.

If using a three-hook snooded rig, I will put the top one in its nose, the second just under the dorsal fin and the third just as the tail starts to thicken. This allows the bait to move about freely. Whole baits can also be rigged successfully on a set of ganged hooks. The main thing to remember is that you should match the size of the hook to the width of the bait. For example, if you are using a whitebait I usually use either two 1/0s or two 2/0s. For blue bait I will increase the number of hooks and not the size, opting for three 1/0s or three 2/0s. On the other hand, if I am using whole WA pilchards, I’ll use three to four hooks and the size could range from 3/0-5/0. For garfish I would increase the number of hooks to suit the length of the bait, remembering to break the vertebrae in the spine to make it more flexible. There are three main things you need to remember to check when using gangs in a whole bait: all of the hook points must protrude outside the body of the bait, the last hook point must be down near the back of the bait (whether it has been rigged head or tail first), and when rigged the bait must be straight. Whether it’s a garfish or whole pilchard you need to make sure that the number

The author with a 67cm dusky that was caught using the single jerk technique off the bottom with a soft plastic. of hooks and hook sizes suit the length of bait that you are using. The top hook of the double rig is placed near the top of the bait while allowing enough room to do a double hitch around the pointy end. The bottom hook is placed so that the hook point and barb are protruding out of the skin. One hook is usually enough when using a squid that has been sliced at the bottom to make it look like tentacles. When using smaller pieces of strip baits the hook needs to go through the top twice and then line half hitched around the pointy end. The hook is

placed so that the hook point and barb are protruding out of the skin towards the bottom of the bait. TARGETING DUSKY FLATHEAD WITH LURES What type of artificial that you decide to use when targeting dusky flathead is going to depend on what you would prefer to use. I like jigging, trolling and surface fishing with soft plastics, hardbodied lures and blades, in no particular order. Soft plastics When it comes to what jighead and soft plastic to use when targeting dusky flathead, it can be a bit

overwhelming when you are starting off. There are so many on the market nowadays, and some of them are great, while others are not so great. To keep it simple, they have to have a chemically sharpened point that will stand up to getting snagged a number of times, some kind of a keeper device just below the head of the jig to help hold the soft plastic on the shank of the hook, the wire diameter has to be strong enough so that it doesn’t straighten out, and the shape of the jighead needs to suit the type of soft plastic that you are using. When it comes to what technique to use when using

soft plastics, I am going to keep it simple and give you three that I use either from the shore or out of a boat. The next time you are out on the water, you should give them a go and if they work for you, maybe you will come up with some variations of your own. I find that whether I single jerk or double jerk the soft plastic off the bottom will depend on the depth of water that I am fishing in. Let’s say that you are fishing over a set of flats where the water is at a constant depth of around a metre. If you were to cast out as far as you could and use the double jerk method, the plastic would rocket off the bottom on the first jerk and after the second jerk it would be near the top of the water. So, does this really matter in only one metre of water. Height off the bottom? No. For distance the plastic travels horizontally through the water. Definitely! It could move well over 2m from its starting point, causing the plastic to move away from the waiting dusky flathead. Try jerking the plastic with one lift where the rod tip only goes to about 45° to the water’s surface and then allow it to sit for a few seconds before repeating the process. As you get closer to the boat or shore, you won’t be ripping the plastic out To page 10

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Trout Lure Feature

Trout offerings – lures and techniques for trout today. Blue Fox Vibrax lures are a similar style, but come in a vast range of colours and have a bell-shaped body that emits added vibration and sound. The other lure that has stood the test of time is the Rooster Tail. A little bit of feather added to the treble and a good colour range made it a must-have. There is a plethora of spinners now available and unsurprisingly all the above spinners are still readily available. Some others to look out for are the Juro Alpine and Sonic Spinners or the Gillies Feathertail. The downside to this style of lure is casting distance and although they still caught plenty of fish around the margins of the Snowy Mountain lakes, as an angler you always wonder if you would catch more fish if you could cast that little bit further.

FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Inspired by the ramblings of Rupe (Rupe is Fishing) on the styles of lures he uses to target Murray cod and Australian bass, I felt the urge to jump on the computer and do the same thing on one of Australia’s favourite introduced species – trout. On the 4th of May, 1864 saw the first successful hatching of brown trout eggs in Australia. This was the result of a huge endeavour to transport live ova from England. This successful hatching in the Plenty River in Tasmania became the primary stock of brown trout for Australia and New Zealand. It was 30 years later that rainbow trout were also introduced to Australian waters from North America via New Zealand.

JUNGY ’S TACKLE BOX SPINNERS The author’s tackle box is a blend of the old and the new. They range from 25 year old Rapalas to the latest Zerek Tango Shads and Bullet Lures. The surface lures are a recent addition.

Andy Queck showing off a nice brown trout caught on one of the latest colours in the Rapala CD range. Although an introduced species, there has been less heated debate on how much their introduction has affected the ecosystems of the waterways they inhabit. There is no doubt they have done so, but certainly not in the same manner as European carp and English perch have. In this humble angler’s opinion they have become an integral component of the recreational fishing scene in Australia, and

The author was surprised that Andy’s soft plastic of choice was a chartreuse Berkley Gulp Minnow, but you can’t argue with the results. 12

FEBRUARY 2018

as long as a balance can be found where our native species and trout can coexist the industry can preserve the economic value that has been created as well as celebrating what anglers have enjoyed since their introduction in 1864. As trout require cool water, their key strongholds are in the New England region of NSW, down through the high country of NSW and Victoria, around through into South Australia and southern Western Australia. Tasmania is recognised by many as the prime location to catch wild fish and has anglers from around the world visit its shores. Significant stocking efforts ensure many lakes in NSW and Victoria are fantastic fisheries and provide a huge economic benefit through the anglers that visit. Prime examples are Toolondo in Victoria and the Snowy Mountain lakes, like Eucumbene and Jindabyne. FISHING METHODOLOGY Lure styles and trends in Australia are often dictated by overseas markets. Lures that are designed for other species tend to be adapted to targeting our Australian fish. In the case of trout, this is very different. European and American markets also have dedicated trout fisheries and lures to suit. Major brands like Rapala and Rublex have been part of a trout angler’s arsenal for as long as I can remember and, while they can also be adapted to other species, they are lures designed to target and catch trout. There are some very switched-on Australian lure-makers (must be a freshwater thing) that have been around forever and produce highly effective lures for the trout market. Tasmanian Devils are the first to pop into my head from Wigstons Lures in Tasmania. Has any lure caught more trout than a Tassie Devil since the late 70s? There are many more as you read on. Many of my formative years casting lures for trout were spent walking the banks of the Murrumbidgee River between Canberra and Cooma as well as many of the smaller creeks that feed into it. It was a huge learning curve and very rewarding. There were no mobile phones back then, so not many images exist, but the memories are etched into my brain and my love for chasing trout will never be lost. I have to say it is a shame that these areas now hold little or no trout any more. Drought knocked out fish stocks and huge numbers of carp have taken over. NSW Fisheries’ stocking focus seems to be on the lakes and not boosting fisheries that inspired a generation or two of anglers. It is great to see that the native species are

• Rublex Celta • Blue Fox Vibrax • Rooster Tail • Sonar Spinner

still going strong, but the trout that swam with them are now few and far between.

SPINNERS My first recollection of fishing for trout with lures was with a Rublex Celta in the no. 1 and 2 sizes (5g and 7g) in the gold blade with red or green markings. These simple lures are basically a blade that rotates around a body with a treble at the rear. They, like all of this type of lure, were great for a young angler to use. They had enough weight to cast with little difficulty and the retrieve was simple – wind fast enough that the blade spins. The advantage of a spinner is that in a river fishing scenario it can be fished upstream, downstream, across current, shallow or deep; it doesn’t matter. As long as you get the blade turning it will catch a fish. The flash of the blades seemed to mesmerize the fish and certainly hooked this angler on lure fishing. It didn’t take long for other similar lures to find their way into my tackle box and are still, like the Celtas, catching fish

SPOONS AND SLUGS To have the ability to cast further added a new dynamic to lures for trout and spawned from this was a lure called a Baltic minnow. Made in Australia it was a lure with plenty of weight and minimal action. People fishing the mountain lakes couldn’t get enough of them. They could now cast three times as far as they ever had, get to the bottom quickly and wind in quickly to maximise any action in the lure. The strikes when they came were vicious, which made using them lots of fun. However they were limited to lake use and other options that had the castability, but also had potential in the streams as well. Enter spoons. They come in all shapes, sizes and weights, with the added dynamic of a wobbling/fluttering action. Lake anglers flocked towards lures like the Pegron Minnow and the Wonder Wobbler while river anglers were drawn towards lures like the Wonder spoon or IMP Spoon as I know it. The action of the lures also made them favourites with anglers who trolled for trout, as it removed the need to have attracting devices in front of their lures. There are plenty of options when it comes to what is available through your local tackle store. One that has come to my attention is the Kroc Lure from Australian

Since the early 70s there probably hasn’t been a lure brand that has caught more trout than a Wigstons Tasmanian Devil. Here it is rigged with a Mustad Inline single hook in clown colour.

Trout Lure Feature producer Wonder Lures. There wouldn’t be too many Victorian trout anglers that don’t have one of these in their tackle box. JUNGY’S TACKLE BOX SPOONS • Pegron Minnow • Wonder Kroc Lure

WINGED LURES One of the biggest contributions Australian lure-makers have made to trout fishing has been winged lures. They are a great combination of a slug and a spoon and the three brands I am aware of would have accounted for millions of fish captures. Those three brands are Tillins Cobra, Wigstons Tasmanian Devil and the Johnson Kobra. All are variations on a theme and all are fish-catching machines in their own right. They have great castability, a wicked sideto-side action and are very affordable for every angler. Tassie Devils are most probably the most recognizable these days with significant wall space designated to them in most tackle stores. Their colour range is massive and the addition of coloured wings in recent years has been very popular. To improve the hook-up rate, remove the wire insert and treble and put your leader

straight through to a treble of your choice. Put a coloured bead between the lure body and the treble/inline single hook to avoid knot damage. If you are trolling for trout, these are a must-have lure. JUNGY’S TACKLE BOX WINGED LURES • Wigstons Tasmanian Devil in colours, clown, tinkerbell, yellow wings, Willy’s special, fire tiger

DIVING MINNOWS Diving minnows changed the way I fished for trout. My initial foray into diving minnows was using Rebel Crawfish

and Crickhopper lures in my local streams. It was my version of matching the hatch. I had enough success to head to my local tackle store (Anglers Art in Phillip ACT) in search of more options. What caught my eye were the Rapala CD3 and CD5 ranges as well as the floating versions. There were lifelike rainbow and brown trout colours as well as a perch colour that tickled my fancy, but the odd one out was the fire tiger colour. ‘No way a trout would eat that’ was my initial thought, but I had to have one anyway. Luckily I did, because it smashed them. These became my go-to lure – the floating version for the streams and the sinking version in the lakes. This was the beginning of the influx of a myriad of lures to fill a similar purpose. Baby Merlin Lures and McGrath Attack minnows were a couple of the Aussie options and now there are so many lures that can be adapted to trout techniques that you are spoilt for choice. While many

You don’t need to use big lures to catch big fish. This browny smashed a 3cm Bullet Minnow.

Rapala continues to be innovative with their lures and their new X-Rap Countdown series lures definitely have a place in every trout angler’s tackle box. tend to lean towards Japanese-made lures, which is not hard to understand as their quality is outstanding, but I must say I still lean towards the latest Rapala offerings (X-Rap CountDown and BX Minnows) if I am going to spend that sort or money. The other standouts new offerings are the Bullet Minnow and Five-O Minnow from Bullet Lures and the Tango Shad from Zerek, if you want something that dives a little deeper. Both brands have sinking and floating versions, which is important depending on the waterway you are fishing. One tip that I will give you is it is vital to have natural colours in your collection To page 14

FEBRUARY 2018

Finding your perfect estuary boating rig NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

The bulk of Australia’s army of trailer boat anglers concentrate their efforts on estuaries, tidal rivers, bays and harbours. Many also visit freshwater lakes and

artificial impoundments. As a result, one of the most popular classes of trailer-able fishing boat sold in this country is the ubiquitous ‘semi-flat water’ or estuary rig. Typically, this is a hull from 3.7 to about 5.2m in length, powered by a 15-70hp outboard, although

in recent years there has been a noticeable shift to more powerful donks on these rigs; it’s no longer rare to see pocket rockets loosely based on the American bass boat, flats boat and bay boat concepts, often sporting power plants with ratings from 70 to as much as 150hp or even more.

Starlo and Jo nowadays run a Beastmaster Snubby 500 for their estuary, freshwater and inshore boat fishing.

A bow-mounted electric motor is virtually essential for truly effective lure and fly casting.

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Personally, my idea of the perfect estuary/ freshwater rig is an open boat with a centre or side console, although there is also much to be said for tiller steer setups, especially at the smaller end of the size range under discussion here. Tiller steering opens up a lot of additional space in a boat and that’s important. The hull of my dream estuary rig will have a modest V up front, transitioning to a flat underside amidships. It should draw no more than 20-30cm of water and be stable at rest, even with two or three adult anglers moving about as they stand and cast. Naturally, the tradeoffs in such a hull design are diminished sea-handling capabilities. I accept that my dream rig may bang a bit in a decent chop (especially

if built from alloy) and be rather wet in a quartering sea. Without question, my dream rig will be fitted with a bow-mounted electric motor, ideally one that boasts a wireless remote control and has GPS-actuated spot lock or anchor capabilities. There will be a powerful sounder/GPS combo unit on the console or back by the tiller steer position, and likely a smaller unit up in the bow where it’s easily visible while casting. Both units will have colour screens and the latest in StructureScan or CHIRP capabilities for enhanced sonar imaging. As a dedicated lure and flyfisher, I place great store in having a generous casting deck located in the bow of my estuary/freshwater boat. Ideally, this flat deck will be set as high above the water as practical taking into consideration stability and safety issues. Every extra centimetre of elevation adds to the effectiveness of such a deck, increasing an angler’s ability to see into the water, not to mention their casting range. Having a smaller, functional casting deck in the stern is also handy, both for

a second or third angler and also on those occasions when it works best to fish over the transom (such as when using your bow-mounted electric motor’s anchor or spot lock function to hold position against current or wind).

You don’t need to spend a fortune to put together a really effective and versatile little flat water rig. If it’s possible to walk from the front to the rear casting decks while fighting a fish without having to step back down into the cockpit – even if only along one side of the vessel – so much the better. This may be achieved

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via a generous, top-opening rod locker set at the same height as the casting decks, or even extra-wide coamings unencumbered by rails, radio aerial mounts or nav light fixtures. Things my dream boat

Imported bass, flats and bay boats are gaining popularity in Australia.

won’t have are a permanent canopy or bimini top. These can be great for escaping the weather, but in any boat under 5.5m in length, they’re also guaranteed to adversely impact your casting, inhibit your vision and reduce the vessel’s ability to navigate in tight country. If you insist on having a canopy of some sort, make sure it’s easily removable, or able to be stowed without impacting the vessel’s fish-ability. Abundant under-deck storage is highly desirable, as is an enclosed or partly enclosed rod locker capable of holding half a dozen spare rod-and-reel outfits up to at least 2.2m in length. If it can swallow a fully rigged 9ft (2.8m) fly rod, so much the better. Hopefully this quick overview of my personal priorities when choosing an estuary or freshwater rig may help when you’re next shopping for one.

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI VIBELICIOUS 1 UV SQUID

DTD WHITE KILLER OITA

Samaki Vibelicious brings a new colour to the lure market: UV Squid. This new pattern is all about the detail. It has long tentacles extending over the tail, and a soft spot and stripe details add the pearl underbody plus a very lifelike green eye. This colour has proven itself time and time again in field testing around Australia, accounting for barra, mulloway, bream and flathead to name a few. The fish-attracting features of the Vibelicious Fork Tail and Thumper Tail are further enhanced by the ultra-violet properties of the new UV Squid colour. The Vibelicious Fork Tail and Thumper Tail come in three sizes: 70mm, 100mm and 125mm. The 100mm and 125mm models have now been upgraded with new BKK Raptor Z Hooks and new Decoy EX Strong split rings. New quality hardware like this assists longevity and promotes better hookups, as the hook penetration is on point. As always our Vibelicious contains premium Japanese Stainless wire and is made of the toughest 10X super stretch material. www.samaki.com.au

The White Killer Oita is the latest innovative European squid jig to hit the Australian market. Manufactured by leading Croatian company DTD, this baby is taking the world by storm. Unlike any other product in the market, the defining difference is the White Killer cannot help but be noticed by any lurking predators. Made with all the durability and quality you’d expect from DTD, it is bright, attractive, and features three unique ‘glow’ points. The body of the jig omits a green glow in night conditions, and the coloured ‘spine’ is UV enhanced and ensures high visibility during daytime conditions. And as if that wasn’t enough, the side of the lure features a blue glow point to once again enhance visibility. These glow qualities, coupled with DTD’s use of only the highest grade materials available, ensure great balance and results in superior catching ability. The White Killer Oita is available now in three sizes (2.5, 3.0, and 3.5). Price: SRP $17.95 www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

WILSON LARGE LURE WRAP

SAMURAI OSPREY BOAT RODS

The arrival of the Wilson Large Lure Wrap has allowed lovers of big lures to keep themselves, their lures and their rods safe from the rigours of travel on the water and during transport. The damage that can be caused to a rod blank, the bindings and the guides can be quite significant if you travel any distance in a boat with lures rigged (as almost all of us do). The Wilson Large Lure Wrap stops this damage by protecting the rod blank from a wildly swinging and swaying lure. Measuring 26cm x 28cm, the Large Lure Wrap securely encloses both the lure and the rod, stopping the lure from banging around while you are underway. Additionally, the wrap reduces the risk of anglers catching themselves on the hooks, and allows for better storage of rigged rods, whether in rod lockers or in rod stands. The Large Lure Wrap comes in a single pack and measures 26cm x 28cm. It is simple, effective and one of those products that you can’t believe you didn’t think of yourself. www.wilsonfishing.com

OBSESSION GUMMY 3 BAITS Large spinnerbaits to target big Murray cod are a must-have for serious native fish anglers. Australian-made Obsession Spinnerbaits have plenty of options in their Gummy Bait range to meet the needs of these anglers. Available in 3/4oz, 1oz and 1 1/8oz and four blade configurations (single, double, quad and six blades on request), Gummy Baits are designed to tickle the fancy of Australia’s largest freshwater fish. There is a huge range of head colours, which are matched with Obsession’s hot tip and turbo-flared skirts and finished off with a curl-tail grub and stinger hook to match the head. If you love casting or trolling large spinnerbaits, Obsession Gummy baits are for you. To find out more about Obsession Spinnerbaits you can contact Ray on 0428 462 397, or to find your nearest stockist go to the Obsession Spinnerbaits website. www.obsessionspinnerbaits.com 102

FEBRUARY 2018

Samurai has released a new series of all-rounder boat rods with user-friendly actions and a wide weight range, perfect for any offshore boat style fishing. These very versatile rods can be used for bait fishing, lures, trolling, casting or for the keen jigger. Each rod is fitted with the finest rod components by Fuji — anti-tangle K Frame guides with alconite rings and Fuji reel seats. The grips are custom shaped and the rods are pimped out with aluminium decorative parts for some essential bling. A premium rubber gimbal cap is dual purpose: fit it into your rod holder or hold it freestyle. There’s no need for those annoying caps anymore that everyone loses! There are six models, all 6’0”: OS-25 (1525lb, spin), OS-40 (20-40lb, spin), S-60 (3060lb, spin), OS-H25 (15-25lb, overhead), OSOH40 (20-40lb overhead), OS-OH60 (30-60lb overhead). www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

EGI OH Q LIVE COLOURS

PRODUCT GUIDE

The Yamashita Egi Oh Q Live series has eight new high-contrast colours added to its range. These incorporate UV and glow paint to create a unique contrast to the cloth and undertape. Like all Live jigs, they are fitted with the ‘warm jacket’ cloth which converts light into heat. This capacity to hold a level of heat similar to natural fish makes the Lives more successful in attracting squid interest, helping you to catch squid even when conditions are tough. These jigs also have a patented thin nose design, which minimises water resistance when hopped to give the jig more action for less effort. Other features include large, flat eyes with a glow edge, super fine spikes, Hyper Direct SUS eyelet to maintain jig strength and protect against breakage or leaks, a knife-edged sinker to reduce resistance in the water, and a strike body to make it easy to retrieve the jig. It also has a much longer casting distance than many other jigs, and comes in 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5 sizes. www.ejtodd.com.au

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING STORM GOMOKU SURF RODS

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No one knows what crustacean or insect ZMan’s new creature bait is meant to imitate, but the TRD HogZ has already accounted for a stack of species in both the fresh and salt. Plenty of moving parts, in the form of large antennae and fine legs, create vibration and water movement, while the natural buoyancy of the 10X Tough ElaZtech material encourages an ‘antennae up’, life-like pose when at rest on the bottom. This buoyancy, combined with TT Lures’ new NedlockZ jighead, creates a deadly stand-up presentation that reduces snagging and puts those antennae right in the face of the fish, triggering strikes. A ribbed body adds to the realistic feel and creates additional water movement, while also being perfect for holding scent. A solid core allows the TRD HogZ to be trimmed shorter for a more finesse presentation. Available in six natural colours, the TRD HogZ is a go-to for anglers chasing bream, bass, trout, redfin, flathead and more. Price: SRP $10.95 (6 pack) www.z-man.com.au

CODGER TOPWATER

ET’S FISHING ADVENTURES

LUMO SNAPPER SNATCHER

The world renowned Storm Gomoku micro and light jigging rods are the ultimate weapon for all manner of vertical fishing in both salt and fresh water – and they are now available for surf and rock fishers as well. Light and powerful, the new Gomoku surf rods have soft tips for casting distance and accuracy but plenty of power in the lower end to be able to stop even the biggest mulloway or Australian salmon. They feature hi-modulus graphite blanks, colour-coded shrink wrap grips, Fuji KR Stripper Guides, Fuji O Guides and Fuji Reel seats. Gomoku surf rods are available in three lengths of 9ft 2-piece medium heavy, 12’ 2-piece medium, and 13’ 3-piece heavy. Line breaking strains range from 8kg up to 15kg on the heaviest model, and lure casting weights start at 30g all the way through to 150g. They are available now at all leading tackle retailers. www.stormfishing.com.au

Graham Saunders, the man behind Goulburn Lures, has expanded his Codger range into the topwater market with his Codger Topwater. Easy to use, these super strong lures have a super loud clacking and splashing action that will tempt even the most fussy Murray cod. Available in nine colours, they come equipped with double rear split rings and are fitted with VMC 3X tough trebles for an increased hook-up rate. The Codger Topwater has a medium sized profile that can be cast using your standard cod fishing tackle. No need for specialised rods and reels – just put a Codger Topwater on and you can experience the cod surface fishing that everybody is talking about. Or if you just love catching Australian native fish using surface lures, then here is another quality offering from an Australian lure maker that is a must-have for your tackle box. Price: SRP $25 goulburn.lures@bigpond.com

ZMAN 3” TRD HOGZ

Black Magic Snapper Snatcher flasher rigs have landed some serious fish over the years, and it’s not by luck. Australian anglers continue to swear by their quality, and constantly send Black Magic great fish photos and feedback. Now the range has been further improved with the exciting new super lumo colour. This new rig is tied with the popular KL recurve hooks and Tough Trace, but what makes it stand out is the ‘flash’ colour, Super Lumo. The rigs tied with this material out-performed many other products during field testing, and this is due to their high luminosity and UV content. And you can also ‘super charge’ them with a Black Magic UV Torch. Snapper Snatcher super lumo rigs are available in sizes 5/0, 6/0 and 8/0. For more information visit the Black Magic website, or look them up on Facebook for all the latest catch photos, news and competitions. www.blackmagictackle.com

ET’s Ultimate Fishing Adventures features Andrew Ettingshausen’s favourite fishing destinations with hundreds of his wonderful images, essential tips and background stories of adventure. This is the ideal book for any casual or novice angler who dreams of landing the perfect catch. While reading its photo-filled pages you will explore some of the most beautiful fishing destinations across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Isles with ‘ET’ as your guide. ET’s extensive fishing experience makes him a knowledgeable and well-rounded author. While filming Escape with ET and Seafood Escape, he has travelled all around Australia, trekking inland to its rivers and gorges and fishing the deep blue oceans offshore to find the best fishing destinations. His adventures have also taken him to New Zealand, the Pacific Isles and countless islands and territories around our continent. ET’s Ultimate Fishing Adventures, published by New Holland Publishers, is available from all good bookstores or from the New Holland website. Price: SRP $49.99 www.newhollandpublishers.com

HURRICANE FAT 37 12 SHALLOW CRANK Hurricane Lures is continuing to expand its range of tournament-tested quality lures, which are not only suitable for the tournament angler but the everyday angler as well. The new Fat 37 Shallow Crank is a shallow-running lure with a fast, wide action, designed to draw attention from predators in a large area. It is ideal to use over weed beds, rock banks, sand flats and any other fishy looking structure. Suspending in freshwater and slow sinking in saltwater, it runs at a depth of just under a metre. Weighing 4.4g it has great castability, allowing you to cover large areas of water. It also comes in a huge range of colours suitable for any situation. To check out the Fat 37 and the rest of the lures in the range, go to the Hurricane website or look for them in your local tackle store. You can also find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HurricaneAustralia and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/ HurricaneLures. www.hurricanelures.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au FEBRUARY 2018

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING BERKLEY POWERBAIT POWERPOP FROG 13 A favourite meal of just about any freshwater fish is the frog.The new Berkley Power Pop Frog is a unique soft popper with inbuilt PowerBait scent and flavour. The Power Pop is equipped with a cup face popper at the front end and a mass of trailing legs at the backend combining to give it an action that fish can’t ignore. The Power Pop Frog comes with a weedless worm hook ready to fish, inbuilt glass rattle and 3D eyes. At 70mm long, plus training legs, the Power Pop Frog is a tasty meal for a variety of freshwater fish that love a surface presentation such as bass, cod, barra and saratoga. It’s available in eight colour variations so you can match the hatch to perfection. The Power Pop benefits from Berkley’s legendary PowerBait scent infused into every bait. Berkley PowerBait makes novice anglers good, and good anglers great. Berkley scientists have spent over 25 years perfecting an irresistible scent and flavour – the exclusive PowerBait formula. Fish love PowerBait so much they hold on 18 times longer, giving you the time and confidence to feel more bites, set more hooks and catch more fish! Price: SRP $8.99 Berkley-fishing.com.au

2-PIECE ATOMIC ARROWZ

Atomic Arrowz rods launched in early 2017, and brought together advanced designs and the finest Fuji components assembled on a full-graphite blank. Designed originally as series of 1-piece rods, they are now available in 2-piece models featuring the same high quality components. The focus has been on the Estuary, Offshore and Bream models, and ensuring no flat spots through the join to maintain sensitivity. The 2-piece Estuary Series has four models, starting from the finesse 70SUL (2–6lb) up to the 70ML (6-14lb). The 2-piece Offshore Series delivers superior control across four 7’ spin rods. They feature ultra-refined fore and rear neoprene grips and have an excellent balance. The 2-piece models again have seamless transition. For the Bream fans there are now 2-piece versions of the Bream Surface 70BS and the Bream Crank 70BC, making transportation and storage easier and safer. All Atomic Arrowz rods are balanced perfectly to deliver the ultimate feel and bite response, and are lightweight without sacrificing strength. Price: from SRP $189 www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

NEW COLOURS BULLET LURES

Bullet Lures have become a favourite for many trout anglers in the form of the Bullet Minnow and the Five-O Minnow. These lures’ popularity has reached the point where users are now demanding more colour options, and Bullet Lures has done so with two new colours: pearl widow and black widow. These very distinctive patterns are highlighted with UV-enhanced dots on the side of the lures, adding even more attraction to the lure. The new colours will be available in the sinking 3cm Bullet Minnow and all three styles of the Five-O Minnow (floating, suspending/ slow sink and sinking). If you are already a fan of Bullet Lures you will want these, and if you haven’t tried Bullets you should get into your local tackle store and check them out. You 104

FEBRUARY 2018

can also browse the range on the Bullet Lures website. www.bulletlures.com

NEW MONO FROM SHIMANO

PRODUCT GUIDE 13

Shimano has released three new mono lines: Exage+, Tiagra Hyper, and Tiagra Leader. Exage+ is a fine diameter Japanese manufactured monofilament with excellent clarity and super sensitivity. It has a soft feel with low memory so it lays neatly onto the spool. It’s ideal for floater fishing for snapper or even surf fishing for species such as salmon. The new Tiagra Hyper gamefishing line uses premium class Japanese IGFA-rated nylon monofilament that combines high abrasion resistance with optimal stretch. It’s available in invisible clear blue and high-vis fluorescent yellow in 15kg, 24kg and 37kg breaking strains in 1000m spools (15kg and 24kg breaking strains are also available in bulk). Manufactured in Japan, the new Tiagra Premium Nylon Mono Leader is significantly tougher in abrasion resistance than standard nylon, and offers the very best in knot and crimp strength. Available in 20-150lb, the leader is suited to making rigs for snapper right through to trolling leaders for marlin. www.shimanofish.com.au

NEW FLUTTER JIG COLOURS

Black Magic’s Flutter Jigs are designed to create a fluttering effect when dropping and retrieving, and are built with highquality components to ensure anglers are getting the most bang for their buck. Now Black Magic has introduced two new colours to the range that are sure to turn on the predatory instincts of many species. The new colours are silver with orange and lumo stripes, and blue with lumo stripes. Flutter jigs come in four sizes, 40g, 60g, 80g and 100g. The 60g, 80g and 100g sizes are supplied rigged with a high strength assist hook rigged on Kevlar thread. The 40g model has a lighter gauge hook more suited to the size of the jig, and it also uses Kevlar thread. Flutter jigs are available from Black Magic stockists nationwide. For more information visit the Black Magic website or like them on Facebook. www.blackmagictackle.com

TICA TACTICA GCA REEL

The new Tactica Baitcasting reel certainly fits the bill for the angler looking for a small baitcaster for species like bass, estuary perch, trout, redfin and for trolling. The Tactica baitcaster is packed with excellent features including a one-piece, high-strength aluminium body with a V-shaped, forged machine-cut aluminium spool. It also features a magnetic cast control system, precision-cut brass main gear, quick remove sideplate, soft EVA handles and eight ball bearings, featuring two RRB rust-resistant bearings and six stainless steel ball bearings. This new reel offers a 6.3:1 high speed retrieve that retrieves 71cm of line per handle turn, and holds 150m of 20lb braid. It’s a great choice for the beginner right through to the more experienced angler. For more information visit the Juro website. www.jurofishing.com

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

The revamped Costa range - bigger, better and more affordable US-based sunglass and apparel brand Costa Del Mar have been in the premium eyewear game since 1983, and have been available here in Australia for many years. They have gone through a lot of very important and sometimes industry-defining changes in that time. The range is now bigger, the quality is better, the price tag has been lowered and they’re now available from one of this country’s largest and best known fishing wholesalers: Rapala VMC Australia. This move to Rapala brought with it renewed focus, larger distribution networks and a better connection to anglers, and a whole new range was unveiled at the 2017 AFTA Tackle Trade Show on the Gold Coast. What a perfect place to launch new sunglasses! Not only was it warm and sunny, a lot of the patrons were left needing shades all day and even inside, thanks to overindulgent nocturnal activities. Costa have always been known for lens quality, but in years gone by their range of On the saltwater flats or in the middle of the rainforest picking off carp on fly, if frames wasn’t as diverse as it could be. With the increasing need of people wanting you’re hoping to sight fish, you’d better take a high quality pair of polarized glasses. My second pair, the Half Moon, has a slightly smaller frame and lens, and is just as comfortable and easy to wear all day. For this pair I went for the blue mirror 580 glass lenses, to try something different.

TESTED

an alarming rate of 190 sharks a minute. Mostly for soup! Anything that helps to restore balance and strength to the oceanic ecosystem has my vote every day of the week. This program, as well as others that are helping coastal villages recover from devastating hurricanes or floods, is just a small example of the charity work Costa is doing at the grass roots level. But back to the glasses themselves, since that’s what we’re here for, the bulk of my on-water time is spent in small, clear-ish rivers and creeks. I sight cast to most of my fish, and for the rest I rely on spotting a split boulder or submerged laydown where the target species is likely to be. Having the right eyewear in these types of situations can be the difference between a session I’ll be exaggerating about to my grandkids one day, and a dreaded doughnut. I’ve found the Costas to cut through the glare very well in all manner of lighting, enabling me to target fish quite easily. In days gone by a 580 glass lens pair of Costas would set you back as much as $500, but right now you can pick up a set for around the $350 mark from your local stockist – and it’s cheaper again for poly lenses. This is a big win for all anglers as we have another $150 to spend on lures we certainly don’t need! The next time you’re

I found the Costa Rincon frames to be comfortable enough to wear all day, and they cut through the glare in all light situations. to wear the same glasses on the water as they do driving around town or at the pub, a freshen up was needed. Costas new range certainly offers this versatility. Gone are the days where we can get away with a pair of $14.95 servo sunnies – we need to protect our eyes and not be shunned by the fairer sex in doing so.

You can even wear the Costas in combination with a 90s-era flap hat to spot pies at the shops on the way to the water.

Most of the old Costa classics remain, but there have been some really cool new styles released that have already been a hit with anglers, myself included. I’ve worn most of the major sunglass brands over the last 10 years or so, with varying levels of success. Each brand has its strengths. Some have great lenses but the frames are bulky, rigid and heavy; some have lightweight frames but are not as good on the lens front. I’m pleased to say that the Costa Rincon and Half Moon sunglasses I’ve been wearing for the last 6-7 months are the best combination of vision, comfort and style I’ve ever owned. The bride even likes the look of these ones, which hasn’t always been the case with my fishing sunnies. She actually liked them so much we had to go and buy another pair of Costas for her in the Remora model. The Rincon are a slightly larger frame, which suits my large noggin. I’ve been able to wear them for hours and hours without the discomfort I’ve felt from a couple of other brands over the years. Clarity of vision and the lightweight frames are the standout features for me. I went for the green mirror 580 polarized glass lens, which was described to me as being the best allrounder for the mix of fresh and saltwater fishing I do. They have not disappointed in either field.

Mr Sun was certainly doing his job this day, but spotting this feisty pest wasn’t a problem with the help of the 580 lenses. Again, I have worn them in both fresh and in your local tackle store, ask about Costa saltwater situations and they have always eyewear and give them a go for yourself. You can thank me later. - Rupe performed very well. Both pairs are flexible enough that they don’t push into the side of my head too hard, but at the same time they hold firmly enough to not slide down my nose when I look down or bend over to pick up a fish. While Costa do offer both polycarbonate and glass lenses, once I tried the demo pair of 580 glass on and walked out into the sun for a test drive, I had to go that way. Weight has traditionally been the downfall of glass, but in these new styles the difference was undetectable. Something else that drew my attention to the Costa brand was how much it’s putting back into our sport and the people who enjoy it or even rely on it. Costa has long been associated with the OCEARCH Another sight cast victim - I took the program, whose goal is to save the world’s sharks from mass slaughter. Every pair of glasses off for the obligatory solo bass fishing selfie, but I wouldn’t have had OCEARCH-branded Costa models helps fund on-water research and put science the opportunity without seeing the fish first in fast-flowing water. on the side of sharks, which are killed at

FEBRUARY 2018

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Stessl 580 Seahawk with Yamaha F130hp - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

Main: Stessl Seahawk’s Platerix hull is designed to withstand all of the punishment that fishing offshore can deliver. It’s a big, beamy and solidly built boat that delivers over 2km/L at 4250rpm. Above: With 200L of fuel under the floor, the Seahawk has a serious range – over 400km! 6mm stringers and then full height, transverse bulkhead frames.” In summary, it means that they are over-

Length.........................................................5.8m Beam...........................................................2.5m Depth........................................................1.45m Hull weight............................................... 840kg Bottom........................................................4mm Sides...........................................................4mm Capacity.......................................... six persons Max hp.......................................................... 150 Shaft.............................................................. 25”

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aluminium in the Platerix hull, combined with the foam filling makes this a quiet ride. Yamaha’s superlative F130 isn’t the maximum horsepower allowed on the hull, but it lifts the hull onto the plane with ease and at 4250rpm delivers 2.2km/L

PERFORMANCE

SPECIFICATIONS

from other plate boats on the market,” Scott explained, “We run a 100x10mm keel down the centre, which is fundamentally the backbone of the boat. Followed by that we have

DE FOR EX

Stessl boats has moved back home. With Scott James (from Horizon Boats) the new owner, Stessl is once more owned and built in South East Queensland. With decades of history for the brand in the books, it’s not surprising that Scott’s dad, the legendary Bob James, was once the foreman at the factory in one of its Queensland iterations. And Scott is excited about the acquisition. One of the first things I asked him, though, was about what ‘Platerix’ was. “Platerix describes the way that we build our plate boats, which is different

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bilge and batteries through a pair of watertight hatches. Without a transom door, boarding happens up the ladder and over the transom via the duckboard. On the water, the hull runs quietly. Sometimes this isn’t the case with plate boats, but the amount of

Steve Morgan

CON

AN THE

FMG

engineered and designed not to break. Ever. The boat we tested on the Tweed River and bar was a customer’s boat that has been fitted out as a serious offshore fishing

boat. Although this craft boasts 1.8m bunks in the cabin and a bait station that converts to a ski pole in a matter of seconds, it’s unashamedly a ‘dad’s’ fishing boat. With an impressive 2.5m beam, there’s a huge cockpit to comfortably fish three or four anglers at a time. Coupled with the factory installed vinyl flooring and deck wash, the clean-up options are easy. The overhead rocket launchers fitted into the canopy swallow up any rods not immediately in use and the port side live well keeps your live baits in A1 condition. There’s also an underfloor kill box under the cockpit floor. The transom design is neat, with access to the

RPM........................ km/h...................... km/L Idle................................ 4.............................5 1000............................... 8.............................4 2000............................. 13.......................... 2.5 3000............................. 23.......................... 1.9 4000............................. 37.......................... 1.9 5000............................. 48.......................... 1.4 6000............................. 59.......................... 1.2

The 2.5m of beam make this a very stable boat.

of unleaded burned. At 6000rpm the package scoots along at 59km/h, but burns fuel much less economically. It’s the same for most outboard powered boats – ease up on the throttle and your day on the water gets much cheaper. The real talking point for the Seahawk, though, is the price. Eyebrows were raised when the package on a twin axle trailer landed at under $60,000 – well under $60K at $56,990. If you want more information, watch the test video on the FishingMonthly YouTube channel (by scanning the QR code hereby on your smartphone), or go to www.stessl.com.au and you can also like Stessl Boats on Facebook.

Now that’s a lot of cockpit space – the test boat has custom synthetic floors fitted to keep it softer and quieter underfoot as well as easy to clean up.

Relaxn helm seats are lifted with a large storage box. The helm is comfortable on the test boat.

Yamaha’s F130 is destined to become a classic. Delivering quiet, economy and reliability, it pushed the test boat to just under 60km/h at 6000rpm. The best economy was at 4250rpm, where fuel use for distance was nearly halved.

Excess fishing rods can be stored in the rocket launchers, which are incorporated into the canopy.

We love flush-mounted electronics at Fishing Monthly. It means that the design is modern enough to incorporate the common units used for fit-up at the time.

Top: Side pockets are standard in a boat of this configuration. The Seahawk’s gunwales are high enough to be comfortable fishing offshore. Left: The footrest lets you lock yourself in when things get a little rough. Right: There’s a deck wash to keep everything civil in the cockpit.

Top Left: A port side live bait tank is plumbed to keep your livies in top condition before you send them to their doom. Top Right: The optional bait board fits five rods, two cans and a block of IQF pills. What more could an owner want? The board also detaches and leaves a ski pole for the family days. Left: True to its bulletproof heritage, the cabin isn’t the most luxurious we’ve ever seen, but it does the job of keeping significant others out of the sun and weather. It’s 1.8m long, which will allow most adults to stretch out and get some sleep. Right: We had plenty of fun testing the Stessl Seahawk in the Tweed River and bar! FEBRUARY 2018

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Quintrex 590 Frontier with Evinrude 150hp - SC

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Main: A year ago, the only part of this package that existed was the Lowrance sounder. The new Apex hull Frontier combined with an Evinrude G2 E-Tec 150 HO outboard is exactly what your Quintrex dealer would serve up if you asked for an all-round boat with the lot. Above: Boasting the pickle fork bow design and a totally redesigned hull, the 590 Frontier rode brilliantly in a Broadwater that featured solid wind versus solid tide. Quintrex’s Nathan Shaw explained the advantages of the Apex. “The Apex hull has been developed over a two-year period. It’s super soft, there’s much more room inside, there’s more freeboard and it corners beautifully,” Nathan said as we dropped the test boat into the Gold Coast Broadwater.

PERFORMANCE RPM......Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) Idle..............................4............................. 5 1000............................8.......................... 3.7 2000..........................12.......................... 1.7 3000..........................32.......................... 2.4 4000..........................47.......................... 2.2 5000..........................60.......................... 1.8 6000..........................72.......................... 1.5 6200..........................74.......................... 1.5 122

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The Frontier is designed with the same ‘pickle fork’ bow that was initially released with their F-Series Hornets, however it’s below the waterline where the new design really makes a difference. Quintrex is now able to form the aluminium for the entire length of the hull sheets and the difference in ride is noticeable over its predecessor, the Blade hull. For me, the true test was while we were filming running shots for the video review (that you can watch by scanning the QR code on the top of this page with your smartphone). Rarely can I shoot running shots boat-to-boat. We usually have to stop one

craft and run the other boat past at speed to capture the movement smoothly. Even on a windy bay on the Broadwater, the Frontier

DE FOR EX

Quintrex boats have a long history of innovative design and huge sales. Originally, their stretchformed hulls and the shapes that they could make in sheet aluminium gave a look and ride that couldn’t be equalled in an aluminium boat. Over the years, Quintrex tinnies have evolved. From the original flared bow to the Hornet, to the curvier Millennium hulls, all represented steps forward in ride, looks and durability. Enter the Apex hull in 2017. It mightn’t look it, but the Frontier (with the new Apex Hull) is the new Top Ender – one of the most popular Quintrex models. The test model was a 590 fitted with the ballsy 150hp G2 Evinrude E-Tec and represented a full boat-motortrailer package delivered from the Queensland factory. You see, as well as making the hull and trailer in-house, Quintrex’s parent company – Telwater – is the Australian distributor for Evinrude outboards.

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

CON

AN THE

provided a stable, on-plane platform to shoot boat-to-boat while we were running. It was impressive. Like its predecessor, the Frontier will be expected to perform everywhere from freshwater lakes to the open ocean and at first glance,

FMG

work well, without getting in each other’s way when they are needed. There’s a mountain of storage space underfloor and if you manage to fill it all with lure boxes, you’ll have as much money’s worth of tackle as you do boat.

SPECIFICATIONS Length.................................................... 5.99m Beam...................................................... 2.35m Depth...................................................... 1.30m Length on trailer...................................... 7.67m Height on trailer...................................... 2.09m Bottom...................................................... 4mm Sides......................................................... 3mm Hull weight...............................................708kg Rec hp.......................................................... 90 Max hp........................................................150 Capacity............................................7 persons you’ll be able to tick all of the boxes. The layout cleverly combines ways to make this boat eminently suitable for anchored-bait or movinglure fishing. For once, an anchor well and bow mounted electric motor

• Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

Don’t be fooled – this is the same boat. Quintrex wrap their demo and press boats on one side and have the factory paint job on the other to show customers and dealers the options available.

The G2 Evinrudes have amazing low and midrange torque. The 150 HO (which means ‘high output’ or ‘hold on’ depending on your technical knowledge) is the maximum horsepower allowed and is a perfect fit for the craft.

Move the pedestal seats around to accommodate a variety of seating or cargo options. They fold over for trailering.

The test boat had a 9” Lowrance at the helm, however the dash holds a 12” display, flush mounted – a big tick.

All of the front hatches have a sub-floor that keeps your gear out of the bilge water.

The cavernous front main hatch eats a lot of tackle, but it’s still not a truly waterproof space, meaning you still need to be careful where you store your expensive lures.

Check out the beam of the front casting deck. The Frontier combines castability, trollability and the ability to anchor and to use an electric motor. It’s the true crossover boat.

Quintrex have been rotomolding their own livewells for decades. They can be plumbed or drain straight to the bilge.

Keep your livies in here and you can check on their condition with a quick glance.

A couple of years ago we were all sitting on the sidelines wondering whether the ‘pickle fork’ design would be accepted. It was.

Massive cockpit? Check. Tons of freeboard? Check. Multiple seat bases? Check.

The true test of the Apex hull was on a windy day on the Broadwater and the results were impressive. It’s definitely the softest riding Quintrex in this size range the author has ever been in.

With a reinforced pad for mounting a trolling motor on the port side, there’s a conventional anchor well in the middle of the pickle-fork. A lid on the anchor well keeps it neat and tidy when you’re casting lures. FEBRUARY 2018

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