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Contents BYRON COAST

The Tweed 30 Ballina 32 Yamba 34 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour South West Rocks MACQUARIE COAST

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The Hastings 39 Harrington-Taree 41 Forster 42 HUNTER COAST Swansea 43 Port Stephens 44 Hunter Coast 46 Erina 47 SYDNEY Sydney 18 Botany Bay 20 Sydney South 21 The Hawkesbury 22 Sydney Rock and Beach 24 Sydney North 26 Pittwater 28 ILLAWARRA COAST Nowra 52 Illawarra 53 BATEMANS COAST Batemans Bay 56 Moruya 57 Merimbula 57 EDEN COAST

From the Editor’s Desk... FROM FIRES TO FLOODS You know you live in Australia when you’re driving to a fishing trip through drought and bushfires, and then driving back through floods. There’s nothing abnormal about these two extremes, although it’s rarer for them to happen in consecutive months. Because this is a fishing magazine, you’re not going to get a political rant from me about it – I’ll leave that to the millions of bushfire experts on social media (who are all rapidly morphing into flood experts). You’ll just get an editorial about how the rains usually kick-start a period of solid breeding and recruitment that refreshes our fisheries in years to come. Of course, in a perfect

world we would have plenty of water to end the drought, but not enough to wash all of the stocked fish away from their homes. Still, beggars can’t be choosers and we’ll take what we can get. I think a lot of anglers were concerned about what would happen when some moderate rain washed ash into the rivers. Historically, fish don’t fare too well in

ash-filled catchments. Fortunately, it seems as though a lot of the areas got so much rain that the ash was washed well away. Wherever you are in the state, we hope that your fish benefit from the rain and that you reap the rewards for years to come. A REEL TEST It’s about time we got back into some serious tackle

testing at Fishing Monthly. We used to do plenty of it, but more recently boat testing has taken up most of our resources. However, we’re getting back into tackle testing, starting with a major test of threadline reels in this issue – ones that cost around $200 and are in the 2500 size. We decided that we needed a broader set of opinions than just the staff here at Fishing Monthly, so we recruited some of our Facebook fans to come and quantify their opinions for us. So a big thanks to our intrepid tackle testers, who you can read about inside. You can also watch the video review on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel to see the reels being put through their paces.

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Golden Perch

The Googong gold bank CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

There haven’t been a lot of positives to come out of the drought, which is currently affecting much of Australia

started dropping quickly through 2019 and into this year: you can now walk certain banks at Googong that had been underwater for some time and target golden perch. I call these areas ‘gold banks’ because

also work particularly well on other dams like Windamere, Burrinjuck, Wyangala and Lake Burley Griffin. LOCATION, LOCATION When I first started walking the banks at Googong a few years back,

Pack a good pair of polarised sunglasses to spot the fish. (42% at the time of writing this article) and so a lot of the best structure is now in full view, due in part to the water level and also because the visibility is excellent and always has been.

which feature from the middle of the dam all the way up to the top. The rocks act as hideouts, ambush points and a place to warm up in the cooler months for the resident golden perch.

are the active fish that I like to target first. TACTICS One of the best parts about this form of fishing at Googong is that it is based on an angler’s ability to

Now is the time to visit Googong due to the low water level. including my hometown of Canberra. At one point the Murrumbidgee in the ACT almost stopped flowing entirely, and the water levels in the local lakes and ponds have dropped markedly. However, there has been one positive that became apparent after Googong Dam

of the large numbers of fish that congregate in these areas, and because of the lures required to land these shallow water footballs. Outlined below are the banks to look for, the types of lures to use and the techniques needed to fish these banks to ensure success. These techniques

the water level was high and therefore a lot of the bigger boulders and sunken logs several metres from shore were shrouded from view, as Googong is a deep dam. Even with polarised glasses, I struggled to recognise the types of snags that I fish today. However, Googong Dam is currently very low

GOLDEN FACTS Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) are also commonly known as yellowbelly. Their colouration varies according to the water conditions, ranging from cream or yellow through to dark brown or dark olive green, with yellow pectoral fins. Juvenile fish are usually a more silver colour with greyish mottling and grey fins. Golden perch can grow to over 70cm and 20kg, although most fish caught are less than 40cm and 4kg. Males reach reproductive age at two years and females at four years, although they generally don’t spawn in impoundments. Golden perch are a long living species, with a maximum recorded age of 26 years. Their main diet, depending on the waterway, consists of shrimp, yabbies, baitfish and insect larvae.

A good light spin outfit is essential. When walking the bank, I look for large underwater structure sitting at around a depth of 2m. Logs and even sunken brush along with significant weed beds are often places I cast at during a session. However, my favourite structure to cast at is the array of large sunken rocks,

Often the fish will sit in the crevices underneath the rocks or sometimes around the back of a big boulder, so you often won’t be able to see them, but rest assured the yellas are there. That said, I have seen fish sitting on top of the rock or within a metre or so of the rock in plain view. These

spot fish without the yellas spooking, and then working a lure so that it is presented as panicking prey. The yellowbelly sitting close by a snag or on top of it will be active but also skittish. For this reason, it pays to take a quick walk around the dam edge the day before a fishing mission and identify

GOOGONG FACTS

RINCON

Like the California point break it was named for, the Rincon has a classic West Coast straight bridge, wrapping style lines and edgy curved temples.

GREEN MIRROR: Enhanced vision and contrast for fishing inshore and on flats. • Copper Base • 10% light transmission

MARCH 2020

OPTIMAL USE: • Sight fishing in full sun • High contrast

Googong Reservoir is situated on the lower reaches of the Queanbeyan River, around 30 minutes’ drive from Canberra. It is an electric-only impoundment, and a NSW fishing licence is required. It is open to fishing all year. Species in the dam include golden perch (30cm minimum length, bag limit of 5), Murray cod (55-75cm slot limit, bag limit of 2, closed season from 1 Sep - 30 Nov), silver perch (25cm, 5), trout (25cm, 5), yabbies (no minimum size, bag limit of 200, females with eggs are protected), redfin (no minimum size or bag limit) and Macquarie perch (protected). NSW DPI’s Fish Stocking Plan has allocated 20,000 golden perch fingerlings and 20,000 Murray cod fingerlings (subject to hatchery production and water quality) for 2019-2020. Two rigged rods per person are permitted on the dam (if you are fishing streams flowing into or out of the dam, only one rod is permitted). For more information on regulations, along with maps and activities in the area, go to www.environment.act.gov.au and search for ‘Googong foreshores’.

Golden Perch likely banks with plenty of rock in the water, and then return the following day. The key to fishing these likely areas is to cast

Having a good pair or polarised sunglasses in this situation really can make the difference and because Googong is so clear, itâ€™s

LURES AND TECHNIQUES I have found that smart lure choice and a few specific techniques will

Itâ€™s possible to sight cast right through the day. parallel to the sunken rock and stand as far away from the snag as possible. Also, you should ensure that your lure lands a few metres behind the rock. By standing parallel and casting a long

possible to spot fish sitting high in the water column near a snag from several metres away. I use the Spotters Grit with carbon lenses because I do a lot of my fishing at Googong in

result in big numbers of hits. I like to start with a small blade with assist hooks. The reason I do this is to limit the amount of snags I get from fishing around large rocks. The colours

You can get good results by targeting the submerged rocks. way, the fish is less likely to recognise any change above the water except for a light lure splashing down behind them.

the middle of the day, and these lenses cut down the glare. However, any sunnies will do provided they are polarised.

Open wide! This golden really inhaled that beetle spin.

I have found to be most effective are black. orange and yellow (golden perch are cannibalistic). Blades have a pronounced action and are very tough; which is good, as the technique I use to work the lure does mean it gets smashed around a lot. After casting the blade and allowing it to sink a few metres past a likely rock, I rip the lure up off the bottom by twitching the rod quickly and then begin winding. Sometimes the switch between the rip and wind will bring on a strike but more often than not, I get a strike once the lure hits the rock. I always aim the lure for a likely rock, and I try to retrieve the lure onto the top of the rock and bring it along the top using an erratic retrieve with plenty of quick winds and short pauses. The golden perch seem to see To page 10

MARCH 2020

Pirtek Fishing Challenge

World’s biggest fishing comp enters 12th year!

Altogether, the prize pool is worth a massive $215,000. Another first for 2020 is the Lowrance Fishing Club competition. Ten lucky fishing clubs will win a Hook 2 Split Shot 7 inch sounder GPS units valued at $800. The registered club with the most members entered for the 2020 Pirtek Fishing Challenge in each state plus the Northern Territory will win this terrific prize. There are two units for NSW/ ACT, QLD and Victoria along with a unit for WA, SA, TAS and NT. All competitors need to do is enter their Fishing Club’s name at the time of registration. Remember, the idea is to grab the family or a couple of mates for the day, have a great time fishing and raise dollars for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital. Hopefully you can also grab some big prizes for yourself! – Pirtek Fishing Team

WHITING

Size Range: Up to 50cm, more common from 20-40cm. Tactics: Whiting love clear and shallow water where they grub around for yabbies, worms and other tasty tidbits. By targeting these areas with your baits or lures, you’ll encounter plenty of whiting, as well as other interesting by-catch. Rigs: A running sinker rig with a long leader, tiny long shank hook is enough to fool a whiting, even in shallow water. Light braided line around 4lb with a 2-4lb leader is an excellent balance for the anglers throwing lures at wily whiting. Bait: Worms and yabbies (nippers) are two baits that are rarely met with failure. Lures: Small hardbodies, plastics, and more recently, surface lures have all taken plenty of whiting in the last decade. Often, the bigger whiting will be the ones that take lures.

COASTAL

Challenge cap and brag mat. New in 2020 is that each Junior who enters receives a pack of Berkley Powerbait Nemesis lures. There are target species in each state of Australia, plus the Murray Darling Basin, ‘East Coast Freshwater’ and ‘Mountain Trout’. For the longest fish in each species, there are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and 1st and 2nd in the Juniors. Plus a $4000 cash prize if your catch is closest to the ‘Mystery Length’ in your category.

LEATHERJACKET

(ALL SPECIES EXCLUDING CHINAMEN AND UNICORN) Size Range: Up to 3kg, common under 1kg Tactics: Often considered to be an unwanted by-catch when bait fishing in estuaries and offshore, leatherjackets respond well to a variety of baits and lures. Keeping your hooks and lures fairly small would be advantageous if targeting jackets, however they can damage hooks with their teeth. Rigs: A small running sinker or paternoster rig will suffice. Bait: Small flesh baits will be sufficient offshore, while standard run-of-the-mill baits of yabbies and worms will work in the estuaries. Lures: If using lures, small plastics with enough weight to get to the bottom should be all you need.

COASTAL

The world’s biggest fishing competition the Pirtek Fishing Challenge is now in its 12th year. It’s a one-day catch, photo and release event to be held on Sunday March 15, 2020. Keen anglers of all ages will compete right across Australia fishing their favourite locations. The Pirtek Fishing Challenge raises funds and awareness for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and the Peter Duncan Neuroscience Research Unit. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is a broad based community organisation and the peak national body for prostate cancer in Australia. It is dedicated to reducing the impact of prostate cancer on Australian men, their partners and families, recognising the diversity of the Australian community. The Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit has recently been lauded as the number one Neuroscience Research facility in Australia.

YOUR CHALLENGE The focus of the Unit is to study adult stem cells and their role in causing and exacerbating neurological diseases. The goal is to find and apply new neuroscience techniques for patients suffering from diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, and other neurological infections and stroke. Proceeds from the Pirtek Fishing Challenge will be split between these two leading medical research organisations. Registration is $25, plus postage. Everyone who registers receives a limited edition Pirtek Fishing

MARCH 2020

The list of target species is now available on www. pirtekfishingchallenge. com.au. Even if you don’t catch the biggest fish, (or any fish at all), just by entering you’re in the draw to win one of our ‘On The Water’ prizes – a Stacer 469 Outlaw tiller steer boat and trailer package, including an Evenrude E-Tec 75hp outboard engine (valued at $31,990), Snap-On Tools tool kits (two valued at $2600 and eight valued at $600), a Lowrance Hook 2 fish finder (valued at $2000), a Berkley fishing tackle pack (valued at $2000), or a $500 Valvoline product pack.

• Enter the challenge via the website and be sure to read the terms and conditions. • After you have registered, a limited edition Fishing Challenge cap and Fishing Challenge brag mat will be posted to you. • The list of target species is available via the website www.pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au. • On Saturday, 14 March 2020 (after 6:00pm) you will be sent via email a repeat list of the target species plus your angler number. You can also log on to the website to download this information. • Anglers will commence fishing at the official sunrise time in their State/Territory on Sunday, 15 March 2020 and cease fishing at the official sunset time in their State/Territory on Sunday, 15 March 2020. • No Lines in water prior to the official sunrise time (State/Territory of the competitor) on Sunday, 15 March 2020 and all lines out of the water at the official sunset time (State/Territory of the competitor) on Sunday, 15 March 2020. • When you catch your target species simply lay the live fish with the nose in line with the ‘0’ (zero) measurement on the Pirtek bragmat. • Photograph the fish so the entire length can be seen in the photograph along with your angler number. • Check out the Photographing Your Fish page for information on how to correctly photograph your catch. • Remember to write your angler number clearly in the white box provided on the brag mat. • Check your photograph to ensure the whole fish is in the photograph and the nose end of the fish is in line with the ‘0’ (zero) measurement and the overall length along with the angler number is clearly visible.

• I f you do not receive your brag mat before Sunday 15 March, you may measure and photograph your fish using last year’s brag mat, a fisheries measuring sticker, another competitors mat (with your Angler Number), or a generic brag mat. • I f you are not happy with the photograph, simply take another one. •Q uickly release the fish and try to catch a bigger one. •O nly a fish caught by the registered angler can be entered. •A ny photograph that shows a fish not alive or damaged will not be accepted. •A ny photograph which has undergone digital manipulation, i.e., photoshop, will be disqualified. • You can only upload one photograph per angler to the website. This needs to be your biggest fish. •F ollow the directions on the website to upload your photograph. • The upload needs to be complete by 7:00am AEDT, Monday, 16 March 2020. •A ny photographs uploaded after this time will not be accepted. • I f your photograph is damaged, blurry or the overall measurement of your fish is not clearly seen with your angler number the photograph will be disallowed. •C heck the website on Saturday, 21 March, 2020 to see if you’re a winner. The National Fishing Challenge committee’s decision will be final and no correspondence entered into.

COASTAL

Rigs: Running sinker rig and a paternoster rig are both good options with 20lb braided main line to 20lb leader. The same line weights can be used for lure fishing.

Rigs: 20-30lb should be your minimum line weights for both your mainline and leader. Lures: Murray cod will eat a variety of surface lures, hardbodies, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits. As with bait, lures should be big and annoying to achieve the best results.

COASTAL

Size Range: Up to 110cm, common to 40cm.

Baits: Live baits of herring, mullet work well for larger tailor, but dead baits of pilchard, garfish also work well, particularly on the beaches an headlands.

Tactics: Redfin are a schooling fish, so finding schools of fish before deploying bait or lures is preferred. Redfin are very aggressive and will respond to a variety of presentations in the lakes and rivers where they have been introduced.

Lures: Anything suitable for bass or trout will certainly fool redfin. Small hardbodies, soft plastics, surface lures and even flies will readily take perch.

COASTAL

Size Range: Up to 1.1m, commonly caught 30-65cm.

Lures: Most lures work well on flathead, the trick is to have it in their face. Lures such as soft plastics, vibes, lipless crankbaits and hardbodied lure all take flathead, and they’ve been known to chase down swimbaits and surface lures as well.

Size Range: Up to 60cm, common from 20-40cm.

Bait: Any small invertebrates, such as worms, crustaceans and insect larvae make great redfin bait. Yabbies and shrimps are definitely standouts when searching for bigger perch.

FLATHEAD

Bait: Flathead will eat anything they can fit in their mouth, whether it’s live, dead, big or small.

REDFIN

Rigs: A small running sinker rig fished vertically from a boat on 6-10lb is sufficient for redfin anywhere.

Lures: Tailor are predatory and will chase down most offerings at speed. Topwaters, metals, hardbodies, and soft plastics will work well, however tailor will make short work of plastics with their razor sharp teeth.

Rigs: A running sinker rig with 6lb braid with a 15lb leader is sufficient for bait fishing. The same goes for lure fishing, but try to attach your lures with a loop knot where possible to maximize the action of the lure.

MURRAY COD Tactics: Murray cod are a structure-loving and territorial species. Therefore, lures or baits fished or cast around big snag complexes repetitively usually get a response eventually. During periods of low light, they will often leave their lairs in search of food.

TAILOR

Tactics: Flathead are classic ambush predators that use camouflage to their advantage, often burying themselves in sand or mud when awaiting their prey. Drop offs, weed edges, hard rock and mud edges are all great spots for flathead. Flathead have a preference for tidal movement, either running in or running out, and don’t feed as much when the water is slack.

Lures: Lures like Australian-made hardbodied lures, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits all do damage on yellowbelly.

Size Range: Up to 1.8m, common from 40-80cm.

Lures: Small hardbodied divers, smaller than your little finger, cast around rocky shores and worked with a slow, steady retrieve are hard to beat. When fish go deeper, tiny soft plastics and blades with according jighead size is a sure-fire way to pin a bream. At times, they will also rise to small surface lures.

Rigs: Light braided line around 6-10lb with a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader from 12-20lb will suffice is fine for lure anglrs. Sometimes, tailor can bite through non-wire leaders. Running sinker rigs, paternoster rigs and ganged bait rigs all work for tailor, and some old school angler prefer the use of wire on their trace.

Bait: Baits of yabby, live shrimp, worms and even smelly dead baits are successful.

TROUT (BROWN AND RAINBOW)

Size Range: Up to 1m, common from 30-50cm. Tactics: In dams and lakes trout can form huge school in deep water, and this is when they can be caught trolling lures. Trout are an opportunistic predator in streams, meaning they will investigate anything that comes into their domain. At other times, trout can sometimes be very fussy, particularly when there is a specific hatch of insects or baitfish in the area. Drifting baits, or casting small lures and flies is a good tactic in rivers. Bait: Baits of worms, crickets, grasshoppers, mudeyes and shrimps can all be successful at different times. Lures: Winged lures trolled off a downrigger are fantastic for when trout are schooling deep. Hardbodies, small bladed spinners and soft plastics are great for trout in shallow water.

MURRAY/DARLING BASIN

Tactics: Lures and live baits are popular, and they also love to hunt down worms and grubs set on the bottom. Lures cast around fallen timber in rivers and standing timber in lakes are all successful, especially around first and last light, and the warmer periods of the year are generally preferred.

MURRAY/DARLING BASIN

Size Range: Up to 75cm, commonly caught at 25-50cm.

Bait: Because they are omnivorous almost anything found or bought should catch bream, including white bread, which is an under-used favourite.

Tactics: Tailor can be found in rivers and estuaries, coastal lakes and bays, but are at their biggest best in the surf and off oceanic rocks. Beach anglers often target tailor in and around the surf gutters, and those fishing rocky headlands can often expect a few tailor too. Tailor are migratory, and seldom spend long in any one area. Tailor will take live and dead baits, even quite large ones, and will readily chase down lures moved quickly through the water column.

Bait: Baits as varied as scrubworms, corn, bread, dough, shrimp and grubs are all attractive to carp and the use of berley will increase your success rate dramatically.

GOLDEN PERCH

Size Range: Up to 50cm, common from 25-35cm.

Rigs: Running sinker onto a #1 or 1/0 hook will work for the bait anglers. For the lure brigade, 2-6lb braided line connected to 6-10lb fluorocarbon or monofilament leader is ample.

Rigs: A medium running sinker rig, paternoster rig or float rig with 6-20lb braided line onto a 10-20lb leader. Anglers can obviously go lighter in clear water free of snags.

Lures: Carp will take lures, usually as by-catch. Fly anglers can target carp in shallow water by sight fishing with small nymphs.

BREAM (YELLOWFIN) Tactics: Bream are incredibly widespread and can be found in just about every saltwater river, creek and coastal lake in the state. Bream love structure – especially rock – and if you find rocks or other hard structure in the intertidal zone, you can be sure that bream hang around it at some time of the day. Bream will also aggregate around weed and flooded grass at times. Keep the gear light when bream fishing, as this will get you more bites. If you want to catch a bream on a lure, make sure that it’s small. They’ll eat nearly every bait you can find or buy, it just needs to be presented in a natural way.

Tactics: Smelly baits are very effective for carp. Carp will also get up into shallow water and mooch along the bottom looking for aquatic insects, and this is where fly anglers can have some fun, sometimes landing some huge specimens.

MURRAY/DARLING BASIN

Size Range: Up to 1m, but more commonly encountered at 30-60cm.

COASTAL

Size Range: Up to 65cm, common from 30-40cm. Tactics: Bass in rivers love structure, but when they spawn in winter, they will school up in open water around the tidal reaches. Bass can be a little different in the dams. If there are bony bream or other schooling baitfish present, the bass will usually school up in deep water, chasing the smaller bony bream. If there is a lot of structure around the edges and the food source in predominately insects, small fish and shrimps, the bass will feed in shallow water. Fishing where the bass are with lures or bait that mimics what food source is available is the preferred approach. Rigs: Light braided line around 4-6lb with a fluorocarbon or monofilament leader around 8-14lb is preferred for lure fishing. The same applies for bait fishing, with unweighted, weighted and floated rigs working, depending on how deep and where the fish are holding. Bait: Grasshopper, cricket, worms, yabbies, and particularly live shrimp are successful. Lures: Bass take a variety of lures from surface lures, diving lures, lipless crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, jigs and even flies. Match your lures to suit where and how the bass are feeding.

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few decent specimens caught current and forms eddies in around Cowan, Pittwater in the upper tidal reaches the form of bridge pylons, and Broken Bay of late. Dan between lower Portland floating pontoons and marker Small metal slices and Selby and Ebenezer on lures and poles will catch you bream. clear 50-75mm soft plastic dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au live prawns. If you are after that minnows wound as fast as 51 ERA EREHT This time of year has to A lot of the big 40cm trophy fish, I would suggest humanly possible will get TUOonHthe GUplus ORbream HT INencounter EDDIare H Skeeping OGO L leader strength you a bite when the frigates be my favourite your Hawkesbury, and for by-catch when targeting around 6-8lb, and check and macs are being fussy. .YLHTNOM flathead GNIH SImulloway F FO S P nicks EHTand abrasion I like to troll live baits good reason. and onEG forAany With the onset of autumn lures and live baits from regularly from the rocks and for the bigger kingfish and WO LEbream B MR OF YR TNdown E EH NI LLIIt’s F these little bonito, but plenty of anglers the big blue nose Wisemans Ferry to Tbarnacles. usually make an appearance Broken Bay at this time of bits of attention to detail are doing well trolling a HC AE asFthey O Ryear. EBThe MU EGtoA Twill HThelp IW in the lower reaches bestN places tryP forEH that you land that spread of small skirts and feed up on O the plentiful these stud bream are close in trophy-sized fish when it bibbed minnows around the G DNA NOITACOL OGOL baitfish and molluscs found on the abundant natural rock finally bites. headlands. Live yellowtail in the intertidal zone. walls andAbroken reef Flathead have been is my pick of the baits, as !NIW O TW RD E Hlike T O TN I consistent over the summer you can secure a tank full months, with lure fishing in around an hour when The odd legal-sized snapper has been being the most productive they are cooperative. Nosegrabbing soft plastics intended for flathead approach. Whether it be hooked or bridled with a along the edges around Broken Bay. casting or trolling, you strong, small non-offset hook are covering water and and rubber band will have presenting your offering to them behaving seductively great proposition when the jigheads will cover the many new fish constantly. Sitting on the downrigger or flatline. tide is running, as you can scenarios the Hawkesbury has at anchor can bring some Mulloway are back on the keep an offering in their face. to offer. The key is to select the reasonable catches with fresh hit list and some respectable I find it more productive right plastic/jig combination bait and a steady berley trail. fish have fallen to live baits to drift and cast soft plastics for the area being fished. As a Alternatively, a slow drift and lures recently. The fish when the tide slows down, general rule, 1g of weight per with lightly-weighted baits are back in the estuary and covering large amounts of metre of water being fished can be dynamite, especially looking to put on some water to find active schools should give you a steady sink on those days where the condition before the chill of of feeding fish. Paddle-tail rate without plummeting to wind is against the tide and winter sets in. Live baits are shads and stickbaits from the bottom and snagging anchoring is near impossible. still easy to obtain and are a 75-150mm rigged on 3-14g up too much. As it gets later in the season I have found it pays to think outside the square a little, as on a recent flathead foray the fish were not on the drop-offs and creek mouths on the run-out tide. We had ZWONNIM ”3 NAMZ EHT ,SRUOLOC 05 NI ELBALIAVcast A soft plastics on a drift across EGRAL A HTIW ELIFORP HSIFTIAB ETAMITLU EHT SI a substantial drop-off Pushing up the tidal feeder creeks casting for only one keeper, and A OTplastic SLAElures PPA was TAHthe T LIkey AT EtoLDfinding DAP EaVISSERGGcontinued A soft along a nearby EHT HTfeed OB NofI Sflathead EICEPSonFOthis EGoccasion. NAR EVISNEHERPMOrock C wall, where a further ten keeper flathead were boated TLAS DNPoint A HSERinFjust a few hundred meters. Bream in general have Bar Point, .Pumpkin been noticeably absent and the mouth of Marramarra They ate the lures as they throughout summer though, Creek in Berowra. were hopped off the harder and this is rumoured to be Soft plastics are my substrate and onto the sand HCRAM FO DNE EHT TA NWARD SEIRTNE TCERROC 04 TSRIF EHT from the lack of oysters favourite for searching an at the base of the wall. Snags being farmed and grown area quickly, and 50-100mm were commonplace but a .SCITSALP TFOS ZBURG ”5.2 FO KCAP A NIW naturally due to consecutive minnows and grubs in necessary evil, as we had diseases killing off these natural colours fished on to get those lures onto the fragile bivalves Fnearly a O 2-7g where flathead O EN NIjigheads W Ohave T Wproved ARDbottom EZIR P RtheOJ AM EHT OTNI OG NEHT LLIW SEIRTNE LLA decade ago. It’s hard to put themselves over the years. were waiting in ambush. 202to,Lthe IRback PA h t0Kingfish, 3 NObonito, NWfrigate ARD EB OT SKCAP EZIRP EERHT it down to one factor though, Tight0casts and the past dry seasons we edge of isolated boulders mackerel and mac tuna have Summer has turned on some great kingfish captures and this should have experienced live :STCUDOhave RP Dseen NAaSDor NAanything RB FO Ethat GNAbreaks R SCITthe CATbeen ELKCAterrorising T EGUH EHbaitfish T MORF ESOOHcontinue C OT TEGthis SRmonth, ENNIWwith EZIR P baits ROJAthe M key to getting legal-sized fish. THE HAWKESBURY

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A great time to target mulloway SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

It has been a while since the full force of the bushfires subsided to a more manageable level. The wonderful firefighters from Australia and abroad have been a godsend, for not just the people and property but for the countless native animals that have also been saved.

on their feet. As time goes on we will inevitably be diverted to other pressing issues, but in the meantime let’s not forget our fellow Australians who need our help. ROCK FISHING Off the rocks, snapper have been in reasonable numbers one day and scarce the next. As with all migratory species, there is always a risk fishing for them. True, it’s not as fickle as fishing for pelagics like bonito, frigate mackerel or kingfish, but

This bag of whiting was caught during moderate seas. It makes sense to fish lighter sinkers when the swell size and current allow, but not so light that your bait won’t reach the strike zone. As well as donating to reputable charities, what else can you do for the longer term? Well, to avoid an economic disaster we can go visit these communities and spend money there. Just take a weekend off to one of the many places that have been devastated by the fires, and support the business in these towns. Even if you can’t fish in the area, you can do so much good by visiting and supporting the local businesses trying to get back

you can still get a shut-down period caused by something like a minor water temperature change from 21°C down to 19°C within a day. You will still catch snapper, but you may notice one or two things. The first scenario is that there are snapper available but they are smaller, ranging from undersized fish to just over legal fish with no sizeable fish on the day. The second scenario is that the run can be really short, for example the crack of

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dawn to sunrise or the sunset to dark period. As any angler who fishes off the ocean rocks knows, it can get dangerous fishing rock spots in the dark, especially with any swell running. You are more likely to get a longer bite period when the water is over 21°C. Another thing that might let you down is not having a variety of baits, and/or your bait isn’t of good enough quality. Fresh squid is always a great asset, along with fresh tuna baits like frigate mackerel or mac tuna. In a lot of spots the big sweep and plagues of yellowtail and mados can make it tough for a snapper to find your bait, so a tougher bait like a squid strip or whole endeavour prawn can greatly increase your chances. The smaller fish either don’t find these baits as appealing or the baits are just too tough for them to demolish. A half pilchard bait or a fish fillet bait, being a lot softer, can get destroyed much faster. Salted pilchards can be a great option, surviving the onslaught of the small pickers. Some locations to try include at the front of Bluefish Headland wash fishing, North Curl Curl distance casting, the south side of Long Reef distance casting, and Bangalley Head distance casting. The distance casting spots have sand and gravel out wider, while the wash spots have submerged deep ledges and harsher reef in close. Lately the king fishing has been on the slow side, although we have caught some up to 70cm using the Rapala X-Rap Saltwater Sub Walker 56g and sea gars on gang hooks. Bonito numbers have been more consistent on a number of headlands, and we have been catching them on 40g SureCatch Knights. My standard bonito outfit is a Daiwa 4000BG, 20lb J-Braid, 30lb Wilson Shock leader, and a 10ft Daiwa Sensor Sandstorm 1002M 2-piece surf rod. I recommend trying The Hat at Manly’s harbour entrance, Bluefish, North Curl Curl and North Whale headland for pelagics. Bream are available in good numbers from similar headlands in the washes. Try using a light outfit suitable for 5-6kg line, and a rod above 11ft. A 1/0 to 2/0 suicide hook (e.g. Mustad 92554) and light ball sinkers from 00 to 2 will suit most situations. Half pilchards, pink nippers and crab segments are top baits. I also recommend to fish from wash to wash, rather than sticking too long with one. You will pluck bream out of one wash, none in another and a few more in another. It’s best to fish in really close because the bream are foraging for crabs and like to hide right in amongst the white

water. Don’t berley up too much otherwise the smaller fish could drive you nuts. Low tide is a good time for fishing the deeper headlands, and you’ll get better results in the low light periods. BEACH FISHING There’s no doubt that some beaches are producing more consistent daytime bags than other beaches are. The run of tailor from one beach will be in the ‘tiddler’ size range, while another beach will have just-legal fish up to 33cm. After dark it is a different ballgame. The tailor are ranging from 30-45cm with the odd bream being hooked on a 3-hook gang meant for tailor. If you are fishing for tailor and you’re getting pecks, there is a good chance that you’re getting bream bites. I don’t mean those tiny pecks which may be dart or very small bream, I mean quite decent pecks – the kind which can take the whole stomach area out of your pilchard. If the bream are around 30cm+ you will find that the whole pilchard bait has been hammered. If this is the case, switch to a 1/0 to 2/0 suicide or baitholder hook and present a half pilchard bait, a small strip of mullet, tailor or yellowtail no more than 2cm wide by 10cm long. Your hook-up rates will greatly increase. When you have a bite, try your best not to strike at the fish until the tip of the rod

TAKING P AND REL HAVE ON Most anglers assume that a sizeable mulloway will smash and run with your bait, but this isn’t always the case. This fish bit POWERFUL tentatively before it took the bait properly. such is their haste to continue hunting. As the discarded half drifts to the bottom, bream are there to pick it up. Bream are opportunistic scavengers, and this is one way they get a free feed. Whiting have been in low numbers on some beaches and plentiful on others. Ribbon weed and kelp are a problem on some of the northern suburbs beaches. If you see kelp washed up on the beach close to the wet hard sand, don’t bother fishing there. Another way to detect kelp is to stand at a higher vantage point to look for those darker patches in the gutter. There are other ways to determine if kelp is in the area or going to be

&E • Superior torqu about 8kg that fell for a live yellowtail.•Usually mulloway Lightest weigh bite with a vengeance but interestingly, this one was • Quicker accele very timid when it bit. Another predator readily • Unprecedente available is the dusky whaler

shark, with specimens from 0.8m to the occasional 1.5m MORE shark being caught. INTUITIV If you’re after bream, tailor, whiting, mulloway • Smoothest, qu or sharks, try the Manly/ Queenscliff of beach,rpm • section Maintain mid Dee Why to Long Reef section of beach, Collaroy and NarrabeenFor beaches as well. new boat pa Remember to check out the kelp first before you commit. I’ll finish this month’s report with a quick tip: to prevent your bait from spoiling while you’re fishing,

Thres Lim caught this beautiful snapper on a 3/4 pilchard while wash fishing. It was caught only 2m out from the ledge in 8-9m of water. ‘loads up’, meaning when the tip bends over slightly, indicating a decent bite. To hook up, strike firmly and relatively quickly. To avoid the bother of re-rigging from a tailor rig to a bream rig, it pays to have another rod on standby when you’re tailor fishing. Often bream will hang nearby when these voracious predators come into a beach gutter. Tailor are aggressive feeders with very sharp teeth, and they will bite a baitfish in half and not stop to finish it,

in the area, but these are the main two ways to avoid that nightmare fishing outing. This month is good for mulloway with the smorgasbord of food available at this time of year. Mullet, whiting, dart, small tarwhine and more are part of their diet, and will encourage the mulloway to forage for food. That tell-tale sign of the rod bouncing intermittently while hooked up is an indicator that there’s a mulloway on the end of your line. I caught a nice mulloway recently of

take a small cold pack and cold bag. Take out what bait you need and keep the rest in the cold pack. You can then take the leftover bait back home if you have any left, and put it back into the freezer, still in good condition for the next outing. • For rock and beach guided fishing or tuition in the northern Sydney region, visit www.bellissimocharters. com.au, email alex@ bellissimocharters.com.au or call Alex Bellissimo on 0408 283 616.

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Results are in: $200 spinning reel comparison FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

It’s been a while since we’ve done some head-tohead reviews at Fishing Monthly, so we thought we’d start up again having a look at small spinning reels. Threadlines in the 2500 size range are one of the most popular items sold

in tackle stores, and there are usually a couple in every estuary or freshwater angler’s kit when they head out on the water. We reckon that the $200 price range represents the first jump up into a quality reel when anglers begin their journey into fishing, and there are plenty of reels around in that price range. You can spool them with anything from 3lb straight-

through fluorocarbon right up to 20lb braided line and leader, and can catch anything from bream and trout to barramundi and small pelagics. We asked all of the major suppliers to provide a sample of their reel(s) in this price range and size, and most were happy to participate. Some manufacturers (like TiCA) didn’t have anything in the

Scoring started with first impressions.

Our testers at Tide Apparel HQ preparing to face the simulator.

Okuma helios sx

Daiwa TIERRA

zone, while others (like Shimano) didn’t respond to our requests. In the end, we ended up with nine reels to test, with reels from Rapala, Daiwa, Alvey, Quantum, Okuma, Penn and Abu Garcia lining up for some testing in the office and in the field. THE METHODS Rather than get the

internal staff to rate the reels, we recruited three local anglers from near our office in South East Queensland: Aaron, Jarryd and Brian. They all responded to a social media call-up and made themselves available for half a day to give these reels the ‘shop treatment’ at the Fishing Monthly offices. These three anglers all

Daiwa EXCELER

have plenty of experience fishing and were great testers who took their job seriously. I know that some of my snobby mates would turn up their noses at testing $200 reels, so thank you to the tackle test team! To baseline the scoring, I dragged an old Shimano Aerocast out of the archives. After 20+ years of

Rapala Maxwell

Rapala R-Type Quantum Smoke

Alvey Orbiter

Abu Garcia Roxani

Penn Conflict ii

SPECIFICATIONS Brand............ Model..................Size.......... Bearings.................Gear Ratio.............. Max Drag............... Line capacity.............. Weight............ Warranty......... RRP Daiwa............. Exceler LT............2500......... 4+1..........................5.3:1........................ 10kg........................ 0.18/230m.................... 205g................ 1 year.............. $149 Rapala........... Maxwell................2000......... 6+1..........................5.1:1........................ n/a........................... 0.25/160m.................... 278g................ 1 year.............. $150 Daiwa............. Tierra LT...............2500......... 4+1..........................5.3:1........................ 10kg........................ 0.18/230m.................... 235g................ 1 year.............. $179 Quantum........ Inshore Smoke.....25............. 11+1........................6.0:1........................ 8.2kg....................... 0.26/140m.................... 227g................ 3 years............ $189 Rapala........... R-Type.................25............. 9+1..........................5.2:1........................ 6kg.......................... 0.25/225m.................... 290g................ 1 year.............. $190 Okuma........... Helios SX.............30............. 8+1..........................5.0:1........................ 6kg.......................... 0.25/200m................... 202g................ 10 years........... $199 Penn.............. Conflict II.............2500......... 7+1..........................6.2:1........................ 6kg.......................... 0.25/180m.................... 225g................ 1 year.............. $219 Abu Garcia..... Roxani . ...............2500......... 6+1..........................6.2:1........................ 5.2kg....................... 0.235/170m.................. 226g................ 1 year.............. $249 Alvey.............. Orbiter SR............100........... 9+1..........................5.8:1........................ 8kg.......................... 0.30/145m.................... n/a................... 2 years............ $259 48

MARCH 2020

inactivity it provided a pretty good indication of what a reel shouldn’t feel like (due to no maintenance for two decades) and it really showed where reel technology is sitting today. Infinite antireverse and balanced rotors are standard, as are roller bearings, efficient bail-return mechanisms and incredibly light frame materials. We rated each reel out of 10 with respect to the testers’ judgement of ‘initial feel’, ‘smoothness’, ‘looks’, ‘handle feel’ and ‘anti-reverse’. After the ‘shop’ test we visited Nick Richardson

by our friends at Tackle Tactics, so each reel had the same line, filled to the same point on the spool with Peter Jung’s line spooling machine on the kitchen table at the office. The team then rated each reel out of 10 for its ‘drag smoothness’, ‘winding under pressure’, ‘drag range’, ‘drag amount’ and ‘overall feel’. There was plenty of sledging, but each tackle tester took a turn fighting the same fish with the same outfit and the same settings. For consistency, we coupled the reels with a trio of Okuma

VIDEO

away for analysis, and got some great video footage. You can check it out by scanning the QR code on this page on your phone, or just search for ‘Fishing Monthly’ you YouTube. THE ANALYSIS There are plenty of ways to skin a cat when it comes to delivering results from the data collected. We have broken it up in a number of ways. First, we collated the overall scores to give us a highest scoring reel from the nine. Second, we compared the ‘shop’ scores to the ‘fishing’ scores to see which reel walked the

Scan the QR code for testers’ interviews and to see the reels in action.

Brian was perhaps the most thorough tester, he could barely keep his hands off the drag knob.

All nine reels were strapped to the same Okuma Duo spin rods we give to subscribers at boat shows. at Tide Apparel to take advantage of his fishfighting machine, and put the reels through their paces in a situation as close to fishing as we could get. We spooled all of the reels up with 12lb Platypus Platinum mono, supplied

Duo-tip rods (the same ones we give away to subscribers at boat shows). These rods copped a flogging but survived the experience well. We have even more confidence giving these to you at the shows now. We ended up with a matrix of scores that we took

walk better than expected. And finally we divided the combined scores by price to give a ‘best value’ rating. This is important, because the most expensive reel was nearly twice the price in stores as the cheapest one. Of course, we could

The author couldn’t stand around watching any more. He had to strap up and have a go for himself.

have increased the data accuracy by sourcing a large number of testers and a more objective measurement of drag smoothness and limits, but our goal isn’t to get published in a scientific journal – rather we are collating opinions to help you direct or justify a future purchase. Also, note that there were only small differences between the best and the worst in each category. Every reel in class will do the job well and there’s only a 22% difference maximum in all of the scores. It shows that our testers were pretty precise when it came to rating the reels on a spectrum from rubbish to brilliant. Let’s have a look at the results, one at category at a time. SHOP VS FISHING This is where we compared the two scores from each tester – the ‘in shop’ score (how the reel looked and felt) vs the ‘fishing’ score (how it performed on the fishing simulator). We averaged the scores per reel per category, and added the five averages together for the ‘in shop’ ratings. We did the same for the ‘fishing’ ratings, and then subtracted the shop score from the fishing score.

That means a positive score is a reel that fished better than it looked and felt, while a negative score meant that it scored better in the shop than with a fish on the end. Here is how the reels ranked:

Conflict all fished better than they felt, but this result is only part of a bigger picture. All it means is that some reels felt better loaded up than unloaded. You need to look at the reels in several different ways to get a thorough assessment. After all, when we researched pricing on the internet, we found that the most expensive reel in the cohort ($259 for the Alvey) was around twice the price of the cheapest ($126 for the Daiwa Exceler). So the next way we worked the numbers was to divide the total point score by their price. We worked off the MO Tackle website for most of these prices, because MO had nearly all

The simulator that kept reel drags singing and the boys smiling! In this category, the two Daiwas, the Quantum, one Rapala and the Penn 1. Daiwa Tierra LT....... +4.5 2. Daiwa Exceler LT.... +3.9 3. Quantum Inshore Smoke.................... +3.6 4. Rapala R-Type........ +1.1 5. Penn Conflict II....... +0.3 6. Alvey Orbiter........... -0.5 7. Okuma Helios SX.....-0.8 8. Abu Garcia Roxani....-1.0 9. Rapala Maxwell........-2.8

in stock. Alvey’s pricing was taken from their online store, and we used the RRP for the Rapala Maxwell, as we couldn’t find it for sale online. We felt that price was important, because if you do have limited money to spend, you can get two of the cheapest reels for the price of the dearest. Here’s what we found. The higher the score, the To page 50

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MARCH 2020

From page 49

better the value for money in this review. If you were to look at these results only, the 1. Daiwa Exceler LT.... 0.52 2. Rapala R-Type........ 0.51 3. Daiwa Tierra LT....... 0.49 4. Okuma Helios SX.... 0.40 5. Rapala Maxwell...... 0.39 6. Quantum Inshore Smoke.................... 0.38 7. Penn Conflict II....... 0.34 8. Abu Garcia Roxani.. 0.34 9. Alvey Orbiter........... 0.31

MOST POINTS WINS? A third way to judge the reels may well be to add up all of the ‘shop’ and ‘fishing’ points averages. With this method, you’re getting the best feeling and performing reel, irrespective of price. With this rating, the Alvey Orbiter came out on top. Indeed, more than one of the testers were impressed by the looks, feel and fishability of this new entrant into the market

1. Daiwa Tierra LT....... 6 2. Daiwa Exceler LT.... 8 3. Rapala R-Type........ 10 4. Alvey Orbiter........... 16 5. Quantum Inshore Smoke.................... 17 6. Okuma Helios SX.... 18 7. Abu Garcia Roxani.. 18 8. Penn Conflict.......... 18 9. Rapala Maxwell...... 23 see which one came up with the lowest number. This is for entertainment purposes only, as it’s takes none of your individual needs

FINAL WORDS FROM THE TESTERS “They’re all good reels and have a different target species. My personal favourite was probably one of the Rapalas – the robustness was right up there for me.” - Brian Smith. “Probably the Alvey for me. Trying that out for the first time I was really impressed. I had it locked up and it was pretty smooth. All of the reels were great for value for money.” - Jarryd Parkinson. “In all honesty they’re all good reels, and they all have their place. I particularly like the Daiwa Tierra. Nice looking, good drag and it makes fighting the fish quite easy.” - Aaron Walker. WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU? If there’s anything we have learned from this experience, it’s that none of the reels failed the fishing test. The difference between the best and the worst drag

Anglers just love the sound of line peeling off a reel.

Everyone went home with a Fishing Monthly goodie bag and a reel of their choice. two Daiwas and the Rapala Type-R represent the best value for money. That’s great if money is the sole

segment. One may also say that this is to be expected, given that it was the most expensive reel entered.

into account. We are prepared for the complaints and tears from some distributors, but hey – we can only report on what the testers told us! 1. Alvey Orbiter........... 79.5 2. Daiwa Tierra LT....... 73.9 3. Abu Garcia Roxani.. 71.0 4. Rapala R-Type........ 69.1 5. Daiwa Exceler LT.... 65.3 6. Penn Conflict II....... 64.1 7. Okuma Helios SX.... 63.8 8. Quantum Inshore Smoke.................... 61.0 9. Rapala Maxwell...... 57.8

Aaron put plenty of thought into his scores.

Tide Apparel’s fishing simulator had the testers playing everything from 2lb bass to 50lb GTs. basis of your decisionmaking, but you may be buying a reel for a specific purpose and it’s very likely that a reel’s unique feature(s) may be more important than value. 50

MARCH 2020

JUST FOR GIGGLES Finally, how about adding all of the rankings together? In all of the analysis, we ranked the reels 1 (first) to 9 (last). Let’s add all the rankings together and

Our independent testing group took their work very seriously.

was bugger all, so it all may just come down to personal preference. After all, you might need a high speed reel, and if that’s the case the Quantum Inshore or Penn may fit the bill the best. Maybe you need the lightest reel to balance that fancy rod of yours? Or maybe you want a reel with a long warranty? The Okuma wins this race hands down, with 10 years of guaranteed back-up of their product. I can 100% say that $200 in 2020 gives you a much better reel than it did 20 years ago. We are also aware that we didn’t test for corrosion resistance or any other measures of durability. That’s because we had neither gear, time or inclination to destruction-test these reels. We’d much rather give some away to our readers!

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Tech Tricks

Processing prawns BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Over the last decade, prawning has become a popular pastime in Southern Queensland. Once only the pursuit of the diehard raincoat brigade, prawning is now enjoyed by many. Most castnetters are simply happy to return home with a few kilos for a feed after a fun day on the water, although some take it more seriously and strive to fill their limit. Personally I enjoy prawning and love the spoils of a good day out with the net. Caring for your prawns and processing them well will increase the palatable pleasure. Banana prawns are the main type caught

for eating in Southern Queensland. These grow a lot bigger than the greasy prawns, which are common bait prawns prevalent in the creeks and estuaries year round. While banana prawns possibly arenâ€™t as tasty as the more open water and oceanic prawns such as tigers, endeavours and kings, they are damn good, and taste even better when you catch them yourself. However, I have found that banana prawns have a couple of nuances that dictates certain cooking and handling procedures. If you boil banana prawns and then freeze them, I find that the shells can be difficult to remove. Queensland Fisheries law states that you cannot possess prawns with heads or any other part removed, unless they are for immediate consumption. This means

that legally you must freeze the green (uncooked) prawns whole. You cannot process them and just freeze the meat for later use, although I know many who do. As I have a big family and plenty of friends who like prawns, we have no trouble disposing of a full limit (a 10L bucket, which is commonly between 6-7kg of prawns) within a day or two after capture. Itâ€™s important to keep your prawns cool at all times, as they can spoil quickly. While cast-netting, I like to have a 10L bucket in a small esky with some ice packed around the bucket. Banana prawns, like most seafood, is best cooked and consumed soon after capture, however you can freeze some whole green or cooked prawns for later use if need be. Letâ€™s look at the most common way of cooking prawns, boiling.

Prawns are best boiled in salty water. I usually bring home some saltwater in a bucket from where I caught them for this purpose. Otherwise, make up some to a similar salty taste (usually 1 part salt to 10 parts water) using cooking salt or preferably flossy salt. Additionally, I like to add a bit of brown sugar, but this is not essential.

Bring the water to a rapid boil until it really starts to roll over. Boil for a good few minutes before adding the prawns. This is especially important if you make up your own saltwater mixture, as it will guarantee any salt you put in is fully dissolved. 58

MARCH 2020

Firstly after arriving home, I like to sort my prawns. Generally I will boil a good portion of the larger prawns whole and then peel and use the smaller ones in other ways such as curries, pasta dishes, homemade spring rolls, garlic prawns or stir fries. Similar size prawns will cook at a similar rate, so I sort accordingly.

A gas burner, preferably minimum of a 3-ring burner, is ideal, as it will get the water boiling quickly. Additionally the water will come back to the boil quickly after adding the prawns. Having a lid is an asset and will help it boil faster. A decent size metal pot will allow you to do a kilo or more of prawns at a time.

Add the prawns to the water all at the same time. I will generally do in lots of around 1kg or so in this pot, ensuring the water will come back to the boil quickly. You will notice that the prawns initially sink and the water will stop boiling. Ensure to put the lid back on.

Tech Tricks

Your prawns should come back to the boil after a minute or two. Additionally, the prawns will begin to float and an orange scum and some froth will form on the waterâ€™s surface. After it begins to boil again, cook for a further 1-2 minutes, depending on size.

Remove one prawn and check for the air bubbles along the back of the prawn, mainly on the second and third sections behind the head. Undercook the prawns and the shells will stick to the meat. Cook too long and they will be tough. When the air bubble appears they are ready.

Remove the prawns immediately with a scoop and then place in a salty slurry (ice mixed with seawater/saltwater) so they cool rapidly and the cooking process halts. I prefer to leave them in this slurry for a good 30 minutes to an hour, but some will leave for several hours. This salty slurry is imperative for good flavour. It is more important to chill the prawns in salty water than it is to cook them in salty water. Many even prefer to cook in freshwater and cool in saltwater.

If not consuming immediately, whole green or cooked prawns are best to put in a container and then filled with salt water and frozen. Once solid, you can pop the prawn block out of the container and cryovac for longer storage.

Once completely cooled, your prawns can be removed from the slurry and are ready for consumption. However they are also great to eat while still warm. They can be stored for a few days in the fridge if need be, preferably in an airtight container.

Green prawns, (either fresh or previously frozen) can be peeled with just the last tail joint left on and then cooked. Ensure also to remove the digestive tract. This presentation is ideal for crumbed prawns, stir fries or prawn kebabs on the BBQ.

Fully peeled green prawns are great for adding to stir fries, pasta dishes, spring rolls, curries and garlic prawns. You can get a prawn peeler at many kitchen shops that can make the task a considerable degree easier. Although not top of their class, banana prawns are still exceptionally tasty, especially when recently caught and cooked accordingly. MARCH 2020

2020 2020 Local Time

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – LONG NEW SOUTH WALES LAT 33° 51’ S 151° 14’ E

Time

1 1 0119 0648 WE 1307

WE 1307 1955

2 2

0207 0741 TH TH 1352 2039

3 3

0300 0842 FR FR 1445 2128

4 4

0356 0951 SA SA 1547 2217

5 5

0450 1103 SU SU 1654 2306

6 6

0541 1209 MO MO 1756 2353

7 7

0628 1304 TU TU 1851

LAT 33° 51’ S LONG 151° 14’ E Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Times and Heights of High and Low Waters MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY Time m Time m Time Time m Time m Time m m 0119 1.27 0648 0.70 1307 1.54 1955 0.52 0207 1.27 0741 0.74 1352 1.45 2039 0.55 0300 1.30 0842 0.77 1445 1.37 2128 0.57 0356 1.34 0951 0.77 1547 1.30 2217 0.58 0450 1.41 1103 0.74 1654 1.26 2306 0.58 0541 1.49 1209 0.67 1756 1.26 2353 0.56 0628 1.58 1304 0.58 1851 1.28

1.27 0.70 1.54 TH 0.52

Time

16 16 0129 0716 TH 1331 1.27 0.74 1.45 FR 0.55

1331 2007

17 17 1.30 0.77 1.37 SA 0.57

0226 0821 FR 1430 2100

18 18 1.34 0.77 1.30 SU 0.58

0327 0934 SA 1535 2155

19 19 1.41 0.74 1.26 MO 0.58

0430 1053 SU 1647 2252

20 20 1.49 0.67 1.26 TU 0.56

0530 1209 MO 1800 2348

21 21 1.58 0.58 1.28 WE

0628 1315 TU 1903

0043 0.53 22 22 0721 1.75 1409 0.41 0043 0721 WE 1409 1959

0038 0.54 0.54 1.68 0132 23 8 8 0712 1.68 23 1353 0.48 0809 TH 0.48 1454

0038 0712 WE WE 1353 1941

9 9 0122 0755 TH 1438

TH 1438 2029

10 10 0206 0840 FR 1522 FR 1522 2115

11 11 0252 0925 SA 1606 SA 1606 2203

12 12 0340 1011 SU 1652 SU 1652 2252

13 13 0430 1059 MO 1739 MO 1739 2342

14 14 0522 1147 TU 1827 TU 1827

0.48 1941 1.31 0122 0.51 0755 1.78 1438 0.38 2029 1.34 0206 0.47 0840 1.87 1522 0.30 2115 1.38 0252 0.44 0925 1.94 1606 0.24 2203 1.41 0340 0.42 1011 1.98 1652 0.20 2252 1.43 0430 0.42 1059 1.98 1739 0.20 2342 1.44 0522 0.43 1147 1.93 1827 0.23

m 0129 1.46 0716 0.52 1331 1.70 2007 0.35 0226 1.48 0821 0.56 1430 1.56 2100 0.41 0327 1.51 0934 0.59 1535 1.43 2155 0.47 0430 1.56 1053 0.59 1647 1.33 2252 0.51 0530 1.63 1209 0.54 1800 1.29 2348 0.53 0628 1.69 1315 0.47 1903 1.28

TH 1454 1.31 2045 0.51 1.78 0218 0.38 0853 FR FR 1535 1.34 2128 0.47 1.87 0300 0.30 0933 SA SA 1613 1.38 2207 0.44 1.94 0340 0.24 1011 SU SU 1647 1.41 2244 0.42 1.98 0418 0.20 1046 MO MO 1721 1.43 2320 0.42 1.98 0456 0.20 1121 TU TU 1754 1.44 2356 0.43 1.93 0535 0.23 1156 WE WE 1827

24 24 25 25 26 26

27 27 28 28 29 29

1.46 0.52 1.70 SA 0.35

Time

1 1 0202 0758 SA 1357

1.48 0.56 1.56 SU 0.41

1357 2023

2 2

1.51 0.59 1.43 MO 0.47

0255 0901 SU 1454 2113

3 3

1.56 0.59 1.33 TU 0.51

0352 1015 MO 1603 2209

4 4

1.63 0.54 1.29 WE 0.53

0451 1130 TU 1718 2309

5 5

1.69 0.47 1.28 TH

0548 1235 WE 1825

0005 0641 TH 1329 1921

7 7

0059 0731 FR 1416 2011

8 8 0148 0819 SA 1501 1501 2059

9 9 0238 0908 SU 1546 1546 2145

10 10 0328 0956 MO 1631 1631 2232

11 11 0419 1044 TU 1715 1715 2321

12 12 0512 1132 WE 1800 1800

Time

16 16 0256 0924 SU 1519 1.38 0.74 1.26 MO 0.63

1519 2121

17 17 1.41 0.74 1.20 TU 0.65

0401 1045 MO 1638 2225

18 18 1.47 0.68 1.19 WE 0.64

0509 1202 TU 1756 2330

19 19 0612 1306 WE 1900

0.48 1921 1.28 0059 0.54 0731 1.78 1416 0.36 2011 1.35 0148 0.46 0819 1.89 1501 0.26 2059 1.43 0238 0.39 0908 1.97 1546 0.18 2145 1.49 0328 0.34 0956 2.02 1631 0.14 2232 1.55 0419 0.31 1044 2.00 1715 0.15 2321 1.58 0512 0.32 1132 1.92 1800 0.20

1223 1846 1.79 1846 0.28 0101 0101 0706 1.60 0706 0.43 FR 1315 1315 1933 1.63 1933 0.39 1.36 0157 1.59 0.62 0157 0811 0.51 1.54 0811 SA 1413 1.45 SA 1413 2024 0.50 2024 0.49 1.36 0.67 1.44 0.54

14 14

m 0256 1.58 0924 0.57 1519 1.31 2121 0.58 0401 1.58 1045 0.58 1638 1.22 2225 0.64 0509 1.60 1202 0.56 1756 1.20 2330 0.65 0612 1.63 1306 0.50 1900 1.24

0031 0.62 20 20 0707 1.67 1356 0.45 1.55 0.59 1.22 TH

0031 0707 TH 1356 1950

FR 1436 1.28 2031 0.54 1.78 0208 0.36 0836 SA SA 1512 1.35 2108 0.46 1.89 0247 0.26 0914 SU SU 1545 1.43 2142 0.39 1.97 0324 0.18 0948 MO MO 1615 1.49 2215 0.34 2.02 0400 0.14 1021 TU TU 1645 1.55 2247 0.31 2.00 0435 0.15 1054 WE WE 1715 1.58 2320 0.32 1.92 0513 0.20 1127 TH TH 1744 2354 1.60 0.36 0553 1.79 1202 FR FR 1815 0.28

22 22 23 23 24 24

25 25 26 26 27 27

0010 1.60 13 28 0607 13 0010 0607 0.36 28 TH 1223 1223 1.79

0033 1.45 0034 1.45 0.47 0034 1.36 15 30 15 0617 0616 15 0033 30 0617 0.47 1.83 0616 0.62 15 WE 1238 TH 1231 1238 1.83 1231 1.54

31 31

1.36 0.71 1.35 SU 0.59

0005 0.60 0.60 1.66 0123 21 6 6 0641 1.66 21 1329 0.48 0755 FR 1436 0.48

0.53 1.75 0.41 0.41 1.30 FR 1959 1.30 0132 0.52 0.52 1.80 0809 1.80 0.36 1454 0.36 1.32 SA 2045 1.32 0218 0.51 0.51 1.82 0853 1.82 0.34 1535 0.34 1.34 SU 2128 1.34 0300 0.51 0.51 1.82 0933 1.82 0.33 1613 0.33 1.36 MO 2207 1.36 0340 0.51 0.51 1.80 1011 1.80 0.35 1647 0.35 1.36 TU 2244 1.36 0418 0.52 0.52 1.76 1046 1.76 0.38 1721 0.38 1.36 WE 2320 1.36 0456 0.54 0.54 1.70 1121 1.70 0.41 1754 0.41 1.36 TH 2356 1.36 0535 0.58 0.58 1.63 1156 1.63 0.45 1827 0.45 FR

1.83 0.28 1.54 WE 1238 1916 TH 1231 1901 1901 0.50 1916 0.28 0115 0115 0703 1.36 0703 0.67 FR 1311 1.44 FR 1311 1940 1940 0.54

m 0202 1.36 0758 0.71 1357 1.35 2023 0.59 0255 1.38 0901 0.74 1454 1.26 2113 0.63 0352 1.41 1015 0.74 1603 1.20 2209 0.65 0451 1.47 1130 0.68 1718 1.19 2309 0.64 0548 1.55 1235 0.59 1825 1.22

1.58 0.57 1.31 SU 0.58

Time

1 1 0113 0726 SU 1323

1.58 0.58 1.22 MO 0.64

1323 1927

2 2

1.60 0.56 1.20 TU 0.65

0200 0824 MO 1416 2015

3 3

1.63 0.50 1.24 WE

0257 0935 TU 1526 2116

4 4

0.62 1.67 0.45 0.45 1.29 TH 1950 1.29 0123 0.58 0.58 1.71 0755 1.71 0.41 1436 0.41 1.34 FR 2031 1.34 0208 0.54 0.54 1.73 0836 1.73 0.38 1512 0.38 1.39 SA 2108 1.39 0247 0.51 0.51 1.74 0914 1.74 0.37 1545 0.37 1.42 SU 2142 1.42 0324 0.49 0.49 1.73 0948 1.73 0.38 1615 0.38 1.44 MO 2215 1.44 0400 0.49 0.49 1.70 1021 1.70 0.39 1645 0.39 1.46 TU 2247 1.46 0435 0.50 0.50 1.65 1054 1.65 0.42 1715 0.42 1.47 WE 2320 1.47 0513 0.52 0.52 1.59 1127 1.59 0.46 1744 0.46 1.48 TH 2354 1.48 0553 0.56 0.56 1.51 1202 1.51 0.51 1815 0.51 FR

0401 1054 WE 1649 2230

5 5

0510 1203 TH 1803 2339

6 6

0612 1300 FR 1901

m 0113 1.47 0726 0.65 1323 1.32 1927 0.63 0200 1.45 0824 0.69 1416 1.23 2015 0.69 0257 1.45 0935 0.70 1526 1.17 2116 0.72 0401 1.48 1054 0.66 1649 1.17 2230 0.72 0510 1.55 1203 0.57 1803 1.22 2339 0.66 0612 1.66 1300 0.45 1901 1.32

1.47 0.65 1.32 MO 0.63

Time

16 16 0225 0915 MO 1510 1.45 0.69 1.23 TU 0.69

1510 2049

17 17 1.45 0.70 1.17 WE 0.72

0332 1031 TU 1631 2200

18 18 1.48 0.66 1.17 TH 0.72

0444 1144 WE 1748 2315

19 19 0551 1243 TH 1846

8 8 0133 0758 SU 1436 1436 2038

9 9 0225 0847 MO 1520 1520 2124

10 10 0316 0937 TU 1603 1603 2210

11 11 0408 1026 WE 1647 1647 2257

12 12 0501 1116 TH 1730 1730 2345

13 13 0558 1207 FR 1815 1815

0.33 1951 1.43 0133 0.45 0758 1.90 1436 0.23 2038 1.53 0225 0.35 0847 1.97 1520 0.16 2124 1.63 0316 0.28 0937 1.99 1603 0.14 2210 1.71 0408 0.25 1026 1.95 1647 0.17 2257 1.76 0501 0.26 1116 1.84 1730 0.25 2345 1.77 0558 0.31 1207 1.69 1815 0.36

1300 1900 1.52 1900 0.48 0127 0127 0801 1.71 0801 0.47 SU 1400 1400 1949 1.36 1949 0.60

15 15

Time

1 1 0215 0909 WE 1506

1.59 0.58 1.19 TH 0.75

1506 2040

2 2

1.57 0.57 1.21 FR 0.75

0322 1023 TH 1628 2200

3 3

1.58 0.54 1.27 SA

0435 1130 FR 1740 2315

4 4

1.54 0.66 1.19 TH 0.78

Time

16 16 0310 1009 TH 1622 1.54 0.62 1.21 FR 0.77

1622 2148

17 17 1.59 0.54 1.29 SA 0.70

0416 1102 FR 1715 2253

18 18 1.69 0.43 1.41 SU

0512 1146 SA 1759 2346

19 19 0557 1223 SU 1835

m 0310 1.55 1009 0.60 1622 1.26 2148 0.82 0416 1.54 1102 0.59 1715 1.32 2253 0.77 0512 1.55 1146 0.56 1759 1.40 2346 0.71 0557 1.56 1223 0.53 1835 1.48

1.66 0.45 1.32 SA

6 6 0016 0634 MO 1304

21 21 0110 0731 SA 1406 1406 2008

SU 1439 1.43 2042 0.45 1.90 0231 0.23 0846 MO MO 1509 1.53 2114 0.35 1.97 0306 0.16 0920 TU TU 1538 1.63 2144 0.28 1.99 0342 0.14 0953 WE WE 1606 1.71 2215 0.25 1.95 0417 0.17 1027 TH TH 1634 1.76 2246 0.26 1.84 0454 0.25 1101 FR FR 1702 1.77 2319 0.31 1.69 0533 0.36 1138 SA SA 1733 2354 1.75 0.38 0616 1.52 1217 SU SU 1806 0.48

23 23 24 24

25 25

26 26

27 27 28 28

0.70 1.61 0.50 0.50 1.34 SU 1930 1.34 0110 0.64 0.64 1.63 0731 1.63 0.47 1406 0.47 1.41 MO 2008 1.41 0153 0.58 0.58 1.66 0811 1.66 0.44 1439 0.44 1.47 TU 2042 1.47 0231 0.54 0.54 1.66 0846 1.66 0.43 1509 0.43 1.51 WE 2114 1.51 0306 0.50 0.50 1.66 0920 1.66 0.42 1538 0.42 1.56 TH 2144 1.56 0342 0.49 0.49 1.63 0953 1.63 0.44 1606 0.44 1.59 FR 2215 1.59 0417 0.48 0.48 1.59 1027 1.59 0.46 1634 0.46 1.61 SA 2246 1.61 0454 0.50 0.50 1.53 1101 1.53 0.51 1702 0.51 1.62 SU 2319 1.62 0533 0.52 0.52 1.45 1138 1.45 0.56 1733 0.56 1.62 MO 2354 1.62 0616 0.56 0.56 1.37 1217 1.37 0.62 1806 0.62 TU

0543 1228 SA 1837

m 0215 1.54 0909 0.66 1506 1.19 2040 0.78 0322 1.54 1023 0.62 1628 1.21 2200 0.77 0435 1.59 1130 0.54 1740 1.29 2315 0.70 0543 1.69 1228 0.43 1837 1.41

0019 0.58 0030 0.58 1.79 0030 0.64 20 5 0541 0637 5 1217 1.79 20 1.58 0.33 0637 MO 1257 0.33 1257 0.50

0018 0645 FR 1329 1930

1.60 0031 1.48 0034 1.48 0.60 0034 1.75 29 29 14 0.43 0031 0636 0657 14 29 0.60 1.41 0657 0.38 29 1.63 0636 SA 1240 SA 1300 1240 1.41 1300 1.52 1.41 0.57 SA 1240 1848 SA 0.39 1848 0.57 1.59 0.51 1.45 SU 0.49

m 1.65 0.54 1.24 WE 0.70

0018 0.70 20 20 0645 1.61 1329 0.50 1.55 0.57 1.22 FR 0.66

0039 0.56 0.56 1.78 0153 22 7 7 0707 1.78 22 1350 0.33 0811 SU 1439 0.33 0039 0707 SA 1350 1951

m 0225 1.65 0915 0.54 1510 1.24 2049 0.70 0332 1.59 1031 0.58 1631 1.19 2200 0.75 0444 1.57 1144 0.57 1748 1.21 2315 0.75 0551 1.58 1243 0.54 1846 1.27

Local Time APRIL APRIL Time Time m

0019 0541 SU 1217 1827

1304 1914

7 7 0111 0725 TU 1348 1348 2000

8 8 0203 0816 WE 1431 1431 2045

9 9 0257 0907 TH 1515 1515 2132

10 10 0352 1000 FR 1559 1559 2219

11 11 0448 1053 SA 1643 1643 2308

12 12 0547 1148 SU 1729 1729

31 31

MO 1257 1.54 1909 0.46 1.87 0110 0.25 0714 TU TU 1327 1.67 1941 0.35 1.91 0146 0.21 0749 WE WE 1356 1.79 2012 0.27 1.89 0222 0.22 0824 TH TH 1425 1.87 2043 0.24 1.82 0300 0.27 0900 FR FR 1454 1.92 2115 0.25 1.70 0338 0.36 0938 SA SA 1526 1.92 2149 0.30 1.56 0418 0.47 1017 SU SU 1559 1.87 2226 0.38 1.42 0501 0.60 1100 MO MO 1636 2306 1.80 0.47 0550 1.31 1149 TU TU 1719 0.71 2353 1.70 0.54 0646 1.23 1246 WE WE 1813 0.79

21 21

22 22 23 23 24 24

25 25

26 26

27 27

0000 1.80 13 28 0650 13 0000 0650 0.47 28 MO 1248 1248 1.31

1248 1819 1.31 1819 0.71 0056 0056 0758 1.70 0758 0.54 TU 1357 1357 1920 1.23 1920 0.79 1.59 0200 1.61 0.61 0200 0906 0.59 1.29 0906 WE 1513 1.22 WE 1513 2033 0.69 2033 0.83 1.56 0.65 1.23 0.75

14 14

0033 1.71 1.59 30 15 0704 0.47 0033 30 0.61 15 1.36 0704 MO 1302 1302 1.29 1.29 MO 1302 1845 0.60 1845 0.69 0119 0119 0800 1.56 0800 0.65 TU 1357 1.23 TU 1357 1933 1933 0.75

0.33 1827 1.54 0016 0.46 0634 1.87 1304 0.25 1914 1.67 0111 0.35 0725 1.91 1348 0.21 2000 1.79 0203 0.27 0816 1.89 1431 0.22 2045 1.87 0257 0.24 0907 1.82 1515 0.27 2132 1.92 0352 0.25 1000 1.70 1559 0.36 2219 1.92 0448 0.30 1053 1.56 1643 0.47 2308 1.87 0547 0.38 1148 1.42 1729 0.60

29 29

m 1.55 0.60 1.26 0.82 1.54 0.59 1.32 0.77 1.55 0.56 1.40 0.71 1.56 0.53 1.48

0.64 1.58 0.50 0.50 1.55 1909 1.55 0110 0.59 0.59 1.58 0714 1.58 0.49 1327 0.49 1.61 1941 1.61 0146 0.54 0.54 1.57 0749 1.57 0.49 1356 0.49 1.67 2012 1.67 0222 0.51 0.51 1.55 0824 1.55 0.50 1425 0.50 1.71 2043 1.71 0300 0.49 0.49 1.51 0900 1.51 0.53 1454 0.53 1.74 2115 1.74 0338 0.49 0.49 1.46 0938 1.46 0.57 1526 0.57 1.76 2149 1.76 0418 0.51 0.51 1.41 1017 1.41 0.62 1559 0.62 1.74 2226 1.74 0501 0.54 0.54 1.35 1100 1.35 0.67 1636 0.67 1.72 2306 1.72 0550 0.57 0.57 1.29 1149 1.29 0.73 1719 0.73 1.68 2353 1.68 0646 0.60 0.60 1.26 1246 1.26 0.78 1813 0.78

0048 1.64 0.60 1.25 1.25 0.80 TH 1354 1920 0.83 1920 0.80 1.61

1.64 30 0750 0.59 0048 30 0.60 1.22 0750 TH 1354 1354 1.25

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2019, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times are in local Symbols standard time (UTC time (UTC +11:00) when in effect New+10:00) Moon or daylight savings First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Full Moon Moon Phase Symbols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Tide predictions for Sydney (Fort Denison) have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions. 60

MARCH 2020

Cooking

Cioppino fish stew BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Cioppino is a seafood stew similar to the Mediterranean soup, bouillabaisse. This stew was developed by an Italian-

American fisherman in San Francisco and epitomises a one-pot, seafood-packed, tomato-based feast. You can use any seafood you have in the following recipe. In this month’s addition, the ingredients

include crayfish tails, baby octopus, bay scallops, mussel meat and fish fillets. You may also use uncooked crab pieces and/or green prawns. You could either leave your crayfish tails whole or cut them into halves.

Ingredients • 1/4 cup canola oil • 2 onions, peeled and finely chopped • 1 large green capsicum, deseeded and chopped • 2 cloves garlic, crushed • 2 x 400g tins chopped tomatoes • 2 tablespoons tomato paste • 2 cups dry white wine

• Bunch flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped • Salt and pepper • 2 green crayfish tails, cut in half down the middle • 200g baby octopus • 200g bay scallops • 200g mussel meat • 250g fish fillets, cut into pieces

Heat the oil in a heavy-based pot over a medium high heat. Add the onion, capsicum and garlic. Sauté, stirring occasionally, for about five minutes.

Add seasoning and half of the roughly chopped parsley. Stir the contents thoroughly and half cover the pot with the lid and bring the contents to a simmer. Continue to simmer for approximately 15 minutes.

Place the fish pieces into the pot and ensure that they are submerged in the liquid. Continue to cook at a gentle simmer for another five minutes with the lid on.

Add tomato paste and the tomatoes into the pot. Stir well.

At the end of the cooking time, add the crayfish tails and baby octopus to the mixture and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.

Remove the lid and sprinkle the contents of the pot with the remaining chopped parsley. Season to taste.

Once mixed through, pour in the white wine.

Now add the bay scallops and mussel meat to the pot. Stir well and cook for a further minute or so.

Serve the cioppino with chunks of crusty bread. MARCH 2020

WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI SQUID JIG BOX

The new Samaki Squid Jig tackle box is now available. This box stores your squid jigs individually without spike hook-ups, thanks to foam compartments which keep your jigs separate from one another. It makes life a lot easier being able to store your jigs in a box free from other jigs and saltwater damage. The double-sided box holds a variety of sizes and weights, and each spike sits within its own foam casing. You also have the ability to place your jig weight within the foam slits for extra jig preservation. Samaki Split Foam tackle boxes come in five sizes, each designed for a variety of lure storage options, holding the smallest of flies up to your favourite vibes, hardbodies, jigheads and squid jigs. The range starts with a small single-sided model, and moves into four double-sided options of medium, large, extralarge, and jig extra-large. The soft slit foam insert has slits and holes for you to use your tackle box to the max, all without hook tangles. The UV-resistant lids reduce lure fade, and the waterproof o-ring and stainless steel hinges safeguard your lures and terminal tackle. www.samaki.com.au

DAIWA TD HYPER RODS

Daiwa has revamped the TD Hyper Series, delivering high-end performance at a mid range price. The heart of TD Hyper is Daiwa’s HVF Nanoplus blank that combines precise resin control with unidirectional graphite fibre to produce a blank with maximum graphite density. Light, responsive, and crisp in action, TD Hyper blank performance is further enhanced courtesy of X45 blank technology, working seamlessly to eliminate blank twist and distortion to increase rod strength, function, and sensitivity. The new TD Hyper receives a significant componentry upgrade in the form of Daiwa’s Air Sensor reel seats. Air Sensor reel seats are made from carbon-infused resin, making them lighter and stronger than traditional reel seat designs. Partnering the Air Sensor reel seats are new taper grips that enhance comfort and control. There is an extensive array of models to choose from, ranging from multi-piece travel rods to technique specific light tackle and heavy models. www.daiwafishing.com.au

BLACK MAGIC SLIM JIG COLOURS

The Black Magic Deepwater Slim Jig range just received these five new colours: candy stick, blinky, mahi mahi, night rider and fire tiger, which join the original colours of extreme pilly, pink frost and mad max. Deepwater Slim Jigs are all high in UV and lumo, and are all rigged with super strong 8/0 assist hooks, Kevlar thread and split/ solid rings. These low-resistance, long narrow jigs offer a faster retrieve with less effort, and they are great for deep water fishing. They are available in two models, 200g (246mm) and 300g (266mm). For more information on the Deepwater Slim Jigs, check out the Black Magic Tackle website. You can also find more information, news and catch photos on Black Magic’s Facebook 62

MARCH 2020

PRODUCT GUIDE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

page (www.facebook.com/blackmagictackle), Instagram (@blackmagictackle) and the Black Magic YouTube channel. www.blackmagictackle.com

BONE DASH 60S

The Bone Dash is a sinking pencil bait that flutters on the fall and slides on the retrieve giving the angler options like never before. By attaching the line to the front eyelet, the Dash will work like a sinking pencil bait, fluttering on the fall with a side to side glide on a straight retrieve. Smart anglers can give the Dash a realistic sliding, darting action with clever rod work. Attaching your lure on the top eyelet will enable the vibe mode, giving the Dash a tight wobble on a straight retrieve. This tie off position also creates less resistance through the water on the retrieve and still maintains the fluttering sink. Small in profile, but big on action and options, the Dash 60S is a dual function lure that will appeal to predators in any water. It measures 60mm, weighs 10g and comes in 11 colours. www.wilsonfishing.com

TICA EZI CAST BAITCASTER

3 5

TiCA’s new Ezi Cast Baitcasting reel offers excellent quality at an affordable price, with an attractive bright white and black finish. The TiCA Ezi Cast Baitcaster has a robust frame with a V-shaped double anodised aluminium spool, brass main gear, Magforce brake system that helps eliminate backlash, star drag with Micronic Click, Quick Remove sideplate and instant anti-reverse. The Ezi Cast Baitcaster comes with five bearings, of which two are stainless steel, one RRB (Rust Resistant Bearing) and two nylon bearings that help to make this reel cast effortlessly and allow the spool to spin freely. The Ezi Cast Baitcaster comes with a 6.3: 1 high speed ratio and delivers 7kg of drag pressure. It is available in both right- and lefthand wind and it holds 150 yards of 20lb braid. This reel is ideal for the likes of bass and estuary perch, and anglers looking for a small, low-profile reel. www.jurofishing.com

SPEED SKIRT AND SPEED PLUG

Gillies has expanded its Bluewater range of lures with the addition of the Speed Skirt and Speed Plug. The Bluewater Speed Skirts are a high speed trolling skirt capable of searching waters at 15-18 knots, making them ideal for tuna, wahoo and other high speed pelagic species. They are available in four colours – purple black, lumo green, lumo and pink. The Bluewater Speed Plugs are constructed from a hard polyurethane material, are keel weighted in the front for casting, have a luminous ball in the body section, and feature a rubber hook lock that secures the rig. They are available in four colours – smoke, green, purple and blue. You can find more information on the range at the JM Gillies website, or for the latest news, catch photos and competitions, check them out on Facebook (facebook.com/jm.gillies) or follow them on Instagram (@jm.gillies). www.jmgillies.com.au

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

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

NEW RAPALA 3X COLOUR

7 8

Rapala has added a new colour to the Shadow Rap 3X range: ROL (live roach). It’s available in the 3X, 3X Deep, Shad 3X and Shad 3X Deep models. The 11cm suspending Shadow Rap 3X makes tight turns when twitched, turns to look back and then settles to a head down position with a quiver before starting a slow fade-away dive on the pause. It can be fished almost in place with short twitches. The 3X Deep version dives to 1.8m, and is ideal for a slow moving dying minnow presentation. It can be fished with little forward movement, yet a lot of side-to-side action. With a fast twitch followed by slack line, it turns almost 180° before settling with a flicker to a dying dive. The 9cm Shad 3X swims with the infamous horizontal struggle with a vertical rise on the pause, mimicking a baitfish in trouble. The versatile Shad 3X Deep model can be fished finesse or aggressively, matching the mood of the fish. www.rapala.com.au

The Shimano Tiger Baku Baku is a Japanese designed kabura jig. The Baku Baku’s 3D holographic eyes enhance the colour combinations, and the specialist silicon skirts have been developed to entice fish to bite. The Oceania model has been beefed up with longer, curly skirts, a line-through head design and larger heavyduty hooks to handle the toughest fish in the ocean. The Baku Baku design uses a low centre of gravity head shape that creates a resonance when moving through the water. Its shape also produces a complex flow of water behind the head, which creates a unique fish-attracting action from the silicon skirts. The line-through head design allows the skirt to flutter naturally to the bottom, and once hooked the freerunning head means the fish can’t use the weight of the jig to throw the hook. The Tiger Baku Baku is currently available in six colours: red gold, orange silver, red silver, chartreuse glow, blue sardine and black gold. Price: SRP $19.95 www.shimanofish.com.au

NEW EGILICIOUS MODELS

LIVETARGET FLUTTER SHAD

Tackle Tactics have teamed up with their Pro Anglers to create a stack of new colours, including foil and glow patterns, in the Fish Inc. Egilicious range of squid jigs. TTs has also added Fast Sink models in the 3.0 and 3.5 sizes, which during testing proved priceless when fishing deeper water, faster currents and when drifting and fishing in windy conditions. The popularity of Egilicious jigs is due to their affordable price, quality, durable tight cloth, super-sticky Japanese Owner squid hooks, a buoyant tail for a natural stand-up presentation, and a tail angle designed a few degrees higher to reduce snagging and fouling. The addition of 15 new colours has the nation covered, with the Pro Team already proving the worth of colours such as bleeding belly, bleeding black, red rack, fluoro green, fluoro orange, neo glow (glow), blue beans (glow) and hot pink (glow). This brings the total number of colours to 27. Price: SRP $11.95-$12.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

NEW DAIWA LUGGAGE

SHIMANO TIGER BAKU 10 BAKU

The Daiwa luggage range has been expanded with four new additions. The Tackle Backpack holds nothing back in strength and design, and features multiple zippered storage pockets, a front chest strap, and a front access tackle tray compartment preloaded with four 3600-sized Daiwa tackle trays. The new Soft Top and Hard Top bags provide room for all your angling goodies, with external zippered pockets, double handle and padded shoulder strap, and single 3700-sized Daiwa tackle tray, making them an essential item for your next trip away. There are few pieces of luggage more essential than a water-resistant boat bag, and the new Daiwa Hard Base Boat Bag sets the standard in ruggedness. Constructed from durable vinyl material and featuring a waterproof hard bottom, this is the bag to help keep your gear safe and dry. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Winner of Best Saltwater Hard Lure at ICAST 2019, the LiveTarget Flutter Shad jigging spoon mimics a shad fluttering in distress. The Inner Core produces a vibrant flash, the feather hook creates drag and holds the hook in the ideal strike position when falling. You can lift and drop to create a falling shimmy action, or snap the rod tip to impart an erratic twitch action. The result is a strobing flash which triggers a bite. The Flutter Shad comes in two sizes (60mm, 21g and 80mm, 42g) and 10 colours. LiveTarget also took out the Best Freshwater Hard Lure at ICAST, with the firstever anatomically precise spoon: the Erratic Shiner. The lure has a life-like Inner-Core with a pulsating vibrant flash, an Exo-Skin that produces an erratic wide-wobble, and a darting effect imitating an injured baitfish. It has been designed for long casts and is also excellent for trolling. It comes in two sizes (55mm, 11g and 70mm, 21g) and 10 colours. www.ejtodd.com.au

SAMAKI BIG BARRA

Samaki’s newest barra shirt features a dark, stormy sky in the background as the beautiful girl leaps from the depths to engulf a Mega Bomb Shad. This brand new barramundi design has been drawn from the ground up, with amazing detail in the mouth, gills and every scale, and the eye is next level fish art at its finest. The lightweight fabric is perfect for all outdoor elements, protecting you from the harsh sun with UPF50+ technology. The soft touch 100% polyester material is comfortable on the body, plus it has the added feature of being breathable, keeping you cool and dry. Samaki designs are brought to you by Australian anglers who love to design Australian species. Big Barra shirts are available in adult, youth and kids sizes from a size 2 through to a 5XL, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out onto the water. For more information and stockists visit the Samaki website, and like them on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date. www.samaki.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au MARCH 2020

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DOBYNS SKIRTED FOOTBALL JIGS

JIG STAR TWISTED 13 SISTA RODS

Dobyns Football Jigs are hand-tied with custom coloured skirts in a combination of round rubber and premium silicone for a natural flowing action. They are built to the specs of professional bass angler Gary Dobyns, who has won over a 100 major tournament victories in the US. These jigs feature a football head shape that easily crawls over rocks and other hard structure, and have chip-resistant paint. They are built around a razor sharp Gamakatsu 604 Round Bend Hook, which Gary has used on his own jigs for 20 years because of its superior hook penetration. Each jig features a special 4-barb bait keeper to hold the jig trailers securely in place. They are available in 12 proven colours and two weights – 3/8oz and 1/2oz. www.ejtodd.com.au

PLANO RUSTRICTOR 14 SERIES Plano’s Rustrictor Series brings unbeatable rust-proof protection to the StowAway line. The Volatile Corrosion Inhibitor (VCI) infused walls and dividers provide 360° of protection that blocks rust and corrosion for five times longer than other tackle boxes. The Rustrictor 3700 model (35.5 x 23 x 5cm) brings this technology to Plano’s most popular StowAway size – the classic 3700. It has four fixed compartments, or you can add the provided dividers to create up to 24 compartments. It’s the perfect companion to any Plano 3700 Series tackle bag or system. There’s also a slimmer 3700 Thin version (35.5 x 23 x 3.5cm), and the roomy 3700 Deep (35.5 x 23 x 8cm) for your biggest lures. Designed for terminal tackle, the Rustrictor Terminal model (31.5 x 22.5 x 3.8cm) surrounds its contents with a corrosioninhibiting vapour that won’t leave any residue, odour or film. Other models in the range are the 3600 (28 x 18.5 x 4.5cm), 3600 Deep (28 x 18.5 x 7cm), and the compact 3500 (23 x 13 x 3cm), so there are sizes to suit all situations and angling preferences. www.jmgillies.com.au

SALTIGA 12 BEX UVF PE+SI

Made with UVF (Ultra Volume Fibre) and Evo Silicone, Saltiga 12 BEX UVF PE+Si line is the ultimate high-density braid, exhibiting supreme abrasion resistance and ultimate strength. With 72% improved abrasion resistance, 20% more strength, an 18% more slippery surface and 30% less line stretch compared to 8-braid premium PE lines, our Saltiga 12 Braid UVF is the ultimate in line technology. A reduced diameter provides an ultrasmooth surface for less friction/resistance on the guides and spool rim allowing for longer smoother casting, less noise, minimal water penetration and incredible sensitivity. Saltiga 12 is perfect for heavy-duty jigging and casting line for big gamefish, and it’s color-coded in 10m, 5m and 1m increments to allow full line control. It’s available in a range of sizes from PE0.6 (200m spool) up to PE8 (400m). www.daiwafishing.com.au 64

MARCH 2020

PRODUCT GUIDE

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Jig Star evolved after NZ jigging expert Chris Wong spent years jigging with renowned big fish anglers, testing his products on XOS kingfish and hapuka. The Twisted Sista rod has an innovative ‘acid’ or ‘spiral’ design which draws on the inherent advantages of both overhead and spin rods. The design alleviates blank twist associated with poorly-built overhead rods, and allows the blank to develop its maximum potential. These rods have excellent power and resilience as a result of the carefully tapered nano blank with a perfect acid guide flow. Bend the Twisted Sista to its max and you’ll see what all the fuss is about. There are three models, all with Fuji PSS, PLS palming reel seats with Fuji KWAG and LC Guides, and a lack of binding between the guide feet, reducing ‘dead spots’ caused by excessive binding. The MK-II rod has been redesigned with slightly more butt power and finished with custom artwork and detail. The grips have changed to short, chunky grooved EVA for a greater, more comfortable grip. All rods come with a padded rod bag. www.jurofishing.com

BLACKWOLF STRATO 40

The BlackWolf Strato 40Technical Daypack might look like an ordinary backpack, it’s equipped with a range of handy features. For sticky situations in the bush, there’s a safety whistle and a night reflective daisy loop. There’s also an internal pocket for a hydration tank. Designed with a waterproof rain cover, you can count on this backpack to keep your valuables dry, and the heavy-duty no. 10 zippers are built to last. Say goodbye to an aching back and say hello to relaxed shoulders; the padded waist and shoulder straps mean you can feel balanced, secure and confident no matter the terrain. For heavier loads, the sternum strap across your chest takes the pressure off your shoulders and give you extra cushioning. You can even use this backpack in the city, because it has a padded laptop holder and hardcase, as well as RFID protection from digital theft. There’s also a removable key holder and external headphone port. Price: SRP $199.99 www.blackwolf.com.au

NEW BIO TOUGH COLOURS

Two effective new colours have joined the growing Squidgies Bio Tough lineup range. These new offerings greatly expand the range’s appeal to finesse fishers seeking downsized offerings for finicky adversaries, ranging from trout, yellowbelly and bass to bream, flathead, whiting and more. The classic Squidgies favourite ‘UV jelly prawn’ colour is now available in the Bio Tough Grubs, Crawler and smaller Fish and Wriggler models. The black grub is a staple lure in many angler’s tackleboxes, and the new UV Black Onyx is now available in the Grubs and Crawler. These new colours perfectly imitate bottom-dwelling critters including yabbies, crabs, nippers and shrimp, as well as all manners of other creepy crawlies living in salt and fresh waters. www.shimano.com.au

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Versatile Palms Turn Pop 50 I have had many years of success using surface lures in the estuaries and creeks around Sydney, catching a range of species. The ones have been particularly successful are the Bassday Sugapen, Nomad surface lures, Rapala poppers and some Prolure surface pencils, both on the flats and near weed and structure targeting Australian bass, whiting and bream, along with the occasional flathead that took an interest.

walk-the-dog style retrieve which was great for a lure of this design and shape. Being a chunky lure with a transparent body it imitated a fleeing prawn very well. With the constant winding and twitching it really brought in the bream, and you could easily see them tailing it like a pack

The pink prawn colour was the most successful during testing

This time I wanted to try something different – the new Palms Turn Pop 50. This popper is 5cm long, which is the perfect size for the species that I target. It has a centre treble and twin rear assist hooks, weighs 3.9g and comes in six colours: clear prawn, black bar prawn, pink prawn, yellow prawn, red/ green prawn and brown prawn. At first glance the Turn Pop appeared to be an overdone popper that was confused as to what it wanted to be. Was it a surface pencil or was it a popper? Would it swim well or would it drag with the assists and be balanced incorrectly with the differing hook shapes and sizes?

of dogs from behind. It wasn’t long before it got smashed by numerous bream, and it was even smashed by an opportunistic longtom and a pike! WHEN TO USE IT In comparing this to a Bassday/Prolure or similar pencil, I still feel they have their own league and can’t be topped in that particular arena. However, for the popper fanatics who need something in windy conditions to create some further attraction, the Palms Turn Pop really is a standout. The assist hooks with attractant tinsel and coloured line adds to the appearance of prawn legs fluttering Something I didn’t expect to encounter during a bream session – a hungry pike. the fish would have a go at the rear but not connect. It’s possible that this was my error in not letting the lure stay in the zone long enough, or perhaps it needed to be worked a tad slower, allowing the assists to flutter more freely, encouraging a stronger hook-up. The one thing I learnt with these style lures is to maintain a constant retrieve. The minute you stop, the fish quickly lose interest, unlike when you’re fishing a Bassday or similar. Overall I found the Palms Turn Pop 50 to be quite a versatile lure. If the wind is up or you are targeting unknown waterways or flats and want to have a crack at targeting a number of species, this lure is definitely something you’ll need to have in your arsenal. It’s dramatic in how it lands, and its motion through the water creates plenty of disturbance that draws the fish in.

To view the full colour range, or to find your nearest stockist, visit www.ejtodd. com.au. - Ben O’Brien

The Turn Pop 50 in green/red, ready to be put through its paces.

A bream that took a liking to the yellow prawn colour. TESTING The first cast saw it rocket through the air like a bullet, perfectly weighted, and it definitely got the distance I wanted. The landing is heavy, with the assists and trebles causing a bit of commotion as it hits the water. It certainly makes its presence known. On the first retrieve I noticed that it dispersed a lot of water from the cup face, which was great. With further winds of the reel and twitches of the rod tip I could really get it moving, doing the

along as the lure is whipped from side to side, splashing enticingly. The pink prawn was by far the best performer on my trips; I imagine that the colours would really stand out when it’s moving through the water, and the fish home in on it. Bream found these poppers to be super enticing, and they just couldn’t resist having a swipe at the Turn Pop as I worked it past pylons and around submerged timber structure. I found that the hook-up rates weren’t overly improved with the assists; I found that

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au MARCH 2020

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS COLOURFUL CATCHES

BUTTERFLYFISH DAMSELFISH BLUE BANDED GOBY PARROTFISH SURGEONFISH MANDARINFISH CORAL TROUT BLUE GROPER MAORI WRASSE

FAIRY BASSLET DISCUSFISH BLUE TANG CORONATION TROUT MAHI MAHI FLAME SNAPPER HARLEQUIN FISH VENUS TUSKFISH

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack. SEND ENTRIES TO: NSW Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

NSW MARCH 2020

Phone (day):

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

Complete the Find the Word and go in the draw to win a Fishing Monthly Prize Pack containing a limited edition neck scarf and a Fishing Monthly environmentally-friendly tote bag.

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Adam Kalamouni, who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition! Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for January are S Wykamp of Eugowra, G Taylor of Sydney, S Dawson of Cronulla, R Coombs of Minnamurra, and B Everatt of Gwynneville, who won an Remington Ultimate Series RX5 Head Shaver valued at $150. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

Werombi, C Cooper of Boorowa, G Dalley of Thornton, M Ryall of Singleton, G Waugh of Greystanes, K Whillock of Dapto, J Graham of Bogangar, T Duval of Lower MacDonald, N Foot of Lara, B Anschau of Skennars Head, R Fineran of Geurie, P Bak of Monash, A Sinclair of Lalor Park, J Paul of Inverell, H Morrison of Forbes, D Turner of Kincumber, M Callagher of Teralba,

T Refalo of Somersby, D Reeves of Windsor, K Hester of Beverly Hills, D Burgess of Elermore Vale, E Poll of Kiama Downs, R Jones of Werris Creek, C Glenn of Gwynneville, P Lyneham of Fern Bay, V Zan of Echuca, D Nacinovic of North Narrabeen, S Gallacher of St Clair, B Culshaw of Banyo, E Owens of Banks. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

GUESS THE FISH?

FIND THE ZMAN LOGO

MARCH 2020

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Threadfin Salmon

The Find the ZMan Logo prize winners for January were: R Bland of Forster, T Jennar of Gordon, P Dubbelde of Orange, C Engelbrecht of Wagga Wagga, I Necic of Glenfield, J Thompson of Berry, J Morante of Wauchope, J Cook of Stuarts Point, L Comerford of Penrith South, P Hamilton of Uranquinty, J Gowan of

Answer:

Trades & Services Directory ba Prawn Blade s” “Yam

SYDNEY

FISHING GUIDES

CLARENCE

Penrith Marine (02) 4731 6250

PORT STEPHENS

Cohoe Marine Products (Sydney) (02) 9519 3575

Fish Port Stephens Estuary Charters 0434 370 687

MACQUARIE COAST

Blakes Marine (02) 4577 6699

Castaway Estuary Charters 0427 239 650

“IN THE MAIN STREET”

02 6646 1514

Watersports Marine (02) 9676 1400

EDEN COAST Captain Kev’s Wilderness Fishing Tours (02) 4474 3345 or 0424 625 160

REEL TIME FISHING CHARTERS

Tweed Coast Marine (07) 5524 8877

Drop in to see Mick & Kelly

COFFS COAST

MACQUARIE COAST Graham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866 Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

Compleat Angler Kempsey (02) 6562 5307 MOTackle & Outdoors (02) 6652 4611 or www.motackle.com.au Rocks Marine Bait & Tackle South West Rocks (02) 6566 6726

KAYAK DEALERS

Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962 OPEN 7 DAYS

EASY PARKING

OPEN 7 DAYS

• Stocking all Major Brands • Experienced Local Knowledge • Tournament Bream Gear in Stock • Snorkelling gear in stock

TWEED/BYRON COAST

Ballina Marineland (02) 6686 2669

• 6am to 2pm $150pp • 3 boats – holds up to 30+ people • All fishing gear and bait is supplied • No fishing licence req. • Pickup from Yamba Marina or Iluka ferry wharf

•

“The Home of Leavey Lures”

TR Marine World (02) 4577 3522

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

Shop 3, 8 Yamba St, Yamba

Marina Bayside (02) 9524 0044 Shannons Outboards (02) 9482 2638

CHARTER BOATS

YAMBA BAIT & TACKLE “Yamba’s Leading Tackle Shop”

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE • Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings Ph: 6646 1994 or 0428 231 962 Email: dave@gaden.com.au Now Agents For

CLARENCE COAST Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962

MINN REPAIRS & SERVICING • • • •

All electric motor brands Australia wide freight Quick turn around Authorised Minn Kota/Watersnake repairer

Minn Repairs & Servicing Call Troy 0412 605 080 – W: minnrepairs.com minnrepairsservicing E: minnrepairs@gmail.com

The Life Aquatic - Mona Vale – (02) 9979 1590 Australian Bass Angler - Penrith – (02) 4721 0455 Hunts Marine - Yallah – (02) 4284 0444 Bunyips Great Outdoors - Lismore – (02) 6622 1137 Maclean Outdoors - MacLean – (02) 6645 1120 Wetspot Watersports -Fyshwick – (02) 6239 1323 Graham Barclay Marine – Forster – (02) 6554 5866 Hunter Water Sports - Belmont – (02) 4947 7899 Totally Immersed Watersports - Nowra (02) 4421 5936 Hunts Marine - Batemans Bay – (02) 4472 2612 Compleat Angler – Merimbula – (02) 6495 3985

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

GET THE ULTIMATE FG KNOT TOOL Ideal for braids and leaders large and small.

MODIFIED DESIGN

COFFS COAST Freshest Fishing Tours 0421 405 221

MIKAT CRUISES

HOLIDAY RENTAL MACLEAY VALLEY COAST

CRESCENT HEAD HOLIDAY RENTALS

SATELLITE TV INSTALLED Phone: 0427 125 727 I Fax: (07) 4972 1759 michael@mikat.com.au

www.mikat.com.au MARINE MECHANICS COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour Marine (02) 6652 4722 North Coast Boating Centre (02) 6655 7700 Jetty Boating (02) 6651 4002 Thwaites Marine (02) 6651 7810

CHECK IT OUT ONLINE ORDERS

www.fgwizz.com.au

www.fishin.com.au

THE FISHING EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! • Reef, Deep Sea and Sport Fishing • Swains, Samurez, Cap Bunker Group • Dories available • LUXURY 20m Cat. New V8 Scanias. Large comfortable and stable. • Air conditioned and fast (cruise up to 16 knots) • Professional crew (over 22 years experience) • Cater for groups up to 12 people from 3 to 10 days • BYO or fully licenced bar • Desalinate unit • Trips designed to suit your requirements

allows braid tension adjustment

For all your accommodation needs, house, units & townhouses for every budget. Contact the friendly team at Crescent Head Real Estate for your free holiday brochure.

TOURNAMENT TACKLE STORE

ZX BLADES

www.crescentheadholidayrentals.com.au

ZMAN GRUBZ

Email: holiday@crescentheadrealestate.com.au 6 MAIN ST, CRESCENT HEAD NSW 2440

CRANKA CRABS

Phone: 02 6566 0500

ILLAWARRA COAST Riviera Caravan Park, St George’s Basin (02) 4441 2112

BAIT & TACKLE FRESHWATER

BENT MINNOWS

JACKALL CHUBBY

FREE EXPRESS SHIPPING

Aberdeen Fishing & Outdoors (02) 6543 7111 Loomzys Fish and Fix (Forbes) (02) 6851 1425

MACQUARIE COAST Ned Kelly Bait n Tackle Port Macquarie (02) 6583 8318 Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

0425 230 964 – info@fishin.com.au SHOP 18, 29 KIORA RD MIRANDA NSW 2228

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or email ads@fishingmonthly.com.au MARCH 2020

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2020

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

1 Mar

ABT BASS Electric Round 1 Richmond River

abt.org.au

7-8 Mar

ABT BREAM Round 3 Derwent River

abt.org.au

8 Mar

East Coast Bream Series Round 1 Sydney Harbour

wsbb.com.au 0403 085 696

11-12 Mar

ABT BREAM Round 4 St Helens

abt.org.au

21-22 Mar

ABT BASS Pro Round 1 St Clair

abt.org.au

28-29 Mar

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 2 Georges River

hobiefishing.com.au

4-5 Apr

ABT BREAM Round 5 Mandurah

abt.org.au

5 Apr

ABT BASS Electric Round 2 Coldstream River

abt.org.au

18-19 Apr

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 3 Mallacoota

hobiefishing.com.au

19 Apr

East Coast Bream Series Round 2 St Georges Basin

wsbb.com.au 0403 085 696

25-26 Apr

ABT BASS Pro Round 2 Clarence River

abt.org.au

29 Apr-1 May

ABT BREAM Australian Open Sydney

abt.org.au

2-3 May

ABT BASS Electric Round 3 Lostock Dam

abt.org.au

2-3 May

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 4 Blackwood River

hobiefishing.com.au

16-17 May

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 5 Woy Woy

hobiefishing.com.au

17 May

East Coast Bream Series Round 3 Botany Bay

wsbb.com.au 0403 085 696

23-24 May

ABT BASS Pro Round 3 Glenbawn Dam

abt.org.au

30-31 May

ABT BREAM Round 6 Forster

abt.org.au

6-7 Jun

Lions Greenback Fishing Competition Pottsville Beach

lionsgreenback.com

7 Jun

ABT BASS Electric Round 4 Moogerah Dam

abt.org.au

20-21 Jun

ABT BASS Pro Round 4 Cania Dam

abt.org.au

20-21 Jun

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 6 Gold Coast

hobiefishing.com.au

12 Jul

ABT BASS Electric Round 5 Hinze Dam

abt.org.au

18-19 Jul

ABT BASS Pro Round 5 Wivenhoe Dam

abt.org.au

25-26 Jul

ABT BREAM Round 7 Bribie Island

abt.org.au

8-9 Aug

ABT BASS Pro Round 6 Somerset Dam

abt.org.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours. Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name. 78

MARCH 2020

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

Inside story...

Sea Jay Aluminium Boats has been family owned and operated for over 30 years, and the name has become renowned for strength, quality workmanship and customization with the angler in mind. Whether you’re fishing in fresh or salt, inshore or offshore, Sea Jay will provide you with a model to suit your boating and fishing needs.

Made for...

Sea Jay specialises in boats for sports anglers, offering a stable fishing platform and plenty of storage.

This month...

Editor Steve Morgan takes the Sea Jay 473 Territory with Yamaha F60hp for a spin. Check it out on page 86!

80 Rod holders in yaks

Justin Willmer looks at rod holder options for yaks and which one might be best for your needs!

82 All hands on deck

Decks are now standard on most fishing boats, and Wayne Kampe examines some different types.

84 Paddling around Newy Harbour

Byron Hill shines a light on this under-appreciated fishery only a stone’s throw from Sydney!

MARCH 2020

Sea Jay 473 Territory with Yamaha F60 4-stroke - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

CON

AN THE

launch and retrieve the rig by himself on the decidedly shallow ramp at The Spit. Height-wise, it’ll fit into a standard garage. This rig is a blank canvas for someone who wants to fit out a great little fishing boat that’ll be comfortable anywhere from a freshwater

DE FOR EX

T FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

I love dealing with local manufacturers. Fishing Monthly is located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in South East Queensland and we are surrounded by local boat makers – possibly more than anywhere else in the country. Sea Jay boats are designed and built in Bundaberg, a few hours north of Brisbane, but their National Sales Manager Garry Fitzgerald is located in the South East. The cool thing is that he’s always giving us a sneak peek of all the new models coming out. We snuck this new 473 Territory up to Somerset Dam on a weekday to keep it on the down low, but SPECIFICATIONS Length............... 4.73m Beam................. 2.24m Depth ................ 1.14m Capacity ..... 5 persons Sides ................... 3mm Bottom ................ 3mm Hull.weight ....... 400kg Max.hp ........ 75 (116kg) Fuel ....................... 80L I’ve subsequently seen it in the yard of Stones Corner Marine. It’s the smaller sibling of the larger 493 Territory that was launched at the Brisbane Boat Show late last year. That boat was such a hit the smaller model went into R&D immediately. 86

MARCH 2020

You can see this boat in action in the video boat test (by scanning the QR code on your mobile phone at the top of this article) or by searching on the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube page. For more information on Sea Jay boats, visit www.

PERFORMANCE

Main: The 473 Territory is a great looking boat and definitely suits a buyer who wants their first ‘serious’ fishing boat that can be customised for most inshore situations. Above: The test model was fitted with Yamaha’s F60hp 4-stroke, which yielded over 3km/L economy at cruising speeds. Like most Sea Jay hulls, this one performs well with power less than the maximum allowed. Sea Jay calls the hull design used for the Territory the Adrenalin Next Gen hull. It’s their old Adrenalin hull with the full transom of a Samurai hull added. For me, that full transom (rather than a cut out with a low point where water can splash in) gives you serious peace of mind when you decide to take out this boat and catch your first mackerel or marlin. “We had a lot of feedback from dealers and customers that smaller versions of this boat would be in demand so we got moving on the designs straight away,” said Garry, “and I reckon the team got it right with this boat.” Indeed, after a morning’s boating and fishing on Somerset, I can really see

how Aussie anglers can fall in love with these locally made rigs. The hull is beamy (2.24m) for its 4.73m length and the three of us on board for the day had no problems at all with stability and had plenty of room to fish and film. The spacious front casting deck also has a mile of storage underneath and this space now includes an underfloor anchor locker that gives you unimpeded casting access right up to the bow. The test boat was fitted with an F60hp Yamaha 4-stroke outboard. At 15hp under the maximum allowed, it could definitely do with some extra ponies on the back. At wide open, it hit a modest 45km/h at 5,600rpm at 2.3km/L. Drop it back to 4,500rpm and the economy tops 3km/L at 36km/h. Supplied on a single

axle trailer, this rig is easily towable by basically anything with a tow bar. Fitzy was able to easily

RPM....... Speed.(km/h)....... Economy.(km/L) 700 ............................ 5 ............................ 5.6 1000 .......................... 7 ............................. 7.2 2000.........................11 ............................ 3.4 3000.........................15 ............................ 2.1 4000........................ 31 ............................ 3.0 4500 ........................ 36 ............................ 3.1 5000........................ 40 ............................ 2.6 5600 ........................ 45 ............................ 2.3 lake to Moreton Bay. Add your own combination of electric motor and electronics to customise it to the types of fishing you like and enjoy!

seajayboats.com.au and check out Sea Jay Boats on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest products and boat show appearances.

With the 60hp, the 473 Territory is definitely no rocket ship, maxing out at 45km/h.

Top: It’s good to have a test boat fitted with the electronics you’d put on yourself. The Minn Kota adds a fair bit of weight to the bow and makes the boat behave a little differently out on the water. Above: You’ll be able to mount as big a sounder as you like on top of the dash. There’s also a compartment for your wallet, keys and mobile phone.

Top: The 473 Territory has a full transom with neat rigging and a fold down step. Above: Like all boats with a raised casting platform, you’ll find plenty of storage underneath.

The Yamaha F60hp definitely matches the styling of this rig.

The front casting deck is high and beamy. Moving the anchor well to under the deck gives unprecedented access to the bow of the boat.

It would be a challenge to fill this room with all of your camping and fishing gear. There’s plenty of open space on the deck.

Top Left: The inbuilt transom gives you covered space for batteries and other storage. Top Right: Concealed under the foredeck, the repositioned anchor well is definitely big enough to keep your anchor stowed while travelling. Bottom Left: There’s a livewell in the port transom, which pumps in and has a gravity overflow onto the duckboard. Bottom Right: The Territory is light enough to tote on a single axle trailer.

Left and Right: Sea Jay typically keeps their consoles and seating simple. Additional seat bases can be added to help you get weight distribution right for the best ride possible. MARCH 2020

REASONS TO CHOOSE MERCURY

75-115HP FOURSTROKE

BEST IN CLASS PERFORMANCE LIGHTWEIGHT & COMPACT

SAVE $1500 3.99% UP TO *

COMPARISON RATE

ON BOAT PACKAGES OR REPOWER

^Terms & conditions apply. Savings are based on RRP. Offer available on selected new consumer FourStroke outboards from 75-115hp purchased from participating Mercury dealers from 20th January 2020 to 23rd March 2020. *The comparison rate is based on a secured loan of $30,000 for a term of 5 years. WARNING: The comparison rate only applies to the example given. Different amounts and terms will result in a different comparison rate. Finance is provided by Mercury Finance Pty Ltd ABN 28 156 248 092. Australian Credit Licence Number 421347.

Visit mercurymarine.com.au to find your nearest participating dealer or to request a quote.

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