NSW Fishing Monthly January 2019 by Fishing Monthly

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Features

Trying out skirted jigs Winning on that summer whiting •

•

Tried & Tested

Hobie Mirage Outback 2019 • Stacer 539 Wild Rider Black Magic Snapper Snacks and KLT Hooks •

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Boating & Kayaking Beating those holiday crowds Paddling through South West Rocks •

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January 2019, Vol. 24 No. 6

Contents 24

From the Editor’s Desk... with the ARFF and AFTA boards and even I am feeling tired now. Luckily we shut the office each Christmas break for a couple of weeks, so as you read this, the team will be ready to roll again for the new year and as usual, we expect to work harder each year to bring you the best coverage of what’s going on in fishing and boating in your state. A big shout out to the team that get out of the office a lot less than I do. Jacqui Thomas and the editorial team make sure that the magazine content is assembled each month and Matt Drinkall and the production team still have never missed a print deadline. Thanks for keeping the show rolling while I’m out collecting frequent flyer points and racking up the miles on the Fishing Monthly vehicles. Thanks also to Kym and Marie out the front who deal

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OUR OUR COVER COVER

SEQ angler Brett Howie took a trip south of the border and caught some trophy tailor on his Surecatch Bishop.

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that you scan the QR codes embedded in the story with your smartphone to get a more detailed video. We also add videos to our boat tests. No longer do you just do print if you’re a magazine! Make sure you subscribe to the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube channel to see all of this video content as it’s created. While we’re at it, do you know that you can read back issues for free on issuu.com? Or get advance copies of the latest magazines on the same platform? It’s an ever-changing world in the media nowadays, but you can rest assured that Fishing Monthly is out there bringing you the best fishing news on whatever platform you choose. At the end of the day, the fishing hasn’t changed – just the way we go about researching, reading and sharing it.

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with the hundreds of advertisers and thousands of subscribers. Of course, Rupe, Pete and Nicole in the Sales team have a hard job and work to maintain advertisers in your magazines. Without them, we’d have to sell the FMs for $20 each. And finally, Nicholle, James and the ABT team are gearing up for another big year. There’s plenty of excitement to come in that department in 2019. NSW ANGLER WINS BREAM GRAND FINAL Early December saw the biggest show in bream fishing – nationally – to Victoria with three iconic East Gippsland venues hosting 45 of Australia’s best breamers for three days of competition to win a $60,000+ boat package. And the trophy and rig eventually went back into NSW thanks to a stunning win by Jason Mayberry from the South Coast! There’s coverage of the event in this issue – make sure

Can 2019 be busier than 2018? I know that last year my work took me to many places – from Miami, USA for the launch of the Mercury V8 outboards to Tasmania for the ABT events. We launched a magazine in Western Australia and I was lucky enough to help MC the Barra Nationals in the Northern Territory. Add to that some events in Gippsland, Victoria and everything from the Australian Open on Sydney Harbour to Glenbawn Dam in the Hunter Valley, and it was a ridiculously busy year. Did I add in the Lure Show and boat shows? We brought you coverage from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth events and got to meet lots of new and renewing readers there. Finish off with about 50 boat tests, some trade magazines and some duties

JANUARY 2019

AUST

BOATING AND KAYAK 89 REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 27 Black Magic Marlin Masterclass 52 Cooking 75 Dam Levels 74 Fun Page 83 Tides 88 Trade Directory 86 Tournament News 76 What’s New Fishing 62 What’s New Boating 90 Track My Fish 84 SPECIAL FEATURES The world of skirted jigs 8 Whiting – summer’s answer to your fishing needs 50

PRO

BYRON COAST The Tweed 28 Ballina 30 Yamba 32 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 34 Nambucca 36 South West Rocks 37 MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 38 Harrington-Taree 41 Forster 42 HUNTER COAST Swansea 44 Port Stephens 46 Erina 48 Hunter Coast 49 SYDNEY Sydney North 12 The Hawkesbury 14 Sydney Harbour 16 Sydney South 18 Pittwater 20 Botany Bay 22 Sydney Rock and Beach 24 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 54 Nowra 55 BATEMANS COAST Merimbula 56 Narooma 57 Batemans Bay 60 EDEN COAST Bermagui 58 Tathra 59 Mallacoota 61 FRESHWATER Robinvale 66 Mildura 66 Albury-Wodonga 66 Canberra 68 Lithgow-Oberon 69 Batlow 70 Hunter Valley 71 Snowy Mountains 72 New England 73 Wagga Wagga 74

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The 300g Deepwater Slim jig in ‘Extreme Pilly’ was used to catch this nice kingfish for Drew Clowes.

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61kg SBT caught by Adrien Sobbi on a 200g Knife Jig in ‘Pink/Silver’ off Sydney.

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The world of skirted jigs HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

You may have heard whispers along the fishing grape vine of a new kid on the block for freshwater fishing. The skirted jig has exploded onto Australian bass fishing in recent years. A staple of the American fishing scene for a very long time now, savvy

a silicone skirt attached to a jighead with a weed guard. They come in hundreds of variations, with different shapes, sizes, weights, hooks, colours – the list goes on. Originally used to imitate a crawfish, yabby or other crustacean on the bottom, a skirted jig may be applied to several different techniques. From dragging them along the bottom to skipping them up under overhanging

For bass I run a jig with a 2/0-3/0 size hook. You can up the hook size and thickness if you wanted to target larger species like cod, barramundi or saltwater species like snapper. Next is the type of cover you are fishing. There are several styles of skirted jig that are better suited for each type of cover. The football jig is shaped exactly as it sounds – two

This chunky Windamere yella took a very small jig fished along the bottom. a weight that is comfortable to keep the jig on the bottom without it plummeting to the bottom is desired. As a rule of thumb, 1/4oz for 0-10ft, 3/8oz for 0-15ft, 1/2oz for 10-20ft and 5/8oz and heavier for 20ft plus. These weights would obviously change due to any current present and

you to put the jig into the thickest cover with ease and keep it there, right in front of the fishes’ nose. Unlike a moving bait that requires the lure to be moving through the water column to get bites, a jig sitting motionless or moved very slowly seems to produce when other lures fail.

the jig typically gets eaten on the drop. When trying to mimic a crawfish, I let the jig fall straight down to the bottom. I let it rest for a moment then try and focus on slowly dragging or inching the jig forward with the rod and winding the slack line up, while getting

The man behind the mask is Anthony Strati, and he was pleased with this fat bass taken on a skirted jig worked down a rock wall. Australian tournament anglers pushing themselves to have an advantage over fellow competitors have discovered a reliable technique that seems to have the capabilities of catching fish when others fail. While designed with bass in mind, you will be surprised at how many species will fancy themselves a feed of skirted jig. For those who are not familiar with the technique, a skirted jig is as simple as its name sounds. Typically,

cover and swimming them higher in the water column, the options with them are endless. As Australians, we have only just started to scratch the surface on how to use them and what species will actively eat them. Most fish at some point love to feed on the bottom, and I believe would not shy away from a well-presented skirted jig. CHOOSING A JIG Choosing the right jig for yourself can be kept fairly simple. First comes choosing the right hook size for the fish you are targeting.

rounded cones meeting in the middle of the hook eye. This keeps the jig upright easily. These jigs are typically heavier and better suited for deeper water. The football head shape frequently gets wedged in branches of trees, so rock, sand and muddy bottom is ideal for this jig. A cone style shaped head is better suited for weed and timber. This shaped head comes over branches and through weed better than a football head shape. Next is the weight of the jig you need. Generally,

It’s in this kind of structure where jigs really shine. Heavy timber and lay downs are hard to fish with anything but a skirted jig. plastic trailer used. Trailers with lots of action with the skirt size and thickness can slow down the fall of jig. The thing that makes the skirted jig so different to other techniques is its weedless and snagless capability. This allows

WORKING YOUR JIG When it comes to retrieves I like to keep it all simple. On a cast tight to the cover, let the jig fall under a semi slack line. Keeping some sort of contact or awareness of your jig is important on these casts, as

a feeling for everything under the water. You will be surprised by what you can feel through the line. Rock, gravel or branches each have a certain sensation. Knowing what the jig feels like on the end of your line is the

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JANUARY 2019

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

Brett Habener with a solid golden perch taken sight fishing on a lightly-weighted skirted jig.

most important thing about fishing a jig. When it comes to catching and striking on fish, you must know exactly when a fish has it in its mouth. Jig bites can be different from fish to fish. Some may slam it that hard you cannot help but hook it, while others you may not even feel a bite, you just lose contact with your jig and cannot feel any weight at all. This is when a fish has picked up your jig and swam away with it.

Knowing when to strike is the hardest thing to pick up when fishing a jig. SET UP Having the correct rod and reel set up is important to make sure you maximise the action of the jig. I use baitcasters for all my skirted jig fishing, but only because I am more accurate with a baitcaster. Modern day spinning outfits are more than capable of handling skirted jig fishing as well. Spin rods are

well suited for deep water when loaded with thin braid to help cut through the water. I feel a 7’-7’3” length rod is ideal. This length gives you ample leverage when striking on fish to push down the fibre weed guard and hook the fish. The rod’s action or taper is very important. Being a single hook with a fibre weed guard, you need the strength and back bone in the rod to be able to hook fish properly. For this job, a fast

Fishing with skirted jigs tends to select out better fish, as Brett Habener demonstrates with this quality bass.

These are the three basic head shapes. The left is a cone style designed for heavy timber and weed. The centre is a hybrid, a combination of the cone and football, and this is is an all rounder. And on the right the football jig, which is typically heavier for deep water, rock, sand and clay bottom.

action rod is ideal. A regular or slow tapering rod is too soft, and you’ll tend to lose fish easily after not getting a solid enough hook-up. An extra fast taper is nice to fish with, but I feel they can be a little too soft in the tip. When fishing around weed or trying to inch a jig over timber ever so slowly, an extra fast rod’s tip can load up. The amount of force required to free the jig can cause it to suddenly spring forward and shoot the jig away from the strike zone.

Reel size and speed is the next thing. Fishing a jig along the bottom is done with the rod. The reel is only used for winding up slack or a fish in. For a baitcaster I would suggest a speed no slower than a 7:1 speed. In a spinning reel, a 3000 size or bigger is ideal. The speed is needed to be able to catch up with fish that have picked up your jig and swum away. You will be surprised how far a fish can move in the second it takes to realise a fish has your jig. High-speed

reels allow you to lower the rod tip, wind up the slack and strike in one quick motion. Line size will depend on the fish size you are chasing and the cover or structure that is around. Braid with a leader is an ideal set up. The low stretch of the braid gives all the feel you need when dragging the jig along the bottom. A long leader length of 6ft plus is needed as well to act as a shock absorber. When striking on a fish it should be quick and sharp to push To page 10

JANUARY 2019

WHITING

Whiting – summer’s answer to your fishing needs of the flats and concentrate on the deeper channels. On a run-in tide I’ll stick to the edge of the channel and concentrate on the flats as the water pushes over the sand and provides access. TECHNIQUES The whole surface lures for whiting approach became popular about 10 years ago, but was well used years before the fishing media were aware of it. This day and age, with social media, fishing phenomena can be disseminated instantly to everyone interested, with

FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

Whiting are not a species many of us think about until summer hits and the sand flats erupt with life. As a kid I remember wading the flats, casting for flathead and always having a trailing line of whiting sifting the disturbed sand as I moved, and they followed closely. The small fish showed no fear or caution, unlike the larger shadows that swept the sand well behind my path and disappeared with every overhead shadow. Big whiting are a fish that is inquisitive but cautious but, thankfully, suckers for baits of worms, prawns and yabbies. Their worth as a sport fish wasn’t realised until the regular use of

An ideal location for whiting: weed, sand riffles and a clear water on a run-in tide. the summer months, the trumpeters carpet the estuary seabed and are fished for from boats with a light,

Poppers in the form of stubby, large body profiles appeal to whiting, as well as a host of other species. topwater lures over the flats and weed beds that attract them during summer. More than a decade later, and with all manner of surface offerings, the whiting have become a consistently viable

Poppers of around 40mm long are worked over the flats and weed patches with a slow, short, downward strike of the rod tip, whereas a long, thin lure like the 3B Popdog or Bassday Sugapen are trafficked across the water sometimes at speed like a botched cast retrieve. The whiting can get in such a mood that the faster you retrieve your lure the more interest they show in it, and if you slow or stop your retrieve, the whiting simple dissolve from sight and disappear once again.

two hook paternoster rig. Not growing much bigger than 30cm long, the fish aggregate in the estuary where their spawning mass provides anglers with a great opportunity to collect 20

They favour the channel edges and deeper pockets of water during the low tide and advance to the flats as the rising water provides access. While the whiting are always looking for a feed and won’t pass up a live bait, it is the rising water that triggers their hunting instinct and when they are most susceptible to a variety of angling techniques, including lures. WHITING HABITS Apart from the incidental capture of whiting on soft plastics, hardbodies and vibes, the most consistent luring method is skipping poppers or pencil thin surface lures over the flats. While the tidal flats can be productive on the run-in tide over summer, there are moon phases that provide an increase in the chances and catch rate once they all fall into place.

rest, concealed in the sand, during daylight hours and emerge at night to continue their journey to the sea on a run out-tide to spawn. As the whiting plunge the sand the prawns bolt away on the surface where the whiting follow in hot pursuit, and the skipping prawn is consumed in an upwelling of water. Our surface lures merely represent a prawn or baitfish that got away from the bottom and is bolting for its life. The new moon period offers two significant benefits to whiting fishing. It increases movement of prawns through the dark period of the month and the gravitational effect produces higher water level over the flats. This is the peak time for whiting in general, and should also culminate in better sessions on the lures. It has always been a tradition to throw a live prawn baited handline over the side of the boat whenever I go prawning during the dark. It is a great way to fill a bag with whiting and a few flathead, and gives you an understanding of the opportunistic feeding behaviour the whiting can exhibit. My general formula for whiting is a run out-tide, where I’ll stick to the edges

The best estuary bait you can collect onsite. Pump a few yabbies at low tide and fish the channels and deep holes. videos to demonstrate the styles. There are two distinct styles of surface luring – poppers with large cupped faces and a stubby tapered body and slender skid bait types, with a bevelled tow point and long, thin profile. Both are used to represent the frantic escape of a baitfish or prawn, however each is handled and retrieved a different way.

This is where a good pair of polarised sunnies pay for themselves. With the aid of a head sock or other means of minimising light leakage behind the lenses, it is possible to see the whiting, and their shadows, chasing the lure before rising to the surface and slashing at it. It depends on the depth and clarity of the water, the angle of the sun and

It’s common to catch whiting on plastics meant for bream. target for anyone willing to try this technique. Sand whiting are the largest of the whiting species that occur in NSW, with the smaller trumpeter whiting predominately targeted on baits. From the end of October into 50

JANUARY 2019

small succulent whiting in an hour or less. The sand whiting has a summer distribution from the local beach gutters to the upper tidal water of the estuary, although they are mostly targeted in the clear water of the lower estuary.

One reason the whiting are feeding on the surface is not because they are targeting surface prey, in fact it is the opposite. Whiting will drive their heads into the sandy bottom in search of yabbies, worms and, during summer, prawns. Prawns

Patchy weed sand flats are perfectly suited to shallow draft boats like kayaks and canoes, especially when the bottom is too soft to wade.

WHITING mood of the fish, but with experience you’ll soon know what to look for in a variety of situations. TIMING By far my favourite scenario is fishing the end of a rising tide, casting with the

find what works for the prevailing conditions. You may find on the windless morning, with the water like glass, a slower popping retrieve with a pause works best, while with a slight wind chop the fish may

Spinning up a feed of whiting takes no time at all when the fish are on the job. wind over the top of water 0.3-1.2m deep, particularly along a channel or drop off onto a sand flat, and the sun directly above me. It is insane the numbers of fish that hold on rippled water and the more fish that are there the more competition it creates, and the more haphazardly the whiting will bite. While the bulk of the fish move around in loose schools, the larger fish tend to be drifters that chase off smaller fish, especially during periods of spawning aggregation. Many big whiting fall to surface lures and soft plastics fished for bream around the oyster

want fast food that skips across the surface making it a challenge to catch. A good breeze is your friend, provided you position yourself so you’re casting with it. This extends your reach with each cast and effectively prospects more ground. Casting with the wind on a 2.1m, fast-tapered rod and 4lb braid helps to project your lure further, and by targeting the line release at about an 11 o’clock angle the wind will carry the line and lure into the distance. A two-handed cast will also squeeze an extra metre or two from your efforts by controlling the rod wobble and as a result, control line

80% of the non-targeted species, so a leader of 4lb is sufficient. Slower retrieved lures may need 8-10lb, just to be safe. Where the lure is fitted with a split ring on the tow point, it pays to remove it if using leaders over 8lb and tie a loop knot. Lighter leaders are subtle enough not to restrict movement, so they can be tied straight to the lure. LURES While there are many lures on the market that will work on whiting, I think the frontrunner for consistency would have to be the Bassday Sugapen in either the 70 or 95mm size. There is just something about the profile and action of the lure, whether skipped or walked that excites the fish. Add to that the great colour and patterns available and they are a must-have for whiting fishing. Other lures that make the grade are the Berkley 3B Popdog and Prawn Dog, Lucky Craft Sammy, and Bevy Prop 55, which I love for the extra fast retrieve. The way the whiting are built, with a shorter bottom jaw, indicates their habit as a bottom feeder, so the task of taking a lure off the surface

The assist hooks on surface lures will increase your hook up rate. Sometimes foul hook up rates will increase as well. parking the boat and going for a wander, as you would for a flathead spin. BAIT When it comes to certain species the bait angler is often forgotten, but they are just as important as their lure chuckin’ counterparts.

drop-off, channels and flats. Another area worth a look for whiting at night is the area around lit bridges and other structure. It is also an area you’ll find plenty of flathead, so up the leader strength for the mixed bag combo. Beaches are a popular place to catch whiting on a single or double hook on a running sinker or paternoster rig, and this is as basic as it gets. Long, light rods and a threadline outfit loaded with 8-10lb braid or mono is sufficient to cast the baits into the gutters or deeper water, or as close as the back of the rolling surf line. Beach worms are the best bait along the sandy strip, although live yabbies are a close second, believe it or not. Pipis collected on the

beach you intend to fish are permissible as bait only, and a restriction on transporting them beyond high tide line is in effect. Other species that raid your baits will include toads, bream, dart, silver trevally, tailor and sometimes small mulloway. That’s not a terrible list of beach possibilities, and the whiting are almost always on the hunt along the beach, but a rising tide is premium. So no matter where you encounter whiting, they are a prized but fiddly table fish that are well worth the trouble if you manage a few big ones. The time to fish for them is now and you won’t know if you don’t give it a go. It’s the best way to spend a few lazy hours in the salt!

The flats you pump your yabbies from should be the same area you fish as the tide rises.

Walking the flats and channel edges can be a productive bit of exercise. lease structures, so a few prospective casts between racks isn’t such a bad idea if the situation presents itself. The sandy areas under the leases provide good foraging and the lease structure offers overhead protection. The only retrieve technique advice that is valid, is to mix it up and

slap up the blank. Leader strengths are a balance between being light enough so it doesn’t weigh on the nose of the lure, but strong enough to deal with contingencies like the large flathead and bream that share and hunt the flats with the whiting. Using a fast retrieve you eliminate

is sometimes difficult for them. You can have half a dozen fish belting a treble fitted lure and still have no luck of a solid hook set. The answer is to wing a pair of short assist hooks from at least the tail of the lure. The single hooks attached on a length of braid dangle well beyond the lure and account for the frantic slashing and surges the fish make. The hooks should be at an offset length so as not to impede each other and provide the best opportunity to snag the Freddy Mercury overbite. While it is much easier to fish from a boat and use SpotLock or anchor mode on an electric to hold position, it is by no means the only way to access good fishing. Wading the flats is, I think, far more enjoyable and can be a much stealthier approach. The fact that you are searching shin to knee deep water lends itself to

If I was looking for a decent feed of whiting, my preference would be to use bait in the last of the run-out tide in channels and gutters surrounding the flats. Yabbies and beach worms are at key to bait selection and this time of year, and local tackle suppliers should have live worms for sale. The rig used for whiting is a simple running ball sinker, sufficient to make the bottom, and a metre or so of 4-6lb leader tied to a no. 4 bait holder hook for the yabbies and long shank for the worms. A short sheath of red tube on the leader or a red bead acts as an attractant to the fish, but isn’t essential, as the current disperses scent as the fish nose up into the flow. The same rig can be used at night with worms, yabbies and live prawns and in the same general areas of

The author holds up a good feed of whiting, all caught on surface lures. JANUARY 2019

WHAT’S NEW FISHING OKUMA PRESSURE POINT RODS

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Okuma brings affordability to high end heavy plastics, popping and stickbait rods, without sacrificing quality, with the release of the Pressure Point rod range. Features includeToray graphite blanks, Fuji K-Series Tangle Free Guides, Fuji reel seats and most importantly actions and builds designed in conjunction with guides from Australia’s premier sportfishing charters. The range consists of five rods, a one-piece general purpose 701M 7’ PE 2.0-4.0, 20-80g Heavy Plastics rod and four two-piece, butt joint rods, for easier transport and storage. The two Popping rods are a 792MH 7’9” PE 4.0-6.0, 50-150g and a 792H 7’9” PE 6.0-8.0, 80-200g, while the Stickbait models consist of a 762M 7’6” PE 2.0-4.0, 20-80g and a 832M 8’3” PE 4.0-6.0, 40-120g. These five models will have you covered for light jigging and heavy plastics applications, through to the bulk of anglers’ stickbait and popping requirements, without breaking the bank. Team them up with an Okuma Azores Blue spinning reel and you have a genuine big fish stopping combo for around $500, or put the money you have saved on the rod toward arguably the strongest reel in the world, the Okuma Makaira, including the soon to be released 10000 size. Price: SRP $279.90-$299.00 www.okuma.com.au

Long-sleeved collared shirts make ideal fishing wear, as they shield the neck and forearms from sun exposure. The new Sublimated Fishing Shirts from Shimano go one step further though, as the fabric has a UPF 50+ rating for maximum protection. The 100% poly microfibre material used is also moisture wicking, so it draws moisture away from the body. Consequently, the shirts keep the wearer cool, and dry fast should they get wet. Additionally, they contain an antimicrobial treatment, meaning bacteria can’t get a foothold in the fabric. The fish designs of Bream, Tuna and Kingfish represent a collaboration between Shimano Australia and noted fishing writer/ underwater photographer, Al McGlashan. There is also a Squid design in the range for those anglers who love their egi fishing. The sublimated printing process means they will retain their vibrant colours for many years to come. Shimano Sublimated Fishing Shirts are available in sizes S-XXXL. www.shimanofish.com.au

SAMAKI VIBELICIOUS 2 YAKKA

MAPSO VLASON SPINNER

Samaki Vibelicious brings a new colour to the lure market: yakka. Yakka is all about the detail, with its patterned back featuring yakka stripes, and hits of yellow on the tail and fins adding to the lifelike appearance of the lure. The colour has proven itself time and time again as it is fished in multiple locations around the country, attracting barra, jew, bream and flathead to name a few. The traditional features of the Vibelicious Fork tail and Thumper tail are only enhanced by such an attractant as the yakka colour. The Vibelicious Fork Tail and Thumper tail come in three sizes – 70mm, 100mm and 125mm. The 100mm and 125mm sizes have now been upgraded with the new YS81 Decoy Hooks and the all new Decoy EX Strong Split Rings. Hardware like this encourages longevity in your fishing experiences and better hookups, as the hook penetration is on point. As always, the Vibelicious contains premium Japanese stainless wire and is made of the toughest 10X super stretch material. www.samaki.com.au

BLACK MAGIC MEASURES UP

With the growing emphasis on measuring fish rather than weighing them, particularly in tournaments, Black Magic has introduced a ‘brag’ mat into its range of quality fishing accessories. The Black Magic brag mat is manufactured from a durable UV-resistant PVC material, so it won’t warp and deteriorate in the sun like cheap mats will. It also has a sturdy acrylic header board to butt the fish up against. This brag mat is designed to measure fish up to 1300mm, so it’s better equipped to measure big specimens than some smaller truth mats are. It has well-defined numbers and centimetre markings that show up clearly in photos. This mat is 250mm in width and rolls up tightly for easy stowage, and comes complete with a handy mesh bag. For more information on this and other Black Magic releases, visit the Black Magic Tackle website. You can also see all the latest news and catch photos on

JANUARY 2019

SHIMANO FISHING SHIRTS

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The new Mapso Vlason spinners are sure to be a hit with Australian anglers chasing freshwater species. The Vlason is a bell-shaped spinner that features an internal cog which creates a vibration as it spins through the water. This vibration helps to attract fish from longer distances, as they pick up the lures vibration on their lateral line. As you can imagine, this lure is particularly effective in murky water. The Vlason, like the rest of the Mapso range, is made to the highest quality standards, and has a 100% perfect spinning action every time. The Vlason weighs 4g and is 50mm long. It is available in six proven colours and has two pieces per packet. The Vlason will also be very effective on redfin, bass, sooty grunter and jungle perch. To find out more visit the Juro website. www.jurofishing.com

DAIWA TD BLACK LT

PRODUCT GUIDE

It’s time to get back in black with the release of the new TD Black LT spin reel range. Bearing the famous Black name that has been featuring so strongly in the Daiwa line-up over the last few years, the TD Black LT features the LT’s Light Tough Concept to deliver anglers a reel that impresses in looks and wows in performance. Lighter, stronger, tougher and more advanced in design and performance than its predecessor, Generation Black, the new TD Black features Daiwa’s new Tough Digigear gears for enhanced gear smoothness, strength and power. New gears is just the tip of the iceberg, with an ultra-light Long Cast ABS aluminium spool, Zaion body, ATD drag, Air Bail, MagSeal, Perfect Line Stopper, aluminium Air Handle, and Air Rotor combining to make the TD Black LT one of the standout reels in the Daiwa range. Available in six different sizes, ranging from the 2000D through to the 6000D, the TD Black LT heralds a new age for the famous name, and makes the perfect partner for the equally restyled and relaunched TD Black rod series. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING B&S Q6500 QUIETPOWER

The new Q6500 QuietPower Series Inverter Generator from Briggs & Stratton is designed to deliver consistent power for essential appliances and sensitive electronics. The all-steel frame, encased in a protective shell, increases the lifespan and reduces repair costs. Inverter technology produces power that is 60% quieter than standard generators. The Q6500 features an efficient integrated engine/alternator to provide up to 14 hours of run time and 6500 starting watts of reliable back-up power. With its telescopic handle, integrated wheels and a design that’s 45% more compact and 30% lighter than standard generators, moving and storing the Q6500 is easy. Another feature is the Bluetooth functionality available through the InfoHub app. The app monitors total power being used, run time (hours until empty), total unit hours and maintenance reminders. With the added option of the new Manual Transfer Switch, the Q6500 can also be easily connected to provide power at home in the event of a power outage. Price: SRP $2999 www.briggsandstratton.com

RHINO-RACK WIND FAIRING

Engineered with an innovative sawtooth pattern to disrupt and redirect airflow of oncoming wind, the Rhino-Rack Pioneer Wind Fairing reduces wind noise and resonance for a quieter drive. Not only will it effectively deflect the air surrounding your load, the Pioneer Wind Fairing doesn’t take up any of the usable space. The Wind Fairing has a stylish black design to give your vehicle and roof racks a sleeker look. Offering both adjustable angular and longitudinal movements, it will conform to most vehicles’ roof lines and allow a more desirable fit for your car. With 4mm thick ABS construction and glass-filled nylon, the new Pioneer Wind Fairing is solidly built. The UV resistance will prevent any colour fading, so that sleek black won’t be turning grey. The addition of soft Santoprene rubber feet and 3M clear plastic patches protect your vehicle’s paintwork to keep your roof scratch free. Compatible with existing Pioneer Systems for easy installation and removal, the Pioneer Wind Fairing is backed by a 5-year warranty. Price: SRP $179 www.rhinorack.com.au

UGLY STIK GOLD SERIES

The Ugly Stik Gold series incorporates new technology that further improves dependability and performance. The new Ugly Stik Howald process features Triple Built construction around an internal fiberglass core. Parallel fibers infused with pigmented polyester resin creates a strong yet sensitive rod with better balance that is virtually indestructible. The latest inter-core laminate is an innovative design process that surrounds the graphite shaft fibers in the outer walls with a rigid-wrap structure. The new process provides greater stiffness and superior strength through the blank shaft. This creates a better taper from the backbone of the blank to the tip providing extra sensitivity and casting performance. Ugly Stik Gold series are equipped with a full Fuji New Concept Guide for tangle free fishing. Fuji reel DPS graphite and Fuji TCS trigger reel seats are incorporated throughout

the Gold range. Finished with comfortable tapered grips with Ugly Stik etched into the EVA and a slick new matt finish. www.uglystik.com.au

NEW DAIWA RELEASES

SAMAKI SUNGLASSES

GILLIES SHRIMP AND VIBE

First you became a fighter, now you must become a leader. Backing up from the success of J-Braid, J-Thread FC is a brand-new 100% fluorocarbon leader material that boasts increased abrasion resistance and super-low memory. Made in Japan from the finest raw materials, J-Thread FC features a low-memory core, improving handling characteristics and improving knot performance. The outer layer is treated to increase hardness and resilience to abrasion. It’s available in 4-80lb breaking strains in 100 or 50m spools. Another new release from Daiwa is the updated Double Clutch colour range. A jerkbait with few peers, the Double Clutch continues to set the standard as the ultimate suspending twitchbait. Available in three sizes (60mm, 75mm, and 95mm), the colour range has been enhanced and standardised across the range, with the 20 available colours now available in every size. The 75mm and 95mm Double Clutches have also been upgraded with Owner ST36BC trebles, which are razor sharp and ultra strong. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Meet Slick, Dodge and Duke – the front rowers of the new Samaki Sunglass range. These three frames have been tried and tested by the team to ensure there’s a model to suit everyone, from the square-shaped Slick to the wrap-around Duke and Dodge. Each one designed to hug the face, give great coverage from the elements and provide you with the polarised lenses you need when you’re out on the water. The Samaki team say these sunnies are so comfortable you won’t want to take them off. All the lenses are a polarised grey tint with the option of a reflective external in either green or blue mirror. With matt black or gloss frames, the superior frame material is comfortable for the extended wear. Additionally, the Dodge is a floating model, so if you drop it into the drink you can just grab the net and get it back. Price: RRP $49.95 www.samaki.com.au

JM Gillies has released two new realistic lures: the Gillies Shrimp and the Gillies Vibe. The new Shrimp have a natural shape with realistic legs, antennae and also feature bright three-dimensional eyes. The body is ultra soft for a natural feel and look. The 68mm and 100mm version come rigged with premium extra sharp hooks. The new Gillies Vibe combines the realistic soft X-Flex body and the vibration of a hard vibe bait into one. It features meticulous attention to detail, and its uniquely designed forked tail allows additional vibrations upon retrieval with a seductive, tight wiggling action that mimics a live fish. Gillies Vibes are the perfect bait for barramundi, snapper and many other species, and are fitted with extra strong VMC Spark Point hooks that allow you to target your favourite species with ease. Gillies Vibes are definitely a great all-round lure for both freshwater and saltwater predators. www.jmgillies.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au JANUARY 2019

WHAT’S NEW FISHING MUSTAD FLASHER RIGS

Mustad has released two new Flasher Rigs onto the market – the UltraPoint Octopus Flasher Rig and the UltraPoint Circle Flasher Rig. These 2-hook rigs rigs are user friendly, and can be used to target snapper or any other reef species. Suitable for jigging while drifting and also for bottom fishing, UltraPoint Octopus and UltraPoint Circle Flasher rigs are built using high quality Mustad UltraPoint hooks and 60lb leaders to maximise the flasher’s action while still being suitable for serious fish. These rigs are also suitable for tipping with bait to enhance their appeal to a wider variety of fish, which includes the likes of pearl perch, flathead, kingfish and more. The Octopus Flasher Rig uses the famous Mustad Octopus hook and has blue and red flashing with a generous pearlescent Fish Skin across the back of the hook. The Circle Flasher Rig uses the Mustad 39953 circle hook and is finished with chartreuse/green flashing. Fishing deep or shallow, with or without bait, the new Mustad Flasher Rigs will provide great options for anglers across the country. www.wilsonfishing.com

BLACKWOLF SKYRUNNER PACK

The BlackWolf Skyrunner Transit Rolling Travel Pack is tough, durable and versatile. It has a multitude of compartments to keep you organised, including the easily accessible main zippered compartment. Coupled with lockable No.10 zips to prevent theft and a state-of-the-art side compression system to help keep your gear in place, it anticipates travel needs at every turn. Choosing what to leave behind when travelling is time-consuming. Pack more gear and make use of the Skyrunner’s dynamic expansion gusset, which allows you to increase the capacity of your pack—for more room and fewer hassles. There’s an ergoharness that can be packed away when not in use and a two-stage handle for total command over the unit. Unlike many rolling travel packs, the Skyrunner isn’t just made for airports. With durable, all-terrain 4WD wheels, BlackWolf’s Skyrunner can successfully tackle rocky, rough and uneven surfaces alike. With a limited lifetime warranty, the Skyrunner is a testament to thoughtful travel design. Price: SRP $299.99 (60L), $319.99 (80L) www.blackwolf.com.au

PRODUCT GUIDE

happens, the Swiss Champ Wood is the essential fix-it solution that should always be with you. Price: $239 www.victorinox.com

WILSON PLATINUM 16 BACKPACK Designed specifically for fishing, the Wilson Platinum Series Backpack allows anglers to carry just about everything they need on their backs. At the heart of the new system is the side access to the internal cargo area. The lets you easily keep the backpack over one shoulder while accessing the internal cargo area, so you don’t have to remove the backpack while you’re fishing. Other features include three tackle trays inside the main cargo area that are sealed to provide waterproof boxes that will let you bring a mountain of tackle. An external sunglass holder and a retractable tool lanyard are also included. There are also four external zippered pockets for accessories such as leader, fishing gloves and more, as well as two Velcro secured tool holders and a massive front flap with even more storage for items such as plastics, spare hooks and more. The top pocket also features an elastic webbing for securing jumpers or rain jackets, and the adjustable shoulder straps are padded for comfort and feature a chest strap for a more secure and ergonomic carry of the load. Heavy cord with sturdy plastic sleeves are used on all zippers to ensure that even cold hands can easily open the zippers. www.wilsonfishing.com

RAPALA SPLIT RING PLIERS

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The new Rapala RCD 4” Mag Spring Split Ring Pliers offer easy to use, singlehanded operation. Unlike conventional split ring pliers, the new Rapala RCD series are built with two internally opposing magnets to hold the pliers open. The patent pending Mag Spring mechanism cannot fail, even in the harshest of conditions. The split ring nose opens rings up to size 0, while the built-in cutter cuts all lines or tag ends with ease. Other features include stainless steel jaws with a gun metal finish, and ergonomic co-moulded Soft Grip handles for a comfortable hold. In a nutshell, the RCD Split Ring Pliers are one of the easiest, quickest and toughest built split rings pliers on the market. Keep an eye out for them at your local tackle store. www.rapala.com.au

STORM COASTAL SWISS CHAMP WOOD 18 15 TRICK TAIL KNIFE Anglers will love how the new Storm 360

Victorinox is now giving some of its most iconic knife models a revamp with walnut wood sourced sustainably from European forests. Each knife boasts a unique casing due to the natural wood grain. One of the new models is the Swiss Champ Wood pocket knife, which is a modern day upgrade of the original Swiss Army Knife – the legendary Officer’s Knife. With more than 29 functions and countless possibilities within it, including a ruler, pliers and a screwdriver, it is the perfect tool for almost any situation. There is a bottle opener and a corkscrew to kick off any celebration, a fish scaler and a wood saw for camping, a nail file, sewing awl, as well as some classic features such as a blade, screwdrivers and scissors. So wherever you are and whatever 64

JANUARY 2019

GT Coastal Trick Tail works the water. This soft jerkbait has a fleeing baitfish action, and its ability to change direction is extraordinary. If you stop the retrieve, and rather than slacking off, the Trick Tail will rock back and forth like a stressed baitfish. Its webbed tail continues to pump on the fall, or alternatively you can simply pinch out the webbing to switch to a more traditional wiggle effect. The Storm 360 GT Coastal Trick Tail has a slotted back and belly for easy and balanced rigging. It is 5” long and is currently available in eight fish-catching colours, and we’re sure to see many species fall victim to its enticing action. Keep an eye out for it at your favourite tackle store. www.stormfishing.com.au

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Black Magic Snapper Snacks and KLT hooks Recently we received a package from Black Magic, and in it were a handful of the premade Snapper Snacks flasher rigs, and some of their new rust resistant KLT circle hooks. We sent them out to some of our valued contributors, and this is what they came back with.

TESTED

coated KLT circle hook. This KLT circle hook is designed so that fish will hook themselves. They are most effective on fish if the angler resists the temptation to strike at the bite. The PTFE coating also makes the hook super slick, to assist penetration. I gave them a run on the Murray River cod opening weekend. We spent some

Hungry snapper just can’t resist the Black Magic Snapper Snack flasher rigs.

NEIL SLATER Black Magic have released Snapper Snacks, which incorporate a variety of tantalising, UV fish-attracting material and a glow skirt. The glow skirt works best in deeper water, where light does not penetrate as well, or after dark. If you want to use the glow skirt after dark, use a torch, phone light or camera flash and check it after an hour or so and reapply if necessary. These are designed to be used on a paternoster rig so the Snack sits as a visual attractant above the sea floor. They incorporate a rust resistant, PTFE

time in banana lounges and nobody was getting up to attempt to set any hooks. The KLT hooks did an excellent job where the rods were left alone to allow the hook to do its work, as any good circle hook should do. ALLAN BEVAN I had the very good fortune to have Black Magic send me two of the new offerings: the Black Magic Snapper Snack flasher rig and the KLT chemically sharpened hooks. The KLT chemically sharpened hooks are the bomb – they are strong yet fine gauge, and are like a cross between a wide gape and circle hook with the recurve ‘self hooking’ design, pinning fish in the corner of the mouth. With sizes through the range up to a 7/0, these hooks are for all styles of fishing from sweetwater to offshore bait

fishing. My own favourite has been the 1/0 for King George whiting, and it has done wonders for the hook up rate and they are easy to unhook, with all the fish hooked in the corner of the mouth. The Snapper Snack flasher rig is a two hook paternoster rig with the KLT hooks, lumo bead and flasher material that normally catches the fish in the

corner of their mouth. They are great to use in deep water or at night. By adding a small amount of bait you end up with the benefits of both lure and bait. The very first one that I dropped down in 50m was monstered as soon as it hit the bottom, with a double header of breaksea cod and snapper!

Neil Slater found the KLT hooks to be great for bait fishing on the Murray for cod and carp.

JANUARY 2019

Hobie polarized Kinchant thriller The Zerek BARRA Tour seems to be going from strength to strength. With 10 more teams competing on 2018 compared with 2017 and the ability for the tour to be run on the Track My Fish-powered app, the coverage and friendly mood in which the Tour events are contested are second to none. The 2018 Tour featured events in Kinchant, Teemburra and Peter Faust dams and events run consecutively to compress the Tour into a timeframe that’s just over a week in length. It makes the travel and expense of the Tour manageable to most.

event that let fans, friends and family at home follow catches and official scores - live. With event times running from 4pm until midnight, there were plenty of people with one eye on Netflix and the other on the Hobie Polarized scoreboard! And as if designed to add drama, there were plenty of lead changes and it came down to final upgrades to decide the winner - Team Triton/Edge Rods (Rick Napier and Dustin Sippel) by less than 500g over Team Wilsons (Troy Dixon and Shane Compain). At the presentation the team, long supporters of the

STORM

Dustin Sippel shows off their first barra landed in the Kinchant round of the Zerek BARRA Tour. But the real star for the team was a Madness vibration bait in white, fished off a 705 Edge rod. Rick Napier explained the technique. “Anchoring away from the weed bank, we would cast in to the weeds and rip the bait out. Each time, the bait would fall back into the weed or fall to the bottom. We’d pop the bait after that and that’s when the bites would come,” Rick said.

feeling for bites. The gun bait was the 110mm in Fat Betty colour and a more subtle lift and drop along the weed edge would trigger the bites. When asked about how the impoundment Barra compared to the wild fish Shane targets back in the Territory, Shane said, “these fish are mad, they jump high and have these crazy direction changes. They’re awesome.” Full results on www. abt.org.au

Dustin’s partner, Rick Napier was on the board soon afterwards and perfected the Madness vibe technique that they rode to success. With the southern dams coming back on line, expect the BARRA events to expand again in 2019. The first event of the 2018 tour was held on the popular Kinchant Dam, west of Mackay. A small lake with plenty of Barra and, importantly, mobile phone coverage for all of the teams. This allowed ABT to run live scoreboards from the

BARRA Tour, cherished their first event win. And most competitors agreed that it’s the first of many. “The first fish of the event came before dark and it ate a 7” Castaic paddle tailed plastic in baby bass colour,” Said Dustin. He threw that bait on an Edge BCR 666 rod spooled with Toray P4 braided line and a Toray Jigging Leader.

Matthew Mott: “Go barra fishing in the rain they said. It’d be fun, they said.” $700 says that they still had fun.

Winners are grinners. Here’s Team Triton/Edge Rods’ first win. And popular winners they were. The guys would also bend their vibes slightly (tail downwards) to accentuate their action. For the win, the team took home $1,400 and a lead in the Team of the Year points table. Second placed Team Wilson features Brisbane gun Troy Dixon and Territory import Shane Compain. Anchoring on a weed edge, the pair worked out that by popping their Zerek Fish Traps off the bottom and

Scan the QR code to see Kinchant winners.

RESULTS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 76

JANUARY 2019

Place Team

Anglers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Napier/Sippel 5/5 Dixon/Compain 5/5 Mott/Mott 5/5 Griffiths/DeRidder 5/5 Edmonds/Maddick 4/5 Newby/Lyons 5/5 Price/Thomas 3/5 Sims/Curry 5/5 Lennox/Wratten 5/5 Maclean/Brett 4/5 Big Barra: Tree Huggers, 101cm

Triton Boats/Edge Rods Wilson Garmin Edge Rods/EJ Todd Fish With Me Likely Lads Lowrance Jackall Barambah Lures/Duffrods Dobyns Rods/Lethal Lures

Fish Weight Payout 53.50kg 53.02kg 39.00kg 37.76kg 37.45kg 36.16kg 36.02kg 35.95kg 34.53kg 33.12kg

$1,400 $800 $700 $600 $500 Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

Wilsons Teemburra Round 2 very tough While missing a cheque by a single place in the first event, Team Likely Lads were about to start a run of wins that will be hard to match in the future. AT this point, we’ll pass over to Geoff Newby, who’s diligently recorded their trials and tribulation for here on in. Take it away, Geoff! “Phil and I went into the Barra tour not very confident, we had a tough ABT tour in 2017 and the pre-fish experience in 2018 had been terrible. We had spent over 90 hours of fishing for 3 fish, over 40 hours on Peter Faust for one barra, around 30 hours on Teemburra for 2 Barra and 20 hours on Kinchant for a donut a couple of weeks before the ABT tour started. During that period,

we consoled ourselves with the fact we were fishing at night on the wrong moon and it was very cold. “We were more confident at Teemburra than Kinchant as it is what we call our home ground and the Tuesday before we had boated five barra and lost a couple. On the October full moon Phill and I, along with another mate had boated 35 barra off our first-choice spot. “We decided not to fish the dam any more before the comp but we were hearing that it was very tough from the visitors during pre-fish. The water level was dropping fast around 3cm/day. The water temp was around 28 degrees but on arrival the colour had changed to a green algae colour and this was

BARRA T our 201 8

suspected to be putting the fish off eating. “There was a good easterly wind blowing that was perfect for our spot choice. We had decided on 3 spots in priority, #1 being Pinnacle Point and #2 being the spot below it on the little bushes. We had again studied our spots in pre-fish utilising the Teemburra Dam social map from the Lowrance C-Map Genesis web site. “We had drawn a decent start position off at #7 so as we went through the start gate, three boats in front of us headed in the direction of Pinnacle Point but then went to the left down Middle Creek, so in we went straight on to our #1 choice mark and dropped the 15kg lead plonker. “It was a slow start but These unlikely lads, the Likely Lads (Phill Lyons and Geoff Newby) were amazed when they won the Wilsons Teemburra event with just two fish. we did expect that as we consider it a better night spot than in daylight. Phill got a follow at the boat after

7.50pm I was onto a small 60cm barra that consumed a Berkley 160mm Fire Tiger Giant Ripple Shad that got

but the 83cm barra was the biggest landed.” Newby used an ACM custom built Revelation

Go on Mick Weick, make fun of this little guy - he helped you to an $800 payout. about an hour but it did not eat the lure, but it made us feel better that there was barra around. “We were seeing the odd fish but no numbers, then at

This barra from Team Venom may not have been huge, but it took them into 3rd place and a $700 payday.

RESULTS Place Team

Anglers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Newby/Lyons 2/5 Weick/Barnett 2/5 Detenon/Eves 1/5 Griffiths/DeRidder 2/5 Slade/McIntyre 1/5 Napier/Sippel 2/5 Maclean/Brett 1/5 Sims/Curry 2/10 Mott/Mott 1/5 Edmonds/Maddick 1/5 Big Barra: 83cm, Likely Lads.

Likely Lads Tree Huggers Venom Edge Rods/EJ Todd Slimy Decks Triton Boats/Edge Rods Dobyns Rods/Lethal Lures Jackall Garmin Fish With Me

Fish Weight Payout 9.03kg 6.37kg 6.14kg 5.57kg 5.47kg 5.10kg 5.07kg 3.85kg 3.60kg 1.89kg

$1,400 $800 $700 $600 $500 Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

us off the donut - our first objective complete. “Another one followed at 8.20pm and Phill was on with an 83cm barra that had consumed the 13cm Molix swimbait. It had it in its mouth like a dog with a bone and all three hooks were set. “Phil had one more hit that hit the Molix as it hit the water. The barra jumped out of the water but did not hook up and that was the end of the comp as far as bites were concerned. I had said to Phill with around an hour to go if we could get one more fish, I think it will get us a top ten place. “We never expected to find the result. We heard back at the boat ramp that we had not only won it

swim bait rod 15 to 30lb with a Daiwa Certate HD 4000, 30lb Sufix 832, and 70lb Schneider leader. Phill used a Millerods Toad rod with a Shimano Stella FE 4000 reel and Suffix 832 30lb braid and 28kg wire leader.

Scan the QR code to see Teemburra winners. JANUARY 2019

Westin Faust All Nighter

STORM

With the Likely Lads on a roll - winning the Westin Night Championships at Peter Faust, we thought we should let them loose with the report again. “Here we are at the premier barra dam on the east coast of Australia to fish the all-night Barra Championship - 4pm to 8am - best 5 barra. “We had had a tough pre-fish - over 40 hours between us at Peter Faust for 1 solitary fish. We pre-fished 4 or 5 days after the full moon and when the sun went it was very cold and windy so we knew it would be hard fishing, but we moved around looking for the barra and we found them on numerous spots but could not get them to bite. “Our last stop was a point in the basin as we had caught fish many times there in the past and there was enough to see on the side scan to get us interested. We boated our only barra and jumped one off. There was also plenty of fish in the basin after we saw

Their win in the Westin Peter Faust Night Championships with 5/5 for 80.83kg made it two-in-a-row for the Likely Lads. “It’s a very shallow point with a weed edge coming out from the bank about 2 to 3 metres then another 2 metre of weed towers under the surface then 4 feet deep out to 11 foot where we were anchored. We have fished the all-night comps before and for and it is very tiring so we made a plan that if or when we had caught five, one metre barra we would pack up for the night and go to bed.

The Night Championships is the only BARRA Tour opportunity to enjoy a morning bite window. a guy on the boat ramp land two fish over a metre as we were pulling the boat in. “So, we had our three spots with the spot in the Basin being our #1 and two other spots towards the river. We had a good draw off at #3 and with not far to go we thought we would get on our #1 choice and we did.

“The Lowrance C-Map Genesis social map again proved an invaluable tool during pre-fish enabling us to find the best spots in the prevailing conditions and the best anchor points. The Peter Faust Social map is over 90% complete and can be set up with customised colours for

more accurate viewing. The social map of all the dams is available to anyone with a Lowrance sounder. “We started as usual both with different lures swapping every 15 mins or so casting to the solid weed edge and burning it off before slowing the retrieve in the clear water. After 90mins at 5.30pm Phill was on to a good fish on a Squidgy Mongrel that measured 109cm and was a great start. “After that we got quite busy, boating four barra, roughly every 20mins or so, biggest being 88cm. That gave us a small 5-fish bag, but a bag all the same, with the lure doing the damage being the Berkley Giant Ripple Shad in Fire Tiger colour. “Then at 8pm we boated our biggest barra of the night - a cracking 112cm. So we were then starting to get the upgrades we needed. We had also had a lure swap and started to get the better fish on the 13cm Molix in Black and Gold colour. “The next 30mins saw two more fish - a 69cm and an 81cm that gave us a small upgrade. It went quiet for the next hour until we boated a 110cm fish at 9.30pm and then a 102cm at 10.45pm. The small barra seemed to disappear but we never had them going off any way just picking them up steadily as the bigger barra moved in. Another upgrade of 90cm followed at 11.10pm then the one we were looking for the 5th metre fish was in the boat at 11.30 at 103cm.

“It seemed a bit early to leave before midnight so we stayed boating an 98cm and a 72cm before 1am. It went very quiet from 1am with no barra showing on the sounder so at 2am we decided to call it a night. A couple of beers when we got back to Camp Kanga in bed at 3am and up at 7.30am as the other anglers started to arrive back at camp Kanga. We obviously did not know how the night had gone for the other teams but the feed back from the teams coming in was very positive we had 5.36m that converted to a weight of 80.83kg and was enough for the No1 spot 5kg in front of 2nd place. “The wind had been very strong in our face so there were issues with backlash on baitcaster reels so the main gear was spin rods. Geoff again used the ACM custom built Revelation swim bait rod 15 to 30lb with a Daiwa Certate HD 4000 30lb Suffix 832, and 70lb Schneider leader with the Mustad quick change clip. A custom built Geoff Busbridge spin rod on a Rain Shadow blank 12 to 20lb with 20lb suffix 832 braid and 55lb Schneider leader with the Mustad quick change clip with Transam vibes that picked some of the early barra. Phill used an Millerods Toad rod with a Shimano Stella FE 4000 reel with suffix 832 30lb Braid and 28kg wire leader. The guys added another $1,500 to their winnings from the event and took a narrow lead into the Team of the Year standings with an event to go.

Scan the QR code to see Faust all nighter interviews.

RESULTS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 78

JANUARY 2019

Place Team

Anglers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Newby/Lyons 5/5 Mott/Mott 5/5 Griffiths/DeRidder 5/5 Weick/Barnett 5/5 Lennox/Wratten 5/5 Brier-Mills/Tunstead 5/5 Detenon/Eves 5/5 Laine/Hassett 5/5 Dixon/Compain 5/5 Morgan/Smith 4/5 Big Barra: Garmin, 118cm

Likely Lads Garmin Edge Rods/EJ Todd Tree Huggers Barambah Lures/Duffrods EJ Todd/Tinaroo Venom LuckyCraft/Sunline Wilson Fishing Monthly

Fish Weight Payout 80.83kg 75.36kg 69.79kg 64.95kg 64.82kg 63.67kg 55.01kg 55.29kg 55.21kg 51.93kg

$1,500 $800 $700 $600 $500 Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

BARRA T our 201 8

Lucky Craft Faust 2-Day Why not stop when you’re on a roll. The Likely Lads emphatically won the Team of the Year title after a third win in a row at the Lucky Craft Faust 2-Day Championship. Here’s the story … continued. “The start of two massive sessions for Phil and I, the 4th and final round had the nerves jangling the stomach turning summer salts. What a position to be in leading the Team of the Year table by 3 points from what has been the best barra team anglers in the last 4 years, Craig Griffiths and Karim De Ridder.

Championship. “With 1st fish donut gone and on the board. The next 2 hours were a nightmare jump offs and pulled hooks - fish after fish. Finally, we got one to the boat then disaster strikes - it winds the braid around the anchor rope but all was not lost we untangled it and boated a small 76cm barra - what a relief. “After we had processed it, we sat and talked for a few minutes and that we needed to settle down and get back in to the groove and that we did. The bite changed from the night comp. We had been concentrating

Ash Sims didn’t take long to boat this 106cm fish at the start of the 2-day event. “The talk between Phil and I was if we can get the spot we fished on the Night Championship as our start is down the field at No16. If we do, will the fish still be there can we get our bag? the spot in the past as been tough on the 2nd session but we had the benefit of a rest day Thursday night that we thought may rest and refresh the spot. We got reassured by a few of our mates before the start - just do your thing and don’t panic. “Away we went and no one took the spot we had fished on the Night Championship, so we settled in dropped the anchor and started to thrash the water to foam. “We had a great start as Phill smacked a 100cm fish at 4.30pm on the Squidgy Mongrel, just like the Night

hitting the weed edge, a short burn, drop and then a steady retrieve, this wasn’t working. We changed to a 45 degree angle cast towards the bank but falling short of the weed fringe concentrating on a longer cast keeping the lure in the deeper water. “Our favourite lure, the Squidgy Slick Rig had not worked all tournament and at this stage nothing was working. We lined up 5 different colour slick rigs and on the 3rd change to the 130mm Lorikeet colour, two quick Barra followed. A 97cm came at 8.30pm and they came at a steady pace every 20 to 30mins until our last two Barra - a 106cm at 10.50pm and a 104cm at 11.10pm fell to a Slick rig in the Green Grunter colour after a tip off from our neighbour Steve Morgan.

“This gave us 10 barra for the session, our best five being 106, 104, 100, 98, and 97cm for a total length of 5.05m and a weight of 63.7kg. We decided to head to the boat ramp at 11.30pm to try and avoid the rush from the 12pm finish. SESSION 2 “The first session was a good result, we were in third place just behind the Tree Huggers - Michael and Brendan and in second place Team Lowrance (Peter Price and Greg Thomas). Our biggest threat for the Team of the Year Team - Edge Rods/ EJ Todd, Craig and Karim had had a tough session and were down the field in 12th place, 27kg behind us. If there was a team who could pull a rabbit out of the hat and make up the deficit it was Craig and Karim. “The thought of winning Round 4 had gone. All we could think about was catching a bag that would keep us in front for the Team of The Year, we could only lose it. “We thought this session would be a bit harder for all the teams due to the pressure from the night before our goals stayed the same - get off the donut ASAP and catch a 5 fish bag regardless of size then look for upgrades. “We had a good start position off at No 3 and back to the same spot this time all set up correctly, no panic we are going to bore them to death into the boat. We concentrated on the angle cast with the main lure being the Green Grunter slick rig and at 5.30 our first barra hit the deck - a modest 70cm fish but the donut gone. We picked up another couple of small barra before our first metre fish 102cm was on the deck. “We went another 90mins before the next fish at 9pm was on board at only 67cm but it made up our 5 fish bag and time for a little celebration. Three more barra came to the net but they were of a smaller stamp than the previous two sessions. We had anticipated a very late bite of bigger fish due to what happened the night

Team Likely Lads milked a string of Barra off a small point in the main basin, with Barra like this coming over the side regularly. before and at 11.30 we were into a good fish. Before we boated this fish we thought we would be safe with the team of the Year title but it would be tight for a 4th round victory. “So here’s what happened at 11.30pm as Phill started to pack up - a massive 113cm. You beauty! “After we stopped shaking and processing the fish a high five and Phill finishes off packing up. I had a few more casts and Phill says, “Its 12 minutes to midnight you need to pack up.” “It’s OK - I will pack up while you are getting the car,” and called last cast. Two turns of the reel and bang, I’m on again and out of the water comes another big metre barra, but unfortunately the hooks pulled and it was time to go. “We boated 9 barra and put two back that we did not process as they were 2 small and we did not want to waste time during a hot bite. The best 5 were 113, 102, 98, 94 and 80 cm for 4.87m and 59.69kg. I talked to Craig at the boat ramp and yes, they had given it a good go with 72 kg of Barra but thankfully not enough to deny us the accolade of “ABT Barra Team of The Year 2018”. “We did not know what had transpired with the rest of the teams until we got back to camp Kanga and were not sure until the official result was released by Stefan Sawynok as the results had been configured all the way through on the Track My Fish app which

RESULTS Place Team

Anglers

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Newby/Lyons 10/10 Price/Thomas 10/10 Griffiths/DeRidder 10/10 Detenon/Eves 10/10 Slade/McIntyre 10/10 Weick/Barnett 8/10 Brier-Mills/Tunstead 10/10 Sims/Curry 8/10 Maclean/Brett 8/10 Laine/Hassett 6/10 Big Barra: JWC, 114cm

Likely Lads Lowrance Edge Rods/EJ Todd Venom Slimy Decks Tree Huggers EJ Todd/Tinaroo Jackall Dobyns Rods/Lethal Lures LuckyCraft/Sunline

Fish Weight Payout 123.38kg 114.98kg 106.39kg 103.84kg 101.53kg 98.58kg 94.45kg 78.01kg 63.08kg 55.28kg

$1,500 $800 $700 $600 $500 Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

is a great innovation and it will change the face of tournament angling. “We had almost completed a clean sweep - 3 wins in the rounds and team of the year. $4,400 better off with two beautiful Ian Miller rods and a pile of trophies. “We never really got to thank anyone as

for some great rods - we can’t do it without you. “To Camp Kanga the days there make it extra special and to all the anglers thinking about joining the Tour get in there, it’s a great experience. “Personally a big thank you to my team mate Phill Lyons we have had our

Faust Point is definitely louder once Matthew Mott and Team Garmin turns up. The father/son team alternate between harmony and anarchy, depending on how many fish have been boated. non-sponsored anglers but they say behind a good man is a very good woman and we both have great wives and thank you to them for putting up with everything that goes with Tournament angling. “To ABT, Steve Morgan, James Reid, Nicholle and Stefan Sawynok and Tracy from Infofish for a well organised tour as usual and it has been improving each year. Who Shares Wins. “Most of all to all the other teams without them there is no tour and the numbers are growing each year it’s a a great week catching up with some great characters and meeting new people. To the sponsors: Zerek, Hobie Polarized, Wilson Fishing, Westin, Lucky Craft and Millerods

moments but we keep turning up for each other. Here’s to next year see you all then. And that’s it. The BARRA Tour will roll into 2019 with some new champs and plenty wanting to take the title in the future. Keep an eye out on www. abt.org.au for future dates.

Scan the QR code to see Faust 2-Day interviews. JANUARY 2019

Mayberry Wins BREAM Grand Final

STORM

Long time ABT angler, Jason Mayberry from the South Coast of NSW, thought he was only making up numbers when it came to the biggest event of the year in the Australian bream fishing calendar. His predictions could not have been further from reality, as he dropped a 5.33kg bag on the scales from Gippsland Lakes on day one and never looked back. For his efforts, he took home a Bass Cat Margay boat powered by a 150HP Mercury 4-stroke engine and fitted with Garmin sounders and a MotorGuide electric motor – the package valued at over $60,000. Amazingly, Mayberry had only fished one of the three venues used for the event, which visited Gippsland Lakes (out of Metung), Bemm River and Marlo over the three tournament days. He scored bags of 5.33kg, 4.44kg and 3.92kg on days 1, 2 and 3 repectively.

of fish. The only 5kg+ bag presented for the day. Day two moved to the Bemm River, with the compact location yielding plenty of great bags for anglers, despite increasingly windy conditions in the afternoon. Mayberry got to work early, securing his limit in the first hour of fishing. His 5/5, 4.44kg may not have been the biggest limit of the day (the honour went to Declan Betts’ 4.87kg bag), but it was enough to give him a kilo-plus margin over the ACT’s Alan Lister going into the final day of competition. As can happen in Victoria, the weather turned on the final day, with Marlo smashed by rain and strong winds an hour after the start. With the winds making the popular Lake Corringle turbid and difficult and Marlo’s potential of spitting out 6kg+ bags, there was every chance that Mayberry’s lead could evaporate.

Adding to the joy of the win was a $60,000+ Bass Cat Boat, powered by a 150hp Mercury outboard and fitted with Garmin and MotorGuide electronics. As always, the BREAM Grand Final was a sharedweight event, with boaters and non-boaters fishing together for a combined best-five bag of bream. In this event, it pays to work together as a team. Mayberry couldn’t have hoped for a better draw landing non-boater Angler of the Year, Canberra’s Stuart Walker, on day one. With Stuart’s prowess with a ZMan GrubZ and Jason armed with the latest Squidgy Bio Tough baits, the pair fished the Tambo River to accumulate and upgrade to a 5.33kg limit

Jason, however, had other ideas. Paired again with Stuart Walker (final day pairings are allocated on place), the couple went to work and ground out 5/5 for 3.92kg, giving Jason a 1.83kg margin of victory over a fastfinishing Brad Hodges. A popular and humble winner, Jason explained his winning tackle and technique. “Fishing 2lb straight through fluorocarbon is just what I do,” explained Jason, “it gives me better feel and is

JANUARY 2019

Scan the QR code to see Jason Mayberry’s interview.

JASON’S TOP LURE

Squidgy Bio Tough Fish on a TT 1/20oz jighead. more forgiving when I hook a big bream.” Jason used an unspecified 2lb fluorocarbon line on a Millerods Crank Freak rod paired with a Shimano TwinPower reel. His baits of choice included the Squidgy Bio Tough Fish in pumpkinseed and bloodworm colours in addition to the ubiquitous ZMan GrubZ in motor-oil colour. He fished both on 1/20oz TT jighead. Amazingly, Mayberry had only ever fished Gippsland Lakes before – he was new to both the Bemm River and Marlo. “It was after I boxed a decent limit in the first 30 minutes on day 2 that I thought that I had a chance to win the Grand Final,” Mayberry explained, “and after that it was just a matter of hanging on at Marlo in those trying conditions.” Jason had the foundations of a good day 3 limit before the change came through at Marlo – he was only one fish short of a limit – and managed to drop nearly 4kg on the scales at the conclusion of the day to emphatically take the title. There’s obviously something in the water on

the South Coast of NSW, with three of the past four Grand Final champions coming from the area. The NSW South Coast will have a chance to make it 4/5 when the BREAM Grand Final visits the Gold Coast in Queensland in late 2019.

Scan the QR code to see the day 1 highlights.

Scan the QR code to see the day 2 highlights.

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888.

Jason Mayberry and Stuart Walker were paired together on the first day of the Grand Final. The pair put together a 5/5, 5.33 bag to take a lead that neither of them lost throughout the event.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight(kg) Payout

Jason Mayberry 15 13.69kg Bass Cat Boat package Brad Hodges 15 11.86kg Miller Rods pack Cameron Whittam 15 11.68kg Rod + Costa sunnies Daniel Mackrell 15 11.28kg Costa sunnies Kristoffer Hickson 15 11.09kg Costa sunnies Braddley Young 14 10.73kg Scott Wilson 14 10.71kg Wally Fahey 15 10.61kg Mario Vukic 13 10.13kg Andrew Moore 14 9.66kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Hodges lifts game too late Coming in to the event, Victorian Brad Hodges would have been at the top of the ‘hot tips’ list of anyone in the know, however a slow start at Gippsland Lakes left the Melbourne breamer with too much to do on the last day. “I checked my spots in the North Arm and the tides were wrong and the fish absent,” Hodges said, “so I fell back to my backup

spots and only managed a below average bag.” At Bemm, he fared a little better, boxing 3.47kg of bream to hold down a mid-field position. It wasn’t until his final day of fishing that he upped his game, dropping a day-best 5.24kg onto the scales and remaining in the hot seat until Mayberry kicked him out with the last bag of the day. “I’ve come second

BREAM SERIES

twice now and it’s a disappointing feeling,” Hodges said, “but it was great to be paired with my dad on the final day of competition and to catch such a good limit from that skinny water.” All of his fish came on a Berkley hardbodied jerkbait and he did take home a pair of Millerods production bream rods and some Costa sunglasses to ease the pain. Although he weighed the biggest bag of the final day, Victorian Brad Hodges had to settle for second place, a long way behind the winner. Some Millerods and Costas helped ease the pain.

Mercury Cup Decided

There’s no bigger prize in Australian breaming than the BREAM Grand Final.

Taree’s Kris Hickson’s top-10 performance vaulted him ahead of Queenslander, Steve Morgan to clinch the 2018 Mercury Cup, with the perennial Cup and $1000 cash going to his base at Manning River Marine for the next year. The Mercury Cup is awarded to Mercury owners with the highest rankings points total for the year. This includes the Grand Final.

Taree’s Kris Hickson took home the Mercury Cup and the $1000 payday that comes with it. It’s awarded to the highest ranked Mercury Owner at the end of the tournament year.

Canberra’s Walker wins it all Just three days after collecting his 2018 Non-Boater BREAM Angler of the Year title, Canberra’s Stuart Walker added the 2018 BREAM Grand Final Non-Boater Champion trophy to his mantelpiece, completing a clean sweep of titles this tournament year. The unassuming backof-the-boat gun revelled in the early-summer conditions and fished his trademark ZMan GrubZ to great effect, helping his and his boaters’ chances immensely. He fished with Jason Mayberry on day one, Steve Duff on day 2 and Mayberry again on the final day. When interviewed after the win, Stuart was typically quietly spoken, but ran through some of the keys to his success.

In addition to the Grand Final trophy, Stuart Walker won an ‘Ultimate Costa Pack’ with five pairs of glasses and a pile of accessories. “I like to keep it simple. I don’t know why the bream eat it – it doesn’t look like a fish – but they do. I also like to experiment with colours. I sometimes mix

colours in the packets and they bleed into each other,” Stuart said. Walker fishes his grubs on top end Daiwa gear – a Silverwolf rod and reel

spooled with 8-carrier braid and 4lb leader. “Better quality braid definitely lets me untangle wind knots better,” says Stewie, “and I’ve found that better quality gear lasts better and helps me catch more fish.” But it’s more than gear that Walker uses to achieve his success. It’s the experience of travelling all around the country to fish. “I’ve fished with great anglers all over the place and you never stop learning. My advice to anyone wanting to try this sport is to stop thinking about it and start doing it. You’ll have a great time and will never look back. I haven’t,” he concluded. Rewards for his efforts included an Ultimate Costa Pack with five pairs of the quality eyewear and a mountain of accessories.

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ZX BLADES ZMAN GRUBZ CRANKA CRABS

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place Angler 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight(kg) Payout

Stuart Walker 15 13.29kg Costa Mega Pack Wayne Hamilton 15 11.79kg Costa Mega Pack Mick Hodges 14 11.69kg Rod/Reel combo + Prize Pack Ben Shuey 15 11.36kg Rod/Reel combo + Prize Pack Neil Kelly 15 11.01kg Rod + Prize Pack Brendan Pieschel 15 10.95kg Rod + Prize Pack Michael Thompson 15 10.75kg Prize Pack Colin Wilson 15 10.61kg Prize Pack Dallas Blatchford 14 10.06kg Prize Pack Daniel McNeice 14 9.4kg Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

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Victorian Tide Times

2019 2019 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 0541 1208 TU

TU 1759 2358

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 FEBRUARY MARCH JANUARY Time m Time m Time Time m Time m Time m m 0541 1.57 1208 0.58 1759 1.33 2358 0.50 0633 1.63 1310 0.52 1857 1.30

Time m 0441 1.47 1.57 1.47 0.67 0.58 0441 1100 0.67 1.28 1.33 1100 WE 1652 1.28 0.53 WE 1652 2300 FR 0.50 2300 0.53 0536 1.57 1.63 1.57 0.58 0.52 0536 1208 0.58 1.30 1.30 1208 TH 1800 1.30 0.50 TH 1800 2355 SA 2355 0.50 0630 1.69 0.51 1.69 0.45 1.69 0630 1309 0.45 1.34 0.47 1309 FR 1902 FR 1902 1.34 SU 1.30

Time

1 1 0020 0700 FR

16 16

1346 1935

17 17

2 2

0044 0.51 18 3 3 0720 1.69 18 1400

3 3

2 2

0633 1310 WE WE 1857

0044 0720 TH TH 1400 1947

4 4

0127 0803 FR FR 1445 2032

5 5 0207 0844 SA

SA 1523 2114

6 6 0245 0920 SU

SU 1600 2152

7 7 0323 0957 MO

MO 1635 2230

8 8 0400 1031 TU

TU 1710 2306

9 9 0437 1107 WE

WE 1745 2344

10 10 0516 1143 TH TH 1821

0.47 1947 1.30 0127 0.52 0803 1.73 1445 0.42 2032 1.31 0207 0.52 0844 1.76 1523 0.39 2114 1.32 0245 0.52 0920 1.77 1600 0.37 2152 1.32 0323 0.53 0957 1.77 1635 0.37 2230 1.32 0400 0.54 1031 1.75 1710 0.38 2306 1.32 0437 0.56 1107 1.72 1745 0.41 2344 1.31 0516 0.59 1143 1.67 1821 0.44 0024

0048 0.46 0.52 0.46 1.82 1.73 0048 0722 1.82 0.33 0.42 0722 SA 1403 0.33 1.39 SA 1403 1959 MO 1.31 1959 1.39 0141 0.40 0.52 0.40 1.93 1.76 0141 0814 1.93 0.22 0.39 0814 SU 1455 0.22 1.45 SU 1455 2052 TU 1.32 2052 1.45 0.52 0233 0.36 0.36 2.02 1.77 0233 0905 2.02 0.14 0.37 0905 MO 1545 0.14 1.49 MO 1545 2145 WE 1.32 2145 1.49 0.53 0326 0.32 0.32 2.07 1.77 0326 0956 2.07 0.10 0.37 0956 TU 1635 0.10 1.52 TU 1635 2236 TH 1.32 2236 1.52 0.54 0419 0.32 0.32 2.05 1.75 0419 1047 2.05 0.12 0.38 1047 WE 1724 0.12 1.53 WE 1724 2328 FR 1.32 2328 1.53 0.56 0514 0.34 0.34 1.98 1.72 0514 1138 1.98 0.17 0.41 1138 TH 1813 TH 1813 0.17 SA 1.31

19 19

12 12

0151 0824 SU 1503 2056

4 4 0230 0901 MO

20 20

1537 2131

5 5 0306 0936 TU

21 21

1610 2205

6 6 0343 1010 WE

22 22

1642 2239

7 7 0419 1044 TH

23 23

1713 2314

8 8 0457 1118 FR

24 24

1745 2349

9 9 0536 1153 SA 1818

0.59

0020 1.53

0029

FR 1229 1901 1.31 0.62 0114 1.60 0708 SA SA 1321 0.47 1950 1.31 0.66 0210 1.53 0812 SU SU 1416 0.50 2041 1.32 0.70 0308 1.44 0921 MO MO 1518 0.53 2134 1.34 0.73 0410 1.37 1037 TU TU 1628 0.54 2230 1.39 0.72 0511 1.31 1152 WE WE 1740 0.55 2327

1.85 1901 0.26 0114 1.52 0708 0.47 1321 1.68 1950 0.36 0210 1.51 0812 0.54 1416 1.51 2041 0.45 0308 1.50 0921 0.61 1518 1.36 2134 0.53 0410 1.51 1037 0.63 1628 1.25 2230 0.59 0511 1.54 1152 0.61 1740 1.21 2327 0.61 0608 1.58 1256 0.57 1843 1.21

1.52 1854 0.48 0111 1.42 0707 0.63 1313 1.43 1932 0.53 0159 1.43 0802 0.66 1402 1.34 2018 0.57 0253 1.45 0909 0.67 1505 1.27 2115 0.60 0355 1.49 1028 0.64 1621 1.23 2220 0.60 0500 1.57 1144 0.56 1741 1.25 2328 0.57

Time m 0603 1.69 0.61 1.69 0.43 1.62 0603 1250 0.43 1.32 0.51 1250 SA 1848 FR SA 1848 1.32 1.24

27 27

13 13

28 28

14 14

29 29

15 15

30 30 31 31 0608 1256 TH TH 1843

SU 1230 0.26 1854 1.52 0.47 0111 1.68 0707 MO MO 1313 0.36 1932 1.51 0.54 0159 1.51 0802 TU TU 1402 0.45 2018 1.50 0.61 0253 1.36 0909 WE WE 1505 0.53 2115 1.51 0.63 0355 1.25 1028 TH TH 1621 0.59 2220 1.54 0.61 0500 1.21 1144 FR FR 1741 0.61 2328 1.58 0.57 1.21

11 11 12 12

13 13 14 14

15 15

Time

1 1 0537 1230 FR

16 16

0030 0.50 0.59 0.50 1.81 1.66 0030 0702 1.81 0.31 0.46 0702 SU 1346 0.31 1.41 SU 1346 1945 SA 1.28 1945 1.41 0128 0.41 0.56 0.41 1.93 1.70 0128 0757 1.93 0.20 0.41 0757 MO 1438 0.20 1.50 MO 1438 2038 SU 1.32 2038 1.50 0222 0.33 0.53 0.33 2.01 1.73 0222 0849 2.01 0.13 0.39 0849 TU 1527 0.13 1.57 TU 1527 2128 MO 1.35 2128 1.57 0.51 0315 0.28 0.28 2.04 1.74 0315 0941 2.04 0.10 0.37 0941 WE 1614 0.10 1.62 TU WE 1614 2216 1.38 2216 1.62 0.50 0408 0.26 0.26 2.01 1.74 0408 1030 2.01 0.13 0.37 1030 TH 1659 0.13 1.65 WE TH 1659 2305 1.39 2305 1.65 0.50 0501 0.28 0.28 1.91 1.71 0501 1120 1.91 0.20 0.38 1120 FR 1744 0.20 1.65 FR 1744 2354 TH 1.40 2354 1.65 0.51 0556 0.33 0.33 1.76 1.67 0556 1210 1.76 0.31 0.41 1210 SA 1828 SA 1828 0.31 FR 1.41

1827 2358

m 0537 1.51 1230 0.60 1827 1.19 2358 0.69 0633 1.55 1320 0.54 1916 1.26

m Time m 0432 1.60 1.51 1.60 0.52 0.60 0432 1124 0.52 1.27 1.19 1124 SA 1730 1.27 0.63 SA 1730 2310 MO 0.69 2310 0.63 0542 1.70 1.55 1.70 0.41 0.54 0542 1230 0.41 1.37 1.26 1230 SU 1836 TU SU 1836 1.37

2 2

18 18

0017 0051 0.65 0.54 0.65 1.60 0017 18 3 0644 0720 3 1400 1.81 1.60 18 0.49 0644 MO 1325

19 19

1.57 0.56 1.25 0.57

1608 2210

8 8 0401 1019 FR

0043 1.63 0.42 1.58 1.58 0.43 SA 1912 0.43 0134 1.59 1.59 0.51 0753 0.51 1.41 1353 1.41 0.54 SU 1958 0.54 0229 1.55 1.55 0.59 0900 0.59 1.27 1452 1.27 0.64 MO 2048 0.64 0329 1.51 1.51 0.64 1013 0.64 1.18 1603 1.18 0.70 TU 2149 0.70 0434 1.50 1.50 0.64 1127 0.64 1.16 1720 1.16 0.72 WE 2256 0.72

1.63 24 0652 1.60 0043 24 0.42 0.44 0652 SU 1300

28 28

1538 2138

7 7 0326 0945 TH

23 23

27 27

1507 2106

6 6 0250 0912 WE

22 22

26 26

1435 2033

5 5 0215 0837 TU

21 21

SU 1300 1912 1.41 0.58 0134 1.52 0753 MO MO 1353 0.48 1958 1.42 0.63 0229 1.43 0900 TU TU 1452 0.53 2048 1.43 0.66 0329 1.34 1013 WE WE 1603 0.57 2149 1.45 0.67 0434 1.27 1127 TH TH 1720 0.60 2256 1.49 0.64 1.23 0.60

0051 0720 SU 1400 1958

4 4 0135 0800 MO

20 20

0.54

0633 1320 SA 1916

1638 2243

9 9 0439 1054 SA 1708 2317

10 10 0518 1130 SU 1740 2354

11 11 0601 1208 MO 1814

0.49 1958 1.32 0135 0.59 0800 1.64 1435 0.44 2033 1.38 0215 0.54 0837 1.68 1507 0.41 2106 1.43 0250 0.50 0912 1.70 1538 0.39 2138 1.47 0326 0.47 0945 1.70 1608 0.38 2210 1.50 0401 0.46 1019 1.67 1638 0.39 2243 1.53 0439 0.47 1054 1.63 1708 0.41 2317 1.55 0518 0.49 1130 1.57 1740 0.45 2354 1.56 0601 0.52 1208 1.49 1814 0.50 0034

17 17

MO 1325 1.32 1930 0.59 1.64 0116 0.44 0739 TU TU 1415 1.38 2020 0.54 1.68 0212 0.41 0831 WE WE 1501 1.43 2108 0.50 1.70 0304 0.39 0922 TH TH 1545 1.47 2154 0.47 1.70 0357 0.38 1012 FR FR 1629 1.50 2240 0.46 1.67 0448 0.39 1100 SA SA 1710 1.53 2326 0.47 1.63 0542 0.41 1149 SU SU 1751 1.55

19 19 20 20 21 21

22 22

23 23 24 24 0.49

25 1.57 0011 25 0.45 0635 MO MO 1239 1.56 1831 0.52 1.49 0058 0.50 0732 TU TU 1330 1914 1.56 0.56 0147 1.40 0834 WE WE 1428 0.56 2003 1.55 0.60 0244 1.31 0941 TH TH 1536 0.62 2105 1.54 0.62 0348 1.24 1048 FR FR 1652 0.67 2219 1.55 0.60 0456 1.22 1149 SA SA 1758 0.68 2329

26 26

1.56 27 12 0648 12 0034 0648 1251 TU 0.56 27 1251 1852 1.40 1852 0.56 0120 0120 0744 1.55 0744 1343 WE 0.60 1343 1939 1.31 1939 0.62 0215 0215 0850 1.54 0850 1447 TH 0.62 1.24 TH 1447 2038 2038 0.67 0319 0319 1008 1.55 1008 1609 FR 0.60 1.22 FR 1609 2154 2154 0.68

13 13

28 28

14 14

29 29

15 15

30 30 31 31 0556 1240 SU SU 1847

Time

1 1 0026 0645 MO

16 16

17 17

1.53 0.39 0029 1.41 25 0610 10 0619 25 1.67 0020 25 10 0619 0.39 1.85 0.58 25 0.44 0610 FR 1229 SU 1230

1.31 11 0559 26 11 0024 0559 0.62 26 FR 1220 1.60 FR 1220 1900 1900 0.47 0107 0107 0645 1.31 0645 1300 SA 0.66 1.53 SA 1300 1940 1940 0.50 0156 0156 0736 1.32 0736 1345 SU 0.70 1.44 SU 1345 2024 2024 0.53 0247 0247 0836 1.34 0836 1439 MO 0.73 1.37 MO 1439 2113 2113 0.54 0344 0344 0945 1.39 0945 1542 TU 0.72 1.31 TU 1542 2205 2205 0.55

0108 0745 SA 1428 2018

m 0020 0.61 0700 1.62 1346 0.51 1935 1.24 0108 0.59 0745 1.66 1428 0.46 2018 1.28 0151 0.56 0824 1.70 1503 0.41 2056 1.32 0230 0.53 0901 1.73 1537 0.39 2131 1.35 0306 0.51 0936 1.74 1610 0.37 2205 1.38 0343 0.50 1010 1.74 1642 0.37 2239 1.39 0419 0.50 1044 1.71 1713 0.38 2314 1.40 0457 0.51 1118 1.67 1745 0.41 2349 1.41 0536 0.54 1153 1.60 1818 0.44

1321 1928

2 2

0113 0728 TU 1357 2003

0.54 1.81 0153 0.30 0806 WE 0.30 1.48 WE 1430 1930 2036 1.48 0116 0.43 0.43 1.90 0230 0739 1.90 0.22 0842 1415 TH 0.22 1.59 TH 1500 2020 1.59 2107 0212 0.34 0.34 1.95 0307 0831 1.95 0.17 0916 1501 FR 0.17 1.68 FR 1530 2108 2140 1.68 0304 0.27 0.27 1.95 0344 0922 1.95 0.17 0952 1545 SA 0.17 1.75 SA 1600 2154 1.75 2213 0357 0.25 0.25 1.88 0323 1012 1.88 0.22 0930 1629 SU 0.22 1.78 SU 1531 2240 1.78 2148 0448 0.27 0.27 1.77 0404 1100 1.77 0.30 1009 1710 MO 0.30 1.78 MO 1605 2326 1.78 2226 0542 0.33 0.33 1.63 0448 1149 1.63 0.41 1052 1751 TU 0.41 TU 1642 2307 0011 1.74 1.74 0.42 0538 0635 0.42 1.47 1141 1239 WE 1.47 0.53 WE 1724 1831 2355 0.53 0058 1.68 1.68 0.51 0635 0732 0.51 1.33 1237 1330 TH 1.33 0.64 TH 1815 1914 0.64 0147 1.60 1.60 0.59 0050 0834 0.59 1.23 0742 1428 FR 1.23 0.74 FR 1345 2003 0.74 1920 0244 1.53 1.53 0.64 0158 0941 0.64 1.17 0856 1536 SA 1.17 0.80 SA 1503 2105 0.80 2039 0348 1.49 1.49 0.65 0312 1048 0.65 1.18 1005 1652 SU 1.18 0.81 SU 1618 2219 0.81 2158 0456 1.48 1.48 0.63 0422 1149 0.63 1.23 1105 1758 MO 1.23 0.78 MO 1719 2329 0.78 2305 0556 1.51 1.51 0.58 1240 0.58 1.30 1847 1.30

3 3 4 4

5 5 6 6

7 7 8 8

9 9

10 10

11 11

Local Time APRIL APRIL Time Time m

m 0026 0.72 0645 1.55 1321 0.53 1928 1.38 0113 0.65 0728 1.59 1357 0.48 2003 1.45 0153 0.58 0806 1.63 1430 0.45 2036 1.52 0230 0.53 0842 1.64 1500 0.43 2107 1.58 0307 0.48 0916 1.64 1530 0.42 2140 1.64 0344 0.46 0952 1.62 1600 0.43 2213 1.68 0323 0.45 0930 1.58 1531 0.46 2148 1.71 0404 0.45 1009 1.52 1605 0.50 2226 1.72 0448 0.48 1052 1.45 1642 0.56 2307 1.71 0538 0.51 1141 1.37 1724 0.62 2355 1.68 0635 0.54 1237 1.30 1815 0.69 0050

m Time m 0524 1.78 0.72 1.78 0.33 1.55 0524 1159 0.33 1.58 0.53 1159 TU 1812 TU 1812 1.58 1.38

16 16

0.65 0005 0.47 0.47 1.83 1.59 0005 0619 1.83 0.28 0.48 0619 WE 1246 0.28 1.70 WE 1246 1900 1.45 1900 1.70 0.58 0100 0.38 0.38 1.84 1.63 0100 0712 1.84 0.27 0.45 0712 TH 1331 0.27 1.79 TH 1331 1945 1.52 1945 1.79 0.53 0154 0.32 0.32 1.80 1.64 0154 0802 1.80 0.29 0.43 0802 FR 1414 0.29 1.86 FR 1414 2030 1.58 2030 1.86 0245 0.30 0.48 0.30 1.72 1.64 0245 0851 1.72 0.35 0.42 0851 SA 1455 0.35 1.88 SA 1455 2114 1.64 2114 1.88 0335 0.32 0.46 0.32 1.62 1.62 0335 0940 1.62 0.44 0.43 0940 SU 1534 0.44 1.87 SU 1534 2157 1.68 2157 1.87 0426 0.37 0.45 0.37 1.50 1.58 0426 1029 1.50 0.53 0.46 1029 MO 1614 0.53 1.82 MO 1614 2240 1.71 2240 1.82 0516 0.44 0.45 0.44 1.39 1.52 0516 1116 1.39 0.63 0.50 1116 TU 1653 0.63 1.75 TU 1653 2323 1.72 2323 1.75 0.48 0609 0.52 0.52 1.30 1.45 0609 1206 1.30 0.72 0.56 1206 WE 1734 WE 1734 0.72 1.71

17 17

18 18 19 19 20 20

21 21

22 22

23 23 24 24 0.51

TH 1300 1.68 1822 0.54 1.30 0058 0.69 0802 FR FR 1401 1921 1.65 0.56 0157 1.26 0901 SA SA 1510 0.73 2033 1.63 0.54 0303 1.27 0958 SU SU 1613 0.73 2146 1.66 0.48 0406 1.35 1048 MO MO 1705 0.68 2249 1.72 0.41 0500 1.46 1131 TU TU 1747 0.58 2342

26 26

1.65 27 12 12 0742 0.56 27 1345

13 13 14 14 15 15

1.26 1920 0.73 0158 1.63 0856 0.54 1503 1.27 2039 0.73 0312 1.66 1005 0.48 1618 1.35 2158 0.68 0422 1.72 1105 0.41 1719 1.46 2305 0.58

0008 1.66 0.59 1.24 1.24 0.80 1822 0.80 0058 1.58 1.58 0.64 0802 0.64 1.21 1401 1.21 0.85 1921 0.85 0157 1.51 1.51 0.66 0901 0.66 1.23 1510 1.23 0.87 2033 0.87 0303 1.48 1.48 0.64 0958 0.64 1.28 1613 1.28 0.84 2146 0.84 0406 1.49 1.49 0.61 1048 0.61 1.35 1705 1.35 0.78 2249 0.78 0500 1.51 1.51 0.57 1131 0.57 1.44 1747 1.44 0.71 2342 0.71

1.66 25 0704 1.37 0008 25 0.59 0.62 0704 TH 1300

28 28 29 29

30 30

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Bureau of Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2018, 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 standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Moon Phase Symbols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter Tide predictions for Port Phillip Heads 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. 88

JANUARY 2019

boats & kayaks

In the skipperâ€™s seat

Inside story...

Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and quality products. From their headquarters in California, Hobie Cat Company and its global subsidiaries produce an impressive collection of watercraft for worldwide distribution. In addition to the sailboats for which they are well-known, Hobie Cat also offers stand-up-paddle boards, kayaks, and boats for both recreation and fishing.

Made for...

Hobie kayaks are some of the most wellequipped fishing kayaks in the business, and are used everywhere from tight freshwater creeks to offshore grounds.

This month...

Corey Gallaghar is testing out the new Hobie Mirage Outback 2019. Check it out on page 98!

91 South West Rocks in the yak Dayne Taylor checks out this famous holiday destination and its kayak angling opportunities!

92 Tow, tow, tow your boat

Wayne Kampe offers some tips on towing boats â€“ a very important skill for boat owners!

94 Beating the holiday crowds Justin Willmer looks at how to find your own space during this busy time on the water!

111 Stacer 539 Wild Rider with 115hp Yamaha Gary Brown climbs aboard this classy rig from Stacer, powered by a 115hp 4-Stroke Yamaha!

JANUARY 2019

Stacer 539 Wild Rider with 115hp Yamaha

SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

Stacer 539 Wild Rider powered by the VF115LA VMAX SHO 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard is a true all-round family boat where you could take the family out for a fish in the morning and then go skiing as the sun gets higher in the sky. From its roomy rear cockpit, you can go through the walk-through windscreen where you will be able to sit on comfortable factory infill cushions while watching for pods of dolphins or keeping an eye on the skier. If water skiing is not your scene, you can always take the cushions out and drop in the centre section of the carpeted floor and start casting for those pelagics that you may see busting up out the front. Stacer have kept the angler in mind when it comes to fishing up front; they have covered the anchor well so that you can operate the electric motor and not have it get in the way, and

Main: The 539 Wild Rider was up on the plane in less than 30m, giving you plenty more power to open it up to around 40 knots if needed. Above: The concave Revolution hull with its reverse chines pushes the excess water down, deliverying a very comfortable and dry ride when cutting through and over the wash. TEST BOAT PACKAGE For the drive-away price of $57,611 you also get the VF115LA VMAX SHO 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard, the 703 control box 6YC digital Lan screen gauge, Yamaha control cables, polished stainless SDS K-Series 18-k 13” propeller, Garmin echoMAP 75sv Plus sounder/GPS, Stacer T alloy trailer with mechanical brakes, Century NS70M marine battery, 12-month NSW trailer and vessel rego, trailer tiedown straps, a safety kit, a sand anchor with rope and chain, a factory carpeted casting platform infill board, factory infill cushions for the casting deck, factory hydraulic steering upgrade, a factory vinyl boat wrap, a thruster bow mount bracket and a sealed timber floor.

SPECIFICATIONS Beam: ......................................................... 2.36m Bottom sides: .............................................. 4mm Depth: ........................................................ 1.29m Height on trailer: ........................................2.10m Length maximum: ..................................... 5.42m Length on trailer: ...................................... 6.80m Main motor weight: ...................................206kg Max hp: .......................................................135hp Number of people (basic): ............................... 7 Topsides: ..................................................... 3mm Transom material: ....................................... 4mm Transom shaft length: ................................... L/S Weight (boat only): .....................................645kg 96

JANUARY 2019

the two side compartments have plenty of storage room. I reckon you could get yourself a low-profile icebox and fit it into the port side front compartment and either store your food and drinks or those fish you are going to catch. With the carpeted cover, fill-in cushions and some ice it would keep your food, drinks and fish cool. The inclusion of the collapsible bimini and envelope will help keep the elements at bay while you are sitting on the swivel deluxe

bow seats. As short as I am, I found that while at the helm of the boat I could easily see over the low-profile sports deck and dash when I folded up the booster seat. At 700rpm, I once again found that the VF115LA VMAX SHO 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard was so quiet that I had to remember to turn the motor off. On the test day it ran at 2400rpm while doing 8 knots, and once it got up on the plane it was only pulling 3000rpm

STANDARD FEATURES The Stacer 539 Wild Rider comes with a 5-year warranty, accessory kit, alloy bow roller, anchor storage, bow storage, cleat on front deck, cockpit lights, convertible front casting platform, bimini and envelope, carpeted floor, folding cleat midship, Fusion RA70N sound system plus EL602 speakers 6” 150W, gunwale bump rubber, low profile sports deck and dash, Maxi Bracket 2-piece, painted with stripes, pole mount insert, port and starboard storage consoles, GX750BVHF radio, 18” whip, aft short side rails, transom handrail, rear ladder, recessed ski locker, revolution hull, 2 x rod holders, scupper drainage system, deluxe bow backrest seat & cushions, 2 x maritime seats, folding rear lounge seat and backrest, side decks rolled, 2 x side pockets, nonreturn mechanical steering, Totalscan skimmer med/ high/455/800, 2 x transducer brackets, 95L underfloor fuel tank and a walk-through windscreen. while doing 18 knots. This is definitely a very economical rig to run. Rather than go full speed at 4100 knots/6100rpm, I preferred to cruise at 30 knots while pulling 5000rpm. Prospective buyers can take the Stacer 539 Wild Rider as it comes, or option up with a re-designed transom door and ski pole to allow for a range of activities such as skiing and tube riding. The package tested on the day came with a VF115LA VMAX SHO

4-Stroke Yamaha outboard, and was priced at $57,611. Alternatively, you may prefer to put on a F115LB 4-Stroke Yamaha outboard for a drive-away price of $45,638. For further information on this or other boats in the Stacer range, drop in to see the staff at Marina Bayside, located at 1-13 Mangrove Lane, Taren Point. You can also find more information at www.marinabayside.com.au, or give them a call on (02) 9524 0044.

Even though the bimini on the Wild Rider provides cover while sitting down, it does make it hard to stand if you are tall. Talk to the staff at Marina Bayside about getting a higher one installed.

The Stacer 539 Wild Rider has no pressings, giving the boat a smooth, sleek, modern look and the factory vinyl wrap is very impressive.

Keeping your gear out of the elements is important, and on the port and starboard sides there is more storage. Items like your safety gear, first-aid kit, and stern light could be stored safety in these side pockets.

If you had a small child you could fold up the booster cushion so that they too could see over the low-profile Sports Deck and Dash.

The adjustable deluxe swivel seats allowed you to easily see over the wrap around walk-through aluminium window.

Left: The self-draining anchor well is covered when the floor is in position. There is a small slot in the front to allow for the rope to easily come out when deploying the anchor. Right: Up front under the seats you have plenty of storage where you can fit your safety gear, icebox and much more.

From the stern to the bow there is plenty of room in the 539 Wild Rider. The deluxe cushion swivel seats can be turned to face any direction.

When Dom powered the Stacer 539 Wild Rider up onto the plane, the VF115LA VMAX SHO Yamaha did it with ease. Marina Bayside also provide the option of putting on a F115LB 4-stroke Yamaha outboard instead.

While seated at the helm the GARMIN echoMAP 75sv Plus sounder/ GPS and the 703-control box 6YC digital Lan screen gauge were very easy to see and use. There is also a small storage area near the throttle for those items that you need to keep out of the weather.

If you have more guests onboard you can always fold up the padded cushioned seat at the rear. When not in use itâ€™s very easy to fold it back up. JANUARY 2019

Hobie Mirage Outback 2019 designed for fishers

MELBOURNE

Corey Gallagher

Hobie have a long tradition of quality and innovation. Their products have dominated kayak angling markets worldwide since the introduction of the first purpose designed, pedal propelled fishing kayak, the Mirage Outback in 2001. In the 18 years since its introduction, the Outback has undergone several key upgrades, transforming it into one of the best kayak angling platforms available. The 2019 model sees the biggest upgrade in the model’s history with a complete redesign of the hull, ensuring the Outback continues to sit atop of an ever-growing list of purpose built fishing kayaks. Like its bigger brother, the Mirage Pro Angler, the Mirage Outback was designed purely as a fishing kayak. Its new hull design and deck layout have been carefully considered and the result is an exceptional kayak that appeals to both tournament and social anglers alike. As a regular participant in the Hobie Kayak Bream Series, I have witnessed the growing popularity of the Mirage Outback amongst kayak tournament anglers in recent years. The Outback offers many advantages over rival kayaks and its lightweight hull design is a major contributor to its success. The Mirage Outback can be easily

Main: The 2019 Hobie Mirage Outback kayak is a favourite in the kayak angling community. Above: The 2019 Hobie Outback has undergone the biggest redesign in the model’s 18 year history. transported to and from your favourite fishing spot on roof racks – its manageable size and weight makes launching that much easier when fishing solo and very little room is required when storing the kayak at home. A major upgrade to the 2019 Mirage Outback is its redesigned hull, featuring a sharper bow that cuts effortlessly through the water,

SPECIFICATIONS Length Overall..........................................3.86m Beam.........................................................0.86m Crew..............................................1 (single seat) Capacity.............................................. 192.78kg Fitted Hull Weight................................. 38.56kg Fully Rigged Weight.............................. 46.72kg Hull Construction.....Rotomolded Polyethylene RRP..................................................From $4190 98

JANUARY 2019

wind, wake and chop while also greatly reducing any hull slap. The kayak is very fast off the line and gets up to speed within just a few kicks of the mirage drive 180, thanks largely to this redesigned bow. The 2019 Outback also features a completely redesigned rear deck and stern. The old twist and stow style rudder has been replaced with Hobie’s kick up rudder, the rudder is spring loaded and will bump up out of the way when it hits rocks or snags underwater. The new Outback features dual steering controls, meaning that left and right handed anglers will find manoeuvring the kayak a breeze, capable of turning in a tight circle with full rudder lock. The rear end

also features a large H-Rail carry handle that not only assists while transporting, but also allows kayak anglers a convenient place to mount Hobie H-Rail accessories, such as a Go-Pro mount. Another new addition to the stern of the 2019 Outback is it comes power pole ready with pre-drilled inserts. The large rear deck is massive in comparison to the old model and allows plenty of room for a livewell, icebox, rod holders or storage crates. The rear deck also features two recessed areas. It has a H-Track deluxe with bungee tackle retainer that allow anglers to store two 3700 size tackle trays and secure it in place using built in bungee straps. The cockpit area also features two similar recessed areas, only these come equipped with a H-Rail, giving the angler even more storage and accessory mounting options. The four H-Track Deluxe recessed storage areas not only greatly increases the tackle storage capacity of the 2019 Outback, but also includes handy storage for your fishing pliers, braid scissors, lip grips and other fishing related tools, with bungee tie downs to keep everything secure and safe from an accidental swim overboard. Together, these features combine to make the 2019 Outback an incredibly organised kayak, everything has its place and for a tournament angler who needs quick access to their equipment, the Outback ticks all the boxes. Hobie have introduced a rectangular centre hatch into the new model as standard, an upgrade many owners of the old Outbacks retro fitted. The larger centre hatch comes standard with a tackle bucket, the perfect place to store smaller tackle trays,

leader and other frequently used items. The hatch also has a built in bottle opener for those who are keen to partake in a cold beverage while on the water. The mesh pocket on the inside of the hatch is a great place to store keys or a mobile phone. Another key upgrade to the 2019 model is the seat has been widened by 1.5”. The Vantage CTW Seat features 4-way, adjustment making it comfortable for any angler no matter your size or shape. Hobie have also introduced the Guardian retractable transducer shield to the 2019 Outback. The system protects the transducer on impact and retracts into the hull for transport. The 2019 Outback is powered by the V2 Mirage Drive 180, Hobie’s reverse capable pedal drive system featuring ARC shafts, which allow kayakers to adjust the cranks at the push of a button. The 2019 Outback is available in a large range of colours: slate blue, papaya orange, red hibiscus, ivory dune, seagrass green and camo package, which also features camo deck pads and pedal pads. I recently competed in a Hobie Kayak Series

Event out of a 2019 Outback in Mallacoota, where we experienced strong breezes for the duration of the tournament. To say I was impressed with the performance of the new hull under these testing conditions would be a huge understatement. True to Hobie’s claims, the hull slices effortlessly through the water, wind and chop and does it without losing forward momentum. Hull slap has been greatly reduced, even in the choppy conditions. Please note that the kayak featured in this article featured several aftermarket accessories including the Hobie V2 Livewell, Hobie Vantage Seat Bag and Lowrance Elite 9 Ti Sounder. The Hobie Mirage Outback is an extremely versatile kayak that appeals to a broad range of anglers. It is feature packed in a lightweight package, adding further to its appeal. The Outback has long been a favourite among the kayak angling community and the 2019 model, with its upgraded storage options and improved hull design, will ensure that this kayak continues as one of the best options for kayak anglers looking to purchase a new yak.

The lightweight hull makes the 2019 Outback perfect for those looking for a feature packed kayak that is still easily transported on a roof rack.

Pre-drilled inserts allow a Power Pole Micro to be mounted directly onto the hull. The rear cargo area has been significantly increased and features two H-Track Deluxe with bungee tackle retainer systems. New for 2019, the Vantage Seat CTW features an extra 1.5” width.

Hobie’s innovative H-Track Deluxe with H-Rail integrated track is a multipurpose addition to the 2019 Outback, excellent for mounting all manner of accessories and storing tackle trays up to 3700 size.

The new Outback is powered by the reverse capable V2 Hobie Mirage Drive 180. A vertically mounted rectangular hatch now comes as standard.

A ‘reclined’ seating position in the new Outback.

The Hobie Guardian retractable transducer shield has been introduced into the new model.

The twist and stow rudder has been replaced by a kick up rudder mounted under the stern of the kayak.

The cockpit of the 2019 Outback has been carefully designed and now features plenty of storage and accessory mounting options.

The new design features a sharper bow that effortlessly cuts through water, wind, wake and chop and allows the kayak to get up to speed quickly. JANUARY 2019