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APRIL 2018, Vol. 30 No. 6
Contents
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Troy Dixon with a samsonfish caught offshore from Brisbane on a live yakka fished on Mustad Big Gun 8/0 hooks in a 2 hook gang with a Wilson Premium No. 5 ball sinker to the top hook. A Troy Dixon image.
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are capable of recording the information, rendering it to a size for streaming and getting to a Live YouTube event in less than 30 seconds. We’ve come a long way in just a year. I’m looking forward to what we can do in 2019. So, please stay glued to those screens and let us deliver you the action live from the water, because we know that’s where you’d really rather be. Or, as you’ve done already, grab a copy of QLD Fishing Monthly and take some time away from your screen. You know that we take away all of the clutter and give you a product that never runs out of power, costs $6.95 instead of $1,695 and is proven technology that’ll endure through any blackout or internal crash. True story.
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Live Streaming from boats fishing in a tournament a try. It was BassCat’s Craig Simmons who twisted our arm to do it after USA-based Aussie bass pro, Carl Jocumsen, was getting real reach delivering content live from his boat. It was an instant success, although clumsily done, which led us to refine what we do. A year on, we’ve just finished delivering coverage of the ABT’s Franklins Australian Open – Australia’s toughest bream fishing tournament that’s held on Sydney Harbour and the Hawkesbury River. From those clunky beginnings, we’re beginning
to deliver action through your screens that you’ve never been able to access before. You could pick one of several boats who were live streaming – or even watch all three at once if you had a big enough screen (and data plan)! There were more cameras on other boats that recorded the action, these were edited down into 5-minute highlights packages (for those of us who aren’t as fanatical and only want the juicy bits). If that wasn’t enough, you could watch the starts and the weigh-ins live as well. You want screen time? At least we’ll deliver you something more relevant than watching cats jump into the air when you put a cucumber behind them. The technology is cool: we use waterproof, Garmin VIRB cameras that can run all day off the power in the anglers’ boats. These
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There’s an old saying, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”. I’m talking about the amount of ‘screen time’ that we are exposed to on a daily basis. It’s a global thing. In the last year I’ve seen the same scenes in China, Japan, Australia and the USA. Busloads, cafes-full, streets full of people totally engrossed by what’s on their phone rather than what’s going on around them. I suppose it’s a symptom of our exposure to this new technology - until we become desensitised to this constant stream of information, we’ll wade into it and see how it feels. In the meantime, how are we reaching these people? We’re broadcasting fishing into their information streams. It was only a year ago that we decided to give
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REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 18 Camping and 4WD 76 Cooking 80 Dam Levels 70 Freshwater 70 Fun Page 90 Junior Northern 66 Junior Southern 36 Politics and fishing 68 Sheik of the Creek 84 Suntag 82 Tech Tricks 16 Tournament News 91 Track my fish 78 Trades and Services 96 What’s New Fishing 86 What’s New Boating 100 SPECIAL FEATURES Chasing inshore pelagics Fishing the Brisbane River Costa Store-in-a-Store
From the Editor’s Desk...
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BOATING AND KAYAK
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TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 58 Ayr 59 Townsville 60 Hinchinbrook 61 Cairns 62 Port Douglas 62 Cairns NFZ 63 Lucinda 64 Cape York 64 Weipa 65 Cooktown 65
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CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 48 Rainbow Beach 49 Bundaberg 50 Lake Monduran 50 Stanage Bay 51 Gladstone 52 Rockhampton 53 Yeppoon 54 Mackay 55
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SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 24 Southern Gold Coast 26 Gold Coast Canals 28 Jumpinpin 30 Gold Coast 32 Southern Bay 34 Brisbane 38 Brisbane Offshore 40 Northern Bay 42 Noosa 44
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NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 20 Ballina 22
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Fishing Diary Angler: Shane O’Donnell Location: South East QLD Date: Late December 2016 Conditions: ESE 10 kts, New moon Black Magic Tackle: KS 2/0 hooks Note: “Tough fights which require a lot of drag also require reliable hooks. The KS hooks stand up to the test everytime. Love them.”
A HOOK FOR EVERY OCCASION:
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Follow @blackmagictackle on Facebook and Instagram to see the latest catches and enter in our competitions.
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high carbon steel for extreme strength heavier wire guage caught everything from bait fish to marlin winner of numerous tournaments and national and international records Made in Japan
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Chasing speedy inshore pelagics with lures WHITSUNDAYS
Mick Underwood
One of the most popular ways to fish with clients on charter is to introduce them to fishing for big shiny tropical speedsters with light to medium spin gear and lures. Even though a high
percentage of the people that I take out for a fish are keen for a tasty reef fish to bring home, I’ve never had a complaint from anyone about catching something that tries it’s best to pull them out of the boat. The big cheesy grins and looks of exhilaration on peoples’ faces when I net a nice fish
Reef Underwood getting stuck into what turned out to be a 1.1m queenfish. This sort of fishing is an ideal way to get kids into the game as the tackle is light enough for them to handle; just back the drags off a little for them first.
for them is very rewarding and as a guide, I know at that moment that I’ve given someone an experience that they will remember forever. SPECIES We’re very fortunate in coastal Queensland to have a large variety of species to chase after and it doesn’t really matter what time of the year or your location, there’s always a target species somewhere nearby. Here at Hydeaway Bay at the top of the Whitsundays we are fortunate to have a plethora of species to chase and they’re all ravenous predators eager to eat a wide array of lures. Amongst the trevally family the giant trevally is the apex predator, followed up by his golden, diamond, goldspot and tealeaf cousins. In the mackerel family the Spanish mackerel is king of the castle with school, spotted, grey and shark mackerel also on the cards. Both mac and longtail tunas are available locally, as is the occasional cobia. You can’t forget about the humble
A solid goldspot trevally caught casting around an isolated rock that happened to have some scared baitfish shimmering on the surface around it. Fish of this calibre will make your reel sing.
Golden trevally can be particularly voracious when they’re turned on; you’ll notice just the bib of a hardbody sticking out of this beast’s mouth because it scoffed the whole thing. queenfish either – they’re one of my personal favourites, especially once they reach XOS proportions. LOCATING THE CRITTERS Locating any of the abovementioned speedsters is one of the biggest challenges of the game and a part of it that I enjoy a lot. It’s the hunt – where are they going to be today? They can literally turn up anywhere at any time and unless it’s your lucky day you can bet they won’t be where you found them yesterday. They might be on a headland, a reef, a rubble patch or, as I quite often find, they’re out in open water in the middle nowhere in some vast structureless paddock of water. The key with finding inshore pelagics is the same as it is with lots of predatory fish; find the bait and you’ll find the predators. To locate the bait the two main tools we have are our eyes and a good sounder. If the bait is sitting up high in the water column then our eyes are our best tools. The more sets of them scanning the ocean, the better. When travelling at 20 knots between locations I always ask whoever is on board to assist in the hunt by keeping a sharp lookout for
any signs of life. This may be in the form of a scared baitfish scurrying across the surface, or it may be the presence of a light oil slick on the surface where some heavy feeding has gone on recently. Birds are a dead giveaway and it doesn’t have to be flocks of them. Sometimes it takes only a solitary tern dipping down to sea level somewhere off in the distance to give the show away. If the bait is sitting deep in the water column then a sounder is your best tool. Pressure points and current lines that run off the corners
of islands or headlands are a good place to have a sound, as big predatory fish love to herd up and push baitfish into these areas. For a poor little baitfish, swimming into a current line is like swimming into a brick wall, they become disorientated and confused, making them easy prey. Locations like this can become natural feeding stations for all pelagic species. When searching for bait in open water it’s important that your sounder works reliably when you’re on the plane, otherwise you could be driving
Ryan was suitably stoked at catching this 1.1m diamond trevally on a soft plastic and 10lb braid. The anchor had to be ripped up at Mach 3 to get after this fish and chase it down before being spooled.
RINCON
Like the California point break it was named for, the Rincon has a classic West Coast straight bridge, wrapping style lines and edgy curved temples.
GREEN MIRROR: Enhanced vision and contrast for fishing inshore and on flats. • Copper Base • 10% light transmission
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APRIL 2018
OPTIMAL USE: • Sight fishing in full sun • High contrast
With mac tuna, matching your lure size to the size of the bait that is present is important for regular success. On this day there were a lot of garfish around, so a pencil popper was the lure of choice and it worked a treat.
over masses of fish and not have a clue. Side imaging is handy as well. Make sure that you have it set to fairly wide scale – the bait schools will show up like little white clouds on your screen. TACKLE I prefer to use light to medium spin outfits for this sort of fishing, as they are highly versatile and the one outfit can cover all techniques. One minute I might be trolling a hardbody through a bait school and then some tuna appear on the surface and the hardbody quickly gets traded in for a chrome slug. Then the fish go deep. A quick snip with the line cutters and a loop knot tied with a jig of some kind is attached and it’s down into the depths you go. It’s important to use gear where you can quickly adapt to the situation at hand. Rods and braided lines rated at around 4-8kg are well suited to chasing most of the inshore pelagic brigade, as they are mostly clean fighters and will not purposefully try and stitch you up in nearby structure. Giant trevally are the exception to the rule here. It doesn’t matter what line class you use – a decent fish will rip the line off your reel at will and I’ve lost count of how many I’ve lost due to them swimming behind a nearby bommie and cutting me off. They can be dead-set
strength are a good starting point and will sometimes go down to 15 or 20lb if I’m having a tough time getting regular bites. I only use wire for targeting mackerel and then only if I have to, especially with either school or spotty mackerel. If I have to use wire on these smaller guys then I don’t like to go over 40lb single strand wire, as they can be very fickle and stop biting. Sometimes it’s better to lose a lure or two and still be in with
the chance to catch a few fish. Whatever leader strength you choose, keep them at around 2m in length so that when a fish comes boat side you have something to hang onto to guide the fish to the net. LURE SELECTION AND USE This is a tricky one, as just about anything with hooks will catch these inshore speedsters, providing you follow a few basic rules. When I’m out on the water and I come across some actively feeding fish, the
two things that I automatically look for are what they are feeding on and where in the water column they are feeding. Once I have ascertained these two things, I will then delve into the lure trays and make my selection. It’s important to try and work out what the fish are feeding on so you select a lure of similar size to the prey – match the hatch. As you put time into this sort of fishing you will work out soon enough To page 12
Soft vibes are generally used in a slow and subtle fashion but you can still rip them up through the water column to turn on big pelagics such as this 1.24m queenfish. mongrels and are definitely worthy adversaries. The clean fighting nature of most of these fish can open up doors for fishing super light tackle. Unless you plan to take your fish home for dinner or are fishing for records, it can be irresponsible to fish this way. The longer and more prolonged the fight, the less
the chance the fish will survive and the higher the mortality rate will be. Remember that this is not a limitless resource and we have to fish for tomorrow as always. The leader strength that I use on any given day will normally depend on how tentative the bite is at the time. Leaders of around 30-40lb in
A lot of the inshore pelagics when they’re fresh from the water light up like neon signs, and diamond trevally are no exception. Be sure to have your camera ready early and take your pics straight away; this will also allow you to get the fish back into the water in a timely fashion and give it a fair chance of survival.
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Big wet lead up to April TOOWOOMBA
Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com
Wet weather has hit Queensland hard for the past couple of weeks, which has flooded some of the lake catchments. Keep this in mind as further rain will see more lakes overflowing, and any notable rise with dirty water running into a lake can change the fishing dramatically. It’s not all bad news as some running water and rising lake levels can actually be a trigger for fish to feed. Freshly flooded ground gives fish new territory to explore and hunt for food. Terrestrial critters are suddenly on the menu and smaller baitfish move up on flooded ground to forage in big numbers.
Running water is another source of excitement. As water moves along, it creates ambush spots where predators can move to nail a feed of smaller fish that are attracted by the water movement. Cod, golden perch and barramundi are all fond of some moving water. Waterfalls, creeks or even a raging gully can all be spots worth closer investigation. Sometimes, the water entering a lake can be filthy so work the dirty water line where it meets clear water. This is prime hunting territory for predators as they can take advantage of the murky water. Here they hide and simply pounce when a smaller fish moves past on the edge of the dirty water line. Below the lakes, the water is often clear after big rain, even when the dams
SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST Cressbrook Dam remains closed due
to the outbreak of bluegreen algae. It has now been closed for a whole month and the current state can be monitored on the
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overflow. If your favourite spot is filthy, keep this in mind as accessing the water below the spillway will often present much clearer water. These areas receive less runoff than what is likely to enter further downstream on the same system. If water enters from the lake above, it is often clearer than any flood water entering the top end of the lake. Stay safe after any big rain as it does present new hazards. Lakes often close for several days after any significant weather event but there is still the chance of floating debris when they reopen. Below the dam walls, be wary of water releases from above and the fishing exclusion zones, which are in place above and below the wall. Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel!
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Weipa
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Toowoomba
BRISBANE
IMPOUNDMENT DAM
When the dam does reopen, the fishing should be red hot for the first few days. When the fish haven’t touched or seen or heard a boat for over a month, they tend to drop their guard. Look for schooling fish around the points near the boat ramp and campgrounds. Also investigate the Eagles Nest rock wall point and the flats on the southern bank just past the rock wall. Heavier lures will be suited to casting for quality bass. Tail spinners, spoons and 1/2oz rigged plastics are all worth a go. Keep a close eye on when it reopens, it will be well worth a visit. For all your fishing
Gold Coast
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24 1 Tinaroo Falls Dam 2 Peter Faust Dam 3 Burdekin Falls Dam 4 Eungella Dam 5 Teemburra Dam 6 Kinchant Dam 7 Cania Dam 8 Lake Monduran 9 Isis Balancing Storage 10 Wuruma Dam 11 Lenthalls Dam 12 Boondooma Dam 13 Bjelke-Petersen Dam 14 Lake MacDonald 15 Gordonbrook Dam 16 Borumba Dam 17 Somerset Dam 18 Wivenhoe Dam 19 Pindari Dam 20 Copeton Dam 21 Moogerah Dam 22 Maroon Dam 23 Leslie Dam 24 Connolly Dam 25 Coolmunda Dam 26 Clarrie Hall Dam (NSW) 27 Hinze Dam 28 Lake Cressbrook 29 Callide Dam 30 Lake Awoonga 31 Lake Samsonvale 32 Fairbairn Dam 33 Koombooloomba Dam 34 Cooby Dam
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Toowoomba Regional Council website. This rainy weather probably won’t help; a cooler change is what is going to roll the algae outbreak and see us fishing there again.
Nigel Middleton loves the chrome blue Gang Banger spoon. It’s the goto lure for quite a few anglers when Somerset bass refuse to play.
Gympie
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Cairns 1
26
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Townsville 2
3 4
Proserpine 6 Mackay
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Rockhampton
Emerald 29 7
10
Highlighted dams are covered in this issue
Gladstone
30 8
Bundaberg 9
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Maryborough
Roma
supplies and the latest reports on Cressbrook and the surrounding dams, call in to see Fish’n’Bits in Alderley Street. They have a great range of lures and fishing gear. The staff can sort you out with the right gear and give you some tips on where to find them. Just remember there is a speed limit of 8 knots and a restricted area at Cressbrook Dam. Check out the signage to ensure you stay out of trouble and abide by the rules. SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY Somerset had a good flush of freshwater come in at the end of February.
BRISBANE
This excess water was immediately released into Wivenhoe and it is expected any further inflows will receive the same treatment. What this tends to do is draw the floodwater that enters at the top end towards the dam wall faster and in turn make the lake dirtier. Currently, the water from Kirkleigh north is dirty and the main basin of the lake around the schooling bass is coloured but not too dirty for luring. A couple of weeks after such an event can actually see the fish turn on so stay To page 71
WATER STORAGE LEVELS Dam............................ % Full
DAMS Atkinson Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen Boondooma Borumba Burdekin Falls Callide Cania Clarendon Cooby Coolmunda
JAN FEB MAR 15 11 14 99 97 98 19 17 17 43 41 42 100 99 102 73 74 106 82 80 80 98 97 99 4 3 4 50 47 47 67 58 50
Dam............................ % Full
Copeton Cressbrook Dyer/Bill Gunn Eungella Fairbairn Glenlyon Hinze Julius Kinchant Koombooloomba Leslie Macdonald
37 30 29 59 58 57 9 4 9 93 92 92 28 25 27 68 59 57 100 99 103 72 71 70 62 56 62 19 42 92 11 11 10 99 99 105
Dam............................ % Full
Maroon 98 97 100 Monduran/Fred Haigh 102 100 103 Moogerah 89 87 90 North Pine/Samsonvale 75 73 89 Peter Faust/Proserpine 68 67 69 Pindari 81 63 60 Somerset 77 76 77 Teemburra 92 90 91 Tinaroo 36 38 48 Toonumbar 100 100 102 Wivenhoe 71 69 77 Wuruma 100 98 101
For fortnightly updates on Sunwater dams visit www.sunwater.com.au This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams. All figures are % readings Current as of 13/03/18
(All levels correct at time of going to press. Dam levels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.) 70
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From page 70
tuned, they may be going nuts right now. Fishing the edges won’t be that great as no new ground has been flooded yet, but keep an eye out for flooded grasses and you will know if the level has risen. When at least a couple of metres of grass gets flooded, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits worked around the lake’s edges will be worth a try. It’s a huge lake to explore when doing this so stick to the middle reaches close to the schooling fish or near the change in water colour.
The first round of the Bass Nation series was held on the lake around the middle of March so make sure you check the reports on this event to see how and where the fish were caught. Big schools of bass have been hovering around the Pelican Point area. The outside of the shallower points and humps (6-10m) seem to hold fish best and they move around between the northern, eastern and southern sides of the point. Some fish have also moved to adjacent points on the opposite side of the river channel.
SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA A bit of rain and running water has fired up the bass. Fishing the weed edges with spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits is a good way to search for active fish after the rain. Up the back of the dam has been a good spot to try after the water ran in. Any further rain events will
see the water flowing in again so look for the flow and the active fish won’t be far away. Any increase in level will see the water cover the top of the existing weed beds and grassy banks. These areas can be explored with topwater lures early and late in the day. Lighter spinnerbaits and beetle spin rigged soft plastics are great throughout the day if there
DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSEST TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA A bit of rain about may help to stir the golden perch up. The fish have been quiet for the last couple of months but some reports early last month indicated there were a few on the move again. Trolling the weed edges with 3-5m diving lures has been the way to interest the fish. Lipless crankbaits slow trolled along the weed edges can also be very effective. Don’t expect big numbers when trolling. A good session is around half a dozen fish for this time of year. Bait fishing outside the weed edges in 6-8m of water can produce better numbers of fish. Golden perch and eel-tailed catfish are most common. Live shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies are ideal baits. Worms can work at times but seem to tempt more catfish, spangled perch and sometimes a silver perch. The water straight out from the boat ramp and down to the sail club shed is a good spot to try. From the bank, bait fishing is best down towards the wall. Cars can turn left at the entry gates to the dam and follow the track to the car park. From here it is a short walk to the steeper banks along the rock wall. Anywhere after the big bay will fish
well from the shore. Here the bank is steeper and you are able to throw out over the top of the weed beds that hinder shore-based fishing elsewhere. For all your bait, hooks and sinkers call into Craig’s Home Hardware in Highfields. Cooby D a m ’s proximity to Highfields and Toowoomba makes it a very popular fishery. If you are looking for somewhere close to home to drop the boat or kayak in Cooby is definitely worth a visit. The dam hours are now 6am until 8pm. Remember, no outboard motors are allowed to be used on the dam. The concrete boat ramp is on a shallow angle when the dam is full and can be slippery in places but a big electric powered boat can still be launched with care. Outboard motors can be left on the boat but must not be used. LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK The fishing at Leslie Dam has been surprisingly slow for this time of year. The golden perch have been hard to tempt with very few anglers reaching double figures in a session. Trolling deeper diving lures up the old riverbed will see you in the right spot. Plenty of fish are showing up on the sounder in over 7m of water. Mixed in with the goldens have been a few smaller Murray cod. Dropping a live shrimp or saltwater yabby into these fish can also fool a
The Insight Genesis/CMaps which show lake contours are perfect for narrowing down your search. I highlight the depth of interest to a brighter colour and concentrate on searching these spots. They will be particularly handy if bass move towards the wall into less familiar water. This happened the last time the dam had a good inflow. Big schools made their way to the mouth of Beams Creek and up as far as Poly Pipe Point (which is over halfway back to the Spit). As for catching fish, it is still hard to beat
spoons and jigs. Lures weighing 20g have been most successful. The Gang Banger 20g spoon in chrome blue, blue or white has been a standout. Other days, lures like the 20g Halco Twisty and Palms Slow Blatt will excel. When the fish are on the job, jigging these lures will account for bites. If the action is slow, a slow retrieve is all that is needed to get better results. Six to ten winds and then a drop back to the bottom over and over again will eventually see one latch on. Fish close to the bottom
can also respond well to a repeated slow draw to hop the lure off the bottom. Trolling the schools with deep diving hardbodies should fool a few fish. Lures like the 50mm Poltergeist Crazy Deep and Blitz Baga are ideal. Use your outboard for hardbodies and let the extra speed drive those lures as deep as possible. Slow trolling with an electric motor at about 2km/h is a good way to fool fish with tail spinners. The Jets and Smak ranges are ideal for this as they are able
to reach the fish even when they are holding at 10m deep. Just be sure to run light braided lines (4-8lb) to present the lures deep enough. Somerset Fishing has moved the tackle van up the hill closer to the campground. Look for them inside the day area up near the toilet block above the boat ramp. The staff will be there from Friday to Sunday. Not only do they have the right gear, they can steer you in the right direction as they always know where the fish are schooled up.
is over a metre of water flooding the vegetation. Davos in Noosaville is just a short drive away and they carry all the right lures to use on the lake. Check in with them to see if they have heard the latest news on how the lake is fishing. BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, NOOSA Despite flowing over in February and receiving even more rain since, the dam has recovered quickly and
fish are still being caught. Bass are quite scattered, making it hard to find and catch big numbers. Saratoga have been found up both the Kingham and Yabba arms. Look for the cleaner water for luring them. Sometimes the clearer water can actually be further up in the arms. When the floodwaters recede, the water running into the dam clears up. Surface lures are a lot of fun if the toga are prepared to rise and
take them. If the action on them is slow, switch to subsurface presentations like beetle spin plastics and spinnerbaits. Bass will be found on the points in the main basin, up around Borumba Flat and the start of the timber at the Junction. These fish will fall for the usual offerings like soft plastics, blades, spoons and tail spinners. Up in the timbered arms around the edges, try working the
banks with spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. The big inflow will have them pretty scattered but explore all options and you should find some action. Davos at Noosaville has all the gear you’ll need to tackle the fish at Borumba and Lake MacDonald. The store caters well for fresh and saltwater anglers. They can be found in the Homemaker Centre on the corner of Mary and Thomas streets.
few, and for some reason they are pretty steady. This is the most successful method at present with afternoon sessions producing most fish. On the lure casting scene, soft vibes and blades hopped in the deeper water are seeing the most action. While the goldens have been slow, a few cod are still being taken using this approach. Along with getting a fishing report, stock up on all your gear while at Warwick Outdoor and Sports at 115 Palmerin Street Warwick. For a small store, it carries a great range at a very competitive price. Warwick is only a 10 minute drive from the dam and you can pick up any supplies you might need. COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD The fishing at Coolmunda has been steady. The golden perch have been pretty slow this season but the Murray cod have kept things interesting. Trolling the old creek and riverbed edges is a good way to hook a few goldens. Lures that can dive to around 5m deep are ideal. The No.2 StumpJumper and 80mm Poltergeist are great options. These bigger profiled lures seem to perform better than smaller offerings, plus if a big old bucket-mouth Murray cod is on patrol they are more likely to draw a response. In the timber, spinnerbaits cast around the trees and sunken laydowns are the way to To page 72
Murray cod are definitely worth chasing at Coolmunda. Big spinnerbaits fished through the timber are hard to beat. Adam Krautz, the ‘Coolmunda King’, has been doing it a bit tough, but when the fish choose to bite you can still manage several in a session.
Gary’s Marine Centre
3201 6232
217 Pine Mountain Road, BRASSALL APRIL 2018
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Cooking
Tasty golden squid rings – spice up your squid CLEANING SQUID
BRISBANE
Lynn Bain
Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, is most commonly used in powdered form to add an attractive earthy hue to Asian and Indian dishes. While most herbs are happily stored on display in airtight glass jars, turmeric is often marketed in light-proof airtight containers. Turmeric should be stored in a cool, dark cupboard to increase its shelf-life. Ingredients • 500g squid rings • 1 small red chilli, finely chopped • 1 cup plain flour • 1tsp turmeric powder • 1-2tbs cooking oil
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Been out for a fish lately and want to use your cool calamari catch in this recipe? Scan this QR code to read Lynn Bain’s article online about cleaning squid. Calamari seem to love the cooler weather that we’ve been getting lately, so April is the perfect time to get your own fresh ingredients. There’s something special about knowing you caught your own dinner, don’t you think? We think so too.
On a hotplate, heat a non-stick frypan over a medium heat. Add the chopped chilli and chilli seeds to the frypan and toast them for a few minutes, then add the oil.
Shallow fry the coated squid rings with the chilli-infused oil in your frypan. Use tongs to remove the golden fried chilli squid rings from the non-stick pan and then drain the squid rings on some paper towels.
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Clean your squid and keep the calamari tubes to slice into squid rings (the heads and tentacles in this case were left intact to be used as reef fishing baits). Turn the tubes inside out and give them a rinse, then slice them into rings.
While the chilli is cooking, add the turmeric to the flour. In this case there was only a handful of flour remaining in the bag so turmeric was added directly to the bag. You may substitute dry mustard for the turmeric.
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Finely chop the chillies and keep the chilli seeds to infuse into the cooking oil.
Add the turmeric and flour mix to a plastic bag containing the squid/ calamari rings, then toss the squid rings through the mixture of flour and turmeric powder.
Serve with a light salad on the side. Salad will not overwhelm the delicate flavours of the squid. You can add extra chilli if you’re a fan of spice, or double-coat your calamari for more crunch.
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News
Suntag Monitoring Summary: Gladstone fishery Over the remaining year, we will be highlighting a fishing region a month and providing a good summary of the Suntag monitoring, as well as the
other data that helps paint a picture of how good each of the state’s recreational fisheries are. This month, we’ll be looking at Gladstone.
Data: Gladstone Fishing Club Barramundi Monitoring
OVERVIEW: GLADSTONE Gladstone is the hidden gem of a fishery. On the surface, there is nothing sexy at all about the region and that is reflected in the data, with Gladstone having the lowest outside visitor rate for any city up and down the coast. On the flip side, the community has invested a lot of time and money in looking after their area, from events like the Boyne Tannum Hookup and the stocking of Awoonga by Gladstone Area Water Board, to initiatives like Gladstone Healthy Harbour Partnership. These initiatives have paid off over time to deliver one of
the best-maintained fisheries up and down the cost. Suntag is active in Gladstone, mostly through the Gladstone Sportfishing Club, who have tagged fish in the region for decades. Suntag focuses on barramundi and mangrove jack, although most species in the area get a piece of jewellery throughout the year. Suntag is looking for local fishers or fishers who visit Gladstone for more tagging of offshore species, which is the one area that they could do with more data to help supplement the boat ramp monitoring work done by Queensland Fisheries. Data: Yarralla Deep Sea Fishing Club
Data: Boyne Tannum Hookup
The Gladstone region boasts some excellent fishing options, especially for barramundi.
TOP SPECIES Species
Number tagged
Barramundi
394
Redthroat emperor
291
Mangrove jack
132
Dusky flathead
119
Barred javelin
102
Red emperor
41
Golden snapper
36
Blackspotted rockcod
32
Australian bass
24
Yellowfin bream
17
Length and weight of bream at the Boyne Tannum Hookup.
TOP TAGGERS
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Fisher
Number tagged
Vesel T (Gold)
274
2017 BOYNE TANNUM HOOKUP LIVE WEIGH IN
Huth B (Silver)
130
Species
Number tagged
Boss M (Silver)
101
Yellowfin bream
453
Schmidt G
95
Hill D
87
Whiting
134
Vesel M (new member)
77
Pikey bream
51
Paterson R
74
Dusky flathead
40
Pirie R
42
Barred javelin
26
Heymer D
36
Mangrove jack
10
Schmidt T
31
Bartail snapper
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APRIL 2018
News HOW GOOD IS THE FISHERY? Infofish Australia have assessed four key fisheries, sports fishing, bread and butter, crabs and prawns and offshore. This was possible thanks to data provided by Suntag, Queensland Fisheries, Boyne Tannum Hookup and Yarralla Deep Sea Fishing Club. To view detailed analysis of the 12 species reviewed, go to www.crystalbowl.com.au/gladstonefishery-summary/. Sportfish The estuary sportfishing is a premium fishery, particularly for barramundi and mangrove jack. Regular overtopping from Awoonga has maintained barramundi numbers in the salt, and even with the presence of commercial fishing, catch rates have been sustained since 2012. The fishing in Awoonga is improving, with catch rates climbing, although the big fish are in the salt. Nonetheless, there have been some serious number sessions on Awoonga recently for local anglers, so there is plenty of fun to be had. While king and blue threadfin are in high numbers in Rockhampton, the environment at Gladstone is not as conducive, though numbers are improving. If they did, that would be the cherry on the cake. Time is the one thing you need at Gladstone. The fish are there, but the dynamics of the fishery are entirely different to many of the traditional barramundi fisheries. If you are an angler who likes to get about and enjoys the challenge of working out new territory, Gladstone will reward you with some great experiences. Bread and butter fishing Overall the bread and butter fishery, consisting of bream, flathead and whiting, is in great shape. The yellowfin bream catch rate is the just behind SEQ, with a 30mm better average than the SEQ fish. If the ABT were looking for a new location, Gladstone should stick up their hand. The best indicator of the state of the bread and butter fishery is the Boyne Tannum Hookup. Over the life of the Boyne Tannum Hookup, boat ramp surveys conducted during the comp have shown that catch rates have consistently climbed over the past decade. At
the same time, the rate of kept fish has dropped. Queensland Fisheries boat ramp surveys detected this change, as Gladstone fishers have one of the highest release rates in the state, despite the average sizes of fish being well above legal. Gladstone Sportfishing Club has run a live weigh-in as a part of the Boyne Tannum Hookup since 2000, and this has become the most participated section of the Hookup. In 2017, 538 bream were weighed in, with the pikey bream being heavier than the yellowfin for the same length. Crabs and prawns Mud crabs are the most contested of the estuary species in Queensland, and Gladstone is no exception. Gladstone has one of the most significant commercial mud crab fisheries in the state and competition for crabs is fierce. Crabs are hard work for the recreational fishers, with Fisheries boat ramp surveys indicating that one pot in five has a legal crab. Given the value of the mud crab fishery, this is unlikely to change, although when mud crabs have good years of recruitment, both sectors benefit. Right now, crabs are at the bottom of the cycle, but in 2019 there should be a bump as recruitment conditions were favourable in 2017. While there is no official monitoring of recreational prawn catches, cast net surveys conducted as a part of bream monitoring almost always pick up numbers of prawns. They are present in quantities and sizes that, if targeted, will result in a good feed at the peak periods. The good news is that prawns are found right in the town reaches, so travel is not a problem. Offshore The offshore fishing around Gladstone is another excellent part of the fishery. Catch rates for redthroat emperor (4.6 fish/ fisher/day), red emporer (1.3 fish/fisher/day), and Venus tuskfish (2.45 fish/ fisher/day) topped the state in 2017. With species like grass emperor, coral trout and both nannygai species coming in at better than a fish/fisher/day, there are options for offshore fishers and great charter experiences to be had. Yarralla Deep Sea Fishing Club have been
fishing offshore and reporting their catches since 1976. While there are annual fluctuations in the catch, catch rates for Venus tuskfish and coral trout have been steady at around one fish/fisher/day with redthroat emperor on the increase to 2.7 fish/ fisher/day.
A word of caution: almost all offshore fisheries are subject to pressure, and part of the reason why Gladstone catch rates are high is the locals have been responsible with their take home catch. If you visit the area, have fun and bring home a feed if you wish, but respect the locals. Fish
responsibly and everyone can enjoy a great time. Gladstone Sportfishing Club Gladstone Sportfishing Club was formed in 1979, currently with a record of over 90 members and they are proudly the largest tag and release club in Queensland.
Gladstone Sportfishing Club considers itself to be a family-based club, with goals of getting the whole family involved, and fishing today for tomorrow. To find out how to join go to www. suntag.org.au/gladstonesportfishing-club/
Data: Queensland Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys Mud Crab
Dusky Flathead
APRIL 2018
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WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI CAMO COD
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Camo Cod is as rustic as the true Australian outback! With shoulders covered in a khaki camouflage, you’ll blend into your surrounding environment easily. The big Murray cod launches from the depths to attack the lure, amid sharp sticks and logs lying atop the dam floor, surrounded by rockery and weed. The natural colours of the Murray cod are enhanced by detail in the design, the accurately speckled finish, the soft wispy fins and the needle-like teeth in that huge bucket mouth. The lightweight fabric is perfect for all outdoor elements, protecting you from the harsh sun with Samaki’s UV50+ resistant technology. The soft touch 100% polyester material is very comfortable, and has the added feature of being breathable, keeping you cool and dry. Samaki designs are brought to you by Australian anglers who love to design Australian species. Camo Cod shirts are available in adult, youth and kids sizes from a size 2 through to a 3XL, allowing the whole family to get in on the action. Price: SRP $59.95 (adults), SRP $49.95 (kids) www.samaki.com.au
ZEREK 120MM TANGO SHAD
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purchase at the SoftGaff website. Bulk discounts for tournament organisers and clubs are welcome. www.softgaff.com
SAMURAI 3-PIECE CRUISERS
Samurai has launched four new 3-piece 5’9” travel rods in two weight ranges in both spin and casting built especially for barramundi and cod. These are shorter rods for pinpoint accuracy, perfect for tight country, skinny creeks, mangroves and overgrown river spots. The 16lb and 25lb weights are perfect for heavier creek needs. Cruisers come in an indestructible travel case designed to fit into your luggage and be thrown about the ute with no worries. The travel package includes a spare tip, so if you’re unlucky enough to snap your first while trekking, there’s another in the tube to get you back in the game. Just like the existing Cruisers, the seamless joins makes these rods a joy to use, and high quality AAA cork and stylish aluminium parts make the new Cruisers a classy piece of artistry. For more information visit the Frogley’s Offshore website or go to facebook.com/ samurairods. www.frogleysoffshore.com.au
DEPS NZ CRAWLER
SOFTGAFF ACCUMAT™
SOFT MULLET AND AQUA SHAD
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Japanese fishing tackle giant DEPS have become world renowned for their high quality, and truly unique lures. The NZ Crawler is no exception to this, and is the ideal bait for anglers targeting big freshwater predators. This crazy bait is unlike anything you’ve seen before. It’s a wide-bodied, high-mass jointed lure which is constructed of resin, and it swims across the top of the water, attracting hungry fish with its distinctive swimming action and highly attractive colour combinations. The NZ Crawler features large stainless steel wings that move a lot of water and make a unique sound. There is also a blade at the back that creates a flash to further attract nearby predators, and two super-sticky treble hooks that produce solid hook-ups. If you’re looking for a big profile bait that moves a lot of water and gives the appearance of a distressed fish, frog, rat or bat, try a DEPS NZ Crawler. It’s available in Australia through Dogtooth Distribution. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au
Housed in a heavy-duty canister, the UVstabilised, non-wrinkle SoftGaff AccuMat has been confirmed for accuracy by precision engineers, and is available in both metric and imperial formats. With a flip-up nose plate for big fish, the AccuMat allows for quick measurement of fish up to 150cm/60” long. Retracting smoothly into the canister after each use, it prevents the creasing and wrinkling inherent to other brag mats (which distorts the measurement), to deliver a precise measurement fish after fish. There is also a SoftGaff app to automatically record details of every catch. SoftGaff’s AccuMat is brainchild of father and son team Ray and John Callingham. “After years of research, development and rigorous testing, we believe the accuracy and quality of the AccuMat is unmatched in the industry,” John said. In particular, the AccuMat’s assured accuracy will be of great advantage to measurement-based tournaments. SoftGaff’s AccuMat is available for
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The 120mm Tango Shad was tested in the steamy jungles of Papua New Guinea, where black bass like to exploit any weaknesses in the system. During prototype testing, the very first 120 Tango accounted for 18 PNG black bass before succumbing to the sticks, and that was without counting the barra caught as bycatch. Trolling to 6m deep, the 120 Tango is constructed from tough ABS plastic in onepiece to ensure maximum strength. Internally there is a casting weight that drops into a slot during retrieve, helping to keep the nose down. The weigh is released to the tail of the lure during casting to provide more accurate casting and greater distance by reducing tumbling during the cast. Externally the 120 Tango is fitted with 4X trebles that are wickedly sharp, and all rings are overstrength to produce a lure that will not compromise in the field. Available in 10 colours, the 120 Tango Shad weighs in at 37g and is built for action. www.wilsonfishing.com
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PRODUCT GUIDE
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The popular Soft Mullet from JM Gillies now comes in three new colours. There are now six colours in the range: blue, gold, plain, bananafish, Guns ‘n’ Roses and Qantas. There are two sizes to choose from – 4” and 6” – and each size comes in all colours. These pre-rigged soft plastic baits have been tested by numerous guides around Australia, and have accounted for some impressive catches. Soft Mullets feel more ‘natural’ to an enquiring fish, and this means the fish will mouth it for longer, giving you extra time to set the hook. Another recent lure release from Gillies is the Aqua Shad range, which was launched last year. Aqua Shads have a special soft touch construction, designed to produce a lifelike swimming action and extreme durability. Each Aqua Shad has an embedded holographic effect in the body, as well as lifelike eyes. There are four proven colours in the range (pearl, fire tiger, gold fish and bunker), and they measure 8cm and weigh 14g. www.jmgillies.com.au
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PRODUCT GUIDE
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WHAT’S NEW FISHING NEW 55MM CODGER 7 COLOURS
PRO-CURE BUTT JUICE
Codger Lures are designed by Graham Saunders from Shepparton in Victoria. His lures are widely known by their upturned bib design and have been a favorite for all serious native fish anglers for many years, particularly around his home town and the cod fishing mecca that is Lake Mulwala. The small 55mm 10+ and 15+ lures have been around since the late 80s and Graham has recently added four new colours to the 55mm range. Like the recent edition of his new Codger surface lures, these new colours will be highly sought after by all keen native fish anglers, and will no doubt have the same success as the rest of the range. To find out more about these and other Codger lures, you can head over to the Trelly’s website or contact Graham Saunders directly on 0407 544 965. www.trellys.com.au
Pro-Cure Super gel combines the best of the laboratory with real ground bait to attract fish and trigger strikes. Pro-Cure’s famous Butt Juice, now available to Aussie anglers. A killer scent on bottom feeders, it’s an easy-to-use super sticky gel formula and a great gift for your fishing buddy. Tested and proven, it combines real ground bait with UV enhancement, powerful amino acids and bite stimulants to fire up the bite. All this combines to attract fish, trigger strikes and make fish hold on longer, in a super sticky formula that sees it stay on any lure cast after cast. The 2oz squeeze bottle offers excellent value for money and the flip up nozzle makes applying Super Gel quick, easy and mess free, with no leakage when stored, so there’ll be no Butt Juice leaking all over the place when you least expect. www.tackletactics.com.au
SAX SCENT WITH CARABINER
DAIWA DUCKFIN LIVESHAD
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There’s good news for lovers of Sax Scent, with their 30mL squeeze tubes now coming with a carabiner as standard. This is a win for convenience for all fishos, as your favourite scent can now be hung from your electric motor remote lanyard, belt loop or anywhere else that’s easy to reach. It will save you valuable on-water time, and also make it easier to keep Sax Scent on your lure and get your rod bent. The Sax Scent 30mL squeeze tubes are available now in tackle stores or from the Sax Scent website. The SRP is $12.95 per tube, or $55 for a pack of five, which includes one tube of each of their flavours: crab, goldprawn, wasabi, bloodworm and abalone. Sax Scent is an Australian made and tested product that is used by successful tournament anglers all around Australia. It catches everything from bass and Murray cod in the fresh through to saltwater species such as whiting, bream, flathead, mulloway and more. www.saxscent.com
The Duckfin Liveshad has an remarkably effective design, which delivers outstanding action that resembles the swimming movements of a real fish. By applying 3D design and modeling around the realistic natural baitfish shape, this premium grade soft bait is one of the most accurate lifelike shads available on the market today. Suited to fast and slow retrieves, the Duck Fin tail creates a strong rolling and swinging action. Combined with its enticing swimming action, the lure’s streamlined shape, fins and large tail make it a very lethal lure. Features include: realistic patterns; 3D eyes; UV active prevents fading; fins for stabilization; and large Duckfin tail. The special soft material is also tough, and can endure multiple takes from predators. There are two models, a smaller size that measures 150mm long and weighs 28g, and a larger model that measures 200mm long and weighs 64g. They are available now in tackle stores around Australia. Price: from SRP $19.99 www.daiwafishing.com.au
MUSTAD LIP GRIPPER
BLACK MAGIC ENTICER COLOURS
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Mustad has upgraded their MT21 Lip Grip with some new additions that make this great tool even better. For starters, the new cosmetics make this tool jump out with anodised blue and black the theme throughout. The grip arms have also been tinkered with, changing from a one arm operation to a two arm operation. The handle has also been toughened up to allow larger fish to be easily controlled. Add in the existing features such as coiled lanyard for securing the tool to your belt or boat, single-handed operation and a weigh scale to 40lb, and this tool is a great accessory whether you are fishing from the bank or the boat. Mustad is distributed by Wilson Fishing, and you can see their full range of tools at www.wilsonfishing.com/Products/ Accessories/Tools. For all the latest news and catch photos visit the Wilson Fishing Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ LWilsonAndCo. www.wilsonfishing.com
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Black Magic’s very popular range of Enticer spinners has been expanded with some new additions. There are now seven colour options to choose from in either a 7g or 12g weight, and the two newest colours are called ‘carp’ and ‘red belly’. Black Magic Enticers feature startlingly lifelike finishes, which imitate a number of juvenile fish species. This finish, coupled with the Enticers’ fluttering action, makes them particularly attractive to predatory fish. They are very effective for both trolling and casting from the shoreline for a number of freshwater and estuarine species across Australia. As you would expect from Black Magic, these lures are manufactured from high quality components including a chemically sharpened treble hook, strong split rings and a swivel to help prevent line twist. Black Magic Enticers are available from Black Magic dealers nationwide. For more information head to the Black Magic website, or look them up on Facebook at www. facebook.com/blackmagictackle. www.blackmagictackle.com
Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au APRIL 2018
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WHAT’S NEW FISHING TRLJA TROLLING SQUID JIG
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DTD are European manufacturer of high quality lures and squid jigs. Having taken out the top squid lure award for the past two years at the prestigious EFFTEX tackle trade show, DTD have built a reputation for innovation and ingenuity, and their Trlja Trolling Squid jig is a fine example. The Trlja features a diving bib, which allows the lure to suspend and dive to the desired depth, like a minnow bait. The jig can then be slowly trolled from a boat or kayak so it swims horizontally through the strike zone (usually just above the weed line). Unlike a traditional squid jig, which you jig in and out of the strike zone, the Trlja remains within the zone the whole time. The realistic swimming action, coupled with the bright fluoro colour combinations (which directly imitate rock cod and red mullet) entice the squid out from the weed bed as the lure passes over their heads. Strong stainless steel hooks, durable cloth body, and luminescent glow effect all combine to attract the squid and to then ensure the catch is effectively landed every time. The Trlja Trolling Squid Jig is available in two styles (Trlja and Trlja Platno) and in two sizes (90mm and 110mm). www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au
EUREKA PHANTOM 14 AND VIPER
Eureka Lures Australia has released a dynamic range of game lures this year that are certainly going to prove effective on species such as marlin, tuna, albacore and mahimahi. The Eureka Phantom lure is a short pusher that creates an amazing smoke trail, and can be placed anywhere in a lure spread. They feature a double skirt with an oversized eye and reflective prism head. The Phantom is 8” long and comes in six outstanding colours. The Eureka Viper lure is a Slant Head lure that can be trolled at faster speeds. It dives, pops and swerves and creates a short to medium bubble trail. The Eureka Viper’s weighted head allows it to handle rougher conditions. They feature a double skirt with a reflective prism head. The Viper is 71/2” long and comes in six outstanding colours. www.jurofishing.com
PENN CONFLICT II
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The runner-up for Best Combo at the 2017 AFTA Show was the Penn Conflict II and Regiment II. Incorporating a lightweight yet strong RR30 (Rigid Resin) body and rotor, the Conflict II can withstand the high pressures that braided lines and powerful fish generate, while being light enough to comfortably cast all day. Housed with the RR30 body are seven stainless steel bearings and a computercontrolled CNC gear technology system where pinion, drive and oscillation gears are individually machined to exact tolerances. HT100 carbon fibre drag washers provide smooth and consistent drag pressure under high pressure and heat. There are four models covering a wide range of inshore applications, such as snapper on plastics through to casting metals at pelagics. Gear ratios range from 6.2:1 on the 2500 model to 5.6:1 with 90cm of line retrieve on the 5000. Maximum drags start at 5.5kg in the smaller models to 11kg on the largest. Penn Regiment II rods are a new generation of super light but powerful 5-piece travel rods. With a long tip and short butt, these lightweight, low diameter, fast action blanks are fitted with special Fuji intermediate rings for the perfect compression curve. Other features include: SLS3 blank construction; BCRLTSG guides; aluminium reel seat; and Cordura Tube. There 88
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PRODUCT GUIDE
are three models, all 2.1m long, ranging from 10-50lb. www.pennfishing.com.au
FISH INC FLY HALF
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The Fish Inc. Lures Fly Half 80mm popper is built tough, with heavy-duty ABS construction and solid wire through body design, to punch above its weight, and comes fitted with HD Owner trebles. At 16g it casts like a bullet, and its unique keeled belly design and balanced weight allows it to be retrieved easily with a walk-the-dog retrieve, popped with a subtle pop, or popped more aggressively to move plenty of water and create more noise. As well as providing casting distance and balance, the internal weight also emits a low click when the lure is walked or popped, drawing fish in. The finish quality and colours are to the normal top shelf standard produced by Fish Inc. Lures, with either a chrome look finish or internal foil design that creates flash, attracts strikes and helps the fish to zero in on the surface presentation. This bite-size lure has already accounted for a stack of species, including jacks, barra, trevally, tailor and salmon. It’s currently available in eight colours, including blue ghost, tidal form, bronze sardine and sugar coral. Price: SRP $19.95 www.tackletactics.com.au
OCEA PLUGGER FULL 17 THROTTLE
Full Throttle is the name, and full throttle is how these specialised rods are meant to be fished! This Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) saltwater spin rod series from Shimano is being widely embraced by the Australian offshore fishing fraternity as the pinnacle in casting and fish fighting performance. Utilising Shimano’s exclusive nano alloy High Power X Spiral graphite blanks, Ocea Plugger Full Throttle rods can propel and then work surface lures like the Ocea Spouter or Rock Dive with ease, and then comfortably handle a 60° fighting angle once hooked up — which will happen pretty quickly. As befitting rods of this standard, every element is top of the line. PE 4-8 braid ratings, lure weights from 20-150g, heavy-duty Fuji DPS reel seats, Fuji Titanium guides with SiC inserts for minimal friction build-up, and twopiece design with the ferruling underneath the foregrip means that Plugger Full Throttle rods are designed with big pelagics in mind. www.shimanofish.com.au
VMC 7116 CB HOOKS
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The new VMC 7116 CB Saltwater Trolling/ Fly series has arrived. Incorporating a forged, octopus style, wide gape, nonoffset long shank, this range is ideal for rigging light game skirted lures or tying large saltwater flies. CB stands for the new Coastal Black finish, unique to VMC. It’s the ultimate combination of an innovative coating for extreme corrosion resistance and a premium hook finishing process for maximum sharpness, offering the longest lasting black finish in the saltwater market today. Chemically sharpened to perfection, the unique VMC Needle Sharp ground needle point design combines maximum resistance and sharpness for exceptional penetration. Available in 2/0, 4/0, 6/0, 8/0, 9/0 and 10/0 sizis, these hooks will assist in targeting many species including marlin, GTs, barra, tuna and golden trevally. www.rapala.com.au
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visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!
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PRODUCT GUIDE
WHAT’S NEW FISHING
SoftGaff AccuMat – the ultimate in accuracy ™
TESTED
In today’s world of outstretched arms, clever camera angles and noses that grow like the fabled puppet Pinocchio, a brag mat has become more important than ever before when recording your catches, checking for a PB and, most importantly, making sure your fish is bigger than your fishing buddy’s!
That’s why we were so excited when the local postman dropped off a couple of perhaps the most technically advanced fish measuring tool to hit the shelves – the SoftGaff AccuMat™.
Brett Habener with a typical size barramundi from the trip north. This fish and many others hit the deck after falling for a Lucky Craft Pointer AU series jerkbait.
Developed by lifelong fishing tragics John and Ray Callingham, the AccuMat has been painstakingly designed and engineered to be the most accurate and efficient ‘brag mat’ on the market. In fact it’s so different from the competition that both the AccuMat and its accompanying smart phone app AccuLog™ have had international patent applications lodged.
WHAT’S SO DIFFERENT ABOUT THE ACCUMAT? The first thing you’ll notice is just how neat and tidy it is straight out of the box. I’ve only got a small 2000 model 4m Quintrex Hornet Trophy tinny to get me around on the water, and I like to carry too many rods, reels and especially lures so space is at an absolute premium inside my boat. With the AccuMat being able to be so easily wound back up into its own hard shell, it’s there when you need it but not in the way or flapping around in the breeze when you’re traveling. The outer shell of the canister is sleek, robust and bright yellow so it’s hard to misplace. The mat itself is very supple and won’t wrinkle, giving you a much more exact measurement of your fish. Manufactured from UV-resistant and mould/mildew-resistant material, the AccuMat has been designed to not fade, stretch or warp. No Metal, No Rust, No Worries AccuMat uses exactly zero metals in its construction so there’s no need to worry about rust and corrosion. This means you
can pull out the mat, wet it down to make life easier on your fish’s scales and wash the mat at any time without a worry. One mat will provide you with years and years of hassle-free use. DAD TALKS IN INCHES BUT I TALK IN CM Never fear, AccuMat are available in both metric and imperial versions up to 150cm/1500mm and 60”. THE APP Plenty of fishing-related smart phone apps have been released over the years,
but few of them have stuck around and not many worked – especially here in Australia. I have a feeling though that the AccuLog app will buck this trend and become a hit with us notoriously hard to please Aussie anglers. Available for Apple iOS and Google Android, the AccuLog digital fishing app helps you record dates, times, locations, methods and, with the help of your AccuMat, the size of the fish. I’ve had it on my phone for only a few weeks and a couple of fishing trips, but I’ve found it easy to use and navigate, as well as share pics to my increasing number of social media accounts. All your photos are kept in a neat gallery and it’s got a very intelligent and predictive list of species pre-loaded, so storing and accessing your data becomes quite easy. Each AccuMat has its own unique ID number right below where the fish’s nose goes, so it’s visible to the app and it uses this to recognise your account. We’ve had a little trouble getting this to work sometimes, but I suspect that’s a user error rather than a software or design error. THE PRICE Fishing gear is no different from any other purchase in life, in that you get what you pay for. The AccuMat isn’t cheap at a suggested retail price of $99, but with the way it’s put together this is probably the last brag mat you’ll ever need to buy. The AccuLog smartphone app is $2.99 from either app store.
WHERE TO BUY The AccuMat is still fairly new to the market, so while it is stocked in some tackle stores already, the network isn’t as large as I assume it will soon be. For now, if you can’t find it in your local store, jump onto www.softgaff.com and purchase it there.- RUPE
None of the fish caught on the weekend away testing the AccuMat™ were monsters but being 4 competitive young fellas you can be sure every one of them went on the mat to see who’s fish was bigger. Every millimetre counts!
APRIL 2018
89
Trades, Services, Charter
FIBREGLASS
BAIT & TACKLE GOLD COAST
BEST LURE RANGE ON THE Fishing GOLD COAST
Repairs
• Modifications • Detailing • Repairs JOE BONNICI
0410 480 203
TOP BRANDS • TOP SERVICE • GREAT PRICES
INSIDE SPORTY’S WAREHOUSE
MAIL ORDERS
WELCOME
Strathaird Rd 07 5526 2786 32BUNDALL 4217 QLD SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
Brisbane South and Gold Coas t
SALES • REPAIRS • INSTALLATIONS
ONSITE AND MOBILE INSTALLATIONS
• Sounders • GPS • Electric Motors • Marine Radios and accessories • Stereos • Televisions • Radar Units • Autopilots Unit 4/1440 New Cleveland Road Capalaba www.trymax.com.au PHONE: 07 3245 3633
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
Marine and Auto Electricial n All types of Welding n Stainless Steel n Aluminium n Mild Steel n Boats Repaired n Fuel & Water Tanks n Canopies n Bow and Stern Rails n Custom Vehicle Tool Boxes
n
BOAT HIRE // HOUSE
MARINE ELECTRONICS
Salt-Away www.salt-away.com.au
CUSTOM MARINE WELDING & ELECTRICAL
Tackle Warehouse Brisbane (07) 3398 6500 BCF www.bcf.com.au Davo’s Tackleworld Noosaville (07) 5449 8099 Davo’s Tackleworld Marcoola (07) 5448 8244
MARINE ELECTRONICS
Shed 1 281 Jacobs Well Road
MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748
SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME
Behind GEM Service Station, Alberton 4207
GOLD COAST
Great family and fishing boats! + 50km of sheltered waterways on the Gold Coast’s Broadwater + No Licence required CALL FOR A + Boats from $995 DEAL + 2-12 berth
This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 50 words within a 5x2 ad size. $320 + GST for 6 months Email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au
Phone 3807 7846
Mob 0427 142 201 Fax 3807 2468
www.custommarinewelding.com.au Bluewater Windscreens Brisbane (07) 3382 7883 ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402 Marine Windows and Doors Brisbane (07) 3284 5088 Small Craft Electrics (mobile) 0408 063 064
+ 07 5502 6200 + www.coomerahouseboats.com.au
NEW
TINNIE HIRE AVAILABLE
FRASER COAST Rainbow Beach Houseboats (07) 5486 3146 Lake Monduran House Boat www.lakemonduranhouseboathire.com.au
BOAT HIRE // TRAILER GOLD COAST Boab Boat Hire - 1300 002 622
BOAT PAINTING BRISBANE Brisbane Boat Painting 0433 356 620
BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS
CUSTOM ALLOY FABRICATION • Boat repairs & fitouts • Bait tanks • Transom rebuilds • Fuel tanks • Consoles OVER 20 YEARS FABRICATING AND WELDING ALUMINIUM
CMC Marine Sales 0409 910 808 Iconic Boats Brisbane 0475 311 447
GOLD COAST Whitewater Marine (07) 5532 4402 T&S Marine (07) 5546 2599
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Stones Corner Marine (07) 3397 9766 Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Northside Marine (07) 3265 8029 Coorparoo Marine (07) 3397 4141
SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Suncoast Barra Fishing Park www.suncoastbarrafishing.com
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Lake Monduran Barra Charters 0407 434 446
TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Hooked On Hinchinbrook www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com
MARINE TRIMMERS SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Rowland Street Boat Trimmers Springwood (07) 3208 9511
Holt Marine (07) 3353 1928
Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727
Cunningham Marine Centre (07) 3284 8805
Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911
Caloundra Marine (07) 5491 1944
Affordable Boat Covers Gold Coast 0419 424 587
NORTH QUEENSLAND Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521
Wondall Rd Marine (07) 3396 5633
Email: peter@profishboats.com www.profishboats.com
FISHING GUIDES
Capalaba Boat Centre 04011 728 379
WYNUMM MANLY-BAYSIDE
PROFISH BOATS – Phone Peter 0417 782 114
Fish Taxidermist www.fishtaxidermy.net.au or 0428 544 841
MARINE MECHANICS
MARINE MECHANICS // MOBILE
CUSTOM TRANSOMS 20-75hp $750 75-150hp $890 150-225hp $980 Freight can be arranged Australia wide
FISH TAXIDERMY
Boat Collar (07) 5441 3636
MARINE TRAILERS Oceanic Boat Trailers (07) 5597 0577 Spitfire Trailers (07) 0400 866 323 Tinnie Tosser (07) 5498 7339 Sea-Link Special Trailers (07) 3881 3568
HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION BRISBANE
FOR RENT: Holiday House on Karragarra Island • Pet friendly and peaceful • Fish n Crab from in front of the house • Complimentary bikes & kayaks for you to use
in beautiful Moreton Bay
Rent for $150 per night minimum 2 nights, sleeps 6 Phone Kevin 0457 778 097 or go to Stayz property No. 182473 for more photos and information Home Away Property No. 9182473
This section in QLD Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. 96
APRIL 2018
Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Islander Retreat, South Stradbroke Island 0420 967 557
FRASER ISLAND Apurla Island Retreat 0437 739 121 Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364 Cathedrals on Fraser (07) 4127 9177 Fraser Island Beach Houses 1800 626 230 Yidney Rocks (07) 4127 9167 Eurong Beach Resort 1800 111 808
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833
HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION
Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea
N O W AVA IL A B L E
FISHING CHARTERS
ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR
REEL TIME
From
T-Shirts
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22 85
• 6am to 2pm $150pp • 3 boats – holds up to 30+ people • All fishing gear and bait is supplied • No fishing licence req. • Pickup from Yamba Marina or Iluka ferry wharf
Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962 OPEN 7 DAYS
EASY PARKING
COOKTOWN River of Gold Motel 4069 5222
Phone Cases
MACKAY
From
BEL AIR MOTEL, MACKAY - PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BOATS AND TRAILERS.............PH: 07 4957 3658 FRESHWATER Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746 Lake Boondooma Caravan Park (07) 4168 9694 Lake Cressbrook Regional Council 131 872 Yallakool Park and Kiosk on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746
CHARTER BOATS GOLD COAST True Blue Fishing Gold Coast (07) 5510 9622 BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0414 293 034 My Charter Boat Tweed Heads 0407 347 446 RU4 Reel Tweed Heads 0449 903 366 Discovery Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0427 026 519 Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412 Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428 Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0411 605 090 Hooker 1 Charters Gold Coast (07) 5528 6469 Sea Probe Fishing Charters 0400 312 330 Coastal Sports Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0412 691 929 Gone Fishing Charters Gold Coast (07) 5529 7833
BRISBANE Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576 Big Cat Charters and Tom Cat Charters 0433 430 248 Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056 Brisbane Fishing Charters 0427 026 510 Bucket List Fishing Charters 0428 368 316 John Gooding Outlaw Charters 0418 738 750
SUNSHINE COAST Keely Rose Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0407 146 151 Odyssey Charters Deep Sea Fishing (07) 5478 1109 Rainbow Beach Fishing Charters 0439 775 070 Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868 Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012 Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814 Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402 Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671 Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956 Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170 Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958 Incredible Charters 1300 655 818
NORTHERN NSW
MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA
$
29 45
Mugs
YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE
From
$
• Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings Ph: 6646 1994 or 0428 231 962 Email: dave@gaden.com.au
1 7 27
Now Agents For
HERVEY BAY
Fully Guided Lure & Fly Fishing •
Clocks $
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• 5.5m Custom sportsfishing Vessel • 4.4m Estuary Sportsfishing Vessel • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied
42 7 0
Carry Bags From
$
www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au
Andrew Chorley
0407 627 852
CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726 MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201 Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727 Bundaberg Fishing Charters 0429 017 217 Sport Fish 1770 (07) 4974 9686
20 3 3 Throw Pillows
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25 4 2
and lots more...
MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS ALL MADE TO ORDER
Coral Coast Game Fishing 0447 347 437 Norval Reef Charters 1800 771 234 Iluka Fishing Charters Gladstone 0414 940 911 Kanimbla Charters Gladstone1800 677 202
TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Eclipse FNQ Weipa Charters 0488 058 668 Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957 Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346 Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382 Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324
Wooli Fishing Charter (02) 6649 7100
Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044
Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962
Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081 Cairns Fishing Charters 0427 400 027
fishingmonthly.redbubble.com
Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0834 or email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au APRIL 2018
97
Industry News
Costa launches their ‘Store in Store’ in Australia FMG
Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au
Florida-based company Costa Del Mar produces arguably the world’s best polarized sunglasses. Established in 1983 by Ray Ferguson, the Costa brand has always been at the cutting edge of polarized lens technology
a few. Their message is as clear as looking through their glasses; they wish to “Support causes that contribute to the preservation of our watery world,” so everyone is able to go out and enjoy it. Australians, with our love for the outdoors and for quality products, have welcomed the Costa brand. Australia now represents one of their highest growth markets in the world.
It’s the first in Australia and only the third of its kind outside the US; the concept store was officially opened on Friday 23 February and Fishing Monthly was there. As you would expect Michael is stoked with how it all looks and even happier that it will further enhance his love of the Costa product and what he can offer his customers. The Store in Store display gives him the ability to offer
With room for nearly 200 pairs of sunglasses, apparel and additional stands for all things Costa, the ‘Store in Store’ concept is an impressive one.
The concept store is a great reward for all the effort that Hooked On Bait and Tackle has made to establish the brand over a number of years. and continues to strive to improve its lenses, so the end consumer is getting the best of the best. Costa is also all about giving back. They are involved with projects like OCEARCH and the Kick Plastic campaign, just to name
Enter Hooked On Bait and Tackle in Hoppers Crossing, Victoria. Owner of Australia’s number one Costa retail store, Michael Felsovary was offered the opportunity to have a concept store within his shop and jumped at the chance.
the full range of glasses that suit Australian conditions. Michael explained to us that it is great to know that the quality of the glasses reflect the floor space he has given them in the store. “The glasses have exceptional image clarity
Damien Kerves from Rapala VMC Australia, the distributor of Costa sunglasses in Australia, also attended the opening. “What a great way to represent the brand here in Australia. Australians love Costa sunglasses and this is a great reward for Michael and his team for all the hard work they have done establishing the brand with their customers,” he said. When prompted about whether it’s likely more concept stores will be set up in Australia he said, “It would be great to have a concept store in each state to show off everything Costa has to offer. Watch this space.” Congratulations to Michael and his team. The store looked fantastic and the addition of the Costa concept store is just another reason to drop into the store. If you want to see the Costa ‘Store in Store’ concept for yourself, Hooked on Bait and Tackle
and come in a great range of frames that cover every face shape and size. Once a customer puts them on and sees the difference for themselves, they just won’t wear anything else,” Michael summarised. Most importantly he said you need to try them on to ensure that they are comfortable to wear, because if they are not, you won’t wear them. Michael explained Costa also has a great range of lifestyle products. “Costa is all about embracing the
The latest 580 high definition lens from Costa is unparalleled in its ability to cut glare and enhance your view of the outdoors.
The Costa concept store in Hooked On Bait and Tackle is the first one in Australia and only the third outside of the USA. 98
APRIL 2018
The concept store is all about promoting the lifestyle that is Costa. There is a great range of accessories and clothing to complement your sunglass purchase.
outdoor experience, so they have a great range of T-shirts, caps and technical apparel as well as cleaning products and other items for the glasses. The Store in Store concept allows our customers to experience everything Costa.”
is at 174-180 Old Geelong Road, Hopper Crossing, Victoria. You can contact Michael and his team on (03) 9748 3811. To see the full range of products and find your local Costa dealer you can go to www. costadelmar.com.au.
boats & kayaks
In the skipper’s seat
Inside story...
At Anglapro they share their customers’ passion for both fishing and boating. The hulls are built by a team that draw from this passion to provide anglers with a true fishing weapon. From estuary fishing boats to offshore angling machines, Anglapro have boats to suit almost every type of angler.
Made for...
Anglapro build tough boats for Australian conditions, and this is something they pride themselves on. The end result is a safe and great riding craft for anglers with a sense of adventure.
This month...
Peter Jung takes a look at the Anglapro Outlaw 434 PRO, powered by a Mercury 40hp. Check it out on page 108.
102 Exciting new Mercury technology
Editor Steve Morgan visited the States recently to check out some new innovations from Mercury.
104 Brand new SUP
Justin Willmer has caved and bought his own SUP, and discovers even more about these fantastic crafts.
106 Brisbane boating
Wayne Kampe gives an overview of boating in the Brisbane River’s busy waters, and provides some tips to any newcomers to boating in Brisbane.
110 Bluewater 520 with Yamaha F115hp Editor Steve Morgan has a ride in this oceanic machine from Stessl, taking it into the waters off Tweed Heads.
APRIL 2018
99
WHAT’S NEW BOATING HONDA V6 OUTBOARDS
1
Honda Marine has just launched its redesigned and improved BF175, BF200, BF225 and BF250 V6 outboard motors. Targeting the heart of the boating market, the refreshed Honda ‘V6’ models mark the newest evolution in the company’s product line, integrating innovative design, a sleek new style, enhanced reliability, streamlined maintenance and an expanded number of rigging options for ease of use. Whether boaters are weekend cruisers or commercial (including government and law enforcement) users, these enhanced V6 motors deliver what every marine enthusiast wants— maximum time on the water. “With multiple rigging options and with Honda’s legendary durability and reliability as standard, these new Honda Marine engines will provide best power and performance from the initial blast to top end speed,” said Rod Day, Sales Manager at Honda Marine. www.honda.com.au
150 PRO XS FOURSTROKE
2
Building on the success of the Mercury 115 Pro XS FourStroke, Mercury Marine has created its new 150 Pro XS FourStroke – an engine which sets a new standard in the 150hp high-output category. Mercury’s new 150 Pro XS more than lives up to the legendary Pro XS reputation for superior hole shot, top-end speed, and durability. This new FourStroke is an ideal fit for performance-oriented boating; for recreational, fishing and competition applications. “The new 150 Pro XS is based on one of Mercury’s most successful and widely adopted engine platforms – the Mercury 150hp,” said John Buelow, Mercury Marine vice president of category management. “Building on this solid foundation, we’ve engineered the new performance-tuned 150 Pro XS to be the quickest, lightest and most advanced high-output outboard in its class.” The new 150 Pro XS boasts fast acceleration, light weight, large displacement, high torque, improved fuel efficiency, smooth performance, corrosion protection, and much more. www.mercurymarine.com.au
NAVIONICS+ REGIONS
3
Navionics, the leader in content and location-based services for the recreational boating market, have announced the release of Navionics+ Regions in seven coverage areas throughout Australia and New Zealand. At the affordable price of $165 AUS per region, Navionics+ Regions is a tremendous value that includes Nautical Chart, SonarChart 0.5 m HD bathymetry map and Community Edits. Daily chart updates and advanced features are included for one year. “For the vast majority of boaters and anglers, the coverage of one Navionics+ Region preloaded with Nautical Chart and SonarChart, allows them to take full advantage of the outstanding capabilities of Navionics+ at a more affordable price point,” said John McDonald, Sales Manager at Navionics Australia. Navionics charts are updated every day with official information, while SonarChart and Community Edits are continuously enhanced by regular contributions from fellow boaters. To keep their charts current, customers can download updates anywhere within the coverage area from the website. Price: SRP $165 www.navionics.com 100
APRIL 2018
PRODUCT GUIDE
COMPACT YANMAR 4 3JH40 Yanmar Marine International has launched the latest addition to its family of new generation common rail (CR) diesel engines: the compact Yanmar 3JH40 inboard engine. The 3-cylinder 3JH40 has been developed by leading manufacturer Yanmar as the marine industry’s smallest CR inboard diesel engine. With an output of 40mhp, it will enable a whole new category of smaller leisure boat owners and commercial vessel operators to benefit for the first time from the efficiency and performance advantages associated with the most recent electronically-managed CR fuelinjection technology. Offering minimal fuel consumption and exceptionally low noise and emission levels, the new Yanmar 3JH40 propulsion engine surpasses EPA Tier 3 and EU RCD Tier 2 emission regulations, for virtually smoke and odour-free operation. The 4-stroke, water-cooled 3JH40 is an ideal solution for new builds and repowering applications, such as small motor boats or light duty commercial craft. Weighing 192kg and with 1.642L displacement, the engine can be operated by either standard mechanical cable controls or the Yanmar VC10 electronic control system. www.powerequipment.com.au
MERCURY V6 FOURSTROKES
5
Mercury Marine is excited to introduce its allnew V6 FourStroke outboard family and the expansion of its SeaPro commercial line. Just unveiled at the 2018 Miami International Boat Show, the new engines include 175hp, 200hp and 225hp FourStroke outboards and a V6 200hp SeaPro commercial outboard. Precision engineered from skeg to cowl, all four outboards are built on Mercury’s new 3.4-litre V6 platform, which is designed to be powerful, light, compact and fuel-efficient. It employs a large displacement, naturally aspirated powerhead and proven mid-section and drive-system designs. “This new platform will position Mercury to advance product leadership in the 175-225hp outboard category, and deliver across the board on consumer needs,” said John Pfeifer, Mercury Marine President. “These new outboards address applications across recreational and commercial applications, strengthen our core product lineup by building off the success of our recent programs and delivering on the requirements of our global customers.” www.mercurymarine.com.au
RAYMARINE AXIOM UAV
6
Raymarine have just announced a marine electronics first at the Miami International Boat Show in the United States this year, with the introduction of the UAV integration with Axiom/Axiom Pro MFDs! This leading-edge technology now brings a hands-free, aerial view to the water, ushering in a new era of UAV control and video possibilities for anglers and boaters doing a lot of on-water filming. Not only does it make capturing video footage of fish catches easier, it also increases Axiom’s inherent fish-finding power to include aerial scouting capabilities while you’re out on the water. Currently compatible with DJI Spark and Mavic UAV drones, features include single button launch/track/record functions, GPS link for various ‘follow’ modes, and real-time video streaming on the Axiom MFD, to make filming with a drone even easier! Axiom UAV integration will be available in the spring of 2018.
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Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au
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Built to perform. Built to last.
More Power, Performance and Reliability – Insist on Mercury MerCruiser.
See your authorised Mercury MerCruiser Dealer today. GOLD COAST ONSHORE MARINE
BRISBANE SOUTH MANLY HARBOUR MARINE
Horizon Shores Marina, Woongoolba 4207
570 Royal Esplanade Manly 4179
Phone: (07) 5546 2480
Phone: (07) 3893 2199
Fax: (07) 5546 1362
Fax: (07) 3893 2188
Email: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au
Email: info@manlyharbourmarine.com.au
Website: www.onshoremarine.com.au
Website: www.manlyharbourmarine.com.au
BRISBANE HOLT MARINE
BRISBANE SOUTH COORPAROO MARINE
25 Queens Road, Everton Park 4053
57 Cavendish Road, Coorparoo 4151
Phone: (07) 3353 1928
Phone: (07) 3397 4141
Fax: (07) 3353 4548
Fax: (07) 3397 6339
Email: info@holtmarine.com.au
Email: info@coorparoomarine.com.au
Website: www.holtmarine.com.au
Website: www.coorparoomarine.com.au
BRISBANE NORTH BRISBANE MARINE
AIRLIE BEACH WHITSUNDAY OUTBOARD CENTRE
306 Duffield Road, Clontarf 4019
17 William Murray Drive, Cannonvale 4802
Phone: (07) 3889 3033
Phone: (07) 4946 7286
Fax: (07) 3889 5390
Fax: (07) 4946 7848
Email: info@brismarine.com.au
Email: woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au
Website: www.brismarine.com.au
Website: www.whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au
Anglapro Outlaw 434 PRO with 40hp Mercury
- SC
TENT -
RE ONLINE MO
T
me this is an essential part of this style of craft and almost a must if you’re looking to cast lures in places like Eildon. In a nutshell the workspace of the boat was clear and well thought-out. The accessories added by Boats and More suited the style of boat. As a fan
SPECIFICATIONS Length .......................................................4.3m Beam..........................................................2.0m Hull weight .............................................. 350kg Min hp ........................................................40hp Max hp .......................................................50hp Bottom and sides .....................................3mm Max people ......................................................4 quickly realised why Anglapro has a good reputation for producing fishing-orientated boats. The Outlaw 434 Pro is a side console configuration, with a large forward casting deck and small rear casting decks. It felt like there was a lot of room to move and the storage, including a rod locker, was large enough that all the decks could easily be kept clear and available to fish from. I liked the addition of the MotorGuide electric motor. To 108
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of painted boats, the Anglapro with its white colour scheme also looked pretty sharp to me. LAUNCH AND RETRIEVE Housed on a Dunbier single axle trailer, the Outlaw was simple to launch and retrieve. You have the capacity to drive it on and off if you prefer and launching it by yourself would not be an issue, as you would hope with a boat of this size. As far as towing is concerned, a medium-sized car is all that is required and
the Dunbier trailer with the package on board was a pleasure to tow. FEATURES AND ACCESSORIES The Outlaw 434 Pro has 3mm side and bottom sheets and a roomy 2m beam (hence the feeling of space). It comes standard painted inside and out and has a medium to large size console. The tested boat had a Garmin sounder mounted on the console and also had a switch panel and VesselView gauges flush mounted into it. All were easy to see and easy to get at. The seating behind the console was comfortable and there was plenty of room for all 6’2 of me. There was also some additional storage in the console for smaller items and things that you need to get your hands on quickly. As already mentioned there is good storage space under the forward and rear decks with the addition of a rod locker to store your fishing rods. The front deck also had an optional livewell fitted, which is handy for those who are tournament-inclined or like to upgrade their fish during a
day’s fishing. The electric motor and bracket was also an optional extra. ON THE WATER The ultimate test is always on the water and you couldn’t fault the Outlaw at rest or once you were up and running. It was an exceptional platform at rest and ideal for all the casting you would do in a day’s fishing. It also had great manoeuvrability when using the bow mounted electric motor.
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Main: Once underway the handling and ride of the Anglapro 434 Outlaw Pro was impressive. It sat beautifully on the water and manoeuvred well. Above: The Anglapro Outlaw 434 Pro looked right at home at Lake Eildon.
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pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au
Anglapro has based their reputation around building fishing-friendly craft that are built tough with plenty of features. I hadn’t been in one for many years until the opportunity came up at Lake Eildon when the team from Boats and More in Shepparton and Echuca brought along the Outlaw 434 Pro to be tested. Matched with a 4-stroke 40hp Mercury, it was all about presenting a boat that would be ideal for the fishing on offer in Lake Eildon or the estuarine or river waters around the country. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Before getting the Outlaw onto the water I went about taking the photos of the key components of the boat and
Once on the plane and trimmed correctly the Outlaw was great to drive. It handled nicely and had a soft ride for an aluminium hull. We had beautiful conditions on the testing day at Eildon, so there were no waves or chop to deal with. It did handle the few boat wakes we encountered with ease. The Anglapro Outlaw 434 Pro has a minimum 40hp and maximum 50hp rating. The test boat had a Mercury 40hp 4-stroke on it and it has to be said that it felt a little underpowered. We were able to make a prop change on the day, which helped to improve the hole shot. In future I think I would lean towards a 50hp motor if I was looking at this hull. Please note that this was also the first time the boat had been on the water, so the team at Boats and More hadn’t had the opportunity to make any adjustments other than prop size to maximise the performance of the boat.
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FINAL WORD The Anglapro Outlaw 434 Pro is a beautifully presented boat and ideally set-up for casting lures in any lake, estuary or river situation. The stability at rest and fantastic handling underway are the key positives of it, as well as the well thought-out internal layout. The addition of a quality sounder and the MotorGuide electric motor further enhanced its fishability and the ease of towing and launching make this a great medium size package. The price as tested was $32,990 with a base starting price of $23,990. If you want to know more about this boat and the rest of the boats in the Anglapro range, you can go to the Brisbane Marine website at www.brismarine.com. au or phone (07) 3889 3033. Alternatively, you can call in at 306 Duffield Road, Clontarf.
The Dunbier single axle trailer not only allowed for easy launching and retrieving, but was also a pleasure to tow.
Top: The foundation of stability at rest with good ride and manoeuvrability all come from a quality hull configuration. Above: The seating in the Outlaw was very comfortable, with plenty of space for the skipper and passenger.
The console was large enough to hold a largish Garmin sounder, all the boat’s switches and the Mercury VesselView4 system. There was also some general storage for your loose items.
The front casting deck of the 434 was big enough for a couple of anglers to fish from and had plenty of storage and a livewell underneath it.
Top: Stability at rest and the additional stealth of the Motorguide electric motor were key positives of the Anglapro. Left: The boat we tested had a large livewell that would suit those who are tournament-orientated or simply like to upgrade their fish during a day’s fishing. Right: The rear deck had plenty of space for storage and to keep the batteries and other things neatly out of the way.
The test boat had the upgraded Mercury VesselView4 system. Inset: It provides all your diagnostic information in a very easy to see format.
Top: The 54lb thrust MotorGuide electric motor was the perfect add-on for the Outlaw and a must as far as this author is concerned. Above: They key to a sportsfishing boat is adequate storage to keep your fishing space free of obstacles. The front deck had plenty of underfloor storage.
The 40hp Mercury 4-stroke was not the maximum hp for the boat. Although it performed well, the author felt a 50hp motor would be the best option for it.
There way plenty of storage for all your gear as well as this rod locker to keep your fishing space clear.
One person can easily launch and retrieve the 434 with driving it on and off the trailer being an option. APRIL 2018
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Stessl Bluewater 520 with Yamaha F115hp
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Glenn Gibson from Yamaha tagged along on the test to see how the rig performed. Glenn gave the modern technology some historical perspective.
SPECIFICATIONS Length.Overall............................. 5.5m Length.bow.to.transom.............. 5.3m Length.on.trailer ......................... 6.7m Height.on.trailer .......................... 2.4m Beam............................................ 2.4m Depth ........................................... 1.35m Bottom.sheet .............................. 4mm Side.Sheet ................................... 4mm Hull.weight .................................. 550kg Rec.HP ......................................... 90 Max.HP ........................................ 115 Capacity ...................................... 6 persons
Main: The Stessl 520 Bluewater was plenty of fun to fang around out of the Tweed River. The Stessl factory is a short trip from the Tweed and the Bluewater was designed for exactly these waters. Above: There’s no shortage of places to hold a fishing rod – either when in use or being stored. 110
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We’ve tested a couple of Stessl Platetrix boats since new owner of Steel, Scotty James (who also makes Horizon Boats), has taken the helm. And the first thing I asked Scott when we did the first of these tests is “What’s Platetrix”? The answer was pretty simple. Platetrix is a design philosophy that’s based around over-engineering the heck out of the hull so that it’ll outlast any owner. They do this with extra
pedestal seats and some bars to help gear from sliding back from the front of the runabout. Powered by Yamaha’s second generation F115,
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longitudinal and latitudinal stringers welded below the deck, and the backbone of the hull is a keel extrusion that’s a backbone to the whole construction process. “You’ll break yourself before you break the boat,” Scott confidently answered when asked if it was breakable. With an overall length of 5.5m, the 520 Bluewater is a boat designed to be a versatile inshore and offshore rig in SE Queensland and beyond. It has a unique design internally, which sees a full floor run from transom to bow, punctuated only by the
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“We all came from a background as kids when we all went boating with the old 2-stroke V4s – oil in one container and fuel in the other. Look at it today – we have a 4-stroke motor where you turn the key and it runs quietly and smoke free. Doesn’t matter if it’s cold, hot, rainy or sunny – they just work and it makes for a great boating experience,” Glenn said. With the 115 at the top end of the allowable power on this hull, the rig made for a great day on the water for the test crew. At dawn, we ventured offshore from the Tweed and later on we retreated to the river for some estuary work. The economy was great – delivering around 2.4km/L at 3,500rpm. Drop the throttle and you can reach 65km/h,
Back in the river, the Bluewater was equally capable. but each litre gets you 800m less. With a 150L fuel tank underfloor, the practical range is well over 300km on a tank. Other features that will interest the angler are the bait station on the transom, which holds all you need to get rigged while on the water, and the huge underfloor kill tank that will store a bag limit of mackerel with ease. Add a targa top rocket launcher and your storage problems are solved. At the helm, the seats are well positioned and there’s a small ledge to cradle your
forearm as you’re making throttle adjustments. There’s room for bracket mounted electronics and the LCD Yamaha gauge was flushmounted into the aluminium. Supplied on a singleaxle trailer and weighing in at around 1.5t, this rig is towable by most family cars and would make an excellent transition into a ‘real’ fishing boat from your smaller tinnie. For more information, see your local Stessl dealer, visit www.stessl.com. au or like Stessl Boats on Facebook.
PERFORMANCE RPM......Speed.(km/h). Economy.(km/L) 1000 .........................7 ....................... 3.7 2000....................... 11 ....................... 5.3 3000....................... 20 ....................... 2.0 4000....................... 39 ....................... 2.2 5000....................... 50 ....................... 1.9 5900 ....................... 65 ....................... 1.6 • Tested with 16” SST SDS propeller
A steep entry tapers back to a moderate lee at the transom to offer a comfortable ride in choppy conditions.
The fold-up ladder and walk-through transom door facilitate easy boarding.
The unique floor design of the Bluewater sees the flat internal floor running from bow to transom at the same level.
The bait station at the transom holds rods, drinks, bait and knives.
The fold-away rear lounge gives your passengers somewhere to sit and tucks out of the way when the fishing begins.
Some simple bars for’ard keep your important gear dry and up the front.
This Bluewater sported a good-looking vinyl wrap that will turn heads at the ramp.
I don’t mind a bit of a sill to rest the arm on while driving. The test boat was fitted with a sounder combo and Yamaha’s LCD screen digital gauges. Overhead fishing rod storage is virtually mandatory in this kind of boat. It keeps your tackle out of the way and out of danger. Unless you forget about that low hanging branch at the ramp….
The Yamaha F115 delivered great economy – getting you 2.4km/L at 3,500rpm.
Standard side pockets hold your gear that needs to be readily accessible.
Now THAT’s an underfloor kill tank. Made for and in a part of the world where you can fill it with mackerel. APRIL 2018
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World Class Engines, World Class Support.
All recreational Mercury Outboard models from the 2.5 to 350hp range now come with 6 years of warranty coverage. A comprehensive warranty that’s supported by the strength and service expertise of one of the largest dealer networks in the country. Simply have your engine serviced at an Authorised Service Centre at the recommended servicing intervals and you’re covered by an additional 3-year factory backed warranty on top of the first 3 years. That’s a full 6 years of non-declining warranty coverage. *Terms and conditions apply for full warranty information visit mercurymarine.com.au.
mercurymarine.com.au