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Rigging a split-tail mullet bait • Easy-to-tie all round fly • DIY lure making: Flat Doc

The road to catching dorado Getting back into jacks Fishy gift ideas for Christmas Flyfishing Cape York

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December 2017, Vol. 30 No. 2

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 20 Ballina 22 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 24 The Tweed inshore 25 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 CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 54 Fraser Island 56 Rainbow Beach 57 Bundaberg 58 Lake Monduran 58 Gladstone 59 Yeppoon 60 Rockhampton 60 Mackay 62 TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 64 Ayr 65 Townsville 66 Hinchinbrook 70 Lucinda 70 Port Douglas 71 Cairns 71 Cairns NFZ 72 Cape York 72 Cooktown 73 Weipa 73 TNQ Freshwater 74

From the Editor’s Desk... It’s mid-barra season closure and each year, without fail, you see anglers who are obviously chasing these fish in their spawning season. What’s more, some of these people are dumb enough to post their catches on social media. Well done to the anglers with the resolve to leave these mighty Aussie fish alone during their spawning period. You don’t need to be a gun angler to catch a spawning barra, and the science shows that if you catch them pre-spawn, there’s a fair chance that the fish will reabsorb its eggs and not participate in the event that year. If you ignored common sense and still targeted them anyway, I’m sure that your fellow anglers gave it to you on Social Media. It’s not worth it in the long term.

The face you make when a $50,000 boat package is hanging in the balance! It’s nailbiting stuff at the BASS Pro Grand Final weigh-in.

Speaking of social media, we know that it’s hard to circle a post on Facebook and leave it on the coffee table as a not-so-subtle suggestion regarding a potential Chris tmas gift, so we’ve given you the tools to do this inside. Our tackle arm, www.tacklejunkie.fish, has scoured the new releases and picked out a swag of new gear that needs to have your fingerprints all over it on December 25.

Instructions for use: 1. Pick cool gear. 2. Circle with red Sharpie. 3. Leave on coffee table at home. 4. Give hints with decreasing subtleness as December progresses. 5. Add gear to collection on December 25! And here’s a tip: if you give your partner a good present it’s more likely they’ll buy you something awesome. You can benefit from our experience there. You’re welcome.

WINNING TECHNIQUES You’ll also notice a pile of tournament coverage in this issue. Spring is the season end for plenty of bream, bass and barra events, and Fishing Monthly has always been the first to bring you the gear that got the job done. Even if you are not a tournament angler and don’t like the concept, I can guarantee you that what happens here will influence the gear you’re using in future years. So why not stay a step ahead of the curve and master some of these techniques before they become mainstream. Early adopters in fishing often get a real head start in social fishing, and we all wouldn’t mind that. ABT’s motto is ‘Who Shares Wins’, and we love it when you use these guys’ generosity to your advantage.

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Howard Bidle took this trophy-sized mahimahi trolling skirts near a whale shark. A Kaspar Lenigas image.

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REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 16 Tech Tricks 18 Junior Southern 50 Junior Northern 75 Dam Levels 82 Freshwater 82 Camping and 4WD 88 Fun Page 92 Cooking 94 Tournament News 96 Track my fish 108 What’s New Fishing 110 Trades and Services 114 Sheik of the Creek 116 What’s New Boating 120 SPECIAL FEATURES Tips for catching mahimahi Getting back into jacks Fishy gift ideas for Christmas Flyfishing at Cape York DIY lure making: Flat Doc

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Fishing Diary

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Angler: Billy Papageorgiou Location: Far West Coast, SA Date: January 17th, 2016 Conditions: Overcast, SE 10 kts, outgoing tide, waxing Moon Black Magic Tackle: 60lb Tough Trace as wind on leader Note: “Your Tough Trace has never failed me in tough beach conditions” - Billy

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Mangrove Jack

Learn how to get that first jack of the season more, and the Venom range from Wilson rods punch well above their weight with the parabolic action of their Kilwell blank that allows for a positive hookset with power to burn down low. Your line is also extremely important, and a braided main line of 20-30lb is right where you want to be. A lot of anglers prefer the thicker braids, which provide a bit more abrasion resistance, but it is very hard to go past the 8 carrier Japanese braides. Sunline PE 8 is a value for money favourite and performs very well. This coupled with a leader of 20-50lb

THE TWEED INSHORE

Tim Latter

The Northern Rivers region as well as just over the border to the north is home to arguably the most exciting estuarine species to catch on a lure, bait or fly. It goes by many names these days, but I always refer to them as mangrove jack or, simply, jacks. It is no secret that during the summer months these fantastic sportfish really start to fire up, and the anglers who chase them do just the same. Once you crack your first fish for the season, it feels like the only colour you want to see in the net is red and when water temperatures start to cool off in March and April, a sort of 6 month grieving process takes place until early spring. You only have to check out social media pages regarding mangrove jack, or follow

Stickbaiting for jacks is unreal fun, regardless of the size. pulled hooks, missed surface bites and getting your soft plastics pulled down are all worth it when one hits the deck. Regardless of the size, a great sense of achievement

come down to preference. If the reason you don’t use a baitcaster is because you don’t know how – then it might be worth learning. There is certainly a place for spin

Burning a plastic around this bridge resulted in a nice jack. those switched on fishers on Instagram to see how massive it has become. There is a great pride among those that manage to land the trophy fish, and a great respect to the small bunch that have developed the standout techniques and shared that information with the rest of us. The bust offs,

or PR knot are a must these days when running tight or locked drags, as they break just below 100% and their low profile means your can run long leaders without it effecting your cast by bulky knots catching on your guides. The FG and PR knots are very worth learning if you haven’t already. THE LURES Without doubt the lure that catches the most jacks is the lure that spends the most time in the water. What I mean by this is that time on the water equates to more fish boated, full stop. You could bet that most jack fishers have enough lures to

is felt and I feel privileged to pen a few words regarding my favourite saltwater species. THE GEAR When it comes to accurate casting deep into structure where jacks dwell, it is hard to go past a quality baitcaster setup. The spin or baitcast debate will always be around, and to be honest, it will always

setups, like fishing light around the shoulders of the season or throwing light topwaters or vibing deep rockbars. The ability to control a raging 50cm+ jack by a thumbing the spool before you get buried into the sticks is another added bonus of baitcasting reels and more often than not you be will glad you didn’t flick a

lure into that gnarley mess on a spin setup. It is always important to spend as much as your budget will allow on your outfits. You always get what you pay for in fishing gear and with jack fishing the cheap stuff just doesn’t cut the mustard. I love the smooth gearing and tight oscillation of the new Shimano Curado K series, but the cast control magnetics and spool technology in the Daiwa baitcast reel range is a cut above in my opinion. When it comes to rods a lot of manufacturers produce the goods and a choice of one between 5’9”-6’6” is ideal. Something in the 5-9kg line class will have you sorted, as they will cast from around a 1/4-1oz, which most jack lures fall into. This is not a hard and fast rule, of course, and more specific techniques will require further setups.

The first jack for the season is always a special catch and welcomed into the net. fluorocarbon, depending on the situation, is ideal. There is no one leader line class that covers all scenarios, so

decorate a giant Christmas tree, but could hold their favourites in one hand. It is easy to walk into your local

Jetties and marinas can certainly pay off, especially when you’re the only one on the water.

Some fruits to look out for in your local tackle shop. 14

DECEMBER 2017

The Daiwa Tatula range of rods sit in the mid range price bracket and have plenty of options if you are looking to get a full quiver together. Samurai Refraction rods have one of the crispest actions on the market if you were looking to spend a little

be sure to have a range on hand. A solid mangrove jack will always find a weakness in your terminal chain. Hooks of 3X strength and decent split rings of around 50lb are the standard if not the minimum, and well tied leader knots like the FG

tackle store and be dazzled by all the pretty colours, but like the gear it is important the lures you buy are also of quality. For soft plastics you want something durable, like Zman Diesel MinnowZ or Swimmerz. If you want to skip cast then Castaic Jerky

Mangrove Jack Js or Ecogear Balts are killer. Most reputable lure companies each have a massive range of hardbodied lure options within their stable, and with a list way longer than my arm I will name drop a few options of tried and tested favourites. Lucky Craft Pointers are synonymous with jack fishing, and come in a range of sizes and running depths. They have a fantastic finish on them and the terminal tackle is above par. The Jackall Squirrel 79 SP Hank Tune is another heavyweight in this category and would probably be the next best seller in any tackle shop. The new Rapala 3x Shadow Rap and Shadow Rap Shad have an outstanding action when twitched hard, have had a terminal upgrade for this season and the finish on them is outstanding, which is typical of Rapala.

to cast upstream to allow your lure to present more naturally. Soft plastics in the 4-6” range rigged on a 1/2oz jighead or heavier worked with a fast burn retrieve could result in a rod buckling reaction bite. Bridge pylons are usually encrusted with oysters and barnacles, so leaders of 50lb are almost essential if you plan on landing a trophy jack from a major bridge. Rockbars and retaining walls Rockbars and retaining walls are another man made structure that can hold fish. There is a lot going on below the surface and it’s the back eddies and current breaks where the fish will hold to chase unsuspecting bait. Casting surface poppers or stickbaits during low light late in the season is without doubt the most exciting way to target The Tilsan Barra in red baron is a great lure on the troll.

A nice jack pulled from a small creek hits the mat. If you’re looking for more info, I highly suggest checking out the My Lure Box Facebook page, it is full if info from local jack angler John Costello. He does a lot of the leg work when it comes to lure selection and techniques and watching his videos is a great way to get psyched for an upcoming session. WHERE TO FISH? Bridges For any first timers out there who are trying to figure out where to start, the truth is that mangrove jack in the Northern Rivers region are quite prolific. Bridges that have plenty of flow with an abundance of bait are always worth a throw, and when casting it is usually a better option

these areas, although jerkbaits twitched hard and paused to suspend in their face would result in more opportunities. Slow trolling deep diving hardbodies will allow you to cover a lot of ground, but in my opinion, a jack caught on the cast is far more rewarding. Natural structure The natural structure found in the middle to upper reaches as well as the creek systems is where the stealthy angler can really come into their own, and spending the early morning in a tiny backwater is the best way to start the day, especially during the height of summer. A bow mount electric motor to help you sneak around is as important as oxygen in these waters and soft plastics rigged

weedless to allow you to fire them into the thick of it is paramount. You won’t find as many of the bigger fish in these areas, but the rush of trying to extract one a fish from middle of a fallen gumtree is an adrenalin overload, and a worm hook in the corner of the jaw will give you a little more leverage over a standard jighead, and generally once you hook up with weedless presentations, they rarely pull as long as you keep the pressure right on. Canals Canal systems right throughout the region hold good numbers of big jacks and are a literal labyrinth of tidal flow and bait. Jacks hold up on these structures and trying to entice a reaction bite is the way to go in here. The water is usually much clearer in the canals, so you may only have one chance with your cast to not spook the fish, and because of this it’s important to be stealthy and use natural coloured plastics. Colours like pearl and mullet imitations will increase your chances of a bite. If you haven’t seen

The Jack Guide or Monster Jacks DVDs, they are an invaluable tool to give you a great insight and visual medium into this style of fishing, which is growing in popularity as fast as the sport itself. Jetties, marinas, trawlers, boardwalks, cane drains and pretty much anything that looks like it would be impossible to get a jack out of will most likely hold fish,so spend as much time searching and learning and in time you will find your confidence baits and favourite spots.

Remember to be respectful of other peoples’ property when fishing canals, because nobody wants to wake up and find scratches all over their moored boat or worse. THE VARIABLES It can be a very confusing concept when just starting out any new style of fishing, and chasing jacks is no exception. Having fished my local waters for years, it can still be daunting trying to figure out the best area to target at a certain tide or time of the day. Sometimes you might only have 2-3 hours

on the water each week, and I’m sure I am not alone when I say that when you are left fishless and wondering, the second guessing can cause a drop in confidence. This is destroyer of seasons…. Everyone has their favourite period of the tide or moon phase, and for me it happens to be a neap tide running out early morning, preferably blowing from the north. This is not only because I have had success during these periods, but during preparation for the following mornings session, knowing I will be met with this instills me with confidence. It’s casting with confidence that will catch you more fish. Some fishers monitor storm activity and love the sharp drop in pressure to bring them on the bite, or the fresh that comes after to stir them up. Many anglers say fish don’t mind it raining, because they are already wet? Low light periods are an obvious one for topwater enthusiasts too. Basically what I’m trying to get at with this, is that you should get out and chase the mighty mangrove jack whenever time permits. It isn’t always about your count for the season, it’s about getting that next solid hit, that next chance of seeing a monster jack on the mat, and seeing your mate do it too. Hopefully everyone out there chasing them this year bangs a few and is kind and courteous in the process. Isn’t it just lovely being out there?

Rock retaining walls within canal systems are prime spots for suspending jerkbaits.

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Perfect

All I want for Christmas FMG

Nicole Penfold nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

Here it is – our bumper 2017 Christmas Gift Guide! We have hand-picked these products from all the great releases we’ve seen over the past 12 months or so, and have included prices to work with different budgets. There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re buying a present or you want to let your loved ones know what to buy for you. My only regret is that I couldn’t include big ticket items like kayaks, seeing as they don’t fit under the tree and require a lot of wrapping paper. However, every product that didn’t make the Christmas Gift Guide is at www.tacklejunkie.fish, so be sure to head there if you want more inspiration!

ACCESSORIES

First cab off the rank is the ZMan Bait BinderZ wallet (SRP$16.95). I love ZMans, but anyone who uses them knows that their supercharged plastic doesn’t play well with other soft plastics. I found this out the hard way, after one of my Jackall Masks got melted to death. With a ZMan Bait BinderZ case you’ll keep your ZMans safely away from other soft baits, in a way that makes it easy to find the model and colour you’re after in seconds. Bait BinderZ feature nickelplated, corrosion-resistant rings that have been spaced to fit the reinforced, pre-punched holes in the bottom of standard size

Bait BinderZ are constructed from 500-denier nylon for durability, and feature a carry handle for easy transport. They will hold 10-15 packets of ZMan plastics. You can check them out at www.zman.com.au.

BLACK MAGIC LEADER FEEDER

If you know an offshore angler who could do with some organising, here’s the perfect present: the Black Magic Leader Feeder (SRP$35), which is back by popular demand. This quality leader dispenser holds up to five spools of monofilament

DECEMBER 2017

The last cool accessory I want to mention is the waterproof Hard Korr Unilight (SRP$29). This small, versatile light has an inbuilt magnet and a strong, long lasting elastic strap that attaches to grab rails, tackle boxes, wheel wells,

CHASEBAITS ULTIMATE SQUID

Chasebaits Ultimate Squid (SRP$19.99), whose first in-water swimming video went viral within minutes. It’s that lifelike! The best feature is the delicately moulded wings on either side of the mantle, which have a rolling, rippling action, exactly like a real squid. Other features include realistic 3D custom squid eyes, supple tentacles and a potent squid scent for maximum attraction. You can work the Ultimate Squid in a variety of ways – twitching, jigging or just adding it to a dropper rig to waft naturally in the current. In field testing the Ultimate Squid has been smashing snapper and other reef fish, even after its tentacles have been bitten off. If you buy it for someone (or get one of your kids to), be sure to whip out your phone on Christmas Day to show the recipient one of the Chasebaits Squid YouTube videos. If you’d rather buy some plastics with a range of smaller sizes and colours, the brand new Squidgies Bio-Tough range (from

take them off. The series is manufactured in Japan, and has taken the most reliable lure shapes from the original Squidgies range and redeveloped the design to improve their already great fish-catching ability. The range consists of the Bio Tough Wriggler (100mm and 120mm), Fish (80mm and 100mm) and Flick Bait (75mm and 100mm). This provides anglers with a range of baits to suit a variety of estuary and freshwater applications. There are

or fluorocarbon leader. You can use other leader brands in it besides Black Magic, but because the Leader Feeder has been designed

for Black Magic leader, those spools are a perfect fit and the line comes off very smoothly and easily. The Leader Feeder is convenient to use, minimises tangles, features high quality stainless-steel feed holes

tent poles, awnings, camper trailers, and more. It weighs only 85g but pumps out up to 100 lumens of light, and there’s also an orange light option to both reduce bugs and help your night vision. The Unilight is IP66 waterproof and can be powered with either 3 x AAA batteries or Korr’s specially designed rechargeable lithium battery. The battery life is 4-6 hours on the high setting and 80-90 hours on the low setting. Like other Hard Korr lights it’s built tough with high quality materials, and is backed by a 2-year Australian warranty. Keep one in your tackle box, tinny, garage or with your camping gear, and you’ll have instant light wherever you need it.

six UV-enhanced colours, ranging from bloodworm for bream right through to pink glitz for flathead. As you’d expect, the actions are great too, both when twitched through the water column and at rest in

SQUIDGIES BIO-TOUGH

SRP$12.95) is the go. Instead of being made of traditional plastic, they feature a synthetic bioplastic that is highly durable, stretchy and more environmentally friendly. And unlike some other bio baits, they won’t dry out and turn into concrete on your hook if you forget to

GOING SOFT

A couple of packs of plastics is an affordable if not exactly mind-blowing gift – unless it’s something totally new and different. That’s exactly what you get with the

LIVE TARGET SWIMBAITS

award-winning Live Target Swimbaits (from SRP$23). There’s a number of species in the series, including mullet, sardine, perch, and trout. Each one has been fitted with an oscillator that generates a side-to-side tail swing action. The finish is very realistic, and there’s also a hook guard built into the dorsal fin of each swimbait, so you can throw them into some gnarly cover! Sizes range from 4.5” to 7.5”, depending on the model. You can see all the species at www.ejtodd.com.au.

STRIKE PRO TRUEGLIDE GUPPIE

HARD KORR UNILIGHT

ZMAN BAIT BINDERZ

ZMan packets. This means you can store your ZMans in their original packs, which means no double handling opening sleeves to get packets out, or leaving loose packets where they can blow away.

and a clear pocket so you can label your choice of line weights. It’s strong and durable, and can be clipped onto your tackle bag for maximum convenience. You can find more details at www.blackmagictackle.com.

low current conditions. And when a fish is caught, the bait’s Dura Stretch properties keep it in top condition and ready to be deployed again. These baits are also verified to be 50% biodegradable within the first three years. Other great new soft baits making a splash are the

There’s one more lure I want to mention which isn’t actually a soft plastic, but a hybrid glide bait. It’s called the Strike Pro TrueGlide Guppie (SRP$44), and it’s set to be a hit with anglers chasing mulloway, barra, threadfin salmon and more. This 5.3” (13.5cm) glide bait is manufactured with paint or glitter on the inside shell of the bait, in addition to paint on the outside, to create a 3D effect. This procedure also prolongs the colour of the lure. The Guppie has 3D eyes and a compact shape to maximize hookup rates, and its convex body shaping from the top to the belly exposes the hook points for better hook sets. The body profiling also adds extra flash and belly roll. The most interesting feature though is the interchangeable soft plastic tails. A spring screw at the rear of the lure lets you modify the bait simply by screwing on or off one of the optional tail types. A paddle tail and grub tail are included, and replacement

tails are also available separately. For more info visit www.jurofishing.com.

LIGHT READING

We’ve found a great new book for yakkers: the second edition of the Paddler’s Guide to New South Wales (SRP$44.95), available from the Aquayak online store at www.aquayak.com. The expert advice and guides

Ideas

easier-to-use trip locator maps, fishing information and recommended places to eat, drink and stay the night. There’s also expert equipment advice regarding kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, fishing and transport. If you’re in Victoria or Queensland, there are

maps, historical information and local points of interest, expert equipment advice regarding kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards, preparation advice, and over 150 full-colour photos.

APPAREL

Samaki have made fantastic fishing shirts over the years, featuring a wide SAMAKI SALTY DOG TEE

PADDLER’S GUIDE

contained in the first edition have been revised, updated and enhanced for this new book, and a massive 140 paddling destinations have been included. Other improvements include

Paddler’s Guide books for those states too, and they’re priced at $35 each. Both books include at least 65 paddling trips (with descriptions, maps and GPS coordinates), trip locator

range of species, including barra, mangrove jack, mulloway, snapper, mudcrab and Murray cod. Now they have branched out into T-shirts, and the first design to be released is the Salty

Dog Tee (SRP$39.95), which represents all tough old sea dogs, standing at the helm of a rocking boat, waiting for that bite. The quality cotton fabric used in this shirt is soft to the touch and very comfortable. The highdensity printing enhances the artwork, and the regular fit shape suits all body types. It comes in navy/yellow and black/white, and sizes range from S-3XL. You can see the full range of apparel at www. samaki.com.au. Another great fishing apparel company is Bigfish Gear, and they have released

a new Jack Attack II shirt (SRP$89.95). These shirts are available from a child’s size 2 right through to 5XL for the big boys, so there’s a size to fit everyone in the family. Like all Bigfish UPF50 shirts, they feature BFMaxFlow fabric – a high performance, moisturewicking material that is not only soft to feel, but durable, breathable and cool. For more info head to www. bigfishgear.com. And if you need a new pair of sunnies, you will not find a better range than Costa (SRP$269-$349). These premium fishing

BIGFISH JACK ATTACK II

Eureka lures are Designed and Tested for the Australian angler. Each lure features quality fittings and components and have proven successful on Australian fish species in our harsh fishing conditions. Eureka Lures offer superior quality lures at exceptional prices.

Join the Fishing Revolution With Eureka Lures!

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www.jurofishing.com DECEMBER 2017

6/21/2017 1:57:20 PM

sunglasses come in a huge array of styles and lens types, so there’s a shape to fit everyone and a lens to suit every angling situation. Their quality Bio Resin frames are built to last, and their 580 lens technology blocks the harshest light waves in the visible spectrum, and enhances the portions that help you see more clearly into the water. You really

off literal photos of baitfish species, and you can’t get any more realistic than that. Released late last year, these shrinkable and inexpensive covers will help protect the paint on your new lures, or rejuvenate your old favourites after they have lost their paint. And if you have a ton of failed lures that haven’t caught a fish yet (let’s be honest, we all have

COSTA SUNGLASSES

have to try them on to see how great they are, so get yourself to your nearest Costa stockiest and choose the best model for you. To view the full range visit www.costadelmar.com.au.

FOR THE DIY-ER

You don’t have to be an expert tinkerer to use the next two DIY products. They’re a lot of fun, are easy to do, and you get that bonus satisfaction of catching a fish on something you’ve done yourself. The first DIY product is JigSkinz (SRP$20 for a 4-pack). It’s a bit like one of those slick vinyl boat wraps, but downsized so you can pimp your lures with an incredibly realistic finish. Most of the skins are based

a bunch of unloved failures stashed away), this product can revamp them and finally get some runs on the board. To apply the JigSkinz, you just slip the new skin over the lure and place it in hot water. The moment your lure hits the hot water, the skin will shrink tightly over your lure and boom – you are done! You now have a new lure in your favourite colour. JigSkinz are suitable for a huge range of lure types, including poppers, stickbaits, slugs and slices, knife jigs, micro jigs, blades,

JIGSKINZ

Perfect

it to create bathymetric maps. The antenna ensures constant WiFi connectivity for the highest signal range. The Pro model provides a 150ft (45m) depth and 160ft (49m) WiFi range, and the 3D model offers

PRO-TEC POWDER PAINT

jigheads, lipless crankbaits, bibbed minnows and skirted pusher heads. The skins come in a dizzying array of colours and lifelike patterns, plus there’s a clear skin to help protect your new lures. Patterns include: flying fish, mackerel, mullet, sardine, perch, holographic colours, lumo and more. You can check them all out at www. jmgillies.com.au. Anglers who like flicking plastics will have a lot of fun with Pro-Tec Powder Paint (SRP$23.50) from the Atomic Trick Bitz range. This powder coat allows you to customize your jigheads with no mess and no odour. There’s no need for a primer or gloss overcoat – all you need is a lighter or heat gun and you will have a durable, high gloss finish in minutes. To apply, you simply shake the pot of powder paint, and heat up your jighead with a lighter or heat gun for 5-6 seconds. Next, dip the hot end of the jighead into the powder and remove it immediately. Once removed you will see the powder turn to a high gloss, smooth finish. Allow it to cool for a minute or so, then

you’re ready for action! It’s never been easier to match your jigheads to your soft plastics for the ultimate lure. You can also get fancy and coat the grub keeper in one colour and the head in another. When used with a transparent tail, your grub keeper will look like the innards of a baitfish. Too realistic to pass up! There is enough powder in each 2oz (57g) jar to coat hundreds of jigheads. Check it out at www. frogleysoffshore.com.au.

BIG SPENDER

If you have a couple of hundred dollars to spend this Christmas, a great new gadget on the market is the Lowrance FishHunter (SRP$173.90-$218.90) castable fishfinder, designed for anglers fishing from the shore or a kayak. It sends real-time sonar data via WiFi to view on your

DAIWA TD SOL III

a 160ft (49m) depth and a 200ft (61m) WiFi range. The rechargeable battery lasts for 10 hours of active use. For the full list of specs and features head to www. lowrance.com/en-au. If your budget is a bit higher, I strongly recommend you check out the redesigned Daiwa TD Sol III (SRP$399). These are the lightest reels for their size that Daiwa has

smartphone or tablet, and doesn’t require a cellular or internet connection. FishHunter Pro features a tri-frequency transducer, offering four ways to view sonar data including Fish (fish symbols), Raw (arches), Bathymetric and Ice Fishing Flasher views. You can also troll

ever produced and, due to new engineering and manufacturing processes, they’re also one of the toughest. The 3000 size is a featherweight 190g, which you’d expect more from a shallow spool 2000 reel, not this 3000 workhorse with its great spool capacity. The 3000 also pulls a massive

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You get a lot for your money with these reels, and you can check out the full list of specs and features at www. daiwafishing.com.au. And now for the final big spender item: a fishing drone! At Fishing Monthly we love drones, especially for boat tests where they provide a bird’s eye view that you never used to get on boats. However, in our excitement and enthusiasm

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10kg of drag. There are six models in the series, ranging from the 2000D to the 6000D-H, and all feature Daiwa’s Magseal technology for maximum water resistance, performance and longevity.

we have crashed two of them into the sea (drones, not boats) which has cost us over $2000. Ouch. If you don’t want this to happen to you, the smart thing to do is to get a drone that’s waterproof – and preferably one that can drop a bait in for you as well. You’ve probably

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seen videos of shore-based anglers using drones to catch big pelagics, and you can get in on the action with the Swellpro Splash Fisherman drone (SRP$2100). It comes with a fully secure, payloadrelease mechanism so when you see a fish/bait ball on your remote control screen,

Ideas

mackerel or shark. Before long it will bob up on the surface again. Like all good drones it features auto take-off and landing; altitude sensor and lock; and auto return to home function (to stop you losing the drone due to mis-operation or it being

SWELLPRO SPLASH FISHERMAN

you can drop the bait right on top of them. Every component of the rugged Splash Drone 3 Fisherman is waterproof. It can take off and land on the water, and resist both fresh and salt water, with all metal screws and fastenings made from top quality stainless steel. It also floats, so you don’t have to panic if it gets pulled down by a giant tuna,

out of range). Its video transmitter has a range of up to 1km, and you can control it via a smartphone app. You can find out more at www. dogtoothdistribution.com.au.

THE TRAVELLING ANGLER

Shakespeare have brought out some combo kits that are perfect for people who are new to fishing, or

SHAKESPEARE CATCH MORE FISH KIT

for casual anglers spending their holidays somewhere new. Shakespeare Catch More Fish Kits (SRP $59.96 to $89.95) contain an outfit and tackle kit suited to specific target species or fishing situations, and include a tough and sensitive tubular composite rod with solid tip, balanced with a spin reel spooled up and ready to go. The kit also includes an integrated tackle box complete with terminal tackle such as hooks, swivels and sinkers selected to match the outfit. The Catch More Fish range consists of the Bream Battla (a 6’6” outfit spooled with 10lb line), the Flatty Fighta (7’, 10lb), Whiting Whippa (6’, 4lb), Jetty Monsta (8”, 14lb), Beach Patrola (12’, 14lb) and the Ocean Brawla (6’, 14lb). If you’re more serious about your fishing, and like to fly to far-flung

destinations, you’d know that air travel isn’t like the good old days where you could take heaps of luggage. Back then you could fly with a big suitcase and a rod tube the size of a Saturn rocket – and possibly an esky for fillets as well. These days with Qantas economy, you can take two pieces of check-in luggage with no

to 23kg, with no individual piece more than 32kg or 158cm. With Jetstar you pay for each piece of checked baggage. No more big rod tubes! There are plenty of good travel rods to choose from when it comes to freshwater and estuary fishing, but I haven’t seen a massive choice for quality offshore

WILSON BONE VOYAGE

piece exceeding 32kg, and (this is the bad bit) the total dimensions of the two pieces combined can not exceed 270cm, with no single piece exceeding 158cm. With Virgin economy you can take one piece up

travel rods. One great new release I have found though is the Bone Voyage series (SRP$310-$370) distributed by Wilson Fishing. These 4-piece rods come in both spin and baitcast versions, with models ranging from

the 6’5” 8-16lb 8BVC654M, through to the 7’6” 20-40lb BVS764XXH. Wilsons say these fast-actioned rods are equipped with highmodulus carbon fibre layers with cross weaves, which makes the blank much lighter and stiffer without compromising strength. Other features include Fuji K-Alconite guides for maximum sensitivity, and an enhanced butt section with X-Grip wrap for superior power. Each rod comes with its own soft pouch. The new Bone Black River series and Bone Combat Beast series also include one travel model each, both designed for subduing big fish. But before you book your flights, check the airline websites for the latest baggage regulations. I’m pretty sure the check-in staff won’t accept a Fishing Monthly magazine as proof of their regulations – although they might take one as a bribe. Merry Christmas and happy gift hunting! • The prices listed in this article are suggested retail only. They may vary from store to store.

THE ULTIMATE SOFT PLASTIC.... NOW AVAILABLE IN 4 DEADLY NEW MODELS! 3” TRD HOGZ ZMan’s new Creature Bait features antennae and feelers for added action and attraction, ribs to add texture and water movement, and a buoyant ‘feelers up’ action that sees the TRD HogZ come to life in the water.

3.5” & 4.2” TRICK SHOTZ Broad textured tail for kick, glide and water movement, flat back and wedge shaped body keels the Trick ShotZ for effective weedless rigging and the ribbed body adds a realistic feel and water movement to attract predators and make them hang on longer!

2.75” FINESSE FROGZ

3” SLIM SWIMZ

BOOF! That’s just the sound of the new 2.75” Finesse FrogZ being inhaled by a bass, barramundi, mangrove jack or other surface feeding predator. A lively paddle foot action creates a noise and a bubble trail on the surface that fish explode on, or sink it sub-surface and get those feet working to draw a brutal strike!

The popular 2.5” Slim SwimZ now has a big brother. Same under hooked tail design, dynamite action and realistic baitfish profile, in a larger 3” size that is sure to become a favourite for flathead, bass, mulloway, big bream, mangrove jack, barra and plenty more!

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An easy fly for all-round use north and south BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Fly tying is a big component of flyfishing for many long rodders and it can be done at home with ease. In truth, there is a lot of satisfaction in taking a fish on a homemade fly, so this article outlines the easy tying of a fly that’s just as effective in the fresh

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water as it is in the sea. It will take a host of fish from bass and cod to flathead, tailor, tuna and virtually everything that swims up in the tropics, even the much-revered barra in its larger sizes. WHAT YOU NEED The fly I’ve demonstrated is tied on a no. 2 Partridge Attitude Extra ACSX, as I intend to use this fly on Somerset bass; hook size will naturally vary for other

target fish. For example, you could use a 2/0 for flathead. The main components you’ll need are tying thread (I used clear nylon), a pair of chained black beads, some pearl flash material, and small amounts of Just Add H2O synthetic material – I used Slinky Fibre in white, Flash N Slinky in purple and a smidgen of Slinky in black. THE TYING Attach the bead chain eyes a short distance back

The Solarez Roadie resin kit, Partridge hooks and a couple of Slinky Fibre variants will complete this easy and very useful fly.

A small section of Slinky Fibre under the hooks kicks things off.

With a tiny amount of flash material tied in, some purple Slinky Fibre and a sliver of black, the tying is complete.

DECEMBER 2017

from the hook eye and glue it into place. Once the glue is dry the idea is to reverse the hook in the vice and tie in a small tuft of white Slinky Fibre as the under part of the fly. With that tied in, reverse the hook and tie in another longish section of white Slinky up top to form the main body of the fly. Don’t overdo this, as more needs to be applied. Tie in some flash material, a

little more white Slinky and then an over wing of purple. A very fine line of black completes the fly. Apply a small drop of Solarez resin and a quick flash of the special UV torch that’s supplied with the Solarez resin kit. Now the fly done and dusted. SOLAREZ RESIN ROADIE KIT The kit contains three different UV cured resins, plus a handy torch

that emits the correct wavelength to cure all three resins, which are rated as Thin/Hard, Thick/ Hard and Flex. The tubes in the kit are 5g capacity and have a small easy-use nozzle for application to the smallest flies. In use the resin dries to a clean and totally dry surface in seconds under the UV light. Larger Solarez tubes of resin are available for more heavy-duty use.

Tie on and super glue the bead chain eyes first.

More Slinky on top sees the fly taking shape.

Lastly, a drop of Solarez Thin/Hard and a quick flash of the UV torch finishes things off.

MAJOR PRIZES

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Find the logo and page number, fill in the entry form and go in the draw to win!

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MAIL ENTRIES TO: QFM Find the Gamakatsu Logo Competition, PO BOX 3172, Loganholme QLD 4129 Entries must be received by 31ST DECEMBER 2017 Original entries only. No photocopies.

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Cooking

A super yummy yabby mornay jaffle recipe BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Last edition we cooked a firm toasty inside a single jumbo jaffle iron. However, when you want to seal the ingredients inside a breadbased jaffle, a standardsized jaffle iron is the go. This month I want to highlight that the standardsized jaffle iron is often the

best all-round choice. Let’s look at a couple of facts about jaffle irons and their weights; a double jumbo jaffle iron is just a bit too heavy for easy use and will weigh up to 3.5kg, whereas the single jumbo can weigh around 1.7kg. Weight-wise, I’m happy with a double standard jaffle iron made from cast iron, which can weigh up to 2kg. I’m pretty serious about

Ingredients Yabbies 2 slices of bread 1 tbsp butter 1 green shallot, finely sliced 1/4 tsp garlic paste 1 tsp plain flour 1/2 cup cream 1/2 cup white wine A pinch of dried chilli flakes

6 94

To start the mornay, melt the butter in a pan over a medium-low heat then add the finely sliced green shallots and gently stir until the shallots soften. Add the garlic paste and then stir the flour into the butter mixture to form a thick roux.

Butter the slices of bread on one side. Place them butter-side down in the pre-heated jaffle iron. Scoop a spoonful or two of cray mornay into the middle of the bread on the lower half of the jaffle iron.

DECEMBER 2017

jaffles, so I have a wide selection of jaffle irons for a variety of uses. While I use doubles, a lot of my friends use standard-sized singles. The singles are the lightest in weight and are a single-handed operation even when full. But it’s not about the weight – it’s all about the bread size. Even with large bread slices, the bread sits inside the perimeter of the jumbo jaffle iron, so the jumbo jaffle

doesn’t crimp the bread edges together. Without an adequate seal, the jaffle fillings are likely to ooze out and spill onto your hands or clothing. Most campfire cooks who have tried the jumbo sizes conclude that they either don’t seal properly or are very limited in their application. The smaller jaffle irons allow the broadest selection of cooking options. I prefer the models that have deep

Twist the tails off the yabbies and shell the yabby tails (you’ll need 3-5 small yabby tails per jaffle). You can substitute 1cm cubed pieces of white-fleshed fish such as freshwater barramundi for these. You can also use marron, redclaw or prawns. Crack and pry one side of the tail shell away from the tail meat (you can also use scissors for this).

Pour the cream and the white wine into the roux and stir until smooth. Add the chilli flakes and keep stirring until the mixture thickens to a sauce-like consistency. Stir well to incorporate the chilli flakes into the mornay sauce.

Close the jaffle iron and toast both sides of the jaffle on a medium heat until the bread is golden brown.

pockets on each side. With the small standard sized jaffle iron, even a slice of bread from the small loaf will extend all the way to the edges, so when the two halves come together they successfully seal the two slices of bread with a crimping effect. When choosing your jaffle iron, keep in mind that some models are more like a Panini press – they are flat on each side and some irons are

for very slender options only, such as cheese toasties. All the versions and variations have their place. The ones that are most suited to Aussie semiliquid jaffles are the standardsized models that seal the two outer pieces of bread together. Larger bread slices are unnecessary when cooking jaffles over the campfire, as any overhanging bread gets burnt by the flames and then cut away before serving.

Separate the shell from the meat then cut the tails into pieces. Preheat the jaffle iron now on a hotplate (or campfire, or gas ring).

Add the cray pieces to the mornay and continue to cook over a low heat until the crays are just pink and cooked.

The jaffles are golden brown ready to serve – evidence that the smaller jaffle irons achieve a better seal.

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Springwood Marine

3 Carlyle Street, Slacks Creek, 4127 07 3297 8200 www.springwoodmarine.com.au • sales@springwoodmarine.com.au

TOOWOOMBA

Waterskiers Warehouse

91-93 Neil St, Toowoomba 07 4637 9511 www.waterskierswarehouse.com.au • rod@waterskierswarehouse.com.au

Caloundra Marine

8 Baldwin St, Caloundra 07 5491 1944 www.caloundramarine.com.au • sales@caloundramarine.com.au

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING ZEREK FLAT SHAD PRO

Taking in the revolutionary design features of the original Flat Shad, the Flat Shad Pro comes with a series of innovations to make these lures even more amazing. The Flat Shad Pro is a softer TPE material. This softer material allows the lure to swim at slower speeds with lighter weight jigheads. The weedless worm hook has been constructed with a little less weight, as the softer material does not need as much weight to get the lure drifting through the water column attractively. There is also a stinger attachment loop moulded into the hook’s lead belly weight, which is prefect for attaching a belly stinger hook or tying a longer assist style hook to. You can also attach a small blade to provide extra flash. Available in the 7, 5, 4.5 and 3.5” versions and 5 colours, the Flat Shad Pro make an already unbelievably successful lure even more successful. www.wilsonfishing.com

VIKING PROFISH 35

The Profish 35 is a compact fishing kayak designed with lure fishing in mind. The shorter 3.5m length offers excellent manoeuvrability while hull shape delivers great load capacity and stability. This is a kayak for juniors and adults alike, and the large central storage well offers ample room for tackle and other essential gear. The removable lid provides security and easy access, and also makes an excellent mounting surface for electronics. The flush rod holders are within comfortable reach for larger and smaller paddlers, and the rear well offers ample storage for both fresh and salt water anglers. Users can expect great stability, even when fully loaded. Large central well storage and lid Perfect rear storage well for easy access 4 x flush mount rod holders Paddle holder 2 x The Viking Profish 35 comes in four colors: Kiwi (green and black), Lava (red and black), Storm (white and black) and Daybreak (blue, white and yellow). www.vikingkayak.com.au

NEMO DAGGER 2-PERSON TENT

Now that spring has finally sprung, we can all rejoice that Australia’s glorious camping season is now open! Introducing the Nemo Dagger, a two-person tent built for ultra-light backpacking, that also offers interior dimensions that rival anything else on the market in this category. Thanks to the higher positioned pole hubs the Dagger has more interior space than any other on the market, thankfully making cabin fever a problem of the past. The Dagger’s trapezoidal fly design creates an additional 2.1 square-metre area on each side for storing gear outside of your sleeping quarters, making for a more comfortable night sleep amongst the stars. Camp in sheer comfort in the season ahead with the freshest and most innovative outdoor equipment on the planet. The Nemo Dagger will be your true camp companion this season and many more to come. Price: RRP $699.95 www.paddypallin.com.au 110

DECEMBER 2017

PRODUCT GUIDE

SAMAKI SALTWATER 4 BARRA SHIRT Samaki’s Saltwater Barra long sleeve shirt brings you one of Australia’s most iconic fish species. Her almighty beauty is so prominent you’ll want to take a moment to admire each and every scale as she launches from the depths to attack the Samaki Vibelicious. With that elusive island in the background, stunning weather, copious amounts of bait and detailed rockery the Saltwater Barra is every angler’s dream come true. The lightweight fabric is perfect for all outdoor elements, protecting you from the harsh sunrays with our UV50+ resistant technology, the soft touch 100% polyester material is comfortable on the body plus has the added feature of being breathable keeping you cool and dry. Saltwater Barra shirts are available in adult, youth and kids sizes from a size 2 through to a 5XL allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out onto the water. Price: RRP $59.95 (adults), $49.95 (kids) www.samaki.com.au

DAIWA TOURNAMENT 5 ISO 6000 Daiwa has created the ultimate compact size surf spin reel with the release of the new Tournament ISO 6000. These little beauties are rugged yet refined, which is what makes an absolutely perfect modern surf or rock fishing reel for the modern surf or rock angler. Daiwa’s technologically advanced hybrid material, Zaion, is the basis for the rocksolid frame. Zaion is light, strong and resists corrosion, and far exceeds the strength of traditional reel body materials such as magnesium and alloy in a strength per unit weight comparison. Because of this, the ISO 6000 will be able to handle the harsh punishment that surf and rock fishing is well known for, meaning that these machines will last you many fishing session and hopefully, trophy fish. If you’re a serious rock or surf angler, you’d be mad not to add this incredibly modern and hardy reel to your kit. www.daiwafishing.com.au

GAMAKATSU SABIKI RIGS

Gamakatsu has introduced three new versions of is popular sabiki rigs, which let you catch a whole school of live bait at once. Each hook is rigged with an extremely durable, high grade latex attractant. This mimics small bait and prawns as the angler twitches and jerks to tempt the most wary baitfish. These sabikis are especially hot for catching slimies and yakkas, and can also be used for herring and mullet. Every component of the rig is top-ofthe-line, and hand assembled for maximum durability so you can use them over and over. The S150 model (size 3-9) has a UV-coated hook which mimics the ‘glow’ of plankton, prawns and squid in the dark depths. The SS203 model (size 3-9) is designed to naturally absorb sunshine and mimic the organic bioluminescent process and glow in deep, dark water. The S523 (size 5-8) is fitted with a UV glow bead as an added bait-luring addition to its lifelike pink shrimp jacket. Price: from SRP $10.95 www.gamakatsu.com.au

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

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING BALISTA SMOKE 65

RAPALA R-TYPE SPIN

AQUAYAK OUTRIGGER KIT

There is one thing we all have in common; we need to keep food cold. Whether it is the ice in our coolers when camping, fishing or just at a family BBQ, or the freezer in your home. There now exists a product that is the first of its kind to give you the block or volume needed to hold cold longer. Introducing the Kooler Kube. The Kooler Kube was developed to be used in combination with KoolerGel to give you the ultimate cooling source, and it can be used with or without ice. The temperatures can range from 0º to -30º Celsius depending on the freezer, and will freeze down much lower but, average domestic freezers are -16 to -24. It’s also reusable and refreezable and can last for years. Keep your food colder for longer with Kooler Kube! www.koolergel.com.au

The fear of ending up in the water rather than staying on top of the water is a big reason why many people shy away from using a kayak. You can go a long way to avoiding this by adding a Aquayak Outrigger kit to your kayak. It is simple to install and can be used on all types of kayaks, and will put an end to the fear of falling off your kayak while out on the water. Once the kit is attached it will make your kayak much more stable and safer for people of all ages to get out on the water, and see how much fun getting out in a kayak can be. The Outrigger kit will even allow you to stand up in some kayaks, which will make for a much more enjoyable fishing experience. This kit is reasonabley priced, and can be delivered to your door. For more information, specs and photos, visit the Aquayak website or look them up on Facebook. Price: RRP $245 www.aquayak.com

ZEST SHOVELHEAD JIGS

VALLEY HILL JUNGLE RAPPER

There are hundreds of deep diving hardbodied lures on the market, but not one of them is anything like the new Smoke 65. The team at Balista Lures found that the action on other deep diving hardbodied lures was either too wide and slow, or too tight and fast. They spent three years meticulously refining the action to have a specific combination of action and roll. A lure with a rolling action mimics a baitfish more closely and hence makes a huge difference in fish catching ability. The Smoke 65 also features their revolutionary LED technology, which is a water activated flashing red LED. This technology has been proven to be noticeably effective in dirty water, low light conditions and after dark. Other features include an internal rattle, UV paints, proven colour patterns and BKK ultra sharp and tough trebles. They are proven to be highly effective on mangrove jacks, barramundi, bass, golden perch, Murray cod, redfin, flathead and many more. www.balista.com.au

KOOLER KUBE

The superb new Shovelhead Jigs are a magnificent jig for jigging shallower water, when smaller baitfish are being targeted, and when a more finesse approach is needed. The Shovelhead Jig features one side that is scalloped out and an opposite side that is rounded, which makes this jig really move and flutter through the water. The Shovelhead Jig is 160mm long and weighs 125g, and it is rigged with the weight at the tail, which helps the jig get down. It also features a holographic finish on one side and a mirror finish on the opposite. The Shovelhead Jig is available in four natural baitfish colours. It comes pre-rigged with quality Mustad Assist hooks that feature 200lb Kevlar heat shrunk with quality split rings and solid rings. These lures are outstanding on kingfish, amberjack, samsonfish and reef species. www.jurofishing.com

Recently we saw the release of the new concept Rapala R-Type Saltwater Spinning Reel. Rapala engineers have developed the R-Type spinning reel for hard-core saltwater anglers, with large drags, large capacities and quality componentry, guaranteed not to let you down when that trophy fish latches on and goes hell for leather. Rapala R-Type reels feature a full alloy body and rotor, ported ‘braid ready’ alloy spool with shielded drag, high drag output, CNC screw into gear handle arm, infinite anti reverse, six stainless steel bearings, left/right hand wind, and Ti line roller. The R-Type reels have everything to ensure you get the most out of each reel. All models feature a 4.9:1 gear ratio and deep spools and are available in 5500, 6500 and 7500 sizes with drag ratings of 7.7kg, 16.8kg and a whopping 17.75kg respectively. Rapala have an R-Type reel to suit every kind of hard-core saltwater angler. www.rapala.com.au

Japanese Tackle Giant Valley Hill consistently produces some of the world’s best bass lures, and the Jungle Rapper is no exception. With a nice profile and seven enticing colour combinations, the Jungle Rapper has only been available in Australia for a short time, however it has already been the undoing of many big bass. Ideal for casting in any situation, the Jungle Rapper emits a popping sound along the surface which bass simply can’t resist. In addition, the left and right wings ensure a good level of casting and retrieval control in windy and choppy conditions. Even at rest, bass have been known to hit a Jungle Rapper out of curiosity. Measuring 70mm and weighing in at 11g, and with all the quality and durability we have come to expect from Valley Hill, the Jungle Rapper is a must-have for all serious freshwater anglers. For more information on the Valley Hill range, visit the Dogtooth website. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au DECEMBER 2017

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Hiring the Sea Adex 6.5m Armour Hard Top

SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

When I was asked whether I was interested in taking out the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top powered by a 250hp 4-stroke Suzuki outboard for a boat test, and at the same time go down rigging for kingfish in Sydney Harbour. I couldn’t resist an offer like that? In this boat review I am going to cover two aspects of the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top. Firstly, an insight into the design and construction of the rig, and secondly, the advantages of hiring it from Finz Boat Hire. When I first saw the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top on their website, I saw a beast of a boat. It looked SPECIFICATIONS Designer: Sea Adex Hull Construction Material: Aluminium Hull Type: Hard Top Construction Material: Aluminium Length: 6.4m Beam/Width: 2.49m Number of Fuel Tanks: 1 x 250L underfloor Passenger capacity: 5 for offshore and 7 for inshore Length maximum on trailer: 7.2m Width: 2.49m Side thickness: 6mm Bottom thickness: 6mm Max Motor hp: 400hp Tested on the day: 250hp Tow Vehicle: Heavy 4WD or 6 sedan 126

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Main: The Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top Godzilla Finz Boat Hire rig has been built to 2C restricted survey, which will allow you to travel within 15 nautical miles offshore. This will allow you to have five onboard for those offshore trips and seven people when fishing inshore. Above: The Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top slides up very easily onto the Dunbier trailer and then clips onto the Boat Catch System. as solid as a brick and tough as nails while having at the same time the sleek lines of an extremely well-designed boat that would give you hours of safe, pleasurable boating and fishing time on inshore and offshore waters. The idea of the design of the boat came from a Brisbane-based company called Sea Adex. The owner Adam Mortimer put many hours into designing a boat that would deliver ultimate safety in really bad conditions. To learn more about how the design of the Sea Adex Armour range came about I watch a short video that Steve Morgan from Fishing Monthly put together when reviewing another one of the Sea Adex range. Adam explained that around six years ago he built a 4m prototype in a weekend and then sea trialled it in 30 knots. It didn’t sink even though it was completely full

of water. So, his next step was to show his designs to a naval architect, and together they created the range you see today. On the day that I tested the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Godzilla that you can hire from Finz Boat Hire, I was only able to meet Chett and Andrew at the Rose Bay ramp at 10:30am. So, getting the preferred kingy bait squid proved to be a bit difficult. Chett did have a couple of slimies and a yellowtail in the plumbed live well. As the 250hp V6 Suzuki 4 stroke outboard pulled us out of the hole and onto the plane within 50m from idle, the rig settled down to a slow cruising speed at 20 knots. Once we rounded the corner at the entrance to Rose Bay, we encountered some very large wake from a passing ferry, which Andrew powered the boat through and over with ease. So much ease that it felt

like we were floating on a cushion of air. While idling at at 1000 RPM, it only took the an increase to 1200 RPM to achieve an increase of 10 knots. Once the boat was pushed to its limit at 44 knots, the RPM was at 4300, giving you great fuel economy for a large boat. This would be due to the design of the 23° constant deadrise of the hull at the transom and the slightly reversed 30cm chines/ sponsons on the side of the boat. What also adds to the stability and safety of the boat is that over 2 cubic metres of surveyed approved foam has been jammed into the hull. At one stage we had three adults on one side and there was very little tipping of the boat and the high sides gave you plenty of reassurance that you weren’t going overboard. Its 6mm aluminium sides and bottom, which have been full-length welded, lock the entire build of this boat together. It also has a selfdraining, scuppered deck that makes it easy to wash out and clean the floor after a hard days fishing. At one stage I lost count at the number of different places that you can store items on the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top Godzilla. At last count there was at least 10. Maybe the design of this rig doesn’t suit your needs. Not a problem. Adam will customize the boat to suit your needs. Customisation options include: different configurations with kill tanks, live bait tanks and full tanks; dash layout; side door access; single/dual/triple motor options; placement of hand rails; where and how

FEATURES The Sea Adex Armour 6.5 metre Hard Top comes with a Fusion Sound System, Garmin GPSMAP 7416, a Garmin GPSMAP 7408, a Garmin Autopilot with Shadowdrive, 1kw Chirp TM256LM Transducer, a 600w Chirp GT51M Transducer, Wishbone Outriggers, 250L Fuel Tank, Live Bait Tank, Boat board, Garelick Seat Suspension, Windscreen Wiper, King/Queen Seats, EPIRB, fire extinguisher, 27mhz and UHF Marine Radio’s, Fish Bag/Box, 16 rod holders and all the required safety gear. many rod holders; what type of bait board you would like; the seating arrangement and types or anything else that you may want. Now the question for you is, “Do I buy one or do I hire one?” Let’s face it, if you were interested in this rig you could hire the boat for a day or two and if you were impressed with it, you could contact Adam from Sea Adex and get him to custom design one for you from their great range. If you want to buy one you can contact Adam

at: info@seaadex.com.au or call 0435 453 455. You could also visit their website, at www.seaadex.com.au, or call into the office at Shed 2/82 Redland Bay Road, Capalaba QLD if you’re up that way. If you would like to hire the Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top Godzilla, you can contact Chett at: fbhsydney@gmail.com, or visit their website at www.finzboathire.com.au. They also have a Facebook page, which is called simply Finz Boat Hire.

Plenty of rod holders, comfortable seats for you and the crew, plus everything you need for a day’s fishing and boating on the water. After you have finished your day’s fishing, all you need to do is ring up Chett from Finz Boat Hire and he will meet you at your prearranged pick-up point and take the boat away for you.

Top: Everything that you need is at your fingertips on the dash in front of the helm. The touch screen Garmin GPS 7408 is showing a number of kingfish arches on the screen, but we weren’t able to tempt them into biting. Above: While in the cabin and you are driving the vessel, you have plenty of clear vision out the front and on the sides. The 27mhz and UHF Marine radios are just at arm’s length making it easy to communicate with other vessels. There is also a light for inside the cabin for those dull days.

Even though I am a bit on the short side, I could easily see over the dashboard while sitting at the helm. It was also very easy to see and use the array of electronics that I had in front of me.

From the area of the cockpit, you are able to access the front bunk area where you could store some of that extra fishing gear or the esky with the food and drinks. It could also be used as a small change room if needed.

Andrew, the skipper for the day, was giving a safety talk and explaining where the life jackets and other safety gear were stored.

The Sea Adex Armour 6.5m Hard Top Godzilla is powered by a 250hp, 4-stroke Suzuki Outboard. When the motor is just in gear and moving forward at about 4 knots the RPM is at around 1000. Even though the 15hp 4-stroke outboard is there as a survey requirement you could also use this for trolling at a much slower speed.

The plumbed live well at the rear of the boat would hold enough squid or other live baits for a fishing session. What the author would do is maybe put some kind of netting over the opening, as on the day he had one small yellowtail jump back into the water.

Top Left and Right: When you hire the boat Chett will include the use of the Scotty Depth Master down rigger if you need it. Bottom Left and Right: At the rear of the boat you will find an extremely sturdy chopping board that has more storage underneath. There is a wash down hose that will come in handy when cleaning up at the end of the day. The four rod holders are spread far enough apart so that the reels won’t bump into each other when you get one out to fight the fish. There is also a number of hatches that will give you access and storage along with a collapsible/removable seat with a non-slip cover, that can be used when you have more onboard.

Left: Anchoring up with the powered winch and the Sarca anchor makes it so easy. It’s just a flip of the switch. The forward hatch will give you access to the front of the boat to tie off the rope to the front bollard. The non-slip covering on the front will save you from slipping. Above: The access ladder on the trailer makes launching and retrieving by yourself so easy. All you need to do is drive the boat onto the trailer and allow the Boat Catch System to attach the boat. Turn off and raise the motor. Climb down the ladder, attach the safety chain and then just drive off. DECEMBER 2017

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