Queensland Fishing Monthly - June 2015

USEFUL WINTER TIPS • BOAT BUILDERS’ SPECIAL

Tried and Tested

TFO BVK Super Large Arbor fly reel • 130hp 4-stroke Yamaha • Nissan X-Trail 2015 • Sea Fox 286 Commander • ProCraft 535 Centre Console • Duo Realis Grade A Shinmushi •

Features

Fishing tropical topwater • Trailer accessories • Handy additions for your kayak •

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SEE INSIDE!

How-To

Fly fishing with light tackle • Choose the right soft plastic • Tie a Barrel Roll • Skin mackerel fillets • Make wire assists hooks •

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Black Magic 80lb Tough Trace was used by Ron Hunt to catch this coral trout while fishing off Fraser Island.

4 year old Ellie Dickfos used Black Magic 10lb Fluorocarbon leader to take this 30cm whiting while fishing in the Mary River. Great job!

Lee Rayner landed this excellent tuna on Black Magic 10kg+ Inferno Braid and Black Magic 40lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader while fishing on the West Coast of Victoria.

This 3.5kg nannygai was landed by 12 year old Casey West using Black Magic 40lb Tough Trace. Great effort!

Black Magic 30lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader and a Black Magic KS 6/0 hook were used by Tristan Rodriguez to catch this estimated 31kg tuna.

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June 2015, Vol. 28 No. 8

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES

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SPECIAL FEATURES

Business Office: Unit 1, 11 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, Qld, 4128 Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Managing Editor: Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton, Simon Goldsmith, Glen Booth Field Editors: Jason Ehrlich, Wayne Kampe Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

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OUR COVER Renegade Charters deckie Tom nailed this wahoo that fell to a well-presented skip gar.

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QUEENSLAND FISHING MONTHLY

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and dozens of new product videos [SteveMorgan72].

With additional conference activities, Recreational Fishing Awards and a registration fee that allows enough in the budget to travel to the Gold Coast to do it, don’t spend time ranting to people that don’t matter, go to those who can make a difference.

For more information visit www.rectreationalfishing conference.com.au.

AUST

Making the switch: starting light Fishing tropical topwater Tying wire: Barrel Roll Skinning mackerel features Trailer accessories

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REGULAR FEATURES Boating 91 Back to Basics 20 Camping and 4WD 92 Cooking 74 Dam Levels 66 Flyfishing 69 Freshwater 66 Fun Page 76 Kayak 94 Sheik of the Creek 90 Sunfish 75 Suntag 54 Tournament News 82 Tech Tricks 16 What’s New in Boating 98 What’s New in Fishing 78

But the icing on the cake is that all conference attendees get exclusive access to the AFTA trade show. This is particularly important since the ATFA board decided against its promise last year to incorporate a ‘public day’ that allows everyday anglers to come and preview the latest and greatest gear for the upcoming season.

Otherwise, you’ll just have to tune into my YouTube channel to get the daily updates

ION

Whitsundays 56 Ayr 57 Townsville 58 Lucinda 58 Hinchinbrook 60 Cairns 61 Port Douglas 62 Karumba 63 Cape York 62 TNQ Freshwater 64

Saturday the 25 July this year.

Why is this a better way to contribute than starting a Facebook page called “Fisheries Management Sucks”?

A joint initiative of FRDC (Fisheries Research and Development Corporation), ARFF (Australian Recreational Fishing Foundation) and AFTA (Australian Fishing Trades Association), it’s a forum that’s open to ALL recreational anglers who are interested and it’s your chance to shape the future of recreational fishing policy.

Attended by industry members, government representatives, scientists and a mix of local and international speakers, the interactive forums will expose you to the people who make the important decisions that affect YOUR angling experience.

The conference is cheap to attend – earlybird registration (by June 30) is $20 and $30 if you miss the first deadline.

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TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

As recreational anglers, we’re often confronted with policies and decisions that we don’t like. Green zones, compromise of fish nursery habitats, restriction of access or the Super Trawler all trigger reactions – usually negative – amongst anglers.

Also as anglers, we have a variety of ways that we can react to the issues. Some of us complain to anyone who will listen. Others complain to people who may be able to do something about it – like your local Member.

Others choose to go digital and present their case on social media – there’s nothing like a good old Facebook rant to get nothing done.

Well, there is now a real world opportunity to have an input into the direction of future recreational fishing policy and practice. It’s called the 2015 National Recreational Fishing Conference and it’ll be held on the Gold Coast on

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Rainbow Beach 45 Hervey Bay 45 Fraser Coast 46 Bundaberg 47 Lake Monduran 48 Gladstone 49 Yeppoon 50 Rockhampton 51 Stanage Bay 53

From the Editor’s Desk...

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CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

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Tweed Heads 26 Southern Gold Coast 28 Gold Coast Canals 30 Gold Coast 32 Jumpinpin 34 Southern Bay 36 Brisbane 38 Brisbane Offshore 40 Northern Bay 41 Noosa 44

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Ballina 22 Iluka 24

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JUNE 2015

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Making the switch: going light to get the bite PART II BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

Last month, we looked at getting into fly fishing, sorting out gear and zeroing in on some target species. This month, we’ll look at a few tips and tricks you can do with light fly tackle.

When most people start out fly fishing, they’ll usually gravitate toward the lighter end of the spectrum. For me, anything beyond 8wt tackle is heavy, and anything under that I consider light.

Starting small is a good idea for several reasons.

The two main reason being, a) overall, it’s cheaper and b) the fishing is more accessible. Another good reason to start light comes from a saying in game fishing, ‘The bigger the bait, the bigger the stuff up’, and this is very true in the world of fly fishing!

It might be best to learn the basics of fly fishing on light tackle before things get broken! Heavy tackle can be a bit crazy. More on that next month!

SETTING UP Setting up light rigs can be fairly simple or very complex, depending on what you wish to do with them. I like to keep everything simple as far as lines, leaders and flies go, but others like to wire out every fine detail – it’s a personal thing.

As a general rule, lines should match the task, so floaters should be used for surface work, intermediates for shallow sub-surface and fast-sinking lines for deeper fishing.

Backing isn’t usually

an issue for light tackle and shouldn’t be stressed too much, unless you’re targeting small pelagics or other species that like to do some yards. On a small fly reel, around 100-150m of braided as backing should handle most situations, even if you hook into a small trevally or mackerel.

Most species, particularly those in freshwater, will be easier fought by hand.

Leaders are fairly simple for me. If I’m casting generally I prefer to use a straight length of leader. If I’m casting toward structure or needing accuracy, I like to use a tapered leader (available from tackle shops) or one I make myself, using 2-3 different strength lines. The beauty of a tapered leader is that it will roll out neatly in a straight line, rather

than just falling in a pile.

With homemade tapered leaders, the heavier material should be up the top, and the lighter material (tippet) should be what connects to the fly.

A great guide to making tapered leaders is to have every length downwards about half the length of the one above. For example, at the top you may have 1m of 40lb monofilament, connected to about 50-60cm of 20lb fluorocarbon, then for a tippet, 30cm of 14lb fluorocarbon onto the fly.

Rods vary as much as the imagination these days, you can chose from a huge range of types from the lighter spectrum.

Be sensible and match the your rod for what you will be doing primarily, but remember, fly rods are fairly versatile machines. I use my 6wt for bass, carp, flathead, trevally, tarpon, bream, sooties… the list goes on! There’s no need to buy multiple fly rods for fish that are all around the same size.

TRICKS AND TIPS Roll casting Roll casting is a skill that comes in handy when presented with tight surrounds. It’s a trick often employed when there isn’t room to facilitate a back cast. In other words, the trees behind you won’t let you cast across the pool in front of you.

The roll cast is fairly simple, and is commonly

Top: If you live up north, sooty grunter are a sure-fireway to put a bend in your light fly rig. A good mix of small surface and sub-surface flies should see you hooked up. Middle Left: Up and down our coast, if you want to get into fly fishing then flathead are a fun, simple, but challenging enough way to hook up. Middle Right: The author caught this nice bass roll casting across a small pool under a bridge. A back cast may have resulted in the hooking of a pipe instead of a healthy bass… Left: Tarpon are a species that need a solid strip strike due to their notoriously hard jaw. Once hooked, hard-mouthed species that jump shouldn’t be able to shake a fly out too easily. Above: Don’t be afraid to fish from a kayak.

Kayaking is a great way to explore new waters with the fly, particularly for bass.

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used by anglers chasing bass, trout, sooties and other smaller fish in tight water.

The roll cast starts when the angler is picking up the line for another cast, however, instead of lifting the fly out of the water, the angler allows a bow to form beside them by slowly raising the rod.

Once there is a decent bow in the line and the rod is back at about 2 o’clock, snap the wrist sharply. The fly line should roll out and the fly should shoot out to the desired location. It’s possible to shoot a bit of

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To page 12

The first frame shows the original angle of Tom’s fly line.

Frame 2 shows Tom mending the line to get the fly running along the branch, and the new angle can be seen in frame 3.

In frame 4, the eruption of a sooty grunter hitting the surface fly has disturbed all the peace, but take note that Tom has kept the fly rod down.

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From page 11

line through the guides in a roll cast, too, if you require that extra distance!

Steeple casting Steeple casting is a useful technique for situations when there are obstructions behind you.

Much like a normal cast, the steeple cast has a front and back cast, however, in the back cast, the line is tossed up, to avoid the obstructions behind you.

To do this, I often stop the rod in the back cast at about 12 o’clock and watch to make sure the line clears whatever I’m trying to avoid.

The roll and steeple casts tend to come in handy in the same areas.

Strip striking This is very important for almost all types of fly fishing, with the exception of a few methods and species, such as trout, where the angler lifts the rod to strike. The term ‘trout striking’ is often used when a hook-up is missed due to the angler lifting the rod and pulling the fly out of the fish’s gob!

Strip striking is important for the simple reason that a fly rod and fly line doesn’t have a lot of stiffness. With conventional gear, setting a hook is simple – the stiffness of the

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braid and rod blank drives that hook point home. With a fly rod, the very slow action of the rod and stretch in the fly line is for casting light flies, not striking!

To strip strike, the rod is kept low. When a bite is transmitted though the line, the angler should strip to take up the slack, point the rod and the fish and allow the weight to load up for a second or two (it can be hard not to trout strike, I know!) This action sets the hook properly. If the rod is lifted, there’s barely any pressure going though the rod and line to the hook point, and in a lot of cases, the hook simply bounces of the fish’s jaw!

Remember, keep the rod down until you feel that tug of war with the fish through the line before lifting the rod!

Mending the line Mending the line can be used for a few different applications. There’s to main applications. Firstly, to adjust fly line in water flowing at a different speed to the water the fly is in, which prevents it from dragging unnaturally (often used in trout streams).

Secondly, to lay the line along side some goodlooking structure, which will allow the fly to swim past it.

It pays to experiment with fly gear. You may even catch species that are considered rare catches on conventional gear, such as this beautiful eel-tail catfish caught by the author in a clear SEQ stream.

Mending the line starts once the cast has been made. When the current’s affect on the line, or surrounding structure has been assessed, flick the rod and make a ‘bump’ in the fly line. From here, the line you’ve picked up should be laid down where you want it. Throughout this, the fly remains where it is.

This technique can’t be performed with conventional gear, and I believe this gives a fly fisher an edge, particularly in the second situation.

FIGHTING FISH As previously mentioned, the majority of fish are going to be fought by hand. The bendiness of the rod and stretch of the line makes up for the lack of a drag in the situation.

If you manage to lock horns with a fish with a bit more spirit than you anticipated, you can let some line go through your non-stripping hand as the fish lunges.

If the fish is very spirited (and probably too big for the tackle you’ve chosen), allowing the line to run through your hands and fighting the fish on the reel, and praying to the fishing gods that you have enough line, may be the only option.

If you fight them by

hand and lock right up, particularly around tight country, you can really have an edge over anglers using conventional gear. If you strip a bass or sooty 2ft, you’ve pulled them 2ft away from their snag!

Just remember, your tippet should be designed to break before the fly line – fly lines cost a fair bit, and you don’t want to damage them needlessly.

People also under estimate the authority you can have with a fly rod when fighting a fish.

In most cases, the rod is around 8-9ft long – that’s a lot of length on your side for leading fish around and dominating them in the fight. If the fish goes one way, apply pressure in the same direction and fish will change direction accordingly.

SEE THE LIGHT! That’s about it for the light stuff! Next month I’ll talk in depth about heavy fly tackle and saltwater fly fishing.

For now, I wish you the best and hope you can get the most out of your light fly tackle and prepare for the bigger stuff (if that’s where you wish to go with your fly fishing). You could also keep fishing light like I do, nothing wrong with that!

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13

Fishing tropical topwater HERVEY BAY

Mark Bargenquast

I must admit that sight fishing is my favourite form of angling, as there’s absolutely nothing better than watching a fish zero in on your lure and eat

it. However, coming a close second is surface fishing. The topwater explosion as a barra, queenfish or even a longtail tuna climbs on is pretty cool! Yes, that’s right, there’s more to surface fishing than just popping for GT.

I have just spent the last week guiding some Japanese clients in Weipa who were dead keen to chase barra, even though the offshore pelagics were in full swing.

So we went barra fishing, going through a full tide cycle every day for 5 days.

Usually, inshore estuary

baitfish, barra could be seen holding in small snake drains covered by 30cm-1m of water, and mangrove edges wherever there was a point or exposed mangrove tree.

Obviously they were waiting in ambush for the mullet to come to them… barra are like that!

This was where topwater lures were most effective.

Stickbaits worked with a walk-the-dog retrieve would receive instant attention from any nearby barra. You could watch them rise up under a lure, and after a pause the strike was explosive and exciting. The Japanese banter was just as loud. Great fun!

Queenfish would also hone in on the stickbaits, but the clients were in barra mode and froze the lure’s retrieve. Just as quickly the queenfish would lose interest and swim off. How’s that for self-control!

Eventually we fished offshore and up-scaled our

The sharp end of a popper-munching barracuda.

Big queenies love stickbaits.

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lure fishing is way better during a low tide, with the fish concentrated around drains, holes and snags.

At high tide the fish are spread right up through the mangroves and over the flats, usually making locating them a much harder task.

We fished small stickbaits over drains and snags, caught a few barra, small queenies and a nice jack, but never really cracked it. The tide pushed over the flats and gutters, right up into the mangroves, and the fishing slowed. After a bit of thinking and observation of nervous and showering

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This 48cm jack took a stickbait meant for a barra.

stickbaits to larger models, Daiwa Hiramasa Tune stickbaits and the new Over There stickbaits. These were used with deadly results with a high-speed retrieve — big queenfish, Spaniards and longtail tuna would go crazy.

These lures look so lifelike and required a faster retrieve to imitate the garfish and flying fish that the queenies and tuna were feeding on.

I guess the motto of this story is to try to mimic the baitfish that your quarry is feeding on. Almost everywhere in tropical Queensland you will see baitfish spraying out of the water when something is trying to eat it. Whether it’s wolf herring evading Spanish mack, garfish offshore, or even mullet, hardiheads or herring in the estuary, surface lures like cup-faced poppers,

stickbaits, fizzers and pencil poppers all imitate these baitfish given the correct retrieve.

More often than not, the wrong retrieve will not get a bite. As an example, barra like a slow twitch, twitch, pause retrieve, where a mackerel, tuna or queenie love a high-speed retrieve, just like their quarry is trying to escape.

All predatory species

in tropical Queensland will rise to a well-presented stickbait. Jacks and pikey bream are suckers around the snags. Coral trout, trevally and queenies are well known for taking surface lures, and even golden snapper over shallow reefs eat them.

So make sure you have a few stickbaits and poppers packed in your tackle box when heading on the big

trip north and enjoy some spectacular surface action.

HANDY TIP I know it’s great to have the lure in the fish’s mouth when getting a pic before release, but be warned, a big queenie, barra or whatever can do some serious injury to an angler with those free swinging hooks if they go berserk when holding them.

I always take the lure out before pic time.

Bob from Tokyo with a stickbait munching blue salmon.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Illegal pipi fishing results in fines Three recreational fishers have been fined a total of $10,000 at the Noosa Magistrates Court last week for exceeding pipi possession limits and obstructing fisheries officers.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol district manager Brett Depper said a recent patrol of Teewah Beach, north of Noosa, found two incidents of illegal pipi fishing.

“In the first incident, a family was found to have collected 865 pipis,” Mr Depper said.

“The five children and two adults were allowed seven times the possession limit of 50 per person, which would allow for 350 pipis to be collected.

“The excess 515 pipis were seized and returned to the water alive.

“While the defendants claimed to be unaware of the possession limit for pipis, the penalty of $4,000 handed down by the Magistrate to each of the adults involved shows that not knowing the rules is not an acceptable excuse for breaking the law.”

Mr Depper said in a second incident approximately 20 minutes later a fisher prevented officers from inspecting his catch of pipis.

“On seeing the fisheries officers, the man ran towards

the surf with a bucket,” he said.

“The officers gave the man lawful directions to stop and to put the bucket down however the man continued to run and emptied the bucket of pipis into the surf.

“Under the Fisheries Act 1994, fishers are required to give reasonable help to the officer to enable the inspection of their catch, and therefore he was charged with obstruction.

“The Magistrate ordered a $2,000 fine for obstruction.”

Fishers have a responsibility to ensure they understand and are up-to-date with Queensland’s fishing rules. For more information on Queensland fishing rules, visit

www.fisheries.qld.gov.au, call 13 25 23 or download the free ‘Qld Fishing’ app from Apple and Google app stores.

If you suspect illegal fishing, whether seen in person or online, report it to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116. Don’t engage the person, as this can compromise an investigation. All information provided to the hotline will be prioritised based on potential fishery risks, accuracy and reliability with an appropriate response formulated.

Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ FisheriesQld). – Fisheries Queensland JUNE 2015

15

Tech Tricks

Wire Micro Jig assist rig BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Micro jigging has become extremely popular in Southern Queensland during the last year or two.

Anglers are honing jigging and retrieve techniques and using an array of jigs to catch a plethora of prime species in the bay and rivers.

Snapper, mulloway, threadfin, trevally, tailor and a heap of others are being deceived by the actions of these micro metals. For anglers targeting snapper and other species in Moreton Bay and surrounding waters, mackerel can often become a bit of a nuisance as they will regularly engulf a jig and bite you off, which can become a little expensive at times.

Something had to be done to

save my jigs and decrease my blood pressure.

Recently I started experimenting to produce a wire assist rig that wasn’t too intrusive to put on my micro jigs when the marauding mackerel move in. I figured one out that was easy to make, inexpensive and really made a difference to results at the end of the day.

Most micro jigs are purposely rigged with assist hooks instead of treble hooks (which many other lures sport) because the limp nature of the assist cord results in the hooks rarely fouling on the leader.

Your jig will remain in play throughout the entirety of the jig and retrieve and present as it was intended to.

Assists rigged with wire are more rigid than those rigged with conventional assist cord, however, they still seem to be fairly good at avoiding tangling. However,

as the main reason for using the wire assists is to avoid getting bitten off by mackerel and other toothy critters, the small inconvenience of a hook fouling the jig is far outweighed by the extra fish landed and the jigs retained.

Often a mackerel will just sever the assist cord attaching the hooks and therefore the jig is saved, however at times they will engulf the entire jig and sever the leader. For this reason it may also pay to add a short wire leader in front of the jig, however be aware that this may decrease the strike rate at times. If you are fishing areas where mackerel are unlikely then I would not use a wire assist. However it pays to have a few jigs rigged with wire in case you are in mackerel territory and begin suffering losses.

MATERIALS There are not a lot of good hooks on the market

in Australia for this type of rigging, and even fewer reasonably priced ones.

I commonly use Mustad Hoodlums, Gamakatsu SC15 or Shout Light Jigging and Ijika, finding these all work well.

Nylon-coated wire could be used however it is

generally of lower stainless quality than uncoated wire.

Uncoated Shogun, Superflex or Mason wire in breaking strains between 20lb and 40lb are my choice for this application. Additionally you will need a parrot-beak wire cutter (even side cutters will suffice for this thin multi-

strand wire), some split rings (slightly higher breaking strain than the wire), split ring pliers or pincettes and possibly some heat shrink, krystal flash, Panic Baits or Needlefish skirts to finish the wire assist off. Once you have all this together then it is time to get started.

1

Cut a piece of wire between 16-18cm long and fold in half, pinching the midway spot so that there is a small, prominent crease. Pass this section through the eye of the hook so that the tag ends face away from the gape as shown. Hold the hook and the tag end of the wire between thumb and forefinger. You will want between 6-8cm of folded wire protruding out from the hook eye on the gape side.

4

3

2

Start folding the wire back towards the hook point whilst still holding the tag end securely against the shank.

Continue wrapping the wire in this manner until you have completed five or six wraps around the hook shank. You will need to maintain pressure on the wire as you wrap otherwise the wire will spring free. Whilst holding the wraps of wire firmly against the shank between forefinger and thumb to stop it unravelling, pass the loop end of the wire through the hook eye from the back side of the shank, so that the loop now protrudes out the gape side of the hook. Pull this loop very firmly with your fingers or a plier to lock the wraps in place.

Whilst you can just trim the tag end of wire away and use your wire assist as it now is, many prefer to add a little movement and colour to the rig. Adding some 3mm heat shrink to the shank over the wire is an easy and inexpensive way to do this. I often cut the end of the heat shrink all the way around with numerous lengthways cuts as shown.

6

JUNE 2015

5

Your completed rig will look something like this. How long the loop ends up being will depend on how far you pushed the wire through the hook eye initially, how many wraps of the hook shank you did and how thick the hook shank is.

Some experimentation may be required if you wish to make your wire assist to specific length.

8

7

16

Fold the wire back firmly to begin wrapping both strands around the hook shank whilst keeping constant pressure on both the wire loop and the tag ends of the wire. If you do not maintain firm pressure then the wire will slip and spin around the hook eye.

Next put the heat shrink over the hook as shown and apply heat with a paint stripper gun or with passes over a naked flame to constrict it.

You can use a split ring to attach the loop of the wire assist to your micro jig. Often an assist hook will be put on both ends for enhanced hooking potential, especially with flatfall jigs. You can dress up your assist hooks in many ways including a heat shrink skirt, plain heat shrink or a micro squid skirt such as a Yamashita Panic Bait. Additionally I have used metallic krystal flash and glo-in-the-dark sparkleflash which I bind onto the shank.

With micro jigs rigged with wire assists and a short multi-strand wire leader, your lure losses will be minimised greatly.

Fishing Fill-its

Jungle perch released Just under 1000 captive reared jungle perch have been released into the wild as part of a Queensland Government project to restore jungle perch populations within their natural areas.

Research leader Dr Michael Hutchison said the release of the fingerlings into the wild was a world first.

“The jungle perch

fingerlings were released into a Gold Coast Hinterland stream where they had once been endemic,” Dr Hutchison said.

“The stream was selected because it has ideal habitat for jungle perch and no major barriers to impede the jungle perch spawning migration.

“Prior to release, the jungle perch fingerlings were conditioned to recognise

predators that occur in the release site.

“They were also conditioned to take invertebrate (insect and crustacean) foods similar to those they would encounter in the wild.

“This should enhance their capacity to survive.

“We hope this is the first step towards jungle perch forming self-

sustaining populations in the stream system.

“All the stocked fish have been micro-tagged so the researchers can monitor their progress over the coming months.” Follow up surveys already indicate the stocked fingerlings are doing well, growing and dispersing through the stream system.

Dr Hutchison said that the Gold Coast release was the first of several planned experimental releases with future releases to be at the Sunshine Coast and the

Mackay-Whitsunday Region.

“Jungle perch are a popular angling species and used to occur more widely in south-eastern Queensland and the Mackay- Whitsunday region,” he said.

The jungle perch research project focuses on the potential for recovery of declining jungle perch populations in the wild.

The jungle perch project team are also preparing a jungle perch production manual with links to audiovisual material to help

transfer the jungle perch production methods to private hatcheries.

The project is supported by the Australian Government Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. Project partners are James Cook University and the Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland.

Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ FisheriesQld). – Fisheries Queensland

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17

Tying wire: Barrel Roll 1 BRISBANE

Kim Bain

In this edition of back to basics, Kim completes the single strand wire ‘tie’; it started with last

month’s Haywire Twist and concludes this month with the Barrel Roll.

SINGLE STRAND WIRE TYING TIPS All the strength of the single strand wire connection is in the Haywire twist part

of the twist, the barrel wraps merely finish off the ‘knot’ in a fashion that keeps the twists in place without them unravelling and\or slipping.

Single strand stiff wire is the preference for most wire purists to work with.

Complete all the twists in the Haywire Twist, then bend the tag end of the wire back to make a right-angle bend with the straight section of the main wire.

Making this 90º bend locks the twists in place and prevents the twists in the Haywire twist from springing apart.

Tag end

2

Start to make your first barrel wrap. To do this, keep the tag end at a right angle to the main wire. Then make about five (barrel) wraps (rolls) around the standing part with the tag end. You can either push the tag end around the main wire, or rotate (spin) the wire loop as shown, this time guiding the tag into a series of tight rolls around the main strand or standing part. Make sure that when you spin the loop end you do so in order not to open up the Haywire Twist. If you have done so (i.e opened up the Haywire Twist) then you’ve twisted it in the wrong direction (try the other way).

90° Twist Main wire

3

Barrel roll

Twist/rotate Having completed up to half a dozen tight rolls, make a right–angle bend in the tag wire in order to form a crank– handle.

Main wire

Barrel roll

4

By bending the tag end into a little ‘handle’, you can use that handle as a lever to twist the arm to break it off smooth against the barrel roll. Hold the barrel roll firmly between thumb and finger, then twist the crank–handle until the tag snaps off flush with the barrel rolls. This is done by twisting the tag end, for example counter clockwise, making one or more circles until it breaks off. Never cut the wire with pliers as doing so will more often than not, leave a sharp burr that can make a nasty cut to hands and\or finger(s).

Snap off and discard

Main wire

Haywire twist

Barrel roll

5

With really stiff galvanized wire I do not make the ‘handle’ as is often recommended. To snap off the tag, my father taught me to hold the barrel roll and Haywire part of the connection in my right hand; I hold the ‘knot’ vertical with the tag end upwards and grip the tag end of the wire with my left hand (the tag end that sticks out from the barrel roll) and I bend the tag downwards (or upwards) in an attempt to force the tag end to be parallel to and beside the haywire twist part of the connection. Once the tag end is then forced\rotated down (or up) past the vertical and starts to head back to the horizontal, the tag wire normally snaps clean and smooth without a dag – sometimes a little wiggle is required but normally it’s just one movement.

Main wire

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Part III: Picking plastics NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

In the final installment of his three part series on the basics of fishing with soft plastic lures, I will take a look at the subject of picking the ‘right’ plastic to use on the day.

Lots of anglers seem challenged when it comes to selecting that first soft plastic to tie on at a new location, or even to start a new day’s fishing at a wellknown spot. I’m surprised how daunted some people are by the thought of

making that initial choice.

They open their tackle box, scan its contents with a confused, worried expression, sit in a silent agony of tangled indecision for several minutes, then turn desperately to look for someone to direct their burning question to: “What should I use?”

My advice is simple: if you truly have no idea where to start, take the plunge and make a guess!

Tie something on, give it a swim and see if the fish show any interest. If they don’t, then change your lure and try again.

In truth, your approach

Natural baitfish shapes and colours make a great starting point, especially in clearer water.

This spangled emperor smacked a soft shad.

rarely needs to be quite that experimental. You should at least have an idea of what lives in the waterway and what some of the most important food sources are likely to be.

This basic knowledge is a big help in fine-tuning your initial selection. If it’s a stocked barra dam renowned for producing metre-plus bruisers and boiling with hand-sized bony bream, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to kick off with a 5cm worm or grub imitation! Conversely, if it’s a gin clear alpine trout stream with a good population of aquatic insect nymphs, it will most likely be counterproductive to tie on a 15-20cm fish-shaped plastic swim-bait!

Engage your basic common sense and begin by pruning down at least the size selection process.

If you’re chasing big fish that you suspect are eating big things, then choose a biggish lure. If you’re after smaller fish that you think are eating tiny food, pick a little lure… It’s not rocket science!

While you’re at it, at least have a think about roughly matching the shape,

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Whiting eat worms, yabbies and other small, natural-coloured prey. It makes sense that a plastic capable of imitating these food sources will catch the odd whiting. colour and swimming action of those likely food items. Fly fishers call this thought process ‘matching the hatch’ and it’s one of the most important steps in

What I’m trying to tell you is that nothing and no one can give you better feedback on your lure choices than the fish themselves. Let them tell you what they want and,

If you don’t like the colour of your plastic, grab some marker pens and change it! successful lure selection.

Be willing to accept that you might be wrong in your initial selection… It happens! Just occasionally those big barra, surrounded by all of those chunky bony bream and beefy mullet might actually be dining on a prolific year class of juvenile rainbow fish half the size of your little finger.

Or the larger trout in that high country stream may actually be cannibalising their smaller cousins.

That’s okay. You’ll find this out when they ignore your first choice!

If no obvious food sources are present and you’re not sure what the fish are actually eating, look at the water itself. Is it clear or dirty? And if it’s somewhere in between those extremes, is it greentinged, brownish or tanninstained? Whatever it is, the little critters living in it are likely to be wearing a roughly similar hue. So if it’s greenish, go for a green lure. If it’s tea-like, choose a red or brown plastic. Again, this is just a starting point. The tick of approval (or otherwise) will come from the true experts on this issue: the fish themselves. In other words, if your first choice draws a blank, try something else.

when they do, make damn sure you’re listening!

As a final word on the vexing issue of colour selection, there’s a rule of thumb I’ve used for many years that usually stands me in pretty good stead. It goes something like this: If the water is gin clear, start with very subdued, natural, transparent tones. If it’s a bit dirtier, choose something a little brighter. If it’s very discoloured, go for vivid, fluorescent tones. If it’s absolutely filthy, try black or purple… or bait… or go home! And finally, if your mate’s catching fish and you’re not, then use exactly what he’s using!

No matter where they live, bream generally prefer relatively small, subtle offerings.

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The C-Gar from Halco is worth going a little crazy over. Use it fast across the surface for Queenfish and Trevally, or in amongst the wash for Tailor and Australian Salmon.

If you’d rather target pelagic speedsters, you can cast it a mile and work it slowly through the depths for Spanish Mackerel or Tuna. Seriously, what’s not to like?

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21

Rivers clear until the rain BALLINA

John Goodwin

Just as the upper Richmond River was looking good for a fish we saw a low move in over the northern rivers and dump a massive amount of rain causing the Tweed, Richmond and Clarence rivers to run brown and muddy, bringing with it all kinds of garbage for weeks.

The westerly winds should blow hard and hopefully this will bring the bait fish down to the lower reaches and the predators with them.

Bream anglers will be out in force this month on the beaches, headlands and river entrances chasing the early run of these guys. The bait fishers who use fresh cut baits like mullet or bonito will see more action but the people who fish lures will see quality more than quantity.

The plastics and blades will get more of a workout while the surface lures will take a rest as the bream move to deeper water like the walls and deeper holes close to the river mouth to do their thing over the next few months.

I like to use as little weight when using jigheads and blades as possible but the tide will predict what weight you’ll be using. As for plastics, anything from 2” Z-Man GrubZ, 2” Gulp Prawns or 80mm Squidgie Wrigglers will do, but blades like StrikePro’s Cyber Vibe and Ecogear VXs will always see you in with some action.

Luderick anglers will have dusted off the good old centre pin reels late in May and will be itching for the fish to show in the Richmond around North Creek, but May’s early rain will determine when and where they will show first.

Whiting will have slowed down by now but those

willing to put in the time and fish deeper water will still gather a feed of these great eating fish.

Flathead will have hopefully be found in better numbers and size now the water has cleaned up after the fresh. Live baits like herring and even dead baits like whitebait should see you take home a few for dinner. Areas like Broadwater, Wardell and Pimlico should see the bulk of the fish if we don’t see any more major rain during June.

Plastics on flathead are always an easy introduction to any lure fishing as these guys don’t refuse too much, as they’re an opportunist feeder

some good fish on the turn of the tides.

The mullet schools have started to make their way to the mouths of rivers as well as the beaches, triggering the mulloway to start showing up. The bigger models making their presence felt in the schools of bait and fresh octopus, legal size tailor and luderick heads will do the job on the bait front. Tailor have shown up along Brunswick, Flat Rock the north and south walls of the Richmond and Evans Head for those brave enough to put in the hours after dark, so let’s cross the fingers and hope that this will be a good season.

Dominic Olsen with a quality pearl perch. will also play the game on the plastics.

Kingfish, morwong,

A kingfish the author jigged up. so shape and colour isn’t a big thing.

Mulloway fishers saw some great fish from the end of the breakwalls and headlands halfway through last month when the water stopped running out and started to clean up a little, but the man in the grey suit claimed more fish than were landed. Live baits seem to have caught most fish, but people casting big plastics and hardbodies around scored

OFFSHORE June will see the current virtually drop out completely so fishing offshore will be more comfortable for those who wish to start fishing in water from 50m of water to right out wide for bar cod and the like. Snapper should have started showing up on the closer reefs like The Patch, Red Hill and Kaos and water this deep makes them a great target on plastics and light jigs, but the mulloway

bigger snapper and pearl perch should be in better numbers this month, so it may be a wise decision to stop off at the bait reef before heading wider.

If bait fishing isn’t your thing try jigging knife jigs for kingfish and slow jigging butterfly jigs for pearl perch and snapper.

Fishing plastics in 70m+ of water is a little like float lining with bait. Just choosing the right weight for the current and wind your fishing will

change from day to day. If I can get away with a 2oz jighead in 100m of water even better, but some days it may be 3-4oz, but the take is the same as float lining so get ready for line to be stripped out of your hands. Pearl perch are also a sucker for a plastic, too.

BEACH The beaches and gutters copped a bit of a beating with that big low pressure system, so most gutters that were looking good have either been filled in or are non existent along south Ballina Beach, so you may have to do some real searching to find a good hole that’s going to produce any quality fish. Brunswick has had a few gutters worth a shot after dark, though. Bream, dart, whiting and flathead will still be found in the shallower

Bream on blades will be more common during the cooler months.

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gutters, but as for mulloway and tailor those deeper holes are worth gold.

FRESH Bass fishing in the dams has been a little hard with the amount of water they received and the people that have fished them have struggled as well, with only a few fish being caught in their outings.

The most successful lures were Imakatsu Piranha Vibes and plastics worked in deep water off the major points, but some still caught fish on surface lures worked slower than normal to get a reaction out of the bass.

• If you’re after any additional information about the area, give us a call at Suffolks Outdoor Sports in Lismore, as we fish regularly and can point you in the right direction.

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Snapper season is looming ILUKA

Ben Pilch bjpcdh@gmail.com

The cold weather of winter is definitely upon us, so it’s time to pull those beanies out of hiding. Cold weather means one thing for me —

squid for a feed of juvenile snapper, or a big one wafted down the berley trail for a trophy sized knobbie. The boat fishos relish winter, as the water cools and the currents slow up out wide, making bottom bashing a lot easier.

In the river, on the rocks,

far behind.

Spinning for them has produced some great lure makers in the Clarence Valley, with specialised mulloway lures in their stables. Some of the local favourites are the Jewie Jewels by Croaker Lures and the 80g diver by Get Bent Lures. Spinning

Steve Patti with a nice Clarence Valley mulloway on a Jewie Jewel. snapper. Nothing beats an early start, up and in the water while it is still dark, and back before 9am with a tasty feed of reds.

A favoured food of the local snapper population is squid — nice little bottle

and off the beaches, everyone will be on the lookout for mullet and what is following behind feeding on them — the mighty Clarence Valley mulloway. Find the mullet and you can guarantee a few big silver slabs won’t be too

these mullet schools with big hardbodies is definitely a great way to connect with an XL Clarence mulloway.

Generally speaking, most use rods from 10-12’ in length, with 50lb main line in mono or braid. For leader,

it’s 50-80lb of whatever your favourite brand is.

Out on the headlands, there should be some nice sized greenbacks getting around in the washes.

Spinners are dependable for a couple of choppers, but if you want to chase a big greenback you can’t go past poppers. They seem to draw a better class of fish and my favourites are the River2Sea Bubble Pop 130, and the Get Bent Pencil Popper, depending on conditions.

Beach fishos will be donning their waders in the chase for tailor. Casting out pillies and strips of bonito on a set of gangs should see a few fish hit the sand.

We should now encounter some better quality bream in the lower reaches of the river. If you like to chase bream with bait, you can’t go past good old gut — mullet or chook, it doesn’t matter — although mullet gut with the onion in it will hang on better and stand up pickers longer. All those walls and reefs in the lower reaches like Browns Rocks and Middle Wall should be good producers. These same spots will also be good for lure fishos using soft plastics and blades worked deep.

Eddy Menkerud, 6yo, with his very first fish – a 25cm bream. On a family camping trip at Jacobs Well Caravan Park, Eddy and his family were out in the boat near Tipplers Resort. Eddy threw in a line and about 3 minutes later he was shouting “I caught a fish, I caught a fish!” After a quick photo, the bream was released to fight another day.

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JUNE 2015

25

Tweed River transmission returns to normal THE TWEED

David Solano

The Tweed River has turned a corner after all the rain we’ve had, and it has finally been restored to a fishing Mecca once again.

The variety of baitfish present is amazing, so first up it’s a matter of trying to match my soft plastics to the bait I could see through my polarised Tonic sunnies. Typically they were medium size and of a white appearance, while some were smaller with a white belly, but green on top. Interestingly, I had some Z-Man plastics on board that matched exactly those colours precisely. The Z-Man range is worth a look, as they have just about every colour you’d want. My favourite is the little Z-5 Swimmers. For some reason, regardless of the colour of the baitfish, the motor oil colour seems to out-fish the actual real bait colour, so there you go. It’s worth changing your lures constantly until you find one that works.

I have to say it’s all part of the fun of fishing a finicky river like the Tweed. You really have to mix it up to

A mate with a nice bream caught where I launch my ’yak. find the bite and keep an open mind. As an example, I might start off with a light 1/40oz jighead teamed with

a Gulp Shrimp in the banana prawn colour. Now that’s an extremely light rig and has to be fished with patience.

I usually count to 10 before working the plastic, but with such a light rig you have to fish it very slow.

Here’s a hint though; watch your line for any telltale bites, as with this lure presentation it slowly sinks down through the water in a very realistic way, so not a recommended technique on heavy line. I use 6lb Utinka multi-coloured braid and a 4lb fluorocarbon leader, so I can pretty much feel anything, while praying a big flathead doesn’t grab it.

Inspired by Carl’s Jocumsen’s recent success in the US Bass Elites, this has spurred me on. Not that I’m into comps, but the inspiration of the guy kind of made me have a little look in the mirror and ask myself, “What are you doing?” as lately I’ve just been going through the motions...

After staying up all night the other week watching Carl kicking butt, something happened in my brain. I was so impressed with what I saw, it really excited me. I couldn’t wait to go fishing, but now with new vigour and excitement. By the way, I’ve caught a heap more fish following Carl’s example of being patient and persistent,

so thanks Carl Jocumsen for the lesson. I used to be inspired by guys like Darren Borg and Tristan Taylor, but Carl Jocumsen has taken it to another level.

But back to the Tweed.

The mouth seems to be the

snapper. One snapper caught recently was on a tailor rig — a three-hook gang with a pilly for bait.

Jacks are still around, though the size seems to have dropped. Again, they’ve been caught around Jack Evans

Who’s got the better camouflage here? spot at the moment, whether fishing from a boat or off the rocks. The flathead have turned up in numbers around the coffee rocks behind the hospital, which is okay if you’re on a boat, but very snaggy from the shore. Shore fishos, head out to the rock walls for some big bream, tailor, GTs and the odd little

Boat Harbour. If you’re keen, this place is worth putting in an overnighter, because what happens in that little place sometimes has to be seen to be believed, as it can turn into a fishing frenzy in the blink of an eye. I’ve mentioned it before that I’ve actually had baitfish landing on my feet after being chased

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by marauding GTs. It doesn’t happen often, but that’s the only place I’ve seen it — twice now.

I’ve also been spending time in the canals surface fishing with a lot of success.

The closer you can get your lure to structure, the better. There’s nothing like a surface strike, though I must annoy the homeowners as I have a tendency to scream when I get a fish on! Oh well, as my Dad said, “That’s just you.”

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Top: Dave with a couple of nice canal bream.

Above: And the duskies continue to come.

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Generous June delivers winter species have arrived on cue making June very exciting.

Bottom fishing on the 50 fathom line will be a lot easier to fish as the current usually slows down during the cooler months. A paternoster rig with two droppers is a great way to catch a feed of quality reef fish, such as pearl perch, snapper and parrot fish. If you want to get your arms stretched, jigging knife jigs and live baiting for amberjack and kingies on the

GOLD COAST

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As the weather cools down on the Gold Coast and the sea temperature drops the fishing will be red hot in June with plenty of options for both estuary and offshore.

OFFSHORE The run of pelagic fish will slowly taper off, but the quality should be excellent. The

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50 fathom line is another great option in June.

The 36 fathom will hold good numbers of snapper in June, and a well presented pilchard or flesh bait set up on a 2-hook gang rig, that doesn’t spin on fall, will maximise your chances of catching fish.

June will kick start the migration of humpback whales up the east coast so be careful when travelling offshore. Along with the humpback whales the Gold Coast will see good numbers of cobia appear on our local reefs. Cobia are an extremely fast growing fish with high-energy requirements, and as a result they will eat just about anything. Berley definitely helps when targeting cobia on our local reefs, with constant cubing of pillies, slimies and yakkas a sure fire way to draw them in. I like to use live legal tailor fished down

Live baiting for mulloway at night is effective in June. birds are a great give away where the tailor are. Safety is of utmost important when fishing from a boat behind the breakers, and I like to have two people on board when doing it. This allows one person to man the motor and the other to concentrate on the fishing.

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leader. Live baits like yellowtail pike, squid, slimies and yakkas work extremely well and are quite easy to gather. For better hook up rates try snelling the right size hook to the live bait you are using.

You can often tell if the luderick are running by the anglers standing shoulder to shoulder with their whippy rods and attentively watching their floats for any indication of a bite. The hot spots will be the Boyds Bay Bridge and behind Twin Towns, and further north The Seaway tower and both the north and south walls of Wavebreak Island will be worth a look. Cabbage, black cane weed and green weed are all perfect baits for luderick and can be collected from the drains at the Crab Farm at Helensvale.

Good numbers of squid

night. Try along the rock walls in the Seaway and for landbased anglers under the lights at the Grand Hotel jetty and Paradise Point jetty are two places worth a look.

June is a great month to chase school size flathead up on the shallow weed beds and the numbers can be good throughout June with up to 30 fish in half a days fishing not uncommon. Catching one over 60cm is, however, uncommon.

I like to fish gentlemen’s hours in June with late starts and fishing around the middle of the day. Trolling hardbody lures and casting soft plastics in no more then 5’ of water where the water is a bit warmer is the way to go. Hardbody lures such as pink Micro Mullets, Jonesy lures and the Rebel Crawdad in red work extremely well. If soft plastics are your thing try

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Trolling lures for flathead is great fun for the kids. deep, and float lining pillies down your berley trail will also do the trick. Last year cobia up to 30kg were caught, so expect long brutal fights this year as well. The 30 fathom line off the Tweed, Focus Reef and the 18 fathom line off Southport are good places to target them.

If the water stays warm and blue it will be worth looking at trolling live slimies, yakkas and tailor on downriggers on the 24 fathom line for a Spanish mackerel or wahoo. With flat seas and offshore winds spinning 40g slugs for tailor behind the breakers is a fun way to get a nice feed. Working

INSHORE The options of fishing inshore for both night and day are endless in June. The Tweed River and The Seaway became fish migration highways with big schools of bream, luderick and mullet moving into both these systems. Mulloway follow these schools and live baiting day and night on the Seaway pipe is a good option in June. I like to anchor about 30m away from the pipe on a run out tide, and use a simple yet effective tackle setup. A 30lb mainline, size 8 running ball sinker to a swivel, then 50cm of 50lb fluorocarbon

Con reaping the rewards float lining for snapper. turn up in the cooler months around the weed beds at the Seaway and Crab Island. When chasing them I like to pick days when the water is clean and there is no wind on the water, and don’t rule out getting a feed of squid when fishing at

using 3” and 4” Berkley Gulp Minnows and Grubs.

Overall June has many fishing opportunities that are guaranteed to keep you busy.

So get other there and enjoy what the southern Gold Coast has to offer.

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JUNE 2015

29

Trevally terrorising bait GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn

Fishing has been up and down the past few weeks due to heavy rainfall and changes in water temperature, although it just makes the fishing more of a competition.

The odd jack is still getting around and the keen fishers are still hitting their successful spots and pulling fish. If you are keen to land a winter jack, use that same tactics as summer, but put a few more casts into that one spot.

Bream are improving in numbers as well with more fish hitting the 1kg mark, which is a great fish! You may find you are getting busted by a few stonker bream, so don’t be afraid to upgrade leader weight to 5, 6 and up to 8lb fluorocarbon. Try light lures and work them slow.

Flathead are another species improving in numbers. There’s a few small fish around but if you fish hard you will get the results. The usual sand flats, drop offs, rock walls and also bridge pylons producing fish.

Will Smedley was kind enough to give us an insight on fishing down south Gold Coast around Tallebudgera.

The fishing has been up and down as well – one week firing and the next quiet.

Trevally are on after the recent rains as they like the clearing up conditions.

Use small plastics that mimic small shrimp as they are pushing into the canals. You may even start noticing the odd school mulloway caught.

Again, like I mentioned last month, there are still plenty of GTs, with a lot of big fish pushing the bait up against the rock and retaining walls. The best times seem to be between 5-7am and 4-6pm.

Now and the next few months is a great time for blade fishing as the water gets cooler. Most bottom dwelling fish won’t mind the look of your blade! I found last winter that darker and also baitfish like colours have produced most fish. One blade I will recommend is TT Lures 1/8oz Switchblade in brown mongrel, which accounted for solid bream, flathead and trevally last year.

Within the next month

There’s plenty of solid trevally getting around.

Topwater is a fun way to go about finding these fish!

Will Smedley with a solid GT caught fishing a rock wall with a Z-Man 2.5” Slim SwimZ in bad mood colour. we will see some very low temperatures and water temperatures drop with the odd shower not too far away. I am very excited for winter, as the big long-nose trevally come out and play, they put up a great fight and can come in big numbers!

With the rain likeliness decreasing, it shouldn’t stir up the canals as much now, which will make for exceptional fishing. Once again, make sure you keep

your leaders light, as the fish may tend to get finicky with what they’re eating around these times.

A few prawns are still getting around Jacobs well and Slipping Sands, it’s just a matter of finding them and making sure you have a good sounder. Once they’re on in that area, they are on, but not as many have been caught lately.

For the bait fishos, the usual techniques are

working. Try the canal mouths where there is some nice flow. Trevally, bream, flathead and painted sweetlip are getting around at the moment. Great baits include prawns, pilchards, white bait and also anchovies.

In conclusion, June is set to be a cold month, although it will offer a range of fishing and plenty of fun. Fish hard and the results will come!

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31

Go the heavy tackle option as waters cool down GOLD COAST

David Green

June sees the start of light westerlies, cool days and clear skies. It is a

month of transition as the offshore East Australian Current slows down and the water temperature cools slightly.

OFFSHORE It can be an excellent

month to fish heavy tackle wide of the Gold Coast and as the southern waters cool a bit there is often a good run of blue marlin with an increased number of striped marlin

A nice snapper caught on a plastic.

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turning up as the current slows down. The best area in recent times has been between Jims Mountain and the Riv grounds.

Trolling 37kg stand-up tackle from a small boat is quite challenging and a lot of the fish in June are solid specimens over 160kg. This year we have improved our results by trolling slightly smaller lures fitted with a single 9/0 Mustad 7691 Z Steel hook.

In closer to shore there is often some good mackerel and wahoo fishing in early June as the fish return north from their southern migration.

A lot of these winter mackerel are big solid females over 20kg in weight. The best method this season has been to slow troll live baits such as slimy mackerel off a downrigger with the bait positioned about 5-10m up from the bottom.

Spinning metal lures has also been effective at times when the fish are thick. Most of the best wahoo fishing in June is at the Tweed Heads Nine Mile Reef. Trolling high-speed jet heads, slow trolling small tuna

and minnow all produce results. Towards the end of the month the wahoo and mackerel generally thin out as the water cools to around 20ºC. Most of the wahoo caught this month are 15-20kg, but in general it has been a very poor season for wahoo.

Snapper fishing should be good on the 24 and 36 fathom lines this month. Micro jigging, soft plastics and Octa jigs have all been very effective in recent times.

The recent big wet in early May should improve the fishing on the inshore reefs in coming months.

Snapper fishing will improve towards the end of the month as the water cools down and the bigger fish start to aggregate prior to spawning. A lot of these fish are very brightly coloured males that are in prime condition and almost glow orange.

Fishing the inshore reefs at night is another good option this month.

Deep live baits on the 18 and 20 fathom reefs should produce some nice mulloway and teraglin, and there should also be a few good snapper in the same area. Live slimy

mackerel, pike and tailor are generally the most effective baits. In general, most of the action takes place as soon as the sun sets over the horizon, and continues until about 8pm. We don’t tend to get many bites in daylight hours in this area.

There may be a good run of cobia this month as these fish always tend to turn up around the same time as the humpback whales. The reefs in 35m of water east of Surfers, 27 fathoms NE of the Seaway and the 4 artificial reefs are all worth a look this month.

Live baits, large soft plastics and tuna strips are all effective. These fish tend to turn up in schools and when they arrive it is not uncommon to have multiple hook-ups at the same time.

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the inshore beaches and entrances and attracts a lot of bigger predators such as mulloway.

Cool days with clear skies are a great time to start chasing flathead.

While the winter fish are generally smaller than those caught in spring, it is not uncommon to catch 20-40 fish per session when the water is clear and clean and the tides are fairly small. At this time of year most of the flathead are in the central Broadwater feeding up hard on white pilchards, hardiheads and black crabs. The fishing on the flats improves greatly as the water cools down and casting small soft plastics, metal blades and soft vibes can produce some great fishing. The by-catch includes some big bream, tailor, squire and pike. I keep all the pike I catch at this time as they make a great snapper bait for fishing the offshore grounds.

They are also surprisingly good to eat.

June is the first month of the year where we start to get serious about chasing mulloway at night. On the change of high tide there is often a good bite around the mouth of Swan Bay near

Jumpinpin, and in The Seaway and the Wave Break Island walls. A live mullet fished either on a sinker rig or free swimming is generally the best bait. When the current is running hard we tend to use a lead to get the bait down, but a free swimming bait fished in the numerous eddies on the top of the tide is generally very effective.

Most of the mulloway caught at night are 100-120cm long. The fish tend to get bigger in July and August.

Bream fishing should be good this month both in The Seaway and around the mud walls of the Jumpinpin entrance.

Big schools of bream will start to form in these areas as the westerlies blow, and bait, blades, deep fished small plastics and small hard-bodies are all effective. Small live herring are great bait for really big bream and this is the month where you have a definite chance of catching a 1kg bream.

Overall, June is a month when the water cools and the summer species thin out a bit.

The weather is generally pretty stable and there can be great fishing off the Gold Coast.

A typical winter flathead from the Broadwater by Erin Kelly.

Benny Job with a winter striped marlin.

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Big bream at the ’Pin and chook gut, mullet and bonito strips are good. And set up a good berley trail to

JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris

get the fish feeding. Night fishing has always proved more fruitful in the last

gembait@tpg.com

Big bream will be the most sought-after species this month. They move into the sheltered waters of Jumpinpin to feed up for their breeding season and you will notice the quality and size of the fish will improve dramatically.

There have been some big bream caught already, and like the crab and prawn season, I expect it to be a bumper, with some excellent fish to be caught. When fishing for these larger specimens, the best way to go is to upsize your tackle. These fish don’t mess around and will usually be found around heavy snags and rocks that they will use to bust you up on. A 2-4kg braid main line should be enough, with a heavier 6-10kg mono leader down to a 1/0-3/0 baitholder hook and a sinker to fit the conditions to make sure you get to the bottom.

Upsize your baits as well, to tempt the larger fish. Large banana prawns, bigger clumps of mullet

Matt with a mulloway caught just on dusk.

There’s still some nice whiting around, as Rhiley demonstrates.

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few hours of the run-in tide, or off the beaches in good gutters where tailor and dart are usually found will hold some big sea bream as well.

Other great spots to try are the deep water off North Straddie, Kalinga Bank, The Stockyards, Short Island, Karragarra, Jacksons, The Power Lines, the northern wall of the Seaway and Tabby Tabby Island. You can also expect to catch a few squire in these spots as well.

Flathead, too, are around in good numbers and you can expect them to be caught right throughout June. I find that lizards can be taken at any time of the tide, but they will bite better as it first starts to run out and the last hour before low. I have been doing really well using large banana prawns, pilchards and whitebait, bouncing them along the bottom as I drift over the mud and sand banks. You cover more territory when you drift and take the bait to the flathead, as they lay in wait to ambush their prey.

Using plastics and soft vibes on the drift or an electric motor to hold you in place is another great way to target them.

Try along the southern entrance to Cobby Passage, the sandy patches of the Pandanus Banks, the mud flats north of Cabbage Tree boat ramp, Kalinga Bank, behind Tabby Tabby and along the Never Fail Islands.

June has many cold, still nights with small tides, which is great for heading out for a mulloway fish.

Livies are clearly the best bait, either mullet, herring or worms, but they will take strip baits of bonito, tailor and mullet. They are a very cunning predator known for being finicky, and play with the bait for

ages before swallowing it. Patience is therefore the key. Best spots to try are the deep water off the bottom of North Straddie, the hole in Cobby Passage, Marks Rocks and the point of Short Island.

Chopper tailor should be about off the beach of South Straddie, across from The Bedrooms and at the top of the island across from the lagoon. We’re hoping for some good-sized greenbacks this year as they head north up the coastline.

The westerlies will help to

taking pillies, bonito and even tailor flesh.

They cover a tremendous amount of area and have been caught as far in as the mouth of the Logan. Try floating pillies around the yellow cross beacon at the top of Crusoe Island on an incoming tide, or trolling metal slugs around the bar as the tailor cruise near the surface looking for an easy meal.

• Thanks for all your reports and keep those fish coming in. If you’d like

Lofty with a nice mulloway that topped 40 old-fashioned pounds. flatten out the surf and aid in a longer cast, which will give you a great shot at the bigger fish. They should be sticking around for a while,

any advice or up to date fishing information drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au.

JUNE 2015

35

Southern Bay gems SOUTHERN BAY

Nabeel Issa

May’s weather was crazy to say the least. Record rainfalls sandwiched between sensational conditions, it was definitely a month that was all over the place. Here’s hoping that June brings us some stable weather and gives us plenty of chances to get out and wet a line.

Tuna are still being caught in good numbers throughout the Southern Bay and are starting to show some consistency. I know of a few anglers that have had multiple successful trips on the longtail tuna in the past few weeks so it’s definitely getting better and hopefully there’s plenty more to come too.

There have also been smaller mac tuna around, these can be quite tricky to catch and I have found going with light line and smaller lures helps get them to bite. I prefer to use quality Japanese PE braid such as Toray Super Strong as it is extremely thin but has plenty of strength in it. These lighter lines will let you cast your lures and baits further towards those schools

without needing to get too close and spooking them.

BREAM The bream fishing has continued on from May and there are plenty about.

The shallows around all the bay islands have been fishing exceptionally well, and throwing small shallow diving cranks and lures like the Cranka Crab around structure in the shallows will put you in with a good shot.

Look for rocky outcrops, reef and weed. These areas will fish best with a little bit of wind on them as the fish are less spooky when there is a bit of a ripple on the surface.

Line up your drifts so that

Keep an eye on your sounder and get your lures to those fish. Big bream can’t resist a Cranka Crab.

T A O B SEE N O W E I V E R 4 0 1 E PAG

36

JUNE 2015

you can cast with the wind and cover more ground, and this will help you locate the schools of fish. Once you work out where they are, be sure to keep your lures in the zone as you can often get quite a few in succession, which makes for some exciting fishing.

MULLOWAY From all reports it seems the mulloway schools have moved off the Peel Artificial Reef, with only the odd fish being caught here and there.

There was a lot of fish being lost to sharks and I wonder if maybe they have just scared them off from that area. No doubt they will be

Craig Ullman with a cracking longtail tuna caught on a surface stickbait. around, so it might pay to spend a bit of time finding some new ground if you are after mulloway.

SNAPPER There have been some good sized snapper being caught in the 50-60cm range throughout May. It seemed that the dirtier water from all that rain didn’t deter them and if anything may have been just what we needed.

I’m not a huge fan of fishing in water that’s too clear, and a little bit of colour in the water has definitely helped things.

Snapper are being caught throughout, with some good catches in both the shallows

around the islands and the deeper reefs at Harries and Peel Artificial. Lightly weighed fresh baits such as squid and prawns are the pick. Fresh is best, even better if you can catch the bait yourself. For the lure throwers, Z-Man Grubz and Streakz have been accounting for some good quality fish. Fishing the early mornings and late afternoons gives yourself the best chance at getting into the snapper.

TUNA If you are keen on chasing tuna (like me) then the best areas of late have been between Peel Island

and Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef and around Goat Island. The tuna will patrol the edges of the channels, pushing the bait up into the shallows so concentrate on these areas. Try to cover as much ground as you can, it can be frustrating but very rewarding when you do find them and hook up!

There are plenty of options for fishing around the bay in June so get out there and get into a few! If you have a picture or a story you would like to share, send it through to me at nabs12@ gmail.com and I’ll do my best to get it in next month’s magazine for you!

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37

In tune with June BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Well I am already sick of the cold weather, but am loving the piscatorial action that has been on offer over the last few months. Some of my favourite species are about during the colder seasons — the prime reason for me to don the winter woollies and head out into the chill of a pre-dawn June morning.

Snapper, tailor, mulloway, squid and a host of others are prime fare at this time of year.

Adjusting your techniques to specifically target these species can pay dividends.

Getting in tune with the target species and the conditions can be accomplished with a bit of research and forward

thinking. The more you learn about them, especially habitat, preferences and behaviour, the greater your success will be. Let’s explore a few of the piscatorial options for the coming month to get you started.

MULLOWAY Mulloway numbers have flourished in southern Queensland in recent years, and are now a regular capture for those anglers who target them in the estuaries and rivers. While some are incidental captures by those chasing other species on baits and lures, specific targeting will greatly increase your chances. They generally prefer larger baits and lures, but can be caught on all manner of offerings. Bait fishers will achieve the best results with live baits such

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as mullet, herring, pike, gar, squid, large prawns, and the like. These are generally fished close to the bottom on a running ball sinker rig so that there is little resistance when they mouth the bait.

The smaller specimens will generally eat baits aggressively, however, the larger, more cautious mulloway will often mouth the bait and move away with it before swallowing it properly.

Therefore, if you fail to give them a bit of slack, or strike when you initially feel their presence, you are likely to just pull the bait from their mouth and miss an opportunity. Let them run a bit before striking and you will increase the chance of coming up tight on a solid, slab-sided ghost of the estuary.

Live baits like these will also attract other species such as cod, threadfin, snapper and flathead in many systems, especially the Brisbane River.

However, less desirable species including sharks, pike eels, catfish and rays are also likely to engulf your baits.

Most of the large mulloway over 15kg in weight are generally taken on live baits, and few are taken on lures, for some reason. However, lure fishing is 1 of the most popular ways of targeting mulloway, especially those sub 10kg specimens.

Good artificial offerings for mulloway can include members of the plastics, hardbody, blade and vibration bait families, although there are a lot of options that can produce. Soft plastics are extremely easy to use, inexpensive and produce results. I prefer paddle tail shads, prawn profiles and curl-tails, although there are a broad array that will work in numerous situations.

Mulloway are generally found around submerged structure such as ledges, gutters, holes and other prominent contours during the day, but can also be found smashing bait on the surface at night, especially around lighted areas. Side imaging sounders have made it almost too easy to locate mulloway and other species in the bay and rivers. From here it is just a matter of finding an offering that will tempt them at that time.

Some switched on anglers have achieved good results using micro jigs in areas such as the Peel Artificial, Harry Atkinson and around the numerous wrecks that litter the bay. Double figures of legal sized mulloway are often caught (and generally released) in a session with the right technique and some savvy angling. Live baiting from the bank of the Brisbane River at locations such as Newstead and Colmslie jetties, under the Gateway,

Aaron with a cracking Brisbane River mulloway taken on a metal jig.

Lytton Road Bridge and numerous other locations along the river’s length is likely to pay dividends.

Boaties can try with livies or lures around the dredge holes adjacent to the retaining wall at the mouth, the Oil Pipeline, Claras Rocks, and in the deeper holes next to the numerous jetties down near the mouth (beware of relevant restrictions though).

The minimum legal size for mulloway in Queensland is 75cm, with a bag limit of 2 in possession.

SNAPPER Lots of anglers will be out and about chasing snapper over the coming weeks and months. These have been in

wrecks and areas of rubble, plus small-submerged reef and coffee rock patches are prime locations to search. In recent years there has been quite a few artificial reef structures put in place and now these can be added to the list of good locations to try.

Anywhere that holds baitfish species is a likely habitat for a quality snapper, including around the bases of the shipping channel beacons.

I commonly fish the Harry Atkinson as it is less than 10km from my home port of Wellington Point and I usually find it productive. However, I only fish here during the week when boat traffic is less.

Like all shallow water

Lauren tempted this squid with a Yamashita Naory 2.2 egi during a night land-based session. excellent numbers at times within Moreton Bay and they have reaped the red rewards with offerings of quality baits and lures. There’s myriad good locations within the bay where anglers can expect to catch a snapper. The historically productive areas such as the Harry Atkinson, the Bay islands (Peel, Green and St Helena), around

areas, boat traffic is the quickest way to shut an area down. Some people want to drive all over an area to see if there are any fish present before they bother to wet a line. A better option is to cut the motor well up current and drift through the zone (or use an electric motor) so you are not spooking every decent fish there. When it is

noisy, the better snapper will move away and not return until things quieten down.

Most decent grounds will hold fish the majority of the time when things are quiet.

Anchoring in a likely area and waiting for a bite will generally be rewarded as the snapper and other species (especially larger specimens) will commonly roam and feed across the grounds, eventually finding your bait. Some expect the hits to start as soon as their bait hits the bottom, as they have been watching too much deep water reef fishing footage and expect the same in these shallower, heavilyfished grounds. Even in good spots within the bay you will probably need to wait at least half an hour after anchoring before you can expect any decent action.

Anchoring well up current from your chosen spot and letting out anchor rope until within reach of the desired ground is a good ploy.

You will not spook fish with the constant rattling of the anchor chain on the bottom as the bow of the boat lifts and drops. Casting baits up current and allowing them to drift down and settle will also increase results. Sometimes a naturally sinking bait will get eaten before it hits the bottom, as a lot of the snapper will be feeding mid-water.

Keep baits lightly weighted and rigged well to avoid them spinning in the current and you will greatly increase your chances. Quality fresh baits are best, but the humble frozen pilchard, squid and mullet fillets will still take some respectable fish.

Artificial offerings including plastics, blades, and vibration baits are commonly used for cast-and-retrieve fishing for snapper. Lately I have been using the Samaki Thumper Tails, which have worked extremely well.

These are a paddle-tail soft vibe and my only complaint is that mackerel also find them irresistible, which generally results in a bite off.

Other lures I commonly use include paddle and curltail plastics, micro jigs, and

blades. The plastics and soft vibration baits are generally cast up-current and worked back with the flow in either a series of hops or an erratic wind with long pauses.

Colours can vary, however, I have lately developed a preference for brighter colours such as pink, lime and chartreuse.

Adding a little scent to your plastics, such as the Pro Cure or S Factor can also ramp up the results, especially when the current is a little slower and the hits a bit hesitant. It will often turn taps into takes and can make all the difference to the result at the end of the day.

Trolling deep diving minnow lures is increasing in popularity for those targeting snapper, and will additionally account for mackerel, cod and numerous other species.

This is generally done around the fringes of the bay islands, across rubble grounds, and around the shallower artificial reefs and reef buoys.

Generally you will need lures that dive down 4-8m, with many anglers using the same lures they generally use for barra, Murray cod or jack fishing. The bag limit on snapper is 4 per person in possession, with only 1 of those fish over 70cm and none under 35.

TAILOR A favourite target for

the beach fishers during the colder periods of the year, tailor are also a serious option for those fishing the estuaries and bay. The Brisbane River in particular can be a great spot to get quality tailor, and I have caught specimens to over 60cm while casting plastics around lighted areas at night. Additionally, many are taken during the day by anglers casting or trolling lures along the rock walls at the mouth, the sunken wall, and along the decline adjacent to the oil pipeline.

They can also be found around the numerous jetties, the pylons of the Gateway Bridge and other structure.

Anglers drifting baits such as pilchards, whitebait and hardiheads in these areas are also in with a great chance.

The eastern-facing beaches of the bay islands are great areas to get a few tailor, and many anglers flock to Stradbroke and Moreton islands to drive the beaches looking for good gutters.

Unfortunately, these areas can be greatly affected by the beach netters, which can take the majority of the fish and make the fishing tough.

If you want an easier access option, then head up to Bribie Island to fish the beach. You don’t even need a 4WD to fish some areas, such as Red Beach.

The simple pilchard

rigged on a gang hook a with a running ball sinker rig will do the job nicely, although many anglers get good results casting stickbaits, sliders and poppers.

The shallows of the bay islands can also hold decent numbers of quality tailor, which can be a lot of fun on light line. Manly Rock

Wall, Woody Point Jetty and Scarborough Jetty are also worth checking out for land-based anglers. The next few months will provide some good opportunities for tailor, with the best fishing yet to come.

SQUID Targeting squid has become extremely popular

Samaki Thumpers have tempted some quality bay snapper over recent months.

in recent years, as anglers realise that the cephalopods are around in good numbers during the cooler months and are extremely tasty when cooked minimally. They are accessible to both land-based anglers and the boaties, with plenty of places to target them.

Generally, squid prefer really clean water that flows over or adjacent to any prominent structure such as weed beds, reef, rocks or rubble. Within the bay, this opens up a broad array of areas where anglers can try. The shallows of the bay islands and the numerous weedbed areas along the western side of Moreton and Stradbroke islands are key areas to try.

Anglers will generally cast and retrieve an egi (a prawn shaped, slowly sinking lure with rows of barbs at the rear) in their quest for calamari. These can be worked with a series of hops and sizeable pauses, or with a slow, constant wind of the reel handle. Once the squid has grabbed your egi, then you just need to slowly wind it in, keeping constant pressure on so the squid can’t expel the jig and escape.

For land-based anglers, there are plenty of good squidding locations, especially after the westerly winds have created clear conditions around the foreshores. Areas around

Wynnum, Manly, Wellington Point, Cleveland, Raby Bay, Victoria Point, Scarborough and Sandgate are just some where squid are regularly caught. Night sessions are often better in these shallow water areas, with the squid being easy to locate with a high-powered head torch.

Both tiger and arrow squid can be caught at any of these locations.

CONCLUSION Mentioned are just a few of the prime species worth targeting during June.

Additionally targets such as sweetlip, flathead, tuna, threadfin, bream, trevally, cod, whiting and numerous others will be about. There will still probably be a few decent quantities of prawns to be taken with the Powerlines at the Logan River often being worth a try.

If you want good results, then it generally pays to learn a little about that species’ habits and likely holding areas, and take some time to specifically target them.

While you can learn a lot by researching via the internet and other media, there is no denying that time spent on the water putting principle into practice will provide the best education. To get in tune with June, rug up, get out on the water, and get amongst a few of the quality species on offer.

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Still smackin’ macks cooler months with less current bags of Venus tuskfish, Moses and look forward to it, but I’m perch, pearl perch, fusilier and the opposite, I prefer the run sweetlip. We bottom bashed in and find on most occasions the depths from around 25m out to This past couple of months snapper feed more aggressively about 50m and cut strip baits has seen fishing east of the when there’s a bit of current accounted for most fish. In south passage bar a little hit and miss.

We’ve had some good sessions on Spanish mackerel up along Moreton Island but they’ve been nowhere near as consistent as this time last year.

On the bottom fishing side of things, snapper have also been inconsistent but I feel that’s understandable considering the water temp has been holding up around the 25oC. The snapper should start schooling up soon on all their regular haunts as the water temp drops a couple of degrees. In our travels on some recent charters, I’ve started to see some good snapper shows The taxman always gets his share!

OFFSHORE

John Gooding

The results of a morning session with dad: Kirsten Gooding with a couple of great Spaniards destined for the barbecue. on the Furuno so it’s looking promising for the season ahead.

We also haven’t had a lot of prolonged current of late, and I know everyone associates the

on through April and early May. We worked the shallow grounds around Point Lookout on a charter recently and consistently got solid mixed

the shallower water your baits will normally got attacked as soon as they hit bottom, so strip baits prove to be a little more resistant to the pickers

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This angler was all smiles after landing this solid yellowtail kingfish. while waiting for the bigger fish to come along. The quality of the Venus tuskfish was very pleasing and we boated several better than 3kg.

One thing that did surprise me was the amount of undersized red emperor we were catching. It’s not rare to catch the odd one, but we were catching 3 or 4 a day with the biggest around 40cm. You never know we might start seeing the odd legal one, more sooner than later!

Fishing the shallow reefs can often take a little persistence because of the amount of rubbish fish you catch but just dropping onto the right bit of ground can quickly see an assortment of colour in the kill tank.

Options east of the south passage bar in June are still the same as May with a few pelagics hanging around and reef fish numbers on the increase.

As long as the water isn’t dirty from run off or prolonged northerlies, there should be a few Spanish mackerel hanging around the bait schools along Shallow Tempest and in on the coffee rock in 12-15m along the front of Morton Island.

Wahoo have been down in numbers this season, but in the past we’ve caught the odd solid specimen through August.

During June the wider reefs from 35s out should see snapper, amberjack, Samson and yellowtail kingfish start to school up. I’m looking forward to the coming months

snapper up to and around 50cm were thick.

• Until next months, enjoy your fishing, take care on the coastal bars, and if you’d like to join me on a charter

Kirsten Gooding with a solid Palm Beach Spaniard caught over the Easter Break. as the fishing east of the bar from June to Christmas last year was red-hot! There were ambos and kings swallowing live baits and good juvenile

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Northern winter wonderland NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

Hello winter. Yes this would have to be the weather that anglers’ dreams are made of. Cool mornings and westerly winds are the exact recipe to make winter fishing in the northern bay an enjoyable experience, giving anglers more time on the water even when afternoon winds prevail.

Westerly winds in our bay also has the tendency to hold constant bait schools close to shores and river mouths giving anglers a good opportunity to get amongst the predators that target these schools. Je=uvenile Snapper numbers have been good for the start of their traditional seasonal bite time with Redcliffe Peninsula and Bribie Island Bridge being the standout spots, especially

tubes rigged on 5/0- 7/0 octopus hooks have been the choice of many over this last month with some bait diehard anglers even jumping on the soft plastic band wagon. For the lure junkies, large 60-70mm shad style jerkbaits have been working well over the bommies of Scarborough, with a twitch-twitch-pause retrieve being the most effective. Lures worth trying are Lucky Craft Pointer 65, OSP Power Dunk 57, Megabass Margay and Atomic Shiner 65.

FLATHEAD Flathead have proved again to be a stalwart species of winter fishing, appearing in many corners of the bay regardless of weather or time of day. With many larger females populating the Pumicestone Passage, good numbers of smaller males have accompanied these breeders allowing anglers to hit there 5 flathead limit in quick time. Curl and

Bald Hills Creek, The Wells and Clontarf foreshore have also been kind to the locals, especially on the receding tides when bait travel is at its premium.

BREAM Nice bream have also populated our waterways with recent rains doing everything but ruin the party. A day of rain proves to fire bream activity in the northern outskirts with bait and prawns being pushed out into deeper, flowing waters as bream prepare for their annual spawn over these winter months.

The Caloundra end of the Pumicestone Passage is a noted bream spawning area with reports already coming in of good-sized legal bream being caught at night and early mornings.

For the lure throwers, your usual bream lures like Jackall Chubbies, Atomic Crank 38s, Ecogear CX40HS and Strike Pro Cyber Cranks working well along mangrove edges

weighted soft plastics and baits during these prime bite periods can be a successful way to turn looking fish into biting ones.

During these cooler months another species to hit our shores is the humble squid. Numbers have been slow of late but will rise as we get clearer days, along with clearer water filtering through the Peninsula.

Rocky points and rubble flats are the common areas to pick up squid. It’s not uncommon to find them in schools, with 5-6 squid in a school a typical find.

MONTHLY TIP Wa yw a rd s quid ink spray is a common occurrence when landing cephalopods, especially when fishing for them in a boat. If you manage to get some on your beloved boat’s carpet, be sure to douse it immediately with water (fresh or salt) to remove it before it dries.

Removing dried ink after your fishing session will be like pushing cooked spaghetti up a hill. In short, it’s impossible.

Jesse Gough with a late season mangrove jack.

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Aaron Sharp with a healthy Moreton Bay snapper. during the blustery days.

Anglers agree the low light hours are the most favourable when chasing juvenile snapper in our northern waters with baits and soft plastics paving the way to good success.

Our annual prawn run that occurs in our rivers over the months of April and May each year often marks the start of increased juvenile snapper activity in many of the areas from Bribie through to the Brisbane River.

Mullet strips and squid

paddle-tailed plastics like Z-Man Curly Tail StreakZ, Keitech Easy Shiners and Shads Lures Finesse Grubs have worked well when fished along drop offs and rock ledges in flowing current.

Toorbul foreshore, Donnybrook flats, Mission Point and the mouth of Elimbah Creek have been the pick of the spots in the Pumicestone, with the sandy flats of Sylvan Beach also holding small groups of lizards. The mouth of the Pine River,

(upper reaches of the Pine River, Elimbah Creek and Hussey Creek), and weedy rubble flats (mouth of Ningi and Donnybrook).

Redcliffe Peninsula has been a little hit and miss on the bream front; days with less water-traffic producing better numbers for obvious reasons. This to is due to bream being more skittish around their spawn times, so early mornings and late afternoons are the prime times to nab some more aggressive feeders.

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Fishing Fill-its

New Sea-Rod Design launch Brisbane-based aluminium plate boat manufacturer Formosa Marine is proud to announce the launch of its 2016 model range of Sea-Rod Plate boats at the Melbourne Boat Show in June this year. To be displayed at the Geelong Boating Centre will be a 520 and 550 Deluxe Runabout, featuring the new innovative ‘Step Transom’ with ‘Fold-Away Lounge Seat’.

The Sea-Rod brand is made up of 2 model ranges,

the Deluxe and Offshore range. The Deluxe with plate boat construction, offers build quality with competitive pricing. The Offshore range, with high tensile construction, features a self draining aluminium deck to provide peace of mind – whatever the conditions.

MAJOR CHANGES The following major changes only apply to our 520, 550, 580, 620 and 660 models.

Step Transom No need to straddle the transom. The step transom, with an in built middle step, makes accessing the boat from either side hassle free.

Accompanied with a recessed transom top deck (that still provides 500mm freeboard in 550 model), and ‘Fold-Away lounge Seat’, access in and out of the boat from either side of the transom becomes a breeze.

Fold-Away Lounge Seat Just like that favourite Sofa Bed most of us have in

our spare room for unexpected guests the Sea-Rod ‘FoldAway Lounge Seat’ is designed to be more than a backrest.

Able to set in 3 positions it has the following functions; In the upright position it is a backrest for the lounge and a thigh guard for the rear transom.

Folded away it makes access over the transom easier by utilising the ‘Step Transom’. No need for separate transom door.

On a nice leisurely day it can be laid down flat on the

Extra Large Transom Storage Shelf Due to the design of the ‘Step Transom’, the underside has expanded this whole area to extra transom storage – close to doubling existing

transom and be a lounging bed or provide great rear facing seating. With extra rod holders in the transom wings, you can utilize and access all of your boat.

Note: There is an option to order the backrest as a fixed sealed unit to suit customer preference.

space. We don’t believe any other boat on the market of similar size can offer anywhere close to the amount of storage a Sea-Rod can. There is now enough room to not only fit double batteries, but also oars, spear guns and even small rods.

Full Length Pod with 4 Ballast Tubes Not only are Sea-Rods renowned for the only 4-chamber counter balance ballast in the industry; we have now adapted the new range to have a full enclosed pod. Unlike centre lined ballast boats, the off-keel water ballasts not only lowers the hull line in the water but further minimises hull roll (caused by sea swell or uneven passenger distribution) by the chambers on the opposite side working as a counter weight to this movement.

Models in our 430 to 480 size including our Barra Boat range will be available as a branded Sea-Rod but will not have a ballast system or step transom. These models will be the same design as our existing Formosa Classic and Formosa Barra range.

For any questions please contact Duncan at Formosa Marine (07) 3393 9825 or admin@formosamarineboats. com.au - Formosa Marine

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Time to focus on snapper NOOSA

Peter Wells

The offshore scene has been fantastic over last few months with great numbers of pelagics, but as we move into the cooler months the pelagics tend to move north following the warmer currents. This is when we tend to focus our efforts on reef species.

Snapper, sweetlip, tuskies, pearl perch and

cobia are all species we will target in the cooler months.

In close, Sunshine Reef is one of the favourites for smaller craft, fishing close to the reef is the key and getting baits right down will really improve your catch rate. Whether using soft plastics, baits or even micro jigs, if the bait is not on or close to the bottom you’re not in the game.

Berley is also key; once you have found some good ground, a frozen berley

bomb sent to the bottom will also help the cause.

Deeper water will quite often result in larger fish, so reefs like Chardons, North Reef, Barwon Banks and Double Island will all produce larger snapper and pearl perch. Micro jigs like the Shimano Colt Snipers and the Maria Shore trickers have been a real hit, with a great range of sizes and holographic patterns these have been a real winner with anglers.

Father and son team Nick and Sonny Cornford won the $50 Davo’s Fish of the Week prize with their coral trout from Sunshine Reef.

Another way to bag hungry reef fish are large soft plastic fished hard to the reef. A few tips when using soft plastics: use the lightest jighead to get you to the bottom, make sure the tail is rigged straight, use braided fishing line and keep in contact with the lure. Bait is also a mainstay for a lot of anglers, floater rigs with large pillies and yakkas work well, while good local squid and flesh baits are perfect for the bottom bouncers. So, as the water temp drops we look forward to some very tasty

Chicko Vella from Davo’s and friends, Sonnie and Beck, are pictured with a few of the quality Spaniards they boated at North Reef.

fish are taking a wide variety of baits and lures with anglers having a lot of success with slugs; Halco Twistys have to be at the top of the list with most anglers having at least one in their tackle box. A big cast and medium to fast retrieve see these slugs looking like a fleeing baitfish, which is chocolate to a predatory fish. Soft plastics can be worked in a similar fashion, with paddle-tail plastics working best.

Upriver things will also be firing with nice sized flathead on the run-out tide.

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Six-year-old Hugo Mori with a thumper 34cm whiting, which he caught on a live worm off the beach on Gympie Terrace.

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reef fish on the menu.

In the rivers things have been equally good.

The action along the rock wall at the river mouths has been great, with school mulloway, trevally and tailor all feeding on bait schools as they make their way into the rivers. The Noosa River mouth has to be one of the best river mouth spots to fish, with the deeper section near the rock wall very productive as these predators feed on bait on the incoming tide.

There have been winter mornings in the past where you see every rod bent over as large schools of tailor and trevally move in. These

There are some sensational paddle vibes on the market at the moment and the Fish Candy from River2sea are perfect for the job, with three sizes and a massive range of colours you can’t go wrong. Try the brighter colours, like the reds and pinks, in the dirty water with the more natural colours in the clearer water. Work them across the bottom as flathead are an ambush predator that half bury themselves in the sand in order to disguise their presence. As the soft plastic is pulled past their nose they can’t help but have a crack.

School mulloway are also another inhabitant of the same area and will quiet often be a by-catch when you are fishing for flatties.

TAILOR On the beach it’s all about the tailor, with the start of the migration to the north of the Sunshine Coast coastline has a couple of real hotspots. To the south, the area around Pincushion Island on the Maroochy North Shore can really fire, a little further up the entrance to Stummers Creek just north of Coolum is also a great spot to try.

The Noosa North Shore is possibly one of the best spots with its proximity to Frazer Island, with the area north of Teewah a real To page 45

The de Boer family popped into Davo’s with this quality mud crab, just one of a number of good bucks that they’ve caught over the last week or so.

Cool weather, but the fish are on RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

Another great run of weather has let us get offshore quite a few times, and the fishing has been above average every trip.

OFFSHORE We’ve had a really good run of spotted and Spanish mackerel and on a few trips they went absolutely ballistic, smashing baits and lures, which saw the whole boat bagging out very quickly in the morning. The reef fishing has also been excellent, with big catches of parrot, hussar, snapper and Moses perch. We have also landed some nice pearl perch, quality reds and spangled emperor. When you can round up some yakkas, they are working a treat on all the big fish.

GREAT SANDY STRAITS The Straits has also been fishing well, with some good catches of flathead and

There have been plenty of spotted and Spanish mackerel around and these are a lot of fun on the end of your line.

Local angler Joel with a cracking Rainbow Beach red emperor.

whiting, mostly around the Kauri Creek area and the bottom end of Fraser Island.

Mud crabs are potting really well around the full moon, but possibly the easiest target in the Straits of late have been squid. They have been in abundance from Carlo Point and down into Tin Can Bay. Pink and orange prawn jigs are working the best.

June in years past has probably been my favourite

pearl perch month. Usually you don’t need to travel too far to get a feed of these delicious table fish. I have also had good success on snapper, trout and red emperor in June. Bring on the cooler weather!

• To enjoy a day on the water with Keely Rose Fishing Charters phone Ed Falconer 0407 146 151 or visit www. keelyrosefishingcharters .com.au.

Big and better on the reefs HERVEY BAY

Scott Bradley marlin81@bigpond.com

Winter is upon us and with a good run of 3-4kg snapper and 30-35cm bream leading into the cold, let’s hope it continues with the bigger spawning fish we all look for this time of year.

ON THE REEFS Our local reefs are abundant with bait varying from herring and yakkas to squid, baby cuttlefish and prawns. Put a light near the water at night at most spots and you will soon have a cloud of bait around the boat which makes catching livies a piece of cake. Some places the bait is so thick From page 44

hotspot. Look for those deep gutters with the best fish caught on the incoming tide early morning or late evening. Baits like large pillies, fresh mullet strips and locally caught squid should see good results.

Remember the more baits in the water the better; this will help to keep the school around. If you are fishing by yourself, berley will also help to keep the school from moving off too quickly.

If the water gets really black with fish, switch to slugs as it can turn into a feeding frenzy and they will bite on anything. Don’t forget your bag and size limits, you are allowed to keep 20 fish with nothing smaller than 35cm.

you have to move away to give fish a chance to find your bait.

With all that bait around there are plenty of bigger fish close by. Live baiting and fishing fresh cut baits are the way to go for cod, snapper, coral bream, spanglies and trout.

Out wider, the 25 fathom and the southern gutters are producing plenty of snapper, cod, hussar, parrot, coralies and red emperor on a mixture of bait and plastics.

Live baiting out the gutters has been a waste of time at some spots with sharks cleaning them up before a decent fish gets a look in.

When this happens I switch to dead baits like whole squid, mullet, pike heads and such, which seems to keep the

Noah’s away long enough to get a decent bite, landing the fish is another story!

ON THE FLATS It’s go time for chasing big bream on artificials, I’ve caught plenty of fish around 30cm lately but nothing nudging the 40cm mark yet.

Plastics, poppers, blades and hardbodies are all worth trying depending on the country you are fishing.

Flathead are a common by-catch that are also feeding in order to spawn and I usually catch a few grunter and cod around the rocky country in the colder months.

KIDS LOVE FISHING Now that it’s cooled down, it’s a good time to get the kids out fishing for the day. Our eldest son Liam had been out in the boat many times but it was his little brother Max’s (22 months) first trip and he loved it. The wind was up a bit so we tucked in close and trolled a patch of reef with a few barra lures and had only travelled 100m when we came up tight on a good fish.

Liam (nearly 5 years old) landed a cod that went 63cm with a bit of help from dad.

We got a few smaller cod on the troll and a heap of smaller

Liam Bradley with a nice cod caught trolling Shallow Reef. fish using bait. With a meal of fresh fish and a few photos to take home, the boys haven’t shut up about their big fishing

adventure. I grew up going fishing and I can’t think of a better way to raise my own children.

BREAM Another great fish that anglers target at this time of the year is winter bream. The rocky headlands are a great spot to plan your attack with the area around Yaroomba and the Noosa National Park great places to fish. Remember the golden rock fishing rules – never take your eyes off the sea and always fish with a friend!

So whether you’re fishing offshore, in the river or off the beach, winter is a great time to plan a fishing escape.

• For all the latest information log onto www.fishingnoosa. com.au for up to date bar and fishing reports and don’t forget to drop into Davo’s Tackle World Noosa or Davo’s Bait & Tackle North Shore at Marcoola to find out what’s biting and where.

JUNE 2015

45

Fraser’s Gallipoli connection FRASER COAST

Phil James p_j_james@bigpond.com

The regular beach species of dart, whiting, bream and tarwhine have continued to dominate the scene on Fraser’s eastern coast over the last couple of months.

Dart have been particularly active over the bigger tides and the quality has been outstanding.

Last month I looked at the southernmost section of the island’s eastern coast.

Continuing our journey as far north as Dilli Village, we see a gradual transition in the beach from 1 partly dominated by the Wide Bay Bar, to a typical ocean beach.

At times, the beach here might be flat and uninteresting, but it can quickly change into 1 dominated by almost continual gutters and spits. The problem can be that there might be too

a few fish at each stop. These gutters, particularly towards their openings, are usually loaded with big dart. Next month we will travel further north to the village and resort of Eurong.

Everyone who has travelled Fraser’s ocean beach would be familiar with the wreck of Maheno, lying partly buried in the beach north of Happy Valley and Eli Creek. Built in Scotland in 1905, she

1935, while being towed to Japan in cyclonic conditions, she broke free and became beached on Fraser Island’s eastern coast. Despite many attempts to refloat her, that is where she has remained.

During World War I, as a New Zealand hospital ship she was called upon to serve and was at Gallipoli a number of times during the conflict. Sadly, many of our brave wounded soldiers died on Maheno. On Anzac

A large crowd turned out for the Maheno service.

There have been some catches of sand whiting, but they are still not up to expectations. Over the coffee rocks south of Yidney, there have been plenty of tarwhine and a few bream and reef species. When a deep gutter temporarily opened up inside the Pebbles at Indian Head, anglers enjoyed some good sport for the same species.

many great looking features to choose from, or perhaps not enough fish to go around.

I like to head down into this section on a falling tide to fish the shallow blind gutters on the last couple of hours of the ebb, and then the early flood. With just a few good whiting in each gutter, it is a good idea to do a ‘gutter hop’ along the beach, scoring just

spent most of her years in merchant and passenger shipping, including transTasman crossings following World War I. On July 9th,

Day, a very special 100 year anniversary service took place at the wreck site, with special remembrance of the role of the ship and the lives

A replica of the Maheno bell stands alongside the original bell, being rung by a student from the New Zealand town of Maheno, at the start of the ANZAC service. with anglers. It was said there was no better spot than the decks for targeting mulloway in the holes that washed out around the wreck. Of course, the usual beach species were also taken in abundance. Today, depending on tidal and weather conditions, holes sometimes develop around the stern of the wreck and these can be fished from the beach for a surprising collection of beach and reef species.

The long anticipated tailor season is perhaps just weeks away. Already we have seen a lot of activity well beyond the breakers, with surface chopping and lots of feeding gulls. We have seen the season start as early as June, so it shouldn’t be too long before tailor follow the baitfish into inshore gutters. Last year’s

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lost on board. Hundreds of mostly barefoot locals and visitors joined a group of New Zealand school children from the town of Maheno on the beach for the service.

Since 1935, the ship has been slowly rusting away.

These days she is Fraser Island’s most photographed landmark, visited by tourists, including young backpackers, from all over the world. I am sure that there will continue to be a few thoughts spared for this grand old lady of the sea who is very much part of our history.

Fishing from the decks of Maheno is no longer permitted, for very good safety reasons. In earlier years she was very popular

tailor season was somewhat disappointing, but there have been plenty of such in the past.

Within Hervey Bay, there have been plenty of longtail tuna about and they don’t seem to be as fussy about what they eat, as they can be.

I would have expected to see them winding down for the season, but my latest advice is that there are still plenty about in the inner parts of the bay and around the Six Mile off Arch Cliffs. Golden trevally have been plentiful on the deeper reefs, but tailing fish over the flats have been harder to locate. Until quite recently, sharks have been particularly troublesome, making it almost impossible to bring a decent fish to boat.

As expected, the shallow reefs have slowed down for many species. However, some good blackall have been taken on dusk and during the night at the Graves and further south towards the Gas Shed on the eastern side of Woody Island.

It has also been good to see plenty of pan-size but legal snapper coming in from the shallows during the last year. It has been a disappointing start to the usual run of snapper on the Rufus Artificial Reef, and the story isn’t much better on the scattered reefs around Rooney Point.

The annual diver whiting season is now underway in and around Hervey Bay. Not too many years ago we’d expect to see them as early as March.

Perhaps due to rising water temperatures, the kick-off date is getting a little later each year. Latest reports from their devotees is that they are becoming established in most of their favourite haunts. There are areas in the bay that they seem to occupy each season, yet there are other grounds in which they become prolific in 1 year and totally absent for several years to come.

Some of the reliable areas are off Point Vernon, Gatakers Bay and Dundowran. North of Dayman Spit around the beacons and the Chicken Pens regularly fish well in usually deeper water. South of the harbour, the flats and channels between Round Island and the Picnics are also popular with whiting anglers.

June usually marks the start of the bream season, as these fish start to congregate for their annual spawning.

They like areas that have strong tidal flow over rock bars and banks, and in which there are good food supplies.

Some of the top bream spots are Beaver Rock and South Head in the Mary River, the rocky points at the ends of the Picnics, Woody Island and Little Woody Island, Round Island, Urangan Pier, and the foreshores at Point Vernon. It should be noted that there are green zones that include parts of the Picnics and Little Woody. Urangan’s boat harbour should not be overlooked, as both southern and northern walls as well as the pylons of the marinas hold plenty of good fish during the winter months.

Winter pelagics move in BUNDABERG

Jason Medcalf topwater@bigpond.com

Cold westerlies are the usual in June around Bundaberg and if you’re

like me, you won’t like them one bit.

On the other hand, if you like chasing mackerel, tuna and bream, yes then June is a great time. Currently the Burnett River has been producing some great

Trolling lures is a great method for mackerel in June. Remember, don’t troll through them and head in the direction the fish are feeding.

fishing with bream and small mulloway being very dominant in catches on fresh bait like mullet and live yabbies. The fishing in the Burnett should remain pretty consistent over this month as winter gets a good hold of SEQ. Winter really opens up a few options with the prevailing winds being from the west. This means small boats get the chance to sneak out the front and spend time chasing pelagics.

There are mackerel and tuna out the front and this should continue throughout June, so grab some metal slices and look out for the birds diving.

I recently headed out the front chasing the schools of working fish and noticed a few boats trying to troll lures through the schools of diving birds and active fish. Unfortunately, all this usually achieves is the baitfish spread out and the feeding fish sound, then they won’t take a trolled lure.

There is a better way of approaching a school of feeding fish while trolling.

Firstly, you should be trolling as fast as your lures let you and head in the direction the school is feeding, which most of the time is into the breeze.

A recent trip out front of the Burnett produced plenty of mackerel on Halco Twisty slices.

Troll your lures into the path you the think the fish are moving, if you’re not getting any hits try going faster or try a different colour lure.

If you’re keen to put a bit of energy into chasing these fast cruising fish, casting metal slices to the front of these feeding fish letting them sink for a few seconds then wind like mad so your slice looks like a fleeing baitfish is a good way to go.

The estuaries in our

area over the next couple of months will cool down and our target species will change and the humble winter whiting will certainly be a major target. They just love a fresh prawn and live yabby drifted over shallow sand flats on lightly weighted rigs. You will get a few extra species including bream, flathead and grunter while you’re drifting fresh baits.

If you’re like me and want to hang onto summer

for a bit longer you might want to do some travelling north. I did last month and headed to Weipa on the western side of Cape York FNQ. We had ball fishing in 28°C days and catching barramundi, mangrove jack and much more. The road up the Cape is very well maintained over the dry season and isn’t the massive journey it once was. Keep an eye out I will be writing about our great trip!

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www.recreationalfishingconference.com.au JUNE 2015

47

Barra on the prowl LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

As predicted, June has produced the best fishing results this season so far!

Barra from 40cm to over that magic metre length have been caught, with multiple hookups per session. In saying this,

there have only been a handful of spots that have been producing fish over the previous months.

WHERE TO FIND THEM? Points and bays from White Rock to Heart Bay off the Kolan River system is where the concentration of feeding barra have been (mid-section of the lake).

Call Jamie today to book your next trip Ph: 0407 434 446

With only a few hotspots on the go, it can sometimes be difficult to access these areas, Backs as quite often there could ofbebays several other boats there already. If this is the case and you wish to approach, make sure you do so in a courteous manner.

Cut Lilly the outboard off well pads before Weedslowly move in approaching; on youredges electric, making as little noise as possible.

WINTER BARRA With winter on our doorstep, the barra fishing will slow dramatically.

Finding them is the easy part. These fish will school up in big numbers, often heading to the backs of warm bays to sit out the cold. Once they are found, it can be difficult to get them to bite, but not impossible.

At this time of year, finesse is everything; complete and utter stealth is required as

Backs of bays

Lilly pads

Weed edges

Schooled barra in warm water Schooled barra in warm water Electric motor, tie up or anchor casting distance from weed edge and lilly pads

they will spook easily; and weed edges and landing lighter line — 15-20lb braid weedless lures on lily pads and 20-40lb leader — will will decrease your chance improve your chances of of startling these schooled getting these barra to bite. fish. Surface poppers, LURE PRESENTATION shallow diving hardbody AccurateLand casting minnows (floaters) and Z-Man to surface frogs on lillypads

Land Z-Man surface frogs on lillypads Land shallow (floaters) diving hardbobies, poppers, and walk the dog. Just in front of weed edge

Land shallow (floaters) diving hardbobies, poppers, and walk the dog. Just in front of weed edge

Schooled barra Schooled barra

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Electric motor, tie up or anchor casting distance from weed edge and lilly pads

lightly weighted soft plastic frogs are the go-to lures, as these fish will be sitting very high in the water column.

RETRIEVE A general rule of thumb to follow when the fishing is tough is to slow your retrieve down. Slow rolling and very subtle twitching will offer up best results.

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FISHING FILL-ITS

Bundaberg crab bust: Fisher fined $13,300 A Bundaberg fisher has been fined $13,300 for a number of crabbing offences including too many pots.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) district manager Greg Bowness said the fine handed down by the Bundaberg Magistrates Court last week was for possessing female

and undersized mud crabs and using excess crab pots.

“QBFP approached the crabber at a boat ramp in the Gregory River near Woodgate after seeing a quantity of crab pots stacked near his vessel,” said Mr Bowness.

“The crabber had a total of 9 pots in his possession and on closer inspection, they were

and should not be moved or taken back to the ramp for sorting.

“In determining the fine, the Magistrate issued a penalty of $150 per undersize crab, $250 per female crab and $250 for each excess pot,” he said.

“The fine demonstrates the seriousness of the

everyone abides by the rules to assist longterm sustainability and resource sharing.”

If anyone suspects illegal fishing, please report it to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116 so that it can be investigated.

For more information on Queensland fishing

found to contain 40 female mud crabs and 7 undersized mud crabs.”

“Officers seized the excess crab pots and the returned the crabs to the water alive.”

Mr Bowness said regulated product must be immediately sorted and released at the point of capture

offences, which pose a threat to the local mud crab breeding population.”

Mr Bowness said fishing rules for gear and possession limits were in place for both commercial and recreational fishers to protect our fisheries resources.

“It’s important that

rules, visit www.fisheries. qld.gov.au, call 13 25 23 or download the free ‘Qld Fishing’ app from Apple and Google app stores.

Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ FisheriesQld). – Fisheries Queensland

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JUNE 2015

Bream in the cool GLADSTONE

Craige Floyd

Winter has arrived, temperatures have started to cool down, mornings are the low teens while the afternoons have been in the upper 20ºC. Gladstone received 57.4mm of rain, which has allowed the upper reaches of the major rivers to settle and stabilise, allowing water clarity to return to normal.

This was paramount on a recent session with fellow Hobie Angler, Mitch Evans, up at ‘spot X’ in the Calliope River. We fished with soft plastics and casted into and under the overhanging growths and logs, extracting one mangrove jack and five nice sized bream all over 35cm. Compare this with the first quarter of the year with the amount of rain that we received, it proved difficult to tempt a fish to take a plastic because of the clarity.

In the rivers, there have been plenty of grunter and blue salmon caught at Toolooa Bends on live prawns. Plenty of fishos have been hitting the Boyne up from the Highway Bridge chasing the barra,

with live mullet being a standout method. However, with the cooler weather and the pro-fishers netting that area it will prove much more difficult to hook up to a barra.

Pancake has seen some nice flathead hit the brag mats, with the biggest one being 85cm. Grahams Creek has been producing a nice feed of muddies.

Out at the reefs a variety of species have been caught, consisting of tuskies, grassies, red throat, spangled emperor and the odd snapper starting to show up. If bottom bashing is your thing, and you like your pelagic fishing, then throw some lures out the back and go for a troll. Tuna and Spanish mackerel are about, with a standout Spanish weighing in at 37kg.

THE BOYNE TANNUM HOOK UP The Boyne Tannum Hook Up fishing comp is on again the during the Queens Birthday Long weekend, and with the size of fish that are being reported and flashed about on social media it should make for another great event. Plus you don’t even need to catch a fish to win the major boat prizes.

SEA HILL POINT Speaking of fishing comps, once again it was that time of year where a group of mates and I headed off on the bi-annual fishing trip called the Prawnstar Classic, which consisted of 7 boats putting in at Ramsays Crossing and heading up the narrows to Sea Hill Point to set up camp.

Once camp was set up we all set off in our separate directions to explore the many creeks up in the northern reaches of the narrows. Conditions were tough, the water was a mud soup the currents were ripping through, the wind was up and live bait was hard to find, which resulted in casting artificals with not much result.

Day one did not produce too much, day two was more eventful with a bit better conditions. It seemed that everyone had the same idea – to find the livies and soak’em til something swallowed it.

Team Top Ender consisting of Ben McGarry and Matty Pryke took out top honours with a 113cm barra, caught on a 30cm live mullet, which had been soaking for four hours and casted numerously at snags.

Matty Pryke took out top honours at the ‘Prawnstar Classic’ with an 113cm barra.

Fishing a charter out of Southport on Anzac weekend, the boys caught 3 Spanish mackerel, all over the metre mark, weighing between 9-12kg, and an impressive mac tuna.

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Estuaries to pick up YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

The estuary fishing has picked up a bit lately after a slow end to the previous month. The winter fish, from bream, whiting, trevally and salmon to flathead, are all in form.

In all the estuaries at the moment are stacks of steelbacks (or flat salmon

depending on where you come from). Steelies are a smaller fish that will attack lures or live baits with gusto.

I like to pick up a couple for something different on the BBQ when we have guests but most of all I use the midsized fish for troll baits.

They can be a little hard to get swimming properly if you haven’t done it before, so use a troll head or wog to make it easier. Another tip is to run your hooks through

the side of the fish either right down the bottom along the belly or right across the top under the dorsal fins, this ensures a good hook up rate when a mackerel hits it.

Blue salmon have schooled in pretty big numbers at the mouths of Coorooman Creek, Rosslyn Bay Harbour entrance, Ross Creek, Barwells Creek and Corio Bay. They travel up the beaches usually flogging the schools of greenbacks or Fabian Sutton with a fine estuary trevally.

Jill Casey with her new PB red weighing in over 13kg caught out wide.

Yorky herrings. Once inside the estuaries they cover the yabby beds like a swarm. Out on the beaches or in the surf gutters up towards Corio, we use pillies on gang hooks working the frothy edges where the white water drops into the deeper channels.

In the creeks and yabby beds it is best to use live prawns or yabbies. Both of these livies should be hooked through the joint of the second segment from the tail. This allows the baits to stay alive for as long as you need them to and still have free movement to attract the predators. Chrome slugs or flashas are a very good

to lures and the results are pretty well even.

In The Fitzroy the king threadies have continued in very good form. Through the delta area and up into Casuarina has been exceptional. Some of the catches this year have ranked with all time bests. The good thing is that the majority of those guys chasing them are catch and release exponents.

Eddies behind structures, sand bars or beached wrecks can be just the right spot.

Threadies have been in huge schools hitting spots all over the delta. The guys who have them wired are using plastic vibes the majority of

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JUNE 2015

Te Peehi Waretini with a fine small mouth nanny from Wade Joseph Smith. option, especially when they are smashing the herring schools at spots the mouth of the harbour or Ross Creek.

Plastics are probably the best all round lure these days and salmon will take any of the natural looking prawn style and vibes.

This time of year the bigger salmon patrol the harbour with the tides. They usually circle the wharf area from the fuel wharf and down among The Keppel cats. In recent times we have tried all methods from pillies

the time. Tides do make a difference and the leading edge of a tide still holds as the best time for me to target them at Coorooman and Corio. The guys with the knowledge in the river will work different areas over the tides. Keep an eye on your sounder because they will be in very visible numbers on the screen. Live prawns, yabbies, crabs and poddy mullet are all very good baits for those not keen on lures.

The period leading into winter this year has been

up there with the amount of grunter caught in the estuaries.

Approaching either the full or new moon they really have come on the chew. Quite a number of pretty decent sized fish to about 700mm or more. The Fitzroy River, Coorooman Creek and Corio Bay are the better spots for big grunter.

Grunter are very lazy and will sit behind structures or in holes to avoid the strong current flows. Prawns, squid, yabbies and pilchards are all good baits. I have tried all sorts of lures over the years with limited success.

However since vibes became the new fashion accessory my catches have improved.

The small blade vibes in chrome or gold have been slaying grunter in the estuaries, especially as the run just starts to slow.

As I have mentioned in the last couple of months the cooler part of the year is black jew time.

All the local jew holes are working well including The Rama, The Pinnacles, Cape Manifold, Ironpot, Corio Heads, Double Heads, Findlay’s and Quartz Rock.

You could check out any of the spots where you would catch mackerel during the day. Squid, pillies, fresh slabs of mullet or their favourite doggy mackerel are my choice of baits. Make sure you have decent gear and sharp hooks. I used to think that the rigs you use made a difference but after fishing with different people using all types of rigs it is more important to use fresh or fresh frozen baits.

When the temperatures start to drop the local squid quantity rises. Squid are in abundance right around the local islands and just about everyone can catch them. These days all the better spots are very well known and attract plenty of attention. We have started looking for areas less worked in an attempt to find other populations. Over a period of travelling throughout The Keppels I have been marking likely looking spots to try when I get the chance. Squid To page 51

Good weather, great fishing!

ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

Predominately sunny weather and fairly calm conditions in the Rockhampton area has made for great fishing over the past month, especially after the few cold snaps and this trend should continue for the months to come.

THE RIVER The river had been going well but mainly smaller barra are being pulled in the Rockhampton area with a few people having luck off the rocks between the two bridges on low, along with all the pontoons along the river. The larger of the barra and king threadfin have been caught more towards the mouth in places such as Thompsons Point, the Narrows and the Port.

Many fishos are persisting with lures to target the species and sometimes it pays to ‘match the hatch’, when the salmon are feeding on smaller food sources such as small prawns and crabs, lures of that style and size need to be used.

There are many lures on the market now of all shapes and sizes to cover almost every scenario.

CREEKS AND ESTUARIES All the creeks and estuaries

This pikey bream was taken in a gutter on the flats fishing with a small soft plastic slowly hopped along the bottom.

Saltwater areas are firing up with many catches of grunter, trevally, bream, flathead and even some nice school jew.

The Fitzroy River has not been fishing well for many with only decent crabs being taken. Clued in fishos who are working hard are landing very healthy king threadfin salmon and barra.

The islands have been teeming with fish from the colder weather bringing with it fairly calm days and clearer water, many of the reports have been of mackerel and tuna being caught around the Keppel group From page 50

prefer country with lots of contrast in texture and shades. Anywhere there are weed patches joining rock patches, joining sandy patches providing plenty of cover is a place to give it a shot.

Some people drift over an area trailing their squid jigs. Others anchor off the spot then cast past the area pulling the jig slowly through the zone. Some guys even troll very slowly over long reef edges until they get a hit. They stop the boat and work this area until they stop catching. All these methods do the trick and as you start catching

around the region will soon see a boom from the cold waters, and bream will start stocking up for spawning, flathead will be more present, whiting will be up on the flats more and the palegics will be further into the estuaries.

Blue and king threadfin salmon will be abundant and can prove to be great fun on light gear. When the colder weather kicks in we try to fish more on the open flats and the deeper drops next to the flats rather than hard up against the snag. Looking for the pressure points on the flats and drops will see fish falling easily to your lures, for example three ‘streams’ of water coming off the flats making on ‘channel’ and at the front of that is a great pressure point for many winter target species.

CRABBING Although the river has been slow for barra fishing from the fresh and cold, many people are still pulling ripper crabs out around the Port and Thompsons Point. Mullet heads and heavy-duty pots have been selling like crazy and the feedback from people and the photos have been insane. Anyone who likes a crabbing session should definitely get down and get some crabs while they are going hard, or if you’re new to the process, crab pot kits are readily available.

Andrew showing everyone how it’s done with his Richo Lure.

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PH. 07 4937 3145 Jake caught a nice haul of salmon in the river recently. squid regularly you will develop your own style. One tip I got from one of the local squid kings is to wipe a smear of tuna oil down one side of your jig. He reckons it attracts squid with smell as well as the visual they get from the bright coloured jigs.

June is prime time to stock the freezer with bait for big Spanish mackerel.

Each year we get a run of bonito right through the bay when the water is clear. The locals here call them bunnies but they are really Watson’s leaping bonito with a host of other area dependant names, including horsies. These guys will travel behind the small white bait schools and

will even go into Corio Bay with the baits. Generally you can see them smashing the little tiny fish tight up on the surface. It pays to have a small chromey or feather jig on a light high-speed outfit at the ready, just in case. They will pop up all over the place but it doesn’t take much to make them sound again.

When you see them, take a line away from the school and stop well ahead of their direction of travel. Then wait for them to come to you.

You stand more chance of catching any quantity this way. You use this same method in chasing all surface smashing pelagics, from tuna to all the mackerels.

Spanish, grey and doggies have all been caught recently and should be here over the coming months. The reefies are also in great shape from the ground around the islands and out to the wides. One reefy showing up in some quantity is small-mouthed nannygai. Places like Liza Jane and Outer have had very good catches lately.

They don’t eat quite as well as their big mouth cousins when they get a bit bigger but the ones here now are very nice.

Make use of the good weather and lower temperatures for some of the best fishing of the year.

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Fish the tides for quality STANAGE BAY

Von Ireland

We’re proud to welcome the new generation of outboards – the mighty FourStroke Verado 350hp.

Let me start with the Stanage Road. The usual is happening to it this time of year with large pot holes and bone jarring corrugations make life in out of Stanage Bay challenging to say the least.

So long as you drive to the conditions and slow down you will not have a problem, unlike a few lead footed drivers recently who had close encounters with some of the cattle in area

crabbers who know what they are doing. The right location, the correct pot set, good pots, fresh bait and patience are the keys to successful crabbing. On the downside, a camper was seen with another crabber’s pot in his boat, and a local boat was spotted using recreational crab pots on the southern end of Long Island. Both are a no, no, and it’s only a matter of time until the karma gods, or Fisheries catch up with them.

The reef and islands have been fishing well for an assortment of

Stanage Bay. So many tales have been coming over the counter about big red emperor, grassy sweetlip, and even coral trout, that have been brought to the side of the boat only to be nailed by a waiting shark.

The nannygai have been hard to find, while most anglers who’ve ventured outside recently have had good catches of tasty legal fish. Smiles on most dials was the norm, and it’s been a pleasure working in the shop recently and seeing so many happy people enjoying the fishing Stanage Bay has to offer.

Along with the power, performance and extreme reliability, Verado includes: - Awesome acceleration, superior torque and better fuel economy - The latest in Electro-Hydraulic steering providing car-like precision and feel - Exclusive ‘Fly-by-Wire’ Digital Throttle and Shift as standard for smooth, quiet, instantaneous shifting and throttle response - Compact engine that’s 56kg lighter than its nearest competitor - Maintenance Free Valve train for life, lowering cost of ownership - 3+2=5 Year Recreational Warranty

Another fine catch of black jew from Stanage Bay.

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and came away as a result with damaged vehicles and bruised egos. Please slow down and remember to stow your rubbish until you find legal dump bin, rather than throw unwanted items beside the road. Please help us all by keeping the road to Stanage Bay free from rubbish, and stop giving fishermen a bad name.

For estuary anglers Thirsty Sound has been very fruitful, with those who have been putting in the time and fishing the prime tides and times catching quality fish.

It takes a special angler to work out how to fish and crab at Stanage, with the estuaries, beaches, headlands, islands and reefs all challenging to the initiated and uneducated.

With the cold snap in the weather the bream, salmon and grunter are starting to make an appearance. The mud crabs have been big, full and plentiful for the

both Spanish mackerel and mixed reef fish.

Some anglers have been catching undersize stripies and using them as bait, a practice that is not only illegal but also has little regard for the recovery of stripey fish stocks that have occurred in recent years.

If you’re looking for bait use something else, or call in to Stanage Bay Marine to take care of your bait and tackle needs. Ask for me, Von, I’ll be more than happy to help you out. If lure fishing is your thing we can help you out there to. We only stock proven fish catchers, and products that you can be confident in them getting you onto the fish, so if you on the hunt for tackle when you’re at Stanage Bay we’re the place for you..

The sharks have been abundant as per usual.

Whoever thinks sharks are extinct should visit the islands and reefs out from

Although I am a little jealous. It’s not always good to watch others enjoy boating when I’m working.

Keep sending in your pics for me to share on our website, Facebook site, and in the magazine, and don’t forget to included your name and information on your catch.

Simply email your pics to stanagebaymarine@ bigpond.com. If you have any questions or queries feel free to phone (07) 4937 3145 or email, please however don’t use Facebook. By all means use it as a weapon to brag or ask others for comments, but for enquires phone or email.

Until next time keep those lines wet and take time to smell the fish.

• Remember the latest fishing reports are on www. fishingmonthly.com.au and for queries on Stanage Bay fishing, call me on (07) 4937 3145.

JUNE 2015

53

News

Benefits of net free areas Stefan Sawynok

NET FREE AREAS — WILL THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? One of the more interesting parts of the last election was the Labor Party committing to declaring 3 net free areas in the north.

These include Trinity Inlet, St Helens Bay, Fitzroy River, and Keppel Bay. Of the 3, by far the biggest system is the Fitzroy/Keppel Bay region, with approximately 38 commercial licences affected.

This area would be 1 of the biggest net free areas allocated in Australia, and as such, what happens will be closely watched. As you would expect, there has been a lot of information put out into the media.

In this issue, we are going to look at the state of play and impact of removing commercial licences in the Fitzroy River, based on the data available.

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE FITZROY RIVER? As it turns out, there is

Jeff Hoy with a Fitzroy River monster. better data on the Fitzroy River than almost any other system in Queensland.

There has been consistent tagging, monitoring of spawning, good commercial data, and a range of boat ramp and catch effort surveys. Much of that data goes back over 25 years. In fact, there is so much data we can’t possibly cover it in a single page.

All that data means the Fitzroy River is probably the best place in the state to measure the impact of a net free area.

HOW DO FISH COME INTO THE SYSTEM? The Fitzroy system has 1 major driver that impacts the state of the fishery more

than any other, and that is not the nets, but rain. The Fitzroy fishery is largely self-contained, with few fish entering or leaving the

Recruitment history for the Fitzroy River.

King and blue threadfin will also benefit.

system. There is a small amount of stocking that occurs in the freshwater creeks above the Fitzroy River Barrage, but most fish come into the system by local spawning.

There is a complex sequence of environmental conditions that need to line up for there to be a successful spawning of barramundi in particular.

For a good spawning the following is required: Monthly flow >0.5GL Wet season flow >1.5GL

Max flow January-February Low flows previous SeptemberNovember <0.5GL 12 Mile rain>150mm January-February The 12 Mile is an off-river creek that is only connected to the Fitzroy during king tides and flooding. It plays a critical role by providing a sheltered environment for baby barramundi to grow in.

King threadfin also make use of off-river sites

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Hours to catch a barramundi in the Barra Bounty. in their early stages of development, but usually areas such as small arms of creeks that are still tidal.

For a good spawning to occur, all 5 conditions have to line up, but even

Bumper spawning years in 2008-2010 meant larger catches for the commercials.

Most of the commercial catch is sent to southern markets, but some fish are sold locally. The existing

on-year data for the catch, we do have a reference point. In 2010/11, boat ramp surveys were conducted to give an estimate of the take-home recreational catch. In 2010

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THE NET FREE AREA KICKS IN? The big question is what will happen when the net free area kicks in? The start date would be a big factor, as will the amount of the commercial catch between now and when that date arrives.

Assuming that date is within the next year and assuming the commercial catch does not vary much from expected, here are some likely outcomes: The fishing conditions won’t change in terms of fish numbers in the system, but opportunities will

improve as less fish will be taken out.

With a good recruitment having occurred in 2014/15, fishing conditions will pick up over the next couple of years.

The opportunities to catch the bigger barra will significantly improve over time.

Will the better fishing conditions increase the amount of fishing pressure?

Historical evidence says yes. There are a couple of factors to consider: Far more catch-andrelease fishing is practised in the barramundi fishery than 20 years ago.

Even so, we allow for around a 5% mortality rate from fish released due to injury on released fish.

Overall, the future looks bright for the fishery when the nets are removed.

The number of fish taken from the system will decrease and that should have a positive impact on the fishing. It will also have a positive effect on the local recreational economy.

Tackle stores, boat builders, fishing guides and tourism could well be the big winners.

Expect big things from the Barra Bounty in the coming years.

Barramundi catch rates 2014 v 2013.

m a e r d il ve the

The Fitzroy River system from above. in years where things aren’t ideal, there will be a small number of fish that survive spawning.

WHAT DOES THE COMMERCIAL CATCH LOOK LIKE? The commercial catch in Rockhampton has varied over time. In the late 1990s to mid 2000s, the annual

commercial fishers have argued that local fish supplies will be affected; this is 1 thing no doubt that will be monitored when it goes ahead.

WHAT DOES THE RECREATIONAL CATCH LOOK LIKE? In 2010, 21% of the Fitzroy region

it was estimated to be 6.1 tonnes or 13% of the total catch, and in 2011 it was estimated to be 10.2 tonnes or 12.3% of the catch.

In terms of the longerterm catch rates in the fishery, 1 of the best guides is the Rocky Barra Bounty — a tournament designed to monitor the river. In

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Commercial catch history. barramundi catch was between 20 and 60 tonnes.

From 2009, catches picked up to range between 40 and 114 tonnes.

The larger catches since 2009 are reflective of more fish being in the system.

population participated in recreational fishing.

An estimated 45,000 central Queenslanders (5 years and older) fished in 2013, based on 21% participation.

While there is no year-

2006 it took 43.1 hours to catch a barramundi, whereas in 2011 it took 1.6 hours. In 2014, it took 8.9 hours, meaning 5.5 times the effort to catch a barramundi only 3 years later.

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Delicious island bounty WHITSUNDAYS

Luke Griffiths

The islands have been fishing well lately and should continue into the coming month. We have had the opportunity to fish many of these locations due to some windy days on the water. Coral trout, sweetlip, nannygai and Spanish mackerel are amongst the catches, which makes for a delicious bounty. The usual baits of flesh baits, squid, pilchard and live baits have brought these guys unstuck.

Fishing the fringing reefs and rocky outcrops around the islands should see you landing some quality keepers. If you are heading out around the islands this month, be sure to pack a few crab pots to take on your

Renegade deckhand Kye, with a nice little Spanish mackerel fooled by a fast retrieved jig. day’s expedition. The islands’ creeks and mangrove-lined bays have been producing good numbers of large mud crabs of late, which can be a delectable addition to the esky.

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This is not something most people would consider when heading out fishing around the picturesque Whitsunday Islands. However this can be quite rewarding after a day’s fishing on the water, especially if the fishing for the day was a bit slow.

The plan of attack generally consists of setting the pots early morning, then heading off for the day’s fishing, and retrieving the pots at the end of the day. It is worth the small effort and is a great way to kill two birds with one stone. The small creeks and mangroves around Whitsunday Island usually do the trick, however the creeks and mangroves on the mainland, which juts out

Renegade’s skipper Luke holding an angry looking GT caught while jigging for Spanish mackerel. into the Whitsundays waters, will also produce quality crabs.

OUTER REEF AND SHOALS Red hot is how I would describe the fishing out on the reefs and shoals with some ripper catches. Out on the reef we have been landing very good numbers of red throat emperor, which are very good on the fang. Most success for these brightly coloured fish comes in the form of a running ball rig fished on the bottom close to the reef structure.

Flesh baits have been working the best, however squid and pillies also work a treat. They have been around in huge numbers and we should see

that continue into this month.

So if you get the chance to head out in some good weather (let’s hope we see more of it) the reef should be a good option, and produce a delicious feed.

Coral trout have been out in force as well, with some quality size fish caught. I don’t need to tell you how ridiculously good these fish are on the plate, so you can imagine the delight of our customers when these spotted

Another toothy critter that has been ever-increasing in numbers has been the Spanish mackerel. I have previously spoken about this and we are continuing to see more and more numbers. They have been difficult to get on the troll as they have not been too active, staying down deep on the bait schools apart from the odd burst and feeding frenzy.

Another way to tempt Spaniards into a bite is to drop a heavy jig straight down to

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It seems the sharks know this as well, with a lot of our fish falling to the aggressive predators. Shark activity should drop off in the coming months as we see the water temperature slowly drop. I can’t wait for that!

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All aboard! Skipper Luke and decky Tom holding up a couple of nice largemouth nannygai pulled out of 60m of water.

them. This is a great way to target them when they decide to stay down deep in the water column. Dropping to the bottom and cranking the jig flat out to the top works well.

Whether to use wire on the jig or not? I’ll leave that up to you. We like to run the gauntlet and use no wire, which results in a few bite offs, however we find we have more strikes. The by-catch when fishing like this can be quite exhilarating as well. We have landed some nice GT while using this technique, as well as spotty mackerel, nannygai and barracuda just to name a few.

Hopefully this month the weather is kind to us (as I write this we have 40+ knot gusts hammering through the Whitsundays) and we can all get out and have a bit of fun on the water. Stay safe out there and good luck if you get the chance to head out.

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Winter weather welcomed by Burdekin boaties AYR

Steve Farmer

Burdekin anglers are breathing a sigh of relief now that an extra-long, extra-hot, blustery summer is finally over. It has been 1 of the worst in memory, with the high temperatures and often westerly winds deterring many from getting out on the water as often as usual. The cooler south east trade winds, which are now dominating the weather pattern, have been most welcome and have even provided a number of brief weather windows that have seen the cobwebs blown out of many outboards on the way to distant reefs.

And the fishing has been good for the flotilla of trailer boats charging out of Ocean Creek whenever the forecast has been light and variable — especially for those running well offshore. These distant waters have been producing bag limit catches of coral trout to 7kg, red emperor up to 8kg, and a heap of small and large mouth nannygai.

Jack Pugnale, Gavin Butler and Steve McAuliffe headed 60nm offshore on an overnight trip. They drifted large slab baits on rod and reel over deep

Aimee Farmer trolled up this 94cm queenfish near Bowen. reefs and came home with 20 coral trout, 10 red throat, 2 nannygai and a cobia. Jack landed the biggest nannygai, which measured 84cm and weighed an estimated 9kg.

They also reported being able to see Spanish mackerel below the boat, but didn’t bother targeting them.

Alva Shoals have been alive with Spaniards, although most anglers reported them

as being very finicky and not responding enthusiastically to pilchard baits and lures.

Other pelagics such as trevally, queenfish and cobia are also cruising waters around the shoals, Cape Upstart and Camp Island.

We managed to pick up a queenie during a short Easter Sunday on the water off Bowen — which we shared with seemingly three-

quarters of the population of this picturesque, fishing-mad seaside town. Aimee took the queenie on a red and white deep diver trolled around the rocks off Horseshoe Bay. It turned on quite a performance, leaping clear of the water many times before she eventually brought it to the boat where it measured 94cm.

The excellent weather for most of the Easter weekend

also ensured Cape Upstart waters were buzzing, with hut owners enjoying the 4 day break — and a bit more.

In the Burdekin the fishing is moving into the winter phase.

Flathead have been about in good numbers, although the size of the lizards is pretty ordinary at this stage. There are also a few early schools of quality whiting. Chances are these will be the preferred targets of the grey nomads who are filtering northwards with the cooler weather. By the time you read this, the Groper Creek Caravan Park will be chock full of wandering anglers.

At the time of writing, barramundi, mangrove jack and fingermark are still regular catches for dedicated creek fishers, although numbers are waning as the temperatures drop.

Actually, as the weather cools, fingermark are more likely to be taken in inshore bluewater than snag-studded estuaries. Clued-up fishers are targeting shoals and ledges with large soft plastics or live baits in their quest for this quality species.

JUNE FORECAST North Queensland fishers can look forward to more of that wonderful winter weather throughout June. While the

south easterlies will certainly howl for some of the time, we should also score a few stretches of glassed-out seas and clear blue skies — the conditions that north Queensland boaties live for at this time of the year.

Hit the water on 1 of those perfect days and you should find the Spaniards hungry and plentiful around the inshore shoals. A pilchard bait rigged on 3 or 4 ganged hooks and drifted under a float is probably the most reliable way of tempting them to bite. If they’re finicky, try going down a size in your leader or even switching from wire to a nylon trace. Hopefully the string of ganged hooks will prevent the Spaniards from biting you off — in most cases.

In the estuaries, whiting and flathead numbers should be increasing. Fresh yabbies are an excellent bait for either species, although I do enjoy luring for flathead. As far as choice of lures goes, flathead aren’t fussy, although I do prefer smallish minnows between 40 and 80mm long.

If you’re still keen on jacks and barra (and who wouldn’t be), switching to live prawn baits could be your best bet.

Depending on the country you’re in, try fishing them under a float or close to the bottom on a paternoster rig.

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Spanish specialists! Mackerel season is upon us TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

The hot summer weather has been relentless, and apparently broke plenty of records going by historical weather data, but the change of season has finally arrived. Water temps are quickly on the decrease now, and as is always the case with the cooler weather, the waters are clearing nicely as the wind recedes a bit.

Over the last few weeks the wolf herring and other bait have been getting thicker and the Spanish specialists are preparing the gear for what’s expected to be a cracker mackerel season.

Consequently, we’ve loaded up the bait freezers at Akwa Marine with wolfies ranging from 30cm to over 70cm long.

Making your own wolfie rigs can be a little daunting and time consuming for some

people, but there are a few ways of doing it. The main thing to remember is that they have to swim straight.

Each angler has a preference for bait size, and the guys chasing mammoth macks tend to go for the big wolfies, which can be a bit sketchy to eat considering the ciguatera threat, but the guys chasing the table sized fish love the smaller baits.

Speeds at which to troll them is also variable, but most times slow is the go, and just in idle is most common. To get a wolfie to swim at speed can sometimes be almost impossible. Of course, the number 1 lure for Spanish in the north is the good old Laser Pro 190. This is as complicated as I get when chasing them, but the full-on, hard-core Spanish specialists either go for the wolfies or swimming gar. The latter are often rigged on a chin rig, with two 8/0 or 9/0s to get

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them under the surface a bit.

Then there is the skipping gar, which is usually rigged with a rubber squid over the nose of the spring to add colour, contrast, and a little extra movement on the surface and conceal the deception of hooks and wire.

Downrigging gar is now becoming a full-on pursuit, and those who put in the effort most times reap the most reward. With a couple of people on board to spread the workload, a combination of baits can be trolled together, with say, a down-rigged gar underneath a couple of Laser Pros or skipping gar.

I know that Terry is always busy in the store at this time of year, showing newcomers to the Spanish pursuit rigging techniques and answering questions on the best speeds and locations, so milk him for all he’s worth if you come in to Akwa.

If you don’t have a downrigger and the fish are deep, it’s often very effective to anticipate your bait’s distance behind the boat, and then knock the engine into neutral as you pass over deep fish on the sounder. Depending on how much line you have out, you may have to feed another 10 or so metres of line out to reach them. This allows the wolfie or gar to swim its way down to the macks, and as you hit the bottom, or when you anticipate the baits to be close to the Spanish, simply put the motor into gear and idle off, swimming the baits back towards the surface. If fishing a wreck, then the latter is recommended. Spanish can be in really thick schools, and once 1 starts the chase on a bait, the rest often follow suit and double hookups can be the result.

There have been a couple of billfish sightings and hookups already, so putting a billy lure out the back could be worth the effort. From what I gather it’s really been

a strange season offshore, and the mackerel never really left.

Numbers should get thick in the near future, so being prepared is the key, with a quick action plan ready for when the chance arrives.

BOTTOM FISHING There’s has been some terrific catches of late for anglers chasing fish on the reefs and shoals, but the damn sharks sometimes claim the majority of fish hooked. A move to a new location just seems to find hungrier sharks.

Our recent trip to Chicken Reef on board Hammertime with the 3 amigos, Stevo, Ray and Chris, met with the same problem, and more fish were lost than landed to a range of shark species. Heavy outfits are the only way to go here, and even with 80lb braid and a 120lb wind on fished over a 100lb Venom rod, I still couldn’t beat the bastards when fishing for reds at night.

Sadly, it’s the bigger fish that get monstered, as they take the longest to get to the boat, and offer the sharks the greatest opportunity to take them out.

If you do employ the heavy gear tactic, make sure your hooks can handle the load, as straightening a hook close to the boat on a battle all but won in sharky conditions is very disappointing. I use only 8/0-10/0 Gamakatsu suicides or octopus patterns these days. Even though many anglers, including myself, endorse the circle style of hook with strip baits, sometimes I find my hookup ratio sucks in comparison to the suicide, particularly if they are smash-and-grab style bites.

Venting with a hypodermic needle will also increase the survival rate of unwanted or undersized fish.

There are plenty of videos on how to perform this simple procedure on YouTube, and will save me the space here explaining it. You can feel

the pressure decrease in your hand when done correctly, and they bolt straight for the bottom when released.

Dropping plastics or big whiptail jigs to the bottom and working them close to the hard stuff can be rewarding, but the GTs, Chinamen and red bass often dominate the hookups. While fun for the first couple of fish, it can be a bit annoying if you’re after a feed. For depths of over 30m, heavy jigheads or Elevator Heads stay in contact with the bottom easier, and all sorts of species will grab a wellpresented plastic down deep, but the outfit you use needs to be up to the task.

On a recent trip I trialled a Samurai 30-60lb jig rod, and was stoked with its performance. I was using a reel spooled with 50lb braid and while the rod was short, it did make it easy to stay in contact with and work the heavy heads without the tip collapsing. If bitten at the top end a jigging sequence, it still had the guts to set the hook.

Setting the hook with shorter rods takes 2 or 3 short, quick pump and winds to take the slack out of the line, but keeping the fish’s head pointing in the right direction can be easier with a short, powerful rod. Up and down fighting requires low rod angles to be effective and deliver the most power, and a ‘high sticked’ rod can often end in tears if the sting hasn’t been taken out of a good fish before the journey to the top.

So remember to keep that rod down a bit in the initial stages of a fight after the hooks have been set properly.

CLOSE IN There have been plenty of fish available for anyone wishing to lob a bait from the shore, or flick the flats when it’s calm, but just be aware of the crocs that have been showing up on beaches and river mouths, so don’t take any risks.

Some nice golden trevally and queenies have been hitting the lures and baits, salmon have been coming through in small schools, while the barra have been smashing live gar and mullet. Early morning is the best time to have a go with a lure for the barra and with the water temperature dropping, smaller lures have been the secret.

I heard a couple of rumours of mackerel from the rock pool platform the other day, and while it’s a little earlier than expected, it’s a fairly common occurrence in winter. Having a chrome slice like a Halco Twisty at the ready for an extra long cast if they do come in is recommended. If the wind is right, a pillie under a float heading for the island can pay off as well. Not too many people up north use the longer rods, but when a long cast is needed to reach distant fish, the extra length helps.

Up in less than a foot of water, whiting have been in big numbers, and I watched 3 boats the other day pulling plenty from the shallows. They were all lined up casting on the bottom of the tide, and there seemed to be some crackers amongst them. Flicking flattie lures around the dropoffs adjacent to the sandflats should secure a feed also, and always be ready for an unexpected bigger fish cruising the flats, feeding on the whiting and mullet.

I don’t believe in giving specific locations, as many of the river mouths have the same characteristics with the mud or sand flats. I prefer to give a starting point for narrowing the search and informing people on what’s moving, and then they can check out their favourite spots.

Make the best of the cool change, be ready for the unexpected at this time of year, and you should at least be able to catch a feed, but most importantly, enjoy a day on the water.

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Due to the lack of a Wet season and a seemingly early onset of winter, the fishing changed quickly here at Lucinda. I was fishing the creeks hard and a secret little spot of mine was offering mind-blowing mangrove jack and barra fishing every session, but I was witnessing the water temperature drop daily and the creeks were getting clearer.

It was like a switch had been thrown. The jacks disappeared and the barra

I can already hear the screaming drags. were in lockdown mode. On the other hand, I was sight casting to schools of blue

salmon, and any plastic that got to the bottom was getting smacked by flathead or barred

javelin (silver grunter).

Yep, it was time to change tactics and start working on new game plans. Read on to learn some little tips to help warm the drags and get those rods bending, as the cooler months here in Lucinda can be red hot in terms of fishing options.

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL Okay, it is now mandatory to have a rod with a small popper or a metal slug rigged and ready at all times. The reason is simple; as you are cruising up the channel (especially on the runout tide) you will most probably see a school

of GTs, queenies or even tuna busting into bait on the edges of the sandbars and the mouths of major creeks and rivers. I still shake my head when I see boats that just keep moving past this type of surface action. Yes, they are not table fish, but this is fun (and also I am happy they didn’t stop as then they are all mine!).

Barra are still available, but getting them to eat is much harder. If you are stealthy you will find them sitting in the mangroves or in a snag, but in most cases inactive and head

down, tail up. You can throw an entire tackle box at them and most days they will not even blink. Your best chance is to hit them on tide changes and afternoons, but also try to pick areas that offer warmer water temps to put the odds in your favour. Downsizing lures can help.

Jacks are deep in their snags and bite windows will be small. The first few hours of the run-in tide and baits such as half pilchards or mullet fillets will give you a chance.

The standout species for these cooler months are silver

grunter, fingermark and blue salmon. These species can be caught in the same area and I like fishing shallower sand bars with a deep channel within casting range. Herring or sardines are great baits, and you want to fan casts out onto the shallow sandbar and into the channel. The first few hours of the incoming tide are my favourite time to fish.

JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF I get excited just typing about the fishing that is on offer in the colder waters that are pushing north. Starting

Queenies… speedy silver bullets that jump. Say no more!

at the iconic jetty, it is no secret that it is 1 of the best queenfish spots in north Queensland. The big schools of large queenies will hold in the pylons and feed up on the massive schools of bait that push in closer with the currents. They can be caught all day, but morning or afternoon sessions are the best by far. The less boat traffic the better, as they will be less shy.

If the planets align and you get the jetty to yourself, the surface sessions on queenies are mind blowing!

GTs will also be roaming about and make short work of your mid-range queenie gear.

In saying that, the resident GTs are really only caught when they make a mistake and don’t power run into the pylons of pain, and that is using whatever elephant slaying gear you want to use.

The Palm Islands and the ocean-facing parts of Hinchinbrook will have mackerel of all species starting to show up. The points of any island are the first places to look, as they will be subject to the strongest currents and pressure points. Bigger tides are better and these will mean strong current lines the bait schools will be forced to sit in along certain areas. You need to find the bait and the mackerel will be close by, trust me. Trolling is the best option. Run a deep lure and a

Flathead provide both fun and a feed. shallow 1 to cover the water column. Eyes should be glued to the sounder for any signs of bait or predatory fish, or the ocean for current lines or bird activity. When fish are located, the troll lures should get belted, or drift through jigging and working plastics with speed. Hang on, as Spanish really know how to warm those drags when they hit the afterburners.

The reef will have Spanish mackerel all over them and sometimes it means you need to move to escape their attention. Bramble Reef is another hotspot for Spanish. When the weather is good, there will be boats everywhere floating pilchards

and trolling gars, and they will be smashing them.

Reds will be plentiful on the deeper rubble patches, and anchoring up as the sun starts to drop into the horizon should see rods bend. Trout will be now right up in the shallows and hungry as they prepare for breeding in a few months.

Water depths around 15-30m will be best for these tasty fish.

And if all these epic fishing options are not enough, the juvenile black marlin will also start showing up in numbers. Last year was a good year, and I know a small number of anglers (me included) that are bouncing off the walls in anticipation of what this year will bring.

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Mixed conditions for opportunities galore and large northern bluefin tuna the two standouts. Most deeper headlands around the islands have massive schools of small herring, and that is why the predators are there.

Actually for a poor wet season there sure is a lot of baitfish around this year. To target the GTs use big metal slices around the bait schools and small slices on the tuna.

But you must get your slice into the tuna school while

HINCHINBROOK

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Variable weather patterns have thrown a spanner in the works during the past month or two. An unusual cold snap back in April saw water temperatures drop to the lowest I have seen during the months of April, and since then we have seen the fishing turn on and off just like a tap.

One week the fishing is going off and the next hardly a bite. In years past if we had a lull in the fishing you could still go out and get a few but recently it’s either feast or famine and nothing in between. Mother Nature knows how to throw a curve ball that’s for sure, but I suppose that keeps us on our toes and gives us yet another learning experience when it comes to different seasons and how the fish interact with these changes.

BARRA TIME Last month saw some great barra captures when they were on the chew. Not big numbers but certainly some good quality fish.

Many of my clients had the opportunity to experience

they are busting the surface.

There is no point in trolling the around the area as that just wont work. Catching tuna is great fun and an exciting way to introduce your kids to sportfishing. In June I would expect that pelagics will go crazy, especially on the making tides up to the moons. Spaniards have made a bit of a show so far but they will really start to improve this month.

BILLY ACTION June also marks the start of the billfish action. Small black marlin and sailfish will follow the bait schools around and the shipping lane, which is about half way to the reef, is a great place to start looking for diving birds. Look for flocks of gannets (booby birds), as they are the birds that follow the appropriate baitfish for billfish, which

Navi and mates had a great 4 days charter with several metre plus barra. the Holy Grail of barra fishing and that is casting shallow hard body lures to monster barra. It certainly is an experience you never forget when a big metre barra slams your lure while your retrieving it. Even I still get a buzz out of it. Hopefully this action will keep going for another month at least.

Threadfin salmon have had a bit of an absence for a while and the fingermark have yet to head to deep waters just yet. I know a few locals that are catching fingermark off the beach, which is not all that common, but this year seems to be a

regular occurrence. As winter approaches they should head deeper and that’s when a boat with a good sounder will come in handy. If you’re not sure where to look for them up here then all you have to do is look for the many pinnacles that litter the channel. Some have good rubble structure, and they are the ones that will deliver the best results. Don’t forget that fingermark are not just predatory but are also a forager and rubble bottoms are a favourite haunt for them.

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The reef is certainly the place to be this month CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

The fishing has been pretty good leading into the cooler months in the Cairns area, with coral trout, red emperor and especially largemouth nannygai putting on a good showing out on the Reef. Mackerel have continued to bite and the fingermark have been particularly consistent.

Barra and mangrove jack have been taken fairly regularly in the estuaries, with quite a few barra along the headlands.

The main weather pattern for June in the north is massive high-pressure systems that ridge up the north Queensland coast. This results in long periods of high winds, with short periods of picture perfect weather between the highs. During the calm periods, the fishing can be red hot, especially out at the reef. Last year was a

the reds. Nannygai and red emperor can even be caught on what would normally be considered trout bommies at this time of year, especially around the bottom edge of the bommie where it flattens out.

If the last few years are any indication, the real trophy fish will be in the deep water, with red emperor up to 10kg and largemouth nannygai in the 8-9kg range on offer. Red emperor are fairly consistent with their bite, and will take a bait fairly readily when they are around. A nannygai bite, on the other hand, can vary from nearly ripping the rod out of your hand, to just sitting and sucking on a bait for ages. They can be a real challenge to hook when they are finicky, but learning a few tricks can significantly improve your success rate.

Fishing light is a real key when the nannygai are shy.

This not only means lighter line and sinker, but more importantly, fishing with a

Coral trout will be going off in the shallow water, with numbers of fish in the 3-4kg range. the spoils.

Another key to catching big largemouth is to have the

Plenty of anglers target cobia, as they are renowned as a very hard fighting fish. shocker for wind and rain, so here’s hoping Huey will shine upon us this year.

The reef is the place to be at every opportunity this month, as the trout will be going off in the shallow water and the reds will be even better out wider. Trout will vary from just legal up to 3-4kg, with plenty of quality fish amongst the catch. Focus your efforts in the 20-40m range, in areas of heavy bommies that are holding bait. A bit of run is another key for good trout fishing, along with clear water and sunshine.

On overcast days and when the water isn’t crystal clear, it is better to chase are yakkas and pillies. If you follow sooty terns then you will most likely find yourself in amongst hungry tuna schools, as the terns feed on the very small baitfish that tuna like.

June may see the barra slow up a little and should also see demersal

loose line. You need to keep giving line and keeping it slack as they suck and draw on the bait. As soon as you put pressure on the line, they will drop it. This game of suck and draw can go on for 10-15 minutes at times, so it is a real game of patience. If you have the willpower to wait for the fish to take the bait and head off with some conviction, what feels like a picker can turn into a trophy.

Sometimes, moving to a smaller bait can reduce this problem and they will take it more readily, but generally when they are biting like this it is the anglers that are prepared to play the waiting game that bring home species on the reef fire up.

There have been some good indicators recently that the trout are about in good numbers, so they can only get better. If you would like to book a 2016 charter or interested in our online barra course head to our website www.ryanmoodyfishing. com for more info.

drag set solid, but not locked up hard, as you do when trout fishing. Big nannygai will invariably come easy in the first 5-10m, then put on a massive run, and if your drag is too tight you will bust them off.

Be prepared to have your trout and red fishing interrupted by schools off trevally, especially bludgers, which make great bait by the way. Expect a few raging cobia too. It is not uncommon to hook one of these real sluggers on your reef rig and plenty of anglers target them, as they are renowned as a very hard fighting fish.

I also rate them as better eating than mackerel, but not quite up there with quality

reef fish.

Sharks were an absolute nightmare last June, so hopefully they will not be quite as bad this year.

When bottom bashing, be sure to have a pilchard out under a float if there is little current, or just drifting if there’s sufficient run to keep it up off the bottom.

There have been plenty of Spanish mackerel about, along with a sprinkling of spotties, doggies and scalies.

Mackerel will be on the chew from the Trinity Inlet leads to the outer shelf and it will just be a matter of either putting in the time to locate them, or having a good network of like-minded anglers to glean information

from. Spanish, doggies, grey, spotties and the less common scaley mackerel will be harassing the bait schools throughout the area.

When the winds are in the 15-20 knots range from the south east, there is usually a calmer period from daylight to about 7.30am.

This is a great time to sneak out along the Trinity Inlet leads, to the wrecks off Double Island, or around the Franklin Islands. Head out just before daylight to be in position at first light and you can get in an hour or two of mackerel mayhem before it blows up. Fishing time can be extended by changing to trolling as the winds rise, and head for shelter with the lures or swimming baits out the back.

The reality of June is that much of the time anglers will be restricted to the estuaries and sheltered waterways.

Winter species like bream and flathead will be the main players, but grunter, cod, barra, mangrove jack and fingermark will still be around for those prepared to put in the effort. Sportsfishos will find a few metre-plus queenfish and large giant trevally, along with the odd golden trevally around the channels and dropoffs. Mud crabs are usually a feature this month, so don’t forget the pots.

Heading inland is also a popular destination in the cooler months, so take advantage of the June long weekend and head out onto the Mitchell River, up to Lakefield National Park, or further afield and chase some sooties and freshwater barra.

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Still hot fishing at the pointy end CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

June marks the arrival of the cooler winter months in Cape York. By cooler, we generally regard anything below 20 degrees as fresh to frightening! It is the perfect month for southerners to visit the Cape and vehicles will be hitting the Peninsula Development Road en-masse during the JuneJuly school break.

Although some the year’s best barramundi fishing may be slowly fading with the onset of cooler weather, a selection of the west coast’s bigger systems should still be

Look for manta rays feeding along the coastline, as they’ll have all manner of exciting sportfish tailing them. cracking on.

Predictability of tidal movement and settled

upstream conditions can make for some great mid-year barra fishing, and deeper diving

a super-clear picture of their quarry.

A great game plan to incorporate in June is locating fish at a depth range of 2-6m, using the sounder and a selection of trolled lures to locate fish. After a successful pass, try gently anchoring or using an electric motor to hold position. Often, barra will succumb to lures presented at just the right angle and depth.

Don’t be disappointed if you are getting them on the troll, but not by casting. Experiment with your holding position and imagine those lazy barra with their nose into the current down in the depths.

We get crisp, misty June mornings on many Cape York rivers, where the first hour

A lovely tarpon plucked from a worm hatch in June. lures will really come into their own. Bumping bibbed plastic and timber lures as well as jigs and soft plastics through deeper gutters and snag piles can produce larger fish. The second half of a gentle run-out tide and then the first hour or two of the run-in will be the pick of the tides to fish these areas.

Memories of a difficult start to a day’s fishing in June are matched equally by memories of a hot bite turning the whole day around.

Finding fish is becoming an easier process amongst deeper structure, with modern sounders and side scanners giving barramundi anglers

This brilliantly lit up bluefin trevally absolutely smashed this popper. or two of sun clears up the lower atmosphere and warms things up by around 10am.

Just after sunrise is a fantastic time to be on the water and angers will be rewarded with rolling tarpon, supercharged queenfish, and mangrove jack keen for a morning feed.

The bird life can be incredible when you are first on the water, both in the rivers and offshore, and will give anglers clues as to where bait is holding. Herons, nightjars, egrets and pelicans all provide hints in the rivers and bay areas, focusing their efforts on drains and shallow banks. Before speeding past next time, ask yourself what that concentration of birds is doing and what clues they are providing you.

Offshore in June, the gulls, terns, boobies and frigate birds will be going off just wide of

Milkfish are a prized target of fly anglers on Cape York this month.

the coastline, in their endless pursuit of the perfectly huddled baitball. Often you will find the gulls and terms sporadic early in the morning, out on reconnaissance missions.

Trolling a wide pattern around these areas can help track down Spanish and grey mackerel, cobia, and other speedsters, all while checking the sounder for hidden clues deeper down.

A few good spin reels loaded with soft plastics, metal slices and the increasingly popular micro jigs are a surefire way to capitalise on sounded fish or tuna busting up when on the troll. Try not to be too greedy when you have two or three troll lines already out.

Just get one angler to be ready with a handy spin rod when the moment’s right.

Remember, it is difficult to cast long and in front of a boat moving forward then winding back flat out for tuna busting up in front. Be patient and wait for the fish to erupt perpendicular to or behind the boat, so your retrieve is more likely to get pounced upon.

June is a fantastic month to visit Cape York and this will be reflected in the amount of visitors to the area, and charter clients filling the select number of fantastic operations the area boasts. Remember to flick me an email if you ever want information on where to go and who to go with for some of the greatest fishing on Earth.

• For information on remote charter operations for tailored fishing adventures, please email Tim on wildrivercompany @gmail.com

Signs point to a big reef season PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer

We are now well and truly into our winter season fishing and have been for a little while now, as our tropical landscape quickly dried up at the start of May following a really poor Wet. It seems we are a month ahead of where we should be and this has equated to some sensational fishing, particularly offshore on the outer reefs.

Normally during May we see a shift in momentum on the offshore, but this occurred weeks and weeks before, and 62

JUNE 2015

ever since Easter catches have been consistently impressive.

The weather for the most part has been rather kind, and this tips the scales in the angler’s favour.

We’ll start at the top as to what has been caught.

Largemouth nannygai have been leading the charge, with local charter operations securing up to 30 fish per day on a regular basis. These fish have mostly been ranging between 6-9kg and that is a lot of fillet returning to the port.

There’s been miles of smiles as punters lug their haul of fish up the marina boardwalks.

Coral and bar cheek trout

have been excellent to date, and have been sourced in a variety of depths from the deep to the shallow. They just seem to be everywhere at the moment, and the best models have been around the 5kg mark and there’s been plenty of those.

Spanish mackerel have been a bit of a surprise as they have turned up in significant numbers at times. We wouldn’t normally see this for at least another month or two, but they are in certain areas feeding as a big pack and will eagerly attack a trolled lure or smash a floating pilchard. They are quite prominent where the largemouth and trevally schools are holding.

Speaking of trevally schools, we have seen an epidemic of tealeaf trevally hit the region and skippers are saying they haven’t seen them this thick before. When targeting the reds in deeper water, they have at times come in and out-jockeyed the nannygai for position and literally taken over proceedings. Reports of fish after fish coming over the side at a furious pace has been common of late, and makes for some very hectic and intense angling when the average size is 6kg.

Besides these species, To page 63

It’s grunter time KARUMBA

Alan Gurney awes0me@bigpond.net.au

Our lack of a wet season has seen the winter grunter turn up and many people have caught some over the 50cm mark. We have had some awesome weather up here and the lack of wind has allowed everyone to get out the front and fish without the associated dramas that go with the breeze.

The new pontoons should now be in and this will make unloading and loading boats in town a lot easier. The point boat ramp is hard to use when the nor’ west winds blow in the afternoon, so please think about using the town ramps instead.

You are not allowed to stand on the ramp holding a boat while your offsider takes the car and parks it, so please move away to the side. This can become difficult, as the sides of the point boat ramp are quite steep, so remember you have the option of loading and unloading in town where there are 5 ramps and a pontoon. The portable trailers that people bring up are capable of towing your boat to town if you go slowly, so please help other people by not blocking the ramps.

Barramundi have turned up and are there for those willing to work for them.

Some otherwise great spots in the river are not holding fish, but some single snags in out-of-the-way places have seen big fish over 1m long caught. The secret is to have an awesome sounder with side scan that will allow you to see where they are holding. This will save you thousands of casts and kilometres of trolling and get you hooked up without the extra work.

We have some good guides up here and if you want to know how to catch a barramundi, then speak to Groover on (0408) 796 705

From page 62

there’s been a nice spread of other tropical fish, and some of them not overly common.

We’ve naturally seen some nice red emperor, smallmouth nannygai, reef mangrove jack, Moses perch and cobia amongst the catch, but these particular fish have put a bit of a spin on proceedings — barramundi cod, tuskfish, cattle dog cod,

The barra are on the move. Lachlan McDonald with a nice one. and he will help you out.

Going on a charter is not cheap, but the information

Chris McDonald with a nice grunter.

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a comeback. They used to be a guaranteed catch and you could catch them by the dozen. If they make a solid return, then this will only enhance the reef angling experience.

Looking ahead, the reef fishing will only get better in the next couple of months.

By the look of things, we may

and techniques you learn will help you for years to come.

Flicking the new gold Prawnstars in natural colour will get the job done when you find fish holding, but the moves are important and Groover has them.

Blue salmon should now be out the front along the mangroves, and while live baits work, the old piece of mullet or squid should do the job as well. I have been able to get to Sweers Island and the fishing there was awesome. We caught all sorts of reef fish and golden snapper, and the food cooked by our hosts was magnificent.

Dragon Lady Charters have led the way when tapping into the big schools of largemouth nannygai.

Chinese footballer trout and baldy bream. They are exotic fish in their own right and have added that bit of spice.

I should also mention at this point that we have seen a bit of a resurgence in the area from smallmouth nannygai.

They have, for a few years, literally gone missing, but now seem to have made a bit of

experience another blinder of a season on the mackerel, just like last year. The only deterrent at this time of year is if the sou’ easterly trade winds take hold, blocking out days upon days of travelling offshore. When the weather is calm, however, expect to have yourself an actionpacked day.

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63

Beating back the jacks FRESHWATER

Angus James

I just got back home from a great session chasing JP in one of my favourite systems up the road. But the only trouble was the sweet water jacks were beating them to my lures!

This time last year the rivers were well and truly

But this year the lack of rainfall has kept the little red devils very active, which has made for some exciting finesse fishing.

Jacks are renowned for being hard hitting fighting machines and that goes for the juveniles in the freshwater. I like to go as light as I can when targeting these guys. Even though the average size of these fellas

Soft plastics and freshwater jacks, a match made in heaven. flushed out and it was hard work getting the jacks in the crystal clear streams.

are around the 30cm mark, let me assure you sweet water jacks can be some of

the most exciting land-based fishing available. Focus your casting at areas that provide cover, concealment, bends in the system and flowing water that will flush food towards them. They will be waiting on ambush for innocent offerings like your grub tail plastic that looks too good to resist!

The sooty grunter have been doing what they do best and that’s smashing just about any lure that lands in their strike zone.

Renowned as one of our toughest freshwater species these brutes are an awesome species. They pull like freight trains and can be caught in big numbers when a little research is used to locate the best streams. You can target them in the jungle or more inland depending on whatever environment you decide. They will take a number of artificial presentations including one of my favourite the 4’’ StreakZ Curly TailZ. Made from the durable Z-Man Elaztek these are a great medium-sized lure that will withstand a beating all day catching you plenty of these hard hitters.

This month will offer the keen angler plenty

A quality, lightweight spin outfit is a must-have when targeting jacks in the fresh. of illusive jungle perch action. The cooler weather keeps the march flies and mosquitoes away when exploring the skinny water in search of those bigger fish over the 40cm mark.

The most important things to remember when targeting

this amazing fish is stealth!

These fish rely heavily on what’s going on outside the water, so anything that is unnatural will shut them down and you may miss out on that trophy catch.

It’s not always possible, but try to fish from

downstream and work your way up the higher ground. The flowing water will mask your noise and scent. Also your lure will look more realistic flowing downstream naturally. This style of fishing really tests your finesse angling skills. It

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is such a great way to enjoy some beautiful country while targeting a truly unique fish.

There are plenty of fish waiting for your lures! So

get out there and enjoy the magic that is waiting for you. Take care and see you out there!

Jungle perch are always on the cards when chasing jacks.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Tribute to Murray Wilson: A fly fishing great There’s a lot to be said for a guy that spent the last 40 odd years tying trout flies, and over half of that time doing it professionally.

With over 140,000 flies passing through his vice in this time, you’d have to think that ‘Muz’, as he was known, knew a thing or two about fishing flies.

hard to explain for Muz as his dry humour and straight to the point attitude would attest. He was a man of many talents but hung his hat on the tying vice.

Murray had a kind, gentle way about him.

Gruffly spoken and very rarely loud or obnoxious.

A mind filled with ‘what’

Murray Wilson was a living, breathing encyclopaedia of fishing flies, tying techniques and general knowledge on fly fishing. Nothing was too

and ‘what-ifs’ in the ever spinning wheel of fishing that turned in his head – always in search of the next new technique or the next fly tying material.

Rupes Swoop

Muz was a master of what-ifs. What if I put this on here, what if I blended this with that? A truly creative person that was always looking for an edge or a line to cross, just to see what was on the other side. He constantly stood in front of tradition with both arms out stretched and wearing a t-shirt with the slogan ‘STOP, you’re going the wrong way!’

When it came to fly tying Murray was always on the lookout for ways to do things better, easier, quicker and stronger.

Techniques that would make a difference to the way he fished - the way we all fished! Improvement on a design, the way smart phones are to land lines is what Muz was always striving for. The Wee Creek Hopper and tying in reverse are just two of the many techniques he brought to the table.

Murray Wilson lived in Camperdown, South West Victoria most of his life with only a brief stint in old Melbourne town. He fished all the local waters of this region like a cormorant and knew every corner of every

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river with picture accurate explanations. Sharing the secrets of this area was what he loved most. He would never hesitate to tell you where to fish and what to use, but would never ‘tell’ you any of these things at all. He was a teacher. Waiting for the questions, he would make you ask in order to help you do better – to be your best. A true skill that came from giving and one that I learnt from him.

Murray was a kindhearted man with time to kill and fishing on his mind. A mind that created so many brilliant flies; heck, the entire world now knows what a BMS is! The Hammer Head, Wee Creek Hopper, Bitza, Messy Dun, Sticky Caddis – the list goes on and all purely driven to do one thing, catch fish.

We will miss your smug grin, your bad one-liners and the mess on your kitchen table. Most of all we’ll miss you.

Thanks for being a true mate and a hero to us all and a bloody good fly tier.

Love ya, Wilson!

– Adam Royter

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Brave the cold for results TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

The colder temperatures have set in and this will be more noticeable when you are damp and cruising down a lake before sunrise. The water can still be a great place to be if you dress accordingly and then peel the layers of clothing off as the day warms up. The calmer days are great to be out on the water. If it’s blowing a strong westerly wind, you might be better off at home or at least in a sunny spot where you have some protection.

The heavy rain in south east Queensland around a month ago should be a blessing for the impoundments. The influx some of the lakes received should slightly colour the water and keep the fish more active. This has been the case at lakes like Somerset in the past. In the slightly coloured water, the fish will school and take lures better than when the conditions are crystal clear.

Golden perch numbers will drop off for lure fishermen. They can still be caught and will be a bycatch for those chasing bass. Some quality goldens

will fall to spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits when fished around the edges or deeper structure. If you are keen on actually targeting golden perch, try a more in-your-face presentation to get the lazy sods to bite.

Ice jigs and small blades hopped vertically below the boat can still score good numbers of fish when the water is cold. Trolling hardbodies and lipless crankbaits tends to slow down, although you still stand a chance of hooking a few and Murray cod are a good possibility.

Bass fishermen will have mixed results as the various lakes fish differently over the cold period. Hopefully the following reports will give you a good idea of what to expect at each location.

Barra fishing will be a bit slower, but fish can still be caught. Being a little further north, the barra lakes take longer to cool down, especially those closer to the coastline.

Up in the hills, the nighttime temperatures will be dropping faster and the fish can shut down a little more.

If this is the case, have a sleep in and head out later in the morning and fish through to sunset. Later in the day, the water and fish will have had a chance to warm up a little more.

The barra lakes tend to be a bit quieter at this time of year. Less water sports and fishing pressure can be a good thing and you’ll often have the good spots all to yourself.

So there it is; still fish to be caught if you put in the effort. Despite popular belief, the fish don’t all go into hibernation when the water gets cold. All it takes is a little enthusiasm, a few warm clothes, and a bit of luck to enjoy freshwater action at this time of year.

Well north is where I will be and the cold weather will be the last thing on my mind. When we talk of fishing freshwater, most of us think of the southern part of the state. It’s great to see up north there are keen guys getting into some great freshwater fish.

Sooty grunter, jungle perch, saratoga and mangrove jacks become more common as you head northwards, with some exceptional fishing around Mackay and Townsville. You only have to read some of Angus James’ reports in this magazine to see there are great fish on offer.

I will be heading even further north and venturing down the Wenlock River north of Weipa around the time you pick up this magazine. We have planned a 5 day trip on a freshwater

tail spinners. The smaller ones seem to hook-up better on trebles than they do on the single hooks found on the likes of spinnerbaits and soft plastics.

Big bass are still turning up, but they seem more spread out. Some of the better quality fish caught have been up the Cressbrook Creek arm. Try looking around Toilet Point opposite Eagles Nest. While not being captured in big numbers, there have been some exceptional specimens, with fish over 50cm hitting the decks. Some of these

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JUNE 2015

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14 31

Weipa

17

28

34

18

Toowoomba

BRISBANE 27

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23 Impoundment Dams 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

stretch using electric motor powered tinnies. This stretch of river is quite remote and

Gold Coast

22

24 25 Cairns 1

26

19 20

33

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

5

32

Rockhampton

Emerald 29

Gladstone

30

7

8

10

Bundaberg 9 11

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Look for healthy weed when fishing the beds. If it is green and lush, there is a good chance it will hold fish. This Isis bass nailed a spinnerbait worked down the weed face to deeper water.

Maryborough

Roma

BRISBANE

the fishing can be sensational.

We are hoping to cross paths with plenty of sooty grunter,

DAM LEVEL Report DAMS JAN FEB MAR APR MAY Atkinson 33 30 29 26 26 Awoonga 96 96 96 98 98 Bjelke-Petersen 51 48 49 48 48 Boondooma 69 72 71 70 70 Borumba 96 100 99 101 101 Burdekin Falls 73 95 93 88 88 Callide 73 84 93 92 92 Cania 88 97 101 101 101 Clarendon 38 37 35 32 32 Clarrie Hall n/a 100 100 100 100 Cooby 73 71 71 68 68 Coolmunda 39 65 61 60 60 Copeton 19 17 17 18 18 Cressbrook 89 89 89 88 88 Dyer/Bill Gunn 52 74 77 83 83 Eungella 88 90 90 90 90 Fairbairn 42 59 57 55 55 Glenlyon 26 27 27 28 28 Hinze 83 87 96 101 101

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SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK Closest Towns: Toowoomba, Crows Nest The small bass have been plentiful just out in front of the boat ramps.

These schooling fish move around between the campground point and the flats between the boat ramps and the no fishing buoy line near the pump tower. Try sounding them up in 8-11m of water.

These little bass can be quite active and will take deep diving trolled lures.

If you find a good patch, try casting blade baits and

Gympie

12

saratoga and barramundi.

As long as the crocs stay away, I’ll be happy fish are likely to turn up while trolling deep diving hardbodies or casting blades and tail spinners.

Working the lake’s edges could also pay off in the mornings and afternoons. Reaction baits like spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits are many anglers’ first choice. The cooler water temperature will see the fish respond well to ¼oz jighead-rigged paddle tails and suspending jerkbaits. Fish numbers around the edges can be low, but I’m tipping a few big ones will move into the shallows over the next To page 67

For fortnightly updates Julius 102 99 98 96 96  Kinchant 76 88 85 77 77 Koombooloomba 16 33 46 35 30  Leslie 28 26 26 27 27  Macdonald 57 68 100 102 102  Maroon 93 99 100 100 100  Monduran/Fred Haigh 81 91 102 100 100  Moogerah 81 91 91 97 97  North Pine/Samsonval 61 60 80 84 84  Peter Faust/Proserpine 84 86 85 83 83 Pindari 12 13 13 25 25  Somerset 98 100 100 100 100  Storm King n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a  Teemburra 91 93 93 92 92  Tinaroo 61 77 88 92 92 Toonumbar 88 97 100 101 101  Wivenhoe 78 77 95 99 99  Wuruma 81 81 101 99 99

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 20/5/15

From page 66

few months.

There is no longer an entry fee at the boom gate, but the 8 knot speed limit is still in place. Hours for boating and day use of the recreation area have now changed and will remain at 7.00am to 6.00pm until September. For all your supplies, expert advice and to check on the boating restrictions, call in at Fish ’n’ Bits in Alderley Street, Toowoomba, or give them a ring on (07) 4636 6850. The boys at the store are experts on the freshwater scene and really know their stuff.

SOMERSET Closest Towns: Esk, Kilcoy There have been schooling bass found in several locations around the dam. Try sounding around The Spit, Pelican Point, Bay 13 and wide of Queen Street. The bass schools will be holding deeper now the water is cooler, so try

looking in at least 8m of water. For me, the magic depth is 10m, and I cruise around on the flats in the middle of the dam with eyes glued to the sounder.

The mood of the bass can change a lot at Somerset.

The fish can fire up one day and bite their heads off, only to be near impossible to fool the next. Switching techniques will hopefully unlock the secret. Casting soft plastics, blades, soft vibes and tailspinners is a good way to start. If the fish are hugging the bottom, jigging an ice jig under the boat could be the answer.

Deep fly fishing techniques can also be a winner when the fish are holding close to the bottom.

Trolling hardbodies had been accounting for quite a few bass, but this action may die off due to the cooler water. Anglers were also having success using the long lining technique. The

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY Closet Towns: Highfields, Toowoomba The fishing at Cooby will be pretty tough until spring.

The golden perch tend to shut right down over the cold months. If you are keen, you may still extract a few fish and there is always the chance of whacking a heap of eel-tailed catfish.

The deep water up near the dam wall buoy line can hold some deep schooling golden perch. These fish take small blades hopped vertically. Use small, sharp hops and allow a good pause. Remember, the fish are lazy, so give the lure plenty of time to entice a bite.

Catch Scent smeared on the blade may also help get the desired reaction.

Bait fishermen will catch a few goldens on shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies. If you keep the baits close to the bottom, eel-tailed catfish are likely to get into the action as well. Live worms can also catch the catfish and you may score silver perch too. While you can purchase live worms from bait suppliers, it often pays to dig your own. Different types of worms can produce varied results. It might seem odd, but it must have something to do with the soil they live in making their juicy bodies taste differently.

The dam hours are now 7.00am until 6.00pm right up to September. Cooby is an electric motor-only dam and is well suited to kayaks and canoes. 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. Live shrimp and saltwater yabbies can be purchased from Highfields Bait and Tackle on the New England Highway in Highfields. Call in and see Doug and check out the great range of fishing gear, kayaks and accessories he has on display.

LESLIE Closest Town: Warwick The golden perch action continued last month. Along with the goldens, there were also eel-tailed catfish, silver perch and some quality cod

lure is cast out on a fishy flat and then you let the line off the reel as you drive the boat away. Once you’ve driven quite a distance (100200m), it’s time to crank the lure back in.

Long lining bass works with hardbody lures as well as soft plastics and blades.

Somerset is a great location to use this technique, as the bottom is relatively free off snaggy obstacles. The reason this method can work so well is it fools the bass into not following your boat, which they are well known to do. By holding such a big distance away from them, they have no idea your boat is in the area.

Bait fishermen will have success when using live shrimp on the bass schools.

Tilapia and banded grunter will still pick the baits off in the shallower areas, but they are less of a problem out on the flats where the bass school up.

MAROON Closest Towns: Boonah, Rathdowney Now the cooler weather has set in, things will change at Maroon. It will be harder to get surface strikes, and reaction baits will be less effective. The bass will hold around the weed edges and near the bottom close to the outside edge of weed beds. To entice these fish, try deeper jerkbaits and soft plastics. Rig plastics on 1/8-1/4oz jigheads. A lighter weight head will be more effective in close to the weed, while the heavier weights are suited to fishing deeper around the outside edge.

Over the last few months, there have been a lot of smaller bass mixed in with the quality ones. The bigger fish should be more common now in the cooler water. Bass around 35-40cm in length will be common, with the occasional fish well into the 40s.

Bait fishermen using live shrimp will be able to catch plenty of bass and a few golden perch and eel-tailed catfish. One of the bait fishing hotspots has been on the left-hand side as you enter the trees. Anchor up in 6-8m of water, just outside the weedy points on your left, and you’ll be in with a good chance.

MOOGERAH Closest Towns: Aratula, Boonah The bass schools at Moogerah have been copping a hiding from anglers over the past month.

The fish have schooled up and most days are willing to bite. Angling pressure may shut the fish down and when more boats are on the water, the fishing is likely to be tougher. Try hitting the lake on a weekday when there is a better chance of fewer anglers.

Good numbers of bass are being found on the flats

out from The Palms and at the start of the timber.

It will also pay to sound around between the boat ramps in 8-11m of water and out onto The Spit, which extends towards the dam wall from the northern boat ramp.

The bass at Moogerah were biting well on reaction lures last month.

This should continue, but may slow down a little.

Tail spinners, Jackall Mask Vibes, blade baits and spinnerbaits were receiving plenty of action when fished deep through the schools. If the bite slows down, try using slow rolled soft plastics, smaller blade baits and ice jigs.

This more subtle approach can be all that is needed to get the bites when reaction lures fail. There will be plenty of fish around 40cm in length, with a few larger fish between 45 and 50, just to keep you on your toes.

It can pay to persist, as cod are more tolerant of the colder water and will still pounce on a trolled hardbody.

Lures that dive 3-5m and have a good strong thumping action are cod favourites.

The Kezza Mudmouse is one of the best locally made lures. Check out the fine craftsmanship of some of the other local timber lure makers at Warwick Outdoor and Sports.

Bait fishermen will catch fish from boats and the shore.

Live shrimp and saltwater yabbies work on all species.

Shore based anglers have a lot of success on worms, and

is well suited to catching our Australian natives.

COOLMUNDA Closest Town: Inglewood Bait fishermen should nail some golden perch, eel-tailed catfish and the occasional Murray cod.

Try fishing live shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies around the creek bed dropoff out from the boat ramp, and also up in the timber. The bite is likely to be slow, so use a couple of rods for each angler to improve your chances. While anchored, toss out a few crushed baits that are so massacred they will be hard for fish to pick

directly below the dam wall is restricted and fenced off, so stay clear of this. Closer to Inglewood, there are more places to access the Brook. Check out Google Maps and do a bit of online research and you’ll come up with some access locations.

Kayaks are definitely the way to go for easy launching and travelling up and down the system. A metre cod is a handful in a kayak, so have fun.

The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only around a kilometre away from the lake. The park is just off the Cunningham Highway,

but far enough away from the noise of trucks to get a good night’s sleep. It offers camping sites, cabins, caravan facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool, barbecue shelter and a camp kitchen. The park now has an extra two wheelchairfriendly cabins to add to their older ones. Camping is also available near the boat ramp, with toilets and hot showers to make your stay more comfortable. To take advantage of this and the great fishing opportunities in the lake and the river below, give the park a call on (07) 4652 4171.

GREAT FO R A DAY EVEN BETTER WHEN YOU STAY

• Great fishing, bass, yellowbelly, cod, saratoga, garfish…

• Windsurfing, boating, beach volleyball, playground, BBQ’s.

• Level tent sites, showers, toilets, hot and cold water.

Only 50 kms from Toowoomba For more information on camping or fees: Call Toowoomba Regional Council on 131 872 during office hours or visit www.toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au

Your Impoun dment Specialis ts

When bass shut down, they hug the bottom hard and almost look like they are part of it. A quality sounder will show their dark shapes sitting tight to the bottom almost resembling a rock. This is the time to fish lures hard on the bottom and one of the best for this is an ice jig. to 106cm landed. It looks like Leslie might be the western lake to hit if you are after your cold water fishing fix.

Golden perch have been caught in the main basin. These fish can take trolled lures, but the cooler temperature will be making this style of fishing tougher.

catch silver perch, eel-tailed catfish and the occasional golden perch.

For any tips and gear for fishing Leslie Dam or the Warwick area, call in and see the guys at Warwick Outdoor and Sports in Palmerin Street, Warwick. The store stocks a great range of bait and freshwater gear, which

up. The smell in the water may help to excite the fish and have them looking for something to eat.

If you are able to gain access to the Macintyre Brook below the dam, there is a good chance of luring a monster cod. These cod love to crunch big spinnerbaits and hardbodies. The area

We ha ve it AL L…

115 Palmerin St, War wick Qld

PH

07 4661 3533

MORE &QUA LITY

PRODUC TS

www.warwickoutdoor.com.au JUNE 2015

67

WIDE BAY AND BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA Closest Towns: Proston, Kingaroy Golden perch have been thick over the last few months. Their numbers will drop off and bass will become the most active species. Bass will start to show up in schools all over the dam.

These fish will favour deeper haunts in the lake’s middle reaches. Bass tend to move around a lot in Boondooma, so where you find them from day to day can vary a lot.

A good sounder is a must to locate these schooling fish. Deeper water around 10m will be the place to start searching. Look around The Islands, Leisegangs Ledge, Barbers Pole, The Junction and Pelican Point.

When bass are located, start tossing all manner of lures at them. They can respond well to blade baits, Mask Vibes, soft plastics and ice jigs. Play around with different presentations until you find what they prefer.

Inside the timber, the fishing will slow down.

Spinnerbaiting and working lipless crankbaits around the edges and treetops will pull the occasional bass and golden perch. Bait fishermen will have a lot more luck in the trees. Try live shrimp for a mixed

bag of bass, golden perch and eel-tailed catfish.

Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water and sit by the fire while enjoying the view. You could also stay in more style and comfort by booking into the cabins overlooking the dam. The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items. For campsites, cabins and bunkhouse rooms call Corey and Niki on (07) 4168 9694.

BJELKE Closest Towns: Murgon, Goomeri Being a relatively shallow dam, Bjelke will cool down and the fish will feel the effects. Lure fishing tends to get tougher, but bait fishermen will still enjoy success.

If you want to try your luck at luring a bass or golden perch, head to the deeper parts in the dam’s middle reaches. Working ice jigs around the creek bed should fool a few fish.

Bait fishermen can try their luck in the deep water as well. Live shrimp are the best all-round bait. Bass, golden perch and eel-tailed catfish will all be willing to have a nibble at a live flicking shrimp. Keep hook sizes around a size 1 and of a shape like the Owner J hook for the best hookup rate.

For help catching Bjelke and Boondooma fish, call into your local Bass 2 Barra

store. You can see Matthew at Kingaroy or Dylan in Dalby and the boys will have you all geared up and ready for action in no time. Bass 2 Barra stores stock an awesome range of gear suited to chasing our freshwater fish, and the boys have all the knowledge to guide you on how to use it.

The Yallakool Kiosk is all set up with a great range of tackle if you don’t happen to have the right lure or lose some. Be sure to call in and

Hopping an FLT Transam 95 has also been proven effective. A quality sounder with side imaging will help you locate the barra in the deeper water and see when they are moving through.

Seeing the fish gives you the confidence to work harder for the bites.

The Boyne River has fished very well over the past couple months.

Numbers of fish made their way into the upper saltwater reaches around the Benaraby highway and rail bridges. These fish were being caught on slow trolled lures, vibes and soft plastics. There were some crackers amongst them, with plenty going over the magic metre mark and at

least one over 120cm.

The netters were allowed to move into the river last month, so hopefully this doesn’t do too much damage to the barra population and anglers can still manage to find a few. If you struggle in this area, you might try the heavily pressured fish in the freshwater section of the river either side of Pikes Crossing.

If you are keen to try to tackle some fish in the river or dam, give Lyn and Mark from Awoonga Gateway a call on (07) 4975 0033. At Awoonga Gateway you’ll find clean, modern cabins and your hosts will be full of useful advice to help you try to land that barra of a lifetime. Make sure you tell Mark I sent you, and pump him for the secret spot.

hardbodies and vibes when fished around the weed and lily points.

Barra on small lures and lighter tackle are a lot of fun. When 80-90cm fish are hooked on sooty tackle, they give you a good run for your money.

In fact, they’ll give you a good fight even on heavier barra tackle.

Being up in the hills, Teemburra will cool down as soon as the cooler weather takes hold. Keep an eye on the weather and temperatures as it still may be a good option this month.

CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA Closest Towns: Benaraby, Gladstone This will be your last chance to tackle some Awoonga Dam barra before the colder conditions make the fishing tougher. Barra have been caught around Gold Mine Point and inside New Zealand Gully over the last couple of months.

Try fishing these areas with suspending hardbodies and soft plastics. Fish can be found in the shallows, but quite often the more active fish have been wider in about 5m of water around the points and deeper trees.

Here in the deeper areas, deep suspending lures like the Jackall Squirrel work well.

MACKAY REGION TEEMBURRA Closest Towns: Pinnacle, Mackay The barra were on the chew last month. Anglers found plenty of fish while fishing smaller lures for sooty grunter. Barra were taking these downsized 68

JUNE 2015

Beetle spins are an underrated lure and the perfect choice if fish are starting to show signs of refusing reaction lures like spinnerbaits. Switch to a Beetle spin sporting a small blade during this transition time and you may be surprised. check it out. Give them a call for accommodation and camping bookings on (07) 4168 4746.

ISIS BALANCING STORAGE Closest Town: Bundaberg The Isis will be a great lake to visit and should offer some great bass fishing over the next month.

The fish have started to bite around the weed beds again, with quite a few falling for small hardbodies and soft plastics. This trend should continue next month as

well. Look for the healthier weeded areas. The weed died off a few months ago and it has taken the fish a while to adjust.

The timbered arm is worthwhile prospecting with spinnerbaits cast around the base of the trees.

Work through the area until you find where the fish are holding, as there can be plenty of barren water. At times, there aren’t many fish around the trees, but what is caught is of good quality.

In the deeper water, schooling fish will fall for soft plastics and blade baits. Search along the creek bed dropoff in the middle of the dam. These schooling fish are mostly small, but if you sort through them, sooner or later a big one will bite.

Most of the action in the deeper water is found away from the weed and happens in 5-8m of water.

The boys at Saltys Ta c k l e w o r l d in Bundaberg are bass experts. They love to fish the dam on their days off, so will be able to steer you in the right direction.

Saltys has an excellent layout and an awesome range of tackle suited to freshwater fishing, as well as catering for the endless fishing opportunities in the surrounding area.

LENTHALLS Closest Towns: Maryborough, Hervey Bay Lenthalls Dam has been closed to fishing and camping while work is undertaken and the area is a designated construction site. The closure started on April 28 and is expected to be in place for five months. For further information visit: www. widebaywater.qld.gov.au The fish will be ready to chew after such a big rest, so keep an eye out for a confirmed reopening date

Golden perch or yellowbelly will slow down more for lure fishers this month. Trolling strong actioned hardbodies like the Halco Poltergeist at a slow pace will fool a few, and maybe tempt a Murray cod.

KINCHANT Closest Towns: Marian, Mackay Kinchant has dropped in level, exposing some great weed islands. The falling level and quality weed growth seem to have triggered great conditions for the barra, and they have been feeding well throughout the day. Last

month, barra were being taken on plastics, hardbodies, stickbaits and surface frogs.

If the water cools down, they can still be successfully targeted by simply moving deeper. Try fishing the base of the weedbeds or just outside it in around 5m of water. Even when it is cold, the barra will still move up into the shallow

weed to feed. There will just be shorter windows and less fish moving about.

Slow down presentations and fish the shallows in the middle of the day and later in the afternoon. Try lightly weighted soft plastics, suspending hardbodies and stickbaits twitched through the tops of the weed.

Finesse fishing: bream on fly BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Bream are a fish so common, so widespread, that they are a bread and butter species for many anglers. And they are a fish that are all so easy to catch on bait, especially a bait that can withstand a bit of ragging before it passes the many molars in a bream’s mouth.

Yet, tournament anglers have a far different view of the humble bream: the successful among the tournament team understand just how difficult they can be at times and grant them plenty of respect. So too do anglers who have targeted them with fly tackle. I for one regard bream as quite tricky on fly gear.

Around the estuaries and other shallow habitat bream are, in my book, the king.

Where flatties can be fools, tarpon temperamental and tailor tons of fun, bream are wary, scary and quite contrary with hook ups hard to come by. That said, there’s a lot of satisfaction when one takes

the fly.

Does it all sound a bit tough? It is, but if things are done correctly bream can be very worthy opponents.

Tidal or brackish water with plenty of cover are great places to take bream on dry flies.

HABITAT By way of change I’m not putting tackle first, instead I’m giving the top billing to choosing the right place to fish for these fastidious fellows.

Pretty obviously, bream schooled up in ten metres of water are best left for plastic or bait anglers as it’s hard to work a fly in that sort of depth

bream’s door step, so to speak.

Edges of mangrove banks, rock walls, jetties, even tidal creeks that run to brackish water are all good starting points. The tidal creeks with their over hanging foliage and bits of growth along banks can be some of the best of it, especially with the dry fly.

All round success usually

the tops of the trees is a most productive method.

There were good numbers of barra holding on the left side further up the river as well.

Try fishing the deeper areas through the day and move shallower late in the afternoon. Warm, still days seem to produce better results. These nice days give the water and fish more time to warm up and move about. If you are able to time it right and string a few together, your chances will greatly improve.

The afternoons and into the night will be the time to use shallower offering like surface lures and shallow running

hardbodies. Try the flats outside the river course and work around the timber and weed beds.

If you are heading out to the dam, make sure you call in at Proserpine Bait and Tackle. The store is on the highway through Proserpine and stocks all the barra gear you could possibly need. The guys will be able to send you in the right direction and help with nailing the lake’s big fish. Store owner Lindsay Dobe runs charters on the lake and bookings can be made on (07) 4945 4641.

Proserpine has a maze of trees to negotiate and explore. A guided fishing charter will certainly help you learn how to fish this tricky waterway.

WHITSUNDAY REGION PROSERPINE Closest Towns: Proserpine, Airlie Beach The barra action started to get tougher last month. Trollers reported a lot less fish when pulling deep diving lures around the main basin.

The sounder also tells the same story, with few fish showing. The good news is the fish have started to congregate in the old Proserpine River area.

The treeline marking the old river course is a good place to start you search. Casting deep diving hardbody lures like Barra Baits and Scorpions around

where there’s lots of current.

Instead, the smart angler will look for shallower areas to fish, places where the fly can be delivered right to the

comes with choosing an area where cover is obvious, as bream use cover to their advantage while waiting for tucker to come by.

FISH LIGHT OR FORGET IT On the face of it, this should make bream a push over, but remember how I described them as wary?

This means that while bream will take a fly, the angler needs to consider a few important things.

Bream around southern Queensland and northern New South Wales are not what we class as ‘big’ fish with a real beauty weighing around 1kg, so a 5-6wt fly outfit is fine.

Both a floating fly line or a slow sink one have their place in the fly angler’s arsenal but whatever gear’s in use, the most important thing is to understand is that bream require a very fine tippet in order to be fooled. Forget the 3kg stuff, that’s going to be too obvious to a bream.

I’d consider 2kg tippet as maximum, and if the angler is experienced enough 1.5kg tippet is far better.

For success, it’s mandatory to fish ultra fine and that’s the big issue as a solid bream is no slouch on any tackle. So let’s talk tackle.

TROUT RODS IDEAL A trout rod will do the job and depending on whether the angler is fishing surface or sunken fly, the fly line should suit the choice.

What is important in this situation where fine tippet is connecting the fly to the remainder of the 3m leader is the efficiency of the reel.

Whether the reel in use is of salt water or fresh water

Every rule has an exception. The author picked up this bream under a school of working tailor on 8wt tackle but a lighter fly rod and smaller flies will be far more productive. standard the drag must be both light and smooth, with minimum start up inertia and able to handle a few decent rips and head shakes as the bream tries to rid itself of the fly. Trust me, when working around decent cover this is one tricky game because the bream will be doing its utmost to get back into whatever it reckons will set it free. Fly reels are not exactly renowned for the sorts of drags we see on modern 2000 size spin reels so a lot of the ensuing success or failure sits squarely on the angler’s shoulders. In many respects, with the gentle way that a bream will pick at

a fly it’s finesse fly rod fishing all round.

Wet fly fishing should see the fly landing close to structure and with minimal slack. Bream like to grab things as they are falling so there should be no slack.

FLY TALK Wet flies such as Clousers, Crazy Charlies and even skinny bass Vampires will work fine on bream so long as the fly is kept small, around size 1-2. Another fly that can be very productive is the good old Toad, in similar size. The hook must be sharp.

Due to their small and bony To page 71

Two Dams

H Bo

on

One Destination H

m Da doo n e s m a Da m H Bjelke Peter

The BEST place in SEQ to catch

Australian Bass and Yellowbelly Small sharp hops with smaller profile blades can fool the bass at this time of year. Try hopping vertically when fish are under the boat.

www.lakeboondooma.com.au wwww.yallakoolpark.com.au JUNE 2015

69

THE ALL

LIGHTEST

NEW F130A.

IN ITS CLASS.

The all new F130A from Yamaha delivers a new level of performance, efďŹ ciency and boasts an incredible power to weight ratio. Take your time on the water to the next level with the new F130A. This changes everything.

TO LOCATE A DEALER & FIND OUT MORE, VISIT:

www.yamaha-motor.com.au/F130

70

JUNE 2015

GOLD COAST (SOUTH) MARINE TUNE

64 Kortum Drive Burleigh Heads, QLD, 4215 Phone: (07) 5576 7388 Fax: (07) 5576 2278 www.marinetune.com

GOLD COAST (NORTH)

BROADWATER BOATING CENTRE 46 Brisbane Road Labrador, QLD, 4215 Phone: (07) 5529 1777 Fax: (07) 5529 1888 www.broadwaterboating.com.au

GOLD COAST (NORTH) STEFAN BOATING WORLD

27 Waterway Drive Coomera, QLD, 4209 Phone: (07) 5665 8400 Fax: (07) 3844 4777 www.stefanboatingworld.com.au

BRISBANE (SOUTH)

STONES CORNER MARINE 117 Old Cleveland Road Stones Corner, QLD, 4120 Phone: (07) 3397 9766 Fax: (07) 3397 2456 www.stonescornermarine.com.au

BRISBANE (BAYSIDE) WYNNUM MARINE

31 Fox Street Wynnum, QLD, 4178 Phone: (07) 3396 9777 Fax: (07) 3893 2046 www.wynnummarineyamaha.com.au

BRISBANE (NORTH) NORTHSIDE MARINE

2294 Sandgate Road Boondall, QLD, 4034 Phone: (07) 3265 8000 Fax: (07) 3265 8099 www.northsidemarineyamaha.com.au

BRISBANE (NORTH) BRISBANE YAMAHA

174 Eastern Service Road Burpengary, QLD 4505 Phone: (07) 3888 1727 Fax: (07) 3888 9513 www.brisbaneyamaha.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST

RAY SCHOLES MARINE 146 Eumundi Road Noosaville, QLD, 4566 Phone: (07) 5449 7633 Fax: (07) 5449 9830 www.rayscholesmarinenoosa.com.au

Fishing Fill-its

HERVEY BAY BUCCANEERS

19 Islander Road, Pialba, Hervey Bay, QLD, 4655 Phone: (07) 4124 6988 Fax: (07) 4194 2364 www.buccaneers.com.au

GLADSTONE

CURTIS COAST MARINE 40 Chapple St, Gladstone QLD, 4802 Phone: (07) 4972 0135 Fax: (07) 4972 0136 www.curtiscoastmarine.com.au

MACKAY

REEF MARINE 26 Prospect Street Mackay, QLD, 4740 Phone: (07) 4957 3521 Fax: (07) 4957 2447 www.reefmarine.net

WHITSUNDAYS

WHITSUNDAY MARINE 4/11 Shute Harbour Road Cannonvale,QLD, 4802 Phone: (07) 4948 3298 Fax: (07) 4948 3298

www.whitsundaymarine.com.au

BOWEN

REIBEL MARINE 34 Don Street Bowen, QLD, 4805 Phone: (07) 4786 2944 Fax: (07) 4786 6606 www.reibelmarineyamaha.com.au

Compass Alloy Boats Compass Alloy Boats are a South East Queenslandbased small company that pride themselves on making the best possible aluminium plate fishing boats.

The company is owned and directed by Ralf Luwinski, who has been building aluminium plate boats for 13 years. In 2012, he made the decision to go out on his own and Compass Alloy Boats was born.

In three years the company has gone from strength to strength and, despite having the potential to grow the business, Ralf has chosen to keep his operation to two team members: himself and his experienced boat builder, James Connell. This way, Ralf can oversee every fine detail of the build.

Ralf believes the strength of Compass Alloy Boats is their willingness to deliver good old-fashioned customer service. Understanding the customer’s needs and working with them to create their dream fishing boat is paramount. A lot of companies will quote their customers for a bare hull and then build all of the features on top, but a Compass build includes the standard features in the ‘hot work’ price and then anything that is customised can be added on later.

Compass Alloy Boats feature a variable deadrise hull delivering a better entry and

a softer smoother ride. With proper reverse chines these boats are built for serious offshore work.

Even though Ralf specialises in building boats to be fitted with outboards, the options for stern drive applications are also available.

Other than the upholstery, windows and paint, everything else is done in house at Compass; including electrical fit outs and engine fit ups.

Once a Compass Alloy Boat is ready for the water,

James and Ralf will head out to do a sea trial and make sure everything is perfectly set up before handing the boat over to the customer.

If you’re in the market for a new aluminium plate boat be sure to get in touch with Ralf at Compass Alloy Boats to have a chat about what he can do for you. Ralf is available on 0417 212 694 or email compassboats@ hotmail.com, otherwise check out the Compass Alloy Boats Facebook page. – FMG

TULLY

HUNTS OUTBOARD SERVICES 13 Watkins Street Tully, QLD, 4854 Phone: (07) 4068 2222 Fax: (07) 4068 0396 www.huntsoutboards.com.au

CAIRNS

BILLS MARINE 136-138 Lyons Street, Cairns, 4870 Phone: (07) 4051 6733 Fax: (07) 4031 3080 www.billsmarine.com.au

KARUMBA

JONES MARINE 30 Yappar Street Karumba, QLD, 4891 Phone: (07) 4745 9159 Fax: (07) 4745 9366 www.jonesmarine.com.au

From page 69

mouth, bream are not overly easy to hook on a fly and the angler’s reflexes play a big role in success or failure.

Remember, bream won’t rag a fly – they pick at it. Colour is important with many anglers favouring red as a primary fly colour.

Bream, especially fish in brackish and semi tidal waters (and there are many such places around our estuaries) are suckers for dry flies as well. One very easily tied fly that definitely works well on bream is the good old Gartside Gurgler, which, of course, also works on everything from bass to barra. Remember that with bream, less is more. Keeping the fly small is essential and again size 1-2 is ideal.

Last but not least is the use of berley. There’s nothing

A selection of the author’s small bream flies. They also work fine on bass, which is very handy. like a bit of berley scattered within casting range to get bream up and on the job.

They still won’t be easy but at least there’s a visual element to the fun.

JUNE 2015

71

Skinning mackerel fillets CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

Mackerel is a great fish to catch and eat, but one of the big challenges with this species is skinning the fillet. Filleting mackerel has pretty well become the norm from the days of slicing the whole body crossways into steaks.

The flesh stays moist and offers a lot more cooking options to the age-old mackerel steak.

2

the lateral line in whatever lengths suit your purpose. I like pieces around 25cm, as they fit nicely into the 28cm vacuum-sealed, food saver bags or cut rolls. You will need a knife with a blade that has a straight cutting edge at least the length of the cut pieces.

My ideal skinning knife is a ham-slicing knife, stocked by some tackle stores and most specialist knife stores like King of Knives.

Place the cut section in front of you with the lateral line perpendicular to your shoulders and carefully

Cut down and slightly out to the right, increasing the angle of the blade, as you get closer to the skin.

Lynn Bain, QFM’s ‘Iron Chef’, wrote a great feature on filleting mackerel, titled ‘Filleting long slender fish’, which ran in the September 2012 issue of the magazine. The link to Lynn’s article on the Fishing Monthly website is http:// www.fishingmonthly.com. au/Articles/Display/13581Filleting-long-slender-fish.

The two issues faced when skinning mackerel are; the skin is so soft that it is extremely easy to cut though by accident due to the lack of scales, and the bloodline gives the flesh a much stronger smell when cooking and flavour when eating it. My wife can’t stand fishy smells when cooking strong flavoured fish or any sign of bloodline, so it has always been a challenge to process fish that will make it into her kitchen.

72

My brother-in–law came to the rescue one day when he mentioned a great new method he had learned from a neighbour and fishing buddy in Bundaberg. I was onto it in a flash and the very next mackerel that made it to my filleting table got the new skinning treatment. It worked a treat and I have been skinning mackerel this way ever since, and putting the word out to all my fishing buddies.

Firstly, fillet the mackerel either using Lynn’s method or any other that gives you two large, long, fillets per fish. Lay

JUNE 2015

4

Cut right out through the fillet, close to the skin.

the fillet longways in front of you with the skin down and cut it perpendicular to

position the skinning knife just to the right of the centreline of the cut fillet. Your left hand

1

3

5

Position the skinning knife just to the right of the centreline of the cut fillet.

Continue laying the blade over until it is parallel with the skin.

will follow the bloodline down. By the time the blade gets to the skin, the cutting edge is about a third of the way to the outside edge of the fillet. Continue laying the blade over until it is parallel with the skin and cut right out through the fillet, close to the skin. You will be left with a beautiful clean slab of mackerel flesh, with no bone, skin or bloodline.

Turn the cut fillet around and repeat the operation on the other side of the bloodline.

The fillet is often harder to hold with one side of flesh already removed, so a fork can be used, instead of fingers, to hold the skinned side of the fillet steady while skinning the other side. The left over

You will be left with a beautiful clean slab of mackerel flesh, with no bone, skin or bloodline.

holds the fillet still on the left side of the blade. Cut down and slightly out to the right,

increasing the angle of the blade, as you get closer to the skin. This cutting action

bloodline and skin makes great berley, or can be used as reef fishing bait if desired.

Fishing Fill-its

So what about reverse chines?

As you may have noticed, more and more new boats are being released onto the market with reverse chines. It seems boat designers are waking up to the ability of reverse chines to cut back spray, produce lift and aid directional control.

However, it is hard to find a reverse chine more than a couple inches wide, and they rarely follow all the way from the transom to the bow, making them more like spray rails than something that can radically help performance.

How do reverse chines work? Science tells us a liquid cannot be compressed, so, with a boat’s forward motion, the angle and width of a reverse chine (if it’s wide enough) traps water between the boat’s main hull and the reverse chine, pressurising it, which pushes the boat higher and faster from the water’s surface.

The bigger the reverse chine, the better the performance, and standard monohulls up to 6m can get just that when they have a Kapten Boat Collar fixed to the outside chine.

This ‘stabilizer’ produces a 15cm wide reverse chine the whole length of a boat, and they’re full of buoyancy for certifiable level flotation, which can never go astray.

With the surfboard-fin behaviour (lateral grip of water and lift to aid power) of Kapten Boat Collars, monohulls can track straight in messy chop or over wake/waves and resist broaching/yawing while also remaining incredibly

QR CODE

Check out the video of a 4.2m Quintrex Dory with a Boat Collar, surfing 1-2m waves on You Tube.

stable. It’s little wonder why the Kapten Boat Collar logo resembles a surfboard!

In summary, a Kapten Boat Collar may be the most effective stabilizer on the market today, but due to its uniquely wide reverse chine, it also solves most of the performance problems of mono hulls, too.

To see if a Collar will suit your boat, and for prices, phone Kapten: 07)5441 3636 or see their website: www.BoatCollar.com.au

Phillip Satici, aged 11, had one mission whilst on holidays, to catch a Spanish mackerel in Far North Queensland! He caught this Spanish mackerel in the worst weather conditions, which didn’t worry Phillip. He was proud of his catch of 1.2m and over 8.5kg catch on a pilchard!

JUNE 2015

73

Cooking

Spicy baby octopus with noodles BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Ingredients (serves 4) 500g baby octopus 3 cloves garlic 1cm fresh ginger, peeled and sliced 4 coriander stems and leaves A good pinch of salt 1tbsp brown sugar 1\2tsp dried chilli flakes Juice and zest of a lime 2tbsp squid brand fish sauce 1-2 red chillies, finely sliced 2 golden shallots, peeled and finely diced Handful of fresh basil, mint and coriander, finely chopped 1 packet wide rice noodles, soaked and drained 3-4tbsp unsalted nuts (I used a combo of peanuts and cashews) 1tsp canola oil

3

1

2 Add the baby octopus (and cork) to the water. Bring the water to a simmer and cook the baby octopus for 20 minutes. At the end of the simmering time, remove the pot from the heat and drain the octopus, discarding the water and the cork.

Process the garlic, ginger, coriander and salt to a rough, paste-like consistency. Then scoop the paste mixture into a large glass bowl.

6 Handy Hints

Add the noodles to the herb mixture in the large bowl and mix thoroughly with the unsalted nuts.

74

JUNE 2015

4

7 *

Add the chilli flakes, lime zest and brown sugar to the paste mixture in the bowl. Pour the combined lime juice and fish sauce over the contents of the bowl. Mix together thoroughly.

Heat a grill plate to high. Drizzle the canola oil over the octopus and mix together well. Pop the oil coated baby octopus onto the grill and cook, turning frequently, for about 3 minutes.

dd a A sparkling wine (champagne) cork to the water when cooking the baby octopus.

It works to tenderise the octopus.

*

5

8

oll your lime R before juicing on your work surface. You will get more juice if you do.

Place the garlic, ginger, coriander stems, leaves as well as the salt in the food processor.

Sprinkle the finely sliced red chillies to the bowl. Add the finely diced shallots, and the finely chopped herb mixture of basil, mint and coriander into the large bowl.

To finish off the recipe, put the grilled baby octopus into the large bowl with the noodle mixture and toss to combine. Your Spicy Baby Octopus with Noodles is now ready to serve.

*

prinkle S fried shallots (available in most supermarkets) over the completed dish for a little extra crunch.

THE RECREATIONAL ANGLER’S LINK Magic weather month

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

April/May in the South East corner has certainly had its highs and lows these last few weeks. A couple of significant rain events kept many of us off the water for a few days. But once, the weather had settled, we were back to magic weather.

In between these two large events we have had a significant period of little or no wind that has allowed a lot of smaller craft to venture further out into the bay.

While the banana prawns were in full swing, it was common to see more than 100 tinnies up to a couple of kilometres offshore. As usual though the prawns turned off overnight when the temperature dropped for a couple of days.

The Queensland election is now well and truly settled. It has certainly

What I would like to focus on this month are some very real figures that political advisors have failed to consider up until now. Voting profiles have changed significantly over the last 10-15 years.

Both the major parties tend to have very similar policies on the big ticket items these days – health, education, roads etc. – they just vary how much they offer and how they plan to achieve it.

At the 2015 Queensland election over 490,000 people

within 100km of the coastline.

Of all 89 Queensland electorates, 63 in the 2015 election had margins less than the number of recreational fishers according to Fisheries Queensland latest recreational fishing survey data.

Any one of those 63 could have changed the outcome of the election.

All 63 of those sitting members could have or may indeed have changed with the recreational fishing vote.

An actual example of

been a pleasant change to see media releases coming from Fisheries Queensland supporting what we have been saying for many years regarding Net Free Areas – they will have very little impact on the seafood appearing in our local outlets and that the net economic benefit to communities will indeed be significant. For those of us involved in policy we will soon be turning our heads towards the Federal and Local government elections next year. Here in Moreton Bay that is a good thing because our current Moreton Bay Regional Council has unanimously supported our Moreton Bay Recreational Fishing Haven.

(about 20% or 1:5) voted before the day of the election.

Long term voters who have always supported a particular party will vote the other way when a personal opinion is triggered. They will often then swing back at the next election.

Now, it would be preposterous to think that recreational fishing policies are significant enough to be a major vote winner in the same class as health, roads or education. But with the changing patterns of how people vote; local important issues like recreational fishing have greater significance.

Of all 89 Queensland electorates, there are only 4 that don’t have a boundary

this was at the 2009 election in the seat of Pumicestone.

Incumbent Carryn Sullivan had polled 45.7% of the primary vote during pre-polling and her main opponent 45.5%. A couple of days before polling day she released a media statement, “State Member for Pumicestone, Carryn Sullivan said a re-elected Bligh Labor Government will ban commercial bait net fishers from taking fish caught as by-catch in yellow zones in Moreton Bay.” On polling day she then took 47.8% to her opponent’s 40%.

This clearly demonstrates two things. Firstly, policy makers need to announce vote winning policies much

www.sunfishqld.com.au

earlier in the electoral process and secondly that recreational fishers have the numbers to push a candidate over the line. Her final winning majority was only 2710 votes.

Please share this information with any local members or candidates. It’s very important that each of us take the time to go and have a chat with and get

has progressed the current three Net Free Areas in Cairns, Mackay and Keppel Bay they have committed to commencing the negotiations around Moreton Bay. Here are a couple of dot points to support Net Free Areas in general and the proposed Moreton Bay Haven in particular.

• MBMP is 3400km2, we are asking for 115km2or just 3%.

owners in the Moreton Bay Catchment.

• We are not suggesting a buyback but an offset proposal with FRDC (Fisheries Research and Development Corporation) to benefit the commercial sector Queensland coastal communities will begin to thrive on a combination of high value recreationally

to know our local members of council, state and federal governments and explain who we are, what we like to do in our spare time and the part they play in achieving that outcome. You can also share the valuable financial benefit to local communities from recreational fishing.

We have recently seen much in local media by fringe commercial fishing groups. In the coming months I expect there will be more scare mongering.

Once the government

• Mostly it is 400m from the shoreline.

• There are 405,000 recreational fishers in the Moreton Bay Catchment.

• We are NOT asking for access to existing green zones in this proposal.

• Fish caught in the haven area is generally not supplying the local markets.

• 3% of what is caught in MBMP net targeted species is valued at only $207,000.

• Last year more than $2 million in Recreational Use Fee was collected from boat

significant net free areas and some modern, environmentally sound and sustainable commercial fishing businesses.

Email: judylynne@sunfishqld.com.au

JUNE 2015

75

FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION

Which Wrasse?

Name

BAR CHEEKED

HUMP HEADED

RINGED

BI COLOURED

JANSENS

ROSY

BIRD

KING

SENATOR

BLACK SPOT

MAORI

SHARP NOSED

BROWN FIELDS

MOON

THICK LIPPED

BROWN SPOT

PEARL

TRIPLE TAIL

P/Code

GOLD SPOT

PURPLE

WESTERN FOX

Phone (day):

Address

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win a Fishing Monthly selected prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO:

QLD Find-a-word Competition PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129 QFM JUNE 2015

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE The subscriber prize winners for April were S Kelley of Bundaberg, B Halberstater of Yeppoon, T Archer of Crows Nest, S Vinge of Burleigh Waters, V Bobbermein of Campwin Beach, V Strong of Upper Caboolture, who each won a Gamakatsu gift pack valued at $50.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

FIND THE VMC LOGO WINNERS BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The Find the VMC logo prize winners for April were: J Buddle of Torquay, N Martin of Kalkie, B Gant of Atherton, D Hutchins of Bundaberg, D Winterton of Eli Waters, J Koch of Tara, C Couper of Chinchilla, A Hewlett of Mothar Mountain, R Jamieson of Morayfield, L Pirlo of Modanville, R Quill of Tin Can Bay, J Higgins of Wavell Heights, B Stephan of Helidon Spa, J Bryan of Charleville, D Newton of Rangeville, S Davis of Warner, G Yarrow of Miriam Vale, A Svaikauskas of Alligator Creek, R Bignell of Roma, P Polla-Mounter of Mooloolaba, E Howarth of Cowra, C Renz of Crestmead, M Wilson of Murgon, B Hollingsworth of Rockville, M Chadwick of Gladstone, M Hayes of Moura, B Elliott of Aspley, M Goodwin of Cardwell, R Kunde of Beerwah, P Walker of Maryborough, C Daniel of Brightview, R Dowden of Goondiwindi, D Leciej of Hervey Bay, A Coles of Malanda, B Newton of Trinity Beach, G Edwards of Home Hill, B Freier of Ningi, N Tretiakoy of Daisy Hill, B Schmidt of Dalby, N Kempthorne of Ripley.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

check out!

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FIND THE VMC LOGO APRIL LOCATIONS GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The answers to Find the VMC Logo for April were: 12, 20, 40, 46, 51, 58, 75, 79, 82, 84, 90, 93, 100, 107, 114. – QFM

FIND-A-WORD WINNER Congratulations to John Lowik of Churchill, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM 3 76

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77

What’s New FISHING

1

FEELFREE FISH BAGS

Feelfree Kayaks would like to introduce their new range of insulated fish bags, which are going to be available in both medium and large sizes.

The fish bags are designed with a closed cell foam insulation making sure that your catch is going to stay cool while out on the water.

The fish bags have a removable liner fitted inside to help with cleaning and keeping your catch separate if you wish to place other items in the insulated bag.

Feelfree Kayaks in their design have also placed several clip attachments on the bags, a convenient carry handle and carry strap too.

The bags are all fitted with heavy duty zippers to access the top of the bag or the front zipper stops you from getting too much warmth into the bags when accessing it on the water.

All the bags are made out of a heavy duty Diamond Ripstop polyester material, they will be available in our most popular camouflage colours.

Price: RRP $169 (medium), $205 (large) www.feelfreekayaks.com.au

2

OKUMA CEYMAR

The all-new Okuma Ceymar spinning reel delivers stunning engineering at a great price. With its ultra-lightweight rotor, aggressively ported spool and red on black styling, the Ceymar makes a statement on the water.

Backing up the fierce look is a core of excellence: 8-bearing system including a Quick-Set anti-reverse, machined aluminium spool, blade body design, forged aluminium handle, EVA handle knobs and a drag that generates up to 8kg of drag. The Ceymar is an incredibly affordable lightweight perfect for all inshore applications.

Built with quality parts, this reel, like all Okuma reels, is built as tough as nails to ensure your reel a long life.

Available in sizes C-25, C-30, C-40 and C-55, the Ceymar takes on all light to heavyduty applications and is backed up with a complete Lifetime Guarantee, so you can fish hard with peace of mind.

Price: RRP $119.95 www.rapala.com.au

3

SX 40F NEW COLOURS

The SX 40F lure from Ecogear is a very well respected light tackle crankbait, which has been making an impact across Australia in all sorts of light tackle sport fishing with its lifelike action and colours, and it’s compact nature, making it’s a perfect casting lure.

This year, Ecogear are introducing 2 new colors into the range, 376 and 377. These colours are perfect mimicking prawns, small baitfish, and small trout when you are using them in trout streams or dams. Paired with the irresistible action of the SX 40F, these lures will be taking fish like no tomorrow!

These new lifelike colours are a must-have for any keen bream, bass or trout, but the applications could potentially be as wide as the angler’s mind.

Available at any good tackle store, these new colours are set to go like hotcakes, so get out and grab your share before they all run out! www.jml.net.au Price: $17.95

4

FLY FISHING IN 50 FLIES

JUNE 2015

1

The History of Fly Fishing in Fifty Flies is a beautiful and practical book on a much-loved pastime.

Whitelaw takes us on a journey through the 2000-year history of fly fishing, charting the growth of this fascinating sport and showcasing 50 of the most iconic flies.

Among them is the distinctively Australian Nobby Hopper.

Not only does Whitelaw show how a host of classic flies are made, but he also introduces us to the people who crafted them, such as Dusan (Dan) Todorivic, who developed the Nobby Hopper while fishing the Murrumbidgee.

More than this, the book describes the evolution of rods, flies and everything associated with fly fishing. The author also offers helpful tips on how to make great catches.

The History or Fly Fishing is illustrated with specially commissioned watercolour paintings of all 50 flies, with diagrams showing each individual part of the fly.

Price: RRP $34.99 www.exilepublishing.com.au

2

3

5

BLACK MAGIC ROCK ‘N’ SURF

Black Magic’s growing range of rigs targeting land-based anglers has gotten even better.

This new addition to the range incorporates two flies per rig tied on suicide 3/0 hooks. There are two colours to choose from; the tried and tested ‘bleeding pilchard’ with its red, blue and silver combo, and the ‘blinky’ with its hot pink and blue combo.

Each fly is topped with a soft, long-life lumo bead, which is great for fishing at night, or in deeper water giving your hook that added attraction.

These rigs are ideal for a range of species including snapper, salmon and flathead. The Rock ‘n’ Surf have been developed for use from the rocks, beach or wharves, but they are also effective fishing ‘straight up and down’ from boats.

Just put a small strip of bait on each hook, attach a suitable weight, and you’re ready to cast.

Price: RRP $12.95 www.blackmagictackle.com

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GEKKABIJIN FAMILY

Daiwa’s Gekkabijin family has a genuine finesse pedigree with roots in the Japanese land-based, light rockfish movement: finesse rods, finesse reels, light lines and lures, and a hell of a lot of fun.

Accessible to all, this style of fishing has exploded in Japan, and Daiwa’s Gekkabijin brand has gained popularity and a strong following amongst light tackle and bream enthusiasts in Australia.

The Japanese-made, 2015 Gekkabijin range eclipses all others, combining sleek and stylish design accents with unparalleled innovation and performance, features that remain unrivalled by our opposition.

Four high-performance, lightweight, technologically rich finesse rods with AGS guides that grace superior rod blanks are matched to a beautiful, feature packed, highly sensitive, Magseal protected reel.

Finished with funky, stylish cosmetics, the Gekkabijin Family is about as close to perfection as you will ever feel. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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WILSON DELUXE CAMP CHAIRS

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SURECATCH IN-LINE SINGLES

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PFLUEGER TRION SPIN

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EGI OH K LIVE SHALLOW

Camping chairs are always one of those things that just make being out and about that little bit more comfortable.

The Wilson Deluxe Camp Chairs are built to withstand 150kg of weight meaning they are built tough and built to last. The build is also extra wide, a gift for anyone using the chair as you no longer feel like you’re flying on a budget airline trying to squeeze yourself into the seat.

All materials are double stitched with reinforcement around the rubber eyelets, meaning this chair will go the distance.

Other features include a silver-lined cooler bag on the left arm and an insulated cup holder in the right arm to allow you to really take it easy and not move a muscle.

A powder coated steel frame reduces rust and damage and the attractive Wilson print in either blue or pink make these chairs as good to look at.

Price: RRP $60 www.wilsonfishing.com

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In-Line singles are making a big impact on all forms of lure fishing these days and the SureCatch In-Line Singles will add a cost effective choice to the market.

These hooks are chemically sharpened for superior penetration, the SureCatch In-Line Singles are initially available in four sizes: 2, 1, 1/0 and 2/0. Making use of high carbon and using a black nickel finish, these hooks have an eye that is in line with the lure’s tow point and allows anglers to use only one split ring instead of bogging down the lures with more than one split ring and are super strong.

Consistent strength, superior sharpness and a size range that will suit most commonly used lures makes these hooks fantastic option for those wanting to retro-fit their lures with stronger hooks.

The SureCatch In-Line Singles offer anglers an affordable and reliable option when retro-fitting lures with single hooks.

Price: RRP $5 www.wilsonfishing.com

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TIDE APPAREL LED MEASURE MAT

Tide Apparel is a brand that wants to provide quality products to people who share the same passion as us. Whether you love going fishing or just being on the water, just remember we want this beautiful gift to be appreciated and enjoyed forever.

Now, Tide brings you the all-new LED measure mat. This mat is different from all the rest by being 150cm in length, so you’re not caught out when you land that fish of alifetime.

It also has a feature that is specific to this mat and the first of its kind, an LED light built into the header, which you can unclip and use as a torch. Simply lay the fish on the mat, switch the light on and the fish will be illuminated for you to see at night for that revered ‘mat shot’!

There’s limited stock, and it’s going fast, so jump online or call in at the factory and grab your own today!

Price: RRP $50 www.tideapparel.com.au

SAMMY BUG 75MM

The new limited edition Lucky Craft Sammy Bug, is a larger surface walker, perfect for big, angry native predators!

It features a loosely mounted front cup, which creates a metallic sound while walking, a fizzer tail and Decoy W-77 trebles. The extra commotion and noise of this lure will make any large predator go nuts!

It casts long and will stand up to the punishment of a big fish, especially the mighty Murray cod.

The melodic fish calling action and sound will generate explosive surface strikes, and really fire up those aggressive predators.

At 75mm and 23g, it’s a perfect snacksized profile for big angry predators, but not too big for smaller species like bass, mangrove jack and sooty grunter.

This awesome limited edition surface walker is made with quality hardware in Japan and is a must-have for any topwater enthusiast.

Price: RRP $35 www.ejtodd.com.au

The Pflueger Trion spinning reels are the workhorse of the Pflueger reel line-up, offering performance and quality only seen in reels twice its price.

The Trion features a 6+1 stainless steel bearing system housed within a lightweight graphite body and rotor for durability and corrosion resistance.

It features everything great about modern spin reels, including on/off instant antireverse bearing and convertible left and right hand retrieve and a threaded main gear design eliminating play in the handle.

Other features include a smooth multi disc drag system, machined and double anodised aluminium spool, SureClick bail and an aluminium handle with soft touch knob.

The Trion series is available in 4 sizes ideal for light to light-medium freshwater and estuary fishing. Match them up with a Pfleuger Trion rod and you’ve got yourself a pairing of some of the most affordable quality on the market.

Price: RRP $99.95 www.purefishing.com.au

The new shallow and super shallow squid jigs from Yamashita are now available in size 3.5 and 4.0 in the EGI OH K series.

These slow-sinking jigs are available with sink rates of 6 seconds per metre and 10 seconds per metre! But don’t think the slow sink rate means less weight or poor casting distance – Yamashita have added extra weight to the tail of the jig which changes the sinking posture in the water to be more horizontal. This creates more water pressure when sinking and results in a slower sink rate, yet excellent casting distance.

Yamashita have also applied a special top coating over the cloth, which is 1.5 times stronger than uncoated cloth.

Available now in 12 new colours in the following sizes: 3.5S 20g, with a sink rate of 5.5-6.0sec/m, 4.0S 24g, with a sink rate of 5.5-6.0sec/m, and 3.5SS 19.5g, with a sink rate 8.0-10sec/m.

Price: RRP $24 www.ejtodd.com.au

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What’s New FISHING

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PARAFRAME MINI KNIFE

Pocketknives are designed to be on hand at all times for unexpected uses that often pop up in the most inconvenient of times.

With this in mind, Gerber has designed the Paraframe Mini Knife to be your ultimately, highly-effective and compact dayto-day companion.

The Paraframe is the smallest of the eight knives in the Paraframe series and is based on the same frame-lock design as its bigger predecessors.

The use for a fine-edge blade has never been more profound. Whatever the job, the Paraframe Mini has it all covered. It opens effortlessly and securely locks in place so there’s no danger when carrying it in your pocket. Gerber has long been the leaders in versatile, sturdy knives. As such, they’ve reinforced the Paraframe Mini with a stainless steel handle and a tough pocket clip for secure travel.

At a length of 15cm, this small blade is perfect for any job requiring a small blade.

Price: RRP $22.95 www.gerbergear.com

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REEL CUSTOM SYSTEM (RCS)

Imagine being able to customise your favourite reel so they feel better, looks better and performs better in your hand, and exactly the way you want them to.

Well, now you can with Daiwa’s stylish range of upgrade parts.

The RCS or Real custom System parts are designed to maximize the performance of specific Daiwa reels to suit the individual angler’s personal requirements. Perfect for retro-fitting Daiwa reels.

The individual parts are well made, stylish, and are made to last after plenty of use, making for lots more of time out on the water catching fish, rather than having to repair equipment.

Customise your reel into your own unique function and shape and make it ultra cool in appearance. RCS parts individualise your reels setting them apart from the rest of the crowd, to give you that edge out on the water. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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BALISTA FIRESTORM 120

The Firestorm 120 Shallow features our LED technology, making this lure dynamite when fishing dirty water. Some of the best conditions to chase barra revolve around dirty water like run-off and drains, this is when the Firestorm comes into its own.

The LED technology is scientifically proven to increase strike rates, the light provokes both feeding and aggressive territorial responses from barra. The flashing red LED is water activated and turns off after removing from the water. You’ll get at least 120 hours of battery life, or approximately 5 years of use.

The Firestorm is 120mm in length, dives to 3 feet and has a cracking swimming action.

Strength is a must for barra, which is why this lure features upgraded wire, split rings and hooks. Also sporting 8 barra specific colours in an ever-growing colour range.

You won’t find a barra lure with more strike features than the Firestorm 120 Shallow.

Price: RRP $19.90 www.balista.com.au

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CRAGHOPPERS NOSILIFE

JUNE 2015

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The collection features Craghoppers world-exclusive NosiLife technology, the only permanent insect repellent clothing on the market, which gives up to 90% protection from biting insects including midges and ticks.

Anglers have long recognised the benefits of wearing NosiLife to help keep the midges at bay. The NosiLife Long Sleeved Anglers Shirt offers all the protection from the standard NosiLife range, but has been especially designed for fishing enthusiasts and comes with multiple pockets for all the essential accessories as well as a rod resting loop.

Other features include a solar and cooling collar, sunglasses hanger loop and sunglasses wipe, as well as a vented back and underarm gusset. The shirt is also available in a shortsleeved version in provincial blue, parchment and dark khaki colours in sizes S-XXL. The Craghopper NosiLife is perfect for fishers in the Australian sun and will keep the mozzies and ticks off!

Price: Various www.plg.com.au

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The all-new Presia is the latest flagship spinning reel from iconic Australian fishing brand Silstar, designed by Australians, for Australians.

By incorporating 7hp bearings, a lightweight aluminium body you can cast all day and oiled felt drag system into this series, the Presia is an ultra smooth piece of machinery and balances perfectly with a lightweight graphite rod.

A braid ready ported spool promotes accurate and long casts, giving you the ability to put your lure into the strike zone every time and hook into that fish of a lifetime.

Built tough, this hardy little reel is sure to last you a long time and will handle the rigours of fishing in salt water if looked after properly.

Available now in a 20, 30, 40 and 60 size to cover any light tackle situation you find yourself in out on the water.

Price: RRP $119.95 www.rapala.com.au

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SILSTAR PRESIA

MASTER FIT LUGGAGE BOX

Family road trips are a highlight of every holiday period, but excitement can quickly turn to anguish before you even leave the driveway.

The harsh realisation that there just isn’t enough room to take everything you need is a dreadful one. Fortunately with the RhinoRack Master Fit Luggage Box these feelings will never have to resurface again.

The Rhino-Rack Master Fit Luggage Box has a hefty interior that allows for 400L, 440L or 550L of additional space and the sleek, aerodynamic design reduces wind drag while driving for an extra smooth ride.

Built from tough and durable impact resistant materials, this handy storage unit has a proven and tested 75kg Off-Road load rating and will protect your belongings from all kinds of weather while you’re on the road or in the Outback.

Rhino’s unique Master Fit Technology means you can quickly and safely fit the Luggage Box to your vehicle by using a revolutionary ‘Twist to Tighten & Press to Lock’ clamping system.

Price: RRP $669 (440L), $839 (550L) www.rhinorack.com.au

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TFO BVK Super Large Arbor fly reel

I was after a lightweight fly reel to stick on my medium 8-9wt outfit that wouldn’t make me sore from casting all day and would hold a lot of line, with an ultrasmooth drag.

It doesn’t sound like much to ask, but when quality is weighed up against price, you end up looking around pretty extensively.

A colleague recommended I try the BVK Super Large Arbor from Temple Fork Out Fitters (imported by EJ Todd), so I did.

The reel was definitely one of the most beautifully made fly reels I’d ever seen, and the attractive moss green colour was really pleasing to the eye. I think I even caught Steve Morgan trying to pinch it from under my nose…

I spooled the little beauty up with 300m of 30lb Super P.E, and an 8wt WF intermediate line from Scientific Angler. The reel was matched to my 8wt Reddington CPX, and my casting arm was twitching! I was ready to see what all the fuss was about.

That was 3 months ago now, and since then I’ve clocked up a fair few different species on that rig, with absolutely no failures or complaints and only good things to say about the reel.

Taking the reel offshore, I was lucky enough to be motored around by good mate Kaspar Lenigas, while he laughed at me trying to fight tuna on fly tackle and be seasick simultaneously…

The reel performed amazingly when it was stripped well into the backing by a few funsized mac tuna, singing its glorious song, and I can safely say it’s the smoothest drag I’ve ever experienced on a saltwater fly reel. That

TESTED:

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large arbor came in handy when I needed to crank those fish back with a big dirty shark up their bum!

The BVK also shone in the close-range hand-to-hand type stuff. Fly fishing for threadfin salmon and mulloway in shallow water was another great test for this great machine. While I ended up with smashed-up knuckles, I landed quite a few threadies and mulloway on this reel, and fighting them on the reel was no drama at all – in fact, it was a lot of fun!

Threadfin salmon are a prized fly target, and a good reel with a smooth drag is necessary if you want to stay connected during the stubborn fight.

Between madness, I also caught some other species on the side, such as tarpon, flathead, small trevally, queenfish and even a big smelly catfish (which was released).

With all the fishing I did, I had no trouble with a jerky drag, which is why I even fight smaller fish on the reel now rather than with the line.

Tuna are known to cause inferior fly reels problems with their ridiculously long and hard runs. The BVK seemed to enjoy the punishment dished out by this little rocket, Another great feature that would appeal to perhaps more than the very seasick angler many fly anglers is that you can turn this reel holding it… from a left-hand to a right-hand wind with a click and turn of the bearing in the reel.

Spare spools can be bought separately, rather than coming with the reel and taxing you for something you didn’t want. I haven’t had the need to run any other line yet, and I’m happy I don’t have another spool on the shelf gathering dust.

The BVK Super Large Arbor fly reel from Temple Fork Outfitters has become my favourite fly reel that I own and I look forward to seeing what other sort of punishment I can put it through! – Bob Thornton

DUO Realis Grade A Shinmushi

Bass were the predominate target, but fish up north and down south should find these lures irresistible.

“Far out! That has to catch fish!” That was my first reaction half way through my first retrieve of the new DUO Realis Shinmushi (slightly watered down version of my initial thoughts).

This first reaction was then followed on the second cast by a violent explosion as an Australian bass smashed it and took off for home. Any fish caught on a surface lure is special, but when the take is this explosive, it tends to etch it in the memory banks.

Recognised as a maker of quality Japanese fishing lures, DUO International has a strong reputation for their attention to detail and innovation in design. The

Shinmushi is no exception. It is an adult cicada imitation that is 400mm long and weighs 5.7g.

The point of difference to other cicada imitations is that this lure can be pulled apart, providing you with the ability to replace key components if damaged or customise it as the angler sees fit.

Replacement packs will also be available for all components for when wear and tear takes its toll. I have seen lures where the legs have been pimped using feathers, tinsel and all manner of colour variations of spinnerbait skirts.

Forgetting for the moment about the

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ability to personalise the lure, I think the key feature of the lure is its ease of use. From the packet you can simply attach it to the line with a loop knot, cast it out and wind it in. It is a slow roll and the lure will tell you if you are winding to fast or too slow, as the paddling action will disappear. When you do have it right it has a seductive action as it wobbles across the surface producing a subtle ‘plimp, plimp’ sound and a slight bubble trail to let any fish nearby know that it is there. Continuing on the ease of use track, my bugbear with many of the cicada imitations in the marketplace is the rod angle required for the lure to swim correctly. You have to have the rod angle at 45° or higher otherwise the winged bib wont work. For new people using these types of lures this can prove to be a rookie mistake and turn people away from them. The Shinmushi does not have this issue, no matter what angle you have the rod, as long as you have the speed of retrieve right, it will swim correctly and give you a chance of catching a fish.

Chasing bass with them was my initial thought, but I can’t imagine that a sooty grunter, jungle perch, saratoga, trout or even a bream could resist them. I think small variations in your retrieve, whether it be pausing the lure every couple of winds of the handle or having an extended pause (letting the tell-tale rings of the retrieve disappear) would be the downfall of many of these fish.

Is this the new ‘must-have’ lure? I don’t believe that is for me to judge. They will

however sit on my list of go to lures and they are definitely worth having a look at them. There are 8 colours available, but I did note that 5 more colours will be available soon. I had better start putting some money aside, because I will need to add them to my collection. You can go to www. swldistributions.com.au for more information on the range of Realis Shinmushi lures and the other DUO lures available in Australia.

– Peter Jung

A fish on the second cast is good fishing anywhere, especially when they explode over the lure like this one did!

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Pretty fly for a Young guy CE 1ST PLA

Queensland’s Dave Young broke through for his maiden BASS Pro win with the 31 year old tournament veteran claiming a comprehensive wire-to-wire win to secure the Spotters Sunglasses Lake Somerset BASS Pro title for 2015.

Securing the event win by over 3kg Young stood out on a tough Lake Somerset, an event that saw only 35 bass weighed in for the tournament, and many of the big names of the sport failing to deliver a fish to scales for the event.

For event winner Young it was a fly blown event with the EJ Todd sponsored tournament pro fishing it old school and opting to fish slow and deep with fly for the event.

“With the rain last week and the fishing being incredibly tough during the prefish I thought fly would be the way to go,” said Young.

With his technique of choice locked in Young started at Pelican Point, an area that

dialled in on the fish and all ready to pick up where he left off heading into session two. He didn’t have to wait long to add another fish to the well, and 5-6 casts into session two he had his first fish for the session. His second proved a lot tougher to find and it wasn’t until the last half hour of the session that he finally caught his second and final fish for the session.

With an extended lead heading into the final session Young was confident, confident that he could eke out just two more bites to complete his 6-from-6 limit for the tournament. Returning to Pelican again ,Young remained focused and committed to the task, but it wasn’t until halfway through the session that he picked up his first fish.

“It was a lot tougher.

There weren’t as many fish on the sounder as the day before and they were incredibly tight lipped. I missed one other bite and that was it for the session,” said Young.

In the end the missed fish didn’t affect the result and Young’s extensive lead heading into the final session was never overcome by any of his challengers. With close to a 3kg winning margin over

Clean cool days dominated the weather at the 2nd stop of the Toray BASS Pro Tour.

STORM VENTAFISH®

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

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he had found the fish in the lead-up to the tournament, and began fishing fly to fish that he found in 25-30’ of water.

“Fish would regularly come through on the Lowrance but they were far for active and willing to eat with any great regularity. I fished fly and occasionally threw a Jackall Mask Vibe, but it wasn’t until late in the first session that I keyed into exactly where the active fish were holding and what they wanted to eat,” said Young.

Moving shallower and into 18’ of water and now positioned right on Pelican Point rather than wide or off it, Young pin-pointed fish holding hard on the bottom and it was these that he began tareget. With 15 minutes left in the session Young picked up his fist fish, and two or three casts later he soon had his second.

Weighing in a 2.81kg limit for the session Young was now

Dave Young dominated at Somerset, fishing fly to catch his fish. his nearest challenger, event runner-up Paul Gillespie, Young’s victory can only be described as comprehensive, a win that’s been 16 years in the making, and a win that’s been predated by multiple 2nds, and top tens.

Young’s victory is a return to the winner’s for deep fly, a technique that dominated 10 years ago, but in recent years has failed to make the impact it once had. Young’s tournament winning technique was textbook deep flyfishing for bass. A long cast followed by a long wait (60 second) for the fly line and fly to sink to the bottom, followed by a couple of short sharp strip to make the fly dart of the bottom, then and a pause.

“It was important to be slow and methodical, and be patient in what you were doing,” said Young.

His patience wasn’t just restricted to the sinking of the fly and its retrieve but also to how he reacted to the fish when he got a bite.

“The bites were incredibly tentative. Most came on the pause and often you’d just feel a slight pressure when you went to make the next strip.

When this happened I’d just let the fish mouth and play with fly and gave it plenty of time to eat it. In many ways it was like waiting for bream to eat a bait. It was far from electric fishing and was a real test of patience,” said Young.

The win finally adds Young’s name to the list of BASS Pro winners, a list that includes many former fly fishing champions, and former winners who I’m sure would be more than pleased to see fly re-emerge as a tournament winning technique.

BOATER RESULTS #

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2

3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

David YOUNG Paul GILLESPIE

Warren CARTER

Craig SIMMONS Dan STEAD Barry REYNOLDS Mark LENNOX Tony THORLEY Joe ALLAN Michael THOMPSON

5/6 3/6

3/6

2/6 1/6 1/6 2/6 1/6 2/6 1/6

7.20 4.23

3.75

2.27 1.93 1.72 1.43 1.40 1.14 0.88

Payout $2,300 $1350, Austackle Big Bass, Spotters Big Bass $950, Duffrods Big Bag, Spotters Big Bass $850 $650 $450, Spotters Big Bass

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

NON-BOATER RESULTS #

Angler

Fish Weight (kg)

1 2

3 4

5

Shaun FALKENHAGEN Brett HYDE

Jason MARTIN Luke DRAPER

James REID

3/6 1/6

1/6 1/6

1/6

2.80 0.79

0.64 0.56

0.54

Payout

NS Black Hole, Spotters Big Bass 13 Fishing Omen Black rod, Spotters Big Bass Bassman Prize Pack Spotters Sunglasses Prize Pack, Spotters Big Bass Spotters Sunglasses Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Gillespie gets big bite for second CE 2ND PLA

Standing next to Young on the podium was event runner-up, 52 year old Big River Bait and Tackle employee Paul Gillespie of Hardwood Island, NSW. Fishing his beloved Bassman Spinnerbait for the weekend, Gillespie fished to his strength throwing a 1/2oz white spinnerbait to the edges to catch his fish.

“Were found out during the Friday prefish that the fishing was going to be tough, so I thought if I’m only going to get a few bites for the weekend I better try and

make them good ones, and I thought the edges would probably be the best place to get those bites. It’s also what I love to do,” said Gillespie.

Fishing a series of locations for the weekend, Gillespie had two standout banks, the first being a location not far from the event start line that he’d fished in the past and the other a bank closer to dam wall that featured laydown timber. With nothing to show for his efforts in session one and with only 15 minutes to go, Paul hit his money bank, and 4-5 casts into fishing his last hurrah bank for the session he came up tight on a fish.

“It was a typical spinnerbait retrieve. Cast it tight to the edge, slow roll it out for ten cranks then let it sink back to the bottom, then

WINNING NOTES

Winning Tackle

Lure: ..... Black Wolverine fly (tied by Gavin Dunne) Rod: ..................................... #7wt TFO BVK Reel: ............................ Snowbee Onyx 5-7 Line: ......#7wt Scientific Angler sinking line Leader: .............................. 10lb Sunline FC Rock twisted leader Extras: ............. Lowrance HDS 12 sounder and Insight Genesis Social Map, Tonic Youranium Copper lens glasses

Winning Ways

Young’s key to success was patience.

Patience to allow the line and fly to sink to the bottom, and patience in waiting for the limited bites to come.

Austackle Big Bass

Paul Gillespie got the big bite, finishing 2nd in the boater division and picking up the Austackle Big Bass prize.

Wolverine Fly

Slow retrieve

Shaun burns to win Redland Bay’s Shaun Falkenhagen once again showed his talent as a bass angler with the Queensland tournament gun fishing a burn and kill, and deep crank approach to claim another non-boater win on the Toray BASS Pro tour. Fishing with Anthony Thorpe on day one, Falkenhagen, like many anglers in the event, fished Pelican Point to catch his fish.

“We fished in about 30’ of water in session one hoping Mask Vibes through the showings of fish we picked up on the sounder. The first session was incredibly hard and unfortunately I caught nothing for my efforts,” said Shaun.

Heading into session two

and determined not to go fishless for another session Shaun mixed it up and tried a few things differently.

“I added a 1/2oz Jackall Deracoup to the lures I was throwing and started to work them with a burn and kill retrieve in the hope that something a bit more aggressive might fire up the fish that were acting very lethargic,” said Shaun.

Having moved shallower and now fishing in 18’ of water Thorpe and Falkenhagen soon found better concentrations of fish, and fish that were actually interested in eating. Using a 10-12 crank and pause retrieve, Falkenhagen soon picked up his first fish, then his second. Delivering a 2.02kg limit to scales Shaun

quickly grabbed the lead and sat in the number one spot heading into the final day.

Fishing with Mark Reinbott on day two Shaun used a different approach to catch his fish, using an OSP Blitz DR and long lining in 28’ of water at the bottom end of Pelican Point. With the 200m of line out Falkenhagen would slowly crank his lure back to the boat.

An approach that he would repeat over and over throughout the five hour session, the technique paid off with Shaun catching and delivering a fish to the scales to claim the event win. His second BASS Pro win in as many starts, he also won the Toray BASS Pro Grand Final at Lake Wivenhoe last year, Falkenhagen once

Event runner-up Paul Gillespie valued added his 2nd place winnings by picking up the event’s Austackle Big Bass. Caught on a Bassman Spinnerbait in colour 29 (white with blue and black fleck strands) it was Gillespie’s first fish for the tournament and fell to 10-crank-pause retrieve fished on the edge not far from the event start line.

start cranking again,” said Gillespie.

While he only caught one fish for the session, what he lacked in numbers he made up for in size, and his lone 2.26kg fish had him sitting in second place.

Back hitting his run of banks and throwing his white Bassman spinnerbait again Gillespie was working a steep timbered bank near The Spit when a big fish bit.

“This thing nailed the spinnerbait as I was working it out from a laydown, then turned and powered back towards the snag. I had two choices let it go or try and stop it. I muscled it as much as I could and eventually the hook pulled,” said Gillespie.

Ruing his missed opportunity and returning

30’

Strip, strip, pause retrieve

BASS PR O

fishless for the session Gillespie was determined to make amends in the final session. Fishing multiple locations on the Sunday morning, including the two banks where he’d hooked fish the day before, it was his big fish bay from session one that once again produced.

“I didn’t get the big bites like the day before but I did get the two bites that I needed to catch my limit, and that was what I was looking for,” said Gillespie.

On a measly Lake Somerset it was Gillespie’s final session 2/2, 1.97kg limit that held off a strong finishing Warren Carter (3rd) and Craig Simmons (4th), and ultimately booked his ticket for the Toray BASS Pro Grand Final in October.

-BOATER 1ST NON again showed he’s the gun angler at the moment on the non-boater side of BASS Pro angler draw. In claiming another tournament victory Falkenhagen had a few people that he wanted to thank.

“I’m fortunate to have some great sponsors that help me out greatly.

Barrabass rods, Fish Tec Solutions, and NexGen Lures allow me to use to the best products available and for that I’m incredibly grateful.

The next stop of the Toray BASS Pro Series sees the bass tour head south to Hunter Valley’s Lake Glenbawn in July (4/5th).

Slated to take place in the heart of winter it’ll be an

Shaun Falkenhagen added another non-boater win to his CV with victory at Somerset. event that’ll test anglers’ ability to handle the cold and handle the challenging cold weather bite that Glenbawn is famous for.

For more information on the Toray BASS Pro Series visit www.abt.org.au or phone ABT during office hours on (07) 3387 0888.

JUNE 2015

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Crompton’s Clarence pole position TER 1ST BOA

Mark Crompton, a 34 year old self employed plumber from the southern highlands of Sydney, has made the best possible start to his 2015 BREAM season by going back-to-back with victory at the JML Alliance Clarence River BREAM Pro. Crompton parlayed his Tweed River event victory by overcoming a class field on day two at the Clarence River event. Crompton’s 10/10, 6.44kg tournament limit saw him take the win by 400grams from his nearest competitor and cement his status as an angler on the rise.

Crompton’s event preparation, not unlike the Tweed River event, was limited to analyzing Google Maps and the prefish day.

This however didn’t deter Crompton who went about his task methodically, “Google Maps got a few good runs researching the Clarence as well as Insight Genesis, but I was mostly looking for weed flats, etc,

which I didn’t really find.

My plan was simply just drive around and get familiar with the system i.e. sand bars, rockwalls structure and the main areas like Middle Wall and Browns Rocks. I also had the BREAM Grand Final in mind so I needed to cover a lot of ground. Finding water hazards was my main aim though”.

“The event prefish was polar opposites to the competition day, but my experience taught me the bigger fish needed fast flow and good cover so that’s what I decided to aim for.

During the prefish I put 15 or so fish in the boat but all the fish came from different areas, mainly rock walls, but all locations had extremely fast moving current which is what I like fishing. I found fish everywhere, and I thought that’s not good because it allows everyone to do the same, but true to most commercially fished locations the prefish day put some good pressure on the system and allowed me to focus on my key zones confidently.”

On the first day Crompton headed out with a plan in mind and went about executing it, “My plan was keep it simple, fish the spots I knew would get pressured hard first

WINNING NOTES

Winning Tackle Rod: ...............Daiwa Battler Water Zombie and Daiwa Generation Black Itchy Twitchy Reel: 2004 Daiwa Sol II and Daiwa Freams Line: ...................................2lb Stren braid Leader: ............. 4/5/6/8lb Sunline FC rock Lures: .................... Cranka Crabs, Berkley Craws in camo colour and Juro Firebaits

Winning Ways Crompton identifying spawning fish holding on poles was significant in his victory at the Clarence River.

Crompton made it two wins from two events with victory at the Clarence. and it paid off. We pulled up to the Yamba Shores Tavern area and immediately started catching fish. I managed to fill my bag quick including a kicker fish. From there I upgraded slightly, but by this time I felt the spot had been punished so we headed to rock walls and Browns Rocks.

At these locations I struggled to upgrade which made my initial location seem a perfect call. I used the remainder of the day to prefish unknown areas in case I could find another good kicker fish”.

After the first session Crompton sat in 7th place with 5/5, 2.93kg. With a 840gm deficient to overcome he focused on trying to place in the top two, “My big aim was to chase down second place as catching Warren Carter seemed unlikely. I headed back to my key locations but I found it a lot slower on day two as I couldn’t find fish close to structure. After scanning the area closely using my Lowrance sounders I found them deeper on structure out from the pontoons, so I targeted the fish in these areas and had great success filling my bag by 9am. I then headed

to Browns Rocks for an hour catching several fish but with no upgrades I headed back to my original location.

From there it was on and I cracked a good pattern and upgraded many times but also unfortunately lost a lot of really big fish. I noticed all the fish I was catching were milking in pre-spawn. In Sydney I find pre-spawn fish hold on poles. I decided to explore this option in the hope that I could successfully target the bigger fish consistently. I managed two kicker upgrades following this pattern, which made a big difference at the end of the day”.

Crompton’s second day tournament limit of 5/5, 3.51kg was the largest for the day (second largest for the tournament) and propelled him up the leaderboard.

Ultimately Crompton’s combined session weight eclipsed his nearest rival and delivered him his second suc cessive victory. With two events in the bag Crompton clearly has momentum on his side heading into the back half of the season and is definitely one to watch for the PowerPole AOY title race.

Whittam over setback for second CE 2ND PLA

STORM VENTAFISH®

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

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Cameron Whittam, a 43 year old self employed plumber, finished runner-up at the JML Alliance Clarence River BREAM PRO. Whittam (10/10, 6.04kg) produced consistent limits over both tournament sessions, but was overtaken by Crompton’s final day heroics.

Whittam prefished above

Cam Whittam overcame lost fishing time on day one to finish second and book a spot in the Clarence River Grand Final.

Find Upgrades

Structure away from pontoons in deeper water

Fill tournament limit

15 legal fish for the day.”

Day two conditions were very different from day one with ultra strong currents and westerly wind combining to make it very

Maclean, but identified larger fish lower in the system.

Unfortunately he experienced engine troubles on day one, which significantly shortened his session and immediately

-BOATER 1ST NON Grayson Fong, a 40 year old acupuncturist from Hendra, Brisbane, took out the non-boater division at the JML Alliance Clarence River BREAM Pro. Fong fished with Chris Britton on day one and John Timbrell on day two to compile a 10/10, 5.45kg tournament limit.

In doing so Fong was the only non-boater to present a full limit each session to the weighmaster.

Fong had the opportunity to prefish for the event and found fish throughout the system. He identified good numbers around Maclean, but the size was lacking compared to fish near the mouth of the river.

Fong shares each days experience, “Being fortunate to draw

put him on the backfoot.

Whittam explains, “In the end I started fishing the middle wall around 10am.

I then moved to the north wall of the entrance at 11am

with 4 fish in the livewell. At this location I finished my 3.16kg tournament limit and lost multiple big fish to the structure and to pulled hooks.

In all I caught approximately

Fish around the pontoon poles

hard to stay in contact with the lure. Whittam fished multiple locations between the mouth of the system and Browns Rocks but didn’t find fish. Whittam explains

The field prepared for the 7am start on day two on the Clarence River.

BREA

Presente M SERIES d by JM L Allianc e

his approach on day two and choice of location, “I knew that the bite time on the North Wall was going to be from 12pm on, so I waited patiently and headed there at 12pm with no fish in the well. The first fish came at 12:40 pm and the second followed quickly.

A short wait and the 3rd and 4th again came very close together. With only 10 mins until I had to head back to check in, I hooked and landed fish number five to finish my limit, which weighed 2.88kg.

I chose to fish deep rock walls 20-40 feet deep with heavy base plated Cranka Crabs in multiple colours, which I would change every drift. I added various flavours of Pro Cure scents on my crabs quite often during both days. I would throw the crabs close to the edge and try to waft them down as close as possible to the taper of the rock wall.”

Whittam notes finally, “Patience was the key to my success. Fishing ultra slow for long periods can be tough but very rewarding”.

Fong gets crabby Chris Britton on day one I knew we would be fishing either Browns Rocks or down the Middle Wall as both places proved fruitful last year when we first got the opportunity to fish together. I was fortunate enough to match it with Chris’ renowned deepwater skills and we soon bagged our 5 fish in good time during the last of the run out tide leaving us ample time to search for better upgrades.

To fill my bag at Browns Rocks I chose to throw 2.5” Z-Man Grubz in gudgeon colour rigged on a 1/8oz Atomic Seekerz jighead. A crucial factor was the liberal coating I gave them of Pro Cure scent in mullet flavour.

After leaving Browns, we ventured down to the infamous Middle Wall where I then used a heavy Cranka Crab in spotted crab colour to score a couple of nice upgrades

with fish coming onboard for Chris and I in a hot bite period lasting about 15 minutes.

On Day two I drew Lake Mac’s John Trimbrell who was wonderful in giving me the option of fishing wherever I needed to go in order to win the event. He took me back to Brown’s Rocks where I got the fish the first day and where the population had grown with boats in such a short time.

I threw the same Zman Grubz on 1/8thoz jighead,s but this time in Bloodworm colour. This choice wasn’t due to water colour change or sunny conditions, I simply ran out of Gudgeon colour!

But the fish didn’t mind as I was able to scratch my bag together finally after sifting through the many small ones that Brown’s is renowned for.

After that John took me to where he got fish the first day, a reef outside Oyster Cove,

where the fireworks really started! After switching to a Cranka Crab in Olive colour, in a space of an hour I upgraded my somewhat reasonable Brown’s Rocks bag to a more reasonable one in the order of a 27cm, 34cm, 30cm and 29cm coming onboard in successive drifts. This was where the Cranka Crab came into its element as I picked pontoons and poles to cast at. The big fish would grab the crab and swim out shaking their heads trying to crush it or dislodge it.”

Fong used two lures to great effect, the Z-Man GrubZ and Cranka Crab. The technique employed with the Z-Man GrubZ was to use a deadstick method, where he would let the plastic waver around in the current with the occasional twitch to let the bream know of its presence. The Cranka Crab was used predominantly as an upgrade lure. The lure was cast

BOATING RESULTS

QLD’s Grayson Fong was the only non-boater to catch a limit each day, in the process securing the event win at the JML Alliance presented event. up against rockwalls or pylons and slowly retrieved by lifting the rod and staying in touch with the lure at all times.

Dissecting each day’s sessions, it was really a tale of two days, as Grayson explains.

“Day one came really quick for me as the tide was flowing at a perfect speed and we had no wind. Day two took me a lot longer but I put my head down as I knew Brown’s had the fish we just needed lures in water.”

NON-BOATERS RESULTS

#

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mark CROMPTON Cameron WHITTAM Steve GILL Mark BROWN Kristoffer HICKSON Warren CARTER Jamie MCKEOWN Tom SLATER Matthew FINNEY Peter MACOR

10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 10/10

6.44 6.04 5.83 5.74 5.72 5.47 5.41 5.31 5.20 5.07

Payout

$3,100 $1500 + ($250) $1,200 $1,100 $950 + ($150) $800 + ($100) + ($300) $700 + ($300) $625 $475 $475

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

#

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Grayson FONG Brendan HERDEN Darren BORG Michael GEARY Stuart WALKER Jason DISSON James HICKSON Sean WAITE Angus CHANDLER Sean PEARSON

10/10 8/10 7/10 8/10 8/10 8/10 7/10 6/10 6/10 5/10

5.45 3.62 3.59 3.45 3.34 3.25 3.23 3.03 2.53 2.48

Payout Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au JUNE 2015

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

Jun 5-8

Wilson Moreton Bay & Offshore Family Fishing Moreton Bay

Matt 0410 665 933 John 0402 740 163

Jun 5-7

Boyne Tannum Hook Up Fishing Boyne Tannum

www.boynetannumhookup.com.au

Jun 6-7

Pottsville Fishing Classic Pottsville/Cabarita

Beven Wise 0412 810 720

Jun 13-14

ABBT X-Factor Australian Teams Series Cania Dam

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

Jun 14

BASS Electric #6 Wivenhoe Dam

Trevor Stead 0429 967 451

Jun 26-28 VMR Bundaberg Family Fishing Classic

Bundaberg

Graeme Morley 0418 734 825 www.vmrbundabergfishingclassic.com.au

Jul 12

BASS Electric #7 (7am-1pm) Lenthalls Dam

Les Barber 0428 726 857

Jul 16-17

Wilson Cleveland Classic Cleveland

Facebook: goo.gl/eu2WoB

Jul 18-19

ABBT X-Factor Australian Teams Series Bjelke-Petersen

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

July 19

Daiwa-Hobie Kayak Bass Lake Wivenhoe, QLD

Hobiecat Australasia www.hobiefishing.com.au

July 25-26

Hobie Kayak Bream R10: Qld State Title Gold Coast

Hobiecat Australasia www.hobiefishing.com.au

July 25-26

Isisford Fishing Competition Oma Waterhole, Isisford

Secretary 0427588069 www.isisfordfishingcomp.com.au

Aug 15-16

ABBT Basstasstic Bass Fishing Qualifier Somerset

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

Aug 22-23

Hobie Fishing Worlds 2015 R12: Qualifier #3 Redcliffe

Hobiecat Australasia www.hobiefishing.com.au

Aug 28-30

Brown and Hurley Yellowbelly Classic Longreach

0409 469 119 yellowbellyclassic@hotmail.com

Aug 29-30

BASS Pro Qualifier #4 Bjelkle Petersen Dam

ABT abt.org.au

Sep 5-6

ABBT Basstasstic Bass Fishing Qualifier Borumba

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

Sep 19-20 2015 Bowen Family Fishing Classic

Bowen

Russ 0428 776 653 Sharon 0438 701 076 bowenfamilyfishingclassic@yahoo.com.au

Sep 30-Oct 3

Great Northern Brewing Co 2015 Flathead Classic Gold Coast

GCSFC www.goldcoastsportfishingclub.com.au

Oct 16-17

WTF Women That Fish Barra Classic Fitzroy River, Rockhampton

Shara 0429923243 Bel 0407674198

Oct 17-18

ABBT Basstasstic Bass Fishing Qualifier Cania

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

Oct 24-25

BASS Grand Final Lake Glenbawn

ABT abt.org.au

Oct 31

Daiwa-Hobie Kayak Bass Australian Championship Hinze Dam

Hobiecat Australasia www.hobiefishing.com.au

Oct 31-Nov1

ABBT X-Factor Australian Teams Series Borumba Dam

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

NOVEMBER

Nov 21-22

ABBT Basstasstic Bass Fishing Qualifier TBA

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

DECEMBER

Dec 5-6

ABBT X-Factor Australian Teams Series Somerset

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

OCTOBER

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours.

Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name.

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JUNE 2015

Bluefin BASS Electric Series Cania Dam On a beautiful ANZAC day morning eight anglers took to the waters of Cania Dam. All anglers found the fishing hard going due to the dirty water caused by rain during the week.

Three anglers weighed in fish at the end of session one. The heaviest fish caught was on a last cast for the day weighing in at 1.24kg.

Sunday morning saw eight anglers hit the water at 6am. Although quite cool the water was CANIA DAM RESULTS PLACE ANGLER S1 S 2 TOTAL 1 ............Jonathan Bale ......1.24 ...... -............1.24 2 ............Rebecca Smith . ...0.40 ...... 0.71 .....1.11 3 ............Sue Barber ...........-............. -............1.00 4 ............Robert Butler ........-............. 0.72 .....0.72 5 ............Les Smith .............0.62 ...... -............0.62

a warm 25º. The wind was gusty throughout the morning. Three anglers weighed in fish.

A great couple of fishing sessions was had by all.

Thanks to those who came and thanks to Sue for her help with the event.

Police get fishy The annual Queensland Police Service community fishing classic dwarfed previous year’s events — with more than 200 community members taking part.

The event was originally centred on the Doomadgee Police and their passion for fishing but was quickly extended to the broader community. The event shows community members how fun and exciting fishing can be and provides

fine anglers battling it out in a fishing marathon competition over two full days.

The competition is getting bigger every year — with strong interest from across the community seeing this year’s events extended to a second day and more than 15% of the community taking part.

The event got overwhelmingly positive feedback and sparked enthusiasm and healthy competition across men,

some participants using a handmade rod consisting of a stick and fishing line.

This year’s event was made even more successful by our generous sponsors.

Regional Air Express provided the major prize which saw two adults travel return airfare to Mount Isa or Cairns at their choice.

This year’s major prize winner Oswald ‘Ozzie’ Punjaub impressed the judges, hauling a 6.2kg catfish outweighing last

Top Left: Event winner Jonathan Bale with a 1.24kg bass he caught during session one. Top Right: 1st to 5th place anglers caught their bass on either spinnerbaits or lipless crankbaits using a slow roll retrieve. Above Left: Sue Barber came third with a cracking bass tipping the 1kg mark. Above Right: Rebecca Smith took out second place with one bass weighing 400g and another weighing 710g.

CLEVELAND CLASSIC July 16 - 19, 2015

ALL ENQUIRIES: Mike Streets 0411 679 972

women and children.

Anglers from 5 years to 75 years took part — bringing their honed talents with reels, rod or nets to catch some impressive hauls. Even a lack of equipment did not stop some members of the community taking part, with

CATEG

We would like to thank our Sponsors

ENTRY FORMS: www.redlands boatclub.com.au

Jarlym Ned struggled to carry his quarry to the judge’s table! recreational activities to families in some of the most remote parts of the state.

Held over the weekend of the 21 and 22 March 2015 the event was once again proudly hosted by the Doomadgee Police.

The event saw some

H 13 FIOSRIES

year’s winner Edith Daly by 1.5kg. “I never thought I would win, I saw some big barra being caught while fishing out at Corinda Lake that I was sure would beat me,” said Oswald.

This year’s event saw

FOR MORE INFO FOLLOW WILSON FISHING ON:

To page 88

JUNE 2015

87

2015 Wilson Cleveland Classic The Redlands Boat Club (RBC) and Wilson Fishing will host the 2015 Wilson Cleveland Classic out of their Cleveland clubhouse between July 16, 2015 and July 19, 2015.

The RBC and Wilson Fishing cordially invites all anglers to participate in this year’s Classic, whether they love fishing offshore, inshore or in the many estuaries along our amazing coastline.

This family-friendly fishing competition starts at 11pm on Thursday July 16 and fishing will continue until 12 noon on Sunday July 19.

The event will feature a single weigh-in starting at 11am on July 19 allowing anglers to fish whenever they want during the competition hours. Anglers are able to fish anywhere they want, however fish taken from tidal lakes, saltwater impoundments and stocked impoundments will not be accepted.

Thousands of dollars in prizes will be given out and all Junior competitors will receive a prize to the value of their entry – now that’s hard to beat!

In 2015 the event will consist of a compulsory Thursday Night briefing (July 16, 2015) where all competitors are required to attend and collect their Entry Cards.

Following the success of the competition in previous years, the target species has been expanded to 13 nominated fish categories in a 1st, 2nd and the Mossops Secret Weight format. These anglers lining up to have their very own catch of the day weighed and measured – capturing some very proud moments. The judging table saw fish of all sorts logged — including archerfish, barra, catfish, black brim, spotted brim, rock cod, saratoga, grunters, queen fish and even a shark.

The Department of Indigenous Sport and Recreation provided fishing equipment for second and third place prizes, along with big support from the Doomadgee Roadhouse and local Doomadgee retail store contributing their time and efforts in order to support the event.

This year’s event saw a large number of junior anglers with some impressive hauls, some of which gave the adults a run for their money. One example was 6 year old Jarlym Ned, who struggled to carry his 5.7kg barra to the judge’s table as he grinned from ear to ear.

Jarlym and Brother Alfie Aplin were the individual prize winners for heaviest fish caught out of the junior anglers.

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prizes will be awarded to Senior and Junior anglers. The club places a large emphasis on encouraging Junior anglers to participate, and with the support of our sponsors we will be providing all Junior anglers with a prize irrespective of whether they weigh in a fish or not. Every angler who enters the competition will be eligible for lucky door prizes.

The 13 nominated categories for this year’s Classic are flathead, whiting, bream, tailor, swallowtail dart, pearl perch, snapper, teraglin,

INFORMATION DATES: 16 July - 19 July COST : Early Bird Adult (before 3 July):..... $60 Standard Adult:... $80 Junior:.................. $20

grass sweetlip, spangled emperor, mulloway, ‘brutes n speedsters’ (cobia, amberjack, yellowtail kingies, mackerel, long tail and yellowfin tuna) and tusk fish.

This year the Interclub Shield is again up for grabs and will be awarded to the club that accumulates the most points based upon the following: 10 points will be awarded for the first place fish in each of the Senior nominated species; 5 points will be awarded for the

LOCATION: Redland Boat Club 1 William Street Cleveland Qld 4163 CONTACT Mike Streets 0411 679 972 www.redlandsboatclub. org.au

Left: First place getter, Ozzie Punjaub with his winning 6.2kg catfish.

Right: Alfie Aplin with Senior Sargent Campbell. Alfie took out top honours in the children’s category for Heaviest Fish Caught.

Hosting the types of events promotes positive Policing in Communities such as Doomadgee.

The events provide a chance for Police to interact in the community in a relaxed manner and

build relationships with members of the community.

Throughout the event Police saw a considerable decrease

in calls for service and a significant upturn in attitude of local members.

The event was the topic

second place fish in each of the Senior nominated species, and; 2 points will be awarded for the third placed fish in each of the Senior nominated species.

The Interclub Shield is a large, handsome shield and would be a great addition to your club’s trophy cabinet.

Please note that only nominated members of a fishing club are eligible to earn points. No points are awarded if an entrant does not nominate the Club they are fishing for on the official Entry Form.

Entry forms will be available from the Redlands Boat Club website or the Facebook event listing at h t t p s : / / g o o . g l / e u 2 Wo B .

– Wilson Fishing of discussion throughout the week — with everyone keen for more events.

The event bought families from various cultural groups together with purpose and created a fun day for all. Hosting these types of events is proof how the simplest of ideas can unite a community.

The Doomadgee Police Station will be holding next year’s event over the weekend 19 March 2016.

• Throughout the Doomadgee Fishing Classic, Acting Senior Constable Phil Newton photographed several of the local children from the community with their prized catches. These beautiful photographs were then canvased and gifted to the community as a thank you from the Doomadgee Police for the support shown by the local community for the event. These canvases were well received by community members as these products are not available in the community. The partnership between the Police and the local community is what makes events such as this so successful every year.

Southern Cross Television Isisford Fishing Comp The Isisford Barcoo Recreational Fishing Club invites you to their annual fishing competition. This fantastic event happens each year on the banks of the Barcoo River at the good old Oma Waterhole – it’s the place to be so plan your weekend for the last full weekend of July. Bring your family and friends and come along and join in on the fun and try and catch the longest yellowbelly (or just lay back and enjoy the scenery)!

It’s a two day competition, starting at 10am Saturday and finishes 11am Sunday, you can fish all day and all night until your heart’s content, you can fish through the Saturday night as long as you bring the fish up to be measured alive.

The Fishing Club encourage competitors to ‘catch and release’ so it is good see that fish numbers can replenish after the competition.

If you arrive early, nominations are taken on Friday afternoon at the Control Point from 1pm to 6pm and then start again on Saturday morning around 7.30am.

Friday night is meet and greet, and the bar will be opened and NRL Football televised on the big screen at the Control Point at the Yellowbelly Bar.

Categories are Adult and Junior, with the target species for the weekend yellowbelly, black bream and catfish.

Nomination fees are $20 for Adults and $5 for Juniors.

You don’t have to catch a fish to be in the draws, your name automatically goes in the draw for both major and smaller draws. To be eligible to measure your fish for the competition you would have

registered and the competition is that each team member registers his/her fish (one fish only), which is measured by the Control Point. Once measured they cannot enter any other fish. The winning team is the total length of the 5 fish measured.

There is also a Team Comp for the best look and best name; so get your best dress (meaning team shirt) and

to be nominated, especially to be included in the draws.

Competition is based on measurement (legal fish size) and fish have to be alive when they are officially measured.

Cash prizes are only for the major draws and the Adult Section, prizes will be given out for the Junior section.

The Barcoo River Rats have included a team competition for fun, involves a team of 5. The team has to be

come out west for a spot of fun.

It all starts happening on Saturday with nominations, displays, raffles, merchandise and the fishing competition will be catering for food over the weekend with a nice spit roast meal on Saturday night.

Bar will be open all weekend and please come and enjoy the novelty events that happen Saturday afternoon at 2pm – Carole Reynolds Memorial, Damper Competition, Hay

Bale rolling, Dale’s Dog Jump Competition, foot racing, children’s sack racing, women’s horse shoe throwing, Whip Cracking Competition, little kids’ bobbing competition and adults-only golf chipping competition.

Saturday night’s entertainment will be DJ & Karaoke Comp, so come and be part of the voice, Best Female, Best Male and Best Duet, prize for all sections. So come along have a great meal and a few refreshments while listening to a laid back session of easy listening classic pub music.

Portable toilets will be available randomly placed along the river bank and little Oma for your convenience, toilets and showers are available at the Control Point but the showers are limited, therefore please be patient.

Firewood is in limited supply this year due to availability so please bring that little extra.

Prizes and presentation will take place on Sunday at 12pm. For the major draws competitors must be present, if they are not present draws will be redrawn. There are great prizes to be won both cash and random draws, thank you to all our sponsors for supporting the club.

More information will be provided on the weekend or just visit our website www.isisfordfishingcomp.

com.au. Take home a few stories and spread the word what a great little comp it is.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Coastal Powerboats Coastal Powerboats has announced one of the biggest competitions in the marine industry!

Purchase a boat package from Coastal Powerboats and you will go in the draw to win $100,000, $10,000 or a Procraft tinny full of beer and a Suzuki motor!

So if you’re in the market

for a boat why not check out www.coastalpowerboats. com.au or call 07 5523 0072 and, who knows, you may get a very nice bonus too!

The comp will run until the 9 August 2015.

For all the terms and conditions visit the Coastal Powerboats website. – Coastal Powerboats

JUNE 2015

89

For this and that…

BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

There’s boats for this, and boats for that, but there aren’t any boats for this AND that.

It’s one or the other.

Get a boat for going offshore and it’ll be hopeless up the creek.

That lovely vee-shaped hull that cuts through ocean swell and choppy seas rocks like a caravan at the Beenleigh Showgrounds when the time comes to anchor in your favourite honey-hole up that secret creek.

And that little tinny with a flatter arse than Mick Jagger is fine when you’re standing up in the bow throwing the cast net for prawnies in Nunya Creek, but get it out in the ocean and it hits harder than Charlie Sheen at Hugh Heffner’s 90th.

Not only that, but both the tinny and the offshore boat are like Clive Palmer in a bar fridge when they need to go up those little gutters to pick up the crab pots. So much for your paint job or vinyl wrap. And don’t even try

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JUNE 2015

to get the tinny you used to get the pots out into any level of ocean swell.

You’ll be bouncing more than Skippy on a jumping castle on the back of the ute driving the Roma Surat Road.

So it was with a happy heart that I headed off the north coast recently in the little glass boat I bought a year or two ago. It’s been windier than a Heinz convention in recent times so it’s been very rare that my time off has coincided with flat weather.

Most boat owners will know about the following.

Just a puff of wind to ruffle the surface meant I could head 50km offshore without drama. Just had to watch out for coal ships.

For those of you who think these ships are big, wait until you’ve pulled up near them out at sea. If you’ve ever run over a cane toad in an F100 you’ll know why I’m scared.

Anyway, out I go to 90m of water, where Steely Dan landed us on some pearlies a year or so ago. It’s been a couple of hours of banging hard into the swell so I want to at least feel like the

trip has been worth it by pulling up a fish or two off the bottom. Out goes the anchor. Now the books will tell you it’s best practice to make sure you have about a third more rope out than the depth for most secure anchoring. So, for example, I should put out about 120m of rope to anchor securely in 90m of water.

But I don’t have 120m of rope. In fact, I have about 70m. I know this because I can see the end of the rope as it disappears into the blue water because I’ve forgotten to tie it onto the boat. Rookie mistake.

I also find out I have only 90m of braid on my offshore reel because unless I’m dropping it down dead straight, I run out of braid. Luckily, unlike the anchor rope, I’ve remembered to tie the end of the braid to the mono backing line I have running on the reel under the braid.

Well I’ve sort of tied it. So much for the new xyz knot some knob on the interweb has posted, saying what a secure connection it is.

Idiot proof he says. I’ve got news for him; make something idiot proof, and they’ll invent a better idiot.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Diamond Deck - future in decking Fishing and boating enthusiasts are passionate about their boats and tinnies and this is why Diamond Deck is the perfect solution to enhance your boating experience. Making your boat or tinnie aesthetically appealing to the eye with a very modern look and the added importance of superior comfort and safety.

The future trend in modern fishing, boating and all marine applications, Diamond Deck will soon become the standard for all boats, tinnies and marine applications as people grow more aware of the major benefits of this product over carpet.

Checker plate has also become very common now in boating, but as we all know it is very hard on the feet after only a short period of time and it can be dangerous if you take a fall on it. This is where Diamond Deck is now the perfect solution to turn your checker plate into the ultimate comfort zone without the loss of any safety or grip.

So when you need to enhance your seats, decking, flooring, gunwales, transoms, bow, hatch covers, anchor well, steps and other endless possibilities – Diamond Deck

is right here and right now.

There are plenty of extra benefits and features of the UV stable Diamond Deck Closed Cell EVA: foam with adhesive backing, which is manufactured to the highest of marine grade standards, non-slip grip, protection against scratches and dents, easy to hose down and clean, and can diminish shock, fatigue, noise and glare. This all-year round product can reduce heat on your deck by 75% in summer, and its insulated design will keep you warm in winter.

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ensured that this quality marine grade product is affordable to all consumers, DIY fishing, boating and adventure enthusiasts, which comes in easy to apply sizes.

So for the easiest of applications to just cut to size then peel and stick to shape your adventure – visit the new Diamond Deck website to find your local stockist and check out the full gallery of pictures and how to apply videos at www.diamonddeck. com.au or call 0437 864 077 for any trade enquiries or further information.

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Yamaha launch 130hp 4-stroke into Aussie market FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

At the recent launch of the new Yamaha 130hp 4-stroke outboard on the Gold Coast, Aussie dealers and media were pleased to discover that this new product wasn’t just a handme-down from America.

In fact, the F130A won’t even be sold into North America, rather, it’s destined for release into the Japanese, European and Australian marketplaces.

Apart from appealing to our parochial side, there’s plenty about this outboard that will raise the eyebrows of boaters in the 5-6m range.

In Queensland alone, there’s 34,643 boats registered in the 5-6m class – a disproportionately large amount and outnumbering the boats either side of the size range. That alone makes this outboard not only an

fuel economy in the standard cruising ranges.

On a variety of test craft on the launch day, the 130s demonstrated economies of between 2-3km/L burned.

This was on rigs with weights between 1.1-1.6 tonnes.

The 130 generates it maximum horsepower at the top end of its 6300rpm range.

FLASH GAUGES Compatible with F30 through to F350hp models, the new Yamaha 6YC gauges

motor and fuel metrics, the one gauge can cater for single or twin installations.

Although these look like a touch screen, they are operated with the soft buttons on the right hand side. And that’s a good thing – there are few iterations of the touch screen that are open-boat friendly – especially in the elements like dew and rain.

SHINY PROPELLERS Yamaha users will

SPECIFICATIONS Model............................................................... F130A HP.........................................................................130 Capacity......................................................1832ccm Weight........................................... L.172kg,.XL.178kg WOT................................................... 5300-6300rpm Type..................... 4-stroke,.16.valve.DOHC,.in-line.4.

Fuel induction...................................................... EFI Engine oil capacity............................................ 3.0L Alternator................................35A.(27A.@.1000rpm) Emission rating................................................ 3-star Fuel................................................ Regular.unleaded Warranty...........................................................4.year

Inset: Here.she.is.–.the.new.Yamaha.F130A..Main:.On.the.back.of.the.Quintrex.

530.Cruiseabout,.maximum.efficiency.was.at.3000rpm.at.3.09km/L.burned. stainless Talon range Yamaha propellers that suitable for Yamahas in 60-130hp classes will well received.

of are the be

Equipped with Yamaha’s Shift Dampening System (SDS), which helps eliminate the ‘clunk’ when moving between forward, neutral

jump on the plane than labour there.

Also, I noticed that these engines have the distinct Yamaha tone.

Streaker’s.5700.Navigator.reached.maximum.efficiency. at.4500rpm.with.over.2km/L.burned. important ‘gap filler’ to Yamaha, but also of interest to lots of boaters – Yamaha loyal or not – who want to re-power their rig.

At first glance, you may think that this 1.8L, straight 4-cylinder Yammy might just be an up-tuned version of the ever popular F115, but under the cowling, there’s plenty of points of difference.

Probably the biggest of these is an ETV (or Electronic Throttle Valve).

Although still a cableoperated outboard, the ETV converts the helm input at the outboard and works the throttle through the brain of the outboard (the ECM) to maximise responsiveness in the ambient conditions.

Weighing in at the bottom end of this competitive horsepower class (nearly all other brands have models in the 130-140hp range) at 172-178kg, the F130A offers not only great power to weight, but impressive

are visually appealing as well as customisable and practical.

Offering easy from-thehelm view of your major

be familiar with the black Yamaha stainless steel propellers that are often confused with alloy brands.

The release of the polished

SeaJay’s.5.6.Striker.reached.just.under.70km/h.with.the.F130. and release, the new shape behaved beautifully on the water. It took some serious high-speed turns to break the blades free from the water.

BUT HOW DID THEY PERFORM? After all of the technical discussion, the real test though, is out on the water.

With a variety of popular hull configurations, the 130s continued the trend in all modern 4-strokes.

They increasingly mirror the torque curve of old 2-strokes, meaning that you’re more likely to .

Yamaha’s.new.Talon.propellers.grip.the.water.like.….well.….a.talon!

Blindfolded in a boat for the first time, you’d pick it as a Yamaha, especially if you’d run anything from an F70 to a 150 in the past.

Obviously quiet at idle and with the benefit of the shift dampening system, anglers will be pleased with the overall smoothness of the package.

Yamaha hasn’t reached the #1 outboard brand status in Australia with blind luck, and they’ve done themselves no disservice here with an obvious gap-filler in their range.

For.more.information,. visit.www.yamaha-motor. com.au.or.scan.the.QR. code.hereby.to.see.the. video.of.the.launch.day.

JUNE 2015

91

Diesel give the popular Nissan X-Trail a nice lift BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Nissan’s popular X-Trail has been face-lifted in this third generation model.

Svelte lines, some impressive frontal treatment and a fair few rounded curves have moved the X-Trail away from its former boxy shape to a far more modern appearance, which has a striking similarity to big brother Pathfinder.

Nissan have also endowed the wagon with daylight LED lighting around the headlights for an increased road presence.

SEVERAL VARIANTS ON OFFER There are several X-Trails on offer, from petrol 2WD/

engine, in fact, is very technologically advanced. It has many innovations, with a high and low pressure exhaust gas recirculation system to substantially reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and CO2 being just 1 of them. Optimised thermal management also allows the intercooled turbocharged engine to reach an ideal operating temperature in a shorter time, also for greater fuel efficiency.

Efficiency of this nature sees a torque figure of 320Nm, which not only gives the vehicle a fair turn of acceleration once the turbo kicks in, but it sees the new X-Trail with a braked trailer tow capacity of 2000kg, with unbraked trailer rating set at 750kg. These statistics will no doubt suit a lot of small boat owners.

Ample digital offerings to keep you abreast of what is going on during drive time were standard, along with the Nissan Connect smart phone integration system, which is virtually mandatory for today’s communicationminded drivers. The TL also sported 18” alloy wheels, an electric park brake, climate air that extends to the rear, power operated features throughout, cruise control, a big sunroof, auto LED headlights, and rain sensing wipers. All important control systems were located on the wheel, as they should be.

The Nissan’s rear passengers (the diesel 4x4 is a 5 seater) were provided with ample leg and head room, as well as the all-important high seating position that is the trademark characteristic of today’s SUVs.

The X-Trail’s styling shows a definite family connection to its big brother the Pathfinder.

AWD to diesel 2WD/AWD with the top spec’d diesel AWD, TL, the subject of this review. Nissan have made some interesting changes to the diesel models as the 2WD is available in auto guise, whereas the reviewed AWD is available only as a 6 speed manual. This was no biggy: the clutch was light, quite direct, with the 6 speed gear box a perfect match for the 1.6l turbo-charged oil burner that churned out 96 kW of power, and some 320Nm of torque.

The 4cyl Renault-sourced

UPGRADED INTERIOR Nissan have also upgraded the X-Trail’s interior and it’s refreshing to note that the TL came with (heated) well contoured leather seats with electric adjustment for driver and front passenger, a dash layout with plenty of contrasting grey on piano black with instruments well lit, even during daylight, a 7” central dash touch screen providing 360 degree all-round view at a touch, as well as satellite navigation and other useful functions including the impressive sound system.

“Tinnie Tosser” Want to take your tinny on holidays and catch the big one but can’t because you are towing a caravan?

Well here is the answer!!

Behind the wheel, I was pleased to note adjustment for both reach and rake, while a decent footrest made driving very comfortable on a couple of the longer trips undertaken.

I averaged 8.2l/100km fuel consumption from the 60l tank.

Storage areas are never in short supply within the X-Trail, with compartments in doors, at the rear of seats, the central console area, and there’s a pretty impressive glove box as well.

STACK IT IN THE BACK This neat wagon has always had a fine reputation for easy carrying of what we might loosely call ‘gear’; a term that will include — but is by no means exclusive to — things such as the cricket team’s equipment, bicycles, loads of shopping, plus what

Top: That small knob on the X-Trail’s console will convert AWD to locked 4WD via the vehicle’s All Mode 4x4 system. Middle Top: The X-Trail has always enjoyed great luggage carrying capacity.

Fortunately it’s not changed one bit with the new model. Middle Bottom: Changes to the interior finish have seen an enhanced dash layout, with trim and piano black contrasting neatly.

Above: The TL X-Trail’s leather trimmed front seats pamper driver and passenger with electric adjustment. you and I would love to stack in it: namely fishing gear and/ or camping equipment.

Fortunately, the X-Trail tradition continues with both rear seats able to be folded

right down and set flat for easy storage of long or otherwise large items within the 550l compartment. Note that the rear floor carpet can be removed to reveal very handy

storage bins for soggy or soiled items. Again, very handy.

There’s also a privacy shelf included in the rear and by a bit of clever manipulation there are, according to Nissan, some 18 storage configurations on hand, including the below-floor compartment right at the back, as per the usual X-Trail set up.

A 12V outlet is also standard.

Under all of the floor shelving and compartments was a temporary use spare tyre. Not everyone likes these, but a skinny spare is a vast improvement on the selfsealing/inflation kit in place of a spare I found in the rear of a vehicle I once reviewed. Also at the rear is the very convenient 1 touch open/close arrangement of the high opening tailgate, which is a useful adjunct to the X-Trail’s keyless entry setup.

A COMFORTABLE RIDE You won’t win rallies with the X-Trail, as the ride and handling are more friendly than fierce. This means that few bumps will be felt around the bitumen suburban roads and on the main highways, but gravel roads may well see a few indifferent road surfaces making their presence felt or heard. That aside, the neat wagon will certainly punt in and around the ’burbs with ease, and just as easily go bush for the weekend. With a reasonable ground clearance of 210mm, the X-Trail can tackle quite a deal of off-road work, thanks to the All Mode 4x4 system that controls the balance of power between front and rear wheels. The console-mounted control knob ‘Lock’ option is on hand for the really slippery going.

Safety features include 6 air bags, rear view camera, Dynamic Vehicle Control, traction control system, brake assist, blind spot warning system, plus other features.

A 5 star ANCAP rating has been awarded to all X-Trail variants. Nissan offer a 3-year/100,000km warranty, as well as capped price servicing. In all, there’s a lot of innovation and technology to be found both under the bonnet and within the new diesel X-Trail that presents as a very tidy, comfortable and useful sort of SUV. The TL, as reviewed would come home for around the $50,000 mark.

Features include: Single person operation, electric and manual models, custom made to suit vehicle and boat, built for off-road conditions, aluminium and stainless steel construction.

For further information contact Bowline on

Ph: (07) 5498 7339 Fx: (07) 5498 7351 Mobile: 0419 674 343

www.tinnietosser.com.au 92

JUNE 2015

Left: Styling changes have even given the rear of the X-Trail a sleek, more rounded appearance.

Middle: Note the very low lip on the X-Trail’s rear door, designed to make loading the rear cargo area as easy as possible. Right: The X-Trail retains the distinctive silver circle within a V style grille, but styling changes have now incorporated daylight LED running lights, plus indicators in side mirrors.

Find serene camping at beautiful Broken Head BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Tucked into a rainforestcovered headland with sea views to the east and lush greenery in virtually every other direction, Broken Head Holiday Park offers a style of camping and holidaymaking that centres on peace and quiet. In fact, it’s usually only birdsong from the nearby forest or the gentle sound of surf on sand that will break the serenity of this well setup camping ground.

GETTING THERE Finding Broken Head Holiday Park could not be easier: it’s 8 kays south of

are no problems with finding a level camp site thanks to the Park’s overall quite level layout.

The Holiday Park’s elevated position does, however, provide fantastic sea views, but as a bonus it’s also within 100m or so of the tree-covered Broken Head headland with it’s idyllic vistas and well formed walking track (2.4km return), which reaches right around to the expanse of beach to the south of the headland.

Folk who enjoy bushwalking, bird watching or just spending a bit of time enjoying the feeling of a pleasant sea breeze will often head straight for the headland once camp is set-up. And at this time of year the

ice and gas, as it also doubles as the main booking office.

Friendly staff there will assist with the area’s layout and take all necessary details.

Note though, that during peak holiday periods it’s best to book well in advance to avoid the disappointment of finding there are no vacancies. As I mentioned, this place is popular, deservedly so.

THE FACILITIES Visitors enjoying a stay have the choice of some 57 powered sites and 37 unpowered ones. There’s also a well-appointed villa (which sleeps 5), several cabins of a capacity to sleep either 4 or 5, plus beach shacks (2 people) with kitchenettes. Linen and towels are available at a small extra charge.

Beautiful beach gives way to a prominent headland: that’s Broken Head.

Above Left: Caravan owners have not been forgotten, as there are pads provided for their use. Above Middle: The Holiday Park entrance: the kiosk is a little further up and on the left. Above Right: No tent, caravan or camper? No worries, there are cabins on hand for visitor use.

Far Right: The camp’s amenity block is pretty well central. Staff maintain it to an excellent standard.

Right: The well equipped community cooking area.

Just one of the many panoramic views from the Broken Head scenic walk.

Byron Bay on the coast road between Byron and Ballina.

Number 184 Beach Road is virtually right at the end of that road.

As an aside, the Broken Head area is dominated by a rainforest and tall tree covered headland, with the camping ground set into the nearby raised area just to the north of the main headland proper. Note that although the area is elevated, there

headland’s high point provides a great lookout to do a spot of whale watching.

If whales are a bit scarce on the day, you can be sure of seeing a few dolphins surfing the waves, or maybe a turtle or 2 mooching about.

Campers and visitors wanting to enjoy a stay at this idyllic camping area should first visit the kiosk with it’s supplies of basic grocery items, smallgoods,

There’s a very well appointed camp kitchen sufficiently large to cater for several groups or families enjoying its ample facilities, such as a microwave, kettle, toaster and barbecue hot plates.

Elsewhere within the Broken Head Holiday Park there are laundry facilities, a dump point for motor homes and the like, while owners of large RVs will also find they can enjoy larger sites best suited to their needs.

The layout is such that it’s very easy to find your way around, with most campers able to acquire a site providing them with a pleasant view of the sea to the east. Be mindful that sometimes visitors from the nearby forest will also spend some time in the park, and it’s not uncommon to spot a scrub turkey doing its rounds.

LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE With the town of Byron Bay just a few minutes’

drive away, virtually everything is on hand. This thriving and busy little town seems to have the lot, from supermarkets to fortune tellers. There are also handy bait and tackle supplies, plus service stations, lots of

great eateries, and licensed clubs to enjoy. Should an even larger town to visit be required, then Ballina is to the south as well. All-in-all, holidaymakers have a lot at their disposal when staying at Broken Head.

THE FISHING Best to last I’d reckon, but first things first. Before grabbing the surf rod, take a look at the local zoning map of the Marine Park Authority NSW, which shows the immediate area of the headland as a Green Zone. Yet on the positive side of the ledger is the 7 odd kays of beach stretching north to Byron Bay, plus the expanse of beach south of the headland to Ballina.

All of this lovely beach formation, with its gutters and holes, is tailor and bream territory. Whiting, and dart are also very likely.

No whiting in winter? Think again — and as both of these beaches abound with pipis and worms, there is ample natural bait available for the keen beach angler. A light westerly, surf not too high, and the stage is set for some enjoyable beach fishing.

To my way of thinking, a couple of tailor fillets sprinkled with lemon as they gently cook on the park’s hot plates would make a perfect brunch.

Broken Head Holiday Park can be contacted at www. brokenheadholidaypark. com.au or on (1800) 450 036 or (02) 6685 3245.

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Kayak fishing – a handful of handy accessories BRISBANE

Justin Wilmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

With limited cockpit space in the kayak, I have spent the last couple of decades refining the gear that I carry with me. I now have

The Assault Hand Paddle, from US brand Backwater Paddles, is available in Australia and is a great option for propelling and positioning your kayak with stealth, while fighting a fish, positioning for a photo, or making adjustments to your kayak

RIGGING I have no idea how many pairs of braid scissors I have donated to the ocean floor or people fishing with me, but it’s quite a few. I know I should leash them, but it always seems excessive to put a bulky leash on an item that actually costs less than

The Assault Hand Paddle from Backwater Paddles.

A flathead secure in the net.

A decent flathead under control of the BogaGrip. the leash itself! The solution is a cool retractable line snip that has the retractor built inside, the Boomerang Tool Snip.

These quality snips

feature 420 stainless steel cutters that clean cut braid or mono up to 50lb test, a 36” retractable cord that returns the snip to their home position, and a

squeeze design that allows easy one-handed operation even with wet or gloved hands. When not in use, slide it into ‘safe’ mode.

I attach mine to the rod

A nice handful of bream on the Swivels Measure. a kit bag that I throw in the car and it contains the tools that make my fishing adventures safer, simpler and more enjoyable. After each trip these are rinsed, allowed to dry and then repacked for the next trip.

On the last couple of trips, I made note of a handful of accessories that I use most frequently, so that I could share these with you and briefly outline why they are included and how they are utilised in my kayak.

PROPULSION AND POSITIONING Whether you paddle or pedal, there’s a handy paddle with a difference that is worth including.

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JUNE 2015

angle and drift.

Designed by Edward Halm, a retired US Naval Instructor, master naturalist and kayak eco-guide, this durable polypropylene hand paddle floats and features a foam grip, hook on the end for grabbing ropes, branches or other objects, and ‘teeth’ on 1 edge for pushing off from rocks, oysters, logs and other surfaces. It is available in green or hi-vis orange and doesn’t take up much room, sitting easily between your feet or beside you, within reach when required. www. mlte.com.au

The Boomerang Tool — always handy, never lost.

holder tab on my shirt, but you might choose to attach yours to your PFD, seat, backpack, or other location within easy reach. www. ttlures.com.au LANDING AND HANDLING FISH When it comes to landing and handling fish, the first thing you need is a short-handled net. I use 1 with a decent sized opening as I often target flathead which can grow quite large.

Nets with a rubber mesh or other scale safe mesh are the preferred option as they do minimal damage to the fish’s slime coating.

Select a floating net, add an accessory float or leash your net, otherwise it’s guaranteed if you lose it the next hookup will be a PB and you’ll be wishing there was a net on board.

Lip grips make handling fish a breeze and safer for both you and the catch.

I have fished with loads of anglers over the years,

using many different lip grips, and half of them are rubbish. They lock too hard or soft, fish kick and the teeth twist open, and they end up with a spiky flathead in their lap or lost back over the side. The other common scenario is that they have seized up since they were last used.

I have had an original BogaGrip for about 6 years now and it is as good as day 1. There are 3 models, rated at 15lb, 30lb and 60lb, and they have a rotating head that makes fish handling easier, and a built-in scale for those working on weight. The bulk of my fishing is freshwater, river and estuary, so I run the 15lb model, which is more compact than many of the bulky, clunky copies that have flooded the market.

A quick rinse when you get home will see it lasting a lifetime. The initial outlay of a couple of hundred bucks may hurt, but is worth every cent when years later your grips are reliable, function perfectly, look slick, and are a pleasure to use. The BogaGrip also has a lifetime warranty.

Leash them on! www. strikebacktackle.com.au MEASURING FISH Whether it’s to keep track of your PB fish, score some bragging rights, check if a fish is legal to take home for a feed, or just for your own interest, a fish measure will be found in most anglers’ kits. For years I carried a roll up Brag Mat in the kayak, now preferring to carry a Swivels Original Fish Measure.

A roll up Brag Mat can be awkward to handle and use, especially if the wind is blowing. Swivels Original Fish Measure, on the other hand, is similar to a builder’s tape measure, allowing it to pack extremely small. It’s lightweight, inexpensive, and you buy the model to suit your region, which includes legal sizes for common species marked along the measure.

I land the fish and then

The BogaGrip and Swivels Measure in action. simply pull out a bit more tape than I think I require and slide the locking switch to keep it open. I am now able to handle the fish with 1 hand and measure single handed, or hold the fish on the measure with 1 hand and take a photo with the other. If fishing in saltwater, make sure you give the measure a rinse when you get home. I extend the measure fully, give it a rinse, leave it extended in the shed while it dries, and then flick the switch so that it automatically retracts ready to store for next time. www.swivelsoriginal.com FISH STORAGE If you are going to keep a fish or 2 for a feed, it’s important to respect your catch. For years I have strapped an Evakool icebox to my kayak to take a feed out, and maybe bring a feed home. Evakool offer a massive range of iceboxes, including a few of around 20-26l capacity, that fit perfectly in the rear well of most of the popular kayak brands. The advantages of an icebox over a cooler

or soft cooler include superior refrigeration grade insulation, insulation in the lid, and they are also more durable.

I drop 2 large ice bricks in a large Ziploc bag and lay them flat to cover the bottom of the icebox, throw in a spare bottle of water and my lunch in another Ziploc bag, and I’m ready to go. A couple of eating size flathead or a pan-size snapper or 2 will comfortably fit, keeping them cool and in good condition for later. When you get home you can unload, rinse the icebox, remove the fish-slime-free ice bricks from the bag, give them a rinse and throw them back in the freezer for next time. This is an inexpensive and effective way of keeping your lunch, drink and catch cool and in optimum condition. www. evakool.com.au WRAP UP That’s a high 5 handful of accessories that improve my experience when fishing from the ’yak when it comes to propulsion and

positioning, rigging and also landing, handling, measuring and storing fish. This would be a great list for those looking for gift ideas for the kayak angler in their family, or a shopping list of the good gear for someone getting into kayak fishing

Profish “Load & Go” Pods Our Removable Pod system will see you having more time on the water. Rig up the night before and simply load your pods on location and go...

Profish Tackle Pod™ • Integrated Sounder, Transducer and Battery pod.

• Completely removable in one easy action.

• Large internal tackle storage facility.

Profish Chill Pod™ • Insulated to keep your catch in perfect condition. Just add ice.

• Quick release for ease of loading into your vehicle.

• Contains the mess, making clean down a breeze.

FISHING KAYAK SPECIALISTS

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Take out a feed, bring home a feed.

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95

Trailer couplings, chains and D-shackles SYDNEY

Christian Bold

When it comes to towing your trailer, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the coupling, safety chain and D-shackle. If you’re not aware, all parts related to towing need to be correctly marked and rated with the Australian Standard. If they are not, then you may be towing illegally.

COUPLINGS There are 2 sizes a trailer coupling can be in Australia — 50mm or 70mm. The most common is 50mm. These couplings are on all trailers that have an Aggregate Trailer Mass (ATM) of between 750kg and 3500kg. It does not matter if the trailer has brakes or not, as it’s

Trailer couplings come in two sizes — 50 or 70mm. irrelevant when it comes to the size of the coupling.

If your coupling is not marked with an ‘AS’ (Australian Standard) number or have 50mm or 70mm stamped into it,

then make sure you get it checked out. Other reasons to be concerned with your coupling include: Coupling component is loose or cracked.

Coupling does not

display Gross Mass Rating.

Any mounting bolts, fasteners or weld beads have advanced corrosion.

It is now common to see markings on chains and D-shackles, but if yours are

CHAINS AND D-SHACKLES Chain and D-shackle standards can get confusing, especially if you don’t know what size is the minimum for your trailer. Here is a guide: AGGREGATE TRAILER MASS MINIMUM CHAIN SIZE SHACKLE BODY DIAMETER Up to 1000KG........................................................... 6.3mm................................................... 9.5mm Over 1000KG up to 1600KG.................................... 8.0mm.................................................. 12.7mm Over 1600KG up to 2500KG..................................... 10mm.................................................. 12.7mm Over 2500KG up to 4500KG............................7.1mm x 2 Chains............................. 12.7mm x 2 D-shackles

PUT THE

RIGHT

TRAILER

not marked, don’t worry.

You can contact the trailer manufacturer and have them send you certification on the chains fitted.

Other chain issues that are deemed a defect include: If the chain is not permanently attached to

If chain and shackle ratings are not visible, reputable trailer manufacturers should be able to supply you with the necessary certification.

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JUNE 2015

the draw bar.

If the chain touches the ground.

If the chain links are bent, broken or ground down in size.

If you have any questions relating to your trailer’s coupling, chain or D-shackle, make sure you seek professional advice from an Authorised Trailer Inspection Station, or feel free to contact Bold Trailers for all your trailer needs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Christian Bold, also known as ‘The Trailer Guy’, is one of Australia’s leading trailer and caravan repair specialists. As the director of Bold Trailers he is a licensed motor mechanic, auto electrician and automotive body builder.

Christian is also an AUVIS and e-safety examiner for the RMS. You can contact Christian at Bold Trailers on 02 8544 8114, or for more information visit www.boldtrailers.com.au.

What’s new from Quintrex in 2015 FMG

Will Lee wlee@fishingmonthly.com.au

Quintrex is a household name when it comes to boating and their reputation for being at the forefront of boat design is exceptional.

They once again proved that one of the keys to their success is staying in front by continually improving on their designs at a wet and windy media day on the Gold Coast’s Broadwater.

HORNETS In 2013 Quintrex introduced a revolutionary new bow design through the 450, 481 and 500 Hornet

models. More space on the front casting deck means more storage below for fishing tackle and safety gear.

All of the Hornet Trophy’s have received a carpet upgrade

the intermittent heavy showers from the heavens above.

Quintrex are now offering Railblazer accessories with the Hornet Trophy range with some neat rail mounted rod

With its new bow design the 440 Hornet Trophy is an extremely dry ride.

side sheets now thicker on the 430 through to 510 models but they have also received sheet upgrades to the bottom.

Hardcore anglers looking for strength in their boat are really going to appreciate these upgrades.

With the popularity in larger sounder and GPS screens and the ability to run your engine data through these screens Quintrex thought it was necessary to increase the space on the dash of the side console. To achieve this they have come up with a space saving console that is broader at the top with a smaller footprint at the deck.

There is more storage than

Quintrex had the 530 Cruiseabout, F420 Hornet, F440 Hornet Trophy, 510 Top Ender (not pictured) and 610 Hard Top Trident on display at the media day.

Standard features on the 510 Top Ender include rod holders, a livebait tank in the back deck, sounder, self draining deck with a neat scupper drainage system and a rear boarding ladder. With all of these features anglers will now get more bang for their

Left: A new deluxe rod lock is an option on the Top Ender and Hornet models. Middle: The 610 Trident Hard Top is designed to fish in less than desirable conditions. Right: The new side console design in the Top Ender models will accommodate up to a 10” Screen.

Trophy models. The wide ‘forked’ bow aesthetics were debated by Quintrex customers and dealers alike but quickly produced rave reviews and the call was out for the design to be incorporated into smaller models. Quintrex listened and in late 2014 released the Fighter series range of explorers. Hornet fans will be delighted to know that now the successful Fighter Series forked shaped bow is available in the 400, 420 and 440 Hornet models.

The Fighter Series Bow has increased the front casting deck space by 11% across the entire range and with the squarer design will facilitate two anglers on the front deck nicely on the smaller Hornet QR CODE

Scan to watch the 440 Hornet Trophy in action.

Scan to watch the 510 Top Ender in action.

going from the previous looped grey carpet to a new deluxe hookless carpet which will prevent trebles on lures getting stuck to the floor while trying to remove them from a fish.

Quintrex’s Cameron Wood told us ‘the carpet is aerated making it cooler when tested in warm northern conditions’.

The 440 Hornet Trophy that I rode in on the day gave the impression that some serious fishing heads at Quintrex had come together to produce this well thought out fishing rig.

With front and rear casting decks there is enough room for three lure casting anglers to work around the boat nicely.

The rear casting deck has a built in live bait tank while the front deck featured a nice large livewell big enough to meet the minimum requirements of tournament event organisers around the country. Quintrex listened to their customers and improved the carpeted hatch over the livewell by adding a sheet of aluminium to the underside that will prevent fishy odours and moisture seeping into the carpet and timber from the livewell but also strengthen the hatch.

Underneath there has been some changes made to the 440 Hornet Trophy. Quintrex have increased the stemline by 7 degrees giving a much smoother ride and this was noticeable while we did some testing in a choppy Southport Sea Way. The new bow design not only gives the angler more space up top but it also gives more over hang which in turn produces a much dryer ride.

The only water that wet us while out testing this boat was

holders and sounder mounting plates available.

TOP ENDERS During the media day I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time on board the new 510 Top Ender. The popular Quintrex Top Ender models have a whole swag of new

ever in the new Top Enders and on the 510 there are two underfloor storage bins that could be used for storing safety equipment, as a kill tank or for icing down your catch. Under the front casting deck is even more storage and Quintrex will have Roto moulded tubs to

buck when it comes to buying a new Top Ender.

One of the really neat new optional extras for the Top Ender models is the deluxe rod locker. It is a really neat and simple design that is perfect for protecting expensive rods and reels while travelling

Top Left: The 510 Top Ender is packed with changes including now being rated to a 115hp outboard. Top Right: Quintrex had angler’s comfort in mind when they built the 610 Trident Hard Top. Above: The Fighter series bow is now standard on all of the Hornet models. upgrades for 2015.

Structurally the Top Ender range are now stronger and more durable than ever before with the sides being beefed up with thicker sheet sizes across the range. Not only are the

fit in below these hatches as an option.

The new Topender models have a larger anchor well opening and there is enough room for a drum winch to be mounted above it.

between fishing spots.

The 510 Top Ender is now rated to a 115hp which will be perfect for anglers wanting to travel greater distances.

CRUISEABOUTS Quintrex Cruiseabouts

are a very popular model for family boating. The 530 Cruiseabout has 62% more room in the bow area than the previous model and the 570 has an extra 47%. This extra room means that not only can the kids stretch out on the front lounges but Mums and Dads won’t have any problem either.

The Cruiseabout range is also getting the deluxe carpet treatment which will be sure to keep the whole family happy!

610 TRIDENT HARD TOP The line up of Quintrex Tridents has been a hit with the offshore fishing fraternity.

Quintrex’s newest release in the line up of Tridents is the hotly anticipated 610 Hard Top. The 610 Hard Top offers the customer versatility at an affordable price while still featuring the smartly designed layout of the larger hard top models.

With a fully enclosed hardened glass windscreen featuring wipers this boat looks ready to stand up to wet and cold weather conditions and was perfect for keeping journalists and their camera equipment dry

while we were all out in the rain on the Gold Coast.

Quintrex have kept the side decks wide enough on the 610HT that you can easily walk around the cabin on the nonslip pads to the bow to access the now larger anchor well opening. The hard top has a really neat built in grab rail for added safety.

Despite the wet and at times wild weather conditions we were challenged with during the media day it was actually great to see how well these models went in the rain, wind and waves that were thrown at them. All of these exciting new models and changes are starting to roll through the Quintrex dealers so for more information check out www.quintrex.com. au and contact your local dealer.

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What’s New BOATING

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EPROPULSION SPIRIT 1.0

Enjoying the ride without pollution. The ePropulsion always takes the social responsibility of environmental protection.

Our electric outboards take a solution for zero-emission eco-friendly boating.

We aim to develop a sustainable boat power system with energy harvesting system in the future. Innovating in electric power engineering, the ePropulsion specializes in innovation and technology by increasing the stability and efficiency of key components such as motor, controller and propeller.

Our well-optimized outboards can achieve a maximum overall efficiency of 55% and provide large thrust power and long operating time.

The ePropulsion is dedicated to delivering the best quality electric outboard at a reasonable price and is perfect for anglers with small craft.

At ePropulsion, we seek innovative design, fine art refinement, well-constructed details so that each ones can offer an excellent user experience and you can get the most out of this product. – Island Marine

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GOFREE ON LOWRANCE

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When Anglapro launched into the Aluminium boat market, its hull designs set a new standard for exceptional hull strength and dynamic hull performance.

Today we have raised the bar to a new level with our latest engineered hull technology called the Sabre. We have refined our Deep V hull design to incorporate an even deeper deadrise and additional performance enhancing features.

Our refinements included the hull support structure, not just the outer skin. The foundation of our industry leading hull strength is in our hull structure and our new X Core construction system gives the strongest possible framework to support the hull. X Core is now used on both our Deep V and V Nose Punt hulls.

“We wanted to work towards providing a 5 year warranty for our hull,” said Derek Rodway, director of Anglapro. “From testing refinements to our Deep V hull design, we have been able to deliver excellent performance enhancements with cornering, hole shot and rough water handling.” – Good Times Marine

BRUNSWICK ACQUIRES BLA

Brunswick Corporation have announced that it has acquired BLA, Australia’s largest provider of ‘boating, lifestyle and adventure’ products, to strengthen Brunswick’s marine parts and accessories (P&A) presence in the region. BLA had revenues of approximately AUD$50 million in 2014.

“We continue to seek opportunities to strategically grow our marine and fitness operations throughout the world,” said Brunswick Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dustan E. McCoy. “BLA bolsters the distribution arm of our marine P&A business by expanding our reach and customer responsiveness in the important Australian marine marketplace and this region of the world.”

Founded in 1974, BLA has an extensive dealer network throughout Australia and New Zealand and also serves original equipment manufacturers. BLA offers more than 15,000 different SKUs, including products from such well-known brands as Attwood, BEP, Cannon, Humminbird, Lewmar, Mastervolt, Minnkota, SeaStar Solutions, Sierra and Whale. BLA will continue to conduct business under its current name and will remain based in Brisbane, Australia. - BLA

Lowrance has added the availability of the newly launched GoFRee Shop and wireless, cloud-enabled features on its full line of HDS Gen3 and HDS Gen2 Touch and multifunction displays.

GoFree cloud-enabled technology gives users the capability to receive automatic software update notifications and be able to download and install these updates directly, guaranteeing the most up-to-date operating system with all of the latest features.

One of the most exciting new features is access to the GoFree Shop directly from the displays. With the GoFree Shop, users will have the ability to purchase, download and immediately use Insight maps, and other third-party maps from GoFree partners, directly from the home screen of a HDS Gen3 or Gen2 Touch display. The GoFree technology also provides consumers access to crowd-sourced Insight Genesis. An easyto-use, cloud-based tool, Insight Genesis allows boaters to open a free account, upload sonar logs, and download up-to-date, personalised contour maps and contribute to the community-based social map. – Navico

ANGLAPRO 5-YEAR HULL WARRANTY

GEMLUX FRICTION HINGES

The Gemlux Friction Hinge is designed to eliminate the need for gas shocks or hatch springs, and gives you one trouble-free hinge that will last and hold your hatches, lids and boxes open.

Friction Hinges are built into the barrel of the hinge using patented technology from Gemlux, putting them in a class of their own. Your hatch will go up, and stay up.

Gemlux Friction Hinges will hold open hatches, live well lids, radio boxes, and anything else you can think of. They are available in various shapes and sizes to fit what ever hatch, lid or box that you are working with.

Each style is available in four different mounting types, which makes these hinges very versatile and simple to mount.

Gemlux hinges are 304G stainless steel.

For all the specifications check out www. samallen.com.au. – Sam Allen Wholesale

JUNE 2015

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HAINES HUNTER 565R

Last year’s launch of the 565 Offshore at the Melbourne Boat Show was met with great enthusiasm from dealers and punters alike with sales showing the 565 has filled a big gap in the market.

The 565 Offshore performs like a hardcore game boat and doubles as a weekend leisure boat. This has lead Haines Hunter to give the 565 Offshore the “R” treatment.

To be presented at this year’s Melbourne Boat Show is the all-new 565R. When Haines Hunter decides to take a boat into the R segment, it’s more than just a paint job and a sticker.

Managing Director John Haber comments: “The new 565R has a 200mm lower deck allowing for better garage storage and a lower centre of gravity which improves handling. We increased the cockpit space by 200mm so it’s got more room for fishing and while that has reduced the cabin by 200mm, you can still comfortably sleep two and there is room for a toilet.”

– Haines Hunter

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 98

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

POWERED BY

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

What’s New BOATING

POWERED BY

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BRP TELWATER PARTNERSHIP

BRP and Telwater have agreed to continue their partnership, producing factory backed and fitted boat motor and trailer (BMT) packages for the Australian market for an additional 3 years.

Since 2011, the partnership between Telwater and BRP has provided Australian boat owners with complete boat, motor and trailer packages that offer the highest level of innovation and quality on the market.

During this period Evinrude E-Tec engines have been fitted to Quintrex, Stacer, Yellowfin and Savage BMT packages.

The extension of the partnership between these two industry heavyweights will allow even more customers to enjoy the many benefits of an Evinrude E-Tec powered Telwater Boat Motor Trailer package.

“Evinrude E-Tec technology provides best in class torque, fuel efficiency and emissions. These features, combined with the Evinrude E-Tec power to weight ratio make our boats perform like no other engine can,” said Paul Phelan, Managing Director of Telwater. - Telwater

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GX700 VHF MARINE RADIO

GME, the Australian leader in marine and land-based communications equipment, emergency signalling beacons and television signalling equipment has announced a new VHF Marine Radio will be available for sale from May 2015.

The GME GX700 VHF Marine Radio is a compact communication and safety device with innovative installation options.

Waterproof to IPX7, the GX700 is the ideal communication tool for your boating lifestyle whether you’re sailing inland waters, or heading offshore.

Compact design makes installation of the GX700 simple and enables installation in locations where space is limited.

The GX700’s innovative rear microphone input socket enables the user to run a 5m or 8m extension cable (this is available as an optional accessory).

This can run from the rear input to a convenient location on the vessel where the waterproof flush mount socket can be installed.

The waterproof speaker microphone can now be input from this location.

By adding the waterproof blanking plug to the front microphone input socket. – GME Marine

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

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

TABS 5600 CENTRE CAB

Tough Aussie Boats or TABs for short, means we don’t just build tough boats, we build boats specifically for Aussie conditions In most of this country we exit our waterways through relatively shallow bars not deep fjords, we need a shallow draft vessel for fast acceleration and so we don’t bottom out.

We live in a sun-burnt country, we not only need room for the big esky, we need even more room for three to four (or more) people, so big beams and chine to chine measurements are a necessity.

The 5600 Hard Top Centre Cab has all of the above features. Furthermore, as of 2015 the latest design called SuperFX has port and starboard 200mm reverse chines so it now offers what can only be described as land-based stability. They’ll be no rocking and rolling if you own one of these. – South Easterly Marine

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HYBRIDTOUCH MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAYS

We are pleased to announce the launch of the exciting new eS Series line of HybridTouch multifunction displays from Raymairne.

Powered by Raymarine’s advanced LightHouse II user interface, the eS Series includes three high-performance navigation displays that offer unprecedented control and ease-of-use in a sleek, ergonomic design.

The eS Series features a choice of 7”, 9” and 12” displays, each with an attractive, glass bridge-style design that blends seamlessly with today’s modern helm stations, allowing for both low profile console and a completely recessed flush mounting option.

Easy to use and great to look at, the eS Series of MFDs give you easy access to your controls and can be mounted almost anywhere.

The eS Series line of HybridTouch multifunction displays is now available in eS7, eS98 and eS128 MFDs, and eS77, eS97 and eS127 MFDs will be available soon. – Raymarine

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LOWRANCE WIRELESS PILOT CONTROLLER

Lowrance has announced the release of the compact Wireless Pilot Controller, providing complete control to anglers, no matter where they are on the boat.

The new Wireless Pilot Controller is comprised of a small and lightweight waterproof Bluetooth base station with micro-C connections, pairs with up to four remotes, and is compatible with Lowrance Outboard Pilot systems.

The Pilot Controller Wireless Remote is perfectly sized to fit into the user’s palm.

The unit has a series of clearly marked keys and an LED status light to allow for fast and accurate autopilot access.

A mode button allows anglers to toggle through the available pilot modes, while two dodge keys enable the user to program turns by 1 or 10° increments.

There is also a Pilot Standby button for the ultimate in safety and a large Auto key.

Easy to install, the remote has a range of up to 30m. – Navico

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FEELFREE LURE 13.5

Feelfree Australia is pleased to announce the expansion of the popular Lure series.

The Lure 10 and 11.5 are proving to be a great hit with the avid angler, though some have demanded a little more.

Now Feelfree fills the gap to satisfy the rest of them - the ones that want it all.

New to the Lure 13.5 is the multi-use console, which sits right being the bow hatch. The console lid features an inlaid cutting board, handy for preparing bait or cleaning fish.

The lid is also insulated and together with the console cooler insert makes an ideal container to keep your drinks, bait and even fish. The console can also be used as a child’s seat.

Other key features unique to the Lure 13.5 are the removable sonar and electronics pod for easy installation of a fisher finder or other devices and a flat wide open deck area. – Feelfree Australia

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS! JUNE 2015

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BOAT AUSTRALIAN BUILDERS “ There’s no better way to stay in control of the whole process than getting to know your local boat manufacturer and working with them to create a hull that suits your local needs.

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ITH ALL OF THE TALK ABOUT TOUGH BUDGETS AND INCREASING COSTS OF LIVING, I KNOW THAT A LOT OF US WANT TO LEAVE ALL OF THAT BEHIND AND JUST GO FISHING AND BOATING.

COMMUNICATE WITH THE BUILDER Most of the time, you’re able to talk directly with the boat builder or designer when you buy a local boat.

And they’re also the one you need to talk to make any customisation you want.

Usually a local builder will be happy to customise – within reason. Remember that fibreglass makers are often bound by the shapes of the moulds that they have.

Aluminium guys can be a little more creative when it comes to fabricating exactly what you want when you’re describing – for instance – the ultimate kill box for the two-metre Spaniards you’re going to be catching.

EASY WARRANTY

After all, the money you buy your boat with is technically called your ‘fun money’ and it’s an unwritten rule that while we all have the God-given right to bitch and moan every time the power bill or Telstra bill goes up, any time a boat goes over budget and we go a little crazy on the ‘necessary’ options then we can deal with that with the calm and poise of a Buddhist monk.

You can be sure that the trailer that you buy your local boat on with be 100% compliant with local regulations. It won’t be too wide, it won’t rust away in a year and it’ll definitely be easier to source spare parts when a spring wears out half way to Cape York.

And when it comes to boats, there’s no better way to stay in control of the whole process than getting to know your local boat manufacturer and working with them to create a hull that suits your local needs.

That’s apart from the feel-good of keeping your business local.

When it comes down to it, there’s plenty of advantages buying and building locally, as sometimes the ‘boating internet bargain of the century’ ends up being a beat-up hurricanedamaged clunker that some happy E-Bayer has offloaded to the other side of the globe.

Local builders originally build all of their hulls to suit local conditions and then customise the fit-out for the purpose specific to the target market. The beneficiary of the evolution of a manufacturer’s hull is the local buyer. If you buy a fishing boat from your local fishing boat manufacturer, you can be sure that the fishing you do locally will be catered for by the build.

This is one of the bonuses of buying locally. Why would you spend your hard-earned on a craft that may only be marginally suited to your needs?

LOCAL TRAILERS

If you do have any issues with your new pride-andjoy, it’s MUCH easier to get warranty claims and repairs sorted out locally rather than trying to communicate with an overseas vendor. It’s pretty easy for them to put a busted boat in Australia in the ‘too hard’ basket.

BUILT WITH LOCAL EXPERIENCE

And that counts for outboards, too. Buy a local motor and you’ll never be arguing the fine print with an outboard dealership.

CHEAPER DELIVERY Domestic delivery costs for boats are dirt-cheap compared with the expense of shipping a hull half way around the world.

Talk to anyone who has imported a boat and you’ll find out about all of the ‘other’ costs that pop up. Post costs, customs costs, handling costs, GST – they all add up and can be scary.

NO SURPRISES

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We all love surprises – unless it’s to do with a nonlocal boat. And it’s bad. You can rest assured that there’s virtually nothing a local boat builder can’t predict and deal with. They’ve all done it before – many times – and will do it again. They’re the ones in touch with the regulations on Australian Builders’ Plates, Capacity Labelling, flotation standards and the myriad other complexities of getting a boat built, certified and on the water smoothly.

And there’s no better time to get shopping than right now – you’ll find the following manufacturers are local, reputable and will bend over backwards to make you a happy customer.

JUNE 2015

AUSTRALIAN BOAT BUILDERS

SEA JAY BOATS

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SEA JAY BOATS ON THE MOVE

The Sea Jay range features high sides and wide beams providing excellent performance, stability and safety in boats from 5.1 - 8.0m.

Sea Jay uses 3D design and computerized cutting processes to deliver cost effective products.

BOAT STATS

CUSTOM Yes size 5.1-8.0m BRAND Sea Jay Boats HULL TYPE Aluminium SALES Factory Direct WARRANTY 2 Year (Sea Jay) YEARS ESTABLISHED 26 Years

CONTACT:

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OWNER

Col, Janelle & Troy Glass

SPECIAL FEATURES • Full Plate Construction • Designed by Sea Jay Using 3D computerized design • Ultimate Performance • Strength, Durability and Style 0

Ct, Bundaberg Qld 467

P 07 4152 2111 A 2 Maddison info@seajayboats.com.au W www.seajayboats.com.au E

SEA JAY BOATS

SEA JAY BOATS ON THE MOVE

The Sea Jay range features high sides and wide beams providing excellent performance, stability and safety in boats from 2.45-6.1m.

Sea Jay uses 3D design and computerized cutting processes to deliver cost effective products.

BOAT STATS

CUSTOM Yes size 2.45-6.1m BRAND Sea Jay Boats HULL TYPE Aluminium SALES Dealer Network WARRANTY 2 Year (Sea Jay) YEARS ESTABLISHED 26 Years

CONTACT:

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BOAT STATS

MODELS Explorer & Outsider HULL TYPE/S Fibreglass - Mono DEALER National Dealer NETWORK Network WARRANTY 7 Year Structural Hull Guarantee

CONTACT:

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YEARS ESTABLISHED

Since 1946 - 3rd Generation Family

OWNER

Nathan, Justin & Darren Nichols

SPECIAL FEATURES

Renowned Offshore Fishing & Recreational Boats

P 07 3390 4877 A 1308 Lytton Rd, Hemmant QLD 417 4 W www.cruisecraft.com.au E info @cruisecraft.com.au

OWNER

Col, Janelle & Troy Glass

SPECIAL FEATURES • Full Plate Construction • Designed by Sea Jay Using 3D computerized design • Ultimate Performance • Strength, Durability and Style 0

Ct, Bundaberg Qld 467

P 07 4152 2111 A 2 Maddison info@seajayboats.com.au W www.seajayboats.com.au E

SEA ADEX BOATS

CRUISECRAFT BOATS

ichols Bros. has been at the fore front of the Australian boating industry since Roy Nichols established the boat building company back in August 1946. Now three generations of the Nichols Bros. & the CruiseCraft Brand has became synonymous with an unrelenting commitment to design excellence and manufacturing quality.

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ea Adex are committed to offering you the best customised solution to suit your individual needs. We build it the way you want it... esky’s, bait tanks, fishing rod holders etc all where you want, not where it’s easiest for us and we build your boat right here in beautiful Brisbane.

BOAT STATS

CUSTOM Yes BRAND Armour and RMP HULL TYPE Plate Alloy SALES Factory Direct WARRANTY 3 Years YEARS ESTABLISHED 8 Years

CONTACT:

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OWNER

Adam Mortimer & Rex Willis

SPECIAL FEATURES Armour range has a constant 23° deadrise with no water ballast required. All material starts with a minimum thickness of 4mm, no 3mm anywhere, built to level floatation and survey requirements. palaba

Redland Bay Road, Ca

P 0435 453 455 A Unit 9 / 82 aadex.com.au W www.seaadex.com E info@se

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AUSTRALIAN BOAT BUILDERS

FORMOSA MARINE

E IN R A M B B B ES IC RV & WELDING SE

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ach vessel BBBmarine builds is Custom built around the owners requirements and budget. We have our own range of vessels available plus we can do other designs on request. Boats range in size from the small 4.3m and 4.6m- all 4mm plate boats right through to our very serious 5m, 6m, 7m & 8m Bluewater Custom Sportfishing Vessels. We can supply from a Bare hull through to Turnkey package, Custom steel or Alloy trailers also available.

BOAT STATS

CUSTOM BRAND

Yes

BBBmarine Oceansport series of Custom Plate Boats

HULL TYPE

Aluminium, Monohull, Other Custom Designs

SALES

Factory Direct

CONTACT:

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WARRANTY 10 Years YEARS EST. 12 Years OWNER Darren Brand SPECIAL FEATURES Small business with a great one on one attitude.

y 4740

ald Street, Paget, Macka

P 07 4952 1412 A 81 Archib bbbmarine@mcs.net.au W www.bbbmarine.com.au E

HORIZON BOATS

HORIZON BOATS CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES

Whether it be fishing, family or water sports, With over 90 models to choose from ranging from 2.4m to 6m there is a model to suit you needs.

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BOAT STATS

CUSTOM BRAND HULL TYPE SALES WARRANTY

Yes Horizon Boats Aluminium Dealer Network

2 Years 3 Years with Dunbier Trailer

CONTACT: 102

JUNE 2015

YEARS ESTABLISHED 23 Years OWNER Bob & Christine James SPECIAL FEATURES • Large range • Strength • CNC routered parts • Quality • Affordability • Family owned • Wide beams

bin Waters QLD 4223

A 2 Queensbury Ave, Currum onboats.com.au P 07 5598 1033 E info@horiz m.au W www.horizonboats.co

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risbane based and Australian owned Formosa Marine use plate construction in all 4 brands they manufacture under; the Formosa Classic, Tomahawk, Sea-Rod Classic and Offshore. From 4.3m Barra boats to 6.6m Cabin Boats, Formosa built boats are renowned for their build quality, stability, performance and value for money. Why buy a press boat when you can now afford a plate boat?

BOAT STATS

CUSTOM BRANDS

Yes

Formosa Classic, Formosa Tomahawk, Sea-Rod Deluxe, Sea-Rod Offshore

HULL TYPE

Aluminium Plate 4.3m to 6.6m

SALES

Dealer Network

CONTACT:

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YEARS ESTABLISHED 17 Years OWNER Ross Stevens

and Duncan Blakley

SPECIAL FEATURES

• Longitudinal stringer construction • Strength • Performance • Stability • High Sides • Wide Beam

Cleveland Rd Tingalpa

QLD 4173

P 07 3393 9825 A 188 New om.au // www.searod.com.au W www. formosamarineboats.cmarineboats.com.au E admin@formosa

PERFORMANCE PLATE BOATS

UNRIVALLED OFFSHORE PERFORMANCE

Performance Plate Boats are packed with fishing functionality and practicality. Mixing traditional boat design with modern flare, Performance Plate Boats designs from 4.5m to 10.5m. No corners are cut on safety and build quality. Customer involvement during the build is the only thing standard on these boats!

BOAT STATS

CUSTOM BRAND HULL TYPE SALES WARRANTY

Yes

Performance Plate

CONTACT:

Mono Aluminium Factory Direct 5 years

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YEARS ESTABLISHED 10 Years OWNER Sam Preston SPECIAL FEATURES • Durability • Strength • Range of different designs • Fishing friendly layouts

le Qld Kenworth Place, Brenda

P 07 3889 9234 A Shed 3, 16 ats@bigpond.com 4500 E performancebo

AUSTRALIAN BOAT BUILDERS

THE HAINES GROUP

VINDICATOR BOATS

VINDICATOR QUALITY BOATS

CUSTOM BRAND

Yes

Vindicator Quality Aluminium Boats & Trailers Plate Alloy Direct 5 Years

CONTACT:

he Haines Group are the proud builders of Haines Signature Boats, Australia’s most awarded trailer boat over the past 56 years. With 17 models ranging from 4.85m - 7.1m, the Signature range of fiberglass boats has a model to suit any fishing endeavor. Their range of boats features their unique SVDH™ hull, Carbon Kevlar® technology and a build quality second to none.

All this with a 10 year manufacturers warranty.

BOAT STATS

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BOAT STATS

HULL TYPE SALES WARRANTY

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Vindicator Quality Aluminium Boats & Trailers are custom built to suit you and your needs, Half Cabins, Centre Consoles Or Side Console versions. Built with Pride & Passion, delivering incredible products with great service.

YEARS EST. OWNER

CUSTOM BRAND HULL TYPE

48 Years Frank, Denise & Glenn Watson

SPECIAL FEATURES

0

Street, Gympie, Qld 457

P 07 5482 2135 A 52 Wickham .com.au vindicator@watsonsmarine W www.watsonsmarine.com.au E

tessco is proud to be an Australian owned and operated family business. With a family environment and a love of fishing and boating, Stessco has built a network of dealerships who share the same passion and goals that Stessco do, so that you the customer will get the best value & best vessel for you.

BOAT STATS

CUSTOM BRAND HULL TYPE SALES WARRANTY

CONTACT:

Yes

Stessco Mono Aluminium Dealer Network 3 years

© BACKGROUND

YEARS EST. 20 Years OWNER Donovan Weeks SPECIAL FEATURES • Strong • Durable • Fishing friendly designs • Large range of models • Value for money • Excellent quality Queensland

P 07 3888 5111 A Narangba w.stessco.com.au E sales@stessco.com.au W ww

SVDH - Signature Variable Deadrise Hull

CONTACT:

Dealer Network 10yr Structural

YEARS EST. 56 Years OWNER John Haines SPECIAL FEATURES • Racing heritage • Australian owned and operated • Industry leader FN research and development • Excellent re-sale value D 4076

Drive, Wacol, QL P 07 3271 4400 A 140 Viking group.com thgmarketing@thehaines W www.signatureboats.com.au E

CLARK ALUMINIUM BOATS

MERLIN MARINE & LEISURE

S

Haines Signature

SALES WARRANTY

Plate Boats & Trailers built for the long haul

No

© BACKGROUND

C

lark Aluminium Boats has a heritage stretching back several decades.

The brand has long been highly regarded by both commercial and recreational anglers. Clark’s current boat range encompasses over 70 models with all of the popular layouts and configurations represented. From the 2.6m Punt up to the 5.40m Challenger there is a boat in the Clark range for you.

© BACKGROUND

BOAT STATS

CUSTOM BRAND HULL TYPE

Yes Clark Aluminium Boats

Aluminium V-Hulls, Flat Bottom V-Nosed Punts, Flat Nosed Punts.

SALES

CONTACT:

Dealer Network

WARRANTY

3 Years - Structural Hull Warranty

YEARS EST. SPECIAL FEATURES

40 Years

• Strength • Durability • Built to order • Quality finish • Attention to detail • Affordable D 4214

ts Place, Arundel, QL P 07 5500 6681 A 22 Wrigh m.au michaela@clarkboats.co W www.clarkboats.com.au E JUNE 2015

103

Sea Fox 286 Commander and twin 300 Evinrude E-Tecs BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

This big American import, with its 600 horsepower on the transom, makes a very bold statement.

If the buyer wants a no-compromise fibreglass craft with a top quality finish, every conceivable fishing appointment and absolute practicality in their application, plus sizzling performance to match a ride that is simply in a class of its own, then look

Fox have obviously done their utmost to fit out the console/ helm area, along with the rest of the craft, with ample features to provide both comfort and enjoyment for those aboard.

Thanks to a very impressive layout and list of appointments, the 286 Commander with its twin 300 E-tecs proved to be 1 of the most enjoyable craft I have ever driven — true testimony to what can be achieved when really good hull design meets modern engine technology.

This saw the new second generation (G2) 300 E-Tecs

’glass market.

FAULTLESS FITOUT AND FINISH Stepping aboard the big Commander, I was immediately impressed with the overall finish and fitout: exemplary might describe the standard. And that’s from the stainless steel work down to the grippy non-skid floor.

Given the sheer size of the craft, everything was, well, massive. Even the console unit with its marine toilet, hand basin and storage area within had over 2m of headroom! Up front, ahead of the console, I saw room for at least 4 There’s hardly a better way of getting a good hard look into the Sea Fox’s interior than this: Jeff McNiven puts the big girl through her paces.

A shot like this gives an insight into just how large this craft really is. no further. The Sea Fox 286 Commander has it all.

At 8.75m in length, a 2.9m beam, and a hull weight of 2267kg, the Sea Fox 286 Commander is a purposebuilt offshore craft, yet there’s a whole lot more to it than merely being a big, fast boat.

Interestingly, the 286 Commander is a centre console style craft and Sea

linked to a hull design with a 21 degree aft deadrise, massive strakes, and huge amounts of freeboard all coming together as 1 of the softest riding rigs I’ve enjoyed time aboard. The ride, handling, and appointment levels are certainly a great tribute to this US manufacturer of some 2 decades’ experience in the ultra competitive US

A flat wash was a trademark of the Commander’s well-designed hull. The top power 300 E-Tecs perfectly matched the Commander’s brilliant hull design to produce some thrilling performance.

104

JUNE 2015

folk to sit in comfort in the bow rider area, with its plush cushioning and rebated bow rails. Two more well shaped seats adorned the front of the console, so all hands up front could easily have a chat or enjoy the wind in their hair.

Ample drained storage space (hatches with struts) was both under the front floor as well as below all front seats. Note that restraint backrests up here were easily removed when necessary. Moreover, there’d be no need to climb up front to lift the pick as a windlass came standard.

SIMRAD DOMINATED DASH Naturally, the rear face of the sleekly moulded centre console was set up with the 286 Commander’s dash and I noted some protection from the weather via both a windscreen and a solid T-top, which was somewhat more than just good shade thanks to sound system speakers, mist system for hot days, LED lighting for night fishing comfort, plus rocket launcher rod holders aft.

Paired Simrads — 12 and 16” — dominated the dash, with arrays of switches and trim tabs lower, the Evinrude Icon helm unit linked to 300 E-Tecs punching out the ponies aft of the Commander’s full height transom. In the usual US manner, the wheel was set to port, with a very neat Evinrude Icon engine control system allowing wireless control of both throttles, or the option of simply using 1 small lever to effortlessly control both of the powerful

V6s astern.

Seating at the console for skipper and mate was again pure luxury, with very comfortable wraparound slide adjustable buckets also offering a handy bolster option with the bottom section tucked out of the way. Paired footrests were par for the course, as were drink holders.

The helm module also had a rear extension that contributed to the 286 Commander’s fishing attributes, with a set of rod holders, massive 160l live well, tackle trays, sink, plus both deck wash and freshwater hose and an icebox for bait or tucker tucked to port.

REMOTE SOUNDER CONTROL A BONUS Most importantly in my view, was a very neat bit of high tech equipment; the Simrad OP40 unit set up atop the rear module. With its user-friendly keypad, the OP40 effectively transferred many major controls from the dash area — from the radio to the craft’s cruise control system, to complete control of both Simrad units — astern to where fishing action was

taking place. In short, there was no need for anyone to move back to the helm area to address course or sounder function as it could be done via the OP40.

Innovation was overhead as well. A set of Taco outrigger poles that could be lowered and positioned via a hand

control system set into the underside of the hardtop were also installed on the reviewed craft. Again, smart technology.

WELLEQUIPPED COCKPIT Cockpit comfort complimented innovation in spades. The 286 Commander’s waist-high cockpit featured

Simrad City! Not one but two big units dominate the Sea Fox 286 Commander’s dash area.

Note, also that only 1 control lever has been programmed to control both engines.

Left: Note the Sea Fox 286 Commander’s wide decks, side coaming and under floor compartment in this shot of the companionway adjacent to the centre console. Right: A wide door to port allowed access to the craft’s marine toilet within its massive compartment.

plenty of side coaming to facilitate serious work on big fish. Within both of the selfdraining cockpit’s sides were flush mounted rod racks (with rod tips protected), while handy off-floor toe rails were designed to make life easy for

completely, the new Evinrudes with their upright stance and fully integrated digital controls oozed innovation.

Gone was the familiar steering hardware (tiller arm and ram) that’s been synonymous with many outboards, replaced by

E-Tecs, but suffice to say that the 3.44l V6 300s packed every bit of 2 stroke punch I might have expected of these direct injection outboards, complete with total lack of smoke and remarkably little noise.

Engine response was

the massive 2.2 tonne hull seem like it just wanted to go hard forever. With power applied gently, the Commander’s 21-degree Vee hull lifted up and planed at 2000 rpm for a recorded 10.9kts. 3000rpm saw 26kts,

4000rpm 41kts, 5000rpm 49kts, and 5800rpm 56kts.

Fast enough? You bet; but the best was to come.

Cruising at 27kts, my host for the day, Jeff McNiven from JSW Powersports, spied an oncoming 50’ game rig planing towards us with a wash coming off the bow like an aircraft carrier. “Watch this,” says Jeff as he lined up the curling bow wave around 20m from the craft.

“Watch nothing,” I thought aloud, “Here goes my back!”

Not so; even with a good metre and a half or more

31.5kts at 3250rpm saw a combined fuel consumption of a modest 52l/hr.

SUMMING UP If you can afford this craft, you will not — as in not ever — buy a better centre console with such high end fishing cred’.

The impeccable standards of finish and feature levels throughout are matched only by ride and the best handling in the business. A trailer is available, with a LandCruiser or similar unit required for towing. As the rig, at 2.9m beam, is over-

TECHNICAL INFORMATION Length: ...........................................................8.75m Beam: ...............................................................2.9m Deadrise: ............................................................ 21º Hull weight: ..................................................2267kg Fuel: ..................................................................757L Engine ratings: . ................... 400-600hp outboards Engines fitted: . ................ Twin 300 Evinrude E-Tec Towing: ............. Large vehicle, LandCruiser, F Truck

Top left: The brilliant Simrad OP40 unit permits anglers working aft to completely control a huge range of electronic functions, including the paired dash-mounted Simrads. Top right: Manually operated outrigger poles were just 1 aspect of the moulded T-top’s many features. Note the speakers, lighting and storage area. Bottom left: Looking astern from the bow, many of the Commander’s luxurious appointments can be seen. Bottom right: Backrests can be easily removed from the Commander’s plush forward seating when it was time for fishing. the hard working angler.

Cockpit flooring sported a pair of mackerel/wahoo-sized macerator-equipped, gas strutaccessed kill tanks. Filled with ice and drinks on the way out and nice fresh fish on return to base, those kill tanks were very businesslike indeed.

Completing cockpit features were very wide gunwale tops set up with rod and drink holders, side seating each aft quarter, and a drop down 2-3 person central lounge ahead of another huge live well. Note that the paired quarter seats featured backrests that could be lowered to make welcoming a big billfish aboard an easy matter. Aft of the transom, twin boarding platforms sat each side of the compact 300s 600 HORSES READY TO GO The Gen2 E-Tec 300s were as much a joy as the incredible hull performance I experienced aboard the massive Sea Fox. Redesigned

of air under us, the massive Commander landed like a cat jumping off a rubbish bin. No bump, no bash, just a graduated feeling of launch and return to water.

With a totally flat offshore swell on the day, that was as good as we saw to test the hull, but there’s no doubt that jumping big offshore swells would be just as easy. It’s that sort of boat.

Incidentally, cruising at

sized in Queensland, signs and other equipment would be par for the course when on the road.

With twin 200s on the transom, the rig would cost $200,686. With upgrades to twin 300 E-Tecs, $229.000 would be a starting price.

JSW Powersports can be contacted via www. jswpowersports.com.au or on phone at (0755) 292 616, fax (0755) 292332.

QUALITY BOAT COVERS FOR OVER

The Evinrude Icon system, standard with the V6 300s, made for totally effortless throttle and trim control. an extremely compact rigging tube atop each motor bracket that contained both steering and tilt electric/hydraulic systems. Neat’s the word.

There’s a whole article in the innovations BRP have installed within their Gen 2

Macerator-equipped in-floor kill tanks adorn each side of the Commander’s cockpit.

instant, yet fingertip easy thanks to the Commander’s Evinrude Icon helm system, which among an array of options provided for single lever gearshift and power control of both engines. The Icon’s slick auto trim system also interfaced trim with RPM, with driver over-ride effective immediately trim controls were touched. In essence, the Icon system was so effective there was instant response from a single-finger effort on my part.

THE RIDE: BEST IN THE BUSINESS The Sea Fox 286 Commander really was outstanding in both performance and handling, even exciting to be truthful.

The top powered 300s made

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105

ProCraft 535 Centre Console with a difference BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

This alloy craft is a radical departure from the norm.

As a centre console rig powered by an 80 Suzuki 4-stroke, there’s nothing out of the ordinary there, but the Procraft 5.35 has a cuddy cab up front under the cast deck.

Granted, the cuddy is lower than what we have come to regard as standard, and best suited for youngsters who want to rest out of the weather or for storage of fishing equipment, clothing etc. But it’s still a useful adjunct to an already excellent craft.

PORT DOOR INTO CUDDY At first glance the 5.35 with its 2.37m looks good and is enhanced by a stylish wrap and more than acceptable finish, presented as an alloy centre console rig with the forward casting deck, which is higher than usual at around 10cm below the craft’s front rails.

A closer look reveals a door up front of the console to port, providing access under the very high cast deck into what is essentially a forward cabin, complete with bunks and carpeted floor. The door (complete with insect screening) was a two section set up; the top opening upwards and

and rear vents.

I did not have sufficient head room to sit straight upright on a bunk with my feet in the central floor area, but I could move around sufficiently, if I wanted to, to remove items from the storage areas easily enough.

Note that the cuddy even had a light!

The question arises then, what’s the best use the buyer could make of that cuddy area? And that is precisely the major selling point. Buyers can do as much – or as little – with it as they choose. This will include storing gear out of the weather in security, or for the youngsters to have a nap, perhaps to enjoy time with their electronic gadgets, or just having the underfloor space for when it’s needed.

It’s a very unique proposition in a centre console rig but one that I believe is going to receive a lot of scrutiny from intending buyers.

SEATING OPTIONS AVAILABLE With around 1.8m of the rig devoted to the forward cast deck, very easily accessed via non-skid steps to starboard of the console, I saw the Procraft offering room for a couple of anglers to comfortably work up front, the same in the rear cockpit area.

The windscreen equipped console was a neat affair with a small rod holder equipped hard top providing shade, the wind screen and hard top’s

This shot of the Procraft under way gives an insight into the hull’s excellent design. style helm seat on the 5.35 reviewed saw the skipper right at home with the craft’s dash set up, which consisted of a Lowrance Elite 7 sounder/plotter uppermost, twin GMI 20 gauges monitoring the 80 Suzuki astern with marine radio, switches and ignition key lower, just below the craft’s wheel. Engine controls were also handily located on the starboard side of the console.

COCKPIT WELL SET UP FOR FISHING The main cockpit area,

which was carpeted, offered sufficient room for at least three anglers to work in comfort within the 650mm high sides. A fully carpeted floor, twin 1.3m long off floor side pockets, as well as four rod holders in gunwales completed the main cockpit’s fishing attributes.

Note that a lockable boarding gate was located to starboard on the full height transom while twin boarding platforms with accompanying hand rails graced the rear section of

the transom.

The fuel filter for the Suzuki 80, as well as the Procraft’s engine battery, were both accessible at the transom area.

In essence, I saw the 5.35 Procraft as very much a ‘standard’ centre console craft, with all of the expected fishing room for a boat of that size with about the only item missing to enhance its potential as a fishing craft being a live well, which, I’m advised, is certainly an option.

plate bottom (with under floor flotation) and a hull design incorporating ample longitudinal strakes in the wetted surface to provide easy travel, smoothest ride and, at rest, ample stability.

In fact, I walked all around the craft when taking my photos and was very impressed with stability at rest, as would anglers enjoying time aboard the rig. Exterior side height was 850mm, providing an excellent bulwark against water intrusion.

Left: Who’d believe there’s a cuddy up front of the Procraft’s well-designed hull. Right: The Procraft 5.35’s high casting deck is virtually the only sign that there’s useful cabin storage below it. towards the strong alloy bow sprit, the bottom section opening towards the outer side.

Entry for adults is a ‘wriggle-in’ sort of affair (which I managed without much effort) while youngsters will easily move into the area with its 1.8m bunks with storage under them, deep central floor area, ventilation from large side 106

JUNE 2015

(folding down) frame work offering useful hand holds when moving about.

Seating in the test rig provided for the skipper at the helm with another person seated aft on a soft-top ice box. Note that seating options are quite varied with a rear fold down lounge on the options list, or a wider helm seat also possible.

At any rate, the bench

TECHNICAL INFORMATION Length..............................................................5.35m Beam................................................................2.37m Length on trailer.............................................6.25m Height on trailer................................................2.3m Hull construction...... 3mm plate sides and bottom.

Hull weight......................................................460kg Deadrise.............................................................. 16° Engine ratings...........................................70-115hp Engine fitted...........................Suzuki 80 four-stroke.

Persons..................................................................5.

Towing...........Family six or big four sedan or wagon

IMPRESSIVE STABILITY AND PERFORMANCE Procraft boats have a southern Queensland heritage and have proven hull designs intended to both maximise engine performance and offer the best ride possible given the design parameters.

The 5.35 featured a 3mm plate side, 3mm

SUZUKI 80 AMPLE POWER The four cylinder 1.5L Suzuki 80 – with the Procraft’s engines rated from 70-115hp – was mid range power, yet I saw it as an ideal choice for family fishing, or entirely suited for a team of three keen anglers heading out for a crack at the fish.

Whisper quiet at idle,

the Suzuki easily planed the rig at 14.6km/h at 2700, with two aboard. At 3000rpm the GPS recorded 16.2km/h, 4000 saw 34.1km/h, 5000 a speed of 47.2km/h and 6000rpm a feisty 58.4km/h.

Willing engine performance was also matched by a very sweet handling hull. No matter how hard I turned the craft the Suzuki 80 refused to cavitate and I was impressed by the smallness of the turning circle plus the readiness of the hull to return to a level attitude when straightened up.

Family tow sports would certainly be enjoyable with this great handling rig yet

Left: How’s that for cheeky – a cuddy cab up front of the centre console. Right: A neat dash set up was in line with the rest of the well-appointed Procraft.

The best part was the price. As reviewed with the stylish wrap graphic, sounder, fish finder, braked Dunbier trailer, safety pack, 12 months registration and turn key start price was $40,990. Downsizing to a Suzuki 70 would see the rig come home for $34,990.

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

A well designed Dunbier trailer made launching and retrieving the Procraft a one person event. it would also be ideal for family cruising with a 110L fuel tank offering a great range from the frugal Suzuki four-stroke.

Test runs were carried out in the Tweed River, which gave us plenty of opportunities to assess the Procraft’s ride on wash from passing house boats, plus other large craft on the water at the time.

The Procraft’s hull, with it’s 16° ‘V’ aft handled all wash with ease and there was a minimal of displaced

water noted as well. My view is that a soft riding hull is always a soft riding hull and nothing changes except driver input.

Accordingly, I would have no hesitation in recommending the craft for bay or estuary work, even a run offshore in suitable conditions.

SUMMING UP In summing up, the Procraft 5.35 centre console with its neat cuddy set up I have given the craft full marks all round.

As a standard centre console rig the craft has definite appeal so far as fishing room, ride and handling are concerned.

With the cuddy also in the equation there’s suddenly extra storage area, even somewhere to dodge the weather in the picture.

As an aside finish of the Procraft was excellent, welds were full, easily visible but very neat.

Upholstery was excellent, standard of fit and finish over all very good.

Top: Generous off floor side pockets graced the Procraft’s main work area. Above: The Procraft’s locking cockpit door will allow a swimmer to enter, which is a handy feature for family boaters. for sale on

SHORT SLEEVE • LONG SLEEVE • HOODIES Carl Jocumsen

2015 TEAM JERSEYS at www.carljocumsen.com

NOW AVAILABLE

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2003 Edgetracker Tournament

• 3.85m customised Stessl • 40HP fuel injected Honda 4-stroke electric start outboard motor • Humminbird 798C SI and 383C, 55lb MinnKota I-Pilot, Sea link trailer, Recently redecked and carpeted and much more

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Trades, Services, Charter Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTIONS

BAIT & TACKLE CLA SSE AVAIL S OVEABLE WEE R KEN DS

AA Prawnin Pete’s Cast Nets Custom-made top pocket prawning nets 0412 122 256 zzsperoj@ihug.com.au GOLD COAST

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.com.au

www.bundallmarinecentre.com.au

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0422 198 651

MARINE MECHANICS

Oceanic Boat Trailers (07) 5597 0577 Seatrail Trailers www.seatrailqld.com.au Tinnie Tosser (07) 5498 7339 Sea-Link Special Trailers (07) 3881 3568

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND BCF www.bcf.com.au Victoria Point Bait and Tackle (07) 3820 9581 Spinnaker Sound Chandlery Ningi (07) 5497 6007

• Sales • Service • Spare Parts • Warranty and Insurance work * REPOWER SPECIALISTS *

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Bundall Marine Centre – Servicing all makes and models. MOBILE SERVICE AVAILABLE (07) 5504 7446 Whitewater Marine (07) 5532 4402

Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727

+ 07 5502 6200 + houseboat.net.au

Northside Marine (07) 3265 8029 Coastal Powerboats (07) 5568 0904

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Coorparoo Marine (07) 3397 4141

Lake Monduran House Boat www.lakemonduranhouseboathire.com.au

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• 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

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Caloundra Marine (07) 5491 1944 Bribie Boat Sales (07) 3408 0055

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T&S Marine (07) 5546 2599

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Call Glen Forte on 0411 255 743 Get Some Experience on YOUR Side

MARINE TRAILERS

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Straithaid Rd 07 5526 2786 32BUNDALL 4217 QLD

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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.

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Trades, Services, Charter SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

ROD & REEL REPAIRS NORTH QUEENSLAND JT Reel Repairs, Mackay 0427 552 485 or (07) 4955 2485

D&H REEL REPAIRS ce Reel Performan

07 5529 2292

rts needs irs and spare pa pa re el re ur yo l For al

20 Wrights Place Labrador Qld 4215 website www.brumbsmarine.com.au email brumbsmarine@bigpond.com

Servicin Phone/Fax: 07 3372 2740 or major b g all call Duncan on 0439 717 839 rands Email: dhreelrepairs@bigpond.com Drag upgrades available • Rod repairs • Mail orders welcome

Aluminium fabrication • Steel fabrication • Boat repairs Boat modifications • Aluminium sales

CUSTOM MARINE WELDING & ELECTRICAL

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

www.reelrepairs.com.au 110 Sherbrooke Rd, Willawong Qld 4110

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748

Shed 1 281 Jacobs Well Road Behind GEM Service Station, Alberton 4207

Advertise here - $90 + GST for 6 months Email: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Phone 3807 7846

Mob 0427 142 201 Fax 3807 2468

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

www.custommarinewelding.com.au ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402

Specialty Fishing www.specialtyfishing.com.au

Marine Windows and Doors Brisbane (07) 3284 5088

U-Make-Em Sort Plastics www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au

Small Craft Electrics (mobile) 0408 063 064

J-Roc Tackle www.jroctackle.com.au

Boat Collar (07) 5441 3636

BOAT PAINTING

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CMC Marine Sales 0409 910 808

Spray painting Re-sprays Fairing Paint protection Touch ups Repairs New or old Anti-fouling Fiberglass repairs

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0433 356 620

Shed 3 Redland City Marina 100 Beveridge Road Thornlands 4146 Qld

DJ Freight Marine Transport 0418 793 357 0427 341 076 contact@djfreight.com.au

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MOBILE MARINE CANOPIES Canopies Bimini tops Cockpit covers Front and side clears Full boat covers Upholstery Pontoon carpet ... and more!

OVER 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Martin Costello 0434 615 936 www.mobilemarinecanopies.com

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Rowland Street Boat Trimmers Springwood (07) 3208 9511 Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727

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Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911 Affordable Boat Covers Gold Coast 0419 424 587

FRASER ISLAND

Fraser Island Fishing Units INDIAN HEAD

For bookings or enquiries contact: Cliff Andreassen 07 5449 9346 or 0428 712 283 A FISHO’S DREAM

bearfish@bigpond.com Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364

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

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Y

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

My Charter Boat Tweed Heads 0407 347 446

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

RU4 Reel Tweed Heads 0449 903 366 Discovery Fishing Charters G old Coast 0427 026 519 Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412

t Stanag Looking to stay a

e Bay?

Fully setup fishing accommodation

Call Von 07 4937 3145 Stanage Bay Marine and Accommodation w w w.stan a g eb ay. co m

Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428

BURDEKIN

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

HINCHINBROOK

JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382 Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324 Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044 Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081 Cairns Fishing Charters 0427 400 027

FISHING GUIDES

Advertise here - $195 + GST for 6 months Email: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

COOKTOWN River of Gold Motel Plenty of room for boats and trailers PH: 4069 5222

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

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BRISBANE Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576 Tom Cat Charters (07) 3820 8794

Cardwell Beachfront Motel - www.cardwellbeachmotel.net (07) 4066 8776 or info.cbmotel@bigpond.com

Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056 Brisbane Fishing Charters 0427 026 510 Bucket List Fishing Charters 0428 368 316

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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 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

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402

Suncoast Barra Fishing Park www.suncoastbarrafishing.com

Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956

Lake Monduran Barra Charters 0407 434 446

Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958

ads@fishingmonthly.com.au FRESHWATER

ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Hooked On Hinchinbrook www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

Incredible Charters 1300 655 818

FISH TAXIDERMY

HERVEY BAY

Fully Guided Lure & Fly Fishing •

Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

Fish Taxiderist www.fishtaxidery.net.au or 0428 544 841

FISHING ON TV

• 5.5m Custom sportsfishing Vessel • 4.4m Estuary Sportsfishing Vessel • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied

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 NORTHERN NSW Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters 0428 231 962

GOLD COAST

www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

Andrew Chorley

0407 627 852

IDEAL GIFT!

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

KAYAK FISHING TOURS Southern Bay • Gold Coast

HALF AND FULL DAY TOURS • Hobie kayak and fishing gear supplied www.kayakfishingtours.com.au Phone for bookings

0439 714 345

Bite Me Fishing Charters Yeppoon 0419 029 397 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 Coral Coast Game Fishing 0447 347 437 MV James Cook (1770) (07) 4974 9422 Norval Reef Charters 1800 771 234

True Blue Fishing Gold Coast (07) 5510 9622

Iluka Fishing Charters Gladstone 0414 940 911

BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0414 293 034

Kanimbla Charters Gladstone1800 677 202

110

DVD’S -

Series 2 through 8

$19.95 each GST INC. - with FREE P&H

1800 228 244

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

JUNE 2015

THE outboard of the FUTURE

Evinrude E-TEC G2 The outboard of the future. AVAILABLE TODAY Introducing a revolutionary concept in outboards – a choice.

Now, choose cutting-edge over commonplace. Choose more torque over more talk. Choose more time on the water over more time in the shop. Choose the outboard that performs, and looks like no other outboard in the world.

Contact your local dealer today TOOWOOMBA

Waterskiers Warehouse

SUNSHINE COAST

Caloundra Marine

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

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

BRISBANE SOUTH

Springwood Marine

BUNDABERG

3475 Pacific Hwy, Springwood 07 3297 8200 www.springwoodmarine.com.au • gyulav@springwoodmarine.com.au

GOLD COAST

White Water Marine

WITSUNDAY BOWEN

10 Hinde St, Ashmore 07 5532 4402 www.whitewatermarine.com.au • sales@whitewatermarine.com.au

GOLD COAST

Slades Paradise Marine

16 Paradise Parade, Paradise Point 07 5577 1011 sladesmarine@bigpond.com

GLADSTONE

Adrians Marine Centre

28 Ritchie St, Bundaberg Qld 07 4153 1819 www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au • adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com.au

Cannonvale Marine

14 McIntosh Dr, Cannonvale 07 4946 6136 www.cannonvalemarine.com.au • sales@cannonvalemarine.com.au

TULLY

Hunts Outboard

13 Watkins St, Tully 07 4068 2222 www.huntsoutboards.com.au • hos3@westnet.com.au

Steve Fleetwood Marine

10 Morgan St, Gladstone 07 4972 9463 sfmarine@tpg.com.au

JUNE 2015

111

THE POWER TO GET YOU THERE

THE RELIABILITY TO GET YOU BACK

We’re proud to welcome the new generation of outboards – the mighty FourStroke Verado 350hp.

Along with the power, performance and extreme reliability, Verado includes: - Awesome acceleration, superior torque and better fuel economy - The latest in Electro-Hydraulic steering providing car-like precision and feel - Exclusive ‘Fly-by-Wire’ Digital Throttle and Shift as standard for smooth, quiet, instantaneous shifting and throttle response - Compact engine that’s 56kg lighter than its nearest competitor - Maintenance Free Valve train for life, lowering cost of ownership - 3+2=5 Year Recreational Warranty

mercurymarine.com.au 112

JUNE 2015