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RAIN GETS THE CRABS MARCHING

Features Queensland crabbing tips • Reel vs reel: get the results • Barra facts: lessons on fluorescence • Camping at Borumba Dam •

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March 2020, Vol. 32 No. 5

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 20 Ballina 22

Whitsundays 58 Ayr 59 Townsville 60 Cairns 61 Cairns NFZ 62 Port Douglas 61 Hinchinbrook 63 Lucinda 64 Cooktown 62 Cape York

BOATING AND KAYAK

Back to Basics 14 Camping and 4WD 73 Cooking 65 Dam Levels 68 Freshwater 68 Fun Page 86 Sheik of the Creek 74 Tech Tricks 16 Tournament News 71 Track my fish 82 Trades and Services 84 What’s New Boating 98 What’s New Fishing 78 10 38 40 76

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QUEENSLAND FISHING MONTHLY

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

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REGULAR FEATURES

SPECIAL FEATURES Queensland crabbing tips Barra facts: lessons on fluorescents Reel vs reel: get the results Pirtek Challenge species

ash-filled catchments. Fortunately, it seems as though a lot of the areas got so much rain that the ash was washed well away. Wherever you are in the state, we hope that your fish benefit from the rain and that you reap the rewards for years to come.

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TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

of the stocked fish away from their homes. Still, beggars can’t be choosers and we’ll take what we can get. I think a lot of anglers were concerned about what would happen when some moderate rain washed ash into the rivers. Historically, fish don’t fare too well in

Mackay 52

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

Rainbow Beach 45 Hervey Bay 46 Gladstone 47 Lake Monduran 49 Bundaberg 49 Rockhampton 50 Yeppoon 51

From the Editor’s Desk...

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Noosa 37

The Tweed 24 Southern Gold Coast 26 Jumpinpin 28 Gold Coast Canals 29 Gold Coast 30 Southern Bay 32 Brisbane Offshore 33 Brisbane 34 Northern Bay 36

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CALOUNDRA CALOUNDRA 5491 2167 07 07 5491 2167

MURARRIE MURARRIE 3907 0708 07 07 3907 0708

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crabs

Let’s go crabbing in Queensland! BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

We are lucky enough in Australia to have water surrounding us as well as many inland waterways. It offers anglers almost endless fishing opportunities, along with a wide variety of tasty crustaceans like freshwater yabbies and shrimp, prawns, crayfish, sand, mud and spanner crabs, Moreton Bay bugs and more. Let’s take a look at two popular Queensland target species in more detail, the powerful, mangrove loving mud crab and the sweet tasting sand crab. When chasing any species of crustacean, it is essential to be aware of local regulations, including size, bag and

A feast of sand crabs from a family holiday adventure. their smooth carapace (shell), with a lighter underside. They are found in tropical and warm temperate waters, from northern WA around Exmouth Gulf, right around the top of the country and south on the East Coast to around the Bega River in NSW. They favour soft muddy bottom, preferring shallow estuaries, Paul demonstrates how to handle mud crabs. there is an old saying that you should ‘crab the months with an ‘R’ in them’, so that basically excludes May, June, July and August, with the summer months being the most productive. As you move further north, mud crabs become more common and readily available throughout the year and likewise as you head south and over to the west of Australia, sand crabs become more plentiful. MUD CRABS (MANGROVE) The mud crab is the larger and more heavily built of the two crabs, with claws that are capable of breaking bones, so safety should be your first

A tasty feed of sand crabs from a trip down to SA where they are raked on the shallow weed flats. tidal flats and rivers lined with mangroves. They are large crabs, with a wide and broad

Paul Chew with a couple of solid mud crabs from the mangroves. possession limits, no take species, taking of females and females with eggs (berried), seasonal restrictions and rules and regulations surrounding

the apparatus to target and catch these species. Your local government fisheries website is a great source of information, along with

guides and information that are available from your local tackle store. Where I am based in South East Queensland,

Heading for the mangroves to crab from the kayak.

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MARCH 2020

carapace, robust claws, hind legs flattened for swimming and nine similar sized spines on each side of its eyes. Pots or dillies (drop nets) are generally set along mangrove edges, with special attention being paid to the mouths of drains that crabs may use to venture in and out of larger systems and dense

• All-around activities • Natural contrast

consideration when handling them. You can use a piece of timber or fish donger to pin the crab down, using pressure on the top of their shell, then use your thumb on the outside of one flipper (rear leg) and your middle finger on the outside of the other flipper to apply pressure, lift and handle the crabs. Again, watch those claws! Some crabbers will use twine to tie the mud crab, pulling both claws close to the body and securing them around the flippers, with a knot tied in the tag lines to create a handle for carrying them. Mud crabs are brown, green and black in colour on

mangroves. You can even keep an eye out on the lower stages of the tide for mud crab holes, resembling burrows in the mud with entries that are slightly larger than the size of the crab. Some of these holes will show activity around the entry, such as fresh mud, crab tracks and shell grit, which can signal that a crab is actively using the hole. Placing pots and drop nets in close proximity to these holes can increase success rates. Dillies or drop nets, which are open at the top, are generally checked more regularly, while pots are often left unchecked for longer periods and overnight. The high tide section of the tide cycle is prime time

The male sand crab has blue highlights, while the female is a more mottled brown colour.

crabs

Ron accesses the opening in the pot to remove crabs and change the bait. to target mud crabs, as the rising water offers them cover to leave their holes, hunt and feed. Depending on the region you are crabbing you will soon find the tides that are most effective, with large night high tides around the full and new moon being the prime times for crabbing in my local South East Queensland waters. If there has been no rain for a while, get your pots right up in the upper reaches of creeks and drains. Rain will flush crabs out and encourage them to move, with mud crabs often being caught in more open waters, even by those chasing sand crabs in sandy, estuarine areas. Bait clips allow you to

in a fresh one. Crabbers will often drop the used baits into a bucket for disposal far away from the area being crabbed so as not to encourage crabs away from their traps. It is important to clip the bait into the centre bottom of your trap, as bait clipped near the edge or in the top of the pot will be more accessible to crabs without them having to enter the trap. Popular baits include mullet frames, whole mullet, fish frames from a previous catch and in some regions where it is legal, chicken frames and meaty bones. In Southern Queensland traps are mostly covered by water, even at low tide; while

close to mangroves and in drains on low tide, and get covered by plenty of water on the higher stages of the tide. Due to this, crabbers will often throw their crab trap floats and ropes up into the mangrove trees to avoid the float being washed under mangrove prop roots and trapped by rising waters, which would making traps difficult to find and check on the higher stages of the tide. Check local regulations in terms of floats and tags required, as well as what information must be included. Tips for mud crabs • Focus on crabbing the high tide. • Leaving traps for overnight high tides will produce best results.

Ron checking a drop net. Drop nets are open at the top and are checked more regularly.

A few crabbing accessories including float, tags and permanent marker for labelling, along with bait clips and measures. quickly and easily refresh the baits in your traps – simply clip out the old bait and clip

in northern waters, with their large variances in tide heights, traps are often out of the water,

Learning to handle the crabs is important, especially if crabbing from the kayak.

(STILL) LEADER OF THE PACK.

• Tides around the new and full moon have proven effective. • Target drains and dense mangrove edges. • Rain will get the crabs moving. SAND CRABS (BLUE SWIMMER) Sand crabs are smaller and less bulky than mud crabs. They’re often considered sweeter eating and feature a dark blue, brown, black and white carapace, with a white underside and blue colouration in the claws, legs and flippers of males and often a mottled brown colouration in females. Males have longer claws in To page 12

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Tech Tricks

Processing prawns BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

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

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

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

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

Bring the water to a rapid boil until it really starts to roll over. Boil for a good few minutes before adding the prawns. This is especially important if you make up your own saltwater mixture, as it will guarantee any salt you put in is fully dissolved. 16

MARCH 2020

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

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

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

Tech Tricks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Results are in: $200 spinning reel comparison FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

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

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

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

Scoring started with first impressions.

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

Okuma helios sx

Daiwa TIERRA

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

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

Daiwa EXCELER

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

Rapala Maxwell

Rapala R-Type Quantum Smoke

Alvey Orbiter

Abu Garcia Roxani

Penn Conflict ii

SPECIFICATIONS Brand............ Model..................Size.......... Bearings.................Gear Ratio.............. Max Drag............... Line capacity.............. Weight............ Warranty......... RRP Daiwa............. Exceler LT............2500......... 4+1..........................5.3:1........................ 10kg........................ 0.18/230m.................... 205g................ 1 year.............. $149 Rapala........... Maxwell................2000......... 6+1..........................5.1:1........................ n/a........................... 0.25/160m.................... 278g................ 1 year.............. $150 Daiwa............. Tierra LT...............2500......... 4+1..........................5.3:1........................ 10kg........................ 0.18/230m.................... 235g................ 1 year.............. $179 Quantum........ Inshore Smoke.....25............. 11+1........................6.0:1........................ 8.2kg....................... 0.26/140m.................... 227g................ 3 years............ $189 Rapala........... R-Type.................25............. 9+1..........................5.2:1........................ 6kg.......................... 0.25/225m.................... 290g................ 1 year.............. $190 Okuma........... Helios SX.............30............. 8+1..........................5.0:1........................ 6kg.......................... 0.25/200m................... 202g................ 10 years........... $199 Penn.............. Conflict II.............2500......... 7+1..........................6.2:1........................ 6kg.......................... 0.25/180m.................... 225g................ 1 year.............. $219 Abu Garcia..... Roxani . ...............2500......... 6+1..........................6.2:1........................ 5.2kg....................... 0.235/170m.................. 226g................ 1 year.............. $249 Alvey.............. Orbiter SR............100........... 9+1..........................5.8:1........................ 8kg.......................... 0.30/145m.................... n/a................... 2 years............ $259 40

MARCH 2020

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

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

VIDEO

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

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

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

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

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

to the ‘fishing’ scores to see which reel walked the walk better than expected. And finally we divided the combined scores by price to give a ‘best value’ rating. This is important, because the most expensive reel was nearly twice the price in

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

SEASON

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 5.00pm on

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

subtracted the shop score from the fishing score. That means a positive score is a reel that fished better than it looked and felt, while

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

The simulator that kept reel drags singing and the boys smiling! a negative score meant that it scored better in the shop than with a fish on the end. Here is how the reels ranked: 1. Daiwa Tierra LT....... +4.5 2. Daiwa Exceler LT.... +3.9 3. Quantum Inshore Smoke.................... +3.6 4. Rapala R-Type........ +1.1 5. Penn Conflict II....... +0.3 6. Alvey Orbiter........... -0.5 7. Okuma Helios SX.....-0.8 8. Abu Garcia Roxani....-1.0 9. Rapala Maxwell........-2.8

for most of these prices, because MO had nearly all in stock. Alvey’s pricing was taken from their online store, and we used the RRP for the Rapala Maxwell, as we couldn’t find it for sale online. We felt that price was important, because if you do have limited money to spend, you can get two of the cheapest reels for the price of the dearest. Here’s what we found. The higher the score, the To page 42

OUTDOOR & FISHING SHOW

Listen on 5am-6am Every Saturday MARCH 2020

From page 41

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aaron put plenty of thought into his scores.

Tide Apparel’s fishing simulator had the testers playing everything from 2lb bass to 50lb GTs. basis of your decisionmaking, but you may be buying a reel for a specific purpose and it’s very likely that a reel’s unique feature(s) may be more important than value. 42

MARCH 2020

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

Our independent testing group took their work very seriously.

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

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THE FIRST 40 CORRECT ENTRIES DRAWN AT THE END OF MARCH 2.5” GRUBZ SOFT PLASTICS. WIN A PACK OF ALL ENTRIES WILL THEN GO INTO THE MAJOR PRIZE DRAW TO WIN ONE OF THREE PRIZE PACKS TO BE DRAWN ON 30th APRIL, 2020

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Advertorial

HOOK Reveal 9” review I have been fishing for the majority of my life. Looking back now with 30 odd years of experience I can see how valuable the humble fishfinder has been over the years and how far they have progressed. While fishing with my Dad in the Victorian lakes in the early 90s our little 4” black and white sounder was an invaluable tool when fishing for big winter rainbow trout and salmon. Fast forward to 2020 and the need for a sounder is much the same, however the technology available is vastly different. A recent move to the Northern Beaches of Sydney and a new fishery prompted me to purchase a new boat to explore the diverse fishery that is Middle Harbour. A little Haines Hunter Seawasp was the perfect option and I was so surprised when asked to do a review of the Lowrance HOOK Reveal 9”. Little did I know at the time that this little sounder was the perfect choice for a small boat like mine. The powerful unit has a HD 9” screen, GPS Chartplotter with built-in maps and a triple shot transducer, providing a multitude of ways to differentiate structure and fish. Never has finding fish been so easy!

The Details Picking up the box I was surprised at the lack of weight after reading up on the multitude of features that Lowrance has stuffed into the HOOK Reveal 9” unit. Navigation is a breeze for those early morning starts with the preloaded AU/NZ C-MAP mapping charts and the ability to use Genesis Live to create your own detailed maps in real-time. The triple shot transducer delivers a triple threat of performance with proven Autotuning Sonar, SideScan and DownScan Imaging. The new Fish Reveal feature makes fish easier to see by combining Lowrance CHIRP sonar and DownScan Imaging on one display. Setting Up Fitting the sounder to the little Haines Hunter Seawasp was very straight forward. In the box was the head unit, mounting bracket, transducer with cable and a power supply cable. As well as some helpful info on installation and a manual detailing the ins and outs of the unit. I had decided to mount the sounder centrally on a swivelling RAM mount to give me a good view when on the run and also whilst up on the casting deck prospecting with

The HOOK Reveal definitely makes finding fish easier.

A swivelling RAM mount is the perfect mounting option for this sounder, as it can be turned to face the angler whether they’re driving from the stern or casting on the front deck. 54

MARCH 2020

The author found the HOOK Reveal to be the perfect sounder for his little Haines Hunter Seawasp.

Finding the fish may be easier, but catching them is still up to the angler!

Side Scan is a fairly standard feature on sounders these days, but at 9” this unit is big enough to split with another function and still give great detail.

the electric motor. The install was very easy and the once the layout and transducer position was decided I was finished within an hour or so. The unit powered up straight away and after a quick registration via the Lowrance App it was ready to go. Hitting the Water After playing with the settings and getting a feel for the layout it was time to hit the water. The one thing I did notice straight away is the simplicity of the unit. Upon start up the Autotuning Sonar started doing its thing and produced a crystal-clear image of the bottom and some small bait schools as I headed out into the harbour. Using the pages button, I was able to quickly switch between pages layouts for navigating the waterway and looking for structure and fish. Where this unit comes into its own is the new fish reveal feature combining Lowrance CHIRP sonar and DownScan Imaging. The ability to see the structure clearly and reveal the fish amongst it is a real game changer and one I have been relying upon heavily. Finding More Fish I have found myself taking advantage of the auto features with this unit a lot. Straight out of the box I was able to find fish and key structure points without having to make any adjustments at all. The huge amount of

information the unit pulls in is translated with detail that is easily interpreted even for a newcomer to sounders but is a valuable asset to the experienced as well. You will definitely find more fish with this unit if you make the most of the data presented to you with HOOK Reveal. How Much Will It Cost? The HOOK Reveal 9 Triple Shot with AU/NZ Charts I have been trialling for this review surprisingly has a RRP of $999. When I looked up the price of this unit I was expecting it to be much higher. To get all of these features for under $1000 dollars is real value and only a few years ago it would have cost you double that for a 9” sounder with all the same features. Final Thoughts When I was approached to test this unit, I was excited to fit the sounder on my Seawasp. It is extremely easy to use and can be best described as a plug and play sounder with all of the advanced features you can expect from much higher priced units. As a small boat sounder, the HOOK Reveal is the perfect choice and I am getting more out of the unit every time I hit the water. If you are in the market for a new sounder, definitely consider the Lowrance HOOK Reveal range of sounders from your local retailer. I am certain you will find the pure ease of use a game changer, and you’ll be happy with your purchase. – Brett Habener

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Pirtek Fishing Challenge

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

plus postage. Everyone who registers receives a limited edition Pirtek Fishing Challenge cap and brag mat. New in 2020 is that each Junior who enters receives a pack of Berkley Powerbait Nemesis lures. There are target species in each state of Australia, plus the Murray Darling Basin, ‘East Coast Freshwater’ and ‘Mountain Trout’. For the longest fish in each species, there are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and 1st and 2nd in

our ‘On The Water’ prizes – a Stacer 469 Outlaw tiller steer boat and trailer package, including an Evenrude E-Tec 75hp outboard engine (valued at $31,990), Snap-On Tools tool kits (two valued at $2600 and eight valued at $600), a Lowrance Hook 2 fish finder (valued at $2000), a Berkley fishing tackle pack (valued at $2000), or a $500 Valvoline product pack. Altogether, the prize pool is worth a massive $215,000. Another first for 2020 is the Lowrance Fishing Club competition. Ten lucky fishing clubs will win a Hook 2 Split Shot 7 inch sounder GPS units valued at $800. The registered club with the most members entered for the 2020 Pirtek

Fishing Challenge in each state plus the Northern Territory will win this terrific prize. There are two units for NSW/ ACT, QLD and Victoria along with a unit for WA, SA, TAS and NT. All competitors need to do is enter their Fishing Club’s name at the time of registration. Remember, the idea is to grab the family or a couple of mates for the day, have a great time fishing and raise dollars for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit at St Vincent’s Hospital. Hopefully you can also grab some big prizes for yourself! – Pirtek Fishing Team

YOUR CHALLENGE • Enter the challenge via the website and be sure to read the terms and conditions. • After you have registered, a limited edition Fishing Challenge cap and Fishing Challenge brag mat will be posted to you. • The list of target species is available via the website www.pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au. diseases. The goal is to find and apply new neuroscience techniques for patients suffering from diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, and other neurological infections and stroke. Proceeds from the Pirtek Fishing Challenge will be split between these two leading medical research organisations. Registration is $25,

the Juniors. Plus a $4000 cash prize if your catch is closest to the ‘Mystery Length’ in your category. The list of target species is now available on www. pirtekfishingchallenge. com.au. Even if you don’t catch the biggest fish, (or any fish at all), just by entering you’re in the draw to win one of

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

MARCH 2020

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

Tactics: Smelly baits are very effective for carp. Carp will also get up into shallow water and mooch along the bottom looking for aquatic insects, and this is where fly anglers can have some fun, sometimes landing some huge specimens. Rigs: A medium running sinker rig, paternoster rig or float rig with 6-20lb braided line onto a 10-20lb leader. Anglers can obviously go lighter in clear water free of snags. Bait: Baits as varied as scrubworms, corn, bread, dough, shrimp and grubs are all attractive to carp and the use of berley will increase your success rate dramatically. Lures: Carp will take lures, usually as by-catch. Fly anglers can target carp in shallow water by sight fishing with small nymphs.

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

Tactics: Lures and live baits are popular, and they also love to hunt down worms and grubs set on the bottom. Lures cast around fallen timber in rivers and standing timber in lakes are all successful, especially around first and last light, and the warmer periods of the year are generally preferred. Rigs: Running sinker rig and a paternoster rig are both good options with 20lb braided main line to 20lb leader. The same line weights can be used for lure fishing. Bait: Baits of yabby, live shrimp, worms and even smelly dead baits are successful. Lures: Lures like Australian-made hardbodied lures, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits all do damage on yellowbelly.

MURRAY COD Size Range: Up to 1.8m, common from 40-80cm. Tactics: Murray cod are a structure-loving and territorial species. Therefore, lures or baits fished or cast around big snag complexes repetitively usually get a response eventually. During periods of low light, they will often leave their lairs in search of food. Rigs: 20-30lb should be your minimum line weights for both your mainline and leader. Lures: Murray cod will eat a variety of surface lures, hardbodies, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits. As with bait, lures should be big and annoying to achieve the best results.

REDFIN

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

Tactics: Redfin are a schooling fish, so finding schools of fish before deploying bait or lures is preferred. Redfin are very aggressive and will respond to a variety of presentations in the lakes and rivers where they have been introduced. Rigs: A small running sinker rig fished vertically from a boat on 6-10lb is sufficient for redfin anywhere. Bait: Any small invertebrates, such as worms, crustaceans and insect larvae make great redfin bait. Yabbies and shrimps are definitely standouts when searching for bigger perch. Lures: Anything suitable for bass or trout will certainly fool redfin. Small hardbodies, soft plastics, surface lures and even flies will readily take perch.

COASTAL

WHITING

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

COASTAL

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

FLATHEAD

Size Range: Up to 1.1m, commonly caught 30-65cm. Tactics: Flathead are classic ambush predators that use camouflage to their advantage, often burying themselves in sand or mud when awaiting their prey. Drop offs, weed edges, hard rock and mud edges are all great spots for flathead. Flathead have a preference for tidal movement, either running in or running out, and don’t feed as much when the water is slack. Rigs: A running sinker rig with 6lb braid with a 15lb leader is sufficient for bait fishing. The same goes for lure fishing, but try to attach your lures with a loop knot where possible to maximize the action of the lure. Bait: Flathead will eat anything they can fit in their mouth, whether it’s live, dead, big or small. Lures: Most lures work well on flathead, the trick is to have it in their face. Lures such as soft plastics, vibes, lipless crankbaits and hardbodied lure all take flathead, and they’ve been known to chase down swimbaits and surface lures as well.

BARRA

COASTAL

CARP

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

(FRESH AND SALTWATER)

Size Range: Up to 1.8m, common around 50-70cm. Tactics: Barramundi are veracious predators of the estuary, and love eating the baitfish and prawns that abound in these waterways. It’s for this reason that live baits, lures and flies work so well for this iconic species. Rigs: An unweighted live bait rig is perfect for barramundi fishing, and a running sinker rig should be employed if you want to get the bait down a bit. Bait: Live baits of mullet, herring, whiting and prawn are excellent for barramundi. Lures: There are so many purpose-built barramundi lures on the market, ranging from soft plastics, hardbodies (shallow and deep), topwater baits and flies. The tricky part is finding out which will work on that particular day.

TREVALLY

COASTAL

Lures: Winged lures trolled off a downrigger are fantastic for when trout are schooling deep. Hardbodies, small bladed spinners and soft plastics are great for trout in shallow water.

BASS

(ALL SPECIES)

Size Range: Many trevally species can exceed 1m, however are common in the 40-70cm range. Tactics: Trevally generally prefer fast-moving prey, and will happily chase down lures and flies wound as fast as an angler can wind or strip. There are times when a slow approach will outshine a fast one, particularly for species like golden trevally in shallow water. Rigs: An unweighted live bait rig is a great way to tangle with a large trevally on bait, however simple weighted rigs may be needed if concentrations are found deep. Heavy monofilament or fluorocarbon up to 100lb or more may be necessary.

COASTAL

Bait: Baits of worms, crickets, grasshoppers, mudeyes and shrimps can all be successful at different times.

MURRAY DARLING BASIN

Tactics: In dams and lakes trout can form huge school in deep water, and this is when they can be caught trolling lures. Trout are an opportunistic predator in streams, meaning they will investigate anything that comes into their domain. At other times, trout can sometimes be very fussy, particularly when there is a specific hatch of insects or baitfish in the area. Drifting baits, or casting small lures and flies is a good tactic in rivers.

MURRAY DARLING BASIN

Size Range: Up to 1m, common from 30-50cm.

MURRAY DARLING BASIN

(BROWN AND RAINBOW)

MURRAY DARLING BASIN

TROUT

GREAT DIVIDING RANGE

Pirtek Fishing Challenge

Bait: Live fish, squid prawns and even crabs will bring the bigger and more predatory trevally unstuck. Lures: A huge range of lures will work, but particularly those that can be worked quickly. Hardbodies, soft plastics, surface lures, flies and metal lures will all catch trevally. MARCH 2020

WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI SQUID JIG BOX

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

DAIWA TD HYPER RODS

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

BLACK MAGIC SLIM JIG COLOURS

The Black Magic Deepwater Slim Jig range just received these five new colours: candy stick, blinky, mahi mahi, night rider and fire tiger, which join the original colours of extreme pilly, pink frost and mad max. Deepwater Slim Jigs are all high in UV and lumo, and are all rigged with super strong 8/0 assist hooks, Kevlar thread and split/ solid rings. These low-resistance, long narrow jigs offer a faster retrieve with less effort, and they are great for deep water fishing. They are available in two models, 200g (246mm) and 300g (266mm). For more information on the Deepwater Slim Jigs, check out the Black Magic Tackle website. You can also find more information, news and catch photos on Black Magic’s Facebook 78

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

BONE DASH 60S

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

TICA EZI CAST BAITCASTER

3 5

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

SPEED SKIRT AND SPEED PLUG

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

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NEW RAPALA 3X COLOUR

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

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

NEW EGILICIOUS MODELS

LIVETARGET FLUTTER SHAD

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

NEW DAIWA LUGGAGE

SHIMANO TIGER BAKU 10 BAKU

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

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

SAMAKI BIG BARRA

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

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

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DOBYNS SKIRTED FOOTBALL JIGS

JIG STAR TWISTED 13 SISTA RODS

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

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

SALTIGA 12 BEX UVF PE+SI

Made with UVF (Ultra Volume Fibre) and Evo Silicone, Saltiga 12 BEX UVF PE+Si line is the ultimate high-density braid, exhibiting supreme abrasion resistance and ultimate strength. With 72% improved abrasion resistance, 20% more strength, an 18% more slippery surface and 30% less line stretch compared to 8-braid premium PE lines, our Saltiga 12 Braid UVF is the ultimate in line technology. A reduced diameter provides an ultrasmooth surface for less friction/resistance on the guides and spool rim allowing for longer smoother casting, less noise, minimal water penetration and incredible sensitivity. Saltiga 12 is perfect for heavy-duty jigging and casting line for big gamefish, and it’s color-coded in 10m, 5m and 1m increments to allow full line control. It’s available in a range of sizes from PE0.6 (200m spool) up to PE8 (400m). www.daiwafishing.com.au 80

MARCH 2020

PRODUCT GUIDE

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

BLACKWOLF STRATO 40

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

NEW BIO TOUGH COLOURS

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

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

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

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

The pink prawn colour was the most successful during testing

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trades, Services, Charter BOAT MODIFICATION & REPAIRS

BAIT & TACKLE Allfly Outfitters – 0428 615 885 Alvey - www.alvey.com.au Bait Tackle Store - www.baittacklestore.com Barambah Lures - www.barambahlures.com Bayside Bait & Tackle – 07 3820 9757 C & Horsey Lures - 07 3275 1881 Chilton Tackle Co - http://www.chiltontackleco.com.au/ Coomera Bait & Tackle - www.coomerahouseboats.com.au Crab’n Gear - www.crabngear.com.au Fisho’s Tackle World - www.fishostackleworld.com.au Gem Bait & Tackle - 07 3287 3868 Halco - www.halcotackle.com Hillies Lures – www.hilliesspinnersandlures.com Hot Bite Fishing – 0427335343 JML - www.jmlaa.com Lazer Lures – www.lazerlures.com.au Nomad Design Tackle – www.nomaddesigntackle.com Tackle Club - www.tackleclub.com.au Southern Cross Lures – 0428 667 550 Sportys Fishing - www.sportyswarehouse.com.au Wilson Fishing - www.wilsonfishing.com

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS FG Wizz – www.fgwizz.com.au

Boat Collar (07) 5441 3636 CMC Marine Sales 0409 910 808 Iconic Boats Brisbane 0475 311 447 Marine Windows and Doors Brisbane (07) 3284 5088 Small Craft Electrics (mobile) 0408 063 064

MARINE MECHANICS T&S Marine (07) 5546 2599 Whitewater Marine (07) 5532 4402

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Caloundra Marine (07) 5491 1944 Capalaba Boat Centre 04011 728 379 Coorparoo Marine (07) 3397 4141 Cunningham Marine Centre (07) 3284 8805 Holt Marine (07) 3353 1928 Northside Marine (07) 3265 8029 Stones Corner Marine (07) 3397 9766

NORTH QUEENSLAND

Fish Taxidermist www.fishtaxidermy.net.au or 0428 544 841

FISHING GUIDES CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Lake Monduran Barra Charters 0407 434 446

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Hooked On Hinchinbrook www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

MARINE TRIMMERS SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Affordable Boat Covers Gold Coast 0419 424 587 Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Islander Retreat, South Stradbroke Island 0420 967 557

allows braid tension adjustment

CHECK IT OUT ONLINE www.fgwizz.com.au BOAT HIRE // HOUSE

Great family and fishing boats! • 600km2 of sheltered waterways on the Gold Coast Broadwater. • Fantastic Fishing • Tackle Shop • Bait and Ice

NO LICENCE REQUIRED

+ 07 5502 6200 + www.coomerahouseboats.com.au

NEW

TINNIE HIRE AVAILABLE

Lake Monduran Houseboat – www.lakem.com.au Moreton Bay Holidays Afloat - www.moretonbayholidaysafloat.com

BOAT MODIFICATION & REPAIRS

FIBREGLASS Repairs

FISH TAXIDERMY

Rowland Street Boat Trimmers Springwood (07) 3208 9511

MODIFIED DESIGN

CALL FOR A DEAL

North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748

Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911

Ideal for braids and leaders large and small.

ORDERS

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

GOLD COAST

Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

GET THE ULTIMATE FG KNOT TOOL

MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS

Brisbane South and Gold Coas t

• Modifications • Detailing • Repairs JOE BONNICI

0410 480 203

Salt-Away www.salt-away.com.au ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402 Bluewater Windscreens Brisbane (07) 3382 7883

FRASER ISLAND Apurla Island Retreat 0437 739 121

MINN REPAIRS & SERVICING

Cathedrals on Fraser (07) 4127 9177

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

Fraser Island Beach Houses 1800 626 230

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

Eurong Beach Resort 1800 111 808 Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364 Yidney Rocks (07) 4127 9167

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833

Bottlecreek Farm Accommodation ENQUIRIES : STACEY AT REMAX ON [04 3887 7403] OR STACEY@REMAX.COM.AU

MARINE MECHANICS // MOBILE WYNUMM MANLY-BAYSIDE

$150p/n

Sleeps 10 people

Wondall Rd Marine (07) 3396 5633

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 50 words within a 5x2 ad size. $320 + GST for 6 months Email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au

1.3km River Frontage Boat Ramp

Excellent fishing and crabbing Huge games room cres 150 a Enjoy ourself! y all to

• Pool table • Ping Pong

All this for only...

only $150p/n

COOKTOWN River of Gold Motel 4069 5222

MACKAY BEL AIR MOTEL, MACKAY - PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BOATS AND TRAILERS.............PH: 07 4957 3658

MARINE TRAILERS Oceanic Boat Trailers (07) 5597 0577 Sea-Link Special Trailers (07) 3881 3568 Spitfire Trailers (07) 0400 866 323T Tinnie Tosser (07) 5498 7339

FRESHWATER Lake Boondooma Caravan Park (07) 4168 9694 Lake Cressbrook Regional Council 131 872 Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746 Yallakool Park and Kiosk on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

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. 84

MARCH 2020

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory CHARTER BOATS

NORTHERN NSW

N O W AVA IL A B L E

Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835

GOLD COAST

Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962

BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0414 293 034 Coastal Sports Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0412 691 929 Discovery Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0427 026 519 Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412 Hooker 1 Charters Gold Coast (07) 5528 6469 Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428 RU4 Reel Tweed Heads 0449 903 366 Sea Probe Fishing Charters 0400 312 330 True Blue Fishing Gold Coast (07) 5510 9622

ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR

Wooli Fishing Charter (02) 6649 7100

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726

From

T-Shirts

MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201

Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727

22 85

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME FISHING CHARTERS

BRISBANE Big Cat Charters and Tom Cat Charters 0433 430 248 Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576 John Gooding Outlaw Charters 0418 738 750 Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 50 words within a 5x2 ad size. $320 + GST for 6 months Email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au

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

Phone Cases From

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

29 45

Mugs

From

OPEN 7 DAYS

EASY PARKING

1 7 27

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956

• Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings Ph: 6646 1994 or 0428 231 962 Email: dave@gaden.com.au

Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958

Now Agents For

SUNSHINE COAST Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814

Clocks $

42 7 0

Carry Bags

Incredible Charters 1300 655 818 Keely Rose Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0407 146 151

HERVEY BAY

From

Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170 Odyssey Charters Deep Sea Fishing (07) 5478 1109 Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402

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• Custom Sportsfishing Vessels • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied

Throw Pillows

Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868 Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671 Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012

Jump onto our website and place your order today!

20 3 3

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

Rainbow Beach Fishing Charters 0439 775 070

Get your very own Fishing Monthly shirt, carry bag, stubby cooler, or neck scarf...

From

25 4 2

and lots more...

www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

Andrew Chorley

0407 627 852

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND (Cont.) Bundaberg Fishing Charters 0429 017 217

MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS ALL MADE TO ORDER

Sport Fish 1770 (07) 4974 9686 Coral Coast Game Fishing 0447 347 437 Norval Reef Charters 1800 771 234 Iluka Fishing Charters Gladstone 0414 940 911 Kanimbla Charters Gladstone1800 677 202

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346 Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081 Cairns Fishing Charters 0427 400 027 Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044 Eclipse FNQ Weipa Charters 0488 058 668 Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324 Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957

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Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382 Roko Island Fishing Charters 0488 074 593

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Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0834 or email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au MARCH 2020

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS COLOURFUL CATCHES

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

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

Name: Address:

P/Code:

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

QLD MARCH 2020

Phone (day):

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

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

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

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

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for January are M Stokes of Windsor, W Ford of Stanthorpe, R Kelly of Childers, G Ho of Carina Heights, and K Wendt of Degilbo, who won an Remington Ultimate Series RX5 Head Shaver valued at $150. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

of Blackbutt, A Sclippa of Mourilyan, A Hall of Lucinda, J Boneham of Eight Mile Plains, M Gillett of Boonah, P & M Kelliher of Kirwan, D Buxton of Kippa Ring, J Higgins of Caboolture, A Hewlett of Mothar Mountain, W Robinson of Raceview, I Mackellar of Maryborough, M Boyle of Slacks Creek, B Fisher of Roma, K Cook of Bli Bli, C Hendry of Imbil, B Devine of Pialaba, A Stoffels

of Yarrabilba, G Stephan of Aratula, C Robinson of Edmonton, L Pirlo of Modanville, E Brady of Kallangur, G Sprott of Glenlee, R Kunde of Beerwah, H Gruenfeld of Redwood, J Goody of Mt Berryman, Z Steinhardt of Tivoli, P Brooks of Hoxton Park, T Ferrari of Deception Bay, G Watter of Ripley. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

GUESS THE FISH?

FIND THE ZMAN LOGO

MARCH 2020

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Threadfin Salmon

The Find the ZMan Logo prize winners for January were: J Bugno of Bardon, T Grice of Caboolture, C Rowe of Loganholme, G Mason of Kalkie, J Bowyer of Blackall, S Dawson of Gympie, A Robertson of Emu Park, G Anderson of Emu Park, K Martin of Dalby, D McClurg of Boondall, D Stewart of Hermit Park, A Needham

Answer:

boats & kayaks

Core CSR444 with Suzuki 50hp 4-stroke In the skipper’sAnglapro seat - SC

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88 You’re my only hope Troy Brown delves into the kayak fishing opportunities on the Gold Coast’s Hope Island!

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Inside story...

Sea Jay Aluminium Boats has been family owned and operated for over 30 years, and the name has become renowned for strength, quality workmanship and customization with the angler in mind.

90 Rod holders on yaks Justin Willmer explains a few options for when you decide to mount rod holders to your kayak.

Whether you’re fishing in fresh or salt, inshore or offshore, Sea Jay will provide you with a model to suit your boating and fishing needs.

92 All hands on deck!

Boat decks are very popular for anglers these days, and Wayne Kampe discusses the finer details.

Made for...

Sea Jay specialises in boats for sports anglers, offering a stable fishing FMG platform Steve Morgan and plenty of storage. s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

This month...

calm days. We took it for SPECIFICATIONS a spin off Coffs Harbour Length................. 4.5m on a calm day with a few Beam................. 2.11m lumps left over from some wind elsewhere. You can Depth .................. 1.1m watch it in action in the Bottom ................ 3mm video versionMorgan of this boattakes a look at this Steve Sides ................... 3mm test on the Fishing Monthly ..... 4by persons Magazines YouTube great estuary rig, Capacity powered the channel (or by scanning the Hull.weight reliable Suzuki 50hp 4-stroke! QR code on this page on (basic) ................ 250kg your smartphone). Although there was no fuel metering equipment back, it took a little effort fitted on the boat, we did to get this boat up on the get a feel for it in a cruise plane, but once you add up along the coast. At wide an electric motor and some open throttle (WOT) we hit of your gear, it will level a top speed of just over out nicely. I would also add a 50km/h at 6,000rpm. The optimum cruising speed couple of seat bases a little was between 4,000 and further forward. These can 5,000rpm, and we infer help you balance the load, the seats well over 50km of range and they also hold MARCH 2020 when you’re anchored up from the remote tank. These boats need a little and drowning some baits. For more information weight up front to balance the ride and help the rig out about the Core CSR444 and

96 Anglapro Core CSR444 with Suzuki 50hp

Editor Steve Morgan takes the Sea Jay 473 Territory with Yamaha F60hp onto Somerset Dam. Check it out on page 94!

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

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

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Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

I love dealing with local manufacturers. Fishing Monthly is located between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in South East Queensland and we are surrounded by local boat makers – possibly more than anywhere else in the country. Sea Jay boats are designed and built in Bundaberg, a few hours north of Brisbane, but their National Sales Manager Garry Fitzgerald is located in the South East. The cool thing is that he’s always giving us a sneak peek of all the new models coming out. We snuck this new 473 Territory up to Somerset Dam on a weekday to keep it on the down low, but SPECIFICATIONS Length............... 4.73m Beam................. 2.24m Depth ................ 1.14m Capacity ..... 5 persons Sides ................... 3mm Bottom ................ 3mm Hull.weight ....... 400kg Max.hp ........ 75 (116kg) Fuel ....................... 80L I’ve subsequently seen it in the yard of Stones Corner Marine. It’s the smaller sibling of the larger 493 Territory that was launched at the Brisbane Boat Show late last year. That boat was such a hit the smaller model went into R&D immediately. 94

MARCH 2020

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

PERFORMANCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Yamaha F60hp definitely matches the styling of this rig.

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

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

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

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

Anglapro Core CSR444 with Suzuki 50hp 4-stroke - SC

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Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Sometimes it seems overwhelming to make the step from your first boat to a bigger, more comfortable boat that expands your range, safety and fishing options. There are literally dozens of options in this class of aluminium boat in Australia. Considering that a really basic tinny will cost you around $10,000, the guys at North Coast Boating Centre in Coffs Harbour have set up this Anglapro Core 444CSR for on-water testing. And it’s come in, as tested and drive away, from under $20,000. So what do you get for double your money? Basically, you get a painted, carpeted, more stable and capable boat with boarding steps, storage and the potential to trick it up into a real fishing machine. Let’s look at the details. The 4.5m hull has a 2.11m beam, which makes this rig very wide for its length. It means that you’ll find stability to be no problems compared with a 3.7m v-nosed tinny. PERFORMANCE RPM.... SPEED.km/h 1000 ....................... 3 2000 ....................... 5 3000 ....................... 8 4000 ..................... 24 5000 ..................... 36 6000 ..................... 52 96

MARCH 2020

Main: Open tinnies with smooth sides are increasingly popular on the water. The Anglapro Core CSR444 paired with the Suzuki 50hp tiller is a great rig for under $20,000. It’s at home on open water on calm days, and it can sneak up a shallow estuary with ease. Above: Headed out from Coffs Harbour, the Anglapro was noticeably light in the bow. This can easily happen on a boat test where there’s no electric motor, batteries or fishing tackle onboard. The Core 444CSR has 3mm bottom sheet and 3mm side sheets with plenty of internal ribs to support the smooth plate gunwales. Traditionally, strength used to be added with clinkered sides, but more and more aluminium boats feature the smooth sided finish nowadays. Before painting, this rig has the floor frames welded in, an optional bow-mounted electric motor bracket and the rear boarding step and rails attached, as well as a couple of internal side pockets. After being sprayed (this one was

white), the carpeted floors are fitted. Finally, the team from NCBC drop it on a single axle, Australian-made trailer (which you can pull around with virtually any car on the road today) and bolt on the 50hp tiller steer Suzuki outboard, which is fuelled by the remote fuel tank that’s kept out of sight under the rear hatch. Registered and out the door, that’s $20,000. You’ll need to add your own fish finders and electric motor. From a fishing point of view, this is an inshore boat that you can take outside on

calm days. We took it for a spin off Coffs Harbour on a calm day with a few lumps left over from some wind elsewhere. You can watch it in action in the video version of this boat test on the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube channel (or by scanning the QR code on this page on your smartphone). Although there was no fuel metering equipment fitted on the boat, we did get a feel for it in a cruise up along the coast. At wide open throttle (WOT) we hit a top speed of just over 50km/h at 6,000rpm. The optimum cruising speed was between 4,000 and 5,000rpm, and we infer well over 50km of range from the remote tank. These boats need a little weight up front to balance the ride and help the rig out of the hole. With all of the weight (battery, fuel, motor and two people) down the

SPECIFICATIONS Length................. 4.5m Beam................. 2.11m Depth .................. 1.1m Bottom ................ 3mm Sides ................... 3mm Capacity ..... 4 persons Hull.weight (basic) ................ 250kg back, it took a little effort to get this boat up on the plane, but once you add an electric motor and some of your gear, it will level out nicely. I would also add a couple of seat bases a little further forward. These can help you balance the load, and they also hold the seats when you’re anchored up and drowning some baits. For more information about the Core CSR444 and to check out the rest of the Anglapro range of boats, go to www.anglapro.com.au.

At rest, the Core is stable and roomy. There’s plenty of room for you and a couple of mates to wet a line.

Using a Suzuki with a 20” shaft, there’s a fair difference between the top of the transom and the outboard mounts. Inflow is caught and channeled away by a channeled engine well.

The step and grab rail is standard on this Core model.

The electric motor mount is optional but a necessity on a boat of this size.

The cranking battery sits inside this rear, starboard side hatch.

There are a couple of rear seat mounts, however a port mount a little further forward would allow for a variety of configurations.

Check out this for a mountain of deck space. The semi-raised front deck is a great compromise for a boat that may spend equal times in calm and open waters.

Like all boats with casting decks, the Anglapro gains plenty of underfloor storage space.

The Core comes with a built in anchor well, allowing anchoring as well as electric motor options.

You’ll see plenty of ribs in the smooth sided design.

There are two long side pockets that will hold all of your gear that needs to be readily accessed.

The Core runs a remote, 25L fuel tank. It’s tucked neatly away under the starboard rear hatch.

The step up onto the front deck isn’t too high and gives you the height you need to see into the water. MARCH 2020

WHAT’S NEW BOATING PURSUIT DC 235

The Pursuit DC 235 is packed full of comfortable seating and storage with classic styling throughout. The value and affordability of the DC 235 is delivered through a fully appointed boat with popular options. Notable standards include plush cushions, porcelain marine head, cockpit bolsters and an array of fishing features. A single Yamaha F250 delivers consistent performance for every activity, from fishing to board sports. All Pursuit boats have proven hulls, refined lamination techniques, vacuum-infused stringer grids, and verified installations. These boats are designed and manufactured in the USA. The premium gelcoat is backed by a 5-year hull blister warranty, and there’s also a 5-year hull and deck structural warranty with a 2-year component warranty, all of which are transferable to subsequent owners. The hull bottoms are reinforced with a resin-infused, fibreglass structural grid system, and the lined roto-moulded polyethylene fuel tanks for maximum fuel capacity are designed to eliminate condensation and the effects of ethanol in the fuel. Base price: SRP $134,000 (engines not included) cobaltaustralia.com.au

LOWRANCE HOOK REVEAL

The new Lowrance HOOK Reveal (available in 9”, 7” and 5”) delivers powerful performance with proven fish-finding tools. Anglers will have an easier time seeing fish with FishReveal, which combines on one screen the target separation of Lowrance CHIRP sonar and the high-resolution images of fish-holding structure from DownScan Imaging. Genesis Live lets you create custom 0.5ft contour maps of your local waters in real time on the HOOK Reveal screen. Genesis Live maps can also be created and saved on HOOK Reveal non-mapping GPS plotters by placing a blank microSD card into the card slot. A simple interface and HOOK exclusive Autotuning sonar make HOOK Reveal easy to use. Autotuning sonar delivers the best sonar image every time by automatically adjusting settings as fishing conditions change, making it easy to pinpoint humps, drop-offs and so on. You can choose your preferred combination of display size, sonar type and navigation, from TripleShot (High CHIRP, SideScan and DownScan Imaging) or SplitShot (High CHIRP and DownScan Imaging) transducers and mapping chartplotters or non-mapping GPS plotters. Price: from SRP $529 www.lowrance.com

BIRD STAIN REMOVER

Droppings from birds ruin the looks of any boat and can’t be removed with just soap and water. However, just spray on Star brite Spider and Bird Stain Remover and they will begin to break down instantly. The non-abrasive, non-toxic formula won’t harm fibreglass or painted surfaces, and won’t remove waxes or polish. The droppings simply dissolve without hard scrubbing. The formula is all-natural, contains no bleach and is safe for use around kids and pets. It is safe for all marine surfaces and fabrics. To use, spray it directly on droppings, saturating them. Allow it to penetrate the droppings for 30-45 seconds before gently scrubbing with a boat brush. Rinse well with fresh water. Stubborn or sun-baked droppings may require a second application. www.starbrite.com 98

MARCH 2020

SUZUKI 3+3 YEAR WARRANTY

PRODUCT GUIDE

Suzuki Marine has announced an upgrade to their 3+2 year warranty to 3+3 year warranty on all outboards (DF2.5hpDF350hp) purchased from 1 January 2020 for recreational use. This upgrade provides customers with further support, security and peace of mind, and endorses the superior build quality and reliability of Suzuki outboards in the Australian marine environment. This means that from 1 January 2020, any 4-stroke outboard from 2.5hp to 350hp purchased by a recreational operator in Australia can be covered for up to six years in total. The first three years is covered by Suzuki Motor Corporation warranty and the additional extended warranty of three years is covered by Suzuki Marine Australia. To maintain the new warranty period, owners must have and continue to have all periodic servicing (within the servicing guidelines and timeframes) and all maintenance carried out by an authorised Suzuki Marine dealership. www.suzukimarine.com.au

SOUTHERN FORMULA 19

The new Southern Formula range is set to be one of the best bluewater fishing boats produced in Australia, and the new Southern Formula 19 model has all the critical features that fishers have been asking for. Built tough for offshore conditions, standard features include a hinged dive door, full-length bunks, dual live bait tanks, long range fuel tank 280L, underfloor storage, heavy-duty deck hardware, 4x cabin storage shelves, full foamfilled hull and ECM stringer system. The Southern Formula 19 is 6.4m long with a towable beam of 2.4m. Horsepower is 175250hp, the weight (boat only) is approx. 1100kg, the fuel capacity is 280L. It has a variable 21° deadrise for a soft, stable, economical and performing hull, and takes a maximum of five people. Southern Formula boats are built in Australia, and the design and manufacturing team consist of qualified boat builders and a full-time naval architect. These boats have been designed to produce superior performance, with better ride quality, better stability, more efficient hull, dryer ride with overall features and benefits internally. www.southernformula.com.au

QUINTREX TOP ENDER PRO

A good thing just got even better with the release of the new Quintrex Top Ender Pro, which is available in 430, 450, 481, 500, 520 and 540 models. The Top Ender Pro features the current Blade Hull with a new and improved Flared Bow. The stretch-formed aluminium side sheets have more curve that run further down the boat’s length to deflect more spray away from passengers. The range introduced the 430 Top Ender Pro, a smaller and more versatile boat with the same pod transom as the other models. The side-console configuration maximizes fishing space, and there’s heaps of underfloor storage for tackle, iceboxes and fish. In the front casting platform, you can chose to have the standard storage or a livewell. Standard features include a marine VHF radio, rear ladder, four rod holders, three seats and a 5-year warranty. Options include a burley bucket, cutting board, twin battery system for electric motors, lockable rod storage and upgraded seats. www.quintrex.com.au

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

SL22 HT OB

Boat, motor, trailer package from $110,990*

COME AND SEE THE BIGGEST RANGE OF NEW FIBREGLASS BOATS ON THE GOLD COAST

www.whittleyboats.com.au Conveniently located at The Boat Works Factory 8 & 9 | Boat Works Drive, Coomera | 03 8339 1800 * Price includes; optional hard top with full length screen, standard boat package (refer to website for standard equipment list), pre delivery charges, Queensland registrations, safety equipment, on water hand over, available ex Whittley Gold Coast Sales Coomera & is subject to change without notice. MARCH 2020