Queensland Fishing Monthly November 2018 by Fishing Monthly

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Boating & Kayaking

Features Game on for black marlin • Cicadas for bass • DIY lure making: Crabapillar • Monduran bumper barra •

Exploring Hinze • Kayaking: abandon ship! • Avoid boating pitfalls •

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November 2018, Vol. 31 No. 1

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 22 Ballina 24

introduce to fishing, the more that will raise their voice when some preservationist with a promotion wants to stop us doing what we do. After all, anglers are the true conservationists. We all want there to be more fish in the sea next time we go fishing. BARRA TOUR It’s happening soon and there’s still time to come and join the fun! The 2018 Zerek BARRA Tour is happening again this month – a week of

Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Managing Editor: Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Annie March Field Editors: Jason Ehrlich Wayne Kampe Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

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Brandon with a couple of decent bass he caught on the prefish day before the ABT Wyaralong Dam competition, where he placed fourth. A Brandon Goulding image.

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full-on barra fishing in some of Queensland’s best dams. We had newbie teams from Queensland and NSW come last year and they had a blast. ABT, who runs the event (and also operates out of the Fishing Monthly offices) has a motto – ‘Who Shares Wins’. The teams on the BARRA Tour are always keen to share a beer and some techniques after the sessions. Fishing is from the late afternoons into the evenings, so you beat the heat of the midday North Queensland sun. If you don’t make it on tour (someone has to keep the country going), make sure you tune in to all of the coverage on www.abt.org.au. The BARRA Tour is a full catch, photograph and release event, so there’s a mountain of epic barramundi pic spam headed your way if you visit the site or go and like the Australian Bass Tournaments Facebook page.

NOVEMBER 2018

10 14 42 68

“It’d take us so long to learn what we picked up today by trial and error,” said one of the carers. And a lot of us take that for granted. People who don’t fish often don’t have the skills to take a kid for a fish and to introduce them to the recreation that we all love so much. That’s a real positive of Gone Fishing Day. But I think that we should take that attitude into the rest of the year. The more people you

AUST

GONE FISHING DAY Gone Fishing Day #3 is in the books (#gfd18). Over 100 organised events took place all over Australia – from Darwin to Tasmania and from Botany Bay to Western Australia, Aussies enjoyed our birthright – to recreationally fish for fun and food. One of the highlights of the day is the number of new anglers that we get to introduce to fishing. Some of our staff were at the NSWDPI event on Botany Bay. On the day, 10 boats took out 10 kids (and their guardians) who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity to be in a boat and catch a fish. The reactions for these people was amazing. For most of them, the experience of being able to ride in a serious fishing boat was eye-opening enough, but when the kids started dragging in bream over a kilo and flathead over a couple of kilograms, the smiles really started.

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 20 Camping and 4WD 70 Cooking 76 Dam Levels 62 Freshwater 62 Fun Page 96 Junior 45 Sheik of the Creek 71 Suntag 90 Tech Tricks 18 Tournament News 78 Track my fish 92 Trades and Services 94 What’s New Boating 100 What’s New Fishing 86 SPECIAL FEATURES Game on for black marlin Bass anglers be buzzin’ DIY lure making: Crabapillar Monduran bumper barra

From the Editor’s Desk...

BOATING AND KAYAK

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 54 Ayr 56 Hinchinbrook 56 Townsville 57 Cairns 58 Cairns NFZ 58 Port Douglas 59 Lucinda 59 Cape York 61 Cooktown 60

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 46 Rainbow Beach 47 Bundaberg 48 Lake Monduran 48 Gladstone 49 Rockhampton 50 Stanage Bay 51 Yeppoon 52 Mackay 53

PRO

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 25 Southern Gold Coast 26 Gold Coast Canals 27 Jumpinpin 28 Gold Coast 30 Southern Bay 32 Brisbane 34 Brisbane Offshore 36 Northern Bay 38 Noosa 40

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BLACK MARLIN

Black marlin trolling basics – it’s game on! BRISBANE OFFSHORE

Kaspar Lenigas

With the approach of summer and the big burst of warm water pushing down the East Coast, a lot of offshore anglers’ minds turn to pelagics and, in particular, black marlin. Black marlin are often seen as a fish that needs to be caught out of game boats or large trailer boats, however, they are easily accessible to anglers out of trailer boats as small as 4.2m. Almost every year from November onwards we can expect to see black marlin off the South East Queensland coast. Generally most are

trolling a spread of 2-5 skirted lures. By trolling a spread of skirts you can cover a lot of water and locate areas where the activity and marlin are, or intercept fish on the move. To troll a spread of lures effectively you’ll need the right equipment and set up. BOAT AND GEAR Most boats over 4.2m in length powered with the right outboard will get you amongst the marlin. The rod holder position in your boat is critical to success, as this will ensure the lures are spread correctly to avoid tangles. Rod holders in the back corners are ideal for shorter lures. Rail rod holders that sit wide of the gunnels, gunnel rod holder or outriggers are

Holding the fish in the water with the boat in gear is critical to a healthy release. This fish was tagged before being released. Hopefully it is recaptured in the future to gather information on its size and where it has travelled. juvenile blacks ranging from 15-40kg but you can encounter larger fish, some over 100kg at times. The run of juvenile black marlin is an inshore run of fish that are often found from as close in as the beach out to 150m of water, which is easy to access for most trailer boats. The most common way to catch juvenile black marlin is

ideal for longer lures as they give the lure height and spread so they work properly. Generally when trolling for blacks, most boats run a spread of 4-5 lures, but this can be daunting for people new to trolling as the lures can tangle easily. Depending on how many people are on board, it can be a bit of a process to set and retrieve,

Justin with his first black marlin. Fish of this size are very common and easy for most anglers to manage. especially when you’ve hooked a fish. I suggest a spread of 2-3 rods as it’s very easy to manage. When running a spread of 2-3 lures, I suggest running your short and long corner set a little further back than normal, then run the third rod off the short rigger position. If you don’t have a rigger, just elevate the rod or set it out a bit. I usually use rail rod holders and set the rods out and elevate their position until I’m happy with how it works the lure. If you are confident running a fourth rod, run it so you have a longer lure in the spread – just in case the fish are a little boat shy and feeding further back. For seasoned anglers, teasers are also great when run close to the boat, whether it be a mirror, dredge or bird teaser. However, for anglers new to this form of fishing I suggest going with out, as it’s one less thing to worry about clearing when you get hooked up. Traditionally a lot of

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juvenile black marlin fishing is done with light tackle. However, using overhead gear with 8kg monofilament can be a little hard to use if you haven’t done this style of fishing before. I recommend using 15kg mono either on spin or overhead tackle, as you have a little more control especially if you hook a larger fish. Spin tackle is perfectly fine to use on these smaller fish. A lot of anglers feel more comfortable using spin gear and it can handle small black marlin with ease. The 24kg gear can be a little too heavy to enjoy the fight on smaller fish so it’s important to use the according drag. You need to run at least 300m of line when chasing marlin. Most spinning reels won’t hold this amount of 15kg monofilament so I suggest running 30-100m of 15kg mono as a top shot on top of your spool of braid. Monofilament is good for this style of fishing as it is very forgiving – it stretches and absorbs the shock and headshakes, as juvenile black marlin are very acrobatic. Mono line also helps in hooking the fish as the stretch allows the hook to set better and it’s drag in the water helps keep the hook in place, especially if you get slack line through the fight. The gear I recommend is 20-30 size overhead reels and 5000-8000 size spin reels on 5-7’ rods rated from 10-15kg or 15-24kg. The rod and reel doesn’t need to be heavy for these juvenile fish, the most important thing when trolling is the right drag setting so the hooks used in the lures set properly and stay in. The rule most used for strike drag setting is one third of the breaking strain of the mainline. For 15kg line you would use 5kg strike drag, but anything from 3-5kg is fine. Using the right hook rig and hooks in the lure will greatly improve your hook up ratio. As black marlin have a

hard bony mouth and bill, finer gage sharp hooks are the key to success. Hooks like Pakula Dojo in size 20-25 and Gamakatsu sl12s in 6/0-9/0 work well. Skirted lures and rigging lure selection is very important – you need to run the right lures, in the right colours, in the right sizes, in the right positions to allow the spread to work effectively. The general rule of thumb with lure colour is the closer the lure is to the boat the darker the colour and the more natural and lighter/ brighter colours should be further back. At short corner I use black or dark colours, long corner a natural colour,

Slant head lures are great to use as well, but work best with cleaner water behind the boat. For smaller black marlin you don’t have to run very large lures, 4-8” is enough. Run the bigger lures close to the boat and go smaller further back. When rigging skirts for black marlin I prefer to use 2m of 100-150lb monofilament leader crimped to or tied to a hook rig. Your hook rig can be either a double or single and there are many ways to make them. I use a single as they are much easier to make and don’t twist up or spin as easily as a double after a few fish. A lot of the time you’ll find that you’ll hook the black marlin on the rear hook if you use a double hook rig. Doubles are great for other species like mahimahi, which are typical by-catch while targeting blacks. But plenty of people have also caught them using a single hook rig. I find the single hook rig to be far safer when de-hooking or dealing with fish boat side. As wahoo are another common by-catch, it’s important to use multi-stand cable in your hook rig as it prevents unwanted bite offs and losing expensive lures. The cable also prevents some chaffing, but the mono above your hook rig can become damaged from a marlin’s bill so you’ll need to cut it back and reattach your mono

Large mahimahi are a regular by-catch when trolling lures for marlin. They make for a great photo, can fight really well and are exceptional eating. short rigger bright pink red or purple, and long rigger green or lumo. The type of lure head on your skirt will also have an impact on success rates, as certain lures work best in certain positions. Shorter heads with large cup faces are best run close to the boat, this is because they usually dive deeper and have a lot of action making them more visible to the fish as they get under the white wash created by the boat. The further back you go the longer the lure head and smaller the cup face, as the white wash further back in the spread isn’t as thick or deep.

to the hook rig. You can buy pre-made hook rigs but making them is much cheaper. You can make them to suite the lure, you just need the right size cable and crimps. TROLLING SPEED AND LURE POSITION A speed between 5-7 knots is perfect for trolling skirts, however your speed will fluctuate depending on the speed of the current and how the lures are working. You want the lures to come to the surface grab air smoke and dive then come back up for air and repeat. The diagram shows how to position your lures correctly. The distance you

BLACK MARLIN place them behind the boat depends on your boat, but most place them on the pressure waves created behind the boat. My short lure is around 10m behind the boat, the next is 3-5m behind that and so on. As long as the lures don’t tangle and look to be working smoothly you are in with a chance of a hook up. HOW TO LOCATE MARLIN Juvenile black marlin

are unique in that they are a relatively coastal fish and travel down the coastline following warm water currents in search of baitrich waters, so unlike other marlin they can be relatively easy to locate as they aren’t too far off the coast but you need the right conditions and factors for them to be in an area. Generally water over 25ºC is ideal with current, bait and birds present in the

area. Water colour doesn’t always need to be blue as they will feed in green water if bait is present. There are certain locations/areas where marlin are frequently caught but it can take some time to learn where these areas are. The aid of some local knowledge is very helpful but as long as you get out there, cover the water and pay attention to what’s going on you’ll begin to work it out. Being part of

a local game fishing club can greatly increase your chances of getting into these fish, as there are many experienced game fishers who are willing to share their experience and knowledge with other anglers. My best advice is to find a location that is holding bait and with birds in the area, then wait until a tide change – the marlin might be there but aren’t active enough to eat a lure until the tide changes. And, of course, persistence

Typical Marlin Spread Long Rigger

Long Corner

Shotgun

Short Corner

Short Rigger

This striped marlin was caught while chasing black marlin on light tackle. They put up an excellent fight on 15kg and are stunning to look at. is the key. Some hot spots along the coast are: Fraser Island and Hervey Bay, Double Island Point, Mooloolaba, Cape Moreton, Point Lookout, Stradbroke Island, outside the Jumpinpin bar, Gold Coast and Tweed Heads.

Black marlin may travel great distances but they can be quite lazy – they don’t like to hold in strong current and will generally ride with it until they find an area where the bait is holding out of the current, making for an To page 12

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Tech Tricks

Lure storage BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Most keen anglers quickly accumulate a broad array of tackle items including rods, reels, lures, terminal tackle, lines, tools and other items. Quality tackle can be rather expensive these days, therefore it pays to look after your investment. If you’re like me and enjoy any form from freshwater flyfishing to

heavy tackle bluewater trolling, then you will accumulate a broad array of tackle over the years. Some lures may only get used a few times a year. The last thing you need is to find that they are in bad condition when you go to use them as replacements are costly and unnecessary. You just need to store lures properly so they remain in top condition. In this issue we are going to have a look at the various types of storage options designed for your lures and flies.

STOWAWAY BOXES 1

There’s a huge array of stowaway boxes ideal for storing all manner of lures and other tackle. These boxes are often designed to go into larger storage options, such as hard tackle systems and soft bags. They have internal interchangeable dividers so you can segregate certain lures or lure styles into one area. As your lure collection grows, you can get more boxes which fit into your main lure storage box. Certain boxes can be designated for different applications, lure brands or lure styles – you just swap them around in your main tackle storage system as you need. Plano, Versus and Moncross are the main brands in Australia although most major tackle companies will also have their own branded product. Numerous brands conform and will have similar outer dimensions, so they are interchangeable in a wider array of storage systems. One of the good aspects of these boxes is that not all your tackle is exposed to the salt air when you need to get something. A stowaway can be at arm’s reach in your boat without having to bring out the entire tackle box. Additionally you can simply take whichever stowaways of tackle you need and the rest can be kept at home.

STOWAWAY 2

STOWAWAY 3

To maximise storage for large minnow and bibless lures that are used for species such as barramundi, Murray cod and bluewater beasts. A larger stowaway with no dividers will offer a decent storage option to hold a maximum number of lures. I use elastic bands to secure the two trebles of each lure together which makes a single lure easier to get out. Using a box with more dividers is a better option in regards to protecting your lures but will greatly cut down the number of lures you can store in each box. Wire traces on lures can be coiled to help them fit. For large cod lures, such as topwater paddlers, wake snakes and swimbaits, these large compartmentless boxes are a great option. Many of these have an extra rubber seal around the top and a closure on each edge in an attempt to make them waterproof.

DOUBLE SIDERS

Some lures require a better storage option than the average stowaway to keep them in top condition although you will not be able to store as many lures. These double-sided boxes have individual alternating V-Shaped recesses on each side. Each space is designed to hold a single lure and the V-shape limits the amount of movement of the lure and keeps it straight. For high quality minnow lures, many of which have exquisite finishes, this box type keeps them in better condition, minimising tackle box rash from vibration and rubbing against each other during transit. Soft plastic vibes and many prawn lures need to be kept straight otherwise they will distort over time, making them a lot less effective. Sometimes the different types of plastic in each will react causing them to melt or distort. These boxes offer an ideal storage option for such lures by keeping them straight and separated.

SLIT FOAM BOXES

STOWAWAY 4

Deep stowaways like this are also ideal for storing smaller packets as most will stand up on their edge. This is one of my rigging boxes that I keep at home and has sections for inline hooks, split rings, solid rings, jig hooks, assist skirts and assist cord. I have another similar one to this set up for live baiting and rigging trolling baits. It stores a pair of crimping pliers, some small rolls of wire, circle hooks, packets of crimps, octopus skirts, stitching needles, wax thread, rubber bands and a few premade garfish trolling rigs. By having this all in one box, I know that I can just throw it in the boat and everything is there that I need for this type of fishing when going on a trip.

Although originally designed for storage of flies, slit foam boxes have found plenty of other uses for tackle storage. The bottoms of these boxes are lined with foam possessing numerous parallel slits. Items such as jigheads, spare treble hooks and those lures sporting single hooks can be inserted into the slits, holding them in place, preventing them moving around. I store my plastic crabs in one box as it keeps them true to form and the legs don’t get distorted. Soft vibes can also be stored in these boxes as well as a lot of other types of lures.

WALLETS 1

STOWAWAY 5

Stowaway boxes usually have some fixed dividers and some removable, so that you can customise the box to your requirements. I try to cram as many lures as possible into each box, therefore I commonly put the lures in without adding dividers. To maximise space or to protect the finish on lures, some will store them without hooks. When the lure is needed, a treble or single lure hook is quickly added. You will almost double the number of lures that you can store in a box without having hooks on them. Additionally, you will not be picking up a lure to find the hooks blunt or rusted. You will need split rings, a few sets of trebles and split ring pliers to alternate hooks between lures of a similar size. Lures without hooks can be taken as carry on baggage if necessary and the hooks carried in your checked luggage when flying to a fishing destination. 18

NOVEMBER 2018

The type of tackle being stored will dictate what size of box you need. Sometimes to maximise space you will need two shallow boxes instead of one deep box for storing smaller items. These two boxes will take up exactly the same space as one larger box yet the two boxes eliminate wasted space inside the box, especially where smaller items are concerned. Choosing the best stowaway box for your lures and other tackle can maximise your stowage space in your tackle locker or large tackle box or bag.

There is a broad array of wallet styles and sizes on the market. Many of these have a series of plastic envelopes inside in which you can store and separate items. These can be used for premade leaders such as wind-ons and fly leaders, premade rigs, spare fly lines, flies, bags of soft plastics, storage of gamefish tags, packets of hooks, split rings and other terminals plus a huge array of other items that can be stored flat. This will keep them organised, easy to source and protected.

Tech Tricks JIG BAGS

WALLETS 2

Some manufacturers produce wallet systems specific to their particular product. Soft plastics manufacturers in particular, try to assist anglers to keep their particular plastics in good order by offering wallet systems that hold their bags of plastics, which is always the best way to store any plastic. This allows anglers to organise their plastics with particular styles or sizes in each wallet and offers quick identification of size, colour and style.

LURE ROLLS

Available in several lengths and widths, lure rolls are a great way to store numerous types of skirted lures. These commonly have a series of pockets with Velcro closures along the length of the roll. The pockets are generally clear vinyl and the main part of the roll is mesh, which allows the lures to dry and breathe, and so you can see each lure for quick identification. The roll can be hung vertically or laid down horizontally in the boat and lures chosen and removed as needed. At the end of the day the entire roll can be hosed to wash the lures and left open until all are dried. When rolled up the lures move very little, which eliminates leaders and hook rigs from tanging. Some also store poppers and stickbaits in such rolls but there is a better option.

Smaller numbers of metal jigs can be stored in a variety of ways including stowaway boxes, lure rolls and specialist jig bags. However, if you have a broad selection then a specialist jig bag will be the best selection as they are made strong enough to support the weight of a large number of jigs. These bags can come in several forms yet most have mesh sleeves with individual mesh pockets on a page type system within the outer case. The jigs are slid individually into the pocket with the assist hook at the top. The jigs and hooks are secured in place by a flap that is folded down and secured with Velcro before the case is closed. Some bags are designed for long jigs, some for short jigs and some will hold a selection of different sizes. Your jigs will stay in better shape if they arenâ€™t rubbing together during transit, which greatly affects their finish.

FLY BOXES

POPPER ROLLS

11 Similar to lure rolls, popper rolls have been specifically made with larger pockets more suited to the bulk of such lures. Some of these roll up and some are designed to form a rectangular bag when clipped up. With many quality poppers and stickbaits costing in excess of $100, it pays to protect your investment. Many of these popper rolls will also have an additionally smaller pocket for storage of spare hooks and split rings. Two of the more readily available ones are made by HPA and Top Water Australia and are a worthy investment.

Flies come in a lot of different sizes, styles and profiles and as such there are a lot of different fly boxes to store and protect your investment. The slit boxes (aforementioned) are great for most styles. All fly boxes come in an array of sizes with varying qualities. Some fly boxes are waterproof and strong enough to be stood on without breaking. Ripple foam boxes have rows of ripples (or waves) in the foam insert. The points of the flies are dug into the foam to hold them in place. Some fly anglers will have a larger box with the majority of their flies and a small box that fits in their pocket for wading of walking the banks. It takes a while to tie your own quality flies and custom tied ones are usually not cheap. Additionally, opening your box and finding your flies creased and errant when you want to use them is very annoying. Store them well and they will last and work as intended. These are just some of the main ways to store your quality tackle items. Which storage option you choose for different types of tackle is sometimes a personal choice. This can be dependant on your fishing situation, whether you travel to fish, how much tackle you want to store or what type of craft you fish from. However, the main importance is that your tackle is protected and in good condition for when you want to use it. NOVEMBER 2018

DIY Lure Making: Hardbody jig clip Crabapillar FMG

Michael Thompson

For decades fishos have searched for that fair dinkum fishing lure hidden in every beer can. Many have tried, some have come close, but now we can say it has been found – Crabapillar! Crabapillar is a new and

innovative lure that can easily be made from a beer can. The commercially available hard and soft body lures are typically constructed from moulded plastic or timber. However, the hardbody jig clips are made from aluminium so they have all the strength and flexibility you would expect of a space age metal alloy added with the lightness and physical

characteristics of paper. The size and weight is up to your jig choice, from incredibly small to extra large, from feather light surface fishing, to heavy surf beach fishing. The big surprise is in how simple they are to make. It only takes a few minutes and they can target bream on rock walls, or whiting and flathead on the sand flats. All it takes is to cut

a piece out of a can and shape it into a 3 dimensional creature using the following method. In fact it’s so easy to make, I won’t put an age limit on it – we’ll just say that if you’re old enough to be competent with scissors, a kebab skewer, a hammer and nail and you should have no problem making one of these amazing lures. The lure designs have

undergone rigorous fieldtesting in some of the most arduous conditions Australia can offer, from the windswept beaches of Victoria to the crocodile-infested waters of the Territory. The more stressed and dinged they get the more realistic they look. FISHING WITH CRABAPILLAR The Crabapillar works

best with a 1/8oz jig and light rig of 30cm 4-6lb test fluorocarbon leader line and a good 9ft estuary rod with a light workable tip. It is ideal for gently hopping near some rock or reef when timed with the wave or current action. Tight little twitches of about 4-6cm, making full use of the rod tip action, will mimic the natural bait that often get washed

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Beer can, Scissors, kebab skewer, small hammer and nail, texture, wire, two beads for eyes and jig of size and weight of your choice. Optional materials are: O ring, fingernail polish and fishing lure holographic decal for dressing up. Start by cutting out the body of a beer can. Lay it out flat, use the top of the can, trace a 5.5cm diameter circle and cut it out. This is known as the blank.

Use a 3mm kebab skewer and bend the blank in half. This bend will create the ‘spine’ and provide the rigidity in the blank to maintain strength and integrity.

Using that measurement, in this case 27mm, mark the points where you will clip your jig in the centre. 42

NOVEMBER 2018

Measure the jig from the tie eye to about 10mm from the end of the hook. Ensure the choice of jig suits the 5.5cm blank. Larger jigs will need larger blanks.

Use the hammer and nail to gently tap through the material, but not too much.

off the rocks and suspended into the water column where opportunist predators are waiting. Drifting over the sand flats on the change of the tide has its own rewards because of the realistic resemblance to the creatures that live there, the legs scraping on the bottom make a racket. Use it in the manner you would use any jig is a good place to start –

the book is still being written on these fantastic new DIY beer can lures. I’ve had some success with jigging over the top of a solitary weed patch on the high tide for trevally. And remember you don’t have to limit yourself, you can experiment using larger, heavier jigs and DIY jig clips in deeper water. BEER CAN INGENUITY The aluminium alloy from

a beer can is strong, malleable and corrosion-resistant. The density of the material allows you to cut so fine that it takes almost no effort to make little legs or antennas, and even better, feathers which should pique the interest fly fishos. With a little direction from www.milkshakesuds.com and some practice you’ll be making all sorts of different lures for fresh and saltwater.

Draw an 8 pointed star/compass on the blank, making sure 2 points run up and down the spine getting the 2 jig clip holes inside the star/compass shape.

String a piece of wire through 2 beads and thread through the holes you just poked and twist.

DRESSING UP YOUR CRABAPILLAR There are a few ways to dress up your new creation. The easiest is to just pick a beer can already painted in your preferred colours. However, when this is not enough, holographic decal adheres to the aluminium very well and then a coat of clear acrylic nail polish to seal. You can also paint with nail polish, which

works very well. I rummage through the bargain bins, and I find some really cool colours. Wire and beads are a must for the eyes. It really set these lures off and it’s just so easy to do. Use a little bit larger than usual eyes and don’t tighten the wire too much and the realism is undeniable. Good luck on making your DIY Hardbody Jig Clip Crabapillar.

VIDEO

For more information go to www.milkshakesuds.com for extra tips and other beer can lure designs.

Once finished, cut out the star shape. You should start to have the beginning shape of the Crabapillar.

Take your hammer and nail, 5mm back from the tie eye hole on the blank, and tap a hole evenly on either side of the spine.

Slip through the jig hook on the tail of your blank and swing the other end around poking the tie eye up and through. You should hear a little click. If not, you may have poked the hole to big, so try again.

Using the scissors cut up the star points into bendable little crab legs. Don’t forget to do the nose and tail for antennae and a stinger.

And there you have it – you’re ready to take it out on the water! Use some holographic decal or nail polish to dress it up or just go plain. Sling a treble or assist hook underneath to increase your chances. NOVEMBER 2018

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

The Hyundai Santa Fe is the flagship of their passenger car line-up, and their 2019 model has some serious updates including new styling, features,

eye catching and stylish. It is highlighted by a high shoulder that runs from the top of the DLR right back to the tail light in one sweep. Effortlessly blended with the neat roof top spoiler means the Santa Fe is a real head turner. There are some significant interior styling

The Active model has cloth seats with plenty of room in the middle row.

Front seating in the Sante Fe was comfortable and very supportive. comfort and technology. There is a choice of either petrol or diesel engine for the mid-sized SUV buyers, with a whole array of infotainment and safety features. An all-wheel-drive system is standard right across Santa Fe’s three models – the Active, Elite and top shelf Highlander. FOURTH GENERATION SANTA FE Right from the first glance, the fourth generation 2019 Santa Fe can be differentiated from last year’s model, with styling changes to the exterior and interior of the 7-seater. A series of new lines and folds along the body’s slightly larger exterior is

changes for 2019 as well. The dash has been redesigned with a wide lower section on the left sweeping across to the driver’s instrument housing, with the touch screen and infotainment placed in the centre. This is indeed something new, but it certainly works well. Interior storage is well organised with a massive compartment between the front seats and lots of storage everywhere it would be needed. ACTIVE MODEL I reviewed the base model Santa Fe Active, which is well equipped with very useful features. It has 7” touch screen, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, reversing camera with guidelines, air con with rear seat controls, auto headlights, roof rails and 17” alloy wheels. Two fast charging USB ports will also be appreciated, along with an AUX port and 12V outlet under the dash. There are cloth seats in the Active, and they were very comfortable on longer trips. The advanced safety equipment is standard across the entire Santa Fe range. This includes lane departure warning, blind spot warning system, rear cross traffic alert, lane keeping assistance via a gentle guidance on the steering wheel, plus active cruise control. The blind spot warning system will actively steer you back into your lane if the system senses another

A whole new dash layout with modern styling and a large degree of practicality.

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on NOVEMBER 2018

vehicle is coming up the side. DIESEL ENGINE The Active is available with a choice of engines. There’s a 2.4L petrol fourcylinder outputting 130kW, 241Nm of torque linked to a 6-speed auto, and a 2.2L diesel powered by a Euro 5 compatible common rail turbo oil burner. My guess is that many drivers will opt for the 2.2L diesel as it is no slouch off the mark, yet still returns great fuel economy. The 2.2L diesel unit features twin overhead cams, four valves per cylinder plus a variable vane turbo for efficiency. This is impressive technical stuff but behind the steering wheel, the output of 147kW of power plus 440Nm of torque simply means that

Easily identified controls were an improved feature of the Sante Fe’s dash layout.

SEASON

The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe has new styling and features.

the Active was smooth and powerful from the get go. An 8-speed gearbox seamlessly controls ratios with a remarkably frugal fuel economy of around 7L per 100km achieved on a mix of highway and city driving. NEW SUSPENSION Thanks to Hyundai test trials of 27 different front

suspension arrangements and 22 rear suspension set-ups, the Santa Fe sports a highly tuned suspension, involving well specced Macpherson struts up front and a multi link system at the rear. The system offers a slightly firm ride yet it seems to be able to absorb any amount of rough going without intrusion into the passenger comfort. The

OUTDOOR & FISHING SHOW

Listen on 5am-6am Every Saturday

Santa Fe felt both sharp in the handling department but quite composed on rough surfaces, which is a combination that’s not easy to achieve. The driving modes within the Hyundai All Wheel Drive HTRAC system are button touch. It is available with Sport setting that ensures that 50% of drive is going to the rear wheels as well as the front pair. Comfort setting sees 35% drive at the rear, while Eco uses front wheel drive to minimize drive train loss elsewhere. Four Drive Lock is also available on command. In normal driving mode, if it detects a wheel slipping it will

That’s one mighty small fish I caught, a whole lot less attractive than the Sante Fe beside the upper Brisbane.

Four Wheel Drive Lock is on hand when needed.

engage all four wheel drive instantaneously. SUMMING UP The new 2019 Santa Fe is a massive leap forward for Hyundai. All variants are well set up with driver aids and infotainment programs, along with a punchy yet frugal engine. It offers ample driving comfort and a prime ride so it’s a perfect fit for a mid-sized SUV. The Sante Fe is in a market niche with the likes of the Mazda CX8 and Skoda Kodiaq, which are also very good cars. However, the Santa Fe does have extra room in the third row seats, compared to the others, and it also has very easy access – one touch will tip the centre

row backrest forward. Cargo space is 547L with all the seats up, and 1625L with the third row folded down and out of the way. Towing specifications are 750 unbraked and 2000kg braked trailer. It comes with a full sized spare as standard. Would the Sante Fe go off road? Well, there is 185mm ground clearance and four wheel lock, and it performed well in loose, steep, sandy ground in the upper Brisbane River where I had been fishing. Forest trails and the like should be no problem. The factory warranty is for unlimited kilometres over five years and the cost is $46,700.

The picture says it all – cruising on the highway at 100km/h and with Eco mode engaged. The fuel consumption was a frugal 6.7L per 100km.

The fishy similarities of the ones that got away BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

It’s curious, but the fish that bust me off are like former girlfriends; it’s the ones you don’t catch that end up sinking into your consciousness and make you wonder what might have been. Maybe I’m alone in this. Maybe other people don’t get preoccupied with the endless directions things might have taken, which is a bit dramatic I know, given that an ex-partner is in many ways quite different to a missed fish, but to me the issues are linked. In both situations I would argue, you’re spending time on pointless speculation. It didn’t happen, and you have to just get on with what is going on. But maybe in both cases these mental meanderings are meant to inspire you to improve your catch rate, so to speak. Take last weekend’s CQ trip. I caught some good reefies, and a good jack, but I lost three fish that would have turned a good trip into a great one, and that stings. It’s the misses that haunt me, not the captures. In all ways.

We’d run into something that’s rarer than something that’s very, very rare on our Dudd’s trips; an almost windless day to head onto the reefs. So, we were enjoying not being thrown around the boat like a superball in an empty rubbish truck, but getting little joy into the icebox. Never mind that there were five lines in belonging to me, Skipper and

Boobies, it was the little rod and reel that hooked what must have been either a very large fish, or an Odin class submarine. The result, after the braid cut my finger to the bone, was never in doubt, and ended with that almost imperceptible ping that all anglers know. The other two misses I had were very similar in that both were mangrove jack.

In most jack misses you’re woken from daydreaming with a savage smash on a rod in a rod holder, but both times involved I actually saw the jack, and didn’t actually hook up. On the first occasion I was bored with waiting for a mugging from a jack on a livey, so I was chucking a soft plastic at some rocks across the creek. I’d been doing that for somewhere

between ten minutes and two months when the plastic kept touching the rocks as I brought it back to the boat. Funny, I thought, that hasn’t happened previously. As I brought the lure up to the side of the boat, I caught sight of a good 50cm+ jack ready to monster the lure. My normal reaction in this situation is to jerk the jerk bait, like a jerk, but I managed to avoid

that, and dropped it back a little, and I saw the monster take the lure in its mouth and steam for the safety of the bottom. Somehow, he’d locked onto the plastic, but not the hook. When I pulled the plastic back up, it had four lovely little crescents cut out of it, like that tim tam I’d taken from Doughers once. Another five hours of chucking got me nowhere. The last miss was in another hole shortly after moving; just a flash, as a jack about the size of a bag of dog biscuits had a real crack at another version of the soft plastic I was flinging. My memory relives the red flash as it turns just under the boat and takes a nasty swipe at the lure. By this stage I knew it wasn’t going to happen, not overnight or at all. Not that sort of day. In the days since the trip, and I’m sure into the weeks ahead, I’ll go over what I did wrong, and what I’m going to do next time to improve my strike rate. It probably won’t help, but it gives my mind something to fantasise about. And fish misses and lost hook ups are a safer subject than miss misses and lost hook ups to obsess about. NOVEMBER 2018

BLACK MAGIC

MASTER CLASS

W I T H PA U L L E N N O N

Black Magic bottom bashing When it comes to putting food on the table, good old fashion bottom bouncing is still pretty hard to beat. It’s probably safe to say that drifting around with a paternoster rig has accounted for more snapper, flathead, nannygai, morwong, pearl perch and a host of other tasty species than any other method of fishing out there. While simple and

sinkers and fishing virtually underneath the boat in waters less the 15m is not too far short of a waste of time. The most effective depths for bottom bashing are from 40-200m as boat presence to bottom feeding fish is not usually an issue. Breaking it down further inside this window of ideal depths, each species will have its own ideal range and bottom territory it prefers. For instance, flathead will

Work out which way the wind and current are going then move in the opposite direction until you’re just off the reef to give you maximum drift coverage back over it. Plot your start point on your GPS and as soon as you finish your drift go back and

sinker you should be using, which should be the lightest possible that easily finds the bottom. A sea anchor can also be a handy tool to slow your drift down, especially on days with a lot of current or wind. While bottom fishing

The Black Magic Snapper Snatcher rig can out-fish other rigs 5-1.

Snapper are going to love the new Black Magic Snapper Snacks. extremely effective, it still needs to be done in the right way and in the right areas to have success. Probably the biggest mistake anglers make with this style of fishing is trying to do it in waters that are way too shallow and more suited to anchoring up and casting lightly-weighted baits away from the boat. Fish, especially snapper, are very wary and will quickly spook in shallow water when there’s a boat drifting over the top of them. This is why drifting around with big

be found over sandy muddy bottoms in 40-80m of water while fish like long-fin perch prefer the deeper reefs around 100-200m. Then you have snapper and morwong that cover the whole range up to 200m of water and other fish that cross over in between like pearl perch and nannygai. This is why bottom fishing when done right can produce a real mixed bag of species. Getting your drift right is a really important factor that will greatly increase your catch.

An armful of long-fin perch. 72

NOVEMBER 2018

Long-fin perch are the coral trout of the south. The new Black Magic snapper snacks work a treat for them. move a short distance away either side to give yourself a different line to go over new territory. If, however, you find a patch of fish on the first drift, be sure to mark it on your GPS and then try to do a re-run over it. Drift speed as well as water depth will dictate what size

gear can be either overhead or spin set up, the most important thing is braided line, as the zero stretch makes bite detection and setting of hooks instant. Braid also cuts through the water much better then mono, which is a big advantage when fishing in this manner especially in the deeper water or when you have current. I use Black Magic rainbow braid in 30 or 50lb as it’s colour coded every 10m. The best benefit of this is you can count your colours going down knowing exactly where in the water column you are and this can be particularly handy if you mark a patch of fish say in 70-100m of water. The paternoster rig is by far the best way to set up for bottom fishing and is just basically a 2m piece of mono leader with a loop on the bottom for a sinker and two short lengths of line off the sides about 60cm apart. While you can easily tie these yourself, Black Magic tackle has a range of pre-made flasher rigs that are hugely popular and lethal for this type of fishing. My first experience with these was fishing with

a paternoster rig I had tied next to a mate using a Black Magic Snapper Snatcher rig and was pulling in snapper at a rate of five to my one. Ever since that day I’ve used the premade flasher rigs and never looked back. Another reason they work so well is you can bait them up and when you do unknowingly lose your bait, or after a missed bite, the flasher rig alone will usually still get nailed, meaning you never waste your time in the water. The Black Magic range is always growing with a huge expanse of colours and sizes, now with 1/0 to 8/0 available in suicide

and circle hook patterns. Personally, I prefer the ones rigged on the KL circle hooks as the fish tend to hook themselves with a slow lift on the rod all that’s needed. I’ve also been testing a new product by Black Magic, which is going to be deadly. While they are the same concept these don’t use the flasher type material but rather thin small plastic and this gives more movement than traditional flasher rigs teasing shutdown fish into a bite. These went on the market in October, so keep your eyes peeled.

You are better off trying to target snapper in deeper waters.

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the competition timeframe, all five fish will remain fishing spots of Arnhem Land or the intertidal waters active in a bonus round from 1 April – 30 September of the Tiwi and Vernon Islands. Prime barra fishing 2019, so get up to the Top End now before that $1M spots include the wide Victoria and Daly rivers as finds itself on the end of someone else’s line! well as the network of winding waterways found in There will also be 100 fish worth a hearty the World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and $10,000 each and a special new category of 20 the Mary River wetlands. The Top End’s spectacular fish, worth $5,000 where the bounty is shared natural design means it offers a variety of worldbetween the angler and class fishing options, so one of three Territoryyou definitely won’t be Visit based charities. The short of fishing hot spots www.holidaysofaustralia.com. throughout its picturesque charities include the Cancer Council NT, landscapes. As you cast au/milliondollarfish Junior Indigenous your line out into the water and stay, play and fish Guide Program and the with the aim of reeling in Star Ball Darwin. one of the specially tagged in the Top End! But why the Top barra you may also find End? Well, this is an unrivalled fishing destination yourself on the other end of the line to a collection with huge tidal rivers, scenic inland billabongs and of different fish, including giant trevally, queenfish, mangrove-lined estuaries, as well as a scattering Spanish mackerel, black jewfish, golden snapper, of remote islands along hundreds of kilometres of coral trout, marlin and sailfish. unspoilt coastline. These pristine coastal waters are There are plenty of well-serviced tourist where some of the best tropical sport fishing action facilities to be accessed in the Top End along with in the world takes place. Those seeking something expert fishing guides, accommodation, and services different can venture through to the crowd-free such as fuel, food, repairs and supplies. Every

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NOVEMBER 2018

Cooking

In a flurry for some curry BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

This fish curry is influenced by recipes from India and Thailand. Most of the ingredients in this recipe are commonly used by both countries, however, coconut milk leans the dish towards a Thai theme. Indian curries may use coconut milk, but Indian dishes are more likely to use a stock/broth as the main liquid. To go more along the Thai path, there’d be a splash of fish sauce in the recipe. You could add 20ml (an Australian tablespoon) of fish sauce to this recipe if you desire. Add the fish sauce at the same time as the coconut milk.

I first had fish curry in the late 1980s at an Indian restaurant in Brisbane. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the fish curry, but I gave it a go. At the first bite I was hooked and I instantly knew what I was going to do with some of the Moreton Bay sourced spotted mackerel that I’d caught high-speed spinning the previous weekend. Handy Hint: I’ve used white fleshed reef fish in this recipe. Years ago I used to make this dish with spotted mackerel. You could try using a freshwater fish such as golden perch. Another option is to use (orange fleshed) salmon, or even a 50/50 ratio of white fleshed fish and salmon. You could also offer a 50/50 ratio of peeled green prawns and reef fish flesh.

Continue to cook the spices until they are fragrant with characteristic aromas. Stir gently with the back of a tablespoon.

Ingredients • 1kg white fish flesh (reef fish or spotted mackerel) • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped • 1cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped • 1cm piece fresh turmeric or 1 teaspoon dried (optional) • 1 brown onion, roughly chopped • 1 teaspoon either whole or ground coriander seeds • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin seeds • 1 red chilli, finely chopped (seeds left in) • 400g coconut milk • A handful chives, roughly chopped • 2 handfuls of fresh coriander

Cut the fish fillets into large cubes/ pieces, about 2-3cm in size. To poach the fish, add the fish pieces carefully to the barely simmering liquid in the frypan. Continue to simmer, turning the fish pieces over carefully, until the fish is nearly cooked through.

NOVEMBER 2018

Add 1-2 tablespoon of cooking oil to a frypan heated to a medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the chopped onion, garlic, ginger, chives and chilli. Stirfry for a few minutes until softened.

Add the coriander seeds to the onion mixture in the pan. Then add the cumin seeds.

Pour the coconut milk into the pan containing the spicy onion mixture and stir well to combine.

Sprinkle the fresh coriander over the fish, retaining a little of the coriander for garnishing at the end. Gently stir the fresh coriander through the fish curry.

Reduce the heat under the frypan to a very gentle simmer. Add the optional tumeric.

The completed fish curry garnished with fresh coriander.

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NOVEMBER 2018

Nelson slows down claim victory

STORM

Improving his 2017 BASS Pro event result on this massive North Coast arena by a place, NSW’s Mike Nelson fished a black jig in deeper water to emphatically claim victory in the Bassman Spinnerbaits round of the Rapala BASS Pro Series. With his weights improving every session, he was always going to be hard to beat, with top-ranked Basser and river rat Kris Hikson the only angler to get within 4kg of Nelson’s weight. Nelson posted a weight of 3.26kg for session one, 4.47kg for session two, and 4.56kg for session three. Fishing a beetle-spin rigged Z-Man Slim Swimz in the first session, Nelson targeted shallow, active fish on structure, but saw bigger fish deeper that weren’t receptive to the reaction presentation. That’s when he stepped it up a gear and fished a black Pro’s Factory Motion jig in black (with a Gulp Crabby trailer) deep and slow to extract a string of better quality fish. “Those deeper fish were definitely not rising to grab a reaction bait, so I did what I had to do to get them in the boat,” Nelson said. And from that point, he never looked back.

Mike Nelson secured his maiden ABT BASS Pro win fishing jigs slowly in deeper structure.

Pros Factory Motion Jig

15-25‘

Pitch jig close to submerged structure Short hop to keep on the bottom

Allow to jig to sit on bottom for up to 30 seconds – gently shake the rod tip to make skirt ‘wae’

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 80

NOVEMBER 2018

Scan the QR code to see how Mike Nelson works jigs in deep water.

Scan the QR code to see Jason martin’s winning interview.

Targeting bass from 15-25ft deep in both the South Passage and in the Coldstream River, Nelson emphasised that the speed he needed to fish these baits was slow – dead slow. “You’d sink down the lure and literally just shake the line. Sometimes it’d take the fish up to 30 seconds to eat it after you felt the first tap. It really was a game of patience,” Nelson said. He fished the jig on a 13 Fishing OMEN baitcast

rod paired with a 13 Fishing Inception reel that was spooled with 10lb Sunline Braid and 12lb Gamma leader. “That leader is amazing in tight structure. It really cops a beating,” Mike continued, “it helped me land plenty of fish in nasty situations.” Indeed, you can watch the video of Nelson’s final session highlights on the QR Code supplied hereby. If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to slow-fish a jig, then Mike’s technique is a must-watch.

Hickson runs and guns into second place

Almost always lurking somewhere in the top of the ladder is Kris Hickson, and he kept true to form this time round with a second place finish.

As is typical for the Taree BREAM and BASS angler, when asked about his tournament, it was a case of a lot of running and gunning and of using half the lures in his box. Kris Hickson is a fast, junk fishing extraordinaire, and he seems to have a sixth sense about where to stop and what to throw. He couldn’t match Mike Nelson’s deep structure jig fishing ability – even with a kicker fish of over 1.5kg in the first session. Kris managed bags of 3.63kg in session one, 3.33kg in session two, and 3.52kg in session three. When asked to refine the boatload of tackle to a couple of techniques, Hickson settled on ZMan Finesse FrogZ, 2.5” Slim SwimZ by the same manufacturer, and a Duel Moe-B hard bait.

“Early each morning, I’d fish those 2.5” ZMan FrogZ on a 2/0 ChinlockZ hook and get some topwater action. There’s nothing like a topwater bite first thing in the morning and it added a few fish to the well,” Hickson said. “I fished the stretch between Ulmarra and Maclean each day and I reckon I hit every single boat, wharf and good looking bit of bank there,” Kris continued. Kris’ kicker fish in session one (the second biggest of the event at 1.54kg) ate a Duel Moe-B fished in a drain. He also pulled a couple of fish off the ferry cables

BASS PR O at Lawrence with a Samaki forktailed Vibelicious in whitebait colour. In one of the sessions, he filled his bag from a grassy bank with the bloodworm coloured Slim SwimZ. His favourite tool for the tournament was a prototype TD Zero rod (6’9”, 2-5kg) matched with a 2500 sized LT Daiwa, 8lb J-Braid Grand and 8lb J-Thread leader. Hickson did his reputation as an adaptable Basser no damage at all on the weekend, maintaining his healthy lead of the Bass Cat BASS Pro Rankings. He’s ranked number one in the country!

Martin tops non-boater field Jason Martin is another Manning River river rat who excels in casting plastics at Australian bass. Paired with Kris Hickson on the first day, there was every chance that the pair would do some damage. The prediction came true-Jason managed some impressive limits, scoring bags of 3.63kg in session one, 3.33kg for session two, and 1.79kg for session three. Martin’s gear was a Daiwa TD Sol rod teamed with a Daiwa Exceler reel spooled with 8lb Daiwa J-Braid and 8lb fluorocarbon leader. He fished an assortment of plastics on 1/8oz jigheads. Emphasising Martin’s river prowess is the fact that he’s won both of the river rounds in 2018 at the back of the boat. He took out the first BASS Pro event of the season on the Hawkesbury River earlier in the season. Martin’s most tense moment for the event? Well, he’s pretty laid back,

GARMIN BIG BASS

Jason Martin was stoked to grab another river round win. so we think nothing fazes him, but only having a single bass in the livewell at 2pm in Session 2 would have raised the heart rate a little.

Fast forward 20 minutes and it proved that there was little to worry about, with the bag filled by 2:20pm on a 200m stretch of

grassy bank. You can watch Martin’s Winner’s Interview by scanning the QR code hereby.

BOATER RESULTS Place Angler 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Prize

Mike Nelson 12/12 12.29kg $2,500 Kristoffer Hickson 12/12 10.52kg $1,350 Craig Simmons 10/12 8.24kg $900 + $250 Evinrude Bonus Mark Lennox 11/12 7.73kg 7.73kg $800 Troy Hardaker 9/12 7.66kg $700 Joseph Urquhart 11/12 7.52kg $600 Adrian Melchior 11/12 7.44kg Rick Gough 11/12 7.21kg Keeghan Painter 9/12 6.80kg Terry Allwood 9/12 6.67kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Local Anthony Duff took out the $500 Garmin Big Bass, with his 1.67kg brute. It ate a ZipBait Skinny Pop in Aussie Prawn colour that he fished on a Pagotto custom rod made from a St Croix blank, matched to a Daiwa 2500 Certate Custom reel, 6lb Sunline Super PE and Sunline 10lb mono leader.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Duffrods 3-5kg rod Reel: Daiwa Battler 2500 reel Line: Unitika 8lb braid Leader: FC Rock 8lb leader Lure: Yamba Pro Prawn blade

NON-BOATER RESULTS Place Angler 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Prize

Jason Martin 10/12 8.75kg Prize Pack Peter Morgan 10/12 8.28kg Prize Pack Tom Deer 11/12 8.10kg Prize Pack Andrew Lollback 8/10 7.73kg Prize Pack Damien Krantz 11/12 7.50kg Prize Pack Matthew Cameron 11/12 7.24kg Prize Pack Shane Matthews 11/12 7.10kg Prize Pack Brendan Pieschel 9/12 6.43kg Prize Pack Aaran Kiloh 8/12 6.41kg Prize Pack Trent Blake 8/12 5.90kg Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au NOVEMBER 2018

Falkenhagen forks out A-game

STORM

Shaun Falkenhagen has taken out the 2018 Rapala Bass Pro Grand Final on Lake Somerset with an overall bag of 12/12 at 14.97kg, walking away with a cheque for $10,000. Shaun struggled in the first session early on, spending an hour or so sounding around looking for a good concentration of fish. Once he found the fish he caught his limit quite quickly and weighed them in as soon as the weigh-in window opened. He weighed in a combined limit with Jim Hickson of 4.46kg, which had them sitting in second place to Matt Johnson and Nick price with a bag limit of 7.08kg. Session two was very kind to Shaun and Jim, and saw them catching their limit of four fish for the session, with a total weight of 6.16kg, bumping them into first place for the second session. The third session on the Sunday was Shaun’s most productive day catching, where he caught seven fish. The weight was down from day one’s bags, however Shaun and his day two

Shaun Falkenhagen had his family there to support him.

Shaun Falkenhagen was all smiles with his Grand Final victory at Lake Somerset.

non-boater Mitchell Rose achieved a limit of 4.35kg, which was enough to secure victory in the 2018 Rapala Bass Pro Grand Final. Shaun was fishing a bay with a depth of 40-50ft. His technique would vary with the fishes’ mood. If they were sitting on the bottom he would sink his lure to the bottom and give it a few twitches and it would get eaten fairly quickly. But if the fish were suspended he would have to count his lure down to roughly where he could see them sitting on his depth sounder. With the suspended fish he would slow roll his lure through the school, often getting a few taps. Once he got these taps he would speed his retrieve up, triggering the fish to eat his lure properly. His go-to lure was a Slider Grub in the John Deer colour with a 5/8oz jighead fished on a 702 Edge Rod with a Daiwa Certate reel.

BOATER RESULTS Place Angler

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 82

NOVEMBER 2018

Scan the QR code to see the day 1 highlights.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Prize

Shaun Falkenhagen 12/12 14.97kg $10,000 Matt Johnson 9/12 12.74kg Miller Rod Stephen Kanowski 9/12 12.04kg Miller Rod + $1,100 (Big Bass) Kristoffer Hickson 9/12 9.87kg Prize Pack Wally Fahey 6/12 9.67kg Prize Pack Graham Ford 7/12 7.89kg Jordan Stoddart 12/12 7.39kg Tim Morgan 7/12 7.38kg Kris Banks 8/12 6.27kg Joseph Urquhart 8/12 6.27kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Johnson takes second Matt Johnson came in second with 9/12 fish for 12.74kg. Matt weighed the biggest bag for the tournament in session one with four bass tipping the scales at 7.08kg. He and his non-boater left for the second session very chuffed with themselves. Unfortunately, that was the best bag Matt could put together for the tournament. The second session for Matt was a grind, with him and his non-boater only bringing two bass to the scales for 2.3kg. Day two was quite tough as well, only yielding three bass, however it was enough to secure second place. Matt was fishing the same areas as Shaun on flats with depths varying between 40-50 feet. The fish were there for Matt, however he struggled to convert many of the bites.

Matt Johnson fished the same areas as Falkenhagen and came in second place.

BASS PR O GF

Warren Howe took out first place for the Non-Boaters.

Howe good John Deere Slider

Jighead retrieve

Spoon retrieve Snap

40-50 feet

Snap

Warren Howe had something of a Stephen Bradbury tournament experience. He got his Grand Final entry via count back from declined non-boater entries and ended up taking out the 2018 Rapala Bass Pro Grand Final in the Non-Boater division, bringing in 10/12 for 13.99kg. He was followed by Jim Hickson who had 8/12 for 10.62kg. Warren fished day one with Kris Hickson and day two with Steve Kanowski. His first session only saw him weighing

two legal bass, with his second and third session being better, as he was able to secure a limit in each. Warren was changing between throwing a Slider on a 5/8oz jighead and a G2 Gang Banger Spoon. Throwing them on a Daiwa Steez 702 Thunderstorm rod and a Daiwa 2508 Steez spin reel, he was able to fish the Sliders with ease. Both Howe and Hickson took home the awesome Rapala product prize pack with enough tackle to see them through the 2019 BASS Pro season, valued at approximately $4,000!

Killer cracks tournament Big Bass Scan the QR code to see the day 2 highlights.

Stephen ‘Killer’ Kanowski took out Big BASS, bringing in a fish in session two that weighed in at 2.74kg. Steve located an active school of fish in the second session, and catching a nice fish straight away had him quite confident in the flat he was fishing. Only a couple of

casts later he hooked the fish and soon realised it was much bigger than he first expected. This fish was the biggest bass for that session and held that position for the rest of the tournament, securing the big bass prize of $1100. This healthy 2.74kg fish was caught slow rolling a plum chartreuse

Slider with a gold 5/8oz Smak jighead. JUNIORS The Grand Final Juniors (under 18-yearolds) got a special mention

at the presentation, with Mitchell Rose and Angus Meyndershagen both finishing in the top ten non-boaters. In addition to their non-boater prize packs

the pair each took home a special Junior Anglers Prize – a big thanks to Rapala and Manning River Marine for looking after our tournament’s junior anglers.

NON-BOATER RESULTS Place Angler 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Prize

Warren Howe 10/12 13.99kg Prize Pack James Hickson 8/12 10.62kg Prize Pack Mark Parriott 12/12 9.52kg Tonic Sunglasses + Prize Pack Nick Price 6/12 9.38kg Hobie Sunglasses + Prize Pack Angus Meyndershagen 8/12 9.10kg Hobie Sunglasses + Prize Pack Raffi Demirjian 5/12 7.72kg Samaki Rod + Prize Pack John Francis 6/12 7.06kg Prize Pack Dylan Byron 9/12 7.03kg Prize Pack James Browning 8/12 6.76kg Prize Pack Mitchell Rose 6/12 5.28kg Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au NOVEMBER 2018

WHAT’S NEW FISHING SAMAKI BIG GRIP DIGITAL SCALE

NEW SUGAPEN COLOURS

The Samaki Big Grip Digital Scale has so many features that it’s hard to name them all. For starters, the ergonomic big grip handle is ideal for weighing big fish, with the scale catering up to 50kg or 100lb. It’s very comfortable to hold in the hand while you ready your catch for the weighing process. The casing is completely waterproof and holds a 100cm measuring tape for you to document your catch with ease. The Samaki Big Grip Digital Scale also has a backlit LED screen to give you readings in low light environments, plus a built-in thermometer in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. For more information and stockists just visit the Samaki website, or you can follow them on Instagram (@samakifishing) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/samakifishing). www.samaki.com.au

The Sugapen is one of the most popular surface lures on the market today, and it comes in sizes that cater for both estuary and offshore fishing. Now the range has recently been expanded to include sizes from 58mm through to 120mm, which gives the lure enormous versatility. Bassday has also expanded the colour range, and now two new variations have been added. The current Sugapen colours remain, with the two completely new Australia-only additions being a red tiger-striped clear and gold tiger-striped clear with a pink head. For more information on this and other new releases from Bassday, visit their website or look them up on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BassdayAus. www.bassday.com.au

SUFIX 131 G-CORE

HALCO MAX 220

The new Sufix 131 G-CORE is a 12-carrier braided line with an additional GORE Performance Fiber.These 13 fibres combine to guarantee a strong construction with no weak points, delivering reliability during casting, strikes and fighting action. The single strand of GORE Performance Fiber is surrounded by 12 precision braided HMPE fibres, and this results in a super-round line that is smoother, quieter and casts more accurately and further than other lines. Sufix 131’s non-hollow construction does not absorb water, thus preventing the line from getting heavier and reducing casting distance. Its solid structure also avoids conventional braid flattening, while the Gore centre fibre also protects the line from internal fraying. This new line is currently available in 4lb to 50lb in 150 yard neon chartreuse spools, and 10lb to 100lb in 300 yard neon chartreuse. Keep an eye out for it in leading tackle stores. www.rapala.com.au/sufix

DAIWA HRF SONIC SPEED 9.1R-TW

Dressed in red and ready to tear up the water, Daiwa releases its fastest HRF baitcaster ever, the HRF Sonic Speed 9.1R-TW. The super car of the HRF line-up features the designs, strength and performance that has made the HRF famous, with the revolutionary T-Wing System (TWS), Hyper Digigear, Super Metal body, Magforce Z, Magseal, Speed Shaft and corrosion resistant ball bearings (CRBB) combining to make this reel a must-have for saltwater baitcaster fans. Stopping power is at your fingertips with Daiwa’s UTD, giving you the muscle to stop fish in their tracks, while a 100mm swept handle and large EVA knobs offer added comfort and ultimate handle control. Loaded with features and with a spec sheet to impress, the new super-charged HRF Sonic Speed 9.1R-TW is a baitcaster that’s designed to amaze its users and is impossible to forget. www.daiwafishing.com.au 86

NOVEMBER 2018

PRODUCT PRODUCT GUIDE GUIDE 2 1

If you love the sound of a reel screaming in agony as line pours off the spool, then Halco Tackle has developed the perfect lure for you in the Max 220. Halco has developed an ultra tough, sinking, bibless minnow that will get the attention of any XOS Wahoo and Mackerel, huge Tuna and other massive predators that lurk out in the deep blue. Capable of being trolled at very high speed (up to 20kt) like its smaller brothers, the lure features heavily reinforced side walls to resist punctures by the toothy brigade and able to withstand the incredible crushing pressure inflicted by the jaws of its intended victims. Halco rounded out the package by included their legendary ultra tough 7xx fish rings and Mustad 9/0 inline singles for great hook sets and the ultimate in holding potential. The lure is 220mm long, weighs 175g, and is designed for heavy trolling and jigging applications. If you are into fishing for the brutes of the ocean, look for the all new Max 220 at all good tackle outlets. www.halcotackle.com

BLACK MAGIC PINK 6 SHOCK LEADER Pink leader has been popular for some time, given that it is seen as less visible in certain water conditions. Although fluorocarbon options are common, Black Magic’s Pink Shock Leader is produced as a copolymer trace. This provides great value for money but still gives robust performance under stress. It retains the high performance in abrasion resistance and knot strength seen in Black Magic tough and supple trace. It’s coloured pink to provide less visibility, particularly when water conditions are a little murkier, and provides a more affordable option to anglers than fluorocarbon. Current breaking strains are 20lb, 40lb, 60lb, 80lb and 100lb. www.blackmagictackle.com

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA ELIMINATOR

Stunning in looks and flawless in design and performance, the new Eliminator delivers anglers one of their newest and most durable and reliable light to offshore tackle reels for some time. Designed to excel and built to perform, the Eliminator integrates many of Daiwa’s most innovative designs and technologies including Real Four, Digigear and Air Rotor, and blends them with proven designs and features to create a reel that has few peers. It features Daiwa’s famous ABS spool design, with the reverse taper spool enabling greater line control and increased casting distance. Daiwa’s ATD gives the Eliminator fingertip drag control and unrelenting stopping power. The Eliminator will never see you under gunned in the heat of battle. Dark in looks yet bright and bold in design and performance, the new Eliminator spin reel opens the door to a new age in light and offshore tackle durability and reliability. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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WILSON PLATINUM FISHING CHAIR

The new Wilson Platinum Fishing Chair is rated to 150kg and built with a wider base to ensure anyone can comfortably sit in it. This folding chair also has some clever additions for anglers. For starters there is a rod holder that can be easily attached to the left hand side of the chair on the legs, setting your rod at an easy angle. If you plan on getting up from your chair, the designers have included a peg for the leg to ensure the chair is secured to the ground, and a massive strike won’t tip the chair over. There is also a drink holder and a lined cooler bag in the arms, and a small bottle opener attached to the arm on a lanyard. On the right arm there is also a mobile phone holder pouch, to ensure your phone doesn’t get damaged when the action heats up. The comfy and strong Platinum Fishing Chair is available now in your choice of blue or purple. www.wilsonfishing.com

MAPSO SAJA #3

Mapso lures in recent years have become the go-to lures for the serious trout angler. Mapso is the Lukris house brand, which is known for their innovative ability and superior quality, and they offer 100% perfect spinning action every time. Lukris have been responsible for producing some of the world’s best known and most trusted brands. Now Lukris have released a couple of new colours in their popular Saja range of spinners in all four sizes. They have also released a larger Size 3 model that is 60mm long, weighs 7g and comes in twin packs. These will certainly be great for anglers wanting a bigger spinner for lake shore fishing, and anglers wanting a heavier lure for further casting distance. The new Size 3 size will also be suitable for a number of other species, including yellowbelly,

silver perch and bass. It is available in all 14 colours. To find out more visit the Juro Oz Pro Tackle website, or for the latest news and catch photos check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JuroOzProTackle. www.jurofishing.com

MARIA RERISE

Maria have an extensive range of floating and sinking stickbaits, but the new Rerise adds another dimension to the line-up. This new concept lure measures 130mm long, weighs 70g and can search deep areas normal minnows can’t reach. It sinks at one second per metre, allowing the angler to fish any level of the water column with the appeal of a tuned Japanese stickbait. The heavy weight enables lets you drop the lure to the bottom, and the swimming action imitates a wound baitfish, resulting in explosive strikes. Fitted with Owner ST-66 trebles and a strong wire through construction, the Rerise is ready to battle any pelagic you can target. It is available now in eight colours. www.ejtodd.com.au

HOBIE PET PFD

Why leave your pet at home while you enjoy a day on the water? You can now take your fur friend with you safely and in Hobie style, with the Hobie Pet PFD. Features include added flotation as a swim assist, grab handles, adjustable fit, leash attachment, side pockets, grab handles and soft foam undercarriage support. Happy days for furry friends! The Hobie Pet PFD is available in the following sizing: XS (12lb, 8’-12’ collar, 13’17’ body girth); S (12lb-24lb, 10’-14’ collar, 15’-21’ body girth); M (24lb-60lb, 13’-19’ collar, 18’-30’ body girth); L (60lb-90lb, 18’26’ collar, 24’-36’ body girth); XL (90lb-120lb, 22’-30’ collar, 30’-42’ body girth). Price: SRP $59 www.hobie.com

SHIMANO CATANA FD

The Catana has been revamped for 2018 and is perfect for anglers who are looking for a high quality reel at a reasonable cost. There are four reels in the re-launched Catana range, from 1000-4000 size, with the C2500, 3000, and 4000 HG having high retrieve ratios from 5.8-6.2:1 thanks to the presence of zinc DC gears. Perfect for freshwater, estuary and light offshore applications, the larger reels are capable of producing up to 8.5kg of drag power, so for relatively small reels this new range really packs a punch! The AR-C spool lip design increases casting distance, controls the development of wind knots, and creates less slap on the stripping guide. What more could you want from a spinning reel? They come with two SUS ball bearings, plus one roller bearing, so it’s smooth sailing all the way with these value packed reels. www.shimanofish.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au NOVEMBER 2018

WHAT’S NEW FISHING ZEREK TANGO SHAD 13 1M DIVER The Zerek 50mm Tango Shad 1m diver comes in floating only, and is ideal for all manner of estuary and freshwater fishing situations. There are 10 colours in the range, covering both natural and attractor patterns, including UV colours for maximum attraction. The 50mm Floating Tango Shad 1m diver has been an amazing success story in testing on a host of estuary and freshwater species. From flathead to bream and trout to redfin, this floating lure tested incredibly with some amazing captures. Attractor colours for dirty water, natural colours for clear water and UV colours to take advantage of the latest theories on fish’s vision see these lures cover every conceivable situation in terms of water conditions. To see the full range of colours, as well as other models in the Tango Shad series, visit the Wilson Fishing website. www.wilsonfishing.com

OKUMA KOMODO SS

The Okuma Komodo SS features stainless steel main gear, pinion gear and drive shafts, along with a multi-disc, high output Carbonite drag system, giving it a level of power and durability that is the best in its class. Drag output levels include 11kg maximum drag on the 350 size and 14kg maximum drag on the larger 450 size. The high quality build includes ALC: rigid diecast frame and sideplates with CRC (Corrosion-Resistant Coating process) and A6061-T6 machined aluminium anodized spool. A micro-click drag star allows precise drag settings, and Japanese ABEC-5 spool bearings and 6-pin Velocity Control casting system allow long, smooth casts. The 350 size is fitted with 6HPB+1RB SS bearings, while the 450 size boasts 7HPB+1RB. Other features include a synchronized levelwind, optimized for braid; zirconium line guide inserts for use with braid; dual antireverse and an on/off clicker. This big fish stopper is available in a 350 and 450 size in both a left and right hand model and a 350 size in a Power Handle version. A Power Handle is also available separately for the 450 size. Price: SRP $379-$399 www.okuma.com.au

OKUMA CERROS SPIN PODS

Designed in Australia to suit Australian species and techniques, the Cerros family of spin rods from Okuma are built on quality 30T Toray carbon blanks and are finished with SeaGuide Hero Hi-Grade 316 stainless steel, anti-tangle guides and Fuji reel seats. There are five 7’ models in the range, L, ML, M, H and XH, covering everything from bream and bass to snapper, barra and pelagic species. Cerros rods feature a stylish design, classic two-tone anodized metal components and crisp actions, and they are also excellent value for money. This new rod range is perfect for those anglers wanting to get into lure fishing, and are also deadly in the hands of experienced lure fishers. A selection of Cerros baitcast models are also available. For more information on the Cerros range and on other new releases, visit the Okuma website or like them on Facebook 88

NOVEMBER 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE

at www.facebook.com/okuma.australia. Price: SRP $119.90 www.okuma.com.au

WILDFISH SMOKER DUST

13 16

The Wildfish Smoker dust and chips are perfect for hot smoking fish, poultry and other meats. They are the perfect addition to the Wildfish range of smokers. There are five flavours available: apple, hickory, peach, sheoak and wine. The wine flavour comes in a 200g bag of wood chips. All the other flavours are sawdust, and are available in 500g bags. The Wildfish Smoker cooker is constructed from long life stainless steel. It contains two smoking racks, a stainless steel drip tray and is supported on an elevated stand which houses two spirit burners for even cooking. Wildfish products are distributed by JM Gillies. For more information on the smokers and other products in the Wildfish range, visit the JM Gillies website. You can also find them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jm.gillies) and Instagram (@jm.gillies) www.jmgillies.com.au

GULP TWIN TAIL

15 17

New for 2018 is the Berkley Gulp Twin Tail. The Twin Tail has more moves than a bowl of worms! A minnow profile with a set of twin tails that flutter and swim at any speed. Based on the crazy legs jerkshad, the designers have downsized this deadly concept to bite-sized 3” and 4” models. With 400X more scent dispersion that a plastic bait the Twin Tail is packed with Gulp scent to trigger more strikes. These new soft baits are currently available in either colours, including both natural and hivis variations, so you can match the hatch and the conditions. For more information, or to find your nearest stockiest, head over to the Berkley Australia website. For all the latest news, catch photos, videos, tips and tricks, check them out on Facebook at www.facebook. com/BerkleyFishingANZ. berkley-fishing.com.au

STRIKE PRO GUPPIE 18 NEW COLOURS Strike Pro has released two new colours in its popular Guppie swimbait lures and spare tails. There are three crltails and one Paddletail in five colours to match the Guppie lures. The TrueGlide Guppie has been the gold standard for handmade wood glide baits throughout Europe and the USA The paint schemes incorporate using paint or glitter on the inside shell of the bait, in addition to painting the outside shell, layering paint between topcoats for a 3-D effect. It also prolongs the colour of the bait fish after fish. Strike Pro has even replicated the 3-D eyes that TrueGlide are famous for. The Guppies body profile allows the lure to produce an amazing body roll and it slides from side to side in outstanding fashion. The Guppie also features an innovative cork screw at the tail of the bait allowing the angler to fish with either a curtail or paddletail soft plastic tail, creating the ultimate swim bait! The Guppie is a very effective lure that is deadly on barramundi, mulloway, murray cod and pelagic species. www.jurofishing.com

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Field-testing Daiwa J-Braid Grand: it’s a J-Braid Grand life! Last year I was lucky enough to be sent a Daiwa Tatula baitcasting rod and reel combo to have a play with, and inside the box was a spool of the original J-Braid x4 line to fill it with. For a 4-ply braid which was certainly at the lower end of retail pricing in tackle stores, I was very impressed. Some 18 months later I’m still using that same spool of line. I have had some torrid battles with threadfin salmon that have put me in and around any number of artificial and natural structures, but the braid has held up beautifully. With that in mind, you can understand my excitement in June this year when we opened an AusPost express bag with four

TESTED

I normally leave the spooling up to the tackle store I buy line from, because they’ve usually got a machine and it’s faster, packs it on tighter and leaves me more time to spend far too much on lures. However, spooling the two reels myself actually gave me a really nice feel of the lines before I’d even wet them. The first thing I noticed from both weight classes was that the new J-Braid Grand is a much smoother profile than both the original 4-ply and 8-ply versions, and also very soft and supple. It had little to no memory coming off the spool, and didn’t lose colour as it ran through my fingers that were keeping tension as it filled the reels. If you’ve ever done this job you’ll know you can end up looking

Squid have great eyes but the 10lb J-Thread Fluorocarbon did the trick and was near impossible for this tiger to see.

Not bad for your first thready. The 30lb J-Braid Grand and J-Thread Leader combo held up well in some very tight country. spools of the new Japanese made Daiwa J-Braid Grand in multi-colour, and an equal amount of J-Thread fluorocarbon leader. I took two spools of braid – 10lb and 30lb – and two spools of leader to match, and headed home to fill some reels and plan my testing missions. The 30lb went on an old Luvias DA Custom 3000 (yes, the one with the tribal tattoos on the side), and the 10lb was wound onto my Emeraldas MX 2508. The heavier set-up would come with me when chasing threadfin on the Brisbane River, and the lighter pairing would be on hand for any estuary fishing that was on the cards.

like you’ve had a fight with a packet of Sharpies. Once both reels were full to capacity it was time to tie a couple of FG knots and a rod length or so of the J-Thread fluorocarbon leader. The bride and I were lucky enough to have a babysitter that night, so we went out for a kid-free dinner and then hit the river for some thready action. The braid cast both light and heavy lures very well, with no signs of wind knots or colour fading, and it wasn’t long before the first of five nice fish were hooked and trying their best to rub through the J-Braid and J-Thread on some pylons.

The line held up incredibly well on both wooden and metal structures. The fluorocarbon was scuffed and tattered by the end of the night, but didn’t even look like breaking or rubbing through. I am a notoriously terrible knot tier, but I managed to re-tie new leaders with ease, even with a heavier line class than I normally use. With the heavier combo proving itself so well, I was pretty pumped to get out and try the 10lb versions as soon as possible. Over the last few months they’ve been put to the test on bream, bass and squid. With this set-up the lures I’ve used and the situations I’ve used them has been a lot more varied than with the 30lb combo so while the strength and durability has certainly still been tested, it’s more about performance when casting lures for long periods of time in both fresh and saltwater arenas with topwater, diving and sinking hardbodied lures, squid jigs and soft plastics. In every situation it has performed like a braid and leader combo that you’d expect to pay twice as much for. Cast after cast it peeled off the reel with no memory, no wind knots and once I was connected to a fish or squid, performed very well under stress.

J-Braid Grand is available in both multicolour and island blue in weights from 6lb through to 80lb in 150 yard and 300yd spools with RRP’s starting from only $39.99. J-Thread fluorocarbon leader comes in spools of 100m for the 4lb to 20lb classes and 50m spools for 30lb to 80lb and RRPs from $22.99. If you’re after a high quality Japanese designed and manufactured braided line or fluorocarbon leader without breaking the bank, I would highly recommend asking your local tackle store for J-Braid Grand and J-Thread. - Rupe

Another victim of the J-Thread leader. Even on a bright sunny day the line was undetectable.

Having used the old J-Braid for a long time (and enjoyed it) meant it was easy for the author to see just how superior this new version is.

NOVEMBER 2018

Trades, Services, Charter BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

BAIT & TACKLE

Lazer Lures Catch Fish

New Lazer 60g with premium VMC hooks, a must-have lure in every serious tailor fisherman’s tackle box.

CUSTOM ALLOY FABRICATION • Boat repairs & fitouts • Bait tanks • Transom rebuilds • Fuel tanks • Consoles OVER 20 YEARS FABRICATING AND WELDING ALUMINIUM

MINN REPAIRS & SERVICING CUSTOM TRANSOMS 20-75hp $750 75-150hp $890 150-225hp $980 Freight can be arranged Australia wide

PROFISH BOATS – Phone Peter 0417 782 114 Email: peter@profishboats.com www.profishboats.com

www.lazerlures.com

Salt-Away www.salt-away.com.au

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

• All electric motor brands • Australia wide freight • Quick turn around • Authorised Minn Kota/Watersnake repairer Minn Repairs & Servicing Call Troy 0412 605 080 – W: minnrepairs.com minnrepairsservicing E: minnrepairs@gmail.com

BCF www.bcf.com.au

MARINE MECHANICS // MOBILE

Davo’s Tackleworld Noosaville (07) 5449 8099 Davo’s Tackleworld Marcoola (07) 5448 8244

WYNUMM MANLY-BAYSIDE

Lazer Lures – www.lazerlures.com.au

Wondall Rd Marine (07) 3396 5633

Tackle Warehouse Brisbane (07) 3398 6500

BOAT HIRE // HOUSE

Boat Wrap Specialist

GOLD COAST

www.xfactorsigns.com

Great family and fishing boats!

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

+ 50km of sheltered waterways on the Gold Coast’s Broadwater + No Licence required + Boats from $274 per night + 2-12 berth

CALL FOR A DEAL

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

NEW

TINNIE HIRE AVAILABLE

ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402 Bluewater Windscreens Brisbane (07) 3382 7883 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

Lake Monduran House Boat www.lakemonduranhouseboathire.com.au Rainbow Beach Houseboats (07) 5486 3146

GOLD COAST

MARINE ELECTRONICS

MARINE ELECTRONICS SALES • REPAIRS • INSTALLATIONS

ONSITE AND MOBILE INSTALLATIONS

$449 USD (includes shipping)

Boab Boat Hire - 1300 002 622

BOAT PAINTING BRISBANE

www.hydrowaveaustralia.com GOLD COAST

Brisbane Boat Painting 0433 356 620

FIBREGLASS Repairs

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

• Sounders • GPS • Electric Motors • Marine Radios and accessories • Stereos • Televisions • Radar Units • Autopilots

FRASER COAST

BOAT HIRE // TRAILER

MARINE TRAILERS

Brisbane South and Gold Coas t

• Modifications • Detailing • Repairs JOE BONNICI

0410 480 203

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 Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

www.trymax.com.au PHONE: 07 3245 3633

Unit 4/1440 New Cleveland Road Capalaba

MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748

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

FISHING GUIDES CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Lake Monduran Barra Charters 0407 434 446

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. 94

NOVEMBER 2018

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory 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 Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911 Rowland Street Boat Trimmers Springwood (07) 3208 9511

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

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION FRASER ISLAND Apurla Island Retreat 0437 739 121 Cathedrals on Fraser (07) 4127 9177 Eurong Beach Resort 1800 111 808 Fraser Island Beach Houses 1800 626 230 Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364 Yidney Rocks (07) 4127 9167

Keely Rose Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0407 146 151

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170

Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346

Odyssey Charters Deep Sea Fishing (07) 5478 1109

Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081

Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402

Cairns Fishing Charters 0427 400 027

Rainbow Beach Fishing Charters 0439 775 070

Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044

Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868

Eclipse FNQ Weipa Charters 0488 058 668

Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671

Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324

Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012

Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957

NORTHERN NSW

Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382

Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

Wooli Fishing Charter (02) 6649 7100

FG Wizz www.fgwizz.com.au

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME FISHING CHARTERS

NOW YOU CAN TIE THE PERFECT FG KNOT EVERY TIME

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833

COOKTOWN River of Gold Motel 4069 5222

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

• 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

NO MORE bulky braid/leader joins

SEE IT! .. BUY IT! ..

Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962 OPEN 7 DAYS

EASY PARKING

N O W AVA IL A B L E

CHARTER BOATS

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

GOLD COAST 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 Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0411 605 090 Gone Fishing Charters Gold Coast (07) 5529 7833 Hooker 1 Charters Gold Coast (07) 5528 6469 My Charter Boat Tweed Heads 0407 347 446 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

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME

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

SUNSHINE COAST Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814 Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956 Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958 Incredible Charters 1300 655 818

From

T-Shirts

22 85

HERVEY BAY

Fully Guided Lure & Fly Fishing •

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

• Custom Sportsfishing Vessels • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied

Phone Cases From

www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

Big Cat Charters and Tom Cat Charters 0433 430 248 Brisbane Fishing Charters 0427 026 510 Bucket List Fishing Charters 0428 368 316 Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576 John Gooding Outlaw Charters 0418 738 750 Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056

ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR

Now Agents For

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

BRISBANE

www.fgwizz.com.au

Andrew Chorley

0407 627 852

29 45

Mugs From

1 7 27

and lots more...

MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS

ALL MADE TO ORDER

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726 MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201 Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727 Bundaberg Fishing Charters 0429 017 217 Sport Fish 1770 (07) 4974 9686 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

fishingmonthly.redbubble.com

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0834 or email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au NOVEMBER 2018

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS FILMS ABOUT FISH

SHARK TALE GONE FISHIN THE MEG BIG FISH THE PERFECT STORM BAIT SHOP ONDINE DEEP BLUE SEA LIFE OF PI

DTD - REAL FISH OITA

SHARKNADO ALAMO BAY JAWS FINDING NEMO PIRANHA SOUL SURFER LITTLE MERMAID A FISH CALLED WANDA ANDRE

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 NOVEMBER 2018

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

The ‘Real Fish Oita’ is an incredible, award winning squid jig manufactured in Europe by leading Croatian company - DTD. Taking out the coveted ‘best new product’ in its class at the EFTTEX 2015 Expo in Warsaw, this wonderful range is now available in Australia through Dogtooth Distribution. The product imitates real fish species. This coupled with DTD’s use of only the highest grade materials available, ensures great balance and results in superior catching ability. With the unique ‘fish parasite’ feature, aimed at luring predators in for an ‘easy kill’, these truly unique jigs are set to explode into the Australian market. FEATURES - Double weight system with inner weight designed to produce sound while squid jig is in action. COLOURS - 7 different designs representing popular fish species. ADDITIONAL - Luminous body, fish parasite, great balance, sound effect, quality stainless steel hooks SIZES - 5 Sizes available www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Maurice Goodwin from Cardwell, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for September are D Kidd of Keppel Sands, W Morris of Moorina, and N Brammer of Mareeba, who won a AccuMat fish measuring mat valued at $99. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

P Cauchi of Kepnock, J Fourro of Bundaberg, J Weier of Burrum Heads, B Steers of Redbank Plains, R Brown of Edmonton, F Heiniger of Woombye, R Schefe of Point Vernon, A Edwards of Alderley, J Ryan of Yeppoon, G Essex of Toowoomba, R Wright of Urangan, J Rogers of Tambo, T Grice of Caboolture, A Needham of Blackbutt, K Edwards of East Innisfail, D Hutchins of Bundaberg, A Duxbury of Caboolture, R Whittaker of

Victoria Point, M Baker of Gorokan, A Hall of Lucinda, D Davidson of Guyra, K O’Brien of Burrum Heads, L Pirlo of Modanville, R Kunde of Beerwah, R Elworthy of North Bundaberg, B Mackey of Parkwood, K Martin of Dalby, J Rasmussen of Frazerview, C Hendry of Imbil, G Herring of Gymie, G Mason of Kalkie, L Randles of Capella. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for September were: 10, 19, 20, 22, 27, 28, 30, 40, 48, 52, 53, 57, 76, 113, 115. – QFM

NOVEMBER 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Yellowfin Bream

The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for September were: A Scott of Proserpine, C Beacham of Harlin, B Adams of Bongaree, S Dawson of Gympie, G Watter of Ripley, W Robinson of Raceview, M Boyle of Slacks Creek, D Paranihi of Urangan,

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 98 Hoping at Hinze Inside story...

After WWII, the pace of life changed as a war-ravaged world now craved speed and excitement. This era saw enterprising young businessman Jim Whittley who, along with his brother Ossie, indulged a love of boating. In 1953, Jim produced his first timber boat out of a small shop in the Melbourne suburb of Bulleen. In the late 1960s they made the switch to fibreglass, and have been moving forward ever since.

Made for...

Whittley balances traditional core boating values with constant improvement and delivers on that original promise of quality and innovation.

This month...

Steve Morgan takes the Whittley SL25HT with 200hp Volvo Penta inboard for a spin on Port Phillip Bay. Check it out on page 110!

Troy Brown breaks down this intimidating body of water for kayakers.

102 Abandon ship!

Justin Willmer discusses the joys of parking the kayak and venturing out on foot.

104 New from Lowrance Check out what’s new in the wonderful world of Lowrance marine electronics.

106 Planning a boat trip Wayne Kampe goes into planning a trip, and what you can do on land to get the most out it.

108 Sportsman 232 CC Editor Steve Morgan climbs into this beautiful machine, which is powered by Yamaha’s F250 Four Stroke.

NOVEMBER 2018

Sportsman 232 CC with Yamaha F250 Four Stroke

- SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

enough comforts to keep the family happy for a day-trip. The ability to turn the bow of the boat into a comfortable seating area – the fact that it is complete with seat backs and as an added bonus, there is a toilet concealed inside the console, ticks a lot of boxes. The lack of shade

SPECIFICATIONS Length......................................................6.93m Beam........................................................2.59m Transom deadrise ........................... 18 degrees Hull weight ............................................ 1250kg Weight on trailer (dry)...........................2500kg Maximum HP...........................................250hp Fuel ............................................................390L Water............................................................56L Capacity .......................................... 10 persons the 232 being eminently fishable. Rod holders in all the right places, ample fuel, provision for outrigger bases and a console that can handle flush mounting of big, multifunction screens. Thirdly, the 232 has

up front is partially offset by the fact that the T-Top is fitted with freshwater ‘misting’ nozzles. Admittedly, this is the first boat I’ve tested with these built in. It does seem rather luxurious.

Although the test rig went 84km/h with the throttles down, the most economical cruising was at 3,500 rpm with an economy of 1.5km/L. 108

NOVEMBER 2018

DE FOR EX

Sportsman boats have been a wonderful match to Brisbane’s Northside Marine. Northside have a reputation for selling quality rigs and looking after their customers like they are family, and they choose brands that allow them to maximise that boating experience. Northside’s Bill Hull is a veteran salesman with over 30 years experience. You know when he is excited by a boat that it’s worth looking at in further detail. At the time of testing, they had 16 Sportsman boats on order and anglers were loving them. WHY THE SUCCESS? Firstly, it is a good looking boat. With an upswept Carolina bow and purpose-built fittings combined with a pleasant matching of gelcoat and

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

seat colours, this is a boat that demands investigation, whether in the yard or on the water. Secondly, they are purpose built. Although a young company (6 years at the time of the test), they have obviously been designed by anglers, with the layout of

Steve Morgan

CON

AN THE

FMG

Main: Is there a saltwater angler you know that doesn’t want a boat like this? The Sportsman 232 falls squarely into the category of ‘dream boat’ for most readers. I’m one of them. Above: The smooth lines of the Sportsman and the upswept Carolina bow will turn heads at any ramp in the country and offers a fantastic fishing platform for serious anglers. Powered by Yamaha’s F250 4-stroke outboard, the boat delivers surprising economy – yielding 1.5km/L at 3,500 rpm. Drop the hammers and the boat goes 84km/h at 6,000rpm, but with the economy dropping sharply. Supplied on a twin-axled aluminium framed trailer, the rig weighs in at around 2,500, loaded with half a tank of fuel and fishing gear. This is well within the range of most dual-cab 4WDs. The elephant in the room, however, is the 2.65m beam and the fact that the rig is wider than the 2.5m maximum towing width. Northside deal with this head-on. They supply all of the paperwork, flags and signage you need to trail an ‘overwidth’ trailer. Since the overwidth regulations were

recently modified to reflect common sense, it’s much less of an issue to own an overwidth boat nowadays in Australia. Of course, keep it on your back pontoon or in dry storage and this isn’t a problem. At the helm, of course, I felt like I should have my own fishing show, be called ‘Captain Morgan’ and that I should start calling Spaniards ‘King Mackerel’. But then I remembered that I was in Australia and should set my sights to big snapper, small black marlin and some longtail tuna on the way home. This rig would do all of this with ease, and style.

At the end of the day, it’s the small things that make the Sportsman experience what it is, like the anchoring system. Concealed anchor winch and cleats and rope/ chain storage makes this the neatest I’ve seen. Watch the test video on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel, give Bill Hull a call (I think you wouldn’t need to twist his arm to take you on a test ride) or visit www.nsmarine. com.au for more information and package pricing. As tested, with all of the options, this rig came out at just under $150,000. Smaller Sportsman boats come in at around half that.

PERFORMANCE • Top Speed: 84km/h @ 6,000 rpm • Most Economical: 3,500rpm @ 1.5km/L

Now that’s a serious console packing some serious glass. Matching Simrads offer superlative navigation and sounding options.

Above the console is a technical T-Top. It includes rod holders, speakers for the sound system, outrigger base attachments, storage, lighting and even water misters for those mid-summer days.

Although firmly in the ‘fishing’ rather than ‘family’ category, there are some luxuries that’ll keep passengers happy. Comfortable cushions and removable seat backs are quality made and colour matched.

There’s room for a couple of people at the helm and the port side transom door allows for easy boarding while the rig is on the trailer.

Even if you cast a large shadow, there’s plenty of room to walk around the console. Note rod storage along the gunwales in lieu of side pockets.

Americans are great at neat anchoring solutions. Check out the concealed windlass and cleats.

Left: It’s not the prettiest toilet location we’ve ever seen, but if having one is a game-changer, then this toilet fitted inside the console will do the trick. Right: Fitted with the maximum 250HP, the 232 had an impressive top speed (84km/h) and surprising economy. Its theoretical range is well over 500km with full tanks.

Collapsible seating means you get to choose between extra space or additional seating.

The Sportsman has an abundance of rod holders. This boat was definitely designed to be a fishing vessel with a holder equipped for you and each of your mates fishing onboard. Plus, a ladder for easy access to and from the boat. NOVEMBER 2018

109