Queensland Fishing Monthly September 2013 Front

Black Magic 30lb tough uorocarbon leader was used by Nick Kelly to catch his 8kg long tail tuna. Nick was shing at Hervey Bay, QLD

Jarrad Cronin caught aught this 5kg snapperr on lb Black Magic 40lb tough trace and d a Black Magic c KL 6/0 hook..

Jarrad was s ll, fishing off Rhyll, C. Phillip Island, VIC.

K Kent Walker landed this impressive 15kg th cod while fishing co over the Great ov Sandy Strait, north S of o Fraser Island.

Kent used a Black K Magic KL 6/0 hook M and Black Magic a 80lb tough trace.

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Rik Parisi landed this 113cm barramundi at Lake Tinaroo, North Queensland.

Rik was using Black Magic 60lb tough trace.

Oscar Taylor, aged 8,, caught and released d this estimated 4kg g murray cod using a Black Magic KL 3/0 0 hook. Oscar was s shing with his dad att Echuca. Great Job!

Matthew Bates, aged d m 12, took this nice 34cm fflounder using a Black k Magic KS 1/0 hook..

M g Matthew was fishing a at Tathra, NSW.

YOUR PHOTO COULD APPEAR IN OUR ADS ...

When you catch a fish using Black Magic or Wa Wasabi products, please send us a photo. Include your name, address and phone no, fish weight, t, where you caught it and which Black Magic or Wasabi products were used. If we use your photo in our advertising you will receive a

FREE BLACK MAGIC CAP AND STICKER Send to: Black Magic Tackle Ltd, PO Box 84 082, Westgate 0657, Auckland, NZ or email (at a high resolution) to: photos@blackmagic.co.nz

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The tide of change is upon us BRISBANE

The Sheik

I have real respect for those fishos of longer teeth, or no teeth at all, that I see heading out into the bay/river/ creek/ocean at quarter past stupid o’clock of a winter’s morning.

Actually make that any morning. In my opinion, anyone of advanced years who still has the passion to chase scales, prawn or crab despite being uncomfortable in the extreme deserves to catch fish everytime they head out.

You see I’ve noticed that the Dudds are putting a bit of age on, and I can see how difficult we can sometimes find it to get up and about early in the morning, especially when Pommers has been in the camp ‘smashing cans’ – we tend to keep gentleman’s hours when Pommers is around. Of course, it doesn’t follow that we are gentlemen just because we keep their

hours. If they’re silly enough to give us their hours in the first place they shouldn’t be surprised if we keep them.

But often you’ll see old-old mate chugging out to his favourite flathead spot in his 12ft tinny with a jonno 6 on the back, faded and torn cable knit jumper peeping out from behind an ex army coat, and a Broncos beanie that would have been old when Willy Carne scored his last four pointer. Or old-old mate who sits underneath the Maroochy bridge patiently waiting for a jack to bust up his lines. Or he’s up at Tuan or Tin Can or Toogoom picking up winteries with the yabbies he’s stored in the freezer from the warmer months when the sun spent longer overhead.

You have to respect these older people. They’ve put the hard yards in, and despite things getting tougher physically as you get older, these aging warriors are still keen enough to get out and about seeking that big trophy

fish, or sometimes, just that tasty reefie.

I can’t say that I’ll be that way; perhaps that’s why I admire them so much. Fishing to me has always been more of a sickness – more an intrusive compulsion than a hobby. Like many others that spend all their time in a boat or on a beach, it’s not about going down for a short fish for recreation, it’s much more personal than that. It’s possibly a bit like the problem gamblers must try to overcome. I have up to recent times had little choice about looking to find what is under the water. The mystery of the ocean or river bottom has always called strongly.

As I mentioned recently in this magazine, that is changing in recent months. Life is wearing me down. That’s a scary thing to face up to, because if I haven’t got that to wish for, and dream about, what do I have? What is it that I want to aim towards if it’s not a 6m reef boat with enough cash for fuel? What is

there ahead if I don’t want that houseboat holiday where you can step from your bedroom into your tinny and a 5 minute zoom into a mangrove-lined creek? What if I don’t want to go fishing with Boobs, Doughers, Stuffer, Skipper and Pommers any more? What if I prefer to stay home?

It’s a tough thing, growing older. But as they say, the alternative to growing older is not all that attractive. And now I think about it, it’s not all bad news. My wife has always complained that the kids wouldn’t go fishing with me because I always stayed out too long. She’s right. So perhaps on the bright side, with a loss of interest and the desire to catch that next arm stretcher growing less and less, maybe I’ll be a better fishing grandad than a fishing father. Here’s hoping. But first I suppose I have to organise to get some grandkids on the ground. Yep. Grandkids. Imagine that. Now that’s really something to look forward to!

Fishing Lures: Noosa Onshore Shallow Reefs SUNSHINE COAST

Lane Hoffmann lane_h_96@hotmail.com

The shallower reefs off Noosa can provide some great quality fishing.

There’s nothing like being on the boat when the sea is glassed out and the fish are on the bite, topped off with the warmth from the sun just after a cool morning.

Fishing on shallower onshore reefs, with depths ranging from around 8-15m, has to be one of my favourite ways to fish – particularly when fishing with lures and with lighter tackle. I admit that fishing shallow, jagged, rocky reefs can sometimes result in solid bust-offs, but

that’s what makes it twice as fun!

There are many different lures that can work effectively over shallow reef. including a variety of soft plastics. If you have access to a boat, or your family owns one, try this style of fishing when the weather conditions are right.

It’s definitely worth it.

WHERE TO START The reefs just out of the Noosa bar (Laguna Bay), Halls and Little Halls Reef can at times fish outstandingly well. This is usually after a large amount of rainfall; as they are the closest structures to the river mouth, a lot of bait can get flushed out of the river and in to the bay. This is when the predatory fish including snapper, sweetlip, cod, and

This solid snapper was caught on a Berkley Gulp Jigging Grub just after first light. Great fun on the lighter tackle!

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SEPTEMBER 2013

QFM

the occasional mackerel or tuna will be lying in wait to feed on the vulnerable bait.

Closer to, but just out from the headland is Jew Shoal. This larger mass of reef can often hold some great fish including quite large cold season snapper.

Many locals use their sounders to locate patches of reef, marking spots when they come across a good show of bait and larger fish, or just if they spot a patch of reef looks like it would hold fish.

A fishy location is only one piece of the puzzle, however. Once you have found your spot on one of these inshore shallow reefs, it is important that you know what gear to use, and what fish you may be targeting.

GEARING UP An appropriate rod and reel setup is important. I usually use a 6’9”, 10-20lb good quality graphite rod that is sensitive with a fast taper, but with enough power to pull fish off the rocky reefs.

I match this with a 3000 size, higher range reel with a nice, smooth drag system.

It’s vital to have a reel with good drag on shallow reefs, as it can take away most of the building pressure on the line, allowing the fish to take a run when it wants to in a smooth motion.

Braided line is a much better option while fishing the onshore reefs as it is more abrasion resistant than monofilament, allows for further casting and lets you feel more hits. The braid should be anywhere between 15lb to 25lb.

One fish I didn’t expect on my last trip, my pb slatey bream. This fish was caught on a Berkley Gulp 3” Minnow, using a 1/6oz jighead.

This set-up is a lighter but ideal outfit for fishing the reefs. It makes it so much more fun having a good game of tug-o-war with a big fish!

LURE CHOICES There’s a variety of lures for many different reef lurking species. The main species being caught at the moment include snapper, sweetlip, mackerel and the occasional tuna, plus a smattering of other reefies.

Snapper have to be one of my favourite reef species to target. The strong headshakes you feel when fighting these fish are what make the snapper easy to differentiate from most other reef species.

Snapper and other bottomdwelling fish on the onshore reefs will take a variety of plastics. I have had good success with Berkley Gulp Jerkshads ranging from small as 3” right up to 7”, and Zman Streakz in the ‘baby bass’ and ‘bubble-gum’ colours.

I have caught snapper and

many other fish on these reefs using a jighead as small as 1/6oz, but an ideal weight is anything from a 1/4-3/8oz jighead. Smaller jighead sizes are best when the fish are shut down or if there is little current, making it easy for the plastic to hit the bottom.

The ideal retrieve when using larger plastics usually involves more ‘violent’ whips of the rod tip, then making sure the plastic hits the bottom again. When using smaller plastics, you’ll find that more subtle twitches and a slower retrieve will produce the goods.

Vertical jigs, including Jackall 13g Laser Jigs and Shimano Lucanus Jigs, also work well. These jigs are very effective on snapper and sweetlip, and I have caught some great fish them.

I recommend a more erratic, upwards twitch retrieve.

Then, once you think your jig has been retrieved too high in the water column, drop it

back down and try again.

Blade lures (metal vibes) are another option to use as well. Large 1oz size TT’s Switchblades are ideal when chasing reef species, although other similar-sized blades would likely work well, too.

While bottom bashing on the reefs, you may see birds diving into the water somewhere in the bay. This is a clear indication that baitfish are being attacked by predators. These bait balls attract surface-feeding mackerel and tuna, and this is why it’s handy to always have a metal slug lure ready to go. You’ll want to position the boat not too close to the feeding frenzy, but close enough to chuck a long cast well and truly into the school of bait. Let the slug sink for 1-2 seconds, then wind as fast as possible. This is a very exciting way to target mackerel or tuna as they will sometimes jump out of the water to smash the slug.

WHAT’S BITING When the conditions are right, fishing the onshore reefs just off the coast of Noosa be very exciting. Just remember to always listen to the local fishing gossip so you can be up-to-date on the latest fishing information.

If you’re keen to fish the onshore Noosa reefs, I recommend that you drop into Hooked on Angling and Outdoors located in Tewantin, as the team will give you the best and latest advice on what is happening out in the bay.

QFM

SEPTEMBER 2013

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Tailor made fishing for Fraser FRASER COAST

Phil James p_j_james@bigpond.com

It’s official, Fraser Island is the tailor capital of Australia. Don’t believe it? Then why not come and find out for yourself. This month is prime tailor time but there will still be plenty of action during October.

Let’s look at how we can make your Fraser Island tailor expedition successful and enjoyable.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND Over 100km of sandy beaches make up most of the island’s east coast.

These beaches are broken only by the volcanic rocks of Indian Head, Middle Rocks and Waddy Point, as well as a number of coffee rock outcrops.

Although a few tailor are taken along the island’s western shores, it is the eastern coast that sees all the action. It is possible to catch tailor all year round at Fraser Island but it is only during late winter and spring that mature fish congregate where there is plenty of food and where conditions are right for spawning. There

appears to be a general northward migration from the south and along Fraser’s ocean beach.

It is interesting to note that Sandy Cape is the northern extremity of open surf beaches, and holds significant aggregations of spawning tailor. Research has shown, by the existence of tailor larvae, that spawning takes place at least in the vicinity of Indian Head but is to be assumed that the entire surf zone of the island, as far north as Sandy Cape and Breaksea Spit, with good food supply as well as highly oxygenated water, would support successful spawning.

Of course tailor are well known along beaches and within estuaries further north but nowhere are they found in abundance to rival Fraser Island.

ACCOMMODATION Camping The majority of tailor fishing families camp along the coast in clearly marked camping zones. The most popular are Eugarie, Yurru and Gurruman, Wyuna and Burad between Maheno Wreck and Indian Head, and Marloo and Ocean Lake, between Orchid Beach and

Ngkala Rocks.

These open beaches have absolutely no facilities so parties need to be well set up for the essentials. However, these camping areas are usually close to excellent features that make for good fishing for the whole family.

Sites in these zones are very popular in the peak of the season and they are among the few that are suitable for taking campervans off the beach. Although caravans are often seen in camping zones, the problems in getting them there, particularly after this year’s erosion along the island, need to be considered.

Camping zones, other than those already mentioned, are well worth looking at, as there are sure to be good tailor features nearby. The only possible exception would be between Hook Point and Dilli Village where beach and gutter structure is not as conducive to tailor fishing as beaches further north.

Queensland National Parks and Wildlife service operate controlled camping areas with facilities at Dundubara and Waddy Point.

Camping permits are required for all beach side camping as well as those at Dundubara and Waddy Point.

Indian Head in particular produces some of the most frantic tailor fishing available on the island.

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These must be booked and purchased before arriving at the island. The easiest way to do this is to log into the ParksQ website, register an account then easily make bookings and purchase your permits. Permit tags are then issued through email.

Alternatively permits can be purchased at QPWS offices and agencies. Current camping fees are $5.45 per person per night or $21.80 per night for a family group of two adults and children under 18.

While on the subject of permits, all vehicles are required to display a current permit to enter the National Park. Currently this fee is $42.15 for one month or less and can be obtained online or through QPWS offices or agents.

There are privately operated campsites at Dilli Village, Kgari and Cathedral Beach. Fees for these camps can be obtained through direct contact with them.

Camping not your scene?

If camping is not your scene, there are plenty of more ‘civilised’ options.

There is a wide range of accommodations from cabins to luxury apartments available in the townships of Eurong, Happy Valley and Orchid Beach and at Cathedral Beach.

In addition there are a number of delightful waterfront properties in isolated clusters at Poyungan Rocks, Poyungan Valley, Yidney Rocks and Indian Head. Most properties are advertised through holiday rental websites.

GETTING THERE A competent high clearance 4WD is essential when heading across to Fraser Island. If you need to hire a vehicle this can be arranged by contacting one of the reputable rental companies at Brisbane, Rainbow Beach or Hervey Bay. Vehicular barges leave the mainland for Fraser from Inskip Point and River Heads. via Inskip Point The barge Manta Ray makes the short 10 minute crossing from Inskip Point to Hook Point at the southern end of the island. The barge runs continuously from 6am to 5.30pm and there is no need to book a passage.

Currently the return barge fare is $110 for a 4WD with an extra $60 for a trailer.

This includes all passengers and there is no charge for independent passengers.

To reach Inskip Point from the south, turn onto the Tin Can Bay road on the outskirts of Gympie, then follow the signs to Rainbow Beach and Inskip Point. At Rainbow Beach there are lots of facilities for anglers

The minimum legal length for tailor is 35cm and a bag limit of 20. The bag limit is strictly in possession, whether it be whole fish, fillets or cooked. heading for Fraser Island.

These include the QPWS office, fuel and provisions.

At the barge departure point it might be necessary to cross some soft and churned up sand, so be prepared with appropriate tyre pressures and drive selection.

On arrival on the island, beach travel right up the ocean beach might be possible if the tide is an hour or two either side of low water. If this is not advised, the road behind the dunes might need to be used as far north as beach access points south of Dilli Village. From here, beach travel becomes easier provided the tides are taken into consideration.

If using this barge, the ideal plan would be to arrive at Inskip Point about half tide down, thus providing the lower part of the tide for travel well up the ocean beach of the island. Another smart idea, if in any doubt, is to have a chat to the barge operator about beach and road conditions.

Travelling north along the ocean beach, Eurong appears as the first sign of habitation.

It takes about 50 minutes to reach Eurong, very much dependent upon tide, beach and track conditions. This could be your first sign of one of Fraser’s specialties – a dingo fence complete with cattle grid and electrified wires.

A lot of Eurong is owned

by Kingfisher Bay Resort and there are high rise units, cabins, hotel, restaurant, bakery, general store and fuel outlet. Be prepared for higher prices on the island.

Diesel is selling for $2.10 per litre at Eurong at present. via River Heads Kingfisher Resort

operates two services from River Heads to the island.

The preferred service for anglers heading to the ocean beach goes to Woongoolbver Creek on the island’s western shore. From here the road leads to Eurong. The beauty of this access is that for the most part it is a pair of one-way tracks, removing the possibility of dealing with oncoming traffic.

The regular barge, Fraser Venture, leaves River Heads for the island at 8.30am, 10.15am and 4.00pm, returning from Woongoolbver Creek at 9am, 3pm and 5pm daily.

Occasionally departure times might vary due to adverse tidal conditions but such changes are advised upon booking. Crossing time is about 40 minutes and allow about another 50 minutes to reach Eurong.

The service to Kingfisher Bay resort doubles as a passenger ferry. It has a number of departures daily.

Crossing time is about 45 minutes. The road crossing from the resort to the ocean beach at Cornwell’s Break is a single track so there is always the possibility of meeting oncoming buses and other vehicles.

The return barge fare is currently $160 for either service. Prior reservation is essential and payment via credit or debit card must be made at this time. The booking phone number is 1800 227 437.

EURONG TO THE MAHENO In common with beaches right along our southern coast, the eastern beach has copped a real hiding this year. The result has not only been severe erosion of the

From page 41

private homes and rental accommodation, it has a well stocked shop with fuel supplies.

Shortly before reaching Orchid Beach there is a turnoff that leads to the Waddy Point campsites.

Another turnoff just a little further along, leads down a cutting onto the beach. From here it is a short drive east along one of many tracks to Waddy Point.

NGKALA ROCKS AND BEYOND About 13km north of Waddy Point, the major coffee rock structures of Ngkala Rocks provides a serious barrier to travel further north. There have been bypass tracks that have suffered at the hand of the weather as much as the beaches.

The beaches north of here are designated semiremote having no facilities and without reliable phone coverage.

Well prepared parties that venture north need to negotiate further coffee rocks at Browns Rocks on the 20km run to Sandy Cape.

Once around the Cape, a further 7km takes you to the entrance to the track leading to the Sandy Cape lighthouse.

From here to Rooney Point and then south to Wathumba Creek, the beach is closed to

all vehicles.

For the first time Fraser Island tailor adventurer, I would be reluctant to recommend a trip beyond Ngkala Rocks, even though these beaches can turn on some of the best tailor fishing.

LET’S FIND THOSE TAILOR As already mentioned, there appears to be a general migration north to Fraser Island and then along the ocean beach. Before the season gets into full swing, schools of tailor are often seen well offshore feeding ravenously on pilchards and other baitfish. As prevailing winds tend to be more offshore and seas become calmer, baitfish tends to move inshore, with tailor not far behind.

There are conditions under which tailor can be caught at any time, day or night, but it is more likely that they will hold wide of the breakers for most of the time, only to make savage forays into the inner gutters when conditions suit them.

This is why it is usual to experience frantic bursts of fishing in the first hours of daylight and again at dusk.

Of course some excellent fishing is to be had during the night as well. In fact, this is when most of the very large tailor are taken, but

more on that a little later.

ON THE OPEN BEACH It is true that one of the easiest ways to find tailor on Fraser Island is to drive along the beach until you see gatherings of 4WDs and long rods pointing skywards.

Even though joining such a gathering might not be your cup of tea (it certainly isn’t mine), there is much to be learnt by getting involved or at least watching what goes on.

It is most likely that such a gathering will not be too far away from a popular camping area. More importantly it will be at a long and fairly calm gutter with waves breaking on the outer bank. Although fish would probably enter the gutter chasing baitfish, the presence of lots of pilchards being broken up during the feeding frenzy, keeps the fish in the gutter and in feeding mode.

Other species, dart in particular, love to join in with the spoils, and at these times, serious tailor anglers find some not-so-nice words for them. The bonus here is fun that all family members using lighter tackle can have with the hard fighting dart.

Long gutters full of feeding tailor are great as long as participants show respect for fellow fishers.

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it is a good plan to stand back and watch how the gutter is being worked. As importantly, the new chum needs to be as competent with his equipment as those already fishing.

AROUND THE ROCKS Headlands and coffee rock outcrops produce the kind of features that concentrate tailor and other species. Indian Head in particular produces some of the most frantic tailor fishing available on the island.

Although they can be caught from any point it is the northerly face that produces most of the action. Here, the southeasterly swells curving

around the headland, break and form plenty of that magic white water. Indian Head fishes particularly well when southeasterly winds make beach fishing difficult.

In suitable conditions it can be shoulder-to-shoulder fishing around the northern side of the headland. It is certainly not the place to be if you are not totally confident about negotiating the rocky pathway out to the best vantage points.

The northern side of Waddy Point also fishes well in the white water produced by breaking swells.

Having wetted the appetite for some exciting

tailor fishing around the headlands, now I need to tell you that they are closed to all fishing during this month.

From noon on August 1 to noon on September 30 each year, from 400m on the beach south of Indian Head to 400m north of Waddy Point, as well as 400m seaward of these points, fishing for all species is prohibited. It also needs to be noted that the headlands of Middle Rocks are zoned green so are closed to fishing all year round.

WHAT ABOUT EQUIPMENT After checking out the equipment being used

FRASER ISLAND

Sandy Cape

Rooney Point

Brown’s Rocks

Scale Ngkala Rocks

10Km Ocean Lake Marloo Orchid Beach Waddy Point

Wathumba Creek

Middle Rocks Indian Head

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Moon Point

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Hook Point Inskip Point

Barge Route

along Fraser’s east coast, we recognise three broad categories, each very much related to their terminal gear, baits and artificials.

Rod and reel By far the most popular is the typically ‘Queenslander’ approach where 3.5-4m surf rods and 650 Alveys are putting ganged pilchards out into the white water. Suitable rods are readily available in major tackle shops and it is convenient to say that these are generally ‘tailor’ made for the purpose. These are powerful rods with less tip action than we would expect.

As well as being able to handle long casts with relatively light baits, it plays important roles in hooking and retrieving tailor. The bite of a tailor is better described as a ravenous attack that is likely to end up damaging or severing the trace. On feeling the first indication of a bite, the line should be retrieved at a moderate pace to encourage the fish to chase and attack the bait, and become hooked.

In addition to this, once a tailor is hooked, continuous pressure should be applied.

A slow tapered rod cannot do this as effectively and gives the fish a better chance of throwing the hooks. At times a tailor will leap into the air shaking its head vigorously in an attempt to free itself.

There are very good reasons why the Alvey reel has become synonymous with tailor fishing on Fraser Island. Its ease of casting, direct wind, and its ability to handle the harsh conditions of surf and sand, justify this reputation. However, we must take nothing away from the other excellent surf fishing reels that are on the market.

The rod and reel must make an ideal match. The side cast reel, particularly larger diametre models such as the 650 Alvey need a large stripping guide well up the rod so as not to inhibit the coils of line coming off the reel while casting. A short butt is also best suited to the casting action of this reel.

Although most rods suitable for tailor fishing come with these requirements, longer butt models are available.

Line and terminal gear Now comes the question about line. Which way to go: mono or braid?

Tailor fishing requires a line that enables that constant and direct pressure when playing a fish, at the same time being flexible enough to deal with the sudden forces being applied by the tailor in its attempt to escape. Naturally, braid with its near zero stretch doesn’t fit here.

I would never recommend using braid with the Alvey, as this reel requires the angler to guide the line onto the reel with the fingers. With spinning and overhead reels, this problem is overcome but there is still the low stretch problem.

Most anglers using braid on spinning reels, compensate by using leaders, as long as practicable, of high stretch mono.

When choosing a mono, check out the credentials of the manufacturer then go for one that suits your requirements. If you pick one with very low stretch then if you are not used to it, you will suffer being broken off by hard fighting fish.

Going to the other extreme might mean the loss of direct contact with the fish.

I have used both Trilene Sensation and Platypus Lo Stretch mainlines, both with medium stretch mono leaders. Ideal mono line diametres range from about 0.30mm to 0.40mm, that is breaking strains from about 5-8kg.

There are certainly many ideas about how the terminal gear should be assembled.

However to keep life simple at this point, I will deal with the way I set up for tailor.

Being an Alvey user, the first hardware my main line comes to is a good quality swivel, to help eliminate twisting as coils of line come off the reel during casting. From here the leader is 0.50mm diametre or greater through to the hook assembly.

There are at least two good reasons for the heavy leader: Firstly, it gives the tailor something a bit more substantial to chew if it wants to eat nylon as well

THE TOTAL PACKAGE

Regular readers know that I like to mention the ‘total package’ when it comes to total enjoyment and satisfaction in a form of fishing. The ability, through experience, research and experimentation, to locate tailor along an open beach is part of that package.

The key to finding tailor, particularly in daylight hours, is locating white water. On the ocean beach this could be anywhere that the white water, or suds, formed by a breaking wave, washes into deeper water.

Recall of past experiences and an understanding of the habits of the fish also come into play. It might be that baitfish congregate here, or it could be that the tailor prefer the cover provided. Of course once the fish come on the bite the feeding frenzy might take them out of their comfort zone and into more open water.

So on the ocean beach, look for gutters, spits and any other features that produce this all important white water.

as metal; Secondly, when the angler brings a fish in through the surf, it gives him the opportunity to grab the heavy trace and pull the fish up the beach. For this reason the leader needs to be up to 1m in length but not too long so as to inhibit casting.

Before someone says, “Where’s the sinker? It has not been forgotten, after all, the best rig doesn’t have a sinker at all - if you can get away with it. In ideal conditions bait spinning without lead is the ultimate in this sort of fishing. Back to the other 95% of reality, the sinker is needed to get the bait out there and perhaps have it stay there long enough for a tailor to find it.

Usually the sinker is included on the trace and positioned by a swivel or solid ring. Placing the sinker directly on the hook assembly or very close to it might help the bait to bury, while having it too far from the hook hampers the direct contact with interested fish.

As well as that I have found that the further the sinker is from the bait, the less control you have during casting with bait and sinker wanting to do their own thing in the air.

My preference is for a compromise, one which, in the prevailing conditions does not cause the bait to bury, but at the same time doesn’t interfere with the cast. I usually start with the sinker set 10cm from the gang of hooks. The sinker should always be the lightest the conditions will allow. In heavy conditions it might be necessary to go as far as a number 7 ball. I always use ball sinkers but concede that other patterns have their place where baits might move too quickly in a heavy sweep.

Most commonly the hook assembly is a gang of 4/0 or 5/0 linked together. Readymade gangs are always available in tackle outlets.

Also hooks with shanks already bent at the eye and with eyes partly open are available to make linking easier. The Mustad version is 4202D. My preference is to purchase model 4200D where the shank is not bent and the eye is closed. I then open the eye and bend the shank the way I like it before assembling the gang. The number of hooks in a gang is usually 4 or 5.

BAITS West Australian pilchards make up the majority of baits used along Fraser Island’s ocean beach. Before they became readily available, the premium baits were sea gar and locally netted blue pilchards. Many top tailor anglers continue to use sea gar and claim that they are still the best. Unfortunately they are not as readily available as pilchards.

When preparing to place a bait on the gang it is best to

lay the fish along the hooks so that the top hook, where the trace is attached, is level with the eye of the bait. Then note where the bottom hook should penetrate. Starting from here the hooks should be progressively inserted through the baitfish finishing with the hook through the eye. When properly mounted, the bait should hang straight and limp, not like a bent banana. It doesn’t take long to become an expert.

If the bait is shorter than the gang of hooks, this is not a problem at all. The last hook should just be left free at the bottom of the gang. In fact, it is this free running hook that often scores the tailor.

This method of fishing for tailor has been around for more than 50 years having

producing a light display that fish find irresistible.

There are many homemade versions out there, some simply made by running a heavy wire through a barrel sinker then flattening it out, with hooks and swivels attached to the wire. Today we are fortunate in being able to choose from a range of affordable, and very effective metals. The Raider range by Spanyid is right up there.

Combined with the right rod and reel outfit, there metals can be cast well beyond the range of bait fishing.

Very often it is the bigger fish holding wide out, that fall for the speeding metal. I use both 65g and 85g Raiders in the blue, black, green and silver patterns that pretty much ‘match the hatch’ of the

a little catch and release.

Invariably some tailor will be damaged during fishing process, and will be bleeding profusely. These are the ones that should be kept for the pan, with others being released in good condition.

I am fully aware that there are island visitors who do not take these regulations seriously. They are also the ones who give recreational fishers a bad name. Fisheries officers are able to check catches on the island, even at the barge landings or on the road.

Queensland National Parks and Wildlife service have in place a number of regulations impinging on anglers on Fraser Island.

Many of these relate to the management of dingoes

The almost indestructible metal lures are the most suitable for tailor.

They have an attractive movement through the water, producing a light display that fish find irresistible. been developed by Tweed Heads club anglers including the legendary Len Thompson.

ANOTHER APPROACH Although some very large tailor are taken on the beach during the day, it has been established that most of the very best tailor come inshore at night to hunt their prey. So to score a real trophy fish, you need to join them, on the beach that is.

Again West Australian pilchards will prove successful but anglers who specialise prefer to use bonito or horse mackerel fillets mounted on a pair of 6/0 hooks linked by steel trace.

WHAT ABOUT ARTIFICIALS We have had a lot to say about bait fishing for tailor, probably because that’s the way most of it happens. I have experimented with a variety of hardbody lures as well as soft plastics. Certainly if you can get an artificial out there they will not hesitate to attack it with gusto and with damaging effect. I thought I had them beat when I sent an almost indestructible Snap Back out on a heavy jighead.

Well, I think I will keep my Snap Backs for flathead and snapper!

The only artificials that I continue to persevere with are the almost indestructible metal lures. Sometimes incorrectly referred to as spinners – they don’t spin at all, they have an attractive movement through the water,

baitfish the tailor are feeding on. I use my Okuma EFS60 with one of my light surf rods effectively but I am told that I should be upgrading to one of the super graphite items that are designed for the job. I use 10kg braid with a length of very stretchy leader. The 6.3:1 Okuma could be a bit of an overkill as tailor don’t insist on the rate of retrieve that we need working tuna in Hervey Bay. Some of the best tailor fishing using metals is to be had casting over the outer coffee rocks at Poyungan, Yidney and Ngkala. Of course this outfit is also suited to spinning off Indian Head and Waddy Point.

FISHING DONE. WHAT NOW? Fraser Island certainly offers the visitor a great range of angling experiences. And all who love and respect their sport are keen to follow the rules and guidelines laid down by the Queensland Government with respect to fisheries and national parks.

The minimum legal length for tailor is 35cm and a bag limit of 20. The bag limit is strictly in possession, whether it be whole fish, fillets or cooked. With an abundance of tailor often available on the island, it is not difficult to score a bag limit on a single tide.

A solution could be to do some serious fish frying between sessions, but a better approach would be practising

and include the prohibition of feeding dingos either intentionally or otherwise.

One of the major concerns is the disposal of offal. There are sections of beach where this is not allowed but these are indicated by signage.

Regulations say that offal should be buried between high and low water marks so that it is all at least 50cm below the surface.

However the conclusion that I come to here is that policy makers must not have a very good understanding of the sense of smell of canines.

The dingoes must start salivating while watching from the scrub as yet another hole is being dug to bury offal. I have watched, and photographed, dingoes digging up correctly buried tailor frames, then feasting on it, sand and all, which can’t be too good for the health of the dingo. There are better and more environmentally friendly ways of disposing offal but these are illegal, so we must continue to dig those holes in the beach, preferably much deeper than 50cm.

There are a number of other rules that relate to visitors generally and these are laid out clearly in the literature that comes with vehicle and camping permits.

My intention here has been to give you what you need to make your Fraser Island tailor adventure a rewarding experience. I hope I have succeeded.

QFM

SEPTEMBER 2013

43

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Flathead are on the rise and barra still around ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

The prolonged cool weather this winter has done wonders in the estuaries. All the typical winter species such as bream and flathead are very

up the surface water and get a take from the barra and tarpon sitting just below.

The common bream species are all in among the mangroves and flats of all the creeks and inlets, particularly the Boyne and Wild cattle.

The mangrove jack and grunter have started to mix

This solid whiting was taken on a prawn profiled plastic. active while barramundi are still a good estuary species to successfully target.

The prawns are on the rise and are being successfully captured with ¾” mesh and 8’ drawstring cast nets.

The freshwater lagoons and creeks around the region are also beginning to fire up, shallow fish plastics and surface lures are the way to go to get the fish at this time.

The idea of using surface lures at this time of year is to stir

in with the bream schools as well. Through this past month places like the Tannum Sands and South Trees have been fishing well with fish responding mainly to shallow divers and soft plastics.

Within the next few months or so, jacks will start to be found in even tighter structure with the barra again while the bream and grunter will still be schooling up together.

The main trick for productive estuary fishing is to take your time; slow rolls of the lure and patience will pay off handsomely. Working a sand flat with a dozen or so casts starting from one end to the other will effectively pick up some fish.

Lightly weighted plastics with a slow light and drop method will certainly pay off, if you’re not getting fish, don’t work the plastics faster, work them slower.

Some great lures for bream and other species near the mangroves are the 60-80mm curly tail plastics in natural colours are working wonders in the estuaries and prawn profiled plastics will start working even better when the prawns begin to show up in good numbers in all the estuaries. Getting your cast right on the mangrove line is

port and narrows, not much crabbing action is happening in the Rockhampton city area.

If you have any fishing photos of the Rockhampton/

Gladstone region, feel free to send them through with a brief description of where you caught the fish and how you caught them.

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Walking the estuaries sees many different species landed.

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From page 46

heavy enough to get your plastic down to the bottom. It sounds simple but I see a lot of anglers just casting light plastics in running water then retrieving them without the plastic getting near the bottom.

Second tip, and this is for those who fish sand flats and moving water, flathead will sit facing into the current waiting for their lunch to be delivered by the tide.

Flathead will pick an ambush point where the tide delivers fish that are travelling with the tide.

If you put those two tips together, you’ll need to be trolling with the tide and if you’re casting, cast upstream and let your plastic hit the bottom and then retrieve it back by hopping it along the bottom. These are two basic tips that can be expanded and delved into but they are the basics that will help you catch more flathead.

important and if you can skip the lure under the mangroves that’s even better.

Whiting have been found just along the drop-off line around the estuaries coming off the flats, fresh yabbies and worms will see you bag out on these in no time. On the lure side of things, walking the flats and fishing with prawn and worm profiled plastics lightly weighted and slowly twitched along the bottom will see great results, if you feel the whiting trying to suck the lure in, leave it sit and strike the next time it goes to try and eat it.

Now is the time to fish the hot water outlet, the warming waters will see barra leave in the next few months, deep divers and soft plastics cast around in the main channel will see one or two larger specimens landed. If you’re not into the lure side of things, a perch cast out will do just about the same job. Barra in the Rockhampton city area have been frequently captured on vibes around the rocks and bridge pylons, whereas the threadfin being taken have been at the mouths of creeks scattered along the river.

Crabs are getting better with many large full bucks being caught around the

Cousin Gary showing us how it’s done with a great flatty.

I went a bit old school recently when my old man decided to buy his first boat, it is a circa 1976 v-bottom tinnie that has bench seats and a 2-stroke 25hp Yamaha on the back. He asked if I could take him for a run in it so he could get comfortable with it? Of course I did and I had a ball.

We launched at the ramp at Walkers Point on the Burrum River fishing with cousin Gary, targeting flathead. The weather was perfect and the boat handled like a 1976 tinnie and despite the lower back ache associated with spending a few hours sitting on a bench seat, the maiden voyage was a success. The boat is a far cry from my pimped out Polycraft that has all the bells and whistles, but we were on the water and living the dream. It sunk home the value of getting on the water and sharing great times with family and friends despite your boat budget. So get out there get fishing and enjoy the spring weather.

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QFM

SEPTEMBER 2013

47

BASS LAKES

LAST MONTH’S SOLUTION

BAROON POCKET

LENTHALL

BORUMBA

MACDONALD

BROGO

MAROON

BULLEN MERRI

MOOGERAH

CLARRIE HALL

NARRACAN

CRESSBROOK

SAMSONVALE

FLATROCK

SOMERSET

GLENBAWN

TOONUMBAR

GLEN MAGGIE

WIVENHOE

GREGORY

FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION WINNER Congratulations to Scott Grainger of Barcaldine, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive Hawk Tournament Tested Bayer Perlon IGFA line, assorted Panther Martin lures, Youvella hooks and a keyring. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM

FINS SCALES & TALES

HAWK FISHING

FIND-A-WORD COMP

by A. Both

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win a Hawk Fishing cap, Hawk Fishing line, Hawk HB Lure, assorted Panther Martin lures and 3 packets of Youvella chemically sharpened hooks.

SEND ENTRIES TO: Hawk Tournament Competition PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129 Name Address

BARRA COUNTRY

by Brett Currie P/Code Phone (day):

Find the Isome Boy prize winners

BITE ME

by Trisha Mason

G&N

by Michael Hardy

The Find the Marukyu Isome Boy prize winners for July were K Frankel of Pottsville, T Hodges of Ballina, M Gosp of Cleveland, J Heron of Burleigh Heads, C Couper of Chinchilla, R Schulkins of Deception Bay, G Schloss of Bundabert South, R Waters of Temora, L Finney of Manumbar, B Stean of Helidon Spa, L Pirlo of Modanville, B Pratt of Hendra, P Walker of Tinana, G Anderson of Emu Park, G Leverton of Taylors Beach, T Grice of Bracken Ridge, B Grant of Millaa Millaa, L Bull of Collinsville, A Ruddle of Springfield Lakes, P Thompson of Murwillumbah, J Rodsted of Walloon, B Mackey of Parkwood, C Rowe of Loganholme, E Prenzler of Brassall, P Fielder of Everton Hills, N Kempthorne of Ripley, T Edwards of Nikenbah , L Blizzard of

Willowbank, H Sippel of Plainland, W Sayeg of Newtown, H Seelig of Cushnie, A Pickham of Glen Innes, P Carrington of Deception Bay, K Edwards of Innisfail, J Simpson of Tamworth, T Jones of Ngunnawal, K Morrison of Moama, W Hockings of Warwick, G Ancona of River Heads, C Renz of Crestmead, S Vogler of North Ipswich, L simpson of Wandal, R Bourchier of Trangie, L Dewar of Roma, A King of Little Mountain, E Lezuchowski of Darra, T Taylor of Millmerran, K Aldridge of Rockville, B Hollingsworth of Rockville, W & M Robinson of Raceview, who each won a packet of Marukyu Isome Grab and Go Sandworm pack valued at $10.99!

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE The subscriber prize winner for July was J White of Toowoomba, who won a She Left Hawk Eye HD video sunglasses valued at $300.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM QFM

SEPTEMBER 2013

49

30DMHS

56

• SEPTEMBER 2013

DROP INTO YOUR LOCAL

Fun games in the tropics LUCINDA

DEALER TODAY BRISBANE (SOUTH)

GOLD COAST (NORTH)

STONES CORNER MARINE

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117 Old Cleveland Road Stones Corner, QLD, 4120 Phone: (07) 3397 9766 Fax: (07) 3397 2456 jamescullen@stonescornermarine.com.au

BRISBANE (NORTH) NORTHSIDE MARINE 2294 Sandgate Road Boondall, QLD, 4034 Phone: (07) 3265 8000 Fax: (07) 3265 8025 gregn@northsidemarine.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST RAY SCHOLES MARINE

46 Brisbane Road Labrador, QLD, 4215 Phone: (07) 55291777 Fax: (07) 55291888 paul.banning@hinterland.com.au

BRISBANE (BAYSIDE) WYNNUM MARINE 31 Fox Street Wynnum, QLD, 4178 Phone: (07) 33969777 Fax: (07) 38932046 info@wynnummarine.com.au

BRISBANE (NORTH) BRISBANE YAMAHA

146 Eumundi Road Noosaville, QLD, 4566 Phone: (07) 54497633 Fax: (07) 54499830 rayscholes_marine@bigpond.com

174 Eastern Service Road, Burpengary, QLD, 4505 Phone: (07) 3888 1727 Fax: (07) 3888 8513 info@brisbaneyamaha.com.au

GYMPIE

HERVEY BAY

WATSONS MARINE

BUCCANEERS

Cnr Cross & Wickham Street Gympie, QLD, 4570 Phone: (07) 5482 2135 Fax: (07) 5482 7920 admin@watsonsmarine.com.au

Unit 1-19 Islander Road, Pialba, Hervey Bay, QLD, 4655 Phone: (07) 4124 6988 Fax: (07) 4194 2364 admin@buccaneers.com.au

BUNDABERG

WHITSUNDAYS

BUNDABERG MARINELAND

WHITSUNDAY YAMAHA MARINE

95 Targo Street Bundaberg, QLD, 4670 Phone: (07) 4130 0500 Fax: (07) 4152 4754 info@bundabergmarineland.com.au

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

The warm winter gear is packed away and the days are getting longer.

This also means water temperatures are on the rise, which means good things in regards to fishing the channel.

The last few months have been horrible in terms of the weather with consistent strong southeasterly winds making life really difficult.

As a self-confessed fishing madman, even I must admit that there were some days that I found it hard to motivate myself to hit the water (now that is rare!).

Still, there were some good fish caught for those who put in the time. Let’s see what options there are for September.

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL For the last few months it has been common to be sitting somewhere in the channel with some live baits happily swimming around for ages. Any mullet schools seem to swim around with big smiles as nothing is chasing or trying to eat them, this is all about to change.

With the water starting to

The business end of a solid trout, Cap did well on light gear to stop this one! limits here in QLD, but I have a self-imposed bag limit of 2 golden snapper and personally believe the limit of 5 fish is a horrible joke.

Live herring or squid is the best bait by far and a couple of herring pinned back to back on a hook should tempt them every time.

Golden snapper love deeper waters with some form of structure on the bottom such as rock bars. The Bluff area is a well known hotspot and plenty of good fish are taken here every year. Golden snapper can also be found in the creeks and rivers and

Lot 4/11 Shute Harbour Road Cannonvale, QLD, 4802 Phone: (07) 4948 3298 Fax: (07) 4948 3298 sales@whitsundaymarine.com.au

BOWEN

AYR

REIBEL MARINE

CORAL COAST MARINE

34 Don Street Bowen, QLD, 4805 Phone: (07) 47862944 Fax: (07) 47866606 remarine@bigpond.net.au

229 Queen Street Ayr, QLD, 4807 Phone: (07) 4783 1530 Fax: (07) 4783 5838 ccmarine@bigpond.net.au

TULLY

KARUMBA

HUNTS OUTBOARD SERVICES

JONES MARINE

13 Watkins Street Tully, QLD, 4854 Phone: (07) 40682222 Fax: (07) 40680396 hos3@westnet.com.au

Yappar Street Karumba, QLD, 4891 Phone: (07) 47459159 Fax: (07) 47459366 jonglo@bigpond.com

Golden snapper like this are worth your time and effort.

It’s a good idea to release them afterwards. warm up the predatory fish such as the barra, jacks and salmon will stat feeding and baits will start feeling nervous.

For the lure and plastic fishos, this is great news, gone are the days of throwing your offering past the nose of clearly visible fish for no results. Although the barra won’t be biting their heads off yet, if you can pick a warm day with some good run in the tides, then you should see better results than the previous few months.

Golden snapper have been consistent this year, which is a great sign of our fishery being healthy. For such a slow growing species it is vital that as much care as possible be taken with releasing unwanted fish. Not going into the ridiculous joke of our bag and size

will hang in the snags in the deeper sections of the creek.

Trolling deep diving lures around this type of area is a productive way of pulling a fish. Make sure your lure is swimming near the bottom structure to give you a much higher chance of hooking up.

For fun and games, head to the edges of the sand bars, on the last few hours of the run out tide you can find queenfish and GT smashing the daylights out of baitfish. Look for any bait being harassed or any birds hanging around to give their location away. The best offering is a small metal slice, as it will closely match the baitfish being eaten – match the hatch!

REEF AND ISLANDS There’s not much to report out wider, as the weather has been very

unkind for months. There have been small windows of opportunity but you needed to go at the drop of a hat.

Some good trout have been taken in the shallows and provide such great fun, as you really need to be on the ball to pull them out of their nasty hidey-holes. A simple running ball sinker is all that’s needed but I would use a 60-80lb trace to help battle them in the extremely nasty ground they will brick you in. Use a 6/0-8/0 hook and a whole pilchard or fish flesh (hussar or fusilier is best) and don’t be scared to use a big bait.

Still no great reports on the small marlin this season, there have been a few captures and a few hook ups and hopefully they are just beginning to show up in good numbers. This month, Lucinda is hosting a billfish tournament so hopefully next month I can report plenty of fish being captured.

The Spanish mackerel have been consistent for the last few months with plenty of good school fish being caught in all the usual areas.

Slow trolling gar on wog heads is the best way to put a few in the icebox, then swapping to plastics or jigs for some drag screaming fun.

Look for bait balled up on the sounder and you’re in with a good chance of a mack attack.

Also recently the Lucinda Store has undertaken a makeover and now not only boasts delicious food and hot coffee but also their range of fishing and boating gear is awesome. Owners Brian and Louise have really done well and can cater to any fishing situation you will be faced with – and their prices are very reasonable. For visitors and locals alike, you will do yourself a favour to drop in and stock up. Brian is always hearing where the fish are being caught and is always happy to offer some advice, just don’t ask for his secret batter recipe (delicious!).

Stay keen...mad keen.

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It’s the cross over month CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

September is cross over month and one of the best times for fishing in the Cairns area. You generally get magic weather coupled with dynamite fishing.

The winter species are on the way out and the summer species are starting to become active, offering a wide range of target species and opportunities to wet a line. Last September saw extended periods of idyllic weather, with great fishing to match, so let’s hope for a repeat this year.

The warm, calm, conditions will bring on reef fever. Anyone who owns a boat big enough, and in some cases not big enough, will head to the reef to chase trout, sweetlip, red emperor and large mouth nannygai, with the odd reef mangrove jack and cobia adding flavour to the esky.

Coral trout should become more aggressive late in the month in the lead up to the new moon in early October. The new moon on 5 September will probably be too early for spawning, unless there is a sudden rise in water temperature.

Nonetheless, trout will be the target of choice for most anglers heading east from Cairns, with fish in the 3-5kg range on offer. If the weather allows, focus your efforts on the lead up to the new and full moons to take advantage of the increase in tidal run.

Big mouth nannygai and red emperor will be on the chew in the deep water,

with last year producing some excellent quality reds. September is a great month for over-nighting at the reef, as it’s a bit warmer and the likelihood of storms is low. Look for rubble patches and isolated bommies in 40-60m of

silver bullets. Spaniards will be the main prize but there should be plenty of schoolies, spotties and even the odd grey mackerel around the islands and inshore reefs to the north and south of Cairns. There was some quality Spaniards

When lure fishing, especially in remote areas, make sure you have a quality pair of wire cutters on hand for occasions like this. water, especially if they are holding bait schools.

Sharks were an issue last year, especially in the deep water, so be prepared to move if they show up.

There should still be plenty of mackerel around early in the month, with the big tides around the new moon ideal to chase these

taken by the small boat brigade last year, late in the season, so let’s hope for a repeat set this year.

The light tackle sports fishos will be hoping for a rerun of last year’s small black marlin season, which was rated as the best in a very long time. Early signs are good, so fingers-

Reef Catchments Solutions

crossed. There will also be wahoo, Spanish mackerel and yellowfin tuna out on the Continental Shelf for the blue water anglers.

Late September will hopefully herald the arrival of the big blacks and signal the start of the heavy tackle season. The seasonal heavy tackle game boats will be heading north and will start appearing in the area.

Hopefully the drop in the Australian dollar will see an increase in overseas visitors arriving to fish for the majestic grander.

The increasing air temperatures will result in an increase in water temperature, which in turn will trigger our more tropical species into action.

Barramundi will be the main prize on anglers’ minds, although mangrove jack and golden snapper will also be on the chew.

The lead up to the full moon, on the 19 of this month and the few days after, will be prime barra time, as the temperatures should be well on the way up by then.

Luring is a very popular mode of attack at this time of year, as it allows extra mobility in the attempts to locate feeding fish. Soft plastics seem to be all the go of late but don’t discount prawn imitations and hardbodied lures, as there are still plenty of fish nailed using these types of lures. If you are fortunate enough to land a barra on a lure, especially one sporting trebles, be very careful about how you handle the fish and remove the hooks.

Always use long nose pliers or a multi-tool to

Jo Butland with the offending barra seconds before it ended up hanging by a treble from her finger. remove the hooks and don’t hold a fish up by the lure, as local sporting icon, Jo Butland found out the hard way on a recent camping trip to Lakefield National Park. Jo had picked the barra up by the lure, for a picture, when the fish flicked, leaving a treble lodged in her finger with the barra still hanging off the other treble. Fortunately her father had brought a quality pair of wire cutters with him and was able to cut the treble off the lure and then the barb off the treble and remove it without the need for a trip to hospital. The message here is that while beaky nose pliers and multi-tools are great for removing

lures, make sure you have a serious pair of wire/bolt cutters on hand just in case.

Golden snapper have been biting steadily through winter and should ramp up their activity with the warming water, along with mangrove jack. Any warm, still, period this month will really bring on the action, so if you don’t have the means to head to the reef, there will still be plenty on offer inshore.

Trevally and queenfish will be patrolling the channels, in all the systems, while barra, jacks and golden snapper will be working the snags, mangrove edges and rocky outcrops. I can’t wait for the action to start!

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60

• SEPTEMBER 2013

See part two (P.70 - 112) of September QFM here