AUSTRALIA’S ONLY NATIONAL MONTHLY FISHING MAGAZINE
SPRING IS HERE!
LAKE EILDON
AFTA ROUND UP
FREE
Cod, yellas & trout in spring.
We pick the best new releases.
Big early season reds.
Will we see another epic run?
#172 - SEPTEMBER 2026
Rivers reopen for spring.
New season releases.
WESTERN PORT
TROUT OPENING
YELLOWFIN
TACKLE NEWS
HOOKED UP MAGAZINE - SEPTEMBER 2026 - ISSUE #172 HOOKED UP MAGAZINE - SEPTEMBER 2026 - ISSUE #172
AUSTRALIA ’S ONLY NATIO
NAL MON
THLY FISHI
NG MAGA
ZINE
ON THE COVER: Colby Lesko with a fat Lake Eildon golden perch taken on the new Samaki Redic V Prawn.
FREE #172 - SEPTEM
BER 2026
SPRING IS
LAKE EILDO
Cod, yellas
N
& trout in spring.
WESTERN
PORT
Big early season
TROUT OPENI
Rivers reopen
reds.
NG
HERE!
AFTA ROUN
We pick the
D UP
best new releases
YELLOWFIN
Will we see
for spring.
another epic
TACKLE NEWS
New season
releases.
CONTENTS
SPRING INTO FISHING
Spring is here, and with it comes one of the best periods on the Australian fishing calendar. Across the country, warmer weather brings a change in conditions, new opportunities and plenty of reasons to get back on the water. In this issue we look at a wide mix of spring fishing, from Lake Eildon and the start of Victoria’s snapper season through to trout opening and the big question of whether we might see another yellowfin run like the incredible fishing we experienced last year. We have also wrapped up another AFTA, where we took a close look at the latest tackle releases from across the industry. Inside, we highlight the products that impressed us most and the gear we believe anglers should be watching over the coming season. September is always a great time to be an angler. The seasons are changing, the fishing is changing with them, and there is plenty to look forward to over the months ahead. Enjoy the issue, and we’ll see you on the water.
6-12 FISHING & TACKLE NEWS 14 TROUT 16-22 WESTERNPORT SNAPPER 24-30 EILDON 32-36 AFTA BEST IN SHOW 38 YELLOWFIN
PUBLISHER Hammerhead Media Pty Ltd EDITOR IN CHIEF Kosta Linardos kosta@hookedup.com.au
SUB EDITOR
Kosta Linardos
Tim Evans
Editor In Chief
ONLINE EDITOR Adam Hewson info@hookedupmagazine.com.au
GRAPHIC DESIGN Cassandra Li, Khristian Lloyd
CONTRIBUTORS Dean Linardos, Colby Lesko, Gawaine Blake, Sammy Leys, David Clayton, Justin Mullen
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www.hookedup.com.au
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FISHING & BOATING NEWS
REINS S-CAPE 4.8 The popular Reins S-Cape is now available in a larger 4.8-inch size, opening this highly effective paddle-tail design up to a range of bigger Australian predators. The new S-Cape 4.8 is perfectly suited to mulloway, while also being an excellent option for snapper and big dusky flathead. Its ribbed shad-profile body and active paddle tail produce a natural swimming action, even at slower retrieve speeds, making it highly versatile across estuary and inshore applications. Australian anglers will also get access to a selection of locally developed custom colours alongside proven colours from the existing Japanese Reins range. gladiatortackle.com.au
SHIMANO MIRAVEL The 26 Miravel builds on everything anglers loved about the original, introducing a refined look and a suite of technologies inherited from Shimano’s higher-end reels, resulting in a lighter, smoother and more refined reel than ever before. Constructed with a lightweight CI4+ body and rotor, Miravel delivers an incredibly light rotational feel suited to modern lure fishing, while G Free Body shifts the reel’s centre of gravity closer to the angler’s hand for a betterbalanced outfit. Miravel receives Shimano’s Infinitydrive technology, making it easier to wind under load, while a new Anti-Twist Fin and seamless One-Piece Bail improve line control and reduce wind knots. Proven technologies including Hagane Gear, X-Ship, SilentDrive, AR-C Spool and CoreProtect deliver the smoothness and reliability Miravel is known for. Available in five sizes from 1000 through to C5000, Miravel suits freshwater, estuary and inshore applications.
TASSIE DEVIL NEW BROWN TROUT COLOURS Tassie Devil has released eight new colours based around one of Australia’s most important trout prey species, the brown trout. The new series combines a variety of foil and resin finishes, with completely new colour schemes joined by fresh interpretations of classic Tassie Devil patterns. A new printing process allows for improved colour reproduction and more precise markings on each lure, creating more detailed and realistic finishes than previously possible. With trout seasons getting underway around the country, the new brown trout-inspired range arrives at the perfect time for anglers preparing to hit lakes and rivers this spring. jmgillies.com.au
shimanofish.com.au
YO-ZURI HYDRO MONSTER SHOT 65MM The Yo-Zuri Hydro Monster Shot introduces a new 65mm lure to the range, fitted with a single inline hook instead of a treble for this size only. Weighing 25g, this classic baitfish profile fishes high in the water column or deeper, ideal for Aussie speedsters like tuna, mackerel, kingfish, tailor and salmon. It casts tail first without tumbling, working a lazy swim on a steady retrieve or sinking horizontally with a subtle flutter on the drop for a jigged, stop-start twitch. The single inline hook gives a cleaner hookup and safer release, in 6 colours.
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FISHING & BOATING NEWS
BAIT JUNKIE MEGA MINNOW The all-new Daiwa Bait Junkie Megaminnow redefines what’s possible from a soft swimbait. Crafted from premium salted Elastomax and infused with Amino-X, its balanced design produces a wide body roll and irresistible flash, creating a natural, meandering action that comes alive with the slightest movement. Exceptionally low start-up inertia lets it swim at ultra-slow speeds and be fished unweighted. A premium painted finish, 3D eyes, rigging slots and a ribbed belly cavity for stinger hooks complete the package. Available in 6.5-inch and 8.5-inch sizes, targeting mulloway, Murray cod, XL flathead and barramundi. Priced at $12.99. daiwafishing.com.au
BUCCA 5” BULL SHAD The Bucca 5” Bull Shad expands the highly regarded Bull Shad family with a larger profile built to tempt trophy predators. Developed in collaboration with renowned lure designer Mike Bucca, the multi-jointed ABS body delivers an incredibly lifelike swimming action, while the realistic brush tail adds subtle movement that big fish find hard to ignore. Available in eight proven colour patterns, the versatile swimbait is equally at home crawling over structure or worked with a steady retrieve through open water. If you’re targeting quality fish, the 5” Bull Shad deserves a place in your tackle box. ejtodd.com.au
REDIC SF70LC
REINS UMBRELLA WIRE RIG
The new Redic SF70LC delivers premium jerkbait performance in a compact 70mm profile. Featuring Samaki’s Long Cast magnetic weight-transfer system, it casts effortlessly into the wind while maintaining exceptional accuracy around tight structure. Diving to 0.5m, its refined shallow-floating action is perfect for twitching, pausing or slow rolling over flats, weed beds and timber. Finished with premium Decoy Y-S25 trebles, Japanese split rings and a versatile range of natural and UV colour patterns, the SF70LC is built to tempt everything from bream and trout to bass, flathead and other estuary favourites.
The Umbrella Wire is a truly unique soft plastic designed to create the illusion of a compact mass of bait rather than a single prey item. Its distinctive multi-arm profile produces an unusual schooling action in the water, almost like a miniature Alabama rig moving from a single point, helping trigger predatory fish focused on tightly packed bait. Weighing approximately 5g, it casts surprisingly well even when fished weightless and is equally suited to bait finesse applications. Its versatility allows it to be rigged on Texas, free, dropshot, jighead wacky and variable Neko rigs, with new rockfish colours expanding its appeal even further.
samaki.com.au
gladiatortackle.com.au
hookedup.com.au | HOOKED UP | 7
FISHING & BOATING NEWS
MCLURES TRAILBLAZER 8” McLures has released new models for 2025 with the Trailblazer, a slant-headed lure designed to deliver increased action and versatility in the spread. It swims left, right and down while popping and splashing, with four jet holes creating a strong bubble trail. Best run on the leading edge of a wave or from a short rigger, it’s well suited to highspeed pelagics. Featuring UV over skirts, a Luminite glow underskirt, red crystal 3D eyes and keel weighting for consistent tracking, the 9.5” overall length lure has an 8” skirt and weighs 110gm. Available in 12 colours. finaticalfisherman.com.au
TIEMCO PDL BUSTIN’ TWISTER BITTY WALKER The Tiemco PDL Bustin’ Twister Bitty Walker packs plenty of noise and surface commotion into a compact 90mm, 7g profile built for aggressive bass. A custom deep-cup super duralumin blade grabs the water instantly, allowing the lure to plane quickly while maintaining a stable action at slow retrieve speeds. An eccentric three-point blade support creates a distinctive metallic clacking sound that helps draw fish from cover, while the V-shaped head tracks cleanly through weeds and structure. Finished with a heavy-duty wire frame and strong hook, it’s built to handle hard-hitting strikes from quality fish. ejtodd.com.au
SHIMANO GAME CHASER Built with trailer boat game fishing in mind, Game Chaser combines a forgiving, powerful action with premium componentry for marlin and tuna anglers. At its heart is Shimano’s Armour 40-5 blank technology, engineered with a progressive action that loads deeper under pressure, absorbing surges and reducing fatigue. The six-model range covers line classes from 10kg through to 37kg, in straight butt and bent butt options at 24kg and 37kg. Premium ALPS roller guides provide smooth line flow under heavy loads, while alloy slick butt assemblies and ALPS bent butt hardware complete a premium offshore package. shimanofish.com.au
YO-ZURI 3DR-X CRANK The Yo-Zuri 3DR-X Crank DD 50 is a 50mm, 10 gram floating crankbait built to crash-dive to 3 metres as soon as cranking begins. Its bill design drives the lure straight into the strike zone, ideal for vertical structure like rock walls, undercuts and fallen timber, or dredging the bottom at depths under 3 metres to mimic a fleeing critter. The super durable bill lets anglers grind it along the bottom for an erratic, strike-inducing wobble. Carrying Yo-Zuri’s signature 3D prism finish, holographic eyes and two sharp #6 trebles, it’s available in 6 fishcatching colours. tacspo.com.au
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FISHING & BOATING NEWS
SAMAKI PACEMAKER CAST STICKBAIT 120
SALTY CREW BARRIER ROLLTOP BACKPACK
The hugely popular Pacemaker Cast Stickbait range expands with the new 120mm model, delivering the perfect size for targeting tailor, Australian salmon, tuna, mackerel and other inshore saltwater predators. Designed with a slim baitfish profile, it produces an enticing swimming action on the retrieve and an irresistible flutter on the drop to trigger reaction bites. Built using supersonic welded construction and finished with heavy-duty Decoy Y-S22 trebles. Long casting, tough as nails and ready for everything from the beach to the boat.
The Salty Crew Barrier Rolltop Backpack is a rugged 20-litre storage option built for wet environments and days on the water. Measuring 18 x 7 x 11 inches, it is constructed from heavy-duty 500D PVC and uses Radio Frequency welded seams to help keep water, spray and dust out. An IPX6 rating provides a high level of protection against powerful water jets, making it well suited to boats, beaches and exposed conditions where keeping gear dry matters. The roll-top closure keeps the design simple, secure and easy to use. Available in Black. RRP $119.99.
samaki.com.au
saltycrew.com.au
SALTY CREW BARRIER HOODED JACKET The Salty Crew Barrier Hooded Jacket is designed to deliver lightweight warmth and weather protection for anglers spending long days around the water. Constructed from 100% polyester mini ripstop fabric, it features synthetic quilted insulation and a 600mm water-resistant coating to help keep out light rain and spray. An insulated adjustable hood adds extra protection, while the centre front zip and zippered hand pockets keep things practical. A kill switch D-ring is positioned at the bottom hem, and the entire jacket packs neatly into the lower left-hand pocket for easy storage. Available in sizes S–XXL. RRP $199.99. saltycrew.com.au
SAMAKI REDIC FALL PRAWN 55 The Samaki Redic Fall Prawn range expands with new colours and a new 55mm, 7g model, offering anglers a larger profile bait, greater casting performance and versatility around structure. Designed with a vertical sinking action and subtle flutter, the Fall Prawn excels when worked with precise rod movements to imitate a fleeing prawn. Its larger profile is perfect for targeting bigger bream and other estuary predators holding around pontoons, pylons, boat hulls, oyster racks and weedbeds. Finished with premium Decoy Y-S25 hooks, the Redic Fall Prawn 55 delivers the same technical finesse presentation anglers love, now in a larger, more versatile size. samaki.com.au
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FISHING & BOATING NEWS
BAIT JUNKIE EWG JIG HEADS The new Daiwa Bait Junkie EWG Jig Head is purpose-built to maximise the performance of modern soft plastics in Australian conditions. Built around a custom BKK Saqsas-coated hook, it features a deeper EWG profile for added strength, gape and holding power. A precision-engineered flat section on the rear of the hook bend locks the soft plastic in place, while an integrated lead chin keeper adds further holding strength. The flat underside lets buoyant plastics stand naturally off the bottom for a weedless presentation targeting bream, bass, mulloway, barramundi and mangrove jacks. Priced at $11.99. daiwafishing.com.au
REDINGTON ORIGINAL FRESHWATER KIT
STRIKE PRO CYBER VIBE 30
Redington’s Original Freshwater Kit is a complete, highly rated 9-foot 5-weight fly fishing combo, ideal for beginners or as a dependable backup for experienced anglers who already own a primary outfit. The rod’s smooth, medium-fast action is designed for trout, and the kit arrives ready to fish with an anodised aluminium reel seat, a durable Crosswater reel with composite frame and carbon disc drag, RIO Mainstream line and a RIO Powerflex tapered leader. Backed by a 1-year warranty and packed in a nylon carrying case, it’s a genuinely easy, rather low-risk way into fly fishing.
Strike Pro has released a compact version of its popular Cyber Vibe range, designed to deliver big performance in a small package. The Cyber Vibe 30 retains the same design as its larger counterparts, featuring three top tow points and two rear tow points, allowing up to six different actions. At 30mm and 3.5gm, it’s ideal for working shallow flats, cockle beds and around structure like poles. This versatile little lure is well suited to bream, estuary perch, bass and redfin, and is available in six proven colours. finaticalfisherman.com.au
jmgillies.com.au
STUMPJUMPER GHOST SERIES StumpJumper Ghost incorporates a dual-chamber mould that creates internal translucent and reflective patterns to entice strikes, paired with 4X-strength BKK treble hooks for a superior hookup rate. The dual-depth diving action and every other feature of the classic StumpJumper, born on Victoria’s Murray River in 1986 as a purpose-built cod lure, remain unchanged, so anglers already familiar with the original get all the added visual attraction without relearning how to fish it. Available in a wide range of Ghost colourways, it’s a straightforward, drop-in upgrade for tackle boxes built around the original StumpJumper lure family. jmgillies.com.au
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The sound of summer.
New bite sized 42mm Cicada in the line up. Make room in the tacklebox, you’re going to want these this topwater season.
CICADA 65
65mm | 16.7g | Topwater
CICADA 50
50mm | 8.8g | Topwater
CICADA 42
42mm | 5.6g | Topwater
samaki.com.au
FISHING & BOATING NEWS
BAIT JUNKIE 4-INCH PRAWN Arguably the number one bait source in coastal estuarine systems and inshore waters, the new Daiwa Bait Junkie Prawn opens up fresh possibilities for Aussie anglers, with barely a fish able to resist a well-presented prawn. Developed to mimic a prawn’s natural movement, it’s available in five sizes, with a three-segment body design that aids a natural sink, letting the tail splay and glide gently back to the bottom for a lifelike presentation. The 4-inch model measures 101mm and comes eight colours to a pack, four pieces per pack. Priced at $12.99. daiwafishing.com.au
SALTY CREW SNAPPER HOOD The Salty Crew Snapper Hood in Dusty Olive is built from the brand’s signature mid-weight cotton/polyester brushed fleece, with a substantial 380gsm construction that makes it ideal for cooler days on and off the water. It features a two-piece hood with an encased drawcord, rib-knit cuffs and hem, and a self-fabric kangaroo pocket for warmth and everyday practicality. Salty Crew branding includes a clamp label at the hood opening, along with digitally printed graphics on the front and back. Available in sizes S–XXXL. RRP $99.99. saltycrew.com.au
SHIMANO LIMITLESS The new Limitless series delivers the lightweight performance, responsive action and premium features lure anglers want, at real value. Designed for Australian fisheries, it offers spin and baitcast rods for finesse estuary fishing through to heavier lures. The foundation is a lightweight 40T carbon blank, with Hi-Modulus construction creating a slimmer profile and faster recovery for crisp, responsive, controlled casting performance. Fuji K guides offer proven durability, while the Seaguide HSC carbon reel seat reduces weight, with EVA grips and modern cosmetics. The range spans nine models, from ultra-light estuary work to heavier spin applications. shimanofish.com.au
TFO LEGACY The new TFO Legacy fly rod series is built for experienced freshwater anglers who value distance, accuracy and efficient power delivery. Featuring an extra-fast action, the Legacy loads quickly and recovers crisply, helping anglers generate line speed with fewer false casts while maintaining precise control at range. Its refined construction balances feel with authority, making it well suited to big rivers, challenging wind and presentations where reach is critical. Designed as the modern evolution of TFO’s respected Legacy heritage, the range offers a premium casting tool for anglers chasing trout and other freshwater species nationwide. ejtodd.com.au
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VICTORIA’S TROUT SEASON:
A FRESH START WORDS & IMAGES: KOSTA LINARDOS
At the time of writing, Victoria’s river and stream trout season is only days away, reopening on Saturday 5 September. After a few patchy seasons, there is reason to be a little more optimistic about this spring. The past few years haven’t always been kind to river trout anglers. Large numbers of cormorants have put plenty of pressure on some systems and, at various times, dry conditions and awkward regulated flows have made fishing difficult. This winter has been different. Victoria finished winter with rainfall 13 per cent above average overall, with useful falls through parts of the alpine region. Lake Eildon has also steadily climbed, rising from around 40 per cent in May to almost 60 per cent at the start of September as it is managed towards its spring filling target. That should mean plenty of water moving through the system around opening, with rainfall runoff and snowmelt feeding the Goulburn and other major trout rivers. The downside is that some of the bigger rivers may carry colour and moderate flows, particularly after fresh rain. Conditions can change quickly, so check local rainfall, river levels and Lake Eildon releases before travelling. This is especially important on the Goulburn, where releases can cause the river to rise quickly.
Rob Gee with a wild Goulburn River brown trout.
Stonkers Are Back
The VFA will again give opening weekend a serious boost around Eildon, stocking 2,000 huge rainbow trout into the Goulburn River between Eildon and Molesworth and the Eildon Pondage. These ex-broodstock fish generally weigh around 3–4kg, with some pushing 5kg, and will be spread across multiple release sites. The general river bag limit is five salmonids, with no more than two fish over 35cm. If you are specifically chasing these stonkers in the river, remember that these big rainbows often sit low in the water column rather than racing around on top. A small paddle-tail plastic fished on a 1/12oz jighead is one of the best ways to get down into the zone. Cast slightly upstream, allow it to sink and work it slowly through the deeper runs and pools. For anglers chasing natural browns, opening is also a great time to fish aggressively. Browns have recently come through the spawning period and larger fish can be territorial. Bigger jerkbaits worked hard around undercut banks, timber, rock walls and deeper bends can draw a reaction strike from fish that may ignore a smaller, more subtle offering.
The author with a stocked broodstock rainbow trout.
Don’t Forget The Small Water
If the Goulburn and other major rivers are carrying too much colour, don’t write the weekend off. Smaller tributaries and mountain creeks can clear much faster and often provide better lure presentation early in the season. Tail spinners, small jerkbaits and compact minnow-style lures are ideal in these waters. Cover plenty of ground, concentrate on deeper pools and current breaks, and don’t be afraid to move if a creek is too dirty. Opening weekend is always a bit of an unknown, but improved winter rainfall, snowmelt and another big stonker stocking give Victorian trout anglers plenty to look forward to this September.
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The author with a wild caught rainbow from the same river as above, note the differences in how the fish present. The wild fish also fight a lot harder.
POWER & PRECISION
NUMBERED ONE REVOLUTION DRAG KNOB
hookedup.com.au | HOOKED UP | 1 5
EARLY SEASON WESTERNPORT
SNAPPER WORDS & IMAGES: GAWAIN BLAKE
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Early snapper push into the shallower reaches of Westernport.
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September marks the real start of the Westernport snapper season. I have been chasing Westernport snapper now for close to three decades, and a lot has changed in the gear we use, from sounders through to rods, reels and terminal tackle. But the things that haven’t changed are when, where and why I fish an area at a certain time. So let’s break down early season Westernport snapper so you can get out and start targeting some big reds at the start of spring. You will see captures in the port from late May through to August, but I wouldn’t call this consistent, or even the start of the season. For me, snapper season in Westernport starts in September. While we do see the odd capture in August, you are putting in a lot of hours for little reward, and it just seems a little too early for me. In September, you start to see the changes in air temperature, the birds start singing harder and the wattle trees start to bloom. More importantly, after about three to four weeks, the water temperature starts to warm up.
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Early spring snapper are a challenge in the port, but the run does start four to six weeks before Port Phillip starts to fire. Plus, you will see, on average, larger fish that lead the way at the start of the annual spawning migration. Being that the early fish tend to head straight up to the top of the port, you can narrow down your search areas and position yourself in ambush points where a foraging snapper will search out a wellpresented bait.
Finding Fish
At the start of the season, the reds move up the port with speed and only really start slowing down once they hit the slower tidal areas in the upper tributary channels of the North Arm and north of Settlement Point at Corinella, in depths of 3–10m. Once here, the fish start to slow up and forage up and down the channels, much like cows in a paddock, waiting for the water to warm and the daylight hours to lengthen enough to spawn. Yes, snapper do spawn in Westernport,
and they will do so quite a few times throughout the season as they follow the best water back down the port. By that, I mean the top of Westernport warms very quickly compared with other Victorian bays and estuarine waterways, and the reds know this, making it an earlier start to the season than the rest. The best way to target the reds is to first find the warmer water of 14 degrees and above. Use your sounder first. You will have to adjust your sensitivity/gain to reduce the clutter on the screen. I use Simrad sonar units, and one of their best features is Colour Erase, which allows me to remove readings from the water that are of a lower density, such as sediment and weed clutter. On top of this, I turn down my gain until the screen starts to clear. This will still allow me to mark the fish, and I can clearly see them without any clutter muddying up my sonar returns. While sounding over the bottom edges of the channels, don’t expect to mark
up huge schools of snapper. More often than not, it’s one or two fish over a few hundred metres. These fish tend to be browsing the channel for food along the edges and conversion points of reef and rubble beds. These areas are where they slow down to feed, so if you’re marking fish and have also marked a good reef not far downcurrent from them, this is a great place to anchor, as they will likely pass your baits. When anchoring in the port, make sure you have turned your bow to the current. Drive forward three times the depth you’re anchoring in, past where you want to sit, and allow at least twice the amount of rope out as the depth, or even three times if the current is pushing. So, as an example, if I’m anchoring in 10m of water and the current is pushing, I’ll drive 30 metres into the current or wind, whichever is stronger, drop my anchor and let out 30m of rope to bring the boat back to where I want it sitting.
Correct sounder settings make individual snapper easier to identify. The unit used is a Simrad NSS4.
This is where you use your GPS to know how far you have moved from your desired end point. Your unit should have the ability for you to mark where you want the boat to sit and then show, in metres, how far away you are. This can be tricky, but practice makes perfect. Hooked Up can explain every rig, the right baits and presentation, but being able to anchor effectively is what can make the difference between success and no bites at all. Weather patterns that are good to look for are those glass-calm, sunny or partly
Early fish are often scattered rather than holding in schools. cloudy days when there is a good bit of warmth in the air. I prefer the back end of a flood tide (run-in) early in the season, as the ocean water has pushed up into the port and given it just a little more of a temperature spike. The best moon phases to target are the weeks leading up to the full or new moons, when the tidal currents slow down. The reds can be quite lethargic when the water is cold and tend to feed more when the current slows.
Circle hooks provide secure hook-ups on timid early-season fish.
In the opposite weeks, when the king tides kick in, I will look at targeting the end of the ebb tides near the entrances of the tributary channels, where the snapper may hold up eating what’s pushed out past them. Most of the channel entrances have rubble reef beds. hookedup.com.au | HOOKED UP | 1 9
Baits
My favourite baits for snapper are squid, be it calamari or even good-quality arrow squid, which most tackle stores are stocking now. But, saying this, early in the season the reds do like a fresh, oily flesh bait too, such as salmon and trevally. I don’t use large baits this time of year, as the fish can grab and tear at the baits instead of engulfing them. Squid rings about the size of your thumb and index finger together, or chunk baits around the size of an apricot, are enough. In the early season, I don’t berley, as the fish haven’t schooled up in numbers as yet. Berley at this early stage of the season may just bring pests. Later in the season, when fish school up in deeper water, I use the Secret Weapon berley bomb.
Set-Ups
Early season snapper can be very timid on the baits, with small, delicate nibbles on the rods and a slow load-up. This is why I will fish lighter outfits around 10–20lb, paired with a 5000-size spin reel and 30lb braid. You want a rod with plenty of grunt down low to land any snapper or bycatch, such as gummy sharks. While many anglers fish ultra-heavy rods, you don’t need the bigger outfits, as the tidal flow is less in the northern regions of the bay. With shallower water of 3–10m being the target depth, your sinker size hardly ever needs to be over 4oz.
The Rigs
A running extended paternoster is all
A running extended paternoster is ideal for early-season snapper. I will use early in the season. From the braid, I tie a 1.5m shock leader of 30lb mono via an FG knot. A sinker slider runs along this. I do away with the metal clip on the slider and tie a 15lb breakaway dropper of about 30cm in length, with a loop at the bottom to change the sinker.
HOW IT SITS IN THE RUN TO THE ROD TIDE RUN
Slider rests on the swivel line still pays through it on a pick-up
Bait fishes 1.2 m back off the lead, in clean water
Sinker holds bottom on the 15 lb dropper
Accurate anchoring is critical to presenting baits in the right zone.
The whole point of the geometry: the lead is anchored on a light dropper below the swivel, while the bait sits a rod-length down-tide of it in undisturbed water. Red marks line movement, as in the schematic — a fish that picks up and swims takes line through the slider rather than weight.
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I tie the shock leader to a swivel, and from this I tie 1.2m of 40lb mono as my bite leader. My hook of choice is an inline circle in size 6/0. I believe I get more successful conversions on bites from timid fish with a circle hook, as it allows the snapper to chew a little of the bait and get the taste of it before sucking it in, and then engaging the hook in the corner of the jaw for a solid hook-up.
M ADE
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ejt odd.com.au
Back when I used to fish suicide or octopus hooks on a snelled rig, I lost a lot more snapper from lip hooks or side-ofthe-face hook-ups that tore out during the fight. The use of a circle hook will also cause less harm to bycatch being released, and snapper caught in under 10m release very well.
Fighting and Landing the Fish Like most of us in Melbourne, I use the horizontal-style snapper racks, with the rods lying at around a 15-degree angle, tips up from the water, and cast my rods back from the transom down-tide.
Keeping the baits back and away from the boat noise that can spook these shallowwater reds is highly beneficial. I generally only fish four rods in the tide and set my drag at around 1.5kg, which is enough to set the hook but light enough to let them run. Once hooked up, I’ll push it up to around 3kg of drag. You can use reels fitted with a Baitrunner to make this a more seamless process, where you can preset your drags, but I do it without issue using just the fighting drag.
Patience pays when targeting scattered early-season snapper. While, to the inexperienced, 1.5–3kg doesn’t sound like a lot of drag, you will be very surprised how much of a bend this will put in your rod. Let the fish wear itself out and be prepared, as the snapper approaches the boat, for it to have another run, which can sometimes go right across the back of the boat. Don’t be the one to lose a monster just in sight because of a line crossing your
Quality snapper are often among the first fish into Westernport.
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engine leg or ladder bracket .
Finesse Fishing
Westernport snapper and bait fishing in general can be viewed as brutish, easy and without skill, but, like fishing for any highly prized species, finesse is always required. Using the correct rigs and gear, which in this case is lighter than what many anglers use, will see you achieving far better results.
Small squid and chunk baits are perfect for cautious earlyseason reds.
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SPRING FISHING LAKE EILDON
Big Eildon cod are a very real spring option for anglers prepared to put in the hours.
Spring is one of the most exciting times of year to fish Lake Eildon. WORDS & IMAGES: COLBY LESKO
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At the time of writing, Eildon is sitting at 54% in mid-August 2026. It is a good level for anglers: much of the lake has dropped out of the very snaggy, spindly edges, while there is still enough water to spread out fishing pressure. Spring creates options. As the water warms, golden perch become more active as they prepare to spawn. Trout are feeding hard after winter spawning and can still be found relatively shallow, while Murray cod remain a major target around the lake edges and can be chased year-round. If the cod are not playing the game, switch to golden perch. If the yellas are quiet, try the trout. There is usually another option.
Murray cod in spring
For many anglers, Murray cod are the main attraction at Lake Eildon, and spring offers some fantastic opportunities. Live sonar has changed the way many anglers approach these fish. Forwardfacing systems such as Garmin LiveScope allow anglers to search for individual cod, watch their reaction to a lure and make repeated presentations. It is a major advantage when targeting the lake’s larger fish, and experienced live-sonar anglers can catch multiple big cod in a session when the bite is on. The technology does not make them bite, however, and tough sessions are still part of cod fishing. Live sonar is not essential. In spring, Murray cod can often be found relatively shallow around timber, points, rocky edges, structure and areas holding bait. Casting big soft plastics and swimbaits into these zones can be extremely effective. As winter loosens its grip across Victoria, the lake begins to come alive and anglers have a great range of species to target. Murray cod, golden perch (yellowbelly), brown trout and carp can all provide excellent fishing, often on the same trip. That variety is what makes Eildon such a special fishery. If one species is proving difficult, you can change tactics and target another. Lake Eildon is a huge impoundment with more than 500 kilometres of shoreline. Its combination of stocked native fish, trout and abundant baitfish has created an outstanding mixed fishery. The Victorian Fisheries Authority has stocked millions of Murray cod and golden perch over the years, and both now reach trophy sizes. Yellowbelly over 60cm and Murray cod beyond 120cm are caught regularly, while the lake also produces impressive brown trout each season.
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Quality Murray cod are a major spring drawcard, particularly as water temperatures begin to climb. You may not contact as many fish as an angler searching with live sonar, but over a multi-day trip, persistent casting can still put you in front of a big cod. Fly jigs have become a dominant lure for Eildon cod, particularly with live sonar. Big paddle tails and large swimbaits are also excellent for working shallow structure and covering water. For a dedicated cod outfit, I like a light swimbaiting setup capable of casting roughly 1-3oz lures, matched with a 300-size baitcaster, 50lb braid and a 50lb leader. Eildon holds seriously large cod, and when a metre-plus fish eats beside the boat you want gear capable of stopping it. The best periods are generally low light around dawn and dusk, while fishing into the night can also be very effective. Bright, clear conditions with the sun penetrating the water are often the hardest times to catch cod in the dam.
Golden perch fire up
If there is one species that really gets me excited about spring at Eildon, it is
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golden perch. As the water warms, golden perch become more active and move into shallower areas. Spring is also a key spawning period, and the yellas can form large aggregations, particularly in the northern end of the lake. October and November are traditionally strong as temperatures rise, with fish schooling close to the surface or pushing right into the shallow edges. Live sonar is incredibly useful for finding yellowbelly around standing timber and watching how individual fish react to different presentations. But you certainly do not need it. Casting shallow, windblown edges or trolling diving hardbodies and lipless crankbaits can all produce fish through spring. A 2-5kg spin rod matched with a 2000 or 2500-size reel is an excellent allround setup. I like 10lb braid with a 10lb fluorocarbon leader. Black soft-plastic grubs are hard to beat. Rig them on a 1/6 or 1/4oz jighead and work them around structure, drop-offs and holding fish. Small metal vibes and lipless crankbaits are also excellent and allow you to cover water quickly when
the fish are active. Adding scent can often turn follows or looks into bites. The beauty of Eildon’s golden perch fishing is that you do not need huge numbers to have a great day because the average size is so good. When they are really biting, a dozen or more quality fish is possible. Yellowbelly also bite throughout the day, making them a great option when the cod fishing is tough.
Spring trout
Although golden perch and Murray cod receive much of the attention, Lake Eildon remains a quality trout fishery, with brown trout the dominant species and some very large fish available. Spring is an interesting transition period. Trout have come through winter spawning and the water is yet to reach summer temperatures, so they can remain relatively shallow and active, particularly early in the season as they feed hard to regain condition. A 2-5kg spin outfit is ideal. Small paddletail soft plastics around three inches long are excellent baitfish imitations, while bibbed minnows around 70mm are another strong option. Dawn and dusk
Free kits for future fishers More Victorian kids are being encouraged to swap screens for the great outdoors thanks to the rollout of free Little Angler Kits, giving young people the opportunity to learn new skills, stay active and experience the excitement of recreational fishing. 82,500 Little Angler Kits have been distributed to Grade 5 students across more than 1,800 schools as part of the second rollout of kits. The Little Angler Kits include everything a first-time fishing enthusiast needs to get started, including a fishing rod and reel with line, tackle box with tackle, and an eight-page Kids’ Guide to Fishing outlining the basics of fishing safety, knots and rigs. The Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) is leading the Little Angler Kit rollout, with all kits now distributed in time for the 2026 September school holidays. Learn more about the program at www.vfa.vic.gov.au/littleanglerkits
Go Fishing Victoria More people fishing, more often
are productive as trout become active near the surface. Trolling is probably the most common and reliable technique at Eildon, although I like keeping a trout rod rigged and ready to cast at fish breaking the surface while I am looking for cod or yellowbelly.
Follow the food
One of my favourite areas to investigate in spring is the upper ends of the river arms, particularly when the lake is rising and fresh water is flowing into the system. Inflows bring nutrients and food and can concentrate baitfish around the mouths and upper reaches. Golden perch, trout and Murray cod can all take advantage of these areas. Rather than fishing the same banks all day, watch what is happening around the lake. Look for inflowing water, concentrations of bait, changes in water colour and surface activity, then spend more time in areas showing signs of life. At a lake as large as Eildon, finding the food is often more important than finding a good-looking bank.
Yellas respond well to a range of techniques, from casting lures to working structure vertically.
Live sonar is a dominant tool for many successful Eildon anglers, particularly those chasing big Murray cod, but expensive electronics are not essential. Spring puts cod, golden perch and trout within reach of traditional casting and trolling techniques. The key is to stay mobile, cover water and adapt. Even with live sonar there can be plenty of empty water between fish, so keep moving until you find activity.
Make a trip of it
Another reason I love spring at Eildon is simply being on the water. After a long
Good electronics make it much easier to locate fish, bait and productive structure across Eildon’s vast expanses. Victorian winter, calm, sunny spring days are hard to beat. Good weather makes boat positioning and working shallow structure easier, while spring also gives anglers a window before the lake becomes much busier with summer wake boats, ski boats and other recreational traffic.
Live sonar is a dominant tool for many successful Eildon anglers, particularly those chasing big Murray cod, but expensive electronics are not essential. Spring is a prime time to actively search for golden perch as they become more mobile and aggressive.
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Eildon’s current fishing has been built on an enormous stocking effort. A dedicated project alone added one million Murray cod between 2010 and 2013, on top of regular stockings. Those fish are now well into trophy territory. Combined with periods of high water, the stocking program has helped create a huge food and habitat base. As levels fall, some of that habitat and bait becomes more concentrated, which can make fish easier to locate. There are plenty of options for turning a fishing trip into a weekend away, including car-based and boat-based camping and several nearby caravan parks. For the ultimate Eildon trip, it is hard to go past a houseboat. I recently stayed on one and found it an incredibly enjoyable way to fish the lake: you wake up on the water, can access different areas without driving back and forth each day, and make the whole trip about fishing and enjoying the lake.
Eildon’s current fishing has been built on an enormous stocking effort. A dedicated project alone added one million Murray cod between 2010 and 2013
Golden perch become increasingly active through spring and are a great lurecasting target. That is ultimately what makes Lake Eildon such a great spring destination. You can spend the morning casting big swimbaits for Murray cod, move into a shallow arm looking for golden perch and finish the afternoon chasing trout breaking the surface. With the lake around half full and water temperatures beginning to rise, spring brings increasing fish activity and plenty of options for anglers willing to move and experiment.
Trout remain an important part of Eildon’s spring fishery, particularly through the cooler early part of the season.
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You can head onto one of Victoria’s great freshwater lakes without knowing exactly what the day will bring. You might find a golden perch aggregation, watch a trout smash a small minnow or catch the Murray cod of a lifetime. Whatever happens, spring is a fantastic time to be out on Lake Eildon.
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HOOKED UP BEST NEW TACKLE 2026
HOOKED UP BEST NEW TACKLE 2026 AFTA’s Best in Show awards are an important part of the Australian tackle industry’s annual trade show, but this year we wanted to take a broader look at the new tackle arriving on the Australian market. Some of our winners were launched at AFTA, while others came from distributors who were not exhibiting at the show, so Best in Show no longer accurately describes what we are judging. Hooked Up Best New Tackle 2026 is simply our take on the standout new products available to Australian anglers in the second half of the year.
Soft plastics and hardbodies are split into small, medium and large categories, while specialist areas such as game fishing, squid, offshore casting, fly fishing, line, leader and terminal tackle are assessed separately.
The biggest difference is the categories. Traditional awards can place products built for completely different jobs against one another. A lightweight spin reel designed for lure casting is not trying to achieve the same thing as a reel chosen for bait fishing, while a 70mm trout or bream hardbody should not be judged against a 200mm lure built for cod or barra. Our categories are designed around how anglers actually choose and use their tackle. Rod and reel awards are judged by series rather than one individual model. We may use a particular model as the main reference, but the award recognises how successfully the complete range has been designed for its intended purpose.
We have also deliberately kept the awards tackle-focused rather than creating categories simply because something new happened to be displayed at the show. The official AFTA awards are determined by retailer voting, where demand, price, margin and sell-through naturally matter. Our awards are an editorial assessment focused on purpose, design, build quality, innovation, value and what a product genuinely offers the angler. There is no requirement to name a winner simply to fill a category. If we do not believe a new product genuinely deserves an award, we would rather leave it out. Every winner is then considered for our Hooked Up Product of the Year the single new tackle product that stood out most to us in 2026. There was also plenty we wanted to see and did not. Most notably, we want manufacturers to put far more development into premium tackle for bait fishing. Snapper rods, garfish and King George
whiting rods, surf rods and dedicated bait-fishing bream rods deserve the same level of thought we routinely see poured into barra, lure-fishing bream and Murray cod ranges. Bait anglers represent a huge part of Australian fishing, yet too often they are treated like the poor cousins of the tackle market. The assumption seems to be that they will not engage with premium, technique-specific gear; our view is that the gear largely has not been built or marketed to them. Build it properly, explain why it is better and anglers will come. We would also like to see more rods and lures developed specifically for big dusky flathead. It is arguably one of Australia’s biggest lure fisheries, yet purpose-built rod development for techniques such as working large jerkbaits from a boat remains surprisingly thin. Tackle storage was another area that left us wanting more. There were some useful products, but not enough genuinely new or better solutions to justify an award this time. We suspect that is partly timing, and with the major Japanese shows still to come we expect to see more innovation in storage, organisation and purpose-built tackle systems over the months ahead.
Best spin Reel seRies – luRe Fishing WINNER: SHIMANO MIRAVEL A The Miravel has quickly become one of Shimano’s most appealing light-tackle reels, and the redesigned Miravel A strengthens the case. It remains the accessible entry point into the MagnumLite platform, with a low-inertia rotor that suits responsive lure work. The update adds InfinityDrive for easier winding under load, a One-Piece Bail and Anti-Twist Fin for cleaner line management. Offered from 1000 to C5000, it delivers genuinely useful lure-fishing technology without pushing into flagship pricing.
Best Bait Reel seRies WINNER: DAIWA BG The BG name has earned its reputation as a tough, uncomplicated workhorse. For bait fishing, that matters more to us than chasing the lightest reel possible. The BG combines a rigid aluminium body with proven Daiwa gearing, ATD drag and a screw-in handle to provide solid cranking power and dependable performance. It also avoids some of the complexity found in Daiwa’s premium platforms, keeping it straightforward to own and service. We have used BG reels extensively and they remain smooth, durable and very hard to fault for the money.
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HOOKED UP BEST NEW TACKLE 2026
Best oveRhead ReeL seRies – LuRe Fishing WINNER: SHIMANO CURADO DC Curado has long been one of those baitcasters that simply works, and adding Shimano’s DC braking makes an already proven platform even easier to use. The I-DC4 system manages spool speed electronically, with four simple external settings that help reduce overruns without removing control from experienced casters. A HAGANE body, MicroModule gearing and Cross Carbon Drag add the strength and refinement Curado is known for. It suits a first serious baitcaster just as well as a fleet of reels for an experienced angler.
Best game Fishing ReeL seRies WINNER: DAIWA SALTIGA LD 80 There was not a huge field in this category, but the Saltiga LD80-2SPD is serious gamefishing hardware. Its one-piece machined aluminium frame keeps the drivetrain aligned under extreme load, while oversized stainless-steel gearing, two-speed transmission and ATD carbon drag provide the power required for large tuna and marlin. It also delivers the line capacity expected from a true heavy-tackle reel. For anglers stepping beyond 50-size tackle, the LD80 is a purposeful addition to the Saltiga lever-drag family.
Best spin Rod seRies – LuRe Fishing WINNER: DAIWA TD BATTLER AGS Battler has always sat at the premium end of Australian lure rods, and the new TD Battler AGS continues that tradition. The SVF Compile-X Nanoplus blank is reinforced with 3DX and X45X Full Shield, while the latest AGS carbon-fibre guides and lightweight ZERO SEAT keep weight down and sensitivity high. We also welcome the return of an AGS stripper guide to the layout. The range spans ultralight finesse through to heavy baitcast work, covering everything from trout and bream to snapper and barra. Expensive, yes - but Battler remains the Porsche end of lure rods.
Best Bait Rod seRies WINNER: DAIWA BG BLUEWATER The BG Bluewater is exactly what a bait-rod category should recognise: a broad, affordable offshore range built to handle hard use rather than chase minimum weight. The 13-model series spans spin and overhead formats, using unidirectional graphite/fibreglass blanks for resilience, backbone and lifting power. Fuji guides, EVA grips and rubber gimbals are sensible choices for bait fishing, where rods get knocked around, loaded hard and spend plenty of time in holders. From snapper and gummies through to reef fishing and heavier offshore work, it covers a huge amount of Australian bait fishing for the money.
Best oveRhead Rod seRies – LuRe Fishing WINNER: SAMAKI ZING RS The cast models in Samaki’s latest Zing range feel like they were designed with Australian lure anglers firmly in mind. HyperKinetic Nano+ graphite blanks, custom ergonomic reel seats, tactile locking nuts and Fuji Alconite guides give the series a strong specification for the money. More importantly, the actions and handle layouts make sense across light estuary work, cod and barra applications. These are practical, purpose-built rods rather than a technology exercise, and the breadth of useful baitcast models is a major part of their appeal.
Best game Fishing Rod seRies WINNER: SHIMANO TALICA There are only two rods in the new Talica series — one jigging model and one dedicated trolling rod — but the trolling model is exactly the sort of game rod modern offshore anglers are looking for. Its Spiral Wrap guide layout brings the load underneath the blank during the fight, reducing twist and improving stability under heavy pressure. Shimano backs that up with HPC carbon, Biofibre reinforcement, Diaflash construction and a carbon bent butt, creating a powerful, highly refined rod designed for marlin, tuna and other serious game species.
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HOOKED UP BEST NEW TACKLE 2026
Best travel rod series WINNER: DAIWA SALTIGA EXPEDITION Travel rods cover everything from trout to GTs, but Daiwa has aimed the Saltiga Expedition squarely at anglers travelling for genuinely big fish. Premium HVF Nanoplus blanks, X45X Full Shield and V-Joint Alpha are used to retain strength and a smooth action across the multi-piece design. Two casting and two jigging models cover stickbaits, poppers and heavy vertical work for GTs, dogtooth and tuna. Most importantly, they pack into travel tubes and airline luggage without asking anglers to compromise on offshore performance.
Best sMall soft Plastic WINNER: DAIWA BAIT JUNKIE HERRING Small paddle tails are among the most versatile lures in Australian fishing, so getting the profile, action and size right matters. Daiwa has done that with the new Bait Junkie Herring. It has the slim baitfish profile and tail action needed for bream, trout, perch and light estuary work, while still having enough presence for larger predators. Add Daiwa’s proven Bait Junkie material and a strong colour range and it is easy to see this becoming one of those plastics anglers keep permanently stocked.
Best MediuM soft Plastic WINNER: Z-MAN STUNTMAN Soft jerkbaits and hover-style presentations continue to evolve, and the Stuntman was one of the more interesting plastics we saw. Z-Man has built it from a new sinking ElaZtech formulation, giving the lure greater density while retaining the durability and flexibility the material is known for. Its profile is designed for an erratic darting action and a flutter all, opening up everything from mid-strolling and suspended presentations to deeper snapper work. It is genuinely different and well refined take on the jerk shad that has multiple applications depnding on how you rig it.
Best large soft Plastic WINNER: DAIWA BAIT JUNKIE MEGAMINNOW Big paddle tails are essential for barra, mulloway, cod, snapper and trophy flathead, but rigging them can be the awkward part. The Bait Junkie Megaminnow is built with those heavy applications in mind and gives anglers a large, durable baitfish profile that can be adapted to different terminal setups. That flexibility is the key attraction: it can be rigged to suit single hooks, stingers and other heavy-duty systems without fighting the lure’s shape. It is a big plastic designed around the way Australian anglers actually fish big plastics.
Best sMall HardBody lure WINNER: SAMAKI REDIC SF70LC A 70mm jerkbait has an enormous number of applications in Australian rivers, lakes and estuaries, which is why the Redic SF70LC stood out. Samaki has been building the Redic family for years and this smaller format brings the same approach into a size suited to trout, bream, perch and a host of estuary species. The lure gives anglers a compact jerkbait with the casting ability and colour selection needed for both fresh and salt water. It fills a genuinely useful gap rather than simply shrinking an existing bait for novelty.
Best MediuM HardBody lure WINNER: MOLIX FINDER JERK EVO 125F Large jerkbaits around the 120-130mm mark have become a go-to presentation for trophy dusky flathead, yet the number of genuinely well-equipped options is smaller than you might expect. The Finder Jerk EVO 125 F gets the important details right: an internal magnetic weight-transfer system for long casts, stainless through-wire construction and corrosion-resistant trebles. At 125mm and 15g, with a 50-130cm running depth, it is a versatile floating jerkbait that also has obvious crossover appeal for barra and other predators.
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HOOKED UP BEST NEW TACKLE 2026
Best Large HardBody Lure WINNER: SAMAKI REDIC SWIMBAIT Many large swimbaits are designed first for largemouth bass markets in the US or Japan, so it was good to see Samaki take an Australian approach with the Redic Swimbait. It is built tough, comes ready to fish with quality terminal tackle and is available in different sink rates, giving anglers useful control over the water column. More importantly, it has applications across Murray cod, barramundi, mulloway and big flathead. You can take it from the packet and fish it without immediately changing hooks or adding weights.
Best topwater Lure WINNER: LONGIN JINPEN OCEAN 180 The Jinpen Ocean 180 represents the premium end of Japanese offshore stickbaits, a part of the market we do not always see well represented at Australian shows. That alone made it worth recognising. This is the type of lure GT and yellowfin anglers seek out when they want carefully finished, specialist tackle rather than another mass-market stickbait. At around $180 it is certainly not cheap, but anglers shopping in this category are buying refinement, finish and confidence. For serious topwater enthusiasts, it was one of the show’s more memorable lures.
Best squid Jig WINNER: YAMASHITA EGI-OH K DEEP The EGI-OH K has long been one of our favourite jigs for current and deeper water because of its stable fall. The new DEEP version pushes that strength further, with a faster sink designed for depths beyond 10m, strong crosswinds and hard-running tide. Yamashita has also added 2.5 and 3.0 sizes alongside the 3.5, giving anglers more control over profile without giving up the deeper presentation. For spring and autumn calamari when current and depth are dictating the session, it is an extremely purposeful addition.
Best game FisHing Lure WINNER: SHIMANO LEDGE RUNNER The Ledge Runner solves a very practical trolling problem. Shimano’s Adjustable Depth Range gives three tow points so anglers can change its running depth without changing lures, while the Hydro Control Wing keeps it tracking cleanly at speed and in rougher water. That makes it much easier to stagger a spread and keep lures below prop wash. It arrives rigged and is offered in six useful offshore colours and two sizes. From Spanish mackerel and wahoo through to southern bluefin tuna, it is a genuinely versatile trolling lure.
Best oFFsHore Casting Lure WINNER: DAIWA SALTIGA SKYFIN 210 The Saltiga Skyfin 210 offers a useful point of difference for offshore casting anglers. Big stickbaits often demand good rod work to produce their best action, but the Skyfin is designed to create plenty of presence with a straightforward retrieve. That makes it approachable for anglers still learning heavy topwater technique while remaining useful to experienced tuna and GT fishers who want a different action in the box. It also comes ready for serious work, so there is no immediate need to rebuild the terminal tackle before the first cast.
Best FLy FisHing produCt WINNER: REDINGTON WRANGLER Fly fishing is a smaller part of our overall coverage, so we judged this category from the perspective of the general Australian angler. The Redington Wrangler 890-4 Salt Outfit makes a lot of sense on that basis. It is a complete 9ft, 8-weight, four-piece saltwater outfit from an established fly brand, supplied with a Crosswater reel, line and travel case. A specialist fly publication might reward a more exotic product, but for someone wanting a credible, straightforward entry into saltwater fly fishing, this is an excellent package.
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HOOKED UP BEST NEW TACKLE 2026
Best Fishing Line WINNER: GOSEN GUIDUS PE X9 Gosen is one of the world’s genuine braid specialists, so a new flagship construction from the Japanese line maker deserves attention. GUIDUS PE x9 uses a high-strength PE core strand surrounded by eight braided outer strands, a structure designed to increase strength and sensitivity while retaining a smooth, round profile. The range covers useful PE ratings and spool lengths, with multicolour, light green and a standout purple option. For technical lure fishing, jigging and casting, it brings something genuinely different to the crowded premium-braid market.
Best Leader WINNER: SUNLINE SYSTEM SHOCK LEADER NYLON TOUGH-FLEXX Sunline nylon shock leader is a staple in the Hooked Up tackle room, so the new Tough-Flexx immediately caught our attention. This range is aimed squarely at heavy game and casting applications, covering 130 through 330lb. Sunline has focused on balancing strength, controlled stretch and flexibility, particularly to improve knot stability in the very heavy diameters that can be difficult to work with. Parallel spooling and a wide spool band are thoughtful finishing touches. For tuna, GT and other big-game anglers, the expanded heavy leader range is extremely useful.
Best hook WINNER: DAIICHI GARFISH SPECIALIST HOOKS Garfish remain one of Australia’s most popular light-tackle species and are also one of the best baits you can put in the water, yet genuinely purpose-specific garfish hooks are surprisingly uncommon. Daiichi’s Garfish Specialist stood out because it addresses that exact job rather than asking anglers to adapt a generic small hook. The fine presentation and compact size are suited to tiny baits and delicate mouths, while Daiichi has a long reputation for quality hook manufacture. It is a simple product, but sometimes the best ideas are the ones that solve a very specific fishing problem.
Best terminaL tackLe Product WINNER: BLACK MAGIC POWER CHUCK The Black Magic Power Chuck is a clever new take on the pulley-style surf rig. Rather than reinventing surf fishing for the sake of it, the design focuses on the things that matter: cleaner casting, better bait presentation and a more effective release system for the sinker. Anyone who regularly casts substantial baits from the beach knows how much drag and instability a poorly arranged rig can create in flight. The Power Chuck packages those problems into a purpose-built system that should make immediate sense to serious surf anglers.
Best Fish Finder / sonar Product WINNER: LOWRANCE ACTIVETARGET 2 XL ActiveTarget 2 XL takes Lowrance live sonar in a useful direction: more coverage rather than simply another incremental screen update. The new transducer provides a 180-degree live view in Forward, Down and Scout modes, with strong resolution and a much wider picture of what is happening around the boat. Pair two systems with HDS PRO and 360 Scout XL becomes available, giving a full live view around the boat. For anglers who already rely on live sonar, the wider field of view is a meaningful improvement.
Best Fishing accessory WINNER: DECOY DT-1 RUBBER THREADER The DECOY DT-1 is a small tool with a surprisingly useful purpose: it lets anglers thread rubber or silicone tubing onto hooks and lure hardware for custom rigging and tuning. That opens up plenty of options for changing profiles, adding colour, protecting knots or creating your own lure modifications at home. It is not an expensive piece of electronics or a major tackle system, but it encourages anglers to experiment and solve little rigging problems themselves. Those are often the accessories that end up living permanently on the workbench.
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HOOKED UP BEST NEW TACKLE 2026
Best Fishing AppArel WINNER: XTRATUF X SALTY CREW LEGACY ELEVATE ANKLE DECK BOOT Once you spend serious time on a wet boat, a proper deck boot quickly becomes one of those pieces of gear you wonder how you lived without. XTRATUF has decades of heritage in this space, while the Salty Crew collaboration gives the Legacy Elevate Ankle Deck Boot a much sharper look than traditional commercial-style footwear. The Ranger Camo black and green colourways stood out, and the $199.99 price keeps them competitive with premium fishing footwear. The Elevate combines genuine comfort, boat practicality and design that anglers will appreciate both on and off the water.
Best eyewAer WINNER: SHIMANO POWERED BY REVO Shimano’s new eyewear collaboration with Revo stood out because the technology has a direct fishing benefit rather than simply a good marketing story. Revo’s lens platform is based on technology originally developed for NASA satellite optics, with polarised multi-layer lenses designed to manage glare, contrast and harsh light. Shimano brings its understanding of anglers and fishing-focused frame design, while Revo brings more than four decades of optics expertise. The result is premium eyewear that feels like a genuine piece of fishing equipment rather than fashion sunglasses wearing a fishing badge.
Best VAlue product WINNER: SHIMANO NEXAVE The upgraded Nexave is exactly what a value award should recognise: a mainstream reel that gains useful technology without losing sight of price. Shimano has added SilentDrive, Anti-Twist Fin, G-Free Body and an AR-C spool, with sizes from 1000 through C5000 covering most common light and medium spin applications. At around the $120 mark, it is affordable enough for a beginner but refined enough that an experienced angler will not feel they are settling for a throwaway reel. It is a lot of usable spinning reel for the money.
hooked up enVironmentAl AwArd WINNER: SCALED OUTDOORS GILLOTINE The Gillotine is exactly the sort of product we wanted this award to recognise. It cuts a fishing-line tag and captures it inside the tool in the same motion, preventing those tiny offcuts from ending up on the deck, in a pocket or in the water. Better still, its body is injection-moulded from recycled commercial fishing nets and the design can be disassembled, repaired and fitted with a replacement blade. It is a smart Australian idea tackling fishing waste from both ends, created by a small Melbourne team.
hooked up’s Best oVerAll WINNER: SHIMANO OCEA JIGGER CT The Ocea Jigger CT was our standout product because its innovation solves a genuine problem for jigging anglers. Its vertical LCD gives precise, real-time line-out and depth information, while a programmable alarm can be set to alert you once you have jigged above the strike zone, telling you when it is time to drop back down. InfinityDrive adds winding power under load, while SilentDrive and MicroModule gearing keep the reel refined. Jigging is physically demanding; knowing exactly where to start and stop working the lure saves energy and keeps you fishing where the fish actually are.
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Last spring produced something few South Coast anglers thought they would ever see again. Through September and October, huge schools of yellowfin tuna pushed down the NSW coast, with Bermagui becoming one of the centres of an extraordinary topwater bite. Fish in the 40–60kg class were regularly found busting bait on the surface and, for many experienced anglers, it was the best yellowfin fishing they had seen in 30 years or more. What made the bite so special wasn’t simply the number of fish. It was how they could be caught. Rather than spending the day trolling blind, crews were finding birds, foamers and obvious surface activity, then casting stickbaits and other topwater lures into feeding tuna. Watching a 50kg yellowfin explode on a surface lure is about as good as offshore lure fishing gets.
WILL THE YELLOWFIN RETURN? WORDS & IMAGES: DEAN LINARDOS
Why Was 2025 So Good?
The key ingredient was warm water. Yellowfin travel south with warm East Australian Current water, and last spring a strong push of warm current extended well down the South Coast. Those conditions combined with huge concentrations of bait, giving the tuna a reason to stop and feed rather than simply keep travelling. There was probably another factor at play too: fish numbers. Tuna Australia pointed to strong domestic and international fisheries management as one reason for the increased abundance, while anglers on the water were reporting numbers of big yellowfin they simply hadn’t witnessed for decades. Bermagui was particularly well placed. With deep water and the continental shelf relatively close to the coast, anglers could reach productive water quickly when the current and bait lined up. When schools came to the surface, topwater outfits became the weapon of choice. The best approach was often simple: find the birds and surface-feeding fish, position the boat ahead of the school and cast rather than driving straight through them. Big sinking or floating stickbaits gave anglers the casting distance and profile needed, and the takes were spectacular.
So, What About This Year?
It is impossible to predict another bite of that magnitude, but the early signs are genuinely encouraging. Yellowfin have already been caught off the South Coast through August, including fish around the 50–60kg mark, and local reports have identified a large warm-water eddy offshore. Recent reports from the Merimbula/Bermagui region have had shelf water around 18°C with warmer water farther offshore. More importantly, the Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting sea surface temperatures around south-eastern Australia to remain warmer than average through spring, with particularly warm anomalies expected off the NSW and eastern Tasmanian coasts. That doesn’t guarantee yellowfin, but it gives us one of the major ingredients required for another strong spring run. The wildcard will again be bait and the exact position of the current. A warm eddy sitting 70 miles offshore is very different to one pushing productive water onto the shelf within easy reach of Bermagui. Wind and weather windows will also dictate how often anglers can get out there. For now, though, the signs are good. If warm water pushes in, bait stacks up and those early yellowfin continue moving south, October could again be one of the most exciting months on the offshore calendar. Keep the casting gear rigged — last year proved that when the South Coast yellowfin turn up, trolling isn’t the only game in town.
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The author with a quality South Coast yellowfin tuna from last spring’s exceptional run.
Hooked up to a yellowfin on topwater tackle — exactly the style of fishing that made last year’s bite so memorable.
S E I R E C-S FROAD F O I SEM GALVANISED METAL CURVED WHEELGUARDS
LOWERED REAR ROLLLER FOR EASY RETRIEVE IN SHALLOW WATER
HEAVY DUTY CROSS MEMBERS ROLLER ROCKER OR EYE TO EYE SUSPENSION
HEAVY DUTY U-BOLTS ON AXLES
SWING AROUND DRAW BAR
SOCKETED SPARE WHEEL FOR BEACH LAUNCHING
FRONT MESH INFILL
HEAVY DUTY CHASSIS
Available in dual and single axle and engineered to suit your boat and the journey.
sales.savagetrailers@gmail.com 03 9708 2970 www.savagetrailers.com.au
MUD TERRAIN TYRES & BLACK ALLOY WHEELS
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BUILT IN AUSTRALIA. BUILT FOR AUSTRALIAN ANGLERS.
Call your local Sportsman dealer VIC - R&M Marine: 03 5986 7788 NSW - Hunts Marine: 02 9546 1324 Sth East Qld - Wynnum Marine 07 3396 9777 Nth Qld - Reef Marine 07 4957 3521 SA/NT/WA - Seabow Marine 03 5986 7788 www.sportsmanboatsaustralia.au 4 0 | HOOKED UP | hookedup.com.au