POWERING AUSSIE DREAMS

12V MONOCRYSTALLINE FIXED AND SEMI-FLEXIBLE SOLAR PANELS

Projecta’s super efficient new monocrystalline solar panel range produces more power via a smaller panel to effectively maintain a battery. The heavy duty fixed solar panels now come with a massive 20 year output warranty,* while the semi-flexible options - at just 3mm deep - are ideal for permanent mounting to curved surfaces.

• Superior build quality for extreme durability

• Ideal for caravans, RVs, canopies and marine

• 25W, 50W, 80W and 95W fixed panels

• 100W and 180W semi-flexible panels

Only 3mm thick, semi-flexible models have a 400mm max bending radius, ideal for curved surfaces.

Coast (including Tasmania, of course), those with the right boats and equipment have slugged it out with 2m-long monsters — world class sportfish in any terms.

South-eastern Tassie has probably seen more ‘barrel’ action than anywhere else in the country, with the legendary Eaglehawk Neck providing convenient access to tuna as large as 150 kilos. The number of big fish in Victorian waters has also exploded, particularly in western locations like Portland and Port Fairy, but there have also been plenty closer to Melbourne. The handful of tackle store owners I know in metropolitan Melbourne have been grinning like Cheshire cats as wide-eyed customers continue to walk out of their stores carrying thousands of dollars’ worth of rods, reels and lures — all because three-figure bluefin have been hooked just outside Port Phillip Heads.

It has been pleasing to note that a large percentage of those caught up in the bluefin frenzy are now practising catch and release, and particularly those targeting the barrels. It goes without saying that these 100kg-plus giants are pivotal to the well-being of the fishery, and that they need to be looked after. I’ve only ever killed one big bluefin — a 108kg fish taken off Robe in SA’s South-East back in 2015 — opting to let subsequent fish go, and I know most of those I fish with now do the same. Gantry shots of big, dead bluefin seem to appear less and less these days, even on social media, reflecting the general mindset of responsible sportfishers.

Rarely, if ever, have southern bluefin tuna been as significant to the Australia sportfishing scene as they are today. The optimists among us are predicting that the upward trend in tuna numbers will continue, and I know there are a lot of fisheries scientists who agree. I guess only time will tell!

Congratulations to our competition winners from last issue, Brendan Power (QLD), Bruce Redman (NSW) and Peter Verco (SA), will all receive their prizes from RTBroughton Lures.

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Fish can’t resist ‘em...