Spooled Magazine Spring Issue 2021

Spring

2021

BARRA BASICS SOOTY

CENTRAL BLUE ROCK

BASS

CALAMARI

CUISINE READING THE

WEATHER

Contents EDITORIAL

Our Cover... Hannah Ledger with a magnificent southern calamari from NW Tasmania. (see story page 66)

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6 24 BARRA BASICS

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SOOTY CENTRAL

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WEATHER TO GO

66

THE LURE OF IT ALL - RTB

80 CALAMARI CUISINE

90

BLUE ROCK BASS THAT SINKER FEELING WHAT’S NEW

96 COMPETITION PAGE www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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COMPACT

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From the Editor

From The Editor

SHANE MENSFORTH

AH, THOSE KEYBOARD WARRIORS! Few things annoy me more than seeing an angler get slammed (usually on social media) for killing a fish to take home. Whether that fish be a marlin, a 100kg-plus tuna, a shark or a bream, my philosophy is simple: if that fish is going to be looked after well, processed promptly and eaten by friends and family, I can see no grounds for anyone to have a cheap crack at its captor. We’ve been eating fish for thousands of years, and for the life of me I can’t work out what the problem is.

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These days I fish as much for the table as I do for sport, and if I can target a fish that fights well and tastes great too, I’m well pleased. Yellowtail kings 04 and bluefin tuna are prime examples at one end of the tackle spectrum, while yellowfin whiting and bream are among my light tackle favourites.

I guess bream are the ultimate enigma for me. In my opinion at least, a fresh, silver-sided 35cm bream taken from clean water is a first class fish to eat, while there are thousands who would totally disagree. Forget the bronze-hued, slabby specimens that have been living in a brackish river backwater for ages; I’m talking about bream hooked from a beach or those that have recently entered a clean estuary in prime condition. Filleted, skinned and eaten within 48 hours of capture, I reckon these are wonderful tucker.

I realise bream are slow-growing, long-lived fish, and I certainly wouldn’t condone removing them in big numbers from a fragile system, but surely taking one or two home for the table isn’t the end of the world. Controlling the take to a sustainable level is the job of fishery regulators, most of whom seem to have a good handle on the situation in their respective areas.

At the heavy tackle end, it’s bad form these days to stand next to a big tuna or billfish at the gantry and have your picture taken. I’d agree that hanging a big fish of any variety simply for club or tournament points is questionable, but if that fish is used for the table after weighing, the captor has no case to answer. I managed to catch a 100kg-plus southern bluefin a few years back, every edible gram of which was used, and I’ll have no compunction about killing another one if the opportunity arises. Almost inevitably, I copped some stick on Facebook from a couple of keyboard warriors when I posted a picture of that fish; something that bothered me a bit at the time. However, I’ve since stopped worrying about what others think; as long as I’m happy the fish I kill will be used the right way, my conscience is clear, and the snipers’ bullets can no longer hurt me.

I watched a YouTube video recently, where videographer Al McGlashan’s son boated a magnificent broadbill swordfish that must have been 200kg or more. They gaffed that fish and brought it home, and I was intrigued at the lengths Al went to in demonstrating how the sword was processed and generally looked after with kid gloves – quite obviously to pre-empt and stave off the inevitable criticism after killing such a big, majestic fish.

Like most in the media spotlight, McGlashan knows he’s an easy target for snipers.

There’s no doubt social media have changed the way we go fishing, whether we like it or not. You’ve got to think long and hard about what you post, as there will always be an army of keyboard warriors out there, primed and ready to put you down. My advice is to make sure you are a hundred per cent happy with what you share online, then go for it. Letting uninformed and derogatory comments slide by without biting back isn’t easy, but I can assure you it’s the best course of action. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Barra Basics

LACHLAN JONES

Barra Basics SPOOLED MAGAZINE

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LACHLAN JONES OFFERS SOME CUT TING EDGE ADVICE ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CATCH OF ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S TRULY ICONIC SPORTFISH.

As the tide drains from the mangroves, so does the bait… as do the barra!

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“Go on mate, there might be another one in there,” were the words that rang in my ears as my lure homed in on the only productive snag of the morning. My mate Jimmy looked on as he released the only barra we’d seen for the session. The lure came to a rest just behind the intended target and I started a gentle twitch that bought the lure to life... Twitch, twitch, BOOM! All chaos erupted. My knees turned to jelly as a silver slab took to the air, violently shaking the peace from the otherwise docile Top-End creek. Braid fizzed off my baitcaster as the fish made a flee for freedom, but soon enough its head was turned. Moments later, Jim slipped 07 the net under the tiring fish and the celebrations began. After months of living in the Top End and chasing these famous fish, I had cracked my first barramundi. At 59cm it was no record-breaker, but to this day is one of the most memorable fish that I have caught in over 20 years of fishing!

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Barra Basics

Now, if you’re after the latest and greatest innovations for chasing barra or top secret hints for finding those metre-plus models we all dream of, I’ll politely ask you to skip over the next few pages, as unfortunately I don’t have the answers for you. Instead, this article is intended for those of you who are in the early days of your barra hunt and want to skip over some of the trial and error phases that I worked through. I certainly can’t claim to be an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I hope the suggestions in the following paragraphs will put you one step closer to landing some of these incredible fish.

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//HABITAT Barramundi inhabit the warm and bait-rich tropical waters of Northern Australia, with their natural distribution ranging from northern Western Australia, throughout the Northern Territory and, of course, into Northern Queensland. Within these locations barra can be found in a huge array of habitats, from inland billabongs, coastal creeks and shallow beach flats, to floodplain-fed river systems such as the famous Daly River in the N.T. However, it is what lies within these systems that anglers must pay particularly close attention to when searching for success. Barra love an easy feed and protection from the elements. Any place where a fish can get shelter from strong currents and tidal flow while still having bait moving past nearby is a winner. Structures such as fallen timber, rock bars and the edges of run-off drains can provide them with

You have to be in it to win it! Aggressive casts amongst the snags are a must.

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just that, and if you can find a spot that combines two or more of these structures, hold on! Holes and patches of reef within creek systems are also fish-holding areas, and if you concentrate your efforts around these habitats, a fish won’t be far away.

One method of finding such areas is to explore your waterway on a spring low tide. With so much water out of the system, many fish-holding structures become exposed. Mark these structures either on a GPS or map and return to them when they are covered in water again. You may well find yourself fishing a snag or rock bar that few others know about!

Sometimes it’s dirty work…

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… But the rewards are worth it! //TACKLE When it comes to suitable barra tackle, it would be easy for a beginning angler to become overwhelmed by the huge range of options available, as well as the lingo that goes with it! From poppers, to egg-beaters, fizzers to vibes, our language is a confusing one, but the good news is that choosing an appropriate barra set-up doesn’t have to be complicated. My number one piece of advice when getting geared up is www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Barra Basics

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to go to an independent tackle store where the shop assistant is almost guaranteed to be a die-hard fisho who knows what he’s on about and who is keen to help you onto a few fish. Try to avoid guessing on EBay or saving a dollar or two at a general camping store where often the sales assistant has never cast a line in his life!

When it comes to rods and reels, you have two main options – an eggbeater or baitcaster set up. Both will catch fish, but I can’t go past a baitcaster in most scenarios.

While it’s a matter of preference, in my experience you can achieve far greater casting accuracy with a baitcaster, which often can be the difference between getting a strike and a fishless cast. While getting used to a baitcaster can be frustrating, as you find yourself pulling out the dreaded ‘birds nests’, a bit of persistence and you’ll www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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find yourself casting at barra hide-aways with pinpoint accuracy. Rods should be between 5-7 feet long and I prefer a firmer rod tip, as it aids in accuracy and greater lure control. Brands such as Shimano and Daiwa are reliable favourites of mine, and both offer relatively cheap beginner combos that still serve me well today!

Once you have selected your set- up, have the reel spooled with 30-40lb braided line. In my opinion, braid is essential, as it has virtually no stretch compared to monofilament line, which puts you in direct control of your lure or bait and allows you to feel even the slightest of enquiries. Finally, attach 1.5m of quality 40-50lb monofilament leader using a braid to mono knot (search YouTube for many great videos) and you’re almost ready to start chasing your first barra. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Barra Basics

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It is essential to have a variety of lures that will swim at different depths. //LURES Lure fishing is by far the most common and, in my experience, exciting method of chasing barramundi. There is simply nothing more satisfying than seeing a chrome flash come out from a snag and crunch your offering after a well-placed cast.

When chasing barra, it is essential to have a range of lures that swim at different depths so that you can reach where the fish are holding. For example, there is no use tying on a surface-walking lure if the fish are sitting 5m below the surface; the aim of the game is to work your lure right in front of the barra’s face! There are literally thousands of different options when it comes to lure selection, but these can be broken down into a few categories to make selection a little easier. Grab a lure or two for each water depth and you’ll be amongst the action in no time!

//SURFACE LURES Poppers and surface walkers, as the names suggest, stay on top of the water.

These lures create disturbances on the surface, much like a distressed baitfish does, and can initiate some of the most spectacular takes in fishing. Surface lures are most successful when worked out of shallow feeder drains, over shallow snags or in still billabongs. Halco Rooster Poppers, Owner Tango Dancers and Storm Zig Sticks are personal favourites, particularly when used in periods of low light. It’s a good idea to experiment with different retrieves, but don’t be afraid to work your lures slowly and with plenty of pauses to entice a strike. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

//SHALLOW DIVERS Shallow diving minnows are the quintessential barramundi lure and account for huge numbers of fish. These minnows imitate a baitfish and generally swim no deeper than a metre below the surface. Shallow divers are best worked nice and slowly, with an occasional pause around creek drains, rock bars and fallen timber. Popular styles include the famous Bomber range, Rapala X-Raps, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows and Reidy’s B52s.

Like all lures, try not be tempted by cheaper imitations, as the last thing you want is to lose that dream fish due to poor lure hardware that is often found on budget lures.

//DEEP DIVERS

Feeding time at the zoo.

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Deep diving lures are a go-to option when fishing deep structure, and are particularly handy when trolling submerged structure. Characterised by large plastic bibs that pull them well below the surface, deep divers have a great knack of rattling and clunking over timber and reef, waking up the resident fish and annoying them into a strike. Again, there are hundreds of different styles available, however the Barra Classics in the 1020ft range, the RMG Poltergeist 80s and the Killalure Flatz Rat 15ft are all tried and proven warriors. I like to use floating deep divers (rather than suspending or sinking) so that when the lure bib hits reef or timber, I can simply take some tension off the line and allow the lure to float up and away from the snag – a great way to save some pennies!

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//SOFT PLASTICS Like in virtually all fishing genres, the soft plastic craze has well and truly made its mark on the barra fishery. There’s just something about these things that fish can’t resist!

Plastics come in an array of styles and sizes and can be worked in numerous ways. The general rule when selecting a plastic and a retrieval is to try and imitate fleeing prey www.spooledmagazine.com.au

A Squidgy Fish claims another victim. Oyster covered rocks are a great habitat to target.

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such as mullet, frogs, prawns etc – an easy feed for an eager barramundi. Proven styles include Berkley Gulps, Squidgy Fish and Slick Rigs, Zerek Live Shrimp and Zman Scented PaddlerZ. While these plastics are gold, be sure to rig them on appropriate (and tough) jig heads and make sure they’re rigged up nice and straight to create a life-like appearance! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Barra Basics

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Big jacks are a welcome by-catch. This one was tempted by the Zerek Live Shrimp.

Top end snags can be full of surprises!

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//VIBES It would be wrong to discuss plastics without mentioning one of my favourite and most successful lures, the soft vibe. Soft vibes are lures with a soft plastic exterior that have an inbuilt component that creates a vibration when pulled through the water. These lures are simply dynamite and these days are behind at least 70 per cent of all of my catches. I’d thoroughly recommend adding a few of these into your tackle collection, as I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Quickcatch, Samaki, Zerek Fish Trap and Jackall Transam vibes are popular choices, but again, as some of these lures are not made with barramundi in mind, it is a good idea to spend the extra few dollars and upgrade any weak split rings and trebles.

Soft vibes are a musthave for all Barra fishos!

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When it comes to colour, I tend to go for natural looking colours such as white and grey, but in reality I think it’s the action of the lure rather than the colour that’s drawing the attention. A slow hop retrieve is all that’s needed, but pay close attention to ‘ticks’ in your line while the lure drops, as this is when most strikes occur.

Barra Basics

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//LIVE BAIT Sending out a free swimming mullet, cherabin or whiting is widely documented as a deadly technique that results in many exceptional catches, and is not a bad way to go if you are looking for a more relaxed session. When live baiting, the aim of the game is to keep things as natural as possible. If conditions permit, suspending a live bait under a float that sits just above a snag or rock bar is the way to go. However, if tidal movement and wind are strong factors, consider using a traditional running sinker rig to help keep your bait in the desired area.

The use of circle hooks is encouraged, as this not only aids in increased hook up rates, but generally results in fish being hooked in the corner of the jaw, allowing for easy removal and a safe release. Finally, don’t forget to check your local regulations to ensure your live bait collection is within the recreational fishing laws and only keep enough bait to satisfy your immediate needs! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Sun Sets on another Barra Session… what will tomorrow bring?

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Barra Basics

//TIDES

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The best tides to fish for barra seem to be a constant debate amongst topend fishos, and I certainly won’t claim to hold the secret formula for success.

The confusing reality is that there is no golden rule, and that various spots and techniques work best on different tides.

However, for beginners, we can keep 20 things fairly simple as a starting point.

Like in most fishing scenarios, I have certainly noticed a strong pattern of good barra bites an hour or so either side of a tide change. In particular, I like to focus on the last couple of hours of the run out and the first hour of the incoming tide. This is primarily due to the fact that bait and, of course, barramundi are forced out of structure that is virtually unfishable on a high tide and tend to congregate around structure that is still in the water at low tide. This significantly narrows the search and allows us to concentrate on a few likely areas, rather than just casting and wishing.

Furthermore, as the bait is funnelled off the flats through run-off drains, barra can simply sit at the mouth of the drains and be dished up a smorgasbord of tucker. Nothing quite beats throwing your lure into a bait school that is copping a walloping from these bucket-mouthed vacuums! If you’re really serious, it is a great idea to keep a journal about what fish you caught, where and when. This will help you distinguish patterns and start working out your own golden periods.

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A draining tide off the flats is the equivalent to ringing the dinner bell in coastal creeks. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Barra Basics

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//CROC-WISE As a final note, the general rule with Top-End fishing is that where you find barra you can expect to find crocodiles. While the presence of crocs can be daunting, the use of a bit of common sense should see you enjoying a great day on the water with all limbs attached. The NT Government suggest that you should stay at least 5m away from any water edge and, of course, when landing or releasing a fish, use a net or ‘spear’ the fish back into the water.

I hope you have found the above tips to be a helpful head start to your barramundi hunt. Persistence pays off, and I hope that you too will soon enjoy an increase in your barramundi catches.

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Sooty Central

STEVE ‘STARLO’ STARLING

SOOTY CENTRAL

Home of the World’s Best Grunter!

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Sooty grunter are such cool critters. Their colouration varies considerably, even in the same waterway. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

PERCHED HIGH IN THE RUGGED MOUNTAIN RANGES BEHIND THE QUEENSL AND COASTAL PORT OF MACK AY, BEAUTIFUL EUNGELL A DAM CAN JUSTIFIABLY L AY CL AIM TO SOME OF THE FINEST SOOT Y GRUNTER FISHING ON THE PL ANE T, AS WELL AS AN ANNUAL COMPE TITION DEVOTED SOLELY TO TARGE TING THESE GREAT SPORTFISH. STEVE STARLING REPORTS.

Sooties actually belong to a large, rather mixed-up family of grunter that still hasn’t been fully picked apart and accurately described by the white-coated boffins. There are species, sub-species, hybrids and variants spread widely across the north of our continent: from Bundaberg to the Pilbara and beyond. (As a matter of interest, related or identical species also occur in southern Niugini.)

The large number of regional common names for these charismatic little fish speaks of their abundance, variability and broad range. Black bream, bream, leatheries, blubberlips, grunter, purple grunter, khaki grunter, long-nosed grunter, sooties…

There are almost as many titles for these fish as there are waterways inhabited by them, and both lists continue to grow as we humans expand the family’s range by stocking and translocating them well beyond their natural geographic limits — even as far afield, I’ve heard, as the macadamia farm dams of northern NSW!

//DAM BIG SOOTIES While their natural habitat consists primarily of the freshwater reaches of coastal river systems in our tropical north, sooties also thrive when stocked into manmade impoundments or dams. Just like bass, Murray cod and yellowbelly further south, sooties tend to grow much faster and reach larger sizes in these food-rich, still-water environments than their brethren living in nearby rivers and creeks.

Before barramundi populations reached a critical tipping point in vast Lake Tinaroo, on the Atherton Tablelands behind Cairns, that huge lake was much better known as a prime sooty grunter fishery. These days, with the barra more dominant, www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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“Like running over a house brick with a lawn mower.” That’s how I like to describe the jackhammer intensity of a big sooty grunter crunching a slow-rolled hard body lure fished deep in the sticks. I certainly can’t claim to have invented that delightfully colourful description. To the best of my memory, I first read it in the promotional material for the original Spiderwire braided line several decades ago.

But it remains a wonderfully apt metaphor to convey the bone-jarring, toothrattling, eye-crossing impact of a solid, unexpected strike on braid… and few freshwater fish do it better than Hephaestus fuliginosus: the sooty grunter.

Sooty Central

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Eungella is a decent-sized lake that can effectively be broken into three parts: a relatively open main basin with abundant weed beds, a heavily timbered mid-section, and a narrower upper portion leading into the Broken River.

sooties tend to lay low in dams like Tinaroo. The same certainly can’t be said of picturesque Eungella Dam, located in the high, craggy ranges west of Mackay.

Eungella can quite reasonably lay claim these days to being “sooty central”.

While Eungella (pronounced “young-gella”) has also been well stocked with barra, its elevation and relatively low water temperatures across a big chunk of the year make it a rather challenging barra fishery, and have tipped the scales firmly in favour of the more temperature-tolerant grunter, just as they have further north and even higher in the mountains at Koombooloomba Dam, inland from Tully.

Eungella can’t claim to be home to the world’s biggest sooty grunter. That honour goes to Tinaroo, with a stunning 6.17 kg tank landed by Brian Seawright back in 1997. However, Eungella certainly produces its fair share of fish over 50 cm and 3 kg every year, as well as prolific numbers of hard-fighting nuggets in the 40 to 50 cm range. Better yet, it’s a year ’round producer of these great fish, although the strike rate definitely drops off from late May until August, when water temperatures bottom out and the overnight air temperatures around the dam frequently dip into single digits. Make no mistake… it gets seriously chilly up in them there hills! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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A mix of sooties and smaller barra on a 6.5 m deep flat adjacent to weed bed edges in Eungella’s main basin. Seeing them and catching them can be two different things! //TO CATCH A GRUNTER Sooty grunter respond to a wide range of fishing techniques, all the way from soaking a bait to flicking a fly. On the lure front, there are many overlaps with bass fishing in terms of both tackle and techniques, and just about any offering capable of attracting a strike from an Aussie bass will also work well on sooties in the right time and place.

Rather like bream in the salt, grunter have incredibly eclectic tastes when it comes to tucker. While they’ll happily dine on all sorts of smaller fish, shrimps, yabbies, worms, insects and the like, they’ll also eagerly consume fruit and seeds that fall from overhanging trees, not to mention some seemingly less palatable “manna from heaven”. The close association between sooties and roosting cormorants or other waterbirds is well-known, and is based primarily on the fish’s willing propensity for dining on “recycled baitfish” in the form of bird poop! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Sooty Central

One of the more common tricks for identifying the best stands of timber in a dam like Eungella is to seek out the roosting trees favoured by cormorants. This includes those currently occupied by the birds, as well as trees recently vacated, but still clearly marked, thanks to an obvious layering of dried and drying droppings. Lures or flies are then cast under the roosting branches and allowed to sink through the water column, typically being hit “on the drop”. White or pale-coloured soft plastics and fluffy wet flies are especially effective in such scenarios, for fairly obvious reasons!

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The author with a Eungella black tank taken while pre-fishing for the 2021 INDT World Sooty Championships on Eungella Dam. At other times and in different locations, sooties appear to cycle through various levels of activity and aggression, just like most of our freshwater natives. They may be sulkily hugging the bottom, schooled up and suspended in mid-water, or cruising up high while actively hunting. Catching these more active fish on surface lures such as little cup-faced poppers and crawlers can be especially exciting, and is often at its best early and late in the day, or under the cover of darkness. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

At other times, deeper presentations may be required, but it still pays to work the various levels, especially around standing timber in deeper water.

Southern anglers up to speed with proven yellowbelly and bass tactics such as “grubbing the trees” will have a walk-up start to this style of vertical fishing.

Spinnerbaits, blade baits, mumblers, soft plastics, hard and soft vibes and diving plugs or minnows all have their place in the sooty fisher’s kit. When choosing hooks for these lures, bear in mind that while sooties don’t have overly large mouths, their jaws are very powerful and they can make short work of lighter gauge hardware. Small, extra strong singles, doubles and trebles are definitely the way to go, and it often pays to run stingers on your spinnerbaits and chatterbaits.

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Blade baits, mumblers or chatterbaits are highly effective on sooty grunter and tend not to get used as often as spinnerbaits, meaning the fish have seen less of them.

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Sooty Central

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So, how hard do sooties hit and fight? As comedian Tom Gleeson likes to say: “HARD!” I rate them right up there alongside Aussie bass as our toughest freshwater targets on a gram-for-gram basis. A big bass may be a tad quicker and cover a little more water during an encounter, but for sheer muscle, grit and an uncanny propensity for wrapping your line around structure, sooties possibly have the edge. Don’t underestimate them. That said, your bass gear (fly, spin or overhead) will do the job, and there’s no need for barra-strength leaders on sooties. They respond positively to a little finesse in exactly the same way as any other fish, and there are days when dropping leader diameter will definitely win you a few more hits. Five to eight or perhaps nine kilo nylon or fluorocarbon leaders are generally about right, but set your drag 30 as tight as you dare. Of course, encountering the odd stray barra on that calibre of gear and leader strength is likely to be “interesting”, to say the least, but if you insist on always going loaded for bear, you’ll hook a lot less sooties. The choice is yours.

One of the AFC Outdoors’ competitors gets seriously stretched on Eungella. Sooties are hard, dirty fighters that often find sanctuary in the sticks.

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Competitors in a televised AFC Outdoors’ round hunting big sooties in the drowned timber on Eungella Dam.

WHILE YOU’RE IN MACKAY In addition to three of the best stocked dams in the north (Teemburra, Kinchant and Eungella), and the extensive Pioneer River system, Mackay is the perfect base for exploring a broad range of salt and tidal fishing opportunities, including the extensive Net Free Zone (NFZ) to the north. Created at the end of 2015, this NFZ — which stretches from Seaforth to St Helens — has already led to measurable improvements in both the size and availability of popular species such as barramundi, salmon and javelin fish (grunter).

The only drawback with Mackay’s saltwater fishing is the size of the tidal range experienced in this area, which is the largest on Queensland’s east coast, exceeding six metres on larger springs. However, when the tides are unfavourable for saltwater fishing, or the south east trade winds blow too hard, there are always those wonderful freshwater options.

To find out more about Mackay’s many fishing opportunities and stay across all the piscatorial happenings in this fish-rich region, follow the Hooked on Mackay page on Facebook. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Sooty Central

//A COMMUNITY-BASED FISHERY The phenomenal sooty grunter fishery at Eungella Dam owes its very existence to the untiring efforts of the Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association (MAFSA), as do the excellent barra and sooty fisheries at Teemburra and Kinchant Dams, which lie at lower altitudes in the same district, as well as various stretches of the Pioneer River and its tributaries, where regular stocking also takes place to augment wild populations.

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MAFSA is just one of a network of volunteer-driven, community-based fish stocking groups spread across the length and breadth of Queensland, most of which belong 32 to an umbrella organisation called the Freshwater Fishing and Stocking Association of Queensland (FFSAQ). These groups breed, grow out and purchase fry, fingerlings and larger fish of many species for liberation into waterways within their local jurisdictions, using a mix of funding that consists of allocations from the state’s Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) system, grants from various levels of government, membership fees, donations, sponsorship and a range of money-raising activities throughout the year, such as raffles and competitions. As you can imagine, funds are always stretched thin and there’s never enough money to fulfil all the hopes and dreams of members, nor of the anglers who utilise these stocked waters. But despite the never-ending financial challenges, these stocking groups do an amazing job!

A timbered bay on Eungella with the dam at or near its full capacity.

These areas, with their extensive patches of lily pads, offer prime surface luring opportunities at times, especially early and late in the day. Don’t be surprised to encounter the odd barra as well, especially in summer. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Currently, there’s some fairly lively discussion about the value of potentially replacing the 21-year old SIP scheme with a “non-tidal waters fishing permit” covering all of Queensland’s fresh, inland and non-tidal waters. As is to be expected, this concept has its backers and detractors, but few disagree that the running of the SIP scheme and the way in which its funds are allocated is in serious need of an overhaul. Having read the detailed proposal for the non-tidal waters permit, I can see a great deal of merit in it. However, the thought of what will effectively be a de facto freshwater “licence” doesn’t sit particularly well with some Banana-benders or inter-staters, especially those who primarily chase red claw and other invertebrates rather than fin fish… It’ll be very interesting to watch how it all pans out.

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Sooty Central

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WORLD SOOTY CHAMPIONSHIPS Each year in early May, the Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association (MAFSA) hosts the INDT World Sooty Championships at Eungella Dam. This is an extremely friendly, familyoriented event that typically attracts anywhere from 100 to 120 competitors fishing from 60 or 70 vessels that range from tiny car-toppers to full-blown bass boats. The comp’ runs across a day and a half and paid catering is available to competitors on top of the very affordable entry fee. Prizes are offered in a range of categories and the fishing is done on a catch-and-release basis, with sooty grunter being the only point scoring species.

Watch the embedded video clip hereabout to learn more about this terrific event and, if you’re interested in attending next year, contact MAFSA via their page on Facebook.

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Looking across pretty Eungella Dam from the campground.

Meanwhile, I have nothing but praise for FFSAQ and its member groups, including MAFSA. These community-based stocking associations do a phenomenal job and every angler — local and visitor alike — should get solidly behind them. Buy your SIP before going fishing and consider joining or donating to a local stocking group. To learn more about MAFSA and its neat little hatchery in the suburbs of Mackay, watch the embedded video clip hereabouts and visit the Association’s page on Facebook. It’s well worth a look.

MAFSA also run the annual World Sooty Championships at Eungella Dam and this fun event is their major fundraiser for the year, generating thousands of dollars for fish stocking throughout the district. (See the fact box and video clip hereabouts.)

If you’re a keen freshwater fisher, I very much encourage you to add Eungella Dam to your bucket list of destinations and to perhaps even consider competing in the World Sooty Championships one year… I guarantee you’ll love it! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Weather To Go - Predicting Your Fishing Trip

JOHN WILLIS

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JOHN WILLIS TAKES AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT HOW WEATHER CAN INFLUENCE HOW, WHEN AND WHERE YOU FISH.

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In days past seafarers used many traditional methods to predict the weather for a trip on the briny. There were many old sayings based on facts such as, “Horses’ tails and mackerel scales make tall ships set short sails.” In this case the horses’ tails and mackerel scales described the wispy cirrus clouds resembling horse tails, and patchy cirrocumulus clouds that look like mackerel flanks. Combined, they signal that a storm is on its way so tall ships would trim their sails in preparation of the oncoming windage.

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Storm head over Tin Can Bay, QLD - image Casey Harrison www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Weather To Go - Predicting Your Fishing Trip

While such lore is still very handy, seafarers and indeed all fishos have many terrific weather predictions at hand, not only to forecast the weather, but also factors that coincide with fish activity. For example, it’s a long-held belief that fish bite better on a rising barometer as the swim bladder is compressed by the increasing air pressure, allowing more room in the stomach cavity. Fly flickers know that many insects will hatch on certain barometers, especially both before and after a change or front, and that still water from calm air pressure and swell means less oxygen in the water so many fish will be lethargic. A vital fishing trigger is the sea surface water temperature, particularly to find the desired currents for pelagic schools.

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While we have a plethora of information available through electronic media, the good old barometer is still my bible. In fact, a barometer is still a basic requirement of any charter boat!

But do you know how to read a barometer or how to relate it to a weather map, or then predict the safe and peak periods to fish? Most don’t! However, if you get to understand a few basics and then enhance this knowledge with some electronic forecasting, tide, moon and seasonal factors, you will certainly be able to predict more productive and enjoyable fishing trips. It’s no good taking a knife to a gunfight, so you will also need to research the available species at that time of the year, and their basic feeding habits to match the hatch.

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Here comes the rain - Wallaga Lake NSW - image Alison Kuiter

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Weather To Go - Predicting Your Fishing Trip

//SO WHERE DO WE START? Daily weather conditions are always determined by barometric pressure and the ensuing low and high pressure systems. Some key factors are that in the southern hemisphere a low pressure system is generally termed a “cyclone” and always moves in a clockwise rotation. The opposite is a high pressure system or “anticyclone” and rotates anti-clockwise. You reverse that in the northern hemisphere, much like the direction of water draining down a dunny – but I digress!

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You will obviously be aware of the use of the term “cyclone” as the destructive weather patterns that cause havoc, particularly in the tropics. These are particularly 40 deep-centred systems of very low air pressure that suck into the centre, rapidly causing destructive wind and rainfalls. To put it simply, low pressure systems suck air into the centre while high pressure systems blow outwards.

Every weather map (synoptic chart) will show the patterns of low and high pressure systems moving across the country, generally from west to east. The lines adjoining the areas of matching pressures in a system are called isobars and work in a similar way to the gradient lines on a topographic map. The isobars are the record of the air pressure measured by a barometer. The closer the gradient lines on a topographic map, the steeper the country. Hence, on a weather chart the closer the isobars are together, the faster the air pressure is changing, creating the stronger wind patterns.

So, with the knowledge that air is being forced out of a high and into a low, plus the direction of rotation of either high or low pressure zones, you can start to predict the wind strength and direction in any chosen area.

My barometer is right by my front door and gets inspected daily by habit.

However, my common practice is to also check the weather patterns on the Bureau of Meteorology website (www.bom.gov.au) with the current “Mean Sea Level Pressure (MSLP) Map”, as well as the “Forecast Map For The Next 4 Days” for their predictions. According to my daughter, I’m an old fart as I still use my iPad. It lives by the bed and is commonly the first thing I check when I wake up for the weather and the news. If you start checking the maps and your barometer regularly, it won’t take long to start registering the movements of weather patterns. Although you need to realise that there are always some other influences that will confuse you, such as upper level jet streams, temperature inversions and even seasonal fluctuations with the effects of temperature changes in the earth and sea.

The real beauty of some knowledge of the weather systems is that you can start to predict the best time to go fishing. For example, in my bayside Melbourne home the spring snapper season erupts on our doorsteps, yet Port Phillip and Western Port are often termed unpredictable. I say that’s rubbish! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

I know that the best period for snapper fishing is generally in fairly shallow and heavily oxygenated water after a low pressure system has moved through, generally featuring a strong southerly to westerly with the ensuing rising barometer. This is when the feeding activity peaks, and rule of thumb is to go as soon as its safe as poor boating conditions improve. By reading the weather maps, tides and sunrise/sunset, and watching the barometer I can predict a peak period usually up to four or five days ahead and hence plan my life and work around it.

Let’s have a look at a weather map. This one is nothing special, just the day before writing.

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In this case Perth and south-western WA is in the middle of a high pressure at 1027hPa (mbar) in autumn, creating still and sunny conditions. As we head north there’s only a gentle decrease in the pressure, with the isobars wide apart bringing light east to north easterlies with warm dry air from the middle of a warm centre of the country.

In fact, the entire west of the country has ideal fishing and boating conditions.

The story changes as we head eastward, with a low pressure system influencing South Australia and Victoria. Remembering that the high is moving anti-clockwise winds and the low moving the opposite clockwise, the waters around the Vic/SA border will be south to south-east, with rather tight isobars, so quite strong around 20-25 knots as indicated on the frontal bar. The line with the points is indicating the low pressure front moving www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Weather To Go - Predicting Your Fishing Trip

across and upwards, with the rest of Victoria experiencing north-west winds before the change. The air pressure would be dropping at this point, which can sometimes trigger a feeding peak period as many species seem to “stock up” before the upcoming change.

From the VIC/NSW border and northward to around Sydney there are light east to south-east winds forming good boating and fishing conditions, other than a quite large swell as a remnant from a previous east coast low – just one other factor to check before committing to offshore sojourns, especially where river mouth crossings are required. The rest of the country has light winds and clear skies – perfect!

//TODAY

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Learning to read and predict a current weather map is a key tool for all fisho’s The entire western side of the country has near perfect weather, with light easterlies (if any wind) up north changing to some light northerlies further south. If you were to be crossing the Great Australian Bight, it would be a good smooth opportunity. Adelaide and much of SA is in the centre of the large high, with quite lovely conditions but still with light south-easterly winds and the remnants from the swell associated with the low-pressure zone. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Melbourne and most of Victoria is copping cold east to south-east winds with a rather large swell, so we wouldn’t be heading offshore.

Even inshore waters will be uncomfortable. The fishing will improve in these areas as the pressure increases with the upcoming high.

The weather changes on the southern NSW coast as the centre of the low takes effect. It is reasonably calm early in the morning, but the south-easterly from the back side of the low is dragging exceptionally wet, windy and unstable conditions toward the coast. In fact, the low pressure trough that forms is very unpredictable and hence I certainly understand that all forecasts declare the “winds may actually be up to 40% stronger than predicted” disclaimer.

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I have traditionally found the forecast from windy.com is generally very comprehensive and inclusive of swell height, direction, frequency and much more.

However, in the case of this east coast low that sat off the coast near Narooma, the forecast 8-15 knot average winds peaking to 23 knot gusts were, in fact, recorded at gusts up to an extremely dangerous 37 knots in the same period.

The other interesting factor to consider in this situation is the clockwise motion of the centre of the low, where wind direction was quite unpredictable, particularly along the coast. The coast of the Eurobodalla and Sapphire Coasts are bordered by high www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Weather To Go - Predicting Your Fishing Trip

mountain ranges of the Great Divide, providing both orographic and topographic uplift. Stormy conditions are created by air being forced upwards and across differing temperatures from coast to landfall, triggering localised instability. The winds in this case at coastal Bermagui and Narooma, while predicted to be east to south-east, were, in fact, strong south-west. With the low pressure came an increase in swell height.

The result of this trough that appeared to be of very little consequence on the synoptic chart actually brought some severe thunderstorms and hazardous conditions right up the east coast and into southern Queensland.

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Storms and fronts often move up and down the coastline with changes in air and sea temperature.

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Weather To Go - Predicting Your Fishing Trip

//THE FORECAST MAPS

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The week ahead is pretty unstable throughout the southern half of the country, but clearing from the west from Thursday night. There’s a low just off the chart off the south-west coast that will help draw warm north easterlies to the Perth to Albany region. The extreme south- west will see some wind and rain from the developing cold front and ensuing low pressure zone that passes across the country from Wednesday ‘til Friday, bringing strong winds and rainfall in its wake.

It then turns into another East Coast low towards Friday/Saturday with cold south westerlies right throughout Victoria and moving up to southern NSW, probably with rain from the cooler Tasman Sea interchange spreading up the east coast.

If I were a snapper fisho in Melbourne, I would be going to work all week, although there’s a small break on Wednesday, and looking toward Sunday morning as the high pushes across and hopefully the west to south-westerly wind abates with the rising barometer.

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//TROUGHS, RIDGES, JET STREAMS, FRONTS, UPLIFT? A trough is an elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure that may or may not actually show its own isobar contour. These low pressure areas may be at surface level and often are associated with a front featuring clouds, rain and wind shifts.

Troughs can also be quite elevated, creating wind divergence that lifts and cools the air in the jet stream, also producing cloud, rain and upper level instability. These jet streams often cross almost the entire continent and can be quite hard to predict.

A weather front is the boundary separating differing air masses. They will each have their own directions, density, humidity, and temperature characteristics that, when combined, will often create extreme changes in the weather, including strong winds, thunderstorms, squalls and rainfall. There is also the possibility of a clear weather front that changes weather dramatically without any of the normal visual indicators. Thankfully, these are quite rare compared to normal fronts and can be quite dangerous to seafarers, but you can mostly see them coming. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Weather To Go - Predicting Your Fishing Trip

Similarly, afternoon sea breezes can occur when warm air from the land meets cool air over a large waterway, or vice versa and can often reach wind speeds in excess of 30 knots. In my local bays these afternoon sea breezes are the ones that catch many fisho’s and boaties unawares, often turning a mill pond bay into a virtual washing machine. Another dangerous scenario for fisho’s and small boaters is for waders in our larger lakes, where changes in weather can quickly create dangerous wave heights, especially across shallow water, swamping the angler.

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//WHERE TO LOOK Thankfully, nowadays anglers not only have terrific access to weather forecasting, but also a plethora of vital information on how, when and where to catch fish, especially through electronic media. Remember my favourite saying to “review the reviewer before you read the review” so that your information is actually written by someone with current local knowledge and not a self-made “expert” trying to sell you their own brand of lure or with some other vested financial interest.

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Scenes like these make you thankful you have the power in your boat to get home fast

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Weather To Go - Predicting Your Fishing Trip

There are a good many forecasting apps and websites available, and most decipher information from the Government’s Bureau Of Meteorology at bom.gov.au. I regularly use the BOM weather maps, both current and forecast, tide times, radar, sea surface temperature and current, and marine observations. This site also includes MetEye for wind, wave, swell height and frequency, rainfall and even the UV index.

Other apps and sites include: Windy, Buoyweather, Willyweather, Seabreeze, Swellnet, Wind Finder, Fish Ranger

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The images above clearly show the direct correlation to wind and wave direction and strength, cloud mass through radar and a synopsis chart for the same period. Note the “front” coming across the Great Australian Bight and the rain and changes in wind direction in the “trough” on the mid-east coast.

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The Lure of it all - Ray Broughton

the lure of it all

STEVE ‘STARLO’ STARLING

Ray Broughton The Fisherman’s Lure Maker

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SUPERL ATIVE AUSTRALIAN LURE DESIGNER AND CREATOR, RAY BROUGHTON, IS BACK ON THE SCENE IN A BIG WAY AF TER A T WO DECADE L AY-OFF. HERE, STARLO TAKES A LOOK AT THE LIFE, CAREER AND INNOVATIONS OF THIS HUMBLE BLOKE, WHOSE PRIMARY MOTIVATION IS TO HELP OTHERS CATCH FISH, AND TO WITNESS THE BROAD SMILES THAT ACT INVARIABLY PUTS ON THEIR FACES.

We’ve always punched well above our weight in this field of tackle development, often for totally pragmatic reasons. Located as we are at the far flung edge of the world, and surrounded by fish-rich waters, our angling pioneers were frequently forced to imitate and innovate. Necessity spawned invention as they instinctively turned their clever, work-worn hands to crafting home-grown versions of the latest and greatest lures glimpsed in grainy, black-and-white photos on the pages of imported books and magazines. But those lure-crafting trailblazers also added their own twists, often driven by the unique characteristics of the raw materials they had at hand – amongst them were our beautiful, native timbers.

There’s something wonderfully warm, tactile and satisfying about a hand-crafted timber lure. As a bonus, fish don’t seem to mind them, either! For all these reasons and more, timber lures have long held a special place in the hearts of Aussie anglers. Today, wood is undergoing a renaissance on the local lure-making scene, and some of our finest home-grown products are right up there with (or even ahead of) the best in the world.

One of the names closely associated with Australian lure making over a long period (albeit with a lengthy hiatus in the middle) is Ray Broughton, whose wooden, polyurethane and ABS plastic RTB Legend plugs, divers and minnows were an integral part of the local tackle scene back in the early to mid-1990s.

Ray walked away from it all in 1995 to pursue a range of diverse endeavours that took him across the country and around the world, but now he’s back at the lure-making bench, and once again showing why his creations excite so many serious anglers.

Ray Broughton is a genuine icon of Aussie lure making. Seen here at his lure designing bench, his brain never stops producing new fish-catching ideas. We’re certainly blessed to have him back on the scene. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Australia boasts a rich heritage of “cottage industry” lure makers that stretches back to the likes of Norm Edwards, Eric Moller, Bill Southam and far beyond: to a distant, almost forgotten era of hand-cut barra frogs, aeroplane spinners with kerosene tin blades, and polished .303 shell casings strung with hooks.

The Lure of it all - Ray Broughton

Ray started fishing alongside his father using bakelite centrepin reels on cane and steel rods. The worm tin was never too far away.

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//PLANTING THE SEED Raymond Thomas Broughton was born in February, 1959, in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill. Son of the local butcher, Ray grew up in Nunawading and Monbulk before his family relocated to the small country town of Berrigan, in south western NSW. Ray still clearly remember the first fish he ever caught, despite being only three or four years old at the time. It was a tiny trout, hauled from the Howqua River near Kevington on a worm-baited whiting hook. The simple, running sinker rig tied up by his dad incorporated half a matchstick hitched into the line as a stopper. The outfit was a little centrepin reel attached to a rod fashioned from an old steel tank aerial. Even more clearly than he remembers that wriggling, speckled Howqua trout, Ray recalls snuggling into his pyjamas and nestling into a cosy bed made up for him on a bench at the back of the public bar in the Kevington pub that night, and of drifting off to sleep as the men drank and smoked into the late hours.

It wasn’t until some years later that fishing became a regular part of young Ray’s life. From their home in Berrigan, Ray and his family regularly travelled away for weekends to a large station on the Murray River that was managed by one their in-laws. Here, Ray spent long hours chasing redfin perch on Hogback Spinners, their hooks dressed with red wool and feathers. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Even then, Ray couldn’t help tinkering and tweaking. Using blades scavenged from old Celtas, he customised his Hogbacks for increased flash and vibration, creating something he figured represented a small school of baitfish, rather than a single target. It worked, and perhaps a seed had been sown. But his absolute favourite lure at the time was the rubber-bodied, French-made Flopy, ideally in its dark green livery and medium size. Ray was mesmerised by that swaying, pulsing action, and so were the redfin! It was a theme he would one day return to.

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Big Murray cod were what initially put Mulwala, Ray and his lures firmly on the map back in the early 1990s. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The Lure of it all - Ray Broughton

//CATCHING A LEGEND Fast forward a couple of decades and Ray found himself as the new manager of the council-owned Shoreline Caravan Park, on the northern banks of Lake Mulwala. Between working long hours to dramatically build up the park’s business (quadrupling its turnover in the process), he invested as much time as he possibly could into exploring those famous, tree-studded cod waters aboard his little punt.

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One of the very first anglers to regularly and successfully troll lures for Murray cod at night, Ray began to rack up some serious catches, soon attracting the 56 attention of people like Bill Classon from “Freshwater Fishing” magazine. Bill was so impressed by Ray’s strike rate on cod that when Ray suggested they have a crack at making a video together on the subject, Bill agreed. The end result was “Catching A Legend”, which remains a timeless classic to this day.

“I was pretty confident we’d catch a few cod for the camera,” Ray told me. “May is a good month, and I checked with the water regulators to make sure we’d have a slight rise coming through the system. That rise, combined with a high barometer, spelt success.”

Of course, there was a little bit more to it than that. Ray’s intimate knowledge of this waterway and the habits of its resident fish were invaluable to the success of the production. He’d long ago come to the conclusion that the fixation of the time with lures that could crash dive and run super deep was a little misguided. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

The more active, catch-able fish tended to be swimming in shallower water and looking up for a meal — something the topwater, wake-bait and swimbait fraternity would come to embrace almost 20 years later. A lot of Ray’s cod were pulled from three to five metres of water on imported lures like big Flatfish and Mud Bugs.

The gun Aussie-made cod diver of the day was John Ellis’ original StumpJumper — another of Ray’s favourites. But Stumpies were often in short supply and hard to track down, due to the incredible level of demand — a demand that only increased when the “Catching A Legend” video went on sale! Seeing this, Bill Classon suggested to Ray that he have a crack at making a lure to suit the styles of fishing he enjoyed so much, and Ray jumped at the suggestion, soon carving his first 125 mm RTB Legend from a block of white beech.

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“It caught fish,” Ray told me. “But jeez, it was ugly! It was never going to sell, looking like that.”

The first, hand-carved RTB Legends were far from pretty!

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The Lure of it all - Ray Broughton

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The original RTB Legend evolved from ugly duckling fish catcher (top) to more refined fish and fisher catcher (bottom).

Fortunately, famous lure maker Wayne Lennon, creator of the popular Oar Gee range, stepped in and helped Ray refine his ugly duckling of a diver to a point where it might actually catch fishers, as well as fish. Eventually, Ray was able to send the master of a much better-looking 125 Legend off to Alan Dolan at Lively Lures in Queensland and have moulds made so that the big plug could be mass-produced. This was done using the polyurethane pour moulding or injection method that Lively Lures had perfected. It took many failed attempts to precisely match the density of that foam to the white beech Ray had carved his master from, but eventually they got there. The rest, as they say, is history.

“It was one of the largest cod lures of the day, too,” Ray explained. “I thought that was important, and it certainly worked! It caught an awful lot of fish.”

Actually, to say that the big RTB Legend worked on cod is something of an understatement… It went gangbusters! So, to a slightly lesser extent, did its two smaller stablemates. At the peak of their popularity, Ray heard rumours on the grapevine that only local tackle giant, Halco, was selling more Australian-made lures than he was. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

//GROWING THE STABLE Not content to rest on his laurels, or on his cod-catching credentials, Ray was busily working away on all manner of other designs, including his hollow-bodied, ABS plastic Minnows and the forerunner of a unique, integrated-bib lure that would ultimately become the Shimmey.

I’d become good mates with Ray by this stage. We fished together regularly and I was fortunate enough to field test many of his prototypes and offer my feedback and input. We even co-operated on a signature-series of lures featuring what I’d coined as a “reverse-countershading” colour pattern, with a darker belly to increase their presence and ease of detection, especially in low light or dirt water.

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In the early ’90s, Ray and I shared a terrific trip to Crab Claw Island in Bynoe Harbour, west of Darwin, where we fished with guide and lodge manager, Bill Briscoe. The primary 59 aim of that memorable excursion was to thoroughly field test Ray’s brand new Shimmeys, and they came through with flying colours. We already knew they’d catch barra and jacks, but we were delighted to discover that they appealed to just about everything with fins, including a bunch of heavyweight pelagics. Ray was clearly on a winner, and he still rates the Shimmey as perhaps his best-ever lure making concept… So do I!

Catching barra with Bill Briscoe at Crab Claw Island in the Top End, circa 1993.

This little fingermark or golden snapper and a swag of other fish gave the original Shimmey their wholehearted tick of approval.

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The Lure of it all - Ray Broughton

Ray Broughton’s lures have been putting smiles on anglers’ dials for three decades.

Starlo looks pretty chuffed with this estuary perch taken on a small Shimmey.

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The Shimmey is probably Starlo’s favourite design from Ray’s extensive line-up. These modern versions made from timber are even better than the originals.

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//SLIDING DOORS

A couple of the very first Shimmeys during a tropical field-testing trip in the mid-1990s.

While everything was going swimmingly on the lure-making front, choppy seas lay ahead for Ray at a more personal level. By the mid ’90s, circumstances had conspired to turn his life upside down, and he ultimately walked away from lure making and his beloved Lake Mulwala. Keen fishers everywhere were dismayed as the final batches of RTB Legends quickly vanished from the shop shelves, many being snapped up by collectors who rightly interpreted this as the end of an important era in Australian fishing.

Over the subsequent 20-odd years, Ray tried his capable hand at many tasks and slowly rebuilt his life. He laboured in meatworks, crafted bespoke rustic furniture for high class exhibitions, qualified to operate a staggering array of heavy machinery, attained his coxswain’s certificate, deckied on trawlers and charter boats, crewed on tugs, barges and dredges, and did fly-in, fly-out stints as far afield as Broome, Weipa and Singapore. But always, in his mind’s eye, he was designing lures and watching them swim in the test tank of his fertile imagination.

That’s exactly where those lures may have stayed, had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic. This global emergency unfolded just as Ray was on the cusp of flying out to begin another extended maritime stint, bringing a commercial vessel from Singapore back to Port Hedland, in WA. Without warning, the virus threat firmly grounded him and many others. Stumped for an income-generating alternative, Ray dragged his rasps, files and sanders out of mothballs and began lure-making once more, returning to where it all began for him: timber. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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The Lure of it all - Ray Broughton

Since then, Ray Broughton has rapidly re-established himself on the lure-crafting scene in this country, attracting an army of new fans to go with those older veterans who’d never completely forgotten the golden days of RTB Legend Lures.

Now re-birthed at RTBroughton Lures, Ray’s new-age products are made exclusively from timber, and each one incorporates that special Broughton magic that has always been more about catching fish than winning beauty contests.

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“Some of the guys painting lures today are genuine artists,” Ray told me. “No wonder their stuff is so sought-after by collectors! I’m not in that league.

62 I’ve always just wanted to get my lures out there into people’s hands and see them catch fish with them. My lures are really for fishing with, not for collecting.”

That said, there is a niche collector’s market for Ray’s lures, especially from the original RTB Legend days, and he regrets not having kept a few more of his very early prototypes — as ugly as they were!

Chunky yella on an original, polyurethane RTB Legend.

Starlo and Ray collaborated on a signature series of “reverse countershaded” patterns back in the 1990s.

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Another recent prototype. Whether or not it eventually joins the lineup will depend entirely on how it performs in rigorous field testing. //WHERE TO NEXT? Ray is once again making most of his favourite RTB Legend Lures for the new RTBroughton Lures stable, but now they are all crafted in timber, rather than a mix of wood, poly and ABS. To my mind, this has made a great product that much better.

He’s also adding additional sizes to existing designs, and coming up with entirely new creations that reflect the changes in fishing directions across the past 20plus years. Without letting too many cats out of their bags, these new models include some extremely exciting barra and inland native models… So stay tuned!

I must admit, I’m still smitten with Ray’s Shimmey. It’s a real favourite of mine. The fact that Ray is now making them in diminutive 50 and 60 mm lengths (as well as right up to 150 mm and more at the other end of the size spectrum) suits my love of finesse fishing perfectly, and I’ve been absolutely braining the bream, estuary perch, bass, flathead, trout and many other fish on those smaller Shimmeys. Big, cunning, bluenosed bream, in particular, don’t seem to be capable of ignoring a 50 mm Shimmey in a naturalistic green, brown or yellow-based colouration. The soft, organic plop with which they announce their arrival, followed by that sneaky, scared “get-methe-hell-out-of-here” wriggle as they skulk through the water simply pushes all the bream’s buttons, and I couldn’t imagine ever going fishing again without at least half a dozen of these brilliant little fish lollies in my tackle box. They really are that good!

Then there’s his big, jointed Splashers: a range of strongly-actioned topwater crawlers or paddlers that are already earning some serious cod credentials. Not to mention the Streamer and Super Streamer, both of which will be big hitters in the unfolding impoundment barra boom, in my opinion. Plus, as I mentioned earlier, a lot more exciting stuff in the pipeline that I can’t really tell you about just yet. But if you want to keep up with it all, be sure to go to Ray’s RTBroughton Lures’ page on Facebook and give it a like and a follow. That’s also the very best place to buy his lures… Straight from the maker! Simply message him for pricing and availability. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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The Lure of it all - Ray Broughton

A line-up of the original, polyurethane RTB Shimmeys during the painting process.

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Ray knows he’ll never get rich making lures, nor even come close to matching the sort of coin he earned at sea, working as a rigger or a crane operator on commercial vessels. But lure crafting is clearly where his true passion lies. He’s constantly whittling, shaping and tweaking, and he tells me he often wakes up with a crystal-clear, threedimensional image of a brand new lure burning brightly in his head. It seems that the skinny, wide-eyed kid busily adding Celta blades to his Hogback Spinners for a bit more flash and vibration has never really grown up… Long may it be so.

Big, blue-nosed bream don’t seem to be able to say no to the new generation of Ray’s timber-bodied Shimmeys in their 50 and 60 mm sizes. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Manufactured from 316 Stainless Steel Manufactured from 316 Stainless and complies with:

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ASNZS 3000 electrical Installation ASNZS IEC 60670 Boxes & Enclosures ASNZS 2700 Protective Coating AS3100 Internal Switching ASNZ 61009 Safety Compliance IP66 Conforming to AS60529 2 x Auto Switched Outlets

WALL MTD VERSION IS AVAILABLE

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Calamari Cuisine Getting The Most From Your Squid

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SHANE MENSFORTH

Calamari Cuisine GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR SQUID

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I’m old enough now to remember the days when squid were bait…… and nothing else. Never in a million years did we consider catching squid to eat. It was the European and Asian influence, of course, that changed all that. Squid have long been a seafood staple in many other countries, and over time our new Greek, Italian and Asian Australians began to change our thinking. The term ‘calamari’, of course, is from Italy, where squid have been on the menu for centuries.

Wife Merrilyn and I eat a lot of seafood these days – at least two meals a week and sometimes three – and generally one of those meals is calamari based.

Living on Yorke Peninsula, a couple of hours’ drive from Adelaide, we have yearround access to plenty of fresh squid, providing the opportunity to experiment with recipes and serve it in a variety of ways. The old favourites of crumbed or battered calamari still feature regularly, but we are now far more adventurous and constantly on the look-out for new ideas and variations on traditional themes. Go internet surfing with calamari recipes in mind and I can guarantee you’ll find enough to keep you busy for months.

However, before you start looking at a heap of new and exotic cooking methods, it’s important to consider the back story – how best to despatch, clean and store your freshly caught calamari to optimise the subsequent table experience. As is the case with all seafood, the way you treat squid after capture will certainly influence the way it tastes later on. It’s definitely worth going the extra mile, particularly during the warmer months when any potential seafood is more prone to deterioration than at other times of the year.

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SHANE MENSFORTH PROVIDES SOME HINTS AND TIPS ON CONVERTING YOUR SQUID INTO DELICIOUS SEAFOOD MEALS.

Calamari Cuisine Getting The Most From Your Squid

Let’s take a look at what I consider the best way to care for your calamari, whether land-based or out in the boat.

First up, it’s both humane and convenient to kill the squid you intend to keep as quickly as possible. This can be achieved by delivering a ‘rabbit chop’ to the area immediately behind the squid’s head. If done correctly, this will cause the squid to die immediately, falling limp and turning ghostly pale within seconds. An alternative is to squeeze the same area tightly until the squid expires. I prefer the first option, as it rarely seems to fail and usually results in less ink expulsion.

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Squid die quickly and humanely with a rabbit chop.

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We always pack a reasonable volume of ice for a squidding excursion, regardless of whether it’s summer or winter. It’s not hard work, nor is it overly expensive to grab a couple of bags of party ice from the local servo’ or supermarket before heading out – and I can guarantee it’s ten bucks well spent. You’ll need a decent ice box, of course, to maintain low temperature over an extended session.

I like to empty the bags of ice into the eski, then put one of those green garbage bin liner bags directly on top of the ice to hold the squid catch.

This helps keep the ice relatively clean, without the intrusion of messy ink, and makes things a lot tidier at the end of the fishing session.

If we’ve caught a decent bag of average-size squid, I like to put half into the tumbler and give the bag a good tow for a couple of minutes at 10-12 knots. You’ll notice plumes of ink spewing out through the mesh as the bag tumbles and dives in the boat wash.

Once I’m happy that the squid have lost all their ink and most of their skin, I’ll retrieve the bag and empty them directly back onto the ice. After the process has been repeated for the second half of the catch, it’s back to the ramp and home to the cleaning table.

By this stage not only should your calamari be totally ink free, they should also be skinless and the majority of flaps should have separated from the mantles. If not, chances are you didn’t tow the tumbler bag long enough or fast enough. Squid doesn’t bruise if towed quickly, so don’t be afraid to apply the throttle during the tumbling job.

Naturally, this extremely convenient initial cleaning process doesn’t apply if you’re a land-based squidder, making the job far more time consuming and tedious. However, it’s still important to keep your catch cold, and I’ll often refrigerate jetty-caught squid overnight before heading down to the beach to clean them next day. Experience has taught me this is inevitably an inky, messy exercise that’s definitely best done while standing in shin-deep water – well away from home where it can lead to domestic disharmony!

Assuming you’ve been boat fishing and have ink-free, skin-free calamari to deal with at the cleaning table, the next decision is how to proceed with the knife. Do you want to end up with rings, strips or whole tubes? Do you want to retain and clean the heads and flaps? These options are usually influenced by the way you intend to cook and serve your calamari dishes, and it’s something you need to figure out at the cleaning table.

I’d say 90 per cent of the squid I clean these days ends up as opened tubes, cut up the middle and frozen flat. If rings are your thing, you obviously leave the www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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If we’re squidding out in the boat, the first thing we do after we’ve finished and packed the gear away is give the catch a decent tumble in a scaling bag. There are some scaling bags that work better than others, particularly on calamari, but generally those with slightly coarser, heavier mesh are the way to go. You’ll probably pay $70-$100 for a really good tumbler as opposed to $20-$30 for a cheapie, but you’ll definitely appreciate the difference once you’ve used both types.

Calamari Cuisine Getting The Most From Your Squid

cleaned tube intact, to be sliced later after thawing. Rings are possibly a little more trendy and aesthetically attractive, but I reckon a flat mantle, thawed and then cut into strips, is a lot more functional and certainly easier to deal with.

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I’m no fan of squid that hasn’t been tenderised, and I can tell you it’s far easier to tenderise a squid mantle that has been opened up than one left as a tube. We’ve tried most of the popular ‘passive’ tenderising techniques, such as soaking in milk, covering with sliced kiwi fruit or lemon and even par boiling, all of which work to some degree. However, there’s simply nothing as effective as taking to a squid mantle with a steak tenderiser. You don’t have to belt the crap out of it either; just a 70 light going over on both sides will do the job – pretty much in the same way as you’d tenderise a piece of veal prior to crumbing and converting it into a schnitzel. Just a few seconds with the mallet tends to break down the squid’s inherent fibrous texture, releasing some of the inner juices at the same time. The mantle can then be left whole, reduced to strips or cut in which ever way suits your planned cooking technique.

There’s nothing like a few taps with a steak mallet to tenderise calamari.

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As mentioned, when towed in the tumbler, squid tend to lose their flaps as the skin is coming off, which can be pretty handy. The flap meat is relatively tender and just about as flavoursome as the mantle, so it’s definitely worth retaining. Likewise the head, which can be cleaned to remove eyes, beak and other undesirable bits. Some people, in fact, enjoy cooking the tentacles and munching on this often-underutilised part of the squid, but to my mind the two major tentacles are way too valuable as bait, so they end up in the bait freezer.

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Unlike most other fish and marine crustaceans, I reckon squid are best eaten after they have been frozen. I realise this runs contrary to general thinking on fresh versus frozen seafood, but rarely these days will I consider cooking calamari that hasn’t come from the freezer. Returning to the tenderness issue, there is no doubt a few weeks in a frozen state assists with reducing the ‘rubbery/toughness’ factor. In fact, I think a couple of months in the freezer will produce a better end result, and I’ve often thawed a packet of calamari after six or seven months to discover a sweeter and definitely more tender product.

Vacuum packing will ensure long freezer life.

We used to vacuum pack most of the calamari destined for the freezer, and there’s no doubt this is the best option if you have the time and patience. However, just lately I’ve switched to cheaper, more convenient press-seal plastic bags that seem to do a pretty good job. I’ve been buying the Hercules brand bags in large size (15 per pack), as they feature double seals and are the ideal size to store up to five medium calamari mantles. I’ve had very few of these bags leak through the double seal, whereas I’ve had the occasional more expensive single-seal bags let go in the freezer and cause unwanted ice crystalisation. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Calamari Cuisine Getting The Most From Your Squid

I like to pat the cleaned squid mantles dry with paper towel, then lay them flat in the bag before pushing out as much air as possible and sealing securely.

The bags can then be stored flat in the freezer and will thaw quickly and cleanly when required. It’s all pretty simple and, provided you get the whole process done in a reasonable time frame, you can look forward to a pristine product at any time down the track when it’s time to get cooking.

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I’ve already mentioned battering and crumbing calamari, and I would say these are still the two most popular methods used in Aussie households. We’ve been crumbing our squid for many years, but when the Japanese Panko crumbs 72 became readily available here through Asian grocers, things immediately went up a gear. Panko crumbs are purpose made from white, crustless bread. They are generally lighter and more flaky than traditional breadcrumbs, absorbing less oil during the deep frying process, which can only be a good thing.

Pimping up your Panko adds some interesting taste variations.

On occasion I like to ‘tweak’ our Panko crumbs by adding some subtle, but tasty bits and pieces like lemon zest, desiccated coconut or shredded coriander root. This provides an interesting lift in flavour, but my suggestion is to keep any additions to a sensible level so they don’t overpower the squid. I also like to add some standard breadcrumbs to the mix, especially if I’m planning to crumb a decent batch of calamari. This prevents the Panko crumbs from ‘gumming up’ – for want of a better term – after quite a bit of squid www.spooledmagazine.com.au

That’s a cracking calamari!

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Calamari Cuisine Getting The Most From Your Squid

has been coated and they are getting pretty wet from the egg/milk mixture. And by the way, you should always dust your squid (or any other seafood for that matter) with plain flour before egging and crumbing, as it helps the crumbs to stick better during frying.

Naturally, this process also applies if you prefer your calamari in rings rather than strips.

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So, with the more traditional and basic methods of preparing and cooking calamari under control, what about some other recipes? Squid lends itself nicely to all manner of European and Asian cooking styles, and all you’ll need is half an hour on-line to discover literally dozens of exotic and potentially mouth-watering recipes. Some of these we prepare precisely as instructed, while others we use as 74 a basis for something new, adding or subtracting ingredients as the fancy takes us.

Because we have plenty of squid on tap for much of the year, we tend to be pretty experimental, and I’ll admit we have had the odd failure by deviating too far from an original and proven recipe. Generally speaking, however, our calamari creations have been pretty good, and the occasional one might even qualify as spectacular.

Calamari in a Panko/ standard breadcrumb mix.

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Because we prefer to use frozen rather than fresh, it’s important to thaw our calamari as hygienically as possible. There are two ways to do this, one of which involves removing the squid from the freezer the night before use and leaving it in the fridge until it softens up. This usually takes eight or nine hours, which is fine if you’re organised enough to plan ahead. However, if you’re anything like us and start thinking about the evening meal at around 4pm or later, the same result can be achieved by tossing a sealed bag of calamari into a few centimetres of cool tap water in the sink. You can expect a thaw time of around 30 minutes, which gives you the opportunity to gather the required ingredients and ensures your squid thaws in pristine condition prior to tenderising.

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Tenderised calamari strips go nicely on a seafood pizza.

When we have the time, as well as a bit of fresh fish and maybe some blue crab meat, we’ll often thaw a bag of squid to make seafood pizzas. Rather than going to the trouble of creating pizza dough from scratch, we take a shortcut and use Lebanese pita bread, which tends to remain crisp in the Weber Q and complements seafood topping nicely. Brushed with olive oil, then loaded up with tenderised calamari, crab, fish, a few anchovies and topped with shredded mozzarella, a Lebanese bread pizza makes a wonderful summer snack. It goes down nicely with a beer or white wine, and rarely fails to impress guests. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Calamari Cuisine Getting The Most From Your Squid

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Nigella’s salt ’n’ pepper recipe is delicious.

I’m a huge fan of salt and pepper squid, and I’m amazed at how many variations are available on what would appear a fairly traditional dish. In just ten minutes I Googled 17 salt and pepper recipes, some of which were surprisingly different; so different, in fact, that the only common ingredients were squid, salt and pepper! The same applies to garlic squid, chilli squid, stuffed baby squid and a dozen other alternative dishes that emanate from different parts of the world.

We picked up a couple of really nice calamari recipes while touring Italy a few years back, along with several while in Asian countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia. Naturally, these are as authentic as you’ll find, but you can get pretty close to the real thing by investing time on the internet.

Because Merrilyn and I are garlic fiends, we tend to make several garlic calamari dishes quite regularly. One in particular seems to crop up a lot, due mainly to its ease of preparation and consistently flavoursome result. We pinched this one from the interestingly named ‘Headbangers’ Kitchen’, and I can pretty much guarantee that if you’re into garlic and seafood, you’ll love it as much as we do. It takes about 10 minutes to throw together, and you don’t need an exotic Asian pantry to make it.

Log on to headbangerskitchen.com and look for Keto Butter Garlic squid.

There are just six main ingredients (five apart from the calamari) and you can go as heavy or light as you like with the garlic. It’s an easy meal to eat, particularly with a crisp, cold Riesling, that’s certain to impress everyone. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Neil Perry’s fabulous chilli-salt squid can be as hot or mild as you like.

Another squid dish we’ve pinched from the ‘net – this time with a salt and pepper theme – is one by our favourite TV chef, Nigella Lawson. I love everything Nigella, and this recipe is up there with the best S&P calamari dishes you can create. Log on to nigella.com and look for the very simply titled ‘Salt and Pepper Squid’. Nigella makes this one with frozen baby squid, as fresh stuff is unlikely to be readily available in her neck of the woods, but we use tenderised strips of local squid and, to date, the results have been pretty impressive. You’ll need a mortar and pestle for this one to create an authentic salt and pepper mixture, but the effort is definitely well worth it.

As far as chilli squid goes, there are literally dozens on the internet to peruse and attempt. Neither of us are fans of overly volatile chilli, so we tend to temper the volume of hot stuff we include, but still manage to come up with something pretty snappy.

One recipe we cook often can be found at sbs.com.au and comes from our favourite Aussie chef, Neil Perry. It’s what he calls chilli-salt squid, and we discovered it on the SBS Food Channel 33. Like most of the calamari dishes we make regularly, this one is simple to prepare and takes just five minutes to cook. Served with a nice Pinot or rose´, this is terrific when you have dinner guests who don’t mind a bit of ‘heat with their eat’!

One calamari dish we haven’t been able to master – at least to the level we’ve hoped for – is stuffed baby squid. The most difficult part of this process is getting the squid tubes to an acceptable degree of tenderness while not overcooking the stuffing mix. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Calamari Cuisine Getting The Most From Your Squid

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Keto Butter Garlic Squid from the Headbanger’s Kitchen.

We tried soaking the tubes in milk before stuffing and cooking, which didn’t seem to help much, then resorted to drowning them in lemon juice for much the same result.

I even sent an email to Neil Perry, asking if he could give us any tips on tenderising small tubes for this cooking style, but even the king of Aussie cooking couldn’t help.

In the end we’ve just had to concede that stuffed baby squid will always be a tad chewy, but it can be a delicious alternative when you’re looking for something different. I always keep any small calamari that latch onto the jig and put them aside until I’ve accumulated enough to make a batch for cooking. Those little guys that are scarcely bigger than the jig are prime candidates, and I never feel guilty about taking them, as squid reproduce and grow faster than just about anything else in the sea. I simply skin them, gut them and freeze them to be put to good use at a later date.

By far the best stuffed baby squid recipe we’ve tried can be found at cooking.nytimes. com. It’s by American chef, David Tanis, and he calls it Stuffed Squid Sicilian-Style. It does take a bit of time to prepare, but I can guarantee the result will be worth the effort.

So, while Merrilyn and I are a long way from being innovators when it comes to cooking calamari, we’ve trawled through enough recipes from various sources to know what’s worth investigating and what’s not. The bottom line in all of this, of course, is that southern calamari is among the most versatile of all seafoods, and one we’re lucky to have on tap right around the state. Treat your squid well after capture, clean, store and cook it properly, and I doubt you’ll come up with many better things to eat! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Camp Oven, Charcoal Grill, Smoker, Gas Cooker, Rotisserie, we’ve got your flavours sorted

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Blue Rock Bass

BEN FARO

Blue Rock Bass WHILE VICTORIA MAY NOT BE RECOGNISED AS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S PREMIER BASS FISHERIES, THERE’S ONE LOCATION THAT OFFERS SOME TOP CL ASS ACTION. BEN FARO EXPL AINS.

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When it comes to bass fishing in Victoria, one place that needs no introduction is the picturesque Blue Rock Lake.

Set in the farming community of Willow Grove, this beautiful 208-hectare dam has lately been reaping the rewards of over a decade of Australian Bass stockings. While the growth rate hasn’t been exceptional, we are now starting to see some really good quality bass close to 50cm and quite a few between 3040cm. As far as bass fishing goes, it doesn’t get any better than fighting big ones in heavy timber, and in certain parts of Blue Rock there is plenty of it.

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The lake is not all about timber though, with multiple rocky points and edges in both the river arm and the basin, along with some very solid weed beds that begin to form over the years when there is a stable water level.

The lake fishes well at any time of the year, but one of my favourite seasons would have to be spring, with the focus being on November. It’s at this time of year that the bigger bass sit close to the edge and are ready to respond to a wide range of lures and techniques. While you can find them all over the lake, in spring the water levels are generally on the rise, and that pushes a lot of bass up into the river arm. For the purpose of this article, that’s the section of the dam that I am going to focus on. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Blue Rock Bass

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Rugged up to the eyeballs Dean Cummings proves that face masks aren’t just for covid-19.

The weather at Blue Rock in spring time is predictably unpredictable. A good raincoat and buff can make searching for bass like these a much more comfortable experience. //SPRINGTIME TACTICS The warmer weather of November marks the start of reliable bass fishing on the lake. Once the cicadas start singing and the flying ants start hatching, it’s game on for top-water fishing, and if the dice rolls your way and conditions are right, you could almost fish a top-water all day. The sheer abundance of structure, in the form of overhanging trees, standing timber and laydowns in the river arm, mean that you’re normally always within casting range of a fishy looking spot.

Most top-water lures will work, but my favourite style would have to be crawlers.

A Tiemco Soft Shell Cicada or Megabass Siglett normally gets the job done.

During termite and ant hatches, the bass can get quite selective, and downsizing your offerings can increase the bite rate substantially. In these situations I’ll turn to lures like the Tiemco Trick Trout Cicada or Jackson T-pivot. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

While top-water fishing can be fun, it definitely is a case of playing the numbers game to get onto some of the bigger bass. One of the more consistent ways of finding these fish is to concentrate your efforts on sub-surface fishing, and while it can be frustrating trying to navigate the never-ending amount of structure in places like the river arm, the rewards are often well worth it.

Casting 3/8 ounce spinnerbaits and chatterbaits to bankside structure and laydowns early in the day can coax some of the larger bass to come out and play.

Another way to approach this is to fish a lipless crankbait. While this might sound a little counterproductive in the heavily timbered 5 knott zone, the heavy, nose-down design and lack of a big bulky bib means this style of lure can most often be carefully dragged over structure and then quickly dropped back down to a more productive depth.

When it comes to fishing ‘reaction baits’, a medium-paced retrieve with the odd twitch thrown in is often all it takes to get that savage strike that angry springtime bass are known for. However, its best to mix up your retrieve speed a little to help you get a feel for what they’re preferring at the time As far as colour goes, I like to go with the traditional black and purple, however black and gold and the more natural green colours work well too. In reality, however, consistently putting the lure in the right place is far more important than your lure colour.

Declan James with a solid river arm dweller. The assist hook setup on this chatterbait certainly helps increase hook ups. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Their big, bulky profile imitates food items such as yabbies, baby redfin, bass or carp, and their loud rattles can often be heard before you’ve even brought the lure back into the boat, making them a great searching tool when you’re trying to cover water quickly.

Blue Rock Bass

//THE JIG BITE

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An article on springtime bass fishing would never be complete without at least mentioning skirted jigs, and Blue Rock is no exception. Once the sun is up and the morning bite period is over, things can start getting pretty tricky on the dam for your more traditional 84 Aussie bass methods. This is the perfect time to start thinking about presenting a lure a little bit deeper, and a skirted jig is a great way to do it There are multiple variations of skirted jigs, and choosing the right one can make the difference between a relatively stress-free day on the water and an expensive and frustrating one. At this time of year when the aim is to cast to laydowns, standing timber and rocky edges in relatively shallow water, I prefer to throw a flipping or structure jig over the more well known football jig. This style of jig is normally built around a stout, short shanked, wide gaped hook that is perfect for hauling fish away from structure without the risk of straightening hooks on a good one. Their streamlined head design and stiff brush means they can be worked on the bottom, in and around some of the nastiest timber available without repeatedly snagging up.

Don’t rule out standing timber in the middle of nowhere.

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In the past, finding suitable jigs was a difficult task, with most built on hooks that were way too big for our Aussie bass. That’s all changed as this style of fishing has grown in popularity and there are a few companies making them now, with some good products from Bassman, Molix and Z-man. Again, colour doesn’t seem to matter too much, but a couple of my favourites are blackblue and green/brown combinations.

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The method of fishing jigs is pretty simple, and if you’re putting them in the right places, there is always a chance that a hungry bass will eat your lure on the drop.

Keeping your line under control and sinking the jig on a semi-slack line will help you detect more bites, but it’s a good idea to keep a sharp eye on the line for any unnatural movements that didn’t transmit to that tell-tale ‘pluck’ on the line. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Blue Rock Bass

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The reality is, most of the time your lure will hit the bottom uninterrupted. Once it’s down there, give the lure a series of short hops or shakes before allowing it to rest back on the bottom again and then simply repeat. Most of the time that’s all you’ll have to do, however it can pay to mix Fishing tight to structure and the bottom should 86 it up. Another useful way of see you get bites right throught the day. fishing the jig is to carefully drag it across the bottom in short, consistent sweeps of the rod tip. This more accurately imitates the walking motion of an unalarmed yabby, and is a very subtle way to fish the jig for bass when they aren’t aggressively feeding.

Patience is key with a skirted jig, as bass will often nip and bite at it in an effort to either disarm or stun the ‘yabby’. It’s a good idea not to strike on the first sign of a bite, and instead try waiting until you feel the weight of the fish and maybe a head shake or two before driving the hook home. This does sound counterproductive, but it’s amazing how long a bass will hold onto a jig before deciding that it’s not edible. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

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Playing the patience game paid off big time for Cam Washington with this 40+cm bass after it nipped and tugged at his jig before finally inhaling it under the boat. //TACKLE For top-water fishing I prefer light to medium-light, moderately tapered spin rods around the 6’6”-7’ mark. The moderate taper helps keep the treble hooks in place when you’re locked up to an angry bass and the slightly shorter rod length helps to accurately place a small surface lure next to your target.

Rigged with PE 1 braid and 12lb monofilament leader, you can generally put enough pressure on to keep fish out of trouble and get them in the boat.

For reaction bait fishing I prefer to use a baitcaster. They really help to deliver the heavier lures with a lot more accuracy and control. Fast actioned rods in the 6-7’ range rated to around 12lb or M to ML are perfect for the job. For your jigs, 7’7’6 fast action rods with a nice soft tip for ‘feeling’ the bite are the way to go. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Blue Rock Bass

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Caitlyn Berecry was all smiles with this healthy bass taken from the bankside structure.

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As far as lines go on the baitcaster, I’m pretty much sold on straight-through fluorocarbon. The sinking nature of fluorocarbon means that your lures track at a better depth, and the fact that I don’t have to consistently tie leader knots means I spend more time fishing and less time preparing my tackle. Most of the time I’ll use 12lb Sunline Sniper, but if fishing really heavy cover, I will up that to 20lb.

If straight fluorocarbon isn’t your thing (it’s definitely not for everyone) PE 1.5 braid with a 12-20lb leader is perfect. When it comes to reaction bait fishing with braid, pulling hooks can be more of a problem. I’ve found switching to a moderately tapered rod helps keep you connected to more fish.

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Some of that might sound a little bit excessive, however the bass in Blue Rock punch well above their weight and a decent one will have no issues exposing any weakness in your tackle.

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That Sinker Feeling

ROB MAYA

That Sinker Feeling

ROB MAYA FINALLY GE TS THE LEAD OUT AND HELPS SOLVE A WEIGHT Y ISSUE.

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List of things you’ll need Sinker Mould

Click here

Proper safety mask Welding gloves or equivalent heat resistant gloves Protective eye wear Gas burner and bottle Crucible Melting pot 91

Lead

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Swivels Pointy-nose pliers NOTE: Lead fumes are highly toxic so using the correct safety equipment is vital. Click the link above to find suitable products.

With so many of us having a bit of extra time up our sleeves and our regular haunts for gear closed for business, what better time to fully stock the tackle box with all the sinkers you could ever want? But wait a minute. The stores are closed!

While that is true, there’s nothing stopping you from making your own. Everything you need to do so is available on-line. Yes, I know you could just buy a whole bunch of sinkers, but where’s the fun in that? And once you have your tackle box full, you can start making them for friends and family. Who knows, you might end up being the on-line store fisho’s everywhere start buying their sinkers from! So, sit back, relax and take a weight off as we cover everything you need to know to get started.

Firstly, and most importantly, put on all your safety gear, ensuring there’s no exposed skin and make sure your work area is well ventilated. If possible, place your work bench under a window, near an open door or, even better, take the bench and the gas burner outside and make the sinkers there – weather permitting, of course. Even if you are working outside, you must still wear the correct face mask, as lead fumes are highly toxic.

Place any lead you want to use into the melting pot, turn on the gas, light the burners and leave the pot on the flames for about 20 minutes or so to heat up the lead and get everything up to temperature. You will need to bring the sinker mould up to temperature as well, and the best way to do this is to put the mould on top of the pot while the lead is melting. www.spooledmagazine.com.au

That Sinker Feeling

Keep in mind the mould needs to reach a certain temperature before the sinkers will come out correctly. If the mould is too cold when you start pouring, the lead will harden too quickly, giving the appearance that the mould is full, when all that’s happened is the opening of the mould has been blocked by the cooled lead.

Depending on the type of mould you are using, leaving it on top of the melting pot to heat up can take some time. But if you find your lead is molten and ready to pour, the quickest way to heat up the inside of the mould is to do a couple of test pours. This will not only heat up your mould quicker, it’s a great way to tell when your mould is at an even temperature to start your actual pour.

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Placing the mould on top of the pot will bring it up to a temperature suitable for pouring.

What is a test pour? Exactly as it sounds, it’s a sample pour before you put in a swivel to ensure the sinkers will be made properly and the mould is hot enough. If you don’t do a test pour, you could end up with a swivel connected to half a sinker or none at all.

Once you have completed a test pour and the sinker has formed properly all around, carefully open the mould, remembering it is now hot, so always use your gloves. Using pointy-nose pliers, carefully place the swivel in the spot allocated, (watch the video to see exactly where it’s placed), and close the mould. If you find the mould isn’t www.spooledmagazine.com.au

Place the swivel in the correct position of the mould. Remember the mould will be very hot so this is where the pointed nose pliers come in handy. closing properly, check that the swivel was placed correctly or if any lead hasn’t been removed from the previous test pours. Once you have the mould closed, you can then start to pour the lead into the mould. As a quick side note, if you took some time in getting the swivels into place and the mould closed, just leave it on the melting pot for a minute or two. This will ensure the mould is back up to ideal pouring temperature.

When pouring the lead, don’t go too fast; you are working with molten lead that will cause severe burns if it comes in contact with your skin. So again, make sure you are wearing all the protective gear needed when handling molten metal. As you start pouring it, take note of how fast the lead goes into the mould and pour it at a steady speed to ensure it comes out correctly and avoid any spilling or splashing.

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That Sinker Feeling

An even, steady flow will ensure fully formed sinkers every time. Practice makes perfect.

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Once poured, place the mould on the bench, give it a few seconds and then carefully open and tap it on the bench and the sinkers should just fall out. If they’re not coming out as easily as you would like, use your pointy-nose pliers to grab the swivel and lever the sinker out of the mould. Then carefully place the sinker on the bench, remembering it’s still very hot. You can drop the sinkers straight out of the mould into a bucket of water to cool them quickly and they can then be handled a lot easier and safer. Now that your sinkers have cooled, use pliers or cutters to snip off the waste at the bottom of the sinker, run a file over it to remove any sharp edges and you have your very own sinker, ready to go.

If, at any stage, you find the sinkers aren’t forming in full, it’s probably because the mould has cooled below its ideal even pouring temperature. Again, just place the mould or the melting pot or do a test pour or two and it will quickly get back up to temperature.

Once you work out the best speed to pour the lead in and you get on a roll, you will find the sinkers will come through perfectly every time. It really doesn’t take long before you’ve made enough sinkers to last you a long time.

As mentioned on numerous occasions throughout this article, practise extreme caution with everything you do when making your own sinkers.

Use all the safety equipment and take your time, and if at any stage you’re uncomfortable with doing it, just stop and don’t go any further.

I hope you enjoy making your own sinkers and above all, do it safely! www.spooledmagazine.com.au

WE HAVE MOVED

Come visit us at:

3 Bate Drive, Braeside

What’s NEW? SPOOLED LOOKS AT WHAT’S NEW IN THE MARKE T. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE PRODUCTS, SIMPLY TAP THE BUT TON SHOWN.

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ATOMIC WEIGHTED EWG Atomic is one of the most popular fishing tackle brands in Australia. They produce a wide array of rods, lures, plastics, and jig heads for all fishing styles. To complement the existing range of monster weighted worm hooks, they have added a smaller range suitable for all estuary fishing.

The hook sizes come in #1, #2 and 1/0. Built on a super sharp Gamakatsu hook, they are perfect for horizontal sinking presentation of popular plastic styles, including the popular Atomic Prong.

The weighted EWG comes with a weight on the shank of the hook. By placing the weight on the shank, the hook and plastic combination will sink naturally and, being weighted, it offers anglers the ability to use a weed less presentation at depths or in current that made an unweighted EWG unusable.

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KOOKABOX PORTABLE CAMP KITCHEN The KookaBox is a complete portable, self-sufficient camp kitchen weighing just 18.6kg and measuring 640mm x 400mm x 320mm. It’s made out of aircraft grade aluminium for ultra light weight, extreme durability and strength, combined with a stainless steel frame.

It offers all the extras and no restrictions to enjoy great outdoor Aussie cooking! Stock is now available.

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The KookaBox comes complete with all the equipment you need and expect in a fully functioning camp kitchen. It’s a 100 per cent Australian designed product and is a world first complete portable outdoor camp kitchen with all the components housed in a compact all-in-one box. The KookaBox is easily carried and easily stored in small spaces. It provides a means to just go and see what’s down the track, over the hill, up the river or around the corner.

What’s New?

DAIWA 21 SALTIST MQ With a brand-new single piece aluminium Monocoque body (MQ), the new Saltist MQ is now better equipped than ever to take on the rigors of Australian saltwater fishing and the hard fighting fish that call Australia home.

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Arguably one of Daiwa’s most famous features, Magseal combines with the MQ body to make Saltist MQ one of the best protected reels Daiwa has ever produced. The single piece MQ body houses a larger diameter Tough Digigear, transferring all of that power delivered through the handle to your line, ultimately stopping those fish in their tracks.

All Saltist MQ models are now also equipped with the Aluminium Round Knob to offer the best grip and stability. If you’re in the market for a new saltwater spinning reel capable of standing up to the test, look no further than the brand new Saltist MQ.

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ZMAN 9” GRUBZ – NEW COLOURS ZMan’s popular 10X Tough jumbo curl tail is now available in some dynamite new colours that will have offshore anglers pumped. It will also appeal to anglers putting this plastic to work on mulloway, barramundi and XOS flathead in the salt and Murray cod in the fresh. It can also be used as a stand-alone or as a ChatterBait and spinnerbait trailer.

New colour additions to the range include Coconut Ice Glow, Nuked Chicken Glow, Fusilier, Pink Glow and Atomic Sunrise. Big profile, big action and 10X Tough to handle the big bites!

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The proprietary ZMan ElaZtech construction means that not only is the 9” GrubZ extremely durable, to stand up better to aggressive fish and toothy critters, it also has a super-soft and flexible feel that keeps fish biting and a natural buoyancy that sees it come to life in the water. The long curl tail creates a seductive action that draws the bites on the drop, on the bottom or even when left in the rod holder to dance with the water movement.

What’s New?

SHIMANO COLTSNIPER BB Land-based fishing at times requires anglers to cover more water while using both lures and baits. Shimano’s newly designed Coltsniper BB rods will ensure that you are never under- gunned when fishing shore-based.

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With four models ranging from 9’6”-10’ in length, this series is built on Hi-Power X blanks that are carbon wrapped for added strength and casting distance. Fitted with Fuji K guides and a DPS reel seat that secures with a lock nut, the Coltsniper BB is equipped with componentry designed for performance. The lightweight two-piece design allows you to easily transport these rods down to your favourite beach gutter or rock platform. Available in ratings across PE2 and PE4 with varying casting weights from 60100g, the Coltsniper series is ideal for a range of spinning and shore jigging scenarios.

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OKUMA CEDROS SPINNING REELS Specifically designed for saltwater use, Cedros spinning reels feature Okuma’s patented LITECAST construction design for reduced weight and maximum strength. They are equipped with a Dual Force Drag System for extreme stopping power and proprietary High Density Gearing with corrosion-resistant coating for sustained performance.

Other winning features include a manual bail trip function for the ultimate reliability, precision machine cut brass pinion gear and a machined aluminium two-tone anodised spool.

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Initially available in 8000, 10000 and 14000 sizes, these reels boast a comprehensive features list that also includes 6HPB + 1RB corrosion resistant stainless steel bearings, Hydro Block watertight drag seal, and machined aluminium screw-in handle. Gear ratio in all models is 5.4:1.

What’s New?

ZMAN 6” DARTERZ A unique, 10X Tough ElaZtech jerkbait profile, the ZMan 6” DarterZ features a slender profile and forked tail that mimics garfish and other slender baitfish. The unique, horizontal ‘dolphin’ tail creates lift and glide, while the segmented design creates an irresistible action at speed or on a hopping and darting retrieve.

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DarterZ feature a top hook pocket and belly slot for those wishing to rig it weedless on a 6/0 or 8/0 TT Lures ChinlockZ or ChinlockZ SWS jighead – ideal for fishing the lilies weed and snags for barra, chasing kingies on top, working the weed flats for flathead, or numerous other applications.

Alternatively, it rigs beautifully on a standard TT Lures jighead in a 5/0, 6/0 or 7/0 for targeting everything from tuna, mackerel, trevally and other species high in the water column, to reef and pelagic species in the depths.

Made in the USA and distributed in Australia by an Australian owned and operated family business, the ZMan 6” DarterZ is going to be a versatile and unique addition to anglers kits. It will ideal for anything from impoundment barramundi to estuary flathead and mulloway, along with a myriad of offshore targets.

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DAIWA BEEFSTICK Z Tradition once again meets contemporary looks and styling with the release of the new Daiwa Beefstick Z range. An evolution of the popular Beefstick series, the new Z range once again features a composite graphite blank integrated with a traditional fiberglass tip, but takes it to another level with a new carbon outer scrim on the rod blank. This higher carbon design reduces blank weight to further enhance rod balance, feel and performance.

A composite cork butt cap adds a classic look to the Beefstick Z’s traditional design, with its robust construction made to handle the knocks and bumps of life on and off the water.

If you’re looking for an evolution of the traditional fibreglass-tipped rod of yesteryear, look no further than the new Beefstick Z range.

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Fuji Fazlite guides provide ultimate connectivity between angler and fish, with their ultra-tough construction designed to stand up to the rough and tumble of fishing, yet still have the sensitive to deliver anglers unmatched feel for a rod of this price. Flat-top EVA grips blend perfectly with the Beefstick Z’s graphite reel seat, with their ultra-sensitive design delivering angler comfort and in-hand control.

What’s New?

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DAIWA INSULATED FISH BAG Keep your catch safe and secure and in tip top condition with Daiwa’s new Insulated Fish Bag. Designed for ease of use, robust construction and for optimum insulating performance, the new Fish Bag is a must-have for all keen catch-n-cook anglers.

Heavily insulated and made from ultra-strong PVC material, the Insulated Fish Bag has been constructed to handle the heaviest of catches, even when loaded with ice, and features a zippered and Velcro strapped opening on the top for ease of access.

An external mesh pocket on the end of the bag provides storage options, while a lower drainage bung allows you to shed unwanted water from the bag. A ruler on the outside of the bag allows you to measure your catch, ensuring your prized capture doesn’t go unmeasured.

Available in three sizes (70cm, 100cm and 150cm) the new Insulated Fish Bag is the bag you don’t want to leave home without on your next fishing adventure.

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MUSTAD ARMLOCK SPINNER BAITS The Armlock Spinner Bait from Mustad is designed with a unique system that holds the spinner bait arm and hook steady when a fish strikes and holds firm during a fight. This gives unparalleled strength to the wire frame, increasing the durability of the lure, while at the same time ensuring the point of the 32608 hook is in the perfect position to penetrate on the strike.

At present the Armlock Spinner Bait is only available in a double willow configuration, allowing anglers to fish these lures deeper without the drag of a large Colorado blade. The blades are colour matched to the skirts to give the best overall presentation. Black, silver and gold blades and combinations of each are available.

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Other design features include a transparent Mezashi eye that acts as a strike trigger, willow blades constructed from brass, and hand-tied silicone skirts. There are five weights in the range (7,10,14, 21 and 28g) and eight colours to choose from.

What’s New?

4.2”& 6.2” BAIT JUNKIE MINNOW AND NEW COLOURS The Bait Junkie range welcomes two new models and a selection of colours for 2021. The latest releases in the Bait Junkie range, the 4.2” and 6.2” Minnows, adopt a new shape and a slightly different material to produce an epic action that is deadly in salt and freshwater.

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The deeper body enables flexibility for rigging options and helps promote the rolling action that makes this bait so successful. The big boot tail produces a heavy thump to call in nearby predators and will work at low and high-speed, making it incredibly versatile.

The 4.2” Minnow is the ‘estuary powerhouse’ of the Bait Junkie range and is destined for plenty of mangrove jacks in the snags or canals and big flathead in the estuaries. The 6.2” Minnow is the perfect large swimbait for barramundi, mulloway and Murray Cod. With a total of 12 new colours added to the existing Bait Junkie range, anglers are spoilt for choice when it comes to soft plastic selection.

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21 TIERRA Stylish classic looks meet advanced design in the new 21 TD Tierra rod series. A seamless blend of technology, ascetics, and value, 21 TD Tierra rides the wave of innovation while simultaneously wowing anglers when it comes to performance and price.

HVF Nanoplus carbon is the foundation of this impressive series, with precision resin control blending with unidirectional graphite fibre to create a blank that has maximum density. At the same time it is super light, sensitive, and unequalled in responsiveness.

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Daiwa’s X45 and Braiding X technologies further enhance blank design and performance, while Daiwa Reel Seats provide a rocksolid connection between rod and reel, with their ultra-light construction minimising weight to maximise rod balance and feel.

Angler connectivity is further enhanced courtesy of Fuji Fazlite guides.

Their ultra- light and highly sensitive design allow the angler to experience the full performance and power of the 21 TD Tierra’s blank.

A blend of Daiwa’s latest advanced designs, the TD Tierra range is state of the art technology blended with precision, performance, and Daiwa elegance.

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