new south wales fishing monthly - august 2014

Tournaments• BASS Pro Boondooma• BETS Sydney Harbour• SBS Mallacoota

Features• Deepwater Jigging in Malaysia• Thomson Creek Dam Trout• AFTA’s Best of Show• Fathers’ Day Gift Guide• Rigging Weedless Plastics

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• Mercury’s New Mid Range 4-Strokes

• SeaJay Avengers with Yamaha

• Suzuki’s 200HP• Funky New E-Tecs• Cool Gear from

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LATEST PRODUCTS FROM THE AFTA SHOW

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The Best By TestCatching The Dream

A Black Magic 7/0 Moonglow Moocher rig was used to catch this 153cm gummy shark. Hayden Sanders was fishing from the Portland Breakwater, VIC.

Paul Rahman landed this 7.5lb brown trout while fishing at Wurdiboluc Reservoir, VIC. Paul used Black Magic 4lb Fluorocarbon tippet.

Blake Papworth used Black Magic 80lb Tough Trace to take this 15kg kingfish. Blake was fishing at South West Rocks, NSW.

A Black Magic KL 7/0 hook was used by Adrian Lieutier to catch this 48kg wobbegong shark. Adrian was fishing at Walkerville South, VIC.

Luke Cooper caught this impressive 11.5kg snapper using a Black Magic 5/0 Snapper Snatcher ‘original’. Luke was fishing in the Spencer Gulf, SA.

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catch this 153cm gummy shark. Hayden Sanders was fishing

TM

Contents

NEW SOUTH WALES FISHING MONTHLY SINCE 1994

PR

OTECTIN

G FIS HING’S FU

TUR

E

AU

ST

RA

LIAN FISH I NG T R ADE ASSOC

IAT

ION

From the Editor’s Desk...

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All material is © copyright, and cannot be reproduced in part or in full, by any means, without written permission of the Managing Editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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BYRON COASTThe Tweed 22 Evans Head 23 The Clarence 24

COFFS COASTCoffs Harbour 26 Coffs Game 27 South West Rocks 28

MACQUARIE COASTPort Macquarie 30 Forster 32 Harrington 33

HUNTER COASTPort Stephens 34 Hunter Coast 36 Swansea 37 Central Coast 38

SYDNEYThe Hawkesbury 40 Pittwater 41 Sydney North 42 Sydney Rocks 44 Botany Bay 45 Sydney Harbour 46 Sydney South 48

ILLAWARRA COASTIllawarra 50 Nowra 52

BATEMANS COASTBatemans Bay 53 Bermagui 54 Narooma 55

EDEN COASTTathra 56 Eden 56 Mallacoota 57 Merimbula 57

FRESHWATERCanberra 59 Batlow 64 Jindabyne 65 Wagga Wagga 63 Tamworth 60 Maitland 66 Yarrawonga 62 Lithgow-Oberon 69 Moama 63 Robinvale 62

REGULAR FEATURESCooking 95 Back to Basics 91 Boating 74 Dam Levels 66 Fun Page 97 Kayak 92 Tides 103 Trade Directory 98 Tournaments 84 What’s New Fishing 8 What’s New Boating 74

SPECIAL FEATURESMalaysian Jigging 6-7 AFTA Show New Products 8-16 Fathers’ Day Gift Ideas 18-20 Thomson Creek Dam 70 Rigging Weedless Plastics 94

August 2014, Vol. 19 No. 12

Mark Corbin’s jewie came out of the Georges River, just south of Sydney. It went 90cm and ate a Jackall Transam. Also, over 250 people liked the mock-up on Facebook on the Fishing Monthly Magazines page!

It’s been a big month for us here at the NSW Fishing Monthly office. As well as putting together one of our biggest ever Winter issues, I guarantee that we worked the hardest at the 2014 AFTA Trade Show to show you all of the cool new products on display, merely hours after they were launched. On our YouTube Channel (SteveMorgan72) there’s a playlist of 50 of the products that we thought were the best – including a couple of pages of products that won AFTA’s Best of Show Awards. You can also access these videos by scanning the QR code that’s next to the product editorials inside on your smartphone. It’s one thing to read about the product, but to hear first-hand from the people in the industry that are behind a lot of the process of getting this stuff to market, that’s too good not to share.

For us and for you, the best news at the AFTA Show was a commitment from the AFTA Board to investigate the re-implementation of the Public Day at the show for the first time in over a decade. Let’s hope that it comes to pass, but be warned right now – it will be on the Gold Coast in July 2015, so you’d need to take a trip away with the missus and kids up and out of the cold, to somewhere that’s marginally warmer, sunny and with plenty of theme parks close by. Reckon that you can get that one past the Minister of Finances (MOF)? We know that the MOF can be a hard nut to crack, so we’ve given you as much help as we can this month. Seeing as next month is Father’s Day and all…. If you check out the Fathers’ Day feature right after the AFTA New Products, you’ll have a year-best selection of stuff to circle in red and leave in prominent parts of the house.

We can’t make it any easier than that, can we? Let us know if we can.

RETIRING STALWARTSAs an angler, you probably don’t get to hear too much about a lot of the people behind the scenes that work tirelessly for the industry. A couple of industry figures are hanging up the suit and tie for good. One of them is Steve Doyle, chief of BCF. Most of you would know Steve from a few cameo’s in some Real Estate ads, but during his tenure, he’s helped grow Australia’s biggest outdoors retail chain from nothing to where it is today. But I guarantee that not many of you would know Phil “Grumpy” Coles, chief of Pure Fishing Australia that does brands like Berkley, Abu Garcia and Ugly Stik. Grumpy’s also been instrumental in taking a brand and turning it into an industry powerhouse and although I’ve been both patted on the back and kicked

in the arse by Grumpy over the years, I give him a big thumbs-up for what he’s done in the industry. Both of these guys served on the Australian Fishing Trades Association (AFTA) Board for many years, fighting for our fishing rights, so I reckon that they solidly deserve their time in the boat or on the golf course. Well done!

AFTA HALL OF FAMEAnd I can’t finish without mentioning another who has worked tirelessly for the industry and was recognised for his diligence at the AFTA Show. Bruce Alvey was inducted into the AFTA Hall of Fame and we can think of nobody more worthy. As AFTA President for many years, owner of an Iconic brand of Australian built fishing reels and relentless advocate for anglers’ rights, take a bow, Mr Alvey.

5AUGUST 2014

6 AUGUST 2014

[email protected]

BRISBANEGordonMacdonald

Into the depths of Malaysia

Fishing can lead you to some amazing places to target a variety of extraordinary fish species. A recent invitation to visit Malaysia had my head spinning with thoughts of fishing in a new and exciting location. Few anglers are aware of the terrific fishing potential which Malaysia offers. Experiencing the culture, amazing food and locations were just a bonus, as I was about to find out. After boarding a Malaysian Airlines flight and heading northwest, I was finally on my way to Kuala Lumpur where I boarded a connection flight to Miri. This city in northern Sarawak on the island of Borneo has a population of over 360,000. The major industry of the area is petroleum (first discovered in the 1960s), followed by palm oil, rubber plantations, timber, coffee and pepper. However, more importantly for me and the other journalists on this trip, Miri is the gateway to Luconia Shoals, an exotic coral reef system extending hundreds of kilometres. This system lies around 100km (61 miles) off the coast of Miri with depths on top of the reef averaging 5-40m yet plummeting quickly into several hundreds of metres next to it. A bonus for anglers in the waters between Miri and Luconia are the

nearly everything was kept regardless. The crew were a happy bunch, with Adni the deckie yelling ka-ba-boom (colloquially translates to having a good time) every time someone’s rod loaded up.

We fished well into the night, our appetites satisfied and our energy levels renewed thanks to the delightful fried chicken and fish pieces, curries, rice, noodles and local vegetables that cookie prepared in a standing room-only recess with a single burner, wok and a shelf. Five-star food under a million stars – it was a great way to end our first day at Luconia.

huge number of oil rigs. These massive structures protrude eerily from the seabed and act as oversized

I barely remember going to bed yet was awoken early by new enthusiasm in a weary body (and my bladder) just after dawn. As I ventured up on deck, the edge of the main reef system was

within casting distance so I rigged a Saltiga popping rod and fired out a muskie stickbait. A few casts in there was a boil and after more prospecting I finally hooked a solid GT, which ejected the hooks quickly. We trolled for less than 30 minutes mid-morning with Jamie catching a wahoo around 8kg. Others caught during the day included aforementioned species as well as kawa

FADs, attracting an array of pelagic and demersal species. This provides some amazing opportunities for

fishers although you are not always allowed to fish around them and are regularly ushered away by the security boats.

kawa (mack tuna), bonito, yellowfin tuna and a new one for me, ujie rashid – a red fish with prominent fins and a large emerald eye. This was apparently named after a famous Malaysian singer from the

1980s with beautiful eyes. We mainly fished knife jigs, slow jigs and numerous baits. The other Aussie, the two kiwis, two Japanese anglers and I had high quality spin and overhead outfits between PE4 and PE10 yet many of the Singaporean and Malaysian anglers had brought electric reels, which made the task of extracting fish out of 200m a lot easier. For us, it was hard work at times yet very rewarding with

Straight from the Miri airport we headed to check out an array of massive fish which had been captured

during the 8th Miri City International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament. This year the event had attracted 102 anglers from

plenty of fish coming over the gunnels periodically, although we had to keep moving to find action. No goliaths had been caught at that stage, with most fish being sub 10kg, yet this was about to change.

Awaking next morning, I stumbled on deck just in time to see a grouper around 20kg coming over the transom. Several more quality fish also hit the deck over the next hour with more anglers joining the fray as they awoke from their slumber. Masiy from Tokyo hooked a good fish and played it hard and smooth to coerce it so the surface. The call of ‘gar-roop-a’ was made as plumes of expelled air then a massive brown shape materialised from

ten countries including England, Germany, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, India, Italy, Hong Kong, Philippines, Netherlands and of course Sarawak. International anglers aware of the huge potential of the Luconia Shoals regularly visit for the tournament and are well catered for and welcomed with typical Malaysian hospitality. We were stunned at the size of the goliaths on display which included grouper (pronounced gar-roop-a) to 58kg, GTs to 42kg as well as massive ruby snapper, amberjack and numerous other snappers and jobfish. Our shoulders were already aching at the thought of hauling in these massive fish but we were excited

the depths. This fish was close to 45kg and a personal milestone for Masiy, taken on a 360g Reals slow jig. This remained the largest fish for the trip although plenty of other beauties were taken including highly-prized ruby snapper to 14kg. In the late afternoon we headed back towards Miri, stopping at various oil rigs. The massive lights and vertical supports of these rigs attract huge masses of baitfish which in turn attract hordes of big-eye trevally to 5kg as well as GTs, tenggiri, escolar, mahi-mahi and others. My 8” Z-Man Streakz and 6oz jighead accounted for numerous big-eyes and seemed more successful than most other offerings around the oil rigs. The next day was our last and as I made it on deck I realised we had travelled during the night and were now adjacent to an oil rig. I grabbed my

soft plastic outfit and had a drop. As soon as it hit the bottom I started working it. Hop, hop, hop, whack, hop, CRUNCH. I was being stretched severely by a solid, rampaging fish on PE4 and had to apply extra pressure by grabbing the spool then walking towards the transom to pry the fish away from the heavy structure. The eventual result was a solid GT of around 20kg. At another structure later in the day a similar

and keen to get amongst the action. After ten courses featuring local produce, including fish caught during the tournament, and a good night’s rest we had another amazing Meritz Hotel buffet breakfast and headed off to our first side trip: prawn fishing, which I will cover next month. After another night at the Meritz, with a sumptuous feast at a local seafood restaurant, we finally headed to Luconia.THE ACTION STARTS

After several hours aboard Marine Harvest, a sub 70ft vessel, we stopped at an oil rig yet were sent on our way by security before we could drop a line into the cobalt blue water. The next rig allowed us to fish for a while so we deployed our jigs 80m to the bottom. Game on! Bananafish (rainbow runner), trevally and a few other species were caught, the best fish being a GT taken by Jamie who hailed from Perth, the only other Aussie on this trip. There were several bite-offs attributed to tenggiri (Spanish mackerel) and escolar (barracouta). We moved on and stopped at a few other oil rigs and open water spots where depths varied from 80m to 200m and species including dorian (squirrelfish), various unidentified groupers and numerous snapper (colloquially called ping-pong due to their flat, round shape, just like a ping-pong paddle) were caught. None of the crew seemed concerned about the exact identification of any species, they just knew which were the best ones to eat, although

plastic and jighead combination produced an almaco jack, a cousin of the amberjack and a new species for my growing list. For now, however, we were catching bananafish, escolar and big-eye trevally on lures and various snappers on baits. The action wasn’t hot but it was frequent enough to keep us trying. We tried a few other spots as we zigged and zagged our way through the South China Sea en route back to Miri. It was sad that our adventure was drawing to a close, yet we still had smiles on our faces due to the fish we had captured, new international friends, experience gained and the thought of a hot shower back at the Meritz. After a sumptuous Asian feast that night we wearily crawled into bed. The next morning we headed as a group back to Kuala Lumpur with most catching connecting flights back to their country of origin. I had another night in KL and was taken on a tour of this massive city. Michael my guide was a wealth of information and pointed out the historically significant sights and buildings. The array of fried, smoked and barbecued foods available from the street-side stalls required further taste testing and I would have loved to spend more time there. A side trip for a day to the stocked ponds an hour from the city is yet another line on my bucket list. MORE TO DISCOVER

Thank you to Malaysian Tourism and Malaysian Airlines who were instrumental in my experience within their

multi-cultural country. With so much on offer in Malaysia, I hope to soon return and experience more of the amazing hospitality, culture-rich places, friendly locals and of course the amazing fishing opportunities that Malaysia offers, including Rompin sailfishing and the rare snakehead fishery. We only just scratched the surface of Malaysia’s piscatorial possibilities and I can’t wait to sample more. Ka-ba-boom!

One of numerous grouper pulled in on the Ocean Harvest charter vessel.

VISITING MALAYSIA

Malaysia offers lots of hiddengems for the angler or seasonedtraveller. Tourism Malaysia can helpwith every detail in planning yournext trip to their country, no matterwhether you want to experience thefishing opportunities or just want tocheck out the sights, food, cultureandrichhistory that thisareaoffers.TheMiriCity InternationalDeepSeaFishingTournamentisagreattimetovisitforkeenanglershoweverTourismMalaysia can point you in the rightdirection no matter where you wanttogoorwhatyouwishtotarget. This is a big year for Malaysiawith the Visit MalaysiaYear 2014 –the largest celebration of all thingsMalaysian. For more details on thisevent and other facets of Malaysia,

ormoreinformationtoplanyourtrip,check out www.tourismmalaysia.com.au. I can confidently say thatno-one knows Malaysia better thanTourismMalaysia. The award-winning MalaysianAirlines operate 81 services weeklyfrom Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane,Adelaide,Perth,DarwinandAucklanddirect to Malaysia with convenientconnections to over 60 destinationsaround the world. Recently theairline celebrated their one-yearanniversary as a full member of theaward-winning Oneworld Alliancewhich offers special privileges andrewardsforfrequentflyers.PersonallyIfoundtheirservice,staffandaircraftexcellentandlookforwardtomynextflightwiththem.

The massive oil rigs attract large quantities of baitfish, which in turn attract predators such as trevally.

Ruby snapper are a prized capture due to their excellent eating qualities.

Top: Colourful commercial line fishing boats at Miri Harbour. Above: Jamie with a dorian, or

squirrel as they were commonly called, which were numerous and often annoying when you had to haul them up from the depths. Near Right: 3My best GT for the trip was taken on a plastic fished close to an oil rig on PE4. Far Right:

Masiy with the fish of the trip, a grouper nudging 45kg which was taken from 200m of water on a Reals slow jig, which his mate makes in Tokyo.

Although there were numerous species taken, no one seemed to know the identification of each, they were all just called grouper.

MALAYSIA BRUNEI

MALAYSIA

INDONESIA

SINGAPORE

THAILAND

Kuala Lumpur

Sarawak

MiriLuconia Shoals

7AUGUST 2014

[email protected]


Into the depths of Malaysia

Fishing can lead you to some amazing places to target a variety of extraordinary fish species. A recent invitation to visit Malaysia had my head spinning with thoughts of fishing in a new and exciting location. Few anglers are aware of the terrific fishing potential which Malaysia offers. Experiencing the culture, amazing food and locations were just a bonus, as I was about to find out. After boarding a Malaysian Airlines flight and heading northwest, I was finally on my way to Kuala Lumpur where I boarded a connection flight to Miri. This city in northern Sarawak on the island of Borneo has a population of over 360,000. The major industry of the area is petroleum (first discovered in the 1960s), followed by palm oil, rubber plantations, timber, coffee and pepper. However, more importantly for me and the other journalists on this trip, Miri is the gateway to Luconia Shoals, an exotic coral reef system extending hundreds of kilometres. This system lies around 100km (61 miles) off the coast of Miri with depths on top of the reef averaging 5-40m yet plummeting quickly into several hundreds of metres next to it. A bonus for anglers in the waters between Miri and Luconia are the

nearly everything was kept regardless. The crew were a happy bunch, with Adni the deckie yelling ka-ba-boom (colloquially translates to having a good time) every time someone’s rod loaded up.

We fished well into the night, our appetites satisfied and our energy levels renewed thanks to the delightful fried chicken and fish pieces, curries, rice, noodles and local vegetables that cookie prepared in a standing room-only recess with a single burner, wok and a shelf. Five-star food under a million stars – it was a great way to end our first day at Luconia.

huge number of oil rigs. These massive structures protrude eerily from the seabed and act as oversized

I barely remember going to bed yet was awoken early by new enthusiasm in a weary body (and my bladder) just after dawn. As I ventured up on deck, the edge of the main reef system was

within casting distance so I rigged a Saltiga popping rod and fired out a muskie stickbait. A few casts in there was a boil and after more prospecting I finally hooked a solid GT, which ejected the hooks quickly. We trolled for less than 30 minutes mid-morning with Jamie catching a wahoo around 8kg. Others caught during the day included aforementioned species as well as kawa

FADs, attracting an array of pelagic and demersal species. This provides some amazing opportunities for

fishers although you are not always allowed to fish around them and are regularly ushered away by the security boats.

kawa (mack tuna), bonito, yellowfin tuna and a new one for me, ujie rashid – a red fish with prominent fins and a large emerald eye. This was apparently named after a famous Malaysian singer from the

1980s with beautiful eyes. We mainly fished knife jigs, slow jigs and numerous baits. The other Aussie, the two kiwis, two Japanese anglers and I had high quality spin and overhead outfits between PE4 and PE10 yet many of the Singaporean and Malaysian anglers had brought electric reels, which made the task of extracting fish out of 200m a lot easier. For us, it was hard work at times yet very rewarding with

Straight from the Miri airport we headed to check out an array of massive fish which had been captured

during the 8th Miri City International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament. This year the event had attracted 102 anglers from

plenty of fish coming over the gunnels periodically, although we had to keep moving to find action. No goliaths had been caught at that stage, with most fish being sub 10kg, yet this was about to change.

Awaking next morning, I stumbled on deck just in time to see a grouper around 20kg coming over the transom. Several more quality fish also hit the deck over the next hour with more anglers joining the fray as they awoke from their slumber. Masiy from Tokyo hooked a good fish and played it hard and smooth to coerce it so the surface. The call of ‘gar-roop-a’ was made as plumes of expelled air then a massive brown shape materialised from

ten countries including England, Germany, Singapore, Australia, Brunei, India, Italy, Hong Kong, Philippines, Netherlands and of course Sarawak. International anglers aware of the huge potential of the Luconia Shoals regularly visit for the tournament and are well catered for and welcomed with typical Malaysian hospitality. We were stunned at the size of the goliaths on display which included grouper (pronounced gar-roop-a) to 58kg, GTs to 42kg as well as massive ruby snapper, amberjack and numerous other snappers and jobfish. Our shoulders were already aching at the thought of hauling in these massive fish but we were excited

the depths. This fish was close to 45kg and a personal milestone for Masiy, taken on a 360g Reals slow jig. This remained the largest fish for the trip although plenty of other beauties were taken including highly-prized ruby snapper to 14kg. In the late afternoon we headed back towards Miri, stopping at various oil rigs. The massive lights and vertical supports of these rigs attract huge masses of baitfish which in turn attract hordes of big-eye trevally to 5kg as well as GTs, tenggiri, escolar, mahi-mahi and others. My 8” Z-Man Streakz and 6oz jighead accounted for numerous big-eyes and seemed more successful than most other offerings around the oil rigs. The next day was our last and as I made it on deck I realised we had travelled during the night and were now adjacent to an oil rig. I grabbed my

soft plastic outfit and had a drop. As soon as it hit the bottom I started working it. Hop, hop, hop, whack, hop, CRUNCH. I was being stretched severely by a solid, rampaging fish on PE4 and had to apply extra pressure by grabbing the spool then walking towards the transom to pry the fish away from the heavy structure. The eventual result was a solid GT of around 20kg. At another structure later in the day a similar

and keen to get amongst the action. After ten courses featuring local produce, including fish caught during the tournament, and a good night’s rest we had another amazing Meritz Hotel buffet breakfast and headed off to our first side trip: prawn fishing, which I will cover next month. After another night at the Meritz, with a sumptuous feast at a local seafood restaurant, we finally headed to Luconia.THE ACTION STARTS

After several hours aboard Marine Harvest, a sub 70ft vessel, we stopped at an oil rig yet were sent on our way by security before we could drop a line into the cobalt blue water. The next rig allowed us to fish for a while so we deployed our jigs 80m to the bottom. Game on! Bananafish (rainbow runner), trevally and a few other species were caught, the best fish being a GT taken by Jamie who hailed from Perth, the only other Aussie on this trip. There were several bite-offs attributed to tenggiri (Spanish mackerel) and escolar (barracouta). We moved on and stopped at a few other oil rigs and open water spots where depths varied from 80m to 200m and species including dorian (squirrelfish), various unidentified groupers and numerous snapper (colloquially called ping-pong due to their flat, round shape, just like a ping-pong paddle) were caught. None of the crew seemed concerned about the exact identification of any species, they just knew which were the best ones to eat, although

plastic and jighead combination produced an almaco jack, a cousin of the amberjack and a new species for my growing list. For now, however, we were catching bananafish, escolar and big-eye trevally on lures and various snappers on baits. The action wasn’t hot but it was frequent enough to keep us trying. We tried a few other spots as we zigged and zagged our way through the South China Sea en route back to Miri. It was sad that our adventure was drawing to a close, yet we still had smiles on our faces due to the fish we had captured, new international friends, experience gained and the thought of a hot shower back at the Meritz. After a sumptuous Asian feast that night we wearily crawled into bed. The next morning we headed as a group back to Kuala Lumpur with most catching connecting flights back to their country of origin. I had another night in KL and was taken on a tour of this massive city. Michael my guide was a wealth of information and pointed out the historically significant sights and buildings. The array of fried, smoked and barbecued foods available from the street-side stalls required further taste testing and I would have loved to spend more time there. A side trip for a day to the stocked ponds an hour from the city is yet another line on my bucket list. MORE TO DISCOVER

Thank you to Malaysian Tourism and Malaysian Airlines who were instrumental in my experience within their

multi-cultural country. With so much on offer in Malaysia, I hope to soon return and experience more of the amazing hospitality, culture-rich places, friendly locals and of course the amazing fishing opportunities that Malaysia offers, including Rompin sailfishing and the rare snakehead fishery. We only just scratched the surface of Malaysia’s piscatorial possibilities and I can’t wait to sample more. Ka-ba-boom!

One of numerous grouper pulled in on the Ocean Harvest charter vessel.

VISITING MALAYSIA

Malaysia offers lots of hiddengems for the angler or seasonedtraveller. Tourism Malaysia can helpwith every detail in planning yournext trip to their country, no matterwhether you want to experience thefishing opportunities or just want tocheck out the sights, food, cultureandrichhistory that thisareaoffers.TheMiriCity InternationalDeepSeaFishingTournamentisagreattimetovisitforkeenanglershoweverTourismMalaysia can point you in the rightdirection no matter where you wanttogoorwhatyouwishtotarget. This is a big year for Malaysiawith the Visit MalaysiaYear 2014 –the largest celebration of all thingsMalaysian. For more details on thisevent and other facets of Malaysia,

ormoreinformationtoplanyourtrip,check out www.tourismmalaysia.com.au. I can confidently say thatno-one knows Malaysia better thanTourismMalaysia. The award-winning MalaysianAirlines operate 81 services weeklyfrom Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane,Adelaide,Perth,DarwinandAucklanddirect to Malaysia with convenientconnections to over 60 destinationsaround the world. Recently theairline celebrated their one-yearanniversary as a full member of theaward-winning Oneworld Alliancewhich offers special privileges andrewardsforfrequentflyers.PersonallyIfoundtheirservice,staffandaircraftexcellentandlookforwardtomynextflightwiththem.

The massive oil rigs attract large quantities of baitfish, which in turn attract predators such as trevally.

Ruby snapper are a prized capture due to their excellent eating qualities.

Top: Colourful commercial line fishing boats at Miri Harbour. Above: Jamie with a dorian, or

squirrel as they were commonly called, which were numerous and often annoying when you had to haul them up from the depths. Near Right: 3My best GT for the trip was taken on a plastic fished close to an oil rig on PE4. Far Right:

Masiy with the fish of the trip, a grouper nudging 45kg which was taken from 200m of water on a Reals slow jig, which his mate makes in Tokyo.

Although there were numerous species taken, no one seemed to know the identification of each, they were all just called grouper.

MALAYSIA BRUNEI

MALAYSIA

INDONESIA

SINGAPORE

THAILAND

Kuala Lumpur

Sarawak

MiriLuconia Shoals

8 AUGUST 2014

To watch the video, scan this QR Code

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AFTA FISHING TACKLE, MARINE AND OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW 2014 AWARD WINNING PRODUCTS

• Samaki Xtreme PE •

• Fish Candy Wild Prawn •

• Wilson Venom X •

• Shimano Stella FI •

• Abu Veritas/Orra S40 •



http://goo.gl/tDJQN1

Wilson’s Venom X 10-20lb 2-piece PCE Spin Rod is one of the flagship rods in the new Venom range. The top-of-the-line series includes eight jigging style rods from 150gto 450g (PE1 to PE10) and five two-piece saltwater spinning rods (popper rods) that range from PE3 through to PE12. The materials used in the blank, along with Wilson’s new resin system and cloth, allows the builders to produce a blank that can dead lift 40kg+ of weight with weights of less than 110g! But there’s no use having all the weight lifting ability without an action that allows the Angler to fully use this raw lifting power. You can literally put as much as twice the hurt on a fish for the same amount of pressure applied to the foregrip of the rod when compared to a lot of the other similar models of rods in the country today. Venom rods come with Echrome Fuji guides, blingy butts and stunning looks.

Price: varieswww.wilsonfishing.com

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The AFTA Tackle, Marine & Outdoors Show, Australia’s only tackle trade show, was a great success this year. The 2014 AFTA Best Of Show Awards were drawn on the second day of the Show, and represent some of the best new products to hit Australian shores. Each year the AFTA Best Of Show Awards are judged according to their level of innovation, effectiveness and value for money. The judges are tackle retailers and members of the fishing media, and you can rest assured that these seasoned critics know what sets a good product apart from its peers. This year’s competition was hard-fought in numerous categories, and with the addition of several new categories, the awards showcase the best of what is to come this season. In 2014, 17 products were awarded the coveted title of Best of Show, including a three-way tie in the Bert Terminal Tackle category, each deserving winners in a field of exceptional development in the Australian tackle trade. Now, without further ado, here are the Best Of Show winners for 2014!

AFTA Best of Show Awards The Shimano Stella FI series reels are perfect for light

line applications in both fresh and salt water. Micromodule Gear Technology delivers a new level of smoothness and reduced vibration for easier winding and better contact with the lure. S-Direct Gear means more precise gear component alignment, and Coreprotect involves a sealed bail arm line roller, rotor and roller clutch, so the Stella FIs can be fished in a variety of environments without being affected by sand, dirt or water. G Free Body means the reel’s centre of gravity has been moved closer to the rod for less winding fatigue. Each Stella has 13 SA-RB bearings and an all-new design IAR bearing, which generates less friction and lighter handle rotation. There’s also a titanium bail arm, a larger, ergonomically shaped drag knob for adjusting the new Coil Wave Spring Drag, a longer spool shape for greater casting distance, and a re-designed line clip.

Price: from approx. $970www.shimanofish.com.au

This new combo from Abu Garcia features an Orra S40 reel and Veritas 7’ 2-piece 6-10kg rod. The Orra S incorporates a smooth performing sealed Hybrid Carbon Matrix drag system and includes a durable braid ready aluminium spool that eliminates the need for mono backing. Other features include 6 x SSBB and corrosion resistant IAR bearing; carbon-infused body; 1-piece gearbox design; slow oscillation for even line lay with all types of line; Duragear Gears; SuperLine Spool and Sealed Carbon Matrix Drag System. It has a gear ratio of 5.8:1 and has a line capacity of 190/7 braid. Abu’s nanotechnology introduces nano particles to the rod’s resin, and the result is an extremely strong yet lightweight and balanced rod. The Veritas series also features 30 ton graphite construction, Abu’s new Extreme Exposure reel seat for extra sensitivity, lightweight

Titanium alloy guides with SiC inserts, High density EVA grips and a Texas rig style hook keeper.

Price: approx. $195abugarcia-fishing.com.au

Samaki has built its reputation on offering innovative high quality rods designed specifically for Australia. Now they have developed a braid that meets the same high quality standards at a reasonable price. Xtreme PE offers up to 8X more abrasion resistance than standard PE fibres. It’s constructed using the highest quality Japanese Dyneema fibres, and it’s braided in Japan as well, ensuring the perfect product. This tighter, more compact braid has an ultra round profile for improved casting distance, higher sensitivity and extreme knot strength. The fibre layers are individually treated with a superior UV formula to create a soft feel as well as the aided benefit of long-term performance. Xtreme PE comes in lime green and dark green, and comes in weights of 6lb, 8lb, 10lb, 15lb, 20lb, 30lb and 50lb in nd 150 yard and 300 yard spools.

Price: RRP $39.95 for 150 yardswww.samaki.com.au

River2Sea’s Fish Candy Wild Prawn has been designed to mimic Australian prawn species. There are seven colours in the range, including tiger prawn, banana prawn, jelly prawn and native prawn. All legs of the Prawn move in the water to give a realistic action. Other fish-fooling features include a fully segmented tail, ultra lifelike feelers and 3D eyes, and the lure is weighted specifically to give that lifelike gliding prawn action. No aggressive jerks are needed – just slow rolling interspersed with a few gentle twitches. The Wild Prawn is rigged with a stinger hook connected with 20kg Dyneema cord. On the belly it has another metal ring which can also be used to rig a another trailer or attach a treble.

9AUGUST 2014

b e r k l e y - f i s h i n g . c o m . a u • f a c e b o o k . c o m / b e r k l e y f i s h i n g a u s t r a l i a • y o u t u b e . c o m / u s e r / p u r e f i s h t v

Berkley devoted two decades perfecting GULP! Through countless tests both in the Berkley fish lab and on the water.

Unlike plastic baits Gulp! is water-based, dispersing scent as soon as it hits the water. It is this powerful, water-based scent release system that makes Gulp! the most effective ‘soft plastic.’

The truly lasting R&D achievement is being a water based polymer made from 100% natural ingredients, Gulp! is 100% Biodegradable.

Because it’s not plastic...

WHY IS GULP!SOFT PLASTIC?EFFECTIVE

THE MOST

Scan to learn more about why Gulp! is the most effective

‘soft plastic.’ QR campaign by Mark HUISKEN the 2014-04-07Gulp Effective YT clip start time : 07-04-2014

end time : You Tube

You QR must be taller than 2 cm (on print support)short link : http://www.pfcatalogarc.com/qr-purefishing,283.htmlLong link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ruUABEkhgECheck out the huge Gulp! range at your nearest stockist today and start catching more fish! www.youtube.com/user/purefishtv

HORIZONTAL 242x165.indd 7 3/07/2014 2:49 pm

50M

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• Halco C-Gar •

• HeadlockZ and ChinlockZ •

• AFN Solar Tube •

• Aluma-Pro Gripper •• Plano 7237 •

•Longreach Surf Rig •

The Halco C-Gar is a weighted stickbait designed for use on the surface for species such as Australian salmon, tailor and queenfish. Alternatively, it can be fished sub-surface for all tuna species, mackerel and other predatory fish. The lure action is less splashy than a popper however the unique nose and weighting ensures long casting ability with enough surface action to entice a strike from the wary fish looking for an easy meal. This new lure measures 120mm and weighs 40g, and comes in a range of fish-catching colours. Featuring heavy duty Mustad trebles and Halco’s famously strong fish rings for the ultimate lure-to-hook connection, the C-Gar is built like all other Halco products: to catch fish day in, day out without fuss and bother.

Price: RRP: too newwww.halcotackle.com

There are two models, a 90mm version due out in September, and a 120mm model to be released a few months later.

Price: RRP $14.95www.river2sea.com.au

The Black Magic Longreach Surf Casting Rig has been cleverly designed to extend your casting distance in the surf. The secret is the aerodynamic design. Traditionally, a basic surf rig consists of a ball sinker with a pilchard a foot away from it, and this tumbles through the air as you cast it. The Longreach rig, by contrast, has a cone-shaped impact shield which slices through the air with the bait behind it. All the weight is concentrated in one area of the rig, concentrating the force of the cast into a single point for maximum distance. The Impact Shield also protects your bait, and as soon as the Shield hits the water the hook will automatically release. The Sand Grip Sinker digs into the sand upon touchdown. The rig uses Black Magic 50lb Tough Trace and the popular Black Magic KL hooks. It comes in two versions –

a version with floats and another without floats. The floats are designed for use in areas with bait-stealing crabs; the idea is to keep your bait up off the bottom where the crabs can’t reach it.

Price: too newwww.blackmagic.co.nz

Voters couldn’t choose between the TTs ChinlockZ SWS jigheads and HeadlockZ HD River & Estuary Value Pack at the AFTA Awards, with both products taking out ‘Best Terminal Tackle’. The HeadlockZ HD River & Estuary Value Pack contains five each of 1/16oz 2H, 1/12oz 1H, 1/8oz 1/0H, 1/6oz 2/0XH and 1/4oz 3/0XH HeadlockZ HD jigheads in a quality tackle tray. It offers great value for those who fish the rivers and estuaries, is ideal for those wanting to get into soft plastics fishing and is a great gift idea.

The ChinlockZ SWS (Snagless Weight System) has a chin lock to secure the plastic in place, and it also features a moulded weight on the belly of the hook. This aids in casting distance and creates a slow, natural, horizontal sink. Weedless rigging with the ChinlockZ SWS allows you to effectively fish over and through super snaggy structure. It comes in 1/12oz, 1/8oz, 1/6oz and 1/4oz sizes.

Price: $9.95 for HeadlockZ Finessewww.ttlures.com.au

Plano’s 7237 tackle box is a durable and roomy solution for storing your fishing gear. This new tackle box includes three 3700 series

organizers, along with two top access compartments and a bulk storage area in the base. Accessing your gear is easy, with a drop-down, quick-access door at the front. Customizable StowAway trays are easily interchangeable so you can swap out your lures when you’re targeting different species. Even with the top closed, you can easily access your tackle accessories in the base – all you have to do is remove the bottom StowAway. As an added useful benefit, top access Dura-View lids let you see at a glance what’s inside. The 7237 comes in a graphite/sandstone colour and measures 50 x 31 x 30cm.

Price: too newwww.jmgillies.com.au

The winner of this year’s Best Clothing Accessory was AFN (Australian Fishing Network) with their cool new Solar Tube. The quick drying, UV protection of Coolmax fabric makes these tubes great for any outdoor enthusiast. One size fits all in a seamless, streatchable fabric for ultimate comfort. The fabric absorbs and wicks moisture for those hot summer days, plus it’s breathable, windproof and of course there are no seams to cause irritation. The Solar Tubes are available in your choice of camo or the following fish designs: snapper, Murray cod, barramundi, brown trout, rainbow trout and bait ball. Whether you’re fishing, biking, gardening, hunting or hiking, the possibilities and variations are endless! Keep an eye out for these great sun protection accessories at your favourite tackle store in the coming months.

Price: RRP $19.99 www.afn.com.au

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Fish grippers help to handle toothy predators safely, and are a must for all serious anglers. Voted as AFTA’s 2014 Best in Show Fishing & Boating Accessory, the Rapala Aluma-Pro Gripper does it better than any other.

11AUGUST 2014

The VENOM X Series fishing rods takes all the things people love about Venom jig & popper rods, put this together plus more to produce the lighter and versatile premium sport fishing rods.

VENOM X has the patented “Xantu” material added to the blank technology allowing us to produce the highest modulus carbon rods without any associated weakness and without action deadening Nano Resins that are unreliable.

The VENOM X Rods are incredibly strong featuring a vast range of new models.

Winner of the 2014 AFTA Best of Show Rod, the VENOM X 2 PIECE SPIN ROD features reverse tapered butt sections that eliminate dead spots and highlight true actions.

RLFVS7 VENOM X 7’ SPIN 10-20LB 2PCE

www.facebook.com/ej.todd.3

www.ejtodd.com.auCLICK ON THE QR CODE TO

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FERGO’S TACKLE WORLD Taren Point..........PH 02 9524 4450FISHING TACKLE AUSTRALIAwww.motackle.com.au.................................PH 02 6652 4611GABES BOATING & FISHING Sylvania..........PH 02 9522 5100 GABES BOATING & FISHING Narellan............PH 02 4647 8755SUFFOLKS OUTDOOR SPORTS Lismore...........PH 02 6621 3047BALLINA BAIT & TACKLE Ballina..................PH 02 6686 2527TACKLE WORLD CANBERRA Fyshwick.........PH 02 6280 4530 ROCKDALE SPORTS & FISHING TACKLERockdale.......................................................PH 02 9599 3075

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12 AUGUST 2014



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• Junior Camo Cat Bow •

• Sage Salt Fly Rod •

• Hardy Fortuna •

Public Day Next Year?

• Cortland Precision Saltwater •

• GoPro Knog Light •

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This lip grip is built for easy one-handed operation; index finger trigger on the 9” model, thumb operated trigger on the 6” model. Its skeleton style anodized aluminium body is lightweight yet durable with a contoured design for comfortable use. A set of stainless steel jaws enable this product to be used in the harshest environments against the biggest fish in the ocean, and it come with a wrist lanyard.

Price: RRP from $69.95 for 6” modelwww.rapala.com.au

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Founded in 1956, the Barnett name is synonymous with quality archery products. Australian fishing and outdoor distributor J.M. Gillies has now incorporated this great brand into its range. The rise in profile of archery through movies such as The Hunger Games has created a renewed interest in bow hunting, and one way to get a young person into this rewarding traditional sport is with a quality archery set like the Barnett Junior Camo Cat (#B1152). This 17-22lb compound bow has a 20-22” draw length, is right handed and comes complete with two arrows to get your budding hunter started. Other models in the line-up include the Banshee, Lil Banshee, Smackdown, Freak Nasty, Black Cat and Vortex Hunter, ranging from 15-20lb right through to 45-60b. There are also ethofoam target archery sets available.


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GoPro distributor V-Sport has released the perfect match for the GoPro Hero3+: a powerful waterproof Knog LED light. It sits alongside your GoPro without getting in the way of using buttons or opening mounts, and it’s waterproof down to 40m, just like your GoPro. Settings range from 70 lumens up to 400 lumens (to give you some perspective, your stock standard waterproof torch emits

around 100 lumens). The battery life for continuous use ranges from 45 minutes to 4.5 hours, depending on the brightness setting. The light comes with a dual mounting bracket which mounts it next to the GoPro. It’s also compatible with all GoPro mounts, either alongside the GoPro or by itself. It’s due to be released later this year. The Hero3+ Black Edition ($529) is 20% smaller and lighter than its predecessor, and delivers improved image quality. New features include a super-wide angle mode, auto low light feature, 30% better battery life, faster Wi-Fi and a sharper lens.

Price: too newwww.vsport.com.au

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There has been a lot of talk about a public day for the AFTA Trade Only Show and it looks likely that this may occur next year. Steve Morgan interviewed Allan Hansard, CEO of AFTA, at this year’s show and Allan revealed that plans were underway for a public day. Just think about that for a moment. You will get the opportunity to see first hand all of the amazing new products before they hit the tackle stores. You’ll be able to speak with the people who really know the product inside and out and focus your attentions on the products you want to see. I can even imagine the shrewd visitor making sure his local tackle store stocks the products he or she has seen at the show by taking notes and making sure they are aware of the new gear. While it is still a little way off being 100% guaranteed, the signs are positive that AFTA will be having a public day in 2015. And who wouldn’t want to go and see that? In the mean time, AFTA is working closely with a number of exhibition and show organisers to create new ‘Tackle Zones’ at boat shows and the like. Here the general public will be immersed in a fishing world that takes you back to the old days when shows had a heap of good, new and discounted tackle. AFTA is working hard at engaging the public and we are all looking forward to the developments to next year’s AFTA Show. – FMG

Saltwater is where your abilities as a flyfisher are constantly measured and honed, and now Sage has introduced the Salt series, developed through decades of saltwater experience. The SALT series replaces the Xi3 series, and these new rods are Sage’s first saltwater fly rods built on its newer Konnetic technology. That’s the same technology which Sage’s popular and award-winning One and Method series of rods are built upon. Like all the Konnetic-built rods, the focus is on quick loading, high line speeds and pinpoint accuracy. According to chief rod designer Jerry Siem, “The ability to adapt to quickly changing conditions is imperative when saltwater fishing, and Konnetic Technology allows deft sensitivity and the ability to track extremely straight.” Salt rods feature a dark sapphire blank with distinctive black wraps, oversized Fuji ceramic stripper guides, hard chromed snake guides and an anodized aluminium up-locking reel seat which includes a hidden hook keeper. The series has offerings from 5wt through to 16wt.


The Fortuna X from Hardy is the result of a collaboration between some of the finest reel designers in the industry and the ultimate saltwater predator, Andy Mill. Together they created a lightweight, waterproof sealed, beast of a fly reel producing up to 32lb of pure smooth stopping power. This strong and surprisingly light reel has been designed to perfectly balance the Proaxis rods. Stunning in design, the Fortuna X features multiple carbon brake pads, seven point waterproof sealing, and secure yet rapid toolless spool change.

Other features include: low start up inertia; largest sizes generate up to 32lb of top end drag; large backing capacities; Multi Carbon disc brake system; top grade 6061 anodized bar stock aluminium; simple left to right hand wind change with tool supplied; secure, quick release, interchangeable spools. Hardy Fortuna X reels are saltwater safe and come supplied with a protective neoprene pouch.

Price: too newwww.purefishing.com.au

To fool, hook and land a fish, everything must go right. Particularly if that fish is big. The team at Cortland know that extends to more than just fly lines. That’s why their leaders, tippet material, backing and PolyTaper tips are engineered to perform flawlessly — turning over big flies into the wind, making subtle presentations on spring creeks and outlasting zig-zagging runs on the flats. Fish have many ways to break your heart but gear failure shouldn’t be one of them. The Precision Tropic Plus Saltwater Taper is Cortland’s latest premium all-around hot weather floating line for multi-species saltwater flyfishing. Featuring a long-body and weight-forward taper designed to cast larger flies in windy conditions, the hard-finished Tropic Plus coating is fused to a solid monofilament core so it shoots smoothly and stays tangle-free in the extreme tropical heat. Precision Tropic Plus Saltwater Taper fly lines are available in Australia in weight-forward floating lines in 6wt, 8wt, 9wt and 10wt, all in a Sand colour.

Price: varieswww.jarviswalker.com.au

©2014 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries

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Untitled-1 1 15/07/14 1:52 PM

What’s new fishing Powered by

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 [email protected]

1 N.S. BLACK HOLE AVENGERS

The latest addition to the N.S. Black Hole range of spin and cast rods, the Avenger series features stylish rod builds and genuine Fuji componentry. All rod blanks feature WXW (WideX-Wrapping)carbonpaperanddeepDjointrodjoinsforthebestconnectionbetweentipandbuttsectionswithoutanyflatspots.Fujitangle-freeKguidesandFujiVSSandACSreelseatsareafeatureonallmodels,alongwithhighgradecorkaroundthehandlewithEVAbutts. There are three spin models and sevenbaitcastmodels in theseries,all two-piece.Models range fromtheS-602ULspin (6’0”,5lb lineclass,3/16oz lureweight,ultra lightaction) right through to the C-692H cast(6’9”,20lblineclass,1.5ozlureweight,heavyaction). To watch an interview outlining thefeaturesandapplicationsofdifferentmodels,scantheQRcodeonthispageorsearchfor‘BlackHoleAvengerRods’onYouTube.Price: approx. $310www.ejtodd.com.au

2 SUNLINE PE-EGI ULT

Sunline Saltwater Special PE-Egi ULT braid provides feedback like no other. This super-fine braid is the ultimate in high performance, giving you the sharpness and toughness you need for dynamic casting and aggressive pumping. PE-Egi ULT is made with ULT-PE forsuperior strength, stiffness, sensitivity, andabrasion resistance. Super-sensitive linedesign gives you precise, instant feedbackof the tiniest action. The line hasmoderatestiffness and a special coating for excellentmanageability, and unbelievably highdurability.Nowyoucangointothoseheavycoverareasandrockysectionsyou’veneverdaredtotrybefore. The linechangescolourevery15m,andthere’s also a black mark every 2.5m foreasycheckingofcasting,drift,andhitpointdistances. SizesrangefromPE0.3toPE1,andthespoolsizeis180m.Aswellasbeingidealforsquidding,it’sexcellentforlightlineluringforthelikesofbreamandbass.Price: approx. $70 per 180mwww.ejtodd.com.au

3 RAPALA XXX-RAP CAST

Built with extreme casting distances in mind, the super durable and heavily weighted XXX-Rap Cast will not let you down when the fish are busting bait further than most lures can get to. In addition to its ultimate castability,the XXX-Rap Cast features a heavy-dutyconstruction and in-line VMC 7266 singlehooks for added strength against bigpredators. With its extreme rolling and wobblingaction, the XXX-Rap Cast is designed forhighspeedpresentationsandrespondswellto twitchingwithasinking,flutteringactiononthepause. This new lure is available in 12cm and14cm lengths, weighing 36g and 54grespectively. For more information on thisand other new Rapala models, includingthe collectable official NRL X-Raps andnew Magnum colours, scan the QRcodehereabouts.Price: from RRP $27.95www.rapala.com.au

4 SAMURAI ELEVATE BLUEWATER

Samurai, makers of the Kestrel and Inflict rod ranges, have now released the Elevates series. These rods are designed for bluewater fishing applications and like all Samurai rods, have been constructed using advanced techniques and components all combined into an affordable, lightweight and strong package. AcompletelynewSamuraiblankrecipe,it has been tested it thoroughly and thentweakedjusttherightamountforeachrodin theseries fromtheELE-16-F70,8-16lblight offshore spin rod all the way to theELE-50-F70,30-50lbheavydutyspinrod.Theblankitselfisperfectasalurecastingblank or bait fishing all rounder, and iscapable as a trolled outfit for mackerel inthe heavier sizes. Try the 50lb for a lightpoppingrod–it’sgreatforallreeffishing. FujiAlconiteKSeriesanti-tangleguidesandaFujiDPSreelseatfinishoffthebuildofthesegreatrods.Price: approx. $300www.samurairods.com.au

5 FREEZE DRIED BAIT

The Freeze Dried Bait Company uses the finest fresh bait, sourced from premium sustainability focused suppliers. Using state-of-the-art freeze driers, 98% of moisture is removed while all natural oils and solids remain virtually intact. Packed in heavy duty UV proof bags with nitrogen flushing enables the bait to remain preserved for over 3 years. When it’s time to wet a line the bait issimply rehydrated in fresh or salt water.Rehydration occurs in around six minutesand the result is a slightly rubbery texture.The firmness of rehydrated bait ensuresit grips the hook better than most freshalternatives. Benefits include: no need to keep baitrefrigerated or frozen; compact size forstoringingloveboxorbackpack;70%lighterthanfrozenblockofbait;andreducedmessandsmell. Freeze Dried Bait is available now fromselectedtacklestores,BigWandonline.Price: from RRP $8.95www.freezedriedbait.com

6 DTREBLE SAQ SAS

The best lures need the best accessories and there are none finer than new performance-inspired lure accessories from Daiwa. Advanced in technology, performance and features, these Japanese designed accessories will take your lure fishing to the next level, and keep your lures performing at their best. OneofthelatestreleasesistheDTrebleSaqSas,whichraisesthebaronhookperformanceandsetsanewstandard forothers to follow.Featuring Daiwa’s Saq Sas hook platingtechnologythatincreaseshookpenetrationbyupto40%,thesetrebleswillenableyoutohookfish with needle-like precision. More refined,sharperandlesspronetocorrosion,theseareatournamentandfinesseangler’sdreamtreble. Availablemodelsare: theSS3R#1 (size1hook,6perpack),SS3R#2 (size2,6-pack),SS3R #4 (size 4, 7-pack), SS3R #6 (size 6,7-pack),SS3R#8 (size8,7-pack)andSS3R#10(size10,7-pack).Price: too newwww.daiwafishing.com.au

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15AUGUST 2014

“The most trusted LURES in the pinnacle of Australian tournaments”

SX 40F / 40LC / 48F / 60F Classic Floating Diver

Spoon Tail Shad 4/5/6” Realistic, extremely soft with life-like actions

VX & ZX

Scan QR code or Find your tackle shop @ www.findmylure.com.au

www.ecogear.com.au

JML Trading Pty Ltd

T: (07)31331648 E: [email protected]

Keep Catching

Ballina Bait & Tackle 02 6686 2527Fergo's Tackle World Taren Point 02 9524 4450Fergo's Tackle World Wollongong 02 4225 7233Fishing Tackle Australia 02 6652 4611Freddy's Fishing World (Green Hills) 02 4934 8734Freddy's Fishing World (Erina) 02 4367 5555Freddy's Fishing World (Broadmeadow) 02 4927 6627Tackle World Canberra (Fyshwick) 02 6280 4530Tackle World Merimbula 02 6495 1681Charlies Tackle World (Batemans Bay) 02 4472 7900Compleat Angler Batemans Bay 02 4472 2559Compleat Angler Sydney 02 9241 2080Compleat Angler Villawood 02 9724 7474Fish Outta Water Manlyvale 02 9949 9488

Total Immersed Watersports (Nowra) 02 4421 5936Tackle World Nowra 02 4421 2418Suffolks Outdoor Sports (Lismore) 02 6621 3047Tackle World Drummoyne 02 9819 6522Tackle World Goulburn 02 4822 1929Tackle World Marks Point 02 4945 2152Tackle World Moruya 02 4474 4381Windsor Bait & Tackle 02 4577 2813Hardman Windscreen (Moree) 02 6752 1066Amazon Outdoors (Wetherill Park) 02 9757 4466Compleat Angler North Rocks 02 9873 3322Early Bait & Tackle (Ulladulla) 02 4455 1938Canobolas Caravan & Marine Center (Orange) 02 6361 3014Australian Bass Angler (Penrith) 02 4721 0455Tackle Power Charlestown 02 4943 8780Tackle Power Sandgate 02 4960 1294

Find in NSW at:

Bream Prawn 40 / 50 100% biodegradable hybrid lure 2011 AFTA Best Soft Lure Award

Manning River Marine (Taree) 02 6552 2333Tamworth Fishing Tackle 02 6766 7100Graham Barclay Marine Pty Ltd 02 6554 5866Bermagui Bait & Tackle 02 6493 5444Rockdale Sports & Fishing Tackle 02 9599 3075Ocean Storm Fishing Tackle (Warilla) 02 4296 9222www.fisin.com.au (Miranda) 02 8502 0523

In the Bait 7/12/18g Winter Bass Killer

Distributed by www.frogleysoffshore.com.au www.gamakatsu.com.au www.facebook.com/GamakatsuAus

Gamakatsu Hooks are chemically sharpened to provide maximum sharpness and are forged in Japan using the highest quality steel. Each hook pattern and size is individually tempered to provide maximum strength.

An excellent thin gauge treble hook A great trailer with inbuiltrubber grommet

Excellent weedlesspresentation

SIZES FROM #4, 6SIZES FROM

WEIGHTED EXTRA WIDE GAPE

#2-1/0SIZES FROM #14-6

TREBLE TOURNAMENT ROUND BEND

Adrian Melchior - Gamakatsu Pro Angler

SBT TRAILER HOOKS

What’s new fishing Powered by

Please send contributions to: The Editor, Fishing Monthly Group PO BOX 3172 LOGANHOLME, QLD. 4129 [email protected]

7 PRESSO ROLLING CRANK

Good things come in small packages with the Daiwa Presso Rolling Crank, designed for Australia and made in Japan. WithinputfrombreamprossuchasChrisHickson,MicahAdamsandChrisSeeto,thishighly refined lure combines eye-catchingcolour schemes and baitfish patterns withheightened castability and varying depths.An enticing tight-wobble action stands theRolling Crank out from the pack, while amid (MR) and deep running (DR-SF) modelensuresanglershavetherightluretogettotherightdepth. Measuring 32mm in length, 2.8g (MR)and3.6g(DR)inweight,anddivingto1.3m(MR)and2m(DR) this isasmallcrankthatisdesignedandtunedformaximumcastingperformance,andswimsdeeperandeasierthanmostluresofthesamesize. Featuring Daiwa’s super sharp, superstrong,highpenetrationSaqSastrebles,thiscrankisdynamiteonthelikesofbreamandtroutandwillbeavailablefromOctober.Price: too newwww.daiwafishing.com.au

8 ZEREK FLASH MINNOWS

The Zerek Flash Minnow has a highly reflective panel slotted into a hollow section in the plastic so it crinkles and flashes, sending out beams of reflected light to draw in predators. The lure also has a flexible action to mimic a baitfish swimming. Theplasticitselfistoughenoughtostanduptothosetoothypelagicspeciesyetsuppleenough to fool the wiliest of brown trout.TheFlashMinnowcanbestretchedtooverdoubleitslengthwithnoilleffects. The straight tail imparts a very tightshimmer-style action, perfect for fastretrieves,anditsoftlywaftswhenthelureisallowedtosink. Flash Minnows can be rigged weedlesswith the supplied specially-weighted offsetworm hook or with a jighead. They comein seven colours and four sizes: 70mm (8-pack),90mm(8-pack),110mm(6-pack)and130mm(5-pack).Price: RRP $15.99www.wilsonfising.com

9 MARUKYU LARGE CRAB

Marukyu has already enjoyed success with its 15mm and 20mm Isome Crabs, and now it has announced a 25mm version to attract a bigger class of fish. Like its predecessors it’s simple to use and is impregnated with a potent 6x attractant. You can fish the Crab really lightlyweighted, drifting it down around pylons,or you can jighead rig it from the backso it walks backwards like a real crab.Dependingonwhereandhowyoufishthe25mm Crab you can expect to encountergroper,drummer,bream,snapper,mullowayandmore. Colours available are brown, green andpurple. The 15mm model comes in packsof10andissuitedtoasize6hook/jighead,whilethe20mmmodelcomesinapackofeightandsuitsasize3or4hook/jighead.Both of those models are available now,andthe25mmversionwillhitshelvesearlynextyear.Price: RRP $10.95 www.jml.com.au

10GLORYFY SUNGLASSES

What do you get when you put innovative engineers, designers and extreme sport people in the one room? You get Gloryfy unbreakable sunglasses. Gloryfy sunglasses are based onmaximum protection of the eyes, highestfunctionalityandminimizedriskofinjuries. Thisisallpossiblebecauseoftheintelligentmaterials and innovative technologies fromthisAustrianeyewearcompany. Thepatented technologyused tomakethe frames and lenses (G-flex and I-Flex)make the lenses and frames extremelyflexible and always return to their originalshape.CheckouttheYouTubeclipshowinghow stong and unbreakable this productis). Gloryfy lenses have the highest qualityratings and come in polarised or non-polarised versions. Prescription lenses arealso available. If you have problems withbreaking your sunnies then this range ofsunglassesareforyou.Price: RRP $250-279 (polarised)www.gloryfy.com

11NORIES 7G TAILSPINNERS

Norio Tanabe is a leader amongst Japanese professional anglers, and has used his know-how and extensive experience to make quality tackle under his own brand, Nories. As well as bass fishing, Tanabe hasdeveloped a reputation for saltwaterlure fishing. In many saltwater basedtournamentshehasbeenabletooverpowereven seasoned locals to win many titles.Histalentandadaptabilityislegendary. His In The Bait tailspinners have adesignandprofilethatworksverywellonAustralianbass.Therearethreemodelsonthe Australian market – a 12g model, an18gversionandnowa7gmodel.Betweenthemtheyallowyouto:targetdeepwaterschoolingfish;targetfishbitingjustbelowthe surface; when bait fish are schoolingin mid-water; when jigging spoons lackenough appeal to pull a bite. They’reprettymuchanall season lure fornaturalreactionbites.Price: approx. $25www.jml.com.au

12 TEN20 AUSSIE RODS

A group of talented Australian rod builders around the country have assembled to make a tournament-quality range of rods predominantly for the bream and bass market. This new brand is called TEN20, and it’s distributed via Rod Components Australia. Designed by rod builder MarkNewcombe, there are spin, baitcast andfly rods in the range, all hand-built inAustralia using quality components. Thespin rods feature themulti award-winningMicrowave Tidal Wave guides from theAmerican Tackle Company (AmericanTackle Company components are alsoavailableseparatelyfromRodComponentsAustralia).Theseguidescapturehoopsoflineandstraightenthemoutformaximumdistanceandaccuracy. As well as the 10 spin rods there arealsosixbaitcastmodelsandeightflyrods,and you can view all the features, specsandpicsattheRodComponentsAustraliawebsite.Price: from RRP $330-$449www.rodcomponentsaustralia.com.au

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18 AUGUST 2014

S.A.S. braid S.A.S Braid is an Australian owned company, sourcing only the highest quality raw materials and using advanced techniques at the braiding process to develop a range of braid that has incredibly high breaking strains for its diameter. S.A.S is a ‘pure’ braid with no coatings to be left behind on your runners or colourings that fade. Each batch of line is tested using the most advanced equipment available and they record this on each individual spool so you know exactly what you are paying for. Longer casts and incredible sensitivity make this braid a dream to use. The S.A.S All White Series braid ranges from 6lb to 100lb and their Hollow Series is available from 25lb to 130lb, so there really is a product to suit every need. To find your nearest stockist head to the S.A.S Braid website or follow them at www.facebook.com/sasbraid. For all trade enquiries call (02) 6551 5029.Price: from $44.95 www.sasbraid.com.au

Rupes lip gripsFor those looking for a fishing gift for Dad that will guarantee to get use (as long as he’s catching fish!), look no further then the compact Rupes Lip Grips. The importance of having the right gear at the right time is vital, and these days no angler should be without some lip grippers to assist in handling fish. Lip grips can be large and take up plenty of space so if you’re chasing something more compact you’ll be better off with Rupes Lip Grips. They’re great value for money and the perfect size for keeping in your pocket. These lip grips come in a variety of colours and also include a lanyard to attach to your belt, so when releasing your catch your grips won’t swim away with the fish. Believe me it happens! These grips are also great value for money, retailing at under $30, so they would make a great present for Dad. You can view all the Rupes stockists on line.Price: under $30.00 www.rupes-lures.com

3 Tonic's stylish new frames Tonic Polarised Eyewear, the new leader in high quality fishing sunglasses, has added two new high-fashion frame styles to its range. The new Torquay and Cove styles are on sale now at Tonic’s 200-plus retailers throughout Australia and New Zealand. Creator Doug Phillips said there were already thousands of people who loved their Tonics for fishing, but that the Cove and Torquay models brought Tonic’s 21st century optical technology to a more fashion-conscious customer. “They are available with the same range of lens options as our other styles, including grey and photochromic copper in Tonic’s UltraOptic lightweight glass lenses,” Doug said. “Our high-tech lenses are just as perfect for driving or sight-seeing as for fishing, because they give such a clear and glare-free view of the world.” All Tonic models incorporate the latest Japanese optical technology, including unique de-centred VistaView lenses for distortion-free viewing at any angle. The scratch resistant UltraOptic glass lenses are just 1.8 mm thick, making them 30% lighter than regular glass, and have MultiCut full-spectrum anti-reflective coatings. Tonic sunglasses come in eight wraparound styles with a ClikStrap removable safety strap. The RRP is $259 with UltraOptic glass lenses, and you can find your nearest retailer at www.toniceyewear.com.au.Price: from $259 www.toniceyewear.com.au

4 Dad needs a Yabby pumpAlvey stainless steel yabby pumps outlast all other pumps due to their unique suction washer set-up. Multiple washers made from a special rubber ensure a long life, and the oversize brass wing nut makes it easy to adjust your suction level. Of course, you should always remember to rinse your pump out in fresh water at the end of the day and release the tension on the wing nut before storage. Alvey pumps are 100% Australian made using brass and stainless steel components, with comfortable, soft grips on both handles. If you’re looking for some pumping accessories, Alvey bait sieves are available to allow you to pump in deeper

RupesLip Grips

SRP $30

TonicSunglasses

SRPF $259 3

Yes I would love this for Fathers Day!3




Fathers' DayS.A.S BRAIDThe braid

top ranking anglers use!

To find your nearest stockist

www.sasbraid.com.au Trade enquiries welcome: Phone (02) 6551 5029

NEW ALL WHITE SERIES

6lb to 100lb

www.rupes-lures.com

RUPES LURES

@rupeslures Rupes-Lures

Hook your Dad up this Father’s Day with the Rupes Compact Lip Grips

• Compact • Tough • Easy to use!

(Rated to 15kg)

Only 160mm in length!

Takes fishing to the next Dimension!

For your nearest stockist go to

toniceyewear.com.au

Best Quality lasts longerAvailable at all

good tackle shops

Three sizes available - up to 1 metre barrel

SUPER

SUCTION

SS Bait Pumps

S.A.S.Braid

SRPF $44.95

AlveyYabby Pump

SRPF $56 4

Great gifts for dads!Gift Guide[ ]

...Continued over

www.motackle.com.au

*Conditions apply. For details see www.motackle.com.au/our-promise/

Check out our 10% price guarantee*.

Gear for on the water, in the water and underwater.

Spearfishing, Kayaks, Cameras,Stand Up Paddleboards, boating accessories and heaps more.

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MOTackle Vouchers can be posted or emailed and can be redeemed

online or in any of our stores.

Don’t know what to get Dad for Fathers Day?

20 AUGUST 2014

TO PURCHASE VISIT

www.addictionadventurewear.com

@addictionadventurewear facebook.com/[email protected]

MURRAY COD

GIANT TREVALLY

JUNGLE PERCH

✹ 100% AUSTRALIAN MADE ✹ QUALITY PRINTED APPAREL ✹ 100% POLYESTER

MANGROVE JACK

UPF 50+

ALL NEW

Elite-3x™

A GREAT Fathers Day Gift!

See

www.lowrance.comFor further details and dealers

$149only

FRE

E R

OD

FRE

E R

OD

$130

VALUE

4 PIECE TRAVEL ROD

WITH 24 MONTH SUBSCRIPTION

CALL:1800 228 244

WHILE STOCKS LAST

www.korrlighting.com.auFor further product information and purchase details

10w Zoom LED Headlamp

• 240 lumens• 3 light settings• Range 150mtrs• Zoomable beam• 4-10 hour endurance• Anti-shattering ultra clear lens

* Product may vary - pictures for illustration purpose only

$39.99

SUPERSPECIAL HOT

NEWITEM!




LowranceSounder

SRP $149 6

Korr ZoomHeadlamp

SRP $39.99 8

Yes I would love this for Fathers Day!3Addiction

Wear

SRPF $79.95 5

SubscribeNow

SRP $130 7

5 Addiction adventure wearWhether your Old Man enjoys fly fishing up a pristine freshwater creek targeting our inland natives, or loves the thrill of chasing aggressive pelagic fish off the Australian coast, Addition Adventure Wear have him covered with their range of quality shirt prints. Addiction Adventure Wear takes pride in delivering quality outdoor clothing and showcasing a growing range of prints of Australian fish in there native habitat, included is the all new AustralianBass Shirt pictured. Light weight, cool, breathable, stylish and most importantly boasting a UPF 50+ broad spectrum sun rating – These shirts are new to the market, and are making a huge impact with Australian made quality and prints available. All images are photographed by the company owners, so they take pride in everything printed in their range. You should expect to see more and more people getting around in the AAW shirts over the coming months. To view and purchase one of these amazing shirts, go and visit their website at www.addictionadventurewear.com and like them on Facebook and Instagram.Price: from $79.95 www.addictionadventurewear.com

6 Lowrance $149 offerThe most trusted name in fishfinders has released the colour Elite 3-x fish finder at an unheard-of $149 price point. Equipped with award-winning Lowrance Broadband Sounder technology, the Elite-3x allows anglers to quickly and easily identify fish targets, bottom contour, structure detail, bottom hardness, thermoclines and more. Selectable dual-beam technology, Advanced Signal Processing, Fish I.D. and a swivel mounting bracket makes this unit perform like a unit many times the price. For more information on the Lowrance Elite-3x, the entire Lowrance line of marine electronics or to locate an authorised Lowrance dealer, log onto www.lowrance.com.Price: $149 www.lowrance.com

7 Subscribe now to FM You know Dad reads it. You might be reading his copy right now! How about organising home delivery so that he usually gets it before it comes out in the newsagency? Subscribing to Fishing Monthly has plenty of advantages – apart from getting it early, he’s always in the draw for monthly subscriber prizes. It’s also cheaper to subscribe than it is to buy a copy each month. But best of all, if Dad gets a two year subscription now, we’ll throw in a free Wilson Blue Steel 4-piece travel rod – and it will arrive before Fathers’ Day. To find out how to take advantage of this special offer, see the ad on this page.Price: $130 www.fishingmonthly.com.au

8 Korr Zoom LED headlampThe newly released Korr 10 Watt Zoom LED headlamp is going to make a lot of friends with anglers and campers as it ticks every box as far as portability, convenience and power are concerned. Aluminium alloy construction ensures the new Korr headlamps – with their 10W Cree XML2-U2 LEDs – are of a very robust construction and should give years of useful service. There are 3 light output modes: high, low and strobe. On the high setting there’s a range of 150m and the output is 240 Lumens. With four AA size batteries in the battery compartment (which is out of the way at the back of the head when the unit is in use) there’s up to 10 hours endurance depending upon the setting chosen and battery quality. Another feature anglers will enjoy is the click adjustment for the beam angle, allowing the beam to be turned down to an angle of 90º and to stay right there until a job has been completed. Price $39.99. www.korrlighting.com.au

water, and can have floatation materials added to make this even easier. Alvey pumps and accessories are sold at all good fishing tackle retailers, and more information is available at www.alvey.com.au.Price: from $56 www.alvey.com.au

...Continued

Fathers' DayGreat gifts for dads![ ]Gift Guide

21AUGUST 2014

TO PURCHASE VISIT

www.addictionadventurewear.com

@addictionadventurewear facebook.com/[email protected]

MURRAY COD

GIANT TREVALLY

JUNGLE PERCH

✹ 100% AUSTRALIAN MADE ✹ QUALITY PRINTED APPAREL ✹ 100% POLYESTER

MANGROVE JACK

UPF 50+

ALL NEW

Elite-3x™

A GREAT Fathers Day Gift!

See

www.lowrance.comFor further details and dealers

$149only

FRE

E R

OD

FRE

E R

OD

$130

VALUE

4 PIECE TRAVEL ROD

WITH 24 MONTH SUBSCRIPTION

CALL:1800 228 244

WHILE STOCKS LAST


10w Zoom LED Headlamp

• 240 lumens• 3 light settings• Range 150mtrs• Zoomable beam• 4-10 hour endurance• Anti-shattering ultra clear lens

* Product may vary - pictures for illustration purpose only

$39.99

SUPERSPECIAL HOT

NEWITEM!




LowranceSounder

SRP $149 6

Korr ZoomHeadlamp

SRP $39.99 8

Yes I would love this for Fathers Day!3Addiction

Wear

SRPF $79.95 5

SubscribeNow

SRP $130 7

5 Addiction adventure wearWhether your Old Man enjoys fly fishing up a pristine freshwater creek targeting our inland natives, or loves the thrill of chasing aggressive pelagic fish off the Australian coast, Addition Adventure Wear have him covered with their range of quality shirt prints. Addiction Adventure Wear takes pride in delivering quality outdoor clothing and showcasing a growing range of prints of Australian fish in there native habitat, included is the all new AustralianBass Shirt pictured. Light weight, cool, breathable, stylish and most importantly boasting a UPF 50+ broad spectrum sun rating – These shirts are new to the market, and are making a huge impact with Australian made quality and prints available. All images are photographed by the company owners, so they take pride in everything printed in their range. You should expect to see more and more people getting around in the AAW shirts over the coming months. To view and purchase one of these amazing shirts, go and visit their website at www.addictionadventurewear.com and like them on Facebook and Instagram.Price: from $79.95 www.addictionadventurewear.com

6 Lowrance $149 offerThe most trusted name in fishfinders has released the colour Elite 3-x fish finder at an unheard-of $149 price point. Equipped with award-winning Lowrance Broadband Sounder technology, the Elite-3x allows anglers to quickly and easily identify fish targets, bottom contour, structure detail, bottom hardness, thermoclines and more. Selectable dual-beam technology, Advanced Signal Processing, Fish I.D. and a swivel mounting bracket makes this unit perform like a unit many times the price. For more information on the Lowrance Elite-3x, the entire Lowrance line of marine electronics or to locate an authorised Lowrance dealer, log onto www.lowrance.com.Price: $149 www.lowrance.com

7 Subscribe now to FM You know Dad reads it. You might be reading his copy right now! How about organising home delivery so that he usually gets it before it comes out in the newsagency? Subscribing to Fishing Monthly has plenty of advantages – apart from getting it early, he’s always in the draw for monthly subscriber prizes. It’s also cheaper to subscribe than it is to buy a copy each month. But best of all, if Dad gets a two year subscription now, we’ll throw in a free Wilson Blue Steel 4-piece travel rod – and it will arrive before Fathers’ Day. To find out how to take advantage of this special offer, see the ad on this page.Price: $130 www.fishingmonthly.com.au

8 Korr Zoom LED headlampThe newly released Korr 10 Watt Zoom LED headlamp is going to make a lot of friends with anglers and campers as it ticks every box as far as portability, convenience and power are concerned. Aluminium alloy construction ensures the new Korr headlamps – with their 10W Cree XML2-U2 LEDs – are of a very robust construction and should give years of useful service. There are 3 light output modes: high, low and strobe. On the high setting there’s a range of 150m and the output is 240 Lumens. With four AA size batteries in the battery compartment (which is out of the way at the back of the head when the unit is in use) there’s up to 10 hours endurance depending upon the setting chosen and battery quality. Another feature anglers will enjoy is the click adjustment for the beam angle, allowing the beam to be turned down to an angle of 90º and to stay right there until a job has been completed. Price $39.99. www.korrlighting.com.au

water, and can have floatation materials added to make this even easier. Alvey pumps and accessories are sold at all good fishing tackle retailers, and more information is available at www.alvey.com.au.Price: from $56 www.alvey.com.au

...Continued

Fathers' DayGreat gifts for dads![ ]Gift Guide

Kevin Watson’s Eucumbene

trout weighed 10lb

Daniel Line-Eyre’s pre-closuretrout came from Eucumbene

Harrison Miller’s 50cm bass atean Austackle spinnerbait

Kit deBorton wrangled this 43cm

bream from Lake Macquarie

Luke with his Jewfish

weighing 22.5 kg (49.5 lb)

Nikki Whitfield landed this flathead in the Tweed

Mark Nash’s Terrigal Havenlizard ate a pilchard

Wade Butlin landed this Hawkesbury hairtail on a live yellowtail

R E A D E R SP I C T U R E S

HighlyCommended

FRONT COVE R COM P ETITION

John Olla doesn’t let illness get in

the way of what he loves doing

John Smith nailed this cracking 598mm yellowbelly at Lake Burrendong on a Gulp!

22 AUGUST 2014

I first met Guy and Warren Struthers about six years ago, I think it was at the first ever KFT (kayak fishing tournament). Back then Guy was a pimply young kid watched over by dad Warren, who had purchased Guy one of those tiny $150 yaks, but hey – it got him on the water. Guy went on to get a Viking pro angler then a Hobie Outback, but once he turned 18 everything changed. There was a bream comp

on not that long ago on the Tweed, and the father and son combo invited me out for a pre-fish with them. I hadn’t seen Guy’s new boat before so I got a pleasant surprise to see a Skeeter with a souped up 90 being towed up my driveway. I thought to myself, this kid has come a long way! It’s always an interesting night when the three of us get together – so many rods and other gear everywhere! It’s always a lot of fun, although I was wondering how 17 rods would fit on the Skeeter. It turns out I had seen the boat before. I had

actually been in it as it used to belong to Jay Perham and then Grayson Fong, both of whom had stayed at my place for an ABT comp. That’s how I got a drive in it – Jay took me to the start of the comp at Jack Evans Boat Harbour and I lost my sunnies when he took off like a rocket. They just disappeared. Damn that boat takes off quick! Dave McKenzie and Tristan Taylor also stayed that weekend, so we had a full house. The fight on the water for fish may have been tough but you should have seen the battle for the bathroom in the morning.

Back to the 17 rods. We were up before daybreak and fortunately the rods went in no probs – some on top, the rest in rod holders below deck. It’s a bit different burning around the river on one of these fast movers, and because I was the local I thought Guy might ask me for some spots. Nope, he had other ideas. He actually showed me all his spots and how to fish them. I felt like a goose because I used to go straight by the spots he showed me. I don’t pass them by anymore. I learnt

a lot that day, as Guy is like a sponge and is always talking to and taking tips from the pros. He used to work with Darren ‘Dizzy’ Borg and now works with the legendary yak fisherman Justin (The Colonel) Wilmer. Part of his job is painting lures. That would have to be the best job in the world, or close to it! (Hey boss, I think I need to test this colour. Oh, and these ones as well...”) Anyway, the first place we hit was the trawlers, then all the boats around the anchorage. This is where Guy caught the biggest

bream of the day and how he did it was pretty cool to watch. He had spotted bream under a yacht in the shadows, so he lined the boat up in such a way that he could cast his hardbody just past the yacht and bring the lure back running parallel to the boat. On his first cast this horse of a fish came screaming out and smashed the lure – no timid bite there. The next boat had no fish under it but the one after that did. This time Warren (Wozza) caught the fish under instructions

Breaming with the prosTHE TWEEDDavid Solano

Warren and Guy Struthers with their pre-fish catches.

Getting into position for the start of the comp. To page 24

23AUGUST 2014

EVANS HEAD

FISHING CHARTERS

GAME FISHING

OPTIONS

MOB:0428 828 835email: [email protected]

www.evansheadfishingcharters.com.au

*ALL Prices based on 10 person booking

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Winter has well and truly set in and with that some reliable and fun fishing. As a starter I’d like to give you a rundown on two of my favourite local rock fishing species to plan a trip around. They are great eating and are fairly easy to catch this time of year.

DRUMMER First up is the black drummer. They’re affectionately known as ‘pigs’ for their omnivorous diet, willingness to take a wide range of baits and their greedy response to berley. Drummer can be easily caught off the rocks, and apart from losing a few hooks and sinkers it’s a relatively inexpensive process. We often target the headlands between Flatrock and Lennox Point, and this involves cutting some cunjevoi for bait on the low tide and then fishing an appropriate wash on the rising tide. Drummer readily respond to berley and no trip is complete without a bucket filled with a mixture of stale bread and water. We throw a handful into the water every 10 minutes or so until the fish arrive and start to bite aggressively. Yesterday’s stale bread loaves for berley can often be bought very cheaply from a bakery or even given to you for free. Drummer can be caught on a wide variety of tackle, and a 12ft beach rod coupled with an Alvey reel and 6kg monofilament line is a popular combination. With this setup you can cast a very light rig, normally involving a pea size

sinker and 1/0 baitholder hook. This rig allows the bait to drift around naturally in the wash and prevents snagging up on the bottom, allowing more fish to take the natural looking bait and saving your valuable supply of hooks!

If you can’t manage to gather some cunjevoi for bait, don’t despair – drummer respond readily to many other baits such as prawns, crabs and squid. In fact, the imported Vietnamese aquaculture prawns that can be purchased from Coles and Woolworths when peeled make an excellent and cheap bait for drummer. And don’t expect to catch just drummer using this technique off the rocks. Big snowy bream, groper and even small mulloway regularly make an appearance. The key factors are lots of berley, a rising tide and the fresh bait.

LUDERICK The second species I love catching off the rocks is the humble luderick. This is one fish species which, unlike many others, doesn’t seem to be declining in numbers. In fact, under the right circumstances it’s very easy to catch a dozen or more in a session. The probable reason for this is that the luderick’s main diet is weed, which isn’t always an easy bait to obtain. Unless weed is cleaned and processed quickly it doesn’t sell well commercially, so the professional fishermen don’t bother with it. This is good news for you and me as these little scrappers make excellent eating when prepared properly (scrub out the black gut with a stiff bristled brush). Very similar to catching drummer, when fishing for luderick I like to arrive at my chosen rock platform on the low tide to allow sufficient time to gather enough green weed for bait and then fish the rising tide. For a session you don’t need much more than a handful for bait, plus another handful

chopped very finely (as small as possible) and mixed with wet sand in a bucket. Like drummer fishing, berley is essential when rock fishing for luderick as it attracts and holds the fish in your chosen fishing location.

While some finesse is need when rock fishing for luderick, they tend to feed a lot less cautiously than they do in an estuary environment. The general rig consists of stopper knot (able to be adjusted for depth) through to a small fluoro egg-shaped bobby cork or stemmed float running down to small ball sinker, small swivel and then 30cm of 6lb fluorocarbon trace to a size 6-8 hook such as the Mustard needle Sneck pattern. Split shot are added to weight the float correctly so it sits just above the water’s surface, where it can easily be pulled under by an unsuspecting luderick. A handy trick to make sure your float is weighed correctly is to use a bucket at home before you go fishing. This will save you some valuable fishing time. Once again, I prefer an Alvey reel on a light 12ft rod for this type of fishing though many anglers prefer a threadline reel filled with light braid as the floating nature of the braid makes for easy hook setting over long drifts.

BREAM AND MULLOWAY

In regards to what’s been biting apart from drummer and luderick on the rocks, the mainstay of fishing lately in the Richmond River has been the humble bream. Good captures have been taken by anglers fishing the lower reaches around town on baits and lures, with the bigger fish falling to baits of crab and mullet flesh at night. Estuary perch also become a fairly common bycatch at this time of year for anglers throwing hardbodies for bream around the rock walls. Please return all these great sportfish to the water as the season is

officially closed. If you’re fishing with live mullet for mulloway, and you find that bream keep eating the eyes out of your precious live baits, don’t despair. Just turn the tables around and use that same dead mullet to snare

some quality bream. Speaking of mulloway, the lack of rain in the river has made these wary fish even harder to catch in the super clear water. To overcome this problem, try downsizing your hooks and leader. Lately we have been rigging our live mullet on a rig of twin 5/0s instead of the standard 8/0s, with a long trace of 30lb fluorocarbon. This definitely makes a difference to hook-up rates. Just remember to check your leader for any nicks and abrasions after landing a fish.

OFFSHORE It seems like the mackerel have finally disappeared off the local shallow reefs. They have been replaced by some high quality snapper gathering for their annual spawn over winter. The snapper are certainly flighty at times, and to ensure you get consistent results you need to be on the water at first light (preferably on a tide change) and fish with maximum stealth. This means using the freshest possible baits presented as naturally as possible. I prefer lightly weighted squid or fresh slimy mackerel in a pilchard berley trail presented on a 3/0 suicide with a long trace of 12lb fluorocarbon. This technique also allows me to have a live bait sitting in the berley trail in case a big cobia or jew shows up. For the soft plastic snapper brigade it is also important to use stealth when approaching all fishing sites or positioning for a drift. This means driving wide of your intended drift line, using a low motor speed or even using an electric motor to position the boat. Many anglers underrate stealth when fishing but it is very important when fishing in shallow water for reef species. If you like sleeping in late, driving as fast as possible to your fishing spots and pulling big lumps of lead up from 80m+, there is hope for you yet. The wide grounds of the 42 and 48 fathom reef have been producing some good

catches of pearl perch and squire plus the occasional kingfish or amberjack for

the jiggers. Until next time, I hope to see you on the water.

Matt Bowie with some tasty drummer fishing by-catch.

While the estuary perch are plentiful in the Richmond River, please remember it’s the closed season for these fish until September.

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from Guy. The boys called me up the front of the boat to have a go. I was

suddenly nervous. I cast my lure onto the boat, snagging some rope. We retrieved it and headed to the next boat. I soon got the hang of casting past the structure and lining myself up properly to achieve this. Next we hit the sea walls. No fish, so down to the wall opposite Chinderah flats. At this stage we were using Z-Man 2” curly tails and shallow diving Atomics. Another good fish came aboard, making it four legals in the live well. Then we went down to Condong and what’s known in ABT circles as Will’s Wall, named after Will Lee, a prominent tournament fisher. It’s near the boat building yard and guess what? I finally got a legal, so thanks Will!

There you go – a bag in the Tweed and it was only 10:30am with 3.5 hours to go.

Come tournament day, I fished with my mate Richard Creighton in a field of only 17 or so boats. My mate had done really well in an ABT comp not that long ago so we fished his spots. We got a lot of fish but no legal bream. I was yelling at one stage as I could see silver and it was big. Yes!” I shouted as Dic netted it. “No!” I yelled when I saw it was a luderick. Rare for a luderick to eat a plastic. Guy and Warren fished the same places they had taken me and got smashed. They kept upgrading all day long and went on to win the comp easily.WHAT’S BITING I’ve mentioned in the last couple of months how there’s so much bait around

in the river, and out at sea I’ve never seen it look this healthy. At one stage last week it was like I could step out onto the water and walk on mullet, they were that thick. So where can you catch some fish? The Seaway is a good place to start. It can be hard this time of year but try to find some dirty water as the locals tell me there’ve landed nice mulloway, tailor, bream and the odd yellowtail kingfish. Interestingly I saw a bloke catch a squire next to the pumping jetty off the Fingal side. The flatties seem to have gone missing from the normal spots but I noticed a lot being caught off the rock walls near Fingal. Up around the golf course is always worth a try as well.

I haven’t come across many whiting though I did pick one up on my new H20 Murray yak. It was a surprise as it took a bream lure. Luderick fishos are out in numbers and so are the fish. I reckon if I can catch them on plastics they’re gonna love the weed. Do yourself a favour and try out the front of the Naval Cadet School on Dry Dock Road as I’m always seeing fish being caught there. I’ll finish with something weird. While coming home under Boyds Bay Bridge early the other morning I noticed four fish frames hanging from four ropes. I don’t know if it was someone being artistic or just the random act of a weirdo. Whatever – someone must have had a nice feed. Cheers.

From page 22

Fish frames hanging from a bridge. Why someone would go to the trouble of stringing up dead fish is a mystery.

[email protected]

ILUKABenPilch

Cold times – big reward

If you can stand the cold winds and water, the walls and headlands have been producing good mulloway up to 28kg with large hardbody lures like the

local offerings from Get Bent lures and Croaker lures, which have been working a treat on the local mulloway population. Just slow roll them through the washes of the headlands or on the insides of the walls if you want to get in on the action. The cold weather has

been good for the tailor as well. We’ve had the best season we have seen in years and there are still plenty of them around off the headlands and beaches in the 2-4kg bracket. With plenty of bait around, hopefully the will stick around for a while. The blackfish have been really slow of late; you’re probably better off chasing bream around the lower walls of a night. Gut baits like a chook and mullet gut have been working a treat. Don’t just sit in one spot and hope you run across some bream – work up and down the walls searching for them, fishing as light as you can get away with depending on the tidal run. By being proactive you will have a much higher success rate chasing this bread-and-butter species. In the same areas you will still pick up bream on lures, and blades and soft plastics in particular have been very productive when worked deep. The cold weather has also been good for snapper, with plenty of good eating quality squire around to be had on both bait and

soft plastics. The pick of the baits seems to be little bottle squid, but having a variety of bait on hand is always handy. If you’re bait fishing, berleying can improve your catch rate but you have to remember there is a very fine line between not enough and to much. You want to use your berley to get them interested, not to feed them. If you’re fishing a paternoster rig, using a weighted berley pot is the

best method to get the berley in the vicinity of where your baits are and draw the fish to them. My favourite method, however, is to use a lightly weighted bait drifted down a berley trail from the back of the boat. If you want to target some bigger knobby snapper you may have to get up a bit earlier and endure the freezing cold. And when I say early, I mean getting to your favourite snapper marks in

the dark, setting up your berley trail and fishing into the light using bigger baits. As well as using bigger baits you would do well to upsize everything else like hook size, main line and leader. You don’t want to feel that haunting sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach knowing you lost the best one of the morning because you skimped on upgrading your hooks or leader on your big bait rig!

If you can brave the cold, big mulloway are on offer!

Some serious jewels (mulloway) are about at the moment. Rug up and get out there

to take advantage of the winter run.

Dave and Warren with some bream caught during the pre-fish.

Phone Mobile: 0404 485 006 - Email: [email protected]

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26 AUGUST 2014

The Coffs region has finally experienced some winter weather along with the rest of Australia, and the water temperatures have slowly dropped to turn on the winter fishing. There have been a lot of squid readily available around many of the headlands in recent weeks. If you can put in the effort to catch yourself some, you will have yourself one tastiest meals you can have from the sea, or one of the best possible baits that you could use off the beach. Squid is probably the easiest bait to handle and fish with, as well as being one of the most effective mulloway baits there is. Most recent mulloway catches have been schoolies between the 3-10kg mark but there have been some very large fish around as well. Once again, the Mulloway Research Angler Program has continued to reveal some of the inside secrets of the species and has made for interesting reading. One of the stand-out points so far has been the difference between

the ages of fish at similar sizes. Sometimes there can be nearly 20 years difference between fish of similar sizes. Don’t forget that if you are catching and keeping mulloway this winter you can help the project by donating mulloway frames. Fishing Tackle Australia is the local drop-off point for this area,

and you can enquire there or check out www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/recreational/researchangler for more

information on the program and how to win the monthly prize pack. Squid off the beaches this month will also attract bream, as well as the odd tailor and salmon although pilchards, strip baits and lures are probably the better way to target the latter two in the gutters. Mulloway, salmon

and tailor will also be regular catches off any of the local headlands and break walls this month.

During the low swell we have experienced recently it has been necessary to search for a bit of white wash to increase your chances of catching a good fish. Calm conditions leads to wary fish hunting out a bit of cover before they will confidently take a lure or bait. During rough periods with lots of

white water cover it’s a matter of hunting out the calmer water that is still under the cover of a bit of wash or foam.

REEFIES AND PELAGICS

Offshore the focus has certainly shifted towards snapper, pearl perch and kingfish and away from the summer season fish. There is still the faint hope of latching onto lingering summer species like mackerel or tuna but I wouldn’t suggest keeping the wire on just for that chance. There has been plenty of bait around, especially pilchards, and these hapless little fish have no shortage of harassers. Kingfish, snapper, pearl perch, tailor and salmon can all be found in, around and under these schools. A live bait trolled around the edges or a lure dropped down through one of these schools is very likely to be picked up by one of these predators. Trolled hardbodies and fast retrieved metals or jigs are also a likely to score on the kingfish, tailor and salmon from around the bait schools. Around the islands there have been good size kingfish and cobia patrolling the washes. Slow trolling or drifting a good size live bait around these areas has led to some good size fish and is the most likely way to latch onto a larger specimen. Soft plastics,

hardbody lures and jigs are all catching fish around the islands but the captures have been dominated by small to medium sized kingfish, amberjack and samsonfish. Around the deeper reefs further offshore the jigs have resulted in larger fish more often, but a good live bait dropped into the zone is still the best bet for a larger specimen.

ESTUARIES The local estuaries have been very clear so to find fish you need to find good structure, with bigger fish being quite wary of the conditions. Flathead and whiting are still being found regularly. Most are not significant in size but they are still worth a catch. The bream are hiding themselves up the back ends of the estuaries in the mangroves, oyster racks and snags. Once the cold hits on the Coffs Coast it can be tough finding targets that are willing, but with the cold finally here after a long summer it’s time to switch on winter mode and chase a good beach gutter mulloway, a hefty upstream bream or a cracking nearshore red. Whatever you target this month I hope you set a few hooks wherever you are.

Winter fishing switches on in Coffs [email protected]

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Winter means a bit of a break from gamefishing if you want it, with the potential for yellowfin tuna out wide and striped marlin as a 50-50 proposition inside the shelf, depending on the bait situation. As a matter of interest, a longliner unloaded a 174kg striped marlin trunk not so long back. Whole and on rod and reel, that would be a world record on any line class you care to name. Two stripes over 145kg were weighed in off Sydney the following week, so there’s a couple of rippers kicking around (or there were). Just to prove it’s never over ’til it’s over, local charter boat Black and Blue

caught a 20kg black on the way home from the shelf at the start of June. The poor thing was so cold though, it didn’t even have the strength to break the rubber band on the outrigger — true story! There’s currently a fair bit of talk amongst a couple of guys about doing

an overnight broadbill fish, no doubt inspired by the incredible results coming out of Tassie lately. Brrr! As I always say, let my phone ring a couple of times to wake me up and I’ll come down and take a photo of the fish on the gantry for you… Incredibly, there are still mackerel to be had as I write this in late June, with spotties and Spanish at South West Rocks, good numbers of spotties still coming in at Wooli, and the odd Spanish as close to home as South Solitary Island. The reality of the situation is that there may be a whole lot more winter mackerel out there than we realise. In response to cooling air temperatures, just about everyone has switched over to snapper fishing by now and the toothy critters are

being largely neglected. The occasional bite-off on soft plastics and baits perhaps incorrectly being attributed to the dreaded leatherjacket scourge could actually be a more desirable species. Slimies are readily available at the regular bait haunts, so it might be worth spending a

bit of time trolling the known mackerel grounds.

MAINTENANCE TIME Of course winter means tackle maintenance time. Reels should be separated from rods and rods separated from butts if two-piece. All threads, locking rings, reel seats and guide frames will benefit from being scrubbed with a toothbrush dipped in WD40 or similar. No matter how fastidious the post-fishing cleaning regime is, salt will accumulate in those many nooks and crannies and it’s always nice to start the season with tackle in A-1 condition. One useful tip I learned during the year was to use grease rather than oil on roller guide sleeves. I’d always advocated light oil, but the rollers often got gummy during the course

of a season. Switching to a smear of Penn Reel Grease keeps has kept everything humming along nicely. A quick test in the garage has revealed that most of them could go another season without being pulled apart, but I’ll do it anyway. Line should be discarded

and replaced with fresh. I run Dacron with mono top shots on my 37kg outfits, so changing them is less of a chore. The added bonus is that one 1000m spool of new pre-test mono will do four to five reels, which equates to a substantial cost saving during the year, especially if line is being replaced on a regular basis. Lash out and get a bulk spool and you may never have to purchase new line again! Outriggers are often neglected until the new season starts. Hinges get stiff from sitting upright for a couple of months, but it’s the halyards that present the most headaches. Remove the poles and check the tip pulleys are still turning freely, as they will abrade even the heaviest mono when under tension. While decidedly old school, zero-maintenance glass rings still remain the best choice for outrigger fittings. If using heavy mono as halyards, bin it and rig up some new ones. Just go for something tough like Momoi Extra Hard in 500lb, as some monos have a hard outer sheath but a soft inner core. Then, once the outer defences have been breached, it’s only a matter of time before it all lets go. Similarly, crimps, especially aluminium ones, will start to corrode the minute they come into contact with saltwater, and may fail at any time if they’re more than a couple of seasons old. Dropping all those expensive outrigger fittings in the drink is not a happy experience!

It’s maintenance timeCOFFS GAMEGlenBooth

Dacron with mono top shots is a quick and effective way of replacing line, and ensuring that what goes into the water in the wake of a fish is always fresh.

Left: Winter is the perfect time to strip off old line and replace it with new, service reels, and dismantle and clean roller guides. Before you

know it, the new season will be upon us. Right: Winter sometimes throws up an exciting striped marlin bite inshore from the 100 fathom

line, although they’ve been absent for a few seasons now.

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With the shortest day of the year well behind us now you can already feel the good times that are

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some crackers caught this year by the local kayak fraternity. The close reefs off Grassy Head and Point Plomer are great places to start. Combine these hotspots with low light times of the day and you are in with a great chance. Working a 5-7” jerk shad plastic in front of your drift is by far the most popular form of fishing these days but it also pays to have a grub tail or paddle tail soft plastic trailing behind your drift, just working itself gently in the rod holder. Taking care not to travel straight over the top of your mark and setting up the correct drift are very important factors in this form of fishing. A lot can also be said for anchoring up and setting a good berley trail. Plenty of quality fish are taken this way and although some days you may attract some undesirables, more often than not the bait you were floating down for a snapper will be devoured by a mulloway, tuna or one of countless other quality tablefish that are available at this time of year. Tailor numbers have

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too many giants amongst them yet, but hopefully this will change as we head into September and October with early signs pointing towards a good kingfish season. Mulloway have been everywhere over the last few months, and the majority of catches have been of a better class of fish. Hopefully with the new strict laws regarding this species the trend will continue and allow them to return to their former glory. So far this year, 6” Lunker City Shaker paddle tails have been the stand-out soft plastic for the big fellas. The Shaker’s oversized paddle tail definitely sets off an attack trigger in the jewfish. If the mulloway are there,

you’ll usually know within the first couple of casts. Pearl perch have dominated on the deeper reefs along with the ever reliable teraglin. Sending a live yakka down on these reefs is a practice well advised and is a great way to draw a bigger trag out of the school. Love them or hate them, leatherjackets are around in numbers ready to devour anything sent their way – whether it be sinkers, line, jigs or the catch you are retrieving from the depths, they don’t seem to discriminate. Wire rigs sort them out but can greatly reduce catch rates of most other species. Micro jigging is another form of offshore fishing that has been getting great results on our reefs. Snapper and kingfish are the most

common catches. With this form of fishing every strike can leave you guessing as to what you are attached to. Big bream are still being caught throughout our river system and along our beaches in probably their best numbers of the season. Commercial presence on the beaches has eased a little of late and the recreational results are definitely on the improve. August marks the last month of the closed season for bass. Due to low river levels throughout winter it will be interesting to see where the fish are holding when the season opens on September 1, as at times areas of the river have been almost impassable, not to mention the pelicans that have been sitting at every set of rapids awaiting their prey.

James Lainey with a solid shallow water snapper.

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FISHING FILL-ITS

Set lines earn finesRecreational fishers are reminded that the use of illegal set lines is not permitted in the inland waterways of NSW, following a number of individuals being apprehended near Wagga Wagga, Condobolin and Moulamein. Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Supervising Fisheries Officer, Peter Tilbrook, said the use of destructive set lines has been prohibited in NSW for many years. “During May, fisheries officers received an anonymous tip-off notifying them of the illegal use of set lines in Old Man Creek, about 20km west of Wagga Wagga,” Mr Tilbrook said. “The illegal set lines were located by fisheries officers, and with the assistance of NSW Police they intercepted a vehicle on the outskirts of the city later that night. A man was interviewed and his vehicle was inspected, resulting in the seizure of 16 set lines each rigged with two hooks, and one large Murray cod. “The man will face charges of possession of illegal fishing gear, possession of fish illegally taken, use of live fin

fish as bait and leave lines unattended. Each of the charges carries a maximum penalty of up to $22,000 and/or six months imprisonment.” Mr Tilbrook said set lines do not discriminate and can have devastating consequences for native fish including threatened species and other wildlife that can be caught on the lines. “Most native fish caught using set lines, undergo prolonged stress, become easy prey for predators including other larger fish and often die on the line,” he said. In another incident involving set lines, two men within a larger group were observed by fisheries officers checking and setting 12 set lines in the Lachlan River, near Condobolin. “The lines, baited with yabbies, were illegally set and left unattended,” Mr Tilbrook said. “When interviewed, the West Wyalong men were found in possession of a gaff, two golden perch and three Murray cod, two of which were of prohibited size. The equipment and fish were seized by fisheries officers, who also found one of the men had failed to pay the required Recreational Fishing Fee. The two men were each issued penalty notices totalling $2000.”

In a third incident, two men from Rushworth in Victoria were found using eight set lines and in possession of two Murray cod which had been illegally taken from Billabong Creek near Moulamein. “The eight lines and two cod measuring 64cm and 75cm were seized from the men,” Mr Tilbrook said. “Both men have each received penalty notices totalling $1000 for possession of illegal fishing gear and fish illegally taken by set lines.” A maximum of two attended lines are permitted in all non-tidal waters other than some trout waters. Attended lines must be

within 50m and in the line of sight of the fisher using them. Hand lines are not permitted in trout waters or closed waters. Any spare lines must not be rigged or capable of taking fish. Anglers are encouraged to use the NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide, available from DPI fisheries officers, tackle shops and at www.fisheries.nsw.gov.au. Anyone with information about suspected illegal fishing should call Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536 or report online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries/compliance. – DPI

Fisheries Officer Michael Koukoulas with two seized Murray cod measuring 64cm and 75cm illegally

taken from Billabong Creek near Moulamein.

30 AUGUST 2014

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Perseverance and patience

It’s been a cool winter so far, however the water temperatures haven’t reflected this. We’ve had

unseasonably warm ocean currents, and the water in our estuaries hasn’t dropped like it normally does either. This month we should see some further drops in air temperatures with westerly winds occurring

at this time of year. That means it’s time to rug up and get amongst the action.

OFFSHORE Offshore fishing will be weather dependent, and windows for trips wide could be limited. One good option this month will

be heading out off Point Plomer looking for some pearl perch and snapper. If the currents remain warm then kingfish will also be worth a shot. For those not wishing to venture that far, the flathead grounds straight out from the Hastings River bar will be worth a try, as at this time of year they normally produce some decent feeds of flathead. The inshore reefs off Nobbys and Lighthouse Beach will also be a good place to target some plate-size snapper. Lure fishing for snapper is always very popular and at times it’s the easiest method. What’s easier than a packet of plastics and a few jigheads? But you can’t discount the benefits of bait fishing at this time of year. A well-rigged squid may well prove to be an irresistible

treat for some nice snapper this month, so it could be worth the effort to have a bait option along with your artificial baits when heading offshore this month.

ESTUARIES Estuary action this month will definitely concentrate in the bottom reaches of our systems, with quality bream, luderick and mulloway on offer to those who show perseverance and patience. With clear water flowing in on run-in tides, luderick fishermen are already lining up on the walls and other vantage points to target their quarry. Weed is always the best bait but don’t discount yabbies and peeled prawns. The best spots to get a feed this month will be the bend on the southern break wall in the Hastings River and off the rocks at Henry Kendall Reserve on Stingray Creek off the Camden Haven River. Bream anglers will also do well as the tide pushes in, with fresh baits taking quality fish. Lure anglers will also do well fishing soft plastics and vibes deep along the rock walls. The tide gauge on the main coal wall opposite Port Macquarie’s Town Green is a good place to start and work your way along the wall heading upriver. Deep holes along the Settlement Point Road rock wall are top places for an afternoon or evening fish from the bank this month, as there are bream schooling in

these holes before making a move to the sea. The best baits are prawns and cut baits, fished on simple rigs with as little lead as possible. We’ve had very little rain this winter (and there’s not much predicted on the horizon) so we have clear waters which means lots of baitfish. As with most systems this means lots of mulloway, and recently we have seen an increase in the size of mulloway caught in our system. Most quality

fish have been caught after dark and taken on a variety of methods, from live baits to cut baits and lures, with big soft plastics hopped on the bottom proving to be the best lure option. Top spots this month will be areas with deep water nearby. Dennis Bridge is the primary spot, although current bridge works may be spooking the fish a bit. Deeper holes downriver and in the Maria River should prove to be good spots to target school and larger mulloway.

BEACHES Beach fishing hits its straps this month, with some excellent gutters forming on our beaches. Dunbogan Beach is always a top location, however I’ve had reports of quality bream being taken off the beach at Middle Rock, which is at the northern end of Rainbow Beach at Bonny Hills. Lighthouse Beach and North Beach will also be top places to target bream, tailor and mulloway this month. Beach worms are possibly the best bait for all locations but it’s hard to go past some garfish for top cut baits for bream. The bream seem to love them and they hold onto hooks better than pilchards in the surf. No matter what your fishing preferences this month make sure you enjoy the windows of opportunities you get and have fun targeting winter fish. Remember to watch the weather and check for wind warnings before hitting the water this month, and stay safe. No fish is worth risking your life for.

[email protected]

PORT MACQUARIEDavidPoulton

The author with some bream that would put a smile on any angler’s face. All were caught fishing

deep plastics along rock walls on 2” fat grubs.

This tailor couldn’t resist a Bassday Sugapen. Surface fishing in winter is still a good option especially with warmer water.

Perseverance and patience is the key to convert your bag of four to five and even upgrade.

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Ramping things up

The Forster Harbour boat ramp upgrade is complete and it’s a vast improvement over the old ramp. There is a set of concrete stairs leading

to the beach next to the raised edge of the grooved ramp, and this will make things easier on old and unsure legs. There should be no excuse either for dropping a trailer tyre off the edge of the ramp except total uselessness! The ramp seems to have enough length for the

bigger boats, and all-in-all it’s a job well done. The seasonal transition of fishing hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. An early flurry of pigs from the rocks was stifled with warmish and gin clear water through June. Even on rough days the water made the fish very hard to catch so leaders

down to 10lb were needed. Spinning for tailor and salmon has been difficult with the acres of garfish and other bait giving the predators a 24/7 takeaway option. It is unusual to spin for an hour and not even get a hit, with the exception of foul hooking pencil long garfish, two gannets and a tern (damn those gannets are quick and accurate). I have no hesitation is suggesting this month things will improve markedly. Most people I’ve spoken to have had to resort to cold and late night sessions to get a decent bag of fish from the rocks, walls or beach. The Tuncurry and Forster walls have been fishing well of a night for bream and school mulloway, though many of the schoolies are well under the 70cm size limit. Bouncing soft plastics through from the last hour of the run-out to the first hour of run-in is best. I fished the Tuncurry wall at 3:30am the other week and there was a good population of anglers already littering the wall. A couple of anglers were using squid hoods and had managed a few schoolies (released), and another had a bucket of yellowtail that he had converted into a fish of around 13kg. One thing I did see, while staring into the water, was two large tiger prawns swimming back against the run-out tide. Each was about a 30cm long (yes, a foot long) and I managed to lift one with the tip of my rod, which made it skip, indelicately, across the surface. I do know a fellow that did a couple of late season prawn darks and managed to scoop almost 30kg in two nights of tiger prawns from the lake. Makes you think, what do we miss restricting our prawning to the warmer months? We may be hitting the big end of winter but it has

been a funny season so far. To date the salmon have been restricted to a few patches and the tailor have been prone to a fair Houdini job too. Clear water is one reason it is hard to catch a good bag, and the fish are just not as thick as they have been in earlier years. I know it will improve once we get a decent push of cooler

water that stirs things up. One indicator that fishing is crap is when you hook a small wirrah cod (a boot) only to have it eaten by a bigger wirrah cod, plus, you land both of them and that is the most exciting thing you have caught ALL day. The rocks to the south of Forster, I have heard, are

fishing better than Bennetts Head or Blackhead. The beaches have been faring better, with tailor and bream holding in and behind the waves, so the sandy stretch is by far the best chance of fresh fillets if you’re not out in a boat. Janies Corner and Seven Mile have been the most consistent of the beaches by far, with pilchard

baits on ganged hooks or metal lures worked over the gutters and out wide of the break producing results. The lake and leases have some stonker bream hanging on them. The bream seem to be in patches or schools with one lease being empty and the next lease full of hungry fish. I

[email protected]

FORSTERDavidSeaman

You know your session on the rocks is doomed when you catch a wirrah cod on a wirrah cod. Another trigger to go home early is a green moray eel on the first bait.

Top: The new Forster Harbour boat ramp is welcome improvement for the area. Now if we can only

stop the children swimming in there during busy school holidays! Bottom: Salmon were so thick

you could walk on them five years ago. This season you’re lucky to hit one or two in a spin session.

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33AUGUST 2014

guess it is just a seasonal aggregation thing but many of the fish are like polished silver and very fit. If you want numbers, live yabbies are the gun bait. Green prawns, bread and chicken strips have been attracting the love too. A slowly hopped 2” Gulp Shrimp worked exceptionally well for me last trip and it out-fished fresh peeled green prawns almost two to one. Small legal flathead are still hanging around over flats areas like Ohas Bay and Regatta Island. Most will eventually make their way up into the tributaries where they will take on a coal black colouration and hole up over winter. If you have the time and patience, soaking live yabbies up one of the tributaries (I like the Wallamba River) on a deeper bend you will find some big whiting, flathead and a few pesky rat bream. It is a nice way to enjoy a sunny winter’s day.

OFFSHORE Offshore, the only thing you can rely on is the good old leatherjackets. Anglers curse them but the reality is they are not too bad on the table. The snapper are moving closer inshore and if you have a good sounder it pays to investigate the reef or high ground for schools of jackets before

wasting lures for snapper. Some plate sized pinkies have been coming from Latitude Rock and I’m told there wasn’t a jacket to be seen.

Flathead have been consistent over the sand and rough ground, along with sergeant baker and the odd pearl perch.

This is the quality of the fish that should be everywhere off the rocks this time of year. This

tarwhine was in the mood for a peeled prawn snack.

For a while I’ve been wondering whether the fish seasons have been changing, and I believe there’s now enough evidence to say that the fish are at least a month later than they were 40 years ago. For example, in the early 1970s the big female flathead were being caught on the sand in the corner of the wall long before the Christmas holidays started. This year they didn’t turn up in great numbers until the middle of January. Much the same is happening with the bream. There are no bream on the wall that are fully roed – most fish were about half roed up at the end of June this year. In the old days you would catch fully roed bream in the Manning by the end of May. The tailor have been turning up late or not at all, and the list goes on. There have been some strange catches of late, with the most recent one being a 15kg Spanish mackerel caught off Old Bar. Usually these fish appear in about the middle of

February and stay for a couple of weeks. It is unheard of to catch a Spanish at this time of the year.

ESTUARY This is definitely the best bream season for many years. The bream are biting on just about any bait, and all anglers are catching a bag of fish. The night time anglers are scoring the most fish by fishing the hour either side of slack water when minimum lead can be used. No monster fish have been caught, but a few over 1kg gilled and gutted have been landed. Luderick can be found in all parts of the river near Harrington. They are eating weed during the day and fresh yabbies at night. Some of the fish caught are 1kg in weight. A few flathead are still being picked up by bream anglers on yabbies, mullet strips and prawns.

BEACH AND ROCK Beach fishing has picked up a fair bit this month. Good catches of tailor and some nice bream have been made from Crowdy Beach while some good mulloway around 10kg have been caught on Harrington Beach. The headlands have produced the best sized

tailor with plenty of fish from 1.5-2kg being taken by spinning gar or bobby corking strips of bonito at dawn and dusk.

OFFSHORE The northern grounds above Mermaid and the rocky bottom off Old Bar have produced snapper to 5kg as well as plenty of plate-sized fish. Out in 100m of water, bar cod and leatherjackets have been showing up. There are still surface fish to troll and there are heaps of yellowtail and slimies to catch for bait.

THE MONTH AHEAD August is still a very productive month for all types of angling. In the estuary bream and luderick will be on the bite while on the beaches tailor and salmon will be the main species to hunt. The rocks will be worth a try for drummer as they should spawn around the end of July. Some big blue groper will be appearing around the headlands, and outside anglers should be able to pick up some big snapper near the close in reefs. The weather should be cold but not too windy as the strong westerlies we used to get in August don’t come along until September.

The end of [email protected]

HARRINGTONIanPereira

As you may not be aware, from 2nd June, Australia Post will introduce

2 delivery timetables for their Print Post services, which will affect the delivery time of your magazines.The current delivery timetable continues but will be renamed “Print Post Priority.” The second Timetable will be named “Print Post Regular.”

The names “Priority” and “Regular” reflect the different performance of the two timetables. Your magazines will be sent as “Regular” and Australia Post says it may take between two and four business days longer to be delivered than the “Priority” timetable.

We will still endeavour to get your magazine to you before it goes on sale at the Newsagents but ultimately, we are at the mercy of Australia Post and have no control over them once they are lodged into their system.

We welcome your feedback on your Australia Post experience to [email protected].

34 AUGUST 2014

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Tailor have been in very healthy numbers and size over the last couple of months so hopefully they’ll continue to hang around. Trolling diving lures like Laser Pros and X-Raps usually produce some nice fish. Both headlands produce fish but I’ve had noticeably more success on the southern headland between the gun torrent and Mrs Murphys. Little Island also produces good numbers of greenbacks and salmon. Salmon are around in numbers which is always great to fall back on when the other fish aren’t biting. Pillies on ganged hooks will

catch you plenty of salmon but I think they are a whole lot more fun to catch on a lure. Metals, diving lures and plastics catch fish on most occasions but the salmon sometimes become very fussy when chasing tiny baitfish. When this happens, a well-presented fly or small soft plastic is often the difference between catching a fish and going home empty-handed. Salmon will patrol most

of the beaches, headlands and islands, and they often enter the bay in large numbers where they provide a great opportunity for young anglers to learn how a drag works. A lot of people aren’t a fan of the taste of salmon but I don’t mind them if they’re bled immediately, skinned and all the dark red meat is cut out of the fillets.

OFFSHORE Now is snapper time and there are definitely some great fish about. The great thing about snapper fishing at this time of year is that you don’t have to head out far at all. Little Island and Boondelbah (or ‘Big Island’ as it gets called) both produce some huge reds at times. Floating half slimies down a berley trail is nearly as good as it gets for these

fish. I prefer to fish during the late afternoon and into the night. Boondelbah in particular fishes better once the sun drops in the sky. Edith Breakers has been producing some huge reds lately, and 5” soft plastics in the brighter colours are reportedly doing the damage. Remember to check the weather forecast if you’re heading from Port as it can be a very long trip home in a strong southerly.

Allmark is producing kingfish with the average around 6-8kg. There are also a few bar cod and nannygai coming from the bottom around that area also.

WASHES The washes are still holding good numbers of drummer and also some good size bream. Blue groper are also very common but are not commonly targeted due to their hard and dirty fighting tactics which can make them nearly impossible to pull from the rocks. To target them you’ll need some heavy gear, with 20lb braid being the absolute minimum and 40lb not even cutting it sometimes – but go any heavier and you risk not hooking them at all. Cunjevoi and crabs are great drummer baits and are

best fished under the wash. Remember to always be on the alert so as soon as they bite you can get them out of there.

BAY Bream are still in good numbers around the racks and break walls, and things should keep getting better throughout this month and into September. Luderick are still schooled up big on the break walls and plenty of anglers are still bagging out.

Gunning for greenbacksPORT STEPHENSBilly Gillon

Red head lures are a tailor favourite.

A healthy Allmark yellowtail kingfish.

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FISHING FILL-ITS

At the Tinnie and Tackle Show in Brisbane we met Backbone, the crew who sell the Tide, a digital watch that has the ability to be programmed to tell you the tide in your nearest port. There are plenty of watches out there these days that can do this, but the real beauty of the Tide is that you can buy them so cheaply at under $50. Don’t think though that this price is a reflection on quality. The Tide is manufactured to the same standards as Backbone’s other watches, watches they sell to tradies as tough workwear watches that will not fail you. Setting the tide for your local port is easy, in fact so easy that only a few simple instructions are needed to get the watch performing for you. I set mine for my local ramp and this watch is accurate to within about half an hour. That’s perfect for me as by the time the tide gets up to my ramp, or drains away from it, I bet anyone to get it right to the minute. In fact the Bureau of Metoerology and whoever else does the tide charts has this sort of accuracy! The large face on the watch allows the buyer to easily know what they tide is doing and about how high or low it is. It’s a simple set up that is made to make things easy. Of course there are other function, it even tells you the

time! These features include dual time, stop watch and alarm and the highest tide, making this watch perfect for the casual angler, boater or beach goer. Plus this watch is water resistant to 100m, and that doesn’t just mean splash proof like some water resistant watches, it actually means you can stick your arm underwater with it and not wreck it. The Tide is available in a variety of bold colours and black and of course I went straight for the loud yellow colour. The colours include pink, red, yellow/black, yellow/blue, orange and grey, giving you a great choice. The strap is solid and the buckles

are made from stainless steel (as is the rear cover) and there are two tabs to run the tongue of the strap under, completely stopping the tongue from slipping out and catching on everything. Selling for under $50, the Tide is excellent value and I reckon accurate enough that if the tides matter to your trip planning, then this will become an important on-water tool. Add in a 12 month warranty Check out the Tide Watch at www.backbonetime.com.au or look out for them at various shows and exhibitions. A great little tool that will help you out on the water. – Stephen Booth

Backbone tide watch under $50

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36 AUGUST 2014

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A game of fishy Winter poker

The extremely cold weather has hit us, and anyone in a aluminium boat sure knows what I mean – don’t leave your cushions at home, and make sure you wipe the heavy, frosty dew from the vinyl seats. If you’re an early morning riser the fog can be dangerous, and to going ploughing along rivers to get out on the ocean or lakes you can’t hear other outboards or see other boats so take care. At times 10ft in front of you is all you can see, and that makes for dangerous travelling so going slow may be a good idea. Some cowboys get aboard and gun it through the fog soup and then see another boat and near misses occur. It happened to me once on the Hunter and it wasn’t a good experience, and I never want it to happen again. The fishing hasn’t been too bad but it hasn’t been that good either. Picking the right day is like having a good hand in poker – sometimes you will win then other times you will lose. That’s the gamble you take. Squid are the talk of the town, as are the mass schools of trevally and salmon. Both are in plague proportions as I write this and they will still be around while you’re reading this. The salmon have been in close and have been around 3-6kg in size. They’re great fighters and easy to catch so take the kids or someone who hasn’t fished much and watch their face light up as these salmon leap from the water. I get a real buzz from seeing their expressions when a big one gets on. The squid have been the big green-eye monsters so don’t forget your pink or red or green large jigs. Look in calm small bays or off jetties where there are a lot of sprats or whitebait swimming

around in schools. The squid won’t be too far away from them at all. Try all the sizes and colours of jigs that you have. As I’ve mentioned before, I love the Razorbacks as they have extra insurance in holding tentacles thanks to the extra hooks on the jigs’ backs.

REEFS Over the reefs, kingfish, nannygai and trevally, as well as a few teraglin have

been around. And yes, as I missed last issue the damn leatherjackets have shown up. I am not putting these fish down at all – you can get some huge ones and they are great on a hot plate – but when it comes to taking bait they’re like a bull at a gate. Leatherjackets are the first to want to get out and scoff the bait down, leaving better fish sitting in second row. (It’s a bit like the State of Origin, where some of the leaders and big fish sat back and never gave their all.)

ROCK AND BEACH On the beaches the bream are still running, and the mullet are there along with salmon, flounder and the odd flathead. We had a blast of 100km/h winds a bit back so new holes and gutters would have formed. This means a trek in the 4WD would be worth it. Night fishing has been very bad. Most anglers have been fishing until just after dark, then packing up and heading home. I suspect the weather and the freezing nights are helping them make that decision! The rocks are firing with drummer, luderick, bream, groper, squid as well as the odd squire. I saw a diver leave the water with a good bag of morwong, nice-sized red ones, and he said there were many more he missed. Try crab particles or peeled prawns over the kelpy and stony areas for them, as they are great on the plate.

OFFSHORE I haven’t heard much about what’s happening out on the shelf, so all I can suggest is to pick a good day and troll or deep line to see if the tuna and mahi mahi (dolphinfish) are still around. I know sharks are out there though as my mate walked into the pub with a set of tiger shark jaws you could stick your head in. He said he was berleying for tuna when

it arrived and he changed gear and fought it for over two hours, and predicted its size as over 150kg.

THE MONTH AHEAD Remember this is the month when the mad westerlies hit the Hunter region, so be careful. They can blow lightly, making everything seem great to go out in the morning,

then around lunchtime and afternoons… pow! They can really pick up, making for rough rides back to the ramps. I talk to a lot of fishermen and they are astounded by the prices of fuel at the moment. It stays stable for a while, then as soon as the weekend comes up it goes like a hooked marlin. Prices can rise 5-10c. We fishermen are a mad mob, why else

would we put ourselves through having blue fingers and empty pockets week after week! In summing up, this month I recommend trolling or casting around schools of salmon, rock fishing for bream, groper and drummer, squidding and playing with the squire over shallow reef grounds. Happy fishing.

[email protected]

HUNTER COASTGaryEarl

Some great trevally can be taken in winter along the coastline. They come out of deep water when they get to this size, and they pull like a steam train.

A tawny shark is a rare catch but Rachael Ryan was pleased. The smile says it all.

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The weather took longer than usual to get down to the ‘chilly’ status this season but it certainly made it there eventually that’s for sure. With water temps down around 15°C in some parts of the lake and the ambient temps not much higher, you can forgive those anglers who find it hard to get motivated during these cool periods. If the fishing wasn’t so

good I’d certainly stay in bed on a Sunday morning sipping coffee and reading the paper much more often. Having the boat ramp so close by and a wife willing to bring my mid-morning coffee to the ramp on my fishing days certainly makes it easier for me to hang out on the water a little longer in search of those winter mulloway. With winter coming to an end we really only have another month or two left of the cold water species and techniques and before you know it we will be back to throwing poppers at whiting on the flats. In the meantime, the options for local anglers are still very enticing.

LAKE MACQUARIE The Lake still has plenty of great sportfishing on offer with some fantastic tailor over 60cm coming in, and the salmon schools should remain thick for at least another month throughout the lake. Anglers trolling deep diving hardbody lures are finding some great tailor schools about and the salmon are usually not far away. Once these schools are located its best to shut the motor down and drift through/around these schools of fish and work soft plastics for the best results. Areas such as Belmont Bay, Coal Point and Salts Bay are prime locations to start your search. It’s been another good winter for big flathead from the deeper areas of Lake

Macquarie. Plenty of big girls in that 70-90cm range have been landed and generally they are coming from the waters around 8-10m deep. The schools of baitfish are the key to locating these large flathead. Whether it’s small tailor, whitebait or even a salmon school, you will usually find the flathead laying deep picking up the scraps around the schooling fish. The standout lure by far this season has been the Keitech Swing Impact FATS lures in 3.8” and 4.8”. Colours such as browns, greens and silvers have been very effective.

Please try to release all these large breeding female flathead as it is very important for our system to protect future stocks. Bream anglers also have plenty to be happy about at the moment with some bream over 40cm being caught. Both bait and lure anglers have been getting results. During the cold night hours bait anglers have been getting some great numbers in shallower waters, and lightly weighted prawns and mullet strips have been very effective. For lure anglers,

fishing with blades in deeper water is the key to success at the moment. Chain Valley Bay has produced its usual run of some stonker winter bream but the numbers have not been great unfortunately. Other areas around fishing point have been producing slightly smaller fish but at times they have been in great numbers. Mulloway continue to be about as they have been all year, which is great to see. They’re the holy grail of estuary fishing for many anglers and once you start to crack the code with them you

will soon realise why that is. I’ve noticed a good number of smaller mulloway as well this year being caught and released, with plenty of fish around 40-50cm not uncommon. That’s a great sign that jewfish numbers, as long as managed correctly, should continue to improve. The great thing is that not all the fish have been small, with good fish up to 1m being encountered by keen anglers. Areas such as Wangi, Coal Point, Belmont Bay and Bolton Point continue

to produce the goods. Lures are proving as effective as always but live bait anglers are also finding their share of the action. One thing I have found surprising this year has been the number of good quality snapper that anglers have been catching in the lake. Although certainly not huge fish compared to what many anglers around Australia get to experience, it is still pleasing to see such well conditioned reds and in sizes of around 50cm. Not only are they tasty but they’re great little sportfish as well.

OFFSHORE Offshore fishing might not be as action packed as during the summer months but those looking for a feed will be heading home very happy more often than not. Quality snapper, nannygai and kingfish are all on offer and in good numbers and size. The offshore reefs in deeper water are the better options during these winter periods. Areas from the south including Texas and the perch ground right up to Allmark off Port Stephens are all good options, and on the right days locations off Swansea such as the Farm can produce a good feed.

ROCK AND BEACH Rock and beach anglers will be rewarded for dipping their toes in the cold stuff as well. Some great drummer can be found in the washes and there are really good bream also being pulled from these same areas. Lightly weighted prawns are the go-to bait, and pilchard cubes are also proving effective on these bream. Some solid mulloway have been landed off the local beaches, with places such as Blacksmiths being among the better options. Whole squid or large mullet fillets have been the downfall of some great mulloway over the past month. Rock

Enticing winter lake [email protected]

SWANSEAJasonScerri

Another nice Lake Macquarie mulloway that fell victim to a slowly worked Keitech soft plastic.

Domenic with a quality 47cm red that took a Keitech plastic.

Jason Pivott got this lovely 70cm snapper on a pink shine Gulp around Coochie, Southern Bay.

anglers patiently fishing live baits have scored the odd reasonable kingfish as well, and although not the prime time for this action it certainly shows the fish are

there for those willing to put the effort in still. For the very latest on what’s biting, visit the friendly team at Jayro Tackle, 396 Pacific Hwy Belmont.

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August is a notoriously tough month for fishing along this part of the coastline, and not only due to persistent westerly winds; the clear, cold water doesn’t help things either.

Offshore anglers can still get into some line-stretching action, providing it’s not too windy to head out in the first place. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees of getting a decent patch of weather landing right on the weekend, so all we can do is keep an eye on the forecasts and keep our

fingers crossed. All going well there should still be some kingfish nailing jigs or livebaits out on the Perch Grounds or Texas. The kingies were going well earlier in the season, and without too many pesky leatherjackets or seals either. However, at some stage those dreaded ‘jackets are sure to move in and start snipping lines. Some good snapper and the odd jewfish are also caught on these wider grounds, and smaller baits will also take the sweet tasting, long-finned sea perch. On some days the bonito can show up in good numbers too so it’s worth heading out with some smaller chrome lures around the 85-100g mark. If the current isn’t too strong a 100g lure will still get down towards the bottom and be a chance for the kings, so this approach can double your chances of hooking up to one species or another.

INSHORE Closer to shore and some snapper are very possible this month. Most may only be pan-sized, but a fish of over 9kg was caught earlier in the season which just proves that there are big snapper off the central coast. Berley in close to reef or the headlands and trevally, bream and small snapper shouldn’t be too hard to come by. Plenty of salmon are about at the moment so if nothing else is working they could save the day. Pillies on ganged hooks are always reliable but small soft plastics like the 4” Berkley Powerbait minnows really get smashed by the sambos if you can place a cast amongst them.

ROCK AND BEACH On the beaches, too, these salmon will now be invading the gutters. Quite often they’ll be very close to shore so a long

cast isn’t always needed to reach them. The sad thing is though that they won’t always hit lures, so it can be very frustrating.

However, strike them in the right mood and it can make for some fun fishing on light tackle. There isn’t normally a lot else along our beaches at this time of year, but it’s still possible to catch the odd bream, tailor or even a mulloway – so pull on the waders, rug up and you

could be rewarded. Rock fishing is perhaps a better option if bagging a fresh feed of fish is your main objective, although

the rocks have been a bit patchy this year. Providing the water isn’t too clear, green drummer will take baits of peeled prawn, cunje or white bread. There have been a few drummer caught from all of our local ledges recently, from Catherine Hill Bay down to Avoca. Some bream or

blackfish can be expected when drummer fishing the washes. Silver trevally and yellow-eye mullet can also move up a berley trail, especially if plenty of bread has been used. Those salmon are of course going to be cruising in close along the rock ledges. As with beach fishing, sometimes they’ll be in the mood to take small chrome or white lures, other times they’ll simply ignore anything thrown their way. It can be hard to cast a lightly weighted soft plastic from the rocks on tackle that’s got enough power to deal with a big sambo but still it’s worth trying, especially if the salmon show up in big numbers.

ESTUARIES Back inside the estuaries blackfish are still the dominant species and a popular target. Plenty have been caught at The Entrance this season although some are only small fish, under the legal size of 27cm. Moving towards September they may start to fade out a bit, but will still be worth chasing. Bream can be harder to come by in August, but again, they’re still worth the effort as some big fish are still possible. If you’re using lures just remember to keep it all slow and deep with the cold water we have at the moment. Other than that, good quality natural baits may be a better idea. Some flathead are normally caught this month, mainly in deeper water. They may be found anywhere, but it’s common to catch them in the creeks or rivers, like Erina, Narara or Dora, again in the deeper parts. Don’t expect a lot of flathead action, but a few quality fish are likely right now and over the following weeks.

Decent fish still possibleCENTRAL COASTGlennEllis-Helmers

This 9.2kg snapper was caught by John Balcomb off the northern part of the central coast. He was chasing tailor and said the

big red gave him an awesome fight on light gear.

August isn’t really a great time for bream, but the few that are around could be decent sized fish.

Try lightly weighted natural baits like bloodworms, cockles or mullet strips and if lure casting, keep

things slow and deep at this time of year.

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Baiting blue-nose bruisersIt has been a great winter with relatively stable weather and great catches to boot. Mulloway were

in good numbers and size throughout June and July, with multiple 1m+ fish gracing the deck of my boat. The best was 144cm, caught by lucky client Nathan Bradley on a live 40cm tailor. Seeing as it was a short fight time and the hook was well positioned in the corner of the jaw, Nathan chose to tag and release this awesome fish in excellent condition. Most of the larger fish have come on big live baits of tailor, pike and yakkas but there are still a few being caught on soft plastics and vibes. Working the tide changes in a variety of different locations is the key to finding active schools of mulloway on the Hawkesbury. The school mulloway have been active up to and beyond Wisemans ferry with a lot of sub-legal soapy jew getting in the way of the legal 70cm+ fish. Still a lot of fun though on light tackle and small soft plastics and blades. A few guys have been doing well with frozen Hawkesbury prawns fished on light tackle in a berley trail, with fish up to 90cm giving them and their tackle a real work out.

BREAM Bream will be moving

back into the lower reaches this month, filtering along the lower rock walls and gradually flooding back into the system as the month progresses. There will be some blue-nose bruisers amongst them if other years are anything to go by. Fresh prawns and live bait like nippers will yield better results in a steady berley trail along the rock walls using light line and leaders. Lure anglers will do well along the walls and deeper structure using plastics and blades. Cast your lure in tight to structure and let it sink into the zone, and then move it with subtle lifts and twitches to entice a strike. Small curl tail grubs like the super tough Z-Mans and 3-4” minnows rigged on fine wire jigheads are the go.

FLATHEAD Flathead have been popping up all over the place. They are still in the creeks with Cowan, Berowra, Mooney and Mangrove all still yielding quality tablefish along with the main river from Wisemans ferry to Broken Bay. Hoping soft plastics across the bottom and down drop-offs is the

key to regularly finding flathead and other species. You may have to slow your retrieve down to dead slow this month to get them to react, or use some scented plastics like Gulp. Blades can also be a great tool for finding winter

flathead as they are small in profile but get down in the flathead’s face, emitting vibrations and flash. All you need to do is make small lifts to get the blade working then let it flutter back to the bottom. I find running the drag at a lighter setting when using these lures helps me to stay connected.TAILOR AND SALMON

Tailor and salmon have been showing up in small schools out in the open and in the washes, harassing baitfish at West Head, Barrenjoey and Lion Island. Casting and trolling are both versatile methods on their day, using either poppers, metal slices or shallow running minnows like Rapala X-Raps. Keep it light and you will get a lot more hits and hook-ups. If there is any prevailing wind when you come across a surface feeding school try to position you boat upwind and turn your engine off (you’ll notice the difference in your catch rate). This gives you a stealthy approach and a long cast with light lures to tempt these often fussy feeders. Once the school goes past, motor around the outside of the action and reposition for round two… or three!

[email protected]

THE HAWKSBURYDanSelby

Some big bream will feature this month. Use small lures and fresh baits on the rock walls and reefs.

Paul Naraj tagged and released this 126cm fish using a live yellowtail and 40lb tackle.

Nathan Bradley’s 144cm tagged and released mulloway.

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Fish hard for rewards

Once again the last month has seen the fishing great one day but garbage the next. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to enjoy time on the water and to meet new people but it is a little frustrating when the fish are on the sounder but refuse to play. On the upside, the big kingfish are still in Pittwater – it’s just a matter of catching the right bait and presenting it to them when they are ‘hungry’. Once again there are big kingfish at The Motor off Palm Beach and along the western bays, and small live cuttlefish still seem to be the key to success. These difficult little cuttlefish are caught along the rocky parts of Pittwater. They are best caught using 2g or smaller squid jigs whilst drifting the rocky areas. These small cuttlefish seem to be territorial and there only seems to be two to an area. To tempt one you have to keep your jigs within about 50cm from the bottom. Once you have one hooked they spin like a helicopter whilst squirting ink everywhere. How you get them onto the boat without having to spend hours scrubbing out stains is up to you and when you find a way, please let me know. Once you have one or

two cuttlefish, change your 2g squid jig to 2.5g and catch some squid on the deeper water drop-offs. If you don’t get to use the squid on kings once the cuttlefish have fired them up, you can take it home for a feed. The large squid are still in attack mode and there are some monsters about. The Palm Beach weed beds is still a great area to try as is Careel Bay and The Basin. All of these areas

have seen big squid caught, and as mentioned they are aggressive. We have caught them on a range of colours but the fluoro pink has been their favourite over the last month. This is usually a summer colour but hey – I use what works. The purple and black jigs are also working well. A tip: quite often a large squid will have a mate or two following so make sure you have another rod rigged ready to cast or a mate on your boat with the same game plan. At The Supermarket there are small kingfish still lurking about and they are eating small yellowtail, fish strips and prawns. These fish

are tiny and seem to go off the chew once one is lost or too many boats anchor. The surface schools have been absent over the last couple of weeks except for the odd chopper tailor being caught on Broken Bay near Flint and Steel. This is due to strange water conditions and temperatures as far as I can tell. We still have warm water along the coast but Pittwater has dropped to 17ºC compared with 19-20ºC

along the coast. The salmon will start to show up again soon, as will the bonito. For those wanting a feed while fishing flat water, try the drift from Walker Point to Lion Island. This area has still been the best area to gather a feed of flathead, and the last of the run-out tide is the time to try. We have been catching them on soft plastics as well as pilchards. The muddy drop-offs have provided the better drifts. The westerlies are dictating when to fish this area, and remember that the flathead is an ambush predator that sits with its head into the current. This is why the westerlies are dictating the fishing at the

moment, and if you want to fish the incoming tide an electric motor or anchoring and using soft plastics will be your best chance if you don’t have a downrigger. If you do have a downrigger, troll with the current and make sure that you use a deep diving lure that can puff up mud and sand as it goes along. The size of the lure is up to you but I suggest you start off with a lure around 8cm in

length. My colour preference is pink for flathead as they seem to love it, but of course you should choose your own colour to suit the conditions.

OFFSHORE On the reefs the snapper are starting to gather along the gravel ground in about 40-60m of water, but most of the fish we have found have been small. Once again the water temperature, even at the bottom, is warmer than what we would expect with sinkers coming up warm enough to warm cold hands.

I am sure that the larger fish have been in the deeper water but weather conditions have hampered deep water reef fishing for us over the last few weeks. There is the odd patch of teraglin still about and there are some morwong in the same areas. The trag have been keen for squid or cuttlefish strips and the mowies, nannygai and trevally have been keen on prawns or pilly pieces. The better areas to try seem to be either off East Reef off the

Central Coast or The Long Reef through to Bluefish Point areas. The areas are changing all the time but hopefully this gives you a starting point when you hit the water. I hope that this report sees you able to brave the chilly winds and venture out onto our wonderful waterways with family and friends. • Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone 02 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www.estuaryfishingcharters.com.au

[email protected]

PITTWATERPeterLe Blang

These two squid were taken home for a feed. I did use the heads for kingfish bait though!

There are still decent kingfish about like this one but you have to be lucky enough to catch cuttlefish first.

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Getting into the Sydney reds

We’ve got plenty of cold going on now as the Sydney winter really gets down to business. While these colder conditions are with us you have to change it up and target more of the cooler water species that are gracing our shores. Although our salmon season is only a fraction of what it used to be we’ll still get plenty of them around this month and it’s a great time to go spinning off the rocks and beaches. In our bays and off the coast these next three months will bring some rather flat seas, which should make most fishing platforms quite safe to work from. Tailor are another solid winter species for us to target and are often caught as salmon bycatch. A late afternoon spin with some metals finished off with a float fish into the dusk is a particularly popular method used around the rocks to target

these visiting greenbacks. Be sure to secure your pilchard baits on some solid gang hooks of at least the 3/0 size,

as hooking one of these larger fish will feel like you have a frenzied dog on a chain. The winter trevally have moved in now and can be targeted using a variety of methods which mainly involve the use of berley. The super clear visibility enables some

of the flightier species to see you long before you see them, so use lighter fluorocarbon line with unweighted baits

and light rods for some terrific action in the boat. While off the stones you can generally fish a bit heavier from the suds to the bottom, as the wash will provide some extra cover. Some good size snapper have been caught in and around our local inshore reefs. Hooked

& Hunted’s Joe Emmerton has been one such angler getting into the reds using soft plastics quite successfully in these

clear waters. Long Reef Pirate Crew’s Mike Bonnici landed his PB snapper recently, with his fish going a whopping 91cm and pulling the scales down to 8kg. Mike was bait fishing at night at Long Reef. If previous years are anything to go by, these fish will be around until about November with most of the larger fish caught at night, so big baits and a 30lb+ line class are normally required while drifting baits down the trail. Our northern beaches still have whiting and bream for beach fishos but you will need to fish the run-up high tides and use a variety of baits from nippers and beachworms to squid strips, and some of the soft plastic baits available like the Gulp and Isome worms which are quite popular. This month will see some of the big bluenose bream pop their heads up and some of the winter elbow-slapper whiting that frequent our beaches. The launch of Sydney’s latest charter business happened recently with Vic Levett starting up OceanHunter Sportfishing, based out of Sydney Harbour. With some very experienced skippers at the helm these guys will put you onto all sorts of fish from kings to marlin and tuna. The boat is an Oceanmax 24, full walkaround centre console model which was chosen with these species in mind. In the short time the business has been up and running these blokes have already nailed some cracker fish, including meterey kings in the middle of winter. You can go to their Facebook page (OceanHunter Sportsfishing), visit www.oceansportsfishing.com.au or give Vic a call on 0414 906 569 and these guys can even provide you a window of dates to fish so you won’t need to get a full crew together. If you’d like to know more drop into Fishouttawater and see the guys or myself and we’ll be happy to be a part of getting you into that fish of a lifetime.

SYDNEY NORTHDarren Thomas

Mike Bonnici with a 91cm snapper.

Top: Nick Martin and Zane Levett from OceanHunter Sportfishing with a cracker king. Bottom: Joe Emmerton with a 60cm snapper.

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44 AUGUST 2014

Chris Fox with one of two 70cm kings he caught spinning sea gars.

Honing your skills

We decide that storing our fishing gear away is what we’re meant to do at this time of the year. We tell ourselves it’s not worth fishing for anything right now. This is so far from the truth! When I hit the rocks at this time of year I think of the big silver drummer that come on the bite this month. The rock blackfish is often called a black drummer but the only true drummer is the silver! They average from a solid 1.5-2kg to beast as heavy as 8-9kg and very

occasionally even larger fish are encountered on our east coast. They can be an enigma, migrating to areas on the northern suburb rock like North Head, North Curl Curl and Bangalley Head just to name a few spots. They can be local fish in areas but generally they migrate when the water temp is above 20°C. Baits like cunjevoi and peeled large prawns work great, and you can even get a few on white bread. On occasions I catch them on large cabbage weed baits also. They are often encountered by the rock blackfish anglers. The first indication is the rapid pecking bites and loading of the rod tip then, once hooked, the powerful lunges and

line peeling off your Alvey or threadline reel with a fish that doesn’t want to dive for the nearest submerged ledge or hole. These are generally clean fighting fish but they have sharp, kelp-chomping teeth that make short work of nylon line. Often the end result is a bite-off. Around 30cm of clear plastic-coated 30lb-50lb wire crimped to your 2x strength suicide 1/0 to 2/0 hook is a great choice. That will keep the bite-offs to a minimum. When it comes to the mainline, 6-10kg mono is all you need to land even the large silvers in most locations. Another frequently fished winter species is the groper. The blue is the male,

growing in excess of 15kg, and the brown is the female. A large female is around 6kg, occasionally getting to 8kg which is exceptional for a brown. These fish, like the silver drummer, pull really hard. The difference is that the groper won’t bite you off but will reef you up. They will dive into a cave or ledge which can sever your line. I normally like to use 15-24kg mono for these brutes. Every headland in my area produces groper in varying degrees. Some of the better rock platforms are Bluefish, South Curl Curl, Long Reef, and further north at Barrenjoey. North and South Whale are good locations also. Red crabs are the best bait. Make sure if you harvest crabs it is done from a legal harvesting area. Check out the DPI website. Luderick are a great winter species. Like the groper they can be caught well after sunrise and before sunset, making them a great alternative to fishing during chilly early mornings and evenings for other species. All of the headlands I have mentioned for the other species are productive for

a luderick. I like to have a combination of hair and cabbage weeds for this often fussy species, especially if you don’t know what they’re biting on. The brown weed often works well. Berley up consistently rather than using lots at a time. The spike boots are OK for scraping some weed but will wear down the spikes within just a few outings. A better alternative is a small scalier. A good general depth for most locations is 2.5m below the float, not including the 50cm leader. Obviously when fishing the shallows like Long Reef or Narrabeen Head a depth of 30-60cm is the max you would fish. A size 8-10 Mustad 540 or Green Sneck will work for most situations. Silver trevally and salmon with the occasional snapper and bream are on in the washes. Choose preferably a deep water location of 4m+ for this mix of species. I like to use 4kg line for the sport but also for minimum visibility when the water is clear, which it often is at this time of year because of the westerly winds. Bring a mix of baits – pillies, peeled prawns and fish fillet like yellowtail or slimy mackerel. Whatever the bait

is, combine it into your bread mush berley. You will even catch numbers on white bread. When using the bread berley

at times the luderick can be caught in reasonable numbers on the surface.

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Tim Nguyen and Eric Trung with a 56cm tailor and a 65cm salmon.

David Wong with a blue groper. David was down from Queensland and wanted to tick off his

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This bag of seven bream and 13 whiting to 35cm came from Manly Beach. They were caught on preserved metho worms and live beach worms.

To page 45

45AUGUST 2014

Woolooware Bay and the run up the western shore of the Botany Bay have a lot of potential this time of year, as these vast areas are protected from the westerly wind influence

which is predominant. The area produces excellent catches of flathead, bream and whiting in that order. The main time to fish for bream is on the big tides, as this sees them coming off the oyster leases as the water recedes, and fishos will do quite well in the immediate surrounds. Flathead can be taken

by drifting anywhere in the bay depending on tide and wind. Small live poddy mullet are the premium bait or, if you’re using plastics, it’s hard to go past the Squidgies Grasshopper 70mm on a Nitro 1/8oz jighead with a 1/0 hook. You can fish the cannels at any time of day on either tide but acquaint yourself with the area at night as it is shallow and laced with old oyster lease poles. If you’re chasing school mulloway, just off Pelican Point there are a number of deeper holes which can be exploited with fresh squid strips. Botany Bay itself has been a little on the ordinary side, with trevally catches dominating the scene. Blurters (silver trevally)

between 30cm and 40cm have been taken from all the recognised possies such as Molineaux Point, Bare Island, Watts Reef and the Kurnell oil wharf. The best method has been to anchor and fish with lightly weighted rigs. Berley of mashed pilchards and bread has been essential to keep them around the boat. Incidentally they are not bad on the tooth if smoked, cooked fresh or served as sashimi. Flathead are still around in good numbers, with the drop-off in front of the runways the dynamite possie. They can also be taken on the drift in front of St George Hospital between Rams Gate and Brighton Le Sands and the container wall and Bare Island during

the outgoing tide. As predicted, the big whiting have moved in the upper reaches of the Georges River with fish to 45cm not uncommon. At the time of writing, Peter Barrett and myself bagged 24 excellent elbow-slappers using live blood worms at the moons just above the Lugarno Seafood Restaurant. Other areas worth a try include Connells Point cockle beds, Gunyah Point, the entrance to the Woronora River and, if land based, the end of Forest Road at the Lugarno. Stick to the top or bottom of the tides, with night time best. Drop down to 2kg fluorocarbon leader and live squirt or blood worms.

Luderick catches are slightly down on previous years and weed is at a premium. The Captain Cook and Tom Uglys bridges have provided luderick to 40cm on paternoster rigs dangled close to the pylons on the bottom of the tide. Fish Woolooware Bay and the moons during August as they are the premiums possies for this time of year. For all your fishing needs, as well as the latest info on what’s biting, drop into Gabe’s Boating and Fishing at Narellan (4/1A Somerset Ave), or Silvania (268/264-276 Princes Hwy). You can also call them on (02) 4647 8755 or (02) 9522 5100 respectively, or visit the website at www.gbaf.com.au.

Woolooware Bay for winning in the [email protected]

BOTANY BAYGabe Quercigrosse

Shondell Tilden with a 47cm flathead from Port Botany caught during the comp weekend for the Macarthur District Social Fishing Club.

The author fished with a friend near Picnic Point recently and hauled this great feed of whiting.

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A 46cm pig caught off the rocks. This fish put up a great fight.

Have a light outfit on standby for when the salmon schools turn up. Ripples of agitated water often indicate that there are salmon feeding. This could last for seconds to several minutes, and 3kg line and 25g Spanyid Snipers will get you locked into these powerful sportfish. Cast just in front of the school rather than right in the middle because they can be easily spooked.

BEACHES The beaches at this time of the year can be rather quiet. For the die-hard mulloway angler who will not stop fishing for them, avoid fishing during a calm evening on the beach. The calm westerly nights are much more likely to be fishless. Expect mainly salmon in amongst your catch and the dreaded Port Jackson shark which comes in to breed this month. Salmon are coming in off Manly, Curl Curl, Narrabeen, Mona Vale and Bilgola beaches. They will be caught off every beach but these are the beaches that produce well. Some of the fish are up to at least 3.5kg. Great sport! And salmon aren’t bad on the plate if you eat them fresh within a day.

Try for a whiting this month. I find that they are still available even in August. Perhaps they are patchy but great holding beaches like Manly and Dee Why can still deliver reasonable fish. Expect the occasional trevally to pick up your worm or pink nipper baits as well. The whiting you will pick up are residential at this time of the year. Fluorocarbon leaders as light as 2kg should be used on the calmer days. The water is generally very clear so heavier leaders should be avoided. The rock corners like Freshwater’s northern end of the beach, Dee Why southern corner and Warriewood’s southern corner yield a few bream throughout winter. Winter is a great time of the year to hone your skills. It allows you to better understand timid species, especially on the calm days which require refined skills with a delicate approach using some stealth. For rock and beach guided fishing or tuition in the northern Sydney region, visit www.bellissimo charters.com, email [email protected] or call Alex Bellissimo on 0408 283 616.

From page 44

46 AUGUST 2014

Silvers switching on

One fish that should come on in good numbers over the next few months is the silver trevally. There are very underrated fish – they’re excellent fighters and, if they are prepared properly, are an excellent eating fish. Silver trevally are found in the harbour only in their juvenile sizes, ranging up

to 2kg but usually 0.5-1kg. They are a schooling fish so where you catch one you’ll usually find more. Although normally considered to be a winter fish, I find trevally to be far more prolific in spring. They’re a schooling fish so providing you keep the berley flowing there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to take half a dozen or more. Trevally are a lot like yellowtail in the way they station themselves in a

berley trail. Normally they feed from mid water to the bottom, but on a good day you can berley then right up to the back of the boat. Given this situation there’s no need for heavily weighted rigs, which would simply take the bait away from the fish. The trick with trevally is to present the bait as if it were part of the berley trail. This means very lightly weighted rigs where there is flow in the water, and possibly even no weight at all in the

quiet bays where there is little current. Trevs prefer small soft baits like peeled prawn and pilchard fillets. They are the only fish I can think of that don’t respond well to fresh baits; in a lot of cases they have shown a marked preference for packet bait over freshly caught and filleted bait. The exception to this is when you present them with a live yabby or blood worm which are second to none. Trevally have a small,

soft mouth so small hooks and light line are the way to go. I prefer a no. 4 VMC baitholder and 3-4kg line. The light line helps avoid pulling the small hooks from the soft mouth. You’ll find trevally right throughout the harbour depending on how much rain we’ve had. They like clear saline water, so after long dry spells they can be found in the upper reaches. After heavy rain they will be confined to the lower reaches.

Trevally should be bleed immediately and iced down straight away. Filleted and skinned then pan fried in egg and flour, they make an exceptional feed.

MORWONG Morwong, normally an offshore species, have moved into the harbour and taken up residence around the deep reefs and headlands. They are running up to about 1.5kg and are caught almost exclusively on squid and peeled prawns. The best rig I have found is a light, two-dropper paternoster rig much like you would use when fishing for estuary leatherjackets. No. 6 baitholder hooks baited with a small piece of prawn fished on the bottom should do the trick. Try Quarantine Point and Dobroyd Reef.

SALMON Australian salmon have, in the last couple of years, become a year-round proposition but August/September are traditionally the months when they appear in the lower reaches of the Harbour and Broken Bay. The closing of the cannery at Eden has seen decreased commercial pressure on stocks and it appears that numbers have increased quite dramatical ly. Salmon fishing has been sensational lately and should continue right through Christmas and into

January. They are massed from Quarantine to North Head in massive schools as I write this but traditionally will move further into the harbour and Balmoral in the coming months. Keep an eye out for large flocks of sea birds working the surface as they are a good indication of the position of the Salmon

schools. Although they are a little bit fussy at the moment they are a lot more catchable than they were a month ago. Flies and SP stickbaits are the best bet but they are just starting to look at metals like small Raiders which is great because the tiny soft plastic stickbaits are a nightmare to cast.

You will probably be sharing the school with many other boats, especially on weekends, so keep your wits about you in respect to navigation. Whatever you do don’t go charging through the middle of the school as it will put the school down and attract plenty of verbal abuse your way from the other boats.

NEW CHARTER OPERATION Well known and extremely accomplished offshore angler Vic Levett has commenced operation of his new charter service, Ocean Hunter Sportfishing. Operating out of a new a purpose built, state-of-the-art, OceanMax 24, Vic and his team specialize in offshore kings, mahi mahi and marlin in season. I’ve known Vic for over 20 years and can confidently recommend him if you are looking to experience the best of the Sydney light tackle offshore scene.• If you are interested in doing a guided fishing trip on Sydney harbour with Craig McGill please call 0412 918 127 or email [email protected].

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SYDNEY HARBOURCraigMcGill

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47AUGUST 2014

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Daniel Dowley’s been whacking the mulloway down Bateman’s way.

48 AUGUST 2014

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Part of this month’s column is going to be about the various reports I’ve had emailed to me of other anglers who have been getting amongst a few fish. I’ll also give you tips on how to catch fish yourself this month. Chris Wilson wrote into me and said that he has

taken an interest in what’s happening around and along the George’s River, and sent a photo of one of his latest captures. Chris was fishing not far from Lansvale in the George River with soft plastics and managed to catch his first ever mulloway on a 130mm gold and black Squidgy. The fish measured in at 67cm and was released to fight another day. John Lawler was a student at one of my fishing classes that I hold at Windybanks Bait and Tackle, and he reported that he caught his first ever fish on a soft plastic. It was a 30cm flathead. Since then he has now caught a caught a 45cm dusky flathead on a lure, plus another one of the same size on chicken breast while at the same time lure fishing. Alan Thompson from Green Valley was another one of the attendees at my fishing

class at Windybanks who had never caught a fish on a blade, let alone a mulloway of around 6.5kg. Alan was away on holidays at Foster and was working a Strike Pro blade for bream up the back of the river and snared a mulloway. It fed him, his family and a couple of neighbours at the caravan park they were staying at. Terry Grima managed to catch a 13kg mulloway while fishing out of his kayak in Botany Bay during the day. He was working one of the

many drop-offs near the end of the third runway with a blade on 4lb gear. Now who would use 4lb gear to target jewfish? Terry, that’s who. He’s extremely good at it. Terry fished bream comps on the Hawkesbury and Parramatta rivers with me last year and managed to catch a mulloway on each trip.

MULLOWAY Most anglers think that the best time to target mulloway is during the night time. However, I catch the bulk of my mulloway during the daylight hours, especially if the water is muddy or there is an overcast sky or in times of heavy rain and discoloured run-off. Mulloway are a very versatile species that can be found in an incredibly wide range of areas. I have caught them off the rocks, from the beach, on close offshore reefs and gravel patches, tidal and

non-tidal coastal rivers, creeks and streams, brackish lakes and bays, harbours, inlets and lagoons throughout Australia. During the month of August if you were thinking about chasing a jewfish or two you could try fishing a bridge pylon from a boat. I suggest you anchor upstream from the pylon and run your baits back to the tidal bulge which forms upcurrent from the pylon. Whether you weight your bait, or allow it to swim unweighted in the tide as

you run it back to the bridge, is a matter of judgement. Mulloway will sometimes crash a baitfish right on the surface, at other times this simply won’t happen. If you are able to fish from the bridge itself, chances are you may be successful. However, bridges pose many hazards for the mulloway angler, and fish are easily lost around the pylons.

BREAD AND BUTTER The month of August will see good runs of bream and whiting over the flats at Towra and off the end of the airport runways. Blood worms and nippers are my preferred baits

for them nowadays. As a kid I used to cut up Kraft Cheddar Cheese into 2cm cubes and soak them overnight in tuna oil. The next morning I would walk out onto the old baths at Ramsgate and catch a feed of bream. Since those early days I have tried many different specially prepared types of bait. Even though you may know a few of your own I’m going to give you my top four recipes: chicken soaked in parmesan cheese; squid soaked in garlic and chicken pellets plus peeled prawns in garlic, parmesan cheese and chicken pellets; and my special sausage pudding mix. This last one isn’t hard to make. All you need to do is mix 1kg of sausage mince, one tin of sardines and one tin of cat food together. Then apply plenty of flour to the ball of ingredients and roll

until the mixture doesn’t stick to your hands. Divide in four equal portions and either use straight away or freeze for a later date.

The Port Hacking has been fishing very well of late for whiting, bream, luderick and leatherjackets. Peter Roly fished the run-out tide

off Maianbar for around two hours and managed three bream, five sand whiting and a 52cm flathead. All were caught on pink nippers. The Fisheries and Jibbon Point have been producing luderick on the run-out tide on green weed and cabbage. Make sure that you berley. The Deer Park shoreline is still producing plenty of leatherjackets. Just remember to use small hooks and small pieces of either chopped up prawns or squid. From North Cronulla Beach to Green Hills a number of anglers have been getting amongst the salmon and tailor using either whole garfish or pilchards. Early morning or late afternoons seem to be working the best. Klaus Weiss and a few of his fishing buddies have been scoring a number of luderick off the rocks in the Royal National Park.

[email protected]

SYDNEY SOUTHGaryBrown

John Lawler caught his first ever flathead on a lure while he was bait fishing.

Alan Thompson from Green Valley worked a Strike Pro Blade for the first time beside the bridge at Tom Uglys for his first

ever mulloway. He was targeting bream at the time.

Chris Wilson with his first ever mulloway on a black and gold Squidgy.

Terry Grima managed to blade up a 13kg mulloway while fishing out of one of his many kayaks.

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50 AUGUST 2014

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Light at the end of the tunnel

The westerlies are still blowing and it’s cold but there is some light at the end of the tunnel, with a few warmer days towards the end of the month making life bearable. The pickings are a bit thin on most species but for a few there are plenty on offer. More on them later.

GROPER Let’s start with one fish that’s about all year and not that often targeted: groper. With the ocean calm during the westerlies there is no better time to have a look and see just how many groper there are on any given reef off the local coast. They seem to be everywhere these days and have a fearsome reputation of being a ‘knock down, all over in seconds’ fighter, leaving anglers with straightened hooks and broken lines. The old timers’ liked the good old fashioned 100lb+ handlines and used to tie them around the rowlocks or the seat. Legend has it that a few seats were ripped from their mountings by a rampaging groper. Legends are mostly that, and while the groper is built for power from spending its time among the rough and tumble of the reefs, bommies and breaking waves associated with such places, they are not a massive fish. A 15kg specimen is generally considered a whopper and it’s not really capable of pulling seats out of small boats. Still, if you take them on in a rough area with deep gutters and ledges and use sporting tackle you will get dusted up on a fairly regular basis by bigger fish. The hard part about catching groper is getting bait and berley. Crabs are the only bait if you are

making a serious effort and sea urchins are the only berley. But be careful not to fall foul of the law as you are allowed only 10 crabs each and a 10L bucket of urchins, and both of these can be hard to come by. The crabs are best chased down at night in the freezing cold at low

tide right on the water’s edge. The big red crabs the number one bait but black crabs will do at a pinch. Just be very careful as you can’t see the waves at night and it can be dangerous if you look for the crabs on open ocean rocks as a swim in August after dark is not a good thing. Urchins have to be dived for these days. They are no longer available in this area in water you can stand up in, as they are favourite

food among the islander community who hunt them tirelessly every weekend. Once you have your bait and berley, pick your spot over a reef, usually in less than 10m of water. Crack a sea urchin so the juice comes out (but don’t open it right up or the pickers will clean it up in seconds) and

drop it over the side. Keep repeating this and watch for the groper to come around. It could take a few minutes or it could take an hour, but they will come. Then put a crab on and lower it down to the groper and watch it eat it. It really is that simple. I use lines of up to 15kg depending on what I see swimming in the berley and rarely get dusted up, but it does happen. These fish go hard for 10m or so but after

that if you are away from any big ledges it’s not long before they are up next to the boat. Groper taste great but they are also a beautiful fish so a quick picture and a release is always a good feeling. Groper can be targeted when the sun is up and high overhead. That means the early morning can be devoted to snapper!

INSHORE AND OFFSHORE

In the early part of the month the snapper will be around in large numbers chasing the cuttlefish that will still be spawning for a few weeks yet. As per last month you can pick and berley over just about any of the close reefs that have a cuttley or two floating around on it, or you can chase the floaters with unweighted cuttlefish baits or large white soft plastics. The choice is yours as all these methods are working well at the moment. Plenty of snapper are in the 2-4kg range. There are also some bigger 6kg and better fish coming in, with heaps under the 2kg mark. They don’t mind pilchards or yellowtail, which are good tucker in their own right with the candles the best bits but also the best bait. Out on the deeper reefs like Bandit and Wollongong a few kingfish are starting to show. It’s about time because they have been scarce over the past 12 months in the Illawarra but quite prolific off Sydney, which by water isn’t that far away. Downrigged yellowtail and knife jigs are getting the best results. Trevally are over most reefs and love a bit of berley. They have been showing up in the trails of those chasing snapper, and if the reds are a bit quiet the trevally keep things ticking along until something bigger comes along.

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ILLAWARRAGregClarke

Light line and small lures means a ton of fun on fat striped tuna that are about off the Illawarra coast this month.

This is snapper time and there will be plenty of fish like this out there munching on the cuttlies.

Bookings enquiries call 1300 555 525 or [email protected]

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51AUGUST 2014

For a change of pace, casting unweighted, ganged pilchards into the washes around the bommies, headlands and islands is worth a try for plenty of salmon, tailor and a few nice snapper. If your baits are being picked off try casting pieces on a single hook back into the washes for bream and trevally. Towards the end of the month the salmon should start schooling on the surface chasing the tiny baitfish as they arrive. They are great fun on light line using very small lead slugs and crystal eye type lures. Also chasing the small bait will be the striped tuna that turn up during August, and as always there will be some big ones in the mix. At this time of the year it has been a long time since anything with any speed has been around so a bit of light line fun on these speedsters just whets the appetite for what is to come in late spring and summer. Further offshore there have been a few a few larger speedsters about. They are a long way out for most anglers but for those with bigger boats a few yellowfin and albacore are around the canyons. Some bigger fish have been spotted even further out but for the most part the ‘fin have been up to 35kg and

excellent fish all along the coast taking cabbage weed, royal red prawns and bread. A few blackfish are taking the cabbage as well. Salmon are patrolling all the deeper ledges grabbing pillies while a bit of bread berley will attract trevally and bream. The southern rocks seem to be the best from Cathedral rocks down

to Gerroa. The big westerlies that come with August shut down just about all fishing when they howl through, then they are more often than not followed by the

some of the better albies are up to 12kg. Plenty of gemfish are down deep with a few nice trevalla for those with electric reels or strong arms. In closer over the sand we’ve had fewer flathead reports, but the leatherjackets have made things tough so fewer anglers are chasing flatties

anyway. Many believe it’s better to wait for the water to warm up a bit.

ROCK, BEACH AND LAKE

On the rocks it’s drummer time, with

huge swell from the east coast lows that form offshore which also shut down all ocean fishing apart from the sheltered bays and harbours. However, when the sea backs off enough to get back on the rocks there will be some big snapper caught on many of the local ledges. As always, never take risks and always keep

your eyes on the water and never fish the rocks alone in these conditions. Just use common sense. On the beaches there are some good salmon about during the early mornings

and the evenings along with a few nice tailor. The good news is the mulloway that showed in June (just like they should) have decided to hang around for a bit longer so there is still a chance of

a nice fish up to 25kg. In the lake it is quiet with a few bream in the feeder creeks and some around the hot water outlet at Tallawarra during the evenings on prawns.

Some nice trevally show up in the snapper berley during August.

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Sizzling snapper sessions

It’s cold but the fishing is red hot! In the past month we’ve had some extremely good sessions on some South Coast snapper on the inshore reefs in the Shoalhaven area. We’ve been fishing in depths of 15-20m with good numbers of fish hitting the decks with the better fish weighing 4kg+. Look for

broken bottom and if you start catching a few red rock cod or sergeant bakers, you’re in the right area. The snapper are loving plastics like the Z-Man 5” scented JerkshadZ in coconut ice, electric chicken and bad shad colours rigged on 3/4oz or 1/2oz jigheads. We’ve found that the fish don’t start biting until the sky goes red. Down at St Georges Basin at this time of year we tend to concentrate on using blades in the deep water as well as

slow rolling plastics such as Gulp Sandworms in camo or Ecogearaqua Prawns. We have also had some success using the Cranka Crab in the shallows at sunrise, and then also using them out deep with a slight twitch when you mark fish on the sounder. The Crab is a very light lure so it will take some time to get down to the 7m-10m depths of the basin. The big tailor are still around, with a photo circulating recently of a

115cm greenback. Although not common, each year we see some fish of similar size being caught which can only be attributed to the fact that it’s a commercial fishing free zone. The fishing will only get better as the years go on. Out wide we are still awaiting the arrival of the tuna. Their delay is due to the fact that we have been experiencing warm currents – warm enough to catch mahi mahi in winter, as a local tackle shop owner found out. There have been some good numbers of kingfish around the cliffs of Jervis Bay, but you’ll need to source them out at the deeper reefs which have been holding the bigger fish. Squid are aplenty around Murrays boat ramp so catch a few for live bait before heading out. This time of year is known for the whales’ annual northerly migration. Although they’re spectacular to watch, make sure you are aware of where they are and know the rules that are in place to protect them and you. For more information check out www.nsw.gov.au/animals/whaleregulation.htm. Rumours are circulating that there have been quite a

few mulloway caught in the deep gutters off the beaches. Generally the best bait for these are fresh slabs of tailor or mullet gang hooked. Not only have the beaches been producing but plenty of people have been getting dusted along with landing a few jewies in the River. The best spot reported seems to be around

the canal, and if you’re into lures I’ve been told that the large soft vibes have been working well. Let’s hope that next month I’ll be able to show you photos of big yellowfin and bluefin tuna sprawled across these pages. That’s it for another month, good times and tight lines!

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NOWRAWesMurphy

Gav with a quality tuna from last year’s season.

Tim with a nice shallow water snapper.

Paul Goldie caught this 49cm, 2.12kg bream on a tour with Greg Reid from Bay & Basin Sportfishing.

53AUGUST 2014

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Put your thermals to good use

I hope everybody has bought their thermals by now and are putting them to good use. If you haven’t fished a winter’s morning with thermals on, you don’t know what you’re missing! Clothing layers have nothing on a full body thermal, and you can get them at department stores or even at fishing shops like Compleat Angler Batemans Bay. Once you realise how warm they keep you, you’ll never miss an early morning snapper bite! Speaking of snapper, they are still on the chew in close, and now with the cuttlefish moving in they will stay this way. Snapper love chewing on cuttlefish, so squid for bait and white plastics work well at this time of year. Try casting a lighter jighead, say 1/8oz with a white plastic at a cuttlefish if you see one floating around. You never know what big reds could be under it.

OFFSHORE Offshore the water is cooling down and it is shaping up to be a good tuna bite. At this stage a lot of 6-8kg yellowfin have been caught and there are some good size schools of them. Most of the larger yellowfin at this stage have been around 20-25kg with only a handful of 50kg+ fish being caught that I know of. The commercial boats started to see the bluefin mid-June with some 100-120kg ones coming in. These frontrunners tend to have big heads but slender bodies. The bigger barrels shouldn’t be far away and as you read this I expect the recreational boats to be having a crack at them. In previous years they have run very wide and then within reach on that 151 line in 18-19°C water.

This year there is a lot of bait just over the shelf and it’s looking good for tuna feeding in closer. Bluefin can be fussy and tend to swim in clean, nutrient-rich water. Yellowfin are very likely to be found in the same water, but you can also find them in poorer quality water as well.

There have been some nice albacore caught recently (but not in amazing numbers as yet), as well as some massive schools of striped tuna, so it’s shaping up to be a great tuna season although its beginning is slow. Still don’t be surprised if you hook up to a marlin or mahi mahi (dolphinfish) as they are still kicking around.

ROCK AND BEACH Off the rocks the drummer are biting and the same old approaches are working there. The only difference is that more customers are coming in and using small circle hooks on these fish with great success. Salmon are swimming by, as are the tailor. The tailor are probably outdoing the salmon at this stage of winter, with some good schools and good sizes

getting around. They are both keeping anglers busy on the beaches also. The ocean-facing bays are still producing snapper, mulloway and sharks at night. It seems like the bronze whalers are all up and down the coast. There’s still a lot of garfish getting rounded up in these bays by

predators such as salmon, tailor and kingfish. One afternoon the garfish got pushed up into the rock pools of South Broulee in masses and people could catch a feed by hand.

ESTUARY The estuary is still fishing very well at this time of year. Everybody seems to be getting good flathead and some crackers as well over that 80cm mark, and bream are also playing the game. The elusive mulloway doesn’t seem so elusive when you have fishing legends like Layton Brant, Joel Taylor, Jem Abbot, Daniel Dowley and Coen Davis on their tails. These guys are starting to put in Wade Eaton hours and are coming up with some thumpers. Layton has the lead so far with a 28kg beast, but the other boys have caught some crackers

now also. It’s good to see our Clyde becoming the mulloway capital, and it’s great seeing a lot of these fish being tagged and released for research and future growth in numbers. Let’s keep the fishery a healthy one. Well that’s a rundown on what’s biting, now go

put the jug on and warm yourself up before heading out for a fish in your new thermals!

For more up-to-the-minute information on what’s biting where, drop into Compleat Angler Batemans Bay and have

a chat to Anthony or one of the other friendly staff. They’re located at 65A Orient St, Batemans Bay (02 4472 2559).

BATEMANS BAYAnthony Stokman

Coen Davis with a very healthy mulloway.A happy customer aboard Topcat Charters with a typical size yellowfin.

54 AUGUST 2014

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Ride it out this month

What do anglers do during the worst month of the year to fish? Easy – they go fishing! It’s reassuring to know that if you can ride this month out, spring and better fishing is just around the corner.

In any case, fishing for pigs (black drummer) from the rocks is probably at its best during late winter. Most of the rock ledges around Bermi will produce these succulent white-

fleshed, hard-pulling rock dwellers, and anglers in the know will have many an enjoyable moment from the stones tangling with them. Simple rigs of small bean sinker run straight to the hook, or baits suspended by floats, is all that is required to produce fish. Hook sizes can vary, as can line classes. Some people like to use heavy

line and horse the fish out, although my preferred way is to use 4kg line and a 10ft rod with a ball sinker straight to the hook, using cunjevoi or cabbage weed for bait. Allow the fish to

have its head out wider when hooked and you may find as you bring the fish to the rocks that the fight will be less intense. Other fish you may encounter include groper, trevally, leatherjackets, bream and the tough fighting silver drummer.

BEACHES Anglers will encounter plenty of salmon on the beaches. With westerly winds at your back, lure casting from the sand is never easier. Use outfits that can hold plenty of light line and lures to match. Long raking casts with fast retrieves will produce results as you walk along the beach exploring the gutters. Quite often at this time of year, shore break is at a minimum so soft plastics and flies also become an option. A handy tip if you are having trouble with fish jumping and throwing the lure is to offset your hooks and use two split rings joined together to give a chain-like effect for better results. Other fish likely to be encountered off the beach at this time of year are tailor, bream, mullet and gummy sharks – and of course bait fishing is very good and best used in conjunction with berley.

ESTUARIES Blackfish are moving into the estuary systems in anticipation of the water getting warmer, and to feed over the weed flats. Conventional float rigs with green and cabbage weed for bait will see anglers have little trouble in obtaining a feed. Using nippers or worms on the flats as the

tide rises will also produce results, however to obtain the best fishing, drop right down to ultra light gear and terminal tackle. I find a 6-7ft rod and 1-2kg line works just fine with a short 9lb leader. Wallaga Lake is holding some very big tailor, and when these fish decide to feed the action can be spectacular. You will find these fish on the eastern side of the bridge feeding on schools of mullet, and that is the time to hit them with a popper. Fast retrieves with plenty of splash will see some pretty exciting strikes. Further up the lake in the creeks some very nice bream are being taken on hardbodied lures. Some of the fish have been caught around some of the snags and rocky outcrops. However, for best results polaroid the shallow gravelly areas, quite often in the centre of the river, where the bream fossick for small crustaceans.

INSHORE AND OFFSHORE

Venturing out to sea, anglers can try a variety of different fishing techniques to satisfy their needs. Jigging is popular whether in close, around headlands, on the reefs or beyond the shelf. In close using soft plastics anglers can expect to catch species like snapper, flathead, morwong, salmon and rock cod just to name a few. On the wider reefs, metal jigs and plastics can score you kingfish, john dory, big tiger flathead and many other oddballs. For the real weird stuff try out over the shelf with big jigs on heavy braid and see what wonders live in the deep, then go to the books and start identifying them. Reef fishing in general

is quite good with most favourable species fishing well. At this time of year large tiger flathead are returning to our waters and the deeper reefs will produce the better fish. Jackass and blue morwong will feature in bags, as will some very nice snapper. For the best results on snapper, anchor and berley in various depths. Gamefishing is probably at its worst now, with those westerly winds and very cold water not encouraging predator fish

to our area. Berleying may see you encounter either blue or mako sharks with

the Twelve Mile Reef and over the shelf being the better areas. The benefit of berleying over the reefs is that you can fish the bottom while waiting for the sharks. Those anglers wishing to brave the conditions and venture far to sea may encounter bluefin tuna. These fish hang around in the cooler water and are sometimes more than an incidental catch. With the big run of bluefin in southern waters this year, anglers could be expected

to encounter these fish more regularly on the east coast.

[email protected]

BERMAGUIDarrenRedman

Leatherjackets are a winter special either in the estuaries off the rocks or out at sea.

Wallaga Lake still hosts some great bream in the shallows over winter.

Kids of all ages enjoy catching luderick.

55AUGUST 2014

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Yellowfin catch of a lifetime

If we were ever in doubt that Narooma and its surrounding waters had slowed as a tuna hotspot, those doubts have now been squashed. Hot off the press is the awesome news that local charter boat Playstation owned by Ben Bolton and skippered by young gun Nick Cowley have caught a yellowfin tuna of a lifetime for many. The whopping barrel weighed 98.2kg after spending a few hours on the deck, and would have been the magic 100kg fish straight out of the water. What’s more incredible

is that it was caught on 15kg line whilst trolling a mixture of skirted pushers and bibbed minnows. The fight lasted several hours and was captured wide of the shelf around a temperature break. Word is it wasn’t the only fish seen or caught in the same vicinity, with several other yellowfin to 70kg captured and an another jumbo lost at the boat after a frantic three-hour struggle. It’s awesome to see these big fish around and if the good water decides to stick around the next six weeks could be very memorable. The water temperature is fluctuating between 17-20ºC and it seems the big tuna are holding in these temperature breaks, sometimes on the warmer side but not always. When it comes to deciding where to fish, a lot here will depend on holding bait, current and tide, but trolling lures through these temperature breaks seems to be the key to success. This may change and probably will, and I’d expect more tuna to be caught cubing/live baiting

over the coming weeks. It’s just not yellowfin being caught either – the longliners have been getting mega bluefin on the wider grounds so it shouldn’t be long before the sportfishing fraternity get amongst them also. With so much happening on the tuna front you could forget how well Montague Island is fishing. This place is red-hot at the moment with kingfish galore and good-sized models to boot. Kings to 8kg are regular captures at present with the odd hoodlum upwards of 20kg wreaking havoc amongst anglers. These big kings can be seen smashing sauris on the northwest corner, and the Fowl House reef on the western side of the island is holding its fare share too.

Trolling big deep diving minnows has worked on the larger fish, with jigs and live bait doing the damage on the school fish. There’s plenty of bonito mixed in with the kings and I have heard of a few smaller SBT of around 15kg getting caught on jigs also, so it’s a very interesting mix. How long this red-hot action will last is anyone’s guess, but if conditions with temperature, current, bait and tide remain the same, the action might just go right through winter. Let’s hope so.

BOTTOM FISHING Closer to shore the bottom brigade are reaping the rewards of good conditions with snapper in excellent numbers. Almost all reefs are producing the goods with Brou, Potato Point and Tuross all firing at times. Both anchoring and drifting are working, and using baits like squid and pilchards is the go with some of the better fish falling to larger stick-style soft plastics. I’ve said it before – this type of fishing isn’t for everyone

but if the conditions suit you may be pleasantly surprised at the results you may get.

ESTUARIES In the estuaries August is usually the quietest month of the year, but if the last few weeks are anything to go by that won’t happen. Yes, it depends on which system you’re fishing as to what species you will target but almost all estuarine species are catchable at present. In Wagonga the pelagics are in solid numbers with tailor, salmon and trevally the main culprits. These supercharged speedsters are hammering the local whitebait schools, with the birds revealing their whereabouts pretty easily. If you look for the birds and fish you’re in for some

serious fun on light gelspun. Cast either metal shiners or smaller bait imitation softies for best results. I recommend mixing it up as well; on some casts let your lure hit the bottom and work it back from the depths. This will give you a good chance at flathead, snapper and maybe a mulloway. Those after a feed of flatties can’t go wrong with Corunna and Dalmeny lakes both producing good eating-sized models, with the majority of fish around 40-45cm. At that size they’re ideal for the plate but remember to only take what you can eat in a sitting. You can always go back and get a few more at a later date.

ROCK AND BEACH On the beaches it’s business as usual with salmon in solid numbers once you find them. Local beach guru Jack Dart has been getting his clients onto good numbers, with 30-40 fish sessions the norm. The salmon are quality fish too, averaging around 2kg or so. They’re solid fish and

great fun on the silly string. Casting lightly weighted baits like beachworms has worked, and this also puts you in with a great chance at yellowfin bream and big winter whiting. I know Jack has been getting both these edible delights, so get some live beach worms and give it a crack. The better beaches include Coila, Brou, Narooma main and Tilba, with the afternoon making tides faring best. For the rock hoppers, blackfish, drummer, groper and bream are doing the right thing with the drummer fishing particularly good at present. Casting fresh prawns, cunjevoi or cabbage in the washes will pay dividends, with Dalmeny headland, the golf course rocks and southern break wall all producing at times. Using a little berley will help but don’t use too much or the pickers will wreak havoc on you. If fishing for pelagics is your thing you won’t be disappointed as salmon can be found on most ledges. I’d try Mystery Bay to the south or the Northern break wall on a draining tide. Whole pilchards rigged on ganged hooks are the go-to method.

[email protected]

NAROOMAStuartHindson

Charter boat Playstation with the huge yellowfin they captured whilst on charter with skipper

Nick Cowley at the helm. It’s the biggest yellowfin tuna to come to Narooma’s port for

over 20 years by a recreational angler.

Playstation skipper Nick Cowley and his happy customer with this magnificent yellowfin tuna of 98.2kg taken on 15kg line. It was a great

capture that will be remembered by everyone for a very long time.

56 AUGUST 2014

Sharpen your skills to get set for springtime

Bream preparing to spawn on the south coast

Winter weather has finally arrived on the far south coast, with many locals already looking

forward to summer. With cold windy weather over the past month you really need to rug up if you want to spend a day on the water.

With the bad weather has come big seas and rough conditions. With very few boats getting out wide there has been little to report on the game fishing front. Closer to shore there are flathead, both tigers and sandies, still being caught.

Good fishing has been had on the snapper with anglers catching fish on both bait and lures. The winter months see the cuttlefish backbones washed up on

the beach, and as long as the cuttlies are around the snapper should be on the chew. If you’re tossing plastic lures, white is a good colour choice. When chasing the snapper, an early start will see fish caught in close around the headlands.

As the day progresses you should move out a bit wider as the action slows. T h e p e s k y leatherjackets, which made it near impossible to fish,

have finally moved on. It’s a relief to not have to worry about them stealing sinkers, hooks and anything that moves. Fishing the beaches at this time of year means salmon and tailor. Fishing in early winter gives you the best chance of catching a big tailor, but you can still get decent specimens in late winter. The big schools of salmon are constantly moving up and down the beaches, visiting all the gutters. Whether you’re

fishing bait or lures, the rising tide is the go. The fish are still biting in the estuaries, with good catches of sand whiting around the entrance area to all the local estuaries. Fresh baits of worms and nippers have been the go, with some good catches had on the last of the run-out tide. Dusky flathead are still being caught at this time of year, and a slow lure presentation will get you more fish as the colder water slows everything down. Those bigger tailor

also have been entering the estuaries, terrorising the schools of whitebait that school up in the deeper areas at this time of year. The recent rains moved the fish towards the front of the rivers, but as the water clears the fish will start making their way back upstream. Black bream are now feeding up in preparation for spawning that will take place around spring, with the fish heading towards brackish water. Good fishin’, Capt Kev.

I have to be honest – fishing in August along the south coast isn’t very good. So what to do? Well, it’s the perfect opportunity for anglers to sharpen their skills. Not all fish have their heads buried under rocks or in the snags. They have to feed some time, after all, and this is when anglers have their chance to find a fish or two. If you can get it right now, your skill level will improve so when the warmer weather comes you’ll really cash in. Areas I am talking about are places like the Bega River and surrounding estuaries. Those anglers wishing to sharpen up their lure skills are confronted with clear, clean water, allowing for sight fishing. Bream will hug structure where they are in holding zones, generally venturing out to feed in the shallows where the food sources are. You may tempt them when they are in the structure with a well-placed lure, and hardbodies are often the best. Out over the

shallows where the bream are feeding on the likes of worms, crustaceans or small baitfish is where the plastics are likely to produce, but don’t expect cricket scores. Big catches will come later in the season as a result of what you have learnt now. Keeping this in mind, use your time now to gather knowledge for future

outings. If you like to chase flathead you can now sight these fish easier in the clear water, and you can use this to your advantage to get to know the area better. You may be still able to tempt some fish at this time of year, however the best results will come later on when the water heats up, when your knowledge will

give you an edge. If you like to pursue bass, I recommend travelling upstream on the Bega River to the sweetwater where you can suss out future fishing trips by locating structure

or other holding zones for when the bass start to fire. You often may find bream here too, where they may be even more responsive to lures than further down. Towards the entrance of the river there are some

interesting rocky areas on the northern side. This area attracts luderick, where they can be easily sighted by anglers. Fishing with green or cabbage weed under floats is what is required to get some action

here, usually towards the bottom of the tide or when it first starts to run in. Another cool water species often lurking in this region is tailor. Although not large they will often make up the difference in numbers.

Slightly south of Tathra is Wallagoot Lake which is known for its landlocked winter snapper. These fish are of reasonable size, around 30-40cm, and are a lot of fun on light spinning gear. Soft plastics worked

along the bottom to schools of these fish located with a sounder in the deeper holes is the go. Don’t expect amazing catches – you’re there to sharpen your angling skills first and foremost.

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EDENKevinGleed

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TATHRADarrenRedman

Kayak fishing is a great way to explore shallow regions and sharpen up your skills.

This canny old fish was taken in by a soft plastic prawn.

That first bream on a lure can be a challenge.

Ante with a 36cm black bream caught on a Hurricane blade.

57AUGUST 2014

Estuaries going great guns

Fishing pressure eases

The past month has seen the town quieten down. The fish must love this, as it’s a reprieve from the months of constant fishing pressure. The past month has seen some good storms dumping good rain and whipping up some big seas. With the construction of the break wall continuing (it’s due to be completed in November), the only access to the ocean is by crossing the bar at the lake mouth and this is safest on the calmest of days only. With this in mind only a few boats have been out to chase a feed of fish over the past month. There have been a few nice gummy shark caught out around Gabo Island, and some good sand flathead have also been caught. With the water cooling right down, the offshore fishing will slow right down until the warmer water finds its way back around Christmas time. The big seas have created plenty of good gutters on all the local

beaches. Salmon have moved along the beaches and are being caught by anglers tossing lures or soaking baits. The salmon are yet to enter the lake in numbers but this should happen over the next month. The recent rains have moved the entrance to the lake further down the beach towards Bastion Point. The water is a dirty brown, but with no more rain it won’t be

long before it runs clear again. Winter time is when the silver trevally enter the lake and this year has been no exception, with plenty of fish being caught on both bait and lures.

Soft plastic lures and metal blades have being catching some of the bigger fish. Dusky flathead are still being caught. They are definitely not carpeted on the bottom; you really need to put in the time to locate schools of fish. The common size is between 35cm to 40cm. Not too many fish get caught over the 55cm slot size. Yellowfin bream are still

being caught but they are not about in the numbers and size that they have been in the last few years. Bait fishermen are still doing well on the sand whiting, with fish caught

around the entrance area. The best bait has been sand worms, with those anglers having the best success putting in the time to work out the best stage

of the tide to fish. The recent dirty water pushed the black bream over towards the other side of Goodwin Sands, with

very few fish being caught anywhere else in the system. Let’s hope that’s not the whole population. Good fishin’, Capt Kev.

It’s been a windy month so far around the Merimbula region but when the weather has allowed the offshore sportfishers have been getting amongst

it. ‘Tuna’ is the word at present with a mixture of both yellowfin and southern bluefin being caught mainly by fishos trolling a mixture of bibbed minnows and skirted pushers. The

yellowfin are between 40-70kg though there have been a few bigger fish lost recently. It won’t be long before the jumbo SBT turn up. There have been sightings of bigger fish busting up but no captures as yet. What has been abundant is albacore and lots of

them. These awesome eating fish are averaging 13-18kg which are solid fish and welcome captures between bigger tuna bites. This action should continue but a lot will depend on water temperature, tides

and current. The fish are wide from the shelf to the 1000 line, which off Merimbula is a very long way. You certainly want to make sure your vessel is seaworthy when travelling that distance and your crew is up to it. Closer to shore the snapper have been a little

sporadic. It takes a while to find them but when you do locate them you can get some solid captures. The fish are school fish around a kilo, with the odd bigger model to 4kg caught but certainly no numbers to

them. Drifting around until you find them is the go, then anchoring up and berleying hard and drifting lightly weighted baits seems to be getting the bigger fish. You can expect morwong, pigfish and flatties with a few john dory thrown in as well. Anglers fishing in 50-60m of water off Pambula are getting tiger flathead and in good numbers. There are a few sandies there too, so you can get some nice fillets for the pan.

ESTUARIES In the estuaries it’s still fishing great guns, especially Pambula, with a host of species chewing. At this time of year with the cold water the pelagics like salmon, tailor and trevally are the main species caught. Smaller soft plastics fished with 3g jigheads in the fast water about 1km upstream from the mouth is the place to fish. This area is quite shallow, averaging 2m in depth, but don’t let this deter you. The fish are there! In the main basin you will get flathead, bream, blackfish and whiting. I prefer to use blades in the cold water for blackfish and whiting. I know it sounds weird but it’s a deadly technique. You will get bream and flatties on them too but remember to fish them slow with short

hops and pauses. You will be amazed at how many fish will pick it up off the bottom.

ROCK AND BEACH On the beaches it’s been a little tough as we have not had any swell at all. This has been due to the strong W/NW winds we’ve experienced of late, flattening out the seas with no white water to speak of. There’s been the odd salmon and tailor caught but you certainly have to work for them. The action will pick up once the beach swell returns but until then it may be slim pickings. It’s a little same on the rocks for the eating species like blackfish, drummer

and groper. They have been very hard to entice, with crystal cold water with no wash at your feet. Not ideal conditions, that’s for sure. Again, once we get some swell they will fire up nicely. If you’re after the pelagics there’s some fun to be had. Good schools of salmon are patrolling most headlands, with Tura Head and the wharf inside Merimbula Bay going great guns. Casting whole pilchards on ganged 4/0 hooks is working well, especially with the calmer inshore conditions. Getting the presentation a little deeper is definitely the key to better results.

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MERIMBULAStuartHindson

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MALLACOOTAKevinGleed

Rob’s first ever fish – a beaut 70cm flatty which was released. It was one of 70 caught for the day.

The Stuart boys with a good catch of black bream prior to release. All fish were caught on softies, and this action will continue this month.

At 71cm, this is one of the better flathead caught over the last few months.

Joe with a bream caught on a blade in the Top Lake.

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58 AUGUST 2014

Want better fishing?

HABITAT ACTION GRANTS are now OPEN for

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Applications close

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Projects of direct benefit to recreational fishing and involving recreational fishers will be given preference.

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For more information contactPH: 02 6626 1107 or PH: 02 4916 3817 or email: [email protected]

or visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hag

Habitat Action Grants openDo you want to improve your chances of catching a fish? Have you got a favourite spot that’s not what it used to be and needs some help? Get involved in the Habitat Action Grant Program and make a difference! The Habitat Action Grant Program puts anglers’ money towards fish habitat improvements in local creeks, rivers and wetlands and popular fishing spots across NSW. Funding is provided through the Recreational Fishing Trusts, where money raised by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee is used to improve recreational fishing. Last year over half a million dollars was made available to angling clubs, community groups, landholders and local councils, with 31 fish habitat projects now underway across the state. Projects up to $40,000 can be funded. Another $570,000 will be available this year, with the Grants opening soon for projects including:• Protecting wetland habitat;• Controlling invasive riverbank weeds and replacing lost native riverbank vegetation;• Managing riverbank erosion

and stock access to streams and estuaries;• Putting back lost snags and fallen timber; or• Helping migratory fish by improving road, weir and floodgate structures. A great example of one of the funded projects was the Seabreeze Beach Hotel Fishing Club at South West Rocks. This is a keen group of fishers who Scott Nichols (Regional Officer, Aquatic Habitat Rehabilitation) spoke to about options for improving fish habitat, including getting a project of their own up and running. Initially, like at many other clubs, members were concerned that the problem

was too great and didn’t know where they could make a difference. After a bit of thought, some members suggested the south wall of the Macleay River. This is a popular fishing spot for locals and tourists, either heading out on the break wall itself or accessing the beach. On high tides the area gets inundated as water makes its way through the break wall, and there are patches of mangroves and saltmarsh growing. Crabs love breeding in saltmarsh and produce large amounts of larvae which are an important food source for small and juvenile fish, so it’s important that these areas are protected.

Unfortunately, over time numerous vehicle tracks have crisscrossed the area, damaging the saltmarsh and mangroves, reducing them to smaller and smaller patches. The club thought this provided an opportunity to better manage traffic in the area, so that the saltmarsh and mangroves were protected, but cars could still get in and around. After working with Scott to develop the funding application, they received money to install wooden posts (bollards) around the saltmarsh and erect signage to indicate why the works had been done.

Another great example of a club making a difference is the Bass Sydney Fishing Club. Members of this very active and social group are used to tackling fish habitat problems, and were instrumental in getting a vertical slot fishway installed on Liverpool Weir. More recently the club has been helping Friends of Lane Cove National Park with their Habitat Action Grant funded project, providing their time to weed and plant native species on the banks of Lane Cove River, as well as running a project of their own improving river bank habitat on the Hawkesbury-Nepean at Emu Plains. The Emu Plains site is a large area of mature she oak that has succumbed to weed

infestation. Bass Sydney has been removing the weeds, replacing them with native understory species to provide food and shelter for fish and other animals. The plant species support the right kind of food insects for bass. So if you want to improve your chances of catching fish, do what The Seabreeze and Bass Sydney fishing clubs did, and get a habitat improvement project together to give fish the best chance we can of thriving. Scott Nichols (02 6626 1396 or [email protected]) and Charlotte Jenkins (02 6626 1107 or [email protected]) are available to discuss potential projects and help you with the application process. – DPI

Seabreeze Hotel Fishing Club members install posts to protect saltmash areas where crabs breed.

The crab larvae feed small and juvenile fish.

Left: Anglers accessing a recently weeded site cleared by members of the Bass Sydney Fishing Club. Native vegetation will be planted

to provide food and shelter for native fish. Right: Members of Tuross Head Fishing Club planting native vegetation.

59AUGUST 2014

After a nervous wait in early winter, anglers in the Canberra-Monaro district are now delighted with the amount of snow that has fallen on the Snowy Mountains in NSW and the Brindabella Mountains in the ACT. In the Brindabellas there was an extensive snow cover right down to the edges of some suburbs after one major fall. The main areas in the Snowies have at least 1m of snow cover and it is much deeper on the upper parts of the Main Range. The even better news is that there is a lot more to come before the end of winter. The significance of this is that there will be plenty of runoff of sparkling clean, highly oxygenated water to the mountain trout streams and in particular to the streams the rainbow trout will use for their main spawning run in August and September. Streams should be topped up nicely, too, for the opening of the trout season on the October long weekend. Also, in the longer term, water trapped in alpine bogs will gradually be released to the open environment and that should ensure that trout streams continue to flow well into the spring and summer period. A win-win situation all round.

RAINBOW HEAD COUNT

There will be a lot more interest in the rainbow spawning run this year than

in past years. During the year the rainbows have been conspicuously absent from catches in both Jindabyne

and Eucumbene and there has been fierce debate as to whether they are not there or simply too hard to catch. The spawning run will provide fisheries managers with an opportunity to place traps on the main spawning rivers, the Thredbo and Eucumbene, and gauge the numbers moving up and downstream and compare them with previous years. That should settle the argument about the rainbows’ presence or absence, but not necessarily the reasons underlying why so few have been caught. Fish captured in the traps also will be harvested for egg and semen production to produce fry and fingerlings at Gaden Hatchery for later stocking of Jindabyne, Eucumbene and other waterways.

MEAGRE FISH REPORTS

Few anglers have been fishing the big mountain lakes during the winter, suggesting that anglers are not as tough as they used to be. Perhaps the allure of a warm house and something interesting on TV is winning out over the joys of fishing on a crisp winter morning with a dancing big fish on the end of your line! Catches in Jindabyne early in the winter were miserably small, with just an odd fish to show for a two to three day trip. Some anglers blanked and as the word went round about the missing rainbows even fewer anglers ventured to the area. Fishing was so quiet at one stage that it took a bait fisher on average 25 hours to catch one fish.

Not an attractive catch per effort. Later in the season, however, a few more fish

began to show. Large hungry browns returning from spawning were taken on bardi grubs and scrub worms and lures such as Tasmanian Devils and Rapala minnows. Fly fishers polaroided a few nice browns with cased caddis and other small patterns. A few rainbows showed, reviving hope about their survival. There was a similar but slightly more hopeful picture at Eucumbene. A few rainbows were taken on PowerBait and scrub worms and the pattern seemed to be for the browns to return in groups rather than singly, so the picture often was for one group of anglers to bag out with plenty of fish whilst others nearby caught nothing. Catches overall were better in Eucumbene than Jindabyne but the small number of rainbows caught was still of concern. The brown trout spawning runs in both the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers were deemed to be a great success. Large numbers of fish were seen and they looked to be in good health, with firm, brightly coloured bodies and strong musculature. The population in both lakes appears self-sustaining, as in previous years, and browns again will be the dominant species in the lakes next season. It is difficult to suggest where anglers should fish during in late winter. In Jindabyne, Creel Bay would be my best suggestion, taking advantage of pre-spawning rainbows that should pass through

this area. Similarly, in Eucumbene I would suggest trying Seven Gates and Yens Bay for the returning

browns, and the upper reaches of Providence Flats for pre-spawning rainbows.

TRY TANTANGARA Tantangara Reservoir is always worth a try in winter time because of its good population of brown trout. They tend to be small, but there are plenty of them and they provide good sport, especially on fly and lure. One problem, though, is that you can easily get snowed in there in winter and it takes a long time for the snow ploughs to clear the road so you can get out. Consequently, if you venture in there, always pack extra food, water and fuel and leave as soon as

a snow storm begins. Wait too long and you might be stuck there for four or five days.

LOWLAND LAKES Lowland lakes such as Wyangala and Burrinjuck are well worth a try in winter. The cooler temperatures quieten the resident fish but they have to feed sooner or later so if you persist you have a chance of scoring a fish. In Wyangala some large Murray cod were taken on lures in the Lachlan River Arm. This area is not renowned as a big cod area but the anglers all used supersized lures, deeper divers from AC Invader and Custom Crafted, and these did the trick. In Burrinjuck a lot of smallish Murray cod were caught on lure and bait in the Main Basin, especially later in the day when the sun was high up. Spinnerbaits and deep divers were the most successful. Some fish also were taken on bardi grubs and live yabbies. Golden perch have been surprisingly active. Some of the best catches came from the flooded trees in the Murrumbidgee Arm

where the fish had gathered previously during summer, but others were caught from the bank in all three arms – the Murrumbidgee, Goodradigbee and Yass. One group starred with 20 prime fish in a single afternoon, whereas most others were happy with one to three fish. The best baits were scrub worms and live yabbies. Some goldens were taken on lures, including small spinnerbaits, bibless minnows and Burrinjuck Specials.

URBAN LAKES Canberra’s urban lakes have been mostly quiet, with just an occasional fish taken on bait or lure. Most are muddy following persistent rain but are still clear enough for lure fishing. Small Murray cod have been taken on spinnerbaits but it takes a lot of casting to attract one fish. Surface lures have been a better and more exciting alternative, especially just after dark. Anglers tossing the lures out in Yerrabi, Ginninderra and Burley Griffin often have been rewarded with a giant, noisy boof, and although a hook-up is not assured it’s a fun way to fish. Surface

lures have a big future in Canberra, especially when we find a way of hanging the hooks to ensure a better hook-up rate.

BLUE GREEN ALGAE RISK

We recently had a big build up of blue green algae in Lake Burley Griffin, and an angler fishing there became sick and nauseous about 20 minutes after he arrived. He developed a headache, stomach pains and trembling in the limbs and was driven home to recuperate. The symptoms worsened that night but then declined in following days. It appears he had ingested just a tiny amount of the algae when he bit a piece of line off when tying a knot. That tiny amount was enough to make him very ill and should serve as a warning to other anglers. Blue green algae should more properly be referred to as cyanobacteria, its proper scientific classification. The cyanotoxin, weight for weight, is more toxic than cyanide. That should suffice to make sure anglers treat infestations of the organism with respect, and avoidance.

Mountain snowfalls welcomedCANBERRABryanPratt

Golden perch are modestly active in Burrinjuck Reservoir, taking small spinnerbaits, bibless

minnows, worms and yabbies.

The brown trout spawning runs in the Thredbo and Eucumbene rivers were deemed to be a great success, with large numbers of big

healthy fish making their way upstream to the spawning beds.

There will be extra interest in the numbers of rainbow trout on the spawning run this year, given their seeming absence in

Jindabyne and Eucumbene during the last season.

60 AUGUST 2014

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TAMWORTHAdam Mears

Over the last month the crisp mornings and moderate winds have taken their toll on our native treasures, with many trips yielding lacklustre results. It’s not all

doom and gloom though – those anglers willing to put in the hours will eventually be rewarded. It helps to

focus on the warmer periods of the day between 10am and 2pm when the water temperature is slightly higher and the Murray cod are on the move. Fishing deeper along shadow lines has been the more productive method for me. I have been using LureStrike Spinnerbaits, with

the tandem blades producing those reaction strikes. Fishing the tandem blades or a single willow blade on shutdown fish

can often change your luck as they hang deeper and are retrieved a little faster through the water column. August is a good time of year to break out the fly also. The thick vegetation that normally crowds our scenic rivers has died off, and the spindly limbs of the willows hang eerily over the water,

providing easy access to a well-presented fly. Bait fishers should do well with bardi grubs as

they are as valuable as gold in these parts, and are an absolute favourite for Old Man Murray. I couldn’t think of a more relaxing way to enjoy the afternoon sun than to soak a grub along the river with a few mates or the kids, so get out there and make it happen!

LAKE KEEPIT As the dams hold steady at the moment the fishing should improve. There haven’t been any monsters reported so far, but now should be the time to get

out there fishing deep around the trees in the mornings or fishing the late night sessions. Casting spinnerbaits or chatterbaits to rocky points could see you locking horns with these big girls before they get into breeding mode. Golden perch in the dam have been firing for all those in the know. The old river bed has been holding the majority of the fish, and they have been falling to blades and ice jigs for the lure fishers and worms or crushed yabby tails for those bottom bashing.

SHEBA DAM The small photogenic dam north of Nundle should fish well this month. A healthy release of small 25-35cm fish have made their presence known, entertaining anglers with their striking rainbow flanks and acrobatic aerial displays making them fun for the whole family to catch. Small baits of worm or corn should see you in with more than even chance of tangling with a few. Alternatively you can use small minnows, Celtas or 1” plastics.

The author worked the shadow lines during the day for this healthy greenback.

It’s not always size that matters! Little rainbow trout are great fun for the kids and are abundant in our stocked waterways.

61AUGUST 2014

For those wanting for their sportfishing fix, the bottom dam holds a few larger specimens but catching them is easier said than done.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT With the fishing a little harder at this time of year it can pay to think outside the square. Try new techniques and add some new styles to your arsenal. A few worth looking at before the season closes next month are buzz

baiting and flyfishing, and I’ll tell you why.

Buzz baiting Buzzbaits have been on the American bass scene for as long as I can remember and for good reason – they make plenty of splash and trigger some amazing surface strikes, especially around standing timber, brushes and weed beds. In Australia we have been reluctant to embrace these topwater sensations, generally because

they are fished relatively fast. However, a few smart-minded Australian companies have adapted these baits to suit our conditions and the way we fish, changing the standard metal blades to a hard plastic and making it easier to work these lures much slower to suit our Murray cod. A few brands have adapted to this style. The LureStrike Hydro Buzz and the infamous twin turbine buzz bait that made appearances

in the cod fishing flick the Magic Hour have claimed many respectable catches. The build quality is great and tough enough to handle these powerful green brutes. Yes, sometimes it’s hard to pass up old lure styles that you’re used to, but I strongly recommend trying a buzz bait. You will have a ball and experience some of the most calculated explosive water eruptions the northwest has to offer

Fishing the fly isn’t as hard as it looks. Working the surface after dark can produce solid specimens like this.

The only optional extra is the day’s catch.

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Flyfishing Flyfishing for Murray cod is taking the nation by storm. What I love about flyfishing for cod is the presentations are discreet and you can hang the fly in the strike zone for a very long time. This often proves irresistible for the territorial cod. Additionally, because there’s just a single hook you won’t often lose a fish as the point generally finds the hinge in the jaw. All

up, it’s about as exciting a way to fish as you’ll find. Large, slow sinking flies like the Hohnke hooks 6/0 Deceiver work really well, and you can buy these at Tamworth Fishing Tackle or online. Casting these big flies takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s such a great way to change your fortunes when things are tough. Until next month, tight lines!

Brant Hocking caught this redfin in the Upper Coliban Reservoir on a Rapala CD4 Brown Trout.

62 AUGUST 2014

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ROBINVALERodMackenzie

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YARRAWONGATonyBennett

Bring on winter fishing

Winter has finally hit us with a bang and the fishing action has slowed plenty as if the big fella from above pulled on a giant hand brake! But don’t despair, those who understand the feeding, breeding and movement patterns of big cod know it’s now time to rug up and think big before the season ends in a few weeks. The good ol’ days had the old poachers packing up rod, reel and net and going into hibernation but how wrong they were. Looking back over recent winter reports, persistence shows both the top end of the lake around the Bundalong area and especially downstream below the weir produce the goods. The outstanding feature with most Murray cod taken this time of year is that they are taken on big hard bodied lures (120mm+) trolled anywhere from 3-8m in depth. The stand out performing lures have been the Koolabungs and ACs with the Gidgee Barcoo and Kuttafurras Mud Honeys fast becoming a must have. Throughout June wind and rain put end to many a fishing outing, but a few fish were reported locally. My fish of the month goes to a 42cm golden perch that was captured by a very proud and passionate 3-year-old Thomas Pitt. Thomas loves his fishing and enjoys spending time in store talking tackle along with his dad Travis. To top off the pair’s fishing day, Travis landed a beautiful 74cm cod. Well done to the Pitt boys! Not surprisingly, local big cod specialist George

Jovanovic has continued to pull quality cod while others have struggled. Lure of choice for George was not important, as long as it was big and purple. Where 2013 saw genuine lack of interest for the cray season, it seems groups have returned to the water after a year’s break. With a reduced season, June - August, increased size limits and reduced bag limits, fisho’s are still having fun as theiy’re returning with their daily bag limits. Keep in mind these new laws have been put in place for a reason, do the right thing and we will be able to enjoy this favourite past time for a long time to come. Even if rewards for effort aren’t huge, memories and mateship last a lifetime. As the fishing slows down, organisation for the upcoming

fishing competition season ramps up. If you are keen to get your name added to the Cod Classic, Golden Dollars, Dash 4 Cash, His and Hers Partners Classic or Cod Nationals mailing lists shoot me an e-mail at [email protected]. Until next edition, happy fishing.• If visiting Yarrawonga/Mulwala I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish Camp & Ski, the shop with the big green cod out the front (Opposite the Post Office) in Mulwala and say G’day. We are your largest Murray cod specific shop in the region and specialize in all things green! For any info on upcoming events or fishing reports give us a call on (03) 5744 3133.

Thomas Pitt with his 42cm golden perch that won him the fish of the month title.

Warming to the winter chill

Winter is the season that reminds you that angling is most often practised by those who care little for comfort. Wind and sideways rain have made for several memorable trips lately, and while the weather might be a little cold the angling has remained quite good as we continue to fish our way through one of the best cod seasons I can remember. Most anglers fishing the Murray have had reasonable catches of both Murray cod and golden perch on lures, and amongst

them some real thumpers. This season I have seen at least five cod over the 130cm mark led to the net with several others pushing just below this mark. These are big fish that put a shake in the hand and a rattle in the legs. While most anglers are content to troll the depths awaiting that savage strike, others are fishing the fringes on the cast and doing quite well. Big cod on the cast are as good as it gets, and as the water temperature continues to drop away those in the know have had some white-knuckle sessions that will draw the breath from even the most seasoned angler. I love the explosive nature of these giants on the cast where the

tranquil realm of the boat explodes to life as the lure is stopped mid-retrieve and all hell breaks loose. Just a few short weeks back a long cast to the fork of an old submerged river gum was treated in such a manner as the strike went off mid-boat like a grenade going off. All on board were shocked at the ferocity of the unseen giant and other than jamming my toes on the reel there was no stopping this monster fish as it powered back down through the timber to the safety of its lair. Even with 50lb braid and 60lb leader this fish was in full control as it scored itself a shiny new lure. It still never ceases to amaze me the amount of

anglers fishing for giant cod who run light gear in the hopes they will tempt more strikes. Maybe you will, but there is no doubt that most will end in an explosion of busted tackle and a look of confusion. Make no mistake, these big fish are nothing short of violent on the cast and they will show light gear little respect as they blow you to bits in no time flat. Some nice golden perch have also been landed both on the troll and cast amidst the cod. For the cod large lures have dominated on the troll with anything over 150mm tempting the biggest fish. Several new models, some still in the prototype stage, will burst onto the lure market in the next few months. Many of these have racked up some monster cod, and will be tempters for both anglers and big fish alike. Casting has seen Bassman DT spinnerbaits and the 5/8oz Codman with the deep dished Colorado

blades working well in the shallows. In the hard-bodied range it’s hard to look past the 6m 120 Koolabung Codzilla for casting. This season they have racked up more fish than most of the

others combined. The No. 1 StumpJumper comes a close second and continues to catch fish as it always has. As for bait fishing, the best bait over the last month has been lures.

Jason Stevens with a typical golden perch that bit off a bit more than it could chew.

The No. 1 StumpJumper continues to catch cod. Tony Heywood was more than pleased with this metre cod that smashed his lure.

Daniel Barclay with a 102cm cod caught casting the 120 Codzilla. Note the water clarity – that’s as good as it’s been for many seasons.

63AUGUST 2014

ECHUCAIan Page

WAGGA WAGGAScottMcAuliffe

Interesting time of year as we drift deep into winter. It has always fascinated me that some of us hang up the gear and wait for better weather while the seasoned anglers continue to come in the shop buying big lures and showing photos of their catches. Plenty of big cod are being caught trolling large lures all the way from The Narrows in Barmah to Torrumbarry. I believe it is important to find an area that you think there is fish or your sounder is showing a fish, then work it hard several times before moving on. Right now is a very good time to walk the banks and cast lures and spinnerbaits into the deep pools and snags, especially in the Campaspe and Goulburn rivers as their levels have been relatively low over the winter. This is a great way to spend a few hours and for those who either don’t have a boat or just want to try something different, it producers some great fish and at times some good variety with golden perch and redfin taking the same lures as those used to target cod.

With the cod season going into recess shortly it is your last chance for a while to catch your dream fish. Some reports are coming in of some great redfin being caught in the channels and lakes on worms. Redfin are great fish on light gear and excellent table fare, so a running sinker rig and 1/0 hook would be a good way to start and have some small yabbies to go with the worms and move around a bit till

you find some fish. The redfin are often in patches and if you land in the right spot, the reward is a lot of fun. As the month goes on it is about this time the golden perch start to get active out at Kow Swamp. Either bait or

lures will tempt these fish with many locals swearing by Jackalls as the best lure. While they do cost a little more, they continually get results. So winter can be a good time to rug up, get yourself out of the house and catch some great fish like the ones caught by Ben Starkey in our mighty Murray river all on deep diving lures. He always enjoys his angling this time

of year, so give it a go.• For the latest fishing and boating information in the Echuca/Moama region, drop into Boats and More’s Echuca store at 76 Northern Hwy or give them a call on (03) 5482 1992.

As is to be expected during this time of year, the fishing in the Murrumbidgee and its tributaries is pretty slow and like most winters it’s only the big guys that are playing the game. It’s common knowledge that big presentations are the most effective way of hooking a trophy fish through these colder months. Two of the best big cod lures available are the 150mm Australian Crafted Invader and the large Custom Crafted Hammerhead. The trick is actually persisting with these big lures and being prepared to put in the hours to hook a good fish, and with the close of the cod season only just around the corner it would be worth making the most of the limited time left.

EUCUMBENE It took longer than usual for the really cold weather to kick in this year but it is definitely here now. Some very cold fronts have pushed through the Snowies in the last month or so which tends to put

a lot of the fishermen off. Winter fishing is actually quite enjoyable, with very few anglers on the lake and

good fishing throughout all the hours of daylight. It makes for some peaceful fishing and provided you

are prepared for the cold with appropriate clothing you will be fine. The vast majority of browns would most likely be back from their spawn run and these fish should be your focus if you’re planning a trip to the lake. These post-spawn fish are always looking to pack on the condition they lost during the run. Bait fishos should look at fishing live baits like scrub worms and bardi

grubs. Fish them unweighted with an open spool less than 3m from the bank. The lure guys should be use darker natural coloured lures. Soft plastics are the most versatile from my point of view. Plastics enable you to fish the lure very slow, and this is a key part of winter fishing. The famous saying with plastics is ‘if you think you’re fishing them slow… slow it down some more’. You will catch more fish this way

and, more importantly, the majority of the fish will be bigger than average browns. For those throwing flies around it’s pretty difficult to go past a simple black or olive Woolly Bugger trailed by a black or brown bead head nymph. This is a very consistent rig for Eucumbene and has worked for me throughout winter for the last couple of years. Don’t forget to fish it slow and as close to the bottom as possible.

Good daytime fishing

Trout cod thrive in the cold winter water, and they fight well above their weight. This one took a slow rolled hardbody.

Matt Kanck of Wagga with a beautifully coloured Eucumbene brown.

Cold cod the best cure

This is what winter fishing is all about on the Murray. Fit and healthy fish that can make your day.

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2014 ABT ENTRY FORMS, RECORDS, EARNINGS AND RANKINGS

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During August the water level in Blowering Dam is generally slightly on the rise. It is common knowledge that slowly flooding water over new ground, weed beds and snags is normally associated with fantastic fishing no matter what species you are targeting. These sorts of conditions draw fish up into the edges of the dam to hunt for food that has just been submerged by the rising water levels, and these fish are normally very active and can be quite easy to catch.

GOLDEN PERCH I can’t wait for this time

of the year as the fishing at Blowering Dam is about as visual as you can get. Watching trophy golden perch and Murray cod cruise around in the shallows looking for any easy pickings sure gets the heart pumping no matter how seasoned you are. These shallow water golden perch can be targeted successfully a number of ways and my preferred technique is to cast to these fish with lures. Spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits are my first choices but these generally active fish will attack most lure presentations when cast and retrieved in the right areas. The key to success is to use something that doesn’t dive too deep as most of these fish are in 6ft of water or less.

Shallow running hardbodies are definitely worth a chuck, and shallow diving suspending lures work brilliantly in the shallows and can turn on even the most shutdown fish. This early in the season the goldens aren’t too flighty and all of the lures I’ve mentioned will do plenty of damage. By the end of the month, however, these fish will have seen a lot of pressure and it can pay to change to lures that are much more natural in their colour, shape and action. Lures that have no rattles and no flash become the best lures to use and it’s very hard to beat soft plastics as they tick all of these boxes. I love 2-3” paddle tail plastics like the Ecogear Grass Minnow and Power Shad ranges, but I have also done well over the years on twin tail plastics. The reason the twin tails work so well is that they look a lot like frogs. At this time of the year and all the way through spring the goldens mostly eat frogs so it makes sense to throw a frog imitation at them. Don’t think you have to own a boat either because the fish are concentrated around the margins of the lake. If anything, you have an advantage by fishing from the bank as this is where the majority of the fish are. At this time last year I was having a ball fishing from the bank and landing several golden perch each afternoon, with most of the fish being solid specimens. One even earned me the ANSA Australian ‘Length Only’ record for golden perch, which proves that you don’t need a boat to catch good numbers and sizes of fish. Trolling is another way to target these fish at this time of the year but it pays to stick very close to the bank. It also pays to have your lure a long way back, especially if you don’t own or use an electric motor. The above mentioned casting lures will work well on the troll, so after you’ve

had a casting fix you can simply cast your lures out the back and start trolling straight away, with no need to change lures. This is a good way of breaking your day up and it also helps to find active fish. Once you come back across some active fish it pays to pull up and start casting again or continue to turn around and repeatedly troll the area that has the active fish. Bait fishing can be sensational at this time of the year at Blowering Dam because it’s not just the golden perch that take advantage of the smorgasbord of food on offer in the shallows. Trout, Murray cod, big hybrid carp and even the odd redfin occasionally gets game enough to come into the shallows for a feed. The best baits at the moment are definitely soft baits like worms, grubs, maggots and PowerBait depending on what species of fish you’re targeting. In saying this, if you are specifically after a good Murray cod then large yabby baits or bardi grubs will be your best bet.

MURRAY COD This month sees your last chance to head out and target Murray cod as the season officially closes at the end of the month. At this time of the year most anglers prefer to take advantage of the Murray cod’s often aggressive territorial side by trolling and casting with oversized lures (if there is such a thing when chasing Murray cod). Lures really need to be at least 90mm long to really have any chance of making a big Murray cod strike out of territorial aggression. Big profiled spinnerbaits with a thumping action are ideal for both casting and trolling. Spinnerbaits with upsized blades and large soft plastics added to create even more bulk are the lure of choice for most anglers targeting Murray cod at Blowering Dam. The spinnerbaits will need to be 1-2oz in weight to help get you down and keep you down, as the oversized blades and plastics will make your spinnerbaits ride higher in the water column.

More often then not this is all that is needed to annoy a Murray cod into striking but, because there are so many anglers now targeting these Murray cod with this style of spinnerbait, I prefer to present them with something slightly different to increase my chances of fooling one of these old, smart fish. I’ve taken to using single-bladed spinnerbaits for several reasons. Firstly, they spook far less fish as they look far

more natural then conventional twin bladed spinnerbaits. A single blade also cuts through the water far better than two blades, so you can get away with a lighter weighted spinnerbait then you would if it had two large blades. A 5/8oz spinnerbait with a single willow blade will get you down and keep you down better than a 1.5oz oversized twin Colorado spinnerbait. All up, you have the benefit of a more natural

presentation, not spooking the fish and not ending up with one arm aching at the end of a day’s casting. If you have ever cast a 1-2oz lure all day long you will know what I mean, as it can be hard work by the end of the day. Big lipless crankbaits are another great lure that can be cast or trolled with the same amount of success whilst targeting Murray cod. The fish can be easier to entice with these lures because fewer

anglers use them; the cod don’t see big lipless cranks anywhere near as often as spinnerbaits. Blowering has been very kind to Murray cod anglers over the last couple of seasons with countless big fish over the magic metre mark being landed. Let’s hope this continues for the rest of this season and again into next season. Until next month, good luck, good fishing and tight lines.

No boat, no problem

It often pays to use something a little different to entice highly pressured fish. This was one of many Murray cod landed on the author’s new Angel Baits. Very few fish in Australia have ever seen them so they’re dynamite in highly pressured waters.

Top: You don’t need a boat to catch good numbers and sizes of golden perch at Blowering Dam at

this time of year. I caught this ANSA ‘Length Only’ record golden perch off the bank at this time last year. Bottom: This is what August is all about at Blowering Dam: watching and catching massive

golden perch in the crystal clear shallows of the dam.

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EUCUMBENE’S BEST FISHING IS RIGHT HERE....

Bumper melt coming up

We certainly had a good start to the snow season this year and the snow keeps on coming, which will be excellent for the rivers and streams when it melts in spring. At the moment there is 2m of snow on top which means good lake levels for the spring, and in fact we could end up with 100% capacity again as we already have 88% and the lake is still rising. So far this winter the lake fishing has been excellent, with great shore-based angling, and it can only stay that way. This is the third year in a row we have had fantastic shore-based fishing in winter. Bait fishing has been very good with the best baits being scrub worms if you want to catch a good brown trout. For rainbow trout, artificial baits in orange or pink (or mixed) have been great. The best rig for scrubbies is a simple big scrubby onto a hook and no weight added. You don’t need to cast out too far, and with light tackle you will get the distance needed anyway. With the artificial bait, why not place on a scrubby as your weight to cast and have a simple dropper of artificial bait floating above? This duel hook rig often works wonders. If you like to throw lures, spin the edges of the lake, preferably in the sheltered bays, with lures in rainbow trout and brown trout patterns. Working jointed Rapalas very slowly is the best way to catch a lazy trout when the water is so cold and the fish are a little sluggish. If the weather is dirty,

orange or pink lures may work better as these are aggression colours for trout in winter spawning time. For deeper water on really sunny and still days when the trout may be spooky in shallow water, you can use lures such as the Tasmanian Devil, throw them out well past the fish and then wind in slowly. Again, colours like the pink number 55 or the brown number 48 are sure to catch a fish or two. Y48 Tasmanian Devil is also well worth having in your tackle box.

The better times are early and late in the day but you can still catch fish near the rocky points and deep drop-offs during the middle of the

day. Some of the better winter areas are Hatchery Bay, the South Arm and you might like to try Curiosity Point.

FISHING IN AUGUST Traditionally August is ‘Polaroiding’ (spotting trout with the aid of polarised sunnies) month for anglers, and that also started early this year. If you’re coming to have a fish in August, here are my predictions for this month in more detail. If all goes to plan the flyfishing should improve towards the end of this month

as we head towards spring and the edges of the water warm a little. Green nymphs fished near the rocky outcrops should catch a fish for you. If the

water is a little choppy on the day, move to an olive streamer pattern like a Woolley Bugger or similar. If you’re Polaroiding the lake, fish quietly and approach the water only after trying to spot a fish. The western shoreline from Curiosity Rocks to Hatchery Bay is excellent to spot fish during August, and don’t forget to keep away from my area over at Sids Bay, because it’s mine, all miiiiine! Another area for big fish is Creel Bay at Waste Point but remember this is in the Kosciuszko National Park and you are expected to have a pass. You will need to purchase the pass at either Cooma or Jindabyne visitors centre. Trolling is our most popular fishing tour during winter and we almost always catch a fish. Some of the big Atlantic salmon released by Gaden Trout Hatchery last June have now been caught but there are still more out there and they

are a lot of fun to catch. There is no real special lure to attract the salmon, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Still, they do not mind a little bit of silver on the lure and the Tasmanian Devil no. 77 autumn brown has been very good. Other good lures to use at the moment are Tassie Devils in numbers 55 pink and 72 and no. 50 frog pattern or 36 yellow wings on the sunnier days. For the bigger brown trout I like to troll larger 9cm and 11cm jointed Rapalas, and the brown trout pattern is a favourite. Lion and Cub Islands as well as East Jindabyne Islands are excellent trolling spots at the moment. You need to troll close to the edges for best results. With winter trolling it’s

important to remember that cold water makes the fish move a lot slower, so it’s important to troll slower than in summer. An electric motor or some sort of trolling baffle may be needed to get the boat down to about 3km/h at the most. If you’re down in the Snowys over the next month call into my shop at Discovery Holiday Park, say hi and pick up a copy of the latest fishing report. If you would like to join me on one of my charters, just give me a call on 02 64 561 551 or 0408 024 436. Feel free to visit my website at www.swtroutfishing.com.au for all the latest fishing reports and find out more about our winter tours. All the best for some great winter fishing from Steve Williamson.

[email protected]

JINDABYNESteveWilliamson

Amanda Walshaw with a healthy winter rainbow.

Fernando Pontes with a good winter brown caught on a Steve Williamson special black yellowing Tasmanian devil lure.

FISHING FILL-ITS

A man has been fined $7300, ordered to pay professional costs of $1220 and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond after a search of a restaurant in Narrandera by DPI fisheries officers uncovered an endangered fish species as well as prohibited size fish and a quantity of fish in excess of possession limits. DPI Director of Fisheries Compliance Glenn Tritton said the conviction sends a strong message that illegal fishing activity, including the possession of commercial quantities of fish without prescribed records, will be dealt with before the courts. “Acting on information, fisheries officers conducted a search of a restaurant at Narrandera and located and

seized 18 Murray cod, 23 golden perch and one trout cod,” Mr Tritton said. “Trout cod are an endangered species and it is an offence to take, harm or be in possession of them. “The possession limit for Murray cod is four per person and the possession limit for golden perch is 10. The fish were found in two freezers on the premises and were believed to have been purchased from persons engaged in illegal fishing activity from the Narrandera area. “The taking of native inland fish for sale is strictly prohibited in NSW. This also includes the taking of yabbies.” The 63-year-old owner of the restaurant appeared in the Narrandera Local Court in April 2014 and pleaded

guilty. He was convicted and fined. He immediately lodged an appeal on grounds of severity. The appeal was heard at Griffith District Court on 17 June 2014. “The court upheld the most serious charge of possessing the endangered trout cod and confirmed the fine of $3300,” Mr Tritton said. “In addition, he was also fined for exceeding his possession limit of fish in circumstances of aggravation, and possession of prohibited size fish also in circumstances of aggravation.” The man was issued with fines totalling $7300 plus $1220 professional costs and was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond. Mr Tritton said it is important that trout cod remain protected.

“Trout cod have declined over the last several decades and are at a critical stage of their recovery,” he said. “Taking trout cod threatens the sustainability of this species which are still considered in danger of extinction.” He addd that any restaurant or other commercial establishment must have prescribed records for any fish on their premises in order to prove the fish were legally obtained. Information about fishing regulations can be found in the free NSW Freshwater Guide available from tackle stores and at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fisheries. Suspected illegal fishing activity can be reported to Fishers Watch on 1800 043 536 or to your nearest DPI Fisheries Office. – DPI

Restaurant cops fishy fine for trout cod

66 AUGUST 2014

(All levels correct at time of going to press. Dam levels can change at any time,so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.)

DAM LEVELSDam % FullDam % Full

Blowering ............................64

Brogo ............................... 100

Burrendong ..........................20

Burrinjuck ............................66

Carcoar ...............................29

Chaffey ...............................37

Clarrie Hall .........................N/A

Copeton...............................33

Dartmouth ............................92

Eucumbene ..........................36

Glenbawn ............................87

Glenlyon ..............................37

Glennies Creek ......................87

Hume .................................57

Jindabyne ............................76

Keepit .................................18

Lostock ...............................97

Oberon ...............................N/A

Pindari ................................17

Split Rock ............................20

Tantangara ...........................56

Toonumbar ...........................98

Windamere ..........................49

Wyangala ............................48

[email protected]

MAITLANDDaveMcLean

Windows of opportunity

This can be a very enjoyable time of the year to be out on the dams chasing bass and

goldens as the rivers are still no-go until the end of the month. In saying that, the really cold westerlies can hit as they did last year. Providing that doesn’t happen, the mornings are usually foggy, the barometer high and the

days quite warm. From my past diary entries the August westerlies usually hit around lunchtime so you may get a few hours of fishing before they arrive. With the water temperatures usually at their lowest this month,

around 14°C, the fishing can be very slow to say the least. However over recent weeks there have been some fish caught by baitfishers around the big timber areas in the Narrows and up the back of the dam around the Panhandle. This area has also been producing some bass and the odd golden on deep plastics and ice jigs. I think that these areas produce fish because they are the spots where there is current flow from both the strong winds and usually falling water levels. With these very cold water temperatures the bass and goldens tend to bite for a very short period during this window so it’s best to be on your prime spots when it happens. The bass don’t feed too aggressively in August as they are still very fat, with the males and females still

containing their spawning row and milt. It can also be beneficial to use a large presentation initially, be it a lure or bait, and work it slowly to keep it in the strike zone longer. If that doesn’t entice a strike, go for a lure with more action and vibration. There are usually two areas to target the fish this month, depending on recent weather patterns (this is the case because with the high winds the water temp is usually the same from the

surface down to around 20m). These two areas are around timbered banks with good bottom composition for the larger individual fish, and the other area is

the deeper water not too far from the river channels, near points and sheltered bays for the school bass. Lipless crankbaits or hardbodies, with rattles, are ideal worked around the timber or trolled. The deeper school bass are best targeted using blades, ice jigs and plastics. Locating the deeper fish can take plenty of time as they are on the move, albeit slowly, until they locate suitable oxygen levels, water temperatures,

water clarity and food. Wherever they choose to hole up this month they’ll likely stay there until there’s a reasonable water temperature rise,

and then they’ll go on the move again.

LAKE ST CLAIR Lake St Clair is down a little but should be good for spring. The fish have been very scattered with some small bass coming from the bays in the Broadwater on plastics and blades and out in the deeper water off Gindigah Point on ice jigs. Along the banks at Thunderbolts Run and Around Perkins point they are worth a cast with jerkbaits and plastics.

My favourite lures are the Jackall Squirrel and my plastic is 1/4oz Bassman jighead with either a Z-Man GrubZ or Slider in dark patterns. This jigheads

This healthy bass was caught at St Clair walking the banks using a TN 50 Jackall.

Jarrad Barkley on a perfect day at St Clair with two nice bass that fell to a slow rolled plastic.

The smelt that are present in Glenbawn are the main diet of bass and goldens.

67AUGUST 2014

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have eyes, and when rigged with the above resemble the gudgeons or smelt that live in our impoundments. Up the Carrowbrook out off Adam Point in the deeper water is another area where the fish hole up as there is some good cover and structure along the river channel. This is a good area for slow rolling deep plastics or blades. Up the Fallbrook, which is a lot more sheltered than the Carrowbrook, the bank and river channel from Redhead corner up to Eurella Point is a good

area to target. Troll or work the edges with cranks and plastics as this is quite sheltered. There should be some improvements at St Clair over the next year as the Singleton Council has the money to put up a boom gate and build a new caretaker’s cottage for Maria.

LAKE GLENBAWN At Glenbawn the water is usually at its coldest but with the good snowfalls dumped in recent weeks there should be some reasonable snow-melt

coming into the back of the dam and this is a good area to target this month. With the water level rising I like to target sloping banks that run down to around 10m and have some scattered timber. I like to use a stealthy approach to begin with, using deep crankbaits or 1/4oz jigs with 3” plastics in close to the edges and then lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits out in the deeper 10m sections. This depth is also a good area to troll deep crankbaits, especially in very bright patterns and even fluoro colours.

The school bass are out in the deeper areas of 10-15m in the open areas off points and not too far from some form of structure. These fish are best targeted with ice jigs, plastics and blades using very long leaders and down around 3-4lb breaking strain. The bass and goldens this month are always in prime condition, as they are feeding on schools of gudgeons and smelt which you can easily pick up on the sounder as dark clouds usually down around 10m in the water column. Baitfishing should start to improve this month also.

With the rising water level and influx of freshwater, the place to go is up towards the back of the dam. Drop a nice yabby

or bunch of worms down alongside a big tree out in the 10-15m area up near the Eagles Nest or near the Panhandle.

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69AUGUST 2014

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LITHGOW/OBERONGlenStewart

The fair wind blows

Traditionally August can be a little windy to say the least. Winter at lower altitudes is starting to loosen its grip, but not up here at 900-1200m. Winter always lingers on so come prepared. It takes me about 10 minutes

to get to Thompson Creek Dam, a climb with a gain in altitude of 150/200m, and the temperature difference on some days can be incredible.

BROWN TROUT ON THE CHEW

With the rigours of spawning done and dusted, Lake Lyell browns are focused on food and plenty of it. During spawning time they eat very little and lose quite a bit of condition, but they make up for it big time in August. The hungry fish throw caution to the wind, and feed in places and at times not seen at any other time of year. Water temperatures in the shallows are still quite cold. Oxygen levels are high from wave action, and food is still hard to find. The fish seem to move about quite a bit at this time of year

searching for something to eat. August rains can wash a lot of little tidbits into the water, and worms are a favourite. Any small gullies with water flowing in should be investigated thoroughly. If you’re land based, be prepared to sit and wait from a high point. If you’re blind casting, do it from a crouched position. When it comes to bait, the

real thing is hard to beat. A bunch of worms unweighted or lightly weighted lobbed out in front of a fish can be like feeding fresh meat to the lions. If you’re blind casting, leave the bait on the bottom for a bit then slowly work it back with small hops and lifts. Remember that you are fishing in only 2m of water or less. Jighead-rigged small soft plastic ribbon tail worms are the go, and the added advantage with these is that you will cover a bit more water. Boat-based anglers will catch their fair of fish, with both flat line trolling and casting. I would lean towards casting lures over the flats and points, searching for moving, feeding fish. Keep your lures close to the bottom, hopping vibes or lipless crankbaits and the

like. Soft plastics will also catch their fair share of fish in this situation. Remember to match the weight of the head to the conditions you encounter, as maintaining contact with the plastic is important. Thompson Creek Dam (TCD) is a land-based option only but has a good number of brown trout available. Mud flats, small gullies and

weed edges are the spots to be looking for. Make long casts on the mud flats, keeping contact with the bottom from time to time. It’s quite a bit like fishing plastics for flathead down on the coast. For the small gullies and weed edges, casting needs to be a little more directed. Try a few different angles and keep your eyes peeled. TCD water is very clear so quite often you can see them coming; the flipside is that they get a pretty good view of what’s happening as well. Downsize everything, dress to blend in and break up your outline. Low light conditions and poor weather will also help.

REDFIN AND LATE SEASON COD

We have the advantage of being able to pick a

number of different dams that have both species in them – Burrendong, Ben Chifley and Carcoar. You can divide your day up to include redfin sessions early and late and concentrate on a cod during the middle part of the day when light penetration and warmth are greatest. I’ll admit that the cod part of the deal is hit and miss. With the season about to close you are targeting

fish that are aggressive and in a pre-spawn mode. When fish are in this type of mood

and you get the right day, anything is possible. Trolling allows you to cover more water at the right depth, but if I was to see some good structure on the sounder I would pull up and cover it with a few casts. Redfin schools can be found out on the flats. With the sounder technology available to us today it is possible to target bigger fish, so keep this in mind. Bigger

fish are generally found in loose groups of half a dozen or so, or on their own. If

you have no luck with these fish, run the bank casting as you go, targeting weed edges, rocky banks and the like. Beetlespins are hard to beat around the ribbon weed in Ben Chifley, with lipless cranks and soft vibes getting the nod at Carcoar and Burrendong. The added bonus with this style of fishing is you may just run into some early season golden perch.

I hope to see you on the water soon. Until then, tight lines.

Cold water August cod are not out of the question. Fish the right water under the right conditions and anything is possible.

Deep fish and ice jigs go hand in hand. Try to stay directly over the fish and vary your jigging action until you find out what’s working best.

Bigger redfin can be targeted with modern sounder technology. It’s a great reason to upgrade if the old girl is a bit lacking in pixel count.

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70 AUGUST 2014

Thommos winter sessionCTL TABLELANDSAlexHickson

Fast becoming an icon for its trout fishing on the central tablelands, Thompsons Creek Dam has been open to fishing for about 15 years. Over this period it has endured the highs and lows of droughts and floods along with high water temperatures and algal blooms, but one thing has remained constant: the trout fishing opportunities. Coming under NSW DPI Fisheries law, ‘Thommos’ (as it’s known by many) has officially been given Trophy Dam status. Trophy Dams under the NSW DPI Fisheries allow only artificial lure and fly to be used to catch fish, and there is a bag limit of two fish per person per day. No bait fishing is allowed in this dam, and that includes artificial baits such as and similar to Berkley PowerBait. Despite signage in the car parking area outlining all angling laws, and further signage by Energy Australia as to their

access laws, some anglers have been seen illegally bait fishing in this dam. If you see someone breaking the law you can report it to Fishwatch on 1800 043 536. As a trout dam Thommos is quite unique in that it is filled by pumping water from Lake Lyell near Lithgow up through a pipeline rather than a natural inflow of a river or a creek. Because there are no navigable inflows for trout to migrate up and spawn, the local trout just simply swim around the dam in wintertime, getting crankier and crankier – but I’m getting ahead of myself here!

EARLY WINTER The beginning of winter on the central tablelands is usually when Jack Frost starts his visits, and anglers pull on their thick socks and heavy fleece. Time for trout at Thommos! As air and water temperatures cool it sends signals to the local trout that it’s time to put on

that last bit of weight before the hard times of winter set in. That amorous urge takes hold and feeding becomes secondary to instinct to create the progeny for the next generation. The beetle hatches are over, the caddis are finished; there are a few late big moth hatches but at this time of year the fish aren’t too fussy and will take a wide variety of lures and flies. This doesn’t last though! My advice for early winter is to use what you feel confident with. Soft plastics are very popular with anglers at Thommos at any time of

year and they have a good reputation in winter. I’ve found that 3” and 4” split and paddle tails work well, and if you like fishing the wind-blown shore as I do then it’s just a matter of using heavier jighead to make casting easier. I rarely jig plastics at Thommos. Instead, I let my

plastic sink to my chosen depth and then commence a very slow roll (constant winding). Other anglers may tell you different though, and there’s no harm in trying a range of approaches. If the weather is flat enough, small bibbed minnows will also work well. It is a matter of casting distance and covering water with your lure. NSWFM Central Tablelands columnist Glen Stewart has consistently caught fish on OSP Dunk Minnows and I know jointed Rapala minnows also rate up at Thommos during this period. As a general rule rainbow trout are quite pelagic in their behaviour in most large stillwaters, but at this time of year they will be searching/smelling for any inflows that may allow an attempt to

spawn. Of course, there are no inflows to speak of here so the rainbows go on an endless quest for a couple of months, patrolling the perimeter. It’s a great time to intercept fish with a lure or fly nearly anywhere around the dam. For this I like a slight onshore breeze but also I prefer deep edges where

On arrival at the car park, make sure you read the signage before fishing at Thompsons Creek Dam.

The winter evenings at Thommos are crimson in all respects.

Whether you’re casting small soft plastics, heavier spoons or Tassie Devil style lures, modern lightweight

finessing tackle is ideal for Thommos trout.

Alex Hickson with a perfectly coloured and proportioned early winter trout from TCD. It’s the sort of fish that you can expect to catch at this time of year.

Alex Hickson puts the finishing touches on a typical TCD rainbow trout.

THOMSONS CREEK DAM

Location: NSW Central Tablelands, between country towns of Wallerawang and Portland.Access: Walking access only. Car parking area is 15 minutes’ walk from the dam.Regulations: A NSW fishing licence is required to fish TCD. Thompsons Creek Dam has a Trophy Dam status which permits the use of artificial lure and fly only. There is a two fish bag limit per person per day. No bait fishing is allowed.Local tackle shop: Lithgow lure & Tackle – 02 6352 1276Accommodation: Wallerawang Black Gold Country Cabins – 02 6355 7305, Royal Hotel Wallerawang – 02 6355 7023Further information: Lithgow Information Centre – 02 6350 3230

71AUGUST 2014

fish will track a depth contour. Depending on dam water levels there are a few sandstone drop-offs around the eastern bank, and the old quarry on the western bank is also very popular with anglers at this time of year (please remember you are not allowed to fish from the entire length of the rock-fill

dam wall; heavy fines have already been issued). Other lures to carry with you at Thommos are the ubiquitous Tassie Devil, Cobra or one of their many clones. Popular colours

include pink, yellow, chartreuse and white. I’m sure your favourite will work just fine as long as you keep the retrieve slow so that the lure darts, dives and weaves. Small spinners such as Celtas and Mepps also work well if you can cast them an effective distance.

LATE WINTER As winter pushes on and the proper chill sets in the fishing techniques will change. The rainbow trout begin to gather in small groups and begin to search

out other small groups until finally they find the most suitable areas in which to try and spawn. This is usually a wind-blown shoreline that has suitable gravel around its perimeter. These ‘bank spawners’ will come into very shallow water in quite large numbers at times and can be found in various locations

around the dam. You’d best put your walking boots on. Watching masses of trout in the shallows certainly is a spectacle to behold, and it’s an event that few will see elsewhere. The law dictates

that these fish are fair game to lawful methods of angling, but anglers still debate the ethics of it, quite heatedly at times, on both paper and web forums. Catching these fish ‘fairly’ is fortunately not that easy, and both tackle and techniques need to be honed to perfection. Get it right and you will remember it for a long time, but get it wrong and you will be absorbed for hours in the most frustrating fishing imaginable! These spawning fish offer no food value, as their flesh is soft and tasteless. From a sportfishing point of view they are not great performers either, but they are generally quite big fish so if you use light finesse tackle and techniques they’ll keep you honest. Flyfishing techniques have long been touted as the most efficient way of catching these fish, but typically accuracy and presentation is the key so practice makes perfect which ever method you choose. Offerings are generally very small. Fly anglers will be casting a combination of a dark nymph and a glo bug or similar. Spin anglers will be flicking micro plastics or even weighted glo bugs. If you can be stealthy enough and the fish haven’t been

disturbed for a while, even spotted dog style minnow will work. These groupings of fish soon lose interest in the abundance of different hardware that gets thrown at them, so your first cast will be your best chance at catching one of these big fish. These spawning aggregations disperse in time, depending on weather and location. The probability of these fish successfully spawning is extremely unlikely but not impossible. While expensive to initially breed, the stocking of triploid trout (a trout that cannot breed but will eat all year round) every five years would be an interesting proposition for this dam. Once the frenzy of spawning is over this fishing will begin to return to normal, with general lure casting and fly methods being more favourable. The fish will be hungry from the rigours of spawning and will once again feed more willingly on a variety of food. This is my favourite time to fish soft plastics. They are just too edible looking and that’s what the fish are now after. My personal favourites include Berkley 3” Power Minnows and Ecogear Grass Minnows in a similar size.

Once again, for distance and depth there are few better lures for searching than the indelible Tassie Devil or a metal trout spoon. With the annual stocking by DPI Fisheries there are quite a few year classes of fish found in Thommos so there’s always plenty of diversity of size available at any time of year. During the winter period the smaller, bright silver fish are a much better eating proposition, even if they are considerably smaller than the spawners. These yearlings are generally perfect specimens, still growing fast and not old enough to spawn yet they will feed hard during the winter period on gudgeons, aquatic snails and fish eggs. Weighing up to about 750g, these are superb smoked whole or baked fresh in the oven, and you won’t be disappointed in their performance on the end of your line either. The winter period at Thompsons Creek Dam certainly has its tough times, mainly when the weather restricts effective fishing methods. However, with a bit of true grit and warm clothing the fishing can be better than good, even for consistently large trout.

Depending on water levels there are several deep edges around TCD. These are great locations to cast a lure or fly.

Dael O’Neil with a early winter TCD rainbow trout. This high altitude dam can experience severe weather changes on any

given day so it pays to be prepared for the worst.

Chris Murray from Sydney has no qualms about setting the alarm clock for an early start at TCD because he knows it’s going to be worth it!

The author’s grab-and-go tackle box for Thompsons Creek Dam.

There is a good mix of year classes available at TCD. If you want to take a fish to eat, one of the smaller bright silver fish would be a good choice at this time of year.

72 AUGUST 2014

Make way for Isuzu’s MU-X

Selecting the right off roader for the family has just become a whole lot harder. Within a mighty strong field of contenders the Isuzu MU-X seven seater has thrust its way into the mix as well. Based on the very successful and well acclaimed Isuzu ute’s underpinnings, the new MU-X is a 4x4 wagon with go anywhere attitude, yet it feels just as good offroad as it does on the bitumen. What’s more, the MU-X wagon looks good, as if it should be in the carport or garage at home. Isuzu are old hands in the family wagon stakes. Remember the successful Jackaroo that can still be found on our roads today? Marketed by Holden, they were made by Isuzu. That was then, this is now, and Isuzu have hedged quite a few bets with the MU-X wagon; as well as being available in three different 4x4 models it also comes in a pair of 2WD models to round up the fleet buyers.

ALL NEW MU-X All that aside, the MU-X is a totally new vehicle. Yes, there are some similarities to the Colorado 7 wagon but differences range from gearboxes to engines. The MU-X in its top spec LS-T guise sees leather dressing up the

seating, fog lights, chromed grille and exterior mirrors, 17” wheels, aluminium side steps and other useful features. All three MU-X variants are powered by Isuzu’s strong four cylinder intercooled DOHC 3L variable geometry turbo diesel engine, churning out 130kW of power and 380Nm of torque. The LS-T reviewed was equipped with a five speed Aisin autobox linked to a Terrain Command all wheel drive system – in tests the system activated instantly with a rotary dial mounted on the gear selector console. Flicking between 2WD and 4WD can be done at speeds up to 100km/h but transferring to low range requires a stop. These options do, of course, make the MU-X a ‘proper’ 4WD, not an SUV pretender.

A PLEASING INTERIOR

More than just a make do wagon to cash in on the success of the Isuzu Ute, the MU-X features a mix of excellent exterior styling plus a well finished interior mated to subdued tonings that is easy on the eye and mind. All main dash dials and gauges are where they should be and easily identified at that. Important features for driver and passenger in the LS-T included the Multi Information Display which included a very user friendly sat nav system , iPod and Blue Tooth connectivity, eight speaker

audio, reversing camera, and Ecology Info linked to fuel consumption data. Also on offer were electric controls for most functions, pollen filtered climate control air conditioning within all three rows plus an electric driver’s seat. There were also two glove boxes, dash top grab handles, plenty of cup holders, rear entertainment screen while all passengers had lap sash

type seat belts. A five star crash rating is standard. Entry to the third (rear) row of seats could hardly be easier and other makers might like to have a look at the set up: the side steps allow easy entry or exit via a split fold and tumble second row outer section,

which reduces in seconds with finger tip effort.

GENTLE RIDE IS THE NORM

Never hard on the back or nether regions the Isuzu MU-X garners road and offroad manners from a revised suspension set up revolving around coil springs linked to gas shock absorbers all round. Even offroading in low range 4x4 mode saw the very

pliant suspension insulating myself and passengers from the majority of the terrain induced bumps and thumps going on at extremities thanks to the combination of excellent suspension and long wheel travel. The 3L diesel engine was the big surprise. Flexible to the utmost and seemingly without the slightest turbo lag the powerful diesel with its modest rev range of 1800-2000rpm for all highway (100-110km/h) work took all in its stride on a country run to the NSW border and back. Even climbing Cunninghams Gap saw the

tachometer conceding the need for a mere 300rpm while the five speed box stayed in fifth gear. More like a car than an offroader the MU-X impressed me with its highway work. With its pliant suspension there was little effect from undulations or the inevitable bit of rough surface. Ride remained quite smooth – with just a tad of body roll in tight corners – and quite silent with only some slight tyre noise intruding into the cabin’s interior. Fuel consumption was excellent at 9.2L per 100km/h; tank

capacity is 65L. I’d like to see it larger. Seating configuration is very flexible with the latter two rows of seats folding flat for extra large loads. Luggage capacity is some 1830L with all rear rows of seats down; 235L capacity when all three rows of seats are up ready for use. An under floor storage compartment was a bonus. Several different seating arrangements are on hand. The MU-X features a tow capacity of 3000kg for a braked trailer and 750kg unbraked, which takes in a lot of things we anglers like to tow.

SUMMING UP Pleasing styling, plenty of overall room and comfort, a great highway cruising ability, ample power for city cut and thrust driving, plus quite capable offroad manners make the Isuzu MU-X a very serious option for today’s offroad or adventure-seeking family. The 3L turbo diesel engine just seems to do everything so easily and with its steel timing belt should last for a great many kilometres in my opinion. Factory warranty is for 5 years or 130,000km, same as the roadside assist package. List price of the LS-T as reviewed was $53,500 but my advice is to talk to a dealer and see what sort of deal is on offer.

The Isuzu MU-X looks like it should be at home in the carport or garage.

It’s hard to see in the image but a steel bash plate is featured under the Isuzu’s vital running gear.

An upward opening rear door certainly makes it easy to load up the Isuzu with camping or fishing gear.

Left: Leather trim, an electrically operated seat and everything within easy reach all adds to the pleasure of driving Isuzu’s MU-X. Right Top: It was refreshing to find the MU-X blessed with a very user friendly sat nav system. Right Bottom: A rear under floor storage compartment was a definite bonus within the MU-X.

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BRISBANEWayneKampe

73AUGUST 2014

Spring gold in the weedCANBERRATobyGrundy

When spring rolls around I like to get out and catch a few big fish early on in the season. Getting a few quick points on the board is important because it helps build my confidence again after the leaner winter months. Golden perch are the perfect fish to chase when you’re looking to tighten your game because they are a strong adversary on light gear, providing exciting runs and powerful head shakes. Bait fishing for these bars of gold in September and October is a great way to spend an afternoon on the water and will help hone your skills for the coming summer onslaught. KNOW YOUR QUARRY

Golden perch (also known as yellowbelly or callop) are a powerful native fish which are closely related to Murray cod and display similar behaviours with their giant relation. Once they have matured, yellowbelly leave the school behind, set up residence in a large snag and ambush anything that has the nerve to pop its head in. Their eyesight is similar to humans and so a lure flicked past their nose will often get a response. It is also important to note that golden perch have an incredible sense of smell. The large nostril openings (nares) near the eye are a dead giveaway. Because of this keen sense of smell, they respond well to bait. Using bait will bring the perch to you and, depending on where you are fishing, often in strong numbers.

WHERE AND WHEN Springtime provides a wonderful opportunity to get outside and have a look around lakes and rivers for golden perch. After a good dump of rain near the end of winter it’s important to go for a walk around likely areas to look for structure and, if you’re an experienced angler, to look for changes to significant snags such as logs and rocks. The rising water levels and warmer weather will get the perch on the chew so it’s important to have an idea of where they may be residing. I don’t baitfish for goldens in amongst the timber. I find these snags to be incredibly frustrating for two reasons: one being the constant re-rigging and the other being that if I do get a large fish, there is high chance that it will wrap my line on the first run. Instead, when baitfishing for these wily natives in spring I focus on weed beds. I find that I can get a lot of fish by focusing on these areas and I don’t get the same number of snags. Schooling perch can often hold quite deep but larger

specimens will seek shallow water once they come of size. Therefore, a weed bed presents the perfect environment for them – shaded, shallow and full of food. Perch will often sit just outside or just inside the weed bed, depending on what kind of food they are looking for. I recently took a group of fishos out at the start of spring who had struggled to catch a perch throughout summer and autumn. They were shocked when I parked myself beside a weed bed because there was no other discernible structure. After two yellas came into the net I left them (and their smiling faces) to it!

TECHNIQUE When you find a likely weed bed, make sure you berley the area. I use a mix of chopped scrub worms, Ultrabite, yabby tails and bread. It is important to berley throughout the session so as to take advantage of the goldens’ extraordinary sense of smell. When I find a new weed bed I first test its length before fishing. I use a treble hook without anything attached, and just cast it out and retrieve it I hit the weed bed. Then I just wrench it free. It is important to note where the

weed bed begins and ends because the productive zone is about a metre out from the weeds on the structure-less, sandy bottom. I use scrub worms and yabbies (no more than 3” long) when casting out near the weed beds. Yabbies which you have collected yourself from the same area are best, as are worms, but most good fishing tackle shops carry live bait. To create a scent trail, crush the claws of the yabbies and leave them attached, or cut the very end off the scrub worms. Golden perch will find their way to your bait easily enough, but once they arrive it’s important to make your offering irresistible. Cast out and wait a few minutes for the surface to settle again and for the bait to come to rest on the bottom. Golden perch have good hearing through their lateral line (a series of highly sensitive sensory organs on their flanks) and can become spooked upon hearing a rig hit the water, so give it a few minutes before doing anything too drastic. Once you have given everything time to settle, twitch the bait up off the bottom. This is not a tug nor a strike but rather just a flick of

the wrist. A subtle movement like this will imitate a yabby or worm stirring up the bottom. If your bait moves more than 10cm or so, you have put too much into it. A lot of golden perch specialists insist that keeping the bait off the bottom using a freshwater paternoster rig is the right way to connect with a fish but I have found that by twitching the bait off the bottom, I’m tapping into two of the perch’s senses and maximising the chance of a bite, while also ensuring that the bait has settled and is almost forgotten until the first twitch. This technique works really well on enormous golden perch who might be a little lethargic at the start of spring. Once you have twitched the bait a few times and are starting to get close to the weed bed, reel in and repeat the process. When you are winding in you may find that a yellowbelly follows your bait right up to your feet. If you see one doing this, stop winding and let the bait float back down through the water column. Sometimes this can induce a strike. If this doesn’t result in a hook-up you can switch over to a lure/scrub worm or lure/yabby combination. This involves substituting a running sinker rig for a paternoster style hook set-up, but with a difference. At the bottom of the line where you’d normally put a sinker, you put on a shallow diving lure. I’ve been

using this technique more and more and it has been producing some superb results. This technique truly does appeal to both the goldens’ sense of smell and keen eyesight. I think it sees the lure as chasing the bait. Wind slowly if you employ this method. If you’re fishing from a boat you can try the ‘yo-yo’ method. As the name implies, this involves dropping the bait near the edge of the weed and encouraging the perch to strike by working the bait up and down in a yo-yo motion. You can also try this from pontoons or bridges – pretty much anywhere where you can get over a weed bed.

TACKLE If you want to maximise your hook-ups and conversions you’ll want to invest in a quality rod and reel for this type of fishing. Golden perch load up a rod in a unique way. The strike is extremely powerful and the first run can be hard to stop. The head shakes can also make life interesting. If you’re fishing with a rod that has a stiff blank, the initial strike will result in nothing more than a bust-off. The strike is quick so there needs to be a bit of play in the tip. If the fish feels too much pressure it will let go. A good native rod is very tippy while having an extraordinary amount of power in the butt. Once I started taking this type of fishing seriously, I did some

research and came across the Daiwa Tournament Master Z range and specifically, the Flats Master which is a medium/light rod. This series was built by Daiwa for chasing Australian native species and designed by Brad Sissins with the help of rod engineers from Japan. Another good option is the Daiwa Battler Thunderstorm, a great all-round rod for this type of fishing, and Gary Howard is also making some amazing stuff at the moment. Ultimately, no matter which brand you go for, look for a rod that has been designed for working crankbaits because bait fishing for perch is very similar to working these types of lures. When it comes to reels, I use a Daiwa Sol II 2508 loaded with 8lb braid and 16lb leader. This is another reason why it is important to have a tippy rod – braid has no stretch and so a good rod tip will act almost like the stretch. The 2508 doesn’t have a particularly deep spool but you don’t need one. Golden perch are capable of three or four big runs and then will usually come to the net. It is important to have an excellent drag system rather than a deep spool. I use a running sinker rig with 30cm of 16lb line separating swivel and hook. A small ball sinker that allows you to cast a reasonable distance is more than sufficient. Mustad size 6 baitholder hooks are a good choice because they are small and a yellowbelly does not have a particularly large mouth.

CONCLUSION Searching for golden perch in spring is by far and away my favourite form of fishing. I don’t have to work too hard to connect with a stonker, and at times the action can be thick and fast which makes for an exciting warm up for the summer months. So instead of reaching for a box of lures and walking/paddling/motoring kilometre after kilometre in search of a spring native, why not let the fish come to you by throwing a few baits out near the edge of a weed bed?

Golden perch will find their way to your bait easily enough, but once they arrive it’s important to make your offering irresistible.

Searching for golden perch in spring is by far and away my favourite form of fishing.

Golden perch are the perfect fish to chase when you’re looking to tighten your game because

they are a strong adversary on light gear.Why not let the fish come to you by throwing a

few baits out near the edge of a weed bed?

74 AUGUST 2014

What’s new boating

1 SUZUKI DF200A

Suzuki has unveiled its latest lightweight and fuel-efficient model – the four-cylinder DF200A. It delivers the kind of performance you’d expect only from a V6 engine – but from just four cylinders, which means it is the lightest in its class. ThenewDF200Aalsohasahostofhighspecification features, which deliver realcustomerbenefits:•DirectairintakeandVariableValveTimingforhigherthermalefficiencyandexceptionalperformance;•2,867cm³“BigBlock”displacementanda higher compression ratio for impressiveaccelerationandlowendtorque;• Lean Burn Control Technology forimprovedfueleconomy;and• Knock, O² and water detection sensorsandsystemstomonitorandcontrolinternalengine operating parameters and improvereliability;and•Just225kginweight–over12%lessthanSuzuki’scurrentV6DF200model. Tofindoutmorevisitsuzukimarine.com.au.- Suzuki

2 BEAST MASTER SNUBBY

Beastmaster Boats in Queensland has released two new models: the 440 Snubby (tiller steer) and a 500 Snubby Pro (centre console) flats boat. Both models are fully hand-laidfiberglass, no timber construction. Theyhave self-draining decks and a 1.85mbeam for stability at rest, and there aresome impressive storage and live wellconfigurations. Options include poling platforms,custom coolers and console layouts. Thebuild quality is first class and no cornershavebeencut.Robert fell in lovewith theUS-style skiffs and is proud to releasean Aussie built and designed outfit at areasonableprice. The440isratedtoamax.50hpwhilethe500isratedto70hp.It’sidealforeverythingfromchasinggoldensontheflats,flatheadintheBroadwater,wrestlingwithimpoundmentbarra,orpelagicsoutintheBay. Robert also makes larger offshorecentreconsolesfrom5.5-6m,withabeamof 2.2m. Give Robert a call on 0422 354580 to discuss your new fishing [email protected] -FMG

3 THE HOLE PROBLEM

The biggest drawback to fitting underwater lighting to your boat is the introduction of a new holes into the hull - holes to mount the light and holes for light attachment or for wiring. On a small boat this can be a big deterrent to fit such lighting. However, using a current drain bung location means that installing lighting is not such a hurdle. Introducing the unique and innovativeVigil LED bung light. Cleverly using thecommon MW large drain bung, Vigil haveinstalledfullysealedandsubmersibleLEDsintoaclearbodiedbung. AllVigilproductsusehighquality tinnedmarine wire, and the LED bung light is nodifferent. It comes with 2m of twin-sheathtinnedwirealongwithagenuinewaterproofDeutschplugforeaseofuseandlonglastingperformance. Ask for the Vigil LEDbunglightatyourfavouritemarinedealerorvisitwww.marinewarehouse.com.au.-MW

4 NEW FENDER2STEP

The popular Dan-Fender FenderStep has now been joined by Fender2Step. The unique shape provides hull protection as well as two convenient boarding steps. The high topsides of many modernvessels make boarding difficult fromeither a marina finger or from smalldinghies. The combined fender and twostepsfeatureallowsittoberiggedbeforeentering a marina, enabling the crew tosafely and easily step onto the pontoonwithoutresortingtoleaping. Fender2Step takes a max. weightof 100kg and is securely attachedvia rope to a maximum of 10mm. It ismanufactured using the same injectionmouldingprocessandmarinegradePVCmaterials as the range of Dan-Fenderheavy-duty inflatable fenders. A highgrademetalvalvewithprotectivedirtandsalt screw cap is integrated within theropeattachmentpoint. Pricesstart fromRRP$177,andmoreinfoisavailableatwww.bla.com.au.-BLA

5 YAMAHA MARINE APP

Yamaha Motors Australia has announced the launch of the new Yamaha Marine App available on all iOS devices. At the tip of their fingers, owners andmarine enthusiasts can access the verylatestinmarineinformation. The Yamaha Marine App providesusers with fast and convenient access toa comprehensive boat ramp locator whichthey can easily navigate to, as well as thelatestfive-daytideguideforecastinformationstraightfrombom.gov.au. Atasimpletapoftheirscreen,userscanalsolocate,contactandnavigatetheirwaytotheirclosestYamahadealerandaccessthelatest Yamaha Outboard and WaveRunnerproduct specifications, informationandimages. In addition, users have the optionof push notifications, enabling themaccess to exclusive Yamaha offers andeventinformation. Optimised for Apple iOS devices, theYamahaMarineAppisnowavailableforfreethrough theAppStore to help youget thebestfromyourYamahaoutboard.-Yamaha

6 CRUISE CRAFT

The new Cruise Craft Explorer 595HT complements the larger Explorer 625HT and the top of the range Explorer 685HT. The 595HT is manufactured using asplit mould technique, and its roof andinterior lining are smooth and buffed to amirrorfinish. TheHardTopisformedwithafullheighttoughened glass windscreen at the front,with sliding glass side panels on port andstarboard. An electric wiper and auto-retract electric trim tabs on the transomarestandard. Thelargeslidingglasssidescreensallowlotsoffreshairtoflowthroughthecockpit.Through clever use of the space betweenthe gunwales, the cockpit on this boat iswiderthanmostinitsclass.Thereisamplespaceforthreeanglerstostandacrosstherearoftheseats. Options include a lockable Perspexcabindoor,slide-outcanopyandmore.Formoreinfovisitwww.cruisecraft.com.au.– CruiseCraft

1

2

4

5

6

3

Lismore Outboard Sales & Service59 Union St, Lismore, 2480


Huett Marine Centre

1131 Pacific Hwy, Cowan, 2082


Lismore Sydney North

Dave Hill Marine1 Berry Street, Nowra, 2540


Bay Boat Sales332 Soldiers Point Road,Slaamander Bay, 2317


Nowra Port Stephens

Blakes MarineCnr Windsor and Mulgrave RoadMcGraths Hill, 2756


Graham Barclay Marine129 The Lakes Way,Forster, 2428


All Service Motors1 Redfern Street,Cowra, 2794


Hunts Marine629 Princes Highway,Blakehurst, 2221


Forster Cowra Sydney South Sydney West

Lismore

Lismore OutboardSales & Service59 Union St, Lismore, 2480


Port Stephens

Bay Boat Sales

332 Soldiers Point Rd,Salamander Bay, 2317


Sydney North

Huett Marine Centre

1131 Pacific Hwy, Cowan, 2082


Sydney West

Blakes Marine

Cnr Windsor & Mulgrave Rd,McGraths Hill, 2756


Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour Marine

311B Pacific HwyCoffs Harbour Sth, 2450


Forster

Graham Barclay Marine

129 The Lakes Way, Forster, 2428


Nowra

Dave Hill Marine

1 Berry Street, Nowra, 2540


Cowra

All Service Motors

1 Redfern St, Cowra, 2794


Sydney South

Hunts Marine

62 Princes Highway,Blakehurst, 2221


*

NO DEALER SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE FOR

3YRS OR 300HRSONLY WITH EVINRUDE

#

© 2013 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Terms and conditions apply, excludes commercial purchases. * 'Spring Cashback Promotion' offer valid on MY11, MY12, MY13 & MY14 evinrude E-TEC engines 40 HP and above newly purchased and registered from participating authorized dealers between December 1st 2013 and January 31st 2014. Cashback will be in the form of a Prepaid Visa Card. ** For normal recreational use. # Extended warranty covers MY11, MY12, MY13 & MY14 Evinrude E-TEC engines 40HP and above, newly purchased and registered from participating authorized dealers between October 1st and December 31st 2013. ̂ 25hp-250hp consumer models. For full terms and conditions please contact your local participating Evinrude dealership. BRP reserves the right at any time to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Products are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by BRP Australia PTy Ltd. Card Issued by Heritage Bank Limited ABN 32 087 652 024 AFSL 240984. Visa Card Terms and Conditions apply.

• No scheduled dealer servicing for

the first 3 years or 300 hours.**

• No oil changes. Ever.

• Easy starts: First time, every time.

• Fewer parts. Fewer problems.

• No break-in period. Go flat-out from

the box.

• Superior low-end power & torque.

• Exceptional power-to-weight, so you're on

plane faster.

• Greater fuel-efficiency at high & low speeds

from computer-based engine management.

• 3-stars from the toughest emission

standard in the world^ - the California

Air Resources Board.

• First to receive the EPA's Clean Air

Technology Excellence Award.

• Up to 50% quieter than older

technology engines.

Dave Hill Marine

1 Berry Street, Nowra, 2540


© 2014 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Terms and conditions apply, excludes commercial purchases. # Extended warranty covers MY11, MY12, MY13 & MY14 Evinrude E-TEC engines 40HP and above, newly purchased and registered from participating authorized dealers. For full terms and conditions please contact your local participating Evinrude dealership. BRP reserves the right at any time to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring obligation. Products are distributed in Australia and New Zealand by BRP Australia PTY Ltd. Card Issued by Heritage Bank Limited ABN 32 087 652 024 AFSL 240984.

What’s new boating

1 SUZUKI DF200A

Suzuki has unveiled its latest lightweight and fuel-efficient model – the four-cylinder DF200A. It delivers the kind of performance you’d expect only from a V6 engine – but from just four cylinders, which means it is the lightest in its class. ThenewDF200Aalsohasahostofhighspecification features, which deliver realcustomerbenefits:•DirectairintakeandVariableValveTimingforhigherthermalefficiencyandexceptionalperformance;•2,867cm³“BigBlock”displacementanda higher compression ratio for impressiveaccelerationandlowendtorque;• Lean Burn Control Technology forimprovedfueleconomy;and• Knock, O² and water detection sensorsandsystemstomonitorandcontrolinternalengine operating parameters and improvereliability;and•Just225kginweight–over12%lessthanSuzuki’scurrentV6DF200model. Tofindoutmorevisitsuzukimarine.com.au.- Suzuki

2 BEAST MASTER SNUBBY

Beastmaster Boats in Queensland has released two new models: the 440 Snubby (tiller steer) and a 500 Snubby Pro (centre console) flats boat. Both models are fully hand-laidfiberglass, no timber construction. Theyhave self-draining decks and a 1.85mbeam for stability at rest, and there aresome impressive storage and live wellconfigurations. Options include poling platforms,custom coolers and console layouts. Thebuild quality is first class and no cornershavebeencut.Robert fell in lovewith theUS-style skiffs and is proud to releasean Aussie built and designed outfit at areasonableprice. The440isratedtoamax.50hpwhilethe500isratedto70hp.It’sidealforeverythingfromchasinggoldensontheflats,flatheadintheBroadwater,wrestlingwithimpoundmentbarra,orpelagicsoutintheBay. Robert also makes larger offshorecentreconsolesfrom5.5-6m,withabeamof 2.2m. Give Robert a call on 0422 354580 to discuss your new fishing [email protected] -FMG

3 THE HOLE PROBLEM

The biggest drawback to fitting underwater lighting to your boat is the introduction of a new holes into the hull - holes to mount the light and holes for light attachment or for wiring. On a small boat this can be a big deterrent to fit such lighting. However, using a current drain bung location means that installing lighting is not such a hurdle. Introducing the unique and innovativeVigil LED bung light. Cleverly using thecommon MW large drain bung, Vigil haveinstalledfullysealedandsubmersibleLEDsintoaclearbodiedbung. AllVigilproductsusehighquality tinnedmarine wire, and the LED bung light is nodifferent. It comes with 2m of twin-sheathtinnedwirealongwithagenuinewaterproofDeutschplugforeaseofuseandlonglastingperformance. Ask for the Vigil LEDbunglightatyourfavouritemarinedealerorvisitwww.marinewarehouse.com.au.-MW

4 NEW FENDER2STEP

The popular Dan-Fender FenderStep has now been joined by Fender2Step. The unique shape provides hull protection as well as two convenient boarding steps. The high topsides of many modernvessels make boarding difficult fromeither a marina finger or from smalldinghies. The combined fender and twostepsfeatureallowsittoberiggedbeforeentering a marina, enabling the crew tosafely and easily step onto the pontoonwithoutresortingtoleaping. Fender2Step takes a max. weightof 100kg and is securely attachedvia rope to a maximum of 10mm. It ismanufactured using the same injectionmouldingprocessandmarinegradePVCmaterials as the range of Dan-Fenderheavy-duty inflatable fenders. A highgrademetalvalvewithprotectivedirtandsalt screw cap is integrated within theropeattachmentpoint. Pricesstart fromRRP$177,andmoreinfoisavailableatwww.bla.com.au.-BLA

5 YAMAHA MARINE APP

Yamaha Motors Australia has announced the launch of the new Yamaha Marine App available on all iOS devices. At the tip of their fingers, owners andmarine enthusiasts can access the verylatestinmarineinformation. The Yamaha Marine App providesusers with fast and convenient access toa comprehensive boat ramp locator whichthey can easily navigate to, as well as thelatestfive-daytideguideforecastinformationstraightfrombom.gov.au. Atasimpletapoftheirscreen,userscanalsolocate,contactandnavigatetheirwaytotheirclosestYamahadealerandaccessthelatest Yamaha Outboard and WaveRunnerproduct specifications, informationandimages. In addition, users have the optionof push notifications, enabling themaccess to exclusive Yamaha offers andeventinformation. Optimised for Apple iOS devices, theYamahaMarineAppisnowavailableforfreethrough theAppStore to help youget thebestfromyourYamahaoutboard.-Yamaha

6 CRUISE CRAFT

The new Cruise Craft Explorer 595HT complements the larger Explorer 625HT and the top of the range Explorer 685HT. The 595HT is manufactured using asplit mould technique, and its roof andinterior lining are smooth and buffed to amirrorfinish. TheHardTopisformedwithafullheighttoughened glass windscreen at the front,with sliding glass side panels on port andstarboard. An electric wiper and auto-retract electric trim tabs on the transomarestandard. Thelargeslidingglasssidescreensallowlotsoffreshairtoflowthroughthecockpit.Through clever use of the space betweenthe gunwales, the cockpit on this boat iswiderthanmostinitsclass.Thereisamplespaceforthreeanglerstostandacrosstherearoftheseats. Options include a lockable Perspexcabindoor,slide-outcanopyandmore.Formoreinfovisitwww.cruisecraft.com.au.– CruiseCraft

1

2

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5

6

3

76 AUGUST 2014

If you’re a user of outboard motors in the 70-130HP range – and plenty of Aussies are – you’d be forgiven for thinking that all of the cool developments in technology and improvement in efficiency happen at the top of the horsepower ranges (in motors from 200HP and more). And you’d be right in that assumption. High horsepower motors are developed and targeted for the American market where a combination of bass boats and saltwater boats consume a remarkable number of units. There’s constant pressure on the big outboard companies to release lighter, faster and more efficient outboards for a lower price point. Here in Australia, the price of petrol is relatively more expensive than Stateside. With horsepower consumed, the mode is more likely two digits than three in most markets. If you were to guess that a 70HP-class motor is a top seller for any of the major brands, you wouldn’t be too far off the mark. Therefore, it’s pretty big news here when some of the big motor technology drops down to lower horsepower engines, and the recent launch of Mercury’s big capacity four stroke outboards in the 75 to 115HP class demonstrated that clearly.

Mercury’s mid-range 4-Strokes [email protected]

FMGSteveMorgan

You’ll get two levels of reporting here: the layman’s version and a more technical overview of what makes these things tick.

LAYMAN’S VERSION Who remembers the old Merc carburetted two strokes in this horsepower class a decade ago? They were light and had awesome power, but were thirsty, dirty and loud.

And released at the same price point of the current range of four-stroke offerings, Mercury has really given their consumers little reason to stick with a two-stroke offering.UNDER THE COWLING

In a trend that was started by Yamaha’s SHO outboards, big capacity four-stroke technology is moving rapidly through the industry.

new mid-range product that Mercury’s released. It’s something we’ve been wanting and needing a long time and the proof’s in the pudding out on the water – they’re spectacular,” said Brisbane Marine Mercury dealer, Troy Wood. “They’re quiet, they’re powerful, they’re smooth, they’re doing everything we’ve all asked for and we couldn’t be more proud to represent them and have the ability to sell them,” Troy continued. Mercury’s own figures suggest that these units are 14% better on fuel than their current 1.7 litre four-strokes and output 23% more torque.

NEW GEARBOXES AND OPTIONS

There’s always been a “Big Foot” option for four-stroke motors in the 40 to 60HP class, renamed “Command Thrust” in these mid-range motors, the upsized lower unit is designed for boats that run with more wetted hull surface than standard and allows propellers from the V6 models to be used. The Commant Thrust gearboxes are available in the 90 and 115 HP The standard gearcase, though, has also been redesigned to decrease drag by 15% and significantly improve performance. The standard gearcase is the best option for hulls that get up and plane at higher speeds.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

It seems simple, but designing a tighter fitting cowling that less water in and less noise out is just one of the ways that Mercury’s engineers have kept this motor quiet. An idle relief muffler system lessens high-frequency exhaust noise. A top-mounted throttle body fine-tunes intake noise, while a totally new engine mounting system greatly reduces vibration. Even the trim pump is designed to run significantly quieter, and a new clutch system reduces shock while shifting into gear. All of these features deliver a smoother, quieter, more pleasant boating experience. These engines are shipping now. You can get more information on Mercury’s website: www.mercurymarine.com.au or by visiting your local Mercury dealer. Bottom line is you need to take a ride in these things – you’ll love ‘em.

For the Mercury dealer conference, there are numerous combinations of hull sizes, shapes and horsepowers, allowing

dealers to get a feel for the new technology and products.

If you think the Quintrex Cruise About/115CT package looks fun to drive, you’re right!

Scan this code to hear from Mecury’s Steve Miller about these new engines.

Counter rotating 90 HP models are available. The counter rotating option made this

RIB perform admirably. Super responsive and planed with a level attitude.

Am I allowed to say that compared to the sleek, new design, the older Mercury four-

strokes in this class were damn ugly?

Repowering is easy – the new mid-range four-strokes plug in to your existing throttle box. If

you’re switching from a Mercury two-stroke, you can turf the oil bottle and free up some room.

re-badges Command Thrust (re-birthed Big Foot) gearcase. So, before the annual Mercury Dealer Conference at Sanctuary Cove, we (the media) were given a first peek (and drive) of these impressive motors.

These four-strokes are lighter (from 163kg), have better torque and are quieter and more efficient. Heck, they’re even lighter, punchier and better on the juice than the current range of Mercury OptiMax in that class.

their existing four-strokes in the class. “High displacement and light weight; that means great performance. It means that the engine doesn’t need to work hard to achieve its power, so it’s very reliable and durable,” said Mercury’s Steve Miller while taking these motors for a spin on the Coomera River. “And, these motors are very easy to take care of, to service and maintain, with a valve train that is maintenance free for life,” he continued. The four-cylinder block has an 8-valve, low friction valve train with a single overhead cam design. Matching the excitement of Steve about these motors (scan the QR code hereby for the video interview), was the response of the fishing and boating media on the test day and of Mercury dealers. “As dealers, we’re very excited about this

Mercury launched a large range of outboards in this range – we assume to provide the range of configurations needed to fit the maximum HP rating on the broad range of hulls built over here. 75, 80, 90, 100 and 115HP models make up the range, with the 90 and 115HP iterations available with the re-designed and

Departing are the days where a compelling reason not to buy a four-stroke is a lack of punch in the mid range. These mid-range releases feature a 2.1 litre displacement compared with the 1.5 litres of their Opti Max and 1.7 litres of

Mercury’s Portables range provide the power that you can carry, run and depend on. With eleven horsepower options ranging from 2.5hp to 30hp, these compact units punch well above their weight.

Mercury Portables. Lightweight and built to last.

See your authorised Mercury Marine Dealer today.

Central Coast Central Coast Boat World19 Lake St Budgewoi Phone: (02) 4399 3568 E:[email protected] Website: www.centralcoastboatworld.com.au

Cowra Cowra Marine Centre29 Grenfell St CowraPhone: (02) 6342 2904 | E:[email protected] Website: www.cowramarine.com.au

Port Macquarie Hastings Marine185 Hastings River Dr Port MacquariePhone: (02) 6583 5511 | E:[email protected]: www.hastingsmarine.com.au

Coffs Harbour Jetty Boating 7 Keona Circuit Coffs HarbourPhone: (02) 6651 4002 | E:[email protected] Website: www.jettyboating.com.au

Hunter Valley Maitland Power and Marine 23 Melbourne St, East MaitlandPhone: (02) 4933 3284 | E:[email protected]: www.mpm.net.au

Riverina Maverick BoatsHammersley & Theiss Road, CorowaPhone: (02) 6033 3222 | E:[email protected]: www.maverickboats.com.au

Far South Coast Merimbula Outboards 382 Sapphire Coast Dr Tura Merimbula Phone: (02) 6495 9634 | E:[email protected]: www.merimbulaoutboard.com.au

Illawarra Nowra Marine Princes Hwy South Nowra Phone: (02) 4423 3440 | E:[email protected]: www.nowramarine.com.au

Sydney West Penrith Marine4/133 Coreen Ave PenrithPhone: (02) 4731 6250 | E:[email protected]: www.penrithmarine.com.au

Sydney North Shore Shannon Outboards3/41 Leighton Pl HornsbyPhone: (02) 9482 2638 | E:[email protected]: www.shannonoutboards.com.au

Sydney North West TR Marine World 44 Curtis Rd McGraths Hill Phone: (02) 4577 3522 | E:[email protected]: www.trmarine.com.au

Sydney North West Watersports Marine11 Binney Rd KingsparkPhone: (02) 9676 1400 | E:[email protected]: www.watersportsmarine.com.au

Central Coast Insinc Marine278 Manns Road, Gosford WestPh: (02) 4324 4300 | E:[email protected]: www.insincmarine.com.au

Northern NSW / Gold Coast Tweed Coast Marine147 Pacific Hwy Tweed Heads SouthPh: (07) 5524 8877 | E:[email protected]: www.tweedcoastmarine.com.au

Dubbo Dubbo Marine & Watersports 36 Bourke St, DubboPh: 02·6882 2853 | E:[email protected]: www.dubbomarine.com.au

Mid North Coast Disco Marine 160 North St Grafton Ph: (02) 6643 1199 | E:[email protected] Website: www.discomarine.com.au

If you’re a user of outboard motors in the 70-130HP range – and plenty of Aussies are – you’d be forgiven for thinking that all of the cool developments in technology and improvement in efficiency happen at the top of the horsepower ranges (in motors from 200HP and more). And you’d be right in that assumption. High horsepower motors are developed and targeted for the American market where a combination of bass boats and saltwater boats consume a remarkable number of units. There’s constant pressure on the big outboard companies to release lighter, faster and more efficient outboards for a lower price point. Here in Australia, the price of petrol is relatively more expensive than Stateside. With horsepower consumed, the mode is more likely two digits than three in most markets. If you were to guess that a 70HP-class motor is a top seller for any of the major brands, you wouldn’t be too far off the mark. Therefore, it’s pretty big news here when some of the big motor technology drops down to lower horsepower engines, and the recent launch of Mercury’s big capacity four stroke outboards in the 75 to 115HP class demonstrated that clearly.

Mercury’s mid-range 4-Strokes [email protected]

FMGSteveMorgan

You’ll get two levels of reporting here: the layman’s version and a more technical overview of what makes these things tick.

LAYMAN’S VERSION Who remembers the old Merc carburetted two strokes in this horsepower class a decade ago? They were light and had awesome power, but were thirsty, dirty and loud.

And released at the same price point of the current range of four-stroke offerings, Mercury has really given their consumers little reason to stick with a two-stroke offering.UNDER THE COWLING

In a trend that was started by Yamaha’s SHO outboards, big capacity four-stroke technology is moving rapidly through the industry.

new mid-range product that Mercury’s released. It’s something we’ve been wanting and needing a long time and the proof’s in the pudding out on the water – they’re spectacular,” said Brisbane Marine Mercury dealer, Troy Wood. “They’re quiet, they’re powerful, they’re smooth, they’re doing everything we’ve all asked for and we couldn’t be more proud to represent them and have the ability to sell them,” Troy continued. Mercury’s own figures suggest that these units are 14% better on fuel than their current 1.7 litre four-strokes and output 23% more torque.

NEW GEARBOXES AND OPTIONS

There’s always been a “Big Foot” option for four-stroke motors in the 40 to 60HP class, renamed “Command Thrust” in these mid-range motors, the upsized lower unit is designed for boats that run with more wetted hull surface than standard and allows propellers from the V6 models to be used. The Commant Thrust gearboxes are available in the 90 and 115 HP The standard gearcase, though, has also been redesigned to decrease drag by 15% and significantly improve performance. The standard gearcase is the best option for hulls that get up and plane at higher speeds.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS

It seems simple, but designing a tighter fitting cowling that less water in and less noise out is just one of the ways that Mercury’s engineers have kept this motor quiet. An idle relief muffler system lessens high-frequency exhaust noise. A top-mounted throttle body fine-tunes intake noise, while a totally new engine mounting system greatly reduces vibration. Even the trim pump is designed to run significantly quieter, and a new clutch system reduces shock while shifting into gear. All of these features deliver a smoother, quieter, more pleasant boating experience. These engines are shipping now. You can get more information on Mercury’s website: www.mercurymarine.com.au or by visiting your local Mercury dealer. Bottom line is you need to take a ride in these things – you’ll love ‘em.

For the Mercury dealer conference, there are numerous combinations of hull sizes, shapes and horsepowers, allowing

dealers to get a feel for the new technology and products.

If you think the Quintrex Cruise About/115CT package looks fun to drive, you’re right!

Scan this code to hear from Mecury’s Steve Miller about these new engines.

Counter rotating 90 HP models are available. The counter rotating option made this

RIB perform admirably. Super responsive and planed with a level attitude.

Am I allowed to say that compared to the sleek, new design, the older Mercury four-

strokes in this class were damn ugly?

Repowering is easy – the new mid-range four-strokes plug in to your existing throttle box. If

you’re switching from a Mercury two-stroke, you can turf the oil bottle and free up some room.

re-badges Command Thrust (re-birthed Big Foot) gearcase. So, before the annual Mercury Dealer Conference at Sanctuary Cove, we (the media) were given a first peek (and drive) of these impressive motors.

These four-strokes are lighter (from 163kg), have better torque and are quieter and more efficient. Heck, they’re even lighter, punchier and better on the juice than the current range of Mercury OptiMax in that class.

their existing four-strokes in the class. “High displacement and light weight; that means great performance. It means that the engine doesn’t need to work hard to achieve its power, so it’s very reliable and durable,” said Mercury’s Steve Miller while taking these motors for a spin on the Coomera River. “And, these motors are very easy to take care of, to service and maintain, with a valve train that is maintenance free for life,” he continued. The four-cylinder block has an 8-valve, low friction valve train with a single overhead cam design. Matching the excitement of Steve about these motors (scan the QR code hereby for the video interview), was the response of the fishing and boating media on the test day and of Mercury dealers. “As dealers, we’re very excited about this

Mercury launched a large range of outboards in this range – we assume to provide the range of configurations needed to fit the maximum HP rating on the broad range of hulls built over here. 75, 80, 90, 100 and 115HP models make up the range, with the 90 and 115HP iterations available with the re-designed and

Departing are the days where a compelling reason not to buy a four-stroke is a lack of punch in the mid range. These mid-range releases feature a 2.1 litre displacement compared with the 1.5 litres of their Opti Max and 1.7 litres of

78 AUGUST 2014

Seacraft Profish 420 + Seacraft Navigator 350

Aluminium boats are as much part of Australian heritage and culture, as fishing and a cold beer with mates. The basic open tinnie is both a right of passage and a go-anywhere fishing machine. In fact, I’d go as far as saying that there isn’t many fish species in Australian waters that hasn’t been caught from one. Everyone who’s ever spent time on the water in our sunburnt country will have fond memories of racing around an idyllic waterway or drifting for flatties. The basic open tinnie is about as Australian as boats get. The Profish 420 extends the offering of SeaCraft boats by Ausmarine by adding a longer V-nosed punt to the popular and entry-level family of aluminium hulls. Designed to fill a demand in the marketplace for a lightweight, easy to handle, versatile, yet simple open tiller-steer runabout. This

competitively priced package is sure to meet the demand being driven by families and individuals keen to get onto the water, without breaking the bank. I’ve tested numerous SeaCraft open aluminium

boats since they first came on to the market, so it was nice to be back on the water, under an idyllic summer sky to take the additions to the range for a spin. The Profish 420 is built to meet the expectations at the budget

end of the market. Since I reviewed the first boats a few years back, the build quality has improved markedly with neater welding being the most notable improvement, plus the option for painted hulls has been extended across most

of the range. The attention to clean, neat and safe finishes throughout the simple practical layout will meet approval of the customer. The beauty of this size of boat is that it can be easily stored, towed, launched and maneuverered on or off the water. Delivered on a single axel trailer with a 15hp

SeaKing 4-stroke means it can be towed behind almost any vehicle fitted with a tow ball. The test location at Chipping Norton lakes always delivers calm waters, reminiscent of the conditions boats like this are most often used in. Whether fishing inland water ways, skinny mangrove-lined creeks or the more open bays and harbours of the bigger cities around our coast line, the Profish 420 should be able to handle all but he ugliest days. The great thing about a basic boat with 2 bench or cross thwart seats, a carpeted floor, a small forward carpeted casting deck an open bow anchor well is it presents an easy-to-use, no-nonsense boating option that can be applied to a range of purposes. Whether it’s as a basic tender for a larger boat, a coastal weekend getaway or the first step into owning boats it is sure to provide

weeks, months and years of fun and enjoyment where ever you choose to drop it into the drink. With the traditional lines of a V-nosed punt, the Profish looks good and will provide a stable fishing platform to target a range of species. Manufactured with 2.0mm bottom and 1.6mm sides using a standard rib construction and a comprehensive set of welds at all touch points ensures the hull is sturdy with little vibration underway or at rest. Forward of the bow thwart seat a carpeted deck provides storage for safety gear, tackle bags and an additional reef pick. A carpeted shelf under the bow provides further open storage.

SYDNEYDanTrotter

SPECIFICATIONS – SEACRAFT PROFISH 420Basic package: ..................................... from $7,299Max Horsepower: ...........................................40HPMax Transom Weight:.......................................90kgMax People: ...........................................................5Floatation: .......................................................BasicLength Overall: .................................................4.2mBeam: ..............................................................1.87mDepth: ...............................................................0.8mBottom Thickness: ...........................................2mmSide Thickness: .............................................1.6mm Transom Shaft Length: ...................................... L/SWeight (boat only): ......................................... 115kgTrailer: ......................................... Seatrail AL4.2M13Outboard: .............................Seaking 15hp 2-strokeAs Tested $8,449. Extras were Painted hull and 15hp 4-stoke SeaKing

SPECIFICATIONS – NAVIGATOR 350Basic package: .................................... from $3,999 Max Horsepower: ...........................................15HPMax Transom Weight:.......................................59kgMax People: ...........................................................4Flotation: .........................................................BasicLength Overall: ...............................................3.50mBeam: ..............................................................1.25mDepth: .............................................................0.54mBottom Thickness: ........................................1.4mmSide Thickness: .............................................1.4mmTransom Shaft Length: ......................................S/SWeight (boat only): ...........................................60kgTrailer: ..............................................Seatrail Tinny12Outboard: .............................. Seaking 5hp 4-strokeAs Tested $4,648. Extras were 9.9hp 2-stoke Seaking

FACT BOX

The SeaCraft range offers a few smaller cousins to suit a variety of purposes; amongst these is the Navigator 350, a super lightweight V-nosed punt. The layout is simple, with twin bench seats a sloping bow running up to a small bow platform with a grab handle fitted to the nose. The addition of rowlocks means you can be ready to row in the shallows or when departing a moored boat. Fitted with a 9.9hp 2-stroke outboard, this is all the power you need to get on the plane and racing along. Developed to work as a car topper or a tender, it can also be trailered behind any car with a tow hitch. Priced to make getting on the water as easy as possible this little package will get you four adults across calm waters to accessible locations, or take 2 mates fishing during daylight hours. Check out the range at www.ausmarine.biz

The 15hp 4-stroke SeaKing sufficiently got the Seacraft Profish 420 onto plane.

With the traditional lines of a V-nosed punt, the Profish looks good and will provide a stable fishing platform for those who like to stand.

The 420 comes fitted with a 12L tote tank, but there is room for a second when tackling longer journeys.


120w LED Dual Row Light Bar

IP67

3.3 KG

12/30v

10200LUMENS

FEATURES:• 12-30v allows lights to be fitted to both cars and trucks.• No radio interference from these lights.• Beam angle: Combo (spread and spot).• Long life: more than ordinary LED’s, more than 50000 hours life.• Waterproof aluminium shock-proof casing.• Lights designed to prevent glare.• Two year warranty.• Complete with two heavy duty mounting brackets.

SPOTBEAM

FLOOD BEAM

CREE 3wLEDS $369SALE

PRICEEACH

High beam

with LED’s

on

DIMENSIONS:628.1mm (length) x 86.5mm (deep)

x 111.2mm (height)

79AUGUST 2014

Down the back, there is space behind the aft thwart seat for a fuel tank and a spare, plus the mandatory a bucket with lanyard or the necessary esky for food, bait and a few cool drinks. Between the seats, a fitted flat floor runs almost the full width offering a stable flat surface to make standing and getting around easier. Carpeted in marine grade grey carpet, the floor offsets the optional white painted interior hull. The aft bench seat has the addition of a foldaway glove box and integrated cup of stubby holders, a great place to stow items you need at hand.

The wide gunwales are strongly welded using flat aluminium plates and provide loads of space to add in numerous rod holders which are a must addition, under the gunwales twin short length side pockets provide space for hand-lines, chopping boards and range of other fishing tools. A set of upright rod holders will aid further in providing ample rod storage. Over the transom, a boarding step is securely welded to the port corner and a transducer bracket to starboard side of the outboard. The 15hp 4-Stroke SeaKing outboard fitted to the test boat will run for

hours on a tank of fuel, and while not as quiet as many 4-Strokes, they delivered all the power and get up and go this great package needed. The SeaKing brand are built with all the trimmings you’d expect from a modern 4-stroke and come fitted with a 12L tote tank. You may like to consider a second or larger tank if you plan to make longer runs or spend a day zipping around your favourite water way. The flat hull typical of this style of boat delivers great stability at rest and a comfortable ride in calm conditions. Underway, the 15hp pushes the package along fast enough to get around quickly, banking from side to side is always fun in tiller steer boat, the handling of the ProFish ensures safe navigation and delivers a confident ride through corners even when pulling hard into a loop at ¾ speed. As priced, this rig comes fitted with the 15hp SeaKing 4-stroke, although it is rated for up to a 40hp outboard. I’m not convinced this is necessary even with my desire to waste as little time travelling between fishing locations. The bow design will cut easily through light chop and at rest I feel stable enough to get up and move around, and wish I’d brought along a pack of soft-plastics, a handful of jig heads and a light rod and reel combo to see if we could have tempted a bite or two. All in all the SeaCraft Profish 420 is a tidy budget package developed with the price conscious boater or angler in mind. With a few customisations of rod holders and marine electronics, plus all the necessary accessories this boat will get you out into Australia’s calm water fishing hot spots with a smile and the worries of the world fading fast behind you. For more information about Seacraft by Ausmarine you can visit their website at http://www.ausmarine.biz/ or call them on (02) 9792 6000.

The 420 is can be fitted with up to 40hp, but as priced it comes with a 15hp 4-stroke SeaKing.

There is ample space for life jackets and other safety equipment up the bow end of the 420.

The handling of the ProFish ensures safe navigation and delivers a confident ride through corners even when pulling hard into a loop at ¾ speed

From 9.9hp to

40hp

Outboards

From 2.5hp to

15hp

Boat, Motor and Trailer Package

RANGER 330with 2.5hp 4str

From $2,149

ADVENTURER 360with 9.9hp 2str, trailer

From $4,748or $28 a week no deposit finance

ALL PRICES GST INCLUSIVE, EXCLUSIVE FREIGHT, REGISTRATION & DEALER DELIVERY CHARGES.

2 Stroke Range 4 Stroke Range

SPORTFISH 400with 15hp 4str electric start, trailer,

centre console with steeringFrom $9,685

or $51 a week no deposit finance

COMMANDER 400with 30hp, 2str electric

start, trailerFrom $11,245


EXPLORER 400with 15hp 2str, trailerFrom $5,348


HUNTER 445with 30hp 2str, trailerFrom $10,139


FISHER 445with 30hp 2str electric start, trailer,

centre console with steeringFrom $12,790


BAYRUNNER 445with 40hp 2str electric start,

trailerFrom $13,999


www.ausmarine.biz for your nearest dealer

PH: (02) 9792 6000 F: (02) 9772 4858 E: [email protected]

Alloy Boats TrailersFOLDING 8

Folding trailer, fully galvanised, 8” wheels, suits small tinny’s and inflatables

up to 3.6m.from $950

PWC12Suits small PWC tinny

and inflatable, 12” wheels,

fully galvanised.from $1,150

MINI TINNY 2102.1m cartopper, 2 adults,

max 4hp, only weighs 22kg.from $999

EXPLORER 4004m open tinny,

4 adults, max 30hp.from $2,499

RANGER 3303.3m cartopper,


NAVIGATOR 4004m flatwater V-nose tinny,


SPORTFISH 4004m V-nose bowrider/casting deck centre console boat.

from $4,450

COMMANDER 4004m forward control tinny,

windscreen,4 adults, max 30hp.from $5,750

ADVENTURER 3603.6m open tinny,


HUNTER 4454.5m deep open boat.

from $5,290

FISHER 4454.5m deep V centre

console boat.from $7,190

BAYRUNNER 4454.5m forward control tinny,

windscreen,5 adults, max 50hp.from $7,499

AL4.2M13Suits aluminium boats

up to 4.2m.from $1,450

AL4.6M13RRoller trailer, unbraked.

Suits aluminium and fibreglass boats up to 4.8m.from $2,050

AL5.2M13Suits aluminium boats

up to 5.2M, braked.

from $2,650

AL5.4M13TSuits aluminium boats

up to 5.4M,braked, tandem.from $3,299

FIB5M14Suits fibreglass boats

up to 5m,braked.

from $3,100

FIB5.7M14Suits fibreglass boats

up to 5.7m, tandem and braked.from $4,099

BOX7X5G7x5 box trailer, tipper, galvanised, front and

rear gates.from $1,599

BOX8X4GT8x4 box trailer,

galvanised, dual axle.from $2,150

Cartopper Range

Open Tinny Range

Runabout Range

Centre Console Range

80 AUGUST 2014

FISHING FILL-ITS

Bundaberg-based boat builder SeaJay boats is currently celebrating its 25th anniversary of constructing aluminium boats for Australian conditions. Over the years, we’ve seen their craft grow from some pretty basic tinnies through to the refined and comfortable offerings that are available today. We recently took the opportunity to take a couple of their latest models – some

Here come the AvengersSeaJay Avenger Sports - out for a drive and a fish. A painted 485 and unpainted 455 Avenger – both with Yamaha 4-stroke outboards – gave us a great insight about what’s available in the line-up. All but the smallest Avengers boast a 3mm plate aluminium bottom and sides (the 4.25m model has 2.5mm thick gunwales). And, throughout the range (there’s a 4.25m, 4.4m, 4.55m, 4.85m, 5m and 5.35m version) Sea Jay are proud of their inbuilt reverse chines, which typically enhance stability at rest, optimise hole shot and

allow you to use minimum horsepower ranges with little performance penalty. Glen Baker and James Cullen from Stones Corner Marine were good enough to come with Fishing Monthly for the ride. These guys run a Brisbane SeaJay dealership (Stones Corner Marine) and are constantly setting up SeaJays for the rigors of Moreton Bay. On its day, Moreton Bay is every bit as nasty as Sydney Harbour or Pittwater on a busy Sunday. There are not too many pieces of open water in Australia that don’t get nasty when there’s wind versus tide.

That said, the test day conditions were ridiculously good - millpond calm and small tides, which mean that even the ever-reliable pressure waves at the bar of the Brisbane River didn’t even show up to play. Tough, we know, and even after an hour of fishing to try and let the sea-breeze get a run-up, there was no joy. So, I can happily report that the Avengers ride is calm and smooth! Seriously, though, even in the calm conditions, we could get a feel for the boats and the 4-stroke Yamahas powering them. Propelled by a 60 and 70 (Yamaha’s highest selling outboards in Australia), the ride was undeniably smooth and quiet. The bimini top on the 485 was very pleasant on that windless day, but I was really casting an angler’s eye over the hulls to get a feel about what they’d be like to seriously fish from. From both a fishing and ride point of view, it’s hard to get a really accurate reflection, because without an electric motor on the bow (where the plate to mount it is standard), the boat sits differently in the water on the move and at rest, and the weight of the dedicated electric motor battery (or batteries) is absent. That said, the beam of these boats give them excellent stability at rest, and if you’re a lurecasting angler, then stability is paramount

SPECIFICATIONS

SEAJAY 485 AVENGERBottom:..............................................................3mmSides:.................................................................3mmBeam:...............................................................2.14mDepth:..............................................................1.08mFloor Ribs:............................................................. 11Capacity:...................................................5.personsMax HP:............................................................70.(L)Rec HP:.............................................................60.(L)Max OB weight:.............................................. 120kg

The.unpainted.455.Avenger.Sports.felt.like.a.real.fishing.boat.–.even.without.the.electric.motor.

Left:.All.Avengers.run.with.a.standard.20”.(L).outboard..Right:.All.of.the.Avenger.models.4.4m.and.larger.have.reversed.chines.as.standard.

Top: Yamaha’s.60.4-stroke.used.to.be.the.highest.selling.motor.that.Yamaha.made..

That.was.until.the.F70.came.out.Middle:.Anchor.wells.are.standard.on.all.models.

Above:.There’s.plenty.of.room.at.the.helm.to.mount.electronics.and.a.cool.

wallet/mobile.phone.storage.box.

[email protected]

FMGSteveMorgan

Raymarine has announced two new technology options for its LightHouse II powered line of multifunction displays. The new CP200 SideVision sonar module expands anglers’ underwater horizons with crystal-clear CHIRP side-scanning sonar and the new CAM200IP marine video camera brings high definition video monitoring to Raymarine multifunction displays. The CP200 can see further and detect more fish than traditional side-scanning sonar systems. Thanks to Raymarine’s advanced CHIRP signal processing, the CP200 takes the guesswork out of identifying underwater contacts and delivers highly detailed imagery using two independent sonar channels. The CP200 also employs a unique transducer design that allows anglers to choose from three pre-set transducer angles. By adjusting the angle of the CPT-200 transducer arrays, anglers can optimize their system for either shallow or deep water scanning. Key CP200 Features are: photo-like imagery

of underwater terrain and man-made objects; superior range performance (the CP200 can image fish, bait, and bottom structure at distances up to 600ft on either side of the boat); 180° of hi-res underwater viewing when the CP200 is combined with Raymarine CHIRP DownVision sonar; and simple integration with Raymarine LightHouse II multifunction displays. The CP200 CHIRP SideVision sonar system will be available in August 2014 and is priced from $575. Keeping a view above decks, Raymarine MFD owners now have an easy solution for upgrading their multifunction display with video monitoring. Engineered for the marine environment, the CAM200IP is perfect for recording the action

on deck. Alternatively, it can be used as a backup or docking camera. Once installed, a single CAM200IP can provide HD video to any Raymarine LightHouse II display on the network. For greater flexibility and viewing options multiple CAM200IP cameras can be installed on the network. Key CAM200IP Features are: full HD video camera for stunning picture quality; low-light mode with a built-in infrared LED array; easy to install using Power over Ethernet (PoE) or direct 12V DC power supply; waterproof to IP67 standards for on-deck or below-deck; simple integration with Raymarine LightHouse II multifunction displays. The CAM200IP is priced at $862 and will be available in September 2014. – Raymarine

Raymarine has SideVision

81AUGUST 2014

Available Factory Direct: 2 Maddison Court BundabergPh: (07) 4152 2111 | www.seajayboats.com.au | /SeaJayBoats

6.8 FREEDOM 5.1 STRIKER

Plate Xtreme models are a FULL PLATE construction with structural strength second to none! Plate Xtreme Models:

Pursuit Full Cab // Freedom Centre Cab // Striker Sports Console // Preda King Centre ConsoleAvailable in hull lengths 5.1 to 7.6 in their various models

in remaining unfatigued and comfortable. With both of the hulls, having a side-mounted console makes moving around the boat easy. All of the models in the range have the option of a side console, centre console or no console (tiller drive). They also have the choice between a painted and unpainted hull. Apart from that choice when setting up your boat, there are not too many optional extras to choose from – an Avenger Sports is supplied standard with anchor wells, casting platform, live bait tank, external keel, spray chines, underfloor storage racks/tank racks and rear step/rail. The 445 Avenger has a 65L underfloor tank while the 485 has an 85L capacity, which paired with the 4S Yamahas, give incredible range.

By the end of the test-ride, the unpainted 455 felt like more of a fishing boat and the 485 more like f family ride,

but that was entirely due to set-up. Paint the smaller boat and whack a bimini on it, and the roles would be reversed.

SPECIFICATIONS

SEAJAY 455 AVENGERBottom:............................................................ 3mmSides:............................................................... 3mmBeam:............................................................. 2.05mDepth:............................................................ 1.08mFloor Ribs:............................................................11Capacity:..................................................5.personsMax HP:...........................................................60.(L)Rec HP:............................................................50.(L)Max OB weight:.............................................120kg

James summed up the niche that these boats fill in the market quite precisely during our sit-down interview at the ramp (scan the QR code hereby to watch). “These are a great boat for anglers who have done their apprenticeship in a 12 or 14 foot open tinny with a 15 to 30hp motor and want to take it to the next level,” James said. Taking it to the next level will cost you around $25,000 for the 455 and

around $30,000 for the 485. Look for them at your local SeaJay dealer or visit www.seajayboats.com.au.

Even.with.the.bimini.top.extended,.there’s.plenty.of.casting.and.fishing.room.on.the.front.deck.

By.simply.adding.a.bimini.top,.the.Avenger.becomes.family.friendly.with.sides.high.enough.

to.keep.most.waves.out.and.kids.in.

Side.consoles.may.be.wetter.at.times.than.centre.consoles,.but.they.allow.

unprecedented.access.between.decks.

Scan.the.QR.Code.to.see.James.Cullen.talk.about.the.Sea.Jay.Avengers.

82 AUGUST 2014

It’s taken a while, but finally, American electric trolling motor giant, MotorGuide, has released a real alternative to the Minn Kota iPilot. Called the Xi5 (Wireless control) , it’s a servo-driven, GPS enabled electric motor that can lock you to a spot, re-create routes and even allow manipulation of a locked position on the fly. And it’s shipping right now. Demonstrated by Mercury’s Paul McLean at the recent Mercury conference and Media Day at Sanctuary Cove, it was obvious that he was excited about the product. MotorGuide have always made ultra-reliable and simple cable-driven bow-mount electric motors, but lacked in the servo-driven models. I’m unsure about you, but the annoying beeps that the old foot controller made were enough to make me want to take up golf. There are several compelling reasons to consider the Xi5, though, so let’s break them down.1. Pinpoint GPS. Fitted with two digital compasses, this

MotorGuide Xi5 a serious contender

Evinrude G2 E-Tecs launch

motor can ‘anchor’ you to a spot, steer to a compass bearing and record and re-play routes. But the very best feature for serious anglers is the ability to manipulate your position while virtually anchored with the press of a button. Called “Jog”, each press of a button moves you 1.5m forward, backward, port or starboard. It’s a super handy feature considering that unlocking and relocking on a spot can be very difficult to do with precision.2. Speed of turning. Motor Guide claims the Xi5 is designed to be quick and quiet – rotating 360 degrees 50% quicker than the opposition. This seems to be indeed the

case. It’s quick and quiet.3. LED gauges. There’s no screen on the remote control, but there’s a panel of LEDs

that indicate status (of battery, GPS and prop movement) on the motor base that’s simple to read at a glance.

4. Intuitive foot pedal. Powered by a couple of AA batteries, the wireless foot pedal mirrors the function of a cable steer, with front/back movement instead of side/side controlling steering. Importantly, there’s an “Anchoring” button on the foot control as well as the standard momentary/constant buttons and the variable speed control. Just make sure it doesn’t blow out of the boat between spots.5. Inbuilt transducer on FW models. The Freshwater models have an inbuilt, dual frequency transducer that will work with major brand fish finders. Note that these aren’t available on Saltwater models.

There’s a number of iterations of these motors. Both Freshwater and Saltwater versions come in shaft lengths (48” to 60”) and thrusts (55lb/12v, 80lb/24v and 105lb/36v), however, the FW unit comes with a foot pedal as standard while the SW unit is supplied with a hand held remote/lanyard only. Naturally, you can purchase the complementary controller to suit. Tempting a lot of users to make the change will be the price. A non-GPS FW/12v unit will set you back around $1,400, a 55lb GPS enabled Saltwater model around $2,000 and the most loaded model in the range with every accessory imaginable in the 36v/105lb version around $2,700. Check them out at www.motorguide.com.au and visit www.mercurymarine.com.au for your local dealer locator.

The.remote.control.has.no.screen,.however,.the.unit’s.status.is.available.via.the.LED.panel.on.the.motor.

The.MotorGuide.Xi5.Saltwater.models.are.white.in.colour,.while.the.Freshwater.units.are.black.

The.foot.pedal.has.a.‘stay.here’.button..Yay!

Scan this to see Mercury’s Paul McLean show you the features

in depth.

[email protected]

FMGSteveMorgan

Evinrude (BRP) recently revealed a new Generation Two (G2) E-Tec outboard engine that reportedly produces up to 75% fewer total regulated emissions, 15% better fuel efficiency and 20% more torque than leading four-stroke engines. “BRP’s Evinrude brand is an integral part of one of the most innovative powersports companies in the world,” said Alain Villemure, vice-president and General Manager of BRP’s Marine Propulsion Systems division. “Our reputation for inventing and reinventing the playgrounds we’re in dictates that a new era in outboard

engine technology and design would originate from BRP.” The Evinrude E-Tec G2 outboard engine delivers unrivaled performance with best-in-class torque and fuel efficiency and lowest total emissions. Available this November [in Australia] at BRP dealers in ranges starting at 200 to 300HP, the new E-Tec G2 engine offers the first and only customizable look, the only clean rigging and fully integrated digital controls. These innovations now allow consumers to choose the absolute perfect combination of boat and engine by selecting top and front panels, as well as accent colors that match

your boat. “This engine stands alone, in the industry and on the water,” said Chris Dawson, Vice President and General Manager of Global Sales and Consumer Experience. “Until now, achieving these levels of performance and integration was unheard of. Add to this the fact that this engine produces, by far, the fewest emissions of any outboard engine on the water, and it’s clear to see why the new Evinrude E-Tec G2 engines will change the face of boating.” BRP’s next generation of Evinrude E-Tec engines will be backed by unmatched On.paper,.these.are.impressive.engines..

We.look.forward.to.testing.them.out.when.they.make.it.to.this.side.of.the.planet.

Left: At.the.time.of.printing,.the.Evinrude.website.was.the.only.real.place.to.get.information..Right: There’s.a.pretty.cool.page.on.the.site.to.virtually.customise.your.engine..Hundreds.of.combinations.are.available.

value with the industry’s best engine warranty, least maintenance and best-in-class fuel efficiency. BRP is the only engine offering a 5-year engine warranty, 5-year corrosion warranty, and 500 hours with no dealer-scheduled maintenance, allowing for the most time on the water. The company launched its first-generation Evinrude E-Tec technology in 2003 and added to the line a broad spectrum of horsepower options for any boating need. The technology has delivered on more power and torque while achieving and surpassing the EPA’s clean air standards for more than 10 years.

BRP’s technological breakthroughs with the Evinrude E-Tec technology have also allowed for fewer dealer visits and less engine maintenance over time, giving boaters more time on the water. G2 engines join other Evinrude E-Tec product innovations like the new Pontoon Series engines, the only ones specifically built for pontoons, providing vibration-reducing motor mounts and all the same Evinrude best-in-class performance. BRP dealers and boat builders from around the

world and members of the media were given the opportunity to find out more about this new revolution in the outboard industry as well as test-ride the new line-up during a dealer conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (US) recently. Become part of the online Evinrude community at www.evinrudenation.com and customize your Evinrude E-TEC G2 engine at www.ChooseYourETEC.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/brpevinrude. – BRP

83AUGUST 2014

The Trident plate boat range from Quintrex was released last year and this month Quintrex has released the Hard Top range of Tridents with a 650 and a 690 model hitting Quintrex dealers. With a pedigree built on tough outside work, the original Tridents were accepted very well in the marketplace, but the addition of the Hard Tops adds a level of completion to the range that I liked. Built specifically for serious offshore work, the Quintrex Trident Hard Tops are constructed with an incredibly sturdy underfloor rib structure that minimises hull movement and attaches to the 5mm bottomsides. This is one tough hull that when tested was put through its paces in no uncertain terms. Imagine testing a hull’s design and build by deliberately running it aground n sand bars, by deliberately trying to flip it in stability testing and by searching out the real rough stuff to asses

Quintrex Trident Hard Tops [email protected]

FMGStephenBooth

its performance. That’s the sort of testing Quintrex did on the Hard Top series before its release. On the media day we were fortunate enough to take a full factory tour and saw Trident Hard Tops being made from

the forming of the sides through to the paint and fit out. It was a real eye opener for a boater to see just how everything comes together and how big a job it is to build one of these boats. And when we got to test out the Hard Tops offshore from the Gold Coast, well we were all very impressed with the end result.

Offshore we ran through some pretty calm conditions inshore so we logically headed further offshore to where the 20 knot westerly was starting to bump up the slop. The Blade Hull was great at handling the messy wind

chop against the slight swell and with the Hard Top configuration there was never going to be any spray intrusion in the cabin area. I would love to have seen these rigs in a bit more swell but I reckon they’d still perform fine, keeping in mind that the Trident Hard Tops were

made specifically for offshore work. Features of the series that impressed were the Blade Hull, a hull design that allows the swell and chop to be pushed aside while still allowing a good degree of stability at rest. That’s a hard compromise to make in any hull, but the Blade Hull appears to have this reasonably well sorted. Built for anglers, the hard Top design also features 6 patent pending Reel Easy folding rod holders. These rod holders actually fold down to allow anyone on the boat to store or retrieve rods from the top rocket launchers. It’s ingenious and in a bit of slop offshore, really easy to use. I liked it as I am not a 6’10” giant, but rather a 5’11” rover that would have had to previously clamber up a gunwale to access the rods. Quintrex has also paid attention to the internal design, making things like a window in the livewell, an external pick up for the livewell while underway to keep your bait fresh and a new, deeper and wider bait station that allows bait and fish to be easily processed.

There is also a 135L kill tank that has plenty of room for serious fish, and that is something the successful and the dreamers want in their offshore rig. One other thing I really liked was that Quintrex had designed the fuel tank and floor to be accessible. Yep that’s right, you will not need to cut holes into your boat’s floor to access the fuel tank if something goes wrong with a Trident and that’s pretty cool. I can barely imagine a bad lot of fuel needing to be drained and the tank accessed and the technician saying “I’ll need to cut through your floor to get at the tank”. No thanks! The Quintrex Tridents also feature a twin battery set up, transom door, seat

boxes with extra storage, a self-draining tread plate floor and 4 welded rod holders all as standard so it’s quite a good unit without additional modifications. The Quintrex Trident Hard Tops are available as Instant Boating Packages complete with a motor, Quintrex trailer and a 3-year limited factory warranty from Quintrex dealers country wide. The 690 is priced at just under the $90,000 mark when fitted out with an E-Tec 250HO, while the 650 with an E-Tec 225 comes in a tad over $80,000. For more information on the complete Trident range and more specifically the Trident Hard Top range head to www.quintrex.com.au.

SYDNEY (SOUTH) HUNTS MARINE 629 Princes Hwy Blakehurst 2221 02·9546 1324

FORSTER GRAHAM BARCLAY MARINE 129 The Lake Way 2428 02·6554 5866

COWRA ALL SERVICE MOTORS Redfern St Cowra 2794 02·6342 2590

MCGRATHS HILL TR MARINEWORLD 4 Curtis Rd, McGraths Hill 2756 02·4577 3522

PORT MACQUARIE MID COAST MARINE 75 Hastings River Dr Port Macquarie 2444 02·6583 1492

WOLLONGONG HUNT’S MARINE 434 Princes Hwy Corrimal NSW 2518 02·4284 0444

NOWRA NOWRA MARINE Princes Hwy South Nowra 2541 02·4423 3440

NEWCASTLE TERRACE BOATING 23 Pacific Hwy Heatherbrae 2324 & LEISURE CENTRE 02·4983 5600

TAMWORTH TAMWORTH BOAT SALES 9 Denison St Tamworth 2340 02·6762 7700

TWEED TWEED COAST MARINE 147 Pacific Hwy Tweed Heads South 2486 07·5524 8877

BATEMANS BAY HUNTS MARINE 2 Sharons Rd Batemans Bay 2536 02·4472 2612

COFFS HARBOUR JETTY BOATING 7 Keona Circuit Coffs Harbour 2450 02·6651 4002

CENTRAL COAST INSINC MARINE 278 Manns Rd Gosford West 2250 02·4324 4300

BALLINA MARINELAND 67 Endeavour Close Ballina 2478 02·6686 2669

Why choose Brand X,when you can have a Quintrex?

Not all tinnies are created equal. At Quintrex we are driven to build the perfect boat for any and all conditions. Our range is unequalled for choice and versatility. And each ‘Quinnie Tinnie’ comes with something no other boats can offer…our high level of workmanship, our great no-worries warranty and a dealer network unrivalled in Australia.

No matter where you are, or what you need, a qualified Quintrex dealer is nearby to help you out. After all, only someone who really knows boats can give you the best advice on boats!

Visit our website and see the amazing range of tinnies that maintain an incredible resale value.

There’s only one Quinnie Tinnie (actually there are 23!)

To see the full new Quintrex range visit quintrex.com.au

Not all tinnies are created equal. At Quintrex we are driven to build the perfect boat for any and all conditions. Our range is unequalled for choice and versatility. And each ‘Quinnie Tinnie’ comes with something no other boats can offer…our high level of workmanship, our great no-worries warranty and a dealer network unrivalled in Australia.

No matter where you are, or what you need, a qualified Quintrex dealer is nearby to help you out. After all, only someone who really knows boats can give you the best advice on boats!

Visit our website and see the amazing range of tinnies that maintain an incredible resale value.

THERE’S ONLY ONE QUINNIE TINNIE (actually there are 23!)

To see the full new Quintrex range visit quintrex.com.au

DROP IN TO YOUR LOCAL QUINTREX DEALER!

84 AUGUST 2014

Watch the interview with event winner James

Howarth here.

Howarth wins at RedcliffeKAYAK BREAM SERIES

Presented by Daiwa1ST PLACE

2ND PLACE

TOP 5 KAYAKERS

Place Angler Fish Weight (kg) Payout

1 JamesHOWARTH 8 4.91 $950+LowranceElite-5XFishfinder, Daiwa,Atomic2 JoshCARPENTER 8 3.64 $500+Unitika,Berkley,Austackle,TTs3 StephenMAAS 8 3.57 $350+StrikePro, Austackle,EcoGear4 MichaelMAAS 8 3.51 $150+EcoGear,TTlures, Atomic,Yamatoyo.5 JasonGARNER 6 2.87 $130+Berkley,Austackle,Atomic, TTs+BossHog($100).

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

HOG’S BREATH BOSS HOG

DATE: / /

FOR THE SUM OF:

One Hundred Dollars $100bass • bream • barra

Fishing Tournaments

PAY TO: Hogs Breath Boss Hog

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

BASS ELECTRIC SERIES

HOGS BREATH BOSS HOGHOGS BREATH BOSS HOG

Jason Garner 0.96kgUsingaGulp!CrabbyusingSAS12lblinewith4lbSunlineV-HardfluorocarbonleaderonhisNordicStageJaegerrod.

Josh Carpenter takes second

WINNING NOTES

Winning TackleRods: NordicStageSharpshooter(cranking)andAerialPro6’6″(plastics)Reel: Daiwa2000FreamsLine: 4lbmonoLures:EcogearSX40singhostgillandZ-Man2.5”BloodwormGrubZon1/28thTTjigheads.

Winning EdgeJamesusedplentyofPro-Curescentwithanaggressiveretrieveintheshadypatchesaroundandunderboathullsinthemarinaandcanals.

Southern NSW angler and the eventual second place getter Josh Carpenter’s plan was always to fish the canals once the weather forecast predicted light winds. With the canal system being protected from wind most of the year, Josh instinctively knew that the fish there were used to still conditions and didn’t spook as easily as the fish out on the reefs. For this reason he opted to do the 35-minute pedal to

the canal system straight off the Power-Pole starting line each morning. Sitting in tenth position at the end of day one with a full bag weighing in at 1.74kg, Carpenter was always confident that he would get his four fish on day two. His only concern was just how big those fish would be, as he was giving away a big start to day one leader Howarth. He worked the edges of the man made structure and boats and had three good bream in his Hobie livewell before 11am. With three hours to go in the competition he was confident

of catching his final bream and then hoping for some good sized upgrades. He got that fourth fish at about 12:30 but didn’t manage to upgrade and headed to the reef for a short time to see if he could get some better luck there. Time worked against him, however, and he headed back to the weigh-in with four good fish. Josh was extremely happy with his second place finish and won the good-sized local crowd over watching the weigh-in by breaking his prize pack open and handing out the contents to enthusiastic local children in the audience as their appreciative parents watched on. Josh’s arsenal consisted of a Daiwa Battler Mighty

Midget matched to a Daiwa Ignis 2004, with 3lb Daiwa BRAVE fluoro fished straight through. His top lure was an

ABT, PO Box 7196, LOGANHOLME, QLD 4129

Alternatively you can download an entry form from www.abt.org.au

At any time you can call ABT on (07) 3387 0888 for help with your entry during business hours.

The weekend of the 21–22 June, 2014 saw the Hobie Kayak Bream Series presented by Daiwa head to Redcliffe, one of Queensland’s most iconic and notorious Bream tournament venues. Some 33 anglers descended on the venue, all determined to put themselves at the top of the leader board and to book their spots at the Grand Final later this year. Redcliffe, located 40km north of Brisbane, has seen some incredible tournament bream action over the years and has once again delivered the goods. The venue offered up fantastic Queensland conditions, great fishing from the reef as well as the man made structure of the jetties and boat hulls in the marina

and canals. This ensured plenty of options for the competitors and a great weekend’s fishing for all. Ultimately it was Brisbane year 12 student James Howarth who claimed the major prize on Sunday, bringing in eight bream for a total bag weight of 4.91kg which gave him a convincing 1.27kg lead. Seasoned competitor Josh Carpenter, whose two-day bag totalled 3.64kg, took second after jumping from tenth place on day one.

TOP OF THE CLASS James Howarth, in only his third kayak tournament, fished smart on day one, pre-fishing for day two and leaving some key areas to target on the second day of the competition. He spent both days hitting fish under and alongside the boats and jetties of both the marina and the canals, casting

along the edge of shady patches using lots of Pro Cure Scent.

“I was pretty nervous coming into the second day as there were a lot

more boats heading into the canals and the marina so I thought it was going to get hit a lot harder than on day one,” James said. Early on both mornings he cranked these areas using Ecogear SX40s, and as the light improved he threw Z-Man 2.5” Bloodworm Grubs, using a Nordic Stage Sharpshooter with 4lb line straight through. “I used some pretty aggressive flicks of the rod after getting the lure down under the boat hulls and then a pause at the ends of the boats, suspending it there and they would just smash it,” he explained.

Atomic Crank Deep in Tim’s prawn colour.

SUPPORTERS It’s not just the weather and the fish that make an event great. Thank you to Mal and Trish Gray and from Sunstate Hobie for providing dealer support to the competitors throughout the tournament and for supplying them with snack packs, drinks and a BBQ on both days.

Like all of the events in the series the Redcliffe round could not have gone ahead without the great support of our fantastic sponsors: Daiwa, Berkley, Atomic. Lowrance, Rhino-Rack, Strike Pro, Austackle, TT Lures, Yamatoyo, Ecogear, Power-Pole, Hog’s Breath Cafe and ABT for making these events possible. – HKBS

James was excited about his first major tournament and qualifying for his first Hobie Bream Series Grand Final. Fortunately for him, it will be staged after he has completed his final year 12 exams.

AUTHOR: tagAREA: TITLE: Howarth wins at Redcliffe SECTION: TournamentsHEADER: TournamentsPICS: 4FACTBOX: 1NOTES:

CAPTIONS1

2

3

4JasonGarnertookouttheBossHogBigBreamprizewiththissolid.96kgfish.

JamesHowarthwasexcitedabouthisfirstmajortournamentwinandqualifyingfortheGrandFinal.

Fortunately,itwillbeheldafterhisfinalyear12exams.

Thetopthree:JamesHowarth,JoshCarpenterandStephenMass.

Theever-reliableJoshCarpentertookhomesecondplaceinthetournament,andgenerously

gavehisprizestochildreninthecrowd.

86 AUGUST 2014

Killer’s Lift n’ Drop Tail Spinner Technique

Young Rips for Second2ND PLACE

1ST NON-BOATER

Steve ‘Killer’ Kanowski returned to the winner’s podium at round two of the 2014 Toray BASS

Pro Series with the 50 year old tournament veteran claiming victory in the Yamaha presented Boondooma event. Grabbing the lead in session two Kanowski held

the lead as he stormed to his 3rd BASS Pro win to book a berth in the Lake Wivenhoe Grand Final in September. Victory for Kanowski was a tail spinner affair with the former AFC angler cracking the pattern during the Friday prefish courtesy of a Nories In The Bait tail spinner. Fishing the start of the Stuart Arm Kanowski fished a small flat (50m x50m) 15-20’ deep that had the breakline into the creek bed not far away. An inconspicuous location, it was an area that fired when Killer stumbled across it in the prefish. “There were plenty of fish on the sounder, and they bit quite actively, so I just kept changing lures to see which lure worked the best on them,” said Kanowski. With the tail spinner identified as the go-to lure,

Session three would prove the hardest for the tournament with Kanowski only managing to eke out three small undersize fish. “I worked my butt off


TOP 10 BOATERS


1 StephenKANOWSKI 3/6 4.08 $2500+$5002 DavidYOUNG 3/6 3.89 $1,5003 SimonBARKHUIZEN 4/6 3.69 $1,1004 TrevorSTEAD 5/6 3.34 $9005 KristofferHICKSON 4/6 3.13 $7006 MattJOHNSON 3/6 2.92 $6007 BarryREYNOLDS 3/6 2.47 $5008 GaryMCCABE 2/6 2.09 $4509 StevenOTTO 3/6 2.0710 MarkLENNOX 2/6 2.01



1 RayHOLMES 3/6 4.38 13Fishingreel,13Fishingrod,OSPpack2 TerryALLWOOD 4/6 3.8 13Fishingrod,Shimanoreel,Toraypack3 BenSCOTMAN 4/6 2.58 Spotterspack,Imakatsupack4 CodyHAYES 3/6 2.48 Tonicpack,OSPpack5 BenBIGGS 3/6 2.41 Damikipack,OSPpack6 LiamFITZPATRICK 2/6 2.12 TorayPrizePack7 StephenMCLEAN 2/6 1.94 OSPpack8 AlanMCNAMARA 3/6 1.54 OSPpack9 PeterMORGAN 2/6 1.41 OSPpack10 BrettHYDE 2/6 1.1 OSPpack


TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

WINNING NOTES

Winning TackleRod:Pflueger6’10”,1-3kgrodReel:PfluegerSupremeLine:4lbFirelineLeader:8lbflurocarbonLure:NoriesIntheBait(12gram,ayucolour)

Winning Edge WhileKanowskiidentifiedtheNoriesIntheBaittailspinnerasthego-tofishcatcherhemodifiedthelurebydownsizeingtherearwillowbladetomakeitmorefinesseandultimatelymoreappealingtothebass.

Austackle Big BassSteveKanowskisecuredtheAustackleBigBassatBoondoomawiththeeventwinnerclaimingthe$500chequecourtesyofthe2.01kgbassthathecaughtinthesecondsessiononanayucoloured12gramNoriesIntheBaittailspinner.

Duffrods Big BagSteveKanowskiclaimedtheDuffrodsBigBagattheeventwiththeBoondoomachampioncatchingtheprizewinninglimit(3.47kg)insessiontwoontheSaturdayafternoon.

Holmes Hops to Win

Ray Holmes claimed top honours in the non-boater division with the 26 year old Toowoomba basser compiling a 3/6, 4.38kg limit to comfortably secure the win by half a kilo over his nearest rival Terry Allwood. Fishing with Dave Young on day one, Holmes fished a deep water blade approach, throwing a 3/8oz, matt pink coloured Evergreen Little Max and an Ecogear ZX40 in colour 414 to catch his fish. Catching one fish in session one and a full limit in session two, Holmes used a slow wind and hop retrieve to catch his fish, with the key to the presentation being to keep the lure vertical below the boat rather than fished away from the boat and worked with a more horizontal approach to the retrieve. The approach saw Holmes upgrade 2-3

BASS PRO SERIES

Presented by Yamaha



For event runner-up David Young it was his best result to date on the BASS Pro tour at Lake Boondooma with the 30 year old IT Consultant fishing the start of the timber in the Stuart River arm of the lake to catch his fish. Fishing a small area that he inadvertently found during the Friday prefish Young’s hot spot featured a tree, adjacent flat, and slope into the creek bed. “While there were trees right along the edge of the creek bed there was one tree that the fish would gravitate towards and hang on in numbers,” said Young. While Young could always find the fish on and around the tree with his sounder getting them to bite proved difficult. “They didn’t bite until 2pm during the prefish and the tournament very much played out the same way,” said Young. This trend saw Young Continued OVER

Continued

RayHolmesdominatedthenon-boaterdivisiontoaddanotherwintohistournamentCV.

Killer in a Spin for BASS Pro Win

Kanowlski caught his fish on a 12 gram, ayu coloured Nories In the Bait tail spinner

on Sunday morning, varying retrieves, adjusting my boat position, and trying to finesse them into biting but

to no avail,” said Killer. In the end Kanowski’s failure to weigh a fish in the final session didn’t affect the outcome, with Killer holding on to the lead he had leading into the final session to claim the event win. A veteran of the BASS Pro tour Kanowski’s win is his first since his Lake Monduran victory in 2007, and an injection of form heading into the 3rd and final event of the year, the Toray BASS Pro Grand Final at Lake Wivenhoe in September.

Killer tied one on first up in session one, an approach that delivered him his first fish by 9am, and a second hook up, albeit a fish that he lost, not long after.

Session two was when things really turned on with the Kanowski catching a dozen fish for the session, including multiple upgrades, and weighing in the heaviest limit for the tournament. “They bit their heads off in the afternoon including a good number of big fish,” said Kanowksi. The Nories tail spinner once again reined supreme, with Killer fishing the hot bait with a long and slow lift and drop technique. The majority of bites would come at the very top of the lift, while the occasional fish would come as he lifted the lure after a drop, or when he went to burn the lure back in at the end of the retrieve. “It was important to not over work the lure during the retrieve. Slow and steady was definitely the name of the game when it came to the tail spinner,” said Kanowski.

catch no fish in the first session, but in session two (Saturday afternoon) things really started to heat up, with close to 20 fish hitting the deck of his boat. While he initially caught fish out from the tree he soon found the best approach to use involved nudging the boat up tight against the tree and working his lure directly below the boat to the fish that were sitting on the bottom. Young’s lure and technique involved an Ecogear ZX40 blade worked with a short and sharp rip and drop retrieve. “Keeping the movement of the lure sharp, hard and erratic was the key to get them to bite. If you used a traditional methodical lift and drop they didn’t it eat it with any great gusto,” said Young. Heading into the final session with close to a 1kg deficit to make up on leader Steve Kanowski, Young knew that he had plenty of work to do, but if he could just scrape together a couple of fish to get level

with Killer that he might be in with a shot. Young’s thinking was spot on, and he started the session out well picking up a small fish early. Finding and catching his second proved a lot harder, with Young changing locations and lures in a valiant attempt to pull together just one more small fish. It was to avail though with Young weighing in only one fish for the session to finish

second in the tournament. His best result to date on the tour Young is buoyed by his podium finish, the spot in the Grand Final, and the welcome cheque heading into the BASS Megabucks and GF at the end of the year.

DaveYoungclaimedhisbestBASSProresultatBoondooma,finishingsecond

thankstoadeepwaterbladebite.

SteveKanowski’s3.47kgsessiontwolimitwasthebagthatanchoredhiswin,andincluded

theAustackleBigBassfortheevent.

times during the second session and head into the final day with an almost insurmountable lead. Not content to coast to the finish line Holmes fishing hard with his boater Steve Babbage on day two, with the pair rotating through different locations and lures in an attempt to catch fish. Catching only yellowbelly for the session Holmes returned to the scales empty handed, but walked away from the presentation as the Boondooma non-boater champion. Attention for anglers now turns to the Toray BASS Pro Grand Final (September 20/21st) at Lake

SteveKanowskiheadedofffirstinthefinalsessionandheldontoclaimthewin.

BASS PRO SERIESPresented by Yamaha

Wivenhoe, an event that will determine the GF champions for 2014 and also the BASS Pro Anglers of the Year

for the year. To see the full list of Grand Final qualifiers visit www.abt.org.au. – ABT

87AUGUST 2014

Killer’s Lift n’ Drop Tail Spinner Technique

Young Rips for Second2ND PLACE

1ST NON-BOATER

Steve ‘Killer’ Kanowski returned to the winner’s podium at round two of the 2014 Toray BASS

Pro Series with the 50 year old tournament veteran claiming victory in the Yamaha presented Boondooma event. Grabbing the lead in session two Kanowski held

the lead as he stormed to his 3rd BASS Pro win to book a berth in the Lake Wivenhoe Grand Final in September. Victory for Kanowski was a tail spinner affair with the former AFC angler cracking the pattern during the Friday prefish courtesy of a Nories In The Bait tail spinner. Fishing the start of the Stuart Arm Kanowski fished a small flat (50m x50m) 15-20’ deep that had the breakline into the creek bed not far away. An inconspicuous location, it was an area that fired when Killer stumbled across it in the prefish. “There were plenty of fish on the sounder, and they bit quite actively, so I just kept changing lures to see which lure worked the best on them,” said Kanowski. With the tail spinner identified as the go-to lure,

Session three would prove the hardest for the tournament with Kanowski only managing to eke out three small undersize fish. “I worked my butt off


TOP 10 BOATERS


1 StephenKANOWSKI 3/6 4.08 $2500+$5002 DavidYOUNG 3/6 3.89 $1,5003 SimonBARKHUIZEN 4/6 3.69 $1,1004 TrevorSTEAD 5/6 3.34 $9005 KristofferHICKSON 4/6 3.13 $7006 MattJOHNSON 3/6 2.92 $6007 BarryREYNOLDS 3/6 2.47 $5008 GaryMCCABE 2/6 2.09 $4509 StevenOTTO 3/6 2.0710 MarkLENNOX 2/6 2.01



1 RayHOLMES 3/6 4.38 13Fishingreel,13Fishingrod,OSPpack2 TerryALLWOOD 4/6 3.8 13Fishingrod,Shimanoreel,Toraypack3 BenSCOTMAN 4/6 2.58 Spotterspack,Imakatsupack4 CodyHAYES 3/6 2.48 Tonicpack,OSPpack5 BenBIGGS 3/6 2.41 Damikipack,OSPpack6 LiamFITZPATRICK 2/6 2.12 TorayPrizePack7 StephenMCLEAN 2/6 1.94 OSPpack8 AlanMCNAMARA 3/6 1.54 OSPpack9 PeterMORGAN 2/6 1.41 OSPpack10 BrettHYDE 2/6 1.1 OSPpack


TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

WINNING NOTES

Winning TackleRod:Pflueger6’10”,1-3kgrodReel:PfluegerSupremeLine:4lbFirelineLeader:8lbflurocarbonLure:NoriesIntheBait(12gram,ayucolour)

Winning Edge WhileKanowskiidentifiedtheNoriesIntheBaittailspinnerasthego-tofishcatcherhemodifiedthelurebydownsizeingtherearwillowbladetomakeitmorefinesseandultimatelymoreappealingtothebass.

Austackle Big BassSteveKanowskisecuredtheAustackleBigBassatBoondoomawiththeeventwinnerclaimingthe$500chequecourtesyofthe2.01kgbassthathecaughtinthesecondsessiononanayucoloured12gramNoriesIntheBaittailspinner.

Duffrods Big BagSteveKanowskiclaimedtheDuffrodsBigBagattheeventwiththeBoondoomachampioncatchingtheprizewinninglimit(3.47kg)insessiontwoontheSaturdayafternoon.

Holmes Hops to Win

Ray Holmes claimed top honours in the non-boater division with the 26 year old Toowoomba basser compiling a 3/6, 4.38kg limit to comfortably secure the win by half a kilo over his nearest rival Terry Allwood. Fishing with Dave Young on day one, Holmes fished a deep water blade approach, throwing a 3/8oz, matt pink coloured Evergreen Little Max and an Ecogear ZX40 in colour 414 to catch his fish. Catching one fish in session one and a full limit in session two, Holmes used a slow wind and hop retrieve to catch his fish, with the key to the presentation being to keep the lure vertical below the boat rather than fished away from the boat and worked with a more horizontal approach to the retrieve. The approach saw Holmes upgrade 2-3

BASS PRO SERIES

Presented by Yamaha



For event runner-up David Young it was his best result to date on the BASS Pro tour at Lake Boondooma with the 30 year old IT Consultant fishing the start of the timber in the Stuart River arm of the lake to catch his fish. Fishing a small area that he inadvertently found during the Friday prefish Young’s hot spot featured a tree, adjacent flat, and slope into the creek bed. “While there were trees right along the edge of the creek bed there was one tree that the fish would gravitate towards and hang on in numbers,” said Young. While Young could always find the fish on and around the tree with his sounder getting them to bite proved difficult. “They didn’t bite until 2pm during the prefish and the tournament very much played out the same way,” said Young. This trend saw Young Continued OVER

Continued

RayHolmesdominatedthenon-boaterdivisiontoaddanotherwintohistournamentCV.

Killer in a Spin for BASS Pro Win

Kanowlski caught his fish on a 12 gram, ayu coloured Nories In the Bait tail spinner

on Sunday morning, varying retrieves, adjusting my boat position, and trying to finesse them into biting but

to no avail,” said Killer. In the end Kanowski’s failure to weigh a fish in the final session didn’t affect the outcome, with Killer holding on to the lead he had leading into the final session to claim the event win. A veteran of the BASS Pro tour Kanowski’s win is his first since his Lake Monduran victory in 2007, and an injection of form heading into the 3rd and final event of the year, the Toray BASS Pro Grand Final at Lake Wivenhoe in September.

Killer tied one on first up in session one, an approach that delivered him his first fish by 9am, and a second hook up, albeit a fish that he lost, not long after.

Session two was when things really turned on with the Kanowski catching a dozen fish for the session, including multiple upgrades, and weighing in the heaviest limit for the tournament. “They bit their heads off in the afternoon including a good number of big fish,” said Kanowksi. The Nories tail spinner once again reined supreme, with Killer fishing the hot bait with a long and slow lift and drop technique. The majority of bites would come at the very top of the lift, while the occasional fish would come as he lifted the lure after a drop, or when he went to burn the lure back in at the end of the retrieve. “It was important to not over work the lure during the retrieve. Slow and steady was definitely the name of the game when it came to the tail spinner,” said Kanowski.

catch no fish in the first session, but in session two (Saturday afternoon) things really started to heat up, with close to 20 fish hitting the deck of his boat. While he initially caught fish out from the tree he soon found the best approach to use involved nudging the boat up tight against the tree and working his lure directly below the boat to the fish that were sitting on the bottom. Young’s lure and technique involved an Ecogear ZX40 blade worked with a short and sharp rip and drop retrieve. “Keeping the movement of the lure sharp, hard and erratic was the key to get them to bite. If you used a traditional methodical lift and drop they didn’t it eat it with any great gusto,” said Young. Heading into the final session with close to a 1kg deficit to make up on leader Steve Kanowski, Young knew that he had plenty of work to do, but if he could just scrape together a couple of fish to get level

with Killer that he might be in with a shot. Young’s thinking was spot on, and he started the session out well picking up a small fish early. Finding and catching his second proved a lot harder, with Young changing locations and lures in a valiant attempt to pull together just one more small fish. It was to avail though with Young weighing in only one fish for the session to finish

second in the tournament. His best result to date on the tour Young is buoyed by his podium finish, the spot in the Grand Final, and the welcome cheque heading into the BASS Megabucks and GF at the end of the year.

DaveYoungclaimedhisbestBASSProresultatBoondooma,finishingsecond

thankstoadeepwaterbladebite.

SteveKanowski’s3.47kgsessiontwolimitwasthebagthatanchoredhiswin,andincluded

theAustackleBigBassfortheevent.

times during the second session and head into the final day with an almost insurmountable lead. Not content to coast to the finish line Holmes fishing hard with his boater Steve Babbage on day two, with the pair rotating through different locations and lures in an attempt to catch fish. Catching only yellowbelly for the session Holmes returned to the scales empty handed, but walked away from the presentation as the Boondooma non-boater champion. Attention for anglers now turns to the Toray BASS Pro Grand Final (September 20/21st) at Lake

SteveKanowskiheadedofffirstinthefinalsessionandheldontoclaimthewin.

BASS PRO SERIESPresented by Yamaha

Wivenhoe, an event that will determine the GF champions for 2014 and also the BASS Pro Anglers of the Year

for the year. To see the full list of Grand Final qualifiers visit www.abt.org.au. – ABT

88 AUGUST 2014

BETS – Sydney Harbour and St Clair resultsIt’s been another busy period in the world of bream and bass fishing! So many anglers, so many fish! Let’s do a quick roundup of the recent BETS results.

BREAM: SYDNEY HARBOUR

Starting with bream, it was Mako Round Six, the final round of 2014, and a return to Sydney Harbour. The beauty of the Harbour is the range of opportunities it presents to anglers. There is something for everyone be it

flats, structure, boats or deep water. There is a downside to fishing a tournament on the Harbour, however. Lurking out the amongst the anglers are more than a couple of true Harbour specialists and whilst they do get rolled occasionally, Mako Round Six was not the occasion. Team Pflueger/Evinrudes’ Ross Cannizarro and Alan Loftus need no

introduction, being previous Grand Final winners. They had already won a 2104 round but a win on home turf was highly sought after by the pair. With conditions suiting a bite on the ‘east of the Bridge’ grounds, the

team’s favoured technique of hitting spots quickly and moving on was set to yield results. The question was whether any one of the other gun teams could pull a winning bag from the numerous big fish spots the Harbour is renowned for. As the weigh-in progressed it was shaping up to be a tough ask, with bags nudging 4kg coming from

some of the key players. As so often happens in a BETS round, a ‘good’ result was not quite good enough to win. As it turned out, Ross and Alan brought the only bag to exceed 4kg to the scales. Weighing a classic

Pflueger/Evinrude Sydney Harbour bag of 4.03kg, the pair took out their second round of the 2014 Series and a cash prize of $3000. Already assured of a BETS Grand Final place, the win was a fitting way to closeout the round stages, and the home ground victory was just the icing on the cake.

LEADER BOARD Parramatta River

specialists Wayne Robinson and Aaron Horne of Team Sunline came in second with 3.92kg, earning $2200. Rising Harbour star Peter Cook and partner Phil Cook of Stealth Blades came third with 3.90kg, and with that the

final round drew to a close. The Austackle Big Bream award of $250 plus a $250 Austackle Lure Pack was shared for the first time this year. Team Stealth Blades (Peter Cook) and Prolure Australia (Nathan Liecht and Anthony Kalsow) both weighed 1.2kg specimens. Dennis Mageropoulos was the lucky angler to draw the Duffrods random giveaway rod courtesy of custom rod builder Steve Duff. The top ten positions were taken by many of the teams who have proven so prolific on the waterway in the past, and it really was a fantastic way to say goodbye to the 2014 rounds. Big thanks go to Ian, Amy and the team from Mako Eyewear for the event BBQ and supporting the event. Be sure to visit the Mako Eyewear website and Facebook page to support a local business that gives so much support to the events.

BASS: ST CLAIR On then a week to Coleman Round Two of BETS Bass, and from the hustle and bustle of the Harbour to the more serene waters of Lake St Clair. At least, they should have been serene waters, but

a cracking westerly bringing cold air off the hills was making for a wet and wild ride for anglers heading out for Session One. On the plus side though, word was St Clair hadn’t fished so well for some time.

As the light faded and the first weigh-in took place, the field was chockers with four-fish bags, with nearly all anglers getting in on some bass action. Leading the pack was Team Pullin Hards’ Paul Beavan and Peter Hancock, with a 5.07kg belting bag of bass that put them over half

a kilo ahead and threw down a real challenge to the rest of the field.

Session Two should be marked down as due reward for sticking it out in Session One! Light breezes and much warmer conditions soothed the soreness from the day before and at times a glassy calm swept across the

water, suggesting good fish might be hard to come by. The bass, however, didn’t seem to care. With sounders showing fish aplenty the catches continued, leading to a fascinating weigh-in where the lead changed numerous times as the bags were presented. As with many fishing tournaments one good fish can make or break a team, and a bag of four with a 1.91kg corker is up for being a maker straight away. Mark Lennox and Ian Wratten of Team Yamba Prawn Blades had put themselves in a good place the night before with a 4kg+ bag, and knew the same again would put them in a great position. At 4.65kg the team saw the only result you want – first place – and a $1500 cash prize with a total weight of 8.91kg. The leaders on the previous day, Pullin Hard, used their cracking bag to hold a spot on the table, securing second place and $1000 with a total of 8.39kg. They were followed by Team Bassman/Millerods (Dan Clancy and Mitchell Cone) with a total weight of 8.34kg for a $750 cash prize. All in all it was another enjoyable bass round with a great atmosphere. Please visit the Coleman Camping

website and Facebook page and support the sponsors of the round. – BETS

RESULTS: BREAM

Rank Team Anglers Fish Weight (kg) Big Bream Payout1. Pflueger.Evinrude. Alan.Loftus,.Ross.Cannizzaro. 5. 4.03. .. $3000.BETS.Winners.Cash2. Sunline. Wayne.Robinson,.Aaron.Horne. 5. 3.92. .. $2200.BETS.Cash3. Stealth.blades. Pete.Cook,.Phil.Cook. 5. 3.90. 1.2. $1500.+.2.x.$150.Dinga.com.vouchers4. Simrad.. Scott.Butler,.Guy.Struthers. 5. 3.56. .. $500.+.Lowrance.$1500.voucher5. Pro.Lure.Australia.2. Nathan.Leicht,.Anthony.Kalsow. 5. 3.47. 1.2. $400.+.Lowrance.$1500.voucher

RESULTS: BASS

Rank Team Anglers Fish Weight (kg) Big Bass Payout1. Yamba.Prawn.Blades/Duffrods. Mark.Lennox,.Ian.Wratten.. 8.. 8.91.. 1.91.. $1500.BETS.Cash2. Pullin.Hard. Paul.Beavan,.Peter.Hancock. 8. 8.39. 1.69. $1000.BETS.Cash3. Bassman/Millerods. Mitchell.Cone,.Dan.Clancy. 8. 8.34. . $750.BETS.Cash4. Asakura/ABU.Garcia. Troy.Danes,.Ryan.Jones. 8. 8.11. $300.+.2.x.Abu.Vanguard.Bass.Rods.valued.$300ea5. Team.Okuma. Gregg.Flett,.Chris.Beldon. 8.. 8.04.. . $200.+.2.x.Abu.Revo.S.reels

2014

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

DATE DETAILS CONTACT

AUGUSTAug 10 Gamakatsu Bream Round + Kayak South West Rocks GTS - 0459 401 612 fishingcomps.com.au/gts

Aug 24 Gamakatsu Bream North Round + Kayak Ballina GTS - 0459 401 612 fishingcomps.com.au/gts

Aug 29-31 Grabine Classic Wyangala Dam The Secretary - (02) 4835 2345

SEPTEMBERSep 13-14 Daiwa-Hobie Kayak BREAM Series St Georges Basin ABT - (07) 3387 0888 www.abt.org.au

Sep 14 Daiwa-Hobie Kayak BASS Series Toonumbar Dam ABT - (07) 3387 0888 www.abt.org.au

Sep 16-17 ABT BASS Megabucks Somerset Dam ABT - (07) 3387 0888 www.abt.org.au

Sep 27-28 Jackall Yellowbelly Championships Series Pindari Bruce Anderson - 0419 011 333 yellowbellychampionships.com

Sep 27-28 ABT BREAM Series Gold Coast ABT - (07) 3387 0888 www.abt.org.au

Sep 28 Bluefin Boats BASS Electric Series Lake St Clair ABT - (07) 3387 0888 www.abt.org.au

OCTOBEROct 4-5 Mighty Annual Fishing Bonanza Tomakin TSSC – 02 4471 7327 www.tomakinclub.com.au

Oct 18-19 Gamakatsu TS Kayak GF Urunga GTS - 0459 401 612 fishingcomps.com.au/gts

Oct 25-26 Jackall Yellowbelly Championships Series Windamere Bruce Anderson - 0419 011 333 yellowbellychampionships.com

Oct 31 Gamakatsu TS Grand Final Gold Coast GTS - 0459 401 612 fishingcomps.com.au/gts

For listings please email [email protected]

The.winners.of.the.BETS.Bream.round.at.Sydney.Harbour:.Ross.Cannizarro.and.Alan.

Loftus.from.Team.Pflueger/Evinrudes.

Mark.Lennox.and.Ian.Wratten.of.Team.Yamba.Prawn.Blades.took.out.the.Bass.round.at.Lake.St.Clair.

89AUGUST 2014

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1ST - 4TH OCTOBER 2014

Entry forms or online available at

www.flatheadclassic.com.au

The 21st consecutive year of the Flathead Classic -come and join the party!

TOURNAMENT VENUE :GR Thompson Park,

Broadwater Parklands, Southport

2014 FLATHEAD CLASSIC

This year for the first time we trial a later fishing finish on the Saturday with a Saturday Night Dinner, presentation and party. Gold Coast Flathead Classic

Sign-On, Briefing and Dinner: WEDNESDAY 1st OCTOBER 2014 from 4.30pm

Fishing and Dinner: THURSDAY 2nd OCTOBER 2014,

FRIDAY 3rd OCTOBER and Saturday 4thFishing, Dinner and Presentations:

SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER 2014 finish late afternoon

OVER $200,OOO IN GIVEAWAYSAll our major prizes are given away in a random draw

you could walk away with a Bluefin Boat Package!

Seniors (16yrs and over) $250Juniors (under 16yrs) $120

Entry Fees

After August 15th: Seniors $275.00 Juniors $130 - Places permitting

SBS R5 MallacootaBasin Lure and Fly Anglers Inc. held Round 5 of their Southern Bream Series (SBS) at Mallacoota on the weekend of 21-22 June. The event was proudly sponsored by Shimano. The weather had been very ordinary the week before

the event, with hundreds of millimetres of rain falling and making the waterway look like a chocolate milkshake. Competitors who had the opportunity to pre-fish said it was going to be a very tough assignment for teams to get their bag of bream. The Saturday morning greeted the 71 boating teams and 20 kayak anglers with cold conditions. The skies were clear and it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, with the same again on the Sunday. The final winner in the Boating section was Team LOFT, consisting of Paul Holmes and Greg Rooke. The pair scored a 10/10 bag weighing in at an amazing 10.025kg. Second place went to Jason Mayberry and Terry Parmenter of Team Compleat Angler Batemans Bay/Shimano with a 10/10 bag totalling 9.380kg. Third went to Team Salt N Fresh (Garry King and Brett Dinham) with a 10/10 bag totalling 9.230kg, fourth went to Team Reel Steel (Gary Carruthers and Steve Allen) with a 10/10 bag weighing 9.200kg, and fifth went to Team Gamakatsu/Atomic (Paul Malov and Alex Franchuk) with a 10/10 bag totalling 9.165kg. The cash payouts for the top five were $4150, $2076, $1038, $620 and $416 respectively. The Hobie Big Bream prize was taken out by Greg Rooke with a solid 1.455kg fish. In the boating section 53 teams achieved their full bag of 10 fish over the two-day event. A total of 622 fish were brought to the weigh master for a combined weight of 460.850kg for 142 anglers. The Kayak section was won by Team Kevo (Kevin

Varty) with a bag of 6/6 totalling a very impressive 6.425kg. Second went to Team Atomic Gamakatsu (Andrew Death) with a bag of 6/6 weighing 5.285kg, and third went to Team Mylureshop.com (Scott Marcinkowski) with a bag of 6/6 totalling 5.075kg. Cash

payouts for the top three were $858, $437 and $265. The BCF Big Bream prize was taken out by Kevin Varty with another solid 1.455kg fish. In all, the Kayak section saw a total of 80 fish weighed in for a combined weight of 58.330kg for 20 anglers. We would like to thank all the sponsors –

Lowrance, Shimano, Fishing World, Tonic Eyewear, Searing Tackle/Damiki, Custom Lure Art, Skeeter Boats/Power Pole, Hobie Fishing, Compleat Angler Nowra, BCF, Totally Immersed Watersports, Lox Rods, Asakura Lures and STG Graphics.

A big thank you also goes to all those who competed and showed their continued support for this series. It’s only getting bigger and better as every round passes, and the positive feedback filtering back is greatly appreciated. Round 6 will be held on Sunday August 24 at St Georges Basin. – BLFA

Team.LOFT,.consisting.of.Greg.Rooke.and.Paul.Holmes,.were.the.eventual.winners. Photo courtesy of Peter Hewitt.

Runners-up.Jason.Mayberry.and.Terry.Parmenter.from.Team.Compleat.Angler.Batemans.Bay/Shimano..Photo courtesy of Peter Hewitt.

Top: Greg.Rooke.with.the.fish.that.earned.him.the.Big.Bream.prize..Photo courtesy of Peter Hewitt..Bottom:.Paul.Malov.came.in.at.a.very.

respectable.fifth.place..Photo courtesy of Peter Hewitt.

90 AUGUST 2014

Rotary Club of Bellbridge Lake Hume Inc. and The Commercial Club Fishing Section

present the

OVER $40,000 IN PRIZES

• Senior, Junior & Team Events• Yellowbelly Catch & Release Competition• Redfin, Trout, & European Carp Competition• Golden Perch section of the competition is total Catch & Release• Early Bird Entry Competition

Major Prize is a Quintrex Mercury Package

Entry Forms are available from the website and local tackle,boating and camping stores.

Thanks to our Major sponsors:

Forster fishes big for Bale and BrundsonWild weather and freezing temperatures tested the anglers who contested the Samurai Rods Forster round of the Gamakatsu Teams series. With 20+ knots predicted for the comp day, all of the anglers were keen to get to their spots and get their fish before the change hit. Team Gamakatsu/Samurai 2 consisting of Wayne Bale and Jeff Brundson wasted no time in getting to the Tuncurry side break wall and putting together a bag in the first hour. They used Atomic Semi Hardz Minnow 40s in colour silver wolf and Atomic 2” Fat Grubs in brown crawdad. Wayne and Jeff mixed up their attack on the wall by fishing parallel, straight in and out and also parallel wide of the wall to get their fish as they cycled around. Wayne said on top of this ever-changing approach, fishing top quality gear enabled them to cast further, feel more and ultimately catch more fish. A couple of hours into the day they decided to ‘rest’ the wall and head up the Wallamba River to fish some racks to see if they could get that much needed ‘kicker’ fish. The move paid off – first cast Jeff managed a 1.31kg

fish on the 2” Fat Grub in brown crawdad. After playing in the racks a little longer and upgrading another fish they decided to move back out to the wall to finish out the day. Unfortunately a gearbox had different ideas. When they went to leave it decided to implode and leave the pair stranded a long way from the finish. Luckily Wayne was able to contact the MSB and they towed them back, but this saw the fishing day over by 12pm. The nervous wait for the weigh-in was worth it, however, as they had an awesome bag of five fish for 4.34kg and also the Samurai Rods Big Bream of 1.31kg. Both Wayne and Jeff used Samurai rods, Daiwa reels with a mixture of Unitika Aorika Braid, Aiger Leader and Silver Thread fluorocarbon. The lures they used were Atomic Semi Hardz Minnows, Atomic Seekerz jigheads, Atomic Plazos 2” Fat Grubs and the ever famous Atomic Hardz Crank 38s.

TEAM EVINRUDE/LOWRANCE Finishing in second place with a very respectable bag of 4.23kg was Team Evinrude/Lowrance consisting of Mark Healey and Adrian Neoh. Both of these guys are no

strangers to Forster and have an uncanny knack of making it into the top five at any event here. Mark and Adrian started at the paddock and worked their way up the system and eventually into the lake. They fished a mix of Cranka Crabs and Ecogear Aqua Prawns around the poles and washboards until they got into the lake, and then concentrated on the Prawns, ripping them

in and above the many weed beds throughout Wallis Lake. Using G.Loomis rods and Daiwa reels, Mark and Adrian slowly but surely amassed their bag of five and continued to upgrade it all day. A special thanks goes to Lowrance, Evinrude, Cranka, G.Loomis and Ecogear.

NEWCASTLE FISHING.COM

Rounding out the top three was team Newcastle Fishing.

com. Brendon and Scott are two of the most consistent anglers on the Gamakatsu Teams Series tournament circuit, and once again they were on stage taking some much-deserved prize money. Brendon and Scott fished the paddock early to get their bag before moving to the Wallamba River racks to try to get some bigger fish. Using a mix of Samurai and Loomis rods, the pair managed more than 10 upgrades for the day and ended up getting five fish for 3.91kg. All of these fish were caught using soft plastics on 1/28oz TT jigheads. Brendan and Scott sent out a special thanks to the GTS organizers and a thank you to all of the other competitors.

KAYAK WINNER Taking out the kayak division at Forster was local legend Stephen Jansson. Stephen put together his bag of three fish quite easily for a total of 1.49kg.

Fishing just around the corner from the start at racks near Point Road, Stephen made a drift through some racks throwing plastics but they went untouched. A quick paddle back to the start of this drift and a change to the Atomic Hardz Crank saw three hits but three misses. The next hit was converted to a keeper, and within half an hour of this fish hitting the livewell, Stephen had his three. With the wind starting to howl at around 11am, Stephen decided to call it a day and paddle back as the change saw 30 knots of wind arrive and made it very tough to fish from a kayak. A big thanks goes to all of the competitors, and also to Gamakatsu, Evinrude, Lowrance and Samurai rods. To see the next events go to www.fishingcomps.com.au and we’ll see all of you at the next round located at South West Rocks, NSW.

GTS ROUND 3 RESULTS

Position and Team Angler 1 Angler 2 Total Weight Event TOY1.Gamakatsu/Samurai.2. Wayne.Bale. Jeff.Brunsdon. 4.34. 1002.Lowrance/Evinrude. Mark.Healey. Adrian.Neoh. 4.23. 993.Newcastlefishing.com. Brendon.Hughes. Scott.Greentree. 3.91. 984.Coolscene.Air-conditioning. Scott.Mcnamara. Gavin.Caswell. 3.62. 975.Millerods/Shimano. Andrew.Howard. Peter.Beeton. 3.60. 96Samurai Rods Big Bream: Team Gamakatsu/Samurai 2: 1.31kg

Round.winners.Wayne.Bale.and.Jeff.Brundson.of.Team.Gamakatsu/Samurai.2.

91AUGUST 2014

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NSW STH COASTSteveStarling

Starlo reckons you can’t beat the simplicity of beach fishing, and offers some valuable tips for those just getting started in the surf. Beach fishing is one of the most popular forms of land-based angling in Australia, and it’s not hard to see why. Our island home is blessed with long, often empty beaches, stretching all the way from Broome in the far north west to Hobart

and beyond in the deep south east… And they all have fish swimming within casting range of the wave-washed sand. For me, one of the greatest attractions of beach fishing or surf casting, as it’s better known in some regions, is its inherent simplicity. You don’t need a mountain of equipment. Nor is long term planning essential. In fact, beach fishing lends itself beautifully to spontaneous, spur of the moment forays. Yesterday was a case in point for me. I looked up from the computer screen mid-morning to see that the tree tops beyond my office window were sitting absolutely still against the blue sky. A walk on the local beach suddenly seemed like a wonderful idea. A quick consultation of the tide chart indicated that high water was only an hour or so away, so I made the last minute decision to carry a light surf rod with me on my stroll. Fortuitously, the outfit propped in the corner of the shed was already rigged with a Spanyid Maniac metal lure. I didn’t even bother taking a spare! That 45 minute walk proved to be a great tonic and completely revitalized me for an afternoon’s work. And the 500 g tailor I landed on

about my tenth cast made for a delicious lunch. It doesn’t get much better than that. Of course, for consistent results in the surf, a little more preparation and a tad more gear doesn’t go astray, but you can still carry everything you need for a longer session in a shoulder bag or day pack, with a plastic bucket to transport the bait out and (hopefully!) bring the catch home. Using the right tackle makes a huge difference. Good surf rods are generally quite long: anything from 3 to 4 m. This helps with casting and also keeps your line

above the annoying surge and drag of the shore break. But don’t burden yourself with a telephone pole. Modern, lightweight surf sticks are a joy to use and will handle most of the fishy critters you’re likely to encounter. My favourites are the various Light Surf models in several ranges of Shimano rods, including my Jungle StiX and the amazing Catana Nanos. Balance the rod up with a 4000 to 6000

size eggbeater (spinning reel) spooled with some 4 to 8 kilo line (mono or braid)… and you’re in business! Finding the best spot to cast your bait or lure is the next trick. Beaches can be a bit like deserts, with the majority of their life concentrated around the “oases” represented by gutters, channels, holes or isolated outcrops of reef and rock. Focus on these areas. Climb to the highest point behind the beach and use polarized sunglasses to help locate these features. Deeper water is darker, and unbroken areas in the foamy surf line

indicate gutters or holes and their accompanying rips. Tides can be important, too. A rising or making tide tends to bring feeding fish closer to the beach. Often, and especially at high water, you’ll only need a short cast to reach them. Don’t make the mistake of always trying to punch holes in the horizon with your sinker. It’s easy to cast over the best fish, which may well be swimming literally at your

feet, particularly on steeply sloping beaches. If that rising to high tide coincides with the half light of dawn or dusk, so much the better: it’s time to heat up the frying pan! One last but very important tip: modern, sophisticated reels don’t like sand. If you’re one of those folks who insist on lying their rod and reel in the grit, stick to an Alvey sidecast. They’re great surf reels, anyway. But if you opt for more high tech’ equipment, never hit the beach without carrying a metre-long section of PVC pipe. Push this deep into the sand and stand your rod and reel in it every time you bait up, re-rig or need to put the outfit down. Trust me, your reels will last many years longer as a result. While it’s a tad cold in

many areas right now, you can catch fish in the surf at any time of the year. In a few weeks from now, as winter’s grip finally weakens and gives way to spring, the appeal of this angling style will increase dramatically. Soon it will be time for shorts, bare legs, clean sand crunching between your toes and the tang of salt in your nostrils as you belt a bait or lure out over the break… Catching a fish is almost a bonus!

The.author.with.a.surf.salmon.caught.on.light.gear.and.cut.pilchard.bait..Note.the.rods.standing.safely.in.PVC.tubes.behind.Starlo.

Belting.a.lure.out.into.the.surf..The.dog’s.having.fun.chasing.shadows,.too!

Jo.starling.accounted.for.this.lovely.silver.trevally.in.the.surf.

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92 AUGUST 2014

Native Watercraft Slayer 13 Propel – slayin’ it

As the savage lows and cold fronts formed way out west of the country, Jo Starling decided it was time to “man up” and take up the offer to test run the new-to-the-country Native Watercraft Slayer 13 Propel… before the water got too chilly and choppy. I felt somewhat like a telly tubby (you know, those oddly shaped alien-critters that drive parents crazy on daytime television?) when I slid the new Slayer 13 Propel into the chilly waters of Tuross Lake last week. The mercury was struggling to reach 8˚C, but the tide was about to turn and I wanted to get out there to greet any fish that were riding that first wave of warmer water. So I donned my new Lavacore exposure protection gear (purchased through Capacity Sports in Melbourne) and braved the conditions… luckily, this is Fishing Monthly and not Fashion Monthly! For the

record… I was sweating. The Slayer 13 Propel had been touted as Native Watercraft’s answer to the Hobie Pro Angler, a well-established and highly regarded fishing ‘yak. I’d taken delivery of one of the first Slayers to hit our shores, but had been side-lined by health issues… and so it was months before her covers came off. I could tell she was a beast to be reckoned with as soon as I pulled her out of her shipping wrap! Her sleek lines and low profile had me visualising slipping through the water like a hot knife on butter. To say I was enthusiastic would be an understatement… I was positively pumped!

OUT OF MY DEPTH I was champing so hard, in fact, that I couldn’t be bothered transferring my Lowrance sounder across from my Mariner… too much fiddling around, I reasoned… I was just taking her out for a couple hours run. As I slid the Slayer off the beach and into deeper water, I weighed up my

pedalling options: I could follow the channel markers for about a kilometre; or I could try to cut across the flat for 200 metres. I decided to bow to my lack-of-fitness and traverse the flats. It was a good exercise (in more ways than one). I didn’t get far before my propeller touched sand, demanding to be lifted through the hull until I found deeper water. This proved simple and quick. I pulled out my paddle and started my upper body work-out. I was confused for a while as the bow kept skewing right, despite that being my stronger arm! At first I thought it was the last of the run-out tide giving me a touch-up… but then I realised I’d neglected to straighten my rudder. Such a newbie! Rudder straightened, I was paddling effortlessly and listening to my internal dialogue about just how “skinny” the “skinny water” would be that this craft could access. I found out pretty soon, running aground and finding

another use for my paddle, pushing myself back in the direction I’d come. Without my sounder I couldn’t be sure of the depth, but my Makos told me that my knees would remain dry if I stepped off. As I reached the channel marker I’d decided to start fishing from, I took some time to survey the area. Without my sounder, I was going to have to read the water. My hope was that the fish would fire up as the flush of warm ocean water brushed their backs… I was really hoping to catch one last flattie before they tucked themselves in for the winter.

WIN SOME. LOSE SOME.

With a few cycles of my pedals, the propeller whirred me over to the western flat where I knew there was a good drop-off. I sent my Squidgy Fish probing into the shallows, hopping it naively down into the drop-off, hoping to convince a waiting

dusky that I was a bait fish making a last dash at the bottom of the tide. They weren’t fooled… or they weren’t there. Perhaps I was just a tad late for that strategy to work. The flow had stopped and the water glassed off. Without the sound of any form of motor, no breeze, no-one else on board, I had a few moments of complete serenity. The fish had to be somewhere, right? So I headed out into the deeper channel and pitched my lure at the channel marker. I figured it was as good a spot to start my drift as any. As soon as I lifted my little puppet for it’s second bounce back towards me, I had weight! And it was heavy! I knew by the way the fish was doggedly holding the bottom and shaking its head that I’d found the dusky I wanted. I was so excited! This would be my first fish in a ‘yak and probably one of the biggest

flatties I’d caught! Ahhh... the age-old art of counting chickens. As the fish towed me away from the marker, I was careful to keep only enough pressure on to stay connected. I was fishing light tackle and I knew my only hope was to wear the fish down. Alas, with a determined head shake, my rod straightened and my line went slack. The lure had pulled through my loop and left me bereft… that was my last Revhead jighead! By the time I’d selected, threaded and retied my next Squidgy, the tide was pushing in nicely… and the bait schools were starting to tremble on the waters surface. Whilst I didn’t have my sounders, I had the best possible polarised sunnies around… my Makos cut through that wintery glare like it wasn’t there. Thankfully, the conditions had the fish in the top layer and so the sounders proved unnecessary.

NSW SOUTH COASTJo Starling

Concerned.that.she.was.on.a.big.tailor,.Jo.allowed.this.fish.to.tow.the.Slayer.to.reduce.pressure.on.the.line.

First.blood!.Landing.your.first.fish.from.a.kayak.is.a.very.memorable.experience.

Fishing.from.a.standing.position.is.easy.in.the.Slayer.13.and.provides.excellent.visibility.



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MONTHLY

M A G A Z I N E S

SCAN THIS

93AUGUST 2014

Not.a.bad.salmon.for.the.estuary!.Jo’s.rightly.chuffed.after.‘Slayin’.her.second.fish.for.the.day.

The first slashes and swirls that heralded the arrival of predators erupted on the opposite drop-off. It took no time at all to pedal the Slayer to within casting distance. I waited, ready to pounce… and when the next boil erupted, my lure flew. It landed right beside the disturbance and was taken on the drop! Fortunately, it was a solid take and I reacted quickly, hooking a solid tailor in the corner of the mouth and avoiding another disappointment. The fish and I battled for a few minutes—I fished gingerly so I didn’t help the fish saw through my leader. I didn’t count this one until it

was in the kayak, but when it was… I whooped and hoorayed like the girl I am! Landing my first fish out of a new kayak was momentous for me… I’m sure it is for anyone. The fact that it was a challenging and chunky tailor was even sweeter. I didn’t take too long to savour the moment, however, because the Lake had come alive! I spent the next hour pedalling from one boil to another, trying to predict movements and lead the fish. It was an amazing session that saw me land two cracking salmon (for our estuary, anyway) and discover a whole lot about the Slayer.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS It’s still very early days in my relationship with the Native Watercraft Slayer13 Propel, but I must say that I’m feeling confident that the relationship will last. It manoeuvres effortlessly and I actually found that I was more able to move from one patch of surface feeding fish to another more efficiently than the boats that I was sharing the water with. I can see that the lightness of the vessel would be a great help when fighting fish that outclass my tackle. The mobility decreases the strain on your line and allows you to tire the fish, while the Propel system allows you to pedal backwards if you’re getting into dangerous territory. Whilst I haven’t set the Slayer’s top deck up yet, it shipped to me with handy bungy strapping that allows for convenient net stowage behind the elevated seat, as well as bungy strapping across both fore and aft wells. The groove track system allows for easy attachment of

desired accessories, including sounder mounts in front of the angler, as opposed to being off to the side. The floor space is generous, making casting

from a standing position easy. I’ve since taken the fly rod out and waved that around to test the stability without any problems at all! No fish either, but

that’s my next challenge… More information can be obtained from www.inmotionaus.com or call Natalie from Capacity Sports on 0412 046 451.

Keeping.your.tools.within.easy.reach.is.important..The.Slayer.has.a.handy.bungy.strap.behind.the.seat.that.fits.a.landing.net.perfectly.

This.44cm.silver.trevally.came.to.play.on.a.more.recent.Slayer.session.

Reaching.over.5.knots.at.Jo’s.full.noise,.trolling.in.the.Slayer.requires.only.a.relaxed.pedal.speed.

CANOES & KAYAKS

• 4.65m length x 86cm wide • 32kg weight • MASSIVE 400kg payload! • Optional Extras: Single/double outrigger, sail kit, motor bracket, drop in middle seat, extra bouyancy chamber

www.facebook.com/roscocanoesandkayaks www.roscocanoes.com.au

tough, light and stable

Also stockists of...

Get Fishing in a Rosco Chief Royalex

Chief

Royalex

Includes two Rosco

Tuff paddles

94 AUGUST 2014

Tech Tricks

Learn how to rig small weedless plastics

These days, soft plastics are commonly used for a broad array of species in salt and freshwater environments. Many good fishing areas contain heavy structure in the form of mangrove snags, weed beds, reef structure and rock walls. This kind of structure holds quality fish therefore it pays to be able to present your soft plastic in a manner that reduces snagging

and allows you to fish it effectively. Although called weedless rigging, the following method will reduce snagging on all manner of aquatic obstructions and will give you the confidence to fish your plastic closer to the structure than you normally would dare. Many types of plastics are used to target species in fresh and saltwater environments. Larger offerings have many different rigging methods available to them such as TT Snakeheads, Owner

Beast Hooks and Mustad Power Lock Hooks, just to name a few. For smaller plastics the range is extremely limited. For my smaller plastics I commonly rig using a very simple method that allows a huge combination of different weighting and hook combinations because all the hooks and weights are interchangeable. This system is especially useful when fishing from a kayak, via Shank’s pony or when traveling as it reduces the number of hook rigs you require to rig a range of smaller plastic sizes.

Plastics of 10cm or shorter are great for species such as bass, jungle perch, flathead, bream and a host of others. I commonly use plastics of this size when targeting bass, especially when the barometer is low and they are shut down, which often results in them hanging deeper in the water column. For this rigging method you will need an array of good quality small (size #4 to #1/0) worm hooks and small sinkers. Most of the larger hook companies make quality worm hooks including Gamakatsu (EWG Worm and G-Lock), Mustad (Ultra-

CONCLUSION Weedless rigging makes a lot of sense when fishing around weed beds, timber or rocky areas. I use it a lot for bass fishing from the kayak as it decreases the amount of tackle I need to carry and is a convenient and cost effective way to fish your plastics. When a fish strikes, the hook point pushes outwards prominently and the hook is easily set. This rigging can be done with larger plastics

by upgrading the hook and sinker size and I even use it to lightly weight deceiver style flies when the need arises. You will find it suits virtually all your plastic styles and you will soon be confidently fishing your offerings closer to structure, which will increase the number of strikes you receive. From here a healthy drag setting and a bit of luck will be required to pry the assailant away from the structure.

Lock Light Wire and Ultra-Point), Owner (Wide Gap Plus), Daiichi (Worm 360) and numerous others. You will need a worm hook that has the point in line with the shank near the eyelet for the best weedless rigging. I mainly use the Gamakatsus as they are readily available and come in smaller sizes (down to a size #4) than many of the others and are made from a fine yet strong wire. I generally use size #2 and #1 for many of the smaller plastics that I like to fish. These include paddle-tail grubs and shads, curl-tail grubs and jerk-shad

styles however numerous other plastics can be rigged weedless as well. For the weighting I use small ball sinkers, generally from size #00 to #1, depending on the depth of water and current. These can be purchased in individual packets, however many companies have combination packs of different sizes, including L.Wilson and Co. under their Surecatch brand. With several sizes of sinkers and hooks you have a huge combination of weedless rigging options for your smaller plastics. Let’s look at setting up our weedless rig.

Choose.a.suitable.hook.and.sinker.weight..Generally.I.use.a.fluorocarbon.leader.however.I.am.using.some.high.visibility.monofilament..Cut.a.length.of.leader.and.do.a.simple.overhand.knot.before.placing.the.tag.end.through.the.sinker.

1

Wrap.the.tag.end.around.the.main.leader.six.or.so.times.and.then.pass.the.tag.end.back.through.the.loop.that.has.now.formed.adjacent.your.overhand.knot.

4

Push.the.plastic.up.the.hook.and.turn.it.180º.until.the.penetrated.section.sits.on.the.kink.near.the.eye.of.the.hook..Pass.the.point.fully.through.the.plastic.so.the.point.exits.the.back.centrally.at.the.position.where.the.plasitc.coincides.with.the.rear.of.the.hook.

7

With.this.basic.rig.you.can.fish.your.plastic.in.heavy.cover.with.minimal.chance.of.fouling..Additionally,.it.is.easy.to.change.the.weight.on.the.plastic.when.required.by.simply.cutting.the.leader.and.re-tying.the.knot.

9

Now.pass.the.tag.end.through.the.eye.of.the.hook.and.then.back.though.the.overhand.knot.from.the.same.side.that.the.tag.end.exited.the.knot.

2

Pull.this.knot.up.tightly.but.ensure.that.the.loop.is.large.enough.so.that.the.sinker.can.swing.freely..This.part.of.the.rigging.is.complete.but.we.still.need.to.put.our.plastic.on.

5

Pull.the.overhand.knot.up.tightly.around.the.leader.as.shown.

3

Push.the.point.of.the.hook.into.the.centre.at.the.head.and.then.it.pass.out.the.chin.area.of.the.plastic.as.shown.

6

Note.that.the.hook.sits.flush.along.the.back.of.the.plastic..Many.plastics.have.a.small.groove.for.the.hook.point.to.sit.in..This.increases.snag.proofing.but.you.can.even.push.the.hook.point.lightly.into.the.plastic.for.increased.snagging.protection.

8

[email protected]


95AUGUST 2014

First cook the freshwater yabbies. I put my yabbies in the freezer to quieten them down. Then put about 4L of water into an 8L stockpot. I add 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of sugar for each litre. Next put the pot of seasoned water onto the stove and bring it to the

Cray cocktailboil. When the water has reached a rolling boil, you can then add the yabbies to the boiling water.

THAI COCKTAIL DRESSING

1 cup coconut cream2tbsp chilli jam (or sweet chilli sauce)2tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves1/2tsp grated ginger1tsp Thai fish sauce. Stir these ingredients together until they are well combined.

1

2

5

7 8

6

3

4

9

Going.in..When.the.water.has.reached.a.rolling.boil,.you.can.then.add.the.yabbies.to.the.boiling.water..

When.the.yabbies.are.added,.the.water.will.go.off.the.boil..Bring.the.water.back.to.the.boil.and.the.yabbies.will.be.red.and.cooked.

Then.twist.one.way,.and.then.twist.back.the.other.way.

Grip.to.crack.the.underside.of.the.body.shell.(the.soft.side).open.so.that.you.can.get.at.the.body.meat.

Using.your.thumbnail,.continue.cracking.your.way.along.the.underside.edge.and.open.it.up.

Pull.the.head.away.from.the.body.(and.visa.versa).–.clean.out.the.‘mustard’.from.the.tail.flesh.

As.soon.as.the.yabbies.come.out.of.the.boiling.water,.dunk.them.immediately.into.iced.water.in.order.to.halt.the.cooking.process.

The.thumb.and.forefinger.grips.on.the.body.and.the.head.

Place.the.yabby.meat.onto.shredded.Iceberg.lettuce.and.spoon.the.Thai.Cocktail.Sauce.on.top..

Cooking

BRISBANELynnBain

96 AUGUST 2014 2 • DECEMBER 2010

Name

Address

P/Code

Phone (day):

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

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

NSW AUGUST 2014

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

Things you do for newbiesHAWK FISHING • FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION

Congratulations to David Nacinovic of North Narrabeen, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive Hawk Tournament Tested Bayer Perlon IGFA line, assorted Panther Martin lures, Youvella hooks and a keyring. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZEThe subscriber prize winners for June were M & M. Hughes of Uralla, NSW; C. Burgoyne of Cessnock, NSW; M. Ferris of Holsworthy, NSW; L. Weber of Raymond Terrace, NSW. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND THE SPECIALTY FISHING FISH WINNERS

The Find the specialtyfishing.com.au logo prize winners for June were P. Dobson Glenmore Park, R. Cooper Forster, L. Cupitt Goulburn, F. Sear Junee, B. Schmierer Sanctuary Point, J. Morante Singleton, B. Whyte Myers Flat, A. Floyd Kurnell, A. Beckmore Tenambit, R. Lewis Casula, M. Thompson Hillvue, S. McPherson Thurgoona, F. Beetham Forster, M. Ryall Singleton, J. Mansfield Valentine, S. Markham Tea Gardens, B. Crowhurst Budgewoi, D. Chandler Theodore, K. Batho Quirindi, M. Hyde Redhead, N. Watt Boorowa, W. Forbes Nambucca Heads, G. Wise Greenwell Point, T. Forbes Yarrawoonga, L. Robinson Fishermans Paradise, D. Gerstner Liverpool, D. Johnston Bulahdelah, J. Wicks Cootamundra, R. Gisbourne Glen Alpine, T. Hodges Ballina, G. Mac Currans Hill, V. Dimento Caringbah, T. Hainsworth Warwick, C. Wheatland Wentworthville, B. Cannon Fairfield, L. Bedingfield Merimbula, J. Gill Laurieton, J. Kelly Rothwell, P. Ashbury Liberty Grove, T. Boseski Leumeah Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND THE SPECIALTY FISHING JUNE LOCATIONS

The answers to specialtyfishing.com.au logo for June were: 6, 8, 16, 20, 26, 28, 30, 36, 46, 50, 56, 66, 76, 78, 85 – NSWFM

FIND-A-WORD WINNER

CAJOLE COAX CONGRATULATE CONSOLE DEHOOK DEMONSTRATE DESNAG ENCOURAGE EXPLAIN FILLET FIX

BACKLASH GAFF FISH GIVE KWELLS HELP HOLD FISH NET FISH PRAISE

RERIG RETIE SHOW SNIP SWEAR TAKE PICS TEACH TEASE TIE UNTANGLE WATCH

Hobie Pro Angler 17TSince 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and quality products. From their world headquarters in Oceanside, California,

Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes, and markets an impressive collection of eco-sensitive watercraft worldwide. These include an ever-expanding line of recreation and racing sailboats, pedal-driven and paddle sit-on-top recreation and fishing kayaks, inflatable kayaks, fishing boats and stand-up paddleboards plus a

complementary array of parts and accessories. Fishing out of one of Hobie’s Pro Angler 12s or 14s is so much fun that Hobie is now making it possible for two anglers to share the experience in the same boat. Introducing the Pro Angler 17T. Three different configurations include traditional in-line tandem seating, face-to-face social tandem or solo, all with enough room for man’s best four-legged friend… and with plenty of space for standing, casting and fly fishing in comfort. This new Pro Angler 17T integrates all the features of its predecessors including Hobie’s iconic patented MirageDrive pedal system and Vantage XT seating and adds new features such as the H-Rail System for customising accessories, a

tracking skeg for covering long distances and a battery platform for an optional trolling motor, crate or small cooler. The result is like nothing else on the market. A human-powered

17’ fishing machine. No gas needed, no-motor-zone compliant and made in the U.S.A. It does not get better. “We challenged ourselves to expand our Pro Angler collection with a fully decked-out guide-style tandem where the aft passenger could provide MirageDrive power and put the front angler on the fish. We also wanted it to have the ability to hold an optional

trolling motor for use as a bass boat,” commented Doug Skidmore, president of Hobie Cat Company. “Our new Pro Angler 17T meets that challenge.” All anglers know

that customising their watercraft is a major part of ownership fun. The new patent-pending twelve-sided H-Rail mounting system runs along each side of the boat and provides a quick and easy way to secure multitudes of accessories. Two-each H-Rail Mounting Plates, Rod Racks and Cup Holders come stock with the boat. An infinite number of optional accessories can

then be added to the H-Rail such as tackle bins, fish finders, camera mount or rod holders. The large rudder provides steerage and manoeuvrability while the new drop-down tracking skeg can be deployed when covering long distances in challenging conditions. An optional anchor trolley kit for anchors, drift chutes, nets or stakeout poles is easy to install using eight strategically placed brass inserts on each side. An optional Power-Pole® Micro with a customising Hobie mount can be added to the stern. Two MirageDrives with adjustable Turbo Fins provide propulsion, leaving hands free for casting and catching fish. Two strong and breathable Vantage XT Seats ensure comfort with back, bottom, Boa® lumbar and kickstand height adjustability. They also can be easily removed from

the boat for on-shore use. Storage for up to twelve rods, ten horizontally and two vertically, keeps them handy but out of the way. A large front hatch and liner offer easy access for storing fish, ice, food, clothing or extra tackle. The built-in Lowrance® Ready transducer mounting plate and pre-installed wire plugs make it quick and easy to install electronics. Three large rectangular hatches provide easy access to pivoting Tackle Management Systems and in-hull storage. The Pro Angler 17T weighs 84kg fitted and 104kg fully rigged with standard features and has a

408kg capacity. Optional accessories designed specifically for the Pro Angler 17T include the new Livewell XL, Adjustable H-Bar, H-Rail Tackle Bin, RAM Mounts, Trolling Motor Mount and Trailer. Anticipated availability of the Pro Angler 17T is the 4th quarter of 2014.

Scan this QR code to see the official

Hobie video.

2 • DECEMBER 2010

Name

Address

P/Code

Phone (day):

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

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

NSW AUGUST 2014

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

Things you do for newbiesHAWK FISHING • FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION

Congratulations to David Nacinovic of North Narrabeen, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive Hawk Tournament Tested Bayer Perlon IGFA line, assorted Panther Martin lures, Youvella hooks and a keyring. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZEThe subscriber prize winners for June were M & M. Hughes of Uralla, NSW; C. Burgoyne of Cessnock, NSW; M. Ferris of Holsworthy, NSW; L. Weber of Raymond Terrace, NSW. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND THE SPECIALTY FISHING FISH WINNERS

The Find the specialtyfishing.com.au logo prize winners for June were P. Dobson Glenmore Park, R. Cooper Forster, L. Cupitt Goulburn, F. Sear Junee, B. Schmierer Sanctuary Point, J. Morante Singleton, B. Whyte Myers Flat, A. Floyd Kurnell, A. Beckmore Tenambit, R. Lewis Casula, M. Thompson Hillvue, S. McPherson Thurgoona, F. Beetham Forster, M. Ryall Singleton, J. Mansfield Valentine, S. Markham Tea Gardens, B. Crowhurst Budgewoi, D. Chandler Theodore, K. Batho Quirindi, M. Hyde Redhead, N. Watt Boorowa, W. Forbes Nambucca Heads, G. Wise Greenwell Point, T. Forbes Yarrawoonga, L. Robinson Fishermans Paradise, D. Gerstner Liverpool, D. Johnston Bulahdelah, J. Wicks Cootamundra, R. Gisbourne Glen Alpine, T. Hodges Ballina, G. Mac Currans Hill, V. Dimento Caringbah, T. Hainsworth Warwick, C. Wheatland Wentworthville, B. Cannon Fairfield, L. Bedingfield Merimbula, J. Gill Laurieton, J. Kelly Rothwell, P. Ashbury Liberty Grove, T. Boseski Leumeah Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND THE SPECIALTY FISHING JUNE LOCATIONS

The answers to specialtyfishing.com.au logo for June were: 6, 8, 16, 20, 26, 28, 30, 36, 46, 50, 56, 66, 76, 78, 85 – NSWFM

FIND-A-WORD WINNER

CAJOLE COAX CONGRATULATE CONSOLE DEHOOK DEMONSTRATE DESNAG ENCOURAGE EXPLAIN FILLET FIX

BACKLASH GAFF FISH GIVE KWELLS HELP HOLD FISH NET FISH PRAISE

RERIG RETIE SHOW SNIP SWEAR TAKE PICS TEACH TEASE TIE UNTANGLE WATCH

97AUGUST 2014

Bait & Tackle

BYRON COASTYamba Bait & Tackle (02) 6646 1514

COFFS COASTCompleat Angler Kempsey (02) 6562 5307

Rocks Marine Bait & Tackle South West Rocks (02) 6566 6726

MACQUARIE COASTGraham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866

Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

Port Macquarie Tackle World (02) 6584 9972

HUNTER COASTPort Stephens Tackle World (02) 4984 2144

CENTRAL COASTUmina Bait and Tackle (02) 4341 1686

02 4341 1686

UMINABAIT & TACKLE

MASSIVE RANGE OF TACKLE

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OPEN 7 DAYS

CHEAPEST BAIT AROUND

SYDNEYGabes Boating & Fishing Centre Narellan (02) 4647 8755

Gabes Boating & Fishing Centre Sylvania (02) 9522 5100

Windybanks Bait and Tackle (02) 9477 1520

EDENS COASTBermagui Bait and Tackle (02) 6493 5444

FRESHWATERLoomzys Fish and Fix (Forbes) (02) 6851 1425

Boat Imports

Import USA Boat 0435 476 177

Fish Taxidermy

Neptune’s Treasures - Your Catch Reproduced0405 226 282 www.neptunestreasures.com.au

Fish Taxidermist 0428 544 841

WANT IN? EMAIL : [email protected]

Blue Bottle Fishing [email protected] Ph: 0409 333 380

Out of the Blue Tackle 0417 608 344 or www.outofthebluetackle.com.au

Mo Tackle (02) 6652 4611 or www.motackle.com.au

Specialty Fishing Products www.specialtyfishing.com.au

U-Make-Em Soft Plastics www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au

Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au

Techni Ice www.techniice.com

Jayro Tackle www.jayrotackle.com.au

TRADES AND SERVICES ADVERTISINGLine listing from $15 + gst per mth*

2cm x 2 from $35 + gst per mth*






12cm x 2 from $110 + gst per mth** Conditions apply

Call (07) 3387 0800 oremail [email protected]

Chandlery & Accessories

Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014

Korr Lighting www.korlighting.com.au

Marine Mechanics

SYDNEY

Penrith Marine (02) 4731 6250

Moby Marine (02) 9153 6506 or www.mobymarine.com.au

Aqua Marine 0415 600 301 or www.aquacash.com.au

Cohoe Marine Products (Sydney) (02) 9519 3575

Blakes Marine (02) 4577 6699

Watersports Marine (02) 9676 1400

Neken Marine (02) 9979 9649

Family Boats (02) 9622 0222

Boat Assist 24 - On Water Mechanic (02) 9746 6224

SAMPLE AD BUSINESS NAME

This is where your copy will appear.You will have approximately 40 words

within a 10x2 ad size.

[email protected]

Kayak Dealers

NOW OFFERINGTAKE HOMELAY-BY!

www.hunterwatersports.com 02 4947 7899

Hunter Water Sports (02) 4947 7899

Boat / Trailer Modifications & Repairs

Bold Trailers (02) 8544 8114 www.boldtrailers.com.au

Salt Away 1800 091 172 www.salt-away.com.au

SYDNEYThe Boat Pimpers (Sydney) (02) 9792 7799

CMC Marine Sales www.cmcsales.com.au

www.westernboatrepairs.com.au

Gelcoat repairs Insurance repairs

Transom & floor repairs 12v Electrical installations

4 Aspinall Place, MULGRAVE02 4577 3482

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Mobile Service AvailableWe Do... Boat covers • Canopies • Clears • Spray covers • Upholstery • Marine carpet & decking

[email protected] 0431 858 176

Custom Boat Covers Made by Professionals

www.RHINOCOVERS.com.au

Mention NSWFM to receive a 10% discount

Online Tackle Products

www.fishin.com.au 0425 230 964

www.fishin.com.auONLINE BREAM TACKLE STORE

SHOP 18, 29 KIORA RD MIRANDA NSW 2228

Specialising in “Tournament Quality Lures”

0425 230 964

This section in NSW Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct

you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching.

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or

email [email protected]

boats & guided fishing tours directory

WANT IN? EMAIL : [email protected]

Marine Mechanics Cont...

Marine Mechanics Cont...(02) 9153 650644 Barry Ave, Mortdale, NSWwww.mobymarine.com.au

1MOBY MARINES E R V I C E S P T Y L T D

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www.penrithmarine.com.au

CASHPAID FOR

USED BOATS & JETSKIS

COFFS COASTJetty Boating (02) 6651 4002

MACQUARIE COASTGraham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866

Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

Advertise here - $195 + GST for 6 monthsEmail: [email protected]

ILLAWARRA COAST

Sunset Motors & Marine (02) 4297 2888

Nowra Marine (02) 4423 3440

Dave Hill Marine, Nowra (02) 4423 6137

FRESHWATERDubbo Marine and Watersports (02) 6882 2853

Breakdown Response

Your Mates on the Water

www.boatassist24.com.au | 02·9746 6224

Providing on water marine assistance to boating enthusiasts in the Sydney Harbour region Salvage Fuel drop offs Battery jump starts Battery replacements HIN numbers

Breakdown assistance Running gear untangled On water towing Water pump outs HH JOIN UP NOW! HH

Now available! On water mechanic services

Boat Assist 24 (02) 9746 6224 or www.boatassist24.com.au

Holiday Rental

NORTH COAST

Unforgettable parks... a lifetime of memories

www.clarenceholidayparks.com.au

55Brooms Head Caravan Park (02) 6646 7144

Calypso Yamba Holiday Park (02) 6646 8847

Iluka Riverside Tourist Park (02) 6646 6060

Minnie Waters Holiday Park (02) 6649 7693

Wooli Camping & Caravan Park (02) 6649 7671

COFFS COASTPelican Park Nambucca Heads (02) 6568 6505

HUNTER COAST

www.lakemacholidayparks.com.au/blacksmithsBook the perfect holiday today: 1800 626 438

• Great Fishing• Boat launching facilities available• Family friendly atmosphere

Wangi Point Lakeside holiday Park (02) 4975 1889

Macleay Valley Coastal Holiday Parks 1300 COASTAL

Blacksmiths Holiday Park (02) 4971 2858

CENTRAL COAST

Central Coast Holiday Parks 1800 241 342

ILLAWARRA COAST Currarong Beachside Tourist Park 1300 555 515

Sussex Inlet (LJ Hooker) (02) 4441 2135

Riviera Caravan Park, St George’s Basin (02) 4441 2112

Killalea State Park, Shell Cove (02) 4237 8589

Holiday With Us, Sussex Inlet (02) 4441 2135

Surf Beach Holiday Park (02) 4232 1791

Kendalls on the Beach (02) 4232 1790

Werri Beach Holiday Park (02) 4234 1285

Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park (02) 4234 1340

Kiama Harbour Cabins (02) 4232 2707

EDEN COAST

Fishermans Rest (Eden) (02) 6496 1999

Ulladulla Headland Tourist Park

• close to boat ramp and Harbour• accommodation for fishing groups• 27 cabins and 140 powered/

unpowered sites

• boat parking for park guests• large outdoor areas and BBQs• short walk from Ulladulla town

centre

SOUTH COAST NSWwww.holidayhaven.com.au

BOOKINGS: 1300 733 02114 Did-Dell St, Ulladulla, NSW 2539

www.holidayhaven.com.au/Ulladulla

FRESHWATER

Burrinjuck Waters State Park (02) 6227 8114

Providence Lodge (Eucumbene) (02) 6454 2200

Winter Keep (Snowy Mountains) www.winterkeep.com.au

Grabine Lakeside State Park (02) 4835 2345

Lake Glenbawn State Park (02) 6543 7193

Wyangala Waters State Park (02) 6345 0877

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Greg Caughlan caught this fifty-pound cobia on a live slimey.

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NSW tides

Tidal information is provided courtesy of the Sydney Ports Corporation. Copyright in the Tidal Predictions is owned by the Bureau of Meteorology.Users of these tables should be aware that the heights shown in this publication are predictions only and that the actual water level height may vary due

to meteorological conditions (including barometric pressure, wind effect and storm surges) and seasonal variations.Sydney Ports Corporation is not responsible for the average time differences for other locations.

TIDE PREDICTIONS FOR SYDNEY (FORT DENISON)

AUGUST – 2014 EASTERN STANDARD TIME

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

0520 0.431 1137 1.401730 0.602335 1.47

0558 0.472 1221 1.411820 0.64

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

0020 1.383 0639 0.501311 1.421920 0.66

0115 1.304 0728 0.531406 1.452030 0.66

0219 1.245 0825 0.541507 1.502145 0.60

0332 1.226 0928 0.531611 1.592254 0.50

0444 1.267 1031 0.481711 1.712354 0.37

0546 1.338 1130 0.411806 1.83

0046 0.259 0643 1.421227 0.331900 1.93

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

0137 0.1410 0735 1.501321 0.261951 2.00

0225 0.0811 0826 1.571415 0.222042 2.00

0312 0.0612 0916 1.621510 0.212131 1.95

0359 0.0913 1007 1.641605 0.252222 1.83

0445 0.1714 1058 1.641700 0.322313 1.68

0531 0.2615 1149 1.621800 0.40

0005 1.5116 0619 0.371243 1.581902 0.49

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

0101 1.3417 0710 0.471340 1.532012 0.56

0205 1.2218 0804 0.551441 1.502126 0.59

0316 1.1519 0905 0.601545 1.502236 0.58

0428 1.1520 1005 0.601645 1.522334 0.53

0527 1.1821 1102 0.581737 1.55

0020 0.4822 0614 1.241151 0.541821 1.60

0059 0.4323 0655 1.291235 0.501900 1.63

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

0132 0.3824 0730 1.341314 0.461936 1.66

0204 0.3525 0805 1.391351 0.432010 1.66

0234 0.3326 0838 1.421428 0.412044 1.65

0304 0.3227 0911 1.451504 0.412118 1.61

0335 0.3328 0945 1.471543 0.432153 1.56

0407 0.3629 1022 1.481624 0.452230 1.49

0441 0.3930 1100 1.491708 0.492311 1.41

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

Copyright: Commonwealth of Australia 2012, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532)

Disclaimer: These tide predictions are supplied in good faith and believed to be correct.No warranty is given in respect to errors, omissions, or suitability for any purpose.

0517 0.4431 1144 1.481758 0.532356 1.32

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0

TIDE PREDICTIONS FOR SYDNEY (FORT DENISON)

AUGUST – 2014 EASTERN STANDARD TIME

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

0520 0.431 1137 1.401730 0.602335 1.47

0558 0.472 1221 1.411820 0.64

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

0020 1.383 0639 0.501311 1.421920 0.66

0115 1.304 0728 0.531406 1.452030 0.66

0219 1.245 0825 0.541507 1.502145 0.60

0332 1.226 0928 0.531611 1.592254 0.50

0444 1.267 1031 0.481711 1.712354 0.37

0546 1.338 1130 0.411806 1.83

0046 0.259 0643 1.421227 0.331900 1.93

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

0137 0.1410 0735 1.501321 0.261951 2.00

0225 0.0811 0826 1.571415 0.222042 2.00

0312 0.0612 0916 1.621510 0.212131 1.95

0359 0.0913 1007 1.641605 0.252222 1.83

0445 0.1714 1058 1.641700 0.322313 1.68

0531 0.2615 1149 1.621800 0.40

0005 1.5116 0619 0.371243 1.581902 0.49

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

0101 1.3417 0710 0.471340 1.532012 0.56

0205 1.2218 0804 0.551441 1.502126 0.59

0316 1.1519 0905 0.601545 1.502236 0.58

0428 1.1520 1005 0.601645 1.522334 0.53

0527 1.1821 1102 0.581737 1.55

0020 0.4822 0614 1.241151 0.541821 1.60

0059 0.4323 0655 1.291235 0.501900 1.63

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

0132 0.3824 0730 1.341314 0.461936 1.66

0204 0.3525 0805 1.391351 0.432010 1.66

0234 0.3326 0838 1.421428 0.412044 1.65

0304 0.3227 0911 1.451504 0.412118 1.61

0335 0.3328 0945 1.471543 0.432153 1.56

0407 0.3629 1022 1.481624 0.452230 1.49

0441 0.3930 1100 1.491708 0.492311 1.41

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0 6 12 18 0

Copyright: Commonwealth of Australia 2012, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532)

Disclaimer: These tide predictions are supplied in good faith and believed to be correct.No warranty is given in respect to errors, omissions, or suitability for any purpose.

0517 0.4431 1144 1.481758 0.532356 1.32

1.5m

1.0m

0.5m

0 6 12 18 0

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new south wales fishing monthly - august 2014

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